Lost Soul: Barbara Jean English

The second in a series of soul classics that have fallen through the floorboards







I’m betting most of you will know I’m Living A Lie, a cracking 100mph Northern floorfiller – if you don’t, it’s available on a number of compilations – but the b-side of the UK issue on Contempo, Key In The Mailbox, is equally worthy of your attention.

This piece of sweet despair from 1972, like much femme soul, is no advert for feminism – you know why her key’s in the mailbox? “In case he should come by and the door’s locked” – but in terms of quiet drama, blind devotion and despairing, string-swept heartbreak, Key In The Mailbox has all the passion, fervour and intensity you could ask for.

2 or 3 quid should see you secure this record. Amazing.

Wee Cherubs demos

Someone describing himself as oldcherub, who I suspect is Martin Cotter, emailed to say of The Wee Cherubs:

Even rarer demos DO exist and I have them. I will post them infrequently as videos on Youtube. Starting TODAY!

That start is Poor Little Lost Soul:

Recorded before the 'Dreaming' single, one of four tracks on the 'Rainforest' demo which was recorded in Park Lane Studios in Glasgow South Side. I have no idea what this song is about. The video is a collection of various free source materials to keep you entertained which you listen.

I hope you enjoy it. And is that a young Tommy Cherry on the merry go round at 0:58-0:59? Why, I think it is.

The same song uploaded by Oldfinger, comes with this explanation:

In the early 1980's I played in a non-influential Indie band in Glasgow, called Wee Cherubs. I was privileged to play alongside Christine Gibson (bass) and Graham Adam (drumbs). This is an unreleased demo which I think was one of the first songs we ever recorded (at Park Lane Studios, Glasgow). I have no idea what this song is about, which is surprising, since I wrote it. But then, the 1980's were my 1960's ;)...I put together a collage of various clips for your viewing enjoyment while you listen to this reverb-y thing.

I suspect that Oldcherub and Oldfinger have never been seen in the same photo together.

The Bats: My Way

The request came from Kris:

hey! you wouldn't have the first bats ep? i'd like to hear "my way" which is the only track not on
Compiletely. unless it's a sinatra cover...

Photo credit

I do have it, it’s not a Sinatra cover and now, for The Bats completists, it’s right here.

I’ve said in the past that Sneaky Feelings are my favourite Flying Nun band. I think, more accurately, I like the idea of the Sneaky Feelings more than I like the idea of any other Flying Nun band. Their music is still fantastic, of course, but the one FN band I’ve played more than any other over the years is The Bats.

Their first ep, By Night, isn’t a great start – you’d have to wait until the next release, (And Here Is) Music For The Fireside! for a real classic – but subsequent releases, especially the Daddy’s Highway album and the North by North ep (particularly those three songs on the b-side), are among my most treasured records.

The Bats have a new album due out in the (northern) autumn (label to be confirmed, last I heard) and will be touring the UK with Minisnap.

The Hangover Lounge

A brand new club for you all to recover from the excesses of the night before, The Hangover Lounge opens at 1pm on Sunday May 25 and every Sunday thereafter. Your hosts for this social are Tim Hopkins (he was in The Visitors! now he's in The First Division!), John Jervis (he runs the WIAIWYA label, featuring Sportique, Girlfrendo, Marine Research, Action Biker, Airport Girl and many, many more!) and me (fuck all!).


For the Sunday after a Saturday night’s drinking, The Hangover Lounge gives you a reason to get out of bed in the afternoon.

A soft comedown club for hard drinkers, The Hangover Lounge is the place to eat Sunday lunch, drink hair of the dog, meet like-minded souls, read the papers and make idle chit chat all to some soothing sounds. That might mean country rock or deep soul or psychedelia or soft pop or lovers rock, or anything else which sounds great and will make your head feel so much the better.

Guest DJs (all famous and legendary) are lined up in the coming weeks. If you fancy a turn DJing, email thehangoverlounge(whether or not you're famous or legendary) and we'll work something out. Marvellous.

WHAT: THE HANGOVER LOUNGE
WHERE: 58 Penton Street N1 9PZ (Corner of Chapel Market)
WHEN: SUNDAYS 1pm-7pm, starting May 25.
FREE ENTRY

Lost soul: Please Mr Sun

The first in a series of soul classics that have fallen through the floorboards








The a-side, The World Is Coming To A Start, is a good song, but you only have to flip this over and hear the awkward little Hammond kick at the start to know that Please Mr Sun is truly something special.

The smoky organ, and the mixture of laidback summer soul and late-night urgency puts Please Mr Sun right up there with the best of Barbara Lewis (yes, put this song next to Hello Stranger and Someday We’re Gonna Love Again and Think A Little Sugar, and it’ll hold its own even in that prestigious company).

Jackie Jason appeals to all of the forces of nature (“whisper to her, Mr Wind”; “babble to her, Mr Brook”) to help persuade his lady to return to him. Towards the end of the song, he’s pleading, down on his knees (“please please please Mr Sun") in classic James Brown style.

There's no date on the label, but 1970 seems about right to me. And you know what? You can still find this record for a fiver.

Paul Chastain speaks

At no point does your host like to make capital of the fact that he has many Great Pop Mates (hello, Phil Wilson) but modesty will not prevent me from mentioning that PAUL CHASTAIN EMAILED:

Nines and Bag-O-Shells singles are available at parasol for your readers to whom you were offering the MP3s. I thought maybe you would pass the availability info along.

A Nines compilation is being figured out now and will hopefully come out soon.

Well, if you didn't download the Nines ep in March last year, here's your chance to own this rarity at the knock-down price of $20.50. There's also the second Bag-o-Shells ep, Pocketbook (by the way - and forgive me for namedropping - I asked rock legend Ian Cowen, Pocketbooks guitarist, if his band were named after this song; he looked at me blankly and asked if I could spare some money for a beer).

This Bag-O-Shells ep and the previous Markers single are the best things - and the competition is stiff - that Paul Chastain has done. Right. Go forth and purchase.

The Very Most

The Very Most have the crisp, sweetly melodic guitar pop of Belle and Sebastian in 1996, the quirky keyboard stylings of Quasi, the anthemic, ringing jangle of Big Star and the knock-kneed, gauche 60s girls’n’guitars direction of The Aislers Set (I'm thinking of the straight-up pop greatness of The Last Match album).

Their second album – 4 years in the making! – Congratulations Forever, is out now. There’s a website all about it. The Very Most’s Jeremy Jensen emailed me some mp3s saying, “I think you’ll really dig it.” I second that emotion.

Good Fight Fighting

Spilt, Spilt Milk