I would like to congratulate Tracey Emin on her elevation to Professor at the Royal Academy. Her title will be Professor of Drawing which to be fair sounds a bit simple doesn’t it? many people will remember her more for some her installations like ‘Unmade Bed’ but she clearly is a talented line drawer as well. Here is her line drawing to commemorate the 2012 Olympics. Fiona Rae was appointed Professor of Painting at the same time. Amazing the pair are the first female Professors at the Royal Academy since it began in 1768.
Tracy is still waiting for her Professors robes to arrive
The Royal Academy payroll system wasn't working quite the way it should!
Click here to read the full story on the BBC site. As I have said many times before, this is a music blog so let me finish by taking the opportunity to play out with a classic bubblegum hit from 1969; “Tracy” by the Cuff-Links. All vocals were provided by the former Carmine Granito who was better known as Ron Dante. He was a prolific session singer and also provided the vocals for cartoon band the Archies.
John Henshall was the cameraman when Bowie and the Spiders recorded the clip on January 3rd 1973. It was broadcast the following day and hasn’t been seen since. Henshall had kept a copy because he had used a number of new techniques and some new equipment during the shoot. Notably the fish eye lens. Click here to read the story on the BBC.
The film will now be shown in full on BBC4 next year. Along with many other Bowie fans I am a little excited by this news. Enjoy this clip of the song taken from the 1973 US TV Special ‘The 1980 Floor Show’ while you wait for that elusive Top Of The Pops footage to air next year.
Dobie Gray has drifted away aged just 71, just slightly older than my own father when he passed away. Dobie had a great voice and in my opinion should have been far more succesful. Even if you’re not familiar with the music of Dobie Gray I am sure there are a couple of his songs that you will have heard. Those are “The In-Crowd” from 1965 (US number 13 and UK number 25) and “Drift Away” from 1973. “Drift Away” reached number 5 in the US charts and sold more than a million copies. Sadly it never charted in the UK, which frankly is a travesty!
The song was written by Mentor Williams and has been covered by many artists, but for me Dobie’s version reigns supreme by a long way. Artists such as Rod Stewart, Ray Charles and the Heptones have all recorded the song. There is also believed to be a cover by the Rolling Stones recorded in 1973 which as yet remains unreleased. For me it is such an uplifting song, I challenge you to listen to it and try to resist the urge to smile and sing along. I am definitely unable to resist that! Uncle Kracker covered the song in 2003 and incorporated one verse by Dobie himself. This version was number one in the US Adult Contemporary chart, but again failed to chart in the UK.
“The In-Crowd” has also been the subject of many cover versions from Mike Flowers and Ramsey Lewis to Bryan Ferry. Personally I think Ferry’s version is an excellent much more rock interpretation of the tune. Dobie’s 1966 recording “Out On The Floor” is seen as a classic Northern Soul track in the UK and reached number 42 in the British charts in 1975. This would have been driven by the amount of airplay it got at such iconic clubs as the Wigan Casino. Dobie was also one of the first artists to play to a non-segregated audience in what was then still an apartheid South Africa. I’m pretty sure that my singles collection used to include an imported copy of Dobie’s “Find ‘Em, Fool ‘Em and Forget ‘Em” from 1976. That song scraped into the Billboard top 100 in the US and failed to chart in the UK.
My thoughts go out to Dobie’s family, friends and fans. Dobie Gray RIP.
This weekend the UK press was reporting that a musical featuring the music of David Bowie would première at the IndigO2 in London next March. It would be called ‘Heroes : The Musical’ and was written by Deep Singh he thought he had obtained permission to use the songs. However it would seem that permission has not been given.
Nope I can't hear you. Permission? No chance dude!
A statement from David Bowie and his management issued this weekend reads; ‘ Neither the David Bowie Organization, nor its co-publishers EMI Music and Chrysalis, has issued a license for this performance at the O2. There are no negotiations pending for a long running musical featuring the music of Mr. Bowie’.
You want permission to use my music? Better give me a call on the diamond dog n bone mate
Personally I’m quite pleased. I really don’t like musicals and the thought of one based on the songs of David Bowie leaves me cold. What do you folks think?
Bowie prepares for his kick ass bling musical version of Diamond Dogs
Are music related deaths like buses? There isn’t one for ages and then loads arrive at once? That’s what the last few days seem like anyway; The first one I heard about was the sad death of Andrea True who had a massive 70s disco hit in the 70s with “More More More” under the not so imaginative name Andrea True Connection. Her real name was Andrea Truden and she changed it to True when she began to appear in porn films before her singing career, including ‘Deep Throat 2’. This was apparently so that her parents wouldn’t find out that she was in the porn industry. Sadly her singing career was not a long one, however she did spend time working in a number of jobs after throat surgery cut short club singing. These jobs included being a drug and alcohol counsellor. “More More More” was prominently sampled by Len on their 1999 hit “Steal My Sunshine” and was later covered by former S Clubber Rachel Stevens in 2004.
Barry Llewellyn off of the iconic and influential reggae band the Heptones has died in Jamaica aged 64. The band recorded a number of songs with the infamous Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry. They are probably best known for their song in praise of the larger woman; “Fattie Fattie” This is also one of my favourite reggae songs and I used to own the 7 inch vinyl version of the song many years ago.
Perhaps he wasn’t a musician or singer but I couldn’t let the great film producer Ken Russell’s passing go without a mention here. He was responsible for what in my opinion is one of the best rock related movies ever made. He created a magnificent and somewhat weird adaptation of the Who’s ‘Tommy’ for the silver screen in 1975. He also made a movie of the life of Liszt starring Roger Daltrey as Franz Liszt and titled ‘Lisztomania’ which was also released in 1975. The soundtrack was provided by Rick Wakeman. In my view these two movies were the pinnacle of Daltrey’s acting career. Russell even tried his hand at the music video format when he directed the video to Elton John’s 1985 hit “Nikita”.
Don DeVito the producer of two of my favourite Bob Dylan albums, ‘Desire’ and ‘Blood On The Tracks’ has also passed away aged 72. He finally lost a 16 year-long battle with prostate cancer. He remained at Columbia records throughout his career where he worked with such luminaries as Aerosmith, Billy Joel and the Boss himself; Mr Springsteen.
Former singer with bands such as the Joe Loss Orchestra Ross McManus has also sadly left us. He was a very good singer in his own right but many people of my generation probably know him better as the father of the former Declan McManus; Elvis Costello. He died on 24th November aged 84 less than two weeks after the death of his second wife Sara. He played trumpet on a few of his son’s recordings. He once recorded a cover of the Beatles “Long And Winding Road” in 1970 under the name Day Costello, which is where young Declan chose his new surname from. He also wrote and recorded the song that accompanied the R White’s Lemonade advertising campaign in the 70s entitled “I’m A Secret Lemonade Drinker” on which backing vocals were provided by the then teenaged Declan.
My thoughts go to the family, friends and fans of Andrea, Barry, Ken, Don and Ross. RIP all of you.
Coincidentally today also marks the 10th anniversary of the death of George Harrison aged just 58. I find it hard to believe that it was so long ago, but it was just a couple of months after my Dad in September 2001. There are a number of events in Liverpool to commemorate the anniversary. In 9 days on December 8th it will also be the 31st anniversary of the murder of John Lennon. Clearly this period of the year hasn’t been great for other rock deaths either; 24th November was the 20th anniversary of the passing of Freddie Mercury and 22nd November saw 14 years since the death of Michael Hutchence off of INXS.
I heard in the news this week that there is a radio station, Absolute Radio 60s, that is refusing to play anything by Cliff Richard as they don’t believe he is relevant. Is this a contemporary urban station or a specialist rock or punk station? No it’s a 60s station. Now I’m not a big fan of Cliff but to refuse to play him on a 60s radio station is frankly stupid! Click here to read the story on the BBC.
Cliff prepares for his version of another brick in the wall
In the late 50s Cliff Richard was quite a groundbreaker for British rock n roll. Try listening to “Move It” again, it’s a classic. As for the 60s Cliff had stacks of UK hits including a fair amount of number ones. Many of these were hits across Europe. He may have not had much success in the USA but it’s hard to deny how big he was elsewhere. “Summer Holiday”, “Bachelor Boy”, “Livin’ Doll” and “The Young Ones” to name but a few are classic 60s pop songs. You could also argue that Cliff’s Eurovision runner-up “Congratulations” is also a brilliant pop song, although personally I don’t like that one.
Cliff meets the young, vibrant management of Absolute 60s Radio
I really don’t like his schmaltzy Christmas songs and things like “Millennium Prayer” But that is no good reason to deny how strong his 60s output was. He may not have taken music forward in the way that perhaps his label mates at the time, the Beatles did. But he became a star before they did and perhaps without the likes of Cliff, Tommy Steele, Lonnie Donegan to pave the way the Beatles may not have had the same trajectory.
Cliff threatens to wear this outfit outside the Absolute Studios until they start playing his songs
As for that 60s station refusing to play Cliff Richard, surely if you run a 60s station you play 60s music, specifically 60s hits. Well that’s what I would do and a formulaic operation like that means that effectively your own taste doesn’t really come into it!
"OK Absolute I suggest that you play my songs or you won't like where this finger will be going!"
How often do you watch or listen to a TV or radio advert and cringe at the fact they’ve chosen some of your favourite music to soundtrack a terrible advert or a horrible product or a combination of both?
The new John Lewis Christmas ads, primarily there to promote a new range of Smiths pillow cases perhaps?
I suppose we shouldn’t get too precious about these kinds of things, after all the writers might need the money. If I’d written a piece of music that someone wanted to use on an advert and they were willing to pay me would I allow it? Of course I would, just as long as it wasn’t used to promote the likes of the BNP, the Daily Mail, Cheese on Toast or the Tory Party.
Morrissey refuses to get catty about the use of Smiths songs in adverts
I was pointed in the direction of the new John Lewis television advert by my good friend Nick Horslen. It is soundtracked by a cover version of the Smiths song “Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want” by Slow Moving Millie. Personally I don’t think it’s a particularly bad cover, perhaps just a bit bland. Some songs just pass me by on adverts I think, but others are particularly annoying. It’s hardly a song, but I generally change channels if the Go Compare advert comes on, I can’t stand that obnoxious faux opera. However, whilst I am not a big opera fan I do love the music that British Airways have used on many of their ad campaigns; “The Flower Duet” from the opera Lakme composed by Leo Delibes.
For the record Morrissey refuse to wear clothes made from animal skins, which clearly means that his wardrobe is quite small!
As for songs that I love that have been used in disappointing ads, I have to say I was gutted (yes I too am very precious sometimes) when Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” was used to advertise pizzas on TV a couple of years back. But equally Levi’s used some classic music in their brilliant series of TV adverts, including “I Heard It Through The Grapevine“. That same series made hits of many songs that hadn’t been around for years. My particular favourites were “Stand By Me” by Ben E King and “Should I Stay Or Should I Go” from my favourite band of all time, The Clash. But for every one of those there are plenty of awful selections; for example the new Christmas ad for Marks & Spencer uses a version of “When You Wish Upon A Star” by the 2011 X Factor finalists!
If you're ever invited to go for a walk with Morrissey please read this first
Which of your favourite songs have been used in adverts and what did you feel about it?
You’re probably all bored with the excessive coverage of Michael Jackson in the press lately, driven by the trial of his personal doctor, Conrad Murray. So I will try not to add to that boredom, I certainly wouldn’t want you to overdose on it, like a massive amount of boreprofol!
Anyway the doc has now been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and within no time at all a company called Julien’s Auctions of Los Angeles have offered Michael Jackson’s death bed along with other items of furniture that are “smeared with his makeup”. Is this just a little weird? How did they get this stuff? Did they steal it? Did they collect it from the local rubbish tip? Or did the Jackson family offer it to them with a view to scraping just a little more flesh off the cash cow that Jacko has become?
I would really love to hear your views on this one. As I said earlier you’re probably bored with Jacko for now and are there any of his videos you haven’t seen? I doubt it. So here are three eclectic covers of classic Jacko songs (and somehow I doubt that you were expecting the last one!
Apologies up front but this is another rant from me. What is it with FIFA? The latest pathetic activity from them is to ban the England players from having a Poppy on their shirts for the friendly match with Spain on Saturday. Apparently it would be in breach of their rule that players’ equipment (which includes the shirt) should not carry any religious, political, commercial or personal slogans. I’d like to know which one of these the wearing of a Poppy would break. It is a symbol to commemorate and remember those who died not only in the First and Second World wars but all of those who have died in active service in the armed forces.
Not listening, not listening, not listening....
The Poppy is worn in up to 120 countries, although in some of those mostly by expatriates. But other countries have a symbol to commemorate their war dead in a similar way. In France for example it is the Blue Cornflower. England will have Poppies on their training and warm up kit which will then be auctioned for charity, they will also wear black armbands for the match. Additionally FIFA have allowed a minute’s silence before the game. Forgive me but what the fuck has a minute’s silence before a football game got to do with FIFA?
FIFA are in fact a charity. A very rich and most likely (the proof is out there I’m sure!) very corrupt organisation. Sepp Blatter’s promise to make the organisation more transparent after recent scandals seems to have made everything even more opaque. Including awarding business contracts to companies owned or partly owned by his nephew. Personally I think Blatter makes Berlusconi look like an angel. Even forgetting the World Cup hosting bid from England how the hell did they manage to award the 2022 tournament to Qatar? It’s too hot, has an atrocious human rights record and frankly is hardly a hot bed of world football.
Here’s an interesting recent fact about the charity that is FIFA. One of its less well off members, Mauritius, had a cash shortfall of some £42,000 which meant that they were unable to travel to or organise their World Cup qualification games. How did the caring, sharing charity that is FIFA respond to this? They disqualified them from the competition, probably completely within the letter of the regulations. But wouldn’t the charitable thing to do be to bail them out? After all FIFA are sitting on cash assets in the region of £800 million. But I guess they need that for their next all expenses paid junket or their Christmas party. Thinking of Christmas like to recycle my Festive Fir Tree every year and I think next time I’d like to recycle it by shoving it right up Blatters backside!
It's about time he got a red card!
Having just finished writing this post I have now heard that FIFA have offered a compromise solution; England will be allowed to show a Poppy on their black armbands. What’s the difference between a Poppy on the shirt and one on the armband? Not a lot in my opinion and this another example of FIFAs inept style of management. Should you ever have a piss up in a brewery do not let FIFA anywhere near the organising committee!
Anyway let me wind down the rant just a bit and what better way to finish this post than with a song about the famous football match between British and German soldiers one Christmas during the First World War.
Recently one of John Lennon’s teeth was put up for auction. Lennon gave the tooth to Dot Jarlett his housekeeper in the 60s. At auction it raised £19,500 as it was bought, rather appropriately, by a Canadian dentist who goes by the name of Michael Zuk. He has written a book about celebrities teeth and intends to display the molar at his surgery! I wonder if Lennon lost the tooth because he ate most of the Jelly Babies thrown on stage on their US tours in the 60s. The jelly Babies were a result of Ringo answering a question about his favourite sweet in a fan magazine. Alternatively of course perhaps Lennon bit off more than he could chew with the ‘Beatles are bigger than Jesus’ comment. No doubt there are some Christian Fundamentalists in the US who actually believe that kind of crap and see it as divine retribution.
Karen Fairweather from Omega Auctions, described the tooth as: “rather gruesome, yellowy, browny with a cavity” Lennon gave it to Jarlett on return from the dentist. He is alleged to have asked her to dispose of it or “better still give it to your daughter as a souvenir.” Her daughter was apparently a Beatles fan.
The tooth was a part of Alan McGee’s (Creation Records founder and Oasis manager) collection of memorabilia. He is selling his collection as he is sick of the music industry.
Before I finish with some appropriate tooth related music I would like to thank my good friend Tom Wycks for pointing me to this story. All I did was fill in the gaps. Tom and his Mum also selected the three tooth songs that you are about to listen to. The third choice is Tom’s Mums pick and I must say I think that is probably the first time that Max Bygraves has ever appeared in this blog!
With Just A Hint Of Mayhem 