Hot days, hot circles, but over cooked ham and eggs

So I've been out buying and eating disappointing ham and eggs. Can you dig it?

First up is the Helen Shapiro track that I rambled about last time when I was talking about Earl Okin. I'll be damned if that ain't him playing the axe at the start...This was her last single and features on the great CD "British Soul Vol.1". Any copies on hot circles have long since been out of Den's reach...Nice pic cribbed from the web of Helen without that daft bee-hive do she was famous for...

Helen Shapiro- Stop & you'll become aware

I found time to meet my side dealer last Saturday and whilst eating a rather disappointing plate of ham and eggs I looked over some circles. I was drawn in by the title of this one...and yes it is the Wolf Man making a guest appearance on here. I don't know what to make of that Rundgren fellow but with this and "Bang on my drum" I can't help like the cut of his jib.

Todd Rundgren- Wolfman Jack

Den's always had a soft spot for those crazy anglo-philes Sparks since first seeing them TOTP2 back in early nineties. The guy with the Hitler tache on the moth box giving this 14 year old the shits and giggles. This one has been on the shelf for a long time but Den particularly has a soft spot for this track and it's "Charlie, Charlie, Charlie" part. It's the most burnt track on the follow up to "Kimino my house"- "Propaganda" which has a great cover. As an extra here's the video for the best title and video of last year- "Lighten up Morrissey". You'd think at the age of 50 he might have...come on Mozza...

Sparks- BC

Sparks- Lighten up Morrissey Video

Den has snaffled up some DVDs this week whilst being home alone including flicks from about ten years hence. "Your friends & neighbors" by Neil LaBute was a big fave back in those fuzzy Uni days and I finally got to watch it again now I've hooked up the new DVD player. Don't expect any nice guys in this one- these guys are universally a bunch of rotters, well maybe not Aaron Eckhart and his funky top lip fuzz...

Your friends and neighbors trailer

Another one from my night out at the Ida Barr show the other week- Spymonkey. I thought these may be a bit on the naff side and whilst their circus tomfoolery may not be to everyone's taste the Joan of Arc routine was a side splitter. I was particularly fond of the little bald one who looked like a small version of Bernard Breslaw. Watch out these fellas ain't shy when it comes to ditching the threads...Toodle-ooo, just remember if you see 'em avoid the front row...!

Various Spymonkey friggings about...

Stop! and you will become aware

Normal service is resumed after my mid-week edition. This is visit 4 to Chez Den. A little bit of a mixed bag this week but this is what is toasting Den's buns this arctic Saturday.

This one gives makes Den think of The Walker Brothers and that ain’t a bad thing, baby…This may have been recorded by Little Anthony & The Imperials but I ain’t sure…it’s the only lacquer cracker I’ve got on a fantastic pea-green NEMS label and the only record i've heard by Cupid's Inspiration. It’s top drawer pop that floats Den’s boat right up the River Don...they don't make 'em like this anymore

Cupid's Inspiration- Yesterday has gone

Den can be remember being knee-high to a grasshopper and tuning in to watch Granada TV’s flop soap “Albion Market” and Den Snr telling him that one of the stall holders was Helen Shapiro, ex- pop star. Zip forward 10 years and Den’s eyes are opened to this one, though he’s told by one of his dealers that he’d have to sell his Grandma to get his biscuit snatchers on a copy. The elusive search for this perfect slab of teen blue eyed soul continues…but that’s what gets Den out of his pit in the am….

This one is on the flip of The Miracles cover “Shop around” but also features on the CD British Soul Vol 2…but I couldn’t resist showing you the cover of the album “Helen hit’s out” it's where it's at, kittens…

Helen Shapiro- He knows how to love me

“So sticky, and gooey, and salty”…Buttered Popcorn as sung by Florence Ballard, the real lead singer of The Supremes before that wafer-thin voiced, twiglet Diane Ross started doing the shimmy shake with Berry Gordy (yup, the Diana moniker was to sound ‘classy’!)…Florence sings that her other half is more interested in eating buttered popcorn than her…jeez, what a hammer head! Anyway, kick back and think what could have been…

The Supremes- Buttered Popcorn

“I feel like something incredible is going to happen here….” Yup, Scorsese’s best, most enjoyable film gets Den’s juices flowing…I hadn’t watched this for a while but digging Patricia led me back to her older Sis Rosanna and her great turn in this flick that’s near perfect. You’d certainly chase half way across Soho in the rain to get your hands on a bagel and cream cheese paperweight wouldn’t you? It’s got a great soundtrack but I’ve yet to find a copy…maybe you can…watch the trailer and some deleted scenes…Griffin Dunne’s the berries!

After Hours Trailer

After Hours Out-takes

Now Den has laid his peepers on this one, it was back in July at Volupte and he’s got the Diva Dollars to prove it! (yes that is one of the ubiqutous Den Iniquity chip shovels in shot) The fan dance with the fairy lights almost made me choke on finger sandwich…fantastic stuff! And I'll give Diva Hollywood the highest complement a Den can give to a dame...She's got a great face!

Diva Hollywood- Starlight

Diva seems to have a lack of vids out there so you'll have to take Den's words for the images scorched on his retinas that she really is the monkey's waistcoat!