Depeche Mode - "Death's Door" (forgotten song)

Andy Fletcher, a founding member of Depeche Mode, unexpectedly died earlier this week.  As part of the founding trio of Depeche Mode, Fletcher received no songwriting credits and his role in the band was that of business manager, spokesperson, and tie-breaker for creative disputes.  As I've gotten older, I can better appreciate the role of someone like Andy in a creative endeavor.  

As a member of Generation X, it's impossible to not like Depeche Mode -- it was a constant soundtrack in high school, college, and beyond.  While not to diminish the influence of their early work in their ongoing discography, for my money, it's hard to beat their three LP run of "Music for the Masses" (1987), "Violator" (1990), and "Songs of Faith and Devotion" (1993), all of which I plan to review here some day (tm).  

There are dozens of songs with which we could recognize Andy Fletcher's passing, but I will take overlooked "Death's Door", from the excellent 1992 Wim Wenders soundtrack "Until the End of the World".  Most of the soundtrack was original music, with some of the artists releasing the songs on later LPs.  I don't think Depeche Mode ever released "Death's Door" on a regular studio LP, so other than B-sides and a single with remixes, I think the soundtrack is the only place you can hear it. 

Depeche Mode - "Death's Door"

Cocteau Twins - "Cherry-Coloured Funk"

 

Super Bowl LVI begins in a few hours and I still haven't posted about the halftime show for Super Bowl LV.  Life has kept me pretty busy and I've been way behind in my blogging, but now is a good a time as any to catch up.  

Last year's halftime show was a bit unusual -- only one artist, no fans, no special guests, all due to Covid-19.  The artist was The Weeknd, and the show was mostly well-received (e.g., these reviews in Vox and The Guardian).  Unfortunately, I'm mostly unfamiliar with his canon and with no guests or cover songs,  for a long time I wasn't sure what my take would be on the show.  Then later I found out he's a big fan of The Cocteau Twins*, going so far to name one his songs "Heaven or Las Vegas" (after The Cocteau Twin's 1990 LP) and to sample that LP's opening track, "Cherry-Coloured Funk", on his 2011 song "The Knowing".  "The Knowing" wasn't on the setlist of the halftime show, but the 14 minute format limits how much artists can cover.  

"Heaven or Las Vegas" is probably my favorite LP by the Cocteau Twins, and having been in recent heavy rotation as dinner music at the house, I need to properly review it sometime soon.  The LP features three extraordinary songs, and "Cherry-Coloured Funk" is one of them.  

I'll have a lot more to say about tonight's halftime show, but until then enjoy the Cocteau Twin's "Cherry-Coloured Funk" and last year's show.

Links: Super Bowl LV Halftime Show

Cocteau Twins: "Cherry-Coloured Funk"

The Weeknd: "The Knowing"

* "I've always had an admiration for the era before I was born. You can hear it as far back as my first mixtape that the '80s – Siouxsie and the Banshees, Cocteau Twins – play such a huge role in my sound." -- Billboard.  

Adam and the Ants - "Christian D'or" (forgotten song)

"I've got a fetish for you

A fetish for me

A fetish for coffee
I've got a fetish for tea
I've got a fetish for Brando
A fetish for cats
A fetish for ladies in Christian Dior hats"

For this year's birthday song for Danette, I'm choosing "Christian D'or", the B-side for Adam and the Ants' 1981 single "Prince Charming".  I'm not entirely sure what it all means, but it certainly fits within Adam Ant's hypersexualized fashionista oeuvre.  Danette was a huge Adam and the Ants fan in HS and college, still enjoys them to this day, and certainly maintains a fetish for hats, Christian Dior or otherwise.

Another reason why this is a fitting tribute is that Adam Ant, like many British artists of the period,  always had a significant focus on non-LP singles and high-quality B-sides.  In 1982 he released the "B-Sides" EP, and in 1994 he collected his B-sides and unreleased tracks into "B-Side Babies".  In fact, the Wikipedia article claims that "B-Sides" was the name of the band that would later become "The Ants".  This article claims that "Christian D'or", then "Christian Dior", was originally written in 1978. 

Danette and I both have a collector's focus on the rare and unreleased, so it's fitting that B-sides like "Christian D'or" are still featured prominently in concert.  In 2012 (!), Adam Ant played the Norva, and we also got a picture of his set list to prove it!  It was a great concert and we'd definitely see him again if given the chance.

Hats?  Well, Danette and I enjoy going to the Kentucky Derby, which we've done a handful of times.  I think a big part of the appeal is Danette gets to play dress up and wear outrageous hats, hats in which she looks absolutely smashing.

Happy Birthday Danette!!!

Adam and the Ants - "Christian D'or" (studio) 

Adam and the Ants - "Christian D'or" (live 1981) 

Bonus link: Adam and the Ants - "Prince Charming"

 

Kentucky Oaks, 2015-05-01

 

 

Kentucky Derby, 2015-05-02

Kentucky Oaks, 2016-05-01

Kentucky Oaks, 2016-05-01

Kentucky Oaks, 2016-05-01

Kentucky Derby, 2016-05-02

Kentucky Derby, 2017-05-06

Bonnie inspecting the hats, since you're not allowed to choose your hats before arriving in KY (zoomed in from prior pic)

2012-10-03, Norfolk VA

I've got a fetish for black
A fetish for green
A fetish for those arty magazines
I've got a fetish for blondes
I've got a fetish for blondes
I've got a fetish for blondes
A fetish for blonde haired girls
I've got a fetish for blondes
I've got a fetish for blondes
I've got a fetish for blondes
A fetish for brown haired girls

Previous birthday songs:

2020: Walk Off The Earth - "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall"
2019: Nicki Minaj - "Monster"
2018: Bear Hands - "Giants"
2017: Alvvays - "Archie, Marry Me"
2016: Molly Hatchet - "Flirtin' With Disaster"
2015: Avett Brothers - "Kick Drum Heart"
2014: Ani DiFranco - "32 Flavors"
2013: The Green Pajamas - "Kim the Waitress"
2012: The Cure - "High"
2011: Blink 182 - "Josie"
2010:  Dead Milkmen - "Punk Rock Girl"  

 

Liz Phair - Live 2021-06-23 (concert)

Is it still a "Tiny Desk" concert if it's held on a quite large remote stage?  

Liz Phair, promoting her most recent LP "Soberish", appeared last month on NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series. Because of the pandemic, they're calling them "home" concerts and leaving it to artists to choose their own venue.  Liz apparently chose something slightly larger than the typical intimate, closed quarters that artists chose.

More importantly, she's got new material for the first time in 11 years.  The first three songs, "Spanish Doors", "In There", and "The Game" are from "Soberish" and it's quite good -- certainly an improvement over 2003's "Liz Phair" and 2005's "Somebodys' Miracle".  I don't have "Soberish" yet, but it's planned for my next bulk music purchase.  The four song set closes with a good version of "Never Said" from her 1993 debut LP. 

Be sure to also check out the advance singles from her new LP: "Spanish Doors", "The Game", "Hey Lou", and "In There".  

Liz will be at the Va Beach Amphitheater next month.  Our friend Michele is planning on going, but we'll probably sit this one out.  First, we're still a bit covid-hesitant, and second she's opening for Alanis Morissette and Garbage.  Nothing really against either of them, but... well, let's just say both should be opening for Liz.  

Also a preview: some day I'm going to get around to presenting my argument that now, in the 21st century, "Whip Smart" is actually a better LP to listen to than "Exile in Guyville".

Finally, although April is long gone, I'm retroactively claiming this is a Women's History Month post.

Blackalicious - "Paragraph President" (In Memoriam)

I've fallen behind on posting, but I'll restart by acknowledging the passing of Timothy J. Parker, AKA Gift of Gab, best known as one-half of Blackalicious and part of the influential Quannum Projects collective.  I could tell you that Gab had a voice, flow, and diction that put him head and shoulders above most other MCs, but you should instead read the tributes from DJ Shadow, Chief Xcel, and the many others that recognized his unique talents. 

I thought about highlighting "Midnight in a Perfect World (Gab Mix)" by DJ Shadow, but I already used that EP to mark the passing of David Axelrod four years ago.  I also thought about using "Alphabet Aerobics" (studio, live 2016), which you might remember from Daniel Radcliffe turning in an impressive version of it on the Jimmy Fallon show many years ago.  It's a great song, but verges on novelty and fails to capture the seriousness of Gift of Gab.

Instead, I settled on "Paragraph President", a 2001 single from the 2002 Blackalicious LP "Blazing Arrow".  DJ Shadow featured the last half of this song (listed as "halfway home") on his 2004 LP "Live! In Tune and On Time".  DJ Shadow was a guest producer for "Paragraph President", and once you listen to the combo of Gift of Gab and DJ Shadow, it will only make you regret they did not work together more often. 

Blackalicious - "Paragraph President"

The Supremes - "You Keep Me Hangin' On" (In Memoriam)

Mary Wilson, co-founder and only continuous member of The Supremes from 1959-1977, died earlier this month.  Though I write about it infrequently here, I'm a big fan of Motown (who isn't, really?), and The Supremes were one of the core elements of the Motown sound (honorable mention to session musicians extraordinaire, The Funk Brothers, as well as the incomparable songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland). 

I was going to mark Wilson's passing with my favorite track from The Supremes, "Someday We'll Be Together", but I was surprised to learn that Mary Wilson does not appear on the studio recording.  Instead, I'll choose the defiant "You Keep Me Hangin' On", which checks all the boxes: Mary Wilson (and co-founder Florence Ballard) appear, as do The Funk Brothers, and it's written by Holland-Dozier-Holland. 

Of course, this song has been covered more times than I can count, but any child of the 80s will immediately recall Kim Wilde's version.  I'm also sneaking this in on the last day of Black History Month.

The Supremes - "You Keep Me Hangin' On" 

Kim Wilde - "You Keep Me Hangin' On"

Ramones - Live 1977-12-31 (concert)

 

I'm way behind on all of my posts with several stuck in draft form, including several in memoriam posts.  Instead of doing the hard work of finishing those, I'll leave you with this gem I recently uncovered.  

"It's Alive" by the Ramones is considered one of the best punk live LPs, if not one of the best live LPs,  of all time.  The basis for that LP was this show at the Rainbow Theatre in London, which was one of the classic live venues in the UK during the 70s and early 80s.  In 1977, the Ramones were at their peak, enjoying a blistering streak of three classic LPs: Ramones (1976), Leave Home (1977), and Rocket to Russia (1977).  

This 26 minute clip is not the full show that comprised "It' Alive", but instead appears to be a 14 song compilation from the 2007 DVD release "It's Alive 1974--1996".  I'm not sure if the full concert is available online.  I need to return to my incomplete drafts, but until then enjoy this slice of 1977.