Archive
The Beatles – I Should Have Known Better (1964)
I’m just obsessed with this song.
I just can’t believe that pure pop music has ever delivered anything better than this!
I stream it on Spotify and then repeat it a dozen times.
It never fails to hit the mark.
I think it’s a combination of the relentless harmonica and the extended vocal harmonies that introduce each verse. Somehow, it peaks almost immediately and then never comes down.
Lennon and McCartney at the very top of their melodic game.
Of course, it is also one of the highlights of the brilliant A Hard Day’s Night film of 1964.
Right, I have to stop typing to listen to the song again.
Perfect pop music.
Play as loud as you can!
Michael Compton – Pitsaw (2022)
After yesterday’s post featuring the timeless, ethereal genius of 10cc‘s chart topping career highlight “I’m Not In Love”, I’m changing gears today to elevate possibly the most obscure song yet to the pantheon of the bestmusicofalltime. (Although, to be fair, my own composition “Copland’s Last Waltz” posted here probably still holds that accolade!)
Every issue of Record Collector magazine reviews a few seven inch singles (my musical medium of choice) and, a few months ago, it favourably reviewed a new release by Michael Compton featuring “Pitsaw” as the B-Side (inevitably!) to his “Machine” single. Having streamed it a few times on Spotify, the tune grew on me and so I went online to seek it out. My usual “go to” outlet, Discogs.com, had no record of it – the single didn’t even exist apparently!
However, I tracked down Michael Compton’s page on Bandcamp and there, happily, was the vinyl single for a few dollars and only $10 shipping for delivery from the USA. Bought it immediately and then forgot about it.
Anyhow, the postman knocked on the door to deliver the single today and it was on the turntable inside a couple of minutes. “Pitsaw” still sounds great – a bit of a lo-fi, laidback, indie anthem to my ears – featuring input and production by Steve Fisk who has previously worked with Nirvana, The Wedding Present, Screaming Trees and Beat Happening among others. This is right up there with that roster in my view!
As it was, the envelope enclosing the record suggested that shipping from the USA had actually cost $18.90 and, as such, the artiste would pretty much be out of pocket. This was not a situation I could tolerate so I pinged Michael an extra $10 to make up the difference – love your neighbour as yourself, to coin a phrase.
With one good deed for the day in the bag, I celebrated by getting the tune onto the blog. I fear that this won’t change the life of Mr Compton but let’s hope he gets some better publicity soon!
Just a lovely record.
Play loud!
10cc – I’m Not In Love (1975)
Well, sonically, I wasn’t expecting to arrive here on the blog today.
I was up nice and early as usual, had listened to a few more articles from this week’s edition of The Economist and thought I’d listen to a bit of music while I pottered about in the kitchen, tidying up and sorting out the sultanas and seeds for the birds in the garden.
To help me choose something, I dipped into the pile of old music magazines that I’ve been working through over recent weeks. In doing so, I had to remain faithful to my rule that I will always listen to any release or re-release which is awarded a score of 5 out of 5 (or at least 9 out of 10, depending on the publication).
To be honest, I was somewhat sceptical that 10cc’s 1975 LP The Original Soundtrack would warrant the 5 stars that Record Collector had awarded it but I gave it a go. And, of course, I stumbled upon “I’m Not In Love” and enjoying the sun in the garden while sorting out the birdfood, it sounded like as good a record as has ever been made.
The result, “immediate” elevation to the pantheon of the bestmusicofalltime.
Of course, I remember the original single from 1975 and I did enjoy 10cc back in those days as they were a fixture on AM radio in Hong Kong but I don’t think I’d ever realised how jaw dropping the production on this song is – Wikipedia gives a good description of how some of the tape loops were assembled here.
You can’t beat a 6 minute single reaching number one can you? Just the one place better, of course, than Laurie Anderson‘s eight plus minute masterpiece “O Superman” (released in 1981 and previously posted here on the blog almost 12 years ago)!
“I’m Not In Love” is sublime, dreamy, peerless pop music.
Play peacefully!
Baaba Maal – Cherie (Live) (2008)
A funny old day.
Busy, but lonely.
My left eye had packed in overnight so I was operating on only one hard contact lens today and the bad eye was rather swollen so I thought it best to not go on camera while working.
As a result, I spent hours with people but didn’t really feel I’d connected.
Nonetheless, I subsequently exchanged a few international Facebook messages, had a rather fine veggie fry up for dinner and watched a couple of episodes of the rarely equalled Yes (Prime) Minister while eating. I still laugh out loud to this programme!
Musing on what to add to the blog tonight, I remembered this tune from Baaba Maal‘s mystifyingly obscure On The Road live LP released in 2008. I’d heard the album mentioned positively in a review in one of the music magazines a few years ago and had added it to my wantlist. Seeking to track it down a few weeks ago, I found it surprisingly easy to secure a second hand copy on vinyl – despite being one of only 300 numbered copies.
It really is one of my favourite live albums of all time!
The song “Cherie” originally appeared on Baaba Maal’s Nomad Soul LP released in 1998, but I find that to be a rather turgid and ornate version compared to this stripped back live take recorded a few years later.
Less, really is sometimes more, and this is a classic example.
A mesmeric, magical, mellifluous and melodic gem.
Pop music heaven.
Play reverentially!
The Flamin’ Groovies – I Can’t Hide (1976)
Nothing worse than having to work on a lovely hot sunny day and nothing worse than reacquiring the hay fever that I thought I’d ditched around 10 years ago. Actually, I’ve had a bit of a hokey cokey relationship with the condition over the years – no symptoms ever until my mid 30s, ridiculously bad until I was 50, then all quiet until now as I gracefully approach the big 6-0 ….
Anyhow, I nipped out at lunchtime to get some tablets which have to cause drowsiness to have any effect in my view. As advertised, drowsiness was the subsequent result but I managed to keep my work together until the end of the day and am looking forward to a good sleep tonight.
A few months ago, I decided to ditch all my CDs by The Flamin’ Groovies on the basis that they aren’t a great albums band. However, they have released some killer singles and I’ve been acquiring these on my medium of choice – peerless 7 inch vinyl.
Their career high point is, of course, the unimpeachable “Shake Some Action” (previously posted here) but this is right up there. “I Can’t Hide” is a perfect power pop anthem featuring Beatles-esque phrasing during the verses, Byrdsian harmonies during the chorus, a whiff of The Who in the twangy lead guitar line and more than a hint Dee Dee Ramone in the bassline that underpins the guitar solo.
What’s not to like? Genius steals, etc.
Just wonderful.
Play loud!
The Coral – Dreaming Of You (2002)
After last night’s mayhem in Istanbul, it’s been an overwhelmingly quiet day.
Manchester City winning the Champions League effectively ticks off a key item on my life’s “bucket list” and there is now a bit of a hole when it comes to future football hopes and dreams.
I spent most of the day finishing off Nobel Prize winning economist Amartya Sen‘s lovely memoir “Home in the World”. I’m not sure there is anything in there that I need to read again but it’s an engaging book that I’d recommend to others and so it will now take its place on the appropriate shelf of my library.
I’m trying to get back to close to daily blog posts and, with that in mind, I spent a bit of time looking at my list of potential candidate tunes. I spotted The Coral‘s “Dreaming Of You” on there but assumed that I’d already posted it and just failed to have crossed it off the list. However, a check of the pantheon of the bestmusicofalltime revealed that I’d somehow omitted to post it already and so it’s a great pleasure to rectify this error.
The Coral are from my birthplace, the Wirral, but, for all intents and purposes, tick all the Scouse scallies boxes that you might want to apply.
I’ve previously posted a couple of tunes by the band’s guitarist Bill Ryder-Jones here and here. He’s a talented fellow.
The single version and then a great live take filmed for Later … with Jools Holland!
Perfect pop music.
Play loud!
Sir Joe Quarterman & Free Soul – (I Got) So Much Trouble In My Mind (1973)
Another long gap between posts.
When things are tricky and complicated in my personal life, I struggle to find the concentration and motivation to add new tunes to the blog. However, I have been listening to prodigious amounts of music over the last couple of months and, as a result, there is quite a backlog of potential blog candidates. This is my 1,150th post and there are hundreds more to come!
It’s been a very serene and warm Saturday with all activities somewhat overshadowed by Manchester City‘s impending massacre of Inter Milan in the Champions League Final in Istanbul tonight. As I’ve grown older (and City have got better), I’ve become less worried about tempting fate in these matters and so I nipped out early this morning to buy some bubbly to celebrate the treble that the team seem to be on the brink of.
And if they lose they lose; what will be will be.
Anyhow, I’ve made good progress during the day reading Nobel Prize winning economist Amartya Sen‘s lovely memoir “Home in the World”. After his upbringing in pre-partition Bengal, he’s just arrived at Trinity College Cambridge and I’m delighted that I know all the names and work of the major economists that he is studying under and working with: Pierro Sraffa, Maurice Dobb, Dennis Robertson, Pierangelo Garegnani and Luigi Pasinetti among others.
I’ll probably return to read another couple of chapters before the “big match build-up” begins at 6pm but I felt inspired enough to break off to post this stone cold slice of funk heaven from 1973.
I wasn’t familiar with the work of (the self styled) Sir Joe Quarterman & Free Soul but I stumbled upon their only LP on a list in Record Collector magazine, streamed it on Spotify and had bought the vinyl within a couple of hours.
The song came out as a single in 1972 but it wasn’t until the following year that this stupendous 6 minute album track was released.
Play loud!
The Smiths – Barbarism Begins At Home (1985)
First post for ages and not much to say.
Matters have been complicated and difficult at home. Many issues to work through.
Just heard that Andy Rourke, bassist with The Smiths, has died as a result of pancreatic cancer.
That often seems to be a pretty unforgiving disease.
I could have picked any one of dozens of songs that capture his genius but this is the one I always associate him with the most.
A mesmeric, relentless and funky bassline underpins Morrissey on top lyrical form:
Unruly boys
Who will not grow up
Must be taken in hand
Unruly girls
Who will not settle down
They must be taken in handA crack on the head
Is what you get for not asking
And a crack on the head
Is what you get for asking
A magnificent live performance on The Tube shows The Smiths at their tightest. Then the LP version.
Play loud!
Diana Ross & The Supremes – Reflections (1967)
Utterly perfect pop music. A tune and lyrics to die for.
Through the mirror of my mind
Time after time, I see reflections of you and me
Reflections of the way life used to be
Reflections of the love you took from meOh, I’m all alone now, no love to shield me
Trapped in a world that’s a distorted reality
Happiness you took from me
And left me alone with only memoriesThrough the mirror of my mind
Through these tears that I’m crying
Reflects a hurt I can’t control
‘Cause although you’re gone, I keep holding on
To the happy times, ooh, when you were mineAs I peer through the window of lost time
Looking over my yesterdays and all the love
I gave all in vain
(All the love)
All the love that I’ve wasted
(All the tears)
All the tears that I’ve tasted
All in vainThrough the hollow of my tears
I see a dream that’s lost
From the hurt that you have caused
Everywhere I turn, seems like everything I see
Reflects the love that used to beIn you I put all my faith and trust
Right before my eyes my world has turned to dust
After all the nights I sat alone and wept
Just a handful of promises are all that’s left of loving youReflections of the way life used to be
Reflections of the love you took from me
In you I put all my faith and trust
Right before my eyes my world has turned to dust
Play loud!
The Flaming Lips – Waitin’ For A Superman (1999)
Wow.
Everyday, I think that things can’t get any worse.
But then they do.
I love this song.
Tell everybody waiting for a Superman
That they should try to hold on best they can
He hasn’t dropped them, forgot them, or anything
It’s just too heavy for a Superman to lift
Play loud.
bestmusicofalltime 