Blue Friday: The Other Woman

Disclaimer: this post was written in December 2023, and scheduled for future posting. Its contents may no longer be accurate or appropriate.

Lana Del Rey's voice belongs to another time. We're lucky to have her now.

"Some of us need to be background scenery"

Disclaimer: this post was written in December 2023, and scheduled for future posting. Its contents may no longer be accurate or appropriate.

...in which I continue my quest to bring Glenn Donaldson (for he is The Reds, Pinks and Purples) to a wider audience.

Blue Friday: Johannesburg

Disclaimer: this post was written in December 2023, and scheduled for future posting. Its contents may no longer be accurate or appropriate.

I haven't listened to this for an absolute age but by Christ it's a beautiful, sad thing.

And because I spoil you, and you can't have too much Housemartins in your life, here's a bonus live version from the best part of 37 years ago, highlighting young Paul's excellent vocals.

Must be funny

Disclaimer: this post was written in December 2023, and scheduled for future posting. Its contents may no longer be accurate or appropriate.

Whilst browsing through the sad-looking racks of CDs in a charity shop recently, I happened upon a compilation album of various artists covering Abba. Somewhat unimaginatively, it was called Abbamania. It dated from 1999, a fact very much reflected in its roster of artistes: Steps, Westlife, S Club 7, B*Witched, Stephen Gateley, Martin McCutcheon, Denise Van Outen... Heaven help us, right?

Except there at track one, and completely at odds with all the bands and singers I've just mentioned, were Madness. Not peak Madness from the early 80s, not national treasure Madness from the 21st Century, but inbetween Madness. Indeed, some more cynical than I might suggest that their involvement could have been something to do with the need to promote Wonderful, their first new album in fourteen years, but I'm sure that wasn't the case, and that the Nutty Boys had all been devoted fans of Sweden's greatest export since 1974.

Either way, it transpires that the whole project, and all the covers on the CD, were recorded for an ITV special of the same name. Unsurprisingly, this completely passed me by at the time. But I have always liked Madness, and so felt duty bound to find their cover on YouTube ... and it's alright. Not spectacular, not terrible, just a bit predictable, I guess. Anyway, since it might have passed you by in 1999 too, here it is. Enjoy, maybe.

Southpaw

Disclaimer: this post was written in December 2023, and scheduled for future posting. Its contents may no longer be accurate or appropriate.

Yes, more Gene, following on from last week's post. No apologies from me, I loved them then and love them still.

Right, disclaimer done. So, would you believe it, today is International Left-Handers Day. No, me neither, but apparently it was started by American Dean R. Campbell in 1976. More interestingly, and beating Campbell by some eight years, Anything Left-Handed is one of the oldest left-handed stores in the world, founded in London in 1968. They have even run a Left-Handers Club since 1990, which may be of interest to the southpaws among you.

"It's hard to be left-handed," sang Gene in the mid-90s. They clearly hadn't joined the club ... or perhaps it was just a metaphor, eh? Regardless, I need no excuse to post this excellent live performance from them on Mark Radcliffe's much-missed show The White Room. Guitarist Steve Mason in particular gives it the beans here. For all the disproportionately high number of lefties in my life...

What a band.

Blue Friday: Supermarket Bombscare

Disclaimer: this post was written in December 2023, and scheduled for future posting. Its contents may no longer be accurate or appropriate.

Three and a half wonderful minutes from Gene that will perhaps be new to the casual fan. This is the b-side of the band's penultimate single, Is It Over?

Time was nearly up for Gene, we just didn't know it at the time. Still missed, by me and TMOC at least.

Gimme shelter

Disclaimer: this post was written in December 2023, and scheduled for future posting. Its contents may no longer be accurate or appropriate.

I don't think this quite qualifies as timeless but it does feel a little like it could be from any year between 1966 and now. In fact, it is from 2012, and is Shelter Song by Temples, Kettering's finest sons. They're still plying their trade, by all accounts, but I doubt they've topped this, still. Is it homage or pastiche? You decide.

"Under my bed I keep a steak knife"

Disclaimer: this post was written in December 2023, and scheduled for future posting. Its contents may no longer be accurate or appropriate.

Don't worry, people. I put that in quotes so you know's it's not me with a serrated edge beneath the mattress. This is Checking Out by Divorce, and it's terrific. I don't know how to pigeonhole describe Divorce - alt-country? Indie-rock? Post-modern ... something? It doesn't matter, I guess. You might find more clues over at their Bandcamp page. What I can tell you is that they are a four-piece from Nottingham, not Nashville as parts of this song might suggest. Checking Out comes from their debut EP, last year's Get Mean, and tells a brilliant, if dark, short story of spousal abuse and a blood-soaked solution.

So, a great video too. Anyway, here's the short story. Sorry, the lyrics.

Bobby works on weekends
And he's got a good hand
But he never keeps his promises
And I'm getting pretty tired of staying up

In the middle of the night
I smell the guilt on him as he
Smothers me with buffers and his
Winter coat that he just won't take off

"Bobby where are you going?
I've got work first thing in the morning"
But he didn't bother answering
Just turned and headed for the door

Under my bed
I keep a steak knife
These kids broke in six months ago
I guess it made me feel a little bold

Your leaving
Made me so uneasy

That I should learn to love myself without a reason or a doubt
And he's always coming in as I'm checking out

I didn't do it gently
Lord knows the man is heavy
But I think I hit an artery
So he never came to get me

Watching him slip
Got pretty tiresome
So I sat down and watched TV
As he finished ruining my mother's carpet

"Bobby look!" (Bobby look!, Bobby look!)
Its the show we liked
When you stopped coming home on weekdays
And I sat alone here every night

Oh baby
I see pretty clearly

That I should learn to love myself without a reason or a doubt
And he's always coming in as I'm checking out

Oh I should learn to love myself without a reason or a doubt
And he's always coming in as I'm checking out
And he's always coming in as I'm checking out
And he's always coming in as I'm checking out

There's nothing but the rain
To wash the blood away
And all those old mistakes
Baby they burn with you today

There's nothing like the rain
To wash the blood away
And all those old mistakes
Baby they burn with you today

There's nothing like the rain
To wash the blood away
And all those old mistakes
Baby they burn with you today

There's nothing like the rain
To wash the blood away