John Peel Sessions on Strange Fruit (1-6)

It was in 1986 that the very first JOHN PEEL SESSIONS were finally committed from master tape to Vinyl. STRANGE FRUIT RECORDS was established specifically for the purpose of releasing the sessions stored in the BBC Radio 1 archives. Many of these have subsequently been re-released on CD, either as part of artist sessions, or as compilations. Since 1986 a multitude of different formats and combinations have hit the distributors and dealers.
This blog post series is dedicated to the very first 12" vinyl releases of single artist sessions on STRANGE FRUIT, starting from SFPS001 up to SFPS054. Each of the image links below open to a full size image of the REAR sleeve of the original disc, which details everything you need to know about the session. This includes Track listings, timings, recording date, first transmission date and other info. If this whets your appetite to find out more about John Peel, or the fabulously eclectic musical styles he pumped out daily on BBC Radio 1 for many years, then check out this link. I guarantee you, there is a whole heap of fan info out there, so enjoy your surfing and be sure to have a wonderful journey through the world that is the legacy of the late, great Mr John Peel.



If you are interested in any details of the first 54 sessions issued on STRANGE FRUIT (from SFPS001 to SFPS054) then either post a comment or drop me an e-mail, otherwise wait for further blog entries in this series to appear here on The Red Baron Chronicles. Of course, you can always subscribe to the feed and get updates on The Red Baron Chronicles automatically. Remember, due to the amount of session info, and time comstraints, I am limiting this series to issues SFPS001 - SFPS054 only.

I will occasionally drop in links to MP3 downloads of these sessions too.

Enjoy

The Invisible Man

The influence of Elvis Costello on my musical experience and appreciation cannot be denied. OK, so he is now a senior in the crazy high school of auditory excellence. But he is and always will be the single most influential artist on my thoughts about the "biz". The Pope of Pop, Napoleon Dynamite, the Coward Brother, The little hands of concrete, D.P. McManus ... whoever he is, he has led the way for dozens of aspiring, talented artists to "do their own thing" and not worry if the next slice of musical cake will be the melt-in-the-mouth nirvana of sound to woo the fickle industry moguls. No, he's a "one off" and I admire him for kicking the "L" out of darling and daring to be different. Thanks for all the good times, the 30 or so gigs (I lost count) and the gracious back stage presence that few have matched in my personal experience. Top bloke.

Here is one of my favourite songs from the twilight years of a great career. As far as I know this can only be found on the bonus disc (collectors edition) of the "When I was Cruel" CD

Elvis Costello - When I Was Cruel No1 (Studio version)

Essential stuff. Thanks guv.

(Right click and "save target as" to download)

Classic Sleeves - Red Guitars 12" (Steeltown)

The Twang

Another great new band that get the Red Baron seal of approval

'Swaggering, big hearted rock'n'roll mischief from Birmingham. Frankly, they make Happy Mondays seem like vestal nuns.' – NME

Website: The Twang

New single The Twang - Wide Awake available for digital download.

Webstream demo Ice Cream Sundae (Web stream) Nice bonus!!

These guys will be instore at HMV in Birmingham on Monday 19th March 2007 - go and say Hi! More Live dates available at their My Space website Be there ... or be somewhere else.

Another great tune:

The Twang - Either Way

(Right click and "save target as")

If you see 'em live be sure and leave a comment on your experience. Ta.

Upcoming gigs

A quick lowdown on a couple of Bands I rather like that you can see playing fairly low key dates in the UK

THE RUMBLE STRIPS

Likened to Dexy's Midnight Runners (I guess mainly because of the use of a brass section and footstomping soul beats) However dont let that put you off as they are clearly destined for great things in the future.

The Rumble Strips are:

Charlie Waller – Lead Vocals and Guitar
Tom Gorbutt – Sax, Vocals and Bass
Henry Clark – Trumpet, Vocals and Piano
Matthew Wheeler - Drums

Latest Single: "Alarm Clock" released on the Fallout label (A subsidiary of Island)

(Right click and "save target as")

Alarm Clock

Live:
Northampton Soundhaus, Monday 26th March
Nottingham Junction 7 Friday 30th March

Also: Check out the "Cardboard Coloured Dreams EP" Released last November on Fallout records


DAMONE

If you like your Indie Rock with thick slabs of guitar a la Blink 182, then check out Danone. These guys came to prominence in 2006 stateside, but we get a chance to see what all the fuss is about as they play a couple of dates here in the UK in March

Live
Mean Fiddler, London Tuesday 20th March
Nottingham Rock City Thursday 22nd March

You can find song streams from their latest album on the Damone Website

If you go to see either of these Bands, be sure and let me know what you thought.

Japanese Power Pop

In the Red Baron's quest for good alternative music from around the world (OK, OK, I've been concentrating on Japan) I found this compilation video of a great band thats been around for a few years now. Singing in Japanese, yet the energy speaks volumes, I give you the power pop sensation that is URCHIN FARM!

Great Japanese Band

Urchin Farm - Power Pop Mania (Video)

Nice! (Single left click should open Windows Media Player)

The search goes on for raw talent!

Bloggers you can trust

Hey these guys really rock.

If yer into new stuff, you can do no better than

Not Your Usual Bollocks

or

Take Your Medicine

Check 'em out!

Plenty of Podcasts and all bang up to date.... champion!

Smash Fascism. Get your Indie Groove on

Well, as it happens, theres a lot of good music around on the web at the moment and I dont mean the barely beating pulse of commercial edifices floating around in cyberspace. I wouldnt give most of these the time of day.

I abhor "charts" or the very notion that a particular volume of sales means one song is artistically better than any other. I suppose an analogy could be found in the very basis of our democracy, ie voting itself. Just because more people vote for one candidate over another, it doesnt mean he/she who coerces most votes out of the frankly apathetic electorate is the best. There are a multitude of instances throughout history where a mis-guided majority will subjugate this or that group merely on the basis of sheer weight of numbers.

No, this blog is one that will speak up for the little guy, the struggling artist trying to get a foothold in the mad world of commercialism. It will include a liberal smattering of links to some of my favourite songs, old or new, which have enlightened me, made me think, or just set the hairs on the back of my neck tingling.

This just doesnt happen to me with "popular" music. I leave that stuff to the disco metropolites, the shallow muzakists and DJ's searching for populist appeal.

If you are a little Hitler, then click away from here, and hope I dont find out that you were ever here in the first place.

Just to whet your appetite for great things to come, here are a few gems that are currently on the Red Baron virtual playlist. (Right click and "Save target as" to download these)

Mr Beasley - Neon

Screams - Paper Dolls

Warmed Over Band - No-One

The Stiffs - Not Rock and Roll


Alternatively scroll down to the wonderful embedded MP3 player from fine tune

This is being loaded with genuine favourites of mine gathered over the last few decades and will showcase the Red Barons favourite tracks from the Indie/Alternative scene. If your favourite(s) arent in there, give thanks that we are all essentially different and individual and that hte world is a far better place for that.