Jocknroll

From Blogger to Wordpress...

2010-05-16T04:46:00.001-07:00

Please note I have now moved my blogs to Wordpress. Please amend your links to: http://jocknroll.wordpress.com/

The old Jocknroll and World of Misery Guts blogs have been amalgamated into Jocknroll Ain't Noise Pollution, which will cover "music and musings". Please amend your links accordingly.

Many thanks

Paul aka The Cat aka Misery Guts

The Cat on "Where The Action Is" Kirkcaldy VRN 1287 AM - Sunday 9 May 2010

2010-05-09T02:15:00.000-07:00

A year older but none the wiser. Where The Action Is continues to weave its magic and pull more musical surprises from its top hat. In this afternoon's show...

The Open Mind - Cast A Spell (Philips 1969)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)
Jackson Sisters - Miracles (Prophecy 1973)
Karen Verros - You Just Gotta Know My Mind (Dot 1965)
The Kinks - Australia (Pye 1969)
The Seekers - Georgy Girl (Columbia 1966)
Kim Weston - Looking For The Right Guy (Motown 1964)
Doris Troy - Tomorrow Is Another Day (Atlantic 1963)
The Soul Agents - The Seventh Son (Pye 1964) (Connect 3)
Nancy Sinatra - Last of the Secret Agents (Reprise 1966) (Connect 3)
Edwin Starr - Agent Double-O Soul (Ric-Tic 1965) (Connect 3)
The Living Daylights - Let's Live for Today (Philips 1967)
Lulu - Stop Fooling Around (Decca 1965)
The She Trinity - He Fought The Law (Columbia 1966) (Birthday: 9/5/67 Sonny Curtis)
Fontella Bass - Recovery (Chess 1965)
Tammi Terrell - Come On and See Me (Motown 1966)
Jacques Brel - Mathilde (Barclay 1964) (Foreign Language)
Twinkle - Ain't Nobody Home But Me (Decca 1965)
The John Barry Orchestra - Beat for Beatniks (Columbia 1960) (Half-Time Instrumental)
The Isley Brothers - Behind A Painted Smile (Tamla 1968)
Unit 4+2 - I Will (Fontana 1969)
The Message - Rum-Bum-A-Loo (Trojan 1970) (Trojan Mod Reggae)
Cher - See See Rider (Imperial 1965)
A Band of Angels - (Accept) My Invitation (Piccadilly 1966)
The Mindbenders - The Morning After (Fontana 1966)
Fountains of Wayne - Better Things (Rykodisc 2002) (Under The Influence)
The Starlets - You Don't Love Me (Tower 1965)
Buddy Britten and the Regents - Right Now (Piccadilly 1965)
Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Motoring (Gordy 1965)
Shorty Long - Devil in the Blue Dress (Soul 1964) (Connect 3)
Rupert & The Red Devils - It's For You (Unreleased 1962) (Connect 3)
Goodnight Kisses - Devil in the Dark (Atco 1965) (Connect 3)
The Mirror - Faster Than Light (Philips 1968)
The Liverbirds - Talking About You (Star-Club)
Helen Shapiro - Kiss n Run (Columbia 1960) (Two of a Kind)
Helen Shapiro - Easy Come Easy Go (Columbia 1963) (Two of a Kind)
Eddie Holland - Leaving Here (Motown 1964)
Paul Revere & The Raidres - Kicks (Columbia 1966)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)

If you're in the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, you can tune in on channel 3 on your hospital bedside or on 1287AM on the Medium Wave.

That's it for this week. Until next time, it's good day and good health.

Night Noise Team - You Won (Permwhale Recordings)

2010-05-08T02:17:00.000-07:00

Night Noise Team's new single 'You Won' will be released on 17th May, 2010. It will be available on download only from iTunes, Napster, Amazon, www.myspace.com/nightnoiseteam and http://nightnoiseteam.bandcamp.com/

'You Won' is the follow-up to NNT's positively- received debut single 'Menolick' which garnered global podcast and blogging kudos (including airplay support from BBC 6Music's Steve Lamacq, various BBC Radio 1 shows and independent radio stations).

'You Won' is a captivating, expansive pop track tooled up for the summer. Inspired by a pub conversation about Chris Marker's 1962 French film classic 'La Jetee', the song was developed during last orders and the walk back to NNT's Edinburgh studio. Recording began the same night with a cameo from an irate neighbour who threatened to call the council Night Noise Team but ended up contributing an ethereal backing vocal.

The band has been together for 2 years and consists of Sean Ormsby from Belfast on vocals and guitar, Fabien Pinardon from Paris on bass, Marco Morelli from Milan on guitar and drummer Mike Walker from Dunfermline. Currently based in Edinburgh, Night Noise Team has been invited to play with Thomas Truax, Mercury-nominated The Invisible and Goldhawks at Glasgow's King Tut's as well as appearing on a compilation of Scottish bands with Meursault and Sparrow and the Workshop.

Night Noise Team's music has been compared to Galaxie 500, Arab Strap, Scissor Sisters, David Bowie and Belle and Sebastian by reviewers from NME, The Skinny, The List and Daily Record amongst others.

'You Won' is an infectious pop confection, a dancefloor anthem with a dark edge.

The French Wives - Me vs Me

2010-05-07T11:56:00.000-07:00

Glasgow's French Wives release their excellent new single "Me vs Me" on Monday 17 May 2010.

This wonderfully bright and sparky single will be officially launched at the Glasgow School of Art on Friday 14 May 2010, with support from Endor and Blue Sky. A mere £5 for 3 great bands.

You can view their promo film HERE, which, they say, features "genuine old versions" of themselves.

You can also catch the band in the flesh at these places in the near future:

Mon 17 May - Avalanche Records, Glasgow (Acoustic in-store at 5pm)
Sun 23 May - Madhouse @ The Lock Tavern, London
Sat 12 Jun - Strongbow Stage @ Rockness, Inverness
Sat 19 Jun - Insider Festival, Aviemore
Tue 22 Jun - Brel - West End Festival, Glasgow
Fri 16 Jul - The Tunnels - Aberdeen

You can also purchase the single from their small but perfectly formed shop HERE. I love the t-shirt design so much I've bought one. You should too!

Fence Records announces first Away Game

2010-05-03T07:46:00.000-07:00

After seven years of hosting the Home Game event in our home town of Anstruther, Fife, we at Fence Records are proud to announce details of our very first Away Game!

The Away Game will be taking place over the 24th – 26th of September 2010, on the beautifully remote isle of Eigg, located in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland.

With a population of just 70 people (plus a lot of sheep, some cows, and a big bastard bull called Dougald), the isle of Eigg has a strong sense of community – and all the islanders have a real thirst for a good party – the ideal location, then, for a Fence Records event!

Hosted by King Creosote and The Pictish Trail, the weekend will feature a bevvy of great music from the Fence Collective and special guests, as well as a chance to explore the island, meet old friends, and make new pals too.

The Pictish Trail: “Our first Away Game is gonna be a proper adventure! We wanted to capture the spirit of Home Game, and take it somewhere a bit bonkers. Since our very first Home Game, people have asked us to put on an Away Game in their hometown … but we’ve been secretly wanting to do something on Eigg for years. The scenery over there is absolutely gobsmacking – and the atmosphere is perfect for a party. I was over on the island recently, and everyone I met there is really excited about meeting you Fencers! I can’t reveal the line-up just yet … but ticketholders are in for a real treat”.

What makes this event different from the Home Game is that ticket holders will have the opportunity to camp, instead of having to fork out for B’n’B’s or other accommodation. So, expect campfire sing-a-longs, and amazing views out to sea.

As this is our first official Fence event of this type, we’re making it extremely limited – selling just 150 camping tickets.

Tickets for The Fence Records’ Away Game will go on sale on Monday 24th May, at 12 noon – on the Fence Records website, www.fencerecords.com .

Tickets are priced at £90.00 each, and are inclusive of camping and arranged ferries to and from the island.

We’re chartering a couple of ferries from the coastal town of Arisaig on Friday afternoon (24th September), and some ferries returning to the mainland on the Sunday afternoon and Monday morning (26th/27th September). There’s a thrice-daily train service between Arisaig and Glasgow Queen Street – and we’ve timed all the ferries so that they synchronise with these.

Music is going to take place on the Friday night, from around 8/9pm, until very late … and then will start again from mid-afternoon until late on the Saturday. The Sunday will be a day to recover/sleep – and there’ll be a ferry to take some folk back home in the afternoon, and another on the Monday morning.

As with most Fence events, we’re not going to reveal the line-up for a wee while yet … but, rest assured, there’ll be a good mix of all your usual Fence Collective favourites … and some very special guests. To give you an idea of the type of music, here’s whom we’ve had play at previous Fence events …

FOUR TET MALCOLM MIDDLETON KT TUNSTALL MARINA & THE DIAMONDS THE WHIP JON HOPKINS ARCHIE BRONSON OUTFIT ALEXIS TAYLOR (HOT CHIP) GREEN GARTSIDE (SCRITTI POLITTI) THE UNTHANKS DJANGO DJANGO ADRIAN CROWLEY THE BLUEBELLS EMMA POLLOCK THE CONCRETES SPARE SNARE EAGLEOWL ADEM KARINE POLWART JOHN MACLEAN (THE ALIENS / BETA BAND) THE PHANTOM BAND DE ROSA DAVID THOMAS BROUGHTON STUART BRAITHWAITE (MOGWAI) MARY HAMPTON THE CHEEK JOSIE LONG SLOW CLUB THE SKYGREEN LEOPARDS ALASDAIR ROBERTS KING BISCUIT TIME (STEVE MASON) VIKING MOSES PANTHA DU PRINCE WITHERED HAND BITMAP FRANCES MCKEE (THE VASELINES) AIDAN SMITH FONDA 500 BALLBOY RAY RUMOURS JOHNNY FLYNN EUGENE MCGUINNESS CHRIST. BLOOD MUSIC to name but a few … !

Keep your eyes peeled to the Fence Records site over the next few weeks for more info on the weekend – including travel information, line-up etc. There’s also a thread on our messageboard (the Beef Board), where you can ask questions – you can visit it by clicking HERE.

The Cat on "Where The Action Is" Kirkclady VRN 1287AM - Sunday 2 May 2010

2010-05-02T03:22:00.000-07:00

Here we are again, May is upon us and I'm almost a year old, if not wiser. As is my wont I shall be providing a show of blatant and unapologetic self-indulgence. It's my birthday tomorrow and I'll play what I want to. Having said that, I shall remain pretty much within the normal musical parameters of my show. You'll hear artists and songs featuring "Paul", "Cat", "Birthday" and "Party", even amongst the usual features. Happy Birthday To Me!

The Beatles - Birthday (Apple 1968)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)
Barbara Ruskin - Cats Eyes (Unreleased, Year Unknown)
Paul Craig - Midnight Girl (CBS 1966)
Annette Funicello - Tall Paul (Disneyland 1958)
Paul and Barry Ryan - I Love How You Love Me (Decca 1966)
The Kinks - Phenomenal Cat (Pye 1968)
Darlene Paul - A Little Bit of Heaven (Capitol 1964)
Petula Clark - Life and Soul of the Party (Pye 1966) (Connect 3)
The Victorians - You're Invited To A Party (Liberty 1964) (Connect 3)
Warwick - Let's Get The Party Going (RAK 1973) (Connect 3)
Paul and Paula - Hey Paula (Phillips 1963)
Fanny - Cat Fever (Reprise 1971)
The Merseys - The Cat (Fontana 1967) (Birthday: 3 May 1967 Me!)
Paul Revere & The Raiders - Just Like Me (Columbia 1966)
Paul Jones - I've Been A Bad Bad Boy (HMV 1967)
Geraldine Gaulier - Les Chattes (The Cats) (Label Unknown 1968) (Foreign Language)
Glenda Collins - Been Invited To a Party (HMV 1965)
Tony Russell - Happy Larry (On The Buses Theme) (Label Unknown 1969) (Half-Time Instrumental)
John Paul Jones - Baja (Pye 1964)
Paul Conway - Don't Make Fun of Me (Piccadilly 1964)
The Cats - Swan Lake (BAF 1968) (Trojan Mod Reggae)
Paul & Ritchie & The Cryan Shames - Come On Back (Decca 1966)
Peter, Paul and Mary - I Dig Rock and Roll Music (Warners 1967)
The Ivy League - We're Having A Party (Piccadilly 1965)
Attic Lights - Wendy (Paul Remix) (Island 2008) (Under The Influence)
The Associates - Party Fears Two (WEA 1982)
Paul's Troubles - You've Got Something (Ember 1966)
Simon and Garfunkel - Keep The Customer Satisfied (Columbia 1969)
Bobby Fuller Four - Birthday Cake (Keep Your Hands Off It) (Unreleased, Year Unknown) (Connect 3)
The Cookies - I Want A Boy For My Birthday (Dimension 1963) (Connect 3)
Baby Jane & The Rockabyes - Happy Birthday (Wherever You Are) (Unreleased 1963) (Connect 3)
Paul Kane - My Fair Baby's Comin' for Me (Unreleased, Year Unknown)
John E Paul - I Wanna Know (Decca 1967)
Paul Anka - I Can't Help Loving You (RCA 1966) (Two of a Kind)
Paul Anka - Smells Like Teen Spirit (Verve Music 2005) (Two of a Kind)
The Orchids - She's My Girl (Pebble 2010)
The Pixies Three - Birthday Party (Mercury 1963)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)

If you're in the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, you can tune in on channel 3 on your hospital bedside or on 1287AM on the Medium Wave.

That's it for this week. Until next time, it's good day and good health.

The Orchids - She's My Girl (Pebble) out 24 May

2010-05-02T02:51:00.000-07:00

The Legendary Sarah Records band are back!! An exciting announcement coming from Glasgow, home to the enigmatic five piece band The Orchids!

The guys have been busy since their last live performance in New York in summer 2008 writing and recording their fifth studio album. You will hear the results for the first time on a brand new Brighton-based label Pebble Records. The album called “The Lost Star” will be out in July 2010 and is preceded by the release of a single. The bands seventh single, “She’s My Girl” is released on 24th May and this will not disappoint new or existing fans, being a raucous guitar pop song for you to pogo and shout along to. This is backed with two other new songs “The OK Song (Single mix)” and “The Lost Star”. The two additional songs that make up a three song EP have been entirely produced by the band themselves but on the main song, and others on the new album, the band has renewed their relationship with producer Ian Carmichael with spectacular results.

The album is a varied collection of songs more in line with their second album than with the 2007 release “Unholy Soul”“Good To Be A Stranger”. Watch out for the Orchids pop sound you know so well on “Les Spectacles de la Foire” and “Song For A Friend” and try to control your feet when you hear tracks such as “The Way That She Moves”. Meanwhile the cinematic epic guitar sound of “Doot Doot” and beautiful harmonies in the understated “Back To Your House” may surprise some who expect everything to remain the same in the world of The Orchids – which of course it never does! You can also savour one of the best tracks on the album, the breathtaking and atmospheric “Girl To The Soldier” featuring the Cairn String Quartet (who have also worked with fellow Glaswegians Camera Obscura and Twilight Sad).

The album has been recorded and produced by the band’s bass player Ronnie Borland in Busby, Eaglesham and Manchester with final mixing by the aforementioned Ian Carmichael. As with their previous three albums, this one also features the beautiful vocals of Pauline Hynds.

The band has announced some shows to promote the records, returning to play for the second time at the popular English festival “Indie Tracks” on Saturday 24th July and then at Berlin popfest on Saturday 31st July. Look out for live performances to be announced for London and Glasgow. Listen to what they are all about and keep up to date with what happens next in the wonderful world of The Orchids at www.myspace.com/theorchidsuk

“The best Scottish pop band since Orange Juice” – Melody Maker

“A blissful mix of the best Scottish bands of the last few years” – NME

“Eclectic. Every single song is a gem” – Exclaim

“Luxuriant textures, immaculate pop fizz with enviable purpose” – MM

“Songs of emotional wit and sparkling indie pop” – All Music Guide

“Languid and alluring” – Tangents

“Sweetly strummed, swoonily harmonised" – Uncut

“They brought together all the best parts of the 80's Scottish music scene, while adding something that's hard to pin down, yet made them so very special" Exclaim!

The Cat on "Where The Action Is" Kirkcaldy VRN 1287 AM - Sunday 25 April 2010

2010-04-25T03:15:00.001-07:00

The sun has well and truly got its hat on, as well as the rest of its holiday clothes, and toddled off somewhere else. Still I'll try and bring some musical sunshine in the shape of "Where the action Is". As usual we'll play two rounds of the Connect 3 game, we'll celebrate the birthday of songwriter Michael Brown and this week's foreign language track comes from Gillian Hills. There's also the half-time instrumental, the Trojan Mod Reggae track (still no suggestions for a groovy name for this feature?) and there's Two of a Kind from Nino Tempo and April Stevens. I'll also be playing another track from the brand new Jackie Leven album, "Gothic Road". For the last time we'll feature tracks from the Sunshine Pop edition of the Chartbusters USA series, "The Laurie Records Story" and "Phil's Spectre II: Another Wall of Soundalikes". Here are this week's dishes - tuck in:

The Beach Boys - Darlin' (Capitol 1967)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)
Mary Wells - One Block From Heaven (Motown 1966)
Ella Washington - Too Weak To Fight (Sound Stage 7 1972)
The Del-Rons - Your Big Mistake (Laurie 1964)
Bobby Vee & The Strangers - Look At Me Girl (Liberty 1966)
Gloria Dennis - How Can I Be Sure (That It's Love) (Laurie 1965)
Bobby Coleman - (Baby) You Don't Have To Tell Me (Bounty 1965)
Gemini - Sunshine River (Clarion 1969) (Connect 3)
The Sunshine Company - Back On The Street Again (Imperial 1967) (Connect 3)
The Box Tops - I Only See Sunshine (Mala 1969) (Connect 3)
The Charmers - Shy Guy (Laurie 1963)
Kane and Abel - Break Down and Cry (Destination 1965)
The Left Banke - She May Call You Up Tonight (Smash 1967) (Birthday: 25/4/49 Michael Brown)
The Cheese Cakes - Heading for a Heartbreak (Laurie 1966)
Noreen Corcoran - Dreamin' of You (Vee-Jay 1964)
Gillian Hills - Maintenant Il Telephone (Barclay 1963) (Foreign Language)
Mamas and the Papas - I Saw Her Again (Dunhill 1966)
The Small Faces - Own Up Time (Decca 1966) (Half-Time Instrumental)
Bernadette Carroll - Circus Girl (Laurie 1965)
Spanky & Our Gang - Lazy Day (Mercury 1967)
Owen Gray - Running Around (Blue Beat 1960) (Trojan Mod Reggae)
Willie Hobbs - Where Did I Go Wrong? (Sound Stage 7 1970)
Joe South - Don't Be Ashamed (Capitol 1969)
Beverly Warren - Let Me Get Close To You (Rust 1965)
Jackie Leven - John Paul Getty's Silver Cadillac (Cooking Vinyl 2010) (Under The Influence)
The Forum - The River Is Wide (Mira 1966)
Connie Stevens - A Girl Never Knows (Warner Bros 1964)
Brenda Lee Jones - You're The Love of My Life (Rust 1966)
The Peppermint Rainbow - Don't Wake Me Up In The Morning, Michael (Decca 1969) (Connect 3)
Jackie Lee - End of a Rainbow (LP version) (Pye 1971) (Connect 3)
The Rainbow People - Rainbows (Pye 1968) (Connect 3)
The Chiffons - Keep The Boy Happy (Laurie 1967)
Marcy - Love (Can Make You Happy) (Sundi 1969)
Nino Tempo & April Stevens - The Habit of Lovin' You Baby (White Whale 1966) (Two of a Kind)
Nino Tempo & April Stevens - All Strung Out (White Whale 1966) (Two of a Kind)
Harpers Bizarre - Anything Goes (Warner Bros 1967)
The Righteous Brothers - Nite Owl (Moonglow 1964)
The Association - Time for Livin' (Warner Bros 1968)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)

If you're in the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, you can tune in on channel 3 on your hospital bedside or on 1287AM on the Medium Wave.

That's it for this week. Next week will be a self-indulgent Birthday special as it's the day before my big day. I'll be playing tracks by artists who have Paul in their name, or songs/artists about cats (because I'm "The Cat") and a few birthday/party tracks. Until then, it's good day and good health.

The Cat on "Where The Action Is" Kirkcaldy VRN 1287 AM - Sunday 18 April 2010

2010-04-18T01:36:00.000-07:00

It's back to VRN after a week of sunshine in beautiful Strathyre. We'll play two rounds of the Connect 3 game, we'll celebrate the birthday of Manfred Mann multi-instrumentalist Mike Vickers and this week's foreign language track comes from Sandie Shaw. There's also the half-time instrumental, the Trojan Mod Reggae track (any suggestions for a groovy name for this feature?) and there's Two of a Kind from Reparata, with and without the Delrons. We'll also play a track from the brand new Jackie Leven album, "Gothic Road". This month's shows will feature tracks from the Sunshine Pop edition of the Chartbusters USA series, "The Laurie Records Story" and "Phil's Spectre II: Another Wall of Soundalikes". This week's delights:

The Lovin' Spoonful - She Is Still A Mystery (Kama Sutra 1967)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)
The Fifth Dimension - Workin' On A Groovy Thing (Soul City 1969)
Marie Antoinette - He's My Dream Boy (Providence 1964)
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - If You Can Want (Tamla 1968)
The Lemon Pipers - Green Tambourine (Buddah 1967)
The Bonnets - Ya Gotta Take A Chance (Unical 1963)
Dawn - Sandy (Laurie 1968)
Robert Knight - Love On A Mountain Top (Monument 1973) (Connect 3)
The Victorians - Climb Every Mountain (Liberty 1963) (Connect 3)
Valerie Mountain - Some People (Pye 1962) (Connect 3)
The Summits - He's An Angel (Harmon/Rust 1963)
The Young Rascals - A Girl Like You (Atlantic 1967)
Manfred Mann - Hubble Bubble (Toil and Trouble) (HMV 1964) (Birthday: 18/4/40 Mike Vickers)
Timmy & The Persianettes - Timmy Boy (Olympia 1963)
Cortina Ford - Don't Lean On Me (Laurie 1966)
Sandie Shaw - Rien N'Est Fini (Guardo Te Che Te Ne Vai) (Pye 1966) (Foreign Language)
The Satisfactions - Bring It All Down (Imperial 1966)
Dave Pike - Sweeet Tater Pie (Atlantic 1965) (Half-Time Instrumental)
The Tokens - She Lets Her Hair Down (Buddah 1969)
The Fantastic Vantastics - Gee What A Boy (Tuff 1965)
Clancy All Stars - C N Express (Trojan 1967) (Trojan Mod Reggae)
Dana Gillespie - Thank You Boy (Pye 1965)
The Charmers - Sweet Talk (Laurie 1963)
The Friends of Distinction - Grazing In The Grass (RCA 1969)
Jackie Leven - Gothic Road (Cooking Vinyl 2010) (Under The Influence)
The Chiffons - Love Me Like You're Gonna Lose Me (Laurie 1969)
The Velvelettes - Let Love Live (A Little Bit Longer) (Unreleased 1965)
The Knickbockers - Wishful Thinking (Challenge 1966)
Helen Shapiro - A Teenager Sings The Blues (EMI 1962) (Connect 3)
The Jeans - Whenever A Teenager Cries (Laurie 1981) (Connect 3)
Joe Simon - Teenager's Prayer (Sound Stage 7 1965) (Connect 3)
Ruby & The Romantics - Your Baby Doesn't Love You Anymore (Kapp 1965)
The Neon Philharmonic - Morning Girl (Warner Bros 1969)
Reparat and the Delrons - I'm Nobody's Baby Now (RCA Victor 1966) (Two of a Kind)
Reparata - Your Life Is Gone (Laurie 1972) (Two of a Kind)
The Association - Time for Livin' (Warner Bros 1968)
The Rolling Stones - Plundered My Soul (Polydor 1972)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)

If you're in the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, you can tune in on channel 3 on your hospital bedside or on 1287AM on the Medium Wave.

That's it for this week. It's back to the day job and changeable weather but I'll be back with you next week for more aural delights. Until then, it's good night and good health.

The Cat on "Where The Action Is" Kirkcaldy VRN 1287 AM - Sunday 11 April 2010

2010-04-11T03:13:00.000-07:00

After the trauma of the HBA awards and the chocolate-flavoured goings-on of the Easter weekend, it's back to normality and the usual mix of mod, soul, Motown, alternative pop and a veritable cornucopia of classic cuts from the late 50s through to the early 70s. This month's shows will feature tracks from the Sunshine Pop edition of the Chartbusters USA series, The Laurie Records Story and "Phil's Spectre II: Another Wall of Soundalikes". Eyes down for a full house:

The Turtles - Happy Together (White Whale 1967)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)
The Summits - Hanky Panky (Harmon/Rust 1963)
The Beach Boys - I Do (Unreleased 1963)
The Critters - Younger Girl (Kapp 1966)
Les Girls - I Still Love You (Laurie 1966)
The Velvelettes - A Bird in the Hand (Is Worth Two In the Bush) (VIP 1965)
The Cowsills - The Rain, The Park and Other Things (MGM 1967)
Eight Feet - Bobby's Come A Long Long Way (Columbia 1966) (Connect 3)
Keith - 98.6 (Mercury 1966) (Connect 3)
Four Tops - Wonderful Baby (Motown 1967) (Connect 3)
Cher - I Go To Sleep (Imperial 1965)
Linda and the Lindettes - He's Mine (Unreleased 1964)
The Kingsmen - Louie Louie (Jerden 1963) (Birthday: 11/4/35 Richard Berry)
The Goodies - Dum Dum Ditty (Blue Cat 1965)
Don and the Goodtimes - I Could Be So Good To You (Epic 1967)
Jacques Brel - Le Moribond (Philips 1961) (Foreign Language)
Lorrie Darnell - Nothing Went Right (Laurie 1963)
Tony Newman - Let The Good Times Roll (Decca 1968) (Half-Time Instrumental)
Donovan - Wear Your Love Like Heaven (Epic 1967)
Dobie Gray - No Room To Cry (Charger 1966)
Tommy McCook - Riverton City (Trojan 1966) (Trojan Mod Reggae)
Mama Cass - It's Getting Better (Dunhill 1969)
The Rockin' Berries - The Water Is Over My Head (Piccadilly 1965)
Dawn - I'm Afraid They're All Talking About Me (Laurie 1967)
Jackie Leven - In a Shivering Blaze (Cooking Vinyl 2010) (Under The Influence)
Suzy Wallis - Be My Man (RCA-Victor 1965)
Tommy James and The Shondells - Crystal Blue Persuasion (Roulette 1969)
Episode Six - Put Yourself In My Place (Pye 1965)
Kathy Lynn & The Playboys - I Got A Guy (Swan 1964) (Connect 3)
Bernadette Carroll - He's Just A Playboy (Laurie 1965) (Connect 3)
Sundown Playboys - Saturday Night Special (Apple 1972) (Connect 3)
The Dreamlovers - You Gave Me Somebody To Love (Warner Bros 1966)
Robert John - If You Don't Want My Love (Columbia 1968)
The Chiffons - If I Knew Then (What I Know Now) (Laurie 1966) (Two of a Kind)
The Chiffons - Stop, Look and Listen (Laurie 1966) (Two of a Kind)
Clydie King - The Thrill Is Gone (Imperial 1965)
Chris Farlowe - Out of Time (Immediate 1966)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)

That's it for this week. I'm now off for a week's R&R with my ladies but I'll back for next week's show. Until then, it's good night and good health.

Paul Haig Day II

2010-04-05T08:20:00.000-07:00

The second annual Paul Haig Day is almost upon us (Here's last year's choice). As I'll be back to work tomorrow and won't be able to post until late in the day I'm going to post my selection now, a few hours early.

For those who don't know, Paul Haig Day came about from an idea by JC at the excellent Vinyl Villain blog.

This came about as a direct result of the law-unto-itself that is the DMCA. According to Wikpedia, "The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) is a United States copyright law that implements two 1996 treaties of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). It criminalizes production and dissemination of technology, devices, or services intended to circumvent measures (commonly known as digital rights management or DRM) that control access to copyrighted works. It also criminalizes the act of circumventing an access control, whether or not there is actual infringement of copyright itself. In addition, the DMCA heightens the penalties for copyright infringement on the Internet. Passed on October 12, 1998 by a unanimous vote in the United States Senate and signed into law by President Bill Clinton on October 28, 1998, the DMCA amended Title 17 of the United States Code to extend the reach of copyright, while limiting the liability of the providers of on-line services for copyright infringement by their users."

What this means, in English, is that this law is being used to not only remove the "offending" mp3s they consider to be posted illegally but the blogs hosting them aswell. The problem with this is that the DMCA is being used indiscriminantly to target people, including those who either own the songs they're linking to or have permission from those who own the tracks. This also means that America owns the Interweb, but you knew that, right?

Paul Haig has once again kindly given permission for one or more of his tracks to be posted on blogs and this year I've chosen the 12" mix of "The Only Truth", co-produced by Paul Haig, Bernard Sumner (New Order) and Donald Johnson (A Certain Ratio).

mp3: Paul Haig - The Only Truth 12"

Paul has also provided an exclusive remix of the opening track of his current album, "Relive" for your delectation.

mp3: Paul Haig - Trip Out The Rider Mix 2

By all means, download these tracks, that's what it's there for, but if it whets your appetite for more music from Scotland's best kept secret then go to his website and/or Amazon store, which are linked below. Paul Haig's Wikipedia page is pretty comprehensive and you can find out about "The Only Truth" HERE.

"Trip Out the Rider" will also be released as a 7" single later in the year and will feature a very special collaborator.

Links:

Paul Haig's official website
Paul Haig's MySpace
Paul Haig's Amazon Store

Other Blogs who took part last year and may do again this year are:

Condemned To Rock'n'Roll
Tracklister
Acid Ted
Exile On Moan Street
Across The Kitchen Table
17 Seconds
Love Shack, Baby
Castles In Space
Blogger's Delite
How Does That One Go Again?
Aye Tunes
Sexy Loser
Armagideon Time
A Sweet Unrest
The Songs That People Sing
Sunset Over Slawit
Manic Pop Thrills
Song, By Toad
London Cafe : The Best Of UK Indie
Helpless Dancer

A "Heaven Sent" idea.

Trips and Falls - He Was Such A Quiet Boy (Song, By Toad Records)

2010-04-05T04:26:00.000-07:00

He Was Such a Quiet Boy by Trips and Falls
Hello, apologies for the spam once more, but I thought you might be interested in a copy of our latest release: He Was Such a Quiet Boy by Montreal band Trips and Falls. They sent me this last year and I absolutely loved it, but like so many bands, they weren't exactly pushing their own publicity all that hard, so after six months of no-one else really discovering this band I decided fuck it, I would ask if I could release it on Song, by Toad Records.

Fortunately they said yes, and here it is. Chris from the Brothers Grimm did the artwork for the new release, and we hand-pressed three-hundred copies in the house, before sending them back to Montreal for the band's launch party. It's strange, creepy guitar music but it's really compelling. As Chris Buckle wrote in the Skinny: "Their woozy experiments sound like a band that decided to play their instruments backwards and blindfolded – and discovered it worked."

mp3 downloads
Trips and Falls - How Do You Do
Trips and Falls - In Real Life He Wears Corduroy Pants

Buy links, MySpace and other resources...

Trips and Falls on MySpace
He Was Such a Quiet Boy Artwork
Buy from Song, by Toad Records
Buy from Amazon mp3
Buy from eMusic

The Cat on "Where The Action Is" Kirkcaldy VRN 1287AM - Sunday 4 April 2010

2010-04-03T09:19:00.000-07:00

Due to a family engagement on Easter Sunday, I've already recorded this show for broadcast on that day. I don't particularly like recording them in advance as I prefer the warts-and-all live approach but when needs must, the devil drives. Monday 5 April would have been Joe Meek's 81st birthday and to commemorate the legendary maverick producer, here's a show dedicated to Joe Meek (although the regaulr features have been kept in):

Gelnda Collins - I Lost My Heart at the Fairground (HMV 1963)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)
Lance Fortune - Be Mine (Pye 1960)
Gene Vincent - Temptation Baby (Unreleased 1963)
Denise Scott & The Soundsmen - Your Love Keeps Me Going (Unreleased 65/66)
Mike Berry and the Admirals - It's Just A Matter of Time (HMV 1962)
Pete & The Boulevards - You're My Girl (Unreleased - Year Unknown)
Billy Dean - Ridin' The Rails (Unreleased 61/62)
Bobby Rio and the Revelles - Value for Love (Pye 1965) (Connect 3)
Pamela Blue - My Friend Bobby (Decca 1963) (Connect 3)
Bobby Cristo - The Other Side of the Track (Decca 1964) (Connect 3)
Michael Cox - Stand Up (HMV 1962)
Billie Davis - Don't Knock On My Door (Unreleased 1962)
Major Lance - Monkey Time (Okeh 1962) (Birthday: 4/4/41 Major Lance)
Heinz - Just Like Eddie (Decca 1963)
The Sharades - Boy Trouble (Decca 1964)
John Leyton - John C'Est L'Amour (Unreleased 1961) (Foreign Language)
The Cryan' Shames - Please Stay (Decca 1966)
The Tornados - Globetrotter (Decca 1963) (Half-Time Instrumental)
Gunilla Thorn - Merry Go Round (HMV 1960)
Charles Kingsley Creation - Summer Without Sun (Columbia 1965)
The Beach Boys - You Need A Mess of Help To Stand Alone (Brother/Reprise 1972) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - Y)
The Beach Boys - You Still Believe In Me (Capitol 1966) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - Y)
John Holt - Ali Baba (Trojan 1969)
Flip - Mama Don't Lie (Unreleased 1965)
Man or Astroman - Taxidermist Surf (Estrus 1993) (Under The Influence)
The Riot Squad - I Take It That We're Through (Pye 1966)
The Cameos - Powercut (Columbia 1963)
The Puppets - Shake With Me (Pye 1964)
Houston Wells and the Marksmen - Only The Heartaches (Parlophone 1963) (Connect 3)
Toby Ventura - If My Heart Were A Storybook (Decca 1963) (Connect 3)
Diane and the Javelins - Heart and Soul (Columbia 1966) (Connect 3)
Kenny Hollywood - Magic Star (Decca 1962)
Jenny Moss - Big Boys (Columbia 1963)
The Honeycombs - I Can't Stop (Interphon 1964) (Two of a Kind)
The Honeycombs - Something I've Got To Tell You (Pye 1965) (Two of a Kind)
Geoff Goddard - Girl Bride (HMV 1961) - Especially for John Cavanagh
Neil Christian and the Crusaders - The Road To Love (Columbia 1962)
John Leyton - Johnny Remember Me (Top Rank 1961)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)
Joe Meek - Meeksville Answering Machine

As there are no songs beginning with X and Z, this week was the last in the A to Z of the Beach Boys series and John Holt's "Ali Baba" previews our new weekly Trojan Mod Reggae track, which takes its place. Until next week, when normal (live) service resumes, it's good day and good health.

Who Would Be In Your A to Z of Scottish Music?

2010-04-02T15:29:00.000-07:00

Vic Galloway on Radio Scotland broadcast his second volume of the A to Z of Scottish Music and I thought, who would be in my list(s), so here goes:

A - Aztec Camera/Attic Lights
B - BMX Bandits/The Beatstalkers
C - Camera Obscura/Cocteau Twins
D - Dropkick/The Delgados
E - Eugenius/18 Wheeler
F - The Fire Engines/Roddy Frame
G - James Grant/Green Peppers
H - Roddy Hart/Paul Haig
I - Isa and the Filthy Tongues/Incredible String Band
J - Josef K/Jesus and Mary Chain
K - The Kaisers/Eugene Kelly
L - Jackie Leven/Lulu
M - Marmalade/Colin Macintyre
N - The 1990s/Nacional
O - The Orchids/Orange Juice
P - The Poets/The Proclaimers
Q - Paul Quinn/The Questions
R - The Rezillos/Gerry Rafferty
S - Superstar/The Supernaturals
T - Teenage Fanclub/Trashcan Sinatras
U - Uresei Yatsura/Midge Ure
V - The Vaselines/The View
W - Win/The Wake
X - The Xcerts/X-Lion Tamer
Y - Yummy Fur/James Yorkston
Z - Zephyrs/Zoey Van Goey

Who would make your shortlist?

Gerry Loves Records - First Release

2010-04-01T16:05:00.000-07:00

EDINBURGH’S NEW INDEPENDENT LABEL

Gerry Loves Records is a brand new label based in Edinburgh, releasing vinyl and download singles by their favourite up and coming artists. Their first release is a split single from Conquering Animal Sound and Debutant, released on 5th April 2010.

At Gerry Loves Records we love the intimate feel you get of an artist and their music through vinyl pressings. To us there is nothing quite like buying vinyl - unwrapping it when you get home, carefully taking it out of the sleeve, delicately laying it on your turntable and placing the needle on the record before waiting for that first hiss.

To celebrate our love of all things vinyl and encourage listeners to embrace it, the vinyl version of the single includes not only a free downloads of both tracks but also a second exclusive track from each artist. These extra bonus tracks are only available to download with the vinyl purchase.

Find out more and pre-order the single at http://gerrylovesrecords.com

To launch the label and the single, a mini tour is planned for the beginning of April:

Thu 1st April 2010, 10pm - Dirty Hearts Club @ Snafu, Aberdeen
Debutant + Conquering Animal Sound with support from Admiral Fallow
Tickets on the door

Fri 2nd April 2010, 7pm - The Roxy Room, Edinburgh
Conquering Animal Sound + Debutant with support from Wounded Knee
Tickets: https://uk.brownpapertickets.com/event/102336

Sat 3rd April 2010 - Classic Grand 2, Glasgow
Conquering Animal Sound + Debutant with support from The Seventeenth Century and F*X G*T D**TA
Tickets: http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_scotland&query=detail&event=376225&interface=

About the artists:

Debutant - http://www.myspace.com/musicbydebutant

Debutant is one man, a guitar and a voice. Although he writes and sings songs, he’s certainly not a singer-songwriter in the traditional sense. Think dreamy pop songs augmented by textured atmospheric soundscapes. Or something like that.

Having plied his trade in bands, Phillip began writing songs and compositions that didn’t suit the style of the bands he was in. So he purchased a loop pedal and figured he’d do it all himself. He played his first set in April 2008 and has since played with artists such as Glissando, Meursault, Immanu El, Ballboy, Over the Wall, Copy Haho, David Grubbs, Viking Moses, The Pictish Trail, Vessels, Found, The Xcerts and Hugh Cornwell.

Debutant loops and layers guitars, creating shimmering atmospheres over which he adds delicate, breathless and dreamy vocals. The songs are deceptively simple yet affecting. Having relocated to Edinburgh in 2009, 2010 will see Debutant release a full-length album.

"Debutant's music ignores genres altogether, sounding something like what would happen if Mark Kozelek and Kevin Shields had an afternoon, a spare room and a multitude of ideas. Definitely worth checking out live" - isthismusic?

"This is beautiful; four basic home-made lo-fi bedroom recordings – delicate, basic, fractured, dreamy, creamy and very simple. Uncluttered and turning the lo-fi option and the basic equipment on to a warm positive vibrant less is so much more piece of beauty. Four dreamy textured lo-fi pieces/songs" - Organ Magazine: Demo of the Week

"Nostalgic sounds of comfort echo in the best track on this EP of demos, 'Solitude': stunning. The smooth composition drains all worries away, landscapes and the sky become your comforting friends. Yes the guy possesses the voice to do that, comfort you." - Crumbs in the Butter

Conquering Animal Sound - http://www.myspace.com/conqueringanimalsound

Conquering Animal Sound is made up of Anneke Kampman and James Scott. A musical project in it’s infancy but one that is filled with much promise and potential. Already making great waves within the musical community of Edinburgh their live show is something of awe-inspiring greatness, creating loops, beats and samples out of anything and everything with Anneke’s sumptuous vocal’s carrying the sounds to what seems like a new world. A debut album is in the works - set to be released via Gizeh Records/Mini50 later in the year. Big things are predicted for the band in 2010.

"Meticulously built up vocal, laptop and electric guitar loops that evolve into spookily charming minimalist incantations." - The List

"Kampman’s gorgeous intone floats telepathically into the tapestry of guitar and loops created by Scott. Recalling the minimalistic dalliances of Scandinavian progressives Múm, CAS are quite unlike anything you’ll hear in Scotland today" - The Scotsman

Hinterland 2010 Timetable

2010-04-01T16:03:00.000-07:00

HINTERLAND 2010 TIMETABLE

Hinterland kicks off the festival season for 2010 in Glasgow this Saturday offering six headline acts and more than 20 other live performances for only £15. Full times on stage for all bands are now announced below. Each main venue is hosted by one of our partners so don't miss.....

Radio Magnetic's main stage at The Arches featuring Joe Goddard, British Sea Power and Mystery Jets. Lucky Me and Ballers host the dance arch with Cooly G headlining, Moshi Moshi's takeover Macsorleys and Gigwise host The Admiral.

Full Timetable

The Arches Main Room (hosted by Radio Magnetic)

2 - 3 Grecoroman Soundsystem

1 - 2 Joe Goddard Hot Chip DJ Set

11.30 - 1 Friendly Fires DJ Set

11 - 11.30 Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs

10 - 11 Mystery Jets

8.30 - 9.30 British Sea Power

The Arches Dance Arch (hosted by LuckyMe & Ballers Social Club)

1.30 - 3am Cooly G

12 - 1.30 Marcus Nasty

11 - 12 Eclair FiFi

9.45 - 10.45 Jeffrey Lewis

9 - 9.30 French Wives

8.15 - 8.45 Ambulances

Macsorleys (hosted by Moshi Moshi)

10.30 - 11 Silver Columns DJ

9.45 - 10.30 Hot Club de Paris

9.15 - 9.45 Silver Columns DJ

8.30 - 9.15 Is Tropical

8.15 - 8.30 Silver Columns DJ

7.45 - 8.15 Spectrals

7 - 7.45 Silver Columns DJ

6.30 - 7pm Mazes

Subclub

9 - 9.45 Johnny Foreigner

7.45 - 8.30 Midnight Lion

6.30 - 7.15 The Kays Lavelle

Pivo Pivo

9.45 - 10.30 The Boy Who Trapped The Sun

8.45 - 9.30 Panda Su

7.45 - 8.15 Alan Mckim

7 - 7.30 Emmas Imagination

The Admiral (hosted by Gigwise)

9 - 10 Pulled Apart By Horses

8 - 8.45 Bleech

7 - 7.30 Kitty The Lion

Rockers

8 - 8.30 The Darien Venture

7 - 7.30 Little Yellow Ukuleles

6 - 6.30 Make Sparks

Tigerfest 2010 - Line-up unveiled

2010-04-01T15:57:00.000-07:00

Tigerfest 2010 lineup includes Malcolm Middleton, King Creosote, The Unwinding Hours, Martin Stephenson and TV21.

Tigerfest has announced its lineup for May 2010. It’s another top-notch collection of acts combining some of Scotland’s top talent, with established names and future stars alongside some appearances from favourites from far and wide.

The mini-festival, which runs for three weeks, takes in shows in Dunfermline, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, running in conjunction with its affiliates Baby Tiger, the Carnegie Hall, Interesting Music Promotions, and online/media partner is this music?

There’s also a clutch of co-promotions with partners such as Electric Circus and the Cabaret Voltaire, plus the Fence and 17seconds labels.

Highlights:

Dunfermline:

Malcolm Middleton - one-off show as the former Arab Strap man interrupts his hiatus of recording and writing. Joined by Spare Snare, Dundonian lo-fi legends.

King Creosote - currently embarking on a one-man tour of England, this exclusive Scottish leg also includes Fence labelmate Rozi Plain and Edinburgh’s upcoming star Withered Hand.

Also, part of ‘Celebrating Fife 2010' - a triple bill of Ambulances, Vertis and Crayons, three of Scotland’s most promising acts, and all from the Kingdom.

Aberdeen:

Special one-off gig sees The Unwinding Hours - former Aereogramme members and perhaps already makers of Scottish album of the year - perform, with support from Katerwaul.

Edinburgh

This year the focus is on the capital with a total of seven shows and 20 acts performing during the first two weeks of May. Top of the bill is hard to say - with indie legend Martin Stephenson, reformed 80s act TV21, and the best in new talent including There Will Be Fireworks, Jesus H. Foxx, X-Lion Tamer, The Gothenburg Address and Chris Bradley.

Briefing and background:

Tigerfest has run since 2004 as a regular independent festival of new music. Originated in Edinburgh by promoter Baby Tiger, it expanded to feature showpiece gigs in Dunfermline and take in towns and cities across Scotland. It has seen bands such as Idlewild, King Creosote, Emma Pollock, Malcolm Middleton, Half Man Half Biscuit, Nouvelle Vague and Camera Obscura perform as well as promoting early gigs by KT Tunstall and We Were Promised Jetpacks, and giving acts such as Frightened Rabbit and Dananananaykroyd headline shows.

Full listings:

Edinburgh:

Wed 5

Blueflint / Andi Neate / Andy Tucker & The Scattered Family, @ Electric Circus (White Noise night). 7pm, £3

Thu 6

Phoebe Kreutz / Casey / Emily Scott / The Stantons, @ Wee Red Bar. 7pm, £6

Sun 9

17 Seconds night: X-Lion Tamer / The Wildhouse / The Gothenburg Address, @ Roxy Art House. 7pm, £6

Tue 11

TV21 / Boycotts / Midas Fall, @ Cabaret Voltaire. 7pm, £7

Wed 12

is this music? presents: Jesus H. Foxx / There Will Be Fireworks, @ Electric Circus (White Noise night). 7pm, £3

Thu 13

17 Seconds night: Chris Bradley / Dirty Cuts / Last Battle, @ Roxy Art House. 7pm, £6

Fri 14

Martin Stephenson / Alex Cornish, @ Wee Red Bar. 7pm, £11

Dunfermline

Thu 20 May

Ambulances / Vertis / Crayons. 7.30pm, £5

Fri 21 May

Fence Records night: King Creosote / Withered Hand / Rozi Plain. 7.30pm, £10

Sat 22 May

Malcolm Middleton / Spare Snare. 7.30pm, £10

Aberdeen

Thu 21 May

The Unwinding Hours / Katerwaul, @ Tunnels (Interesting Music Promotions). 8pm, £8 / £6

Full listings at www.tigerfest.co.uk. For any press requests i.e. further details, interview or preview requests, please simply reply to this email.

The Cat on "Where The Action Is" Kirkcaldy VRN 1287AM - Sunday 28 March 2010

2010-03-28T09:07:00.000-07:00

It's our last dip into the "Love Is The Song We Sing: San Francisco Nuggets 1965-1970" box set and loads of other goodies:

The Monkees - All The King's Horses (Unreleased 1966)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)
The Freshmen - Look at the Sunshine (Pye 1968)
The Youngbloods - Get Together (RCA 1967)
Jackie Leven - John Paul Getty's Silver Cadillac (Cooking Vinyl 2009)
Santana - Evil Ways (Columbia 1969)
Dino Valenti - Let's Get Together (Unreleased 1964)
The Charlatans - Alabama Bound (Unreleased 1967)
People - I Love You (Capitol 1968) (Connect 3)
Lulu - To Sir, With Love (Epic 1967) (Connect 3)
The Great! Society - Somebody To Love (LP version) (Unreleased 1966) (Connect 3)
Blue Cheer - Fool (single version) (Philips 1967)
Jefferson Airplane - It's No Secret (RCA 1966)
The Turtles - Grim Reaper of Love (White Whale 1966) (Birthday: 28/3/45 Chuck Portz)
Grateful Dead - The Golden Road (To Unlimited Devotion) (Warner Bros 1967)
The Bystanders - Royal Blue Summer Sunshine Day (Piccadilly 1967)
Liz Brady - Palladium (The Hip) (Pathe 1966) (Foreign Language)
Fifty Foot Horse - Red The Sign Post (Limelight 1968)
Dave Clark Five - I Walk The Line (Piccadilly 1962) (Half-Time Instrumental)
Notes from the Underground - Why Did You Put Me On? (Vanguard 1968)
The Ivy League - My World Fell Down (Piccadilly 1966)
The Beach Boys - Wendy (Capitol 1964) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - W)
The Beach Boys - When a Man Needs a Woman (Capitol 1968) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - W)
Country Weather - Fly To New York (Private 1969)
The Mojo Men - She's My Baby (Reprise 1966)
Care - Flaming Sword (Arista 1983) (Under The Influence)
The Otherside - Streetcar (Brent 1966)
Country Joe and the Fish - I Feel Like I'm Fixing To Die Rag (EP version) (Rag Baby 1965)
The Petites - Baby Blue Mustang (Troy 1965) (Connect 3)
Janis Joplin - Mercedes Benz (Columbia 1968) (Connect 3)
The Beach Boys - Little Honda (Capitol 1964) (Connect 3)
The Warlocks - Can't Come Down (Unreleased 1965)
Quicksilver Messenger Service - Light Your Windows (Capitol 1968)
The Marvelettes - Danger Heartbreak Dead Ahead (Tamla 1965) (Two of a Kind)
The Marvelettes - I'll Keep On Holding On (Tamla 1965) (Two of a Kind)
The Immediate Family - Rubiyat (Unreleased 1967)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)

Next week it'll be my pre-recorded Joe Meek special, as I celebrate Easter Sunday with my family. Congratulations to my VRN colleague John Murray who was awarded The John Witney Award for his outstanding contribution to hospital radio at the National Hospital Radio Awards - well done, John! Although I didn't appreciate him charging a bottle of wine to my room!! Sadly, I left empty-handed in my category, as did all our other nominees. Just call us the Shawshank Redemption of the HBA! Until next week, it's good day and good health.

Jackie Leven - Gothic Road (Cooking Vinyl, 4th April)

2010-03-23T09:14:00.000-07:00

THE SCENE: – A large meeting at Cooking Vinyl (CV) to discuss GOTHIC ROAD – JACKIE LEVEN’S first new studio album since 2008’s LOVERS AT THE GUN CLUB.

STUART (new CV label manager, his first meeting with JL) – “Er, can I start by asking Jackie what the album title, GOTHIC ROAD actually means, if anything?”

JACKIE – “Well, we all walk two roads – the Royal Road, and the Road of Poverty and Death, however we imagine these roads to be. When these two roads meet, then we are walking on the GOTHIC ROAD.”

STUART (doubtfully) – “Does it make any difference which direction you walk on the GOTHIC ROAD?”

JACKIE – “None at all”.

STUART (still doubtfully) – “Is this all true?”

MARTIN GOLDSCHMIDT (CV supremo, without looking up from doodling) – “It is now …”

GOTHIC ROAD opens with the choral sound of GHOST VOICES OF THE KURSK – three young Russian men from the northern seaboard city of Murmansk, all of whose brothers died in that Russian submarine tragedy. This is closely followed by the sound of a German sat nav lady guiding JACKIE’s tour bus out of the city of Hamburg last year. And so the stage is set for twelve strong tales from the GOTHIC ROAD – powerful stories from one who has walked the road for nearly sixty years.

Many of the songs are at once mystical but also locked in the daily grind of emotional survival. In keeping with his longstanding creative association with mavericks and outlaws, (David Thomas, Johnny Dowd etc) JACKIE collaborates here with fabled English renegade RALPH McTELL. RALPH supplies the yearning second lead vocal, plus Gibson acoustic guitars on CORNELIUS WHALEN, a song about the man who was the last of the Jarrow marchers left alive when JACKIE wrote the song – the Jarrow March** being a superb example of the reality of the GOTHIC ROAD.

Elsewhere on the album, JACKIE fantasises about the creative dynamo that is actress TILDA SWINTON, hides in his hotel mini bar from the tyranny of endless touring, sings a song written by the original punk poet PATRIK FITZGERALD, (SHADOW OF A MAN) and welcomes on board a guest recording by his co-producer, the great Welsh singer DAVID WRENCH (ISLAND).

The album abounds with GOTHIC ROAD-ness, as in the coda of the song GOTHIC ROAD itself, where the royal road pomp of HENRY PRIESTMAN’s massed plucked cellos is counter-pointed by JOHN ROBERT’S skeletal spoons playing, casting a cold eye on the poverty-stricken end of the street. Or in the lush celestial choir voices on LAST OF THE BADMEN as the anti hero at the end of his personal road pleads in a PARTON-esque refrain – ‘please don’t kill me just because you can’.

The music on GOTHIC ROAD provides cast iron proof that the creative phenomenon that is JACKIE LEVEN is not simply continuing to go from strength to strength, but is close to passing out of sight on a road that others fear to tread.

(Signed copies available from Cooking Vinyl.)

The Cat on "Where The Action Is" Kirkcaldy VRN 1287AM - Sunday 21 March 2010

2010-03-21T02:23:00.000-07:00

We continue to tuck into the psychedelic feast that is the "Love Is The Song We Sing: San Francisco Nuggets 1965-1970" box set and we commemorate the passings of Lesley Duncan and Alex Chilton, as well as the regular features:

Big Star - September Gurls (Stax 1973)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)
Marc Bolan - Third Degree (Decca 1966)
Mad River - Amphetamine Gazelle (Capitol 1968)
The Mystery Trend - Carl Street (Unreleased 1967)
Ministry of Sound (Lesley Duncan/Val McKenna) - Something's Coming Along (Unreleased 1967)
Blackburn and Snow - Stranger In a Strange Land (Verve 1967)
Billie Davis - Billy Sunshine (Decca 1969)
Chocolate Watchband - No Way Out (Tower 1967) (Connect 3)
The Vejtables - Anything (Autumn 1965) (Connect 3)
Teddy and the Patches - Suzy Creamcheese (Chance 1967) (Connect 3)
Clyde McPhatter - You Got It (Deram 1969)
Sly & The Family Stone - Underdog (Epic 1967)
Solomon Burke - Home In Your Heart (Atlantic 1963) (Birthday: 21/3/40)
Steve Miller Band - Roll With It(Capitol 1968)
The Shangri-la's - Sophisticated Boom Boom (Red Bird 1966)
Louise Cordet - Que m'a-t-il fait? (What's He/It Done to Me?) (Decca 1963) (Foreign Language)
Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks - How Can I Miss You When You Won't Go Away? (Epic 1969)
The Outlaws - Valley of the Sioux (HMV 1961) (Half-Time Instrumental)
Seatrain - Portrait of the Artist as a Young Lady (A&M 1969)
The Savage Resurrection - Things in "E" (Mercury 1968)
The Beach Boys - Vegetables (Unreleased 1967) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - V)
The Beach Boys - Heroes and Villains (45 version) (Capitol 1967) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - V)
Jon Gunn - I Just Made Up My Mind (Deram 1967)
Syndicate of Sound - Rumors (Bell 1966)
The La's - Son of a Gun (BBC session) (Go! Discs 1988) (Under The Influence)
The La's - There She Goes (Go! Discs 1988) (Under The Influence)
The Frantics - Human Monkey (Action 1966)
October Country - Good To Be Around (Epic 1968)
The Grass Roots - Mr Jones (A Ballad of a Thin Man) (Dunhill 1965) (Connect 3)
The Cryan' Shames - Greenburg, Glickstein, Charles, David Smith & Jones (Columbia 1968) (Connect 3)
Tom Jones - Stop Breaking My Heart (Decca 1966) (Connect 3)
The Harbinger Complex - Sometimes I Wonder (Amber 1966)
Fearns Brass Foundry - Don't Chance It (Decca 1968)
The Beau Brummels - Don't Talk To Strangers (Autumn 1965) (Two of a Kind)
The Beau Brummels - Two Days 'Til Tomorrow (Warner Bros 1967) (Two of a Kind)
Earl Cosby - Ooh Honey Baby (Mirwood 1966)
The Majority - One Third (Decca 1966)
Big Star - I'm In Love With a Girl (Stax 1973)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)

Next week it'll be business as usual after I return from the National Hospital Radio Awards in Erskine. The Cat has his paws well and truly crossed for his nomination in the Best Specialist Music category. Until next week, and the last of our San Francisco sounds, it's good day and good health.

Avalanche Records Customer Survey - Can You Help?

2010-03-16T09:13:00.000-07:00

You will all be aware of the trials and tribulations of the music industry and record shops in particular. Avalanche is not immune and it is clear things can not continue as they are. Since Christmas many titles have been available to the public not only online but on the high street at prices substantially less than as an independent we would pay ourselves. The avoidance of VAT by online sellers based in the Channel Islands is well documented and with many students now without a local record shop they arrive in Edinburgh already used to buying their music online. Many of course don’t buy their music at all and acquire it for free via the many channels that are now available.

The healthy local music scene means we do well selling local and Scottish bands’ music to visitors to the shop from all over the world and we have recently set up a website catering for the many customers who are so happy with what we have recommended that they want to buy more. However even these sales are continually eroded as bands and labels do all they can to sell directly to the public. We completely appreciate the bands’ viewpoint on this in trying to make money for themselves but myspaces etc regularly encourage people to visit Amazon, iTunes etc without any mention of the shops that are supporting and stocking their releases. An oversight I am sure but while shops are relegated to an afterthought they will struggle.

We don’t want to go down the line of saying we will close just to drum up support. I very much concur with the press conference recently given by ear x-Tacy available on You Tube in two parts. Based in Louisville, Kentucky this is a world wide problem. I want this to be a positive statement about how we move things forward. We have always wanted to sell more tickets and we have contacted all the promoters and venues that for a variety of reasons have declined to give us tickets before. We have already had some positive responses. We are open to any sensible ideas about what the way forward is. We could use the back of the shop for something else but please don’t suggest coffee and cakes. We could move to a smaller shop or become part of another store. Avalanche will continue as long as it wanted by the local community it serves but we can not continue to maintain a high street presence simply to promote Scottish bands and their music to the many visitors to Edinburgh much as this is a very enjoyable part of working in the shop.

You can leave any thoughts or comments on our facebook or myspace pages or there is a dedicated email address of avalancherecords@hotmail.co.uk. We do already sell on various platforms online but margins are very low and our heart is really in the shop so that is where we would like to concentrate our endeavours. Our album club has been very successful and that will of course continue. We have already had music related offers that might help boost revenue and we are interested in listening to any other offers we feel fit in with the Avalanche ethos.

Most of all we would like to thank all our customers for the continuing support that has kept us going here when so many have already fallen by the wayside.

Teenage Fanclub - Album and Tour Dates

2010-03-16T08:53:00.000-07:00

To promote their imminent album "Shadows", Teenage Fanclub will be taking to the streets, in venues reasonably near you.

Sat 1 May Koko, London
Thu 27 May Academy 2, Manchester
Fri 28 May The Leadmill, Sheffield
Sun 30 May The Academy, Dublin
Tue 1 Jun The Warehouse, Aberdeen
Wed 2 Jun ABC, Glasgow
Thu 3 Jun The Picture House, Edinburgh (changed from The Liquid Rooms)
Fri 4 Jun The Cockpit, Leeds
Sun 6 Jun The Academy, Bristol
Mon 7 Jun The Academy 2, Birmingham

No date for tickets going on sale yet.

The Cat on "Where The Action Is" Kirkcaldy VRN 1287AM - Sunday 14 March 2010

2010-03-14T01:03:00.001-08:00

More from the "Love Is The Song We Sing: San Francisco Nuggets 1965-1970" box set and the usual grab-bag of goodies:

The Hollies - Look Through Any Window (Parlophone 1965)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)
The Honeys - The One You Can't Have (Capitol 1963)
The Ivy League - In The Not Too Distant Future (Pye 1967)
The Wildflower - Coffee Cup (Mainstream 1967)
The Soul Agents - Let's Make It Pretty Baby (Pye 1964)
Fontella Bass/Bobby McClure - Don't Mess Up A Good Thing (Checker 1965)
Sharon Marie - Story of My Life (Capitol 1964)
The Majorettes - White Levis (Troy 1963) (Connect 3)
Jefferson Airplane - White Rabbit (RCA 1967) (Connect 3)
It's A Beautiful Day - White Bird (Columbia 1969) (Connect 3)
American Spring - Shyin' Away (Capitol 1973)
The Sons of Champlin - Fat City (Verve 1967)
The Turtles - You Don' Have To Walk In The Rain (White Whale 1969) (Birthday: 14/3/46 Jim Pons)
Steve Miller Band - Quicksilver Girl (Capitol 1968)
The Mystery Trend - Johnny Was A Good Boy (Verve 1968)
Brigitte Bardot - Je Me Donne a Qui Me Plait (I Give Myself To Whom I Please) (Philips 1962) (Foreign Language)
Blue Cheer - Summertime Blues (Philips 1968)
Earl Van Dyke - 6x6 (Motown 1967) (Half-Time Instrumental)
The Loading Zone - The Bells (RCA Victor 1968)
The Sheffields - Hey, Hey Lover Boy (Pye 1964)
The Beach Boys - 409 (Capitol 1962) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - U)
Gary Usher - That's The Way I Feel (Capitol 1964) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - U)
The Tikis - Bye Bye Bye (Warner Bros single version) (Warner Bros 1966)
The New Breed - Want Ad Reader (World United 1966)
The Magic Numbers - Love Me Like You (Heavenly 2005) (Under The Influence)
Mother Earth - Revolution (Unted Artists 1968)
Public Nuisance - America (Unreleased 1968)
The Oxford Circle - Foolish Woman (World United 1966) (Connect 3)
Moby Grape - Omaha (Columbia 1967) (Connect 3)
Country Weather - Fly To New York (Unreleased 1969) (Connect 3)
Quicksilver Messenger - Who Do You Love (demo) (Unreleased 1966) (Two of a Kind)
Quicksilver Messenger - Codine (United Artists 1968) (Two of a Kind)
The Stained Glass - My Buddy Sin (RCA 1966)
Earl Cosby - Ooh Honey Baby (Mirwood 1966)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)

Until next week, and some more San Francisco sounds, it's good day and good health.

The Cat on "Where The Action Is" Kirkcaldy VRN 1287AM - Sunday 7 March 2010

2010-03-06T08:37:00.000-08:00

January's shows were dominated by the LA Nuggets box set and this month it's the turn of its San Francisco counterpart, "Love Is The Song We Sing: San Francisco Nuggets 1965-1970":

Cliff Richard & The Shadows - Big News (Columbia 1963)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)
Dee Dee Young - You Haven't Seen Nothing (Challenge 1964)
The Front Line Assembly - Got Love (York 1965)
The Knickerbockers - I Can Do It Better (Challenge 1966)
Ace of Cups - Glue (Unreleased 1968)
Count Five - Psychotic Reaction (Double Shot 1966)
Sister Rachel - Don't Mess Around With Me (Challenge 1967)
The Charlatans - Number One (Unreleased 1965) (Connect 3)
The Sons of Champlin - 1982-A (Capitol 1969) (Connect 3)
We Five - You Were On My Mind (A&M 1965) (Connect 3)
Helen Shapiro - Let's Talk About Love (Columbia 1962)
The Generation - I'm A Good Woman (Unreleased 1967)
Donna Loren - Muscle Bustle (Challenge 1964) (Birthday: 7/3/47)
Big Brother & The Holding Company - Down On Love (live) (Unreleased 1968)
The Mourning Reign - Satisfaction Guaranteed (Link 1966)
Jacques Brel - Le Chanson de Jacky (Barclay 1965) (Foreign Language)
The Serpent Power - Up and Down (Vanguard 1967)
The Tornados - Telstar (Decca 1962) (Half-Time Instrumental)
Butch Engle & The Styx - Hey I'm Lost (Onyx 1967)
The Beach Boys - Tears in the Morning (Brother/Reprise 1970) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - T)
The Beach Boys - Things We Did Last Summer (Unreleased 1963?) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - T)
Fanny - Charity Ball (second version) (Reprise 1971)
Grateful Dead - Dark Star (single version) (Warner Bros 1968)
Mari Wilson & The Wilsations - Beat the Beat (Compact 1982) (Under The Influence)
The Feminine Complex - I Don't Want Another Man (Athena 1968)
The Great! Society - Free Advice (Northbeach 1966)
Dusty Springfield - Little by Little (Mercury 1966)
Country Joe and the Fish - Superbird (Vanguard 1967) (Connect 3)
The Sopwith "Camel" - Hello Hello (Kama Sutra 1966) (Connect 3)
Jefferson Airplane - Mexico (RCA 1970) (Connect 3)
Santana - Soul Sacrifice (Columbia 1969)
The Family Tree - Live Your Own Life (Mira 1966)
The Flamin' Groovies - I'm Drowning (Snazz 1968) (Two of a Kind)
The Flamin' Groovies - Shake Some Action (Sire 1976) (Two of a Kind)
The Box Tops - Neon Rainbow (Mala 1967)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)

Until next week, and some more San Francisco sounds, it's good day and good health.

Belle and Sebastian - News

2010-03-05T11:49:00.000-08:00

Hi folks,

As you may know, we’ve been in the studio these last few weeks writing some new tracks and shortly we will say cheerio to Glasgow for a while when we set off to LA to record our next album.

There’s also been a flurry of online activity this week with the first shows of the year being announced. So far we can confirm that in July we’ll be playing on the 11th at Ruisrock Festival in Turku, Finland and a few days later on the 15th we’ll be appearing at Slottsfjell in Tønsberg, Norway.

Fuji Rock Festival is also confirmed for August 1st, and we’re itching to bring you news of our first UK show this year which you’ll hear about sometime next week.

We’ll be bringing you updates on Facebook, Twitter & Myspace as well as the Tours section of the website, so come and seek us out online and you’ll be the first to know what’s going on the calendar.

Bye for now,
B&S x

http://www.belleandsebastian.com
http://www.belleandsebastianshop.com
http://www.myspace.com/thebandbelleandsebastian
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Belle-and-Sebastian/298021908499
http://www.twitter.com/bellesglasgow

Trashcan Sinatras - Update

2010-03-01T00:25:00.000-08:00

I'll let the band tell you what they've been up to:

"Hello everyone. Here is the first update in 2010 if you haven't checked out the trashcans websites/pages lately:

* Touring:

- Japanese tour dates:

March 1 - tokyo, club quattro (with sunny day service) SOLD OUT
March 2 - osaka, club quattro (with sunny day service)
March 3 - tokyo, club quattro (special acoustic show)
March 4 - tokyo, club quattro (with sunny day service) SOLD OUT

For the march 3 show, the band is taking requests in advance! the 5 most requested songs will be played during the show. see trashcansinatras.com for details on how to send in your requests.

- North American tour dates:
The band will be touring north america in june. dates should be announced in the next couple of weeks.

- Others:
The band will likely tour the uk sometime after the north american tour. other tour plans are still tba.

* Record Release:
- "In The Music" will finally be released in north america on april 27. The regular 10 track album will also include 8 live bonus tracks! The album should be widely available from retail and digital distributors -"In The Music" will also be released as a hi-fidelity "studio master" digital download
- The band has recorded a demo for a new song called "Town Foxes".
the song will be available on a very limited 2 track EP at the upcoming shows in japan. The availability of the song outside of japan is still to be determined.
- The remastered back catalogue (first 4 albums) is now scheduled for release in the late summer/fall

* Other Information:
- trashcansinatras.com will soon have an instant digital download store with concerts, possibly "Zebra of the Family" and other rarities. Right now, you can buy the 2009 concerts on new tcs USB sticks or as downloads
- A prior update mentioned a session filmed for spinner.com. You can also download the session as a free podcast on iTunes.
- The band has released a promo video for "Should I Pray?"
- Check John Douglas' youtube channel for video updates, especially as the Japanese tour happens
- The downloads page at trashcansinatras.com is being revamped, with
6 new free downloads coming this week

You can always find more details at trashcansinatras.com. Don't forget to check out or join the band's message board, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, ilike and Reverbnation. Thanks for listening."

I took the liberty of adding some capital letters!

The Cat on "Where The Action Is" Kirkcaldy VRN 1287AM - Sunday 28 February 2010

2010-02-28T08:39:00.001-08:00

I've dragged myself off my sick bed to bring you these delights:

The Outsiders - Time Won't Let Me (Capitol 1965)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)
Brenda Lee - Dum Dum (Decca 1961)
Stamford Bridge - Happiness and Rainy Days (Penny Farthing 1970)
The Turtles - Wanderin' Kind (Immediate 1966)
The Young Rascals - Good Lovin' (Atlantic 1966)
Del Shannon - Led Along (Liberty 1967)
Bobby Angelle - Too Much for You (Money 1967)
Little Eva - Keep Your Hands Off Of My Baby (Dimension 1962) (Connect 3)
Baby Washington - Careless Hands (Sue 1962) (Connect 3)
Bobby "Blue" Bland - These Hands (Small But Mighty) (Duke 1965) (Connect 3)
Nicky Scott - Big City (Immediate 1967)
The Hipster Image - Can't Let Her Go (Decca 1965)
Barbara Acklin - Love Makes A Woman (Brunswick 1968) (Birthday: 28/2/44)
Annette Funicello & The Afterbeats - Tall Paul (Disneyland 1958)
First Class - Coney Island (UK 1972)
Alma Cogan - O Dio Mio (HMV 1960) (Foreign Language)
Robert Parker - Let's Go Baby (Where the Action Is) (Nola 1965)
The Original Checkmates - Hot Toddy (Pye 1962) (Half-Time Instrumental)
Emmit Rhodes - Mary Will You Take My Hand (Dakar 1970)
Brian Wilson - South American (Giant 1998) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - S)
The Beach Boys - Shut Down (Capitol 1963) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - S)
PP Arnold - Life Is Nothing (Immediate 1967)
Benny Parker & The Dynamos - Boys and Girls (Decca 1964)
The Jam - Boy About Town (Polydor 1980) (Under The Influence)
Eddie Holman - Eddie's My Name (Parkway 1965)
Betty Johnson - Little White Lies (Bally 1957)
The Fairies - Anytime At All (Decca 1964)
Vicky Gomez - Boys Are Dime A Dozen (ABC Paramount 1965) (Connect 3)
Betty Bibbs - Pounds of Soul (Kent 1968) (Connect 3)
Kincade - Dreams Are Ten a Penny (1972 Label Unknown) (Connect 3)
Twice As Much - Sittin' On a Fence (Immediate 1966)
Gene Chandler - Mr Big Shot (Constellation 1966)
Billie Davis - Make The Feeling Go Away (Decca 1969) (Two of a Kind)
Billie Davis - Ev'ry Day (Piccadilly 1966) (Two of a Kind)
Albert Washington - Hold Me Baby (Ace? 1969)
Marc Bolan - Third Degree (Decca 1966)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)

Until next week, it's good day and good health.

Mike Heron and Georgia Seddon

2010-02-27T03:35:00.000-08:00

Mike Heron and Georgia Seddon

Thursday 25^th March. 8:00pm (doors open 7:00pm).

Long Gallery, Abbot House, Dunfermline

Tickets: £14. Available from Abbot House 733266 and Third Base Records 722554.

The founder member of the Incredible String Band, Mike Heron, will be coming to Dunfermline on Thursday 25^th March to perform a concert in the Long Gallery in Abbot House. Formed in 1965, the ISB soon broke from the folk club beginnings they shared with Bert Jansch and Billy Connolly to pioneer an eclectic, ‘world music’ approach. This led to them being propelled into the Top 5 of the British charts behind the Beatles, Cream and the Rolling Stones. In total, they produced over 14 seminal albums and appeared at the famous Woodstock Festival in 1969.

Mike's solo album 'Smiling Men With Bad Reputations' - produced by Joe Boyd, originally released in 1971 and then reissued in 2003 - featured a once-in-a-lifetime stellar cast from the aristocracy of folk-pop-rock musicians, including Pete Townshend, Richard Thompson, Elton John, Jimmy Page, Steve Winwood, Keith Moon, Dave Pegg and Ronnie Lane.

Cited as “an inspiration and a sign” by Robert Plant, admired by artists as diverse as KLF and Paul McCartney, the ISB have always exerted an influence of legendary proportions that continues to this day.

Since the break-up of the ISB in 1974, Mike has continued to write songs in epic quantities (many re-released recently on the Glen Row Tapes CD) and has fronted a variety of bands, most recently his Incredible Acoustic Band. In the late 1990s he and Robin Williamson reformed the Incredible String Band for several years.

Mike's solo album 'Where the Mystics Swim' revealed a songwriter forever pushing the boundaries, but retaining his originality, creativity and musical integrity. In 2006 he was commissioned to write music for John Burnside's poem 'Song for Irena' as part of a poetry/music project entitled Ballads of the Book at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections. More recently he was invited to play at Sid Barrett's tribute in London; a testament to the groundbreaking role Mike has played in the British music scene over four decades.

Mike performs in a duo with his daughter Georgia (keyboards, percussion and vocals), whose own songwriting and performance has been described in a recent Scotsman review as “arrestingly artless" and "the nu-folk answer to Martha Wainwright". They have also performed at the Crossing Borders festival at The Hague, Holland, and an all-star Folk Britannia event at the Barbican. Their unique performances are a potent mix of new songs and much-requested ISB favourites.

Tickets priced £14 are on sale in Abbot House on 733266 and at Third Base Records on 722554.

The Cat on "Where the Action Is" Kirkcaldy VRN 1287AM - Sunday 21 February 2010

2010-02-21T03:32:00.000-08:00

After the slush and mush of last week's Valentine's Day special, it's back to basics with the usual fun-filled festival of pop 'n' stuff. This week's humble offerings:

Herman's Hermits - No Milk Today (Columbia 1966)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)
The Supremes - The Happening (Motown 1967)
The Marvelettes - Please Mr Postman (Tamla 1961)
Madeline Bell - I'm Gonna Make You Love Me (Phillips 1967)
A Band of Angels - Cheat and Lie (Piccadilly 1966)
The Shangri-la's - Bull Dog (Red Bird 1965)
The Spencer Davis Group - I Can't Stand It (Fontana 1964)
Billie Davis - School Is Over (Columbia 1964) (Connect 3)
The Charmettes - School Letter (mono) (Federal 1959) (Connect 3)
The Langley Schools Music Project - Help Me Rhonda (Bar-None 2001) (Connect 3)
Arthur Alexander - Where Have You Been (London 1962)
Connie Francis - Where The Boys Are (MGM 1960)
Nina Simone - See Line Woman (Phillips 1964) (Birthday: 21/2/33)
Strawberry Alarm Clock - Incense and Peppermint (UNI 1967) RIP Lee Freeman
Wayne Fontana - Something Keeps Calling Me Back (Fontana 1966)
Pat Simon - Small Town (Vogue 1967) (Foreign Language)
Val McKenna - I Can't Believe What You Say (Piccadilly 1965)
The Rustlers - A Matter of Who (Pye 1961) (Half-Time Instrumental)
Gene Chandler - I Fooled You This Time (Checker 1966)
The Beach Boys - Help Me Rhonda (alternative single mix) (Capitol 1965) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - R)
The Beach Boys - Break Away (Capitol 1969) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - R)
The Action - Come On, Come With Me (Parlophone Year Unknown) RIP Mike Evans
Sharon Tandy - One Way Street (Unreleased/Stax Year Unknown)
The Loving Kind - Ain't That Peculiar (Pye 1966)
The Knack - Good Girls Don't (Capitol 1979) (Under The Influence) RIP Doug Fieger
Everpresent Fullness - Suzi Q (White Whale 1970) RIP Dale Hawkins
The Hit Pack - Never Say No To My Baby (Tamla 1965)
Kim Weston - Just Loving You (Tamla 1963)
Young Blood - Green Light (Pye 1968) (Connect 3)
The Knickerbockers - Sweet Green Fields (Challenge 1967) (Connect 3)
Petula Clark - The Other Man's Grass Is Always Greener (Pye 1967) (Connect 3)
The Shondells - Special Delivery (King 1963)
Todd Rundgren - Couldn't I Just Tell You (Bearsville 1972)
The Kinks - Australia (Pye 1969) (Two of a Kind)
The Kinks - This Man He Weeps Tonight (Pye 1969) (Two of a Kind)
Marvin Gaye - One More Heartache (Tamla 1966)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)

Until next week, it's good day and good health.

Hinterland Festival - Initial Line Up Announced

2010-02-16T13:08:00.000-08:00

Hinterland, designed to give an eclectic mix of international & homegrown talent from across the arts a Glasgow City Centre festival to showcase from.

Artists performing include: Mystery Jets,British Sea Power, Jeffrey Lewis, Hot Club de Paris, Friendly Fires (DJ) and Joe Goddard Hot Chip (DJ Set). The action centres in city centre venues, which include: The Arches, Sub Club, Macsorleys Music Bar, The Admiral and Pivo Pivo & Rockers and more TBA.

After the success of last year's inaugural festival, Hinterland will be back in Glasgow on 3 April 2010. For one day only Glasgow will play host to some of the finest up and coming Scottish bands and musicians whilst welcoming our many friends from the UK and International scenes.

Hinterland will showcase a line up of eclectic acts from many musical genres including indie, electro, rock, house and hip-hop. The event takes place from 5pm til 3am

Ticket Deals: £10 early bird passes available online for those who are quick off the mark. This ticket gives you access to all venues and gigs in the programme.

Sign up for updates or to buy tickets at http://www.hinterlandfestival.com/blog

Drop us an email if you are keen to hear more.

For forward planning and other press enquiries contact the Hinterland team on press@thehinterlandfestival.com

INITIAL LINE UP INCLUDES:

Mystery Jets
British Sea Power
Jeffrey Lewis
Friendly Fires (DJ)
Joe Goddard Hot Chip (DJ Set)
Hot Club de Paris
Wave Pictures
GrecoRoman Soundsystem
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
Fenech Soler
Johnny Foreigner
French Wives
Ambulances
Bleech
Kitty the Lion
Midnight Lion
Ballers Social Presents…
Cooly G
Marcus Nasty
Spectrals
Eclair FiFi
Art installations by Konx Om Pax & Christina Kernohan
Make Sparks
Little Yellow Ukuleles
Pulled Apart By Horses
plus more TBC

Kassidy - EP and live dates

2010-02-15T14:15:00.000-08:00

A few words from the very wonderful Kassidy:

"Recent signings to Vertigo, Glaswegian quartet Kassidy are unique and brilliant, an exceptional live band whose show on the new bands stage at T In The Park last July was a revelation!

Four-part harmonies, box drums and some of the best songs we’ve heard in a long time, this band is going to be enormous in 2010!

Their debut single, The Rubbergum EP, via King Tuts Records was launched with a sold out show at that legendary venue last month.

Now they’re working on their debut album with Jim Abbiss (Arctic Monkeys, Adele, Kasabian).

www.myspace.com/kassidyuk

02/02 Lexington, London
11/02 Falkirk Rialtos
12/02 Bathgate Harleys
13/02 Dundee Doghouse
14/02 Aberdeen Warehouse
16/02 Inverness Hootanays
17/02 Edinburgh Voodoo Rooms
18/02 Glasgow Classic Grand
19/02 Lesley The Greenside
20/02 Stirling Tollbooth
22/02 Manchester Night & Day
23/02 Birmingham Hare & Hounds
24/02 Bristol Louisiana
25/02 London Barfly or Hoxton B&K"

The Rubbergum EP is on sale at the gigs. The equally marvellous The Ray Summers will be joining Kassidy at most, if not all, of these gigs.

Pin Up - Ladies Nights 3

2010-02-15T14:09:00.001-08:00

PIN UP NIGHTS LADIES NIGHT 3

FRIDAY 26TH FEBRUARY, 9PM - 3AM

THE FLYING DUCK, 142 RENFIELD STREET, GLASGOW

GUEST DJS: TRACYANNE & CAREY (CAMERA OBSCURA), ADELE & AILIDH (SONS & DAUGHTERS), EMMA POLLOCK (DELGADOS), MANDA RIN (BIS), EMMY KATE & MARIE DU SANTIAGO (KENICKIE), AND A VERY SPECIAL HUNKY SECRET TREAT!

PLAYING LIVE: FRENCH HORN REBELLION (KITSUNE RECORDS) AND MORE TBC

THE PIN UPS DJS PLAYING THEIR INIMITABLE MIX OF NEW AND CLASSIC INDIE, PUNK, SOUL & ELECTROPOP
“VINTAGE VILLAGE” WITH STALLHOLDERS SELLING JEWELLERY, CLOTHES, LOADS MORE!

£6 FOR LADIES AND £7 FOR GENTS ON THE NIGHT (IF NOT SOLD OUT!)

OR £5 RIGHT NOW FOR BOTH LADIES AND GENTS FROM THE STORE AT HTTP://WWW.PINUP-NIGHTS.CO.UK OR TICKETS SCOTLAND

It’s February, so it must be time for a Pin Ups Ladies Night! This will be Ladies Night 3 and we think that it’s going to be the biggest and best one yet!

Our star live headliners are French Horn Rebellion ( http://www.frenchhornrebellion.com ). Robert and David are a shiny electropop duo from Brooklyn, New York, who came to our attention last autumn with their tremendous single “Up All Night”, which you might have heard being played all over Radio 1 and 6Music. Mixmag made it Electro Tune of the Month, Artrocker gave it 5 stars for its “sparkling synths and vocal bridges of epic scale” and to top things off Kitsune chose it for the highly prestigious opening slot on their latest Kitsuné Maison 8 Compilation. FHR are visiting Pin Ups as part of a UK tour to promote their new EP “Beaches and Friends”, out 1^st March.

In support of FHR will be the sweet harmonic indiepop of Maple Leaves (fronted by Anna Miles - http://www.myspace.com/mapleleavesmusic) and a band that those in the know are calling "the best new band in Scotland" (!), Conquering Animal Sound ( fronted by Anneke Kampman - http://www.myspace.com/conqueringanimalsound ).

For Ladies Night 3 we’re also welcoming the most stellar cast of Guest DJs that Pin Up Nights has ever assembled! Tracyanne and Carey (Camera Obscura), Adele and Ailidh (Sons & Daughters), Emma Pollock (The Delgados), Emmy-Kate and Marie du Santiago (Kenickie), Manda Rin (Bis) and a very special “Hunky Secret Treat” (whose handsome identity we are keeping a closely guarded secret) will all be on the decks during the night to keep you on the dancefloor.

The first 100 ladies to arrive will receive a special Goody Bag, and we will also be once again be setting up a “Vintage Village” (this year with help from the Made in the Shade girls - http://www.wearemadeintheshade.com ) for stallholders selling jewellery, comics, vintage clothing, sweets and loads more.

Overseeing all the chaos and hilarity and filling in the gaps will be the Pin Ups DJs dressed in our best drag gear (joking - or are we..?) and all-lady DJ collective Bow Peep who, after entertaining the Kitchen at September’s Circus and Hogmanay, will be making their Main Room DJing debut!

As you can imagine this shindig is costing us a lot of cash to put together, but we still want to give everybody the best value we possibly can, while also giving ladies the fun and privilege of a discount on the entry fee. So we have come up with the following pricing (pay attention at the back):

1.There will be a strictly limited number of online FIVER tickets available, for ladies or gents, from the store at http://www.pinup-nights.co.uk .

2. After the strictly limited online £5 tickets are gone advance tickets will still available for both ladies and gents for £6, from both the store at http://www.pinup-nights.co.uk or Tickets Scotland. (The Hogmanay Ball was sold out by 10.30pm, so advance tickets might be necessary!)

3. Finally on the night we will charge £6 for ladies and £7 for gents.

(We hope you agree this is still amazing value for all the action involved!)

We’ll be updating the details of the night in the next few weeks so keep checking back!

Go snap up those £5 tickets!

Thanks, Pin Ups.x

ps -

"Ladies Night 1" featured The Pipettes, the ladies from Sons and Daughters, Manda Rin (Bis) and Susan Hay (Xfm) Guest DJing, as well as Pooch, Miss the Occupier, and Sisa playing live and DJs from the variety of girl-club nights that were on the go back then (Dolly Mixture, Pretty Ugly, Blitzkrieg Bop etc). Pictures of the night are http://www.pinup-nights.co.uk/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=32

"Ladies Night 2" featured the ladies from Camera Obscura, Victoria Bergstrom (the Concretes/Peter, Bjorn & John), Queens of Noize (BBC 6 Music/MTV), Manda Rin, Susan Hay and Laura & Kirstin (Pooch) Guest DJing, as well as Paper Planes, Fangs and The Miss’s playing live. Pictures are http://www.pinup-nights.co.uk/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=37

The Cat on "Where The Action Is" Kirkcaldy VRN 1287AM - Sunday 14 February 2010

2010-02-14T04:25:00.000-08:00

All you need is love on my Valentine's Day special. Here are this week's soft pop centres and hard soul bites:

The Love Affair - Everlasting Love (CBS 1968)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)
Billie Davis - Love (Decca 1970)
The Mamas and the Papas - Words of Love (RCA/Dunhill 1966)
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Third Finger, Left Hand (Gordy 1967)
Margo Guryan - I Love (Unreleased 1967)
Annette Funicello - Train of Love (Buena Vista 1960)
The Lovelites - I Found Me A Lover (Bandera 1970)
Billy Joe Royal - Hearts Desire (Columbia 1966) (Connect 3)
Hearts of Stone - If I Could Give You The World (VIP 1970) (Connect 3)
Gary Lewis & The Playboys - My Hearts Symphony (Liberty 1966) (Connect 3)
Barbara Ruskin - The Light of Love (Piccadilly 1966)
Frank Wilson - Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) (Soul 1965)
Tim Buckley - Once Upon A Time (Unreleased 1967) (Birthday: 14/2/47)
The Shirelles - What Is Love? (Scepter 1967)
Brenda Holloway - Favour for a Girl (With a Love Sick Heart) (Motown 1964)
Sylvie Vartan - Donne Moi Ton Amour (Gimme Some Loving) (RCA 1967) (Foreign Language)
The Action - Love Is All (Unreleased 1967/1968)
The Packabeats - Evening in Paris (Pye 1962) (Half-Time Instrumental)
Darlene Love - Strange Love (Philles 1964)
Bobby Hebb - Love Love Love (Phillips 1972)
The Beach Boys - Please Let Me Wonder (Capitol 1965) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - P)
The Beach Boys - Surf's Up (Brother/Reprise 1971) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - P)
The Four Tops - Standing In The Shadows of Love (Tamla Motown 1967)
The Monkees - Love To Love (Unreleased 1967)
Aberfeldy - Love Is An Arrow (Rough Trade 2004) (Under The Influence)
Petula Clark - My Love (Pye 1965)
The Hollies - Too Young To Be Married (Parlophone 1970)
The Turtles - Guide for the Married Man (White Whale 1967)
The Holy Mackerel - Wildflowers (Reprise 1968) (Connect 3)
The Beatstalkers - Rain Coloured Roses (CBS 1968) (Connect 3)
The Jaynetts - Cry Behind The Daisies (demo) (Unreleased 1964) (Connect 3)
Glenda Collins - Head Over Heels In Love (Decca 1961)
Jackie Lee - Your Other Love (Unreleased 1966)
Love - The Daily Planet (Elektra 1967) (Two of a Kind)
Love - Hey Joe (Elektra 1967) (Two of a Kind)
Rose Valentine - I've Gotta Know Right Now (RCA Victor 1967)
April Stevens - Lovin' Valentine (Atco 1965)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)

Until next week, it's good day and good health.

The Ray Summers - Coming to a venue near you...

2010-02-12T22:53:00.000-08:00

Alright man!

Just thought I'd give you a wee update on whit we're up to!

Following on from yesterday's announcement about more shows added to the tour with Kassidy, The Ray Summers are pleased to announce that they will headline King Tuts on Friday 9th April.

The band have played Tuts a number of times and will again take to the stage after 2 memorable sell outs, including the launch of their debut single on the famous venues's label, King Tuts recordings last August

Tickets are available from www.gigsinscotland.com /or the King Tuts bar

After a successful 2009 that has seen the band release 2 singles, an EP, appear at festivals and perform countless gigs around the UK. The band have started 2010 off with a bang by performing 3 shows in London in February, whilst also playing a number of shows in Scotland with Vertigo Records latest signing - Kassidy. Between these gigs the band have been in the studio laying down the tracks that will make up their debut album scheduled for release in the summer.

The Ray Summers saw in 2009 with Paolo Nutini and Idlewild in George Square. They then went on to release their first EP in April with a full UK tour to mark this including a date at the Camden Crawl. Sessions followed on Radio 1, Northsound, TayFM and various student stations.

The Summer saw them taking to the stages at T in The Park, Rock Ness, The Edge, Wizard, Hinterland, Liverpool Sound City, Go North, Electric Bay and Perth Music Festivals.

King Tuts Recordings released debut single 'The Shepherd' in August and it charted at number 8 in the Scottish charts outselling Beyonce!

In The City in Manchester asked the band to play 2 shows, both ended up rammed and have been good for the bands profile.
2nd single 'Zagora Road' was released in November with a show at Glasgow's Oran Mor. On the same night the band played a special full band acoustic set that shows the amazing talent this band has.
The Ray Summers are looking forward to releasing their third single in April with the launch at King Tuts.

www.theraysummers.com
www.myspace.com/theraysummers

"more fun than Katy Perry and Britney Spears in a pillow fight..."
News of the world

"F**ing brilliant... Apologies for the language but they were.... Headliners next time..." Danny Watson"
Alan McGee's Death Disco Booker

"Remember when The Coral used to write those tunes that would, without warning, skew off on another key, another tempo, another planet altogether? The Ray Summers do it better."
Tincan TV

Catch the boys at the following shows

February
12 Harleys, Bathgate w/ KASSIDY
17 Voodoo Rooms, Edniburgh w/ KASSIDY
18 Classic Grand, Glasgow w/ KASSIDY
19 Greenside Hotel, Leslie w/ KASSIDY
20 Tolbooth, Stirling w/ KASSIDY
26 'West Rocks' at Liquid Nation, London

April
9 King Tuts, Glasgow

Stay tuned for further announcements regarding further shows

Cheers,

Dougie.

The Cat on "Where The Action Is" Kirkcaldy VRN 1287AM - Sunday 7 February 2010

2010-02-07T02:15:00.000-08:00

Time flies when you're having fun and we'll already into February. It's back to our normal mix of mod, soul, girl groups, Motown and alternative music from the late 50s to the early 70s. Here are this week's tasty musical morsels:

The Casuals - Jesamine (Decca 1968)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)
Claudine Clark - Party Lights (Chancellor 1962)
The Walker Brothers - (Baby) You Don't Have To Tell Me (Philips 1966)
The Jewells - Smokie Joe's (King 1967)
Heinz - Questions I Can't Answer (Columbia 1964)
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - I Second That Emotion (Tamla Motown 1968)
The Teardrops - Tears Come Running (Saxony/Musicor 1964)
Goldie & The Gingerbreads - Sailor Boy (Decca 1966) (Connect 3)
Petula Clark - Sailor (Pye 1961) (Connect 3)
The Zippers - My Sailor Boy (Hickory 1964) (Connect 3)
Glenda Collins - I Lost My Heart at the Fairground (HMV 1963)
Badfinger - Now Matter What (Apple 1970)
King Curtis - Memphis Soul Stew (Atco 1967) (Birthday: 7/2/34 King Curtis, saxophonist)
The Jelly Beans - How Fine Can One Guy Be (Unreleased, Year Unknown)
Barry Ryan - Eloise (MGM 1968)
The Searchers - Mais C'Etait un Reve (It's All Been a Dream) (Vogue 1965) (Foreign Language)
The Honeycombs - Something Better Beginning (Pye 1965)
The Tornados - Life on Venus (German version) (Decca 1968) (Half-Time Instrumental)
Julie Grant - Don't Ever Let Me Down (Pye 1963)
Barbara Mason & The Tiffanys - Trouble Child (Crusader 1964)
The Beach Boys - Only With You (Capitol 1972) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - O)
The Beach Boys - Our Car Club (Capitol 1963) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - O)
Diana Ross & The Supremes - In and Out of Love (Tamla Motown 1968)
The Small Faces/PP Arnold - (If You Think You're) Groovy (Immediate 1968)
The Small Ads - Small Ads (Bronze 1981) (Under The Influence)
The Utopias - Sally Bad (Fortune 1965)
Dusty Springfield - I Close My Eyes and Count To Ten (Philips 1968)
Emitt Rhodes - Ever Find Yourself Running (ABC Dunhill 1970)
PP Arnold - Angle of the Morning (Immediate 1968) (Connect 3)
Margo Guryan - Something's Wrong With The Morning (Unreleased, Year Unknown) (Connect 3)
Episode Six - Morning Dew (Pye 1967) (Connect 3)
Jackie Lee - Co-Co (Pye 1971)
Joani Camp - His Lips Get In The Way (Unreleased, Year Unknown)
Herman's Hermits - A Must To Avoid (Columbia 1965) (Two of a Kind)
Herman's Hermits - For Your Love (Columbia 1966) (Two of a Kind)
Simon Dupree & The Big Sound Authority - I See The Light (Parlophone 1966)
The Searchers - Goodnight Baby (Pye 1965)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)

Next week it's our Valentine's Day special. All love, hearts, flowers etc. Until then, it's good day and good health.

Raymy - Are You Experienced Jimmy

2010-02-05T23:39:00.000-08:00

Yes, he's back!

"hi folks and a belated happy new year to y'all.Hope all those ridiculous resolutions have been binned already! Needless to say i'm punting a new cd,called ARE YOU EXPERIENCED JIMMY...it was originally goin to be two seperate cds but production costs are getting silly,so i've put the two together.A double album essentially.25 tracks or thereabouts,all new material including the SCOTT HARRISON HOKEY COKEY,72 VIRGINS CANT BE WRONG and BIG MATCH UPDATE,my first attempt at a football song (no,you wont be hearing it at your local stadium for reasons that will soon be apparent!).Sleeve pic attached with this email...go on,frighten the dog!
I'm still trying to keep the price of these cds down,so it's selling for £3.50 or so. Email me if you want a copy or maybe easier thru eBay.Whatever,thanks for your continued interest.
Anon...Raymy"

The Proclaimers - Tour Dates

2010-02-05T23:36:00.000-08:00

Hello,

The Proclaimers can confirm further summer shows in USA and England, all ticket info in The Gigs section at www.proclaimers.co.uk/2003/the_gigs.html

Tickets are on sale from 10am on Saturday 6th February for three Acoustic shows on USA East Coast, May 20th New York, NY, City Winery, 21st Northampton, MA, Iron Horse, 22nd Philadelphia, PA, Tin Angel.

We always enjoy visiting places we don't normally get a chance to on our larger UK tours and we are pleased to add a few in this run. Tickets for the newly announced dates in England are on sale from 9am on Monday 8th February. The Proclaimers will perform June 16th Durham Gala, 17th Lincoln Engine Shed, 18th The Big Session Festival, Leicester De Montfort Hall, 20th Beverley Festival, 25th Holmfirth Picturedrome, 26th Grassington Festival (Sold Out), 27th Scarborough Spa Theatre, then two dates in July 3d Shrewsbury Severn Theatre and 4th Preston 54 Degrees.

Cheers,

Persevere

The Cat on "Where the Action Is" on Kirkcaldy VRN 1287 AM - Sunday 31 January 2010

2010-01-31T02:33:00.001-08:00

This is the last week of our rummage in the treasure chest that is the "Where The Action Is! LA Nuggets 1965-1968" box set. The San Francisco equivalent "Love Is the Song We Sing: San Francisco Nuggets 1965-1970" will be heard during my shows in March. Here are this week's veritable cornucopia of crackin' tunes:

The Who - Substitute (Reaction 1966)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)
The Peanut Butter Conspiracy - Eventually (Unreleased 1966)
Dino, Desi and Billy - The Rebel Kind (Reprise 1965)
The Mustangs - That's For Sure (Nero 1965)
Jackie DeShannon & The Byrds - Splendor in the Grass (Imperial 1966)
The Seeds - Tripmaker (GNP Crescendo 1966)
The Mamas and the Papas - Somebody Groovy (Dunhill 1965)
Boyce and Hart - Thanks for Sunday (A&M 1969) (Connect 3)
Glenda Collins - Don't Let It Rain on Sunday (Pye 1966) (Connect 3)
Josephine Sunday - You Won't Even Know Her Name (Tower 1965) (Connect 3)
Fapardokly (Merrill & The Exiles) - Tomorrow's Girl (Glenn 1967)
The Knickerbockers - High On Love (Challenge 1966)
Billie Davis & The Leroys - Whatcha Gonna Do (Columbia 1964) (Birthday: 31/1/28 Chuck Willis, songwriter)
The Music Machine - The People in Me (Original Sound 1967)
Peter Fonda - November Night (Cjisa 1967)
Alma Cogan - Itte Kudes (Tell Him) (Japanese version) (Columbia 1963) (Foreign Language)
Herman's Hermits - Show Me Girl (Columbia 1964)
The Tornados - Ridin' The Wind (Decca 1962) (Half-Time Instrumental)
Jan and Dean - Fan Tan (Jan & Dean 1967)
Barry McGuire - Inner-Manipulations (Dunhill 1968)
The Beach Boys - The Night Was So Young (Capitol 1977) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - N)
The Beach Boys - The Nearest Faraway Place (Capitol 1968) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - N)
The Sons of Adam - Saturday's Son (Decca 1966)
Danny Hutton - Roses and Rainbows (Hanna-Barbera 1965)
Dan Lyth - Castles (Moojuice 2009) (Under The Influence)
The Hysterics - Everything's There (Bing 1965)
P F Sloan - Halloween Mary (Dunhill 1965)
The Whatt Four - Your Wishin' I Was Someone Else (Mercury 1967)
Petula Clark - Las Vegas (Pye 1967) (Connect 3)
Gene Clark - Los Angeles (Unreleased 1968) (Connect 3)
Gary Usher - Sacramento (Capitol 1964) (Connect 3)
The Penny Arkade - Swim (Unreleased 1967)
The Kinks - Days (Pye 1968)
The Monkees -Sometime In The Morning (Colgems 1967) (Two of a Kind)
The Monkees - You Just May Be The One (Colgems 1967) (Two of a Kind)
The Yellow Payges - Our Time Is Running Out (UNI 1967)
The Raspberries - Overnight Sensation (Hit Record) (Capitol 1974)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)

Next week it's back to our normal mix of mod, soul, girl groups, Motown and alternative pop from the late 50s to the early 1970s. Until then, it's good day and good health.

The Cat on "Where The Action Is" Kirkcaldy VRN 1287AM - Sunday 24 January 2010

2010-01-24T03:40:00.000-08:00

We reach the penultimate week of our grab bag of West Coast goodies from the "Where The Action Is! LA Nuggets 1965-1968" box set. We're also celebrating a nomination in the National Hospital Radio awards for the show in the Best Specialist Music Programme category, as well as five nominations in four categories for others at the station. Well done everyone concerned. Meanwhile, tuck in to this week's musical feast...

The Chymes - He's Not There Anymore (Chattahoochee 1966)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)
The Rising Sons - Take A Giant Step (Unreleased 1966)
Thorinsfield - Daydreaming (Philips 1967)
The Everpresent Fullness - Darlin' You Can Count On Me (White Whale 1967)
Limey & The Yanks - Guaranteed Love (Star-Burst 1966)
Sandie Shaw - It's In His Kiss (Pye 1965)
The Association - One Too Many Mornings (Valiant 1965)
Dusty Springfield - The Magic Garden (Philips 1968) (Connect 3)
The Garden Club - Little Girl - Lost and Found (A&M 1967) (Connect 3)
The Mamas and the Papas - Safe In My Garden (Dunhill 1968) (Connect 3)
The Nitty Gritty Band - I'll Search The Sky (Liberty 1967)
The Romancers (aka The Smoke Rings) - Love's The Thing (Linda 1965)
Tammi Terrell - Come On and See Me (Motown 1966) (Birthday: 24/1/45 Tammi Terrell)
The Full Treatment - Just Can't Wait (A&M 1967)
Kin Fowley - Underground Lady (Living Legend 1965)
Jackie Lee - Rupert der Bar (German) (Pye 1970) (Foreign Language)
Scott Walker - The Girls and the Dogs (Les filles et les chiens) (Philips 1968)
The Honeycombs - Goldfinger (Unreleased Year Unknown) (Half-Time Instrumental)
John Leyton (with Mike Sarne & Grazina) - Everyday's a Holiday (HMV 1964)
The Knack - Time Waits For No One (Capitol 1967)
The Beach Boys - Mama Says (Capitol 1967) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - M)
The Beach Boys - Marcella (Brother 1972) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - M)
Van Dyke Parks - Come To The Sunshine (MGM 1966)
London Phogg - The Times To Come (A&M 1969)
The BMX Bandits - I Can Wait Forever (Elefant 2008) (Under The Influence)
Harry Nilsson - Sister Marie (RCA 1968)
Love Affair - Rainbow Valley (CBS 1968)
The Doors - Take It as It Comes (Elektra 1967)
Moon - Mothers and Fathers (Imperial 1968) (Connect 3)
Susan Lynne - Reach for the Moon (Label Unknown 1968) (Connect 3)
The Puffs - Moon Out There (Dore 1966) (Connect 3)
Jesse Lee Kincaid - She Sang Hymns out of Tune (Kelly 1968)
The WC Fields Memorial Electric String Band - Hippy Elevator Operator (Hanna-Barbera 1966)
Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell - California Soul (Motown 1969) (Two of a Kind)
Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell - You're All I Need To Get By (Motown 1968) (Two of a Kind)
Kaleidoscope - Pulsating Dream (Epic 1967)
The Who - Won't Get Fooled Again (Polydor 1970)
The Action - Shadows and Reflections (Parlophone 1967) RIP Mike Evans
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)

The last prescription of LA Nuggets will be dosed out next week. Until next time, it's good day and good health.

Jackie Leven gigs

2010-01-20T07:36:00.000-08:00

Jackie has the following gigs lined up for 2010 so far:

Thu 21 Jan - Poole Mr Kyp’s

Thu 25 Feb - Dunfermline Abbey Abbot House by Dunfermline Abbey (see you there!)

Sat 27 Feb - Stirling The String Jam Club

Tue 9 Feb - Leicester The Musician

Fri 26 Mar - Ayr Libertine

Wed 31 Mar - Coventry Taylor Johns House

Thu 12 Aug - Hebden Bridge Trades Club

Sat 16 Oct - Barton The Ropewalk

Wed 27 Oct - South Shields Customs House at The Studio

Fri 26th Nov - Kelso Folk & Live Music Club

The Cat on "Where The Action Is" Kirkcaldy VRN 1287AM - Sunday 17 January 2010

2010-01-17T01:03:00.001-08:00

It's the third week of our rummage through the brilliant "Where The Action Is! LA Nuggets 1965-1968" box set. We're also celebrating the birthday of chanteuse Francoise Hardy. Last train to Tunesville - all aboard...

The Palace Guard - All Night Long (Orange-Empire 1965)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)
Noel Harrison - Life Is A Dream (Reprise 1965)
Little Eva - The Trouble With Boys (Dimension 1963)
Opus 1 - Back Seat '38 Dodge (Mustang 1966)
October Country - My Girlfriend Is A Witch (Epic 1968)
Rick Nelson - Marshmallow Skies (Decca 1967)
Roger Nichols Trio - Montage Mirror (Unreleased 1967)
A Joint Effort - The Third Eye (JE 1967) (Connect 3)
Les Fleurs de Lys - Mud In Your Eye (Polydor 1966) (Connect 3)
Spirit - Girl In Your Eye (Ode 1968) (Connect 3)
The Lamp of Childhood - No More Running Around (Dunhill 1967)
The Humane Society - Eternal Prison (New World 1968)
Francoise Hardy - All Over The World (Vogue 1965) (Birthday: 17/1/44 Francoise Hardy)
Randy Newman - I Had A Dream Last Night (Reprise 1968)
The Velvet Illusions - Acid Head (Metro-Media 1967)
Francoise Hardy - Ce Petite Coeur (My Little Heart) (Vogue 1965) (Foreign Language)
The Contours - Just A Little Understanding (Motown 1966)
The Beachcombers - Mad Goose (Columbia 1963) (Half-Time Instrumental)
Evie Sands - Take Me a While (Blue Cat 1965)
The Common Cold - Come Down (Atco 1967)
The Beach Boys - Long Promised Road (Brother 1971) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - L)
The Beach Boys - Little Honda (Capitol 1964) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - L)
The Others - Revenge (Mercury 1966)
Sonny and Cher - It's Gonna Rain (Atco 1965)
Dropkick - Choose (Sound Asleep 2009) (Under The Influence)
Sagittarius - The Turth Is Not Real (single version) (Columbia 1968)
The Honeybees - She Doesn't Deserve You (Fontana 1964)
Pasternak Progress - Flower Eyes (Original Sound 1967)
The Move - (Here We Go Round) The Lemon Tree (Regal Zonophone 1967) (Connect 3)
The Dillards - Lemon Chimes (Capitol 1965) (Connect 3)
Peter, Paul and Mary - The Lemon Tree (Warners 1962) (Connect 3)
Things To Come - Come Alive (Warners 1968)
The Guilloteens - For My Own (Hanna-Barbera 1965)
Francoise Hardy - La Maison Ou J'ai Grandi (Tar and Cement) (Vogue 1966) (Two of a Kind)
Francoise Hardy - Autumn Rendezvous (Vogue 1966) (Two of a Kind)
The Supremes - Love Is Like An Itching in My Heart (Motown 1966)
The Rev-lons - After Last Night (Reprise 1963)
Steampacket - Can I Get A Witness (Label Unknown 1965)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)

There will be more LA Nuggets over the next two weeks. Until next time, it's good day and good health.

The Cat on "Where The Action Is" Kirkcaldy VRN 1287 AM - Sunday 10 January 2010

2010-01-10T02:18:00.000-08:00

More tracks from the wonderful "Where The Action Is! LA Nuggets 1965-1968" box set as the ice age continues unabated. These tunes will warm you up, if nothing else will. Here's your menu for today...

Bobby Fuller Four - Baby My Heart (Unreleased 1966)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)
The Motorcycle Abeline - (You Used To) Ride So High (Unreleased 1966)
The Marvelettes - I Just Can't Let Him Down (Unreleased Year Unknown)
Ken & The 4th Dimension - See If I Care (Star-Burst 1966)
Gary Lewis & The Playboys - Jill (Liberty 1967)
Lowell George & The Factory - Candy Cane Madness (Unreleased 1967)
The Odyssey - Little Girl, Little Boy (White Whale 1968)
Nino Tempo & April Stevens - I Love How You Love Me (Atco 1966) (Connect 3)
Love - You'll Be Following (Elektra 1966) (Connect 3)
The Action - Love Is All (Unreleased 67/68) (Connect 3)
Hearts and Flowers - Tin Angel (Will You Ever Come Down) (Capitol 1968)
Helen Shapiro - You Must Be Readin' My Mind (Columbia 1963)
Jenny Moss - Hobbies (Columbia 1963) (Birthday: 10/1/45 Jenny Moss)
The Electric Prunes - Hideaway (Reprise 1967)
West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band - If You Want This Love (Reprise 1967)
The Hollies - Look Through Any Window (French) (Label Unknown 1965) (Foreign Language)
Modern Folk Quartet - Night Time Girl (Dunhill 1966)
Andre Brasseur - The Kid (CBS 1967) (Half-Time Instrumental)
Fontella Bass - The Soul of a Man (Chess 1965)
Tim Buckpey - Once Upon a Time (Unreleased 1967)
The Beach Boys - Kokomo (Elektra 1988) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - K)
Brian Wilson - Keep An Eye On Summer (Giant 1998) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - K)
Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart - Words (Demo 1965)
Jimmy Winston & His Reflections - It's Not What You Do (Decca 1967)
The Lilys - Nanny in Manhattan (Che 1996) (Under The Influence)
The Merry Go Round - Listen Listen (A&M 1968)
Chris Farlowe - Air Travel (Decca 1962)
The Oracle - Don't Say No (Verve Forecast 1968)
The Leaves - Dr. Stone (Mira/Surrey 1966) (Connect 3)
Tom Jones - Dr. Love (Decca 1966) (Connect 3)
Dr. Specs Optical Illusion - She's The One (Flambeau 1967) (Connect 3)
The Spats - She Done Moved (ABC-Paramount 1966)
Polly Perkins - Young Lover (Oriole 1964)
Del Shannon - I Think I Love You (Liberty 1968) (Two of a Kind)
Del Shannon - Led Along (Liberty 1967) (Two of a Kind)
Lee Hazelwood - Rainbow Woman (Reprise 1968)
Carol Friday - Everybody I Know (Parlophone 1965)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)

There will be more LA Nuggets over the next three weeks. Until next time, it's good day and good health.

The Cat on "Where The Action Is" Kirkcaldy VRN 1287 AM - Sunday 3 January 2010

2010-01-03T03:45:00.001-08:00

A new year, a new decade and a new theme tune for "Where The Action Is". "Bert's Apple Crumble" by The Quik has gone and Floyd Cramer's wonderful "On The Rebound" takes its place. With Santa generously bestowing the "Where The Action Is! LA Nuggets 1965-1968" box set upon me I've taken to loading up all the five January shows with 99 of the 101 tracks available. (I figure Bush's "To Die Alone" isn't really appropriate for hospital radio and The Beach Boys are more than covered by the A to Z feature). Upwards and onwards...

Keith Allison - Action Action Action (Columbia 1966)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)
The Four Tops - I Can't Help Myself (Motown 1965)
Dusty Springfield - Wishin' and Hopin' (Philips 1964)
The Light - Back Up (A&M 1967)
The Yardbirds - Heart Full of Soul (Columbia 1965)
The Standells - Riot On Sunset Strip (Tower 1967)
The Kinks - The Village Green Preservation Society (Pye 1968)
Yellow Balloon - Yellow Balloon (Canterbury 1967) (Connect 3)
The Deepest Blue - Pretty Little Thing (Blue-Fin 1966) (Connect 3)
The Rose Garden - Here's Today (Atco 1968) (Connect 3)
John Leyton - I'll Cut Your Tail Off (HMV 1963)
The Shangri-las - The Train from Kansas City (Red Bird 1965)
Stephen Stills & Richie Furay - Sit Down I Think I Love You (Demo 1966) (Birthday: 3/1/45 Stephen Stills)
Shorty Long - Function at the Junction (Soul/Motown 1968)
Iron Butterfly - Genlte As It May Seem (Atco 1968)
France Gall - L'Amerique (Philips 1965) (Foreign Language)
Dorothy Berry - You're So Fine (Challenge 1963)
Floyd Cramer - Love Is Blue (RCA Victor 1968) (Half-Time Instrumental)
The Premiers - Get On This Plane (Faro 1966)
Mally Page - Life and Soul of the Party (Pye 1966)
The Beach Boys - California Saga: California (Brother 1973) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - J)
The Beach Boys - Just Once In My Life (Brother 1976) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - J)
The Ballroom - Baby, Please Don't Go (Warners 1967)
Lorraine Silver - I'll Know You'll Be There (Pye 1965)
The Caesars - Jerk It Out (Virgin 2003) (Under The Influence)
Thee Midniters - Jump, Jive and Harmonize (Whittier 1967)
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band - Zig Zag Wanderer (Buddah 1967)
Chris Clark - From Head To Toe (Motown 1967)
The Turtles - Grim Reaper of Love (White Whale 1967) (Connect 3)
The Monkees - Daily Nightly (Colgems 1967) (Connect 3)
Buffalo Springfield - Go and Say Goodbye (Atco 1967) (Connect 3)
The Girlfriends - My One and Only, Jimmy Boy (Colpix 1963)
Pleasure featuring Billy Elder - Poor Old Organ Grinder (Tower 1969)
The Byrds - You Movin' (Unreleased 1964) (Two of a Kind)
The Byrds - Change Is Now (Columbia 1967) (Two of a Kind)
Love - You Set The Scene (Elektra 1967)
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound (RCA 1961) (show theme)

There will be more LA Nuggets over the next four weeks. Until next time, it's good day and good health.

The Cat
=^..^=

Happy New Year from The Proclaimers

2010-01-01T03:36:00.000-08:00

"Hello and a very Happy New Year to all.

We have had a fantastic 2009 with the release of the Notes & Rhymes album and 95 live shows across the World that began in March at SXSW in Austin and ended at London's O2 for BBC Radio 2's Chris Evans Show 'Farewell Drivetime' party. Our thanks and appreciation to everyone who has bought tracks or made it to a gig, we hope that you have enjoyed the music. Whilst mainly writing in the year ahead, The Proclaimers will be doing a few live shows in the Spring and Summer of 2010, full info as gigs confirmed.

UK residents can access David Tennant's Desert Island Discs for BBC Radio 4 here (on line till 8th January). David describes his first track by The Proclaimers - "I could have chosen any and and every track from this band, probably my favourite band of all time. They write the most spectacular songs, big hearted, uncynical passionate songs."

Tonight, Thursday 31st December, Auld Lang Syne 18:25 on BBC Two (Scotland only), catch Craig and Charlie's contribution to Artworks Scotland film on Robert Burns most famous song.

Cheers,

Persevere"

All the best to Craig and Charlie from the Jocknroll crew for 2010.

Second Hand Marching Band

2009-12-29T11:44:00.000-08:00

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!"

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

2009-12-27T02:46:00.000-08:00

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
=^..^=

Horse - News for 2010

2009-12-24T06:41:00.000-08:00

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

Jocknroll Review of the Year

2009-12-22T02:40:00.000-08:00

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.

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

2009-12-20T07:58:00.000-08:00

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
=^..^=

The BAMS Awards 2009 - We Have A Winner!

2009-12-17T05:17:00.000-08:00

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.

Dan Lyth - Merry Christmas

2009-12-16T05:14:00.000-08:00

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/

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

2009-12-13T02:41:00.001-08:00

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
=^..^=

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

2009-12-06T04:24:00.001-08:00

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
=^..^=

Pin Ups - Hogmanay Ball

2009-12-05T00:49:00.000-08:00

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.

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

2009-11-29T04:45:00.000-08:00

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
=^..^=

Jocknroll - Top 10 Albums of 2009

2009-11-27T16:10:00.000-08:00

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.

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
Butcher Boy – React or Die
Jackie Leven – Winter: Men in Prison/Munich Blues

The Cat
=^..^=

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

2009-11-22T04:15:00.000-08:00

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
=^..^=

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

2009-11-15T03:44:00.001-08:00

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
=^..^=

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

2009-11-08T04:32:00.003-08:00

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
=^..^=

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

2009-11-01T02:10:00.000-08:00

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
=^..^=

Sergeant - Sergeant (Shy Recordings)

2009-10-26T14:57:00.000-07:00

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.

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

2009-10-25T04:53:00.000-07:00

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
=^..^=

Jackie Leven - Gigs

2009-10-19T13:37:00.000-07:00

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

The Proclaimers - News

2009-10-18T12:23:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-18T05:18:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-18T05:03:00.000-07:00

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
=^..^=

Sergeant - Album and Tour Dates

2009-10-16T08:05:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-16T07:07:00.000-07:00

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"

The Cat on "Where The Action Is" Kirkcaldy VRN 1287 AM - Sunday 11 October 2009

2009-10-11T04:57:00.000-07:00

Here's the playlist for tonight's Beatles edition of "Where The Action Is", featuring covers and novelty Beatles records, including a couple of tracks by the band themselves and one by birthday boy John Lennon.

The Beatles - Birthday (Parlophone 1968)
The Quik - Bert's Apple Crumble (Decca 1967) (show theme)
The Dowlands - All My Loving (Oriole 1963)
Nancy Sinatra - Day Tripper (Reprise 1966)
Sonny Curtis - A Beatle I Want To Be (Colpix 1964)
Madeline Bell - You Won't See Me (Philips 1966)
The Fondettes - The Beatles Are In Town (Arhoolie 1964)
The Supremes - A Hard Day's Night (Motown 1964)
Dori Peyton - Ringo Boy (Margo/Ottie Year Unknown) (Connect 3)
The Bon Bons - What's Wrong With Ringo (Coral 1964) (Connect 3)
Bonnie Jo Mason - Ringo I Love You (Annette 1964) (Connect 3)
R Dean Taylor - Two of Us (Motown 1971)
The Twiliters - My Beatle Haircut (Label Unknown 1964)
John Lennon - Woman (Geffen 1981) (Birthday: 9/10/40)
The Four Preps - A Letter To The Beatles (Capitol 1964)
Amen Corner - Get Back (Immediate 1969)
The Beatles - Kimm, Gib Mir Deine Hand (I Wanna Hold Your Hand) (EMI 1964) (Foreign Language)
The Vernons Girls - We Love The Beatles (Label Unknown 1963)
The Beatles - Flying (Parlophone 1967) (Half-Time Instrumental)
The Temptations - Hey Jude (Motown 1969)
Dick Lord - Like Ringo (Label Unknown 1964)
Stevie Wonder - We Can Work It Out (Motown 1970)
Nilsson - You Can't Do That (RCA Victor 1967)
Joe Cocker - I'll Cry Instead (Decca 1964)
Bill Clifton - Beatle Crazy (Decca 1963)
The Las - There She Goes (Go! Discs 1988)) (Under The Influence)
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - And I Love Her (Motown 1970)
Mamas and the Papas - I Call Your Name (Dunhill 1966)
The Bulldogs - John, Paul, George and Ringo (Mercury 1964)
Vikki Carr - Nowhere Man (Liberty 1966) (Connect 3)
Link Wray & The Linkmen - Please Please Me (Take 1) (Unreleased) (Connect 3)
The Frugal Sound - Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) (Pye 1966) (Connect 3)
The Beatle-ettes - Only Seventeen (EMI 1964)
Badfinger - Come and Get It (Apple 1969)
The Four Tops - Eleanor Rigby (Motown 1969) (Two of a Kind)
The Four Tops - Fool On The Hill (Motown 1969) (Two of a Kind)
Rainbo - John You Went Too Far This Time (Tomorrow's Production 1968)
The Beatles - I Feel Fine (Parlophone 1964)
The Beatles - Good Night (Apple 1968)
The Quik - Bert's Apple Crumble (Decca 1967) (show theme)

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
=^..^=

Grace Maxwell - Never Met a Girl Like You Before

2009-10-06T11:41:00.000-07:00

The issue of file-sharing continue as Grace Maxwell, Edwyn Collins wife and manager, once again waxes lyrical on the problems of record companies making and breaking their own rules and stealing from artists they claim to be fighting for.

On the techdirt.com website Grace's recent comments have been repeated with more comment from the lady herself and Brendan Brown from Wheatus.

With many posters urging Grace to seek legal redress on Edwyn's behalf, and, at the very least issue, a cease and desist letter to Warners, so beloved of the RIAA, Grace said:

"Good evening folks, I'm the author of this post. It's true we could sue and it may have to come to that. I wouldn't spend a penny on it. Edwyn (who had a stroke in 2005 and has some speech and language issues) could authorise me to bring a case on his behalf as litigant in person in the British courts. The last time I had to threaten a major with this, in 1994, after six fruitless years of correspondence exchange/stalling, they admitted liability and settled in full. In that case, as I believe in this, the company was not malicious, just rubbish at knowing what it does and doesn't own. They own so much, you see, they assume they own everything and attach ISRC codes will nilly. This particular infringement comes from our having licensed the track on a non exclusive basis to be used on a Charlie's Angels soundtrack. Even the business affairs guy at Warner UK whom I have been dealing with seems powerless to wrest the track from the system. Like I say, not evil, just slack and hidebound. We're not bitter or furious, we know our industry well. Edwyn's career spans thirty years. It simply amuses me to hear them wail about copyright theft. I think the word is hubris.

Edwyn is hail and hearty and after four years hard graft, performing and recording again. These days we don't much sweat the small stuff. And small stuff is an increasingly accurate description of the old behemoth record companies as they flail around desperately trying to protect their "property.""

One poster "Anonymous Coward" asked where Warners came into the equation and Grace clarified things for him/her:

"Hi there Coward...to satiate your curiosity, a little background. Edwyn was the main man in an eighties band called Orange Juice who never troubled the charts in the US but did rather well here in the UK. He nonetheless has some very loyal followers over your way, partly because in addition to being a rather glorious songwriter (biased) he was something of a trail blazer, forming an influential and truly independent label with others in 1979 called Postcard Records of Scotland. This spirit has informed his career throughout; unwilling to sign his life away, he now owns most of his copyrights. We're not that territorial about them. Enthusiastic admirers spreading the word? We're all for it. Grist to the mill."

Brendan from Wheatus: "As an former major label artist, this fish flopping just gets more embarrassing with every cheese lip lame ass "statement".

Dear Other Artists,

If you don't want your music leaked then don't give it to anyone you think might leak it. If your "record deal" stipulates you must then grow a pair and try to get out of it...you are in the life you chose and chastising the working people who made it all possible for you is some spoiled brat bullshit.

Home taping didn't kill music in the late 70'early 80's, it helped it. So does piracy help the cream rise to the top today. The artificial market place you were used to is being replaced by a real one.

Dear Techdirt Thinkers,

Making music and selling it for a REASONABLE profit on the internet are not as complicated as my defunct 78 page agreement with a certain Major Label or the RIAA would have you believe. Licensing IP to outlets who seek to profit from it is even easier. Any ML artists who talk down to you are trying to protect an unsustainable and corrupt system that has failed upward for decades and can no longer afford to hold up the weight at the top. The plan, as always, is to make you pay more for less. Resist!

Go True Indie Music Only,
brendan b brown
wheatus.com"

He continued: "Some of us have managed to pry our revenue streams from the white knuckled hands of the titans in the towers. Your taste not withstanding, at wheatus.com we are doing exactly what you would love to see your favorite artists doing (donwnload free or donate). It's not hard it's not expensive, and it IS equitable.

Hang in there...these Majors will be gone soon and when they finally give up the ghost new musical and youth culture movements will be born."

To which Grace replied: "Dear Brendan from Wheatus, good points well made......go true indie now..."

Would you donate money to help Grace take on the majors on Edwyn's behalf? In the RIAA trial versus Jammie Thomas-Rasset the RIAA charged each illegal download at the rate of $80,000 each, which, in her case, totalled $1.92million. With a song as popular as "A Girl Like You" Edwyn/Grace would stand to make a pretty penny although, I imagine, they'd give some of it away to good causes. I'm surprised lawyers aren't banging down their door to help out.

The Cat on "Where The Action Is" Kirkcaldy VRN 1287 AM - Sunday 4 October 2009

2009-10-04T06:44:00.000-07:00

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

The Settlers - Major To Minor (Pye 1967)
The Quik - Bert's Apple Crumble (Decca 1967) (show theme)
The Small Faces - (Tell Me) Have You Ever Seen Me (Immediate 1976)
Scott Walker - Jackie (Philips 1967)
Jenny Wren - Chasing My Dream All Over Town (Fontana 1964)
Peanut - Home of the Brave (Pye 1965)
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Nowhere To Run (Gordy 1965)
Pattie Lane - Paper Dreams (Polydor 1968)
The Merry-Go-Round - A Clown's No Good (A&M 1967) (Connect 3)
Jackie Lee - Lonely Clown (Columbia 1965) (Connect 3)
The Scots of St. James - Eiderdown Clown (Spot 1967) (Connect 3)
Lesley Dawson - Run For Shelter (Mercury 1967)
Arthur Alexander - Where Have You Been (London 1962)
Big Star - Daisy Glaze (Ardent 1974) (Birthday: 4/10/52 Jody Stephens, Drummer)
The Searchers - Popcorn Double Feature (Pye 1967)
Linda Kendrick - When Your Love Is Warm (Polydor 1966)
Petula Clark - Entre Nous Il Est Fou (She's A Fool) (Vogue 1963) (Foreign Language)
The Soul Survivors - Look At Me (Dot 1965)
Jimmy Smith - The Cat (Verve 1964) (Half-Time Instrumental)
Lesley Duncan - See That Guy (Mercury 1965)
The Wedgewoods - Summer Love (Pye 1965)
The Beach Boys - Darlin' (Capitol 1968) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - D)
Dennis Wilson - River Song (Caribou 1977) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - D)
Diane Lancaster - How I Need Him (Polydor 1966)
Boyce and Hart - Out and About (A&M 1967)
The BMX Bandits - Come Clean (Vinyl Japan 1991) (Under The Influence)
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - I Gotta Dance To Keep From Crying (Motown 1966)
Val McKenna - Now That You've Made Up Your Mind (Piccadilly 1965)
Tracy Rogers - Baby (Polydor 1966)
Dee King - Sally Go Round the Roses (Pye 1966) (Connect 3)
Michelle - Sally Fool (Polydor 1966) (Connect 3)
The Utopias - Sally Bad (Fortune 1965) (Connect 3)
Bobby Hebb - Love Love Love (Philips 1967)
The Bystanders - Make Up Your Mind (Pye 1967)
Kiki Dee - Miracles (Fontana 1964) (Two of a Kind)
Kiki Dee - Put A Little Love In Your Heart (Tamla Motown 1970) (Two of a Kind)
The Marvelettes - I'll Keep Holding On (Tamla Motown 1965)
Lori Balmer - Four Faces West (Polydor 1968)
The Honeys - Goodnight My Love (Capitol 1969)
The Quik - Bert's Apple Crumble (Decca 1967) (show theme)

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
=^..^=

Grace Maxwell speaks out on Featured Artists Coalition

2009-09-30T12:07:00.000-07:00

The Featured Artists Coalition have made the following statement in relation to Liliy Allen's latest outburst on file-sharing:

"We the undersigned wish to express our support for Lily Allen in her campaign to alert music lovers to the threat that illegal downloading presents to our industry and to condemn the vitriol that has been directed at her in recent days.

Our meeting also voted overwhelmingly to support a three-strike sanction on those who persistently download illegal files, sanctions to consist of a warning letter, a stronger warning letter and a final sanction of the restriction of the infringer’s bandwidth to a level which would render file-sharing of media files impractical while leaving basic email and web access functional."

Of all the comments underneath the long list of artists who have signed up to this nonsense, my favourite is that of Grace Maxwell, Edwyn Collins' manager and wife:

"I am Edwyn Colllins manager. Let me tell you a story. At the beginning of this year I noticed that Edwyn's myspace had gone bit wonky and I tried to upload the tracks back on to the music player. His most famous track, which he owns the copyright in, as he does for most of the music he's recorded in his life (preferring to go it alone than have his music trapped "in perpetuity" to use the contract language of the major record company) is called A Girl Like You. It's quite famous. Lo and behold, it would not upload, I was told Edwyn was attempting to breach a copyright and he was sent to the Orwellian myspace copyright re-education page. Quite chilling, actually. I naturally blew my stack and wrote to myspace on his behalf demanding to know who the hell was claiming copyright of Edwyn's track? Which, incidentally, he always made freely available for download on myspace, something which amazed his followers. Eventually, after HUGE difficulty, I was told Warner Music Group were claiming it. I found a nice lawyer guy at Warners, very apologetic, promised to get it sorted, but all these months later it isn't. That is because Myspace are not equipped to deal with the notion that anyone other than a major can claim a copyright. Warner's were one of the lead petitioners in the attempt to put those three stoner lads in Sweden in prison recently, remember. A Girl Like You is available FOR SALE all over the internet. Not by Edwyn, by all sorts of respectable major labels whose licence to sell it ran out years ago and who do not account to him. Attempting to make them cease and desist would use up the rest of my life. Because this is what they do and what they've always done. And it's not just majors. If I had a fiver for all the dodgy indie labels we've been involved with I'd have £35 or thereabouts. (Exceptions: Heavenly and Domino).

Andrew Loog Oldham said that getting ripped off (by the industry) was your entrance fee to the music business of the sixties, so get over it. He's right and things have not changed. We are very over it, but nonetheless aware of who the biggest bootleggers around are. It's not the filesharers. Personally, we've always loved bootlegs. Even when Edwyn was really skint at the fag end of the eighties, I remember being in Camden market and seeing some tapes of a couple of his shows on sale. I tried to buy them but the stallholder somehow knew who I was and said "free to the management." I failed to see how that guy selling tapes of Edwyn or even U2 or anybody on the list of signatories above could harm their career.

But anyway, as an earlier post said, this is not really an argument worth having. The gig's up. You might as well take a position about when you want the sun to come up in the morning. It's over. Now let's get on with working out a wonderful new way for music lovers to enjoy music for free or for a small subscription that makes it legal and easy to hear ANYTHING and allows the artist to reap the rewards of such freedom of access. Viva la revolution!"

We at Jocknroll fully support those comments/sentiments. I sit here in my study surrounded by music, music which has been bought and paid for over the years. If I want to download something I already have, for convenience, I will.

These artists need to be concentrating their efforts on their current and past record companies instead of the people who have put them where they are today. Maybe they're too scared to take on the musical behemoths and prefer to bully the "little guy".

Just for the record, I have bought just two downloads, both coincidentally by Attic Lights. One was the "Paul" remix of "Wendy" and one was "Santa's Girlfriend", which they recorded with Cerys Matthews. As I type I am awaiting the delivery of three CDs, for use on my radio show. I could download them for free but I want the information contained with the booklets, information I pass on to my listeners, as well as the music. I'll never stop buying CDs but I can understand why someone would want to download stuff that would normally be unavailable elsewhere.

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

2009-09-27T05:10:00.000-07:00

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

The Knickerbockers - One Track Mind (Challenge 1966)
The Quik - Bert's Apple Crumble (Decca 1967) (show theme)
Tracy Rogers - Back With You Baby (Polydor 1967)
The Supremes - Run Run Run (Motown 1964)
Jessica James & The Outlaws - Give Her Up (Baby) (Dynovoice 1965)
The Move - Walk Upon The Water (Regal Zonophone 1968)
Bimbi Worrick - Long Time Comin' (Polydor 1969)
The Who - Substitute (Reaction 1966)
Nancy Sinatra/Lee Hazelwood - Summer Wine (Reprise 1967) (Connect 3)
The Hollies - Honey and Wine (Parlophone 1965) (Connect 3)
Toni Wine - A Boy Like You (Colpix 1964) (Connect 3)
Claire Francis - But I Don't Care (Polydor 1967)
The Marvelettes - Locking Up My Heart (Motown 1963)
The Guess Who - American Woman (RCA 1970) (Birthday: 27/9/43 Randy Bachman, Drummer)
The Emeralds - Did You Ever Love a Guy (Jubilee 1964)
Karol Keyes - Can't You Hear The Music (Fontana 1967)
Christine Delaroche - Des Tigres et Des Minets (Label/Year Unknown) (Foreign Language)
The Turtles - So Goes Love (White Whale 1967)
Jr Walker & The All Stars - Tune Up (Motown 1965) (Half-Time Instrumental)
Lori Burton - Yeh Yeh (That Boy of Mine) (Roulette 1965)
Diana Dors - So Little Time (Fontana 1964)
The Beach Boys - Cottonfields (The Cotton Song) (Capitol 1970) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - C)
The Beach Boys - God Only Knows (Capitol 1966) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - C)
Danielle - I'm Gonna Marry That Boy (Philips 1966)
The Jet Set - The Jet Set (Blaine 1965)
Dropkick - Don't Dream of California (Sound Asleep 2009) (Under The Influence)
The Carolines - Love's Made A Fool of Me (Polydor 1965)
Eddie Holland - Leaving Here (Motown 1963)
The Chic-Lets - I Want You To Be My Boyfriend (Josie 1964)
The Vernons - I Surrender (Pye, Year Unknown) (Connect 3)
The Carrolls - Surrender Your Love (Polydor 1966) (Connect 3)
Fontella Bass - I Surrender (Chess 1966) (Connect 3)
Angela Deen - Gotta Hand It The Boy (Fontana 1964)
Humble Pie - Growing Closer (Immediate 1969)
Jackie Lee - When The Boys Talk About The Girls (Columbia 1966) (Two of a Kind)
Jackie Lee - You Too (Can Have Heartaches) (Columbia 1966) (Two of a Kind)
The Caravelles - You Are Here (Fontana 1964)
The Barry Sisters - I Must Be Dreaming (Colpix 1964)
The Quik - Bert's Apple Crumble (Decca 1967) (show theme)

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
=^..^=

The Cat on "Where The Action Is" Kirkcaldy VRN 1287 AM - Sunday 20 Sep 2009 Northern Soul special

2009-09-20T05:53:00.000-07:00

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

Dobie Gray - Out On The Floor (Charger 1966)
The Quik - Bert's Apple Crumble (Decca 1967) (show theme)
Billy Butler - The Right Track (Okeh 1966)
Chairmen of the Board - Give Me Just A Little More Time (Invictus 1969)
Shirley Ellis - Soul Time (Columbia 1967)
Judy Street - What (Strider 1966)
Major Lance - Ain't No Soul (Left In These Old Shoes) (Okeh 1967)
Tyrone Davis - Turn Back The Hands of Time (Dakar 1970)
Johnny Jones & The King Casuals - Purple Haze (Brunswick 1968) (Connect 3)
Freda Payne - Band of Gold (Invictus 1970) (Connect 3)
Billy Thompson - Black-Eyed Girl (1965) (Connect 3)
Barbara Acklin - Am I The Same Girl (Brunswick 1969)
Bob Brady and The Con Chords - Everybody's Going To The Love-In (Chariot 1968)
Sophia Loren - Zoo Be Zoo Be Zoo (Parlophone 1961) (Birthday: 20/9/34 Actress)
Reparata & The Delrons - Panic (Mala 1968)
James & Bobby Purify - Shake A Tail Feather (Bell 1967)
Jimmy Radcliffe - Long After Tonight Is All Over (Italian) (Musicor 1965) (Foreign Language)
Shirley & The Shirelles - Look What You've Done To My Heart (Bell 1969)
Just Brothers - Sliced Tomatoes (Lupine 1965) (Half-Time Instrumental)
The Metros - Since I Found My Baby (RCA Victor 1967)
The Vibrations - Cause You're Mine (Epic 1968)
The Beach Boys - Break Away (Capitol 1969) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - B)
Brian Wilson - Your Imagination (Giant 1998) (A to Z of The Beach Boys - B)
Little Richard - A Little Bit of Something (Beats A Whole Lot of Nothing) (Okeh 1967)
Willie Kendrick - Change Your Ways (RCA Victor 1967)
Soft Cell - Tainted Love (Some Bizarre 1981) (Under The Influence)
The Cooperettes - Shing-A-Ling (Brunswick 1967)
Herb Ward- Honest To Goodness (RCA 1968)
Johnny Moore - Walk Like A Man (Date 1967)
Billy Joe Royal - Hearts Desire (1966) (Connect 3)
Artistics - Nothing But Heartaches (Keep Haunting Me) (Brunswick 1967) (Connect 3)
Bandwagon - Breakin' Down The Walls of Heartache (Direction 1968) (Connect 3)
Beverly Ann - You've Got Your Mind on Other Things (RCA Victor 1968)
Kenny Carter - What's That On Your Finger? (1966)
Jackie Wilson - The Who Who Song (Brunswick 1968) (Two of a Kind)
Jackie Wilson - I Get The Sweetest Feeling (Brunswick 1968) (Two of a Kind)
The Ivories - Please Stay (Despenza/Ward 1967)
The Insiders - I'm Just A Man (RCA 1967)
Jimmy Radcliffe - Long After Tonight Is All Over (Musicor 1965)
The Quik - Bert's Apple Crumble (Decca 1967) (show theme)

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
=^..^=

Additions to Homecoming Live Line-Ups

2009-09-19T10:52:00.001-07:00

Three times Brit Award nominee Eddi Reader will perform at Homecoming Live – The Final Fling as she leads the first names to be announced for the Clyde Auditorium on Saturday 28th November. Eddi has enjoyed a flourishing career over the past two decades, both as a member of Fairground Attraction and as a solo artist. She is the perfect addition to the Homecoming Live line up, having proclaimed her love of our nation in 2003 by recording an album of material by Robert Burns, with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra – made even more fitting considering that Homecoming Scotland celebrates the 250th anniversary of the birth of our great Bard.

The amazingly talented Mike Scott will bring his stunning mix of Celtic, rock and folk music to Homecoming Live. Scott will be performing solo material as well as The Music of The Waterboys who count U2’s Bono and The Edge as fans. The band performed with Eddi Reader early in her career and Scott’s performance will be a wonderful reminder of anthemic hits such as The Whole of the Moon and Fisherman’s Blues.

Evelyn Glennie accompanied by Philip Smith will bring the strong, indigenous musical traditions of North-East Scotland to the Clyde Auditorium. Despite being profoundly deaf, Glennie is a virtuoso percussionist who has performed at the Grammy Awards, named Best Studio and Live Percussionist from Rhythm Magazine 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003 & 2004 and Scotswoman of the Decade in 1990. Playing alongside Glennie is classical pianist Philip Smith, making for the perfect accompaniment. Glennie and Smith have been performing together since 1989 when Smith made his BBC Promenade Concert recital debut. Their partnership has continued with appearances worldwide, including recitals at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Center in Washington DC and the Hollywood Bowl.

Next up is singer-songwriter Dougie MacLean who is one of Scotland’s most internationally respected musicians. Dougie has released five albums since 1981 and his tracks have been adapted by many artists over the years, most notably by composer Trevor Jones, making MacLean's The Gael the main theme song for the 1992 film The Last of the Mohicans. One of MacLean’s most iconic recordings is the much-loved Caledonia – one of the most rousing songs in the Scottish canon which has been synonymous with the Homecoming Scotland celebrations.

Across the other Homecoming Live venues, the line-ups are continuing to grow as Codeine Velvet Club – Jon Fratelli’s new outfit with Lou Hickey - is added to the bill in the SECC Hall 3. The band is fast becoming one of Scotland’s hottest new acts and their recent showcase gig at The Classic Grand received 5 star reviews. Also joining them will be Cumbernauld’s favourite brothers The Dykeenies who since signing to King Tut’s Recordings in 2006 have enjoyed continued success. The four piece played to a large audience on the NME/Radio 1 stage at this year’s T in the Park and will be performing tracks from their much anticipated second album for the first time at Homecoming Live.

One of the UK’s most legendary venues, King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut will be part of the Homecoming Live activity all weekend playing host to some of Scotland’s most celebrated and hotly-tipped acts. Inspirational indie legends The Pastels will take to the stage along with rock trio 1990’s on Friday 27th November. Sergeant were chosen to support Oasis before their debut album was even released and have received much praise from former Creation Records label guru Alan McGee, making it significant that they will be headlining the very venue where Oasis were discovered by McGee, on Saturday 28th November. The following night, indie rockers We Were Promised Jetpacks will represent the East Coast performing tracks from their highly acclaimed debut album, These Four Walls.

Homecoming Live is also about creating a great indoor festival atmosphere and bringing friends and family together. Already announced on the bill are Deacon Blue, Hue & Cry, Midge Ure, Lloyd Cole, The Bluebells, James Grant, Kevin McDermott and Tommy Reilly who will be performing in Hall 4. Playing in Hall 3 alongside Codeine Velvet Club and The Dykeenies are The View, Idlewild, The Vaselines, King Creosote and The Law.

Further Homecoming Live line-up announcements will be made when the full programme of the Homecoming Scotland Finale Celebrations are launched on 23 September.

Homecoming Live - The Final Fling is created and produced by DF Concerts with support from Homecoming Scotland and the Glasgow City Marketing Bureau.

Tickets for the concerts in SECC Hall 3, SECC Hall 4 and at King Tuts are on sale now while tickets to the Clyde Auditorium go on sale Friday 18th September at 9am. To buy log onto www.gigsinscotland.com/homecominglive or ticketSOUP on 0844 395 4000

Tickets for the SECC Hall 4 are priced £35.00, £30.00 and £27.50
Tickets for SECC Hall 3 are priced £20.00
Tickets for the Auditorium are priced £30.00, £27.50 and £22.50