Saturday, 2 September 2023

August & September

A few shorter than usual posts for the next few days that I've prepared in advance of recovery from a minor operation on Friday (1st). Don't worry, it'll only hurt when I laugh and no, surgeons haven't perfected a brain implant, so you'll be stuck with my inane musings when I'm back in action next week.

Probably a little late by the time this is posted (2nd Sep), but I was listening to Mind Bomb by The The recently, one of the standout songs being August & September. Rather than post the album version, beautiful though it is, I've found a live recording from Reading Festival thirty years ago. 
 
Not an official video as such, this was spliced together from handheld camera footage by two audience members, Ruth & Travis, and posted on The The's YT page last year, which makes it kind of official I guess.

Sticking with fan-made videos, this is one for Elbow's cover of August & September.
 
The song was originally recorded in 2000 and intended for inclusion for a series of "Interpretations" EPs accompanying TheThe's album NakedSelf. Unfortunately, the usual story of record label shenaningans meant it never got past #1 (ShrunkenMan). 
 
Elbow's interpretation eventually surfaced in 2006 on a Q magazine freebie CD of all places. Q Covered: Best Of '86-'06 is not all band and worth the 25p or so that you'll see it going for in your local charity shop. Elbow released the song again in 2017 as a one-sided 7" vinyl fundraiser for CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably). A second hand copy will set you back upwards of £15.00 thiese days.
 
This post is dedicated to Alyson of the wonderful What's It All About? blog and inspired by her recent 'calendar month' series, which I've been privileged to contribute to.

8 comments:

  1. Hope the recovery is going well and you will be leaping about in no time. Is the inclusion of Elbow a clue to which bit was operated on?

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    1. Ha ha, that would be giving me too much credit, Ernie!

      This is a bit more, er, on the nose:
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDy4bp9nKf0&t=7s&pp=2AEHkAIB

      Medical not cosmetic, I must stress!

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  2. Hope you're doing well, Khayem, here's wishing you a quick and hopefully painless recovery, take care.
    Great song/cover choice and a lovely dedication to our blog friend too.

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    1. Thanks, C. The 'painless' bit passed swiftly but I'm still holding out hope for 'quick'!

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  3. Take care Khayem, hoping for a speedy recovery.

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    1. Thanks, Mooz, there's lots of good music to distract me at least!

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  4. Get well soon - see you later in the month!

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    1. Thanks, Mike! Sadly, I'll have to give Katy J Pearson (plus Smith & Burrows and Edith Bowman DJing) a miss on Friday :-( Should be match fit for Strange Brew though!

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