Every year at this time we sing 'Auld Lang Syne', or should that be attempt to sing this song?

Dating from the 1700s this old folk song is very famous the world over. 
But have you heard "The Parting Glass"? Another Scottish traditional song, often sung at the end of a gathering of friends. It has also long been sung in Ireland and was purportedly the most popular parting song in Scotland before Robert Burns and "Auld Lang Syne".
I heard this earlier in the year when watching the wonderful 1998 film 'Waking Ned' (Devine). 'Fill to me the Parting Glass' was composed by Shaun Davey for the closing sequence of the film, the words are traditional set to his new, original melody. In 2002 Shaun Davey re-orchestrated the song to include full orchestra, choir and pipes.

All together now, join hands... it's New Year's Eve   

An alternative (and occasional) music posting highlighting something out of the ordinary. Perhaps of limited appeal, unconventional, experimental or just far-out ! Call it what you like (or switch it off, if you don't like). 

Earlier this month we featured the voice of Lisa Fischer and during research an award winning American documentary called '20 Feet From Stardom' came to light. Another of the many back up singers featured in this film is today's artist Darlene Love.

Her story is fascinating. In the early 60s she sang lead on a number of recordings for which she was not credited: The Crystals 'He's a Rebel' for starters and one part of the Blue Jeans to Bob B. Soxx while as a member of The Blossoms, Darlene Love contributed backing vocals behind many of the biggest hits of the 1960s.

She was very much a part of the recordings made by Phil Spector and his famous 'Wall of Sound': To attain the Wall of Sound, Spector's arrangements called for large ensembles, with multiple instruments doubling or tripling many of the parts to create a fuller, richer tone. Among other features of the sound, Spector incorporated an array of orchestral instruments (strings, woodwind, brass and percussion) not previously associated with youth-oriented pop music. Reverb from an echo chamber was also highlighted for additional texture.

Given the full treatment this popular song was written in 1949 by Carl Sigman (lyrics) and Peter DeRose (music). The song is about winter and is commonly regarded as a Christmas song, although the lyrics make no mention of Christmas. It's 'A Marshmallow World' by Darlene Love. Something jolly [please go full screen to fully enjoy the lights]

   

Just before Christmas in 1971 RCA records released 'Hunky Dory' by David Bowie. While this may now look like perfect timing the truth is that it enjoyed very little publicity and even less success at the time. 

I was convinced the track 'Starman' was on that album. It wasn't. Recorded in February 1972 it was the first single from 'Ziggy Stardust' issued the following June and it became Bowie's first hit single since 'Space Oddity', three years earlier. 

Before that summer, Stardom was still some way off for David Bowie. 

On the 10th February 1972 he played the 'Toby Jug' in Tolworth [see picture above]. A local pub venue of modest proportions. Nice related story if you click here.

On 5th July the video [below] of the Top of the Pops performance of 'Starman' would propel Ziggy and the Spiders from Mars up the singles and also album charts as he blew our minds. 

"Many fans date their conversion to all things Bowie to this Top of the Pops appearance".

Today let's sprinkle a bit of Stardust - and boogie

PS: Don't you just love the gormless guy in the tank-top dancing behind them ? 😁 

An alternative (and occasional) music posting highlighting something out of the ordinary. Perhaps of limited appeal, unconventional, experimental or just far-out ! Call it what you like (or switch it off, if you don't like). 

You'll know this piece of music, especially at this time of year, though the version may surprise you:- Introducing the many faces of Lindsey Stirling.

I have selected a rather sedate acoustic rendition, that is contrasted by some of the videos available, showing various energetic performances and pyrotechnics that are all a bit over the top. Having read that Lindsey Stirling's video 'Crystallize' (Dubstep Violin Original) was the 8th most watched on YouTube during the year 2012, [link to] there's clear indication of her diversity to watch online. 

> 'Carol of the Bells' was written in 1914 by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovich - based on a Ukrainian folk chant 'Shchedryk'. And performed here 'live' from Paste Studios, New York. 

   

-    E  R  R  A  T  U  M   -

It seems I have been repeating myself...!

I guess it was bound to happen eventually, but the STAR TRACK on 7th May this year [No.270] was the same track as [No.92] back in August 2017. Same everything: song, video and almost the same introduction story. (Surprised you didn't spot it 😊)

I must have really liked this track by Buffalo Tom to pick it twice. So I think it best I make a slight amendment to this years repeat post, by changing the video to a different version of 'Taillights Fade' involving Buffalo Tom singer Bill Janovitz 'live' with Pearl Jam from 2018. 

>>> here's the link to this now updated post. 

   

Last weekend I was sorry to hear of the death of Mike Nesmith of 'Hey, Hey we're The Monkees' fame. In fact of the four members of the band he was the one that musically stood out for me. He especially attempted to address the situation regarding the group performing and contributing their own compositions, which The Monkees didn't succeeding in achieving until their third album release.

Initially I thought I'd just post the evergreen 'Daydream Believer' and then I discovered Mike Nesmith wrote the song 'Different Drum'. 

Originally in a band called The Greenbriar Boys, the song was released in 1966 on an album. Mike Nesmith then offered the song to the The Monkees TV show's producers, who turned him down, though he did manage to perform an intentionally awful version during an episode called "Too Many Girls" in a talent contest as a folk singer called Billy Roy Hodstetter. Go back to 6:15 on a Saturday evening in 1967 and enjoy watching the whole episode here (*) or skip to the 16:10 minute mark to witness this unrecognisable rendition. 

Anyway the song was picked up, later that year by the trio The Stone Poneys, who saw it as a folk ballad, however a more complex baroque pop version emerged and the recording saw session musicians replace regular band members Kenny Edwards and Bobby Kimmel, with only Linda Ronstadt singing the vocals. 

The single reached No.13 on the Billboard Hot 100. Fared even better in New Zealand and Australia though I can't find any information regarding the UK release. But the track did turn up on 1974 compilation LP by Linda Ronstadt. 

So this is thinking of Mike Nesmith [1942-2021]

"You and I travel to the beat of a different drum"

I first clocked the writing talents of Mike Nesmith on the 'B' side of a single, a now rather dated sounding 'Tapioca Tundra' - this oddly named song is an experimental piece of poetry put to music. Worth a listen.

(*) Each episode featured a song, this show had 'I'm A Believer' at the end. 

 

   

My final 'Hobbits Garden' memory... 

On a reopening midweek night in early December we saw Genesis, with support from Roxy Music [see this image on my previous Revisited post]. 

I clearly remember the night, but detail is a bit 'patchy'. Given how Bryan Ferry was such a presence and main focus of the band, I don't recall him at all. David O'List (ex The Nice and pretty soon ex Roxy Music too) on guitar, is a vague memory, while the dominant recollection is that of DJ John Peel who was there, sitting just a short cross-legged distance away from us on the floor. He was championing Roxy Music at this time, long before they even had a record deal. A BBC 'Peel Session' recorded a month later gives a clue as to what they may have played that night, because I have no idea.

Versions of all nine tracks from their first album,* released in June 1972, were recorded by the BBC for the John Peel show so it's a fair assumption that the setlist, that night in December, was songs that ended up on that first LP. Listening today the whole album is very avant-garde, even by today's standards - the commercial and single success came about later on… 

So I've decided to jump forward a few years and play 'All I Want Is You' © 1974 > Eddie Jobson (ex Curved Air) is now on keyboards - Eno has gone, as too guitarist Phil Manzanera bug eyed glasses. But Mr 'Cool' Ferry is very much on show: 

 

* For those of you keen to sample the early Roxy Music here's a link to an 'Old Grey Whistle Test' performance of 'Ladytron' - broadcast just after the release of the record in 1972. 

For the record over the last six years   T H E  F R I D A Y  M U S I C  S P O T   has now starred 300 tracks, from the beginning in November 2015. 

The first 50 songs can be relived via this link. For 51-100 click here: 101-150 click this one and then 151-200 (link) ; while 200-250 is here. Today lists the last 50, below.

Click on the blue arrow ➤ to replay that track. Please note: Many of the 300 videos are showing unavailable now, but you can search for an alternative, if you wish.

251 ➤ Tin Soldier .…….….….……......................................... Small Faces
252 ➤ Handel's 'And The Glory of The Lord' … Brussels Choral Society
253 ➤ While My Guitar Gentle Weeps .……….............… Steve Lukather
254 ➤ Under Pressure ........................................... Queen & David Bowie
255 ➤ Bright .…..……....…................................................……Peter White
256 ➤ Coda from Layla .…….….……….............. Derek and the Dominos
257 ➤ Rette Mich (Save Me) ..……...…..…...................................… Nena
258 ➤ Raymond's Road ………..............….……...........… Beggars Opera
259 ➤ Mr Bojangles.………….....................................… Jerry Jeff Walker
260 ➤ Promised Land .………….................….....….…......… Chuck Berry

261 ➤ All In Your Mind .….........................…..….............….……..… Stray
262 ➤ Mocking Bird .……….….....................…… Barclay James Harvest
263 ➤ Titan .………….…....................................…David Guetta (with Sia)
264 ➤ A Man I'll Never Be ............................................................. Boston
265 ➤ I'd Rather Go Blind .…..……....…............................…… Helen Ibe
266 ➤ The Story .…….….……......................…..............…............. Runrig
267 ➤ Easy Sleazy.......................................… Mick Jagger & Dave Grohl
268 ➤ Bat Out Of Hell  .………................….........….……......… Meat Loaf 
269 ➤ Stand By Me.…………........................................................... Oasis
270 ➤ Taillights Fade ........................................ Bill Janovitz & Pearl Jam

271 ➤ Into the West .…….….….......................…................ Annie Lennox
272 ➤ Like A Rolling Stone .……….…..................................... Bob Dylan
273 ➤ All Along The Watchtower .…………......................... Jimi Hendrix
274 ➤ Hey Joe ................................................................... Roy Buchanan
275 ➤ Rose of Cimarron .…..……....….............................................Poco
276 ➤ Glass Jar.…….….…….....................................…........…......Tristen
277 ➤ Please, Please, Please let me get what I want ........ Johnny Marr
278 ➤ Song 2 .…….....……..............................................…........…….Blur
279 ➤ Not Alone.………….......................................................Lisa Basillo
280 ➤ Where the Streets Have No Name .….....................….....……..U2

281 ➤ Somewhere Nicer .…….….…..................….............…........… Obi
282 ➤ From the Morning .................................................……Nick Drake
283 ➤ London .………….....……......…..… Thea Gilmour & Sandy Denny
284 ➤ Sammy Dead .................................. Byron Lee & The Dragonaires
285 ➤ School of Rock ............................................ School of Rock Band

286 ➤ Feel Flows .…….…...................……........................... Beach Boys
287 ➤ Gone, Gone, Gone ......................…..…................ Everly Brothers
288 ➤ The Song is Over ............................................................The Who
289 ➤ Celebrity Skin .……................................................................ Hole
290 ➤ Come As You Are .……......…...........…............…….......... Nirvana

291 ➤ Learn To Fly .............................................................. Rockin' 1000
292 ➤ Uptown Funk .……….….................... Mark Ronson ft Bruno Mars

293 ➤ Mr Blue Sky.…………......................................…ELO (Flash Mob)
294 ➤ Peace Train ................................................... Playing For Change
295 ➤ Green is the Colour ............... Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets

296 ➤ Space .…….….……....................…..............….............. Biffy Clyro
297 ➤ The Final Hour Extended....................................... Audiomachine
298 ➤ 25 or 6 to 4 ......................................................... Leonid & Friends
299 ➤ Meet Me On The Corner.............................................. Lindisfarne
300 ➤ Gimme Shelter ............................... Lisa Fischer & Rolling Stones

   

According to my calculations, and who's to say I'm wrong, today is the 300th 'Friday Music Spot'. Calls for a 5-Star Track I think. 

You'll recognise the 'band' here from London. While the singer that takes over mid song is perhaps less well known but make no mistake everyone is watching her, she's become the star. 

Keith knows immediately, Charlie [look at his face] knows at 2:38 minutes in, hell even Mick knows at 2:45, and at 2:55 -"Boys, we just became a backup band."

Billed as Rolling Stones with Lisa Fischer but now Lisa Fischer with the Rolling Stones !

This is Amsterdam 1995. The Voodoo Lounge Tour. What a performance as she kills "Gimme Shelter". 

Lisa was born: 1 December 1958 in the Fort Greene neighbourhood of Brooklyn, New York. 

Originally released 5th December 1969 on the 'Let It Bleed' album, "Gimme Shelter" in 2021 was ranked at number 13 on the Rolling Stone magazine's '500 Greatest Songs of All Time' list. 

For Charlie Watts - R.I.P.