With Just A Hint Of Mayhem

Music reviews, gig reviews, fun trivia and extra added random stuff!

“The trial was a pig circus, he never had a chance” February 3, 2016

Filed under: Observation — justwilliam1959 @ 11:18 am
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The other day I decided to take a quick count of all the artists in my album collection where I have at least 10 albums by a single artist. I included CDs, LPs and cassettes (although the only non compilation cassettes that I have are David Bowie bootlegs). Oh and while I’m on bootleg recordings obviously I have included them whether they are live, studio outtakes or simply unreleased stuff. I have not included digital recordings. I was surprised to find that there are 4o artists where I have at least ten releases by them. The list is below, (artist followed by the number of albums) there are no real surprises for me, are you surprised at any on this list? Have you ever done anything similar? I have also added a song from each of the top ten artists 🙂

David Bowie 141
Bob Dylan 30
Johnny Nash 26
Bruce Springsteen 26
Beatles 25
Neil Young 25
Elton John 19
Bob Marley 19
U2 19
Rod Stewart 18
Pink Floyd 17
REM 17
Elvis Costello 15
The Eels 15
Prince 15
Paul Weller 15
Ryan Adams 14
Led Zeppelin 14
Madonna 14
The Clash 13
Elvis Presley 13
Radiohead 13
Kate Bush 12
Oasis 12
Lou Reed 12
Stevie Wonder 12
Morrissey 11
Tom Waits 11
ZZ Top 11
Jeff Buckley 10
Julian Cope 10
Johnny Cash 10
Michael Jackson 10
John Lennon 10
Manic Street Preachers 10
Kylie Minogue 10
Iggy Pop 10
Rolling Stones 10
Frank Turner 10
The Who 10

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8NZa9wYZ_U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgfmgZ7EPJA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O1v_7T6p8U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6yk9wWNB08

 

“Don’t worry ’bout a thing, cos every little thing’s gonna be alright” January 26, 2016

Filed under: Observation — justwilliam1959 @ 12:27 pm
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This is the second in what I hope will develop into a long running series of establishments that make tasteful and excellent use of songs, lyrics and references in their shop, café or whatever. I kicked off with the Inkwell in Gillygate, York. Now I would like to say a big hello to Circles Cafe on Lendal Bridge in York.

circles outside

The café has a brilliant mural in the snug area of some lyrics taken from Bob Marley‘s marvellously upbeat “Three Little Birds“. You can see this in the lead photograph in this post.

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Circles is a cosy little place that serves excellent cakes and sandwiches and especially good coffee. Other beverages are also available. When the weather is good you can even sit outside. If you’re coming to York by train this is a wonderful place to stop off on your walk into the city or on your walk back to the station. Or maybe you could even stop in both directions!

coffee

If you would like to recommend any other places that make good use of song titles or lyrics, they do not have to be cafe’s, then please let me know.

 

“Get sick, get well hang around an inkwell”

Filed under: Observation — justwilliam1959 @ 12:04 pm
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inkwell

This is the first in what will hopefully become an a series, albeit with occasional posts. That said there will definitely be at least one more coming very soon. I have been in a few shops and cafe’s recently where the owners clearly have some good musical taste. Two of these are in my home city of York, so I thought that I would start with one of those.

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The Inkwell on Gillygate takes its name from a lyric in Bob Dylan’s 60s classic “Subterranean Homesick Blues“. It is a fantastic little shop. You can buy new and re-release vinyl, new and secondhand books, record players and a few other curios too. The shop and all who work there are passionate about music and pop culture. Despite the Inkwell being relatively small they still put on a few excellent bands and artists every so often.

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If you have never been there and you live in York then shame on you. If you plan on visiting York and you would like to visit the Inkwell you can find it at 10 Gillygate just outside the city wall. You can also find them on all the usual places including Facebook.

If you come across any other places that use excellent lyrics in their store or their name feel free to let me know.

 

“No such number, no such zone” January 5, 2016

Filed under: Observation — justwilliam1959 @ 10:56 pm
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WOO HOO I HAVE THE WINNING BID FOR THE RECORD PLAYER! I AM SUCH A HOUND DOG!

WOO HOO I HAVE THE WINNING BID FOR THE RECORD PLAYER! I AM SUCH A HOUND DOG!

If I ever win big on the lottery I always felt that I wouldn’t spend extravagantly. That remains mainly true, however I have just seen some of the lots from a fabulous auction of a large amount of Elvis Presley’s possessions and memorabilia. The auction is at Elvis’ old pad Graceland on January 7th, the day before what would have been Mr Presley’s 81st birthday. The link to the Invaluable Auctions site is here. Three things that particularly interested me were;

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Lot 24: Elvis Presley Stage-Used Guitar from January 14, 1973 “Aloha from Hawaii” Concert – Given to Fan in the Front Row on July 24, 1975 in Asheville, North Carolina.

TCB

Lot 114: Elvis Presley 14K “TCB” Necklace Gifted to Bodyguard Sam Thompson

record player

Lot 11: 1956 Elvis Presley Enterprises RCA Victor Model 7-EP-2 Portable Turntable – With Facsimile Signature

So there you have it, my three favourite items from this very interesting auction being run by Invaluable Auctions. If you would like to make this old bloke happy then I would be happy for you to buy me any of the above lots. It won’t set you back more than $516,000 based on the high-end estimates and obviously I would be eternally grateful. Just to show how grateful here are a few great Elvis songs for your pleasure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wb0Jmy-JYbA

 

 

“Today I don’t feel like doing anything” November 6, 2015

Filed under: Observation — justwilliam1959 @ 11:05 pm
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This is just a brief post to say that I have been somewhat lazy about blogging lately and neglectful of all my blogs. So I hope to make up for that over the next few days and at least post the small backlog of reviews and events that I have been to recently. After that there will be an official blog break from mid November to mid December to enable yours truly to recharge in warmer climes. But for now please enjoy a few lazy and lazy related tunes!

lazy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rv41AgQTlrA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsXD8S0l-BE

 

 

“Take a run and hide yourself away” July 15, 2015

Filed under: Observation,Rants — justwilliam1959 @ 7:14 pm
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It’s great news that David Cameron and his dreadful Conservative government have at least postponed the vote on the repeal of the fox-hunting band. Having been out foxed Nicola Sturgeon of the SNP he is now a little like a fox on the run himself. Some UK newspapers are even referring to this as a humiliation for him. I’d like to think that he does feel humiliated but somehow I doubt that he does.

Well if you won't let us posh arseholes hunt and kill foxes we'll bloody well hunt vicious lambs instead!

Well if you won’t let us posh arseholes hunt and kill foxes we’ll bloody well hunt vicious lambs instead!

For me the idea of chasing after a fox with a baying group of red jacketed toffs on horseback and a pack of dogs is not vermin control. It’s sadism. Anyway we and the foxes, live to fight another day. But don’t let the subject drop! This is but a small victory.

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As I have said before this is a music blog so let’s celebrate with some fox related songs.

Cameron as the fox in a fox hunt? I'd pay to see that!

Cameron as the fox in a fox hunt? I’d pay to see that!

 

 

“Just put that monster smile on them rosy cheeks” July 5, 2015

Filed under: Observation,Rants — justwilliam1959 @ 10:56 pm
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I would like to use this post to send my congratulations to the people of Greece for voting Oxi or No to more austerity and humiliation at the hands of their so-called European partners. Whatever the outcome over the coming days, weeks and months I believe that this was the right way to vote. I am sure that it took courage those who voted and belief and passion from Greek ministers. If only UK politicians had that level of passion! Have Alexis Tsipras and Yanis Varoufakis played a better game than Angela Merkel and her cronies? Only time will tell I suppose

Anyway this is a music post so celebrate the Oxi vote by listening to the Eagles with “The Greeks Don’t Want No Freaks” (or Merkels, or more austerity!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ms0VIKlp0CU

 

“I know that you’ve been living in the past, what’s going in your head now?” May 31, 2015

Filed under: Observation,Trivia — justwilliam1959 @ 5:49 pm
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Before

 

Apparently the usually clean-shaven Brandon Flowers off of the Killers has developed a rather eccentric (or perhaps strange) habit of keeping all the stubble he shaves from his face. He has stockpiled it in a bag for around seven years. He is allegedly quoted in the NME as saying “It doesn’t smell. It’s all black but about halfway up you start to see some greys. I don’t know what to do with it yet”

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After

 

My advice Brandon is perhaps you should use it to stuff a pillow which you can give as a gift to your therapist. I’m sure that you must have one. Surely anyone with a habit like this needs one!

Brandon road tests his new industrial razor - the Gillette Brightside Stubble Eraser

Brandon road tests his new industrial razor – the Gillette Brightside Stubble Eraser

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I mostly agree with that. But saving your stubble? Come on Brandon, you’re an asshole!

 

 

Julian Cope – Fibbers, York – Wednesday 20th May 2015 CANCELLED! May 20, 2015

Filed under: Observation,Rants,Review — justwilliam1959 @ 8:15 pm
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Julian has a message for his fans in York!

Julian has a message for his fans in York!

OK here goes with possibly my shortest gig review ever. Julian turned up at the venue complained about the lighting and fucked off home! Mr Cope you are not just a talented eccentric as I used to think; you are a twat, a diva, an arse, a tosser and someone who really couldn’t give a shit about his fans! Julian Cope you are the second biggest cunt in the world!

Julian fails to see the light!

Julian fails to see the light!

 

“Tryin’ to live without your love is one long sleepless night” May 13, 2015

Filed under: Observation — justwilliam1959 @ 2:05 pm
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A few months back I finally succumbed to the seductive ways of Spotify and I signed up for the premium service. Oh boy I wished that I had done it sooner. The amount of new albums that I have listened to lately is phenomenal. My current faves are ‘The Day Is My Enemy’ and ‘The Magic Whip’ by the Prodigy and Blur respectively. I have also rediscovered some classic old albums especially in the reggae genre; Culture, Peter Tosh and Third World to name a few.

jackson5

On top of all this there are countless playlists and it is these that I use for my workouts in the gym. Yes I have been a regular gym goer since January this year. Let me tell you I wasn’t just gifted with such a buff body, I have to work at it! Anyway the reason for this post other than to give Spotify yet more free publicity is to mention a song that popped up on one of those playlists in the gym last night. It was a kind of greatest hits of the 70s playlist and the song has always been one of my favourites.

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Hearing it once again made me think that perhaps it is one of the finest most timeless pop songs ever. I am talking about the Jackson 5‘s magnificent “I Want You Back”. Put aside any prejudices about what Michael became, before he became the weird, cartoon-like plastic surgeon’s Mr Potato Head he was a supremely talented young boy. His pre-adolescent vocals on this song are electrifying. On top of that you get the full might of the marvellous Funk Brothers who were the Motown house band. James Jamerson‘s bass line is sublime in my opinion. Berry Gordy Jr certainly rated it as he had a share in writing it. I would love to hear your opinion on the song and any other suggestions for the finest and most timeless pop songs.

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