Bring Your Own Vinyl Night #19

Posted on May 16, 2023 by platinumal

Bring Your Own Vinyl Night

The Queen’s Head, Mold

Saturday 22nd April 2023

What could be better: playing vinyl records in good company, with some beers in a great local pub? Sounds pretty good to me. Yes, Bring Your Own Vinyl Night was back again, in the traditional home of The Queen’s Head in Mold, North Wales.

Following both Record Store Day, and a record fair – both of which VOD Music in Mold were involved with, it has been a wax packed day anyway. So it was good to finish the day’s events off with a chance to spin some records.

So what exactly is involved with Bring Your Own Vinyl Night? It’s simple: everyone gets 15 minutes to play whatever songs they like, on quality record decks with a mixer. But it can only be vinyl format.

Here’s my playlist:

Jimmy McGriff and Groove Holmes – The Squirrel

You know those funky jazz instrumentals that the Beastie Boys did on “Check Your Head” and “Ill Communication”? I was immediately infatuated with those songs (see also their compilation “The In Sounds From Way Out!”). Research revealed that the main influences on those songs were Jimmy McGriff and Richard “Groove” Holmes, two soul jazz organ players and band leaders. I tracked down some records of each, and they are amazing. This track is from their joint album, “Giants of the Organ Come Together”. “The Squirrel” is a groovy number indeed, but you should check out the full album (and their individual recordings). Nice!

Queens of the Stone Age – Make It Wit Chu

A slinky, sexy number from the “Era Vulgaris” album by Queens of the Stone Age. This track quickly became one of my favourite QOTSA songs, though it’s from what’s probably my least favourite of their albums. Originally appearing on “Desert Sessions Volumes 9 & 10”, where it featured backing vocals by the wonderful PJ Harvey, “Make It Wit Chu” is pure class.

Clutch – The Regulator

More Clutch, ‘cos I just can’t get enough. This song, “The Regulator”, starts with a folky, bluegrass feel before it erupts into a pounding blues rocker. You can find it on the album “Blast Tyrant” and I suggest you go and track it down right now.

Devo – Gut Feeling

Ah, Devo. What can I say about Devo? We go way back, I heard their first album when I was a kid and it baffled me at first. Took a while to get it, but it was worth it. “Gut Feeling” is of course from the “Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!” classic debut. It’s a sunny, dreamy song with a surf rock feel.

And that wraps it up for my set. Four great songs which I enjoyed playing, I hope others liked them too. Either way, it was a great evening catching up and talking music with a few beers.

Thanks to Halcyon Dreams and VOD for organising a superb event.

And thanks to The Queens Head – a great pub, I really enjoyed my food too!

The Halcyon Dreams blogspot is here.

The Halcyon Dreams mixcloud page is here.

The Halcyon Dreams Facebook page is here.

The VOD music website is here.

Singles Night at the Virtual Hot Tub #21

Posted on March 14, 2021 by platinumal

I promised you lucky readers more Singles Night fun soon – and here you go. Another twenty 7″ vinyl singles, played one after the other, to create this sensational playlist.

Pour yourself a drink and join me, as we delve into the deep recesses of my thus far unplayed record collection for a night of rock’n’roll mayhem. Prepare to have your socks well and truly rocked…

Chris Cornell – “Patience” / “Nothing Compares ” U”
Sweet Apple – “I’ve Got a Feeling (That Won’t Change)” / “Dead Moon (Demo Version)”
ABBA – “The Winner Takes It All” / “Elaine”
The Knack – “My Sharona” / “Let Me Out”
Free – “Wishing Well” / “Let Me Show You”
Thin Lizzy – “The Boys Are Back in Town” / “Emerald”
Cheap Trick – “I Want You to Want Me” / “Clock Strikes Ten”
The Who – “5.15” / “Water”
Bachman Turner Overdrive – “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” / “Free Wheelin'”
The Beach Boys – “Break Away” / “Celebrate the News”
Stakker – “Humanoid” / “Humanoid (Part 2)”
Flying Lizards – “Money” / “TV”
Faith No More – “Anne’s Song” / “Greed”
Hi Tek 3 ft. Ya Kid K – “Spin That Wheel (Turtles Get Real) 7″ Pizza Mix” / “7” Pizza Dub Mix”
Phil Collins – “In the Air Tonight” / “The Roof is Leaking”
Forrest – “Rock the Boat” / “Loving You”
Stan Ridgway – “Camouflage” / “Rio Greyhound”
Ella Fitzgerald – “Desafinado” / “Stardust (Bossa Nova)”
Creedence Clearwater Revival – “Green River” / “Commotion”
Python Lee Jackson – “In a Broken Dream” / “Boogie Woogie Joe”

Boom! What a great collection. My favourite Who song, Thin Lizzy’s best (?), BTO and Free. That Knack song is, of course, a classic – as is the Cheap Trick track. All were from a record fair (remember those?) if I recall correctly.

That Faith No More song is their very worst, by an otherwise spectacular band. I’m no Phil Collins fan really, but that track is pretty good, admit it. Throw in Flying Lizards and The Beach Boys and you’ve got a helluva playlist. And if you don’t love “Camouflage” there must be something wrong with you.

The Chris Cornell was a Record Store Day special which I picked up from VOD records in Mold. Great shop who also organised the record fair I mentioned above. Check them out here.

Till next time – keep rockin’!

Singles Night at the Virtual Hot Tub #19

Posted on December 10, 2020 by platinumal

Hit singles! All time classic songs! Novelty throw-away rubbish! From the cool to the crap, it’s all to be found at Platinum Al’s Virtual Hot Tub on a Singles Night.

You see, what I do is, listen to a pile of old 7 inch singles that have been languishing in my “not played yet” pile. They could have come from anywhere: genuine gems that I’ve tracked down; record fair lucky finds; or – more likely – junk I find in charity shops.

Pour yourself a drink and check this list out. Do you own any of these on vinyl? What are your favourites? What should be consigned to a fiery pit and melted down?

Kim Wilde – “You Came” / “Stone”
Louis Armstrong – “All the Time in the World” / “Pretty Little MIssy”
The Hollies – “The Air That I Breathe” / “No More Riders”
Duran Duran – “The Wild Boys” / “(I’m Looking for) Cracks in the Pavement (1984)”
Bananarama – “Robert De Niro’s Waiting” / “Push!”
The Beach Boys – “Good Vibrations” / “Heroes and Villains”
Justin Hayward – “Forever Autumn” / “The Fighting Machine”
The Buggles – “Video Killed the Radio Star” / “Kid Dynamo”
ABBA – “Angeleyes” / “Voulez-Vous”
The Creatures – “Miss the Girl” / “Hot Springs in the Snow”
Blondie – “Rapture” / “Walk Like Me”
Bobby Patrick Band – “Dallas Theme” / “The Waltons Theme”
The Beatles – “The Ballad of John and Yoko” / “Old Brown Shoe”
Goombay Dance Band – “Seven Tears” / “Mama Coco”
Lionel Richie – “All Night Long (All Night)” / “Wandering Stranger”
Donna Summer – “Dim All the Lights” / “There Will Always Be a You”
Jermaine Stewart – “We Don’t Have to…” / “Brilliance”
Allan Sherman – “Mexican Hat Dance” / “Won’t You Come Home Disraeli?”
Earth, Wind and Fire – “Let’s Groove” / “Let’s Groove (Instrumental)”
Pointer Sisters – “I’m so Excited” / “What a Surprise”

Some classics indeed. Another great night of a couple of small drinkies and spinning wax: I recommend it to anyone.

Singles Night at the Virtual Hot Tub #17

Posted on July 5, 2020 by platinumal

Hello there, reader! Welcome to my Virtual Hot tub. Grab a drink and chill out in the warm, comforting water – it’s time to play some more 7 inch vinyl records!

That’s right folks, I’m spinning more records and having a little drinkie. First off the top of the pile, A side then B side, working my way through the vinyl I’ve not played yet. No picking and choosing, just playing whatever’s next.

Here’s the latest batch:

Madness – “Michael Caine” / “If You Think There’s Something”
Elton John – “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” / “Screw You”
Sarah Vaughn – “Moonglow” / “So Long” / “Maria” / “Invitation”
Oran “Juice” Jones – “The Rain” / “Your Song”
Peter Howell & The BBC Radiophonic Workshop – “Doctor Who” / “The Astronauts”
Madonna – “Into the Groove” / “Shoo-Bee-Doo”
Faces – “Pool Hall Richard” / “I Wish It Would Rain”
The Boomtown Rats – “I Don’t Like Mondays” / “It’s All the Rage”
Los Lobos – “La Bamba” / “Charlena”
Elton John – “Song for Guy” / “Lovesick”
Cozy Powell – “Dance with the Devil” / “And Then There Was Skin”
C+C Music Factory (ft. Freedom Williams – “Things That Make You Go Hmmm… (7” Remix) / “Things That Make You Go Hmmm… (LP Version)”
Divinyls – “I Touch Myself” / “Follow Through”
Marillion – “Kayleigh” / “Lady Nina”
Glen Campbell & Rita Coolidge – “Somethin’ ‘Bout You Baby I Like” / “Late Night Confession”
The Fun Boy Three with Bananarama – “T’Ain’t What You Do (It’s the Way That You Do It)” / “The Funarama Theme”
Diana Ross – “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” / “Think I’m in Love”
Duran Duran – “Union of the Snake” / “Secret Oktober”
Kate Robbins – “More Than in Love” / “Now”
Jan Hammer – “Crockett’s Theme” / “Miami Vice: New York Theme”
Status Quo – “Caroline” / “Joanne”

Yes, that Glen Campbell/Rita Coolidge IS the same as the Quo classic! Quite a few fun tunes in that session, including one of my favourite Madness songs ever, double for Elton, and a great Miami Vice theme.

Join me again soon for another Singles Night!

Singles Night at the Virtual Hot Tub #10

Posted on June 22, 2019 by platinumal

Playing music, having a few drinks – it’s fun. In this case, what I do (as regular readers will know), is play through a stack of 45 rpm singles and see what Lady Luck decides to bestow on me.

Some of the singles are classic, some less so. Some are cheesy, some have at least some small notion of integrity. One thing’s for sure: one way or another, all of the following 7 inch singles are part of my vinyl collection – there’s no hiding from the shame.

Lets see what we got this time:

Elvis Presley – “The Wonder of You” / “Mama Like the Roses”
Chris Isaak – “Wicked Game” / Angelo Badalamenti – “Cool Cat Walk”
Ned’s Atomic Dustbin – “Happy” / “Twenty Three” / “Hour Toothache”
Duran Duran – “The Reflex” / “Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me) – Live”
Inspiral Carpets – “This Is How It Feels (Radio Mix)” / “Tune For a Family”
Transvision Vamp – “Sister Moon” / “Oh Yeah” / “Walk On By”
WAR – “I’m the One Who Understands” / “Corns & Callouses (Hey Dr. Shoals)”
Frank Sinatra – “My Way” / “Blue Lace”
Rocky Sharpe & The Replays – “Rama Lama Ding Dong” / “When the Chips Are Down”
Gene Vincent – “Say Mama” / “Be Bop Boogie Boy”
Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass – “Without Her” / “Sandbox”
Tracey Ullman – “Move Over Darling” / “You Broke My Heart in 17 Places”
Billy Joel – “Uptown Girl” / “Careless Talk”
Boney M. – “I’m Born Again” / “Bahama Mama”
The KLF – “What Time Is Love? (Live At Trancentral)” / “What Time Is Love? (Techno Gate Mix)”
Billy Fury – “Because of Love” / “Running Around”
Nat King Cole – “Let’s Face the Music and Dance” / “Let There Be Love”
The Crusaders – “Stomp and Buck Dance” / “A Ballad for Joe (Louis)”
Bobby G – “Big Deal” / “It’s All for Jan”
Duane Eddy – “Rebel-Rouser” / “Stalkin'”
Ricky Nelson – “It’s Late” / “Never Be Anyone Else But You”
Tears For Fears – “Shout” / “The Big Chair”
Yannis Markopoulos – “Who Pays the Ferryman?” / “Fanfare for Charon”

a selection

There you go: and those selections (random as they are) weren’t all that cheesy after all. Boney M.? Under rated. And that b-side reminds me of summer. So rather than a few pungent offerings, there’s quite a few great ol’ rock’n’rollers dominating that playlist.

A final word regarding Ned’s Automatic Dustbin and Inspiral Carpets. Both indie bands, my least favourite genre of all. I found those singles super cheap in a charity shop, tried ’em and they weren’t too bad, really.

Still hate indie music though.

Singles Night at the Virtual Hot Tub #5

Posted on November 22, 2018 by platinumal

It’s been a while, but time to work through that stack of 7″ singles again. I had a few beers and listened to the tunes in my collection – good and bad – in order, both sides.

There have been a few stinkers in previous editions. This week, however, the good outweighed the cheesy for once. Just about.

Here we go:

Jimmy Barnes & INXS – “Good Times” / “Love is Enough”
Tubeway Army – “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” / “We Are So Fragile?”
Black Sabbath – “Paranoid” / “Snow Blind”
Rod Stewart – “Sailing” / “Stone Cold Sober”
The KLF – “Justified and Ancient: Stand by the Jams” / “Justified and Ancient: The White Room Version”
Bobby Gentry – “Ode to Billy Joe” / “Mississippi Delta”
Sweet – “Fox on the Run” / Miss Demeanor”
Generation X – “Ready Steady Go” / “No No No”
Atomic Rooster – “Devil’s Answer” / “Tomorrow Night”
Blondie – “Call Me” / “Call Me (Instrumental)”
The Incredible Bongo Band – “Bongo Rock” / “Bongolia”
All About Eve – “What Kind of Fool” / “Gold and Silver”
Level 42 – “Something About You” / “Coup D’Etat (Version)”
Dave Brubeck Quartet – “Me and My Shadow” / “At a Perfume Counter” / “Frenesi” / “Mamselle”
Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass – “Casino Royale” / “The Wall Street Rag”
ABBA – “Does Your Mother Know” / “Kisses of Fire”
Hank Williams – “Honky Tonkin'”/ “Howlin’ at the Moon” / “I Ain’t Got Nothin’ But Time” / “You’d Better Keep it on Your Mind”
The Rolling Stones – “19th Nervous Breakdown” / “As Tears Go By”

Singles Night at the Virtual Hot Tub #4

Posted on September 30, 2018 by platinumal

Yes, it’s that time again – a playlist of 45rpm singles that have provided me with an evenings entertainment.

I have a stack of 7″ records that haven’t been listened and filed away yet. So I spend a night listening to them, both sides, in order.

As you can imagine, there are some dodgy songs in amongst the good stuff. And this week, there are some corkers. However, the rules are: the songs MUST be listened to. I own them, so I must be responsible!

Here’s the list:

Joe Dolce – “Shaddap You Face” / “Ain’t No Hurry”
Sinitta – “Shame Shame Shame” / “Maybe Someday”
The Charlie Daniels Band – “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” / “Rainbow Ride”
Rod Stewart – “Angel” / “What Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made a Loser Out of Me)”
Kate Bush – “Babooshka” / “Ran Tan Waltz”
Tom Jones – “Help Yourself” / “Day by Day” / “Delilah” / “Smile”
Bananarama – “Love in the First Degree” / “Mr Sleaze”
The Timelords – “Doctorin’ the Tardis” / “Doctorin’ the Tardis”
Pig Bag – “Papa’s Got a Brand New Pigbag” / “The Backside”
Blondie – “Union City Blue” / “Living in the Real World”
The Sweet – “Hell Raiser” / “Burning”
The Who – “I’m a Boy” / “In the City”
Depeche Mode – “Enjoy the Silence” / “Memphisto”
Free – “My Brother Jake” / “Only My Soul”
Nazareth – “Love Hurts” / “This Flight Tonight” / “Broken Down Angel” / “Hair of the Dog”
Lalo Schifrin – “Jaws” / “Quiet Village”
Rainbow – “I Surrender” / “Vielleicht Das Nachster Zeit (Maybe Next Time)”

Singles Night at the Virtual Hot Tub #2

Posted on July 17, 2018 by platinumal

Here we go again! Quick recap:

I’ve bought loads of 7″ singles; some good, some bad, some ugly. I decided to listen through the pile by having an evening playing them all in the order in which they were bought; oldest first, A side then B side. This is the list of what I played.

As before, some of these songs are absolute gems – some are absolute stinkers. Don’t judge me; this is already difficult enough for me to confess.

Yes, there’s another Sinitta song. I know it’s terrible, but in my defence she’s in my record collection ‘cos she’s a babe. Trust me, she’s well foxy on the cover of this single. So, sorry about that one.

All in all, though, I feel this is a much less cheesy selection than last time. There might even be a few cool choices. And remember – this is all 7 inch vinyl only!

Now, shall we proceed with the embarrassment?

Steve Winwood – “Higher Love” / “And I Go”
Sinitta – “Hitchin’ a Ride” / “I’m On My Way”
Madonna – “Papa Don’t Preach” / “Ain’t No Big Deal”
Bob Dylan – “Is Your Love in Vain?” / “We Better Talk This Over”
Peter Gabriel – “Games Without Frontiers” / “The Start” / “I Don’t Remember”
George Harrison – ” My Sweet Lord” / “What a Life”
Madness – “Shut Up” / “A Town with No Name”
Toyah – “Thunder in the Mountains” / “Street Addict”
The Jam – “Town Called Malice” / “Precious”
The Beat – “Ackee 1-2-3” / “Monkey Murders”
The Selecter – “Missing Words” / “Carry Go Bring Home”
Blondie – “Denis (Denee)” / “Contact in Red Square” / “Kung Fu Girls”
Herbie Hancock – “You Bet Your Love” / “Knee Deep”
Stevie Wonder – “Uptight (Everything’s Alright)” / “Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday”
Roxy Music – “The Same Old Scene” / “Lover”

Any comments/abuse on the above are welcome, I’m getting used to it. Otherwise, I hope you enjoy – will be back soon with more.

Cats Playlist

Posted on March 16, 2018 by platinumal

Cats! I love ’em!

They’re crazy, cute, playful and lovable. They’re agile and graceful and beautiful. But most of all, they are loyal little companions who, despite their reputation, are full of affection.

To honour my furry feline friends – past, present and future – I collated another one of my themed playlists. This collection of songs all have a connection to cats in some way, and create an eclectic compilation that crosses categories.

You can compile a similar list, and I hope you and your cat enjoy!

Mongo Santamaria – “El Pussy Cat”
The Cure – “Love Cats”
Johnny Cash – “Mean Eyed Cat”
Barney Kessel – “Something for Cat”
The Presidents of the United States of America – “Kitty”
The James Taylor Quartet – “Faster Pussycat”
Stray Cats – “Stray Cat Strut”
Hanna-Barbera – “Top Cat (Main Title)”
Howlin’ Wolf – “I Ain’t Superstitious”
Tom Jones – “What’s Ne w Pussycat?”
Marty Paich – “The Cat”
My cat, Jenna
Ted Nugent – “Cat Scratch Fever”
Primus – “Tommy the Cat”
Jacknife Lee – “Here Kitty Kitty”
Rolling Stones – “Stray Cat Blues”
Pete Moore & His Orchestra – “Cat Walk”
Alice Cooper – “Gutter Cat vs. The Jets”
Beyonce – “Kitty Kat”
Hanna Barbera – “Top Cat (Underscore)”
Devo – “Pink Pussy Cat”
Danzig – “Wicked Pussycat”
Celia Vaz/Friends from Rio – “Francisco Cat”
Roni Size – “Mad Cat”
R.E.M. – “Star Me Kitten”

Bonus points if you know why the Howlin’ Wolf track is included…

Sadly, I forgot to add Nina Simone’s “Feline Good” to the list…

Till next time: ciao, cat lovers!

Bring Your Own Vinyl Night #13

Posted on October 6, 2017 by platinumal

Bring Your Own Vinyl Night

The Queen’s Head, Mold

Friday 29th September 2017

It’s Vinyl Night! Once again, Halcyon Dreams hosted the Bring Your Own Vinyl Night at the Queen’s Head in Mold, North Wales. An evening of beer, good company and – of course – spinning tunes!

You know the drill by now, so I’ll fast forward straight to my set.

There was a theme this time, which I stumbled on whilst playing these records over the previous months. I decided to play songs that weren’t performed in the English language, which produced a few interesting ideas. Here are the ones that made the cut:

Anhrefn – Molly Melys/Rhedeg I Paris

As I was in Mold, how could I not kick things off with something Welsh? Anhrefn were a superb Welsh language punk band that I saw several times back in the early 90s. I had a cassette of their album “Dragon’s Revenge” from those days, and successfully tracked down a vinyl copy not long ago. This is actually two tracks – sorry, a bit sneaky: “Molly Melys” is a traditional folk song evoking Celtic tradition. It’s a short, mellow introduction before it suddenly erupts into “Rhedeg I Paris”, a fast paced, energetic, melodic rocker in the vein of the Clash. Fantastic!

Cypress Hill – Loco En El Coco

This is, of course, the Cypress Hill track “Insane in the Brain” but performed with Spanish lyrics. Taken from “Los Grandes Exitos en Espanol” – their Greatest Hits in Spanish – and for some reason these versions just sound even funkier in Spanish. I love the whole album for that reason. Check it out, I recommend it.

Anhrefn

Cypress Hill

Faith No More – Evidence (Italian Version)

This isn’t the “funk metal” Faith No More you may know. Rather, this is a kind of smooth jazz-funk hybrid from the album “King for a Day… Fool for a Lifetime”, here performed in Italian. Apparently singer Mike Patton is multi lingual and there are versions of this track in several other languages too. It’s a great song, showing FNM stretching out and writing something across musical boundaries: and it really works.

Plastic Bertrand – Ca Plane Pour Moi

And finally, I went with this French language pop punk/faux punk/new wave confection. It’s a fun little treat that bounces along with a life of it’s own. Loads of fun to end the set.

That was it, set over. All songs in different languages. I could have chosen a few others (I have a record by Kvelertak in Norwegian) but I figured that would do.

A great night again – thanks all! Who knows if there’ll be a theme next time. I’m just looking forward to another Vinyl Night!