The Company Of Wolves Part 2

Side 1 of The Wolfmen's blow-by-blow guide to their new album Modernity Killed Every Night is right here..

Jackie Says



Chris Constantinou
Lyrically inspired by a Jack the Ripper thing - a sort of love song that Jack may have sung, and a chance to play harmonica, which I hadn't played since school. Killer Marco guitar riffs on this one! And great drums by Swizzy aka Daniel Strittmatter.
....................

Cecilie



CC
This is obviously a love song! Yes! And I got a chance to play flute on it too which was fun. We were trying to get the feel of 'Crosstown Traffic' on the chorus riff so I used a kazoo along with some distorted high vox doubling the guitar riff. Groove-wise we were trying to get 'Crosstown Traffic' and 'Fool's Gold' ... probably came out nothing like that, but I really like this song a lot.
.....................


Wak This Bass



CC
Lyrics were inspired by a manager who was driving me f***ing mad !! Ha ha ha - I love the vibe of this one - and it's so good to play live. Re the harp solo - I was thinking of 'Groovin' With Mr. Bloe' (the 70's harp instrumental) . Recorded this live at Raezor and Steve Musters mixed it. Great drumming by swizzy.
......................

If You Talk Like That



CC
Started off at me and Marco's - Dave Ruffy and partner worked
on it. Again lyrics inspired by certain types of annoying music biz
people :-)

.......................

Je T'aime Madame



Marco Pirroni
After a trip to Paris and a visit to a big record shop on the Champs-Elysees we noticed that everything sung in French sounds cool and also that all songs in French contain the word "fumée" espiacally the works of Alain Bashung

CC
Lyrics are inspired by strolls down to St Paul's from my flat at the Angel on Sundays - recorded this live at Raezor and Steve Musters mixed it ..

To check out all the dates, details and some extra tracks - beam on over to...The Wolfmen's Myspace site


A super-duper soul salute goes out to Marco and Chris for all their help with putting this together and providing the A's to my Q's

Stress Down Friday - Ivor Cutler

He was in The Magical Mystery Tour you know!

It's Ivor Cutler what can you say? Except that someone once lent me an Ivor album, which I made the clumsy mistake of dozing off to and lumbered myself with half an hour of the most brain-melting mindmares I've ever experienced.

Ivor Cutler - I'm happy


Ivor Cutler - Pussy On The Mat

"Librarians Are Often Sexy"

By day Batgirl really was Barbara Gordon - Gotham City Librarian !

That's a line from one of the few songs about Libraries - Cursor Miner's 'Library'. I hardly use my local Library any more, I work between Camomile Street and Barbican libraries but rarely visit either. I'm not sure why the visits dried up and dropped off as I've always been a terror for a loaner, but the availability of cheap/free hirers-keepers on the the internet has probably handbraked my buzz to borrow.

During the last year I've troubled the Library for just three items....

An OS map (Rye and Peasemarsh).

Survivors DVD (series 2) - which didn't get watched, so extended to max of the loan period but still didn't get watched, by which time it would have been cheaper to buy new or used from Amazon - so I copied a couple of discs for consolation (still not watched to date).

Candidate's Oxengate album - got played once, but not copied, and I got whacked with a walloping 20p fine for late return.

And I wonder, if it's possible to sneak my Topsy and Tim's Weekend Book back in the rack at Hadleigh Library without being spotted - it's only 38 years overdue. Whoops!





Cursor Miner - Library

The Company Of Wolves Part 2

Part 1 of The Wolfmen's blow-by-blow guide to their new album is right here..

Jackie Says



Chris Constantinou
Lyrically inspired by a Jack the Ripper thing - a sort of love song that
Jack may have sung, and a chance to play harmonica, which I hadn't played
since school.Killler Marco guitar riffs on this one! And great drums by Swizzy aka Daniel Strittmatter.
....................

Cecilie



CC
This is obviously a love song! Yes! And I got a chance to play flute on it too which was fun. We were trying to get the feel of 'Crosstown Traffic' on the chorus riff so I used a kazoo along with some distorted high vox doubling the guitar riff. Groove-wise we were trying to get 'Crosstown Traffic' and 'Fool's Gold' ... probably came out nothing like that, but I really like this song a lot.
.....................


Wak This Bass



CC
Lyrics were inspired by a manager who was driving me f***ing mad !! Ha ha ha - I love the vibe of this one - and it's so good to play live. Re the harp solo - I was thinking of 'Groovin' With Mr. Bloe' (the 70's harp instrumental) . Recorded this live at Raezor and Steve Musters mixed it. Great drumming by swizzy.
......................

If You Talk Like That



CC
Started off at me and Marco's - Dave Ruffy and partner worked
on it. Again lyrics inspired by certain types of annoying music biz
people :-)

.......................

Je T'aime Madame



Marco Pirroni
After a trip to Paris and a visit to a big record shop on the Champs-Elysees we noticed that everything sung in French sounds cool and also that all songs in French contain the word "fumée" espiacally the works of Alain Bashung

CC
Lyrics are inspired by strolls down to St Paul's from my flat at the Angel on Sundays - recorded this live at Raezor and Steve Musters mixed it ..

To check out all the dates, details and some extra tracks - beam on over to...

The Wolfmen's Myspace site

I Still Miss Melody FM

Magic FM (105.4) isn't Magic anymore. It's never been the same since rebranding as a rolling guest list of mediocre mish-mash and lightweight wishy-washies. Hopelessly devoted to dopes and as soft and soulless as a scatter cushion.

Whereas Melody, Melody, was a post pan pipe, pre chill out grab-bag of easy eared obscurities, soft rock oddities and one off wonders. Mellow melodies - but in minor key with a shadowy spooky mood and the ambiance of broadcasting from some deeply buried bunker. Like punk never happened, it would plod and waft stoically at all hours with a choice of tunes as soothing as a church bell - Midnight At The Oasis, Oh Lori, Delta Lady, Burt Bacharach, Strum Something Simple by Guitars Unlimited or somesuch. Now that's magic

Stress Down Friday - The Slider

I've only ever belonged to one fan club - Marc Bolan/ T Rex (circa 1987). I lasted about a year, but bailed when an ugly ‘Judean People’s Front/People’s Front of Judea’ style civil war exploded between several militant Marc splinter groups - but at least I’d had a few free photos and a Merry Rexmas card from the Bramleys who ran it.

It's almost impossible (and a disservice to the others ) to put all your Rex in one basket by qualifying a single favourite album - I love the on the cusp, crispness and crackle of Electric Warrior, the chuga-bug boogaloo of The Slider, and the unrelenting Glam anthems of Tanx.

But, today I'm in the mood for the title track from The Slider.

The Slider



And how about few words from Marc ‘ a pervy little twerp’ as he refers to himself in an interview recorded just a few weeks before that fatal car crash.Marc Bolan Interview



US TV Ad' for The Slider album..



Meanwhile on the other side, you can find who connects Marc Bolan and Paul Weller.

Incidentally 20th Century Boy is a great riff to roll with if you're a guitar beginner.

Video Nasties

It's been three days since seeing the Sex Pistols live at the Apollo, and I'm buzzing more now, than on the night - if you weren't there you can read all about it here - or watch the the fun and join in the great rock and roll swing-a-long below...

Liar


God Save The Queen


Happy Birthday Dear Fatty

Play In A Day - The Steve Jones Way

Are you a practicing musician, wannabe singer or am-dramatist at any level? Pro/semi pro, occasional gigger, or perhaps a 'have a go hero' kicking some riffs around at home or even a bedroom or PC/virtual DJ? If so - was there an album, artist or song that made you go from bewitched listener to befuddled learner?

Mine was the Sex Pistols NMTB. This riff heavy album with it's 'guitar soup' sound, kick started a teenage daydream of becoming a guitar hero and kept me playing through the early stages of calluses, chord combo fatigue and reef knot fingers.

Over thirty years on from its release and twenty five years since I started strumming, I still get the tingles when I Play-along-a Pistols, and I'm off to see them in concert at Hammersmith tonight.*goes cross eyed and faints from the excitement*

Steve Jones plays the riffs that got me rocking..

Stress Down Friday - Summer Sounds Like This

Do you remember the summer? It happened one weekend in July , a few days after buying my summer titfer in fact. Ho Hum.

At the time this homemade mix of latiny loose grooves soundtracked those handful of sunny evenings. When the heat disappeared, so did this mix. But it's back again - for one week while I'm off - and then its gawn for good (the mix that is not the sun).

There's also a shiny new companion piece 'Lazy Sunday' on the other side if you fancy collecting the set.

See you in seven days(ish)

*offline*'Summer Sounds Like This'*offline*

Variety Lab - London In The Rain
Big Muff – My Funny Valentine
Physics – Leaving Monte Carlo
Scubba (featuring Moana) - Fool To Cry
Rouge Rouge – L'amour
Ohm G & Bruno – One
Grandadbob - Hide Me (Al Usher Dance Mix)
The Streamers – Zwing Ting
311 Porter - Surround Me With Your Love (Mental Overdrive Mix)
Stigmato Inc. - Reality Check
Nouvelle Vague – Ever Fallen In Love
Patricia Marx and 4 Hero – Menino
Ralph Myerz and the Jack Herren Band – L.I.P.S.T.I.C.K
Ralph Myerz & The Jack Herren Band - Think Twice
Parov Stelar - Kiss Me Twice
Nouvelle Vague – Dancing With Myself
Pink Martini - Sympathique

Sunflower photo by Chocolate Girl 64

Day Tripper Tips

Well I'm here for a week, then off again next week - but, with no particular place to go. I'm hoping to manage a few trots out but seem to have run out of puff for places to visit - possibles on the itinerary are....

Knowle Park - done the park, but not the house.

Winchelsea Beach - always worth finding this hideaway nugget.

So any hints, tips and suggestions for sights to see and venues to visit around the south and south east would be welcome.

I won't be hoofing any further north than Suffolk, further south than Sussex or more westerly than perhaps Chelsea way.

Day tripping on previous 'at home' holidays has included outings to .....

Kenwood House, Hampstead and Highgate cemetry all doable as a day trip.

Chislelhurst Caves - chilling. Terrifying. Never again.

Aldburgh - it's got the the best chippie in Britain.

'Day Tripper' from The Beatles cartoon series


Sergio Mendes remake/remodel of 'Day Tripper'

Stress Down Friday - Fresh Ayers

Well I'm off to the country for a week then, and Kevin Ayers always hits the spot when stretching out in the Cotswold's green and spacey acres.

Kevin Ayers - 'Cold Shoulder'



'Cold Shoulder' is taken from his 2007 album 'Unfairground' - which is a holiday perma-play and just as full and fruity as any of Kev's vintage lazy summer shufflers like 'Shouting In A Bucket Blues', Stranger In Blue Suede Shoes' and...

'May I'

Polite Riot

I had a very similar zip up to matey's on the right, but in cream with black and red stripes - made by Lord Anthony, also a blue 'velvet look' one with a red "27" on the front, from M & S...

If disco or dayglo weren't your thing - and a quick scan of the chart rundown for week ending 6th August '77 shows for most record buyers they weren't - a diet of light bites and polite pop was the alternative, so how about a handful of songs from the softer side of '77, including a couple of nuggets from the mighty 'Disco fever' ...

Meri Wilson 'Telephone Man'



Meri updated 'Telephone Man' to 'Internet Man' in 1999.



Mike Nesmith 'Rio'



There's a video for 'Rio' too.


Joy Sarney - 'Naughty Naughty Naughty'

Stick with this this clip as The Jacksons make a TOTP appearance once Joy wraps up - she's a sunny Southender you know, one of my mates was a neighbour of Joy's. (And her intonation on "Oh no you don't" still gives me little ripples.)


If you fancy filling your vintage boots with more sounds of the seventies this is a retro belter

Back in Black

I'm really not tempted or taken by the Dark Knight trailers. I should be. I'm a lifelong (since the age of three anyway) Batmaniac - more than a fan, but not quite a geek - a fanorak I suppose.

But I've been put off by sequential superhero cinematic letdowns, the all black outfit which makes the Dark Knight Detective look like Robobat, and the Joker seemingly styled on Wurzel Gummidge meets Leigh Bowery and not the clipped, edgy deadly dandy he actually is.

What I hope to see at some point is an adaptation of Batman's equivalent of Elvis's 68 Special. A period when after spending most of the sixties lost in the wilderness of wackery and camp, the Caped Crusdaer became regenerated and revived by the dynamic duo of Dennis O'Neil and Neal Adams.

Adams almost draughtsman like artwork, expressive cape and the make over of Batman's build (Adams felt that Batman and Superman shouldn't share the same body type - Batman should be athletic rather than powerful) and O'Neil's Gotham goes Hammer Horror stories - 'The Demon Of Gothos Mansion', 'The Secret of the waiting Graves' 'Night Of The Reaper' 'Daughter Of The Demon' - all late night tales of haunted mansions, ghostly lovers and freak show runaways, that created a magical arc of dark art and returned Batman to the spooky moonlight roots of his earliest appearances.

Now that would be something to tempt me out of the shadows and into the cinema.

Recommended Reading

www.nealadams.com/
Neal Adams Batman Cover Gallery
Dennis O'Neil - Wiki entry

Stress Down Friday - All The Way From Memphis

Forget the Vegas suits and capes, the 'Burger King' tribute acts, Teddy Boys (why are they always ginger?), the tackery, quackery and clunky iconography.

It's all about the music.

Elvis 'Any Day Now'



Davey H's long haul hunt for the Percy Sledge version 'Any Day Now' is over, and he's sharing it right here.

That Linking Feeling

During some recent cyberspace-hopping I've stumbled across a fistful of mighty sites, all of which are just too good to keep hush about - so, I'm logging them in the blog with one pic' from each, to give a taste and flavour of the treats instore..

The Cobwebbed Room
The best of British horror from compendium paperbacks and ghouly mags to Horror Bag crisps and Haunted House ice lollies - but no sign of the terrifying hardback, large format, New English Library Dracula/Vampirella style comic which I swapped for something silly years ago.

Peter Gray's Cartoons and Comics
If you were ever a Whizzer and Chips, Whoopee or Shiver and Shake fan this blogfull of comic covers, stories and features should be right up your Fleetway Street.

George & Lynne
Fancy getting your hands on a Sun loving swinger - there's original 'George and Lynne' artwork for sale right here.

My Rear In Sears
Retro a go-go - for him and her

Worst Bowie photosEven international superstars have mad hair days.

What Not To Knit
Don't say you weren't warned!

No Sir!

I've only got a handful of irritations, aggravations and annoyances that nudge the needles in the red, but the one that'll really do it every time and have me cringing my shoulders and bristling like a badger is being called "Sir" in shops.

What fancy Dan grandness was afoot last time I was on the wrong end of this instore display of over embellishment, fawning and foreluck tugging? Buying a £5 hat at T K Maxx, that's what! If I'd had a pound for every time it was used during this sale, I could've paid for the hat and still had change.

Five Earth pounds on a summer tifter (as seen in my facebook photos) and I'm treated and greeted like the King of China. It's not polite - it's a pantomime

I haven't called anybody Sir since leaving school, so why should anyone else* have to?

*The exception being Police Officers, Traffic Wardens and cold callers.

Moon Boots

Following on from the last post's theme of themes it seems appropriate to post this - a monster mashup of Space 1999/Destiny's Child/Stevie Wonder/The Flying Lizards - neatly clonked together by the King of cut and paste Pop Mark Vidler (Go Home Productions).

Go Home Productions - Destiny 1999



I've still got my original pair of Dinky Eagles and both are in great nick you know.* Snaps fingers and thinks - what a great name for a blog or mystery session musician 'Dinky Eagles'!!!*

This post is dedicated to Reg Varney who's 92 today.

Theme from 'On The Buses'

Where Have All Good Themes Gone?

Can you whistle or mentally cue up any recent TV theme tunes? I can do Eastenders and Have I Got News For You, but wouldn't know a post millenium motif or TV tune if I tripped over it (apart from QI, which is possibly the weediest opening anthem ever).

So what happened to big brassy small screen themes packed with action and splash - is it to do with budgets? It usually is. And where are the new names to replace Laurie Johnson, Ronnie Hazlehurst, John Barry or Barry Gray (the fun size John Barry). All of the above and and a handful of others wrote compositions so strong they were regularly released as singles or bundled up into budget compilations.

One often overlooked and underplayed obscurity is John Barry's theme to The Orson Welles Mysteries, which makes a perfect companion piece to his Persuaders theme.

You can download The Orson Welles Mysteries here

Or grab Geoff Love playing Your Top TV Themes here

But, if you fancy something cinematic why not try out this team up from Roman Empress and myself.

Stress Down Friday - 'what a waste of gunpowder and sky'

I haven't found this tune anywhere else (of course it's bound to be on the very next blog I read). So I'll fire it up here.

Aimee Mann -'4th Of July' (live version)


Aimee Mann -'4th Of July' (studio version)

Random Roulette - Stick or Twist.

In all the time I've been blogging (not quite a year yet) I haven't once loaded up a randomizer/shuffle post - mainly because my player will cough up chunks of clunk from the catalogue when it's under pressure. So this time I set myself some rules...

List the first five songs and get 1 point for every good song.

Then - either stick if it's a good hand, or twist for another 5 points and repeat if you dare.

However should a clunker come into play - that's it. Bust. Game Over - lose all your points.

So, how many hands could I do before going bust? Well I make this three twists without any howlers so decided to stick at 15 points...

Little Rose Little - 'You've Got The Love'(Talcum Soul, Vol. 3)
The Upsetters - Return Of Django(The Trojan Records Sampler 2002)
David Bowie - 'Beauty And The Beast'(Stage)
Small Faces - 'Tin Soldier'(The Darlings Of Wapping Wharf Launderette)
Toni Daley - 'Like The Big Man Said'(Take My Tip)


Dub Specialist - 'Bionic Dub'(Mojo Presents: Studio One Selector)
Sex Pistols - 'EMI Unlimited Edition'(Sex Pistols Box Set, Disc 1)
John Martyn - 'Solid Air'(Solid Air)
Azymuth - 'Tarde'(Aguia Nao Come Mosca)
Eno - 'I'll Come Running'(Vocal Box Set)


Corciolli - 'Ponta Da Praia'(Electro Bossa)
Sex Pistols - 'Anarchy In The UK'(Live at the 76 Club)
The Beatles - 'When I Get Home'(Something New)
Gladys Knight & The Pips - 'Gladys Knight & The Pips'(Motown Chartbusters, Vol. 2)
Jim Stafford - 'Spiders and snakes'(Spiders and Snakes)