The Third Degree Of Six Degrees Of Kevin Bacon

The third and, at least for now, final installment in the Kevin Bacon trilogy for your entertainment / derision (delete as applicable).

I had an idea of who/where I wanted to start, but could I pull it off? Turns out that yes, I could. It's Kevin Bacon we're talking about here!

Here's another half dozen songs taking you from one Monkee to another monkey, with some rather fine tuneage along the way, if I say so myself. Spoiler alert: nothing from The Comsat Angels this week. Complaint letters to the usual address, please.

 

More nonsense tomorrow.

1) Mike Nesmith was an incredibly talented - and hugely underrated - singer/songwriter. Propinquity (I've Just Begun To Care) appeared on Nevada Fighter, his 1971 album with The First National Band. However, he originally wrote and recorded a version back in 1968, which remained unreleased until the 1990s, when it appeared on a rarities album by the band that gave Nesmith his big break, The Monkees.

2) The Monkees formed in 1966 and were originally conceived as a fictional group for a TV sitcom. Initially, the majority of their songs were written by other people, including (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone. In 1990, The Farm released a cover version, which was remixed by their manager Suggs and superstar DJ Terry Farley.

3) Terry Farley co-founded the Boy's Own collective, who in turn released a couple of singles as Bocca Juniors, with fellow DJs/producers Pete Heller, Hugo Nicholson and Andrew Weatherall.

4) Andrew Weatherall was a prolific remixer, producer and artist in his own right before his untimely passing in 2020. In 2016, he provided a couple of remixes for French psych pop duo The Limiñanas, featuring a beautiful contribution from guest bassist Peter Hook.

5) Peter Hook is a little bit famous for being in Joy Division then New Order, arguably less so for Revenge and Monaco, but he has also had a good run as a producer. Although the better known version was produced by John Leckie, Hooky was at the controls for the original version of Elephant Stone by The Stone Roses, with unmistakable vocals from Ian Brown.

6) Ian Brown went on to have a successful solo career, starting in 1997 with Unfinished Monkey Business. Can't See Me was released as the third and final single in June 1998, remixed by production duo Bacon & Quarmby, comprising Jonathan Quarmby and - who else? - Kevin Bacon.

 

1) Propinquity (I've Just Begun To Care): The Monkees (1968)

2) Stepping Stone (Ghost Dance Mix By Terry Farley & Mr. Suggs) (Video Version): The Farm (1990)

3) Raise (63 Steps To Heaven) (Dubhead Mix By Adrian Sherwood & Keith LeBlanc): Bocca Juniors ft. Anna Haigh & Protege (1990)

4) Garden Of Love (Lundi Mouillé Mix By Andrew Weatherall & Nina Walsh): The Limiñanas ft. Peter Hook (2016)

5) Elephant Stone (Peter Hook Original Mix): The Stone Roses (1988) 

6) Can't See Me (Bacon & Quarmby Remix): Ian Brown (1998)

 

The Third Degree Of Six Degrees Of Kevin Bacon (23:41) (KF) (Mega)

 

In case you missed the previous installments, here's the original selection and the rather wonderful follow up from guest contributor The Vinyl Villain.