Hello, music lovers. Please come on into the Listening Party rumpus room where Dave and Mary have sat down together again to listen to some fantastic music (according to Dave) – Mary isn’t quite as convinced that it’s all fantastic
This week, Dave and Mary move on to the final disc of Thomas Callaway’s three disc mixtape compilation and begin at the beginning with side one, featuring:
- The Association – “Come On In” – Birthday, 1967
- The Monochrome Set – “He’s Frank (Slight Return)” – Volume, Contrast, Brilliance – Sessions & Singles Vol. 1, 1983
- Local Rabbits – “Purple & Grey” – This Is It Here We Go, 2002
- The Fall – “Pantwork” – This Nation’s Saving Grace, 1985
- No Fun – “Modigliani” – Ghost Paper Boy in Robin’s Gay Trailer Park, 1982
- The Kinks – “Berkeley Mews” – The Kinks Chronicles, 1972
- Elvis Costello – “Watch Your Step” – Trust, 1980
- Serge Gainsbourg – “Initials B.B.” – Initials B.B., 1968
- Stereolab – “Barock-Plastik” – The Last of the Microbe Hunters EP, 2000
- Fanny – “Borrowed Time” – Fanny Hill, 1972
- Field Music – “A Gap Has Appeared” – Tones of Town, 2007
- American Music Club – “The Decibels and the Little Pills” – The Golden Age, 2008
Also featured on the show this week:
- The Monkees – “Come On In” – Missing Links Vol. 2, 1990 (We didn’t mention it on the show, but the lead vocals are by Peter Tork)
- Local Rabbits – “Record Body Count” – Secret Session, 2007
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My personal favorite this time: Serge Gainsbourg. What a weird track and a ballsy string arrangement. When you run out of mixtapes, you should definitely just keep going.
Another good show – way to stand your ground, Mary! Give your dad the gears. I liked this particular mixtape a lot.
My thoughts on these selections:
The Association – pretty good, considering I don’t usually like 60’s era vocal harmony groups – but this song is quite likeable. A real catchy tune, Daddio.
The Monochrome Set – yup, that’s a good one.
Local Rabbits – their best song, I think. Love the galloping guitar.
The Fall – a-yes-ah! (to paraphrase Mark E. Smith)
The Kinks – good one
Elvis Costello – yup
Serge Gainsbourg – nope
Stereolab – great one. Saw them live. Pretty crazy.
Field Music – this song encapsulates their sound so completely. Also saw them live.
American Music Club – maybe wouldn’t have been my choice for the last track, but a very evocative song. Love it.
I think both the extra tracks were interesting but fell short of the standard set by this mixtape.
Keep up the good work, you two!
Oops, I see I missed commenting on Modigliani – one of No Fun’s best, right up there with The Handsome One.
Hope I post to the right podcast this time… 🙂
Hugely enjoyable show, Dave and Mary, and a strong set of songs in a very good sequence. For the first time, I knew all the artists. Mind you, quite a few were thanks to listening to past episodes! Here are all my wrong opinions:
The Association – Good opener. Nice to hear the Monkees’ version too.
The Monochrome Set – I really liked this. Reminded me a lot of the Velvet Underground’s I’m Waiting for the Man.
Then we had four in a row that were all brilliant – Local Rabbits, The Fall, No Fun, The Kinks – every one fantastic.
Elvis Costello – a bit like Dave with Gang of Four, I’ve really, really tried to like Elvis Costello and kept on buying his records long after I should have realised he’s just not to my taste. I like the Attractions’ playing on Watch your Step, but not Elvis’s singing or his lyrics. So many of his songs mine a seam of bitter resentment that I find hard to listen to.
Serge Gainsbourg – Glorious arrangement. Kinda cheesy, in a good way.
Stereolab – I don’t know their stuff well, but this whetted my appetite to hear more.
Fanny – Tremendous song and performance. This would have slotted easily into Sticky Fingers or Exile on Main St. Wild Honey was definitely a better name.
Field Music – loved this. (I’m also a sucker for harmonies.)
American Music Club – Same experience as Dave here. It was kind of drifting by nicely, until the guitar solo came in and kicked the song into a higher gear.
Thanks again, guys – you two are a great team.