Shakey Ground - The Temptations

This seems like a pretty appropriate track for what's going on in the world right now. Shakey Ground indeed...still, if we're going to get nuked we might as well have a funky soundtrack to dance to whilst we kiss our backsides goodbye. 

All Night Long - The Dave Clark Five

Another recent bargain CD buy and in amongst the 'hits and pieces' (see what I did there?) I came across this bonkers garage rock wig out. Who knew these dudes did stuff like this?!  

Two Shots of Happy One Shot of Sad - Matt Dusk

Heard this last night on a Canadian Verve Records promo CD and liked the noir-ish vibe. Apparently it was written by Bono and The Edge in tribute to Frank Sinatra and originally sung by daughter Nancy. 

Press Darlings - Adam and the Ants

Who was the first band that the Sex Pistols supported? The Damned? The Ramones? The Clash? Nah, Adam and the Ants. 

For a brief period Adam and the Ants were MASSIVE, I'm fairly sure they occupied three of the top 5 slots in the singles chart at one point and this was at a time when such things took some doing. Despite having his roots in punk Adam embraced the whole pop/celebrity thing and...well...sadly the press took against him and his music and it's been unfairly sidelined as a bit of an 80's novelty ever since. Listen to tracks like Press Darlings though and it's not a huge stretch to imagine Johnny Rotten snarling it out. Elsewhere there's a touch of Berlin era Bowie in tracks like Physical...

  ...see what I mean? 

PS: This post was prompted by picking up the rather fine Dandy Highwayman 2CD which was languishing in the rain in a box outside a local charity shop. I should report them to the RSPCCD (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to CDs). Thankfully after carefully removing and drying the soggy insert it's no worse for wear. Try treating an LP like that eh? CDs rule. 

Fish In The Jailhouse - Tom Waits

Heavy, heavy blues from the gravel voiced bawler Tom Waits, taken from the appropriately named 3CD compilation Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers and Bastards which I picked up from a local charity shop recently. There's still some decent stuff out there if you hunt for it but prices are rising. At this rate they'll be back to where they were when I first started buying 'em back in the late 80s. 

PS: Taking inflation into account new CDs should be roughly £40 these days. Bonkers eh? 

Don't Do This Alone - Walt Disco

As a long-term fan of The Associates this track's been floating my boat recently. Walt Disco have been around for quite a while now but perhaps this track will see 'em pull a Future Islands and hit the mainstream...if such a thing still exists. 

Fire - Beth Ditto

Picked up a copy of Beth's debut solo album during my Bristol trip and gave it a spin last night. Here's my pick of the pops, partially 'cos it's a banger and partially 'cos I like setting fire to shit (NB: in my log burner that is...).