Mixed Music Bag 2024 – Week 18 – Only Happy When It Rains

It’s the 1st of May tomorrow and that means today (Tuesday 30th April) is the final time to find a group or solo singer whose name begins with G or H

Garbage are a band that I’ve liked since the early days. Collecting their vinyl singles was enjoyable as the records were never sold in the standard company or picture sleeves. There were rubber, cloth, metal and perspex sleeves as well as others. All mostly with just a capitol ‘G’ being the only lettering on the them.

They are a Scottish–American rock band formed in 1993 in Madison, U.S.A. The band’s line-up—consisting of Scottish singer Shirley Manson (vocals) and American musicians Duke Erikson (guitar, bass, keyboards), Steve Marker (guitar, keyboards), and Butch Vig (drums, production) and has remained unchanged since its inception. All four members are involved in the songwriting and production process. Garbage has sold over 17 million albums worldwide. So far, they have released seven studio albums between 1995 – 2021. Their self-titled 1995 debut album has always been my favourite and Only Happy When It Rains was released as a single from it. Shirley explained that the song was “a dig at ourselves because we like records that don’t make us feel very happy, and at this so-called ‘alternative’ scene of ‘we’re so weird and more wonderful than everybody else'”.

I’m only happy when it rains
I’m only happy when it’s complicated
And though I know you can’t appreciate it
I’m only happy when it rains

You know I love it when the news is bad
Why it feels so good to feel so sad?
I’m only happy when it rains

Pour your misery down
Pour your misery down on me
Pour your misery down
Pour your misery down on me

I’m only happy when it rains
I feel good when things are goin’ wrong
I only listen to the sad, sad songs
I’m only happy when it rains

I only smile in the dark
My only comfort is the night gone black
I didn’t accidentally tell you that
I’m only happy when it rains
You’ll get the message by the time I’m through
When I complain about me and you
I’m only happy when it rains

Pour your misery down (Pour your misery down)
Pour your misery down on me
Pour your misery down (Pour your misery down)
Pour your misery down on me
Pour your misery down (Pour your misery down)
Pour your misery down on me

Pour your misery down
You can keep me company
As long as you don’t care

I’m only happy when it rains
You wanna hear about my new obsession?
I’m riding high upon a deep depression
I’m only happy when it rains

Pour some misery down on me
I’m only happy when it rains
Pour some misery down on me
I’m only happy when it rains
Pour some misery down on me
I’m only happy when it rains
Pour some misery down on me

I’m only happy when it rains
Pour some misery down on me
Pour some misery down on me
Pour some misery down on me
Pour some misery down on me

Pour some misery down on me
Pour some misery down on me

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Bryan David Vig / Douglas Elwin Erickson / Shirley Ann Manson / Steve W. Marker

Only Happy When It Rains lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Song Lyric Sunday – Push The Sky Away

This week the theme of SLS is to find a song that performed with orchestras and/or choirs, suggested by Nancy and prompted by Jim.

Nick Cave and Warren Ellis perform a triumphant rendition of “Push the Sky Away” recorded at their Film Music concert in December 2019 with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Featuring Nick Cave and Warren Ellis. Julie Lea Goodwin, soprano. Nicholas Buc, conductor. Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Sydney Philharmonia Choirs.

Every time I hear this song, it always leaves me with a tear in my eye. The original version is taken from the Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds album of the same name.

I got a feeling I just can’t shake
I got a feeling, just won’t go away

You’ve got to just keep on pushing
Keep on pushing
Push the sky away

And if you think you’ve got everything you came for
If you’ve got everything and you don’t want no more

You’ve got to just keep on pushing
Keep on pushing
Push the sky away

Some people say that it’s just rock and roll
Ah, but it gets you right down to your soul

You’ve got to just keep on pushing
Keep on pushing
Push the sky away

You’ve got to just keep on pushing
Keep on pushing
Push the sky away

Thank you very much, everybody
Thank you for coming along, really
Thank you up there, thank you

You’ve got to just keep on pushing
Keep on pushing
Push the sky away

Thank you, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Thank you, you’re beautiful
To every sung chorus

You’ve got to just keep on pushing
Keep on pushing
Push the sky away

Thank you, Warren Ellis

You’ve got to just keep on pushing
Keep on pushing
Push the sky away

You’ve got to just keep on pushing
Keep on pushing
Push the sky away

Thank you, thank you, thank you very much
Thank you
Thank you very much
Thank you
You were really beautiful, thank you

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Nicholas Edward Cave / Warren Ellis

Mixed Music Bag 2024 – week 17

We are almost at the end of April already! The theme is still to find a group/solo artist beginning with G or H

This week I have chosen the late Irish born guitarist/singer/songwriter Rory Gallagher. He has been a favourite of mine for some time.

William Rory Gallagher (2 March 1948 – 14 June 1995) is known for his versatile style of guitar playing, and is often referred to as “the greatest guitarist you’ve never heard of”. A number of guitarists, including Alex Lifeson of Rush, Brian May of Queen, and Eric Clapton, have cited Gallagher as an influence. He was voted as guitarist of the year by Melody Maker magazine in 1972, and listed as the 57th greatest guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone magazine in 2015.

In 1966, Gallagher formed the blues rock power trio Taste, which experienced moderate commercial success and popularity in the United Kingdom. After the break-up of Taste, Gallagher pursued a solo career, releasing music throughout the 1970s and 1980s and selling more than 30 million records worldwide.

Gallagher’s popularity declined throughout the 1980s due to changes within the music industry and poor health. He received a liver transplant in 1995, but died of complications later that same year in London at the age of 47. He released 14 albums during his lifetime as a solo act, which included 3 live albums. Moonchild is originally from the album; ‘Calling Card’. This great live version features Rory with Gerry McAvoy (bass) and Brendan O’Neil (drums).

Song Lyric Sunday – It takes two

The theme of SLS this week is duets by two prominent performers. Once again, thanks to Jim and Nancy.

I’ve chosen the U2 hit ‘One’ which features the R&B/soul singer; Mary J. Blige. I think it sounds really good, especially with Mary’s vocals turning it into a much more soulful song.

Is it getting better
Or do you feel the same?
Will it make it easier on you now
You got someone to blame?

You say, one love, one life
When it’s one need in the night
One love, we get to share it
Leaves you, baby, if you don’t care for it

Did I disappoint you
Or leave a bad taste in your mouth?
You act like you never had love
And you want me to go without

Well, it’s too late tonight
To drag the past out into the light
We’re one, but we’re not the same
We get to carry each other, carry each other
One

Have you come here for forgiveness?
Have you come to raise the dead?
Have you come here to play Jesus?
To the lepers in your head

Did I ask too much? More than a lot
You gave me nothing, now it’s all I got
We’re one but we’re not the same
Well, we hurt each other then we do it again

You say love is a temple, love a higher law
Love is a temple, love the higher law
You ask me to enter but then you make me crawl
And I can’t be holdin’ on to what you got
When all you got is hurt

One love, one blood
One life, you got to do what you should
One life with each other
Sisters, brothers

One life but we’re not the same
We get to carry each other, carry each other
One
One

Ooh-ooh-ooh
Oh-oh-ooh
Baby, make it, make it
Higher
Oh, higher (baby, yeah)
Higher
Higher

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Paul David Hewson / Adam Clayton / Larry Mullen / Dave Evans

One lyrics © Polygram Int. Music Publishing B.v.

Mixed Music Bag – week 16 – Heavy Metal Kids?

Half way through April already. The MMB theme is to find a group or solo singer who’s name begins with G or H

Heavy Metal Kids (or ‘Kids’, as they were often known as) are a band that I’ve been lucky enough to see live on three occasions. Twice with original lead singer Gary Holton, who was better known for playing the part of Wayne (a.k.a. London) in the UK television comedy Auf Wiedersehen Pet (1983–1985). He died from an overdose of morphine combined with alcohol in 1985.

The band was formed in 1972 by the merger of two previous bands: Heaven and Biggles. They took their name from a gang of street kids, featured in the novel Nova Express by William S. Burroughs. They were classed as a glam-rock band rather than heavy metal of course.

The initial, pre-recording line-up consisted of Mickey Waller (guitar), Ronnie Thomas (bass, backing vocals), Gary Holton (lead vocals), Keith Boyce (drums) and Cosmo (guitar). They were the first signing by Atlantic records’ new London offices, having been spotted by their A&R man, Dave Dee. In 1973, they were joined by keyboard player Danny Peyronel. In January 1974, they recorded their first, self-titled album, produced by Dave Dee and engineered by Phil Chapman.

Waller left the band shortly before they went in to Island Studios, to record the follow-up album Anvil Chorus, in January 1975, which was produced by Andy Johns. At this point Danny Peyronel left to join UFO and was replaced by John Sinclair. Shortly after, Cosmo was replaced by Barry Paul, and the band moved to Mickie Most’s RAK Records where they recorded Kitsch, which was produced by Most. John Sinclair left to join Uriah Heep and was replaced by Jay Williams. Keith Boyce left and was replaced by Ricky Squires, previously of the Dead End Kids.

They had little success in the UK but the single She’s No Angel was a hit in 1976. I’ve chosen one of my favourite tracks from their debut album.

Song Lyric Sunday – My Ashes

The theme of SLS this week is a song that includes either hot, burning, fire or blazing, prompted by Jim and suggested by Nancy. 

My Ashes is from my favourite Porcupine Tree album; Fear of a Blank Planet. It took me a while to really get into the band but this was the album that did it. Lead vocalist/guitarist (etc), Steven Wilson, has recorded several solo albums and his latest; The Harmony Codex is well worth a listen.

All the things that I needed
I wasted my chances
I have found myself wanting

When a mother and father
Gave me their problems
I accepted them all

Nothing ever expected
I was rejected
But I came back for more

And my ashes drift beneath the silver sky
Where a boy rides on a bike and never smiles
And my ashes fall over all the things we’ve said
On a box of photographs under the bed, the bed

I will stay in my own world
Under the covers
I will feel safe inside

A kiss that will burn me
And cure me of dreaming
I was always returning

And my ashes find a way beyond the fog
And return to save the child that I forgot
And my ashes fade among the things unseen
And a dream plays in reverse on piano keys

And my ashes drop upon a park in Wales
Never-ending clouds of rain and distant sails, distant sails
Sails

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Richard Barbieri / Steven John Wilson

My Ashes lyrics © Squatter Madras Music, Orange Asylum Music, Hands Off It’s Mine Publishing, Monokotunes, Songs Of Universal Inc., Hands Off Its Mine Publishing

Oops! Wrong letters

Tuesday, I posted my choice for the mixed music bag but the letters should have been G and H and not E and F.

This gives me the chance to post a fancy-dress image of myself, two of my sister’s and my mum. The photo is from around 10 years ago. Yes, that’s me as Dracula.

Mixed Music Bag 2024 – week 15 – Groovy times

The second part of the April MMB where you try to find a group or solo singer who’s name starts with an E or an F

After hearing the Flamin’ Groovies single ‘Shake Some Action’ on the radio in 1976, I just had to have the album of the same name. The Groovies signed to Sire Records and released three albums between 1976 and 1979, Shake Some Action, Flamin’ Groovies Now (both produced by Dave Edmunds at Rockfield Studios in Wales) and Jumpin’ In The Night. Three of my favourite Flamin’ Groovies albums. The 1976 album’s title track “Shake Some Action” became a power pop anthem. In total, the band released nine studio albums and ten live albums from 1969 to 2017, plus several compilations along the way. 

Not the best video but at least you get to see the band!

I will find a way
To get to you some day.
Oh, but I, babe, I’m so afraid I’ll fall, yeah.
Now can’t you hear me call?

Shake some action’s what I need
To let me bust out at full speed.
I’m sure that’s all you need
To make it all right.

It’s taken me so long
To get where I belong
Oh, but, oh, please don’t send me back that way, yeah.
For I will make you pay.

Shake some action’s what I need
To let me bust out at full speed.
I’m sure that’s all you need
To make it all right.

If you don’t dig what I say
Then I will go away.
And I won’t come back this again. No.
‘Cause I don’t need a friend.

Shake some action’s what I need
To let me bust out at full speed.
I’m sure that’s all you need
To make it all right.

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Christopher Wilson / Cyril Henri Garnick Jordan / Cyril Jordan

Shake Some Action lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc

Song Lyric Sunday – Brrr!

 This week the SLS prompt is a song that includes the lyrics ‘cold, frozen, frigid or icy’. Thanks to Jim and Nancy.

I was more of a fan of Ultravox when John Foxx (real name; Dennis Leigh) was the lead singer rather than when Midge Ure took over. Sadly, Chris Cross (Chris St. John), the bass player in the band died recently at the age of 71.

Marching across our own screens
Our faces form all our needs
The future’s not returning
All bridges built for burning
How can there be anything wrong?
Aren’t we the frozen ones?

One day I’ll just erase the tape, wave goodbye, and fade away
Get lost in the frost again
Clean the ashes of my face at the bottom of your suitcase
Find a sunset, turn away
How can there by anything wrong?
Aren’t we the frozen ones?

The frozen ones
The frozen ones

We walk around inside each other visiting the empty rooms
Put me on, I’ll put you on too
You knew I’d have to follow you because you saw I’m hollow too
But it’s so nice being I too
How can there by anything wrong?
Aren’t we the frozen ones?

The frozen ones
The frozen ones

We’re nowhere
We don’t care who led us here
No-one will care when we’re gone

The frozen ones
The frozen ones

Too many pictures on my screen and all of them are screaming at me
Thought I had this insulation
The only way to stop the flood whenever feelings get too real
Is to cut the information
How can there be anything wrong?
Aren’t we the frozen ones?

The frozen ones
The frozen ones
The frozen ones
(Repeat and fade)

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Dennis Leigh

The Frozen Ones lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Mixed Music Bag 2024 – week 14 – Gentle Giant

It’s April already, which means the new MMB theme is now groups or soloists beginning with the letters G or H

Gentle Giant was a British progressive rock band active between 1970 and 1980. The band was known for the complexity and sophistication of its music and for the varied musical skills of its members. All of the band members were multi-instrumentalists. Although not commercially successful, the band did achieve a cult following.

Gentle Giant’s music was considered complex even by progressive rock standards, drawing on a broad swathe of music including folk, soul, jazz, and classical music. Unlike many of their progressive rock contemporaries, their “classical” influences ranged beyond the Romantic and incorporated medieval, baroque and modernist chamber music elements. The band also had a taste for broad themes for their lyrics, drawing inspiration not only from personal experiences but from philosophy. In 2015 they were recognised with the lifetime achievement award at the Progressive Music Awards.

Gentle Giant released the Octopus album in 1972. The band’s hardest-rocking album to date. It maintained Gentle Giant’s distinctively broad and challenging integrated style.

Run, why should I run away? When at the end the only truth certain one day. Everyone dies, if only to justify life.

Life, I’ve lived a thousand lives. And anyone is the right, is the just life If I could cry, I’d cry for everyone.

Doubt, no doubt is all I know. There is no fate, there’s no luck, what does that show? Showing is proof, but proving is nothing but fear.

If I could cry, I’d cry then for everyone.

Shame, I’ve hoped two thousand years. But no one knows, so I’ve cried, crying vain tears. Always too late, too late to cry, cry for everyone.

Written by: Phil Shulman, Derek Shulman, Ray Shulman, Kerry Minnear

Source: Wikipedia