Jackson 5-Ain’t No Sunshine (Phil Asher edit?)-Soul Source-2003
Brenton Wood-Better Believe It-Warner-1975
Tashan-Save the Family (MPG Dedication Mix)-OPR / Def Jam-1990
Carol Williams-Can’t Get Away from Your Love (Promo mix)-Vanguard-1982
Jean Carn-Got Some Catching Up to Do-Philadelphia International -1979
Captain Sky-Super Sporm-Dynamic Sounds-1978
Jablonski-Soul Makossa-Randys-1975?
The LOD Crew-Fill The Be-Bop-Tri State-1982
The Style Council-Long Hot Summer ‘89-Polydor-1989
BB & Q-Ricochet (Danny D Mix)-Cooltempo-1987
Original Concept-Can You Feel It-Def Jam-1986
Mantronix-Bassline (Stretched)-Sleeping Bag-1986
Cyndi Phillips-Sacrifice-Atlantic-1986
Chaplin Band-Il Velero-White-1982
Fallout-The Morning After-4^th Floor-1990
LNR-Work it To The Bone-House Jam-1987
Fire Island-Fire Island-Junior Boys Own -1992
Cajmere-Midnight (MG Funk D’Vocal)-Cajual-2004
Yello-Base for Alec (Trevor Jackson Remaster)-Output-2004
The Glass-Won’t Bother Me (Putsch 79 mix)-Fine-2004
Unit 4-Body Dub (Tiefschwarz Mix)-Clone-2004
Paperclip People-The Floor-Planet E-1996
Vector Lovers-Electrorobotic Disco-Soma-2004
Greg Churchill-Plutonic-CDR-2004
Inner City-Say Something-KMS-2004
Dave Clarke-Red 2-Bush-1995
The Most-Make-up -Beautycase-2004
Client-Radio (Rex the Dog mix)-Mute-2004

Brian Wilson’s latterday re-recording of Smile has been getting pretty good reviews all round. I’ve yet to hear it but I’m told its in the mail.

I’m still not sure.

Those who know me, know I’m somewhat fanatical about all things Brian Wilson (and that includes his brothers, but not the odious Mike Love who has shown repeatedly over the years that he’s a talent free zone lucky enough to have been in the right place) but I have to wonder why, almost 40 years after the event Brian felt the need to record the legendary unfinished work.

I’m not arguing with his right to do so but he stands the risk of de-mythologising part of the BW legend, and its a fairly brave move.

Who knows how the Wilson mind works, his story is one of genius, tragedy and sheer insanity (that he outlasted his brothers is miraculous in itself), and the logic you or I might apply is an irrelevance here. I guess Brian doesn’t care either way, his legend is secure and it must frustrate the hell out of him to have something that obviously meant so much to him, unfinished. At the very least, finishing it might help to exorcise some of those demons he’s been burdened with for many many year.

God (Only)knows his last solo album was reason enough to be wary of a resurrected Smile – it was (and I’m being kind) not very good and rather sad.

But its Brian Wilson, and all power to him: he created (even if you exclude Pet Sounds) some of the most gloriously evocative and timeless musical landscapes of all time, music that took you to place that you’d never been before, a place that existed in the back of Brian’s mind, a place he alternated between wanting the world to see, or was terrified the world would see; until it tore him apart, sometime in the late sixties.

I guess if the new Smile is 50% of what it could have been in 1967 then its worth the wait….

The Three Degrees-Dirty Old Man (Tom Moulton 12”)-Philadelphia International-1973
Billy Paul-East-Philadelphia International-1973
Linx-You’re Lyin’-Chrysalis-1980
Carlton-Love & Pain (LP mix)-3 Stripes-1990
Otis Clay-The Only Way is Up-Echo-1976
Norwood-I Can’t Let You Go-Magnolia-1987
Roxanne Shante-Queen of Rox (Marley’s Street mix)-Pop Art-1985
Criminal Element Orchestra-Put The Needle on the Record-Cooltempo-1987
Grandmaster Flash-Scorpio-Sugarhill-1982
The Ramones-Blitzkrieg Bop-Sire-1976
Risco Connection-Good Times-Black Rose-1979
Lilo Thomas-Downtown-Capitol-1987
Redds & The Boys-Movin & Groovin-DETT-1985
Serious Intention-Serious-Pow wow-1986
Car Crash Set-Outsider-Reaction-1983
Underground Solution-Luv Dancing-Strictly Rhythm-1991
Darryl James & David Anthony-You Make Me Happy (Todd Terry Freeze Mix)-Freeze-1992
Clifton King-Family Prayer (John Robinson Extended)-Black Rain-1992
R Tyme-Use Me (Carl Craig Groove mix)-Trance Fusion-1993
Tomorrowpeople-(Got The) Time-CDR-2004
Abe Duque & Blake Baxter-What Happened (Old School mix)-White-2004
Inner City-Ahnongay (Dave Clarke mix)-6X6-1994
Slam-Lie To Me (Dave Clarke Mix)-Soma-2004
Beanfield-Tides (Carl Craig Movement # 1)-Compost-2004
Tricky Disco-Tricky Disco-Warp-1990
Blake Baxter-Sexuality (Ben Sims Remix)-Sonic Groove-2004
Outlander-Vamp-R&S-1991
Pete Shelley-Homosapien (Elongated dancepartydub)-Island-1981

I’m a complete sucker for the early Elvis Costello albums and have happily acquired (for the second or third time) all the recent reissues, so I’m pleased to see Almost Blue, the much criticised plastic country disc, is about again.

Did I need it again?

Of course I did, if only for the bonus disc with his Johnny Cash duet and the always astounding live (at the Royal Albert Hall with the London Symphony Orchestra) take of “I’m Your Toy”, a record that never fails to trash me – been repeating that bit over and over in the car for a week now.

However, not only for that - Almost Blue is simply a wonderful, slighty tongue in cheek, and very cheesey, album recorded before EC started taking himself too seriously and became somewhat duller.

Talking of reissues, John Lennon’s Rock’n'Roll is a patchy affair-actually much of it is crap-but with 3 or 4 killers. The remaster adds “Angel Baby”, another wonderful track left off the original. And I still think Jonno’s cut of “Stand By Me” is the equal of Ben E King’s.

So now there is only one….

Bye Bye Johnny

I bought the first Ramones album as an import from Taste Records in High St in 1976. I bought it sound unheard, because the sleeve appealed.

My musical life thereafter, and, indeed, my future was transformed – my world tipped on its axis never to return. I played those 14 tracks day in and day out for years and I loved The Ramones.

I stood next to Joey once in a store in Parnell..it was quite a thing

So bye bye Johnny, give my best to Joey & Dee Dee.

Weds 15 Sept

Teddy Pendergrast-Set Me Free-Philadelphia International-1979
Chaz Jankel-Ai No Corrida-A&M-1980
Fatback Band-Spanish Hustle (12” Disco mix)-Spring-1975
SOS Band-Borrowed Love-Tabu-1986
World’s Famous Supreme Team-World’s Famous-Charisma-1982
Afrika Bambaataa & The Jazzy 5-Jazzy Sensation (Shep Pettibone mix)-Tommy Boy-1981
Mr Magic & The Positive Choice Band-2001 Kazoos-Tri-State-1981
Wally Jump Jnr & The Criminal Element-Tighten Up (Gail Sky King mix)-A&M-1987
Sweet Tee & Jazzy Joyce-Its My Beat-Profile-1987
Dayton-The Sound of Music-Capitol-1983
Gwen Guthrie-Hopscotch (Larry Levan Vocal)-Island-1983
Mr K-Rock The House Pt 1-TD-198?
Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam -I Wonder if I take You Home (Shep Pettibone remix)-CBS-1985
Jomanda-Got a Love For You (Hurley House Mix)-Big Beat-1991
Looney Tunes-Just as Long as I’ve Got You (Brooklyn Rave Mix)-Nu-Groove-1989
Unique 3-The Theme-Ten-1989
808 State-In Yer Face (Mancunian Delight)-Tommy Boy-1990
Blake Baxter-Forbidden Fruit-White-2004
Todd Terry Project-Weekend-Sleeping Bag-1988
Dennis Ferrer & Jerome Sydenham-Sandcastles (Pete Heller edit)-Ibadan-2004
Gat Décor-Passion (Darren Emerson mix)-Effective-1992
Rob Salmon-Delta Si-CDR-2004
Fat Freddy’s Drop-Hope (3 Generations Walking mix)-The Drop-2004
Slam-Lie to Me (Dave Clark mix)-Soma-2004
BT-Relativity (Carl Craig’s Urban Affair dub)-Deep Dish-1994
Tramaine-Fall Down-A&M-1985
Yello-Bostich-Stiff-1981

We two…..