I Owe A Lot To A Dead Man’s Cock

Someone wisely advised not to rely on the first line of a song as the inspiration for blog post titles. However, when the above is the opening line of the opening song of Robyn HItchcock's new album, The Confuser, it would be remiss of me not to!

The Confuser actually came out a month ago yesterday and it was Monday's posting of the video for Wasted, the album's closing song and fifth single, that grabbed my attention.

So, for my benefit as much as yours, here are all five videos in tracklist order, with links to buy the album from the official website or Robyn’s Bandcamp site

Robyn's on tour, including UK dates in September and October. 

It's polka time!

 

 

 

Laughing Out Loud

Happy birthday to Lol Tolhurst, born 3rd February 1959.

Forever associated with The Cure, Lol has lit a creative fire of late, not least a collaborative album with Budgie and Jacknife Lee, but some impressive live performances and unexpected stage shares. For example,

I'd recommend watching the whole of Lol's gig with Gray in France from last April, a composite of two shows in Paris and Lille, but skip to 16:49 and you'll find Miki Berenyi join them on stage for A Strange Day, then the Miki Berenyi Trio in full for Stranger.

Lol also performed with David J and Robyn Hitchcock at the Musack Rock & Roll Carnival in Los Angeles last year, here with a version of Kundalini Express by Love & Rockets.

Unfortunately, the person filming this on their phone were positioned so that Lol remains hidden behind Robyn for most of the song!

Speaking of Los Angeles, aside from being Lol's home for the past three decades, it's also the title track of the 2023 by Lol, Budgie & Jacknife Lee, featuring James Murphy from LCD Soundsystem's unmistakeable vocals.

Los Angeles was also the opening song of Lol and Budgie's KEXP session in 2024. The session closed - as this post opened - with a shimmering version of A Forest by The Cure, Liam Hayden on bass, Lol and Budgie in their element.

Have a good one, Lol.

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)

See Your Eyes Reflected In The World

I don't own any albums by Robyn Hitchcock and each time I hear one of his songs, I make a mental note that I really should get one or two. I'm still failing spectacularly.

Robyn has been a regular feature on music magazine compilations over the years, whether his own material or cover versions. This way, I have amassed a default collection of about a dozen songs by Robyn solo, with The Venus 3 featuring Peter Buck, plus the odd track with The Egyptians or going way back to his early days with The Soft Boys.

Here's a nine song selection, half original songs, half covers, some predictable, a couple more unexpected, all sequenced into forty minutes of aural delight.

I've resolved again to dive into Robyn's extensive album back catalogue. I know there are a number of Robyn Hitchcock fans out there who visit and kindly leave comments so a plea for help: any suggestions or recommendations about where I start?!

 

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

2) The Ghost In You (Cover of The Psychedelic Furs): Robyn Hitchcock (2014)

3) Let Me Roll It (Cover of Paul McCartney & Wings): Robyn Hitchcock (2001)

4) Propellor Time (Early Version): Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3 (2008)

5) Tangled Up In Blue (Live In The USA) (Cover of Bob Dylan): Robyn Hitchcock (1999-2000)

6) Raymond And The Wires: Robyn Hitchcock (2017)

7) Kung Fu Fighting (Cover of Carl Douglas): Robyn Hitchcock (1990)

8) Ordinary Millionaire: Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3 ft. Johnny Marr (2010)

9) Heaven (Live @ The Marquee, London): Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians (1985)

See Your Eyes Reflected In The World (40:10) (Box) (Mega)