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). 

Even with five Fridays this month I need extra slots for the January requests. So to include this suggested track I'm going to use the Midweek Spot.  
You know the song, I'm sure, but maybe not this version of it. 
American heavy metal band from Chicago called Disturbed - (disturbing) 'The Sound of Silence':

Part Two of the 'January Request Slot' involves a band with a song I'd never heard of before said request. But the opening line of the song had me intrigued while the back stories are also pretty interesting.

"And the sign said, 'Long-haired freaky people need not apply'."

Composed by lead singer Les Emmerson who wrote the song after taking a road trip on Route 66 in California, where he noticed a plethora of billboards that obscured the beautiful scenery. This posed a question: 'Who is allowed to put up signs that interfere with nature?'
The song simply called 'Signs' was included on the band's second album in 1970, but not considered single-worthy by their record label, as it didn't fit a standard pop format. In 1970, it was issued as the B-side to the single "Hello Melinda Goodbye," which only made No.55 on the Canadian chart. Disk jockeys preferred the flip side, however, and started playing "Signs", which was then released as an A-side in 1971. It made No.4 in Canada but took off in America, reaching No.3 in August. No signs (pardon the pun) of any UK chart success.
From Ottawa, Canada this is Five Man Electrical Band - enjoy the 'freaky' instrumental ending all you long-haired people >

Just in case this YouTube video is country restricted (as happened last week) here's another link that I'm sure works fine > www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeT5otk2R1g - this actually contains a longer instrumental ending.

Don't you love a list, you know I do !
I recently found a print out from a 'Rock List Music' website (click link here) that shows various poll results from publications down the years. 'Zigzag' magazine (1969-1986) listed, in issue 23, in 1971 as their readers 'Best Album Ever':- 'Forever Changes' by Love. Three years later under 'Most Played Album' it was the same LP and in 1975 their 'Album of the Century' was, you guessed, 'Forever Changes' ! (Interestingly similar lists, with hindsight, today list The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Beach Boys or Velvet Underground as their number one 60s album).
That said, this brings me neatly to today's Star Track and first request for January 2020: off that 'Forever Changes' album from 1967 this is Side One, Track One - 'Alone Again Or' by Love. Listen on headphones and enjoy the new technology of 1967, in stereo sound.

Wonderful track to here again. And more again... so here's a 'live' recording of Arthur Lee & Love from 2003 > www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdPLlxoT_as


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Sadly just two days after last week's FMS track Neil Innes of the Bonzo Dog Band passed away. He had also appeared in this blog playing John Lennon (Ron Nasty) as part of the spoof The Rutles - here's that link as a reminder of a great musician. R.I.P. Neil. 
http://billblogs2.blogspot.com/2016/10/seems-ive-got-stuck-in-sound-like.html
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'Tis the season to be jolly  Fa la la la la, la la la la ♫♫♫

Something very silly then... and no one sillier than The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band.

They'd been extremely silly for some 4 years and 4 albums when in 1969 it all came unstuck and at a concert over Christmas they announced they were splitting up. In the general mayhem of their live shows no one present actually believed them. I know, because I was there !

There was a short 'farewell' tour in 1970 and the contractual obligation of one final LP in 1972. Otherwise the original line up of Vivian Stanshall, vocals, trumpet; Neil Innes, vocals, guitar, piano; Vernon Dudley Bohay-Nowell, guitar, banjo; Rodney Slater, saxophone, trumpet; Roger Ruskin Spear, saxophone, mechanical props; “Legs” Larry Smith, drums; & Sam Spoons, percussion: past into folklore, gone but never forgotten.

Here they are off the 'Gorilla' album, with their version of 'Jollity Farm' (a song from 1930 written by Leslie Sarony). Cartoon time with some faded footage of the band. 

Recognise the ending ?  Yes it's 'The Archers' theme tune.

For the record over the last four years the   FRIDAY MUSIC SPOT   has starred 200 tracks.

Beginning on 13th November 2015 with Funkadelic's 'Maggot Brain'.

The first 50 songs can be reviewed via this link. For 51-100 click here: 101-150 click this one and finally 151-200 are listed below.
Click on the blue arrow ➤ to replay that track. NB: Not all of the videos are still available, but you can search for an alternative, if you wish.

Welcome to:

151  ➤   At My Most Beautiful .…….….……….….....................… REM
152  ➤   Rockin' 1000 Summer Camp .……….…...…… Power Medley

153  ➤   A Head Full of Dreams .………………….….............… Coldplay

154  ➤   Good Times, Bad Times ..…..…................…. Led Zeppelin

155  ➤   Samovar .…..……....…...........................…… The Krew Kats

156  ➤   Overnight Sensation .…….….……….…...........… Raspberries
157  ➤   Who Wants to Live Forever .……….…...……...…..…… Queen

158  ➤   Come On, Let's Go .………………….….……......… Ritchie Valens

159  ➤   Lord of the Rings - Soundtrack ...........…. Howard Stone

160  ➤   High Hopes .…..……....…..........................…… Zero-Project

161  ➤   Waves .…….….……….…..............................… Mattia Cupelli
162  ➤   The Best Years of Our Lives .……….…....…… Neil Diamond

163  ➤   Last Time For Everything ….……...............… Brad Paisley

164  ➤   The Same Love That Made Me Laugh .....…. Robert Cray

165  ➤   Old Love .…..……....…..........…… Eric Clapton & Robert Cray

166  ➤   Driving Wheels .…….….……….…................… Jimmy Barnes
167  ➤   The One and Only .……….…...……...…..…… Chesney Hawkes

168  ➤   Made of Stone .………………...................… The Stone Roses

169  ➤   Blue Sky Mine ..…..….................................. Midnight Oil

170  ➤   Time Waits For No One .....................…… Rolling Stones

171  ➤   Always With Me, Always With You .…….….… Joe Satriani
172  ➤   Electric .……….…...……...……….…....................… Madrugada

173  ➤   Cowboy Take Me Away .….......................… Dixie Chicks

174  ➤   Sing, Sing, Sing (with a Swing) .. Benny Goodman Band

175  ➤   The Void .…..……....…........................................…… Muse

176  ➤   Up The Junction .…….….……….…......................… Squeeze
177  ➤   Wasn't Born To Follow .……….........…...…….…… The Byrds

178  ➤   From The Beginning ...............… Emerson Lake & Palmer

179  ➤   Scatterlings of Africa..….......................…. Johnny Clegg

180  ➤   Cold Little Heart ..........................…… Michael Kiwanuka

181  ➤   Youth .…….….……….....................................…....… Feeder
182  ➤   See Me Feel Me .……….….............……...……….……  The Who

183  ➤   You Need Love .…………..……............................… JD Simo

184  ➤   Good Times ..…..….............................................…. Chic

185  ➤   Who By Fire …...................................…… Leonard Cohen

186  ➤   It Ain't Me .……….…..........… Creedence Clearwater Revival
187  ➤   Living In The Past .…......….…..........……….……. Jethro Tull

188  ➤   Fireworks .………………….........….......................… Embrace

189  ➤   Still Fighting ..…..…....................................…. Ben Folds

190  ➤   What Makes You Think You're The One. Fleetwood Mac

191  ➤   Duke's Travels/End .…….….…….....….…............… Genesis
192  ➤   Friday I'm in Love .……….…...........……...…….…… The Cure

193  ➤   Adam's Song .………………….….…......................… Blink 182

194  ➤   Sweet Home Alabama ..….................…. Lynyrd Skynyrd

195  ➤   November Rain .…..……......................…… Guns N' Roses

196  ➤   No More Lonely Nights .……..……….…....… Paul McCartney
197  ➤   Run Like Hell .……….…...….......…...……….…… Dave Gilmour

198  ➤   River.………………….….……............................… Joni Mitchell

199  ➤   Wuthering Heights ..…....….......................…. Kate Bush

200  ➤   Celluloid Heroes ..........................................….… Kinks

A long time ago, in a galaxy not so
far away.... 
The Friday Music Spot was launched and today is the 200th track - and it's one full of Stars. 
This has long been one of my favourite tracks by one of my all time bands. I only recently discovered this song had evolved over the 70s into this 'live' version. The original release from 1972 now has a great guitar intro from the much underrated Dave Davies before brother Ray takes us for a walk down Hollywood Boulevard - this version appeared on the 'One For The Road' album in 1980.

"Everybody's a Star" on 'Celluloid Heroes' by the Kinks.

> A full run down of the FMS 200 coming soon.

All you students, academics and would be mathematicians out there will have calculated that THE FRIDAY MUSIC SPOT is fast approaching track number 200. Hands up if you knew that ?
Today is actually No.199.

When I started out, the intention was not to repeat myself, but some artists have appeared more than once: AC/DC, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Joe Bonamassa, The Byrds, Rod Stewart and Pink Floyd. (hmm, more than I thought)! While others have inevitably turned up a few times in different shapes and forms: Mark Knopfler, Roger McGuinn, Johnny Cash, George Harrison, Tom Petty, Steve Howe, Neil Young and Eric Clapton.
Here are some of my favourite artists we have yet to featured (probably because picking just ONE track has proved beyond me): Jackson Browne (though he was on Gregg Allman & Friends), Tom Waits, John Martyn, Oasis, Kinks (Ray Davies we have had), Red Hot Chilli Peppers and The Doors. One of them will be No.200. I've just not yet quite decided who….

Before that today's track is .....

Based on Emily Bronte's classic book of the same name, it's Kate Bush and 'Wuthering Heights'. However the familiar single version was only 3.30 minutes long and it misses off the one minute guitar solo by Scottish musician Ian Bairnson that plays it out on the album track. I was unaware of this version for ages. Here it is along with a great video 'mash-up' of different performances down the years. Here's waving at yer...

A 1978 hit and No.1 for 4 weeks in the UK, it was also No.1 in Australia, Ireland, Italy & New Zealand plus a Top 10 entry in many other European countries, but I can find no record of any chart success in America. So this may come as something entirely new to listeners across the Atlantic. 

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). 

This could be made for the 'Midweek Music Spot' :(i.e. like it or switch it off, if you don't). I confess I heard this on 'Strictly Come Dancing' when Chris Ramsey and Karen Hauer danced their 'Paso Doble' on week 10. (see this link).
That said it reminded me of 'Thunderstorm' from 'Riverdance' (here) OR if you prefer this opening to the finale (here too). 
Music Spotlight is on 'Run Boy Run' by Woodkid - aka French musician Yoann Lemoine. 

Time for something completely different...
I like to think that the FMS provides a welcome break from the endless round of Christmas hits that get played every year around this time. This then is the nearest we are going to get to a Christmas song. Which it isn't really, but as it samples 'jingle bells' and mentions Christmas the timing is at least correct and the video images appropriate. 
From the 1971 LP 'Blue' Joni Mitchell sings 'River'.
There are many covers versions but none come close to the original. This is real stardust...

The answer was, you knew it, Dave Gilmour. That distinct Pink Floyd guitar sound.
Now I can here you all shouting 'but we've had Pink Floyd twice before on the FMS', and you'd be right. But as tomorrow marks the 40th anniversary of the release of 'The Wall' I couldn't pass on the opportunity to feature this. And as it is solo Dave Gilmour, so strictly speaking not Pink Floyd, though the track is of course, from 'The Wall'.
In October 1971 Floyd performed 'Iive' in the ancient roman amphitheatre at Pompeii. Returning there in 2016 for a very different experience 'Live at Pompeii' was a cinema release, tv programme, CD, LP, DVD and download. Track is: 'Run Like Hell' 
WARNING: Lots of flashing strobe lights (you'll need your Dave Gilmour type dark glasses ON) - especially if you go for the full screen option and it's a blinding ending with fireworks.