Dieman Noba Smoke Tafee - S E Rogie

Classic helping of palm wine music from S E Rogie courtesy of another 50p CD bargain last weekend. If this doesn't chill you the hell out then there's no hope. 

Ellie Finnerty @ The Gresham House Inn, Sunday 26th June 2022

Had the great pleasure of catching up with Ellie again during an all too brief return home between a season entertaining holiday makers in Dorset and a stint on a cruise ship pottering around the Med. As with the last time we caught her set Ellie picked classics from the last 7 decades or so and sprinkled in some gems of her own including Generation Jaded (a sorry tale of the perils of internet dating…don’t do it) and Screen (all about following an ex’s social media life and wondering about the life she could have had with ‘em…I reckon she’s better off cruising the Med myself).

It’s a really encouraging sign when your audience calls out for one of your originals - as they did with the aforementioned Screen - rather than a cover and it really doesn’t take a huge leap of imagination to see Ellie belting it out in front of a huge festival crowd. There are plenty of great singers out there but Ellie has a seemingly natural ability to really ‘sell’ a song, to make you believe in what she’s singing, and that’s something a lot rarer. Particularly impressive this afternoon was Ellie’s soulful cover of That’s Life and an emotional Hey Jude which got The Gresham enthusiastically “Na Na Na Na Na Na Naaaaa”-ing. Who needs Glasto eh? 

With the dark days of lockdowns hopefully behind us and at least side one of that self-penned debut album stuffed with catchy singalong hits in waiting who knows how far Ellie might go now…maybe
to…wait for it…in-Finnerty and beyond (sorry, can’t recent a pun…blame the pints of Devon Scrumpy).

The Vulture - Labi Siffre

Soulfully funky deep cut from the hugely underrated Labi Siffre. Not heard this track before picking up the 3 CD Labi Siffre Gold album for a whole 99p at the weekend. Ace innit? 

Train of Love in Motion - Heaven 17

To...er...'celebrate'...today's rail strike let's revisit Heaven 17's rarely heard Teddy Bear, Duke & Psycho album and this single from it which sadly failed to chart back in 1988. 

We Gets Up - Prince

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunky deep cut from Prince's unfairly maligned 3 disc Emancipation album (picked up from a chazza for a mere 50p last week) to gets you up over 'hump day'. Play it loud muthahumpers. 

Up The Mountain - Regina Spector

Possibly inspired by 'there was an old woman who swallowed a fly' Regina Spector's back with a simmeringly seductive slice of superlative orchestral pop (try saying that with false teeth). And just because it's a Monday let's drop in the tune that made me a fan waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in 2006-ish. 

 

Dumb Head - The Dumbettes

You Tube suggested this track this morning and it turns out to be a Misty's Big Adventure side project that had somehow escaped my ears. I'm assuming the late, great Grandmaster Gareth had a hand in its production... 

The Bike Song - Mark Ronson and The Business International

So, how was your 'Platty Joobs'? We really should have more 4 day weekends, how about it Liz? I took part in the local annual vintage bike ride. with any luck I'll have recovered by the next one. 

Shake Your Pants - Cameo

I'm reliably informed that Her Majesty likes nothing better than getting down to Cameo's Shake Your Pants so this ones for you ma'am.  

Mick's Up - The Style Council

Finally got my hands on The Complete Adventures of the Style Council boxset recently and span disc one last night which features this instrumental gem from the underrated genius that is Mick Talbot. It's a funky souly thang.  

Reach For The Sun - The Polyphonic Spree

If there's one band that comes close to the life affirming nature of a Misty's Big Adventure gig it's The Polyphonic Spree and this track in particular seems appropriate right now... 

Grandmaster Gareth RIP

I have no words. Okay, that’s not strictly true but after trying for three days to digest the frankly shattering news that Gareth Jones aka Grandmaster Gareth, the driving force behind legendary Birmingham band Misty’s Big Adventure, had ‘left us’ I still can’t take it in. The nature of Gareth’s passing is his and his family’s affair but I hope he knew how much he was loved and admired by those of us who had the privilege of seeing him perform, hearing his music and meeting with him in some sticky floored venue or another over the years. I could waffle on and on…and quite possibly on…about what he and his band meant to me but I think it’s best to let the music speak for itself. My thoughts and sincere condolences go out to his family, friends and many (but nowhere near as many as he and the band deserved) fans who are no doubt feeling just as numb as I am right now. RIP Gareth. X

PS: If you're new to the band you can still pick up a copy of The Young Person's Guide To Misty's Big Adventure here...please do...

One Life To Live - Lou Rawls

Uplifting and classy slice of Philly disco soul from Lou Rawls, courtesy of another bargain CD compilation (West End Girls on the...er...Laserlight Digital label...nope...me neither). It's easy to be sniffy about compilation albums but I've grown to love 'em. At £1 this CD contains no less than 16 great tracks which works out...hang on...at 6.25p each. Bargain. Evidently somebody else thought so recently as they snapped up a copy on eBay for just under £8.00  West End Girls (1971-85, incl. Maxis) Jesse GREEN, Lee Marrow, Lime, Linda Carr, | eBay

Sweet Potato - John Renbourn

Picked up a 'best of' John Renbourn CD last week for 50p and can highly recommend spending an hour or three exploring his back catalogue. How easy does he make playing the guitar look...? Surely he had twice as many fingers and hands as the rest of us? 

Genocidal Humanoidz - System Of A Down

Not sure if I ever posted this comeback track from SOAD when it came out back in 2021 but even if I did you can never have too much SOAD can you eh? Sadly given Putin's current insanity this track's even more relevant than when it was written (in aid of the victims of the most recent Armenian and Azerbaijan conflict). 

I'm Travelling On - Ruby Turner

I'm not remotely religious but I do love a bit of gospel and this cut from Ruby Turner (another of last weekend's CD picks) hit the spot when I was lounging about in the bath last night. Amen! 

My Sweetheart - Rahsaan Patterson

Took a punt on this CD at the weekend (laying out a whole pound coin) and uncovered a bit of a neo soul gem. Here's one of the picks of the album, echoes of Stevie Wonder with a light dusting of Prince on the top.

I Want To Live - Gavin Friday

Picked up a cheap compilation of Irish related tracks on CD (okay, so all CDs are cheap at the moment but I think this one was 10p) and the first one was this goth tinged blast from the past from Gavin Friday (which I'm pretty sure I have on vinyl somewhere). Staggered to discover that it's now 30 years old...and even more staggered to think that I'm 30 years older. 

Unnecessary Drama - Belle and Sebastian

Channelling their inner The The the...the new track from Belle and Sebastian's amongst the best things they've ever done, which is quite some achievement. I can't believe that anyone reading this - hello to you both - isn't already familiar with B&S's back catalogue but just in case here's a trio of classic cuts: 

Hey Joe (Relax) - Lynks

 Another banger from the mysterious Lynks, I reckon it's Jacob Rees-Mogg in disguise.