By ParaMhor
“If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.”– Nikola Tesla
“Energy never goes away, it just changes.” – Steven Magee
First off, Vikingchild nominates She Sells Sanctuary by The Cult. Around the turn of the millennium I spent a winter evening in the Salutation in Nottingham hearing this on repeat. Not previously much taken, I was convinced this was the best song ever made. Mulled cider may have had an effect, as did the really nasty bout of hallucinatory flu I had that night and for the following week. Despite those memories, it remains a huge favourite.
Next up, Dave Davies shredding his amp speaker cone with a razor blade gave that sound. Others had done it before, but The Kinks You Really Got Me must have sounded pretty rough around the edges compared to Jim Reeves, Hermans Hermits and those nice Merseybeat boys. Produced by the late Shel Talmy and miraculously unzedded, thanks to Noodsy for this one.
This one is just a banger. The Jackson Sisters (no relation) really go for it on I Believe In Miracles. A marvellous song from 1973, had a renaissance in the rare groove years in the early 80s and more recently has become a (welcome) radio staple. Many thanks to Toffee Boy for putting this up.
Miracle makers: The Jackson SIsters
And another. Blondie! Atomic! Huge thanks Uncleben.
And now to Big Star. Naming a first album #1 Record, they didn’t lack ambition, or maybe they were just librarians. A perfect evocation of being young and full of energy, When My Baby’s Beside Me is just fabulous. So thanks Fred Erickson.
From Big Star to, obviously, a melodic Scottish band. Live, they were formidable and your ears would be ringing for a good few hours afterwards. Happyclapper has put up Blues From A Gun by the Jesus and Mary Chain. Great song that absolutely fits the rubric.
Otis Redding tore up the Monterey crowd in 1967. As MussoliniHeadkick puts it, live energy incarnate. I don’t know anybody else who would have looked so cool in that shade of blue. And that voice! This wonderful cover of the Sam Cooke classic Shake is just mesmerizing.
Much love for The Go! Team this week. The Power Is On, released in 2004, took on a new life after being used for American Football commercials. I read once that, due to an extended half-time break, injuries, replay reviews, penalties and media timeouts, the whole thing usually takes around four hours. In any case, a fabulous song nominated by SweetHomeAlabama, who notes: “It's funny to me that a group who incorporated so much American style cheerleading into their sound never managed a Stateside hit.” Early days … I had to sub in a version that wasn’t so loud as would have unbalanced the whole list. Have put at the bottom for those who want to hear the full power version.
Billy Mackenzie and Alan Rankine are no longer with us, but their music remains. Thanks to Maki for suggesting the majestic Club Country by The Associates. Apologies for using the 12-inch version as I thought it sounded better. A cheery ode about geriatric energy, at a cost.
Robert Randolph & The Family Band want us to get Amped Up. Tincanman did, as did I. From New Jersey, a modern gospel group with Robert on pedal steel guitar, I know nothing else about this band, but really like this song.
Flagging yet? Only a couple to go…
Mahlathini & The Mahotella Queens are familiar to the Bar. A couple suggested this week, but this was my pick. Gazette (Kazet) is just glorious. Thanks to Nicko for this and the lovely original by Obed Ngobeni & The Kurhula Sisters.
Gong Gong Gong were one of the finds of the week. According to Wiki, an experimental rock band founded in Beijing in 2015 by guitarist and vocalist Tom Ng, from Hong Kong, who sings in his native Cantonese, and bassist Joshua Frank from Canada. Ride Your Horse is a Cantonese spaghetti western. You will not be disappointed.
And finally, over to the master, Art Tatum with Get Happy. As nilpferd explains “wonderful blast of stride, a magnificent reworking of the Koehler/Arlen song made famous by Judy Garland, this overflows with sparkling invention and sheer musical joy.”
Hope this all works half as well as this this Scottish recovery soft drink:
The Active and Animated A-List Playlist:
The Cult - She Sells Sanctuary (Vikingchild)
The Kinks - You Really Got Me (Noodsy)
Jackson Sisters - I Believe in Miracles (ToffeeBoy)
Blondie - Atomic (Uncleben)
Big Star - When My Baby’s Beside Me (Fred Erickson)
Jesus & Mary Chain - Blues From A Gun (happyclapper)
Otis Redding - Shake (MussoliniHeadkick)
The Go! Team - The Power Is On (SweetHomeAlabama)
The Associates - Club Country (Maki)
Robert Randolph and the Family Band - Amped Up (tincanman)
Mahlathini & The Mahotella Queens - Gazette (Kazet) (Nicko)
Gong Gong Gong - Ride Your Horse 騎你的馬 (Traktor Albatrost)
Art Tatum - Get Happy (Nilpferd)
(The full fat version - Go! Team – The Power is On)
The Buoyant and Breezy B-List Playlist:
Bo Diddley - Mona (TarquinSpodd)
Lulu - Shout (AltraEgo)
The Jacksons - Shake Your Body Down To The Ground (SweetHomeAlabama)
Roger and the Gypsies - Pass The Hatchet (pejepeine)
Kanda Bongo Man - Zing Zong (Nicko)
James Brown - Night Train (Marconius)
Sote - ADTVESSPXLUT (TarquinSpodd)
The Fire Engines - Get Up and Use Me (MussoliniHeadkick)
Nice As Fuck - Higher (Tincanman)
Amyl and the Sniffers - Guided by Angels (Carpgate)
The Ruts - West One (Shoegazer)
King Crimson - Red (BanazirGalbasi)
Sergei Prokofiev - Toccata op. 11 (ajostu)
Guru’s Wildcard Picks:
The MVPs - Turnin' My Heartbeat Up
Bhundu Boys - Rugare
Gonzalez - Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet
Suede - We Are The Pigs
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Nature Boy
Keith Jarrett - The Köln Concert - Part II a
Gets you through …
These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations in response to last week's topic: Sheer release: songs that energise, The next topic will launch on Thursday after 1pm UK time.
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