Back in June 1972, Colonel Tom Parker the somewhat shady manager of Elvis Presley offered the press a chance to interview his charge for a small fee of just $120,000. No one took up the offer and frankly I’m not surprised.
“A startling glance at the future and past” September 7, 2017
Tom Waits has a song called “The Fall of Troy”, and a post-hardcore band called The Fall of Troy (not sure if they are named after the Tom Waits song) have a song called “Tom Waits.”
“I heard the warning voice from friends and my relations” September 6, 2017
When Smokey Robinson wrote “Being With You” he had hoped that with Kim Carnes would record it. But he soon learned when he played it to George Tobin who had been Kim’s producer that the pair no longer worked together. So Smokey recorded the song himself. It got as far as number 2 in the US chart. Ironically it was kept off the number one spot by “Bette Davis Eyes”, sung by Kim Carnes.
“People coming, people going, people born to die” September 5, 2017
Did you know that there was almost a collaboration between rap giants RUN DMC and the King of Pop himself, Wacko Jacko? I didn’t either until now. But during the recording sessions for Michael Jackson’s ‘Bad’ album an idea was mooted, possibly by or via Quincy Jones, for him to record with RUN DMC. The song would have been an anti drug song purportedly called “Crack Kills” which suggests that there might have at least been the germ of an idea ready. I reckon that this partnership might have sounded pretty good. What do you think dear reader?
Cello, is it me you’re looking for? September 4, 2017
Firstly I reckon this is potentially one of the most highbrow posts this blog has seen to date. Catalonian Pablo Casals was a Cellist, Composer and Conductor who lived from 1876 to 1973. He was widely regarded as the best Cellist of the 20th Century. He once played for Queen Victoria and was awarded the US Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963 by President Kennedy (although the actual ceremony was presided over by Lyndon B Johnson as it was just a few weeks after Kennedy’s assassination.
When Casals retired he went to live at the top of a mountain and he would only play for anyone who took the time and trouble to go and climb up it to find him. I can think of quite a few musicians I would like to disappear up a mountain, can you?
“She ain’t exactly pretty Ain’t exactly small” September 2, 2017
No bras AC/ DC
Did you know that AC/DC guitarist Malcolm Young once worked in a bra factory as a sewing-machine mechanic? No? Me neither.
BrAC/ DC?
Could you fit a whole lotta Rosie in that?
“I don’t belong here, I don’t belong here” September 1, 2017
The Hollies “The Air That I Breathe” and “Creep” by Radiohead are both great songs right? But have you ever considered how similar they sound? Well Albert Hammond Jr’s (off of the Strokes) father Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood have a co writing credit for “Creep” owing to the similarity between that and “The Air That I Breathe”, particularly the chord progression. How come I didn’t know that until now and now I can hear it every time I listen to either song!
“You make everything groovy” August 25, 2017
Did you know that Angelina Jolie’s uncle, Chip Taylor, wrote the song “Wild Thing.” Nope nor did I until now!
“Watching a human fall, but it’s only money” August 24, 2017
Do you remember Curly Watts (real name Kevin Kennedy) from Coronation Street? Well did you know that Johnny Marr once played in a band with him? Their short-lived band called the Paris Valentinos played a Silver Jubilee party back in 1977. Kennedy, who was Curly Watts for 20 years in the long running soap played bass guitar. Another future Smiths member Andy Rourke was also in the band which played covers of many things from Sam Cooke to Tom Petty. Their Jubilee gig was around the same time that Glen Voisey and me played our first ever DJ gig.
“Now my old world is gone for dead” August 22, 2017
The Electric Light Orchestra’s 4th album “Eldorado – A Symphony” is officially known as simply Eldorado. Did you know that the cover was designed by one Sharon Arden? She is now more widely known as Sharon Osbourne (Ozzie’s wife and reality show star and judge). I can’t believe that it took much effort to design though as the cover picture is simply a still of the ruby slippers from the 1939 cinematic classic ‘The Wizard of Oz’.
With Just A Hint Of Mayhem 