Music Labyrinth Episode 036
Wishing Well / Free
Welcome to episode 36 of The Music Labyrinth. Now I don’t want to get all spooky on you, but I feel obliged to point out that 36 is the number of degrees in the internal angle of each tip of a regular pentagram. But its OK. I have some salt here and I have thrown some over my left shoulder. It is the left, isn’t it? I probably don’t need to explain the single convention of this program: that each song we play will be linked to the previous - but now, it appears that I have done just that, and we probably should resume our journey. We commenced this episode where we ended our last, with Wishing Well by Free. That song was written and released in 1972. Believe it or not, it is only 15 years between 1972 and 1987 - I’d always felt like it was much further than that. Anyway, after that 15 year interval, Terrence Trent D’Arby had a worldwide smash hit with his song of the same name.
Wishing Well / Terrence Trent D’Arby
From his 1987 album Introducing The Hardline According To Terrence Trent D’Arby, that was the man with Wishing Well. The saxophone on that track was played by the British musician Mel Collins. The Dire Straits fans amongst you will probably recall Mark Knopfler announcing Mel Collins during one of the tracks on the Alchemy album, but that is not where we are headed. Mel Collins also contributed saxophone to this unexpected segue by perhaps the greatest rock and roll band ever into the mysteries of disco.
Miss You / Rolling Stones
Here we are in The Music Labyrinth where we have wandered somewhat recklessly into the chambers of disco. Now, we all love the Dandy Warhols. In fact, those of you who have been with us since the commencement of this journey - approximately 370 songs ago - will recall that it was the Dandy Warhols who first brought us into this labyrinth with their song Godless. Well, to be honest, I’m really not sure what is going on with this next track from that band, but I’m pretty sure that that it has been crafted with one eye firmly on the disco genre, and with tongue squarely in cheek. And, further, given the similarities, that one of the targets of its satire is the song we just listened to. This is the Dandy Warhols with Welcome To The Third World.
Welcome To The Third World / Dandy Warhols
From their 2008 album Earth To The Dandy Warhols, that was the slightly spacey Dandy Warhols with Welcome To The Third World. At the risk of pushing this theory of Dandys v Disco a bit too far, our next song is presented entirely on the premise that the Dandy Warhols song we just listened to is without question the offspring of the Rolling Stones’ Miss You, and this hit from 1981.
Rapture / Blondie
From their 1980 album Autoamerican, that was Blondie with Rapture. In 2005 someone very clever mashed that song with The Doors’ Riders On The Storm, and the resultant song became known as Rapture Riders. I could only find it on YouTube, but here is a quick snippet of the audio that will give you an idea of it. [audio] For obvious reasons our next track will be Riders On The Storm, but I’ve steered us away from The Doors’ original version because, to be honest, I find it a little bit pedestrian. However, I did find this rather cool substitute.
Riders On The Storm (feat. The Doors) [Fredwreck Remix] / Snoop Dogg
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth where we last listened to the Fredwreck Remix of Riders On The Storm (featuring The Doors) by Snoop Dogg. In addition to being a rapper and media personality, and a person of many professional handles, Snoop Dog has a surprising number of acting credits on his CV (and several that are probably not on it at all!). In 2017 he had a role in the 12th and 13th episodes of season 28 of The Simpsons. Other artists who have also appeared in an episode of The Simpsons include Dave Matthews, Sting, Tom Jones, Peter Frampton (put a place holder on that one for a moment) and - one of my favourite bands - The Decemberists. Here they are with Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect.
Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect / The Decemberists
From their 2002 album, Castaways & Cutouts, that was the lovely Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect by The Decemberists. In 2006 the band became involved in a “ferocious” mock feud with the talk show host Stephen Colbert when the band requested their fans create a music video from footage of the band against a green-screen. Colbert claimed that the “green-screen challenge” was his concept, and the band countered that they were performing green-screen light sabre fights on stage prior to Colbert’s green-screen work. It was determined that the feud would be decided by a guitar solo challenge on Colbert’s TV show. The band were represented by their lead guitarist, Chris Funk. Colbert feigned an hand injury and nominated Peter Frampton to represent him. The guitar solo challenge proceeded, and Frampton won the audience vote, but Henry Kissinger, a guest on the show, declared the real winner to be the American people. Here is Colbert’s champion, with Its A Plain Shame.
It’s A Plain Shame / Peter Frampton
If you find yourself still with us in The Music Labyrinth, thanks for hanging around. You may recall that we last listened to Peter Frampton’s Its A Plain Shame from his 1971 album Wind Of Change. By the way, if you were with us last week you will recall we played the song Wind Of Change by The Scorpions, and spoke about its association with Glasnost and the fall of the Berlin Wall. Thanks to a faithful listener to this program (Hello Pete) I was alerted to a fascinating podcast about the premise that the song was written by the CIA as a decisive tactic in the Cold War. The podcast addresses some meaty issues, and interviews some colourful characters. I’ve been thoroughly absorbed in all 8 episodes this week, and if you would like to hear it, go to your favourite podcast provider and search for Wind Of Change. Now, back to Frampton. The album which contained the song we just heard featured a number of guest musicians; amongst them, Klaus Voormann, who had been a member of Herman’s Hermits and thereafter enjoyed a successful career as a session musician and record producer. It is Klaus Voormann who you can hear playing the bass guitar on this track.
Perfect Day / Lou Reed
From his groundbreaking 1972 album Transformer, that was, of course, Lou Reed with Perfect Day. That song received a boost in popularity and sales when it featured in the 1996 film Trainspotting. We’re going to stay with the soundtrack of Trainspotting to finish this week’s episode of The Music Labyrinth. Thanks very much for staying with us for this episode, and please return next week. Feel free to bring a friend along as well. To take us out, here is Iggy.
Lust For Life / Iggy Pop
Welcome to episode 36 of The Music Labyrinth. Now I don’t want to get all spooky on you, but I feel obliged to point out that 36 is the number of degrees in the internal angle of each tip of a regular pentagram. But its OK. I have some salt here and I have thrown some over my left shoulder. It is the left, isn’t it? I probably don’t need to explain the single convention of this program: that each song we play will be linked to the previous - but now, it appears that I have done just that, and we probably should resume our journey. We commenced this episode where we ended our last, with Wishing Well by Free. That song was written and released in 1972. Believe it or not, it is only 15 years between 1972 and 1987 - I’d always felt like it was much further than that. Anyway, after that 15 year interval, Terrence Trent D’Arby had a worldwide smash hit with his song of the same name.
Wishing Well / Terrence Trent D’Arby
From his 1987 album Introducing The Hardline According To Terrence Trent D’Arby, that was the man with Wishing Well. The saxophone on that track was played by the British musician Mel Collins. The Dire Straits fans amongst you will probably recall Mark Knopfler announcing Mel Collins during one of the tracks on the Alchemy album, but that is not where we are headed. Mel Collins also contributed saxophone to this unexpected segue by perhaps the greatest rock and roll band ever into the mysteries of disco.
Miss You / Rolling Stones
Here we are in The Music Labyrinth where we have wandered somewhat recklessly into the chambers of disco. Now, we all love the Dandy Warhols. In fact, those of you who have been with us since the commencement of this journey - approximately 370 songs ago - will recall that it was the Dandy Warhols who first brought us into this labyrinth with their song Godless. Well, to be honest, I’m really not sure what is going on with this next track from that band, but I’m pretty sure that that it has been crafted with one eye firmly on the disco genre, and with tongue squarely in cheek. And, further, given the similarities, that one of the targets of its satire is the song we just listened to. This is the Dandy Warhols with Welcome To The Third World.
Welcome To The Third World / Dandy Warhols
From their 2008 album Earth To The Dandy Warhols, that was the slightly spacey Dandy Warhols with Welcome To The Third World. At the risk of pushing this theory of Dandys v Disco a bit too far, our next song is presented entirely on the premise that the Dandy Warhols song we just listened to is without question the offspring of the Rolling Stones’ Miss You, and this hit from 1981.
Rapture / Blondie
From their 1980 album Autoamerican, that was Blondie with Rapture. In 2005 someone very clever mashed that song with The Doors’ Riders On The Storm, and the resultant song became known as Rapture Riders. I could only find it on YouTube, but here is a quick snippet of the audio that will give you an idea of it. [audio] For obvious reasons our next track will be Riders On The Storm, but I’ve steered us away from The Doors’ original version because, to be honest, I find it a little bit pedestrian. However, I did find this rather cool substitute.
Riders On The Storm (feat. The Doors) [Fredwreck Remix] / Snoop Dogg
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth where we last listened to the Fredwreck Remix of Riders On The Storm (featuring The Doors) by Snoop Dogg. In addition to being a rapper and media personality, and a person of many professional handles, Snoop Dog has a surprising number of acting credits on his CV (and several that are probably not on it at all!). In 2017 he had a role in the 12th and 13th episodes of season 28 of The Simpsons. Other artists who have also appeared in an episode of The Simpsons include Dave Matthews, Sting, Tom Jones, Peter Frampton (put a place holder on that one for a moment) and - one of my favourite bands - The Decemberists. Here they are with Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect.
Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect / The Decemberists
From their 2002 album, Castaways & Cutouts, that was the lovely Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect by The Decemberists. In 2006 the band became involved in a “ferocious” mock feud with the talk show host Stephen Colbert when the band requested their fans create a music video from footage of the band against a green-screen. Colbert claimed that the “green-screen challenge” was his concept, and the band countered that they were performing green-screen light sabre fights on stage prior to Colbert’s green-screen work. It was determined that the feud would be decided by a guitar solo challenge on Colbert’s TV show. The band were represented by their lead guitarist, Chris Funk. Colbert feigned an hand injury and nominated Peter Frampton to represent him. The guitar solo challenge proceeded, and Frampton won the audience vote, but Henry Kissinger, a guest on the show, declared the real winner to be the American people. Here is Colbert’s champion, with Its A Plain Shame.
It’s A Plain Shame / Peter Frampton
If you find yourself still with us in The Music Labyrinth, thanks for hanging around. You may recall that we last listened to Peter Frampton’s Its A Plain Shame from his 1971 album Wind Of Change. By the way, if you were with us last week you will recall we played the song Wind Of Change by The Scorpions, and spoke about its association with Glasnost and the fall of the Berlin Wall. Thanks to a faithful listener to this program (Hello Pete) I was alerted to a fascinating podcast about the premise that the song was written by the CIA as a decisive tactic in the Cold War. The podcast addresses some meaty issues, and interviews some colourful characters. I’ve been thoroughly absorbed in all 8 episodes this week, and if you would like to hear it, go to your favourite podcast provider and search for Wind Of Change. Now, back to Frampton. The album which contained the song we just heard featured a number of guest musicians; amongst them, Klaus Voormann, who had been a member of Herman’s Hermits and thereafter enjoyed a successful career as a session musician and record producer. It is Klaus Voormann who you can hear playing the bass guitar on this track.
Perfect Day / Lou Reed
From his groundbreaking 1972 album Transformer, that was, of course, Lou Reed with Perfect Day. That song received a boost in popularity and sales when it featured in the 1996 film Trainspotting. We’re going to stay with the soundtrack of Trainspotting to finish this week’s episode of The Music Labyrinth. Thanks very much for staying with us for this episode, and please return next week. Feel free to bring a friend along as well. To take us out, here is Iggy.
Lust For Life / Iggy Pop