A Motion Picture You Will Never Forget

The first Barry Adamson solo single was a cover of The Man With The Golden Arm, composed by Elmer Bernstein for the 1955 film of the same name, starring Frank Sinatra.

As a statement of intent for Moss Side Story, the debut album also released in 1988, it was perfect. The quick time tempo of the original is slowed right down to a brooding, rumbling, menacing tune, so that when the dramatic stabs come in, it hits. 

The Man With The Golden Arm is placed at the end of Moss Side Story's flowing narrative of (mostly) imaginary soundtracks and theme tunes, but I recorded the song from my copy of the 12" single as the opening track of several mixtapes over the years. It works every way.

I've rarely if ever seen the video, and whilst it was no surprise to see the film noir story unfold with Barry in the titular role, the remaining cast and crew were. Barry's paramour is played by 18-year old Minnie Driver, in what must have been one of her first professional acting roles, whilst the striptease artist is none other than Marcia Schofield, better known (to me at least) as keyboard player with The Fall.

The video is directed by Angela Conway, a fellow Mute recording artist as A.C. Marias, and who went on to direct videos for The Smashing Pumpkins, Bryan Ferry, Nitzer Ebb, Maria McKee and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, to name a few.

I think I saw The Man With The Golden Arm not long after. Maybe it was included in the Alex Cox-curated Moviedrome series on BBC2 but I also watched it on the big screen at the Watershed in Bristol and, in the early 1990s, bought the film as a budget-price VHS cassette.

Both the VHS tape and player are long gone and I haven't seen the film in years but, along with The Manchurian Candidate, ranks as one of Frank Sinatra's finest moments on celluloid. 

Here's the trailer, with a snippet of Elmer Bernstein's original score.

 

The Man, The Medd, The Legend

Today's Dubhed selection is dedicated to John Medd. If you've been following his blog Are We There Yet? (and if not, start today!), you'll know why.

 

I've gone back through all the comments that John has left on this blog in 2024 and curated a 19-song selection from the songs or artists that he's liked, plus some that he suggested I check out and consider for a future post. Well, today's the day and this is that selection.

 

I think (I hope) I've tracked down Frank Sinatra's original take on a Gershwin classic from 1954, he revisited and recorded the song many times in his career, from what I can gather. That's by far the oldest song here, with many fresh out in 2024, including a live version of The Zuton's infectious single Creeping On The Dancefloor.

 

One artist that John hasn't mentioned here this year (so far) is Robyn Hitchcock, But I have John and fellow legend The Swede to thank for their own enthusiasm leading to my belated appreciation of the Robyn's work, so he sneaks in with the penultimate song on this selection.

 

The working titles for this selection were 'Medd in Nottingham' and 'Dear John', but a chance comment on the monthly photo challenge over at John's blog on Sunday sealed the deal. 

All in, just over an hour and a half of eclectic and great music, which I hope will provide some entertainment over the coming days and weeks.

Will be thinking of you tomorrow, John, and sending good vibes and love your way.

 

xx

 

  
1) Only The Best Will Do (Album Version): ABC (1997)

2) Aim High (Aim Higher) (The Amorphous Androgynous Remix): Paul Weller (2010)

3) Teenage Lament '74 (Single Version): Alice Cooper (1974)

4) They Can’t Take That Away From Me (Album Version) (Cover of Fred Astaire): Frank Sinatra (1954)

5) Silently (Album Version): Blonde Redhead (2007)

6) They Don't Know How To Fall In Place (Album Version): The Lemon Twigs (2024)

7) Take You Down: Daniel Pemberton (2017)

8) Creeping On The Dancefloor (Live @ Hertford Corn Exchange): The Zutons (2024)

9) A.L.O.E: Bicep (2024)

10) Unfinished Symphony (Ion Rayne Remix): GusGus (2023)

11) Paper (Single Version): Saint Etienne (1992)

12) Love Plus One (BBC Radio 2 Piano Room): Haircut 100 ft. BBC Concert Orchestra (2023)

13) Transition 2: Joy O & Ben Vince (2018)

14) Aqua Grey (2019 Short Edit): Meditation Y.S. (Yoshihiro Sawasaki) (1994)

15) "Bed Heads": Jezebell (2022)

16) Hallelujah (Ewan Pearson Remix): Happy Mondays (2020)

17) ONE (Extract XI): Noema (2023)

18) Belltown Ramble: Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3 (2006)

19) The Good Old Human Race: World Party (2012)

 

1954: Songs for Young Lovers: 4

1974: Alice Coopers Greatest Hits: 3 

1992: Avenue EP: 11

1997: Skyscraping: 1

2006: Olé! Tarantula: 18

2007: 23: 5

2010: Wake Up The Nation/Change Up The Nation (Deluxe Edition): 2 

2012: Arkeology: 19

2017: The Man From U.N.C.L.E. OST: 7 

2018: Transition 2 / Systems Align EP: 13

2019: Perfumed Garden Edits EP: 14 

2020: Hallelujah EP: 16

2022: Shelter Me: 15

2023: BBC Radio 2 Piano Room, 16 February 2024 (bootleg): 12 

2023: ONE: 17

2023: Unfinished Symphony EP: 10

2024: A Dream Is All We Know: 6

2024: CHROMA 001-005 EP: 9

2024: Live @ Hertford Corn Exchange, 22 February 2024 (bootleg): 8

The Man, The Medd, The Legend (1:31:39) (KF) (Mega)

The Sights, The Sounds...The Smells

First of all, Rob Reiner is not dead yet. 

 

A few days ago, #RIPRob was trending on Twitter and there was a hubbub indicating that the American actor and filmaker had karked it. Turns out it was all a hoax, although I guess there are some who will have wished it was true, either because of his anti-Trump comments or his intention to helm a sequel to his directorial debut, the truly brilliant This Is Spinal Tap.

I was sufficiently suckered/tired/brainwashed (delete as applicable) to assume news of Reiner's demise was true and start on a Dubhed selection as a tribute. I'd nearly completed it when I went back online and realised that #RIPRob was all a load of bollocks and, worse, This Is Spinal Tap 2 is still in pre-production.

Rather than park the selection until Rob's eventual and inevitable passing, I've finished it off and present here for your listening pleasure. I've picked out music used in Reiner's films from his 1984 debut through to 1992's A Few Good Men, after which I'll admit I've only had a sporadic interest. Apart from The Sure Thing (1985), which I don't recall ever seeing and despite starring John Cusack, not one I'll rush to find, the rest are bonafide classics. Yes, even the one with Tom Cruise in it.

This Is Spinal Tap inevitably features heavily throughout this selection, a few songs and lots of dialogue ripped from the movie itself. There's some proper soundtrack stuff, with full-on orchestras, a small helping of Mark Knopfler, a couple of contemporary (1984) rock and pop songs and tons of classics from Messrs. Sinatra, Holly, Ellington, King and, er, not-so-classic from Rod The Mod. 

 

The soundtrack for When Harry Met Sally... features Harry Connick Jr.'s covers of American standards, including It Had To Be You. Thankfully, ol' Blue Eyes' version also pops up in the film and therefore appears here. Frank Sinatra had been performing the song since the early 1940s but interestingly, he didn't actually get around to releasing a studio version of the song until 1980.

 

I think the selection generally turned out a lot better than I expected but as ever, you will be the judge of that.

Turn this one up to 11, of course.

 

1) Marti Di Bergi Introduction: Spinal Tap (1984)

2) Morning Ride: Mark Knopfler (1987)

3) Dance Hall Days (Remix By Chris Hughes & Ross Cullum): Wang Chung (1983)

4) "Squatney Memories": Spinal Tap (1984)

5) The Fireswamp: Mark Knopfler (1987)

6) "Saucy Jack": Spinal Tap (1984)

7) Guantanamo Bay: Marc Shaiman (1992)

8) "Lick My Love Pump": Spinal Tap (1984)

9) It Had To Be You (Cover of The Ambassadors): Frank Sinatra (1980)

10) "Yes I Can!": Spinal Tap (1984)

11) Let The Good Times Roll: Shirley & Lee (1956)

12) Heavy Duty: Spinal Tap (1984)

13) You Might Think: The Cars (1984)

14) Shotgun: Junior Walker & The All Stars (1965)

15) Stonehenge: Spinal Tap (1984)

16) Go To Your Room: Marc Shaiman (1990)

17) Stand By Me: Ben E. King (1961)

18) Everyday: Buddy Holly (1957)

19) Gimme Some Money (Soundcheck Version) / "None More Black": Spinal Tap (1984) 

20) Don’t Get Around Much Anymore: Duke Ellington (1940)

21) Infatuation (Full Length Version By  Michael Omartian): Rod Stewart (1984)

22) Stars And Stripes Forever: Marc Shaiman (1992)

23) End Interviews: Spinal Tap (1984)

 

1984: This Is Spinal Tap: 1, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 19, 23

1985: The Sure Thing: 3, 13, 21

1986: Stand By Me: 11, 17, 18

1987: The Princess Bride: 2, 5

1989: When Harry Met Sally...: 9, 20

1990: Misery: 14, 16

1992: A Few Good Men: 7, 22

 

The Sights, The Sounds...The Smells (59:35) (KF) (Mega) 

Au Revoir

Yesterday, my father-in-law was cremated. We made the just-under two hour trip to her parents to join Mrs. K's mum and brother, before the hearse arrived bearing his coffin and we were taken to the crematorium a short drive from home.

My mother-in-law selected the music which soundtracked our time together with him, moments of reflection, sadness at his passing and joy at the many, many memories of his kindness and love for his family.

 

I'm not a traditionalist in most things, but I did ask him for permission to marry Mrs. K and his reaction - there were tears (of happiness, I hasten to add) - will always stay with me. I knew him for over two decades and he was the best "in law" I could have wished for, welcoming me into the family and just being a great dad to us.

 

I'm pretty sure there were seven songs in the twenty-or-so minutes of music; I can only recall six, thinking I've missed the actual penultimate song somewhere. Back at the house, my mother-in-law couldn't remember all of the songs either; hardly surprising as our thoughts were elsewhere. She didn't write it down beforehand and will contact the funeral directors as she's asked me to burn a CD-R of the songs for her.

 

The songs will be familiar to many of you. Not your typical Dubhed fare perhaps, although by sheer coincidence one of the artists appeared a couple of weeks ago in my tribute to Sylvia Sims.

 

I've scoured YouTube to find the songs and - in all but two cases - live/TV performances by the artists in question. The opening song has a monologue at the start and a second song at the end, so the song in question runs from approx. 2:00 to 7:30.

 

The closing song is about as good a choice as one could wish for.

 

My father-in-law's ashes will be returned home on Friday. In many other respects, he never left and will always be with us in our hearts.

 

Thank you, David, for everything.   

1) The Lonely Shepherd: James Last ft. Gheorghe Zamfir

2) Moon River: Andy Williams

3) As Time Goes By: Perry Como

4) It's All In The Game: Nat King Cole

5) My Way: Frank Sinatra

6) What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong