Day: 2 Apr 2018

Check it out, its Northern Soul Monday again! We continue on with the best Stompers to fill up your Monday and start the new week off right. Get ready to turn up the Volume, Talc the Floor, don your Northern Soul best, Press Play, and Dance.

Today’s featured Track is “Strawberry Shortcake’” by Jay And The Techniques. It was originally released in 1967, on Smash Records, with the B-Side of “Still (In Love With You)”.

“Strawberry Shortcake” by Jay And The Techniques
Northern Soul Monday

Jay And The Techniques were a Pop Group from Allentown, Pennsylvania. They were popular in the mid-sixties and had a Hit Song with “Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie”, which came out in 1967, on Smash Records. The Song reached #6 on the Billboard Charts at its height. (from Wikipedia)

“Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie” by Jay And The Techniques

Although “Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie” served as Jay And The Techniques’ primary Hit, the Group also captured various chart positions with “Keep the Ball Rollin'” and this week’s Northern Soul Monday pick, “Strawberry Shortcake”.

“Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie”, “Baby Make Your Own Sweet Music”, and “Strawberry Shortcake” were released in the UK and became Northern Soul Favorites in the 1970’s.

A little Northern Soul History:

In 2014, Northern Soul fans won a battle to prevent the Music Scene’s famous “clenched fist” logo being trademarked by a shop in Manchester after persuading the copyright authorities that the movement’s symbols belong to all its participants.

The Retro Bag Shop Manchester tried to register a trademark for the Northern Soul “Keep the Faith” clenched fist logo, associated with the subculture which thrived in the 70s when DJs in northern towns began playing obscure, up-tempo American soul records.

The shop wanted to register the logo, sported by many of those who attended “all-nighter” parties at venues such as the Wigan Casino, for use on its bags, handbags, and wallets.

Northern Soul fans, whose numbers have been expanded by a new generation discovering the movement’s sound and styles, launched a Facebook campaign to oppose the move and lodged protests with the UK’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO).

Enrico Bonadio, senior lecturer in Law at City University London, said the case was significant:

“The logo was commonly used in the scene, and in particular on posters advertising northern soul nights in English towns such as Wigan, Manchester, and Stoke, as well as by ordinary people attending those events. People used to take along bowling bags, clothing and scooters adorned with patches with the logo to show loyalty to this music movement. The words and logo, therefore, could not be said to be owned by any one person or company, but by the many lovers of this music genre and subculture as a symbol.”

Woke up to a sky full of grey fog, so thick you could barely see across the street. Due to not feeling 100% well, and having an early meeting at my son’s school, I opted to work from home. Monday had some good Music mail today, as my pre-ordered Album of Juliana Hatfield Covering Olivia Newton-John arrived from American Laundromat Records. I also found a website that I used to visit pretty much daily, a Lyric website with select Artists and Bands that introduced me to so much Music. I didn’t realize it was still around – Always On The Run – much less still active. One Artist on Today’s Top 5 Music Obsessions list is a new discovery from the Site, and another is a discovery I made there years ago. I’m not sure where the rest of the day will lead, I’ve got a delicious Green Pear iced tea that I’m enjoying while I work and listen to Today’s 5 Songs. I still feel a bit under the weather, but Music and the sun finally coming out of the fog are making me feel more myself as the day unfolds.

If you’d like to Follow along on this Week’s Top 5 Songs check out Playlists at Spotify and YouTube.

The first Song for Today’s Top 5 Music Obsessions is a new Music discovery from Always On the Run. Kate Earl’s “Can’t Treat Me That Way” has a 90’s Trip Hop feel that I’m loving today. I”m looking forward to digging in deeper to Kate’s Music. Next up is a discovery from years ago that I made at Always On the Run,

A Guy Called Gerald, featuring Louise Rhodes “Humanity”. I haven’t heard this Song in too long. I forgot how I used to Obsessive over it back in 2000.

Track 3 is from Blondie’s 1978 Album, Parallel Lines, one of the first Albums I’ve ever bought. “Will Anything Happen?” is a Deep Track from the Album that I’m digging today. Its got a rougher edge than some of the other Songs on the Album that is just what Mondays need.

Next up is “Gepetto” from Belly’s 1993 Debut Album, Star. I’m getting so excited for Belly’s New Album that I’ve been binging on their past Music in a big way. This Track makes me miss my crushed velvet overalls and dancing around the living room of my old 1920’s apartment on Wilshire Blvd., in Fullerton. The hardwood floors were perfect to dance on, and the room always smelled of cloves and incense.

Last, but not least, is Olivia Newton-John’s “Have You Never Been Mellow”. I’m loving Juliana’s take on this Song so much. I can’t get enough of it! It’s not yet available on Spotify or YouTube, so I’m spinning Olivia’s original this afternoon. It immediately brings back my childhood bedroom, my roller skates and blue Schwinn bicycle, and my treasured Record Player.

Top 5 Music Obsessions of the Day – April 2, 2018

1. “Can’t Treat Me That Way” by Kate Earl

2. “Humanity” by A Guy Called Gerald, featuring Louise Rhodes

3. “Will Anything Happen?” by Blondie

4. “Gepetto” by Belly

5. “Have You Never Been Mellow” by Olivia Newton-John

Let’s hear it for making it through Monday, and for making it a Music Monday. Hope you enjoyed Today’s Top 5 Music Obsessions featuring Kate Earl, A Guy Called Gerald with Louise Rhodes, Blondie, Belly, and Olivia Newton-John.

Got something you’d like to see featured in a Top 5? Share the Song Title and Artist/Band in the Comments, or email lyriquediscordesubmissions@gmail.com.

Top 5 Music Obsessions for the Week of April 2, 2018

“I’ve Forgotten What It Was In You (That Put the Need In Me)” is the opening Track from Maria McKee’s Self-Titled 1989 Album. As a Single, it reached #29 on the Modern Rock Tracks in the U.S. The Song was written by Maria McKee, and produced by Bruce Brody and Mitchell Froom, and was released on Geffen Records.

It was Lone Justice that introduced me to Maria McKee’s Music. I’d found Lone Justice’s Self-Titled Debut at this small Record Shop by the beach, in the early Spring of 1985. I’d never heard of them before, but this pretty boy with eyes that looked like the ocean who was working behind the counter that afternoon put it on. I was wandering the aisles with my then best friend, and although it sounded more “Country” than my taste veered in at that age and time, Maria’s voice grabbed my attention.

That blue-eyed boy called them “Punk Country” and said that the Album didn’t do them “justice” (pun-intended he’d laughed, batting those eyes at my friend and me flirtatiously) and that we had to see them play live. He treated us like we were older than our sixteen years, and we played along happily.

“I’d Forgotten What It Was In You (That Put the Need In Me)” by Maria McKee
from the Album, Self-Titled (1989)

“Well, look into my eyes,
and tell me what you see, darling.”

I remained a fan of Lone Justice, and then when a Song from Maria was included in 1992’s Pulp Fiction Soundtrack I was blown away again by her voice. I went back and looked up Maria’s Solo albums, in including the 1989 Self-Titled Album with “I’d Forgotten What It Was In You (That Put the Need In Me)” as it’s First Track.

A few years past I reunited with an old friend, an old crush, from my teenage years. We spoke about Maria McKee and Lone Justice, and I remembered that he’d been a fan of them, too. He’d seen Lone Justice play live in the late 80’s, something I’d sadly never go to do. I did get to see Maria Solo though, twice, once at Lilith Fair, and once at a small club by the beach (a little full circle from when I first found her voice.

He and I listened to Maria together, before things went wrong and left me wishing we’d never re-encountered each other. But, there were some good moments and there was some good Music., so in the end, like with everything else in my life, I’ll say no regrets.

“I’ve Forgotten What It Was In You (That Put the Need In Me)” (live, 1991) by Maria McKee

She’s the Sun, She’s the Cat’s Meow
A Monday Playlist

Available to Stream on Spotify and YouTube

“The Lovecats” by Tanya Donelly and Dylan In the Movies
“Show Me” by Kristin Kontrol
“There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” by Dum Dum Girls
“Everybody Loves Me But You” by Juliana Hatfield
“They Don’t Know” by Susanna Hoffs and Matthew Sweet
“Big Jet Plane” by Angus and Julia Stone
“Love On the Brain” by Rihanna
“4 Days 4 Nights” by Kitty
“Undercovers” by GGOOLLDD
“All Cats are Grey” by Nouvelle Vague
“Labour of Love” by Frente!
“Ray Ray Rain” by Bettie Serveert
“He Hit Me (It Felt Like a Kiss)” by The Crystals
“Oh! Sweet Nuthin'” by The Velvet Underground
“Annie’s Song” by Brett Dennen and Milow
“Wanna Feel It” by The Olms
“Sugar” by Garbage
“Slip Away” by Perfume Genius
“I Wanna Get Better” by Bleachers
“Hold Me Now” by Duncan Sheik
“Star Me Kitten” by R.E.M.
“Here With Me” by The Killers
“Say Yes” by Elliott Smith
“Sun” by Concrete Blonde
“Sunshine Superman” by Donovan
“Josephine” by The Wallflowers
“There’s a Reason” by A.A. Bondy
“Fake Plastic Trees” by Amanda Palmer
“Little Jeannie” by Elton John
“On Your Porch” by The Format

She’s the Sun, She’s the Cat’s Meow