Monday, November 24, 2008

Music From A Different Kitchen...Show # 224


In October of 2008, Buzzcocks re-issued their first three albums (Another Music in A Different Kitchen, Love Bites, and A Different Kind of Tension) in special edition format. All of the Special Editions feature two discs containing the original album. non album singles/B-sides, demos, live recordings and outtakes. In celebration of these releases Buzzcocks will play Another Music and Love Bites back to back on a small UK tour. This week on my show I played a block of songs featured on the Another Music in A Different Kitchen Special Edition. Next week I will feature a block from the Love Bites Special Edition and the following week a block from A Different Kind of Tension.

Another Music in A Different Kitchen was first released in 1978. The album featured the first recordings of Buzzcocks second line up (their original line up featured Howard Devoto on vocals). The result was an album that featured a catchy punk/pop style unlike any other. The albums title was inspired by the title of artwork done by Linder Sterling called Housewives Choosing Their Own Juices in A Different Kitchen. Apparently the band was going to also use artwork by Sterling for the cover which was of a salad bowl with eyes inside, but decided against this. Prior to the albums release the band released two singles "Orgasm Addict" (which failed to chart due to its subject matter) and "What Do I Get?" (which went to # 37 on the UK singles charts). The only single released from the album was "I Don't Mind", which went to # 55 on the UK singles charts.

The Special Edition features demos of almost every song on the album, some BBC Sessions and a never before released live concert. There are 14 demos in total, they are a mix of songs that would appear on the Another Music album, non album tracks and one song not used at all, "Boredom" with Pete Shelley on vocals; Previously the song "Boredom" was recorded for the bands Spiral Scratch EP with Howard Devoto on vocals. Some of the demos are quite different from the finished versions. The BBC Session tracks are "Fast Cars", "(Moving Away From) The Pulsebeat", and "What Do I Get?". The tracks were originally recorded for a John Peel Session in 1977. Finally the live concert featured on the album is one from 1977. A full band history of the band can be found here. The Another Music in A Different Kitchen can be purchased on the Amazon UK website or the Amazon.com website. Next week my show will have a feature on the second Buzzcocks Special Edition release Love Bites.

Play List:

1. Elvis Costello & The Imposters - Stella Hurt
2. Cause Co-Motion! - Baby Don't Do It
3. Ex-Po - Tasty Bites
4. Young Knives - Stand and Deliver (XFM Session)
5. Pigeon Detectives - Take Her Back
6. The Craft Economy - Menergy
7. Relief Maps - Hair Play
8. XX Teens - My Favourite Hat
9. David Byrne & Brian Eno - Strange Overtones
10. Talking Heads - Pull Up the Roots
11. David Bowie - D.J.
12. Roxy Music - Serenede
13. Luger Boa - Mutate or Die!
14. The Visitors - Sad TV
15. The Government - Acute Angle
16. XTC - Respectable Street
17. Modelos - Tidal Wave
18. Subhumans - Pissed Off For A Good Reason
19. Pointed Sticks - The Real Thing (Demo)
20. The Cure - Freakshow
21. Buzzcocks - I Don't Mind (Demo)
22. Buzzcocks - Whatever Happened To? (Demo)
23. Buzzcocks - Sixteen
24. Buzzcocks - Fast Cars (BBC Session Version)

To download this week's show visit the CJAM archives and select the files 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM on November 25th, 2008.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Three Minute Heroes...The Selecter Story and Show # 223


The Selector's first single was an instrumental B-Side released with a song from the 2 Tone Ska revival band, The Specials. The song "Selecter" was featured on Gangsters Vs. The Selector single in 1979. It was also the first 2 Tone records single to be released. Coming from Coventry, England The Selector formed originally with Neol Davies (guitar) and John Bradbury (drums); Bradbury would leave and become the drummer for The Specials. The band stood out from the rest of the Ska revival bands due to their female lead singer Pauline Black, the band also had numerous other members. Compton Amanor would provide additional guitar, Arthur Hendrickson (additional vocals), Charley Anderson (bass),Charley Bembridge (drums), and Desmond Brown on keyboards.

Too Much Pressure, the bands first album was released in 1980 on 2 Tone and Chrysalis Records. The bands next four singles were the songs "Three Minute Hero", "The Whisper", "Missing Words", and "On My Radio". Some of these songs were featured on Too Much Pressure. The album also featured several cover songs "Everyday" (Buddy Holly), Owan Gray, Justin Hinds, and a cover of the James Bond theme song. It went to #4 on the UK album charts when it was originally released in February of 1980. Celebrate The Bullet was The Selecter's second full length album. The band would not be on the 2 Tone label, they left releasing it only on Chrysalis Records. "The Whisper" was the last single to feature drummer Charley Anderson and Desmond Brown, they would leave after this single and were replaced by Adam Williams (bass), and James Mackie (keyboards). The album went to # 41 on the UK album charts. The band would break up in 1982.

Although The Selector did not chart in the US, they were an interesting Ska revival band. Pauline Black went on to pursue a career in acting. They would reform in 1991 and record several more albums with a slightly different line up. The Selecter toured and recorded up to 2006. Neol Davies also recorded two solo albums Box of Blues (1998) and Future Swamp in 2003.


Play List:

1. Brian Wilson - Heroes and Villains
2. Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet - Shadowy Countdown
3. Models - Freeze
4. The Damned - Neat, Neat, Neat
5. Brian James - Why Why Why
6. Captain Sensible - (What'd Ya Give) The Man Whos Gotten Everything?
7. The Crabs - Lullabies Lie (Live At The Roxy)
8. The Flesh Columns - Time's Up
9. The Spys - Underground
10. The Red Squares - Ottawa Today
11. New York Dolls - Pills
12. The Lurkers - Ain't Got A Clue
13. The Adverts - Gary Gilmore's Eyes
14. The Specials - Too Much Too Young
15. The Selecter - James Bond
16. Madness - One Step Beyond
17. A Block of Yellow - Are You Sure?
18. Hot Nasties - I Am A Confused Teenager
19. Rock and Roll Bitches - Broad Daylight
20. Bureaucrats - The Game
21. The Scabs - Amory Building
22. Richard Hell & The Voidoids - Down At The Rock and Roll Club
23. Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers - Get Off The Phone
24. The Saints - Champagne Misery

To download this week's show visit the CJAM archives and select the files 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM on November 18th, 2008.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere...The Story of The Who and Show # 222


In the early 1960s, a traditional Jazz band was formed. They were known as The Confederates and featured Pete Townshend on banjo and John Entwistle on the French horn. After meeting Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle agreed to join his band The Detours, he brought along Pete Townshend as an additional guitar player. The Detours were an American influenced R&B group, they also played a bit of country. Roger Daltrey was on lead guitar, Pete on rhythm, John on bass, Colin Dawson on vocals, and Doug Sandom on drums. Dawson would leave the group resulting in Daltrey taking over the vocal duties, Pete moved to lead guitar. For a short period of time the band went by the name, The High Numbers and even recorded a single titled "Zoot Suit/I'm the Face", it did not chart. The music reflected the ongoing mod scene in Britain.

The band changed their name to The Who in 1964, after getting a new drummer. Keith Moon was an energetic, chaotic drummer. He had a unique style, as did other members of The Who. On stage Pete Townshend would jump around, often smashing his guitars, doing windmills on his guitar (an idea he got from Keith Richards), as Keith Moon would explode on the drums behind the band, Roger Daltrey would twirl around his microphone, and John Entwistle would stand still barely moving at all, holding down the foundation of the band. The Who's style would combine elements of R&B, Soul music, Jazz, and would also combine elements of Pop Art. The bands first single was "I Can't Explain". It was released in 1965 and produced by American producer Shel Talmy, known for his work with The Kinks. Being a big fan of The Kinks himself, Townshend has said that "I Can't Explain" was influenced largely by the early Kinks sound. The song went to number ten on the UK singles chart, and got its first play on a US radio station in Flint, Michigan on WTAC AM 600. The song has since then been a staple of the bands live set, usually being the opener to their set. The bands next single was "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" a song that features guitar distortion and is the only song written by both Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend. In 1965 The Who also released their first album titled My Generation; it was called The Who Sings My Generation in the US.

The Who's first album featured a lot of cover songs, but it also featured some original compositions such as "My Generation" which was a song that is said to have many different origins such as being written on a train after an encounter with the Queen Mother in England. She was apparently offended by Townshend’s Packard Hearse which was parked on the street (used to transport equipment) and had it towed. It is also said to have been inspired by the Mose Allison song "Young Man Blues". The best description of the song can be best described by a quote from Townshend in Rolling Stone magazine which stated that, "'My Generation' was very much about trying to find a place in society." "Out in the Street", "The Good's Gone", "The Kid's Are Alright" and "Legal Matter" are other good tracks on the album. The US version of the album had a different track listing, it included the song "Circles". The first album went to number five on the UK album charts. The song "Substitute" was released as a single in March of 1966, it was a song about being labelled a fraud. "I'm A Boy" came next, the song can be seen as one of the first conceptual songs that Townshend wrote. Lyrically the song was about a boy born in the distant future that was supposed to be a girl, so he is dressed as a girl because that is what the mother wants. "Happy Jack" was next, it was a different style compared to early Who songs, it was more campy and lyrically was about a mentally confused young man.


The album A Quick One was released in 1966. The album was a departure from The Who's early Mod/R&B sound. It featured songs written by each band member. Daltrey wrote the song "See My Way", Keith Moon composed "I Need You" and the instrumental fireball track titled "Cobwebs and Strange", John Entwistle wrote "Whiskey Man" and "Boris the Spider", the rest of the albums tracks were written by Townshend. His songs included "Run, Run, Run", "Don't Look Away", "So Sad About Us", and "A Quick One While He's Away". This track was a mini-rock opera song. It was nine minutes long and was basically four or five short songs weaved into one, telling a story of infidelity. In the USA the album was named Happy Jack and featured the song as well, because it was a top forty hit; In the UK the song was a single only. Like the bands previous album, A Quick One charted in the UK (#4) and not in the US. The album was produced by Kit Lambert. He would encourage Pete Townshend to write more mature songs, he also had a background in classical music. Lambert would be the bands manager and producer until 1971. Chris Stamp was also a co-manager and producer for the group.

In 1967, The Who Sell Out was released. This album had a concept, all of the songs were interspliced with fake old fashioned radio jingles, also some of the songs were about products that you buy such as deodorant, or baked beans. The albums cover featured Pete Townshend with an over sized deodorant bottle and Roger Datlrey in a tub with an over sized can of Heinz baked beans. The back cover featured Keith Moon with an over sized zit and ointment cream, and John Entwistle in a Tarzan outfit. The album contained songs such as "Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand", "Odorono" (a song about deodorant), and "I Can See For Miles". "I Can See For Miles" was a song that Townshend was saving and when the band recorded it, he hoped it would go to number one everywhere. It went to #10 in the UK, and #9 in the US. The song itself was a unique composition. It featured the energetic drumming of Keith Moon, twisty guitar lines played by Townshend, and layered vocal melodies. When the single failed to reach number one, Townshend was disappointed about the record buying public and focused on writing a different type of album. The result would be Tommy.



In 1969, Tommy was released. It would be known as a rock opera. The album told the story of a deaf, dumb, and blind boy. The album was unlike any other upon its initial release. It also featured some of the best songs The Who has ever recorded. "Pinball Wizard" was the first single from the album. The song featured flamenco style guitar techniques and a bassline that sounds like a pinball machine. Other interesting tracks from Tommy include, "Sparks", "Go To the Mirror!", "Tommy Can You Hear Me?", "The Acid Queen", "I'm Free", and "See Me Feel Me". When performing live the who played the album almost in its entirety, omitting a few tracks. The story of Tommy was inspired and written by Townshend after the teachings of Meher Baba. The album would go on to be a giant commercial success for the band going to number four on the US Billboard album charts and number two in the UK. In the same year as Tommy's release, The Who also played at Woodstock. In 1970, The Who released the live album, Live at Leeds. The album has been named by many as one of the best live rock albums of all time. It is a loud energetic and frantically paced album capturing not only the true spirit of rock and roll music, but of The Who as well. Initially the album featured only seven songs, but since then has been re-issued with several bonus tracks.

For the bands next album, Pete Townshend intended to record another rock opera, a science fiction story known as The Lifehouse Project. The Who began working on material for a new album based on this concept, but stopped before completing it in favour of a more traditional rock album. The result was Who's Next in 1971. While the album had numerous elements based on The Lifehouse Project, the ideas were worked on further and used on other Who albums/songs, (Odds & Sods, Who Are You, Who By Numbers, and solo Townshend material) it wasn't released in any complete form until Townshend adapted it for BBC radio in 2000. Who's Next was produced by Glyn Johns was an even bigger success for the band. It went to number four in the US and number one in the UK. The album would feature songs that the band is consistently known for such as "Baba O'Riley", "Bargain", "Behind Blue Eyes" and "Won't Get Fooled Again". The album expanded the bands sound utilizing synthesizers (on "Baba" and "Won't Get Fooled"), it also featured more unique song writing. "Behind Blue Eyes" was a song that builds staring off with an acoustic intro, before becoming a full out rock song; a brilliant ballad. The album also featured interesting songs such as "My Wife" written and sung by bassist John Entwistle, "Going Mobile", and "Love Ain't For Keeping".



Tommy (1969) & Quadrophenia (1973)

In 1973, The Who released another rock opera titled Quadrophenia. This time the albums story focused on the Mod movement in the sixties in England. It was a semi-autobiographical story that revealed the battle between two group’s rockers and mods. The album would feature what some call The Who at their best. The album featured some of the best bass playing by Entwistle, drumming by Moon, guitar and song structures by Townshend, and we can't forget the singing of Roger Daltrey. The album features songs such as "The Real Me", "The Punk and The Godfather", "5:15", and "Love Reign O'er Me". The album went to number two in the US and in the UK. If you liked Tommy, you will love Quadrophenia.

1975 saw the release of Who By Numbers. This album was different than other Who albums. Lyrically it was darker in subject matter and musically it was a back to rock basics type album. There are exceptions to the dark subject matter in songs such as the acoustic-pop "Squeeze Box". Other interesting tracks include "Slip Kids", "However Much I Booze", "Success Story"(written by Entwistle), and "Blue, Red and Grey". Another interesting fact about the album is that its cover, which features a cartoon version of The Who was drawn by John Entwistle.


In 1978, Who Are You was released. The album showed the band going back to a more conventional sound. It did very well in the album charts and featured songs such as "Who Are You" and "Sister Disco". The musical style of the album was written in an attempt to bring together Progressive Rock and Punk Rock fans. The album was the last to feature drummer Keith Moon. He would pass away in his sleep due to an overdose of Heminevrin on September 7, 1978. Kenny Jones of The Faces would step in to fill Moon's shoes. In 1979, the Who documentary The Kids Are Alright was released along with the movie version of Quadtrophenia (Tommy was made into a movie starring Roger Daltrey in 1975). The Who continued on touring and recorded two albums with Kenny Jones on drums, Face Dances in 1981 and It's Hard in 1982. The albums produced the hit songs "You Better You Bet", and "Eminence Front". In 1982, the band did a farewell tour.

The Who reformed for several occasions, but in 1999 and early 2000's they began touring more regularly. They were well received and they discussed recording a new album (they would get drummer and Ringo Starr's son Zach Starky to play drums). On June 27th, 2002 John Entwistle died in his Las Vegas hotel room of heart failure. The band was in the middle of a tour, but continued on in tribute having bassist Pino Palladino fill in as replacement. In 2004, Endless Wire was released, The Who's first album since 1982's It's Hard. Townshend once again tackled the rock opera successfully. In 2007, Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who got released. The DVD was an extensive documentary on the band. Numerous Live Who DVDs have since been released. The band continues to tour intermittently.

The Who were a band that came out at the time of the British Invasion in the mid sixties. They stood out from all the rest, due to a number of factors. The song writing of Pete Townshend and the chemistry of each member in the band created a unique and vicious combination. They had the power to put all the frustrations and anger of youth into the form of song. There is just something about The Who when you see them or hear them, it makes you want to jump around and play guitar. They truly are one of the loudest and most energetic bands ever.



The Play List:

1. Generation X - Your Generation
2. Sex Pistols - Substitue
3. John Entwisle - Cinnamon Girl
4. The Cryptics - You're Evil
5. Teenage Head - Little Boxes
6. Modernettes - Won't Have to Worry
7. Ride Theory - On Fire
8. (International) Noise Conspiracy - Arm Yourself
9. Greenhornes - Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand
10. The Jam - So Sad About Us
11. The Waking Eyes - Get Me To The Doctor
12. Gruesomes - You Gotta Believe Me
13. The Surfdusters - The Reef
14. The Who - Barbara Ann
15. The Who - Doctor, Doctor
16. The Who - The Punk and The Godfather (Live Maryland 1973)
17. The Clash - I'm So Bored With USA (Live in New York 1979)
18. Flaming Lips - Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere
19. Ramones - Substitute
20. Pearl Jam - The Real Me (Live VH1 Rock Honors)
21. The Hives - Outsmarted
22. The Kinks - Rats
23. The Kingsmen - Mashed Potatoes
24. The D4 - Mysterex

To download this week's show visit the CJAM archives and select the files 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM on November 11th, 2008.

Who Videos:

My Generation (Intro to The Kids Are Alright Documentary)
Daddy Rolling Stone (Shindig! 1965)
I Can't Explain (Promo Video)
Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere (Live 1965)
Happy Jack (Promo Video)
Pictures of Lilly
A Quick One While He's Away (Live Rock n' Roll Circus)
So Sad About Us (Live 1967)
Heat Wave (1967)
The Seeker
Pinball Wizard (Live Isle of Wight 1970)
Tommy Can You Hear Me?/Smash The Mirror (Promo)
Baba O'Riley (Live 1977)
Won't Get Fooled Again (TOTP 1971)
Call Me Lightning (Promo)
Join Together (Live OGWT)

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Family Entertainment...Undertones An Anthology and Show # 221


In September of 2008, The Undertones released an anthology. Titled Undertones: An Anthology, the set stands out from all other Undertones "best of" compilations for one reason, the second CD that is included in this set. It compiles 27 previously unreleased demos, rare unheard recordings, and live tracks. Disc one compiles a 29 song set of songs from the bands career. This includes a large majority of songs from the bands first two albums (Undertones (1979), and Hypnotized (1980)). It also includes a few selections from the bands later albums, which veered from their original sound. While people can make complaints about some songs missing from the first disc (there aren't any I can complain about), really is there any point you are getting 29 songs? If there are some songs missing that you enjoy, go out and purchase the original albums; You won't be disappointed.

Disc two is for the Undertones fanatics, 27 previously unreleased songs. It really is interesting to hear alternate takes and early demos of your favourite Undertones songs. Some of my favourites demos are "My Perfect Cousin", "I Don't Wanna See You Again", and "Do the Fast"(from their original demo tape), "Teenage Kicks", "Emergency Cases", "The Love Parade". The version of "Love Parade" and a few other demos that were featured on the bands album The Sin of Pride, have the advantage of good production, there are no 80's effects here. Disco two also features live recordings from The Lyceum in 1978, and two live recordings form the bands 1981 tour. If that isn't enough for your there is also the song "Party, Party", which was a song written for a soundtrack, but was not used. In the booklet guitarist Damien O'Neil describes the song as The Undertones trying to do a Motown song.


After you sift through all of the recordings, there is also the linear notes. Written by guitarist Damien O'Neil, he goes into details of the bands career, from signing their recording contract with Sire Records, to their last official gig with singer Feargal Sharkey in 1983. The Undertones: An Anthology, is a very interesting set of songs, you get a collection of greatest hits and a collection of demos, outtakes, and rare recordings. If you do not live anywhere in the UK, the album will most likely have to be ordered on import. It can be found on Amazon.com, and Amazon UK. A complete history of the band that I wrote can be found in my True Confessions post.

Other interesting upcoming releases that will not only be featured on this blog, but also my radio show will be the deluxe editions of the first three Buzzcocks albums; They were released in the UK at the end of October 2008. Check this site for more info on that and you can listen to my show on CJAM 91.5 FM in the Windsor/Detroit area from 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM, or elsewhere online from cjam.ca.

Play List:

1. Dead 60s - A Different Age
2. The Cigarettes - Can't Sleep At Night
3. Rezillos - Glad All Over
4. Lost Patrol - That's Your Style
5. Dry Heaves - Portable
6. The Spys - Welcome To the Crule World
7. Lowlife - Think Naturally
8. Cheetahs - The Only One
9. Stop Starts - Metronome
10. The Talks - Boys Toys
11. Joey Ramone - Don't Worry About Me
12. The Philbys - Freefalling
13. The Government - Sponge (Live)
14. Diodes - Plastic Girls
15. Dylan James - Talking To Yourself
16. X - The New World
17. The Evaporators - Desolation Sound
18. Golden Hands Before God - The Ladder
19. The Clash - Spanish Bombs (Live At Shea Stadium)
20. Dead Boys - Sonic Reducer
21. Television - Double Exposure (1974 Demo)
22. Undertones - Tearproof
23. Undertones - My Perfect Cousin (79 Demo)
24. Undertones - Do The Fast (78 Demo)
25. Undertones - Girls Don't Like It (78 Demo)
26. Undertones - The Love Parade (82 Demo)
27. Buzzcocks - Harmony In My Head

To download this week's show visit the CJAM archives and select the files 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM on November 4th, 2008.