HiFi Subjectivist ¦ Audio Forum ¦ NVA User Group

Love those choices, Arlo. I got the Beastie Boys first up, drifted away and then came back to them, big time. They are way underrated this side of the pond, imo. Sleafords are amazing live. Jason is such a lovely bloke but he is proper scary on stage.

My last 3 tracks tonight were...

Grateful Dead - New Speedway Boogie from Workingman's Dead

Rocky Raccoon - The Beatles (I find the White Album to be easily their most interesting)

The Clash - Last Gang In Town

There's an endearingly gentle fatalism that seems to tie the 3 tracks together. Another cognac seems inevitable...

The Crops hit the Stiffs
An' the Spikes whipped the Quiffs
They're all looking 'round
For the last gang in town

Indeed there is!

I still have not heard much from the Greatful Dead and white Album, I don't know as well as I should.
AS for the Clash, their 1st is my favourite, I really like that, so tuneful. followed by the 2nd. After that I lost them a bit and never really recovered.

I liked Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros' stuff, really different from the Clash, but very 'Strummer'. I think his version of 'Redemption Song' is better than Bob Marley's. Julien Temple's film documentary - The future is unwritten', Is excellent too.

3 Before bedtime tonight.

Played the Drums and the Concertina. Loved Art Blakey, Buddy Rich. Irish Trad and Folk music. Kissed the Blarney Stone. Enjoyed a pint and a cigarette and loved the Craic.

3 for my Da’

1 - The Fields of Athenry – It has become Ireland’s other National Anthem. There is a million versions of this modern classic, I think I have heard all of them! including the Kop’s version. I like the Drop kick Murphy’s the best. Some interesting lyrics have been added over time.

2 – Black is the Colour – Christy Moore. One from ‘’The sweating pig’’. Not everyone’s cup of tea.
A gentle voice. With eyes closed, always closer to the music than the audience. A signature black T-shirt, he could have been in the Stranglers.

3 – The Parting Glass – Ronnie Drew. A favourite version. There are many, many other versions.
‘‘For all the money I ever spent, I spent it in good company’’.
No nonsense rendition. Ronnie Drew a voice like Granite and Glue, coming from the cassette player on a Sunday afternoon.
‘’Goodnight and joy be with you all.’’

Nighty night Thomas.

Ronnie Drew's voice was amazing. I always think of his monologue introduction to McAlpine's Fusiliers...

Was in the year of '39
When the sky was full of lead
When Hitler was heading for Poland
And Paddy for Holyhead

Come all you Pincher Laddies and you long distance men
Never work for McAlpine, George Wimpey or John Laing
For you'll stand behind the mixer ‘til your skin is turned to tan
And they'll say good on you Paddy with your boat fare in your hand

Oh, the craic was good in Cricklewood and they wouldn’t leave The Crown
For the glasses flying and Biddy’s crying
Sure, Paddy was going to town
Oh mother dear I’m over here, I never will come back
What keeps me here is the rake of beer, the ladies and the craic

There's a nice wee tribute video with his rendition of Parting Glass...



Sinead O'Connor's version is rather special, too, I think...



I've seen Christy Moore just a couple of times. Magical. I know exactly what you mean about him being closer to the music - his playing of The Time Has Come at Martin McGuiness' funeral is one of the most remarkable things I've seen...

I do like the Christy Moore tribute, I have watched it before a few times!
Cheers for the recommendations.

3 Before bedtime tonight..

Dream Baby Dream - Suicide - 1979
Minimalist music and the words just, wax and wane with abstract bursts of passion and angst. Add a little bit of Elvis, plenty of Rock n roll emotion and you get one of the most accessible punky electronic songs.

Nag, nag, nag!- Cabaret Voltaire - 1979
If ever a song sounded like its title? Musical onomatopoeia. The Shrew needs taming. Electro Punk with swirling ‘Hawkwind’ style synths. A great, grating track.

Being Boiled – The Human League – 1978
A mate of mine turned up with this sometime in mid-1979, said it was brilliant! I thought, Oh God! what is he getting into now? I did like the Picture cover though, (industrial modern Chic). But as the plays increased so did my liking of it and a few years later The Human League too. Apparently David Bowie said, ‘it was the future of Music’, John Lydon said, ‘they were a bunch of trendy Hippies’. (read online) It preceded ‘Dream baby dream’

Nighty night.

Great choices, Kevin. 3 hugely influential bands.

3 before bedtime tonight - An eclectic, electric mix.

Some cracking sunshine these past few days but I have experienced very little. Instead I have been underground rewiring the house.


1 - Are you totally wired – The Fall. From Grotesque (after the Gramme).

I got into the Fall very late in my musical life, infact, I am still getting into them but slowly, there is a lot to get into. This is one of their songs that lead me to them, plus constant elbowing from some mates. It also gets a lot of airplay, one of their signature tunes.
I liked the Idea of ‘Mark E Smith’, and know he is sacred to many, but at times when hearing him interviewed, I have been very confused with his angle. The last time I saw him interviewed, I though he was talking complete Donkey’s Bollox. But that’s Mark E Smith.

2 – Are ‘friends’ electric? - Tubeway Army (Printed title as on my 45).

I bought this when it came out, it had something of ‘’a new sound,’’ I was searching for new sounds in 1979. A bit more, New Wave, Electro, That something no-one else had heard. (you know the sort of thing when you are at school). Although I was a bit late, everyone had heard it. I liked his first few singles, they still hold their own today.

3 – She’s Electric – Oasis. From their second Album.

They made 2 very good 90’s albums, both transport me back to mid-90’s, I like songs that Jaunt me around from year to year, giving me that certain feel of the times. It’s also a cracking good song as far as pop songs go.

Nighty night.

A 'current affairs' 3 before bedtime for me, tonight...

MC5 - Motor City Is Burning

Ya know, the Motor City is burning babe
There ain't a thing in the world that they can do
Ya know, the Motor City is burning people
There ain't a thing that white society can do



Rage Against The Machine - Killing In The Name Of

Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses



One from (much) closer to home...

Angelic Upstarts - The Murder Of Liddle Towers



Who killed Liddle?
Did you kill Liddle?
Who killed Liddle?
Did you kill Liddle Towers?
Who killed Liddle?
Did you kill Liddle?
Who killed Liddle?
Police killed Liddle Towers
Why did he die, or did they lie?
I think he's dead, so a doctor said
He was beaten black, He was beaten blue
But don't be alarmed, it was the right thing to do
The police have the power, Police have the right
To kill a man to take away his life
Drunk and disorderly was his crime
I think at worst he should be doing time
But he's dead
He was drunk and disorderly and now he's dead
Questions are unanswered
Policeman scared to talk
Perhaps they are hiding something
Will my message get across
Please tell me why, why did he die
Please tell me now, and tell me how
Police have the answers
But they haven't got the right, to kill a man
To take away his life
Perhaps I'm not to clever, perhaps I'm not to bright
But I think your verdict was just a lie, a lie, a lie, lie
Murder, murder, murder, murder...
MURDER
Who killed Liddle?
Did you kill Liddle?
Who killed Liddle?
Police killed Liddle Towers
Who killed Liddle?
Did you kill Liddle?
Who killed Liddle?
Police killed Liddle Towers

Babylon's Burnin' - The Ruts
S.U.S. - The Ruts
Staring at the Rude Boys - The Ruts