Oldies but Goldies

Decided to raid the music archives this week for my music pleasure.

First up was Billy Bragg and Workers Playtime. Being ever so slightly left of centre, some of Billy's songs which he recorded around the time of the evil witch were always good for singing along to while the country around us was falling to pieces, the so called UK government only concerned with the white middle and upper classes of southern England. Everybody above the Watford line had a heavy dose of industrial closures, unemployment, poll tax and all sorts of other disincentives to while their lives away. Twenty years on and what's changed the evil witch has been replaced by the smug wee liar.

Favourite song on the album has to be Waiting for the Great Leap Forward, though Rotting on Remand runs it pretty close.

And then a further trip down memory lane for one of Scotland's favourite sons, Alex Harvey, lead singer and tormentor of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band. It's one of my big musical regrets that I never made the effort to see Alex at his legendary, and regular, gigs at the Apollo in Glasgow. Some pals at school went to see him a couple of times and raved about the manic concerts.

My favourite album of the band is Next, probably because some of the lyrics and song titles were a bit dodgy for a 16 year old growing up in a house where the old dear and old man listened to David Jacobs on radio 2 and Val Doonigan and Perry Como on the record player.

Even remember a holiday with some mates in Arran where the DJ played Delilah but also Giddy Up A Ding Dong from the Next album. If that doesn't send the toes tapping then I suggest you see a doctor because you're probably in a coma. Still the highlight of Next is The Faith Healer. (Maybe something the smug wee liar should go and visit)