JOHN'S GHOST 001 : Apple
Evening all. You’re listening to “John’s Ghost”, the show
based on my record collection set on random play. On a Thursday night
when the cats are asleep, the kettle’s on, and the studio smells
faintly of yesterday’s coffee and someone else’s panic, it has
the same attitude vibe, and imagines what a 70s late night, radio DJ
would sound like if he was still spinning discs on UK Radio in this
Century.
We’ll start, as we always should, with an impression,
a prayer and a protest rolled into one.
� XTC – “Dear God” (Virgin VS960)
Andy
Partridge there, shaking a small fist at the heavens. Funny thing —
when that came out, some shops refused to stock it. Others bought
two. Always thought that said something rather profound about the
retail sector.
� George Michael – “I Want Your Sex [Monogamy Mix - Rhythm 2 - Brass In Love]”
That
was George Michael, doing what he did best: making the radio blush
and the censors reach for a stiff drink. You could almost hear the
eyebrows rising in ’87. Brilliant stuff.
� TLC – “Waterfalls” (No.4 in 1995)
Now,
that one… timeless, isn’t it? “Don’t go chasing waterfalls.”
Good advice. I ignored it, of course. Ended up in a canoe once. Never
again.
� KT Tunstall – “Other Side of the World” (No.13 in 2005)
Lovely
voice, that. KT Tunstall — recorded that in a flat so small, the
reverb was practically a neighbour complaint.
� Crystal Gayle – “Come Home Daddy” (from Crystal)
That’s
Crystal Gayle — the woman whose hair had its own postcode.
Gorgeous, sad little number.
� Cliff Richard – “I Got a Feeling” (from Cliff)
Bit
of Cliff there. You’ll forgive me — I’ve always had a soft spot
for Cliff. He’s like the Queen Mum of pop music: eternally smiling,
inexplicably bulletproof. Next – America’s answer to Cliff...
� Elvis Presley – “I Just Can’t Help Believin’” (from That’s The Way It Is)
Elvis
— live, tired, tender. Even in Vegas he sounded like he meant it.
� The Lumineers – “Submarines” (from The Lumineers)
Modern
folk that stomps around like it’s found an old boot sale banjo and
a grievance. Lovely racket.
� Jackson 5 – “Lookin’ Through The Windows” (No.9 in 1972)
Young
Michael, before the world started demanding too much. Beautiful
harmonies — pure pop optimism bottled and shaken.
� Squeeze – “Trust Me To Open My Mouth” (from Babylon and On)
Difford
and Tilbrook — still Britain’s most underrated lyricists, if you
ask me. And you didn’t, but here we are.
� Brand New Heavies – “Shelter” (No.31 in 1998)
Bit
of acid jazz for your troubles. Always thought the Heavies sounded
like sunshine you could dance to.
� Lady Gaga – “Brown Eyes” (from The Fame)
Stripped-back
Gaga — before the meat dress, before the world tour, before…
well, before everything, really. A reminder she can sing,
not just shock.
� Fleetwood Mac – “Evenin’ Boogie” (from English Rose)
Peter
Green’s Fleetwood Mac there. When blues still ruled the barroom.
Short, sharp, and over before you’ve poured the pint.
� Andy Partridge – “When We Get to England” (from Jules Verne’s Songbook)
Partridge
again — a sort of homecoming hymn. I imagine Jules Verne would’ve
rather enjoyed Swindon, if he’d ever made it.
� Scott Walker – “Up the Stairs” (from The Childhood of a Leader)
Scott
Walker. Uneasy listening for those who’ve had enough of easy
listening. Makes you wish you’d taken the stairs more carefully.
� INXS – “The Swing” (from The Swing)
Bit
of INXS — funk and sweat and swagger. You could smell the 80s on
that one: hairspray and ambition.
� Carpenters – “Love Me For What I Am” (from Horizon)
Karen
Carpenter — the voice of gentle heartbreak. Makes everything else
sound slightly too loud.
� Frankie Goes To Hollywood – “Two Tribes” (No.1 in 1984)
Nuclear
panic, synth brass, and Scouse energy. You can dance to annihilation,
apparently. We did.
� The Beatles – “The Long and Winding Road” (from Let It Be)
Phil
Spector strings or not, it still feels like goodbye. They never
really left, though, did they?
� Athlete – “Dungeness” (from Vehicles and Animals)
British
indie with sand in its shoes. Lovely reference, Dungeness — sounds
bleak, looks worse, but strangely beautiful.
� Rolling Stones – “Confessin’ the Blues” (from 12x5)
Before
the fame swallowed them whole — just some London lads trying to
sound like Muddy Waters. And succeeding.
� Dr John – “Mama Roux” (from Gris-Gris)
Voodoo,
velvet, and a touch of swamp water. Dr John, making magic where most
of us would just get bitten by mosquitoes.
� Amy Winehouse & Tony Bennett – “Body and Soul” (from Lioness)
Two
old souls, one borrowed body. Lovely bit of late-night smoke, that.
� Joss Stone – “Sleep Like a Child” (from Mind Body & Soul)
Soul
from Devon, if you can believe it. She sings like she’s lived three
lifetimes, bless her.
� Alma Cogan & Billy Cotton – “She’s Funny That Way Medley” (from Wakey Wakey)
Bit
of vintage whimsy there. Sounds like Sunday mornings on the wireless
when the toast was still cold.
� Mike Keneally – “Bobo (Instrumental Demo)” (from Wing Beat Elastic)
Guitar
gymnastics for those who prefer their genius slightly unhinged.
� Jim Reeves – “I Won’t Come In While He’s There” (from The Unforgettable)
Gentlemanly
heartbreak. Jim Reeves — the man who could make rejection sound
polite.
� Oasis – “Little By Little” (No.2 in 2002)
Noel
Gallagher in full sermon mode. Manchester gospel, if you like.
� Blondie – “Will Anything Happen” (from Parallel Lines)
Yes,
Debbie, it will. This track. Happened, still happening.
� Propaganda – “Duel” (No.21 in 1985)
German
precision meets English synth. Makes you want to drive faster,
preferably away from something.
� Anna Tsuchiya – “Scream” (from Black Stones)
Bit
of Japanese alt-rock. Fierce, dramatic — and I love it. The world’s
too small not to.
� Harry Connick Jr – “Stompin’ at the Savoy” (from When Harry Met Sally)
Swing
done properly. Harry’s piano always sounds like it’s winking at
you.
� Bruce Springsteen – “Human Touch” (No.11 in 1992)
Springsteen
— the poet laureate of the working bloke. This one’s all heart
and sweat.
� Van Morrison – “I’m Not Feeling It Anymore” (from Hymns to the Silence)
Van
in introspective mode — which, let’s face it, is most modes.
Lovely grumble of a song.
� Sade – “Your Love Is King” (No.6 in 1984)
Smooth
as silk and twice as expensive. Never tire of that.
� Britney Spears – “(You Drive Me) Crazy [The Stop! Remix]”
Pop
perfection. I’m not ashamed. Nor should you be.
� Saeko Suzuki – “Adventure In South Pacific” (from Studio Romantic)
Japanese
city-pop gem. Makes you wish you were somewhere with neon and
cocktails.
� Miles Davis & Cannonball Adderley – “All Blues” (from Autumn Leaves)
Miles
and Cannonball. No words needed — just light a cigarette you don’t
intend to smoke.
� Faithless – “I Want More” (No.22 in 2004)
Maxi
Jazz — philosopher of the dancefloor. Late-night pulse for restless
souls.
� The Stripes – “Observer” (from The Stripes)
Austrian
teenagers doing vintage R&B better than they’ve any right to.
Glorious.
� Grinderswitch – “Pickin’ the Blues”
And
we’re back where we began — Grinderswitch, the eternal radio theme.
Thanks for staying up with me. Mind how you go, and
remember — life’s a bit like vinyl: sometimes it crackles, but
it’s all music in the end.