Blue Moon Playlist Review Club - Season 2 - Episode 32 - threespires - Could have been a Contender (pg 472)

Yea one would still need to turn that into a spotify or youtube playlist that cna be shared, but cuts doen the searching through pages if done at the end.

Any thoughts yourself of songs that atiod out or gave what you might have wanted out of this theme share?
I thought it was a good thing i did tbh lol.
:-(

I'll post thoughts on the songs listed this week as i get through them.
 
Has anyone whipped this up into a playlist, did I miss what page it is on?
Op updated with Spotify playlist.

War


Spotify is a bit thin for library, so i had to just choose what fitted.
(No 12" for two tribes, no Platoon soundtrack.)

(the things ya do for music huh, create spotify account, rummage through a dozen threads, etc. etc..)
 
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U2 - Sunday bloody sunday:
Raw. (an anagram of war eh!)
Fantastic stuff, drums are brilliant.

Travelin Soldier: The Chicks.
Lovely recording. Lovely voice. Lovely melody which doesn't get in the way Lovely everything.
Is this Country music? Have i found a C&W song i like?

U2: Miss Sarajevo (Couldn't find the studio version)
Great lyrics and Bono gets to open up! Superb. (and live as well :) )
Was that the declaration of rights at the end?

Glen Hansard: Take Heart
Heavy. Deep. Love the female cameo.

Stan Ridgeway: Camouflage
Legendary song. Proper story telling.

Paul Weller: Toy Soldiers
More of a sonic interlude/poem than a proper song. Not bad.

Stevie wonder: Front line
ooh, starts of a bit crunchy but then gets rolling. Proper SW grooving.
Nice bit of guitar on it as well. Sounds great.
Love the Jammin' at the end.

Idles: War
AAAAARRRRRRGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shades of Punk. Hard lyrics.
Great energy lol.

Don McLean: The Grave
Jeysus.
Shivers.
Just devastating.

Al Steward: Road to Moscow.
Foot tappin'
Guitar sounds sharp.
Lyrics are sharp.
Base is sharp. (!!!)
Vocals are sharp.
Well crafted quality.
Lovee the length of this. Epic.

Moving hearts: HIroshima. ( i thought this sounded like Christy, so was surprised when google confirmed it)
Crusty on speed lol.
Somehow its Irish folk set to ramming speed!
Works well and Crusty carries it well.
Would have like to hear the wind instruments a bit more.
Ok.

Jason Isbell: Dress blues.
I can see this being a solid choice for C/W fans.
It's ok, but nothing either special or disappointing.
Mostly harmless.

Elvis Costello: Shipbuilding.
Ooh, i love the Piano and trumpet on this. Jazz night grooves.
I am not a fan of Elvis' voice for the slow songs normally but he pulls this off.
Would love to hear a full fledged yodeller cover this.
But ooh, the trumpets are fab.
Sounds great to boot.

Sam Stone: John Prime.
I didn't remember Bob D in the list......
Crikey, big hard words in this one.
Hmm.

Steve Earle: Rich mans war
Ok. fairly harmless.

June Tabor: Waltzing Matilda
Acapello
She sings it very well but i do find it a little too sterile.
Wonderful words. Suits the acapello.
Great recording. Worth a second listen for sure.
In fact, a song that can grow on you. Great pick

FGTH: Two tribes
See my original OP.
Unfortunately, the 12" is not on spotify. (least i couldn't find it)
The 7" is great but the 12" is where the magic is.
Bass nirvana.

Bob Marley: War.
Hmm. Not sure about this one, feels like Bob just wanted an album filler.
Std reggae fare tbh.

GnR; Civil war:
See OP.
Just magnificent. GnR at the very best.
This is how heavy rock should be. Such a great single.
Turn up the volume!!!!

REM: Orange crush
Legendary.
Superbly crafted Pop.
The Bass is wonderful.

Paul Harcastle: 19.
Remember the era of Jive bunny and remixes?
This is that on a stick, but, done really well. (a flower in a dung pile).

Barber: Adagio for strings.
Classic, classical music.
Chilling, a perfect fade out for the Platoon soundtrack.
Also a piece of classical music which i feel is very accessible to non classical fans.

Abba: Waterloo.
It's ABBA. Get yer dancing shoes.
The recording is beginning to show it's age i think. Not the best SQ and a bit "Busy".

Dire Straits: Brothers in Arms.
Does Pop music get any better crafted than this?
Perhaps the best song in the playlist. Perhaps Dire Straits best track.
No introduction necessary.

Tom Waits: Hello Broke Luce.
WTF have i just listened to? lol
@RobMCFC Skip this one, its sweary!!!
Erm. Nuts. But fantastic.

Crusty Moore: Viva la Quinte (Live)
It's Crusty. It's Ronseal.
Fun, folky, beer chugging song :)
Well, fun, but has a bit of a sharp corner to it wrt Irish/Nazis etc.....
Reminds me of my mate who would sometime burst into folk song whilst out and about on site visits.

The Clash: Spanish Bombs.
Fans of the Clash will probably think its great.
Nothing special nor too offensive IMO.
Aged a bit imho. Has that "album filler" vibe to it like the Bob Marly one.
Another song about Franco following directly after Crusty. Odd coincidence given its on shuffle. hmm.
Forgetable really.

Gang of four: I love man in a uniform.
"I love to see you shoot" Quite so lol.
Great lyrics,
Great backing.
Not sure about the singer.
Great fun though and a good song.
Sounds great through the HIFI.

The Waterboys: Red Army blues.
Got me straight away this one.
Saxaphone is ace.
Song is superb. so well structured and great vocals.

Corb Lund: Sadr City
Ooh, this reminds me of something. Can't quite put my finger on it. Late 80's vibe i think (Lloyd and the commotions?....)
It's ok. Not sure about the singer tbh. He's a little flat.
Nice basslines in it.
iWouldn't turn it off if it came on the radio.
Not sure about the reverseing of the sound backing in the outro

The Boss: Devils Arcade
One to listen to the end because it forms a circle which falls apart if you focus on any one part.
I'm not a huge fan of Brucie, but this is a well formed track.
Great lyrics and the band does well.
Like the upfront presentation of Bruce as well. it suits
Drums kick!

------------------------------------------------------

End

Really enjoyed the suggestions here. Superb craft and quality is a common theme.
Fav: Al Stewart Road to Moscow. Absolute a+ song which has it all.
Worst: The Clash Spanish Bombs. Aged badly imho. Album filler and i never liked the clash much anyway.
 
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Thanks to @Mr Grumpy for doing a sterling job of launching and managing this playlist.
For a while, I thought that I was going to have to listen on YouTube, which to be honest, I probably wouldn't have bothered with.
It's Spotify or no play for me, I'm afraid.

Some great songs on here that I'd never heard before, the best of which was "Front Line" by Steve Wonder.

The others were:-

"The Grave" - Don McLean
"The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" - June Tabor
"Red Army Blues" - The Waterboys


Of the songs that I'd heard before, I enjoyed:-

"Two Tribes" - Frankie Goes To Hollywood - this brought back memories of the instrumental that they used to use on NFL coverage, which I watched for a couple of seasons in the 80s. Listening to this, I was struck by how real some of the instruments sounded when I'd previously thought that it was a lot of studio trickery and sequencing.

"Sunday Bloody Sunday" - U2

"Civil War" - Guns N'Roses
- One of my favourite GNR songs.

"Adagio for Strings" - OK, it wasn't the Platoon version but this is stirring stuff. I'm pretty sure this was used at the end of the Pete Weir film Gallipoli, which is on of my favourite war films. Interesting then that this song segued into "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda", which of course was about Gallipoli.

"Rich Man's War" - Steve Earle

"Roads To Moscow" - Al Stewart
- I'd only heard it before because it's been nominated on one of these playlists before.

"Brother In Arms" - Dire Straits - some wonderful epic guitar on this atmospheric track.

"Orange Crush" - R.E.M.

"Camouflage" - Stan Ridgway
- bought this single in my first year of listening to music

"19" - Paul Hardcastle - not my usual sound but yet another single I bought in my first year of listening to music. An interesting mix of technology and subject matter.
 
Thanks to @Mr Grumpy for doing a sterling job of launching and managing this playlist.
For a while, I thought that I was going to have to listen on YouTube, which to be honest, I probably wouldn't have bothered with.
It's Spotify or no play for me, I'm afraid.

Some great songs on here that I'd never heard before, the best of which was "Front Line" by Steve Wonder.

The others were:-

"The Grave" - Don McLean
"The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" - June Tabor
"Red Army Blues" - The Waterboys


Of the songs that I'd heard before, I enjoyed:-

"Two Tribes" - Frankie Goes To Hollywood - this brought back memories of the instrumental that they used to use on NFL coverage, which I watched for a couple of seasons in the 80s. Listening to this, I was struck by how real some of the instruments sounded when I'd previously thought that it was a lot of studio trickery and sequencing.

"Sunday Bloody Sunday" - U2

"Civil War" - Guns N'Roses
- One of my favourite GNR songs.

"Adagio for Strings" - OK, it wasn't the Platoon version but this is stirring stuff. I'm pretty sure this was used at the end of the Pete Weir film Gallipoli, which is on of my favourite war films. Interesting then that this song segued into "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda", which of course was about Gallipoli.

"Rich Man's War" - Steve Earle

"Roads To Moscow" - Al Stewart
- I'd only heard it before because it's been nominated on one of these playlists before.

"Brother In Arms" - Dire Straits - some wonderful epic guitar on this atmospheric track.

"Orange Crush" - R.E.M.

"Camouflage" - Stan Ridgway
- bought this single in my first year of listening to music

"19" - Paul Hardcastle - not my usual sound but yet another single I bought in my first year of listening to music. An interesting mix of technology and subject matter.
Sorry for the delay, 1st time and all that.
I thought the YT links would be fine but yea, a playlist is much better. Couldn't work out how to do a anony-mouse one on YT, noted that Spotify seems to be a sub favourite (is this a US thing?) so had a look at someone elses Spotify list and got the jist straight away. Set up a BM account (i use YT music for streaming) and tried my best. The platoon track was a shame. The OST really hits hard.

Because it's a playlist, I'll give it a few more spins before the week is out.
I look forward to the next contestant.....
 
Sorry for the delay, 1st time and all that.
I thought the YT links would be fine but yea, a playlist is much better. Couldn't work out how to do a anony-mouse one on YT, noted that Spotify seems to be a sub favourite (is this a US thing?) so had a look at someone elses Spotify list and got the jist straight away. Set up a BM account (i use YT music for streaming) and tried my best. The platoon track was a shame. The OST really hits hard.

Because it's a playlist, I'll give it a few more spins before the week is out.
I look forward to the next contestant.....
Most people on here have Spotify accounts.

Not using YouTube is not a snobbish thing though, it’s just a PITA that it cuts the audio as soon as you switch off the screen.
 
Thanks to @Mr Grumpy for doing a sterling job of launching and managing this playlist.
For a while, I thought that I was going to have to listen on YouTube, which to be honest, I probably wouldn't have bothered with.
It's Spotify or no play for me, I'm afraid.

Some great songs on here that I'd never heard before, the best of which was "Front Line" by Steve Wonder.

The others were:-

"The Grave" - Don McLean
"The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" - June Tabor
"Red Army Blues" - The Waterboys


Of the songs that I'd heard before, I enjoyed:-

"Two Tribes" - Frankie Goes To Hollywood - this brought back memories of the instrumental that they used to use on NFL coverage, which I watched for a couple of seasons in the 80s. Listening to this, I was struck by how real some of the instruments sounded when I'd previously thought that it was a lot of studio trickery and sequencing.

"Sunday Bloody Sunday" - U2

"Civil War" - Guns N'Roses
- One of my favourite GNR songs.

"Adagio for Strings" - OK, it wasn't the Platoon version but this is stirring stuff. I'm pretty sure this was used at the end of the Pete Weir film Gallipoli, which is on of my favourite war films. Interesting then that this song segued into "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda", which of course was about Gallipoli.

"Rich Man's War" - Steve Earle

"Roads To Moscow" - Al Stewart
- I'd only heard it before because it's been nominated on one of these playlists before.

"Brother In Arms" - Dire Straits - some wonderful epic guitar on this atmospheric track.

"Orange Crush" - R.E.M.

"Camouflage" - Stan Ridgway
- bought this single in my first year of listening to music

"19" - Paul Hardcastle - not my usual sound but yet another single I bought in my first year of listening to music. An interesting mix of technology and subject matter.
Just remember Frankie were really, for the most part, a Trevor Horn vehicle. Most of FGTH couldn't really play instruments, so he brought people in whilst they learnt their craft.
 
Just remember Frankie were really, for the most part, a Trevor Horn vehicle. Most of FGTH couldn't really play instruments, so he brought people in whilst they learnt their craft.
I'd say that's a little harsh and he was more a polisher of rough diamonds as good producers are.

Yes, he used session musicians but the band were well able to play. Especially live.
The bass player (mark) was top 9f his craft.
 
U2 - Sunday bloody sunday:
Raw. (an anagram of war eh!)
Fantastic stuff, drums are brilliant.

Travelin Soldier: The Chicks.
Lovely recording. Lovely voice. Lovely melody which doesn't get in the way Lovely everything.
Is this Country music? Have i found a C&W song i like?

U2: Miss Sarajevo (Couldn't find the studio version)
Great lyrics and Bono gets to open up! Superb. (and live as well :) )
Was that the declaration of rights at the end?

Glen Hansard: Take Heart
Heavy. Deep. Love the female cameo.

Stan Ridgeway: Camouflage
Legendary song. Proper story telling.

Paul Weller: Toy Soldiers
More of a sonic interlude/poem than a proper song. Not bad.

Stevie wonder: Front line
ooh, starts of a bit crunchy but then gets rolling. Proper SW grooving.
Nice bit of guitar on it as well. Sounds great.
Love the Jammin' at the end.

Idles: War
AAAAARRRRRRGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shades of Punk. Hard lyrics.
Great energy lol.

Don McLean: The Grave
Jeysus.
Shivers.
Just devastating.

Al Steward: Road to Moscow.
Foot tappin'
Guitar sounds sharp.
Lyrics are sharp.
Base is sharp. (!!!)
Vocals are sharp.
Well crafted quality.
Lovee the length of this. Epic.

Moving hearts: HIroshima. ( i thought this sounded like Christy, so was surprised when google confirmed it)
Crusty on speed lol.
Somehow its Irish folk set to ramming speed!
Works well and Crusty carries it well.
Would have like to hear the wind instruments a bit more.
Ok.

Jason Isbell: Dress blues.
I can see this being a solid choice for C/W fans.
It's ok, but nothing either special or disappointing.
Mostly harmless.

Elvis Costello: Shipbuilding.
Ooh, i love the Piano and trumpet on this. Jazz night grooves.
I am not a fan of Elvis' voice for the slow songs normally but he pulls this off.
Would love to hear a full fledged yodeller cover this.
But ooh, the trumpets are fab.
Sounds great to boot.

Sam Stone: John Prime.
I didn't remember Bob D in the list......
Crikey, big hard words in this one.
Hmm.

Steve Earle: Rich mans war
Ok. fairly harmless.

June Tabor: Waltzing Matilda
Acapello
She sings it very well but i do find it a little too sterile.
Wonderful words. Suits the acapello.
Great recording. Worth a second listen for sure.
In fact, a song that can grow on you. Great pick

FGTH: Two tribes
See my original OP.
Unfortunately, the 12" is not on spotify. (least i couldn't find it)
The 7" is great but the 12" is where the magic is.
Bass nirvana.

Bob Marley: War.
Hmm. Not sure about this one, feels like Bob just wanted an album filler.
Std reggae fare tbh.

GnR; Civil war:
See OP.
Just magnificent. GnR at the very best.
This is how heavy rock should be. Such a great single.
Turn up the volume!!!!

REM: Orange crush
Legendary.
Superbly crafted Pop.
The Bass is wonderful.

Paul Harcastle: 19.
Remember the era of Jive bunny and remixes?
This is that on a stick, but, done really well. (a flower in a dung pile).

Barber: Adagio for strings.
Classic, classical music.
Chilling, a perfect fade out for the Platoon soundtrack.
Also a piece of classical music which i feel is very accessible to non classical fans.

Abba: Waterloo.
It's ABBA. Get yer dancing shoes.
The recording is beginning to show it's age i think. Not the best SQ and a bit "Busy".

Dire Straits: Brothers in Arms.
Does Pop music get any better crafted than this?
Perhaps the best song in the playlist. Perhaps Dire Straits best track.
No introduction necessary.

Tom Waits: Hello Broke Luce.
WTF have i just listened to? lol
@RobMCFC Skip this one, its sweary!!!
Erm. Nuts. But fantastic.

Crusty Moore: Viva la Quinte (Live)
It's Crusty. It's Ronseal.
Fun, folky, beer chugging song :)
Well, fun, but has a bit of a sharp corner to it wrt Irish/Nazis etc.....
Reminds me of my mate who would sometime burst into folk song whilst out and about on site visits.

The Clash: Spanish Bombs.
Fans of the Clash will probably think its great.
Nothing special nor too offensive IMO.
Aged a bit imho. Has that "album filler" vibe to it like the Bob Marly one.
Another song about Franco following directly after Crusty. Odd coincidence given its on shuffle. hmm.
Forgetable really.

Gang of four: I love man in a uniform.
"I love to see you shoot" Quite so lol.
Great lyrics,
Great backing.
Not sure about the singer.
Great fun though and a good song.
Sounds great through the HIFI.

The Waterboys: Red Army blues.
Got me straight away this one.
Saxaphone is ace.
Song is superb. so well structured and great vocals.

Corb Lund: Sadr City
Ooh, this reminds me of something. Can't quite put my finger on it. Late 80's vibe i think (Lloyd and the commotions?....)
It's ok. Not sure about the singer tbh. He's a little flat.
Nice basslines in it.
iWouldn't turn it off if it came on the radio.
Not sure about the reverseing of the sound backing in the outro

The Boss: Devils Arcade
One to listen to the end because it forms a circle which falls apart if you focus on any one part.
I'm not a huge fan of Brucie, but this is a well formed track.
Great lyrics and the band does well.
Like the upfront presentation of Bruce as well. it suits
Drums kick!

------------------------------------------------------

End

Really enjoyed the suggestions here. Superb craft and quality is a common theme.
Fav: Al Stewart Road to Moscow. Absolute a+ song which has it all.
Worst: The Clash Spanish Bombs. Aged badly imho. Album filler and i never liked the clash much anyway.

Just for completeness I wasn't actually nominating Waterloo, I was using it as tongue in cheek example of their obsession with war. The nominated track was actually a lesser known one called Soldiers.
 
Just remember Frankie were really, for the most part, a Trevor Horn vehicle. Most of FGTH couldn't really play instruments, so he brought people in whilst they learnt their craft.
I'm sure Paul Morley was involved somewhere with these maybe in a journalist sense. I see Paul regularly walking up the spiral in Entrance C at the ground
 
U2: Miss Sarajevo (Couldn't find the studio version)
Great lyrics and Bono gets to open up! Superb. (and live as well :) )
Was that the declaration of rights at the end?

Never heard that version. The studio version is much more powerful, with Pavarotti capable of shaking you to the core.

It is on spotify, both as u2 with pavarotti, and under a moniker 'the passengers'. I would suggest sticking it on, it is worth it. When Pavarotti hits that note.. shivers

The declaration thing isn't in the original, so not sure about that. The whole thing is about a beauty pageant under fire, held as an act of defiance.

 
Never heard that version. The studio version is much more powerful, with Pavarotti capable of shaking you to the core.

It is on spotify, both as u2 with pavarotti, and under a moniker 'the passengers'. I would suggest sticking it on, it is worth it. When Pavarotti hits that note.. shivers

The declaration thing isn't in the original, so not sure about that. The whole thing is about a beauty pageant under fire, held as an act of defiance.


Added.
 
I'd say that's a little harsh and he was more a polisher of rough diamonds as good producers are.

Yes, he used session musicians but the band were well able to play. Especially live.
The bass player (mark) was top 9f his craft.
Not around the time of the first album he wasn't. Holly wasn't even the best singer in the band. They were getting there but not the quality Horn wanted.
 
I'm sure Paul Morley was involved somewhere with these maybe in a journalist sense. I see Paul regularly walking up the spiral in Entrance C at the ground

Think he helped set up ZTT, the label they were on, along with Horn and someone else who I can't remember. His then wife Claudia Brucken was another of the labels acts. I think technically he was also a member of the Art of Noise too.
 
I may be wrong about June Tabor on waltzing Matilda.
Listening to her on HPs, Wow. Beautiful and her pacing and phrasing perfect for the subject. ~Amazing.
 
I may be wrong about June Tabor on waltzing Matilda.
Listening to her on HPs, Wow. Beautiful and her pacing and phrasing perfect for the subject. ~Amazing.

When I first became familiar with this song my favourite version was by Joan Baez but when I heard this version I thought Baez's sounded slightly cliched in comparison. No vocal or production trickery (at least till the last few bars), nowhere to hide and all aspects have to be spot on, the unvarnished quality confers on the subject matter the dignity it deserves.
 
The thread is always open btw, for anyone that has idras for a theme..

Just jump in on a Monday and we can all chip in.
 
The thread is always open btw, for anyone that has idras for a theme..

Just jump in on a Monday and we can all chip in.

How about either (a) artists you think should have been big but weren't, or (b) douchebags who are/were big but you wish weren't.
 
How about either (a) artists you think should have been big but weren't, or (b) douchebags who are/were big but you wish weren't.
Option A coukd be an interesting one, with some obscure choices popping up. Depending on how we define 'big'.
 

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