1. SOON BE TO NOTHING/The Indigo Girls with The Cara Dillon Band (live)
This edition of FF06 starts off with a live recording from the Cambridge
Folk Festival, August 4, 2002. Enjoy the thrill of an open-air performance
as one of the Indigos fluffs the intro! (They recover nicely... and having
Cara Dillon along (she gets the 3rd verse) is always a plus.) (unreleased)
2. I WANT TO SEE THE BRIGHT LIGHTS TONIGHT/Richard & Linda Thompson (Island)
Founding member of England's legendary Fairport Convention, Richard Thompson
has long since gained a rep as one of the more eclectic singer-songwriters
out there; but back in the 70s, it was (ex-wife) Linda who handled both vocals
on this title cut from their 1974 album. Electric folk, meet... a brass band?!?
(CD: I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight)
3. L.A. BREAK DOWN (AND TAKE ME IN)/Larry Marks (A&M single)
This was never what you would call a big, medium, or even middling-sized hit.
(It barely bubbled under the Hot 100 (#129!) back in 1968.) So why is it here? Well,
I always liked the song. Reason enough.
4. LISTEN CLOSELY #2:
SECURITY/The N'Betweens (EMI Columbia single)
Here we go again. The year is 1966. This single from a Wolverhampton quartet
went absolutely nowhere. Ah, but perseverance pays. 5 years later, this same
quartet, with a different name, were on the top of the UK charts. Repeatedly.
Think you can recognize them? (The answer follows on the tape. Good luck!)
5. GOT GETTING UP SO DOWN/They Might Be Giants
Stop the presses! Here's the latest goody from the Twin Quasars of Rock™. (Just a
little something to tide you over til next year, when they release TWO new
albums!)
6. F. SCOTT FITZGERALD AND WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE/
The Neon Philharmonic (Warner Bros.)
This was the sort of group only the 60s could have dreamed up: some of the
best players from the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, top studio pickers, and
eclectic composer-lyricist-keyboardist F. Tupper Saussy and rough-hewn singer
Don Gant. This track from the duo's 1970 self-named 2nd LP demonstrates that,
handled correctly, free verse can be just as effective a storytelling device
as any rhyming couplet. (CD: Brilliant Colors: The Complete Warner Bros.
Recordings [Rhino Handmade])
7. BAKER STREET (Visitor mix)/Gerry Rafferty
Proof you can teach old songs new tricks! According to German web DJ Visitor,
"Music's most famous saxophone riff (courtesy Raphael Ravenscroft) deserved
a remix." See if you agree. (unreleased)
8. LISTEN CLOSELY #3:
LOUISIANA/Mike Kennedy (ABC)
The year is 1970; the song is the title cut from the debut solo album by this
German vocalist. And yes, you probably have heard his voice before... Just not
under that name; in 1965, as Mike Kogel, he scored a bigger hit as lead singer
of a rock group from (of all places) Spain! The question is: what hit, and
what group? Don't be surprised if you wind up saying, "That was him?!?"
9. PRETEND I'M ELVIS (For Just One Night)/Lost Dogs (Silent Planet)
And now, it's them Dogs again. This cut was originally recorded for their
shelved 1996 album "The Green Room Serenade Part Two", but didn't see the light
of plastic until Terry Taylor released it as part of his "Avocado Faultline"
album a few years back. Well, better late than never, I always say. (I think I
always say that... don't I always say that?)
10. DREAM OF THE WEST/Yip Yip Coyote (I.R.S.)
I love groups with weird names - "Ben Steele 'n' His Bare Hands", for example -
but nothing can top this British cowpunk group's for sheer silliness. Fortunately
they had the chops to back up such a handle. Unfortunately, I.R.S. chose not to
release anything of theirs in America, save for this track from the "Bachelor
Party" soundtrack. (Special thanks to my pal Tom Johnston at R&P Records for
locating this one!) And speaking of strange names...
11. A GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE/Bla Bla Bla
If you've ever laid awake nights asking yourself, "If Sailor had ditched that
nickelodeon and been just another guitar band, what would their biggest hit
have sounded like?"... well, here's your answer. Now get some sleep...
12. COWBOY BUCKAROO/Mason Williams (Warner Bros.)
Talk about your left-of-center records! But then, the late 60s were full of
them. According to Mason, he grew up watching the old cowboy movies, but in
1969, the heroes were a little harder to define. This (from his 1969 album
"Music") was his answer. Yes, those are the one and only Sons Of The
Pioneers on backing vocals (making this the closest they ever came to having a
pop hit in the 60s!). And, of course, the lyrics make just as much sense today.
Maybe more so. (CD: "Music 1968-1971" [Vanguard])
13. CONQUISTADOR (live)/Procol Harum (Chrysalis/A&M)
Now, the truth comes out: I always wanted to sing, compose and play piano like
Gary Brooker. Listen to any PH album and you'll understand why. (One of the
highlights of my years in Spokane, in fact, was when I saw Procol Harum live
with Supertramp. Ah, they just don't make double bills like that anymore...)
For me, this live version of 'Conquistador' which they did with the Edmonton
Symphony Orchestra back in 1971 is still the defining one.
(CD: "Procol Harum Live" [Repertoire]).
14. E' FESTA (live)/P.F.M. [Premiata Forneria Marconi]
The most successful progressive rock band ever to come from Italy (with more
than a little push from Emerson, Lake & Palmer!). This tune is better known on
these shores as "Celebration", but here it is in the original Italian. Oh, the
group's name translates as "Marconi's Famous Bakery", because that's who
originally sponsored them. That's why it's called trivia. I guess. (unreleased
version)
15. LOVE IS IN THE AIR (Ballroom mix)/John Paul Young (Albert Productions)
A lot of times, songs get remixed and you wonder "Why did they bother?" Not
this time. For Australian director Baz Luhrman ["Moulin Rouge"]'s film
"Strictly Ballroom", Harry Vanda & George Young (see vol. 4) gave one of
their biggest hits a reworking and made a totally different record out of it.
Really! (CD: "Strictly Ballroom (Original Soundtrack)" [Albert Prod./Epic])
16. TOO COOL GIRLS/They Might Be Giants featuring The Velcro Horns
The next time somebody tells you The Giants can't do jazz, play them this
track, and see how fast they apologize. From the hard-to-find 2001 "TMBG
UnLimited" series, available only through eMusic. (I'd break a few laws to
have the entire set, myself...)
17. SONG OF WINTER/Françoise Hardy (Productions Asparagus)
In the 60's, Mlle. Hardy was marketed as "The Yeh Yeh Girl", and even co-starred
in the Steve McQueen film "Grand Prix"; but as the 70's came around, she tired
of that (and her label, disques Vogue) and wanted to be taken as a serious
singer-songwriter. So, she formed her own label, released "One-Nine-Seven-Zero"
(of which this is the opening track)... and darn if she didn't succeed. If Fifi
LaFume has a musical role model, it's Françoise. (LP: "Alone" [Reprise]) (Oh,
there's nothing wrong with your stereo. The song cuts off rather abruptly cos
that's how she recorded it. Which gives me the opportunity to barrel straight
into...)
18. LOVING YOU'S NOT LOVING ME (demo version)/Jude Cole
Former member of The Records (again, see vol. 4), music critic on TV's "eXtra",
partner with Keifer Sutherland in Ironworks Music, and did I mention he happens
to be one darn good singer-songwriter?
19. DELIAH'S GONE/Koerner, Glover and Ray
Yes, it's "Spider" John Koerner, Tony "Little Sun" Glover and Dave "Snaker" Ray,
giving folk music a good name. (CD: The Briar and The Rose [Legacy])
20. YESTERDAY'S GONE (new version)/Chad and Jeremy (Electric Paintbox)
Chad Stuart and Jeremy Clyde are back... with a vengeance! This is a brand-
new acoustic version of their follow-up to "A Summer Song". It's good to hear
them again. (chadandjeremy.net) And speaking of unexpected comebacks...
21. EVER SINCE/Lesley Gore (Engine Recording Co.)
As will become obvious from the first note, Lesley's come a long way since
"It's My Party," "Judy's Turn To Cry" and "California Nights" (that last one will
turn up on a future Fave comp). Hey, even 60's teen queens gotta grow up
sometime! (CD: ever since)
22. MISSISSIPPI QUEEN/Mountain (Windfall)
A couple of volumes back, I mentioned a handful of GMPS (Great Mississippi Pop
Songs) that I wished I had. Well, here's one of 'em! Producer/bassist Felix
Pappalardi and guitarist/vocalist/self-appointed "Great Fatsby" Leslie West
presented one heck of a calling card in 1970 with this single from their album
"Climbing". Calling? Heck... it SHOUTS! (CD: The Best of Mountain (Columbia-Windfall))
The Tape: Same as above, plus... will it never stop? THE COMEDY!
Side A:
1. SOON BE TO NOTHING/The Indigo Girls with The Cara Dillon Band (live)
2. I WANT TO SEE THE BRIGHT LIGHTS TONIGHT/Richard & Linda Thompson
3. L.A. BREAK DOWN (AND TAKE ME IN)/Larry Marks
4. LISTEN CLOSELY #2: SECURITY/The N'Betweens
5. LC #2 answer. (RCA/CBS Associated)
6. GOT GETTING UP SO DOWN/They Might Be Giants
7. F. SCOTT FITZGERALD AND WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE/The Neon Philharmonic
8. BAKER STREET (Visitor mix)/Gerry Rafferty
9. LISTEN CLOSELY #3: LOUISIANA/Mike Kennedy
10. LC #3 answer. (Press)
11. PRETEND I'M ELVIS (For Just One Night)/Lost Dogs
Side B:
12. DREAM OF THE WEST/Yip Yip Coyote
13. A GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE/Bla Bla Bla
14. COWBOY BUCKAROO/Mason Williams
15. CONQUISTADOR (live)/Procol Harum
16. E' FESTA (live)/P.F.M.
17. LOVE IS IN THE AIR (Ballroom mix)/John Paul Young
18. TOO COOL GIRLS/They Might Be Giants featuring The Velcro Horns
19. SONG OF WINTER/Françoise Hardy
20. LOVING YOU'S NOT LOVING ME (demo version)/Jude Cole
21. DELIAH'S GONE/Koerner, Glover and Ray
22. YESTERDAY'S GONE (new version)/Chad and Jeremy
23. EVER SINCE/Lesley Gore
24. MISSISSIPPI QUEEN/Mountain
25. The COMEDY!: SLOW TALKERS OF AMERICA/Bob & Ray (Columbia/RadioArt)
And finally, to finish the thing off in more ways than one, Messrs. Elliott
and Goulding doing what they did best (whatever it was). Bob's relentlessly
laconic delivery is matched only by Ray's heightened slow burn in a comedy
classic from their (irritatingly) out of print original cast album, "Bob and
Ray - The Two And Only".
Excess stuff:
1. The Jools Holland Show with guest Cara Dillon (BBC2) [CD]
Julian "Jools" Holland first made a name for himself as keyboard player for
Squeeze, before moving on and starring on "The Tube", forming his Big Band
& Orchestra, and, of course, his BBC2 radio series (bbc.co.uk). This episode
introduced yer furry servant to Cara Dillon, who reveals one of her influences
to be another of my faves, Kate Bush. Besides a lot of eclectic music in the
first half, we're treated to three cuts from Cara's just-released CD "After
The Morning" (including "Never In A Million Years") [and the title cut from Kate
Bush's "The Sensual World"]. (approx. 60 min)
And that's it for this month. A little short, I know, but... Next month, I revisit an
earlier FF comp from 2001! Also a TMBG disc just for your computer, and gosh knows
what else!
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