musicology #179

soulsearching #1

(Bessie Smith - Poor Mans Blues)

LISTEN

kept a low one last week to consolidate and regroup for an assualt on this existence called life.

what has this got to do with music? I’m glad I asked..

having always provided themusicologist with a means to externalise the internal turmoil that is ever present music has always been a consistent, reliable guide and trusted companion on the journey. as we experience the rough and the smooth, (together), there is always a slice of the musical pie that nails the feeling and even though this next selection is completely self indulgent it is, I assure you, very necessary.

the idea is to try and lay down a musical dialogue between the yin and yang of a turbulent soul existing in the post modern world. sound deep? in all honesty it is..and bottomless to boot!!

day one of the soulsearching..and who better to start proceedings than the incomparable Bessie Smith…Queen of the blues with a belter of a tune from 1928 that is as true today as it was back then, especially poignant considering the ‘Great Depression’ was just around the corner. which just goes to show how little, (of substance), has changed as a result of the so called ‘age of progress’. Produced by legendary musicologist John Hammond and featuring the musical talents of:

Joe Williams, (Trombone)
Bob Fuller, (Clarinet/Alto Sax)
Ernest Elliott (Clarinet/Alto&Tenor Sax)
Porter Grainger (Piano)

a musical gem from a legendary performer…watch the ride.

mister rich man, mister rich man,
open up your heart and mind,
mister rich man, rich man,
open up your heart and mind,
give a poor man a chance
help stop these hard, hard times,

while you living in your mansion,
you don’t know what hard time means,
while you living in your mansion,
you don’t know what hard time means,
hard working mans wife is starving,
your wife is living like a queen,

please listen to my pleading ’cause I can’t stand these hard times long,
ohhh listen to my pleading, can’t stand these hard times long,
they’ll make an honest man do things that you know is wrong,

poor man fought all the battles,
poor man would fight again today,
poor man fought all the battles,
poor man would fight again today,
he would do anything you ask him in the name of the USA,

now the war is over poor man must live the same as you,
now the war is over poor man must live as the same as you,
if it wasn’t for the poor man mister rich man what would you do?

musicology #178

alternativesoundtrack2..Quadrophenia #10

(The Who - I’ve Had Enough)

LISTEN

final cut of the Quadrophenia selection and i’m finishing up with the piece of music that closes the film. pucker tune and one that definately had an impact on my mindset growing up.

Jimmy’s gone back to Brighton and had the final igmony of seeing ‘the face’ in his dayjob as nothing but a ‘bell boy’. it’s the final straw for him and reminds me of a saying that I once heard and took to heart…something like

“never try to reach out and touch a ‘golden idol’ as the gilding might come off in your hands..”

I always took it to mean, never idolise anyone as they chances are one day they will dissapoint you. it’s unfair to put such a weight of responsibility on someone elses shoulders because we are all human and full of contridictions.

for the record, even though I was introduced to ‘Mod Revival’ through the Jam’s first album ‘In The City’ a few years earlier than seeing the film the actual soundtrack was, for me, always a bit of a dissapointment. that said I rate Pete Townsend, (and the Who’s), original album from which the film was crafted. Townsend’s lyrics were a guide for themusicologist and will always hold fond memories.

“you were under the impression, that when you were walking forwards,
that you’d end up further onwards, but things ain’t quite that simple,

you got altered information, you were told to not take chances,
you missed out on new dances now your’e losing all your dimples,

my jacket’s gonna be cut slim and checked,
maybe a touch of seersucker with an open neck,
I ride a GS scooter with my hair cut neat,
I wear my war time coat in the wind and sleet,

love reign o’er me, love reign o’er me…..

I’ve had enough of living, I’ve had enough of dying,
I’ve had enough of smiling, I’ve had enough of crying,
I’ve taken all the high roads, I’ve squandered and I’ve saved,
I’ve had enough of childhood I’ve had enough of graves,

love reign o’er me, reign o’er me,
love reign o’er me…looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove

I’ve had enough of dancehalls, I’ve had enough of pills,
I’ve had enough of street fights, I’ve seen my share of kills,
I’m finished with the fashions and acting like I’m tough,
I’m bored of hate and passion, Iv’e had enough of trying to looooooooooooooooooooooooooooove

you stop dancing”

musicology #177

alternativesoundtrack2..Quadrophenia #9

(Marvin Gaye - Baby Don’t You Do It)

LISTEN

the film is nearing it’s conclusion and after the ‘tear up’ outside the cafe in the previous scene this penultimate one finds Jimmy trying to make it up with Steph, (or at least make some sense of it all)

the musicology is courtesy of mod favourite and Soul legend brother Marvin Gaye with one of the mod classics..it was actually featured in the film so it’s not alternative but it fits the bill so well that it couldn’t be ignored. BIG tune on the scene….the Small Faces often played it on the curcuit and also recorded it in the early days, (1965?), in tribute to their authenticity, (the only real mod band in my humble opinion), but nothing could touch the Marvin and themusicologist never tires of hearing the man sing, (the Marvelettes are singing back up on this one)

musicology #176

alternativesoundtrack2..Quadrophenia #8

(The Tams - Take Away)

LISTEN

strange how themusicologist seems to be drawn to art that reinforces one’s own predicament…maybe we all are?. not going into the details but lets just say I know how Jimmy feels.

this is the section after he has packed his job in and turns up at the Cafe to find all his ‘friends’. his so called best mate, (Dave), really takes the piss and the less said about young ‘tart’ Steph the better.

still, people are funny that way you trust them with your heart and 999 times out of a 1000 they’ll let you down but as Alan Watts said at the start of musicology #10

“that risk still has to be taken”

the musical accompaniment is a Mod screamer courtesy of Soul vocal group The Tams. I know for sure this was big on, (and in), the Scene that year and I must confess to taking a little bit of artistic license as it may have been released after the brief period in which the film was set. Couldn’t resist it though as it’s not only perfect for the alternative soundtrack it is perfect for me too.

p.s that ‘Glasgow kiss’ that he gives Dave after the ‘alleyway’ comment is quality and well deserved.

musicology #175

alternativesoundtrack2..Quadrophenia #7

(The Blenders - Everybody’s Got A Right)

LISTEN

day seven and just to make things worse Jimmy has been dragged in to be patronised by his boss on how he should ‘count his lucky stars’ for having such an illustrious job, (especially considering his working class status !!)

this was, (and in many ways still is), how the establishment expects us to behave, that we should be happy with the ‘crumbs off the top table’. Elitism is very much alive today as is ‘class’, even though successive governments, whatever their persuasion, have tried over the past 30 years to convince us of the opposite.

money isn’t the issue. it’s all about ‘mind-set’ and this piece of dialogue has always been one of my favourites in the film. great piece of acting by Phil Daniels…full of emotion and pathos, (you tell him Jim)

the music is courtesy of foundation Soul vocal group The Blenders with what might not sound like a revolutionary piece of social commentary but when you consider the year (1963), is.

a 45 on the Witch label.

Listen tune

musicology #174

alternativesoundtrack2..Quadrophenia #6

(Big Jay McNeely - Without A Love)

LISTEN

it’s on top for Jimmy now and from here on in it’s just pure kicks in the nuts for the kid..

the come-down off the ‘blues’ wouldn’t be helping either but there’s no denying that he’s on the slippery slope downwards. one thing about slipping into darkness is, you never know when it’s going to end until the moment after you hit the floor. it could be moments or even years until you start the climb back up.

I know I have been there, (too many times), so I feel for the kid but life seems to be full of trials and tribulations, each to be conquered and vanquished and in the scheme of things ‘growing up’ isn’t that hard an ordeal. you just got to accept it and move on..

the dialogue says it all. his mum has nailed him for being involved in the troubles, found his stash and kicked his arse out onto the streets..the musical accompaniment is a 1962 cut of majesty, (as far as i’m concerned), by a legendary Rhythm & Blues performer, saxophonist supreme Big Jay McNeely, (and his band), which has a particularly fine a piece of organ work that I have been waiting for the opportunity to fling down..a 45 on the Swingin’ Label.

musicology #173

alternativesoundtrack2..Quadrophenia #5

(The 4 Casts - Stormy Weather)

LISTEN

day 5 and for Jimmy it's all about to start going downhill. having made his way, (on convoy), down to Brighton and spent the day getting ready for some evening action he has been ejected from the 'dance' for jumping from the balcony in an attempt to impress Steph, (the things we males do to be noticed by the ladies !!), who has mugged him off to be with 'The Face'.

having nowhere to go and no-one to go with he spends the night on the beach, (no doubt speeding off his 'nut'), and in the morning makes his way to to meet up with the boys. this is followed by the big 'tear-up' on the beach and the demolishing of a cafe that some 'greasers' have holed up in. if you've seen it you know all about the 'knee jerker' in the alley with Steph and then him having his collar felt by the old bill, where he ends up in a black mariah with his 'hero' .

Cut to this scene, where the mod attitude and deference to authority is highlighted by 'the Face's' dismissal of his financial punishment in style. but notice how the judge states that these are not the first wave of 'hooligans' to hit Brighton, in reference to the much more dangerous and violent racecourse wars of the 1920's featuring the likes of 'The Elephant Boys', the Brummagen boys, the Sabini's and cats such as Georgie Sewell and Billy Kimber...Brighton was always a hotbed of crime and violence right up until the most recent spate of re gentrification that has taken place over the preceding 10 years or so..and a trip 'down the line' was very common for London's opportunists and villains of the past.

the tune that follows is a slice of the Atlantic pie from early 1964 by a vocal group I know nothing about so I can't offer any information other than what's on the label.

stormy weather is certainly up ahead for 'young Jim'