Snapshots Spillover: More Record Labels In Song

A few more record labels I had left over after this weekend's celebration, starting with the obvious one...

Followed by some more beloved... and not so beloved labels...

Kamikaze Pilots - Sharon Signs to Cherry Red

Woody Guthrie - Roll On, Columbia

Graham Central Station - It Ain't Nothing But A Warner Brothers Party

Hugh Cornwell - Blue Note

Jimmy Buffett - Ace

Faith No More - Epic

Kiss - Charisma

Jazzy Jay - Def Jam

Rick Wakeman - Stax

Godley & Creme - Rhino Rhino

Bertie Higgins - Casablanca

Box of Frogs - Asylum

Gregg Diamond - Arista Vista

Richard Strauss - Elektra

The Verve - Reprise

(That was kind of a two-for-one deal.)

Joni Mitchell - The Sire Of Sorrow

Thinking about Sire Records also reminded me of this...

Belle and Sebastian - Seymour Stein

While Joni also led me to this song about Record Company boss David Geffen...

Joni Mitchell - Free Man In Paris

And while I couldn't find any songs with Parlophone in the title, I then remembered this...

Just when the Beta Band was about to start
It all started in London town
When we gave our demo to Phil Brown
Then we met Miles at Parlophone
And let him hear "Dog's Got a Bone"
He said go to Chalk Farm and put it on wax
The next few weeks was spent cutting four tracks

The Beta Band - The Beta Band Rap

Some of those were clearly not about record labels... but a lot of them were.

For balance, considering how many pop stars end up slagging off their labels in song... here's someone who loves his. (I think.)

Monday Morning Blues #2: The Original Talkin' Blues

I'm a big fan of Talkin' Blues songs, as popularised by the likes of  Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie and Phil Ochs, and in more recent times by artists such as Todd Snider and Dan Bern. They say it's the original rap music, and who am I to argue with they?

But what was the first ever Talkin' Blues record? Well, it's this one, by Chris Bouchillon, recorded in 1926. Apparently he had a terrible singing voice, but a great sense of humour...

Blues to cheer up your Monday morning. That's what we need!

2020 Contenders: Woody Vs. Trump

The gentleman on the left is one Frederick Christ* Trump, father of the devil himself. (Although, to be fair, the devil's much smarter than Donald, and would know which way up to hold a Bible.)

The gentleman on the right is Woody Guthrie.

Many, many years ago, Fred Trump was Woody Guthrie's landlord. In 1954, Woody Guthrie wrote a song about "the racist housing practices and discriminatory rental policies" of his landlord, but never recorded it. The lyrics were unearthed years later and recorded by both U.S. Elevator, and later by Ryan Harvey, with Ani DiFranco & Tom Morello.

I suppose that Old Man Trump knows just how much racial hate

He stirred up in that bloodpot of human hearts

When he drawed that colour line

Here at his Beach Haven family project

Beach Haven ain't my home!

No, I just can't pay this rent!

My money's down the drain,

And my soul is badly bent!

Beach Haven is Trump’s Tower

Where no black folks come to roam,

No, no, Old Man Trump!

Old Beach Haven ain't my home!

U.S. Elevator - Beach Haven Ain't My Home

Ryan Harvey - Old Man Trump

Eliza Gilkyson revisits this story on her new album 2020. But rather than recording another version of Woody's lyrics, she's unearthed a letter, written by Guthrie and sent directly to Trump Sr. It was written two years before the song above and is a little more upbeat in tone, pleading with Trump to change his evil ways, “tear down these race hate locks” and “rip out the strangling red tape” that stopped non-white people living in the same apartment complex as Woody.

It's the ultimate Positive Song For Negative Times... written 68 years ago.

And we could shake hands together

And get together

And walk together

And talk together

And sing together

And dance together

And work together

And play together

The more things change...


(*That's not a joke. Fred's father was a Trump, his mother was a Christ. Google it if you don't believe me. Like everything else about The Donald, it's beyond parody.)

Saturday Snapshots #99: The Answers

Turns out there are quite a lot of pictures on the internet featuring Debbie Harry holding a camera. Others have featured here before, but I can't believe it's taken me 99 weeks to find this one.

I think it was a draw this week between Alyson and Lynchie. I'm sure Lynchie will tell me if that's not the case. Thank you for playing, as always.


10. Dustbin wagon brings the fire extinguisher - with an arrogant chat-up line.

There used to be a kid at our school who was particularly scruffy, so everybody called him "Dennis" because that's what it said in the front of the dustbin wagons.

Water, man, that's what puts out fires.

Dennis Waterman - I Could Be So Good For You

I never tire of watching this video. Especially the bit when he uses his charms on the policewoman. Ah, different times.

Oh, by the way. He may have sung the theme tune, but he didn't write it.

9. Wild stallions on Ms. Sod.

Too easy.

The Osmonds - Crazy Horses

8. Anarchist hippy dream of Greasy Yorke.

Sandy was the heroine of Grease.

Thom is a son of Yorke.

Sandi Thom - I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker (With Flowers In My Hair)

"I was born too late into a world that doesn't care..."

This song might not sound very cool to you, but the lyrics are more relevant than ever.

7. Neckline that goes well with socks. What new parents say to nursery.

V-neck, bobby socks.

Bobby Vee - Take Good Care Of My Baby

The vocal performance here is astonishing.

6. Beautiful chick.

Babybird - You're Gorgeous

5. Take a sad song and make it better - past time for tara.

The lyrics are from Hey Jude, written about this chap, apparently.

Julian Lennon - Too Late For Goodbyes

4. Cheers barman in our own country.

Woody was the barman in Cheers, obviously.

Woody Guthrie - This Land Is Your Land

3. Like 4; like Sinatra too (almost).

#4. Woody Guthrie, was a folksinger.

Sinatra was, of course, Frank.

That was a tough one. Congrats to Back From The Beach. I couldn't even find it on youtube, so I had to upload it myself.

Phranc - Folksinger

2. Downhill nun meets Fred Astaire.

Sister Sledge - He's The Greatest Dancer

1. Pop Sr. appalled by fly-tipping in the woods.

Still sends shivers down my spine, this song.



Next week: Saturday Snapshots #100. In case you couldn't work that out for yourself.

My Top Ten Shipwreck Songs

Until someone lays down a record about The Poseidon Adventure, these are my favourite shipwreck songs...


10. IAMX - The Great Shipwreck of Life

Ex-Sneaker Pimp Chris Corner has made some interesting records under his new IAMX identity. This is one of the strongest.

Release cold gender bombs,
on chromonial closets, middle England.
Stay with me.
I'll be Peter Pan and you just be pretty.

But no, I've no idea what 'chromonial' means either.

9. Neil Diamond - Captain of a Shipwreck

Neil Diamond's stripped back Rick Rubin renaissance wasn't quite as successful as Rubin's glorious re-invention of Johnny Cash, but it did produce a couple of interesting albums. And Neil's voice is still dynamite.

8. Julian Cope - The Shipwreck of St. Paul

Julian gets biblical on our arses. That's like the First of the Fallen giving Sunday School classes. Scary stuff!

7. Woody Guthrie - When That Great Ship Went Down

A US marine in WWII, Woody Guthrie worked in the mess, washed dishes and sang songs to keep the crew's spirits up. Although none of the ships he served on actually sank, one hit a mine and another was torpedoed during the D-Day invasion of Normandy. So I guess he knows what he's talking about more than the rest of the people on this list.

6. Kirsty MacColl - Titanic Days

Probably this week's most tenuous link, but any excuse to dig out some Kirsty. We'll return to this "unsinkable" ship a little later...

Tragically, Kirsty MacColl lost her life in a boating "accident". Her family fought long and hard to see justice done in her name.

5. The Divine Comedy - The Wreck Of The Beautiful

A - ahem - beautiful and haunting tale of an old ship consigned to the breaker's yard along with all her ghosts.

I thought I heard her call, maybe I heard nothing at all.
I thought I heard her call from the wreck of the Beautiful.

4. Jim O'Rourke - Ghost Ship in a Storm

Speaking of haunting... and beautiful.

Jim O'Rourke's ghost ship must surely owe something to MacArthur Park too...

It’s just my luck
I get hit by a car
While carrying a cake
Dripping cherries
Onto pavement
Bride and groom on my face
I’m not there like a ghost ship in a storm

Another damned cake left out in the rain.

3. Harry Chapin - Dance Band on the Titanic

Harry's tribute to the most famous shipwreck ever. A great story song, telling how the band kept playing to help calm panicked passengers right up until the last minute. All those brave musicians went down with their ship.

2. Gordon Lightfoot - The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald

Probably the most famous song ever written about a shipwreck (what do you mean you've never heard it?), Lightfoot's Canadian classic. A true epic, even Lightfoot thinks it's his best song, it was memorably covered by the Dandy Warhols and Laura Cantrell, among others.

In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed
In the Maritime Sailors' Cathedral
The church bell chimed 'til it rang twenty-nine times
For each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
Superior, they said, never gives up her dead
When the gales of November come early

1. George Harrison - Wreck of the Hesperus

Another one from my teenage years, though it's actually a song about growing old. The Wreck of the Hesperus is a grimly tragic poem by Longfellow and Harrison uses it here as a metaphor for his advancing years. While he feels "old as Methuselah", he at least consoles himself that he isn't yet as decrepit as the titular ship.

I'm not a power of attorney
But I can rock as good as Gibraltar
Ain't no more no spring chicken
Been plucked but I'm still kicking
But it's alright, it's alright

So exactly how old was George when he wrote this song?

44.

Two years older than I am now.

But I know where he was coming from. Call it Mid-Life Crisis if you will, but I've been feeling my age a lot lately. Lifting and carrying Sam - and while he's still less than year, he is - officially - the tallest baby in the Colne Valley (people often mistake him for a 2 year-old) has brought on all sorts of aches and pains. My back was never that good anyway, but now I ache all over... don't even start me on my knees. Or the grey hairs which have multiplied over the last 12 months. I wouldn't be without any of these ailments, they're all worth it... but 42 ain't that old, neither was 44 George.

Of course, George Harrison died in 2001, aged just 58. So technically, 44 was well-past middle-aged for him. However, by the age of 44, he'd lived more than I could in ten lifetimes. Louise tells me that my own life expectancy is 100+ (and she works in pensions, so she has to know these things) while Sam could well live to 120, barring a zombie apocalypse. So it's all relative. And it doesn't matter anyway as nobody ever reads these bits, so it's not like I'm expecting you to counsel me through my MLC or anything. Sometimes it just helps to get these thoughts down on the page. Writing has always been my confidante, and this blog is just about the only writing I do these days, bar lesson planning. 

But it's alright, it's alright
It's alright, alright
It's alright

Which one is your iceberg?

My Top Ten Glory Songs

I have finally completed my PGCE - glory, hallelujah!


10. Peter Cetera - Glory Of Love

Yes, I am a teenager of the 80s - and proud of it. 

From Karate Kid Part II, in case you were trying to remember.

The Chicago frontman has one EVIL stare in this video. Those are almost BOWIE eyes.

9. Johnny Cash - This Train Is Bound For Glory

A Woody Guthrie anthem that offers a counterpoint to our #2 song. 

8. Leonard Cohen - Morning Glory

Even by Lenny's own bizarre standards, this one's madness.

Is it censorship?
No, it's evaporation.

Ten extra marks if you can even begin to explain what this is about.

7. Ron Sexsmith - Former Glory

Classy.

6. Jon Bon Jovi - Blaze of Glory

You know you'd have moaned if this hadn't been here. Yes, you would. Don't try to deny it.

I'm a colt in your stable
I'm what Cain was to Abel
Mister Catch Me If You Can

From Young Guns Part II, in case you were trying to remember. I bet Jon By Jovi was bloody cold filming that video.

5. The Clash - Death Or Glory

Just another story...

Now every cheap hood strikes a bargain with the world
And ends up making payments on a sofa or a girl...

I suppose I could have quoted the lyric about nuns... but I'll leave that to #2.

4. Kathleen Edwards - I Make The Dough, You Get The Glory

A songwriting partnership hits the ropes. Classic Kathleen.

You're cool and cred like Fogerty
I'm Elvis Presley in the 70's
You're Chateauneuf, I'm Yellow Label
You're the buffet, I'm just the table
I'm a Ford Tempo, you're a Maserati

3. Frank Turner - Glory Hallelujah

Put your hands together for Frank's atheist gospel anthem. 

2.  Pulp - Glory Days

The closing track of the greatest album of the 90s. In My Humble Opinion.

Oh and I could be a genius if I just put my mind to it, and I,
I could do anything if only I could get round to it.
Oh, we were brought up on the Space-Race,
Now they expect you to clean toilets.
When you've seen how big the world is,
How can you make do with this?

1. Bruce Springsteen - Glory Days

One of the very best songs of the 80s. If I close my eyes and listen to it now, I can only remember the good parts of being a teenager...

Yeah, just sitting back trying to recapture a little of the glory of... 
Well, time slips away and leaves you with nothing mister 
But boring stories of glory days

Which one fills you with glory?

P.S. Glorious songs have been saved for another post. Don't mither.