The Edsel Auctioneer - 'Strung'

... was requested by Duncandonuts not so long ago. Here you are, Duncandonuts .... and I have to say 'thank you', because I haven't listened to this for ages ... and most probably wouldn't have done so if you hadn't asked for it: what a gem it is, to be sure!!

Originally done in September 1989, to be found on the 'Voice Of The Harolds' - Mini - LP on Decoy Records from 1990:

The Edsel Auctioneer - 'Strung' (mp3)

Have fun!

Dirk

My Peel Tapes: Part 19

Hello dear friends,

so here I am, back again with #19 of 'My Peel Tapes'. Enjoy.


(158) Ride - 'Taste' (mp3). From the band's 'Fall' - EP, released in 1990 on Creation Records. As mentioned previously, I used to have all of the three EP's ('Ride', 'Play' and 'Fall'), but gave them away quite some time ago. But the 'Fall' - EP is also incorporated into the CD version of Ride's first LP, 'Nowhere', and this where I took this little gem from. "Shoegazing", you might think ... and perhaps you're right ...

[upon request:
Ride - 'Here And Now']

(159) Galaxie 500 - 'Melt Away' (mp3). One year before the band split up in the spring of 1991, they released their 3rd album, 'This Is Our Music' on Rough Trade Records. It's full of good tunes and I think it's absolutely comparable to the brilliance of the other two albums, 'Today' (1988) and 'On Fire' (1989). Get hold of all three, people: they're outstanding and shouldn't miss in your collection!

[upon request:
Bleach - 'Decadence'
Happy Mondays - 'Kinky Afro']

(160) The High - 'Take Your Time' (mp3). Well, for those, who own 'Somewhere Soon' somewhere hidden in their collection: it might grow on you, if you give it a second chance! I just listened to the album for the first time in a few years, because I must admit I couldn't remember whether 'Take Your Time' was good enough to post it here. It surely is, and so is the rest of the album. Released on London Records in 1990.

[upon request:
Ride - 'Vapour Trail']

(161) Buffalo Tom - 'Birdbrain' (mp3). A 7" and also the opening track for the band's second album from 1990. I took the track from one of those very useful 'Indie Top 20' double albums on Beechwood Music though, who, at the time, brought together the best of 'those sort of bands'. The good thing with these compilations was that the people who compiled them gave a toss about whether the featured bands were fashionable in one form or another. As far as I can tell, their choices didn't relate to the Indie Charts at all, they just picked the bands they liked quite a lot. But back to Buffalo Tom: I know quite a few of their tunes, all of which are simply wonderful. And I think I will start searching for their full back catalogue rather soon. Or catch them live, because, believe it or not, they're still alive apparently. Here's their homepage.

[upon request:
Ride - 'Seagull']

(162) L7 - 'Shove' (mp3). From the L.A. all-female outfit's second album, 'Smell The Magic' (on Sub Pop Records 1990). At the time there were quite a few all-female bands, but L7 surely were one of the better ones.

The band gained a certain amount of notoriety for their performance at the 1992 Reading Festival, when Donita Sparks removed her used tampon off-stage and threw it into the crowd yelling "Eat my used tampon, fuckers!" in protest against the mud being thrown by the crowd. In the UK, the band are most famous for an appearance on the popular late-night entertainment programme The Word, in which Sparks pulled her pants down to reveal her vagina. During a live show in London in 2000, the band offered a one night stand with drummer Dee Plakas as a raffle prize; the winner claimed his prize of sex with her on the tour bus.


(163) Billy Bragg - 'Seven And Seven Is' (mp3). Well, what is there to say about Billy Bragg? Where should I start? I mean, if you don't know who he is and what he did over the years, then I can't help you, I'm afraid. Have a look at his highly informative homepage and then go out and buy EVERYTHING he ever released. Really, even if I tried I couldn't recommend any specific album of the great man, they're all equally brilliant. The song above, originally done by Arthur Lee's Love in 1966, for example is taken from the bonus CD that was issued with the first pressings of the 'Must I Paint You A Picture: The Essential Billy Bragg' - double CD - compilation (on Cooking Vinyl, 2003). Perhaps this set is something for Billy-Bragg-beginners, if such creatures exist ....

(164) The Frantic Elevators - 'The Hunchback Of Notre Dame' (mp3). Now this is T.H.E. prime example of how a band declines in their career after rather a good start. This is a really nice and uplifting tune, you surely will agree. From a 1981 Peel Session and although I don't know any of the other 4 songs recorded for it, I'm pretty sure they're similarily good. Would you believe me if I told you that on vocals we find this red-haired ninny who later became the frontman of (the bloody awful) Simply Red?! I mean, The Clash's first records for example were just perfect, and if you listen to their final release, 'Cut The Crap', you just think to yourself "Oh my God, that's fucking useless!". But if you compare this Frantic Elevator's tune to what Simply Red do nowadays (correction: to all of what Simply Red ever did!), the difference is even worse. Or bigger, whichever might be grammatically correct.

This one, as well as the next two tracks, is taken from a very fine compilation of Peel Session - tracks, a double album on Strange Fruit Records from 1990 called 'Manchester, So Much To Answer For: The Peel Sessions'.

(165) The Inspiral Carpets - 'Directing Traffic' (mp3). From their second session for the programme from 1989, link to their homepage here ... and on it I just saw that the classic 'Cool As Fuck' - T-Shirt is still available. I'm contemplating to spend a few quid .... even if only to honour them for this awesome song alone!

[upon request:
Dub Sex - 'Swerve' (Session Version)]

(166) A Guy Called Gerald - 'Rockin' Ricki' (mp3). From his first (out of three) sessions for the John Peel Show, recorded at The Hippodrome, Golders Green, London, back in 1988. His homepage doesn't seem to be working, so here's the Wikipedia entry.

(167) The Moonflowers - 'Get Higher' (mp3). Released as a 12" on Pop Good Records in 1990, and although I have it somewhere in my collection, again I put one of the aforementioned Indie-Top 20 - compilations on the record player ... just to show you how useful they are! I think it's a killer track, but then again I'm by no means an expert in 'dance music' and those of you who are might judge this as being boring crap compared to the 300 BPM hardcore tunes you normally listen to. But it's 18 years old today, kids, older than most of you are! So bugger off, okay?! The Moonflowers' homepage: here.

[upon request:
Dinosaur Jr - 'The Wagon'
Ride - 'Kaleidoscope'
Ride - 'Eight Miles High']

(168) The Dylans - 'Godlike' (mp3). The Dylans came out in the late 1980's riding the wave, like so many groups in the 1960's, of acid fueled dance halls, with the idea that "love is all you need," and of course a communal understanding, melding of ideas and values ... and like the 60's, not only the music, but the ideals almost worked again. The Dylans must have had some credibility, because they were picked up by non other then the Beggars Banquet Label, which says something. 'Godlike' was their debut, a 12" from 1991 on BB's Situation Two Records.

[upon request:
Sonic Youth - 'Tuff Gnarl'
Hole - 'Blackburn']

(169) Midwich Cuckoos - 'Show Me' (mp3). A fantastic track, and it's a shame that I know nothing else by this band apart from that. The name of course derives from the science-fiction novel that was filmed as 'The Village Of The Damned' ... that's 'Midwich Cuckoos', not 'Show Me', of course. 'Show Me' was the band's 1990 debut 12" (on Big Noise Records) and despite selling out of the first pressing within 6 weeks, interest from a number of distributors and an on-air appeal by the late great John Peel, the band along with their record company decided to delete the single, to make it a true collectors’ item, as a thank you to their original fans. Original signed copies of “Show Me” are still being sold on various websites for forty quid .... and - typically - my copy is unsigned ...

(170) James - 'Billy's Shirts' (mp3). A track from the classic 'Stutter' album from 1986 on Sire Records. For those of you reading Sexyloser in Portugal, James will be playing there in early September and from September, 14th on they'll be touring the USA. Go and see them if you have the chance to do so, folks, otherwise you'll really miss a treat! One of the best live bands I ever had the pleasure to see, honestly!

(171) The Ramones - 'Suzy Is A Headbanger' (mp3). From their second album from 1977 on Sire. All dead, all gone ... what a freakin' shame. I think The Ramones were the band I saw live most often ... and every time they were just marvellous!

I'll never forget when we went to the Berlin Bizarre open air festival back in 1991 together with a German Ska band who played there early in the morning, before the sausage booths opened, in fact. But either way, we were equiped with nice little all-area backstage passes, so we wandered around there a bit and after a while we decided to leave and go to the city of Berlin in order to have a few more decent beers. Only one of us, the mighty Fatman, decided to stay at the venue, he wanted to lay back and enjoy the sun, so he said .... and so he did. Perhaps I should add the The Fatman listened to nothing else but Elvis and 50's Rock 'n' Roll, I think he didn't have the slightest idea of the festival's line-up. Anyway, eventually we returned from Berlin and found The Fatman not being in the best mood. Apparently he finally fell asleep in the sun in the backstage area, thinking beautiful thoughts whilst laying there in the grass, when all of a sudden some - and I quote him here - 'unbelievably tall, dangerous punk with hairs down to his ass' stumbled over him. 'Did he beat you?', we asked, but The Fatman said that this hadn't been the case, in fact that guy excused himself very politely and even wanted to start a conversation, but The Fatman, partly because he couldn't understand his accent, but even more because he was tired and wanted to continue his nap, told the person to bugger off. Which he did, in fact.

Either way, the evening came up, we watched Iggy Pop play (stinking drunk and most probably full of drugs: I saw him making his way from his caravan to the back of the stage, his asian girlfriend had to give him a helping hand, otherwise he would have fallen over, believe it or not. But when he entered the stage, he acted as if he had been struck by lightning. Such a energetic and powerful performance!). At the end of his gig we moved to some VIP - tribune in order not to miss the (headlining) Ramones. 'Durango 95' started, and all of the stage was covered in this fake-fog or smoke or whatever you call it and when it slowly started to disappear and you could begin to see clearly again, The Fatman suddenly yelled at the top of his voice: 'Look, there's this bastard again who woke me up!!' ..... pointing with his finger right at the allmighty Joey Ramone!

Enough of boring stories accompanied by even more boring music, people *smile* ..... see you next time, okay? Leave comments, requests, fan mail ... whatever you like, really!

Shalom,

Dirk

"And I once had a shower with two American girls ...."

... is only one of a dozen immortal lines from one of the great albums of all time: 'It's Like Everything Else' by I, Ludicrous. My mate J.C. aka The Vinyl Villain (and I can only recommend to have a look at his fantastic site EVERY fucking day of your little worthless life) asked for something by I, Ludicrous some time ago and is now - quite rightly so - eager to hear more upon the evidence of what I chose for him. Well, I thought to myself, why not make the whole album available to you all instead just sending it per mail to J.C.? Please buy it, should you see a copy somewhere (it's long out of print, but perhaps you're lucky ...) and visit the band's site here. It's good throughout and highly informative, with lyrics, interviews and everything else you might possibly need.

The album was issued on Kaleidoscope Sounds back in 1987, catalogue number is KSLP 004.

1. 'Trevor Barker'
2. 'A Pop Fan's Dream'
3. 'My Baby's Got Jetlag'
4. 'Three English Football Grounds'
5. 'Preposterous Tales'
6. 'Fabulous'
7. 'Ludicrous'
8. 'Are You Turning Round And Telling Me?'


Also I gave to J.C. bits of another truly brilliant masterpiece, Jane Bond & The Undercovermen's 'Politically Correct' - LP. As far as I know this record dates 1982, although I'm pretty sure that this can't be right: I think it was not issued before 1984 or even 1985, on Dreamworld in the USA and on Normal Records here in Germany. Either way, it's an awesome album, way better than their (self-titled) debut from 1981. It is not easy to ascertain any information about Jane Bond & The Undercovermen on the internet, apparently they never got the attention they deserved. But judge yourself, here's 'Politically Correct' in it's entirety:

1. 'I Made Love To A Communist'

2. 'Kiss My Gun'

3. 'The Girl Who Knew Too Much'

4. 'Hot Rod Lincoln'

5. 'Politically Correct'

6. 'Modern World'

7. 'Confidential Story'

8. 'Teen Heaven'

9. 'Radio Moscow'

And as with I, Ludicrous: go out and buy a copy of this album, folks! It's still around somewhere in the record shops, filed directly behind Jane Birkin's "Je t'aime... moi non plus", I would like to think ....

Well, I hope not only J.C. was pleased with this, but the rest of you as well.

See you next time!

Peace,

Dirk

Majorca .....

Hello my beauties!


as mentioned in 'My Peel Tapes Pt. 18' below, I was off to Majorca for one week and only returned a few days ago. I'm gorgeous golden brown and if you could see me I'm sure you wanted to dance around me!


Anyway, when I sat there at the beach or at the pool, a glass of Sangria or Osborne in my hands, one song was constantly spinning round in my head (together with the Sangria/Osborne, in fact):


John Cooper Clarke - 'Majorca' (mp3)


From a (JCC-) compilation called 'Me And My Big Mouth' on Epic Records from 1981. More on the great man: here.


Enjoy!


Dirk

Now, this is for Matt from Worksop in the UK ...

... who aked for specific tracks out of Peel Sessions by Siouxsie, Pulp and The Housemartins quite some time ago. In his mail he didn't hesitate to point out that I might not have the requested tracks and of course he was absolutely right (I only wish I had them though ....). Again, all I can do is direct you the wonderful 'Perfumed Garden' blogspot, Matt: if anyone on earth can help you out with these rarities, it's Kris Waah, who - one of these days - is surely gonna kill me, because I keep going on telling people to get in touch with him, so that he can fulfill their requests *smile* ...

But Matt also - very kindly - said that any early Pulp would do as well. Well, I know that Pulp's first record ('It') is from 1983, but I don't have it. The earliest track I got, from 1985 in fact, is 'Little Girl (With Blue Eyes)' (mp3). I took it from an American compilation from 1987 called 'The Great Fire Of London', which features, beneath Pulp, these bands: 1000 Mexicans, Blue Aeroplanes, Close Lobsters, Colenso Parade, Gerard Langley & Ian Kearey, Parachute Men, Perfect Disaster, Rose Of Avalance and The Royal Assassins. Well worth tracking down and Matt, I hope you are pleased with my choice.

Dirk

My Peel Tapes - Part 18

Dear all,

lucky for me - unlucky for you - Mrs Loser finally managed to find an affordable hotel in Majorca, and that was where we spent the whole of last week, enjoying the sun and (probably too much of) the Sangria. All in all it was rather relaxing and if I have a look outside the window today where I see the German rain I only wish I were back at the beach .... but alas I'm not and use the time to work on the 18th episode of 'My Peel Tapes' for you instead ... so there you are:

(146) The Charlatans - 'The Only One I Know' (mp3). I used to play that to death when I was still DJ-ing and I bet the quality of the vinyl will prove this. A mighty record, released as a 12" in 1990 on Beggars Banquet/Situation Two. A nicely updated Charlatans website can be found here.

(147) The Charlottes - 'Love In The Emptiness' (mp3). The Charlottes came from Huntingdon and apart from that I can tell you very little about them, I'm afraid. The only record of theirs I owe is this 12" on Subway Records, released in 1990.

(148) Drag Racing Underground - 'Hellfire' (mp3). Drag Racing Underground were/are some side project out of Big Stick, if not Big Stick themselves. Issued as a 7", limited to 500 copies only (far too few, I would think) on Snakeskin Records in 1989, 'Hellfire' remained one of my favourites ever since ... and I can only hope you will enjoy it as much as I always did! It's a killer tune with daft lyrics and I recommend to listen closely .... especially when he goes on about his brother in-law .... simply unbelievable!

[upon request:

New Order - 'World In Motion']

(149) The Lemonheads - 'Different Drum' (mp3). From a 12" EP called 'Favourite Spanish Dishes' on Roughneck Records from the UK, released in 1990. A very nice version of the Linda Ronstadt favourite, I'm sure you'll agree. I always liked The Lemonheads a lot and also I liked what Dando did on his own and together with various other artists. He really is a great geezer!

[upon request:

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - 'Long Black Veil']

(150) Birdland - 'Sleep With Me' (mp3). From a limitited 7" on Lazy Records (1990), here's the acoustic version of the tune for you. A nice biography, which has all the necessary facts about Birdland, here. Have a look for their self-titled debut album, people: it was never really critically acclaimed, but I think it's rather an enjoyable record ... and I'm willing to have a small bet that can be found for small money in the bargain bin of your local record shop.

(151) Paris Angels - 'All On You (Perfume)' (mp3). One of my very few experiences with music that didn't come from white kids just strumming guitars, I first had with the Paris Angels. This tune is simply adorable and even nowadays, some 18 years later, I just love to listen to it. On Sheer Joy Records, a 12" from 1990. More on Paris Angels here.

(152) Dinosaur Jr. - 'The Lung' (mp3). A live version this time, recorded at the legendary Vera club in Groningen in the north of Holland (homepage) in 1987. All the really good bands played there and some of those gigs were captured on an album called 'Beauty In The Underworld' from 1990. Long out of print and a bit of a rarity these days. It features - amongst others - The Feelies, Dream Syndicate, Sonic Youth, Giant Sand and The Nomads. I've been there once, but only to meet up with John Peel. No band played there at this specific night alas. Do I really need to tell you more about Dinosaur Jr? I don't think so .... you're all adults, right?

(153) The Bridewell Taxis - 'Honesty' (mp3). The third single from the Bridewell Taxis, a band from Leeds, and rather a wonderful record it is to be sure. A 12" on Stolen Records from 1990. Some more information about the band can be found here.

(154) Snuff - 'Do Nothing' (mp3). Another track from the band's 'Flibbiddydibbiddydob' - album on Worker's Playtime Records from 1989. A nice version of The Specials' favourite, so have a listen to it, my beauties! I remember that when I first met John Peel (in 1986, I think it was), I didn't really know where to go to in the evening, so he checked the NME gig section and sent me off to a club in Stoke Newington to see Snuff play there that night. Quite a distance away from the city of London, but it was worth it, as memory serves ...

(155) Bocca Juniors - 'Raise' (mp3). Well, those of you who, back in 1990, were fashionable enough to join the Balearic Rave Scene in Ibiza and spent their nights on the local dancefloors there, will know this little gem. A total classic from Junior Boys Own Records, originally released as a 12". I'm not much into dance music, as you probably will be able to tell (perhaps because I spent my nights in the village pub in 1990, where no-one knew what was going on in Ibiza ... nor did anyone care, to be honest), but this song is truly fantastic, I think. Various mixes are available, I chose the one which can be found on the 4-LP-set 'JBO: A Perspective 1988 - 1998', titled 'Raise (63 Steps To Heaven'. Enjoy!

(156) Slow Bongo Floyd - 'Open Up Your Heart' (mp3). Almost a pure dance record but not quite, 'Open Up Your Heart' explodes like a proper house tune but settles into a whispery sorta psychedelic baggy-dance monster. A white-labelled promo 12" on F.R.O. Records from 1991. I think I haven't listened to that one for ages!

(157) Althea & Donna - 'Uptown Top Ranking' (mp3). I stole this from Wikipedia, I must admit, but it says it all, I think:

The young Jamaican singers Althea Forrest (17), and Donna Reid (18), caused a big surprise with their one-off reggae hit, "Uptown Top Ranking". It was produced by Joe Gibbs using a re-recording of the riddim of the 1967 Alton Ellis' song "I'm Still In Love", which had already been re-popularised in the 1970s by Marcia Aitken's cover "I'm Still In Love With You Boy" and the deejay track "Three Piece Suit" by Trinity. The single's UK release was on the Lightning record label.
"Uptown Top Ranking" reached number one in the UK singles charts in February 1978, after early championing by John Peel, but had only one week at the chart summit. Oddly the surprise was compounded by the act often being billed as "Althia & Donna", and the song sometimes entitled slightly differently, as "Up Town Top Ranking". The lyrics were written by the duo and Errol Thompson. Althea & Donna thus became the youngest female duo to reach the pinnacle of the UK chart.
They released the album of the same name in 1978, but never met with any more tangible success thereafter.

I have it on one of those wonderful and highly recommended compilations from Soul Jazz Records, called 'XXX % Dynamite', all of them are well worth checking out!

[upon request:

Charlatans - 'Then']

Enough for today, friends. I hope you enjoyed my choices and forgive me if they were a bit different compared to previous editions. But after all I follow the chronological order of my tapes and therefore just post what Peel played at the time, so blame it on him, if you dare to!

Any comments and/or requests are highly appreciated. As usual.

Take care,

Dirk

Another Special Request Edition ...

Dear friends,


some more request, so especially Steve Hitchcox and the mighty J.C. should read this carefully. Duncan, for you I'm sorry: I don't have anything by Paul Haig at all, so I can't help you alas ...


Okay, first Steve Hitchcox wrote in and wanted to hear the great Ted Chippington's 'She Loves You (And You Know That Can't Be Bad)' (mp3). A 12" on Vindaloo Records from 1986 and thanks, Steve, for giving me the opportunity to listen to that gem myself again after quite some years.


Also Steve was after 'Sacred Heart Hotel' by The Stars Of Heaven (mp3). From an LP on Rough Trade Records, also called 'Sacred Heart Hotel', released in 1986 as well.


Then Steve asked me if I have something by Mighty Mighty: not very much, Steve, but I hope these two will do for you: 'Law' (mp3) and 'Built Like A Car' (mp3). The first one is on the seminal 'C86' LP from the NME, the latter on one of these very useful 'Indie Top 20' - Double LP's, on #2 of the series in fact.


Also my good friend J.C. aka The Vinyl Villain finally managed to post some requests, I'm willing to have a small bet that up until now he was too busy with his own awesome blog to do it earlier. Have a look here and enjoy what J.C. has to say in The Vinyl Villain: it's well worth a visit every bloody day of the week, kids!!!


J.C., this is for you:


Serious Drinking - '1,2, XU' (segued into) 'Bobby More Was Innocent' (mp3). A nice reading of the old Wire - favourite, I'm sure you'll agree. J.C. says that he doesn't know all too much by Serious Drinking, so, in order to change this poor status right now, here's:


'Don't Shoot Me Down' (mp3)
'Baby, I'm Dying A Death' (mp3)
'Country Girl Became Drugs And Sex Punk' (mp3)


All of them I simply love and I hope you do too, J.C. .... you'll find them on an early Serious Drinking - compilation called 'Stranger Than Tannadice' on Worker's Playtime Records.


Next up the very fine Jane Bond & The Undercovermen. All the songs J.C. wanted to hear are from their second LP, 'Politically Correct' on Normal Records from Germany (albeit Jane Bond came from America) from 1982.


'Politically Correct' (mp3)
'The Girl Who Knew Too Much' (mp3)
'I Made Love To A Communist' (mp3)


Also, J.C., I highly recommend to sroll down to 'My Peel Tapes' Pt. 8 #49 and have a listen to 'Hot Rod Lincoln': it's the best thing they've done, I would say ...


Concerning Shonen Knife from Japan, J.C., alas I only have the live version of 'Choco Bars' (which you already know), so instead you'll get 'Devil House' (mp3) and the live version of The Shirelles' favourite 'Boys' (mp3): enjoy ... and find 'Devil House' on their 'Let's Knife' - LP and 'Boys' on the 'We Are Very Happy You Came' - Mini album. Both records were on Creation Records.


Without wanting to sound lippy: but what a rubbish 'Best Of' - compilation can possibly exclude 'Dance Critters' (mp3) and 'The German Girls' (mp3) by The Colorblind James Experience?! Two of their finest tracks, to be sure, and both can be found on their self-titled debut album, which was released on Fundamental/Earrig Records in 1987.


I, Ludicrous. Well, they're legends to me. Nothing less. Their 'Preposterous Tales' will remain one of my all-time favourites forever, and the one you requested, J.C., 'Three English Football Grounds' (mp3) is also very fine. If you ever see the LP the two tunes are on somewhere, get your hands on it, regardless the costs. It's called 'It's Like Everything Else', was issued on Kaleidsocope Sounds and dates 1987. Also on the album are these wonderful tunes:


'My Baby's Got Jet Lag' (mp3)
'A Pop Fan's Dream' (mp3).


Finally J.C. wanted to hear 'The Light Pours Out Of Me' (mp3) by Trotsky Icepick (and it's Trotsky Icepick, mate, not Totally Ice Pick ... as in The Stranglers' 'No More Heroes' [... "whatever happened to Leon Trotsky? He got an icepick. That made his ears burn ..."], you see.


I took it from a compilation called 'Duck & Cover' on SST Records from 1990. And on another compilation called '1 Pound 99' on Beggars Banquet Records (1985), you'll find another cover of the Magazine favourite, here's Peter Murphy out of Bauhaus and his reading of 'The Light Pours Out Of Me' (mp3).


I hope you were satisfied, Steve and J.C. Any comments - or, in fact, further requests - are of course appreciated.


Cheers,


Dirk