Echo and the Bunnymen with Billy Bragg – Run Run Run

Back in 1985 BBC’s Old Grey Whistle Test did an all-nighter show called Rock Around The Clock.  It was hosted by Word Magazine’s Mark Ellen and David Hepworth, with a bit of help from Andy Kershaw.

I remember staying up and seeing Echo and the Bunnymen joining up with Billy Bragg to play a rather shambolic version of The Velvet Underground’s Run, Run, Run at about 3 in the morning.  I’d just discovered The Velvet Underground for myself and it felt like being a member of an exclusive club.  In a pre-Amazon and MP3 world, just getting hold of their records was a challenge.  To see two of my favourite acts teaming on a Velvet’s cover was tremendously exciting.

I hadn’t seen or heard it again in nearly 25 years until I found this on YouTube.  In the intervening time I had thought about this version, and being a bit of a guitar geek, I remembered distinctly that Billy Bragg was playing a Telecaster f hole Thinline and that Will Sargent of the  Bunnymen was playing a Bond Electraglide.  A very 80s high tech guitar, made with carbon fibre with digital controls and readouts and a stepped rather than fretted fretboard.  Very much of it’s time and technology in a guitar that never really caught on.  Mick Jones played one in Big Audio Dynamite.  The Edge probably played one too.

Sin City – Flying Burrito Brothers

I first heard this song back in the eighties when Billy Bragg did it accompanied by the (careful with the spelling now) Country and Western Gynecologist, Hank Wangford on mandolin.

This is the  original by the Flying Burrito Brothers, a band comprising various ex-members of the Byrds led by Gram Parsons wearing his trademark Nudie’s Rodeo Tailors suit.

Take a listen out at blip.fm and while your there why not sign up and follow me.

Levi Stubb’s Tears – Billy Bragg

Bit of a strange one to put up retrospectively for NYE.  You might have expected some heaving duty raging rock or dance track but this was one of many tracks that came up on a friend’s shuffling iPod and started a conversation about Billy Bragg so that’s what you get.  Four Tops  lead singer, Levi Stubbs died in 2008 which led to this track picking up a few radio plays.  I’ve been playing a bit of guitar again this year and this is one of the songs I re-learnt so another good reason.  The alternative would have been another track that features on Rock Band or even worse something from the Singstar Abba game.

Good to see Bragg playing the Burns on this one and Dave Woodhead turning up for that trumpet bit.