Leisureland

 

On our way back from our education me and my colleague we had to drive home by train for five hours and were too tired to talk much. So we sat and checked the news on our mobile phone. This was the time I got aware that Wreckless Eric released a new record after ages. I didn't expected a new record by him because the last things I read about him that he nearly died and he was battling with long Covid. It seems that he was is better shape and able to record a new album at the age of 69. What I heard impressed me much and it is good he returned to classic song writing and he didn't lost his ability to write great songs. Most of them were recorded with classic instruments and superb arranged. His voice is older but not broken, the Rickenbacker guitar shines through this songs and Amy Rigby appears on backing vocals. Okay it is a record with old fashioned songs but for me the right music at the right time. Welcome back, Eric.

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.

Whole Wide World

Since a couple of weeks I have a contract in a local gym to do something for my old bones and body. Never thought that it could make fun to do the exercise course. It's a good feeling to take a shower after workout. A few days ago this song shuffled on my mobile phone when I sat on the bicycle ergometer in the gym. I'm sure most of you know this song by Wreckless Eric thinking his version is the final one. I don't know where I got this file/version from, neither were or when it was recorded but for me it on the same level. Massive guitars playing the chords, the drums make a perfect beat and Mr. Costello sing the verses with his very special voice.

Elvis Costello - Whole Wide World

Indie Scene 1977

I made many thoughts during the last days how to replace the foreign correspondent series. Then I found the CD-collection Indie-Scene: The story of British Independent Musc in my archive recently. When I have read all the titles on the backside of the cover I have to admit that this was a golden era of music. It's music Dirk presents on with his superb series of girls tapes . So I will start a series about these era, the music we listened to these days and maybe reflecting these days.

At that time in 1977 the charts are filled with pop songs by ABBA, David Soul, The Eagles, Leo Sayer and dreadfully bad songs like Baccara with 'Yes Sir, I can boogie' and 'Mull of Kintyre' by The Wings. Punk and New Wave started to appear in this year and new bands paved the way to new music. American bands like The Ramones, Johnny Thunders and New York Dolls brought their music that was raw, fast and full of energy to London. And very fast kids adapted this music and created a very own scene. Punk was born. In Kings Road, London Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood established their boutique selling S/M-accessory to the kids. Everything was possible in these days. For me it was a rather new experience listening to different kind of music my friends used to listen to. Anyway, this was the dawning of a new era in music and this CD's are a good overview what happened in this 10 years.

The Heartbreakers - Born to loose
The Ramones - Sheena is a punk rocker

And one of my all-time favorites:

Wreckless Eric - Whole Wide World

Some other remarkable bands/songs from this year are:

What Happened To Pub Rock # 19

Our today's artist is not necessarily to be assigned to this genre. But to present his skill without live background and it's experience it would be difficult having success. Eric Goulden or better known as Wreckless Eric was one of the first artist signed to the legendary STIFF label. He wrote with Whole Wide World maybe one of the best love song ever. His first record is full of little pop gems but none got the grade of Whole Wide World. After several years of living with his wife Amy Rigby in France they now living and performing in the US. I maybe listened to his song hundreds of times and never get bored. People may say he's a one-hit wonder and this might be true but he's an artist that I combine with one of the best eras in music.

Wreckless Eric - Whole Wide World
Elvis Costello and the Attractions - Whole Wide World (live)
Wreckless Eric and Amy Rigby - Do You Remember That

Gone, But Not Forgotten # 3

One of the few artists in the so called New Wave era Ian Dury impressed me much. Handicapped with Polio he went on stage, singing his songs and had fun playing that new sounds. He managed sexual equivocal ones with in fantastic songs. You can read more about him, his life and his career on Wiki. For me he was an artist who gave all in his concerts to the audience. I saw him one in a small club in the very early 1980s and I was so impressed about his physical presence while he performed. He was one of the first acts signed to STIFF-records and was on the first tour together with Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe and the underrated Wreckless Eric. His first record New Boots and Panties was very successful and his single Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll was banned because explicit lyrics. His first record is remarkable for me because his winking lyrics embedded in fantastic songs that doesn't stuck in that whole New Wave thing. He also tried to combine different influences funk, jazz, soul,R'n'R and typically British musical background to his own personal sound. In 1996 they diagnosed colorectal cancer and underwent surgery, but the tumours were later found in his liver, and he was told that his condition was terminal. Upon learning of his illness, Dury took the opportunity to marry his girlfrien, sculpture Sophy Tilson, with whom he had two children. His legacy is one of the best British albums of the 1980s which carries the spirit of New Wave and the message, that a handicapped one is also able to play and live the spirit of Rock and Roll. He died on March 27 in 2000. May you rest in peace, Ian.

Ian Dury & The Blockheads - Wake Up And Make Love With Me

Ian Dury & The Blockheads - Sex And Drugs And Rock And Roll

Ian Dury & The Blockheads - Sweet Gene Vincent

Ian Dury & The Blockheads - What A Waste

 

What's so funny bout peace, love and understanding

Hi,

back from some hard days at the office. Not that I have too much work, but I have to work through so many new things and I have also to represented my colleague who is gone for some weeks on vacation.

Therefore I spent an evening on the couch, surf the Internet a bit, listen to some music and have casually keep an eye on the Champions League. Not that I'm a fan of Bayern Munich, but if even a German team plays internationally, I will continue to to support them.

As I previously viewed the news, I had to think, in what times we live. Just rotate through all? The Middle East is in turmoil, Muslims are calling for war and I wonder where all this will end yet. If we internalize the three words from the title, we were on a good step towards a better future.

Therefore one of my favorites in a live version

If we at it, then I put on yet another song from the past.

Enjoy and have a good time.