Stupefied: The NME UK Top 50 Singles of 1980

Back by no demand whatsoever, I felt inspired to continue the series of NME year-end lists, so here you go - 1980 in all of its glory. Lake Placid, Russian boycott, great records & more video with each release. You could easily do a second, completely different, list, and it would be just as good. Please note that the Spotify list is not as complete as the YouTube list due to availability.

01. Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart

02. The Jam - Going Underground

03. The English Beat - Mirror In The Bathroom

04. Joy Division - Atmosphere

05. David Bowie- Ashes to ashes

06. Bow Wow Wow- I Want My Baby On Mars

07. Grace Jones - Private Life

08. David Bowie - Fashion

09. BOW WOW WOW - C30 C60 C90 Go!

10. Stevie Wonder - Master Blaster (Jammin')

11. The Teardrop Explodes - Treason

12. Dexys Midnight Runners - Geno

13. The Jam - Start

14. UB40 - Food for Thought/King

15. Elvis Costello & The Attractions - New Amsterdam

16. A Certain Ratio - Shack Up

17. Echo and the Bunnymen - Rescue

18. UB40 - My Way Of Thinking

19. Kurtis Blow - The Breaks

20. The English Beat - Best Friend

21. Elvis Costello & The Attractions ~ I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down

22. The Cramps - Drug Train

23. The Fall - Fiery Jack

24. Dexys Midnight Runners - Dance Stance (Original 7'' Version)

25. Robert Palmer - Johnny and Mary

26. The English Beat - Hands Off... She's Mine

27. The Subterraneans - My Flamingo

28. Magazine- A Song From Under The Floorboards

29. Comsat Angels - Independence Day

30. The Undertones - My Perfect Cousin

31. Stray Cats - Runaway Boys

32. Robert Wyatt - At Last I Am Free

33. Robert Palmer - Looking For Clues

34. Dexy's Midnight Runners - There, There My Dear

35. Madness - My Girl

36. Squeeze - Another Nail In My Heart

37. A Certain Ratio - Flight

38. Au Pairs - Diet / It's Obvious (7")

39. Tom Browne - Funkin' For Jamaica

40. Caberet Voltaire - Seconds Too Late

41. Diana Ross - I'm Coming Out

42. Elvis Costello & The Attractions - High Fidelity

43. Aswad - Warrior Charge

44. Richard Hell & the Voidoids - Love Comes in Spurts

45. Smack - Edward Fox

46. The Police - Don't Stand So Close To Me

47. Bette Bright - Hello I Am Your Heart

48. Linx - Rise and Shine

49. Siouxsie & The Banshees - Happy House

50. Adam and the Ants - Dog Eat Dog

Stupefied: The NME UK Top 40 Singles of 1979

Not.

Its been a few months since I've run a playlist, but here we are. The first day of summer seems a good time for it, and picking up where we left off, 1979 is a great year. This list would serve a party well...I hope you enjoy it!

As usual, stream/watch below or do it directly on Spotify or YouTube. (If you have the time, check out the YouTube version - there are always some surprises & things forgotten.)

1. Eton Rifles - The Jam
2. Gangsters - The Specials
3. London Calling - The Clash
4. I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
5. Strange Town - The Jam
6. Message In A Bottle - The Police
7. Oliver's Army - Elvis Costello
8. Spacer - Sheila B Devotion*
9. Shake Your Body - The Jacksons
10. Memories - Public Image Ltd.
11. Death Disco - Public Image Ltd.**
12. My Feet Keep Dancing - Chic
13. Rock Lobster - The B52's
14. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
15. Making Plans For Nigel - XTC
16. Queen Of Hearts - Dave Edmunds
17. The Pictures On My Wall - Echo & The Bunnymen
18. Life During Wartime - Talking Heads
19. She's Beyond Good & Evil - The Pop Group
20. Boogie Wonderland - Earth Wing And Fire
21. Rowche Rumble - The Fall
22. Living On The Front Line - Eddie Grant
23. The Prince - Madness
24. Boys Don't Cry - The Cure
25. Touch - Lori & The Chameleons*
26. Transmission - Joy Division**
27. Get Over You - The Undertones
28. Memphis Tennessee - Silicon Teens
29. On My Radio - Selector
30. Pop Musik - M
31. Girls Talk - Dave Edmunds
32. Heart Of Glass - Blondie
33. We Are Family - Sister Sledge
34. Stop Your Sobbing - Pretenders
35. Where’s Bill Grundy Now - Television Personalities*
36. Saturday Night Beneath The Plastic Palms - Leyton Buzzards*
37. Time Goes By So Slow - Distractions*
38. Protection - Graham Parker**
39. A Message To You Rudy - The Specials
40. Electricity - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark

* - No version on Spotify available
** - Studio version replaced by live version

Stupefied: The NME UK Top 30 Singles of 1978

 

1978 was a mighty fine year. Post punk got underway in earnest, some rock bands started appropriating disco into their repertoire, and most of them made videos, or appeared on one TV show or another. There are some real treats in the YouTube version of this playlist. I hope you enjoy it!

As usual, available via Spotify or YouTube. Your choice.

01. Ever Fallen In Love - The Buzzcocks
02. Public Image - Public Image
03. What A Waste - Ian Dury
04. Miss You - Rolling Stones
05. Radio Radio - Elvis Costello
06. I Don't Want To Go To Chelsea - Elvis Costello
07. Hong Kong Garden - Siouxsie & The Banshees
08. White Man In Hammersmith Palais - The Clash
09. Shot Both Sides - Magazine
10. Sign Of The Times - Bryan Ferry
11. Shame - Evelyn 'Champagne' King
12. Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick - Ian Dury
13. Rising Free EP - Tom Robinson Band
14. Satisfaction - Devo
15. Ambition - Subway Sect
16. Take Me To The River - Talking Heads
17. It's The New Thing - The Fall
18. I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass - Nick Lowe
19. What Do I Get - The Buzzcocks
20. Germ Free Adolescents - X Ray Spex
21. I Am The Fly - Wire
22. Because The Night - Patti Smith
23. Damaged Goods - Gang Of Four
24. Mr Know It All - Gregory Isaacs
25. Night People - Alan Toussaint
26. Mighty Real - Sylvester
27. Private Plane - Thomas Leer
28. Where Were You - The Mekons
29. Hard Workin' Man - Captain Beefheart
30. Down At The Doctors - Doctor Feelgood

Stupefied: The NME UK Top 30 Singles of 1977

Well, here we are...the so called ground zero of punk rock, and the punks are certainly pushing out the rest of the competition when it comes to the UK faves of the year. Especially the Sex Pistols, the Jam, Ian Dury, and Elvis Costello. Not to mention Bob Marley or David Bowie. All of them have multiple entries. If you didn't know which way the wind was blowing it would have been a good time to rethink your strategy. 

As usual, your choice: Spotify or YouTube

01. Pretty Vacant - Sex Pistols
02. Watchin' The Detectives - Elvis Costello
03. Sex & Drugs & Rock 'N' Roll - Ian Dury
04. God Save the Queen - Sex Pistols
05. Sheena Is A Punk Rocker - The Ramones
06. Heroes - David Bowie
07. 2-4-6-8 Motorway - Tom Robinson Band
08. Waiting In Vain - Bob Marley & The Wailers
09. Do Anything You Wanna Do - Eddie & the Hot Rods
10. Alison - Elvis Costello
11. Roadrunner - Jonathan Richman
12. Spiral Scratch EP - The Buzzcocks
13. Sweet Gene Vincent - Ian Dury
14. In the City - The Jam
15. All Around the World - The Jam
16. Complete Control - The Clash
17. Lookin' After No. 1 - The Boomtown Rats
18. Peaches - The Stranglers
19. Oh Bondage! Up Yours - X-Ray Spex
20. Solsbury Hill - Peter Gabriel
21. Gary Gilmore's Eyes - The Adverts
22. More Than A Feeling - Boston
23. American Girl - Tom Petty
24. Short People - Randy Newman
25. Showroom Dummies - Krafwerk
26. Dirty Pictures - Radio Stars
27. Orgasm Addict - The Buzzcocks
28. (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes - Elvis Costello
29. Sound & Vision - David Bowie
30. Jamming - Bob Marley & The Wailers

A Spotify Year In Review 2013

If you're a Spotify user make your own version of this here.

Stupefied: The NME UK Top 20 Singles of 1976

Here we are in 1976...the NME still looked like this (look up), and the year end charts are getting really interesting. '76 could really be looked at as the peak of rock culture as we knew it. Punk is coming on, there's still some so called classic rock making an appearance, a little pub rock, and of course there's some R&B/Soul (although the selections for the year are fairly mediocre). The really strong thing for this chart is the roots reggae with stone cold classics from Lee Perry, Junior Murvin, and Max Romeo - all Lee Perry productions...well done, Scratch!

Your choice: Spotify or YouTube.

01. The Boys Are Back In Town - Thin Lizzy
02. Live At The Marquee (EP) - Eddie & The Hot Rods
03. Anarchy In The U.K. - Sex Pistols
04. Don't Fear The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult
05. So It Goes - Nick Lowe
06. Police And Thieves - Junior Murvin
07. Young Hearts Run Free - Candi Staton
08. Love And Affection - Joan Armatrading
09. I'll Be Good To You - Brothers Johnson
10. Couldn't Get It Right - Climax Blues Band
11. War In A Babylon - Max Romeo
12. Take The Money And Run - Steve Miller
13. Hurricane - Bob Dylan
14. Lowdown - Boz Scaggs
15. Let's Stick Together - Bryan Ferry
16. Little Johnny Jewel - Television
17. I Want More - Can
18. Shake Some Action - Flamin' Groovies
19. Roast Fish And Corn Bread - Lee Perry
20. Boogie On The Street - Lew Lewis

Stupefied: The NME UK Top 20 Singles of 1975

Just for fun I'll be running a bunch of these playlists for as many years as I feel like...So here is 1975. Its interesting to watch the change through the mid 70's into the 80's as the NME writer's tastes gets less pop...

Your choice: Spotify or YouTube.

01. No Woman No Cry - Bob Marley & The Wailers

02. I'm Not In Love - 10cc

03. Shame Shame Shame - Shirley & Co.

04. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen

05. Third Rate Romance - Amazing Rhythm Aces

06. Fame - David Bowie

07. Young Americans - David Bowie

08. King Tubby Meets The Rockers Uptown - Augustus Pablo

09. Lady Marmalade - Labelle

10. A Fool In Love - Frankie Miller

11. Welding - I. Roy

12. Do It Again - Steely Dan

13. Shoorah Shoorah - Betty Wright

14. Hurt So Good - Susan Cadogan

15. Born To Run - Bruce Springsteen

16. 18 With A Bullet - Pete Wingfield

17. Mendocino - Sir Douglas Quintet

18. Love Hurts - Jim Capaldi

19. Swing Your Daddy - Jim Gilstrap

20. Dance With Me - Orleans

Stupefied: The NME UK Top 50 Singles of 1981

I dare any naysayers of so called 80's music to argue with the quality here. 1981 was a hell of a year according to this list as put together by the NME staff at the time.  There were only a couple of tracks I couldn't locate.

Your choice: Spotify or YouTube.

01. Ghost Town - The Specials

02. Adventures On The Wheel Of Steel - Grandmaster Flash

03. Me No Pop I - Coati Mundi

04. Fascist Groove Thang - Heaven 17

05. Love Action - Human League

06. Mama Used To Say - Junior Giscombe

07. Tears Are Not Enough - Abc

08. Pull Up To The Bumper - Grace Jones

09. Superman - Laurie Anderson

10. Walking On Thin Ice - Yoko Ono

11. Burn Rubber On Me - The Gap Band

12. Tainted Love - Soft Cell

13. Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag - Pigbag

14. Rapp Payback - James Brown

15. Wordy Rappinghood - Tom Tom Club

16. Let's Groove - Earth Wind And Fire

17. The Razor's Edge - Defunkt

18. Being With You - Smokey Robinson

19. Four Movements - Thomas Leer

20. Just Can't Get Enough - Depeche Mode

21. Going Back To My Roots - Odyssey

22. Intuition - Linx

23. Rapture - Blondie

24. Plan B - Dexys Midnight Runners

25. Happy Birthday - Stevie Wonder

26. Chariots Of Fire - Vangelis

27. Der Mussolini - Daf

28. Good Year For The Roses - Elvis Costello

29. Shoot The Pump - J. Walter Negro & The Loose Joints

30. Doors Of Your Heart - The Beat

31. Kitchen Person - The Associates

32. Can You Feel It - The Jacksons

33. Favourite Shirts - Haircut 100

34. Pocket Calculator - Kraftwerk

35. Another One Bites The Dust - General Saint And Clint Eastwood

36. Launderette - Vivien Goldman

37. Genius Of Love - Tom Tom Club

38. Chant No.1 (We Don’t Need This Pressure On) - Spandau Ballet

39. Out Come The Freaks - Was(Not Was)

40. W.O.R.K. - Bow Wow Wow

41. Flowers Of Romance - P.I.L.

42. Ceremony - New Order

43. Beggarman- Pablo Gad

44. The Longest Day - Sound Of The Valleys

45. The ‘Sweetest Girl’ - Scritti Politti

46. Pretty In Pink - Psychedelic Furs

47. The Art Of Parties - Japan

48. Computer Love - Kraftwerk

49. To Drunk To Fuck - The Dead Kennedys

50. Show Me - Dexys Midnight Runners

Stupefied: The Stupefaction Playlist, Vol. 2

We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming this week to present the second volume of our own Stupefied Playlist©. If you're listening I hope you enjoy it. Please check out volume one here.

01. Ray Charles – Lonely Avenue
02. Johnny Hartman – Joey, Joey, Joey
03. Charles Mingus – Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
04. Cosmic Rays – Dreaming
05. Subway Sect – Ambition
06. Orange Juice – Falling And Laughing
07. Chic – My Feet Keep Dancing
08. The Bees – Chicken Payback
09. Max Romeo – Chase The Devil
10. Dave Barker – Shocks Of The Mighty
11. Donovan – Hey Gyp (Dig The Slowness)
12. The Rolling Stones – Bitch   

13. Bob Dylan – Tombstone Blues
14. Jerry Butler – Aware Of Love
15. James Brown – There Was A Time
16. The Funk Brothers with Jerryo – Karate Boo-Ga-Loo
17. Television Personalities – Three Wishes
18. Bob Dylan – In My Time of Dyin'
19. Felt – Primitive Painters
20. The Fall – Lie Dream Of A Casino Soul
21. The Weather Prophets – Almost Prayed
22. Nina Simone – Four Women
23. Indeep – Last Night a D.J. Saved My Life
24. Curtis Mayfield – Doo Doo Wap Is Strong in Here
25. Ryuichi Sakamoto – Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence 

26. Donald Byrd – Cristo Redentor
27. Cecil Gant – I Wonder

Stupefied: The Stupefaction Playlist, Vol. 1

We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming this week to present our own Stupefied Playlist©. This is volume 1, and if you're listening I hope you enjoy it.

01. Paolo Conte - Reveries
02. Tom Waits – Straight To The Top (Rhumba)

03. Los Zafiros – Bossa Cubana

04. Lambert Hendricks & Ross – Caravan

05. The Velvet Underground – Foggy Notion

06. Roger and The Gypsies – Pass The Hatchet (part 1 & 2)

07. Roy Budd – Main Theme - Carter Takes a Train

08. Echo And The Bunnymen – Turquoise Days

09. Ruts D.C. – Weak Heart Dub

10. Count Ossie – Run One Mile

11. Steve Miller Band – Fly Like An Eagle

12. 23 Skidoo – Coup
13. MFSB - TSOP
14. Dizzy Gillespie - Manteca

15. Machito – Cuban Fantasy

16. Ethel Merman – I Got The Sun In The Morning
17. The Impressions - East of Java

18. The Coasters – Brazil
19. The Drifters - On Broadway
20. Louis Armstrong - West End Blues

21. The Harvest Ministers – Railroaded

22. Jack Kerouac – Fantasy: The Early History Of Bop (Section 3)

23. Charlie Parker – Slim`s Jam (with Slim Gaillard & Dizzy Gillespie)
24. Slim Gaillard - Travelin' Blues

25. Mark Murphy – Why Don't You Do Right
26. Shirley Ellis - The Clapping Song

27. Wes Montgomery – Caravan

28. Dillinger – Cocaine in My Brain

29. Charles Mingus – Freedom

Stupefied: The Caesar (The Wake / 12 Stars) Playlist

This week's Stupefied Playlist comes courtesy of Glaswegian musician, guitarist Caesar (aka Gerard McInulty), long time leader of a band mostly associated with Factory Records, The Wake, as well as the 12 Stars Theatre Company. A big thanks to Caesar for the list - I love combination of British punk & folk with some indie and American psych & garage thrown in for good measure.  

Similar to the recent playlists by Donald Johnson of A Certain Ratio, and Vini Reilly of Durutti Column, I again defer to the head of our Factory Records History Department, Professor John Cooper of Cerysmatic Factory, and his associate, Ian McCartney, for some perspective. Take it away boys:

If Factory was a label that was sometimes almost agoraphobic in its unwillingness to get out there and promote its acts, then it's fair to say that The Wake (during their time on the label) seemed to be a band that, perhaps more than any other, characterised the early-to-mid 80s Factory-era. If you wanted to find this stuff, you had to go looking for it: it sure as hell wasn't going to come looking for you. 

The band's two albums for Factory - Harmony (1983) and Here Comes Everybody (1985) - both got good notice in the contemporary music press, but beyond that, and some inspirational live shows, The Wake were so low-key that you sometimes wondered if a band could be any more mysterious. The music contained in both these discs speaks for itself, though, which was probably the idea. 

A 12" E.P. entitled Something That No One Else Could Bring appeared in 1987, clothed in a sleeve that appeared to depict a lunar landscape. Was this already distant band at its apogee? Then silence, for a long enough time to reasonably assume that The Wake had disappeared for good.

The Wake resurfaced some time later on the Bristol independent label Sarah Records, kicking off with single "Crush the Flowers", then a couple of albums followed - Make It Loud (1991) and Tidal Wave of Hype (1994).  These records sounded more 'indie' (for want of a better word) than the Factory stuff, and were full of great pop melodies and typically imaginative, literate writing.

And that was that. Or was it? A postscript to all this came in the form of A Light Far Out, eighteen years later, in 2012. The world had changed beyond measure in that time. Entire governments had been and gone. But this Glasgow band had remained true to their vision and brought us another fascinating work, another set of colourful melancholy. Another low-key classic.

- Ian McCartney

A Light Far Out CD is available on CD & digitally from LTM Records, and on vinyl from Factory Benelux (purchase here). The Wake are next playing at Indietracks 2013 (Ripley, UK) on Sunday, July 28, at 7:40pm on the outdoor stage.

Visit 12 Stars Theatre Company on Facebook.

The Wake, circa early 80's. Caesar is second from left.

01. Buzzcocks - Hollow Inside

02. X-Ray Spex - Art-I-Ficial

03. The Raincoats - Adventures Close To Home

04. The Pastels - Check My Heart

05. Nico - Le Petit Chevalier

06. Lou Reed - Vanishing Act

07. The Occasional Keepers - The Last Lighthouse Keeper

08. Trembling Blue Stars - The Far Too Simple Beauty

09. BMX Bandits - Little River Of Spring

10. Brian Eno - Sparrowfall 1

11. The Fall - (Birtwistle's) Girl In Shop

12. Stereolab - Neon Beanbag

13. The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band - A Child's Guide To Good And Evil

14. The Seeds - Evil Hoodoo

15. Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band - Zig Zag Wanderer

16. Nick Drake - Magic - Orchestrated Version 2

17. Fairport Convention - Who Knows Where The Time Goes?

18. Pentangle - Let No Man Steal Your Thyme

19. The Saints - This Perfect Day

20. Buzzcocks - E.S.P.

Stupefied: The John Perry Playlist

John Perry at CBGB, late 70's, by Eugene Merinov

This week's edition of the Stupefied Playlist is brought to you by a true guitar hero, John Perry - guitarist for influential British rock & roll band, The Only Ones! Not only did the Only Ones release three amazing albums in the late 70's (plus a brace of classic singles), they managed to provide us with one transcendent bona fide classic with "Another Girl Another Planet." Since then, they reunited with all of the  original members just a few years ago, and continue to play the occasional gig. They've also been threatening to release a new album, but this remains to be heard or seen.

John, in the meantime, has kept himself busy writing. With three titles under his belt now, we await more...He has also a lengthy list of production and arranging credits which include other artists like Johnny Thunders, Marianne Faithfull, Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter, The Sisters of Mercy, Mick Green, Robert Palmer, Freddie Stevenson, Jayne County, Screaming Lord Sutch, Nick Kent & The Subterraneans, Michael Nyman and Evan Dando. Quite an impressive resume!

A big, big thank you to John for sending the list!

Only Ones Official website

Only Ones on Amazon

John Perry books on Amazon

The Only Ones

01. Chuck Berry – No Particular Place To Go
02. George Jones – Just A Girl I Used To Know
03. Howlin' Wolf – You'll Be Mine
04. Howlin' Wolf – Shake For Me
05. Rolling Stones – The Last Time
06. The Miracles – Shop Around
07. Sam Cooke – Good Times
08. Bob Dylan – Love Minus Zero
09. Bob Dylan – Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
10. Sophia George – Girlie Girlie
11. Valentinos – Lookin' For A Love
12. Valentinos – It's All Over Now
13. The Who – Glow Girl
14. Bo Diddley – Mona (I Need You Baby)
15. The Velvet Underground – What Goes On
16. The Everly Brothers – Problems
17. George Jones & Melba Montgomery – We Must Have Been Out Of Our Minds
18. The Jimi Hendrix Experience – The Wind Cries Mary
19. Johnny Kidd & The Pirates – I Can Tell
20. Love – She Comes In Colors
21. Barbara Lynn – Oh! Baby (We Got a Good Thing Goin')
22. Jefferson Airplane – Good Shepherd - Live

Stupefied: The Vini Reilly Playlist

This week's Stupefied Playlist comes courtesy of legendary Mancunian musician, guitarist Vini Reilly. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Vini for not only sending a list, but also for personally writing it down in hand! The results can be seen at the bottom of this post. Thank you, Mr. Reilly! 

Similar to the recent Donald Johnson playlist, I'll once again defer to the head of our Factory Records History Department, Professor John Cooper of Cerysmatic Factory for some perspective. Take it away John:

The Durutti Column is the enduring project of Manchester's Vini Reilly, a virtuoso guitarist but also a concert pianist of very high repute. The group's name is derived from a combination of Buenaventura Durruti, the revolutionary anarchist who sought to liberate Spain during the Spanish Civil War, and the Situationist comic strip The Return of the Durutti Column.

The term "group" is perhaps a bit of a misnomer because apart from a short, disastrous (at least according to Vini) period in 1978 around the time of FAC-2 A Factory Sample (the first musical release on Factory Records), it has always been more of Vini's solo project plus collaborations with additional musicians. However, the most enduring of these has been with drummer/percussionist Bruce Mitchell since second album, LC (FACT 44), and he remains with the group until this day, many albums later and going strong at a spritely 73!

The Durutti Column's music is a wondrous thing to the many that have experienced it, both on record and live. Classifying it is somewhat difficult. Vini's distinctive guitar playing is normally prominent, embellished with effects and delays. Perhaps some piano or keyboards. Their legion of loyal fans have their own descriptions but one in particular usually springs to mind. On the rare compilation album The Sporadic Recordings (1989) the last track is called "Canadian Customs". This features a field recording of said customs guy asking what type of music The Durutti Column plays. Vini barely misses a beat, and then says "Avant-Garde Jazz Classical".

Since suffering a minor stroke in 2010, which left him with a loss of strength and feeling in his left hand, Vini's recorded output and live appearances have been severely restricted. However, Vini was interviewed by Manchester writer and DJ Dave Haslam at Manchester Town Hall in March of this year, and played an instrumental piece to a rapturous reception. Hopefully we will see more of Vini later in the year and perhaps even the much-delayed 'Chronicle' album.

Official website 

Facebook 

Twitter

A handwritten list from Vini - this deserves its own Factory catalog number

Stupefied: The Paul Gorman Playlist

Rita, left, with Paul Gorman, somewhere in London

The Look

In this week's edition of the Stupefied Playlist, I'm happy to present someone who is no stranger to these pages, writer Paul Gorman, a personal hero of mine. As I've said about him before, he's a "...great gumshoe at the crossroads of fashion, music, art, and all cool culture." With an impressive list of published books behind him, including several I've mentioned over the last several years, Gorman shows no signs of slowing down. Its not often that a writer can claim to have written the definitive tome on one subject. It's even rarer to be able to say you've done it with two or three subjects. Paul fits this last category. A rare breed, indeed.

Reasons To Be Cheerful

Currently, besides being engaged in various projects surrounding the cultural legacies of Barney Bubbles and Malcolm McLaren, he is also working on a book telling the story of The Face magazine (currently scheduled to be published in 2015 by Thames & Hudson). He is also writing a monograph of the eminent Los Angeles-based British artist Derek Boshier, and working on a project relating to the work of the late photographer David Parkinson. Phew!

Keep up with Paul's cultural journey by visiting his blog -  

Paul Gorman Is

Official Barney Bubbles site - Reasons To Be Cheerful

And of course, his first - The Look: Adventures In Rock and Pop Fashion

Huge thanks to Paul for the list! 

To listen to the playlist, below you have two choices -
the 15-track Spotify version, or the 20-track YouTube version.
Turn up the volume and enjoy.

01. Cocoa Song (from Moon Over The Alley OST)

02. I Start Counting - Basil Kirchin

03. Say You Don't Mind - Colin Blunstone

04. Cut The World - Antony & The Johnsons

05. Burundi Black (Part 2) - Burundi Stephenson Black

06. Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley

07. Boogie Children - John Fred & the Playboys

08. Jump Sturdy - Dr John

09. Natty Dread Taking Over - Culture

10. Love A We Deal With - Big Youth

11. Train To Rhodesia - Big Youth

12. Sadness Is A Blessing - Lykke Li

13. The Lights Of Tucson - Jim Campbell

14. Coz I Luv U - Slade

15. High - Ssion

16. Inside Out - Odyssey

17. Genesis - Grimes

18. Baby's On Fire - Die Antwoord

19. Sick Of Myself - Matthew Sweet

20. You Shouldn't Do That - Hawkwind (full live version)

Stupefied: The Donald Johnson Playlist

This week's Stupefied Playlist comes courtesy of A Certain Ratio's drummer, Donald Johnson, these days perhaps known better as DJ Dojo. For some background, I'll defer to the head of our Factory Records History Department, Professor John Cooper of Cerysmatic Factory. Take it away John:

Donald Johnson (or DoJo) is best known for being the funky drummer in Manchester band, A Certain Ratio, having joined their drummerless incarnation in August 1979 just after the release of their first single for Factory Records, 'All Night Party' (FAC 5). However, according to Mick Middles's excellent book From Joy Division to New Order: The Factory Story, DoJo's connections to the Factory family go back even earlier than that as he played in a band which was briefly called Lady with Vini Reilly who would later become the mainstay of avant garde classicists, The Durutti Column (stand by for Vini's playlist in coming weeks).

There is also a strong family musical tradition with Donald's brothers, Derek and Barry (who began their careers in soul band Sweet Sensation alongside the late great Marcel King), also going on to play in various Factory bands including Quando Quango and 52nd Street.

Donald's prowess on drums is undisputed, but throughout his career he has demonstrated many strings to his bow. Indeed, a popular feature of many A Certain Ratio gigs is him playing bass on 'Knife Slits Water' . You may also remember his "Liza with a Z" rap on 'Don't Drop Bombs' by Liza Minelli from her Pet Shop Boys-produced comeback album Results.

And there's his excellent production skills, often with New Order's Bernard Sumner under the BeMusic/DoJo moniker, for a variety of Factory acts including Quando Quango, Marcel King, 52nd Street, Surprize, Section 25, The Royal Family and The Poor, Kevin Hewick and Shark Vegas. By the way, Surpize's In Movimento album will soon be reissued by Factory Benelux.

These days, in between occasional ACR gigs, Donald might pop up for some Uncut Funk at a Manchester venue near you.

Follow Donald on Twitter 

and follow hashtags #FunkUpFriday and #FunkAcademy

Follow Donald on Spotify

A Certain Ratio - official website

Big thanks to both Donald & John at Cerysmatic!

Donald Johnson, left, with A Certain Ratio, in this great old Factory Record PR photo

01. ISLEY BROTHERS ~ Listen To the Music

02. COMMODORES ~ Machine Gun

03. DON BLACKMON ~ Hearts Desire

04. KOOL & THE GANG ~ More Funky Stuff

05. THE TIME ~ 777-9311

06. ROGER TROUTMAN ~ More Bounce To the Ounce

07. PRINCE ~ I Wanna Be Your Lover

08. PRINCE ~ Musicology (Live on the Jay Leno Show)

09. PRINCE ~ Release It

10. EARTH WIND & FIRE ~ Let's Groove Tonight

11. CAMEO ~ Candy

12. MCFADDEN & WHITEHEAD ~ Ain't No Stopping Us Now

13. TRYONE BRONSON ~ The Smurf

14. EDDIE KENDRICK'S ~ Keep On Trucking

15. O'JAYS ~ For The Love of Money

16. GRACE JONES ~ Slave To the Rhythm

17. GEORGE DUKE ~ Funkin' For the Thrill

18. THE JACKSON SISTERS ~ I Believe In Miracles

19. BOOTSY COLLINS ~ Jungle Bass

20. TOM BROWNE ~ Funkin' For Jamaica

Stupefied: The Gary Asquith Playlist

This week's edition of the Stupefied playlist is from one my all time favorite frontmen, Gary Asquith, best known as a member of London's provocative and dubby Renegade Soundwave. Gary has long been involved with a bunch of interesting (no matter what, they're always interesting) projects beginning with early post punk efforts MASS, and Rema-Rema, moving on to Renegade Soundwave, and most recently with the Lavender Pill Mob, and some other more underground things.

Here's what Gary had to say: This was harder than making a record in my opinion. I want you to know that Nat King Cole is my favourite singer of all time - I grew up listening to my father playing his albums and he's god in my house. That's it. It could all change at the flick of a finger. 

I worked on Mikkim's Offbeat Rhapsody album last year which won the Andel prize for Best Reggae and Ska album (an Andel award is like a Czech grammy - it means "angel" in Czech). I did three songs for the album: a reworking of "Probably A Robbery," "Air Hostess" (an old RSW track that vanished around the recording of Soundclash), and "Heaven Be Upon Us." I shall also be promoting the album by playing live with Mikkim at Glastonbury this year.

I've been recording with Japanese musician Takatsuma Mukai for his new album - a track called "The Store" - called Sunya (which is sanskrit for zero or void), and I've recorded a dubby-styled 45 under the name Renegade Connection called "I Surrender" for my Le Coq Musique label. I'm also I'm also currently working on the remixes of Rema Rema's original recordings. 

Lavender Pill Mob

 Visit Gary and keep in touch with his various projects via the following Facebook links:

Le Coq Musique

Renegade Soundwave

Rema-Rema 

Renegade Soundmachine

Gary Asquith

Huge thanks to Gary...And don't forget those bonus points for including "Karate Boogaloo"! 

01. When I Fall In Love - Nat King Cole

02. Ballade De Melody Nelson - Serge Gainsbourg

Renegade Soundwave

03. Lola - The Kinks

04. In A Broken Dream - Python Lee Jackson

05. Dub Organiser - Dillinger

06. Karate-Boo-Ga-Loo - Jerry-O

07. Would You Believe - Roxy Music

08. Out On the Street - The Shangri-Las

09. You Got Soul - Johnny Nash

10. Nancy - Frank Sinatra

11. I'll Come Running - Brian Eno

12. Havana Moon - Chuck Berry

13. Heroes and Villains - The Beach Boys

14. Police in Helicopter - Eek A Mouse

15. Cosmic Dancer - T.Rex

16. The Trip - Kim Fowley

17. Ain't That A Kick In The Head - Dean Martin

18. Cheesy Lipstick - Rammellzee

19. I'm A Man - Jobriath

20. Walking On Water - Richard Hell

21. Girls - Genevieve Waite

Stupefied: The Steve Harvey Playlist

Medium Medium, 1981, by Eugene Merinov

This week's edition of the Stupefied playlist comes from longtime friend, Medium Medium's drummer, Steve Harvey. Best known for the neo-funk post punk of "So Hungry, So Angry," Steve and the guys have been fairly active over the years, and have never stopped making music of some sort - whether with Medium Medium, or in other projects.

Following several reunion shows over the last few years, here's what Steve had to say about current events: As for promotion, we recently compiled some tracks for a cassette-only release due soon on My Dance The Skull in London. It’s a compilation of demo and radio session recordings from the very beginning of the band to early 1981, featuring the original lineup of the band (not me – I joined in summer 1981). Most of it is previously unreleased, and would only have been heard if you saw the band live at that time. One track was so obscure that no one could even remember the title! It also includes the original punk version of “Guru Maharaji.”

We currently also have the two vinyl split-LP releases on Der Schöne-Hjuler-Memorial-Fund of live tracks from 2008 and 2009 recorded at Echoplex in Los Angeles. I think copies can still be found online, and we have some – contact us directly. They feature original artwork, numbered and signed; every one is unique. (See part one here, and part two here.)

We hear that a couple of other small labels might be interested in live and obscure tracks from our back catalog. We’re also working on some new studio tracks. We work very slowly, but they might see the light of day this year, if we can find an outlet for them. They include previously unreleased material plus two covers: The Temptations’ “Ball of Confusion” and King Crimson’s “21st Century Schizoid Man.”

And let us not forget Steve's kitschy jazztopian-elevator-ukelele-punk-with-a-mellotron cover band, Sartre's Lobster. In his spare time, he writes for Pro Sound News, amongst other outlets.

BIG thanks to Steve for the great list...be sure to check out his notes about each track below!

(Continued after the jump)

Stupefied: The Allan Tannenbaum Playlist

This week's edition of the Stupefied playlist is brought to you courtesy of famed photographer, Allan Tannenbaum, who says, "I could add so many songs - I think I need a radio program."

He loved rock & roll from the moment he heard Etta James sing "Roll With Me Henry," and Elvis sing "Heartbreak Hotel" in the mid-50's. He listened to Symphony Sid's late night jazz program on WADO-AM with a pillow speaker while in high school, and started playing in bands while at Rutgers in the 60s where he met & became friends with future Patti Smith Group guitarist, Lenny Kaye. He lived for 3 1/2 years in San Francisco at the height of flower power, and photographed Jimi Hendrix at Winterland in 1968. 

Chief photographer for the SoHo Weekly News from 1973 until 1982, Allan covered politics, art, nightlife, and music. This is where he really built a solid foundation for his career - the results can be seen in the fantastic collection, New York In The 70's, his first book, and it's still in print. He can lay claim to doing one of John Lennon's final photo sessions, and went on to cover international news in the 80s and 90s. 

Allan is still snapping away and playing music, mainly sitting in with the Rolling Bones at their monthly Red Lion gig on Bleecker Street. With exhibitions and lectures taking place worldwide, keep an eye out for him! His next exhibit outside of NYC is in June at the Mr. Musichead Gallery in Los Angeles.

A big Stupefaction thank you to you, Allan! 

Allan Tannenbaum website: http://www.sohoblues.com

Allan Tannenbaum fine art print sales: http://www.sohobluesgallery.com

Spinning the cube in Cooper Square/Astor Place by Allan Tannenbaum

01. Rolling Stones – (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction  

02. Mitch Ryder – Sock It To Me, Baby!
03. The Kinks – Waterloo Sunset
04. The Yardbirds – Train Kept A - Rollin'
05. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band – Born In Chicago
06. Bob Marley – Concrete Jungle
07. James Brown & The Famous Flames – Please, Please, Please
08. Gene Vincent And His Blue Caps – Be-Bop-A-Lula
09. The Doors – Soul Kitchen
10. Georgie Fame – Jumping With Symphony Sid
11. The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Purple Haze
12. The Del Vikings – Come Go With Me
13. The Spencer Davis Group – Gimme Some Lovin'
14. Steppenwolf – Born To Be Wild
15. The Velvet Underground – Femme Fatale
16. Muddy Waters – Rock Me
17. David Bowie – China Girl
18. The Clash – Rock the Casbah
19. Chuck Berry – Memphis Tennessee
20. The Dandy Warhols – Bohemian Like You

21. Herbie Hancock – The Naked Camera
22. Stan Getz – The Girl From Ipanema
23. Bob Dylan – Like A Rolling Stone
24. The Supremes – Stop! In The Name Of Love
25. Grateful Dead – New, New Minglewood Blues
26. Herbie Hancock – Maiden Voyage
27. Miles Davis – In A Silent Way
28. John Coltrane – Mr. Syms
29. Lambert, Hendricks & Ross – Moanin'
30. Elvis Presley – Rip It Up

Klaus Nomi & friend, Times Square, 1979, by Allan Tannenbaum

Cookin' with Debbie & Chris by Allan Tannenbaum

Georgie Fame in Times Square by Allan Tannenbaum

Stupefied: The James Williamson (Stooges) Playlist

James Williamson and his trusty Gibson Les Paul. Shot by Robert Matheu.

Today is a big day. Not only do the Stooges have a brand new album out today (Ready To Die - available now), but guitarist James Williamson has very kindly shared his own Stupefied playlist with us! I cannot express how honored I am by this. After all, this guy's fret work has been ringing my bell, not to mention my ears, for over 30 years now! A big, big Stupefaction thank you to you, James!

The Stooges are a busy bunch. As I write this, I just got back from seeing them perform a show great 11-song set for an intimate crowd of 450 at Le Poisson Rouge here in New York. (Setlist: Gun, Job, Burn, Ready To Die, Raw Power, Gimme Danger, Sex and Money, Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell, The Departed, 1970, Fun House.) The show was webcast by NPR Music (watch it here), and will probably have been broadcast across the NPR radio network by the time you're reading this. The band will have also appeared on the Colbert Report last night, and that'll be available for streaming online as well. After that? Who knows, but they do have some European summer festivals lined up, so keep an eye on the Stooges' Facebook page, or one of the links above.

For some really good reading on James, I highly suggest some of the interviews he's done with Australian website, the I-94 Bar, starting with this one. The site also has some great interviews with Ron & Scott Asheton, and a lot more...

Buy Ready To Die and other Stooges' classics here. I should also give a shout out to saxophonist, Steve Mackay. Visit his site here.

01. Bob Dylan – Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine)
02. The Rolling Stones – Ventilator Blues
03. Jeff Beck Group – I Ain't Superstitious
04. The Velvet Underground – Rock & Roll
05. T. Rex – Life's A Gas
06. Keith Jarrett – The Mourning of a Star
07. Love – Bummer In The Summer
08. Marvin Gaye – Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
09. The New York Dolls – Frankenstein
10. The Beach Boys – Let's Go Away For Awhile
11. Randy Newman – Living Without You
12. Sly & The Family Stone – Everyday People
13. The Velvet Underground – White Light/White Heat
14. T. Rex – Metal Guru
15. Jimi Hendrix – Fire
16. Roky Erickson – Two Headed Dogs
17. Al Green – Belle
18. The Kinks – Starstruck
19. Frank Zappa – Little Umbrellas
20. John Coltrane Quartet – A Love Supreme Part I: Acknowledgement

Before: Iggy & James, early 1970's, by Robert Matheu

After: Iggy & James about 40 years later! Also by Robert Matheu