The Legend of CD 108: Part 2

In-depth analysis (or random, disconnected musings) of three more of the songs from the 108^th in-car CD I made for my son, Sam – the CD that has passed into legend as the one to beat in his eyes/ears… although I’m not quite sure why.

 

Track 4: INXS - Devil Inside

INXS are one of those bands who appear to have completely disappeared off everyone’s radar. There was a point in the late-80s / early-90s when it seemed like they were poised for world-conquering greatness – an Australian U2, but without the big God Complex eedjit and his dumb-ass cronies… and with far better tunes (Baby Don’t Cry must surely make Bono weep buckets every time he hears it). 

Then, of course, it all went wrong. First there was the rather duff 1997 “comeback” record Elegantly Wasted, followed soon after Michael Hutchence's sudden death. There’s nothing to be gained from rehashing all that, but I can’t help wondering what might have been. The band soldiered on without their frontman, trying out a variety of new vocalists (including Terence Trent D’Arby) and even putting themselves through the humiliation of an X-Factor-style talent show as part of the auditions. But for many fans, the idea of INXS without Michael was like Queen without Freddie or The Doors without Jim. Sometimes it’s better to just call it a day.

Anyway, Devil Inside is by no means my favourite INXS song. It wasn’t even a hit in the UK, unlike four of the other singles from Kick. Personally, I’d choose anything from their creative zenith, the outstanding disc Welcome to Wherever You Are. But it’s a good enough tune, I suppose, and keeps the CD moving along nicely. Momentum is important in a compilation.

 

Track 5: The Byrds - I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better

Also not a hit in the UK, and not really one of their better-known tunes, but I always like a good anti-love song… although there’s much debate in Byrding Circles about whether this is a plain old diss track or a more complex ode to indecision. They key word that suggests the latter is the fact that Gene Clark sings, “I’ll probably feel a whole lot better when you’re gone”. Because sometimes when we end a relationship, we’re left with a nagging doubt over whether we’ve done the right thing.

Tom Petty does a cracking cover, but that goes without saying.

There’s no reason why this tune should appeal to a 12 year old who likes Juice WRLD, Alex Warren and Imagine Dragons… any more than thousands of other songs I’ve introduced him to through these CDs. I doubt it’s directly responsible for CD108’s legendary status… but it fits nicely into the mix.

Track 6: Ocean Colour Scene - Huckleberry Grove

I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better started life in 1965 as the B-side to All I Really Want to Do. And that leads us nicely onto another B-side, or maybe even D-side, since it was track 4 on the CD single release of Ocean Colour Scene’s first UK Top Ten hit, You've Got It Bad in 1996. Despite its ignoble birth, Huckleberry Grove went on to become one of the band’s most-loved songs, first when it was given pride of place as Track 1 on their ragtag off-cuts compilation, B-sides, Seasides and Freerides, and then later when it popped up on their Greatest Hits collection alongside all the big hits. It’s the very definition of the Little Engine That Could.

Now I know what many of you think about OCS – that they somehow represent Britpop at its Satanic, nostalgia-inducing, Weller-shagging worst – and I’m not about to change your mind about that here. But it’s a lovely little tune if you can get past all that, and arguably much better than the single it was initially bolted onto as a throwaway bonus track. (That particular single has yet to make it onto one of Sam's compilations. But I might add it to the next one.)

 

Where will this CD go next? Find out soon… as if you care.