192. Where The Trees Walk Downhill by The Moodists

Where The Trees walk Downhill by The Moodists

When I look at a lot of the handbills from all the Little Murders gigs back in the early Eighties I see The Moodists did quite a few supports for us. The Ballroom. (they played the Easter Mod Invasion) the Jump Club..I  guess it was because they were a fellow Au Go Go band or  the sixties psychadelic feel of this song. Or maybe because I was raving about this song so much to the promoters.
There was a pub called the Prince Edward in South Yarra. One night we shared the bill with a band from Adelaide called the Sputniks who had just come over. The room was tiny and there weren't many there but the band had presence mainly due to their lead singer Dave Graney. (and not forgetting their drummer Clare Moore who was the first female drummer I had seen ever) Also their very loud manager Ronny Williams who was already starting to look very sixties before the whole Mod thing took off.
Anyway the story I was told The Sputniks won a competition which gave them recording time, they recorded this fantastic song, changed their name to the Moodists, got rid of Ronny..then released it as their debut.
When Bruce Milne played it for me it just knocked me out. It was a complete song but way under 2 minutes ..and I love songs that are compact. There aren't that many) It as this great melody. It reminds me at times of Syd Barrett's Pink Floyd. but it's poppy then it reminds of the Church. (reminds me not sounds like!) More than anything though it's bigger than any influences. And what is it about? I don't know.  I can't even begin to decipher the words. A classic indie single from 1981.

191. Ever Fallen in Love.... by the Buzzcocks

The Buzzcocks Ever fallen in love

The Buzzcocks kept releasing one brilliant single after another. Then they released this magnificent track. Little Murders used to rehearse for a short while in a basement at the back of a shop in Smith Street Collingwood. There was no natural light. It was kind of musty and damp. But it was great place to rehearse and we had just got Stuart beatty to join the band after letting our original guitarist Clint Small go. As we got our new set together I tried to get the band to cover this song. We went through it a few times but it never gelled for us. Anyway when I hear this song now it takes me back to that musty rehearsal space at the back of Smith Street. Later on Norm from Wardour Studios turned it into a recording studio. Six of the tracks from the Stop Retrospective had their vocals recorded there by me, Mick Barclay and Paul, the Weddoes original guitarist. Another three tracks were recorded there with me, Mick and Adam Learner (from Blue Ruin) Adam's new band sometimes covers this song. Small round world indeed.
You spurn my natural emotions
Make me feel like dirt, I'm hurt
And if I start a commotion
I run the risk of losing you
What is worse

Ever fallen in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
Ever fallen in, in love with someone you shouldn't have fallen in love with

190. Sorrow by David Bowie

watch      David Bowie - Sorrow

1973. I was crazy about all things Bowie. I had all the albums including all the pre fame stuff. I had made scrapbooks. And is new album came out. Pin-Ups. Although being a bit of a patchy effort at best it did make me go out and start looking for the originals he covered on the record. I already knew all the songs on the album except for Sorrow which became the single. And it was a big hit single in Australia. Number one in Victoria when they used to have state charts.
I was at a party in Preston. There was a girl I liked called Beth. I met her at a camp in Banksia up near the the NSW border. A youth camp. All very innocent. I think I only ever kissed her once. But she wasn't very good at it. Inside the party they were listening to Transformer. There was a constant smell of hippy oil. Petchulli or something like that. A constant presence in those days. She had blue eyes and long blonde hair. She also drove a car. I didn't have my licence yet. I stood on the garden wall serenading her with this song.
With your long blond hair and your eyes of blue
The only thing I ever got from you
Was Sorrow - Sorrow

You're acting funny, try to spend my money
Out there playing your high class games
Of Sorrow - Sorrow

You never do what you know you ought to
Something tells me you're the devil's daughter
Sorrow - Sorrow

I tried to find her cause I can't resist her
I never knew just how much I missed her
Sorrow - Sorrow

189. Dirty Old Town by The Pogues

pogues - dirty old town

Another Lizard Lounge favourite. When we put this on it became a great big singalong with everyone in the whole club joining in. And I mean everyone. It was always such a good feeling when certain songs would bring us all together. The first time I played this song was one of the early New year parties and amongst all the wild rocking and dancing to Nirvana, the Pixies and probably Kylie minogue this fit in seamlessly. The crowd just loved it and it became a staple of the Lizard lounge set list. It was also an almighty drinking song.
This was from the album Rum Sodomy and the Lash which was a constant turntable presence in the Eighties.
I met my love by the gas works wall
Dreamed a dream by the old canal
I Kissed my girl by the factory wall
Dirty old town
Dirty old town

Clouds are drifting across the moon
Cats are prowling on their beat
Spring's a girl from the streets at night
Dirty old town
Dirty old town

188.Stray Cat Blues by The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones - Stray Cat Blues - WITH LYRICS!

For a while I had only heard the live version of this song on get your yah yahs out. Great song ...but what really impressed me was when I finally started buying Stones albums (which wasn't until the 80s when I was DJing at Rubber Soul) was the original version on Beggars Banquet. Faster, it just rolls along and seems to thse ears a lot more menacing than on the Yah Yahs record.

At Rubber Soul we would have theme nights. The Doors being the biggest followed closely by the nights we played all Beatles or all Stones. Well every third song was the rule. The Stones nights were always great fun because Ronny the other DJ was so mad about them. Actually I guess Ronny introduced me to a lot of Stones stuff just by his enthusiasm. And once you get into the Stones there is just so much to explore.

I hear the click-clack of your feet on the stairs
I know you're no scare-eyed honey.
There'll be a feast if you just come upstairs
But it's no hanging matter
It's no capital crime

I can see that you're fifteen years old
No I don't want your I.D.
I can see you're so far from home
But it's no hanging matter
It's no capital crime

Oh yeah, you're a strange stray cat
Oh yeah, don'tcha scratch like that
Oh yeah, you're a strange stray cat
Bet your mama don't know you scream like that
I bet your mother don't know you can spit like that.

187. Button On A Shirt by The Works

Button On A Shirt by The Works

From 1979, the year Little Murders released our first record came this mighty gem of a record. I was an avid collector of Australian seven inch records, especially those in the power pop vein and this one was brilliant from the first guitar line. It just powers along.
Me and my friend Johnny loved the line
You tell me to go and get Gidget
But all the Gidgets have been got...superb!
This was one of a bunch of Australian Indie singles I've been touting around my friends since the early 80s. Later I would put them on CD. Sometimes you just can't believe that a record of this would become obscure. Wheres the justice? I even had to make the video you see here cos there was none on You Tube. Actually I'm going to try and get my band to cover this song. It's perfect for Little Murders.
You're just a button on a shirt
you ain't even worth getting mad about!

186 I Wish You Would by The Yardbirds

The Yardbirds - I Wish You Would (1965)

In 1979 when Little Murders first started  playing gigs we had some brilliant nights at The Champion, The Swan and The Ballroom. And of course we had some rotten gigs and weird gigs. One of the strangest gigs was a party for the communist party in a church hall in Hampton. We had to hire a PA and lights, turn up in the afternoon for the sound check and then wait around.
Unfortunately nobody turned up except for the organiser and his girlfriend. So basically we had this great sound system and light show and a hall to practice. We tried out some covers one which was I Wish You Would by The Yardbirds. I think we did an extra long version. It was so much fun to play. Hearing this song flashes me right back to that night.
I had just started getting into the Yardbirds. They were the first bootleg album I ever bought. So I could get a copy of Psycho Daisies a song which I had been searching for. (incidently it took me another 7 years to get the real single) The album lead me into a world of Yardbirds releases and even more songs to cover.
Early in the morning, 'bout the break of day,
That's when my baby went away.
Come back, baby, I wish you would,
Try and love me, you won't do no good.

185. you're the first , the last, my everything by Barry White

Barry White - You're the first, my last, my ...

In 1974 I was in Blackpool. I was a teenager. didn't have a driving license yet. But it didn't matter cos we went everywhere by bus or just walked. It was the middle of winter but me and my cousin Neil and his mate Phil were having a great time going out to clubs like the Highland Room at Mecca and the Casino. At the Mecca we mainly danced (mostly we watched the fantastic dancers) to Northern Soul but now and again they would play some modern soul ( disco not really a genre yet). One of the most memorable of the songs was this Barry White song. I couldn't find any reason in myself for liking Barry White songs. But he had a bunch of top tunes in the mid seventies.
While I was over there he seemed to be on Top of The Pops all the time.
Later we would play a few of his tunes at the Lizard lounge. And they did well there too. Barry gave out some really good vibes.
The first, the last, my everything
And the answer to all my dreams
You're my sun, my moon, my guiding star
My kind of wonderful, that's what you are
I know there's only, only one like you
There's no way they could have made two
You're all I'm living for
Your love I'll keep for evermore
You're the first, your the last, my everything

184. Making Time by The Creation

The Creation - Making Time (1966)

Mining for gold. One of the best things when you get into music and in particular genre music is discovering music you've never heard before and which is totally fabulous. Back in the late seventies as the Mod thing was just getting going in Melbourne and we were plundering the sixties for inspiration I came across this record. Totally mind blowing and very Who like but not in a sound alike way (which they do) but quite comparable and of the same standard. That it became a song that so many bands covered (including You Am I) is testament to it's greatness. It's just one helluva exciting record.
Again a single in my Jukebox I'm starting to think I ought go and get it repaired. The thing is so heavy though. My friend Poz and I were at a police auction in Port Melbourne. We saw the jukebox and Poz decided I should get it. Not even knowing if it worked (and it didn't) So he bid on it for me. And won. But then it was too heavy to get in his van. And it was murder to get up one step at my house. But it does look cool. and it's full of great sixties singles.

Making time

Shooting lines

For people to believe in

Things you say

Gone in a day

Everybody leavin'

Everybody leavin'

Why do we have to carry on?

Always singing the same old song

Same old song

The same old song

Tellin' lies

Closing your eyes

Making more excuses

Pullin' the wool

Actin' the fool

People have their uses

People have their uses

Why do we have to carry on?

Always singing the same old song

Same old song

The same old song

183. Psycho daisies by The Yardbirds

Yardbirds - Psycho Daisies

Bruce milne played me this song round at his place in Hawthorn. Very rare single and one that knocked me sideways. So began the long search to find my own copy. I had a few Yardbirds albums but none had this song on it. it was just so damn wild. 

One night I was DJing at Rubber Soul when a guy came in and started chatting about the records we were playing. Good stuff! and it was! then he said he could get any single we wanted. Of course I took it with a pinch of salt however I said Psycho daisies by The Yardbirds. Rare B-side. Next week he comes down with the single . 10 bucks. I didn't bother to play it at the club. This was prescious. I waited until I was at home. Then blasted it out.

Now it's in my jukebox and the damn thing hasn't played since we moved house. And I paid extra to move it. Dammit!

Pennsylvania snow is pretty thick,
Michigan ain't where I get my kicks.

Texas is fine but it gets too hot,
And New York City's not a place to stop.

New Orleans is the home of the blues,
But California's my home with Mary Hughes.

Down in Mississippi I'm told is nice,
And all the meals there, they come with rice.

Oregon and Iowa are not for me,
The Colorado mountains are something you must see.

But back in California there's nothing to lose,
'Cos everything's swinging there with Mary Hughes.

182.Lies by The Knickerbockers

Lies - The Knickerbockers

Behind the house I lived in Blackburn south there was a huge paddock where we used to play cricket in the summer. Maybe just 5 or 6 kids. Day after day on the long summer of 1970 we'd be out banging the ball around. Until I heard this song a few minutes ago I had forgotten that for a short time I was mad about cricket. That uis until I joined a proper team and found out how bad i was and how how boring standing out in a filed for hours is. In the two games I did play I was never out though.
Anyway we'd take a transistor radio down to the paddock to listen to while we played. One day this came on. By now I was a Beatles fanatic and collector. Hearing this I thought it was some Beatles song i'd never heard before. then the announcer told us the backstory. Over the next few weeks it kept coming on. maybe it had been re-released to co-incide with the beatles break up. But it was magic. And it took me years to find a copy for myself. Their follow up single was pretty dynamite too!
Lies, lies, you're tellin' me that you'll be true
Lies, lies
That's all I ever hear from you
Tears, tears
I shed a million tears for you
Tears, tears
And now you're lovin' someone new
Someday I'm gonna be happy
But I don't know when just now
Lies, lie-ies
A-breakin' my heart
You think that you're such a smart girl
And I'll believe what you say
But who do you think you are, girl
To lead me on this way hey
Lies, lies

181. Rocks Off by The Rolling Stones

Rolling Stones - Rocks Off (1972)

Rubber Soul started with a bang in the mid Eighties with the first few weeks being completely packed out. Then it kind of tapered off. Other clubs like Shout on Mondays were opening up and stealing our thunder. For a while we even played a few modern tunes until we realised we had to stick to the original vision. We used to get together at my flat and discuss what we needed to do. And then we came up with the Theme night. Our first was The Doors which packed in 800 in a club that held maybe 150. After that it didn't let up until the end of the Decade. we were the sixties club.
Ironically the song that sums up the club for me is Rocks Off by The Rolling Stones. Which is 1972. But we also decided the sixties didn't ft neatly. It went from The Beatles to Exile.
Maybe it's the image of Ronny putting the needle on the groove and then running onto the dancefloor. Or how we'd end the night early by todays standards 1pm and then stay out the whole night feeding on the buzz of spinning discs at a packed club. Onto the Club or The Lounge. Or just those lyrics.

The sunshine bores the daylights out of me. Chasing shadows moonlight mystery. Headed for the overload, splattered on the dusty road, kick me like you've kicked before, I can't even feel the pain no more. But I only get my rocks off while I'm dreaming, I only get my rocks off while I'm sleeping.

180. No Milk Today by Herman's Hermits

Herman's Hermits - No milk today

I can't mention Bus Stop without talking about Graham Gouldman's other big song of the sixties (although there is more) Sharing a room  with my brother was a good education in music for someone who couldn't afford to buy records. I always associate this song with Sunday mornings sleeping in. The smell of Sunday roast wafting up the hallway. or maybe I'm just imagining that. My brother had a big portable record player. The speakers were in the two lids that clipped on. It was quite brown and decidely ugly. But a record player beside the bed..magic!
Another song I never get sick of by a band which doesn't get much respect these days. But they had more than this brilliant song.

No milk today my love is gone away
The bottle stands forlon a symbol of the dawn
No milk today it seems a common sight
But people passing by don't know the reason why

How could they know just what this message means
The end of all my hopes the end of all my dreams
How could they know a palace there had been
Behind the door where my love reigned as queen
No milk today it wasn't always so
The company was gay we turn'd night into day

179. Bus Stop by The Hollies

The Hollies - Bus Stop (Top Of The Pops, June ...

Can never get enough of this song. I just love the way the song is written with a brilliant tune and great lyrics. Umbrella, bus stops...mundane things turned into a work of beauty. I first heard this properly in the seventies when exploring the music of the sixties. I couldn't believe how good it was. This is one of those songs that make me want to write songs. I have to admit I've used ideas from this song and Graham Gouldman's other sixties songs in my own writing. I suppose you call this stuff urban poetry but in fact it's kitchen sink poetry, Urban havin a completely different meaning nowadays.
and I really like The Hollies. They were a singles band. And they had some mighty fine singles.

Bus stop, wet day, she's there, I say, "Please share my umbrella"

Bus stop, bus goes, she stays, love grows under my umbrella

All that summer we enjoyed it, THE wind and rain and shine.

That umbrella we employed it. By August, she was mine

Every morning I would see her WAITING at the stop

Sometimes she'd shop and she would show me what she'd bought

All the people stared as if we were both quite insane

Someday my name and hers are GOING to be the same

That's the way the whole thing started. Silly, but it's true

Thinkin' of a sweet romance beginnin' in a queue

Came the sun the ice was meltin' no more shelterin' now

Nice to think that that umbrella led me to a vow

178. Lust For Life by Iggy Pop

Iggy Pop - Lust For Life

And while we're talking about Trainspotting here's another song that went straight from the movie to the  dancefloor. This was originally from Iggy's superb Lust for Life album in the seventies and I'd been playing it for ages but the opening scenes of Trainspotting made it into an anthem. Usually there was a moment in the night at The Lizard when you'd play this and Born Slippy and the crowd went mental. You never knew when to stop this beat and we never tried to, keeping the floor packed from start to finish. The Lizard created it's own playlist of anthems and because we spent so much time there we developed our own style of mashing records together that in other clubs would never of worked. And we our policy of DJs only playing half hour sets the night was relentless with tune heavy dancefloor anthems. Sing it, dance it! Drink copious amounts of beer. It works!

Here comes Johnny Yen again

With the liquor and drugs

And a flesh machine

He's gonna do another strip tease

Hey man, where'd you get that lotion?

I've been hurting since I bought the gimmick

About something called love

Yeah, something called love

Well, that's like hypnotising chickens

Well, I'm just a modern guy

Of course, I've had it in the ear before

'Cause of a lust for life

'Cause of a lust for life

177. Born Slippy by Underworld

born slippy

another Lizard lounge anthem. In 1996 the film Trainspotting came out and it was massive. Everyone was going to see the movie. everyone was buying the soundtrack and the posters were everywhere. and this song was huge. Put this on and the crowd went mental. from the opening moments it was this great singalong. starting off as the dancers moved onto the dancefloor and began reciting the lyrics.

Drive boy dog boy

Dirty numb angel boy

In the doorway boy

She was a lipstick boy

She was a beautiful boy

And tears boy

And all in your innerspace boy

You had

hands girl boy

and steel boy

You had chemicals boy

I've grown so close to you

Boy and you just groan boy

She said comeover comeover

She smiled at you boy.

And then ..here come the drums.
Culminating with the dancers reciting
Lager lager lager lager! Arms aloft and just going off. The Lizard lounge just kept getting bigger and bigger and with songs like this we had queues down the street and punters begging to get in. We had start memberships so that our usual punters and friends could get in.

176. Talk of the Town by The Pretenders

The Pretenders.....Talk Of The Town.

Imacculate pop single from 1980. The Pretenders had such a distinctive sound not least Chrissie Hynde's sexy voice but James Honeymoon-Scott's jangled guitar that just drips off the songs. I loved the first album then lost a bit of interest in them and didn't get round to ever buying their second album. I still haven't got it in these days of easy downloading. It was their singles I just loved and i kept buying the singles. Actually it was around 1981 when all I ever bought were singles and got into the habit of selling albums.
I first heard this at Michael Phillip's place. Michael started a lot clubs in the Mod days including Locomotion, The Beehive and Rubber Soul. He and Ronnie were a great team. Later I went out with his girlfriend's sister for a few years.
I never got to see the Pretenders live. She's still out there but every time she plays Melbourne it's always with some other band that I wouldn't go anywhere near.

Such a drag to want something sometime

One thing leads to another I know

Was a time wanted you for mine

Nobody knew

You arrived like a day

And passed like a cloud

I made a wish, I said it out loud

Out loud in a crowd

Everybody heard

'twas the talk of the town

It's not my place to know what you feel

I'd like to know but why should i?

Who were you then, who are you now?

Common labourer by night, by day highbrow

Back in my room I wonder, then i

Sit on the bed, look at the sky

Up in the sky

Clouds rearrange

Like the talk of the town

Maybe tomorrow, maybe someday

Maybe tomorrow, maybe someday

You've changed your place in this world

You've changed your place in this world

Oh but it's hard to live by the rules

I never could and still never do

The rules and such never bothered you

You call the shots and they follow

I watch you still from a distance then go

Back to my room, you never know

I want you, I want you but now

Who's the talk of the town?

175. Boredom by The Buzzcocks

Buzzcocks - Boredom. Rare 1980 good quality ...

When I went over to the UK I spent a lot of time looking through record shops looking for all those classic singles I had missed out on. The two I really were after was Teenage kicks and this song Boredom. I used to hear on 3RR and a girl I knew had it but I couldn't get myself a copy anywhere in Melbourne. And I find it in Blackpool in a store on the South Shore. Fantastic!  After this single the Buzzcocks lost Howard Devoto but kept making brillaint single after brilliant single. This song never turns up on compilations or greatest hits packages so it's a particular treasure. I've got a little box of vinyl singles which are really incedibly important to me. This is in it.
I think of how easy it is to track down a much loved song nowadays. This one took me 2 years to find.

Yeah - well - I say what I mean

I say what comes to my mind

I never get around to things

I live a straight - straight line

You know me - I'm acting dumb

you know the scene - very humdrum

boredom - boredom

I'm living in this movie

but it doesn't move me

I'm the man that's waiting for the phone to ring

Hear it ring-a-ding-a-f***ing-ding

You know me ...

You see there's nothing behind me

I'm already a has-been

my future ain't what it was

well I think I know the words that I mean

You know me ...

B'dum - b'dum

I've taken this extravagant journey

so it seems to me

I just came from nowhere

and I'm going straight back there

You know me ...

So I'm living in this movie

but it doesn't move me

so tell me who are you trying to arouse?

get your hands out of my trousers

You know me ...

174. Northern Sky by Nick Drake

Nick Drake - Northern Sky

I'm a big fan of folk music and can see where it fits seamlessly into rock music. Great folk music carries a weight of emotion that at times can overwhelm. When Nick Drake appeared back on everyones radar in the 90s his music came laden with his tragic death at a young age and the fact that in his lifetime he didn't sell many records. It was like finding a lost treasure.
I first came across this song while recording an album at Audrey studios with Craig Pilkington. Craig's in a band called The Killjoys. Anyway he had just finished working on a solo album with Anna Burley the lead singer of the Killjoys. On the album she does a fantastic version of this song that at times I listen to rather than the Nick Drake version. When I first heard her sing it I recognised the song but didnt know where I'd heard it before. She really captures the essence of the song. Find it and play it. You won't be disappointed.
Every now and again I bring out my slow mixtape. And by slow I mean those folky numbers or sad songs or love songs. Often the songs change. Some slow songs you get sick of and they have to be removed for fear of destroying the connection. I've never taken this one of the playlist. It's an exquisite love song.
I never felt magic crazy as this
I never saw moons knew the meaning of the sea
I never held emotion in the palm of my hand
Or felt sweet breezes in the top of a tree
But now you're here
Bright in my northern sky.

It's been a long time that I'm waiting
Been a long time that I'm blown
been a long time that I've wandered
Through the people I have known
Oh, if you would and you could
Straighten my new mind's eye.

Would you love me for my money
Would you love me for my head
Would you love me through the winter
Would you love me 'til I'm dead
Oh, if you would and you could
Come blow your horn on high.