Hell's Belles

Vintage sounds, dusty grooves, and 21st-century freaks.

I’m in the process of putting together some tunes for Kitty’s work Xmas ‘do, which DD and I’ve been asked to DJ.  “They’d be looking for killer tunes which would get everyone on the dancefloor, so think popular stuff like Blondie, ’70s and ’80s surefire hits rather than obscure ’60s garage,” she sagely informed us.  It’s not often that we get a chance to play Duran Duran  at top volume, so we’re thoroughly looking forward to it.

The only slight problem is, sometimes my idea of “surefire hit” differs from the crowd’s.  I’m sure “Vacation” by the Go Go’s is the more popular song, but “Our Lips Are Sealed” is so much better.  Although I’m sure most party revellers would beg to differ, the B-52′s “52 Girls” is much better to dance to than “Rock Lobster”.

I’m also at a slight disadvantage, having spent the 80s in America, although I admit trying to memorize the British Top 20 section in the back of Rolling Stone (“Huh.  What’s up with this St. Winifred’s School Choir, anyway?”).  So when I asked facebook for some 80s recommendations from Blighty, the lovely Dollyrocker instantly piped up with “Rip It Up” by Orange Juice.

I only ever knew Orange Juice retrospectively, namely because Edwyn Collins had an indie hit with “A Girl Like You” when I first moved to the UK in 1995 and I remember people going pretty batty over it.  I liked the song too, but from the way NME were going on about it, I thought he must be a Beatle I didn’t know about or something.  These days, I’m still not much wiser about Orange Juice, except that I quite like what I’ve heard, and Edwyn Collins was quite the cutie back in the day.

In my efforts to find out a bit more, I stumbled upon the news that Domino released a mega boxset of Orange Juice material, compiled by the aforementioned cutie himself.  And, as forward-thinking indie labels are wont to do, they appear to have released a track to the blawgosphere, in the form of Felicity.  Bigger and cooler blogs than mine have already put the track out there, but stumbling upon this one reminded me of a superb version of the same song done by The Wedding Present for a Peel Session.  I came across that one on a Peel Session comp that appears to have been out of print for quite some time.  It was my first intro to bands like Babes In Toyland, Paris Angels, Pale Saints, and of course, The Wedding Present.

Anyway, compare and contrast.  The download link is enabled on the soundcloud player for the Orange Juice version.  Link to The Wedding Present version below.

Orange Juice – Felicity by hells-belles

The Wedding Present – Felicity (Peel Session) by hells-belles

The Wedding Present – Felicity (Peel Session) [MP3]

The Sharades – Dumb Head [MP3]

Freakbeat before freakbeat?  I love this tune.  It sounds like everyone involved in this recording did some serious whippits* before heading into the studio.

*DISCLAIMER: Please do not try this, unless you can guarantee Joe Meek at the mixing desk.

PS – DJing at All Star Lanes Holborn 8pm-2am tonight.  Get there early for the 2 for 1 cocktails.  Rare 50s/60s tunes early on, with singalong floorfillers in the latter half.  Keep on keepin’ on.

Solomon Burke’s 50+ year career was still going strong right up until his death on October 10th.  There’s not a lot I can say about one of the most incredible soul voices ever heard that hasn’t been said better elsewhere, so I’ll just list a few of the more unusual facts about our dearly departed Philadelphian King of Rock ‘n Soul:

• He (apparently) was the first black man to cover a Bob Dylan tune (Maggie’s Farm – it’s killer, and on the playlist here)
• He started out as a preacher, then moved over to gospel radio, before giving into rock and soul.
• His other job was as an undertaker, and he owned a mortuary business in Los Angeles.
• He has 21 children, 90 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren.

Rock in peace, Solomon Burke:

BLUES * SKA * GARAGE * SOUL * GIRLS

On Sunday, TT’s doing a vinyl set and scattering a frangrant pot pourri of quality ’60s sounds all over the dancefloor for about an hour around 6ish or 7ish at the Sunday afternoon/eve monthly at The Constitution, 42 St Pancras Way, Camden NW1.  It’s that lovely little boozer halfway between Camden and King’s Cross, set right on the canal.  £3 in and a great crowd.  Doors at 4.30, last orders at 10.30.

Your resident deck monkeys Jaybyrd Slim and Dapper D will be encouraging you to twist ‘n’ frug ‘n’ cut a rug, Simon, dame of the door will greet you with a wink and a smile and the cheap bar prices will leave some loot in your zoot suit.

In honour of the occasion, here’s a bit of Nitty Gritty – in French no less – from Marie Claire.  I ripped this from the Ultra Chicks CD series, long, long, deleted, but I’m sure it’s been comped elsewhere…

Marie Claire – Nitty Gritty by hells-belles