Lord Emsworth
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Dec 9, 2022 11:33:21 GMT
Thoroughly enjoying this, the latest Chart Music installment
Well done PP for beating them to the punch on this occasion
Chart Music - a shining light in these less than shining days
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Post by Perfect Pseudonym on Dec 10, 2022 10:32:26 GMT
Many thanks Your Lordship There's not many places where you can learn about the existence of the Birmingham P*ss Troll!
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Lord Emsworth
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Dec 12, 2022 10:51:32 GMT
Many thanks Your Lordship There's not many places where you can learn about the existence of the Birmingham P*ss Troll! As Simon Price highlighted - it raises far more questions than answers
Unbelievable story
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Post by Perfect Pseudonym on Jan 21, 2023 10:54:58 GMT
Latest episode has dropped in. Intended to be the Christmas episode, but, well, Al does labour on his editing.
Covering the 27 December 1974 "greatest hits" episode, presented by Travis and Edmonds, and featuring:-
Sugar Baby Love - The Rubettes Annie’s Song - John Denver Jealous Mind - Alvin Stardust Rock Your Baby - George McCrae Born With A Smile On My Face - Stephanie De Sykes This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us - Sparks Always Yours - Gary Glitter Y Viva Espana - Sylvia Killer Queen - Queen The Streak - Ray Stevens Devil Gate Drive - Suzi Quatro Kung Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas Seasons In The Sun - Terry Jacks Tiger Feet - Mud
As I like to do, have watched the actual TOTP episode first, and now have the next six hours or so free to give the CM episode a listen.
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Lord Emsworth
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Jan 27, 2023 6:06:02 GMT
Loving it as always PP
What a gem of a podcast it is
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Post by Perfect Pseudonym on Jan 27, 2023 9:40:46 GMT
It's a wonderful thing isn't it, your Lordship.
Always guaranteed a good one when TP is involved, and I find myself thinking that him and Rock Expert are now my favoured pairing.
I enjoyed the speculation as to who would have sung what if Band Aid was recorded in 1974 (written by Chinnichap of course!), and how would popular double acts be sited in a pantomime horse! Stubbsy's description of how Edmonds and Travis would be accommodated was particularly satisfying.
I notice that there was a slight elephant in room addressing when Al dropped in a little bit of audio from the Xmas Day 1974 episode when Carl Douglas was in the studio having a brief chat with Sir Wrong'un OBE. Mentioned by name often in the podcast, but the first time his voice had featured. I wonder if Al is preparing the ground for looking at a Savile episode in the near future*. He's never said never, but has thus far obviously been reticent to commit.
* Far future more like, going by the frequency of episodes being released!
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Lord Emsworth
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Jan 29, 2023 18:50:17 GMT
Yes, that Do They Know It's Xmas by 70s stars was inspired
I hadn't thought about a JS episode ever getting deconstructed but, yes, it could be in the offing
He was on so often that they might have to go down that road eventually
In terms of guests my favourites in order of preference are...
Taylor Simon Neil David Sarah
They're all good though
I can't be doing with episodes from the 90s though, even late 80s is a struggle - anything 70s/early 80s is like catnip
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Post by Perfect Pseudonym on Jan 30, 2023 8:16:20 GMT
Yep, I'm the same. I don't have much time for TOTPs from about 1987 to the bitter end.
Although I did enjoy the 1987 one with Taylor and Sarah when Mick Jagger was on doing his eventual minor hit, even though TOTP had gone to a lot of fuss about it, expecting that it would have been a lot higher by the time of broadcast! Taylor: "Wouldn't you have just loved to be at Keith Richards' house when this came on? Mouthful of Jack Daniels sprayed at the TV!"
My order of preference with the panel is Taylor, Stubbsy, Pricey, Sarah and Neil.
It's mere idle speculation on my part regarding a future JS episode. It's just that it sounded weird actually having his voice played out on the podcast. And sort of unnecessary as I'm sure Al could have made the point he did without having to play the audio. So I'm theorising that he's possibly gauging Facebook/Twitter feedback to see if he's shot down in flames for dropping it in or not. As I'm on neither, I've no idea how that's going!
Savile does loom large throughout the "golden" era of TOTP, and in a few cases, when an artist has their only ever performance broadcasted, so there is mileage in the podcast to cover one of those. But it is something of an eggshell walk. After all, it is possible that the studio environment in a Savile TOTP could also double as a crime scene, so it's a difficult one to apply a bit of good natured digging to.
Plus, there's also the basic fact that many people quite understandably cannot stomach the presence of the man any more, either audio or visually. I remember looking on YouTube some time back for the Buzzcock's appearance of Harmony In My Head. As they only performed it once and on a Savile show, the uploader also included a brief bit of him introducing the song first. A lot of the comments were raging about him being on the clip at all. So, it's a tricky one for Al to consider. Hence my theory about him dropping that audio.
They did manage it with Gary Glitter, as he appeared on an early podcast and it was handled very delicately and well judged. Since then he's appeared on several more episodes (including the latest) and it tends to pass without much controversy. But with Glitter, he turns up for his bit, and then is gone. Savile will be a constant throughout the show, so different circumstances.
I personally think they should continue as they have avoiding the JS shows. Safe option, but I think for the best.
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Lord Emsworth
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Feb 1, 2023 9:51:53 GMT
Yes, I think so, avoid the JS episodes that is
I guess Al could do a JS episode minus JS but given the mileage they get out of the often idiotic links it would dilute the format
I expect there's quite a few artists/songs that only ever appeared on a JS episode though, and who would stimulate some great discussion
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Post by Perfect Pseudonym on Feb 1, 2023 16:09:01 GMT
Yes, discussing the presenter links is part and parcel of the CM experience. Often making up for the relative lack of anything to say with some of the more blander songs that appear on TOTP. Obviously it would be a no-no to even attempt to try and make light of JS's links, so as you say they could just edit him out altogether, but as you also say wouldn't seem in the spirit of the podcast. So alas despite missing out on some unique performances (either artist, or particular song), it is definitely a safe option to just step away from the Savile.
At least the equally banned DLT can still be featured, and thank the heavens for that, as the comments directed at him can definitely be high points!
I've had a look at my TOTP listings from 1976 on and dropping (generally still available) Savile episodes means that amongst other things, we miss out on...
Heavy Metal Kids - She's No Angel (the one and only TOTP appearance of Wayne Winston Norris being a proper rock star instead of signing Ronnie Wood's name for some star struck frauleins down the Old Town)
England Dan & John Ford Coley - I’d Really Love To See You Tonight (the "I'm not talking 'bout the linen" song, the only TOTP appearance of it, albeit as a video (presumably NTSC'd dubbed on concert footage) and an always loved song in PP Towers)
Trinidad Oil Company - The Calendar Song ("January, February, March, April, May..." etc). The one and only appearance of this perennial playground fave back in the day)
Paul Nicholas - Heaven On The 7th Floor (only appearance of this particular ditty from a CM favourite)
Doctor Feelgood - She's A Wind Up (only appearance of this track)
Buzzcocks - I Don't Mind and Harmony In My Head (double curse for the otherwise regular TOTP-ers, especially so for Steve Diggle as he gets to sing lead on the latter)
Kate Bush - The Man With The Child In His Eyes (but only if you want to see the video rather than L&Co dancing to it)
Gerard Kenny - New York New York (so good he only performed it once)
Mike Oldfield - Guilty (excellent (mainly) instrumental)
Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Don't Kill It Carol (overlooked gem)
Telex - Rock Around The Clock (subversive re-imagining of arguably the song that started the whole pop music thing as we know it)
Spyro Gyra - Morning Dance (actually the in-studio performance by the band themselves was on two Savile shows (the second a repeat), but again, a L&Co rendition is on a non-banned broadcast)
The Jam - When You're Young (a very sad casualty)
The Planets - Lines (another sad casualty especially for the band in this case as was their only ever performance, excellent single)
UB40 - The Earth Dies Screaming (the video in this case, the song otherwise appears on another show as the play-out to the credits, which doesn't really count. The other side of the double A, Dream A Lie, does fair a bit better by being on a later non JS show)
So, that's what stands out to me up to the end of 1980. Perhaps a bonus CM ep could be trawl through some of them!
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