Get Me To The Weekend - Betty Boo

Yes I know it's Monday morning but the weekend's just round the corner isn't it eh? Owing more than a little debt to The Human League's Love Action this is Betty Boo's first proper single for almost 30 years!

For anyone new to the Boo try these couple of bangers...

Nino - The Linda Lindas

Top pop punk from The Linda Lindas. I knew nothing of them until recently but it transpires that they've been making waves for quite a while even though one of them is...wait for it...just 11 years old. Good grief, I could barely read and write at that age. 

The Associates LIVE!

I've been lucky enough to see plenty of musical heroes live but sadly I missed Billy Mackenzie whilst he was still on this earth and last Saturday marked 25 years since he took his own life at the age of 39. There are relatively few live vids of Billy and The Associates out there but this one seems to capture Billy in pretty fine form. 

Heaven Can Wait - Meat Loaf

After reading his autobiography a few years back I developed a bit of a soft spot for old Meat Loaf. Whilst he'd had huge success a series of misfortunes resulted in him losing his home and at one point he ended up playing in bars just to earn a crust. Happily in recent years he was afforded the elder statesman of rock status and was even planning to return to the studio this month to record a new album. He may be better known for his bombastic numbers (and no one could do bombastic like Meat Loaf) but the vid above shows his more subtle side. RIP Meat. 

Our House - Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

After wanting an open fire/log burner for more years than I care to mention we finally got a stove fitted this week and last night saw its official first burn-day. Wanting to stick on some tunes whilst watching the fire get going I toyed with The Prodigy or The Crazy World of Arthur Brown but this classic from CSN&Y seemed to fit the bill best. 

Change - Blue Rondo A La Turk

I'd been trying to pick up the 2CD reissue of BRALT's album Chewing The Fat off eBay for a while now but it kept going for almost 40 quid. Ouch. So I thought I'd try getting in touch with the good folk at Cherry Red to ask if they'd...er...reissue the reissue. I didn't hear back from them but a few months later...voila...it's out again. Hurrah! I ordered my copy and it arrived last week. Double hurrah! And, of course, it still sounds as ruddy awesome now as it did when it was first released 40 (seriously 40 years...blimey) years ago. You can snap up your copy for just £10.95 right here, right now. 

Let's Have A Kiki - Scissor Sisters

Somehow this track passed me by when it first came out in 2012 but after picking up its accompanying album (Magic Hour) for 33p last weekend it's been playing pretty much non stop in my head. Loved the Scissor Sisters since first seeing 'em at the old Academy 2 waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in 2004, couldn't the world do with their reunion right now? 

Rhythm Of The Night - DeBarge

Another weekend and another stack of bargain CDs...including the best of DeBarge! Could this video be any more 80s? Dust off those leg warmers and party like it's 1985. 

Beatmaker - Matt Berry and Emma Noble

The second I heard this track at the end of the first episode of Toast in Tinseltown I knew I'd heard it before but couldn't for the life of me remember where. Until now. It's a cover of Doris' original from an album I stumbled across 20 odd years ago and played to death for months. If you've not heard anything else by Doris check her/them out on t'You Tube. Here's their version of the track...

And here's another classic cut to wrap yer ears around...enjoy!

PS: Yes, I can hear you Clem Fandango. 

Pink Panther...the sound of 2022!

Great to hear that Pink Panther's been named The BBC's Sound of 2022. About time someone decent won. Here's one of his best tracks. Classic. 

Funk McLovin - Lyle Workman and Bootsy Collins

Watched Superbad last night for the first time in years and reckon we could all do with a little McLovin to get us through the first few weeks of 2022. Enjoy!