Music Labyrinth Episode 062
Enjoy The Silence / Depeche Mode (1989)
Hello Listener, and welcome to episode 62 of The Music Labyrinth. Now, of course episode 62 makes us immediately think of the year 1962, and - to paraphrase our eminent leader and statesman - “how good was 1962?!” I mean, just for starters there was the EXTREMELY rare grand conjunction of the classical planets on February 4th and 5th. Then Trinidad and Tobago, Algeria, Rwanda, Burundi and Western Samoa all became independent of their colonial overlords; the first Taco Bell restaurant was opened; Bob Dylan released Blowin’ In The Wind; and Andy Warhol knocked out the Campbell’s Soup cans. And, there were births!: Jim Carey, Sheryl Crow, Jon Bon Jovi, MC Hammer, Tom Cruise, Baz Luhrmann, Demi Moore, Jodie Foster, - it just seems that all the greats were born that year. 62 therefore, is reason enough for celebration, and that is what we intend to do tonight on The Music Labyrinth as we bridge our way from one song to the next on links so factually solid that you could carve them into statues for your garden. We started, you will have noticed, with Depeche Mode and Enjoy The Silence. That track and album were produced by the British audio engineer and record producer, Flood, who’s birth name is Mark Ellis, but who was NOT cool enough to have been born in 1962, but was around to witness the awsomeness of that year. Flood also produced the 1992 album Honey’s Dead for the Jesus & Mary Chain, which contains this track.
Catchfire / Jesus & Mary Chain (1992)
That was The Jesus & Mary Chain with Catchfire, from their album Honey’s Dead, which was nominated for 1992 Mercury Prize (which was won by Screamadelica by Primal Scream - interestingly, Bobby Gillespie from Primal Scream is a former member of The Jesus & Mary Chain). Another nomination for the 1992 Mercury Prize was Foxbase Alpha by Saint Etienne which contained this track.
Only Love Can Break Your Heart / Saint Etienne (1991)
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth where we last listened to Only Love Can Break Your Heart by Saint Etienne. That song was written by Neil Young. So was this.
Cortez The Killer / Neil Young (1975)
From 1975 that was Neil Young and the magnificent Cortez The Killer. That song has been covered by everyone (including, BTW, the Dave Matthews Band) however the cover version we are interested in right now is the one by The Church on their album A Box of Birds, which also included a cover of this 1972 hit for Mott The Hoople.
All The Young Dudes / Mott The Hoople (1972)
That was Mott The Hoople with their 1972 hit All The Young Dudes. And if you recognise the title, thats probably because the song was written by David Bowie, but, we’re not headed for the Bowie super-room right now. The lead singer of Mott The Hoople was Ian Hunter, who had a massive hit in 1975 with this song.
Once Bitten, Twice Shy / Ian Hunter (1975)
This is us, here in The Music Labyrinth where we just heard Ian Hunter’s tale about the seedier side of rock and roll, Once Bitten Twice Shy. The following song was also written by Ian Hunter, but this version of it is by The Presidents of the United States of America.
Cleveland Rocks / Presidents of the United Sates of America (1997)
That was The Presidents of the United States of America with Cleveland Rocks. Now, if you are a TV fan and you think you recognise that song, that is because Cleveland Rocks was the theme for season 2 of the Drew Carey Show. Season 3’s theme was this …
Five O’Clock World / The Vogues (1965)
From 1965, that was The Vogues with Five O’Clock World. That song featured in the soundtrack of the 2003 Tim Burton movie Big Fish, as did this Pearl Jam tune …
Man Of The Hour / Pearl Jam (2003)
On The Music Labyrinth, that was Pearl Jam with Man Of The Hour. That song featured on a 2016 Sony compilation album called Short Days, Long Nights, and also on that compilation album, this track can be found.
How To Save A Life / The Fray (2006)
Hello from deep inside The Music Labyrinth where we just encountered The Fray’s How To Save A Life. That song was a massive hit for The Fray, and perhaps part of its popularity was due to its inclusion in the TV series Gray’s Anatomy, and its subsequent appearance on vol 2 of the soundtrack of that show, which also included this song …
How We Operate / Gomez (2006)
From 2006, that was Gomez with How We Operate. Gomez are an unusual band in that it includes three very gifted lead singers who interchange lead vocals on the band’s songs. Another such arrangement occurs within the band The New Pornographers who are a Canadian indie rock musical collective of singer-songwriters. The band’s lineup fluctuates according to availability, but the current lineup includes at least four highly credentialed singers in their own right. Here they are with Myriad Harbour.
Myriad Harbour / The New Pornographers (2007)
That was The New Pornographers with Myriad Harbour. I talked about the highly credentialed singers that make up that band. One of them is the wonderful Neko Case, and here she is in her own right with Hold On, Hold On.
Hold On, Hold On / Neko Case (2006)
From her 2006 album Fox Confessor Brings The Flood, that was Neko Case with Hold On, Hold On. It appears that ten years later, the danger of being dislodged still remained, as Richard Ashcroft was still urging us to Hold On.
Hold On / Richard Ashcroft (2016)
This is The Music Labyrinth, and that was Richard Ashcroft, formerly the lead singer of The Verve, with his song Hold On, which comes from Richard Ashcroft’s 2016 album These People. Drums on These People were played by Geoff Dugmore, and you can also hear his drumming on this slightly-tongue-in-cheek tune from Scottish musician Ian McNabb.
Rockin’ For Jesus / Ian McNabb (1991)
From 1991, that was Ian McNabb with Rockin’ For Jesus. Now, I have no authority for this proposition other than my own ear and memory, but I swear that the melody of the verses of the song we just heard come straight out of this 1973 Jim Croce classic.
Bad Bad Leroy Brown / Jim Croce (1973)
On The Music Labyrinth, that was, of course, Jim Croce’s Bad Bad Leroy Brown. That song became a worldwide hit, and inspired Queen to add this next track to their 1974 album Sheer Heart Attack.
Bring Back That Leroy Brown / Queen (1974)
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth, and hold on to your hat - we are about to make Music Labyrinth history! When the citation is written, this section of the program will be known as The Great Triple Play of Episode 62. Yep, I’m going to present a link to our next song and then, after that, if you listen carefully to the opening moments of each of them, the links to the following two songs will become so self-evident as to require no introduction - so you’re not getting one. I will, however, come back at the end and let you know the song and performer details. So, the song we last heard was Bring Back That Leroy Brown by Queen, and it came from their 1974 album Sheer Heart Attack. As part of the 2011 remaster of that album, an a cappella version of that song was recorded and released. Someone else who recorded an a capella version of his own hit was Joe Jackson. From his 1998 live album, here is Joe Jackson with the a capella version of one of his biggest hits - and dont forget to listen carefully for the links to the following songs.
Is She Really Going Out With Him (Live) / Joe Jackson (1988)
New Rose / The Damned (1976)
Leader Of The Pack / The Shangri-Las (1964)
This is The Music Labyrinth and if I sound refreshed and rejuvenated its because I had a chance to grab a cup of tea during The Great Triple Play of Episode 62. Let me explain what just happened. We started that bracket of songs with Joe Jackson’s a capella version of his own wonderful song, Is She Really Going Out With Him. Joe Jackson has been quoted as saying that he came up with the idea of the song after hearing that line, “is she really going out with him” spoken by Dave Vanian at the start of the song New Rose by The Damned. Hence the second song in our bracket. Vanian’s quotation of that line at the start of New Rose was a deliberate parody of the opening line of Leader Of The Pack by The Shangri-Las. Hence the third song in our Great Triple Play. So - that was fun! (Well, it was for me). There was also fun being had during the recording of this next track, with a deliberate reference to the Shangri-Las hit we just heard. Now, I’m going to lapse into American pronunciation here, because thats how this joke works. If you listen carefully to the lyrics of this track, you will hear one of the backing singers say, ”here he is folks; the leader of the plaque”.
Dentist! / Steve Martin, Michelle Weeks, Tichina Arnold & Tisha Campbell (1986)
That track, Dentist!, by Steve Martin, Michelle Weeks, Tichina Arnold and Tisha Campbell is from the soundtrack of the 1986 film Little Shop of Horrors. And, its one of the few songs I’m aware of that references the Marquis de Sade in its lyrics - but there is, at least, one other…
Fools Gold / The Stone Roses (1989)
On The Music Labyrinth that was The Stone Roses with their 1989 hit Fools Gold. Now, I’m outside my comfort zone here, but the recently updated video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, features a number of “radio stations”, one of which is called Radio X. The Radio Station contains a playlist of a dozen or so songs, which includes Fools Gold and also this track …
Been Caught Stealing / Jane’s Addiction (1990)
From 1990 that was Jane’s Addiction with Been Caught Stealing, and you will have noticed the very impressive dog barking which featured at the beginning of the track. Now, dog barking has been topical this week, and I have to point out that I had arrived at this particular link before that event happened. Anyway, Prince was not scared to include some dog barking in at least one of his songs, even if it is just slightly less realistic than the one we just heard. This is La La La He He He.
La La La He He He / Prince (1987)
This is The Music Labyrinth, and the last song we enjoyed together was La La La He He He, by Prince, which was the B side to the 1987 hit Sign O’ The Times. According to princevault.com, Sheena Easton has a songwriting credit for that song on the basis that she dared Prince to write a song with such a basic phrase as the title. So, lets therefore stay with Sheena Easton. This is her 1984 hit, Strut.
Strut / Sheena Easton (1984)
This is The Music Labyrinth, and that was Sheena Easton from her 1984 album A Private Heaven with Strut. At the risk of subjecting you to a serious case of whiplash, A Private Heaven also included Sheena Easton’s cover version of this hit from 1976.
Love And Affection / Joan Armatrading (1976)
Joan Armatrading’s beautiful song Love and Affection has brought us crashing in to the end of episode 62 of The Music Labyrinth. I hope you have had fun, and I hope you will come back and listen again in a fortnight. Thanks very much for your company throughout this episode. That song, Love and Affection, and the eponymous album it comes from were produced by the English musician, recording engineer and producer, Glyn Johns. My TV has been full of the young Glyn Johns this week because I have been captivated by the excellent Peter Jackson documentary about the rehearsals and recording sessions which resulted in the 1969 Beatles album Let It Be, which was recorded by Glyn Johns. One of the great highlights of that documentary is to be able to witness the extraordinary relationship between all the people who contributed to the album, but particularly the magic that existed between John Lennon and Paul McCartney. That magic was most evident in some delightful moments of the recording of this song which, because of what I have watched this week, has rocketed to near the top of my personal favourite list. I hope you enjoy this.
Two Of Us / The Beatles (1969)
Hello Listener, and welcome to episode 62 of The Music Labyrinth. Now, of course episode 62 makes us immediately think of the year 1962, and - to paraphrase our eminent leader and statesman - “how good was 1962?!” I mean, just for starters there was the EXTREMELY rare grand conjunction of the classical planets on February 4th and 5th. Then Trinidad and Tobago, Algeria, Rwanda, Burundi and Western Samoa all became independent of their colonial overlords; the first Taco Bell restaurant was opened; Bob Dylan released Blowin’ In The Wind; and Andy Warhol knocked out the Campbell’s Soup cans. And, there were births!: Jim Carey, Sheryl Crow, Jon Bon Jovi, MC Hammer, Tom Cruise, Baz Luhrmann, Demi Moore, Jodie Foster, - it just seems that all the greats were born that year. 62 therefore, is reason enough for celebration, and that is what we intend to do tonight on The Music Labyrinth as we bridge our way from one song to the next on links so factually solid that you could carve them into statues for your garden. We started, you will have noticed, with Depeche Mode and Enjoy The Silence. That track and album were produced by the British audio engineer and record producer, Flood, who’s birth name is Mark Ellis, but who was NOT cool enough to have been born in 1962, but was around to witness the awsomeness of that year. Flood also produced the 1992 album Honey’s Dead for the Jesus & Mary Chain, which contains this track.
Catchfire / Jesus & Mary Chain (1992)
That was The Jesus & Mary Chain with Catchfire, from their album Honey’s Dead, which was nominated for 1992 Mercury Prize (which was won by Screamadelica by Primal Scream - interestingly, Bobby Gillespie from Primal Scream is a former member of The Jesus & Mary Chain). Another nomination for the 1992 Mercury Prize was Foxbase Alpha by Saint Etienne which contained this track.
Only Love Can Break Your Heart / Saint Etienne (1991)
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth where we last listened to Only Love Can Break Your Heart by Saint Etienne. That song was written by Neil Young. So was this.
Cortez The Killer / Neil Young (1975)
From 1975 that was Neil Young and the magnificent Cortez The Killer. That song has been covered by everyone (including, BTW, the Dave Matthews Band) however the cover version we are interested in right now is the one by The Church on their album A Box of Birds, which also included a cover of this 1972 hit for Mott The Hoople.
All The Young Dudes / Mott The Hoople (1972)
That was Mott The Hoople with their 1972 hit All The Young Dudes. And if you recognise the title, thats probably because the song was written by David Bowie, but, we’re not headed for the Bowie super-room right now. The lead singer of Mott The Hoople was Ian Hunter, who had a massive hit in 1975 with this song.
Once Bitten, Twice Shy / Ian Hunter (1975)
This is us, here in The Music Labyrinth where we just heard Ian Hunter’s tale about the seedier side of rock and roll, Once Bitten Twice Shy. The following song was also written by Ian Hunter, but this version of it is by The Presidents of the United States of America.
Cleveland Rocks / Presidents of the United Sates of America (1997)
That was The Presidents of the United States of America with Cleveland Rocks. Now, if you are a TV fan and you think you recognise that song, that is because Cleveland Rocks was the theme for season 2 of the Drew Carey Show. Season 3’s theme was this …
Five O’Clock World / The Vogues (1965)
From 1965, that was The Vogues with Five O’Clock World. That song featured in the soundtrack of the 2003 Tim Burton movie Big Fish, as did this Pearl Jam tune …
Man Of The Hour / Pearl Jam (2003)
On The Music Labyrinth, that was Pearl Jam with Man Of The Hour. That song featured on a 2016 Sony compilation album called Short Days, Long Nights, and also on that compilation album, this track can be found.
How To Save A Life / The Fray (2006)
Hello from deep inside The Music Labyrinth where we just encountered The Fray’s How To Save A Life. That song was a massive hit for The Fray, and perhaps part of its popularity was due to its inclusion in the TV series Gray’s Anatomy, and its subsequent appearance on vol 2 of the soundtrack of that show, which also included this song …
How We Operate / Gomez (2006)
From 2006, that was Gomez with How We Operate. Gomez are an unusual band in that it includes three very gifted lead singers who interchange lead vocals on the band’s songs. Another such arrangement occurs within the band The New Pornographers who are a Canadian indie rock musical collective of singer-songwriters. The band’s lineup fluctuates according to availability, but the current lineup includes at least four highly credentialed singers in their own right. Here they are with Myriad Harbour.
Myriad Harbour / The New Pornographers (2007)
That was The New Pornographers with Myriad Harbour. I talked about the highly credentialed singers that make up that band. One of them is the wonderful Neko Case, and here she is in her own right with Hold On, Hold On.
Hold On, Hold On / Neko Case (2006)
From her 2006 album Fox Confessor Brings The Flood, that was Neko Case with Hold On, Hold On. It appears that ten years later, the danger of being dislodged still remained, as Richard Ashcroft was still urging us to Hold On.
Hold On / Richard Ashcroft (2016)
This is The Music Labyrinth, and that was Richard Ashcroft, formerly the lead singer of The Verve, with his song Hold On, which comes from Richard Ashcroft’s 2016 album These People. Drums on These People were played by Geoff Dugmore, and you can also hear his drumming on this slightly-tongue-in-cheek tune from Scottish musician Ian McNabb.
Rockin’ For Jesus / Ian McNabb (1991)
From 1991, that was Ian McNabb with Rockin’ For Jesus. Now, I have no authority for this proposition other than my own ear and memory, but I swear that the melody of the verses of the song we just heard come straight out of this 1973 Jim Croce classic.
Bad Bad Leroy Brown / Jim Croce (1973)
On The Music Labyrinth, that was, of course, Jim Croce’s Bad Bad Leroy Brown. That song became a worldwide hit, and inspired Queen to add this next track to their 1974 album Sheer Heart Attack.
Bring Back That Leroy Brown / Queen (1974)
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth, and hold on to your hat - we are about to make Music Labyrinth history! When the citation is written, this section of the program will be known as The Great Triple Play of Episode 62. Yep, I’m going to present a link to our next song and then, after that, if you listen carefully to the opening moments of each of them, the links to the following two songs will become so self-evident as to require no introduction - so you’re not getting one. I will, however, come back at the end and let you know the song and performer details. So, the song we last heard was Bring Back That Leroy Brown by Queen, and it came from their 1974 album Sheer Heart Attack. As part of the 2011 remaster of that album, an a cappella version of that song was recorded and released. Someone else who recorded an a capella version of his own hit was Joe Jackson. From his 1998 live album, here is Joe Jackson with the a capella version of one of his biggest hits - and dont forget to listen carefully for the links to the following songs.
Is She Really Going Out With Him (Live) / Joe Jackson (1988)
New Rose / The Damned (1976)
Leader Of The Pack / The Shangri-Las (1964)
This is The Music Labyrinth and if I sound refreshed and rejuvenated its because I had a chance to grab a cup of tea during The Great Triple Play of Episode 62. Let me explain what just happened. We started that bracket of songs with Joe Jackson’s a capella version of his own wonderful song, Is She Really Going Out With Him. Joe Jackson has been quoted as saying that he came up with the idea of the song after hearing that line, “is she really going out with him” spoken by Dave Vanian at the start of the song New Rose by The Damned. Hence the second song in our bracket. Vanian’s quotation of that line at the start of New Rose was a deliberate parody of the opening line of Leader Of The Pack by The Shangri-Las. Hence the third song in our Great Triple Play. So - that was fun! (Well, it was for me). There was also fun being had during the recording of this next track, with a deliberate reference to the Shangri-Las hit we just heard. Now, I’m going to lapse into American pronunciation here, because thats how this joke works. If you listen carefully to the lyrics of this track, you will hear one of the backing singers say, ”here he is folks; the leader of the plaque”.
Dentist! / Steve Martin, Michelle Weeks, Tichina Arnold & Tisha Campbell (1986)
That track, Dentist!, by Steve Martin, Michelle Weeks, Tichina Arnold and Tisha Campbell is from the soundtrack of the 1986 film Little Shop of Horrors. And, its one of the few songs I’m aware of that references the Marquis de Sade in its lyrics - but there is, at least, one other…
Fools Gold / The Stone Roses (1989)
On The Music Labyrinth that was The Stone Roses with their 1989 hit Fools Gold. Now, I’m outside my comfort zone here, but the recently updated video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, features a number of “radio stations”, one of which is called Radio X. The Radio Station contains a playlist of a dozen or so songs, which includes Fools Gold and also this track …
Been Caught Stealing / Jane’s Addiction (1990)
From 1990 that was Jane’s Addiction with Been Caught Stealing, and you will have noticed the very impressive dog barking which featured at the beginning of the track. Now, dog barking has been topical this week, and I have to point out that I had arrived at this particular link before that event happened. Anyway, Prince was not scared to include some dog barking in at least one of his songs, even if it is just slightly less realistic than the one we just heard. This is La La La He He He.
La La La He He He / Prince (1987)
This is The Music Labyrinth, and the last song we enjoyed together was La La La He He He, by Prince, which was the B side to the 1987 hit Sign O’ The Times. According to princevault.com, Sheena Easton has a songwriting credit for that song on the basis that she dared Prince to write a song with such a basic phrase as the title. So, lets therefore stay with Sheena Easton. This is her 1984 hit, Strut.
Strut / Sheena Easton (1984)
This is The Music Labyrinth, and that was Sheena Easton from her 1984 album A Private Heaven with Strut. At the risk of subjecting you to a serious case of whiplash, A Private Heaven also included Sheena Easton’s cover version of this hit from 1976.
Love And Affection / Joan Armatrading (1976)
Joan Armatrading’s beautiful song Love and Affection has brought us crashing in to the end of episode 62 of The Music Labyrinth. I hope you have had fun, and I hope you will come back and listen again in a fortnight. Thanks very much for your company throughout this episode. That song, Love and Affection, and the eponymous album it comes from were produced by the English musician, recording engineer and producer, Glyn Johns. My TV has been full of the young Glyn Johns this week because I have been captivated by the excellent Peter Jackson documentary about the rehearsals and recording sessions which resulted in the 1969 Beatles album Let It Be, which was recorded by Glyn Johns. One of the great highlights of that documentary is to be able to witness the extraordinary relationship between all the people who contributed to the album, but particularly the magic that existed between John Lennon and Paul McCartney. That magic was most evident in some delightful moments of the recording of this song which, because of what I have watched this week, has rocketed to near the top of my personal favourite list. I hope you enjoy this.
Two Of Us / The Beatles (1969)