The Retro Remix this week (listen on the left) is an old favorite of mine from electronic pioneers Chris & Cosey (formerly of Throbbing Gristle). "October (Love Song)" near as I can find, was originally released somewhere between 1982-1983 although I know it from their 1986 EP "Take 5" and while there are a total of 4 versions, this is the one I'm most familiar with (the 12" or Long Vocal Mix) the others are "Short Vocal Mix", "Instrumental" and "Dance Mix"
This was probably one of the first tracks of theirs I heard and instantly fell in love with it...it probably ended up on every mix tape I ever made for someone I had a crush on from the late 80's through the mid 90's. It's a very beautiful song and certainly the closest thing to pop the band ever did. I still love it...hope you enjoy it too! Here's the first track I ever heard from C & C thanks to my friend Sarah : "Manic Melody (Hairy Beary)" Can you say acid trip?!
In celebrity death news: Rock guitarist and singer Alex Chilton, known for his work with bands the Box Tops and Big Star, died Wednesday. He was only 59.
Via CNN: Chilton was having heart problems and died in an emergency room in New Orleans, Louisiana, said longtime friend and business associate John Fry.
Chilton started in music as a teen in the 1960s, as vocalist for the psychedelic soul group the Box Tops, Fry said. They were known for the No. 1 hit "'The Letter" and songs such as "Neon Rainbow" and "Cry Like a Baby."
After that group disbanded in 1970, Chilton formed the Memphis rock group Big Star. Though that band had a short life, breaking up in 1974, its music catapulted the group and Chilton to cult status.
"While Big Star struggled with success commercially, their early '70s, power-pop sound is often cited as directly influencing bands like Cheap Trick, R.E.M. and the Replacements," Billboard magazine said in its biography of Chilton's group. The evidence of that: a song the Replacements released in 1987, called "Alex Chilton."
Part of the chorus of that song is "Children by the million sing for Alex Chilton when he comes 'round. They sing, I'm in love."
In the 1990s, Big Star got back together.
Chilton and the band were scheduled to perform at the South by Southwest music festival in Texas this weekend.
Well, apparently this slipped out there into cyberspace in late Jan. without catching my attention til now. Official release however is slated for March 22nd.
A BRAND NEW track from none other than the once and future queen & former Culture Club frontranny frontman Boy George! Fresh (ok, it's been nearly a year) from the assault and false imprisonment of a male escort which landed the Boy in the clink for 4 months, George is finally back with a new single. Titled "Amazing Grace" this is one of the few solo works to get released in the 2000's aside from some very limited edition singles under various pseudonyms such as "The Twin"
I'm loving the visuals, if not the song, and think George looks great as a floating head ala Jambi!
One does wonder though if part of his deal w/ the male escort he roughed up was to include the guy in his next video....hmmmmm???
Possibly Kate's most widely known single, "Running Up That Hill..." was the first single released from her Hounds of Love album in 1985. It has been covered several times by the likes of Placebo and the gender-bending postmodern cabaret duo Kiki & Herb.
This was Kate's highest charting in the U.S., reaching #30 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #13 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart in 1985 (this was Kate's very first 12" remix) Here is a new mix I recently discovered, breathing a little new life into an old favorite....hope you enjoy!
I obviously have a very strong connection and love for this song and sang it every night to help my son fall asleep. IMO one of the Beatles' best, it reached the #1 spot on the U.S. Billboard charts this week in 1968 where it would remain for 9 weeks becoming their longest charting #1 single in the U.S. & selling over 8 million copies world wide.
It was written by Paul McCartney for John's son Julian and originally titled "Hey Jules" the B-side was another Beatles great, "Revolution"
Coming from Peter Gabriel's 1986 album "SO", this is one of my favorite songs of all time. It is a beautiful duet with the amazing Kate Bush.
I'd like to dedicate this song to My friend Amanda who just learned her mother has breast cancer. Don't give up! My thoughts are with you and your family.
Oh HELL to the no she didn't! Check out this fuckery train wreck of a cover "performed" by Fame Tv cast member and song murderer Cynthia Gibb. My ears are still bleeding from this shit!
Written by Madonna and released in April, 1984 as the 5th. and final single off her 1983 debut Madonna, "Lucky Star" reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
This horrific cover version comes courtesy of a season of the Tv series Fame, based on the hit movie from 1980.
Just learned about this new "phenomenon" called lip dub...here's a great example that was filmed in ONE take!
A lip dub is a type of video that combines lip synching and audio dubbing to make a music video. It is made by filming individuals or a group of people lip synching while listening to a song or any recorded audio then dubbing over it in post editing with the original audio of the song. There is often some form of mobile audio device used such as an iPod. Often, they look like simple music videos, although many involve a lot of preparation and are well produced. The most popular lip dubs are done in a single unedited shot that often travels through different rooms and situations in, say, an office building. They have become popular with the advent of mass participatory video content sites like YouTube.
A truly awesome song and hip hop classic from 1989! Remember when hip hop was fun and had a positive message? This song is one of my faves and I cannot believe it's over 20 years old!
"The Magic Number" is a 1990 single by De La Soul, originally recorded in 1988 and first released on their 1989 album, 3 Feet High and Rising, with the chorus based on a segment from the children's show "Schoolhouse Rock!", written by Bob Dorough. In the song, the trio state that the number three is the magic number. The song heavily samples songs and vocal samples originally sampled in "Lesson 3" by Double Dee and Steinski, as well as sampling "Lesson 3" itself. (you'll also notice some other samples from this kick ass funk that were used as samples by several other groups....fun!)
The song reached #18 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop chart,but charted a respectable #7 on the UK singles chart.
I just discovered this guy, MC Frontalot, the creator or "Godfather" of hip hop sub genre "nerdcore". Damian Hess (born December 3, 1973), better known by stage name MC Frontalot, is a San Francisco hip hop musician and self-proclaimed "world's 579th greatest rapper". This should make up for the Tom OC post from yesterday....I'm lovin' this guy! "I Hate Your Blog" is from his Secrets from the Future album released in 2007.
After "discovering" MC Frontalot and preparing for this post by reading his Wiki pg. I learned of the nerdcore documentary "Nerdcore Rising", so I decided to watch. Here is a quote by a "nerd" in the firat 5 min. of the film describing nerdcore.... "Nerdcore is like playing Halo while getting a blowjob from Hello Kitty" LMFAO!!!
Update: looked around a little more and of course had to include this song too!"I Heart Fags" from his 2005 debut Nerdcore Rising *NSFW*
Not much makes me cry...ever, but this just brought tears to my eyes. Perhaps it's having children that has made me so emotional whenever I hear or see something sad or touching involving little ones. This little girl, suffering from leukemia, had a dream realized thanks to Beyonce. This lady is truly a class act! If the handing over of her spot light at the VMA's to Taylor Swift didn't convince you then this surely will! Simply beautiful....
One of my favorites from the 80's, Thompson Twins were originally formed in 1977. There were several lineup changes and finally, in early 1982, the trio we know today was finally solidified (founding member Tom Bailey, Alannah Currie and former band roadie Joe Leeway) They were awesome! And seriously, who else rocked the xylophone?!!
This song comes off the album Here's To Future Day's from 1985, reaching #5 on the UK album charts and #20 in the US, with "Lay your Hands On Me" reaching #13 & #6 respectively. (sadly, that was the highest they ever managed to chart in the US)
Joe Leeway left the group in 1986 while Tom & Alannah continued on for another 7 yrs.
I know my posts have been pretty prolific, but I just couldn't sit on this! I just stumbled upon this amazing singer Sam Tsui whose a capella Michael Jackson medley blew me away! Not since I first heard British a capella group The Flying Pickets cover the Yaz classic "Only You" have I been this excited about a capella.
This guy is an amazing talent, singing all parts of both the medley and the Journey cover (technically not a capella but worth including here) I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!
One of my all time favorites. Period. This song always has and always will hold a very special place in my heart. It reminds me of the good times growing up in the 70's. Cat Stevens "Moonshadow" from the wonderful 1971 album Teaser and the Firecat. The album reached #2 on the Billboard charts and as of 2001 has reached Triple Platinum status and the song reached #10...it will always be a #1 to me!
It is also the title of a children's book written and illustrated by Cat Stevens. The story features the title characters from the album cover, top-hatted young Teaser and his pet Firecat, who attempt to put the moon back in its place after it falls from the sky. Published in 1972, the book has been out of print since the mid-1970s.
In 1977 an animated version, narrated by Spike Milligan and using the song "Moonshadow", was a segment in Fantastic Animation Festival. I would imagine it's pretty rare and few have seen...so here you go, enjoy!
Well, when I first thought to include Doctor & The Medics in the retro line up I thought the obvious choice would be to post their great cover of Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit In The Sky"....but that's just too expected so I opted for the lesser known "Burn" ....and I really love this song from their major label debut for IRS records (coincidentally also the label for yesterdays retro post) titled "Laughing At The Pieces"
While the former was a world wide smash, reaching #1 in 32 countries, the latter only charted as high as #29 on the UK charts. I still love it and it's one of my faves off that album. Gotta love the psychedelic inspired garb, the huge 80's hair and KISS meets kabuki makeup!
According to a source from The Mirror Madonna and Janet Jackson met over dinner and allegedly discussed collaborating on a tribute song for Michael Jackson. Hmmmm, this could be very interesting! I'll keep you posted on any developments.....stay tuned!
Via Popbytes comes today's mashup: "I Got More Than A Feeling" Combining two songs, Boston's "More Than A Feeling" and Black Eyed Peas' "I Got A Feeling", neither of which I'm crazy about separately but together make mashup magic thanks to Dutch producer Mad Mix Mustang. Click here to get your party started!
I remember the first time I signed up for Columbia House's music club from an ad in Rolling Stone mag in the mid eighties...I had never heard of Fine Young Cannibals, but the name intrigued me and was enough to warrant a spot on my order list. Well, the order arrived (I don't have any clue what else I ordered) and I've been hooked on this album ever since! Debuting in 1985 this song went to #8 on the UK charts but only hit # 76 on the US Hot 100
Although I love this song and the album that spawned it, I HATE, HATE, HATE their follow up "The Raw and the Cooked" with that god awful hit "Good Thing"...BLECH! Trivia: Apparently Jenny Jones (yes, THAT Jenny Jones) sang backing vocals and played drums on this album! More Trivia: Fine Young Cannibals appeared as the house band in a nightclub in the 1987 comedy film "Tin Men"
Now, if you know me, you'll know I've been a Madge fan since the early 80's (OMG! over 25 yrs!) and I have always applauded her creativity, media manipulation and boundary pushing, in your face sexuality at every stage of her career...she simply exudes sex from every pore. I haven't always loved everything she's done, but you could say I've pretty much been "in her corner", defending her choices and remaining true.
Well, the time has finally come when I must disagree and strongly disapprove of something Madonna has done. I see no plausible excuse for this decision in bad taste! As a father of an impressionable young girl I find this highly offensive:
Up until Lourdes' cameo (all tarted up in Mama Madge's "Like a Virgin" look, Boy Toy belt included) I rather liked this second official video for her new single "Celebration" But I must say I am both shocked and dismayed at her decision to have her 12 y/o daughter paraded around for the world to see in arguably one of her "sluttier" looks.....It pains me to say it, but SHAME ON YOU MADONNA!! What do you think? Would you feel differently if you had a young daughter? Comment & let me know your thoughts!
