Thank The F-Word It's Friday #1

This seemed like an appropriate series to celebrate the arrival of Friday. Chris Evans will not be mentioned after today.

Songs featuring the F-Word then. Let's start with New Yorker Nate Amos, an extremely prolific young man who has self-released hundreds of songs as This Is Lorelei over the past ten years, and finally got around to putting out his debut album earlier this year. The album's called Box for Buddy, Box for Star, and here's a nice jangly little pop song that won't get played on the radio...

Listening Post #16: Snowmageddon

I don't know what causes me greater anxiety: the prospect of snow, or the constant reminders by every amateur meteorologist I meet that "it's gonna snow tonight - and it's gonna be a bad one!"

As it was, it wasn't that bad, was it? Still, that's enough for this winter, thanks.

Pixies have a new record out. I mention this for the benefit of those of you (like Martin, and myself) who completely missed the last one coming out until months after it had been released. I saw a sniffy review in one of the broadsheets which I didn't read because it was bemoaning the fact that Pixies don't sound like they did 35 years ago. What does, mate? It doesn't mean you can't still enjoy it...

Namesakes #112: A-ha!

Aha - good to see you. Here are a-ha...ndful of bands called aha (or some variation thereon). 

I doubt Alan Partridge would approve of many of the tunes below. "They're just noise!" 

AHA #1

Formed in 1982 in Sweden... not Norway. Those northern European countries are very easy to mix up though... maybe this is Morten & co? No, this is the hard-drinking, hard-rocking Swedish Aha...

Aha - Whiskey

A-HA #2

The other A-ha who formed in 1982 and immediately invited us all to take them on. Arguably they never bettered their debut single and its era-defining video...

A-ha - Take On Me

AHA!! #3

Oh yeah, this one's a beauty. Right up George's alley. And it's from Norway too! 

I couldn't hope to describe these guys as well as they do on their discogs biog... so here we go:

AHA!! (all capitals) was an avantgarde quintet with Eivin One Pedersen as leader, formed in 1982-83. Its debut was at the Moldejazz festival in 1983, before it released its first record - "Keep Nose in Front" - in 1984.

Due to the later appearance, around 1984-85, of a certain Norwegian pop group (that called itself a-ha), the group decided to change its name to avoid any confusion of the two. As if there was any possibility of that!

When AHA!! released its second album in 1986, the quintet thus called itself JAMAHA!!. As is evident, this was generated from a word-play on its former name: This group was the Jam-aha!!, or the jamming aha, and not the other one!

Five years later, in 1991, the group had been reduced to a quartet. It released its third album under the band name Extended Noise. This last group name points back to the name of the second album - "Extended Nose", which again is play on the name of the group's first album, "Keep nose in front".

Get ready for eight minutes, 41 seconds of... this:

AHA!! - God Is A Dog

AHA #4

Japanese... erm... music... from... possibly the year 2000... other than that, you're on your own.

The song title translates as "Warm Colours", if that helps.

AHA - あたたかい色

A HA #5

South Korean Progressive House from 2014. Further proof that putting the word "Progressive" on the front of another musical genre rarely makes it better. Equally good proof that putting the word "House" on the end of another musical genre has the same effect.

A ha - Sleep

Which one makes you go Ahhh... and which just makes you go Arrrrghhhh!?

Listening Post #15: Too Soon?

Our crazy neighbours had their Christmas lights on as of Saturday night... so if any of you noticed a dip in the national grid, that's why.

In other news, Sam Fender released the first single from his new album, due out in February, and it's looking to be a very enticing prospect...

Snapshots #370: A Top Ten Songs About Lost Cities

This weekend, we explored ten legendary cities, lost to the sands of time. I'm surprised we didn't bump into Indiana Jones while we were there...

10. He made three dollars.

The composer of the soundtracks for Sergio Leone's Dollars trilogy, starring Clint Eastwood. He also ventured to this lost city in Colorado...

Enio Morricone - Mesa Verde

9. Rabbit, something you bear, Jodie Foster movie.

Peter the Rabbit, you bear the brunt, Jodie Foster was in Nell. 

Peter Bruntnell - Camelot In Smithereens

8. Misspelled Mongol.

It's not Genghis Kahn, it's...

Dschinghis Khan - Machu Piccu

Apologies if you'd have preferred this...

The Strokes - Machu Piccu

7. From Grace.

No one wants a Fall from grace...

The Fall - Theme From Sparta FC

6. Wheeler's band - Fall Guy - Madonna, Miley, Mariah (initially) - monstrous wife.

Tim Wheeler's band is Ash. The Fall Guy was Lee Majors (not that Ryan fool). Madonna et al. are MCs. Frankenstein's monstrous wife was The Bride.

Ashley McBryde - El Dorado

5. Yellow, Turquoise, Juniper.

Three song title colours from...

Donovan - Atlantis

4. Once indoors, an unbelievable mix-up occurs.

"Once indoors, an..." was an anagram...

Sinéad O'Connor - Troy

3. Revolutionary prison.

Bastille - Pompeii

2. Don't get stuck in them. 

The Ruts - Babylon's Burning

1. No Joel? That'll cause a stir.

"No Joel" was an anagram of ELO and ONJ. 

Olivia Newton John & ELO - Xanadu

Rediscover Snapshots next Saturday.

Saturday Snapshots #370

Greetings, Snapshotters. Hope you're all Welles. We've got another Orson quiz for you this morning. 

Who are they and how are their songs connected? 

10. He made three dollars.

9. Rabbit, something you bear, Jodie Foster movie.

8. Misspelled Mongol.

7. From Grace.

6. Wheeler's band - Fall Guy - Madonna, Miley, Mariah (initially) - monstrous wife.

5. Yellow, Turquoise, Juniper.

4. Once indoors, an unbelievable mix-up occurs.

3. Revolutionary prison.

2. Don't get stuck in them. 

1. No Joel? That'll cause a stir.

Answers when you most expect them - tomorrow morning!

Namesakes #111: The Tartans

George is back, to plumb depths I can only dream of.

And he's chosen a band name that only a true Scot (even one who's living in Portugal) could tackle. Take it away, George...

I was thumbing through the Roots Reggae Library the other day (i.e. buggering about on the internet, waiting for Nuno to phone) when I came across a band with a rather peculiar name. It made me think of the land of my birth, of 1970s boy bands and a disastrous 1978 world cup campaign. Yes, it’s The Tartans. And what a ridiculous name for a band. 

Yet despite it being a quite idiotic name for a band, there’s a plethora of bands who thought it sounded good. They were wrong there, let me tell you that and tell you no more!

So it’s time to put your listening ears on for this collection of kilts...

THE TARTANS #1

First up, it’s the reggae / rocksteady Tartans...

The Tartans - Dance All Night

THE TARTANS #2

Next up, and these people might be from California (it’s where the record label is based), but I have no idea where Camerford is - rather like the electricity network people here have no idea where our farm is but are still threatening to cut off our supply if they can’t change the meter, even though they admitted to not knowing where we are…….is that a Catch-22 situation?). And this is perfectly listenable:

The Tartans - Cats of Camerford

THE TARTANS #3

Some easy listening Tartans now. I have no information about them at all, apart from the fact they have an idiotic band name.

Hold on, George, I found you some extra info...

Conclusive proof - "they are a 'good' band in that they sing well".

The Tartans - The Wishing Tree

Commendably brief, that was.

Clearly George can't tell a "good" band, even when the evidence is right in front of him.

THE TARTANS #4

The next lot are allegedly funk soul (from 1966)...

The Tartans With Kaddo Strings - Nothing But Love

On what planet is that funk-soul????

On the elevator-muzak planet?

THE TARTANS #5

I would like to say I’m saving the best ‘til last with this 1960s teen group...

The Tartans (featuring Buddy Baker) - A Kid In Love

But I can’t.

That was my favourite, if only because Buddy Baker is the alter ego of one of my favourite superheroes: Animal Man. 

Look, if I’ve suffered all the above tracks, I think you all should as well!

(I’m not really selling this piece to your readers, am I, Rol?)

Well, at least there were only five of them this week, George - not 35! Thanks for that.

Snapshots Spillover - More Elvis Cos-Covers

Here are some more songs sung by Elvis when he's not singing his own songs. Compare and contrast, if you've got nothing better to do today.

We'll start with one from my third (or possibly fourth, or possibly fifth) favourite Springsteen album...

Bruce Springsteen - Brilliant Disguise

Elvis Costello - Brilliant Disguise

Next up, a classic from Gram and co... even if Elvis chose to change the title.

Flying Burrito Brothers - Hot Burrito No. 1 

Elvis Costello - I'm Your Toy

Let's go way back now, to 1953, and one of the founders of rock n roll...

Big Joe Turner - Honey Hush

Elvis Costello - Honey Hush

Sadly, I couldn't find a photograph of Teacher's Edition, otherwise I would definitely have featured them in this week's quiz, for obvious reasons...

Teacher's Edition - I Wanna Be Loved

Elvis Costello - I Wanna Be Loved

Quite a fun video, I hadn't seen that before.

Here's something strange to make you scream...

Screamin' Jay Hawkins - Strange

Elvis Costello - Strange

And also from Kodak Variety, a singer who always makes me think of Somewhere Down The Crazy River...

Little Willie John - Leave My Kitten Alone

Elvis Costello - Leave My Kitten Alone

Meanwhile Elvis is obviously a big fan of Memphis Soul Man James Carr, having covered him twice...

James Carr - Pouring Water on a Drowning Man

Elvis Costello - Pouring Water on a Drowning Man

James Carr - The Dark End of the Street

Elvis Costello - The Dark End Of The Street

I like to pick a couple of obscure acts for Snapshots every week, just to stretch your braincells. But this Aussie band might have been pushing the obscurity factor a bit much, even for Ernie.

Jo Jo Zep & the Falcons - So Young

Elvis Costello - So Young

Far less obscure, in fact one that's been covered by everybody and his dog...

The Kinks - Days

Elvis Costello - Days

And I need no excuse to feature these guys, ever...

Louvin Brothers - Must You Throw Dirt in My Face

Elvis Costello - Must You Throw Dirt in My Face

I had a load more, but you're probably getting sick of them now, so let's finish today with the song that almost tipped Ernie off to this week's answer, and probably helped Parsley The Goat clinch it.

Snapshots #369: A Top Twelve Songs covered by Elvis Costello

Elvis Costello is one of the foremost songwriters of his generation. But he's not averse to singing other people's songs too. 

Here are earlier versions (not always the originals) of those songs, and twelve Elvis covers...

12. Nathan is Best!

Nathan Jones & George Best...

George Jones - A Good Year For The Roses

Elvis Costello - A Good Year For The Roses

11. Ugly Kenny.

Ugly Betty meets Kenny Everett...

Betty Everett - Getting Mighty Crowded

Elvis Costello - Getting Mighty Crowded

10. Kaine, coded.

Anagram!

The song was written by Leon Payne but originally recorded by...

Eddie Noack - Psycho

Elvis Costello - Psycho

9. American sandwich in the automobile with George. 

The sandwich would be a hoagie, in a car, with Michael...

Hoagy Carmichael - My Resistance Is Low

Elvis Costello - My Resistance Is Low

8. James was outlawed from Arfur's Club.

Jesse James was an Outlaw; Arfur Daley's club was The Winchester.

Jesse Winchester - Payday

Elvis Costello - Payday

7.  Where you might get trapped by a preacher.

The Amen Corner - World of Broken Hearts

Elvis Costello - World of Broken Hearts

6. Father Christmas meets Quasi-Girl. 

OK, so Quasimodo's lady was Esmerelda, not Esmeralda. Sue me. 

Santa Esmeralda - Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood

Yes, there were earlier versions of that tune, notably by Nina Simone and The Animals. But neither were quite as D-I-S-C-O.

Elvis Costello - Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood

5. Uncle, and resident of Dagenham.

Uncle Sam and Dagenham Dave...

Sam & Dave - I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down

Elvis Costello - I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down

4. Liverpudlian egg scramblers.

The Merseybeats - Really Mystified

Elvis Costello - Really Mystified

Or, you could have had...

The Merseybeats - I Stand Accused 

Which was originally by...

Tony Colton & The Big Boss Band - I Stand Accused

But neither is quite as in your face as this...

Elvis Costello - I Stand Accused

3. Night train.

Sleeper - What Do I Do Now?

Elvis Costello - What Do I Do Now?

2. Unsolve Zara Arch.

Anagram!

Charles Aznavour - She

Elvis Costello - She

1. Not Rod Stewart's baby.

Rod sang Oh No, Not My Baby. This is Oh no.

Oh yes it is!

Not the best song on the list today, but it's the first time Yoko has appeared on Snapshots... and well, I figured it would keep George happy.

Yoko Ono - Walking On Thin Ice

More Elvis covers tomorrow.

More Snapshots next Saturday.

Saturday Snapshots #369

Welcome back to Saturday Snapshots, where we're always aiming for a new Lowe.

Sometimes people complain that certain of the artists featured on this quiz are a bit too modern: young, hip and contemporary pop stars that those of a certain advancement in years might struggle to identify (or even have heard of). This week's quiz is for those of you who might feel that way. You'll be pleased to know that the most recent act on today's countdown last had a hit in 1997. None of that post-millennial nonsense today!

Who are the old folks below... and how are their songs connected?

12. Nathan is Best!

11. Ugly Kenny.

10. Kaine, coded.

9. American sandwich in the automobile with George. 

8. James was outlawed from Arfur's Club.

7.  Where you might get trapped by a preacher.

6. Father Christmas meets Quasi-Girl. 

5. Uncle, and resident of Dagenham.

4. Liverpudlian egg scramblers.

3. Night train.

2. Unsolve Zara Arch.

1. Not Rod Stewart's baby.

Answers tomorrow morning. If we're all still here...