Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Jukebox In Siberia
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 I have been putting together the following post for months. Some of it in my head, some of it on scrap pieces of paper. Music has played an exceptionally important part of my life, and the music I grew up listening to as a child varied from current pop, to popular Yugoslav numbers, to the classic musical footnotes of the 50's, 60's and 70's. A couple of months ago I was listening to A LOT of the old 50's-70's stuff, which inspired me to put together this post.
I've left out the obvious selections from Elvis Presley because there were just too many, and purposely left off Ammii Stewart's cheesy cover of "Light My Fire" and Patrick Hernandez's "Born To Be Alive," even though they are treasured moments of disco in my eyes. These aren't all of the songs I wanted to include; there were so many but I had to whittle it down 18. But they are a very good reflection of the songs I consider to be all-time classics. I've also uploaded MP3's of each track, for the purpose of putting them all together (IN ORDER!) on a blank CDR of your choice. Hopefully you'll dig the finished product as much as I do.
 THE SUPREMES - YOU KEEP ME HANGING ON (1966)
[MP3 DOWNLOAD] : [YOUTUBE]
My favourite Supremes song of all time and, funnily enough, my favourite Kim Wilde song of all time too. I remember hearing this track (released in 1966) for the first time in my Aunty's bedroom, a place/person who played a big part in shaping my musical tastes into what they are today. This song is as relevant - and fresh - today as it was in the 60's, and the fact that it is one of the most covered Supremes songs ever should be a testament to that. On another note, my best friend Ben & I like to sing The Automatic's "Monster" whenever discussing Diana Ross.
 IKE & TINA TURNER - RIVER DEEP, MOUNTAIN HIGH (1966)
[MP3 DOWNLOAD] : [YOUTUBE]
I wasn't sure whether to include this or "Proud Mary," both equally brilliant moments of Rock & Roll. Ben is the sole reason I have an interest in Tina Turner, he was/is bonkers about her. This sends shivers up my spine, Turner's voice is electric, and the orchestra were in absolute fine form for this recording. Have you seen the Tina Turner bio-pic with Angela Bassett (remember her?!!?!) playing Tina? You should, it's very emotional. (Hey Ben... go straight to hell Ike!)
ARETHA FRANKLIN - RESPECT (1967)
[MP3 DOWNLOAD] : [YOUTUBE]
I was not a normal child. My movie-of-choice whilst in primary school was, oddly enough, St. Elmo's Fire which - to this day - remains one of my favourite movies of all time. The movie is responsible for the deep-seeded love I have for Demi Moore, who plays lunacy to a tee in this film. There is a scene with Andrew McCarthy, sitting in his lounge playing Aretha Franklin's "Respect" that still sits with me to this day. It is the moment I fell in love with Aretha and, more importantly, learnt how to spell. The song was originally performed by Otis Redding in 1965, FYI.
CHUCK BERRY - YOU NEVER CAN TELL (1964)
[MP3 DOWNLOAD] : [YOUTUBE]
I have uploaded the version of this which has been taken from the Pulp Fiction soundtrack. The song is superb on its own, but the Uma Thurman banter at the beginning takes this jukebox anthem to new heights. Hilariously, this song was a hit for Berry after a sentence served in prison for fiddling with a minor. A young Gary Glitter takes note.
MICKEY & SYLVIA - LOVE IS STRANGE (1957)
[MP3 DOWNLOAD]
Purely for its use in the movie Dirty Dancing. LOVE. THIS. FYI: This song was also used in the 1972 pornographic movie Deep Throat.
JOHNNY PRESTON - RUNNING BEAR (1959)
[MP3 DOWNLOAD]
This song was on a CD a relative had lent to my Mother & Father. Somehow, in the process of borrowing and playing, the CD broke (I have no recollection of how this happened, but it was the 1990's and my parents had only just bought their first compact disc a good 3 days earlier.) Nonetheless, I remember taping this song off the CD when we bought a replacement and loving it stupid.
DION & THE BELMONTS - RUNAROUND SUE (1961)
[MP3 DOWNLOAD] : [YOUTUBE]
A favourite of both my Mother & Aunty, who I can vaguely remember dancing around the house with to this song. In short, Sue was a giant fucking whore that couldn't keep her vagina closed, which posed somewhat of a problem for her boyfriend. Ho hum.
PAUL ANKA - LONELY BOY (1959)
[MP3 DOWNLOAD] : [YOUTUBE]
Paul Anka is not just Lorelai and Rory Gilmore's dog, he is also a former pop star. My mum had a record called "K-Tel's Jukebox Tear-jerkers," and this was one of the songs I would play to death off it as a child.
THE SHIRELLES - BABY, IT'S YOU (1961)
[MP3 DOWNLOAD] : [YOUTUBE]
Why hasn't anyone thought of covering this yet? I'd really like to see Amelle & her Sugafriends do this as a b-side to a future single, not adjusting too much of the originals sound, but still making it sound like a Sugababes song. Wouldn't that be lovely
THE SHIRELLES - WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW (1960)
[MP3 DOWNLOAD] : [YOUTUBE]
The strings, the chorus, the voices... All so, so very good. From one of the greatest girl groups of all time too!
 DUSTY SPRINGFIELD - I CLOSE MY EYES & COUNT TO TEN (1968)
[MP3 DOWNLOAD] : [DAILYMOTION (sadly out of sync)]
Isn't this special? My bestie Ben LOVES Dusty and, my recollection of listening to Dusty was something I always associated with him, much like the Tina Turner thing. Turns out Ben actually discovered Dusty thanks to me... I had bought the previously mentioned Pulp Fiction soundtrack on cassette (!) which featured the Springfield song "Son Of A Preacher Man." Anyway, we played that cassette in his bedroom for hours and, as it turns out, was the night he fell in love with Dusty. That was Ben's introduction to Springfield, something he only told me about earlier this year. Anyway, through Ben's obsession I was introduced to this amazing song, one which still gives me an intense rush of goosebumps every time I hear it. There aint a voice in the world as legendary as Dusty's, and I doubt there ever will be.
 THE DOORS - WAITING FOR THE SUN (1970)
[MP3 DOWNLOAD] : [YOUTUBE]
Jim Morrison. One of two of the greatest Rock & Roll vocalists and poets of all time. There is a certain sex appeal in Alex Turner that I find very similar to the sex appeal Jim Morrison would exude on stage. They are both very different when behind that microphone, but something about Turner reminds me of Jim, which (sort of) makes sense because I love them both equally. This song is not my all-time favourite Doors track, but it IS from my favourite Doors album, Morrison Hotel. My passion for The Doors comes purely from an intense introduction to their music via my Aunty, who I've previously mentioned in this post. She was Jim Morrison crazy for several years and, because I hung around her as often as possible, I was lucky enough to be exposed to all the psychotic and wonderful music The Doors had produced over the years. My dream since I was a young child has always been to fly to Paris and visit Morrison's grave. One day...
THE DOORS - SPANISH CARAVAN (1968)
[MP3 DOWNLOAD] : [YOUTUBE]
Gorgeous, gorgeous song. Wasn't sure whether to include this or "Five To One," but am now happy with my choice.
CHER - DARK LADY (1974)
[MP3 DOWNLOAD] : [YOUTUBE]
I saw her perform this live in 2005 and I swear to god, I nearly shat myself with excitement. I urge you to watch the clip, it's animagical!
 DONNA SUMMER - I FEEL LOVE (LIVE) (1978)
[MP3 DOWNLOAD] : [YOUTUBE]
There are three definitive versions of this song; the original studio version, the 1995 Rollo & Sister Bliss remix, and this, the 1978 live version from Donna's CD Live & More. It's slightly faster-paced than the original, and the talky/yelly bit towards the end is euphoric. A must for any disco fan.
DONNA SUMMER - SUNSET PEOPLE (1979)
[MP3 DOWNLOAD]
Oddly enough, I first heard this song on a man-on-woman porno I'd found at my cousins house when I was about 13. Hilariously, only a year ago I heard the song on ANOTHER porno, this time an early 80's gay one, which is quite ironic seeing as a lot of rumours suggest Donna is not as appreciative these days of the gays as she was when they were making her rich. That other porno, by the way, was not found at my cousins house though, and we'll leave it at that.
THE DOORS - THE SOFT PARADE (1969)
[MP3 DOWNLOAD] : [YOUTUBE]
This is 8 minutes and 34 seconds of bonza ridiculousness, from my 2nd favourite Doors album of the same name. It's about 10 different songs all in the one. "You cannot petition the lord with prayer!" There was some serious drug taking during the production of this song.
THE SWEET - BALLROOM BLITZ (1973)
[MP3 DOWNLOAD] : [YOUTUBE]
My mum loved TheSweet, and used to play this song when doing housework. I still love this song, and developed an obsession over it by the time I'd reached 13. Hello Rogue Traders; please cover this song post haste, kthxbye.
Labels: Miscellaneous
4 Comments:
- 2:12 AM | Paul said...
there is a horribly recent video of me and my friend simon drunkenly acting out the "1-2-3 cha cha cha, hey where's my frame, where's my pleasing arms" adlib bit over the instrumental from dirty dancing. It is quite mortifying and darren is threatening to put it on youtube. What a cunt!
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- 8:47 AM | Phil said...
Thanks for the Sunset People track. Fantabulosa! And Going Back has to be my favourite Dusty track.
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- 12:25 AM | Adem IAR said...
Paul: You know that Darren needs to post it now, don't you?
Phil: Glad you liked Sunset People, it's camp and fab, absolutely love it. Oh it's hard to narrow down choice Dusty songs though, I don't think there is a single track of hers I've ever disliked.
PTA: Thank you :)
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