The Harder They Come ....

Hello my beauties,

coincidentally I've been listening to some old Ska/Rocksteady tunes recently which had 'Rude Boy' in the title, so I thought to myself: well, there must be more in your collection ... and this is what I came up with ... for your enjoyment! So straighten your tie, put on your pork pie hat and dance to this:

1) Anhrefn - 'Edrych Ar Y Rude Boys' (mp3): from a split LP they had with another band, the name of which escaped me. Taken from a cassette tape (as you will be able to tell from the noise in the background) of John Peel's Music on BFBS back in 1989. A neat version of the Ruts' favourite ... that's if you speak Welsh ... which I don't do alas.

2) The Clarendonians - 'Rudie Bam Bam' (mp3): one of the many many great originals from Jamaica, this time from 1966, and again ripped from a cassette, I'm afraid. But despite of the (rather poor) sound quality it is a gem, that's for sure!

3) The Clarendonians - 'Rude Boy Gone A Jail' (mp3): and here's another one by them, also from 1966 ...

4) The Clash - 'Rudie Can't Fail' (mp3): a total classic from the only band that matters and therefore of course it has to be included here: from 'London Calling' from 1979.

5) Ted, Leo & The Pharmacists - 'Where Have All The Rude Boys Gone' (mp3): something more contemporary now, from 2003 in fact. From the band's 'Hearts Of Oak' - album.

6) The Rudies - 'Give Peace A Chance' (mp3): again taken from a cassette, but I think the vinyl pressing was been rather appallingly off centre - and scratchy - in the first place. Lots of surface noise, but again it is too good to be neglected just because of the sound quality. From 1969.

7) Rudi - 'Big Time' (mp3): filed next to The Rudies ... which shows that my finding system, such as it is, is somewhat in line. I mean, had I found The Beatles next to The Rudies, it would have been a bit of a surprise, right? Anyway: again a total classic, from 1978.

8) The Ruts - 'Staring At The Rude Boys' (mp3): from their 'Grin And Bear It' - LP from 1980.

9) The Scofflaws - 'Rudy's Back' (mp3): from their 1991 debut - LP. Third Wave Ska from the States ... and why not?

10) The Spanish Tonians - 'Rudie Gets Plenty' (mp3): again recorded in '66/'67 in Jamaica. I can't tell you how much I love the tunes from this era: indispensable stuff indeed!!

11) The Specials - 'A Message To You Rudy' (mp3): yeah, I know you have all been waiting for this to come: from 1979 and from one of the best albums in the history of recorded music!

12) Desmond Dekker & The Aces - 'Rudy Got Soul' (mp3): from 1966 ... which shows that good old Desmond did other neat things besides 'The Israelites' ...

13) Laurel Aitken - 'Rudi Got Married' (mp3): played that before, but it simply has to be included in this post: my personal favourite here ... they lyrics are hard to beat, I'd say! From a 1980 Peel Session.

14) Laurel Aitken & The Loafers - 'Rudi Got Married' (live) (mp3): and because I like this tune up to no degree, here it is again in a different version: recorded live together with The Loafers! I don't know exactly when this was done, but I assume it must have been in the late 80's.

15) Dandy Livingstone - 'Rudy, A Message To You' (mp3): from 1967 ... which shows you, kids, that The Specials do brilliant cover versions, but the originals should always be heard as well!

16) The Fabulous Rudies - '99 Luftballons' (mp3): again a cover version, and I don't know if you know the original, which was a hit for Nena, a German singer/band in the 80's. This though is from 2006.

Phew .... do your feet hurt by now?! If so, my mission is accomplished!

Cheers,

Dirk

I Think I Need Help ....

Hello dearest friends,

another shameless theft (here) from the mighty Vinyl Villain, you might think, but let me tell you that this is not true, no! The idea cropped up several months ago, but I never got around to post it here until today:

Back in 1989 or 1990 (perhaps even 1991, but I don't think so) I got a cassette tape from a friend of mine, Iris, and it has been a much treasured item ever since. Full of good songs, a few weak ones as well, but all in all I always liked coming back to it from time to time. The problem with the tape is that most of the songs are unknown to me (Iris didn't include any information whatsoever (women, ey?!) and I hope she burns in hell for this!!). Now, I have always been desperate to figure out whom they might be by, so that I can get my hands on a decent vinyl/CD copy (or, to be honest, find them as high quality mp3's somewhere for illegal download) one of these days.

I assume most of you will laugh out loud, because you know these tunes by heart and can immediately identify them as Top 10 Hits everybody can sing along to .... but I can't alas. Therefore any hints from your side in the comment section, dearest friends, are highly appreciated.

Along with the songs below you get a little bit of rather cheesy 80's dancefloor stuff on said tape, not the thing one would want to hear today, certainly not me. But also there's some early Nick Cave on it, very early Young Marble Giants and Beautiful South's 'Song For Whoever' (not a particular favourite of mine, but so what?), all of that along with The Sugarcubes' 'Birthday' and old Ian Dury - stuff. A strange combination, but wonderful!

Below are the tunes I like best, but I haven't got the slightest idea who sings them and/or what they're titled. Do you?

Iris1 (mp3) - I have absolutely no idea at all who this might be ....

Iris2 (mp3) - sounds pretty much like Jonathan Richman, I always thought ....

Iris3 (mp3) - again: not the slightest idea ....

Iris4 (mp3) - as above ...

Iris5 (mp3) - ... again.

Iris6 (mp3) - I'm willing to have small bet that those are The Violent Femmes ...

Iris7 (mp3) - cuts off before the end, but I hope someone can identify it nevertheless.

Thanks very much indeed for your help, folks! Highly appreciated, as I said.

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

And now for something completely different:

I noticed in the last two weeks that every - and I mean every - blog I frequently visit has featured a Michael Jackson - tribute in one form or another. Although I never gave a toss about Jackson (never liked his music nor his dancing nonsense nor his childish giggling all the freakin' time he was on the telly .... actually I always thought he was a complete twerp), Sexyloser will of course follow the common herd and post a little something as well, a neat tune I have always been fond of:

Negativland - 'Michael Jackson' (mp3) [from 'Escape From Noise', 1987]

See you soon, friends. I promise to post more frequently from now on .... that's if Little Loser allows me to do so .....

Have fun,

Dirk

Dearest friends (and, of course, followers),

is this site dead?, you may have wondered in the recent past. The truth of the matter is 'no', but only the lucky ones of you who can call themselves 'parents' will be able to understand that one's free time (and this includes weekends. Especially weekends, in fact) reduces itself to zero as soon as there is a baby in the house. Which is the case in Sexyloserland for three months now, therefore I can only apologise to you for the lack of posts. But the struggle continues as far as I'm concerned and hopefully I will find myself in a position soon where Little Loser allows me to take care of you all more often. Time alone can tell when this might possibly be though ...

Either way, enough of that. The only time when I can listen to music these days is on me way to work in the car in the morning (and on me way back in the afternoon obviously). Well, this morning I drove along, the sun was shining, and - as it happens rather often - I heard a specific tune which immediately made me think of another tune. Sometimes this is because of similar lyrics, sometimes because the two tracks were released in the same year, sometimes because I bought the two records together when they came out. I'm sure you know what I'm trying to talk about here, if not, here's what happened this morning:

I was listening to this:

The Detroit Cobras (aka Goddesses)

The Detroit Cobras - 'Last Night' (mp3). A great 2003 cover of the Strokes' tune, featured before on this site, but that's no excuse not to play it again.

I was humming along to it when suddenly all this 'Last Night' - stuff in the lyrics brought another line to mind: "Last Night There Were Skinheads On My Lawn", which, I'm sure you know, is included in the very fantastic 'Take The Skinheads Bowling' by Camper Van Beethoven. Now, only last week I heard a brilliant version of this by The Manic Street Preachers, which was new to me until Jim from Quick Before It Melts submitted it for the 'Skin' - episode of the Contrast Podcast. Great tune, Jim, thanks for having chosen it. So here it is to you all, from 1996, The Manic Street Preachers' version of 'Take The Skinheads Bowling' (mp3).

Manic Street Preachers (whom I normally don't like very much, I must admit)

The opening line in it goes "Every Day I Get Up And Pray To Jah", which made me think of another gem, something I hadn't heard for quite some time:

The Natural-Ites & The Realistics' 'Picture On The Wall' (mp3), one of the many tunes from Jamaica which praise Jah. From 1983, and a real belter for sure if you're into Jamaican stuff!

couldn't find any Natural-Ites - pictures, so instead you'll get me, captured in sunny Montego Bay, Jamaica, circa 1990.


Well, thinking of Jamaican music - more of Ska than of Reggae - another great artist came to my mind: the wonderful Laurel Aitken (okay, I know he moved to England rather early in his career, but what the heck: he's from Jamaica and the story in the song I thought of clearly 'plays' in Jamaica): 'Rudi Got Married' (mp3). This is the version he did for a Peel - session back in 1980.

Laurel Aitken (another God, as far as I'm concerned)

Which made me think of another gentleman who got in trouble (in one form or another) with the police: the guy Cock Sparrer sing about in 'Riot Squad' (mp3).

Cock Sparrer

Now, this tune from 1983 was recently chosen by the mighty FiL from the mighty PogoAGoGo, again for the Contrast Podcast. It's good throughout and I must admit I seem to have forgotten over the years. So thanks, FiL, for giving me a reminder: I can't get it out of my head and listen to it frequently these days.

This is also true for the next tune and believe it or not: I have Cock Sparrer on a CD in the car together with The Indelicates' 'We Hate The Kids' (mp3) from 2006 and those two are the fucking best songs I've heard in all of 2009 ... so far. Repeat function is a very good invention indeed, I learned!

The Indelicates: a mighty band!

Now, if you listen more or less closely to The Indelicates' lyrics, you'll hear them moan about "Fat Men Who Once Met The MC5", which, strangely enough, made me think not of a song by The MC5, but of a T-Shirt one of The Pooh Sticks (Hue?) wears on the front cover of their 1988 self-titled mini album, the T-Shirt reading 'MC5 Back In The USA'.

The Pooh Sticks ... from years ago!

So, to close this tale of my complicated thought structures, here come The Pooh Sticks and 'Heroes And Villains' (mp3).

btw: this tune of course made me think of my mate JC aka The Vinyl Villain. But that's a different story. Visit his site here nevertheless, friends, your life will no longer be the same. Always a place to enjoy, but especially his offers for May and (early) June are outstanding!

Would be nice to know if someone found something intersting amongst the tunes above. So leave comments, okay?

Cheerio,

Dirk

It's Paul Haig - Day today ...

.... because J.C. - aka The Vinyl Villain - tells us so. You may wonder - and rightly so - what this may possibly mean .... so just have a look here and here and you'll understand it all.

Also you may wonder who this Paul Haig might be. Well, I must admit, I don't know a single tune he has written on his own and this might be true for a lot of you. But Paul Haig was the singer with the fabulous Josef K. ... and if this name doesn't ring a bell with you, then get a life, kids!

Josef K. released their stuff on the legendary Postcard label and they were highly influential for numerous bands of the post punk and indie era and they - and Paul - still deserve some attention these days. Especially these days perhaps.

So lean back whilst you read the below essay by James Nice from 2001. It sums it all up pretty neatly, I would think. And - in order - to put you in the right mood beforehand, here's a little gem from yesteryear for you to enjoy:

Josef K. - 'Crazy To Exist' (mp3)

For two brief years at the dawn of the 1980s Josef K gave the
Postcard label its sharpest cutting edge. Although outlived - and
outsold - by labelmates Orange Juice and Aztec Camera, Josef K's
flame burned brightest, while their influence has touched bands
as diverse as Propaganda and the Wedding Present. Yet just as
interesting are the subsequent solo careers of all four members,
which include stints with Orange Juice, Aztec Camera and 4AD
outfit the Happy Family. Not to mention the undervalued body of
solo work produced by enigmatic frontman Paul Haig.


TV ART

Inspired by the heady punk summer of 1977, and later Pere Ubu and
the New York art-punk sounds of the Velvet Underground and
Television, Josef K came together in Edinburgh in mid-1978 as TV
Art. Initially a three-piece, guitarists Paul Haig and Malcolm
Ross and drummer Ron Torrance were briefly joined by bassist Gary
McCormack, later to find fame of another kind with the Exploited.
After David Weddell took over on bass early in 1979 the group
began gigging locally, joining a thriving Edinburgh scene which
also included the Associates, the Visitors, TV21, Fire Engines,
the Scars and Another Pretty Face.

At this point, Haig and Ross shared lead vocals, both apparently
being strongly reminiscent of Lou Reed. It therefore came as no
great surprise that their covers included the Velvet's Sweet Jane
and I'm Waiting for the Man, as well as Be My Wife (Bowie),
Psycho Killer (Talking Heads) and Marquee Moon (Television).

Summer 1979 saw TV Art change their name to Josef K, a reflection
of Haig's then-current fascination with Czech writer Franz Kafka.
Like another influence, avant punks Subway Sect, the group took
to sporting sharp monochrome suits - from Oxfam. Josef K also
recorded their first eight-song studio demo tape with the
intention of landing a deal with a credible label such as Radar
or Rough Trade, though these embryonic songs failed to elicit
much interest.

Of this formative period, Malcolm Ross would later comment:

Josef K was like a gang. We would all hang out together. We
didn't like talking to promoters and such. It was
snobbishness to an extent. We just thought that they
weren't in the gang or on the same wavelength. I suppose we
were quite puritanical. We didn't like sexism or
laddishness... It was modernist. I was quite interested in
the original mod movement, and that was one of the
influences in wearing suits. Again, it was a reaction to
the whole dirty, long-haired thing that punk reacted to,
but punk wasn't too far off it either. Punks were just as
dirty. I didn't like that - I wanted some kind of dignity.
We were forward looking.

None of us had ever played in groups prior to punk so it
gave us clean slate. Whereas you could tell the bands who
had, because they would chuck in rock guitar cliches here,
there and everywhere. We never did. Paul and I were always
striving to be, if not experimental, at least not cliched.


ABSOLUTE POSTCARD

Meanwhile, a chance encounter with Steven Daly, drummer with
Glasgow band Orange Juice, lead to a loose alliance between the
two bands, who began playing out together, alternating headline
status on one another's home turf. After Daly set up his own
label, Absolute, Chance Meeting by Josef K became its first (and
last) release. Both sides were lifted straight from the earlier
demo, and although initial sales were modest on release in
November 1979, BBC radio airplay from John Peel afforded the band
a degree of national exposure.

Edwyn Collins and Alan Horne, singer and manager respectively of
Orange Juice, subsequently set up Postcard Records, to which
Josef K duly signed. Arty and camp, Postcard stood in stark
contrast to the colourless majority of independent labels of the
'cold wave' era. The second Josef K single, Radio Drill Time, was
recorded in April 1980 during a shared session with Orange Juice,
who cut Blue Boy. The flipside, Crazy To Exist, is credited as
'live', but was in truth recorded in a cottage in Fife. As well
as doubling up on studio time, both records also appeared in the
same sleeve, a double-sided wraparound affair, many of which were
arduously hand-coloured.

Radio Drill Time found favour with the rock weeklies, who now
ventured north to check out 'the Sound Of Young Scotland', a
phrase appropriated by Horne from Motown. In consequence Josef
K played their London debut in October, and one month later
released It's Kinda Funny. Easily their most relaxed and
reflective single, Funny earned them the kind of hyperbolic
reviews that in time came to weigh increasingly heavily on the
group. Interestingly, the song would also prove the most durable
oldie in Haig's solo live set.


DEBUT ALBUM

November 1980 also saw the band record their debut album, Sorry
For Laughing, a record which (until its appearance on CD in 1990)
quickly joined the pantheon of Great Lost Albums. Twelve tracks
were cut, test pressings made, and a deluxe silver sleeve proofed
- yet at the eleventh hour the release was cancelled. Over the
years an astonishing stock of rumour has attached to the record,
while even at the time no little hype surrounded its
cancellation. Horne claimed that the twelve-song set was too
well-produced (!), while rumours abounded of several thousand
finished copies being destroyed.

Later, the band would claim that the mix was unsatisfactory (as
in too bass-heavy and clean), and that it failed to represent
their blistering live sound. Certainly, most of the songs were
already old, and the album gave little indication of what the
group proved capable of delivering just nine months later with
the Only Fun In Town. Yet while many subsequently judged Sorry
For Laughing a more listener-friendly set than its successor,
it's an inferior piece of art. And collectors are warned against
paying hundreds of pounds for test pressings, it being rumoured
that rather more than the usual handful were pressed, with the
express object of producing saleable rarities.

Thus Sorry For Laughing would gather dust in a vault for a
decade. Ever uncompromising, Josef K were already displaying a
marked disdain for careerist notions, even going so far as to
boast of making only one or two albums before splitting in a
blaze of glory.


THE CREPUSCULE CONNECTION

In December 1980 Orange Juice and Josef K travelled to Brussels
at the invitation of Les Disques du Crepuscule for a New Year's
Eve concert at Plan K. The date also featured Brussels p-funk
enigma Marine, a jazz band and silent films. Manager Allan
Campbell recalls:

The concert was invaded by a group of inebriated punks, one
of whom threw a plate of food in Edwyn Collins' face when
he was onstage. The OJ singer retaliated with a kick. By
the time Josef K appeared feelings in the crowd were
running high. A fight broke out in front of the stage and
the group had to stop playing while the promoters attempted
to sort things out.

Indeed, at a distance of twenty years, it is easy to overlook the
fact that Josef K considered themselves a live rather than a
studio band. Allan Campbell again:

Since their early live shows with the likes of Echo and the
Bunnymen, the Cure, Magazine and the Clash (where they were
heckled for being 'mods'), they were now becoming
formidable live performers. In concert was the place to
truly experience Ross and Haig's sensational guitar work.
Ross' lead playing in particular was inspiring. Fiery,
committed and ringing, it was a key element in the group's
sound. Onstage was where Josef K made most sense.

It was becoming increasingly apparent that Josef K weren't
the serious young men that they first appeared to be. A
penchant for psychedelic shirts, the occasional kaftan and
liquid light projection was their tongue-in-cheek way of
repudiating their monochromatic image. Because Haig refused
to talk to the audiences (part of their anti-showbusiness
stance; neither would they play encores or sign autographs)
he would tape song introductions and play them over the PA.

Later, he and Ross would expand this to include their own
versions of some old Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis routines -
"Did you take a bath this morning?" / "Why? Is there one
missing?.

During the first visit to Brussels Josef K also re-recorded the
track Sorry For Laughing for single release. When Crepuscule
released the record in April 1981 it was rightly hailed as the
group's strongest offering to date, and established the
definitive Josef K style of circular rhythms paired with incisive
guitar angles. Indeed, the song became so highly regarded that
German sophisticates Propaganda later covered it (albeit blandly)
on their acclaimed ZTT album A Secret Wish.


CHANCE MEETING

Horne, upset that the groups' best single yet was to appear on
another label, pressed Josef K into re-recording Chance Meeting
for Postcard, thus triggering a frantic six-month burst of
activity. In March, several songs from the scrapped debut album
were donated to the BBC as a fake John Peel radio session, while
in April the band crossed to Brussels again to play several more
shows, and to record their debut album a second time. Chance
Meeting, released in June, was far superior to the Absolute
version eighteen months earlier and, complete with added brass,
saw Josef K beginning to sound like a bona fide pop band.

This overt commercial edge, together with a distinct funkiness,
was further developed that same month by their one proper Peel
session. Bearing in mind that these four songs were to prove
Josef K's last recordings together, their excellence makes the
demise of the group all the more heartbreaking. Heaven Sent and
Missionary were the new songs, two fine slices of looping punk-
funk, the latter heavily influenced by Life in Reverse, a single
by Brussels band Marine released on Crepuscule in April. However
the biggest surprise came with a charming Alice Cooper cover -
Applebush - sung by Ross's wife, Susan Buckley.


THE ONLY FUN IN TOWN - PARADISE BUNGLED

Although expectations for the 'debut' album were now running
high, it met with mixed reaction upon release in July. Although
praised in Melody Maker, The Only Fun in Town was roundly slated
by Sounds, while Paul Morley, writing in the NME, bemoaned:

...an artificial paradise totally bungled. Fun is not much
at all chasing itself in dizzying circles. Somewhere
between the chunky echo beat and the wound down punk bleat,
through a large door and down a shady lane, in the hands of
a world famous producer, lies smart and shirty and
splenetic. The Josef K Sound that would present their songs
with class.

The precarious balance between reality and reverie is lost,
lost, lost, the reduced production degenerates rather than
glorifies the escapist desires and poetic fancy. Fun is
subdued not sublime: an errant substitute for what could
have been... Singer Paul Haig is brilliant. He acts rich -
as the group should do, as the production should be - but
he alone cannot stop Fun being scruffy. I am appalled. Will
there be a third time? Can they forget their past? Is
what's lost all? Josef K have cheapened themselves and
cheated the world: not bad for a first LP.

Barely half an hour long, comprising many familiar songs from
singles, and blessed with a hyper-bright production that belied
the six day schedule in a Belgian eight-track studio, TOFIT
arrived as a shock indeed to anyone expecting Josef K to turn in
the brand of sophisticated pop subterfuge that, say, the
Associates would produce a year later with Sulk. Haig now
reflects that:

I think we committed commercial suicide. When we were
mixing the album, we wanted it to sound like a live
concert, because we were so into playing live. I purposely
mixed down my own vocals. God knows why. I regret that.

Nonetheless TOFIT remains a dazzling record, featuring ten left-
handed pop nuggets of undeniable genius, and while very much the
uncompromising 'punk' album both band and Horne had long
promised, it effortlessly topped the alternative charts for
several weeks. The album also stands as the only album that the
original Postcard label ever got around to releasing.


CRAZY TO EXIST?

By way of promotion Josef K set out on a lengthy UK tour during
July and August, with boy wonders Aztec Camera in support. The
last London show, at the Venue, is preserved on the 'Crazy to
Exist' CD. However, the final Scottish date at Glasgow Maestro's
would prove their last. The exact reasons behind the split -
principally Haig's decision - remain obscure, although it would
appear that a combination of too-great expectations, small
incomes, Haig's dislike of touring and unspecified disagreements
over future direction were primarily to blame. Rather fancifully,
Alan Horne saw fit to blame the NME. Whatever the cause, one of
the Great White Hopes of the decade had self-destructed after
just one album, thus fulfilling their own brash prophecy.

Interviewed by Johnny Waller in Sounds early the following year,
Haig confessed:

I was pretty depressed for a week because it was the end of
an era, but after that I was really happy that we'd split,
because I could get on with everything I wanted to do. I
don't listen to any of those records now. It's all gone.
Nothing from that period interests me, except maybe Sorry
for Laughing. We didn't really get on all that well towards
the end. We didn't have anything in common, so there were
no jokes, no happy feeling. It was just down to doing a
job. Josef K weren't that famous anyway. We've split up, so
what? Everybody changes.

More tellingly, the singer revealed:

I've lost alot of the ideals I had in Josef K. About not
wanting to be commercially successful, suffering for your
art and all that. Not that I wasn't sincere about it at the
time... But I got sick of it. I want to be signed to a
major and make a great record that will get radio airplay
and be a big hit, then make my own money from that. I don't
mind being manipulated to a certain extent in order to get
what I want, but in time I want to control everything.

It's an ideal which Haig, perhaps to his detriment, has never
strayed. But before going on to examine the subsequent careers
of all four members, it is worth jumping forward in time and
covering the many posthumous Josef K releases.


THE RECORDED LEGACY

First came Crepuscule's 'Farewell Single' in 1982, combining
Missionary (from the Peel session) with two instrumental takes
on the Angle (from TOFIT). Former manager Allan Campbell (who
also oversaw Haig's solo career until 1984) then took charge of
the back catalogue via his Supreme International Editions label,
issuing an ep featuring Heaven Sent (Peel again) as the lead
track, and a compilation album, Young and Stupid. The track
selection of the latter - undertaken by the band themselves -
left a little to be desired, presenting neither an accurate
overview of their career, or a complete collection of wallet-
withering single sides which had rapidly become pricey New Wave
rarities. Fortunately, in 1990 LTM collected every
Josef K song ever committed to vinyl (together with demo tracks,
the Peel session and the shelved album) onto two remastered
compact discs.

In Japan, the LTM CD releases were split into three, with the
addition of a 'Rare Live' set identical to the first 12 tracks
on the live album eventually released worldwide by LTM in 2000.
German label Marina released a fine 'greatest hits' set titled
Endless Soul on CD in 1998 (with great sleevenotes by Allan
Campbell), while the following year Creation offshoot RevOla
reissued the LTM CD coupling of Sorry For Laughing and The Only
Fun In Town.

In the years immediately following their Josef K would spawn a
legion of imitators, a perhaps questionable legacy given that
their influence was chiefly mirrored in the shambling C86-stable.
The direct covers and tributes number just three: Sorry For
Laughing (Propaganda), It's Kinda Funny (the Confettis), and a
heartfelt adieu from the June Brides, titled Josef's Dead.


PAUL HAIG SOLO - RHYTHM OF LIFE

Back in 1981, none of the former group members wasted any time
in exploring new avenues, although singer and chief songwriter
Paul Haig would maintain the highest profile. With Postcard
disintegrating amidst the JK split and Orange Juice signing to
Polydor, Haig quickly released two interim singles on Edinburgh
independent Rational, run by manager Allan Campbell.

The first of these, Soon, was a collaboration with fellow
Edinburgh musician Steven Harrison (formerly of Metropak), while
the second single saw Haig guesting on a what was in effect a
vanity record by artist Sebastian Horsley. Exploring territory
first charted by Heaven 17 in their BEF guise, both singles
appeared under the generic name Rhythm Of Life Organisation
(RoL), an imprimatur Haig has retained ever since for everything
from production work to his backing band. Such anonymity also
suited his avowed dislike of publicity; indeed Haig has never
once released a record with his own hardly wretched face on the
front cover.

Also via Rational, Haig released a bizarre cassette-only set of
home-recorded electronica titled Drama, featuring Kafka texts set
to music as well as an odd take on Forever Drone. With just 700
copies manufactured, collectors will be hard put to track down
a copy today, though it should be added that this minor curiosity
is hardly a must-have.

Haig subsequently teamed up with Crepuscule to release future
product, and in January 1982 made solo live debuts in Edinburgh
(Valentinos) and London (the Venue). According to the NME's Dave
Hill, for the latter show:

Rhythm of Life remained a mystery... Initially they seem
like an artful re-arrangement of the Iggy-Oakey ice-box
delivery, and the Bogart mail order catalogue, into a
perfect cliche of the same. But how straight are their
faces? I don't know, but Haig projects with the efficiency
of a sly android, blonde, doleful and besuited, spooning
each painstaking tune with an immaculate croon. All is calm
and self-contained... Since Josef K split Haig has pursued
several lines, yet the cool execution of this show is
undeniable, elegant and curvaceous.

The following month Rhythm of Life took part in Crepuscule's
first trans-European package tour, Dialogue North-South, also
featuring Durutti Column, the Names, Marine, Richard Jobson,
Antena and Tuxedomoon. Eschewing a live drummer in favour of a
rhythm box, RoL gained plaudits for their versatile, snappy brand
of funk minimalism, and five excerpts from these shows can be
found on Crepuscule's souvenir compilation (TWI 082). Since two
of the songs (Stories and Glory) were never subsequently re-
recorded, it's an album well worth seeking out, although
completists are warned that the CD version omits the rather
shambolic rendition of Shining Hour present on the vinyl and
cassette. The CD liner notes also reprint much of an excellent
on-the-spot report written by the late Johnny Waller, reprinted
from his piece in Sounds (April 3 1982).


BACK TO BELGIUM

Haig elected to move to Brussels in March, and there embarked on
an intensive recording schedule at Little Big One studio. This
resulted in two self-produced singles, Running Away and Justice,
although the latter was destined to be shelved. However, after
just four months Haig tired of continental living and returned
to Edinburgh. Running Away, a charming cover of the Sly Stone
classic, appeared in May on Crepuscule subsidiary Operation
Twilight and topped the independent charts in the UK, its success
unhampered by the Raincoats' decision to release their own
version of the same song simultaneously.

The excellent follow-up single, Justice, was cancelled after
Crepuscule signed a licensing deal with Island. 7" test pressings
on Crepuscule (TWI 100) nevertheless exist, as does a separate
12" release on Crepuscule/Interference featuring two mixes of the
song Blue For You, although this seems to have been intended as
a DJ record more than a proper commercial release.

While in Brussels Haig also recorded the infamous Swing in '82
set, partly at the instigation of Crepuscule kingpin Michel
Duval. Originally intended for release as a 10' ep, Swing saw
Haig tackling six big band numbers Sinatra-style. While Vic
Godard fans no doubt found much to admire, others loathe it with
rare passion. The anti-faction now includes Haig himself,
although back in 1982 he had this to say to Masterbag magazine:

After listening to lots of Frank Sinatra records I became
aware of these fantastic old songs. I think the music and
the lyrics are absolutely incredible - especially the
lyrics. You just don't hear lyrics like them nowadays.
They're just so emotional. It was a big challenge to try
and sing them. The 'swing' side starts with The Song is
You, then All of You and Let's Face the Music and dance.
The 'dream' side is Love Me Tender, The Way You Look
Tonight and Send in the Clowns. I think the first side is
around 1938, with songs by Cole Porter, Irving Berlin,
people like that. The second side is slightly more modern.

The basic instrumentation on side one is just drums, double
bass and piano, with the addition of string synthesiser on
side two. We had to try about three sets of musicians
before we found these old session musicians that had been
playing jazz all their lives. The piano player must have
been 70 years old! The drummer was quite young, in his mid
twenties, so it was quite a challenge for him to keep pace
with these brilliant jazz musicians, as it was for me too.
I'm sure they thought it was a joke. I remember I turned up
at the studio the morning they arrived. They said, 'Are you
the singer? The producer?' They looked at each other in
disbelief.

It could either be slammed or it could be looked upon as
something brilliant. I tend to think that in England it's
going to be laughed at, but I don't think that's justified
because the musicianship is really, really good on it. If
anyone slags it off then it must be for some other reason,
but they can't fault the playing.

In fact this record too was shelved, and not released by
Crepuscule until 1985, with five tracks only , Haig having
finally vetoed the inclusion of Send in the Clowns.


THE GREAT WHITE HOPE

Thanks to the Island licensing deal Haig recorded his first album
in New York at the end of 1982, with the late Alex Sadkin
producing. Featuring a host of crack sessioneers (including
Bernie Worrell, Anton Fier and Jack Waldman), his new direction -
a brand of polished dance/electro - seemed a million miles away
from the abrasive edge of Josef K. Indeed Haig was already
disowning his past with a vengeance, informing the NME that JK
was a 'cockroach' he wanted squashed, although in fact songs such
as Adoration and Heaven Sent had begun life with that band. Yet
fine though songs such as Justice, Adoration and Stolen Love
were, Haig's solo debut played very much as a producer's record,
and in surrendering a measure of artistic control Haig lost
something of his identity. And, it cannot have helped that Sadkin
was then heavily involved with the odious Thompson Twins, whose
Tom Bailey also guested on the album.

The first single release on Island was Heaven Sent, a drastic
club refit of the earlier JK number. Despite Island's best
marketing efforts, however, it stalled at 74, and failed to
provide Haig with the hit many had confidently predicted. The
Rhythm Of Life album appeared in October 1983 and was accompanied
by a short seven date UK tour. Haig's touring group included
Malcolm Ross on guitar, together with bassist David McClymont
(also fresh from Orange Juice), drummer James Locke and former
Associate Alan Rankine. However, although the album sold
respectably Haig found himself caught between two commercial
stools. Plainly ahead of his time, Haig had perhaps moved too far
too fast, his polished pop alienating many Josef K fans not yet
ready to trade their raincoats for a sharp Italian two-piece and
a place in line outside Studio 54. Reviewing the album in NME,
Chris Bohn lamented the fate of an artist:

...dropped somewhere mid-Atlantic and left to drown in
liquid demi-disco. Though four percussionists are credited
the record has no forward momentum. It sort of slithers
across the dancefloor. Worse, Haig has tailored his
songwriting to serve a form he only imagines is there.
Cutesy couplets are left in mid air, grappling after non-
existent rhythm hooks... More than a name producer and an
NY studio he needs sympathetic musicians to bring out the
character of his songs.

Simple bad luck seems to have prevented all three singles
providing the solid hits which might have allowed Haig to cross
over to a new, wider audience. Inexplicably Island failed even
to release the album - or the singles - in the US, a market in
which they might have performed well. Although the slick New York
Remix mini album was belatedly issued in America in 1984
(appearing on Crepuscule in Europe), it was a textbook example
of too little too late. In 1990 Haig recalled of this difficult
period:

The main thing was that I didn't want to be the centre of
it all. The initial idea was just to keep working with
different people under the name Rhythm of Life. It was more
of a big joke. It all went a bit funny when I signed to
Island, but before there were quite a few things in the
pipeline. But Island wanted a pop image to sell... and they
didn't get one.


BIG BLUE WORLD

Already relations with Island had become strained. Incoming MD
Dave Robinson showed little enthusiasm for Haig's music, while
an overly candid Sounds interview and an abortive appearance on
a childrens' television show (Hold Tight) to promote Never Give
Up soured relations further. When Haig recorded a new single, Big
Blue World, in December, Island chose to cancel it just a
fortnight before its scheduled release. Fortunately, Crepuscule
continued to release Haig product in Europe, so that the delayed
record - with a sublime cover of Suicide's road classic Ghost
Rider on the flipside - arrived in the UK on import. Both sides
of the single featured the same group that Haig had formed to
promote the album live.

In 1984 Haig joined forces with several celebrated electro peers,
recording The Only Truth in collaboration with Bernard Sumner and
Donald Johnson (of New Order and A Certain Ratio respectively),
and The Executioner with Cabaret Voltaire. November saw the
completion of a new album, this time recorded in London with
Rankine co-producing. Unfortunately the failure of The Only Truth
as a single lead to Island severing the Crepuscule connection,
and so the untitled second album (co-produced by Alan Rankine)
was shelved. For the record, the tracklist ran as follows: Love
Eternal/Shining Hour/One Lifetime Away/Fear and Dancing/All Our
Love/Trust/Love and War/Big Blue World/The Only Truth.
Nevertheless all but the ballad All My Love were subsequently
released, with this (inferior) early version of Love Eternal even
appearing as a single over two years later.


THE WARP OF PURE FUN

Rather than release the shelved set on Crepuscule, it was decided
to combine half the album with new songs recorded throughout
1985. Haig launched his fightback later in the year with a
powerful single, Heaven Help You Now, and the excellent album
Warp Of Pure Fun. Again produced with Alan Rankine, it was a less
one-dimensional set than its predecessor, focusing on the songs
and arrangements (and live drums) rather than programmed rhythm
tracks, though without entirely abandoning club appeal. In the
UK Warp appeared on another short-lived Crepuscule offshoot,
Operation Afterglow, but while the album fared comparatively well
as an independent release, Afterglow failed to propel it into the
national chart.

Unhappy with limited sales, Haig left Crepuscule to seek another
major deal. After demos recorded for EMI came to nothing, Haig
spent most of 1986 writing new material, surviving on PRS
royalties from his Crepuscule back catalogue. He also found time
to embark on a fruitful partnership with another Associate, Billy
Mackenzie, the result being low key dates in Glasgow (May) and
Edinburgh (September), which mixed their own greatest hits with
covers such as Running Away and Yoko Ono's Walking On Thin Ice.
Later the pair united to perform Amazing Grace on a Scots
Hogmanay television programme, and each donated a song to the
other's forthcoming album. Chained would prove a highlight on the
next Haig album, although Mackenzie's version of Reach The Top
remains unreleased (as does Haig's) after the Associates' patchy
Glamour Chase set was shelved by WEA. Following Mackenzie's
untimely death in 1997 an entire album of Haig/Mackenzie
material, Memory Palace appeared on CD in 1999. Much warm light
on the pair's firm friendship is cast by Tom Doyle's admirable
biography, Glamour Chase, published by Bloomsbury in 1998.

Haig returned - albeit briefly - to Crepuscule in September 1987
to record several tracks, though the only new record to emerge
was the fine Torchomatic single, complete with spy theme and a
home-recorded instrumental cycle on the flipside. The European
Sun compilation album followed, including most of the shelved
Island album not included on Warp plus several rare b-sides, and
the unreleased Cabaret Voltaire collaboration from 1984. An
expanded CD version was licensed to German imprint Interphon.


CHAINED

Early in 1988 Haig financed the recording of a new album himself,
once more produced with Alan Rankine. Virgin offshoot Circa
purchased the tapes in August, but chose not to release the
album, titled Chain, until May the following year. Neither Chain
nor the lead single, Something Good, broke commercially, and to
some the album came as a disappointment, with strong material in
places undermined by underdeveloped arrangements. Sales were
scarcely assisted by Haig's refusal to undertake any lengthy
tours, and with much of his following was in Europe and Japan,
many fans were not even aware that a new record was available.
Nevertheless, a showcase at the ICA in London on May 18th saw
Haig and his band in fine and powerful form.

Following Drama, Swing In '82 and the Mackenzie pairing, 1988's
off the wall project came in the form of the Dub Organiser
single, a club cut recorded in collaboration with Allan Campbell
and released as a one-off on Manchester indie label Play Hard.

Unperturbed by Chain's modest commercial showing, Circa financed
the recording of a new album, produced in New York by dance gurus
Mantronix and Lil' Louis, and also by the Chimes, whose drummer
James Locke had been a periodic Haig collaborator since 1981. The
album marked a timely return to the dance orientation of Rhythm
of Life five years earlier, as suggested by its title, Right on
Line. But after the fine I Believe in You single failed to build
on a measure of club success, Circa delayed releasing the album
until a reworked Flight X (featuring rapper The Voice Of Reason)
broke. When two versions of this track stalled early in 1991 the
album was shelved. Unlike the loss of the second Island album
this was a genuine disaster, since Right on Line largely
comprised pin-sharp original material, together with another
wayward Suicide cover, this time the lush ballad Surrender.


CINEMATIQUE

With the RoL album in limbo, Haig released an instrumental set
of imaginary film themes through Les Temps Modernes, who had
previously issued the Josef K back catalogue on CD. Cinematique
appeared in September 1991 to glowing reviews, and comprised
three distinct suites, being City of Fun (accomplished noir
jazz), Lagondola (new age, almost) and Flashback (electronica).
In 1993 the Right on Line album finally emerged as Coincidence
vs Fate on the ever-accommodating Crepuscule label, albeit with
two weaker tracks relegated to the flipside of the accompanying
single (Surrender) and three new tracks added. After a two year
delay its state of the art production style might have sounded
a tad dated in places, but not fatally so, and in this writer's
opinion RoL/Coincidence... may yet prove to be the best Paul Haig
album to date.

Despite warm reviews neither Cinematique nor Coincidence vs Fate
sold in great numbers, due in part to low-key press and
distribution, and to Haig's ongoing reluctance to submit to self-
promotion. By his own admission:

I just don't like playing live much. Maybe once every two
years. It's a situation I can't handle. Up on stage it's
very strange. It just seems an awkward situation to be in.
You're on stage and there's all these people looking up at
you. I can't help laughing at the thought of it. I just
want to do it as little as possible. Other people love it.
It only depends on what kind of person you are, if your ego
can cope with it. Weird, eh? (Deadbeat, 1984)

With me it's quite simple. I just do my own thing and don't
compromise for anybody. If you can do this and still
succeed, that's perfect. New Order manage it - perverse and
breaking all the rules - they just make records that sell.
I hope I can fit in in my own way. There might be a place
for people who have some sort of background, who have
substance as opposed to being just another manufactured
act. But apart from that I don't see where I would fit. I
couldn't really define the sound. I don't think it's like
anybody else. (Melody Maker, 1989)

It's just music and records. That's the main thing for me.
I find the rest of it completely alien and uncomfortable.
I'll just have to retire quite soon. Not retire from making
music, just from all this [promo] kind of stuff I just find
it more and more ridiculous. Ideally I'd like to be
involved in the background, and still make music but not to
have to be seen or anything like that. I guess film music
is the obvious area for that kind of thing. Or weird
experimental records. (The Scotsman, 1990)

All of which is a great shame, since Haig remains one of
Britain's finest songwriters, and it seems a tad premature to
label him a Scott Walker for the new millennium. In 1999 Paul
Haig unveiled a new label, RoL, with the release of several
archive Billy McKenzie collections, and an excellent second
volume of the Cinematique series.


OTHER JOSEF K SOLO PROJECTS

Returning to the Josef K split back in 1981, Malcolm Ross and
Davy Weddell quickly became involved in the Happy Family, a band
based around quixotic singer/songwriter Nick Currie. Currie had
handed Ross a rough tape at JK's final show in Edinburgh, and
soon after Ross and Weddell helped him record a studio demo with
which he hoped to land a deal. Since Ross had already joined
Orange Juice, his involvement with the Happy Family remained
strictly casual. Nevertheless Fiction were sufficiently impressed
to offer the group two Scottish support slots with the Cure in
December, after which 4AD signed them for a one-off single.

Although the Happy Family was strictly a Nick Currie vehicle,
Much of the publicity attendant to the release of Innermost
Thoughts in April 1982 focused on the presence of 'former Josef
K bass player' David Weddell. After drummer Ian Stoddart fell ill
Ron Torrance stepped in to replace him, while yet another Josef
K connection came via guitarist Paul Mason, previously a JK
roadie. With the addition of keyboards, the group proceeded to
record The Man On Your Street as a five piece, producing a fine
(if rather mannered) literary concept album, which should
nonetheless please any Josef K fan on a musical level - even if
many found Currie's convoluted lyrics and outre obsessions a
little hard to swallow.

Despite some fine songwriting, the JK connection drew unenviable
comparisons, and the album was neither a critical nor a
commercial success. Indeed, even 4AD's cultish following steered
clear, although a remastered CD would in time appear. After a
third and final concert in Glasgow (with Jah Wobble) in December
1982 the group split, apathy and disinterest seemingly the cause
rather than musical differences. Currie returned to university,
and after graduating reinvented himself as Momus, going on to
record a string of acclaimed (sort of) albums for El, Creation
and other labels, and achieving semi-stardom in Japan.

In 1984 Les Temps Modernes released ten 4AD demos on cassette
only, together with a booklet featuring Happy Family ephemera and
texts. One of these tracks, March In Turin, also appeared on
LTM's Heures Sans Soleil compilation album a year later. Finally,
completists may wish to invest in early copies of the third Momus
album Tender Pervert (Creation), the initial run of which
contained a free 7" featuring a song recorded for the 4AD album
but left unused, The Poison Boyfriend.

Prior to joining the Happy Family, Ron Torrance had briefly
joined Edinburgh band Boots For Dancing, although without playing
on any of their records. After the demise of the Happy Family
Weddell played with a variety of bands, including Lip Machine and
the High Bees (with Malcolm Ross), before teaming up with
Torrance again in 1985 as Heyday. Fronted by Steven Harrison (who
had earlier cut an RoL single with Paul Haig), Heyday recorded
an ep for Crepuscule, produced by - surprise! - Haig and Rankine.
For reasons unknown the three tracks remained unreleased until
Tel Quel Records licensed them as part of a Steven Harrison mini
album in 1987. By then, however, Heyday had come and gone. The
Heyday track Sad and Blue also appeared on a Crepuscule
compilation, The Rough with the Smooth, in 1986, albeit credited
to Harrison alone.


MALCOLM ROSS

Following the demise of Josef K guitarist Malcolm Ross become
something of a gun for hire, and just one week after the split
was announced accepted an invitation to join Orange Juice. Since
OJ had already recorded their debut album You Can't Hide Your
Love Forever Ross did not contribute, but did complete the
accompanying tour, and remained on board when the original band
fragmented early the following year. The Ross/Collins/Manyika/
McClymont line-up then hit commercial paydirt with the hit single
Rip It Up in February 1983, which climbed to Number 8. Sadly,
Orange Juice were unable to consolidate on this success, with no
less than nine of their singles stalling between 75 and 41
between 1981 and 1984. Ross contributed several songs during his
stay with the band and stuck around until late 1983, but
eventually quit after clashes with Edwyn Collins over the Texas
Fever album.

Ross immediately hooked up with mercurial Roddy Frame in Aztec
Camera as second guitarist, joining in time to record and tour
the Knife album. Ross's role in Aztec Camera was strictly as a
session player, and with their work over the group disbanded,
Frame only later re-emerging with the Love album in 1987. Ross
then guested on the second Blancmange album, Believe You Me, and
also appeared with the duo live.

In 1985 Ross embarked on the High Bees project with wife Susan
Buckley on vocals. However, after a handful of live concerts and
a lone single, She's Killing Time, on Supreme International in
October, the project faded. Since then Ross has guested with Paul
Haig, former Moodist Dave Graney, and - with Weddell - backed
Nick Currie/Momus live. After completing a music degree, Ross
released two distinguished solo albums on chic German label
Marina, Low Shot (1995) and Happy Boy (1998). A third set is
currently being readied for release.

Josef K manager Allan Campbell, incidently, is now an established
BBC television producer, with Film 2000 among his many credits.
While it seems highly unlikely that his erstwhile charges will
regroup, the band's rich legacy - and any future records that
individual members release - will continue to inspire for many
years to come.

What a great day for the Scottish, isn't it? And I don't even understand a single word they say half of the time ....

Either way: enjoy you very own Paul Haig - Day today, friends .... and stay tuned!

Dirk

Some Of The Best There Ever Has Been: '1990'

Hello party people,



for a starter: apologies for the recent lack of posts on this site, but Little Loser heavily demands attention all the freakin' time! He either sleeps or shits, but inbetween he wants us to play with him without any break at all .... and of course we are more than happy to do so. This of course means that I rarely find the time to make up my mind in order to post some more clever stuff on Sexyloser. Nevertheless I stole myself away, so please find my favourite tunes from 1990:













Sloppy Seconds - 'I Don't Want To Be A Homosexual' (mp3). Sloppy Seconds is a Ramones-influenced punk band from Indianapolis that started in the mid-1980s. With such underground hits as "Come Back, Traci" (a tribute to an underaged Traci Lords), "I Want 'em Dead", and "So Fucked Up", the band prefers to sing about TV shows, comic books, alcohol, being fat, and getting drunk. They have been quoted as being proud to be fat, drunk, and stupid. Their name is the slang term for when a man has intercourse with another person who already has received another man's semen in the relevant orifice.




I stole that from Wikipedia, I must admit, but I like it very much ... being fat, drunk and stupid myself at times. Can't tell much about the explanation of the name though ... at least I hope I can't .... certainly not knowingly ... but you never know, ey? Jesus!!! Aaaanyway: the track above was released on a 7" on Toxic Shock Records from the USA back in 1990. And very fine it is, to be sure.



Let me point out, please, that I have no prejudices whatsoever against homosexuals: it's just not my cup of tea, that's all.

The Pixies - 'Monkey Gone To Heaven' (mp3). Not the original version of this classic tune from 1988 for you folks, but one recorded for the BBC - Mark Goodier show on August 18, 1990, first transmitted August 20, 1990. Not very much different to the original, you might argue - and you would be right - but I like it very much .... and I hope you do so as well. One of a whole bunch of Pixies' tunes on a compilation on Elektra, issued in 1998 and taken from various BBC - sessions the band did over the years.

If you ever - like I did - wondered what this "man is five, devil is six ..." - stuff in the lyrics might possibly be all about, here's some more or less helpful explanation from Black Francis himself: "It's a reference from what I understand to be Hebrew numerology, and I don't know a lot about it or any of it really. I just remember someone telling me of the supposed fact that in the Hebrew language, especially in the Bible, you can find lots of references to man in the 5th and Satan in the 6th and God in the 7th. [...] I didn't go to the library and figure it out"

Peter & The Test Tube Babies - 'Love In The First Degree' (mp3). And yessssss, friends, finally Sexyloser goes Stock/Aitken/Waterman ... well: quite. As you might imagine, Peter and his Test Tube Babies give the 1987 Bananarama tune a good kick in the ass, which makes it become one of my faves from 1990. Taken from an album on Rebel Records called 'The $hit Factory'.

The Lemonheads - 'Different Drum' (mp3). I like it when they do cover versions and this is a very fine example: originally performed by Linda Ronstadt, albeit written by Michael Nesmith (out of The Monkees). It appears on a 12" EP called 'Favorite Spanish Dishes' (mine is calamary in a garlic/tomato sauce by the way: dunno if this is typically Spanish though, but I used to eat it frequently when being in Spain .... but I digress, sorry), released on Atlantic Records in the June of 1990 ...

The Bridewell Taxis - 'Honesty' (mp3). This is the third single from Leeds' Bridewell Taxis: I have always loved them, each of the three records ('Just Good Friends' ('89), 'Give In' ('90) plus the one above) is purely awesome and I recommend to buy them all as soon as you possibly can! A 12" on Stolen Records ... from 1990, as you might already have gathered.

That's it for today, dearest friends .... as usual I sincerely do hope you liked what I chose: leave comments, please, to tell me whether this was the case or not!

Have fun and enjoy,

Dirk

Little Loser's Lottery: Pt. 5

Dearest friends and followers,

some of you might already know about it, others may not: a few weeks ago Mrs. Loser and me finally managed to adopt our son (who was delivered to us on February 19th). Little man is six months old today and he is - you may well believe me - a bundle of joy, there is no other way to desribe it. But also, as you might imagine, he needs to be watched all the freaking time and when he finally decides to sleep, Mrs. Loser and me do the same within a second. Nights are short and days are long, but I won't complain! Nevertheless this means that I rarely find the time to work on this site these days and I hope you forgive me for that, friends!

Either way: yesterday I dragged him upstairs to the room where my records are and forced him to do his first Little Loser's Lottery: the first record/CD on the shelf he pointed at with his cute little fingers I pulled out in order to play to you. Although he grinned foolishly all the time, I think he did a pretty admirable job and showed excellent taste ... as you might be able to confirm after having listened to this:

[1] from the LP - shelf: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: 'Tender Prey'. On Mute Records from 1988 and I had a hard time whether to play to you 'Watching Alice' or 'Slowly Goes The Night'. Well, I decided to go for the latter, so here's for you: 'Slowly Goes The Night' (mp3).

[2] from the Singles - shelf: The Levellers - 'The Julie E.P.' A four-track 7" in clear vinyl (always nice, but sound-quality-wise rather disturbing, I always think). I chose their version of The Clash's 'English Civil War' (mp3), one of the songs on the B-Side. The record is from 1994, on China Records.

[3] from the Compilations - shelf: 'One Pound 99'. Now, this is a 1985 Beggar's Banquet compilation with rather a fair amount of goodies on it. Not easy to choose which one to play (Love & Rockets' 'Haunted When The Minutes Drag' is as good as Hank Wangford's 'Never Wear Mascara (When You Love A Married Man)' ... I went for this one: The Ramones - 'Bonzo Goes To Bitburg' (mp3).

[4] from the 12" - shelf: Here my very own private expert picked the Inspiral Carpets' 1989 Peel Session - 12", again on coloured vinyl. I chose 'Directing Traffic' (mp3).

[5] from the CD - shelf: A very useful thing this is and I picked it up years ago in a bargain-bin for a few cents: a 4-track-CD called 'Classic Tracks', I have no idea what label it is on, but it seems to be one in a series of CD's that bring together some quite astonishing tracks ... tracks that the editors regard as being 'classic' in one form or another. On it you'll find Nicky Thomas, John Holt, Ken Boothe and - my pick - the fantastic 'Hurt So Good' (mp3) by Susan Cadogan. A real corker in mono, friends ..... and one of my favourite songs ever!

Well, I hope Little Loser found tunes for you all to enjoy. For me he did his job perfectly well and I hope to be able to convince him to pick more records in due course!

Have fun,

Dirk

Finn Daniel: 'Settle'

Dearest friends,

I must apologise that it took me nearly one month to present this little gem to you. Back in February I received an email from a Finn Daniel of Leamington Spa of all places, who - very politely - asked whether I would mind to post one of his songs on Sexyloser. Well, Finn, as I wrote to you earlier on: I'm more than pleased to do so, because the song is a clear winner in my books.

Finn Daniel: 'If I Get Good' (mp3)

The tune is taken from Finn's debut release, an EP called 'Settle', released on his own label, Stickman Records.

I strongly recommend that you visit Finn's site if you have a minute, because as well as more information about him it offers more great tunes to listen to. Of course you also can get hold of the EP on the site, the adress is http://www.finndan.co.uk/

Also I pursuaded Finn to contribute to the next 'Musicians Introduce Their Own Songs' - episode on the Contrast Podcast and I have no idea what song he might possibly choose. Either way I'm convinced that it'll be as good as the one posted above: so look out for it, folks!

Cheers,

Dirk

Giant Paw: debut CD release

Hello friends,

another mail came in, this time from a London-based band called Giant Paw. They release their debut CD called 'The Stars Are Ours' on March 2nd 2009 and they were nice enough to send me an advance copy along with a handwritten letter in which they say that they would be happy if I'd play a track on Sexyloser. And so I shall, of course:

Giant Paw - 'Skin Of Your Teeth' (mp3)

To be absolutely frank to you: the above track really is okay for me, although I'm not entirely convinced by the rest of the CD. Then again: I'm an old fashioned git who is most probably stuck in the Eighties or even Seventies musically. So Giant Paw might well be The Next Big Thing ... and I'm just too stupid to have recognised it. I would suggest: get hold of a copy on March 2nd, listen to it and judge for yourself. The press release letter accompanying the record quotes the likes of Pink Floyd and The Flaming Lips as bands Giant Paw might be compared to. This always is a dangerous thing to do, in my eyes, but there you are ...

'The Stars Are Ours' will be released on Feral Electronics and it was mixed by the legendary Kramer. And you know what: this fact alone should convince you to spend some of your money on Giant Paw, people!

All the best,

Dirk

For Mr. Suave: The Nirvana Devils

Hello my beauties,

a comment came in from a Mr. Suave to 'My Peel Tapes Pt. 30', in which I played a track by the wonderful Nirvana Devils. Mr. Suave wanted to know more about the band, but alas I can't tell you pretty much about them, Mr. Suave. But - unlike you - I also have the follow-up 7" to their brilliant debut ('Some Foreign Shore'):

The Nirvana Devils - 'Secret Agent Girl' (mp3)

Also on Exile Records from Germany, also released in 1985, and - believe it or not - even the back of the cover basically looks the same as the one of 'Some Foreign Shore' .... with all the necessary or unnecessary information on it.

The tunes itself are equally good in my eyes, therefore: enjoy, Mr. Suave ... and the rest of you as well, of course!

Dirk

My Peel Tapes - Part 30

Okay dear friends,

thanks for your patience: you've managed to go with me through half a life of music, provided by the great John Peel. This is the final edition of 'My Peel Tapes' and again I sincerely hope that in it you will find something you like:

(328) Juniper Moon - 'Volveras' (mp3). "Young Spanish band - all their members are in their teens! - debut with a wild combination of blistering guitar raids, hyperspeed drumming and soft female vocals. Pure teenage energy, as convincing and impressive as their live sets. Vigorous pop pills, short-lengthed but super abundant in catching energy, teenage self-confidence and hyper-vitamined guitars.": that's what their label - Elefant Records from sunny Madrid, Spain, had to say about this 7" from 1999. I suppose I like it so much because I don't understand any single word they sing .... my Spanish is, as is my French, best described as weak: I mean, I can order a beer or to, but that's about it ... then again: do you need to have more knowledge of a language than that?!

(329) New Order - 'Brutal' (mp3). Watch out, Leonardo DiCaprio - fans worldwide: this is from the soundtrack of the film 'The Beach', not one of my personal favourites, I must admit (although I think good ole' Leo is rather a smart actor at times (albeit not in this particular film) and not one of the best soundtracks, that's for sure. This tune is not bad though, not because it's by New Order, it's just not bad, that's all. Available on a 2000 CD from Rhino/WEA.

(330) Subway Sect - 'Nobody's Scared' (mp3). On March, 23 in 1978, Subway Sect released their debut single, "Nobody's Scared". It was backed by "Dontsplitit". They released two singles under the Subway Sect name without an album. They later changed their name to Vic Godard & The Subway Sect. The Bristol, England punk band disbanded in 1981. Vic Godard has recently re-formed the band. I heard one of the new songs: not bad at all, people, not bad at all!

(331) Hefner - 'Twisting Mary's Arm' (mp3). Darren Hayman says: "'Twisting Mary's Arm' is a very old song that dates back to one of mine and Ant's old bands; 'Big Boys Toys', with changed lyrics. The song isn't about anything, just a nonsensical collection of words. It was the song we used to finish ninety percent of the shows with. Sometimes I felt funny singing those lyrics to a crowd though, it sounded like I was being very ungrateful.". I took it from their wonderful 'Boxing Hefner' - LP on Too Pure Records, released in 2000.

(332) Positively Testcard - 'Twist With The Morning Stars' (mp3). A South London band who play Kwela, an upbeat, whistle-led style originating in South Africa in the 1950s. Here's their homepage where you'll find the song above on their 2000 CD 'Gas Up My Hotrod Stoker, The Kwela Groove Frenzy's Hit Town' ... a wonderful title, but alas I always found the CD to be a bit too expensive, considering that I have to add p&p into Germany. Perhaps one of these days I'll get hold of it anywhere else, who know. But I'm sure it's a gem ...

(333) The Undertones - 'Jimmy Jimmy' (mp3). Once again, a classic power-pop- tune from yesteryear, and again: why not? Their third single, on Sire Records, from 1979. Simply wonderful!

(334) Smog - 'Dress Sexy At My Funeral' (mp3). An outstanding track from a somewhat disappointing album, I must say, 'Dongs Of Sevotion' (Drag City Records, 2000). Perhaps this is because it's a double-album, and there are not many very good double-albums around, I think, in fact 'London Calling' is the only one which comes to mind right now where all of the songs are just perfect (by the way: your search for 'London Calling' in Smog - discographies will turn out to be in vain, younger readers, it was by a band called 'The Clash'). Either way: Smog basically was Bill Callahan on his own and as far as I know he now releases records under this name.

(335) Elastica - 'Da Da Da' (mp3). Originally done by German outfit Trio back in 1982 - and I remember very well how outraged older people over here were when this was released and frequently shown on the telly ... they thought it was the end of German culture - you can find it on their album 'The Menace' on Deceptive/Atlantic from 2000.

(336) Grandaddy - 'Everything Beautiful Is Far Away' (mp3). From 1998, a CD-single on Big Cat Records ... and what a marvellous little tune this is, friends!! A little bit more on Grandaddy: here.

(337) Brassy - 'No Competition' (mp3). A British band, but with an American singer, Muffin Spencer, who, by the way, is the sister of Jon Spencer out of the wonderful Jon Spencer's Blues Explosion. Their biography once read: "Brassy are Elastica sharing a sloppy wet kiss with the Beasties." And you know what? This is not far from the truth! 'No Competition' is on Brassy's debut LP on Wiija, 'Got It Made' (2001).

(338) ESG - 'Moody' (mp3). This, I once read, is supposed to be the most-sampled track in the history of recorded music. Whether this is true or not, I obviously can't tell. But it's a neat tune, taken from a very good band-compilation, a double LP actually, called 'A South Bronx Story', it was released on Universal Records in 2000. 'Moody' itself though is from 1982. More on E.S.G.: here.

(339) Clinic - 'Distortions' (mp3). Another fine track from a another fine album, their first full-length release: 'Internal Wrangler' (Domino Records 2000). Not as good as the fantastic 'The Return Of Evil Bill' ... and perhaps not even comparable, but still worthwile downloading ... so do it now while you can!

(340) Silicon Teens - 'Memphis Tennessee' (mp3). I'm pretty sure that quite a lot of you out there will say, 'now, this is the fucking best song in the whole episode' ... and you may even be right! If you never heard this before, please please please have a listen, boys and girls! Silicon Teens basically were no other than Daniel Miller, founder of Mute Records (more about this: here) and they/he released an album back in 1980 (on Sire) called 'Music For Parties'. Great stuff altogether, but this version of the Chuck Berry - tune is simply outstanding!

(341) Cay - 'Resurrexit' (mp3). A CD-single on Org Records from 2000, and another brilliant one as well. Some little discussion about the merits of Cay here ... personally I know nothing about them at all. But the tune is a winner, that's for sure!

(342) Ballboy - 'Essential Wear For Future Trips To Space' (mp3). Well, over the years Ballboy have become one of my favourite bands. Clever lyrics, great tunes ... what more can you possibly ask for? This is the first tune of theirs I heard John Peel play and I was fascinated by them from this point onwards. I think it was released as a single, but you'll also find it on the -highly recommended - full-length CD 'Club Anthems' (SL Records, 2001).

(343) Ladytron - 'Another Breakfast With You' (mp3). Again from a compilation, and again from a fine one as well. Of course not all of the 15 tracks are perfect, but most of them are close to it, I would say. 'We Love You ... So Love Us Too' was released by We Love You Records as a CD in 2001. I'm pretty sure it has become one of those items that you will more or less find rather easily in the bargain bins of your local record shop. If this turn out to be the case: do spend a quid or two for it, it's worth having!

(344) The Outcasts - 'Just Another Teenage Rebel' (mp3). Something from Belfast for you now for a change .... a total classic from November 1978, the band's second 7" on Good Vibrations. Good to hear this gem again, isn't it?

(345) Schneider TM - 'The Light 3000' (mp3). Well, as you might already have gathered, I'm not much of an expert when it comes to more contemporary music, therefore I can only tell you that I think this was first released on a 12" called 'Binokular' on City Slang Records in 2000. What I know for sure though is that it's a cover of a Smiths - favourite, 'There's A Light That Never Goes Out' ... also a great song, always on top when people are asked about their favourite Smiths - release. I prefer their older stuff though, but I digress ....

(346) The New Pornographers - 'Letter From An Occupant' (mp3). A CD-single on Matador (from 2000), also included on their 'Mass Romantic' - CD. More on the band: here.

(347) Mary Monday & Her Bitches - 'I Gave My Punk Jacket To Ricky' (mp3). Again, a little classic: from the USA, a 7" on Malicious Records, released in 1977. As it is so often the case with those great bands from yesteryear (those which didn't put out that many record), you are practically unable to ascertain any information about them in the internet at all. Alas Mary Monday & Her Bitches are no exception, so there's nothing I can tell you about them.

(348) The Beat - 'Ranking Full Stop' (mp3). From one of the great albums of all time, 'Just Can't Stop It', released on IRS in 1982, this is the last song I ever got to hear on John Peel's Music on BFBS.

Although BFBS officials still claim that Peel recorded his shows for them 'until his death', the truth is somewhat different: he used to record those shows at home, they were sent to BFBS in London and then broadcasted worldwide. It took Peel a few weeks to find out that the shows he had recorded just weren't broadcasted any longer and only upon request BFBS told him that they wouldn't want him to be on the air no more ..... after some 30 (!) years of working for them!

Back in 2000 there was no thought of internet radio or whatsoever, nor were any possibilities to listen to his BBC shows in Germany on the radio. So I had to rely on the music papers, which turned out not be very useful. In the end - I must admit - I gave up on new music: there was no John Peel to point me to it, you see.

On 26 October 2004 I was honeymooning in Jamaica. Me and Mrs. Loser hired a roofless Suzuki Jeep, rather an old car without any special equipment, you see, in order to drive from Negril to Port Antonio. The car's aerial was nothing more than a piece of crooked wire and the only station we could receive was - curiously enough - the BBC World Service. The reception was far away from being superb, as you might imagine, but they played The Cure and The Undertones and Joy Division all the time, so I had a great time driving along in the sun.

But in all of my life I will never forget the moment - we were approaching the suburbs of Kingston - when suddenly an announcement came up that Peel had died whilst being on holiday in Peru. I had to stop the car and even these days Mrs. Loser tells me that she never had seen an expression on my face like this again. I mean, I only met Peel about seven or eight times in my life and yes, I once stayed at his home for three days back in 1984, which means I never got to know him very well, but nevertheless he always has been like a father to me, as well with what he had to say on his BFBS show as with what he wrote in his little letters he'd send to me in all these years. Honestly, since his death, I think not a single day has passed on which I didn't think of him with the deepest respect possible.

The following was recorded by the BBC's answering machine on October 24th, 2004.

24.10.04 (mp3)

Miss you, John. Thanks for all the music, mate.

Dirk

Lady Loser's Lottery .... Pt. 4

And yes, dear friends, another edition of Lady Loser's Lottery is about to follow. For those of you who don't know what this is all about: I asked my dear wife to pick five items out of my record collection ... with closed eyes, of course. Well, this is what she picked a few minutes ago:

(1) [from the CD-shelf]: The Business - 'Suburban Rebels'. A Dojo - reissue of the 1983 LP, orginally released on Link Records. I chose this one: 'Harry May' (mp3).

(2) [from the 7"-shelf]: Throw That Beat In The Garbagecan! - 'Peng!'. Something from Germany for you now for a change ... and why not? A 3-track - 7" on September Gurls Records from 1989. I think the tune on the A-Side is the one to prefer, it's called 'Having A Laugh!' (mp3).

(3) [ from the 12"-shelf]: Half Man Half Biscuit - 'Dickie Davis Eyes'. Well, all of you know this by hear by now, I would think. Therefore I'll go for one of the two tracks on the B-Side, one you don't hear all that often: 'I Left My Heart In Papworth General' (mp3). On Probe Plus Records from 1986.

(4) [from the Compilations - shelf]: 'Indie Top 20 - Vol. XI'. A double-LP in fact, which brings together, as you might imagine, some top indie tunes from some of our common favourite bands. What do I go for? Not terribly easy, because all of the songs on it are pretty good. But this is one I always quite liked: The Honey Smugglers - 'Listen' (mp3). Originally on Non Fiction Records from 1990, the compilation itself though is on Beechwood Music from 1991.

(5) [from the LP - shelf]: Sonic Youth - 'Experimental Jet Set, Trash And No Star'. A curious title, which I never fully understood, but who cares? On Geffen Records from 1994, my choice is this: 'Bull In The Heather' (mp3).

Well, I hope Mrs. Loser chose something which pleased at least a few of you. I should tell you that she first picked Depeche Mode's 'Speak And Spell' out of the CD-shelf (I would have chosen 'Photographic'), but because I didn't want the same shit happen to me as to my pal J.C. aka The Vinyl Villain (read about it here), I told her to have another pick ...

Have fun and enjoy, friends!

Dirk

My Peel Tapes - Part 29

Hello my brave boys and girls in the trenches, time for another episode of 'My Peel Tapes', the penultimate one in fact. So enjoy this one before it's all over:

(304) Prolapse - 'Autocade' (mp3). From Leicester and on Radarscope Records. 'Autocade' (mp3) is one of four tracks on a CD-Single from 1997 .... and rather a nice tune for all of that! Prolapse released quite a lot of stuff to my surprise, I just know this one and their 'Killing The Bland', featured in a previous edition of 'My Peel Tapes'. More on Prolapse: here.

(305) The King - 'No Woman, No Cry' (mp3). Now, this is from one of my all time-favourite albums ever, people! The King is but one of too many Elvis - impersonators, the difference between him and the others is a) he doesn't do Elvis - songs and b) he's simply outstanding! If memory serves correctly, he's a postman from Ireland who finally managed to have a CD released back in 1998, which he - cleverly - titled 'Gravelands' (EMI Records). The thing is: on it he only does songs by people who are actually dead, and - believe it or not - you can listen to it in one go and there isn't a single bad track on it!! Please do yourself a favour and click here for the tracklisting. You will see he chose a great variety of cool tunes. This is a record that shouldn't miss in any decent collection, folks .... take my advice and go out and get it somewhere!!

(306) Belle & Sebastian - 'A Century Of Fakers' (mp3). Well, they did do so many brilliant songs, didn't they? I find it always rather hard to decide which ones I like best, but this is most surely one of them: a masterpiece, taken from their '3 .. 6 .. 9 .. Seconds Of Light' - 7" on Jeepster from 1997. More on this record: here.

(307) Anorak Girl - 'Plastic Supermodel' (mp3). Right on the heels of Helen Love's departure from the Damaged Goods Label came Anorak Girl! Totally in the casio-pop vein a-la Helen Love, but without Joey Ramone references for miles around. A very cute funky colored 7" (sort of this swampy green with pink swirls) from 1997 .... and well worth listening to again these days!

(308) Clinic - 'IPC Subeditors Dictate Our Youth' (mp3). The title track from the band's very first EP, released on their own Aladdin's Cave of Golf Record Label in 1997. I have no idea what it might possibly be all about, but all in all it is an excellent song, I always thought. And it led me to buy their 'Internal Wrangler' - album some three years later ... either way: here's their official site.

(309) Golinski Brothers - 'Bloody' (mp3). Championed by Peel all the time since it's release in 1980 on Badge Records. A wonderful song, but be warned: if you never heard this before you will most likely not be able to get it out of your head for quite some time .... it has a nifty sax riff and everything, but it's the first verse of the lyric that really stood the test of time:

"I'm gonna go where they've never seen snow, send my giro to Cairo. I cant stand another day, I gotta get away. I'm not impressed, my life's in a mess. I get so depressed, still you gotta have a laugh: ha ha ha ha. Chorus: What am I bloody well s'posed to do - got my bloody well self bloody stuck on you ..."

(310) The Dodgems - 'Lord Lucan Is Missing' (mp3). A 7" on Criminal Records from 1980. Well, what shall I say about this record? A total classic. Again. More on the mysterious disappearance of Lord Lucan: here.

(311) Let's Get The Replicants - 'Skullcrusher' (mp3). From one of the rarer formats in the wonderful world of vinyl pressing, a one-sided 10", on Eastwest Records from 1998. Let's Get The Replicants are no other than the wonderful Dawn Of The Replicants and what you find here, my friends, is the David Holmes & Tim Goldsworthy remix. A great tune and worth a download, if you ask me. And: the record actually starts like that - it's not me having made another stupid mistake!

(312) The High Fidelity - 'Addicted To A TV' (mp3). A great stomper from former Soup Dragon Sean Dickson ... really a pretty neat return of him on a 12" on Plastique Records from 1997. I can't really imagine that The High Fidelity are still alive and kicking these days, at least I haven't heard new stuff from the band for ages .....

(313) Selwyn - 'Easy For You' (mp3). Perhaps you young people are more clever than me and can ascertain any information about Selwyn on the internet .... I can't. But what I can tell you is that I have their limited edition 7" here on Cripperty Records from 1997 ... and you don't. A shame, really, because the tune is very fine indeed. So have a listen ....

(314) The Jesus & Mary Chain - 'Rocket' (mp3). I still regard 'Psychocandy', the band's 1985 debut as a milestone, full of outstanding songs, which were way ahead of their time back then. I listened to some of the stuff they recorded after 'Psychocandy', but a lot of it I missed, you know how these things work. But regardless of the sheer brilliance of 'Psychocandy', 'Rocket' is, I think, the best song The Jesus & Mary Chain have ever done. Hidden away as one of four tracks on the 'Cracking Up' - CD on Creation Records from 1998, this track shows again how outstandingly awesome they were ... some 13 years after their start!

(315) Sonic Youth - 'Sunday' (mp3). Perhaps this is my favourite Sonic Youth - tune ... and yes, I know very well that this will upset Sonic Youth - fans quite a lot. But I've listened to most of the 'old' stuff of theirs, and most of it I can well cope with, don't get me wrong here, please. But this track has something special that I like keep coming back to, don't know what it is exactly though.

'Sunday' was the first and only single Sonic Youth released from their 1998 album 'A Thousand Leaves' on Polydor.

(316) Grandaddy - 'Summer Here Kids' (mp3). On V2 Records from 1998, again a great song from Grandaddy. Taken from their 'Under The Western Freeway' - album, which, I must admit, I don't have, but, upon the evidence of this track alone (and of 'Everything Beautiful Is Far Away', posted previously) I certainly should have. Perhaps one of these days I find it in a bargain bin in a little record shop, who knows?

(317) Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - 'Spanish Dance Troupe' (mp3). The title track from their 1999 album on Mantra, although I assume that Peelie - again - played a pre-release. Otherwise a whole year slipped without me even having noticed it! Then again: perhaps I was rather short on money in 1998 and didn't buy many records. Or too much envolved in sexual activities to find the time to record the Peel Show once a week. Who knows? Anyway, a great band they were, alas they disbanded in 2006. And, mind you, 'Spanish Dance Troupe' was their sixth album! Strange, isn't it, how many many really good bands came from Wales (bearing in mind how small Wales is) over the years .....

(318) New Order - 'Lonesome Tonight' (mp3). Finally, dearest friends and followers, after years and years of contemplating, I've made my mind up about what is the best song New Order have ever done: it's this one, the B-Side of their 'Thieves Like Us' - 12" from 1984 on Factory Records. Enjoy it!

(319) Speeder - 'Hey! What Do I Know?' (mp3). "Not very much!", I hear you shout, and of course you're absolutely right. All I can tell you about Speeder that this here is a 7" on Creeping Bent Records from 1999 ...

(320) Princess Kaiulani - 'Alamoana Fade Away' (mp3). A great song, again!!! One of many unfulfilled wishes of mine is to get hold of a copy of this 7" on Motorway Records from Japan. I remember sending cash to Darla Records in the States back in '99, because they had the record on mailorder, alas the money got lost somewhere on it's way to the USA ... at least so Darla claimed. Bastards! The tune itself is hard to describe, it sounds a bit like Fantastic Plastic Machine playing a song based on a Hawaiian version of the 'E-I-E-I-O' at the end of "Old McDonald's Farm", with a touch of Trio's 'Da Da Da'. Most importantly, it works! Again, and I know I said this before: download this if you want to do yourself a favour!

(321) Half Man Half Biscuit - 'It's Clichéd To Be Cynical At Christmas' (mp3). From their eighth full-length release, 'Trouble Over Bridgwater', on, of course, Probe Plus Records. Christmas is over, I'm afraid, but I'm willing to have a small bet that this is a most enjoyable tune also in January or February ...

(322) Elastica & Mark E. Smith - 'How He Wrote Elastica Man' (mp3). From a 6-track-EP called, as far as I can tell, '6-Track-EP' ... and why not? Released in 1999 on Deceptive Records and a nice follow-up to their fantastic debut album. Together with Smith himself grumbling away in the background they have a go at The Fall classic 'How I Wrote Elastic Man' from 1980. And a neat one at that!

(323) The Quads - 'There's Never Been A Night' (mp3). An oldie again, and yes, I know that you like to listen to these things from time to time ... nothing wrong with that, if you ask me. A 7" on Big Bear Records from 1979. Also scroll down to listen to The Quads' absolutely brilliant 'There Must Be Thousands' .... you'll find it somewhere at the bottom of this site. Better use some 'search' - function, if such a thing exists ... it's worth the effort, believe me!

(324) Culture - 'Two Sevens Clash' (mp3). 'Two Sevens Clash' is - without any doubt - one of the great reggae albums of our time, it was recorded in 1976 and released in 1977 on Joe Gibbs' label in Jamaica. The title was based on a prediction by Marcus Garvey, who said there would be chaos on July 7, 1977, when the "sevens" met. With its apocalyptic message, the song created a stir on the island and many Jamaican businesses and schools shuttered their doors for the day. I'll play you the 1982 Peel Session version of the title track, not because it's superior to the original release, but I like it a lot .... and I rule!

(325) Murry The Hump - 'Colouring Book' (mp3). The title track from an EP on Malthouse from 1999 and it's incredible: they've a shit name, they're from Aberystwyth, the B-side's called 'Kebab Or Shag'... How can something so wrong be so right?

(326) Melys - 'Porn Myself' (mp3). Will I ever get tired of listening to Melys in my life? Most probably not. Their songs are by and large not really 'catchy', neverteless I have always enjoyed what they did over the years. 'Porn Myself' is one out of four tracks (all equally good in my humble opinion) on a CD-EP on Sylem from 1999. Melys homepage: here.

(327) Baxendale - 'An American Friend' (mp3). I remember picking this item up in a London superstore, shortly after it's release ... and again, a much treasured item it is: a 7" on 180 g vinyl from the Czech Republic in fact, on Evil World Records. The inspiration for the band's name comes from Leo Baxendale, who was a famous british comic illustrator.

Enough for today, pop-pickers. Watch out for the final episode of 'My Peel Tapes', which you'll find here in - more or less - due course. Comments - as usual - are highly appreciated ...

Stay in tune!

Dirk

My Peel Tapes - Part 28

Yes, people,

and here we go, here we go, here we go .... another edition of 'My Peel Tapes' ... where we find ourselves quite some years back in time ... in 1997 in fact. Some really cool tunes were released then, and here are some examples. Enjoy!

(289) Kenickie - 'Punka' (mp3). Orginally released as a 7" on EMI Disc in 1996, re-released a year later on the same label and also available on their debut album 'At The Club', also from 1997. They were a great band, sounding really 'fresh' back in those days. Formed in Sunderland in 1994, disbanded in 1998 and again I don't have any idea what they possibly might be doing nowadays.

(290) The Fall - 'Don't Call Me Darling' (mp3). From the band's 'Cerebral Caustic' - LP on Permanent Records, released in 1995. You know, I really hung on Peel's lips for nearly 20 years, but never had I been able to share his enthusiasm for The Fall. To me they have never been more than an 'okay-type-of-band', of course they did some brilliant tunes, but also a fair amount of unlistenable stuff. 'Don't Call Me Darling' is pretty much okay for me though, and I hope you like it as well.

(291) Jane Bond & The Undercovermen - 'Kiss My Gun' (mp3). Played by Peel as part of his little 'Jane Bond - retrospective', which he did around 1998, some 15 or so years after the original release of 'Politically Correct'. 'Politically Correct' is one of the most criminally underrated records of our time, the second album by the band and each track on it is a winner. As far as I know this record dates 1982, although I'm pretty sure that this can't be right: I think it was not issued before 1984 or even 1985, on Dreamworld in the USA and on Normal Records here in Germany. It is not easy to ascertain any information about Jane Bond & The Undercovermen on the internet, apparently they never got the attention they deserved.

(292) Suckle - 'Boyfriend' (mp3). Backside of their 'Symposium' - 7" on Detox Records from 1997. Hard to say whether the B-Side is better than the A-Side, both tunes are rather fine. This may well be because Suckle consisted of members of the mighty Vaselines .... who were gods, there is no other way to describe it, I'm afraid to say.

(293) Galactic Symposium - 'YMCA' (mp3). "You won't find a more joyous record", that's what Peel had to say about this little gem. A ramshackle version of the Village People - favourite, and - I'm sure you will agree - rather preferable to the original. An extremely rare 7" on Vague Records from 1978 and if you have never heard this before, you really should complete your little lifes by downloading it without hesitation at all. I think the way the singer can barely keep from cracking up throughout the song is simply unbelievably infectious! Too good to be missed, people ....

(294) Morphine - 'Murder For The Money' (mp3). Well, it is not easy to describe Morphine's sound to people who have never heard anything they ever did. I'll quote Wikipedia here:

"Morphine's instrumentation was quite unusual: Sandman's primary instrument was a two-string bass guitar (with both strings usually tuned to a 5th or octave interval) played with a slide; however, on the group's records he added touches of guitar, piano, electronic organ, and other self invented guitar instruments such as tritar (three stringed guitar). Colley played primarily baritone saxophone, along with soprano or tenor saxes, and the rare bass saxophone, and he sometimes played two saxes at once, a la Roland Kirk; he also played occasional percussion, and Dobro on a B-side."

'Murder For The Money' was a CD-Single, released on Rykodisc in 1997. Also look out for their second album, 'Cure For Pain' from 1993, which is an outstanding piece of music!

(295) Altered Images - 'I Could Be Happy' (mp3). A 7" picture disc on Epic from 1981, which most probably is a guarantee for heavy surface noise. But I hope this doesn't put you off, because this is one of the many tunes you don't hear all too often on the radio these days, but when you hear it, you say to yourself: "now, that was good to hear again!". Altered Images were led by the wonderful Clare Grogan, who, according to my mate J.C. aka The Vinyl Villain, once was rather rude to him when he asked her to have a dance with him. And where's Clare Grogan now (that we need her)? I have no idea ...... again!

(296) Scarfo - 'Alcaline' (mp3). A curious item this is: a 7" on Deceptive Records from 1997, it comes in a gatefold sleeve in a limited edition of 1500. But although the right side of the sleeve is manufactured as though it should contain a second record, it is - alas - empty, only the left side is filled with 'Alcaline' and 'El Topo' on the flipside. Investigating further in the wonderful world of the internet, it seems to me as if this item was only the first out of two singles, perhaps originally planned as a combined release. Either way, one out of Scarfo is now in The Kills and I once saw them playing in the Camden Palace in London in 1997 or 1998 together with my then girlfriend Natalie (well, she was accompanying me, not that she was performing together with Scarfo, that's what I'm trying to say here .... either way: "Hello Natalie", should you be reading this, which is unlikely), a very nice venue it was, and a storming gig as well!

(297) DM Bob & The Deficits - 'Bush Hog'n Man' (mp3). Hamburg's finest, as I'm sure you all agree! Deutschmark Bob have to be heard, their sound can't be described, at least not by me. More info on them here, 'Bush Hog'n Man' is the title track from their second album on Crypt Records from 1997 .... and what a masterpiece it is, to be sure!

(298) Echo & The Bunnymen - 'The Cutter' (mp3). Another oldie that feels really good to hear again after quite some time. Released as a 7" and as a 12" (with a fantastic extra tune on the B-Side, 'Zimbo'), but I'll play to you the LP version, the first track on 'Porcupine', released in 1983 on Korova Records.

(299) Pat Kelly - 'Whiter Shade Of Pale' (mp3). A very nice reggae version of the old Procul Harum - favourite, but the main appeal is that Kelly can’t make out the words accurately, so the lyrics become even more nonsensical. Check 'special virgins' instead of 'vestal virgins' or 'drove my mirror to the wall' .... priceless! It's not terribly easy to find out when exactly this was released, but I think it is from 1979 and was produced by Ossie Hibbert on the Mash-It - Label out of Jamaica. A great tune!

(300) Cornershop - 'Brimful Of Asha' (mp3). Yeah, I know that all of you can still sing along to this, but it was brandnew back in 1997 and when I first heard Peel playing it, it blew me away! More info upon this CD-single on Wiija Records: here. Cornershop homepage: here.

(301) Half Man Half Biscuit - 'See That My Bike's Kept Clean' (mp3). A wonderful version of Blind Lemon Jefferson's 'See That My Grave's Kept Clean', taken from Half Man Half Biscuit's 6th album, 'Voyage To The Bottom Of The Road'. Released, as usual, on Probe Plus Records in 1997. Here's the band's homepage.

(302) Secret Goldfish - 'Dandelion Milk Summer' (mp3). The Secret Goldfish was a band from Glasgow. The group was formed by ex-Fizzbombs singer Katy McCullars, guitarist John Morose, and the rhythm section from The Mackenzies, Graham Lironi and Paul Turnbull. 'Dandelion Milk Summer' was released as a 7" on Creeping Bent Records in 1996, you'll also find it on their debut LP, 'Aqua Pet .... You Make Me', also released in 1996.

(303) Arab Strap - 'Hey! Fever' (mp3). Their first EP, released on Chemikal Underground in 1997, was called 'The Girls Of Summer EP'. A two-track 7" and on it was the fabulous 'Hey! Fever' .... it was a good year for the Scottish altogether, but this tune really was outstanding!

Ah well. See you next week, boys and girls. Don't forget to keep your nails clean.

Dirk

My Peel Tapes - Part 27

Hello my beauties!!

A very happy New Year to all of you, combined with apologies that it took me ages to post something new on Sexyloser. The truth of the matter is that I spent most of my free time around Christmas and New Year on the couch, reading cheap literature and drinking even cheaper red wine. But now I'm back with a brandnew edition of 'My Peel Tapes' featuring stuff Peel played in 1996/1997: enjoy!

(273) Billy Bragg - 'Northern Industrial Town' (mp3). From the 'William Bloke' - album on Cooking Vinyl Records, released in 1996. Well, there are only very few bands or artists of which I can claim to owe everything that they ever released. Amongst The Clash and The Ramones I could name Billy Bragg, therefore I think I'm entitled to say that this song is one his finest works ever. Of course the earlier albums - in their entirety - were better than 'William Bloke' is, but the track itself is an outstanding masterpiece! One perfect example of a song where all comes to a conclusion with the final words .... great!

(274) Heavenly - 'Nous Ne Sommes Pas Des Anges' (mp3). From the 'Operation Heavenly' - album on Wiija Records, released in 1996. A very important band they were at those days, that's for sure. All of them played together in Talulah Gosh, perhaps you'll recognise Amelia Fletcher's voice on this tune, orginally performed by France Gall. 'Operation Heavenly' was the band's fourth and final album, after it they changed their name to Marine Research, because after the suicide of drummer (and brother of Amelia) Mathew Fletcher (shortly before the release of the album) they wouldn't want to carry on under the name of Heavenly. All of their previous records were released on the fantastic Sarah Records.

(275) Bis - 'Starbright Boy' (mp3). From the 'New Transistor Heroes' - album on Wiija Records, released in 1997. This debut LP is not 'easy listening', I think it's fair to say. 12 years ago they were clearly ahead of their time, but nowadays I can't quite cope with going through the album in one go .... rather an irritating wall of sound it is sometimes, I'm afraid to say. Lobster red vinyl, limited edition of 500 only: if anyone of you is interested in having my copy, just let me know ...

(276) Revelino - 'Step On High' (mp3). A 7" on Musidisc Records from 1996. Well, there ain't pretty much I could possibly say about Revelino apart from the fact that they came from Ireland and that they released three albums in their career. None of which I have ever heard, I'm ashamed to say, therefore I don't have the slightest idea whether they are any good or not. But upon the evidence of 'Step On High', I suppose they should well be wonderful!

(277) The Delgados - 'Sucrose' (mp3). From their 'Domestiques' - album on Chemikal Underground Records, released in 1996. I don't know why, but I always keep coming back to the wonderful 'Under Canvas, Under Wraps' as being my favourite track on the album. But I've posted this one before, therefore you'll get 'Sucrose' this time. Which is a pretty fine tune as well .... albeit I think it might have been pressed slightly off centre, but I hope that this doesn't spoil your enjoyment.

(278) Ellinger Combo - 'Okie From Muscogee' (mp3). From a compilation - CD called 'Texas Bohemia II - Slow Music. The Texas Bohemian Moravian German Bands'. Released on Germany's Trikont Label from Munich in 1996, this CD brings together rather a strange collection of combos, who cover 70's jukebox hits you wouldn't identify yourself with in the first place. 'Okie From Muscogee' though, orginally done by Merle Haggard as far as I know, is a real gem. Download this 1973 version of the old anti-hippy anthem immediately if you want to do yourself a favour, folks!

(279) Belle & Sebastian - 'The Stars Of Track And Field' (mp3). From their 'If You're Feeling Sinister' - CD on Jeepster Records from 1996. Well, there ain't much to say about this record, right? I mean, everything has been said already. The band's second longplayer definetely is one of the great records of all time and it shouldn't miss in your collection. Pitchfork Media placed the album at number 14 in its top 100 albums of the 1990s. Rolling Stone magazine featured the album on its list of "Essential Recordings of the 1990s," while Spin magazine included the record at number 76 on its "100 Greatest Albums, 1985-2005" list. 'If You're Feeling Sinister' also appears as an entry in the book "1001 Albums to Hear Before You Die" as chosen by music critics. Another source that analyzes critics, Acclaimed Music, has placed 'If You're Feeling Sinister' as the 5th-best album of 1996 and number 341 of all time.

(280) The Capris - 'There's A Moon Out Tonight' (mp3). Originally recorded in 1960, but taken from the 'Fabriclive.07: John Peel' - compilation-CD on Fabric Records, released in 2002. Normally these Amazon reviews are not very much reliable, but this one here says everything you need to know about this fantastic CD:

"Taking over from Grooverider, the man behind the decks for Fabriclive Vol.7 is everyone's favourite steam engine-loving sexagenarian, Mr John Peel. After his memorable set at the Fabric club in February, the veteran DJ obviously relished compiling his relentlessly eclectic first mix album. Predictably, The Fall get a look in as do the Undertones with "Teenage Kicks" but as the cult vinyl manipulator flicks from techno to blues, then R&B to reggae via folk and funk, it proves to be a rocky ride well worth the fare. Quite how it all fits in to the dance compilation category is a mystery, but in contrast to the dirge of one-dimensional titles available, Fabric 07 shines bright with a free-form bristling energy that many DJs half Mr Peel's age can only dream of. Where else would you find MC DET's feisty drum & bass fuelled "Hipsteppin" merging with the gorgeous soulful R&B harmonising of The Velvelettes "Needle in a Haystack" before the Bad Livers serve up a manic, banjo-driven, thigh-slappin' rendition of Iggy Pop's "Lust For Life"? With music culled from deep within the archives, Peel effortlessly transcends genres and decades with carefree abandon. Fabric 07 may well confound the feet but it's sure to rock the soul and warm the heart."

(281) Lotte Ohm - 'Die Liebe In Den Zeiten Des Rinderwahns' (mp3). A 12" EP on Disco Grönland Records from 1996. Again a bit of a treat, at least for me. Might mean nothing to you (English speakers), but there you are .... see how I have to suffer with all of the great records sung in English where I only understand half of what the singer sings. Improve on your German if you want to understand the lyrics, readers! The title translates as 'Love in the times of Mad Cow Disease', which should make you curious to know more, I might imagine ...

(282) The Descendents - 'I'm The One' (mp3). A 7" on Epitaph Europe in support of their 'Everything Sucks' - LP, both released in 1997. And a real corker this tune is, that's for sure!

(283) Babybird - 'Goodnight' (mp3). A 7" on the Echo Label from 1996. Not as sucessfull as the follow-up from 1997, 'You're Gorgeous', but what a fine song it is, friends .... also to be found on Babybird's debut album, 'Ugly Beautiful'. Stephen Jones decided to write fiction after Babybird split in 2000, as far as I know they briefly got together again, but what are they doing now, I have no idea ...

(284) Arab Strap - 'The First Big Weekend' (mp3). From their 'The Week Never Starts Around Here' - LP on Chemikal Underground Records from 1996. Okay, to be absolutely frank to you, this is another album which is not terribly easy to listen to in it's entirety. It's not bad, you know, but there is something missing which I can't immediately identify. 'The First Big Weekend' is a great tune though, you people in the UK might know it from a TV advertising (was it Guiness?) ....

(285) The Sid Presley Experience - 'Public Enemy Number One' (mp3). An oldie, and why not? The B-Side of their 'Hup Two Three Four' single on ID Records from 1984, although in my eyes the B-Side is the clear winner here. The single was produced by Dave Goodman, you might remember his brilliant 'Justifiable Homicide'. The Sid Presley Experience later became The Godfathers.

(286) Prolapse - 'Killing The Bland' (mp3). A CD-single on Radarscope Records from 1997. Sorry, but there is nothing much I can tell you about Prolapse, although I even two of their records. 'Killing The Bland' was on their album 'The Italian Flag',l which was released in 1997 as well, I think. The band came from Leicester ... and that's where my knowledge ends.

(287) Dreadzone - 'Earth Angel' (mp3). Again CD-single on Virgin Records, released in 1997. A nice tune, asomewhat contrary to what I normally post here on Sexyloser. Perhaps you even like it and say "Hah ... that's the fucking best tune you gave to us this week!" ... and you might be right. More on Dreadzone: here.

(288) Inter - 'Happy Ending' (mp3). An appropriate title on yet another CD-single, this time on Pet Sounds from 1997. I'm afraid this the only record I have by Inter, which is a real shame, because the tune is simply outstanding! Apparently they released quite a lot of other records before they split in 2001.

Enough for today, friends, but be relieved: there's more to come .... sooner or later. Until then, take good care, okay?

Dirk

Lady Loser's Lottery .... Pt. 3

Dearest friends,

first of all - of course - a very merry Christmas to all of you: I really do hope you are feeling well and are enjoying your days off as much I as I do. I'm sitting here in my brandnew chef-style-chair, a present from Mrs. Loser ... and what a treat it is, to be sure! And here's what my dear wife picked for you today, I hope it meets with your approval:

1) [from the 12" - shelf]: Harry Morse Project - 'Laziness' (mp3). Well, this is a pick I'm not convinced by at all. But that's the way this lottery works: I'm totally out of control. A DJ-colleague of mine used to play this a lot and I quite liked it back then, so he provided me with a copy of the 12". I think I haven't listened to it again until today and I must admit I don't know what to make out of it: it isn't a bad song after all, but it won't change your life as well, I'm afraid. But: judge for yourself and download it, if you want to. On Bigwave Records from Paris, France, released in 2000, the 12" is simply titled '#2'.

2) [from the CD - shelf]: The Feelies - 'Crazy Rhythms'. There are very few albums indeed to which you can listen to for, say, 20 years or so, and when the final song is over you think to yourself: 'Oh my God, that was simply outstanding!'. A measurement of such brilliance, at least for me this is the case, is when you owe the record as well on vinyl as on CD. There are just a handful of records for which this is true in my collection, and The Feelies' debut is but one of them. A true masterpiece, and I'm willing to have a small bet that it will put a smile on my face when I listen to it again when I'm 65. Released back in 1980 on Stationary Music and this is what I chose from it: 'Loveless Love' (mp3).

3) [from the 7" - shelf]: David Bowie - 'Ashes To Ashes' (mp3). I'm old enough to know that it's always dangerous to say something against Bowie, especially when you don't want to lose all of the five female readers who visit your blog on occasion. But, frankly speaking, I still can't cope with all he did, in fact I can't cope with most of what he did in his career. I mean, 'Heroes' is one of my all-time favourites and will most probably remain so forever, also 'Ashes To Ashes' is a fine song. But if you listen to his first albums in one go, you will find out that it is a relief when you have finished and are able to put something else on instead. At least I feel this way. That doesn't necessarily mean that I wouldn't want to look as good as him, of course. And have his money .... either way: on RCA Victor from 1979.

4) [from the Compilations - shelf]: 'Martin - The Work Of Record Producer Martin Hannett'. Well, the name should ring a bell for most of you. If it doesn't, here are the (inner) sleev notes:

"This collection is a sample of the work of record producer Martin Hannett from his early work with the Buzzcocks until his death in April 1991. Martin, as producer, was the mastermind behind the sound of Joy Division, and his influential production skills were employed by many of today's major bands. In later life he produced the Stone Roses and Happy Mondays, giving the latter their first hit: 'Wrote For Luck'. The final tracks on the album represent some of his more recent work before his death at the age of 41. The proceeds of this album go to his family."

On the album you'll find: World Of Twist, A Certain Ratio, Buzzcocks, Happy Mondays, High,
John Cooper Clarke, Joy Division, O.M.D., New Fast Automatic Daffodils, Slaughter & The Dogs, U2, which doesn't make it a lot easier altogether to pick something (apart from U2, of course). I'll go for John Cooper Clarke, I think, with his first (and best) release from 1977: 'Suspended Sentence' (mp3). 'Martin' was released on Factory Records in 1991.

5) [from the LP - shelf]: The Specials - 'The Specials'. Again a top choice, as with The Feelies. One of the classic debut albums of all time, full of good tunes and I never get tired of hearing it again over and over. Rather hard to chose a specific song, but I'll go for 'Stupid Marriage' (mp3) on this occasion. The Specials always were my definitive favourites when it comes to Ska ... nothing against Madness or Selecter or The Toasters, but The Specials really have stood the test of time. The album was produced by Elvis Costello and released in 1979 on Chrysalis.

Okay, enough for today: gotta run, shower and dress myself in order to be at my sister's place in time .... where I'll be served with even more to eat - and drink, I'm afraid - than yesterday. Oh, isn't Christmas fun?

See you soon,

Dirk

Special Request Edition: The Blue Orchids

Dear friends,


an e-mail came in from regular correspondent Craig Keany, who asked whether it would be possible for me to do some kind of special request edition upon The Blue Orchids. It is, Craig, and I can tell you why it is: you are absolutely right in saying that The Blue Orchids were - and are, as a matter of fact - most probably one of the most grievously underrated bands of all time.


I won't bore you with too much details about them, I think all necessary information about the band can be found here. Also there is rather a good retrospective of their work, which can be found here.


Their music is hard to describe, but I have been fascinated by it ever since I first got my hands on a cassette of their album back in the very early Eighties. Only several years later I was able to find a second hand copy of said album, 'The Greatest Hit (The Money Mountain)'.


But, enough said, here's what I chose for you, Craig. And for the rest of you as well, of course:



'Work' (mp3). The A-Side of their second 7" from 1981.


'Agents Of Chance' (mp3). The title track from a 1982 4-track-EP.


'Thirst' (mp3). The B-Side of their 'Sleepy Town' - 7" from 1985. Took this from an old John Peel's Music - cassette, the sound quality might be a bit dodgy, but the track is ace!


'Hanging Man' (mp3), 'Sun Connection' (mp3), 'Low Profile' (mp3), 'Dumb Magician' (mp3).


All those four songs are taken from their aforementioned album 'The Greatest Hit (The Money Mountain)' from 1982. There isn't a single bad track on it and you may well believe me that I had a hard time in chosing only a few songs.


'The Flood' (mp3). A-Side of their very first single from 1980.


'The House That Faded Out' (mp3). The B-Side of the 'Work' - single, although this version here is taken from their first (out of two) Peel Session from 08.12.80.


'Heroes' (mp3). Okay, this is a bit of a bonus. The Blue Orchids worked as Nico's backing band from 1983 onwards and therefore you get this one as well. From 1983, on Aura Records. All of the others above were released on Rough Trade Records, by the way.


I hope you enjoyed what I chose for you, Craig. Let me know if you were pleased, okay?


See you soon,


Dirk

My Peel Tapes - Part 26

Good morning my beauties,

yes, believe it or not, another episode of 'My Peel Tapes' for you! I know, quite a while ago since the last one. I must admit, I couldn't convince myself to do it earlier, because all in all it became rather a bore somehow. Also I was so very much fond of this 'Lady Loser's Lottery' - thingy ... I'd rather had done another of those instead of 'My Peel Tapes'. But the show must go on, so here we go ... I hope you enjoy what Uncle John played to me back then, 'cos that's exactly what I'll play to you today:

(258) Elastica - 'Waking Up (mp3). Again from their first, self-titled album on Geffen, released in 1995, also released as a single in the same year. Interestingly enough The Stranglers apparently blamed (sued?) the band for the fact that 'Waking Up' sounds pretty much like their 'No More Heroes' from 1977 .... I can't see that much of a similarity. Can you?

(259) The Silver Jews - 'Trains Across The Sea' (mp3). The Silver Jews were, amongst others, David Berman and Stephen Malkmus. Yes, that Stephen Malkmus out of Pavement. 'Trains Across The Sea' is my favourite song on their debut album 'Starlite Walker', released in 1994 on Drag City Records in the States and on Domino in Europe. The tune really grows on you, people, so you'd better download it and listen to it very closely. Silver Jews' homepage: here. 'Half hours on earth, what are they worth?', he asks in the song ... and doesn't hesitate to leave the question unanswered ....

(260) Northern Picture Library - 'Last September's Farewell Kiss' (mp3).
"Battery Point" was a very fine 1995 compilation on Sarah Records and it featured Aberdeen, Action Painting, Blueboy, Boyracer, Hit Parade, Ivy, Northern Picture Library, Secret Shine,
Shelley and Sugargliders. Peel played the Nothern Picture Library - track .... and so shall I. A most fragile track, so please

(261) Jerry Lee Lewis - 'How's My Ex Treating You' (live at Panther Hall, Fort Worth) (mp3). Alas this live recording from 1966 comes in rather dodgy quality, but I thought I'd play it to you nevertheless, because it is a neat song, that's for sure. More on Jerry Lee Lewis, one of the great performers of that era, here.

(262) The Flys - 'Love And A Molotov Cocktail' (mp3). A 1978 7" on EMI of all labels, odd really. A killer tune from yesteryear, if you don't know it yet: have a listen, folks ... it really is one of the great records of the punk or pre-punk era ....

(263) The Wedding Present - 'Go Man Go' (mp3). Once one of my all-time favourite combos, I'm not entirely convinced by all of what The Wedding Present are doing these days. This though still was fine stuff, from their 'Mini' - 10" on Cooking Vinyl from 1996. I think I should listen to the whole record again after having brought the track from vinyl to mp3 later on ....

(264) Pulp - 'Mile End' (mp3). Taken from the soundtrack of the film 'Trainspotting', released on Premier Records in 1996, a double LP, in fact. Not all on it is as good as Pulp's contribution, it must be said. The film, however, is a masterpiece, of course ....

(265) Calvin Party - 'Life And Other Sex Tragedies' (mp3). I know I've posted this before, but that's no excuse not to do that again: this is a FANTASTIC song, friends, definetely one of my choices for the Desert Island. It starts rather quietely, but then explodes and becomes to something which I would describe as one of the finest moments in the history of recorded music to date. The singer's accent is great, the lyrics are simply awesome ... this song is a MUST!!! From their 1995 album 'Lies, Lies And Government' on Probe Plus Records from Liverpool. Really, I can't recommend this enough ... if you don't do yourself a favour and have a listen to it, it's your own fault!

(266) The Congos - 'Children Crying' (mp3). From one of the classic roots reggae releases from Jamaica from the late 70's, along with Culture's 'Two Sevens Clash' perhaps: the album 'Heart Of The Congos' from 1977. I have a very nice German re-release with gatefold sleeve from 1996 on Blood And Fire Records ... wish I had a copy of the original Jamaican pressing though. Find an interview with Watty Burnett, who, amongst others, did the backing vocals on the album, here.

(267) Sleater-Kinney - 'I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone' (mp3). Heroes of the 'Riot Grrrl' - scene Sleater-Kinney hail from Olympia, Washington, later moved to Portland, Oregon and here's their website. 'Joey Ramone' comes from their second album, 'Call The Doctor' on Chainsaw Records from 1996.

(268) Helen Love - 'Girl About Town' (mp3). Again featured previously (at least I think this is the case), again one of the finest records on earth. Originally released as a B-Side (of the 'We Love You' - 7") in 1995 on Damaged Goods. The single is long deleted, but perhaps you are lucky and find a copy of their great 'Radio Hits Vol. 2' - compilation, also on Damaged Goods from 1997. Great website of one of the finest bands ever to come from Wales here. I'll dedicate this to my pal FiL from Pogo A Go-Go, I know he likes the tune a lot and so does his son.

(269) Chixdiggit - 'I Drove The Coquihalla' (mp3). From Alberta in Canada, from their self-titled LP on Sub Pop Records from 1996, which is full of good and gnarly power-punk/pop stuff. More information on Chixdiggit: here.

(270) Bennet - 'Someone Always Gets There First' (mp3). Despite the fact that this 7" was released on All The Blacks Records back in 1997, it's on nice red vinyl. And very good it is, too. I'm ashamed to say I don't have the slightest idea what ever became of Bennet, but they were really really good back then. I had expected them to become much more popular .... but I was wrong, as usual.

(271) Half Man Half Biscuit - 'Eno Collaboration' (mp3). The toast of Birkenhead with a 7" on Probe Plus Records from 1996. As always with fantastic lyrics, 'I went from the Andies to the Indies in my undies' is especially good, I think. Have a look at a very fine Half Man Half Biscuit - fansite here.

(272) Rudi - 'Big Time' (mp3). Again a total pop-punk classic from Belfast's Rudi. From 1978 on Good Vibrations Records (who also released the original 'Teenage Kicks' - 7" by The Undertones). More on Rudi here.

Well, as always I really hope you enjoyed my choices for today. Kindly drop a little comment and let me know whether this was the case. Or not.

I hope to have another episode ready before the New Year comes. There will definetely be another 'Lady Loser's Lottery' one, so watch out for it ....

Take care and stay healthy, friends!

Dirk

Lady Loser's Lottery .... Pt. 2

Hello nice people,

well, after all of those nice little responses to the first part of Lady Loser's Lottery, I thought why not do a second part, so here you are. Took me quite some time to achieve this, but I have been rather ill lately and this more or less the first time in two weeks for me in front of the computer. Either way, I'm back to mid-season form and I hope you enjoy what Mrs. Loser picked for you:






1) [from the CD - shelf] New Order's 'Waiting For The Sirens' Call' album from 2005 on London Records. Oh boy, I must admit, I haven't listened to this since ..... 2005. And I don't have the slightest idea what might possibly be the best track to play to you here. So let's do it the DJ-without-a-clue-way and play Track A ... always a safe choice, I found out in my career. Here's 'Who's Joe' (mp3).



2) [from the 7" - shelf] The Jesus and Mary Chain - 'Upside Down'. Well, I think I'll play you the B-Side here, 'Vegetable Man' (mp3), because I might think you don't hear it all that often .... and it's a rather neat cover of an old Pink Floyd song. The 7" was released on Creation Records back in 1982 .... as long ago as that? That can't be right, c'mon ... but that's what it reads on the label (Creation 012).

Strange, I just had a look at the internet to find out and everywhere it reads 1985, but curiously I can't find a picture of the sleeve which I have (blueish, with a guitar). The other releases seem to have been gatefold sleeves in different colours .... if there are any Jesus & Mary Chain - enthusiasts reading this here: please let me know, okay? Thank you ...





3) [from the Compilations - shelf] 'Doing It For The Kids', Creation Records, 1988. This is a great record with a whole bunch of adorable tunes on it, people: Weather Prophets, Biff Bang Pow, Emily, Heidi Berry, Felt, House Of Love, Jasmine Minks, Momus, Jazz Butcher, My Bloody Valentine, Nikki Sudden, Pacific, Primal Scream, Razorcuts, Times ... what more could you possibly ask for back in those days. And only because I featured the Jazz Butcher track ('Lot 49') before (in the 'Some Of The Best There Ever Has Been - 1988' - post), I'll choose Felt's 'Ballad Of The Band' (mp3) .... not because it's worse than 'Lot 49', I just love 'Lot 49' to no degree .... don't know why though ....


4) [from the 12" - shelf] Something German for a change for you now .... but I told you in my introduction to the first part that Mrs. Loser chooses the records with closed eyes, so it can't always be chocolate, you see. Fettes Brot - 'Jein' (mp3). Fettes Brot were (and are, actually) one of the first German bands who achieved success despite singing in German back in those days when including a bit of rap and spoken bits was a thing what only English - speaking bands would allow themselves to try. They come from Northern Germany and the members were (and, as far as I know, still are) Dr. Renz, König Boris and Schiffmeister. 'Jein' is about him not being able to decide how to approach the girl ..... yes, this old story. On Yo Mama Records from 1996 ... and it felt really good to hear this one again: thank's honey!




5) [from the LP - shelf] Joy Division's 'Closer'. Labelled incorrectly by Base Records in Italy with Side Two on both sides of the record ... probably I'm a millionaire and don't know about it? Well, of course there is one stand-out track on it and that is, of course, 'Isolation' (mp3). The band's second album, released in the July of 1980, two months after Ian Curtis' death. Would be intersting to know what YOU think: was it meant to mean 'Closer' as in 'shorten a distance' or 'Closer' as in 'finale'? Answers in the comment section, please .....


That's it, folks. Would mean a lot to me if some of you would let me know what you thought of Mrs. Loser's choices .... until then:


Cheerio,


Dirk

Lady Loser's Lottery .... Pt. 1

Dearest friends, fans and followers,


I've been contemplating for quite some time in the recent weeks what sort of series I could start on Sexyloser in addition to 'My Peel Tapes' and 'Some Of The Best There Ever Has Been'. I mean, it's fun to to both of 'em, don't get me wrong, but I thought I needed some challenge, something else rather than me wandering to the record collection, picking stuff that I like and then present it here.

So I thought, well, why not let somebody else do this for me? And - as you might imagine - my dear wife, Mrs. Loser, is now handling things for this series. All in all it's rather easy to explain: My record collection is seperated in five different shelves: 1. CD's 2. 7"-singles 3. 12" singles 4. LP's 5. Compilations. All of them are in - more or less - alphabetical order and contrary to me, Mrs. Loser hasn't got a clue what might be inside when she picks a sleeve with halfway closed eyes: it might turn out to be the best thing since sliced bread, then again it could well be a sin from my past. Nevertheless I swear not to cheat here, I'll play to you exactly what she picked from the different shelves ..... and I only hope it won't be too much crap.

Okay, here we go ... this is what she came back with:

1. The Detroit Cobras - 'Life, Love And Leaving'. A fantastic CD on Rough Trade Records from 2001. This really is a belter, folks, and I strongly recommend that you should get your hands on it, perhaps you have a look here. It really is not easy at all to pick a song from it, because they are all good. 99% of the songs The Detroit Cobras do are cover versions, but they always do them in rather a raunchy way .... which my choice will show you: Otis Redding's 'Shout Bama Lama' (mp3) is perhaps my favourite on the CD and it's worth downloading, so please do so!

2. Speeder - 'Hey What Do I Know' (mp3). This was taken from the 7" - shelf. On Creeping Bent Records from Glasgow, from 1999, and Mrs. Loser's pick could have been worse, I would like to think. Alas I know nothing at all to say about Speeder, a shame really, because the track is rather brilliant and with a good guitar fuzz in the middle. No photo of the band seems to be available in the web either.

3. From the 12" shelf, here come The Prefects and their 1979 Peel Session on Strange Fruit Records, released in 1987. Led by Robert Lloyd, later with The Nightingales, The Prefects never struck a chord with me really, I must admit and I'm having a hard time in choosing a tune to play out of the four ones on the 12". Then again this exactly might be the challenge in this series. Also it means that I listen to stuff I would most probably not have listed to again for ages. I came up with this here, 'Barbarellas' (mp3).

4. The LP Mrs. Loser chose I haven't listened to for a long time indeed. And what a shame that is, too. It's a total classic, of course, the second album from New Order, 'Power, Corruption And Lies' on Factory Records from 1983, May of that year, in fact. But because it's such a classic, it's not easy to pick a song from it. Perhaps I like 'Age Of Consent' (mp3) best. But also all of the rest is awesome, kids. So get a copy of it.

5. The compilations. From 'History Of Ska Vol. 2 - The Golden Years '66 - '69' on Studio One Records from Jamaica. I picked this in the backroom of a tiny record shop in Kingston, Jamaica when I was there for the first time. If only I would have been brave enough to have more money with me when I was there, I would have brought even more of these gems back home with me. But I was warned that tourists in Kingston get shot for a few US Dollars in certain areas, so I was rather short of money when record shopping there. But I won't complain, I found some very nice records there and this is but one of them. From it, here's Prince Buster and 'Time Longer Than Rope' (mp3). The photo above shows the sleeve of Vol. 1, I couldn't find a picture of Vol. 2 anywhere, sorry.

Well, that's it for today, folks. Thanks for your attention and of course a big 'thank you' to Mrs. Loser as well: good job, honey!

Cheers and any comments would of course highly be appreciated!

Dirk

Some Of The Best There Ever Has Been: '1979' (for a Tart)

Dearest friends,

first of all: sorry! Sorry that it took me so long to post something new here, but first I have been really busy and in addition to that I didn't feel pretty well recently .... something with my stomach (won't go into detail, but believe me: I was perfectly happy to lay in bed instead sitting in front of the computer).

The only person in the whole wide world who wrote (now that's an alliteration if there ever was one!! ha ha!!) in to ask if I am still alive was dearest Tart from the fantastic 'I Correct Myself, I Mean All The Time' - blog .... and I strongly recommend that you should have a look at what she has to say every bloody day of your little lives! In order to thank her for this, I asked her to choose a year for this series, and she came up with '1979', so there you are: Tart, this is dedicated to you, darling .... and I do hope you enjoy the tunes I chose for you.

Okay ... rock 'n' roll:

The Cramps - 'Human Fly' (mp3)

Blondie - 'Living In The Real World' (mp3)

The Dead Kennedys - 'Kill The Poor' (live at the Deaf Club '79) (mp3)

Elvis Costello - 'Oliver's Army' (mp3)

The Glass Torpedoes - 'Morning, Noon And Night' (mp3)

Joe Jackson - 'Is She Really Going Out With Him?' (mp3)

Joy Division - 'Disorder' (mp3)

The Pretenders - 'Precious' (mp3)

The Wipers - 'Mystery' (mp3)

The Go-Betweens - 'People Say' (mp3)

The Leyton Buzzards - 'Saturday Night Beneath The Plastic Palm Trees' (mp3)

The Quads - 'There Must Be Thousands' (mp3)

The Slickee Boys - 'Gotta Tell Me Why' (mp3)

The Specials - 'Stupid Marriage' (mp3)

The Undertones - 'Here Comes The Summer' (Peel Session Version) (mp3)

Okay, dearest Tart: I have to stop it here. 1979 was such a fantastic year for music, exactly as you said to me, I could go on forever and forever with my choices. I do hope you liked what I found for you .... and for the rest of you as well, of course!

Have fun,

Dirk

My Peel Tapes - Part 25

Dearest friends,

I thought I'd better quickly shove in another edition of 'My Peel Tapes' before Feargal Sharkey decides to close Sexyloser down forever, so here we go:

(245) The Eggs - 'The Government Administrator' (mp3). The third release - from 1993 - on Hemiola Records from Leeds featured a combo from Arlington, Virginia: The Eggs. Despite of their stupid name the record itself was just marvellous. It must have struck a chord in Britain at least for a few people, because it reached # 10 in Peel's Festive 50 of that year. Doesn't make them worldwide superstars, but who gives a damn, right? And, more important even, The Eggs sent me the 7" for free, because I wrote a creepy letter to them complaining that I wasn't able to track down a copy here in Germany. In return I sent back a bottle of local liquor, real hardcore stuff, and to my great surprise the band thought it wasn't bad at all, at least so they wrote back to me. A few weeks ago I landed on a website done by The Eggs' former singer and believe it or not: he still remembered having enjoyed that bottle very well .... some 15 years later!

(246) Madder Rose - 'Madder Rose' (mp3). Their first and their best, as it so often is the case. From a 1993 compilation called 'Unnecessary Niceness - American Imports from the 7" Singles Bins of the Rough Trade Record Shop', which featured Allen Clapp, Big Louise, Helium, Lois, Lorelei, Spinanes, Swirlies, Twiggy and of course Madder Rose .... on Beechwood Music from the UK. The Madder Rose - tune comes from 1992, in fact.

(247) Sonic Youth - 'Personality Crisis' (mp3). From the 'Sugar Kane' - single (on Geffen, 1992), which was issued in various formats - well, with various tracks on it - back in 1992. The song was originally done by The New York Dolls, as you might know. Should you not know it, try to get hold of it, it is a real killer! Also on the single was this:

(248) Sonic Youth - 'Is It My Body' (mp3). Some kind of .... hmmh ... well .... sexy, there is no better way to describe it. Judge yourself, but as far as I'm concerned, the thought alone of Kim Gordon moaning with lust makes this tune somewhat special for me. Yeah ..... I know: I'm rather easily aroused in my age ..... oh boy!

(249) Curve - 'Missing Link' (mp3). Phew .... rather noisier than I expected it to be .... I thought it was a bit more tranquil. Good stuff nevertheless and again from one of those Indie Top 20 double albums. Recorded in 1993 and mainly featured here because Toni Halliday is such a goddess! [As you can probably tell, I still couldn't calm down from the Sonic Youth track preceeding this one here .... sorry ....].

(250) The Rulers - 'Copasetic' (mp3). Released in 1966 on The Sir JJ Label. I got hold of some fantastic albums in Kingston when I went to Jamaica for the first time, but alas couldn't track down any 7" singles. So I had to take this one from the 'Club Ska '67' - compilation, issued in 1980 on Mango/Island. The sound quality is rather poor, but to my best knowledge this is not the compilation's fault. I've never heard a (soundwise) better version of this track anywhere.

(251) The Harvest Ministers - 'If It Kills Me And It Will' (mp3). On Sarah Records, Sarah 84 in fact. Issued in 1993 as a 7" and just one out of a million absolutely adorable releases on the label. They really had all of the good bands back then and I always thought they were as influental as Factory were 10 years before. The Harvest Ministers' site is here.

(252) The Undertones - 'My Perfect Cousin' (mp3). On 'Hypnotised', the band's second album from 1980. Good throughout and highly recommended. If you have a look at the post preceeding this one, you might not want to cope with this choice, but I think regardless what one might think about Feargal Sharkey these days, it should not be forgotten that The Undertones were not just Feargal. The other members might perhaps even be pleased to see this tune posted here, who knows?

(253) The Shanes - 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' (mp3). A 7", most probably from 1993. Peel doesn't give a lot of information as well, and moreover I can't find much on the internet about the track. So just enjoy this version and let me know what you think ..... okay?

(254) Pulp - 'O.U. (Gone, Gone)' (mp3). A 12" on Gift Recordings from 1992 and my favourite Pulp tune. There you are. Better even than 'Common People'. I quickly have to move on to the next track, otherwise I'll change my mind again .....

(255) Elastica - 'Line Up' (mp3). Originally done in 1992, the version was later issued as a 7". This here is the LP version though, the album was released on Geffen in 1995. A great debut which surely has stood the test of time, at least it did for me. Luckily I have a rare first issue, which included the so-called 'Elasticatalogue', a little leaflet with photos from Donna Matthews in it (yes, another goddess!). A much-treasured item here in Sexyloserland, as you might imagine!

(256) The Rezillos - 'Flying Saucer Attack' (mp3) / 'No' (mp3). Well, I intended to post only 'Flying Saucer Attack', but 'No' is tucked so close behind it on the album ('Can't Stand The Rezillos', Sire, 1978), that I decided to let the needle run and download the two tracks for your pleasure. In fact I listened to the whole LP again after this and I must say it is an absolute masterpiece!! Do yourself a favour and get hold of a copy somewhere, this album really shouldn't miss in any halfway decent record collection!

(257) Billy Bragg - 'The Milkman Of Human Kindness' (mp3). 'Life's A Riot With Spy Vs. Spy' was Billy's first release on the Utility Label in 1983 and from it this tune is taken. One of his quieter songs but don't let that hinder you from listening to it. Billy's site is here.

Well, folks, I do sincerely hope you enjoyed this week's selection: quite a fair number of older tracks for you, but as mentioned before: I just post here chronologically what Peel played back then on BFBS.

Have fun,

Dirk

Dear Feargal Sharkey,

I was suprised to learn from my mate J.C. that you have become rather successful lately. Quite a long way from singing in a grievously underrated band to becoming a Chief Executive for British Music Rights, isn't it? Well, it must have been a long way, Feargal, because apparently you seem to have forgotten some things. Important things, my old friend. I came to this impression because of the statements you made in this article.

Feargal, have you ever thought about why it is that you now have the successful job you currently have? Have you ever thought about who it was that made you so important? No? Well, I'll tell you, Feargal: it was us. Yes, us, the people who spent their hard-earned money for your records. The people who followed you around and paid to see your gigs. Some of them still exist nowadays, believe it or not. Those people are called fans, Feargal. Sometimes I think this is an expression which isn't used very often in your nice little BMR - office these days, right? Fans. Hmmmh. Sounds strange these days, I admit. But, the thing is, Feargal, fans - in the true sense of the word - are not criminals. Nor have they ever been. They are just little people who like what someone else has done or is doing. And they want to share their joy and excitement with other people.

Come on Feargal: you're not that old, are you? Do you really have forgotten what you did back in the mid 70's when you were short of money and your mate had the latest single, by, let's say, The Faces? I bet he taped it for you, didn't he, so that you could listen to it at home over and over again: "Pool Hall Richard, You're Far Too Wicked, We Know ...". Boy, that was fun, wasn't it, Feargal? I bet you sang along with it in your room like nobody's business, didn't you?

Your mate taped it for you for free, Feargal, so I assume. Or did you pay him for it? No, I bet you didn't. Now, would you describe your mate - and yourself, mind you - as having been criminals back then? Did you even give a toss about the fact that you stole Rod Stewart's money? Be frank to me, Feargal: you didn't, no way. Rod is a multi-millionaire by now, even though you and your mate stole his money. Deliberately.

You see, today the tape decks have gone. Out of fashion. Replaced by computers, Feargal. But the attitude has remained. Still some fans want to share stuff they really appreciate with other people. People who might not have the chance to listen to it that easily. And please don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about the real pirates. Those are criminals, I admit. I'm talking about fans. Fans who post a little something and in doing so they encourage other fans to go and buy other stuff from the artist. As easy as that, Feargal. Fans have a blog which is read by some thirty other fans per day, if at all. Pirates steal music on a commercial basis. Don't mix this up, Feargal, please!

If you want to save artists' rights, kindly attack the pirates and their battleships. Don't bomb the fans' rubber boats, my friend. I understand this is the easier thing to do, but that doesn't mean it is the right thing to do. So please leave us fans alone, okay? Ed, Steve and Coxon are not your enemies, Feargal, they're just fans. Not more, not less.

Think about this if you have a minute, Feargal. That's all I would ask for, mate.

All the best, your old fan,

Dirk

PS: and to show the young fans - who probably can't afford to pay some 50 quid for this single (or whatever it's worth on ebay these days) - that you made some fantastic records some years ago (and therefore can't be such a bad chap after all), here's your 1978 debut on Good Vibrations Records:

1) Teenage Kicks (mp3)

2) Smarter Than You (mp3)

3) True Confessions (mp3)

4) Emergency Cases (mp3)

I'll await your kind response to this, Feargal. In one form or another ...

Dirk

Some Of The Best There Ever Has Been: '1996'

Hello party people,

rrrrright, time for another edition of 'Some Of the Best There Ever Has Been'. This time we'll have a look at 1996, not a fantasticly spectacular year for music all in all, I would think. But there have been a few good tunes nevertheless, and here are the ones that I liked most. Still love to listen to them today, in fact:



Armstrong - 'You Deserve To Succeed' (mp3)

Melys - 'Puppet' (mp3)


Revelino - 'Step On High' (mp3)



Belle And Sebastian - 'The Stars Of Track And Field' (mp3)



Billy Bragg - 'Northern Industrial Town' (mp3)



Babybird - 'Goodnight' (mp3)



Jay-Jay Johanson - 'So Tell The Girls That I Am Back In Town' (mp3)

Rather a tranquil selection, you could well argue, and of course you would be entirely right. Don't know why this is, perhaps I finally got fed up with listening to Grunge and Grunge-related stuff back in 1996. Then again it was a brilliant year for Scottish and especially Welsh music and this kind of stuff never tended to be hardcore.

Either way, I like the tracks above to no degree. I hope you do too.

Just let me know if this is the case, okay: leave comments to cheer me up ...


See you,


Dirk

(Yet) Another Great Song Lost On A B-Side

Dearest friends,

my good pal J.C. over at The Vinyl Villain does this 'Lost ...' - series fairly frequently and yesterday he drew our attention to a track by The Go Betweens. Thanks for that, J.C., and to the rest of you, I recommend to have a look here.

Now, I shamelessly had to steal the idea today (hope you don't mind, mate), because this morning in the car I listened to a very old cassette of John Peel's music on BFBS. John started the show with a track by Echo & The Bunnymen, one which I always simply adored, in fact I think it's one of the very best tunes they have ever done.

To my best knowledge it was never released on an album, it was available only in the UK as a B-Side of the 'Bring On The Dancing Horses' - 7" on Korova (KOW-43), released in October of 1985. The Americans had to live with 'Read It In Books' on the B-Side, poor people ....

Not only the song is a real treat, also John Peel's intro (to the show) is quite wonderful, I think. Therefore you'll get it both, folks, (more or less) neatly segued into each other. Enjoy this:

Echo and The Bunnymen - 'Over Your Shoulder' (mp3)

My Peel Tapes - Part 24

Hello dear people,

welcome to Pt. 24 of 'My Peel Tapes'. I hope everyone of you will find some enjoyable stuff below:

(231) Sonic Youth - 'Ca Plane Pour Moi' (mp3). From a very nice compilation album called 'Freedom Of Choice' on City Slang Records out of Germany, released in 1992. Apart from Sonic Youth it features White Flag, Yo La Tengo, Big Dipper, Chia Pet, Connels, Das Damen, Erectus Monotone, Finger, Hypnolovewheel, It's OK, Mudhoney, Muffs, Permanent Green Light, Polvo, Red Kross, Superchunk and Tiny Lights .... and they all do covers of favourite 'New Wave' - tunes you all will know by heart, I would think .... well, and if not all, you will know this one here, originally done by Plastic Bertrand back in 1977 .... yes, that golden year .... oh boy!

(232) Killbilly - 'Diesel Dazey' (mp3). A 1992 7" on Diesel Only Records from the States. And perhaps you are more clever than me and can track down something about them or the record on the internet: I searched for quite some time now and have given up on it! Anyway, it's some very nice hillbilly country style - stuff for you for a change .... enjoy!

(233) The Jeans Shop Guerilla - 'The Rhine Near Bale' (mp3). A most curious item this is, for sure. A 7" single on Strandgut Produktion from 1992, titled 'Dr. Sorgsam - Oder Wie Ich Lernte, Die Bausparkasse Zu Hassen', which translates as 'Dr. Careful - Or How I Learnt To Hate The Building And Loan Association' ... and please don't ask me what this may possibly be all about! The other five tracks on this single are even more obscure, rather left-wing-pro-1977- German RAF - terrorism stuff mostly, I would think. Strange indeed, but the track Peel chose is rather neat altogether.

(234) Culture - 'Lion Rock' (mp3). Taken from the 1983 Peel Session (released on Strange Fruit Records) by Jamaica's Culture, one of the true Jamaican masterpieces, perhaps along with The Congos' 'Heart Of The Congos'. When I was in Jamaica in 2004, Culture played in Negril or Montego bay, can't remember properly .... one day after (!) I had to fly home. What a freakin' shame to have missed this great band. Now Joseph Hill is dead and gone and my chance to ever see them again has died with him. Bugger!!

(235) Benny Spellman - 'Lipstick Traces (On A Cigarette)' (mp3). Again from a compilation LP, also called 'Lipstick Traces', this time on Rough Trade Records from 1993. A very strange collection of bands and songs featured here, some punk stuff (Adverts, Buzzcocks, Clash, Slits), but mostly rather obscure dadaistic nonsense from quite some time ago. Fairly unlistenable too, at least for my ears. Benny Spellman's tune though is okay with me, originally released as a single back in 1962, it has surely stood the test of time. Again, at least for me it had ....

(236) The Misunderstood - 'I Can Take You To The Sun' (mp3). A great tune from 1966 on Fontana Records, pretty much way ahead of it's time, I would think. Some describe it as a "psychedelic classic" and I'm not enough an expert on this genre to be able to disagree here. I always liked it a lot and I think it will remain another one of my all-time favourites forever. The Misunderstood's website is here.

(237) The Faces - 'Pool Hall Richard' (mp3). Now, I don't care very much for Rod Stewart, I must admit, not my cup of tea really. Also I know that he was not all of The Faces, other members of the band might have been more important than him. Either way, this is a great tune, a singalong if you want, but there's nothing wrong with that. It's the sheer energy in that that I like so much, but judge for yourself. A 7" on Warner from 1973 and more on The Faces can be found here.

(238) Culture Fire - 'No Existance' (mp3). Well, here's the deal: find anything about them on the internet, folks, and I'll send you a fiver! The only thing I can tell you is that the record was released on One-Hour Records from Omaha, Nebraska, I think in 1992, so I assume that the band should come from roughly that area. One-Hour Records in fact once was the home of Simon Joyner, now this is a guy whose name could ring a bell with you. He later recorded for Sing, Eunuchs! ... together with Frontier Trust, Mousetrap and The Mountain Goats, for example.

(239) Mambo Taxi - 'Prom Queen' (mp3). A 7" on Clawfist/Hunka from 1992. They had quite a few rather nice records, this is but one of them, I would like to think. Mambo Taxi's Wikipedia entry: here.

(240) Gumball - 'New Rose' (mp3). Now, the orginal by The Damned is quite a stormer, as you will know. But Gumball manage to give it a good kicking as well, they make it sound even harder in my eyes. You think I'm joking? Press the download button and judge for yourselves, people! From a 12" called 'Wisconsin Hayride', which is full of interesting cover versions, the originals being done by for example by The Small Faces, Black Flag and The Mahavishna Orchestra. The sound quality is alas poor, but I hope you forgive me.

(241) Delicious Monster - 'Snuggle' (mp3). Once again I delved into my collection of 'Indie - Compilation' double LP's to find these little gem. Originally released on Flute Records as a 12" back in 1993 and somewhere someone referred to them as 'one heck of an overlooked band': only partly I am able to disagree upon that ... but simply because there were so many other 'overlooked' bands at the time who had deserved even more attention than Delicious Monster should have deserved. Also their name sucks.

(242) The Heptones - 'Sufferer's Time' (mp3). Again in especially dodgy sound quality, this is because I took it from the original Peel Tape .... I only wish I'd own a vinyl copy of this 7" from Jamaica on the Hep Hep Label from 1978 .... but I don't. Alas.

(243) Pulp - 'Razzmatazz' (mp3). Yes. Okay. I know very well that I have to be terribly careful with what I write here about Pulp and especially Jarvis Cocker, otherwise 75% of my female readers (if there are any at all) will never come back again. Up to a degree I can understand why Jarvis is such a cult figure, but I always had severe difficulties in mixing up good looks and good music. I mean, just because he looks damn sexy, he isn't allowed to do things that sound shite, right? The same would be true for Bowie, and he really looked good back in those days! There was a period where I was fed up with what Pulp had done, but there still are some tunes I keep coming back to. Also I mostly like what Jarvis is doing on his own these days. 'Razzmatazz' clearly is a winner, originally released as a 7" on Gift in 1993, but also to be found on the 'Intro: The Gift Recordings' - Mini - LP on Island, 1993.

(244) The House Of Love - 'Love In A Car' (mp3). A track from their self-titled debut album from 1988, which is good throughout. You will know their 'Shine On', kids, because you can hear it fairly frequently on the radio these days, albeit only a remix of it, which is best being described as utter shit!

That's all for today, friends. Please leave a little comment, this keeps this blog alive!

Cheers,

Dirk

Some Of The Best There Ever Has Been...: '1988'

Hello dear friends,

well, after quite a while, here's the next round of little gems I always loved and adored and most probably will do so for the rest of my little useless life. This time we're having a look at 1988 ... have a listen and tell me what you think, okay?

The Beasts Of Bourbon - 'The Hate Inside' (mp3)

The Church - 'Texas Moon' (mp3)

Grant Hart - '2541' (mp3)

The Hotknives - 'Driving Me Mad' (live at The Boatman) (mp3)

Jazz Butcher - 'Lot 49' (mp3)

Joe Strummer & The Latino Rockabilly War - 'Trash City' (mp3)

Lou Reed - 'Something Happened' (mp3)

The Wedding Present - 'Give My Love To Kevin' (acoustic version) (mp3)

Very best wishes,

Dirk

My Peel Tapes: Part 23

Hello friends,

welcome to this episode of 'My Peel Tapes'. We find ourselves in 1992 by now and I really do think that the below is well worth downloadable .... some killer tunes for you, promised!

(215) Southern Culture On The Skids - 'Viva Del Santo!' (mp3). I'm a bit astonished, I must admit, that I never received any requests from you people for tracks by Mexican Wrestlers. But, because I'm such a nice chap, I act before you do and play you this little gem from a 7" EP on Zonta Records from Athens, Georgia, as I understood it, at least on this version Santo himself (some kind of cult figure down there in Mexico apparently) somehow was involved in the making/recording of the tune. It was re-issued in 1996 on the 'Santo Swings!' album on Estrus Records. A real treat, that's for sure!

(216) Cheater Slicks - 'Cheater Slicks' (mp3). Now, a little explanation for this and for the next three tunes is necessary here, I think: back in 1992 the wonderful Estrus Records released a very nice boxed compilation with three 7" singles (and a few gimmicks, cover done by the mighty Coop) called 'The Estrus Gearbox', all songs- as you might imagine - dedicated to motor racing: "12 revved-up bands on a thrill-mad rampage!" it reads on the cover and this is not far away from the truth. I remember that Peel played almost all of the tracks and quite rightly so, because they're all extraordinary good. Rather hard to decide which ones to play to you, but I think I'll follow Cheater Slicks with:

(217) The M-80's - '57' Nomad' (mp3). Brilliant as well, isn't it? Nearly as good as:

(218) The Mortals - 'Nitroglycerin' (mp3). Oh boy, the way this guy freaks out at the end is simply unbelievable!! But perhaps you prefer this one:

(219) The Vacant Lot - 'Cheater, Cheater' (mp3).

Venerate me utterly for these four killer tunes, people, I really do think I deserve it!!

[upon request:

Fastbacks - 'Hot Rods To Heaven'

Gas Huffer - 'Road Runnah'

Huevos Rancheros - 'Burrito Grande Prix'

Mono Men - 'Warm Piston'

Marble Orchard - 'Nova '69'

Muffs - 'Brand New Chevy'

Nomads - 'Boss Hoss'

Untamed Youth - 'SS 396']

(220) I, Ludicrous - 'We Stand Around' (mp3). Nothing to do with motor racing whatsoever, here come I, Ludicrous, who are, together with Half Man Half Biscuit, the elite of brilliant british lyrics. And if noone else will like this, I know that my friend J.C. will do. Not quite as 'rowdy' as their debut LP featured in it's entirety further down on this sexy site, but nevertheless awesome. A 4-track 7" on Eiswürfel Tonträger from Germany, 1992. More on I, Ludicrous here.

(221) New Fast Automatic Daffodils - 'It's Not What You Know' (mp3). Man, I think I haven't listened to this since the day I bought the record it's on, which is, in fact, a single (which I don't have), but also on their 'Body Exit Mind' album on Play It Again Sam Records from 1992. And I must admit I really forgot how good they were. They were different, back then, you see, different to most of the bands of that time. Although being associated with the 'Madchester' scene, they were always a bit different, I don't know how to describe it properly. Especially their work prior to the LP was really good: 'Lions' ('89) and 'Big' ('90) are just a few tunes to mention here.

(222) The Moles - 'What's The New Mary Jane' (mp3). A song that grows on you, I'm willing to have a small bet ... and no, this has nothing to do with The Beatles' song of the same name. The Moles split up one year after the 1992 release of the double - 7" this track is taken from, a very fine package from Ringers Lactate Records from the USA. I'm ashamed to say that this basically is all I can tell you about The Moles, if you try to do it yourself you will be able to confirm that it is not easy to ascertain any information about them on the internet ....

(223) Link Wray & The Raymen - 'Batman' (mp3). Originally released as a 7" on Swan in 1966 (and no, I don't have a copy), this fantastic cover of the Neil Hefti tune features Bobby Howard as Robin. I know a lot of purists say that this record isn't comparable to 'the real Link Wray', but I don't give a damn: it's bloody good and I still love to listen to it at immense volume! I have it on a nice 7" on Norton Records from Canada, released in 1995.

(224) Flophouse - 'Right Now' (mp3). Another obscure masterpiece, if you want. But again another one which I can't get tired of listening to. There is a ceratin 'hook' in it, which makes me love it forever and forever. The singer is excellent and she manages to send shivers down my spine, I must say .... just the way it should be, if you ask me! But judge for yourself and listen to it ... this track really is a belter! Again a 7", this time on Harp Records in the USA, 1991.

(225) The Cranberries - 'Dreams' (mp3). Okay, before you move on to #226 and think to yourself: 'Now Sexyloser is really lost!': wait for a second, okay?!! I know that The Cranberries are not a band which should be seriously considered. I know they are not 'indie' at all and most probably multi-millionaires by now. But - believe it or not - this track is rather well done (especially when it all 'breaks down' at the end) and I must admit I still like listening to it today. From their debut album 'Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We', released in 1993 and also on a 7", a pre-release, I assume, from 1992 on Island Records. Give it a chance, folks, it really is worth it!

(226) Loudon Wainwright III - 'A Father And A Son' (mp3). A mighty song from Loudon's 'History' album from 1992. Do you feel he speaks to you? Well, to me he does, most certainly. Alas Mrs Loser and me are not able to have children, but this song would give me something to think about if we had any ....

(227) New Fast Automatic Daffodils - 'Stockholm' (mp3). Sorry, I can't resist, friends: I've been humming to 'It's Not What You Know' all day long, therefore I thought I should offer more from the aforementioned 'Body Exit Mind' album: here's 'Stockholm' ... a place I never have been to. Do you?

(228) The Pete Best Beatles - 'Alamein Train' (mp3). One of my absolute all-time favourites ever, already released back in 1984, but Peel played it again in 1992. From a 7" called 'Sounds For The Sophisticated Cabaret Music Lover' on Strine Music from Australia, a much treasured item here at Sexyloser's. Clever and funny lyrics, a perfect rhythm and a neat guitar .... could you possibly ask for more in a song? Picture of the Camberwell to Alamein railway track here, if you are interested *smile* ...

[upon request:

Mudhoney - 'Blinding Sun']

(229) Sonic Youth - 'Youth Against Facism' (mp3). As I pointed out previously, I never cared very much for Sonic Youth, but any anti-fascist song is alright with me, so there you are. And, I have to admit, it's not bad at all. Again taken from the 1992 album 'Dirty' on DGC.

[upon request:

Mudhoney - 'I'm Spun']

(230) Chumbawamba - 'Behave!' (mp3). Another one from the 'Shhh!' - LP on Southern Records. Again a fantastic tune which I most likely will still listen to in 20 years' time and think to myself: "Someone's always telling you how to behave ... when you're a child, it's your parents and when you're a parent, it's your children ..."

I hope you liked this episode of 'My Peel Tapes', friends. A wide variety of tunes, I would think, something for each member of the family to enjoy!

Drop a note if you liked it. D'you know what? Even drop a note if this was not the case ....

All the very best,

Dirk

Some Of The Best There Ever Has Been: '1982', Pt. 2

Dear friends,

very kindly my good pal J.C. aka The Vinyl Villain (please follow this link and have a look at his site, it's well worth a visit anytime) provided me with a ~4mb - file of the Wild Swans' track mentioned in Pt. 1. Of course I won't hesitate to pass it on to you now, because it surely is a highlight of 1982. The same is of course true for Orange Juice's 'Felicity', therefore you'll get that as well, because J.C. won't post it when he comes to 1982. The reason is, and I overread that, I admit, he won't post stuff for the series he already had posted before.

The Wild Swans - 'Revolutionary Spirit' (mp3)

Orange Juice - 'Felicity' (mp3)

Take care,

Dirk

Some Of The Best There Ever Has Been: '1982'

Dearest friends,

I can't tell you how pleased I was to read this article on my good pal J.C.'s site 'The Vinyl Villain'.

Of course I have nothing at all against your little mind robbery, J.C., in fact I do hope that you continue with the series. Moreover I think you're entirely right: doing it NOT in chronological order could turn out to be even more funnier, therefore I'll steal YOUR idea and won't continue with '1977', but '1982' instead. Enjoy these gems, folks, they mean a lot to me:

(1) 10.000 Maniacs - 'Anthem For Doomed Youth' (mp3)

(2) Attila The Stockbroker - 'Flappin' In The Wind' (live Kingston Poly)

(3) B-Movie - 'Nowhere Girl' (extended version)

(4) Culture - 'Lion Rock' (Peel Session Version)

(5) The Jam - 'Town Called Malice'

(6) The Valley Girls - 'Marina Men'

Two important songs from this year are missing, as you will already have detected: The Wild Swans' 'Revolutionary Spirit' (Google Groups won't allow me to upload files bigger than 10mb) and Orange Juice's 'Felicity' (I'm absolutely sure J.C. will give this one to us as soon as he comes to 1982 ...).

Thanks very much to all of you who have responded so far to the previous post(s): you put a smile on my face, people!

L.U.V.,

Dirk

Some Of The Best There Ever Has Been...: '1976'

Hello my lovelies,

if you've read what I had to say about the songs I posted for the 'My Peel Tapes' - series below, you will perhaps have recognised that I was - and am - not totally convinced by all of the tracks featured. This of course lies in the nature of the concept (which basically is posting songs Peel played on his programmes in (more or less) chronological order), I could well argue ... and I wouldn't even lie to you. But because Mrs. Loser is busy with a whole bunch of her friends downstairs in the living room and I have quite some time to kill, I thought to myself: why don't I play these blighters some tracks I really LOVE & ADORE ... instead of tunes which I more or less 'just like'?!

So, hopefully, this is the start of a new series on Sexyloser, one I will call 'Some Of The Best There Ever Has Been ...' ... and because I'm kind of a geek for this, I will put the tunes in a chronoligical order as well, in other words, choose my absolutely favourite songs from a specific year.

My choices, I'm afraid, could well turn out to be pretty much anything from Punk or Reggae to New Wave or Powerpop. It could turn out to be one song only or a handful of tunes, this will depend on what the music in the specific year meant to me. But one thing I should make absolutely clear: it's all time - favourites only, songs which never in my life I will stop listening to with immense pleasure. Most of the tunes will be commonly known to a lot of you, but perhaps there are people out there who never heard one of them and share my thoughts upon the brilliance of it. And if such a thing happens, then I'm lucky. This is all I want, you see .... it would be very nice of you if you could let me know if such a thing happens .... you know, when you go 'Wooooah .... that's fucking great: I've never heard that!!' and/or 'Wooooah .... that's fucking great: I haven't heard that for ages!!'

I won't bore you with details about the various songs. In the end I would just be able to tell the same thing: which is how much I fucking love the song. So: leave comments, ask for more information, force me to play more if you think a band you heard is cool enough for you. Okay? Okay!

So here are my favourites from 1976:

(1) The 101'ers - 'Keys To Your Heart' (mp3).

(2) Pere Ubu - 'Final Solution' (mp3)

(3) The Ramones - 'Beat On The Brat' (mp3)

(4) The Saints - '(I'm) Stranded' (mp3)

(5) King Short Shirt - 'Nobody Go Run Me' (mp3)

I hope you were dancing like mad to all of the five songs, friends. As I said: if you found them as attractive as I do, please let me know it ....

Cheerio,

Dirk

My Peel Tapes: Part 22

Hello nice people,

in his comment on My Peel Tapes Pt. 21 Duncandonut said that he had thrown his tape deck away and regrets this very fact. Well, believe it or not, today I finally found the time to connect my old tape deck to my computer, which means that I now have the chance to choose from a greater variety of tracks (some 300 tapes of John Peel's Music on BFBS in fact). Of course I will keep the chronological order, but now I could play each of the ~ 25 songs of the specific tape instead of having to choose from the ones I have on vinyl or CD. This of course means as well that the sound quality might be worse on a few tracks, but - as Peel always said - 'life has surface noise as well'. So there you are ..... with:

(201) Revolver - 'Venice' (mp3). A 7" on Hut Records from 1991, their third release. There ain't much I can tell you about Revolver, but this track really rocks, I always thought! Very much in the tradition of the '91-'92 area, quite typical for what British bands did back then .... and there's nothing wrong with that, I would think! Have a look at the Wikipedia entry for them, if you like. Here it is ...

(202) Adorable - 'Sunshine Smile' (mp3). In a similar vein here come Adorable. I think one can tell that the main difference between them and - for example - Revolver is that they recorded for Creation Records, the single was released in 1992 although it was written a year earlier for another label who refused to release it. Quite why is a mystery to me, because I think it's one of the great records out of all this 'Shoegazing' - nonsense - time. I've said this before but I'll say it again: 'labelling' bands - as people did back then - when a band was either 'Shoegazing' or not - is never a good thing to do, I think. It helps noone apart from the self-important bastards who can show their female friends how fucking clever they are when they drop lines like 'you know, when I first heard them, they were really shoegazing!' Stupid nonsense, if you ask me, just like being Grunge or not being Grunge ....

(203) The Jam - 'And Your Bird Can Sing' (mp3). A very nice version of the old Beatles - favourite and recorded for a demo session at Polydor Studios in London in April 1980. You can find it, amongst other goodies, on a CD called 'Extras', released in 1992 on Polydor Records. Nice fan site here ....

(204) Little Annie - 'I Think Of You' (mp3). Well, she used to be 'Little Annie Anxiety Bandez' or 'Annie Anxiety' and perhaps you'll know her from her collaboration with the industrial band Coil. Here, on this 12" on On-U Sound Productions from 1992, she's decided to abbreviate herself to 'Little Annie' .... and it's entirely up to her, isn't it? Rather a nice track and good to hear again after quite a few years ....

(205) DAF - 'Goldenes Spielzeug' (mp3). Virgin Records 1981: the grandfathers of techno, if you like. I have a book about the German Punk/wave scene in the very early 80's, where the author lets bands out of that area speak and they tell the reader about what 'really happened', you know. One bloke out of DAF, or 'Deutsch-Amerikanische-Freundschaft', if you'd rather, tells in lengthy detail about the time when they went to London (after having had no success whatever here in Germany) and under which circumstances they lived and worked there. Even if this is only halfway true, they must have had a fucking hard time indeed over there, that's for sure!

(206) The Oblivion Seekers - 'No Depression' (mp3). I'm sure you all will know the song by heart, at least the Carter Family fans of you - which, I'm willing to have a small bet, should be the majority of you - will do. From a very fine LP (self-titled) from 1992 on T/K Records from Portland, Oregon. I don't know whether they are still alive or whatever became of them and I can't find any information on the internet alas.

(207) A House - 'More Endless Art' (mp3). In 'Endless Art', which preceeded this one here, they listed blokes who had done constructive things for the planet over the years. In order to set the balance straight again, they continued with women. On Parlophone from 1992.

[upon request:
Ride - 'Chrome Waves']

(208) Blood On The Saddle - 'Baptist Church Blues' (mp3). From their 1987 'Fresh Blood' - LP on SST. Again a killer track (but now I really do honestly mean it!!) from one of the finest bands in the States. Especially their even earlier stuff is brilliant (e.g. 'I Wish I Was A Single Girl Again'). Turn it up good and loud, people!

(209) The 5, 6, 7 & 8's - 'Motor Cycle Go-Go-Go!' (mp3). From a compilation CD of theirs on Rockville called 'Can't Help It!!', released in 1992, although the track itself derives from 1989. Three women and one bloke from Tokyo and again: especially fine, if you ask me! And should you wish to catch them live: they're rocking the Shibuya Ax in Tokyo tomorrow, September 20th! Now those of you how moan about me being not up to date should keep quiet forever!

(210) X-Mal Deutschland - 'Incubus Succubus' (mp3). A goth classic and in fact the second release from X-Mal Deutschland for Alfred Hilsberg's legendary Zick Zack Label back in 1982. Not very much later they went to 4AD and opened for The Stranglers, if memory serves correctly ...

(211) Sonic Youth - '100%' (mp3). A 1992 7" on Geffen Records and a very fine release in my view. I think I mentioned that before, but I was (and still am, in fact) never quite sure whether to love or to hate Sonic Youth. But this record is okay and therefore you'll even get the B-Side as well:

(212) Sonic Youth - 'Crème Brûlée' (mp3). Equally good. I think. Both tracks can be found on the LP 'Dirty', by the way.

(213) Bulkhead - 'Virginia Plain' (mp3). Another old song, as a matter of fact, but done in a more modern style. Bulkhead's reading of the Roxy Music favourite and a real corker, that's for sure, so better watch out, Bryan Ferry! Alas I can only tell you very little about them apart from the fact that they came from Melrose, Massachusetts, I suppose it was some kind of a throwaway track on a single of theirs on Homestead Records from 1992.

(214) Billy Bragg - 'Accident Waiting To Happen' (mp3). Okay, I'll leave you today with this one from good old Billy Bragg, who played in Cologne again one week ago, but I'm ashamed to say I didn't go to see him. Next time, Billy, promised! From his seminal 'Don't Try This At Home' album on Cooking Vinyl Records from 1991. One of his finest recordings ever!

I hope you were pleased with what I selected for you, dear friends. Just tell me what you thought of it, please, as you might imagine your responses keep this blog running ... or not, eventually.

Have fun,

Dirk

I Don't Wanna Be No Drama Queen No More ...

Hi friends,

read the comment down below from Anonymous to find out that he is a very wise guy indeed: I should indeed stop my crying and do what he says .... because he's entirely right: so, Anonymous: thank you, mate, this was exactly what I needed, I think!! Well done!

So, acting under orders if you like, here are The Mekons with their second single from 1978 on Fast Product. A killer song indeed, thanks for pointing me to it, Anonymous.

The Mekons - 'Where Were You?' (mp3)

And because you managed to point me into the right direction again, Anonymous, here's something by The Mekons which you might not know yet:

The Mekons - 'Help Me Make It Through The Night' (mp3). This was recorded live at The Cellar Bar in Thames Poly Students Union in London, either in 1984 or early 1985. For Mekons-completists only, you might argue, but I hope it meets with your approval, Anonymous.

And by the way, man: it's Dirk. Not Kirk.

Take care nevertheless,

Dirk

My Peel Tapes - Part 21

Hello dear friends,

I'm not in the mood to write very much today, sorry for that. Furthermore I live under the impression that noone is reading this anyway, so why should I bother? So it is necessary background information only, for the rest have a look at the links, okay?

(188) Hole - 'Teenage Whore' (mp3). Well, apparently Courtney Love is a very nice and friendly woman, Peel said on his BFBS programmes more than on one occassion. He once told a story where she took care of his children at the backstage of a festival, made little drawings for them and all in all they must have had a very good time altogether. Rather hard to believe upon the evidence of this track, a 12" on City Slang Records from 1991. Link.

(189) P.J. Harvey - 'Dress' (mp3). I'll never forget when Polly still wasn't very well known, you know, Peel played her first recordings, but that was about it. And then, not very much later, I went to London and there were posters of her all over the Tube. Rather shocking, I must admit ... but then again much deserved. From her LP 'Dry', although I took it from a Rough Trade - compilation CD from 1992. Link.

[upon request:

Farm - 'Mind']

(190) Stereolab - 'Super-Electric' (mp3). Stereolab's first release for Too Pure Records was this 10" from 1991. Rather a nice record and I might think it could even bring some money in, should someone out there want to buy it. I always had mixed feelings about Stereolab ... there are a few songs I really liked, but to be absolutely frank to you: the majority of their tunes I disliked. Link.

(191) Thousand Yard Stare - '0-0 a.e.t.' (mp3). A strange title and should you wonder what it could possibly mean, it's 'nil-nil (or no goals) after extra time'. From the band's 'Seasonstream' - EP on Aard from 1991. Link.

(192) Teenage Fanclub - 'The Concept' (mp3). Another 12" from 1991, this time on Creation Records. Link.

[upon request:

John Cooper Clarke - 'Suspended Sentence']

(193) The Would Be's - 'My Radio Sounds Different In The Dark' (mp3). As mentioned previously, I regard the Would Be's as being especially wonderful, therefore I don't have a problem to post so many tunes of theirs here. There's even one more to come further below! From their 'Wonderful' - EP on Decoy Records from 1991.

(194) The Kingswoods - 'Purty Vacant' (mp3). Originally released as a 7" back in 1983, this wonderful tune is featured on the CD 'Fabriclive 07: John Peel', which I recommend to you without reservation. Full of good stuff which Peel played at a gig/gigs at The Fabric. It should still be easily available at Ebay or Amazon for little money, so do yourself a favour and get your hands on it, okay?

(195) The Raymen - 'Buzzsaw Baby Of The Hollywood Hills' (mp3). One of my all-time favourites. A great voice, a great sleeve, a great record. The Raymen came from Germany, although this 7" was released on The Giant Claw Record Label from Australia in 1990. A much treasured item, you can believe me! Link.

[upon request:

Pixies - 'I Can't Forget']

(196) Chumbawamba - 'Look! No Strings!' (mp3). Another band where I can't cope with everything they did, but I think they have made a few absolutely outstanding songs ('This Girl' for example ...). This is but one of them, from their 'Shhh' - LP on Southern Records from 1991. Link.

(197) Bleach - 'Complete Control' (mp3). From a compilation on Released Emotions Records from 1991. All in all a rather boring piece, I must admit, Bleach's contribution isn't bad at all though. 'The Neverending Story' is the title of the album and it brings together some folks who want to keep up the faith of The Clash. Not an easy thing to do, I admit, but perhaps the chaps at Released Emotions better should have invited pure straightforward punk bands for this mission.

Then again: perhaps it's just that I love The Clash's originals too much to accept the versions that are presented on this album ... who knows? Link.

(198) The Ukrainians - 'Chertez Richku, Cherez Hai' (mp3). The Wedding Present, Ladies & Gentlemen, in their Ukrainian phase. Well, Peter Solowka out of the Wedding Present only actually. It started out as a joke, I think, but they released quite a lot of stuff as The Ukrainians. This track can be found on one of those Cooking Vinyl samplers, the 'Mixed & Budget' one it is, in fact. From 1991, as you may have already guessed, originally featured on their first self-titled LP. Link.

[upon request:

Fall - 'Totally Wired']

(199) The Would Be's - 'I'm Hardly Ever Wrong' (mp3). No, I won't start again and tell you how brilliant the Would Be's were. This is their first single, a 7" on Decoy from 1990. A masterpiece!

(200) Slowdive - 'Catch The Breeze' (mp3). 1991 was a good year for Creation Records, I think, 'cos here's the next release from the label, another 7". Link.

I hope at least a few of you enjoyed the above. Leave requests, friends, and take good care: next time I'll be back at a 100%, I hope!

Dirk

My Peel Tapes: Part 20

And yes, dearest friends, welcome to No. 20 of 'My Peel Tapes'. Without further bragging along ... enjoy:

(172) Happy Mondays - 'Loose Fit' (mp3). Well, I posted tracks from the seminal 1988 'Bummed' - LP in previous editions of 'My Peel Tapes'. But we're in 1990/1991 currently and The Happy Mondays have released their 'Pills, Thrills And Bellyaches' album on Factory Records, from which this track is taken. 'Loose Fit' actually was one out of three tracks which were released as a single, the other two were 'Step On' and 'Kinky Afro'.

(173) Curve - 'Ten Little Girls' (mp3). Originally taken from the band's 'Blindfold' - EP from 1991, their debut release on Anxious Records. Again, I took another one of these 'Indie Top 20' double albums out in order to provide with you with the tune. Full Curve discography can be found here. Also I highly recommend to google the image of Toni Halliday, the singer with Curve .... what a goddess, oh boy!!

(174) The Farm - 'Hearts And Minds' (mp3). Another example of rather a fine band whose work gets blown away by just one song (which, by and large, isn't that good after all): 'All Together Now'. I mean, they deserved the success they had with it, but if you listen to the whole album 'Spartacus' (Sire Records, 1991) you will quickly find out that there is more to it than this one song.

[upon request:
Charlatans - 'Over Rising']

(175) The Popguns - 'Still A World Away' (mp3). One of my all-time favourites! I really can't describe to you why it is that I love this tune the way I do ... of course Wendy Morgan's voice is indispensable, that's out of question, but in addition to this the song has an energy that makes me (try to) sing along with it every fucking time I hear it .... and you may well believe me that I listened to it numerous times since it first came out back in 1991 as a 12" on Midnight Music. It was also included on their 'Snog' - LP in the same year, an album which I can highly recommend. More on The Popguns here.

[upon request:
Farm - 'Very Emotional'
Farm - 'Don't Let Me Down']

(176) Pete Wylie - 'Sinful' (mp3). Not to be confused with the 1991 version of the song Pete did together with The Farm, this here is the original from 1986, a single on Virgin Records. A neat track and a fine follow-up to the magical tunes he'd written for all the various outfits of Wah! Pete Wylie's homepage is here.

(177) 10.000 Maniacs - 'Scorpio Rising' (mp3). An oldie but goodie from one of the best bands ever to come from New York. From their second full-length album from 1985, 'The Wishing Chair' (Elektra Records). A nice collection of photos from 1981 onwards can be found here, the Wikipedia entry for 10.000 Maniacs is here. If you want to do yourself a favour, please invest a few Pounds, Dollars or Euros, should you see one of their earlier releases in the second-hand bin in your local record store .... you can't go wrong with either of the records!

[upon request:
Chapterhouse - 'Pearl']

(178) The Ruts - 'You're Just A ...' (mp3). From the session the band did in May 1979 for John Peel, this session was originally released as a 12" in Strange Fruit's Peel Session - series in 1986 and later, in 1990 in fact, included in 'The Peel Sessions Album', which, as the titles tells us, brought together all the sessions The Ruts did for Peel. For me, being a 40 year old fat and boring twerp, it's rather hard to imagine that people exist who read my essays here who are too young to know anything essential about bands from the Punk Era .... and this is not meant offensively at all. For those people, here's a bit more on The Ruts. Ah, and on John Peel as well...

(179) The Bridewell Taxis - 'Give In' (mp3). After 'Just Good Friends' and 'Honesty' we have this little gem, another single from The Bridewell Taxis from Leeds, on Stolen Records from 1990. I still have an old video of theirs and I think I'll watch that again on the weekend .... after quite some years, I'm ashamed to say. A perfect band, that's for sure!

(180) Terry Edwards - 'The Hardest Walk' (mp3). You will - or better should - know Terry Edwards as a member of the famous Higsons from Norwich. Here he's on his own, with a bunch of very fine covers of Jesus And Mary Chain - tunes. A bit later he had a go at songs by The Fall, by the way, worth tracking down as well. On a 12" called 'Terry Edwards Plays The Music Of Jim and William Reid' on Stim Productions from 1991.

(181) The Pixies - 'Planet Of Sound' (mp3). The first single from The Pixies' fourth and final album, 'Trompe Le Monde', released in 1991 on 4AD Records. 'Bossanova', the album prior to this, was a bit 'surf-pop' (although there is nothing wrong with that, if you ask me) compared to the first two albums and indeed compared to this one. In my eyes 'Planet Of Sound' is the best track from it, so enjoy it, folks ...

(182) The Would Be's - 'Funny Ha Ha' (mp3). Oh!! The mighty mighty Would Be's!! One of the very best things Ireland ever brought to our attention, there is no question about that! They released three records in their (short) career and I'm lucky to say that I have all of them. 'Funny Ha Ha' is taken from their 1991 EP 'Silly Songs For Cynical People' on Decoy Records .... and don't be surprised when The Would Be's will crop up in quite some more editions of My Peel Tapes again in the near future. Rather hard to ascertain any information about them on the internet, therefore I can't provide you with a link, I'm afraid ...

(183) Penetration - 'Danger Signs' (mp3). The fourth single from Pauline Murray and her boys, and a very good one as well, I would like to think. On Virgin Records from 1979, and if memory serves correctly, Pauline later was somehow involved in the Invisible Girls.

[upon request:
Popguns - 'In My Head']

(184) The Telescopes - 'Flying' (mp3). You may remember their absolutely stunning 'The Perfect Needle' from 1989, if nothing else. But this here is quite nice as well, so I think, more 'laid-back', but nevertheless nice. A 12" from 1991 on Creation Records, but again taken from one of those 'Indie' - double albums.

(185) The Fall - 'Put Away' (mp3). Well, The Fall .... oh boy, you either love 'em or you hate 'em, I always hear. But that's not true, at least not for me. There are some tunes of theirs which I regard as being simply wonderful, but there are also others where I think: 'oh, that's just crap'. Either way, what I'm trying to say here is that I never understood the sheer enthusiasm that some people developed for The Fall ... and I have to include John Peel here, I'm afraid. I really wonder if he was able to judge objectively upon a new release from the band in the late 90's, bearing in mind that he liked everything they ever did ... or was he just used to like it, regardless if it was any good or not? Anyway, nothing wrong with this track though, again from a Peel Session 12" on Strange Fruit, originally recorded for the BBC in 1978.

(186) Billy Bragg - 'You Woke Up My Neighbourhood' (mp3). From his 'Dont' Try This At Home' - LP, his fourth album, relased by Cooking Vinyl Records in 1991. A must-have, but then again this is true for everything that Billy Bragg ever did ..... here's Billy's page for you to order his entire back catalogue.

(187) Pavement - 'Summer Baby' (mp3). I must admit I don't exactly know whether this is the version which was released in 1992 on Drag City Records or whether it's the slighty different 'Winter Version' which was included on the band's 'Slanted And Enchanted' - LP on Matador Records, released in 1992 as well, but distributed to journalists and DJ's already in 1991. I think it's the latter, but I can't vouch for it.

That's it and I do hope you liked it a bit. As usual, please leave comments and/or requests. I'm happy to please you!

Take good care,

Dirk

The Edsel Auctioneer - 'Strung'

... was requested by Duncandonuts not so long ago. Here you are, Duncandonuts .... and I have to say 'thank you', because I haven't listened to this for ages ... and most probably wouldn't have done so if you hadn't asked for it: what a gem it is, to be sure!!

Originally done in September 1989, to be found on the 'Voice Of The Harolds' - Mini - LP on Decoy Records from 1990:

The Edsel Auctioneer - 'Strung' (mp3)

Have fun!

Dirk

My Peel Tapes: Part 19

Hello dear friends,

so here I am, back again with #19 of 'My Peel Tapes'. Enjoy.


(158) Ride - 'Taste' (mp3). From the band's 'Fall' - EP, released in 1990 on Creation Records. As mentioned previously, I used to have all of the three EP's ('Ride', 'Play' and 'Fall'), but gave them away quite some time ago. But the 'Fall' - EP is also incorporated into the CD version of Ride's first LP, 'Nowhere', and this where I took this little gem from. "Shoegazing", you might think ... and perhaps you're right ...

[upon request:
Ride - 'Here And Now']

(159) Galaxie 500 - 'Melt Away' (mp3). One year before the band split up in the spring of 1991, they released their 3rd album, 'This Is Our Music' on Rough Trade Records. It's full of good tunes and I think it's absolutely comparable to the brilliance of the other two albums, 'Today' (1988) and 'On Fire' (1989). Get hold of all three, people: they're outstanding and shouldn't miss in your collection!

[upon request:
Bleach - 'Decadence'
Happy Mondays - 'Kinky Afro']

(160) The High - 'Take Your Time' (mp3). Well, for those, who own 'Somewhere Soon' somewhere hidden in their collection: it might grow on you, if you give it a second chance! I just listened to the album for the first time in a few years, because I must admit I couldn't remember whether 'Take Your Time' was good enough to post it here. It surely is, and so is the rest of the album. Released on London Records in 1990.

[upon request:
Ride - 'Vapour Trail']

(161) Buffalo Tom - 'Birdbrain' (mp3). A 7" and also the opening track for the band's second album from 1990. I took the track from one of those very useful 'Indie Top 20' double albums on Beechwood Music though, who, at the time, brought together the best of 'those sort of bands'. The good thing with these compilations was that the people who compiled them gave a toss about whether the featured bands were fashionable in one form or another. As far as I can tell, their choices didn't relate to the Indie Charts at all, they just picked the bands they liked quite a lot. But back to Buffalo Tom: I know quite a few of their tunes, all of which are simply wonderful. And I think I will start searching for their full back catalogue rather soon. Or catch them live, because, believe it or not, they're still alive apparently. Here's their homepage.

[upon request:
Ride - 'Seagull']

(162) L7 - 'Shove' (mp3). From the L.A. all-female outfit's second album, 'Smell The Magic' (on Sub Pop Records 1990). At the time there were quite a few all-female bands, but L7 surely were one of the better ones.

The band gained a certain amount of notoriety for their performance at the 1992 Reading Festival, when Donita Sparks removed her used tampon off-stage and threw it into the crowd yelling "Eat my used tampon, fuckers!" in protest against the mud being thrown by the crowd. In the UK, the band are most famous for an appearance on the popular late-night entertainment programme The Word, in which Sparks pulled her pants down to reveal her vagina. During a live show in London in 2000, the band offered a one night stand with drummer Dee Plakas as a raffle prize; the winner claimed his prize of sex with her on the tour bus.


(163) Billy Bragg - 'Seven And Seven Is' (mp3). Well, what is there to say about Billy Bragg? Where should I start? I mean, if you don't know who he is and what he did over the years, then I can't help you, I'm afraid. Have a look at his highly informative homepage and then go out and buy EVERYTHING he ever released. Really, even if I tried I couldn't recommend any specific album of the great man, they're all equally brilliant. The song above, originally done by Arthur Lee's Love in 1966, for example is taken from the bonus CD that was issued with the first pressings of the 'Must I Paint You A Picture: The Essential Billy Bragg' - double CD - compilation (on Cooking Vinyl, 2003). Perhaps this set is something for Billy-Bragg-beginners, if such creatures exist ....

(164) The Frantic Elevators - 'The Hunchback Of Notre Dame' (mp3). Now this is T.H.E. prime example of how a band declines in their career after rather a good start. This is a really nice and uplifting tune, you surely will agree. From a 1981 Peel Session and although I don't know any of the other 4 songs recorded for it, I'm pretty sure they're similarily good. Would you believe me if I told you that on vocals we find this red-haired ninny who later became the frontman of (the bloody awful) Simply Red?! I mean, The Clash's first records for example were just perfect, and if you listen to their final release, 'Cut The Crap', you just think to yourself "Oh my God, that's fucking useless!". But if you compare this Frantic Elevator's tune to what Simply Red do nowadays (correction: to all of what Simply Red ever did!), the difference is even worse. Or bigger, whichever might be grammatically correct.

This one, as well as the next two tracks, is taken from a very fine compilation of Peel Session - tracks, a double album on Strange Fruit Records from 1990 called 'Manchester, So Much To Answer For: The Peel Sessions'.

(165) The Inspiral Carpets - 'Directing Traffic' (mp3). From their second session for the programme from 1989, link to their homepage here ... and on it I just saw that the classic 'Cool As Fuck' - T-Shirt is still available. I'm contemplating to spend a few quid .... even if only to honour them for this awesome song alone!

[upon request:
Dub Sex - 'Swerve' (Session Version)]

(166) A Guy Called Gerald - 'Rockin' Ricki' (mp3). From his first (out of three) sessions for the John Peel Show, recorded at The Hippodrome, Golders Green, London, back in 1988. His homepage doesn't seem to be working, so here's the Wikipedia entry.

(167) The Moonflowers - 'Get Higher' (mp3). Released as a 12" on Pop Good Records in 1990, and although I have it somewhere in my collection, again I put one of the aforementioned Indie-Top 20 - compilations on the record player ... just to show you how useful they are! I think it's a killer track, but then again I'm by no means an expert in 'dance music' and those of you who are might judge this as being boring crap compared to the 300 BPM hardcore tunes you normally listen to. But it's 18 years old today, kids, older than most of you are! So bugger off, okay?! The Moonflowers' homepage: here.

[upon request:
Dinosaur Jr - 'The Wagon'
Ride - 'Kaleidoscope'
Ride - 'Eight Miles High']

(168) The Dylans - 'Godlike' (mp3). The Dylans came out in the late 1980's riding the wave, like so many groups in the 1960's, of acid fueled dance halls, with the idea that "love is all you need," and of course a communal understanding, melding of ideas and values ... and like the 60's, not only the music, but the ideals almost worked again. The Dylans must have had some credibility, because they were picked up by non other then the Beggars Banquet Label, which says something. 'Godlike' was their debut, a 12" from 1991 on BB's Situation Two Records.

[upon request:
Sonic Youth - 'Tuff Gnarl'
Hole - 'Blackburn']

(169) Midwich Cuckoos - 'Show Me' (mp3). A fantastic track, and it's a shame that I know nothing else by this band apart from that. The name of course derives from the science-fiction novel that was filmed as 'The Village Of The Damned' ... that's 'Midwich Cuckoos', not 'Show Me', of course. 'Show Me' was the band's 1990 debut 12" (on Big Noise Records) and despite selling out of the first pressing within 6 weeks, interest from a number of distributors and an on-air appeal by the late great John Peel, the band along with their record company decided to delete the single, to make it a true collectors’ item, as a thank you to their original fans. Original signed copies of “Show Me” are still being sold on various websites for forty quid .... and - typically - my copy is unsigned ...

(170) James - 'Billy's Shirts' (mp3). A track from the classic 'Stutter' album from 1986 on Sire Records. For those of you reading Sexyloser in Portugal, James will be playing there in early September and from September, 14th on they'll be touring the USA. Go and see them if you have the chance to do so, folks, otherwise you'll really miss a treat! One of the best live bands I ever had the pleasure to see, honestly!

(171) The Ramones - 'Suzy Is A Headbanger' (mp3). From their second album from 1977 on Sire. All dead, all gone ... what a freakin' shame. I think The Ramones were the band I saw live most often ... and every time they were just marvellous!

I'll never forget when we went to the Berlin Bizarre open air festival back in 1991 together with a German Ska band who played there early in the morning, before the sausage booths opened, in fact. But either way, we were equiped with nice little all-area backstage passes, so we wandered around there a bit and after a while we decided to leave and go to the city of Berlin in order to have a few more decent beers. Only one of us, the mighty Fatman, decided to stay at the venue, he wanted to lay back and enjoy the sun, so he said .... and so he did. Perhaps I should add the The Fatman listened to nothing else but Elvis and 50's Rock 'n' Roll, I think he didn't have the slightest idea of the festival's line-up. Anyway, eventually we returned from Berlin and found The Fatman not being in the best mood. Apparently he finally fell asleep in the sun in the backstage area, thinking beautiful thoughts whilst laying there in the grass, when all of a sudden some - and I quote him here - 'unbelievably tall, dangerous punk with hairs down to his ass' stumbled over him. 'Did he beat you?', we asked, but The Fatman said that this hadn't been the case, in fact that guy excused himself very politely and even wanted to start a conversation, but The Fatman, partly because he couldn't understand his accent, but even more because he was tired and wanted to continue his nap, told the person to bugger off. Which he did, in fact.

Either way, the evening came up, we watched Iggy Pop play (stinking drunk and most probably full of drugs: I saw him making his way from his caravan to the back of the stage, his asian girlfriend had to give him a helping hand, otherwise he would have fallen over, believe it or not. But when he entered the stage, he acted as if he had been struck by lightning. Such a energetic and powerful performance!). At the end of his gig we moved to some VIP - tribune in order not to miss the (headlining) Ramones. 'Durango 95' started, and all of the stage was covered in this fake-fog or smoke or whatever you call it and when it slowly started to disappear and you could begin to see clearly again, The Fatman suddenly yelled at the top of his voice: 'Look, there's this bastard again who woke me up!!' ..... pointing with his finger right at the allmighty Joey Ramone!

Enough of boring stories accompanied by even more boring music, people *smile* ..... see you next time, okay? Leave comments, requests, fan mail ... whatever you like, really!

Shalom,

Dirk

"And I once had a shower with two American girls ...."

... is only one of a dozen immortal lines from one of the great albums of all time: 'It's Like Everything Else' by I, Ludicrous. My mate J.C. aka The Vinyl Villain (and I can only recommend to have a look at his fantastic site EVERY fucking day of your little worthless life) asked for something by I, Ludicrous some time ago and is now - quite rightly so - eager to hear more upon the evidence of what I chose for him. Well, I thought to myself, why not make the whole album available to you all instead just sending it per mail to J.C.? Please buy it, should you see a copy somewhere (it's long out of print, but perhaps you're lucky ...) and visit the band's site here. It's good throughout and highly informative, with lyrics, interviews and everything else you might possibly need.

The album was issued on Kaleidoscope Sounds back in 1987, catalogue number is KSLP 004.

1. 'Trevor Barker'
2. 'A Pop Fan's Dream'
3. 'My Baby's Got Jetlag'
4. 'Three English Football Grounds'
5. 'Preposterous Tales'
6. 'Fabulous'
7. 'Ludicrous'
8. 'Are You Turning Round And Telling Me?'


Also I gave to J.C. bits of another truly brilliant masterpiece, Jane Bond & The Undercovermen's 'Politically Correct' - LP. As far as I know this record dates 1982, although I'm pretty sure that this can't be right: I think it was not issued before 1984 or even 1985, on Dreamworld in the USA and on Normal Records here in Germany. Either way, it's an awesome album, way better than their (self-titled) debut from 1981. It is not easy to ascertain any information about Jane Bond & The Undercovermen on the internet, apparently they never got the attention they deserved. But judge yourself, here's 'Politically Correct' in it's entirety:

1. 'I Made Love To A Communist'

2. 'Kiss My Gun'

3. 'The Girl Who Knew Too Much'

4. 'Hot Rod Lincoln'

5. 'Politically Correct'

6. 'Modern World'

7. 'Confidential Story'

8. 'Teen Heaven'

9. 'Radio Moscow'

And as with I, Ludicrous: go out and buy a copy of this album, folks! It's still around somewhere in the record shops, filed directly behind Jane Birkin's "Je t'aime... moi non plus", I would like to think ....

Well, I hope not only J.C. was pleased with this, but the rest of you as well.

See you next time!

Peace,

Dirk

Majorca .....

Hello my beauties!


as mentioned in 'My Peel Tapes Pt. 18' below, I was off to Majorca for one week and only returned a few days ago. I'm gorgeous golden brown and if you could see me I'm sure you wanted to dance around me!


Anyway, when I sat there at the beach or at the pool, a glass of Sangria or Osborne in my hands, one song was constantly spinning round in my head (together with the Sangria/Osborne, in fact):


John Cooper Clarke - 'Majorca' (mp3)


From a (JCC-) compilation called 'Me And My Big Mouth' on Epic Records from 1981. More on the great man: here.


Enjoy!


Dirk

Now, this is for Matt from Worksop in the UK ...

... who aked for specific tracks out of Peel Sessions by Siouxsie, Pulp and The Housemartins quite some time ago. In his mail he didn't hesitate to point out that I might not have the requested tracks and of course he was absolutely right (I only wish I had them though ....). Again, all I can do is direct you the wonderful 'Perfumed Garden' blogspot, Matt: if anyone on earth can help you out with these rarities, it's Kris Waah, who - one of these days - is surely gonna kill me, because I keep going on telling people to get in touch with him, so that he can fulfill their requests *smile* ...

But Matt also - very kindly - said that any early Pulp would do as well. Well, I know that Pulp's first record ('It') is from 1983, but I don't have it. The earliest track I got, from 1985 in fact, is 'Little Girl (With Blue Eyes)' (mp3). I took it from an American compilation from 1987 called 'The Great Fire Of London', which features, beneath Pulp, these bands: 1000 Mexicans, Blue Aeroplanes, Close Lobsters, Colenso Parade, Gerard Langley & Ian Kearey, Parachute Men, Perfect Disaster, Rose Of Avalance and The Royal Assassins. Well worth tracking down and Matt, I hope you are pleased with my choice.

Dirk

My Peel Tapes - Part 18

Dear all,

lucky for me - unlucky for you - Mrs Loser finally managed to find an affordable hotel in Majorca, and that was where we spent the whole of last week, enjoying the sun and (probably too much of) the Sangria. All in all it was rather relaxing and if I have a look outside the window today where I see the German rain I only wish I were back at the beach .... but alas I'm not and use the time to work on the 18th episode of 'My Peel Tapes' for you instead ... so there you are:

(146) The Charlatans - 'The Only One I Know' (mp3). I used to play that to death when I was still DJ-ing and I bet the quality of the vinyl will prove this. A mighty record, released as a 12" in 1990 on Beggars Banquet/Situation Two. A nicely updated Charlatans website can be found here.

(147) The Charlottes - 'Love In The Emptiness' (mp3). The Charlottes came from Huntingdon and apart from that I can tell you very little about them, I'm afraid. The only record of theirs I owe is this 12" on Subway Records, released in 1990.

(148) Drag Racing Underground - 'Hellfire' (mp3). Drag Racing Underground were/are some side project out of Big Stick, if not Big Stick themselves. Issued as a 7", limited to 500 copies only (far too few, I would think) on Snakeskin Records in 1989, 'Hellfire' remained one of my favourites ever since ... and I can only hope you will enjoy it as much as I always did! It's a killer tune with daft lyrics and I recommend to listen closely .... especially when he goes on about his brother in-law .... simply unbelievable!

[upon request:

New Order - 'World In Motion']

(149) The Lemonheads - 'Different Drum' (mp3). From a 12" EP called 'Favourite Spanish Dishes' on Roughneck Records from the UK, released in 1990. A very nice version of the Linda Ronstadt favourite, I'm sure you'll agree. I always liked The Lemonheads a lot and also I liked what Dando did on his own and together with various other artists. He really is a great geezer!

[upon request:

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - 'Long Black Veil']

(150) Birdland - 'Sleep With Me' (mp3). From a limitited 7" on Lazy Records (1990), here's the acoustic version of the tune for you. A nice biography, which has all the necessary facts about Birdland, here. Have a look for their self-titled debut album, people: it was never really critically acclaimed, but I think it's rather an enjoyable record ... and I'm willing to have a small bet that can be found for small money in the bargain bin of your local record shop.

(151) Paris Angels - 'All On You (Perfume)' (mp3). One of my very few experiences with music that didn't come from white kids just strumming guitars, I first had with the Paris Angels. This tune is simply adorable and even nowadays, some 18 years later, I just love to listen to it. On Sheer Joy Records, a 12" from 1990. More on Paris Angels here.

(152) Dinosaur Jr. - 'The Lung' (mp3). A live version this time, recorded at the legendary Vera club in Groningen in the north of Holland (homepage) in 1987. All the really good bands played there and some of those gigs were captured on an album called 'Beauty In The Underworld' from 1990. Long out of print and a bit of a rarity these days. It features - amongst others - The Feelies, Dream Syndicate, Sonic Youth, Giant Sand and The Nomads. I've been there once, but only to meet up with John Peel. No band played there at this specific night alas. Do I really need to tell you more about Dinosaur Jr? I don't think so .... you're all adults, right?

(153) The Bridewell Taxis - 'Honesty' (mp3). The third single from the Bridewell Taxis, a band from Leeds, and rather a wonderful record it is to be sure. A 12" on Stolen Records from 1990. Some more information about the band can be found here.

(154) Snuff - 'Do Nothing' (mp3). Another track from the band's 'Flibbiddydibbiddydob' - album on Worker's Playtime Records from 1989. A nice version of The Specials' favourite, so have a listen to it, my beauties! I remember that when I first met John Peel (in 1986, I think it was), I didn't really know where to go to in the evening, so he checked the NME gig section and sent me off to a club in Stoke Newington to see Snuff play there that night. Quite a distance away from the city of London, but it was worth it, as memory serves ...

(155) Bocca Juniors - 'Raise' (mp3). Well, those of you who, back in 1990, were fashionable enough to join the Balearic Rave Scene in Ibiza and spent their nights on the local dancefloors there, will know this little gem. A total classic from Junior Boys Own Records, originally released as a 12". I'm not much into dance music, as you probably will be able to tell (perhaps because I spent my nights in the village pub in 1990, where no-one knew what was going on in Ibiza ... nor did anyone care, to be honest), but this song is truly fantastic, I think. Various mixes are available, I chose the one which can be found on the 4-LP-set 'JBO: A Perspective 1988 - 1998', titled 'Raise (63 Steps To Heaven'. Enjoy!

(156) Slow Bongo Floyd - 'Open Up Your Heart' (mp3). Almost a pure dance record but not quite, 'Open Up Your Heart' explodes like a proper house tune but settles into a whispery sorta psychedelic baggy-dance monster. A white-labelled promo 12" on F.R.O. Records from 1991. I think I haven't listened to that one for ages!

(157) Althea & Donna - 'Uptown Top Ranking' (mp3). I stole this from Wikipedia, I must admit, but it says it all, I think:

The young Jamaican singers Althea Forrest (17), and Donna Reid (18), caused a big surprise with their one-off reggae hit, "Uptown Top Ranking". It was produced by Joe Gibbs using a re-recording of the riddim of the 1967 Alton Ellis' song "I'm Still In Love", which had already been re-popularised in the 1970s by Marcia Aitken's cover "I'm Still In Love With You Boy" and the deejay track "Three Piece Suit" by Trinity. The single's UK release was on the Lightning record label.
"Uptown Top Ranking" reached number one in the UK singles charts in February 1978, after early championing by John Peel, but had only one week at the chart summit. Oddly the surprise was compounded by the act often being billed as "Althia & Donna", and the song sometimes entitled slightly differently, as "Up Town Top Ranking". The lyrics were written by the duo and Errol Thompson. Althea & Donna thus became the youngest female duo to reach the pinnacle of the UK chart.
They released the album of the same name in 1978, but never met with any more tangible success thereafter.

I have it on one of those wonderful and highly recommended compilations from Soul Jazz Records, called 'XXX % Dynamite', all of them are well worth checking out!

[upon request:

Charlatans - 'Then']

Enough for today, friends. I hope you enjoyed my choices and forgive me if they were a bit different compared to previous editions. But after all I follow the chronological order of my tapes and therefore just post what Peel played at the time, so blame it on him, if you dare to!

Any comments and/or requests are highly appreciated. As usual.

Take care,

Dirk

Another Special Request Edition ...

Dear friends,


some more request, so especially Steve Hitchcox and the mighty J.C. should read this carefully. Duncan, for you I'm sorry: I don't have anything by Paul Haig at all, so I can't help you alas ...


Okay, first Steve Hitchcox wrote in and wanted to hear the great Ted Chippington's 'She Loves You (And You Know That Can't Be Bad)' (mp3). A 12" on Vindaloo Records from 1986 and thanks, Steve, for giving me the opportunity to listen to that gem myself again after quite some years.


Also Steve was after 'Sacred Heart Hotel' by The Stars Of Heaven (mp3). From an LP on Rough Trade Records, also called 'Sacred Heart Hotel', released in 1986 as well.


Then Steve asked me if I have something by Mighty Mighty: not very much, Steve, but I hope these two will do for you: 'Law' (mp3) and 'Built Like A Car' (mp3). The first one is on the seminal 'C86' LP from the NME, the latter on one of these very useful 'Indie Top 20' - Double LP's, on #2 of the series in fact.


Also my good friend J.C. aka The Vinyl Villain finally managed to post some requests, I'm willing to have a small bet that up until now he was too busy with his own awesome blog to do it earlier. Have a look here and enjoy what J.C. has to say in The Vinyl Villain: it's well worth a visit every bloody day of the week, kids!!!


J.C., this is for you:


Serious Drinking - '1,2, XU' (segued into) 'Bobby More Was Innocent' (mp3). A nice reading of the old Wire - favourite, I'm sure you'll agree. J.C. says that he doesn't know all too much by Serious Drinking, so, in order to change this poor status right now, here's:


'Don't Shoot Me Down' (mp3)
'Baby, I'm Dying A Death' (mp3)
'Country Girl Became Drugs And Sex Punk' (mp3)


All of them I simply love and I hope you do too, J.C. .... you'll find them on an early Serious Drinking - compilation called 'Stranger Than Tannadice' on Worker's Playtime Records.


Next up the very fine Jane Bond & The Undercovermen. All the songs J.C. wanted to hear are from their second LP, 'Politically Correct' on Normal Records from Germany (albeit Jane Bond came from America) from 1982.


'Politically Correct' (mp3)
'The Girl Who Knew Too Much' (mp3)
'I Made Love To A Communist' (mp3)


Also, J.C., I highly recommend to sroll down to 'My Peel Tapes' Pt. 8 #49 and have a listen to 'Hot Rod Lincoln': it's the best thing they've done, I would say ...


Concerning Shonen Knife from Japan, J.C., alas I only have the live version of 'Choco Bars' (which you already know), so instead you'll get 'Devil House' (mp3) and the live version of The Shirelles' favourite 'Boys' (mp3): enjoy ... and find 'Devil House' on their 'Let's Knife' - LP and 'Boys' on the 'We Are Very Happy You Came' - Mini album. Both records were on Creation Records.


Without wanting to sound lippy: but what a rubbish 'Best Of' - compilation can possibly exclude 'Dance Critters' (mp3) and 'The German Girls' (mp3) by The Colorblind James Experience?! Two of their finest tracks, to be sure, and both can be found on their self-titled debut album, which was released on Fundamental/Earrig Records in 1987.


I, Ludicrous. Well, they're legends to me. Nothing less. Their 'Preposterous Tales' will remain one of my all-time favourites forever, and the one you requested, J.C., 'Three English Football Grounds' (mp3) is also very fine. If you ever see the LP the two tunes are on somewhere, get your hands on it, regardless the costs. It's called 'It's Like Everything Else', was issued on Kaleidsocope Sounds and dates 1987. Also on the album are these wonderful tunes:


'My Baby's Got Jet Lag' (mp3)
'A Pop Fan's Dream' (mp3).


Finally J.C. wanted to hear 'The Light Pours Out Of Me' (mp3) by Trotsky Icepick (and it's Trotsky Icepick, mate, not Totally Ice Pick ... as in The Stranglers' 'No More Heroes' [... "whatever happened to Leon Trotsky? He got an icepick. That made his ears burn ..."], you see.


I took it from a compilation called 'Duck & Cover' on SST Records from 1990. And on another compilation called '1 Pound 99' on Beggars Banquet Records (1985), you'll find another cover of the Magazine favourite, here's Peter Murphy out of Bauhaus and his reading of 'The Light Pours Out Of Me' (mp3).


I hope you were satisfied, Steve and J.C. Any comments - or, in fact, further requests - are of course appreciated.


Cheers,


Dirk

Richard's Request ...

Hola,

Richard Grant wanted to hear 'Grader Spader' by Bailterspace (mp3) from 1988, so here you are, Richard .... I took it from a very useful Flying Nun compilation called 'In Love With These Times', a long deleted item, I might like to think ...

Cheers,

Dirk

My Peel Tapes: Part 17

Hello ladies,

and yessssssssss ...... another edition of MPT ... with some enjoyable tunes for the whole family! Should you visit this site for the first time and wonder what all of this might possibly be all about, well, either scroll down or have a look here.

(132) The Edsel Auctioneer - 'Our New Skin' (mp3). The first single from 1989 from the Leeds outfit on Decoy Records. I still quite care for this tune, there certainly is something special about it, although I can't really identify what it is, nor can I describe it perfectly well. The 7" is of course long deleted, but if you're happy, you might still find a copy of their 'Voice of The Harolds' - Mini - LP (also on Decoy) from 1990, which brings together their first 7" and 12".

[upon request:
Ted Chippington - 'She Loves You'
Birdland - 'Wanted']

(133) Ride - 'Chelsea Girl' (mp3). In one form or another a classic track, I would think. Ride released no less than three EP's within 1990, 'Ride', 'Play' and 'Fall', all on Creation Records. I used to owe them all, but gave 'em away when I was short of money. [Note to myself: kick own ass minimum a dozen times after having finished this post.]. 'Chelsea Girl' was, I think, on the first release and set kind of standards for quite a few bands to come later. I know that those later would be described as 'shoegazing', but as mentioned previously, I hate to put bands into a scheme the music industry has created. They were awesome live, I liked their records at the time and that's about it, really. I don't give a fuck what style they seemed to belong to. Cool website here.

[upon request:
Sundays - 'I Won']

(134) The Would Be's - 'Great Expectations' (mp3). The second-best thing to come from Ireland since The Undertones .... at least this was true in 1990. And yes: I know that The Undertones were from Northern Ireland. Either way: this 7" - again on Decoy Records - made my year, I would think. The A-Side ('I'm Hardly Ever Wrong') was equally good, therefore, if there ever was a "Double A-Side" - single, this is it, that's for sure!

[upon request:
Galaxie 500 - 'Blue Thunder']

(135) The Creamers - 'Sunday Head' (mp3). From the 'Love, Honour And Obey' - LP, quite an early release from Sympathy For The Record Industry Records, SFTRI19 from 1989 in fact. On vocals the mighty Leesa Poole and - judging from the photo on the back of the sleeve, Leesa really looks like a winner! Whatever became of The Creamers though, I have no idea at all alas!

(136) Pale Saints - 'Time Thief' (mp3). A strange thing with this track: It seems not to have been released before 4AD issued the 'Comforts Of Madness' album in 1990. But I'm pretty sure that the tape I have it on dates 1989, which was the year in which I bought the fantastic 'Diamonds & Porcupines' - compilation on Beat All The Tambourines Records, which has 'She Rides The Wave' on it. And I'm sure 'Time Thief' came to my attention before 'She Rides The Wave'. Anyway, all of this was quite a long time ago and I can't remember everything in my age ... sorry for that. A neat track by any means and The Pale Saints (unofficial site of theirs: here) - together with Ride - quite set some standards for bands to come in that area.

(137) The Buzzcocks - 'Promises' (mp3). 'The Peel Sessions Album' was released in 1989 on Strange Fruit Records, the session this fabulous masterpiece is taken from was recorded on 10/4/78 though. A classic track with lyrics to make you think about, people! Nice Buzzcocks homepage: here.

(138) Stiff Little Fingers - 'Nobody's Hero' (mp3). Again an Oldie but Goodie from Clive Selwood's Strange Fruit Records: mind you, setting up this label, getting in touch with the BBC and releasing all these classic Peel sessions was the best idea mankind had at the end of the 80's: thanks, Clive! Recorded on 3/9/79, link to the (still touring after all these years!!) Stiff Little Fingers homepage: here.

(139) The Heart Throbs - 'I Wonder Why' (mp3). A single on One Little Indian Records (also home of The Sugarcubes), released in 1990. Again, I think Peel must have played this as a pre-release a year earlier. Again, a band which faded into nothingless sadly. Their 'Cleopatra Grip' album, also from 1990 is worth checking out though, so should you find it in a bargain bin somewhere, get hold of it for a few quid.

(140) Snuff - 'Can't Explain' (mp3). Okay, I'll just type that once and won't do it again in the course of this series: from an LP called 'Flibbiddydibbiddydob' (phew!) on Workers Playtime Records, 1989. It featured mainly cover songs and TV commercial jingles reworked by the band. The release was the subject of a disgreement with the British Phonographic Industry; Snuff maintained it was an EP - and as such should be eligible for the UK singles chart - but the BPI insisted on classifying it as an album because of the large number of tracks. 'Can't Explain' was originally done by The Who, of course.

[upon request:
Snuff - 'Rods And Mockers']

(141) The Farm - 'Stepping Stone' (mp3). The 'Ghost Dance Mix' thereof, a 12" on Pinnacle Records from 1990. I once spend an entire afternoon (from lunchtime well into the evening, to be precise) together with Peter Hooton, another one out of The Farm and John Peel in a cafe in Regent Street near the BBC Building where we drank quite a lot and had real good fun altogether. Alas Peel had to leave inbetween, because he had his programme to do, and I only wish I'd ever heard that particular one, because I don't think he managed to get himself 100% sober from the time he left to the time of broadcast! That was of course, I should add, before The Farm became rather popular. Also Hooton has the worst Liverpool accent you've ever heard, unbelievable!

[upon request:
Snuff - 'Shaken Black']

(142) Pavement - 'Box Elder' (mp3). A treasure!!!!!!!!! Now, if I ever in my life get around to do a 'The definetely fucking best songs in the history of recorded music' this would be on it for sure! This is a killer of a song, very short into the point, but nevertheless wonderful. Originally released as a 7" called "Slay Tracks (1933–1969)"on Treble Kicker in 1989, 1000 copies only, later, in 1993 in fact, re-released on an LP. More about the 7": here. Download this tune now, folks, it's good throughout!

(143) The Happy Mondays - 'Mad Cyril' (mp3). From the seminal 'Bummed' album on Factory, with which the band first made a cultural impact on a regional and national level. You see, back then, in 1988/1989, common folk didn't know much about acid house, this was something for the 'kids' in the cities. Well, we country boys knew it was there somewhere, but we couldn't really identify where exactly. But 'Bummed' brought it over to us, in a nice combination with psychedelic effects, those we still knew from the early 70's. Also, whenever you got hold of an issue of the NME or Face or whatever here in Germany, you could read an article describing in detail what an arsehole Shaun Ryder was: believe it or not, but this helped the Mondays quite a lot!

(144) Viv Stanshall & The Big Boys - '(There's No Room To) Rhumba In A Sports Car' (mp3). Well, there is so much to say about Viv Stanshall, I wouldn't know where to start. Have a look at Wikipedia here and from there on explore this genius further, if you want to.

The track can be found on 'The Last Temptation Of Elvis' (a 1990 UK NME mail-order only 26-track 2-LP vinyl set) featuring versions of songs from Elvis' movies, including Paul McCartney's version of It's Now Or Never plus three previously unissued takes of King Of The Whole Wide World by Elvis himself, superb colour gatefold picture sleeve by the way. Other contributors were The Pogues, JAMC, Fuzzbox, PWEI, Cramps etc. etc. ......

[upon request:
Would Be's - 'There Is, There Are, That's All'
Edsel Auctioneer - 'Bed, Table, Chair']

(145) The Siddeleys - 'Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)' (mp3). From another compilation, this time 'Alvin Lives In Leeds', released on Midnight Music in 1990. "The Poll Tax Sucks, Don't Pay It", it reads on the sleeve .. and I suppose you Britons know all about that. I don't, but then again I don't care a great deal (we have our own taxes here in Germany, and they ALL suck!). Some fine bands (amongst others Lush, Cud, Close Lobsters, 14 Iced Bears, Perfect Disaster) do covers of all-time favourites from the 70's. And they all do them pretty well, I would think!

[upon request:
Wedding Present - 'Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)'

Enough for today, my friends. Leave requests and let me know if you were satisfied with my choices, any comments are of course highly appreciated.

Cheerio,

Dirk

Another request ...

.... came in from an anonymous reader who had a closer look at the 'upon request' sections of the different postings. And so should you, dear friends, because this is what Anonymous wanted to hear, so this is what Anonymous gets:



John Cooper-Clarke - '36 Hours' (mp3) [from the (JCC-) compilation 'Me And My Big Mouth', Epic Records 1981. The track itself is from 1980]

Death By Milkfloat - 'The Man Whose Senses Failed' (mp3) [a 7" in the Constrictor Singles Club - Series, Constrictor Records, 1988]

The Smiths - 'What Difference Does It Make' (mp3) [from the - legendary - 12" on Rough Trade from 1984]

The Smiths - 'Shakespeare's Sister' (mp3) [a 7" from 1985 on Rough Trade]

The Smiths - 'I Want The One I Can't Have' (mp3) [from the 'Meat Is Murder' - LP on Rough Trade from 1985]

The Smiths - 'Rusholme Ruffians' (mp3) [dto.]

The Ramones - 'Daytime Dilemma (Dangers Of Love)' (mp3) [from the 'Too Tough To Die' - LP on Sire from 1984]

The Ramones - 'I Don't Wanna Walk Around With You' (mp3) [from the self-titled debut LP on Sire from 1976]

Electronic - 'Getting Away With It' (mp3) [a single from 1989, I took it from the fantastic 'Palatine' - 4-LP - compilation on Factory, FACT 400]



Also Anonymous wanted to hear more from Jilted John. The only thing I can play to you is the backside of the 1978 7": 'Going Steady' (mp3). [EMI 1978]



He asked for something by The Cramps as well, my choice for you is 'Tear It Up' (mp3), a live version thereof, probably one you won't hear all that often, which is always a good thing. [recorded at The Santa Monica Civic, CA - August 15, 1980. You'll find it on the 'Urgh!' - DoLP on A &M Records]



Well, Anonymous, I hope you're pleased with the above.



Take care,



Dirk