Den Iniquity's den of iniquity

Plan B 76: Sha Na Na requests and talking to David Bowie

2012-01-18T23:24:00.000Z

Not many newbies in the two lengthy sets from Plan B 76 but plenty of tunes getting a dusting down for the first time in a long time. I have grown particularly fond of Sailor's 'Glass of champagne' which surprises me after the 'orrid 'Girls, girls, girls' that I was exposed to last year. Can you tell the difference between their singer and XTC's??? Same vocal nuances 5 years before Andy Partridge?! (it's the way he sings 'shampayane'). It was inevitable there would be a smattering of the 'white album' after my recent posts but this was coupled with many Beatles requests and a question from someone who looked like they'd stumbled out of Height- Ashburyy circa 1968 of 'What are you trying to say through your music'? Which was responded with 'What do you think I'm trying to say through my music?'

Follow the links for the current ear worms!

Early Set

Mud- Rocket
Iggy Pop- China girl
Elvis Costello- My mood swings*
Dave Clarke Five- Maze of love
Blood, Sweat & Tears- Lucretia McEvil
The Beatles- Glass onion*
Blues Magoos- Gotta get away
Sailor- A glass of champagne*
XTC- Respectable Street
The Rolling Stones- Undercover of the night*
The Fall- I'm Frank*
The Go Go's- Head over heels
Magazine- Thank you (forlettinmebemyselfagen)
Tom Waits- Union Square
Kiss- Rock 'n' roll all night*

Late Set

The Beatles- Back in the U.S.S.R
The Sonics- Have love will travel
The Clash- London calling
Elvis Costello & The Attractions- Pump it up
Talking Heads- Life during wartime*
David Bowie- Modern love
The Beatles- She's a woman
The Strangeloves- Night time
Junior Walker & The All Stars- Shotgun
Otis Redding- Love man
Gloria Jones- Tainted love
The Standells- Dirty water
Eddie Cochran- Summertime blues
The Surfaris- Wipe out
Mike Pedicin- Burnt toast and black coffee
The Rolling Stones- Get off my cloud
Bob Seger System- Ramblin' gamblin' man
Chuck Berry- Club nitty gritty
Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels- Jenny take a ride!
Small Faces- Almost grown
Elvis Presley- What'd I say
Aretha Franklin- Satisfaction

The Beatles 1968 Side 1 in covers

2012-01-02T16:38:00.000Z

I told you I was gonna hit you folks up out there and after hearing a cover of 'Savoy Truffle' today on a CD done by my big bro my mind raced at all the covers of stuff from the 'White album'. It seems I was walking in to that one a lot of late. I examined a Russian copy the other day that had the photos on the inner cover done in a horrid 'sketch' style like them things you get in photo booths...I swallowed the album whole in Autumn '94 as a 15 year old but would frequently skip 'Ob la di' and 'Revolution 9' but that said it's still my fave Beatles LP!

You can't beat the twist king singing about Communist Russia! You should hear the one about the political prisoners in the Ural salt mines...

Chubby Checker- Back in the U.S.S.R

Always had a soft spot for this one but other than a version by Alanis M******e this is the only cover I'm aware of...Think this one was hawled in from a Dinnington car boot back in the late '90's...

Siouxsie and The Banshees- Dear Prudence

Tricky track 3 that I have begun to warm to as I age like a kipper under the settee. There is certainly not a better version of this out there than Macca in codreggaecmoonliveandletdieragga mode so here it is...

The Beatles- Ob la di ob la da Take 5

Argh! Mother-banger it's the Pixies! I didn't know this one existed until now...'Trompe le Monde' also getting some heavy action Chez Den at the mo...

Pixies- Wild honey pie

I kinda like this one as I'm assuming that Poopy is doing a nod to Yoko's backing vox on this by taking over the whole track...not easy on the ears peeps!

Poopy Lungstuffings- The continuing story of bungalow Bill

A panic came over me when I knew George was next. Too many lame-ass tributes from lame-ass rockers. This is the best cover version out there- go Floyd! Why he's doing it Christ only knows!!

The Muppets- While my guitar gently weeps

This is probably the only song on the album that I knew as a cover before gorging on the album in 1994. Great take that dispenses with a fair few of the lyrics...

The Breeders- Happiness is a warm gun

Business at the front, party at the back

2011-11-06T10:18:00.000Z

2012 starts so we're going basic- this one has been on the ice for far too long...I have plenty of treats up my sleeve for year 3 of this blog but in the meantime snarf at these 3...!

Johnny Jones & The King Casuals- Soul poppin'

Sugar Pie DeSanton- Do the whoopee!

Dusty Springfield & Englebert Humperdink- Ain't no mountain high enough

Shake it like your sister

2011-11-04T19:15:00.000Z

It's been some time since I ventured over here and I'm not sure if the man is trying to slap down these type of blogs? All I do is link you to youtube with my current fave vids/ performers. This entry features a clutch of new late '40's/ early '50's (with the exemption of rockin' Ruth Brown) tunes dug out for you peeps in prep of next week's Burly Q 13!

First out of the traps is this great tune on the 'Modern music' label repro by the Jazzman label (check 'em folks- they got some hot yolks!). I've never seen the label before and I'm guessing this was probably a 78 only issue in the early 50's. Great vox form this gal who I've never heard of before or since... The B-side is no small beer either!

Jeanne Demetz- Calypso Daddy

I love the 'spooky' piano opening on this tune and the knocking of the door before a great swingtastic number kicks in from another act who I'd never heard of (and to be honest wasn't sure if she/he was Arthur or Martha). This is another tasty slab from Jazzman but this time the label is as dull as dish water. I love the false-ending which are underused in Den's big book of goodness!

Frances Burr & K.J. Trio- I say no, no more

Ramping up the pace on this one with a truly bonkers inst sound of the nonsense title 'Ojai' from Joe Lutcher on a rather fetching red 'Modern' records label. I struggle to pigeon hole this two-legged beauty as whilst it swings along nicely it's knocking at the door of a more progressive sound around the corner. Truly great!

Joe Lutcher & his orchestra- Ojai

And the final pick of the bunch is another ripe one from the vine. Snagged up in a job lot from my Stateside side shifter this one shows Ruth Brown in all too rare outing into uptempo territory. However, the lyrics may tend to grate a little (much like 'This little girl's gone rockin') but who cares with a backing track as good as this when the lyrics are a load of old hooey! Good ol' Leiber & Stoller take the reins on this one and do a job on it like only they can!

Ruth Brown- Papa Daddy

Plan B #72 Friday September 10th (Yup I thought we started in 2004 when it was actually 2005!)

2011-09-19T21:06:00.001+01:00

Strange Plan B for JT this time out with me being first to arrive and first to leave. I even got to put up the sign and witness the lone drunks who sway on to an empty dance floor in a 'comedy' fashion that remains only funny to their drunken selves. No nutzoid requests from what I remember and armed with a Sharpie I scrawled down set one on two beer mats then tapped set 2 into the BlackBerry. Here's set one for you in my own hand-

Debuts in the early set from Bush Tetras, Go Go's, Lorainne Chandler & The Fall; along with the classic paring of Stiff Little Fingers & Wings- you don't get that on Radio 2!

On to set two in the early hours of the next day and I genuinely thought some bastard had stolen my Sharpie (I found it later in my pocket!) so I committed this set to my BlackBerry! I was pleased as punch with this set (mainly 'cos I sneaked in the Bush Tetras again!) but opening with my current faves, The Fall, set me off nicely and the floor was ramalamajammed throughout! Click the links for the good stuff!

The Fall- Theme from Sparta F.C.

The Clash- Rock the casbah

Salt N Pepa- Push it

Devo- Whip it

Bush Tetras- You can't be funky*

Talking Heads- Psycho killer

The Temptations- I can't get next to you

Rick James- Superfreak

Sugarhill Gang- Rappers delight

The Cure- Love cats

Motorhead- The ace of spades

Elvis Presley- What'd I say

Chuck Berry- Johnny B. Goode

BT Festival FM 106.2 Scott & Jamie Thompson's 'Sort of soul' Show 1, 28-6-97

2011-08-24T20:29:00.000+01:00

Looking back (unfortunately not listening to) on a radio show I did with my brother in 1997 gave me some strange flash backs to that Summer and the hot Saturday nights at Forge FM. We did 4 shows across 4 consecutive Saturday nights and the two tapes give a nice snapshot of what I was really into at the time (although not really getting the chance to play given the constraints of the Thursday night Leadmill crowd). As you will see it is pretty much Northern/ Motown/ Soul from '64-'70 on this show with a couple of tracks i'd forgot about- 'Do you see my love', 'Let the sunshine in' & 'Contact'; current wants 'The joker' along with mucho golden- era Wigan Casino stuff.

I'm gonna keep mining the old tapes with the green covers over the coming months so watch this space peeps! Any guesses who my poster boys are?

The Mylestones- The joker
Mr. Floods Party- Compared to what
The Soul Clan- Soul meeting
Wilson Pickett- Born to be wild
Joe Tex- Everything happens on time
Jnr. Walker- Do you see my love
Linda Jones- My heart needs a break
Kurt Harris- Emperor of my baby's heart
Paul Anka- I can't help loving you
Bob Brady & The Con- Chords- It's a better world
Amen Corner- Our love is in the pocket
Darrel Banks- Angel baby
Bobby Freeman- I'll never fall in love again
World Column- So is the sun
Tom Jones- Stop breaking my heart
Small Faces- Something I want to tell you
Johnny Jones & The King Casuals- Purple haze
The Group feat Cecil Washington- I don't like to lose

Steve Karmen & Jimmy Radcliffe- Breakaway
Marvin Gaye- This love starved heart
Edwin Starr- My weakness is you
Four Tops- Baby I need your loving
Four Tops- Are you man enough
R.B. Freeman- I'm Shaft (you ain't Shaft)
Little Richard- Poor dog
Anthony & The Imperials- Let the sun shine in
The Wall of sound- Hang on
Jackie Trent- You baby
Three Degrees- Contact
Gene McDaniels- The point of no return
Walter Jackson- That's what Mama say
Little Esther Phillips- Just say goodbye

Boneshaker guest spot July 22nd 2011

2011-08-02T21:11:00.000+01:00

It was a messy night but one of the best nights DJ'ing in a long time. All rounded off with some hooch that tasted like fairy liquid and a cafe creme cigar! My whole solo set can be downloaded via the Boneshaker website here. No links to youtube today but I think this weeks link is even better. Keep your ears peeled for the opening track.- I'm sure someone says 'Smokin' as it starts! As always a * indicates a debut for D.I.

Solo set

Jack Starr- Chicken
Johnny Kidd & The Pirates- Growl!
Ernie Maresco- Shout! Shout! Shout!
The Showmen- It will stand*
Big Joe Turner- Honey hush
Dr. Feelgood- Dr. Feelgood
Big Mama Thornton- I smell a rat*
Wanda Jackson- Mean, mean man
The Frogmen- Underwater
Michael Cox- Too hot to handle*
Carl Perkins- Wrong yo-yo
Buddy Holly- Brown eyed handsome man
Chuck Berry- Dear Dad*
Laverne Baker- Hey Memphis
Elvis Presley- Good rockin' tonight*
Arthur 'Big boy' Crudup- That's alright Mama*
Wynonie Harris- Quiet whiskey
Bobby Wall- Baby, it's too much
Billy La Mont- Country boy*
The Great Gaylord- Squat with me baby*

The one on/ one off section-

Barrett Strong- Money
Screamin' Jay Hawkins- Frenzy*
Thurston Harris- Itty bitty pretty one
Mike Pedicin- Burnt toast and black coffee
Sam & Kitty- I've got something good
The Emperors- Karate
The Big Bopper- Chantilly lace
Huey 'Piano Smith'- Don't you just know it
Elvis Presley- Hound dog
Tony & Joe- The freeze
Screaming Jay Hawkins- I put a spell on you (alt. version)
Hank Mizell- Jungle rock
Janis Martin- My boy Elvis
Big Joe Turner- Lipstick, powder and paint
Johnny Kidd & The Pirates- Shakin' all over
Joe Tex- I wanna be free
Elvis Presley- Promised land
Ricky Nelson- It's late
Jan & Dean- Surf city

It hit me with a wallop! or don't drink the milk

2011-07-27T21:33:00.002+01:00

Amidst the gimmicks of DJ sets and the ventures into the wasteland of Elvis' movie-career this blog hasn't had a 'traditional' posting for some months. So it's time to rectify that with a hoovering up of this weekend's purchases from the fandabydozy Vinyl Demand in Sheff (Check it on Twitter and Facebook folks). Much madness abound this weekend with pissed teenagers in town and crawling from Junior without even starting on the craziness in Camden and the misery in Norway.

An amazing unheard track for me from Red Bird's Roddie Joy which took me by great surprise. I would say this is as good if not better than the oft- played out 'If there's anything else you want' and is certainly cut from the same cloth. No Red Bird orig this time but a strange flipping of the orig A's/ B's on the Stardust reissue. The flip of this little bute is the fantastically-titled Mary Wells-esque 'Love hit me with a wallop'.

Roddie Joy- Come back baby
Roddie Joy- Love hit me with wallop

I'm fairly firm on the strange popularity of anything with a latino-beat out there in DJ land. You could play a latino version of the birdy song and the plebs would dance to it! So stuff has to be good to get it's self in Den's good books. This is one such tune which is a great double- header with the non- youtubeable track 'At the party'. Pete Terrace bills himself as the 'King of boogaloo'. Maybe the Fantastic Johnny C might have summat to say about them apples..

Pete Terrace- No, No, No

It's May 15th 1993 and Sheffield Wednesday are playing in their first FA cup final since 1935 and I head off to the Octagon to see PJ Harvey & Gallon Drunk at one of the best gigs I've ever been to. As I mentioned at the start only just snaffled this and as you can see she didn't play it on the night but you'll find it on the B of 50ft Queenie which was the lead off single for 'Rid of me'. I always remember me and Jacqui chucking fags at the bass player from Gallon Drunk (or maybe that was just me); being drunk on cheap cider; and it being blistering hot. Wednesday went on to the lose the cup final folks!

Rid Of Me / Naked Cousin / Primed & Ticking / Highway 61 Revisited / Yuri-G / O Stella / Dress / Wang Dang Doodle / Me-Jane / Victory / Man-size / Snake / Sheela-Na-Gig / 50Ft Queenie / Rub 'Til It Bleeds / Water.

PJ Harvey- Reeling

And so I watched 'Suspicion' after Mark lent it to me following an evening of me looking perplexed as he called everyone 'Monkeyface'. Yup, it was pretty good and Cary Grant was by far the best thing in it but scoot round the innernets and you'll see that the ending that felt like a cop-out really was!

Suspicion trailer

The two-time blogged Nasty is back with the sort of routine that makes you think 'why haven't I seen that before?'. The lady that brought you the car alarm fan dance and the champagne class/ coffee cup routine brings a fresh twist to the oft- weekoldcorpsestinkingsnoozefest of a fan- dance, which, in the hands of a mere amateur becomes just another chopped-meat face wannabe flailing around like she's trying to take off. I'll not ruin it for you Denettes but watch closely and wait until the very end- Smokin'!

Nasty Canasta- The unknown stripper

Plan B #83 Friday July 8th 2011 'That women looks like she should be the referee at the Superbowl'

2011-07-23T19:14:00.000+01:00

And so the first absence of Scott for a long time brought on the duo of Mark from Mars and my good self. No familiar faces though a visit from an old friend who I don't think has ever been led to reminisces about 1995. Here is the playlist in no particular order. As always look for the hyperlinks and a * denotes a Plan B debut! This issue has one from the vaults (Loch Ness monster) and a newie from my recent Manchester jaunt. Check 'em folks...

The big ones with the small holes-

David Bowie- Queen Bitch
The Clash- Rudi can't fail
Talking Heads- Burning down the house*
The Rolling Stones- Gimme shelter
The Rolling Stones- It's all over now
Roy Head- Treat her right
Blondie- One way or another
Eddie Cochran- Somethin' else
Eddie Cochran- C' mon everybody
The Surfaris- Wipeout
Wings- Old Siam, Sir (Opening track)
Talking Heads- Uh-huh loves come to town
The Clash- The magnificent seven
Elvis Costello & The Attractions- You belong to me
Wynonie Harris- Bloodshot eyes
Screamin' Lord Sutch- Jack the ripper

The small ones with the big holes-

The Beatles- She's a women
Screamin' Jay Hawkins- I put a spell on you (60's version)
King Horror- Loch Ness Monster
Adam & The Ants- Antmusic
The Monkees- I'm a believer
Fox- Sss single bed*
Archie Bell & The Drells- Tighten up
The Ides of March- Vehicle
Gloria Jones- Tainted love
Spencer Davies Group- Gimme some loving
Elvis Presley- Viva Las Vegas
The Standells- Dirty water
Pearl Reeves- You can't stay here
Ike & Tina Turner- Two is a couple
Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels- Sock it to me baby
Vanilla Fudge- Good good livin'
Markeys- Last night
Aretha Franklin- Chain of fools
Depeche Mode- Master and servant
Pigbag- Papas got a brand new pig bag
Elvis Costello & The Attractions- Pump it up
R. Dean Taylor- There's a ghost in my house
The Equals- Black skinned blue eyed boys
Mike Pedicin- Burnt toast and black coffee*
Devo- Whip it!
George Baker Selection- Little green bag*
Ian Dury- Spasticus autisticus*
The Polecats- Jeepster*
Chuck Berry- Dear Dad*
Big Ella- Too hot to hold*
Magazine- Song from under the floorboards*

Plan B #82 Friday June 10th 2011: Toto- Africa & Erasure!

2011-06-12T09:07:00.001+01:00

Despite being as sober as a judge I forget to scribble down the actual playlist from the eighty- second(!) Plan B on Friday. As the title gives away there was the usual stupid requests as well as a fit- inducing light show! The joint was packed and the floor rammed from 11pm onwards so the early more experimental stuff split the floor with the crazier folks busting moves like they were going out of fashion (so to speak...!). Grab the links to the old faves from Boo Boo & Bunky and Babe Ruth folks!
I'll try and remember how it went down...

Rick James- Superfreak
The Temptations- I can't next to you
Babe Ruth- The mexican
Kool & The Gang- Jungle boogie*

The Standells- Dirty water

Small Faces- Almost grown

The Marvelettes- Too many fish in the sea
Martha & The Vandellas- Heatwave
The Emperors- Karate
Chuck Berry- Too much monkey business*
Solomon Burke- Maggie's farm
Elvis Presley- Promised land
Julian Covey & The Machine- A little bit hurt
Adam & The Ants- Antmusic

Set two
R. Dean Taylor- There's a ghost in my house
Screamin' Jay Hawkins- I put a spell on you (alt. version)
Marv Johnson- Come on and stop

The Doors- Peace frog

Ram Jam- Black betty

Eric Burdon & The Animals- It's all meat

Motorhead- Ace of spades*

Boo Boo & Bunky- This old town

T Rex- Get it on

Spencer Davies Group- Gimme some loving

Paul Revere & The Raiders- The great airplane strike

The Rolling Stones- Miss you

The Clash- Rock the casbah

Elvis Presley- Viva Las Vegas

Not so wild in flaming star country: Elvisarama #6/#7, Flaming Star & Go wild in the country

2011-06-12T08:43:00.000+01:00

So my first post for a week or two brings you a twofer on two strange films in the Elvis cannon. Yup, he goes on to make a few more westerns but 'Go wild in the country' is a strange pile of hokum akin to 'Serious charge' starring Cliff Richard. No vids to link this time and this one if for completist only...check my quick- fire follow up post of Plan B 10/6/11 for some choonage. You know the drill...

The songs (slim pickings folks!)

'Flaming star'- Not bad...
'A cane and a high starched collar'- hideous country dancing nightmare!

An 'actual' film from Elvis (directed by Don Siegel): Elvis plays a mixed- race dude, there's a scene where someone gets an axe in the head (I'm sure that never happens again); Elvis' mum almost get raped by hicks in the scene where he unleashes his vengence with the axe and to round it off he shivs a native- American. Despite all this I can remember next to nothing about this film which falls flat and lands somewhere in the column with 'Love me tender'. Brace yourself folks: were gonna go down hill fast from now on!

Elvis= Pacer Burton

Score= 6/10

Elvis Score= 2/3

Leading lady= N0ne

Songs= 2

Viewed= 14/12/07

I barely remember this one and I have since discovered that Elv was dating the greatly-monkired (wild gild, single- mother lush) Tuesday Weld. We have Elv killing his brother; he's on parole; strange relationship with his probation officer..This one is pretty dull, overlong but with surprisingly few songs. Elv goes good and gets to college in the end but the MILF parole officer attempts suicide and admits she has a heart defect?! It's like Murder she wrote!

Songs-

'Wild in the country'- forgettable ballad
'I tripped, I stumbled, I fell'- Pretty good serenade in his truck?!
'?'- Slow forgettable song to the 'lush' (Tuesday)

Good dialogue!

'He's got a cup full of anger ready to spill over'!

Elvis= Glen Tyler

Score= 5/10

Elvis Score= 2/3

Leading lady= Hope Lange

Songs= 3

Viewed= 18/12/07

He puts his cigars out in your face for kicks- Boneshaker set 27/5/11

2011-05-30T11:59:00.001+01:00

And so I stepped into the breach the other night to help out my friend Dan Sette at his new venture- Boneshaker. This was a low key event compared to the launch party and the next one in June featuring my Burly Q side- sharer- Cherryred but with the stakes low we hit it out of the park and the floor was pretty packed to a bizarro mixture of choons. I went for some good 60's soul/ RnB & Northern chucked in with the 50s remit. I probably stayed a little safe on some stuff, particularly early on, but most of the famous tunes hadn't had an outing from me in a long time...The evening was rounded off with a bit of the good ol' one on/ one off with the aforementioned Dan. Check out his blog/ download/ one on-one off set here. You can listen to my set below using the link...

Boneshaker solo set- 27/5/11

* Is a DJ debut!

John Zacherle "The cool ghoul"- Dinner with Drac Part 1
Rene Hall's Orchestra- Twitchy
Sam & Kitty- I've got something good
Solomon Burke- Maggie's farm
Laverne Baker- Batman to the rescue*
Ray Charles- I'm movin' on
The Kingsmen- The jolly green giant
Tom Waits- Union Square
Little Richard- Good golly Miss Molly
The Duals- Stick shift
Marv Johnson- Come on and stop
Chuck Berry- Club nitty gritty
Jo Anne Garrett- Get back
The Champs- Tequila*
Elvis Presley- Got a lot of livin' to do
Mr. Bonz- Bonzfire*
Wynonie Harris- Bloodshot eyes

So that's it for this little detour back into my DJ world. More Elvisarama next month along with a return to the traditional format of music/ film/ burlesque! TTFN.

Do not let Elvis babysit: Elvisarama #5, G.I. Blues, 1960

2011-05-26T20:09:00.000+01:00

And so Elvis goes into the army after 'King Creole' and comes out and makes G.I. Blues which is set in Germany. Life imitating art? Well there's no scene of Elv heading into East Germany by accident in his tank; wrestling with Priscilla in her white daks and I hope to hell he never sang 'Wooden heart' to the boys in the platoon. Onwards and downwards here we go...

The platters that (don't really) matter...

'G.I. Blues'- Not bad but the barbershop grates a little...
'Doin' the best I can'- Nice ballad that is initiated by 'Blue suede shoes' playing on the juke
'Frankfurt special'- Great tune in a train carriage...'Go special go!'
'Shoppin' around'- Pretty good...
'Tonight is so right for love'- OKayish...
'Wooden heart'- HITS ROCK BOTTOM! Singing in a Punch & Judy tent. Elvis loses his dignity for the first time on screen...The chorus is in German and the kids join in bleurgh!
'Pocketful of rainbows'- Duet sang in a bizarre cable car sequence
'Big boots'- Horrid lullaby sang to a kid (watch out for more of these turds in later flicks)
'Didja ever'- Patriotic tune with all the audience joining in!

Stuff...

*Lots of redheads!
*Bizarre puppet show
*'Blue suede shoes' on the jukebox...
*Elvis's crap babysitting!
*Elvis proposes..
*'Didja ever' sang to the camera
*First duet on screen
*First 'ROCK BOTTOM' moment!

Elvis= Tulsa McClean

Score= 6/10

Elvis Score= 2/3

Leading lady=

Songs= 10 in total

Viewed= 8/12/07

Get your gumbo: Elvisarama #4 King Creole, 1958

2011-05-23T19:23:00.000+01:00

So it's film 3 of the 3 Elvis greats and the finest of the bunch of the 31 (27 to go!). This is the first one to feature someone other than Elvis that you probably will know- Walter Matthau. Lap up the tunes folks this one is worth buying the soundtrack for!

'Crawfish'

-Weird opening tune. Non- naturalistic musical moment! (Only the second to date!)

'Steadfast, loyal and true'

- Crappy title for an accapella school anthem

'Loverdoll'

-Cheesy guitar tune when Elv is the decoy at the five and dime.

'Trouble'

-Stone cold classic alert! On stage in the club in his bus boy outfit!

'Dixieland rock'

-Decent tune with dixieland jazz twist. 'All pooped out when the clock hit four'

'Young dreams'

-Mid tempo tune drowned in barbershop backing

'New Orleans'

-Vocal jousting with barbershop is much better than the last one

'Hard headed woman'

-Very short snippit but v.v.v.good!

'King creole'

-More horrid backing vox but great title track. Elv gets a guitar solo!

'Don't ask me why'

-'One night' retread!

'As long as I have you'

-OK ballad

Weird Stuff-

'Get your gumbo'
'Crawfish'!

Good Stuff

-New Orleans set
-Walter Matthau
-Walter's girl with the bob and the pointy bra!
-Good 'noirish' direction
-Femma fatale dies/ mute saves Elv

Best flick to date (and Elvis' fave). 'Trouble' and 'Crawfish' are fab. Great film that stands on it's own...fear downhill trajectory now!

Elvis= Danny Fisher

Score= 8/10

Elvis Score= 3/3

Leading lady= Delores Hart (much better than in 'Loving you') 8/10

Songs= 11 in total

Viewed= 27/11/07

I wouldn't feed this garbage to a razor back hog: Elvisarama #3, Jailhouse Rock, 1957

2011-05-19T21:53:00.006+01:00

So it's film 2 of the 3 Elvis greats and the one you probably know best of all of 'em: Jailhouse Rock! I'll keep a lid on the booshwash jibber- jabba and focus on the platters that matter.

'Young and Beautiful'

-Slow tune sang in his prison cell

'I want to be free'

-Okayish tune at the prison talent show

'Don't leave me now'

-In the studio. Take 1= country version, take 2= with added backing vox (see the clip link). Nice sports coat Elvorino!

'Treat me nice'

-In the studio. Frickin' great (see the clip link). Nice sports coat Elvorino!

'Jailhouse rock'

-Classic alert! Elvis is going the full on MGM style big musical staging number in a clip you all know, and if you don't you will be severely spanked with a wet plimsoll.

'(You're so square) Baby I don't care'

-Weird film within a film moment

Weird Stuff-

Elvis commits manslaughter in a bar?!

Narration to the camera by the lawyer

Best bits

'You'll never make a guitar player: you got no rhythm in your bones'

'I wouldn't feed this garbage to a razor back hog'

'I'm gonna buy a guitar and sing love songs to you' Elvis to his landlady!

Elvis is a bad-ass, money- obsessed, bitter ex- con; a naive dude who defends an old trollops honour at the start. Again, the romance is underplayed (she's his manager/ producer) and Scotty Moore et al get on screen as well. As good, if not better, film than 'Loving you', albeit with a weaker soundtrack.

-He's just a 'kid from the neighbourhood'

- Hot groupie in his dressing room- "That's kissin', cousin''

-"Jumpin' beans in his jeans"

-"Hey Sideburns"

For the songs we have a solid selection of rock 'n' roll tunes on one of the few LP soundtracks worth buying in the Elvo (another moniker at the Den house) cannon. First up the rather tame title track that gets an orchestral treatment over the opening titles; 'Got a lot o' lovin' to do' is a stone cold classic where Elvis tones down the moves onstage at a political rally where he gets up to 'boogie woogie'!; (Let's have a) Party which is heard twice is decent but not a patch on the Wanda Jackson version- this is another song sung on a truck!; 'Lonesome cowboy' features a foxy gal in shorts in the audience!; 'Hot dog' is another live track featuring screaming bobby soxxer types. Nice black striped shirt on Elv; 'Mean woman blues' is great and is his foray into singing in a barroom; 'Teddy bear' is another tune that you'll all know that I'm no fan of. This one is delivered onstage with a mean cowboy shirt and necktie.

Plenty of high points and I fear that this may be the template that gets watered down as we progress through the next 29. Elvis is Deke: a singer who makes it...his manager shocks the media with his wild image etc...After a hectic first half hour or so we move to a kinda love triangle. This has great songs (best yet!) with a relatively formulaic script. No songs are delivered in the 'musical style. A winner!

Elvis= Vince Everett

Score= 7/10

Elvis Score= 3/3

Leading lady= Judy Tyler 7/10

Songs= 9/10

Viewed= 26/11/07

Jumpin' beans in his jeans: Elvis filmarama 2: Loving you, 1957

2011-05-15T19:23:00.006+01:00

And so on to the second Elvis (or Elvis P as Max Bygraves calls him in 'Fings ain't what they used to be'!) flick which along with the next 2 sets up the best run of films and probably 3 of his best overall...It could be the story of Elv (or Schmelmann as he sometimes called in these parts!) with the rags to riches story of him making it as a rock star (hence the name change!)

Good Stuff-

-He's just a 'kid from the neighbourhood'

- Hot groupie in his dressing room- "That's kissin', cousin''

-"Jumpin' beans in his jeans"

-"Hey Sideburns"

Elvis= Deke Rivers/ Jimmy Tompkins

Score= 7/10

Elvis Score= 3/3

Leading lady= Dolores Hart 7/10

Songs= 9/10

Viewed= 17/11/07

Debra Paget's nice high waisted jeans (Elvis filmarama no 1: Love me tender, 1956)

2011-05-15T14:25:00.007+01:00

In 2007 I braced myself and headed into uncharted waters with the task of watching all 31 of Elvis' films (for those of you interested a list of 'em is here). Over the coming weeks I'm gonna let you folks know what schizz I scribbled about 'em. I promise there will be some good, bad and extremely ugly songs and clips for you to lap up. First up: 'Love me tender'

First off I have to say that I have never been a big fan of the song 'Love me tender' which I find on the schnoozy side of boring (you get multiple versions here), that said I had high hopes for a 'gritty' first Elvis film. The plot is as follows: Elvis's brothers steal some cash under orders during the civil war and don't realise the war is over and decide to keep it. This one is in black and white and Elvis croaks at the end.

For the songs we have the musical theatre styled 'We're gonna move' ('nice song with deep backing vocals'); 'Love me tender'; 'Let me' ('Crazy song sung wearing a boot lace tie on the back of a truck'); 'Poor boy' ('Hillbilly accordian') Over all light on the songs with nothing much to remember/ write home about...

Elvis= Clint Reno

Score= 8/10

Elvis Score= 2/3

Leading lady= Debra Paget 5/10

Songs= 6/10

Viewed= 17/11/07

Elvis fact- Elvis's first word on screen' 'Vance!'

Plan B #81 Friday May 13th 2011

2011-05-14T17:57:00.004+01:00

I used to do this yonks ago when we first started DJ'ing on Thursday nights at Plan B but the habit wore off...I may dig out the old Bugs Bunny notebook and post up some old set lists but for now gorge on my tunes from last night...there are one or two more eighties tracks than norm! A * indicates a Plan B debut!

Set one

The Rolling Stones- I'm free

Wilson Pickett- Don't fight it

Gene Thompson & The Counts- You don't love me

Tom Zacherle "The Cool Ghoul"- Dinner with Drac part 1*

Tom Waits- Union Square

Depeche Mode- Master and servant*

Sparks- Tips for teens

David Bowie- Modern love

Elvis Costello & The Attractions- Pump it up

The Clash- The guns of Brixton

Hank Mizell- Jungle rock

Joe Tex- I wanna be free

The Temptations- Get ready

Bobby Darin- You must have been a beautiful baby*

Bob Seger System- Ramblin' gamblin' man

The Equals- Black skin blue eyed boys

Rick James- Superfreak

Cameo- Word up*

The Champs- Tequila

The Surfaris- Wipe out

Marvin Gaye- Can I get a witness

The Who- Wont get fooled again

Set two

Salt n' Pepa- Push it

Talking Heads- Psycho killer

The Cult- She sells sanctuary*

Five by Five- Fire*

Eric Burdon & The Animals- It's all meat

Screamin' Jay Hawkins- I put a spell on you (60's version)*

Chuck Berry- Johnny B. Goode

Barry White- I'm gonna love you just a little more

I've never been on a horse: I'm Jewish

2011-05-03T19:50:00.010+01:00

So back to that week old kipper stinking day gig after 11 days of firsts, seconds and blasts from the past!

Wizzard fall into the old overrated and therefore underrated trap here at Chez Den. It doesn't help that you can't find a fellow Wizzard fan anywhere in S12! This one has had a re-listen and sounds like someone has mixed some polyfila on it but I'm bringing it to you folks in this tasty vid...no one does Spectoresque circa 1973 better than Roy Wood. Interestingly the flipside (You got the jump on me) is by Rick Price and is billed as Wizzard feat Vile Len and Rhino...it's a goody! Nice pic of Roy doing his best blonde Gene Simmons impression an' all!

Wizzard- Angel fingers

Dropping in on an oft- neglected corner of my collection and it's time for a turn down doo-wop street. I have some stuff by these harmonising dudes but not this hot circle which I discovered when youtube told me that I might like it- fanks youtube! Not to be confused with those indie dudes from the early '90's ?!

The Pastels- Don't knock

And now we zip forward to just 3 years ago and the Beach Boys apers The Explorers Club. I genuinely thought this tune was the Boys when I heard on the end of the credits of 'Bored to Death' the other night. Another pleasant surprise for ol' Dennychops.

The Explorers- Do you love me

And the just ref'd above 'Bored to Death' I urge you to sniff it out. It isn't 'a bit crap' as my brother described it. It's the buttons on the rat's spats!

Bored to Death season 2 trailer

You're gonna have bank roll so big that when you walk down the street your pocket will look like it's got the mumps

2011-04-17T23:09:00.008+01:00

So back in Densville it's almost time for a break from the sweatshop. With plenty on the slate lined up for the Easter and Republican bank holidays Den is in like flint tonight with a smattering of good stuff along with musings from the idea box.

The peepers are being cast over Rex Pickett's 'Sideways' which ain't a good book to be reading when you're trying to cut down on the grape juice. It just makes you wanna drink, drink, drink. Good read thus far but I could have done without Miles telling me what his pubes smelt like...

First out of the box is the just dug up from the vaults track from Len Barry from the same LP that spawned 'My baby must be a magician'. I like the fact that he's singing about the Yankees losing and bemoaning oodles of other stuff. There seems to be one picture of Len in the sixties in existence so here it is again...

Len Barry- Rainy side of the street

I like it when I get beened by a complete left-field act and these dudes are no exception...I was pointed in their direction by a friend of mine and I wasn't disappointed by their dirty garage sound. Kewlos haircuts and geetars to match blow the local pap out of the water. Now if only someone would book 'em for my home town...

Los Peyotes- Bdaaa!!!

And rounding things off we have my current fave cabaret singer Tricity Vogue. Known to strum a mean uke she is due to be co- starring with the fabby Dusty Limits soon. If you join her mailing list you can get a free mp3 of my current ear worm 'Everybody today is turning on'. So check out the blue lady, the Janus Sisters and any solo stuff for the correct balance of intellect, shits, and giggles!

Tricity Vogue- Careless drinker

Happy hunting all you live wires

2011-03-29T22:06:00.013+01:00

Got the blues this week what with the BQ comedown...So we have a repost from Slade; Walken dancing his ass off; and two nice northern sides. What more could you want???

Crazy alt. 'Screaming Lord Sutch' type lyrics on this great Slade track from the LP/ film 'Slade in Flame'. This is a repost from last year's April blog but you get to see Noddy Holder singing in a coffin this time around...

Slade- This girl

The 'Pennies from heaven' hangover continues this week with Walken's turn as the pimp. Happy Birthday Christopher! You got some moves Mr.

Christopher Walken- Let's misbehave

I've been listening to a lot of Northern Soul these last few weeks. I dunno why I always find myself coming back to it but I do! These two are my fave raves at the mo. Bobby 'Blue' Bland is blowing my mind at the mo (check 'I pity the fool' and 'Turn on your love light' for more raves) and Sidney Barnes is cutting a very non- Red Bird release that is rarer than a Tory apology!

Bobby Bland- Ain't nothing you can do

Sidney Barnes- I hurt on the other side

House of lurgo

2011-03-21T20:04:00.008Z

It's been a hell of a week Chez Den what with one thing and another coming at me in the run up to the return on Burly Q next Saturday. It seems a long time since I've picked up a good book and I need to get my teeth into something tasty...any suggestions? Hitting plenty of tunes at the moment and chomping at the bit with two 50s gigs coming up at Rumble & Burly Q.

With a name like that you'd think Skeeter would look like some dude out of 'Deliverance' but I was surprised to find many years ago that she is a she. She's better known for the warbler of the gag- fest that you can frug, jerk and boogaloo down to that is 'The end of the world'. This one is a new one on me...

Skeeter Davis- I can't stay mad at you

A fairly drippy clip of Bobby with a droopy hairy bogey on the top lip...The tune however shakes like your sister and whips it real good...I wan' it.

Bobby Darin- Long line rider

So I finally got round to watching the Yanks take a wrecking ball to my beloved 'Pennies from heaven' (Potter was in on the job an' all...). How wrong can I be?? Best scene from a highly- under-rated methinks...watch them kids go!

Bernadette Peters- Love is good

More good stuff and Kabaret abundance next time in Densville!

Machine gun the bikini girls

2011-03-06T18:30:00.007Z

Time is flying at the mo with more balls in the air for D.I. than a one-armed juggler in a ball pool. Burly Q is shaping up nicely with our new venue and things are getting sorted for future shows this year...On the other side of the coin i've been helping a good friend of mine sort out his new record shop. I did get a bit lost in the D-G heavy rock section when we were sorting out but it was a good day down at Vinyl Demand! Facebook group link to follow peeps!

I've been partaking in this facebook thing where you rack the idea box for tunes that remind you of certain stuff. Some have been easy, others not so. Anyway, this one reminds me of National Express coaches, Springtime and Golders Green...

The Cramps- Bikini girls with machine guns

One that I've heard for the first time today! I picked this up the other day and it's shaping up to be a great LP (fabby cover an' all)! I'm getting a bit of a thing for ol' Peg. It's that smile of hers...she could haul my ashes any time she wants to hop in that time machine!

Peggy Lee- Heart

And finally we come to Sparks who I also end up coming back to even though I'm not that familiar with all their stuff. I got the eagers over this one a while or so back and it's from the yet to be found 'Sparks in outer space' LP which features 'Cool places' with Jane Wiedlin from the Go Go's, who (not that you'd care) bares an uncanny resemblance to someone I used to know who also has a look of Peggy Lee. That, however, is another story!

Sparks- I wish I looked a little better

Cary Grant has got pithe in his hair-piece

2011-02-15T23:03:00.009Z

So nothing stays the same for long they keep telling me. Change is something that cannot be resisted! So in the mood of austerity and doing less for more I'm trying something new this week by changing my blog slightly for the few folks out there in innernets land.

It's been a mixed few weeks with bad news a plenty but I found this track that cheered me up. Yup, it sounds a little like Fats Waller but to hear a guy from 1937 riffing about smoking a five foot long reefer has to be worth a lesson. Is it just me or did those jazz grass hoppers play an upbeat kinda groove that is sadly lacking later in the decade when all the deadheads who smoked too much dope could do was take down nice and slow. Anyway, Bob Howard is your man this time out. It's the penguins sock suspenders!

Whilst looking for good cabaret turns I stumbled across Nellie Mckay as she had recently performed in Lahndan. I'm sure got some gals all steamed up and ready for a scrap. I was hopeful that we could snag her as a possible Burly Q 'til I found out she was Stateside! Darn it. Is she saying what most people think? I dunno but she's kinda cute and I dig her act!

I've also watched two flicks this last week that I dug for varying reasons. First up was Charade with the fantastically touped (it even withstands a shower) Cary Grant and the bony- ass Audrey Hepburn who's voice continues to grate on me. In this scene we have Cary mugging it up 30's style; frugging whilst trying to pass an orange. Groovey man!

Over on the flipside we have 'One crazy summer': a mid- rate Cusack film from the mid- eighties. This one is set in Nantucket (trust me peeps this will remain limerick free!) and has an 'alternative' Demi Moore in a band featuring backing singers dressed as waitresses (that's as good as they get!). The flick is OK but is made all the better with an appearance from that guy out of 'Revenge of the nerds' and the love-him-or-hate-him Bobcat Goldthwaite who in the best scene in the film wrecks a model village dressed as godzilla with a burning cigar in his costume!

Bob Howard- If you're a viper

Nellie McKay

Cary Grant/ Audrey Hepburn Orange dance

Godzilla in One Crazy Summer

The nuts

2011-02-06T23:18:00.011Z

So now were on to the second month of the year and Christmas fades into the distance...I've got the usual display of goodness that hopefully you Den bods tune into each week or so...We have the debut of the Rolling Stones; a warm return for Garfunkel and Oates and their ode to your LB Johnson along with some Vicoriana fan dancing from Vicky Butterfly that is truly the nuts!

So I went a little nuts the other day as I went 30 clicks south with MD. I snaffled solo Bill Wyman (subsequently dispatched at the charity shop bin) and also ' She's the boss' which awaits it's verdict...'Lucky in love' will always have a close place in Den's heart but he fears that the entire LP will be an LP too far to file away with 'Give me regards to broad street' and ' Southpaw grammer'. Anways, I heard this watching the under-rated/ axed 'Happy Town'...

The Rolling Stones- Hand of fate

Another great turn from Garf & Oates...this one did make me larf! I plumped for the subtitled version so you can follow the numerous euphenisms to the Tricky Dick Nixon...

Garfunkel and Oates- I don't understand job

A fantastic (and all-too rare in my humble pov) classy burlesque performance for you this week (that is if you ignore the woops and awooos from the audience...is it just me who is annoyed by these on live clips?). I've been left cold by so much recently that this one really blew me away even more than I expected. Great musicality and choice of backing track is married with amazing use of isis wings and a cage dress; and all this is done on pointe. Vicky Butterfly truly is the parrot's dungarees!

Vicky Butterfly- Victorian butterfly

They deviled my kidneys, stomach and lungs

2011-01-24T20:25:00.014Z

It's been busy times here in Densville. I've been teaching the kids the meaning of the word 'Gak' and learning that 'Blates' is a term that exists in Y2k Sheff; and the bastards crawled out of the woodwork again whilst I indulged myself with double bills of pop films and re-reads. In addition there is a welcome time-machine return to a previously recorded on my VHS Blues Explosion clip from '94, the British Heart recommended Tom Waits track, some burlesk from NYC and a nice little Beatles lullaby for Beej. Enjoy.

A first outing for Julie Atlas Muz at Densville. If there is such a thing as a beautiful women inside an oversized inflatable balloon having poise, class and style this gal has it in spades. Hot dawg! this gal sure can hot foot with the best of them; the fact that she's topless throughout appears to be so matter of fact that it recalls the Crazy Horse/ Moulin Rouge French stuff that I've seen. I love this gal she's clearly in the driving seat. Take it away Julie...

Julie Atlas Muz- Balloon

Fantastic rock 'n' roll without a bass many years before the White Stripes. I remember watching this when it was on back in '94 and saw a theramin for the first time! For the Spencer virgins check out 'Bellbottoms' for more kicks.

Jon Spencer Blues Explosion- Afro!

This one had been lurkin' on the shelf for a few years since Mark snatched this one up for me. Fast- forward to May '10 and British Heart doing his Prime Minister's mouse and we get this! Tom seems to be working the Phil Mitchell dough face look in this one but don't let it put you off! Cheers Crispy!

Tom Waits- God's away on business

Finally another track that takes me back to '94 and endless plays of 'the white album'. Schmaltz central but the best thing Ringo put down with the Beatles. Which filled my double- bill of pop flicks the other night with a welcome viewing of Robert Zemeckis' 'I wanna hold your hand'. It doesn't appear to be available on DVD in the UK but I'm sure you can track it down...Which I would advise for the fans of schadenfreude with Kiss meets the phantom of the park. It's a hoot! The evil 'evil' Kiss are great!!!

The Beatles- Good night

The Monkey's briefcase

2011-01-13T19:00:00.016Z

So the days are spent in darkness in deepest, darkest Sheffield bobbing around to the lousy day gig and back to the crib. I learnt my fave phrase this week from WW2- SNAFU...it's an acronym folks that you should drop into your day to day convo. I'm clearly backing the packages this week on the blog with Etta, Bobbie & Dana along with the man mountain that is Nick Apollo (Forte) and a welcome return for Woody Allen. Keep those cab doors tuned in for more Den time over the coming weeks. It's where it's at...

First up with an unheard version of Get ready is Ella Fitzgerald. This is much better than I thought it would be. Yup she's hitching her waggon to the tunes of the day (albeit 3/4 years late) but she turns in a decent version that's worth getting the magnifying glass out for.

Ella Fitzgerald- Get ready

Another one on the never ending list of wants for D.I. I know nothin' about this gal other than she turns in a decent version of the Simon and Halfuncle track which I blogged a few months back. Again another one of the pop tunes spun at Wigan. Methinks that some of those Northern fans wanna lighten up and smell the roast...Nice snap of Dana with Sandie and Marianne, who is looking a little pregnant on this one...Maybe it's just the posture...

Dana Valery- You don't know where your interest lies

Bobbie Gentry- Morning glory

A welcome return for Bobbie...Back in the day 'Morning glory' meant more than being the title of being Oasis' second LP. There's another half- decent version of this lurking on an LP she did with Glen Campbell which I previously advised to avoid like the plague. I think this clip demonstrates that she can certainly manage well enough on her own without him and I did the right thing sending that one to the chazza. I love the way Bobbie plays guitar is if she can't be arsed...it's the Gibbons suitcase...!

So I had a rare night in on my Jack Jones and headed to the Woody Allen cupboard. A double bill of Whatever Works (not so good on the second view) and Broadway Danny Rose (gets better every time). This one is all about what happens when you eata too much...Take it away Lou!

Lou Canova- Agita!

Where can Jerry Lee be?

2010-12-30T17:47:00.007Z

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...

2010-12-22T21:13:00.013Z

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

2010-12-12T08:33:00.012Z

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?

2010-11-05T18:25:00.012Z

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

2010-10-14T22:46:00.006+01:00

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.

2010-10-06T22:54:00.010+01:00

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

2010-09-22T21:48:00.007+01:00

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

2010-09-13T18:49:00.006+01:00

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

2010-08-28T18:21:00.014+01:00

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

2010-08-19T16:37:00.011+01:00

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

2010-08-13T20:50:00.007+01:00

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!

2010-08-10T18:29:00.010+01:00

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

2010-08-04T18:19:00.006+01:00

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

2010-07-31T18:23:00.007+01:00

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

2010-07-21T19:37:00.009+01:00

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

Dennamite!

2010-07-14T19:13:00.005+01:00

I'm back after what seems like ages with a full on proper post for the Denettes out there. According to the recent Record Collector (you know the mag with a penchant for Clapton and typo's) mp3 blogs have been dropping like flies and there demise was celebrated within the £4 pages of RC (who can't even get the crossword right!). Well, copyright aside I've found many a track on an mp3 blog that I've gone on to buy. Anyway, I ain't gonna let those chumps at RC fry my wig.

So first up is The Troggs and their infamous Troggs tapes. Yes it's full o' effin' and jeffin' my favourite bit is the bit where he calls Ron a 'pranny'. Yup this is a Troggamix but this gives you an idea of the japes, shits and giggles goin' on down in Wiltshire with da Troggs. Do you fink that some cider may have been supped during these sessions...? And to top it off for you zipheads we have the Troggs actually playing. Although there is some stupid chat at the start at least they made it to the end without calling anyone a fuckin' cuntin' bastard pranny!

The Troggs tapes

The Troggs- I can only give you everything

Not really much to say about this but if you can't larf what can you do???

Linda McCartney murders 'Hey Jude'

And so I've watched (and caused much Fbook dbate) the Back to the future trilogy with parts 1 & 2 coming out on top and 3 lagging behind in the Den top ten. And so buttheads I've scoured youtube for various kicks and trust me there is plenty of bloopers but I particularly like this alt. ending with a nice two-fingers up to the dullsville/ tedium of Star Trek. Take it away boys. This is heavy...Eric Stoltz as Marty!?

BTTF alt. ending

More next time peeps- plenty of the Q coming up with my pending trip to Salford at the weekend...!

If you say you are something

2010-07-01T22:45:00.008+01:00

Heading in to the long summer lull of non- Burly Q action and it's time to pick myself and dust myself down to snarf up some new stuff. I hit gold at the flea market with one at the flea market and one on the tube that was talked about in the great Joe Di Maggio book by Richard Ben Cramer. So were on short-time this week but I'll return to the coal face v.v.v. soon

I've really over-egged the Den pudding in the past with lots of Cliff eggs but left his square backing band to one side...that is until now! I like nothing better than snarfing a hot side from the flea market, particularly when you feel like you're getting a bargain that the schmo selling them don't know about. This one is backed by the mysterious sounding Maroc 7 which doesn't get much better than the title. This one is from '67 and reminds me a little of the glam rock beast that is lurking on the horizon 4/5 years later. The Shads do glam? Now that would be worth a listen. Remember tho folks: you can get your fingers burnt on these dudes. If it don't fly on the first listen it's destined for the charity shop/ dumpster.

The Shadows- Bombay duck

What a douche. He's mad on money and he beats Marilyn...but that is not the materiel of a good ol' swingin' '40's tune...

Joltin' Joe Di Maggio

There's them there snakes in the long grass

2010-06-28T17:45:00.008+01:00

Whilst the vultures circle and the mercury rises Den finds himself sat in the garden reading (I should have stayed there instead of watching those red shirted chumps) and over-eating and drinking on the Thompson's birthdays. And so we're on to Burly Q on Saturday and you really ought to be there if you're in town.

A little different from my usual fare but this is my blog so I don't give a fig. My lovely Mrs. bought me this LP for my recent birthday and a combo of the great tune, the lovely Zooey and the great moves in this vid has ensured it's been a head worm all week for Den. The first time I heard it was if I'd heard it so many times before. Great tune!

She & Him- In the sun

Vincent Casell as Mesrine what can I say? Kermode hits the nail right on the head with this film. I ain't watched part two yet but I don't usually buy into the TV booshwash about flicks but Kermode is spot on with this one. Cassell also sports (is it a fake?) rather fetching slug on his top lip as he delivers what Kermode calls the film that 'Public Enemies' should have been. Looks like Ludivine Sagnier is in part two...glory be!

Kermode on Cassell

Is it wrong to have a crush on a comic book character? Nah! Well Mina kept me company all weekend so I have to let her into my corner of the net. I still daren't watch the film version though so it's on to my Joe DiMaggio biog before 'The black dossier' arrives...This is perhaps my fave of all Alan Moore's super-uper-duper comic books. Now if I could get my hands on a copy of 'Lost girls'....

Alan Moore on "The league of extraordinary gentlemen"

I got another heartbreaker on my hands

2010-06-20T11:57:00.006+01:00

It's been heating up in Denville and a pit-stop at El Jackster's was greatly appreciated along with the Haggis flavoured crisps, which, on reflection I probably could have lived without. I've got a couple of goodies for you this week with deep digging in the vaults alongside some brand new stuff as new to me as I think it will be to you.

I was talkin' this one up at the aforementioned party with a fellow fan of Gene's. I've had this for a good few years from my side-dealer who used to use the Banda printer (no-one knows what these are other than me and Mark) and Gene sports a nice sweater on the cover. Gene's best side...possibly? He could look a little bit more excited about things tho!

Gene Pitney- She's a heartbreaker

I know absolutely zip about these guys other than they appear to be providing some music to a flick from the 60's. Great tune with a pretty stupid title if you ask me.

Los Beatniks- Tampic twist

It's been a while since I dipped my toes in the 'eat-it's-self-alive' world of Northern soul. I've had this one a good for you years without giving it much attention. Nice to have a good female duo from the sixties. I can't think of any others. Probably a good job this one wasn't on Motown other wise Berry may have been requesting a duo of a different kind from these gals!

Dottie and Millie- Talkin' about my baby

This is another memory of my teenage years. Along with 'Midnight Cowboy' and 'Here we go round the mullberry bush' these are films that make me think of '94/ '95 and watching them with Den Snr. So I was chewing the booshwash with Paul the other night about this one and so I went on to watch it. I'd forgot just how ahead of it's time/ sad this flick truly is. That said- I wanna go! Roman world please!! Here we have a 'making of' for ya which ain't on my vanilla US DVD. I'm told that this is the first flick to use 'pixalisation'...there is a literal pixalated mare in this flick (term of enderement used by Grandpa Iniquity!)

Westworld making of

Got no strings

2010-06-06T11:02:00.006+01:00

Ooo it's been a good few days since I last swung by this part of the world. What have I been doin? Well, first trip to Scunthorpe was done the other week along with triathalon viewings and free feeds. What more could you want...oh, yeah a cider lolly in a paper wrapper! £1!!!

Yup, I know I keep turning to the ever- creepy Cliff. But I couldn't let this one fly past thanks to my hombre, Michael. I just don't understand why he's Cliff Richard Jnr! Anyway, If you ever wanted to see what Cliff looked like as a Thunderbird: look no further!

Cliff Richard- Shooting star

Only a short one this week but I will be back with MORE! next time, Denettes

Birth of the Octopi!

2010-06-04T18:16:00.007+01:00

More journeys into the unknown this week from chez Den (Scunthorpe this time...) coupled with a visit to the Lowry to see the ever-good Frisky & Mannish (previously blogged 'ere). I've convinced my squeeze to watch another French flick that had been lurking on the hard drive for months which was the bees knees (those Frenchies seem to be able to churn out the flicks with much more class than the mockney gangster cack that keeps tricklin' down the leg of British cinema...don't even get me started on Danny D**r. Anyway, a couple more rag- bag tunes that have popped into the idea box this week along with the loverly Amelie Soleil...future star of Burly Q on July 3 (tickets available here)

More bonkers fun from the greatly under-rated 80's beacon-shiners XTC in their never bettered 60's alter-ego the Dukes of Stratosphear...I dig the bonkers WW1 vibe!

The Dukes of Stratosphear- You're a good man Albert Brown

It never ceases to surprise me how you can find good stuff lurking out there. This would have seriously fried my wig as a teeny-bopper with so much stuff available (I can barely keep up now...I really need to jack in the stinking day-gig). This is a Swedish (Methinks) pop singer's take on the great track by Carole King. The orig has been doin' the rounds in my world since '98 but this version may just top it...judge for yo'selves peeps.

Alice Babs- Been to Canaan

Carole King- Been to Canaan

Great flick that whizzed by and didnt outstay it's welcome. Perfectly demonstrating just how messed up those teenage gal's can be...

Water lillies trailer

Possibly one of the best promo shots I've seen in a long time of the loverley Amelie Soleil who is due to land at Burly Q in July. Fantastic burlesque that uses a prop that no-one else is ever gonna try and copy...can't wait to see this act for real!

Amelie Soleil show reel

Burning with a low blue flame

2010-05-28T22:57:00.008+01:00

In Den land things took an unexpected detour down a dead end last week but with the schnoz firmly to the grindstone now he's back churning out his weekly editions of guff-like prattle and noise. So tune in those cab doors pop-pickers and open those windows on the eyeball pleasers...

First out of the traps is everyone's favourite crooner to be blown up by the Nazi's- Al Bowlly. He's been one of my £1 bargain LP snags of late and there's been a few docu's about him on Radio 2. They tell me this guy was the first vocalist to operate a hand mic...he's got a lot to answer for then...seriously under-rated everywhere but in S12 Al deserves your TLC.

Al Bowlly- Guilty

And on to the smokin' palamino that is Jane Russell singing I song I first heard on the isle of Maui last August, not only heard folks but actually learnt to play on the uke! So imagine my surprise when I found this version...Burly Q fans should look out for our July show for a little Hawaiian interlude!

Jane Russell- Lovely hula hands

What can I say about this flick? It would appear in Den's dictionary under 'Eyeball pleaser' for it's sheer beauty and stylized greatness along with the bizarre sight of Gene Kelly speaking French. However, it's a load of fluff that goes nowhere. The best bit comes 1o mins when Catherine Deneuve sings this ditty with her sis "Les Chanson des jumelles"...take it away gals...

Les demoiselles de Rochfort

Fall in and dig the happenings

2010-05-20T18:16:00.008+01:00

Another Burly Q is firmily under the belt and with just 6 weeks 'til the next un I gotta start movin'. The ol' idea box has been boxed in by a number of bad cats this week. And in this case bad isn't as good as you could possibly get. Take it away, Den.

So first up this time is the mildly amusing Ruth Wallis who I snarfed up an album called (and I kid yea not) "French postcards set to music". Outrageous I guess at the time this (and the actual vinyl, which sounds more like an LP pressed on wet cardboard) hasn't aged particularly well. I'd like the think the working title for this ditty to the hay parlor was "Beard".

Ruth Wallis- Queer things

I've just finished flicking the paper on Nick Tosches 'Dino'. I asked my sidekick Cherry the other night what she thought a Dean Martin roast was and her reply involved Frank Sinatra and some dumb dolly from the Sands hotel circa 1962. Anyhow, in my head I had visions of Dean and all his show biz pals all scoffing nosh around a big table. We were both wrong it's this bizarro concept...I'm told by Tosches that there was some clever editing going on in some of these as they couldn't get 'em all together at the same time. Avoid the Sammy Davis episode for the usual black and jew gags. This one, however, rips apart America's oldest and most intelligent Prez...Fudge me this Rickles character looks more like the Thing than that bloke who works with my trouble and strife!

Don Rickles on Dean Martin's Roast...roasting Ronald Reagan

I'm a bit hit and miss when it comes to plugging what I dig in the world of burlesk. But with the Burly Q hangover biting my better half pointed me in the direction of the NY- based Nasty Canasta and her fanstastical ginchy fan-dance. I dig it. You should too!

Nasty Canasta- Fan dance

Playing bedwarmer

2010-05-07T17:25:00.011+01:00

There's been a lot spilling from the ol' pie chopper recently and maybe one or two too many of the pies an' all. So I've got some more platters for ya from the good ol' tube with a bit of Elvis 70's style- glam, crap novelty records, a welcome return for Dino (just reading the Tosches biog) and the puppet master that is Leggy Pee (great moniker, gal!)

First outta the traps is perhaps the ugliest bunch of mugs this side of Uggville. The guy with the girls hair and earrings kills me. I have this fantasy Elvis Lp where he records some stuff from the seventies...this is one 'em. These munters are coming up on the rails in Chez Den...

Mud- Rocket

I make no apologies for this stinker of a tune. I recently DJ'd at a dance- craze themed night which featured novelty sides a go-go but thankfully not this one. It's worth watching to see Ted's huge arms flapping in the breeze. This guy's got mits like a wicket-keepers gloves! I wonder what 'Wesley' is like...then again, mebbe not.

Ted Cassidy- The lurch

The mid-60's Dino is unfairly dissed by Tosches and even the early 80's had it's ups in Den's book...(I admit it- I love Cannonball Run...! it ain't no sin to take your skin off and dance around in your bones...!). Anyway, Den's sibling has this side tucked away in the attic and I tried to find the ever elusive 'Shades' but no dice so hear Dean do Motown people...

Dean Martin- The tracks of my tears

A great stage name and Leggy pulling off the difficult trick of making something hard look easy. I'm never sure if the folks get it tho as they fall into the trap of thinking that she's just trotting out some bilge. Judge for yourselves but I like it!

Miss Leggy Pee

The beginning of the end?

2010-04-30T17:50:00.008+01:00

So is this the last night of a non- Tory Government? Please not let it be so...I have in the traps a few weird things this week that don't really follow any particular theme. First up is a clip (he cannot be serious! if he is I'll go out on a limb and call him a dumb-ass yank racist!) of Henry Rollins ripping apart Mozza (maybe he had jumped down the worm hole after hearing 'Lighten up Morrissey?), then we've got some of the elusive Sparks/ David Lynch, hillbilly family combo The Toy Hearts who I discovered at my fave dining car in South Derbyshire and finally recent fave Sammy Davis Jr (I snagged 3 LPs from one of my dealers) doin' the best version of 'Hi heel sneekers' I has ever 'erd. Remember folks the 21st century marvel that is Zamzar!

Henry Rollins on Morrissey and Britain

I've been trying to track down some Sparks LP's for a long while and they're rare as hen's teeth. This vid for a track from 'Angst in my pants' features the moustachio one stripping and is directed by David Lynch. What else could Den want? (Maybe a little less of the 80's stadium sound!)

Sparks- I predict

The Toy Hearts- Stronger

Sammy Davis Jr- Hi heel sneekers

Burnt face, Haloumi, Damp and no Sparks LP's...

2010-04-24T19:40:00.005+01:00

So on to Nottingham for a long overdue visit for myself and Mark. I'm pleased to report that reem swag was hawled and reeb was consumed (all within the daily allowances!). I'm gonna focus on the US version of 'Pennies from heaven' for you which is housed in a tasty sleeve with pics a plenty and many classy 30's tracks. I can't think of another soundtrack that I have two versions of...haven't seen the flick with Steve Martin tho. Helen Kane sued the producers of 'Betty Boop' for nabbing her act we in turn highlighted that Helen had nicked Clara Bow's...she sure is a hot tomato! And on to Irving- a song I can't hear without thinking of those cute rabbits at the start of 'Everything you wanted to know about sex or were afraid to ask...' I've stuck an extra track on here for you Aaronson nuts...

Helen Kane- I want to be bad

Irving Aaronson and his commanders- Lets misbehave

Irving Aaronson and his commanders- Crazy words, crazy tune

Pennies from heaven clip

What do you keep in a noddy holder?

2010-04-05T20:05:00.006+01:00

So I'm back; avoiding that dust cloud by the skin of my gnashers. Plenty O' time to cast the old peepers over many a page so I'm gonna fess up and tell you that the best reads were 'The electric Michaelangelo' and 'Lady Chatterley's lover' by D. H. Lawrence, which appears to be set in my manor. Anyhow, I was reading about Third Man records which sounds like a blast and I came across the great lookin' Black Belles. Anyway, check out 'What can I do' (their debut) but I've included the flip (a cover of 'Lies' by The Knickerbockers featuring a nice surprise halfway through!). I've also got you a classic Northern side that my bro span on Sat down at Chick Habit...I hadn't heard this one for a good ten stretch...And finally a track from Slade from the LP 'Slade in Flame' that I managed to net for a mere £1 from the great Rare & Racy in Sheffield. It's about time I watched that film again...

The Black Belles- Lies

The Sapphires- The slow fizz

Slade- This girl

Fings need to get betta!

2010-03-26T18:24:00.011Z

So it's the time when a Burly Q hangover kicks in for a few days before I start to prep the next un. Time to perk and ditch the laziness D.I! Anyway it's an all British comedy hero special this week with a smatterin' of questionable sides that suggest that these folks certainly had a sense of humour when it came to their musical taste!

I genuinely got off to the Max Bygraves one this week which has been given some proper hammer since Den's bro stuck this one on a comp for him. Bernard Cribbins is a mildly amusing one; Kenneth Williams is a gag fast and the Bresslaw & Rossiter sides are to be listened to the once before you pop a knitting needle in your lug oles..! Who ever thought them two were good ideas to put out really do need their bumps feelin'! Not arf...

Max Bygraves- Fings ain't what they used to be

Bernard Cribbins- Gossip calypso

Kenneth Williams- Hand up your sticks

Leonard Rossiter- Miss Jones

Bernard Bresslaw- Charlie Brown

A young court wangler

2010-03-18T21:43:00.009Z

And so off we set to Huddersfield on a cold, wet miserable Yorkshire morning. The faces of our fellow commuters glared at us as we jaw-jawed booshwash about the impending delights to be snaffled up in Harold Wilson's home town. Well it was a literal wash-out with diversions through South Yorks aplenty...I'll try and scramble together some barrel scrapes for next time...

And so on to the tunes...A couple of fairly deranged platters for your lug holes. First up is a slab from the 'King rockabilly' CD about that good for nothin' layabout Annie. Altogether now 'don't work, don't work, don't work', which is a mantra I can certainly subscribe to. Much searching of the net failed to bring up any pics of Mr. Wade....On the other side of the coin we've got PJ with one from 2000. I'd forgot how great this was (and this was before I saw the video!). I bet she didn't get those duds off the peg! And finally another smattering from some scruffy Hippy types called the Blues Magoos who I blogged recently...this is the flip of the equally great '(We ain't got) Nothin' yet'.

Ronnie Wade- Annie don't work

P.J. Harvey- This is love

Blues Magoos- Gotta get away

Den's been digging 'Round the Horne' this week with the fantabulosa Kenneth Williams. There's a whole gammut of clips out there on the tube but it's good to see him sit in for that old fart Wogan on his show back in the '80's. He don't half ramble on and on and on...and that frock of Babs' O.M.G...and the barnet!! There's also a load of ol' hogwash on the Parky show...

Kenneth Williams interviews Barbara Windsor

Kenneth Williams on Parky

Kenneth Williams as Sid Rumpo

I'll have a pint of white lightning, you can keep your frosty jack

2010-03-17T19:37:00.008Z

So Den and sits and waits patiently for the train that may never come he has to find things to fill in those 24/7. So he's mainly been eating chocolate and watching lotsa films on the one eyed lodger. So this week there's the usual smatterings of goodness from good ol' Uncle D. Plenty to keep you outta trouble and away from the reeb...

You can't beat good ol' Piano Red. Somebody once told me he was an albino black man. I dunno what ethnic grouping he would sit on but this guy surely should be better known than this! He certainly pounds them ten long fingers like a mad-man. I scoured youtube for my fave '1-2-3' but to no avail so you'll have to make do with this version of Carl Perkins' classic slab.

Piano Red- Right string, wrong yo-yo

And for the first time some lily-livered Merseybeat which in the house of Den has aged about as well as a Stilton off the rotten shelf that rolled under the bed on a hot summer's day...that said yup- most of it was cack (and the yanks flipped their wigs for it?). This one is the Macca lookylikey (even down to the Hofner bass) on this Mary Wells cover. Ain't ever heard this one before peeps- fairly competent cover that turns a Motown classic sound as if it's just crawled outta the Mersey tunnel after getting robbed by some scallys.

Tony Jackson- You beat me to the punch

So on to some stereotypes. Hillbillies drinkin' hooch made out in the barn. This is written by the Big Bopper- which blew my mind (has he ever recorded it??). These guys look like they should be workin' at Butlins in those stoopid red coats but we'll let em off for being able to go deep on the 'white lightning' line!

George Jones- White lightning

So I watched this Bergman flick yesterday: Sawdust & Tinsel. There was me declaring it wasn't his usual bleak stuff, that was until a screaming, fat, ringmaster shoots the circus bear! That said Harriet Andersson is in it and led me to think if you could build a time machine that could travel through time and space that would just be the berries! So here you have a clip (not sure what from?) of her backed by some nice Dixieland jazz.

Harriet Andersson- Smokin'

And so to the end...last time I was bangin' my drum about Joe Black and so on to more 'boylesque' (those gals really need to raise their game to enter Den's world any time soon!). I've been trying to describe this half man/ mouse to my sidekick at the day gig but have been struggling all week so we just had to book him for Burly Q. Top- notch stuff that makes the generic tits and tassles tedium look like increasingly so late- noughties!

British Heart Boylesque

Honey drizzled bagels, Disappointing red wine and a minefield of options...oh yeah and some black face

2010-03-07T18:25:00.009Z

So Densville is Fat City this week- with a bunch o' fem- vox to keep you company. Sandy Posey & The Crystals apparently being two of Mozza's fave slabs to get down (read: depressed) to. I recently managed to snarf up The Crystals side (the flip of the Gene Pitney penned 'Uptown') from one of my side shifters in the US. Tawney Reed is someone I know zip about, but features on a cheapo costly disc over on the amazon whose title escapes me at the mo- she's from blighty tho...Remember folks our good friends at Zamzar can ream, steam and dry- clean ya: so make the most of the youtube.

Sandy Posey- I take it back

Tawney Reed- I got a feeling

The Crystals- What a nice way to turn seventeen

And so to the end and some burly for the first time in a looong time. Maybe I'm getting complacent or lazy, I dunno; but having seen so many pairs of tassled tits and half-baked 'doyennes' murdering obvious show tunes the future has to be something that makes you think (and it will never be a load of catdogs stripping to Harlem Nocturne). Anyway, soap box is now in't skip so we have a guy; In black face; Singing; A song from Oliver; I ain't a fan of Max Raabe (bad memories, Denettes!) but the whole act is an act of genius. Like or loathe, this ain't no Al Jolson hark-back. Dig it folks! On another note, you've gotta love that shot of Joe- it's like DIY time at Chez den!

Joe Black- Oops I did it again

Ketchup

2010-03-05T12:26:00.007Z

So it was time for a long weekend and catching up with a plethora of dudes not seen for many a day. Whilst in the midst of the dead soldiers and blur of the night before I pored over my first article in print and flitted back to '95 with a couple of tunes that I first dug out back then...that and a hoot fest from Bernard Manning...how often can you say that?! No burlesque again this week but I ain't got owt that knocked me out so I wasn't gonna retread the same old hooey like some folks do...

So Kippington Lodge became Brinsley Schwarz and then Nick Lowe became that slightly tedious occasional side-kick to Elvis Costello. Twee as they come but never the less how British can you get...On another note I had a dream the other night that Elvis C did a duet with Susan Boyle. At least I think it was a dream!

Kippington Lodge- Shy boy

Never used to really appreciate this side for many a year, giving the v. sim 'Love loves to love love' much more TLC. I recently picked this one outta the gutter at Chez flea and myself and occasional sidekick, Cherryred, have been known to dust it down of late. Great clip!

Lulu- The boat that I row

I can't bear to paste a picture of this over-weight dead guy so I'll let the clip do the talkin'. I'm mumchanced by where this came from but I'm guessing some comedy show from the '90's. Shits and giggles time folks! You can tell he ain't ever heard the origs' as well!

Bernard Manning sings the Smiths

Posh curry, Guinness & irons in the fire

2010-02-27T11:54:00.012Z

Plenty mo good stuff for you guys and gals this week with the all featured debuting on this corner of the web! TTFN

Just discovered this one lurking out there and it reminded me of 'Tobacco Road'...dontcha think? Great tune...check out the square at the back: I bet he was the one with all the good equipment so they let him in the band...

Blues Magoos- We ain't got nothin' yet

If only there were more pro- tobacco songs out there...I'm sure you could put together a great compilation album. I know of 'Smoke, smoke, smoke' by that C & W guy but not much else. In my twisted geek mind there's a big band Al Bowlly track called 'Sniff that snuff' along with a whole cart load of British fag related tunes. Surely you've heard Vera Lynn sing 'Suck on that little white stick' ? Until I find that one down Ducketts Passage; chew on some baccy!

Lucky Millinder- Chew Tobacco Rag

I surprised myself when my twitchy eye nearly dropped in my cup of Joe with this one. I was listening to a version of this by The Pale Saints (remember them?) and then saw that Nancy did the orig. Anyhow, she hasn't been blogged before: which is a crying shame. Gotta track this one down now!! BTW I don't have a fig what is goin' in the pic I found?!

Nancy Sinatra- Kinky love

I grew up in the age that thought Steve Martin was just an unfunny white haired buffoon who appeared in bilge-like flicks such as 'Father of the bride'. I only found it he used to be a stand- up late in the day. And whilst this gets nowhere near to bustin' yo sides it's still worth a view to see him friggin' about...And for a nice little bonus we have the guy who resembled my old college lecturer (that seemed hilarious back in '95) jammin' with Kermit!

Steve Martin- King tut

Steve Martin on the Muppet show

Fantastic Bagels, twisted cabaret & Earl Grey

2010-02-20T16:38:00.012Z

So Den is back from the big smoke...no tunes snarfed this time as I was outta my usual Manor and holed up in the charming borough of Bethnal Green. I downed a tasty pint in The Sun on Bethnal Green Rd before heading to the Bethnal Green WMC for the Double R club- which was a-ma-zing! On the way down I was listening to plenty of pre- Supremes Motown (1960-1962)...which is shaping up as my favourite period. As for the rest of the jaunt there was some tasty, tasty bagels from the 24/7 Brick Lane Bagel Bake and a nice steaming cup o' Earl Grey in Rough Trade East. Enough of my domestics...

I once read that this was almost the closing record of the 3 before 8 at Wigan (instead of Jimmy Radcliffe) but it didnt make the cut. One things for certain...Brenda certainly wears the wicked eye- liner much better than Jimmy ever could...

Brenda Holloway- When I'm gone

I couldn't leave out my fave The Marvelettes if I'm talking Motown. Pretty much all their sides are worth a look, although their only UK hit 'When you're young and in love' is possibly their worst single (and that includes the oft- derided 'Twistin' Postman')

The Marvelettes- You're the one

And finally a tasty slab of girl group (well 3/4s anyway) from Red Bird. What more can I say...It was hard finding a snap of this lot!

The Jellybeans- I wanna love him so bad

And so on to the fantastic Marawa who I've seen a couple of times now. This gal is smokin' and is the best hooper out there! Her facial expressions give me the shits and giggles. I first saw her in the Vincent Vincent and the Villains vid (remember them?) "On my own"

Marawa hula hooping

There's gotta be something better than this

2010-02-06T18:35:00.002Z

Den has been trying to snarf those sides from charity shops across two counties in the last few weeks along with booking in acts for the upcoming Burly Q's. All the time trying to break out of the stinkiest, stinking day gig north of Watford.

So here is a rag bag of sides that I've picked up of late...Kay Starr & The Diamonds on nice 78's that are bombing round my refurbed Philips 60's deck. As for Tommy Steele this guy recently claimed to have partied with Elvis in London! WTF...don't believe a word this creepy pint-size cockney freakazoid.

Tommy Steele- Hair down hoe down

Kay Starr- Wheel of fortune

The Diamonds- Little darlin'

They tell me that to be surrounded by bastards is a good thing

2010-01-26T21:13:00.010Z

So a bastard, son-of-a bitch from hell week from Den; the likes of which he don't wish to see until he enters the other side...So; Motown, Jessica Harper & Mr. B for yuz.

So I dug this great rare Motown CD and have since been trying to source this one (£100 would appear to be the starting price....so back to the dull cd. This gal was the first white artist on Motown (despite what Kiki Dee) may tell you! The answer record to 'Shop around' is worth a lesson too...As is this jibberish early sixties tune from the swell-named Harvey Fuqua! And to round off an all early Motown special is the Darnells sounding like they've kidnapped Phil Spector at gun point and drove him to Detroit. Well, I guess they did it before he did!

Debbie Dean- Everybody's talking about my baby

Debbie Dean- Don't let him shop around

Harvey- Any way you wanta

The Darnells- Too hurt to cry

So I was recommended this flick by Dan Sette which wasn't bad and featured the unknown what she looks like now-but-would-certainly-build-a-time-machine-to-get-her-back-in-the-early-eighties Jessica Harper...check her as a standard neurotic in Woody's great 8 and a half rip-off 'Stardust memories' as well...though she looks more the berries in this one....But here's a comp by some stalker-type from the tube

Jessica Harper show reel

A welcome journey back into the world of burly/ cabaret with Mr B. The gentlemen rapper. This guy is a frickin hoot that razzes my berries like there ain't no tomorrow. Check him out (prior knowledge of NWA- Straight out of Compton may be required). You gotta doff your cap to any guy who name checks Lapsang Souchong and pokes fun at the up it's own ass game that is cricket!

Mr B. Straight out of Surrey

You got a way of moving awound...

2010-01-23T09:33:00.008Z

Just hot tracks (and naff but good ones) this week as Den plunges the depths further than even he thought possible. We've got a guy who can't pronounce his "R's", a square and a skeleton in the closet from Bowie.

I've been scratching the idea box since I realised i've never blogged Boyd & his Rockets...possibly the squarest looking rocker this side of the guy who belts out 'Sea cruise'.

Boyd Bennett & his Rockets- Tight tights

Adam Faith- I vibrate

Who said '60's Bowie was a pile of twee, twaddly, hogwash. Not Den! Only listen if you're a fan of 'The laughing gnome', 'The gospel according to Tony Day' and songs of their ilk. It's been a few years since I heard this one on Mark's Bowie barrel scraping tape series! Dunno if this ever saw the light of day back in '68 but here it is...

David Bowie- London bye ta-ta

Side shuffling

2010-01-12T21:24:00.012Z

So it's Mid- January and I've been neglecting my corner of the web for the last few weeks. So lined up against the wall we have a smattering of youtube clips and some booshwash about Mad Men (Season 3 starts on the beeb on 21/1/10). Oh yeah, and a bunch of cheesy crappy pictures of our musical stars to add to their smokin' tracks!

The search goes on for cheesy images of the Peter Pan of pop...In the meantime the real work...the search for hot slabs keeps chuggin along....snort it up folks!

Cliff Richard & The Shadows- Ain't no turning back

The shot at the beginning of this video flips ol' Den's toupe...it's like '78 porn! That lovely burgendy Peacock label enticing me in...oh, to build a time machine...I tell you, it's hard to find cheesy pictures of a 50's R n B singer looking cheesy...

Big Mama Thornton- They call me big Mama

And so to a complete piss- wet knickers, scream fest from the blonde scouser William Wycherley. I think this may have been his first release. He's one stone cold bastard this dude...that is until the vid cuts short at the end! This is the worse picture I can find of Billy on the whole net...lookin' a bit like Rod Stewart...

Billy Fury- Don't knock upon my door

Absolute hogwash from the future coochie-coochie coo man who stole Dave Berry's act for the glam rock age. Anyway, his 5ft 2" girlfriend is missing...it's as rockin' as it gets in 1961 in Mansfield...top rate! This snap is from an ill-advised stint in Shitty-shitty bang-bang.

Shane Fenton & The Fentones- Five foot two, eyes of blue

And so to season 2 of Mad Men. I've previously raved about this copacetic TV show but this section has seen me tune my peepers seriously into the duds that Don wears on a daily basis! That cat is gone man! Anyhow, that aside- Joan! That girl has got a figure that not only doesnt give up but slaps you with a restraining order and then pees in your petrol tank for good measure. She's one smokin' sock dollager...and on this clip she's sat next to that cat- hound Russell Brand...

Christina Hendricks on the Jimmy Kimmel show

End of the decade

2009-12-23T19:16:00.012Z

So Den has a great pre- Christmas jaunt down to the smoke...incorporating a visit to La Clique, Intoxica, the national gallery and to Frisky & Mannish's Christmas show at the Lyric on Shaftsbury Avenue. He'd been sniffy about this pair after seeing the below- par 'Wheels on the bus' go round number but was served up a nice big hunk of humble pie. This was one hell of show with too many highlights to poke a sticky stick at...so here is just one of 'em...

Frisky & Mannish- Beep!

So more rare tunes...I first heard this a few years back on Morrissey's 'Under the influence' CD. Not seen or located out in the field since...check out this great pop/ northern number on the tube...nice pre- bleach job snap to lap up for ya as well!

Diana Dors- So little time

So here's another clip from the future rat-packer Sammy Davis Jnr. He's a proper mini- me in this one coming over a little freakish in one of Den's 2009 faves 'You rascal you'.

Sammy Davis Jnr- You rascal you

So that's it for 2009- look out for more in the new year and get your tickets for Burly Q on January 30th at www.burlyq.co.uk. Happy New Year!

Nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands

2009-12-16T19:16:00.009Z

So this week in Densville we got a debut for Woody Allen alongside the usual smattering of vinyl and a focus on another Scotch burlesque starlet!

Here's a new one that I recently discovered on what appears to be an all-Stax Christmas LP. Gee wizz it's Christmas don't really inspire you to think that this gal is gonna put any effort into this one...time to eat some festive humble pie!

Carla Thomas- Gee wizz it's Christmas

Another one for the dream list is this Decca/ Deram classic from the late 60's from Shape & Sizes (Who are they I hear you ask)...ain't got the foggiest! I just know I want it, need it!!!

Shape & Sizes- Rain on my face

This has always been one of Den's fave Woody Allen flicks (he can't believe he ain't blogged the dude before). In this scene Michael Caine attempts to bump into his messed-up sister-in-law so he can ball her instead of the equally-crazy wife back at the upper west side apartment...

Elliot chases Lee in Hannah & her sisters

So were onto the last of our Scotch Burly Q performers for Jan...Cat Aclysmic....You can't beat a combo of Johnny Kidd & itching powder folks! And boy! this girl has some serious ink. I do wanna shoot the dumb-ass shouting 'sexy' at the start...when has that ever been 'sexy'...

Itchin' powder routine Cat Aclysmic

Everything happens on time

2009-12-06T15:54:00.014Z

DJ'ing frenzy at Casa Den-Aud this last week with Spin City in the bag Plan B & Burly Q are in the pending tray. I've got a few Xmas discoveries for you alongside the usual rag bag of reem swag hawled in by Den from dusty boxes in the last week...

Let's get things straight at the start: I love Joe Tex. You should hear 'Chicken crazy' which despite losing it's way at the end is soon to be blogged. There are oodles of others that I could dangle in front of your nose. Anyway, this guy wouldn't look out of place in a Carry on film with his approach to the fairer sex. He certainly ain't someone you'd want to spend Christmas with (Oh, the irony! Joe become a muslim in the late '70's!)...you can imagine him buying you a new set of pans and a hoover for Christmas to keep his crib clean for when the boys (Say, Leroy!) come over and vom on the carpet...

Joe Tex- I'll make every day Christmas for my woman

More lowest common denominator here with some border-line filth from 1951. I still don't know how to 'hucklebuck'...

Fluffy Hunter- Walk right in

And finally a might roar from those Geordies- The Animals. Den had his ears tuned to 'Chemistry' by those frightfully decked-out Girls Aloud gals...yup, it's a sample from this! It's on the flip of 'Don't let me be misunderstood'..

The Animals- Club a go-go

So Den gets a night in the house with eight french women. Yup, he'd seen it before (back in 2002!) when a number of knuckle-draggers down at the local megaplex shuffled out when a) they realised this film was in French! and b) the rest of them pissed orf when the singing started....A nice little Xmas film to get you in the festive mood.

8 Women trailer

This gal is soon to be seen at Burly Q and this one gives me the shiverin' fits...You're always welcome at Den's house if you can nipple tassle upside down! Anyone know what the song is by the way...?

Daiquiri Dusk- Twisted Gypsy

You rascal, you

2009-11-22T19:23:00.016Z

So it's all female this week in Densville. Den's been chillin' at home with a one venture out to eat an eponymous trout the other night. Any way I've come over all British this week with everything hailing from these fair shores with 60s gals, 30s haus frau's and Scottish Burly Q from Vendetta Vain. Snaffle it up folks...

A snag from a charity shop...the hen's teeth unfortunatly look like they've had cement mixed on them! Plenty of gusto though from these perenial backing singers who were themselves ex-members of Den's fav The Vernons Girls...

The Breakaways- That boy of mine

A British 'Leader of the pack' or a pile of pop hogwash? Never seen this live clip before...

Twinkle- Terry

Den has spent the last few weeks watching 'Pennies from heaven' and is just about to watch the last episode. He knows how it all turns out though having read the book some time back but you can always rely on Potter for some schmokin' dance routines and top music. Head over to the bay to snag the cheap as frites soundtrack LP which includes the light years ahead of it's time 'Nasty man' by Ray Noble and his orchestra with Dorothy Carless. There's also this one which is missing from my LP with possibly the best title ever- 'You rascal, you'. In there is Arthur's stuck-up, pain-in-the-ass but oh so cute Mrs!

Pennies from heaven- You rascal, you

So, final straight time and a bit of Johnny Cash for you peeps. I'm sure this is how long-gone Johnny would like to be remembered! Here's the great Vendetta Vain popping her bum grapes to Cash's hit. I love the look on her face when she notices the Sigmund Freuds under her dress. Plug time...check her at Burly Q on January 30th! That head shot alone should be enough for you to book a plane, train or sharrabang down/up to Sheffield...

Balloon popping bum grapes

I wanna be your party girl

2009-11-19T21:25:00.014Z

So Den is back again from over the Pennines but this time joined by a new side-kick with a C3PO sat nav (did you know there was such a thing???). So to King Bee & Beatin' Rhythm and a ream flash pull in time for this Friday's Chick Habit. Den's been to the flicks a lot of late and has been booking up plenty o' acts for Burly Q next year so keep 'em peeled guys an' gals...In the meantime take it easy on the reeb and kick back with some nice female-vox slabs...

So, first up is the women with the best name in showbiz! Audacity Chutzpah telling the tale of 20th Century Women's lib! This is one top nemmo...

Audacity Chutzpah- 20th century womens lib routine!

First time out at Denville for the pariah that is the goofy, ginger, Tory from Liverpool with a track straight from weirdsville written by the previously blogged Earl Okin. This one is lurking on the time for Cilla EP- hen's teeth time fellas!

Cilla Black- Abyssinian secret

Girl group sides have been a little neglected of late here in Densville but are back with a vengance with this side from the Rev-Lons. I'm lost for words....

The Rev-Lons- After last night

So Den went to see this flick that the Mrs had picked out. There was the oft- touted so-called 'hottie' (who couldn't act her way out of a wet paper bag) Megan Fox and the soppy-ass Amanda Seyfreid from 'Mamma Mia'. Anyway, 90 minutes later Den eats his words and comes out of the local multi- plex with a mini- crush on the geeked-up Amanda...check it out folks...she's salty!

Jennifer's Body trailer

Get down and get with it

2009-11-04T19:42:00.016Z

Den is always one week behind I guess so here's a mop up from Manchesterford, particularly the great 'King Bee Records' in Chorlton. We've also got for you schmos & nemmos a doc all about the 'true' story about that recent flick 'The men who stare at goats'

Den's ream swag of the week is this little 7" baby that has been on the radar since '96. One of Little Richard's Okeh sides from the late 60's Slade did a competent job with this one...methinks Noddy is about the only person brave enough to take on that howlin' intro. This is one big boss belter peeps.

Little Richard- Get down with it

A car journey over the Pennines that other week hawled in various sides but this one is found on the Carl Perkins LP 'Dance album of Carl Perkins'...be there or be square babies!

Carl Perkins- Wrong yo-yo

Den saw this one with mother who was slightly more confused than I was. That Reagan guy really was a crazy SOB.

The men who stare at goats documentary!

This guy has flipped the wig of Den with his crazy, crazy Darth Vader routine. All together now from the back 'you lot should be listening to opera'!! Check out the streak & cowboy routines for more shits and giggles.

Impressive Johnson- Darth Vader routine

Let's go Phillies!

2009-10-28T19:41:00.019Z

So Den gets a few days off every now and then from his lousy day gig and spends it listening to some heavy stuff and checking out flicks with his wifehenie and scaring teenagers with his Kiss face paint all the while watching the Phillies in the world series and waiting for ream swag to hit the mat whilst our brothers over at the post office slug it out with the man!

Getting plenty on this pair at the mo...with my buddy Dan Sette snagging one of their LP's up from over on the bay. Check out 'Hoy hoy' and this mean, mean mother!

Larry Collins- Ramrod

So it's been up to 11 round at Den's this week including a viewing of the classic 'This is Spinal Tap' this aft.

Spinal Tap- Gimme some money

We're rocking it up to 11 once again...they look naff (have you seen the state of em recently) but this didnt stop Den donning the Paul Stanley 'Starchild' face for one night only. Check it...

Kiss- Detroit rock city

A terrible title to a half decent film featuring the wet weekend Michael Cera and the fantastic Kat Dennings looking super-duper throughout...soundtrack ain't as great as they'll try and convince you!

Kat Dennings- Nick & Norah's infinite playlist

Lord Dashwood is doing his thing here with his pipe with some nice choonage in the background...all wrapped up in some smokin' threads...boylesque a go-go! Is it just me or is the sign crying out for some bloke with proper big moobs to do some tassling??

Lord Dashwood in Glasgow

Meat pies= good; Apple crumble= not so good!

2009-10-19T19:37:00.017+01:00

So Den is here with the post Burly-Q blues again (though only 8 weeks or so 'til the next 'un! Tickets available at www.burlyq.co.uk) with some more stuff up his stuffed sleeve...He's been napping, supping free fine home-made reeb, watching afternoon Fred & Ginger flicks, reading the fantastic "City of nets" by Otto Friedrich and having a week off any hoochy cootchie!

Thanks to a fellow blogger over on Fbook Den stumbled across this one the other week and subsequently snapped it up. Little did he know that he already had it on the nasty-sleeved LP "Long tall girl with a short dress on". Anyway, this one will get you shakin' the meat off yo bones and banish any memories of that tedious, bearded, Manc Graham Nash!

The Hollies- Hey willy!

Den has been listening to a rather tasty comp of French female vox stuff. Can he track any of it down? Nah- it's those elusive hen's teeth again! This one is much better than that coopered legging-wearing nicotine fiend from Lahndan!

Adele- Ces't Bon

Den knows next to nowt about this one but thanks to those fine bunch at Bim Bam he discovered this US only (wethinks?) side from Clifford and the boyz.

Cliff Richard- Choppin' and changing

Den recently cast his ever-straining peepers over the last Astaire- Rogers flick "The Barkleys of Broadway". No plot. Whatsover. But this great sequence from the ever-skinny, ageless, Fred...I've got a feeling I'm gonna read his autobiog before the year is out...Ginger is looking weird in this one...maybe it's the long barnet?

The Barkleys of Broadway- Shoes with wings sequence

Avoid those burgers at the Frog & Parrot!

2009-10-14T19:22:00.011+01:00

So Den begins the countdown to Burly Q 3 with a smorgasboard of variety this time. Den's old habits have crept back in this week so if you click on the track you get a link over to rapidshare...

Den remembers his old fella telling him about the God-awful haybag Jackie Trent and her chubster partner Tony Hatch filling the late 60's airwaves with their vomit inducing variety show. Where her taste in fellas may be dodgy she cut one or two decent sides, including this number 1 which wouldnt have sounded out of place being sung by Dusty. Try the Len Barry track 'You baby' as well!

Jackie Trent- Where are you now

A new purchase for Den this week from a cheap nasty stinking looking LP. A fine sounding rockabilly track coming in at under 2min...!

Alton Lott- I got it made

Den has just finished watching 'The Manchurian Candidate'. Is there a more downbeat ending to a flick? I don't think so. Not seen the ill- advised remake but I ain't gonna lose sleep over that!

The Manchurian Candidate- The plot is revealed!!

So Marianne Cheesecake finally makes it up to Sheff for Burly Q 3! Check out how she bakes her cheesecake in her rather fetching oven! Unfortunately this act aint suitable for carting up on a train from London! Anyway, feast on peeps!

Marianne Cheesecake- The art of making cheesecake

Insipid John Lewis cafe

2009-10-02T17:52:00.008+01:00

Den's been busy out there these last seven days but more of that later- I'm playing catch up. I finished the surprisingly impressive "The girl who loved Tom Gordon" within the confines of the overpriced antiseptic John Lewis cafe. I got my weekly hit of "Time Out" and watched some of the one eyed corner squatter....here's your lot! There's not a lot, but I think you'll like it!

Adam Faith- I Vibrate

Another one as rare as those elusive hen's teeth. Den had an epiphany the other day- he's gotta dig really deep now and throw some curve balls! Here's Adam live in a studio tearing it up sounding like a blonde haired bad ass! It's been said that Den has a look of Mr. Faith...not too sure about that myself though...

Over on Myspace (remember that?!) Den stumbled across this one...you can't help but admire how she weilds that masking tape- that's one fine nemmo. I could have done with her when I was trying to paint the inside of my window without getting paint on the glass.

Polly Cupcake masking tape

http://www.myspace.com/pollycupcake

Pear cider, beards & painful old shoes

2009-09-26T09:12:00.009+01:00

Den's been busy this week but is back with some stuff that's great, some that aint so great and some that has to be seen to be believed. Tune in those peepers and cab doors people....

More filth from Des this time an ode to those hard working Amsterdam cleaners...

Des O' Connor- Jizz moppers

I bet that's the first time Cliff has been beneath a jizz mopper...Anyway, Den is fresh from reading a great article about the social- pariah that is Cliff Richard. Check out some unheard gems and squirm with embarresment and reach for the time machine and snipers rifle to take him out at Wimbledon in '96. Did you hear about Una Stubbs? She had a nasty accident...she fell off a cliff!

Cliff Richard- Throw down a line

Cliff Richard- I can't ask for anymore than you

Cliff Richard at Wimbledon

This is the most bonkers thing that Den has seen in many a day. It's worth watching to 1:40 to hear Frankie Howerd boom out "the leeches, the leeches". For those of you out there with the constitution of an ox there is about 6 parts to this- follow the link and look at the users other vids. That Robin Gibb may be wiggy goofy skinny runt but he'd got his 'ead screwed on to have side-stepped this stinker!

Bee Gees- Cucumber castle part one