Celebrity Jukebox #132: Marianne Faithfull

The first song that popped into my head when I heard about the sad departure of Marianne Faithfull was this...

Leonard Cohen - So Long, Marianne

I don't know why: it's not even about her, is it? 

Ironically, on the day Marianne died, I featured Wild Horses, a song many people believe Mick Jagger wrote about her... though Mick denies it.

The Rolling Stones - Wild Horses

Before we get onto the songs most people will remember Marianne for, here are a few more lyrical nods...

And I don't mind the nights and the low light

We spin 'round like records in the apartment

You still remind me of Marianne Faithfull

Lookin' like a picture taken outta the sixties

Brian Fallon - Among Other Foolish Things 

Her first breath

Is drawn through a cigarette

Her first drink

Last night's scotch

Just to wet her cracked lips

She looks at the man beside her

Lying in the bed

She doesn't know his name

She only hopes he's not dead

She feels like

Marianne Faithfull

Marianne Faithfull

She hopes at the end of the day

Someone remembers her name

Art Bergmann - Remember Her Name

And, of course, you know you're a legend when you end up in a Half Man Half Biscuit song...

I saw a young professional couple playing Poohsticks on a Cotswold bridge

I watched them walk along the banks of the Windrush eating jasmine ice cream

Before heading north to Warwick Arts Centre and Marianne Faithfull

Splendid

Half Man Half Biscuit - Twydale's Lament 

Anyhow. The song that most of the obituaries want us to remember by is her timeless Stones cover...

Marianne Faithfull - As Tears Go By

There's no denying she made that song her own. 

For me though, it doesn't get any better than her performance of this Shel Silverstein classic. This is the one I'll remember her by.

 

So long, Marianne.

Snapshots #381: A Top Twelve Songs About String Instruments

Viola and welcome to twelve songs with strings attached. Thank you for demonstrating your usual pluck and determination...

12. Soon became atheists.

Once they'd finished Losing Their Religion.

REM - Zither

11. Mates with David Hamilton.

He was known for hanging out with Diddy men.

Ken Dodd - Love Is Like A Violin

10. Rodney: not a plonker.

Nick Rodney Drake... definitely not a plonker.

Nick Drake - Cello Song

9. Frank & Jesse. (One song from each.)

Taken from the movie The Last Days of Frank and Jesse James, starring Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson.

Johnny Cash - Long-Legged Guitar Pickin' Man

(Or, if you stretch the criteria a little as I wanted to... Daddy Sang Bass.)

Kris Kristofferson - Don't Cuss The Fiddle

8. Compasses point them out.

Compasses point towards magnetic fields...

Magnetic Fields - Acoustic Guitar

7. How Superman gets his calcium.

Christopher Reeve used to like his milk.

Christopher Milk - A Second Hand Viola

6. This land is yours, son.

Woody Guthrie famously sang This Land Is Your Land. This son is his son...

Arlo Guthrie - Ukulele Lady

5. Deliver them from evil.

Extra clue here: they were both wearing name badges. Don't say I don't help you out!

Anyway, these are the guys who famously performed the track below in the movie Deliverance.

Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell - Duelling Banjos

4. Best to keep your Crown Jewels safe.

Towers Of London- Air Guitar

3. Chubby snorer gets shaken awake.

"Chubby snorer" was an anagram... of Bruce Hornsby.

Bruce Hornsby & The Range - Mandolin Rain

2. Irish light haulage driver.

That'll be Don O'Van.

Donovan - Hurdy Gurdy Man

1. Wonder Woman meets Friendly brother.

Wonder Woman's name is Diana. Ross was the only brother in Friends.

Diana Ross - My Old Piano

And yes, before anyone starts, a piano is a stringed instrument.

I'll be back to string you along with more of this nonsense next Saturday...

Saturday Snapshots #381

Let's be Frank - I don't make this quiz easy, do I?

In fact, I go out of my way to make it as tricky as I can... otherwise, you guys have worked out the answer in about 30 seconds flat.

Let's see how long it takes you this week to identify the assorted miscreants below and find a link between their songs... but be careful: I will only accept a precise answer this week. No wider generalisations!  

12. Soon became atheists.

11. Mates with David Hamilton.

10. Rodney: not a plonker.

9. Frank & Jesse. (One song from each.)

8. Compasses point them out.

7. How Superman gets his calcium.

6. This land is yours, son.

5. Deliver them from evil.

4. Best to keep your Crown Jewels safe.

3. Chubby snorer gets shaken awake.

2. Irish light haulage driver.

1. Wonder Woman meets Friendly brother.

The answers will Zappa onto a screen near you this time tomorrow morning...

Bertie Fridays #1: Here's Looking At You, Kid

This is our dog, Bertie. He's put on his best outfit for you.

And now, we're going to party like it's 2017, the year this blog embraced Kenny Wednesdays and Randy Tuesdays... with a celebration of rock 'n' roll's greatest Herberts. 

Starting with the one and only...

1. Bertie Higgins.

Elbert Joseph Higgins hailed from Florida where he started his working life as a ventriloquist and a sponge diver.

In 1982 he hit the US Top Ten with his debut single Key Largo, which appealed to Bogart and Baccall fans everywhere (including Terry Wogan and yours truly). The song tells the story of a young couple suffering through a long winter together, their only entertainment watching old films on the Late Late Show. Another single from the same album continued the theme...

Bertie Higgins - Casablanca

...but none of Bertie's subsequent records made quite the same splash as his hit named after the movie Key Largo.

We had it all
Just like Bogie and Bacall
Starring in our old late, late show
Sailing away to Key Largo

Here's lookin' at you kid
Missing all the things we did
We can find it once again, I know
Just like they did in Key Largo

Bertie's still touring though, and he was inducted into the Florida Music Hall of Fame in 2017. 

Next week... he's got the mad hits!

Sequel Songs #3: Wild Horses

Mick 'n' Keef wrote Wild Horses in 1969, recording a rough demo which they decided wasn't really worth taking any further. Mick denies popular speculation that the lyrics are about the end of his relationship with Marianne Faithful, while Keef reckons the song is about being sick of touring. 

The Stones gave a copy of the demo to their mate Gram Parsons who liked the song more than they did, recording it for the second Flying Burrito Brothers album, Burrito Deluxe, in 1970.

Hearing the Burrito version encouraged Mick 'n' Keef to give the song another chance, recording it properly for the album Sticky Fingers and releasing it as the follow-up single to Brown Sugar in the US.

Neither version made the UK charts, but in 2009 the song made our Top Ten thanks to a version recorded by Susan Boyle following her performance on America's Got Talent. Boyle chose the song because for her it reflected "a personal story about how achieving such massive success extremely quickly has affected her life". Before you pour scorn on Susan's version, you might be interested to read that Mick considered it a "ghostly version... much better than anything I had ever done".

Other memorable versions include...

The Sundays - Wild Horses

Leon Russell - Wild Horses

Alicia Keys - Wild Horses

None of these are sequels though - they're just covers. 

The sequel didn't arrive until 2022, thanks to this gorgeous story song by First Aid Kit from their album Palomino, in which two young lovers drive across America with Wild Horses on the car stereo... highlighting irreconcilable differences in their relationship.

We passed a canyon

We passed a fire brigade headed up the mountains

They said "The wood's ablazin'" and then we got hungry

Stopped at a diner

You flirted with the waitress and I didn't even care

Where do you go to when you look past me?

Do you see yourself miserable and free?

Such a strange notion, to see you clearly

When love's shadow stood up and left the room

We played Wild Horses on the car stereo

You prefer the Rolling Stones' and I like Gram's

No mention of Susan Boyle in this story. That really would have tested their relationship!

Mid-Life Crisis Songs #120: Pretty Women

My favourite song by Australian country singer Kasey Chambers is her Number 1 (Aussie chart) hit from 2002, Not Pretty Enough. Although Chambers was in her mid-20s when she wrote the song, it's the perfect insecure teenage lament...

This song came back to me when I heard its unofficial Mid-Life Crisis sequel from Linda Thompson.

As you may or may not be aware, due to a condition called spasmodic dysphonia, Linda is unable to sing anymore. That seems particularly cruel when you remember just how beautiful her voice used to be...

Richard & Linda Thompson - I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight

Anyway, Linda hasn't let this stop her putting out a new record, late last year. She just got friends and family to do the singing. Fortunately, she has some very talented friends and family, including son Teddy, daughter Kami, ex-husband Richard... plus the Wainwrights (Rufus and Martha), the Proclaimers and the Unthanks. In a stroke of genius, she even got John Grant to sing a song all about... John Grant. That really shouldn't work, but it does.

Linda Thompson & John Grant - John Grant

The stand out track though is the one sung by Manchester's Ren Harvieu. It could be heard as a woman lamenting the loss of her youthful beauty... but I'm guessing it's more a metaphor for the loss of that beautiful voice we heard earlier...

The album's called Proxy Music, which explains the reason Linda's chosen to dress and pose the way she has on the cover.

Namesakes #122: Steps

Eddie Cochran would have us believe that there are only Three Steps To Heaven. 

Well, I've got news for you, Eddie...!

THE STEPS #1

We'll start the climb with some Singapore Steps who enjoyed a long career from the late 60s to the 80s, both as their own group (mixing local tunes with a wide range of Western covers) and as a support act for a variety of female singers, including Ellya M. Haris, Sandra Sanger, Marini and Ivo Nilakreshna. 

The Steps - Sri Langkat

THE STEPS #2

Step two: from the Netherlands in 1969, some psychedelic pop from Chris van Putten, Henny Sluijs, Kees Sluijs, Joop Kortland and Herman van Eck. Van eck!

The Steps - You Are The Sun To Me

STEPS #3

If the words "Jazz Fusion" make you break out in a cold sweat, don't worry. Help is available from the Brecker brothers and their ever-changing roster of musicians who made a name for themselves in the New York jazz scene of the 70s and 80s, first as Steps... and then as Steps Ahead. 

Be warned though... treatment does take some time. Up to 11 minutes on the track below...

Steps - Uncle Bob

STEPPS #4

And if that wasn't enough... wait till you meet these Aussie jazz rock/fusion/progressive rock dudes with two Ps in their name, formerly known as Snakes Alive. Very popular in Sidney in the late 70s, apparently, "they used to pack the Royal George Hotel every Friday night." Only 50 copies of their album Waltz For Tiger Joe were printed... but youtube has the whole thing, if you're interested.

Stepps - Kolour Kode

STEPS #5

Another jazz band, this one hailing from the exotic climes of Bristol in 1977, with less fusion this time.

Steps - Same But Different

THE STEPPES #6

Being Geographically ignorant, I always thought the Eastern European Steppes were a mountain range... when actually, they're the complete opposite: a large area of flat grassland. 

I almost neglected to research bands with this particular spelling, which would have been a shame, wouldn't it? Our first group of Steppes come from London in 1979...

The Steppes - The Beat Drill

THE STEPS #7

Perfectly serviceable Wisconsin power pop from 1982. These guys also recorded under the name Bacchus Lotus, which is where I got the picture.

The Steps - Don't Want You

STEPS #8

Step up to some funky AOR from North Carolina in 1982. Beyond that, I know nothing, but I was pleased to find this one uploaded on the tube of you...

 Steps- Sugar

THE STEPS #9

Swiss Steps from the early 80s with a nice line in moustaches (except the guy second from the left who was probably called Frank Moustache). I don't know if this was their biggest "hit", but it was the one with the most views on tubular youbular... a massive 177 when I played it. I'm sure that will go up after today.

The Steps - Friend

THE STEPS #10

Southern Californian punk band from 1982, led by songwriter Paul Almanza who went on to form Chainsaw Pop, Million Six, Battery Life and The Curbhounds. Well, it kept him off the streets.

The Steps - It's Only Life

THE STEPPES #11

More Steppes, this time of the half Irish, half American variety, and formerly known as The Blue Macs. Here they are in 1985...

The Steppes - History Hates No Man

THE STEPS #12

French synth-pop from 1986. Could this be today's winner? Don't be a fool...

The Steps - Don't Be A Fool

STEPS #13

H, Clair, Faye... the other two. Together, they sold 5 million albums and almost as many singles. They formed in 1997 in that London, split up in 2001, then got back together ten years later for a reunion which appears to be still ongoing. I'm sure you're all aware that they chose their name to go along with their dance routines - the steps of which were included on the CD insert with every song. Who needs a lyric sheet when you've got dance steps?

Steps - Stomp

(I picked that video just because I enjoyed the idea of George having to sit through all 3 minutes 38 of it).

STEPPES #14

And finally, a third group of Steppes, from Michigan in 2017. Their page on the camp of bands tells us, "Combining honest lyrics with a real sense of fun and optimism... intricate, melodic guitars mesh with pop structures that make each track memorable and singible.” 

That's not how I'd spell singable. Decent tune though.

Steppes - Marceline The Vampire

Which Steps make you want to Step Up... and which ones do you want to push down the stairs?

Listening Post #21: Confidence Is A Preference

I can't hear the name "Lawrence" without hearing it said by Jack Nicholson in Tim Burton's first Batman movie. The only reason I remember that Lawrence was one of the Joker's goons in that film is because of this...

Prince - Partyman

I was going to link to the video, but in that, Prince loses the Nicholson quote in favour of his own stylish intro...

Prince - Partyman (video version)

Lawrence is also the surname of two New York siblings called Gracie and Clyde, who, together with six of their mates, have been causing a minor commotion on the US music scene... while also actively speaking out against the Ticketmaster / Live Nation cartel, so good on them for that.

I've been listening to their latest album, Family Business, recently. This is my favourite track... for obvious reasons.

Snapshots #380: A Top Twelve Songs About American Automobiles

Here are this week's answers, with a Lincoln at the top of the page.

I really wanted to include this... but it would have been just too obvious.

Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen - Hot Rod Lincoln

Here's the ones that were a little less obvious...

12. Lennon's Candyman. 

Sammy (Davis Jr.)? He belongs to John. 

Sammy Johns - Chevy Van

11. Crocodile, crocodile... I'm a big fan!

Lyle Lyle Crocodile! Love it!

Lyle Lovett - Pontiac

10. Take a journey across Grandaddy's lake.

Grandaddy had a Crystal Lake. Take a trip!

Crystal Trip - Stingray

9. Pull to slow your descent.

The Rip Chords - Hey Little Cobra

8. Follows Ray Parker into the All Terrain Armoured Transport. Sirius, Polaris, Antares.

Ray Parker is followed by Jr. The All Terrain Armoured Transport was also known as a Walker, as Star Wars fans will know. Sirius, Polaris and Antares are all stars.

JR Walker & The All Stars - (I’m a) Road Runner

7. Groundhog: wood... seer. 

A groundhog is also known as a woodCHUCK. A seer is a prophet.

Chuck Prophet - Ford Econoline

6. Sean & Julian.

Second Lennon clue of the day. Sean and Julian are John's children.

John's Children - Mustang Ford

5. Bald, bony, rather confused fella.

"Bald, bony" was an anagram.

Bob Dylan - From A Buick 6

4. Spring flowers (purple).

The March Violets - Eldorado

3. Cock-up at the Ministry of Defence.

Cock-up the MOD to make OMD...

OMD - Tesla Girls

2. Dark Side of the Dean.

Dark Side of The Moon meets Dean Martin.

Moon Martin - Cadillac Walk

1. One from the Spin Doctors.

The Spin Doctors sang about Two Princes.

Prince - Little Red Corvette

The Snapshots Drive-Thru will re-open next Saturday morning at 8.30...