I've Got Some Plans For You

You're In A Bad Way by Saint Etienne, a #12 smash in the UK singles chart in February 1993.

King Ernie of 27 Leggies Land's comment on yesterday's post raised the question of whether the Dubhed blog has in fact been one long cry for help since December 2020, post titles as coded messages from a fractured psyche.

Hmmm...possibly. 

But this one is just a darn good tune by a wonderful band with a glorious technicolour video to boot.

Don't Try To Fix Me

Warrior is the new single from Florrie, who hails from my birthplace Bristol and has been responsible for some of the best pop of the 21st century.

If you've heard of Robyn or Raye but not Florrie, there's a parallel in that all have had relationships with major labels that have threatened to stymie their career, but vision, determination, talent and sheer hard work have won through.

Fourteen years after her first single, Florrie's debut album The Lost Ones arrived in 2024. Thankfully, the wait for the follow up has been considerably shorter and Magic For A While will be out in October, available to pre-order now.

Warrior is a burst of joy and affirmation and, in a just world, should be a global hit. Welcome back, Florrie.

I don’t care, ooh I just don’t care

I don’t care, ooh I just don’t care

I am a warrior but I don’t mind

Even I get lost sometimes

When all the colours in my head collide

I’ve gotta find a little place to hide

I am a warrior but I get tired

Of keeping all my fears inside

Too many feelings that I can't unwind

So I gotta find a little space

'Cause I’m a mess

I skipped out the rehearsal

Running round in circles in my head

I say I don't care but I’m just hiding

I'm analysing every word you said

Oh no, don’t don’t don’t don’t try to fix me, oh no

I might be broken I know

But don't try to fix me, try to fix me, try to fix me

Oh no, don’t don’t don’t don’t try to fix me, oh no

I might be broken I know

But don't try to fix me, try to fix me, try to fix me

I am a warrior but I don't mind

Even I get lost sometimes

When all the colours in my head collide

I’ve gotta find a little place to hide

I am a warrior but I mess up

I don't know why I care so much

Though I’m still trying to understand my mind

So I gotta find a little space

Cause I’m a mess

I skipped out the rehearsal

Running round in circles in my head

I say I don't care but I’m just hiding

I'm analysing every word you said

Oh no, don’t don’t don’t don’t try to fix me, oh no

I might be broken I know

But don't try to fix me, try to fix me, try to fix me

Oh no, don’t don’t don’t don’t try to fix me, oh no

I might be broken I know

But don't try to fix me, try to fix me, try to fix me

Oh no, don’t don’t don’t don’t try to fix me, oh no

I might be broken I know

But don't try to fix me, try to fix me, try to fix me

Oh no, don’t don’t don’t don’t try to fix me, oh no

I might be broken I know

But don't try to fix me, try to fix me, try to fix me

I don't care, ooh I just don't care

I don't care, ooh I just don't care

I don't care, ooh I just don't care

I don't care, ooh I just don't care

Oh no, don’t don’t don’t don’t try to fix me

Oh no, don’t don’t don’t don’t try to fix me

Norton At The Controls

A twelve song selection of music produced (or co-produced) by Gil Norton, spanning 1982 to 2007.

The inspiration for the mixtape came via the sad news of Glen Hansard's death, and a fine tribute to Glen posted by Martin over at New Amusements.

In the comments, I recalled something I read circa 1991-92 in the NME or Melody Maker or Sounds, that Glen was a huge fan of Gil's work with Pixies and wanted him to produce Glen's band The Frames' debut album. 

As I recall, Glen put a big Pixies sticker on his motorbike, found out where Gil was working, drove there and left his bike prominently displayed to get Gil's attention. 

I finished with "Apparently it worked!"...except that it didn't, as I've subsequently read that Glen and Gil clashed over the direction and shape of the album. It isn't recalled as a positive experience in the accounts I've found online.

My awkwardness and ignorance notwithstanding, there are some mighty tunes here. The Frames come in a quarter of the way through, following The Blue Aeroplanes, The Fatima Mansions and a hidden gem of a China Crisis B-side.

There's one 21st century entry from Maximo Park. Gil also worked with them in the 1990s, along with Echobelly and Foo Fighters. Other 1980s production credits include The Triffids, The Bodines, Echo & The Bunnymen (with Ian Broudie), Del Amitri (with Julian Mendelsohn) and, closing out this collection, one of my favourite songs by Pixies.

Quite the career. I'm just scanning through the list of artists and records that I've missed this time around and there's plenty more for another selection.

For now, forget it's Sunday and turn the volume up!

1) ...And Stones (Album Version): The Blue Aeroplanes (1990)

2) Brain Blister (Album Version): The Fatima Mansions (1994)

3) No Ordinary Lover (Single Version): China Crisis (1982)

4) Masquerade (Album Version): The Frames (1992)

5) The Seabirds (Album Version): The Triffids (1986)

6) Nosebleed (Album Version): Maximo Park (2007)

7) Here Comes The Big Rush (Album Version): Echobelly (1997)

8) Therese (Single Version): The Bodines (1986)

9) The Killing Moon (Album Version): Echo & The Bunnymen (1984)

10) Move Away Jimmy Blue (Album Version): Del Amitri (1989)

11) Monkey Wrench (Album Version): Foo Fighters (1997)

12) No. 13 Baby (Album Version): Pixies (1989)

1982: No More Blue Horizons (Fool, Fool, Fool) EP: 3

1984: Ocean Rain: 9

1986: Born Sandy Devotional: 5

1986: Therese EP: 8

1989: Doolittle: 12

1989: Waking Hours: 10

1990: Swagger: 1

1992: Another Love Song: 4

1994: Lost In The Former West: 2

1997: Lustra: 7

1997: The Colour And The Shape: 11

2007: Our Earthly Pleasures: 6

Norton At The Controls (47:25) (GD) (M)

Now I'm Singing Quiet, Now I'm Singing Loud

Today's selection featuring Elliott Smith was planned for last week, a victim to a sluggish computer and an equally sluggish operator.

I should probably have held out to Thursday 6th, which would mark Elliott's 57th birthday. Sadly, we're approaching 23 years since Elliott passed. Why wait to celebrate and reflect on a supremely talented songwriter, gone far too soon?

In October 2021, I posted a brief, 10 song, 33 minute selection drawn from the limited number of albums and compilations in my collection, the majority courtesy of my friend John.

In the five years since, I've expanded this considerably, taking in studio albums as well as unreleased outtakes, demos and versions that have subsequently surfaced online. 

There's still more out there, but here's a C90 friendly 12 song, 45 minute selection pulling together a few more of Elliott's songs. 

Sonically, they hold you gently and tenderly; lyrically, they whisper their truths about the fucked up world we live in, or the beauty all around us. Sometimes, it's possible to reconcile the two; sometimes, it can get too much. Hold on.

Side One 

1) True Love (2001)

2) Needle In The Hay (1995)

3) Coast To Coast (Early Version) (1996)

4) Abused (Fritz Michaud Mix) (1997)

5) All Cleaned Out (1997)

6) Angeles (Alternate Version) (1996)

Side Two

1) Condor Ave (Album Version) (1994)

2) Fear City (Larry Crane Mix) (1996)

3) Some Song (Single Version) (1995)

4) Dancing On The Highway (2000)

5) Speed Trials (Single Version) (1996)

6) Punch And Judy (1997)

7) The Last Hour (Fritz Michaud Mix) (1996)

1994: Roman Candle: B1

1995: Elliott Smith: A2

1995: Needle In The Hay EP: B3

1996: Speed Trials EP: B5

1997: Either/Or: B6

2016: Heaven Adores You Soundtrack: A1, A3

2007: New Moon: A5, B2

2012: Alternate Versions From Either/Or EP: A6

2019: Dancing On The Highway (bootleg): B4

2021: Fritz Michaud's New Moon: A4, B7

Side One (22:52) (GD) (M)

Side Two (22:20) (GD) (M)

You might also like to listen to my previous Elliott Smith selection, What I Used To Be Will Pass Away

Okay, Who Forgot The Factor 50?

Friday's fitness workout courtesy of Janet Planet and Reggie Goodchild of Confidence Man.

Sugar Bones remains sat on his arse and Clarence McGuffie is presumably in the driver's seat, keeping the sound system going.

As for the song? Young London is could have been released on Deconstruction in 1993, with an epic remix by Fabio Paras on the flip side. 

In other words, a bangin' tune. Turn it up!

Three At Three For Free

SWC, who produces the essential and inspirational No Badger Required music blog, has just wrapped up the Rocks Greatest Number countdown. I was once again privileged to be a voting member of the Musical Jury.

These events are huge fun to participate in and a compelling read, and it's always a thrill to see where your votes land in the final ranking. This one in particular also provided moments of perfect symmetry. For example, placed at #3 were Fun Boy Three.

Not bad for a band that 'only' released two albums and a clutch of singles between 1981 and 1983. But timing is everything and Fun Boy Three arrived at just the right time for this particular music lover.

Fun Boy Three was my band, inasmuch as the other kids at primary school had turned up in their Harrington jackets and buzz cuts, into all things 2-Tone, not least The Specials. But I don't remember anyone else being the first to talk about Fun Boy Three. 

Terry Hall, Lynval Golding and Neville Staple. One moody as hell, barely moving yet effortlessly cool. The other two looking for the rhythm and the good time in everything around them.

Not easy, when Fun Boy Three lyrics spanned The Troubles and childhood sexual abuse. A lot of that was completely over my head as a 10 going on 11 year old. Yet, their music, their friendship, their appearance all affected me deeply. 

Waiting was their second and final album, but the first FB3 album that I owned (on cassette) and it's hard to know how they could have followed (or bettered) it, to be honest. 

Fun Boy Three were a brief but perfectly formed moment in music.

I've picked three videos for today's post: their astonishing debut from 1981 (and worryingly relevant today), followed by the first 12" single of theirs that I bought, and finally a seasonal cover of a George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward classic, originally recorded in 1935 which Fun Boy Three absolutely made their own in 1982.

 

Don't Shoot That Singer

Annie Get Your Gun was the first - and only - Squeeze single that I bought, a secondhand 7" from Plastic Wax Records in Bristol, a few years after it peaked at #43 in October 1982.

Not that I was indifferent to Squeeze, just that everything before had been released befare I'd started buying music in earnest. Handily, Annie Get Your Gun had been released as a standalone single to promote the compilation Singles: 45's And Under, which is arguably one of the greatest 'best of' albums of all time.

There was no video for Annie Get Your Gun, but I've tracked down their live performance at the MTV Spring Break event at Daytona Beach Bandshell in Florida, USA on 18th March 1988. 

The band are in fine form, Glenn's curly locks blowing in the breeze, Jools Holland at the piano in a cowboy hat, and as far as I can tell, just this song was filmed for broadcast on MTV.

Although Squeeze spilt up shortly after the release of Annie Get Your Gun (albeit briefly, reconvening in 1985) the song shows no signs of a band in a creative rut and for me it's up there with Cool For Cats, Up The Junction and Pulling Mussels (From The Shell).

I also played the B-side a lot. Spanish Guitar didn't make the cut for the Sweets From A Stranger album, and I can see why, but a combination of it's quirky charm and familiarity through repeated listens have secured it a place in my affections.

Carry Yourself With Dignity

Etran De L'Aïr, rescuing my sanity with the video for 2024 single Imouha.

If you live north of the Equator, you may have been disturbed by an alarming noise about 6.00am GMT. That was the sound of me cussing at the computer, the darkness and generally anything around me.

In context, pathetic first world problems that, if I had any dignity, I might have handled a little better than I did. However, a sluggish PC that refused to comply with any of my requests in a timely manner - I mean, hey, I'm just trying to write a blog here - was exacerbated by an ad-hoc power cut, which we experience a lot in this neck of the woods, often with the perfect timing for optimum annoyance.

So, another post, half-written but parked for now as I don't have time to finish it before heading off to work.

Yet, as one opportunity closes, another presents itself...

"Carry yourself with dignity" is a translation of a lyric from Imouha and it may be argued that the director was testing Etran De L'Aïr commitment to this statement in the making of this video. 

The band gamely play on whilst superimposed onto a backdrop of footage, mainly of camels and riders and Land Rovers racing across the desert. To keep it spicy, there are frequent extreme camera angles and zooms in and out of band members. About a minute in, the four are in a line clapping, each one cleverly managing to avoid matching the actual rhythm of the song. Some look more happy to be there than others.

It's wonderful and almost immediately cleared any grumpiness that I was feeling minutes before.

Etran De L’Aïr, which translates as the "Stars Of The Aïr", are the longest running wedding band in Agadez, formerly spelled Agadès, is the fifth largest city in Niger.

Imouha is from their album 100% Sahara Guitar, on the excellent Sahel Sounds label, and is typical in that every single song is wonderful. Like Erkazamane, for example.

On that note, I must run, I'm late for work! 

You Got Me In A Stupor

Spectacular by Graham Coxon was released as a single this week 22 years ago. About 22 hours ago (my time), the video was uploaded to YouTube, the first time I've ever seen it.

Spectacular opens Graham's fifth album, Happiness In Magazines. Coincidentally, JC was revisiting another of the album's singles - the, ahem, spectacular Freakin' Out, just last week over at The Vinyl Villain. 

His comment that "Nobody paid all that much attention" to Graham's previous albums was spot on in my case; Happiness In Magazines was the first that appeared on my radar. It was perhaps of greater interest as being the first album that Graham had made following his depature from Blur in 2002.

Happiness In Magazines proved to be Graham's highest placed albums in the UK charts, reaching #19 on entry in May 2004, a position mirrored by Freakin' Out when it was re-released as a double A-side with All Over Me that October.

Spectacular entered at #32 in the singles chart for the week commencing 1st August. It dropped to #60 the following week, then out of the Top 100 altogether the week after that, before making a third and final appearance at #83 the week of 22nd August.

The video is a lot of fun, though some have been quick to point out the similarities in visual style and tone to 7 Nation Army, a hit for White Stripes the previous year. 22 years later, it's perhaps even less important that it was at the time.

Spectacular is a fun song, sonically and visually, and the lyrical theme - a love song of sorts to someone the narrator "Saw [...] in my computer" - is simple, effective and resonates as much in 2026 as it did in 2004. 

What more do you need from a 169-second pop song?

A Slice Of Creamy Bree

Jonathan Bree to the rescue, as my planned Dubhed selection took a bit of a nosedive due to the usual "technical issues".

What a fallback, though. I'm completely unfamiliar with Jonathan Bree, and happened across the video for Game, trailing his sixth album, Don't Call It Love, out in August.

On the strength of Game, Live to Dance (ft. Princess Chelsea) and Savour My Love (ft. Rachel Clarke), I'm in like Flynn with the pre-order.

I'll be coming back to this one in greater detail in a future post.