Off The Beaten Track.

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Off the beaten track. no.492. Blondie-Hanging on the telephone(1978)

Off the beaten track. no.492. Blondie-Hanging on the telephone(1978)

One of the best punk singles, or was it post punk by 1978. Sadly Clem Burke passed away in the last week. Excellent drummer, I also think apart from Debbie Harry he was the most kind of visibile member of the group and worked with many bands in the 80s and 90s. A good excuse to post this track which has been cleaned up and uploaded after 10 years of poor versions.

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Off The Beaten Track. no 493. Underworld-Pearls2 & Dark Train (2025)

At last a better version, most of the clips I have uploaded have been concert footage from the audience. So this concert shows how much their sound is developing in live formats. I did get the single of 'Pearls girl' but thought I would post this as its a better version than the original. I love the way the track fades out and then goes into Dark Train. When Underworld hit those anthem like notes they are stunning, I like the current live version as they perform the vocals together. Its probably around 14 minutes these two tracks. But its stunning, they need to release a live dvd concert.

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Off the beaten track no 494. Orbital Lush 3.1(2017)

Off the beaten track. No494. Orbital-Lush 3.1 & 3.2(2017)

So originally release in 1993 in the lead up to the Brown album, this has always remained one of my fave singles by the band. I am posting this as they are due to be re-releasing an expanded edition of the Brown Album next month. I think most of the material of it is already accessible and will not be as vast as the first album expanded edition. Will be interesting the expanded versions of 'Insides' and 'Snivilisation', in a weird way I will actually be looking forward to the blue era. I have to say there is alot to be said for re-releasing expanded editions, gets you into certain era's.

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Off the beaten track.no.30

Stone Roses-She Bangs the Drums- Demo Version.(1989)

I seem to have a collection called the lost tapes which has some really good versions. Very bassy and the bass playing is more higher in the mix. I did not get into stone Roses till quite late, when they came out they seemed to attract the chavs kind of element of fans, but when they went rock I re-evaluated their music. There are two tracks 'She Bangs the drums' and 'One Love'.

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Off the beaten track no.29

Waterboys- A girl called Johnny(1983)

This is from the self titled album that came out in 83, I think the early Waterboys music was essentially a bit of everything. But the folk and Irish sound was to come later. Everyone links them with the 'Whole of the Moon', which was on the album 'This is the sea'(85). but when that album was released the press were focusing on the title track. This track features Karl Wellinger who went on to form the band World Party, in fact Waterboys released a track called 'World Party' after he left the band. Karl Wellnger was responsble for the song 'She's the one' covered by Robbie Williams. I do not normally like Sax breaks on tracks but it works on this one. I will probably post more waterboys...

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Off the Beaten Track No.28

Dreadzone -Soundman(peel session)(1993)

Probably most well known for the track 'Little Britain' in about 1995. Dreadzone have been producing classy albums for well over 25 now. Originally formed from the ashes of Big Audio Dynamite. They gained exposure from peel and Glastonbury appearances. I think they are what I would describe an an electronic/dub band. The singer Earl 16 guests on the latest Rudimental album, which is on the deluxe edition version. I will post a link to that as its equally as good as this track.

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Off the beaten track No.27

Bauhaus-Ziggy Stardust(1982) Of all the gothic bands of the time. Bauhaus were right up there, like Bowie and the spiders they knew when it was time to split and they left behind a great body of work. Originally they were on 4AD but due to their success and the increase need for distribution they moved to Beggars Banquet. In 1983 the band split and Peter Murphy went solo and the rest of the band formed love and rockets before reforming in 2006. A band from my youth that I will never tire of.

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Off the beaten track No.27

Bauhaus-Ziggy Stardust(1982) Of all the gothic bands of the time. Bauhaus were right up there, like Bowie and the spiders they knew when it was time to split and they left behind a great body of work. Originally they were on 4AD but due to their success and the increase need for distribution they moved to Beggars Banquet. In 1983 the band split and Peter Murphy went solo and the rest of the band formed love and rockets before reforming in 2006. A band from my youth that I will never tire of.

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Off the beaten tracks No.24

Sly and Robbie-Weeping Willow

Not sure of the year of this track. It could possibly be a black uhuru remix. Quite like the stripped down dub of this track. There is so much material they produced , remixed , collabaated they must have spent half their lifes in the studio. Sounds really good with heavy bass.

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Seem to have a mix of the track from an unknown source, seems to have a driven drum sound backing it, making it alot better. Anyone know whats this is from?

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Off The Beaten track no.22

Prefab Sprout-Life of Surprises.(1990

The lyrics of the song say it all really. The music of prefab sprout, or should that be the song writing of Paddy Mcaloon is something that has always been there for me. The track itself came from an album called 'Protest Songs' that should have been released in 1986 but did not see the light of day until 89/90 due to record company delays. The fascinating thing for me is that most of prefab sprouts songs were wrote in 77-80 a good five years before they achieved success. Nowadays its just Paddy , slightly older in appearance but his voice still sounding so young.

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off the beaten track. No.21

Lindsey Buckingham-Go Insane(1992)

Sacked by Fleetwood mac today for tour demands. Lindsey Buckingham was one of the creative forces behind most of Fleetwood macs commercial successes. Normally people gravitate towards 'Rumours' as its probably the best known work, however his work on 'Mirage'(1982) and 'Tango in the Night'(1987) are better. he left fleetwood mac in 1987 to concentrate on a solo career. So he will probably revert back to that. Unique guitar player, excellent songwriter.

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Off the beaten track no.20

The Passions-I'm in love with German Film Star(1980)

A track that has been covered by Foo Fighters, pet shop boys and Dub Star and countless others over the years. It's almost like a stripped down dub track but it's the guitar and delay placed over it which makes the track. This is from the Peel Session so is more stripped down to basics. They were supporting the Cure around the time as they were on fiction records, they then split in 1983 as the band disbanded due to personal reasons. The Guitarist went onto work with David Bowie in Tin Machine and the Outside album.

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Off the beaten track no.19

Kate Bush-Babooshka (1980)

The good thing about Youtube is clips get published that have been dormant in archives, whether that be personal or broadcast abroad. This Kate Bush clip is from 1980 and only appeared about a year ago. She must have been aged 20 when this was recorded. With early Kate Bush there was a heavy emphasis on the performance and dance routines. In one of the comments someone says she looks possessed, I think she is caught up in the role or performance for the track. I find Kate Bush's music very similar to Peter Gabriel especially in the 80's, like use of technology and production. Sort of an artist I ignored for long periods, but constantly re-evaluating, always be remembered for 'Running up that Hill' but thast not her best track.

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Off the beaten track. No.18

Gus Gus-Lies are more Flexible (Kexp) (2017)

I have been posting a lot by this band. From Iceland and originally on 4AD in the late 90's, when they were more a musical collective , as much about the music and the visual back then. The band sort of split up and then reformed with a singer called Earth and released the album 'Attention'. Over the years band members have come and gone. The sound has gone from dance to a more electronic feel. I do not fully understand all the equipment used, but in basic terms he is playing a mix through separate channels. So in a way he is controlling various elements of the track, so in a way live mixing of the track. As there are changes in each live performance, no two performances are the same.

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Off the Beaten Track No.17

Muse-Hysteria/-Heartbreaker/Back in Black(2016 Glastonbury Version)

Muse were one of those bands that I seem to have tracks by, without getting the albums. They have been around since about 97/98. But I didnt really discover them until 2005. They remind me of Rush, sort of 3 piece who create this wall of sound. Matt Bellamy is probably one of my favrioute guitar players, or should that be effects driven guitarists. This version of Hysteria features Led Zeppelin 'Heartbreaker' and Acdc Back In Black.

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off the beaten tracks. No.16

Sunscreem-Perfect Motion (Boys Own remix) (1992)

Ah I remember the days listening to the 'Essential selection' , always hearing tracks that had sampled Electronic bands then created something slightly inferior. Having said that there are some classic club tracks. Sunscreem were a band that were on a major label, but they had links to indie bands. Some OK singles, but sometimes when someone does a remix it actually sounds better than the original. Within a couple of years after this track they were dropped and went indiependent anyway.