Back when we spent all of our free time making mix tapes, perhaps you did this too. Even if my ear knew they didn't necessarily work as a tandem all that well, I liked to place a song about a musician next to a song by said musician, such as an Alex Chilton tune followed by "Alex Chilton" by the Replacements or "Sister Ray" by the Velvet Underground and "Velvet Underground" by Jonathan Richman back to back. Like the artist that sings about an artist, in a small way, I always felt like I was thanking one of my heroes by this placement. It was especially fun to put two musicians together that seemingly had very different sounds, such as something by Duke Ellington next to "Sir Duke" by Stevie Wonder. That's the direction I'm going in today.
Over the weekend, I thought about "Breakfast in Bed" from Dusty Springfield's 1969 album 'Dusty in Memphis' because today is my birthday. I secretly hoped maybe I would get my breakfast served that way this morning. Alas, that's a pretty tall order on a school day and, as is the ritual, I was the one making breakfast for everyone else. I knew I had an album with a song called "Dusty Springfield" in my music room somewhere, but the band wasn't coming to me right away. Let's just say I have had a number of birthdays under my belt, and I'm not quite the savant I used to be when it comes to remembering such things. I was singing it to myself yesterday. So I knew it was jangly indie pop from the golden age of jangly indie pop and probably from the UK. Finally, it hit me like a bolt of lightning a little while ago. If you're curious about just how many birthdays I have had, I'm the same age as 'Dusty in Memphis.' Sigh.
As an aside, I had no idea until today the album cover for 'Dusty in Memphis' was different for folks in the UK. The one above seems so iconic to this Yank.
Dusty Springfield - Breakfast in Bed
The Haywains - Dusty Springfield
12 comments:
Happy Birthday young Brian. And that Haywains track is splendid.
Penblwydd Hapus o Gymru, Brian.
Can't go wrong with a bit of Dusty on such an occasion.
I'll commemorate your special day with the same words that my Nan used on all of my first 15 birthdays and my Mum continued to do every year until my 50th birthday - 'Many happy returns of the day...... do you feel any older?'
Stellar tunes Brian. Have a splendid day.
A very happy birthday to you, Brian, and I'm glad you were able to get back online (and fix the Fixx!)
I think it's pretty damn fine to be the same age as 'Dusty in Memphis'.
Happy Birthday Brian !!! Oh, and check you email when you can...
Many belated wishes to your yesterday's birthday Brian. Hope you had a great day. And it is always a pleasure to listen to Dusty.
Happy birthday Youth
You can't beat a bit of Dusty
Thanks for the well wishes, everyone. For those of you who enjoyed the Haywains, I should have mentioned after a 20-year hiatus the band came back to us in 2014 and have had a few stellar EPs since then. It's as if time stood still. Echorich, thanks for the heads up. I did not see your email that was sent during my computer debacle. I'll send you a note later today.
Happy Birthday, Brian. I gave 'Dusty In Memphis' a spin in your honour. A true classic. I particularly like 'I Can't Make It Alone', which I first heard in the early 90's via Maria McKee's slightly more 'country' reading. I seem to recall reading somewhere that the supper club set in the UK were somewhat dismayed when our Dusty went over the pond and was led astray by the devilish yanks - 'Breakfast In Bed'? Saucy stuff indeed! - though it seems as if there was plenty of turmoil in the singer's life without that being an issue. On a slightly different note, have you heard 'Permo', the debut by Spinning Coin, yet? Right up your street, I would have thought...
MP, Great to hear from you. Nice of you to bring up Maria's take. Must pull that one out. You know me too well. I am a sucker for those Scottish bands, eh, and Spinning Coin has many supporters I respect too. Stephen's label, and Edwyn and Davy had their hands at the controls too. Certainly one to be thinking about when the end of the year lists come out. Won't be long now.
A very belated Happy Birthday, Brian! I love the Dusty track. Have you heard Baby Washington's original?
I'm glad you enjoyed the Noreen Corcoran track (and thanks for letting me know.)
Belated happy birthday Brian.
I bought the Spinning Coin album a few weeks back, and Stephen McRobbie himself sold it to me! He even threw in a limited edition signed print by the band which was very decent of him.
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