Lucky Dip

Download: 87 Sundays - Ruth (mp3)
Buy: "Folk Rock and Faithfull" (album)

Lucky Dip

Download: Teenage Archangel - Be Bop Deluxe (mp3)

Lucky Dip

Download: Autobahn (single version) - Kraftwerk (mp3)

Lucky Dip

Download: Sweet Jane (live) - The Velvet Underground (mp3)

So how does one follow Barry Manilow? With The Velvet Underground of course, and a nice pic of the only famous Jane I could think of doesn't hurt either. I think this is my favourite version of "Sweet Jane", recorded the first time they ever played it live and very different from the eventual studio version. From the album "1969".

The Dark Side

I was going to defend my choice of this record by writing a thoughtful post about enjoying records that would be considered a bit naff and cheesy by some people, and not in any smug, ironic way either but genuinely and honestly appreciating them as good music. But as I was trying to articulate those thoughts and how they relate to this record I just kept hearing this evil voice inside my head shouting YES! IT'S BARRY FUCKING MANILOW! AND I LOVE IT!! REALLY LOVE IT! I RECORDED THIS FROM VINYL! VINYL THAT I OWN!!! THAT I BOUGHT WITH MY OWN MONEY!!! I LIKED IT THAT MUCH!! WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? HUH? HUH??? — and I think, deep down, that's what I really wanted to say.

AND IT'S OVER SIX MINUTES LONG!

Download: Could It Be Magic - Barry Manilow (mp3)

Please do not adjust your set

If anyone tried to visit this blog yesterday they would have noticed that it wasn't available. Bit of a cock-up at my end I'm afraid, I forgot to renew my account with my web hosting service and by the time I realized I missed the due date they'd taken me down. So I had a whip round and did some busking to raise the necessary funds and I'm back again. Though posting has been a little on and off here lately so I wouldn't be surprised if no one even noticed I was gone for a day.

Anyway, how about some obscure New Wave from 1979? The title seems appropriate. I know very little about The Zones except they were Scottish and featured former and future members of Slik, The Skids and Simple Minds in their lineup but this is, as they say, a cracker.

Download: New Life - The Zones (mp3)

Something for the weekend

Some warm and luscious indie pop from 1999, and a nice pic of Charlotte Rampling too.

Download: Folk Singer - Birdie (mp3)
Buy: "Some Dusty" (album)

My Sister's Records

I'm just about old enough to remember a time when The Beatles were still together and making records but while they might have been bigger than Jesus back then they weren't a major presence in our house when I was growing up. The only record of theirs my Mum had was a 45 of "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" which I don't remember her ever playing (though years later I would discover the lovely "This Boy" on the b-side and play it to death) and to be honest I preferred it that way, I'm glad I grew up thinking Sinatra was God and not John Lennon.

The only other Fab Four-related record in the house was this Wings single my sister bought in 1977 and I would like to congratulate her on her good taste, if she had to buy only one I'm glad it was this. When the day comes that Sir Paul is up in heaven with Lennon and the two of them are sitting on a cloud arguing about who wrote the best post-Beatles song this one should be top of Paul's list, especially this live version. One listen to this and John would concede defeat.

Download: Maybe I'm Amazed - Wings (mp3)
Buy: "Wings Over America" (album)

Ding Dong

Lord, I wish I was that suave.