Namesakes #204: The Cult

Yes, I said The Cult. Should've gone to Specsavers.

There's comes a point in all our lives when we have to seriously consider joining a cult.

Here are a few you might want to choose from...

THE CULT #1

We kick off with an Aussie Cult from 1965. Check your playing needle. A damaged stylus can ruin this recording.

The Cult - You're Just My Kind

THE CULT #2

One year later in the US of A, this Cult were making a stand...

The Cult - Here I Stand

THE CULT #3

As we arrive in 1975, we discover a Vegas-based funk and soul Cult dedicated to protecting postal workers... 

The Cult - The Mail Must Go Through

THE CULT #4

Originally known as Death Cult, until they mended their ways, Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy formed their own Cult in Bradford* back in 1983... and they're still going strong.

*They live in LA now though. Can't imagine why.

The Cult - She Sells Sanctuary

THE CULT #5

And we close back in Australia with a live recording from the Sedition Festival at Sydney's Trade Union Club in April 1983...

The Cult - Special Boy Legal Man

Which Cult makes you want to drink the Kool Aid?

One Track Summer #21: My Favourite

My old friend Adrian messaged me on the book of faces to recommend a tune, "I heard this nostalgic indie track which namechecks M&M, the trouble is it's hard to find out anything about the band because the name just brings up people's favourite bands."

Yes, calling your band My Favorite is probably not recommended in the internet age, but it turns out (with a little help from discogs) that these guys originated in 1993 - so before the downfall of civilization. 

My Favorite were from Long Island, New York, and I'm posting this here because I think it will appeal to certain readers (mainly Martin and JC, possibly Jim in Dubai). Definitely worth further investigation...

Rich kids hate the skinheads, and the skinheads hate the rich kids.

She gets thrown in with the deal.

She knows just how it feels when God hates you and mothers run away.

She says, "I'm gonna kill someone." 

Alone at school she sits and dreams of Johnny Marr and Morrissey. 

But tonight she'll wear his working class jacket over her prom dress 

And dance as the pop song sings,

"It's a crazy world, and you're a messed up kid, "

And that's why you're my favorite, and I believe in you.

Snapshots #463: Songs About Female Animals

All right, hen?

Doe, a deer, a female deer... etc. etc.

15. Taxi for Ms. Leandros!

Vicki Leandros was the most famous Vicky I could think of. Could you do better?

Vikki Carr - With Pen In Hand

A pen is a female swan. She could still break your arm.

14. How you get to being in love.

You fall in love... as Mark E. did with Brix.

The Fall - Vixen

13. Diminished Ashcroft.

Little Richard - Good Golly Miss Molly

A female mule is called a Molly.

12. A rakish lass gets confused.

"A rakish" was an anagram.

Shakira - She Wolf

11. Mingled with bartender snot.

"Bartender snot" was a very unfortunate anagram.

Brett Anderson - The Empress

An empress is a female chimpanzee.

10. Decidedly average.

Middle of the Road - Queen Bee

9. Madonna, Tiger, Pink Pixie, African Queen.

Lilys - A Nanny In Manhattan

8. I'm Rhino Syrup!

Lots of anagrams today. Lazy.

Roisin Murphy - Sow Into You

7. Wyreless.

Raydio - Jack and Jill

Jill is a female ferret.

6. When Burgess met Mel.

Burgess Meredith meets Mel Brooks.

Meredith Brooks - Bitch

5. Agraite mausoleum.

The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum in Agra.

Taj Mahal - Little Red Hen Blues

4. Between All and One, what Romans call home.

All Bar One, and Italia.

Bar Italia - Lioness

3. Bobby, sounds like custard and Mellow.

Bobby Byrd, Bird's Custard, Mellow Birds.

The Byrds - Chestnut Mare

2. LSD Eeyore got really messed up.

"LSD Eeyore" was another anagram.

Lee Dorsey - Holy Cow

1. Eccles girl meets Trini.

Jennifer Eccles meets Trini Lopez.

A Jenny is a female donkey... or a wren.

Jennifer Lopez - Jenny From The Block

Back on the block next Saturday morning...

Saturday Snapshots #463

Hopefully there's nothing Gettin' In The Way of you enjoy this week's Snapshots. Stop Daydreamin' and start working out who these people are... and how their songs might be connected.

15. Taxi for Ms. Leandros!

14. How you get to being in love.

13. Diminished Ashcroft.

12. A rakish lass gets confused.

11. Mingled with bartender snot.

10. Decidedly average.

9. Madonna, Tiger, Pink Pixie, African Queen.

8. I'm Rhino Syrup!

7. Wyreless.

6. When Burgess met Mel.

5. Agraite mausoleum.

4. Between All and One, what Romans call home.

3. Bobby, sounds like custard and Mellow.

2. LSD Eeyore got really messed up.

1. Eccles girl meets Trini.

Answers tomorrow morning.

Celebrity Jukebox #85: Tim Curry

I'm not one of those people who cherishes The Rocky Horror Picture Show as a highpoint in movie/musical history. Neither am I one of those people who hates the very mention of its name. I thought it was a pretty good movie, watched it a couple of times, had a laugh or two (I particularly like the bit with Meat Loaf)... but never felt the need to dress up and sing the songs at a revival night.

I don't have the legs for it.

Still, as powerful as that performance may well be, it'd be a shame if it was all we remembered Tim Curry for. He was also the original Pennywise, from the 1990 adaptation of Stephen King's It... not a classic, but better than the recent two part movie series (one good film, one terrible film - and they shouldn't have been split up to past and present like that anyway, it diminished the story). He was the Darkness in Legend and Long John Silver in Muppet Treasure Island. Perhaps not the most illustrious of career paths when you look at his full résumé, but that wicked twinkle of his eye generally improved any movie he showed up in.

Tim also gets a name drop from top Aussie hip hop group The Hilltop Hoods... always worth a spin.

And the thought of him helps Anna B. Savage finish... erm... what she's doing... in the song below...

Anna B. Savage - Chelsea Hotel #3

I was actually quite surprised how many times Tim's name crops up in song...

I am Tim Curry from "It" 

My heart is made out of shit

Shelf Life - Good Son

Went to see a movie

Face wasn't Tim Curry

I think I'm going to pop

I don't think I can stop

Ty Segall & White Fence - Tommy's Place

Living in a haunted home

Would be fine if I lived with a friend

It'd be no worry

If I lived with Tim Curry

But I don't, so this nightmare won't end

Let's Make A Music - Haunted Home

You may argue that some of those are even less illustrious than the lesser movies Tim appeared in... but immortality is immortality.

I've saved the best for last though. Not many of Tim's obits will mention his brief turn as a pop star, releasing three albums in the late 70s / early 80s. Coincidentally, I featured one of his best tracks on last week's Snapshots. But here's his biggest hit (#91 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979)...