Saturday, June 14, 2014

Song of the Week #302

Author's note - this entry is about version 5. I wrote quite a few rather boring and uninspired slabs of text before settling on this. That's why it's late, and for some of you, no longer Friday the 13th!

<cue spooky music, maybe the Twilight Zone or X-Files theme tunes>
It's Friday the 13th! Is there a better way to celebrate nonsensical superstitious claptrap than with some carefully chosen tunes?

It would be so easy just to play a whole episode of early Black Sabbath but that's too easy and predictable. Try this version of one of their classics - well worth a listen in my opinion.

White Zombie - Children of the Grave - http://youtu.be/36nj-TS420Y

The whole album that the previous track comes from is great if you're a fan of Sabbath or heavy tunes. Ugly Kid Joe put in a stellar version of N.I.B. Thanks to DJ Evil Rob all those years ago for slipping me a copy.

And now for something completely different...

The Psychedelic Furs - Ghost - http://youtu.be/T87u5yuUVi8

I think I hear elements of the melody of that song in much of Ron Sexsmith's work. I wonder if they are an influence of his?

When I was in a band with DJ SAB he made me listen to a lot of cool stuff. Concrete Blonde were one band he like a fair bit. I soon realised that there was more to them than "Joey" This track has a great swirly guitar sound.

Concrete Blonde - Bloodletting - http://youtu.be/sLABwwmKdyc

That's enough Friday the 13th stuff.

Last week the death of Doc Neeson was a very sad moment. This week we bow our heads in memory of Masters Apprentice's legendary frontman Jim Keays.

The Masters Apprentices - Because I Love You - http://youtu.be/NxCneDlLANM

Earlier I mentioned Ron Sexsmith. And a few weeks ago you might remember that I'd been out to see Dragon play. Well I was quite shocked when they covered one of Ron's tunes as well as having a whole swag of his stuff playing through the PA between sets. Whilst Dragon played "Gold In Them Hills" I've chosen something different as I've played that one in the past.

Ron Sexsmith - Words We Never Use - http://youtu.be/YuNzfhFG8iQ

Earlier in the year you may remember that I replaced my much loved Marshall guitar amplifier with something different from MESA/Boogie. I'd been playing the old one for nearly 14 years. In the last month I admitted to myself that the new MESA really wasn't up to much. For a clean sound it was great but for the classic rock sound I wanted it wasn't there. Matt from Better Music who took it upon himself to solve my problem described the sound as messy. He was right. So, after trying 6 new amplifiers and having one on loan for a few days I have a replacement. It's a very different MESA called a Lonestar. It's much more classic fat rock and roll in character. And it will have wheels as it weighs a metric ton! I shall call it, "FAT BASTARD". I'm now broke but hey, it's only money. Huge thanks to Matt for his patience, advice and in the end, a good deal.

Spinal Tap (Nigel Tufnel) - These Amps go to 11 - http://youtu.be/4xgx4k83zzc

Time for one more song? OK then. For a few weeks now I've been listening to more and more classic ZZ Top. As much as for the tasty guitar tones as anything else. Even when ZZ Top dabbled in synthesized beats and backing the guitars and vibe were uber cool. None of their music is complicated or challenging but that's the point.

ZZ Top - Waitin' For The Bus / Jesus Just Left Chicago - http://youtu.be/MDEHZNirvF0

ZZ Top - My Head's In Mississippi - http://youtu.be/0968f0VWvd8

ZZ Top - I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide - http://youtu.be/gWttL4gs078

Football time. Come on Australia!

DJ Rob

"Don't waste your time always searching for those wasted years" - Iron Maiden, Wasted Years, 1986 (try this version)


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