Play this when I die!

 

Play This When I Die by Sfcpres on Mixcloud

My 50th birthday, the constant trips to the doctors, the constant pain, and the everyday irritations of this world we live in, have made me consider the end of life lately.
Not that I want it to happen, or even have any real fear of it happening soon, just what happens when it does?
The last thing I'd want is to have some religious nut, spouting away about what a wonderful life I'd led, and how everybody loved me, when in fact, I've been a miserable bastard for most of it, and haven't done much with it at all! A couple of good kids, a decent marriage, and a few compilations left behind on non-biodegradable CDs is all I have to show for 50 years on this planet, so when I go, I'd like to at least have a send of that I can be proud of.
So here it is.
There's some tracks here that mean a lot to me for one reason and another, and those that do know me will know their meaning. So hopefully this will remain out there in cyberspace for a bit longer than I'll be around for, so if there's anyone left behind when I do go - play this!

1

The Somnambulist

XTC

2

So Long Ago, So Clear

Vangelis & Jon Anderson

3

Clair de Lune (Debussy)

Earl Wild

4

Rejoice In The Sun

Joan Baez

5

Solitude (Ella Wheeler Wilcox)

Meryl Streep

6

In My Life

Beatles

7

I Only Want To Be With You

Shelby Lynne

8

My Funny Valentine

Elvis Costello

9

Stars

Janis Ian

10

Aria From La Wally (Catalani)

Wilhelmenia Fernandez

11

I See a Darkness

Johnny Cash

12

Heaven Can Wait

Meat Loaf

13

Feeling good

Nina Simone

14

Q5 Piano Tune

Spike Milligan

 

Gerry Rafferty RIP

When Gerry Rafferty passed away at the beginning January this year (4th), it was only then that I realised the impact that he had had on me throughout the years.

Although his early years with the Humblebums had meant little to me, the other famous member of that eclectic group had an enourmous impact on my sense of humour. Without Gerry Raffertty there would have been no Humblebums, and without them, Billy Connolly would never have stepped up to the mike to reveal his unique brain to the world! It was only later whilst watching an interview with Connolly that I realised this.

Later in the 70s, again without realising, Rafferty had also had a landmark influence on my music taste as well!

In 1973, I wandered into my local branch of Rumbelows looking to buy my first single. I had heard 'Standing on The Inside' by Neil Sedaka, and was determined that my pocket money would go towards the purchase of that 7" piece of vinyl. However, as fate would have it, my nerves got the better of me, and once inside the shop, standing at the counter, with my handful of shiny new pence sweaty in my palms, I went into a panic and couldn't think of the single I wanted to buy! Looking frantically at the Top Singles chart pinned to the wall, I went for the similar sounding "Stuck In The Middle" by Stealer's Wheel.

In hindsight, that was the best mistake I ever made. Instead of the naff Neil Sedaka single that no-one now can remember, I can proudly claim that the first single I bought was the ultra-cool Stealer's Wheel track. A song that became cool all over again when, the master of cool, Quentin Tarantino used it in 'Pulp Fiction'.

I played that first single to death, and grew to like it very quickly, but failed to recognise the connection when years later, 'Baker Street' was being played everywhere, and driving me insane. It was only when the follow-up single "Days Gone Down" was released (and failed to chart) did I grow to love Gerry's music.

So here's my Memorial 2CD for Gerry Rafferty - better late than never...


CD1

01 - Blood And Glory - Humblebums
02 - Please Sing A Song For Us - Humblebums
03 - Shoeshine Boy (0) - Humblebums
04 - Steamboat Row - Humblebums
05 - Can I Have My Money Back (0)
06 - Mary Skeffington
07 - New Street Blues
08 - Sign On The Dotted Line
09 - Late Again (0) - Stealer's Wheel
10 - Who Cares - Stealer's Wheel
11 - Stuck In The Middle With You (8) - Stealer's Wheel
12 - Everyone's Agreed That Everything Will Turn Out Fine (33) - Stealer's Wheel
13 - Star (25) - Stealer's Wheel
14 - Right Or Wrong (0) - Stealer's Wheel
15 - Home And Dry
16 - Right Down The Line (0)
17 - Baker Street (3)
18 - Days Gone Down (0)
19 - Family Tree
20 - The Way That You Do It

CD2

1 - Why Won't You Talk To Me
2 - Night Owl (5)
3 - Get It Right Next Time (30)
4 - Garden Of England
5 - Bring It All Home (54)
6 - Royal Mile (67)
7 - As Wise As A Serpent
8 - Sleepwalking
9 - The Right Moment
10 - Letter From America (3) - Proclaimers
11 - A Dangerous Age
12 - Shipyard Town
13 - Tired Of Talking
14 - Don't Speak Of My Heart
15 - Over My Head
16 - Keep It To yourself (0)

Gary Moore RIP

Gary Moore passed away on Sunday 6th of February 2011 in his sleep of a heart attack while on holiday in Spain. Moore, who was 58, started out in Irish band Skid Row (not to be confused with the later named HM band) before collaborating with Thin Lizzy and forming a strong friendship with frontman Phil Lynott (who died in 1986 after battling alcohol and drug addiction).

Belfast-born Moore started learning the guitar at eight and went on to forge a prolific solo career after his stints with Thin Lizzy, pairing up with some of the greatest names in blues and rock music. He helped create several bands (Colloseum II, G-Force and BBM) but inevitably always returned to his solo career.

Never a compulsary purchase, his albums were nonetheless always diverse and interesting, and he bacame like an old friend that you didn't see so often, but when you did, he provided a comforting and enjoyable familiarity.

Here's my 2CD compilation for Gary

CD 1

1. Skid Row - Mad Dog Woman (1970)
2. The Energy Dance (1973)
3. Thin Lizzy - Still In Love With You (1974)
4. Colloseum II - Secret Places (1976)
5. Greg Lake - C'est la Vie (1977)
6. Thin Lizzy - Waiting For An Alibi (9 in 1979)
7. Parisienne Walkways (8 in 1979) with Phil Lynott
8. Thin Lizzy - Do Anything You Want To Do (14 in 1979)
9. Thin Lizzy - Sarah (24 in 1979)
10. Greedies - A Merry Jingle (28 in 1979)
11. G Force - You (1980)
12. Hold On To Love (65 in 1984)
13. Empty Rooms (23 in 1984)
14. Out In The Fields (5 in 1985) with Phil Lynott
15. Over The Hills And Far Away (20 in 1986)
16. Wild Frontier (35 in 1987)
17. Friday On My Mind (26 in 1987)

CD 2

1. Loner (53 in 1987)
2. Don Airey - Song For Al (1988)
3. After The War (37 in 1989)
4. Ready For Love (56 in 1989)
5. Oh Pretty Woman (48 in 1990) with Albert King
6. Still Got The Blues (For You) (31 in 1990)
7. Walking By Myself (48 in 1990)
8. Too Tired (71 in 1990)
9. Cold Day In Hell (24 in 1992)
10. Story Of The Blues (40 in 1992)
11. Since I Met You Baby (59 in 1992) with BB King
12. Seperate Ways (59 in 1992)
13. Parisienne Walkways (Live) (32 in 1993)
14. BBM - Where In The World (57 in 1994)
15. Need Your Love So Bad (48 in 1995)
16. When The Sun Goes Down (2002)
17. Power Of The Blues (2004)

Ronnie James Dio RIP

Another victim of cancer, Ronnie James Dio died on 16th May at the age of 67.

Most reports have concentrated on his stint as lead singer with Black Sabbath, replacing Ozzy Osbourne in 1979, but he came to my attention previous to that on a totally different sounding track.

Roger Glover had just put together his concept album, The Butterfly Ball in 1974 and it was the lead single from this album "Love Is All" that, although failed to chart in the UK, became a number one in Holland and launched Ronnie's career worldwide.

It was a career that had taken quite some time to get going, his first recording being released in the 1950s as a trumpet player with Ronnie and the Redcaps. He then progressed through several bands until, whilst supporting Deep Purple, he came to the attention of Ritchie Blackmore.

Ritchie left Purple and formed his own group with Ronnie and the rest of his band. Rainbow were to become one of the biggest rock acts around. In 1976 Dio came to my attention again, with what is still one of my favourite rock tracks of all time, from the 'Rising' album "Do You Close Your Eyes' is a masterpiece in classic rock composing, and set the standard for the rest of the album.

The following album, 'Long Live Rock 'n' Roll' started to generate hit singles, and it was then that Ronnie decided to move on. His relatively short stint with Sabbath was followed in 1982 by the formation of his own band Dio. Their first album was a top 20 hit in the UK and spawned a single from the title track (a song that was covered in 1998 by Pat Boone, of all people, in a 'swing' style with Ronnie on backing vocals - a unique performance!!!).

Ronnie continued with Dio and to collaborate with other artists, including another stint with Black Sabbath, until his death last week. His last project was a tour promoting a new album for his other band Heaven And Hell which he formed in 2006 with ex-members of Sabbath, which was recently cancelled due to Ronnie's ill health.

Here's my 2CD compilation for Ronnie;-

CD1

1. Ronnie & The Redcaps - Conquest

2. Ronnie & The Prophets - Love Potion No.9

3. Electric Elves - Hey Look Me Over

4. Elves - Amber Velvet

5. Elf - I'm Coming Back To You

6. Elf - Carolina County Ball

7. Roger Glover & Friends - Love Is All

8. Rainbow - Man On A Silver Mountain

9. Rainbow - Do You Close Your Eyes?

10. Rainbow - Kill The King (Live)

11. Rainbow - Long Live Rock'n' Roll

12. Rainbow - L. A. Connection

13. David Coverdale - Give Me Kindness

14. Black Sabbath - Neon Knights

15. Black Sabbath - Heaven & Hell

16. Black Sabbath - Die Young

17. Black Sabbath - Mob Rules

18. Black Sabbath - Turn up the Night

19. Ronnie James Dio - Budweiser TV Ad

CD 2

1. Dio - Holy Diver

2. Dio - The Last In Line

3. Dio - Mystery

4. Dio - Hungry For Heaven

5. Hear'n Aid - Stars

6. Dio - I Could Have been A Dreamer

7. Dio - Hey Angel

8. Black Sabbath - TV Crimes

9. Dio - This Is Your Life

10. Pat Boone - Holy Diver

11. Ronnie James Dio & Yngwie Mamlmsteen - Dream On

12. Dio - Master Of The Moon

13. Queensryche - The Chase

14. Girlschool - I Spy

15. Heaven & Hell - Bible Black

Malcolm McLaren RIP

Malcolm McLaren died earlier this month on the 8th April 2010 of progressive cancer.

The term that instantly sprung to mind when I heard the news was that of "impresario". It is a term that only a very few can legitimately use, but I think it certainly fits this individual. His creativity changed ideas for more artists than can be listed here. From fashion, design, image and music, his influence affected hundreds, and although his methods sometimes made unpopular amongst those he worked with, he will still be dearly missed.

Whenever someone of Malcolm's influence passes away, I wade through my music collection and create an 'ideal' memorial album. From my own experiences of compiling legal compilations, I know how difficult it can be licensing this type of compilation, but the joy I get from making these has never left me, so I still feel the need to create these albums, even if no record companies are interested in them anymore.

So for your interest (and mine), here's my 2CD set for McLaren...

CD1

1. TV Show extract.
2. New York Dolls - (There's Gonna Be A) Showdown
3. Richard Hell & the Voidoids - Blank Generation
4. Television - Prove It
5. Sex Pistols - God Save The Queen
6. Malcolm McLaren - God Save The Queeen Symphony
7. Sex Pistols - The Great Rock'n'Roll Swindle
8. Malcolm McLaren - You Need Hands
9. Adam & the Ants - Lady
10. Bow Wow Wow - C30 C60 C90 Go!
11. Bow Wow Wow - Go Wild In The Country
12. Malcolm McLaren - Buffalo Gals
13. Malcolm McLaren - Soweto
14. Jimmy The Hoover - Tantalise (Wo Wo Ee Yeh Yeh)
15. Malcolm McLaren - Double Dutch
16. Malcolm McLaren - Duck For The Oyster

CD2

1. Malcolm McLaren - Madame Butterfly
2. Malcolm McLaren - Waltz Darling
3. Malcolm McLaren - Aria On Air (from the British Airways Ad)
4. Malcolm McLaren ft Lisa Marie - Something's Jumpin' In Your Shirt
5. Malcolm McLaren - House Of The Blue Danube
6. Malcolm McLaren - Magic's Back (from 'The Ghost Of Oxford Street')
7. Fantastic Planet - Carry On Columbus
8. Malcolm McLaren - About Her (from 'Kill Bill Vol. 2')
9. Malcolm McLaren & Catherine Deneuve - Paris
10. Amerie ft Malcolm McLaren - Some Like It (Remix)
11. Liz Phair - Whip/Smart
12. Eminem - Without Me
13. Mariah Carey - Honey
14. Nelly Furtado - Powerless