Music Labyrinth Episode 074
Mercy Mercy Me / Eddie Vedder, The Strokes, Josh Homme (2006)
Hello Listener, and welcome to episode 74 of The Music Labyrinth. I have learned this week that the "seventy-four" was a type of two-decked sailing ship which nominally carried 74 guns. It was developed by the French navy in the 1740s. The design was considered a good balance between firepower and sailing qualities. And that is precisely what we aim to achieve here at The Music Labyrinth, a good balance between firepower and sailing qualities. Hundreds of seventy-fours were constructed, becoming the dominant form of ship-of-the-line. Impressed with the performance of several captured French seventy-fours, the British Royal Navy quickly adopted similar designs, classing them as third rates. Well, there will be nothing third rate about episode 74 of The Music Labyrinth - with the possible exception of the performance of your host. But, we live in hope. Can I begin this episode by welcoming any returning listeners, thanks for your loyalty, or masochism, or whatever it was that brought you back to this program. Whatever it was, I’m grateful for it. And for any listener who is unsure about how this concept works, lets commence with an example. We started this episode where we ended the last, and that was with the Marvin Gaye song Mercy Mercy Me, performed by Eddie Vedder, Josh Homme and The Strokes. So, our immediate objective is to find a song which is in some way linked to the tune we just played and, because its early in the evening, lets keep it simple. The Strokes, as I’m sure you know, are a band formed in New York City in the late 90s, who enjoyed critical and commercial success in the early part of this century. And, one of their greatest successes was this song from 2001.
Last Nite / The Strokes (2001)
From their 2001 album Is This It, that was The Strokes with Last Night. The very informative website www.whosampled.com tells us that the hook and riff from Last Nite are sampled from this 1976 Tom Petty song.
American Girl / Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (1976)
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth where we last heard American Girl by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. Tom Petty died of accidental drug overdose in November 2017, joining the long list of extraordinarily talented individuals who unnecessarily and prematurely ended their lives. Just five weeks after Tom Petty’s death, Chuck Mosley suffered a similar fate. Mosley is not as widely recognised as Tom Petty, but his mark on modern music is unquestionable. He was the original front-man for Faith No More before his behaviour became too erratic for the band to continue to tolerate. Chuck Mosley recorded two albums with the band before he as sacked and replaced with the incredibly prolific and versatile Mike Patton. Here is Faith No More’s biggest hit with Chuck Mosley out the front. This is We Care A Lot.
We Care A Lot / Faith No More (1987)
From 1987 that was Faith No More with We Care A Lot. A decade later Mike Patton was the established front man for the band and they released their sixth studio album modestly called Album Of The Year, which happened to contain my favourite Faith No More tune. This is Ashes To Ashes.
Ashes To Ashes/ Faith No More (1997)
That was Faith No More with their hit song Ashes To Ashes. And, this being The Music Labyrinth, you have no doubt where this is going, do you?!
Ashes To Ashes / David Bowie (1980)
Here in The Music Labyrinth we last listened to Ashes To Ashes by David Bowie, from his 1980 album Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps). And, as you no doubt knew and noticed, the song Ashes To Ashes reprises the character of Major Tom from eleven years earlier.
Space Oddity / David Bowie (1969)
From 1969 that was the worldwide David Bowie hit Space Oddity, a song that many people in the biz refused to have anything to do with because they thought it would be seen as a cheap attempt to cash in on the upcoming Apollo XI moon landing. In the song, Major Tom is urged to take his protein pills and put his helmet on. “Protein pills” are also referenced in this song from a quarter of a century later. This is You Am I with Cathy’s Clown.
Cathy’s Clown / You Am I (1994)
From their 1994 album Hi Fi Way, that was You Am I with Cathy’s Clown. Now, at this point, we could easily step towards the Everly Brothers, but I have decided to spare you that. No need to thank me. The You Am I album Hi Fi Way won best alternative album at the 1995 ARIA Awards. Along with You Am I, the breakout performer of those awards was a new, young band called silverchair, who were recognised primarily for their album Frogstomp. At the awards ceremony, You Am I and silverchair joined each other on stage to perform a cover of this song.
New Race / Radio Birdman (1977)
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth where we last paid a visit to the late-punk era of Australian music with New Race by Radio Birdman. That song comes from the album Radios Appear, and that title comes from the lyrics of this tune by Blue Oyster Cult, a primary influence on the music of Radio Birdman. This is Dominance and Submission.
Dominance and Submission / Blue Oyster Cult (1974)
From their 1974 album Secret Treaties, that was Blue Oyster Cult with Dominance and Submission. Blue Oyster Cult were the subject of a famous sketch on Saturday Night Live in April 2000. The sketch, entitled “More Cowbell!”, fictionalizes the recording of the song "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" by Blue Öyster Cult, features guest host Christopher Walken as a music producer, and regular cast member Will Ferrell as fictional cowbell player Gene Frenkle, whose overzealous playing annoys his bandmates but pleases the producer. As a result of the popularity of the sketch, Blue Oyster Cult will be forever associated with the cowbell. Another song featuring the cowbell, is this one from 1980.
Funkytown / Lipps, Inc. (1980)
That was Lipps, Inc with Funkytown. In 2002 the music TV channel VH1 listed its One Hundred Greatest One Hit Wonders, which included Funkytown at number 69. Now, I have some issues with that list, because it mentions acts such as Sinead O’Connor, Gary Numan, Devo and Spandau Ballet, and I think a strong argument can be made opposing their identification as one hit wonders. However, its much harder to take issue with the inclusion of this track on that list.
Safety Dance / Men Without Hats (1982)
This is The Music Labyrinth and we last sang along with Canadian band Men Without Hats’ 1982 hit Safety Dance. I was surprised to learn this week that Men Without Hats are still playing shows and recording music. Just last year they recorded this next track, which is called No Friends Of Mine. Now you might find it very familiar, and you might be tempted to accuse your host of deliberately flaunting the Rule of Singular Inclusion, but I’m claiming that, with a new title and the passage of almost four decades, this is an entirely different song! Here is Men Without Hats with No Friends Of Mine.
No Friends Of Mine / Men Without Hats (2021)
That was Men Without Hats with their 2021 recording of No Friends Of Mine. In 2006, the English singer, songwriter and actress Lily Allen released a song of almost identical title and a very similar sentiment. This is Friend Of Mine.
Friend Of Mine / Lily Allen (2006)
On The Music Labyrinth, that was Lily Allen with Friend Of Mine. Songwriting credits on that track include Kelly, Earnest, Rudolph, Ronald and Marvin Isley, and Chris Jasper - all of The Isley Brothers, who have had a string of hits since 1954. You might recall that we played one of them, Twist & Shout, in our last episode. One of those hits, formerly credited to Isley-Jasper-Isley, was 1984’s Caravan Of Love. In 1986 the British indie band The Housemartins recorded and released this beautiful a capella version of the song.
Caravan Of Love / Housemartins (1986)
Here we are in The Music Labyrinth and we just heard the lovely a capella version of Caravan Of Love by The Housemartins. The Housemartins lineup included Norman Cook, who later graduated - or, as the Apple Music bio puts it: “Formerly a mere mortal known as Norman Cook, bass player in the English jangle pop band The Housemartins, he took to the dance floor like a demon as Fatboy Slim—and never looked back.” So, coming up next we have Norman, aka Fatboy Slim with one of his biggest hits, AND, because the link is so obvious, we will invoke the little-used Music Labyrinth Double-Play Privilege and go straight into the following track. Here is Fatboy Slim.
Weapon Of Choice / Fatboy Slim (feat. Bootsey Collins) (2009)
Into My Own Thing / Sly & The Family Stone (1968)
We just ended a rare Music Labyrinth double play which consisted of Weapon of Choice by Fatboy Slim, which contained a big old sample of the track which immediately followed it, which was Into My Own Thing, a 1968 hit for Sly & The Family Stone. That same year, Sly & The Family Stone also had a commercial success with this song.
Dance To The Music / Sly & The Family Stone (1968)
From their 1968 album Dance To The Music, that was Sly & The Family Stone with the title track. Earlier in the show we mentioned the excellent online music resource www.whosampled.com which also tells us that Dance To The Music has been sampled in at least 36 songs, including this one which contains a sample of the percussion track. I think you will hear it clearly. From 1994, this is Primal Scream.
Rocks / Primal Scream (1994)
Welcome back to the latter sections of episode 74 of The Music Labyrinth where we last listened to Rocks, by the Scottish band Primal Scream. Horns on that track are played by our old friends The Memphis Horns, who have been around forever and played on everything. Wikipedia tells us that “The Memphis Horns appeared on nearly every recording for Stax Records that included a horn section”, and that certainly includes this track. Featuring the Memphis Horns, from 1965, this is Wilson Pickett.
In The Midnight Hour / Wilson Pickett (1965)
On The Music Labyrinth that, of course, was In The Midnight Hour by Wilson Pickett. In 1967 Wilson Pickett had a USA top 20 hit with Stagger Lee, which is a song reputedly telling the story of the 1895 murder of Billy Lyons by “Stag” Lee Sheldon in St. Louis. The legend has reached the levels of folklore in the music world, and according to the website www.staggerlee.com over 400 artists have recorded a version of the tale since 1923. The song, under various spellings of the title (Stagger Lee, Stack O’Lee, and others has been recorded by Woodie Guthrie, Lloyd Price, Pat Boone, The Isley Brothers, Ike & Tina Turner, The Clash, Elvis Presley, The Grateful Dead, Neil Diamond, Tom Jones, Bob Dylan, Nick Cave and Beck. And - in a significant change of gears for this program - here is a 1958 version of the yarn by Champion Jack Dupree.
Stack-O-Lee / Champion Jack Dupree (1958)
That was Champion Jack Dupree with his 1958 recording of the story of Stack-O-Lee. I don’t know about you, but I’m not quite ready to leave the folklore alone just yet. In 1998, the English indie rock band Gomez fronted up at the BBC to record a bunch of music live to air. That session included their own version of the legend we have been discussing. This is Gomez with Stag O’Lee.
Stag O’Lee / Gomez (1998)
This is The Music Labyrinth where we have paused to consider two versions of the story of “Stag” Lee Shelton, the most recent one by the band Gomez. Here at The Music Labyrinth we have a strong love for Gomez. They’re an unusual band in that their four person lineup features several multi-instrumentalists and three lead singers. As a result their sound is varied and always interesting. For me, the 2006 album How We Operate represents something of a high point for Gomez. From that album, this is See The World.
See The World / Gomez (2006)
On The Music Labyrinth that was Gomez with See The World. In 2003 Gomez contributed to an album celebrating the music of The Band, called Endless Highway: The Music Of The Band. This meant that I could not resist bringing together a couple of my favourite things, the band Gomez, and this song originally by The Band. This is Up On Cripple Creek.
Up On Cripple Creek / Gomez (2003)
From the 2003 tribute album, Endless Highway: The Music Of The Band, that was Gomez with Up On Cripple Creek. And that song brings us to the end of episode 74 of The Music Labyrinth. I’ve had fun with this episode, and I hope you have as well. I really appreciate your company as we take these fortnightly wanders through the labyrinth of modern music which, just tonight, has spanned the six decades from 1958 to 2021. We will be back again in a fortnight to do it all again, and I hope you can join me again. Bring a few friends along as well! To take us to our next episode, lets stay with the tribute album Endless Highway: The Music Of The Band, and lets finish with a good’n. EVERYBODY knows this track. It was written by Bob Dylan in 1967 and recorded by The Band on their epic 1968 album Music From Big Pink. Lovers of the excellent Martin Scorsese concert movie, The Last Waltz will recall this as the song performed by an ensemble of all performers at the end of the show. This version is by Jack Johnson and the band ALO (which stands for Animal Liberation Orchestra - more on them next episode). This is I Shall Be Released. Thanks for listening.
I Shall Be Released / Jack Johnson (feat. ALO) (2003)
Hello Listener, and welcome to episode 74 of The Music Labyrinth. I have learned this week that the "seventy-four" was a type of two-decked sailing ship which nominally carried 74 guns. It was developed by the French navy in the 1740s. The design was considered a good balance between firepower and sailing qualities. And that is precisely what we aim to achieve here at The Music Labyrinth, a good balance between firepower and sailing qualities. Hundreds of seventy-fours were constructed, becoming the dominant form of ship-of-the-line. Impressed with the performance of several captured French seventy-fours, the British Royal Navy quickly adopted similar designs, classing them as third rates. Well, there will be nothing third rate about episode 74 of The Music Labyrinth - with the possible exception of the performance of your host. But, we live in hope. Can I begin this episode by welcoming any returning listeners, thanks for your loyalty, or masochism, or whatever it was that brought you back to this program. Whatever it was, I’m grateful for it. And for any listener who is unsure about how this concept works, lets commence with an example. We started this episode where we ended the last, and that was with the Marvin Gaye song Mercy Mercy Me, performed by Eddie Vedder, Josh Homme and The Strokes. So, our immediate objective is to find a song which is in some way linked to the tune we just played and, because its early in the evening, lets keep it simple. The Strokes, as I’m sure you know, are a band formed in New York City in the late 90s, who enjoyed critical and commercial success in the early part of this century. And, one of their greatest successes was this song from 2001.
Last Nite / The Strokes (2001)
From their 2001 album Is This It, that was The Strokes with Last Night. The very informative website www.whosampled.com tells us that the hook and riff from Last Nite are sampled from this 1976 Tom Petty song.
American Girl / Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (1976)
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth where we last heard American Girl by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. Tom Petty died of accidental drug overdose in November 2017, joining the long list of extraordinarily talented individuals who unnecessarily and prematurely ended their lives. Just five weeks after Tom Petty’s death, Chuck Mosley suffered a similar fate. Mosley is not as widely recognised as Tom Petty, but his mark on modern music is unquestionable. He was the original front-man for Faith No More before his behaviour became too erratic for the band to continue to tolerate. Chuck Mosley recorded two albums with the band before he as sacked and replaced with the incredibly prolific and versatile Mike Patton. Here is Faith No More’s biggest hit with Chuck Mosley out the front. This is We Care A Lot.
We Care A Lot / Faith No More (1987)
From 1987 that was Faith No More with We Care A Lot. A decade later Mike Patton was the established front man for the band and they released their sixth studio album modestly called Album Of The Year, which happened to contain my favourite Faith No More tune. This is Ashes To Ashes.
Ashes To Ashes/ Faith No More (1997)
That was Faith No More with their hit song Ashes To Ashes. And, this being The Music Labyrinth, you have no doubt where this is going, do you?!
Ashes To Ashes / David Bowie (1980)
Here in The Music Labyrinth we last listened to Ashes To Ashes by David Bowie, from his 1980 album Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps). And, as you no doubt knew and noticed, the song Ashes To Ashes reprises the character of Major Tom from eleven years earlier.
Space Oddity / David Bowie (1969)
From 1969 that was the worldwide David Bowie hit Space Oddity, a song that many people in the biz refused to have anything to do with because they thought it would be seen as a cheap attempt to cash in on the upcoming Apollo XI moon landing. In the song, Major Tom is urged to take his protein pills and put his helmet on. “Protein pills” are also referenced in this song from a quarter of a century later. This is You Am I with Cathy’s Clown.
Cathy’s Clown / You Am I (1994)
From their 1994 album Hi Fi Way, that was You Am I with Cathy’s Clown. Now, at this point, we could easily step towards the Everly Brothers, but I have decided to spare you that. No need to thank me. The You Am I album Hi Fi Way won best alternative album at the 1995 ARIA Awards. Along with You Am I, the breakout performer of those awards was a new, young band called silverchair, who were recognised primarily for their album Frogstomp. At the awards ceremony, You Am I and silverchair joined each other on stage to perform a cover of this song.
New Race / Radio Birdman (1977)
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth where we last paid a visit to the late-punk era of Australian music with New Race by Radio Birdman. That song comes from the album Radios Appear, and that title comes from the lyrics of this tune by Blue Oyster Cult, a primary influence on the music of Radio Birdman. This is Dominance and Submission.
Dominance and Submission / Blue Oyster Cult (1974)
From their 1974 album Secret Treaties, that was Blue Oyster Cult with Dominance and Submission. Blue Oyster Cult were the subject of a famous sketch on Saturday Night Live in April 2000. The sketch, entitled “More Cowbell!”, fictionalizes the recording of the song "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" by Blue Öyster Cult, features guest host Christopher Walken as a music producer, and regular cast member Will Ferrell as fictional cowbell player Gene Frenkle, whose overzealous playing annoys his bandmates but pleases the producer. As a result of the popularity of the sketch, Blue Oyster Cult will be forever associated with the cowbell. Another song featuring the cowbell, is this one from 1980.
Funkytown / Lipps, Inc. (1980)
That was Lipps, Inc with Funkytown. In 2002 the music TV channel VH1 listed its One Hundred Greatest One Hit Wonders, which included Funkytown at number 69. Now, I have some issues with that list, because it mentions acts such as Sinead O’Connor, Gary Numan, Devo and Spandau Ballet, and I think a strong argument can be made opposing their identification as one hit wonders. However, its much harder to take issue with the inclusion of this track on that list.
Safety Dance / Men Without Hats (1982)
This is The Music Labyrinth and we last sang along with Canadian band Men Without Hats’ 1982 hit Safety Dance. I was surprised to learn this week that Men Without Hats are still playing shows and recording music. Just last year they recorded this next track, which is called No Friends Of Mine. Now you might find it very familiar, and you might be tempted to accuse your host of deliberately flaunting the Rule of Singular Inclusion, but I’m claiming that, with a new title and the passage of almost four decades, this is an entirely different song! Here is Men Without Hats with No Friends Of Mine.
No Friends Of Mine / Men Without Hats (2021)
That was Men Without Hats with their 2021 recording of No Friends Of Mine. In 2006, the English singer, songwriter and actress Lily Allen released a song of almost identical title and a very similar sentiment. This is Friend Of Mine.
Friend Of Mine / Lily Allen (2006)
On The Music Labyrinth, that was Lily Allen with Friend Of Mine. Songwriting credits on that track include Kelly, Earnest, Rudolph, Ronald and Marvin Isley, and Chris Jasper - all of The Isley Brothers, who have had a string of hits since 1954. You might recall that we played one of them, Twist & Shout, in our last episode. One of those hits, formerly credited to Isley-Jasper-Isley, was 1984’s Caravan Of Love. In 1986 the British indie band The Housemartins recorded and released this beautiful a capella version of the song.
Caravan Of Love / Housemartins (1986)
Here we are in The Music Labyrinth and we just heard the lovely a capella version of Caravan Of Love by The Housemartins. The Housemartins lineup included Norman Cook, who later graduated - or, as the Apple Music bio puts it: “Formerly a mere mortal known as Norman Cook, bass player in the English jangle pop band The Housemartins, he took to the dance floor like a demon as Fatboy Slim—and never looked back.” So, coming up next we have Norman, aka Fatboy Slim with one of his biggest hits, AND, because the link is so obvious, we will invoke the little-used Music Labyrinth Double-Play Privilege and go straight into the following track. Here is Fatboy Slim.
Weapon Of Choice / Fatboy Slim (feat. Bootsey Collins) (2009)
Into My Own Thing / Sly & The Family Stone (1968)
We just ended a rare Music Labyrinth double play which consisted of Weapon of Choice by Fatboy Slim, which contained a big old sample of the track which immediately followed it, which was Into My Own Thing, a 1968 hit for Sly & The Family Stone. That same year, Sly & The Family Stone also had a commercial success with this song.
Dance To The Music / Sly & The Family Stone (1968)
From their 1968 album Dance To The Music, that was Sly & The Family Stone with the title track. Earlier in the show we mentioned the excellent online music resource www.whosampled.com which also tells us that Dance To The Music has been sampled in at least 36 songs, including this one which contains a sample of the percussion track. I think you will hear it clearly. From 1994, this is Primal Scream.
Rocks / Primal Scream (1994)
Welcome back to the latter sections of episode 74 of The Music Labyrinth where we last listened to Rocks, by the Scottish band Primal Scream. Horns on that track are played by our old friends The Memphis Horns, who have been around forever and played on everything. Wikipedia tells us that “The Memphis Horns appeared on nearly every recording for Stax Records that included a horn section”, and that certainly includes this track. Featuring the Memphis Horns, from 1965, this is Wilson Pickett.
In The Midnight Hour / Wilson Pickett (1965)
On The Music Labyrinth that, of course, was In The Midnight Hour by Wilson Pickett. In 1967 Wilson Pickett had a USA top 20 hit with Stagger Lee, which is a song reputedly telling the story of the 1895 murder of Billy Lyons by “Stag” Lee Sheldon in St. Louis. The legend has reached the levels of folklore in the music world, and according to the website www.staggerlee.com over 400 artists have recorded a version of the tale since 1923. The song, under various spellings of the title (Stagger Lee, Stack O’Lee, and others has been recorded by Woodie Guthrie, Lloyd Price, Pat Boone, The Isley Brothers, Ike & Tina Turner, The Clash, Elvis Presley, The Grateful Dead, Neil Diamond, Tom Jones, Bob Dylan, Nick Cave and Beck. And - in a significant change of gears for this program - here is a 1958 version of the yarn by Champion Jack Dupree.
Stack-O-Lee / Champion Jack Dupree (1958)
That was Champion Jack Dupree with his 1958 recording of the story of Stack-O-Lee. I don’t know about you, but I’m not quite ready to leave the folklore alone just yet. In 1998, the English indie rock band Gomez fronted up at the BBC to record a bunch of music live to air. That session included their own version of the legend we have been discussing. This is Gomez with Stag O’Lee.
Stag O’Lee / Gomez (1998)
This is The Music Labyrinth where we have paused to consider two versions of the story of “Stag” Lee Shelton, the most recent one by the band Gomez. Here at The Music Labyrinth we have a strong love for Gomez. They’re an unusual band in that their four person lineup features several multi-instrumentalists and three lead singers. As a result their sound is varied and always interesting. For me, the 2006 album How We Operate represents something of a high point for Gomez. From that album, this is See The World.
See The World / Gomez (2006)
On The Music Labyrinth that was Gomez with See The World. In 2003 Gomez contributed to an album celebrating the music of The Band, called Endless Highway: The Music Of The Band. This meant that I could not resist bringing together a couple of my favourite things, the band Gomez, and this song originally by The Band. This is Up On Cripple Creek.
Up On Cripple Creek / Gomez (2003)
From the 2003 tribute album, Endless Highway: The Music Of The Band, that was Gomez with Up On Cripple Creek. And that song brings us to the end of episode 74 of The Music Labyrinth. I’ve had fun with this episode, and I hope you have as well. I really appreciate your company as we take these fortnightly wanders through the labyrinth of modern music which, just tonight, has spanned the six decades from 1958 to 2021. We will be back again in a fortnight to do it all again, and I hope you can join me again. Bring a few friends along as well! To take us to our next episode, lets stay with the tribute album Endless Highway: The Music Of The Band, and lets finish with a good’n. EVERYBODY knows this track. It was written by Bob Dylan in 1967 and recorded by The Band on their epic 1968 album Music From Big Pink. Lovers of the excellent Martin Scorsese concert movie, The Last Waltz will recall this as the song performed by an ensemble of all performers at the end of the show. This version is by Jack Johnson and the band ALO (which stands for Animal Liberation Orchestra - more on them next episode). This is I Shall Be Released. Thanks for listening.
I Shall Be Released / Jack Johnson (feat. ALO) (2003)