I'VE LOST JUST WHAT IT TAKES TO BE HONEST**

There have been spells in recent weeks where I have felt as far as TVV goes that I have lost what it takes to keep it going. But I think I'm through the worst of it.

The one thing that has suffered however, is that what little free time I've had has been devoted to keeping the daily postings ticking over and I have hardly read any other blogs over the past 6 weeks. And there's a lot of great stuff out there.....a small selection of my personal favourites are listed on the right hand side, and I wholeheartedly recommend all of them if you can make the time. But my pre-New Year's resolution is to get reading once again....

Here's the 7" single version of the song that inspired today's title:-

mp3 : Prefab Sprout - Faron Young

The opener on the truly outstanding Steve McQueen LP originally released in the summer of 1985, it is a tune quite unlike any other recorded by the band - it bounces along at a fair old pace and while a homage of sorts to country and western music, it is a C&W tune that sounds as if it is being plated at 45rpms instead of 33 1/3rpms - but it works!!

Despite being utterly brilliant, Faron Young failed to impress the record buying public and it stalled at #74 in the UK singles chart, meaning not many folk got to hear this otherwise unreleased b-side:-

mp3 : Prefab Sprout - Silhouettes

A little bit Prefab Sprout by numbers, but still rather pleasant.

In 2005, Steve McQueen was re-mastered and re-released and a number of the tracks were given the solo acoustic treatment by Paddy McAloon, including this:-

mp3 : Prefab Sprout - Faron Young (acoustic)

Totally different from the original but equally wonderful.

And here's a wonderful live TV clip from the mid 80s:-



Happy Listening

** Sorry folks if I've caused a bit of panic!! I don't intend to quit....its just there have been some dark days this past few weeks where I lost a bit of enthusisasm.

I will continue to foist my ludicrious opinions on you all in the weeks and months ahead.....