Music Labyrinth Episode 085
When You Were Young / The Killers (2006)
Hello Listener, and welcome to episode 85 of The Music Labyrinth. In France, 85 is the Department number of the region known as Vondee. The coast of the Vendée extends over 200 kilometres of mostly sandy beaches. The beaches are edged with dunes and pine woods. The department also has churches and abbeys, museums, and—for nature lovers—thousands of marked footpaths, a signposted bicycle route running along the coastal mudflats, and marshes that attract unusual birds. There is fishing in the Vendée's rivers and lakes. It all sounds very lovely and idyllic and hopefully lovely and idyllic is exactly what we aspire to deliver in episode 85 of The Music Labyrinth. We began this episode with When You were Young, by The Killers. Now, for those who have come in late, what we will try to do next is to convince you of an aspect of that song which carries over and links to our next track. So, here goes: When You Were Young comes from The Killers 2006 album Sam’s Town, which was produced by Flood, about whom we have spoken previously. Flood’s real monika is Mark Ellis and he is a British rock and synthpop record producer and audio engineer. According to legend, Ellis' pseudonym, "Flood," was given to him by a colleague during Ellis' early days at Morgan Studios when The Cure were there recording. As a young studio runner Ellis was responsible for responding to numerous requests from the recording artists and staff for tea and bacon sandwiches and so on. Ellis was assiduous in his duties and kept up with the numerous requests for tea while the other runner remained largely unavailable, leading to them being nicknames "Flood" and "Drought," respectively. Anyway, Flood also produced the 1998 album Adore by The Smashing Pumpkins, and from it this is Adore.
Adore / Smashing Pumpkins (1998)
On The Music Labyrinth that was The Smashing Pumpkins with Adore. Its a catchy tune which kind of worms its way into your ears as you listen, and it can be easy to overlook the narrative of the lyrics which are - well, to put it indelicately - quite a bit stalkerish. Another cool sounding song with distinctive stalkerish undertones is this one.
Hysteria / Muse (2003)
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth where we last listened to Muse, from 2003, with Hysteria. That track comes from the album Absolution, which was recorded at Grouse Lodge studios on Ireland. The Grouse Lodge website offers a virtual tour of the facilities, and it is a very plush looking establishment. Another band to enjoy the comforts of Grouse Lodge were The Stereophonics who recorded their 2007 album Pull The Pin at that establishment. Pull The Pin is worth looking up, if only for the extraordinary cover art. From that album, this is My Friends.
My Friends / Steroephonics (2007)
That was The Stereophonics with My Friends; probably the second-best known song called My Friends, after this one.
My Friends / Red Hot Chilli Peppers (1995)
That was the Red Hot Chilli Peppers with My Friends, from their 1995 album One Hot Minute. Additional percussion on that track was by the American percussionist Lenny Castro who, in the late 70s, was a full-time member of the lineup of Toto - and as we have discussed previously on The Music Labyrinth - all roads lead to Toto. Anyway, Lenny’s percussion can be heard on this track from Toto’s 1978 debut album. This is George Porgy.
Georgy Porgy / Toto (1978)
This is The Music Labyrinth and we last listened to Toto from 1978 with Georgy Porgy. Now, because you are an attentive listener, you will have detected a female voice prominent during that track and wondered who it was. Of course you did! Well, wonder no more. That voice belongs to Cheryl Lynn, an American singer, who had a hit in her own right in 1978 with this song.
Got To Be Real / Cheryl Lynn (1978)
That was Cheryl Lynn with Got To Be Real. That song was featured in the nineteenth season of South Park in an episode called "Safe Space", where actor Steven Seagal dances along during a presentation at South Park Elementary School. Episode 6 of the same season featured this song.
Say Something / A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera (2013)
That was Say Something by A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera. That song won the 2015 Grammy Award in the category of Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Two years later, that same Grammy Award category was taken out by this song. This is Twenty One Pilots with Stressed Out.
Stressed Out / Twenty One Pilots (2015)
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth where we last listened to Twenty One Pilots with their 2015 song Stressed Out. Upright bass on that track was played by Mike Elizondo, an American producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who co-wrote this song by the Jonas Brothers.
Mercy / Jonas Brothers (2021)
That was the Jonas Brothers with Mercy. That song appears on the soundtrack of the 2021 film Space Jam: A New Legacy - as does this track.
My Guy / Leon Bridges (2021)
From the soundtrack of the movie Space Jam: A New Legacy that was Leon Bridges with My Guy. Now, its no secret that Leon Bridges is a bit of a favourite here at The Music Labyrinth, and we have played quite a few of his tunes over the journey. So lets have a focus on the beginnings of his music career. Bridges met Austin Jenkins, the guitarist in the indie band White Denim at a local bar in Fort Worth, Texas. Jenkins told the Fort Worth Weekly: "This guy is writing songs that rival some of the best soul songs I've ever heard,". Jenkins had been working with others to build a studio of their own in a 100-year old building with only equipment from the '40s and '50s. And in Bridges, they found their first star. White Denim have only featured once previously in The Music Labyrinth, and so, on the basis of their role in the launch of the career of Leon Bridges, lets revisit that band. Here they are with Magazin.
Magazin / White Denim (2018)
That was White Denim with their 2018 song Magazin. I reckon that sounds a lot like T-Rex in places. White Denim formed out of a bunch of musicians in Austin, Texas who played together under various band names. One of those was James Petralli who recorded under the pseudonym Bop English. From his 2015 album Constant Bob, this is Bop English with Dani’s Blues (It Was Beyond Our Control).
Dani’s Blues (It Was Beyond Our Control) / Bop English (2015)
That was Bop English with Dani’s Blues (It Was Beyond Our Control). As I mentioned earlier, James Petralli was the key member of Bop English. Earlier this year, James Petralli teamed up with the Texan band called Band Of Heathens, and from their most recent album, called Remote Transmissions Volume 1, this is their cover of a classic Little Feat tune.
Rock n Roll Doctor / Band of Heathens (feat. James Petralli) (2022)
That song was Rock ‘n’ Roll Doctor, first recorded by Little Feat, but that particular version comes from earlier this year and is by the Texan Band called Band Of Heathens. I’m pleased we’ve arrived at Little Feat. I love their music and here is a chance to play a favourite. This is Dixie Chicken.
Dixie Chicken / Little Feat (1973)
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth where we last listened and (if you are like me) sang loudly along with Dixie Chicken by Little Feat. The primary songwriter and driving force of Little Feat was Lowell George, who died prematurely at the age of 34 in 1979. A few months before his death, he had recorded a solo album called Thanks, I’ll Eat It Here, and from that album, this is Honest Man.
Honest Man / Lowell George (1979)
That was Lowell George with Honest Man, from his final album. When Lowell George died, his daughter Inara George was days short of her 5th birthday. In adulthood, Indra George took up singing and performing and, in the mid 2000s she collaborated with Greg Kurstin in a band called The Bird And The Bee. Here they are with a song you will probably recognise.
I’m Into Something Good / The Bird and The Bee (2009)
That was the LA based, indie pop duo The Bird And The Bee with their cover of I’m Into Something Good. As I mentioned earlier, “the bird” is Inara George. “The bee” is Greg Kurstin, an American record producer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter who has produced many fine albums, including a particular favourite here at The Music Labyrinth. From the Greg Kurstin produced album, Port Of Morrow, here are The Shins with Its Only Life.
Its Only Life / The Shins (2012)
This is The Music Labyrinth where we last listened to perennial favourites, The Shins, with Its Only Life. I’ve mentioned before the genius of James Mercer of The Shins, and I find it impossible to listen to their music without contemplating the desert course offered by other James Mercer projects. One of the the obvious ones is his collaboration with Danger Mouse in a band called Broken Bells. From the second Broken Bells album, After The Disco, this is Holding On For Life.
Holding On For Life / Broken Bells (2014)
That was Broken Bells with Holding On For Life. Backing vocals on that track were sung by Becky Stark, who also fronts the Los Angeles band Lavender Diamond. From their 2007 album Imagine Our Love, this is Open Your Heart.
Open Your Heart / Lavender Diamond (2007)
Open Your Heart by Lavender Diamond was included in the soundtrack of the 2010 Jennifer Anniston film The Switch. So too was this track.
All The Beautiful Things / Eels (2009)
That was The Eels with All The Beautiful Things. The singer and principle songwriter for The Eels is Mark Everett. On February 19, 2016, Everett appeared in Season 1, Episode 4 of Judd Apatow's TV show, Love, playing a cover of this song.
Jet / Paul McCartney & Wings (1973)
Welcome back for the final section of episode 85 of The Music Labyrinth. We last heard Jet by Paul McCartney and Wings. Saxophone on that track was played by Howie Casey, who also played sax on the 1974 album The Hoople by Mott The Hoople. Casey’s playing can be heard on this track.
The Golden Age of Rock ‘n’ Roll / Mott The Hoople (1974)
That was Mott The Hoople with The Golden Age of Rock ‘n’ Roll. One of the backing singers on that track was Heather “Sunny” Wheetman who embarked on a music career with the sister Sue. Known initially as Sue & Sunny, the two sisters were later to be founding members of The Brotherhood of Man. In between those events, Sunny Wheetman was engaged to sing backing vocals on this 1969 cover of a Beatles song. Oh, and pay particular attention to the guitar in this track, because the session player who performed it will be the feature of our final link in this episode.
With A Little Help From My Friends / Joe Cocker (1969)
From 1969 that was Joe Cocker, quite literally With A Little Help From My Friends (well,not MY friends, but - you know what I mean). Anyway, one of those friends was the session guitarist on the track. It was a very young Jimmy Page, who later went on to massive fame with Led Zeppelin. So, lets stay with Jimmy Page for our final track tonight, but we’re not going where you think we are going. A very young Jimmy Page played guitar on this massive hit from 1966. Thats it for episode 85 of The Music Labyrinth. As always, thanks a lot for playing along. Lets do it again in 2 weeks.
Sunshine Superman / Donovan (1966)