The Wonder Stuff - There There My Dear

The Wonder Stuff covering Dexys? What's not to love eh? 

Hard Times by Baby Huey

Funny this, I was only just reading about Baby Huey in a back issue of Mojo magazine (a physical copy too...not online) whilst lounging in the bath last night and lo and behold You Tube suggests a track for me this morning...is You Tube reading minds now? Spoooooooky. Anyway, I took this as a sign to stick up yet another sadly appropriate track for these 'hard times'. Still, at least it's the weekend eh? They can't take that away from us...yet. 

My Shit's Fucked Up by Warren Zevon

 

Blimey, can there be a more perfect record for 2020...and quite possibly 2021...and 2022 too. Yes, our shit's well and truly fucked up right now and old Warren nailed it before sadly falling to the big C in 2003 at just 56. Before dying he was asked what he'd learned from life and replied, "Enjoy every sandwich", substitute sandwich for pint of cider or glass of red and I reckon he was onto something. 

Supermarket Sweep by Billy Nomates

Having worked in the odd supermarket/convenience store (very odd actually...in both cases) I can kind of relate to this track. Oh the happy hours I spent behind the counter of 7-Eleven drinking my own body weight in hot chocolate. 

Suzannah's Still Alive - Cardiacs

 

Another classic Cardiacs track from the archives, why the hell weren't they up there with the likes of Blur and Pulp back in the day?  

O-O-H Child by The Five Stairsteps

 

Heard this track for the first time in years on Lauren Laverne's show and it seems pretty appropriate for these days. I can't imagine what it must be like to be a younger person right now, if it's not coronavirus it's the climate crisis, Brexit or any one of a million other worries to contend with. Okay, so we had the threat of a all out nuclear war and AIDS back in my day which weren't much fun either but at least this was before anti-social media which seems to make everything so, so, sooooo much worse. My best advice? Shut the curtains, turn off Twitter, Tik Tok, Arsebook, Instagram and listen to this track on repeat until everything's better again. 

Kool and the Gang - Open Sesame

In tribute to Kool and the Gang's Ronald Bell who died yesterday (having sired 10 kids...blimey) here's a lesser heard track from the band, mixing a little bit of Jungle Boogie-ness with some Funkadelic nuttiness. Ruddy ace. 

Try A Little Sunshine by The Factory

Obscure psych time and here's a gem from The Factory (not sure what kind of factory...pretty sure it didn't make pork pies though) dating all the way back to 1969 when I was barely a twinkle...

Canadee-I-O by Nic Jones

For a decade or so I'd have been at Moseley Folk festival by now, just tucking into that first pint of scrumpy and looking forward to three days of great music (and possibly another pint or two of scrumpy). Since relocating to the West Country I've not been back to MoFo but hopefully I'll make it back there one day. Of course no bugger's going to be able to make it this year are they eh? Anyway, enjoy a little Nic Jones by way of compensation. The good folk behind MoFolk are also doing the crowdfunding thing to help protects the festival's future, here the link. 

I Can't Give You Anything by The Stylistics

 

On top of being an absolute belter of a disco classic I just lurrrrrve the video for this track. Stick the band on the roof of an office block, turn on the tape player (8 track, naturally) and let 'em lip sync whilst making up their own dance moves. The dude in the hat's having a great time...not so sure about the others. 

Sweet Child O'Mine by Scary Pockets

In the mood for a funkified version of Sweet Child O'Mine you say? No problem, here you go. There are literally trillions of cover versions of hit songs on You Tube these days of varying quality but this one's pretty ace. Enjoy. 

Real Role Player - Matt Philip Hale

Sporting what's surely set to be the next big fashion brand and belting out another piano banger here's the latest massively marvellous missive from MPH. Play it loud, sing it to your neighbours, scribble the lyrics on the back of that bloke in front of you on the number 11 on the way to Kings Heath (one for the Bearwood posse there). 

Walk The Thin Line - Mick Fleetwood (ft George Harrison)

 

Several years before Paul Simon stirred the cultural melting pot and came up with Graceland Mick Fleetwood pitched up in Ghana to record an album featuring, amongst others, George Harrison on slide guitar. I had no idea this album existed until I picked up a copy from the always ace SPS Records in Teignmouth. It's a bit of a grower but if the track above don't float yer boat try this, featuring the late great Peter Green on guitar and vocals.  

Born This Way - Dusty Springfield

 

Twenty odd years before Gaga Dusty sang a song called Born This Way on her comeback Reputation album. Who knew eh? It's got a bit of a similar vibe too...coincidence? 

The Politicians featuring McKinley Jackson - Free Your Mind

How about a slice of prime 70's Detroit funk for a bloody awful wet and windy Wednesday? Play this loud and you'll feel at least 75% cooler. 

Yard Act - Fixer Upper

 

Heard this track this morning and it floated my boat, bonus points for using the words 'existential' and 'walk on gilded splinters'. I wonder how many lovely homes have been fixed up/wrecked by people like Graham and his ilk...

Gallows - In the Belly of a Shark (live)

Throwback Friday to the time I saw Gallows at the old Bar Academy in Brum on a Sunday night. Genuinely one of the best live acts I've ever seen...and I've been lucky enough to see one or two. 

Killer Klyve at the Barn Dance - Matt Philip Hale

Take some Jerry Lee, add a dash of Subterranean Homesick Blues and feed the whole thing through the twisted gut of Matt Philip Hale and you've got Killer Klyve at the Barn Dance, the kind of track Tarantino would give his left nut for...and possibly his right too...if he was remaking Pulp Fiction in the Black Country. "Lets get sweaty and move about UH HUH!" All killer, no filler. 

Insane In the Membrane - Cypress Hill

 

It's been one of those weeks...you know the sort...the kind of weeks when Insane In The Membrane keeps going round and round in your head. 

2Cellos - Thunderstruck

Been going through a bit of an AC/DC phase recently and came across this little gem of a cover by Croatian cello nutters 2Cellos, the kind of thing you discover wandering round a music festival with a pint of scrumpy in your hand...good grief I  miss festivals. Anyway, enjoy.