Right I've had this long enough. Mix from Pcqgod, which managed for the most part to venture into genres I can like rather than those I absiolutely love but mostly came down on the right side of the line.
1) The “Title track” Let’s Make Rock N Roll which features throughout and as I’m not going to review each separately and to preserve track numbering I shall hereafter refer to as LMRNR. Does what it says. An analysis of making a record going through the component parts building as it goes. This guy may have been first but I bet Sly’s band ended up tighter.
LMRNR is a bonus track on the Young Fresh Fellows' album 'It's Low Beat Time.' I assume it's a real single, but I have no information as to artist/date.2) 60s sounding , big on the harmony (almost CSN like) but with a bit of psych in the mix. Like this
Pete Best, or should I say The Pete Best Band on the 'Haymans Green' album. Best co-wrote the song and presumably plays drums on it, though how much actual participation by the former Beatle is anyone's guess.3) Doesn’t stray a million miles from track 1, but a lot poppier and I’m always a sucker for a good pop tune). Like this two despite the fact that the first couple of bars of the guitar break sounded like it was going to break into the Friends theme !
The title track to the second album by The Pandoras. Garage hardliners consider this their sell out album. Also it predates the show "Friends" by around eight years!4) The Bonzos. Always loved this. You’d have to be a right miserable bastard if this doesn’t put a smile on your face.
Agreed.5) Brit psych pop. There’s tons of this stuff and I have a load on various comps. AT worst generic but it’s hard not to like this sort of thing.
A song by The Anderson Council (whose name is a play on the name Pink Floyd) from their album 'Assorted Colours' which came out in 2016 or 2017.6) Radio ad(?) for Cheap Trick album in which daughter brings the band home to meet the family but grumpy dad (sounding like Rodney Dangerfield) isn’t impressed
Bonus on the 'Sex America Cheap Trick' box set.7) Sort of power pop verging into soft metal. Jury’s out but it is growing on me.
Cheap Trick from their latest album from last year.8) LMRNR
9) Kept thinking all the way through – right I’ve heard the intro you can start the song now. Alas no song came, so this kind of passed me by.
Some musique concrete by Pink Floyd from the 'Zabriskie Point' soundtrack.10) Sort of dense blues rock which can go two ways. I never want to hear In A Gadda Da Vida ever again but thankfully this has more in common with stuff I like, Chicago (as CTA) Terry Reid, Spencer Davis etc etcl so works for me. Definitely a grower.
This track is by Curtis Knight, now mainly remembered for having once employed Jimi Hendrix as his guitarist (though I'm pretty sure Hendrix does not appear on this recording).11) Foreign language version of California Sun. Fairly sure I first heard this by The Ramones so like the song and this is certainly interesting.
The artist is Benny Quick and the track is from the Bear Family compilation 'Surf in Germany.'12) LMRNR
13) Short sharp strident female vocal thrash leaning to Riot Grrl territory. I can love or hate this stuff but this is OK
The Violators, an early 80's UK punk band that released an e.p. and a handful of singles during their brief existence. 14) All rhythms and textures, a bit shoegazy even, but this was oddly engaging.
Electronic band 808 State.15) Really like this and it sounds oddly familiar. Starts all rack’n’rawl with guitar nad “More Than A feeling” type riffs but develops into a great pop song.
10cc from their 'Bloody Tourists' album. 16) Back to tack 5 territory, but whereas that gave us the Northern Line and a cup of tea, here we have cricket on the village green. Not that you need to sell me on the delights of English pastoral whimsy of course. I tried explaining cricket to Harvey K-Tel in London recently with limited success.
Turquoise, contemporaries of The Kinks from Muswell Hill.17) La bamba. What else can you say. Great of course and easy to see how this was a game changer in putting Latin music on the map.
18) I knew I’d heard this before (I actually own it) First thought with the guitar was Chet Atkins and the vocals had an Andrews Sisters feel. This actually featured on a dTV documentary I watched with Lenny Kaye on the history of the guitar in pop and rock music. Les Paul and Mary Ford. Bought the Proper Records box set mainly for Mr Sandman and How High The Moon but loads more like this one to enjoy.
19) LMRNR
20) The Christmas track and it’s great. Kind of like track 13 but more poppy and less raucous, how I like it.
The Shitbirds, featuring the lovely April March, from their sole album 'Famous Recording Artists' (1995)1. Let's Make Rock n Roll! (drums)
2. "Come with Me" Pete Best
3. "Stop Pretending" The Pandoras
4. "Mickey's Son and Daughter" Bonzo Dog Band
5. "Girl on the Northern Line" The Anderson Council
6. Radio ad for 'Cheap Trick' (1977)
7. "Floating Down" Cheap Trick
8. LMRNR (bass)
9. "Heart Beat, Pig Meat" Pink Floyd
10. "See No Evil" Curtis Knight
11. "California Sun" Benny Quick
12. LMRNR (guitar)
13. "Pointless Slaughter" Violators
14. "Europa" 808 State
15. "Take these Chains" 10cc
16. "Village Green" Turquoise
17. "La Bamba" Ritchie Valens
18. "Hawaiian War Chant" Les Paul and Mary Ford
19. LMRNR (put 'em all together)
20. "Christmas is a-comin" Shitbirds
THanks.
You're welcome!
Bowie: God Bless The Girl
Great stuff.
xo