Well, here we are again.
It’s Friday!
It’s Night! (at least it is here in the UK).
It’s time for the Friday Night Music Club!
You’re right. It’s not as catchy as this:
I’ll work on it, I promise.
Anyhoo, this is the 40th edition of the Friday Night Music Club, and I intended to mark it with an absolute banger, but then I figured: 50 is only 10 away, I’ll keep my powder dry for that.
That’s not to say I think that this one isn’t much cop, because it is. Just, there’s more to come.
And a rarity this week: a mix which features neither The Wedding Present or Super Furry Animals. How ever have I coped??
Well, you’ll see. But first, there’s one tune this week which, unless I’ve misheard the lyrics, deserves one of these:
Actually, it seems there are two songs which require this warning, but I’m not so sure. You’ll see what I mean…
So, let’s crack on, shall we?
Friday Night Music Club Vol 40
And here’s your track-listing and, yes, for the second week running, even though I said I wouldn’t be doing them any more, sleeve-notes:
- The Jesus & Mary Chain – Just Like Honey
This absolute beauty always seems to end up at the end of Indie-mixes, I think probably because of where it sits in Lost of Translation, the wonderful Bill Murray/Scarlett Johansen movie, and where it figures in that (at the end) and the subsequent resurgance of interest in the works of the Reid brothers that aren’t The Proclaimers. But I say “No!” Stick it right at the top where we can all enjoy it’s majesty.
2. The Stone Roses – This Is The One
Speaking of majesty, an often over-looked track from their debut album.
It’s funny how songs can transport you back to a moment, often insignificant, but a memory nonetheless. Back when I was at college – and, before I go any further, I know this is neither an interesting or amusing anecdote – me and a girl I was moderately obsessed with at college (but who I spectacularly failed to get anywhere with, shifted far too quickly in to the Friend Zone for my liking as I was) were going to spend an evening at a mutual friend’s house, which neither of us had visited before. As we walked down the road towards his house, one of us pointed at a house and said “I think this is the one”. It wasn’t. The other said “No, this is the one” and so we went on, pointing at houses and singing this song. See, I told you it wasn’t a great anecdote, but still, whenever I hear this, I’m transported back to that dark November evening. And it pisses me right off.
3. Björk – Army Of Me
Another one of those: yes, it may have cropped up on one of those Top of the Pops reruns on BBC4 the other week, but honestly, this mix was in its first draft then, and this was already on it.
It’s staggering to me that Björk is mostly remembered by the masses for It’s Oh So Quiet rather than this or, let’s be honest, her first album, which is pretty much flawless in my book.
4. The Chemical Brothers (feat. Kele Okereke) – Believe
Nothing to say about this, other than it’s a banger (obvs) and that it sounded right, right here.
5. The Rapture – Whoo! Alright-Yeah… Uh Huh
Proving they weren’t just all about the House of Jealous Lovers, this is the tune which attracts that parental warning for – and I haven’t checked that I’ve not misheard – their use of the C-Bomb in this one. I have no problem with it’s useage per se but I appreciate some do, and you can only use it in certain company. Personally, I wish all the stigma was removed, and it entered into everyday use. I think most would be perfectly happy to see our licence fee spent paying newsreaders to use it sparingly, but where deserved. Imagine the news starting with: “That spineless C* Rishi Sunak still hasn’t sacked that useless, inflamatory C* Suella Braverman.” I mean, it’s not partisan, but it is accurate.
6. Girls Aloud – No Good Advice (Parental Advisory Version)
The first Girls Aloud record I ever bought. I wasn’t fussed on Sound of the Underground at the time, but don’t let yourself think that precludes it from featuring here at some point. Anyway, I cannot spot any difference in the lyrics between this version and the radio-safe single version to warrant the ‘Parental Advisory Version’ tag, but I’m not in marketing, what do I know?
7. The Knack – My Sharona
Because if you’re going to post No Good Advice then you have to post the song it nicked (You can’t say that – Legal Ed.) borrowed (or that – Legal Ed.) seems to have been heavily influenced by (I think that’s ok – Legal Ed.)
8. Lloyd Cole & the Commotions – Rich
Included for the following reasons: 1) having seen Lloyd live a couple of weeks ago, I’m mildly obsessed; 2) this is bloody great, and 3) the drums fit with My Sharona. It’s not exactly rocket science, this, is it?
9. Strawberry Switchblade – Since Yesterday
Staying North of the Border for the time being, I need no reason to include this other than, after all these years (it was released in 1985) it still sounds as ruddy marvellous as it did back then.
10. Belle & Sebastian – Waiting For The Moon To Rise
From their extensive back-catalogue, I’ve lifted this from my favourite album by them (don’t @ me), the superbly titled: Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like A Peasant.
11. Acid House Kings – Do What You Wanna Do
Positive message #1 time. Hear what they say, then put it into action, preferably whilst pretending to be Scandinavian and wearing a beige roll-neck sweater.
12. Sweet Sensation – Sad Sweet Dreamer
It’s been a while since I slung in a cheesy 70s tune, so this is me making up for lost time.
13. Madonna – Papa Don’t Preach
Madge, if we are to believe the lyrics, refused to remain a sad sweet dreamer, and instead did what she wanted to do. Her Papa in the video, played by Danny Aiello in the video, dressed in, as I recall, a rather unflattering white vest, didn’t preach, he just rolled his eyes. Sean Penn and Guy Ritchie probably did the same.
14. Smokey Robinson – Shop Around
Madge, if she wasn’t going to listen to Danny, should perhaps have listened to Smokey’s Mama, and then she wouldn’t have been in the fictional mess she found herself in.
15. 10,000 Maniacs – Stockton Gala Days (MTV Unplugged version)
A first for the Friday Night Music Club (I think) – a live performance. I have waxed lyrical about this record on these pages before, and I stand by every word. I adore Natalie Merchant’s vocals generally, and love the original version of this (from their 1992 album Our Time In Eden) but man alive! There’s not a song on their 1993 MTV Unplugged album that I don’t think is better than the original. Invest, it’s worth it, I promise.
16. The Folksmen, Mitch & Mickey, The New Main Street Singers – A Mighty Wind
Positive message #2. And so, for the second week running, I’m ending on a message of peace. Yes, it’s from the team that brought us This is Spinal Tap; yes, the film is a bit of a piss-take of the US folk scene, but yes! This, God-bothering subtext aside, is bloody great. Enjoy.
More soon.
A History of Dubious Taste 