UBT's Musical Blog

[usedbustickets]

I thought for a while that I should start a blog somewhere, but felt it needed some sort of theme, and today the 'lightbulb' went on, why not produce a blog - a regularly updated web page that is written in an informal or conversational style - with a theme based on music that I love, with comment on the song or artist and any thoughts it provokes, or indeed reflects in what is happening at that time of writing the blog or at the time of the song.  Sometimes just the music should be just enough.

I hope it will not be predictable, in terms of both comment and, in particular, the music which will be drawn from my own favourite songs or tunes drawn across all types of music.  One thing I will promise is that i will try to use songs that are classic, but are not necessarily chart toppers or indeed chart entries.

Which songs/tunes to choose for the first entry then, when you have thousands to choose from?  Well here we go, and today I will allow myself three.  The first a classic from Brinsley Schwarz - no not Mr Costello - but Nic Lowe looking incredibly young singing his rather excellent song, and not a bad title either!!

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_u2OK_IKw0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_u2OK_IKw0</a>

Talking of songs with great titles and real meaning, not many touch this next one from the Impressions, sung beautifully by the writer Curtis Mayfield ... such a voice too!  Like honey to the ear.  I know Rod Stewart didn't make a bad fist of covering this particular song, but I never felt he really got it, and so it is - unusually for Mr Stewart - a poor second to Curtis.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l04yM7-BWbg" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l04yM7-BWbg</a>

OK final song.  Like all great songs it has been covered many times, but banish them to the far reaches, in particular those by oirsh boy bands.  This is the authentic and powerful version of one of the most emotional songs you will hear.  Such passion in the delivery, and the lyrics reflect beautifully youth, getting older and the sometimes strained relationships between a father and son.  I hear this song and think of my old man, and yes it too easily brings a tear to my eye, cos I do miss the old bugger! He was never one to say 'I love you' or anything like it.  That was something that fathers didn't do then, and if I had said to him that I love him I am sure he'd have thought I 'd left my senses!

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-7c4VNGOgU" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-7c4VNGOgU</a>

[kevin3]

  UBT.
  An excellent idea, an excellent subject, and excellent sentiments. I wish you well and look forward to your selections.     

[marina]

Love the last two choices particularly ubt.  The Father and Son version by Cat Stevens far and away the best one, great stuff   

Look forward to more. 

[usedbustickets]

First of all I am labouring for my mate Steve who is currently up on the roof putting the 'final' fix on my roof, which should solve forever my intermittent leak problem.. here's hoping.  Anyway he doesn't need me so I thought I leave that glorious sun and blue sky and put together the second issue - if that is the correct term - of my musical blog.

Now first up today is Bob Seger, someone that I have only really got to know, musically that is, in the last few years.  Yes I was aware of his big single hits in the UK such as Hollywood Nights, but I have now started to listen a lot more widely across his work.  This one is a big favourite.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmrkY-EZy74" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmrkY-EZy74</a>

Lovely song eh?

This next song is from an artiste, like that? not artist but artiste! I can be a class act myself you know.  Anyway I digress, yes this artiste has been known to me for too many years, Rod Stewart.  I have always had a love hate view of Rod the Mod, I loved the stuff he done with the Faces, and of course much of his early work as a solo artiste, but by the mid seventies he was starting to kiss me off, on both a musical and a personal level.  His act started to be all about himself rather than the music, and don't get me started on him standing on the stage with his back to the audience for what seemed ages just wiggling his ar$e.

Despite that nonsense I still find myself going back to his great hits and LPs, many written by himself, and not least of which is the next track, taken from Every Picture Tells a Story, which was never I believe released as a single in the UK, but was on par with the two tracks that were and made up the double A side masterpiece Maggie May and Reason to Believe.  Number One in the singles and LP charts in 1971 on both sides of the Atlantic at the same time ... there aint many who've done that.  I can remember my younger brother having the LP (I think he had borrowed it long term off some!) but it was me who almost wore it out - well one side anyway - played on the stereo record player I bought with my paper round money.  I can still here the scratches now as the needle drops on the record to play track 1 (can't remember what it was called) then Maggie May and third track ... Mandolin Wind, still a great, great song.  Which I have selected for you below.  The record then went on to play Reason to believe ...... musical masterpiece overload.

Well after all that, a dab of Brut (wot a geezer) and off to the local youth club to meet the Present Mrs Anscomb ...... lucky girl.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlCLTWRFVyI" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlCLTWRFVyI</a>

And finally - before I go up and get the boss a cup of tea - there is not much to say other than this woman had one of the great soul voices.  I have chosen one of her 'lesser' hits but is one my favourites.... enjoy, and look out for the hair and the suits worn by the Pips!!

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_Lh4MFiw08" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_Lh4MFiw08</a>

[ArtyMar]

Really enjoying your musical blog, UBT! I go back to it every now and then to check out a song or 'artiste' that I haven't heard for ages - and, of course, to read your blog.

[pops]

Great read (and listen) UBT. I'd like to think, after only two instalments of your blog, that you'd have an absolute nightmare making your choices if you were ever invited onto "Desert Island Discs"

[stoop]

Here's one I missed in the early 90's. Just fell upon it today when looking for a friend. Great fun:

https://youtu.be/DOlG92rb2Zg

[usedbustickets]

That last blog had two records in it with Wind in the title, I didn't realise that as I selected the records... spooky eh!  And before it is suggested, I was not suffering from excess wind!

Anyway onto this third blog, I have got a mass of well known musical greats and not so well known greats of various artistes and generes, but today we focus on one group alone ..... the nuttiest nutty boys around.  I am sorry for those of you who do not love Madness, but me I LOVE 'EM, and as I couldn't choose one record or track I decided to dedicate this whole blog to Madness so you've got three great tracks.  And believe me it was hard to get the list of must play songs down to just three.

 I have been buying their music for nearly forty years, since One Step Beyond LP and have continued to do so ever since.  Great music, lyrics that fantastically reflect their lives from growing up in working class London through to adulthood, middle age and like a very, very good wine they have possibly got better as they have matured.

So which song do you pick to from that great body of work of their early days, Baggy Trousers, Embarrasement, House of Fun, Michael Caine ... the list goes on and on, but I decided on My Girl.  If you've ever been in love as a teenager, you'll know how tough it can be, really great lyrics on this track, and my favourite is 'Been on the telephone for hour, we hardly said a word' aint that the real truth of teenage love?  So here goes track 1

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw-8AGRcyvk" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw-8AGRcyvk</a>

The next track rolls on about twenty years, after Madness 'reformed' in about 1999 and produced a fantastic LP Wonderful.  There are a number of socially responsible tracks on this great LP, but my favourite is an amusing masterpiece which is double blessed by the inclusion of Billericay Dickie himself Ian Dury.  Sadly recorded just before he went to the Poets Hall in heaven.  The track is 'Drip Fed Fred' and if you've not heard it before or seen the video then your in for a treat.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1caPVZN14Q" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1caPVZN14Q</a>

OK final track comes from (IMO) Madness's best LP released in 2009.  This was a concept LP and shows how far Madness have pushed on musically.  If you have not heard the LP in its entirety, can I encourage you to do so, buy it, watch and listen to it on youtube, just listen to what is a monster LP without a dud track on it, in fact I would say that all are good if not excellent.  If you can, try to get your hands on the 2 disc version with the DVD.

Once again so good is the LP that I struggled to get it down to one chosen track, but I have chosen Forever Young... enjoy

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=755KcDVPp5c" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=755KcDVPp5c</a>

[usedbustickets]

Sorry should have said that the final LP was the Liberty of Norton Folgate.....doh!

[strange]

3 excellent choices UBT from a top band, but as you say, there were many more that equal these