Friday, October 31, 2008

- The Purges Continue




Every day, I hear new stories of post rape, where one of you poor bloggers has been violated with the total eradication of one or more of your finely crafted posts by a bunch of right bastards. Think yourselves comparatively lucky, however, when you consider that that fine chap Stuart of the many, many blogs has had an entire blog deleted. Not to be disuaded, however, Stuart has recreated his entire Costello Variety blog at a different address. If you're interested in all things Costello, you can visit the fabulously well salvaged blog here. Let this be an example to us not to let the buggers grind you down.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

- Let's try again, shall we: PODCAST 6

FOREWORD: This may look familiar but I've had to repost for reasons that are becoming increasingly obvious.


Stockholm's finest: Let's Say We Did


Many, many mentions of the issue of blog posts being disappeared by big brother by my fellow bloggers, who all write more eloquently than I could manage, so I'll just get down to business and talk about the tracks on the podcast. My apologies in advance for not linking to many of the blogs but blogspot sites are currently banned in Turkey (I’m currently trawling backwards through the constitution in hope of finding one bloody good reason why but to no avail) so it’s quite awkward putting any kind of post together via a proxy server, never mind doing all the necessary htmling.

First up we have the ever cheerful Bauhaus with their tribute to a Hollywood legend, ‘Bela Lugosi’s dead’. Possibly the longest ever Goth track, certainly the last Goth I’ll be playing for quite some time, you have my word. Following that dark extravaganza is the first from Stockholm’s finest, Let's say we did, ‘Come on honey’. I’m quite enamored of their music and am happy to have finally gotten round to putting them in a podcast. Now on to your first taste of Turkish metal; I’ve been somewhat remiss in terms of playing Turkish bands on the podcasts, something I’ve tried to make up for this time. The first of four is from Insistence with their track ‘The filler’.

As you listen, you’ll find my ever meticulous preparation is at work again as I completely forget which film the excellent Frances Ashman’sPeculiar groove’ comes from (Nil by mouth, by the way). This track seemed to be a nice interlude before returning to the abrasiveness of my Turkish offerings, namely Groza and their deceptively charmingly titled ‘Denizlere döneceğim’ (which means ‘I will return to the seas’).

Let's say we did consist of Sebastian Fors, Gustav Bengtsson, Joakim Johansson, Tobias Adolfsson and Jens Wicksén. My apologies once again for the terrible pronunciation. Their second track of the podcast is ‘Galaxys’, which links in a nice Waltersesque way onto the following track, Notwithstanding’s ‘Gezegen’ (meaning ‘planet’).

Those of you who have somehow managed to avoid Ed’s excellent 17 seconds blog will be unaware of his efforts to start his own record label. His first signing, Aberfeldy, offer the delightfully catchy ‘Come on claire’. A wallow in self-indulgence for me next with one of my all time favourites of all time, Harvey danger’s ‘Flagpole sitta’. Cenotaph’s 'Horrific realms of gorextacy’ completes my Turkish selection for this time round.

In a blatant effort to pull in more punters, I’ve gone all mainstream on your asses with selected highlights from Oasis’ recent Wembley gig. Tracks featured are as follows: ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Star’, ‘Lyla’, ‘The Shock Of The Lightning’, ‘Cigarettes & Alcohol’, ‘The Meaning Of Soul’, ‘To Be Where There’s Life’, ‘Waiting For The Rapture’, ‘The Masterplan, and ‘Songbird’. I have the rest of this gig hidden away deep in the vaults and may stick it in the next podcast if your comments make it worth my while.

Thanks again to Ed for the fabulous three tracks from the forthcoming ‘Kung Fu Super Sounds - Unreleased Shaw Brothers Soundtracks’ compilation. There’s no way of describing how cool these are: Counterspy – ‘Dirty Ho Theme', Spin Out – ‘Heaven and Hell' and The Mystified man – ‘Flag Of Iron' I’ve finished up with the final offering from Let's say we did, ‘Straight back to you’.

On to the comments section please, as you definitely, certainly, without doubt can't download this unless you do...

Saturday, October 25, 2008

- Entrailicus in blatant attempt to bring in the punters

One for the metal fans among you. Take a chance and download this...

Download the file

File size:21mb

Thursday, October 23, 2008

- This is where I live

Ladies and gentlemen, this is where I live, as presented by the should have been more successful Tea Party:


There's much more traffic than this nowadays, mind.

I can't imagine why you wouldn't want to download this and keep forever...

Download the file

File size: 17mb

Thursday, October 16, 2008

- Jubilee 1977


It seems like I've acquired an obsession with the punk era recently, although I can't fully explain why. Perhaps the proliferation of late 70s Peel shows now appearing has something to do with it, coupled with the fact that I've just received my first copyright-related slap on the wrist over sharing that bloody K-Tel monstrosity with you. Anyhow, by way of keeping this going, I'm sharing this soundtrack that I recently stumbled upon.



I haven't seen the accompanying film, and the label 'cult classic' which is regularly applied to it make me feel that I probably wouldn't want to. There is some great musical accompinments, however.

Info kindly borrowed from Wikipedia:

In Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth I (Runacre) is transported forward in time by the occultist John Dee (Richard O'Brien) through the spirit guide Ariel (a character from Shakespeare's The Tempest). Elizabeth arrives in the shattered Britain of the 1970s. Queen Elizabeth II is dead, killed in an arbitrary mugging, and Elizabeth I moves through the social and physical decay of the city observing the activities of a group of sporadic nihilists including Amyl Nitrate (Jordan), Bod (Runacre in a dual role), Chaos (Hermine Demoriane), Crabs (Nell Campbell), and Mad (Toyah Willcox).

The film is heavily influenced by the 1970s punk aesthetic in its style and presentation. Shot in grainy colour it is largely plotless, episodic, untidy, confrontational, often incoherent and noisily anti-establishment and anti-royalty (Buckingham Palace has become a recording studio run by a seedy music producer named Borgia Ginz).

Numerous punk icons appear in the film including Jordan (a Malcolm McLaren protege), Toyah Willcox, Campbell (Little Nell), Adam Ant, Demoriane and Wayne County. It features performances by Wayne County and Adam and the Ants. There are also cameo appearances by The Slits and Siouxsie and the Banshees. The film was scored by Brian Eno.


Track listing:

1. Deutscher Girls - Adam & The Ants
2. Paranoia Paradise - Wayne County & The Electric Chairs
3. Right to Work - Chelsea
4. Nine to Five - Maneaters
5. Plastic Surgery - Adam & The Ants
6. Rule Brittania - Suzxi Pinns
7. Jerusalem - Suzi Pinns
8. Wargasm in Pornotopia - Amilcar
9. Slow Water - Brian Eno
10. Dover Beach - Brian Eno


Download the file

File size: 69mb

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

- 7th November, 1978

Thanks to Dr. Mango for bringing this one into the 21st centruy for us. You can get more information by clicking here.

Tracklisting:

-XTC: Red (LP - Go 2) Virgin
-Sham 69: Red London (single b-side – I Don't Wanna) Step Forward
-Joe King Carrasco and El Molino: Jalapeno con Big Red (LP - Joe King Carrasco & El Molino) Lisa Records
-The Mekons: Trevira Trousers (Peel session)
-Gary Moore: Back on the Streets (single) MCA Records
-Spizz Oil: 6000 Crazy (single) Rough Trade
-Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band: When I See Mommy I Feel Like A Mummy (LP - Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller))
-Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band: Owed t'Alex (LP - Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller))
-Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band: Candle Mambo (LP - Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller))
-The Mekons: Rosanne (Peel session)
-Buzzcocks: Promises (single) United Artists
-John Cooper Clarke: Readers Wives (LP - Disguise in Love) CBS
-Status Quo: Accident Prone (LP - If You Can't Stand the Heat) Vertigo
-Peter and Paul Lewis: Ethiopian Land (single)
-Red Crayola: War Sucks (LP - The Parable of Arable Land)
-Ted Nugent: Smokescreen (LP - Weekend Warriors)
-Jimmy McCracklin: The Walk
-The Mekons: Like Spoons No More (Peel session)
-Bethnal: Nothing New (single) Vertigo
-Xdreamysts: The Right Way Home (single) Good Vibrations

Download the file

File size: 54mb

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

- 14th March, 1992

Another complete show, this time from the collection of Ken Garner. In his own words:

Here's a complete show from early 1992 which featured heavily in chapter 1 of In session Tonight. This was the show which featured the debut `freakout' session by Spiritualized, and several other scoops as well: three tracks from The Fall's new 12-inch; three tracks from the forthcoming new LP by P J Harvey `Dry'; three tracks from the new Pavement LP `Slanted and Enchanted'; three from The Meathooks; and a repeat of Leatherface's session. Added to that in the first ten minutes a treat for those trying to collect everything in John Peel's Singles Box, I think. All in all, with the benefit of hindsight this is clearly a very newsworthy, busy and noisy show. Enjoy!

Download links:

Peel 1992-03-14a

Peel 1992-03-14b

Peel 1992-03-14c

Peel 1992-03-14d



Instant gratification video clips:


Possibly the sexiest song ever.


This be the Peel session version of 'Secret Knowledge Of Backroads'

Monday, October 13, 2008

- Thursday, 26th December, 2002

Regail in the delight that was Peel's five hour marathon at Christmas, 2002. Didn't those buggers at the BBC appreciate that the man was already in his sixties and that 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. was a bit much.

More thanks to Teenage Kicks Steve for his work in sharing this spectacular show.

Part 1Part 2Part 3Part 4Part 5Part 6 and Part 7.

... and here's the tracklisting.

- Prolific Blogger Cheers me up No End

The blogger I'd previously only known as Mr. Obscure but whom I now know as Stuart sent me a couple of fantastic emails recently that cheered me up no end, hence the title of this post. I'm sure anyone who blogs knows the feeling: from time to time you just feel like there's no bloody point and you just want to jack it all in. I've been going through a few of those days recently, but a few kind words from a fellow blogger or two are all it's needed to get me back on track. Aforementioned Stuart has a load of, quite frankly, marvellous music blogs, all of which I'm going to list now:

- Mr. Obscure

- Post Punk Power Pop

- Free Fiction 4 U

- Guitar Instrumentals 4 U

- Rare & Elusive

- Super 70s Sounds

- The Audio Emporium

- The World Upstairs

- The Tremolo Men

- '78 to '81

- Costello Variety

If there isn't something for everyone in that little lot, then I don't know what the world is coming to. Thanks to all of you who support what I'm doing and those who leave comments on posts, they are always appreciated. Thanks also for the recent (relative) deluge of votes for the 1976 Festive 50, the chart is shaping up to be a nice mix of punk and disco classicvs with a little bit of reggae thrown into the mix.

I hope you'll be glad to hear that there's no chance of me packing in this blogging lark just yet. While we're at it, anyone know if the 7/3/1979 Peel show with a session from Hi Fi has surfaced yet?

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

- The Ramones: The 914 Sessions, September, 1975

Thanks to the mighty Big Ozine for this…


Before the Ramones hit it big with their self-titled debut album in 1976, there was this little nugget flying around. Recorded on September 19, 1975 at 914 Studios, Blauvelt, New York, Judy's In The Basement was released as a 10-inch EP by Hit & Run Records, and made in East Berlin. The liner notes also state that the songs were produced by Tommy Erdelyi.

At that time, the Ramones were punk. But then, given the simplicity of the songs, the catchy melodies, the singalong-ness of their tunes and those bombastic chords (never mind that they were the same three or four ones) - it's hard not to like the Ramones and doubly hard not to be inspired by them. For many, the idea of the Ramones might be boiled down to this: it's so simple anyone can do it! But the Ramones were being themselves and the fans understood this.

Track list:

-I Don't Wanna Go Down To The Basement
-53rd & 3rd
-I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend
-Judy Is A Punk
-Loudmouth

Lineup:

Johnny Ramone - guitar
Joey Ramone - vocals
Dee Dee Ramone - bass
Tommy Ramone – drums


Download the file

File size: 14mb
 

- Your Favourites: James Taylor and Joni Mitchell 1970

This concert remains one of the most visited posts I've ever written, so I thought it was more than about time for a repost. It remains a pretty darn special concert.

Track Listing

-That song about the Midway
-The Gallery
-Rainy Day Man
-Steamroller
-The Priest
-Carey
-Carolina on my Mind
-California
-The Circle Game
-You can Close your Eyes

Download the show here. I can't recommend this enough, this is really beautiful music. For instant gratification, click on the video clips below...


Joni Mitchell & James Taylor - A Case Of You


James Taylor & Joni - You Can Close Your Eyes

Who was John Peel?


The philosophy of this blog is a celebration of music in the spirit of the late John Peel. For those of you who want to learn more, click here.

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