This year has been sadly tat free, I’m afraid. The tat reserves appear to have run dry. Never mind, I pledge to you all now, that I’ll try harder to showcase more items of dubious quality in 2023.
For the moment, a couple of last minute additions to the Christmas bauble (or “ball ball”) collection. I wanted to get the hippo in a tutu from Asda, but it sold out. So instead, I present to you: a Christmas Barbecue and some Sushi.
BBQSushi
I’ve pondered the joys of these kind of strange “festive” decorations in the past. This year, I’ll leave it you you, readers, to consider the relevance of these wondrous items to the season. I just hope you enjoy.
Finally, I’d like to wish all of the readers of Platinum Al’s Virtual Hot Tub a very Merry Christmas, and a happy and prosperous New Year. Thank you for reading and keeping the dream alive.
Well, hello there! We’ve not enjoyed a Cocktail Time at Platinum Al’s Virtual Hot Tub for quite a while, so let’s have one now. Although, this drink is less of a classic cocktail and more like something I just made up. Though it tastes so good, I’m sure you’ll love it.
Ideal as a winter seasonal comforter or a summer refresher, Amaretto and cranberry juice is highly recommended.
Amaretto & Cranberry Juice
Amaretto
Cranberry juice
Ice
Marashino cherry
Ok, really simple: pour two measures of Amaretto into a glass. Even though I’m not (sadly) endorsed by the company, I’d recommend Disaronno as the liqueur of choice. Drop in a few ice cubes to keep it all chill. Then top up with cranberry juice (your choice from your local supermarket), add an optional Marashino cherry, and you’re done.
The Marashino cherry works particularly well with this drink, complimenting the taste of the cocktail.
This drink is delicious, but has no name (as far as I’m aware). If you know the correct name, please let me know. Or just let me know your suggestions. Otherwise, as with the rules of trick invention in skateboarding, I invented the drink and I’m naming it.
I’d also just say that Amaretto is a wonderful drink just on its own, or with ice: it makes a fantastic digestif. Adding cranberry juice is an excellent alternative option.
Platinum Al’s Virtual Hot Tub urges you to drink responsibly.
Yo! Here we are again, tout le monde – a treat for lovers of music on vinyl! That’s right – another Singles Night at Platinum Al’s Virtual Hot Tub, where I play my way through a big ol’ stack of 7″ singles and have a big time knees up whilst I do it.
There are literally dozens of 45 rpm records chez moi: some classic, some crap. I love ’em all. With a few drinkies to ease things along, we’re in for a great evening.
Here’s the latest playlist:
The Mission – “Severina” / “Tomorrow Never Knows”
Joe Fagin – “Back with the Boys Again” / “Get it Right”
Samantha Fox – “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Me Now” / “Dream City”
Samantha Fox – “I Surrender (To the Spirit of the Night”) / “The Best is Yet to Come”
Lacuna Coil – “Our Truth”/ “Without a Reason”
Paul McCartney & The Frog Chorus – ” We All Stand Together” / “We All Stand Together (Humming Version)”
Slade – “7 Year Bitch” / “Leave Them Girls Alone”
Demon – “Wonderland” / “Blackheath”
Sex Pistols – “Silly Thing” / “Who Killed Bambi”
Bad Manners – “Can Can” / “Armchair Disco”
Doctor & The Medics – “Burn” / “Captain Frazer”
2 in a Room – “Wiggle It” / “Take Me Away”
Slade – “My Oh My” / “Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply”
T’Pau – “China in Your Hand” / “No Sense of Pride”
Belinda Carlisle – “I Get Weak” / “Should I Let You In?”
Madonna – “Crazy for You” / Sammy Hagar – “I’ll Fall in Love Again”
Billy Ocean – “Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car” / “Showdown”
Scorpions – “Wind of Change” / “Restless Nights”
Jack Parnell & His Orchestra – “Galloping Home (Theme From Black Beauty” / “Hawaii Five-O”
Then Jericho – “Big Area” / “The Big Sweep”
Wow. From the Sex Pistols to the Frog Chorus – as always, it’s an eclectic night at the Virtual Hot tub on Singles Night! That might not be Paul McCartney’s greatest moment, but to be fair, I loved Rupert the Bear when I was a toddler, so consider me a fan.
Some notes:
The first Sam Fox single is credited as the “Samantha Fox Box”, as it comes in a carboard boxset thing with a poster. The second Sam Fox single is a Limited Edition blue vinyl single, in a gatefold photo pack. Pretty cool, and both from bargain bins.
Also from a bargain bin, the Lacuna Coil single is picture disc – and only cost me £1. Crazy bargain!
Lots of songs I loved in this evening’s playlist: the Pistols easily being my favourite. The worst was that Scorpions song, that was rubbbish.
Variety is the spice of life, and this Singles Night playlist was indeed spicy. Great tracks. More soon!
Recap time: regular readers may remember that yours truly recently reviewed the re-issue of “Work in Progress” by punk veterans UK Subs. You may also recall that that album covered the letter W in the bands ongoing mission to release an album for every letter of the alphabet. Well, the good news is that Captain Oi/Cherry Red Records are also releasing the next two instalments in the series – that’s the letters X and Y (but you knew that).
Working through chronologically, we have “XXIV” – which the lovely record company peeps have released on drool-worthy double 10” vinyl, one green, one clear. Yummy. Our first song is an absolute belter: the full-on turbo romp ‘Implosion 77’. Hold on tight and buckle up! There’s plenty more fast’n’nasty thrills on offer too: ‘Speed’ has a merciless UK82 vibe; ‘Monkeys’ has a classic Subs singalong chorus; ‘Garden of Good & Evil’ is another pogo-till-your-pants-fall-off rocker.
There’s some well-placed variety too, with the harmonica adorned political thrust of ‘Coalition Government Blues’; and Bo Diddley swagger of ‘Wreckin’ Ball’ – both showing hints of the bands R’n’B origins (like as in, what R’n’B used to be). Lyrically there are plenty of targets for Charlie to attack, both politically and socially. ‘Memento Mori’ finishes the album off with one most aggressive tunes on offer, leaving us with a great album of 14 adrenaline infused songs.
“Yellow Leader” follows in a similar fashion, featuring 18 songs (whereas the original vinyl was cut to just 14 due to running times). To be released on slinky, divine double 10” vinyl (one red, one turquoise here), it’ll be a feast for the eyes and ears. Again, the album is crammed with more relentless punk rock shenanigans like ‘Sick Velveteen’, ‘Chemical’ and ‘Heathens’, all of which will have you jumping around the room like a monkey on a lava stream.
As the previous record, there’s plenty of other sounds and ideas here: single ‘Sin City Blues’ has a killer rockabilly feel; and ‘Rebellion Song’ breaks out the acoustic guitar. The only mis-step is ‘Archaeology’, a strange post -punk/goth style experiment that while not awful, isn’t a total success. All in all, the quality of music is impressively high and the recordings sound excellent.
And there you go, music lovers: not one, but TWO albums of mighty UK Subs songs, lovingly compiled and curated by those nice folks at Captain Oi/Cherry Red Records. You lucky people. Pick ‘em up while you can, nobody is this fortunate twice.
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