Julian Cope presents Head Heritage

In more ways than one! We did the poetry thing in a couple schools that I work in as well. I brought some of the other Waterboys stuff as well so hopefully mums and dads will be being pestered to buy an album or two. Funnily enough I accidentally played tracks by a couple of other Scottish bands I quite like.

Careful now Drew. Folk may get the wrong imprsession. I mean, I know how easy it is for your Simple Minds and Glasvegas cds to accidentally fall out their cases and get themselves played amongst a bunch of Waterboys tracks. It could happen to anyone who strokes white persian cats and plans to take over the world by subliminally hypnostising an entire generation of Scottish children to rise up and do his evil bidding upon hearing certain tracks by Simple Minds and Glasvegas that act as unconscious triggers. It could happen to anyone....

Unlikely favourite of the week

Elkie Brooks - Two Days Away
Not surprising if a lot of people missed out on this one given that it came out at the height of Punk. My Mum, a big Cleo Laine fan, had it and I secretly loved hearing it through the walls. Played it this week (an old cdr rip from the vinyl) for the first time in a long time. First thing to say for is that this is the first album where Brooks abanonded her Grace Slick influenced vocal style that she developed with Vinegar Joe (who I thought were a bit ordinary tbh though I love "Black Smoke Rising From The Calumet"). Instead she goes for something in terms of singing style that sounds more like Janis / Aretha, or more accurately Ann Peebles and perhaps Dusty under the influence of pre war Jazz. A real old time 40-a-day voice. The great Lieber and Stoller write and produce and you can really hear that experience of working with people like Peggy Lee, Elvis and Ben E King. The Brill Building approach to classic pop song writing is to the fore. That said it sounds a lot more like Memphis than New York and the first tune almost resolves into a fully fledged Parliament type groove though stops just short. The hit single was over-exposed and a bit mawkish but for me this is one of the last really great pre-digital soul albums. The vocal on "Honey Can I Put On Your Clothes" in particular is stunning and is a song awash with harps, which is no bad thing, and when she goes for more of a Diana Ross mid tempo pop soul thing on "Sunshine After The Rain" it's bang on. Adelle and Joss Stone could do with checking it out and having a rethink. For a 1977 release it is refereshing that it displays no more than the slightest nod to Disco though there is a bit of cod reggae to circumnavigate. It's great strength is the total disdain for hipness. As Cannonball Adderley would say "you don't decide you're hip, it's a fact of life". Highly recommended for old school Soul fans looking for something new to listen to. Gripes? Too much top on the bloody bass!