inner ear infection

just dropping in to say I have had some weird ear infection ( inner ear something ) and been as "deaf as a post" and unable to put anything together at the moment...it's not long term and as soon as it clears....

you know the rest !!

#103 - some Ghosties at the end...

First up today we have The Candy Darlings, as in the 3 piece UK band - not the latter US band. By the way there is a great interview with the band here on Cloudberry Cake Proselytism. Today's song is from the other side of their one and only release "That's Where Caroline Lives". I chose "Transparent" because the a-side is on Leamington Spa 4 and thought it'd be good to get another song out there in the audio ether.

After that it's the final Nivens 7 on Woosh, from a 4 track ep called "Dialect Drug" ( ( as in the Northumberland Nivens ).

Then some semi-related acts, The Lotus Eaters & The Lightning Seeds, the 3rd single from The Lotus Eaters ( and again I have to qualify, this is the 80's UK band of this name ) & the first from The Lightning Seeds.  By the way this little musical relationship will be one of many covered in more depth in a new project I am working on at the moment, which focuses on "musical family trees" ( more on that project at a later date ).

Back to today though and next it's a single sided 7 from The Popguns ( with another 2 tracks found on the 12" ), a flexi from The Godlen Dawn ( a split with The Velvet Crush ) and what is apparently A Certain Ratio, I say apparently because listening to it you'd never know it was the same mob who did "Shack Up" et al.....it's almost like the pressed someone else's song on the record !!

Then another band who will get a bit of run in the aforementioned "family tree" project, It's Immaterial for their Liverpuddlian links ( although he mentions Manchester as being his birthplace in the song ).

Last up we have a Steve Kilbey penned track for Ignatius Jones, one of 2 solo singles from him at the time ( along with Whsipering Your Name.

enjoy, see ya next time !

Podcast #103

1. Transparent - The Candy Darlings ( Teatime Records 1989 )
2. Beautiful - The Nivens ( Woosh 1989 )
3. Set Me Apart - The Lotus Eaters ( Arista UK 1984 )
4. Pure - The Lightning Seeds ( Ghetto 1989 )
5. Someone You Love - The Popguns ( Midnight Music 1990 )
6. The Sun Never Shines - The Golden Dawn ( Raving Pop Blast! 1989 )
7. Your Blue Eyes - A Certain Ratio ( A&M 1989 )
8. Driving Away From Home ( Jim's Tune ) - It's Immaterial ( Siren 1986 )
9. The Ghost in You - The Psychedelic Furs ( CBS 1984 )
10. Like A Ghost - Ignatius Jones ( Wombat/WEA Aust 1982 )
( duration 32.36, vbr lame mp3 )


Tracklist as PDF,  all podcasts #1 - ( current ) #103

#102 Scotland v Australia ( mostly )

Don't remind me of the recent Socceroos Friendly though....

for some reason most songs  today coming either from Aus or Scotland, 'cept for A Riot of Colour and ( Yorkies ) St Christopher of course...though I could say there's a  very vague Sydney connection with the Riot Of Colour song called "Newtown" ( in my head at least )

Starting with the 2nd single from The Jasmine Minks, then The Young Homebuyers out of SA, some OJ ( their 4th post-Postcard single ), Riot of Colour from a flexi ( the other track on the flexi "Newtown", also coming out later with Skink on a 12" - also on that release was the track House which was Leamington Spa 6 ), their other 12 "Swallow" worth tracking down as well.

the St Christopher track is also from flexi fom 1987, with 2 other tracks, of particular interest was a little insert in the disk for a cassette called "Something's Burning in Paradise" ( see below )

to save yourself a Google for that one, that cassette is blogged here on the always tres-excellent Press Play and Record.

Back to today's mix, after St Christopher it's the 3rd single from Girl Of The World ( and don't forget a new Bart & Friends is out now via Shelflife ), then old Sydney faves Widdershins and then Waterfront label-mates Ups & Downs - the 2nd appearance here of "In The Shadows", I obviously have 2 copies, and given the rules of this blog are that everything is played ( without question ) in the random order I pick them up from the floor then that's why a 2nd appearance ( previously way back on #2 anyway, so there's a 100 between then and now ).

Finally we end up back in Scotland with The Associates and The Fire Engines.

as usual, go for it, enjoy :)

Podcast #102 - link for mp3

Sideroom 7 Inch Singles Podcast #102

1. Where The Traffic Goes - The Jasmine Minks ( Creation 1984 )

2. She's A Girl - The Young Homebuyers ( Rough Diamond Aust 1982 )

3. I Can't Help Myself - Orange Juice ( Orange Caulfield Polydor 1982 )

4. Skink - A Riot Of Colour ( Give ( Flexi ) 1986 )

5. Forevermore Starts Here - St Christopher ( Veston ( Flexi ) 1987 )

6. Green Song - Girl Of The World ( Parasol 1993 )

7. Return Of The King - Widdershins ( Waterfront Aust 1989 )

8. In The Shadows - Ups &Downs ( Waterfront Aust 1986 )

9. Party Fears Two - The Associates ( Beggars Banquet 1982 )

10. Candy Skin - Fire Engines ( Pop:Aural 1981 )

( duration 30.53, vbr lame mp3 )

Tracklist as PDF,  all podcasts #1 - ( current ) #102

#101 into the new century

Back with you with the first in the new century, starting out with the original version of Modern Eon "Euthenics" ( the later version previously popping up quite recently on # 98 ), then old Melbourne faves Serious Young Insects and a single from their "Housebreaking" LP, the other single from album "Be Patient" I have ***somewhere** ( not sure where, order-schmorder, it's over-rated )...obviously to appear here when it's finally unearthed...

Everything else pretty easy to figure out, 'cept maybe The Primitives, that being one side of a single giveaway at a Prims gig ( Ocean Blue on the other side ), a slightly different version of this song appeared on the "Iminent 5" comp ( along incidentally with THE best version of Wrecker Of Engines by the Jack Rubies )

And I guess if you didn't know yep it's a Gedgey cover from Confetti ( Mark of Fat Tulips & Virginia 'Aeroplane' ), the whole ep being 3 Wed Pres covers.

you know the drill, enjoy, enjoy :)

Podcast #101 - link for mp3

Sideroom 7 Inch Singles Podcast #101
1. Euthenics - Modern Eon ( Inevitable Music 1980 )
2. Faraway Places - Serious Young Insects ( Native Tongue Aust 1982 )
3. Shout - Deckchairs Overboard ( Regular Aust 1983 )
4. The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum - The Fun Boy Three ( Chrysalis UK 1981 )
5. Listening - Pseudo Echo ( EMI Aust  1983 )
6. Shadow - The Primitives ( Lazy Recs 1987 )
7. New Ways - The Wishing Stones ( Head 1987 )
8. The Word Girl - Scritti Politti ( Virgin 1985 )
9. Black Velvet - The Lilac Time ( Fontana 1988 )
10. Anyone Can Make A Mistake - Confetti ( Marineville 1992 )
( duration 29.18, vbr lame mp3 )


Tracklist as PDF,  all podcasts #1 - ( current ) #101

#100 - 10 x 10's

Happy Century !!

The 100th being made up of ten 10-inch records - 10 squared if you like...

Firstly it's Bart & his "other" friends - a 1999 Darla Bliss out ( ie reworkings of earlier CM songs - self confessed by the band as "blurring the lines with Hydroplane "), followed by some 'Robin & Friends' - a 10 from the Filigree & Shadow album

Rather complex with the Clash thingy - the actual vinyl from today was the triple 10" reissue "Super Black Maket Clash", though the original Robber Dub orig came out on the Blackmarket Clash" 10 back in the day... confused...don't worry about it !!

We also have 3 Mushroom 10" ( so called ) Mini Albums released pretty much at the same time - "Cut Lunch" from Models, "Dexterity" from Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons and "The Sports Play Dylan ( and Donovan )" by The Sports.

Also worth an explanation is the Pel Mel track, this time being from a French double 10" compilation called "Entrave et Etouffment ", re-releasing tracks from the M-Squared label in Europe ( in 1982 ), Click Click having come out here in Australia on the M Squared comp "A Selection" (  the French comp also features for some unknown reason, one extra Severed Heads track that never came out on M Squared in the guise of Lambourghini, the original version of Petrol, featuring Fiona Graham from The Systematics on vocals ).

Mark E & Friends follow with a track from the Slates 10", and TV 21 ( very much sounding like an Ian Broudie production ). Hot on their heels is the 10 inch Extended Version of Can't Help Myself from Flowers when they were still called Flowers in Aus ( ie before they were Icehouse ) - and a special hats of to Peter Doyle ( the original East End Butcher himself ) for playing this one Monday night in 1980 on JJJ on his "New Releases" show.

That's all to report, enjoy :)

Podcast #100 - link for mp3

Sideroom 7 Inch Singles Podcast #100

1. Firefly - The Cat's Miaow ( Darla Recs 1999 )
2. Come Here My Love - This Mortal Coil ( 4AD 1986 )
3. Robber Dub - The Clash ( Epic 1993 )
4. Cut Lunch - Models ( Mushroom Aust 1981 )
5. Click Click - Pel Mel ( L'Invitation Au Suicide 1982 )
6. Leave The Capitol - The Fall ( Rough Trade 1981 )
7. Something's Wrong - TV 21 ( Deram 1981 )
8. Can't Help Myself ( Extended Version ) - Flowers ( Regular Aust 1980 )
9. Fallen Heroes - Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons ( Mushroom Aust 1981 )
10. You're A Big Girl Now - The Sports ( Mushroom Aust 1981 )

( duration 38.53,  lame/vbr mp3 )

Tracklist as PDF,  all podcasts #1 - ( current ) #100

#99 gonna call the papers....

"Or push the whole thing in your faaaace..." - one of the two :)

Kicking off today with an awesome flexi on Playroom Discs ( The Grooveyard & Ever ), both tracks great ;  on the back of the flexi there is the promise of an upcoming ep on the Playroom Discs label from Ever ( not sure if that in fact eventuated - help ? anyone ? know ), based on "Sleepyhead" I'd definitely love to hear more songs from Ever. Usual apologies for the flexi quality.

There's something kind of honestly sad about the cover of the Models single, a bleary eyed James Freud poised over a scotch glass - I suspect partly method acting based on the videoclip and the lyrics of the song, but also some kind of realism given JF's self confessed torrid relationship with alcohol When I saw the cover today I really felt for the man !! On a less serious note - great song, even if I'm well on record as preferring earlier Models.

After Barbados Gregory Webster does his best to try and sing so wildly that needle shifts out of the groove at the end...nearly mate, nearly !!

A brilliant ep from Bouquet follows - "The Pink Blossom in Outer Space Ep", a brilliant 4 tracker, today it's the Waaaaaaaaah! fanzine release, and yes I'm mad enough to have the "official" release as well - which means it will appear again here at some point ( ie I will have the pleasure of choosing another of the tracks ),

A sort of "mini supergroup " in the guise of Care , ie Ian Broudie & Paul Simpson - elements of their various other bands & collaboarations - Wild Swans/Lightning Seeds/Teardrop Explodes/ etc.

The Personnel were a Sydney band, the track today "working Day Song" is in fact the b-side of 'Never Be Your Man". I believe I did also warn you back on #95 that we had more Mayfields coming - well here's the 2nd installment of that promise ( following their appearance on #98) , "A World of Your Own" I guess for want of a better term the a-side here, but both sides equally great.

Not much else to report, other than  another "Julie" track at number 9 - another weird co-incidence....but still it's not "Operation Julie" again ( and I repeat, thank goodness...) and also another b-side from The Parachute Men ( other side to Leeds Station ), on ye olde Fire Records ( and yes Firestation Towers...)

Oh..yeah I've provided the PDF tracklist again, updating it to include all pods up to #99.

See you soon for the "century"...enjoy :)

Podcast 99 link for mp3

Sideroom 7 Inch Singles Podcast #99

1. Sleepyhead - Ever ( Playroom Discs Flexi 1988 )

2. Destroy The Heart - The House Of Love ( Creation 1988 )

3. Barbados - Models ( Mushroom Aust 1985 )

4. Big Pink Cake - Razorcuts ( Subway 1986 )

5. Dream All The Way - Bouquet ( Bring On Bull 1993 )

6. Flaming Sword - Care ( Arista 1983 )

7. Working Day Song - The Personnel ( Method Recs Aust 1980 )

8. Call My Name - The Mayfields ( Ambition 1989 )

9. Julie Christie - The Driscolls ( Restless Records 1988 )

10. Maybe If I'd Said - The Parachute Men ( Fire Records 1989 )

( duration 32.15,  lame/320 mp3 )

Tracklist as PDF,  all podcasts #1- ( current ) #99

#98 ... it's alright now...

Absolute clear as day memory as though it's happening now...1990, being in The Chinese Laundry at 5am one morning listening to ( and watching ) Sugar Ray play "It's Alright" by The Beloved as the last song in his set and giving him a smile and a nod of appreciation, him giving me a knowing wink back...

It's back to the 7's again today, also providing a PDF of tracklists of this blog, up to date with this one, designed to download and view as a pdf on your pod/pad/mobile/listening device...will update list with new pdf each post from now on. A big thanks to "Andrew of Hunter's Hill" who entered most of the data in a spreadsheet for me one weekend, making this new pdf possible.

Tracks are mostly kinda self explanatory, 'cept The Reels is actually a b-side, we had the a-side Prefab Hearts back on #79, "Spot The Ridge" being the b-side of the UK release of this song ( different b-side in Australia ).

The Strawberry Story Story is the "AA" side to "All For You", also it's kinda raw ( almost a demo ) compared to their later stuff. Thinking Of Julie no relation to "Operation Julie" by Drug Squad ( thank goodness )

Enjoy :)

Podcast 98 link for mp3

Tracklist as PDF,  all podcasts #1- ( current ) #99

Sideroom 7 Inch Singles Podcast #98
1. Sister Europe - The Psychedelic Furs ( CBS UK 1980 )

2. My Biggest Thrill - The Mighty Lemon Drops ( Blue Guitar/Chrysalis UK 1986 )
3. Deeper Than The Ocean - The Mayfields ( Bus Stop Label 1989 )
4. Euthenics - Modern Eon ( DinDisc 1981 )
5. World At My Shoes - The Great Outdoors ( Uptight Records 1985 )
6. The Murderess - Huxton Creepers ( Big Time Aust 1985 )
7. Spot The Ridge - The Reels ( Back Door UK 1979 )
8. It's Alright Now - The Beloved ( EW 1990 )
9. Thinking Of Julie - Strawberry Story ( Daisy Chain Recs 1988 )
10. This Is Real - Sunnyboys ( Mushroom Aust 1982 )

( duration 33.36, vbr lame mp3 )

#97, more Rescued 12's

See #83 for an explanation of the "Rescued 12's", a sub-series going on here that I get lots of emails about continuing.

The 7's are nowhere near finished by the way, more to come, but for right now enjoy this little diversion ( same concept as the 7's, just a different pile that's all !! )

UPDATE : The Wise Acres have apparentely reformed ( wow, excellent ) - see Comments :)

Podcast 97 link for mp3

Sideroom 7 Inch Singles Podcast #97
1. Affectionate Friend - The Wise Acres ( CHerry Red 1987 )

2. You Don't Miss Your Water ( Till Your Water Runs Dry ) - The Triffids ( Hot UK 1985 )
3. 100 Different Words - The Enormous Room ( Sharp Records 1986 )
4. Don't Leave Me - Rumblefish ( Summerhouse 1988 )
5. Growing Up Absurd - The Brilliant Corners ( ss20 1985 )
6. A Gentle Sound - The Railway Children ( Factory 1986 )
7. Hammer In The Nails - The Skolars ( Waterfront Aust 1986 )
8. Baby Blue Marine - The Groove Farm ( Subway 1988 )
9. What's The Morning For ? - The Apartments ( Rough Trade 1986 )
10. Cactus Cat - Look Blue Go Purple ( Flying Nun 1987 )

( duration 32.03, vbr lame mp3 )

#96

No, not the old Aussie soap !!

But just 4 away from the century ( got something planned for that by the way ).

Firstly it's the Batwing Chaps from Hanley, Stoke On Trent, another sticker laden recommendation from Simon Hummingbird at Phantom Records Store back in the day, extolling it's virtues as "GREAT melodic jangly power pop". To be quite honest back in the aforementioned "day" I wasn't that into this single ( but still bought it ) - I was more into it today, listening to it properly for maybe the first time.

update Nov 2014 - the labels on this single are on the wrong side(s) of the record....so I originally though the song was called "I Won't Change" but it's in fact called "Crave"

One Thousand Violins I trust need no explanation - unlike Pop Mechanix, "they" on this occasion being the NZ band - later called NZ Pop in Australia ( to avoid confusion with the Sydney band of Popular Mechanics ) , this version of The Ritz being the first incarnation of the song, produced by early Enz man Mike Chunn.

After that it's a b-side to The Hoverchairs "Hide & Seek" single, the band as far as I remember being a bunch of Scunny lads ( er that's from Scunthorpe ).

Then N.O. from the Aussie 7 of Bizzare Love Triangle which was kind of a Double-A featuring 'State of The Nation" on the other side ( yeah I had to buy the UK version as well for "Bizzare Dub Triangle" ).

This is followed by a couple of Aussie things in the form of Mssrs Cummings & Armiger collaborating on a cover of the O'Jays classic and some Dugites from their 2nd album "West Of The World".

Then another flexi, a hell of song and all - one of the 3 awesome recorded songs by Edinburgh's Holidaymakers - who featured here way way way back on # 2 with the great "Cincinnati" - ( the usual technical issues with flexis herein occurring ). The flexi came with Woosh fanzine #1 and the actual zine itself is a beauty - check out the roll call of bands on the cover - juicy.

After that it's old fave Bart ( Cummings ) - in his off the race track guise - with his "Friends" in the shape of Girl Of The World from their "Travel Ep". Rounding off today's adventure with old mate Roddy.

Enjoy :)

Podcast 96 link for mp3

Sideroom 7 Inch Singles Podcast #96
1. Crave - Batwing Chaps ( Full Moon Recs 1984 )

2. If I Were A Bullet ( Then For Sure I'd Find A Way To Your Heart ) - One Thousand Violins ( Report Records 1987 )
3. The Ritz - Pop Mechanix ( Go For It/RCA NZ 1980 )
4. Two Pints & It Rains - The Hoverchairs ( Tempest Records 1989 )
5. Bizzare Love Triangle - New Order ( Factory Australasia 1986 )
6. Backstabbers - Stephen Cummings ( Regular Aust 1983 )
7. Waiting - The Dugites ( Deluxe Aust 1981 )
8. Everyday - The Holidaymakers ( Woosh 1988 )
9. Why Don't We ? - Girl Of The World ( Parasol 1992 )
10. All I Need Is Everything - Aztec Camera ( WEA 1984 )
( duration 35.27, vbr lame mp3 )

#95

A few more flexis showing up at the moment, with that undeniably "special" flexi quality...starting with a song from a Sha La La double featuring Remember Fun and Emily and then a Mayfields/Badgemen double ( btw I see some more Mayfields coming soon as well ).

After that some Aussie bubblegum escapades from The Flying Circus, and some mad hospital tales from Animals That Swim ( which I can totally relate to, especially the bit about blood on the sheets from the drip ! ).  The Positive Noise track is a b-side ( the a side is Charm ). More Oz from Paul Kelly and later the very short lived Sydney band The Kelpies ( on Phantom ). The Monkey Run were Mancurians, the Intense label I suspect was their own ( but don't quote me on that ), this single being the first release on the label ( of at least 4 ).

The others I believe need no introduction, so enjoy :)

Podcast 95 link for mp3

Sideroom 7 Inch Singles Podcast #95
1. Hey Hey Hate - Remember Fun ( Sha La La 1987 )

2. All You Ever Say - The Mayfields ( Compact & Bijou 1988 )
3. Hayride - The Flying Circus ( Columbia 1969 )
4. Pink Carnations - Animals That Swim ( Elemental 1995 )
5. ...And Yet Again - Positive Noise ( Statik 1981 )
6. Before Too Long - Paul Kelly & The Messengers ( A&M 1987 )
7. I Want The Blood Of A Civil Servant - The Monkey Run ( Intense 1986 )
8. Blood From A Stone - The Heart Throbs ( Profumo 1989 )
9. Felicity - Orange Juice ( Postcard/Polydor 1982 )
10. Take Me Away - The Kelpies ( Phantom Aust 1982 )
( duration 28.20, vbr lame mp3 )

Flipsideroom re-upped

I have re-upped the "flipsides" of #1-17

here at The Flipside Room

back when I was doing it I only got up to 17, but will gradually take on the task of catching up with the other flipsides...which may take some time, but plenty to make your way through in the meantime with #1-17 ( obviously the numbers correspond with the numbers on this blog if that wasn't obvious )

cheers :)

#94 - catch up pt 3 ( more Boys and Girls )

The 3rd and last installment in our catch up series for today and as I mentioned in the last one, "Boys and Girls" is a recurring theme for some reason - from many different angles - though 2nd singles all round in this category from The Cure, Simple Minds and The Sports ( not to much to comment on there other than the Simple Minds track doesn't really stand the test of time versus their later work ).

And further to my earlier explanation of the word "Sheila" in the Australian lexicon, one other thing that comes to mind as needing possible explanation is the "Russell Street" mentioned in The Sports song refers to "police headquarters" ( in Melbourne at least ). Painters & Dockers "...you're going home in the back of a divvy van" another song which springs to mind bound to cause similar confusion outside these shores !

Off on a ( Human League ) tangent - here's some interesting reading on the production of "Don't You Want Me Baby", which outlines later runctions between the band and the late/great Martin Rushent - which I guess partially explains the "Chris Thomas remix" factor to Keep Feeling Fascination.

For now, scroll down for the other 2 parts and enjoy :)

Podcast 94 link for mp3

Sideroom 7 Inch Singles Podcast #94
1. Boys Don't Cry - The Cure ( Stunn/7 Recs Aust 1979 )
2. Boys ! ( What Did The Detective Say ? ) - The Sports ( Mushroom Aust 1978 )
3. The Ancient Rebels - Alternative TV ( IRS 1981 )
4. ( Keep Feeling ) Fascination - Human League ( Virgin 1983 )
5. Room Full Of Diamonds - The Radiators ( 7 Recs Aust 1981 )
6. Senses Working Overtime - XTC ( Virgin 1982 )
7. Break Down & Cry - The Flaming Hands ( Big Time Aust 1984 )
8. Chelsea Girl - Simple Minds ( Zoom 1979 )
9. Marching Feet - MEO 245 ( Mushroom Aust 1981 )
10. Summer - The Motivaters ( Result Recs Aust 1980 )
( duration 34.05, vbr lame mp3 )