Rachmaninov/Eric Carmen - "Piano concerto No.2 (Adagio sostenuto)"/All By Myself

Rachmaninov composed his Piano Concerto No. 2 between 1900 and 1901 and 75 years later a hit song from Eric Carmen "All By Myself" was based on a melody from that concerto. In fact, Eric Carmen had written the piano solo first (which is part of the full version of the hit song) and then after listening to his favourite composer, Rachmaninov, he decided to incorporate the beautiful melody, we all now know, into the song. Not quite finished yet, he went back to the first few notes of the chorus of "Let's Pretend" from his previous band 'The Raspberries' for the chorus of "All By Myself" but that is much more subtle than the borrowed Rachmaninov melody. He even used a Rachmaninov melody for his follow up solo hit "Never Gonna To Fall In Love Again." If you have ever heard the full version of "All By Myself" other than the edited single, you would've guessed that he was classically trained. That is why I respected him more than his AM radio/power ballad peers. This connection also got me to seek out some Rachmaninov music years later.




"All By Myself" - Eric Carmen



"Let's Pretend" - The Raspberries

I Monster - "The Best"

The Olympic games are suddenly upon us and here is the unofficial unofficial song of the 2012 London Olympics. Tina Turner's anthem "Simply the Best" yes, the one heard at every sports stadium, has had a much needed makeover by I Monster. Gold medal performance.

Memphis Minnie - "When The Levee Breaks"

Memphis Minnie recorded this blues classic "When The Levee Breaks" in 1929 with her husband Kansas Joe McCoy. They wrote it about the Great Mississippi Flood a couple of years earlier. The flood effected many lives and was the subject matter for many Delta Blues songs for the decade or so after. It was written primarily about the Greenville, Mississippi area, where thousands of people were evacuated to the protection of another levee on higher ground. However, over the years it has become an ode to the Mississippi State and further. A telling reminder of the hardship they have endured. I don't really even need to mention Hurricane Katrina... we know the damage that did to the levees in New Orleans. A topical song that will keep coming back... particularly for those folks along the Mississippi.



Led Zeppelin recorded a version of "When The Levee Breaks" in 1970 for the Led Zeppelin IV album. Unfortunately it may be remembered more for its great drum sound than the origin of the song itself. The opening drum riff has been sampled on dozens of songs by Beastie Boys, Eminem, Bjork and Massive Attack, to name a few.

Led Zeppelin - "When The Levee Breaks"

Miss Li - "I can´t get you off my mind"

Miss Li has already appeared on this blog so I will spare you the minor details about her prolific musical career which started in 2006 with her first single "Oh Boy" (the other Miss Li post on this blog). In 2011 she released her fifth album 'Beats and Bruises' and one of the singles from it was "I can´t get you off my mind" an exceptional pop song that I can't get off my mind.

The Vaselines - "Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam"

1986 - Edinburgh: The Vaselines formed.

1987/1988 - Edinburgh: They released the 'Son of a Gun' EP and 'Dying For It' EP respectively. (the latter EP featured "Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam")

1989 - Edinburgh: They released their debut album 'Dum Dum' and then broke up.

1990 - Edinburgh: They reformed to open for Nirvana when they played in that city... after Kurt Cobain had revealed his love of their music.

1992 - Seattle: Nirvana released the 'Incesticide' compilation, which featured two Vaselines covers "Son of a Gun' and 'Molly's Lips".

1993 - New York: Nirvana recorded the 'MTV Unplugged in New York' album, which was released the following year. They covered The Vaselines' "Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam" for that album.

1994 - The World: Now we all love them as well.

(there is more but I think I've made my point)




A more recent (reformed) performance.

David Dundas - "Jeans On"

I went to a great Double Denim party on saturday night and for some strange reason it led me to download this old one hit wonder "Jeans On" by David Dundas. Unfortunately time hasn't improved it one bit. Fatboy Slim gave it a little bit of credit when he sampled it on "Sho Nuff"



Fatboy Slim - "Sho Nuff"

Datarock - "Computer Camp Love"

"Computer Camp Love" has been on Bitter FM playlists for a few years but until now I had never seen the official video. The video paints a similar picture to the one in my head. In other words - it is a perfect accompaniment to this song. "Computer Camp Love" is a humorous computer nerd love song... but with a difference. The difference here is the exchange between the singer and the backing singers. This Norwegian electro-dance band have given young computer nerds a new anthem... even if it is an '80's retro' new anthem. And don't miss the cameo performance from our old friend Mr Commodore 64. 00001011000110010datarock0001100101000100

Yo La Tengo - "Periodically Double Or Triple"

Yo La Tengo have hardly failed to impress during their long career. The Alt-Rock band from Hoboken, New Jersey have been relatively underground since they formed in the mid 80's, while being critically acclaimed throughout. An interesting band with an interesting name... Yo La Tengo is Spanish for "I Have It" which was made famous by the New York Mets baseball team in the 60's after a couple of players kept colliding while taking a catch. The Spanish speaking player wouldn't respond to "I Got It" and the collision wasn't avoided until the English speaking player started yelling it out in Spanish. Yo La Tengo's 2009 album 'Popular Songs' lived up to it's name, well, with "Periodically Double Or Triple" at least. It has a funky organ groove like a 60's soul train... a nice change of tempo that doesn't go unnoticed.

Shelby Lynne - "Black Light Blue"

Shelby Lynne seemed to come from nowhere in 1999 with the release of her album 'I Am Shelby Lynne' but she had actually previously released five albums before that breakthrough album. While she may be remembered now as a contemporary artist similar to Sheryl Crow, this album did show some signs of her ability as a soul singer (more Dusty in Memphis than Aretha). In fact, she released a Dusty Springfield tribute album 'Just a Little Lovin' in 2008, which was no real surprise to anyone who bought 'I Am Shelby Lynne.' The closing track is the laid back, string-laden "Black Light Blue" - a perfect slice of white soul. To be honest I don't often go back to the 'I Am Shelby Lynne' album anymore... but I definitely go back to "Black Light Blue". Shelby in Memphis!

The Clean - "Thumbs Off"

"Thumbs Off" is a classic track from The Clean's groundbreaking, and much sought after, 'Boodle Boodle Boodle' EP. This EP was what really kick-started the Flying Nun label and The Dunedin Sound genre gained momentum from here onwards (although, the genre wasn't really established at this point). It was in the NZ singles chart for months (even though it was a 12" EP)... so it is surprising that a good copy can now fetch over $100. Maybe because most people with a copy do not want to part with it. My first 'Clean' purchase was the next EP 'Great Sounds Great, Good Sounds Good, So-so Sounds So-so, Bad Sounds Bad, Rotten Sounds Rotten' released a year later. Maybe this one will become the nugget for collectors one day but I wouldn't be parting with my copy.

Jane Birkin et Serge Gainsbourg - "Je T'aime,...Moi Non Plus"

It is Bastille day and just because we are on the other side of the world it doesn't mean we shouldn't acknowledge it. It may be reasonably predictable to post this song but "Je T'aime,...Moi Non Plus" is the ultimate French hit. Serge Gainsbourg was the definitive French artist... well since Debussy, Ravel, Satie, Piaf and Brel... and unsurpassed since. "Je T'aime,...Moi Non Plus" was not without controversy at the time of its release, for obvious reasons, and that may have contributed to it's international success. But a brilliant song will always be just that, successful or not. Serge himself, was more disappointed his more serious musical output was ignored after the success of the song in Britain. "Je T'aime,...Moi Non Plus" I Love it, Nor do I.

Concrete Blonde - "Bloodletting (The Vampire Song)"

It's friday the 13th and Concrete Blonde's "Bloodletting (The Vampire Song)" seems appropriate for today's post. However, I must admit, it is more so for the video someone has created to accompany this song.

Patti Smith - "After The Gold Rush"

Patti Smith's latest album 'Banga' is up there with her masterpiece 'Horses'... big call, I know. But I'm sticking with that call. 'Banga' has all the attributes we would expect from a younger Patti Smith... particularly her poetic and literary style. So it is impressive that she is still doing this at 65. There are tributes throughout the album - Amy Winehouse, Maria Schneider and Johnny Depp are three such recipients. The title track is named after the dog in Mikhail Bulgakov's novel The Master and Margarita... and there are many more literary references throughout the album. The closing track "After The Gold Rush" is something that shouldn't really fit alongside the other tracks but somehow embellishes the album or adds a lighter shade of grey to the darkness. She is not reinventing the wheel or giving "After The Gold Rush" a "Gloria"-like makeover, as in 'Horses.' The tempo is much like the Neil Young original but the acoustic guitar is replaced with piano... and by the time the children join in the chorus near the end, there may even be a tear in your eye.



An explanation of "After The Gold Rush" from Patti Smith.

Das Tub

Bugger, I knew I shouldn't have started watching that late movie on Rialto. No time for a song today. But speaking of movies... how about another short film from the 'Your Film Festival' on Youtube. This one is a local entry called 'Das Tub.' Enjoy.

Lawrence Arabia - "Travelling Shoes"

Lawrence Arabia has a new album 'The Sparrow' out now and the first single from it is "Travelling Shoes," which sounds not too distant from "Apple Pie Bed" from his previous album 'Chant Darling.' However, 'The Sparrow' is a move into new territory of lush strings and horns. A recording process with real instruments and no computer programming, which, at times, sounds like it is straight out the 60's or 70's. A sensational album with "Travelling Shoes" merely setting the stage. His magnum opus.

Blind Benny - "No Honor"

Blind Benny are a New York duo featuring singer Jade and guitarist/producer Jonathan Carmelli. "No Honor" is from the forthcoming 'No Honor' EP. It is an acoustically driven song but not in the typical singer/songwriter way. The guitar is somewhat unassuming but the atmosphere elsewhere, vocals included, is the opposite. Spooky and melancholic.

The Beatles - "Fool on the Hill" (take 4)

Okay, I am not going to tell you anything about the Beatles because you either know more than me anyway or you could google and find out as much as you want to. If you are either young enough to never have bought any Beatles material or just not really a big fan, here is a great place to start. There are a million compilations and best of's but my recommendation is the Beatles Anthology 2. This double album won't give you a hit by hit anthology found elsewhere but for the music fan out there this is the best potpourri of Beatles bits and pieces including some great out-takes like this fourth take of "Fool On The Hill"... If you only buy or download one Beatles album this is the one. Let's face it, if you are a serious fan you will already have 'Rubber Soul' and 'Revolver.'

Hot Chip - "I feel Bonnie" feat. Bonnie Prince Billy

Hot Chip's collaboration with Bonnie Prince Billy was a surprise pairing that turned out to be better than what could've been expected... I suppose it was the unexpected that won over. "I feel Bonnie" is actually a reworking of the Hot Chip single "I Feel Better" but with Will Oldham (Bonnie Prince Billy) jumping on board and basically doing what he does. Which is always great, I must add. The end result was fucking epic, to put it lightly.

Danny Bhoy - "French Couples"

It's July. That means the mountains across the lake are capped with snow and the ski fields are fully operational. And that means Wimbledon is on. It also means the Tour de France has started. Bastille day is another July celebration (not so much here of course, but Bitter FM will be playing a lot of French music on the 14th, all the same). So that brings us to a bit of comedy about the French from Danny Bhoy. Apprecier!

Gary Jules - "Mad World"

The Scott Guy murder trial verdict was finally delivered today after an intriguing four weeks that dominated the media here in NZ. Ewen Macdonald was found Not Guilty, and although the prosecution case was based on circumstantial evidence, which was always going to be difficult, it still came as a real shock. All I can say is "it sure is a mad world."

Psyrok & Li'l Sister Jen - "Phoney"

Psyrok is a Wellington based producer/musician with an impressive catalogue of cool down-beat grooves. A little bit Portishead-like... actually a lot more Portishead-like when you add Swedish singer Li'l Sister Jen (Jenny Larsson) as a collaborator. The two have never met in person, but considering the quality of their creations, it is hard to believe. He creates the music and she adds the vocals (and more than likely the lyrics)... all via the good old internet. She is also a member of Swedish band 'Sneezing Habit' but I will save that for another day. "Phoney" is from Psyrok & Li'l Sister Jen's 'Calculus' EP which is available as a free download at www.psyrok.com

French for Rabbits - Claimed by The Sea (PLAN Remix)

Like me, you probably never expected this haunted Bitter FM favourite "Claimed By The Sea" to get the remix treatment. Although, in saying that, when I first heard about the remix I thought to myself that I should do a garageband remix myself, why not? Well, as soon as I actually heard the "PLAN Remix" I realised my limitations and have to concede that whoever PLAN is.... he has done this song justice and let's just leave it there.