Tuesday, 17 February 2026

Namesakes #176: The Artful Dodger(s)

 We’re going to pick a pocket or two this week, guvnors!

Charles Dickens will be turning in his grave…

 

ARTFUL DODGER #1

We start our dodging with a Virginia-based power pop band, formed in 1973, though they kept going until the early 80s despite much success. I’m wondering if their discogs entry might have been written by a bitter ex-band band member… “Artful Dodger's studio releases received high critical praise, but the band was unable to penetrate the charts due to factors including lack of record company support as the emergence of punk rock and new wave garnered increased attention and marketing dollars.”

Damn those record companies!

Artful Dodger - Wayside

 

THE ARTFUL DODGERS #2

UK band, dodging and weaving in 1978. “Members Lindsay Honey, Paul Jackson and John Jay later turned up in The Ian Mitchell Band.” See next week’s Namesakes. (Only joking!)

The Artful Dodgers – Here We Go

 

ARTFUL DODGER #3

If you’re one of those people who shudders at the sound of Tubular Bells… imagine the dance remix. Hey, you don’t have to imagine it – 1996 is knocking and it wants its dance remixes back. The Ogs tells me that this particular AD was an alias for Michael Hazell, aka The Pied Piper. But the tube of you suggests Paul “Oakey” Oakenfold might have had a hand in it too.

Artful Dodger - Tubular Bells

 

ARTFUL DODGER #4

Baltimore indie-ska band from 1996.

The Artful Dodgers – Home All Alone

 

ARTFUL DODGER #5

UK Garage act from South Hampton, notable for getting up to mischief with Craig David and also giving comedian Leigh Francis a career. Mark Hill and Pete Devereux were the Artful Dodger, but when they fell out in 2001, their record company bought the name and got another two blokes to step in. When Hill and Devereux made up 16 years later, they had to call themselves Original Dodger instead.

Artful Dodger feat. Craig David - Re-Rewind (The Crowd SayBo Selecta)

 

THE ARTFULL DODGERS #6

What at difference an extra L makes. Midwestern rap attach from da turna da century.

The Artfull Dodgers - Still Writing Rhymes


Not the most inspired week of Namesakes, but at least there were only six of them.


2 comments:

  1. #1 is ok, it won't be appearing on my Downloads series but it's a pleasant listen. Prolonged listening to #3 could put me off Tubular Bells! The recording of #4 was too low for my deaf old ears, #5 is just annoying rubbish, indeed so bad that I am looking forward to listening to #6 despite your description

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. #6 was of course bobbins and it's #1 for me this week.

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