We didn't only lose Ronnie Spector last week. R. Dean Taylor also passed away, although I wouldn't have known that if someone hadn't mentioned it on facebook, it wasn't widely reported.
Canadian singer-songwriter Richard Dean Taylor is only known for a handful of hits, most notably Indiana Wants Me and There's A Ghost In My House, memorably covered by The Fall. (In that video, Mark E. Smith looks like that kid in the 6th Form that you really wanted to smack in the face, but you knew he'd get his mates to beat you up if you did.)
When Holland / Dozier / Holland left Motown, Taylor joined Frank Wilson, Pam Sawyer and Deke Richards to form "The Clan", a group of writers in charge of coming up with hits for the big guns such as Diana Ross & The Supremes. As such, he co-wrote two of my favourite Supremes songs, Love Child and I'm Livin' In Shame.
A pretty fine legacy, all told, though there's more to be enjoyed than just the hits. Here's one of his lesser-known tunes...
We now return you to our regularly scheduled programme... two days late. Apologies, we have visitors from New Zealand, the decorators and a new kitten. I haven't had time to blow my nose, let alone blog...
As usual, you pretty much worked them all out between you.
10. Len met Adam x 2. Said hi to drugs from a witch doctor.
Len (123) Barry + Ryan Adams (Adam x 2) = Barry Ryan.
Hi = hello (or 'elo!)
The Shamen (witch doctors) sang about E's being good... The Swede worked that out, also recalling that the song was written by Barry's brother, Paul. Barry Ryan - Eloise
8. Hayes goes feminine on the road to the Cathedral: won't stop listening to Bruce's longest player.
Hayes Carll is a cool Americana singer. A feminine version of his name would be Carly.
Paul had his epiphany on the road to Damascus and ended up a Saint who had a Cathedral named after him... all of which leads us rather tenuously to Paul Simon. One of my more misleading clues, but Alyson got there in the end, even though Chris was convinced this was one of the three sirens from Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?
The River is Bruce Springsteen's longest album - well, it's his only double album. Carly Simon - Let The River Run
7. The Amarillo Hulk avoids the Flaming Lips' postman.
Tony Christie sang (Is This The Way To) Amarillo? Lou Ferrigno was The Incredible Hulk.
Alyson spotted the artist straight away but figured I was making a reference to George Harrison being a ghost now, so went for There's A Ghost In My House. Like I'd ever be so bad taste, Alyson!
A feuerwehrauto would be a German fire engine, which might go Nena Nena Nena (Nena being German, see).
Almost a century would be 99 years; hot air is what you get in balloons.
I figured Alyson would get this one... though Rigid Digit provided the German translation (Neunundneunzig Luftballons). Nena - 99 Red Balloons
2. Go to the chemist for gender realignment.
A chemist is a drugstore.
Gender realignment could change lead singerIsabel Monteiro into a man. Pretty simple, if you know the song. The Swede did. Drugstore - I Want To Love You Like A Man
1. Scared by basic Maths? Be polite to Quincy.
Basic Maths would involve counting.
Scare... crows.
If you were polite to Quincy, you wouldn't call him a doctor (no, it wasn't a reference to Jack Klugman), you would call him Mr.... Jones.
Another easy win for The Swede (though I'm surprised he took credit for knowing such an "uncool" band... then again why else did I make them this week's Number One?)
Thanks, as always, for taking part.
I'll be back later in the week with possibly my most controversial post yet (particularly right now): How To Be A Morrissey Fan in 2017. Despite all those who are turning against him, I will endeavour to explain why I think we need Morrissey right now... perhaps more than we ever have.
So that'll be fun.
(If it makes you unfollow this blog, well - thanks for sticking with it as long as you have!)
