My Peel Tapes: Part 15

Dear friends,

please enjoy the next episode of 'My Peel Tapes', again some fine stuff for you, some of which you might not know and won't find all too easy these days, I would think .... if you're pleased with what I chose, I would be happy if you could leave a comment. Requests are of course also more than welcome!

Enough said, enjoy:

(109) Nirvana - 'Love Buzz' (mp3). Well, finally there you are: something by Nirvana. Sounds strange today, but when Peel played this track (and others) from the 'Bleach' - LP back in 1989, it didn't really fill me with great exitement. Nevertheless I thought that there is something in it I had never heard before and therefore went out and bought the album. I remember playing it to a mate of mine and he wasn't totally convinced either. None of us had expected Nirvana to become worldwide megastars and cult figures for a whole generation: we thought that Mudhoney or Soundgarden were way better. So I forgot about the LP basically.

But, as usually, we were wrong and perhaps this is why this LP is - as far as I know - the most valuable one in my collection. So should you be interested in a near mint/mint copy of the green-marbled vinyl, still originally shrink-wrapped and with the sticker (Sub Pop USA SP 34 that is), just let me know. Serious bids only, please.

[upon request:

Wedding Present - 'It's Not Unusual'

King Of The Slums - 'Full Speed Ahead']

(110) Faron's Flamingos - 'Let's Stomp' (mp3). Something completely different now and why not? From a very fine compilation, called 'Let's Stomp' as well, which features Derry Wilkie & The Pressmen, Earl Preston & The TT's, Ian & The Zodiacs, Mark Peters & The Silhouettes, Rory Strom & The Hurricanes, Sonny Webb & The Cascades and - obviously - Faron's Flamingos and it's their contribution I like most. On the Edsel Record Label, released in 1982, although the track was originally recorded back in (or around) 1963.

[upon request:

Trotsky Ice Pick - 'The Light Pours Out Of Me'

Nirvana - 'School']

(111) The Perfect Disaster - 'Hey Now' (mp3). Another fine band that did their own thing when everybody else was into Grunge and I really do wonder what ever became of them. From their 1989 - LP 'Up' on Fire/Rough Trade Records ...

[upon request:

King Of The Slums - 'Up To The Fells'

Pale Saints - 'She Rides The Wave']

(112) The Pixies - 'Wave Of Mutilation' (mp3). From their seminal 'Doolittle' - LP on 4AD Records from 1989. A great tune from a great album done by a great combo! I wish I could have played to you the 'UK Surf' - version of this, which is on the 'Here Come Your Man' - 12", but I just recognised it has a serious scratch on it. Bugger!!

[upon request:

Morbid Angel - 'Chapel Of Ghouls'

Terrorizer - 'Dead Shall Rise'

Napalm Death - 'The Missing Link'

Bolt Thrower - 'Through The Eye Of Terror']

(113) In December '89 Sub Pop Records released a very fine compilation called 'Sub Pop 200' (as a follow-up to their '86 'Sub Pop 100' (5000 copies made ... and I only wish I had one)), which brought together all the 'big' names, which were then ruling the Seattle Grunge scene: Blood Circus, Cat Butt, Fluid, Green River, Mudhoney, Nights & Days, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Swallow, Tad, Thrown Ups. Don't be irritated by the link above: it refers to the CD re-release, which has some more tracks on it than the original vinyl. Mudhoney decided to have a go at Bette Middler's 'The Rose' (mp3) ... and they managed to solve the problem neatly, I would think!

[upon request:

Only Ones - 'City Of Fun']

(114) Bunker Hill & The Raymen - 'The Girl Can't Dance' (mp3). Now this describes this unbelievable record much better than I ever could:

"God's sake, what a fella! If you've ever heard "The Girl Can't Dance" by Bunker Hill, you've got an idea what kind of incredible capacities a human voice can have. The song altogether, with Bunker's mind-blowin' caveman-alike hollering is so way beyond belief, that there ain't just enough superlative words to describe its invincibility. Bring it together with Bunker's other early sixties novelty masterpieces, and you've got there a load of the most powerful black rock'n'roll ever made!"

The above is just the beginning of a most brilliant discography of Bunker's stuff which is continued here. As described in the article: from a 7" on Norton Records, released in the very early 90's, albeit recorded in 1963.

[upon request:

Altered Images - 'Idols'

Carcass - 'Slash Dimensia'

Primal Scream - 'You're Just Too Dark To Care']

(115) The Only Ones - 'Trouble In The World' (mp3). The Only Ones were best known for their awesome 'Another Girl, Another Planet', which, I admit, is another one of my all-time favourites. If you know it and like it as much as I do, you might perhaps be interested in hearing this tune, which was recorded in June 1977 at the Speakeasy in London and later (in 1989) released on a nice LP on Skyclad Records called 'Live In London': quite a couple of great songs on it, that's for sure!

(116) Stack Waddy - 'I'm A Lover, Not A Fighter' (mp3). From their second album, released in 1972, called 'Bugger Off'. The copy I have is a Canadian one on BSF/Toad Stool Records. Here's what John Peel had to say upon Stack Waddy:

"On stage they were loud, aggressive, fairly pissed and remarkably unsubtle - as befitted musicians who where often forced to supplement their meagre gig money by working days on construction sites. Their frustrations and energies were poured into music that it was impossible to ignore. In fact you were better off not to try to ignore it because one of the many Stack Waddy atrocity stories has John Knail jumping off-stage to beat to the floor a man who was paying more attention to his lady than to the band. Even if the story is untrue, it sums up the band's attitude to their music."

And if you liked the track and are indeed interested in more of the aforementioned 'atrocity stories' Peel mentions above, just let me know: I once spent an entire afternoon with Peel listening to him telling me about what a brutal bunch Stack Waddy were back in those days ....

[upon request:

Adverts - 'No Time To Be 21']

(117) Bridewell Taxis - 'Just Good Friends' (mp3). As perfectly described here, The Bridewell Taxis from Leeds, as fantastic as they were in 1989, nearly were swallowed by what was going on in Manchester at the same time. 'Just Good Friends' was their debut single and I took the track from their one and only LP, 'Invisible To You', which was released not before 1991 on Stolen Records. If you see the cover anywhere in a discount bin: get hold of it if you want to do yourself a favour!

[upon request:

Napalm Death - 'Rise Above'

Wedding Present - 'Kennedy']

(118) The Creamers - 'I Think I'm Gonna Be Sick' (mp3). 'Love, Honour And Obey' was the title of the LP this is taken from, a very fine record on the very fine Sympathy For The Records Industry - record label from the USA (check out their site here ... for male visitors to Sexyloser the starter page will do ... simply great!!). Released in 1989 and it has some mighty tracks on it. Originally issued on the backside of their 'Sunday Head' - 7" ....

[upon request:

Verlaines - 'Slow Sad Love Song'

Napalm Death - 'Walls Of Confinement']

(119) Dinosaur Jr. - 'Just Like Heaven' (mp3). Dinosaur Jr. covers the Cure? Yeah, but where the Cure did the original 'Just Like Heaven' as an eighties pop piece more suited to sparkle on John Hughes movie soundtracks, J Mascis and company tear it up and put it back together as a true masterpiece of anger and grunge. The bass growls, the screamed "YOUUUUUU" of the chorus, and the way the song ends abruptly in a crash of guitars and feedback all contribute to a fine reinterpretation of a surprisingly emotional piece. A 12" on Normal Records from 1989.

[upon request:

Even As We Speak - 'Goes So Slow']

I hope you had fun, nice people. See you next time. Hopefully ....

Dirk

My Peel Tapes: Special Request Edition

Hello dear visitors to Sexyloser,

some requests popped in this week, believe it or not! First Greer - rather new on board on the Contrast Podcast - and also in charge of the brilliant 'A Sweet Unrest'-blog - wanted to hear more from the equally brilliant Sundays, so here you are, Greer:

The Sundays - 'I Kicked A Boy' (mp3)
The Sundays - 'Don't Tell Your Mother' (mp3)

Both tracks can be found on the back of the 'Can't Be Sure' - 12" on Rough Trade Records from 1989.

Also Greer was looking for this, which can be found on the wonderful 'Psychocandy' - LP on Blanco Y Negro Records from 1985:

The Jesus & Mary Chain: 'Cut Dead' (mp3)

Then mighty Ed out of the highly inspirational '17 Seconds'-blog wrote in to request 'Swerve' by Dub Sex. Ed, your wish is my command, of course, so here, from a 12", also from 1989, on Cut Deep Records, come:

Dub Sex -'Swerve' (mp3)

I hope you enjoyed the tracks, Greer and Ed ... and of course I hope the rest of you all did as well.

Take good care!

Dirk

My Peel Tapes: Part 14

Hello my lovelies,

welcome to number thirteen in the "My Peel Tapes" - series. Some killer stuff in it for you this week, that's for sure!! I highly recommend to have a close look at the 'upon request' - section, this time you will find some real goodies there ... so don't hesitate to send in requests!

(96) The Darling Buds - 'Hit The Ground' (mp3). The Darling Buds were in 1988, at least they were to me, what The Primitives or The Shop Assistants were two or three years earlier: a bloody awesome band led by a cute blonde goddess, Andrea Lewis. Which was way enough to make me happy back in those days .... this and their catchy pop tunes. Their album 'Pop Said' on CBS (1988) still sounds good to me today and I hope that 'Hit The Ground' will have the same impact on you!

[upon request:

Happy Mondays - 'Do It Better'

King Of The Slums - 'The Pennine Spitter']

(97) Ciccone Youth - 'Addicted To Love' (mp3). Ciccone Youth is an experimental band which was formed in 1986. It is a side project of Sonic Youth members Steve Shelley, Kim Gordon, Lee Ranaldo, and Thurston Moore, with the Minutemen/fIREHOSE member Mike Watt. You'll find 'Addicted To Love' (the definitive reading of the old Robert Palmer favourite, I would say) on their second release, 'The Whitey Album', released on Blast First in 1988. The track was recorded in a karaoke booth, by the way ...

[upon request:

Suicide - 'Suffering In Vain']

(98) The Sundays - 'Can't Be Sure' (mp3). Hah!! The Sundays!! Harriet Wheeler!!! Oh boy, I was deeply and profoundly in love with her voice after having heard the first seconds of this mighty mighty track, I remember! This was Nr. 1 in John Peel's Festive 50 in 1989 and - again - quite rightly so! A 12" on Rough Trade Records from, as I say, 1989. I also recommend the LP 'Reading, Writing & Arithmetic' ... I'm pretty sure you can find it for little money in any second hand record store in your neighbourhood.

[upon request:

Malaria! - 'Kaltes Klares Wasser'

Passions - 'Man On The Tube']

(99) The Cure - 'Primary' (mp3). One you don't hear all that often: the 12" - version of 'Primary', which goes on a bit, but that shouldn't spoil your enjoyment. Released on Fiction Records back in 1981 and a bit of a collector's item these days.

[upon request:

New Order - 'Vanishing Point'

Big Dipper - 'He Is God'

Sundays - 'Don't Tell Your Mother'

Mudhoney - 'No One Has'

Darling Buds - 'The Other Night']

(100) The Valley Girls - 'Marina Men' (mp3). Well, now this is one of my favourite tunes ever, a definitive choice if I had to choose a handful of records to take with me to a desert island. Also it ends with my absolutely favourite song line ever: "Yeah, I learnt quite a while ago not to be afraid to wear fashion underwear"...

'Marina Men' was recorded in 1982 and issued as a 12" on Rhino Records. Deleted, of course. If I only had a scanner I would be able to share with you the wonderful back of the sleeve, which in fact is described as the 'Val Talk To English Dictionary'. The description of the Aquavelva Geek for example reads as thus: "(ak' wa vel'va gek) n. : Distasteful individual hailing from Marina Del Ray area; frequently divorced and on the make." Next to this there is a little comic-style drawing of the Geek with clothing details described below: "1. attempted perm on balding head, 2. fake gold chain, 3. unbuttoned white collar shirt, 4. chest hair wig, 5. Casio alarm watch w/ Pac Man game, 6. Ultra-suede jacket, 7. doubleknit pants, 8. Justin boots."

The Valley Girls were Chrissy Peters (16), Sonia Gordon (16) and Pamy (18). And believe it or not: a few months ago I received an email from a nephew of one of them who told me that they all are doing fine in their private lives!

(101) John Moore & The Expressway - 'Out Of My Mind' (mp3). A pretty cool record by John Moore, about whom I can tell you very little alas, nothing much, to be precise, apart from the fact that he once was in The Jesus & Mary Chain, but I'm sure you knew that already. A 12" on Polydor UK from 1989.

[upon request:

Dub Sex - 'Swerve'

Pixies - 'Monkey Gone To Heaven'

Jesus & Mary Chain - 'Cut Dead'

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - 'Watching Alice']

(102) Birdland - 'Hollow Heart' (mp3). Another band that never got the attention they deserved. This track is as fine as (mostly all of) their self-titled debut album, which was issued not before 1991 strangely enough. 'Hollow Heart', their debut 7" though, is from 1989 and was released on Lazy Records. And because I am such a nice chap, I'll play to you the acoustic version, which might not be that familiar to you.

[upon request:

Pixies - 'Debaser'

John Cooper Clarke - '36 Hours'

Pixies - 'Here Comes Your Man'

Pixies - 'Mr Grieves']

(103) Crime & The City Solution - 'The Shadow Of No Man' (mp3). The bands collectively known as Crime & the City Solution provided a starling new look at the concept of rock. Lead by an unrelenting voice in Simon Bonney, the band included musicians from other bands including The Birthday Party, Einstürzende Neubauten, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and more. During it first tumultuous stage in Australia, the band was just a spark of the flame which was to burn in London and Berlin in the mid to late 80's. Above track is from 1989 actually, a 12" on Mute Records.

[upon request:

Popguns - 'Landslide'

Pixies - 'Crackity Jones'

Pixies - 'Nr. 13 Baby']

(104) The Smiths - 'Jeane' (mp3). Another one you don't hear all that often, hidden away on the B-Side of the 1983 'This Charming Man' - 7" on Rough Trade Records. Obviously The Smiths had written hundreds of adorable songs in their career, but this is the one I like best. If you've never heard it before: it's a real treat, I can promise you! Enjoy, enjoy ....

[upon request:

Happy Mondays - 'Lazyitis'

Inspiral Carpets - 'Joe']

(105) Maloko - 'In The Midnight Hour' (mp3). One of my all-time favourite records is a 12-inch by some people called Moloko. This was a single released in 1989, and it's a cover version of Wilson Pickett's 'In The Midnight Hour'. Now, 'In The Midnight Hour' is a great record, but this is' In The Midnight Hour' done soukous style. It was recorded in Florida, but it's got this extraordinary soukous guitar playing. Have a look for the 'Fabriclive.07: John Peel' - CD on Fabric Records from 2002: it includes this little gem amongst a fine collection of other goodies.

[upon request:

Woodentops - 'Move Me'

Bailter Space - 'Greater Spader']

(106) Benny Profane - 'Skateboard To Oblivion' (mp3). Half of Benny Profane once were The Room. Do I need to say more or is this enough for you to download this tune? One of the very few follow-up line-up's which lost nothing much of their quality in the transformation. The Room were just brilliant. Benny Profane were equally brilliant. As easy as that. Another 12", this time on Play Hard Records from 1989.

[upon request: Perfect Disaster - '55']

(107) The Lemonheads - 'Luka' (mp3). Another fine example of a recording where the cover is way better than the original (by Suzanne Vega). I always liked The Lemonheads a lot and I still do listen to their back catalogue on occassion, especially to all of those nice little 10" singles they recorded in the early 90's. This though can be found on a 7" on Taang! Records, coloured vinyl, I might add, released in 1988.

[upon request:

Nirvana - 'Mr Moustache']

(108) Ted Chippington - 'Feel Like Buddy Holly' (mp3). Well, you either love Ted Chippington or you hate him. As you can tell, I love him. Disappeared without a trace around the end of the 80's to work as a truck driver in the States, but now back in the UK and - as far as I know - performing again (if 'performing' is the right word). 'Feel Like Buddy Holly', originally done by Alvin Stardust, can be found on a very early LP from him called 'Man In A Suitcase' on Vindaloo Records from 1986.

A good evening to all mankind! Leave requests ..... just do it!!

Dirk

My Peel Tapes: Part 13

Dear friends,

first, listen to the latest editions of the Contrast Podcast, they are highly recommendable indeed. Second, listen to this:

(83) Not their best song, I agree, but then again it's hard to tell which song is the best if you're talking about James. Personally I think it's 'Hymn From A Village'. 'What For' (mp3) though is taken from their 1988 LP 'Strip-Mine' on Sire records. Two years later James played one of the very best gigs I ever had the pleasure to attend, the 7th WDR Rocknacht that was. Unbelievably brilliant they were that night ....

[upon request:

McCarthy - 'This Nelson Rockefeller'
Bad Dream Fancy Dress - 'Curry-Crazy'

Sugarcubes - 'Deus'

Twiggy & The Aliens - 'There She Goes Again']

(84) From an LP with the most disgusting sleeve I've ever seen (apart from Carcass' 'Symphonies Of Sickness' perhaps), here come Motor Boys Motor with 'Drive Friendly' (mp3). A neat advice, by the way. The LP was called 'Motor Boys Motor' as well and was released on Albion Records back in 1982. And not very much later they became The Screaming Blue Messiahs ....

[upon request:

Telescopes - 'Flying'
Folk Devils - 'Hank Turns Blue'

Cure - 'Fire In Cairo' (Session V.)]

(85) The Rezillos - 'I Can't Stand My Baby' (mp3). Again, a total classic from an album I cannot recommend enough to you all: 'Can't Stand The Rezillos' (Sire Records 1978). Vocals by Fay Fife, most definetely one of the leading mouths of the genre back then ... do yourself a favour and get hold of the album here, folks!

[upon request:

Death By Milkfloat - 'The Man Whose Senses Failed'

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - 'The Mercy Seat']

(86) The Misfits - 'I Turned Into A Martian' (mp3). Well, although I don't know very much about The Misfits, I always thought that describing their stuff as 'Horror Punk' didn't fit them perfectly well. Then again I always disliked to put bands into a genre anyway ... either way: (again) from a classic LP: 'Walk Among Us' from 1982 on Ruby & Slash Records.

[upon request:

Weather Prophets - 'Well Done Sonny'

Foyer Des Arts - 'Frauen In Frieden Und Freiheit']

(87) Number 1 in John Peel's Festive Fifty back in 1977 - and quite rightly so, I would think, was this fantastic tune by The Motors: 'Dancing The Night Away' (mp3). One of my all time favourites, a 12", astonishingly enough issued on Virgin Records. This tune is just awesome, folks! More facts about The Motors here, where you also can learn that Bram Tchaikovsky was one of the founding members. Perhaps you know his fabulous 'Girl Of My Dreams'. Well, you should do ...

[upon request:

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - 'From Her To Eternity'

Pooh Sticks - 'I Know Someone Who Knows Someone Who Knows Allan McGee Quite Well'

Dub Sex - 'Every Secret I Ever Made']

(88) No longer with The Heartbreakers, but with a lady called Patti Palladin, here's good ole' Johnny Thunders. Together they made a brilliant LP called 'Copy Cats', which also features this track: 'Love Is Strange' (mp3). I also have it on the backside of a 12" called 'She Wants To Mambo', released on Jungle Records in 1988. This is good throughout!

[upon request:

House Of Love - 'Destroy The Heart']

(89) Members - 'The Sound Of The Suburbs' (mp3). Wikipedia has the perfect description for the Members, I think. Although they refer to the album on which 'Sound Of The Suburbs' can be found, in my eyes this sentence pretty much sums up the fate of The Members altogether: "the band's first album, 'At The Chelsea Nightclub', was critically acclaimed but did not set the world on fire". In my eyes they were near to being the new Beatles or something along those lines, but - as usual - the public saw that differently. But then again: it's always that way, isn't it? Released in 1979 on Virgin Records.

[upon request:

James - 'So Many Ways'

Wedding Present - 'Why Are You Being So Reasonable Now?']

(90) Half Man Half Biscuit - 'The Trumpton Riots' (mp3). The Peel Session version of the HMHB - classic, recorded in 1985 and released in 1988 on Strange Fruit Records. Half Man Half Biscuit do have a great website with loads of infos and also some downloadable stuff. Check it out here.

[upon request:

Iggy & The Stooges - 'Search And Destroy'

Cadeau De Marriage - 'Pourquoi Étai Tu Dévenu Si Resonable?']

(91) Dinosaur Jr. - 'Freak Scene' (mp3). Their debut release for Blast First Records back in 1988 and also their UK breakthrough. I like this record very much and I always keep coming back to it ... and I hope you will do the same. Or, even better, buy some of their other stuff as well. Especially the older things are definetely worth getting your hands upon.

[upon request:

Smiths - 'What Difference Does It Make?']

(92) Acid Angels - 'Speed Speed Ecstasy' (mp3). Released in 1988 on Product Inc. Records and rumour had it at the time that one of The Jesus & Mary Chain was involved in the making of that. Whether this is true or not remained a mystery to me up until now. Either way, this 12" was some kind of landmark for me, because it's the first - of a very very few - records I bought which had some kind of 'dance/'club' feel to it, if you know what I mean .... if I remember correctly, this was the time when 'Raving in the summer of love' was the big thing in Britain .... I couldn't tell properly, being stuck in a small village in Germany, you see: summer? Yes. Love? No. We only had cows, man!

(93) Happy Mondays - 'Wrote For Luck' (mp3). From the 'Bummed' - LP on Factory Records from 1988. A masterpiece from the Happy Mondays, this kind of tune which always made me listen carefully whenever they did something new. This attention lasted for quite some years and I can't say that about that many bands. Shaun Ryder, the singer, at the time showed the same (drunken/violent) behaviour in public as the bloke out of Oasis ... perhaps this (partly) is why they got so enormously famous ... in an independent sort of way at least ... who knows?

(94) My Bloody Valentine - '(When You Wake) You're Still In A Dream' (mp3). I must admit I've never been absolutely sure what to make out of My Bloody Valentine. Everybody says they have been highly influental on load of young bands back then, but I'm not in a band nor have I been, so bugger off. Only the records count for me and theirs I never could fully cope with. They're not bad, you know, but something is missing, although I can't define what it is. I took this track from a Rough Trade Compilation called 'Music For The 90's Vol. 1'. Originally it was on their 1988 'Isn't Anything' - LP, which hit the #1 in the UK charts ....

[upon request:

Happy Mondays - 'Fat Lady Wrestlers']

(95) Big Dipper - 'Ron Klaus Wrecked His House' (mp3). Well, there ain't much I could tell you about Big Dipper, my friends. I know four or five songs by them, but all of them are quite wonderful. This here is from a 7", released on Homestead Records in 1988. This is what Wikipedia has to tell us about them ....

[upon request:

Happy Mondays - 'Performance'

Happy Mondays - 'Bring A Friend'

Wedding Present - 'I Found That Essence Rare']

Well, as usual: please let me know if you're interested in anything out of the 'upon requests' - sections. I'd just love to play it for you, my beauties! Also I hope you enjoyed the above or at least parts of it. Also thanks to Jonathan, who provided me with the hometaping - logo above. Cheers, mate!

Peace,

Dirk

My Peel Tapes: Special Request Edition

Dear people,

first of all sincere apologies for the fact that there hasn't been an update to the series for nearly one month now. The truth of the matter is that I had too much to do when coming home from work. But things will improve and I hope to have the next episode ready in due course.

In the meantime I thought I was very pleased to fulfill Jonathan's request: he wrote in yesterday and - in addition to sending me a very nice logo for the series (which will most definetely be used for the next edition) - wanted to hear what - in my view is the outstanding track from a brilliant Peel Session - 'Saint Jack' by The Primevals. But, believe it or not: the record has gone! I can't remember having sold it or having lent it to someone who never gave it back to me, but either way ... it's gone. So Jonathan, if you want to hear something else instead, just let me know.

Very sorry indeed,

Dirk

My Peel Tapes: Part 12

Hello lovely people,

I'll try to squeeze in another episode before I'm having a week off next week. I'm pretty sure I won't find the time to do anything then, because I'm gonna party for four days in a row! There you are .....

(76) Wedding Present - '(The Moment Before) Everything's Spoiled Again' (mp3). This again proves that the first things most of the times are the best things, right? From 1985 and the backside of their debut single ('Go Out And Get 'Em, Boy') on Reception Records. New album by the Wedding Present is out now, by the way ... some 23 years later!

(77) Again a total classic: 'I Am The Fly' by Wire (mp3). Their second single and also on their second album, 'Chairs Missing', on Harvest Records from 1978. Shouldn't you know this fine tune: it'll grow on you, just wait and see ..... and you won't be able to get it out of your head for quite some time, so be warned!

(78) Jean Paul Sartre Experience - 'Own Two Feet' (mp3). Well, if you wanted to, you could perhaps style them as the 'second wave' of New Zealand bands. Personally I don't like to label a band, there's just one important thing for me: either the track is good or it is not. This one is good, perfect even. A most fragile piece on a self-titled Mini LP on Flying Nun Records from 1986.

[upon request:

Great Plains - 'Appetite'

Dub Sex - 'Voice Of Reason'

Sugarcubes - 'Coldsweat']

(79) The Leeds based combo Cud did their first Peel Session on 16.06.87. This means Strange Fruit Records were quite up to date with the release of it in their Peel Session 12" series. From it, here's Cud's version of the Hot Chocolate classic: 'You Sexy Thing' (mp3). The definitive reading of the old favourite, don't you agree?

[upon request:

Buzzcocks - 'What Do I Get'

Primitives - 'Crash']

(80) Thinking about it, the NME had made up quite a few excellent compilations back in those days. The C86 cassette was essential, there is no doubt about that, I think. The same is true for the C81 cassette, by the way, but people seem to have forgotten about that one .... but I digress. In 1988 the NME came up with a neat album called 'Sgt. Pepper Knew My Father' (on NME records), which basically brought together various bands and songwriters who covered the whole of the Beatles' 'Sgt. Pepper' - LP. 'What a boring nonsense', you might think, but no: mostly all of them did their job pretty well. As The Wedding Present - with Amelia Fletcher - are about to show, they decided to have a go for 'Getting Better' (mp3).

[the Beatles, dear Christina Aguilera - fans, were a rather successful four-piece from Liverpool (that's a town in Europe) in the 60's. 'Sgt. Pepper ...' was just one of the LP's they released back then. And if the name still doesn't ring a bell to you: the daughter of one of their members runs a fashion label, Stella McCartney that is ...)].

[upon request:

Wedding Present - 'I'm Not Always So Stupid'

Wedding Present - 'Nobody's Twisting Your Arm'

Wedding Present - 'Nothing Comes Easy'

King Of The Slums - 'Venerate Me Utterly']

(81) ... and here's what The Fall chose to cover on the aforementioned 'Sgt. Pepper Knew My Father' - compilation: 'A Day In The Life' (mp3) .... a mighty track!!

[upon request:

Sonic Youth: 'Within You Without You']

(82) 1987 saw the release of The Pixies' debut Mini-LP 'Come On Pilgrim'. But it took another year before the whole world understood that The Pixies were mightier than Jesus and that was when they released their debut album 'Surfer Rosa'. It took the world by storm, and quite rightly so, because there wasn't a single bad track on it. 'Where Is My Mind' (mp3) is one of them ....

[upon request:

Dub Sex - 'Push!'

Wire - 'Kidney Bingos'

Flatmates - 'Shimmer'

Darling Buds - 'Shame On You']

I hope you enjoyed bits of the above and have another look next time.

Take good care,

Dirk

My Peel Tapes: Part 11

Hello friends,

two editions in two days: what has happened with the Sexyloser, you might think! The truth of the matter is: Mrs. Loser has gone to town with a friend for shopping purposes ... which means I don't have to do any slave-like duties in the garden and can please you instead. Oh, ain't life wonderful?

(67) Something German for a change now by Die Mimmi's, back then a rather well known punk combo. The lyrics, shouldn't you be able to understand them, tell us the story of a few youngsters who have a party in the cellar, where they drain their dad's bar. And as you can tell they very well suceed in doing so until Daddy comes home and complains .... great stuff! From the 1984 LP 'Was'n Hier Los?' ('What's going on here?' = Daddy's complaint when he enters the bar)): 'Vater's Kellerbar' (mp3). Issued on the mighty Weserlabel.

[upon request:

Dinosaur - 'The Lung']

(68) Back in those days no-one knew anything about Scandinavian bands, apart from Abba ... and perhaps The Leather Nun. Today, after Björk has achieved the status of a worldwide superstar and being a band from Scandinavia is the new hype, it's hard to imagine how this track blew us away. A band from Iceland?? No way, Josè, we thought ... but it was the start of taking bands from the North seriously, I would say. On One Little Indian Records, a 12" issued in 1988 (and again I think Peel must have played a pre-release, 'cos I think this cassette dates 1987): The Sugarcubes' 'Birthday' (mp3). And yes: I know that Björk was in band called KUKL before the Sugarcubes were born, but we didn't know then, you see. We didn't even know where fucking Iceland was .....

(69) The Wedding Present - 'Anyone Can Make A Mistake' (mp3). A 12" from 1987 on Reception Records. In those days every new record by The Wedding Present was like a gift from heaven, at least it was to me. They just couldn't do anything bad, you see .... I remember having seen them play live in a very small venue in Aachen and it was just unbelievable. You literally couldn't see Gegde's fingers when playing the guitar ... they were moving just too fast ... your eyes couldn't catch it, you know ... oh, they were Gods. Nothing less!

[upon request:

I, Ludicrous - 'Three English Football Grounds'

Three Johns - 'Never And Always']

(70) Another band that couldn't do wrong these days were The Chills. Here's my favourite track from their 1987 'Brave Words' - LP on Flying Nun Records from New Zealand: 'Look For The Good In Others And They'll See The Good In You' (mp3). I dunno, most probably this could well be their very best song altogether .... it has everything you need: a catchy hook and lyrics you can identify with. Judge yourself .....

[upon request:

Wild Swans - 'God Forbid'

Lurkers - 'Go Go Go']

(71) I, Ludicrous - 'Preposterous Tales' (mp3). Originally released as a 10", but I like the LP version more, so, here's the tune taken from their absolutely fantastic album 'It's Like Everything Else' on Kaleidoscope Sound from 1987. I cannot recommend the album enough to you. If you find it anywhere: get your hands on it, because it's good throughout. Again, 'Preposterous Tales' is one of my all-time favourite songs!

[upon request:

Big Stick - 'Billy Jack Paddy Wack'

Wedding Present - 'Give My Love To Kevin'

Adverts - 'One Chord Wonders']

(72) Again very hard to decide for me which track to post, as you will be able to see below. A whole bunch of the Peel Session 12"'s were issued at the time and I'll go for the one by The Mighty Wah! They were always around in one constellation or the other and their 'Come Back' was one of the best records ever made, I would say. But here's to you, from their 1984 Peel Session (on Strange Fruit Records), 'Basement Blues'; 'The Story Of The Blues' (mp3). John Peel's single of the year, and rightly so! More on Pete Wylie and Wah!: here.

[upon request:

Triffids - 'Chicken Killer' (Session Version)

Cud - 'You're The Boss' (Session Version)

Wedding Present - 'What Did Your Last Servant Die Of'

Wedding Present - 'Don't Be So Hard']

(73) Now, this is for Dan, who wanted to hear something by The Colorblind James Experience quite some time ago. From their self-titled 1987 LP on Fundamental Records, here's 'Considering A Move To Memphis' (mp3).

[upon request:

Colorblind James Experience - 'The German Girls'

Wedding Present - 'Shatner']

(74) There ain't much I can tell you about this next track or about the band themselves. I think some members previously were in Big In Japan and/or Pink Military. Anyway, this song here is just awesome, I think: Pink Industry and 'Don't Let Go' (mp3). Vocals by Jayne Casey on this 12" on Cathexis Records from 1987, the thing is quite valuable these days: trade anyone?

[upon request:

McCarthy - 'The Funeral'

Ramones - 'Pin Head'

Wedding Present - 'A Million Miles']

(75) And after all those fragile records it's high time for some rousing vulgarity. Here come The Damned from their 1977 debut LP 'Damned Damned Damned' with 'New Rose' (mp3).

[upon request:

Colorblind James Experience - 'Dance Critters']

Enough for today, pop-pickers: I hope you have a look next time and, as usual: it's entirely your fault if you don't pay enough attention to the 'upon request' - bits and just suck the tracks instead.

Take care,

Dirk

My Peel Tapes: Part 10

Morning my beauties,

first of all: please forgive me if the gaps between the posts tend to become longer and longer, but as the weather is really perfect these days, I simply prefer to be out in the garden than sitting inside in front of the computer. But today I have a quiet day at work and will use this rare opportunity to delight you with Pt. 10 of 'My Peel Tapes'. Here we go:

(58) In 1987 The Turbines from Boston released their second LP, 'Magic Fingers And Hourly Rates' on New Rose Records from France. The LP is a real corker with many fabulous tunes on it which the band wrote themselves, but I always keep coming back to their version of The Stooges '1969' (mp3). Enjoy! More on The Turbines: here.

[upon request:

Look Blue Go Purple - 'Cactus Cat'

Jesus And Mary Chain - 'April Skies']

(59) The Bambi Slam were a Canadian-British quartet with an unusual instrumental lineup of guitar, cello, bass, drums, led by singer/guitarist Roy Feldon and featuring cellist Linda Miller and drummer Nick Maynard. By the time of the release of the first full-length album, 'The Bambi Slam', in 1988, the group had splintered, leaving the Bambi Slam as a Feldon solo project. But before that happened, in the year before actually, they released this 12" on Product Inc. Records: 'Don't It Make You Feel' (mp3) ... enjoy!

[upon request:

June Brides - 'Waiting For A Change'

Luddites - 'Doppleganger']

(60) You know, it's always hard for a band to keep up the quality level of a brilliant debut release. The Jesus & Mary Chain might perhaps have been the best example, because I considered 'Psychocandy' as being a milestone and I remember very well that I thought to myself: 'whatever they do after it, it will never be that good'. Well, the proved me totally wrong with this: 'April Skies' (mp3), the 12" version thereof, released on WEA Records in 1987. And, by the way, 11 years later, I had a déjà vu when they came up with the fantastic 'Rocket', which was hidden away on the back of the 'Cracking Up' - CD.

[upon request:

Turbines - 'Straight Dog']

(61) Their third single from 1987, although first recorded (for a Janice Long Session) the year before from Talulah Gosh was 'Talulah Gosh' (mp3), a 12" on 53rd & 3rd Records from Edinburgh. And if there ever was an Anorak band, Talulah Gosh deserved to be described that way. This is by no means meant negatively, I might add. Lead by the mighty Amelia Fletcher (later with Heavenly), this is one of the nicest pop tunes of that area .... at least as far as I'm concerned.

[upon request:

Krupps - 'Your Voice']

(62) Next an anti-fascist anthem (and you can't have enough of those in my view!!) from The Men They Couldn't Hang: 'The Ghosts Of Cable Street' (mp3), which, of course, relates to the 1936 Cable Street Battle. You'll find the track on the back of their 'Goldrush' 12", which was released in 1986 on MCA Records. The band released their first single back in 1984 and as far as I know they're still around in one form or another!

[upon request:

Slab - 'Painting The Fourth Bridge']

(63) Billy Bragg - 'Love Gets Dangerous' (mp3). Okay, listen people: there might be a few amongst you who are not familiar with the entire work of Billy Bragg. If you want to improve upon your little lives, you should try to get hold of a copy of 'Brewing Up With Billy Bragg' as a starter. The record dates 1984 and was issued on Go! Discs at the time. 'Love Gets Dangerous' is on it, yes. Next go and see Billy Bragg play live. You do yourself a favour, people, promised!

(64) 1987 and SST Records from the States brought us 'Sister', the new album from Sonic Youth. Now, I never was quite sure what to think of Sonic Youth, either I thought they were Gods or I thought they were utter crap, depending on which of their records was on the turntable. Interestingly enough there never was anything inbetween. 'Sister' though included quite a lot of tracks which made me move them more towards the God - side, especially 'Kotton Krown' (mp3) did it for me.

[upon request:

Sonic Youth - 'Stereo Sanctity'

Smiths - 'The Boy With The Thorn In His Side']

(65) + (66) Alas I don't have any of the songs Peel played on these sides of the tapes. This will happen more often in the future, I'm afraid. Most of the times the reason was that the tracks he played were so obscure that they were impossible to get hold of back then .....

More to come next week, folks ... I hope you enjoyed it and if you did: leave requests! By the way, JC: where's the request-mail you promised to send to me quite some time ago, mate?

Cheerio,

Dirk

My Peel Tapes: Part 9

Hello folks,

a bank holiday here in Germany plus a day off, which means to you that I have found the time to work on the 'My Peel Tapes' - series. And if I don't talk too much, there will be more to come on the weekend as well .... let's wait and see. Here we go:

(51) As you might imagine, there were numerous bands that Peel featured, which turned out to be one-hit-wonders without having had a hit in the sense of commercial success. You heard the record, thought to yourself 'oh, this is quite nice stuff' and that was about it. They never came back with another record, at least not knowingly. The Stitched Back-Foot Airmen are a prime example: I know nothing about them or where they might possibly be up to at the moment. Nor did I know back in 1986, when this came out on Very Mouth Records as a 7": 'Wouldn't You Like To Know' (mp3).

[upon request:
Frightwig - 'Big Bang'
Half Man Half Biscuit - 'D'Y'Ken Ted Moult?'
Stump - 'Buffalo'
Soup Dragons - 'Head Gone Astray']

(52) The Slits - 'Love And Romance' (mp3). A total classic, not only because of the fantastic line 'Oh, I forgot the lyrics now'. In the Strange Fruit 'Peel Sessions' 12" - series, released in 1986, the session itself dates from 1977 though. More about The Slits: here.

(53) I know you've been wondering for quite some time why I never posted anything by The Wedding Present so far. Well, the truth of the matter is, I always thought to myself: 'Hmmm ... this one is not good enough, there will come another one which is even better'. But then again: ALL of what they did back then is utterly brilliant, so there is no use to wait any longer. So why not go for their 'My Favourite Dress' (mp3), a 12" on Reception Records from 1987?

[upon request:
Railway Children - 'Brighter'
Siouxsie & The Banshees - 'Mirage'
Primitives - 'Stop Killing Me'
Pastels - 'Up For A Bit']

(54) Quite hard to decide which one to post here and I'm pretty sure some requests will come in for the tracks below. I'll go for 'I Love My Leather Jacket' (mp3) by The Chills, because with this track the whole Kiwipop - thingy really started, I would think. At least it did for me. The Chills made a lot of good songs, the same was true at the time for a lot of bands from New Zealand. And still is, as a matter of fact. I know I used to think very often indeed that the people from down there must be a really lucky and relaxed bunch of lads. You literally could feel this in the music they made, you know ... From a 7" on Normal Records from Germany, released in 1986.

[upon request:
New Order - 'Ceremony'
DCL Locomotive - 'King Midas In Reverse'
Gang Of Four - 'At Home He's A Tourist'
Artery - 'The Death Of Peter X' ('Into The Garden')]

(55) SSgt. Barry Sadler - 'Ballad Of The Green Berets' (mp3). Well, some of you will hate this, others may like it as much as I do. I think it has a certain charme, but then again I'm the sort of guy who sometimes likes to look the odd U.S. - war movie from the 60's late at night when Mrs. Loser is already sleeping. Albeit they are all totally uncritical to the horrors of war and tell us that all American soldiers were nothing less than heroes, I still like to watch them exactly because of the way they patronise ..... and fall asleep in the middle of them. You can compare all of this to the track by the Staff Sergeant: not that I fall asleep when I listen to it, no, but there is something in it which I can't explain really. Originally released as a 7" on RCA Victor in 1966 and you have to judge yourself whether it's any good or not. Please let me know: I'm really interested to learn what you think of it ....

(56) The Band Of Susans - 'Hope Against Hope' (mp3). From a 12" EP on Furthur Records out of the States, released in 1987 and called 'Blessing And Curse'. They had three guitars, which you will able to tell when you listen to the tune. Six members were in the band (here's their homepage), but only 3 of them were called Susan: Susan Stenger: Bass, vocals, Susan Tallman: Guitar, Susan Lyall: Guitar ....

[upon request:
Laibach - 'Geburt Einer Nation'
Laibach - 'Leben Heisst Leben'
Shonen Knife - 'Devil House']

(57) The Fizzbombs' 'Sign On The Line' (mp3). You will not find much on the net about The Fizzbombs apart from the fact that they contained ex-members from The Shop Assistants and Jesse Garon And The Desperadoes. They came from Edinburgh and lasted a little under two years releasing two singles and a track for a flexi compilation. 'Sign On The Line' was the first record, released in 1987 on Narodnik Records. And I saw recently it had gone on ebay for some 38,- Euros .... unbelievable ... !

[upon request:
Wire - 'Ahead'
Flatmates - 'Happy All The Time'
Flesh For Lulu - 'Siamese Twist']

Enough for today, my beauties. I hope you enjoyed today's songs and will have a look at No. 10 as well ... which will be ready rather soon, I think.

Take care,

Dirk

My Peel Tapes: Special Request Edition

Dear friends,

I can't tell you how pleased I was to - finally - receive some requests for the stuff I mentioned, but didn't link to. This shows me that people show interest in the series and are eager to hear more. Good for them!

So here we go:

Dan wrote in on April 26th and wanted to hear some Shonen Knife. So here is 'I Wanna Eat Choco Bars' segued into a fantastic version of 'Suzy Is A Headbanger' (mp3) for you to enjoy. Both recorded live at The Kilburn National Ballroom in London on 05.12.91 and available on a Mini - LP called "We Are Very Happy You Came" (Creation Records 1993). The Colourblind James Experience, by the way, Dan, will crop up not before the #73 - edition of the series, 'cos that's the first time when Peel played something from the LP. So keep having a look .....

Anonymous (now that's a clever nick, if there ever was one *smile*) from America wanted me to play something from The Shop Assistants on April 27th. Here you are, Anonymous ... and because you didn't specify which song you wanted to hear, you're gonna get them all:

'All That Ever Mattered' (mp3)
'I Don't Wanna Be Friends With You' (mp3)
'What A Way To Die' (mp3)
'After Dark' (mp3)
'Train From Kansas City' (mp3)

All of them you can find on a great LP called 'Shop Assistants', issued on Chrysalis in 1986.

Then Kalo wrote in, also on April 27th. My knowledge of the Spanish language (or is it Portuguese?) isn't that good (well, it's not existing, to be precise), but I think "podias subir Terry & Gerry???" (with all the question marks the other way round, I might add ... funny though) might possibly mean that he (or she?) will be delighted to hear this:

Terry & Gerry: 'Wait Until You're Older' (mp3). Taken from a 7" on Vindaloo Records from 1984 called 'Butter's On The Bread - EP'.

Finally Joe from Dublin wanted to hear more from Half Man Half Biscuit on April 28th, and of course I'm always pleased if something like this happens: the toast of Birkenhead indeed!!! Joe, this is for you:

'Albert Hammond Bootleg' (live) (mp3)
'Dickie Davis Eyes' (mp3)
'Fuckin' 'Ell, It's Fred Titmus' (live) (mp3)

Alas I don't know exactly where the live versions were recorded, 'Dickie Davis Eyes' though is from the original 1986 12" on Probe Plus Records.

Enjoy, dear people!!

All the best,

Dirk