Music Labyrinth Episode 068
Private Number / Glenn Tilbrook & Linda Bull (2006)
Hello Listener, and welcome to episode 68 of The Music Labyrinth. Now, for once, I think I understand one of the mathematical implications of our episode number! Halleleuh! 68, it turns out, is a happy number (yes - this is a recognised mathematical concept) which is defined as a number which eventually reaches 1 when replaced by the sum of the square of each digit. In this instance I think I can explain: the digits of 68 and 6 and 8. 6 squared is 36, and 8 squared is 64. The sum of those squares is 100. The digits of 100 are 1, 0, and 0, and when you add the sum of those squares, you arrive at 1! Isn’t that nifty?! I’m not sure to what end, but its still nifty. So, what better acknowledgement could there be to commence this episode than the realisation that it is - formally and mathematically - a happy episode! Our first song in this happy episode, and also the song with which we ended the last, was Private Number from the Rockwiz TV show, and performed by Glenn Tilbrook and Linda Bull. Private Number was written in 1968 by William Bell, who penned a number of blues classics, probably none better known than this next song, which has been covered by a thousand artists. With her excellent interpretation of it, here is Mellissa Etheridge with Born Under A Bad Sign.
Born Under A Bad Sign / Melissa Etheridge (2016)
From her 2016 album Memphis Rock and Soul, that was Mellissa Etheridge with Born Under A Bad Sign. Someone else who was “born under a bad sign” was Shakey Jake, and if you are wondering who that is - well I’m pleased to assist. From their 1969 album Town And Country, this is Humble Pie with The Sad Bag Of Shakey Jake. Keep an ear tuned for the “born under a bad sign” reference in the second verse.
The Sad Bag of Shakey Jake / Humble Pie (1969)
This is The Music Labyrinth, and that was (I mean the last song we listened to was) Humble Pie, a band which was one of the first ever supergroups, formed in 1969 featuring Steve Marriott from the Faces and The Small Faces; and Peter Frampton who had established his reputation as a guitarist in the band The Herd. I’m sure The Listener knows quite a bit about Peter Frampton’s subsequent career in music, but perhaps The Listener was not aware that Frampton played guitar on this track.
Grease / Frankie Valli (1978)
That, of course, was Grease, from the musical of the same name, and the song was performed by Frankie Valli. Now, without wishing to deliberately mess with The Listener’s head, a sample of Grease appears in this 1998 track by the Black Eyed Peas.
Joints & Jam / Black Eyed Peas (1998)
From their 1998 album Behind The Front, that was The Black Eyed Peas with Joints & Jam. In 2007 The Black Eyed Peas covered this next track on the compilation album Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Dafur. Here is the original.
Power To The People / John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band (1971)
Power To The People was first recorded in 1971, and was released in a variety of ways, but it did not appear on a John Lennon album until 1975’s Shaved Fish. The saxophone on the track was played by Bobby Keys, who was a prodigious and talented session musician. In 1976 he played saxophone on the debut album for Warren Zevon. From that album, and also featuring the saxophone of Bobby Keys, this is a tune I am sure you will know.
Poor Poor Pitiful Me / Warren Zevon (1976)
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth, where we last heard Poor Poor Pitiful Me by Warren Zevon. I hope you listened carefully to that track and you found yourself thinking, “I wonder who that is singing backing vocals with Warren?” You did do that? Excellent, because I am in a position to end your wondering on that front. It was Lindsay Buckingham, of Fleetwood Mac, who is the writer of this next song, and the performer of this 2011 live recording of it.
Never Going Back Again (Live) / Lindsay Buckingham (2011)
That was Lindsay Buckingham, recorded live in concert in 2011 with his song Never Going Back Again. In 2009 that song was covered by Eddie Reader, and if you are wondering who Eddie Reader is, think of the band Fairground Attraction, and the annoyingly catchy song Perfect. Also by Eddie Reader, from 1992, this is Honeychild.
Honeychild / Eddie Reader (1992)
On The Music Labyrinth that was the delightful voice of Eddie Reader with Honeychild. Honeychild was featured in the soundtrack of the 2000 movie Love & Sex, and - stand by for whiplash - so too was this song …
Play That Funky Music / Wild Cherry (1976)
Here we are in The Music Labyrinth where out toes are still tapping to Play That Funky Music by Wild Cherry. Play That Funky Music was once covered by Vanilla Ice, famous for Ice Ice Baby. Now we wont, repeat WONT, be playing Ice Ice Baby on this show, and I am certain that will not disappoint The Listener. However, that does not stop us exploiting Vanilla Ice for our next link. Ice Ice Baby, as I am sure you will recall, was entirely built around a big old sample of this song …
Under Pressure / Queen & David Bowie (1981)
That was, of course, Queen & David Bowie with their 1981 mega-hit, Under Pressure. I think, because we are all so familiar with that song and we hear it so often, that we forget what a magnificent contribution it is to the oeuvre of modern music. Its a gem! Because Vanilla Ice did not credit Queen and David Bowie, his release of Ice Ice Baby was subject to an action for plagiarism, which Vanilla lost, costing him the songwriting credit and a swag of cash. And that, Dear Listener, gives us a chance to engage in one of our favourite pursuits here on The Music Labyrinth. Another tune which was part of a plagiarism action was this next one and, on this occasion, we will have ourselves a Music labyrinth double-play and roll straight into the song which was adjudged to have copied it. So, to set up our double-play, here are Smokey Robinson & The Miracles.
Going To A Go Go / Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (1965)
Every Little Thing / Jeff Lynne (1990)
This is The Music Labyrinth, and we last listened to Jef Lynne and his 1990 song Every Little Thing, which cost him a songwriting credit for its similarity to Going To A Go-Go. Every Little Thing comes from Jeff Lynne’s album Armchair Theatre, on which Jeff Lynne covered the classic 1933 torch song Stormy Weather, first recorded by Ethel Waters, and subsequently by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Lena Horne, Billie Holliday, Jeff Lynne and - as it turns out - Joni Mitchell …
Stormy Weather / Joni Mitchell (2000)
Joni Mitchell’s version of the classic song Stormy Weather brings us squarely into what the future annuls of The Music Labyrinth will designate as The Stormy Weather section of Episode 68. And that is because we are about to explore other songs called Stormy Weather, including this one from 2008 by The Kooks.
Stormy Weather / The Kooks (2008)
The Kooks’ song Stormy Weather reminds us that we are in The Stormy Weather section of this episode of The Music Labyrinth. And, entirely in keeping with the theme, here are Echo & The Bunnymen with - you wont believe this - Stormy Weather!
Stormy Weather / Echo & The Bunnymen (2005)
Welcome back to episode 68 of The Music Labyrinth where the last song we listened to was Stormy Weather by Echo & The Bunnymen. In 2010, Ian McCulloch, formally of Echo & The Bunnymen, collaborated with the the Welsh band Manic Street Preachers, on their album Postcards From A Young Man. Critical opinion of the Manic Street Preachers is that they had reached the top of their game with their exceptional 1996 album Everything Must Go, which contained a single called Australia.
Australia / Manic Street Preachers (1996)
On The Music Labyrinth we just heard Australia, by Manic Street Preachers. And anyone who is remotely familiar with the musical preferences of your host will know that we have been deliberately guided to this point just so I can indulge us with a favourite of The Music Labyrinth. Also called Australia, and released in 2007, this is The Shins.
Australia / The Shins (2007)
Don’t we just LOVE The Shins! That was Australia, from the album Wincing The Night Away. As we have previously discussed, The Shins is largely a vehicle for the immense musical talent of James Mercer. In the same year as Wincing The Night Away was released, James Mercer collaborated with the American band Modest Mouse and can be prominently heard in the backing vocals on this track. This is Modest Mouse with Missed The Boat.
Missed The Boat / Modest Mouse (2007)
Hello from deep within the chasms of The Music Labyrinth where all is good with the world because we have been listening to some excellent tunes, on the most recent occasion Missed The Boat by Modest Mouse. That song, and the album it comes from, We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank, features Johnny Marr as a fully fledged member of Modest Mouse. Johnny Marr has done plenty (The Smiths, The Pretenders, Modest Mouse, and The Cribs) and - in the late 80s and early 90s - he enjoyed a stint as a member of The The. From their album Dusk, featuring Johnny Marr, this is The The with Dogs Of Lust.
Dogs Of Lust / The The (1993)
From their 1993 album Dusk, that was The The with Dogs Of Lust. Seven years earlier, The The released an album called Infected, and a significant contributor to that album was Neneh Cherry. Here she is from her most successful album, Man. This is Kootchie.
Kootchi / Neneh Cherry (1996)
From the 1996 album, Man, that was Neneh Cherry with Kootchie. That album, Man, which that song came from, also included a cover of this 1972 Marvin Gaye song.
Trouble Man / Marvin Gaye (1972)
On The Music Labyrinth that was Marvin Gay with Trouble Man. That song appears on the soundtrack of the 1995 Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman film Seven. And so too does this song. This is Gravity Kills with Guilty.
Guilty / Gravity Kills (1996)
Welcome back to the final section of episode 68 of The Music Labyrinth. We arrived at this place by way of the 1996 song Guilty by the Missouri group Gravity Kills. That band also appear on the 1997 tribute album Random, featuring cover versions of the songs of Gary Numan. The contribution to that album by Gravity Kills was a cover of this Gary Numan song, originally released as the B side to the 1983 single Sister Surprise. This is Poetry And Power.
Poetry And Power / Gary Numan (2002)
Recorded as part of the sessions with led to the 1983 album Warriors, that was Gary Numan with Poetry And Power. Saxophone on the Warrior album, and on the track we just heard, was played by Dick Morrissey. In 1988 he had worked with Mick Talbot and Paul Weller on The Style Council album Confessions of a Pop Group. On this next track he contributes saxophone and flute - and you know how much I love the flute in rock music. This is The Style Council with How She Threw It All Away.
How She Threw It All Away / The Style Council (1988)
Well, here we are again, Patient Listener, and the end of another episode of The Music Labyrinth. As always, I’ve had a ball assembling this playlist and I’m delighted to have had the opportunity to share it with you. Thanks very much for being a part of The Music Labyrinth, and please come back again in two weeks when we do it again. The next episode will be presented live from the Coast FM studios. Please come back again and dont be shy about bringing a friend along. The song which delivered us to this end of episode 68 was The Style Council with How She Threw It All Away. The Style Council was a 1980s multi album and tour collaboration between Paul Weller, previously of The Jam, and Mick Talbot, previously of Dexy’s Midnight Runners. As we know, they released some wonderful tunes, including the one we just listened to. Paul Weller has developed into a real favourite of mine, and the pinnacle of his career is considered to be his 1995 solo album Stanley Road. So, again, we arrive at a favourite tune to end this episode of The Music Labyrinth. From the Stanley Road album, this is Paul Weller with The Changingman. Enjoy!
The Changingman / Paul Weller (1995)
Hello Listener, and welcome to episode 68 of The Music Labyrinth. Now, for once, I think I understand one of the mathematical implications of our episode number! Halleleuh! 68, it turns out, is a happy number (yes - this is a recognised mathematical concept) which is defined as a number which eventually reaches 1 when replaced by the sum of the square of each digit. In this instance I think I can explain: the digits of 68 and 6 and 8. 6 squared is 36, and 8 squared is 64. The sum of those squares is 100. The digits of 100 are 1, 0, and 0, and when you add the sum of those squares, you arrive at 1! Isn’t that nifty?! I’m not sure to what end, but its still nifty. So, what better acknowledgement could there be to commence this episode than the realisation that it is - formally and mathematically - a happy episode! Our first song in this happy episode, and also the song with which we ended the last, was Private Number from the Rockwiz TV show, and performed by Glenn Tilbrook and Linda Bull. Private Number was written in 1968 by William Bell, who penned a number of blues classics, probably none better known than this next song, which has been covered by a thousand artists. With her excellent interpretation of it, here is Mellissa Etheridge with Born Under A Bad Sign.
Born Under A Bad Sign / Melissa Etheridge (2016)
From her 2016 album Memphis Rock and Soul, that was Mellissa Etheridge with Born Under A Bad Sign. Someone else who was “born under a bad sign” was Shakey Jake, and if you are wondering who that is - well I’m pleased to assist. From their 1969 album Town And Country, this is Humble Pie with The Sad Bag Of Shakey Jake. Keep an ear tuned for the “born under a bad sign” reference in the second verse.
The Sad Bag of Shakey Jake / Humble Pie (1969)
This is The Music Labyrinth, and that was (I mean the last song we listened to was) Humble Pie, a band which was one of the first ever supergroups, formed in 1969 featuring Steve Marriott from the Faces and The Small Faces; and Peter Frampton who had established his reputation as a guitarist in the band The Herd. I’m sure The Listener knows quite a bit about Peter Frampton’s subsequent career in music, but perhaps The Listener was not aware that Frampton played guitar on this track.
Grease / Frankie Valli (1978)
That, of course, was Grease, from the musical of the same name, and the song was performed by Frankie Valli. Now, without wishing to deliberately mess with The Listener’s head, a sample of Grease appears in this 1998 track by the Black Eyed Peas.
Joints & Jam / Black Eyed Peas (1998)
From their 1998 album Behind The Front, that was The Black Eyed Peas with Joints & Jam. In 2007 The Black Eyed Peas covered this next track on the compilation album Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Dafur. Here is the original.
Power To The People / John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band (1971)
Power To The People was first recorded in 1971, and was released in a variety of ways, but it did not appear on a John Lennon album until 1975’s Shaved Fish. The saxophone on the track was played by Bobby Keys, who was a prodigious and talented session musician. In 1976 he played saxophone on the debut album for Warren Zevon. From that album, and also featuring the saxophone of Bobby Keys, this is a tune I am sure you will know.
Poor Poor Pitiful Me / Warren Zevon (1976)
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth, where we last heard Poor Poor Pitiful Me by Warren Zevon. I hope you listened carefully to that track and you found yourself thinking, “I wonder who that is singing backing vocals with Warren?” You did do that? Excellent, because I am in a position to end your wondering on that front. It was Lindsay Buckingham, of Fleetwood Mac, who is the writer of this next song, and the performer of this 2011 live recording of it.
Never Going Back Again (Live) / Lindsay Buckingham (2011)
That was Lindsay Buckingham, recorded live in concert in 2011 with his song Never Going Back Again. In 2009 that song was covered by Eddie Reader, and if you are wondering who Eddie Reader is, think of the band Fairground Attraction, and the annoyingly catchy song Perfect. Also by Eddie Reader, from 1992, this is Honeychild.
Honeychild / Eddie Reader (1992)
On The Music Labyrinth that was the delightful voice of Eddie Reader with Honeychild. Honeychild was featured in the soundtrack of the 2000 movie Love & Sex, and - stand by for whiplash - so too was this song …
Play That Funky Music / Wild Cherry (1976)
Here we are in The Music Labyrinth where out toes are still tapping to Play That Funky Music by Wild Cherry. Play That Funky Music was once covered by Vanilla Ice, famous for Ice Ice Baby. Now we wont, repeat WONT, be playing Ice Ice Baby on this show, and I am certain that will not disappoint The Listener. However, that does not stop us exploiting Vanilla Ice for our next link. Ice Ice Baby, as I am sure you will recall, was entirely built around a big old sample of this song …
Under Pressure / Queen & David Bowie (1981)
That was, of course, Queen & David Bowie with their 1981 mega-hit, Under Pressure. I think, because we are all so familiar with that song and we hear it so often, that we forget what a magnificent contribution it is to the oeuvre of modern music. Its a gem! Because Vanilla Ice did not credit Queen and David Bowie, his release of Ice Ice Baby was subject to an action for plagiarism, which Vanilla lost, costing him the songwriting credit and a swag of cash. And that, Dear Listener, gives us a chance to engage in one of our favourite pursuits here on The Music Labyrinth. Another tune which was part of a plagiarism action was this next one and, on this occasion, we will have ourselves a Music labyrinth double-play and roll straight into the song which was adjudged to have copied it. So, to set up our double-play, here are Smokey Robinson & The Miracles.
Going To A Go Go / Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (1965)
Every Little Thing / Jeff Lynne (1990)
This is The Music Labyrinth, and we last listened to Jef Lynne and his 1990 song Every Little Thing, which cost him a songwriting credit for its similarity to Going To A Go-Go. Every Little Thing comes from Jeff Lynne’s album Armchair Theatre, on which Jeff Lynne covered the classic 1933 torch song Stormy Weather, first recorded by Ethel Waters, and subsequently by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Lena Horne, Billie Holliday, Jeff Lynne and - as it turns out - Joni Mitchell …
Stormy Weather / Joni Mitchell (2000)
Joni Mitchell’s version of the classic song Stormy Weather brings us squarely into what the future annuls of The Music Labyrinth will designate as The Stormy Weather section of Episode 68. And that is because we are about to explore other songs called Stormy Weather, including this one from 2008 by The Kooks.
Stormy Weather / The Kooks (2008)
The Kooks’ song Stormy Weather reminds us that we are in The Stormy Weather section of this episode of The Music Labyrinth. And, entirely in keeping with the theme, here are Echo & The Bunnymen with - you wont believe this - Stormy Weather!
Stormy Weather / Echo & The Bunnymen (2005)
Welcome back to episode 68 of The Music Labyrinth where the last song we listened to was Stormy Weather by Echo & The Bunnymen. In 2010, Ian McCulloch, formally of Echo & The Bunnymen, collaborated with the the Welsh band Manic Street Preachers, on their album Postcards From A Young Man. Critical opinion of the Manic Street Preachers is that they had reached the top of their game with their exceptional 1996 album Everything Must Go, which contained a single called Australia.
Australia / Manic Street Preachers (1996)
On The Music Labyrinth we just heard Australia, by Manic Street Preachers. And anyone who is remotely familiar with the musical preferences of your host will know that we have been deliberately guided to this point just so I can indulge us with a favourite of The Music Labyrinth. Also called Australia, and released in 2007, this is The Shins.
Australia / The Shins (2007)
Don’t we just LOVE The Shins! That was Australia, from the album Wincing The Night Away. As we have previously discussed, The Shins is largely a vehicle for the immense musical talent of James Mercer. In the same year as Wincing The Night Away was released, James Mercer collaborated with the American band Modest Mouse and can be prominently heard in the backing vocals on this track. This is Modest Mouse with Missed The Boat.
Missed The Boat / Modest Mouse (2007)
Hello from deep within the chasms of The Music Labyrinth where all is good with the world because we have been listening to some excellent tunes, on the most recent occasion Missed The Boat by Modest Mouse. That song, and the album it comes from, We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank, features Johnny Marr as a fully fledged member of Modest Mouse. Johnny Marr has done plenty (The Smiths, The Pretenders, Modest Mouse, and The Cribs) and - in the late 80s and early 90s - he enjoyed a stint as a member of The The. From their album Dusk, featuring Johnny Marr, this is The The with Dogs Of Lust.
Dogs Of Lust / The The (1993)
From their 1993 album Dusk, that was The The with Dogs Of Lust. Seven years earlier, The The released an album called Infected, and a significant contributor to that album was Neneh Cherry. Here she is from her most successful album, Man. This is Kootchie.
Kootchi / Neneh Cherry (1996)
From the 1996 album, Man, that was Neneh Cherry with Kootchie. That album, Man, which that song came from, also included a cover of this 1972 Marvin Gaye song.
Trouble Man / Marvin Gaye (1972)
On The Music Labyrinth that was Marvin Gay with Trouble Man. That song appears on the soundtrack of the 1995 Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman film Seven. And so too does this song. This is Gravity Kills with Guilty.
Guilty / Gravity Kills (1996)
Welcome back to the final section of episode 68 of The Music Labyrinth. We arrived at this place by way of the 1996 song Guilty by the Missouri group Gravity Kills. That band also appear on the 1997 tribute album Random, featuring cover versions of the songs of Gary Numan. The contribution to that album by Gravity Kills was a cover of this Gary Numan song, originally released as the B side to the 1983 single Sister Surprise. This is Poetry And Power.
Poetry And Power / Gary Numan (2002)
Recorded as part of the sessions with led to the 1983 album Warriors, that was Gary Numan with Poetry And Power. Saxophone on the Warrior album, and on the track we just heard, was played by Dick Morrissey. In 1988 he had worked with Mick Talbot and Paul Weller on The Style Council album Confessions of a Pop Group. On this next track he contributes saxophone and flute - and you know how much I love the flute in rock music. This is The Style Council with How She Threw It All Away.
How She Threw It All Away / The Style Council (1988)
Well, here we are again, Patient Listener, and the end of another episode of The Music Labyrinth. As always, I’ve had a ball assembling this playlist and I’m delighted to have had the opportunity to share it with you. Thanks very much for being a part of The Music Labyrinth, and please come back again in two weeks when we do it again. The next episode will be presented live from the Coast FM studios. Please come back again and dont be shy about bringing a friend along. The song which delivered us to this end of episode 68 was The Style Council with How She Threw It All Away. The Style Council was a 1980s multi album and tour collaboration between Paul Weller, previously of The Jam, and Mick Talbot, previously of Dexy’s Midnight Runners. As we know, they released some wonderful tunes, including the one we just listened to. Paul Weller has developed into a real favourite of mine, and the pinnacle of his career is considered to be his 1995 solo album Stanley Road. So, again, we arrive at a favourite tune to end this episode of The Music Labyrinth. From the Stanley Road album, this is Paul Weller with The Changingman. Enjoy!
The Changingman / Paul Weller (1995)