Showing posts with label Tunedr Special Operations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tunedr Special Operations. Show all posts

Wednesday, 18 June 2014

TUNE DOCTOR'S FOOTY SPECIAL

I don't know about you but I'm really enjoying the World Cup but what about Football songs...they're tragic aren't they? Or are they? Here's a selection.....that are more Lionel Messi than Colin Hendry! 

Do you have any favourite football tracks?....it's ok you can admit it, let us know!!




Flycasual:-
Primal Scream/Irvine Welsh - 'The Big Man and The Scream Team Meet the Barmy Army Uptown' (1996)

It's so nice that Scotland are not in World Cup, the idea of having to go through the guaranteed 270 minutes of agony the group games have to offer is far too gruelling for my constitution. It's only after they have been unceremoniously dumped out of the tournament in heroic failure, that you start to relax and enjoy the footballing spectacle!

It was Euro 1996, Scoltand were in it and more importantly I would get to experience my first taste of a classic clash with the Auld Enemy, as England were in the same group. Leading up to the big day, my English girlfriend at the time and I would wind each other up to the point where it would end up in a heated argument about our respective nations, despite her being a big fan of Mel Gibson's exploits. She'd play '3 Lions' and England's 30 years of supposed hurt and I had this Scud missile of a record to take it out from Primal Scream, a superb Rock/Dub number with author Irvine Welsh's rant over it (when the guitars come in around 03:00...wow). The big day came with the inevitable big match nerves so it was a bit of a boozy affair to say the least. Predictably England took the lead but soon after Scotland found a way back in and were awarded a penalty, this was the moment!!! Then it all went to shit, in a helicopter high above Wembley stadium, Uri bloody Geller moved the ball and Gary Mcallister missed the spot kick, a sickener. From the resulting goal kick, Gazza went on to score 'that goal', flicking the ball over Colin Hendry's massive heed to net an incredible goal, one which I still haven't recovered from to this very day. Disgusted, I just ran out the house and headed to our local park to escape the banter from my girlfriend, only to be found by an eventual search party, crashed out in a drunken heap, draped in my Rampant Lion flag.

Sfw:-
Frankie Valli - Can't Take My Eyes Off You

Can't Take My Eyes Off You? - Football? What's the link? Back in 1993, the BBC used this song when promoting the Welsh Football teams during the qualifying rounds for the 1994 World Cup. It quickly became the unofficial anthem of the Welsh Football Supporters. 

We thought we had it all! Old heads (Ian Rush, Neville Southall) and young talent in the form of Ryan Giggs and Gary Speed. We were second in the group and it all came down to the final match where Wales had to play Romania in Cardiff.  It was 1-1 at 63 minutes when Wales were awarded a Penalty, but Paul Bodin (Who? I know) smashed the ball against the cross bar.  Romania ended up winning 2-1 and qualified! I still remember it!

Wales have only qualified for one major tournament  - The World Cup in Sweden 1958, when coincidently a young Brazilian called 'Pele' knocked them out! 

In 2011, Stereophonics singer Kelly Jones sang an acoustic version of the song in tribute to the former Wales Manager Gary Speed who sadly committed suicide.


Shell Hunter:-
Fat Les - Vindaloo (1998)



What are football songs all about? To me, they've got to be something that gets the crowd all riled up and something they'll enjoy singing along to. Forget all the soppy crap, it's got to be straight to the point! Vindaloo has it, synonymous to the stereotypical English lad..."I want to hottest thing on the menu, get me a Vindaloo!!" Its got the crowd pleasing factor, easy lyrics and sounds fantastic when shouted at the top of your lungs in a pub full of drunken revellers(especially if England did win). Sadly I think this style of song was the last of it's kind in quality and will always be up there with New Order and The Lightning Seeds. There are some great characters in the video, my favourites being the pissed tart and the weirdo with the bald wig that walks like Mick Jagger!

Old Pa's Corner :-
Rod Stewart - Ole Ola! (1978)


If it was a quiz question I would definitely remember the year 1978, It was World Cup year and Scotland had already won the World Cup, well according to the manager Ally McLeod that is.

I was at a wedding in Inverness and me along with another 100 or so celebrating fans gathered round a small TV for Scotland's first game. Rod Stewart's Ole Ola! was playing loud. It was Fiesta time, whiskey time!. A time to celebrate this great Scottish world class, all conqueing team. (Scotland were 40 to 1 on to win this game with some bookies, unbelievable odds).

There was no regard to the break up of the wedding, amongst the tears and the  'how could you spoil Morag's big day', and  'it will never last'.

Fourteen minutes into the game, Jo Jordon is through on his own, GOAL !  Scotland 1 Peru 0, we are on our way. World Champions! Scotland! it tasted good!

Eighty Minutes later the score read, Scotland 1 Peru 3, a certain 'Cubillas' spoiled the party, it was his fault the wedding was a disaster. It was his fault Scotland lost, whiskey time. It was his fault I had a raging hangover the next day.

The dream was over before it had began. Three weeks later a Nation's confidence was brought to it's knees and has never fully recovered.  Not even  Proud Edward's army  had achieved that. We thought we were invincible, a small Nation that could compete with the Big Boys. Sadly we now know our place.  (Thank God for Andy Murray and Robbie Burns and Scotch Whiskey)
The Dream is well and truly over for the last 34 years

Come on England! Ole Ola! I hope you don't suffer the same fate. Nobody deserves that, not even an England supporter.


Arrivederci it's one on one!! Check out more Tune Doctor Special Operations here....

Friday, 14 February 2014

TuneDr's Valentine Disasters!!

Over sized fluffy toy? Check. Tacky padded Valentines card? Check. Silk Y-fronts? Check. Two cans of Strongbow Cider? Check. Yep it's Valentines day and us romantics can't always get it right!! Here are some of our Valentines disasters...do you have any?


Har Mar Superstar...patron saint of love!
Flycasual:-
Prince - 'If I Was Your Girlfriend' (1987)


It's 1987, I'm 13 years old, it's Valentines night and it's all happening down at the roller disco. I fancy this girl, she's new in town and rumour has it she fancies me. She's supposedly 'experienced' too, so as not to look like an arse I ask one of the older 'cool' kids about kissing, do you really have to use tongues or is it optional? Prince had just released the incredible Sign 'O' the Times, the DJ plays the album, 'If I Was Your Girlfriend' blares through the speakers and we do circuits together hand in hand. She asks me to skate her home....it's on!

We kiss...on the lips, no nonsense but she deviates, she moves over to my cheek, then my neck, then my ear where to my horror she sticks her tongue in! "Euughh!" I squeal, "what are you doing?"
She exhales in disgust and pushes me away and walks indoors. "Wait, I did something wrong?" I think to myself.

I never see her again. My friend tells me she tried a 'Wet Willy' on me and apparently it's all the rage with the 'cool' kids! Story of my life.

Old Pa's Corner :-

Hank Williams - Your Cheatin' Heart


I thought I would play an little trick on Old Ma. I bought a nice soppy Valentines card and put some romantic words and finishing with 'can't wait to see you again??? I had a mate from work who lived near Gatwick to post it. We lived next to Heathrow, so the post code would not be local. Well if you do a job you gotta do it right. Old Grand Pa told me that! I was hoping she would be embarrassed and squirm, or even try and hide it. I could not wait for her reaction. How well she must know me, she said it was me right away.

"I knew it was you, because it is just the kind of stupid tricks you would play!"

It really blew Valentines day. All the old scores were brought out of the closet! Looking back, I wish I did not buy those bloody chocolates and flowers, I could have bought a CD for myself. Another lesson learned!

London Scouser:-
Belle And Sebastian - 'Don't Leave The Light On Baby' (2000)


I had a Valentine's Day a few years back that I'll never forget but for all the wrong reasons. I'd finished a shift at work and was driving home about 1 o'clock in the afternoon on the M25 and the traffic was gridlocked. Luckily for me (or so I thought at the time) I was coming off to join the M3 and my lane was driving normally. I saw a car ahead of me sticking his nose out to come into my lane but I went past him. I looked in my rear view mirror and saw he had come out behind me and when I looked forward I saw that the van in front of me had slammed his brakes on for some reason. I did the same and came to a stop just behind him, the car behind me also came to a stop... unfortunately not from using his brakes, but using my car instead. The impact forced my car into the back of the van and I had been in my first accident, less than 6 months after passing my test. I remember the sound and the shock but mostly I remember my car stereo coming out of its fittings a bit like a spring loaded toaster !!! I'd been listening to 'Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like A Peasant' at the time, I can't remember which track at the time but I chose this one because it seems an apt title. My poor wife, Shellhunter, had specially prepared and indoor picnic for us to celebrate this most joyous and romantic of card shop celebrations. I eventually got home about 7 o'clock. We had the picnic, but the occasion was a little bit like my airbag....deflated.

As a bonus, I've added a sneaky cover by B & S of an 80's favourite. They've slowed it down compared to 'The Primitives' original, but I kinda like their take on it



Shell Hunter:-
Pamela Starks and Ali Campbell - 'That Look In Your Eyes' (1995)


In secondary school, Valentine's Day was always exciting. The 6th formers used to sell  'Cupids' which were basically delivering love letters, presents and messages to all the students who had them bought by their secret admirers but during class time, in front of everyone. One year a friend of mine who was not one of the most popular of guys received his first ever one. The two 6th formers dressed in pink with cardboard bows and arrows said "Is John here? We have a love note from Sally for him." He went white with shock and a hush fell over the class. Who on earth was Sally and why would anyone want to send John a valentine could be heard murmured. He was beaming like a Cheshire cat! They went over and put the envelope in his hand. We all huddled around eagerly waiting to see what it was. He opened the envelope and out fell a very large sanitary towel. The whole class erupted when it said 'My name is Sally the sanitary towel and I love you John' written on it. A girlfriend of mine had played an evil prank on him which I doubt he has ever lived down. I'll never forget the look on his face.



Monday, 23 April 2012

RECORD STORE DAY AT TUNE DOCTOR

On Saturday 21st April it was Record Store Day, the day to find your nearest record shop, buy some CD/Vinyl and try not to feel intimidated when the staff member looks down at your purchase choice in a way not to dissimilar as Jack Black in High Fidelity!
Throughout the world there had been various exclusive releases taking place, all with the objective of getting music lovers into your nearest record shop to pick up some gems. However, with all this talk of records, Do you remember your first record? (Vinyl / CD/ Tape)

SFW:-
Band Aid - "Do they know it's Christmas"
I don't know whether it's old age or a combination of that and too much vino but my memory is getting bad.  When I read through interviews in music magazines, I'll often see the question "what was your first record?", and the band, artist, actor etc will usually say "Elvis", or "The Beatles", or someone perceived as "cool", but for me it's a struggle.  

But if push comes to shove, I believe mine was Band Aid's "Do They Know it's Christmas", and that seems pretty logical, because everyone seemed to have it in 1984! But then again was it an early "Now That's What I Call Music?" - bloody memory! 

With music now largely consisting of mp3s will anyone in ten years remember their first album?

Flycasual:-
Queen - Flash (1980)


Flash! Ah-ah! Gordon's Alive! Camp film, camp song.....I don't know what that says about me or my musical foundation but who cares....this is brilliant! I must have been six or seven at the time and I remember loving the film and I just had muster all my pocket money to get the song. It had snippets from the film that I could bounce around my room in my underpants to, re-enacting scenes of Flash Gordon's endeavours. Sadly my superhero days were short lived but I guess this must have been my first single. I never really got to appreciate vinyl for what it was as I guess I was more the CD generation but I do remember being mesmerised by Old Pa's LPs. Notably ELO's album 'A New World Record' with the intricate art work of the inside of a UFO and being freaked out by the skull on the Eagles's Greatest Hits album. Though there are many advantages to MP3's, storage and accessibility being the main reasons, you just can't beat holding, admiring the art work, reading the sleeve notes or even smelling an LP or CD.... there's just something about music being more tangible, more physical and you owned it!!!

Shell Hunter:-
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - 'Into The Great Wide Open' (1991)



Growing up with Old Pa and Flycasual as my music guru's it was difficult to find my own musical identity. Asides from The Simpson's Sing The Blues, a sixties megamix tape and Sesame Street's Greatest Hits, there was very little that I listened to, that was my own. After watching The Chartshow which had been recorded for me and sent back from the UK to Saudi, I was mesmerised by this video from Tom Petty dressed up as the Mad Hatter from the album of the same name. It was a great little story starring none other than...Johnny Depp! The lyrics of the song were nice and clear and easy to sing along to. I was so impressed that I asked Old Pa to go out an buy it for me being only 9 years old at the time. I listened to the album constantly and since then have always had a soft spot for Tom Petty's stuff.

Old Pa's Corner:-
Bob Dylan - 'Positively 4th Street' (1965)


"You've gotta lot of nerve!"

I had to have it, it was the best thing I have ever heard, I did not even have a record player but I just had to have it, hold it, look at it, place it under my pillow at night (if the Dylan tooth fairy came I would have a brand new copy of Highway 61 there in the morning). I rushed to my local record store and bought Positively 4th Street. It was 1965, it cost 6/5 pence.

The sad thing is, sorry I will say that again, the great thing is, I ordered a couple of weeks ago the Dylan Box set of his first 4 electric singles especially commissioned for Record Store Day. 'Positively 4th Street' is of course included there with original cover artwork. (The one I bought in 1965 did not have a picture cover)  I have also ordered special frame covers for them, they will have pride of place in my bed room wall (Mrs Mackenzie does not know it yet). My birthday treat. Why not! it will keep an old guy happy!




Monday, 19 March 2012

TUNE DOCTOR'S SPRING COLLECTION

The daffodils are trumpeting the arrival of spring, the birds are clearly 'at it' (apart from the wife) and it is really ok to sneak a cheeky cream egg when paying for your petrol at the station.

So here are four songs from the Tunedr crew that fill us with hope and ting.


Old Pa's Corner:-
Thunderclap Newman - 'Something in the Air' (1969)


A Soul to Rest

It was Spring
I was on the bus to Nairn with my girlfriend
She did not go into school that Friday
She told the Hostel she was going home to Mallaig for the week-end
We hired a caravan for that week-end
It was daring, it was exciting
At last we could be together, wake up together
Just be together, alone

We had no sheets, or anything
The course army blankets, they felt like mulberry silk
On our naked skin
The moon light was shining bright
We strolled along the beach, hand in hand
She wore my shirt, I wore hers
Her golden hair shone
Her bright blue eyes sparkled like jewels in the moonlight
Our bare feet tingled in the cold North Sea water

We gazed deeply into each other
We both knew

There was something, there was 'Something in the Air'.
The Beach
Sfw:-
Simon & Garfunkel - The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)




My first choice for a song for spring would have been "Always Spring" by I'm from Barcelona, but I have already written about it, so it has to be this by Simon & Garfunkel. This uplifting song always reminds me of learning to play guitar.  At the time I could never quite figure it out,  I'd play, pause, rewind, repetitively until eventually I mustered something that resembled the record.  Ironically if I waited until YouTube I could have learned it in an instant! Bloody YouTube!



Flycasual:-
Biz Markie - Spring Again (1989)



Ah, finally it's the arse end of Winter, one of my favourite times of the year. All this was confirmed to me recently at work, where pallets upon pallets of cute, fluffy, new born baby chicks were jetting off from the UK to far more exotic climes such as Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and erhm....Tehran. Most of them die!!....but that's ok because Spring's here!! Hoorah!

Seasonal themed, classic Old skool Hip-Hop from the legendary portly MC, Biz Markie. The video is worth the entrance money alone, I wish all my Springs were that loaded.



There's a chick stuck in my throat!

Shell Hunter:-
The Rumble Strips - 'Girls and Boys in Love' (2007)






Just one more week before we are over the last hurdle and the clocks go forward. Finally! This moment signifies the beginning of spring! We are starting to get phrases like "hottest day of the year so far" and can actually see the sun for more than just a fleeting visit! It's simple really, these things make me smile and this song by The Rumble Strips fits nicely with it's plinky piano and and title line about plenty of girls and boys in love. Its positively contagious! Although the song is about a post break up time (one for you sfw, fly and pa), it also mentions moving to a new city and starting afresh! The song is taken from their album "Girls and Weather" (how fitting!) and is a pretty good live performance. I've read there is also a Hot Chip remix of it so get looking!

Check out more of Tunedr's Special Operations here...

Monday, 13 February 2012

VALENTINES CHEZ TUNEDR

It's valentines day, oops.. have you got the flowers? Booked that table? Ironed your special pants? You best get cracking then, here's a few songs to get you in the mood.


Everybody loves a good breakup song, the pain, the wallowing, all of us at Tunedr with perhaps the exception of Shell Hunter, always write about them, you just need to look at Sfw's Tuesday Blues posts for proof. But what about the love songs, there are some crackers out there right?.......what are yours?? Let us know with a comment!!


Sfw:-
John Lennon - 'Love'





'Love' is a song written and performed by John Lennon, originally released in 1970 on the John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band album and is one of my favourite songs of all time and also reminds me of my big day as it is the song that my wife walked down the aisle to. From the piano, to the guitar, to John Lennon singing everything was perfect - I even got her to 'time' the pace of her walking to the speed of the song -  which allowed her to get to the alter at the exact time where it fades out. brilliant song, brilliant day...ah bless, time to crack open the vino!


Flycasual:-
LL Cool J - 'I Need Love' (1988)



Crackers indeed, I mean Peter Cetera helped me get together with my wife (read about it here, oh it's not that bad), so it's of course a difficult choice. But "Hip Hop and Rap, that's where my hearts at", musically Hip Hop is my first love so I have to go for LL Cool J's cheese festival, 'I Need Love'. You wouldn't normally associate love songs with Hip Hop but there have been a few of note, Common's 'The Light' an ode to one time flame Erykah Badu, Redman and Mary J Blige's 'All I need' and A Tribe Called Quest's Bonita Applebum. As a hormonal 14 year old I was horrified, not because of the disastrous video but because I was more used to his macho posturing and chatting about his radio, what was all this nonsense about love! It was the first of it's kind, a rapper showing his sensitive side, there was a reason why he called himself Ladies Love Cool James. It wasn't until a bit later when I got involved in the mating game that I understood.

To love and be loved is all that matters so if you have to watch the 'love porn' which is Twilight for the 15th bloody time, then grin and bear it, there's plenty time for the Aliens directors cut later.

You're always on that bloody radio, James!

Shell Hunter:-
Cyndi Lauper - 'Time After Time' (1984)



I'm a pretty romantic girl but I generally don't go for the overly soppy song. I find them all a bit forced, hand me a bucket! I got introduced to the raw, confusing emotion that is love when watching all the great teen flicks growing up in the 80's so here's one that holds happy memories! It reminds me of the weekly roller disco on a Wednesday night. It was "The" place to be and was bursting with kids and teens alike all fighting to get a good place in the social hierarchy. At the end of the evening the teen couples were invited to skate hand in hand to lovey-dovey songs such as this one or Dirty Dancing's 'Time Of My Life' and I was left watching from the sidelines. My "boyfriend"(I was only 7 or 8!) at the time was more of a skateboarder than a skater so he never showed up there until one day, he decided to walk me round the circuit by my hand whilst I skated! Awww!


Old Pa's Corner:
Four Seasons - I Got You Under My Skin (1966)



That was quite a tough one, I am much more comfortable with your 'break up' type songs. Maybe it's the cynic in me, But hey! it's Valentines day and LUV is all around, Sadly not for me, my 'baby' is in the U.K. and I am in Spain. But I will be thinking of her and wishing she was here with me and I will be raising a glass to her! This is a fabulous version of the Cole Porter classic and in my mind easily out scores the Sinatra version. It's the harmonies, the bells that do it for me and that 'never win' never win' ending, You're 'under my skin sweet heart'

Art Garfunkel's version of 'I've Only Got Eyes For You' was a close second.

Monday, 30 January 2012

DESERT ISLAND DISCS 70th ANNIVERSARY

Sunday 29th of January saw the 70th anniversary of Desert Island Discs, the famous BBC4 radio show where a weekly castaway would pick their favourite songs and explain the reason for their choices. It is very much an inspiration for this blog as in essence, it's why we created it, in order to recount the associations and memories about the music which we hold so dear to our lives. So in tribute and to keep up with this tradition, we've put our necks on the line and chosen an album each to keep us company, hopefully along with a volleyball called Wilson




What is your Desert Island Disc? Let us know in the comment section or email us and we'll feature it as a guest spot.


Shell Hunter:-
The Bees - 'Free The Bees' (2004)
Song - 'These Are The Ghosts'


I thought the best way to choose my DID was the Family Fortunes method of shouting out the first thing that comes into my head (no not turkey) in a loud and panicked fashion! I knew I loved The Bees but I thought my innermost subconscious would throw out something from childhood or teenagehood. I was recommended The Bees first album by a trusted source (Thanks Flycasual) when I was 21 and you can even read about it here. I instantly fell in love with their eclectic mix of styles and eagerly anticipated the release of their second album 'Free The Bees'. It became an album rife with memories.


"These Are The Ghosts" (probably my song of all time) brings me back to hot balmy evenings in Spain with my parents enjoying all night barbeques, "Wash In The Rain" always reminds me of sing-along duets with my husband on car journeys(he's got salt, I've got pepper), not to mention my Holy Grail of finding a suitably unique and sentimental song for my wedding with "I Love You". The Bees are full of surprises covering a vast array of genres and 'Free The Bees' would be a great place to start if you like what you hear. I recommend seeing them live too if you are ever given the chance!


Flycasual:-
Beastie Boys - Check Your Head (1991)
Song - 'Pass the Mic'


It's the question we all dread the most, "what one album would you take on a desert island"? There are so many to choose from to while away the time, sipping coconut milk waiting for a passing ferry but like Shell Hunter said, it was the first album that came into my head. Not their best (that is Paul's Boutique of course, read a post here) but from start to finish it's a complete album, well put together with contrasting styles, a heady, eclectic mix of Hip Hop, Jazz, Soul, Punk and Funk, with the trademark witty Beastie rhymes and some instrumental numbers thrown in for good measure. I remember I was a young and spunky 17 year old learning to fly, my parents had left/trusted/were crazy to leave me on my own with a friend in the UK to study whilst they remained in Saudi Arabia. The independence was great but tough as in order to buy the new album I had to make some sacrifices along the way, like going without food or more drastically, buying nasty Superkings instead of my usual Marlboros. But it was worth it, skipping into my local record store at the end of the week to buy the tape, I wasn't disappointed (I also went to see them in concert, in Kentish town I think, supporting Henry Rollins. Fabulous!) Memories aside, the diversity of the tunes on the album were able to capture any mood with enough change of pace should the need arise to entertain the island natives in case of a surprise appearance. It was a fantastic companion then and would make a fantastic companion now.



Old Pa's Corner:-
Love - Forever Changes (1967)
Song - 'The Red Telephone'


How do you pick your favourite album it is almost impossible, but Love's 'Forever Changes' has been a favourite with me now for over 40 years and I love it now as much as I did the first time I heard it . I always at some stage return to it.  When I am down it always lifts me up and it is always a listening experience to hear it all in its full entirety. Every one is a winner from the first song 'Alone Again Or' to the last 'You Set the Scene' (see earlier post) which always leaves me breathless. It was a tough choice with 'Blonde on Blonde' and 'Highway 61' by Dylan and 'Astral Weeks' by Van Morrison all very very very close indeed.

I have chosen the track 'The Red telephone', 'If you think I'm happy? Paint me white'

Sfw:-
Ryan Adams - Heartbreaker (2000)
Song - 'To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High)'

Choosing your favourite album of all time shouldn't be the stressful exercise that it is. Think about it, choosing music shouldn't be such a dilemma, it should be enjoyable. Though the reality is it's probably like picking a favourite child! So looking at my "family portraits" there's, Pearl Jams "Ten", The Beatles "Sgt. Peppers...", Bon Iver "For Emma..", Jeff Buckley's "Grace" & Raidohead's "OK Computer" and all of which could easily be on my fav list, but I'm going to have to go for Ryan Adams "Heartbreaker".


When I heard this for the first time it was like having a revelation, it knocked me for six. How could someone so young (he was 25) write something so honest and so damn good! It was Happy, Sad, Fast & Slow and from that point put Americana/Alt-Country as my favourite musical genre. From it's opening of Ryan & David Rawlings arguing about Morrissey, to the rousing "To be young..", it changed everything for me. He's written some fantastic albums since, but I often go back to his first and it sounds as good now as it did then!

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