What are you listening to now? Page 1,333

A selection of the best Sedaka tracks. I will do the defence of knee jerk critics now, Yes, Neil is the campest heterosexual who ever walked the planet, So what? He turned 80 in March. He was my first live "rock" gig actually as I was taken to the Fairfield Hall, Croydon at 12 by family to see him. We were behind the stage so as to be almost on the stage where to be fair I had been a year before (but that's another story). And after that, so sorry but I have masses of Sedaka story stuff.

How he was trained at Julliard as a classical pianist. How he was there or thereabouts with Carole King early on. How he disappeared for well over 12 years for being unfashionable and ended up playing UK holiday camps as a virtual penniless unknown. There's a good story in that one. I could almost see a film because he is so west end, almost Liberace glam, in demeanour and yet he was doing Pontins. Then you get the fact that once really back in the fold, he was supported by none other than the 10CC at Strawberry Studios. They were constantly looking to the future and this was a figure of the 1950s so really you would have expected a big no from Godley and Crème etc. But they saw the worth in him, risked him in Stockport and Surrey, and even Elton John got on board. To be frank, anyone with sense and a lack of musical or any presentational prejudice should know that Sedaka is one of the greats from several great eras. Mind you, selection is all.

Genius....like him hugely!

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do (Slow Version) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33NNuwqDDTI:)

That's When The Music Takes Me - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX1LtD6j3rg

Honestly, I could write that film. I know all of the obscurities between the early and late 1960s where he tried to copy all kinds of other folk and failed. Nothing came anywhere near to charting. Some of it was alright. Much wasn't. But anyhow he's going from working man's club in the north to working man's club in the north and he is totally lost as an American. Hasn't really got a clue what he is involved in although the reception is positive. And I guess you have to ask where and how it changed when it seemed like there was nowhere back, especially not to the biggest point in your career like a rising of the phoenix. Opinions will differ but I will always choose this as while not very well known you just know that he's found it again. There's an atmospherically certain way about it and I'm in no doubt that it influenced Joel and even Springsteen although in truth you can hear Webb's Macarthur Park in it. But hey why not let three greats segue so brilliantly/randomly:

Cardboard California - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJWktLzAXgM

And me absolute favourite cos I have to get out me tissues whatever it means and it has meant so many different things over the years. I think for all of its schmaltz it has a sophistication which works on several deepish levels - and that at the end of the day sums up Neil. He will outlive me but we shall not see their likes again, however conventionally unusual:

The Hungry Years - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xzsLpaVfXA

(I think it worked both ways actually - my assessment is that Bruce's "Sandy" had an influence on this - they got strong off each other unknowingly in their frankly different ways - you've got the fairground colour in each : one young; one old)

A 20-minute video from one of my favorite new albums:

I like the music but I wouldn't want to watch the video again.A bit too David Lynch for my taste.
Can you recommend any earlier stuff of theirs ?
There's a lot of it.

DaButt "A 20-minute video from one of my favorite new albums"

- reminded me Miles Davis - Bitches Brew

Quote: john tregorran @ 18th October 2019, 4:42 AM

I like the music but I wouldn't want to watch the video again.A bit too David Lynch for my taste.
Can you recommend any earlier stuff of theirs ?
There's a lot of it.

I'm sure DB will come up with great recs.

In the meantime, this place is a useful resource:

https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/oh-sees

Looking at the rating figures, Carrion Crawler / The Dream EP looks like a good bet.

https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/thee-oh-sees/carrion-crawler-the-dream-ep/

I saw this Dutch band yesterday do a support slot - lively bunch, lots of fun. Vid is just about watchable.

Personal Trainer - The Lazer

Thanks George :)

yw :)

1 for Saturday relaxation

Quote: rrr 969 @ 19th October 2019, 7:32 AM

1 for Saturday relaxation

Can't disagree. :)

Side One

Lobo - Me And You And A Dog Named Boo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTbBvPoxUkk

Dead Kennedys - Nazi Punks F**k Off

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTs_Q4hEqmA

Max Miller - Let's Have A Ride on Your Bicycle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMPyIsybk4U

Uncle John - The Dildo Song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4i62RnsIQHM

Taja Sevelle - Love Is Contagious

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ_3mWYu3eY

Side Two

Perry Como - It's Impossible

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKQ9--_ZgB4

Carl Malcolm - Fatty Bum Bum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMSWoIKUt98

Bruce Haack - Blow Job

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW1SOZQ_J8k

Lee Hazlewood - The Bed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPXc4ck2ugw

The Monks - I Ain't Gettin' Any

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Os0XUDiSQQ0

They were all on the one week of Top of the Pops introduced by Jimmy Saville,.I'm sure.

Just listened to Johnnie Walker's Sounds of the 70s and I've got about 80% of the records played. Now listening to Paul O'Grady who I genuinely like although most of Radio 2 is becoming tedious rubbish.

N.Cave