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Mix and Match #10

[Disclaimer #1: The mixes and the majority of the tracks from all of these mixtapes are the original C90s from the late 70’s/early mid 80’s. Vinyl to tape. Play a couple of hundred times. Tape to mp3. Snap, crackle, pop and hums are free of charge]

Occurred to me that some folks might want to do some mixing and matching of their own. So it’s individual tracks from here on.

And there are loads of stories in this one.

Skip the first five tracks – grabbed them from a “Best of” album I bought for my goddaughter for Xmas.
Spence at On the Trail of the Great did a great Idiots Guide to Nik Kershaw a while back. You’re too late to grab the tracks, but here’s the classic “chucka-chucka” guitar kickoff and the horns solo. Kicked off by the “chucka-chucka” guitar, of course.

Get hold of Nick Bollinger’s excellent book “How to listen to pop music” and check out what he has to to say about Allen Toussaint and Feat. Mirrors my experience almost to a t. (If you donated to Bloggers for a cause, you’re already in the draw for 3 copies that Nick – fine fellow that he is – tossed in the pot)

Twenty-odd years ago, Christine McVie did a couple of halfway decent solo albums (“You mean a REAL album?” said my mate The Professor on Sunday ” Like, vinyl?”) and packed them full of great sidesmen. Clapton plays lead on this one. This is delicacy personified.

Segues into “The shape you’re in”. A niece – probably 3 or 4 at the time – turned up while the album was propped up against the bookshelf, looked at the cover, looked at me, looked back and said” Uncle John…?” Shit, didn’t we look young in those days.

The rest is pure eclecticism. Aka a bit of a jumble.

Except “Elected”. Song of choice for singing on the way to the White Bear in Hounslow to watch the Jug Band (featuring on occasion Ray Dorset the singer from Mungo Jerry, who used to drink with us at the Rising Sun next to Heathrow.) Got so successful that the neighbours complained, fuzz came, closed the place down. Bastards.
Forgot what we sang on the way home.
Probably “Dinah, Dinah, show us your leg”…

It’s my life [listen] – Talk Talk from It’s my life
Hold me now [listen] – Thomson Twins from The Greatest Hits
Love Is A Battlefield [listen] – Pat Benatar from 80’s
What is love [listen] – Howard Jones from Human’s Lib
I’m so excited [listen] – Pointer Sisters from Break out
Time after time [listen] – Cindy Lauper from She’s so unusual
Wouldn’t it be good [listen] – Nik Kershaw from Human racing
Still in the game [listen] – Steve Winwood from Talking Back To The Night
Last train [listen] – Allen Toussaint from Southern nights
Two Trains [listen] – Little Feat from Best Of The Test
Tattler [listen] – Ry Cooder from Paradise and lunch
Love letters [listen] – Joe Walsh from You Bought It You Name It
She’s still a mystery [listen] – Lovin’ Spoonful from The Lovin’ Spoonful
Suite Judy Blue Eyes [listen] – Crosby, Stills and Nash from Crosby, Stills and Nash
The challenge [listen] – Christine McVie from Christine McVie
The shape you’re in [listen] – Eric Clapton from Money and cigarettes
Elected [listen] – Alice Cooper from Alice Cooper’s greatest hits
My best friend’s girl [listen] – Cars from Greatest Hits
I wonder [listen] – Asleep at the wheel from The Wheel
Gravity [listen] – Ricky Lee Jones from The Magazine
Even now [listen] – Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band from The distance
Don’t let go [listen] – Commander Cody from Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen
Souls [listen] – Rick Springfield from Living in Oz
Lovin’ cup [listen] – Steve Miller Band from The Joker