Most of BBC Radio 4's output can be terribly dull; plays about tortured academics rejuvenated by a chip shop girl's simple wisdom, programmes about money and mortgages, and The Archers. It's worth listening, however, for gems like this, a fascinating program that investigates the mysterious number stations that broadcast on shortwave radio. You can download the show here:
Tracking the Lincolnshire Poacher
If that piques your interest, here's the ever-useful Wikipedia link.
And if you want some not-so-easy listening (the German bells are especially creepy), you can download MP3s from here.
Enjoy!
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( 3 / 108 )Converting vinyl to MP3 is a long and boring process (unless the vinyl skips, in which case it also becomes painstaking), and while I was preparing for the Herb Alpert special (show 8), I had a lot of time to check out the album covers. Turns out Herb is quite adept at glancing into the middle distance in a forlorn way. You could call it his Blue Steel. I supppose I find it amusing because the typical Tijuana Brass output is incredibly upbeat. Hardly the stuff of heartbroken gazes!
Let's start with South of the Border. Herb's smiling, but his heart's not in it.
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Next, a cover that was obviously taken from the same photo shoot. Herb doesn't seem very happy, despite the lovely lady hanging on him, and the rent-a-marianchis in the background.
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Herb's looking sad by the sea. Cheer up Herb! In the future your records will be going for 30p in the Salvation Army.
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Ewww...everything about this cover creeps me out, like the salacious leer of an old man. It's worth it for the reverse...
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...because nothing says Tijuana Brass more than one man and his horse (oh, and Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da? dear god).
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A rare picture of a genuine smile, and other members of the Tijuana Brass. Don't worry, since this album is a gatefold...
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...there's space for an extra large picture of Herb inside! Bonus points for the shirt that's open just enough to see both chest hair and a gold chain, both of which were the sign of a true man in the 60's and 70's.
Awww...best wishes from Herb. I wonder what a graphologist would have to say about his handwriting?
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( 3 / 149 )Spring is in the air! It looks like there's a new Katamari rolling this way! Life is good...
(01. The Gonk - H Chappell - Unreleased Music from George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead)
02. More Today Than Yesterday - Andy Williams
03. Hi Shinkeishou Teki Sute Kyoku - Omaera Ittai Nan Nan Da - Yasushi Ishii - Hellsing OST 1: Raid
04. Classical Gas - Mason Williams - The Mason Williams Phonograph Record
05. Nadine (Is It You?) - Chuck Berry
06. Think - Jimmy McGriff - The Worm
07. Toot, Toot, Tootsie - Al Jolson
08. Good Time Woman - Dan Seepers Soul - The Mood Mosaic vol. 3: The Sexploitation
09. The Monkey - Dave Bartholomew
****Congratulations to Bob from Tchai-Ovna who identified last week's music from Zelda. Prizes on the way!****
10. ??????????? - ????????? (competition music)
11. Fever / Comin' Home Baby - The Ernie Freeman Group - Organs in Orbit (another Ultra-Lounge album)
12. Star Wars Main Theme - Tomita - Kosmos - Space Fantasy (check out this site for lots more info on Tomita and his amazing Casio Pyramid)
13. Bo Mambo - Yma Sumac - Mambo! (and More...)
14. Que Sera Sera - Asuka Sakai, Charlie Kosei - Katamari Damacy OST
15. Dance, Dance, Dance - The Casualeers - Talcum Soul
16. The Legendary Theme - Coil - Gitarooman OST
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( 3 / 105 )Here's a random Photoshop project that I made years ago...
This is the first, and so far only piece of Photoshopping I have ever done in my life, but apart from the odd mistake, I'm kind of proud of it. I still think it would be awesome if someone actually did this... In the meantime, feel free to download it and show it to friends and family to confuse them (for those who aren't familiar with the history of Glasgow's Gallery of Modern Art and traffic cones, go here and here).
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( 3 / 95 )Here are pictures and details of the Ray McVay albums I used in the special.
This is definitely one the best Ray McVay albums out there. No duff tracks whatsoever. It's also a rare picture of Ray without his moustache (more on that later).
Showcase Ray McVay and His Orchestra (1969)
Tracklist
01. Gentle on my Mind
02. Light my Fire
03. Galveston
04. Time is Tight
05. Mexican Scavenger
06. Mission Impossible
07. Aquarius
08. This Girl's In Love with You
09. My Way
10. Oh Happy Day
11. The Lonely Mexican
12. Theme from Department S
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Hmmm...the orchestral arrangement is up to the usual groovy standard, but some of the vocals are pretty dismal. I suppose that's the problem with covering songs that are best known for the original singer...
We Got Soul (1969)
Tracklist
01. Soul Finger
02. Mr. Pitiful
03. Respect
04. Funky Street
05. Soul Man
06. You Don't Know
07. I Can't Turn You Loose
08. Soul Sister Brown Sugar
09. Knock on Wood
10. Hold On, I'm Coming
11. Sweet Soul Music
12. 25 Miles
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Ah, Ray, what were you thinking? Well, I suppose it was the 70's, the era of cheesy album covers. On the upside, this album has a majority of standout tracks including La Bamba, Mas Que Nada and a truly stunning version of Scarborough Fair. Definitely enough to forgive Ray for his poor choice in tiny waistcoats.
Ole McVay (1970)
Tracklist
01. La Bamba
02. Scarborough Fair
03. Little Green Apples
04. So Nice
05. Sunlit Stream
06. Mas Que Nada
07. Quando, Quando, Quando
08. Let the Sunshine In
09. Carnival In Majorca
10. Coffee Song
11. How Insensitive
12. Fly Me to the Moon
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Not the best album. It's a bit over-reliant on the dreaded medlies, but there is a rather awesome version of Greensleeves (rock on!), and I'll always have a soft spot for El Condor Pasa.
Ray McVay Plays (1971)
Tracklist
01. Viva Trini Medley (Down by the Riverside, If I Had A Hammer, La Bamba)
02. Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep
03. Theme From Love Story
04. Cecilia
05. Latin Lovers Medley (O Sole Mio, Guantanamera, La Golondrina)
06. Granada
07. March of the Toreadors
08. Yellow River
09. Greensleeves
10. Bridge Over Troubled Waters
11. Happy Swinger Medley (In Them Cotton Fields at Home, Clementine, Hava Nagila)
12. El Condor Pasa
13. Viva Mexico Medley (La Cucaracha, Mexican Hat Dance, Mexican Samba)
14. Viva El Paso
15. Sweet Rock Medley (My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean, Shortnin' Bread, When the Saints Go Marching In)
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This album covers most of your atypical ballroom dancing music types. Most of it is fair to middling. The quick steps tunes aren't too bad, and Something Tells Me is pretty catchy (plus, there's El Condor Pasa, so I'm happy). However, things totally wig out with Sultana, a blistering track with awesome hammond organ through it. Oh, and nice purple suit, Ray.
Come Dancing to the Hits of Today (1972)
Tracklist
01. Till (Fox Trot)
02. For All We Know (Fox Trot)
03. Never Ending Story of Love (Quick Steps)
04. Brand New Key (Quick Steps)
05. Mother of Mine (Waltzes)
06. Sun Rise Sun Set (Waltzes)
07. Something Tells Me (Jive)
08. Love Story (Rhumba)
09. El Condor Pasa (Rhumba)
10. I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (Cha Cha Cha)
11. Un Rayo Del Sol (Cha Cha Cha)
12. Sultana (Samba)
13. Pop Picker's Samba (Samba)
14. Viva El Paso (Paso Doble)
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Ladies and Gentlemen, this is it! This is the album that got me into Ray McVay, and I haven't looked back since. It's all about the first track, Theme From 2001, which combines flutes, vocals and funky, funky hammond organ to deliver a first-rate cover, and a guaranteed floor-filler. There's also covers of Jean-Michel Jarre's Popcorn and Isaac Hayes' Shaft, and a Ray McVay-penned original Everybody Get Ready, another funky classic! The rest of the album is kind of so-so (I have never, and will probably never understand the popularity of Little Brown Jug), but the the sheer quality of tracks 1,8 & 9 make this an absolute gem of a record.
The Ray McVay Roadshow (1974)
Tracklist
01. Theme from 2001
02. The Peanut Vendor
03. Theme from Shaft
04. Ma! He's Making Eyes at Me
05. Little Brown Jug
06. Spanish Eyes
07. Oh Babe
08. Popcorn
09. Everybody Get Ready
10. E Viva Espana
11. Kalinka
12. I Don't Know How To Love Him
13. Ave Maria
14. Michael Row the Boat Ashore
15. Matrimony
This is the picture of Ray on the back of the album. The fuzzy moustache isn't really his. It's been on the picture since it got stuck there during a housewarming party a year ago (someone just so happened to bring a pack of fake moustaches, you know how it is)...it suits him, so it's stayed. Plus, the glue has probably fused to the vinyl sleeve, and I don't want to risk tearing it.
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( 3.1 / 201 )Ray McVay was born in Gourock, Scotland, and started playing clarinet and sax at the age of 15. After a stint of National service in the Royal Tank Regiment, Ray's musical career started in the 50's when he became the Musical Director for Larry Parnes, through which he worked with stars including Billy Fury, Gene Vincent (Ray provided the tenor sax solo on Gene's 'Pistol Packin' Mama), and Eddie Cochran, among others. In 1960, Ray was on tour when he gave up his seat in a taxi to Eddie Cochran, who later died when the taxi crashed into a lamp post.
Ray was approached by Eric Morley, the founder of Miss World, to start his own big band to provide music for the Mecca Leisure venues in the UK. Although the idea seems somewhat alien these days, Mecca dancehalls were the place to be on a Saturday night in the UK in the 60's, and Ray was there, providing the music.
Ray also led the band for another Eric Morley project, the TV show Come Dancing. Ray's output at this time became more traditional and cha-cha-cha-inspired, as the dancehall scene became more about ballroom dancing and less about rock 'n' roll and northern soul.
Ray has won numerous awards for his music, including the Carl-Alan award for most Popular British Dance Band.
A long-time fan of Glenn Miller, after his Come Dancing stint, Ray brokered a deal to direct the Glenn Miller Orchestra UK, and continues to tour the world with them to this day.
Ray McVay, Mecca dancehall king, and provider of groovy sounds, we salute you!
Incidentally, don't you think he also looks like Jason King? Oh Yeah!
Longest introduction to a playlist so far? You bet. So here we go! A Ray McVay special! Once again the show has been cut short (by about 4 songs *RAGE!*). You can go to the album covers section for even more info, including album cover shots!
(01. Coffee Song - Ole McVay)
02. Light my Fire - Showcase Ray McVay and his Orchestra
03. Fly me the the Moon - Showcase Ray McVay and his Orchestra
04. Galveston - Showcase Ray McVay and his Orchestra
05. El Condor Pasa - Ray McVay Plays
06. This Girl's in Love with You - Showcase Ray McVay and his Orchestra
07. Sunlit Stream - Ole McVay
08. Mission Impossible - Showcase Ray McVay and his Orchestra
****I can't beleve no-one got this one! Last week's competition sound effect was the merchant from the truly wonderful Resident Evil 4. Ah well, guess it's rollover time!****
09. ??????????? - ????????? (competition music)
10. Theme from 2001 - Ray McVay Roadshow
11. Time is Tight - Showcase Ray McVay and his Orchestra
12. Soul Finger - We Got Soul
13. Mas Que Nada - Ole McVay
14. Aquarius - Showcase Ray McVay and his Orchestra
15. Greensleeves - Ray McVay Plays
16. Popcorn - Ray McVay Roadshow
17. Sultana - Come Dancing to the Hits of Today
18. Revenge - The Easy Project
19. Oh Happy Day - Showcase Ray McVay and his Orchestra
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( 3 / 217 )Playlist time!
(01. Listen My Children and You Shall Hear - Count Basie - Exposure)
02. Wanna Do My Thing - Matata - Afro Beat
03. Uptight (Everything's Alright) - Charlie Palmieri - Latin Bugalu
04. Refund Game - Guitar Vader - From Dusk
05. Mi Palomita - Yma Sumac - Mambo! (and More...)
06. Logos Naki World - Yasushi Ishii - Hellsing OST 1: Raid
07. A Day in the Life - Okko - Sitar and Electronics
08. I Take What I Want - Sam & Dave - Hold On, I'm Coming
09. Goin' Down - The Monkees
****Last week's sound effect was from the awesome Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney.****
10. ??????????? - ????????? (competition sound effect)
11. Overture II - Sakai Asuka, Yu Miyake - We Love Katamari OST
12. Bongo Bong - Manu Chao - Clandestino
13. Underwater BGM - June 'Chiki' Chikuma - Super Bomberman 3 OST
14. I Feel Sanctified - The Commodores - Commodores Live! (that's live as in 'in concert', not 'opposite of death').
15. Swanee - The Temptations - Live at the Copa
16. Cantata for Combo - Lalo Schifrin - Bullitt OST
17. A Taste of Honey - Peter Nero - Peter Nero Plays a Salute to Herb Alpert
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( 3 / 133 )Okay, I'm finaly getting better at timing the songs, at least it's just one song that's cut short this show rather than three!
(01. Everything Goes - Duke Ellington)
02. Needle in a Haystack - The Velvettes - Mod Fave Raves vol.1
03. Cugi's Cocktail (Hully Gully Cha Cha) - Xavier Cugat - Espresso Espresso
04. TV 200 - Jarvis Humby - Exile on Hammond Street
05. Johnny B. Goode - Chuck Berry
06. Law of the Land - Undisputed Truth
07. Menu Screen Shuffle - June 'Chiki' Chikuma - Super Bomberman 3 OST
08. Bluff Spirit - Kirinji - We Love Katamari OST
09. Debra - Beck - Midnite Vultures
****Last week's sound effect was from Tomb Raider - it's the sound that plays whenever you find a secret.****
10. ??????????? - ????????? (competition sound effect)
11. King Porter Stomp - Benny Goodman
12. Zazueira - Elis Regina - Mojo Club: Dancefloor Jazz
13. Super Car (Street Live Version) - Harebare - One Piece: Cursed Sword OST
14. 1st Man in Space - The All Seeing I - Pickled Eggs & Sherbet
15. Step Right Up - Count Basie - Afrique
16. I Wan'na Be Like You - King Louis - The Jungle Book
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( 2.9 / 109 )Transcending history and the world...
The Listen Again monster struck again, cutting The Edge of Soul off in its prime. Don't worry, I'll rectify the truncation situation very soon!
01. The Edge of Soul - Khan - Soul Edge / Blade
02. Gakuon Yuugi Nengenmishou - Yasushi Ishii - Hellsing OST 1 : Raid
03. The Wrong Way - TV on the Radio - Desperate Youths, Bloodthirsty Babes
04. Testify (I Wanna) - Memphis Soul Band - The Soul of Minit Records
05. Happy Beat - Mandrill - We Are One
06. Go Go Go Cha Girl (Orangers A Go Go Mix) - Tetsuo Yoshida - Space Channel 5 Part 2: Non Stop Mega Mix
07. Boogie Stop Shuffle - Quincy Jones - Big Band Bossa Nova
08. Scarborough Fair - Ray McVay & His Orchestra - Ole McVay
**** last week's music was the menu music from Space Channel 5.****
09. ??????????? - ????????? (competition sound effect)
10. Alumina - Nightmare - The World
11. Mabrouk (Live) - Air
**** If there ARE any French people who know what this song is from, let me know! It's been bugging me for years...****
12. Dragonball Z: Budokai 2 (Vocal)
13. Resurrection (Ropeland Mix) - Coil - Gitarooman OST
14. Woman Made the Devil - Bongos Ikwue - Nigeria 70
15. Raghupati - Ananda Shankar - Ananda Shankar
(16. Anarchie Pour Le UK - The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle)
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( 2.9 / 137 )Check your cholesterol levels, as this is the cheesiest Diversion yet!
01. Mexican Road Race - S.R.O. (1966)
02. A Banda - Herb Alpert's Ninth (1967)
03. Spanish Flea - Going Places (1965)
04. Bean Bag - S.R.O. (1966)
05. With A Little Help from My Friends - This Guy's In Love With You (1970)
06. A Taste of Honey - Whipped Cream and Other Delights (1965)
07. Walk, Don't Run - Going Places (1965)
08. Up Cherry Street - South of the Border (1964)
09. Mexican Shuffle - South of the Border (1964)
10. The Happening - Herb Alpert's Ninth (1967)
11. Tijuana Taxi - Going Places (1965)
****last week's competition music was 'Delfino Plaza' from Super Mario Sunshine****
12. ??????????? - ????????? (competition music)
13. The Third Man Theme - Going Places (1965)
14. Casino Royale - This Guy's In Love With You (1970)
15. Sunny - Herb Alpert's 40 Greatest Hits
16. South of the Border - South of the Border (1964)
17. Work Song - S.R.O. (1966)
18. The Lonely Bull (El Solo Toro) - America (1963)
19. Jerusalem - Herb Alpert's 40 Greatest Hits
20. This Guy's In Love With You - This Guy's In Love With You
21. If I Were A Rich Man - What Now My Love (1966)
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