Memorabilia Podcast

Stardom Road was Marc Almond's first release since his near-fatal motorcycle accident in 2004. It was a long, dark path to recovery that left him unable to write songs and he required singing lessons to find his voice again. Once over that hurdle, Marc returned to the studio to work on a covers album, the concept being that the selected songs contained a narrative relating to his life. Stardom Road was over two years in the making, the project growing from humble beginnings to full orchestral productions of some well-known classics and several obscure, lesser-known tracks. We talk about each song individually, delve deeper into the track selections and discuss how Marc's versions compare to the originals, culminating in an album rating out of ten from both of us. We made a Spotify playlist of the original recordings, which creates an enjoyable comparative experience. You can listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/74cWCP3yhNbgJ296XLDfNB?si=1ae316ca2fac49f8 We also had a lovely message from Katarina Kovac, who explained how she discovered Marc Almond before going on to record this incredible cover of his song 'Only The Moment': https://youtu.be/EuY9-oa5iDI?si=IknKS0-hF0ibYCE8 Our review of the UK singles and album charts for the week of release in June 2007 noted a tangible difference between the artists and styles, with the singles chart full of nightclub-friendly heavy beats and samples from the likes of Akon, Gym Class Heroes, Hellogoodbye, and Mutya Buena covering Bob Marley and the Whalers, Supertramp, Avril Lavigne, and Lenny Kravitz respectively. The album charts were much more band-centric and featured singers with musicians, rather than electronically generated sounds, such as Amy Winehouse, Maroon 5, Pigeon Detectives, Kaiser Chiefs, Michael Buble, and the Arctic Monkeys. Our Top 3 picks for this episode were our favourite duets. Links to each song are below: KATE Mississippi Beat, performed by Ian Prowse and Pauline Scanlon: https://youtu.be/EF0nCcBi2Wc?si=BQ84MA9T0pTLMZmm Just Like You performed by David Ford and Annie Dressner: https://youtu.be/fheOm3DvJAo?si=dtfxLrxbphNyfHAH We should be together performed by The Wedding Present and Louise Wener: https://youtu.be/jVm_4pnHl3o?si=mULJc0wCIznmfY3K RICK No Room For Doubt performed by Lianne Le Havas and Willy Mason: https://youtu.be/pBCt5nfsZ30?si=GwJhElMumNivvOld Say Say Say, performed by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson: https://youtu.be/YnFknaD9eWY?si=Ut6HV_9y1umrqT_M Temptation Greets You Like Your Naughty Friend, performed by The Arctic Monkeys and Dizzee Rascal: https://youtu.be/hJeE-PlgAfM?si=2dv9qa9GRjrpRnDh Kate's Single of the Week: Famous, by Police Car Collective: https://youtu.be/nJJphXP8uy8?si=bL2LrApXm94xxvUE We also review recent live gigs by Holy Moly & The Crackers, and London four-piece, Spector. If you're a fan of the show and haven't yet done so, please subscribe on your listening platform of choice. We'd appreciate it if you could rate the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. You can follow or like us on Twitter (X) and Facebook. Comments and opinions about anything covered in the episodes, our posts, or music in general are welcomed. You can find all our links here: https://linktr.ee/memorabiliapodcast Twitter @Memorabiliapod https://twitter.com/Memorabiliapod Facebook @MemorabiliaPodcast https://www.facebook.com/Memorabilia-Podcast-102585322133793 Thank you, and best wishes, Rick, & Kate x

A favourite album of Kate's receives the Memorabilia Podcast scrutiny this week as we focus our attention on the intense, brooding, magnificence that is 'Murder Ballads' by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds from 1996. Their 9th studio album release, notable for its dark subject matter and cameo appearances from PJ Harvey, Kylie Monogue, and Shane McGowan, was met with widespread critical acclaim upon its release. Benefitting from the substantial airplay received for lead single 'Where The Wild Roses Grow', the record remains the bands most commercial succesful release to date. Discover the story behind the songs, how the album came to be, and what Rick and Kate thought of the album, each scoring it out of 10. Can it trouble the top ranked 5 LP's covered so far?

The UK singles and album charts reviewed are from the 5th of February 1996 with the usual mix of the good, the bad and the ugly. Rick declared the top 4 albums as the best covered to date and argued strongly that it wasn't just because he owned all 4! In the news we heard about divorce, the splitting up of the most successful British band of the 1990s (no tears were shed from our presenters), Jarvis Cocker's infamous escapades at The Brit Awards, and channel tunnel challenges. The UK box office including a film that wasn't based on George Orwells Animal Farm (although it did star a pig), a David Fincher classic and another top 10 where Kate hadn't seen a single movie!

Or Top 3's this week include songs by Ian Prowse, Tom Jones, Rage Against The Machine, Eminem, Johnny Cash and Aerosmith. Find out what subject links them all together (bit of a clue in the subject of this episode's featured album!).

Singles of the Week

Rick's: One of Us by Joan Osborne from 1996: https://youtu.be/aDdOnl0bHO4

Kate's: Greenhands by Sundara Karma from 2019: https://youtu.be/9Xkrbt1dQso

Other songs / performances mentioned on episode:

Where The Wild Roses Grow by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds featuring Kylie Minogue: https://youtu.be/lDpnjE1LUvE

Stagger Lee, and Henry Lee performed by Nick Cave and The Badseeds and PJ Harvey on The White Room 1996: https://youtu.be/OOLW_EvpWTc

Jubilee Street performed by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds live in Copenhagen: https://youtu.be/kf_zVzvYWuw

Satellite by The Hooters from 1987: https://youtu.be/RVXjBMK3EkI

Jarvis Cocker interrupts Michael Jackson at The Brits: https://youtu.be/ymCQyq-9APw

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We are delighted to be back with a sublime album from the late 90's to kick-off Season 2! North Carolinan trio, Ben Folds Five, released their second LP on the 18th of March 1997 with much trepidation after a challenging time recording the album, trying to perfect the sound and document 'an event' by shunning the recording studio in favour of Ben's dilapidated house in Chapel Hill. If you've listened to any of our episodes during season one, you'll know we'll cover the origins of the band, each song in turn (both musically and lyrically) and finish by each giving a rating for the record out of 10. You'll discover how an auction bidding war that Kate was involved in is linked to the album opening track...

Before we get stuck in to all things BFF, we look back at 1997. What was in the UK album and single charts at this time, what were we watching at the movies and on the telly, and what was happening in the news? It was a time of political change in the UK, and musically, we were on the downward curve of Britpop, with boy-bands and girl-bands very prominent and dominating the higher reaches of the singles chart in particular. We talk about Bush, Dodgy, Cake, Kula Shaker, Gina G, Sash!, No Doubt, Wet Wet Wet, The Spice Girls, Blur, Mansun, Aqua, Chumbawumba, and Oasis amongst others. It was also the age of the 'hidden track' and we remember some heart stopping moments in discovering this new phenomena.

In the movies, we recall the likes of Bound, Fierce Creatures, Ransom, Jerry Maguire and one of Kate's favourites, Mars Attacks! On the TV, we discuss Sunset Beach, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the launch of Channel 5 (featuring the Spice Girls of course) and The Teletubbies. Halcyon days!

We have a new feature for Season 2 - 'Top 3's'. As we're named after a Marc Almond song, much to Kate's consternation, we started with our Top 3 Marc Almond / Soft Cell songs. She said it would have been easier choosing a favourite child!! Let us know yours...

No surprise that this features: https://youtu.be/XZVpR3Pk-r8
Here's one of Kate's picks: https://youtu.be/0wIhbmC5_KA
Kate's Song of the week - Clarity, Vance Joy: https://youtu.be/7RREsx9lnNI
Rick's Song of the week - 6 Underground, Sneaker Pimps: https://youtu.be/2eBZqmL8ehg

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Cheers!

Early July 1990 and Harry Connick Jr. releases 2 albums on the same day and a 'home video' entitled Singin' & Swingin'. One of the LP's is with his Jazz trio entitled 'Lofty's Roach Soufle', but the record we focus on in this episode is 'We Are In Love' - a big band, jazz and swing masterclass from the 22 year old New Orleans native. Harry won his second grammy for the record in what was a momumentally busy time in the glittering career of the talented American composer, pianist, vocalist, actor and TV star. We talk about his music, movies, TV shows and his enduring marriage to former Victoria Secrets lingerie and swimwear model, Jill Goodacre.

There's a full album analysis of all 12 songs (9 of which Harry had writing credits on) before we conclude the Harry Connick Jr. chat by each giving the record a rating out of 10. Current highest score of all the LP's we've covered to date is an impressive 18.5 (out of 20) for 'Disintegration' by The Cure. 'We Are in Love' needs to score 17 or above to break in to our top 5 - find out if it gets there by tuning in...

In England and Ireland, for sports fans, July 1990 brings back bittersweet memories of one of the greatest football tournaments in the history of the game - The Fifa World Cup Finals in Italy, commonly known as Italia '90. England and Ireland were decent and both had ambitions of winning the tournament. It was a time when the English fell in love with a flawed genius called Gazza and an unlikely chart topper ruled the airwaves in the form of opera singer Luciano Pavarotti. Discover what other gems were kicking around in the UK singles charts, the album charts and at the box office. You can also discover why Rick's Dad wasn't exactly thrilled to discover that he'd be appearing on Radio Sheffield and what Rick shelled out £369.99 for on the day 'We Are in Love' was released (July 3rd 1990).

To start the episode we cover numbers 20 - 16 in Rolling Stones 500 greatest songs of all time list, featuring the obligatory single we've never heard of, along side classics by Queen, John Lennon, Prince and Beyonce.

We'll be taking a short mid-season hiatus following this episode as we prepare for a busy time personally including a big house party to celebrate our 50th birthdays and the 18th birthday of our son, Sam. We'll be back towards the end of March with the 1989 LP 'Mind Bomb' by The The.

You can listen to the full album 'We Are in Love' on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/6Q2COpAGHfW1BeZrMIIY82 or You Tube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCDelnJmZ08&list=OLAK5uy_negIsZrxodVlFfJFCPvgAfqZBI5fRMIZY

The scene from Friends discussed on the episode starring Harry's wife, Jill Goodacre and the brilliant Matthew Perry (playing Chandler Bing): https://youtu.be/Ewx4RYgl_OQ
Rick's single of the week: https://youtu.be/t3BBDeAyrHo The beautiful 'Thumbs Up' by the fantastic 'Howl and the Hum'.

Kate's Single of the week: The bouncy 'The Way To Your Heart' by Belgium duo Soulsister that was big in Germany according to Kate: https://youtu.be/fzyKYekdKBk

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Our most 'recent' album covered to date is 'San Fransisco' by American Music Club, presumably named after the Californian city in which they were formed back in 1983. San Fransisco was their 7th and final album before they disbanded in 1995. There was a reformation in 2004 which lasted for a further 6 years and saw the release of 2 further LP's by the band.

American Music Club were a band that Rick was totally unaware of, having only made a minor blip in the UK charts - listen to the episode to get the story of why Kate purchased the LP and what her thoughts are on it having re-listened to the album ahead of the podcast recording.

Recording date was 9th of January 2022 and apologies that it's taken much longer than normal to edit and publish - life sometimes just gets in the way of all the fun doesn't it?! If you're reading and listening to this ahead of 23.1.2022, feel free to send Kate a happy 50th birthday message! Our social links and email address are as follows:

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As ever, we explore the history of the band, with extra focus on enigmatic singer/songwriter Mark Eitzel of whom 'Rolling Stone' magazine were big fans. Discover why Rick likened Mark to Bryan Adams much to Kate's surprise. There's a track by track anaysis of the record, and a rating from both presenters.

The record was released either September or October 1994 (the records are sketchy!) where the tide of manufactured pop, novelty acts and established radio and chart artists was starting to turn in favour of more alternative guitar bands, traditionally confined to the indie charts and late night radio shows. Blur, Oasis and the like were lurking with intent out side the top 10 of the UK single charts and the album charts included artists such as The Cranberries and R.E.M. It was an exciting time to be an alternative / indie music fan.

As well as the autumnal music scene in 1994, we review news events from the UK, what was showing at the cinema, and which programmes were casting light into the lounges up and down the country from the television sets of the nation.
American Music Club - 'press kit' video release to promote the band around 92/93: https://youtu.be/dEyMhgbGBDg

Part one of an interview with Mark Eitzel from 1988: https://youtu.be/yb6G58u_4c4

Kate's Single of the Week - 'Happy Birthday' by Altered Images: https://youtu.be/6t1vaF50Ks0

Rick's Single of the Week - 'Babies' by Pulp from 'The Sisters EP' released 1994: https://youtu.be/38by00DGid0

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We'll be back next episode covering the Harry Connick Jr. LP from 1990 'We Are In Love' - we're nothing if not eclectic!