The Christmas programme

The finest Christmas single ever recorded.

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Christmas comes but once a year, which is no bad thing since there is hardly a slew of great festive songs. I have trawled the vaults and extracted these for you yuletide enjoyment. Another chance to hear the Kinks' Father Christmas, for sure, but also a couple of Old Time greats Breaking up Christmas by the Camp Creek Boys and Christmas Time Will Soon be Over by Fiddlin' John Carson.

1. Christmas, Krzysztof Komeda, Rosemary's Baby, 1968, Paramount
2. Merry Christmas Baby, Chuck Berry, St. Louis to Liverpool, 1964, Chess
3. Breaking up Christmas, Camp Creek Boys, Old Time String Band, 1967,
4. Go Power At Christmas Time, James Brown, James Brown's Funky Christmas, 1995,
5. Father Christmas Is Dressed In Green, Wild Billy Childish and the Musicians of the British Empire, Christmas 1979, 2007, Damaged Goods
6. Jingle Bells, Tenchi Muyo, Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Oh-Ki No Christmas OST, 1993, AIC/Pioneer
7. Mistress for Christmas, AC/DC, The Razor's Edge, 1990, Atco
8. Santa Claus Is Ska-Ing To Town, The Granville Williams Orchestra, 7", GWO
9. Christmas Time Will Soon Be Over, Fiddlin' John Carson & His Virginia Reelers, Fiddlin' John Carson 5 (1927-1929), 1998, Document
10. O Tannenbaum, Vince Guaraldi, A Charlie Brown Christmas, 1965, Fantasy
11. Little St. Nick, The Beach Boys, The Beach Boys' Christmas Album , 1964, Capitol
12. Christmas Bop, Marc Bolan and T. Rex, Messing with the Mystic (Unissued Songs 1972-1977), 1975, Fly
13. Ding Dong Bell, The Ethiopians, 7", 1968, Crab
14. Father Christmas, The Kinks, 7", 1977, Arista
15. Hard Candy Christmas, Kenny Rogers/Dolly Parton, Once Upon a Christmas, 1984, RCA/BMG
16. Christmas Eve Is Coming, Anna, Norman Blake, Meeting On Southern Soil, 2002, Red House
17. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, The Ronettes, A Christmas Gift For You From Philles Records, 1963, Philles

Goodbye to the Zig Zag Wanderer: a tribute to Captain Beefheart

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It is with great sadness that this week's programme is a tribute to Don van Vliet, aka Captain Beefheart. Here is a selection of my favourite tunes from almost every album in chronological order. For a comprehensive obituary, try the Guardian.

1. Diddy Wah Diddy, The Legendary A&M Sessions, 1966
2. Zig Zag Wanderer, Safe As Milk, Buddah, 1967
3. I'm Glad, Safe As Milk
4. Safe As Milk, Strictly Personal, Blue Thumb, 1968
5. Veteran's Day Poppy, Trout Mask Replica, Straight, 1969
6. Willie The Pimp, Frank Zappa, Hot Rats, Reprise, 1969 (Don van Vliet, vocal)
7. Doctor Dark, Lick My Decals Off Baby, Straight, 1970
8. I'm Gonna Booglarize You Baby, The Spotlight Kid, Reprise, 1972
9. Low Yo Yo Stuff, Clear Spot, Reprise, 1973
10. Observatory Crest, Blue Jeans and Moonbeams, Virgin, 1974
11. Debra Kadabra, Zappa/Beefheart, Bongo Fury, Discreet, 1975
12. Cathy's Clone, The Tubes, Now, A&M, 1977 (Don van Vliet, saxophone)
    
13. Hard Working Man, Jack Nitzche, Blue Collar OST, Mudcrow, 1978 (Don van Vliet, vocal)
14. Harry Irene, Shiny Beast, Warner, 1978
15. Hot Head, Doc at the Radar Station, Virgin, 1980
16. The Past Sure Is Tense, Ice Cream for Crow, Virgin, 1982

Paint the fence, strum the guitar

Fugiya and Miyagi, at Otto Santral (11.12.10)

If you want to lose friends gradually, be in a band with them. If you want a quicker and precise exit strategy, write about their music. So here goes...

Fugiya and Miyagi are a Brighton-based latter-day Neu and Can distillation, which they have redacted into kraut-lite. Malcolm Mooney's breathy vocals the Deutsche dub found on Saw Delight and a motorik beat. The rest of the songs fall into the modern indie template, albeit a fresher and more intelligent take. (Clippy disco hi-hats, funkish guitar chops, A Certain Ratio bass.)

The set was well paced but missing the usual dynamics of a live performance because there was no guitar amp on stage, meaning there was none of the frequency and warmth of an over-driven amplifier. There is no such texture from a monitor, certainly not for the front rows of the audience at any rate, as the PA sends the front of house mix over their heads. Also, the maximal drumming pushed the on-stage volume instantly to the top leaving no headroom.

I've seen the band four times and they are not bad. They've broke free of the Brighton band curse: Too many hometown gigs, a record that doesn't capture your energy and then sink without a trace. (I've been there and done that.)

The refernces and influences are all in place, but they need to define their own space. The guitarist's choice of instrument says it all: a J. Mascis special edition purple Fender Jazzmaster. A vintage Jazzmaster is indie-rock standard equipment, but a custom shop repro says as much about a musician as a Harley Davidson says about a bank manager.

Music from the body

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After a trip with Mrs Johns to the Body World's exhibition in Istanbul (see, stuff does make it here eventually, even if most of the time it's Jethro Tull), this week's programme is a journey through the body in music. Like Dennis Quaid in Inner Space, we travel from Davey Graham's Fingerbuster, through Amen Corner's heart and to the sugary lips of Echo and the Bunnymen. I couldn't find a song with anus in the title, which would have been a good exit tune.

1. What's the ugliest part of your body?, The Mothers Of Invention, We're only in it for the money, 1968, Verve
2. Fingerbuster, Davy Graham, The Guitar Player, 1963, Golden Guinea
3. Don't talk (put you head on my shoulder), The Beach Boys, Pet Sounds, 1966, Capitol
4. Expressway To Your Heart, Amen Corner, Round Amen Corner, 1968, Deram
5. Chest Fever, The Band, Music From Big Pink, 1968, Capitol
6. Stretch Your Skin, Los Rocket's, The Rockets, 1968, Rev-Ola
7. Little Hands, Skip Spence, Oar, 1969, Columbia
8. Waving My Arms in the Air, Syd Barrett, Barrett, 1970, Harvest
9. Turn Back The Hands Of Time, Tyrone Davis, 7", 1970, Dakar
10. Big Eyed Beans From Venus, Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band, Clear Spot, 1972, Reprise
11. Spanish Knee, Hugh Hopper, Hopper Tunity Box, 1977, Compendium
12. Cor Baby That's Really Free, John Otway, John Otway and Wild Willie Barrett, 1977, Polydor
13. Your Dragging Feet, Polyrock, Polyrock, 1980, RCA
14. Lips Like Sugar, Echo & The Bunnymen, Echo & The Bunnymen, 1987, WEA
15. Braindead, The Scientists, The Human Jukebox, 1987, Munster
16. New Slang, The Shins, Oh, Inverted World, 2001, Sub Pop

Right here, right Neu!

Hallogallo 2010 at the Bronx Pi, Beyoğlu, Ist (07.12.10), 35TL

German kosmische group Neu! may have had only one idea, but it was certainly a very good one: strip down two decades of rock and roll into its indivisible parts – a pounding rhythm, provided by drummer Klaus Dinger; a pulsing guitar riff and the hint of a melody from guitarist Michel Rother, with singing reduced to its primal base.

The next step was to spread that idea over three albums – Neu! 1, Neu! 2 and Neu! 75 – with varying degrees of success, and in some cases, at varying speeds. Willing to risk a few hundred Deutschmarks, Hamburg label Brain released the three records between 1972 and 1975, picked up United Artists at a later date. Now they are cult classics that have spawned two generations of bands.

Neu! is back and is called Hallogallo 2010, a name taken from the first song on Neu! 1. Dinger died in 2004 and so is replaced on the drums by Sonic Youth's Steve Shelley. Shelley is a reliable player who gives the music space with his characteristically unfussy playing. One bass drum-kick too much space. perhaps. The set opener, "Fur Immer," features Dinger's signature motorik (motor skill) beat – a relentless and punishing allegro four-to-the-floor. But Shelley's take missed the fourth kick beat in the bar, leaving a hole, and so undoing the pattern's bludgeoning totalism.

The sound was fizzy and clear from the two-year-old PA and the lights were unobtrusively automated. Rother was stage left behind a table of equipment, while virtually inaudible bassist Aaron Mullan (Tall Firs and Sonic Youth's sound engineer) stood opposite, with Shelley in between behind a Plexiglas screen, like you would see at a stadium concert.

The gig went by at a fair clip, and the hits were given their proper treatment. Even Rother's phased guitar noodling was just about the right side of bearable, if not incessant. The very young crowd made a good attempt at dancing and were engaged with the set's ebb and flow, despite no acknowledgment from the stage. except an occasional beatific smile. Everything was just so, and on paper, this should be have a great gig. But as it was, it was just OK. Having listened for so many years to so many reinterpretations of the Neu! sound – and played in a few – it lacked a bit of punch.

But it was the crowd that weren't working. I felt enormously proprietorial, having bought Neu! 1 on actual vinyl more than 20 years ago from a real record shop. It was too personal to share with young people who had plenty of energy to dance and cheer late on a Monday night. I'm just too old for this classic rock.

The Soul of the Soviet

Thanks to Mr Ben for turning me on to this video of some very groovy Soviets wearing some very dapper threads. The tune is nearly a medley of "Papa was a Rolling Stone" by the Temptations and "Money Runner" by Quincy Jones with some traditional Caucasian folk thrown in. I particularly dig the angled up Vox organ a la Sun Ra. The band's name and the song's title are a mystery, although the clip was tagged with Chervona Ruta and Marichka. Na zdorovje!

Back to the Country: Corrections

My dear friend and listener Simon from Brighton has flagged up a few inaccuracies in this programme first broadcast on November 9.

Firstly, the Kentucky Colonels' Appalachian Swing was originally (and famously) released by World Pacific. (Established by Richard Bock and Roy Harte in Los Angeles, 1952 and sold to Liberty in 1965. FYI)

To add insult to injury, Clarence White of the Kentucky Colonels doesn't play the b-bender guitar on the Byrds' Yesterday's Train (I should have picked Truck Stop Girl, on which he sings). It is of course Sneaky Pete Kleinow's pedal steal. Although, I'll wager he plays the acoustic guitar on the recording.

And finally, the Louvin Brothers is pronounced Loo-van to rhyme with toilet, rather than Low-vin, to rhyme with how, as in, "How on earth should I know how Louvin Brothers is pronounced?"

I stand corrected.

Motorbikin'

My bike, until Steve Winterton took it.

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Now that I think of it, this is a somewhat obvious theme. Not only is motorcycling a passion of mine, but the association with bikes and music is as old as rock and roll itself. I've tried to steer away from too many obvious songs (note absence of Wanted: Dead or Alive and Bat Out of Hell), but the Shangri-Las is a must. Also of interest is reggae's fascination with the iron horse, although I couldn't find a dub paean the the Suzuki. Let's kick-start the programme with the Beach Boys....

1. Little Honda, The Beach Boys, All Summer Long, 1964, Capitol
2. Leader Of The Pack, The Shangri-Las, 7", 1964, Red Bird
3. Motorcycle Irene, Moby Grape, Wow, 1968, Columbia
4. Devil's Motorcycle, The Chocolate Watchband, One Step Beyond, 1969, Tower
5. High Heeled Wheels, Neon Boys, The Neon Boys/Richard Hell and the Voidoids, 1973, Shake
6. Yamaha Skank, Shorty the President, 7", 1973, Soul City
7. Motorbikin', Chris Spedding, Chris Spedding, 1975, RAK
8. CB 200, Dillinger, CB 200, 1976, Island
9. Ghost Rider, Suicide, Suicide, 1977, Red Star
10. Motorcycle Mama, Neil Young, Comes a Time, 1978, Reprise
11. Motorbike Beat, The Revillos, 7", 1980, Snatzo
12. Drive Blind, Ride, 12", 1990, Creation
13. Speeding motorcycle, The Pastels, 7", 1991, Paperhouse
14. 1952 Vincent Black Lightning, Richard Thompson, Rumor And Sigh, 1991, Capitol
15. Superbike, Fat Truckers, Coletten No.3, 2003, Roadtrain
16. The Motorcycle Song, Richard Hawley, Lowedges, 2003, Setanta

Normal service has been resumed

After being away for couple of weeks, the last few programmes are now up and running. Also, as pointed out by C, the Under the Covers edition cut off after the Spacemen 3 tune. Hopefully, that has now been fixed.

However, there may be some disruption in the coming weeks as the Acik Radyo studio has been forced to move in order to make way for a hotel (as if this city needs another one). And while we're talking of the best open access radio station in Turkey, the new book celebrating the 15-year history of the station and the people behind it is out now.

Inexplicably, I can't seem to post comments in response to yours. Perhaps someone can tell me why, but in the meantime, thanks for you remarks and keep them coming. Feedback is always appreciated, not least to reassure me that someone/anyone is actually listening.

FX, noodling by illusion

The Boss. (pic courtesy of luigi at www.guitarfx.it)

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This weeks we will be listening to the wonderful and frightening world of effects; those handy go-to studio gadgets that are always there when original ideas aren't. From the early days of tape recording effects (turning the tape over to get that swooshy backwards sound, a la J. Hendrix) to the horrific quantities of crisp, sparkling digital reverb (Bongwater). So, gaze at your shoes and we will begin.

1. Are You Experienced, Jimi Hendrix, Are You Experienced, 1967, Track (Backwards masking)
2. Rainbow Chaser, Nirvana UK, All Of Us, 1968, Island (Tape phase)
3. 1969, The Stooges, The Stooges, 1969, Elektra (Wah)
4. Well Alright, Blind Faith, Blind Faith, 1970, Polydor (Roto-cabinet)
5. Roxette, Dr Feelgood, Down By The Jetty, 1975, United Artists (Overdrive)
6. 49 Cigars, Nick Nicely, 7", 1982, EMI (Flange)
7. Passion Of Lovers, Bauhaus, 1979-1983, 1985, Beggars Banquet (Chorus)
8. Little Lighthouse, The Dukes of the Stratosphear, Psonic Psunspot, 1987, Virgin (Tremolo)
9. Too Much Sleep, Bongwater, Too Much Sleep, 1989, Shimmy Disc (Reverb)
10. A Little Lost, Arthur Russell, Another Thought, 1994, Point Music (Echo)
11. The Equator, Tortoise, TNT, 1998, Thrill Jockey (Envelope filter)
12. Black Cobra Pt. 2, Curly Davis and The Uniques, Chains and Black Exhaust, 2002, Memphix (Desk fuzz)
13. Pendulum, Broadcast, Ha Ha Sound, 2003, Warp (Delay)
14. Coast To Coast, Elliott Smith, From A Basement On The Hill, 2004, Domino, (Double-tracked vocal)

Nice and Sleazy

It is with regret that TUWSJ learned that Peter Christopherson, founding member of Throbbing Gristle and Coil, passed away on November 24, 2010. His contribution to electronic and avant garde music is immeasurable.

Guitar Hereos

The master

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This week, a listen to some serious axemanship. From the glorious g-string twanging of the 1950s through the raucous dueling of Wayne Kramer and Sonic Smith on The MC5's American Ruse to the measured performances of Verlaine and Lloyd. The Easybeats' Sorry must surely feature the best sounding guitar intro of all time. Comments greatly appreciated. A thoroughly riff-tastic 50 minutes.

1. Rebel Rouser, Duane Eddy, Rebel Rouser, 1958, London
2. Rumble, Link Wray, 7", 1958, Cadence
3. Sorry, The Easybeats, 7", 1966, Parlophone
4. Nobody, Johnny Guitar Watson, 7", 1967, Okeh
5. Sudden Life, Man, Revelation, 1969, Pye,
6. The American Ruse, MC5, Back In The USA, 1970, Atlantic
7. Cannabis (Instrumental), Serge Gainsbourg, Cannabis, 1970, Phillips
8. Bootie Cooler, Shuggie Otis, Here Comes Shuggie Otis, 1970, Epic
9. Down on the Street, The Stooges, Fun House, 1970, Elektra
10. Laundromat, Rory Gallagher, Rory Gallagher, 1971, Chrysalis
11. In The Street, Big Star, #1 Record, 1972, Ardent,
12. Black Maria, Todd Rundgren, Something/Anything?, 1972, Bearsville
13. Motorbikin', Chris Spedding, Chris Spedding, 1975, RAK,
14. 10538 Overture, Electric Light Orchestra, Light Years, 1977, Harvest
15. Killer Without a Cause, Thin Lizzy, Bad Reputation, 1977, Vertigo
16. Foxhole, Television, Adventure, 1978, Elektra

Under the covers

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This programme is the first of the new season. Not that you'd notice after such smooth transition. Taking the baton from former guest Etien Rodes some months ago, this week's show presents 5o minutes of cover versions. We've heard the Vandellas classic version of Heatwave, so here is the Who's amphetamine-fueled response. Also on offer is the Residents' chilling This is a Man's Man's Man's Man's World.

1. Heat Wave, The Who, A Quick One, 1966, Reaction
2. Summertime Blues, Blue Cheer, Vincebus Eruptum, 1968, Phillips
3. Kentucky Woman, Deep Purple, The Book Of Taliesyn, 1968, Harvest
4. I'll Keep It With Mine, Nico, Chelsea Girl, 1968, Verve
5. Dear Landlord, Fairport Convention, Unhalfbricking, 1969, Island
6. I See You, Yes, Yes, 1969, Atlantic
7. I'm a Believer, Robert Wyatt, 7", 1974, Virgin
8. David Watts, The Jam, All Mod Cons, 1978, Polydor
9. Goldfinger, Magazine, Touch and Go 7", 1978, Virgin
10. This is a Man's Man's Man's Man's World, The Residents, 7", 1984, Ralph
11. Mary Anne, Spacemen 3, Sound Of Confusion, 1986, Fire
12. Just Got Paid, Rapeman, Two Nuns and a Pack Mule, 1989, Touch and Go,
13. Superstar, Sonic Youth, If I were a Carpenter, 1994, A&M
14. Leave Them All Behind, Whitey, The Light at the End of the Tunnel is a Train, 2004, 1234

Pick of the season

Like these songs, or else

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It's the end of season 4 of Tighten Up with Simon Johns. And so, as is customary by now, here are the best and the favourites of the last 26 weeks of programmes. Not only is this another chance to listen to Dream Boy and Magic Potion, but it's also a first outing for Rise by Louie and the Lovers and Taxi Dancer (for Mrs Johns). See you next season and thanks for listening.

1. Revival Of The Cat, Jan Akkerman, Talent For Sale, 1968, EMI
2. Reflections Of Yesterday, The Three Degrees, What I See 7", 1970, Neptune
3. The Kid, Andre Brasseur, 7", 1966, Decca
4. Love Comes in Spurts, Neon Boys, E.P., 1973, Shake
5. Dream Boy, Jackie DeShannon, 7", 1965,
6. Mary Clark, Black Widow, Black Widow, 1971, CBS
7. I Just Don't Know, Banchee, Banchee, 1969, Atlantic
8. Magic Potion, The Open Mind, The Open Mind, 1969, Philips
9. Easy To Slip, Little Feat, Sailin' Shoes, 1972, Warner
10. Here Come the People In Grey, The Kinks, Muswell Hillbillies, 1971, Pye
11. From A Silver Phial, Gene Clark, No Other, 1974, Asylum
12. Rise, Louie & The Lovers, Rise, 1970, Epic
13. Falling In Love, American Spring, It's Not That Bad, 1973, Columbia
14. Vivo Ou Morto, Nelson Angelo & Joyce, Nelson Angelo e Joyce, 1972, Odeon
15. Uptown Top Rankin, Althea & Donna, 7", 1977, Lightning
16. Camera Camera, The Teardrop Explodes, 7", 1979, Zoo
17. Taxi Dancer, Shaun Cassidy, Under Wraps, 1978, Warner

Thinking man's pop

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This week we pay homage to the clever clogs of popular music; those musicians who are a cut above the vox populi. First, the quintessential art school brigade, Roxy Music (probably the finest band name in the world), the move through the intellectual heavy weights of Eno, Talk Talk and XTC. We close with a song by The Week That Was from the only contemporary record I've liked in many years. I also had the pleasure of treading the same broads with them during Stereolab's European tour in 2008.Also, many thanks to Alex for suggesting King in a Catholic Style by China Crisis. It's a firm fixture on the Maison Johns play list. (Update: What no The The? Next time, perhaps)

1. Virginia Plain, Roxy Music, Roxy Music, 1972, Island
2. St. Elmo's Fire, Brian Eno, Another Green World, 1975, Island
3. I'm Mandy Fly Me, 10cc, How Dare You!, 1976, Mercury
4. Solsbury Hill, Peter Gabriel, Peter Gabriel, 1977, Atco
5. Enola Gay, OMD, Organisation, 1980, DinDisc
6. Once in a Lifetime, Talking Heads, Remain In Light, 1980, Sire
7. Rip it up, Orange Juice, Rip It Up, 1982, Polydor
8. Mirror Man, Talk Talk, The Party's Over, 1982, EMI
9. Mad World, Tears For Fears, 7", 1982, Mercury
10. The First Picture Of You, Lotus Eaters, 7", 1983, Sylvan
11. King in a Catholic Style, China Crisis, Flaunt The Imperfection, 1985, Virgin
12. Horse Overboard, Microdisney, The Clock Comes Down The Stairs, 1985, Rough Trade
13. King for a Day, XTC, Oranges and Lemons, 1989, Virgin
14. Scratch The Surface, The Week That Was, The Week That Was, 2008, Memphis Industries

Yackety yack

The delectable Chiffons

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With my faltering infirm voice, we're going to keep the chat to a minimum this week. Here are 50 minutes of song about the gentle art of conversation. From the silvered-tongued Sweet Talkin' Guy to the quaint Conversation Piece by D. Bowie.

1. Sweet Talkin' Guy, The Chiffons, 7", 1963, Laurie
2. We Can Talk, The Band, Music From Big Pink, 1968, Capitol
3. You're My Girl (I Don't Want to Discuss It), Rhinoceros, Rhinoceros, 1968, Elektra
4. Talk to me, Al Green, Green is Blues, 1969, Hi
5. Conversation Piece, David Bowie, Space Oddity, 1969, RCA
6. Everybody's Talkin', Elephants Memory, Songs From Midnight Cowboy Plus, 1969, Buddah
7. Communication Breakdown, Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin I, 1969, Atlantic
8. Nothing To Say, Jethro Tull, Benefit , 1970, Island
9. Small Town Talk, Bobby Charles, Bobby Charles , 1972, Bearsville
10. New York Telephone Conversation, Lou Reed, Transformer, 1972, RCA
11. Speakin' Out, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Tonight's the Night, 1977, Reprise
12. Small Talk Stinks, Bauhaus, In the Flat Field, 1980, 4AD
13. It's My Life, Talk Talk, It's My Life, 1984, EMI
14. Talk About The Weather, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, Talk About The Weather, 1985, Red Rhino
15. Some Candy Talking, The Jesus & Mary Chain, Darklands, 1987, Blanco Y Negro

Cold

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It's cold season. So to ease your journey into the depths of snotland, here are 15 tunes to help you get there and back again. We've heard Dr. Strangely Strange and The Other Half before on TUWSJ, and we have a double bill from Little Feat.

1. Strangely Strange But Oddly Normal, Dr. Strangely Strange, Kip of the Serenes, 1969, Island
2. Here Comes Sickness, Mudhoney, Mudhoney, 1989, Sub Pop
3. Chest Fever, The Band, Music From Big Pink, 1968, Capitol
4. Coming Down, The United States Of America, The United States Of America, 1967, CBS
5. Mr. Pharmacist, The Other Half, Nuggets, Disc Four, 1966, GNP
6. Rock and Roll Doctor, Little Feat, Feats Don't Fail Me Now, 1974, Warner
7. How Does It Feel?, The Creation, We Are Painter Men, 1967, Hit-Ton
8. Underground Medicine, The Fall, Live At The Witch Trials, 1978, Step Forward
9. You're My Drug, The Dukes of the Stratosphear, Psonic Psunspot, 1987, Virgin
10. Cold, Cold, Cold, Little Feat, Sailin' Shoes, 1972, Warner
11. Still Ill, The Smiths, The Smiths, 1984, Rough Trade
12. Superbad, James Brown, 7", 1970, King
13. My Death, Scott Walker, Scott, 1967, Phillips
14. I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better, The Byrds, Mr Tambourine Man, 1965, Columbia
15. The Kids Are Alright, The Who, The Who Sings My Generation, 1966, Brunswick

Independence day

Quintessential Indie style

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To mark the independence of Istanbul from the tyranny (and orderliness) of the British occupation, it's indie week. So shake the mothballs off your brown cardigan, scuff up your Doc Martens and get yourself a bottle of Thunderbird blue. A few gems, including the Flatmates, who I saw at the Rumble Club in T. Wells in 1989. I became very drunk on sweet cider and remember little of the gig, except that it was very, very trebly. I even don't remember my girlfriend at the back of the hall copping off with some other bloke.

1. The Cutter, Echo & The Bunnymen, Porcupine, 1983, Korova
2. Draygo's Guilt, The Fall, The Wonderful and Frightening World of the Fall, 1984, Beggars Banquet
3. Bachelor Kisses, The Go Betweens, Spring Hill Fare, 1984, Sore
4. You've Got Everything Now, The Smiths, The Smiths, 1984, Rough Trade
5. The Great Escape, The Chills, Kaleidoscope World , 1986, Creation/Flying Nun
6. Could You be the One?, Hüsker Dü, Warehouse: Songs and Stories, 1987, Warner
7. Darklands, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Darklands, 1987, Blanco Y Negro
8. Take Me To The Other Side, Spacemen 3, The Perfect Prescription, 1987, Fire
9. Pond Song, Dinosaur Jr, Bug, 1988, SST
10. Heaven Knows, The Flatmates, 12”, 1988, The Subway Organization
11. Where Is My Mind?, Pixies, Surfer Rosa, 1988, 4AD
12. Drive Blind, Ride, 12", 1990, Creation
13. Every Picture I Paint, Teenage Fanclub, A Catholic Education, 1990, Paperhouse
14. Only Shallow, My Bloody Valentine, Loveless, 1991, Creation

Sensitivities

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This week, let’s get all touchy feely while listening to 50 minutes of songs about senses. If you thought there were five senses, you’re way off. Apparently, there are more than 12, not including a sense of humour or common sense. On the play list are a few oddities this week, including Tony Clarke and Medway's finest Mod-revivalists The Prisoners. If anyone out there as a few more tracks by them, drop me a line. We close the programme with an obvious pick, but a classic.

1. How Does It Feel?, The Creation, We Are Painter Men, 1967, Hit-Ton
2. Just To See You, Alex Chilton, 1970, 1996, Ardent
3. A Taste of Pink, Prisoners, A Taste of Pink, 1982, Big Beat
4. Touch Me I'm Sick, Mudhoney, Superfuzz Bigmuff, 1990, Sub Pop
5. I Hear You Calling, Bill Fay, Time of the Last Persecution, 1971, Deram
6. Sigh’s smell of farewell, Cocteau Twins, Love's Easy Tears, 1986, 4AD
7. Balance, Funkadelic, America Eats Its Young, 1972, Westbound
8. Feel the heat, Bill Summers, Feel the heat, 1977, Prestige
9. Move Move Move, Alan Hawkshaw, Mo’Hawk, 2003, RPM/Cherry Red
10. Feel the Pain, Dinosaur Jr, Without A Sound, 1995, Blanco y Negro/Sire
11. (No Conception) No Sense Of Direction, Tony Clarke, (They Call Me A) Wrong Man 7", 1968, MS
12. Sense Of Purpose, The Pop Group, For How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder?, 1980, Rough Trade
13. See Me Feel Me, The Who, 7", 1970, Polydor
14. The Good Humor Man He Sees Everything Like This, Love, Forever Changes, 1967, Elektra
15. Senses Working Overtime, XTC, English Settlement, 1982, Virgin

The rag tirade

Microsoft man

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I have of late begun to wear the chinos and shirt uniform of the damned you see above (I always had the smug grin). Once you go slacks, you never go back – there's just so much more room to manoeuvre. So in honour of my sartorial demise, this week we present 50 years of songs in 50 minutes about clothes. From Goodbye Pork Pie Hat by Charles Mingus to Bellbottoms by the Blues Explosion.
If you can survive the Teutonic vocal style of Renate Knaup-Krötenschwanz, the Amon Düül II tune has some pretty moments of classic Kosmiche rock. And, of course, the programme is peppered with a few indispensable classics: Hand in Glove, Dedicated Follower of Fashion and Ants in My Pants. Is that US pants or UK pants?

1. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat, Charles Mingus, Mingus, Ah Um, 1959, Columbia
2. Hard Sock Dance, Quincy Jones and his Orchestra, Quintessence, 1961, Impulse!
3. Boot-Leg, Booker T and The MGs, 7", 1965, Stax
4. Dedicated Follower Of Fashion, The Kinks, The Kink Kontroversy, 1965, Pye
5. High Fashion Queen, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Burrito Deluxe, 1970, A&M
6. Green Bubble Raincoated Man, Amon Düül II, Wolf City, 1972, United Artists
7. Ants In My Pants, James Brown, 7", 1972, Polydor
8. Blue Jeans And Moonbeams, Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band, Blue Jeans And Moonbeams, 1974, Virgin
9. Tell Me Your Plans, The Shirts, The Shirts, 1978, Harvest
10. I Hate the Universe, The Cravats, Burning Bridges, 7", 1979, Small Wonder
11. Tomorrow Night, Shoes, Present Tense, 1979, Elektra
12. Baggy Trousers, Madness Absolutely, 1980, Stiff
13. Hand In Glove, The Smiths, The Smiths, 1984, Rough Trade
14. T-Shirt Tucked In, Huggy Bear, Our Troubled Youth (split), 1993, Catcall
15. Bellbottoms, The Jon Spenser Blues Explosion, Orange, 1994, Matador

Far out!

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Let's freak out and take a 50-minute journey to the centre of our minds and back again. On the way we'll listen to a few classics and a couple of rare gems, such as the first track, Get High by Gran Am, lifted from a compilation called Chains and Black Exhaust. I wonder why the production is a bit wonky.

1. Get High, Gran Am, Chains and Black Exhaust, 2002, Memphix
2. Eric's Trip, Sonic Youth, Daydream Nation, 1988, Enigma/Blast First
3. Yellow Brick Road, Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band, Safe As Milk 1967, Buddah
4. Journey To The Centre Of The Mind, The Amboy Dukes, Journey To The Centre Of The Mind, 1968, Mainstream
5. Expecting to Fly, Buffalo Springfield, Again, 1967, Atco
6. Bike Ride To The Moon, The Dukes of the Stratosphear, 25 o'clock, 1985, Virgin
7. Traveling, Eden Rose, On the Way to Eden, 1969, Katema
8. Out There, Dinosaur Jr, Where You Been?, 1993, Blanco y Negro/Sire
9. Run, Spiritualized, Lazer Guided Melodies, 1992, Dedicated
10. One With The Freaks, The Notwist, Neo Golden, 2002, Virgin
11. Coming Down, The United States Of America, The United States Of America, 1967, CBS
12. A Little Lost, Arthur Russell, Another Thought, 1994, Point Music
13. Can't Find My Way Home, Blind Faith, Blind Faith, 1970, Polydor
14. Time, Dennis Wilson, Pacific Ocean Blue, 1977, Caribou

Back to the country

Clarence White with the Gene Parsons b-bender Telecaster

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Another stroll down the country road. From a play list largely suggested by my sister, here's 50 minutes of music from the good old boys. Featured twice this week is the peerless playing of Clarence White. First, barely out of his teens playing with the Kentucky Colonels and then with the Byrds, three years before he lost his life.

1. In the Pines, The Louvin Brothers, Tragic Songs of Life, 1956, Capitol
2. Listen To The Mocking Bird, Kentucky Colonels, Appalachian Swing!, 1964, World Pacific
3. The Race is On, George Jones, The Race is On, 1965, United Artist
4. Long Black Veil, The Band, Music From Big Pink, 1968, Capitol
5. No Longer A Sweetheart Of Mine, Dillard and Clark, The Fantastic Expedition Of Dillard and Clark, 1969, A&M
6. Galveston, Glen Campbell, 7", 1969, Capitol
7. Mama Tried, Merle Haggard, Okie From Muskogee, 1969, Capitol
8. Yesterday's Train, The Byrds, Untitled, 1970, Columbia
9. Tennessee Stud, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Will The Circle Be Unbroken, 1972,
10. United Artists
11. Pancho and Lefty, Townes Van Zandt, The Late Great Townes Van Zandt, 1972,
12. Tomato
13. Boulder to Birmingham, Emmylou Harris, Pieces of the Sky, 1975, Reprise
14. Me and Paul, Willie Nelson, Me and Paul, 1985, S and P
15. Carrie Brown, Del McCoury and Steve Earle, The Mountain, 1999, E-Squared
16. I Am Weary, Let Me Rest, The Cox Family, O Brother, Where Art Thou? (OST), 2000, Mercury
17. Van Lear Rose, Loretta Lynn, Van Lear Rose, 2004, Interscope
18. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, The Band, The Band, 1969, Capitol

Rough Trade records

Neil Megson and Geoff Travis discuss hair dos

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A selection of my favourite tracks from the Rough Trade vaults. We can't take a listen to the Rough Trade catalog without the first song, Nag Nag Nag by Cabaret Votaire – a song that could stand as the manifesto for the label. It was also a favourite pick from my employer Tim Gane when he appeared on the programme at the start of 2010.

1. Nag Nag Nag, Cabaret Voltaire, 7", 1978
2. Skank Bloc Bologna, Scritti Politti, 7", 1978
3. Alternative Ulster, Stiff Little Fingers, 7", 1978
4. Mind Your Own Business, Delta 5, 7", 1979
5. Quality Crayon Wax O.K., Essential Logic, Beat Rhythm News - Waddle Ya, Pay?, 1979
6. The Monochrome Set, The Monochrome Set, 7", 1979
7. Shouting Out Loud, The Raincoats, Odyshape, 1981
8. This Angry Silence, Television Personalities, And Don't the Kids Just Love It, 1981
9. Shipbuilding, Robert Wyatt, Nothing Can Stop Us, 1982
10. I Feel Voxish, The Fall, Perverted By Language, 1983
11. Cattle And Cane, The Go Betweens, Before Hollywood, 1983
12. Stunn/Rough Trade
13. Well Well Well, The Woodentops, 7", 1985
14. Never Had No One Ever, The Smiths, The Queen Is Dead, 1986
15. Blue Thunder, Galaxie 500, On Fire, 1989
16. Vacuum In My Head, Pere Ubu, Raygun Suitcase, 1995

Where nearly classic rock rocks

Lowell George of Little Feat

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Where almost classic rock rocks, and this time I mean it, man. 50 minutes of gear sounds from the good old days when songs were real songs and real men wore dungarees. The big noise of this play list is Big Star, but give the Joe Walsh and Bobby Charles songs a good listen and they'll grow on you.

1. The Sad Bag Of Shaky Jake, Humble Pie, Town And Country, 1969, Immediate
2. Backsliding Fearlessly, Mott The Hoople, Mott The Hoople (Remaster Version), 1969, Island
3. One Toke Over the Line, Brewer and Shipley, Tarkio, 1970, Karma Sutra
4. The Ballad Of El Goodo, Big Star, #1 Record, 1972, Ardent
5. Street People, Bobby Charles, Bobby Charles , 1972, Bearsville
6. Silver Pistol, Brinsley Schwarz, Silver Pistol, 1972, United Artists
7. Birdcall Morning, Joe Walsh, Barnstorm, 1972, ABC
8. Easy To Slip, Little Feat, Sailin' Shoes, 1972, Warner
9. It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference, Todd Rundgren, Something/Anything?, 1972, Bearsville
10. Mystifies Me, Ron Wood, I've Got My Own Album to Do, 1974, Warner
11. Heavenly Homes, Be Bop Deluxe, Sunburst Finish, 1976, Harvest
12. Dreamer, Dennis Wilson, Pacific Ocean Blue, 1977, Caribou
13. Ricky Don't Lose that Number, Steely Dan, Aja, 1977, ABC
14. Against The Wind, Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band, Against The Wind, 1980, Capitol

It girls

The spectacular Ronettes

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Let's listen to the It Girls. This week, we have 20 years of girl groups in 50 minutes, including the incredible singer songwriter Jackie DeShannon performing my new favourite tune Dream Boy. Also on the slate are some heavy weights – Julie Driscoll and ESG.

1. Call On Me, Barbara Mercer, 7", Sidra
2. Crying All By Myself, Wendy Rene, 7", Stax/Volt
3. Dream Boy, Jackie DeShannon, 7", 1964
4. I'll Keep Holding On, The Marvelettes, 7", 1965, Tamla
5. A Lovers Concerto, The Toys, 7", 1965, DynoVoice
6. Some Things Just Stick In Your Mind, Vashti Bunyan, 7", 1965, Decca
7. These Days, Nico, Chelsea Girl, 1967, Verve
8. You're Gonna Make Me Love You, Sandi Sheldon, 7", 1967, Okeh
9. Any Way That You Want Me, Evie Sands, 7", 1969, A&M
10. Genesis Hall, Fairport Convention, Unhalfbricking, 1969, Island
11. I Know You Love Me Not, Julie Driscoll, Jules & Brian, 1969, Polydor
12. Philosophy Of The World , The Shaggs, Philosophy Of The World, 1969, Third Word
13. Clean Up Woman, Betty Wright, 7", 1971, Alston
14. I'm Gonna Run Away From You, Tami Lynn, 7", 1971, Atlantic
15. Falling In Love, American Spring, It's Not That Bad, 1973, Columbia
16. Corista De Rock, Rita Lee, Arrombou a festa 7", 1976, Som Livre
17. Instant hit, The Slits, Cut, 1979, Island
18. Dance, ESG, Come Away With ESG, 1983, 99

Ha Ha sounds

A madcap handstand

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This week, we listen to the hilarity of rock and roll. A somewhat obvious choice from the Madcap Laughs, yet still a great tune and dedicated to TUWSJ listener Ed. I also couldn't resist the opportunity to play a track from the Bedazzled OST. "You fill me with inertia" must surely be the finest lyric of all time.

1. Be Serious, Robert Wyatt, Comicopera, 2007, Domino
2. Ha Ha Said The Clown, The Yardbirds, 7", 1967, Capitol
3. Funny Face (stereo), The Kinks, Something Else By The Kinks, 1967, Pye
4. Giggy Smile, Faust, Faust IV, 1973, Virgin
5. Preciso Urgentemente Encontrar, Os Mutantes, A Divina Comédia Ou Ando Meio
6. Desligado, 1970, Polydor
7. Laughing Man, Bill Fay, Time of the Last Persecution, 1971, Deram
8. Eddie, Are You kidding?, Frank Zappa, Just another band from LA, 1972, Bizarre/Reprise
9. Terrapin, Syd Barrett, The Madcap Laughs, 1970, Harvest
10. Laugh Till You Cry Live Till You Die, Can, Flow Motion, 1976, Virgin
11. That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore, The Smiths, Meat Is Murder, 1985, Rough Trade
12. No Fun, The Stooges, The Stooges, 1969, Elektra
13. Eulogy To Lenny Bruce, Nico, Chelsea Girl, 1968, Verve
14. Look Back and Laugh, Minor Threat, Out Of Step, 1983, Dischord
15. Bedazzled, Peter Cook, Bedazzled (OST), 1968, London
16. Turn to Red, Killing Joke, Turn To Red, 1979, Malicious Damage

Lucky Jim

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Are you feeling lucky, punk? Chance would be a fine thing. So, here's 50 minutes of songs related to kismet, from the Shirley Bassey's big-band groove Spinning Wheel to the Lucky Number of former Hull resident Lene Lovich. She's been on the programme before, and on the Heart and Hand juke box for a decade, but Betty Davis is always worth another listen.

1. Spinning Wheel, Shirley Bassey, Something, 1970, United Artists
2. If I'm Lucky (I Might Get Picked Up), Betty Davis, Betty Davis, 1973, Just Sunshine
3. The Unlucky Heroes, John Barry, The Persuaders! (OST), 1971, CBS
4. Contort Yourself, James Chance & The Contortions, Buy, 1979, ZE
5. No Matter What, Badfinger, No Dice, 1970, Apple
6. Simple twist of fate, Bob Dylan, Blood on the tracks, 1975, Columbia
7. Mr. Mudd & Mr. Gold, Townes Van Zandt, Live At The Old Quarter, Houston, Texas, 1977, Tomato
8. Outside Chance, Warren Zevon, The First Sessions, 1965, Varese Vintage
9. Tumbling Dice, Linda Ronstadt, Simple Dreams, 1977, Asylum
10. Born to Be Lucky, Jim Reeves, Kimberly Jim, 1964, RCA
11. Hard Luck, The Undertones, Hypnotised, 1980, Sire
12. Hope For Happiness, Soft Machine, The Soft Machine, 1968, ABC/Probe
13. Wishing Well, Bert Jansch, Birthday Blues, 1969, Transatlantic
14. Take A Chance With Me, Roxy Music, Avalon, 1982, Island
15. Life's A Gamble, Penetration, 7", 1978, Virgin
16. Lucky Number, Lene Lovich, Stateless, 1979, Stiff

Labour Pains

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All work and no play makes Jack incapable of being able to rhyme. Yet again, Mrs Johns and I are on holiday, so here's a programme about our seeming inability to work for prolonged periods without the need for an extended rest. I'm not entirely convince by the sentiment of Right To Work by Chelsea, but I am convinced by the song. Another favourite this week is the Feelies tune. Worth seeking out the whole record. After all this typing, I need a lie down.

1. Summertime Blues, Blue Cheer, Vincebus Eruptum, 1968, Phillips
2. The Book Lovers, Broadcast, Work And Non Work, 1997, Warp
3. Work Out, Alan Hawkshaw, The Big Beat, 1969, KPM
4. Money In My Pocket, U Roy and Dennis Brown
5. Forces at Work, The Feelies, Crazy Rhythms, 1980, Stiff
6. Operator's Manual, Buzzcocks, Love Bites, 1978, United Artists
7. Plastic Factory, Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band, Safe As Milk, 1967, Buddah
8. Factory Grime, Crushed Butler, 1970, EMI
9. Repetition, The Fall, Psycho Mafia EP, 1978, Step Forward
10. My Hands Are Yellow (From the Job That I Do), The Del-Byzanteens, Girl's Imagination 12", 1981, DFOTM
11. Lost My Job, Alex Chilton, 19 Years: A Collection Of Alex Chilton, 1985, Rhino
12. Right to Work, Chelsea, 7", 1977, Step Forward
13. Part Of The Union, The Strawbs, Bursting At The Seams, 1973, A&M
14. Take This Job and Shove It, Dead Kennedys, Bedtime For Democracy, 1986 Alternative Tentacle

Heat wave

Martha Reeves singing Heat Wave

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Phew, what a scorcher. Well, in this part of the world anyway. No doubt our British listeners are inside with central heating on full blast, waiting for the rain to stop so they can go out and wash the car. So let's have 50 minutes of blistering tracks about heat. Chris Stamey has been on before on the power pop programme, but this is a first outing on the TUWSJ for the original industrialists Throbbing Gristle. (Update: R.I.P. Peter Christopherson).

1. The Summer Sun, Chris Stamey, 7", 1977, Ork
2. (Love is Like A) Heatwave, Martha Reeves and The Vandellas, 7", 1963, Motown
3. Hot on the Heels of Love, Throbbing Gristle, 20 Jazz Funk Greats, 1979, Industrial
4. Hot Head, Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band, Doc at the Radar Station, 1980, Virgin
5. Sweat Loaf, Butthole Surfers, Locust Abortion Technician, 1987, Touch and Go
6. Step Into The Breeze, Spiritualized, Lazer Guided Melodies, 1992, Dedicated
7. Take me to the River, Al Green, Al Green Explores Your Mind, 1974, Hi
8. So Hot (Wash Away All Of My Tears), Spacemen 3, Playing With Fire, 1989, Fire
9. Peaches en Regalia, Frank Zappa, Hot Rats, 1969, Reprise
10. Red Hot Indians, Can, Landed, 1975, Virgin
11. Baby's On Fire, Brian Eno, Here Come the Warm Jets, 1973, Island
12. Icebag, Canned Heat, Livin' the Blues, 1968, Liberty
13. Heat Miser, Massive Attack, Protection, 1998, Island
14. White Light/White Heat, The Velvet Underground, White Light/White Heat, 1968, Verve
15. Fire With Fire, The Gossip, Standing In The Way Of Control, 2006, Kill Rock Stars

Bastille Day de nouveu

Liberte, fraternite, duck pate

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It was Bastille Day this week, and again we found ourselves at the French Palace, plate in hand, awaiting the orgy of cheese, pate and champagne. Every other blighter in the city had exactly the same idea. There is a narrative thread to the songs, albeit rather vague, since it was somewhat tricky getting enough songs together.

1. Peasant in the Big Shitty, The Stranglers, No More Heroes, 1977, United Artists
2. Storming the Bastille, A Day In Black and White, My Heroes Have Always Killed Cowboys, 2004, Level Plain
3. Degree Zero Of Liberty, Porcupine Tree, The Incident, 2008, Road Runner
4. The Sweetest Sound of Liberty, Triumvirat, Spartacus, 1975, Capitol
5. Freedom, Edgar Broughton Band, Sing Brother Sing, 1970, Harvest
6. Forces of Victory, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Forces Of Vicory, 1985, Island
7. Powerman, The Kinks, Lola Versus Powerman And The Moneygoround, 1970, Pye
8. Heads Will Roll, Echo and the Bunnymen, Porcupine, 1983, Korova
9. Madame Guillotine, The Legendary Pink Dots, Nine Lives To Wonder, 1994,
10. Start Choppin', Dinosaur Jr, Where You Been?, 1993, Blanco y Negro/Sire
11. The Internationale, Robert Wyatt, EPs, 1999, Rough Trade
12. Socialist, Public Image Ltd, Metal Box, 1979, Virgin
13. The Old Revolution, The Rebel, Prawns, ,
14. Don't Worry About the Government, Talking Heads, Talking Heads 77, 1977, Sire

Harvest records

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50 minutes of songs from the Harvest vaults. The label was set up in 1969 by EMI as an attempt to cash in on the new progressive rock sound and to give Philips' Vertigo and Decca's Deram/Nova imprints a run for their money. It ceased releasing new material in 1984, yet can still be found on reissues. And yes, the programme does close with Duran Duran. It's not a bad tune, honest.

1. Listen Learn Read On, Deep Purple, The Book Of Taliesyn, 1968
2. Careful With That Axe, Eugene, Pink Floyd, 7", 1968
3. Religious Experience (Singing A Song in the Morning) Featuring Syd Barrett, Kevin Ayers, Joy of a Toy, 1969
4. Baby Lemonade, Syd Barrett, Barrett, 1970
5. Hell's Angels, Roy Harper, Flat Baroque and Berserk, 1970
6. Glenlogie, Shirley and Dolly Collins, Love, Death And The Lady, 1970
7. There's No Vibrations But Wait!, Edgar Broughton Band, Sing Brother Sing, 1970
8. Bubbles, Janus, Gravedigger, 1972
9. Axe Victim, Be Bop Deluxe, Axe Victim, 1974
10. 10538 Overture, Electric Light Orchestra, Light Years, 1977
11. This Perfect Day, The Saints, 7", 1977
12. Outdoor Miner, Wire, Chairs Missing, 1978
13. Planet Earth (Single Version), Duran Duran, 1981

Birthday blues

Burt Jansch's response to turning 30. I just got drunk.

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It's my birthday, and so I'm upset. Here is 50 minutes of songs about the passing of the years. If I make it to 74, I'm technically middle aged. How depressing.

1. Eighteen is Over The Hill, West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band, Volume 3: A Child's Guide to Good and Evil, 1968, Reprise
2. Reelin' in the Years, Steely Dan, Can't Buy A Thrill, 1973, ABC
3. Tomorrow's Dreams, Black Sabbath, Vol.4, 1972, Vertigo
4. Feel So Sad (7" Version), Spiritualized, The Complete Works Volume One, 1991, Fierce
5. Grow Too Old, Bobby Charles, Bobby Charles , 1972, Bearsville
6. Star Sign, Teenage Fanclub, Bandwagonesque, 1991, Creation
7. Easy To Slip, Little Feat, Sailin' Shoes, 1972, Warner
8. Raining in my Heart, Robert Wyatt, Cuckooland, 2003, Domino
9. I Am Lonely, Bert Jansch, Birthday Blues, 1969, Transatlantic
10. Cry, The Birthday Party, Prayers On Fire, 1981, 4AD
11. Tears Of Rage, Gene Clark, White Light, 1971, A&M
12. How To Make A Sad Man Glad, Capreez, 7", 1967, Sound
13. Old man going, The Pretty Things, S.F. Sorrow Is Born, 1968, Columbia
14. Graveyard, Public Image Ltd, Metal Box, 1979, Virgin
15. Days, The Kinks, The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society, 1968, Pye

In the presence of the lord

Piss Christ by Andres Serrano

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This week, we take a listen to popular music's sometimes uneasy relationship with all things spiritual. From pleas for mercy after a long night on the medications (Lord can you here me? and Jesus) to treatises of atheist defiance (Dear God and God song).

1. God only knows, The Beach Boys, Pet Sounds, 1966, Capitol
2. Angel of Promise, Peter Thomas Sound Orchestra, Chariots of the Gods, 1970, Polydor
3. Jesus Meu Rei, Marcos Valle, Garra, 1971, EMI
4. In The Spirit, Faust, So Far, 1972, Polydor
5. In The Presence Of The Lord, Blind Faith, Blind Faith, 1970, Polydor
6. Lord, Can You Hear Me?, Spacemen 3, Playing With Fire, 1989, Fire
7. God Song, Matching Mole, Matching Mole's Little Red Record, 1972, CBS
8. Darklands, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Darklands, 1987, Blanco Y Negro
9. Return Of The Grievous Angel, Gram Parsons, Grievous Angel, 1973, Reprise
10. Archangels Thunderbird, Amon Düül II, Yeti, 1970, United Artists
11. Dear God, XTC, Skylarking, 1987, Virgin
12. Jesus, The Velvet Underground, The Velvet Underground, 1969, Verve
13. The Christian Life, The Byrds, Sweetheart Of The Rodeo, 1968, Columbia
14. God's Own Singer, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Burrito Deluxe, A&M
15. Jesus Christ, Big Star, Third (Sister/Lovers), 1974, Ardent
16. Just like heaven, Dinosaur Jr, You're Living All Over Me, 1987, SST

Jerk disco

Liquid Liquid in their heyday

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This week, let's listen 50 minutes of post-punk grooves. A few of these groups have popped up before, but it's a first for many this week, including guitar legend Fred Frith and art-rockers Polyrock. (Update: Ari Up from the Slits, R.I.P, October 2010).

1. Jocko Homo, Devo, Q. Are We Not Men?, 1978, Warner
2. The Modern Dance, Pere Ubu, The Modern Dance, 1978, Blank Records
3. Mind Your Own Business, Delta 5, 7", 1979, Rough Trade
4. Herstory, Flying Lizards, , 1979, Virgin
5. Not great men, Gang of Four, Entertainment, 1979, EMI
6. Shoplifting, The Slits, Cut, 1979, Island
7. Don't cry for me, Fred Frith, Gravity, 1980, Ralph
8. Shut Your Face, Polyrock, Polyrock, 1980, RCA
9. Blind Faith, The Pop Group, For How Much Longer Do We Tollerate Murder? 1980, Rough Trade
10. Shouting Out Loud, The Raincoats, Odyshape, 1981, Sub Pop
11. Moody, ESG, A South Bronx Story, 1982, Soul Jazz
12. Optimo, Liquid Liquid, 12", 1983, 99 Records
13. Hunter Gatherer, Mofungo, Out Of Line, 1983, ZOAR
14. Shadow Of A Doubt, Sonic Youth, Evol, 1986, SST
15. Mess Of My, The Fall, The Complete Peel Sessions [Disc 1], 1987, Strange Fruit

Afeaka!

Fela Kuti at full throttle

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It's Afrobeat week. There's nothing to particularly link these tunes this week, other than they are all infectiously groovy. Particluar highlights are Fela Kuti's Funky Horn and W'awu Do Ho No by Alex Konadu. I cheated slightly with the Afrobeat pastiche tune by the Daktaris but it's still a fly number.

1. Obirin African (Woman of Africa), Afro-Drum Ensemble/Art Blakey, The African Beat, 1962, Blue Note
2. Funky Horn, Fela Kuti and Koola Lobitas, The 1969 Los Angeles Sessions, Barclay
3. Disillusioned, Demon Fuzz, Afreaka!, 1970, Dawn
4. Afro strut, The Nite-Liters, Instrumental Directions, 1972, RCA Victor
5. Headman, Johnny Pate, Shaft In Africa (OST), 1973, MGM
6. Takuta, Olatunji, Soul Makossa, 1973, Paramount
7. Eyi Su Ngaangaa, The Sweet Talks, The Kusum Beat, 1976, Philips/EMI
8. Kwaku Ananse, The Apagya Show Band, Ghana Soundz 2002 Soundway
9. W'awu Do Ho No, Alex Konadu
10. Because Of Money, The 3rd Generation
11. Hole In The Roof, African Head Charge, Great Vintage Volume 1, 1989, On-U Sound
12. Super Afro Beat, The Daktaris, Soul Explosion, 1998, Desco
13. Hussel, Afrikan Boy/M.I.A., Kala, 2007, XL
14. Against The Wall, Jimi Tenor and Tony Allen, Inspiration Information 4, 2009, Strut

The organ donor

Brian Auger shows us his organ

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This week, we take a listen to men and their organs. Most of the rich tones come from the ubiquitous Hammond (Spencer Davis, Brian Auger, Alan Hawkshaw) but check out Joe Meek's Univox Clavioline heard on Telstar by the Tornados, and Andre Brasseur's multi-sound Lowry.

1. Telstar, The Tornados, 7", Decca, 1962
2. All About My Girl, Jimmy McGriff, I've Got a Woman, Sue, 1962
3. The Kid, Andre Brasseur & his Multisound Organ, Palette MPBS-3204, Decca, 1966
4. Love is A Beautiful Thing, The Young Rascals, Collections, Atlantic, 1966
5. I'm A Man, The Spencer Davis Group, 7", Fontana, 1967
6. Get Yourself Together, The Small Faces, Small Faces, Immediate, 1967
7. Hung Up, Salt, 7", Choctaw, 1968
8. The Champ, The Mohawks, The Champ, Pama, 1968
9. Faster and faster, Eden Rose, On the way to Eden, Katema, 1969
10. Indian Rope Man, Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity, Streetnoise, Marmalade, 1969
11. Senior Thump, Alan Hawkshaw, The Big Beat, KPM, 1969
12. Love Song With Flute (Mono), Caravan, Caravan, Verve, 1969
13. Mo' Onions, Booker T & The MGs, The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968, Stax, 1963
14. Hercules, Aaron Neville, Hercules, Mercury, 1973
15. Inspiration Information, Shuggie Otis, Inspiration Information, Epic, 1974
16. Here Comes The Fuzz, DJ Format, Music For The Mature B-Boy, Genuine, 2003

Sex, Ys and videotape

Deniz Baykal: man of action

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This week, we pay tribute the the former leader of Turkey's CHP party, Deniz Baykal. The great leader has ably steered his party through thick and thin, yet in 30 odd years never all the way to government. He was caught with his pants down (but his socks still on), when a "sex tape" found its way on to YouTube. Since YouTube is banned in Turkey, he really should have gotten away with it.

1. Leader Of The Pack, The Shangri-Las, 7", Red Bird, 1964
2. Get on Top, Tim Buckley, Greetings from L.A., Straight, 1972
3. Orgasm Addict, Buzzcocks, Singles Going Steady, United Artists, 1979
4. As Long As He Lies Perfectly Still, Soft Machine, Volume Two, ABC/Probe, 1969
5. Foreign Affairs, Brian Eno, Moebius, Roedelius, After the Heat, Island, 1978
6. French Film Blurred, Wire, Chairs Missing, Harvest, 1978
7. No Sex, Alex Chilton, 19 Years: A Collection Of Alex Chilton, Rhino, 1986
8. Never Trust A Man With Egg On His Face, Adam & The Ants, Dirk Wears White Sox, Do It, 1979
9. Never Say Goodbye, My Bloody Valentine, Strawberry Wine, Lazy, 1987
10. I Give Up, Fugu, As Found, 3rd Side, 2005
11. Take This Job and Shove It, Dead Kennedys, Bedtime For Democracy, Alternative Tentacles, 1986
12. Wave Myself Goodbye, Rory Gallagher, Rory Gallagher, Chrysalis, 1971
13. Dress Sexy At My Funeral, Smog, Dongs of Sevotion, Drag City, 2000
14. Party Line, The Kinks, Face To Face, Pye, 1966
15. Don't Worry About the Government, Talking Heads, Talking Heads 77, Sire, 1977