SECRET SAUCES RADIO #020

Here are some notes on the twentieth Secret Sauces Radio show, which can be listened to on Mixcloud here...

SECRET SAUCES RADIO INTRO IDENT

The La's German interview excerpt

A bizarre interview after a performance of Feelin' on German TV. What do they think about Beebra? Watch it here.

1) JONI MITCHELL - Cotton Avenue

The opening track on Joni's 1977 LP 'Don Juan's Reckless Daughter', this track has an overture at the beginning on the album, which has been snipped off here.

Joni Mitchell unwisely donned blackface for the sleeve of this record, one of many weird instances of her doing so. In 2024, the album was given a different sleeve for digital and physical re-releases.

2) PRINCE - Something In The Water (Does Not Compute)

Taken from the 1982 album '1999'. An 'Original Version' was released on the 2019 super deluxe edition of the album, which is an alternate take.

3) ULTRAMAGNETIC MCS - Kool Keith Housing Things

From the classic 1988 debut album 'Critical Beatdown'.

4) VERVE - The Sun, The Sea

Before Ashcroft & co. had to add the definitive article to their name due to legal squabbles with record label Verve. Taken from their 1993 debut album 'A Storm In Heaven', recorded at Sawmills Studio in Cornwall by John Leckie.

Ian Brown threatens to knock out Steve Jones on TV

During a 2004 interview on T4 with Steve Jones, Ian Brown threatens to knock out the cocky presenter Steve Jones (not that one) while Clint Boon looks on in confusion. Classic. Watch it here.

5) IAN BROWN - Ice Cold Cube

Taken from his 1998 debut solo album 'Unfinished Monkey Business', a nice lo-fi record after the demise of The Stone Roses. This track was actually performed at the disastrous final Roses gig at Reading Festival in 1996 (in a very different arrangement - watch here), as it was intended for the unrealised third album. 'Ice Cold Cube' was a nickname given to Roses guitarist John Squire during the tense 'Second Coming' sessions, and the lyrics of this song are supposedly aimed at Squire.

6) WOOL - Medication (Single Version)

This is the earlier recording released as a b-side to Wool's debut single 'Little Darlin' in 1992. Later that year, a different recording appeared on their mini-LP 'Budspawn'. This single version which is only available on 7" physically, can be officially purchased on Bandcamp here as part of the 'Wake Up The World, Screaming At The Sky 1991-1996' compilation.

7) LIZ PHAIR - Rocket Boy

This song was released as a promotional single (and video) for the 1996 film 'Stealing Beauty' directed by Bernardo Bertolucci. It also appeared on the soundtrack album for the film on CD and cassette. Co-written by Material Issue's Jim Ellison, this song was considered for Phair's third LP 'whitechocolatespaceegg' but didn't make the final cut.

Morrissey refuses to open the door to Jools Holland

Morrissey appeared on 'Later... With Jools Holland' in 2004 to promote his album 'You Are The Quarry'. In an interview segment, Jools Holland attempts to tell Moz a knock, knock joke but Moz isn't having it. Watch here.

8) WEIRD NIGHTMARE FEAT. BULLY - Wrecked

METZ guitarist and vocalist Alex Edkins went solo under the moniker 'Weird Nightmare', with the eponymous debut album in 2022. This track features Sub Pop labelmate Alicia Bognanno (Bully) sharing vocal duties. Watch the music video of slo-mo dogs here.

9) DONITA SPARKS + THE STELLAR MOMENTS - Curtains For Cathy

From the only solo album, 'Transmiticate', from L7 guitarist and vocalist Donita Sparks (L7 drummer Dee Plakas also played drums in The Stellar Moments), in 2008 between L7's break-up and reformation. This album was self-released on CD on Sparks' SparksFly records, and available digitally as part of the now-defunct CASH Music initiative co-created with Kristin Hersh. Sparks has announced vague plans for a second solo record at various points over the years.

10) X - Holiday Story

From the 1987 album 'See How We Are', their first record (of two) recorded without guitarist Billy Zoom. Since Zoom's return, X has somewhat disowned the Zoom-less records (and their 1985 album 'Ain't Love Grand!', too) which is a shame. 'See How We Are' is a great record.

11) TEENAGE FANCLUB - December

Apparently, when Teenage Fanclub's 1991 album 'Bandwagonesque' album came out, various critics referred to it as 'Big Star's Fourth'. You can hear why, it's a spot-on rip-off of early Big Star.

12) THE STRANGLERS - Strange Little Girl

This single was released from/alongside the 1982 compilation 'The Collection 1977-1982', a contract fulfillment release to finish their EMI contract (EMI had acquired the band's catalogue on the United Artists and Liberty labels). It was an old song, being demoed as early as 1974. In fact, EMI rejected a demo with this song on it back then, and once they had acquired the band's catalogue they did not see them as a priority until the release of 'Golden Brown' as a single earlier in 1982. Apparently, with EMI's insistence of including a new single for the compilation, the band went back to record this rejected track. It then reached no. 7 in the UK singles chart.

Mike Love is a ladies man

The reviled Beach Boys front man is interviewed about his lifestyle, and comes out with "I am very much a ladies man, I admit to that, yes - life in prison as a ladies man". Cut to: a hatless Mike Love in a hot tub with a lady. Watch here.

13) DAS DAMEN - Pendant

Taken from Das Damen's classic second LP 'Triskaidekaphobe', released on SST in 1987.

14) GRANT LEE BUFFALO - Hyperion And Sunset

Taken from Grant Lee Buffalo's third LP, 'Copperopolis', released in 1996. Presumably referencing Sunset Blvd and Hyperion Ave in Los Angeles, CA. I've never been - I don't know if they intersect or not.

15) THE GOLDEN PALAMINOS - Dying From The Inside Out

The American 'supergroup' helmed by drummer Anton Fier, featured many different guest vocalists on their tracks. This song, taken from their 1991 LP 'Drunk With Passion' features Bob Mould screaming and howling and singing. Anton Fier had drummed on Bob Mould's two solo albums on Virgin, 1989's 'Workbook' and 1990's 'Black Sheets Of Rain'.

In 2022, Anton Fier died at the Pegasos Clinic in Switzerland, an assisted dying facility. He had no terminal illness, but the years of drumming had taken a toll on his body and prevented him from playing. In a letter to loved ones, Fier wrote: "I feel that I've done all that I can do in this life. I was never interested in living to be an old man unable to physically do what I love and did for a living... My father died at 42 and my mother at 52. I never expected or prepared myself to live this long and had no example of how to properly do so."

Rest In Peace Anton Fier 1956-2022.

Thanks for listening and reading. New 60 minute music mixes are uploaded to Mixcloud every Tuesday and I will post accompanying notes, with pointless trivia and endless links for you to enjoy.

See you next Tuesday!