Never Ending Mixtape part 96

Hello and welcome to the latest additions to my Never Ending Mixtape. If you are new, this is a Spotify playlist where I simply add songs that I enjoy with no thought behind the order in which I do. The complete opposite to the way I used to spend hours making a mixtape!

Speaking of which, I recently watched High Fidelity for the first time in a long time. It's such a brilliant film with a brilliant soundtrack and VERY realistic characters. Rob Gordon (the main character) talks about the art of making a mixtape a few time through the film and the importance of them. If Rob made you a mixtape, you meant something to him and he hoped the mixtape meant something to you.

I used to love spending evenings or wet/cold afternoons pouring through records and CD's to make mixtapes for people. It's a bit of a lost art. 

Anyway, in my Never Ending Mixtape ... we jump from 4,064 songs to 4,167 with the addition of Love Is Lost by David Bowie with James Murphy from LCD Soundsystem - it's a banger! There is a LOT of Bowie songs added to the mixtape due to me prepping to DJ at The Admiral Woods annual Bowie night. See previous blog for further details and a playlist of the songs I played.

Thank you so much if you are one of the 361 people following the playlist. 3 new followers since last month :-) 

Thanks also if you dive in now and again. As always, I hope you discover an incredible song you've never heard before, or that you rediscover an old favourite you haven't heard in some time. 

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

Here are a few of the latest additions;

Recent discoveries

Sound & Vision - Matthew Dear

Golden Years - Yam Who?

Visions Of You - Jah Wobbles Invaders Of The Heart

Backlash Blues - Nina Simone

Into My Arms - Nell Smith w/ The Flaming Lips

New releases

Bring An End - Butler, Blake and Grant

Knowledge - Edwyn Collins

i'm in love - Andy Bell w/ Dot Allison

Old favourites

Sleep On The Left Side (Les Rythmes Digital mix) - Cornershop

Rose Rouge - Saint Germain

Stop the Clocks - Miaoux Miaoux

Winter Hill - Doves

Fire and Rain - The Isley Brothers

All Right Now - Free

Hush - Deep Purple

80 minute Marvin Gaye mix

Marvin Gaye's I Don't Have To Get High To Do It is a relatively recent discovery of mine. If you dig into his back catalogue on Spotify (or a streaming/download platform of your choice) you'll find all kinds of deluxe edition albums that have demos, instrumentals and alternative takes.

It really is an absolute treasure trove of riches and I have found myself regularly coming back to Marvin's discography which has resulted in me compiling this 80-minute mix of blissed out instrumentals, alternative mixes, deep cuts, demos and ending with a pure classic and the sublime rhythm 'n' strings mix of What's Going On.

Check out some sensational soul jams with the Funk Brothers and the many incredible musicians Gaye was fortunate to work with. I previously blogged on Song #3  HERE back in 2019. The instrumental songs on the deluxe edition of Lets Get It On are absolutely out of this world, Perfection is aptly named!  

Search for 80-minute Marvin Gaye mix on Spotify or CLICK HERE

Tracklist

I Don't Have To Get High To Do It (instrumental)

I Want You - Jam - Alternate Mix

Song #1 - Instrumental

Song #3 - Instrumental

Song #4- Instrumental /partial vocal) 

Perfection (instrumental)

"T" Plays It Cool (soundtrack version)

Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) - Detroit Mix

Right On - Detroit Mix

Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) Detroit Mix

Falling In Love Again

Checking Out (Double Clutch)

What's Going On (instrumental)

Ego Tripping Out (instrumental)

I Love The Ground You Walk On - Instrumental

Symphony - Demo

I Want You - Intro Jam 2

Ain't No Mountain High Enough

What's Going On - Rhythm 'N' Strings Mix

10 from LCD Soundsystem

LCD Soundsystem are one of the few post 2000 bands that I really fell in love with. My love was rekindled after watching the excellent Meet Me In The Bathroom documentary based on the 2011 book by Lizzy Godman. This was at the end of 2023, so this blog has been a while in the making!

James Murphy comes across well in the film. A self confessed music geek whose musical boundaries were smashed when he worked as an engineer on David Holmes Bow Down To The Exit Sign in 2000. Holmes was amazed that Murphy had never tried ecstasy and when James finally did, he had an experience that changed the way he listened to and felt about music.

Things moved swiftly as Murphy formed DFA Records with Tim Goldsworthy who co-produced the Holmes album. The duo started releasing records, including The Rapture's seminal House Of The Jealous Lovers, and they put on nights across New York as the city came out of post 9/11 mourning. 

LCD Soundsystem's first single was the sensational Losing My Edge which came out in the summer of 2002. The video, with Murphy singing into the camera with a spotlight behind him and someone routinely slapping him quickly gained traction. The song and video (see below) were super cool, like nothing else out there.

Murphy talks about the inspiration behind the song in the film. How he was worried that all the cool kids could suddenly access all the music online that he spent years discovering and collecting. The 8-minute electro punk tune created enough of an impression for booking requests to come through. LCD Soundsystem suddenly became a real band. 

The 2002-2005 early period of LCD Soundsystem was extraordinarily prolific as Murphy dove headfirst into ecstasy and creating electronic music, releasing a string of singles that led to a double album coming out in early 2005. 

I first caught the band around this time when they supported Too Many DJ's at the Barrowland. LCD had a bank of equipment, loads of percussion and cowbells and Murphy sang into an old crooners style microphone. They were electrifying.

That summer my girlfriend (now wife) and I went to the Benicassim Festival in Spain. LCD Soundsystem came on stage around 2 or 3 in the morning and the place went crazy. It remains one of my all-time favourite festival sets; a band breaking through from the underground playing a late night set to a party crowd. Check this electrifying 52 second crowd footage.

Murphy and LCD kept creating, releasing, playing and partying. Something had to give and it did in 2010 following the release of the This Is Happening album. Murphy said it would be the bands last album and that their last show would be at Madison Square Garden, where the band played an epic 4-hour set.

In some ways it was perfect. 10-years on from working on the Holmes album. Murphy talked of writing songs as good as he was going to and not wanting to carry on with the purpose of becoming bigger, or to earn more money. In other interviews, Murphy hinted that he might go back to creating music and releasing 12-inch singles, but he had to get away from LCD being so large.

Rather incredibly, David Bowie was one of the people to encourage Murphy to get the band back together. James played on Bowie's Blackstar album. The comeback grew arms and legs and before LCD knew it,they were once again travelling round the world to promote an album - 2017's American Dream.

Now, in 2024, LCD Soundsystem are kind of operating on their terms. Tours have been replaced with residencies in their favourite cities and the band can pick and choose what festivals they want to play. Surely there will be a Barrowland residency at some point?! Murphy has always been quick to acknowledge the importance of the venue, Glasgow as a city and the Subclub.

LCD Soundsystem play Glastonbury and All Points East in London this summer. 

UPDATE - LCD Soundsystem now play the Barrowland and tickets are on sale this Friday - 24th May!

Anyway, I've gone off on a tangent. Watching Meet Me In The Bathroom caused me to go down a rabbit hole and I thought I would write a blog on 10 of my favourite songs by LCD Soundsystem. OK 11 - I;ve included both versions of Yeah!

I've finally finished the blog and I've compiled the songs into a playlist that you can check HERE

At the time of writing, I chose;

1. Losing My Edge

I blogged on Losing My Edge for my Trust Me series back in April 2022 (read here) and declared that everything about this song is cool, clever and funny. A paranoid Murphy wonders if he is losing his edge to kids from London, Berlin, France and Tokyo. I love the way the song veers off to the glorious you don't know what you really want hook at the end. One of the best debut singles of all-time.

Check the incredible performance from their debut show at Trash in London in 2002. Jammed and rammed together on a tiny stage, creating a brilliant vibe and sound.

Official video

Live at Trash London, 2002 (their first show)

Live at Madison Square Garden

2. Great Release

Murphy strips things back to a drum machine and big gospel house piano notes before coming in with potentially his best vocal - wracked with emotion. 

Official audio

Live on Austin City Limits

3. Yeah (Crass version) + (Yeah Pretentious Version)

OK I'm cheating, I've included both versions of Yeah. Originally released as a 12-inch single in January 2004, both versions made it on to CD version of the bands debut album. Outrageous electronic excellence.

Yeah (Crass version) live in Brussells 2010

Yeah (Pretentious version)

4. Us v Them

Us v Them was a real highlight from the Sound of Silver tour when I caught them at the Barrowland. Thinking back, it was monsterous. This could be LCD Soundsystem's most powerful song, it builds into a mantra; us and them, over and over again ...

You were on Murphy's side for sure. Fantastic use of cowbell and just listen to the little riff going on in the background around 6-minutes over the scratchy Chic punk guitar riff.

Live at Madison Square Garden

5. All My Friends

To my ears, in my mind and in my heart, this is an absolutely perfect song. All My Friends gives me all the feels ... the long 82-second intro with Murphy reminiscing about going back to someone's house to check the charts - pop or astrological? I've always thought pop.

And now I wonder if Murphy is reminiscing? Or is he talking about checking to see where LCD are in the charts? As he then goes on to talk about partying, ageing, touring, giving it his all and questioning if he wants to keep it going.

To tell the truth

This could be the last time

And in the end Murphy is ranting and questioning himself - where are you friends tonight?

He goes on and you're left in no doubt that he wants to be home to see his friends.

One of LCD's most melodic songs that builds and builds over a repetitive riff. Also contains one of my favourite lines that always makes me think of Glasgow/Scotland.

If you're worried about the weather

Then you picked the wrong place to stay

Official video

Live at Glastonbury 2016

6. Someone Great

Electronic soul. Possibly the best song Murphy has composed and written. The electronic symphony drips with emotion, the bass synth in particular, while all kinds of gorgeous noises and beeps play over the top. 

I wish that we could talk about it

But then that's the problem

Murphy starts to pour his heart out and bare his soul, with his vocal melody just about matched to an xylophone, ending the first verse by singing I miss the way we used to argue.

This is a very different LCD Soundsystem, Murphy is singing about a break up and it's heartbreakingly beautiful; to tell the truth I saw it coming, the way that you were breathing

Is it a break up, or is it loss? It could be either. When Murphy sings when someone great is gone you really feel his grief.

Official video

Austin City Limits

7. I Can Change

Murphy aims straight for our hearts again and scores a bullseye with this gem. Urging his lover to never change, never change, this is why I fell in love and then going on to say promise I can change, I can change if it helps you fall in love.

No bullshit, this is love, warts and all. It's not perfect, but it is love. Murphy is in for the long haul.

Live at T In The Park (2016)

8. 45:33

Part 1 - Intro

Part 2 - You Can't Hide/Shame On You

Part 3 - Someone Great (instrumemtal)

Part 4 - Out In Space

Part 5 - Ships Talking

Part 6 - Outro

Following the release of their debut album, LCD Soundsystem then teamed up with Nike to record 45:33, seemingly designed to soundtrack jogging workouts. Regardless of the origins, the concept allowed Murphy to work his magic across 45-minutes, even longer than his usual 8 or 9 minutes per track.

A continuous piece of music, it was composed in 6 parts with part 2 being the outstanding You Can't Hide/Shame On You that is one of many highlights on the The Long Goodbye (Madison Square Garden) live album. What a tune! Riding in on house piano chords over a what sounds like a synth being tuned, the song develops into a huge vocal anthem, the kind you can sing-a-long to on first listen. The kind of song that causes a dance floor to erupt as people punch the air, dance and sing. Super cool.

It's also worth noting that Someone Great first appeared as part 3 in instrumental form and it sounds blissful, developing into part 4, an electro funk workout with some Stevie Wonder influenced sounds over slowed down vocals. We're way into the mix, way into the trip now and it is magical. Or well into the jog/run!

Disco diva vocals come in, give me love, before Murphy's slowed down voice comes back in, super trippy synths are layered over the constant disco electro groove, then everything cuts back to the groove before the female vocal comes back in, singing your'e out in space, you need some loooooovvvveee. Sublime!

Horns kick in for as the groove turns to a funky bass and then a breakdown, before things finally lead to part 5 and it's quite a change in pace as I feel like I'm transported to Optimo.

There is another change in pace for part 6 - the warmdown part of the jog/run, the comedown part of the nigh out/trip. Beautiful!

Official audio

9. Home

Murphy employs all his favourite tricks on Home, which closes the This Is Happening album. False start, immediate cool groove, quickly adding layers of synth including a delicious bubbling sound, percussion coming to the fore ... then Murphy comes in singing Home before going off on one.

Official audio

10. Oh Baby

This gives me all the feels. Bubbling synths, cool beats, a stronger bass synth riff over the top, Murphy crooning oh baby, you're having a bad dream, here in my arms.

Live on Austin City Limits

Official video

10 from The Jesus and Mary Chain

When I was in 5th year of high school a friend in the year above tried to get me into The Jesus and Mary Chain by playing me something on his walkman / personal stereo. For those a little younger than me, this was a little cassette player you could carry around with headphones! 

I only listened briefly, as whatever song I listened to sounded like feedback over someone banging metal bins together. I'm not sure what it was, although I suspect it might well have been Upside Down, the bands 1984 debut single which quickly made a mark on the music scene thanks to extreme use of feedback over the top of blurred bubblegum pop vocal melodies.

I wasn't ready for Upside Down and neither was the (lack of) sound capabilities of my friends walkman! Thankfully I tried them again the following year upon release of Honey's Dead and fell for edgy cool like Reverence mixed with acoustic bliss like Almost Gold and there was the pop perfection of Far Gone And Out.

I can't explain

Exactly what I'm doing

Standing In The Rain

The Jesus and Mary Chain had something. Early on that was hidden behind feedback, shyness, shades and loads of alcohol that meant no-one knew what to expect at live shows, resulting in most being 15-minutes or under with a number turning into violence, most notably the now infamous North London Polytechnic show in 1985.

Brothers Jim and William Reid are the heart of The Jesus and Mary Chain. Hailing from East Kilbride on the outskirts of Glasgow, they had been fantasising about forming a band for years. Sibling rivalry meant that at one point they each had their own fantasy band, but finally they brought their songs together, recruited a friend Douglas Hart on bass guitar and formed a fierce bond with Bobby Gillespie of Primal Scream who came across their demos on the flip side of a Syd Barrett compilation tape that a friend had passed on.

Gillespie would replace original drummer Murray Dalglish to form the classic Mary Chain line-up. He played drums standing up like Moe Tucker from The Velvet Underground, Douglas Hart played a two string bass guitar, while the Reid brothers worked their magic. They were a proper gang, in their own world. I would have loved to have seen the band at this point, visually cool, shambolic drunken shows but with that kind of edge that makes a band special.

With Alan McGee as their manager, the Mary Chain were a blur of activity; singles, shows, tours, press, controversy and the aforementioned Psychocandy debut LP in 1985.

Second LP Darklands, released in 1987 was almost entirely the Reid brothers who had learned a great deal since bursting on to the scene in 1984. Feedback was banished for melodies, a drum machine was used (Gillespie had left to focus on Primal Scream) and the album dripped with quality like the title track, Happy When It Rains, April Skies and About You.

The Mary Chain were prolific; Automatic was released in 1989, the aforementioned Honey's Dead in 1992, followed by Stoned and Dethroned in 1994. By 1998's Munki album, the relationship between the Reid brothers had deteriorated to the extent that each would go in with the rest of the band to record their own songs, but their sibling wouldn't be there.

2017's Damage and Joy brought new songs, together with some of Jim's work under the name Freeheat and also songs from the brilliant Sister Vanilla album Little Pop Rock (the Reid brothers with their sister Linda) that I blogged on HERE.

Quite what the Reid brothers will do next is anyone's guess. However, they are taking my own personal favourite album of theirs, Darklands, out on tour ... finally, after numerous postponements due to the pandemic. I can't wait to see them at the Barrowland.

JAMC have an extensive back catalogue that includes some brilliant b-sides. The digital editions of their albums are expanded with all kinds of b-sides, demos and session tracks. This is the first time I've written a 10 from blog and discovered a song I hadn't heard before that I included in the blog.

So here, at the time of writing, are 10 of my favourite songs by The Jesus and Mary Chain. About You, Girlfriend, The Two Of Us and I Love Rock n Roll are other real favourites.

Sometimes Always

I've mentioned Sometimes Always a number of times in the blog, notably on my 10 from Hope Sandoval feature you can check HERE. What more can I say?! It's one of my all-time favourite songs, guitar pop perfection. The contrast between Hope's dreamy clear vocal and Jim's velvets-y drawl is just so cool.

Check the video 

April Skies

I just love the groove to this. The Mary Chain sound super cool, William Reid's guitars chime at times, they soar at others. This reached number 8 in the charts in 1985, the Mary Chain had kicked in the doors.

Hey honey what you trying to say

As I stand here don't you walk away

And the world comes tumbling down

Check the video

Why'd You Want Me - alternate version

The b-side to Far Gone And Out in 1992, Why'd You Want Me has William Reid on lead vocals and also conjuring brilliant little guitar riffs. The lyrics are almost classical Mary Chain, mentioning sin, the blues, drink, drugs, night, light and asking that simple question - why do you want me babe?

If I was writing a blog on the 10 songs I consider to be the Mary Chain's best then this wouldn't feature. But I love it's purity and simplicity, it's a real favourite.

Live on The Beat, London 1993

Some Candy Talking

Everything about this is super cool. Released as an EP in 1986, the song would later end up on the CD version of Psychocandy. It highlights how prolific the Reid brothers were. Some Candy Talking is like transporting The Velvet Underground into the mid 80's. That good, that cool.

There has long been debate about whether this is about sex or drugs. For me it sounds and reads like it is definitely about the chase of a thrill as a teenager - sex.

Check the video

But it's too much for a young heart to take

Cause hearts are the easiest things you could break

Darklands

Quite a lot happened between the release of Psychocandy in 1985 and Darklands (the album) in 1987. The Reid brothers became a lot more confident in their songwriting and musical ability. William Reid was heavily involved in the production. Perhaps the biggest change was that Bobby Gillespie was no longer the drummer, he'd been replaced by a drum machine.

Strange as that sounds, it worked out well for all parties. Darklands is my favourite Mary Chain album. I also consider it to be their best. The title track, the opening song on the album, at 5 minutes 29 seconds long, leaves the Mary Chain loads of time and space to create something truly magical.

It's so unrushed, William picks a riff and occasional big chord comes crashing in. Jim is all poetic, there are the pop du, du, du, du, du duuuu bits, it's got that Mary Chain cool, but this time it's majestic with it.

And I awake from dreams

To a scary world of screams

And heaven I think, is too close to hell

Check the official video

Something I Can't Have

I only discovered this song when going through the JAMC catalogue for this feature. What a song! The Mary Chain at their rip roaring best; sounding cool, in a total groove, guitars blasting, flowing vocal melodies. Check them blasting through it on Later with Jools. 

This was tucked away on the 1993 Sound of Speed EP and the subsequent compilation album of b-sides and rarities of the same name. By 93 the band had released 13 singles and 6 E.P's in addition to their albums, so they had plenty of material.

This has very quickly become a real favourite. 

And we could kiss with tongues

I've got no place to go

Check the video

Just Like Honey

I mean, come on, this is just so perfect. The drums half-inched from The Ronettes, just the right amount of distortion, the way the riff kicks in for the instrumental, Jim Reid singing I'll be your plastic toy, the way Karen Parker's vocals come in for the prolonged just like honey refrain and outro.

Memorably used in the closing scene in Lost In Translation, Scarlett Johansson would later go on to perform it with the Mary Chain at their comeback show in Coachella.

Official video

Live on The Tube 1985

Coachella 2007 with Scarlett Johansson

Head On

Head On is classic Mary Chain guitar pop with influences from the fuzzed up 50's style guitar riff through to the 80's drum machine and synth bass that drive and underpin the song. The song drips with Mary Chain cool; references to death, the stars and the sky, there is a guitar solo, breakdown, a build up, hey yay ay ays and yeah yeah yeahs. The song could easily last well under 3-minutes, but Jesus and Mary Chain realise they are the zone and take it on to over 4-minutes.

 There is a pre chorus and chorus that flow superbly.

And the way I feel tonight

I could die and I wouldn't mind

And there's something going on inside

Makes you wanna fell, makes you wanna try

Makes you wanna blow the stars from the sky

I can't stand up, I can't cool down

I can't get my head off the ground

In the video William Reid wears a Love t-shirt and Jim Reid clings to his mic stand as they mime to the song - looking super cool. Jesus and Mary Chain released many impeccable singles through their career and Head On is one of their best, certainly one of my favourites.

Official video

Far Gone And Out

So yeah, I did mention this song early in the blog and yeah, it is in my top 10. As a kid getting into alternative guitar pop music this just seemed so perfect, so right, so cool. Like it could have been made in a garage, but it's just got that little bit more of a pop tinge to it, in all the right ways. They hey, hey, heys, the beats, the guitars going full on fuzz overdrive at all the right times. I love lines like I'm television sick and I'm television crazy and the line about taking thoughts to the railway station. Most of all I just love how this comes across as the sound of a band having fun.

I can't explain, exactly what I'm doing, standing in the rain

Don't do it for fun, do it if you feel it, kiss it on the tongue

Check the video

Happy When It Rains

The Reid brothers get everything absolutely spot on here. Structurally perfect, sounding cool, brilliant imagery, all the classic Mary Chain stuff is there - rain, honey, gold, pain, darkest.

I love the don't know why, don't know why, things vaporise and rise to the sky line, just effortless. And the plug into her electric cool line.

The way things lift with the and we tried so hard break into the chorus which has shimmering guitar and Jim Reid singing about being happy when it rains, happy when it pours ... it's spine tingling to hear a band in this kind of form, totally on it.

When it breaks to And I'm happy when it rains at 2 minutes 39 seconds it sounds like Jim is defiantly happy, leading to a short breakdown instrumental before going back to the refrain.

Simply sublime.

Official video

The Roxy 1987

Previous 10 from blogs (all at the time of writing)

1. The Vaselines

2. The Lemonheads

3. The Pastels

4. Primal Scream

5. BMX Bandits 

6. Belle and Sebastian 

7. The Charlatans 

8. Hope Sandoval 

9. Edwyn Collins 

10. New Order 

11. Carla J Easton 

12. Stone Roses

13. Echo and the Bunnymen

14. Oasis 

15. 

Never Ending Mixtape part 61

 

Hello and welcome to part 61 of my Never Ending Mixtape, my Spotify playlist that I add to regularly and blog about monthly. Search for Everything Flows Never Ending Mixtape on Spotify or CLICK HERE.

This month sees the additions of a couple of gems from the latest Teenage Fanclub album, as well as a stunning track Norman sings on with his old friend Sean Dickson (AKA HiFi Sean). The Golden Smog song is beautiful, I intend to dig into their back catalogue.

Elsewhere J Mascis features, there are some gems from Gruff Rhys and I'm also enjoying his latest solo album, I'm sure there will be a few songs from that in my next update.

Check out a couple of songs by The Coral, 3 (appropriately) from Big Star's Third album, a couple from Hole (pictured above), then we have Kraftwerk, Can, The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart and more.

As always, I hope you discover something amazing that you haven't heard before, or rediscover an old favourite.

The latest additions are;

Come With Me - Teenage Fanclub

Back In The Day - Teenage Fanclub

18th - HiFi Sean ft. Norman Blake

Shine Your Light On Me - Natalie Bergman

Until You Came Along - Golden Smog

transfer - wor_kspace

Me Again -J Mascis

Several Shades Of Why - J Mascis

Every Morning - J Mascis

Martian Saints - The Hackles

Hello Sunshine - Super Furry Animals

serotonin - girl in red

After Hours / Panic - Gruff Rhys

Tremble To The Light - Gruff Rhys

Caitlin's Theme - Gruff Rhys

My Best Friend - The Coral

Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now - The Smiths

Lover Undiscovered - The Coral

Malibu - Hole

Celebrity Skin - Hole

Olympian - Gene

Everybody Knows - The Jayhawks

Bad Time - The Jayhawks

Europe Endless - Kraftwerk

Computer Love - Kraftwerk

Number 1 - Poster Paints

Back On Board - Aztec Camera

Somewhere In My Heart - Aztec Camera

Bad Education - Aztec Camera

Gorgon - Juliana Hatfield

I Can't Get Enough - The Jesus and Mary Chain

Song To The Cynic - Teenage Fanclub

I'm So Green - Can

Kitchen - The Lemonheads

New York - St Vincent

Young Adult Friction - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart

Crash - The Primitives

Tiger Lily - Luna

Thank You Friends - Big Star

Big Black Car - Big Star

Kanga Roo - Big Star

The Music Box by Ruth Copeland

Trust me #8
The Music Box by Ruth Copeland

In the summer of 2004 I bought a compilation album called Songs for Mario's Cafe by Saint Etienne. Well before then, I had learned that Bob Stanley from the band had exceptional taste in music that was matched by his knowledge and thirst for more.

Every single song on this compilation was like finding treasure. I hadn't heard any of them before! I'll be blogging on some of my favourite compilation albums in 2020.

One of the songs that stood out from this particular compilation was a song called The Music Box by an artist called Ruth Copeland. I was blown away by the music, production, voice and raw emotion that leapt out of this song.

Starting with a children's choir singing a la la la la la la la melody, that you can instantly sing-a-long to, The Music Box makes use of the choir throughout, with Copeland singing in a crystal clear voice over a funky Motown style beat.

Copeland is on a plane to meet a lost love who has written to say he is marrying and has a child. In her pocket she carries the letter and a music box that her lost love had given her. Reading between the lines, the music box kept the flame alive. Now, Copeland feels she has to return the music box which plays their song.

The second verse is heartbreaking, Copeland meets he lost love, hands him the music box and walks away, hearing him open the box and play their song.

I could only hand to him the music box and turn away

And as I walked away from all our love I heard him play

The la la la la la la la melody is what the music box plays, leading to an incredible section of the choir singing the melody and Copeland breaking down, literally sobbing along over a beat that is crying out to be sampled, if it hasn't been already.

Trust me, this is a gem. Check it out below and dig into her limited back catalogue that includes a sensational 8-minute cover of Gimme Shelter.

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

In The Year 2525

Trust Me #7 

In The Year 2525 by Zager and Evans

In The Year 2525 is a futuristic psychedelic garage pop song released by the American band/duo Zager and Evans. Written by Rick Evans back in 1964, the song was originally released on a small regional label in 1968, before being rereleased and hitting number 1 in the summer of 1969, both in American and the UK.

I first heard it when it was played in the Scottish independent film Small Faces and I fell for it instantly. The production is incredible, the delivery is immediate and powerful.

Talk about taking the listener on a journey; thoughts are pre-programmed into pills, machines take over resulting in parts of the body losing their purpose, kids conceived in test tubes ... talk about being ahead of its time!

Everything you think, do or say

Is in the pill you took today

The song flies through time in 1,010 year intervals, 2525, 3535, 4545 .... leading to 9595 and the singer contemplating if man will still be alive.

In the year 9595

I'm kinda wonderin' if man is gonna be alive

He's taken everything this old earth can give

And he ain't put back nothing

This is an incredible song. It is pop in the fact that it is instantly memorable, it is exceptionally clever, the power and delivery is sensational, the production is perfect and the fact that it is so out there, so futuristic and it got to number 1 - it's pretty mind blowing.

Trust Me
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

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

Never Ending Mixtape part 39

Summer is pretty much over, it feels like Autumn is in the air and it kind of has been for a while. But what a summer of music in Glasgow; Bandstand shows with Burt Bacharach, The Human League and Teenage Fanclub and the return of Camera Obscura with a wonderful show at St Luke's.

So it is no surprise that Bachrach and Camera Obscura each have 4 songs added to the playlist. You'll also find some real soulful disco gems, punk pop perfection from Dinosuar Jr, the incredible 8 Ball by Underworld, pure pop by Moloko, psychedelic groove by Death In Vegas, outrageous soul by Spanky Wilson, the sheer brilliance of Layla - what about that outro?! and loads more including a couple of tunes by new L.A. band The Regrettes who bring their teen punk pop to Glasgow in November.

A full list of additions can be found below. There are now well over 1,000 songs on Everything Flows Never Ending Mixtape, you'll need to scroll down to the bottom to find the latest tunes. Dig in and enjoy.

Walk On By - Burt Bacharach
This Guy's In Love With You - Burt Bacharach
Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head - Burt Bacharach
What The World Needs Now Is Love - Burt Bacharach
Can't Fake The Feeling - Geraldine Hunt
Feel The Need In Me - The Detroit Emeralds
I Specialize In Love (12-inch) - Sharon Brown
This Guy's In Love With You - Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass
Losing Your Mind - The Lemonheads
Slip and Do It - Betty Wright
Down Here On The Ground - Lou Rawls
Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Diana Ross

Freak Scene - Dinosaur Jr
8 Ball - Underworld
Sing It Back - Moloko
Dirge - Death In Vegas
Layla - Derek and the Dominoes
You - Spanky Wilson
Norman 3 - Teenage Fanclub
Since You've Been Gone - The Allergies
I Got You Babe - Etta James
Ce soir je m'en vais - Slove

Feelings Gone - Callum Easter
Tender - Blur
Sweet Thing - Van Morrison
California Friends - The Regrettes
I Dare You - The Regrettes
Collar of Fur - Fionn Regan
Promised Land - Joe Smooth
The Sweetest Thing - Camera Obscura
My Maudlin Career - Camera Obscura
If Looks Could Kill - Camera Obscura
Razzle Dazzle Rose - Camera Obscura

Never Ending Mixtape Part 31

When it comes to writing my monthly update on my Never Ending Mixtape, I always find it interesting to look back at the songs I have added at random during the previous month. This month has music from beat groups of the 60's through to new music from The Orielles. Sugababes sit next to Springsteen, The Sugarcubes sit next to a wonderful song by Cornershop, a kids choir sing McCartney's Band On The Run and then you have the original straight afterwards. Stars by Mr Fingers is sheer brilliance, we have the dreamy and sexy Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin, gems from Tim Buckley and Fred Neil, we have Motown, Northern Soul, classic indie from the Manics and The Charlatans, guitar pop perfection by The La's and much, much more.

Scroll down to the end for the latest additions, or click on shuffle, dive in wherever or play from the start. But as the playlist approaches 850 songs I am confident you'll find something you haven't heard before that you enjoy, or an old favourite. Enjoy.

Search for Everything Flows Never Ending Mixtape on Spotify or click below.

It Makes You Forget (ltgehane) - The Orielles
Sproston Green - The Charlatans
White Shirt - The Charlatans
Can't Get Out Of Bed - the Charlatans
La Tristesse Durera (Scream to a Sigh) - Manic Street Preachers
Motorcycle Emptiness - Manic Street Preachers
Motown Junk - Manic Street Preachers
Better Use Your Head - Little Anthony and the Imperials
A Change Is Gonna Come - Sam Cooke
Abraham, Martin and John - Marvin Gaye
I'm Ready For Love - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
The Night - Frankie Valli
Je t-aime moi non plus - Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin
Breakdown (radio mix) - One Dove
There She Goes - The La's
Everybody's Talkin' - Fred Neil
Buzzin' Fly - Tim Buckley
Drifter - J Mascis
Broken Finger Blues - Richard Swift
Where Are You - J Mascis
Only With You - Norman Blake
Band On The Run - The Langley Schools Music Project
Band On The Run - Wings
Jet - Wings
The Winter Garden Playtest - Radiophonic Tuckshop
The Secret of the Tibetan Grapefruit Is ...? - Dr Cosmo's Tape Lab
Do Ya - The Move
Stars - Mr Fingers
As - Tony Sherman
I Believe (When I Fall In Love) - Stevie Wonder
Higher Ground - Stevie Wonder
Living For The City - Stevie Wonder
Heaven Help Us All - Stevie Wonder
You Turned My Bitter Into Sweet - Mary Love
I Can Feel Your Love - Felice Taylor
Sing Me A Love Song - Felice Taylor
Ode To Billie Jo - Clydie King
You Turn Me On, I'm A Radio - Joni Mitchell
Positively 4th Street - Bob Dylan
Astral Weeks- Van Morrison
After The Gold Rush - Neil Young
If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out - Cat Stevens
Razor Love - Neil Young
Nightswimming - R.E.M
Racing In The Street 78 - Bruce Springsteen
Overload - Sugababes
Everlasting Love - Love Affair
Rainbow Valley - Love Affair
A Day Without Love - Love Affair
(If Paradise Is) Half As Nice - Amen Corner
Wishin' and Hopin' - The Merseybeats
Needles and Pins - The Searchers
All My Life - Evan Dando
Hit - The Sugarcubes
Good To Be On The Road Back Home Again - Cornershop