Mixed Music Bag – Week 23

As it’s the last day in July, I thought I’d squeeze in one more solo artist/group that starts with a J.

Joan Jett has two J’s, so that’s a bonus. Born Joan Marie Larkin, September 22, 1958, Joan Jett is an American singer, guitarist, record producer and actress. Jett is best known for her work as the frontwoman of her band Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and for earlier founding and performing with the Runaways, which recorded and released the hit song “Cherry Bomb”. With the Blackhearts, Jett is known for her rendition of the song “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” which was number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks in 1982.

In 1983, musical satirist “Weird Al” Yankovic released a parody of “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” entitled “I Love Rocky Road”, changing the singer’s passion for rock music with that for ice cream. In 2019 British blogger “Ladbaby” released a parody of “I love Rock ‘n’ Roll”, changing the singer’s passion for rock music with that for sausage rolls. “I love Sausage Rolls” became the Christmas No.1 in the UK.

Song Lyric Sunday – Muscle Shoals

This week the SLS theme is to find a song that was recorded at the famous Muscle Shoals Studio. Thanks once again to Jim for the prompt.

I only really started listening fully to Laura Nyro only last year and I just wish I had done so earlier.

From Laura Nyro’s fourth album ‘Christmas and the Beads of Sweat’. Duane Allman provides guitar on this track. They both died way too young.

Lyrics and music written by Laura Nyro

Cold jade wind not an angel in the sky just cold jade restless wind somethin’s coming, I know to devastate my soul

I pricked my fingers on the thorns and this rain is a’rainin’ hard. This sky’s gonna beckon Mariah to match my soul rain in the river rain in the river rain on the river banks down my neck beads of sweat

Rain on the highway running clear across New York a windsong through the barren trees wild lavender heather by the railroad sways. Listen to the wailin’ of the rain in the river rain on the river banks Roll, roll river rock his soul she’s calling you rainclouds rainclouds Roll, roll river rock his soul she’s calling you rainclouds rainclouds down his neck down his neck down his neck beads of beads of beads of beads of sweat

Five boys standing on the banks of the river waiting for the virgin snow searching for a miracle a pearl in an oyster and we all looked out to God although he is the color of the wind. Listen to the wailing of the rain in the river rain on the river banks.

My own little flower show – part 2

My fuchsias are doing well and the rose has buds but not flowering yet. I can’t remember the name of that shrub!

Mixed music bag – week 22

The penultimate band/soloist I’ve chosen for the month of July is James

James are an English rock band from Manchester, who were formed in 1982. They had popularity throughout the 1990s, with four top 10s on the UK Singles Chart and nine top 10s on the UK Albums Chart. The band’s best-known singles include “Come Home”, “Sit Down”, “She’s a Star” and “Laid”, which also became a hit on American College Radio.

Following the departure of lead singer Tim Booth in 2001, the band became inactive, but reunited in January 2007 and have gone on to produce a further seven albums. Live performances have continually remained a central part of the band’s output.

I’ll sing myself to sleep
A song from the darkest hour
Secrets I can’t keep
Inside of a day

Swing from high to deep
Extremes of sweet and sour
Hope that God exists
I hope, I pray

Drawn by the undertow
My life is out of control
I believe this wave will bear my weight
So let it flow

Oh, sit down
Oh, sit down
Oh, sit down
Sit down next to me
Sit down (sit down, sit down, sit down, down)
In sympathy

Now I’m relieved to hear
That you’ve been to some far out places
It’s hard to carry on
When you feel all alone

Now I’ve swung back down again
It’s worse than it was before
If I hadn’t seen such riches
I could live with being poor

Oh, sit down
Oh, sit down
Oh, sit down
Sit down next to me
Sit down (sit down, sit down, sit down, down)
In sympathy

Those who feel the breath of sadness
Sit down next to me
Those who find they’re touched by madness
Sit down next to me

Those who find themselves ridiculous
Sit down next to me
In love, in fear, in hate, in tears
In love, in fear, in hate, in tears
In love, in fear, in hate, in tears
In love, in fear, in hate
Down
Down

Oh, sit down
Oh, sit down
Oh, sit down
Sit down next to me
Sit down (sit down, sit down, sit down, down)
In sympathy

Oh, sit down
Oh, sit down
Oh, sit down
Sit down next to me
Sit down (sit down, sit down, sit down, down)
In sympathy
Down

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: James Butler

Song Lyric Sunday – Greatest songs

This week the theme of SLS is to find one of the greatest songs. In 2021, Rolling Stone magazine included Blue Monday by New Order at number 235 on its list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”

Blue Monday, first released in 1983, is also the best-selling 12-inch single of all time. In the United Kingdom, it has sold over 1.16 million copies in all formats, including the 1988 and 1995 remix releases.

 

How does it feel
To treat me like you do?
When you’ve laid your hands upon me
And told me who you are

I thought I was mistaken
I thought I heard your words
Tell me how do I feel
Tell me now, how do I feel

Those who came before me
Lived through their vocations
From the past until completion
They’ll turn away no more

I still find it so hard
To say what I need to say
But I’m quite sure that you’ll tell me
Just how I should feel today

I see a ship in the harbor
I can and shall obey
But if it wasn’t for your misfortune
I’d be a heavenly person today

And I thought I was mistaken
And I thought I heard you speak
Tell me, how do I feel
Tell me now, how should I feel
Now I stand here waiting

I thought I told you to leave me
While I walk down to the beach
Tell me how does it feel
When your heart grows cold, grows cold…

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Peter Hook / Gillian Lesley Gilbert / Stephen Paul David Morris / Bernard Sumner

Blue Monday lyrics © Saregama Music United States, Vitalturn Co. Ltd.

Mixed music bag – week 21

I’m running late but this week’s MMB band for July is Jesus Jones

Jesus Jones are a British alternative band from Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire, formed in late 1988, who continue to record and perform, as of 2023. Their track “Right Here, Right Now” was an international hit, and was subsequently globally licensed for promotional and advertising campaigns. The single was also nominated for a Grammy award at the 34th Grammy Annual Awards in 1991, as was its album, Doubt. They also achieved chart success with the songs “Real, Real, Real”, “International Bright Young Thing” and “Info Freako”. A further successful album Perverse was released in 1993.

Song Lyric Sunday – Hall of shame

This week the theme of SLS is to find a song by an artist or a group that never made it into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but you think they belong there. 

It’s a real shame that the band Thin Lizzy have not yet been inducted in the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame. To be eligible, an artist had to release their first official recording at least 25 years ago. Thin Lizzy have been eligible since 1996 but nominated just once, in 2020.

The band have released a handful of essential albums, but 1976’s thrilling commercial breakthrough Jailbreak is a mainstay for any classic rock fan.

Tonight there’s gonna be a jailbreak
Somewhere in this town
See me and the boys we don’t like it
So were getting up and going down

Hiding low looking right to left
If you see us coming I think it’s best
To move away do you hear what I say
From under my breath

Tonight there’s gonna be a jailbreak
Somewhere in the town
Tonight there’s gonna be a jailbreak
So don’t you be around

Don’t you be around

Tonight there’s gonna be trouble
Some of us won’t survive
See the boys and me mean business
Bustin’ out dead or alive

I can hear the hound dogs on my trail
All hell breaks loose, alarm and sirens wail
Like the game if you lose
Go to jail

Tonight there’s gonna be a jailbreak
Somewhere in the town
Tonight there’s gonna be a jailbreak
So don’t you be around

Tonight there’s gonna trouble
I’m gonna find myself in
Tonight there’s gonna be a jailbreak
So woman stay with a friend

You know it’s safer

Breakout!

Tonight there’s gonna be a breakout
Into the city zones
Don’t you dare to try and stop us
No one could for long

Searchlight on my trail
Tonight’s the night all systems fail
Hey you good lookin’ female
Come here!

Tonight there’s gonna be a jailbreak
Somewhere in the town
Tonight there’s gonna be a jailbreak
So don’t you be around

Tonight there’s gonna be trouble
I’m gonna find myself in
Tonight there’s gonna be trouble
So woman stay with a friend

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Philip Parris Lynott

Jailbreak lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Mixed music bag – Week 20

Continuing the J for July theme of the MMB. This week I’ve chosen the band; Japan

Japan were an English new wave band formed in 1974 in Catford, South London by David Sylvian (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Steve Jansen (drums) and Mick Karn (bass guitar, sax), joined by Richard Barbieri (keyboards) and Rob Dean (lead guitar) the following year. Initially a glam-rock inspired band, Japan developed their sound and androgynous look (similar to The New York Dolls) to incorporate electronic music and foreign influences.

Japan achieved success in the late 1970s and early 1980s, releasing nine UK top 40 hits, including the 1982 top 5 hit single “Ghosts”, and scoring a UK top 5 with the live album Oil On Canvas (1983). Six of the band’s albums have achieved Gold status in the UK. The band split in December 1982, just as they were beginning to experience commercial success in the UK and abroad. Its members went on to pursue other musical projects, though they reformed briefly in the early 1990s under the name Rain Tree Crow, releasing an album in 1991.

This is a remix of the European Son single. The original was intended to feature on the band’s 3rd studio album; Quiet Life but was left out and eventually put on a b-side! The remix was later released as a single and was a hit for the band.

Song lyric Sunday – Hall of Fame

This week the theme of SLS is to find a group/solo singer that made it into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

I’ve gone right up to date by choosing singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and director Kate Bush who has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023. She deserves the award after captivating audiences and inspiring countless musicians.

I still dream of Orgonon
I wake up crying
You’re making rain
And you’re just in reach
When you and sleep escape me

You’re like my yo-yo
That glowed in the dark
What made it special
Made it dangerous
So I bury it
And forget

But every time it rains
You’re here in my head
Like the sun coming out
Ooh, I just know that something good is gonna happen

I don’t know when
But just saying it could even make it happen
On top of the world
Looking over the edge
You could see them coming
You looked too small
In their big black car
To be a threat to the men in power

I hid my yo-yo
In the garden
I can’t hide you
From the government
Oh, God, Daddy
I won’t forget

‘Cause every time it rains
You’re here in my head
Like the sun coming out
Ooh, I just know that something good is gonna happen
I don’t know when
But just saying it could even make it happen

And every time it rains
You’re here in my head
Like the sun coming out
Like your son’s coming out
Ooh, I just know that something good is going to happen
And I don’t know when
But just saying it could even make it happen

Ooh, just saying it could even make it happen

We’re cloudbusting daddy

Your son’s coming out
Your son’s coming out

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Kate Bush

Cloudbusting lyrics © Noble & Brite Ltd

Mixed music bag – week 19

The month of July has come around so fast. It also means that J will still be the letter to use for the name of the group/singer of this week’s MMB.

This week it’s for Jethro Tull (named after an English agricultural pioneer). They are an English rock band formed in Luton, England, in 1967. Initially playing blues rock and jazz fusion, the band soon incorporated elements of English folk, hard rock and classical music, forging a signature progressive rock sound. The group’s bandleader, founder, principal composer and only constant member is Ian Anderson, a multi-instrumentalist who mainly plays flute and acoustic guitar and is also the lead vocalist. The group has featured a succession of musicians throughout the decades, including significant contributors such as guitarists Mick Abrahams and Martin Barre (with Barre being the longest-serving member besides Anderson). A total of 22 studio albums have been released since (‘This Was’) 1968. Several ‘Live’ and compilation albums were also released. A new album (‘RokFlote’) was released earlier this year. Two of my favourite Jethro Tull albums are; ‘Aqualung’ (1971) and ‘Thick As a Brick’ (1972). (also two of their biggest sellers).

Sitting on a park bench
Eyeing little girls with bad intent

Snot’s running down his nose
Greasy fingers, smearing shabby clothes
Hey, Aqualung

Drying in the cold sun
Watching as the frilly panties run
Hey, Aqualung

Feeling like a dead duck
Spitting out pieces of his broken luck
Oh, Aqualung

Sun streaking cold
An old man wandering lonely
Taking time the only way he knows
Leg hurting bad
As he bends to pick a dog-end
He goes down to the bog and warms his feet

Feeling alone
The army’s up the road
Salvation a la mode and a cup of tea
Aqualung, my friend
Don’t you start away uneasy
You poor old sod
You see, it’s only me

Do you still remember
December’s foggy freeze
When the ice that clings on to your beard
Was screaming agony?

And you snatch your rattling last breaths
With deep-sea diver sounds
And the flowers bloom like madness in the spring

Sun streaking cold
An old man wandering lonely
Taking time the only way he knows

Leg hurting bad
As he bends to pick a dog-end
He goes down to the bog and warms his feet

Feeling alone
The army’s up the road
Salvation a la mode and a cup of tea
Aqualung, my friend
Don’t you start away uneasy
You poor old sod
You see, it’s only me
Me, oh-oh-oh

Aqualung, my friend
Don’t you start away uneasy
You poor old sod
You see, it’s only me, yeah

Sitting on a park bench
Eying little girls with bad intent

Snot’s running down his nose
Greasy fingers smearing shabby clothes
Hey, Aqualung

Drying in the cold sun
Watching as the frilly panties run
Hey, Aqualung

Feeling like a dead duck
Spitting out pieces of his broken luck
Hey, Aqualung

Woah, Aqualung

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Ian Anderson / Jenny Anderson

Aqualung lyrics © Chrysalis Music Ltd, The Ian Anderson Group Of Companies Ltd, Anderson Ian Music Ltd