David

'Nuff said.

 

1) Holy Thursday: David Axelrod (1968)

2) Diamonds Are Forever (Orchapella) (Cover of Shirley Bassey): David McAlmont / David Arnold (1997)

3) Rock On (Mojo Filter Gold Plated Edit By Ben Zaven Crane): David Essex (2019)

4) Rolling Downhill Backwards: David Nakedsson (2020)

5) Heart Of Gold: David Johansen (1981)

6) Hey Don't You Cry: Stuart A. Staples & David Boulter (2006)

7) Fill Your Heart: David Bowie (1971)

8) I Heard Wonders (Andrew Weatherall Instrumental Mix): David Holmes (2008)

9) The Way it Is: David McClymont (2022)

10) Magnolia (Cover of J.J. Cale): David Kitt (2004)

David (41:00) (Box) (Mega)

What's The Prediction? I'll Betcha It's Friction!

Listening to the Ramones recently got me digging out more tunes from 1976 to 1978, leading to today's selection, spanning 19 songs and a smidge over 1 hour.

There are perhaps some obvious choices: Ready Steady Go by Generation X, Friction by Television, What Do I Get? by Buzzcocks, The Passenger by Iggy Pop. I've thrown in a few other singles, B-sides and live performances by Elvis Costello & The Attractions, Eater, Protex, Magazine and Joy Division (belated happy 65th birthday for yesterday, Stephen Morris!)

 

I've also included a few choice album tracks by Ramones, The Clash, David Johansen, Talking Heads and Wire. Add to that a handful oddities and 'lost' tunes by Big In Japan, The Scenics and Adam & The Ants (covering Perry Como!) and it's enough to stir this sedentary sequencer of songs.

 

1) Ready Steady Go (Album Version): Generation X (1978)

2) What's Your Game (Album Version): Ramones (1977)

3) Tiny Steps: Elvis Costello & The Attractions (1978)

4) Thinkin' Of The U.S.A.: Eater (1977)

5) Catch A Falling Star (Unreleased Version) (Cover of Perry Como): Adam & The Ants (1977)

6) Last Gang In Town: The Clash (1978)

7) Confusion: Sparks (1976)

8) Cindy And The Barbi Dolls: Big In Japan (1978)

9) Friction (Album Version): Television (1977)

10) Touch And Go (Live @ Lesser Free Trade Hall, Manchester): Magazine (1978)

11) At A Later Date (Live @ Electric Circus, Manchester): Joy Division (1977)

12) In The Sun (Album Version): Blondie (1976)

13) Not That Much: David Johansen (1978)

14) Don't Ring Me Up: Protex (1978)

15) What Do I Get?: Buzzcocks (1978)

16) Stay Hungry (Album Version): Talking Heads (1978)

17) Do The Wait: The Scenics (1977)

18) The Passenger (Album Version): Iggy Pop (1977)

19) Champs: Wire (1977)

1976: Big Beat: 7

1976: Blondie: 12

1977: Leave Home: 2

1977: Lust For Life: 18

1977: Marquee Moon: 9 

1977: Pink Flag: 19

1977: Thinkin' Of The U.S.A. EP: 4

1978: David Johansen: 13 

1978: Don't Ring Me Up EP: 14

1978: From Y To Z And Never Again EP: 8

1978: Generation X: 1

1978: Give 'Em Enough Rope: 6 

1978: More Songs About Buildings And Food: 16

1978: Radio Radio EP: 3

1978: Short Circuit: Live At The Electric Circus: 11 

1978: What Do I Get? EP: 15

2000: Ant Box: 5

2009: Play + (Expanded 2CD Edition): 10

2009: Sunshine World: Studio Recordings 1977-78: 17

What's The Prediction? I'll Betcha It's Friction! (1:01:30)

Wild Wild Child Of The London Night

Adored And Explored was the lead single from Marc Almond's ninth album Fantastic Star, entering the UK singles chart at #25 in May 1995 and proving to be Marc's last Top 30 single to date. 

 

The video is very much of it's time, though it's an entertaining send up of pop celebrity, from the 'dad dancing' and 'hand harmonica' miming at the start, through to a multitude of costume changes, taking in Bowie, Bolan, The Village People, Elvis, Alex from A Clockwork Orange, Boy George and more. Almond is supported by a group of 'minders' straight out of Reservoir Dogs, who amusingly break into a cod pogo and other bad dancing in the closing section of the song. 

The harmonica on Adored And Explored is played by David Johansen and the song was co-written with John Coxon, better known (to me, at least) as one half of Spring Heel Jack and member of Spiritualized.

 

Marc has a new 6-track mini-album, Things We Lost, out next month. Much as I've enjoyed Marc's recent albums (2020's Chaos And A Dancing Star was a highlight), I won't be forking out £18.99 for the double vinyl. I'm also unconvinced that I want the expanded 3CD edition with Marc's full 37-song concert from The Royal Festival Hall in 2020, featuring Chris Braide and Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, for £20.99 either. Here's hoping Things We Lost also gets a digital release at some point.

Can You Hear It?

Between 1976 and 1979, I was between 5 and 8 years old, arguably living my best life. Primary school, hot summers, bags of penny chews and sweets from the newsagents, Look-In ("The Junior TV Times"), Tom Baker as Doctor Who, Star Wars at the cinema, annual holidays near Tenby and day trips to Weston-super-Mare, the open air swimming pool at Chippenham or (if we were lucky) the pebble-or-sand beach at Weymouth. 

I was too busy and too young to pay much attention at the time to punk, post-punk or alternative music. Although the odd snatch on Radio 1 stuck with me, I discovered much of this music a few years later, when I was older, angrier and looking for music that I could turn up loud and annoy my parents with. The rest I sought out even more years later, when I was (considerably) older, wiser (debatable) and still angry (and that's just the government).

I don't have a contemporary emotional connection to these songs though some resonate with particular periods in my teens and twenties and they will always be very special to me. A few come from some of my favourite albums of all time, but I'll leave you to decide which ones they may be.

 

1) So It Goes: Nick Lowe (1976)

2) The Pictures On My Wall (Single Version): Echo & The Bunnymen (1978)

3) I Found That Essence Rare: Gang Of Four (1979)

4) Repetition: The Fall (1978)

5) The Unconventional: Japan (1978)

6) Fade Away And Radiate (Album Version): Blondie (1978)

7) Frederick: Patti Smith (1979)

8) Search & Destroy (Live) (Cover of The Stooges): The Dictators (1977)

9) I Can't Be (Demo): Ramones (1976)

10) Whip In My Valise: Adam & The Ants (1979)

11) Limelight (Album Version): XTC (1979)

12) My Shadow In Vain: Tubeway Army (1978)

13) Mortice Lock: Associates (1979)

14) Cities (Alternate Version): Talking Heads (1979)

15) Sound And Vision (Live @ Earls Court, London): David Bowie (1978)

16) I'm A Lover: David Johansen (1978)

17) The Card Cheat: The Clash (1979)

Can You Hear It? (56:53)