Wrote For Luck

Trust Me #47
Wrote For Luck by The Happy Mondays

Happy Mondays Wrote For Luck was originally released as a single back in 1988, it was then subsequently remixed and re-released in 1989 as W.F.L.

The video may well be the most druggy pop music video of all time. Shaun Ryder and co are partying like it's ... 1989, absolutely off their heads on ecstasy. The video shoot party was in full swing but Ryder insisted that more was delivered and shooting didn't start until it kicked in. 

Filmed by Manchester's Bailey Brothers, the result is an utterly astonishing document of the ecstasy and rave scene that the city was experiencing. There were no actors, this was the Mondays and friends from the Hacienda and across the city, off their heads on the strongest pills around and having an amazing time. There were only 2 takes of the video, I wonder if they are still kicking around somewhere, there must be some incredible footage.

Dave Haslam wrote about this incredible video in this excellent blog for the 30th anniversary of the original single release. Check the video HERE

Wrote For Luck is an astonishing song. I often think that the Mondays don't get the credit they deserve. They were like nothing before or since. Unmanageable, inventive, street wise, not only at the heart of the scene, but dealing drugs for the scene and now soundtracking it. Of the time, but completely different from any other band around. 

On their debut album they had a song called 24-Hour Party People and they were. It seemed like they didn't stop from 1987 - 1992, releasing 4 albums and a string of singles. 

For their 1988 Bummed LP, that Wrote For Luck featured on, the band worked with Martin Hannett, consuming ecstasy on a daily basis and taking in all kinds of influences to create sounds on whatever instruments they could get their hands on. 

Hannett found an incredible guitar sound for Mark Day, one that, even through all the synths and beats, is central to Wrote For Luck. A funk punk Chic sound, scuzzed up and drenched in reverb. 

Wrote For Luck starts at pace, big beats and Day's guitar over the top, Shaun then begins to sing and spout his unique poetry over the top.

You were wet, but you're getting drier

You used to speak the truth 

But now you're liar

You used to speak the truth 

But now you're clever

The original version of Wrote For Luck has a sense of urgency and even danger to it; a raw white boy funk groove stretched out to a little over 6-minutes, riding on Day's guitar, Shaun groaning and moaning an extra little melody to add to the feeling.

Vince Clarke, in his W.F.L remix totally gets the groove and brings the bass to the fore, the guitars (at least at the start) are gone, the beats are more clubby, the synths are making all kinds of cool noises and it's Shaun at the heart. The original raw version is just cleaned up a little, becoming more clinical ... more chemical. 

The guitar groove is finally dropped in for the last 2-minutes and it sounds even more glorious over the menacing bass groove that Clarke has created and the clubby beats.

Paul Oakenfold, who would go on to produce the Mondays breakthrough album Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches, keeps the guitar from the off and immediately blends it with a four to the floor beat, sprinkling different kinds of synth effects all over the top.

Ryder's aaahhh, aaahh, aaaahhh's sounds incredible, the beats keep going, Day's shimmering guitar chords are dropped in as the song grooves to the end.

Vince Clarke's remix is my personal favourite, but the original Wrote For Luck and both the W.F.L. remixes are simply brilliant. Released just before the Mondays broke through with Step On and a string of singles from Pills n Thrills, it's quite remarkable that neither charted. W.F.L. reached the heady heights of number 68, although it did reach number 3 on the indie charts. Regardless, it's left a mark.

Check the original video and a simply sensational live performance from Manchester in 1989 that went out on Tony Wilson's The Other Side Of Midnight. This highlights the rave style atmosphere the Mondays were creating at their gigs. 

Wrote For Luck official video

Wrote For Luck live in Manchester 1989

W.F.L. (Vince Clarke remix)

W.F.L. (Think About The Future Mix) by Paul Oakenfold

A list of all previous songs I've blogged about in my Trust Me feature are listed below, along with links to each blog. The original version of Wrote For Luck and both the Oakenfold and Clark remixes join them.

I've also collated them all into a playlist on Spotify that you can find by searching for Everything Flows - Trust Me , or you can CLICK HERE

Previous Trust Me blogs

1. Something On Your Mind by Karen Dalton

1A. Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells

2. I Am, I Said  by Neil Diamond

3. Where's The Playground Susie?   by Glen Campbell

4. If You Could Read My Mind by Gordon Lighfoot

5. Gimme Some Truth by John Lennon

6. Gone With The Wind Is My Love by Rita and the Tiaras

7. In The Year 2525 by Zager and Evans

8. The Music Box by Ruth Copeland

9. The Ship Song by Nick Cave

10. Sometimes by James

11. I Walk The Earth by King Biscuit Time

12. Didn't Know What I Was In For by Better Oblivion Community Centre

13. When My Boy Walks Down The Street by The Magnetic Fields

14. The Man Don't Give A F**k by Super Furry Animals

15. All Flowers In Time Bend Towards The Sun by Jeff Buckley and Liz Fraser

16. Are You Lookin' by The Tymes

17. A Real Hero by College & Electric Youth

18. Feelings Gone by Callum Easter

19. Sunday Morning by The Velvet Underground

20. Did I Say by Teenage Fanclub

21. Don't Look Back by Teenage Fanclub

22. Your Love Is The Place Where I Come From by Teenage Fanclub

23. Belfast by Orbital

24. Clouds by The Jayhawks

25. Dreaming Of You by The Coral

26. Everlasting Love by Love Affair

27. Walk Away Renee by The Left Banke

28. Teenage Kicks by The Undertones

29. Shaky Ground by Sneeze

29. Rill Rill by Sleigh Bells

30. I Can Feel Your Love by Felice Taylor

31. The State We're In by The Chemical Brothers w/ Beth Orton

32. Sunshine After The Rain by Ellie Greenwich

33. Losing My Edge by LCD Soundsystem

34. Mondo 77 by Looper

35. Les Fleurs by Minnie Riperton

36. Rat Trap by The Boomtown Rats

37. How High by The Charlatans

38. I Can't Let Go by Evie Sands

39. Pop Song 89 by R.E.M.

40. Summertime Clothes by Animal Collective

41. There She Goes by The Las

42. We're Going To Be Friends by White Stripes

43. Autumn Sweater by Yo La Tengo

44. Sister Rena by Lomond Campbell

45. Revolution by The Beatles

46. Lazarus by The Boo Radleys

He's Gonna Step On You Again

Cover version of the month #74

Happy Mondays cover John Kongos

In the hazy spring of 1990, Happy Mondays released Step On, a single that just seemed absolutely perfect for the musical landscape across the UK, a country still basking in the aftermath of the Second Summer of Love (which really went on for 3 summers 1988 - 1990).

Shaun Ryder was literally on a giant E in the video, Manc photographer Kevin Cummins captured him in full flight for the cover of the NME, a stunning shot, with Ryder's grin highlighting that he was in on the mischief. 

Step On was the start of a huge 2-years for The Mondays, thanks to the release of their iconic Pills, Thrills & Bellyaches album that was released in November 1990. What an album to brighten up winter! Kinky Afro was another huge single from the LP, that and Step On both reached number 5 in the charts.

It was decades down the line when I learned that Step On was actually a cover version! Despite owning the 12-inch single and LP, I'd never checked the writing credits! I, like the vast majority of anyone checking out The Mondays, just presumed that it was another Ryder original.

House piano chords, a baggy beat, Ryder whistling and then what has become his legendary intro;

You're twisting my melon man, 

You know you talk so hip man, you're twisting my melon man

Call the cops

Step On grooves, the jarring guitar riff, constant beats, funky bass and the injection of piano throughout keep the energy up from start to finish. Ryder ad-libs, throwing in the kind of jibberish that made him utterly unique as a frontman and songwriter.

Check The Mondays iconic video HERE if it doesn't display on your browser below.

I've experienced dancefloors erupting to Step On and it still makes me want to dance like Bez every time I hear it. All these years down the line it has remarkably retained a (melon) freshness.

I was amazed when I found out that Step On was a cover of a song called He's Gonna Step On You Again by John Kongos, a singer from South Africa. Kongos had a number 4 hit in the UK in 1971 with the song.

Starting with a stomping rhythm and squealing electric guitar, the original Step On has a real groove and a brilliant lift into the chorus that The Mondays really play on. The guitar riff out of the chorus is amplified is one of the few things Ryder and co keep in and they play on the groove - perfect for those heady Madchester days. The stomping rhythm that introduces the song also plays it out, ripe for an extended remix.

It's an inspired cover, The Mondays totally bring the song to life, injecting fresh vibes. Recognising the groove from the original and with the help of Paul Oakenfold they bring it bang up to date.

Check the original

Check The Mondays classic video

You can find links to all my previous cover versions of the month below and a playlist on Spotify by searching Everything Flows Cool Cover Versions. Or CLICK HERE

Previous covers of the month

1. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' 

2. Going Back To My Roots

3. Nirvana play The Vaselines

4. Slip Inside This House

5. Top 10 covers by Teenage Fanclub

6. Only Love Can Break Your Heart

7. Time For Livin' 

8. Sound and Vision 

9. All Along The Watchtower

10. I Am The Walrus 

11. Guiding Star

12. You’ll Never Walk Alone

13. Hurt

14. This Guy's In Love With You

15. I Wish I Never Saw The Sunshine

16. California Soul

18. Wonder wall 

19. Dancing In The Dark

20. Always On My Mind

21. Ceremony

22. Heroes

23. Different Drum

24. Wild Horses

25. Respect

26. Mr Tambourine Man

27. I Heard It Through The Grapevine

28. Superstar

29. Twist and Shout

30. Purple Rain

31. Baker Street

32. Not Fade Away

33. Stop Your Sobbing

34. I Don't Want To Grow Up

35. Serious Drugs

36. Dancing With Myself

37. How Does It Feel To Feel?

38. Love Buzz

39. ABBA-esque
40. Jumpin' Jack Flash

41. Discoland

42. Varshons 2 by The Lemonheads

43. The Langley Schools Music Project
44. Witchi Tai To
45. Our Lips Are Sealed
46. Sunshine Of Your Love
47. Here Comes The Sun
48. I Think We're Alone Now
49. Don't Let Me Down 
50. It's Oh So Quiet
51. Alcoholiday 
52. Summer Holiday
53. Who Do You Think You Are?
54. Head On
55. Nothing Compares 2 U

56. Hey Jude

57. Seven Days Too Long

58. L.O.V.E Love

59. Into Your Arms

60. Heart Of Glass

61. Take Me To The River

62. We Can Work It Out 

63. Talking In My Sleep

64. Lola

65. Lost In Music

66. My Little Red Book

67. Isn't It A Pity

68. Walk On By

69. Walk Away Renee

70. Tainted Love

71. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

72. Listen The Snow Is Falling

73. Mrs Robinson

Never Ending Mixtape Part 41

Welcome to the latest additions to the Never Ending Mixtape, now approaching 1,200 songs.

Once we get through the incredible sound of the Happy Mondays tearing and grooving it up, we go on a  real American indie guitar vibe with the Brian Jonestown Massacre, I love the sound and feel on these songs having recently discovered their 1998 album Strung Out In Heaven.

Evan Dando features alongside friends Willy Mason and Smudge who have two versions of the incredible Divan. The latest release from The Beatles archives has some gems, check out the instrumental of Because and .... The Long One.

John Lennon is in with a song that never sounded more apt, my favourite from The Charlatans, One To Another, is finally added, we have some Idlewild and after their announcement of touring Darklands, including a date at the Barrowland Ballroom, we have a few from JAMC.

Dig in and enjoy. The full list of the latest additions is below.

W.F.L. (Think About The Future Mix) - Happy Mondays
Rave On - Happy Mondays
Jennifer - Brian Jonestown Massacre
Maybe Tomorrow - Brian Jonestown Massacre
Got My Eye On You - Brain Jonestown Massacre
Spun - Brian Jonestown Massacre
If It's The End - Willy Mason
Oxygen - Willy Mason
Divan - Smudge
Divan - Smudge (different version)
The Same Thing You Thought Hard About - Evan Dando
Because (Take 1 instrumental) - The Beatles
The Long One - The Beatles
Bit Part - The Lemonheads
Al Kindsa Girls - The Real Kids
Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End - The Beatles
Gimme Some Truth - John Lennon
One To Another - The Charlatans
Tougher Than The Rest - Angel Olsen
Everybody Needs Somebody - Primal Scream
When I Argue I See Shapes - Idlewild
El Capitan - Idlewild
You Wear It Seconhand - Idlewild
Either Way - The Twang

Darklands - Jesus and Mary Chain
Happy When It Rains - Jesus and Mary Chain
Some Candy Talking - Jesus and Mary Chain
Kitted Out - The Pastels
Ya We Are Cruel But We Have Our Agenda - Smudge
Dive For Your Memory - The Go-Betweens
I Know But I Don't Know - Blondie
Sunlight To The Dawn - Lightships
Flowers Never Bend In The Rainfall - Simon and Garfunkel
The More I See You - Chris Montez

Oasis at the Glasgow Tramway 1994

20-years ago I took the week off work to attend some gigs and workshops that made up Glasgow Sound City. I was 18-years old and a musical sponge, soaking up all kinds of stuff from the 60's through to the current day.

One band in particular had caught my attention and imagination - Oasis. They really did arrive at the perfect time for me.

Oasis had released a few demos on cassette giveaways through the NME and Select Magazine and were being talked in hushed tones about being a cross between Happy Mondays and the Sex Pistols. The Stone Roses had also been mentioned in reviews/features and when I saw them on The Word in March that year I was hooked.

When the line-up for Sound City was announced, Oasis were going to be supporting label mates The Boo Radleys (riding high with their acclaimed Giant Steps LP) at a venue called the Tramway. I had to go.

I still have my ticket - now framed (above) in a collage that has The Charlatans ticket from Sound City underneath. Hole were due to be supporting them, but they cancelled after Cobain's failed suicide attempt in Paris, and were replaced by Pulp. Later that week I would be attending The Pastels at King Tut's when sadly news filtered through that this time Kurt had been successful. It was quite a week for a young music fan.

The Tramway is a brilliant arts venue in the Southside of Glasgow and I had no real way of getting there and back by public transport from the backwaters of Carluke where I am originally from. So I remember driving in at the weekend on a 'test run' with my Dad!

I was in bright and early. I always was back in the day, I wanted to capture the build up to all gigs and see all the support bands - especially this one!

Jo Whiley was floating around looking rather gorgeous as the set was going out on Radio 1. I could see Oasis lurking about backstage.

From memory, Liam had a cool blue and white jumper on (possibly the one in this picture but I may be mistaken) and was shaking a star shaped tambourine.

The crowd was pretty sparse with most folk standing at the back or out at the bar before the Boo Radleys came on. I wasn't cool and was right down the front where I met some lads I used to go to school with.

Oasis strolled on confidently, were introduced by Jo Whiley, and they launched into Shaker Maker, throwing in lines from the New Seekers I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing for good measure. They looked like a real gang.

Digsy's Dinner was next and the band blasted through it. It's not their greatest song but I always enjoyed it live and the line 'these could be the best days of our lives' was pretty apt for an 18-year old at the time.

Live Forever is one of their greatest songs though. Astonishing. There was nothing else out that spoke to me as much as Oasis did at the time. I was looking for a band to fall in love with, a front man to model myself on and songs to sing from the bottom of my heart. I had found them.

I knew Cigarettes and Alcohol as a demo version had been given away on an NME tape. The T-Rex rip off riff and the shake of Liam's tambourine built into a powerful wall of noise that just blew people away.

You can wait for a lifetime, to spend your days in the sunshiiiiinnnneee

You might as well do the white line

Cause when it comes on top

You gotta make it happen

You gotta make it happen

Supersonic ended the short set. Tony McCarroll's drums were simple but punk pure, Noel's guitar sounded sensational.

I bought an Oasis poster and t-shirt after the gig. I followed them intensely for the next few years. That night at the Tramway led to some incredible nights out and life long friendships. I think the bands that you fall in love with in your teens are the bands that last with you through your life, for Oasis to come along when I was 18 was just perfect.

Oasis - Tramway setlist
Shaker Maker
Digsy's Dinner
Live Forever
Cigarettes and Alcohol
Supersonic

Happy Monday - the Mondays reform

My Mum got me the Shaun Ryder autobiography for Christmas and I've just finished reading it, just as the Mondays confirm they are reforming for some dates with the Inspiral Carpets.


I find Shaun Ryder hilarious; a complete one off in terms of lyrics, sense of (unique) melody and feel and chemical ingestion.

I don't know what state the reformed Mondays will be in but good luck to them if they do. I don't think I would be parting any money for a ticket.

Anyway, Happy Monday. Lets look back at some of the Mondays finest moments.

24-Hour Party People

Performance
This video always causes me to smile. Performing live on Tony Wilson's OSM, Shaun and Bez are clearly 'loved up' to the max. Ryder is wearing ridiculous glasses but somehow managing to make them look cool. Bez is lost in the music from the start and the onstage chemistry between the two of them during the instrumental is a joy to see; a band cutting loose and loving it. How often do you see that these days? The reverb is cranked up to the max, Ryder spouts gibberish and somehow it all works and sounds like fun.

Wrote For Luck
My favourite Mondays track and my fave video too. If ever a promo video encapsulated what a band is all about then this did. MDMA on film. The reverb on the guitar is there again, the rythm section are locked in a groove and the synths make all the right noises, especially on the Vince Clarke remix.

And you were wet.

But you're getting dryer.


You use to speak the truth.

But now you're clever.

Lazyitis
A beautiful groove and Ryder singing along with Karl Denver, with glorious use of The Beatles 'Ticket To Ride'.

Kinky Afro
If the WFL video encapsulated the band on film, then 'Pills, Thrills and Bellyaches' was the prefect title for a Mondays album, with Kinky Afro being a perfect opener.

Bob's Yer Uncle
Played at Tony Wilsons funeral. Good choice Tony!

Step On
Iconic video of Ryder literally on an 'E'.

Stinkin' Thinkin'
The last 'proper' album before various reformations. I love the groove to this.