26th November 2023

Titus writes:

I was pleased to receive positive feedback from Lex and others following my blog, and may I say that Friday night’s show was its usual excellent self.
 
First, I have discovered that many show biz people we know and love, don’t use the name they were born with, for a variety of reasons. Perhaps the most famous example is that of Lady Gaga, who, in my opinion over the years has underlined the fact that she is a very capable musician, in addition to being a good actor.
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (her real name) was apparently called “Gaga” by her producer Robert Fusari, who said that she reminded him constantly of Queen’s Radio Gaga, and indeed allegedly sang her the record, every time she came into the room! To cut a long story short, she reinvented herself by using the name Lady Gaga as her stage name.
Other name changes for professional purposes have included:-
Katy Perry (born Kathryn Hudson)
Nicki Minaj (Onika Tanya Maraj)
Lana del Rey (Elizabeth Woolridge Grant)
Natalie Portman (Natalie Hershlag)
Elton John (Reginald Dwight)
Winona Ryder (Winona Horowitz)
Lily James (Lily Thomson)
Sid Vicious (Simon Ritchie)
Adam Ant (Stuart Goddard)
Gary Numan (Gary Anthony James Webb)
There must be thousands more for me to fill pages and pages of this blog, but I won’t bang on, and I hope my spelling is correct. The above covers just a few!
 
Second I am requesting Lex to play Perfume by the Paris Angels this week. A bit about this lovable bunch of mop tops. They were only active from 1990 – 92 (more about that later), and were a seven piece band from Ashton-under-Lyne, which was originally in Lancashire, but in recent times is part of Greater Manchester. They were an indie band, playing alternative rock and electronic dance music, at first recording for Sheer Joy Records, and then Virgin. Perhaps the most well known member of the band was Paul Wagstaff, who later played for Black Grape, and then the re-formed Happy Mondays.
Perfume – arguably their best known song was released on Sheer Joy, then re-released on Virgin, and spent most of the Summer of 1990 in the indie Top Ten. They also released other singles, followed by a session for John Peel.
Regrettably following their recording of an excellent first  LP Sundew, Virgin was sold to EMI, and the Paris Angels were removed from Virgin’s plans, and an eagerly awaited second album was never released. At this time, singer Jayne Gill was expecting a child, and with no recording contract, the band called time on a short-lived career.
They, like a number of bands reformed, and in 2013 signed with Stereokill Recordings to finally release their second LP (recorded in 1992). However this deal fell through and the group decided to make the album a free download on Bandcamp Records. Since then I haven’t heard much of them, although I believe they are still working.

24th November 2023

Click HERE to listen again or to download. Downloading & playing works best.

Teenage Joans - Yoke
Jetstream Pony - Self-Destruct Reality
Genemo feat. Josh Galiano - Catch A Vibe
The Middle East - Jesus Came To My Birthday Party
Petit genie feat Abou debeing x Lossa x Imen Es x Alonzo-Jungeli (Tune of the week)
The Saints - (I'm) Stranded
Frenzal Rhomb - Never Had So Much Fun
Theory Of A Deadman - Sick
The Hard-Ons - Where Did She Come From
Husbands - Crash Pad
We Invented Paris - Bubbletrees
Charlie Puth (featuring Meghan Trainor) - Marvin Gaye
The Tragically Hip - Pigeon Camera
Ffa Coffi Pawb - Breichiau Hir
New Fast Automatic Daffodils - Fishes Eyes
Diesel - Lights Go Down 

It was of course bobince who invented Paris. He has since apologised.

20th November 2023

Titus writes:

Musically, my background is in listening to and promoting alternative music, rather than “chart bound sounds”. I gained almost all of my knowledge from listening to John Peel from 1967, until his untimely death in 2004. During that time, I listened to, bought, and recorded music from thousands of people and bands that I’d never previously heard of, plus enjoyed many John Peel Sessions. It taught me that there is so much good music out there, if you go and seek it out, rather than listening to the Chart Show week in week out.

One item that I have always found curious is the way music suddenly appears as theme music e.g. for television dramas. A couple of recent cases in point......”Strike”, an off beat detective series whereby the theme is a little known recording by Beth Rowley of a tune called “I walk beside you”  - what a great sound! .......and I’m sure many of you may have followed the recent series on ITV called “Six Four”, where an old Frankie Miller recording was selected as the theme “The Devil Gun”  – yet again, a great record that was never a runaway commercial success.

I tend to admire Lex’s love of alternative music, and in particular his love of bizarre artist(e) names. This is why this week I am requesting him to play a New Fast Automatic Daffodils track! They hail from Manchester and were active for 1988-1995, during the so called “Madchester” era (although they were never part of that scene). The original line up was Dolan Hewison (Guitar), Justin Crawford (Bass), Perry Saunders (Drums) and Andy Spearpoint (vocals). Their name originates from a poem written by a hero of mine called Adrian Henri , who fronted the Liverpool Scene in the late sixties/early seventies, and they did three sessions from Peel’s programme. The track I have requested is “Fishes Eyes”.

17th November 2023

Click HERE to listen again or to download. Downloading & playing works best.

The Saints - This Perfect Day
Spray - Anthologised By Cherry Red
Wet Leg - Chaise Longue
Nick Jonas - This Is Heaven
Dada Ante Portas - Hush
Nils Burri - Meant to Be Loved
Poco - Call It Love
Public Service Broadcasting - White Star Liner
The Hillbilly Moon Explosion featuring Mark "Sparky" Phillips - Queen Of Hearts
Courtney Barnett - Need A Little Time (Tune of the week)
Martina Linn - D’Utuon
Birdland  - Hollow Heart (Acoustic Version)
Bonnie & The Groove Cats - Temptation
LizAnn - Like You
Selina Schildknecht - West Coast
Bettina Schelker - Looks and Signs
Mella - Still Haven't Found

10th November 2023

Click HERE to listen again or to download. Downloading & playing works best.

Dark Thoughts - Psycho Ward
Melys - Chinese Whispers
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - Spanish Dance Troupe
Arcadia Roots - Lose My Mind
The Beths - Future Me Hates Me
Robert Jon & The Wreck - Don't Look Down (Tune of the week)
Simon Love - Not If I See You First
Midnight Oil - Warakurna
Nothing But Thieves - Overcome
The Slugs - Snails Are Cunts
Elle King - Ex's & Oh's
Earth & Fire - Weekend
Sky of Augustine - Fall Asleep
Tiziana Gulino - Together Carry On
John Bercow x Electric Six - Order! High Voltage
Züri West - Mojito
TinkaBelle - Stay On

3rd November 2023

Click HERE to listen again or to download. Downloading & playing works best.

Mel Doy (feat. Jaimypher) - Lighthouse
Tedeschi Trucks Band - Where Are My Friends?
Bob - Convenience
Heartwish - Little Things
Richard Koechli - Sensitive Kind (Tune of the week)
Pee Wirz - Love Ain't Enough
Itchy & The Nits - Itchy & The Nits
Glenn Frey - I've Got Mine
Richard Koechli & Blue Roots Compagnie - Mister Marketing Man
Nils Burri - Somebody Missing You
Bezzy - Not Used To Be Alone
Philipp Fankhauser - The Dark Comes Down
Jerry Garcia - Loser

27th October 2023

Click HERE to listen again or to download. Downloading & playing works best.

China - Everywhere You Are
Patent Ochsner - Trybguet
Paul Etterlin - You And I
Colbie Caillat - Fallin' For You
THIRTY-THR33 - What Is Holding Me Back
Texas - Hi
Ellis Mano Band - Keep It Simple
Caroline Chevin - Same Old Song And Dance
Phil Carmen - On My Way In LA
William Pitt - City Lights
Balcony Airplay - Sad
Priscilla Ahn - The Boobs Song (Tune of the week)
Doyle and Debbie - When You're Screwin' Other Women (Think of Me)
Big Wolf Band - If I Ever Loved Another Woman