Blog Country 144 - Bermuda

 

From Afghanistan we head to the North Atlantic Ocean and the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda an archipelago of 181 islands with a population of around 64000 which is less than East Kilbride.

I was under the impression that it was somewhat idylic until I read a couple of posts by SWC. It has maybe more in common with East Kilbride than I thought!

Enough nonsense, let's get on with the music.

It's always good to have a tune which references the country and even better if it is included in the band's name. We start then with The Bermuda Strollers , lead by Ted and John Ming and the song Bermuda is Another World.

Next up we have someone who I already had something by in the Music folder. Heather Nova is a Bermudian singer-songwriter. Born in Bermuda to a Canadian mother and Bermudian father, she spent most of her childhood aboard a sailboat, sailing throughout the Atlantic and Caribbean oceans. Here she is with Ghost In My Room.

Collie Buddz is a reggae singer. He signed with Columbia Records to release his self titled debut album in 2006 which included the single Come Around.

Mishka is another reggae artist who has been on the go since 1997. Oh My Days is the title track from his latest album which was released in February .

We conclude with Old Uncle Joe by The Talbot Brothers of Bermuda  a 1950's calypso band not to be confused with The Talbot Brothers from Nebraska as I initially did.

It's back to Africa next time round.

The Bermuda Strollers - Bermuda Is Another World

Heather Nova - Ghost In My Room

Collie Buddz - Come Around

Mishka - Oh My Days

The Talbot Brothers of Bermuda - Old Uncle Joe

Jonathan, Jonathan

 

I was listening to the 1989 epoymous album Jonathan Richman the other day and it got me thinking about his solo work as opposed to his stuff with The Modern Lovers

From this album I have opted for Fender Stratocaster for all you guitar geeks out there.

Next from the 1992 album I, Jonathan I give you I Was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar a song that was first brought to my attention by Andy Kershaw.

From the brilliant 1990 album Jonathan Sings Country I've gone for Reno.

You cannot feature Jonathan Richman without referencing Roadrunner in this case Roadrunner (Twice).

Finally I hand you over to the Rockingbirds who pay homage to their hero.

I will be forever greatful for him taking the time to perform at King Tuts on Friday 26th July 1996 to commemorate my 35th birthay!

Jonathan Richman - Fender Sratocaster

Jonathan Richman - I Was Drinking in the Lesbian Bar

Jonathan Richman - Reno

Jonathan Richman - Roadrunner (Twice)

The Rockingbirds - Jonathan, Jonathan

The Soup Dragons

 

I had an urge to play The Soup Dragons so I dusted down their Past Night From Glasgow compilation Raw Products -Singles & Rarities.

The Soup Dragons were yet another band to come out of Bellshill in the early 80's. They consisted of Sean Dickson (laterly HiFi Sean) on vocals,keyboards and lead guitar, Jim McCulloch (guitar, vocals), Sushil K Dade (Bass) and Ross Sinclair/Paul Quinn (drums)

They were active from 1985 to 1995 with the obligatory comeback from 2003. I'm grateful for that as I missed them first time round

The first two songs are taken from the above album with Whole Wild World being taken from Disc 4 of Big Gold Dreams- A Story of Scottish Independent Music 1977 -1989

The Soup Dragons - Can't Take No More

The Soup Dragons - Head Gone Astray

The Soup Dragons - Whole Wide World

If It Ain't Stiff ... 4

 

Disaster very nearly struck on Friday afternoon.

An aborted Windows update led to what looked like me losing all my documents, downloads,pictures and 14657music files.

I could see on Google Drive that the music files were still there and I could play them from there meaning they hadn't disappeared completely  but I didn't know where they were.

Fortunately it seem to resolve itself fairly quickly but not totally as I have to access my files in a round about way and Express Rip CD Ripper is no longer working. I may be required to shell out some hard cash to get that fixed.

Back to If It Ain't Stiff 4 - the penultimate post featuring tracks 14-17.

Track 14 is Wunderbar by Tenpole Tudor  and not Wonderbra as some folk are prone to sing. You know who you are.

Track 15 is Killer Joe by the Tommy Chase Quartet. Yes we're talking Jazz - Nice!

Track 16 is Suffice to Say by British band The Yachts who were Power Pop/New Wave exponents as opposed to Yacht Rock - sorry Alyson

Any Trouble were a British Rock Band from Crewe who were led by Clive Gregson.According to anytroble.net they an underappreciated bright spot on Stiff Records. Here they are with Girls Are Always Right.

In the unlikely event that anyone is still following this series you will be glad to know that it concludes next week

Tenpole Tudor - Wunderbar

Tommy Chase Quartet - Killer Joe

The Yachts - Suffice To Say

Any Trouble - Girls Are Always Right

Saturday Shuffle 147

 

I may well be wrong but I think that on the week that the Shuffle weighs in with a maximum break we have three acts making their Shuffle debut something which I don't think has happened since the early days.

First up is American singer songwriter Tim Hardin and no it's not with Reason To Believe but rather Hang On To a Dream.

Next we have the Danish  but London based band Kid Wave with the title track from their 2015 album Wonderlust on Heavenly Records. A band brought to my attention by Drew from the much missed Across The Kitchen Table blog.

Finally, and I find this hard to believe, we have the first shuffle offering from  Belle and Sebastian. Even better it is If Your Feeling Sinister the title track from their 1996 second and best album.

More shuffling with debutants or seasoned veterans next Saturday

Tim Hardin - Hang On To A Dream

Kid Wave - Wanderlust

Belle & Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister

You Can Call Me Al

 

If you would be my bodyguard, I can be your long-lost pal

I can call you Betty.and Betty, when you call me, call me Al

In addition to Pun Landlord Al Murray and Paul Simon's lyrics I have identified a few musical Als

We kick off with Al Garner Selma, Alabama born but Detroit based Soul singer with Just a Touch of  Your Hand.

Al Kent was born in Scotland but ran off to New York. Here he is with The Disco Love Orchestra  on Where Do I Go From Here

You should all be familiar with Al Stewart of Year of the Cat fame. Today's tune is Sand In Your Shoes.

Please be upstanding for the Reverend Al Green and the classic Soul number that is Let's Stay Together.

Our penultimate Al is Al Montgomery with It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels.

We cpnclude with Al Simmons and Old Folks Boogie.

That's Al Folks!

Paul Simon - You Can Call Me Al

Al Gardner - Just a Touch of Your Hand

Al Kent -Where Do I Go From Here

Al Stewart - Sand In Your Shoes

Al Montgomery - It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels

Al Simmons - Old Folks Boogie

 

Coffee Culture

 

I was having a cup of coffee and it got me thinking.

When we were kids there was no such thing as a coffee culture. Yes, you maybe had a cup of Mellow Birds or Nescafe at home with milk and sugar after your dinner. There was no such thing as coffee shop chains, decaffeinated coffee was unheard of and nobody had a job as a Barista.

Now it is a huge industry. You can't move for coffee chain shops flogging an entire range of coffees from Flat Whites to Mocha Chocas at exorbitant prices. Me, I'm a black coffee man preferably in a normal sized cup as opposed to a bucket.

I blame the Americans.

Here are some songs for you to listen to over your coffee

All Saints -Black Coffee

Squeeze - Black Coffee in Bed

Blur - Coffee & TV

Lightnin' Hopkins - Coffee House Blues

Bridgid Mae Power - One More Cup of Coffee