Animal Wednesday

 

The latest installment in this little animal-themed series takes us back to 1981, when the Texan blues-rockers released their last reasonably convincing album before watering down their earthy sound with synthesizers.

Of course, the song ‘Wild Horses’ simply has to be included here. Today, however, it’s not the version by the Rolling Stones or Gram Parsons from the early seventies, but the one by Gino Vannelli, a Canadian rock and jazz musician, who would go on to have his only chart hit with this song in 1987.

And to round off today’s programme, here’s a ska/pop hit by Madness from 1983.

More Houses

 

Our journey around the houses today begins with a song by The Doors. Released on their fifth album Morrison Hotel they returned to their roots and played a powerful blues-rock on this song. I didn't listen to this song for a long time and I'm amazed at how fresh it still sounds today.

I couldn't resist presenting you with Status Quo's version as well.

We don't need to say much about Madness, and their biggest hit speaks for itself.

Alan Price was a key member of The Animals and after he left the band he formed The Alan Price Set and had chart success with this number.

Singles Released This Week Years Ago

 

1970: Neil Young

1978: Talking Heads

1961: Aretha Franklin

1972: Focus

1986: Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush

1989: 10.000 Maniacs

1968: The Zombies

1982: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

1978: Gloria Gaynor

1984: Frankie Goes To Hollywood

1994: Nirvana

1968: Cloud Nine

1965: Santana

1979: Madness

1979: Marianne Faithful

Sixty Five

 

Today I turn 65 and another year has passed far too quickly and I reflect on everything that has happened in these years. We are getting older and that is inevitable. And transience is a theme that crops up in every genre of music, from rock n' roll to country and blues. And songs that have dealt with getting older, the past and everything in between. It's impossible to pick a favourite, especially when you consider how much choice is out there. That's why I limited myself to the songs that came to me spontaneously and that have stayed with me over the years.

Labeled

The title shows one of the provocative marketing slogans for a record label in the late 70's. Stiff Record was formed by Jake Riviera and Dave Robinson, both enrooted in the pub-rock scene of the early 70's by managing pub-rock legends like Dr. Feelgood or Brinsley Schwarz. The legend tells that both founded the label by a loan on £400 from Lee Brilleaux of Dr. Feelgood. So it is nearby that their first single was by a veteran of the scene: Nick Lowe. They signed a lot of artists I could agree with and I bought a lot of records only because they was released on Stiff Records. It was also a label that had open ears for the dawning of new kind of music and musicians raised in the pub-rock scene got a panel to develop a new sound. Elvis Costello, Ian Dury, Wreckless Eric on the one and The Damned, Madness and Tenpole Tudor on the other side were the bands I connect with this label. Always good to listen to them from time to time.

Labled

If it ain't STIFF it ain't worth a fuck was the labels' claim. It was a message to all of those who were interested in new music. Formed in the era of punk in 1976 by Jake Rivera and Dave Robinson they signed a lot of artists with pub rock roots trying to make their own sound based on the basics. STIFF records were a trademark in these days bringing quality and new music to me. Most of the releases showed artists that became famous during the years. The quality of their producers, especially Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello made this label famous. They were alive until the mid 80's and vanished afterwords. STIFF introduced me into so many new music like none other label. They opened my ears to very new and great music in the late 70's. It is hypothetical question if my musical taste would be different without them. But I think they were at the hight of the musical taste in new music in these days. So let's get a journey back in the early days of STIFF were music was new, fresh and exciting. Not everything of this song are the music I listen now but it was a very pleasurable journey back in time.

So enjoy.