With Just A Hint Of Mayhem

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

“First Kiss” – Marples January 4, 2025

Filed under: Review,Single — justwilliam1959 @ 9:51 pm
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Sheffield band Marples released a new single at the tail end of last year. It is called “First Kiss” and it is rather good. It opens with almost screaming guitar from Thomas Martin. A hypnotic riff underpins it and powers the tune like a 21st century Chuck Berry. Joseph Neville’s vocal is clear and reminiscent of some fine vocalists from UK music history from Lennon to Alex Turner. The track conveys the nervousness and excitement of a first kiss. At least I think it does, mine was a hell of a long while ago!

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On This Day The Boss Shared The Bill With A Manic Depressive!

Filed under: On This Day — justwilliam1959 @ 3:39 pm
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Bruce Springsteen started a three-night run on 4th January 1974. It was held at Joes’ Place in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. The support band was by Peter Johnson and The Manic Depressives (a local blues influenced band). On the ticket it stated: Due to the energy crisis, most of our outside lights will be shut off. Only one light will remain on. Later that same year Springsteen played another gig in the city and that was attended by journalist Jon Landau. He famously declared Springsteen the “rock and roll future” in his review for the Real Paper.

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On This Day Mr. Zimmerman Whips Up A Hurricane! January 3, 2025

Filed under: On This Day — justwilliam1959 @ 11:16 pm
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On 3rd January 1976, Bob Dylan’s song, “Hurricane”, peaked at Number 33 on the Billboard singles chart. This helped to cause enough publicity to eventually get former boxer Reuben ‘Hurricane’ Carter released from jail. The song promoted Carter’s innocence and remains possibly one of Dylan’s angriest songs. A movie about Carter’s life, starring Denzel Washington, was released in 2000.

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Wow That’s What I Call Mayhem – Volume 5

Filed under: Now That's What I Call Mayhem! — justwilliam1959 @ 3:07 pm
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I send my continued humble apologies to the creators of the iconic NOW series. Their compilations began in 1983. I posted and compiled the first WOW That’s What I Call Mayhem collection back in March 2024. Volumes 2, 3 and 4 followed in August and September. So you must be ready for volume 5, right? I certainly hope so, because here it is! This includes the last 20 singles we reviewed in 2024 in another maniacal eclectic playlist for your listening pleasure! With nearly 70 minutes of music, click the Spotify link below and lose yourself in the music!

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“Candles Burning” – LIREDEL featuring Geoff Bell and Charlie Wareham

Filed under: Review,Single — justwilliam1959 @ 1:13 pm
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This is a gorgeous simple song that hits all the right buttons. It has a soothing piano riff and some great vamp style backing vocals. But the cream on top is the performance of LIREDEL, what a fabulous voice. It has some sultry jazz tones and huge emotion with a hint of Amy Winehouse. The message in the song is about loved ones who are no longer with us. It serves as a reminder to keep their spirit alive by lighting a candle for them. Liredel said this about it “The track is about keeping a metaphorical candle lit for those that are no longer here …..it’s a beautiful song about keeping the memory flame alive for all time. Remembering the good times with loved ones and keeping a piece of them alive with you through your memories.” Incidentally, the featured Geoff Bell is the classy British actor. He has appeared in loads of films including ‘Mike Bassett: England Manager’. I have listened to more of LIREDEL’s songs and it is clear that she is a supremely talented artist!

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On This Day Percy Met Alice In LA! January 2, 2025

Filed under: On This Day — justwilliam1959 @ 7:34 pm
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On 2nd January 1969 Led Zeppelin played the first of four nights at the Whisky A Go-Go, Los Angeles. This was during the bands first North American tour. Support was provided by the Alice Cooper band. According to Alice the bands flipped a coin to decide who went on first as neither was very well known.

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Mayhem’s Before They Were Famous #8 – Beck

Filed under: Before They Were Famous — justwilliam1959 @ 7:11 pm
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Before he became a slacker superstar and well known musical polymath and icon Beck (a.k.a Beck David Hansen) was apparently a YMCA ID photographer. What kind of job is that? Did he leave it because he was a Loser baby?

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Play It Again Mayhem – “Strawberry Letter 23” – The Brothers Johnson

Filed under: Play It Again Mayhem — justwilliam1959 @ 4:32 pm
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Here comes the 32nd track in the Play It Again Mayhem series. This time it is the turn of the Brothers Johnson with “Strawberry Letter 23”. This is among my favourite songs of all time. The song was written, composed and recorded by Shuggie Otis for his 1971 album ‘Freedom Flight’. The Brothers Johnson version was produced by Quincy Jones and released in 1977. Why is it called “Strawberry Letter 23”? Well the lyric tells the tale of two lovers exchanging strawberry scented letters. The singer is replying to letter 22. The Brothers Johnson version reached number 5 in the US charts and topped the US R & B chart. Sadly it only got to number 35 in the UK.

The Shuggie Otis original was sampled on Outkast’s 2001 hit “Ms. Jackson”. Of the 32 songs in the Play It Again Mayhem series this one makes it 20 from the 70s. Check out the playlist below and let me know what your favourites are. I started this series in honour of Johnnie Walker’s Sounds Of The 70s radio show feature ‘Johnnie’s Jukebox’. His passing saddened me, and many others, he was a giant of a broadcaster.

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“All Your Dreams” – Aeon Empire

Filed under: Review,Single — justwilliam1959 @ 3:52 pm
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If you like your rock hard and classic then the new single from Aeon Empire is right up your street. “All Your Dreams” was written by Paul Gerard Reed. It overflows with riffs. These riffs remind me of the likes of Deep Purple and Nazareth. The song races along at 100 miles per hour. It crashes into your skull early on. It refuses to back out. Jota Fortinho’s vocals epitomise how a great rock vocalist should sound. The underlying blues element adds to the appeal of this great tune.

Ronnie König , the band’s founder and bass player said this about the track. “This song showcases what our band is all about. Aeon Empire is about delivering rock anthems full of catchy riffs and melodies. We’ve poured our hearts into this album and we can’t wait for the world to hear it.” The video, directed by lead singer Jota Fortinho, is a great showcase for the band too.

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On This Day Johnny Walked The Line To Prison! January 1, 2025

Filed under: On This Day — justwilliam1959 @ 7:48 pm
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On 1st January 1959 Johnny Cash played his first free concert for the inmates of San Quentin Prison, California. Nineteen-year-old Merle Haggard was among the audience members. He was serving a 15-year sentence for grand theft auto and armed robbery, but served only three years. Another very important man was born on that very day. Can you guess who? It was me 🙂

This clip is from a show later in 1959

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