Some Kinda Kinks....Show # 250

The year of 1968, was a busy one for The Kinks. Still banned from the USA (since 1965), the band was involved in a number of projects at this time. It was around this time that The Kinks would be working on material for The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society. Originally Ray Davies intended the songs for his first solo album. He was also working on a stage play around this time that had a similar concept to Village Green. Since the material was so different, Ray did not know if it was appropriate for The Kinks. Despite his original thoughts, Ray and the group worked on the songs and it became the album known as The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society. The album employed a concept (it would be the first of many concept albums done by The Kinks). The concept was about English life and the innocence of past times. It was also said to have been influenced by Dylan Thomas's Under The Milk Wood. Ray Davies also intended Village Green to be the last Kinks album. The last single was supposed to be the song "Days". Fortunately this did not happen. The album did not sell well upon its initial release, but has since then gone on to be a cult classic. It is often referred to as "The Most Successful Flop of All Time".

It was also around this time that Dave Davies recorded material for his first solo album. Davies had previously released successful singles such as "Death of A Clown", and "Susannah's Still Alive" in 1967. The backing band on these recordings were The Kinks. Dave had been recording songs off an on for a possible solo album since 1967. After touring and the recording of Village Green, Dave recorded a set of songs for yet another proposed solo album that was to be released in 1969. "Hold My Hand" was released as a single that would launch the album in 1969, but it failed to chart. The album was never released. Songs existed on bootleg from the sessions, but were never released officially. When the band re-issued their catalog, most of the tracks appeared as bonus material on the remastered editions of the albums.

Dave Davies first solo album would be in 1980 (although he talked of releasing a solo album in 1970 and again in 1974), Ray's first solo album would be in 1990. In 2004, Sanctuary Records released a 3 CD, deluxe edition of Village Green. It featured several outtakes and songs recorded around the same time, but not used for the album. In 1998, Dave Davies released Unfinished Business, which is a 2 CD set collecting material done with The Kinks and from his solo career. For more information on The Kinks and their releases, visit Dave Emulen's Unofficial Kinks website Kinda Kinks.

This week on my show I featured seven Kinks songs from this time period. Four songs from The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society ("Wicked Annabella", "Do You Remember Walter?", "Village Green", and "The Last Of The Steam Powered Trains"). "Creeping Jean" (found on the deluxe edition of Village Green) and "Mindless Child of Motherhood" (found on the remastered edition of Arthur) were both tracks that were considered for Dave Davies 1969 solo album. The final Kinks track featured on today's program was "Misty Water". This song was recorded in 1968 for a proposed US release that was cancelled (It was going to be titled Four More Respected Gentlemen).

Play List:

1. The Kinks - The Last Of The Steam Powered Trains
2. The Kinks - Wicked Annabella
3. Dark Knight Of The Soul - Little Girl (Featuring Julian Casablancas)
4. The Sonics - Have Love Will Travel
5. The Amboy Dukes - Baby Please Don't Go
6. Great Scotts - Ball and Chain
7. The Jury - Who Dat?
8. The Secrets - Cryin' Over Her
9. Painted Ship - And She Said Yes
10. The Brogues - I Ain't No Miracle Worker
11. Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band - Diddy Wah Diddy
12. The Kinks - Creeping Jean
13. The Kinks - Mindless Child of Motherhood (Stereo Version)
14. The Gruesomes - The Deal
15. Terminal Sunglasses - Antenna Dilemma
16. Thrush Hermit - Hated It
17. Mood - Who Do You Love?
18. Velvet Underground - Venus In Furs
19. The Standells - Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White
20. The Kinks - Do You Remember Walter?
21. The Kinks - Village Green
22. The Kinks - Misty Water

To download this week's show visit the CJAM archives and select the files 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM on May, 26th 2009.

Kinks Videos:

The Last of the Steam Powered Trains & Picture Book (Julie Felix TV Show 1969)

Juxtaposition Jukeboxing

Today I did a fill in show for Juxtaposition Jukebox. The show is usually hosted by Kyle where he plays a wide variety of music genres. For more information on his show you can visit the Juxtaposition Jukebox Blog.

The picture shown above is a piece of art created by Johanne Itten. It can be found in his Elements of Color collection. It came up randomly during a google image search for "Juxtaposition". It kind of looks like a set of speakers.

Variety Play List:

1. Sam Cooke - Summertime
2. Otis Redding - Security
3. Sonny Boy Williamson - Fattening Frogs For Snakes
4. Big Youth - I Am Alright
6. Jimmy Cliff - You Can Get It If You Really Want
7. Los Straitjackets - Challenger 64
8. Phonocomb - At The Niteclub
9. Louis Armstrong - Song of the Vipers
10. Ben Pollack and His Park Central Orchestra - My Kinda Love
11. Diana Krall - Walk On By
12. Calidonia - Friday Night Rock Song
13. Field Assembly - Old Spell
14. Sunparlour Players - Nuclear
15. John Doe & The Sadies - Night Life
16. Gravity Wave - Nectar
17. Montag - Nord I
18. Fire Engines - Candyskin
19. The Diodes - Behind Those Eyes
20. Buzzcocks - Mad Mad Judy
21. The Victims - Television Addict
22. Jack O & The Tennessee Tearjerkers - Blood Bank Blues
23. Compulsive Gamblers - Two Thieves

To download Juxtaposition Jukebox visit the CJAM archives and select the files 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM on May, 25th 2009.

Don't Worry About Me...The Joey Ramone Story & Show # 249

Joey Ramone is best known for his role in the New York group Ramones. Being the lead singer of the group, Joey was also a song writer within the group. Born as Jeffery Hymann in Forest Hills, in Queens New York, Joey grew up on music such as The Beatles, The Who, The Stooges, bubble gum pop, surf music and Phil Spector produced groups. All of these influences would have a direct influence on his vocal style, but Joey started out playing drums. When his parents divorced, Joey became more focused on music and played drums with glam rock influenced rock and roll groups.

In 1974, Joey co-founded the Ramones with Douglas Colvin (Dee Dee Ramone) and John Cummings (Johnny Ramone). They adopted the stage surname Ramone (based on an early stage name used by Beatle Paul McCartney) and began playing as a group. Originally Joey was the bands drummer and Dee Dee was the vocalist. It wasn't until band manager Tommy Erdelyi suggested that Joey take the vocals (Dee Dee would shred his vocal chords after two or three songs) that they switched. Since the band had no drummer at the time, Tommy adopted the last name Ramone and became the groups drummer. Ramones were seen as the first punk rock group in America and influenced numerous US and UK music groups. While they have had cult status for a long time, the group never became a mainstream attraction. They did have some minor hits, but the band built up their following through their live shows. The band lasted for 22 years before calling it quits in 1996, after an appearance at Lollapalooza.


In 1994, Joey Ramone formed a group with his brother Mickey Leigh called Sibling Rivalry. They recorded an EP titled In A Family Way. Joey has collaborated with numerous artists. He produced a Ronnie Spector album titled She Talks To Rainbows in 1999. Joey put together a band featuring Daniel Rey (guitar), Andy Shernoff (bass) and Frank Frunaro (drums). Mickey would also help out on the recordings. Joey played a few live gigs before the album was actually completed. On April 15th, 2001 Joey Ramone passed away due to Lymphoma.

Don't Worry About Me featured 11 tracks. The album had two cover songs "What A Wonderful World" (Louis Armstrong), and "1969" (The Stooges). It also featured original compositions such as "Don't Worry About Me", "Stop Thinking About It", and "Mr. Punchy". The album was released in 2002. The album featured guest musicians such as Marky Ramone, Captain Sensible, Helen Love and Jerry Only. A five track, holiday EP was released in 2002 titled Christmas Spirit...In My House. Beginning on what was to be Joey's 50th birthday (May 19th), a birthday concert is held in his honour, titled The Joey Ramone Birthday Bash in New York City. The music that has been created by both Joey Ramone and the Ramones has been vastly influential on the world of music.

This Weeks Play List:

1. Joey Ramone - What A Wonderful World
2. Joey Ramone - Stop Thinking About It
3. The Hipshakes - Never Enough
4. The Animals - The Girl Can't Help It
5. Ride Theory - On Fire
6. Simply Saucer - I Can Change My Mind
7. Mark Inside - There Is Nothing To Admit
8. Dream Dates - Mess your In
9. Hot Nasties - (I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone
10. The Caesars - (I'm Gonna) Kick You Out
11. The Regulators - That's Right, Nothings Left
12. The Government - Paranoid Downtown Funk Pt.2
13. The Fall - Repetition
14. Only Ones - Programme
15. The Police - It's Alright For You
16. Franz Ferdinand - What She Came For
17. Arctic Monkeys - Plastic Tramp
18. Bush - My Engine Is With You
19. The Pixies - Alec Eiffel
20. Fiction Plane - Listen To My Babe
21. Dirty Pretty Things - Plastik Hearts
22. Babyshambles - Do You Know Me
23. Young Rival - Your Island
24. Carbon/Silicon - The Whole Truth

To download this week's show visit the CJAM archives and select the files 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM on May, 19th 2009.

Joey Ramone Videos:

What A Wonderful World (Music Video)

Teenage Superstars...The Story of The Vaselines and Show # 248

The Vaselines formed in 1986, in Glasgow, Scotland. The band started out as a two piece group featuring Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee on vocals and guitar. The band released their first EP, Son Of A Gun in 1987. This would be released through 53rd & 3rd Records, which was an independent record label set up by Stephen Pastel (of The Pastels). The EP would feature three songs including the song "Son Of A Gun" and "You Think You're A Man", which was a reworking of a song originally done by the band Divine. The EP went to number 26 on the UK Indie charts. The band's 1988 EP was titled, Dying For It. This EP featured songs such as "Molly's Lips" and "Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam", which showed off some Velvet Underground influence, the song featured viola. The song "Molly's Lips" has been said to be a tribute to the Scottish TV star/actress Molly Weir. This EP went to number 11 on the UK Indie charts.

The band would become more of a full band around this time adding Charley Kelly on drums and James Seenan on bass. The band would record only one full length album, Dum Dum. Released in 1989, the album was released on the 53rd & 3rd label, but the label would fall apart at this time. The album would eventually be released through Rough Trade, but the band had already split up by this point. In 1990, the band reformed briefly to open for the US band Nirvana when they played in Scotland in 1990. Nirvana were becoming a bigger more well known group at this time, and Kurt Cobain would cite The Vaselines as a major influence on the group. Nirvana would cover "Son Of A Gun" and "Molly's Lips" (featured on their album Incesticide) and "Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam" (renaming it "Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam" and recording it for their MTV Unplugged album). Nirvana's covers of The Vaselines helped them become more well known than they were at the time.

In 1992, Sub Pop released a Vaselines compilation titled The Way of the Vaselines: A Complete History. The compilation featured all of the Vaselines recordings and a previously unreleased song titled "Bitch". Eugene Kelly would go on to form the group Captain America (they renamed themselves Eugenius) in 1990. Kelly has also released some solo albums. Frances McKee formed the group Suckle in the late 90s. The Vaselines have reformed for a few live shows in 2006 and in 2008 played a series of live concerts. A live show was also played in London in the UK, on March 27th, 2009. In May of 2009, Enter The Vaselines was released on Sub Pop. This compilation features all of the bands recordings, plus a live concert and demo recordings.

Play List:

1. Nirvana - Son of A Gun
2. Nirvana - Molly's Lips
3. Vaselines - Son of A Gun
4. Vaselines - Teenage Superstars
5. Pluto - Expelled
6. The Thermals - You Dissolve
7. The Odds - Say You Mean It
8. Clues - Elope
9. Bureaucrats - Killing Ground
10. Guided By Voices - Everywhere With Helicopter
11. Dim Stars - Rip Off
12. Mudhoney - Touch Me I'm Sick
13. Foo Fighters - Wattershed
14. Red Squares - Transmitter
15. Pointed Sticks - Marching Song
16. Tim Ray & The Druts - Dying in Brooklyn
17. The Buckets Of - 9 of 10
18. The Sounds - Painted By Numbers
19. Blondie - I Didn't Have The Nerve To Say No
20. Okmoniks - Teenage Timebomb
21. Nickel Eye - Another Sunny Afternoon
22. John Doe - The Golden State
23. John Doe & The Sadies - Are The Good Times Really Over For Good?
24. X - Your Phones Off The Hook, But You're Not
25. The Nerves - Hanging On The Telephone
26. Elvis Costello - (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes

To download this week's show visit the CJAM archives and select the files 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM on May, 12th 2009.

Evening standards...The Story of The Jags....Show # 247

Forming in the Yorkshire, England in 1978, The Jags consisted of Nick Watkinson (vocals), Steve Prudence (bass), John Alder (guitar), and Alex Baird on drums. In 1979, the powerpop group signed to Island records. They released a four track EP in 1979. In September of 79, they released a single "Back Of My Hand". It hit top forty in the UK (#17, where it stayed for ten weeks), but after the release of this single they would not have another hit. The bands first full length album Evening Standards, was released in 1980. The single to support that album was the song "Woman's World". It went to #75 on the UK singles charts. The ten track album was overlooked by critics, they tended to focus on Watkinson's vocal style rather that the musical material. While, Watkinson did have a voice similar to Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe, the album had some good powerpop tracks on it.

Following the release of Evening Standards, The Jags released No Tie Like A Present in 1981. The album showed the band making a change in musical direction, but it was overlooked. The album contained a cover of a Tremolos song and the singles "I Never Was A Beachboy" and "The Sound Of G-O-O-D-B-Y-E". In 1982, The Jags broke up. "Back Of My Hand" was featured on numerous compilations in the 90's. The Jags wrote catchy songs and were a short lived powerpop band from the UK new wave era.

Play List:

1. Undertones - Here Comes The Summer
2. Ian Dury & The Blockheads - Blockheads
3. Rock and Roll Bitches - Broad Daylight
4. Young Canadians - Well, Well, Well
5. Subhumans - Urban Gorillas
6. Dishrags - I Don't Love You
7. Lowlife - Leaders
8. The Jags - Back of My Hand
9. Nervebreakers - My Girlfriend Is A Rock
10. The Passengers - Two Lovers
11. The Diodes - Polaroid
12. Wavves - Gun In The Sun
13. Plunt - Bowling
14. Teenage Head - Picture My Face
15. The Horrors - I Can't Control Myself
16. The Misfits - TV Casualty
17. Magazine - Shot By Both Sides
18. Buzzcocks - Lipstick
19. The Stimulators - Loud Fast Rules
20. The Spys - Last Generation
21. Ramones - Bumming Along
22. Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers - One Track Mind
23. Iggy Pop - I'm Bored
24. The Scabs - Don't Just Sit There
25. Nick Lowe - Shake That Rat
26. Generation X - Trying For Kicks
27. The Clash - Complete Control

To download this week's show visit the CJAM archives and select the files 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM on May, 5th 2009.

Jag Vids:

Back Of My Hand (TOTP)
Party Games (Music Video)
Tune In To Heaven (OGWT)
Evening Standards (OGWT)