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

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

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

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

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

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

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...

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