Gentleman Rudeboy

In October 2024, I wrote about Ashley Beedle's incredible challenges: stage 4 prostate cancer, a brain bleed and seizure, followed by a massive stroke, that also robbed him of speech.

The physical and mental toll is in parallel with the financial cost: we are so fortunate to have the NHS, but that's frequently only part of the story, for example full-time, ongoing care, physio treatment, adaptations, the list goes on.

And that's without considering the drop in gig bookings and work - and income - in the last few years, as Ashley met one challenge after another. 

A GoFundMe page was set up, smashed it's initial targets of £50,000 then £160,000 and is currently approaching it's present goal of £175,000. You can donate here.

Last week, the PRS Members' Fund posted a short video featuring Ashley and his wife Jo. It's incredible to see not only how far Ashley has come in his recovery - the voice, the smile, the humour - but Jo as an example of the difference that a loved one - a spouse, a partner, a friend - can make. 

This always comes at great personal cost, and it's what you do when you love someone, but it also gives hope, in the face of the craziness around us, that human beings are capable of immense strength, determination, selflessness and love.

It's also a reminder, at a time that music is increasingly seen as without monetary value, and those that make it should be honoured that people are even listening to/streaming their music, and that this should be given for free.

The PRS Members’ Fund was formed in 1934, to support songwriters and composers during the Great Depression. Nearly 100 years later, as Ashley and Jo's story proves, it's needed as much as ever.

All love and power to you, Ashley and Jo.

Back in 2024, I posted a fantastic 2-hour set that Ashley created for BBC Radio 1's Essential Mix in 1997, which you can find here. 

I signed off with the promise of "a (relatively shorter) Dubhed selection of Ashley Beedle's remixes and collaborations which will hopefully see light before the end of the year..." 

[embarrassed cough] Er, nineteen months later, I've created a 64-minute selection of Beedle bangers, starting with a remix of Manic Street Preachers (sacrilege in 1993) and Lazy, his global smash hit with X-Press 2 and David Byrne. The rest spans Femi Kuti, The Fall, David Holmes/Unloved and D:Ream, so you are in for a real treat.

And. after you've finished dancing, why not donate?

1) Roses In The Hospital (51 Funk Salute Mix By Ashley Beedle): Manic Street Preachers (1993)

2) Lazy (Freeform Reform Vocal) (Remix By Freeform Five): X-Press 2 ft. David Byrne (2002)

3) Jonny Lipshake (The 360° Drunken Master Soundboy Special) (Remix By Ashley Beedle): Baby Fox (1996)

4) Brother Sun ft. Kimbra (Rodi Kirk & Aron Ottignon Version) (Ashley Beedle's North Street Dub): Electric Wire Hustle (2016)

5) Beng Beng Beng (Ashley Beedle's Afrikans On Marz): Femi Kuti (1999)

6) Same (Ashley Beedle's Afroart Vocal Mix): Smith & Mighty ft. Tammy Payne (2000)

7) Touch Sensitive (Ashley Beedle Re-Edit): The Fall (2014)

8) Witchi Tai To (Album Version) (Cover of 'Everything Is Everything' by Jim Pepper): X-Press 2 ft. Tim De Laughter (2006)

9) Number In My Phone (Black Science Orchestra Remix By Ashley Beedle): Unloved (2022)

10) I Used To Believe In Love (Ashley Beedle's NSW Love & Joy Dub Mix): D:Ream (2021)

1993: Roses In The Hospital EP: 1

1996: Jonny Lipshake EP: 3

1999: Shoki Remixed: 5

2000: Same EP: 6

2002: Lazy EP: 2

2006: Makeshift Feelgood: 8

2014: Message In The Music: The Ashley Beedle Re-Edits (2x CD + DVD): 7

2016: Brother Sun EP: 4

2021: I Used To Believe In Love EP: 10

2022: Number In My Phone EP: 9

Gentleman Rudeboy (1:03:48) (GD) (M)

Decayed II: 2002

Side 1 of a made up mixtape series, bounding through the first decade of the 21st century.

In the year 2000, Robbie Williams duetted with Kylie Minogue on the phenomenal crowd pleasing single Kids. in 2001, Kylie pushed the envelope further with the brilliant Can't Get You Out Of My Head. But what about Robbie?

2001 was pretty good to Robbie too, with three singles, two of which hit the top spot. 2002 saw just the one single, Feel, reaching #4 at the end of the year. Not that I was really all that bothered. 

What interested me more with his guest spot on My Culture by 1 Giant Leap. It's a really good song and deserved to be a hit, but would it have been a Top 10 hit without Robbie and Maxi Jazz from Faithless on it? 

Well... follow-up single Braided Hair featuring Neneh Cherry and Speech from Arrested Development managed one week at #78, whilst the eponymous debut album fared slightly better at #51. Which is a shame as 1 Giant Leap is a really good album. People were sadly more interested in buying the latest steaming slop by Blue and Celine Dion. 

Likewise, Cornershop had followed up a #1 hit single and Top 20 album in 1998 with a great album, Handcream For A Generation, and a rifftastic lead single in Lessons Learned From Rocky I To Rocky III. Although neither could be considered a flop, with a Top 30 and Top 40 placing respectively, Cornershop never again  enjoyed the UK chart success of the 1990s,. Didn't stop them making fantastic music, though.

Another legendary artist that consistently delivered wonderful music for frustratingly little reward is Edwyn Collins. His 2002 album Dr. Syntax is chock full of tunes that his contemporaries would sell their souls for, and Johnny Teardrop is in my Top 5 favourite Edwyn Collins songs. It's the perfect distillation of everything that makes Edwyn such a superb songwriter. And it got to bloody #192! Were there really 191 better singles on sale in the UK that week?!

The previous week, Sugababes were back with a vengeance - and their first UK #1 - with Freak Like Me. Having just watched the excellent Girlbands Forever documentary series on BBC2, I appreciated just how much was on the line for the group. Founder member and childhood friend Siobhan Donaghy had left, and Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan were teamed up with new member Heidi Range. Sugababes had been successful, but without a #1 single or album to date, it was make or break time.

DJ and producer Richard X has gained notoriety, not least for his bootleg mash-up of Freak Like Me by Adina Howard and Are 'Friends' Electric? by Tubeway Army. Sugababes and Richard X were paired up in the studio to record a commercial version for single release. It turned out to be a smart move for them both. 

Another mash-up artist who exploded in 2002 was Mark Vidler aka Go Home Productions. The Weather Episode is a glorious melding of The Next Episode by Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg and Weather With You by Crowded House. When a mash-up works, it really hits the spot and this is a prime example.

I am completely disregarding the rules here, as The Weather Episode was released as a free bootleg MP3 download and therefore ineligible for the Official Chart in the UK. I'm applying the "played by Zane Lowe on his XFM On-Air radio show" rule to sneak this one into its rightful place in today's selection.

Other great songs in 2002 by Radio 4, Badly Drawn Boy and Amorphous Androgynous also gave a nod to producers that were gaining recognition in their own right, namely The DFA aka James Murphy and Tim Goldsworthy, Four Tet aka Kieran Hebden, and Jacknife Lee aka Garret Lee.

Another remix that I loved was by dub legend Scientist aka Hopeton Brown, taking the title track of Death In Vegas' third album, Scorpio Rising. The second Top 20 single for Richard Fearless and co, their previous #9 hit had a guest spot from Iggy Pop and Scorpio Rising repeated the formula by featuring a certain Liam Gallagher.

I'm not a fan of Oasis or, generally speaking, the exploits of the Gallagher brothers in or out of the studio, so I was bought this single purely because it was Death In Vegas and Scientist. I don't think even a diehard Liam fanatic would deny that this is far from his best vocal performance, but I love Scientist's game attempt to wrestle it into a dubtastic shape.

Unlikely collaborations were plentiful at his time, yet X-Press 2 teaming up with David Byrne was a real surprise for Lazy A deserved #2 hit in April 2002, I was pleased to see Lazy included in Byrne's stunning American Utopia live set on the Sky Arts channel a while ago.

Another unlikely collaboration, and even more unlikely reunion in 2002, was David McAlmont and Bernard Butler. Bring It Back - album and single - proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that the magic that peppered previous hits Yes and You Do was still there. This partnership also holds a special place in my heart as they were the first gig that Mrs. K and I went to together. They were utterly fantastic, of course. 

Concidentally, I saw McAlmont and Butler perform live again in 2025, albeit not together. David was with current musical partner Hifi Sean, Bernard with James Grant and Norman Blake. Sadly, Mrs. K was unable to join me for either as I think she would have loved them.

Another welcome return for the Pet Shop Boys and Johnny Marr, who have both appeared in the previous 'decade' series. Home And Dry signalled a more reflective PSB and one which signalled and embraced their - and their audience's - transition from Radio 1 to Radio 2. Johnny had collaborated with Neil and Chris previously and his trademark guitar lines add class to a classy song.

And so, we've suddenly come to the end of another year and, if you ignored most of the Top 40 most of the time, another great year for music. 

Could 2003 hope to find some gold amongst the grit? Join me on Sunday to find out.

1) Lessons Learned From Rocky I To Rocky III (Radio Edit): Cornershop

2) Freak Like Me (We Don't Give A Damn Mix By Richard X): Sugababes

3) Dance To The Underground (Edit By The DFA aka James Murphy & Tim Goldsworthy): Radio 4

4) Something To Talk About (The Four Tet Convention Remix By Kieran Hebden): Badly Drawn Boy

5) Johnny Teardrop (Remixed & Radio Edited): Edwyn Collins

6) Bring It Back (Album Version By Bernard Butler): McAlmont & Butler

7) Lazy (Radio Edit): X-Press 2 ft. David Byrne

8) Home And Dry (Single Mix): Pet Shop Boys ft. Johnny Marr

9) The Weather Episode (Original Version): Go Home Productions ft. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg & Crowded House

10) My Culture (We Love This Mix (Video Edit)): 1 Giant Leap ft. Maxi Jazz & Robbie Williams

11) The Mello Hippo Disco Show (Jacknife Lee Mix): The Amorphous Androgynous

12) Scorpio Rising (The Scientist Mix): Death In Vegas ft. Liam Gallagher

10th March 2002: Handcream For A Generation (#37): 1

24th March 2002: Release (#14): 8

14th April 2002: Muzikizum (#2): 7

14th April 2002: 1 Giant Leap (#9): 10

28th April 2002: Angels With Dirty Faces (#1): 2

5th May 2002: Doctor Syntax (#192): 5

16th June 2002: About A Boy OST (#28): 4

23rd June 2002: This Was Pop (2002-2007) (# n/a): 9

11th August 2002: The Isness (#68): 11

3rd November 2002: Bring It Back (#36): 6

24th November 2002: Gotham! (#94): 3

22nd December 2002: Scorpio Rising (#14): 12

Side One (46:42) (GD) (M)

If you enjoyed this, you may also wish to check out my previous selections for 1982 and 1992.

In Every Dream Holmes A Heartache

2024 has been quite the year for David Holmes, hasn't it?

Blind On A Galloping Horse, Holmes' album with Raven Violet and a highlight of last year, enjoyed a truckload of remixes over three companion volumes this year, all of them essential purchases. 

David was also busy remixing and producing other artists, and whilst I may wait until Primal Scream's latest effort ends up in the bargain bins, I was otherwise snapping up the various EPs and singles as soon as they dropped.

All of which has resulted in a '2024 highlights' selection today that focuses solely on David Holmes. Six remixes, forty five minutes, electronica with pure heart(ache) and soul. And I didn't even include this stone cold classic remix/rework/mash-up/call-it-what-you-will of an already classic tune.

Things get off to a heavy start with Theis Thaws, an intriguing collaboration between Mike Theis and Tricky, featuring Rosa Rocca-Serra. There's a three-minute version of this remix on the standard digital release, this one gets to Fly To Ceiling and out the skylight and up to the sky, stretching its wings for nearly eight minutes.

As Ammonite, Amy Spencer delivered a remix of Emotionally Clear for Blind On A Galloping Horse (Remixes Vol. 2) back in March. David repaid the favour with a rework of You Don't Know Me for Blueprints Revisited, an EP of remixes from Ammonite's debut album, which appeared in September. Only the latter appears in today's selection, but you need both of them in your life, believe me.

Two alternative picks from the Blind On A Galloping Horse remix collections. First up, X-Press 2 aka Rocky & Diesel aka Darren House and Darren Rock, with an instrumental remix of Yeah x 3 (with apologies to Raven Violet, the vocal version was released in 2023). It's a welcome reminder of why I fell in love with X-Press 2 in the 1990s. 

Smagghe & Cross are a relatively newer partnership. I'm familiar with Ivan Smagghe from his previous work, especially as a co-founder of Black Strobe. I didn't know anything about Rupert Cross, but the few Smagghe And Cross remixes I've heard have been really good, including this version of Too Muchroom, which features Raven Violet's vocals to stunning effect.

I've featured Sylvia by Lisa Moorish in a couple of previous 2024 selections, both the album version and David Holmes' vocal remix. As Peter Murphy from Bauhaus once sang, now here's the dub. One of my favourite songs of the year, in any version.

As is Aerodromes by Acid Klaus, whose P.T.S.D By Proxy EP is a treat from start to finish, featuring the various vocal talents of Philly Piper (Philly Smith to her family), Lias Saoudi, Cat Rin (Catrin Mair Robinson), Rosey PM and Maxine Peake. 

 

The single version of Aerodromes appeared on the same highlights selection as the album version of Sylvia last week, so here are Lisa Moorish and Acid Klaus reunited again today, this time given the David Holmes treatment. 

This is the second appearance of Aerodromes (David Holmes Remix), previously sitting in the middle of another 2024 highlights selection, barely a month ago. No apologies for this, it's a truly stunning eight minute masterclass in the art of the remix.

I have loved David Holmes' music since I first heard over three decades ago. 2024 has proven time and again why he remains an unstoppable force of nature, continually questing, inviting and thrilling with his work. And if you think that's mere hyperbole, stick this on for three quarters of an hour.

 

1) Fly To Ceiling (David Holmes Extended Remix): Theis Thaws ft. Rosa Rocca-Serra (Fly To Ceiling EP)

2) You Don't Know Me (David Holmes Remix): Ammonite (Blueprints Revisited EP)

3) Yeah x 3 (X-Press 2 Remix - Instrumental By Darren House & Darren Rock): David Holmes (Blind On A Galloping Horse (Remixes Vol. 2))

4) Sylvia (David Holmes Dub): Lisa Moorish (Sylvia EP / Divine Chaos (The Remixes))

5) Too Muchroom (Smagghe And Cross Remix By Ivan Smagghe & Rupert Cross): David Holmes ft. Raven Violet (Blind On A Galloping Horse (Remixes Vol. 3))

6) Aerodromes (David Holmes Remix): Acid Klaus ft. Philly Piper (P.T.S.D By Proxy EP)

In Every Dream Holmes A Heartache (45:32) (KF) (Mega)

Meier And Higher

A very happy birthday to Dieter Meier, born 4th March 1945. 

 

Unless you've spent the best part of five decades in suspended animation, then you'll be aware of Dieter as the unmistakable voice of Yello. 

 

Rather than go down the obvious route of sharing The Race, Bostich, Oh Yeah and the like, here's a selection of 21st Century music by other artists, guest starring Dieter.

I Want You Back: X-Press 2 (2002)

Gimme: Headman (2009)

Burn This City Down: Anna Rossinelli (2013)

Magic (Anarchy Version): Dubinator (2021)

Dieter released a couple of singles in 1978 before joining Yello, with his debut solo album, Out Of Chaos, eventually emerging in 2014. For today's selection, I've chosen the single, Buffoon.

And, as I can't get away without posting any Yello videos, here's one of my favourites from eighth album Zebra. Incredibly, both Zebra and the single How How will be thirty years old in the autumn.

Have a great day, Dieter!

 

 

 

 

 

 

2001: The Party, The Future

As an accidental companion piece to recent posts on Bagging Area and No Badger Required, I've been sorting out some CDs that I will no longer keep, having ripped them to MP3 some time ago. Prior to donating the CDs, I've been listening to each of them in their entirety. Some, including today's selection, have a tenuous link to NBR's excellent "Crossover Tracks" series (coincidentally, the artist in this morning’s final post also features here).

One of the (re)discoveries was two cover-mounted CDs released to accompany the Muzik Magazine Dance Awards 2001, respectively sub-titled The Party and The Future. With 'The Future' now being over two decades in the past, it's been a really enjoyable listen, both solid compilations and music that - to my ears, at least - hasn't dated as much as I may have thought. 

No surprise that Dot Allison was smashing it with the title track of her album, co-produced with Keith Tenniswood. Her current more pastoral music is excellent but this bass-heavy electro chugger is a welcome reminder of her dancefloor credentials.

From Edinburgh to Glasgow and a very pleasant surprise to find Monica Queen providing vocals to Chris Coco's All Of My Beautiful Friends. I got her 2022 album Stop That Girl as part of my Last Night From Glasgow membership and from there was belatedly introduced to The Kingfishers, little realising that Monica had been hiding in my collection all along. A reminder that I should also seek out the Chris Coco solo album that this track is lifted from.

Fellow Glaswegians Craig Morrison and Graeme Reedie aka Silicone Soul also pop up, a reminder of how good they were. Sadly, they appear to have called it a day over a decade ago. 

Another sadly defunct duo is Fort Lauderdale aka Steve Webster and Toby Jenkins. I've just discovered that they went on to form Higamos Hogamos in the late 2000s and Steve resurrected the latter to record and release an album, Generation Games, during lockdown. We Ain't Got No Money Honey is the opener of Fort Lauderdale's second album, Time Is Of The Essence, and it makes for a rather beautiful closing track too.

 

1) Mindset To Cycle: FC Kahuna (2000)

2) We're Only Science (Album Version): Dot Allison (2001)

3) Big Groovy Fucker (Edit): Plump DJs (2001)

4) Star 69 (What The F**k) (Wine 'Em Dine 'Em 69 'Em Mix By X-Press 2): Fatboy Slim (2001)

5) The Answer (Album Version): Silicone Soul ft. Melanie Clarke (2000)

6) All Of My Beautiful Friends (Album Version): Chris Coco ft. Monica Queen (2001)

7) Deeper Water (Wookiee Slut Extended Vocal Remix): PMT ft. Michelle Breeze (2000)

8) Darkness 01/01/01: Steve Mac & Yousef (2001)

9) I Feel Loved (Danny Tenaglia's Labor Of Love Edit): Depeche Mode (2001)

10) One For You (Original Mix): James Holden (2001)

11) We Ain't Got No Money Honey: Fort Lauderdale (2001) 

 

2000: ...A Soul Thing: 5

2000: Big Kahuna Kicks Two Sampler (promo 12"): 1

2000: Deeper Water EP: 7 

2001: I Feel Loved EP: 9

2001: Muzik Magazine Dance Awards 2001 Vol.1: The Party: 3

2001: One For You EP: 10

2001: Star 69 (What The F**k) EP: 4 

2001: The Drumbums EP: 8

2001: Time Is Of The Essence: 11

2001: We Are Science: 2 

2002: Next Wave: 6

 

2001: The Party, The Future (1:13:52) (KF) (Mega)

I Want You (Again & Again & Again)

Four-nil. Wow, that was really something, wasn't it?

Anyway, it's Sunday, it's raining, it's time for the post that was originally planned for yesterday. Just under an hour of musicians repeatedly telling you that they want you for a variety of reasons. 

1) I Want You ('Feel So Sad' EP Version): Spiritualized (1991)

2) I Want You Back: Hoodoo Gurus (1984)

3) I Want You: The Godfathers (1985)

4) I Want You: Salad (1996)

5) I Want You (7" Remix By Mark Kamins): Animotion (1986)

6) I Want You Back (Medicine8 Mix): X-Press 2 ft. Dieter Meier (2002) 

7) I Want You Now (Alan Wilder Reconstruction Mix) (Re-Edit By Andy Dominatrix): Depeche Mode (2014)

8) I Want You: Tindersticks (2003)

9) (I Want You) More Than Ever: The Clientele (2000)

10) I Want You (Single Mix By Pascal Gabriel): Inspiral Carpets ft. Mark E. Smith (1994) 

11) I Want You (Edit): Utah Saints (1993)

12) I Want You (Album Version): Cabaret Voltaire (1985)

13) I Want You (Cover of Bob Dylan): Phosphorescent (2016)

14) I Want You (Album Version): Elvis Costello & The Attractions (1986)

I Want You (Again & Again & Again) (54:24)