Songs on the Tape 025 ~ I Know a Man, He’s Really Awful Nice…He Isn’t Here! ~
I was actually waiting for 3 “MixTapes” from collectors in the UK (in a flashdrive) and one in France (need jpegs!) and another one from Hong Kong (unsure of tracks he wants to put!) unfortunately there were some delays. Waiting for snail mail is sometimes too long. I hope they were just delayed and nobody took them…well, if someone did then I hope they like POP! music too! No sense wasting good music, right? I know I’ve been missing one or two or three packages already (the Dum Dum Girls CDR, Crocodiles 7”, some demo tapes, etc.) So Mr. Postman will hear from me once I find time to call him!
So because of the delayed music, I ended up making my own MixTape! You probably heard the songs already since they’ve been posted for more than couple of weeks earlier than my tracklist with the exception of The Chinese Gangster Element’s “Joey”, Aberdeen’s “Byron” and The Hit Parade’s “Harvey” which played in my I-Pod in the middle of the week and I decided that these should be included with this MixTape for obvious reasons! On top of that, so many Sarah bands playing on one theme MixTape is always good! There were also other songs that would have made it, like Khan (more of a last name with one or two exception), Alexis (more of a girl’s name nowadays), Sean or Rich (two(too) slow songs), Jackson (it’s a song about the place), etc., etc. There were also a lot of songs that I don’t own in my collection unfortunately but I’m pretty sure you have some more songs in mind, so feel free to email me some suggestions too for a second round of the same theme in the future!! I am also in the process of moving houses so everything’s chaotic and time is scarce and I haven’t even started packing the CDs and the Vinyl! Aaarrrggggghhhh!
Anyways, this MixTape’s title is nicked from The Damned and as you can see they are all boys/men’s names but don’t take the title too seriously because some of these people might actually be nice! I’ve also noticed that when bands write about a girl/woman it usually has upbeat, positive melodies to it….but when a song is written about a man/boy some of the songs I picked up were a bit moodier, some slower than the usual pace. But I did listen to the whole thing this week and some are more pleasant than others but all of them very, very wonderful and great songs!! “Peter” and “Jack” are the carry over tracks from my last two MixTapes and several guys like “Andrew”, “Christopher” and “Jack” (again) get extra airplay as two different bands sing about them. Play loud and, er, I hope you like it! I also included extra eye candies in the photos section too!
The Grooveyard – “Peter” (from the 12” single “At Home with the Grooveyard”, 1987 Playroom Discs, PLAYD3-12) Great song from this band. One of two carry over tracks from my previous MixTapes. I didn’ have much info on the band (even the record doesn’t say much!) but you can check out our friend, Roque’s wonderful blog of pop ditties and interviews and stuff! He interviewed the drummer of the band…so check it out right here.
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Shelley's Children – “ Jack” (from the 12” “Everytown”, 1991 Peasant Revolt Records, REV194) Another carry over track from the previous MixTapes…one of my favourite songs from this band! “what are little boys made of….Frogs and Snails and Puppy-Dogs’ Tails….” That could have been the title of this MixTape….maybe on the next set of songs! More info about the band right here.
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Black Cillas – “Sebastian” (from the 7” single, 1986 Cillagram Records, CIG001B) Classic track which I first heard in The Sound of Leamington Spa Volume 5! Amazing track which made me track down the 7” single!! More info right here!
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The Waltones – “Eddie” (from the CD Compilation “Float Like A Butterfly” (2006 Medium Cool Records, MC23PROMO). One of the unreleased songs that Andy Wake compiled on this great promo release! I do hope this eventually leads to a future 3 or 4 CD Medium Cool Records retrospective complete with lot s of pictures, artwork and stories about the great bands in the label! Check out more info here!
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Dead Famous People – “Gavin” (from the CD “All Hail The Daffodil”, 1991 La-di-da Productions, LA-DI-DA 016CD). I am still hunting down some of their other releases and see it in ebay once in a blue moon…!
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The Man from Delmonte – “M.I.C.H.A.E.L.” (from the CD “The Good Things in Life”, 1999 Vinyl Japan, ASKCD102) This was from a great compilation release from the mighty (now defunct and sadly missed) label, Vinyl Japan! Some of the band’s older vinyl releases are hard to come by so hunting this comp is one great way to check out the band’s music! Vinyl also came in a Red Cover! NICE~! check out a fan site right here!
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Momus – “Nicky” (from the CD Compilation “Red Heaven”, 1995 Nectar Records, NTMCD520). How can you not like Momus? His music is not for everyone’s taste but I know a lot of people who like his music a lot! I personally enjoy and like the music that I heard but I never really had the pleasure of hearing most of them. Momus is actually Nick Currie, a cousin of my one time guitarpop hero, Justin Currie of del Amitri (although short lived one because I only really loved their first few singles singles and their debut album before they became so RRRRAAACCKKK and RRoolll!
:-) ) Anyways, back to Momus…he actually posted all his out of print albums in his Blog! Wow! So go check it out. I already did download them but I just have to find the right time to immerse in his Music and listen to them…I hope it comes soon! Please check it out and download his albums right here and read more info right here.
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Strawberry Story – “Andrew” (from the CD Compilation “Series Two Compilation Volume 4”, Series Two Records) I got this song from an early Series Two compilation but I think I might have an album by Strawberry Somewhere in my basement but I’m planning on getting their Clamming It Up Plus Cd and flexis from their site soon! Check it out right here.
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The Hyacinth Girls – “Boris” (from the CD “Old Men Ought to be Explorers”, 1995 Instant Music, INST001CD). I don’t have any other info on this band aside from the Sound of Leamington Spa series. They did release another earlier LP called “Happy Now” which fetches a big amount in the auction sites….but you can find a song or two in this CD as extra hidden tracks! Any more info and pictures would be great!
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Strawberry Fair – “Kristoffer” (from the CD-EP “Strawberry Fair Sings ‘I Can’t Do Anything’”, 2008 Self Released) Great indiepop songs on this cdep from someone who doesn’t really listen to any indiepop songs on her sparetime! I’m looking forward to hearing more songs from Strawberry Fair! More info here!
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Louis Philippe – “Eusebio” (from the Tape “Grimsby Fishmarket 4, Norrkoeping 0”) First track from this amazing compilation and it’s a song about his favourite Portugese striker named Eusebio da Silva Ferreira! Check out more info about Louise Philippe right here.
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Home and Abroad – “Christopher” (from the demos “Waiting for The Backlash”) I don’t have too much info on Home and Abroad and never had the pleasure of owning any of their 7” singles! This demo was circulating around music fans for several years. I do hope that a compilation album of all the band’s long lost songs can be released soon. You can say hello to the band right here!
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Danny Wilson – “Davy” (from the LP “Meet Danny Wilson”, 1987 Virgin Records, V219) It wasn’t a person, but a band…that was how their ads were saying when this band first came out. Sadly after releasing music in a few other bands, Gary Clark seems to be in the background nowadays writing /co-writing songs with other people, but he doesn’t sing a much! Danny Wilson only released two albums and both were great! Check out more info about the band right here!
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Riverside – “James” (from the CD “One”, 1992 Sire Records, 9-45012-2) Another great album of pop songs! I am actually hunting for a vinyl LP of this album as I’ve never really seen one yet but I think they should have released this on that format during the early nineties. The band was formerly called Grace! More info on the band right here!
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The Ocean Blue – “Ayn” (from the CD Single, 2001 March Records, MAR074). I saw this band live back in 1993 or 1994. It was their first and last appearance in Toronto I think! But they never lost the plot, they still make amazingly beautiful pop songs! Next time I’ll play the radio session from that Canadian Tour if I still find it…More info here.
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The Orchids – “Walter” (from the CD “Epicurean – A Soundtrack”, 1992 Sarah Records, SARAH611CD) I haven’t had the budget to buy the LTM Re-issues. They do have a whole bunch of songs that I don’t have yet especially the band’s earlier releases under Sarah Records! One day I will…anyways, check out more info here.
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St. Christopher – “Gabriel” (from the CD “Lost At Sea – The Sarah Recordings”, 2007 Plastilina Records, PLAST006) This was originally released in “Bacharach” but I can’t seem to find my vinyl copy. Good thing that it was also included in this wonderful compilation of all the band’s Sarah releases under this amazing Peruvian indiepop label! I still need to get the other compilation that the band released independently. Check out more info here.
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The Monochrome Set - “Jack” (from the CD “Compendium = A History 1979-95”, 1996 Cherry Red Records, CDBRED 128). How may albums and singles did this band release?? I think it might be too many to be collected by one person. This compilation is a good start, it has most of the hits plus some of the good misses! Check out more info here!
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Autour de Lucie – “Simon” (from the CD “Autour de Lucie”, 1995 Le Village Vert/Nettwerk Records, 06700 30 104 29) Good album from this lovely French band. One track actually features the brilliant Michael Head (not this one though) that I can play in a future MixTape! I never actually heard any more songs by the band except for this so I might have to investigate! Check more Wiki info here!
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The Mary Onettes – “ Henry” (from the CD “The Mary Onettes”, Labrador Records, CD-LAB0103). Ah…I finally bought this album (after a long long delay) and got my copy from our friends at Popsicle Recordings (who are based in Toronto)…but after I sent the payment they were already in the middle of their vacation! Arrrghhh! So a few more days before I finally get this and then I will order their new single “Dare”! Watch some old Video Sessions by the band here including the Song "Henry"...and check out more info on their site right here!
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Blueboy – “Chadwick” (from the CD “The Bank of England”, 1998 Shinkansen Recordings, SHINKANSEN12CD) The band’s last album made inbetween playing in two other bands, Arabesques and Beaumont. More info and discography right here.
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The Foots – “Andrew” (from the CD compilation “Clippings – A Candle Records Collection”, 1998 Candle Records, CAN2501) This song was in an early compilation from the label. I’m not too familiar with the band’s other songs or discography though.
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The Frank and Walters – “Humphrey” (from the CD single “Happy Busman”, 1992 Go! Discs, HOOCD2). I found this song in one of their early singles! Sadly I haven’t really been getting any of their newer releases so I might have to catch up soon! Check more info right here.
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The Chalk Giants – “Jason” (from the CD “These Things I’ve Done”, 2004 Mousse, MOUSSECD50) On of the band’s slower songs! It’s been awhile since they released any thing new so I hope Matt and company are cooking up some more songs for us POP Fans! Check out more info here and here!
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The Jazz Butcher Conspiracy – “Ben” (from the CD “Waiting for the Love Bus”, 1993 Creation Records, CRECD156) I have several of the band albums but it’s been awhile since I actually listened to them, so it was nice to hear an old but unfamiliar song to my ears! Great tune too! You can check out their comments on their own albums and singles on their site! nicely done...check it out right here~!
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How Many Beans Make Five – “Simon” (from the CD “One Last Look”, 1991 La-di-da Productions, LA-DI-DA015) The last time I personally played a HMBM5 song here was June 2007, a girls name “Suzanne”, so it’s nice to do the counterpart to that girl! There was talk before in their Facebook page about releasing some rarities and live gigs but I no news on that. I hope they can still leak some songs to us eager POP fans! Check out more info here!
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The Chinese Gangster Element - “Joey” (from the split 7” compilation, Spike’s Label) I was looking for this flexi in my basement but for the life of me I can’t seem to locate it in the boxes! I found the insert but wanted to get more info on the label itself but no luck! I saw their 7” single but It was a lot nosier than this lovely track!
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Aberdeen – “Byron” (from the 7” single, 1994 Sarah Records, SARAH93). After all these years, I still don’t know what that cover is showing! Any Ideas? Inverted boat hanging from a tree? Upside down bathtub?, Airplane’s wing? Oh, one of the bands that Aberdeen was thanking on the sleeve note is The Ocean Blue…who’s also playing on this MixTape! Nice! Check out more songs and info here!
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The Hit Parade – “Harvey” (from the 7” single ‘In Gunnersbury Park’, 1991 Sarah Records, SARAH58) last of the three last minute additions to this Mixtape…wonderful to have 5 bands that were in the Sarah Records line-up! So was this song dedicated to Julian’s friend Harvey? Lovely! More info here and on their official site right here!
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