A few good times in my life
Another obscure single, released by Gothenburg's Höga Nord Rekords came to my ears these days. Tecwaa, the musical project by York based producer and DJ Paul Fawcett. Always & The End is a chugging piece of psychedelia, deep house and dub. Sometimes it seems that a sitar is playing all over the song that fits perfect to the hypnotic groove of this song. An artist, worth to dive deeper in his output.
Yesterday was the funeral of my friend of many years. The funeral service was fitting for his life and we friends gathered afterwards for a final toast to him. Nocturne by Mark Lanegan was the last song he requested for his funeral.
Rest in peace, Chris
My weekly ride through music history continues with some all time classics.
1977: Elvis Costello
1977: Sex Pistols
1977: Garland Jeffreys
1969: Neil Diamond
1971: Carole King
1971: Marvin Gaye
1967: Cream
1971: Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway
1979: The Records
1985: Fine Young Cannibals
1969: Sly and the Family Stone
1959: Sam Cooke
1988: Patti Smith
It's always a good day to remember the music of the Beta Band. Formed in Edinburgh almost 30 years ago, they have surprised us with their musical diversity. Someone once described them as post-rave lo-fi psychedelic art-rock-pop and that's not even wrong. They've incorporated their influences on their There E.P.'s and pulled off the near impossible.
SWC once wrote for an ICA about She's The One: I'll put in as simple as it ist. She's The One is the sweetest, most smile inducing an best song the Beta Ban ever made. After all this is a simple song, that chant (a common theme, you will find). A song which gains more power with each repetition, than takes your focus so much that the climax almost burst out of nowhere. A brilliant way to spend eight and a half minutes.
There is nothing to add.
Beta Band - She's The One
Tonight is the final of the German Football Cup, which would be nothing worth mentioning if VfB Stuttgart didn't get the chance to lift the trophy once again after almost 30 years. Stuttgart played a sensational season last year and finished second to be allowed to play in the Champions League this year. Which they did more than passably well. These additional games and bad luck with injuries meant that no more than 9th place was possible this season. All the greater the chance of being able to play internationally again next season with a win. Which, with all due respect, should be possible against an opponent that was promoted to the third division last week.
Today's song is from Viper Patrol, a band I don't know much and I couldn't find much more about them that they released their songs via Berlin's NEIN label. They are active since a couple of years and move on the ground of post-punk disco. Stickem convinced with a pulsing bass, echoed guitars and bleeps. An unexpected find.
Today is my birthday and I'm 66 years old. In my younger years, I could never have imagined that I would be this old. But with a bit of luck and a positive attitude towards life, I'm now closer to 70 than 60. I don't want to complain about the age either, because in the end it's just a number and says nothing about the person, no matter what they've been through.
When I was looking for a song with 66 in the title, I kept coming across the classic Route 66, but I didn't want to use it today. Instead, my choice fell on a song that Linton Kwesi Johnson released on his second album Bass Culture, which has lost none of its luster even today.
Street 66 told of a raid on a house party where revelers were ready to meet violence with violence. This was no fantasy: reggae dances were frequently broken up by police, batons drawn. After one such invasion, Dennis Bovell suffered a spell in jail on charges later dismissed on appeal.
Linton Kwesi Johnson - Street 66
On this day in in 1946 George Best was born in Belfast. He is best known for his successful career at Manchester United. Best, who is equally strong with both feet, combined the typical strengths of a winger in the form of great pace and acceleration with a strong goal threat.
He had his best time in 1968, when he won the European Cup with Manchester United. Unfortunately, he had problems with his alcohol consumption throughout his life, which ultimately cost him his life.
In 1987 Leeds' Wedding Present released their debut album George Best. Still a classic in fast indie rock. David Gedge wrote pop anthems that never stop working, songs whose lines could not be more honest. Sometimes soft and quiet, sometimes beguiling and loud.
The Wedding Present - My Favorite Dress
I couldn't resist to feature With 66 Years, a very famous schlager by Udo Jürgens (please don't blame me, Dirk) from the seventies. Jürgens is a classic trained piano player who had several hit singles 50 years ago. In this song he describes that live is starting when you turn into 66.
There are no words necessary for this songs. Just jump back in time.
1968: Steppenwolf
1973: Billy Presaton
1978: Dire Straits
1981: The Tubes
1983: Big Country
1970: Mungo Jerry
1970: Joni Mitchell
1969: Thunderclap Newman
1968: Donovan
1979: Robert Palmer
1992: The Cure
