April 25, 2008 Earworm

Voice of The Beehive were Tracey Bryn and Melissa Brooke Belland, daughters of The Four Preps singer Bruce Belland, backed by Mark Bedford and Daniel Woodgate of Madness and Martin Brett on bass. They gave the world the somewhat danceable commentary on sexual politics with "The Beat of Love" back in '88 and I'm still laughing twenty years later.

You just have to listen to hear why because I really have nothing more to say. Or watch their live performance on "The Tube":

April 24, 2008 Earworm

It was released in 1965.
Written by Donovan.
Arranged and conducted by Jack Nitzsche.
As Dot Records single 16780, it was most likely leased as that label had few contract artists - an assumption that the notation of the copyright belonging to Jack Nitzsche's estate seems to confirm.
The very rare "You've Just Got To Know My Mind" by Karen Verros begs the question, how can we know her mind when we have no idea who she is.
And why do I immediately think "Voice Of The Beehive" everytime I hear this girly freakbeat thing?

April 23, 2007 Earworm

The art of the medley died at the end of the sixties, overplayed and uninspired. The Spinners briefly revived it a decade later but went too many times to the well and interest was quickly lost. Who else but Mark Ronson would be expected to revive the genre and, really, who else would think to throw Morrissey and Marr at Diana, Flo, and Mary?

Reviving, re-imaging, revitalizing re-re-re (just a little bit) Ronson's results are rewarding and kudos to Daniel Merriweather's vocal reminding us of Andy Bell if he were a bit more butch. Smiths purist may cringe but they can't say that they've heard this one before and there are those who may think that yet another cover of "You Keep Me Hanging On" unnecessary, but they're all spoilsports and party poopers who probably don't know how to dance.

Check the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4kBr5WWiBM

April 22, 2008 Earworm

Chocolate Burt Bacharach velvet Scott Walker cream with a light side of Tindersticks and dark Hipswaying Love and Money: it's Cousteau's "The Last Good Day Of The Year". Best known in the states as a car commercial hook, the other four minutes and thirty seconds deserve a spin.

Slide in.

April 21, 2008 Earworm

With Andy Partridge's pop veneer production, The Lilac Time's "All For Love & Love For All" is crisp and almost as fragile as the songs sentiment. And it should be handled with care like any of our other treasures.