SONGS ABOUT REJECTION

SONGS ABOUT REJECTION

 

The audiophiles made the following suggestions for songs on the broad theme of rejection:

 

1. Cde CALLAS: NEW ROMANTIC, Laura Marling

‘My mind has fucked me over/ More times than any man can ever know’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNxar07_9YA

 

2. Cde ATTWELL: UNFORGIVEN, Metallica

‘Never free, never me/ So I dub the unforgiven’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xgrl9S6HtK8

 

3. Cde MASON: IT’S NOTHING TO ME, Sanford Clark

‘I’d rather have a hot seat in Sing Sing Prison/ Than sit by her on that stool…’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dvb_lIh7rEc

(have had to post a Jim Reeves cover)

 

4. Cde HENOCQ: LITTLE BLACK SUBMARINES, The Black Keys

‘Oh, can it be/ The voices calling me/ They get lost and out of time
I should’ve seen it glow/ But everybody knows/ That a broken heart is blind’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F20zZKWeXyg

 

5. Cde CHERRY: THESE ANIMAL MENSWEAR, Art Brut

‘Last week, she attempted suicide sixteen times, apparently she nearly died.
On the phone her mother cried/ Eddie just, shrugged and sighed.’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-JwUAG_Vao

 

6. Cde DELLER: GOOD LUCK, Basement Jaxx

‘But wake up baby/ You’re so totally deluded
You’ll end up old and lonely/ If you don’t get a bullet in your head’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO9I61gYlms

 

7. Cde WALSH: MUTINY, William Elliott Whitmore

‘Well it’s a goddamn shame what’s going down / How we got to this I do not know

There’s a sick, sick wind that is blowin’ ’round / And the captain’s got to go’

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9axGUdvV2c

 

8. Cde MCCULLOCH: GORDON IS AMORON, Jilted John

‘I was so upset that I cried, all the way to the chip shop

When I came out there was Gordon, standing at the bus stop’

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeSa3_FvJNs&feature=fvst

 

 

The vote for the best song about rejection proved to be a triumph for democracy over the vagaries of multiple electoral systems.

 

It was agreed to pursue a system by which more tyhan 50% of the electorate must choose.

 

On the first round William Elliott Whitmore, Art Brut, and Metallica gained 0 votes; Laura Marling and Sanford Clark gained 1. Jilted John, Basement Jaxx and Black Keys had two each.

 

When votes were transferred Jilted John was eliminated in the second round. His votes passed to Black Keys giving them a majority 5 votes.

 

It was thus ensured that every other artiste and selector had a taste of rejection.

 

Next meeting: ATTwell FAREwell (details to be released)

Subsequently: GUILTY PLEASURES (note spelling Cde Henocq)

SONGS WITH A BOY’S NAME IN THE TITLE

The Audiophiles met in the club room to consider ‘songs with a boy’s name in the title’.

Members submitted their top choices in advance, which was handy because about half of them didn’t show up.

However, finding songs with a boy’s name proved to be an excellent parlour game, enthusiastically researched, as these suggestions testify:

 

Comrade HENOCQ’s straightforwardly top 10 in exciting reverse order:

10. David Bowie- Andy Warhol

9. The Coral- Michael’s song

8. Lighting seeds- Life of Riley

7. The Who- Happy Jack

6. Happy Mondays- Donovan

5. The Beatles- Hay Jude

4. Kasabain- Vlad the impaler

3. Gorillaz- Dirty Harry

2. Beastie Boys- Pauls Revere

1. Bat for Lashes- Daniel

 

Comrade WALSH’s choices (#1) – top 25 reasonably credible choices straight from the ipod:

A Message to You Rudy (Specials)

Brian Wilson (Barenaked Ladies)

Chuck E’s In Love (Rickie Lee Jones)

Sweet Baby James (James Taylor)

Joe’s Head (Kings of Leon)

Saint Swithun’s Day (Billy Bragg)

Bad Bad Leroy Brown (Jim Croce)

Song to Bobby (Cat Power)

Johnny 99 (Bruce Springsteen)

Bryn (Vampire Weekend)

Mohammed’s Radio (Warren Zevon)

Sean (Proclaimers)

Andy’s Chest (Lou Reed)

Denis Denis (Blondie)

Tom’s Diner (Suzanne Vega)

Faust Arp (Radiohead)

You Can Call Me Al (Paul Simon)

Pancho and Lefty (Willie Nelson)

Tom Traubert’s Blues (Tom Waits)

Crazy Man Michael (Sandy Denny/ Fairport)

Hey Joe (Jimi Hendrix)

Me and Bobby McGee (Janis Joplin)

Frankie’s Gun (Felice Brothers)

She Left Me For Jesus (Hayes Carll)

My Own Personal Jesus (Johnny Cash)

 

Comrade DELLER’s top 14 choices in anticlimactic 1 – 14 order

Billy 1 (Theme to Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid) – Bob Dylan

Song for Junior – Beastie Boys

A Message to You Rudy – The Specials

Bob’s Yer Uncle – Happy Mondays

Johnny Too Bad – The Slickers

Jesus Of The Moon -NickCave& The Bad Seeds

Geno – Dexy’s Midnight Runners

Rudie Can’t Fail -The Clash

Johnnie Be Good – Chuck Berry

Tyler – UB40

A Boy Named Sue – Johnny Cash

Clint Eastwood – Gorillaz

Bennie and the Jets – Beastie Boys

I Love Georgie – The Devoted

 

Comrade MASON’s typically eclectic collection

Abraham, Martin and John – Marvin Gaye

Alfie – Cilla Black

Arthur’s Theme – Christopher Cross

Atticus – The Noisettes

Big Bad John – Jimmy Dean

Days of Pearly Spencer – Marc Almond

Jimmy Jimmy – The Undertones

Johnny the Fox – Thin Lizzy

My Brother Jake – Free

Sweet Gene Vincent – Ian Drury and the Blockheads

Tristan – Patrick Wolf

Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald – Gordon Lightfoot

ToZion– Lauryn Hill

Elvis Costello – Oliver’s Army

 

Comrade WALSH’s choices (#2) – Special Top 10 featuring the full name of a (mostly) real person

Charlie Darwin (The Low Anthem)

Elvis Presley Blues (Gillian Welch)

I Dreamed I Saw Phil Ochs Last Night (Billy Bragg)

Just Like Tom Thumb Blues (Bob Dylan)

Jackie (or Jocky)WilsonSaid

So Long Frank Lloyd Wright (Simon & Garfunkel)

John Lee Hooker For President (Ry Cooder)

Levi Stubbs’ Tears (Billy Bragg)

Oh My God Charlie Darwin (The Low Anthem)

Lee Harvey Was A Friend of Mine (Laura Cantrell)

The Late John Garfield Blues (John Prine)

 

Comrade CALLAS’s top 10 with a special comic addendum

Oliver James – Fleet Foxes

Bryn – Vampire Weekend

William, it was really nothing – The Smiths

Making Plans for Nigel – XTC

David Watts – The Jam

Hey Joe – Jimi Hendrix

Bertie – Kate Bush

John Barleycorn must die – Traffic

My Brother Jake – Free

Billy Liar – The Decemberists

Optional extra: Leopold Alcocks – Jake Thackray

 

Comrade CHERRY’S no-reserves-required 1^st XI

1) John Taylor’s Month Away – King Creosote and Jon Hopkins

2) Pete Standing Alone – Boards ofCanada

3) Lord Anthony – Belle and Sebastian 

4) Song for Clay – Bloc Party

5)Tristan – Patrick Wolf

6) Poor Leno – Royksopp

7) Freddie Freeloader – Miles Davis  

8) Michael – Franz Ferdinand

9) Song for Bobby – Cat Power

10) Wayne Rooney – Johnny Flynn

11)The Boy looked at Johnny – The Libertines

 

Comrade WALSH’s choices (#3): Top 15 Cheat List of Names That Are Not Really Names

The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down (The Band)

Duke of Earl (Darts)

Valentine’s Day Is Over (Billy Bragg)

(and Blue Valentine (Tom Waits))

Lily, Rosemary and The Jack of Hearts (Bob Dylan)

Paris,Texas

Red Morning Light (Kings ofLeon)

Maybe We Were Born Blue (Richmond Fontaine)

God Will (But I Won’t) (Lyle Lovett)

(He Must’ve Been) Quite A Guy (The Colorblind James Experience)

Ten Miles to Go On ANine Mile Road (Jim White)

Coles Corner (Richard Hawley)

I Want to Be A Christian (Proclaimers)

Plus any song with Rock in the title

 

Comrade PHILLIPS’ top 22 all from his vintage vinyl collection

(Hey)Eugeneby Pink Martini

Simon by Joan Armatrading

Amar (Caballero) by Babe Ruth

Gunga (Din) by The Byrds

Willie (and The Hand Jive) by Eric Clapton

Johnny (Porter) by Ry Cooder

Lenny (Bruce) by Bob Dylan

Joey by Bob Dylan

(My Brother) Jake by Free

Leonby Philip Goodhand-Tait

Ike(‘s Mood) by Isaac Hayes

(Prince) Rupert (Awakes) by King Crimson

Brian(‘s Song) by Michel Legrand

Sonny Boy (Blow) by John Mayall

Orlandoby John Renbourn

Big Nick by Tony Williams

Big Ben by Billie Holliday

Billie and Harrie (Billie Holliday)

Bernard(’s Song) by Veronique Sanson

(Me and ) Julio (Down by the Schoolyard) by Simon & Garfunkel

Johnny(99) by Bruce Springsteen

(Mud Slide) Slim by James Taylor   

 

Soon-to-be-Comrade McCULLOCH’s pre-induction collection

The Jean Genie – David Bowie

Spencer the Rover – John Martyn

Making plans for Nigel – XTC

Sloop John B – The Beach Boys

Uncle Walter – The Ben Folds Five

Elvis’s Rolls Royce – Was Not Was

Mr E’s Beautiful Blues – Eels

Levon – Elton John

Pack my Jack – JJ Cale

Sweet Baby James – James Taylor

From Hank to Hendrix – Neil Young

The Ballad of Hollis Brown – Neville Brothers

Simon Smith and the amazing Dancing Bear – Randy Newman

Sir Duke – Stevie Wonder

Tom Traubert’s Blues – Tom Waits

Mack The Knife – Bobby Darin

Mohammed’s Radio – Warren Zevon

Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead – XTC

 

Comrade WALSH’s choices (#4): Top 10 ‘Name in a Crazy Long Title’ List in ascending order ranked by number of characters

What’s The Frequency, Kenneth? (REM)

Aloysius TheBluegrassDrummer (Silver Jews)

One (Blake’s Got A New Face) (Vampire Weekend)

Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard (Paul Simon)

The Ballad of Lou The Welterweight (Felice Brothers)

Roland The Headless Thomson Gunner (Warren Zevon)

Ballad ofLawrenceOrangeand Eugene Green (Peter Nardini)

Simon Smith And His Amazing Dancing Bear (Randy Newman)

Rene and Georgette Magritte With His Dog After The War (Paul Simon)

There’s A Guy Works Down The Chipshop (Swears He’s Elvis) (Kirsty McColl)

 

 

After all that, the actual contenders from the four members who showed up were:

 

The Low Anthem, Charlie Darwin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKUo1HHfpUY

 

Bob Dylan, Billy 1 (Theme From Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kexKFYX44lw

No clip available, but here’s the film trailer

 

Elvis Costello, Oliver’s Army

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JGYKCvWnQc

 

Fleet Foxes, Oliver James

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpq1kw3MXcE

 

by a landslide, the Audiophiles’ selection of the best song with a boy’s name in the title: CHARLIE DARWIN by The Low Anthem

 

Next category SONGS ABOUT REJECTION

BEST SONGS ABOUT COMING HOME

I’m comin home I’ve done my time/And I’ve got to know what is and isn’t mine..

The Audiofiles present an eclectic selection of songs on the subject of coming home, which does not include ‘Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree:

 

BRO WALSH’s selection: BLACK SHEEP BOY byOkkervilRiver

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2fPeULEzbA

 

BRO CALLAS’s selection: COMING HOME by Elmore James

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWoc4cAr0Kk

 

BRO DELLER’s SELECTION: CRAWL HOME by Desert Sessions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK_mnLSgm6M

 

BRO MASON’s SELECTION: HOME by MUMFORD & SON

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLrl53vOz8I

 

BRO TAMVAKIS’s SELECTION: I’M GOING BACK HOME by David Honeyboy Edwards

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDhHexniKWs

 

BRO CHERRY’s SELECTION: CARRY ME by Malcolm Middleton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9U7OhLCnn3Q

 

BRO HENOCQ’s SELECTION:  COME BACK HOME by Two Door Cinema Club

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj3671rBv5A&feature=fvst

 

BRO ATWELL’s SELECTION: FORGOTTEN SONS by Marillion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtiUoEbwD7Q

 

The song voted the winner was Elmore James’s COMING HOME, which narrowly defeated Malcolm Middleton’s CARRY ME.

 

NEXT CATEGORY: SONGS WITH A MAN’S NAME IN THE TITLE

 

 

 

MUSIC FROM SCANDINAVIA

MUSIC FROM SCANDINAVIA

The Audiophiles passed a pleasant evening in the clubhouse pondering the question ‘What have the Scandinavians ever done for us?’ Musically, that is – we take for granted Odin and Thor, Danish bacon, Ikea and Swedish au pairs on the Benny Hill Show.

Scandinavia was initially defined with some strictness, which meant excluding Iceland and Finland, not to mention Greenland. (In fact it’s an urban myth that the Inuit have multiple words for snow – they have the same number as English speakers.) As the evening progressed the standards slipped and soon the Norwegians, Swedes and Danes were joined not only by the Finns but by Japanese vocalists, Vietnamese drug manufacturers and Neneh Cherry. (Sigur Ros, however, remained out in the cold with Bjork.)

The Carlsberg and the Jarlsberg being cracked open, the debate could begin…

Cde Tamvakis presented PAN – ‘In A Simple Way’
A sort of Danish Heart of Gold vocall-ed by Joe Cocker, dating from the 60s or 70s. Touches of Abba rhyming (‘Hear what I say/ Hear what I play’) bringing up a fundamental question – why do the Scandies almost always sing in English? It seems to make for plinky-plinky lyrics.

Cde Callas presented IDA MARIA – ‘Oh My God’
This contemporaryish (2008) Norwegian screamfest (‘lyrically limited and repetitious’according to Cde Callas) had a nice postpunk beat and an impressive Siouxsie-esque pre-beat hiccup. Sounded a bit like Dolores O’Riordan. Pub band stuff maybe, but entertaining.

Cde Deller presented MIIKE SNOW – ‘Animal’
Again, bang up to date – a 2010 recording with a video featuring all men in black bomber jackets working very hard in a Swedish wood. Mysterious lyrics (‘there is a horn and I tried to put it on me…’) and a touch of lederhosen-slapping in the beat. (We all know about those Swedish Nazi sympathisers.) But very gay looking.

Cde Mason presented THE HIVES – ‘Hate to Say I Told You So’
The video it seems looks like The Monkees meet The Prisoner to a punk-induced backing track… Sounded like the Rolling Stones, or the Kinks on ‘All Day And All of the Night’ with a layer of 2010-style punky stuff on top. First heard on Radio 2, surprisingly, and surprisingly Swedish – several comrades had assumed the Hives were American.

Cde Henocq presented LITTLE DRAGON – ‘Ritual Union’
First signs of a weakening in the all-white supremacist Aryan dyke that is the Sandinavian psyche. 2012 Swedish, yes, but with a Japanese singer who had previously sung with Gorillaz. Smooth electronic pop and one of those strange instruments you put your hand in and wave it around. Awed silence greeted the opening. Much admired.

Cde Walsh presented NENEH CHERRY – ‘Buffalo Stance’
And immediately wished he hadn’t. Not nearly Scandinavian enough. An unlikely Swede, given the Sarf London intonation, but born somethingsson. Reminded one comrade of ownership of his first Casio keyboard. Most interesting aspect was Cde Deller’s explanation of the Buffalo Stance. Some kind of style statement.

Cde Cherry presented BURNING HEARTS – ‘Sea Birds’
2012. Finns, so not really Scandinavian. Opening sounded like a flock of seagulls (as opposed to A Flock of Seagulls). Observed that Scandinavians working in English love aabb rhyming – Cde Mason wondered whether it shouldn’t be abba rhyming? A touch of Clare Grogan and maybe a bit of Dolores O’Riordan (again – should she have one of those strokes through her Os? With some Cure-style guitar.

Cde Attwell presented HANOI ROCKS – ‘Million Miles Away’
From 1984, and hardly what we expected – surely we should have had something metallic with a Norse god in the title from Cde Attwell? But no – a somewhat cheesy heavy metaller’s funeral song, to be sung with a wind machine in the vocalist’s face – a glam-rock-spinal-tappish special.

The VOTE
The greatest Scandinavian song of our times featuring a Japanese vocalist was…
LITTLE DRAGON – Ritual Union
The Hives and Ida Maria came close.

Next category: CELTIC FOLK

DUBSTEP

(Notes taken by Cde Callas in absence of Cde Secretary)

The membership was invited to get over its prejudices… was Dubstep just as most assumed – spotty youths in a Ford Fiesta on the dual carriageway out of Staines, ripping up suburbia with huge speakers, circulating the superstore car park? Check out the Audiofiles’ choice of some of the best dubstep on offer…

Cde MASON’s choice was
SKRILLEX – Scary Monsters & Nice Sprites

A sound reminiscent of monster trucks and cars with huge hydraulics…
A DIY sound that makes you feel you could do it…
80s feel… euphoric… garage… hedonistic…

Cde HENOCQ’s choice was
SHY FX WITH SKREAM – LA ROUX – Going In For The Kill

Chosen to be the least offensive to the mainstream membership…
Not such a huge transition from the original…
Dancey, mellow, blues feel updated … dubstep lite

Cde CALLAS’s choice was
RUDY ZYGADLO – Resealable Friendship

The whole genre makes you think of Transformers…
Quite a retro, repetitive sound…
But at least with a Fleet Foxes style intro it sounds like a song…

Cde DELLER’s choice
MASSIVE ATTACK – Paradise Circus (Zed’s Dead Remix)

A chill-out dubstep… almost predictable…
Makes you think of Dr Who…
All hung together… lots of attention to detail…

Cde CHERRY’s choice
PHAELEH – Caustic Storm

Chilled out, but still with that bass sound…
I could work to this…
Very chilled… very relaxed… not intrusive…

The vote went in favour of MASSIVE ATTACK – Paradise Circus (Zed’s Dead Remix)

And the next category was declared to be MUSIC FROM SCANDINAVIA…

SONGS ABOUT DEATH

SONGS ABOUT DEATH

Making his debut – Cde Henocq
“Let It Die” by The Foo Fighters.
A heart of gold but it lost its pride
Beautiful veins and bloodshot eyes
I’ve seen your face in another light
Why’d you have to go and let it die?

Generally admired – ‘an anthem for a big stadium’… touch of the Chilli Peppers at the start … nice transition in mid-song… excellent scream-ending.

Cde Phillips
‘Death’ by White Lies.
I LOVE THE FEELING WHEN WE LIFT OFF WATCHING THE WORLD SO SMALL BELOW I LOVE THE DREAMING WHEN I THINK OF THE SAFETY IN THE CLOUDS OUT MY WINDOW I WONDER WHAT KEEPS US SO HIGH UP COULD THERE BE LOVE BENEATH THESE WINGS ? IF WE SUDDENLY FALL SHOULD I SCREAM OUT? OR KEEP VERY QUIET AND CLING TO MY MOUTH AS I’M CRYING SO FRIGHTENED OF DYING “RELAX” YES I’M TRYING BUT FEAR’S GOT A HOLD OF ME

Also admired, but for fade-out ending – ‘very poor’. Slick, prompting thoughts of Depeche Mode and OMD. Really about death? Probably not…

Cde Mason
‘I Will Follow You Into The dark’ by Death Cab for Cutie.
If Heaven and Hell decide that they both are satisfied
Illuminate the NOs on their vacancy signs
If there’s no-one beside you when your soul embarks
Then I’ll follow you into the dark…

In combination with the Foo Fighters and Iron & Wine, prompted discussion of relationship between death and fingerpicked guitar… very popular choice… sincere?

Cde Callas
“Naked as we came” by Iron and Wine.
Birds are leaving over autumn’s ending
One of us will die inside these arms
Eyes wide open
Naked as we came
One will spread our ashes round the yard

More reverent silence for this one… coming in at 2 mins something so guaranteed a vote or two… clear acceptance of mortality… a love song really…

Cde Atwell
‘Killed by Death’ by Motorhead
But it don´t make no difference
´cos I ain´t gonna be, easy, easy
the only time I´m gonna be easy´s when I´m
Killed by death
Killed by death
Killed by death
Killed by death

Capital D for Death? Umlaut on Motorhead? These important questions preoccupied the listeners, as well as the guitar work and associations with Wayne’s World.

Cde Walsh
‘Frankie’s Gun!’ by the Felice brothers

Slip make a fender shine
Frankie you’re a friend of mine
Got me off a bender after long legged Brenda died
I thought we might be on a roll this time Frankie
I could have swore the box said Hollywood blanks but
You see my mama
Please tell her
I left a little rock in a box in the cellar
That’s for her to wear till kingdom come
Lots of Dylan associations… general contempt for the accordion and the sha-lay-lays… bit of a treat at the end with the first yodel since Hank Williams III

Cde Tamvakis
‘My Death’ by David Bowie
My death waits like a bible truth
At the funeral of my youth

A cheerful little number from the Thin White Duke

There were also two ‘in absentia’ selections

Cde Cherry
The song I would have chosen is Mercy Seat – Johnny Cash’s cover of a Nick Cave song. Cash’s gravelly voice of this era lends itself well to the dark tortured lyrics.

Much admired and listened to in reverent silence, though generally thought to be a bit of a banker choice

Cde Deller
My offering is ‘Gas Gauge’ by Spearhead. Spearhead are fronted by Michael Franti – a poet/musician – who used to front The Disposable Heroes of Hypocrisy back in the 80’s. Spearhead are a blend of hip, reggae, funk ( and jazz and soul at times too). ‘Gas Gauge’ is the story of a homeboy on the day of a job interview, dealing with his brother who has borrowed his car – and his wallet – fielding calls from his Mom and, ultimately, a confrontation with a police officer.
Franti sings/raps all the parts of the narrative as well as all the characters speech – which sounds naff but he makes it work. The swearing (and violence) is uncharacteristic of Spearhead and is used for realism rather than gangster kudos. It is more about ‘a’ death than ‘death’ per se. I have seen Spearhead twice – great gigs. This is unaccompanied version which is also really good http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJhuPQWYXTw
Not admired and subject to dog’s abuse…

The vote – in a Eurovision style extravaganza of backscratching – transpired as follows.

Foo Fighters…1
White Lies…….1
Death Cab…….1
Motorhead…….1
Felice Bros……..1
David Bowie……0
Iron & Wine…….2

Iron & Wine became the somewhat less than unanimous selection as BEST SONG ABOUT DEATH

Next meeting – a genre – Dubstep

SONGS ABOUT JOBS AND WORK

SONGS ABOUT WORK AND JOBS

In keeping with the effects of current economic conditions, a smaller than usual turnout of the Audiophiles proposed the following songs about work and jobs:

Graham Parker – Hotel Chambermaid (Cde Walsh)
Meat and two veg music – nice Hammond organ – twangy guitar

Pogues – Poor Paddy on the Railway (Cde Mason)
Rough and ready – good for a drunken hooley

Lee Dorsey – Working on a Coal Mine (Cde Deller)
With a guitar that sounds like a trumpet and some excellent triangle playing

Elvis Costello – Shipbuilding (Cde Callas)
More about war than work really, but brilliant – 1982 all over again

Paddy McAloon – Wichita Lineman (Cde Walsh #2)
An acoustic version of the Glen Campbell classic – great sense of longing

Specials – Maggie’s Farm (Cde Callas #2)
Crazy, wild version of Dylan – 1984 all over again

Florence & The Machine – My Boy Builds Coffins (Cde Mason #2)
Nice acoustic version, much admired

The Housemartins – Build (Cde Deller #2)
From the second album – the Heaton voice much loved

Shipbuilding took the honours by a close 2-1-1 verdict…

Next topic: SONGS ABOUT DEATH

TOP TEN ONE HIT WONDERS

The Audiofiles, 4th April 2011

The Audiofiles’ selection of some one hit wonders to consider:

Bro Mason suggested
MATTHEWS SOUTHERN COMFORT, Woodstock
Bro Mason (absent) imagined with long wafty hair rolling up a big one…
Lots of images but musically uninspiring.

Bro Deller suggested
THE LA’S, There She Goes
Bro Deller recalled having the album. Bro Anderson had only the 7-incher…
Universally admired for a slight merseybeat feel.

Bro Tamvakis suggested
NEW RADICALS, Get What You Give
Bro Tamvakis recalled standing up against the establishment in his Queensland vegetable patch..
Generally approved of.

Bro Anderson suggested
DEE LITE, Groove is in the Heart
Bro Anderson recalled the night, the music, and Claire Cook in a Catsuit.
Clubby sound taking us back to early dance beats.

Bro Phillips suggested
JANIS JOPLIN, Me & Bobby McGee
So, Bro Phillips, which part of ‘one hit wonder’ did you not understand?
Brilliant track – dirty-voice country blues.

Bro Callas suggested
MARTHA & THE MUFFINS, Echo Beach
Bro Deller recalled Martha’s brother being at school with him. Shome mishtake shurely…
A true one hit wonder & blast from the Callas past.

Bro Walsh suggested
WARREN ZEVON, Werewolves of London
Bro Walsh recalled the Glasgow Apollo, 1976 and Warren supporting Jackson Browne.
Much admired, in spite of Tom Cruise singing along in ‘The Color of Money’.

Bro Newson suggested
THE ONLY ONES, Another Girl, Another Planet
Bro Newson made a late selection as his farewell to Audiofiling.
Pointed out that ‘on another planet’ was probably where Peter Perrett was. A revelation.

Anticipating the forthcoming referendum on electoral reform the vote for best track had to be decided by the Single Transferable Vote system…

With THERE SHE GOES and WEREWOLVES OF LONDON tied at three votes all, Bro Anderson’s farewell gift to the group was to move his vote from Janis Joplin…

The Audiofiles greatest one hit wonder of all time: WEREWOLVES OF LONDON by Warren Zevon.

Next month’s theme: SONGS ABOUT JOBS AND WORK

TOP 10 WORST SPRINGSTEEN COVERS – A LATE ENTRY

Cde Yates getting into the ‘swing’ of this.
Given that he did not have the opportunity to include a monination I am delighted to say that he has discovered another outrage on the good name of The Boss.
Yes – none other than PAUL YOUNG doing a swing/ big band version of HUNGRY HEART. Almost as far from the blue collar original as Hank Williams III (see original TOP 10 WORST SPRINGSTEEN COVERS POST).

THE TOP 10 WORST SPRINGSTEEN COVERS EVER

The Boss is Dead, Long Live the Boss

The Audiophiles become the Bossophiles

The latest in The Audiophile Sessions took the form of a tribute to giant of rock – a tall, commanding figure, ageing somewhat, with an acquiline profile, outstanding career behind him and yet more ahead. Yes, founder member Comrade Yates, is moving on.

As is well known Comrade Yates is a significantly lunatic follower of ‘The Boss’, buying all new releases in multiple media and generally displaying very little sense of balance and taste. Since the inception of the Audiophiles Cde Yates has occupied almost all his time trying to find ways to fit a Springsteen song into any category. The Audiophiles, who work hard to find fault in music of all genres, have occasionally directed cruel invective towards Cde Yates on this account.

The group therefore decided to enact a little ruse at Cde Yates’ expense. The choice of category for the meeting was rigged so that ‘cover versions’ was triumphant. We knew that Cde Yates would interpret ‘cover versions’ as a further excuse to offer us something written or performed by the great man – and he did. The remainder of the group were secretly set the task of finding the most regrettable Boss cover of all time.

It proved a remarkably rich area of study as the absolute lemons which head the charts show. At the meeting not only did the ruse reveal itself slowly. All but Cde Yates stripped off layers of outer clothing to reveal high-sleeve-rolled checked shirts, blue jeans and biker boots…

Cde Mason
Kid Harpoon and Florence Welch – I’m going down; rejected for being too cool
Cold War Kids- State trooper; rejected for being too cool
Dion- If I should fall behind; rejected for being too cool
So my choice is the 1978 live recording of the Rockabilly version of
Fire by Link Wray with Robert Gordon

Cde Anderson
I’m torn too.
Kids Incorporated’s version of Glory Days will really upset Springsteenophiles, including the totally naff video. It includes a little Clarence miming the sax, and the line about ‘the wink of a young girl’s eye’ is priceless, complete with literal actions. Haven’t even got to the beautifully adapted child friendly lyrics yet.
RATM’s Legend of Old Tom’s Gonad or whatever it’s called, was an early favourite. But stuff it:
KIDS INCORPORATED Glory Days
Going with Kids Inc. The 80’s knitwear tips it. Beautiful; like she’d been coached by Jeff and Duncan, but only slightly better. Also, I love the way in verse two the writers skilfully turned the struggle of an emotionally damaged long term single mum who battles to find something good in her life, into a mildly peeved 13 year old whose memories of her ex-boyfriend of two weeks makes her yearn for those easily forgotten glory days. Bet Bruce kicked himself when Kids Incorporated made him realise he got those lyrics all wrong…

Cde Phillips
My choice is
Kermit The Frog singing and performing “Dancing in the Dark”.
The You Tube clip says it all! Now for the checked shirt, the sleeves rolled up, the jeans, that sort of thing. ow where did I put those cowboy boots ….?

Cde Deller
Having the usual dilemmas – too much to choose from – and trying to weigh up kitsch crap: Frankie Goes To Hollywood or McFly doing ‘Born to Run’- from the real crap Anggun & I Muvrini – ‘Streets of Philadelphia’ – and the reasonable: Amy McDonald ‘Dancing In The Dark’ or Bat For Lashes ‘I’m on Fire’. Pretty certain ‘The Boss’ (our Boss) will hate them all though.
I am going for
Frankie – ‘Born to Run’.

Cde Callas (in absentia)
The Durham Ukulele Orchestra – Springsteen and the ukulele – a match made in heaven.

Cde Tamvakis
I rejected a version of ‘The River’ by The Clarks – an upbeat little version but a little more sensible in a Lloyd Cole style.

In the end I found one – not my usual style but it was too good to let drift by…
BORN IN THE USA covered by Stanley Clark. A bit of RAP with BASS oh how lovely.

Chosen on the basis of what would cause our dear departing to cringe the most?

Cde Walsh
I’m going for
Hank Williams III’s version of Atlantic City.
They don’t make country music like this anymore. Thank God.
My favourite boss song, entirely stripped of all its bleak meaning, complete with a line-dance beat, a country fiddle solo, a yodel and a time signature change.
The lyric of the song says: Everything dies baby that’s a fact/ But maybe everything that dies some day comes back…
The Boss cannot possibly come back after this, and W J M ‘The Boss’ Yates’s credibility cannot possibly recover from this.

Therefore the Audiophiles’ nominations for the top 10 worst Springsteen covers of all time are:
Kid Harpoon and Florence Welch – I’m going down;
Cold War Kids- State trooper
Dion – If I should fall behind
Link Wray with Robert Gordon – Fire
Rage Against The Machine – Ghost of Tom Joad
Kids Incorporated – Glory Days
Kermit The Frog – Dancing in the Dark
McFly – Born to Run
I Muvrini – Streets of Philadelphia
Amy McDonald -Dancing In The Dark
Bat For Lashes – I’m on Fire Pretty certain ‘The Boss’ (our Boss) will hate them all though.
Frankie -Born to Run
The Clarks – The River
Stanley Clark – Born in the USA
Hank Williams III – Atlantic City

Making it undoubtedly into the top 10 bad ones:
LINK WRAY, RATM, FRANKIE, THE DURHAM UKE ORCHESTRA, HANK WILLIAMS III, STANLEY CLARK, MCFLY, I MUVRINI, KIDS INCORPORATED plus ANY ONE FROM A SERIES OF RELATIVELY RESPECTABLE ARTISTES

But the WINNER, and the THE VERY WORST BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN COVER OF ALL TIME – by a landslide – Hank Williams III’s version of ATLANTIC CITY – taking the prize not just the dazzling range of its appalling features but for the vast distance between Hank’s ‘interpretation’ and the meaning and scope of the song.

NEXT CATEGORY: DEFINITELY NOT COVER VERSIONS, as wrongly posted, but ONE HIT WONDERS.