LadyEmma 9
“She walks in beauty, like the night of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that’s best of dark and bright meet in her aspect and her eyes”. – Lord Byron
#0866 A Year Late – Paul Weller
paul weller
musicology #0712
aHymnForCon #18
Paul Weller -Moon On Your Pyjamas –
Sweet child you’re a dream in disguise … x
our tune kohzu x
musicology #0678
aSongforCon #17
Paul Weller – Above the Clouds (Live)
BIG tune along the way for me and Conis Chan x .. my best wasn’t good enough … who knows this better than I.
musicology #0662 Paul Weller – Where’er You Go
aSongforCon #1
SO much ‘water’ has flowed under my ‘bridge’ since the previous cut. My daughter Constance has passed through this earthly plane, she had just turned 19 years of age.
Words could never do the youngblood justice and i find myself (often) with nothing to say so I reached back into the library pulled out ‘the Prophet’ and read/adapted this.
“Let not the waves of the sea separate us now, and the years you have spent in our midst become a memory.
You have walked among us a spirit, and your shadow has been a light upon our faces.
MUCH have we loved you.
And ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.
And now your ship has come, and you must needs go.
DEEP is your longing for the land of your memories and the dwelling place of your greater desires; and our love would not bind you nor OUR needs hold you.
Yet this we ask ere you leave us, that you speak to us and give us of your truth.
And we will give it unto our children, and they unto their children, and it shall not perish…”
Rest In Peace Kohzu..ALWAYS in my Heart, Mind and Soul.
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musicology #509
CoversWeek2 #6
(Donny Hathaway – Jealous Guy)
Somewhat of a dilemma over today’s slice..1 artist 2 majestic covers..what one to lay down? Donny’s version of Ray Charles’s ‘I Believe To My Soul’ or John Lennon’s ‘Jealous Guy’ ?? hmmm I think it’s going to be ‘Jealous Guy’. Nothing to choose between them as I said…both top of the ‘covers tree’ but something about this one that resonates stronger with me than ‘I Believe’. Am I a ‘Jealous Guy’…not neccesarily but I know I have been. Is it jealous or insecure? it’s a thin line indeed. Insecure…for sure so in true dialogue style hold this one from Donny’s Live set. Before I finish I just want to add how much I feel the man’s authenticity come through in his music…genuine dialogue between a man and his inner being I believe.
Others of note are Marvin Gaye, of course master John Coltrane, Gil Scott Heron, Terry Callier, Curtis Mayfield, Paul Weller, Dinah washington, Sam Cooke, Billie Holiday…there are others I could add but those are the ones who come immediately to mind without thinking long and hard. Recorded live, (1972), at the Bitter End and featuring Cornell Dupree, Mike Howard, Willie Weeks, Fred White and Earl DeRouen
musicology #313
Live&Direct #9
(The Jam – Going Underground/Dreams Of Children/That’s Entertainment Live)
themusicologist regulars will know that along with Curtis Mayfield this Cat, Paul Weller, has exerted major influence on my thoughts, from first exposure in 1977 as a fresh faced nine year old right up to the present day. ‘Words’ have meaning as far as I’m concerned and his rank up there with the best I have ever had the pleasure of listening to and learning from.
Today’s cut is from his Jam days. A three cut selection recorded live at the Glasgow Apollo in 1982. Taken from the LP ‘Dig The New Breed’.
Watch the ride……
musicology #122
socialcommentaryweek #2
(Style Council – A Stones Throw Away)
not easy to find tunes that criticise the establishment. no surprise really, (especially these days), at a time when most artists concern seems to be with achieving the two F’s, (fame&fortune)
not that I blame them as, in this age, success is measured by material wealth…big motors, large amounts of ‘tom’, houses in every town..you know what I mean. art as entertainment is todays message as the culture of pop dominates every corner of our society.
this 1985 piece taken from the Style Council’s most critical set ‘Our Favourite Shop’ shows that there was a time when some saw it as their duty to openly criticise without fear…read ’em and weep.
“For liberty there is a cost, it’s broken skulls and leather cosh,
From the boys in uniform, now you know whose side their on,
With backing, with blessing, from earthly gods not heaven,
A stones throw away from it all.
Whatever pleasures those who get, from stripping skin with rhino whip,
Are the kind that must be stopped, before their kind take all we’ve got,
With loving, with caring, they take great pride in working,
The stones throw away from it all.
Whenever honesty persists, you’ll hear the snap of broken ribs,
Of anyone who’ll take no more, of the lying bastards roar,
In Chile, in Poland, Johannesburg, South Yorkshire,
A stones throw away…..now we’re there”
musicology #106
sixartist, sixtune, sixweekspecial #29
(The Style Council – With Everything To Lose)
penultimate slice from the Paul Weller tribute selection and the second of two from his time spent in the Style Council, (the Humble Pie years), along with Mick Talbot formaly of, (relatively unknown), UKPressure band the Merton Parkas and ‘keeping time’ the young Steve White, (didnt the Pie have an unknown young drummer?),
not suggesting that this was the way he planned it..just another example of synchronicity I suppose.
this cut taken from the album..Our Favourite Shop, (not only a great album but, for me, one of the best LP covers of all time !!), reminds me of having just left school and going on holiday in what was then called Yugoslavia. this album was the soundtrack for that holiday and the few months that surrounded it, (memories are made of this), there are at least six pieces on the album that could have been the final choice and there’s nothing between them so I just picked this one mainly for the lyrical content..
Paul Weller at his poetic best..telling it like it was, (and is still)
“From the playground to the wasteground, Hope ends at 17
Sweeping floors and filling shelves, Forced into government schemes
11 years spent to dig out ditches, Forget your schoolday dreams
Guarantees and lie-filled speeches, But nothings what it seems
Qualified and patronised and with everything to lose
No choice or chance for the future, The rich enjoy less tax
Dress the girls in pretty pink, The shit goes to the blacks
A generation’s heart torn out, And covered up the facts
The only thing they’ll understand Is a wall against their backs
The only hope now left for those, with everything to lose
with everything to lose, with everything to lose
In desperation empty eyes, Signed up and thrown away
There’s drugs replacing dignity, The short sharp shock repaid
There’ll be no money if you dare to question Working the Tory way
The truth is up there carved in stone, Where 21 dead now lay
A family’s loss for a few pounds saved, With everything to lose
With everything to lose, with everything to lose
With everything to lose, everything to lose…
lyrics Don Weller….lyrics.
message received, (in ’85), and understood.
musicology #105
sixartist, sixtune, sixweekspecial #28
(The Jam – Start)
If themusicologist could slow time down and make a week last a month it might be enough to do the six/six/six artists justice…as already mentioned it’s a challenge to select such a small number of tunes from such great catalogues of work.
Take the Jam as an example, for me, there’s at least 20 cuts that deserve an outing on themusicologist and to whittle those down to 2 … well, lets just say that it’s as tough as old boots.
on this album, (Sound Affects), there’s five cuts here that I would like to, (and probably will over the years), throw down on themusicologist as well as another five albums, (+ singles), to ‘choose’ from so what strategy am I going to employ? … none. just going to throw ’em as I feel ’em.
this 1980 selection I remember from me days as a young blade, at the start of the teenage years when I was spending a lot of time knocking about the West End, (especially Soho and Covent Garden), as a second generation Mod.
I say ‘second generation’ because both my parents were first generation London Mod/ernists, so we, (‘the fox’ and I), grew up steeped in the culture, music and attitude of Englands first, (and most important), Youth movement as a birthright.
There were other influences of course such as Skin/Suedehead, ‘Hippie’ and, (later), Punk exposure through Aunts, Uncles and Cousins, (you know who you are), but Mod/ernist was and is the one where my heart resides.
So before I get too romantic and spend too much of me precious ‘time’ strolling down memory lane hold this one which, for some reason, always reminds me of Greek Street, (in Soho), the Thatcher years, and running battles with other groups of Youths at a time of great social unrest.
older and wiser, I now see that them days were just another stage of the ‘divide and conquer/rule’ strategy that poli-tricks always employs…you know what I mean…black against white, christian against muslim, rich against poor…the list is as long as yer arm…(brother Weller certainly knew and has always sung and wrote about it) so with that in mind..
“It’s not important for you to know my name,
Nor I to know yours,
If we communicate for two minutes only,
It will be enough,
For knowing that someone in this world,
Feels as desperate as me,
And what you give is what you get,
It doesn’t matter if we never meet again,
What we have said will always remain,
If we get through for two minutes only,
It will be a start,
For knowing that someone in this life,
Loves with a passion called hate,
And what you give is what you get,
If I never ever see you, (If I never ever see you),
If I never ever see you, (If I never ever see you),
If I never ever see you again,
If I never ever see you, (see you, see you),
If I never ever see you, (see you, see you),
If I never ever see you again,
And what you give is what you get,
And what you give is what you get,
And what you give is what you get,
And what you give is what you get,
And what you give is what you get,
And what you give is what you get.”
just like to say that we, (me and Mr Weller), did and do communicate through his music for many minutes, over many years and it has always been a real pleasure…
musicology #104
sixartist, sixtune, sixweekspecial #27
(Paul Weller – The Strange Museum)
part three of the Paul Weller tribute and one from the man as solo artist. as with all the six/six/six artists it’s nigh on impossible to choose six cuts from many. such is the quality of their musicology.
but six it is so it’s two from Paul Wellers time spent in the Jam, two from the Style Council selection and two from the man as solo artist and as such is a challenge and no mistake..I was ‘chewing some fat’ the other day about the Sam Cooke tribute and the ones that I had left out…to be honest what I’m trying not to do is play their most well known slices..in the hope that cats explore/reconvene a musical relationship with the artists featured for themselves…
this next one is taken from his 1992 work entitled Paul Weller with strong support from Steve White whose groove is tighter than the space between a rock and a hard place.
Steve White always deserves a lot of credit, (and full respect), for kicking it as possibly the best drummer to have graced theses shores. ..with Paul Weller from the age of sixteen I do believe?
I have been fortunate to share the pleasure of Steves, (and the man himselfs on another occasion), company a few years back at ‘Moda’s’ where he kindly treated us to a few licks on the bongos while Mick set him up with some threads..
little mention goes out to mr Moda, originally of Bermodsey but later better placed in Blackheath Village, whose eye for style is as good as it gets. never received the acclaim deserved but Moda was a legend for soul stylists ‘down south’ and was responsible for introducing many a style from the 80’s right through to the 00’s…anyone who remembers the Moda 3 tee, (for starters), knows what I’m talking about..
listen tune…
“come on in..admissions free
I won’t refuse those who wanna see,
bring your loved ones, those you hold dear,
bring them all, there’s no restrictions here
but don’t look for blame, as an easy escape
there’s notthing on show, that isn’t your shame
so come on in, it’s a small price to pay
and I won’t refuse, those who’ve lost their way”
song written by Paul Weller & Mick Talbot
musicology #103
sixartist, sixtune, sixweekspecial #26
(The Style Council – My Ever Changing Moods)
strange how Paul Weller and Curtis Mayfield are back to back on the six/six/six..
I know Paul Weller is a Curtis, (and Stevie Marriott), fan..maybe thats part of the reason why I feel such a connection to his music? (that and his obvious qualities as as a songwriter, singer, performer and all round musicologist).
I was only a very young child when Weller first came into my life but the message got through loud and clear and helped me with the confidence to believe in myself and follow my own path. the only two message carriers in my life have been music and my dear grandad..both of which always had/have my undivided attention. when either spoke I was always listening.
that wasn’t a conscious decision, it was just something that, (fortunately for me), happened and I am deeply greatful to them both, (Farve….you’re always in my thoughts and feelings)
anyway, back to the music..sliding in to this one from his days in The Style Council, (and my days as a Soul Boy), taken from the 1984 album ‘Cafe Bleu’. It’s got to be this one, (even though there are at least another three srceamers on there), which hit me hard when I first heard it whilst making the transition from schoolboy to youngblood.
Daylight turns to moonlight and I’m at my best yeah
Praising the way it all works and gazing upon the rest yeah
The cool before the warm
The calm after the storm
Oh the cool before the warm
The calm after the storm
I wish to stay forever letting this be my food
But I’m caught up in a whirlwind and my ever changing moods
Bitter turns to sugar some call a passive tune
But the day things turn sweet for me won’t be too soon, no
The hush before the silence
The winds after the blast
Oh the hush before the silence
The winds after the blast
I wish we’d move together this time the bosses sued
But we’re caught up in the wilderness and our ever changing moods
Teardrops turn to children who’ve never had the time
To commit the sins they pay for through another’s evil mind
The love after the hate
The love we leave too late
Oh the love after the hate
The love we leave too late
I wish we’d wake up one day and everyone feel moved
But we’re caught up in the dailies and an ever changing mood
Evil turns to statues and masses form a line
But I know which way I’d run to if the choice was mine
The past is our knowledge the present our mistake
And the future we always leave too late
I wish we’d come to our senses and see there is no truth
Ohhh In those who promote the confusion for this ever changing mood
musicology #102
sixartist, sixtune, sixweekspecial #25
(The Jam – I Got By In Time)
this week on themusicologist it’s the turn of the second most influential artists to have crossed my heart and mind.. Paul Weller who, along with Curtis ranks as the artist whose musicology has had the most impact on my life especially during my formative years.
as already mentioned, In The City by the Jam was the first serious piece of music I owned, (Christmas 1977, thanks to me mum and dad), and from that day to this the cat has always held a special place in my life. From the energy of the early Jam days, through to the social poetry of the later Jam works..on to his time with the Style Council and beyond his songs were always there for me as a guide and shoulder to lean on for support when it seemed like no one understood me trials and tribulations..
very similar in essence to Steve Marriott for obvious reasons, Paul Weller has never stood still and has been a musical, (and for me social), force for 30 years !!, (most of my life in fact), making him second only to Curtis in longevity.
Well do I remember in 1982 buying the Town Called Malice 12″ as he called time on the Jam which, to the Mod revivalists at the time was incomprehensible and didnt earn him much support. I saw it differently because to me he was doing exactly what should have been done by a true Mod/ernist and respond to the new music and fashion that was on the streets of London..I’m talking about ‘Casual/Soul Boy’.
that was what was happening back then, (along with the emergence of Electro and ‘Sleng Teng Dancehall), and Weller knew that that was where it was at and that the Jam weren’t capable of making the transition.
Mod has always had two aspects..
1:the vintage led cats who were ‘nostalgic’
2:the ‘son of mod’ of the early 80’s who had grown up with and were inspired by the Mod/ernist attitude, razor sharp style, love of contempory music and attention to detail. These were the cats who took up the modernist flag and carried it forward. themusicologist was there and trust me…that’s how it happened.
anyway..back to the music..this one from said album, (In The City 1977), still does it for me 30 years later…imagine how that sounded to a 9 year old !!
themusicologist 