Song 146 - A life less ordinary by Ash

Like all good genres in music, the Britpop bands had their place in the films directed at the 1990s and one of the emerging director during this period was Danny Boyle.  Boyle would produce three iconic films of the 1990s; Shallow Grave,  Trainspotting and A life less ordinary that would launch not only his career as a director but the career of Ewan MacGregor, who would go on to star in films like Star Wars and Moulin Rouge. Each of Boyle's 90s film contain a kick-ass soundtrack and for today's song I am looking no further than the title track from the film of A life less ordinary. 

The request for Ash to work on the soundtrack of the film came straight from Danny Boyle and the title track was released on 13 October 1997. Written by the band's lead singer, Tim Wheeler, who stated the song was written about his muse, the White Goddness, a character from a Robert Graves book. Wheeler describe the songs as a weird love song and a description of how he would sell his soul for something to believe in. The song reached number 10 in the chart.

From Downpatrick in Northern Ireland, Ash formed in 1992 and released their first full album, 1977 in 1996. Hailed as one of the 500 greatest albums of all times by NME, Ash isn't particularly fond of the association with Britpop due to being Irish and in some ways has outlived many of the Britpop bands as they are still performing today. Starting life as a three piece band, they recruited Charlotte Hatherley as a guitar and they would remain a four piece band until 2006, when she left the band.

Like the film for Danny Boyle, this is probably not the most well known of Ash's songs from this period but it has its own charm but you can let your own ears decide.

To hear the song
A life less ordinary by Ash


Written by Tim Wheeler
Released: October 1996
Album: A life less ordinary (Official track)

Song 145 - Good enough by Dodgy

Written by band member Nigel Clark, Good Enough was Dodgy's biggest hit in the 1990s, reaching number 4 in July 1996.  Taken from the album Free Peace Sweet, the song became a summer  anthem and was used in the film Sliding Doors.

Free Peace Sweet was released in June 1996 and debut at number 7 in the charts and in its first year of release sold in the region of 400,000 copies. It was Dodgy's third album and released by their new record label A&M. The band had previously worked with Mercury but due to difference between the label and the band's outlook, the two parted company before the album was released.

The band was formed in the late 1980s, when Nigel Clark and Matthew Priest joined up with David Griffith and became famous for their live performances. Their debut album The Dodgy Album was produced by Ian Broudie, from the Lightning Seeds, charted at number 75. Concerned with the social issues around them, they supported causes like youth democracy campaigns and War Child. They were the second UK band to return to Sarajevo after the lifting of the siege, giving a concert at Kuk Club in August 1996. They returned to Bosnia in 1997 to film.

Between 1998 - 2007, Clark took a break from the band to pursue solo projects but returned in 2007, where the band has continued to play live to raise awareness of social issues around the UK, including taking part in the Shelter campaign of hidden gigs in 2009.

They have always been a band Good Enough for me.

To listen to their 1996,
Good Enough by Dodgy

Written by Nigel Clark
Released: July 1996
Album: Free Peace Sweet.

Song 144 - Stupid girl by Garbage

Now I don't know whether you would really class Garbage as a Britpop band, but their music was playing out on the dance floor along with Oasis and Ocean Colour Scene at the same time. Also, I feel we had a run of male dominated bands so I wanted to add the brilliant vocals of Shirley Manson into the jukebox, and Garbage's 4th international single release in 1996.

With a beautifully repetitive baseline taken from The Clash's Train in vain hit, Stupid Girl's lyrics are about female empowerment. The origins of the track started in 1994, where Garbage minus Shirley Manson started sampling the tune using an ADAT eight Track and samplers. This was brought together with the drums and baseline by using the Clash's song. Manson would join the group after two auditions and the lyrics for the song would be some of the first lyrics she had ever written. When writing the song,  her take on Stupid girl was to create a girl who wouldn't settle for anything less than what she wants.  People still question Garbage to who was the Stupid girl.

Stupid Girl was released in the UK in March and debuted at number 4 in the UK Singles Chart. It spent 7 weeks in the Top 75 and sold approximately 120,000 copies. Taken from their self-named album, which debut at number 12 in the chart, it was picked up and remixed by the dance scene which turned the single platinum.

If Britpop was a move away from the Grunge scene, then Garbage bridged the two. Butch Vig, one of the founder members of band had produced Nevermind by Nirvana, who were the essence of Grunge, a fact played down when Garbage were looking for a record deal as they wanted to avoid a bidding war over Vig's producer experience. I think it is little facts like this that makes the music world really interesting as everything has a connection and different styles of music always end up merging somewhere down the line.

Anyway have a listen to Garbage
Stupid Girl by Garbage

Written by Garbage/ The Clash
Released: March 1996
Album: Garbage

Song 143 - Riverboat Song by Ocean Colour Scene

Britpop takes us to the 1990s, but influences for some of the anthems of Britpop can be taken from the 1960s, some from the 1980s and for today's song, it is the 1970s and Led Zepplin, who provided inspiration for this Britpop number from Ocean Colour Scene. The Riverboat song released in 1996, was heavily influenced by Four Sticks by Led Zepplin and what probably makes this song stand out is its 6/8 swing time beat which breaks away from the traditional 4/4 that you hear with so many pop songs.

Released February 1996, it reached number 15 in the chart and was picked up by Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans, who used it to introduce guests on his Channel 4 programme, TFI Friday. It was their first single from Moseley Shoals which was released in April the same year. The Riverboat song paved the way for hits like The Day we caught the train and the Circle. The album reached number 2 in the chart that year. 

There is one thing that makes Ocean Colour Scene different from the other Britpop bands I have featured to date and this that I actually heard them play live at the height of their fame. In 1998, Ocean Colour Scene played at Stirling Castle, touring their second album Marchin' Already and we were lucky enough to get tickets. From memory it was a beautiful night around  August time and I went with the same friends I had been to Beautiful South with and had an amazing time. Live concerts are brilliant but to have a live concert on your doorstep of where you grew up was amazing. Stirling Castle is home turf and although I love Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle will always means that I am ten minutes from a spiritual home.

As I am feeling generous tonight, I am (a) going to stop talking and (b) give you both The Riverboat Song and The day we caught the train as they are both iconic Britpop tunes. Also the second ones creates of lovely image of me, my sister and my dad singing down the A9 on the way to Stirling. Hope you've had a good Monday.

Here the songs now:

The Riverboat Song on TFI Friday

The day we caught the train, live from Stirling Castle

Written by Ocean Colour Scene

Released: February 1996

Album: Moseley Shoals

Song 142 - Common People by Pulp

I will make no apologies for putting all these brilliant songs in the jukebox because I know half of you who are reading the blog will  be dancing around to these tracks. Common People is magical and if you aren't bopping around dancing to this song within the first few lines of this song, never come dancing with me.

Whilst Britpop brought out the rivalry between Oasis and Blur, Javis Cocker, together with his band, Pulp seemed to bring their own style to the 1990s. Surprisingly for me (and I am learning about music as I am writing this blog), Common People was their lead single from their 5th album, A Different Class.  Now I went to university with someone who hated the commercial success of bands like The Verve as I think he thought the bands lost their edge, I wonder if he felt that way about this song.

I don't really have to explain that the song is about class tourism as the lyrics speak for themselves and Pulp captured the concept perfectly in their lyrics. Cocker came up with the original tune on a small MT 500 keyboard that he had and received mixed reviews from his band member when he played it them. However, Pulp's keyboardist Candida Doyle praised Cocker for the tune's simplicity and could see that there was potentially for the tune to make a powerful song, with the right lyrics, which were then written by Cocker afterwards. Debuting it at the Reading Festival in August 1994, Pulp started to realise that they had written something that could turn into an anthem.

With this knowledge they recorded the track in over a fortnight at The Town House in London, using all 48 tracks of the recording studio to try out different ideas with their song. It is amazing that they managed to kept the final single version down to 4 minutes. The single was released in May 1995 and peaked at number 2 in the UK charts and with its success, created one of the most iconic songs of the Britpop era.

It is said that Common People moved away from the rose-tinted glasses of the working class lifestyle that had been used by other Britpop bands and appeared on numerous compilation albums  since its released. One of the most famous covers of the songs was by William Shanter in 2004. When Cocker heard that Captain Kirk was covering the song he was thrilled as he was a big Star Trek fan as a lad.

To hear Common People

Common people by Pulp

Written by Pulp
Released May 1995
Album A Different Class

Song 141 - Definitely Maybe by Oasis

For a bank holiday weekend, you need a good Britpop album to get yourself through the traffic and although there were plenty to choose from Definitely Maybe by Oasis stood out ahead of the crowd in my head.  Released at the end of August 1994, it went straight to number one in the UK album chart gaining commercial and critical success from the music industry. It was the fastest selling album at the point of release; outstripping the success of Suede! and held onto that record until 2006, when the Arctic Monkey released their album. On the point of the 20th year anniversary of its release, the album has sold about 15 million copies.

Containing their four hit singles; Shakemaker, Live forever, Cigarattes & Alcohol and Supersonic, for me it is the last track of the album that has stayed in my head for the last 22 years which is Married with Children. Whether it is gritty guitar solo at the beginning, the straight forward lyrics or whether it reminded me of someone, it somehow became one of my favourite Oasis songs. I think I rebelled a bit when I moved to university!

Together with Blur's Parklife, Definitely Maybe helped spur a revitalisation in British pop music in the 1990s. Praised by critics for its optimistic themes and supposed rebuttal of the downtrodden fatalism that could be heard in grunge music; it is fair to say the success of the album was down to Liam's delivery of his brother Noel's fantastic lyrics.

Originally called Rain, Oasis started on the music scene in 1991 and signed a record deal in 1993. It is fair to say that their first two singles off the album didn't really spark much interest with the British public; however when their third single  Live Forever, was released at  the start of August just before the album; the world woke up to the music of Oasis and they received their first top ten single in the UK and the USA. The inspiration for the song, Noel claimed, was a stance against some of the lyrics Kurt Cobain was producing.

Perhaps my appreciation for Oasis come from them drawing influence from groups like the Beatles and the Stone Roses. You don't have to look any further than the cover for Live Forever to see the influence of John Lennon as they used his childhood home as the cover for the single.   Whilst some may say about Oasis that their music is shite and keeps them up all night, their music and influence during the Britpop era will Live forever.

To hear the album:
Oasis' Definitely Maybe

Performed by Oasis
Written by Noel Gallagher
Released: 1994.

Song 140 - The Wild Ones by Suede

If Oasis and Blur were the headliners of Britpop, it has to be said that Suede perhaps was the cooler big brother that started it all.  Suede, their first album released in 1993, became the fastest selling album for nearly ten years and went on to win the Mercury prize. It is often said the the release of this album started the Britpop Movement,  but by the time Suede's second album Dog Man Star was released; the band was already trying to more away from their Britpop peers. The track I've chosen for today is their second single off Dog Man Star called the The Wild Ones. Peeking at number 18 in the UK charts, The Wild ones is said to be Brett Anderson's favourite song the band had performed.

Formed in 1989, Suede started to spark interest with the British Music scene in the early 1990s and with their breakthrough single Animal Nitrate, the band went from an indie band to major chart contenders. The writing partnership of Brett Anderson and Bernard Butler, together with Anderson's unique voice, meant that their singles and first album shocked audiences and critics alike ensuring that they were talked about within and out with the music industry.  The result was that Suede went gold after the second day of the release.

By the time Dog Man Star was released in 1994, the band was going through turmoil and despite helping to write The Wild Ones Butler left the band before the album was released and he was heavily critical of how the album was produced and managed.  The critics also didn't receive the album as well as they had the previous one and I think it is only with time has Dog Man Star received the respect it deserves.

What I love about the song The Wild ones is the sentiment of the lyrics. I think we can all relate to wanting to keep some with us for longer and to be able to do something more than the routine of day to day life. 

To have a listen and decide yourself:

The wild ones by Suede

Written by Brett Anderson and Bernard Bulter

Released: 1994

Album: Dog Man Star

Song 139 - Wonderwall by Oasis

It would be a sin to have a section on Britpop and not mention Oasis. The repudiation and headlines surrounding the Gallagher Brothers maybe bigger than their back catalogue but don't let that cloud the memories of how big Oasis was and how influential their music was (and still is) for a generation. When thinking about what should be the first song by Oasis into the jukebox and, for me,  it has to be Wonderwall.

Released at the end of October 1995, it reached number 2 in the UK chart and remains one of their best known songs. Written by Noel Gallagher, the song is said to be about an imaginary friend who comes and save you from yourself; although at the time of release everyone thought it was about Meg Matthews, his first wife. 

Taken from their second album, (What's the story) Morning Glory, Liam sang lead vocal on this, their third single from the album, the song went on to be the 10th best selling single of  1995 and one of the most covered songs by other bands. It would be wrong not to mention the The Mike Flowers Pops version that was released two months after the original version. Also reaching number two in the charts, it sparks some doubt in the uneducated minds to who had actually written the track, much to the amusement of Oasis.  

Another version of the song I discovered a couple of years ago is Marrick Sabre's Version. Bringing a reggae beat to the song; it had me dancing around the flat although could be better than the the original.

To be taken back to 1995; listen here:
Wonderwall by Oasis

The covers -

Wonderwall, performed by The Mike Flowers Pops
Wonderwall (BBC Live Version), performed by Maverick Sabre

Written by: Noel Gallagher
Released: October 1995
Album: (What's the story) Morning Glory.

Song 138 - Country House by Blur

I seem to be deep in the heart of 90s music at the moment and reliving the songs of my student life, however,   I cannot do this properly without talking about Britpop and bands like Suede, Blur and  Oasis.

Britpop is, in truth, a marketing terms to describe a subgenre of pop and alternative rock, that orginated in the UK in the 1990s. It was British bands reaction to the grunge music coming out of the USA . The Jukebox will get to grunge and Nirvana promise.  With its origins coming out of the indie scene of the 1980s, Britpop emerged with an association of Cool Britannia which evoked the swinging sixties and the British pop guitar music of that decade.

For me, the soundtrack of Britpop evokes memories of student life in Edinburgh and dancing the night away at the Citrus Club in Edinburgh. The Citrus Club is still there (although my clubbing days are long over),  and, in my day, had a unique smell of fags and alcohol that followed you home after a Saturday night dancing that would no longer apply now the smoking ban is in place (which is probably a good thing).

I think to start our journey of Britpop, I am going to start with Country House by Blur as this song bounces energy and happiness. Released as the lead single from their fourth album, The Great Escape, Country House became the band's first number  one, beating their rivals Oasis to the top spot in the UK chart. There is much written about the rivalry between the two bands, and it is said that Blur deliberately changed the release date of Country House to ensure that they would go head to head with Oasis's Roll with it. Oasis though would reach number 1 in the album charts keeping The Great Escape off the top of the charts so like everything in life it is swings and roundabouts.

Originally called Seymour, the band consisted of childhood friends Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree. In November 1989, Food Records heard Seymour play and were keen to signed them but wanted them to change their name and by March the next year  they had a new record deal and the new name of Blur. Their first breakout hit was There's no other way in 1991, started their road to become one of the most popular bands of the 1990s. All four members of the bands were involved with writing the music for Country House, with Albarn also contributing the lyrics.

It doesn't take a genius to know what this song is about and I think the band was inspired by one of the managers of their record label buying a house in the country; and used famous celebrities like Keith Allen and Matt Lucas in the video. The video was directed by Damien Hirst, who had been at university with some of the group; and  the video pays homage to Benny Hill and Queen in its direction.

To enjoy the song and video
Country House by Blur

Written by Blur
Released: August 1995
Album: The Great Escape

Song 137 - Praise You by Fatboy Slim

It is hard to imagine that Praise You and Caravan of Love share a common artist but the great Fatboy Slim's (Norman Cook) humble beginnings started with the Housemartins. Praise You was released as the third single from the album You've come a long way, Baby, in 1999. It reached number one on the UK single chart. 

Featuring a prominent vocal sample from the opening of Take Yo' Praise by Camille Yarbrough, as well as a prominent piano sample from the track Balance and Rehearsal from a test album entitled Sessions released by audio electronics company JBL, this song rocketed the charts at the end of the 1990s.  Whenever I hear this track, it takes me back to my changing life as a student about to graduate into the publishing world. It was a world before before the technological revolution brought about by Apple and Amazon that would change the book and music industry forever.  We didn't know what an iPod was or second screening meant. We have gone through an immense technological change in the last 20 years and in a way it had brought the world closer together. Who knows who might be reading this?

Anyway, back to the song, one of the most iconic elements of the songs was the video that went with it. The video was directed by Spike Jonze and Roman Coppolla.  Jonze starred in the film under the pseudonym Richard Koufey, along with a fictional dance group The Torrance Community Group. The video was shot guerrilla-style in front of puzzled onlookers ouside a movie theatre in Westwood, California. Jonze and the dance group dance to Praise you much to the chagrin of a theatre employee who turns off their portable stereo. The video was made only because Jonze, unable to work with Fatboy Slim on the video for The Rockafeller skank, recorded and sent his own solo dance video to Skank as a gift; Jonze's 'alternate' music video was so well-received by slim, it became the official one for Praise You. The end result was the video was voted the best video ever by MTV.

To watch the classic video and listen to the talented Fat Boy Slim

Praise you

Written by Fat Boy Slim

Album: You've come a long way baby

Released: 1999

Song 136 - Build by The Housemartins

When people think about the Housemartins, Carvan of love  is usually the first song that comes to mind and not Build. Build was on side four of the double album Now that's what I call music 10, which I think my sister and I were given as a joint Christmas present. On hearing the track, I always makes me want to replay it four or five times.

The Housemartins band was formed in 1983 by Paul Heaton and Stan Cullimore, where initially the band was a busking duo and then by the end of 1985, after a number of changes in the line up, the band consisted of Heaton, Cullimore, Dave Hemingway and Norman Cook. In 1986, after recording two session with John Peel, the band  had a breakthrough with their hit; Happy Hour.  Build was released in 1987 and reached number 15 in the charts. Taken from the album The people who grinned themselves to death; this was one of the last hits before the band broke up. Three members went to form Beautiful South, Norman Cook went to Beats International and then Fat Boy Slim; but all members of the band have remained on good terms and have often supported each other with different projects.

As the Easter Weekend is fast approaching and people often start their annual DIY and spring clean; use the Housemartins for a bit of inspiration:

Build by the Housemartins

Written by Paul Heaton & Stan Cullimore
Album: The people who grinned themselves to death
Released: 1987

Song 135 - Loving arms - Tom Jans

Some of you are probably looking at this song choice and going who? Tom Jans was an American singer-songwriter from San Jose, California. To be honest with you, up until I did the research for this song, I wouldn't have been able to tell you who Tom Jans was, but I have loved his song Loving Arms since I heard it being performed by The Beautiful South on Later with Jools Holland. If I had been asked a week ago, who wrote this track, I probably would have said the Dixie Chicks!

Tom Jans started his music career by playing coffee-houses in San Francisco where he was introduced to Mimi Farina by Joan Baez. Farina and Jans formed a duo and became a support act for Cat Stevens and James Taylor. They recorded one album together, Take Heart, but unfortunately hardly anyone noticed it and the duo spilt. From there, Jans moved to Nashvillie to become a songwriter for the publishing house Irving/Almo. Loving Arms was Jans' first hit as a writer and the song was initially recorded by Dobie Gray and then Elvis Presley in 1973.

Jans did try and launch his own album with his own songs; but his solo albums were not as successful as this song that so many artists have covered. I think this is the beauty of the arts, that sometimes it is the unknown heroes that create some of the most beautiful songs in the world.

 If it wasn't for the Beautiful South, I wouldn't have heard this song and for years I didn't have a recording of this song. However, when Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbot reformed and release their album What have we become?, the last track of the Album was Loving arms and some how a missing part of my music collection was complete.

To hear different versions of the song,

Elvis from his Good Times Album, 1973
Loving arms

Dixie Chicks from Wide Open Spaces, 1998
Loving arms

Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott from What have we become, 2014
Loving Arms

Tom Jans from Best of Tom, 1970-1972

Loving arms

Song 134 - Blue is the colour by the Beautiful South

 It is Friday, which means an album for the jukebox. It will come as no surprise that this week's album is Blue is the colour by The Beautiful South as there has been a theme this week. This album is probably in my top ten 90s albums as it brings back so many memories of being a student and some of the mad times I had with friends.

Blue is the Colour was the sixth album from Beautiful South, released in October 1996. It was their follow up album to Carry on up the charts (their greatest hits album)  that was released in 1994. This greatest hits album was one of the biggest selling albums of the 1990s and, of course, many who had bought this album naturally went on to buy Blue is the colour but instead of the colour being blue, it was the language that some found a little blue with the opening track of the album Don't Marry Her. Due to the lyric being Don't marry her, fuck me; for the release of the single the line was altered for radio play. The song was a great success and reached number eight in the chart, but left many a fan upset when they heard the true lyrics of the song. How do I know all this? Beautiful South printed some of the comments in their tour programme when they took the album on tour. It was obvious that half the people who bought the greatest hits hadn't listen to the album Miaow.

The album itself continues with the melancholic tone of Miaow and to some is considered the band's darkest effect with songs covering capitalism, alcoholism and prostitution. Having heard this album over a thousand times, it is the characters that are created in the songs that leave you wanting more. Take the song,  The Sound of North America, it takes iconic Americans like Elvis and  Mohammed Ali and weave them into a song that makes you think about bigger issues of the world.  Here's the lyric about Mohammed Ali:  A crippled Mohammed Ali looked bad luck in the mirror; Bad luck looked back at him and sighed. He looked a good foot smaller and a couple of stone thinner, And if anyone came toward hhim he would hide. The sound of North America isn't Christians quietly praying, It's the sound of shuffling feet, that don't know where they're going. Some of the lyrics thought up by Paul Heaton and Dave Rotheray could be published in a poetry book or turned into one act plays and that for me is what makes this album stand out.

As well as releasing Don't marry her, the band also had singles with Rotterdam, Blackbird on the wire and Liar's Bar. Rotterdam was the biggest single of the album and there is a lovely acoustic recording of the song sung by Paul that was used as a B side to a single. The single version which was sung by Jacqui Abbot.

This album was also a subject of a Later with Jools Holland special, where the band linked up with the London Community Gospel Choir and Black Dyke Mills Band, together with Jools Holland to great a very special programme. 

Anyway I could talk about this album for hours and it is better that I just let you hear it:
Don't marry her
Little Blue
Mirror
Blackbird on the wire
The Sound of North America
Have Fun
Liar's Bar
Rotterdam (or anywhere)
Foundations
Artificial flowers
One God
Alone

Album: Blue is the colour
Written by Paul Heaton and Dave Rotheray
Released: 1996

Song 133 - Teenage kicks by The Undertones

With St. Patrick's Day upon us, there were lots of options I could have done musically to celebrate this day. An interesting one would have been to keep going on The Beautiful South theme as their first female singer was from Northern Ireland, but instead I have decided to go with an out and out classic Teenage kicks by The Undertones, a Northern Irish punk rock band.

Written in the summer of 1977 by John o'Neill, the song was initially released the following year whilst they were still with the independent record label Good Vibrations, based in Belfast. However, the song was re-released in October 1978 when the band signed to Sire Records, where it reached number 31 in the UK chart.

The most influential fan of this record was the legendary Radio 1 DJ John Peel, who was reported to have openly burst into tears when he first heard it. It remained Peel's favourite song throughout his life and when he died in 2004, the first line of the song was put on his head stone " A teenage dream's so hard to beat". Having the backing of John Peel must have been gold dust for the band as Peel's position within the music industry was highly respected.

Although originally not included on their debut album when it was released in May 1979, a re-release in October the same year corrected this oversight and well, as is often said, the rest is history.

So whilst this may not be the most obvious song for St. Patrick's Day, I think this is a kicking tune to start the Guinness flowing. Enjoy your day.

Put a little punk into your life
Teenage kicks by the Undertones

Written by John O'Neill
Released: 1978
Album: The Undertones

Song 132 - Good as Gold by Beautiful South

Sometimes if you start singing one Beautiful South song, then another one comes alone, unless you bite your tongue. Yes today's song is another classic Beautiful South song, Good as Gold (stupid as mud). Never released as a single, it is the second last track off their 4th album Miaow released in 1994.

Without trying to repeat myself from yesterday, this song just makes me smile partly due to the first two verses which are Don't know what I'm doing here, I'll carry on regardless, Got enough money for one more beer, I'll carry on regardless. Gold as gold, but stupid as mud, He'll carry on regardless. They'll bleed his heart 'til there's no more blood, But carry on regardless. There is an irony in the lyrics due as much as you want to laugh at the character in the song, you can sometimes listen to it and ask yourself if you should be laughing.  Perhaps that's too deep, but I think we all know people who we have egged on when perhaps we shouldn't have.

This is the first album that Jacqui Abott sang as a member of Beautiful South as Briana Corrigan made the decision to leave the band after not liking the subject matter of some of the songs on the album. I must admit that of all their albums this is probably not the one to put on for family listening. But it is precisely for the bluntness of subject matter that the partnership between Dave Rotheray and Paul Heaton was sublime because they didn't stay within the fluffiness of song writing, because life isn't all about fluffy clouds and happy rainbows. Although I wonder how many people bought the album due to the brilliant version of Everybody's Talkin' to realise that not all songs were as upbeat but then again for anyone looking for romance Prettiest Eyes is a perfect love song.

Two interesting facts about the album; the tracks are listed in reverse order and the album cover was meant to feature the HMV dog but they refused the rights for the band to use them, so it is four dogs in a lifeboat. Some people probably think the album should have been called WOOF!

Have fun watching the elephant:
Good as gold by Beautiful South

Written by Paul Heaton and Dave Rotheray
Album: Miaow
Released: March 1994

Song 131 - Look what I found in my beer by Beautiful South

Here's something to laugh at, I have just asked my lovely husband to name a song for today's blog and he has said Baa Baa Black Sheep and whilst I am not going to blog about this song, it is worth noting that this nursery rhythm dates back to the 18th Century and nursery rhythms are an important part of developing language and rhythm in small children's voices. There are a number of songs that are going through my head at the moment and I think today I think I am going to turn to one of my favourite bands, which I don't think I have put in the Jukebox yet and that is the band; Beautiful South and their song Look what I found in my beer taken from their 1998 album Quench. 

Although never realised as a single, this is a Beautiful South song that sticks in my head as there is a line in the song; Look what I found in the mic, An end to screwed up drinking and a Paul I actually like. For some reason those lines echo something in me and the idea of looking at yourself and liking what you see in the mirror. Like with any Beautiful South song; it is the cleverness of the lyrics that make their songs magical. Although there is clear reference to alcoholism in the song, the whole composition makes it upbeat. I love the ability Heaton and Rotheray had of being able to compose stories and characters in 2 minutes. Also their songs stick to their roots of working class life in Hull and that is what makes the songs so colourful.

Quench was their 8th studio album which was released in 1998, after their hugely successful Blue is the colour and was their third successive album to reached the number 1 spot in the chart. The cover artwork was created by the Scottish Artist Peter Howston and the original can be found in Ferens Art Gallery in Hull.

Out of all the pop groups I may write about in the blog, Beautiful South are one of the few bands that I have seen live. When their album Blue is the colour was release, I saw them at the SECC in Glasgow with friends whilst still being students. For two of us, we fell in love with Paul Heaton and followed the band to Huddersfield the next summer. (Just to make it clear - we attended a concert there - we didn't just turn up there in the hope of seeing them.) I even think I wrote an imaginary adventure story for the two of us weaving in all their songs!! The funny thing is when I go back to thinking about Baa Baa Black sheep, it is the same friend who travelled the country with me to see Beautiful South, who probably learnt the nursery rhyme with me.

Enough about my madness, enjoy the song:

Look what I found in my beer

Written by: Paul Heaton and Dave Rotheray
Album: Quench
Released: October 1998.

Song 130 - Barcelona by Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé

This week there hasn't really been a theme for the songs in the blog, but after reading all the articles on George Martin yesterday and how he bridged the gap between classical and pop music, Barcelona by Freddie Mercury and Montserra Caballe popped into my head.

When Barcelona won the Summer Olympics Games in 1992, Mercury was able to fulfill one of his dreams by recording an album with Caballe; called Barcelona. Mercury produced the album with Mike Moran and would send recordings of her part to Caballe for her to practice as they had very little time to practice together.

The song starts with an orchestral introduction, which fades and is followed by Mercury and Caballe singing alternately their solo lines, sometimes merging into duet. When singing the chrous "Barcelona" and a few other parts for the studio version,  Mercury dubs over his voice in his usual multi-tracking styles. Mercury leads the song whereas Cabelle provides a powerful background soprano.

The song has been described as a combination of pop and opera singing which accentuated their differences. With Mercury's voice, it is all about articulation whilst Caballe concentrates on her tone making her lines more difficult to comprehend, especially as she sings in both Spanish and English.

The song was originally release in October 1987 and reached number 8 in the UK chart. It was one of the most successful solo singles of Freddie Mercury's career. The album of the same name was released at the same time and reached number 25 in the UK album chart. Sadly, Mercury death in November in 1991, he never got to see the Summer Olympics for which it was written for. The single re-entered the charts and peaked at number 2 in the UK chart in 1992.

For me, there is something in the duet that makes the makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end and brings tears to my eyes. I think it is because I love music that defies boundaries of who should be listening to what. Opera, Pop, Rock or hip hop should be accessible to all and when two tribes combine music styles in this way, there is something to be applauded about it.

Anyway, enough from me, let's hear the song:
Barcelona by Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballe

Written by Freddie and Mike Moron
Released: October 1997
Album: Barcelona

Song 129 - Celebrating George Martin with some Beatles

Being a huge Beatles fan, it wouldn't have been right to pass over the death of George Martin, one of the most influential record producers of the 20th century, just because he didn't necessary sing on any hits. His death was announced today,  aged 90, and since then there has been an out pouring of tributes to the man, who in Paul McCartney's words was the fifth Beatle.

Picture the scene when in 1962, Brian Epstein told the Beatles that he had secured him a deal with EMI. This statement turned out to be a lie and the Beatles had been invited to audition with record producer, George Martin and to be honest, Martin wasn't that impressed by what he heard to begin with but he recognise something in their music which eventually led to him giving them a record deal on June 6. Although he did suggest that band made some changes and he was often blamed as the person who sacked Pete Best, the original drummer of the group.

When Paul McCartney paid tribute today to Martin, he talked about him as a second father who was able to guide, promote and challenge the fab four. Introducing elements like strings to tracks of a rock and roll band, Martin  had the vision to help them translate their musical ideas and songs into the masterpieces we love today. He wrote the string section part of Eleanor Rigby and the electric backing to I am the Walrus. Perhaps, now-a-day, with the advancement of music equipment and computer, we perhaps take for granted the basic equipment used to create some of the iconic sounds of the Beatles' songs. When it came to recording St. Peppers' Lonely Hearts Club, Martin devised a technique whereby a number of tracks were recorded and then mixed down on to one single track, giving the flexibility of a modern multi-tracked studio. At the time EMI had only four- track tape machines. He also made much use of recording different tracks at various speeds to change the texture of the final sound.

In the later stages of the Beatles' career, the band themselves became much more knowledgeable on producing records, however, Martin remained a critical part of the band's makeup and after their break-up  continue to work with the band members independently.

But it is important to recognise that although George Martin was most famous for being the producer of the Beatles, his career far outstretched the fab four and with a career spanning 6 decades, he produced over 700 records, wrote film scores and worked with a variety of artists including Matt Munro, Dire Straits, Elton John, Shirley Bassey, Pete Townsend, Cilla Black to name but a few. His talents will shine throughout the history of pop music for generations to come and his name will never be out of tune with the music world. RIP George Martin and have fun with the musical talent in heaven.

Here are just a number of iconic songs that Martin brought to our ears:

1. Love me do, performed by the Beatles, from Please Please Me, 
Love me do

2. Eleanor Rigby, performed by the Beatles, from Revolver, 
Eleanor Rigby

3. A day in the life, performed by the Beatles, from St. Peppers' Lonely Hearts' Club Band, 
A day in the life

4. Rain, performed by the Beatles
Rain, performed by the Beatles

5. I am the Walrus, performed by the Beatles, from Magical Mystery Tour 

I am the Walrus

6. Strawberry Fields forever, performed by the Beatles, from Magical Mystery Tour
Strawberry fields forever

7. Right said Fred, performed by Bernard Crippins
Right said Fred

8. Diamond Dust, performed  by Jeff Beck
Diamond Dust

9. From Russia with love, performed by Matt Munro
From Russia with love

10. Ticket to heaven, performed by Dire Straits, from On Every Street, 1991
Ticket to heaven

Song 128 - A spoonful of sugar from Mary Poppins by Richard and Robert Sherman

So I am on the treadmill with the faithful iPod and I found myself smiling to myself as A spoonful of sugar came to my ears. What a brilliant song from a brilliant music sung by a brilliant lady. When I was young Mary Poppins was the ultimate musical for me and I must have watched it a millions times. Ask my sister about it, as she eventually taped over my recording of the film.

Mary Poppins is a character that first came to life in P.L. Travis's book, but the film produced by Walt Disney in 1964, would ensure the character would be immortalised for ever and children everywhere would have this romantic notion about nanny. Nagged by his daughters, Walt Disney spent nearly 20 years trying to convince P.L. Travis to give him the rights to make the film.  The story of the production of the film has been made into a film itself, Saving Mr. Banks. I think one of the reservations P.L. Travis had about Disney making the film was that he would take the edge of the character, thank goodness she eventually relented and let Disney and the Sherman brothers create the film and music that we all have grown to  love.

A spoonful of sugar appears quite early on in the film after Mary Poppins is appointed nanny to Michael and Jane, and they are asked to tidy the nursery up. Asking as the messy kid inside of me; who haven't wished that they could just snap their fingers to tidy up their rooms? There are lovely moments of the toy soldiers climbing up the steps into the drawers or the bird singing in the trees. I think hearing this song today just hit a chord about putting in the effort to get the reward out. Like anything in life, you get out what you put in.

Originally A spoonful of sugar was meant to be called The Eyes of Love but Walt Disney wanted something more catchy.  The inspiration came to Robert Sherman after arriving home one evening to find that his children had had their polio vaccine. In response to their father's enquiry to whether it had hurt, one of his children had said that they had received it in a sugar lump!

For Julie Andrews, receiving the role of Mary Poppins came after the disappointment of losing to Audrey Hepburn for the role of Eliza Doolittle for the film version of My Fair Lady. This was her debut in the movie; and what a movie to start with. The film went on to receive 13 Oscars nominations including best actress, which she won.  Her performance in the film led to her securing her next film role, Maria in Sound of Music, even before Mary Poppins was on general release.

To add some sugar to your Tuesday's night; here's Julie Andrews to tidy your room:
A spoonful of sugar by Julie Andrews

Written by Robert and Richard Sherman
Sung by Julie Andrews
Film: Mary Poppins
Release: 1964

Song 127 - America from West Side Story by Sondheim and Bernstein

With it being International Woman's day being today, it has taken me most of the day to decide on a track that would celebrate women in music. Then, it came to me, America from the musical West Side Story, which is vibrate, lively and brave sung by women who are setting up a new life in New York City; whilst the males are trying to convince them that life would be better back where they came from. I also think it is rather fitting to have this track to celebrate the life of Nancy Regan, who died yesterday at the age of 94. She became the first lady of America when Ronald Regan took office in 1981 and became the 40th President of the United States of America. Nancy Regan was strong and independent whilst standing by her man and sticking up for him when others laughed at the first stages of his memory loss.

Anyway I am getting side tracked, lets get back to the music, America is one of the outstanding tracks from West Side Story written by Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein. In the original stage version, Anita praises America while a fellow Puetro Rico. This version of the song deprecates of the island and highlights the positive qualities of American life. The irony of this supposedly pro-American number, however, is its vibrantly Hispanic musical style, with Latin percussion, complex cross-rhythm and Spanish guitar.

West Side Story arrived on Broadway in 1957 and since then had been sparkling the world. Based on Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare, the music together to the excellent choreography by Jerome Robbins, has ensured that the music never ages; and issues over people moving countries to create a better life are as relevant today as they were in the 1960s. When the film version of musical was released in 1961, it was nominated for 11 Oscars; winning 10 including the best supporting actress for Rita Moreno, who played Anita in the film. The image of Anita in her purple dress dancing on the roof top in this number is one of the stronger image of musical film I have.


To bring some colour into this Monday; enjoy this clip and take an action to watch the whole film:

America, sung by Rita Moreno from West Side story.

Written by Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein
Released: 1957

Song 126 - Always a woman to me - Billy Joel

With today being Mother's Day, I am simple going to give you this beautiful song by Billy Joel. Written in 1977, and taken from his album The Stranger, Always a woman to me is a rich love song that celebrates the strength of a strong woman and what it means to have that kind of presence in your life.  The song reached number 17 in the US chart.

Perhaps (and this true to me), it is the version of this song recorded by Fyfe Dangerfield that stays in the mind more. Dangerfield, lead singer of the band Guillemots, recorded the song in 2010 for the John Lewis ad, which depicts a woman going through the various different big stages of her life. John Lewis have become renowned for their TV adverts; and this is no exception. Using one lovely song, a pull on heartstrings and creating the idea that their brand is part of the family; they have been able to drive their bottom line profit by clever film direction.

However, before this turns into a marketing blog instead of a pop one; I will leave you with one thought, if, like me, your celebration of Mother's Day is not how all the marketing portrays it; listen to this song and find a way to honour the strong women in your life.

Billy Joel's original

Billy Joel's Always a woman

Fyfe Dangerfield's cover

Fyfe Dangerfield's Always a woman to me

John Lewis advert

Advert for John Lewis

Written by Billy Joel
Released:1977
Album: The Stranger

Song 125 - Word gets around by Stereophonics

Songs are like friends, they grow deeper in meaning the more time you spend with them. Okay so it is the first Friday of the month and it's time for an album. This week's album is Word gets around by Stereophonics. Released in August 1997, it was the band's first album and its songs centre around daily life in Cwmaman, the town they grew up in as a band. Reaching number six in the UK album charts, it is the only album that I know where the final line of the final song ends with the album title.  For me; the album takes me back to university days and the fun of being students, together with a teenage trying to make sense of losing her mum at 16. University definitely opened my world up and fought against the grief that was trying to shut it down. Sorry this is getting deep but some of this songs on this album although really upbeat deal with real issues and I think there is a grittiness to the lyrics that Kelly Jones writes, which appeals to the deeper, more reflective side of me.

They say that the best place to start is the beginning, but that is far too obvious for me; I'm going to start with track 4 of the album because it was the first single to be released by the band. Local Boy in the Photograph was inspired by Paul Boggis, who was killed by a train. I think the line You'll always be 23, yet that train runs on and runs captures an unspoken truth about death that the world always keep going and although things will prevent you from moving forward, the world never stops. It sounds very depressing the song but isn't, the tune and lyrics doesn't have a slow melody, but show captures the fragile nature of life. When the song was first release, it entered the charts at 51 one in 1997, but when it was re-released it reached 14.


The second single released was More Life in a Tramp's Vest and its lyrics take the view point of a local supermarket bag boy. Although this is a good song for me on the album it is sandwiched between other songs that I love so it is one of those songs that I can find myself doing the nodding head to but perhaps don't really listen to as much I should. Like the whole collection of songs; it reflects a character of the area of where the band is from. It reached number 33 on the UK single chart.

It only takes one tree to make a thousand matches, it only takes one match to burn a thousand trees is another one of Jones's lyrics that have burnt into my head (although I have now just read that it came straight off a match box). The line comes from the third track to be released A Thousand Tree. It reached number 22 on the UK single chart. The lyrics are about a football coach who ruined his career due to a sexual encounter with a female students. Again, this is another edgy lyrics that touches on the frail nature of life; especially if you are living dangerous and on the fringes of acceptable behaviour.

Fourth single Traffic reached number 20 on the UK chart, but it possibly for me one of the iconic songs  written by the Stereophonics. I think it appeals as the lyrics talk about every day life and as a writer/observer of life, watching people is a key part of the role. To be every observant as the person sitting on the bench watching everybody else carrying on with life. Recently we had a debate at writing group to whether it is lonely to write on your own in coffee shop. For me, at certain times, there is nothing better than to be lost in your own world and being the observer on everything going on around you.

Sometimes, especially with first albums, it is only the singles that  are worth writing home about, but the albums tracks on Word gets around are as stronger as the singles and stay true to the concept of the album; which was about every day life in the town the bad grew up in and the characters. Dealing with subjects like suicide with Billy Davy's daughter; being caught in a small town and everyone knowing your business in Goldfish Bowl, and the characters of the town like Looks Like Chaplin. I urge you to listen to this album in full and enjoy the talents of the Stereophonics.

Here the album in full
Word gets around by Stereophonics

Written by: Kelly Jones, Richard Jones & Stuart Cable
Date released: 25th August 1997

Song 124 - Mulder and Scully by Catatonia

Staying with the Welsh theme; today's song comes from Catatonia and their 1998 hit single Mulder and Scully from their album International Velvet. 

With the obvious reference to the hit TV  show the X-Files main characters; Ceryi Matthews explained that although she was not a serious fan of the show, the premise of the series matched the concept of what she was trying to express; that love can be a strange phenomena. 

A music video was released that featured the band performing the track while lookalike Mulder and Scully characters searched the venue with torches. The song, the 2nd single to be released from their debut album was the band's breakthrough hit; peaking at number 3 in the UK chart and performing well in the USA too.

Mulder and Scully became a 90s anthem appearing on a number of hit TV shows during this time and appearing on albums celebrating the 90s. Written by Matthews and Mark Roberts, it is fair to say that this was the biggest hit for the group;although Road Rage reached number 4. Before you writing Catatonia off as a single album band, remember International Velvet was one of the best selling albums of 1998 and was nominated for a Mercury Music Reward. It also brought recognition to the wonderful voice of Ceryi Matthews who has grown as a very successful solo artist, producer and radio presenter. 

To be reminded of how good Mulder and Scully is; listen here

Catatonia's Mulder and Scully

Written by Ceryi Matthews and Mark Roberts

Released: 1998

Album: International Velvet

Song 123 - Mercy by Duffy

Released in 2008, Mercy has become Duffy's signature song and has been certified platinum throughout the world. It was the third best selling single of 2008 and received critical success throughout the music industry. It spent five weeks at number one and made Duffy the first Welsh female singer to have a number 1 since the start of the 1980s. There is an upbeat, beehive feel to this song and you could imagine yourself dancing along to it in a 1960s night club.

Written for her debut album, Rockferry, it was one of the later songs to be written with her co-writer, Steve Booker. Duffy apparently knew that was something missing from her album and this was the missing piece. The album Rockferry won Best Vocal Album at the Grammys in 2009, the best album at the Brits  and the 21st best selling album of the 2000s. The song itself is autobiographical and deals with the subject matter of sexual liberty and making sure that you don't do anything you don't want to do.

Hitting the music scene at the same time as Adele, sometimes Duffy is forgotten about as being another of these great soulful singers that appeared at the later end of the last decade; but her lyrical rhythm and soulful voice suggests that there is more to come from Duffy in the years ahead; and if they are not - well lets just be happy to have Mercy to listen to.

Listen to Mercy 
Mercy by Duffy

Written by Amy Ann Duffy & Steve Booker
Released: February 2008
Album: Rockferry

Song 122 - Mama told me not to come - Tom Jones & Stereophonics

Happy St. David's Day, I don't know whether there are any Welsh readers of the blog, but there are plenty of famous singers from Wales and I have chosen a song which is a duet between one of the most famous Welsh Singers of all time, Tom Jones and one of my favourite band Stereophonics (who are also Welsh).

They recorded Mama told me not to come for Tom Jones's 1999 Reload Album; which is an amazing album of duets Tom Jones recorded with 15 different artists to relaunch his career for the millennium. Mama told me not to come was the third single released from the album in March 2000 and reached number 4 in the chart. The album has sold over 1.2 million copies since it was released.

The song was originally written by Randy Newman for Eric Burdon. Burdon, the lead singer from the Animals, never went ahead with the planned release in 1966, but the song was released on an Animals' album in 1967.  The song would then be covered by Three Dog Night, who topped the US pop chart in 1970 with it. Newman would also release his own version of the song; which is far more mellow than the duet on Reload. 

For Newman the story behind the song was a young gentleman experiencing his first wild party in Los Angeles music scene in the 1960s; and the narrator is rather shocked from the experience. I wish I could say that as a country lass coming to the bright lights of Edinburgh to study turned me into a party girl but I have always been up for a good party.

Although we are moving away from the Oscars now that we are in March, I cannot leave this song without recognising the immense talent of Randy Newman,  especially when it comes to films. Newman has received 20 Academy Award nominations in the Best Original Score and Best Original Song categories and has won twice in the latter category, with the songs If I didn't have you from Monsters' Ink and We belong together from Toy Story 3. He has also won three Emmys, six Grammy Awards. He is in the Songwriters Hall of Fame and was named as a Disney Legend in 2007. See you thought this was a random blog with random songs!

As I am feeling generous - I will leave you with all four versions of the song and let you decide which you prefer, for me, it will always be the one that Tom Jones and Stereophonics recorded but maybe I am biased to the version I know the best. Have fun celebrating St. David's Day.

Three Dog Nights sing Mama told me not to come
Eric Burdon and Animals sing Mama told me not to come
Randy Newman's Mama told me not to come
Tom Jones and Stereophonics' Mama told me not to come