The bloke pictured on the right had side of the sleeve has been a musician for over 30 years releasing probably more material than any other recoding artist in that period, and yet he is not all that well known outside of music aficionados.The woman on the left of the sleeve has also been a musician with varying success since the early 80s but in recent times has become a well-known figure on British television thanks to her appearances on this show.
Most of us will probably believe that Mark E Smith who should be the more instantly recognisable of the two. Instead, to millions of Brits its Laura Elise Sellinger aka Brix Smith aka Brix Smith-Start who has the fame and the fortune.
Today's posting was partly inspired by yesterday's guest piece in which John East wrote about the two songs that best summed up his native land but also by the comment left behind by Dick Van Dyke in which he provided a superbly eclectic list of songs that made him lie back and think of England.
I don't think there's been a more quintessential English band than The Kinks. They really did capture a country in an era when it was last worthy of really being considered a world power. And one of my favourite songs of theirs is one with a lyric that harks back to an allegedly even more glorious era....and catches Ray Davies at his satirical best:-
Long ago life was clean
Sex was bad and obscene
And the rich were so mean
Stately homes for the Lords
Croquet lawns, village greens
Victoria was my queen
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria, 'toria
I was born, lucky me
In a land that I love
Though I am poor, I am free
When I grow I shall fight
For this land I shall die
Let her sun never set
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria, 'toria
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria, toria
Land of hope and gloria
Land of my Victoria
Land of hope and gloria
Land of my Victoria
Victoria, 'toria
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria, 'toria
Canada to India
Australia to Cornwall
Singapore to Hong Kong
From the West to the East
From the rich to the poor
Victoria loved them all
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria, 'toria
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria
And a cover version in 1988 took The Fall into the Top 40 for only the second time (the previous occasion was also courtesy of a cover - There's A Ghost In My House)
mp3 : The Fall - Victoria
There's three other tracks on the 12" single:-
mp3 : The Fall - Guest Informant
mp3 : The Fall - Tuff Life Booogie
mp3 : The Fall - Twister
I particularly love Guest Informant - It also reminds me of the wonderful Where's Me Jumper by The Sultans of Ping.
Oh and I haven't made a spelling mistake in the title of the middle song of the three. There is an extra o in the booogie MES rants about.
Hilarious promo as well:-
Happy Listening
8 comments:
The only gruppe that matter, really.
A link to Go Wank's show!
Whatever next.
PS. Mark E recommends Primark in his book Renegade.
Somewhat related, does the Villain or anyone have anything from Brix's group, The Adult Net? Even the great Google has been no help in this one.
Excellent posting. You can't go wrong with The Fall, can you?
Never really got into the Fall, though I do have a soft spot for them. The Kinks on the other hand - one of the greatest pop groups ever. Ray Davies is my hero. All hail the mighty Ray, bless his every waking breath, etc, etc...
hi there
great blog btw, stop by often and you always have interesting posts. Do u have Spoilt Victorian Child posted anywhere?
Cheers
lastparty
Even more incredible, their last album sounds as good as some of their earlier works, esp Bury Pts 1-3
No doubt about it,Brix featured heavily on some of the very best Fall L.P.s,gawd bless her Yank posterior ;)
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