Any Major London Vol. 3
This is the third London mix, which I hope will receive a less muted reception than the Swinging London edition did. The astute readers who know London, or are keen students of the Underground map, will spot a sequence set entirely in North London: Holloway, Kentish Town, Tottenham, Archway, Hampstead and Camden Town.
This volume also answers three essential questions: which Madness and Clash songs will feature in this series, and (having featured The Kinks in Volume 2) which cover of Waterloo Sunset I”ll choose. I think I went for two less expected songs for Madness and The Clash. I think jazz pianist Joe Stilgoe”s cover of The Kinks” song is an interesting interpretation.
The mix starts with the theme of the early “90s comedy series Bottom (set in Hammersmith), a Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson vehicle which has not, truth be told, aged very well. The theme is a cover of B.B. King”s BB”s Blues, performed by The Bum Notes, a jazz group of which Edmondson is a member (they also played the closing theme, a cover of The Mar-Keys” Last Night).
As always, the mix is timed to fit in a standard CD-R, and includes covers. PW in comments.
1. The Bum Notes – Theme from ‘Bottom’ (1991)
2. Blossom Dearie – I Like London In The Rain (1970)
3. Procol Harum – Souvenir Of London (1973)
4. Joe Jackson – Down To London (1980)
5. Lloyd Cole and the Commotions – Charlotte Street (1984)
6. The Men They Couldn’t Hang – Blackfriars Bridge (1989)
7. The Popes – Holloway Boulevard (2000)
8. Imelda May – Kentish Town Waltz (2010)
9. Robb Johnson & The Irregulars – When Tottenham Burned (2011)
10. Cath Carroll & Kerry Kelekovich – Moon Over Archway (2010)
11. The Dream Academy – Hampstead Girl (1987)
12. Louis Philippe – Sunday Morning Camden Town (1989)
13. Dan Reed Network – Seven Sisters Road (1989)
14. T.Rex – London Boys (1976)
15. Mott the Hoople – The Saturday Gigs (1974)
16. Dave Edmunds – London’s A Lonely Town (1976)
17. Madness – Victoria Gardens (1984)
18. The Clash – First Night Back In London (1982)
19. Ian Dury and the Blockheads – My Old Man (1977)
20. The Smiths – Half A Person (1986)
21. Belle & Sebastian – Mornington Crescent (2006)
22. Joe Stilgoe – Waterloo Sunset (2012)
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PW = amdwhah
Nice selections, most I haven’t heard.
How is “Any Major Soul 1969” coming along?
Any Major Soul 1969 will run in two volumes. The first of them will go up in July.
Nice one. Joe Jackson’s ‘Down to London’ is a very evocative song. I saw him at Hammersmith Odeon in ’89 where he played Blaze of Glory in its entirety, c/w segue intros/outros. First time I’d seen anyone play a full album back to back and in the right order. This collection will be on my ipod tomorrow – thank you.
Nice choice, thanks a lot.
By the way, I was looking to try a couple more of your history of country selections but the links to number 18 are dead.
I was holding out for Dave Edmunds on the Any Major London Christmas Edition.
I’ll update the links over the next few days. Volumes 1-13 are up now.
My comment about Joe Jackson in the 1st London volume has been answered properly.
I`ve downloaded this for my afternoon jogging.
Just discovered this excellent site – I have created a London playlist from your suggestions, adding only Pulp’s “Mile End”. Also love the JJ choice – I think Blaze of Glory is an underrated album, I’ve always been rather fond of it.
Thanks.
The well hasn’t run dry yet – far from it. Al Stewart’s “Soho Needless To Say” and “Swiss Cottage Manoeuvres” for a start. Then there’s Kirsty MacColl’s “Soho Square”, and many more – Wikipedia has an extensive list of songs about London.