Where can Jerry Lee be?

So this is actually my first post of 2011 despite what the man is telling ya. I bring back some cabaret along with the oft- heard cry of 'I can't believe I haven't blogged these before' tunes. Since Xmas I've been reading the rather slow-moving 'Craven House' by my fave depressive; disfigured; alcoholic- Patrick Hamilton. I've had a smorgasboard of French pop tunes running around my head this week so I bring to you the previously blogged Adele- C'est bon along with these two delights-

I snagged this on a cheapo LP recently that arrived in my parcel on Christmas eve. The rest is tripe but surprisingly for a French pop LP (my track record with them isn't good) I found this fuzz box track from future Disco bunny (and Chic collaborator) Shelia (later with B Devotion). No picture of the actual LP at the mo but check out this groovy clip from '70. Dig it kids with the beats that make you go gonk!

Sheilia- L'agent secret

This gal has got bangs that make you go umm. Heard this one many years ago but avoid the English language version like a pot of month old mussels. This is one of the few French pop sevens I've got and it appears to have been booted a couple of years ago in London along with a load of other modish sides and bubbles under for around 7/8 bar.

Jacqueline Taieb- Seven heure du matin

A curve ball for you after the French stuff with a good old girl from the states. This is sounding fresh as a daisy and is the lead-off from her upcoming Jack White produced LP. Whilst I was trying to put my brain through the tumble dryer after seeing her suck her finger provocatively on the dreaded Hootenanny the other I stumbled across this picture of her pulling a face and a finger move which is dangerously close to the schoolboy (well Westfield anyway...) sign for eating pussy. All this from a good Southern gal who once was reemed, steamed and dry- cleaned by Elvis Aaron Presley...

Wanda Jackson- Thunder on the mountain

And so I watched this film the other night in my new 'den' Le Tournee featuring a smattering of the great and good of the US (NYC?) Burly Kew scene. First outta the traps is the greatly tagged 'Kitten on the keys' playing Den's new fave (and recently acquired instrument) the uke.

Kitten on the keys- I wanna be sedated

It's the end of the year...

And so on to my last visit to Densville for the year. Yup things have took a little bit of a beating on 2009 with the slip ups along the way but I promise to fix that. There's also been the arrival of Den Jnr to take me away from my corner of the net and a dropping off of burlesque/ cabaret. I put this down to the fact of the lack of new acts/ performers that have blown me away. Yup, there's plenty of them out there but very few doing anything new or interesting...Anyway, enough of my yacking: let's boogie with Tom, Charlie & Billie

A rare visit to these pages to one of my heroes- Tom Jones. I only discovered this by accident having snaffled it up (using the old adage that any Tom Jones single is worth buying to check out the flip side...) from one of my cheapo sellers recently. I was familiar with Jerry Reed's daft ode to Elvis which features the annoying fade out (Jerry never seems to know how to end his songs...) but somehow Tom's version slipped me by 'til now.

Tom Jones- Tupelo Mississippi flash

Another one that arrived at Chez Den on Christmas Eve was a double Charlie Rich album. 'I can't go on' being a new one on me that up to now is the stand-out track. This Youtube clip also features 'Dance of love' covered by non other than Tom Jones. I've also recently snagged a copy of 'Mohair Sam' by Peggy Lee but we'll save that for another day...A nice beat ballad type tune on this one that I can imagine the freaks flipping their straightened barnets over if it was by Johnny Obscure on a white label promo...Anyways, check out the 'white feather'!

Charlie Rich- I can't go on

A great mid-sixties promo from the ever striking Billie Davis. If you could open a tin that said sixties girl singer this is what you'd find inside. She has a look of Sandie Shaw and arguably churned out better singles at her peek than Sandie's Chris Andrews' efforts which often leave me cold. If you like this one seek out ' I want you to be my baby' and 'Tell him' but avoid 'Billy sunshine' like the plague. I'm putting that one down to Jet Harris' influence!

Billie Davis- Watcha gonna do

Bruised shoulder, flat battery and disappointing brioche

A reet old mixed bag from Den this time out with gravelly-voiced wrinkled winge bags, camp anal sex innuendo, falsetto rockin' out and Ken Barlow. It could only be Den Iniquity's den!

One that caught me out last year on Christmas eve was from Bob Dylan's Christmas album. I was as surprised as you will be at this jaunty little number from ol' gravelly Mr. Misery. What next? a Morrissey Christmas album?

Bob Dylan- Must be Santa

A welcome return for (In the words of my mate Mark) The Massive Chew Teeth. This one I heard many moons ago and has been an ear worm all day for me. The Bee Gees at their most rockin' ? Could be.

Bee Gees- Down the road

One to get the homophobes in a bit of a tizz from 4 poofs and a piano. I guess they're going for the obvious but if they can't, who can?

Four Poofs and a Piano

And finally a diversion into the surreal from Harry Hill and Ken Barlow! The recent Corra fest put me through the ringer after years of cold turkey and this was the cherry on the cake to a great week last week! I love it!

Harry Hill- Ken

Can Mike Love really toot his horn?

Busy times in chez Den these last few week with new arrivals and sleepless nights. It has provided me time to catch up on a number of CDs (Don't get me started on 'Trout mask replica')/ TV shows (Whites, The Walking Dead, Teachers) that I've been meaning to knock down these last few months. So here's what's been frying the wig these last few...

Just been listening to the Brian Wilson productions CD and this one jumped out at me. I'm not sure if there is another British version of this out there but this sounds v. familiar. The good students amongst you will pick up that this is a prototype for the future Beach Boys hit "Darlin'". Give me this any day over the constant '80's fest on VH1 which seems to have 'Kokomo' on every time I switch on the one-eyed lodger. Can Mike Love really play the sax?

Sharon Marie- Thinkin' bout you baby

Girls and monkeys! Great vid from Elv's best LP of the noughties...

Elvis Costello & The Imposters- Monkey to man

A rockin' Elton? Elton on Den's blog? Let 'em riot is what I say! This guy hasn't been cool since about 1975 which a recent Beeb 4 doc used as a cut off point for his career which suits me fine. I'm told this is on Grand Theft Auto. This one is smokin' and from the strangely titled 'Rock of the westies'

Elton John- Street kids

Quicker than you can say OOOCHIMAMA

And so my ire this week bubbles over by being surrounded by complete hammer heads. I've got Burly Q on Sat and plenty of my current e-bay craziness in the pipeline over the next few days.

Garfunkel and Oates are first outta the traps this week with their pithy take on the pregnants. My soon to drop Mrs. Den pointed this one out to me and even she laughed so I guess laughing at this is ok. Anyway, it made me laugh and one of 'em looks like my mates girlf. Anyway, I dunno which one is which in this duo named after two also rans. If they were English I guess they could be Marr and Foxton or Harrison and Wyman??

Garfunkel and Oates- Pregnant women are smug

Not quite the rocking fifties stuff that is in the Burly Q pipeline but a finger-clickin' tune allegedly spun by some of the more risky Northern DJ's. A nice tune from ex bus driver Matt but I can imagine the Northern lot chokin' on their talk when this one comes on. All brought to you with a cheesy late '70's/ early '80's snap

Matt Monro- Honey on the vine

Rip it up and start again and again and again.

So it is now officially the 'fall'. The leaves are turning brown; I'm hooked on ESPN America and the post- season; and Mrs. Den is due to start her maternity. I'm hot off an e-bay frenzy and some pick ups from Rare & Racy- including the great 'Aberystwyth Mon Amor'. There were no obvious hot tracks this week so I've scratched around for some of my recent faves, including a welcome return to Earl 'Who is Dave and why has he stolen my voice' Okin.

I got this on a cheapo Kent LP (sans sleeve) back in '98 on a night where I wore an ill-advised suit and ended up bringing up my lunch all over a stranger's bathroom floor. That aside this is a nice slice of blue-eyed pop/soul in a mid-tempo. Always brings back memories of that evening in Doncaster 12 years ago. I now nowt about this dude other than his brief period under the lights in Wigan during the pop- craze..

Jay Traynor- Up and over

I snarfed this one up t'other week in Chorlton alongside a slew of other good Decca R n B. I'll be spinning this tomoz down the Washy. Nice to hear some Fem UK R n B for a change. Great pipes on Kim on this B from c '64.

Kim Davis- Feeling blue

And my final choice is another delve into past posts with one of Den's favourite lunch time guests: Earl Okin. Whilst this man can talk, he talks the talk and walks the walk and dresses like a King. Here is Earl's own take on that dweeboid noughties 'classic'. All together now....'Her boyfriend's a DICK'...

Earl Okin- Teenage dirtbag

And so at the mo I'm making my way through the surprisingly good and not at all cack 'Aberystwyth mon amor' which mixes an alt. universe (which is always good in Den's book) with a Chandleresque noir. This combined with a recent v/o attempt has Den coming over all noir this week. Check it out folks- I'm told there's another 4 in the series!

Monkey gritty nitty

So the nights are getting dark and our quest is coming to an end. I've been knocking down the Scott Pilgrim series and revisiting some Patricia Highsmith short stories from the 'Animal lover's book of beastly murder' which up to now is not as good as I remember. Anyway, these are two tunes from my recent bus jaunts into town, a snippet from some giggage and a trailer from my latest flick.

And so I was heading back from my evening of relaxation with the old ladies and this one from '66 crept up on me by way of the shuffle on my ipod. Way better than you'd expect Chuck to be in the mid- sixties he name checks various dances before heading to aforementioned club of the title. I can't get enough of this dude at the mo and you can get your fill right here!

Chuck Berry- Club nitty gritty

And so I bring to you unworthy schmos a pair of geeks who are perhaps the biggest bunch of over-rated/ underrated dudes ever to step out in the millstone decade of the 1.9.6.0's. Anyhow's this one was put to right's by Dana Valery at Wigan during it's pop craze (I need to see a playlist to sniff out to see if the snootiness of Y2K is valid) but Simon and Garf nail this one. Defo one of the most underrated/ overlooked pairings ever. I had an epiphany earlier when I realised that whilst Simon has some cred Garf has none and when it boils down to it they are both serious geeks/ oddballs. Lap it up, fuzzballs!

Simon & Garfunkel- You don't know where your interests lie

So I went with Mark to my new fave Sheff venue- The Queens Rd social club. This place invoked memories of Bethnal Green in Feb and was a great night with the surprisingly melodic Dum Dum Girls who did an equally surprising cover of 'Heart of stone' by The Rolling Stones. Although whether this my mind playing tricks I dunno cos they also cover a song with the same name by The Raveonettes. Anyway, heres some dum ass gal interviewing the lead singer who gave me info I was unaware of...

Dum Dum Dee Dee interview

I also watched this pretty good sci-fi film called Moon which I think you should too. The always good Sam Rockwell gets a chance to go for it up against some clones. Watch it people. Directed by Bowie's son this is Major Tom to ground control...

Moon teaser

Reviewing the situation

There's been some breathing space here at Den towers of late with not much going down in this corner of the web. I've ditched an annoying 'quest' book about some bloke going round the pubs of the UK but have been digging the Scott Pilgrim series and also snarfing down books by Bret Easton Ellis and the ongoing 'Transmetropolitan' fest. I have had the nose to the grindstone sniffing out those sides which has included dips into the Chez flea market and a great jaunt to Chorlton/ Manc. So here's what's up for offer from the man described as looking like Bazooka Joe minus the eye- patch...

The penny didn't drop with this one for quite some time. The previously blogged Joe Black appeared on this page doin' his black face version of this. Sandie, however, wigs out in a fashion sadly lacking from the bulk of her other sixties recordings. I've always had a soft spot for Sandie but on this one she finally gets some beef behind her instead of the twee stuff Chris Andrews was churning out. Keep 'em peeled for 'Route 66' heading this way v. soon.

Sandie Shaw- Reviewing the situation

Another under-rated rug is pulled out from under me in the fashion of these costume wearing popular in the US folks Paul Revere and the Raiders. An American doing Mick Jagger doing an American gets my vote! Shit dance moves tho.

Paul Revere and the Raiders- The great airplane song

Further minings into the archives have led me back to a band that featured in the early days of the Den blog- Cupids Inspiration. This is the flip of 'Yesterday has gone'- nice phat rock number on the pea-green NEMS label...

Cupids Inspiration- Dream

Four sheets to the wind in Intake

Back to the grind at work and with my first race since '08 this week which will prove to be a complete the pain in the arse. So we've got three tunes for ya along with a great clip from the Emmys which I'm sure you Americans will be familiar with but us over in blighty will be blissfully unaware. Anyway. Time for tricks.

From the confusingly titled 'Animalisms' which isn't to be confused with the US LP's 'Animalism' and 'Animalisms' which are both different. You'd think transfering the deep south the town of Newcastle wouldn't work but it does. Nicest bunch of Geordies I think you'll meet. However, Alan Price was a bit of a shit. He wouldn't sign an autograph in 2001 for my mate Mark because he had fruit in his hand...

The Animals- One monkey don't stop no show

Yup more from the gobby Beatle. Don't waste time ploughing his solo releases for good stuff- it's slim pickings. This one however shakes like your sister. That cover however stinks like my cat's litter tray.

John Lennon- Meat City

So we met our old friend the side dealer in a bar that was tiled like a swimming pool. We shot the boosh and yakked over the wash and got down to the business of buying up sides. I picked up a few newies including this one by Marv that rateyourmusic doesn't seem to know about. I'm guessing it's about 1960/61 and it has a little bit of a twist thing going on. I've always liked Marv and this one is a solid sender.

Marv Johnson- Come on and stop

The Hammburger dancing/ singing along to Bruce. What more could you want? Wait until 1:40 for the good stuff! Looks like he's a Cardinals fan as well. Let's just hope he doesn't adopt the LaRussa mullet/ shades combo.

John Hamm emmy intro

Yorkshire breakfast vs Derbyshire breakfast

It's all TV/ Films and Books this week in Densville. We've had the fantastic 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the world', 'Darkmans' by Nicola Barker as well as dips into 'Vexed', 'Nowhere boy', 'Up' and the start of a Gene Kelly season.

And whilst I've been cramming my days with good stuff I ventured out to the flicks at 10:25 am the other day to see a preview of 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the world'. Loadsa booshwash out there about this one folks but the fetching Mary Elizabeth Winstead is my crush of the week with her ever-changing barnet. Den's fave is this here pink do.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead- Scott Pilgrim outtakes

'There are writers who exist to confirm people's feelings about themselves and to make them feel comforted or not alone. That's the opposite to what I do. I'm presenting people with unacceptable or hostile characters, and my desire is to make them understood.' (Nichola Barker)

I'm about 600 pages into 'Darkmans' by Nichola Barker which I snagged in a trade the other day. It's been a great read so far and I have to admit to putting Isadore/ Dory in the above category. That guy is a jerk...but come to think of it none of 'em are particularly nice...which makes a nice change. This one has been the story to my chilling on the beach at Scarborough and the Spa at Hope. Great cover as well..

Interview with Nichola Barker

A second outing to see Thomas Truax last week was more than I could hope for on a Wednesday night at the Grapes. Truly sublime, bizarre and ridiculous at points. This man is the man with a great ode to two long dead hipsters...

Thomas Truax- Joe Meek warns Buddy Holly

There's Nazi's in the bathroom just below the stairs

A stop- press issue if you like this week. I'll turn you over to the tunes and the blacker-than-black Auntie Beeb winner...

Following from last time out's Macca fest I turn to the slightly less likable Beatle! If you combine the Lennon parts of Double Fantasy & Milk and Honey you end up with a pretty decent LP without all that Yoko pap. Interesting to think what else Lennon would have done had he lived (or even been recording in the late '70's...maybe he saw into the future and got outta the game before punk came along???) and ditched Yoko (which he surely would have). Anyway, one of my faves. Next week Jim Keltner solo material!

John Lennon- Stepping out

I was introduced to this by the smokin' Carmen Ghia & the Hot Rods but heard the orig version today for the first time. Random Den fact number 1: Etta James first name was Jamesetta! Random Den fact number 2: that's Little Richard and his backing band playing along; Stone-cold fact number 3: It was MADness to cast Beyonce as Jamesetta...

Etta James- Tough lover

Carmen Ghia & The Hot Rods- Tough lover

And finally a clip I've waited 16 years to see again (along with many others by the looks of the comments): Huggy Bear on the Word. The high-water mark of their career in my pov. Great garb abound to boot as well, Denettes!

Huggy Bear- Her Jazz

Series one was dark and series two is turning demented. My idea box must be rotting as I cannot remember a thing about this series of 'Nighty night'. You wont see these in the series- here are some outtakes from Linda, Cathy, Jill, Don and the man with the best name ever: Glen Bulb.

Nighty Night outtakes

Den Iniquity Entertains Our Nation!

So I bring you more, more, more (how do you like it?) this week from the idea box of one Den I. Just read a great book about Odeon cinema's which has made me even more intent on building that time machine. Anyways, time machine time now with Wings(!), Lipstick on your collar and Truly Smith. Take it away, I wanna hear you play 'til the lights go down (?!)

Forever bringing to mind those spit-roastin', over-paid, under-performing, badge-kissing, six-figure per week 'sportsmen' this tune has been a perennial fave at Chez Den, first cropping up on 'The Girls Scene' CD in 2000 and later snagged in a Chez Chazza for 50p. In addition to the oddly named Truly we have a couple of other Motown covers one of which being Den's fave 'I want to go back there again'. I dig this gal's shit but her moves really do need checking at the door. Also, is it me but at the start of the 'I want to back' vid it looks like her name is 'Ruly Smith' at the back of the stage...And one final thing great name and two haircuts for the price of one...!

Truly Smith- The boy from Chelsea

Truly Smith- I want to go back there again

It really does not get any better than this combo of Dennis Potter/ Louise Germaine & The Platters. Just out of shot is Sylvia's copacetic usherette uniform...

Lipstick in your collar- My Prayer (The Platters)

Nice late-period Macca/ Wings with a riff that Franz Ferdinand would nick and a T-shirt that Den would also steel. Name checking the soon to be vacationing spot of Scarborough, NY Macca does the business in unlikely circs...However, never good to hear a fake crowd or the sight of Linda Mc rocking out!

Wings- Old Siam, Sir

Slade in pain

Yup two things this week going down chez Den: Slade and pain. Less of the pain and more of the Slade along with my regular series of returnees. This week including the helmet-wearing Bob Log and NYC burlesker Nasty Canasta.

Another great out-of-reach burlesque performer who makes a welcome return here. You may remember that she did that great fan dance with the car alarms going off??? A nice twist on the old stripping in a champagne glass (I love those Greek key NYC take-away coffee cups- what's that all about??). And I always stand by the mantra that you gotta have big balls to be able to pull off wearing a sequined murkin so to speak...

Nasty Canasta- Insomnia

I'll go out on a limb and say that Slade are the most underrated British band ever. Despite their chart success (6 number ones I think) they are dismissed as a glam rock fad. Anyway, less booshwash about the boys from Wolverhampton from me and more music should do the trick. This band craps from a great height on bands nodding to their influence (from the sublime to the ridiculous read Kiss to Oasis- yes you read that right!). I even have found a penchant for two bookend recordings to their career from '70 & '80. Take it away Nod. The less said Slade II the better...

Slade- The shape of things to come

Slade- How does it feel

Slade- We'll bring the house down

And finally a welcome return for the man with the best schtik in the biz. I still haven't gotten over missing his return to Sheff last year even though I have seen him before 3 times this dude is worth sniffing out. He's the bomb. Great Hendrix homage as well on this US gig poster...

Bob Log III- Wag your tail like a dog in the back of a truck

The snot that was blown around the world

It's gone C-R-A-Z-Y at chez Den of late with owt not nailed down heading to the trash can, charity shop or foisted onto unsuspecting relos. I was thinking 'bout the blog the other day and I may change the bent of things in the future but in the meantime lets keep it in the cross hairs.

I've dug this one out after snaffling in L.A. last summer and most was familiar but I'd forgot just how good the whole record is. Spoilt for choice peeps but I found this nice live clip for you lot. Great, intelligent pop- just the way it should be...and with teeth- not like most of that wet indie pap floating around in the bowl at the moment in S1. Kathleen Hanna also has a blog which you can find here. She is one fierce lady! I think I may have met her as a scared teen in '93 when Huggy Bear were doing that split LP with Bikini Kill and I went to an instore signing but I was too terrified to look any of 'em in the eye...

Le Tigre- Hot topic

A welcome return to the man who sounds like he's been eatin' razor blades for breakfast and throwing anvils and other rag and bone detritus down a fire escape on his later recordings. Anyways, just picked this up in a 10 way trade and again had forgot how good it was. Fracture your tupee and box yo brains to Tom's ode to bachelorhoodism...

Tom Waits- Better off without a wife

Curve ball time from Den (apologies for the muddy sound but there were no other decent clips on the tube). Usually I avoid Cuban stuff like the plague (never trust a Northener who claims to like Cuban music...they are cut from the same cloth as those drones who drink in Irish theme bars)...anyway I dunno what El Watusi is all about but it grills my meat and time of the week.

Ray Barretto- El Watusi

With an Uncle of the calibre of Prince Phillip you'd think that Louise Cordet would have a nice line of banter inbetween the songs during her gigs. Who knows what went on at them. I guess she didnt have much time to flap the gums appearing 10th on the bill at the Ipswich Gaumont for all five minutes without a proper hit to her name. Check out her version of Mary Wells' "Two Lovers" for more shits and giggles...

Lousie Cordet- I'm just a baby

Louise Cordet- Which way the wind blows

I've got a snapshot of your Aunt Maureen

It's all hard yacker at Chez Den at the mo with much decorating in the midst. I've been out to Salford to the High Tease and witnessed some great (and some not so great) burlesque acts and be annoyed by a bunch of knicker-wetting teeny-boppers who were out having their first legal drinks. And boy did they drink and yack and yack and yack. Anyway, I bring to you my usual booshwash, hot little mice and eyeball pleasers. Take it down, Padres.

I was dwelling on this the other day that I don't often return to the depths of Densville with my posts bombarding you poor web fiends with a slew of new stuff each time. Anyhow, I return to Germany and 1998 with the fantastic Hamburg-based Mobylettes (long since split I discovered this week). I can't get enough of these gals even going as far to buy the mp3 of their second LP 'Catch as catch can' available here v.v.cheap. A hell of a lot better than they really ought to be I can't get enough of 'em. This is a perfect slice of sixties-inspired girl pop! I just can't get my biscuit snatchers on any of their platters...the German version of "I'll never fall in love again' will follow at some point the future, peeps.

The Mobylettes- (Du bist ein) Viel zu gutter man

I really can't get enough of Russ and Ron and after snagging 'Whomp that sucker' (best LP title ever??) I bring to you a ravenous audience lapping up a red boiler- suited Sparks c1975. Is he struggling with those high notes??? Who gives a fig!

Sparks- Amateur hour (Live 1975)

And here we have an instrumental from a convicted murderer. The Peter Sutcliffe R 'n' B combo bring you "Torpedo Rock" from c1964....

Only kidding folks it's everybody's favourite nut-job Phil Spector!

Phil Spector Band- Torpedo Rock

Recently spied at Burly Q Gypsy Charms brings a touch of class to this Dietrich tribute that knocked my socks off. I've seen others attempt to 'do' Dietrich that have been more car crash than anything resembling the class displayed by this Edinburgh beauty. I gave her a cracker that was out of date as well...though that's another story!

Gypsy Charms Marlene Dietrich routine