70s Cup Round 8 Match 16 *PB 18- Count Machuki 12*

[Osgood]

A great tie to end the round. A may be a bit of cheating since it is technically 4 songs, or so Spotify tells me, but it works very nicely as a segue, all its parts fitting in place, and I found its energy quite attractive. And that Wire track is excellent too (glad to have heard it first on Spotify). Two records to check in fullness. Today I feel more like

A

[Penk!]

I have always really liked B, it's a fine and affecting song from a band I love, but I'm going to give this tie to A because it was something new to me which I really enjoyed. Deep, groovy, absorbing and ambitious. Great pick!

I'm assuming, for what it's worth, that B just copied the first 'Outdoor Miner' link they found and sent it in without checking the sound quality.

[Darkness_Fish]

I can't imagine that I'll vote against B, it's one of the greatest pure pop songs recorded, imo, but I might as well give A a shot. So far it seems to be in strange pastoral mode with farty bass. It's almost a prog track, but without the overt musical wankiness. Now it's jumped into full funk mode, but it doesn't seem that funky. The drumming feels quite leaden, and that farty bass is overpowering everything. You know what, 5 minutes of this is much more than enough of this for me.

B. Even for the original poor-sound clip.

[trans-chigley express]

The CotB track was great and full of sounds that made me go "ooh yeah, I like that".

I love B but it seems to appear in every other Cup so seems like a bit of tired pick now, although this could well be the first cup the picker has entered so maybe that's an unfair criticism.

So purely for being something new that I really enjoyed I'll go A

[never/ever]

I had thought about replacing B's clip with another one but decided that since it was his choice, it may as well be his burial.

It still is enough for my vote. Killer track. I thoroughly enjoyed A too, fwiw.

B

[kath]

that wire track is really good. (i listened to the version G put up, cuz i could barely hear the original clip.)

but i love A. love it. i love the way it moves, the variations along the way, the different instrumentation and musical bits throughout... rich, from start to finish. it flew by for me. great stuff.

[Rayge]

a - General Johnson had already earned his place in my personal pantheon with the Showmen and It Will Stand in 1961. I had no idea that the Showmen were a black group (it's amazing now to think how difficult it was to find out what US artists looked like back then - one stock shot, reissued with every release if you were lucky: I actually bought Billboard for a while just to see the pics of the acts in the ads), or that that record had been produced by Mr Toussaint. I only found out that about him when the Chairmen of the Board hit with Give Me Just a Little More time later in the 60s. Arguably the first ever black supergroup, I found the poppiness of their huge hit pleasant enough. That two and a half minute 'symphonic' intro however shows that they've changed their style (mind you, with a title like that, it's a lock they would b e reaching for some kind of gravitas), and indeed their lead singer. This guy's got far more substance and growl than old Norm. Oh, and now there's another five minutes or so of instrumental chuntering. It's not unpleasant, but the overall feeling I'm left with is a lot of so what? And why am listening to a track by a four-piece vocal group that are only around for less than half the track. There was a great deal of this sort of extended over-orchestrated portentously produced jam stuff in R&B and funk at the time. I blame Isaac Hayes. It proved a dead end, thankfully. 5 / 10
b - They were a very musical group, Wire, weren't they?They had this rep for being difficult and arty, but they regularly popped out little gems of perfectly accessible singles and album tracks in under three minutes, with a middle eight, tunes, and sweet-toned instruments and vocals. This (I listened to the other clip that Moddy provided) is remarkably pretty, and the round-style vocals are a delight. Lovely. 7 / 10

B

[GoogaMooga]

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha A

[mantochanga]

B

[fange]

Excellent tracks, but A is the monster here. Brilliance in the performance and arrangements. B is fave old chestnut too, but...


A

[Ranking Ted]

A is completely new to me and a jam, alright. B is a lovely linear piece of pop prog punk but I’ve grown a little weary of its constant cup presence. Sorry B, I’m going for the shock of the epic new.

A

[The Red Heifer]

The easiest of B's

[Count Machuki]

I'm assuming, for what it's worth, that B just copied the first 'Outdoor Miner' link they found and sent it in without checking the sound quality.

Well of course they did! Just like they probably meant to use the dub version of that Burning Spear song in the last round but were rushing and ended up with the vocal. Maybe they work full-time and have a young daughter to take care of! Cut them some slack!


B

[algroth]

I like both of these. I'll go for A because it's new to me.

[never/ever]

Purgatory Brite 18

Count Machuki 12

[Purgatory Brite]

Blimey, I've actually won! As for being accused of cheating, Spotify can just fuck off!

I'm not counting my chickens for the last round. Strangely, I'll be quite disappointed if I narrowly miss out on the Chod playoffs

[Osgood]

Blimey, I've actually won! As for being accused of cheating, Spotify can just fuck off!

Just sayin'

Cheating is probably the wrong word. Stretching a bit the song concept might be more appropriate. In any case it was a great pick, and I downloaded the album right after listening to it.

[Count Machuki]

I demand a full inquiry! Assemble a BCB tribunal!



Nah, I would have voted for it if I hadn't picked the other.