Leap Year

I didn't quite have enough song titles and artists featuring the word 'leap' to make a decent sized Dubhed selection, so here's a bunch of videos instead, starting appropriately enough with Leap Year by Port O'Brien from 2009.

 

From there, it's literally 1 Giant Leap with Braided Hair from 2002 featuring Speech (Arrested Development) and Neneh Cherry. I could have picked any song from the album to be honest but (a) this one had an accompanying video and (b) it's got Neneh Cherry on it, what's not to love?

Elbow got in on the act by releasing a new single, Lovers' Leap,  earlier this month with the second video this week featuring lots of running (see PJ Harvey on Tuesday).

Bim Sherman got to Lovers Leap first though, with this classic from 1979.

Elbow and Bim maybe should have listened to Gregory Isaacs' advice back in 1971 to Look Before You Leap...

...Especially if like Sergeant Neil Howie (aka Edward Woodward), you are drawn like a Magnet to the island of Summerisle circa 1973 and encounter the Fire Leap on your way to a meeting with a seemingly bewigged Christopher Lee...

Randolph's Leap obviously tried it fully clothed in 2021 and saw their wardrobe go Up In Smoke...

Again, if only they'd listened to Billy Bragg's advice (and one of his greatest songs) in 1988 and were still Waiting For The Great Leap Forwards...

...though these Mael siblings clearly also got tired of hanging around in 1997 and took The Great Leap Forward.

Tomorrow, a 3-hour Dubhed selection of 'March' songs. No, wait, I'm joking, please come back...!

Lay Lady Lay (Ten Times)

In a second nod to Bob Dylan this week, following Desolation Row's inclusion in Sunday's selection, recently the shuffle option on my iPhone has been relentless in offering up Lay Lady Lady, in various incarnations. 

 

To be honest, I had no idea I had so many versions of the song but why be selfish? Here's ten of them, stitched together in one 40-odd minute sequence for your aural pleasure or sonic torture, depending on your opinion of the song to begin with.

The selection starts off with Magnet (aka Norwegian singer-songwriter Even Johansen and not to be confused with this Magnet) joined by Irish singer-songwriter Gemma Hayes on a lush, orchestral version. 

 

Along the way, you get Byrdsian gospel, Ministry's grubby come hither, a soulful take from The Isley Brothers, Melanie's rousing folk and headphone indie from David Kitt, The Flaming Lips and The Dandy Warhols. Oh, and Duran Duran's offering from their frequently teeth-grinding mid-90s tribute album.

The only way to finish of course is with Bob Dylan's original from 1969's Nashville Skyline, a #5 hit in the UK and #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the USA.

1) Lay Lady Lay (Album Version): Magnet ft. Gemma Hayes (2004)

2) Lay Lady Lay: The Byrds (1969)

3) Lay Lady Lay: David Kitt (2007)

4) Lay Lady Lay (Album Version): Ministry (1996)

5) Lay Lady Lay: Duran Duran (1995)

6) Lay Lady Lay (Album Edit): The Isley Brothers (1971)

7) Lay Lady Lay: The Flaming Lips (2021)

8) Lay Lady Lay: Melanie (1972)

9) Lay Lady Lay: The Dandy Warhols (2008)

10) Lay Lady Lay: Bob Dylan (1969)

1969: Lay Lady Lay (7"): 2 

1969: Nashville Skyline: 10

1972: Garden In The City: 8

1976: The Best... Isley Brothers: 6

1995: Thank You: 5

1996: Filth Pig: 4

2004: On Your Side: 1

2007: Misfits Vol. 1: 3

2008: ...Earth To The Dandy Warhols... (Japan bonus tracks edition): 9

2021: Dylan Revisited (Uncut magazine promo CD): 7

Lay Lady Lay (Ten Times) (43:31) (GD) (M)

 

...and if you're a glutton for punishment, I did the same thing with Dylan's Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands last summer.