Tuesday, 2 June 2020

Hot 100 #6


Alyson nailed this week's band image. Who else but the Electric Six. Any excuse to play one of my favourite videos... with Jack White on guest vocals...

Electric Six - Danger! High Voltage

Other 6 groups were as follows...

Sixpence None The Richer - Kiss Me (from Jim)

The 6ths - San Diego Zoo (another alias for Stephin Merrit of the Magnetic Fields)

Vanity 6 - Nasty Girl (Prince fans take note)

Take 6 - Spread Love

The Deep Six - Last Time Around

The New Colony Six - Come And Give Your Love To Me

Soul Brothers Six - Your Love Is Such A Wonderful Love

Six Red Carpets - Vanilla Scent

The Sixth Great Lake - Lovely Today

And, for completeness' sake...

Classix Nouveau - Is It A Dream?

(There's a video that will blow your mind.)

Anyway, enough of that. What about the songs?

The Swede had a lie in this week, so George was first out of the traps with three country classics...

Hank Thompson - Six Pack To Go

Lucinda Williams - 6 Blocks Away

Gillian Welch - Six White Horses

Next came C, who remarked that reading (last week's post) makes it sound/feel like we were all in the same room having a good old real-life conversation (remember those?) - and I love it.

You mean we can't do that anymore, C? Oh wait, no, you're right. That sort of thing is only allowed for senior government advisers, isn't it? Silly me.

Oh, and here's C's suggestion for this week, and a fine one it is too...


That'll outnumber Leo Sayer, for sure.

Swiss Adam was the first to remark that there were "Not so many sixes..." (in comparison to last week's epic), but you won't hear me complaining. Here are his suggestions...


I see your Slant Six and raise you...

Joe Strummer - Brooding Six





That was a popular one. Alyson also suggested that, along with these...


Never had you down as a Mansun fan, Alyson. But in Martin's absence, well done for keeping the Britpop flame burning.


Didn't we have that ten posts again? I'm not sure it counts this time.

There seems to be something called Six Pack by our old chum Sting and his fellow Policemen but that certainly won't be your pick if last week's comments were anything to go by.

I've actually nothing against Sting when he's fighting alongside the Boys in Blue. It's just once all the tantric wibbly wobbly stuff creeps in that he loses me. 

The Police - Six Pack

Sadly though, this appears not to be a song but a box set of early Police singles. The best ones.

Wish we'd reached this number next week, as it would have coincided with one with all the sixes in the calendar - Just think, wouldn't it be something to have been born 60 years ago in 1960 on a date with all the sixes! Something devilish about that.

So if I save this post till Saturday, it can go out on the 6th of the 6th? Are you happy to sacrifice Saturday Snapshots just for that, Alyson?

No, I didn't think so.

Shortly after this, Lynchie and George got into a debate about Dundee and moustaches which didn't involve any sixes, but was quite amusing. Then George returned with this...

The Gracious Losers - Six Degrees of Separation

Sadly, I couldn't find that anywhere on t'internet, George. But here's another song from them to make up for that...

The Gracious Losers - Where The River Meets The Sea

I did find a different song with the title Six Degrees of Separation though, and it's a pretty good one from Miranda Lambert...

Miranda Lambert - Six Degrees of Separation

And I also found this... on youtube, I hasten to add, not in my own record collection...

The Script - Six Degrees of Separation

Moving swiftly on...

Jim in Dubai was the next one to remark that "this could be the quietest week for a while". Although he did add the following....

That's very cool.

Wait - here comes George again...


Charity Chic will be miffed he forgot that one, George.

Next up is Rigid Digit, who insists on breaking the Tom Robinson Rule...


Tom Robinson Rule


Tom Robinson Rule


That's better.


Even that, kinda breaks the Tom Robinson Rule.

Also, would you buy a car from someone called Cole Swindell? Just asking.

I vote for Sweet - The Six Teens 

(See my reply to Alyson...)

But as an outside bet how about...?


Gor blimey, guvnor. How about, indeed?

Except, no.

Also, I'd argue that half a sixpence is... I dunno, they phased old money out the year before I was born... threepence? A thruppeny bit?

Here's someone with an actual whole sixpence...

Phil Ochs - I've Got Sixpence

Fortunately, Charity Chic was here to get us back on track...


I will gladly take any further Lee Hazlewood suggestions you want to make, CC, as they're always excellent.

Oh look, The Swede's finally up! And he's remembered which way round I like my artists & titles this week. So let's crack on with his list, since he's no lightweight like Swiss Adam and Jim...


Excuse my philistinery, but that sounds like an intro waiting for a song.


That gets in on its title alone though... but the song's worth a listen too.


That, on the other hand, was even worse than could have been expected from a band called Dr Mix & the Remix. It sounded like someone had left a tape recorder running in David Lynch's bathroom.


We definitely had that back at 30, and if I do a zero week, I imagine it might pop up there too. Tom Robinson Rule be damned!


That also sounds like an intro waiting for a song... but it's only 1 minute 14, and I dig it.

Roscoe Mitchell - Off Five Dark Six

Nope, couldn't find that anywhere. Also: Tom Robinson Rule!


So that's the original, before Dr. Mix got his hands on it? Much better.


Arguably, that's a 12.


Tom Robinson Rule.




I have to admit, I expected Karl Blau to sound like Kraftwerk meets Can, so that was a pleasant surprise.


What about the Mudcrutch version?

Or Boxcar Willie?!?



Not a collection of Police singles.


I'd give Everything I Own for a copy of that.


Didn't see any dead people.


Thank you, Swede. An eclectic mix as always. Although I was surprised you didn't suggest this one...

Bob Dylan - From A Buick 6 

Brian, who almost beat The Swede to the game this week, was very impressed with a couple of earlier selections. 

Jim in Dubai had a couple of favorites this week with Tender Trap and, especially, Split Enz. My vote goes with one of the Swede's picks... Tom Waits. I love that era around Swordfishtrombones and Rain Dogs. Here are a couple of more:

The Cure - Six Different Ways (from the only Cure album I like from front to back)

The Sugarplastic - Auld Lang Syne in 6/8 Time (could be a tough find, Rol)

Not as tough as most of The Swede's suggestions. However:  Tom Robinson Rule


And again... Tom Robinson Rule

All of which brings us to Walter...

I am late but the list has to be completed with...

Jimi Hendrix - If 6 was 9

I think that did appear on the #9 post, Walter... just before I introduced the Tom Robinson Rule.

From Germany to Canada for our final contribution this week, as usual it's Douglas McLaren...

I will stick to one offering. Not likely a contender for the winning spot (as it is nearly nine minutes and an instrumental), but I like the song, and the group deserves an award for the most evocative titles:

Explosions in the Sky -- Six Days At the Bottom of the Ocean (From the album "The Earth is Not A Cold Dead Place")

You see, if you're going to do an "intro waiting for a song", at least put your money where your mouth is and make it a nine minute intro waiting for a song!

OK, time for my scrapings. By the way, nobody guessed my winning tune this week. I had Martin down for it, but I suspect he might have been out on his bike. Shame, it would have been an easy win for him.

Alice Cooper - Six Hours

The Bar-Kays - Six O'Clock News Report

That was in serious contention.

John Prine - Six O'Clock News

Ditto.

Kathleen Edwards - Six O' Clock News

And there's another one!

Mary Gauthier - Got Your Six

Georgia Satellites - Six Years Gone

Diesel Park West - Six Days To Juju

Black Francis - Six Legged Man

George Benson - Six Play

The KLF - Six Hours To Louisiana, Black Coffee Going Cold

(Which, to be fair to The Swede, also sounds like an intro waiting for a song... but it does at least have sheep in it.)

The Verve - Six O'Clock

The Skids - Six Times

The Blue Aeroplanes - Sixth Continent

The Human League - Rock Me Again And Again And Again And Again And Again And Again (Six Times)

The Pogues - Six To Go

The Pogues - Streets Of Sorrow/Birmingham Six

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Six Barrel Shotgun

Nick Cave - The Six Strings That Drew Blood

Of Monsters & Men - Six Weeks

Skinny Lister - Six Whiskies

Sleaford Mods - Bronx In A Six

Tom T. Hall - The Six O'Clock News

American Music Club - How Many Six Packs Does It Take To Screw In A Light?

Ash - Princess Six

Dire Straits - Six Blade Knife

Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint - Six-Fingered Man

Harry Chapin - Six String Orchestra

Larrikin Love - Six Queens

Jimmy Buffet - Six String Music

The Lovin' Spoonful - Six O'Clock

ZZ Top - I Got The Six

The Lillingtons - K6

The Mekons - After 6

Ty Segall - 6th Street

The Harvest Ministers - Six O'Clock Is Rosary

A - 6 O'Clock On A Tube Stop

L.A. Salami - Day To Day (For 6 Days A Week)

Wanda Jackson - Blue Yodel #6

Client - 6 In The Morning

Half Man Half Biscuit - M-6-Ster

Liz Phair - 6'1"

(No, that does not contravene the Tom Robinson Rule.)

OK, so that brings us to the end of this week's post, and for the first time in ages, nobody has guessed my record of the week. I even went around to Martin's house and shouted through his window to have a go (on Sunday night to boot!), and all I got back was this...

Struggling. Was going to pitch Mansun and Sneaker Pimps, and they've both gone already. What am I missing? Am I going to be kicking myself?

I don't know. Maybe.

Here's a clue...


No?

What's in the box?

It's only the sequel to Se7en...

...courtesy of Evan Dando and chums.


Only 5 left, folks. Who's going to take the fifth?


29 comments:

  1. Ooh, first in.
    Band- Five Thirty (or 5.30)

    For starters...

    The Third Bardot '5 Years Ahead Of My Time'
    Iggy '5' 1"'
    Stockholm Monsters 'Five o 'clock'
    The Jam 'Just Who Is the 5.30 Hero?'
    Mazzy Star 'Five String Serenade'
    The Belbury Circle 'Cloudburst Five'

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  2. Louis Jordan - Five Guys Named Mo
    Nanci Griffith - Love at the Five and Dime
    David Bowie - Five Years (potential winner)

    I may be back with more

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  3. Five Minutes or Five Years feel about the same at the moment so my first thoughts are Stranglers and Bowie.
    But, wait, there's more!
    The Vogues: Five O'Clock World
    and Dave Brubeck Quartet: Take Five

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    Replies
    1. and I forgot to mention Julian Cope's brilliant cover of Five O'Clock World, d'oh!

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    2. I'll second Cope's cover.

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    3. Dave Brubeck - a fine choice ...

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  4. Tom Waits or The Eagles - Ol' 55

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  5. The Andrews Sisters (& various others) - "Mister Five by Five"

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  6. Oh damnation - Just realised that the Tom Waits song is 55 so we've probably done that one. And suppose Manfred Mann's "5-4-3-2-1" is no use. *sigh*

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  7. The Jam's gone already, so's (one) Bowie. So...

    5-4-3-2-1 by Manfred Mann... should see you alright for the next four week too.
    5 More Days 'Til Summer by Lenny Kravitz
    Five Days, Five Days by Gene Vincent
    5 Dollars by Christine and the Queens
    High 5 by Beck
    Five Feet of Lovin' by Jeff Beck
    Five Days by Cyndi Lauper
    When I'm Five by David Bowie (tbh, not as good as Five Years)
    Five Days A Year by Ziggy Marley
    Five Ten Fiftyfold by Cocteau Twins
    Five Minutes by The Stranglers

    And, I suppose, anything by the Jackson 5 and the Dave Clarke Five. Nothing by Five Star though please....

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  8. Gene Vincent - "Five Days, Five Days"

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  9. Once Dominic Cummings broke the Tom Robinson rule it became a free for all!

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    Replies
    1. Am I Dominic Cummings in this analogy?

      Well, I've been called some names in my time...

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    2. Even I would not stoop that low Rol!

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  10. Natalie Cole - "5 Minutes Away"
    Sesame Street - "Five People in My Family"
    Christine and the Queens - "5 Dollars"

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  11. The best ever band with 5 in their name is "Five Hand Reel".

    If this disnae stir the blood, yer deid!

    Haughs O Cromdale ---- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRU4G8Etou8

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  12. And The Stone Roses 'Full Fathom Five' for some psychedelic backwards nonsense
    Also Minutemen 'Take 5, D'

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  13. Sorry about the faux pas with the Police - I see that it came as their 7th release after 6 chart singles so makes sense.

    As for posting this instead of Saturday Snapshots - No indeed, wouldn't want that at all. It was just a rather heavy hint that my big birthday will be later in the week, but still pretty much in lockdown up here so my plans all got to pot - I will be celebrating with Saturday Snapshots instead of having a trip to That London as was supposed to be happening.

    I wrote about bands with 5 in their title a while back when I published my 101st post - As has been pointed out around here before (by George I think) the binary number 101 equates to the decimal number 5 so the 101ers could be a contender. Other than the ones already mentioned, there are the bands Maroon 5 and Five.

    Songs:
    McFly - 5 Colours In Her Hair (one of DD's old favourites)
    Housemartins - Five Get Overexcited
    Everything But The Girl - Five Fathoms

    My personal favourite is this one although it won't qualify I'm sure - George was at his best here and it made for a memorable performance shared many times in the aftermath of his death.

    George Michael and Queen with Lisa Stansfield - Five Live

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  14. Oh well i was way off the mark last week thinking there wasn't many "6" songs, i have a few 5ives though.

    The Blessing - Highway 5
    The Luniz - I Got 5 on It
    Presidents of The USA - Mach 5
    Inspiral Carpets - Saturn 5
    Noah & The Whale - 5 Year Time
    Kirk Lake / Jaques - Five Finger Discount
    Adam & The Ants - Five Guns West
    Ada & The Ants - Magnificent 5
    Reverand Horton Heat - Five O Ford
    Les Georges Leningrand - George 5 (First time i heard this song it was on quite loud at home, came on a Rough Trade CD, i had to turn it down as i was worried i would scare the neighbours. It is one of the strangest songs i have ever heard but i love it, took a few listens though).

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  15. Avoiding all the good ones I already had on my little list:

    David Gilmour - 5AM
    Yes - Five% Of Nothing
    Judge Dread - Big Five
    Alan Jackson - It's Five O'Clock Somewhere

    Tom Robinson Rule?
    Doors - Five To One
    Arctic Monkeys - Four Out Of Five

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  16. Johnny Cash - Five Feet High and Rising
    Tim Carroll - Five Year Town

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  17. Douglas McLaren3 June 2020 at 02:40

    Johnny Cash - Five Minutes To Live

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  18. Douglas McLaren3 June 2020 at 03:40

    ...And I can't believe that Mattiel's "Fives and Tens" would fall afoul of the Tom Robinson rule?
    Or what of "Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue (Has Anybody Seen My Gal?)", which since its penning in 1914 just about everyone has covered, but for the sake of argument here let's suggest Dean Martin's version as well as Guy Lombardo's. Not sure which of those two version my dad had in mind as he went about the house singing it throughout my childhood...

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    Replies
    1. Scottish football fans used to sing "Six foot two,eyes of blu; Big Jim Holton's after you" about a nonsense centre half

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  19. Voting for Bowie or Housemartins, but here are a couple of others...

    Elvis Costello and the Attractions - 5ive Gears in Reverse
    The Go-Betweens - Five Words

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  20. Here are the results of my wanderings around the old external hard-drives scattered around this house:

    Fridge - Five Combs
    Fridge - Five Four Child Voice
    Soft Machine - Sign of Five
    Soft Machine - Spaced Five
    Sleaford Mods - Stick in a Five and Go
    Fire! - You Liked Me Five Minutes Ago
    Serge Gainsbourg - Wake Me at Five
    Roscoe Mitchell - Off Five Dark Six
    Marianne Segal & Silver Jade - Five of Us
    Grandpa Jones - Five String Banjo Boogie
    Bob Dylan - Obviously Five Believers
    Michael Gibbs - Five For England
    Billy Joe Shaver - Old Five and Dimers Like Me
    Menomena - Five Little Rooms
    Saturday's Children - Deck Five
    The Heliocentrics - The Five Thing
    Bonnie Prince Billy - Jolly Five
    Serge Gainsbourg - Five Easy Pisseues

    Band of the week - Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five.

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