Birthday Boys & Girl

Birthday Boys & Girl Wandering around Gloucester last month, seeking inspiration for John Medd's photo challenge, in a side street I came across an unexpected tribute to Chris Cornell.

Chris tragically lost his life to suicide in 2017, and I guess this street art was a heartfelt if slightly hidden acknowledgement of the Chris' work with Soundgarden, Audioslave, and as a solo artist.

The photo has been sitting there patiently, waiting for it's moment. I then discovered that it would have been Chris' 61st birthday on 20th July.

I'll be straight with you: I would struggle to create a Dubhed selection tribute to Chris Cornell: I have the sum total of three songs that he's performed on, all with Soundgarden: one Beatles cover and one 2-track CD single which I only bought because there was a Moby remix on it.

But then I had a look online and realised that there are loads of musicians all sharing a birthday on 20th July. Plenty in fact to create an eclectic (though heavy on the 1980s) Dubhed selection to bring some sunshine to your Sunday.

As the idea started with Chris Cornell, it's only right that he gets to kick off proceedings. Blow Up The Outside World appeared on 1996 album Down On The Upside, and was also released a single, remaining my sole Soundgarden purchase to date.

Kim Carnes (80 today) is perhaps (in)famous for two things: 

(1) Bette Davis Eyes, her global smash single in 1981;

(2) a voice that had Bonnie Tyler reaching to offer her packet of sore throat lozenges.

An acquired taste perhaps, but Kim was an accomplished singer/songwriter through the 1970s. Today's pick was the opening song on eighth album Café Racers. I haven't seen the video but it apparently features Ian McShane. He's got some CV, hasn't he?!

Carlos Santana (78) has recorded a gazillion albums (at least) and collaborated with at least as many artists in a long and illustrious career. All of which is poorly represented in my music collection. I have ten times more songs by Jesus Jones than Santana, for pity's sake. As such, I've had to resort to a 21st century re-rub of classic song Black Magic Woman by Mojo Filter, although I have to say that I like it very much.

I had it on good authority (well, This Day In Music) that it was Jem Finer's 70th birthday today. On checking Discogs and Iffpedia for my half-baked research, it appears that it's not until Friday (25th). As I'd already recorded and uploaded today's selection when I discovered this, I've decided that it's perfectly fine to celebrate early in Jem's case. After all, any day is a good day to listen to The Pogues...

The same could be said of JoBoxers, though sadly fewer people saying it. Still, cause for celebration today as it's singer Dig Wayne (Timothy Wayne Ball to his mum) who is marking 63 orbits of the sun. Well, if t'internet can be trusted, that is. Boxer Beat was a Top 3 UK hit in 1983, but I was also a big fan of follow up, Just Got Lucky. Ironically, I found out that I won a Lucky Dip in Saturday's Lotto. I'm listening to How To Be A Millionaire by ABC next weekend.

These days, Jim Irvin's name pops up in the pages of Mojo magazine and in songwriting credits for artists ranging from Unloved to Yungblud. In July 1986, Jim was front person with Furniture, singing Brilliant Mind on kids' TV show Razzmatazz. They had some great songs, including Love Your Shoes, presented here in it's expanded 12" single glory. Jim is 66 today... I think (that Jem Finer birth date stitch up has scarred me).

The Seatlle Grunge Scene in the 1990s shone a spotlight on Soundgarden. And Pearl Jam. I'm not a fan, though I seem to have a surprising number of odds and sods on the hard drive. It turns out that Chris Cornell is not the only Grunge guru to have a birthday on 20th July; it's also guitarist Stone Gossard's 59th. Thankfully for him - and therefore us - he's recorded music with Ani DeFranco, including the rather good single, Disorders, in 2022.

There's always a good reason to feature Talk Talk on this blog, and today's reason is that it's drummer Lee Harris' 63rd birthday. Last year, Lee lent his percussion and production skills to Beth Gibbons' superb album, Lives Outgrown, having previously worked with her on his .O.Rang project with Paul Webb. Today's pick is an obscure Talk Talk B-side, though typically one of their best songs.

Michael MacNeil (67 today) was keyboard player with Simple Minds from 1978 to 1990 co-writing many of the songs that propelled the band into global success and the "big music". So, I've unintentionally picked a song from 1979 album Life In A Day, which he didn't have a hand in writing. But his playing is a standout.

By adding Juke Box Jive to my collection especially so that I could include it in this selection, I've increased the number of songs by The Rubettes by a whopping 100%. I think you can guess what the other one is. Singer and guitarist Tony Thorpe is 78 today.

Bringing this birthday bash to a close is John Lodge, celebrating 80 years, many of them with The Moody Blues. I've opted for one of his solo outings, from his 1977 album Natural Avenue. Despite having the same title as the Isley Brothers' 1974 hit, Summer Breeze failed to replicate their success for John when it was released as a single. The UK public were more interested in Donna Summer, Hot Chocolate and Boney M...

So, eleven artists, one sadly no longer with us, ten with plenty of cause for celebration.

Here's to you (deep breath), Chris, Kim, Carlos, Jem (for Friday), Dig, Jim, Stone, Lee, Michael, Tony and John!

1) Blow Up The Outside World (Album Version): Soundgarden (1996)

2) You Make My Heart Beat Faster (And That's All That Matters) (Dance Mix By Rusty Garner): Kim Carnes (1983)

3) Black Magic Woman (Mojo Filter Smoke & Mirrors Remix By Ben Zaven Crane): Santana (2015)

4) Streams Of Whiskey (Album Version By Stan Brennan): The Pogues (1984)

5) Just Got Lucky (12" Version By Alan Shacklock): JoBoxers (1983)

6) Love Your Shoes (Expanded Mix By Mick Glossop): Furniture (1986)

7) Disorders (Single Version): Stone Gossard & Ani DiFranco (2022)

8) Pictures Of Bernadette (7" Version By Tim Friese-Greene): Talk Talk (1986)

9) All For You: Simple Minds (1979)

10) Juke Box Jive (Album Version By Wayne Bickerton): The Rubettes (1974)

11) Summer Breeze (Album Version By Tony Clarke): John Lodge (1977)

1974: We Can Do It: 10

1977: Natural Avenue: 11

1979: Life In A Day: 9

1983: Just Got Lucky EP: 5

1983: You Make My Heart Beat Faster (And That's All That Matters) EP: 2

1984: Red Roses For Me: 4

1986: Give It Up EP: 8

1986: Love Your Shoes EP: 6

1996: Down On The Upside: 1

2015: AOR Disco Vintage Edits Vol. 4: 3

2022: Disorders EP: 7

Birthday Boys & Girl (53:06) (GD) (M)

In My Life, I Love You More

We said goodbye to my uncle on Friday. He passed on 31st July and following a private cremation in August, this was a gathering of family and friends to celebrate his life.

 

Much as he lived his life, the event was as full of joy and love as it's possible for these things to be. You realise that the one person you really want to be in the room with you isn't physically there, but the succession of remembrances, anecdotes and photos brought the memory of him into sharp focus.

 

We were both avid music lovers, though we rarely talked about it when we got together. As his neighbour - and inevitably, friend - of more than a quarter of a century wryly noted,

 

I loved Queen.

He loved jazz.

And never the twain shall meet.

I would have leaned more towards my uncle's side in that particular difference of opinion, but the trio of songs at the service - which I sure that he personally picked, he was meticulous in his planning and preparation - resonated for different reasons.

The introductory song was Dawn/Go Within by Santana, the opening of their 1977 album Moonflower. The sum total of Santana songs in my collection is three, two of which are different versions of the same song. I have never knowingly listened to an entire Santana album. As an intro to the service ahead though, my uncle nailed it.

 

On the album proper, Dawn/Go Within cuts to a live version of Let The Children Play, but here was comfortably faded out before the abrupt end. I will track down the album to hear it in full, as my uncle will have done on many occasions in the past.

The second song, and the one that resonated with me the most was The Highways Of My Life by The Isley Brothers.

The song features on the 1973 album 3 + 3, which also features Summer Breeze and That Lady. I have quite a few songs by The Isley Brothers, but culled from various compilations and best ofs. 3 + 3 is the only album that I own in its entirety and it is a masterpiece. I wish we'd talked more about music, and how our mutual love clearly overlapped in so many places.

The final song, and perhaps less of a surprise, was In My Life by The Beatles. My uncle was a huge fan and the first time I ever encountered the 'red' and 'blue' compilations was on a very rare occasion that I was allowed to rummage through his vinyl collection and put a record on...although I suspect he may have taken care of the latter, as I was an ignorant 7-year old at the time and I would have got my grubby fingers all over the vinyl!

In My Life featured on the first collection covering 1962-1966 (aka 'red'), originally appearing halfway through side 2 of Rubber Soul in 1965. I can't recall my response to the song (or 1962-1966 in general), the first time I heard it played on a turntable, but no surprise that I gained a deeper appreciation for The Beatles' music as I grew older.

One of my uncle's long-time friends spoke of their first meeting as neighbours, living in ground floor bedsits in Teddington, opposite Bushy Park, in the early 1970s. It was the first time that either had lived in London and it proved to be a life changing experience.

It was during that period that my brother and I, aged 11 and 7 respectively, went to stay with my uncle. We were bundled onto a coach in Bristol, met by my uncle at Victoria station and had our first big adventure in The Big Smoke. We went back into the city the following day, visiting the first McDonald's in the UK (Woolwich, to be precise). I don't remember the burger and fries, to be honest, but I vividly recall the milkshake, which was so thick that my cheeks ached from trying to consume it, in which I succeeded eventually.

We also visited a book shop and I came away with two books, both novelisations of sci-fi epics that I greatly enjoyed at the time: Star Wars by George Lucas (except that it was actually ghost written by Alan Dean Foster) and Battlestar Galactica by Glen A. Larson and Robert Thurston. Neither of the photos are mine: I think I may have the former somewhere, the latter has definitely perished along the way; both were read several times in the span of a few short years.

 

Another of the anecdotes by my uncle's friend concerned the number of cassettes he received with albums that my uncle had taped from his vinyl collection. It turns out that this was something of a cottage industry as others I spoke to had also been the recipients of bootleg cassettes over the years, with neatly handwritten sleeves. When the "home taping is killing music' campaign launched back then, my uncle was clearly one of the perpetrators!

 

My brother and I were also the beneficiaries of this criminal undertaking. We'd send my uncle a list of 'wants', he would borrow said albums from the library, and a package with C90 tapes would arrive in the post shortly after. 

 

Looking at my uncle's choice of opening song, I can see why he was approving of my brother's interest back then in the E.L.O. back catalogue. My opening request for Dirk Wears White Sox by Adam & The Ants and The Blue Meaning by Toyah came with an accompanying note, "Not sure about this!"

 

Here's to you Uncle Mike, with more love and affection that these modest words can ever hope to convey.

They Say A Record Ain't Nothing If It's Not Touching

Many blogs that I follow have frequently posted a "Monday Long Song", so here's my contribution with half a dozen of the beauties, taking you on a journey from (according to Discogs) jazz to goth to experimental ambient dub to techno disco to Afro-Cuban psychedelic rock to hip hop in six meandering decades. Andrew Eldritch may raise an eyebrow at the unusual company, but I think it works. Or maybe that's just where my mind is at right now...

 

Thanks to The Roots for today's post title. 

 

1) If You're Not Part Of The Solution, You're Part Of The Problem (Live @ Lighthouse Café, Hermosa Beach, California, sometime between 24 & 26 September 1970): Joe Henderson Quintet (1970)

2) Never Land (Full Length Version): The Sisters Of Mercy (1987)

3) Gone To Croatan: Jah Wobble ft. Pharoah Sanders & Bernie Worrell (1996)

4) Work (Prins Thomas Diskomiks): Junior Boys (2010)

5) La Puesta Del Sol (Demo): Santana (1968)

6) Water (The First Movement / The Abyss / The Drowning): The Roots (2002) 

 

1970: If You're Not Part Of The Solution, You're Part Of The Problem: 1

1996: Heaven & Earth: 3 

1997: Santana '68: 5

2002: Phrenology: 6

2006: Floodland (Expanded Edition): 2 

2010: Work Remixes (German promo 12" single): 4

 

They Say A Record Ain't Nothing If It's Not Touching (1:09:36)