Back To The Very Old Days

 

A few days ago I was in a mood to look at my blog posts from the time I started starting this blog. I came across an old series, which I kept going at the time and during which I took a closer look at the time of pub rock. I came across a post I wrote 10 years ago and featured Mickey Jupp. He was a singer/songwriter associated with the so called Southend music scene. In the very early 70's he released a few albums with a mix of rockabilly, blues rock and pop. His success was limited but he became a leading figure a few years later at the pub-rock scene and played on the same level as Dr. Feelgood for whom he wrote Down At The Doctors. Other artists like Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe covered his songs after he signed to Stiff record label. I loved to listen to his songs after decades and I think it is necessary to feature him and his music once again.

Mickey Jupp's Legend - Cross Country

Mickey Jupp's Legend - My Typewriter

Mickey Jupp's Legend - Another Guy

Mickey Jupp's Legend - Heather On The Hill

What Happened To Pub Rock?

The short break is over - I'll have to go back to my desk in the office. I don't wanna know how much mails appeared in the last days that wanted to be answered. Anyway I think I'll answer them step by step. A few days ago I was in contact with Mr. Mondo via twitter. We talked a little bit about Mickey Jupp and his early record 'The Flaming Red Boot'-record. Mickey Jupp played guitar and piano in his band Legend. The released a few records in the early 1970s. They were all very good but too less people bought the records to be successful and the band split. In 1977 he started a career as a solo artist and made some good rhythm and blues records again. A lot of his songs was covered by Elkie Brooks, Joe Cocker, Kursaal Flyers, Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds. The most success he had when he signed to STIFF-records.
ei
In the days STIFF-records were founded they signed a few bands from the so called pub-rock era as Dr. Feelgood , The Tyla Gang and Nick Lowe. All these bands were hardly trained playing in pubs for local audience. That might be the reason why they know how to handle their instruments and their feeling for good songs. In this background could raise also acts like Elvis Costello and The Pogues.

I remember the days in the early 1980s in my hometown when there were five or six pubs local bands could play. But more and more pubs like these disappeared or changed their style. Well, it might sound sentimentally but sometimes I miss these days when you go out for a beer and listen to some bands.

So enjoy these songs:

Mickey Jupp - Another Guy
Mickey Jupp - Lorraine (Part One)

One Night in Bangkok

... yes we moved a couple of days ago to Bangkok to spend the new years eve in a big city and return to Sri Lanka again early 2013. Its the same thing like on any big airport. To get a transport to the city to a approbriate price. If you pass the passport control a lot of people offer you the service to transport you to the city - and most people choose one of them - not knowing, that they charge you three times. Go down to the second level and get on of the public taxi to carry you downtown.

After arriving at our hotel we're not amused to recognize that next door a hotel is completly renovated. After serveral diskussions with the manager we could change the room the other day. And after changing the room we are much more satisfied now.

The first afternoon/evening we drifted to local areas around. We found a nice spot to see the sun getting down behind the impressive skyline of upper Bangkok. After a couple of sundowners we are getting hungry and decided to go to the japanese restaurant close to our place. It was very traditional as we know from our visit in Japan four years ago. There are four pillows arround a very low table seperated from each other with some wooden walls. We ordered some small food and drunk the famous sake. It's a liqour made out of rice and it is really tasty (no headache the other day). So finally we had a good start in Bangkok.

The next day we took some sightseeing to show our friend the best places around. Although that he's a buddhist we as very impressed about What Poo. In the evening time we decided to go to Cowboy Soi. This is a very small road with all the bars where young girls dance on the tables. Watching them dance is horrible. No one of them is able to move her hips. It seems to me as they were all stoned. It is nice to see but not to stay for longer times. But we could bear it, watching the premier league live on telly.

So now the year is nearly over and I wish you all a very good start into 2013. May be the best what happened to you this year may be the worst in 2013.

This is one of my favourite tunes from Talk Talk. For me it is a very emotional version from Bon Iver (I think it is live in Glasgow)

Bon Iver - I believe in you (Talk Talk Cover)

The other one is also a favourite of mine. Back in the very early 80s to a sound that's called Pub Rock. Classical handmade music.

Mickey Jupp - Another Guy