Our (ex) Guru's secret

Here's Dorian on Saturday clutching part of his new collection of fine wine - a thank you from all of us in RRland.
And the secret of his new project can now be revealed. He's writing a book about protest songs, in 33 1/3 chapters. This will expand the original RR Protest songs column from way back when, into a full length feature. Each chapter will be one song/protest movement - civil rights, Vietnam, apartheid, etc. What he DOESN'T want is a a deluge of suggestions from us as to what songs to include in the book! So once you've got a copy of the excellent 'Guardian book of Playlists' start saving your pennies for Dorian's next awesome publication.
See y'all at the next social.

Don't be scared...

I'm afraid that this one is so easy you'll say, "don't waste our time!!" But at least you'll all feel very clever and affirmed. 10 songs, 10 intros...

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IT'S THAT DAMN PHONE AGAIN, THIS TIME, A HEAVENLY COLLECTION.

OK, so the phone rings again, this time your 'other half' answers, it's the undertaker. He says "Alright we've taken care of all the details and the funeral will be on Saturday. You're dead!
You arrive at the pearly gates and St Peter says "What's that lot you've got there then? Oh no, no way, you can't go bringin' all those in here, we're getting very crowded, space is definitely limited. The rules now allow you to only bring in 10 albums or CD's, you'd better talk to that bloke over there about shipping your excess back, he used to work in customs so he knows that stuff. So you go over to see him and you ask casually "So what's the deal on box sets and so on? and he replies "As long as I don't think you're taking advantage, if you mix it up a bit I tend to look the other way."
So there's the dilemma, what to take, you're going to be there for a long time so you'd better choose wisely, and you'll be glad later on that you took care of this detail now. I must warn you, this one is hard, the equivalent of a 'Killer' in Sudoku, It's not so much what you get to take but those you must leave, with their rules they almost force you to think in terms of compilations and cause many painful decisions to be made, it almost makes you believe in reincarnation so you could come back and get some more. And it doesn't pay to complain, think about the alternative, in the other place, they don't allow ANY albums, that's what hell is, a place where you don't have any music.
If you have the urge you can post a selection from one of your albums.


Here's my list, in no specific order.

1. Songs of Freedom by BMW.
2. The Boss of the Blues by Joe Turner
3. The Smithsonian collection of Classic Jazz
4. Biograph by Bob Dylan
5. Requiems: Faure and Durufle by Robert Shaw and the Atlanta Symphony Orch.
6. The Gershwin Songbook - Polygram - various artists
7. Mahler - Symphony #2 by Gilbert Kaplan and London Symphony Orch.
8. Rough Guide to the music of Africa.
9. The Trojan 'History of Jamaican Music'
10. Nina Simone - the Eclectic Collection, the Colpix albums.

I know I'm being a bit sneaky in that some of these are slightly 'pushing it' but forever is a long time and I know I'll see some of you up there also so I want to have some to trade with, plus I suspect the customs guy might take a small gratuity if offered.

ps: If one of you could bring 'Graceland' I'd be most grateful and willing to trade.

THE BOSS OF THE BLUES

THE BOSS OF THE BLUES
JOE TURNER sings Kansas City Jazz.
Atlantic Records # 1234- High Fidelity
produced by Nesuhi Ertegun and Jerry Wexler
Arrangements by Ernie Wilkins.
Liner notes by Whitney Balliet
Recorded in NYC in 1956
Personnel.
BIG JOE TURNER - vocals
JOE NEWMAN - tpt.
LAWRENCE BROWN - tb.
PETE BROWN - alto.
FRANK WESS - TENOR.
PETE JOHNSON - pft.
FREDDIE GREENE - gtr.
WALTER PAGE - bass.
CLIFF LEEMAN - dms.

I left the UK for California in 1958, I brought this album with me, I've owned it for over 50 years and it's still in pristine condition even though it's been played hundreds of times: it's autographed on the cover "BIG JOE TURNER - KC."
I've seen Joe Turner in performance several times and I even attended his funeral in LA along with several hundred others, I love his music but this album stands out above all the others, probably because of the tight accompaniment by a group of predominantly Basie musicians, these guys played Kansas City jazz their entire lives. There's ten cuts on the album, I've selected five, I hope you enjoy them as much as I have over the years, if you do check out the Robert Altman film 'Kansas City' and the two music CD's that accompanied i, it's in this style. THE BOSS OF THE BLUES is available as a CD.

1. PINEY BROWN BLUES
2. HOW LONG BLUES.
3. CHERRY RED.
4. I WANT A LITTLE GIRL.
5. ST. LOUIS BLUES.

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One for Goneforeign

One Love!! I have to point out that as much as I love Bob Marley and Tree Frogs, we didn't buy him either of these shirts. This series will continue as appropriate shirts arise.

I could edit this picture into the line up below...maybe not eh.
Nerve-racked..you bet.

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An evening of refinement and gentility

Back row l-r: murphsup, gordonimmel,DarceysDad, ejaydee, Carefree, Gareth I
Front row l-r: tarxien, Dorian, Mnemonic

Intros quiz #2

I got Audacity working so here's my attempt at an intros quiz.. not as obscure as I threatened, I tried to make it as pop/indie biased as my collection allows, and each piece will be known to at least one of the 'Spill. Clues will be given.. I'm looking forward to seeing what suggestions people make for some of the tracks...
They are all intros, and there should be 13 tracks of varying lengths.

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What Me Worry?

Perhaps it's to do with my unassuming happy outlook on life, but I've never been a big fan of dark, depressing, doom-laden music (no Joy Division on my iPod). I don't mind a bit of misery as long as it's done with a smile on your face. So that's probably why I've struggled to come up with many recommendations this week. Nevertheless, here are five that seem to fit the anxiety bill in one way or another.

10,000 Maniacs first with 'Like The Weather' from their 'In My Tribe' album. A typical Natalie Merchant theme which admittedly probably says more about depression than it does about anxiety.

The heroine of this week's ToffeeBoy Dean Friedman recommendation (Are You Ready Yet?) is contemplating taking her relationship to the next level. "Are you confident that the choice was made of your own accord?" asks the whiny voiced one. Lovely song - great songwriter - am I convincing anyone yet?

The Pet Shop Boy's 'Nervously' deals with a similar theme of young love.

Worry About You by Ivy featured in the pilot episode of the Sci-Fi drama The 4400. There's more than a touch of Twin Peaks about it - both the programme and the song. I don't know much about Ivy but the singer (Ivy herself?) has a beautiful voice.

Finally, The Shirelles with Will You Love Me Tomorrow (which is not called Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow). A timeless classic - enough said.

Happy listening.

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Cheese!

I was listening to the radio today and this came on. Now, I simply adore this song even those I know it is a terribly cheesy power ballad.

So, my question is, are there cheesy power ballads that any of you like?



Even more. Not only do I love the song, written by the Queen of the power ballad, Diane Warren, but I love the video and I even like the film too!

Sad or what?

Just edited this to include this gem;

"Wasps are bastards" - FP's anxiety playlist

I was hugely entertained to hear Steve Coogan's creation - ex-roadie-turned-pest-controller Tommy Saxondale remark that "wasps are bastards". They have been my phobia since childhood. Just looking at this photo is freaking me out. It's the shape - the venomous dart at the rear end. And also the fact that they can sting at will. A bee has to think really carefully about stinging because it could be the last thing it does. A wasp can sting just for the hell of it. I suppose I'm being unfair as I had indisputable proof some years ago that they aren't really vicious creatures. I stepped on a nest in Denmark and a few half-heartedly came and sank their sting into my ankle. Just on principle. But then later, back at the flat, I took off my pullover and....one flew out. It had been inside my jumper all the time, quite happily keeping warm. The first song in my list has particular resonance for me because of the truly stunning video. Peter Gabriel has always accompanied his songs with beautifully conceived and shot videos, but this one is particularly marvellous. "Digging in the dirt" shows him freaking out in the car due to a bothersome wasp, and then we go back to his childhood trauma which explains his somewhat overexaggerated reaction. Check it out. I'm so scared of the bastards I wouldn't even have dared swat them...I suppose this makes me a (deep breath) spheksophobe!

But what we really want to know is: What's your wasp? What phobias do you have? And do you know the technical term for this fear?

Steady your nerves...

..but try not hopping around to this monster Louie Vega remix of Ultra Nate's twisted...

A few anxious Annies and nervous Nellies..

Martin Phillips threw a party in his heart.. sadly, no-one has turned up, so he's fighting back the tears waiting for you to come home... in the meantime, the dips, cakes and meringues are going mouldy and the value of the whisky's twice what it was sold at..

Garageland just made sense of all your records- now they feel sick..

DJ Christian Prommer's Drum Lesson is a nujazz project reworking famous house tracks- here's his take on MAW's "The nervous track"

Lastly, Agitation, from E.S.P, the first album of the awesome second Miles Davis Quintet... nail biter powered by Tony Williams ants-in-your-pants drumming, and Miles' skittish mute.

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Blimpy's Big Intros Quiz !

Okay then! Welcome all to the first of Blimpy's Big Intros Quizzez! 

In the following podbean track there are 15 (fifteen) intros, and 1 (one) outtro. 

The first person to name all of them wins a glittering prize! 

I've kept it nice and easy, nothing on here is obscure, so I expect full marks all round! 

Ready, set, go!! 

Best Four Intros Ever!

1. "Cannonball" - The Breeders  

Weird, distorted chanting folllowed by bizarre rythmical clicking followed by the best bassline ever written followed by awesome sync drums - followed by hawaiian guitar followed by heavy grunge riffs followed by a whistle blowing and then, THEN, THEN!! the song begins....and boy! what a song!  

2. "Today" - Smashing Pumpkins  

Demonstrates the most bestest and amazing thing a piece of wood with wires and electricity attached can do...  

3. "Touch Sensitive" - The Fall  

Da da da o da! Da da da o da! HEY HEY HEY HEY !

4. "Da da da" - Elastica  

Uh-huh. Uh huh. Keep it simple!

Does anyone else enjoy playing the intros game? Where you bug the living crap out of your friends by making them guess the tune from the opening bars? It'll push a hipster to suicide, i tell thee...

IS STREAKING ALLOWED ON THIS BLOG?

I don't know what brought this to mind just now but as I thought about it, it caused me to start to giggle and to get a bit teary simultaneously. Since I missed the deadline for International Woman's Day by a month I'll post it now rather than wait 11 months!
For the benefit of those not up to date on such things, streaking was a phenomenon of the '70's. It was 'running naked in public places', often at a sporting event or a televised situation, it was basically to draw attention to those participating though not necessarily for any political or social reasons. Throughout my life I worked at a major university and during that period I had a close affinity with many of the students in the Art department, there was a group there that took the name 'The Art Dept. Students Association,' I'm not sure why they chose that dumb name or what they stood for but they decided to have a streak.
The class schedule for the university was classes from 9-12 and 1-4 leaving 12-1 open as a lunch break, there were about 33,000 students at that time and many would congregate in the university quadrangle for lunch on the grass.
I was the director of media for the university but that didn't deter my friends from inviting me to join them, instead I chose to be the official photographer of the event.
They assembled in an art dept classroom just before noon and shed their clothes, there were about 15-20 in the group, all male except for one who was a good friend of mine, Robin, an illustration major. Robin was not by contemporary standards attractive, she was short and fat and not fair of features, but she had a wonderful personality. The plan was that they'd run en-masse as a unit moving fairly swiftly and capitalising on the surprise element of streaking through the lunchtime crowds.
They stood waiting for the campus bell tower to chime noon and when it did they set off out of the door onto the campus with Robin bringing up the rear. There were hundreds of students sitting on the lawns and exiting classes as they emerged, and as soon as they were spotted there was a huge cheer and students stood up and applauded as they raced past. The plan was to run downhill to the university bookstore, do a lap around the the bell tower and then return to the art dept, in total about half a mile. As they progressed poor Robin had a hard time keeping up, she fell further and further behind so that as the group started to return to the Art dept. she was still puffing and gasping and heading towards the bookstore, totally alone. I'd positioned myself at several locations throughout to photograph them but as they raced past me on the return lap Robin was nowhere in sight. Finally she staggered into view to an enormous round of applause and cheering from all the students, she came puffing up the hill having a very hard time of it but she was determined to finish in style. As she reached the quadrangle the entire student body rose and lined the path and applauded her as she staggered the final yards and into the art dept building. Even though she was the last to finish and though she endured the embarrassment of running almost entirely alone and totally separated from the pack she was the star of the day; If anyone there that day remembers that event, poor dumpy unattractive and heroic Robin will be the first image that they recall.

DJ Steenbeck

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DJ for 40 minutes

Old ones...new ones. Loved ones...neglected ones...

1 Horses' Brawl by the Cock and Bull Band. 'Branle' in French can mean 'dance' or 'fight'...here it's 'dance.'
2 Tattoo by the Who
3 John the Gun by Fairport Convention
4 Jole Blon by Gary US Bonds
5 Burma Shave by the Everly Brothers. Go on, google it - I did.
6 (Somebody Bring Me a Flower) I'm a Robot by Kev Russell - a Gourd goes solo.
7 Little Blue Number by Richard Thompson and pals
8 Merry Christmas From the Family by Robert Earl Keen - he sings it all year round.
9 It Makes No Difference by the Band

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Recommending something to read...

As the Richmond Fontaine fans on this blog might know: singer/songwriter Willy Vlautin is also a quite good author, here is his latest novel, Northline, highly recommended (..and it also comes with a kind of 'soundtrack cd'....):




Click here to read the Guardian review

Sci-Fi Graduation

GOOD MORNING 2001 from kwest on Vimeo.




GRADUATION ALBUM LISTENING EXPERIENCE PT. 3 - I WONDER from kwest on Vimeo.

GRADUATION ALBUM LISTENING EXPERIENCE PT. 6 - FLASHING LIGHTS from kwest on Vimeo.

Welcome to the story so far

after all those goodbyes for Dorian, a few welcomes for Maddy..

Tell you what.. we're going to play something especially for you..
Cannonball Adderley sets the scene..

It's comin.. Anticipation by The Roots..

welcome to the story... handshakes and introductions by Galliano

On Verra Ca.. Orchestra Baobab calls out the members of the band

Its your thing... reassurance from the Isley Brothers

Horizons.. LTJ Bukem's D+B masterpiece with Maya Angelou's poem..

"each new hour holds new chances for new beginnings- the horizon leans forward, offering you space to place new steps of change.."

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Another One for Tree Frog Demon

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Here's my little tree frog and some songs I thought you'd like on a froggy theme. Not sure you'll like the last one, but I couldn't resist because I just discovered it.

WHO WANTS TO PLAY RADIO DJ?

OK, Here's the deal; the phone rings, it's from the local radio station, they found you through this blog [actually Blimpy sold 'em your phone number but don't tell him I told you] The reason they're calling is because their regular DJ has to leave his shift early and they need someone to fill a 30 - 40 minute slot and all their regulars all have prior commitments. They say that you will have total freedom to play anything you wish, so, if you accept, what would you play?
For us at the Spill, produce a playlist and present it with either Deezer or Podbean so that we can play it as a 30-40 minute clip, ideally a click on the first tune will then play through the entire set.
I just made up a very varied set of my favourites but on reviewing it I decided I'd rather do a straight reggae set, there may be some who think they don't like reggae but I'd urge them to play this selection, I think it's quite different from what I usually hear on radio. If we ever redo this I'll go back to the 'my favorite things' theme.
OK, Here's my set, it runs 38 min 09, that'll give me a couple of minutes to announce 'em. Anybody else want to play?


Redemption Song - Dean Fraser 3:19 Live from '82 Sunsplash, I was there.

Games People Play - Bob Andy 2:57 A much overlooked Jamaican superstar.

18 with a bullet - Derick Harriot 3:42 Classic!

Storybook Children - Gregory Isaacs 3:32 One of Gregory's best.

Om Numah Shivaya - Apache Indian 4:25 Contemporary UK reggae.

Pas De Problemes - Kana 3:38 French reggae

King Tubby Rockers Uptown - Augustus Pablo 2:37 THE classic dub.

Open Mind - The Tamlins 3:30 A great song by a little recorded group.

Graduation in Zion - Kiddus I 2:48 Another way under-recorded artist.

Rivers Of Babylon - The Melodians 4:19 THE classic!

Country Roads - Toots Hibbert 3:22 Toots makes it his own.

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One for treefrogdemon

http://www.smithsonianglobalsound.org/containerdetail.aspx?itemid=2421

THE GANGBE BRASS BAND FROM BENIN.

Based on Ejay's post of Frimpong last week there's a conversation going on in the comments, I mentioned this group so here they are from their album 'Whendo', plus here's a little background from their website.

This young brass band promotes the originality of the music of Benin combining an original mixture of jazz and Beninese traditional music: voodoo rhythms (Sato, Zinti, Ogbon) and songs in local languages (Yoruba, Fon Goun).

The Gangbe Brass Band was created in 1994 when 8 musicians, all from Cotonou-Benin, came together. These young jazz musicians had been playing in different groups, before creating this unusual fusion of traditional styles.
Their aim is to promote the originality of the music of Benin. The result is definitely both modern and traditional, as it mixes jazz and traditional Benin.
They take traditional rhythms, and invigorate them with jazz harmonies. The fusion reveals as much as possible of the musical tradition, while giving a western tone, to link the past and future. They sing in vernacular language about life in general, political injustices and the tribulations of women.
Through the word Togbé, the band salutes the music on which they build their sound. The first meaning of the word is « ancestor », the band’s way of paying homage to the range and quality of the rhythms they created. The second is a reference to age, highlighting the ancient roots of the music they play.
Their musical approach is respectful of tradition, and in harmony with their ancestors and culture.
From 1994 to 1997, they worked mainly in Benin.
Thanks to LoJo and to Yves De La Croix, they recorded their first album called « Gangbé » and began an international tour of 35 concerts with them in 1999, playing in Europe and Canada, and another tour in Nigeria. They received an award at Benin Golden Awards, and took part in the first Nomad’s meeting, in Cotonou, and the Pan African of Jazz in Accra (Ghana).

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For all of us who are sad to see Dorian go..........

Some useful advice from Jay Spaceman;

What do people think of these?

So, here are a couple of videos from two girl bands (OK, so one has a couple of boys in it too).

I suppose I might be considered a bit older than their target audience, but what the hell, I like them.

First off we have The Long Blondes, featuring the simply delicious Kate Jackson.

Here is a link to the Long Blondes website

The second band are called Ipso Facto, they play wonderful gothic psychedelic pop. I saw them recently when they supported Siouxsie at the Anson Rooms in Bristol.

I love their sound and I adore the way they look, such a fabulous image.

Here is a link to Ipso Facto's MySpace page

I'd love to know what others here think of them.

R.E.M. - LIVE CONCERT.

I Just happened on this item which will probably be of interest to at least Barbryn, Blimpy, Proudfoot and Steenbeck, they all contributed to my musical education re. REM. I found it on thje NPR Music blog at:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88155007

SXSW 2008: R.E.M.

Hear the Complete R.E.M. Concert
[1 hr 35 min 54 sec] add to playlist


NPR.org, March 12, 2008 - After 25 years as one of the most beloved and acclaimed bands in rock music, R.E.M. needed a shot of adrenaline to get fans excited again. In advance of its 14th studio album, Accelerate, the group performed a bracing and even blistering set at South by Southwest, webcast live on NPR.org from Stubbs in Austin, Tex., on March 12.

With Accelerate due in April, R.E.M. showcased many of the new album's most electric and energetic songs — each of which demonstrated a retreat from the more tepid sounds of the disc's poorly received predecessor, Around the Sun. Ever since original drummer Bill Berry quit the band in 1997, R.E.M. has experimented more in the studio, but its new material looks to the prime of the group's '80s discography, while maintaining a modern sheen. Judging from the response by the thousands of fans in attendance — as well as the engaged and outspoken performance by frontman Michael Stipe — there's reason for optimism.
SET LIST
"Living Well Is the Best Revenge"
"Man-Sized Wreath"
"Second Guessing"
"Drive"
"Hollow Man"
"Animal"
"Auctioneer (Another Engine)"
"Mr. Richards"
"Fall on Me"
"The Great Beyond"
"Houston"
"Electrolyte"
"Accelerate"
"Until the Day Is Done"
"Final Straw"
"Bad Day"
"Horse to Water"
"Walk Unafraid"
"Supernatural Superserious"
"Imitation of Life"
"I'm Gonna DJ"
"Man on the Moon"

There will be no next time...

Classic punk (although nowadays it sounds more like a fine pop song) from Belgium, 1978, with a title that's quite appropiate for Dorian this week:

the Kids - There will be no next time


...and here, nearly 30 years later is Kids singer Ludo Mariman, a little older, a little balder, backed by Belgium's finest, dEUS, the finale of the 0110 Festival against Racism:

dEUS & Ludo Mariman - There will be no next time

I've arrived, and to prove it: I'm here!

Hello folks
At last I've managed to join the Spill.

Firstly an apology: I'm a bit of a luddite and I can't cope with the downloading stuff. So you're not likely to get a UTube link (or something) from me. However, I will try and come up with the usual standard of post that you'd expect from a fellow RR addict.

Look forward to blogging away!

goodbye

hey ya all...
this has been the best way of keeping me sane..





RR started when my son was about 7 month old, I worked away and came back on Fridays.. had to get the paper to see the list and stayed up rocking my un-sleeping son to give the (amazing) ms sane a brake....he only slept for 2 hours at a time taking after me...due to this I've tried to learn how a computer works...found all the songs in my collection that I hadn't realized were so great, have purchased so many more..found another obsession...and got back into doing artwork.

I so love peoples selections each week, listen to as many as possible while chasing the now 3 year old around and subjecting him to all your tastes in music (so much better than at nursery..)

Cheers Dorian and thanks for being the link.

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I've tried to make some of these music related..or just my feelings for goodbyes..
and stuff that hit me on RR
(track 11 is for Maddy welcome to the helm)
hope some are enjoyable.
shane.

Bye Bye Dorian, Dorian goodbye

This is one of the waving frogs, as seen on David Attenborough's Life in Cold Blood, and it's waving goodbye to Dorian!

Musical accompaniments are: 'Farewell, Farewell' by Fairport Convention with Sandy Denny singing, and followed by Richard Thompson's farewell to Sandy, 'That's All, Amen, Close the Door'. Then there's Tim O'Brien's bluegrass version of Dylan's 'Lay Down Your Weary Tune' (compare with the actual Bob on goneforeign's post); His Bobness with 'You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go'; then 'Pull Down, Lads' by June Tabor, the John Tams song about the fair leaving town.

Then there's the song that always makes me cry, 'Bridal Train' by the Waifs, the true story of the Waif sisters' grandmother leaving Australia as a war bride at the end of WW2; 'Same Road' by Mary Gauthier, about the difficult farewells of a travelling musician; and finally 'Bobby Jean' by Springsteen, where he calls on an old friend only to be told she's left town. This one's on the Born in the USA album, but don't be put off by that: remember it was Ronald Reagan who thought BITUSA was a patriotic song...we know it isn't.

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LAY DOWN YOUR WEARY TUNE.

All that chat next door prompted my to open iTunes and have a listen and then I thought maybe there's others who haven't heard it in a while so here 'tis. Warning, don't click on this if you don't have your ear worm kit handy.

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I'll get me coat - FP's farewell playlist

Good topic this week as it has thrown up some true classics as well as great discoveries. Weird to hear Dorian on the podcast though. In my cyber imagination he has an Irish accent! I'm assuming that's the origin of the name. Some of the farewells have been definitive (Jeff Buckley's was very tragically but in a way that no one could have suspected at the time) and others are simply painful partings with the hope of return (Divine Comedy's 'Leaving Today'). Just a bit of housekeeping - I would have included Goodbye Lucille #1 and Say Hello Wave Goodbye in the list as I love them both. But they're in other people's lists so I bow my head respectfully in dond. Paradoxically I couldn't bear to leave dEUS out even though TonNL has kindely posted the Youtubes below. Let's hope that the double effort will work its magic.

Next week I'm off to a big trade fair and I know that I'm going to see two or three people whom I haven't seen for over ten years. Looking forward to that immensely.

So what we really want to know is: I was going to ask you what your most painful goodbye had been but thought that might get us all into really painful territory. So instead I'd like to know about catching up with people from your past unexpectedly. You'd said goodbye to them (sometimes thankfully) and then....they turn up again!

Just a wee word of advice about the deezer players on this blog if anyone is having problems - to set the music going you have to click twice on the wee triangle play sign. If, heaven forbid, you hit a song you don't like then you can fast forward it with the, er, fast forward arrow. Good, eh?

Farewell, but not goodbye

As a long distance traveller I'm used to non-final goodbyes...

first up, John Coltrane's version of Everytime we say goodbye, as I couldn't find Julie London's in digital form.

a medley- Lucky to be me, and Some other time. Two show tunes by Leonard Bernstein, sung perfectly by Irene Kral, accompanied by Alan Broadbent. The latter captures that feeling of sadness and regret at the end of a day spent not quite catching up enough with an old friend, or lover.

It's about that time- Carlos Santana and Vince Wilburn's remix of Miles Davis' masterpiece.

Over and out- Sex Mob does Bond. John Medeski on organ.

Slow sad love song- The Verlaines. Flying Nun classic.


hot off the press, I just got the new Ninja Tunes compilation "you don't know" today, and it closes with Say goodbye, by Big Jus. Great message, say goodbye to racism..

Second separate player- the other J. Frimpong track I have, nothing to do with goodbyes. "Hwehwe Mu Na Yi Wo Mpena", from a compilation called Ghana Soundz.


Thirdly, a couple of words of farewell from Cannonball Adderley..

(Players removed)

Cheerio! Chin-Chin!

A few goodbye songs for your consideration.

Dean Friedman is one of the world's most underrated songwriters. There is a problem - the man can't sing and you really have to get past his voice if you're going to enjoy his music. This track (The Letter) is from his debut album and is a lovely song about someone writing a letter to a friend who's left home and left a group of friends and family. Listen to the lyrics (and try to ignore the voice!).

Goodbye Lucille #2 is taken from Prefab Sprout's second album, Steve McQueen (aka Two Weels Good). Frogprincess, sourpus and he-who-shall-be-known-simply-as Monte all clearly share my love for this song and for Prefab Sprout in general - unfortunately, our soon-to-be-former guru does not. He is wrong...

I was introduced to doo wop by an ex-colleague whose name I can't recall during my years (back in the '80s) working for Our Price. Goodnight Sweetheart, Goodnight by The Spaniels is a classic from the golden age of doo wop. Enjoy.

I still can't quite believe that Grant McLennan is no longer with us. Dive For Your Memory is taken from the sixth Go-Betweens album, 16 Lovers Lane. Get hold of everything they've ever recorded - you won't be disappointed.

Finally, my funeral song: Hatfield & The North's, It Didn't Matter Anyway. I could listen to this everyday and never tire of its haunting, plaintive melody and lyrics which don't quite mean what they say - personally I suspect that it did matter...

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I wanted to nominate this today

It is a sort of "Goodbye" song but it doesn't actually work in a RR context. I'll miss DL, even though he HATES the Grateful Dead!

I mean! Really!!!

See you in your next life, when we'll fly away for good

I was beaten to this over on RR, but can't really think of a better song.

(PS - this is post 400 401! Wowsers!)

We've lost our good old guru, and must have whiskey, oh you know why...

Come back before you leave

So this is goodbye... A few come back songs, and one I'd nominated before, because the end of the world is the mother of all goodbyes.

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I'll try and upload a picture later Blimpy, it doesn't seem to work at the moment.

Nothing really ends....

the motto for this weeks RR, as supplied by Belgium's dEUS:


...brilliant song, so, here's a live version, from the 0110 Festival against racism:



....nothing really ends, but this post does, with a slightly out-of-tune piano...

Goodbye song

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Jack the...Who?

GU journalist Tony Naylor is asking a rather interesting question over on the Music Blog: "Why isn't this band huge?" Strikes me that you lot, being ever so knowledgeable and true world citizens (I mean that most sincerely folks! genuine compliment there!), you must have bands like that coming out of your eye sockets. I just felt the urge suddenly (as you do) to post "my" "should be huge" band - Jack the Ripper. They are French but sing in English and are utter utter Nick Cave fans. Their music is melodic, melacholic and features unusual instrumentation such as violins or a rather prominent trombone used to great effect in songs like "I was born a cancer". Jack the Ripper have not only adorned my musical habitat for the last few years, I have also decorated our flat with works by the Brazilien artist they use for all their sleevework - Juarez Machado. The first song - "From my veins to the sea" - has great resonance for me as I was OD-ing on their album 'Ladies First' when I read Kazuo Ishiguro's "Never Let Me Go". The lyrics fit the plot of the book perfectly, like a made to measure soundtrack.

Have a listen and tell me what you think. He accent is awful I know but it's very laudable to even attempt to sing in English and I love them for that anyway.

"Peotry is sissy stuff that rhymes"

Thus sa NigelMolesworth, curse of St Custards. However, being more of a Fotherington-Thomas sort, I love the stuff. Hullo clouds, hullo sky! Following a request from DebbyM, I've been thinking about a good poem to post. Someone else jogged my memory of this one by the fantastic e e cummings, so here it is.

i like my body when it is with your

i like my body when it is with your
body. It is so quite a new thing.
Muscles better and nerves more.
i like your body. i like what it does,
i like its hows. i like to feel the spine
of your body and its bones, and the trembling
-firm-smooth ness and which i will
again and again and again
kiss, i like kissing this and that of you,
i like,, slowly stroking the, shocking fuzz
of your electric fur, and what-is-it comes
over parting flesh . . . . And eyes big Love-crumbs,

and possibly i like the thrill

of under me you quite so new

Here's my absolute favourite from him though: I have it stapled next to my whiteboard (not political correctness, the boards are actually white now) and when I have a stressful moment my eye can rest upon it and it gives me a lift. I can't get through reading it aloud without my voice breaking.especially the last line. The words are oblique, like most cummings, but you don't have to over-analyse it, let the words wash over you. Poetry should always be said outloud though. If we all have the temerity to sing along with music at our PCs (and we all do, right?), why not read them out. The sounds are everything.

somewhere i have never travelled
somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond
any experience, your eyes have their silence:
in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me,
or which i cannot touch because they are too near

your slightest look easily will unclose me
though i have closed myself as fingers,
you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens
(touching skilfully, mysteriously) her first rose

or if your wish be to close me, i and
my life will shut very beautifully, suddenly,
as when the heart of this flower imagines
the snow carefully everywhere descending;

nothing which we are to perceive in this world equals
the power of your intense fragility: whose texture
compels me with the colour of its countries
rendering death and forever with each breathing

(i do not know what it is about you that closes
and opens ; only something in me understands
the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses)
nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands

Listen

I am currently crazy about this song, I love the guitar's sound, the drums, the voice...
And I love how Talib Kweli samples it in his song Listen It fits so perfectly, lyrically and musically.