Saturday Shuffle 156

 

We are off to Canada to touch base with this week's cover star.

Ladies & gentlemen I give you Ms Lindi Ortega with the title song from her 2012 album on Last Gang Records namely Cigarettes & Truckstops. It is her debut on the Shuffle.

Squeeze have appeared here on a few occasions but never before with Another Nail In My Heart,

Fay Fife has appeared here before as a member of the Rezillos . From 2022 and the album Star of the Sea here she is with Wandering Star from her fully merited new title The Countess of Fife.

More random Wandering Stars next Saturday

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Lindi Ortega - Cigarettes & Truckstops

Squeeze - Another Nail In My Heart

The Countess of Fife - Wandering Star

Bellshill Bands - Teenage Fanclub

 

This week it is the most famous of the Bellshill bands and the one that most folk would come up with if asked to name one, namely Teenage Fanclub.

They formed in 1989 with a line up of Norman Blake (Guitar/Vocals), Raymond McGinley (Guitar/Vocals), Gerard Love (Bass/Vocals) and Francis McDonald (Drums - replaced by Brendan O'Hare)  A more detailed list of members is included here

The first three shared the song writing duties until Gerry Love left the band in 2018. The band has continued since then but it is generally agreed that they have never been quite the same.

I've seen them a few times and have the vast majority of their records with 1997's Songs From Northern Britain being my favourite. They had a terrific run with Bandwagonesque (1991), Thirteen (1993), Grand Prix (1995) and Songs From Northern Britain all being essential must haves.

I've seen them a few times recently but found Endless Arcade (2021) and Nothing Lasts For Ever (2023) a bit disappointing. They are touring later in the year to promote their new album Do Not Dare To Dream. I was unaware of this until recently and the concerts near me are now sold out. I can't say that I am too disappointed.

Teenage Fanclub - Everything Flows

Teenage Fanclub - Star Sign

Teenage Fanclub - Sparky's Dream

Teenage Fanclub - Ain't That Enough

The Arlenes

 2026 Charity Shop Purchases #23 - The Arlenes- The Arlenes

The Arlenes were a UK/American husband and wife Americana duo  (Big Steve Pulford and Stephanie Arlene) who first caught my ear when the gorgeous Lovely Won't Leave Me Alone  featured on a 2003 compilation Loose Selections.

This led me to track down their 2002 Loose album Stuck on You.

I picked up the 1990 eponymous album from Oxfam in Troon. From 1990 on the Lido label in has only 6 tracks .It comes in at a few seconds under 25 minutes so I'm considering it as an album as opposed to a CD singles

The couple relocated to America in  2003 and as far as I'm aware they have released one one further album 2004's Going to California also on the Loose label. I'll keep my eyes open for that one

Not to be confused with Arlene Foster!

The Arlenes - She Ran Me Down

The Arlenes - Springboard

Relegation Material

 

A couple of recent acquisitions of Americana CDs has led to the necessity to downgrade a couple of burns to downloads to free up some space. Yes, the Blue shelves are creaking at the seams.

The first to get the chop is Where The Killers Run an album by the band Viarosa from 2005 on the Pranoia Records label. They are described as Alternative / Indie and Folk. It is quite possible that I confused them with  Glasgow Americana band Vera Cruse

Here is a review of the album courtesy of Drowned in Sound

The second one being culled is definitely a case of mistaken identity. Bought by mistake by my pal Gordon  Marc Olsen, formally a guitarist with Seattle trio Sage and who has worked with Mark Lanegan, was confused with Mark Olson of Jayhawks fame.

Had the E been replaced by an O it would still be on the shelves!

Viarosa -Where The Killers Run

Marc Olsen - Martian Romance

A.I. Let's Go

 

My brother sent me this You Tube clip with the instructions get on this for the Blog

My first thoughts were Skaramones is a great name and an EP of Rocksteady and Ska covers of Ramones songs could be interesting.

Then I clicked on the video.

Things were going well into I noticed a small circle with the letters AI in it. Clicking the circle led to to the words generated and made with AI.

Hang your heads in shame Roll and Toast "Records".

1.3K  views so far with the great quote in the comments C” Mon Man it’s so obvious you are the SKAMONES!!!!

Be careful out there.

The Only Place

 

2026 Charity Shop Purchases #21 - Best Coast - The Only Place

In January 2020 I picked up Crazy For You the debut  album by Best Coast in a charity shop on Great Western Rd prior to nipping into Wintergills for a pint before heading to Firhill (for Thrills) to see Dundee United play Partick Thistle

Since then I have been keeping an eye out for their stuff. This has led to me mistakenly picking up two albums by Dream Pop act  Beach House.

Third time lucky in Debras in Shawlands when I came away with their second album The Only Place from 2012 on the Mexican Summer label.

The personnel on the album are songwriter, guitarist and vocalist Bethany Cosentino and guitarist and Bobb Bruno on drums, guitar and bass. Producer Jon Brion provides everything else.

Bethany's voice puts me in mind of Neko Case which is no bad thing as I'm sure you'll agree

They released two other albums California Nights (2015) and Always Tomorrow (2020) and are seemingly currently on hiatus.

Best Coast - The Only Place

Best Coast - Do You Love Me Like You Used To

Nevermind (Glitterhouse is 20)

 

It's our old friends Glitterhouse from Beverungen, Germany with Nevermind a 3xCD Compilation from 2004 celebrating the label's 30th birthday.

Here is the tracklist courtesy of Discogs listing all 51 tracks and artists. It can be picked up remarkably cheaply with a Median price of £3.96. Maybe this is because it is a little bit worthy and includes a number of pretty obscure artists. Come Fly With Us remains the Glitterhouse Compilation to have.

One track from each of the 3 CDs I think.

From disc 1 here is Carla Togerson, of Walkabouts fame, with the song Pelagic which is taken from her 2004 album Saint Stranger.

Representing disc 2 we have Rainer Ptacek a German -American guitarist and singer songwriter based in Tucson and  more commonly known just as Rainer.  Sadly he died in 1997 following a brain tumour. Love Buys Love is his selected song He is the only one of the chosen artists that I haven't seen perform.

Finally we have the opening track from Disc 3 (which is subtitled Classic tunes of Glitterhouse Records) Jon Dee Graham gives us Big Sweet Life

I really should give this one a proper listen.

Carla Togerson - Pelagic

Rainer - Love Buys Love

Jon Dee Graham - Big Sweet Life