Decayed Prelude

Exactly eight months ago, I posted Decadance V: 1999, the final year in my mixtape series covering the 1990s, itself a follow on from Decade, the original cassette compilations I had recorded to sum up the 1980s.

In an attempt to create some (pre-millennial) tension, I concluded my post with a portentous - many (me included) would say pretentious - statement

I suspect that when I get around to a series on the Noughties, 

the gulf between my singles selections and the UK charts will be vast, 

yet I know that like Decadance and Decade, 

there will be many gems to be uncovered and shared. 

I'm not planning on doing it any time soon, 

possibly not even this year, though I have come up with the series name. 

Decayed. 

Well, it proved to be a scratch that I needed to itch sooner rather than later, it seems!

And so, here we are again, with a prelude to a series that will start properly next Saturday (8th) and run for the next 5 weekends.

As before, each mixtape will cover a single year via a dozen songs to fit on, in old money, one side of a C90 cassette, just like the original Decade series managed back in the day.

It turned out that "the gulf between my singles selections and the UK charts" was not as vast as I suspected and there are a fair share of UK hits, number ones even, throughout. That said, I've reserved the right to include songs that spectacularly failed to dent the Top 100, just because I think they're great songs and should've had more love at the time. Especially when you consider some of the inexorable crap polluting the upper regions of the Top 40 in this decade.

This was a decade of significant changes in my life: becoming a homeowner, a husband, a father; I gained friends and lost friends; soaring highs and deep, deep lows. And always music to discover or rediscover and rejoice in.

Today's prelude selection features ten songs, each charting in the UK in respective years from 2000 to 2009, starting and ending with a #1 hit. None of the artists featured today will appear in the main series. Yep, this is the only time that you'll hear The White Stripes or Massive Attack in the next five weeks. 

Much as I'd like to make an exception, Julian Cope will be absent from proceedings, as The Arch Drude didn't release any singles in the 2000s. Some might argue that he didn't release any decent albums either, but I will stick my fingers in my ears and sing ba ba ba ba ba if I see any of this nonsense.

A feature (gimmck, you say?) of the Decadance series was my efforts to shoehorn in a MAW (Mandatory Andrew Weatherall) track into every year, mostly remixes of other artists, which proved to be less difficult than I first thought.

No such studio trickery this time, though I can reveal that The Guv'nor will be making an appearance in this series, with a surprise Top 30 single.

But what of the ten that have made the cut?

Groovejet by Spiller was a ubiquitous tune in the summer of 2000, although in terms of chart action, it followed the growing trend of singles debuting at #1 then dropping out immediately after. In fairness, Groovejet dropped to #2, then #3, and spent 12 weeks in the Top 40, 30 weeks in the Top 100, which clearly reflected it's popularity. 

It also proved to be a relaunch for Sophie Ellis-Bextor, fresh from the break up of theaudience and about to launch a solo career that, a quarter of a century later, has seen her elevated to National Treasure status.

In 2001, The Avalanches came out of nowhere (well, Australia) with an approach to sampling and cut-ups that as dizzying as it was unsustainable. Since I Left You sounds as magical now as it did then and the album of the same name that followed was a breathtaking piece of work. I don't know the full story of the  'extended alternate version' featured here, and discovered on YouTube in 2016, but I reckon it's a DIY cut and edit job by the poster, the wonderfully named Chungus Bungus.

From two seven-minute songs to one that comes in at under two minutes, it can only be The White Stripes. It took me a while to catch on to Jack and Meg's back-to-basics music and whilst I don't love everything they did, singles like Fell In Love With A Girl were spot on, retro yet sounding fresh and exciting. I'm surprised that this stalled just outside the Top 20 in March 2002.

Massive Attack returned in 2003 with 100th Window, and lead single Special Cases, featuring Sinéad O'Connor. Only four albums in, yet a world apart from the Blue Lines album just over a decade before. I finally got to see Massive Attack live in concert the following year, appropriately enough in our shared birthplace, Bristol.

Reign was originally released on the UNKLE album Never, Never Land in 2003, then as a single, peaking at #40 in November 2004. The song features Ian Brown, at this point half a decade into his solo career, with no hope of The Stone Roses getting back together again. 

Antony & The Johnsons caused a stir in 2005 when they won the Mercury Music Prize with debut album I Am A Bird Now, qualifying in part as Antony Hegarty (now Anonhi) had been born in Chichester, West Sussex. You Are My Sister features a beautiful duet with Boy George, who also enjoyed an artistic renaissance in the 2000s.

The Automatic had a monster hit with, er. Monster in June 2006. It looks like the band called it a day in 2010, after three albums. I can confidently say that I have never knowingly heard another song by The Automatic and, much as I like Monster, I don't feel a strong urge to check out their catalogue. 

Asobi Seksu, on the other hand, were a band that I feel for as soon as I heard the single Strawberries in 2007. Clearly the record buying public didn't agree, as Strawberries managed only one week at #54 before disappearing without trace. Sadly, Asobi Seksu have been on 'indefinite hiatus' since 2013, though I hold hope of a musical reunion one day.

When I started accessing loads of free MP3s via the RCRD LBL in 2007, I discovered loads of new artists and songs as a result. Paper Planes by M.I.A. is a good example, with a plethora of official and unofficial remixes offering up for download. Roughly a year later, it was released as a physical single in the UK, cracking the Top 20 in September 2008. The mix I've picked here, by then-partner Diplo, retains The Clash sample and adds raps from Big Bun and Rich Boy. Whatever happened to them?!

Another RCRD LBL freebie in 2008 was Just Dance by Lady Gaga, remixed by the RAC (that's the Remix Artist Collective, not the motoring services company!) Just Dance subsequently scored Lady Gaga her first UK #1 in January 2009, followed a couple of months later by Poker Face. Her debut album was appropriately titled The Fame.

As with previous series, for all those info heads, I've listed the parent EP or album, and the single's peak position in the UK charts. I've also included the date it got there which sometimes, but not always, is the same week that it debuted.

If you're thinking, as I did back in March, that the 2000s was the decade that your music tastes acrimoniously parted from the UK Top 100, stick around for the next five weeks, you may be pleasantly surprised.

 

1) Groovejet (If This Ain't Love) (Spiller's Extended Vocal Mix): Spiller ft. Sophie Ellis-Bextor (2000) 

2) Since I Left You (Extended Alternate Version By Chungus Bungus): The Avalanches (2016)

3) Fell In Love With A Girl: The White Stripes (2002)

4) Special Cases (Album Version): Massive Attack ft. Sinéad O'Connor (2003)

5) Reign (Album Version): UNKLE ft. Ian Brown (2004)

6) You Are My Sister: Antony & The Johnsons ft. Boy George (2005)

7) Monster (Album Version): The Automatic (2006)

8) Strawberries (Album Version): Asobi Seksu (2007)

9) Paper Planes (Diplo Street Remix): M.I.A. ft. Big Bun & Rich Boy (2008)

10) Just Dance (RAC Mix By André Allen Anjos): Lady Gaga ft. Colby O'Donis (2008)

20th August 2000: Groovejet (If This Ain't Love) EP (#1): 1

1st April 2001: Since I Left You (#16): 2

3rd March 2002: White Blood Cells (#21): 3

2nd March 2003: 100th Window (#15): 4

21st November 2004: Never, Never, Land (#40): 5

4th December 2005: I Am A Bird Now (#39): 6

11th June 2006: Not Accepted Anywhere (#4): 7

12th November 2007: Citrus (# 54): 8

28th September 2008: Kala (#19): 9

11th January 2009: The Fame (#1): 10

 

Decayed Prelude (45:37) (GD) (M)

The Greatest Joy Belongs To The Simple Heart

Hot on the heels of Jah Wobble's world tour yesterday, I've created a companion selection of tunes that loosely and lazily attract the World Music label.

Today's expedition starts in Mali with Ali Farka Touré and an on-the-nose title that announces the great man's arrival with style. I was a late comer to Ali's singular sound, via a secondhand copy of his Red and Green albums, sitting unloved and underpriced in a charity shop. I've been a fan ever since.

From there, it's onto Nigeria and the percussive power of Tony Allen, joined here by his pal Omololu Ogunleye. This pick is lifted from a 2006 album released on Damon Albarn's label, Honest Jon's Records, but Tony's jaw-dropping CV is nearly as long as the list of adjectives to describe his talent and impact on music that defied genres and categorisation.

Amadou & Mariam welcome you back to Mali for a brief refuel of the soul. Again, I was rather slow in picking up on the immense talent of this pair and am still catching up with their catalogue. Sadly, Amadou passed in April this year, bringing to a close an incredible musical partnership.

Next stop is Equatorial Guinea, where Apo Piruchi and her niece Paloma Botupá Loribo Apo are patiently waiting to share their music as Las Hijas Del Sol. They wrote and performed songs in the Bubi and Spanish languages, but unfortunately went their separate ways around 2005-2006.

After that short stay, it's off to Belgium by way of Egypt, courtesy of the glorious Natacha Atlas. Natacha's invited a couple of friends over:  Sinéad O'Connor (Eire) and Z* or Z-Star aka Zee Gachette aka Michelle Nichol (England/Trinidad). What an unforgettable party that would be.

No time to hang about though, otherwise you'll miss your flight to Brazil and three-tunes-for-the-price-of-one from Jorge Dubman aka Dr. Drumah. I discovered this music via the excellent Mukambo Presents Global Afrobeat Movement compilation, lifted from Dr. Drumah's 2020 album, The Confinement Vol. 1: Africa.

Right, enough holiday photos, it's back across the water to Kenya and Ndalani 77 Brothers. Like so much music in this genre, I was introduced to this wonderful song by the inimitable Ernie Goggins at the indispensable music blog 27 Leggies.

As was the case with Nana Benz Du Togo from, er, Togo. Suffice to say, Ernie's hit rate for signposting super sounds from around the globe is unmatched. I love this band and this is a particularly uplifting, body-positive tune.

The penultimate leg of the tour is Malawi, home to the exuberant Esau Mwamwaya and his family. When he teamed up with London-based duo Etienne Tron (France) and Johan Karlberg (Sweden) in the late 2000s, they were not joking when they named their collaboration The Very Best. M.I.A. brings an additional Sri Lankan/London spice to the mix.

All good things must come to an end, and this journey's final stop is back where it all started, in Mali and a chilled out choon from Luka Guindo aka Luka Productions.

Not the most obvious round trip it has to be said, zig-zagging from one continent to another and racking up an eye-watering 26,770 air miles (more or less). Thank goodness that you can do it all from the comfort of this playlist in just over three quarters of an hour!

1) Ali's Here: Ali Farka Touré (1999)

2) Moyege: Tony Allen ft. Omololu Ogunleye (2006)

3) La Fête Au Village: Amadou & Mariam (2004)

4) M-30: Las Hijas Del Sol (1999)

5) Simple Heart: Natacha Atlas ft. Sinéad O'Connor & Z* (2003)

6) Shadow Dance / Africanism / Freedom Fighters: Dr. Drumah (2020)

7) Nzaumi: Ndalani 77 Brothers (1977)

8) Tousse: Nana Benz Du Togo (2023)

9) Rain Dance: The Very Best ft. M.I.A. (2009)

10) Christianisme: Luka Productions (2017)

1977: Nzaumi / Nzioka EP: 7

1999: Kchaba: 4

1999: Niafunké: 1

2003: Something Dangerous: 5

2004: Dimanche A Bamako: 3

2006: Lagos No Shaking: 2

2009: Warm Heart Of Africa: 9

2017: Fasokan: 10

2020: Mukambo Presents Global Afrobeat Movement: 6

2023: Ago: 8

The Greatest Joy Belongs To The Simple Heart (46:23) (GD) (M)

When I'm By Myself...

Side 1 of a cassette compilation, recorded May 1992.

 

A bit of an oddity in my collection, this one, as it was never recorded by me or for me, but by my brother's then-fiancée. Both the relationship and the cassette were subsequently discarded and, if memory serves, I rescued this and a few other tapes that my brother had binned and intended for landfill.

I think I was curious about this collection in particular because it contains lots of singer/songwriter heavyweights that I recognised by name but was largely ignorant of. So, it was a good opportunity to dip my toe into the waters.

I'd like to say that this was my springboard into the worlds of Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Jackson Browne. It wasn't, but it opened my eyes and ears and eventually I started dipping into Bob, Joni and Jackson's respective back catalogues. Although I've yet to own a Sting album and I'm in no particular rush to do so.

 

The collection opens with 80s Dylan, but it's okay, it's one of the good ones. I'm not familiar enough with Joni Mitchell's vast body of work to know if there are similarly certain periods and/or album that should come with their own "enter at your own risk" warning, but Hejira presents no such threat.

On paper, The Cure's debut B-side seems the errant choice, nestled between Sting and Sinéad, but it fits right in and still hits the same sweet spot as it did when I first heard on the double play greatest hits cassette, Standing On A Beach: The Singles (And Unavailable B-Sides), in 1986.

 

My Special Child was a standalone single by Sinéad O'Connor, peaking at #42 in the UK in June 1991. I was still travelling around Australia at the time, which probably explains why I had no recollection of the song. It's an okay song, though with that voice, Sinéad's 'okay' is still way above many other artist's 'excellent'.

The original compilation featured the album version of Airwaves by Thomas Dolby from his 1982 debut, The Golden Age Of Wireless. I've swapped it out here for the earlier demo version, which appeared on the 1980 cassette From Brussels With Love, on the now-legendary label Les Disques Du Crépuscule. I love this pared down, less tech-y version, which sits better with the warmer, organic sounds infusing this collection.

I know The Beautiful South were big back in the day, and had lots of hit records. Even so, I still don't think Paul Heaton gets the level of recognition and appreciation he should, as one of the finest singers and songwriters to emerge in the 1980s. I don't listen to his music as often as I should. Hearing a song like Let Love Speak Up Itself makes me question why.

I heard Cowboy Junkies' cover of Powderfinger before I heard the song as written and recorded by Neil Young. it followed the achingly slow template of the Trinity Sessions album and remains the definitive version for me. 

 

The same month that my brother's girlfriend put I'd Rather Go Blind by Chicken Shack, I also acquired the song via Vox magazine's cover mounted cassette freebie, Radio Daze (The John Peel Sessions). The fact that the opening song was 10.15 Saturday Night makes me think that she included both songs from the very same compilation. 

 

I'd Rather Go Blind is another example where I was deeply immersed in the cover long before I heard the original version, in this case Etta James in 1967. The song has been covered many, many times since by the likes of Rod Stewart, Ruby Turner, Janet Kay, Paul Weller, Beyoncé and Dua Lipa. Chicken Shack's version is hard to beat, not least for the sublime vocals by Christine Perfect aka the much-missed Christine McVie.

The Road by Jackson Browne is a bit of an oddity. Taken from his 1977 album Running On Empty, according to Iffypedia, "the entire album was recorded on tour, either live on stage, or in locations associated with touring, such as backstage, on tour buses, or in hotel rooms".

The song itself is a prime example. The first half was recorded in room 301 of the Cross Keys Inn in Columbia, Maryland on 27th August 1977. The second half switches to a live recording at the Garden State Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey on 7th September 1977. The latter pretty much sounds like an entirely different song to the sparse acoustic section that preceded it.

Rounding off the collection is The Manish Boys featuring one David Jones who, like Christine Perfect, changed their name and enjoyed slightly more success as... David Bowie. The session guitar player also went on to greater things, a young whippersnapper by the name of Jimmy Page.

Today's headline photo, nicked from t'internet, is a contemporary photo (April 1992) of the Redcliffe flyover and the George Railway Hotel near Temple Meads station in Bristol. The flyover was a narrow, single-track curved bridge opened as a temporary measure in 1968...which ended up staying there until 1998. As a kid sitting in the back seat of my parents' car, a journey into the city centre via the flyover was the equivalent of a free rollercoaster. Without seat belts. Fearless times, eh?

1) Man In The Long Black Coat: Bob Dylan (1989)  

2) Mad About You: Sting (1991) 

3) 10:15 Saturday Night (Single Version): The Cure (1978)

4) My Special Child: Sinéad O'Connor (1991)

5) Airwaves (Demo): Thomas Dolby (1980)

6) Let Love Speak Up Itself (Album Version): The Beautiful South (1990)

7) Powderfinger (Cover of Neil Young): Cowboy Junkies (1990)

8) Coyote: Joni Mitchell (1976)

9) I'd Rather Go Blind (Cover of Etta James): Chicken Shack (1969)

10) The Road (Cover of Danny O'Keefe): Jackson Browne (1977)

11) I Pity The Fool (Cover of Bobby 'Blue' Bland): The Manish Boys (1965)

1965: I Pity The Fool EP: 11

1969: I'd Rather Go Blind EP: 9

1976: Hejira: 8

1977: Running On Empty: 10

1978: Killing An Arab EP: 3

1980: From Brussels With Love (Les Disques Du Crépuscule): 5

1989: Oh Mercy: 1

1990: Choke: 6 

1990: The Caution Horses: 7

1991: My Special Child EP: 4

1991: The Soul Cages: 2

Side 1 (46:56) (KF) (Mega)

#SpookyTunesSeason, Volume One

Jumping on the Hallowe'en bandwagon, this is the first half of a month-long bit of fun over on Twitter. I've literally been making it up as I go along, so it's a surprisingly coherent Dubhed selection, all things considered.

Expect some wild swerves from indie to reggae to rap to disco to bubblegum pop to contemporary breakbeats. I've copied and pasted my 'sleevenotes' directly from Musk's manky bird. 

I Walked With A Zombie: R.E.M.

I was going to ‘rest’ for a month, but there’s clearly no rest for the undead… Starting big with this great cover from R.E.M.

 

Ghouls: Wooden Shjips

Ripley Johnson, Dusty Jermier, Nash Whalen & Omar Ahsanuddin R.O.C.K. out!

 

My Beloved Monster: Eels

I suspect this song may have been posted lots already, so here’s a lovely version from the 2 Meter Sessions in 1997.

 

Vampire: Sinéad O'Connor

Cover of the Devon Irons & Dr. Alimantado/Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry classic from 1977. Sinéad produced by Sly & Robbie and absolutely smashing it.  

 

Devil Is A Liar: Kode9 & The Spaceape

Astonishing music and video, sadly released posthumously as The Space Ape aka Stephen Gordon passed far too soon on 2nd Oct 2014.  

 

Horrorworld: Momus

I nearly picked The Hairstyle Of The Devil, but this more recent offering from Mr. Currie also has a suitably creepy video.

Werewolves On Wheels: Don Gere

Forget the "first ever motorcycle horror film", it's the soundtrack & especially the main theme that you need to hunt down. Just remember to bring the silver bullets.

Terror In The Canyons (The Wounded Master): Phosphorescent

Lots of great live performances out there, including this one atop the Studio Brussel tower in Belgium, on 26 May 2013 (like today, also a Tuesday)

I Don't Want To Be A Freak (But I Can't Help Myself): Dynasty

Just a music love affair...  

 

Garghouls (Richard Sen Remix): Funboys

Head straight for the Sen. Old school video, new school vibes courtesy of this Norwegian-Australian-Belgian-Anglo collab.

 

Munster Creep: The Munsters

A cash-in single and album on the classic TV show that's actually pretty good. The real musicians apparently include Glen Campbell on guitar and Leon Russell on keys. Spooky! (#1)

 

These Are The Ghosts: The Bees

Their harmonies are the bees' knees, as this 2011 live version amply demonstrates.

 

Plastic Man, You're The Devil: Pink Mountaintops

From The Bees to McBean. Stephen McBean, that is, with a lovely live version from Vienna in 2009. 

 

She's Got A New Spell: Billy Bragg

I'd already chosen the song before fact checking and I have just discovered this was released as a single in the UK on 14th November 1988. Spooky! (#2)

 

Dirty Creature: Split Enz

The video is online but I've gone for this performance on short-lived Australian daytime music show WROK. Health warning: hairy chests from the start.

Skeletons: Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Lots of YYY contenders, but I don't think this has made an appearance so far. Great song from a great album.  

 

With Volume Two landing tomorrow, I'll leave it to you to decide if this is 'trick' or 'treat'...!

1) I Walked With A Zombie (Cover of Roky Erickson & The Aliens): R.E.M. (1990)

2) Ghouls: Wooden Shjips (2013)

3) My Beloved Monster (Album Version): Eels (1996)

4) Vampire (Album Version) (Cover of Lee Perry ft. Devon Irons & Dr. Alimantado): Sinéad O'Connor (2005)

5) Devil Is A Liar: Kode9 & The Spaceape (2014)

6) Horrorworld: Momus (2021)

7) Werewolves On Wheels: Don Gere (1971)

8) Terror In The Canyons (The Wounded Master): Phosphorescent (2013)

9) I Don't Want To Be A Freak (But I Can't Help Myself) (Album Version): Dynasty (1979)

10) Garghouls (Richard Sen Remix): Funboys (2021)

11) Munster Creep: The Munsters (1964)

12) These Are The Ghosts (Undead Version): The Bees (2004)

13) Plastic Man, You're The Devil: Pink Mountaintops (2006)

14) She's Got A New Spell: Billy Bragg (1988)

15) Dirty Creature: Split Enz (1982)

16) Skeletons (Album Version): Yeah Yeah Yeahs (2009)

Volume One (1:08:26) (GD) (M)

Fifth Strike

Way back in October 2021, picking up on a loose theme of "gigs I got tickets for, but never made it to", I reflected that John Grant is the artist that I've missed the most times. Four attempts since 2011, three times with tickets purchased in advance.

 

After breaking down the tragic circumstances for each and noting that the last three missed opportunities had all been at the same venue, I closed by saying,

 

"Fingers crossed, I will get to see John Grant perform live on stage one day. 

Given my track record so far, I might have to choose a venue other than Bath Forum..."

 

So, with a new album The Art Of The Lie and UK dates to support, I was determined that this would finally be my chance to break my run of bad luck and see the great (Grant) man.

 

I took no risks and avoided all possible jinxes. Avoid The Forum in Bath? No sweat. This time, the location was the Bristol Beacon. Tickets in my name? Uh uh. Mike came to the rescue, buying tickets (I paid him after) so no part of the transaction even featured my name. Work crisis stranding me miles from the gig? No siree. I based myself in Stroud. Okay, my car might have broken down and they may have cancelled all train services to Bristol. But what are the odds?

Nope. I was on it. Friday 25th October 2024 would be marked in history as the day I finally got to see John Grant live in concert.

And then Mike emailed me at 3.15pm yesterday.

Obviously, I'm sorry and concerned for John Grant and I hope he makes a full recovery soon.

But my first, honest reaction?

FFS!!!!!

Yet...once I stopped thinking about Franz Ferdinand/Sparks, I regrouped and reflected that maybe Friday 25th October 2024 wasn't the right time after all and the moment, when it comes, will be magical.

So, what's a John Grant fan to do in the meantime?

Well, I'd held off buying or listening to The Art Of The Lie as I wanted to hear the songs for the first time as performed live on stage. Therefore, the next best thing is to curate a brand new 12-track Dubhed selection on the fly and repost my previous two efforts.

This one's named Fifth Strike (what else?) and it just about manages to cover each of JG's four previous studio albums, a couple from the superb Live In Concert double album with The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, another live performance recorded in Iceland for KEXP, a Nick Drake cover and a couple of remixes, one bootleg, one official. And of course, every single one is a gem. 

 

Quite happy with this one, considering I was blinking back tears as I compiled it...

More gig action on Sunday, but not what you might be expecting. Hope to see you here.

 
1) Fireflies (Album Version) (2010)

2) Tempest (Album Version) (2018)

3) Marz (Live @ KEX Hostel, Reykjavík, Iceland) (2013)

4) Snug Slacks (Album Version) (2015)

5) Black Belt (Say Hooo! Edit) (2013)

6) Day Is Done (Cover of Nick Drake) (2023)

7) Where Dreams Go To Die (Live @ BBC Radio 6 Music, Media City, Salford ft. The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra) (2014)

8) Voodoo Doll (Gwenno vs. Peski Kid Remix) (2016)

9) Why Don't You Love Me Anymore (Album Version ft. Sinéad O'Connor) (2013)

10) Outer Space (Album Version) (2010)

11) It Doesn't Matter To Him (Live @ BBC Radio 6 Music, Media City, Salford ft. The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra) (2014)

12) The Cruise Room (Album Version) (2021)

 

2010: Queen Of Denmark (ltd 2x CD): 1, 10

2013: Black Belt EP: 5

2013: Live On KEXP EP: 3 

2013: Pale Green Ghosts: 9

2014: Live In Concert: 7, 11

2015: Grey Tickles, Black Pressure: 4

2016: Voodoo Doll EP: 8

2018: Love Is Magic: 2 

2021: Boy From Michigan: 12

2023: The Endless Coloured Ways: The Songs Of Nick Drake: 6

Fifth Strike (1:03:40) (KF) (Mega)

 

And if you want even more JG Dubhed action...

 

Some Of Them Remember But Most Of Them Don't (October 2021)

Filled To The Top With Pop And Rocks And Cyanide (February 2023)

Sleep In Heavenly Peace

The sun shone less brightly when Sinéad O'Connor left us in July. Here she is, performing Silent Night in 1991. 

 

Less than two years on from her #1 success with the phenomenal cover of the Prince song Nothing Compares 2 U, this beautiful rendition of Silent Night entered the UK singles chart on 14th December at #60, spending four weeks in the Top 75 but not getting any higher.

Silent Night's modest chart achievement is perhaps less of a surprise when you scan the UK Top 10 for Christmas 1991. Not exactly festive, is it? Then again, in a year dominated by war, recession and Prime Minister John Major's vision of a "classless" Britain, you may understand the lack of cheer and need for escapism.

If you've not seen the video before, you may be wondering about Sinéad's atypical wardrobe choice and the rather odd narrative. And yes, that is John Altman aka Nasty Nick Cotton from EastEnders chasing the spectral Sinéad about town. 

 

Silent Night featured in Malcolm McLaren's love letter to The Big Smoke, The Ghosts Of Oxford Street, premiered on Channel 4 at 10.05pm on 25th December 1991. Here's the pre-broadcast promo clip.

I've only seen it a couple of times, and not in full for the last twenty-odd years and YouTube frustratingly only offers up Part Four, i.e. the last ten minutes. You therefore don't get to see Tom Jones, Alison Limerick, Rebel MC and yes, the Happy Mondays. You'll also miss Fairytale Of New York, featuring Shane MacGowan and Kirsty MacColl, both gone far far too soon.

What the last segment does offer, aside from Malcolm of course, is a ballet sequence choreographed by former Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli (or Tunioli, as misspelt in the credits). Save that one for a future pub quiz...

I love this version of Silent Night. It's been done so many times, but as ever Sinéad takes a song and owns it. Peter Gabriel provides keyboards and light-of-touch production, remembering that it's all about the voice. And boy, does Sinéad shine brightly.

The single release of Silent Night is "dedicated to Louise Woolcock and her family - jah live". Louise was a 20 year old from Preston, diagnosed with a rare - and terminal - form of soft tissue cancer, who Sinéad reached out to and befriended when she read about her situation. Sinéad kept in touch and spent time with Louise, before her passing in August 1992. Louise's dad remembered that friendship with his daughter following Sinéad's passing this year. Those acts of love, that selflessness, sum up Sinéad as well as any obituary could.

Here's to Sinéad, Shane, Benjamin, Dean, Geordie, Tina, Andy, Linda, Mark, Ryuichi, Steve, Raquel, Burt, Sylvia, Alan and the (far too many) others that we lost this year.

Silent night, all, and rest in power. Your legacy endures.

Nothing Compares

Celebrating Shuhada Sadaqat aka Sinéad O'Connor, 8th December 1966 to 26th July 2023. 

So much has been written about her in the hours since her passing, that I feel that there's nothing meaningful that I can add, other than she was an inspiration, fierce and defiant and passionate in the face of criticism, abuse and attack. I was heartbroken as she endured so many tragedies and low points and I hope she is now at rest, in peace, in power.

Although she changed her name several times, most recently in 2019, she continued to perform as Sinéad O'Connor. I only have a smattering of songs across her long and varied career, which is represented by the possibly more obscure choices on this selection. Twelve songs, half and half solo and collaborations, just over an hour and ending with an epic 13-minute remix of Fire On Babylon.

I have the album version of Nothing Compares 2 U (and a pretty dire Art Of Compilation remix from 1991), but I've included a 2019 performance on Irish TV which is the 'newest' song on this selection. The oldest - Heroine with The Edge from U2 - predates her debut album and appeared on the soundtrack to 1986 film Captive.

 

Shuhada Sadaqat has departed, but Sinéad O'Connor will live on through her music and the comfort, power and joy it's brought to so many.

 

1) What Your Soul Sings (Album Version): Massive Attack ft. Sinéad O'Connor (2003)

2) I Am Stretched On Your Grave (Apple Brightness Mix By Super DJ Dmitry & Jungle DJ Towa Towa) (Cover of 17th century Irish poem): Sinéad O'Connor (1990)

3) The Value Of Ignorance: Sinéad O'Connor (1990)

4)  I Would Die 4 U (Cover of Prince & The Revolution): Radio Riddler ft. Sinéad O'Connor (2014)

5) Dense Water, Deeper Down: Sinéad O'Connor (2014)

6) Empire: Bomb The Bass ft. Sinéad O'Connor & Benjamin Zephaniah (1995)

7) Heroine (Theme From 'Captive'): The Edge & Michael Brook ft. Sinéad O'Connor (1986)

8) I Want Your (Hands On Me) (Street Mix By Audio Two): Sinéad O'Connor ft. MC Lyte (1988)

9) Very Far From Home: Sinéad O'Connor (2012)

10) Nothing Compares 2 U (Live @ The Late Late Show, RTÉ One) (Cover of The Family): Sinéad O'Connor (2019)

11) Kindgom Of Rain: The The ft. Sinéad O'Connor (1989)

12) Fire On Babylon (Remix By John Reynolds): Sinéad O'Connor ft. Abdel Ali Slimani (1994)

1986: Captive OST: 7

1988: I Want Your (Hands On Me) EP: 8

1989: Mind Bomb: 11

1990: The Emperor's New Clothes EP: 2

1990: Three Babies EP: 3

1994: Thank You For Hearing Me EP: 12

1995: Clear: 6

2003: 100th Window: 1

2012: How About I Be Me (And You Be You)?: 9

2014: I'm Not Bossy, I'm The Boss: 5

2014: Purple Reggae: 4

2019: Live On The Late Late Show: 10

Nothing Compares (1:05:43) (KF) (Mega)