If You Don’t Read This …

If you don’t read this you will probably never know of these songs or these artists. People are often restricted by the media, what they grew up listening or other factors, I am the same, although Janelle Monae’s “Dirty Computer” is one of the most impressive albums I have ever heard and that is relatively recent but there will be none of that on here, this is taking you off the beaten path and down the unsigned road and I could drag in something for the #LikeNoOther series that I started on Seven Days In.

You may look at the titles and they may just completely scare you off. If your penchant is for power ballads and poodle rockers this is probably not the perfect place for you, but if you do fancy a little adventure then please dive in and feel free to question me about them, and maybe suggest some yourself.

And it's not just rare I do want to challenge your ears with some of them.

So first up “Archangel Thunderbird” from the Amon Duul II album "Yeti". We will use this as the lead in song. I found a wonderful video and Renate's voice is incredible.

Next up is John Martyn’s “Big Muff” that he wrote with Lee Perry for his One World album. This is the live “Rock Goes To College” version from 1977 where is backing is provided by an Echoplex tape machine and is something that I often sit down and try to play

I first heard “Major Tom” by Peter Schilling as the theme to Deutschland ‘83 , then I was in a Vegan restaurant with my friend Katie , that also sold records and they had the vinyl single , so I had to buy it didn’t I? Yes it’s very 1980s and I haven’t a clue how I missed it , but I have my copy now.

I could have chosen many Captain Beefheart songs , but “Orange Claw Hammer” from “Trout Mask Replica” is a virtual surreal sea shanty , and this is and experience that many may not want to to even try.

John Cale’s “Heartbreak Hotel” is in a different universe than the Elvis Presley version , so threatening and dark.

Similar to this is Ian Gomm's dark take on Chuck Berry's "Come On" (the first song I played live cos it is so simple) but this is a great production.

That brings me on to "Ain't That Just Like A Woman" by Louis Jordan in 1946 , listen to the main riff on this ten years before "Johnny B. Goode" .

Next is a more mainstream one that is anything but mainstream . "Sky Saw" by Brian Eno the opening track from "Another Green World"

Now some poetry ."Beasley Street" by John Cooper Clarke , this is very grim but essential reading and listening. It was topical at the time , and unfortunately is just as relevant today.

Another piece is "I'm Being Followed By The Rolling Stones" by Murray Lachlan Young which may serve as an antidote to the previous poem.

Then next we have a Mekons song "Ghosts of American Astronauts" , again the Mekons have a wonderful canon , and was thinking of “Where Were You?” but the one I have chosen is more accessible , and actually a very beautiful song.

So how should I finish up this, there are hundreds of songs that I could choose by artists you are either too young to have heard of or have just passed you by , but I will go with something from Malcolm McLaren’s “Fans” and we will take "Carmen (L'Oiseau Rebelle)" (from Bizet's opera Carmen) which is a sassy interpretation of a piece from my favourite opera.