Leon Redbone - So Relax

In a chilled Friday mood for a change so let's pay homage to Leon Redbone who passed away yesterday with So Relax. Readers of a certain may recognise this track from an ad for British Rail back in the 80s. I'm guessing it must have been their idea of irony.

Phil Ochs - Changes

It's been a while since I posted up some Phil Ochs so let's dust off Changes. If you don't know Phil's work or life story it's all out there on the internet. Best to listen to the music before reading his life story though, trust me. One little story I came across when looking for this track dates back to a small festival appearance he did back in the 60s. Apparently it was piddling it down and his audience were getting soaked so Phil left the relative comfort of the stage and swapped places with them, playing the rest of the set in the rain whilst they kept dry under the stage's canvas...somehow I can't see many other artists doing that can you? 

Simon Maragh and Dr D. Wayne Love RIP

Sad news reaches the Aid this week with the passing of Alabama 3's Dr D. Wayne Love and Brum musical stalwart Simon Maragh. I had the great pleasure of seeing Simon many times in many different bands over the years (including Betty and the Id, see below) and, on top of putting on a bostin show, Dr D. Wayne Love very kindly gave me a can of lukewarm but much needed lager at Glastonbury way back in the 90s. RIP chaps.

Royal Republic - Fireman & Dancer

I was going to keep this behind for the Friday banger but sod it, I can't wait. Coming off as a cross between Franz Ferdinand, The Hives, Eagles of Death Metal, Queen and even a little Duran Duran (dig that sax man) this track's quite possibly the best thing to have come out of Sweden since...well...ever. And given that Sweden's got a bit of a rep for the odd decent band or two that's really saying something. Genius.

Grassman - Dodgy

I'm guessing for a lot of people Dodgy will forever be associated with the perky pop of Staying Out For The Summer but dig into the albums and you'll find gems like this. We gave Homegrown (25 years young this year) a spin last night for the first time in ages and the epicness (is that a word? it is now) of Grassman knocked my slippers off. Enjoy!

Bis - There Is No Point

Brand new banger for this Friday courtesy of Bis. How damned good is this eh? 2 minutes and 44 seconds of sparkling indiepop genius. Play it loud and bounce around until yer ears fly off.

Pom Poko - My Blood

That Marc Riley chap on 6 Music's been playing this a lot and I keep forgetting the name of the band so I'm sticking it up here as much for me as you...cos it's ace. Pom Poko are Norwegian apparently, yes, Norway...home of nil points...well it used to be until the UK became pretty much universally despised by our European chums now it's our turn. Mind you what decent music's ever come out of the UK eh...?

If My Blood's a bit twee for you cop a load of this track and vid, that'll sort you out.

Inside Straight - The Dirty Dozen Brass Band

As a fan of the Hot 8 Brass Band I was intrigued to come across a CD from an outfit called The Dirty Dozen Brass Band who seemed to offer a similarly funky take on all things brass a full 6 years before the Hot 8 blew their first tune. After a little digging I discovered that they'd actually been funking things up since 1977, surely making them Hot 8 Brass Bands spiritual grandpas. Here's just one track from The New Orleans album which can probably pick up from eBay for a couple of quid (yep, just checked...it can). Enjoy!

PS: Ever heard Hot 8 Brass Band's awesome cover of Love Will Tear Us Apart? Voila...

The Blockheads - Take Out The Lead

Picked up a copy of a rare 7 inch by The Blockheads (minus Ian Dury) from the splendid Sound Preservation Society Records in Teignmouth on Tuesday (my birthday by the way...thank you very much for asking...yes I did) featuring this little gem (shades of Talking Heads perhaps?) on the B side. I'd never heard it before but it's a beaut right?

The Stone Roses - Fools Gold (A Guy Called Gerald Remix)

Good grief, it's 30 ruddy years since The Stone Roses released their debut album...The Stone Roses. See what they did there? I was just about to turn 19 when it came out (yes...I really am that old) and was starting to listen to more dance oriented stuff like A Guy Called Gerald's classic Voodoo Ray, which is as good an excuse as any to dig out his Fools Gold remix. Actually let's have a little Voodoo Ray too eh, after all it is Friday. Enjoy!