Friday Fun

“I Shot My Manager” – Gruppo Sportivo

Gruppo Sportivo are a Dutch pop band, from The Hague, formed in 1976, who enjoyed some measure of international success in the late 1970s and 1980s. The frontman of the band, and writer of the material, is Hans Vandenburg.

Their first ever single was Out There In The Jungle (Polydor 1976), but the height of their career came with the two albums Ten Mistakes (1977) and Back to ‘78 (1978). They came to popularity just after the height of Punk rock, but were regarded as more post-punk, veering more towards the mainstream pop. Their track “Dreamin’” off of Mistakes received much college station airplay in the US. They were much admired for their live performances, which had great humour even slapstick.

Their most well-known song is “Beep Beep Love” (from the album Ten Mistakes), which enjoyed some success both in the UK and USA. The UK’s Radio & Records voted them “Top Newcomer ‘78″. In July 2006 the Japanese girl band Puffy AmiYumi recorded a new version of Tokyo, originally recorded by Gruppo Sportivo in 1978.

Gruppo Sportivo is still alive and kicking and antihero Hans Vandenburg aka Van DeFruits is constantly working on new material. For more info/ pics/ vids & music surf to: http://www.myspace.com/grupposportivo or visit Hans Vandenburg’s YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/mietv

 

To buy the music of Gruppo Sportivo click HERE

 

James Grant

 

From Friends Again, through Love and Money and into his solo career I have always admired the voice, guitar playing and songwriting of James Grant

James Grant’s career began in the early eighties, when he formed Friends Again with Chris Thompson (The Bathers). They preferred Supertramp to The Velvet Underground and whats more, were not afraid to admit it.

Although short-lived, their influence was huge, helping to define the emerging sound of the Scottish bands that followed them.

 

“Lullaby No 2″ – Friends Again

It was in Love and Money that James Grant found more widespread recognition; four albums, working with legendary producers such as Gary Katz(Steely Dan) and Tom Dowd(Rod Stewart, Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin) several hit singles, a world-wide following and silver discs in the UK helped seal his reputation as one of the best songwriters in the country.

In 1996 he contributed four songs to the solo album of Capercaillie vocalist Karen Matheson, including the title track The Dreaming Sea. He has written extensively on all of Karens’ solo albums and continues to work in her band.
Working with musician and producer Donald Shaw and a stellar cast of players he delivered the stunning debut solo album Sawdust In My Veins, followed by the equally acclaimed follow-ups My Thrawn Glory, I Shot The Albatross and Holy Love.

Strange Flowers, his fifth album as a solo artist was released in March 2009.

 

“The Hallowing Touch” – James Grant

 

To buy the music of James Grant click HERE

 

Bonus Track:-

 

“I’ll Comb The Tangles From Your Hair” – James Grant

Mose Allison

I haven’t featured the great Mose Allison for a while, so here is a track which has been popping up on the old iPod frequently so who am I to ignore it.

“If You Live” – Mose Allison

If you live your time will come
I say if you live your time will come
So child don’t mess with that cotton sack
It will scratch your knees and bend your back
And if you live your time will come
If you live your day will come
If you live your day will come
So child don’t play with those pots an’ pans
The will soon enough ruin your pretty hands
And if you live your time will come
If you live a day will come
If you live a day will come
When the sun will shine
And the crops will grow
And you think you’re not gonna worry no more
But if you live, your time will come

“Creek Bank” was a 1994 compilation release of two 1958 sessions.

 

To buy the music of Mose Allison click HERE

Mott The Hoople with Lloyd Cole

Glam rock heroes Mott The Hoople stole the show at this year’s Tartan Clefs in Glasgow.

In the era of instant access illegal downloading the role of music in society has been diminished. Pouring out of every bar, club, taxi and window it is often easy to take for granted the life changing role music can have.

Nordoff Robbins is a music therapy charity, an organisation which helps to encourage the development of often severely disabled children by using music.

In the past such stars as Paolo Nutini and Orange Juice have become involved with the charity, often leaving deeply moved by the hard work and dedication shown by those involved. Operating on a shoestring budget the charity held their massive fund raising event the Tartan Clef awards in Glasgow on Friday night (November 27th) featuring a star studded cast.

After a memorable speech from fundraisers those in attendance at the SECC were treated to a vital performance from The View. Currently at work on their third album the band blazed through their recent single ‘Shock Horror’ before paying tribute to those involved in the charity.

Glasgow based hit merchants Lloyd Cole and The Commotions performed two of their classic hits before glam rock titans Mott The Hoople took to the stage.

Cult heroes in the early 70s the band are led by Hamilton born singer Ian Hunter. An inspiration to punk acts such as The Sex Pistols and The Clash, the band were on ferocious form.

First playing their classic hit ‘All The Way To Memphis’ the band then had the crowd on their feet for a rendition of the David Bowie penned ‘All The Young Dudes’.

Leaving to massive applause Mott The Hoople completed their first Scottish show in over thirty years by paying tribute to the work done by Nordoff Robbins.

Watch out for more interviews from the event soon! For more on the work done by Nordoff Robbins click HERE.

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Source www.clashmusic.com

“All The Young Dudes” – Mott The Hoople

To buy the music of Mott The Hoople click HERE

“Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken” – Lloyd Cole and the Commotions

To buy the music of Lloyd Cole and The Commotions click HERE

New News – Sade

After a break of almost 10 years Sade returns with a new album “Soldier Of Love” due for release on 8th February 2010, this will be her/their 6th studio release in a career which started back in 1984 with “Diamond Life”

“Smooth Operator” – Sade

Helen Folasade Adu, OBE, (born 16 January 1959), better known as Sade (pronounced /ʃɑːˈdeɪ/ shah-DAY), is an Nigerian-British  singer-songwriter, composer, and record producer.

She first achieved success in the 1980s as the frontwoman and lead vocalist of the popular Brit and Grammy Award winning English group Sade.

This is from the 1988 album “Stronger Than Pride”

It is all a bit coffee table polished pop/soul for me but some songs certainly grow on you.

This is from the 2000 release “Lovers Rock”

Come 2010 I doubt if much will have changed despite the time away……and why should it.

 

To buy the music of Sade click HERE

Herbie Hancock

Today is the first day of December and whilst the mere thought of Christmas this year breaks my heart there is no avoiding it.

So here as an early token gesture is Herbie Hancock with a cover of the Joni Mitchell classic “River” with Corinne Bailey Rae as the guest vocalist’.

“River” – Herbie Hancock with Corinne Bailey Rae

It’s coming on Christmas
They’re cutting down trees
They’re putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
But it don’t snow here
It stays pretty green
I’m going to make a lot of money
Then I’m going to quit this crazy scene
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby cry

He tried hard to help me
You know, he put me at ease
And he loved me so naughty
Made me weak in the knees
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I’m so hard to handle
I’m selfish and I’m sad
Now I’ve gone and lost the best baby
That I ever had
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby say goodbye

It’s coming on Christmas
They’re cutting down trees
They’re putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on

On paper, River sounds like a match made in several versions of heaven. Legendary pianist Herbie Hancock re-imagines Joni Mitchell with his hand-picked, star-studded band–including saxophonist Wayne Shorter–in tow. Luminary guests lend vocals to a song apiece: Norah Jones (“Court and Spark”), Tina Turner (“Edith and the Kingpin”), Corinne Bailey Rae (“River”), Luciana Souza (“Amelia”), Leonard Cohen (with an unsettlingly sanguine version of “The Jungle Line”), even Mitchell herself (“Tea Leaf Prophecy”). In the event, though, a few fundamental elements go awry. Hancock plays with almost saccharine understatement throughout, and even Shorter’s seminal “Nefertiti” and Duke Ellington’s “Solitude” fall into the album’s presiding, somnolent surface, though to a lesser degree does the instrumental version of Mitchell’s “Sweet Bird.” But girding, and in some measure, saving, the proceedings, the lyrics here testify to a subtler wisdom guiding Hancock’s set list. The mix includes a continuum from intrepid classics to dusty, fans-only fare, but a distinct reverence for Joni Mitchell the Poet threads them together, and, in the end, this album works best as a sleepy window into one fan’s giddy and particular love affair with his source material. Fans of Hancock win out. –Jason Kirk

Source www.amazon .com

To buy the music of Herbie Hancock click HERE

Return of the Rich Kids

 

Sex Pistols off shoot Rich Kids have reformed and confirmed details of their first show in some 30 years.

One of the main songwriting forces on The Sex Pistols incendiary debut album, Glen Matlock’s role in the band was downplayed after his departure in 1977. Making way for prime anarchist Sid Vicious, the bass player was famously jettisoned for liking The Beatles.

In love with mid 60s British pop, Glen Matlock gathered some of London’s prime punk faces around him to form Rich Kids. Borrowing the talents of Midge Ure, Rusty Egan and Mick Jones the band’s line up never quite settled into one formation.

Lasting just long enough to release one cult classic album and a slew of singles, Rich Kids then splintered as various members went on to enjoy success with others acts.

Invited to re-join The Sex Pistols on their reformation, Glen Matlock has been re-introduced to the punk fold. However the bass player has always kept his solo career going, recently completing a short acoustic tour.

With the Public Image Limited tour set to begin in December, Glen Matlock has been inspired to reform his own post-Pistols project.

Rich Kids announced their reformation last week, intending to play a one off reformation show in aid of former member Steve New who is fighting ill health. The line up has not been confirmed, although a number of special guests are promised.

Rich Kids have confirmed the following show:

January
7 London o2 Academy Islington

Click here to buy tickets to Rich Kids!

Source www.clashmusic.com

“Rich Kids” -Rich Kids

 

Corinne Bailey Rae

Hugely acclaimed soul-jazz singer Corinne Bailey Rae has spoken about her emotional new album ‘The Sea’.

Emerging from the jazz clubs of Leeds, Corinne Bailey Rae’s smoky voice and seemingly effortless songwriting skills catapulted her to fame. Her self-titled debut album rocketed to number one in 2006, hailed by critics as the emergence of a powerful new voice in British music.

Married to horn player Jason Rae, the pair seemed a perfect partnership. However the saxophone player lost his life in a tragic accident, overdosing on drugs after a night out with friends.

Retreating from the limelight, Corinne Bailey Rae was finally able to focus on her music earlier this year after a lengthy break. Titled ‘The Sea’ the singer’s second album is a dark, emotional affair clearly influenced by the grief she felt after the sudden death of her husband.

“The record is a personal and intense journey, but hopefully it’s a beautiful record as well,” she told 6 Music. “We’ve worked a lot with string players and using different textures. I think it’s different to anything I’ve ever written.”

On her debut album Corinne Bailey Rae used a variety of different writing partners. However on ‘The Sea’ the singer has worked alone, channelling her feelings into her music.

“I felt it came really naturally, I wasn’t trying to write, but songs just came. It’s not without light but it is a heavier record, and more intense. It’s got more layers and orchestration.”

Corinne Bailey Rae is set to release her new album ‘The Sea’ on February 1st.

Source www.clashmusic.com

Here is her stunning recent performance, on Later…With Jools, of the lead single from the album

“Put Your Records On” – Corinne Bailey Rae

Happy St Andrew’s Day

St Andrew’s Day trails behind Burns Night and Hogmanay in the Scots social calander and does not have the same appeal as say St Patricks Day does for the Irish.

St. Andrew’s Day is the feast day of Saint Andrew. It is celebrated on 30 November.

Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, and St. Andrew’s Day is Scotland’s official national day . In 2006, the Scottish Parliament designated St. Andrew’s Day as an official bank holiday. Although most commonly associated with Scotland, Saint Andrew is also the patron saint of Greece, Romania, and Russia^.

In Germany, the feast day is celebrated as Andreasnacht (“St. Andrew’s Night“), in Austria with the custom of Andreasgebet (“St. Andrew’s Prayer“), and in Poland as Andrzejki (“Andrews”).

 

“Caledonia” – Dougie MacLean

I dont know if you can see, the changes that have come over me
In these last few days, ive been afraid that i might drift away
And ive been tellin old stories, singing songs
That made me think about where i came from
Thats the reason why i seem so far away today.

CHORUS

But let me tell you that I love you
And I think about you all the time
Caledonia your callin me and now I’m goin’ home
But if I should become a stranger
You know that it would make me more than sad
Caledonia’s been everything I’ve ever had.

Well I have moved on, kept on moving
Proved the points that I needed prooving
Lost the friends that I needed loosing
Found others on the way
I have kissed the ladies and left them crying
Stolen dreams yes theres no denying
I have travelled hard with coat-tails flying
Somewhere with the wind

REPEAT CHORUS

Now I’m sitting here, before the fire
The empty room the forest choir
The flames that couldn’t get any higher
But they’ve withered now they’ve gone
But I’m steady thinking my way is clear,
And I know what I will do tomorrow
When the hands have shaken and the kisses flown I will dissapear.

REPEAT CHORUS

Dougie MacLean

 

The Whip

Caught this while channel hopping last night.

The Whip are a band whose founding members come from Oldham, Greater Manchester, UK formed in 2006. The band’s debut album, X Marks Destination, produced by Jim Abbiss, was released on Southern Fried Records on March 24, 2008.

“Save My Soul” – The Whip

To buy the music of The Whip click HERE