No introduction required, but briefly...
The List will be up generally on Tuesdays. As ever, the list is broad-ranging and is a simple collection of what I am listening to or discovering at any given moment. The list is myriad – diverse, because my taste in music runs the gamut and I also sometimes include what I’m not so keen on to get a reaction and to see how others respond, to get valuable input, as well. Enough introduction – likely you know the list already and if not, you’ll catch on very quickly. Thanks, as ever, for tuning in.
s.r.p.
"Don’t You Forget About Me" by Simple Minds - A huge eighties club band, Simple Minds had many great hits and that echoed through the black-painted walls of clubs with names like “Spit” (or at least the ones I remember) and while I may have heard this at Palladium once or twice, it wasn’t that kind of song. It was, to be sure a fun and still memorable song, but never one that I heard while out in the larger venues. Simple Minds is a memorable band and for die-hard fans there is a great site with everything from discography to tour dates, a tour diary and even a shop (but likely you would know this already.)
"The Ghost in You" and "Love My Way" by the Psychedelic Furs - Is it that mercury-like, ethereal voice of Richard Butler that makes the Furs? It’s a voice drenched in mercury and just one too many cigarettes and yet it works here. The songs and I apologize, I could not choose just one, and each has its merit. "Love My Way" may be more assertive (and in some ways could be construed as a very early precursor to David Garza’s “Kinder” - which made The List a few times back and is worth more than a listen).
"Which Will" by Nick Drake - Life is full of choices, and Drake is not about to let whoever the subject of this song is off the hook, swinging casually between he and some other. She will have to choose and though the choice may not be easy, it is one that must be made. Drake doesn’t sing this song as any kind of ultimatum or threat, but more as a kind of rumination. Drake's death, much like Jeff Buckley’s (and the two have been compared in many ways), was never completely cleared of suicide. Drake, like his music, always had a mournful side to him and his lyrics and this song in particular bears that out (well, almost any Drake song does…). "Which Will’s" lyrics:
- Which will you go for
Which will you love
Which will you choose from
From the stars above
Which will you answer
Which will you call
Which will you take for
For your one and all
And tell me now
Which will you love the best.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Sadi--I agree about Richard Butler's voice. He really shows it off to full force in Psych Fur's "Into You Like A Train"--from first or seconnd LP, which I think is about as hard-edged as they got.
2 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
Richard Butler has a unique, one-of-a-kind voice, but it's sort of reedy and think and mercury like with a sort of power behind that wants to come out but that sometimes (to me anywa) doesn't always quite get through (on every song anyway ~ They weren't a hard-edged band in my view, and others can disagree, but i'm not sure they wanted to be. Hard edged would have been what i was going to put on the list and will be on next week's list... ; ) I just need to double check some basic research on it first...
i liked the Furs a lot and i've been listening to them a lot lately to see what it was i was really into so much (tho they do bring back so vivid memories of exboyfriend that i'd rather avoid... *ugh*) ... such is life.
I found this for anyone interested - it's the closest i could find to an official site...
Furs
3 - chantal stone
Great list Sadi! Simple Minds and the Furs were two of my favorite bands in the late 80's...great song choices. Jim Kerr is such a great singer, he really has a way of inviting the crowd into the song when he performs. I had no idea they were still touring, I'm definitely going to try to check them out if they do any US dates.
Madness is great, I love that song, if only for the nostalgia---nostalgia for the song itself, and the time it played, and also for growing up in a house full of siblings (i'm the youngest).
ooohhhh and Chris Isaak....I don't remember exactly how old I was when that song came out...maybe 13-ish? But I do remember that it was the FIRST song to ever actually turn me on! HOTT!!
4 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
hey Chantal ~ ! glad you found The List -- have tons to say but must dash to an appointment but yeah, check out the sites i listed (i think i built in the links so should be easy enough).
Chris Isaak is amazing... or that song was ~ not sure of his other stuff; was he, and pardon me for not knowing (do not jump down throat) a one hit wonder or did he do some other gret stuff... ?
i know he's pretty much remembered for Wicked Game ... He was amazing that day i saw him by chance - i think it was a publicity stunt but a good one at that... till the cops came and ruined it but it was cool cool cool... very neat stuff....
more later... must dash or i'll be late... it's SNOWING here!!!!! How absurd is THAT!!~ just great....
cheers and speak more soon...where's Steve, et all? i didn't see a post from him yet? or Scott for that matter...
5 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
hey Chantal ~ ! glad you found The List -- have tons to say but must dash to an appointment but yeah, check out the sites i listed (i think i built in the links so should be easy enough).
Chris Isaak is amazing... or that song was ~ not sure of his other stuff; was he, and pardon me for not knowing (do not jump down throat) a one hit wonder or did he do some other gret stuff... ?
i know he's pretty much remembered for Wicked Game ... He was amazing that day i saw him by chance - i think it was a publicity stunt but a good one at that... till the cops came and ruined it but it was cool cool cool... very neat stuff....
more later... must dash or i'll be late... it's SNOWING here!!!!! How absurd is THAT!!~ just great....
cheers and speak more soon...where's Steve, et all? i didn't see a post from him yet? or Scott for that matter...
6 - Steve
Re. The Furs, I only have their small UK top 40 hit "Heaven" and their US Top 40 hit "Heartbreak Beat" but "Love My Way" was pretty good too, though I was never a huge fan of theirs.
Simple Minds are one of my all-time faves, I even prefer them to U2!! Their 1989 UK #1 "Belfast Child" is my all-time favorite song. I've got most of their albums from 1982 onwards, their last album, "Black & White 050505" just came out last year but I haven't seen it in stores here.
Funny, Madness took a while to grow on me, I did not like their early stuff at all, but by the time "Our House" came out, my resistance to them was starting to drop. I have their 24 track best of "Divine Madness", which is great if you like that kind of funny Brit stuff. They came out with their first album in 6 years last year, a series of covers (mostly reggae) called "The Dangermen Sessions Vol. 1".
Re. Chris Isaak, yeah, when I think of 1989-1990 period, this is definitely a song that comes to mind, really drips with atmosphere. The only other songs I have of his are "Blue Hotel" and "Don't Make Me Dream About You", both from 1991.
7 - Steve
Yeah, Sadi, I think Isaak only had 2 or 3 albums total but he did have a very risque TV series on in the 90's whose name escapes me 'cause I never watched it really.
8 - Mark Saleski
that Isaak tune sure could have been used in twin peaks.
Psychedelic Furs...hoooboy, remind me of when i used to put on records in college and hurl myself against the wall just for fun.
9 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
"Into You Like a Train" was on the same album as a more appealingly raucous original version of "Pretty in Pink." Butler decried the commercial direction the band was "hauled" into but I'm thinking he didn't mind the fame and money too, too, much.
10 - Mark Saleski
he certainly didn't mind the 'commercial direction' he took when opening for the Go-Go's and the B-52's a few years ago.
11 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
sorry all - i've been away and will be away for few days as well (not like you need me here anyway) but stll... yeah, Mark S. - i thought that song was used in Twin Peaks but mabye i'm conflating two weird things.... very possible...lol.. pray they have internet access were i'm going... hope so...
12 - Steve
Apparently Sadi, the song was used in the David Lynch film "Wild At Heart" in 1990.
I will pray they have internet access for you, Sadi, I know how much you love your computer!!
13 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
Isaak's done some intersting stuff.. i should Google him... no doubt he has a fan site of some sort for screaming young girls... see what i can find.
i'm off to pack.... still praying for computer access.
over and out for now.. will rejoin chat when come back... ; ) ~~ S
14 - Scott Butki
Ah, good ol' Madness. I was thinking about the band - and downloading some of their songs - the other day after encountering someone my age who asked me to define ska.
I felt suddenly old.
This was only a few days after I was asked who Frank Zappa was.
15 - J. P. Spencer
It's so easy to be cool and say "I'm a Nick Drake fan" to try and gain street credibility, but I AM a Nick Drake fan, I have been since 1992 (I know; late bloomer) and "Which Will" is one of his best.
Another great list, Sadi.
16 - Steve
OK, folks, I have a quiz for you...
For those who haven't said so already...what is your favorite song/album of each of the above acts mentioned in the article???
Just curious...
17 - Mark Saleski
Simple Minds - Don't You Forget About Me
Psychedelic Furs - Into You Like A Train
Nick Drake - not a huge Drake fan so i'll cheap out and say Pink Moon
Decemberists - only heard one of their records once
Ani - one song? impossible. 32 Flavors...no...Coming Up...no...
Jazz Butcher - completely unfamiliar with this one
King Missile - The Boy Who Ate Lasagna And Could Jump Over A Chruch
Chris Isaak - In Th eHeat of the Jungle
Madness - Baggy Trousers
18 - Erica Schultz
Sadi my love... I think of you every time I hear "Beast of Burden" on the radio. :-) I keep meaning to ping you, but I can't find a public email address for you, so I think this will have to suffice. Drop me a line sometime, I have job news and much else.
19 - Steve
Wow, Mark, you did better than me with that list. In addition to what I mentioned before, for me -
Madness - "Lovestruck"
20 - Mark Saleski
i have to admit though, that i discovered that Madness tune because somebody used it in a freaking toothpaste ad ("the colgate pump"). sheesh!
21 - Steve
LOL, Mark.
22 - Steve
Hey, Sadi,
Hope you had a great trip, and that the next List will be out soon (hard to believe it is Wednesday already!!).
23 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
hey steve... hi all... !!! Sorry i haven't been about and participating... i've been away and been absurdly busy and then this ridiculously computer of mine (never buy a Gateway unless you already have one and love it in which case i got a lemon) who knows ... but anyway... this weeks' list.. i'm trying desperately to get out... it's a good one too i think and hope you'll like it. i have the list, just have not filled out the entries... I've spoken to EO so as soon as i get to it, i will post it and post here... right now, i have a gazillion things to get to... don't hate me for not getting it done!!! sorry for not doing it by Tuesday (life lesson, never commit to a day.... but anyway...) it will be when it is.... and meanwhile, i'll keep you posted as i keep along but i have to finish up another project or two first b/c i'm under tight tight tight deadline pressure...
is that okay....? i hope so... miss particpating, and will be able to again soon. i'm alive (just barely, my feet haven't hit the ground ~ i'm flying along here.... just barely stopping for air... whew!)
do i sound stressed much????
okay, whew...
bear with me... i'll deliver .... promise. list is good i think. hope you all will think so too. as i said, just needs filling out and this week's has a theme tho it may be pushed to the weekened or so, just b/c of time... hopefully not but it's possible.... will keep you posted.
ping me occasionally if you like,
xo
sade
24 - Steve
OK, Sadi, good to know you're home safe and sound, that's the main thing. I know you have a book deadline this month, so whenever you're ready with the List is fine.
By the way, what is a Ping??
25 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
hey Steve, and thanks ~ : ) for understanding and all... a ping is just a "call out" basically - to see if someone is there or checking an IP address to see if it bounces back or sends back a signal. so when you "ping" someone they can "ping' you back if they are around and so on, that's all... just tech, speak. sorry... my job has jaded me....
will get all done within good time... pray pray....
be well, til then....s