Beg, Steal or Borrow. Part 3

 

A New Seekers superfan writes:

I’ve been doing some reading in my bid to rehabilitate the New Seekers. And I have belatedly realised that they wanted to contribute to the soundtrack of a film version of a rock opera (and there’s two words to strike terror in your heart). This effort dates from 1973. And I have absolutely no recollection of this version, despite it reaching no. 16 in the charts. And, as we know, there was only one radio station available that played pop songs, so I’ve no idea why I simply cannot remember it.

And it’s not absolute bobbins either, is it?  (That bloke on the left, is it me, or was that Peter Frampton guesting in the band?).  The band failed the audition, Mr Russell opted for Elton John, and quite rightly too. I went with my mum to see the film (in The Regal in Broughty Ferry). And how cool was that?

Even more cool are the next three tunes, inspired by the song of the title of this piece, the first featuring the absolutely fantastic voice of Francesco Stephen Castelluccio.

The Four Seasons - Beggin'

The country-bluegrass genre supplies this week’s steal song:

Jimmy Martin -Steal Away Somewhere and Die

And from the excellent album @#%&*! Smilers:

Aimee Mann - Borrowing Time

Enjoy the music.

CC writes - George's love affair with The New Seekers will continue next week.

CC Revs the Revs - Lap 6

 

The chequered flag has been raised and the last lap is under way.

Let's start with Gemma Ray (with a little help from Alan Vega) with the simply titled Motorbike.

Hard on Gemma's rear tyre is Northern Irish singer songwriter Andy White who is more concerned about Italian Girls on Mopeds.

It's getting tricky now so time for something a bit spurious. How about The Fall with I am Damo Suzuki?

The only other thing that springs to mind is Funky Moped by Jasper Carrot but don't worry I am not going to subject you to that!

Rather I will conclude with two acts who have two wheeled motorised transport as part of their name.

Firstly I give you The Motorcycle Boy with the motor bike related Under the Bridge and finally we have a Johnny Moped song.

I don't intend to do a series on Cars as I  have absolutely no interest in them,  so unless there are other plausible suggestions that's Transport Tuesday concluded.

Gemma Ray (ft Alan Vega) - Motorbike

Andy White - Italian Girls on Mopeds

The Fall - I Am Damo Suzuki

The Motorcycle Boy - Under The Bridge

Johnny Moped - No-One

All We Could Do Was Sing

 

2024 Charity Shop Purchases # 51 - Port O'Brien - All We Could Do Was Sing

All We Could Do Was Sing  the third album by Oakland band Port O'Brien  from 2008 was part of the 3 for 50p haul which has already yielded Acid Haze.

I was going to say that it was a total shot in the dark but even although I had never heard of them the fact that the album is on the City Slang label sealed the deal.

I was pleasantly surprised when I got round to listening to it. It is described by The Line of Best Fit as a "not quite" concept album based loosely on the sea

There are obvious comparisons with Arcade Fire which is no bad thing. They also toured with Bright Eyes and Modest Mouse and were named by M.Ward as his favourite new band. Good company to keep as I'm sure you will agree.

It was also critically well received receiving a Metacritic rating of 78/11 based on 11 reviews.

The band released a further album Threadbare in 2009 prior to calling it a day in 2009.

16.66 pence well spent. One more to go

Port O'Brien - I Woke Up Today

Port O'Brien - My Eyes Won't Shut

Tainted Love

 

A couple of weeks ago my brother sent me a video of a band called Broken Peach doing a version of Tainted Love with the words one for the blog. 

Some blurb may be required - 

Broken Peach, formed early 2009, creating a new way of merging music with entertainment. BP differs from the typical cover bands, giving a personal sound to each of the songs they perform, including also some mashups.

This got me thinking about some other versions. Two immediately sprung to mind - the original Northern Soul classic and possibly the best from Gloria Jones in 1964 and the version by Soft Cell which became a monster hit and brought the song to the world's attention

I have another couple of versions by Imelda May and  Inspiral Carpets for good measure.

Gloria Jones - Tainted Love

Soft Cell - Tainted Love

Imelda May - Tainted Love

Inspiral Carpets -Tainted Love

Saturday Shuffle 64

 

Another week, another shuffle.

Squeeze are a band that have not appeared as many times on these pages as they should have. In an attempt to somehow right that wrong here they are with one of their best songs Pulling Mussels (From a Shell)

More parenthesis this time courtesy of our cover star Lefty Frizzell. From as far back as 1951 here he is with one of his classics Always Late (With Your Kisses)

Staying with classics Summerlong by Rose City Band was one of my favourite albums from 2020. Any of the eight songs on the album would have been worthy of inclusion but the shuffle has opted for Real Long Gone.

More real long gone songs next Saturday.

Squeeze - Pulling Mussels ( From a Shell)

Lefty Frizzell - Always Late (With Your Kisses)

Rose City Band - Real Long Gone

I Like Birds 5 - The Dove

 

The Cambridge Dictionary describes the dove as a white or grey bird , often used as a symbol of peace

They are members of the Columbidae family along with pigeons - indeed The common names pigeon and dove are often used interchangeably. In ornithology, "dove" tends to be used for smaller species and "pigeon" for larger ones. 

There is an indie rock band from Manchester called Doves but don't worry I'm not going to play them. There was also a Scottish electronic group in the early 90's called One Dove  which featured the dulcet tones of Dot Allison. They had a song called White Dove so therefore they make the cut.

That is not the only song called White Dove. There is also a Country song of the same name which has been recorded by a number of artists including Levon Helm.

Still in country mode the next offering is the great  Wings of a Dove by the equally great Ferlin Husky.

Finally, it would be churlish in the extreme not to feature When Doves Cry by the late great Prince or as it's known in Scotland When Doos Greet.

More ornithological offerings next Friday

One Dove - White Dove

Levon Helm - White Dove

Ferlin Husky - Wings of a Dove

Prince - When Doves Cry

Beg, Steal or Borrow. Part 2.

 

George writes:

Or, maybe I should say, an appreciation of the music of the New Seekers. So that title song is probably their second best known song, after that syrupy glop of earnest whining better known as I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing. (...........in perfect harmony , grow apple trees and honey bees and snow white turtle doves….something like that anyway).  On reflection, that’s not the best way to begin an appreciation of a band, is it?  After a bit of internet doodling I unearthed the song “Mystic Queen”, which was the b-side to the execrable “Circles” and it’s a surprisingly good listen:

One for volume 224 of the Downloads series.

And something with possibly a bit more appeal to the readership of these pages now, a track by Lightnin’ Hopkins:

Lightnin' Hopkins - I'm Begging You

And another act to feature a plethora of times on these pages is the Louvin Brothers. Today’s track comes from the Nearer My God To Thee album, all of which can be found on the must have box-set Close Harmony (only £120, and well worth the money):

The Louvin Brothers -I Steal Away and Pray

And in my quite obvious attempts to ingratiate myself with Mr CC the final track today will also be one of which he approves, and another artiste that has previously graced these pages (and the many many cd shelves in his house)

I am under the impression that posting mp3 files of Mr Morrison is swiftly dealt with by the internet police, hence the video.  The album from which this track is taken, Veedon Fleece, has Mr Morrison flanked by two muckle dogs on the cover. It is also the most recent album of Van Morrison that I have. That’s a picture of a linden tree at the top, but you all knew that.

Enjoy the music.

CC writes

I don't have Veedon Fleece

Even the Grumpy Irishman doesn't bother much about MP3s these days given the rise of streaming.

In all the years I've known George he has kept his love for The New Seekers firmly hidden under a bushel!