The Man, The Medd, The Legend

Today's Dubhed selection is dedicated to John Medd. If you've been following his blog Are We There Yet? (and if not, start today!), you'll know why.

 

I've gone back through all the comments that John has left on this blog in 2024 and curated a 19-song selection from the songs or artists that he's liked, plus some that he suggested I check out and consider for a future post. Well, today's the day and this is that selection.

 

I think (I hope) I've tracked down Frank Sinatra's original take on a Gershwin classic from 1954, he revisited and recorded the song many times in his career, from what I can gather. That's by far the oldest song here, with many fresh out in 2024, including a live version of The Zuton's infectious single Creeping On The Dancefloor.

 

One artist that John hasn't mentioned here this year (so far) is Robyn Hitchcock, But I have John and fellow legend The Swede to thank for their own enthusiasm leading to my belated appreciation of the Robyn's work, so he sneaks in with the penultimate song on this selection.

 

The working titles for this selection were 'Medd in Nottingham' and 'Dear John', but a chance comment on the monthly photo challenge over at John's blog on Sunday sealed the deal. 

All in, just over an hour and a half of eclectic and great music, which I hope will provide some entertainment over the coming days and weeks.

Will be thinking of you tomorrow, John, and sending good vibes and love your way.

 

xx

 

  
1) Only The Best Will Do (Album Version): ABC (1997)

2) Aim High (Aim Higher) (The Amorphous Androgynous Remix): Paul Weller (2010)

3) Teenage Lament '74 (Single Version): Alice Cooper (1974)

4) They Can’t Take That Away From Me (Album Version) (Cover of Fred Astaire): Frank Sinatra (1954)

5) Silently (Album Version): Blonde Redhead (2007)

6) They Don't Know How To Fall In Place (Album Version): The Lemon Twigs (2024)

7) Take You Down: Daniel Pemberton (2017)

8) Creeping On The Dancefloor (Live @ Hertford Corn Exchange): The Zutons (2024)

9) A.L.O.E: Bicep (2024)

10) Unfinished Symphony (Ion Rayne Remix): GusGus (2023)

11) Paper (Single Version): Saint Etienne (1992)

12) Love Plus One (BBC Radio 2 Piano Room): Haircut 100 ft. BBC Concert Orchestra (2023)

13) Transition 2: Joy O & Ben Vince (2018)

14) Aqua Grey (2019 Short Edit): Meditation Y.S. (Yoshihiro Sawasaki) (1994)

15) "Bed Heads": Jezebell (2022)

16) Hallelujah (Ewan Pearson Remix): Happy Mondays (2020)

17) ONE (Extract XI): Noema (2023)

18) Belltown Ramble: Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3 (2006)

19) The Good Old Human Race: World Party (2012)

 

1954: Songs for Young Lovers: 4

1974: Alice Coopers Greatest Hits: 3 

1992: Avenue EP: 11

1997: Skyscraping: 1

2006: Olé! Tarantula: 18

2007: 23: 5

2010: Wake Up The Nation/Change Up The Nation (Deluxe Edition): 2 

2012: Arkeology: 19

2017: The Man From U.N.C.L.E. OST: 7 

2018: Transition 2 / Systems Align EP: 13

2019: Perfumed Garden Edits EP: 14 

2020: Hallelujah EP: 16

2022: Shelter Me: 15

2023: BBC Radio 2 Piano Room, 16 February 2024 (bootleg): 12 

2023: ONE: 17

2023: Unfinished Symphony EP: 10

2024: A Dream Is All We Know: 6

2024: CHROMA 001-005 EP: 9

2024: Live @ Hertford Corn Exchange, 22 February 2024 (bootleg): 8

The Man, The Medd, The Legend (1:31:39) (KF) (Mega)

Redhead Under The Radar

Another album from last year that passed me by completely was Sit Down For Dinner by Blonde Redhead, their first in nine years.

 

Luckily, a few days ago KEXP posted a 5-song session that the band recorded in October 2023. It's a lovely suite of songs with a touching story of how Kazu Makino got back together with brothers Amedeo and Simone Pace, something that may never have happened had it not been for the pandemic in 2020.

I've only listened to the album once so far, so I'm just going to immerse myself in the session and the album a few more times. I can think of worse ways to spend the weekend.

October

It's 1st October so the obvious thing to do is post a selection of songs that I last played on 1st October in previous years, from 2021 going all the way back to 2014, with apologies for the latter to Blonde Redhead, Willie Nelson & Sinéad O'Connor and The Sisters Of Mercy, you've been sorely neglected.

 

Forty five minutes of music, randomly collated but lovingly sequenced into a sepia-tinged Saturday soundtrack. Feel and hear the leaves crunch underfoot as you shuffle along, occasionally letting yourself drop into a little jig when you think no-one is looking.

 

1) Silently: Blonde Redhead (2007)

2) Don't Give Up (Cover of Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush): Willie Nelson ft. Sinéad O'Connor (1993)

3) Everybody's On The Run (Radio Edit): Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds (2012)

4) Manipulating Woman: Ladyhawke (2008)

5) Something Fast (Album Version): The Sisters Of Mercy (1990)

6) Falling Down (SBN (Student Broadcast Network) Session): Turin Brakes (2003)

7) Ü (Angry Side): Kleenex (1979)

8) Lost In A Melody (Radio Edit By Graham Sutton): Delays (2004)

9) Crying Blood (Moody Boyz Front Line Re-Rub): VV Brown (2008)

10) Put You Down: Grant McLennan ft. Syd Straw & Esta Hall (1994)

11) Wiseblood (Johnny Jewel Alternate Version): Zola Jesus (2018)

October (45:30)