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...

Listening Post #14: Vote Tramp!

Still in a severe state of shock after yesterday's nightmare, I stumbled upon an Irish band who were far more deserving of a vote than Bono... or their almost namesake.

Tramp are from both sides of the Irish border, united in a terrific "alt-indie" racket with some amusingly snipey lyrics. 

Lowered suspension

You rev your engine

You're compensating

You think I'm waiting

For a manly manly manly boy like you

You're the reason I like girls too

You'll wreck your exhaust giving off

All that testosterone

I'm weak at the knees

From your Lynx pheromones

Your lion-compass-rose tattoo is a red flag

Surely she doesn't want you all because she's a slag

Cruising estates

Looking at your face

Is like looking at a red light

When I'm running late

Alpha of the pack

Out on the attack

The things you say wouldn't be okay

Even if she was of age

Positive Songs For Negative Times #84: Bonoooooooo

Imagine the people of Ireland had a referendum to decide their all-time greatest pop hero.

Imagine that enough of them (not necessarily a majority) voted for Bono, and that he was thereby crowned Greatest Irish Pop Legend, despite the fact that a significant proportion of Irish residents would have rather given the award to Chris DeBurgh, Boyzone or even fucking Jedward - anyone but that unutterable gimp Paul Hewson.

Imagine you could only vote in this referendum if you were Irish, and that the rest of the world could only look on in horror, BUT... as a consequence of the result, every single person on the face of the planet was forced to see Bono's smug mush on TV every night for the next 5 years, and we all had to listen to at least one U2 album a week BY LAW.

I don't know why I dreamt all this last night. It must have been something I ate.

Here's Stephin Merritt and the Gothic Archies...

Listening Post #13: The Dead Walk

I took Sam Trick or Treating last Thursday. It's not something I derive a whole lot of enjoyment from - "we never had all this malarkey when I was a kid", etc. etc. This time was a little different though, partly because (for once) it wasn't raining, but mostly because of the performance of the above couple, who went above and beyond in their dedication to All Hallow's Eve.

The man was dressed in a labcoat, smeared with blood, crouched over a mocked up corpse that was laid out on his drive, "eating its entrails". When unwary Trick or Treaters approached the house for sweets, he staggered out into the street moaning like an extra from The Walking Dead. Some kids screamed and ran away from him, but he kept up the act until his wife (dressed in a "Zombie Killer" T-shirt) shouted at him to "get back over and clean up your mess". To which he complied. They were both firmly in character and I've seen a lot of zombie movies with far worse acting.

Made my Halloween, so it did.

I did a Top Ten Zombie Songs way back in 2012. But here are a few more, not included on that list.

Harry Belafonte - Zombie Jamboree

Jan Davis - Watusi Zombie

Green On Red - Zombie For Love

The Pop Group - Citizen Zombie

Caroline Trettine - Human Zombie Blues

Disco Zombies - Disco Zombies

Billy Taylor & The Teardrops - Wombie Zombie

The Hooters - All You Zombies

The Monochrome Set - Love Zombies

The Young Werewolves - Zombie Car Chase

Faith No More - Zombie Eaters

The Flaming Lips - If I Only Had A Brain

And, especially for Ernie...

The Zombies - Time Of The Season

Namesakes #110: The Rockets

Remember, remember the 5th of November... the perfect time to set off some Rockets!

And have I got some Rockets for you...

THE ROCKETS #1

Let's start with three Dutch Rockets who, according to the translation I read, formed in 1950 and were still blasting off in 1982. God loves a trier. Here they are in 1979...

The Rockets - Weerd Schenk Mie In

THE ROCKETS #2

From 1952, here are some Kentucky Rockets led by one Harry Vann "Piano Man" Walls, as seen above...

The Rockets - Big Leg Mama 

THE ROCKETS #3

The Trumpeteers were a US gospel combo active from the late '40s through until the '80s. They also sang doo wop in the 50s as both The Rockets and The Four Rockets. I'm not sure whether they ever visited Scotland, but this appears to have been their biggest non-gospel hit... and I'm going out on a limb to guess this will be George's favourite today.  

The Rockets - Loch Lomond

THE ROCKETS #4

Originally calling themselves The Rhythm Aces (a name we'll undoubtedly come back to in the future) when they met on a US army base in Germany, these guys changed to The Rockets and then The Rocketeers (ditto) when they returned to Chicago and started hanging out with Johnny Otis.

The Rockets - Lovey Dovey

THE ROCKETS #5

Florida is the home of Cape Canaveral, so it's no surprise to find some Rockets there. NASA didn't set up shop till 1958 though... and these guys were around one year before that.

The Rockets - My Rockin' Baby

(SPACEMAN &) THE ROCKETS #6

Had to shoehorn these 1958 guys in because they're great, and they remind me of Captain Caveman...

Spaceman & The Rockets - Caveman Love

THE ROCKETS #7

US instrumental group from 1959 "under the direction of Dick Glasser". That's got to hurt.

The Rockets - Gibraltar Rock 

THE ROCKETS #8

Oregon rocket 'n' rollet from 1961...

The Rockets - Little Drummer 

THE ROCKETS #9

New Zealand instrumental combo from the early 60s. You can read their entire history here.

The Rockets - Gonzalez

THE ROCKETS #10

Featuring Lois June Lewsader (aka Lois Lee) on vocals, here are some Illinois Rockets from 1963...

The Rockets - Why Oh Why

THE ROCKETS #11

Danish Rockets from 1965 who clearly thought it'd be a wheeze to lynch one of their bandmates on a washing line...

The Rockets - She Said Yeah

LOS ROCKETS #12

Chilean band, active from 1965 through till the late 70s, doing a mix of Shadowsy intrumentals, surf tunes and covers.

Los Rockets - Playa Solitaria

THE ROCKETS #13

Long-running South African soul band, fronted by Colin "Bones" Delight, who got it together in 1967 and only called it a day last year. Here they are in 1976...

The Rockets - It Ain't What's On The Woman

THE ROCKETS #14

In 1968, three former members of LA doo-wop group Danny & The Memories transformed into a psychedelic folk rock gang called The Rockets. Soon after, they would change their name to Crazy Horse and begin an on-off affair as Neil Young's backing band. 

The Rockets - Hole In My Pocket

LOS ROCKETS #15

Nicaraguan jazz rock from 1968...

Los Rockets - Tarántula

THE ROCKETS #16

Meanwhile in Germany, these Rockets were rockin' in '68. This b-side is the only track I could find on the tube of you, which is disappointing, because I would have loved to hear "Du Bist So Wunderbar" or "Hey, Blondes Girl!"

The Rockets - Mein Girl Und Ich

(LES) ROCKETS #17

Originating in Paris in the year of my birth (1972), these guys were originally known as Crystal. They then changed their name to Rocket Men or Rocketters and started dressing as five aliens, with bald heads, grey eyes, silver skin and space suits. In 1975 they became (Les) Rockets and recorded the song below, which I'd like to tell you was a huge hit... although I can't find much evidence of that. Still, 128,000 views on the tube of you must be worth something.

Rockets - Future Woman

THE ROCKETS #18

Taking time off from their day-job as backing band for Dutch singer-songwriter Peter Koelewijn, these Rockets released a clutch of glam singles in the mid 70s.

The Rockets - Rock n Roll Drummer (Part 1) 

THE ROCKETS #19

Detroit Rockets founded by two former members of Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels, along with lead singer Dave Gilbert who was also a member of The New Order (see Namesakes #86) and The Free (see a future edition of Namesakes). They were active from '72 to '83, scraping into the US Top 40 in '79 with a cover of Fleetwood Mac's Oh Well. Here they are with one of their own compositions, from the same LP...

The Rockets - Can't Sleep

THE ROCKETS #20

70s pub-rockers from Ladbroke Grove, featuring one Oz Osbourne (not that one) on bass. 

The Rockets - Even Money

(HARRY TOLEDO &) THE ROCKETS #21

Discogs suggest this was a UK band, but their only single was produced by John Cale in New York, 1977, and Harry is wearing a "Made In USA" armband and singing about a US automotive company... but maybe he's trying too hard to convince us of his nationality.

Harry Toledo & The Rockets - Busted Chevrolet

THE ROCKETS #22

Aussie punks from Perth, active in 1979 and not for very long. Lead singer Roddy Radalj went on to form The Hoodoo Gurus about a year later.

The Rockets - Mean Mistress

THE ROCKETS #23

Swedish punks from the 90s...

The Rockets - Creatures' Nite Out

THE ROCKETS #24

Swiss Europop Rockets from 2003...

The Rockets - Don't Do That

THE ROCKETS #25

Greek rockabilly from 2005...

The Rockets - Rockin' Dream

THE ROCKETZ #26

LA "Psychobilly" band from 2005...

The Rocketz - Rise of the Undead

ROCKETS! #27

Canadian Rockets, with added exclamation mark, from 2007. If nothing else, they win the prize for today's best song titles, including Mr. Green, Your Days Are Numbered, Bacon, Bacon (Leaving The Attic), SohCahToa The Skullslayer and...

The Rockets - You’d Think Magicians Would Do It For The Love Of Magic, But No, They’re Only In It For The Coin

THE ROCKETS #28

Aussie indie band active from 2010 - 2013...

The Rockets - Madeline

THE ROCKETS #29

Sometimes I can't possibly write anything better than the biog on discogs...

"Swiss Rockabilly band, successor of Jerry And The Rockets, without Jerry."

This is also from 2013...

The Rockets - Teardrop Bop

THE ROCKETS #30

Indiana wants him... and they can have him. Only joking! "80s-Influenced Pop Project from Jesse Anderson," found on the Camp of Bands...

The Rockets - Razor's Edge Anthem

Quite a lot to go at there - but there were plenty more Rockets I couldn't find audio for. Honorary mention today goes to The Shit Rockets, because... at least they're honest about it.

But which Rockets rock your world... and which do you wish would put a sock in it?