204. Hi Honey Ho by Daddy Cool

Daddy Cool Hi Honey Ho

One of my favourite Australian singles from the early Seventies, it's memory is eclipsed by the Eagle Rock in most people's minds. But this is the one that does it for me. When I first heard it it made me wonder why it wasn't huge around the world. This and other great Australian songs that stayed local hits. We were some kind of musical third world country.
I used to go skating down at Ringwood iceland. Round and round to Australian pop hits. Or Lobby Lloyd and Coloured Balls playing live. Or Carson. Or Blackfeather. Daddy Cool was all over the charts. Eagle rock, Come Back again. Bom Bom, Lollipop..they just kept on coming that my small group of friends at school got sick of them. They became a novelty act. Daddy Cool? Daddy Who? their rock and roll pastiche was getting up our noses. we were a bunch of teenagers trying to define our sense of cool. Then they put out this record. Clean and rocking! Very seventies but with a nod to the fifties. Loved it! loved the riff! I've got their best of album now. A great band. Great bunch of songs.
I got my copy from Graeme Boyd a 3AK DJ who lived round the corner in Nunawading. His son Edwin would pilfer records from his cupboards which were rammed with singles. My copy as a ultra long version. brilliant!
I tried to get Little Murders to cover this at one point. Paul Thomas blasted out the opening riff perfectly.

203. I Saw The Light by Todd Rungdren

I first heard this song at Libby Store's house. Libby was going out with my good friend Pete. We were teenagers but didn't go out on the streets. We would organise get togethers at each others house every Saturday night. We belonged to a Christian Youth group. It was a great time for me. A year earlier I was trying to hang out wiith the cool kids. All I can remember of that is drinking warm beer, hanging out at a bus shelter or worse a phone booth. Why would a gang of kids hang out at a phone booth? Being tormented by older and wiser girls was all part of the fun too. or being put in an armlock by a six foot skinhead.
When my mate Alan at school said come along to this youth group that was run from a church on Friday nights I jumped at the chance. I made some great friends there. Alan encouraged the band and became our first roadie/engineer. Phil Joyce and his brother Pete introduced me to so much music I can't even start to catalog it. Actually my obsession with music in the end made me drift away from my friends as I formed bands and dated catholics.
This song turned up in films like My Girl. I bought the soundtrack. I really started enjoying some of those seventies sounds I'd previously rejected.

202. Take The Skinheads Bowling by Camper Van Beethoven

Take The Skinheads Bowling

From 1990 until early this century i spent a lot of time at the Lizard lounge. DJing on Friday and saturdays and quite often going in for a drink on Thursday nights. One Thursday i popped in everyone was dancing to a song I didn't know. Always a bit weird when you think you are totally up to date . But this was a winner. paul sellenger was the Dj and he was bringing in his quirky likes and trying to turn them into dance floor smashes. Each DJ that worked there had their own stylised playlist. Each had their own songs. For some it was The Gambler by Kenny Rogers. Whatever worked was fine. It made the place different and weird. no rules excepting giving everyone a good time. And for 11 years that's what we had.
Every day, I get up and pray to Jah
And he decreases the number of clocks by exactly one
Everybody's comin' home for lunch these days
Last night there were skinheads on my lawn
Take the skinheads bowling
Take them bowling
Take the skinheads bowling
Take them bowling
Some people say that bowling alleys got big lanes
Some people say that bowling alleys all look the same
There's not a line that goes here that rhymes with anything
I has a dream last night, but I forget what it was
I had a dream last night about you, my friend
I had a dream--I wanted to sleep next to plastic
I had a dream--I wanted to lick your knees
I had a dream--it was about nothing 

201. Temple of Love by Sisters O f Mercy

SISTERS OF MERCY - THE TEMPLE OF LOVE

The ultimate gothic anthem?. I almost forgot about this one. Rerecorded remixed from the 83 release. At the Lizard lounge we played the whole 8 plus minutes of the single. I think it was one the first CD singles we started playing there. I loved the Ofra Haza guest vocals. the booming lead singer. the whole seriousness of the thing.
and it went off a blast. It reminds of how much variation we could play at the Lizard. You could walk in and hear this song next to Cindi lauper's "girls Just wanna have fun". sounds wacky now but at the time it was this all over the place..ness that made it work. Sure people complained ..but in the end they came back every week. Everything went into the pot and I mean everything!
I think I heard this first through Big Nose Dave. we had two Daves. happy Dave.(because he was always grumpy) and BN Dave. (you can guess why) he always wore a leather jacket. he danced on the DJ decks. He played the Gambler by Kenny Rogers. He was the man.Good times!
With the fire from the fireworks up above me
With a gun for a lover and a shot for the pain at hand
You run for cover in the temple of love
You run for another but still the same
For the wind will blow my name across this land
In the temple of love you hide together
Believing pain and fear outside
But someone near you rides the weather
And the tears he cried will rain on walls
As wide as lovers eyes
In the temple of love, shine like thunder
In the temple of love, cry like rain
In the temple of love, hear my calling
In the temple of love, hear my name

200. Rock n Roll Love letter by The Bay City Rollers 1976

Bay City Rollers - Rock 'n' Roll Love

After I got back from England in 1975 there was new band flooding the radio stations. The Bay City Rollers. Horrible horrible music. Bye Bye Baby was playing all the time, Living in The 70s by Skyhooks or Girls on The Avenue by Richard Clapton. None of which I could get into after 3 months listening to Northern soul and Status quo. I had come back early by myself to start Teachers College and because my brother and his family were staying at our house I couldn't even get back into my bedroom so I was sleeping on a cot in my rock and roll room or record room. And it was really hot.
Bay City Rollers have always agravated me. The clothes, everything but there one redeeming feature is this song.  I love it. Been playing it for ages. Oh yes the words are a bit iffy especially when his jeans explode but looking at the lyrics I see now it's his genes!!! later the Records covered giving it a power pop edge but I've never heard their version. One day I'd like to cover it too. It's great.
Dear sister poet, dear brother poet too
These tears that words are
Make me wanna be with you
But I need to spend my body
I'm a music makin man
And no page can release it like this amplifier can

This is my rock and roll love letter to you
This is my rock and roll love letter to you
Gonna sign it, gonna seal it, gonna mail it away
Gonna mail it today

199. I Am A Rock by Simon & Garfunkel

Simon & Garfunkel - I Am a Rock

I think I was in Grade 6 when this song came out. Living on Whitehorse road Box Hill across the road from a glass factory none of which probably stands today. Looking back at some of my favourite songs from my youth quite a few had quite self pitying lyrics. But I guess that's what teenagers seem to get into and I got in there a little early. Of course it was a crap time at home. My brothers were being forced to leave the house one by one and me being left alone with Mum and my little sister and the step dad that made our lifes a misery. I took solace in the Ten pin bowling alley up the road spending all my free time there or riding my bike around the streets. I only went home when I needed to. Gradually we ran away. I took the day off school and while the step dad was at work the truck arrived to take our things. For 3 hours while we loaded up we were scared he was gonna turn up.
On the good side I became closely attached to my record collection meagre as it was at the time. But it would grow.
And this song..a bit down yes but it explodes into folk rock quite quickly laying down the blueprint for a lot that came after. I guess The Church were listening to. They covered this song on the Different man EP.
A winter's day
In a deep and dark December;
I am alone,
Gazing from my window to the streets below
On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

I've built walls,
A fortress deep and mighty,
That none may penetrate.
I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain.
It's laughter and it's loving I disdain.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

Don't talk of love,
Well, I've heard the word before.
It's sleeping in my memory.
I won't disturb the slumber of feelings that have died.
If I never loved I never would have cried.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

I have my books
And my poetry to protect me;
I am shielded in my armor,
Hiding in my room, safe within my womb.
I touch no one and no one touches me.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

And a rock feels no pain;
And an island never cries.

198. caught by The Fuzz by Supergrass 1994

Spergrass - Caught By The Fuzz

2:18 of perfect power pop. As soon as it finishes you want to hear it again. There's a great ooooh bit in the middle that only happens once but some bands could have built a whole song from.
This came along when Britpop was starting to really pick up speed and there was always great singles coming out all the time. even the menswear debut single was great. Andf there was this great compilation series that had all these singles on it from all the new English bands. It was quite exciting. some people seem to paint it quite rubbish but I loved all these singles. It was like glam days all over again. short snappy tunes, lots of guitars, backing vocals the lot. haven't heard that since the Smiths passed away.
and all the Uk Mod images came back into vogue. Went to london not long after and writers were already stating to boot in.  Mainly because Blur and Oasis had both released bad albums. And a lot of rubbish was piling up the charts. But every scene goes through that. I saw a Tv show just recently and they were still giving Britpop a kicking. Leave it out. Just have a listen to this!
I haven't even mentioned how good the lyrics are too. Puts right on top of a double decker bus.
Caught by the fuzz,
Well I was, still on a buzz,
In the back of the van,
With my head in my hands,
Just like a bad dream,
I was, only fifteen,

If only my brother could be here now,
He'd get me out and sort me out alright,
I know I should have stayed at home tonight,

Locked in a cell,
Feeling un-well,
I talked to a man,
He said, It's better to tell,
'Who sold you the blow?'
'Well it was no-one I know.'
If only you'd tell us, we'd let you go,
We'll make it hard for you my son, so tell us what you know.
We'll make you wish you'd stayed at home tonight,

(Ooh____________ wah ooh____ wah ooh.)_________

Here comes my mum,
Well she, she knows what I've done,
'Just tell them the truth,
You know where it's from,
You've blackened our name,
Well you, you should be ashamed,
If only your father could see you now,
He'd break down, and he'd throw you out for sure.
I never should have let you out tonight.'

__(Tonight,) tonight, (tonight,) tonight, (tonight,) tonight, 
(tonight,) tonight, (tonight.) 

197. The Whole of The Moon by The waterboys.1991

Waterboys • The Whole of the Moon • 1985 Concert

A tribute to C.S. Lewis and one of those songs that you know all the words and either love or hate how it's all spelled out for you I thought it was great and took no notice of those who didn't care for it. I'm a sucker for this kind of lyric. Well I was when it came out. Is there any songs like this now?
I had a walkman at the time and put this onto a cassette tape when i went over to Japan in 1991. While I was there i picked up many other Waterboys. So strong was this song I search through all their catalogue for something that would match it. And found some amazing stuff including the great Fisherman's Blues album.
another song we would play at the Lizard lounge especially in the early days the crowd just sang along. Later I heard the song played both in a Munich bar and a pub up in the hills of Spain near Saint Sebastian. both times the reaction was just as in in Chapel street Windsor. The crowd all sang along. Brilliant!
I pictured a rainbow
you held it in your hands
I had flashes
but you saw the plan
I wandered out in the world for years
while you just stayed in your room
I saw the crescent
you saw the whole of the moon!
The whole of the moon!

You were there at the turnstiles
with the wind at your heels
You stretched for the stars
and you know how it feels
To reach too high
too far
Too soon
you saw the whole of the moon!

I was grounded
while you filled the skies
I was dumbfounded by truth
you cut through lies
I saw the rain-dirty valley
you saw Brigadoon
I saw the crescent
you saw the whole of the moon!

I spoke about wings
you just flew
I wondered, I guessed, and I tried
you just knew
I sighed
but you swooned
I saw the crescent
you saw the whole of the moon!
The whole of the moon!

With a torch in your pocket
and the wind at your heels
You climbed on the ladder
and you know how it feels
To GET too high
too far
Too soon
you saw the whole of the moon!
The whole of the moon!

Unicorns and cannonballs,
palaces and piers,
Trumpets, towers, and tenements,
wide oceans full of tears,
Flags, rags, ferry boats,
scimitars and scarves,
Every precious dream and vision
underneath the stars

You climbed on the ladder
with the wind in your sails
You came like a comet
blazing your trail
Too high
too far
Too soon
you saw the whole of the moon!

196. Nut Rocker by B. Bumble and The Stingers

YouTube Mix for B. Bumble & the Stingersby YouTubePLAYLIST6 videos

1962. One of my earliest memories of songs were some of the great instrumentals. I love a good instrumental. I love this one even more because my daughter Ruby took to it on first hearing. And round about the same age when it first got to me. Yeah it's a "novelty" hit but who cares!
Living in Blackpool in the early sixties even a young lad starting school was well aware of pop music. Especially when the Beatles happened. It was a country gone pop mad. My brother Stebe used to go down to the Peir and get autographs. I remember looking at his autograph book longingly. The only one I ever got was Tommy Quickly, managed by Brian Epstien but not destinied for greatness.
I home they would play records in the front room while I played soldiers on the floor.
Don't know when I first heard this song. But it seems to turn up now and then. And it just makes me feel good.

195. Pulled along By Love by The Muttonbirds

The Mutton Birds - Pulled Along By Love

I was watching SBS the other night after a short burst of Eurovision when Rockwiz came on and the first guest was Don McGlashan the lead singer with The Muttonbirds. He played this wonderful song and it took me back to 199 when I was touting this song to all and sundry as the best thing to come out of New zealand ever. Trouble is I didn't know that quite a few of my friends were familiar with the band and I was like a Johnny come lately.
Still can't get over how good this song is just listening to it again. It's one of those songs where you just want to put it straight back on again.
And it gladly wiped away all memory of the Eurovision semi finals that were on before. I mean who writes those songs. There must be better songs and songwriters in those countries. Don't get me started......Back to the song and the great lyrics....

Down on the platform
Shapes in a sandstorm
Lines of faces
Keeping their secrets
They're thinking about the weekend
They're thinking about new clothes
They're thinking about touching
But everyone's watching

They're buttoned up against it
And all of the King's horses
And all of the five senses

And dreams so fleeting
Where the carpets are deep
And the ends are all meeting

And they're pulled along by love
They're pulled along by love
And they're pulled along by love
Pulled along by love

194. Fascination by Alphabeat

Fascination - Alphabeat (Official Music Video)

School concerts. With 3 children I’m going to be seeing a lot of those. One year my daughters concert was actually just dancing. My oldest Melody danced with her classmates to this song. They went round in a circle and every so often Mel would be just be dancing by herself with an imaginary partner. It was a delight to watch her on stage. And this song always makes me smile when I think of Mel dancing up there in the spotlight.

Oh yeah, it;s a bit cheesy, but it's good tune, a good beat, the kids like it and it's tied to a happy moment. 

193. The In Crowd by Bryan Ferry

Bryan Ferry - The In Crowd


I first heard about this song on a postcard my friend Pete joyce posted me from Tasmania. The number one radio song in Hobart is The In Crowd by Bryan Ferry. And I'd not heard it yet. He waxed on about how good it was. It killed me. I was a massive roxy music/Bryan ferry fan and I was missing out. And I was about to go to the UK. I might not hear it before I got there and by that time it wouldn't be on the radio.
Anyway I did hear it and it was brilliant. Great start. Great build up and so cool. I thought I was part of some In Crowd cos there were a very small bunch of us into Roxy Music. When they played festival Hall they only got 400 punters ..and that was 4 albums in.
Got to the UK and bought the parent album but nothing on it matched this song.
Later I found out it was a cover and a Mod cover at that. So I got to enjoy again in all it's mod glory when I picked up a Mod ep called London Boys with Dobie Grey singing the original. And then I picked up Ramsey Lewis's instrumental version. This song kept giving. and what great Mod lyrics.
I'm in with the in crowd
(Do-do-do)
I go where the in crowd goes
(Do-do-do)
I'm in with the in crowd
(Do-do-do)
And I know what the in crowd knows

(Da-da-da-da)
Anytime of the year
Don't you hear
(Havin' a ball)
Dressin' fine, makin' time

We breeze up an down the street
We get respect
From the people we meet
They make way day or night
They know the in crowd is out of sight

I'm in with the in crowd
(Do-do-do)
I know every latest dance
(Do-do-do)
When you're in with the in crowd
(Do-do-do)
It's easy to find romance