hit sheet 83

www.hitsheet.co.uk
7 JULY 2006
I SSUE #85
Looking Good,
Sounding Better...
The Best Is Yet
To Come
Parlophone
Record of the Week
Words Just Get in The Way
Richard Ashcroft
Heading up our Parlophone front and back cover double whammy is one of this
country’s leading songwriters, the man who put the Northern soul into Wigan.
Having just appeared on the soon to be much missed Top of the Pops performing
this track and on the back of a recent sold out show at Manchester’s Old Trafford
cricket ground the genius (not madness) of King Richard is only too apparent.
This is the 3rd hit to be released from the seminal Keys To The World album.
Music Is Power and Break The Night With Colour were both hits, Words Just Get
In The Way will be the hat-trick.
2
Hello and welcome to issue #85 of the Hit Sheet!
31 The Birches, London, N21 1NJ
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Editorial Assistants
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Contributors
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Photographer
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From Hero to Zero
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Hero
Matt Bellamy
[email protected]
Zero
Craig Bellamy
[email protected]
SwedeFA
Svengoraneriksson
All material published remains
the copyright of Hit Sheet Ltd.
No part of this magazine may
be reproduced without the prior
permission of the publisher.
Love Music,
Have An Opinion,
Make A Difference
So bird flu developed into world cup fever and we’re now left
as sick as parrots. If you look at my editorial last month I
predicted that England would lose on penalties in the quarter
finals and that Wayne Rooney would be sent off, so I wasn’t
too surprised. In my opinion England were doomed as soon
as the squad was announced. The 8/1 on Germany at the
beginning of the tournament is now looking very good value
indeed. So farewell then Sven. Good riddance to bad
rubbish I say.
So let’s get on to more important things that are more
reliable and happier affairs. The gig circuit has been fairly
busy despite the world cup and the festival season is well
and truly under way. We even had a Hit Sheet showcase gig
squeezed in between all the football.
We were invited guests of Irving Azoff at The Eagles gig at
the newly refurbished Wembley Arena. The new entrance is
a real improvement on the original. The gig was fabulous and
it was great to hear so many hits from our childhood being
sung live. Joe Walsh’s Life’s Been Good was a real highlight
as were Desperado and Don Henley’s Boys Of Summer.
The Paul Weller gig at Koko was a hot ticket affair and we
certainly got our fill of dad rock. Both band and crowd
appeared to have a ball. Jo Mango and James Morrison at
the Luminaire was a great double bill. Jo is a Scottish singer
songwriter with a very lovely voice and a super personality;
we were very impressed with her songs and her Kalimba
playing. Captain at Bush Hall were good too; their sound is
made for bigger venues but we’re sure they’re heading to
arenas in the near future.
We found time in our busy schedule to attend an impromptu
gig by The Storys at the Hard Rock Café’s 35th Birthday
party, which was great fun. As was the Silver Clef lunch
where there were gasps when Gary Farrow was given an
award for his charitable deeds; we never thought we’d ever
see him lost for words and humbled but we did and it was a
very pleasurable experience. Congratulations Gary.
The Muse gig at Shepherds Bush Empire was the loudest gig
I think I’ve been to in years, my ears are still buzzing. I think
it’s fair to say that they are one of the best bands in the UK
and will be a big hit in the USA with their new album Black
Holes And Revelations released this week.
My life was enriched last week when I saw twice Hit Sheet
featured Regina Spektor live for the first time. What an
extraordinary performer and a unique talent, I could have
watched her all night. The lyrics are thought provoking and
every song tells a story in itself. Her new album is brilliant
and should make her the superstar she deserves to be.
Meeting her afterwards was also a thrill as she was both
gorgeous and friendly!
Finally, the Who gig in Hyde Park was fantastic, Pete
Townshend’s guitar playing was an inspiration to all.
We were hoping to get some response from Mark Cooper
regarding the demise of TOTP as it wasn’t so long ago that
he was on record as saying it could be saved. I think it’s a
travesty that the BBC prides itself on its commitment to
music then has the temerity to cancel the best known music
branded show ever having run it into the ground. Definitely
a case of murder on the dancefloor!
Top of the Pops was good when it used to do what it said
on the tin and play the hits at the top of the charts. The
show certainly lost its way in the Andi Peters era and never
recovered.
Let’s hope that the new TV Music series Live From Abbey
Road is a huge ratings hit when it launches in the autumn.
While on a BBC rant I am very disheartened with the lack of
support that our front and back cover UK acts this week are
getting at Radio 1 and ILR stations especially. George
Ergoutadis has kindly emailed me to explain that they’ve
supported Richard Ashcroft previously and there is just so
much good music around at the moment it’s hard to playlist
everything. With 50% of the Radio 1 A&B playlist given over
to USA acts on a regular basis maybe it’s time we had a
debate on this matter?
I am not xenophobic or ageist, at the end of the day if a
record is good enough play it / buy it / love it…
The Mercury nominations are being held on the 18th July…
I expect to see Lily Allen, Nerina Pallot, Corinne Bailey Rae,
The Feeling, Kate Rusby, Snow Patrol and Richard Hawley
among the final 12 names on the shortlist.
With the diary filling up with festival dates can I point out to
you that the week commencing 4th September will be a very
busy one indeed. Tuesday September 5 sees the Mercury’s
followed on the Wednesday by the EMI conference by day
and the Hit Sheet gig by night and then, on the following day,
the biggest record company in the world will be singing the
praises of the Xmas #1 album by Take That and a definitive
U2 greatest hits compilation with 2 new tracks.
I’m off to apply for the vacant position of England captain…
see you on the terrace or the veranda.
Paul Kramer
The Hit Sheet CD Tracklisting issue 85
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Words Just Get In The Way
I Can’t Look At Your Skin
Glorious
Wuthering Heights
Chasing Cars
Radio On
Without
Who Loves The Sun
Grocer Jack
Jimmy
Troubled Times
As I Choke
I Will
Richard Ashcroft
Graham Coxon
Captain
The Puppini Sisters
Snow Patrol
Heather Small
Jack Savoretti
Hafdis Huld
Camp
Daniel Powter
AM
Ross Copperman
Kenny Thomas
(Parlophone)
(Parlophone)
(EMI)
(UCJ)
(Fiction)
(Private & Confidential)
(De Angelis)
(MVine/Red Grape)
(Mixed Media/Playground)
(Warners)
(Luna)
(Phonogenic)
(Curb)
TV, RADIO AND RETAIL
TV LISTINGS
10CC
Chemical Brothers
Dirty Pretty Things
Dirty Pretty Things
Feeder
Gram Parsons
Jim Noir
Justice Vs Simian
Kaiser Chiefs
KT Tunstall
Lily Allen
Maroon 5
Oasis
Paolo Nutini
Pussycat Dolls
Rooster
Shayne Ward
The Automatic
The Debrettes
The Immediate
The Klaxons
The Kooks
The Long Blondes
The Magic Numbers
The Streets
The Zutons
The Zutons
RADIO
In Concert
V Festival Highlights
Transmission
The Friday Night Project
Transmission
Fallen Angel
4PLay
Transmission
V Festival Highlights
V Festival Highlights
Transmission
V Festival Highlights
V Festival Highlights
GMTV
TBA
GMTV
GMTV
Transmission
Road To V
Road To V
Transmission
Transmission
Transmission
V Festival Highlights
V Festival Highlights
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
Transmission
Fri July 7:
Tues July 4:
Weds July 5:
Fri July 7:
Thurs July 6:
Fri July 7:
Thurs July 6:
Thurs July 6:
Tues July 4:
Tues July 4:
Weds July 5:
Tues July 4:
Tues July 4:
Mon July 3:
Fri July 7:
Fri July 7:
Thurs July 6:
Thurs July 6:
Thurs July 6:
Thurs July 6:
Weds July 5:
Weds July 5:
Fri July 7:
Tues July 4:
Tues July 4:
Fri July 7:
Fri July 7:
22.00
01.10
01.05
22.30
00.55
22.30
00.40
00.55
01.10
01.10
01.05
01.10
01.10
06.00
00.35
06.00
06.00
00.55
00.25
00.25
01.05
01.05
23.35
01.10
01.10
22.35
23.35
BBC4
Ch4
Ch4
Ch4
Ch4
BBC4
Ch4
Ch4
Ch4
Ch4
Ch4
Ch4
Ch4
ITV1
Ch4
ITV1
ITV1
Ch4
Ch4
Ch4
Ch4
Ch4
Ch4
Ch4
Ch4
BBC1
Ch4
TV CHARTS
MTV2
MTV Base
MTV Dance
MTV Hits
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
3
Muse
Wolfmother
The Automatic
The Kooks
Justice Vs. Simian
Ne-Yo
T.I.
Busta Rhymes
Pussycat Dolls
Christina Milian
Til West & DJ Delicious
Rogue Traders
Solu Music
Elysium
Armand Van Helden
Pussycat Dolls
Pink
Shakira
Rihanna
Fall Out Boy
Supermassive Black Hole
Woman
Monster
She Moves In Her Own Way
We Are Your Friends
Sexy Love
Why You Wanna?
Touch It
Buttonz
Say I
Same Man
Voodoo Child
Fade
I Go Crazy
My My My (Re-mix)
Buttonz
Who Knew?
Hips Don't Lie
Unfaithful
Dance Dance
MOST PLAYED PRE-RELEASE
The Webb Sisters – I Still Hear It
MOST PLAYED
Lily Allen – Smile
RADIO 2 RECORD OF THE WEEK
Captain – Glorious
ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Johnny Cash – American V. A Hundred Highways
BBC 6 Music
BREAKFAST SHOW SINGLE OF THE WEEK
New York Dolls –
Gimme Luv And Turn On The Light
STEVE LAMACQ RECORD OF THE WEEK
Tapes’n’Tapes – Insistor
EVENING SEQUENCE ‘DAILY DOSE’
TV On The Radio – Wolf Like Me
REBEL PLAYLIST WINNER 26/5/06
Paul Simon – Russian Futurists
ALBUMS OF THE DAY
Monday:
Muse – Black Holes and Revelations
Tuesday:
Johnny Cash – American V: A Hundred Highways
Wednesday:
Love Is All – Nine Times That Same Song
Friday:
TV On The Radio – Return to Cookie Mountain
RADIO 1 RECORDS OF THE WEEK
JO WHILEY
Boy Kill Boy – Civil Sin
COLIN & EDITH
Primal Scream – Dolls
SCOTT MILLS
Orson – Happiness
ZANE LOWE
Bugz In The Attic – Move Aside
BEST SELLERS
Virgin Megastore Times Square
Virgin Megastore Union Square
TW
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
TW
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
LW
NEW
NEW
NEW
NEW
2
3
8
5
NEW
1
Artist
Keane
Madonna
Nelly Furtado
Corinne Bailey Rae
Gnarls Barkley
Sonic Youth
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Regina Spektor
Fatboy Slim
Busta Rhymes
Title
Under the Iron Sea
I’m Going to Tell you a Secret
Loose
Corinne Bailey Rae
St. Elsewhere
Rather Ripped
Stadium Arcadium
Begin to Hope
Greatest Hits: Why Try Harder
The Big Bang
LW
NEW
NEW
NEW
2
4
NEW
1
RE
3
6
Artist
Nelly Furtado
Madonna
Keane
OCR
Gnarls Barkley
Corinne Bailey Rae
Busta Rhymes
All-American Rejects
OCR
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Title
Loose
I’m Going to Tell You a Secret
Under the Iron Sea
Jersey Boys: Original Broadway Cast
St Elsewhere
Corinne Bailey Rae
The Big Bang
Move Along
The Drowsy Chaperone
Stadium Arcadium
4
RECORDS OF THE WEEK
FRONT PAGER FRONT PAGER FRONT PAGER FRONT PAGER FRONT PAGER
Released: July 10
Product Manager: Claire O'Brien
020 7605 5244
[email protected]
Management: Jamal Chalabi
020 7267 3499
[email protected]
Press: Chris Latham
020 7605 5314
[email protected]
Radio/TV: Emma Guirao
020 7605 5382
[email protected]
Agent: David Levy
ITB
020 7637 6979
www.richardashcroft.com
Words Just Get In The Way
Richard Ashcroft Parlophone
The first thing we have to say about Words Just Get In The Way is
that on first listen we thought it was Neil Diamond at his peak
warbling away through our in-house speakers. That is a high
compliment to pay as far as we’re concerned. This is the third single
to be taken from Richard’s third solo album following on from
previously featured Break The Night With Colour (Hit Sheet April
2006) and Music Is Power (Hit Sheet Dec 2005).
With this heart-wrenching ballad Richard reinforces his standing as
one of the UK’s top singer songwriters. You can see him perform the
track on the Album Chart Show on Channel 4 this weekend. MTV will
be showing footage of his appearance at the Oxegen Festival and
BBC TV will be doing the same from the T in The Park appearance.
The track is currently C listed at Radio 2 and B listed at both
Capital and Virgin and hopefully we’ll see the album Keys To The World moving back up the charts over the
forthcoming weeks.
FRONT PAGER FRONT PAGER FRONT PAGER FRONT PAGER FRONT PAGER
Released: July 17
Product Manager: Rob Owen
020 7605 5000
[email protected]
Management: James Stafford
CMO Management
International
020 7316 6969
Press: Murray Chalmers
020 7605 5000
Radio: Kevin McCabe
TV: Helena McGeough
020 7605 5000
www.grahamcoxon.co.uk
Released: July 31
Product Manager:
Catherine Roe
020 7605 5322
[email protected]
Management: Justin Pritchard
07748 118 308
[email protected]
Press: Alice Macnabb
020 7605 5218
[email protected]
Radio Tina Skinner
020 7605 5092
[email protected]
TV: Kate Hiscox
020 7605 5447
[email protected]
Agent: Ben Winchester
Primary Talent
020 7833 8998
[email protected]
www.captaintheband.com
I Can’t Look At Your Skin
Graham Coxon
Parlophone
Come on… come on! Hurry Up Graham, come on…
Third time lucky for Graham Coxon as he finally makes it onto a Hit
Sheet (back) cover! This tune is perfect as a wake up call and is
never off the Hit Sheet playlist as it re-energizes us on these lazy
hot summer days. If you’re feeling browbeaten or just plain tired
we recommend you play the whole of the album Love Travels At
Illegal Speeds. I Can’t Look At Your Skin is currently B listed at both
Kerrang and 6Music. Why Radio1 and ILR are not being more
supportive is a mystery to us. A good song is a good song no
matter the age of the artist or their background. Graham who has
just recently found a whole new audience having toured with
Kaiser Chiefs is making the short trip from his North London abode
to headline at the Rise: London United Festival at Finsbury Park this
Saturday (July 8). Rise: London United is a free, one day festival that promotes anti-racism and is organized by
the Mayor in partnership with the Assembly Against Racism.
Glorious
Captain
EMI
We first featured Captain back in April with their previous single
Broke. That charted at #34 and with Glorious having been made
Record of the Week at Radio 2, along with all the other key playlist
additions, a higher placing is expected for this release.
Both tracks are featured on the superb debut album This Is Hazelville
released on August 14th. Produced by Trevor Horn, it is laden with
anthemic hook-ridden tracks as exemplified on the new single. We
saw the band perform both in the small environs of Bush Hall and
the much wider open spaces of Hyde Park at the Wireless festival.
We were impressed by both shows and we think that lead singer
Rick Flynn is an excellent frontman. Comparisons have been made
with a number of 80’s pop bands, Prefab Sprout etc, we think more
Microdisney… Anyone agree?
As well as playing at both T In The Park and Oxegene Festivals this weekend the band are also doing at least 6
other festival gigs in July and August as well as a huge tour in their own right.
Check them out. They’ll definitely be coming to a town near you. Captains of the music industry, they certainly
lead by example.
Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet
RECORDS OF THE WEEK
Released: July 31
Product Manager: Buffie du Pon
020 7471 5104
[email protected]
Management:
Darren Michaelson
020 8455 2014
[email protected]
TV: Niki Sanderson
020 8334 9994
[email protected]
Radio: Jude Mellor
020 7471 5089
[email protected]
Agent: Emma Banks
020 7376 8501
[email protected]
Online PR: Polly Weeks
0117 9707126
[email protected]
www.thepuppinisisters.com
Released: Out Now
Product Manager:
Joe Munns
[email protected]
Press:
Paul Smernicki
[email protected]
Management:
Big Life
020 7554 2100
[email protected]
www.SnowPatrol.com
Released: July 17
Product Manager:
Sir Harry/Andy Richmond
020 8977 0632
[email protected]
Press: Linda Valentine
0794 9174811
[email protected]
Regional Radio TV:
Susie Tomkins
020 8540 8166
[email protected]
National Radio:
Jeff Chegwin
07957 939072
[email protected]
TV: Niki Sanderson
Nonstop 020 8334 9994
[email protected]
Agent: Neil Warnock
The Agency 020 7278 3331
agencylondon@
theagencygroup.com
Wuthering Heights
5
The Puppini Sisters
UCJ
We first saw The Puppini Sisters play in a gay club but knew
straight away that they had more than camp appeal. We asked
them to play a Hit Sheet night and they were a great success. Their
blend of old boogie-woogie standards, novel reworkings of old
favourites and highly visual stage show are sure to win audiences
over. The girls are all accomplished singers and musicians (ex
Trinity College of Music) and their backing band join in with the
entertaining performance.
It was their version of this Kate Bush classic that had us totally won
over as they faithfully recreated her exact dance moves. See them
at the Latitude Festival (Southwold July 15 and 16), Fruitstock
(London Aug 5) or at their residency at London’s Bistrotheque club
during August for the full effect. Check out their fabulous website
for helpful make up and cookery tips and a very useful agony aunt
column. Very classy!
Chasing Cars
Snow Patrol
Fiction
This is one of our favourite tracks from Eyes Open the current Snow
Patrol album that has spent the last 8 weeks in the top 10 of the album
chart and has sold close to 500,000 copies. The previous album Final
Straw has racked up close to 1.5 million sales setting some target for the
current album which, at the current rate, will surpass that figure in the first
half of 2007. Just as Run (which we featured in December 2003) was the
defining track on the last album Chasing Cars is this album’s key power
ballad, and it’s been a long time since we heard an album with so many
potential singles. You Could Be Happy and the duet with Martha
Wainwright, Set The Fire To The Third Bar would both make
excellent singles.
Previous single You’re All I Have charted at #7 and with previous
singles Run charting at #5 and Chocolate at #3 expect this to be
either #1 or #9! The album produced by Garret “Jacknife” Lee (U2, Aqualung) bears all the hallmarks of a group
comfortable with their sound and an all round maturity that gives us the impression of a band that will be with us
for a long time yet. They are scheduled to play a few dates in July including the Latitude Festival in Suffolk on the
14th July and a trip to the Far East later in the month. Then in August they will be doing some very cool one off
dates in places such as Belfast Botanical Gardens! They then head off to the USA in September to play at least
16 dates there.
Radio On
Heather Small
Private & Confidential
There are certain voices that are instantly recognisable and Heather Small’s is
one of them!
Radio On is her first single release for six years. Where does the time go? Her
last hit Proud is currently enjoying a new lease of life thanks to its being
‘discovered’ by Oprah and also being adopted by many charitable
organizations and it’s the lead track on the new spelling bee film Akeelah and
the Bee. You don’t have to search for a hero in this film!
Radio On is currently on the Radio 2 C list where Terry Wogan has been very
supportive. Heather is also lined up to appear on Woman’s Hour, Loose Ends,
Aled Jones Radio 2 show and Jono Coleman’s show on 94.9.
The single is taken from the new album Close To A Miracle scheduled to be
released on 24th July.
Heather has become as an icon for sportsmen and women around the world,
the black and the gay community also. We last saw Heather perform at the
Royal Albert Hall in December 2004 when she joined 1,500 schoolchildren at a
Sargeant Young Voices Christmas Concert. This lady has soul in the true
meaning of the word.
Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet
6
Released: Autumn
Product Manager:
Martine McLean
020 8994 4600
[email protected]
Press:
Sue Harris
Republic Media
020 8960 7449
www.jacksavoretti.com
Released: August 7 digital
Product Manager: Kerry
Harvey-Piper
07976 272139
[email protected]
Management: Anna Randles
CEC Management
020 7837 2517
[email protected]
Press: Beth Drake
Best PR
020 7608 4598
[email protected]
Radio/ TV: Woolfie
Hungry Media Ltd
020 7722 6992
[email protected]
Agent: Alex Hardee
CODA Agency
020 7012 1555
www.hafdishuld.com
Release: unscheduled
Product Manager:
John Cloud
+46 8 615 6780,
+46 703 755090
[email protected]
Management:
Mixed Media Management
+46 40 290 280
[email protected]
Press/Radio/TV: John Cloud
Mixed Media Management
www.myspace.com/campinter
national
www.campmusic.com
RECORDS OF THE WEEK
Without
Jack Savoretti
De-Angelis
Jack Savoretti is the latest in the growing catalogue of bohemian
troubadours that includes Ray Lamontagne, Damien Rice etc. We
discovered him on myspace a month ago after being tipped off by Abner
and Kamma Pastoll and immediately knew he was something special. The
missing link between Jeff Buckley and Tom Baxter! With a mixed
English/Italian parentage and an American accent acquired in
Switzerland(!), the legend has it that he was discovered because his
hairdresser gave his demo to Anne Barrett (Natalie Imbruglia’s ex-manager)
who liked it so much she formed a new record company. Shelly Poole was
so impressed that she asked him to work on her album Hard Time For
A Dreamer.
We hope that his impromptu appearance at our last Hit Sheet night (see
page 11) was just a taster for a full performance soon. It was clear to see
from one song why guys want to be him and girls want to shag him
The video for the single was filmed over four days in the holiday resort of
Palma Majorca and directed by Oscar-nominated Bobby Garabedian.
Who Loves The Sun
Hafdis Huld
MVine/Red Grape
The first time we heard about Hafdis was backstage at a recent Paul
Buchanan gig when tour drummer Liam Bradley and our publisher
swapped news about music that they were currently listening to. Liam
raved about Hafdis while PK raved about The Feeling and Corinne Bailey
Rae. We checked out Hafdis the very next day and found that she is signed
up to our friends’ Kerry Piper Harvey and Neill MacColl’s MVine label.
Originally from Iceland, at just 15 she toured the world with Gus Gus,
collaborated with FC Kahuna, worked with producers Ewan Pearson and
Tom Middleton, made 2 feature films and modelled clothing for
Extreme Sports.
Who Loves The Sun (originally recorded by the Velvet Underground) is a
perfect summer pop record. Featuring ukelele and a radiator as percussion
the track is produced by labelmate and Hit Sheet featured artist Boo
Hewerdine and is taken from her debut solo album Dirty Paper Cup
released this autumn. It also includes the limited soft release single
Tomoko, which sounds like it belongs on an ad or TV soundtrack as do
many of her songs.
Hafdis is playing live this Wednesday at the G Lounge in Camden, Thurs July 27 at the Boogaloo Bar, Archway
and August 15 at the Betsey Trotwood. We predict a very bright future for this quirky lady.
Grocer Jack
Camp
MixedMedia/Playground
Apparently we are in the very esteemed company of Ray Davies in
having the original of this song as one of our personal seminal
tracks. Originally by Keith West back in 1967 this was subtitled
Excerpts From A Teenage Opera (we always wondered what
happened to rest of the opera!) and has here been given a total
twenty-first century makeover. There are other mixes but we like
this one that stays close to the original. This hops aboard the
current nostalgia bandwagon and hangs on for dear life.
Camp are a four piece from Sweden and features musicians with
topnotch ABBA credentials, notably bass player Rutger
Gunnarsson. Vocalist and producer Dan Tillberg, who has had past
success of his own in musical theatre and the European charts, has
decided to rework some 60s and 70s favourites. The album Top Ten
Once Again also features Chip Taylor’s Angel Of The Morning and the Four Seaons’ Who Loves You. The rest of
the happy Camp-ers are front man Andy Sjoberg, who is currently tipped for big things in Sweden, Svante
Persson (keyboards), and Rickard Mattsson (guitars).
Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet
RECORDS OF THE WEEK
Released: August 14
Product Manager:
Emma Newman
020 7368 3523
emma.newman@
warnermusic.com
Management: Gary Stamler
Press: Phoebe Sinclair
phoebe.sinclair@
warnermusic.com
Radio: Pete Black
[email protected]
TV: Genny Dwarka
genny.dwarka@
warnermusic.com
www.danielpowter.com
Released: tbc
Product Manager:
Tam Coyle
0141 353 3030
[email protected]
Press: Christina Murnin
Blueprint Media
www.AMsounds.com
Released: Sept 18
Product manager: Ben Karter
020 7384 7561
[email protected]
Management: Bill Deutsch
Comcast
[email protected]
Press: David Frossman
020 7384 7969
[email protected]
TV: Leighton Woods
020 7384 7584
[email protected]
Radio: Dylan White
Anglo Plugging
Agent: Paul Fitzgerald
Concorde 020 7602 8822
[email protected]
www.rosscopperman.com
Released: July 24
Product Manager: Drew Hill
020 7401 8877
[email protected]
Management: Ken Grunbaum
07957 421896
[email protected]
Press: Louise Malloy-Harris
Quite Great PR
01223 410000
[email protected]
Radio/ TV: Karen Leslie
07941 476415
[email protected]
www.kennythomasmusic.co.uk
Jimmy
Daniel Powter
7
Warners
We have been urging the powers that be at Warners to release this track
for the best part of a year. Jimmy is the 4th single to be released from
the 2 million global-selling, eponymously titled album. We had Bad Day
on the Hit Sheet CD exactly a year ago and Jimmy has the same instant
melodic hook and catchy chorus. Daniel’s early influences when
growing up in British Columbia and Vancouver, were UK acts such as
The Beatles, Duran Duran and Fleetwood Mac. We’re reminded more
of early Elton John on this future hit.
We saw Daniel perform at the Islington Academy last December and
we were very impressed with his live show where he won the crowd
over with his songs and charismatic personality. Daniel has been
constantly touring throughout Europe promoting his successful album
and he is back in the UK this summer making his Festival debut playing at V. His debut US tour starts on July 17th, where
we think he’ll cement his position as the doyen of hat-wearing singer-songwriters.
Troubled Times
AM
Luna
We first featured the AM track Gone Away back in the Hit Sheet in
April having seen him and his band perform on the same bill as
Corinne Bailey Rae on the 18th Floor at Capitol Place as part of a
KCRW sponsored night at SXSW.
Last week AM was over for some shows in London and we saw him
perform 3 times in as many days. He’s that good! Voted Best
Singer/Songwriter for 2005 by LA Weekly, when you hear his album
you’ll understand why.
Troubled Times is the first officially released single and it’s taken
from the self titled album which is released in the UK on July 10th.
As I Choke
Ross Copperman
Phonogenic
In our last issue we featured a track from Ross called That’s All She Wrote
that will see the light of day as a single release later on in the campaign.
As I Choke is release #1 and after having seen Ross perform it with his
band at last months Wireless festival we thought it would be rude not to
feature this splendid track. Ross’s performance at the Hyde Park event was
easily one of our favourite memories of the 5 day event. He has amazing
stage presence and was at ease with the audience, totally engaging them
right from the start of his set. As I Choke evokes memories to us of
Radiohead in their prime when they sold in large quantities. Listen to this
single and you’ll swear it’s Thom Yorke!
Ross will be playing the Borderline on July 10th and also playing at our next
Hit Sheet showcase gig on August 2nd. This will be another sellout so book
now at [email protected].
I Will
Kenny Thomas
Curb
We wrap up this week’s CD with a perfect summer tune. I Will is an instant
classic and deserves to be a #1 hit. With hints of Womack & Womack’s
Love Wars, The Real Thing’s You To Me Are Everything, the Average White
Band, and the jazz funk undertones of a Shakatak tune, this is a perfect soul
record. Taken from Kenny’s new album Crazy World, his first release on
Curb, this is, in fact, a reworking of Garden Party, a top 20 hit for Mezzoforte
in 1983, with a slowed down melody and added lyrical content. Kenny has
been away from the charts for far too long, it’s 15 years since his top 5
album Voices and timeless single Thinking About Your Love. His new tracks
have had a fantastic response from the connoisseurs of the northern soul
club scene and with endorsements from tastemakers such as Tony
Blackburn, Dave Brown and Rosie Kendrick we expect to hear a lot more of Kenny on both BBC and ILR stations.
Kenny has soul coming out of every pore and bump!
Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet
8
THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
SO FAREWELL THEN TOTP.
WE ASKED WHAT WAS YOUR
FAVOURITE EVER TOP OF THE
POPS MEMORY?
Rick Parfitt & Francis Rossi, Status Quo
"We have very fond memories of the Top Of
The Pops shows. We performed on it over
one hundred times and at least now it has
gone we know that no one can ever beat our
appearance record! The last time we
performed on the show, Robbie Williams
was also there and he joked that he wanted
to eclipse our record, well now he can't!
The show lasted for 42 years and Status
Quo has just celebrated our fortieth so now
we have another milestone to aim for!"
Cat Hockley - Fifth Element PR
My favourite ever TOTP memory was when
I performed on the show with the likes of
Danni Minogue, Boyzone, East 17 and The
Backstreet Boys. It was a charity record for
Childline called Gift Of Christmas. I was in a
truly awful band called A.S.A.P – we were
managed by Tom Watkins – thankfully my
pop career died before the show did!
Kevin Milburn, Mercury Music prize
REM for the gusto of Michael Stipe’s
megaphone-wielding performance of
Orange Crush, and Japan for the glacial
stillness of their rendition of Ghosts.
Steve Gallant, Granada Venture
For me probably the most iconic/important
performance was Bowie’s appearance in
about April 72 singing Starman with Mick
Ronson and the rest of the Spiders – it
maybe benefit of hindsight but it seemed
even then to be the start of something
bigger than all the glam pop stuff that was in
the charts that year.
Rob Challice, Coda Agency
The surprise of seeing my younger sister as
one of the TOTP crowd, with the hairy
cornflake's arm resting (worryingly) on her
shoulder.
Paul Conroy, Adventures
TOTP was THE programme to appear on for
new and breaking artistes. It was the key
piece of the jigsaw in selling of records. The
excitement of seeing new acts you worked
with, the camaraderie backstage, the buzz.
With the move from its regular time on
BBC1 and the birth of the video and satellite
shows it lost its importance.
What a brand to disappear – for numerous
generations, it was essential viewing – now
it joins the ranks of 6.5 Special, Juke Box
Jury, Ready Steady Go, The Tube etc –
part of Pop/Rock tv history.
For me the most exciting moment was
seeing the Kursaals appear with the washing
machines for amps – but so many memories
and what a library of brilliant performances
too numerous to mention. TOTP2 – bring it
back for the re-runs… everyone will watch
and keep Mark Hagen in a job forever.
Zita McQ, Z Management
When I was on it in the early 90’s as a
backing vocalist for a Stephen Hague
production for Jimmy Somerville of There’s
More To Love Than Boy Meets Girl! My
brief was to sound breathy like I’d been
running round the park with a dog!!!!... My
lyrics were in Italian and my stage name was
Rozita W!!! Scarey!!!! My favourite bit was
when it was over!!!
Lindsay Wesker, MTV Europe
John Peel playing mandolin in the middle of
Maggie May.
Max Rushden, BBC
Easy - the Roses and the Mondays on the
same show. A cultural watershed that still
resonates today.
Paul Smernicki, Fiction
It is obviously Jocky/Jackie Wilson...
Phil Knox-Roberts, Redemption Records,
Bowie and Ronson’s Starman. 6th July 1972.
Absolutely life-changing.
Tilly Rutherford
Recording Bad Manners after show in 15
mins for Special Brew insert in cooking pot
!!! WOW – That was fun and on the show
looked fantastic. Me shitting myself.
Jono Coleman, Broadcaster
INXS on the show and Crowded House...
and early Kylie.
Brian Berg, UMTV
Telling the BBC that moving it away from it's
traditional Thursday peak slot to Friday
against Coro would eventually kill the brand.
Not the sort of memory you were looking
for from a sad prophet!
Steve Tannett, Blujay
For me it was getting The Alarm on to
perform 68 Guns and feeling like we had
arrived! It was always the benchmark.
Equally I remember the most frustrating totp
moment was when our artist Timbuk 3
reached 22 in the charts and got the call and
turned the show down!!! Whatever way you
look at it it will remain the most important
vehicle ever for UK sales. (Past tense)
Katie Conroy, Adventures
Rik Blaxill booking the Ramones for me
doing 2 numbers straight in a row – nothing
better for a plugger than getting your act on
TOTP when you were least expecting it!
And two numbers!! Even though they were
only 2 and half minutes long – not the
point!!!!!!! Everybody guaged their success
on whether they got TOTP – I can’t think of
another tv show in its time that meant that
much – and the only one the American acts
had heard of and wanted to do!!! And
memories – Pans People, The Sweet, Carter
the Unstoppable’s Dream the Impossible
Dream, Take That, Mariah insisting no dry
ice and everyone out of the studio in
rehearsals… Fab…
Steve Lillywhite, Sony BMG
Like everyone, it has to be Jocky Wilson
behind Dexys!!
Paul Roberts, Phil McIntrye
Hot Gossip and Dexys performing with
Jocky Wilson as a backdrop!
Alan McGee
The KLF with Dolly Parton (wasn’t it Tammy
Wynette? – Ed) as she sang "We're justified
and we're ancient and we drive an ice cream
van" she is from Texas!!.Bill Drummond not
as good as Mac or Wylie but fucking
amazing sense of the absurd. Best ever
performance on TOTP.
Gary Levermore, Nettwerk
Debbie Harry... Denis... say no more...
and I’m sure my Dad agrees!
Phil Nelson, First Column
Debbie Harry singing Denis definitely made
me go all funny in a way that I didn’t
understand at the time…
Sir Harry Cowell, P&C
Dee Dee Wilde from Pan’s People dancing
every Thursday evening.
Paul Scaife, Record of the Day
Old memory – Madness, Bad Manners and
Pirahnas on one show. My music was taking
over the world.
Recent memory – Gnarls Barkley.
Janice Long, Broadcaster
My most abiding memory of TOTP isn't
really music related. I was told by the gay
wardrobe assistant at TOTP that both Paul
King (King) and Jim Kerr (Simple Minds) had
the biggest genitalia he'd ever seen.
Imagine what was going through my mind
whenever I've seen either of them since!
TOP OF THE POPS 2
Anthony Dunning, Antman Music
There's no particular one, though the Pet
Shop Boys with Neil singing at the front and
Chris standing behind his keyboard and
Atari seemed an almost weekly occurrence
in the '80s.
The ever changing set, development of the
TOTP logo, the onscreen graphics, the
different theme tunes and the raft of
presenters make for the memories. Again for
me it's probably the 80s when it looked it
was being filmed in Magaluf nightclub, the
chart was counted down to Paul Hardcastle's
The Wizzard and the likes of Steve Wright
and Gary Davies were there to oversee it all.
It's one of the elements that always made
TotP2 so watchable.
Neil Ashby
Jocky Wilson behind Dexys… you couldn't
make it up. Obviously Ossie’s Dream too
James Sandom, Supervision Management
Teardrop Explodes Reward featuring Julian
Cope on Acid. As a child I remember
thinking what a strange performance it was,
"Dad why's that chap jumping on the
piano"?... around 20 years later I read his
book "Head On", he was loaded full of Acid.
Priceless TV moment from the Arch Druid.
Gordon Loncaster
Memories as a kid:
Dexy's Midnight Runners doing Jackie
Wilson Said in front of a giant back drop of
fatty darts player Jocky Wilson coz some
researcher got confused.
Disinterested heroin chic (before it was chic)
waifs swaying like dead willow trees.
Kid Jensen's accent. What exactly was that
then? Mexican with a hint of Urdu?
Joe Dolce v. Ultravox
Memories as a warm-up man:
*Madonna going through the effort to mime
a synched pre-rec vocal to a 10 piece band
who were actually playing live.
*Eels smashing the whole world up. Chris
Cowey on talkback saying: "I guess that's
the take we're going with then."
*Gary from Reef buying everyone pints at
the bar.
*Paula Yates side of stage with babe in arms
watching Hutchence in rehearsal adoringly.
*Theakston unable to remember the 3-line
links.
*Trying to get the kids to go from the Steps
stage to the Def Leppard stage.
*Lopez doubling the population of Elstree
with her staff.
*Robbie being a really regular bloke.
*The Tea/Coffee/Uniquench generic brown
liquid available at the canteen.
The thing about TOTP is that, yes, it was ill.
Not terminal.Just needed a specialist that's
all. But most of us are aware that a certain
recent producer came into the patient's
room, tripped over the saline drip,
disconnecting it, fell onto the ventilator's
plug,pulling it from the wall, before
accidentally suffocating the patient with a
pillow, unaware of the damage caused even
when the solid tone of a flat-line rang out.
We all know who that is and we don't even
need to mention his name.
Nick Stewart, Korova
Pans People.
Musical highlights: First appearances from
Jimi Hendrix and Procul Harum.
Wizzard were also always good value.
Andy Saunders, Velocity PR
Kurt Cobain doing a fucked up, slow motion
version of Smells Like Teen Spirit with
Nirvana in 1992 (I think it was '92 anyway...)
Pierre Perrone, Journalist
Good riddance too…
In my book, it lost it when the Musicians'
Union stopped forcing people to rerecord
the tracks before they could appear to mime
to them…
Procol Harum doing Whiter Shade Of Pale as
the footage was used to promote the single
internationally and turned up on French TV
in 1967. Thankfully, the film still exists
whereas a lot of other classic performances
were wiped by the BBC…
9
to appear on the show hosted by Simon
Bates because there was a strike on - no
audience; no live acts at all - everything on
tape except Bates and I.
I had gone into a shop in New York to get a
prop and saw this colourful little toy at the
back of the store. I bought it (nobody else
had, the assistant told me) and went on
TOTP telling Simon this Rubiks Cube was the
big new thing in America (it wasn't but
interest exploded in the UK after I was on).
After the show I got hundreds of letters
about the cube including one from a
schoolboy enclosing an exercise book with
the solution of how to solve it, asking for
advice on getting it published.
I sent it back to him with, I think, a nice letter
explaining no publisher would be interested
(I knew all my talk about popularity was
rubbish).
Then Rubiks Cube exploded and bloody
hell; a US schoolkid got his solution
published and sold millions of copies.
I felt awful!
Dear old TOTP! I was in the very first London
based show.
Mel Brown, Impressive PR
Nick Heyward forgetting his words on his No
1 hit Whistle Down The Wind – a classic
Joel Harrison, Universal
Gotta be the Jocky Wilson moment!_
Lewis Jamieson, Hall or Nothing
The Smiths, What Difference Does It Make,
tons of gladioli and puzzled faces.
Ruth Rothwell, Universal Publishing
I was in the audience when Vienna by
Ultravox was at no 2 and Joe Dolce was
no1 with Shuttupayouface (Whats a matter
you!!) I was trying to hide!!!!!!!!!!
David Massey, Sony BMG
First Wham performance of Young Guns
and first Frankie performance of Relax.
Nick Raphael, Sony BMG
Adam And The Ants’ Prince Charming.
Jon Kutner, Pop Oracle
Seeing myself appear between B.A
Robertson's legs whilst he was singing
To Be Or Not To Be in 1979.
Paul Bolton, Helter Skelter
Gotta be the Jocky Wilson backdrop…
I never did hear whether it was an ironic
statement or a fuck up.
Alex Gilbert, 14th Floor
Nirvana’s Teen Spirit... Those glasses.
Rob Davis, Songwriter
JK
My favourite ever Top of the Pops memory
was when I was doing a live performance
and noticed there was no drive at all to the
rhythm feel. I sneaked a look over at the
band (remember, this was broadcast totally
live) and noticed the percussion player had
gone to sleep and was holding the
tambourine upright and silent in one hand
as he snored!
My other fave memory (am I entitled to two
since I have been in every decade of TOTP
until this one?) was when I had come back
Being on it January 1974. Tiger Feet was
no1, Beat that!
Jamie Spencer, Liberation Management
Michael Hurll after each Madness performance
would say “Never again, they’re banned’ but
would always have them back only to say
‘never again’ after the show.
FORTHCOMING SINGLES
10
July 3
Captain
Glorious
August 28
Ferry Corsten
Watch Out
Dirty South Vs Evermore
It's Too Late
Automatic
Recover
Dem Franchize Boyz
Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It
Frank
I'm Not Shy
Director
Easy To Me
Fall Out Boy
Sixteen Candles
Paris Hilton
Stars Are Blind
Eagles Of Death Metal
I Want You So Hard
Grates
19-20-20
Horrors
Death At The Chapel
The Feeling
Never Be Lonely
Justice V's Simian
We Are Your Friends
Hughes Corporation
What A Feeling
Fratellis
Chelsea Dagger
Lily Allen
Smile
Seth Lakeman
Lady Of The Sea
Chris Lake
Changes
George Michael
An Easier Affair
Damian Marley
All Night
Larrikin Love
Happy As Annie
Mobb Deep
Put Em In Their Place
Mousse T/Dandy Warhols
Horny As A Dandy
Less Than Jake
TBC
Paolo Nutini
Last Request
Panic At The Disco
Lying Is The Most Fun…
Lupe Fiasco
Daydream
Razorlight
In The Morning
Pheonix
Consolation Prize
Method Man
TBC
Regina Spektor
On The Radio
Puppini Sisters
Wuthering Heights
Omarion
Entourage
Jamie T
Sheila
Claire Sproule
Flame
Pink
U & Ur Hand
Route 33
Looking Back
July 10
August 7
Richard Ashcroft
Words Just Get In The Way
Aliens
Happy Song
Subways
Live EP
Basement
I Caught A Face
Matt Costa
Sweet Thursday
TI feat Jamie Foxx
Live In The Sky
James Dean Bradfield
That’s No Way To Tell A Lie
DMX
Lord Give Me A Sign
Justin Timberlake
Sexyback
Busta Rhymes
I Love My Chick
Futureheads
Worry About It Later
September 4
Dirty Pretty Things
Deadwood
Hope Of The States
Left
AFI
Love Like Winter
Get Cape Wear Cape Fly
I Spy
Hot Chip
Colours
Avenged Sevenfold
Seize The Day
Milburn
Cheshire Cat Smile
Molly McQueen
No Sleep Tonight
Axwell
Watch The Sunrise
MYNC Project
Something On Your Mind
Orson
Happiness
Battle
Demons
Jim Noir
Eanie Meany
Tom Petty
Saving Grace
Cord
Sea Of Trouble
Plan B
Mama
Primal Scream
Dolls
Nelly Furtado
Promiscuous Girl
Rogue Traders
Voodoo Child
View
Wasted Little DJs
Lemar
TBC
Rooster
Home
August 14
Sigur Ros
Seglopur
Alesha
Shayne Ward
Stand By Me
Webb Sisters
I Still Hear It
July 17
Muse
Starlight
Lipstick
Outkast
Morris Jones
Beenie Man Feat. Akon
Girls
Scissor Sisters
Don’t Feel Like Dancing
Bell X1
Rocky Took A Lover
Sandi Thom
What If I’m Right
TBC
Cassie
Me & U
Wolfmother
Chamillionaire
Ridin'
Cassius
Toop Toop
September 11
Belle
What The Hell
Cham
Ghetto Story
Shawn Colvin
Chris Brown
Gimme That
Chocolate Puma
Always & Forever
Fergie
London Bridge
Graham Coxon
I Can’t Look At Your Skin
Betty Curse
God This Hurts
Janet Jackson
Call On Me
Death Cab For Cutie
I Will Follow You Into The Dark
Divine Comedy
To Die A Virgin
Jet
TBC
Flaming Lips
WAND
Fort Minor
Where's You Go
Milburn
TBC
Freelance Hellraisers
You Can Cry All You Want
Ghostface Killah
Back Like That
Billy Talent
Red Flag
Gnarls Barkley
Smiley Faces
Duncan James
Can't Stop A River
Walkmen
Louisiana
Humanzi
Diet Pills & Magazines
Ronan Keating
Iris
September 18
Heather Small
Radio On
KMC
Soul On Fire
Shawn Emanuel
McFly
Please, Please/Don’t Stop
Maria Lawson
Sleepwalking
Plan B
Charmaine
Me Now
Mystery Jets
Diamonds In The Dark
Sound Team
Your Eyes Are Liars
James Morrison
You Give Me Something
Daniel Powter
Jimmy
Ross Copperman
As I Choke
Sean Paul
Never Gonna Be The
Spinto Band
Oh Mandy
Webb Sisters
TBC
Taking Back Sunday
Twenty Twenty Surgery
September 25
Same
Fill Me Up
U Better Believe It
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Tell Me Baby
Vega 4
You & Me
All American Rejects
Rihanna
Unfaithful
Matt Willis
Hey Kid
Dirty Pretty Things
TBC
She Wants Revenge
Tear You Apart
Young Knives
Weekends & Black Days
Soul Avengerz feat. Javine
Don't Let The Morning Come
Sleepy Jackson
God Leed Your Soul
August 21
Wolfmother
Woman
Beyonce feat. Jay Z
Déjà Vu
Lily Allen
TBC
Crimea
Baby Boom
Killers
TBC
July 24
It Ends Tonight
October 2
Angels & Airwaves
It Hurts
Dario G
Ring Of Fire
Razorlight
America
Feeder
Save Us
DJ Shadow
Enuff
Lionel Richie
TBC
Jackson Analogue
Stop
Field Mobb
So What
LeAnn Rimes &
Kasabian
Empire
Ice Cube
Why We Thugs
Brian McFadden
Madonna
Get Together
Keane
Crystal Ball
October 9
Kenny Thomas
I Will
Laura Michelle Kelly
Communication
Disturbed
Mumm Ra
Black Hurts Day & The
Missy Elliott
We Run This
Goo Goo Dolls
Stay With You
Night Rolls On EP
Stacie Orrico
I’m Not Missing You
Just Jack
TBC
Pet Shop Boys
Minimal
Pink Grease
Car Lights
Young Knives
The Decision
Shapeshifters & Chic
Sensitivity
Rapture
Gotta Get Myself Into It
Snow Patrol
Chasing Cars
Rolling Stones
Biggest Mistake
Who
Wire & Glass
Secret Machines
All At Once
Zero 7
You're My Flame
The Upper Room
Never Come Back
Van She
Van She EP
July 31
Christina Aguilera
Ain't No Other Man
Boy Kill Boy
Civil Sin
Info supplied by HMV
Everybody’s Someone
TBC
HIT SHEET GIG
at the Cobden Club
Our wildly successful Hit Sheet ASCAP sponsored Night on June 26 at the
Cobden Club featured, AM, The Orange Lights, an impromptu performance by
Jack Savoretti, Tom McRae and Joe Purdy. Another great evening of music!
11
Here are just some
of the glowing
reviews we received
in our inbox the
next day.
“It was an excellent night
and a great set; two
interesting new songs,
an old b-side, a rarity
and a bizarre cover. Very
much unlike any Tom
McRae gig I’ve been to.”
“The gig was fabulous!
Had a really good time:)
I’ve never heard any of
Joe Purdy’s stuff before,
but he was amazing!”
The future is bright for The Orange Lights
“Tom McRae was
amazing, and so were
the other acts”
AM. His real name is
LA Confidential!
Jack Savoretti fulfilling our quota of
eye candy for the evening
“I went for Tom and as
per he was stunning, and
it was nice having a little
chat with him later, but I
was really impressed
with Joe Purdy (who
was also very friendly)
and AM.”
Who’s a Purdy boy?
Tom McRae is a contented man
“We thought the gig was
fantastic. It was a fairly
short set but we have
absolutely nothing but
great things to say about
it. It would be worth it
for one song! It was
well organised too.
Thank you very much
for squeezing us onto
the list.”
“Please pass on the news
that the audience
thought it was brilliant.
The supporting musicians
were great too.”
“Best gig I’ve been to for
quite a while”
“It was great. All the acts
were spiffing!”
You ish my besht friend
Dancing with the rebels
WIRELESS FESTIVAL
12
The Wireless festival was a real hit and
miss affair. Turning up on the first day,
Wednesday, it soon became clear that
there were too many Indians and not
enough chiefs.
Having secured our wristbands around our
wrists we were sent from pillar to post in
the attempt to actually get in. Having spent
40 minutes being sent from one entrance
to another we managed to miss 2 of the
acts we had wanted to see, namely Milk
Kan and Gogol Bordello. Getting in did
become easier as the week went on. The
calibre of the acts was odd, there were
well-known names headlining but there
were also acts we hadn’t even heard about
on the lesser stages, some of whom I don’t
think were known outside of their
immediate families!
The weather improved throughout the
week as did the quality of acts. On
Thursday night Ray Lamontagne, James
Morrison, Joan As Policewoman and The
Weepies all caught our eyes and ears, but
our star turn of the night was Ross
Copperman who played a great set in the
02 Blueroom Bubble tent. This young man
oozes star quality. By Sunday night the
grass in Hyde Park was looking very
‘forlawn’! The hosepipe ban doesn’t appear
to have affected the neighbours over at
Buckingham Palace though.
The Sunday line-up was our favourite (in
between watching England on the big
screen, thoughtfully provided by the
organizers, struggle to a 1-0 win over
Equador). Cord now look like the real deal
and lead singer James has matured into a
fine front man. Also vastly improved are
Lorraine who, with the addition of a
drummer, have a much fuller sound and
are set for huge success. On the acoustic
stage young Roxanne sang her heart out
and we wish her luck on the current
Westlife tour. With no time for a cuppa or a
kippah we headed off to see the ‘rocking
rabbi’ Matisyahu, who played a 30 minute
set that got better as it went on. He didn’t
Gray’s anatomy
Ray Lamontagne has something stuck in his beard
get on our tzitzis and we really enjoyed
his song Jerusalem. With what appeared to
be the whole of the population of Essex
in Hyde Park, Depeche Mode wrapped
up the event and had the best response of
the night, if not the whole week’s
proceedings.
Wireless is never going to be seen
as a real festival, it’s more like a glorified
picnic in the park with corporate branding
at every turn. We’d be interested to know
how many people were there on a freebie
as at the Silver Clef lunch we attended the
week before every goodie bag had a
pair of free tickets for one of the days
of the festival; that’s a couple of thousand
for starters. If Wireless is to improve
lessons need to be learned. Let’s hope
that next year’s line-up is stronger and
perhaps condensing the festival into
a 3 day event would be better. And 16
different wristbands does seem excessive!
Mo Pitkins
Wayne’s World – Flaming James Blunt!
BITS ’N’ PIECES
Hit Sheet Gig
13
One Of These Men Is An Imposter!
at the Cobden Club
Wednesday August 2nd
Featuring 5 great acts
• New Lost World (from Denmark)
featured in issue 82
• Dollface issue 80
• Lord Large issue 83
• Ross Copperman issue 84/85
• Jack Savoretti issue 85
Email [email protected]
Names... Names... Names...
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Which non-superstitious MD is releasing his priority acts new album on 9/11 and travelling on
holiday on 7/7?
Which marketing boss told us that when it comes to matters of the heart“ it’s not a good idea
to fish from the company pier”!?
Which label executive won a cool £98,000 on Magic FM’s mystery voice competition?
Which Press PR told us she’d be doing 4 poofs and a piano at Edinburgh?
Which booking agent told us she was going to “turn” The Feeling’s Dan Gillespie-Sells?
Which radio producer is emigrating to Southern Spain but will fly back at weekends to continue
producing his award winning radio show?
Ged Doherty…Tim Bowen…Eric Nicoli…Alain Levy…Roger Ames…Nick Raphael…Matt Thomas…Peter Lorraine…
Amber McKenzie...Bex Colwell…Jon Dunn…Emma Banks…Stuart Galbraith…Harvey Goldsmith…Paul Burger…
Irving Azoff…Andy Davies…Katie Conroy…Jeff Chegwin…John Lydon…Janice Long…Anthony Miller…
Gary Davies…Tam Coyle…Gordon Loncaster…Seymour Stein…Ron Shapiro…Joe Kentish…Mark Collen…
David Joseph…Nick Gatfield…Gordon Charlton…Jo Whiley…Edith Bowman…Paul Craig…Simon Williams
14
EMAIL FROM AMERICA
Bob Lefsetz
Yesterday was Mike Marrone's fiftieth birthday.
And he had the idea that I should substitute for
him on the Loft. So, when I was at XM two
weeks ago, we created six hours of
programming. I couldn't turn on the radio
yesterday until about four, an hour after I started,
but when I pushed the button on my boombox,
I was shocked. Because it was my choices. And
then me, coming over the airwaves.
Now Mike has got 13,000 plus songs in his
library. And I was rushing to catch a plane. So,
I quickly picked tracks. After hearing myself
I was so elated that I fired up my Inno and
recorded what was left of my show. People
always ask me what I listen to, well, here you go.
1. "Over My Head" – Fleetwood Mac
They say it's about Stevie Nicks, I've always
been in love with Christine McVie. She's more
accessible. And when she sings about being in
love, I feel like it could be me.
2. "White Ladder" – David Gray
I don't think he's equaled this effort on his last
two albums, but the album from which this
is the title track is enchanting. Not just the
hit "Babylon", but stuff like "My Oh My" and
"Silver Lining".
9. "Isn't Always Love" – Karla Bonoff
"Well isn't it always love that makes you hang
your head
And isn't it always love that makes you cry
And isn't it always love that takes the tears away
And you wouldn't have it any other way"
Unknown by today's generation, but not
forgotten by we who bought her debut
Columbia album. Truth and vulnerability. Better
than any Ronstadt record, a MUST HAVE!
10. "This Is Us" – Mark Knopfler/Emmylou Harris
I can't burn out on it!
11. "Hide and Seek" – Howard Jones
The best song off his debut. So quiet, so
meaningful.
12. "Today" – Jefferson Airplane
So beautiful as to almost not believe it's real.
13. "Jeannie's Diary" – Eels
The most played song in my iTunes library,
presently at 225 complete spins, never mind
iPod plays.
"I don't have a chance at writing the book
I just want to be a page, in Jeannie's diary
One single page"
14. "Magazines" – Duncan Sheik
My favorite song by him. Heard it first on
the Loft.
3. "Never Stop" – Jackson Browne
From "The Naked Ride Home".
I like Jackson when he's acoustic. But this album
is more rock. But the heartfelt lyrics and groove
here, if you're a fan of his DOWNLOAD THIS!
There's a change almost all the way through that
will not only put you through the bends but will
connect you with everybody you've ever been in
love with. It's just that magical.
15. "Baby Come Home" – J.D. Souther
Mike believes "Black Rose" is the
singer/songwriter album of 1976.
"If you could trust me
Try to believe me
Listen to me when I say
When I say that love is a burning fire
And it will not fade away
No it will not fade away"
4. "A Long Time, A Long Way To Go" –
Todd Rundgren
The best Runt song ever. All the talent, all the
beauty, encapsulated in just over two minutes.
You can break up with them, but you can never
forget them.
5. "New York Tendaberry" – Laura Nyro
I've been meaning to write something about
"Save The Country" for weeks now. Not only
where is the antiwar protest, where are the
PACIFISTS? But that's a rocker, and this is so
intimate and vulnerable... There's heart in this
that you'll never ever see on television or in the
movies.
6. "Sixty Years On" – Elton John
"Take Me To The Pilot" got me hooked on Elton.
But all these years later it's "Sixty Years On" and
"The King Must Die" I keep listening to.
7. "Seasons" – Steve Miller
Hearing this track on DeepTracks in January
2003 sold me on XM. You think Steve Miller is
the dittymaster? Then you haven't heard THIS!
EXQUISITE!
8. "Heart Of The Night" – Poco
Funnily enough, Poco didn't have hits until all the
key frontmen were gone. Even the SUBSTITUTE
frontmen, like Timothy B. Schmit. Great looping
groove here.
best
16. "Between A Laugh And A Tear" –
John Mellencamp
Best song he ever did. With Rickie Lee Jones
duetting. Really, "Scarecrow" was as good as the
Springsteen albums of those years.
17. "Give Me An Inch" – Robert Palmer
You never hear this on the radiio anymore. This
sold me on him, so smooth, so sexy.
18. "Drawn To The Rhythm" – Sarah McLachlan
From BEFORE she made it. Magical.
19. "The First Cut Is The Deepest" –
Rod Stewart
The definitive version, even better than the Cat
Stevens original.
20. "The Road" – Danny O'Keefe
You probably only know the cover on Jackson
Browne's "Running On Empty". You'll LOVE the
original.
21. "Bitter Creek" – Eagles
I could do a whole post on this. I believe I have.
Oh, what a middle of the desert late at night feel.
OH PEYOTE!!
22. "Sand In My Shoes" – Dido
The second most played track in my iTunes
library, with 205 spins. But really, number one,
since "Sand In My Shoes" is 4:59 and "Jeannie's
Diary" is 3:37.
Don't dismiss Dido. Buy "Life For Rent". It's every
bit as good as the singer/songwriter albums of
the seventies.
When you hear Dido sing "But I want to see you
again" you'll feel that pitter-patter in your heart
you get when you fall in love.
23. Jay Ferguson – "Real Life Ain't That Way"
Heard first on the Loft. This is the kind of song
you can play ALL DAY! Kind of a cross between
Pablo Cruise, the Doobie Brothers and Chicago.
A sax, but so much rock energy. The kind of
chorus Journey popularized, but here, without
Steve Perry's bombast, you feel so ALIVE!
24. "I Am So Ordinary" – Paula Cole
Forget the hairy armpits. Forget the hits. This is
from the debut.
Maybe you're self-confident, but for the rest of
us who've felt we weren't good enough...
"And when your mother came to boston
you disappeared
And then I saw you three together
I guess she makes the best impression
With her charming femininity..."
25. "Oh Yeah" – Roxy Music
If you haven't heard this, your life is lacking.
26. "Dirty Work" – Ian Matthews
A cover of Steely Dan's truly most famous work.
Not as good as the original, but such a
great song.
27. "One Man's Ceiling Is Another Man's Floor" –
Paul Simon
Have you played "Rhymin' Simon" recently? Talk
about HOLDING UP!
28. "Carolina Day" – Livingston Taylor
Remember when we bought every album with
"Taylor" on it?
Brings me right back to September 1970. And
I LIKE IT!
29. "Carolina In My Mind" – James Taylor
The original, from the Apple debut. With an
elation as opposed to the remakes
contemplation. Makes you feel so ALIVE!
30. "Riding On A Railroad" – James Taylor
As I said on the show, I put the CD in an endless
loop. This, "Machine Gun Kelly" and "You Can
Close Your Eyes".
We are sailing away on a river to the sea, when
I hear this I believe you and me HAVE met again.
31. "I Used To Be A King" – Graham Nash
We didn't expect much of Willie. But he put out
the best debut solo album of the three. Doesn't
quite hold up, but I still love this song.
32. "I Don't Know Where I Stand" – Joni Mitchell
She gets the concept so right it's almost
CREEPY! Do they love you or don't they? Will
you ever be able to fall asleep? Or will you have
to debate it ALL NIGHT? You need them, do they
need you?
EMAIL FROM AMERICA
33. "Diamond In The Rough" – Shawn Colvin
Second song, the one that hooked me on the
advance tape, from my favorite album of the
nineties, even if it did come out in the fall of '89.
34. "My Thanksgiving" – Don Henley
Nobody has heard this, it's like Henley's "Inside
Job" never came out. But it did just as baby
boomer acts could no longer get airplay, just
tour. And if they did happen to get airplay, it
wasn't with rockers. I LOVE THIS!
35. "Hearts In Your Eyes" – The Records
Forget the first album and "Starry Eyes", the
second is where it's at! With the girl in the
golden disc!
36. "Thirteen" – Big Star
"Won't you let me walk you home from school
Won't you let me meet you at the pool
Maybe Friday I can
Get tickets for the dance
And I'll take you"
Won't you tell your dad, get off my back
Tell him what we said about "Paint It Black"
Rock and roll is here to stay
Come inside where it's okay
And I'll shake you
Won't you tell me what you're thinking of
Would you be an outlaw for my love
If it's so, well, let me know
If it's no, well, I can go
I won't make you"
36. "Motel Blues" – Loudon Wainwright III
A live version cut at XM.
"In this town television shuts off at two
What can a lonely rock & roller do
Oh the bed's so big and the sheets are clean
And your girlfriend said that you were 18
The styrofoam ice bucket is full of ice
Come up to my motel room treat me nice
I don't wanna make no late night New York calls
And I don't wanna stare at them ugly grass mat
walls
Chronologically I know you're young
But when you kissed me in the club you bit my
tongue
I'll write a song for you, I'll put it on my next L.P
Come up to my motel room, sleep with me !
There's a Bible in the drawer don't be afraid
I'll put up the sign to warn the clean-up maid
Yeah there's lots of soap and there's lots of towels
Never mind them desk clerk's scowls
I'll buy you breakfast, they'll think you're my wife
Oh come up to my motel room, save my life
Come up to my motel room, save my life"
37. "Last Night Of The World" – Bruce Cockburn
Also cut live at XM.
With this song, and this song only, you could
travel a continent for a MONTH!
38. "Big Sky Country" – Chris Whitley
The track that built his reputation.
39. "She Talks In Stereo" – Gary Myrick
Remember that guitar sound??!!
40. "Really Wanted You" – Emitt Rhodes
I wanted to play "Love Will Stone You", but this
will do.
41. "Streetlife Serenader" – Billy Joel
Buy Billy's "Songs In The Attic", it will convince
you that he's not a sap. I only knew this from
that live album. Then I discovered the original,
which has got a street corner feel, but rocks.
42. "The King Must Die" – Elton John
Here's that other Elton track.
43. "Stranger In A Strange Land" – Leon Russell
When you dropped the needle and heard this
opening track on Leon's second solo album,
your draw dropped. Where did he get that
voice? And when everybody but the kitchen
sink comes in at the end you're completely
OVERWHELMED!
15
52. "A Pirate Looks At Forty" – Jimmy Buffett
The bedrock that allows Jimmy to get 110%
of the gross.
It's this song that enraptured his hard core.
"I've done a bit of smugglin'
And I've run my share of grass
I made enough money to buy Miami,
But I pissed it away so fast
Never meant to last
Never meant to last"
53. "Your Turn Now" – J.D. Souther
My favorite song from "Black Rose"
44. "What Now America" – Lee Michaels
Once again, where are the antiwar protest
songs of today?
"The moon was yellow
And the sky was cool
The night can make you a promise of love
Or it can make you a fool"
AND
"How would anybody know it
If the real thing shined
We've seen so many movies
You'd probably think it was a line"
45. "So Far Away" – Carole King
"So far away
Doesn't anybody stay in one place anymore?"
54. "What Can I Say" – Pousette-Dart Band
I wanted to play "Freezing Hot", but I couldn't
find it!
46. "You Can Sleep While I Drive" –
Melissa Etheridge
Melissa has become a caricature of herself, but
this song has got the lesbian on the run in her
secret universe vibe DOWN! To the point where
it doesn't matter whether you're gay or straight.
55. "Hollywood Ending" – Brian Vander Ark
My last song before I took off on that jumbo jet
for my hometown, tinseltown.
47. "Sossity, You're A Woman" – Jethro Tull
You might not believe it, but thirty five years
ago, Jethro Tull was an arena act that went
clean everywhere. Nothing else sounded quite
like Tull, the exotic intimacy, like reading a
Sherlock Holmes story.
"20th Century Man" – The Kinks
The way this blends acoustic and electric
elements, it could almost be a Zeppelin song.
From a skiffle beat to pure rock, this has got
THE energy of rock and roll. This is one of the
many reasons Ray Davies is a god.
48. "$1000 Wedding" – Gram Parsons
The song that stuck out on his second solo
album, which I bought after he died, when the
reviews were so good.
"Ain't got no ambition, I'm just disillusioned
I'm a twentieth century man but I don't wanna
be here
My mama said she can't understand me
She can't see my motivation
Just give me some security
I'm a paranoid schizoid product of the twentieth
century"
49. "Wasted Time" – Eagles
"So you can get on with your search, baby
And I can get on with mine
And maybe someday we will find
That it wasn't really wasted time"
Why the Eagles are the biggest selling band in
history, why they sell out every venue. You
might think it's about the hits, but it's the truth in
the album tracks. When you go to a show and
Henley sings these lines every other baby
boomer looks up into the sky and sings along,
thinking of all the heartbreak and breakups
they've endured. And wondering if they've
gotten it right, if they'll ever get it right.
Meawhile, I just want to write about one more
song, that played before I fired up my Inno.
That's who I am. I don't think I fit into this
modern world. ut when these tracks come out
of the speakers, the unfiltered ones, not the
ones written to advertise the wares of
corporations, I feel like I fit in.
50. "My First Night Alone Without You" –
Bonnie Raitt
I play this after every breakup, after every
woman moves out. Positively creepy.
51. "For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her" –
Simon & Garfunkel
They say that "Waterloo Sunset" is the most
beautiful song ever written. It's no prettiers than
this.
Bob Lefsetz is a freelance journalist writing from Santa Monica.
California. The views expressed are his alone and not
necessarily endorsed by The Hit Sheet
www.hitsheet.co.uk
7 JULY 2006
I SSUE #85
Looking Better,
Sounding Good...
The Long Tail
Parlophone
Record of the Week
I Can’t Look at Your Skin
Graham Coxon
Life’s more than just a blur for Graham. This is his 3rd release from his latest album
Love Travels At Illegal Speeds. The limited CD and DVD version of the album is
available now. You And I and Standing On My Own Again have already troubled the
chart compilers and this double A sided single will do the same.
Graham’s album is a constant travelling companion and we’ve passed through
several speed cameras at more than 30mph due to the fact it makes us drive faster
than we should. Can we send our speed ticket fines to you please Graham?
Seriously, if this album doesn’t get a deserved Mercury nomination we’ll
eat our hats.