Music Labyrinth Episode 106
Carol Brown / Flight Of The Conchords (2009)
Hello Listener, and welcome to episode 106 of The Music Labyrinth. One, zero, six are the numbers written on the price tag of the hat worn by the Hatter in Lewis Carroll’s 1865 book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The tag is an indication that the hat is valued at 10 shillings and sixpence. In the chapter of the book in which the Hatter first appears, which is called A Mad Tea-Party, the Hatter explains to Alice that time has halted itself in relation to the Hatter and he is perpetually stuck at 6pm which is why he is perpetually at tea. The Hatter goes on to behave in what Alice considers to be an odd manner, switching places at the table, making short, personal remarks, asking unanswerable riddles, and reciting nonsensical poetry. All of this eventually drives Alice away from the tea-party, and here, Dear Listener, is the lesson for your host. I can see it could be argued that the behaviour of the Hatter is not a million miles from the occasional behaviour of your host on this program where, lets face it, Time is perpetually somewhere between 7pm and 9pm on every second Thursday. Now the last thing I want to do is scare you off like Alice, so let me assure you that I have heeded the lesson, and now intend to get straight on with the show. Our episode opened tonight with Carol Brown by Flight Of The Conchords. That song featured in episode 5 of season 2 of the TV series Flight Of The Conchords, called “Unnatural Love”. There were two songs which featured in that episode. This was the other one.
Too Many Dicks (On The Dance Floor) / Flight Of The Conchords (2009)
That was Too Many Dicks (On The Dance Floor) by Flight Of The Conchords and, as I mentioned just prior to playing the song, it first featured in a season 2 episode of the program called Unnatural Love. In that episode a bouncer at a night club leads a conga line around the club during that song. The bouncer was played by Randy Jones, who has spent much of his professional life since the late 70s dressed as a cowboy and performing songs such as this one.
Milkshake / Village People (1980)
Of course that was The Village People with their 1980 hit Milkshake. Now, one place where you can definitely get a milkshake, even - and we know this because Rickie Lee Jones tells us - a Hershey milkshake, is at Danny’s All-Star Joint.
Danny’s All-Star Joint / Rickie Lee Jones (1979)
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth where, just before that short break, we were hanging with Rickie Lee Jones at Danny’s All-Star Joint. Bass guitar on that quite groovy and scatty little tune was by the enduring American bass guitarist Willie Weeks, who has been in the music caper for close to half a century now. In 2015 he was still in demand as a session musician, and his bass playing can be heard on this Mark Ronson tune from the Uptown Special album. This is Heavy And Rolling.
Heavy And Rolling / Mark Ronson (feat. Andrew Wyatt) (2015)
That was Heavy And Rolling by Mark Ronson, featuring the vocals of Andrew Wyatt. One of Andrew Wyatt’s other gigs is as the frontman of the Swedish Indie pop band Miike Snow (that’s Miike with two “i”s, despite the protestations of my auto-correct software). This is Miike Snow with Genghis Khan.
Genghis Khan / Mike Snow (2015)
That was Miike Snow with Genghis Khan, from their 2015 self-titled album. Andrew Wyatt, the vocalist with Genghis Khan is an American performer, songwriter and producer. In 2009 he co-wrote this tune for the Australian singer Daniel Merriweather. This is called Change.
Change / Daniel Merriweather (feat. Wale) (2009)
This is The Music Labyrinth and we just heard Daniel Merriweather with his 2009 song Change, featuring the vocals of the American singer, songwriter and rapper, Wale. Now, lets seize the opportunity for a change of gears by changing decades and listening to another song called Change - this one from 1991.
Change / Lisa Stansfield (1991)
That song, Change by Lisa Stansfield, appears on an Apple Music compilation called 90s: 100 Hits. As you would expect, I examined that list for other items of interest and I found this next tune in the bottom of my gold pan. I’m in a genuine state of internal confusion about whether this song is a quality tune, or whether it constitutes a guilty pleasure. Either way, I like listening to it and I hope you do too.
Damn I Wish I Was You Lover / Sophie B Hawkins (1992)
That was Sophie B Hawkins with Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover. There are a couple of interesting things about that tune: 1) it contains the word “shucks”, and 2) it samples the drum rhythm from Led Zeppelin’s When The Levy Breaks (which we have previously played in episode 46). Now, the internet tells me that there are up to 240 songs that are recognised as having sampled that drum rhythm. This is one of them.
Army Of Me / Bjork (1995)
Hello from deep within the recesses of The Music Labyrinth where we have only just been discharged from Bjork’s Army Of Me. That song appeared in the soundtrack of the American science fiction movie Tank Girl, as did this.
Roads / Portishead (1994)
On The Music Labyrinth that was the British band Portishead with Roads, featuring the distinctive vocals of their singer Beth Gibbons. Over the course of their career, Portishead have also released a number of remixes of tunes by other artists, including this reworking of Paul Weller’s Wild Wood.
Wild Wood (Sheared Wood Remix) / Paul Weller v Portishead (1993)
That was Portishead’s 1993 remix of Paul Weller’s Wild Wood (more on that song VERY soon). But first, I have to confess that I really am developing a late life love affair with the music of Paul Weller. Here he is from his days with Mick Talbot in The Style Council.
You’re The Best Thing / The Style Council (1984)
Thanks for joining us here at The Music Labyrinth where I am about to commit an act of Music Labyrinth recklessness. I’m about to break one of my very own golden rules here because (get ready to clutch your pearls everyone) we have already played this next song, AND in this very episode of The Music Labyrinth! However, I’m forgiving myself my own transgression for 3 reasons: 1) its a really, really different version of the remix we played a couple of songs ago - so different as to be an entirely different tune; 2) the precedent has been previously set when I made a boo boo in episodes 56 and 59; and 3) its my show and I’ll do what I like! Here - again - is Paul Weller with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and featuring the vocals of Celeste.
Wild Wood / Paul Weller (feat. Celeste) (2021)
That was Paul Weller, featuring the vocals of Celeste, with Wild Wood - taken from the 2021 album An Orchestrated Songbook, recorded with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. In 2020 Celeste was one of many artists chosen to participate in the Live Lounge Allstars. As a response to the COVID pandemic, BBC Radio 1 organised the "biggest ever" Live Lounge cover version as part of their Stay at Home project of a song performed by the charity supergroup Live Lounge Allstars. Each member recorded and filmed their contribution to the song from their respective households in order to encourage social distancing. The song was mixed and released on 23 April 2020 and the video premiered as part of The Big Night In telethon. This is The Live Lounge Allstars.
Times Like These / Live Lounge Allstars (2020)
This is The Music Labyrinth where we just listened to Times Like These by the Live Lounge Allstars. One of the voices amongst that recording was Dominic Harrison, who goes by the professional name Yungblud. Here he is from his 2020 album Weird!. This is called Cotton Candy.
Cotton Candy / Yungblud (2020)
That was Yungblud with Cotton Candy. In 2019 Yungblud collaborated with Dan Reynolds from Imagine Dragons to produce this next song. This is called Original Me.
Original Me / Yungblud (feat. Dan Reynolds) (2019)
On The Music Labyrinth that was Yungblud, featuring the vocals of Dan Reynolds, with Original Me. Dan Reynolds is an enormously successful American singer and songwriter and is understandably in demand. In 2020 he teamed up with Tom Morello, Shea Diamond and The Bloody Beetroots to produce this bit of high energy rock. This is called Stand Up.
Stand Up / Tom Morello, Shea Diamond, Dan Reynolds & The Bloody Beetroots (2020)
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth where we last heard the guitar and production talents of Tom Morello with the song Stand Up. Tom Morello is, of course, best known as the innovative guitarist from Rage Against The Machine and Audioslave, but the number of side projects and collaborations he has been involved in is impressively lengthy. Here is one of them. On his 2020 solo album The Atlas Underground Flood he united with Ben Harper for this song. This is called Raising Hell.
Raising Hell / Tom Morello (feat. Ben Harper) (2020)
That was Tom Morello and Ben Harper with Raising Hell. Ben Harper is also something of a music journeyman who has displayed his versatility in the range of artists he has collaborated with. By way of example, here he is with the Blind Boys Of Alabama from the 2004 album There Will Be A Light. This is Wicked Man.
Wicked Man / Ben Harper & The Blind Boys of Alabama (2004)
That was Ben Harper and the Blind Boys Of Alabama with Wicked Man. We’ve spoken before on this program about the incredible longevity of the Blind Boys Of Alabama in the music caper. They are currently enjoying their 84th year as a recording and performing entity. I think we should all kind up for tickets to the 2039 shows which will mark their 100th year in the biz. Meanwhile, while yo think about that, here they are from 2021 with I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free.
I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free / The Blind Boys of Alabama (feat. Bela Fleck) (2021)
This is The Music Labyrinth where we just listened to the Blind Boys of Alabama with I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free. You will have noticed that the banjo was front and centre in that mix. It was played by Bela Fleck, who is an enduring American banjo player. An acclaimed virtuoso, he has won 15 Grammy Awards and been nominated 33 times. In 1998 he contributed banjo on the original studio version of this next tune, but we’re not hearing that particular version. Since first appearing on the studio album Before These Crowded Streets, this track has become a live favourite, and its fitting that we hear a live version. Please enjoy The Dave Matthews Band.
Dont Drink The Water / Dave Matthews Band (2007)
Can you get enough Dave Matthews Band? I truly doubt it! From their 2007 compilation album The Best Of What’s Around, that was the crowd-pleaser Don’t Drink The Water. Now, having established that there is no such thing as too much Dave, here he is with Angelique Kidjo. This is called Iwoya.
Iwoya / Angelique Kidjo (feat. Dave Matthews) (2000)
Well, Angelique and Dave have brought us to the brink of the end of episode 106 of The Music Labyrinth. I hope you got value for your 10 and sixpence during the course of the show. Thanks very much for your company this evening, and please come back again in two weeks when we will continue our journey through The Music Labyrinth, which will recommence with this next tune. Angelique Kidjo has been a great champion of bringing African rhythms to popular music since her first album in 1981. This example of her art comes from the 1994 album Aye. This is called Agolo. Thanks for listening!
Agolo / Angelique Kidjo (1994)