During the course of a recent real world
natter with a good friend of this blog, I
found myself, not for the first time, struggling to put into words why
exactly it is that I continue to seek out new
music as relentlessly as I do, in spite of
owning more than enough records, CD's and
mp3's to last a lifetime. For years I've
justified my irrational excesses and endless
searching by being panic stricken that if I
don't check out every single piece of music that comes
my way, I could very easily miss the best
thing I might ever hear in my life. That's
still the case, but lately Lauren Laverne has
taken to using an eerily similar quote on the
trailers for her BBC 6Music radio shows. So I've decided that from now on, if my peculiar obsession is called into question, I'll just quote the mighty Robert
Lloyd (of The Nightingales and The Prefects)
from his time fronting The New Four Seasons
in 1988. 'I get scared that something nice might fly by, and I will miss it out the
corner of my eye'. Sonically, the recording may have dated a little, but the lyrics of this great song resonate more and more with each passing year.Here's a rare TV performance of 'Part of the Anchor', another gem by the same combo.
.jpg)
8 comments:
Brilliant Track....yeh! why do we do it? can't stay still, got to listen to new music in that continued sarch for that latest gem. I was listening to a tape in a car on Sunday and they had this compilation with mostly old stuff. It was so good to hear old classics from Zepplin, Rex, Stones, Marley etc etc. Thats it I am going back to where that got me to where I am now....if you know what I mean.
Utterly brilliant on both counts. Of course, I know The Prefects and The Nightingales but this stuff is new to me. Great lyrics, great tunes - how did I miss them? How can I track them down? You can't argue with Robert Lloyd.
Ditto on everything Singing Bear said.
I was thinking about this the other day- I think an aspect of it is we're trying to get that first hit again, the song or band that floored us at an impressionable age, we're chasing that feeling and looking for that response.
Swiss Adam
Old Pa. I've said it before and I'll say it again - So much music, so little time!
Singing Bear. They made 1 LP and a handful of singles in their very brief existence and yet managed to squeeze in 5 (5!!!) Peel Sessions in the same space of time. A couple were on YouTube last time I looked and are well worth tracking down. Good to hear from you mate. I hope all is well.
Brian. I saw the band live in 1989 or 1990 at The Borderline in London, a small subterranean venue with a low stage from which Lloyd lept at various intervals throughout the evening. He was a mesmerising performer and the band were very good indeed. The LP doesn't really do the songs justice.
Swiss Adam. Absolutely. Except that with music, unlike other less healthy addictions, you can actually get that feeling again and again if you're lucky - and persistent!
I agree with SA too - and you - unlike other less healthy addictions, I also believe it helps to keep you young. Always wondering what else there might be in the case of music is such a positive thing and means the future can always be an exciting place.
Not mad keen on the Nightingales but I think that first New Four Seasons track here is fine enough and I can imagine it'd sound great live. I also love the photo, it/he looks like something out of the '40s or '50s.
Ah Yes! Number 21 in Peel's 1998 Festive Fifty. I love this track and I've been seeking it for years. They recorded a few Peel sessions which are in my head, but sadly, not on cassette despite having hundreds of others. Surely time for their record company to wise up and realise there are lots of fans who'd snap up whatever they put out.
Post a Comment