Darren In The Underworld

Inspired by Swiss Adam's return visits to some classic Darren Emerson and Underworld tracks and mixes over at Bagging Area and the coincidental inclusion of an Underworld remix on the cover-mounted Depeche Mode compilation CD available with the current issue of Mojo magazine, I've thrown caution to the wind and jumped on the bandwagon.

I've cherry picked half a dozen remixes from 1993 to 2003, classics all, and generous with beats and breaks. It's impossible for me to pick a favourite from this bunch.

 

1) Human Behaviour (The Underworld Dub (1)): Björk (1993)

2) Harlequin - The Beauty And The Beast (Underworld Alternative): Sven Väth (1994)

3) Sunset (Bird Of Prey) (Darren Emerson Remix): Fatboy Slim ft. Jim Morrison (2000)

4) David (Darren Emerson's Underwater Remix): GusGus (2003)

5) Schmoo (Underworld Mix): Spooky ft. Heather Sian Wildman (1993)

6) Risingson (Underworld Mix): Massive Attack (1997)

 

Darren In The Underworld (54:39) (KF) (Mega)

I'm Gonna Love You 'Til The Stars Fall From The Sky

The Soft Parade, The Doors' fourth album from 1969, was not particularly beloved on release and failed to make the UK album charts. It was departure from what had gone before: a much pop-oriented sound, tons of brass and strings piled onto the songs, half of which were written by guitar player Robbie Krieger.

I have a lot of love for the album, in particular some of the out-and-out pop songs like Tell All The People and Wishful Sinful. A particular favourite is Touch Me, which remains one of my favourite Doors songs, full stop. The song is guaranteed to lift my spirits from the opening seconds of Ray Manzarek's insistent bass-and-piano keyboard stabs.

I bought the Dance On Fire VHS compilation in the late 1980s, which was the first time I got to see The Doors' performance of Touch Me on US TV, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour on 6th December 1968. It's a wonderful display, opening with a close-up hands shot of Manzarek's keyboard playing, before the reveal of the band with brass ensemble, with (I assume) saxophonist Curtis Amy on a plinth above them all, braced for the climatic solo. Morrison seems at turns focused and out of it and may well have been both at various points during the performance, but is a compelling watch, which makes the frequent cutaways to less engaging musical stances a little strange. 

 

The bit that everyone seems to notice and remember though is that Robby Krieger is sporting a black eye. There have been many myths over the years about how he got it, the most popular (but incorrect) story being that he was on the receiving end of Jim Morrison's fist. Krieger understandably waited until the publication of his memoir before finally putting those myths to bed, but it fed into the mystique of the band and Morrison's reputation as a wild man, on the edge.

 

Touch Me is a reminder that The Doors were also capable of incredibly beautiful moments, too. And yes, pop songs. And why not? 

 

Today's song title was completely at random but resonates in a different, less positive way with The Oscars earlier this week. I didn't watch it, I haven't for many years, but of course I've seen the clip since. What a strange world we live in.

 

Touch Me (Performed on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, 6th December 1968): The Doors

 

Zoo Time Is She And You Time

Side 1 of a mixtape cassette titled heartbeatincreasingheartbeat, recorded 25th September 1991. 

 

Back in Bristol after a year working and travelling in Australia, back at college for a second go at 'A' levels having dropped out after 6 months a few years previously, back living with my parents after a period of independence and freedom and back in local record shops, sniffing out new and old vinyl.

1) The Man With The Golden Arm (Full Length Version) (Cover of Elmer Bernstein): Barry Adamson (1988)

2) Strange Days: The Doors (1967)

3) Trip, Stumble & Fall: The Mamas & The Papas (1966)

4) De-Luxe: Lush (1990)

5) Theme II: Clan Of Xymox (1986)

6) Spoil The Child: Fad Gadget ft. Joni Sackett (1983)

7) This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us: Sparks (1974)

8) Thank You For Sending Me An Angel: Talking Heads (1978)

9) The Light Pours Out Of Me ('One Pound Ninety-Nine' Version) (Cover of Magazine): Peter Murphy (1985)

10) The Sleeper: John Cale (1985)

11) The Avenue: O.M.D. (1984)

12) The 'In' Crowd (Cover of Dobie Gray): Bryan Ferry (1974)

13) Wheels Of Fortune: Fad Gadget (1982)

Side One (47:19)

Find Side Two here