A song for today #17

Mark Morriss

The Bluetones’ Mark Morriss is shortly (July 31) to release his second solo album The Taste Of Mark Morriss. It’s a covers album, and one of the tracks to be doing the rounds is his own unique take on the Sisters Of Mercy’s ‘Lucretia My Reflection,’ which was a hit in 1988 and appeared on the goth legends’ second album Floodland.

This is the video:

The original can (and indeed MUST be streamed by clicking on the link below)

This is the album tracklisting – and for fun if you click on the link you can hear the original (clever, eh?):

1. This Pullover (originally by Jess Conrad)
2. Rock & Roll Woman (originally by Buffalo Springfield)
3. Souvenir (originally by OMD)
4. Self Control (originally by Laura Branigan)
5. Duchess (originally by Scott Walker)
6. You Are My Friend (originally by Rain Parade)
7. Lucretia (My Reflection) (originally by Sisters of Mercy)
8. Angel (originally by Madonna)
9. Almost Gold (originally by Jesus & Mary Chain)
10.Don’t Let Go (originally by Weezer)
11.Love Comes Quickly (originally by The Pet Shops Boys)
12.Good Advices (originally by REM)

Does there have to be a reason?

Feeling a little more human today. However, the wee man has been very fractious of late, so the blog has been on the backburner a bit. There are interviews from Dweezil Zappa and We Were Promised Jetpacks to be published very shortly.

But it’s my birthday tomorrow so some gothic pleasures for now…

Patricia Morrison really had a je ne sais quoi when I was eleven years old.

John Peel remembered

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Tomorrow marks seven years since legendary DJ John Peel died.

In my opinion -and many others – the greatest radio DJ who ever lived.

The man who championed so many styles of music, who gave coverage to bands as diverse as Napalm Death, Kelis and Frankie Goes To Hollywood, would have been seventy-two. His attitude was ‘I just want to hear something I haven’t heard before’ -and one I hold myself.

So, while there will be more stuff happening tomorrow, here for tonight are a handful of cover versions recorded as sessions for his Radio 1 show. Enjoy.

Nick Cave -‘I Put A Spell On You (Screaming Jay Hawkins cover, Peel session 1984).’ mp3

Shop Assistants -‘Ace Of Spades (Motorhead cover, Peel session 1986).’ mp3

Cat Power -‘Wonderwall (Oasis cover, Peel session 2000.)’ mp3

Six By Seven -‘Heldon (David Bowie cover sung in German, Peel session 1999)’ mp3

The Sisters Of Mercy -‘Emma (Hot Chocolate cover, Peel session 1984).’ mp3

There will be John Peel-related goodness on Fresh Air tomorrow evening too…

Keeping it Peel

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Tomorrow marks six years since John Peel died.

Keepingitpeel is being organised by Webbie, the guy behind the Football and Music blog, to mark six years since the legendary DJ’s untimely death.

My own radio show will be starting again soon on Fresh Air, and while it’s nowhere near as good as peelie’s were, I try and pay respect to him above all other DJs when I’m presenting it. The sessions people recorded for his show became legendary, and indeed many bands formed solely so that they could get a session -and then called it quits once they had achieved his aim.

As well as recording songs to promote the latest single or album, there were also some wonderful curios thrown up over the years, like this cover

Sisters Of Mercy -‘Emma (Peel session).’ mp3

Yes, it really IS Andrew Eldritch and co. covering the Hot Chocolate hit.

I’ll be posting something different for tomorrow…

A few covers for you

Next week, 17 Seconds will celebrate its’ second birthday, which is something I will be celebrating. However, it is also mine and Mrs. 17 Seconds’ first wedding anniversary -and no, marrying was not something we did to mark the first anniversary.

As well as pushing much new stuff at readers, I’ve also enjoyed posting cover versions on here. These have varied from the painfully obvious to the almost violently obscure. So, proud of the fact that this blog has managed to last this far, I will repost a few here:

First up, the 1984 4AD album It’ll End In Tears, put out by label founder Ivo Watts-Russell as This Mortal Coil, had some classic cover versions that became known as songs in their own right.

This Mortal Coil – ‘Song To The Siren (Tim Buckley cover).’ mp3

This Mortal Coil – ‘Another Day (Roy Harper cover).’ mp3

This Mortal Coil – ‘Kangaroo (Big Star cover).’ mp3

The Sisters of Mercy have done two different versions of Hot Chocolate’s song ‘Emma.’ The first was a Peel session from 1984, the second appeared on rei-issued versions of their second album from 1987, Floodland, which was one of my introdutions to Goth, not that I knew that word as a ten year old, mind…

Sisters of Mercy -‘Emma (Peel session version).’ mp3

Sisters of Mercy -‘Emma.’ mp3

The Wedding Present have done some good cover versions over the years, including Orange Juice’s ‘Felicity,’ Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel’s ‘Come Up snd See Me (Make Me Smile), and a dozen that were the b-sides to their a single a month run back in 1992. This was recorded for 6Music, I believe, the only Take That song I’d want to let near my blog:

Wedding Present – ‘Back For Good (Take That cover).’ mp3

The Breeders rock utterly, and apparntly their debut Pod contained this excellent cover of a Beatles’ number:

The Breeders -‘Happiness Is A Warm Gun (The Beatles cover).’ mp3

There may well be more to follow, so keep your eyes peeled…

Edx

The Sisters Of Mercy

Continuing with ripping stuff from the vinyl to complete those Peel playlists. The first two made the Festive Fifty in 1983.

Many thanks to Bynar who provided the second two tracks here.

The Sisters Of Mercy -‘Alice.’ mp3

The Sisters Of Mercy -‘Temple Of Love.’ mp3

The Sisters of Mercy – ‘Jolene.’ mp3 (Dolly Parton cover)

The Sisters of Mercy -Emma(1984 Peel session).’ mp3 (Hot Chocolate cover)

Will post a wants list soon…

Edx

…and finally

I’ve done four posts here today. Still, I did say I was going to try and catch up with everything.

Amongst the pleas I have made for stuff have been a couple of cover versions by the Sisters of Mercy (singer Andrew Eldritch above) of things I had heard over the years, so many thanks to both Simon and Bynar who sent me this:

The Sisters Of Mercy -‘He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands.’ mp3

Bless you all…

Some Covers For Saturday Part II


Hi again

well, well and truly back in Scotland, it’s the weekend…so how about a few covers?

(And yes, that is Mrs 17 Seconds and I)

Pixies-‘Head On.’ mp3 (Jesus and Mary Chain)

X-‘Crystal Ship.’ mp3 (The Doors)

Sisters Of Mercy-‘Gimme Shelter.’ mp3 (Rolling Stones)

Residents-‘Satisfaction.’ mp3 (Rolling Stones)

Therapy?-‘Isolation.’ mp3 (Joy Division)

The The-‘I Saw The Light.’ mp3 (Hank Williams)

Marianne Faithfull-‘Working Class Hero.’ mp3 (John Lennon)

Ramones-‘Baby I Love You.’ mp3 (Ronettes)

REM-‘Toys In The Attic.’ mp3 (Aerosmith).

Veruca Salt -‘Somebody.’ mp3(Depeche Mode)

There is no theme here, just a selection of ten cover versions, only one of which (Sisters) I think I have posted here before. All being well, there should be another ten covers here on Sunday.

As always, these will be up for a week. If you like what you here, please go and investigate the bands and original artists themselves, perferably at your local indpendent record shop.

And now…for some GOTH


For some reason, ‘Goth’ still seems to unnerve some people. This says more about them than it does about Goth music and Goth culture itself. It continues to throw up great bands and songs (and some dreadful ones too!), as well as debates as to who was goth or not. (siouxsie claiming she wasn’t is a bit laughable).

Anyway, as an eighties-style goth (on occasion!) here are three cover versions done by goth bands, and three cover versions of some goth staples. Enjoy. As always, these will be up for a week, so enjoy them, and if you like them, go to Amazon or iTunes and buy them.

Sisters Of Mercy-‘Gimme Shelter (Rolling Stones cover).mp3’

Bauhaus-‘Ziggy Stardust(David Bowie cover).’ mp3

Echo and the Bunnymen-‘People Are Strange(Doors cover).’ mp3

Calexico-‘Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division cover).’ mp3

Lambchop-‘This Corrosion (Sisters Of Mercy cover).’ mp3

The Distants-‘She Sells Sanctuary(Cult cover).’ mp3