Fingers & Thumbs

One of those posts where the title pretty much says it all. Today's Dubhed Dozen features songs (and one artist) with either 'finger' or 'thumb' in the title. Sometimes, that's the extent of my thought process...!

I wasn't short on choices though and I like some of the unusual bedfellows that spring from these 'themed' selections. I mean, I don't think you're going to find another mix today that has an opening salvo of His Bobness, electronic duo Spooky, rap rascals Beastie Boys and Neil Young and Crazy Horse. I think it works, but you'll be the judge of that.

I detoured from the theme to include Stiff Little Fingers because, I mean, why not? Apologies to Larry Heard aka Mr. Fingers though, who just missed out in the final shortlist. Another time, Larry, another time.

 

Julian Cope of course has a song for every occasion and theme and today is no exception. Dubhed stalwart Andrew Weatherall could also have made the cut with a remix of a song by Jonny Halifax, in his day job as Honkeyfinger. Sadly, another one that didn't make the final 12 although it did pop up in one of my Weatherall mixes back in May 2021.

After a (mostly) guitar-driven run, Jenny Hval brings some calm and class and one might think a fitting close to proceedings. But no, I have to go and take the piss by bolting on a mash-up of The Beach Boys and a 1980s TV ad theme. Thanks (or insults) to Mark Vidler aka Go Home Productions, this may have been the song's sole opportunity to make an appearance on this blog so of course I had to do it.

1) Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues: Bob Dylan (1965)

2) Fingerbobs (Album Version): Spooky (1996)

3) Finger Lickin' Good (Government Cheese Mix): Beastie Boys (1992)

4) Powderfinger (Live): Neil Young & Crazy Horse (1978)

5) Soul Finger (Alternative Version) (Cover of The Bar-Kays): Dexy's Midnight Runners (1981)

6) Sore Thumb: Fujiya & Miyagi (2008)

7) Alternative Ulster: Stiff Little Fingers (1978)

8) Disposable Thumbs: Endless Boogie (2021)

9) The Air Near My Fingers: The White Stripes (2003)

10) She's Got A Ring On Her Finger (& Another One Through Her Nose): Julian Cope (2005)

11) Thumbsucker: Jenny Hval ft. Félicia Atkinson (2019)

12) Wouldn't It Be Nice To Have A Finger Of Fudge?: Go Home Productions (2008)

Fingers & Thumbs (45:55) (Box) (Mega)

In My Dreams I Wrote The Best Song I've Ever Written

Another random, eclectic selection for your listening pleasure.  

 

Fujiya & Miyagi start proceedings with a bold attempt at a New Order classic from Power Corruption & Lies, swiftly followed by a track from the sole EP from The Badgers, one of many (I've lost count now) bands that I've discovered thanks to the ever-wonderful music blog The Vinyl Villain. We then jump from Norfolk to the Netherlands, and 90s indie pop to 80s electro disco, with the Modern Danceable Music Company, who thankfully also used the acronym M.D.M.C. Ben Liebrand on the mix here, luckily a few years before he incorporated the break from Think (About It) by Lyn Collins in every bloody remix he produced.

 

Fast forward to a contemporary favourite - and the source of today's post title - the wonderful Courtney Barnett, remixed by the equally wonderful 10:40 aka Jesse Fahnestock. As the mix title suggests, most of the vocals have been excised but this is definitely a case of less is more, with a lovely dreamy vibe leading into Psychic TV's foray into vocal house music with 1990's Towards Thee Infinite Beat and remix companion Beyond Thee Infinite Beat.

 

A sharp swerve Psychic TV to Micah Blue Smaldone, who was brought to my attention earlier this month by The Swede, firstly via an excellent Imaginary Compilation Album at The Vinyl Villain then a follow up post on his own blog, Unthought Of, Though, Somehow. The Swede perfectly describes Micah Blue Smaldone as "an old-timey acoustic folk-blues troubadour [...] delivering a series of lyrically dense, folk-noir songs" and Time, the track featured here, was the stirring closer to his ICA. 

A trio of legends follow: John Cale collaborating with Bob Neuwirth and David Byrne almost remixed out of existence by Jack Dangers, the latter dovetailing into an early instrumental of The News About William, preceding the vocal version that appeared on Calexico's 2008 album Carried To Dust.

 

Bringing the selection to a close is Irish singer/songwriter Gemma Hayes who I first heard via her cover of Bob Dylan's Lay Lady Lay in 2004, which I featured with multiple other versions of the song in January this year. Iona features on Gemma's (to date) last album, 2014's Bones + Longing but Gemma's been back on the live circuit this month and is promising new music later in 2022.

 

1) Your Silent Face (Cover of New Order): Fujiya & Miyagi (2011)

2) Ragged Jack: The Badgers (1992)

3) How About It (12" Version By Ben Liebrand & Sander Bos): M.D.M.C. ft. Karin Klare & Margie Davies (1983)

4) History Eraser (10:40's Redacted Dub) (Remix By Jesse Fahnestock): Courtney Barnett (2021)

5) Horror House (Album Version): Psychic TV (1990)

6) Time: Micah Blue Smaldone ft. Colleen Kinsella (2013)

7) Who's In Charge?: John Cale & Bob Neuwirth (1994)

8) Ava (Nu Wage Mix By Jack Dangers): David Byrne (1991)

9) The News About William (Instrumental Version): Calexico (2007)

10) Iona: Gemma Hayes (2014) 

1983: How About It EP: 3

1990: Towards Thee Infinite Beat: 5

1992: Picnic EP: 2

1994: Last Day On Earth: 7

2002: Pro.File 1: Meat Beat Manifesto/Jack Dangers Remix Collection: 8

2007: Tool Box: 9

2011: Power Corruption & Lies Covered (Mojo magazine promo CD): 1

2013: The Ring Of The Rise: 6 

2014: Bones + Longing: 10

2021: Left Behind Blues EP: 4

 

In My Dreams (45:25)