SOUNDTRACK4LIFE: THE B-SIDES

Albums That Are 50 Years Old in 2025: 'Down By The Jetty' & 'Malpractice' - Dr. Feelgood

2025-01-28T11:29:00.000+00:00

I thought I had posted this already but due to my forgetfulness I spotted I hadn't. Better late than never I guess!

As I mentioned back on my first post of the year I am going to spotlighting throughot 2025 a number of my favourite debut albums and also some of the albums that were released in 1975 that will no doubt be celebrated for their 50th Anniversaries by fans of the particular LPs and quite possibly by some record labels who want to have a cash grab by offering a Re-issue, Remastered 50th Anniversary Edition, with special new liner notes and maybe a hardback book edition. Oh, and not to forget, they will be available numerous on Coloured Vinyls. Apologies for sounding so cynical about but I do find it frustrating that the labels are milking fans almost every anniversary that comes along. That's a gripe for another time though.

Today we are spotlighting two albums by Dr. Feelgood that were released in 1975, the first of them is the band's debut album (which is also on the list of My Favourite Debut Albums, I was almost 11 years old when the Debut Album came out and then 11 years old when the second one was released. I actually never heard them until the 'Stupidity' live album came out and I think it was on John Peel's show.

Across the two albums there are some of the band's legendary songs: "She Does It Right", "Roxette", "Keep It Out Of Sight", "All Through The City", "Going Back Home" and "Back In The Night".

Down By The Jetty - Dr. Feelgood
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United Artists
Produced by Vic Maile
Released January 1975
Did Not Chart
Formats: LP & Cassette

Personnel
Lee Brilleaux – lead vocals, guitar, harmonica, slide guitar
Wilko Johnson – guitar, piano, backing and lead vocals (A2, A6, B1)
John B. Sparks – bass
John Martin, aka "The Big Figure" – drums
with: Bob Andrews – organ, saxophone and Brinsley Schwarz – saxophone

A1 She Does It Right
A2 Boom, Boom (John Lee Hooker)
A3 The More I Give
A4 Roxette
A5 One Weekend
A6 That Ain't The Way To Behave
A7 I Don't Mind

B1 Twenty Yards Behind
B2 Keep It Out Of Sight
B3 All Through The City
B4 Cheque Book (Mickey Jupp)
B5 Oyeh! (Mick Green)
B6 Bonie Moronie (Larry Williams)/Tequila Live (Danny Flores)

Their 2nd album was released 10 months later

Malpractice - Dr. Feelgood
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United Artists
Produced by Vic Maile
Released October 1975
UK Chart #17
Formats: LP, Cassette & 8-Track

Personnel
Lee Brilleaux – lead vocals, guitar, harmonica
Wilko Johnson – guitar, backing vocals
John B. Sparks – bass
The Big Figure – drums
with: Bob Andrews – piano, Keyboards and saxophone

A1 I Can Tell (Ellis McDaniels, Samuel Smith)
A2 Going Back Home (Mick Green, Wilko Johnson)
A3 Back In The Night
A4 Another Man
A5 Rolling And Tumbling (McKinley Morgansfield)
A6 Don't Let Your Daddy Know

B1 Watch Your Step (Robert Parker)
B2 Don't You Just Know It (Huiy "Piano" Smith)
B3 Riot In Cell Block No.9 (Lieber and Stoller)
B4 Because You're Mine (John B. Sparks, Nick Lowe, Wilko Johnson)
B5 You Shouldn't Call The Doctor (If You Can't Afford The Bills)

1975 Dr. Feelgood Extras

The Geordie Scene
She Does It Right
Boom Boom
Down By The Jetty
Roxette
Riot On Cell Block No. 9
I Don't Mind
Route 66

The Old Grey Whistle Test
Keep It Out Of Sight
Roxette
She Does It Right

Live In Finland
She Does It Right
Roxette
Interview

Live At Southend Kursaal

Going Back Home
I'm A Hog For You Baby
Roxette
You Shouldn't Call The Doctor (If You Can't Afford The Bills)

Back In The Night (TV Performance)

John Peel Session

Broadcast 10th February 1975
I Don't Mind
I'm A Hog For You
Keep It Out Of Sight
Route 66

What's Happening on Soundtrack4Life in 2025?

2025-01-10T11:21:00.002+00:00

So, we are 11 days into the New Year and this is the first post of the year on the Blog. Firstly let me thank everyone who has continued to visit the Blog even though I have had quiet spells throughout last year after reactivating it after a few years on hiatus. Despite not posting as much as I felt I should have I was quite happy with a few of the things I got to do. Also let me say that I hope your 2025 will be special to you. Each new day is a blank page and I wonder what you and I will write on it.

What's going to be happening on the Blog this year? A seed of a plan is to highlight some albums that will be 40 and 50 years old this year, so that means jumping in the time travel machine and going back to 1975 for the 50th Anniversary and 1985 for the 40th Anniversary. In between that I'll try and find some new music that I like and even some old stuff that might be new to my ears. I would also like to share some of my Favourite Debut Albums (I have very strong candidates who made the list) and we will see if that can happen and in what form. I'm not promising to post every day because sometimes I will not be up to it. Whatever happens I do hope you'll enjoy many of the things that I do end up posting (there's already a few ideas jotted down and ready for writing)

I'll finish this short post with an Elvis Costello & The Attractions tune that might inspire you on your journey in 2025.

Thanks for reading.

Doug

My Favourite Albums of 2024: An Assortment of Albums

2024-12-14T13:09:00.000+00:00

Here's a few more of My Favourite Albums of 2024. These ones I have already posted about on the Blog so I will just include the link to the particular posts I put up. It's a mixed bag of the new and some reissues as well as a really compilation spotlighting the songs of Tom Petty.

Depending on if I have the time I might get to do a couple more posts on My Favourite Albums of 2024.

Here we go then:

Hand On Heart - Cock Sparrer (5th April)

Petty Country: A Country Music Celebration of Tom Petty - Various Artists (21st June)

Louis In London - Louis Armstrong (12th July)

Will Anything Happen (2024 Remaster Expanded Edition) - Shop Assistants (July 26th)

The Mighty Several - Paul Heaton (11th October)

1985 - The Waterboys (23rd February)

Gospel According To Al Green (1984 Film)

2024-12-08T05:56:00.000+00:00

I had noticed recently on Al Green's You Tube Channel that they had uploaded the excellent Robert Mugge film 'Gospel According To Al Green', which is celebrating its 40th Year. It's also available on Amazon Prime to watch.

The film combines a three-fold insight into the life of the Soul Man with an excellent interview, a live performance at a very small venue in Washington D.C. and a spotlight on the Reverend Al Green in action from his pulpit.

As far as I'm aware it is still avaible on Blu-ray DVD and you can probably pick it up at quite a decent price if you go searching.

My Favourite Albums of 2024: Songs of a Lost World - The Cure (November)

2024-12-07T07:30:00.000+00:00

Studio Album #14 from The Cure and their first since '4:13 Dream' back in 2008. 'Songs of a Lost World' provided a lot of joy on the opening day of November (I realise how odd that must read seeing that we are considering a pretty dark album from Robert Smith and gang, but it actually was a day of celebration with joy and happy tears).

Songs of a Lost World - The Cure (November 2024)
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Fiction Records
1st November 2024

LISTEN HERE.

Also to celebrate the release, The Cure put on a live streamed concert that began with a full live performance of the album from start to finish and then after a short Intermission they gave a superb second set of fan favourites and singles.

Live at The Troxy Theatre 1st November 2024

01. Songs from a Lost World Set

02. 2nd Set

Victoria Segal Review for Mojo

My Favourite Albums of 2024: VOWS - Hot Water Music (May)

2024-12-06T06:15:00.000+00:00

Founded in October 1994 in Gainesville, Florida, Hot Water Music released their 10th Studio Album, VOWS, earlier this year. Chuck Ragan (lead vocalist) and the chaps rarely disappoint.

VOWS - Hot Water Music

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Equal Vision Records (USA & Canada)/ End Hits Records (UK & Europe)
10th May 2024

LISTEN HERE.

The Album features members of Thrice, Amy Interrupter, Dallas Green and Brendan Yates.

The Soundboard Review by Luke Nuttal.

"Without a single dud track and a sound so self-evidently brilliant in everything it strives for, you can’t really ask for more in a Hot Water Music album, let alone one that’s not had its back broken by three decades of prior history. And when even the wear-and-tear contributes positively to an already colossal achievement, that’s when you know a band is on a good path." - Luke Nuttal

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Because there some total music nerds out there who like these types of things and some crazy collectors who want everything and enjoy the challenge of findind them all, I'll include this list I found on Discogs.

Vinyl pressing history:

US: 1st Pressing, Equal Vision Records (5/10/2024):
?? - White Label, Custom Color
50 - Clear w/ 8mm Film Inlay (Equal Vision Store Exclusive)
250 - Rose, Red & Pink Ripple (Band Store Exclusive)
250 - Clear Black w/ Metallic Red Splatter (Band Store Exclusive)
250 - Red w/ Black Splatter
250 - Clear Turquoise w/ Black Splatter
250 - Marbled Grey/ White w/ Red Ripple
250 - Half Rose Stem Green/ Half Rose Pink w/ White Splatter
250 - Clear w/ Black Splatter (US Tour Variant)
300 - Orange (Florida Retail Exclusive)
500 - Light Brown w/ Black, White & Grey Splatter
500 - White w/ Green Splatter (Cooking Vinyl Australia Exclusive)
500 - Clear (US Indie Retail Exclusive)
1500 - Transparent Black (Retail Exclusive)

US: 2nd Pressing, Equal Vision Records (5/10/2024):
400 - Silver & Black Marble

250 - Clear w/ Tan, Pink & Green Splatter (Hot Water Music Webstore Exclusive)

EU: 1st Pressing, End Hits Records (5/10/2024):
35 - Test Press
35 - Super Deluxe - Clear w/ Enclosed Pulmonary Artery Trace (End Hits Exclusive)
100 - Red/ Yellow Swirl (Devil Dog UK Exclusive)
150 - Deluxe - White w/ Screenprinted Cover (End Hits Exclusive)
200 - Deluxe - Mushroom/ Toffee Pinwheel (End Hits Exclusive)
210 - Yellow w/ Black Splatter (Flight 13 Exclusive)
250 - Deluxe - Green/ White Quads (End Hits Exclusive)
300 - Transparent Green/ Clear (JPC Exclusive)
1000 - Cherry Red (Retail Version)

My Favourite Albums of 2024: Teach Yself WAH! - A Best Of Pete Wylie & The Mighty Wah! - Pete Wylie (March)

2024-12-04T07:34:00.000+00:00

Some folks can get a bit overly precious about adding a Reissue or a Compliation to the their Favourite Albums of the Year Lists mainly for the reason "it's not new" or "it's unnecessary". I thought about this very thing quite frequently and to a degree I understand. I get fed up with labels that seem to constantly be reissuing the same albums time and time again with the only difference being the colour of the vinyl. or the label that just seems to rehash a "Greatest Hits" album two years after the previous one came out and there's either one or two different songs on it or the tracklist has just been swapped around. Hopefully I was able to point out how annoying also this practice is when it came to the release of a recent Springsteen Compilation and a deep dive into a number of the totally unnecessary releases that came before it (CLICK HERE TO READ THAT POST).

I don't believe we are dealing with an "unnecessary release" here because, as far as I'm aware, there hasn't been a new Pete Wylie Compilation for 24 Years! For many this might be a good introduction to the music by one of Liverpool's modern day musical greats..

Teach Yself Wah! - A Best of Pete Wylie & The Mighty Wah! - Pete Wylie
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Chrysalis Records
1st March 2024

One of the coolest wee collections of the music of Pete Wylie & The Mighty Wah! (and a couple of other named Wah! bands or is it brands?) since the excellent 'The Handy Wah! Whole : Songs From The Repertwah!: The Maverick Years 2000' (2CD set on Castle Music, 2000). Included are of course a few of the classic Singles (I'm guessing the licensing of the other tracks was problematic, hence their exclusion) and freshly Remastered tracks from 'Songs of Strength & Heartbreak' (2000) and the long spoken of but finally appeared, 'Pete Sounds!' (2017).

My Favourite Albums of 2024: Veritas - P.O.D. (May 2024)

2024-12-03T06:31:00.000+00:00

Veritas - P.O.D.
Mascot Records
3rd May 2024

01. Drop (feat. Randy Blythe of Lamb Of God)
02. I Got That
03. Afraid to Die (feat. Tatiana Shmayluk of Jinjer)
04. Dead Right
05. Breaking
06. Lay Me Down (Roo's Song)
07. I Won't Bow Down
08. This Is My Life (feat. Cove Reber of Dead American)
09. Lies We Tell Ourselves
10. We Are One (Our Struggle)
11. Feeling Strange

The Links in the above Tracklist are for the Promo Videos

Line Up
Sonny Sandoval – vocals
Marcos Curiel – guitars
Traa Daniels – bass

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'Veritas' is the 11th studio album by San Diego Rockers P.O.D. (Payable On Death), and was their first album since 'Circles' in 2018.

My Favourire Albums of 2024: Silver Patron Saints - The Songs of Jesse Malin - Various Artists (September 2024)

2024-11-28T09:23:00.001+00:00

I don't think you are going to find a more artistically stacked album than this album which celebrates the songs of one particular artist. To name a few of them will give you an idea of what I mean: Bruce Springsteen, Billie Joe Armstrong, Dinosaur Jr., Lucinda Williams & Elvis Costello, Susanna Hoffs, Graham Parker, The Hold Steady, Ian Hunter, Willie Nile and Rancid. I think that in itself is a good reason to grab a copy.

The purpose of the album is twofold. Firstly to celebrate the songs of Jesse Malin, and he's written some absolute gems. Secondly to raise money for the ongoing treatment for Jesse Malin as he recovers from a rare spinal stroke that left him paralysed in 2023 check out the Sweet Relief Artist Fund.

Silver Patron Saints - The Songs of Jesse Malin - Various Artists

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Glassnote

Released 21st September 2024

1 Bleachers – Prisoners Of Paradise
2 Counting Crows – Oh Sheena
3 Bruce Springsteen – She Don't Love Me Now
4 Billie Joe Armstrong – Black Haired Girl
5 Dinosaur Jr. – Brooklyn
6 Frank Turner – About You
7 Alison Mosshart, Wayne Kramer, Tom Morello, Steve Van Zandt, Mike Watt, Joey C. – Turn Up The Mains
8 Lucinda Williams, Elvis Costello, Ray Kennedy – Room 13
9 The Wallflowers – Don't Let Them Take You Down (Beautiful Day)
10 Spoon – The Way We Used To Roll
11 Rocky O'Riordan – Shane
12 Butch Walker – In The Modern World
13 Susanna Hoffs – High Lonesome
14 Graham Parker – Greener Pastures
15 Alejandro Escovedo – Meet Me At The End Of The World
16 The Hold Steady – Death Star
17 Tommy Stinson, Ruby Stinson – Riding On The Subway
18 The Walker Roaders – St. Mark's Sunset
19 Ian Hunter – Dead On
20 Danny Clinch, Daniel Donato – Almost Grown
21 Aaron Lee Tasjan – Shining Down
22 Low Cut Connie – When You're Young
23 Willie Nile – All The Way From Moscow
24 Rancid – No Way Out
25 Gogol Bordello – You Know It's Dark When Atheists Start To Pray
26 Agnostic Front – God Is Dead
27 Murphy's Law – Frankie

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Ian Corbridge Review on Louder Than War.

My Favourite Albums of 2024: Girl Friends - Dion (March)

2024-11-27T08:53:00.000+00:00

Two of my favourite pieces to work on this year for Soundtrack4Life are both Dion related:

Firsty, an interview with Mike Aquilina from back in March. Mike has been writing songs with Dion for many years now and kindly gave up some time to answer a few questions for The S4L Interview. You can read that HERE.

Secondly, a deep dive into the musical career of Dion called 'Dion DiMucci - The King of the New York Streets Into The 21st Century'

Girl Friends - (Listen Here) -
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Keeping The Blues Alive Records
8th March 2024

Legendary Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Dion delivers a new album that transcends generations: Girl Friends. His latest from KTBA Records sees him collaborating with a stellar lineup of female artists including the soulful Susan Tedeschi, powerhouse Shemekia Copeland, icon Carlene Carter, virtuoso Joanne Shaw Taylor, and the versatile Maggie Rose, among others. Dion's timeless voice, and the distinct styles of these acclaimed artists, create a fusion celebrating the rich tapestry of American music.

1 Soul Force - Featuring Susan Tedeschi*
2 I Aim To Please - Featuring Danielle Nicole*
3 Stop Drop And Roll - Featuring Valerie Tyson
4 Do Ladies Get The Blues - Featuring Christine Ohlman & Debbie Davies
5 An American Hero - Featuring Carlene Carter*
6 Don't You Want A Man Like Me - Featuring Rory Block
7 Sugar Daddy - Featuring Christine Ohlman
8 Endless Highway - Featuring Randy Fishenfeld
9 I Got Wise - Featuring Maggie Rose
10 Hey Suzy - Featuring Sue Foley
11 Mama Said - Featuring Shemekia Copeland*
12 Just Like That - Featuring Joanne Shaw Taylor

Tracks with * next to them have Music Video Links

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My Favourite Albums of 2024: Grace Will Lead Me Home - Angeline, Cohen & Jon - (May)

2024-11-27T07:16:00.000+00:00

I thought I would begin sharing some of My Favourite Albums of 2024. It's certainly going to be a very varied collection and I make no apologies for that. It is worth repeating that these are My choices and not what might be considered to be the Best Albums of 2024 by the music press or the critics (you have to go and look elsewhere if you want that sort of thing). I've listened to a lot of albums throughout the year but due to a lack of money in the pocket I haven't bought loads (at least one per month) so they have had to be pretty good for me to go out of my way to buy them.

They will not be in any particular order, like a chart, but rather the fact that they appear under the banner of My Favorite Albums of 2024 should be enough to let you know how they are regarded by me.

My first choice is a "Folk" album, definitely not something I ever could have seen me saying, but I really like the whole "concept" behind the creation of this album and how a lot of research and discussion has gone into the subject before a song had ever been recorded.

Grace Will Lead Me Home - Angeline, Cohen & Jon

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17th May 2024
Available on BANDCAMP £7 for Download or £10 for a CD

Tracklist
1 Dear Polly 02:58
2 Press Gang Song 02:50
3 Grace will lead me home 04:18
4 Turn Round Newton 01:54
5 The President Sang Amazing Grace 03:23
6 Fantasia on a West Indian Burial Theme 03:16
7 I'm going to hear John Newton Preach 04:29
8 The choir still sings Amazing Grace 03:16
9 Sorry 03:13
10 Amazing Grace (Jesu Thy Words) 03:55
11 Eyes on the prize 02:34
12 Amazing Grace 05:05

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Angeline Morrison (The Sorrow Songs), Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne (Granny's Attic) and Jon Bickley (The Invisible Folk Club) came together to create a new album marking the 250th anniversary of the writing of Amazing Grace (2023) and the 300th anniversary of the birth of its writer John Newton (2025).

Jon Bickley headed a partnership between Invisible Folk, the Arts Council and the Cowper & Newton Museum in a project entitled 'Grace will lead me home.' It explored the love that people have for Amazing Grace including those who are descended from the slaves that Newton shipped across the Atlantic. Interviews covering every aspect of Newton's life, the slave trade and the evolution of the beloved hymn was undertaken (including Judy Collins) and these were turned into a series of podcasts that can be found HERE.

Cohen and Angeline were invited to join the project, review the research, meet the folks at the museum and write new songs and the end result is this album.

The majority of the information above is taken from the Bandcamp Page for the album.

MOVING TARGETS RE:CALIBRATED - Penetration (1st November 2024)

2024-11-17T15:00:00.000+00:00

It's been a few weeks since I last did a post here so I better rectify that with this one that spotlights (in my mind at least) one of the finest Debut Albums by a band that I have a fond affection for since buying their Debut 7" "Don't Dictate" in 1977.

There are links to the music below just click on the coloured titles.

MOVING TARGETS RE:CALIBRATED - Penetration
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Polestar
1st November 2024
Limited Edition of 250 on Red Vinyl (Now Sold Out)
Available on Streaming Services Also

Side 1
A1 Future Daze 3:05
A2 Life's a Gamble 3:17
A3 Lovers of Outrage 4:10
A4 Vision 3:32
A5 Silent Community 3:04
A6 Stone Heroes 3:49

Side 2
B1 Movement 3:17
B2 Too Many Friends 3:32
B3 Reunion 3:54
B4 Nostalgia 4:10
B5 Free Money 4:19

Penetration have a couple of dates left on their UK Tour with Essential Logic (London tonight, 17th November and on the 18th November in Brighton) celebrating 45 years since the release of their magnificent debut album 'Moving Targets'. This new re-recording of the album was actually done back in 2007 during rehearsals for a gig at the 100 Club in London. It's the first time it has been released on Vinyl and is only limited to 250 copies which is a bit of a shame. It has been remixed and remastered for this release.

There was a very limited edition of 100 copies self- released on a CDR in 2008 of this by the band, so I am assuming that it is from this recording that has been remixed and remastered for this new vinyl release .

The Debut Album was released in October 1978 on Virgin Records and there was a limited edition of 15,000 on Glow In the Dark Luminous Vinyl.The album reached #22 on the UK Albums Chart.

The band had beefed up their sound for the album with the addition of the twin guitar attack of Neale Floyd and Fred Purser (he would go on to play with Tygers of Pan Tang).

Moving Targets Tracklist
Side 1
A1 Future Daze
A2 Life's a Gamble
A3 Lovers of Outrage
A4 Vision
A5 Silent Community
A6 Stone Heroes
Side 2
B1 Movement
B2 Too Many Friends
B3 Reunion
B4 Nostalgia
B5 Free Money

The Mighty Several - Paul Heaton (11th October 2024)

2024-10-17T09:15:00.000+01:00

The Mighty Several - Paul Heaton

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EMI

Produced by Ian Broudie

11th October 2024

Paul Heaton is the "Musical Champion of the People!" He probably would decry such a statement being attributed to him, because, unlike many of the current crop of "Pop Stars", he comes across as quite a humble fella. He looks out for the best interests of his fans, especially when it comes to the cost of concert tickets. He could charge a lot more than £35 a ticket but realizes that not everyone has big money to spend and is always on the lookout to keeping costs down. At previous shows he's placed a tab behind the counter at pubs close to the venues in order that fans can have a drink on him. He has also provided help for various towns and city foodbanks by having fans bring items to stock the shelves.

Here's Paul on BBC Breakfast almost a week ago talking about the new album and ticketing etc.:

After five very successful albums with Jacqui Abbott, 'What Have We Become' (May 2014 #3), 'Wisdom, Laughter And Lines' (October 2015 #4), 'Crooked Calypso' (July 2017 #2), 'Manchester Calling' (March 2020 #1) and 'N.K-Pop' (October 2022 #1), Heaton finds himself "Solo" again, sort of. This time he has a few guest vocalists (Yvonne Sheldon and Danny Muldon who appear on a couple of tracks) including current back up and at times lead vocalist when the band play live, the wonderful Rianne Downey (a good Scottish lass and solo artist in her own right), you can see Rianne in action alongside Paul at the 2023 TRNSMT Festival Glasgow in the video below (a better and more confident performance from her was at Glastonbury this year. The full set is no longer on the BBC iplayer. otherwise I would have shared the link).

My favourites on the album, after a week of listening, are "National Treasure", "Quicksand", "After The Sugar Rush", "H Into Hurt", "Pull Up A Seat", "The Blues Came In", "Couldn't Get Dead" and "Walk On, Slow Down".

I wondered if Paul Heaton would still be able to pull it off without Jacqui Abbott by his side but he does, and that's all down to the quality of his songwriting and various musical styles. He manages to bring things of everyday life, like a husband supposedly bringing home a "Fish 'N' Chip Supper" and all of a sudden it becomes like an episode of a Soap Opera. He gets political as well, attacking people’s anger about immigrants arriving via boats and dinghies on the song "Small Boats" (sung by Danny Muldoon, an Irish-Mancunian Heaton found in a pub singing Blues Covers). On "National Treasure" he directs the spotlight on who he considers to be the real heroes in our society, namely those who work in the NHS and the thousands of volunteers who serve their communties week in and week out.

The album has had a lot of good positive reviews in the press (not that they always matter):

"Five solo LPs in, The Mighty Several vouches for his continued worth, fostering unity and empathy in divided times." (Four Star Review in MOJO.)

"It’s Heaton through and through, as are cultural reference points including Bovril, bus drivers, 50p bets, Deirdre and Ken Barlow, and pubs. Lots of pubs. It’s a bit of a musical picnic." (Four Star Review in The Telegraph)

"It all adds up to another reliably excellent state of the nation from Heaton – there may be no real surprises on The Mighty Several, but it confirms his national treasure status, whether he likes it or not.." (Music OMH Four Star Review.)

"That dance between light and shade is assisted by an Ian Broudie production which juxtaposes the jaunty with the jaundiced. All human life isn’t here – not quite – but the life that’s here is wonderfully human." (Record Collector)

The Soundtrack Of Your Life - 2024 National Playlist Day

2024-09-20T00:23:00.000+01:00

Today is National Playlist Day 2024. I have to confess to not knowing about this particular day before but I wholeheartedly endorse the reasons behind it, helping people living with Dementia. The theme, The Soundtrack Of Your Life, is difficult to contain within one playlist because my playlist would end up easily containing a couple of thousand songs!

I think I remember mentioning here on the blog that I use music as a form of therapy in order to help with my memory because due to my Epilepsy I do struggle at times from forgetfulness. Music has the ability to switch a light on and shine it in the dark places and with the aid of a song a picture can emerge of a memory - an event, a person, a place or the circumstances in which that song, tune or lyric can be put into. Now, I'm no medical authority on such matters and probably don't even use the right terminology, but hopefully you get what I mean.

Down below is a new Playlist I put together to celebrate the day. Each of the 20 songs point to memories in my own life where the songs have been there in that moment and serve as a reminder. I won't go into the reasons for picking each song, as you might find that a bit tiresome. On my iTunes, my YouTube Channel and my Phone I have loads of Playlists that I make use of when I'm having a really tough time.

Playlist For Life encourage folks to make their own Playlists using Spotify (the link is at the bottom of the page), but I don't use that particular platform because I also like visual images as well, so My Playlist is on YouTube,

My Playlist
01 Unsafe Building - The Alarm
02 Don't Lose Your Dreams - Pete Wylie & Wah The Mongrel
03 In A Big Country - Big Country
04 Born For A Pupose/Reason For Living - Dr Alimantado
05 Call Of The Wild - Die Toten Hosen
06 Lion & The Lamb - TV Smith
07 1976 - The Boys
08 I Will Be Your Shield - Billy Bragg
09 Love Shine Bright - Culture
10 Let The Day Begin - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
11 I Fought The Law - The Clash
12 Polaroid Picture - Frank Turner
13 The Weight - Mavis Staples & Levon Helm
14 Out Of Hand - The Mighty Lemon Drops
15 Title Holder - The Interrupters
16 My Love Will Not Let You Down (Live) - Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
17 Hour Of Need - Madness
18 Not Dark Yet - Shelby Lynne & Allison Moorer
19 Hymn To Him - Dion (Featuring Patti Scialfa & Bruce Springsteen)
20 I Wish You Were Here - Dropkick Murphys

GO HERE TO MAKE YOUR OWN PLAYLIST.

This Machine Rising - Dropkick Murphys and the Songs of Woody Guthrie

2024-09-02T15:53:00.000+01:00

The aim of this particular post is not an examination of the lyrical content of the Woody Guthrie songs that the Dropkick Murphys have written the music for but a rather a bringing together in one place of the albums, the new documentary and a recent live show from Hellfest 2024 to enjoy, play loud, dance, sing-a-long and marvel that songs written so long ago have the ability to speak into our lives decades after Guthrie first put pen to paper. Because we have no idea how Woody Guthrie himself would have created the music for these songs, we are left in the hands of a band from Boston who are largely known for their Celtic Punk sound to do it for us. The fact that they have created two excellent albums from their sessions and barely lost sight of their own unique sound is a testament to the quality of the songs and their own desire to show musically that Guthrie still has something to say.

A couple of days ago the Dropkick Murphys relased their documentary 'This Machine Rising' that spotlights the making of their albums 'This Machine Still Kills Facists' (2022) and 'Okemah Rising' (2023) that feature the lyrics of Woody Guthrie.

"This Machine Rising tells the story of the acoustic songs we wrote around a pile of Woody Guthrie’s unpublished lyrics. These songs get to the core of what the band believes in — and what we’ve always stood for...Acoustic folk and protest music has always been one huge chunk of the puzzle that makes up Dropkick Murphys. We were trying to find lyrics to hit the same areas that were important to us – social and economic injustice, organizing the working class, standing up to fascism or conservative values that we don’t agree with, fighting for the working class people…There are a lot of similarities in the band’s mindset. To read these lyrics that were written in the ‘30s or ‘40s that are so apropos to today, it’s kind of scary and powerful at the same time because it’s so relevant now." Ken Casey (Lead Vocalist)

Listen and Watch Videos from the album

The lyrics of Woody Guthrie were not new to the Dropkick Murphys, they had first used them on the 'Blackout' album in 2003 with the song Gonna Be A Blackout Tonight:

Also on 'The Warriors Code' album (2005) with I'm Shipping Up To Boston:

One of the things I love about the Dropkicks is that they have a bond with their community and a love for the working man and any injustice done to workers. When they were last in the UK they took the song All You Fonies and rewrote parts of it in support of the Union workers:

"In support of all our Union friends in the UK fighting the good fight against the elitist Tory political party we made this music video in association with the RMT (The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers). On our recent UK shows we changed the words to the song All You Fonies (Bound To Lose) to All You Tories in support of the striking railroad and transit workers, nurses , fire fighters, teachers, postal workers, ambulance staff and health workers . The song is recorded Live at Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff Wales and the live video footage is from Cardiff and the Wembley Arena show in London. Animation provided courtesy of the RMT. Best of luck in your struggle friends. Yours in Solidarity, Dropkick Murphys"

The band will be out touring the UK in 2025, here's the dates:

Feb 04: Birmingham O2 Academy
Feb 05: Glasgow O2 Academy
Feb 06: Manchester Academy
Feb 07: Cardiff Utilita Arena
Feb 08: London Alexandra Palace

If you have never seen them live then their recent set at Hellfest 2022 will be a good introduction (the 2024 show I can't embed but you can watch it here)

Definitely Maybe (30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) - Oasis

2024-08-30T15:14:00.001+01:00

Unless you have been hiding under a rock the past few days it will not have escaped your attention that Oasis have annouced they will be touring in 2025 (dates are at the bottom of this post). News of this has had wall to wall coverage on all Social Media platforms, TV & Radio, Newspapers and of course the Music Press.

This announcement came three days before the 30th Anniversary reissue of their Debut Album 'Definitely Maybe' (which is released today) and a couple of days after Liam Gallagher had completed his tour celebrating the album. Coincidence? Possibly. 😏

The album has been reissued a number of times since first coming out on 30th August 1994 and it's probably worth mentioning a few of them before getting stuck into this latest version:

1994 Vinyl had the added track "Sad Song" to make it a 12 track album, the CD, MiniDisc & Cassette had only 11 Tracks.

2005 American DualDisc contained all 11 songs found on normal CD releases but on the DVD side they were in Enhanced Stereo. Also included were the 'Definitely Maybe Documentary' plus "Live Forever (Live at Glastonbury 1994)" and "Columbia (Live From Hammersmith Palais, London 13th December 1994)".

2006 Japanese Limited Edition CD Vinyl Replica included "Sad Song" and "Cloudburst".

2014 CD under the title "Definitely Maybe: Chasing The Sun Edition". This was a 3CD set that included the album Remastered on CD1. CD2 included B-sides and Extra Tracks and CD3 was made up of Unreleased Demos, Outtakes & Live Recordings. The Vinyl version included a Download Code for all the Bonus Material. The Japanese Edition of the CD included "Shakermaker (Slide Up Mix)" and "Bring It On Down (Monnow Valley)".

2015 There were Yellow, Red, and Silver Vinyl versions released on Creation.

2019 Limited Edition 25th Anniversary 2LP Picture Disc exclusive to the Oasis Official Store.

2020 Vinyl Reissue (it was basically the 2014 Remastered Edition)

2020 Japanese Reissue Limited Edition (2000 copies) Ivory Coloured Vinyl

Now we come to the most up to date reissue of the album, 'Definitely Maybe (30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)':

2024 The Vinyl is just the 2014 Remastered Edition and the 4LP set also includes the Monnow Valley Studio version of the album on LP 3 recorded in late 1993 in Wales that was rejected by both the band and label. Back into the studio, Sawmills Studio in Cornwall, in February 1994 where seven of the eight tracks on LP 4 are Outtakes from these sessions recorded between February - April 1994. Links to all the songs on this new reissue are included below. The 2CD set brings the Monnow Valley and Sawmills Studio sessions on the second CD and the 2014 Remastered album on CD1 doesn't include "Sad Song" as part of the album (as the Vinyl version always has done) rather than as an extra track (only the 2006 Japanese version had done this previously) and on this set only a 1992 demo version of the song is included as the final track.

From a personal perspective I think Oasis could have done better on the CD set by including a complete live show from 1994. It's not as if none exist because they have used songs from various live performances on a couple of the previous reissues (2005 American DualDisc and the 2014 CD set for example). That would have piqued my interest into possibly buying a copy.

My overall impression of 'Definitely Maybe (30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)' is that it is aimed at those who are "the completists", who must have everything ever released by the band. To add to their collection with this new reissue they are also going to have a healthy bank balance (and that's not even thinking about the cash needed to grab a ticket for one of the reunion shows, which are pretty pricey as well)! 😉 I have included below some of the prices I've found for the various formats down below also just incase you are counting the pennies and pounds and fancy grabbing a copy.

Definitely Maybe (30th Anniversary Edition)

Big Brother
Released 30th August 2024

Formats:
4LP Boxset (£64.99 HMV & Amazon UK, £62.99 Rough Trade UK)

2LP £35.00 Blue & White Marble (Oasis Webstore Only)

2LP £35.00 Exclusive Limited Edition Coloured Vinyl Numbered 15,000 from Blood Records

2LP £37.99 Strawberries & Cream (Rough Trade UK, Amazon UK and HMV)

2CD (£17.99 Rough Trade UK, £19.99 Amazon UK & HMV)

Cassette £12 (Oasis Webstore Only)

Definitely Maybe (30th Anniversary Edition)
Tracklist
LP1
A1 Rock 'n' Roll Star
A2 Shakermaker
A3 Live Forever

B1 Up In The Sky
B2 Columbia
B3 Sad Song
LP2
C1 Supersonic
C2 Bring It On Down
C3 Cigarettes & Alcohol

D1 Digsy's Dinner
D2 Slide Away
D3 Married With Children

LP3 - Definitely Maybe Monnow Valley Version
E1 Rock 'n' Roll Star (Monnow Valley Version)
E2 Shakermaker (Monnow Valley Version)
E3 Live Forever (Monnow Valley Version)
E4 Up In The Sky (Monnow Valley Version)

F1 Columbia (Monnow Valley Version)
F2 Bring It On Down (Monnow Valley Version)
F3 Cigarettes & Alcohol (Monnow Valley Version)
F4 Digsy's Dinner (Monnow Valley Version)

LP4 Definitely Maybe - Sawmills Outtakes
G1 Rock 'n' Roll Star (Sawmills Outtakes)
G2 Up In The Sky (Sawmills Outtakes)
G3 Columbia (Sawmills Outtakes)
G4 Bring It On Down (Sawmills Outtakes)

H1 Cigarettes & Alcohol (Sawmills Outtakes)
H2 Digsy's Dinner (Sawmills Outtakes)
H3 Slide Away (Sawmills Outtakes)
H4 Sad Song (Mauldeth Road West Demo, Nov '92)

*********

(Liam & Noel Gallagher Photo by Simon Emmett)

In a joint statement, the band said: “The guns have fallen silent. The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come see. It will not be televised.”

The dates for the 2025 UK and Ireland tour are:
4, 5 July, Principality Stadium, Cardiff
11, 12, 19 and 20 July, Heaton Park, Manchester
25, 26 July, 2, 3 August, Wembley Stadium, London
8, 9 August, Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
16, 17 August, Croke Park, Dublin.

Tickets Go Sale 9am Saturday 31st August

December - We Made A Promise EP Out Now!

2024-08-15T08:53:00.001+01:00

You may recall that back on the 12th March this year I did an interview with December (if you haven't read it, then CLICK HERE to do so).

December are well known for their cover versions of U2, Big Country and The Alarm and a nice addition to that body of impressive covers comes the music of Bruce Springsteen.

Over the past few years the band have recorded and released a number of covers of songs written by Bruce Springsteen. Today they have brought them together on a 6 Track Digital EP called 'We Made A Promise'. It is available from lots of digital platforms. Videos for five of the six songs have been issued (see below) with the latest, "Ghosts", released this week. I purchased mine from Amazon Music this morning. I do hope you enjoy this.

1 Reason To Believe

2 Stolen Car

3 Tougher Than The Rest

4 No Surrender

5 One Step Up

6 Ghosts

For More Videos by December check out their You Tube Channel by Clicking Here.

Will Anything Happen (Expanded Edition) - Shop Assistants (26th July 2024)

2024-07-30T20:44:00.000+01:00

I was very excited to find out yesterday that the debut, and only album by the Shop Assistants was reissued on the 26th July, I ordered it right away and it arrived this afternoon. The album of course was first released in November 1986 on Blue Guitar (a sub-label of Chrysalis Records). It had its first reissue on CD in 1997 (Overground Records), 2008 & 2012 (Cherry Red) and the only Vinyl reissue came in 2012 on American label 4 Men With Beards.

If you like Vinyl, then all you'll get is the 2024 Remaster of the album, but if you want more then it's best to go for the 2CD Expanded Version which includes the 2024 Remaster, B-sides of the only single released from the album, Instrumental Demos, Rough Mixes, Alternate Versions, tracks from two concerts in October 1986 and their second John Peel Session. Thirty-seven tracks in all.

Hopefully this new Remaster might open up some new ears to the wonderful sound of the Shop Assistants, one of Edinburgh's finest Indie Bands of the 1980s. I highly recommend it and I have no doubt it will feature highly on my end of year list of Reissues of the Year.

Will Anything Happen (2024 Remaster Expanded Edition) - Shop Assistants

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Chrysalis Records
26th July 2024

Produced by Mayo Thompson, John Ryan & Shop Assistants
Released on Vinyl & 2CD Digipack

The Band:

Alex Taylor - Vocals & Tambourine
David Keegan - Guitar & Noise
Sarah Kneale - Bass & Backing Vocals (Lead Vocals on "What A Way To Die")
Laura MacPhail - Drums & Percussion

Tracklist for 2CD Expanded Edition

Disc 1: Will Anything Happen (20024 Remaster)/B-Sides/Demos
1-1 I Don't Wanna Be Friends With You
1-2 All Day Long
1-3 Before I Wake
1-4 Caledonian Road
1-5 All That Ever Mattered
1-6 Fixed Grin
1-7 Somewhere In China
1-8 Train From Kansas City
1-9 Home Again
1-10 Seems To Be* (Missing)
1-11 After Dark
1-12 All Of The Time
1-13 What A Way To Die
1-14 Nature Lover
B-Sides
1-15 Looking Back
1-16 All Day Long (Slow Version)
Instrumental Demos
1-17 I Don't Wanna Be Friends With You
1-18 After Dark
1-19 A Million Miles From Home

Disc 2: Studio Outtakes/Live/Peel Session
2-1 Looking Back (Rough Mix)
2-2 Caledonian Road (Rough Mix)
2-3 What a Way To Die (Rough Mix)
2-4 Fixed Grin (Roundhouse Version)
2-5 Train From Kansas City (Roundhouse Version)
2-6 Before I Wake (Roundhouse Version)
2-7 All That Ever Mattered (Alternate Take)
Live In London 03/10/1986
2-8 Seems To Be
2-9 Nature Lover
2-10 Something To Do
2-11 Switzerland
Live In Deinze 05/10/1986
2-12 Home Again
2-13 It's Up To You
2-14 Safety Net
John Peel Session 11/11/1986
2-15 Fixed Grin
2-16 I Don't Wanna Be Friends With You
2-17 Ace Of Spades
2-18 Before I Wake

**********************

Single Released on 7" & 12"

A-Side: I Don't Want To Be Friends With You

B-Side: Looking Back / All Day Long (Slow Version) - 12" only

UK Chart #77

***********************************

Shop Assistants Bonus

Shop Assistants BBC Sessions:
John Peel Session 8th October 1985
Safety Net
All That Ever Mattered
Almost Made It
Somewhere in China

John Peel Session 11th November 1986
Fixed Grin
I Don't Wanna Be Friends With You
Ace of Spades
Before I Wake

Janice Long Session 16th February 1986
All Of The Time
Home Again
Looking Back
Nature Lover
What A Way To Die

The Shop Assistants Live 3rd October 1986 University of London.

Louis Armstrong - Louis In London (Released 12th July 2024)

2024-07-15T21:49:00.001+01:00

In May 1968 Louis Armstrong was in the studio making his final trumpet recordings on the album 'Disney Songs The Satchmo Way'. A couple of months after this he was in London to perform and film for the BBC TV "Show of the Week". The video of that performance is included below. It was filmed 2nd July 1968 and first broadcast 22nd September 1968 and is considered one of his last great live performances. The filming of the show came hot on the heels of Louis Armstrong reaching the #1 spot on the UK Singles Chart (and stayed there for four weeks) with "What A Wonderful World".

I mentioned it is considered to be one of his last great live performances and that was because by 1968 (not sure of dates on this matter) his poor health (heart and kidney issues) had forced him off the road. He wouldn't play live again until 1970 when he had to curtail his live shows due to a heart attack. Against medical advice he would take to the road again in March 1971 but after a two week stand in Manhattan he had another heart attack. He was still hoping to get back on the road again but on 6th July 1971 he died in his sleep from a heart attack, he was aged 69.

I'm no expert on the music of Louis Armstrong (Jazz is not really my thing) but his voice I remember as a kid was something I felt comfortable with, even if it was just him singing the songs of Walt Disney or the childish safety blanket I experienced thinking everything was going to be okay when I heard "What A Wonderful World".

It may appear a bit odd of me to post a piece like this but the way I look at it is the world is even crazier now than when I was a five year old kid in 1968 and sometimes there's nothing wrong in finding a shelter in the storm of the madness and listening to a voice you sense you can find consolation in.

Louis In London - Louis Armstrong
Verve Records
12th July 2024

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Here is the actual BBC Footage and below that are links to the audio and a few High Defintion videos that have become available leading up to the release of the album.

1 When It’s Sleepy Time Down South
2 (Back Home Again) In Indiana
3 A Kiss To Build a Dream On
4 Hello, Dolly!:

5 Mame
6 You’ll Never Walk Alone
7 Ole Miss
8 Blueberry Hill
9 Mack The Knife

10 Rockin’ Chair
11 The Bare Necessities:

12 What a Wonderful World:

13 When The Saints Go Marching In

Louis Armstrong - Vocals & Trumpet
The All Stars:
Tyree Glenn, trombone
Joe Muranyi, clarinet
Marty Napoleon, piano
Buddy Catlett, bass
Danny Barcelona, drums

***************************

A Wee Bonus

Disney Songs the Satchmo Way - Louis Armstrong
Beuna Vista Records
1968

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Simple Minds - Nuits de Fourvière 10th July 2024 – ARTE Concert

2024-07-11T10:01:00.000+01:00

A nice treat yesterday evening was being able to watch a live stream of Simple Minds on YouTube coming live and direct from Lyon, France. Being a total numpty it only clicked half way through the instrumental "Somebody Up There Likes You" that they were playing the 'New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84)' album in sequence. 😲 To be fair on myself though, I was also trying to follow the football at the same time. 😁

I really enjoyed the performance and I realise that a show like this lends itself to the format of the "big hitters" but it was a bit disappointing not to have at least one or two newer songs thrown into the mix just for the contrast that Simple Minds are still making new music and are not resting on the laurels of a well stocked back catalogue. Maybe that's just a me thing so I can't help but mention it.

Jim Kerr & Charlie Burchill are the only original members of the band but the rest of the team have been playing alongside them for quite a number of years (apart from the keyboardist Erik Ljunggren who is a recent addition) and man, they are a tight unit. Cherisse Osei (Drums) gets a lot of praise among Simple Minds fans and rightly so, she's like watching a fireworks display in action. As for Sarah Brown, I could listen her endlessly. Taking the lead vocal for "Book of Brilliant Things" was pretty special and also her vocals with Jim Kerr on "Mandela Day" were just lovely. Sarah, by the way, has an excellent solo album out called 'Sarah Brown Sings Mahalia Jackson', that's worth checking out. I should also give a shout out to Bassist Ged Grimes (no Bass Guitar Player Jokes please! 😉) who has been with the band since 2010. His name was always familiar to me but for one reason or another I never checked his details out until last night. He has quite the musical history starting with Dundee pop band Danny Wilson and a lot of surprises along the way (for more info check out his Wikipedia page).

Jim Kerr celebrated his 65th Birthday the day before this gig (9th July) and despite the age he still sounds good and covers every area of the stage throwing shapes as he goes. "Belfast Child" was the moment you really got to hear the power of his voice and I think that song never sounded better than at this show, though near the end of "Don't You (Forget About Me)" his voice cracked a bit. Charlie Burchill (who will also hit 65 in November) was on great form. I think he often doesn't get the credit as a good guitarist among his contemporaries as some fella called The Edge (U2) always seems to get the top spot.

As to the broadcasters, ARTE Concert, they did a superb job in capturing the sight and sounds, only one little glitch during "Sanctify Yourself" kept it from being perfect. You should check out their YouTube Channel ARTE Concert for more performances, especially the recent films from Hellfest 2024.

Set 1:
1 Waterfront
New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84) Album In Full
2 Someone Somewhere in Summertime
3 Colours Fly and Catherine Wheel
4 Promised You a Miracle
5 Big Sleep
6 Somebody Up There Likes You (Instrumental)
7 New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)
8 Glittering Prize
9 Hunter and the Hunted
10 King Is White and in the Crowd
******
11 I Travel

Interlude (25 Minutes)

Set 2: (starts at 1hr 24.19 on the video)
12 Book of Brilliant Things (Vocals by Sarah Brown)
13 Mandela Day (Vocals by Jim Kerr and Sarah Brown)
14 Come a Long Way
15 Let There Be Love
16 Sanctify Yourself
17 Belfast Child
18 Don't You (Forget About Me)
19 Alive and Kicking

The show ran approx. 1h55min (taking out the 25 Minute Break)

Current Tour Line Up
Jim Kerr - Vocals
Charlie Burchill - Guitar
Ged Grimes - Bass
Sarah Brown - Backing Vocals
Gordy Goudie - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Cherisse Osei - Drums
Erik Ljunggren - Keyboards

Petty Country: A Country Music Celebration of Tom Petty - Various Artists

2024-06-21T14:29:00.000+01:00

One of the things I love about doing a music blog is being able to share some of the music that I am enjoying listening to at any given moment. I realise that not everyone who reads the blog will have the same musical taste, but that's okay, I'm not going to get on your case about it. I guess the one thing I have always tried is to do put something up that might give you the reader an opportunity to experience something different from what you normally listen to. Today's choice is a collection of songs by Tom Petty performed a number of artists from the world of Country Music.

For those who may be wondering where Country Music fits among all the other types of music I listen to, let me assure you that it's not a new thing at all with me. As a kid I grew up with a Mother, who among her own musical tastes, absolutely loved Country Music. It was not uncommon to hear the sounds of Hank Williams, Hank Snow, Johnny Cash, Charlie Rich, Dolly Parton, Glen Campbell and Tammy Wynette plus loads more playing on the living room stereo. Add to that my own delving into the genre with the music of Hank Wangford, Emmylou Harris, Buddy & Julie Miller, as well as newer artists like Miranda Lambert, Jason Isbell, Ashley McBryde, Eric Church, and oh so many more.

So if you are open to experiencing something new to your ears this might be a good starting place. There are links for every song on the album and as a wee bonus I'll post a few links for some other artists covering the songs of Tom Petty.

Petty Country: A Country Music Celebration of Tom Petty - Various Artists
Big Machine
21st June 2024

Album Trailer

Tracklist:
1 “I Should Have Known It” – Chris Stapleton
2 “Wildflowers” – Thomas Rhett
3 “Runnin’ Down A Dream” – Luke Combs
4 “Southern Accents” – Dolly Parton
5 “Here Comes My Girl” – Justin Moore
6 “American Girl” – Dierks Bentley
7 “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” – Lady A
8 “I Forgive It All” – Jamey Johnson
9 “I Won’t Back Down” – Brothers Osborne
10 “Refugee” – Wynonna Judd & Lainey Wilson
11 “Angel Dream #2” – Willie Nelson & Lukas Nelson
12 “Learning to Fly” – Eli Young Band
13 “Breakdown” – Ryan Hurd feat. Carly Pearce
14 “Yer So Bad” – Steve Earle
15 “Ways to Be Wicked” – Margo Price & Mike Campbell
16 “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” – Midland
17 “Free Fallin’” – The Cadillac Three feat. Breland
18 “I Need to Know” – Marty Stuart And His Fabulous Superlatives
19 “Don’t Come Around Here No More” – Rhiannon Giddens feat. Benmont Tench
20 “You Wreck Me” (Live) – George Strait

*************************************

Tom Petty (pictured above, credit to Sam Jones) and Country Music, it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea (some Petty fans are already foaming at the mouth in rage that such a thing is happening!) but I think it's a gem of an album. It also has the seal of approval from the family of Petty and even a couple of Heartbreakers turn up on the album (Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench). I guess if folks have an axe to grind about the album they should take it up with those who gave it the okay in the first place rather than attack the artists involved in the project.

*****************************

Bonus: The Songs of Tom Petty

Walls (Live) - Glen Campbell

You Wreck Me - UK Subs

American Girl (Live) - The Killers

Wildflowers (Live on The Howard Stern Show) - Miley Cyrus

Free Fallin' (Live on BBC Radio 2) - Busted

The Waiting (Live From Home) - Jackson Browne

Runnin' Down A Dream ( Clear Channel iHeart) - Daughtry

I Won't Back Down - Johnny Cash

A Face In The Crowd (Live) - Spoon

Learning To Fly - Nat Simons

Love Is A Long Road - Beth Bombara

Honey Bee (Live SirusXM) - Foo Fighters

Angel Dream No.2 - Norah Jones

I Need To Know (feat. Mike Campbell) - Starcrawler

Stop Draggin' My Heart Around - Hindley Street Country Club

Breakdown (Live at Austin City Limits Radio 2017) - Lukas Nelson

Saving Grace - Ragged Union

All The Wrong Reasons - Knoeline Keane

You Don't Know How It Feels - Walk off the Earth

Even The Losers - The Undecideds

Born In The U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen (40th Anniversary Limited Edition) - Released Today!

2024-06-14T09:42:00.000+01:00

It's ten days after the 40th Anniversary of the release of 'Born In The U.S.A.' and to celebrate this milestone Sony Music have put out "a special-edition release featuring new coloured vinyl and expanded packaging on 14th June 2024. Arriving via translucent red LP, this anniversary edition of 'Born In The U.S.A.' will feature a gatefold sleeve and exclusive booklet with archival material from the era, new liner notes penned by Erik Flannigan and a four-color lithograph" (from the press release). To obtain one of these you are going to have to hand over between £29.99-39.99, depending where you purchase it from. I will not be purchasing it as I do not have a record player and it seems rather pointless splashing out cash on something I'm never going to play.

Like most Springsteen fans I had thought that there might be another Boxset issued, similar to what had been done with the 'Darkness On The Edge Of Town' and 'The River' albums. Such a thing had been spoken about in many Springsteen groups going back to even the 30th Anniversary and lots of rumours and speculation were thrown around as to what it might contain. You can imagine the sense of disappointment when the announcement came that it would only be the album on Red Vinyl as a Limited Edition!

I decided that to get over this disappointment I would envisage what I thought a 'Born In The U.S.A.' Boxset might look like (saying this I realise that most fans might have their own ideas, and that's a good thing. Maybe leave a comment if you are able to outlining what your Boxset might contain). For the record, let me say again, this is not something that's an Official release, it's just something from the imagination of a Springsteen fan who has too much time on his hands! 😀

Of course, the first thing in the Boxset is the album itself. I'm going with a CD/DVD package as Vinyl would be too expensive. As we go along maybe I'll add some history of the album and the songs that didn't make the record. There's lots of links to music and video below, so click on them to enjoy the sounds.

Born In The U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen
Columbia/CBS
4th June 1984
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
By The Numbers: Charts
US Chart #1
UK Chart #1
Australian Chart #1
Austrian Chart #1
Canadian Chart #1
Dutch Chart #1
French Chart #2
German Chart #1
Italian Chart #2
Japanese Chart #6
New Zealand Chart #1
Norwegian Chart #1
Spanish Chart #2
Swedish Chart #1
Swiss Chart #1
By The Numbers: A brief snapshot of Certification*
Over 30 Million Copies Sold Worldwide
Australia 14x Platinum
Canada Diamond
Germamy 2x Platinum
New Zealand 17x Platinum
Portugal Gold
UK 3x Platinum
US 17x Platinum
* The amount of sales that gets a Diamond, Platinum and Gold Certification is different in each country mentioned

Side A
1 Born In The U.S.A.
2 Cover Me
3 Darlington County
4 Working On The Highway
5 Downbound Train
6 I'm On Fire

Side B
1 No Surrender
2 Bobby Jean
3 I'm Goin Down
4 Glory Days
5 Dancing In The Dark
6 My Hometown

*****************

The next addition to the Boxset would be the singles. Seven were released from the album (too many I think but it happened) and I would have the seven singles on CD with their artwork featuring the Born In The U.S.A. material from both the 7" and 12" where applicable.

Dancing In The Dark* / Pink Cadillac
9th May 1984
US #2
UK #4
* 12" included:
4 Dancing in the Dark (Blaster Mix) – 6:09
5 Dancing in the Dark (Radio) – 4:50
6 Dancing in the Dark (Dub) – 5:30

Cover Me* / Jersey Girl (Live)
31st July 1984
US #7
UK #16
*12" included:
3 Cover Me (Undercover Mix) – 6:09
4 Cover Me (Dub 1) – 4:02
5 Cover Me (Radio Mix) – 3:46
6 Cover Me (Dub 2) – 4:15

Born in the U.S.A.* / Shut Out the Light
30th October 1984
US #9
UK #5 (with I'm On Fire)
* 12" included
3 Born In The U.S.A. (The Freedom Mix) – 7:07
4 Born In The U.S.A. (Dub) – 7:27
5 Born In The U.S.A. (Radio Mix) – 6:01

I'm On Fire / Johnny Bye Bye
6th Feruary 1985
US #6
UK #5

Glory Days / Stand On It
5th May 1985
US #5
UK #17

I'm Goin' Down* / Janey Don't You Lose Heart
27th August 1985
US #9

My Hometown / Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
21st November 1985
US #6
UK #9

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DVD

I think there should be at least one DVD included of a live show. I have no idea how much footage there is sitting around but there was a bootleg DVD doing the rounds for a while that could maybe be cleaned up visually and the audio quality as well.The Parc De La Courneuve, Paris, France 29th June 1985 show appears to have been Pro-shot, but I don't know exactly what it was filmed for. It's a great setlist as well (see below)

1    BORN IN THE U.S.A.
2    BADLANDS
3    OUT IN THE STREET
4    JOHNNY 99
5    ATLANTIC CITY
6    SHUT OUT THE LIGHT
7    THE RIVER
8    WORKING ON THE HIGHWAY
9    TRAPPED
10   DARLINGTON COUNTY
11   GLORY DAYS
12   THE PROMISED LAND
13   MY HOMETOWN
14   THUNDER ROAD
15   COVER ME
16   DANCING IN THE DARK
17   HUNGRY HEART
18   CADILLAC RANCH
19   DOWNBOUND TRAIN
20   I'M ON FIRE
21   BECAUSE THE NIGHT
22   ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT)
23   CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE
24   BORN TO RUN
25   BOBBY JEAN
26   RAMROD
27   TWIST AND SHOUT - DO YOU LOVE ME
28   ROCKIN' ALL OVER THE WORLD

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QR Code Live Show Download

The Boxset is already CD heavy (1 album and 7 singles) so for a change of pace I thought including a QR Code that would take you directly to Springsteen's website where there will be a choice to download a show from the Official Archives from the 1984-85 Tour. As far as I can recall (I'll have to double check) four shows from the Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford NJ 10 night stand in 1984 are available and the Giants Stadium, NJ 22nd August and Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 27th September from 1985 are also available. Here's Links to two of the 1984 shows as an example :

Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford NJ 5th August 1984

Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford NJ 20th August 1984

Studio Outtakes Download or Stream

Another QR Code link could also be used for the bringing together of the numerous outtakes both released and unreleased (a number of them were released as the B-sides of the singles already mentioned above and 12 tracks were featured on the 'Tracks' Boxset and two tracks on 'Essential Bruce Sringsteen'. Others still remain unreleased to date). The link could go directly to Springsteen's Website where all the tracks can be downloaded or even streamed if you so wish.

It would probably be better to do it this way rather than have CD copies as there's so many of them. I have put together a playlist of my own with about 41 songs that you can see below:

There was actually a really good Bootleg put out called 'Unsatisfied Heart' that brought many of the 'Born In The U.S.A. Sessions' songs together that could easily be co-opted for a great playlist (see below).

Disc 1:
01 Born In The U.S.A. (Contains a different Springsteen vocal overdub and a very long, extended jam ending)
02 Murder Incorporated (This track has the original Van Zandt background vocals)
03 Downbound Train (Slighly different version / mix)
04 Glory Days (Unedited, contains an entire extra verse (about Bruce’s dad) that was cut from the officially released version)
05 This Hard Land (Original Take-re-recorded the song in 1995 and released that re-recording on 'Greatest Hits')
06 My Love Will Not Let You Down (Different Mix compared to Tracks)
07 Johnny Bye Bye (Bruce borrowed the first two lines from Chuck Berry’s song “Bye Bye Johnny)
08 Frankie (No Sax Solo)
09 I'm Goin' Down (Complete)
10 Working On The Highway (Slighly different version/mix)
11 I'm On Fire (Extended)
B-sides:
12 Sugarland
13 Follow That Dream
14 Dont Back Down
15 One Love
16 Little Girl

Disc One Recording details:
Track 11 recorded at The Hit Factory, Feb 1982.
Tracks 1, 3, 4 recorded at The Hit Factory, March or April 1982.
Track 2 recorded at The Power Station, April or May 1982.
Track 10 recorded at The Hit Factory, April 1982.
Track 5 recorded at The Hit Factory, May 11, 1982.
Track 8 recorded at The Hit Factory, May 14, 1982.
Track 6 recorded at The Hit Factory, May 5, 1982.
Track 9 recorded at The Power Station, November 9th 1983.
Track 13 recorded at Thrill Hill West, LA, CA, January 30, 1983.
Track 14 recorded at Thrill Hill West, LA, CA, January 4, 1983.
Tracks 7, 12, 15, 16 recorded at Thrill Hill West, mid Jan to mid Feb 1983.

Disc 2:
01 None But The Brave (The original mix without the new (90's) vocal track or the overdubbed second guitar)
02 Murder Incorporated #2 (Different mix permutation of the same core recording as #1)
03 (Drop On Down And) Cover Me
04 Janey Don't You Lose Heart (Same Mix as the one on tracks, longer fade out, and features Steve Van Zandt on background vocals and guitar)
05 My Love Will Not Let You Down #2 (Different Mix)
06 Cynthia (Different Mix)
07 Darlington County (Slightly different lyrics and an alternate beginning and ending)
08 Protection (Different Mix)
09 TV Movie (Original Mix with Saxophone)
10 County Fair (Ruth Jackson on background vocals)
Solo:
11 Shut Out The Light (Additional Lyric)
12 Richfield Whistle
13 Fugitives Dream
14 Delivery Man
15 The Klansman
16 Unsatisfied Heart

Disc Two Recording details:
Track 1 recorded at The Hit Factory, from the April-June 1983 sessions.
Track 3 PROBABLY recorded at The Hit Factory during Jan or early Feb 1982. May be from later.
Track 2 recorded at The Power Station, April or May 1982.
Track 4 recorded at The Hit Factory, June 16, 1983
Track 5 recorded at The Hit Factory, May 5, 1982.
Track 6 recorded at The Hit Factory, April 20, 1983.
Track 7 recorded at The Power Station during April or May 1982.
Track 8 recorded at The Hit Factory, Feb 1982.
Track 9 recorded at The Hit Factory, June 13, 1983.
Track 10 recorded at The Hit Factory, April or May 1983.
Tracks 11,13 recorded at Thrill Hill West, August 1982 through April 1983.
Tracks 12,14,16 recorded at Thrill Hill West, January through May 1983.
Track 15 recorded at Thrill Hill West, January 4, 1983.

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If you are a total music nerd like me and want to read more on the making of the 'Born In The U.S.A.' album then please go and check out BRUCEBASE WIKI. There you will be able to find all the details for the songs recorded during the Sessions between January 1982 - February 1994.

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The last addition to the boxset I would put in a Born In The U.S.A. Tour Poster.

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band - Las Vegas 22/03/24

2024-04-25T08:53:00.000+01:00

I thought it was about time I posted something from the current tour by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band. Next stop is Cardiff, Wales on the 5th May 2024.

Official Audio Picture Sleeve:

The Official Audio of the show clocks in at 2hrs 44mins and 2secs and is available here, as are all shows from the 2023 and 2024 Tour.

"Roll of the Dice" was a Tour Debut and played for the first time since 2017. "Viva Las Vegas" was also a Tour Debut and had only been played live twice before with The E Street Band, the last time being in 2002 in Las Vegas and the first time also in Vegas back in 2000. Here's the dates for the Tour:

Current Line Up:
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
Bruce Springsteen (vocals, guitar, harmonica)
Roy Bittan (piano, synthesizer)
Nils Lofgren (guitar, vocals)
Garry Tallent (bass guitar)
Steven Van Zandt (guitar, vocals)
Max Weinberg (drums)
Patti Scialfa (backing vocals, guitar) (some shows)
Charlie Giordano (keyboards)
Soozie Tyrell (violin, guitar, vocals)
Jake Clemons (saxophone, vocals)
The E Street Horns
Barry Danielian (trumpet, percussion)
Eddie Manion (saxophone, percussion)
Ozzie Melendez (trombone, percussion)
Curt Ramm (trumpet, percussion)
The E Street Choir
Anthony Almonte (percussion, vocals)
Ada Dyer (vocals, percussion)
Curtis King (vocals, percussion)
Lisa Lowell (vocals, percussion)
Michelle Moore (vocals, percussion)

Ramones - Ramones (23rd April 1976) 48 Years Old Today!

2024-04-23T13:08:00.001+01:00

I've done a lot of posts on Soundtrack4Life over the years spotlighting the Ramones but I was flicking through many of them recently and noticed that most of them have dead links and pictures that are missing and so I thought maybe I should redo some of them and there's no better place to start than the debut album which was released on this day 48 years ago in 1976. There's lots of links to the music so click on them to enjoy.

Ramones - Ramones
Sire
Produced by Craig Leon
Released 23rd April 1976
US Chart #111
🌟🌟🌟🌟

A1 Blitzkrieg Bop 2:12
A2 Beat On The Brat 2:30
A3 Judy Is A Punk 1:30
A4 I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend 2:24
A5 Chain Saw 1:55
A6 Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue 1:34
A7 I Don't Wanna Go Down To The Basement 2:35

B1 Loudmouth 2:14
B2 Havana Affair 2:00
B3 Listen To My Heart 1:56
B4 53rd & 3rd 2:19
B5 Let's Dance 1:51
B6 I Don't Wanna Walk Around With You 1:43
B7 Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World 2:09

It's been 48 years ago since my ears first heard the sound of the Ramones blaring out of the radio (thanks John Peel) and in that moment the way I listened to music totally changed. The world of music was a bizzare place in the mid seventies. There were Prog bands playing songs that sometimes lasted 20 minutes or more, hard rock bands who seemed divorced from reality, and a pop world that was even more confusing at times. Enter into this mix the self titled debut album of a band from Forest Hills, New York called Ramones.
Released on April 23rd 1976, containing 14 songs that clocked in at 29 minutes and 4 seconds! This album was a radical departure from what had been the norm. Even in New York City bands like Television and Talking Heads were quite arty whereas the Ramones were a band that had their sight clearly set on reclaiming true pop music! Though in saying that, the themes of their songs were not exactly "radio friendly" and on release the album was pretty much ignored by American Radio and the record only reached #111 on the Billboard Chart. You wonder if today a number of these songs would not see the light of day due to their subject matter.
The album cost $6,400 to record over a period of seven days. There's no guitar solos, no pompus musical arrangements, just plain old rock and roll played at breakneck speed.
It was an album that for many changed their whole musical landscape and 48 years on it still sounds incredible.
"Hit it Dee Dee...1-2-3-4!"

There was a 40th Anniversary Mono Mix of the album released by Rhino Records in 2016 that came as part of a 3CD, 1 LP Limited Edition of 19,760 set (the LP was the Mono Mix). You can listen to the Mono Mix by clicking here. You can also listen to the complete 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition by Clicking Here. CD1 includes the 2016 Remaster & Mono Mix on CD1. CD2 is a mixture of Single Mixes and Demos. CD3 features two identical sets from The Roxy, CA on 12th August 1976.

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Joey Died 15th April 2001
Dee Dee Died 5th June 2002
Johnny Died 15th September 2004
Tommy Died 11th July 2014

All the original members of the band have passed away but their legacy still lives on through the music of CJ Ramone, Richie Ramone, Marky Ramone and loads of bands scattered across the world.

Cock Sparrer - Hand On Heart (5th April 2024)

2024-04-11T21:03:00.000+01:00

It's been a couple of weeks since the last post so let's get down to business spotlighting the new album from Cock Sparrer and a little look back at some of their previous releases.There's many links to the music so click on them to enjoy.

Hand On Heart - Cock Sparrer
Captain Oi/Cherry Red (UK)
Randale Records (Germany and Europe)
Pirate Press Records (US)
5th April 2024

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A1 With My Hand On My Heart
A2 Mind Your Own Business
A3 I Belong To You
A4 Rags To Riches
A5 No Way Out
B1 Take It On The Chin
B2 One Way Ticket
B3 Nowhere To Be Found
B4 My Forgotten Dream
B5 Here We Stand

Formats:
CD
CD Limited Edition Book Sleeve - UK
Limited Edition Vinyl LP:

Red/Black Splatter LP - UK

Picture Disc LP - UK and Europe

Oxblood/Blue LP - Germany
Red/White Splatter LP - Germany

Milky Clear LP - USA

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For a band formed in 1972 the catalogue of Cock Sparrer could quite easily be classed as "lacking", especially when you consider the output of bands who have been around just as long. I feel though that it's not the quantity of released titles that defines them but the quality of those titles. 'Hand On Heart' is only their eighth studio album and from what I gather it's their last.

Current Line Up:
Colin McFaull – vocals (1972–1978, 1982–1984, 1992–present)
Mick Beaufoy – lead guitar and backing vocals (1972–1978, 1982-1983, 1992–present)
Steve Burgess – bass guitar and backing vocals (1972–1978, 1982–1984, 1992–present)
Steve Bruce – drums (1972–1978, 1982–1984, 1992–present)
Daryl Smith – rhythm guitar and backing vocals (1992–present)
Former Members:
Garrie Lammin – rhythm guitar (1976–1978)
Chris Skepis – rhythm guitar (1982–1984)
Shug O'Neill – lead guitar (1983–1984)

One of the things that stands out about the band is the consistency of line up. As you will see from above, all the original members are still in the band despite the passing of fifty two years. The stability of band members has also meant a consistency to that Cock Sparrer sound that has rarely deviated from the first time I heard them singing "Runnin' Riot" in 1977 to the present day with the new album 'Hand On Heart'.

In 1977 they were signed to Decca and released two singles: "Runnin' Riot" and "We Love You". Decca dropped the band in 1978 and even though they had enough songs for a debut album it never got a UK release, but for some reason it was only issued in Spain as 'Cock Sparrer' (and it got an official UK release as 'True Grit' in 1987 and has since been reissued "unofficially" a number of times in Germany, Russia and on different labels in Europe. It did finally get an Official UK release in 2022 on Captain Oi as part of Cock Sparrer's 50th Anniversary celebrations and was a Limited Edition of 2000 on vinyl). To date I have still never seen a physical copy of the Decca release but did purchase the 'True Grit' album in 1987 released on Razor Records. The band ceased activity in 1978 but caught a new lease of life when a couple of their songs appeared on the Oi! compilations 'Oi! The Album' (1980) and 'Strength Thru Oi!' (1981). In 1982 Cock Sparrer returned with an exceptional single, "England Belongs To Me" followed in 1983 by their "debut album" (in the UK at least) 'Shock Troops'. One more album, 'Running Riot in '84', followed before the band for a second time ceased activity.

In 1992 the band reunited for a second time and played a number of reunion shows and released in 1994 the excellent 'Guilty As Charged' album and 'Two Monkeys' in 1997. Since then the band has toured and played at festivals like Wasted/Rebellion, Punk & Disorderly and Riot Fest in Chicago. 'Here We Stand' album came ten years later in 2007 and then 'Forever' in 2017.

Thanks goodness we haven't had to wait until 2027 for another new album! Have a listen above to the 'Hand On Heart' album.

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My Top Five Cock Sparrer Songs

1 - Because You're Young
2 - We're Coming Back
3 - Chip On My Shoulder
4 - Spirit of '76
5 - Anthem