With Volume 8 in this series, there are, as always, a number of well known artists (The Who, Spencer Davis Group, The Rolling Stones), people who went onto be more famous in other groups (The Remo Four included two members who would go on to be in Ashton, Gardner & Dyke) and those who only found belated fame on psych compilations released many years after the event. I used a few more Mono mixes in here including ‘King Midas In Reverse’ which for my money sounds so much better with that mix than in stereo. All that phrasing spoils the song for me.
Disc 1
Atmospheres – Wimple Witch
I’ll Be Late For Tea – Blossom Toes
All So Long Ago – The Sweet Feeling
Second Production – Mike Stuart Span
Never Care – Eyes Of Blue
Tread Softly For The Sleeper – The Hi-Fis
In The Deep End – The Artwoods
Sycamore Sid – Focal Point
Am I Glad To See You – The In Crowd
Something To Write About – Circus
I Can See For Miles (Mono) – The Who
Day & Night – The Drag Set
‘Cos It’s Over – The Summer Set
We Love You (Single Version) – The Rolling Stones
In the First Place (Original Abbey Road Mix) – The Remo Four
Nobody Know Where You’ve Been – The State Of Mickey & Tommy
Nightmare – The Gass Company
She – Tuesday’s Children
She Was Perfection – Murray Head
Sanity Inspector (Single Mix) – The Spencer Davis Group
Time & Motion Man – Episode Six
Cheadle Health Delusions – Felius Andromeda
Lullaby – Grapefruit
Busker Bull – The Truth
Magician – The Amazing Friendly Apple
Disc 2
Loneliest Person – The Pretty Things
Armenia City In The Sky (Mono) – The Who
In Another Land (Single Version) – The Rolling Stones
Something a little bit different here and a compilation I put together that is named after a book by Arthur C Clark (with an extra ‘A’ added, because it sounded better to me that way). The book actually has nothing to do with music, but I always liked the title and fancied making a chill out playlist that would share the title. This was inspired by a CD an old flat of mine had. The Ministry of Sound and their ‘The Chill Out Sessions 2” which came out in 2001. I have not been one for these mix CDs as normally I like to hear the songs start and finish without another song coming in over the top. Well, this changed with this compilation.
I have taken some of the mixes that were made for the ‘Chill Out Session’ CD and made my own by adding songs of a similar nature to the playlist. Not only did I take some songs from there, but from a few other Chill Out CDs I had in the collection. These included number of tunes from the ‘Late Night Session’ series. Anyway, it is time to sit back, relax and float downstream. That could make a good lyric for someone.
Disc 1
Music For The Funeral Of Queen Mary – Wendy Carlos
Here With Me – Dido
Since I Left You – The Avalanches
Daydream In Blue – I Monster
Bentley’s Gonna Sort You Out – Bentley Rhythm Ace
Giving Up – Hairy Diamond
Worth It – Skinny
So Easy – Röyksopp
Drifting Away – Faithless
Erase/Rewind – The Cardigans
Kelly Watch The Stars – Air
My Friend – Groove Armada
Sweet Harmony – The Beloved
American Dream – Jakarta
Slip Into Something More Comfortable – Kninobe
Give It Away – Zero 7
Because (Vocal Only Mix) – The Beatles
Utopia (Genetically Enriched) – Goldfrapp
Fear & Love – Morcheeba
Les Fleur – 4Hero
Disc 2
Another Green World – Eno
Connjur – School In Seven Bells
Woman – Karen O
I Won’t Hurt You – Anja Garbarek
La Fille De La Ligne 15 – The Limiñanas
Eple – Röyksopp
Keep Asking – Vangelia
Love Song – Olivia Newton-John
Orleans – David Crosby
Everloving – Moby
Breathe – Open Door
At The River (Q Magazine Edit) – Groove Armada
Game Love – Gulp
Some Men – Darkel
4:33 – Nils Frahm
Missing Photos – Last Days
Pyramid Song – Radiohead
In The Waiting Line – Zero 7
Should I Stay – Gabrielle
Passing Through – Rare Bird
Invisible – Grouper
Shine – Slowdrive
Wind Drive (Alternate Tag Section) – The Beach Boys
The cover is taken from the Twitter account, Images That Could Be Album Covers (@ImagesAlbum).
I had heard of Crowded House when their song and debut UK hit, ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over’ came out in 1986. This was in a period when I didn’t buy much music and so I must have heard it on the radio or one of the few TV Chart Shows we had in the UK at the time. I liked the song but not enough to buy it. Roll on five years to 1991 when I heard the song ‘Fall At Your Feet’. At the time, this sort of well crafted melodic pop song was not the sort of thing I was listening to. Guitar gods such as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Peter Green were pretty much all that was being played around this period. I took a punt and popped along to Music Inn in Ashford (Middx), another of the great lost record shops of my youth and duly picked up a copy of the parent LP.
Putting the vinyl on the deck, I was almost put off playing anymore by the albums opening song, Chocolate Cake. I really didn’t understand what this song was going on about, and how was Tammy Bakker they kept going on about? Turns out she was married to disgraced TV evangelist Jim Bakker but as this was before the days of widespread internet, I only found this out later. It was also the albums lead single which ended up pretty much losing the band its American fan base. Crowded House had been a lot more successful Stateside than the UK with their first two albums but ‘Woodface’ would change all of this. The rest of the alum was stunning, with a set of beautiful songs that lasted stayed in the memory. This album was also quite long for an LP clocking in at over 47 minutes. Not a minute wasted either (apart from Chocolate Cake, and in time Weather With You, a song I grew tired of quite quickly).
What I didn’t realise at the time is that this album should not have sounded like this. Neil Finn, the band’s main songwriting had delivered an album that the record company had refused to release. Neil had been working on material with his brother Tim for an album that they would release under the moniker of the Finn Brothers. Neil asked Tim if he could use some of this material for the next Crowded House album, with Tim saying yes as long as he could become a member of the band. The Finn brothers had already been in the band Split Enz. Tim later said he was joking, but Neil took him at his word and Tim became a member, if only for a short time. I actually had a go at recreating this lost LPs back in January of 2022 (https://www.thesquirepresents.co.uk/crowded-house-tim-finn-1989-1991/).
In time, I would buy the two proceedings album, ‘Crowded House’ and ‘Temple of Low Men’. Neither of these would have the impact on me that ‘Woodface’ did and they did not get a lot of airtime. I missed out on the release of their forth album, ‘Together Alone’ as I feel it just passed me by. 1993 was the beginnings of the Britpop era and that was taking all of my attention. What swung me around to possibly my favourite album by them was the fact that during my University days, I ended up working in an Off License that had a CD player in it. One day a copy of ‘Together Alone’ appeared and from then on I was hooked. A bit different from the albums that preceded it but still full of beautiful songs with well crafted melodies and neat hooks. The band unfortunately split up in 1996 and even though they have reformed and released a number of albums since, none of these have graced my record collection. I’m not sure why. It must just be down to the fact that I am not a great fan of bands that reform and release new music. The Small Faces and Smashing Pumpkins being other examples. The spark they once had is no longer there.
My one regret is that I did not get to see the band live during their first incarnation, especially when Tim Finn was in the line up. Live music also passed me by at that point. I either spend the money on records or going to the gig. I pretty much exclusively spent my money on the records.
Disc 1
World Where You Live
Love You ‘Till The Day I Die
Something So Strong
Hole In The River
Now We’re Getting Somewhere
Don’t Dream It’s Over
Tombstone
Can’t Carry On
Sister Madly
When You Come
Fame Is
There Goes God
Four Seasons In One Day
Tall Trees
Its Only Natural
Fall Out Your Feet
Whispers & Moans
As Sure As I Am
She Goes On
Into Temptation
All I Ask
How Will You Go
Better Be Home Soon
On my mix of ‘How Will You Go’, the hidden song of ‘I’m Still Here’ was edited out. Unfortunately, Spotify does not give me the option to do this. It does make the end of this playlist a little disjointed.
Disc 2
Kare Kare
In My Command
Nails in My Feet
Black & White Boy
Scared Cow
Instinct
I Love You Dawn
Fingers Of Love
Pineapple Head
Skin Feeling
Locked Out
Catherine Wheels
Walking On The Spot
Time Immortal
Distant Sun
Help Is Coming
Not the Girl You Think You Are
Private Universe
Together Alone
As far as I can tell, nearly all of the bands LP artwork was produced by the bands bass player, Nick Seymour. Art, like music is subjective and I am not great fan of what he has produced down the years. So I took a shot of the band when Tim Finn was a member and tried to emulate the minimalist approach record companies took in the mid 90s when it came to sleeves as the artwork needed to fit into a CD and/pr cassette box and this is what I came up with.
To round out the month, here is Volume 7 of my Psych Years playlists. Unlike previous efforts, this one did not use any of the compilations I have purchased down the years as a base but it does focus on the latter years of the scene. The Rolling Stones, Arthur Brown, Family, Eric Burdon, Al Stewart and early Fairport Convention (where they were a Jefferson Airplane type band instead of the folk behemoth they became) could well be the most famous names here but there are a number of acts where members went on to be more famous elsewhere. These include The Idle Race (Jeff Lynne of ELO), Simon Dupree & The Big Sound (Gentle Giant), The Gods (Greg Lake of ELP & King Crimson) and One In A Million (Jimmy McCulloch (Wings and The Small Faces).
Disc 1
The River – Octopus
Too Much On My Mind – The Gates Of Eden
A Strange Light From the East – Tuesday’s Children
Shades Of Orange – The End
Double Sight – One In A Million
Riding A Wave – Turnstyle
Evil Woman – Guy Darrell
I Can See The Sky – Fire
Everyday Is Just The Same – The Moan
I Read You Like An Open Book – The Tages
Good Job With Prospects – Actress
Follow Me – The Fruit Machine
Daydream Girl (Album Version) – Billy Nicholls
Two Little Ladies – The Crocheted Doughnut Ring
Sage Of Wrinkled Man – Fortes Mentum
Never Had Girl Like You Before – The Misunderstood
In The Valley of The Shadow Of Lone – Tuesday’s Children
Love – Virgin Sleep
Dear Delilah – Grapefruit
All The Love In The World – Consortium
Where Dragons Guard The Doors – Mortimer
Turn Into Earth – Al Stewart
I Am Nearly There – Denis Couldry & The Next Collection
The First Step On The Moon – The Cape Kennedy Construction Company
Felix – Andwella’s Dream
Daytime Girl (Coda) – Billy Nicholls
Disc 2
Haunted – Peter Thorogood
(Who Planted Thorns In) Miss Alice’s Garden – The Explosive
Gratefully Dead – Eric Burdon & The Animals
Hot Smoke & Sassafras – The Mooche
On Love – Skip Bifferty
Knocking Nails In My House – The Idle Race
Crazy Dreams – The Searchers
Ballad Of Harvey Kaye – East Of Eden
The Way (Single Version) – July
Mellowing Grey – Family
Peter’s Birthday (Black & White Rainbows) – World Of Oz
One interesting factor regarding archive releases has been the amount of demos and acetate recordings that have surface. For those who have not heard of an acetate, they are discs that look like vinyl records but they are not and they are not accurately named because an acetate disc does not contain any acetate. They are an aluminium disc covered in a nitrocellulose lacquer. An engraving machine is used to transfer the recording on to the disc. This process was more common before the widespread use of magnetic tape but it was also used by musicians to take a copy of what they had produced in the studio home with them, either to hear what the song sounded like on their turntables or as a way of shopping that song around to labels and/or music publishers.
The most famous acetate recording is arguably ‘It Might As Well Rain Until September’ by Carol King. King had written the song with her then husband, Gerry Goffin for Bobby Vee. However, Vee’s management did not want to release the song as a single but Don Kirshner, music publisher and the man behind The Monkeys heard Kings’ version and released it on his Dimension record label. The record was a reasonable hit in the USA and quite a big one in the UK, but the song was not recorded to tape. It was a demo recorded to acetate which is why it does not sound as good compared to other recordings of the era, especially in the digital age.
For some artists, the only evidence that they recorded anything could well be an acetate because even though they have made the original recording to tape, that might have been wiped or lost in the years since. Even for well known artists, acetates can be the source of an interesting recording, be it and alternative mix or otherwise lost recording. However, acetates are not designed for heavy use and the lacquer starts to wear out after about ten plays. Modern technology can only do so much to improve the sound but it has been great to at least have the opportunity to hear recordings that would otherwise have been lost.
This, Volume 6 in my look at the Psychedelic Years, includes many recordings that were taken from demos and acetates. One of the rare exceptions that isn’t is ‘Love Make Sweet Music’ by Soft Machine. The reason for that is down to the sound of the recording fitting better here than my usual compilations. Many of these tracks come from the ‘Psychedelic Schlemiels’ series which sought out recordings from bands who were all but unknown to anyone who did not have extensive knowledge of obscure names on gig posters for venue listings from the music papers from the era. Another source for tracks was the compilations released by RPM that looked at artists signed to Apple Music. The rest are made up of bonus tracks from band specific archive releases and the awesome Jesse Harper album (real name Doug Jerebine) ‘Guitar Absolution In The Shade Of A Midnight Sun’, arguably one of the great lost albums of any era.
Out of the all of the bands represented on this compilation, most disappeared in obscurity but not all. Soft Machine, one of the pioneers of prog rock as well as jazz fusion and The Iveys, who changed their name to Badfinger had some success during their lifetimes. There are some rough diamonds to be found in these recordings but it is important to remember that the source of the majority of these recordings come from sources with plenty of surface noise.
It is the fifth month so it must be time for Volume 5 in my series of collections looking back at the Psychedelic Years. Like previous efforts, this one is a collection of well known bands mixed with a lot of obscure (some would say very) artists. The better known include The Rolling Stones with a song from their underrated psychedelic effort, ‘Their Satanic Majesties Request’. Fairport Convention were not always the folk rock band and their first record was closer to the Jefferson Airplane than the songs they found at Cecil Sharp House. Genesis also make an appearance in their pre-prog days with a song from their much maligned debut album. Personally, I really like this record.
On the other side, we Bobak, Jons, Malone which included cult producer Will Malone in their ranks. Jessie Taper makes an appearance with ‘Fall Down’ taken from the ‘Guitar Absolution In The Shade of The Midnight Sun’ album. Lifted from the only known acetate of this record, this is possibly the greatest unreleased album of all time. Andy Ellison was a member of the infamous John’s Children before going soloing Kippington Lodge featured a pre-fame Nick Lowe.
More of the same next month.
Disc 1
S. F. Sorrow Is Born – The Pretty Things
Care Of Cell 44 – The Zombies
Tarot (Ace Of Wand Theme) – Andrew Bown
Jenny Artichoke – Kaleidoscope
The Castle Has Fallen – The Ghost
Sueno – The Truth
It’s Alright Ma, It’s Only Witchcraft – Fairport Convention
The Eagle Flies On Friday – The Exception (UK)
Silver Tree Top School for Boys – The Beatstalkers
Good Times – Eric Burdon & The Animals
2000 Light Years From Home – The Rolling Stones
Boy Meats Girl – Paper Blitz Tissue
I Wonder Where My Sister’s Gone – Anán
Trip On An Orange Bicycle – Orange Bicycle
Let’s Live For Today – The Living Daylights
Nodnol – The Spectrum
Hey! Mr. Carpenter – The Fox
Shout It – Kate
And Life Goes On – The Mirage
Fairylights – Bent Frame
Love & Best Wishes – The Uglys
With A Little Help – World Of Oz
Sylvie – The Hills
Lord John – The Bobcats
On A Meadow Lane – Bobak, Jons, Malone
Sunshine – Gun
Disc 2
Rainbow Chaser – Nirvana (UK)
Hey Conductor – The League
I’m Flying – Serendipity
Colour Of My Mind – The Attack
Flight From Ashiya – Kaleidoscope
Wildflowers – The Holy Mackerel
Lydia Purple – Dunn & McCashen
In The Beginning- Genesis
Fall Down – Jesse Harper
House Of Many Windows – Motherlight (Bobak, Jons, Malone)
The summer months are almost upon us so what better time is there to present a compilation looking at the period in the mid 60s where music makers from the USA* were producing tunes that reflected the then more innocent age. There are songs about cars, mopeds, having fun, girls (and boys) and there are hints at the more reflective music that would become more prevalent later int he decade. ‘Guess I’m Dumb’ by Glen Campbell being a good example of that. Brian Wilson’s finger prints are all over this compilation as well. He was churning out so much music in the mid 60s that he recorded with more than just The Beach Boys. These included The Honeys which featured his future wife, Marilyn, within their ranks. The songs by The Survivors, the aforementioned Glen Campbell as well as Jan & Dean have Wilson’s fingerprints all over them.
Future Beach Boys collaborators, Bruce Johnson and Terry Melcher are also represented here, not only under their own names (Bruce & Terry) but as The Rip Chords. Harry Nilsson and Phil Spector are both represented by their writing credits on the song ‘This Could Be The Night’ by The Modern Folk Quartet. Phil Spector also produced the original version of ‘Chapel of Love’ by Darlene Love. This was not released until 30 years after it was recorded. There are numerous other artists, some more well known than others but whenever I play this, it always makes me think of summer.
Disc 1
Let’s Dance – Chris Montez
Johnny Angel – Shelley Fabares
Walk Don’t Run ’64 – The Ventures
Surf City – Jan & Dean
Kick That Little Foot Sally Ann – Road Robin
I Get Around – The Beach Boys
Not The Lovin’ Kind – Dino, Desi & Billy
Three Window Coupe – The Rip Chords
Little Honda – The Hondells
I Live For The Sun – The Sunrays
That’s The Way The World Has Got To Be (Part 1) – Chris Lucey
For You – Rick Nelson
Anywhere The Girl Are – The Fantastic Baggys
Another Saturday Night – Sam Cooke
Strange Love – Darlene Love
Rising Sun – The Deep Six
Everybody Loves A Clown – Gary Lewis & The Playboys
The Big Beat – Bob & Sheri
I’m A Drifter – Joe & Eddie
Meet Me Tonight Little Girl – Philip & Stephan
The Night Has A Thousand Eyes – Bobby Lee
Man With Money – The Everly Brothers
Summer Means Fun – Bruce & Terry
Smokey Joe’s – Donna Loren
Let Me Be – The Turtles
You Say Pretty Words – Ramona King
So Hard To Find – The Critters
Guess I’m Dumb – Glen Campbell
I Can’t Help But Wonder Where I’m Bound – Dion & The Wanderers
Baby What You Want Me Top Do? – Bob & Bobby
This Could Be The Night – The Modern Folk Quartet
Keep On Dancing – The Ronettes
Land Of The Free – Bonnie & The Treasures
Disc 2
Pamela Jean – The Survivors
Ride Away – Bob & Sheri
Walk Right In – The Moments
Twistin’ The Night Away – Sam Cooke
Hey Little Cobra – The Rip Chords
Tell ‘em I’m Surfin’ – The Fantastic Baggys
Dream For Sale – Joey Paige
The Rebel Kind – Dino, Desi & Billy
Roses & Rainbows – Danny Hutton
That’s How It Goes – Joey Heatherton
Somebody Groovy – The Mamas & The Papas
Haloween Mary – P. F. Sloan
They’re Jealous Of Me – Doona Loren
The Birds & The Bees – Jewel Akens
Many Are The Times – Lee Mallory
Over You – Paul Revere & The Raiders
I’m Sweet On You – Tina & The Mustangs
June Bride Baby – The Goldbriars
The Sh-down Down Song (You Better Leave Him Alone) – The Ginger-Snaps Dandee Dawson
Deep Purple – Nino Tempo & April Stevens
I’m Through With You – Mark V
He’s A Doll – The Honeys
The End – Ian Whitcomb
This Diamond Ring – Gary Lewis & The Playboys
Baby I See You – Deana Martin
Eve Of Destruction – Barry McGuire
Bye, Bye, Bye – The Tikis
What Am I Going To Do – The Dovers
Call Me – Chris Montez
Baby Dear – Wildflowers
Chapel Of Love – Darlene Love
All Summer Long – The Beach Boys
The cover art is adapted from one used by Andrew Sandoval for his podcast of the same name. If you have not heard any of the episodes, I would highly recommend it.
This compilation could not be reproduced on Spotify due to one or more songs not being listed don that platform.
*I think that is where all of the artists on this compilation were from anyway
It is the fourth month so it must be time for Volume 4 in my series of collections looking back at the Psychedelic Years. This one includes songs that could be said not to be psychedelic at all. For instance, ‘Baby, Come On’ is a bit of prog mixed with hard rock. ‘Over Under Sideways Down’ by The Yardbirds, freakbeat and ‘Except From A Teenage Opera’ by Keith West, a straight pop record. It all depends on what your definition of psych is and does it really matter as I think this compilation holds together quite nicely.
The first few songs on Disc 1 come from the ‘Circus Days’ compilation and there is the usual mix of well known artists (The Rolling Stones, Traffic, The Kinks), bands who were just starting out but would end being hugely successful (Genesis, The Bee Gees) and people in bands other than the one that made them famous (Jeff Lynne of The Idle but more famous for being in ELO). There is also quite a few artists on here who needed up not doing very much at all but let us with at least one memorable song.
Disc 1
Baby, Come On – Opus
Finding It Rough – Hat & Tie
Nobody Wants You Now – Los Brincos
Don’t Make A Sound – Kate
Mr. Jones – Apple
He’s A Dear Old Weatherman – Mark Wirtz
Girl From New York – Billy Nicholls
Phoebe’s Flower Shop – The Cortinas
Colour Sergeant Lillywhite – West Coast Consortium
Within’ The Night – Velvett Fogg
Love Me ‘Till The Sun Shines (BBC Session) – The Kinks
To end of this month, I present Volume 3 of my ‘Psychedelic Years’ compilations. This is the first one that did not take the majority of its tracks from one, or two compilations. The songs were from whatever was left over from the already used compilations, mixed in with tracks from more famous artists such as The Beatles. I have also used artists on more than one occasion which is something I normally try and avoid, but those tracks fit into the overall sound of the playlist.
Some musicians that appeared in bands here before going on to be more famous elsewhere include King Crimsons’ Robert Fripp (Giles, Giles & Fripp), Andy Summers from The Police (Dantallion’s Chariot), Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan & Roger Glover (Episode Six) and Dave Edmunds (Love Sculpture). Jimmy Winston was going the other way, having originally been in The Small Faces but here fronting his own band, Winston’s Fumbs.
Disc 1
My White Bicycle – Tomorrow
I Can Hear The Grass Grow – The Move
Father’s Name Was Dad – Fire
My Friend Jack – The Smoke
Fire – The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown
Magic Potion – The Open Mind
I See The Rain – Marmalade
Celeste – Donovan
Love Hate Revenge – Episode Six
It’s A Sin To Go Away – We All Together
Walking Through My Dreams – The Pretty Things
Listen To The Sky – Sands
Days Of Broken Arrows – The Idle Race
I Wish I Was Five – Scrugg
I Talk To The Wind (Version 2) – Giles, Giles & Fripp
Come On – The Atlantics
Madman Running Through the Fields – Dantallion’s Chariot
Real Crazy Apartment – Winston’s Fumbs
Word’s Enough To Tell You – The Mascots
Garden Of My Mind – The Mickey Finn
You Stole My Love – The Mockingbirds
Dance ‘Round The Maypole – The Acid Gallery
War Of Hands Of Time – The Masters Apprentices
In The Land Of The Few – Love Sculpture
Disc 2
Paper Sun – Traffic
Ginza Strip – The Executives
I Can See Through You – Episode Six
Venus – Shocking Blue
Candy – Cinnamon Quill
Time Seller – The Spence Davis Group
Vacuum Cleaner – Tintern Abbey
Tamaris Khan – The Onyx
Locked In A Room – The Poets
Butcher’s Tale (Western Front 1914) – The Zombies
Citadel – The Rolling Stones
Fire Bridge – The Move
Royston Rose – The Koobas
Season Of The Witch – Donovan
Come Back June – Pussy
A Girl Named Sandoz – Eric Burdon & The Animals
I Won’t Hurt You – Neo Maya
Loving Sacred Sacred – The End
Country Life – Blonde On Blonde
Feeling Easy – Billy Nicholls
This Wheel’s On Fire – Julie Driscoll With Brian Auger & The Trinity
By 1995, Quentin Tarantino was riding on the crest of a wave. He had received an OSCAR for writing the film Pulp Fiction, his film Reservoir Dogs was critical as well as financial success and his screenplays for True Romance as well as Natural Born Killers had only increased profile. Four Rooms was the only blip in this upward momentum. Posters for both Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs as well as their soundtracks graced the rooms of many of my fellow students when I was at University. It is the soundtrack albums that I am going to focus on here.
Film soundtracks at that time could be classed into two categories. The first was the one which had a soundtrack specifically written for it. These tended to be, but not exclusively, classical in nature. John Williams seemed to do quite a number of these but he did not have exclusive on this. Hans Zimmer, Danny Elfman and James Horner are but a few of the composers who produced film scores before the rise of Tarantino. Even Queen got in on the act when the scored Flash Gordon. The other was to take a few star names with a below par song they were looking to offload, some relative unknowns and some up and coming acts who were desperate for the exposure. These songs would be shoehorned into the film and then a soundtrack album would be released with the hope that they might shift a few units or that one song would become a massive hit. Top Gun, Mallrats and Cocktail are but a few I could have mentioned that fit into this category. Then there were the films of Tarantino.
These films had soundtracks of already released music, some of which had been used in other films that seemed to have been carefully considered beforehand. The choice of music was instrumental in some of the scenes. Look at the use of ‘Stuck in the Middle With You’ by Steelers Wheel in Reservoir Dogs. Would another piece of music have worked as well as that in that scene? There were also snippets of dialogue from the films that would sometimes, but not always, introduce the song that was about to be played. This was a man, it would seem, that took the music as seriously as he did the film he was going to make.
What I was looking to produce here was a compilation of songs from Tarantino films. These would also include some the dialogue as having played some of these soundtracks to death back when they were released, I find it difficult to listen to them without the actors in there as well. This compilations includes films from Reservoir Dogs up to Grindhouse.
Disc 1
Shaw Brothers Theme
‘Pumpkin & Honey Bunny’/Misirlou Amanda Plummer & Tim Roth/Dick Dale & his Del-Tones
Jungle Boogie – Kool & The Gang
Who Is He (& What Is He To You?) – Bill Withers
Son Of A Preacher Man – Dusty Springfield
Baby, It’s You – Smith
Natural High – Bloodstone
Strawberry Lette 23 – Brothers Johnson
‘And Now Little Green Bag’ – Steven Wright
Little Green Bag – George Baker Selection
Staggolee – Pacific Gas & Electric
‘Everybody Be Cool’ – George Clooney
Truck Turner – Isaac Hayes
‘Super Sounds’ – Steven Wright
Stuck In The Middle With You – Steelers Wheel
Jeepster – T.Rex
Foolish Heart – The Mavericks
Bustin’ Surfboards – The Tornadoes
Graceland – Charlie Sextion
Hooked On A Feeling – Blue Swede
You’re So Cool – Hans Zimmer
Sentimental Journey – Esquivel
Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time) – Delfonics
The Grand Duel (Parte Prima) – Luis Enrique Bacalov
Since I First Met You – The Robins
You Belong To Me – Bob Dylan
My Grudge Blues (Urami Bushi) – Meiko Kaji
‘Let’s Get A Taco’ – Harvey Keitel & Tim Roth
Disc 2
‘Kill The Band’ – Tom Savini
Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) – Nancy Sinatra
That Certain Female – Charlie Feathers
Surf Rider – The Lovely Ones
Rumble – Link Wray & His Ray Men
‘Jack Rabbit Slims Twist Contest’/You Never Can Tell Jerome Patrick Hoban & Uma Thurman/Chuck Berry
Coconut – Nilsson
Lonesome Town – Ricky Nelson
Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon – Urge Overkill
If Love Is A Red Dress (Hang Me In Rags) – Maria McKee
Street Life – Randy Crawford
Let’s Stay Together – Al Green
Run Fay Fun – Isaac Hayes
The Green Hornet Theme – Al Hirt
Battle Without Honour & Humanity – Tomoyasu Hotei
The Lions & the Cucumber Vampire’s – Sound Incorporated
Flowers One The Wall – The Statler Brothers
Across 110th Street – Bobby Womack
Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood – Santa Esmeralda
Summertime KIller – Luis Bacalov
The Flower Of Carnage – Meiko Kaji
The Lonely – Shepherd Zamfir
‘Ezekiel 25:17’ – Samuel L. Jackson
Both the title and the cover of this compilation were taken from an actual release from 1996 which was the inspiration for completing this in the first place.
This playlist could not be reproduced on Spotify because the it would seem that that platform has not secured the rights to the dialogue.