Tuesday 29 December 2009

Second Hand Marching Band


The Second Hand Marching Band has a limited edition single available, if you're quick. You can get their wintry "Grit and Determination" EP from HERE until 1 January 2010. Their excellent 4-track EP is available for a princely £3 (plus £1 p&p). You can buy it as a download or as a numbered handmade CD.

Here's how the band summed up 2009:

"Year two

We brought out our first EP in January this year and sold it oot, only 150 copies mind you. We played about 20 gigs including the square in a university, outside a big edinburgh venue, a botanic garden and a blustery festival - in 5 different towns in Ecosse. We've been listened to (according to the Internet) more than 45,000 times. We've done a BBC session. We met lots of cool people. It's been a good year.

Let me tell you a bit about my favourite bits:

1. Beerjacket times in King tut's and also Oran Mor. BJ is a local legend who I love and it was awesome to play with him. we have twenty members straining to do what he can do with one wee tambourine. It's impressive. He gets better every year and had lots of great sound out this year on a new album. Go go go mr Kelly.


2. Releasing our EP on Chaffinch Records. Dave from Chaffinch is a legend also and we picked up lots of really great reviews in magazines, blogs and newspapers. Thank you if you were one of the writers of one of them. It was so very unexpected for people to like our home recorded CD and most welcome. It spurred us on so blame them if you want rid of us pals. To have our own CD out was great and we hope to do more with the wonderous Chaffinch later on. Woo!


3. BBC Scotland session. We went on Vic's program and it was amazing. The sound chaps were so great and helped us out when basically we sat there like 19 morons not knowing what to do. The end result was very pretty. You can get it on
last.fm. It was a great great experience so it was.

4. Sold out gig with Zoey Van Goey. There are a fair few ZVG fans in our ranks but this was a belter of a gig and we had a great time at it - seeing a packed stereo was exciting and I think we played quite well due to all the excitement.


5. Rest of band's fun times as wickerman and so on - I wasn't there ( I was in America... ) but it was awesome and there's lots of cool videos and so on of their time there. hurrah!


6. All Tomorrow's Parties weird appearance. We appeared walking through the audience playing a song by Battles called Atlas before the ATP film started. What was one of the most ridiculous, horrible days was also one of the funniest. We were very badly behaved and spent many hours sneaking about being band, running across roads and shouting at people. It was great.


7. Blog heroes. We met and found so many new blogs this year and had so many great reviews in them and it's great to hear honest and fresh opinions. In Scotland the emerging new writers from things like the Glasgow Podcart and many of the music blogs is making a difference to wee bands like us who don't spend money on PR or adverts or anything - people manage to find us through things like this so thank you very much.


8. All the great bands we played with, including Benni Hemm Hemm, Meursault, 17th Century, Zoey Van Goey, Beerjacket, Esperi, Share, Sparrow and the Workshop, Japanese War Effort, Pineapple chunks, wounded knee, jesus H foxx, phenomenal handclap band, burnt island, apples of energy and many others.


And before I go here is a collection of strange and lovely memories from such times:

Running about St. Andrews with confused onlookers following on.

The moment we pretended to be a jazz band because 'Tara' thought we were and was going to pay us.
Goddamn you crazy posh St. Andrew's girls!

Playing in the sea at St. Andrews by throwing rocks etc

Getting to the quiet break in 'Hurricane, Thunderstorm' on BBC radio and seeing all the funny faces of bandmates

Liam's theatrical take on ONE ARMED SCISSOR live on Radio Scotland
The Stoo's ability to drown all of the rest of everything on the radio (before it was live but) Dave and mears swapping instruments without anyone noticing
Starting recordings with Benni Hemm Hemm, the Icelandic genius.

Wandering around playing the accordion in the dark in Dundee in a botanic gardens.

Making up winter songs

So that's our year. It's not over though. We are selling a wintery EP until the 1st of January. After that it's gone gone gone.

We have two more gigs left then none (maybe one) before summer next year. Time to practice.


Next year's plans: Joint EP with Benni Hemm Hemm, two EPs of our own. Less gigs more practice (you'll be happy to hear)


Thanks for all those who came to see us etc and see you soon!"



Sunday 27 December 2009

The Cat on "Where The Action Is" Kirkcaldy VRN 1287AM - Sunday 27 December 2009

I figure that by Boxing Day people have had enough of Christmas records so I've decided instead to give myself a musical Christmas present. I'll be joined in the studio - snow permitting - by my mate Dave as we host a two-hourJocknroll special, playing a variety of well-known and not so well-known Scottish bands from the last few years:

Camera Obscura - Swan (4AD 2009)
The Quik - Bert's Apple Crumble (Decca 1967) (show theme)
Aberfeldy - Tom Weir (Rough Trade 2005)
Roddy Hart - Flames (Odd Art 2004)
Sergeant - The Time Is Now (Shy Recordings 2009)
Ally Kerr - Could Have Been A Contender (Much Obliged 2007)
Roddy Frame - Western Skies (Redemption 2006)
Aztec Camera - The Boy Wonders (Rough Trade 1983) (Connect 3)
Belle and Sebastian - The Boy With The Arab Strap (Jeepster 1998) (Connect 3)
The Beatstalkers - Little Boy (CBS 1968) (Connect 3)
Big Dish - Miss America (WEA 1990)
The Bluebells - Wishful Thinking (Will She Always Be Waiting) (London 1984)
Superstar - Superstar (French vocal) (Deconstruction 1997) (Foreign Language)
Orange Juice - I Can't Help Myself (Polydor 1982)
The BMX Bandits - Let Mother Nature Be Your Guide (Karaoke version) (Vinyl Japan 1989) (Half-Time Instrumental)
Teenage Fanclub - Slow Fade (PeMa 2005)
Colin MacIntyre - Famous for Being Famous (Future Gods 2008)
The Fabulous Artisans - Sycamore Square (Bendi 2008)
The Goldenhour - Julie's In Control (Neon Tetra 2007)
Trashcan Sinatras - People (Lo-Five 2009)
Attic Lights - Never Get Sick of the Sea (Island 2008)
Del Amitri - Ceasefire (Chrysalis 1985)
Justin Currie - What Is Love For? (Rykodisc 2007)
Daniel Wylie - Define Love (Neon Tetra 2007) (Connect 3)
The BMX Bandits - I Wanna Fall in Love (Version #2) (Unreleased 1996) (Connect 3)
Simple Minds - Love Song 12" (Virgin 1981) (Connect 3)
The Orchids - Thaumaturgy (Sarah 1992) (Two of a Kind)
The Orchids - Last Thing On Your Mind (Siesta 2007) (Two of a Kind)
The Quik - Bert's Apple Crumble (Decca 1967) (show theme)

Please not that some of these tracks probably won't be aired due to the great likelihood of Dave and I blethering too much!

Good day, good health and enjoy the rest of the festive season. I'll be back on the 3rd of January with my normal show and a new theme tune.

The Cat
=^..^=

Thursday 24 December 2009

Horse - News for 2010

A few words from our friends at Randan HQ:

"Merry Xmas everyone

I hope you are in good health and looking forward to the upcoming festivities? Just dropping by to pass on all of the latest news from Camp Horse!!! :o)

DVD - It has been a long time coming but for the first time in my career we have filmed one of the summer shows. This is very much due to San Kapil, Potter and their team who talked me into this and with hindsight....I am so glad that they did! It isn’t a huge production, but I feel that it captures what was an amazing night for us in Edinburgh this year. The venue is the Queens Hall, Edinburgh - a favourite venue for me (I won a Forth award for best performance there in the past) I hope to have it available around the end of Jan time and possibly available pre order in the next week or so. The pre-order section will be set up in the shop area on www.randan.org so that you can place an order at the very least if you wish? There’s a feature bit at the end with a wee interview with me and the band too!

Single - "Something Wicked", from "Coming Up for Air", is going out as a single download on Jan 1st (01 01 10!). This will be a radio edit of the song. The more downloads the better so maybe we can start a campaign? Anyone interested in being part of a teamhorsestreetteam let me know? We need people in all parts of the country...the planet!

Video - "Something Wicked" ... we began filming the vid for this track on Fri 11th Dec here in Glasgow - I have a very special guest appearing in it and I am so thrilled – as was our star guest apparently - the one and only Lorraine Kelly! She was so fabulous and great fun, nothing phased her – what a day I was so happy I could have fainted! Lorraine and her equally lovely hubby Steve spent a good part of the day with us. This could be the difference between getting it seen on a wider scale or not. The band and I filmed our bits in Halifax and the finished video will be live by 11th Jan. Fingers crossed that Lorraine puts a wee clip on the LK today show

"Coming Up for Air" - Finally this, my 8th album, will have an official release date!

Applestore - Thurs 21st Jan 2010, Buchanan St Glasgow Special performance in Glasgow to flag up both the single and the upcoming Celtic Connection show and the subsequent tour that follows....

L Beach - 16th April 2010 Hamburg First womens fest in Hamburg. www.l-beach.com probably a solo appearance

Website (Twitter, Facebook) My sites are currently being updated. Any comments as to what you would like to see on these is most welcome. The new version of www.randan.org will be live in the next few days.

"The Same Sky" - 2010 is the 20th anniversary of this first popular album. I hope to mark it by performing the album in it’s entirety on the day of the anniversary – 6th Nov and possibly key venues in the UK

As ever thank you for supporting me. I really do appreciate it. I am looking forward to the new dates coming up in 2010. Take care of yourselves – Happy new Year see you next year I hope?

Finally I hope you have a very happy xmas and a merry new year!

Love Horse"

Horse Dates in 2010

Sunday 24th January 2010 8pm - Celtic Connections - City Hall, Grand Hall
Glasgow, Scotland
Celtic Connections, the largest winter music festival in Europe
http://www.celticconnections.com

Thursday 28th January 2010 8pm - The Ironworks
122b Academy St, Inverness, Scotland
First date in new UK tour - full band

Friday 29th January 2010 8pm - The Lemon Tree
5 West North St, Aberdeen, Scotland AB24
Tel: 01224 642 230
www.boxofficeaberdeen.com/index.asp?VenueID=281

Saturday 30th January 2010 8pm - Fat Sams
31 south ward rd, Dundee, Scotland DD1 1PU
Tel: 01382 228182
www.fatsams.co.uk

Thursday 4th February 2010 8pm - Leicester Y
7 East St, Leicester, Midlands LE1 6EY
Tel: 0116 255 6507
www.leicesterymca.co.uk/y-theatre.php

Friday 5th February 2010 8pm - The Queens Hall, Narberth
44 High St, Narberth, Wales SA67 7AS
Tel: 01834 861212
www.thequeenshall.org.uk

Thursday 25th February 2010 8pm - Huddersfield LBT
Queen's Square, Queen Street, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD1 2SP
Tel: 01484 430528
http://www.lbt-uk.org

Friday 26th February 2010 8pm - Adam Smith Theatre
St Brycedale Avenue, Kirkcaldy, Scotland KY1 1ET
www.attfife.org.uk

Saturday 27th February 2010 8pm - The Stables
Stockwell Lane, Wavendon, Milton Keynes, South MK17 8LU
Tel: 01908 280280
www.stables.org

Tuesday 22 December 2009

Jocknroll Review of the Year

Here are my choices as best in show for 2009:

New Album of the Year:

1. Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career
2. Dropkick - Abelay Hotel
3. Sergeant - Sergeant

Old Album of the Year:

1. Jackie DeShannon - Breakaway?: The Songs of Jackie DeShannon 1961-1967
2. Various Artists - The Girls Are At It Again: UK Beat Girls 1964-1969
3. Jackie Lee - The Town I Live In: The EMI 1965-1967

Single of the Year:

1. Camera Obscura - Honey In The Sun (although I think it was a promo only that's good enough for me)
2. Polka Party - Serbian Tennis
3. Camera Obscura - French Navy

Band of the Year:

1. Camera Obscura
2. Norman Blake and Euro Childs aka "Jonny"
3. Dropkick

Gig of the Year:

1. Edwyn Collins with Teenage Fanclub (Mono/Trongate 103, Glasgow)
2. Camera Obscura/Attic Lights (Barrowlands, Glasgow)
3. Attic Lights/The Primary 5/Dropkick/The Parish Music Box (Town Hall, Darvel)

Book of the Year:

1. Simon Goddard - Mozipedia: The Encyclopeadia of Morrissey and The Smiths
2. Luke Haines - Bad Vibes: Britpop and My Part in its Downfall
2. Graham Joyce - Simple Goalkeeping Made Spectacular

Audio Book of the Year:

Andrew Collins - Where Did It all Go Right?: Growing Up Normal in the 70s

Film of the Year:

The Monks - Transatlantic Feedback

TV Programme of the Year:

1. Mad Men
2. House
3. Big Bang Theory

Quiz Show of the Year:

1. Pointless
2. Only Connect
3. University Challenge (even though I'm rubbish at it)

That's your lot for this year. See you all in 2010.

Sunday 20 December 2009

The Cat on "Where The Action Is" Kirkcaldy VRN 1287 AM - Sunday 20 December 2009

It's the last of my three festive extravaganzas:

Saint Etienne - I Was Born On Christmas Day (Heavenly 1993)
The Quik - Bert's Apple Crumble (Decca 1967) (show theme)
Badly Drawn Boy - Donna and Blitzen (Twisted Nerve 2001)
Adam Faith - Lonely Pup (In A Christmas Shop) (Parlophone 1960)
Peter, Paul and Mary - Christmas Dinner (Warners 1969)
The Orchids - Christmas Is The Time To Be With Your Baby (Columbia 1964)
They Might Be Giants - Santa's Beard (Bar/None 1988)
KT Tunstall - Mele Kailimaka (Christmas in Hawaii) (EMI 2007)
Connie Francis - I'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter (MGM 1962) (Connect 3)
Arthur Lee Harper - Wintertime (PHI 1968) (Connect 3)
Ed Harcourt - In The Bleak Midwinter (Unreleased 2004) (Connect 3)
The Beatles - Christmas Time Is Here Again (Lyntone 1967)
Low - Just Like Christmas (Tugboat 1999)
The Cocteau Twins - Frosty The Snowman (Fontana 1993)
The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale of New York (Pogue Mahone 1987)
Britney Spears - My Only Wish (This Christmas) (Jive 2000)
Isabelle Aubret - Savez Vous Qu'il Fait Au Sapin de Noel? (Label Unknown 1969) (Foreign Language)
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - Hwiannggerdd Mair (Mary's Lullaby) (Mercury 1993) (Foreign Language)
Russ Conway - Snow Coach (Columbia 1959) (Half-Time Instrumental)
The Crystals - Parade of the Wooden Soldiers (Philles 1963)
The Variations - The Man With All The Boys (Immediate 1965)
The Beach Boys - Christmas Day (Capitol 1964)
The Beach Boys - Santa's Got An Airplane (Capitol 1977)
Valerie Masters - Christmas Calling (RGM 1964)
Pet Shop Boys - It Doesn't Often Snow at Christmas (Fan Club 1997)
Teenage Fanclub - Jesus Christ (Creation 1997) (Under The Influence)
Dropkick - Scampi for Xmas (Download 2007)
Dan Lyth - Maybe This Baby Could Save Us All (Moojuice 2009)
Twice As Much/Vashti Bunyan - Coldest Night of the Year (Immediate 1967)
Darlene Love - White Christmas (Philles 1963) (Connect 3)
Julian Casablancas - I Wish It Was Christmas Today (Rough Trade 2009) (Connect 3)
The Del-Vetts - I Want A Boy for Christmas (End 1961) (Connect 3)
Attic Lights/Cerys Matthes - Santa's Girlfriend (Island 2008)
Sufjan Stevens - Joy To The World (Asthmatic Kitty 2005) (Two of a Kind)
Sufjan Stevens - It's Christmas! Let's Be Glad (Asthmatic Kitty 2001) (Two of a Kind)
Nat King Cole - The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot (Capitol 1953)
Chris Rea - Driving Home for Christmas (Magnet 1988)
The Quik - Bert's Apple Crumble (Decca 1967) (show theme)

Good day, good health and have a great Christmas. I'll be back on the 27th for a modern Jocknroll episode of my show as I figure everyone is sick of Christmas records by then.

The Cat
=^..^=

Thursday 17 December 2009

The BAMS Awards 2009 - We Have A Winner!

Lloyd Meredith, from the mighty fine Peenko blog polled a large number of the Scottish music blogs to ascertain their favourite albums of the year. It's hardly a surprise that only one of my selections made the final list but I'm so far out of touch with what 'the kids' are listening to I might as well be on Jupiter.

Anyway, here's Lloyd's announcement of the results:

*drum roll*

"Hey Boys and Girls


Now for the moment you might have been waiting for/forgotten about, it's the results of all of your top ten albums from this year and you'll find out in a second who won. First off, can I just say a massive thank you to everyone who took part, I know that I caused quite a few headaches for some of you. Since this might become an annual event I have decided to give it a title. As the website/bloggers album of the year was a bit drab, I have decided to go with, 'The Scottish Bloggers and Music Sites Award 2009', or the 'Scottish BAMS Award 2009' (your choice, the BAMS bit just amused me).

Anyway, the bit that you have all been waiting for; our winner. After totalling up all of your top tens, it was good to see such a wide variation in your choices, in all we had a grand total of 166 albums represented and it really did go down to the wire. The winner for this year was........drum roll........The Phantom Band with "Checkmate Savage", who pipped the Animal Collective at the post. Having noted all of your top tens as they came through, it was fascinating to see how many different outcomes we almost had. Anyway, here's how the final top twenty looks (the scores are in brackets)

1. The Phantom Band - Checkmate Savage (61)
2. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion (54)
3. De Rosa - Prevention (53)
4. King Creosote - Flick the V's (51)
5. Withered Hand - Good News (45)
6. The Twilight Sad - Forget The Night Ahead (43)
7. We Were Promised Jetpacks - These Four Walls (40)
8. Beerjacket - Animosity (38)
9. Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More (32)
9. Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career (32) - my choice!
11. My Latest Novel - Deaths and Entrances (28)
11. Malcolm Middleton - Waxing Gibbous (28)
13. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - s/t (25)
14. You Already Know - s/t (24)
14. Broken Records - Until the Earth Begins to Part (24)
16. The XX - s/t (23)
17. The Antlers - Hospice (21)
18. Sufjan Stevens - The BQE (19)
18. And So I Watch You From Afar (19)
20. Wilco - The Album (18)

If you would like a break down of how all of the voting panned out then just let me know and I'll send you the spreadsheets, god this is sounding far too business like. Anyway, here's the list of all of the blogs/websites that took part, it includes some ex-pats and our very own honorary Scot...
17 Seconds, AyeTunes, Dear Scotland, Earz Mag, Elba Sessions, Glasgow Podcart, Hooligans Lament, Jim Gellatly, JocknRoll, Jockrock, Kowalskiy, Last Years Girl, Love Shack Baby, Manic Pop Thrills, My Portiswasp Says, Off the Beaten Tracks, The Pop Cop, Products of a Gaseous Brain, Song By Toad, The Blues Bunny, The Daily Growl, The Spill, The Steinberg Principle, The Vinyl Villain and Under the Radar.

A mighty fine list if I do say so myself, thanks once again to all of you for taking part.

I have also managed to grab a quote from Andy from the band (hence the delay in me emailing you all). Here's what he had to say....

"This makes us feel very honoured because the opinion of people out there giving opinions is what matters most, rather than the financially influenced press. It always amazes me that people would take it upon themselves to go out and champion a band or an album or a band for no material gain, but it gives me faith in human nature. Blogs and reviews have been the only advertising we've ever had. Apart from all those people who got online and promoted us, we'd like to thank those little almost-stale doughnuts you get in big tubs from Sainsburys for keeping us fat during the recording. We obviously also have our Producer Paul Savage and the wonderful people at Chemikal Underground to thank for letting us do what we want. These guys are the quiet heroes of Scottish music for sure."

Cheers
Lloyd (Peenko)"

So there you have it, no Cheryl Cole, no Coldplay and, thankfully, no Joe McBlackberry. For the record I chose the following albums:

Camera Obscura – My Maudlin Career
Dropkick – Abelay Hotel
Trashcan Sinatras – In the Music
Colin MacIntyre – Island
Sergeant – Sergeant
Ian Brown – My Way
Prefab Sprout – Let’s Change the World with Music
God Help The Girl – God Help The Girl
Jackie Leven – Winter: Men in Prison/Munich Blues
Butcher Boy – React or Die

Dan Lyth's excellent The Fat Man and the Baby Boy was received too late.

Wednesday 16 December 2009

Dan Lyth - Merry Christmas

I heard a track from Dan Lyth's "The Fat Man and the Baby Boy" album on Jim Gellatly's Radio Magnetic show and I was blown away. In the first of two Alternative Xmas shows, Jim played "Maybe This Baby Could Save Us All!" and I was hooked. Fearing it was a one-off I headed off to Dan's website and heard some more of his stuff. What can I say? I bought the album instantly.

But this isn't just any old CD, oh no. The sleeves are individually letter pressed by hand and wrapped in jute twine (bought from B&Q apparently!). Each copy is signed and numbered. The CD has six tracks, four original songs and two covers. If you order four copies and get a fifth one free, including individual gift tags. An ideal Christmas present for loved ones methinks.

Not only that but you get an immediate download of all the tracks in your choice of just about any format you could desire. Wow! The songs and packaging doff their cap to Sufjan Stevens' "Songs for Christmas" but that's no bad thing at all.

The excellent blog also goes into detail about the putting together of the packaging as well as the music. If there's any justice in the world Dan Lyth should be big in 2010.

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/danlyth
Website: http://www.danlyth.com/

Sunday 13 December 2009

The Cat on "Where The Action Is" Kirkcaldy VRN 1287AM - Sunday 13 december 2009D

It's week two of my festive fun and games as I present the following Christmas menu for your delectation on "Where The Action Is":

Eels - Everything's Gonna Be Cool This Christmas (Dreamworks 1998)
The Quik - Bert's Apple Crumble (Decca 1967) (show theme)
The Crystals - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (Phil Spector 1963)
Rufus Wainwright - Spotlight On Christmas (Unreleased 2004))
Jackie DeShannon - Do You Know How Christmas Trees Are Grown (Imperial 1969)
Three Wise Men (aka XTC) - Thanks for Christmas (Virgin 1983)
Darlene Love - Marshmallow World (Philles 1963)
Aztec Camera - Walk Out To Winter (Rough Trade 1983)
Kate Bush - December Will Be Magic Again (EMI 1980) (Connect 3)
Julie London - Warm December (Capitol 1958) (Connect 3)
Paper Dolls - Remember December (Utopia 1970) (Connect 3)
Marvin Gaye - Purple Snowflakes (Motown 1964)
Kim Weston - Wish You A Merry Christmas (Motown 1993)
Manic Street Preachers - Ghosts of Christmas (Download 2007)
Bob B Soxx & The Blue Jeans - Here Comes Santa Claus (Philles 1963)
Big Star - Jesus Christ (Rykodisc 1974)
France Gall - Il Neige (Philips 1965) (Foreign Language)
Nana Mouskouri - Mon Beau Sapin (Fontana 1972) (Foreign Language)
The Funk Brothers - Winter Wonderland (Motown 1993) (Half-Time Instrumental)
Stevie Wonder - Everyone's A Kid at Christmas (Motown 1993)
The Carpenters - Winter Wonderland (Medley) (A&M 1978)
The Beach Boys - Merry Christmas Baby (Capitol 1964)
The Beach Boys - Little Saint Nick (alternate mix) (Capitol 1964)
Sufjan Stevens - Put The Lights On The Tree (Asthmatic Kitty 2006)
The Orchids - Mr Scrooge (Decca 1964)
Camera Obscura - The Blizzard (4AD 2009) (Under The Influence)
Jethro Tull - Ring Out, Solstice Bells (Chrysalis 1976)
Connie Francis - Baby's First Christmas (MGM 1961)
Fountains of Wayne - I Want An Alien for Christmas (Atlantic 1997)
Patti Page -Pretty Snowflakes (Mercury 1955) (Connect 3)
Claudine Longet - Snow (A&M 1967) (Connect 3)
The Beach Girls - Skiing In The Snow (Dynovoice 1965) (Connect 3)
Louis Armstrong - Cool Yule (Label Unknown 1953)
Camera Obscura - Happy New Year (Andmoresound 2001) (Two of a Kind)
Mary Margaret O'Hara - What Are You Doing New Year's Eve (Virgin 1991) (Two of a Kind)
Nat King Cole - The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot (Capitol 1953)
Yo La Tengo - It's Christmas Time (Egon 2002)
The Quik - Bert's Apple Crumble (Decca 1967) (show theme)

Good day and good health.

The Cat
=^..^=

Sunday 6 December 2009

The Cat on "Where The Action Is" Kirkcaldy VRN 1287 AM - Sunday 6 December 2009

It's a Cliff-free zone as I present the first of my three special festive editions of Where The Action Is.

The Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping (Ze/Island 1981)
The Quik - Bert's Apple Crumble (Decca 1967) (show theme)
Darlene Love - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) (Philles 1963)
Big Star - Jesus Christ (Rykodisc 1974)
Rilo Kiley - Xmas Cake (Nettwerk 2003)
The Ronettes - Frosty The Snowman (Philles 2003)
Margo Guryan - I Don't Intend To Spend Christmas Without You (Demo 1967)
Etta James - Merry Christmas Baby (Private 1998)
The Soul Stirrers - Christmas Means Love (Checker 1968) (Connect 3)
Shonen Knife - Space Christmas (Seminal Twang 1991) (Connect 3)
Ryan Adams - Hey Parker It's Christmas (Promo 2003) (Connect 3)
The Searchers - The Happiest Christmas of All (Unreleased)
Alma Cogan - Never Do a Tango With An Eskimo (HMV 1955)
Ron Sexsmith - Maybe This Christmas (Nettwerk 2002)
Vikki Carr - It Must Have Been Mistletoe (Delta 1992)
The Flirtations - Christmas Time Is Here Again (Deram 1968)
Katja Ebstein - Wovon Traumt Ein Weilnachtsbaum Im Mai (Liberty 1969) (Foreign Language)
Gillian Hills - La Tete A L'Envers (Barclay 1961) (Foreign Language)
The Ventures - Jingle Bell Rock (Liberty 1963) (Half-Time Instrumental)
April March & Los Cinchos - Last Train To Christmas (Sympathy for the Record Industry 1998)
Sufjan Stevens - Come On! Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance (Asthmatic Kitty 2006)
The Beach Boys - The Man With All The Toys (Capitol 1964)
The Beach Boys - Santa's Beard (Capitol 1964)
The O'Jays - Christmas Ain't Christmas, New Years Ain't New Years Without The One You Love (Neptune 1969)
Paul Revere - Wear A Smile at Christmas (Columbia 1967)
The Cocteau Twins -Winter Wonderland (Fontana 1993) (Under The Influence)
James Brown - Santa Claus Goes Straight To The Ghetto (King 1968)
The Wedding Present featuring Simone White - Holly Jolly Hollywood (Scopitone 2008)
Elton John - Step Into Christmas (DJ 1973)
Eartha Kitt - Santa Baby (Christmas) (RCA Victor 1954) (Connect 3)
Fountains of Wayne - The Man In The Santa Suit (Atlantic 1997) (Connect 3)
Jackson 5 - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (Motown 1972) (Connect 3)
Brenda Lee - Strawberry Snow (Decca 1964)
The Ronettes - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (Philles 1963) (Two of a Kind)
The Ronettes - Sleigh Ride (Philles 1963) (Two of a Kind)
The Quik - Bert's Apple Crumble (Decca 1967) (show theme)

Good day and good health.

The Cat
=^..^=

Saturday 5 December 2009

Pin Ups - Hogmanay Ball

EVENT - PIN UPS HOGMANAY BALL 2
DATE - THURSDAY 31ST DECEMBER
VENUE - THE FLYING DUCK, 142 RENFIELD STREET, GLASGOW
DOORS - 9PM - 4AM
ENTRY - £10 IN ADVANCE
PERFORMING LIVE - ROD JONES (IDLEWILD), PAPER PLANES
GUEST DJS - TWILIGHT SAD, FINDO GASK
PIN UPS DJS PLAYING THIER INIMITABLE MIX OF NEW & CLASSIC INDIE, PUNK, SOUL & ELECTROPOP
WWW.PINUP-NIGHTS.CO.UK

Following the sell out success of last years first ever Pin Up Nights Hogmanay Ball, we’re doing it all over again. We’ll be pulling out all the stops to make it the best party in Glasgow this New Year with the usual mix of Pin Ups nonsense, incredible live acts and big name guest Djs.

Our headline live act is ROD JONES (IDLEWILD). Guitarist of Idlewild and one half of the songwriting team that has brought you classics such as "I'm a Message", "When I Argue I See Shapes", "Roseability", "American English" and bona fide UK top 10 hit "You Held The World In Your Arms", Rod and his live band "The Birthday Suit" will be playing songs from his forthcoming album "A Sentimental Education" and if you behave yourselves he might just throw in some Idlewild too!!

Also playing live are the fantastic PAPER PLANES . Cracking debut single “Doris Day” has rightly inspired rabid hyperbole across the board (such as “The best debut single from a Glasgow band in living memory” from the normally level-headed Keith Bruce in the Herald) and the band will be playing their unique brand of surf-indie live in the Main Room.

Following their recent world tour in promotion of their 2009 album “Forget The Night Ahead” we’re delighted to welcome THE TWILIGHT SAD as very special Guest DJs. The entire band will be in attendance and treating you to a fine selection of their favourite tunes. Joining The Twilight Sad on the Pin Ups wheels of steel will be FINDO GASK. We have exhausted all our superlatives this year for Findo Gask – trust us, they’re dead good – and we’re delighted that the chaps will be on the decks to treat us to their high calibre selections.

We’ll be adding more action to the bill and in amongst all this drama the Pin Ups DJs (Baillie, Iain OC, James Butcher Cassidy, John D, Niall and Paul Smith) will be on hand to keep you on the dancefloor from the first instant at 9pm to the very end at 4am, and, after a very popular stint in the Kitchen at our September Circus, all-lady DJ troupe Bow-Peep will also be back in action to lend lady-power to the choice of tunes. The plan at the moment is to have a good rowdy Pin Ups disco in the Main Room and a definitive selection of what we consider to be the “Best of the Noughties” in the Kitchen. The Pin Ups boffins will be presenting this selection in a highly scientific fashion. There's talk of labcoats, clipboards, graphs and much much more!

As you would expect, the nonsense won’t end there with negotiations underway as we speak to have an old bloke playing accordion in the kitchen to give you that authentic Hogmanay flavour, a tall dark handsome stranger handing out delicious black bun, plenty of shortbread for everyone, the chance to become a bard with our special Hogmanay Aidan Moffat masks and much much more...

Although we’re calling at a Ball, there’s no formal dress code or any of those shenanigans at Pin Up Nights. If the chaps want to suave up in the style of Rabbie Burns and the ladies fancy the plunging necklines of saucy Jackie Bird then feel free but the choice is entirely yours!

Despite a loaded bill on the most expensive night of the year we’re keeping the ticket price down to £10 for an advance tickets and £12 on the night.

Most other nights in Glasgow are charging between £14 - £40 so we hope you’ll agree this is excellent value. We’re also confident you won’t find any comparable nights in town. In fact we can pretty much guarantee this, because over the last 2 months we’ve been in touch with loads of top Scottish musicians to sound them out for Pin Ups, and like crazed Scottish musician stalkers we can now tell you exactly what most of them are up to on Hogmanay! Feel free to ask us about your favourite (although disappointingly the answer is that most will be at home with their families....we know....BORING!)

Lastly, thanks to all of you for your support of Pin Up Nights throughout 2009. Its been our best year yet with loads of unforgettable action like The Pin Ups Circus with Naboo, The Festival in June, Florence and The Machine and Friendly Fires in January, our star studded ladies night in February, Pin Up Frights at Halloween....the list goes on.

Pin Up Nights.xx

P.S. Check oot last year's antics

P.P.S. Up next for Pin Ups in 2010 is a Guest DJ appearance by the chaps from LATE OF THE PIER at the end of January, and an NME Aftershow Party (Guest DJs THE BIG PINK and BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB) on Friday 5th February.

Sunday 29 November 2009

The Cat on "Where The Action Is" Kirkcaldy VRN 1287 AM - Sunday 29 November 2009

My last show of the year before we head off into the tinsel-covered mayhem that is Christmas. Tonight I'm celebrating tomorrow's St. Andrew's Day with a Jocknroll special. A big thank to you to Lenny Helsing who, some time ago now, provided me with some of these great lost Scottish tracks.

The Poets - That's The Way It's Got To Be (Decca 1965)
The Quik - Bert's Apple Crumble (Decca 1967) (show theme)
New Faces - Never Gonna Love Again (Pye 1965)
The McKinleys - Someone Cares For Me (Columbia 1964)
The Athenians - I Got Love If You Want It (Waverley 1964)
My Dear Watson - Stop Stop I'll Be There (Parlophone 1968)
The Beatstalkers - Ev'rybody's Talkin' 'Bout My Baby (Decca 1965)
The Poor Souls - Love Me (Alp 1965)
The Blues Council - Baby Don't Look Down (Parlophone 1964) (Connect 3)
The Black Ring - Take It Or Leave It (SAUSCA 1965) (Connect 3)
The Fabulous Red Hawks - Mods and Rockers (Globe 1964) (Connect 3)
Chris McClure - Meditation (Polydor 1968)
Barry St. John - Bread and Butter (Decca 1964)
The Beatstalkers - Silver Treetop School for Boys (CBS 1967)
The Echo-Sounds - Bull Moose (Popular 1966)
Mickey Moonshine - Name It You Got It (Decca 1974)
Lulu - So Fing Es An (Decca 1966) (Foreign Language)
Johnny and the Copycats - I'm A Hog For You Baby (Norco 1964)
The Beatstalkers - Base Line (Decca 1966) (Half-Time Instrumental)
Lord Rockingham's XI - Hoots Mon (Decca 1958)
The Hi Fis - I Wanna Hear You Say Yeah (Alp 1966)
The Scots of St. James - Eiderdown Clown (Spot 1967)
Sol Byron and The Impacts - Pride and Joy (Flamingo 1964)
Hopscotch - Look at The Lights Go Up (United Artists 1968)
Davy Graham - Goin' Down Slow (Decca 1965)
Sergeant - Sunshine (Shy Recordings 2009) (Under The Influence)
Bobby Patrick Big Six - Sweet Talk Me Baby (Decca 1964)
The Beatstalkers - You'd Better Get A Hold On Me (Decca 1966)
The Beatstalkers - Ain't No Soul (Left In These Old Shoes) (CBS 1967)
The Mark Five - Baby What's Wrong (Fontana 1964) (Connect 3)
The 20th Century Sounds - She's Nice People (SAUSCA 1965) (Connect 3)
Studio Six - Bless My Soul (I've Been and Gone and Done It) (Polydor 1967) (Connect 3)
Jackie Dennis - La Dee Dah (Decca 1958)
The Pathfinders - Pumpkin Lantern (Unreleased 1968)
The Boston Dexters - You've Been Talking About Me (Contemporary 1964) (Two of a Kind)
The Boston Dexters - What Kind of Girl Are You? (Contemporary 1964) (Two of a Kind)
The Marmalade - I See The Rain (CBS 1969)
Dean Ford and the Gaylords - The Name Game (Columbia 1965)
Donovan - Season of the Witch (Pye 1966)
The Beatstalkers - Sugar Chocolate Machine (CBS 1967)
The Quik - Bert's Apple Crumble (Decca 1967) (show theme)

Good day, good health and haste ye back.

The Cat
=^..^=

Friday 27 November 2009

Jocknroll - Top 10 Albums of 2009


Lloyd over at Peenko has invited many of the blogging community to submit their Top 10 albums of 2009. Here, just for the record, is the selection of The Cat (Dave might get round to his at some point). There's an obvious jockanese slant to my selection. To be honest most of the stuff I've bought this year has been compilations for my radio show but here is the modern stuff that has floated my tanker in the past 12 months and, yes, they're in order.

  1. Camera Obscura – My Maudlin Career
  2. Dropkick – Abelay Hotel
  3. Trashcan Sinatras – In the Music
  4. Colin MacIntyre – Island
  5. Sergeant – Sergeant
  6. Ian Brown – My Way
  7. Prefab Sprout – Let’s Change the World with Music
  8. God Help The Girl – God Help The Girl
  9. Butcher Boy – React or Die
  10. Jackie Leven – Winter: Men in Prison/Munich Blues
The Cat
=^..^=

Sunday 22 November 2009

The Cat on "Where The Action Is" Kirkcaldy VRN 1287 AM - Sunday 22 November 2009

This is my last "normal" show of the year before I have next week's St. Andrew's Day/Jocknroll special and then three weeks of Christmas tunes. I'm contemplating doing something completely different for Sunday 27 December 2009; maybe just a random selection of my favourite ever records, from any era.

Benny Spellman - Fortune Teller (Minit 1962)
The Quik - Bert's Apple Crumble (Decca 1967) (show theme)
The Girls - My Baby (Capitol 1965)
Florence Ballard - Love Ain't Love (ABC 1968)
Del Shannon - He Cheated (Liberty 1967)
The Four Matadors - Fast Cars and Money (Columbia 1966)
The Action - Something Has Hit Me (Parlophone 1967)
Them - I Can Only Give You Everything (Decca 1966)
Nancy Sinatra - The City Never Sleeps at Night (Reprise 1965) (Connect 3)
Mary Saxton - Big City Guy (Unreleased 66/67) (Connect 3)
The Monkees - Teardrop City (Colgems 1969) (Connect 3)
Denise and Company - Boy, What'll You Do Then (Wee 1966)
Helen Shapiro - Woe Is Me (Columbia 1963)
Betty Everett - Getting Mighty Crowded (Vee-Jay 1964) (Birthday: 23/11/39 singer)
John Leyton - Thunder and Lightning (HMV 1961)
Fontella Bass - Gee Whizz (Chess 1966)
Twinkle - Tommy (German version) (Label unknown 1965) (Foreign Language)
The Societie - Breakin' Down (Decca 1967)
Kathy Lynn & The Playboys - Rock City (Swan 1964) (Half-Time Instrumental)
The Turtles - Wanderin' Kind (Immediate 1966)
Marvin Smith - Have More Time (Brunswick 1966)
The Beach Boys - In My Room (Capitol 1963) (The A to Z of The Beach Boys - I)
The Beach Boys - I Can Hear Music (Capitol 1969) (The A to Z of The Beach Boys - I)
Al Casey & The KC-Ettes - Guitars Guitars Guitars (Stacy 1966)
The Attack - Try It (Decca 1967)
Aztec Camera - Pillar To Post (Rough Trade 1983) (Under The Influence)
The Colorados - Lips Were Redder On You (alternate take) (Unreleased 1964)
Twice As Much - Step Out of Line (Immediate 1966)
The Poets - Some Things I Can't Forget (Immediate 1965)
The Ivy League - Willow Tree (Piccadilly 1966) (Connect 3)
The Move - (Here We Go Round) The Lemon Tree (Regal Zonophone 1967) (Connect 3)
Richard McCord - The Song of the Pine Tree (Pye 1965) (Connect 3)
Nicky Scott - Big City (Immediate 1967)
Masterminds - She Belongs To Me (Immediate 1965)
John Mayall - Looking Back (Decca 1966) (Two of a Kind)
John Mayall - Crawling Up A Hill (Decca 1964) (Two of a Kind)
Chad Carson - They Were Wrong (HMV 1963)
Mockingbirds - You Stole My Love (Immediate 1965)
The Who - Won't Get Fooled Again (Polydor 1971)
The Quik - Bert's Apple Crumble (Decca 1967) (show theme)

Good day and good health.

The Cat
=^..^=

Sunday 15 November 2009

The Cat on "Where The Action Is" Kirkcaldy VRN 1287 AM Sunday 15 November 2009

Happy Birthday Petula Clark!

Petula Clark - Colour My World (Pye 1966)
The Quik - Bert's Apple Crumble (Decca 1967) (show theme)
The Four Tops - I'm In A Different World (Motown 1968)
Verdelle Smith - Tar and Cement (Capitol 1966)
Tawny Reed - Needle In A Haystack (Pye 1965)
Petula Clark - Monday, Monday (Pye 1966)
The Kinks - David Watts (Pye 1967)
Del Shannon - Mind Over Matter (Liberty 1967)
Annette Funicello - Bikin Beach Party (Buena Vista 1964) (Connect 3)
Petula Clark - Life and Soul of the Party (Pye 1966) (Connect 3)
The Victorians - You're Invited To A Party (Liberty 1964) (Connect 3)
Al Kent - The Way You've Been Acting (Ric-Tic 1967)
Ella Washington - Sit Down and Cry (Sound Stage 7 1969)
Petula Clark - Don't Sleep In The Subway (Pye 1967) (Birthday: 15/11/32 Petula Clark, singer/songwriter)
Dana Gillespie - Pay You Back With Interest (Pye 1967)
Kenny Lynch with the Laurie Jay Combo - Harlem Library (HMV 1964)
Petula Clark - La Nuit N'En Finit Plus (Needles and Pins) (Pye) (Foreign Language)
Billy Fury - Fool's Errand (Do You Really Love Me Too?) (Decca 1964)
Shotugn Express - Curtains (Columbia 1966) (Half-Time Instrumental)
Two of Each - Summer of Our Love (Pye 1968)
Petula Clark - Downtown (Pye 1964)
The Beach Boys - Heroes and Villains (Capitol 1967) (The A to Z of The Beach Boys - H)
The Beach Boys - Had To Phone Ya (Capitol 1976) (The A to Z of The Beach Boys - H)
Petula Clark - I Know A Place (Pye 1965)
The Small Faces - Tin Soldier (Immediate 1967)
The James Taylor Quartet - Blow Up (Re-elect the President 1987) (Under The Influence)
Toni Daly - Like The Big Man Said (Columbia 1966)
Jerry Butler - Moody Woman (Mercury 1969)
The Lovin' Spoonful - She Is Still A Mystery (Kama Sutra 1967)
Love - The Daily Planet (Elektra 1967) (Connect 3)
Petula Clark - A Sign of The Times (Pye 1966) (Connect 3)
Lori Balmer - Here Comes The Sun (Pye 1972) (Connect 3)
The Strangers - Mary Mary (Pye 1967)
Joe Simon - You Keep Me Hangin' On (Sound Stage 7)
Petula Clark - Gotta Tell The World (Pye 1965) (Two of a Kind)
Petula Clark - This Is My Song (Pye 1966) (Two of a Kind)
Patti Seymour - The Silencers (Solly 1965)
The Overlanders - The Leaves Are Falling (Pye 1964)
The Walker Brothers - Just Say Goodbye (Phillips 1967)
The Quik - Bert's Apple Crumble (Decca 1967) (show theme)

In two weeks' time it's my Jocknroll Beat special, featuring a number of tracks from The Beatstalkers, and then it's four weeks of my favourite Christmas tracks. Just don't expect to hear Slade, Wizzard or Band Aid. Feel free to make any recommendations for either, although I have plenty of tracks to choose from already.

Good day and good health.

The Cat
=^..^=

Sunday 8 November 2009

The Cat on "Where The Action Is" Kirkcaldy VRN 1287 AM - Sunday 8 November 2009

Another cracking line-up, even if I do say so myself (and I do):

The Chiffons - One Fine Day (Laurie 1963)
The Quik - Bert's Apple Crumble (Decca 1967) (show theme)
The Castaways - Liar Liar (Soma 1965)
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - Yester Love (Motown 1968)
Noel Scott Engel - The Old Man's Back Again (Dedicated to the Neo-Stalinist Regime) (Philips 1967)
Emitt Rhodes - With My Face On The Floor (Dunhill 1970)
The Cookies - Chains (Dimension 1963)
The Leaves - Hey Joe (Mira 1965)
Scott Walker - Butterfly (Philips 1969) (Connect 3)
The Butterflys - Gee Baby Gee (Red Bird 1964) (Connect 3)
Cher - Elusive Butterfly (Liberty 1966) (Connect 3)
Dusty Springfield - Windmills of Your Mind (Mercury 1968)
The Essex - A Walkin' Miracle (Roulette 1963)
Creation - Making Time (Planet 1966) (Birthday: 8/11/44 Jack Jones, drummer)
Billie Davis - Angel of the Morning (Decca 1967)
The Cryan Shames - Sugar and Spice (Destination 1966)
Brigitte Bardot - Bubble Gum (Mercury 1966) (Foreign Language)
The 23rd Turnoff - Michaelangelo (Decca 1967)
The Flee-Rekkers - Fireball (Piccadilly 1963) (Half-Time Instrumental)
Michael and the Messengers - Just Like Romeo and Juliet (USA 1967)
The Honeys - The One You Can't Have (Capitol 1963)
The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations (Capitol 1966) (The A to Z of The Beach Boys - G)
The Beach Boys - Games Two Can Play (Unreleased) (The A to Z of The Beach Boys - G)
The Ivy League - Lulu's Back In Town (Piccadilly 1965)
Lulu - Are You Ready For Love (EMI 1969)
Camera Obscura - The Sweetest Thing (4AD 2009) (Under The Influence)
The Chantels - I'm Confessin' (That I Love You) (End 1958)
Mike Stevens and The Shevelles - The Go Go Train (Pye 1967)
The Velvelettes - I'm The Exception To The Rule (VIP 1965)
The Beatstalkers - Sugar Chocolate Machine (CBS 1967) (Connect 3)
Chocolate Watch Band - Let's Talk About Girls (Tower 1967) (Connect 3)
The Seeds - Chocolate River (GNP Crescendo 1977) (Connect 3)
The Toys - A Lover's Concerto (DynoVoice 1965)
Barbara Ruskin - Yesterday's Coffee (President 1972)
Electric Prunes - Ain't It Hard (Reprise 1966) (Two of a Kind)
Electric Prunes - I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night) (Reprise 1966) (Two of a Kind)
Nancy Sinatra - Your Groovy Self (Unreleased 1968)
Felder's Orioles - Turn On Your Lovelight (Piccadilly 1965)
Aphrodite's Child - The Four Horsemen (Vertigo 1971)
The Quik - Bert's Apple Crumble (Decca 1967) (show theme)

It'll be doing a Jocknroll Beat special on the 29th and then four weeks of Christmas tracks. Feel free to make any recommendations for either, although I have plenty of tracks to choose from already.

Good day and good health.

The Cat
=^..^=

Sunday 1 November 2009

The Cat on "Where The Action Is" Kirkcaldy VRN 1287 AM - Sunday 1 November 2009

After last Sunday's Hallowe'en show, we're back to a "normal" one:

Mark Wirtz Orchestra & Chorus - I Can Hear Music (Decca 1969)
The Quik - Bert's Apple Crumble (Decca 1967) (show theme)
Sam and Dave - I Thank You (Stax 1968)
Herman's Hermits - No Milk Today (Columbia 1966)
The Staple Singers - When We Will Be Paid (For The Work We've Done) (Stax 1969)
Jan and Dean - Like A Summer Rain (J&D 1966)
Little Milton - We're Gonna Make It (Checker 1965)
The Beas - International Girl (Chattahoochee, Year Unknown)
Helen Shapiro - Queen for Tonight (Columbia 1963) (Connect 3)
Ike & Tina Turner - Mojo Queen (Sue 1963) (Connect 3)
Georgia Lynn - Sugar Shack Queen (Challenge 1963) (Connect 3)
Yvonne Baker & The Sensations - Party Across The Hall (Argo 1962)
The Beatstalkers - A Love Like Yours (Decca 1966)
Traffic - Rock n Roll Stew (Island 1971) (Birthday: 1/11/46 Ric Grech, bass)
Roger & The Gypsies - Pass The Hatchet (Seven B, 1965)
The Slickers - Johnny Too Bad (Trojan 1970)
Anne Kern - Tant Pis, Tant Pis Entre Donc (Come On In) (Ducretet Thomson) (Foreign Language)
Chris Farlowe - Yesterday's Papers (Immediate 1967)
Booker T and the MGs - Green Onions (live) (Volt 1962) (Half-Time Instrumental)
Mitty Collier - Help Me (Chess 1965)
Ginger Davis & The Snaps - I'm No Run Around (Rollercoaster 1961)
The Beach Boys - Forever (Brother 1970) (The A to Z of The Beach Boys - F)
The Beach Boys - Fun Fun Fun (Capitol 1964) (The A to Z of The Beach Boys - F)
The Who - Barbara Ann (Polydor 1966)
Fontella Bass - Safe and Sound (Checker 1966)
The Slingbacks - Hot On My Heels (Vinyl Japan 1993) (Under The Influence)
Erma Franklin - Light My Fire (Brunswick 1969)
The Liverbirds - Shop Around (Star-Club 1964)
Debbie Dean - Don't Let Him Shop Around (Motown 1961)
Barbara Carr - My Mama Told Me (Chess 1966) (Connect 3)
Mama Cass - California Earthquake (Dunhill 1967) (Connect 3)
Etta James - Tell Mama (Cadet 1967) (Connect 3)
The Action - Little Boy (Unreleased 1967/1968)
The Shangri-las - Hate To Say I Told You So (Sokane 1964)
Eddie Floyd - I'll Take Her (Stax 1967) (Two of a Kind)
Eddie Floyd - Big Bird (Stax 1967) (Two of a Kind)
Jo Ann Garrett - (I've Decided On) A Whole New Plan (Chess 1966)
Nicky Scott - Backstreet Girl (Immediate 1967)
Irma Thomas - Long After Tonight Is All Over (Imperial 1964)
The Quik - Bert's Apple Crumble (Decca 1967) (show theme)

It'll be doing a Jocknroll Beat special on the 29th and then four weeks of Christmas tracks. Feel free to make any recommendations for either, although I have plenty of tracks to choose from already.

Good day and good health.

The Cat
=^..^=

Monday 26 October 2009

Sergeant - Sergeant (Shy Recordings)


Sergeant's eponymous debut album sparkles like a new penny and is a welcome sound of summer as autumn turns bitterly to winter. Of course if you missed summer it was a Tuesday in June but this album more than makes up for it, acting as a musical hot water bottle through the dark nights of the year's end. Opening with current single "Sunshine", Sergeant have a swagger reminiscent of The Small Faces and a pop sensibility not seen since the Stones Roses own debut, which is not really surprising considering the involvement of John Leckie as producer.

The band doffs their hats to their musical influences and why shouldn't they? A touch of indie pop, a sprinkle of mod and a generous helping of self-belief help to make this a confident album that stands up against many released this year. It'll certainly be interesting to see and hear them evolve and create their own definitive Sergeant sound over the coming seasons.

You could hang the album on the coat hook marked "jingly-jangly pop" but that really doesn't do it justice. Repeated listening brings out all the subtleties and nuances of a wonderfully-crafted album, which can only bode well for the future. While many young bands peak on their debut and struggle to maintain the spontaneity and energy of their early offerings, Sergeant continue to grow and evolve and it shouldn't be too long before they're troubling the scorers on a national level. Their solid self-titled debut is an excellent platform on which to springboard into the upper echelons of the nation's musical consciousness and life is looking good for Glenrothes' bright young things.

Sunday 25 October 2009

The Cat on "Where The Action Is" Kirkcaldy VRN 1287 AM - Sunday 25 October 2009

Here's the playlist for tonight's Hallowe'en edition of "Where The Action Is".

R Dean Taylor - There's a Ghost In My House (Tamla Motown 1974)
The Quik - Bert's Apple Crumble (Decca 1967) (show theme)
Artistics - Nothing But Heartaches (Keep Haunting Me) (Brunswick 1967)
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Bad Moon Rising (Liberty 1969)
Virgil Holmes - Ghost Train (Atlantic 1961)
The Haunted - 1-2-5 (Quality 1966)
The Pathfinders - Pumpkin Lantern (Unreleased 1968)
The Kac-ties - Mr Were-Wolf (Shelley 1962)
October Country - My Girlfriend Is A Witch (Epic 1968) (Connect 3)
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers - I'm Your Witchdoctor (Immediate 1965) (Connect 3)
The Rattles - The Witch (Decca 1970) (Connect 3)
The Verdicts - Mummy's Ball (East Coast 1961)
Jim Stafford - Spiders and Snakes (MGM 1974)
Sounds Incorporated - Order of the Keys (Decca 1963) (Birthday: 25/10/39 Barrie Cameron, keyboards/saxophone)
Round Robin - I'm The Wolfman (Domain 1965)
John Leyton - Voodoo Woman (HMV 1961)
Christine Pilzer - Dracula (Label Unknown 1966) (Foreign Language)
The Fiends - Theme from The Addams Family (Crescendo 1964)
Chris Williams & The Monsters - The Monster (Columbia 1959) (Half-Time Instrumental)
Classics IV - Spooky (Liberty 1968)
The Swinging Phillies - Frankenstein's Party (Deluxe 1958)
Frank Sinatra - Witchcraft (Capitol 1958)
Heinz & The Wild Boys - Big Fat Spider (Columbia 1965)
Johnny Cash - Ghost Riders In the Sky (Columbia 1979)
The Turtles - Grim Reaper of Love (White Whale 1966)
The Spooks - Sally Machine (Egomania 1990) (Under The Influence)
The Nu-Trends - Spooksville (Lawn 1963)
Redbone - Witch Queen of New Orleans (Epic 1971)
Jackie Morningstar - Rockin' in The Graveyard (Sandy 1959)
The Crystals - Frankenstein Twist (Philles)
The 'N Betweens - Evil Witch Man (Columbia 1966)
Billy Doggett - Monster Party (King 1959) (Connect 3)
Bobby "Boris" Pickett & The Crypt Kickers - Monster Mash (London/Carpax 1962) (Connect 3)
Bo Diddley - Bo Meets The Monster (Checker 1958) (Connect 3)
Alma Cogan - Snakes and Snails (Columbia 1965)
Bobby Please & The Pleasers - The Monster (Jamie 1959)
The Zombies - Care of Cell 44 (CBS 1968) (Two of a Kind)
The Zombies - Tme of the Season (Date 1969) (Two of a Kind)
Blue Oyster Cult - (Don't Fear) The Reaper (Columbia 1976)
The Quik - Bert's Apple Crumble (Decca 1967) (show theme)

This year's Hallowe'en special is pretty much the same as last year's. If you have any suggestions for tracks for next year's show then by all means let me know.

Next week's show will be a normal show and we return to the A to Z of The Beach Boys with the letter F, including the song that was the first dance at my wedding.

Good day and good health.

The Cat
=^..^=

Monday 19 October 2009

Jackie Leven - Gigs

Thurs 22 Oct: Acoustic Music Club, Bennochy House, Forth Park Drive, Kirkcaldy

(Call Sandy and Fiona 01592 653645 for more information)

Sat 24 Oct: Woodend Bowling and Tennis Club, 30 Chamberlain Road, Glasgow G13 1QE. (Tickets £10 from 0141-9591428 or www.myspace.com/soundsinthesuburbs)

Tues 27 Oct: Kilbarchan The Old Library, Kilbarchan. 7.30pm. (Tickets (£12) Box Office: 01505 706070)

Wed 28 Oct: Bogbain Farm, Inshes, Nr Inverness (Box Office: 01463 772800)

Thurs 29 Oct: South Shields Customs House at The Studio (Box Office: 0191-454 1234)

Friday 30 Oct: White Church, Comrie, near Crieff, Perthshire (01764 670196 or rodan@nrodan.plus.com)

Sat 31 Oct: Stirling Tolbooth (Box Office: 01786 274000)


The following Jackie Leven double CDs are currently available:

The Haunted Year - Summer: Barefoot Days/Deep in the Heart of Nowhere
The Haunted Year - Spring: Man Bleeds in Glasgow/Greetings from Milford - Live
The Haunted Year - Winter

Sunday 18 October 2009

The Proclaimers - News

A short message from the proclaimers about upcoming events:

"Hello,

Tuesday 20th October sees Craig and Charlie appearing on BBC 1 TV Breakfast Show for an interview (scheduled for 8.45am), as they nip up to London between gigs on their current UK tour.

NPR radio stations across the USA will be broadcasting Mountain Stage over the weekend of 23-25th October featuring Craig and Charlie's acoustic performance recorded in Charlestown, WV at end of last month www.mountainstage.org/mtnstagebroadcast.aspx A complete list of stations that carry Mountain Stage can be found here:http://www.mountainstage.org/mtnstageaffiliates.aspx

The Proclaimers have added their last gig of 2009 in Dubai on their way back from a month long Australia/New Zealand tour. The show is at The Irish Village on Thursday 17th December, tickets on sale at The Irish Village and the Aviation Club.

All UK, Australian and New Zealand gig info can be found in The Gigs section at www.proclaimers.co.uk. Also, Notes & Rhymes UK Tour T-Shirts and Beanie hats have been added alongside CD's and downloads in The Shop section at www.proclaimers.co.uk

Cheers,

Persevere."

And there you have it...

Aberfeldy - Live Dates

Top Edinburgh folk popsters Aberfeldy play a couple of dates on the East Coast of Scotland very soon.

On Friday 23 October you can catch them with The Hazey Janes and The Recovery Club at the Cupar Arts Festival at the Cupar Corn Exchange (St. Catherine Street, Cupar KY15 4BT). Tickets are £12/£10 (concessions). Doors open at 7.30 pm and, before the bands kick off at 8pm, there will be a one-off screening of Guitar Heroes, three short films.



You can also see the band in the capital on Saturday 21 November at the Roxy Art House with The Real Tuesday Weld, The Parsonage and Withered Hand + more TBC. This Charity Baw in is in aid of Oxjam.

The Cat on "Where The Action Is" Kirkcaldy VRN 1287 AM - Sunday 18 October 2009

Here's the playlist for tonight's edition of "Where The Action Is".

Bobby Parker - Watch Your Step (V-Tone 1961)
The Quik - Bert's Apple Crumble (Decca 1967) (show theme)
The Girls - Chico's Girl (Capitol 1966)
The Rev-lons - Boy Trouble (Garpax 1962)
Elvis Presley - (Marie's the Name of) His Latest Flame (RCA 1961)
Glenda Collins - Find Another Fool (Decca 1961)
The Hollies - You Know He Did (Parlophone 1965)
Mary Saenz - Would She Do That For You (Big Ben 1964)
The Carrolls - The Folk I Love (Polydor 1966) (Connect 3)
Tommy Roe - The Folk Singer (HMV 1963) (Connect 3)
Lulu - My Ain Folk (EMI 1969) (Connect 3)
The Ace of Cups - Music (Unreleased/Year Unknown)
Sandi Shore - I'll Know Better (Next Time) (Gaiety 1966)
Mama Cass - Make Your Own Kind of Music (Dunhill 1969) (Birthday: 18/10/40 Cynthia Weil, Songwriter)
The Monkees - Love Is Only Sleeping (Colgems 1967)
Timi Yuro - That's Right, Walk On By (Liberty 1962)
Severine - Un Banc, Un Arbre, Une Rue (Philips 1971) (Foreign Language)
The Fashionettes - Losin' Control (Unreleased, 1963/1964)
The Flee-Rekkers - Sunburst (Piccadilly 1962) (Half-Time Instrumental)
John Leyton - Son This Is She (HMV 1961)
Scott Walker - Angelica (Philips 1967)
The Beach Boys - Endless Harmony (Capitol 1980) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - E)
The Beach Boys - Everyone's in Love With You (Brother 1967) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - E)
Beatrice Kay - Boy You Better Watch It Girl (Unreleased/Year Unknown)
John Holt - Ali Baba (Trojan 1969)
Sergeant - Sunshine (Shy Recordings 2009) (Under The Influence)
The Surfer Girls - One Boy Tells Another (Columbia 1964)
The Cinderellas - Baby Baby (I Still Love You) (Dimension 1964)
Doris Webb - He's The Most (Unreleased 1963)
Little Eva - The Trouble With Boys (Dimension 1965) (Connect 3)
The Music Explosion - Little Bit O' Soul (Laurie 1967) (Connect 3)
Ways and Means - Make The Radio a Little Louder (Pye 1967) (Connect 3)
Fanny - Charity Ball (Second Version) (Reprise 1971)
Mary Saxton - Big City Guy (Unreleased/Year Unknown)
Doris Day - Oo-Wee Baby (Unreleased 1964) (Two of a Kind)
Doris Day - Let The Little Girl Limbo (Unreleased 1963) (Two of a Kind)
Gladys Knight & The Pips - Just Walk In My Shoes (Motown 1967)
The Animals - We Gotta Get Out of This Place (Columbia 1965)
West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band - Smell of Incense (Reprise 1967)
The Quik - Bert's Apple Crumble (Decca 1967) (show theme)

Next week's show is my Hallowe'en special with plenty of spooky tunes.

If you'd like to suggest a topic for one or both of the Connect 3 features or an artist for the Two of a Kind, Foreign Language, Half-Time Instrumental or Under the Influence features then feel free.

Remember, if you're ever involved in a non-fatal accident in the Kirkcaldy area, do tune in on 1287AM or Channel 3 on the hospital headsets to "Where The Action Is", a blend of mod, soul, Motown, girl groups/singers and alternative pop from the late 50s through to the early 70s.

Feel free to leave a comment or indeed a request or two. I can't promise to play it immediately - the shows are usually done live but prepared two or three weeks in advance - but I'll endeavour to play them within a month.

The Cat
=^..^=

Friday 16 October 2009

Sergeant - Album and Tour Dates

Following the release last week of their excellent eponymous debut album, Sergeant hit the highways and low roads of the UK between now and Christmas. Catch them while you can.

NOVEMBER
13 - Edinburgh, The GRV
20 - Bathgate, Room at the Top
21 - Crewe, The Box
22 - Kidderminster, The Tap House
23 - Cardiff, 10 Feet Tall
24 - Bristol, The Cooler
26 - London, The Fly
28 - Glasgow, King Tuts

DECEMBER
02 - Liverpool, Ink @ Masque
03 - Preston, 53 Degrees
04 - Manchester, Moho Live - (Indigo Xmas Party)
11 - Montrose, Ash Bar
12 - Aberdeen, Drummonds
19 - Dunfermline, Alhambra Theatre (with The Charlatans)
28 - Dundee, Doghouse

Trashcan Sinatras/Camera Obscura - News

Some news from the Trashcan Sinatras:

"hi everyone. if you haven't checked out the trashcans on the web lately, here is the latest news:

record releases:
* "in the music" was released in the uk on september 14
* "people" is being released as a single in the uk on november 9
* a video for "people" is available on youtube
* "in the music" release in the usa and canada in feb/march 2010
* back catalogue re-release still planned...now early 2010

touring:
* a few uk tour dates are finalised:

nov 12, glasgow, oran mor
nov 13, kelso, tait hall
nov 14, edinburgh, cabaret voltaire
nov 16, aberdeen, the warehouse
nov 18, nottingham, rescue rooms
nov 19, london, bloomsbury ballroom

tickets are on sale now. a few more uk/ireland dates still to come.

* japanese tour dates:

feb 16, osaka, club quattro
feb 17, tokyo, club quattro

also possibly australia around then.

* usa/canada around march 2010

other news:
* the band filmed a session in new york for aol, which you can view at spinner.com
* the trashcansinatras website shop now has:

- new t-shirts
- a new radio sessions cd
- trashcan sinatras branded usb sticks with live shows from the 2009 usa tour

* "in the music" lyrics and guitar tabs are now available at trashcansinatras.com
* "in the music" reviews are on the website

you can find more details at trashcansinatras.com. don't forget to check out the band's message board, facebook, myspace, twitter, ilike and reverbnation. thanks for listening."

And from Camera Obscura:

"Camera Obscura release their new single "The Sweetest Thing" on Nov 2nd, 2009 on digital and 7" vinyl. The B-side is a beautiful cover of "Tougher Than The Rest" by Bruce Springsteen. New video features cameos from 'Simon & Garfunkel' and 'Kate Bush'...ahem...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhSanTYPm2g

Camera Obscura On Tour:

OCTOBER
12 59to1, Munich, GER
Buy - http://bit.ly/48xPQ
13 Abart, Zurich, SWZ
Buy - http://bit.ly/30QeiK
14 Casa 139, Milan, ITA
Buy - http://bit.ly/lQYvW
16 La Maroquinerie, Paris, FRA
Buy - http://bit.ly/HOaZ4
18 Le Grand Mix, Tourcoing, FRA
Buy - http://bit.ly/jPVZH
19 Ancienne Belgique, Brussels, BEL
Buy - http://bit.ly/VdgjH
20 Paradiso, Amsterdam, NED
Buy - http://bit.ly/16RbkM
22 The Waterfront, Norwich, UK
Buy - http://bit.ly/ze9OC
23 Komedia, Brighton, UK
Buy - http://bit.ly/19jiVb
24 Phoenix, Exeter, UK
Buy - http://bit.ly/ztRkr
25 Thelka, Bristol, UK
Buy - http://bit.ly/UlGFY
26 Library, Morecambe, UK
Buy - http://bit.ly/bk14Y
27 Cockpit, Leeds, UK
Buy - http://bit.ly/1AZy6s
29 Barrowlands, Glasgow, UK
Buy - http://bit.ly/aNwjS

NOVEMBER
3 Shepherds Bush Empire, London, UK
Buy - http://bit.ly/1DqaRd
5 Casa Del Loco, Zaragoza, SPA
Buy - http://bit.ly/3b38EE
6 Multiusos Sanchez Paraiso, Salamanca, SPA
Buy - http://bit.ly/cxibO
7 Fair, Valladolid, SPA
8 Heineken Theatre, Madrid, SPA
Buy - http://bit.ly/qPrfq - and - http://bit.ly/4hs5YZ
9 Sala Apolo, Barcelona, SPA
Buy - http://bit.ly/3ZU4gy
18 Tipitinas, New Orleans, LA, USA
Buy - http://bit.ly/ltj7T
19 Bottletree, Birmingham, AL, USA
Buy - http://bit.ly/HnuRf
20 Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA, USA
Buy - http://bit.ly/ZimZv
21 Attucks Theatre, Norfolk, VA, USA
Buy - http://bit.ly/qDC6e
22 Music Hall Of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY, USA
Buy - http://bit.ly/KZI5A
24 Pearl Street Ballroom, Northampton, MA, USA
Buy - http://bit.ly/2gLs49
25 The German House, Rochester, NY, USA
Buy - http://bit.ly/n83y7
26 Phoenix, Toronto, ON, USA
Buy - http://bit.ly/GMeOA
27 Crofoot Ballroom, Pontiac, MI, USA
Buy - http://bit.ly/IQ7Lc
28 Turner Hall, Milwaukee, WI, USA
Buy - http://bit.ly/18i1b7
30 Bluebird, Bloomington, IN, USA
Buy - http://bit.ly/RxZEi

DECEMBER
1 Off Broadway, St Louis, MO, USA
Buy - http://bit.ly/OUBNj
2 The Lyric Oxford, Oxford, MS, USA
Buy - http://bit.ly/Rgt9F
3 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA, USA
Buy - http://bit.ly/2bKGc3


To visit the the newly-opened Camera Obscura shop click -
http://www.camera-obscura-shop.net

Website - www.camera-obscura.net
Twitter - http://twitter.com/camera_obscura_
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/CameraObscuraMusic
MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/cameraobscuraband"