Before Franz Ferdinand, before the Fratellis, even before Belle & Sebastian, there was born in Scotland another band, the Soup Dragons. The Soup Dragons started life as a mod-like, pop-punk band associated with the C86 sound of the mid-80s. They played short, sharp power pop songs. And they compiled some of those early recordings into their best album, Hang Ten. Sure they went on to produce other albums, and have bigger, ahem, hits, but Hang Ten and the twelve songs on it are their finest. Of those, the title track is probably the best. So here it is.February 8, 2009
Mod-A-Day: The Soup Dragons
Before Franz Ferdinand, before the Fratellis, even before Belle & Sebastian, there was born in Scotland another band, the Soup Dragons. The Soup Dragons started life as a mod-like, pop-punk band associated with the C86 sound of the mid-80s. They played short, sharp power pop songs. And they compiled some of those early recordings into their best album, Hang Ten. Sure they went on to produce other albums, and have bigger, ahem, hits, but Hang Ten and the twelve songs on it are their finest. Of those, the title track is probably the best. So here it is.
February 7, 2009
Mod-A-Day:PP Arnold
You are forgiven if you think this song was written or arranged by Burt Bacharach. I'm a huge Bacharach fan, so it's no surprise that this song would leap out of the
speakers, grab me by the ears and shake my head pretty hard. But, it isn't Bacharach.
The songstress here is PP Arnold, though as of yet I've been unable to determine who penned the lyrics or notes. No matter, it's a great piece of easy listening soul that fits with Ms. Arnold's voice so perfectly that you know Something Beatiful Happened. PP Arnold started out as a child gospel singer --no big surprise there-- and later after a sting as an Ikette with Ike & Tina, she backed up the Rolling Stones, and even more often the Small Faces. She also produced a number of albums for Immediate records, enough to earn the moniker of First Lady of Immediate. She eventually wound up on TV -- on Knots Landing of all things -- but still remains a soul diva. Just listen to those vocals and you'll see why.
PP Arnold -- Something Beautiful Happened
speakers, grab me by the ears and shake my head pretty hard. But, it isn't Bacharach.The songstress here is PP Arnold, though as of yet I've been unable to determine who penned the lyrics or notes. No matter, it's a great piece of easy listening soul that fits with Ms. Arnold's voice so perfectly that you know Something Beatiful Happened. PP Arnold started out as a child gospel singer --no big surprise there-- and later after a sting as an Ikette with Ike & Tina, she backed up the Rolling Stones, and even more often the Small Faces. She also produced a number of albums for Immediate records, enough to earn the moniker of First Lady of Immediate. She eventually wound up on TV -- on Knots Landing of all things -- but still remains a soul diva. Just listen to those vocals and you'll see why.
February 6, 2009
Mod-A-Day: The Untamed
There was probably no more ignored, no more underrated, no more eclectic mod freakbeat band in the sixties than The Untamed. 
And there certianly wasn't a group of their caliber that produced less commercial material. The Untamed by all counts only had five singles, and nary a full-length release while they were together as a band. All of that would come later, much later.
They are perhaps the quintessential mod band, incorporating almost all of the sounds that mods down through the decades have loved -- blues, R&B, jazz, lounge, garage and all with a steady rock and roll foundation (one rock steady or ska influenced track and they would have become the most incredible mod band ever). There is simply no pigeon-holing these lads from London. Just listen to any of the compilations of their tracks, from the complete hits of It's All True, or the release of demos and rarities, Gimme Gimme.
You can't not love The Untamed. Overall they certainly fall into that cool, smokey-jazz sort of mod vibe that was perfected so well by Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames. Still they managed to do a lot of different things and produce a lot of different sounds. From the cool, Georgie Fame styled blues-jazz of "Once Upon a Time" and "I'm Asking You"; to the garagish "Daddy Longlegs"; to the Small Face's like blue eyed soul of "I'm Going Out Tonight"; to the easy listening, cocktailish lounge vibes of "Mayfair 4321" (a personal favorite). It's all mod, and all good.
But I've got to highlight at least one track, and the one I've chosen wasn't penned by The Untamed. Here you get a taste of "Kids Take Over" allegedly penned by Pete Townsend for The Who. Both bands were produced for a time by Shel Talmy and I suspect it was at that point that The Who's lesser lights and cast off's (The Untamed also recorded The Who's "It's Not True") were made available to The Untamed for recording. The lyrics and the arrangement of "Kids Take Over" have Townsend's fingerprints on it, but The Untamed's version is both poppier and jazzier than what you'd expect from The Who. One wonders why, when they had so many other avenues to go down, they chose this one. No matter, The Untamed produced some of the jazziest, and best, mod sounds of the sixties.
The Untamed -- Kids Take Over
And there certianly wasn't a group of their caliber that produced less commercial material. The Untamed by all counts only had five singles, and nary a full-length release while they were together as a band. All of that would come later, much later.They are perhaps the quintessential mod band, incorporating almost all of the sounds that mods down through the decades have loved -- blues, R&B, jazz, lounge, garage and all with a steady rock and roll foundation (one rock steady or ska influenced track and they would have become the most incredible mod band ever). There is simply no pigeon-holing these lads from London. Just listen to any of the compilations of their tracks, from the complete hits of It's All True, or the release of demos and rarities, Gimme Gimme.
You can't not love The Untamed. Overall they certainly fall into that cool, smokey-jazz sort of mod vibe that was perfected so well by Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames. Still they managed to do a lot of different things and produce a lot of different sounds. From the cool, Georgie Fame styled blues-jazz of "Once Upon a Time" and "I'm Asking You"; to the garagish "Daddy Longlegs"; to the Small Face's like blue eyed soul of "I'm Going Out Tonight"; to the easy listening, cocktailish lounge vibes of "Mayfair 4321" (a personal favorite). It's all mod, and all good.
But I've got to highlight at least one track, and the one I've chosen wasn't penned by The Untamed. Here you get a taste of "Kids Take Over" allegedly penned by Pete Townsend for The Who. Both bands were produced for a time by Shel Talmy and I suspect it was at that point that The Who's lesser lights and cast off's (The Untamed also recorded The Who's "It's Not True") were made available to The Untamed for recording. The lyrics and the arrangement of "Kids Take Over" have Townsend's fingerprints on it, but The Untamed's version is both poppier and jazzier than what you'd expect from The Who. One wonders why, when they had so many other avenues to go down, they chose this one. No matter, The Untamed produced some of the jazziest, and best, mod sounds of the sixties.
February 5, 2009
Mod-A-Day: Headquarters
Sometime in the last century Charles Wallace got hooked up with director Kolton Lee 
and they began to create a short film titled American Mod. I haven't seen the film (which starred Morningwood leading lady Chantal Claret), but from what I've read it sounds a bit like a knock-off of Quadrophenia complete with love sick mods, pill popping mods, drug buying mods, and lots of hip dressed mods on scooters out nightclubbing. (this clip would seem to corroborate my suspicions).
No matter, that's all just the lead up to the best part. Headquarters. In the fine tradition of bands put together for film appearances, Wallace created Headquarters to do the soundtrack. Lucky for us they stuck with it for a few years and a few releases, and also lucky that the band seems far superior to the band. Most notable of their release, and by far the most enjoyable, is 2005's Get Your Head On which featured the track I'm highlighting here, "Tunnelvision". The album is a quick tour-de-force of psychadelic power pop, all of which flies along at a breakneck pace. The band's releases have grown more and more psychadelic over time, culminating with their last O and O in 2007. But "Tunnelvision", for me, remains their best and the highpoint of their highest heights.
Headquarters -- Tunnelvision
and they began to create a short film titled American Mod. I haven't seen the film (which starred Morningwood leading lady Chantal Claret), but from what I've read it sounds a bit like a knock-off of Quadrophenia complete with love sick mods, pill popping mods, drug buying mods, and lots of hip dressed mods on scooters out nightclubbing. (this clip would seem to corroborate my suspicions).No matter, that's all just the lead up to the best part. Headquarters. In the fine tradition of bands put together for film appearances, Wallace created Headquarters to do the soundtrack. Lucky for us they stuck with it for a few years and a few releases, and also lucky that the band seems far superior to the band. Most notable of their release, and by far the most enjoyable, is 2005's Get Your Head On which featured the track I'm highlighting here, "Tunnelvision". The album is a quick tour-de-force of psychadelic power pop, all of which flies along at a breakneck pace. The band's releases have grown more and more psychadelic over time, culminating with their last O and O in 2007. But "Tunnelvision", for me, remains their best and the highpoint of their highest heights.
February 4, 2009
Mod-A-Day: The Crooks
The Crooks were one of the great mod revival bands that never received their due. They were head and shoulders above a lot of other mod bands that got more press and bigger gigs (The Jolt comes to mind). The Crooks had that great ability to blend the sixties sound of the Small Faces (who they covered excellently when they recorded Understanding) with the burgeoning new wave sound and power pop beat of the late 70s. Songs like "Waiting for You" and "Let's Get Together" have a perfect new wave sensibility that so many mod bands of the era lacked. Still, The Crooks' singles "Modern Boys" and "All The Time In The World" are fantastic mod songs, anthemic in the way that only mod revival songs can be. In 2006 "Just Released" appeared, a two-CD anthology that had all of the band's recorded materials as well as a disk's worth of live tracks from a 1980 appearance at The Marquee club. With all that build up how can I give you anything less than a double dose of The Crooks. Don't say I don't love you!and
February 3, 2009
Mod-A-Day: Paul Weller & Graham Coxon
"This Old Town" is a collaboration between the modfather, Paul Weller, 
and Britpop's own aging punk, Graham Coxon. They even roped in Oasis drummer, and Beattle offspring Zack Starkey to bang the skins, making the track about as British as you could possibly get. Amazingly, "This Old Town" isn't a terribly great song when you consider the source -- but it is so much better than other contemporary releases it can seem like you're getting a touch ambrosia when you listen in. It's a good track to be sure, but not great for either Weller or Coxon. The 7" boasted two other songs, one each by Weller and Coxon, though neither as good as this collaboration. One can hope that this is just a precursor to more work together by the two aging mods.
Paul Weller & Graham Coxon -- This Old Town
and Britpop's own aging punk, Graham Coxon. They even roped in Oasis drummer, and Beattle offspring Zack Starkey to bang the skins, making the track about as British as you could possibly get. Amazingly, "This Old Town" isn't a terribly great song when you consider the source -- but it is so much better than other contemporary releases it can seem like you're getting a touch ambrosia when you listen in. It's a good track to be sure, but not great for either Weller or Coxon. The 7" boasted two other songs, one each by Weller and Coxon, though neither as good as this collaboration. One can hope that this is just a precursor to more work together by the two aging mods.
February 2, 2009
Mod-A-Day: The Diodes
Uncle Bill, Uncle Bill I took some pills/Mr. French, Mr. French I'm Really Tense
The Diodes never played a song I didn't like. There are only a very, very few bands that can say that -- The Jam and The Shingles. The first because, well, hell, they were the Jam; and the latter because, well, hell they only played one song I know of. No matter, The Diodes were probably my favorite pogoing, power pop, punk band of the 70s set. They were crisp, the lyrics were clever, and the music was both brash and subtle, not something easily achieved.
This track, Child Star, is their ode to Anissa Jones, the lovable, pigtailed Buffy in the sixties sitcom Family Affair. Her child-star story is more tragic than most, maybe than any. There she was the adorable, Mrs. Beasley clutching little girl that TV viewers thought was the cutest thing since sliced bread. That was during the shows heyday in the late 60s. Anissa Jones was reportedly quite a person. When she turned 18 she bought herself a crappy old pinto, and bought her brother, who she loved more than life it seems, a fully-loaded Camaro. All the time though she was a raging drug addict. When she died in 1976 of massive overdose, massive seemed an understatement. Her overdose was a deadly cocktail of mega amounts of cocaine, angel dust, Quaaludes and Seconal. The San Diego County coroner reported at the time that it was one of the most severe cases of overdose ever seen in San Diego County.
The Diodes weren't the only band to sing about Buffy aka Anissa. Angel & The Reruns put out the novelty like and bubblegummish Buffy Come Back To Me. But The Diodes Child Star is poignant without being mocking. A great example of the bands songcraft which was ahead of its time, and always head and shoulders above their colleagues.
The Diodes-- Child Star
The Diodes never played a song I didn't like. There are only a very, very few bands that can say that -- The Jam and The Shingles. The first because, well, hell, they were the Jam; and the latter because, well, hell they only played one song I know of. No matter, The Diodes were probably my favorite pogoing, power pop, punk band of the 70s set. They were crisp, the lyrics were clever, and the music was both brash and subtle, not something easily achieved.
This track, Child Star, is their ode to Anissa Jones, the lovable, pigtailed Buffy in the sixties sitcom Family Affair. Her child-star story is more tragic than most, maybe than any. There she was the adorable, Mrs. Beasley clutching little girl that TV viewers thought was the cutest thing since sliced bread. That was during the shows heyday in the late 60s. Anissa Jones was reportedly quite a person. When she turned 18 she bought herself a crappy old pinto, and bought her brother, who she loved more than life it seems, a fully-loaded Camaro. All the time though she was a raging drug addict. When she died in 1976 of massive overdose, massive seemed an understatement. Her overdose was a deadly cocktail of mega amounts of cocaine, angel dust, Quaaludes and Seconal. The San Diego County coroner reported at the time that it was one of the most severe cases of overdose ever seen in San Diego County.The Diodes weren't the only band to sing about Buffy aka Anissa. Angel & The Reruns put out the novelty like and bubblegummish Buffy Come Back To Me. But The Diodes Child Star is poignant without being mocking. A great example of the bands songcraft which was ahead of its time, and always head and shoulders above their colleagues.
February 1, 2009
Modcast #117: Shoutin' To The Top [original broadcast 2009]
It's all smack and tackle thanks to this being Superbowl weekend. The food is great, but I'm not one for the game myself. I'd much rather sitdown and listen to some great garage rock, or some swingin' lounge music.
Or, I could mix up a modcast of epic proportions. Now that's the ticket.
Flashback to 1984, and to 1967, and to 1978, and even just back to '02. Flashbacks are great aren't they? So are the tracks on this week's modcast.
Flashback to 1984, and to 1967, and to 1978, and even just back to '02. Flashbacks are great aren't they? So are the tracks on this week's modcast. Okay, maybe not epic, but pretty damn good none the less. Got a couple of new things to serve up for you: some power pop from The Wishes, and some very excellent mod R&B courtesy of Invisible Lead Soup. And there's a few nice gems here that I blew the dust off of which I think you'll dig from The Standells, the Sidewalks and not the least of which is a great little song from power pop composer Gary Valentine who, sadly, has never received the accolades he's due.
I think you'll appreciate the opening track, a cover of TSC's Shout To The Top by Robbers on High Street and part of the really cool Rewind project from Buffet Libre. The crew at Buffet Libre solicited current bands to cover their favorite songs of the 80s -- hence the Robbers selection of TSC. The results are mixed, but always interesting. Some are pretty honest, and honoring, covers like the Robbers, and others are unique revisionings of songs like the very electro cover of the Buzzcocks' Ever Fallen in Love by Sportsday Megaphone. It's a cool collection, and you can download any of the songs, so I'm sure you'll waste more than just a little time there perusing the offerings. I know I did.
- Robbers On High Street -- Shout To The Top
- The Wishes -- Bridgend
- The Popguns -- Waiting For The Winter
- The Icicles -- Crazy
- Invisible Lead Soup -- What She Said
- The Anderson Council -- Sitting On A Cloud
- The Creation -- Biff Bang Pow
- Gary Valentine -- The First One
- Action Now -- Stop Pretending
- The Sidewalks -- Let Me Out
- The Standells -- Mr. Nobody
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)