This Christmas must have gift

Every year there is a Christmas must have gift. In previous years it has been the ipod. Mp3 players are fantastic. It takes me right back to the Walkman days. Making compilations and wearing it wherever I go.

This year it is the Nintendo Wii. If another person says to me, "there is nothing more difficult than a Wii to get this Christmas." I will headbutt them and reply,"have you ever tried to get a copy of Ichabod and I by the Boo Radleys. Only 500 were pressed. That was on the Action label as well, hardly 'Now That's What I Call Christmas'."

So for everyone who can't get a Nintendo Wii, DS, Kindle, iphone or a Ben 10 action figure; here is Ichabod and I.

Boo Radleys : Ichabod and I
http://www.mediafire.com/?q4f49tn7u2tzyqd

I am still a little bitter that The Farm's 'Altogether Now' was not Christmas number 1 back in 1990.

Spitfire - Feverish

For a very short time my musical life was set alight by Spitfire. In a very Ride way they released their first two EPs as a mini album. Their music was a retro indie, which is probably best shown in their cover of the theme from 'Six Million Dollar Man'.

They had an ironic Rock and Roll image. This was their downfall. You can have a laugh, but there is taking it too far. When I saw them they had a couple of dancing girls in catsuits that appeared at the beginning and end of the set.

At the time the Spitfire look was very easy to achieve. If you walked into any charity shop and grabbed yourself a leather hacking jacket, you were there. This was in the days before the over priced 'vintage' clothes shops.

Spitfire : Feverish
http://www.mediafire.com/?2xdjztp6k4vyztz

Five Thirty; about time too

Amazon.com is a great source of inspiration for blog posts. Budding bloggers write reviews and it is generally well informed. I thought that I would look for some more Five Thirty. When I saw the price of their only album 'Bed' was nearly 3x more than a new CD, I was amazed.

I know it is a great album. Less than a year after it was released it was in the bargain bucket of 'Our Price'. I used to fish it out and put it back on the shelf.

Five Thirty were way ahead of their times. They had the whole mod thing going on, while Ocean Colour Scene were still very indie. There adrenaline fuelled songs and energetic live performances were out of keeping with all the indie kids. They were all still blissed out at the love-in. When I saw Five Thirty the crowd went into a frenzy. It was one of the sweatiest and crushing gigs ever!

Five Thirty : Bed

http://www.mediafire.com/?qerho5jk15e558h

Everything's Alright until Britpop

Next up for the 'Boomtown Rats Award' for having a hit that eclipses everything that you will ever do after, is a band that were talented and criminally underrated (that is the most over used word here). They are Wirral's favourite sons the Boo Radleys.

They sat at the fringes of indiedom for years, only known to a few listeners of the John Peel show. They were nick named by Creation Records as the Do Badleys. There first album was the very low key Ichabod and I, released on the obscure 'Action' label.

Next was my own personal favourite Everything's Alright Forever, released after they signed to Creation. It is a psychedelic shoegazer classic, we fondly called it 'Everything's Alright when you had a shed load'. Saturated in fuzzy guitars a work of genius. It is the sort of record that you can have very long discussions about, such is the depth of the songs.

Boo Radleys : Everything's Alright Forever
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=0T54EVJH

'Giant Steps' their third release was by comparison under produced. It has their greatest single included in the form of 'Lazarus'. This is a BIG song, the guitars, the brass and the wall of sound. This is what I remember as their grand finale.

Boo Radleys : Giant Steps
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=XA9WJP4E

After this they sold their soul to Britpop, Wake Up was a commercial success. The title track Wake Up Boo was used as the theme on ITV's Breakfast TV. The subsequent releases once again could not build on their newly found followers. The original fanbase were already alienated, so it was back to obscurity for the Boo Radleys.
See This Christmas must have Gift for Ichabod and I

Can You Dig It?

The 'Boomtown Rats Award' for having a hit that eclipses everything that you will ever do after goes to the Mock Turtles. After years of gigging they had success with 'Can You Dig It'. Which for a short time only put them with the stars of the Madchester baggy scene. The follow-ups to the single were not so warmly recieved.

Their other work is more superior, in my opinion. 'Lay Me Down' and 'And Then She Smiles' were well crafted singles. Nothing could recreate the radio-friendly 'Can You Dig It'.

The Turtles split and reformed under different names. Song writer Martin Coogan wrote songs for Tony Ferrino; played by brother Steve Coogan (best known as Alan Partridge). Their swan song was revived for a Vodaphone advert.

The Mock Turtles : Two Sides
http://www.mediafire.com/?aa5aypka4a6kole











The Mock Turtles : Turtle Soup
http://www.mediafire.com/?51b3dp7clj5y0y2