August 13, 2009 Earworm

A quick check confirms that it's been almost three months since any song involving Paul Weller has been mentioned so, after a minutiae filled conversation regarding the various release formats of Style Council tracks with someone I didn't know at the time that the minutiae was being created, I offer up "You're The Best Thing". Keeping within the spirit of that conversation, I note that I'm not referring to the version that was on "Cafe Bleu" and/or "My Ever Changing Moods" and not the version issued as a single on Geffen in the US and not the UK seven inch "Groovin'" version. I'm referring to the long version of the single mix found on the UK twelve inch version of "Groovin'".

If you're looking for this version, go directly to Universal/Polydor/Chronicles 2003 20th Century Masters compilation, "The Millenium Collection: The Best of The Style Council". The liner notes will inform you that it contains the version found on TSC6, implying that it's the UK 7" edit. It's not.

Okay. Now, who wants to slow dance to one of the best things to ever happen?

12"/80's: Electropop
Release date:
September 1, 2009




As usual, the category is open to endless debate...
And when will we get that extended version of The Cure's "Let's Go To Bed"? It would have been a far better choice over "Why Can't I Be You".

Track List (as reported):

1. Disc One Simple Minds - I Travel
2. Human League - Hard Times / Love Action
3. Japan - Life In Tokyo
4. Yazoo - Don't Go
5. Landscape - Einstein A Go Go
6. Tears For Fears - Change
7. Soft Cell - Torch
8. A Flock Of Seagulls - Wishing (If I Had A Photograph Of You)
9. Talk Talk - Such A Shame
10. Heaven 17 - Play To Win

1. Disc Two New Order - Confusion
2. Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - The Message
3. Freestyle - Don't Stop The Rock
4. Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force - Planet Rock
5. Hashim - Al Naafiyish (The Soul)
6. Mantronix - Bassline (Stretched)
7. LL Cool J - You'll Rock
8. The Sugarhill Gang - Apache
9. Break Machine - Street Dance
10. Ollie & Jerry - Breakin'... There's No Stopping Us
11. Was (Not Was) - Wheel Me Out
12. Gwen Guthrie - Seventh Heaven

1. Disc Three Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax
2. Tin Tin - Kiss Me
3. The Cure - Why Can't I Be You?
4. Art Of Noise - Close (To The Edit)
5. Laid Back - White Horse
6. Trio - Da Da Da I Don't Love You, You Don't Love Me Aha Aha Aha
7. Visage - Pleasure Boys
8. Pete Shelley - Homosapien
9. Propaganda - Duel (Bittersweet)
10. Sharpe & Numan - Change Your Mind
11. Jan Hammer - Crockett's Theme
12. Giorgio Moroder, Harold Faltermeyer - Chase

available at Ideal Copy

Rest in peace, Les Paul

(June 9, 1915 - August 13, 2009)


http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/08/13/obit.les.paul/

The latest stroll through the Liberty/Imperial/United Artists sixties masters:
The Complete United Artists Singles

August 12, 2009 Earworm

Is it just me or does it feel like all these people bellowing at health care town halls are very closely related to the South Park bus driver? The best part of the so called death panels supposedly up Obama's socialist sleeve is the idea that a lot of these ninnies screaming that they want their country back should be "of age" sometime soon. And then there's Katy Abram, gulping and screaming at Oren Hatch. Turns out she hasn't given much thought to what she thinks she might want but, damn it, she wants it. Congratulations, Mrs. Abram, you're Jessica Simpson. I hope you didn't take any Pell Grants.

I understand that change is scary but I would think one would want to understand what this country - and that confounded constitution you're bleating about - was and is before you start asking for scenarios that could lead to your kids spending eight hours a day in a sweat shop for a quarter and your granny slipping out her ill fitting wooden teeth before turning a trick for an influenza shot.

I can't be the only person seething on the sofa, wondering when the folks who try to be fair minded are going to snap and if it will be before or after some nutbag kills someone. And really, if all this white trash that's making the news is what democracy is supposed to be, I might be persuaded to give socialism a squeeze just to get some distance.

How can this lead to a song, you may be asking. Easy. It's REM's pulsating pile of getting sick of your bullshit, "Bang And Blame". In an interesting twist - at least to me, "Bang And Blame" was the bands biggest hit since "Shiny Happy People", three years earlier. It was also their last top twenty - and/or forty, for that matter - hit. That makes me wonder what we should think about a country that pushes "Shiny Happy People" to number ten while "Everybody Hurts" only makes it to number twenty-nine.

And heeeeeeeeere's Katy:

Collector's Choice: Jackie DeShannon re-issues

Self-titled debut lp, "Jackie DeShannon"

Two-fer containing 1968s "Me About You" and 1970s "To Be Free". Jackie's cover of Tim Hardin's "Reason To Believe" is included as a bonus track.

"New Arrangement", her lone lp for Columbia from 1975 containing the original version of "Bette Davis Eyes", the gorgeous "Boat To Sail". Three previously unreleased tracks, "Pure Natural Love", "Deep Into Paradise", and "Somebody Turn the Music On" provide an incentive to buy if you've already purchased the Japanese re-issue from a few years back. Take note that the single version of "Let The Sailors Dance", included in that Japanese release, is not included in this format although the Columbia singles "All Night Desire" and "Fire in the City" are.

Order all three cds as a 3-pack directly from Collectors' Choice and receive an autographed "New Arrangement" booklet from Jackie!

Collectors' Choice: USA Records/Destination Records

2131 South Michigan Avenue, a two disc set of USA/Destination records tracks.

Record geeks rejoice!

August 11, 2009 Earworm

Eric Carmen's birthday is August 11th and the best news I can give him is that I recently had a conversation with a thirty-six year old who didn't know "All By Myself" but did know "Hungry Eyes". Perhaps there's still hope. On the other hand, he had never heard of The Raspberries...

Since the whole Eric Carmen conversation got started because I'd mentioned how much the background vocals on Green Day's "21 Guns" remind me of The Raspberries' "Let's Pretend" - and since it's one of my most favorite singles of early seventies - I throw it into your ears. Let me know if it makes you want to kiss someone.

But, that's not all you get! In an effort to further wash the two songs mentioned in that first paragraph from your head, I present Eric's beach bubblegum "She Did It", a top thirty track from 1977. It reminds me of a girl with an Irish face and an Italian name who I was crazy about that summer and who would abruptly stop being crazy about me that fall. No hard feelings, though because this gem still makes me crack a "I just french kissed for the first time" grin whenever I hear it.

Happy birthday, Eric. Stay away from the bottle.

August 10, 2009 Earworm

First, the good news. Those who have waited for a Pete Yorn album that follows through on all that was promised on "Musicforthemorningafter" can stop waiting. "Back & Fourth" is the aptly titled album and not only is it better than the last two but, it's damn close to being as good as the first. With his day in the life - where the day got progressively duller, apparently - trilogy behind him, and Rick Rubin doing that sharp focus thing Rubin-esque thing he does, I'm finally finding myself with a new favorite track each time I listen. Right now, I'm stuck on "Close", the sort of romantic promises ballad that Yorn does so well.

And now, the bad news. Pete Yorn is supposedly working on an album with Scarlett Johansson.