Song Of The Day No.47

I Want That Girl

by Bill Drummond (The Man, 1986)

As a former member of Big In Japan with Holly Johnson, Ian Broudie plus others and a former manager/producer for Echo & The Bunnymen and Teardrop Explodes, not to mention founder of Zoo Records, Bill Drummond had quite a lot of experience in the record industry even before spending half a million pounds to promote the band Brilliant, for WEA records as their A&R man, only for the group to completely flop. This minor disaster then provided Drummond with the epiphany he needed to write and record his own album in ten days, he then passed the tape onto his friend Alan McGee of Creation Records who released it.

The album is a mix of traditional folk, eighties indie, and pop with 'I Want That Girl' providing the most overtly gleeful pop song on the album. From the off the catchy light-heartedness appeals, backing vocals from Voice Of The Beehive chime alongside Hammond organ and piano, handclaps bring further joy and in combination with the organ, trumpet and massed chorus the song has a kind of gospel feel. Pleasing in it's happy simplicity and care-free catchiness it will brighten up your day.

AR

Song Of The Day No.25

Jemima Surrender

by The Band (The Band, 1969)

Before releasing their own material The Band spent many years intensely touring as the The Hawks with rock'n'roll musician Ronnie Hawkins and later as Bob Dylan's backing band for the infamous 'Judas' tour in the United Kingdom in 1966 when Dylan unveiled his new electric material to a decidedly mixed response from his fans. After spending time locked away with Dylan they finally broke free from the backing role and made their own material. Music From The Big Pink was released in 1968.

Most of the songs were written by Robbie Robertson, who went later to be music producer on films such as Raging Bull, Gangs Of New York and The Departed, however on this particular track Levon Helm shares the penning duties. Forever swapping and changing instruments here Helm abandons his drum kit and provides the southern twanged vocals while Richard Manuel replaces him on the sticks. One of the songs that doesn't recall early American history through it's lyrics but instead through it's music, it's rich layers and multiple instruments provide a velvet to the touch texture and with it's mix of folk, rock, country, brass and balls the song sounds truly American. In fact, The Band are often hailed as the pioneers of Americana long before it existed.

AR

Song Of The Day No.13

Cody, Cody

by The Flying Burrito Brothers (Burrito Deluxe, 1970)

After writing and recording together as part of The Byrds on the Sweetheart of the Rodeo album in 1968, an album now regarded as the first major country rock album released by an established act and as a blueprint for their new band, Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman formed The Flying Burrito Brothers in 1969. Releasing first, The Gilded Palace Of Sin in 1969 and then, Burrito Deluxe in 1970, both to a poor commercial reception 'Cody, Cody' is a dreamy mid-tempo love song.

The three part harmonies give the song a really rounded yet expansive feel and help to encapsulate the dreamy feel, even reminding us of Hillman's, and to a lesser extent Parson's, history with The Byrds. No real country sound is complete without the distinctively slow oscillations of the pedal steel guitar, and in this case it's backed up by a Dobro, or lap-steel, guitar playing the occasional harmonic. Hillman's mandolin pitter-patters around constantly offering yet another layer of electrified string. The lyrics offer no real insight into anything out of the ordinary nor does the song as a whole, but it does offer a pleasant ride and an easy introduction to country music.

AR