Acquiesce

Trust me #92
Acquiesce by Oasis 

30-years ago, on Monday 24th April 1995, Oasis released Some Might Say, their 6th single in a year and first to reach number 1. The single was backed with Talk Tonight, Acquiesce and Headshrinker.

Fans were becoming accustomed to the band releasing some absolute gems as b-sides. Songs like Take Me Away, Fade Away, Listen Up and Half the World Away had been sprinkled liberally across 1994's singles, to the extent that Oasis CD/12-inch singles were effectively EP's. 

Noel Gallagher was in a rich streak of writing that arguably hit it's peak around this time as through 1995 he would release the likes of The Masterplan, Rockin' Chair, Round Are Way and Underneath The Sky as b-sides to singles off Morning Glory.

Acquiesce should never have been just a B-side. In a career full of anthems, it remains one of the Oasis’ most beloved and electrifying tracks—a song that’s both euphoric and full of defiance.

Two days prior to the release of Some Might Say, my brother, best friend Reddy and I travelled down to Sheffield to see the band play their first arena headline show. This was their last with Tony McCarroll on drums. Noel played Don't Look Back In Anger, a song he had written days earlier. It was all going on!

5-day before that, on 17th April, Oasis appeared on Channel 4's The White Room for the first time, performing a short set of b-sides; Acquiesce, It's Good To Be Free and then Noel performed Talk Tonight with Paul Weller. The band were absolutely flying, something that presenter Mark Radcliffe underlined in his introduction!

This next lot have been on a meteoric rise for the last 18-months.  They come from Manchester, they support city,  they write great songs of their own and borrow good bits from other people.  The all conquering Oasis!

Facing a huge bank of white speakers with a Marshall stack on top, Noel fires up the opening riff and the band crash in behind him. Liam stands motionless at the mic, hands clasped behind him, wearing a heavy brown leather pilot jacket with a huge fluffy collar. Portraying no emotion physically, his voice says it all as he begins to sing;

I don't know what it is that makes me feel alive

I don't know how to wake the dreams that sleep inside

I only wanna see the light that shines behind your eyes

Before Noel soars in on the chorus with that instantly iconic refrain;

Because we need each other

We believe in one another

It’s a simple, yet powerfully emotional lyric. It hits hard. It means something. It means everything.  Whether Noel was actually writing about his relationship with Liam or just throwing out another universal, stadium-ready sentimental chorus, tailor-made for sending tingles down spines, it doesn’t matter. Acquiesce feels massive. It was massive. It remains massive. This summer it will be off the scale!

Part of what makes Acquiesce so special is how the vocals are shared by Liam and Noel, something that, arguably, Oasis didn’t do often enough. Although, that's also why this is so special. Let There Be Love is the only other time they did it.

On Acquiesce, Liam takes the verses, snarling and swaggering his way through them, full of punk attitude and the spirit of Lennon and Lydon. Then Noel comes in for the euphoric yet tender and heartfelt chorus. 

Recorded during the Morning Glory sessions, Acquiesce begins with a clip of the title track being sung by Noel over an acoustic guitar. Then the guitars crash in immediately, the drums drive everything forward relentlessly, Liam sounds incredible and the whole thing feels unstoppable—like it could burst out of the speakers at any moment.

A phaser guitar effect, similar to the one that Squire uses on the Roses Made of Stone, drives the song to the sky scraping double chorus that may well cause tremors on the Richter scale when Oasis play Cardiff on Friday 4th July. After Noel sings what's sleeping in our soul for the second time, Liam is straight into the next verse.

There are many things that I would like to know

There are many places that I wish to go

Everything's depending on the way the wind may blow

After singing the first verse again, Noel is back for a double chorus that leads to the super positive short mini-mantra-like outro;

Cause we believe 

Yeah we believe

I'll always believe in Oasis. Yes, and by Noel's own admission, they released some albums that were not up to scratch - musically, lyrically and production wise, but they also released songs like Acquiesce that made people feel incredible ... invincible. Not many songwriters can do that.

Here is an old blog I wrote in 2016 reflecting on Oasis 1994-1996. They could do no wrong in these golden years and I was there on the ride. Good, good times!

Acquiesce is added to my Trust Me playlist; search for Everything Flows - Trust Me on Spotify or CLICK HERE 

Check below for all previous blogs in my Trust Me series.

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

47. Wrote For Luck by Happy Mondays

48. American Trilogy by The Delgados

49. Loser by Beck 

50. Silent Sigh by Badly Drawn Boy

51. Comedy by Shack

52. Take The Skinheads Bowling by Camper Van Beethoven

53. Freakscene by Dinosaur Jr

54. Thank You For Being You by The Pastels

55. I Think I'm In Love by Spiritualized

56. Chestnut Mare by The Byrds

57. Cannonball by The Breeders

58. Like A Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan

59. You Make Me Weak At The Knees by Electrelane

60. Lucky by Radiohead

61. Strange Currencies by R.E.M.

61. I Am The Cosmos by Chris Bell

62. Like A Ship (Without A Sail) by Pastor TL Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir

63. Nothing But A Heartache by The Flirtations

64. Made of Stone by The Stone Roses

65. Tonight In Belfast by Orbital, David Holmes, DJ Helen and Mike Garry

66. Anything by Adrianne Lenker

67. I Hold Something In My Hand by Bill Ryder-Jones

68. I Meant Every Word by Burnett Sisters

69. Dream Baby Dream by Suicide

70. Stove by The Lemonheads

71. Red Lady by Phil Cordell

72. Little Fluffy Clouds by The Orb

73. I Can Do It With A Broken Heart by Taylor Swift

74. Turnin' My Heartbeat Up by The M.V.P.'s

75. Razzle Dazzle Rose by Camera Obscura

76. Such Great Heights by The Postal Service

77. The Rat by The Walkmen

78. My God Has A Telephone by Aaron Frazer

79. Unfinished Sympathy by Massive Attack

80. Sweet and Tender Romance by The McKinleys

81. Hoppipolla by Sigur Ros

82. 69 Police by David Holmes

83. Hey Lisa by David Holmes

84. I Am A Rock by Simon & Garfunkel

85. Kung Fu by Ash

86. Kids by MGMT

87. Slight Return by The Bluetones

88. Give Peace A Chance by John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band

89. Cut Your Hair by Pavement

90. Race for the Prize by The Flaming Lips

91. Waitin' for a Superman by The Flaming Lips

Waves

 

Frank Popp Ensemble's latest album, Waves, released on April 11, 2025, via Unique Records, is a vibrant blend of Northern Soul, psychedelia and garage rock, embellished with strings and drenched in reverb. One of the reasons I have fallen for it so hard and so quickly is because of the album's eclectic nature, it's like a compilation or a mixtape.

Waves features eleven tracks, each enriched by collaborations with notable artists like Gerry Love (Teenage Fanclub), Nicke Andersson (The Hellacopters), Emma Noble, and J Mahon.​

The album opens with the northern soul flavoured Love Is A Distraction, featuring J Mahon, whose androgynous soul vocals set a Motown-inspired tone. 

Emma Noble's contribution on Unstoppable delivers a girl-groupish anthem that has already gained attention on BBC's Craig Charles' Soul Show. Gerry Love revisits his 2004 Teenage Fanclub track Save, transforming it into an orchestral soul piece. The closing instrumental is sublime. Nicke Andersson brings high-energy Northern Soul vibes to Caught In A Web.​

J Mahon stands out with his performances on five tracks, including the single Going Going Gone, which echoes early 70s Motown with its catchy brass hooks. My own personal favourite is Heartbreak (In A Really Good Way), Mahon's voice is exceptional and the arrangement is exquisite. Mahon also takes on The Replacements Swingin' Party and you can imagine that Frank Popp would hold a swinging party!​

Popp sings on Ride, a swirling garage rock tune/drone that he happened to have kicking round.

Waves is out now, available on black and pink vinyl from ​Unique Records

Anxious

 

I only discovered Nell and her music in mid-December last year and wrote about that in this blog.​ In a unique and slightly surreal way, I have been looking forward to this album, but also dreading it. I kind of knew it would be good (and it is!) and I also kind of knew the sense of heartbreak that it would bring.

Smith tragically died in a car accident in October 2024. Nell was only 17 years old. I can only imagine the songs she would have gone on to write and sing, the shows she would play and the joy she would bring to people, the kids she would inspire.

However, like Nell's family, friends and record label, those that discover her music and talent have to cherish the fact that she did get to record some wonderful songs and that this album has been released.

Posthumous albums often carry a heavy emotional weight, but Anxious, the debut from 17-year-old Nell Smith, is uniquely devastating. Released on April 11, 2025, via Bella Union, the album offers a luminous glimpse into a young artist whose voice was silenced far too early.

Nell's 2021 collaboration with The Flaming Lips, Where The Viaduct Looms, reimagined Nick Cave’s songs through her youthful lens. With Anxious, she steps into her own spotlight, revealing a songwriting voice and talent that’s both playful and profound. Anxious is Nell's real debut album. Released on April 11, 2025, via Bella Union, the album offers a luminous glimpse into a young artist whose voice was silenced far too early.

A young Nell with Wayne Coyne

The album was produced by Jack and Lily Wolter of Penelope Isles, who worked closely with Nell in Brighton. Some of the songs date back to when she was just 12 years old. The sessions were fueled by Doritos, fizzy sweets, Coca-Cola, and the thrill of sneaking into local gigs for inspiration. The result is a psychedelic indie-pop record that captures the emotional turbulence of adolescence with startling clarity.​

The title track, Anxious sets the tone with a whimsical yet raw take on teenage angst, reflecting on the isolation of growing up during a pandemic. Bubba finds joy in grief, while Boy in a Bubble is a slice of psychedelic pop, a thank you note to mentor Wayne Coyne.

Billions of People (my immediate and current favourite) and Daisy Fields shimmer with inventive pop experimentation.

The chorus into the bridge on Billions of People is devastatingly emotional. Oooft! 7.92 billion people and I'd choose you - now that's a line!

And if I was in a room full of people I'd never met, I'd look for you

And if I was feeling blue and upset, I'd call out for you

7.92 billion people and I'd choose you

Three tracks were co-written with Canadian folk band Shred Kelly during cozy winter evenings in her hometown of Fernie, British Columbia, in 2022. These collaborations, later completed in Brighton, add warmth and intimacy to the album’s sonic palette.

A few words of praise from other reviews;

​AllMusic called it “a poignant, eloquent peek into teenage girlhood” 

Consequence described it as “an upbeat slice of psych-pop in which Smith expresses her love of music as a way to cope with anxiety.” 

Spin noted the album’s “bright, ‘Why not?’ energy of experimentation,” likening it to “Regina Spektor fronting The Flaming Lips.” ​

 I've donated $20 to the Nell Smith Memorial Fund, established by her family in memory of Nell to support emerging musicians. The fund,  aims to raise $100,000, awarding $10,000 annually over ten years, with profits from Anxious contributing directly to this initiative. 

Nell Smith and Anxious will leave a mark and her life, music and talent will be celebrated and discovered by many for a long, long time to come.

Race for the Prize and Waitin' for a Superman

 

Trust me #90
Race for the Prize by The Flaming Lips
Trust me #91
Waitin' for a Superman by The Flaming Lips

The Flaming Lips are one of the best bands I have ever seen. Their live show is a truly heart warming, spine tingling, life affirming experience! 

I remember the first time I caught them at The Barrowland, singer Wayne Coyne was setting up his own equipment on stage. Dressed in a linen suit, he'd later be covered in fake blood, singing his heart out, leading the audience on a trip. One other memorable show was at the Academy around the release of their collaboration with The Chemical Brothers and they played a blinding version of The Golden Path, it was sensational. Then ... there was the time Coyne rode a unicorn around the Barrowland! Check my blog on that HERE

Coyne is a fearless psychedelic punk warrior. A heartfelt leader and singer, full of empathy and soul, constantly pushing and breaking boundaries, challenging himself and his band.

The Lips formed way back in 1983 and had released 8 albums before their breakthrough with 1999's The Soft Bulletin. What a truly heartfelt and beautiful album.

I remember reading about their previous album, 1997's Zaireeka in the music weeklies. The band held an event with Ghetto Blasters playing each of the four CD's that made the album so they would produce a harmonic or juxtaposed sound. 

At one stage the band conducted a series of Parking Lot Experiments with 40 cassette tapes. Each person/car who attended was given a tape with instructions on when to press play. The result was a 20-minute sound composition. The Lips were out there, far out there.

The Flaming Lips somehow transitioned to a major label in Warners, a label who believed in them and invested in their madcap ideas. This was largely on the success of 1993's single She Don't Use Jelly.

Six years later, The Soft Bulletin, stands as a testament to the band's evolution, blending lush orchestration with introspective lyrics. For me, this is The Lips masterpiece. I do have two favourite songs ... two songs that the band obviously rated particularly highly as well as they both feature twice! 

Race for the Prize and Waitin' for a Superman were both remixed (to my untrained ear it was mainly softening the drums - probably for radio and promotion) and these Mokran Mixes were added on to the CD album which I bought.

Race for the Prize

Album opener, and also usually their opening song when playing live, Race for the Prize is a wonderful, weird and wild whirlwind, telling the story of two scientists locked in heated battle for the cure that is their prize. 

Live, Wayne Coyne fires confetti cannons, flashes lights and conjures an Alice in Wonderland type scene as the orchestral score swirls around him. It's a sensory explosion with crashing drums, cinematic strings and Coyne's voice beautifully strained is achingly fragile ... it connects. 

Two scientists are racing for the good of all man-kind

Both of them side by side

So determined

The emotion is heightened when almost everything drops out, leaving Coyne singing over heart tugging strings and gentle beats;

Theirs is to win, if it kills them

They're just humans, with wives and children

The beats kick back in hard, the strings soar with beautiful flourishes over the top. Race for the Prize is a kaleidoscope of emotions; joy, despair, hope, determination, describing two scientists pushing themselves to the limit for the good of all man-kind. Coyne's voice is captivating, pure, raw and vulnerable. He seems locked in the story, in awe of the scientists.

Waitin' for a Superman

Coyne and his band are on fire across The Soft Bulletin, telling stories, reflecting on love, life, death and the universe and doing so in their own unique lysergic tinged style with soul, warmth, empathy, love and care. Coyne melts my heart, especially on this song as he urges people to hold on the best they can.

There are a couple of excellent hooks in Waitin' for a Superman, particularly when Coyne asks the question is it getting heavy? and then comes back to it just a couple of lines later, with an answer. It's so clever, so catchy and effective.

I asked you a question

I didn't need you to reply

Is it getting heavy?

But then I realised

Is it getting heavy?

Well I thought it was already as heavy as can be

There are only a couple of verses, each ending with a similar bridge that leads to a chorus;

Tell everybody, waitin' for Superman

That they should hold on, the best they can

He hasn't dropped them, forgot them, or anything

It's just too heavy for Superman to lift

Oooffttt, it packs a punch. Things are pretty f**king heavy right now. Too heavy, even for Superman, but we've all got to hold on the best we can.

Hang in there folks, stay positive, believe in the light side of the force and look out for family and friends in these troubled times we are living in. 

In the end, cowards are those who follow the dark side - Yoda 

Both Race for the Prize and Waitin' for a Superman are added to my Trust Me playlist; search for Everything Flows - Trust Me on Spotify or CLICK HERE 

Check below for all previous blogs in my Trust Me series.

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

47. Wrote For Luck by Happy Mondays

48. American Trilogy by The Delgados

49. Loser by Beck 

50. Silent Sigh by Badly Drawn Boy

51. Comedy by Shack

52. Take The Skinheads Bowling by Camper Van Beethoven

53. Freakscene by Dinosaur Jr

54. Thank You For Being You by The Pastels

55. I Think I'm In Love by Spiritualized

56. Chestnut Mare by The Byrds

57. Cannonball by The Breeders

58. Like A Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan

59. You Make Me Weak At The Knees by Electrelane

60. Lucky by Radiohead

61. Strange Currencies by R.E.M.

61. I Am The Cosmos by Chris Bell

62. Like A Ship (Without A Sail) by Pastor TL Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir

63. Nothing But A Heartache by The Flirtations

64. Made of Stone by The Stone Roses

65. Tonight In Belfast by Orbital, David Holmes, DJ Helen and Mike Garry

66. Anything by Adrianne Lenker

67. I Hold Something In My Hand by Bill Ryder-Jones

68. I Meant Every Word by Burnett Sisters

69. Dream Baby Dream by Suicide

70. Stove by The Lemonheads

71. Red Lady by Phil Cordell

72. Little Fluffy Clouds by The Orb

73. I Can Do It With A Broken Heart by Taylor Swift

74. Turnin' My Heartbeat Up by The M.V.P.'s

75. Razzle Dazzle Rose by Camera Obscura

76. Such Great Heights by The Postal Service

77. The Rat by The Walkmen

78. My God Has A Telephone by Aaron Frazer

79. Unfinished Sympathy by Massive Attack

80. Sweet and Tender Romance by The McKinleys

81. Hoppipolla by Sigur Ros

82. 69 Police by David Holmes

83. Hey Lisa by David Holmes

84. I Am A Rock by Simon & Garfunkel

85. Kung Fu by Ash

86. Kids by MGMT

87. Slight Return by The Bluetones

88. Give Peace A Chance by John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band

89. Cut Your Hair by Pavement

Never Ending Mixtape part 99

Welcome to part 99 of my Never Ending Mixtape!

We jump from 4,269 songs to 4,339 with the addition of the Stones classic Honky Tonk Woman.

There is an eclectic mix of music added this month. Some highlights are noted below, but it's all good!

As always, I hope you discover and fall for an amazing song you've never heard before, or that you rediscover an old favourite. Dig in and enjoy!

Search for Everything Flows Never Ending Mixtape on Spotify or CLICK HERE

Recent discoveries

Loving Arms by Lack of Afro / Greg Blackman

I See A Rainbow by Brenda Holloway

B-A-B-Y by Rachel Sweet

Sally Go Round The Roses by The Jaynetts

Is There Any Love? by Trevor Dandy

New releases

No Front Teeth by Perfume Genius w/ Aldous Harding

I Know You'd Kill by Joy Crookes

Old favourites

Left To My Own Devices by Pet Shop Boys

Mayonaise by The Smashing Pumpkins

Kamera by Wilco

Salvation by Rae & Christian

Men's Needs by The Cribs

If You Find Yourself Caught In Love by Belle & Sebastian

We are 1 of 100 playlist

A number of years ago I was looking for cool t-shirts and sweatshirts online. Search results threw up We are 1 of 100, a company based in Glasgow who created limited edition and numbered clothing. There were only 100 of each design - COOL!

My first purchase (maybe 5-6 years ago?) was a navy Silicone Soul sweatshirt in celebration of their classic Right On, Right On 12-inch single. I own a copy and have just noticed one is selling for £80 on eBay!  

I was never hugely into clubbing, I've always preferred pubs with cool DJ's, like McChuills or The Variety, but I did have a few years of late nights at The Arches around the time this song was released. Inspired by the strings on Curtis Mayfield's Right On For The Darkness, Silicone Soul's Right On, Right On was absolutely everywhere in Glasgow in 2001/2002.

The sweatshirt looked great, the vibrant pink text stood out from the navy blue, and it felt fantastic, super soft and comfy. I still wear the sweatshirt regularly. If anything, it's getting better with age.

Since then, I've bought a number of things; a few hoodies, a one-off sweatshirt design that Richie (founder and designer at 1 of 100) was playing with but never took through to creation, a cracking British Racing Green sweatshirt with a smiley face logo on the front and Acid House Cycling Club on the back and at least half a dozen t-shirts including designs by Eyes of Others, Joel Gion and my sister Carla!

The designs and the quality of the clothing is one of the reasons I keep buying from 1 of 100, another reason is the online (and in-person) community that has formed around the brand, owner, taste and values. This was particularly important during lockdown, when Richie and like-minded people would share music they loved. All of a sudden I was connected to loads of cool people with excellent taste in music, art and clothes!

Richie had a small studio in The Cooperage on the Southside of Glasgow, just off Pollokshaws Road. It was also technically his shop, but there wasn't a great deal of space to design, create, package and have a shop, especially as 1 of 100 developed.

So ... 1 of 100 now has a new home at 63 Old Castle Road, Glasgow, G44 5TG. To celebrate, they held a little instore bash one Saturday earlier this year and invited customers signed up to their mailing list to put their name down if they fancied playing some records in a 45-minute slot. Richie intends to do this kind of thing semi-regularly.

I jumped at the chance to dig out some records and head down, especially with my birthday round the corner! Time to treat myself!

Here is a playlist of the records (* = played) I took along - We are 1 of 100 playlist Maybe I'll play the others next time! Especially Right On, Right On!

Last Sunbeams of Childhood by Andrew Wasylyk

Trouble Understanding (Norman Cook remix) by The Charlatans

Gimme Shelter by Cal Tjader *

Bewilderbeast by Badly Drawn Boy *

Stinkin' Thinkin' by Happy Mondays *

Rose rouge by St Germain *

Stop the Clock by Miaoux Miaoux *

Right On, Right On by Silicone Soul

Sleep on the Left Side (Les Rythmes Digital mix) by Cornershop *

Family Affair by Sly and the Family Stone *

Testify by Hi-fi Sean with Crystal Waters

1995 by Molly Nilsson

White Love (radio mix) by One Dove (I totally intended to play this, but accidentally left it out! It still makes the playlist though!)

Boy From School by Hot Chip *

Your Silent Face by New Order *

Once in a Lifetime by Talking Heads *

69 Police by David Holmes *

Rez by Underworld * 

All My Friends by LCD Soundsystem

Little Fluffy Clouds by The Orb

I Think I'm In Love (Chemical Brothers remix) by Spiritualized *

NOTE - This remix isn't on Spotify, so the original is on the playlist. Check the sublime remix below!

Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head

Cover version of the month #107

Manic Street Preachers cover B.J. Thomas

As a kid, I totally fell for the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. I think it was my Mum who recommended it to me. Possibly because of Robert Redford and Paul Newman, but more likely because she knew I liked cowboys. I don't know what age I would have been when I first saw it, but I was captivated by the characters, their charm, bravado, the sunshine, the dust, the colours, the freedom, the robberies, chases and shoot outs ... I still love watching the film to this day.

When my wife Lynn and I went travelling around the world, we stopped off in the tiny town of Tupiza in Bolivia, a small dusty town where Butch and Sundance hung out and hung low, robbed a bank and ultimately met their demise. We booked on a tour to do the Butch and Sundance trail. I think I enjoyed this more than Lynn!

Anyway, back to the film, which benefits from the songwriting genius of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. South American Getaway is absolutely perfect for the film, glorious cinematic melodies, sublime.

However, I'm going to focus on a song that Robert Redford initially thought didn't fit with the theme of the film, Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head. After all, there is no rain in the desert!

The song is used to soundtrack a scene where Butch (Paul Newman) is larking around on a bike to impress his girlfriend, Etta Place (Katharine Ross) and it works beautifully thanks to its easygoing melody, the brass, the piano ... it's so warm and familiar. I can't remember, but I imagine it felt like that from the very first time I heard it. 

B.J. Thomas’s voice is unhurried, gliding over Bacharach’s playful, bouncing arrangement. There’s something magical about the way it flows—casual, carefree, yet completely assured. A song about rain and misfortune that somehow feels more like sunshine breaking through clouds.

I just did me some talking to the sun

And I said I didn't like the way he got things done

Whenever I hear the song I think of a little rain shower on the evening of Sunday 11th August 1996 at Knebworth Park in Hertfordshire. I was there for Oasis (as blogged on here) and my friend Elliott and I managed to blag and bribe our way into Pit 1 just before the Manic Street Preachers came on. 

The Manics played a blinding set and midway through they played their cover of Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head. My memory is a little hazy, it either was raining, or it had just stopped raining. Either way, it was perfect, super chilled. James Dean Bradfield's voice was crystal clear and the song had a real festival and community vibe. It was a real moment. There must be a film of it somewhere.

Manic Street Preachers had recorded the song for Warchild's legendary Help album the previous year in 1995. I've previously written blogs on The Charlatans super cool cover of Sly's Time for Livin' and Radiohead's remarkable Lucky - both taken from this album. This was quite a landmark for the band as it was their first return to recording following the disappearance of Richey Edwards in February 1995. The Help album was recorded on 4th September and released on 9th September.

As a band known for their intensity, anger, and heart-on-sleeve passion, whose previous release had been the ferocious and intense album The Holy Bible in 1994, Raindrops ..... was quite a change. The Manics strip it back and I love James voice as he sings;

But there's one thing I know

The blues they send to meet me 

Won't defeat me, it won' be long

'til happiness steps up to greet me

The Manics version isn't as jaunty as the original. It's more melancholic but as the song approaches conclusion Bradfield's voice soars;

Because I'm free

Nothing's bothering me

I love the Manics cover of this wonderful song. James Dean Bradfield's voice shines and reflects melancholy, hope and resilience. 

The B.J. Thomas original and Manic St Preachers cover of Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head are added to my Everything Flows Cool Cover Versions playlist on Spotify which also features all of the songs listed below. Search for the title or CLICK HERE

Previous covers of the month blogs

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

74. He's Gonna Step On You Again

75. In My Life

76. Caravan Of Love

77. The Only Way Is Up

78. Dancin' Round & Round

79. With A Little Help From My Friends

80. Killing Me Softly

81. Ain't No Mountain High Enough

82. Drop

83. Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay

84. Sympathy For The Devil

85. I Bet That You Look Good On The Dancefloor

86. Love Will Tear Us Apart

87. Indian Rope Man + bonus Strawberry Fields Forever + This Wheels On Fire

88. Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You

89. Love The One You're With

90. Cum On Feel The Noize

91. Addicted To Love

92. Valerie

93. Ride On Time

94. Let's Dance

95. It Must Be Love

96. I Fought The Law

97. For What It's Worth

98. Do Your Thing

99. I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself

100. Don't Leave Me This Way

101. Shout!

102. God Only Knows

103. The Last Time

104. Bridge Over Troubled Water

105. How Can You Mend A Broken Heart

106. Louie Louie