The Bomb!

There always seems to be an underlying idea that I must take everything with me. When I moved to England in 1990, I made dozens of cassettes (C-110 Type IV Metal cassettes) to take with me. Didn’t want to leave my tunes behind. Did I play them? No, I tried recording over them, trying to get stuff off of British radio. Barry Dransfield etc.

I continually return to the idea that I have a paired-down “Perfect Collection”, like I am preparing for a journey (my own death?). What gets on the list? Did I choose correctly? Who cares? So, what makes it on to these lists?

Not compiled to be representative of anything other than my own personal interests, my lists lean towards music from the year of my birth forward (1958 to the present, with emphasis from age 8 to age 30, apparently). 18,250 titles for 50 years – and I figure I’m at 2/3 of my journey – with 22,528 in hand. Never going to get to everything one more time before I shuffle off.

To make the theoretical possible, let’s imagine that someone gifted to me the highest-possible capacity iPod. What do I put on it? What am I going to want to listen to, for the rest of my life until I croak? (Or after I croak?)

My interaction with pop music has been nearly a life-long pursuit. How to pick a limited amount of material from a lifetime of listening? And wouldn’t it change? Well, at some point – it will no longer change. You discover my body on the floor of some Tokyo record store, there’s an iPod in my pocket. What's on the playlist?

When I have posted playlists on my other blog, that’s not what’s on my eternal iPod playlist. That’s just me listening to my record collection. And my eternal iPos selections will be selfish, too. Not trying to impress anyone else, I just want what I want to hear…again and again. Nice (of me) that I seem to think I will fill an iPod and then get to listen to it eternally! Boy, I sure hope it sounds good. I will miss my vinyl records and compact discs.

How much Elvis? What Beatles to leave out? Only 60’s Stones? First 3 x Magazine albums? How much Hermeto? Tachibana “H”, of course. Monochrome Set. And these are just what I thought of in the first 10 seconds! Dylan. Dury. Celentano. But it’s serious business deciding. I mean, I’m going to get to take it with me when I go!

Shame I never got that big Sony hard-drive recorder. That would’ve been awesome. But – my luck – the thing would’ve needed servicing about 5 minutes after Sony no longer supported it. So, iPod it is – for 2009’s rumination.

OK, what’s the biggest, baddest iPod I can get? Do you think I could get them to cook one up for me special – with even more bytes? I don’t really want to go for more tunes at a lower ‘rate’ – I want ‘perfect’ audio! That’s right, I want to dub my Elvis Presley “Shake, Rattle & Roll” RCA 7” EP right to my iPod! It’s gotta sound like that!

So, armed with my favorite reference works (almost any Joel Whitburn book and the Guinness LP/45 charts), let’s begin. What goes on my eternal iPod, henceforth referred to as “The Book”? And, like being specific with George Spiggott with ‘what you want’ – and, no, I won’t be using iTunes. I already have all of this stuff on CD / vinyl. That’s a whole ‘nother topic – what my perfect collection would cost on iTunes!

MAINFRAME – Five Minutes (Polydor UK 80’s 12”)

PAUL BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND – Born In Chicago (Elektra US 60’s album track, either the regular album track, or the version Paul A. Rothchild uncovered recorded earlier) (note: I am playing a Paul Butterfield CD in my car at present, hence him cropping up so early in the process – RK) “Paul Butterfield Blues Band”

MAGAZINE – Definitive Gaze (Virgin UK 70’s album track) “Real Life”

MONOCHROME SET – Fun For All The Family (Cherry Red UK 80’s album track) “Eligible Bachelors”

ROLLING STONES – Dandelion (Decca UK 60’s 45)

DONOVAN – Epistle To Dippy (Pye UK 60’s 45)

BOB DYLAN – Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again (Columbia US 60’s album track) “Blonde On Blonde”

RONNIE ROSS – Cleopatra’s Needle (Fontana UK 60’s album track) “Cleopatra’s Needle”

HERMETO PASCOAL – Little Cry For Him (Warner Brazil 70’s album track) “Slave’s Mass”

FRANK ZAPPA & THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION – Hungry Freaks Daddy (Verve US 60’s album track) “Freak Out”

So, those are the first 10 tracks on my heavenly iPod, “The Book”. I’m not even sure if all of those are on iTunes or not, as of this writing. I am willing to keep all of these songs. Let’s have another go!

CHARLIE RICH – Mohair Sam (Smash US 60’s 45)

ELI – Never Mind (Parlophone UK 60’s 45)

YELLO – Goldrush (Vertigo / Mercury DE 80’s 12”)

SPLIT ENZ – Maybe (White Cloud NZ 70’s 45)

LUCIO BATTISTI – L’Interprete Di Un Film (Numero Uno IT 70’s album track) “Io Tu Noi Tutti”

JIM PEMBROKE – Island Town (Love Finland 70’s album track) “Corporal Cauliflower’s Mental Function”

ASTRAL BODIES – Bad Vibrations (Megadisc NL 80’s album track) “Astral Beat”

THE NITS – Hook Of Holland (CBS NL 70’s album track) “Tent”

LIO – Amicalement Votre (Ariola FR ’80 45) also on her debut album “Lio”

LES DRELLAS – Serenades (Philips FR 90’s CD Single)

Wow, I got hung up on European music in the 2^nd set, didn’t I? This is going to be an interesting process. Maybe I should restrict how quickly I add 10 titles at a time...?

Be Stiff - Class of '78

Stiff’s 2^nd Wave: Jona Lewie, Lene Lovich, Rachel Sweet, Mickey Jupp, Wreckless Eric (and all of ‘em are still alive, as far as I can determine!)

Move over Elvis Costello and Ian Dury…

It’s taken me a few decades to get around to the “Son Of Stiff” artists. The only one I followed at the time was Rachel Sweet. I only recently got her debut British 45, “B-A-B-Y” b/w “Suspended Animation” (BUY 39). I saw her perform live at the Whisky A-Go-Go, with Fingerprintz as her band (at least, that’s who I remember it being) – I think she was the opening act for 999. I have always been a big fan of “Fool Around” her Stiff debut LP. I have both the UK & US versions, as well as a Japanese paper sleeve CD, and a white vinyl UK original LP. Thumbs up for her work on John Waters’ “Hairspray” and “Cry Baby” films. Never cared much for her 2^nd album, but I have a UK copy, and I suppose I could give it another try.

I think Lene Lovich’s “Stateless” is Stiff’s blue vinyl release in this series. I once found a US Epic / Stiff copy that was autographed at a tiny record store in San Francisco (for $1). I like it better now than I did back then. Like Rachel Sweet, I never got into her 2^nd LP – though I do own it on both LP & CD.

But I guess why I’m writing this today, is because I have become somewhat interested in the works of Jona Lewie. I have his Stiff debut LP of “On The Other Hand There’s A Fist” (orange vinyl) and I recently mail-ordered a CD of it (which isn’t here yet, as of this writing). I even recently found a Lewie 45 from the early 70’s by Terry Dactyl & The Dinosaurs “Seaside Shuffle” that’s pretty good. I guess they were really Brett Marvin & The Thunderbolts! Some readers may be familiar with Lewie’s ‘Xmas single’, “Stop The Cavalry”. Because I never paid attention at the time, I didn’t know he was a keyboard player (as opposed to a guitar player). “On The Other Hand There’s A Fist” is a fairly quirky keyboard player’s record, worthy of my closer attention. I’d like to find all of his Stiff 45’s that I don’t already have. I’ve really enjoyed all of the Jona Lewie Stiff 45’s that I’ve found; good pop songs. I don’t think he ever came to the U.S.

Wreckless Eric…I suppose I am OK with his Stiff 45 “Whole Wide World”, but I don’t own a copy. The only thing I have by him (other than songs on samplers) is his self-titled 10” brown vinyl Stiff debut. Very ’78 UK punk-rock-looking stuff.

I knew that Mickey Jupp had been in Legend, a band on Vertigo. I’d had their debut LP (the one with the shoe on the cover) and didn’t think much of it (after all, it wasn’t progressive rock, my style of choice for the early / mid 70’s). Was “Juppanese” Stiff’s green vinyl release? I don’t know. I’ve never owned a copy. I guess I’d buy an LP copy if it was inexpensive. I remember seeing that some Mickey Jupp songs were being covered by Procol Harum’s Gary Brooker on one of his solo albums.

I have kept my PAL VHS copy of “Stiff Visions” for years – so I have clips for most (if not all) of these artists. That’s also where I was fully awakened to Tenpole Tudor!

Playlist

Vinyl:

LINDISFARNE – Court In The Act

BUSH, KATE – Don’t Put Your Foot On The Heartbrake

GILMOUR, DAVID – Love On The Air

BEATLES – Day Tripper (’62-’66 Vers.)

ROLLING STONES – Gotta Get Away

DEEP PURPLE – Nobody’s Home

JETHRO TULL – Under Wraps #1

HARRISON, GEORGE – That’s The Way It Goes

LEWIE, JONA – Feelin’ Stupid

WILDE, KIM – Sing It Out For Love

FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD – Black Night White Light

DAMNED – Year Of The Jackal, The

ZAPPA, DWEEZIL – My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama

STRANGLERS – Burnham Beeches

CD's:

WYATT, ROBERT / THE HAPPY END – Turn Things Upside Down

TAYLOR QUARTET, JAMES – I Can’t Stand It

McCARTNEY, PAUL – Too Many People

GARSON, MORT – Wozard Of Iz – Prologue

JANKEL, CHAS – Little Eva

PUNISHMENT OF LUXURY – Hold Me (Never Mold Me)

Punishment of Luxury

http://www.punishmentofluxury.com/nl-home.htm

I just noticed that there is a Punishment of Luxury website.

I read that their recorded-but-never-released 2nd album, "Gigantic Days" in on CD in England. I have a CD of demos called "Revolution By Numbers" which is pretty good (most songs are 'cassette-quality'). And, of course, all of their UK singles and LP.

I think it was Mike McG who recommended them to me. I never saw 'em live, but Eric in Amsterdam saw them and said they were very good, leading the audience into the streets, chanting "Hoo haw hoo haw!".

Stinkhorn stinkhorn, funghi funghi...

- RK

Playlist

All vinyl:

FACES – Cindy Incidentally

ROLLING STONES – Lies

KINKS – Long Tall Sally

PETER, PAUL & MARY – I Dig Rock ‘n’ Roll Music

PINK FLOYD – One Of These Days (“Works” vers.)

DURY, IAN / BLOCKHEADS – Clever Trevor

MADNESS – Primrose Hill

LEWIE, JONA – Laughing Tonight

SQUEEZE – Tempted (Live)

NELSON, BILL / RED NOISE – Acquitted By Mirrors

FERRY, BRYAN – Tokyo Joe

GABRIEL, PETER – Lead A Normal Life

10cc – I’m So Laid Back, I’m Laid Up

SWEET, RACHEL – Suspended Animation

BOOMTOWN RATS – So Strange

ROXY MUSIC – Trash 2

WHO, THE – My Wife (Live)

BLANCMANGE – Game Above My Head

SEDAKA, NEIL – La Luna a Fiori

NEW CHRISTY MINSTRELS – Ciao Ciao

SAID, MARIO – We Can Fly

LONDON POPS ORCHESTRA – Albatross

MOTT THE HOOPLE – Roll Away The Stone

Joe Cocker

Joe Cocker!

CD CLASSICS A&M US CD 2503

1987 13 TRK Collection (mostly, if not all, 70's recordings)

LP COCKER HAPPY (Collection) FLY UK HIFLY 3

1970 12 TRK Collection

7" CRY ME A RIVER / GIVE PEACE A CHANCE A&M US AM-1200-S

1971? 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

CD GREATEST HITS A&M US CD 3257

1987 12 TRK Collection (70's recordings)

CD JOE COCKER A&M US CD 3326

1969 10 TRKS ('86 issue) 2nd album

LP JOE COCKER REGAL ZO UK SLRZ 1011

1970 10 TRKS UK original, stereo - 2nd album

LP LIVE IN L.A. CUBE FR 2326 041

1972 9 TRKS Live, '76 issue

CDx2 MAD DOGS & ENGLISHMEN A&M US 6002.2

1970 19 TRKS Live – so, this isn’t a re-master, but it has more songs? Or just different indexing?

LPx2 MAD DOGS & ENGLISHMEN A&M DE 80813 XT

1970 14 TRKS Live

7" MARJORINE / NEW AGE OF THE LILLY, THE REGAL ZO UK RZ 3006

1968 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

CD MILLENNIUM COLLECTION A&M US 541606.2

2000 11 TRK Collection

CD WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS A&M US 490419.2

1969 12 TRKS ('99 issue) (2 x bonus tracks) 1st album

LP WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS CUBE DE INT 136.305

1969 10 TRKS re-issue, 1st album

7" WOMAN TO WOMAN / MIDNIGHT RIDER CUBE UK BUG 25

1972 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

I don’t remember if I first saw or heard of Joe Cocker via the Woodstock film, but it was around that time. I also certainly heard him on the FM radio, or playing in hippie record stores. More white R&B than ‘rock’, it still sounded unique to my young ears. I wonder if he’ll ever write an autobiography? I, for one, would buy / read it.

The new century is moving forward, Mr. Cocker is still alive – and the newest record by him that I can fully support is his ’72 song “Woman to Woman”, which I heard played a lot at the time. Which album is it on? I’m not sure that I have that one.

I never saw the “Mad Dogs & Englishmen” film at the time – I believe my intro to Leon Russell was either hearing him with Joe Cocker or in the Bangla Desh film. Certainly by ’72, Mr. Russell had “Tightrope” on the radio – and he came into his own in a very mainstream yet acceptable way. And I have a legit DVD of the “Mad Dogs…” film.

Hip-O Select, a custom label of Universal – has released a 6CD set of the concerts that the 2LP/2CD of “Mad Dogs & Englishmen” was culled from. $60. I wonder if I’ll find a cheap one of those in a used bin somewhere? They’re also finally re-releasing the CD of “Joe Cocker!”, his 2^nd album – but no bonus tracks (the re-issue of his debut, “With A Little Help From My Friends” has 2 x cool bonus tracks). And Mr. Cocker is a “Millennium Collection” artist – so can I get rid of the other two collections I have on CD? I definitely want to keep “Woman to Woman” on both vinyl and CD (and I don’t think it’s on the “Millennium Collection”).

- RK

Playlist

Vinyl:

SHREIKBACK – Gunning For The Buddha

HENDRIX, JIMI – Stone Free (mono, 45 vers.)

BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS – You’ve Made Me So Very Happy

SIMON & GARFUNKEL – Baby Driver

DYLAN, BOB – Pledging My Time (mono, 45 vers.)

JEFFERSON AIRPLANE – Two Heads (mono, 45 vers.)

SPOOKY TOOTH – Feelin’ Bad

EDWARDS, JONATHAN – Sunshine

MICHAELS, LEE – Do You Know What I Mean

FIRESIGN THEATRE – Holygram’s Song, The

QUATRO, SUZI – 48 Crash (mono, 45 vers.)

SEEDS, THE – Pushin’ Too Hard (mono, 45 vers.)

SMALL, MILLIE – My Boy Lollipop

ALPERT, HERB / TJB – Acapulco 1922

JETHRO TULL – Fallen On Hard Times

E.L.O. – In Old England Town

SYLVIAN, DAVID / RYUICHI SAKAMOTO – Heartbeat

THIRD WORLD – Sense Of Purpose

JONES, QUINCY – Ai No Corrida

FIRST CLASS – Too Many Golden Oldies

TARNEY & SPENCER – I’m Your Man Rock N’ Roll

FERRY, BRYAN – Heart On My Sleeve (mono, 45 vers.)

HEFTI, NEIL – Batman Theme (mono, 45 vers.)

My DSL service is meant to arrive by Mon. 5-11-09, we'll see...

Playlist

Vinyl:

MOORE, ANTHONY – Diving Girls

WHITE PLAINS – I’ve Got You On My Mind

DARIEN SPIRIT – Legacy

KRAZY KAT – Shame

MOVIES, THE – True Love Trouble

HAMILL, CLAIRE – Smile Your Blues Away

HENSLEY, KEN – Fortune

HOMESICK JAMES – Crossroads

RUBETTES, THE – Something’s Coming Over Me

SHOWADDYWADDY – Glory Woman

JONES, SPIKE – Drink To The Bonnie Lassies

HARMONICATS – Inspiration

HUMAN HANDS – Lurk

EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER – Hoedown

EDWARDS, JONATHAN – Everybody Knows Her

DR. JOHN – Mess Around

SPEDDING, CHRIS – Wild Wild Women

PARIS SISTERS – I Love How You Love Me

XTC – Deliver Us From The Elements

WYMAN, BILL – A New Fashion

SKIDS, THE – Six Times

BONZO DOG BAND – Can Blue Men Sing The Whites

HOLDSWORTH, ALLAN – Panic Station

BE-BOP DELUXE – Night Creatures

KWESKIN, JIM / THE JUG BAND – Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me

Got my computer back yesterday.

Playlist

Vinyl:

HINMAN, DENNIS – Cute

JAPAN – Swing

CORNWELL, HUGH – Getting Involved

PSYCHEDELIC FURS – Goodbye

XTC – Officer Blue

STARDUST, ALVIN – Red Dress

SLADE – One Eyed Jacks With Moustaches

MOTORHEAD – On Parole

FAITHFULL, MARIANNE – Broken English (Long vers.)

COOPER CLARKE, JOHN – Gimmix!

OLDFIELD, MIKE – Discovery

AYERS, KEVIN – Interview

FREEEZ – Southern Freeez (’87 7” Radio mix)

DURY, IAN / BLOCKHEADS – Reasons To Be Cheerful Part 3 (remixed by Paul Hardcastle)

SELECTER, THE – My Collie (Not A Dog)

SCRITTI POLITTI (feat. Ranking Ann) – Flesh & Blood

YELLO – Vicious Games (instrumental)

Playlist

CD's last night:

PARADE, THE – Sunshine Girl

JONES, GRACE – Well Well Well

10cc – Une Nuit A Paris

PARTRIDGE, ANDY – Dame Fortune

STRANGLERS, THE – You

SCRITTI POLITTI – Die Alone

PLACEBO (Marc Moulin) – Balek

TOWNSHEND, PETE – Save It For Later

JAH INEY – El Rockers

PIZZICATO FIVE – Mon Amour Tokyo

BLEGVAD, PETER – That’ll Be Him Now

MacCOLL, KIRSTY – Things Happen

CORDUROY – Cycles

PALMSKIN PRODUCTIONS – Spock With A Beard

GLASS, PHILIP – Journey, The

BAUER, AXEL – Reveille Toi

BERGER, MICHEL – La Groupie Du Pianiste

MI-SEX – Castaway (U.S. vers.)

DIBANGO, MANU – Les Cavaliers

LAVOINE, MARC – Le Monde Est Tellement Con

ORME, LE – Evasione Totale

P.F.M. – Impressioni Di Settembre

BOWIE, DAVID – Shining Star (Makin’ My Love)

MANZANERA, PHIL – Listen Now

ENO, BRIAN – Energy Fools The Magician

ZAPPA, FRANK – Cleetus Awreetus-Awrightus

CLUSTER – Rotor

EARTH & FIRE – In The Mountains

WIGWAM – Freddie Are You Ready

FOCUS – P’s March

SIMPLE MINDS – Sound In 70 Cities

DEE, DAVE / DBM+T – Below The Belt

NICHOLLS, BILLY – Girl From New York

HEAVY JELLY – Blue

WORLD OF OZ – Hum-Gum Tree, The

MANFRED MANN – Please Mrs. Henry

Playlist

Vinyl:

WONDER STUFF – Sell The Free World

MI-SEX – Only Thinking

SCRITTI POLITTI – Perfect Way (Single vers.)

FREEEZ – All The Way

LOEB, CAROLINE – A Quot Tu Penses? (Remix)

ACT, THE – Poison

PAPPALARDI, FELIX – Bring It With You When You Come

FINNEGAN, FLIP TOP – I’m Just Wild About Harry (mono)

NELSON, BILL – Decline and Fall

XTC – Strange Tales, Strange Tails

SOFT CELL – Best Way To Kill, The

TERRY, BLAIR & ANOUCHKA – Missing

SELECTER, THE – Celebrate The Bullet

RARE BIRD – Diamonds

CARAVAN – Cecil Runs

MOMUS – Hairstyle Of The Devil, The

ALLEN, DAEVID – 333

Playlist

Today's Playlist...

CD's:

EGG – Wring Out The Ground Loosely Now

NATIONAL HEALTH – Paracelsus

CARAVAN – Winter Wine

MATCHING MOLE – Nan’s True Hole / Righteous Rhumba / Brandy As In Benj

QUIET SUN – Mummy Was An Asteroid…

HOPPER, HUGH – First Trane

GREAVES, JOHN – The Song (feat. Robert Wyatt)

Vinyl:

DYLAN, BOB – Down Along The Cove (Live ’04) Record Store Day special 7"

COHEN, LEONARD – The Future (Live, vinyl edit) Record Store Day special 7"

SPEAR OF DESTINY – Strangers In Our Town (Extended vers.)

ZODIAC MINDWARP – Lager Woman From Hell

WONDER STUFF – Meaner Than Mean

Playlist

Playlist for Easter 2009, all CD's:

HOWE, STEVE – You Never Can Stay In One Place

STRAWBERRY ALARM CLOCK – Barefoot In Baltimore

WHO, THE – Circles

SAILOR – Girls Girls Girls

CAPTAIN SENSIBLE – Strawberry Dross (broken into many parts)

FIFTH AVENUE BAND – Fast Freight

SIMPLE MINDS – Veldt

GANG OF FOUR – I Parade Myself (remix)

KATCHE, MANU – So Groovy

NATIONAL HEALTH – Bryden Two-Step (For Amphibians), The – Part 2

DEE, DAVE / DOZY BEAKY MICK + TICH – I’m On The Up

TEA & SYMPHONY – Armchair Theatre

ENTWISTLE, JOHN – Window Shopper, The

DURY, IAN / BLOCKHEADS – Jack Shit George

MUD – Cat Crept In, The

GONG – Tried So Hard

REFUGEE – Papillion

SKIP BIFFERTY – When She Comes To Stay

Playlist

CD's:

FIXX, THE – Woman On A Train

FROON – Missing Pieces

THINKMAN – Formula, The (Rupert Hine)

OTHER ONES – Holiday

L’AFFAIRE LOUIS’ TRIO – Chic Planete

CORDUROY – High Havoc

PIZZICATO FIVE – Nonstop To Tokyo (radio edit)

DIMITRI FROM PARIS – Sacre Francais

HOWIE B. vs CASINO ROYALE – E’ Gia’ Domani

BOOGAERTS, MATHIEU – Ondule

ROUDOUDOU – Peace And Tranquility To Earth

PESHAY – Switch

GRAND POPO FOOTBALL CLUB – Each Finger Has An Attitude

HOWE, STEVE – Beginnings

SAD CAFÉ – La Di Da

HACKETT, STEVE – Air-Conditioned Nightmare, The (Live)

GLASS, PHILIP – Ik-Ook

MacCOLL, KIRSTY – What Do Pretty Girls Do? (BBC ’89)

Playlist

CD's:

DIBANGO, MANU – Africa Boogie

TOWNSHEND, PETE – Sea Refuses No River, The

HARVEY, ALEX / S.A.H.B. – Midnight Moses

GLASS, PHILIP – River Run

GREAVES, JOHN – Kew Rhone (feat. Robert Wyatt)

STEWART, ROD – Better Off Dead

CLEARLIGHT SYMPHONY – Part Two (edit)

BEE GEES – Suddenly

FOCUS – Focus II

BOOKER T. & THE M.G.’s – Back Home

TRACTOR – All Ends-Up

LOVE PEACE & TRANCE (Haruomi Hosono) – Dreamtime Lovers

BLIND FAITH – Presence Of The Lord

MOODY BLUES – Best Way To Travel, The (Additional Vocal Mix)

DONOVAN – Brave New World

BLACK COMBO, BILL – Honky Train

CORDUROY – Chowdown

UZEB – Hit It

ELASTICA – How He Wrote Elastica Man (with Mark E. Smith of The Fall)