Saturday Scratch #44 - Burning Fire

In addition to the vacuuming duties that I detailed in a recent post, my other key role in this house is, much like Keith Flint, as a firestarter. That is to say I bring in logs, saw up the scrap, chop the kindling and generally prep the wood-burner for action.

Thus it was that last night I diligently screwed up several sheets of newspaper, liberally sprinkled some finely chopped kindling, applied a match and then added scrap wood to get the flames really burning. It was only when I sat back to bask in the warming glow that I sensed something was amiss. What was it? Then it hit me. As I've already mentioned, any fire in our house is traditionally located within the confines of a wood-burner, this one though, was roaring away on the sofa. I'd accidentally lit a fire on the sofa! Panicking, I ran into the garden, grabbed a spade and lifted the whole blazing, popping pile of scrap as one, throwing it into the wood-burner and slamming the doors to seal it in. Needless to say, the room was full of smoke by this point, making me cough, splutter and retch. And it was coughing and spluttering that I jolted awoke to find that, thankfully, I'd been having another particularly vivid dream. So vivid in fact, I swear I could taste the smoke and feel the heat of the flames. It was a weird one.

A fire on our allotment a couple years ago, far from any household furniture.

Hence today's trio of Fire related tunes taken from the vaults of the Black Ark. First up, Truth Fact And Correct's 'Babylon Deh Pon Fire' from 1976, written and produced by Lee Perry.

Next, Jah Stitch, who definitely taped 'Burning Fire' at the Black Ark, though I can't confirm if Scratch was behind the desk for this session.

Finally, from 1975, Phil Pratt handles production duties at the Black Ark for Roman Stewart's 'Fire at Your Heel' (also known as 'Run Come Feel').

Three For Dreaming

Our pal Singing Bear, over at Grown Up Backwards, has been discussing dreams just lately (see here). Inspired by these excellent posts and the fascinating follow-up comments from his readers, here are three tunes with a dream theme.

At Night in Dreams

At first it seemed like a little yappy fox pup, so I opened the gate to let it in, but as it came closer I saw saliva dripping from it's mouth and the yap became a yelp became a bark became a blood curdling howl - then it lunged at me. Close up, the dog was big, very big indeed. Rancid breath, teeth sickly yellow, biting at my legs. I tried to get away, but it was too large and too strong, so I kicked out again and again, swinging my leg wildly in blind panic at it's head. My foot connected full in it's face, but it didn't flinch, just growled terrifyingly and kept biting and biting me. I had to get free, but couldn't. No escape. Kick, kick, kick. 

Then I woke up. It was 3.30am, dark and quiet. My foot hurt like hell......so did Mrs S's leg apparently. Surprisingly, she's still talking to me.