One by one we jumped the wire
With a lendin' hand to inspire
Both the artist and the writer
As timber fed the fire
1. It is a fine thing to have you here once more for Barfly Session Forty Two. No themes this week. Just some great songs and tenuous links to days gone by. Pick up a drink and let yourselves be immersed into a time zone especially reserved for The Horse & Feather. Where nothing can touch us 'cept the music. Come to think of it now, this leads us really nicely into our opening song this evening. It comes a band formed by Ride guitarist Andy Bell.. This came out in 1997 and the fact I can still bring it to mind with such fondness after all these years tells you just how much I rate it. "I'll let you look into my dream/If you show me your dream/Tell me what it means."
1. Hurricane #1
Step Into My World
2. Forty two weeks in a row and no Supremes. That's something that - quite rightly - needs to be rectified. We all know The Supremes had some massive hits but out of all of them, this sits right at the top of the pile for me. Taken off their "Where Did Our Love Go" album from 1964 this is another Motown composition written by the magic trio Holland - Dozier - Holland. Motown was a big business in those days of course and the decisions made at the top were as slick as the performers themselves. Motown boss Berry Gordon changed the name of the band to Diana Ross & The Supremes as it meant he could charge for two acts being on stage. One being the lead singer and the other being the band. Crafty right? Anyways, take a listen to this. It's one of thee most perfect soul records.
2. The Supremes
Come See About Me
3. Our third choice for this session comes from the band Uncle Tupelo. The song itself is off an album released back in 1992 and the simple reason for it being on here is that just last week, I was watching a film abut the American writer Joan Didion. She was famous for her takes on Hollywood and the Haight-Astbury/San Francisco scene in the 1960's. The film is called "The Center Will Not Hold" and it was an unexpected find in the early hours of the night that I was most pleased with. A portion of this song featured in the background and it blended in perfectly with the mood of the film. As I drove to work the next morning it stayed in my head along with a Joan Didion quote. "Fade as the blue nights fade, go as the brightness goes. Go back into the blue." So here it is in full. "Sandusky" by Uncle Tupelo.
3. Uncle Tupelo
Sandusky
4. I've been reading a lot more than usual of late. Staying up watching documentaries through the night too. I'm finding as I get older (and it's birthday 42 for me next week!) I'm wanting to learn more. More about history, about science, about people. Not sure if this happens to all of us as time starts to take hold or whether that's just me. Just this weekend gone I read about a cave explorer called Marcin Gala. His exploits took him to extraordinary depths and his biggest challenge was conquering and mapping the Chevé cave system in the Sierra de Juárez mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico. Thought to be the deepest cave in the world. The local Cuicatec people steered clear of this area. They warned of a malignant spirit that wandered these tunnels, its feet pointing backward as it walked. It was a great read and by the end, I had a huge respect for the sheer bravery and determination of these cavers and the pain they put themselves through for weeks at a time. It also posed the question... just how much else is out there yet to be explored? So my brain gifted me with this song by R.E.M which contains these lines of splendour. "I want the hummingbirds/The dancing bears/Sweetest dreams of you/I look into the stars/I look into the moon." This came out in 1999 at a time when I wish I knew then what I know now.
4. R.E.M
The Great Beyond
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5. The Covid curse has hit our friendly Fox for the second time so he's now back in isolation but he has messaged me with his song of choice. All his message said was "Cream. Crossroads." Straight to the point with no chaser but that works for me. Thank you Stel. This Cream track is a twist on a song written by Robert Johnson. There is very little evidence to support the fabled stories about blues legend Mr Johnson but he reportedly died by drinking poisoned whiskey in Mississippi. The year was 1938. He was 27. There are some stunning live versions of this knocking about too. This is a whirlwind of noise so you'll need a refill before you press play.
5. Cream
Crossroads
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6. It might not be strictly fair to call The Fox's choice above "a cover" but there is no doubting our sixth track tonight from British singer Ella Eyre. We all know the original version sung by Jermaine Stewart that came out in 1986. I don't play cover songs too often but in this case I prefer this stripped down version to the original. I wrote that in bold italics so you can see my joke was fully intentional. "We could dance and party all night/And drink some cherry wine." Well.... I'm not convinced about the cherry wine bit and it's a hell of a long time ago since I managed to get through an all night party but I do applaud the sentiment.
6. Ella Eyre
We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off
7. I can't help but feel sorry for Charlie Rich. Predominantly a country singer, he seemed to bounce around record labels without finding a true home. Along the way though, he made a few soul crossover tracks like this one, proving his depth and versatility. This was to become a Northern Soul classic and I'm going to have this song play us out as it's another favourite of mine. I should also add that we do love an old hellraiser and Charlie Rich certainly fits into that bracket, as he showed when presenting The Country Music Awards in 1975. Gloriously pissed, he set fire to the card proclaiming John Denver as a winner. Goodnight everybody. Meet me back here next week and we'll do it all over again.
7. Charlie Rich
Don't Tear Me Down
