THUNDER BAY – MUSIC
Eddie’s Top 30 music picks for the week:
1. The Streets Of London – Ralph McTell (single), a great song with a powerful message. This version by Mary Hopkin is also worth a listen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQteP6oEHz8.
2. Only To Be Expected (acoustic version) – Donovan (from Neutronica CD) (“It’s only to be expected when we poison the water and we poison the air, only to be expected when we communicate hate – everywhere, only to be expected when we’re way out of sync with nature’s ways – we’re only interested in if it pays”) (“Boys and girls – in every land, go hungry even now, in lines they stand, and food is burnt to balance banks and taxes go to buy missiles and tanks…) (great lyrics but sadly – nothing on YouTube)
3. The Scarecrow Of Romney Marsh (Disney movie theme song) – Artist Unknown, a great song from a great movie based on a real life legend, a folk hero we could use here in Canada – to help fight the forces of voter suppression today. There’s an interesting SPEED THRASH version as well – LOL – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiGqik7DQmo) Hey – it’s not half bad really – though speed thrash is not normally something I enjoy.
4. Mambo Sun – T.Rex (from Electric Warrior) (the opening song of a classic album and an all-time personal fave) (I love this one so much that I learned how to play it and recorded and released a version with my band) (here’s the T.Rex version) (I could listen to this song a million times in a row and never tire of it)
5. Checkin’ It Out – The Donnas (from American Teenage Rock N Roll Machine) First song I heard by them and still a big favorite hard to find track, there is no album version posted online but there is this live version.
6. Never Marry A Railroad Man – The Shocking Blue (from “The Singles A’s And B’s CD) (I heard this on local radio all of once – long ago and immediately fell in love with it – it was a follow up hit in many places to songs like Venus, Mighty Joe, & The Long And Lonesome Road)
7. (I’d Go The) Whole Wide World – Wreckless Eric (single) (my fave Wreckless Eric song of all time!)
8. The Marching Song – The Pointed Sticks (from Perfect Youth) Local punk band The Negatives used to perform this song live all the time, and they did it even better than the original version. Unfortunately I don’t have video of The Negatives doing this song so here’s the original version)
9. Cum On Feel The Noize – Slade (from Sladest) One of their best ever – covered by many – mastered by few! I can’t wait to hear One Direction cover this one!
10. Hello, I Love You – The Doors (from Waiting For The Sun) Little of what they did isn’t a classic – I always loved this one. Here’s a live version.
11. No Hunger – Donovan (from Neutronica) (classic stuff!) (“boys and girls, in every land – go hungry even now – in long lines they stand, food is burnt to balance banks, taxes go to purchase tanks, sorrow for so many – joy for few…”) (not a typo people – Donovan uses a similar line in 2 different songs – it makes a good point in each song)
12. The Quarter Moon – Jedrezj Dmochowski (from YouTube) (Jed originally recorded this as a member of The V.I.P.’s but I like this later solo version even better) (Jed’s album “Stallions Of My Heart” is also worth seeking out – full of Marc Bolan sounding songs that he penned and performed himself – everything from “I’m Perfect” to “Ruined City” – all sounding so much like Bolan that a friend of mine who showed up one day while I was playing Jed’s album once asked me “I know this is Marc Bolan – but which song is this?) (it was Jed)
13. One Way Or Another/Teenage Kicks – One Direction (single) Two punk rock classics in one – the Blondie song “One Way Or Another” and The Undertones classic “Teenage Kicks” Well done! If you enjoy this you really should check out the original versions as well. (Blondie – on the Midnight Special – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VFuHj9_Tgw) (The Undertones – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PinCg7IGqHg)
14. Another Girl, Another Planet – The Only Ones (from the self-titled Only Ones album) (I only had a few records by this group but this is one awesome song!)
15. Baby Baby – The Vibrators (from Pure Mania) (one of many classic songs by these punk pioneers!)
16. War – Edwin Starr (single) (his big hit) (still diggin’ this one!)
17. Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye (single) Always loved this song – their biggest hit – their follow up “It’s The Magic In You Girl” was a hit as well, but this is the one everyone remembers. I used to crank the volume on the fade out to listen to those amazing conga drum rhythms. Here’s a rare live version – seems to be missing a couple seconds off the start but it’s the only time I’ve ever SEEN this song performed by the original artist)
18. Heartbeat – Gloria Jones (single) (Gloria is more famous as the original singer of “Tainted Love” – later a hit for Soft Cell and as Marc Bolan’s wife and backing vocalist, but this early hit is both amazing and obscure)
19. Sugar Sugar – The Archies (single) This song was offered to and turned down by The Monkees – it became a number #1 hit. I still think it would have been cool to hear a version performed by them. The Archies lead vocalist is Ron Dante – the man also behind The Cuff Links and a number of other bands as well. For those who prefer the cartoon show version there’s this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9nE2spOw_o )
20. I’m Not Your Stepping Stone – Paul Revere And The Raiders (from Midnight Ride) I’m not sure which band did it first but I THINK these guys recorded and released this song before The Monkees put out their more commonly known hit version. This one is great as well – I like both myself. Here’s an interesting version – a later alternate line-up version of Paul Revere & The Raiders WITH Davy Jones of The Monkees doing the song together… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy5o_A06GM8) Would have been nice if they’d gotten Mickey Dolenz instead though as he’s the one who sang the song when The Monkees did it – LOL.
21. Catwalker – The Diodes (from Action/Re-action) (one of their best songs from their best album ever) (I caught them live at The Inntowner during their tour for this album) (later met the band and John Catto and I talked about Marc Bolan for about 3 hours straight – I got all the boys some T.Rex t-shirts I’d had done up at the time)
22. It’s Hard To Be A Saint In The City – David Bowie (from Sound And Vision 4 CD Box Set). Bowie’s classic cover of the Bruce Springsteen song.
23. Red Cadillac And A Black Moustache – Warren Smith (single) – I first heard this song as a cover version by Robert Gordon With Link Wray on Gordon’s “Fresh Fish Special” album” – this is the original version by the original artist and it’s just as infectious. I now have several versions of this awesome track that I love.
There’s also this version… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrHHO_FWABc. And the Robert Gordon & Link Wray version too… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk6_MsuzyJ4.
24. Manican Man – Andy Wolff (from A Hippie Kind Of Dream) (an all-time favorite Andy Wolff classic)
25. (Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman – The Kinks (12″ Mix) (single) (one of the best later efforts)
26. Roll On Down The Highway – Bachman Turner Overdrive (single) One of their all-time best!
27. Breakaway – The Beach Boys (from 20 Golden Greats) Perhaps my absolute fave Beach Boys song, love that end bit.
28. It’s Too Late – The Jim Carroll Band (from Catholic Boy) (excellent song from a brilliant poet)
29. Dead End Justice – The Runaways (from The Runaways) (one of their best from their debut album)
30. The Ballad Of Paladin – Johnny Western The TV series theme song. I always enjoyed this as the tv show theme song and only just found this version – the COMPLETE song with all the verses – very rare. Its nice to finally hear the entire song. (They only use about half of it on Have Gun Will Travel – and sometimes even that is faded early. (note: This song was also covered by Duane Eddy and released as a single)Eddie Doran