Steve Marriott

musicology #592

Flow #11

(Kool & The Gang – This Is You, This Is Me)

Tried to lay this one down yesterday but my service provider wasn’t responding to my calls for internet freedom so was stuck behind the bullshit. Circumnavigated it though so here it is…prime slice of 1973 funk from Kool and The Gangs top ranking LP ‘Wild And Peaceful’. Some BIG tunes on the album and this is one of them.

Special mention goes out to Tony Blue who, (along with Stevie Marriott), had to make a quick exit from a New York club in the early 80’s with members of Kool & The Gang on the warpath sporting weapons of mass destruction..(Shotgun). Every time I hear their music it reminds me of it.

musicology #311

Live&Direct #7

(Ian Dury & The Blockheads – Blockheads)

Was intending on Slowing the tempo down for the next few cuts but then I came across this one from one of London’s favourite son’s Ian Dury featuring, of course, The Blockheads. So Influential were this group of Cats in themusicologist’s early life that I can’t overstate it. Not only that but in their earlier incarnation as Kilburn & the High Roads it was they, along with Doctor Feelgood and, for me, Steve Marriott that changed the trend, (at least on London’s scene) from listening to overhyped, overpaid and overrated so called supergroups of which I’ll mention no names to authentic, local, talent out of which sprung the attitude that became known as Punk. ‘The High Roads’ were vanguards and deserve recognition.

So without delay hold this, one of their classic cuts which brings memories flooding back..especially of my Uncle Phil who I can almost picture screaming the words…”BLOCK’EADS OI OI”…recorded live in 1990 showing that they had lost none of the energy and quality which saw them through from performing on the thriving ‘pub scene’, of the 70’s (which has now almost dissapeared), up to concert hall venues both here and ‘up and down a foreign’.

p.s after listening to this one at least four times ‘on the spin’ and rocking all round me ‘gates’ HAD to lay the lyrics down for yah…

“You must have seen parties of Blockheads,
With blotched and lagered skin,
Blockheads with food particles in their teeth,
What a horrible state they’re in,

They’ve got womanly breasts, pale mauve vests,
Shoes like dead pigs’ noses,
Cornflake packet jacket, catalogue trousers,
A mouth what never closes,

You must have seen Blockheads in raucous teams,
Dressed up after work,
Who screw their poor old Eileens,
Get sloshed and go berserk,

Rotary accessory watches,
Hire-purchase signet rings,
A beauty to the bully boys,
No lonely vestige clings,

Imagine one puffing and blowing in your ear’ole,
Thoughtful and kind with a well-stocked mind,
Blockheads can’t think very far,

Who wants tonight’s star prize?
Tonight’s star prize,
Is a solid gold Rolex watch,
It’s tonight’s star prize…..

Bigger brained Blockheads often acquire,
Black and orange cars,
Premature ejaculation drivers,
Soft-top’s got roll-bars,

‘Fill her up, they say the Blockheads,
Stick it where it fuckin’ well hurts,
Shapeless haircuts don’t enhance,
Their ghastly patterned shirts,

Why bother at all about Blockheads?
(Superior as you) are,
thoughtful and kind,
(with a), well stock, (mind),

Who want’s tonight’s star prize?
Imagine finding one in your laundrey basket,
banging nails in your big black dog,

Who wants tonight’s star prize?
Tonight’s, why bother at all about Blockheads?
Why should you care what they do
‘Cause after all is said and done,
You’re all blockheads too…ain’t cha,

Who wants tonight’s star prize?
A Rolex, original Rolex from Brixton market,
You can’t get any batteries,

Blockheads
Blockheads
Blockheads
Blockheads
Blockheads
Blockheads, who wants it?
Blockheads, who wants it?
Blockheads
Blockheads (oi oi)
Blockheads (oi oi)
Blockheads (oi oi)
Blockheads (oi oi)
Blockheads (oi oi)
Blockheads (oi oi)
(oi oi)
Blockheads
Blockheads
Blockheads
Blockheads
Blockheads
Blockheads”

Taken from the Live! Warts ‘n’ Audience Set…What a performance…..

musicology #306

Live&Direct #3

(Humble Pie – I Don’t Need No Doctor)

Excited to say that I have some real gems lined up for this theme…

Today it’s the turn of English Rock and Roll supergroup Humble Pie featuring one of the best vocalists to come out of these ‘green and pleasant lands’, original Mod icon, Stephen Peter Marriott…(a Cat who featured last year on the SixSixSix hall of fame).

Recorded at New Yorks famed Filmore East in 1971it was to prove the end of the road for Peter Frampton’s involvement in the band after becoming dissilusioned with Steve’s dominance, (the band was originally put together as a front for Frampton), so this is the band in all their glory covering a Ray Charles song penned by Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson and Jo Armstead.

musicology #89

sixartist, sixtune, sixweekspecial #12

(Humble Pie Feat Steve Marriott – I Need A Star In My Life)

final cut from brother Steve Marriott…difficult choice to make. luckily the man was prolific so there’s enough to choose from but still…tough.

I’m going for a cut taken from the posthumously released and highly recommended ‘Scrubbers Sessions’ released by Tim Hinkley in tribute to Steve. signing off this weeks six/six/six with with a quote from Tim..

“I came back from Steve’s funeral with Bobby Tench, I told him I had this album in my tape storage room..we put it on and it sounded great, it was then that I realised this album really should come out…this record was very special to Steve and if nothing else, it stands as a tribute to his enormous talent”.

lyrics Don Stevie … lyrics …

musicology #88

sixartist, sixtune, sixweekspecial #11

(Humble Pie Feat Steve Marriott – Strange Days)

penultimate piece of musicology magic from Mr Marriott and friends…can’t believe it’s gone so quick.

one of the many things I ‘love’ about the geezahh is his obvious dedication and commitment to communicating using the ‘universal language’. Not only as a vocalist or musician, (could, and did, play most of them), but also as a performer.

most people can sing, (some can play instruments), but what seperates the legends from the rest of us is how they deliver…Steve Marriott delivers as good as anyone and deserves to be ranked in the uppermost branches of the musical tree so that the sun can shine on him from morning to night..

hold this piece of 1971 Rock, Rhythm&Blues from one of the great English bands..Humble Pie .. telling it like it is…quality piece of musicology. a Glyn Jones/Humble Pie production..lyrics courtesy of Steve Marriott.

musicology #87

sixartist, sixtune, sixweekspecial #10

(Small Faces – All Or Nothing)

couldnt throw down a Steve Marriott tribute without laying down the piece that kick started my appreciation of the brothers vocal and soulful qualities.

while not prolific in their collaborative output there’s no denying the Small Faces impact on contempory music and this one gets into the tribute for two reasons

1:Mod anthem

2: brings back memories of being 11/12 and 13 years old as a second generation Mod .. ahhhhhh .. music brings back so many memories..

so without further words hold this piece from the Mod band with the Mod classic, pinpointing the evolution and metamorphosis in the autumn of 1966 from American Rhythm & Blues to English Rock & Blues…

strangely, (or probobly not), one that my kids enjoy and sing along to just as another Mod revival begins to take shape in 2008

musicology #86

sixartist, sixtune, sixweekspecial #9

(Steve Marriott – Help Me Through The Day)

What / Who Is Mod? … for themusicologist there are only a handful of cats who can lay claim to the title. one of them is Steve Marriott …

Why? because he lived life to the full, often at the extremes, always on the vanguard and didn’t compromise his personal values. Selfish? .. probably, Obsessed…almost definately, Dedicated….100%

Not suggesting that these qualities are the only, (or even most important), Mod credentials but if you dig deep enough they are, in themusicologist’s opinion ones that are ever present….another vital ingredient would be the love of Soul, Blues, Rhythm & Blues…without this you can’t be Mod !!

the aim is still to let the music do the talking and believe me I’m trying but the six/six/six is inspiring themusicologist to ‘nail me colours to the mast‘ ..

hold this cut from his solo album, simply titled Steve Marriott, (not his choice of title I hasten to add), recorded in 1975…pucker

musicology #85

sixartist,sixtune,sixweekspecial #8

(Humble Pie feat Steve Marriott – Desperation)

Round two of the Stevie Marriott selection finds the man dissilusioned with fame and looking for some ‘greener grass’, (in my experience a very common Mod trait), first and foremost the young man craved, and deserved, respect as a musician/performer/vocalist which was not possible, in his opinion, with the Small Faces as they were viewed as a bit of a pop/novelty band at the time.

His passion for music far outweighed his desire for fame, although as a street rat on a paltry ‘bobby moore’ a week with a healthy appetite borne out of the only authentic 60’s revolution, (the consumer one), he needed some ‘reddies in the bin‘

This cut, (a Steppenwolf cover written by John Kay), is taken from the 1969 album As Safe As Yesterday Is, the first recorded outing with the band he put together for Peter Frampton…Humble Pie. consisting of Jerry Shirley on Drums, Greg Ridley on Bass and Steve on, (second lead), guitar..as well as vocal duties of course….

musicology #84

sixartist,sixtune,sixweekspecial #7

(Small Faces feat Steve Marriott – Afterglow)

this week it’s all about the legend known as Steve Marriott. Small Faces/Humble Pie/Packet Of Three/Official Receivers front man who’s musical, vocal and performing talents were ten times larger than his physical stature. Following in the footsteps of original London Boy Joe Brown it was ‘little Stevie’, (together with the rest of the Small Faces), that put an authentic London sound on the musical map.

This cut, (one of Steves personal favourites), is taken from the ground breaking LP Ogdens ‘ Nut Gone‘ Flake named in deference to the rolling tobacco, (Ogdens Flake) favoured by the band for wrapping spliffs that after smoking guaranteed your ‘nut’ was gone. Who else but the Small Faces used the London Vernacular?…pure Mod. Proud of their culture and Cockney heritage

As with the previous ‘tribute’ themusicologist aims to let the music talk so hold this piece of London musicology from one of the great English bands…. of personal significence is that it comes from 1968..the year of themusicologist’s birth.

Special request to all the London boys who ‘live up a foreign’…you know who you are. hope this one reminds you of the auld country.