Name That Tune: Our Top Ten David Songs

 

Everyone has a friend called Dave, right? I actually have two. Though I don't see them that much anymore. (Let's face it: I don't see anybody that much anymore.)

Very few suggestions this week for a famous David to illustrate our Top Ten. I wonder why?

My Top Ten Songs About David Bowie

Let's get straight onto the rest of the David songs then...

Charity Chic's first thought was...

Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Davy’s On The Road Again

I may be back, he said.

I hope not after that dreadful suggestion, George replied.

Now I don't always agree with George (who does?), but I find myself having to here. Beyond ruining early Springsteen songs, if this if the Earth Band's great claim to fame, they should have stuck with counting backwards from 5. It's not a bad song, I just can't get past the opening couplet...

Davy's on the road again
Wearing different clothes again

I mean, I should hope so.

But wait, before I get too mean about Manfred Mann's Earth Band... here's Lynchie...

I knew Dave Flett of "Davy's On The Road Again" fame.

I keep telling you, mate, even though Guest Post Thursday appears to have run out of gas, the door is always open for more of your stories. You could at least tell us if he wore different clothes every time he went out on the road.

What else did Lynchie have to offer?

Danny Wilson - Davy

Forgotten that. Good to be reminded.

Cheech & Chong - Dave's Not Here (It's not a song but it's on an album.)

You know, I found that more entertaining than Davy's On The Road Again.

Tom Petty - Lonesome Dave

And that's an out-take! God, I miss Tom Petty.

Meanwhile, busy as he was criticising CC's pitch, did George have a better suggestion?

Ain't Necessarily So, Bronski Beat version, talks about little David being small but oh my...!

Bronski Beat - Ain't Necessarily So

Certainly a better video than Davy's On The Road Again.

What about C?

I remember you liked the Scars' track I put on over at my place recently, so wonder if you'll like another song from the same album - perfectly titled... as you might imagine... 'David'!

Good work, C, though a little too angular and spikey for my ageing lugs. I preferred All About You. That may well feature on this blog one day soon.

Here's Rigid Digit, with what seems like it should be an obvious choice. Except...

Morrissey - Dagenham Dave

Is Dagenham Dave the worst single Morrissey ever released? 

Surprisingly not. That award must surely go to...

Morrissey - Roy's Keen

Both from Morrissey's best-forgotten "let's take the piss out of chavs" phase. Still, we look back on that with fond nostalgia given his most recent phases.

It's worth pointing out too that Moz wasn't the first person to use that particular Dave in a song title...

The Stranglers - Dagenham Dave

Which is marginally better than Morrissey's song. I especially like the talky bit in the middle.

Much better offerings from Rigid Digit include these...

Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine - A World Without Dave

Joan Baez - David

And this one might be pushing it (as it's a surname)...

Stereophonics - Billy Davey's Daughter

Yes, I do think we need to institute a No Surnames Rule. Which would also disqualify this...

Belle & Sebastian - Jonathan David

Although on second listen, maybe not...?

I was Jonathan to your David

You're still King

Final word from Rigid Digit:

Anyone mentioned Craig Daaaavid yet?

Craig David's Covid Song:

I stayed at home on Monday

I stayed at home on Tuesday

On Wednesday I stayed in

Same for Thursday, Friday and Saturday

On Sunday I stayed in

I have very little time for Craig David. But that's still better than Neil Diamond's Covid song that we heard last week.

Here's John Medd...

Sweet - Funk It Up (Davids Song)

I had to do a fair bit of digging to work out if that was actually The Sweet. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it was.

What about the votes from our Dubai jury this week? Jim?

A Flock of Seagulls - Remember David 

Sounds like the theme tune to an 80s action show. Knight Rider or Streethawk or Air Wolf...  

Swiss Adam has a couple of top suggestions that creep into the Top Ten (one way or another) but he also suggested...

Black Jack Davey by the White Stripes is good if you like old English folk songs updated by 21st century blues revivalists.

The White Stripes - Black Jack Davey

Also recorded by Bob Dylan. Which only goes to show that we're missing The Swede this week. I hope he's OK. 

Now to Canada, where Douglas is basking in the glory of getting one of his countrymen into last week's Top Ten...

...and may I just mention that Colter Wall has a fantastic track called "Me And Big Dave", wherein he absolutely sounds nothing whatsoever like a person in his 20's but everything like the embodiment of what is deep, soulful and great about country music in the Cash-like vein? Can the young Canadian rank two weeks in a row, perhaps clawing his way deeper in the Top Ten?

Colter Wall - Me And Big Dave

Sadly not, Douglas. My only defence is variety.

And if that is not your thing, the Trash Can Sinatras once again have a contender, with the raucous and ebullient b-side (gawsh, they save some of the best for the flip sides, don't they?) entitled "Ask Davy". According to legend, when the as-yet-untitled track was being readied for release, the record exec types came to hassle the band abound the small matter of a title for the song before going to press. The band, sorely pressed, tried to brush off the corporate pedants by steering them for suggestions to the usually forthcoming bassist, Davy Hughes....and that is how the track came to qualify for this week's Top Ten...

Trash Can Sinatras - Ask Davy 

Sadly all I could find was a relatively short live excerpt, Douglas, though I liked what I heard. And that's a great sing title story. Thank you.

All of which brings us to Walter, who did finally offer a couple of famous Davids...

Glad nobody named David Hasselhoff in the comments. 

No, we had quite enough of The Hoff last week!

The first name that came to my memory was Dave Clark Five with Glad All Over, a song from my very young days.

Dave Clark Five - Glad All Over

Undeniably a great pop song. 

Other songs that should be named are:

Serge Gainsbourg - Harley David Son Of A Bitch 

Terrible pun. Great tune

(Also covered by Bollock Brothers.)

Really?

The Bollock Brothers - Harley David Son Of A Bitch

Somehow loses its charm when no longer in French. (Understatement of the week.)

Beastie Boys - A Year and a Day

'EZ Mike with the Disco Dave

He was going by the Name of Disco Dave

New Order - Murder

I wouldn't do that Dave
I'm afraid, Dave
My mind is going
There is no question about it

By this point, I'm, sure you're all wondering what my millennial hipster politico friend, Ben, has to offer this week...

Van Halen - Ice Cream Man

I listened to that five times trying to find a lyrical reference to Dave Lee Roth. It's subtle, but it is there...

Now summertime's here, babe, need somethin' to keep you cool

Better look out now though, Dave's got somethin' for you

Tell ya what it is..

It's an ice cream, ladies. Honest. And all his flavours are guaranteed to satisfy.

Ben's second suggestion almost got him the red card though...

I've got Christmas With The Chipmunks on vinyl and I'm pretty sure they say Dave at least 30 times on there, or is that cheating?

I'm just going to leave this here in case anyone wants to check this out for themselves. I certainly won't be.

Christmas With The Chipmunks (with David Seville)

Ben promised me some better suggestions, but missed the deadline. Obviously overdid the hummus and coconut milk this week 

Dumpster diving time!

The Chalets - David Boring

Half Man Half Biscuit - David Wainwright's Feet

Measurements are paramount when choosing boots and shoes.

The Field Mice - Star Of David

Low - David & Jude

Number one on the Top Ten Jude Songs, surely?

Busted - Who's David?

The Radio Dept. - David

Conveyor - Two Davids

Courtney Barnett - David

Glam stomp ahoy!

Suzanne Vega - Rock In This Pocket (Song Of David)

Oh Pep! - What's The Deal With David?

The Strumbellas - David

Daniel Knox - David Charmichael

Dale Watson - David Buxkemper

He's a farming trucker... and a trucking farmer! 

The Pearlfishers - David Vs. Godzilla

The Czars - Dave's Dream

The Levellers - Dirty Davey

Toto - Dave's Gone Skiing

De La Soul featuring David Goldblatt - You Go, Dave

George Strait - Arkansas Dave

Whitney - Dave's Song

Cosmo Jarvis - Dave's House

The Monochrome Set - Killing Dave

Roy Harper - Davey

The Moldy Peaches - Downloading Porn With Davo

I've allowed a Davo, because.

The Decemberists - Burying Davy

The Frank & Walters - Davy Chase

Todd Snider - Digger Dave's Crazy Woman Blues

Mclusky - Dave, Stop Killing Prostitutes

Joe Jackson - Dave

(That Dave lives in a cave. Just saying.)

Pink Guy - Flex Like David Icke

Don't ask where I found that. I think it was projected into my brain by illuminati lizards. I wish they hadn't.

And now the Top Ten...

10. John Hiatt - Trudy And Dave

We'll start with this from Lynchie, because I'm a sucker for this kind of Bonnie & Clyde story song. (I should do a Top Ten of them.) And I doubt we'll ever get around to a Top Ten Trudy Songs.

Well, Trudy and Dave, those crazy kids

Had a baby of their own, and you heard what they did

In the middle of a strip mall shots rang out

Shots heard all over the world, no doubt

'Cause it was there in the paper the very next day

'Bout a couple and a baby and a Chevrolet

Who shot up an automatic teller machine

Took the money for the laundry and drove away clean

If you ever do "Ethel" songs, can I suggested John Hiatt's Ethylene?

Good call, Lynchie. Though I'm probably more likely to do the Trudy Top Ten. I mean, I bet Sting has a bunch of those I could take the piss out of use.

9. The Boomtown Rats - Dave

From Rigid Digit, a song about the Rats former saxophone player, Dave McHale.

8. Fess Parker - Ballad of Davy Crockett

Covered by everyone and his dog, this is the original, and it reminds me of my childhood... despite the fact I never saw the TV show. Pop culture stuck around a lot longer back then.

Extra marks for being called Fess Parker.

See also...

They Might Be Giants - The Ballad of Davy Crockett (in Outer Space)

And this from Swiss Adam...

Thee Headcoatees - Davey Crockett

I liked that a lot.

7. 'Til Tuesday - David Denies

Early Aimee Mann, with awful 80s perm, but you can hear where the class of her solo career would come from.

6. Betty & The Werewolves - David Cassidy

My bedroom's covered in photos of David

I have 5000 if I'm estimating

I've been a fan for nearly four years now

I like his records and I play them LOUD

My days are filled mostly thinking of David

I stole a lock of his hair and I saved it

I put it in my dresser drawer

One day I'll tell you what I save it for

Los Angeles is a long way from Ruislip

They told me that but I still felt sure I'd make it

Considering this was released ten years ago, they seemed way too young to be in the David Cassidy demographic.

5. Bree Sharp - David Duchovny 

Martin wins great accolades for digging this one up...

It has an all-star cast video that can't fail to put a smile on the face of anyone who watched The X Files back in the day - really, watch right through to the end, beyond the song.

That was brilliant.

And the best bit was, the video featured many of my TV heroes... not just Mulder & Scully and Buffy and Gary Shandling and Erik Estrada... but also Dennis Franz, star of the greatest TV series ever made.

Highlight of my week. Thanks, Martin. 

Side note: Gillian Anderson playing Maggie Thatcher is wrong in so many ways that it makes me hurt.

One broken heart for sale...

4. Flight of the Conchords - The Most Beautiful Girl In The Room

This one haunted me all week.

In my head, I could hear a song where someone goes "Huh - Dave!" in a disparaging voice. I think, however, I was thinking of Bob George by Prince, and projecting a Dave onto it. 

But then I kept thinking: no, no, this is a Flight of the Conchords song - I'm sure of it.

Got there in the end.

And when I saw you at my mate's place

I thought, "What is she doing

At my mate's place?"

How did Dave get a hottie like that to a party like this?

Good one Dave

(You're a legend Dave)

I ask Dave if he's gonna make a move on you

He's not sure

I said "Dave do you mind if I do?"

He says he doesn't mind

But I can tell he kinda minds

But I'm gonna do it anyway 

3. Mo Solid Gold - David's Soul

Featured here previously. A lost gem, also from the 90s. And it's all about the Hutch.

Or, more likely, the time he took on Dirty Harry...

2. Pulp - David's Last Summer.

Sad no one picked this. Charity Chic even featured the album His 'n' Hers last week!

The room smells faintly of sun tan lotion

In the evening sunlight and when you take off your clothes,

You're still wearing a small pale skin bikini.

The sound of children playing in the park comes from faraway,

And time slows down to the speed of the specks of dust

Floating in the light from the window.

Summer leaves fall from Summer trees.

Summer grazes fade on Summer knees.

Summer nights are slowly getting long.

Summer's going so hurry soon it'll be gone.

1. The Jam - David Watts

Martin was first in with this one...

David Watts, either the Kinks original or the Jam cover. Altogether now:

I am a dull and simple lad

Cannot tell water from champagne

And I have never met the Queen

And I wish I could have all he has got

Wish I could be like David Watts

Swiss Adam concurs...

David Watts, has to be. The Jam version as it was the first one I heard.

Me too. And it's one of Sam's favourites too...

Girls names beginning with D?

I've already done the obvious ones...

My Top Ten Debra / Deborah / Debbie Songs

My Top Ten Diane & Diana Songs

So let's try something a little more tricky.

NEXT WEEK - OUR TOP TEN DONNA SONGS