Friday, October 07, 2005

Funky Friday Says "Just Say Sire!"

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

Even if you're only half the music geek I am, chances are you probably own a record that was released by Seymour Stein's Sire Records. Formed in the late '60s, it steadily grew into a powerhouse supporter of everything that wasn't mainstream, a very "indie" label despite it's major label support. Just take a look at the almighty huge tracklisting that is laid out before you down below. It's a wildly eclectic, always different, pioneering, humorous and massive collection - a "whos who" of the music that I grew up listening to, that shaped who I am as a music junkie today. It spans the spectrum from punk to art rock to disco to folk and jazz and everything in between. I grew up looking at that "big S in a circle" logo spinning around and around in the center my turntable, and what was on was usually my very favorite record of the moment. The label is celebrating 40 years of music this year, and this recently released 3CD/1DVD set offers up proof of it's power in helping to shape so much of music history. The video disc is a real blast, and features a few things I had never seen. It's a must have set. Since it's funky Friday I am obliged to give tunes that will have you shaking you groove thang. Kid Creole's Endicott is a sly put down of the hard working husband who is faithful and honest, set to a sharp as ever big band flavored funk groove. Telex's Moskow Disko is a stone cold electro classic with it's memorable train whistle and vocodered vocals. Laid Back's White Horse is bound to be the funkiest anti-drug song ever, and is also equally memorable for it's synths and somewhat clunky beats. You gotta love that "beep bop boop bap beep" computer synth action.

I
EVERYBODY - Madonna
MIRROR IN THE BATHROOM - English Beat
KISS ME - Tin Tin
OH L'AMOUR - Erasure
TAINTED LOVE - Soft Cell
SITUATION (remix) - Yaz
PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE - Depeche Mode
LIVING ON THE CEILING - Blancmange
THAT SUMMER FEELING - Jonathan Richman
YOUNG AT HEART - The Bluebells
ONE STEP BEYOND - Madness
GENIUS OF LOVE - Tom Tom Club
IM NIN'ALU - Ofra Haza
ENDICOTT - Kid Creole & The Coconuts
LOVE AND MERCY - Brian Wilson
EACH AND EVERY ONE - Everything But The Girl
ALL THE WAY - Little Jimmy Scott
CRAZY - Seal
FIRE WOMAN - The Cult
CONSTANT CRAVING - k.d. lang

II
TEENAGE KICKS - The Undertones
THIS CHARMING MAN - The Smiths
I MELT WITH YOU - Modern English
MOSKOW DISKO - Telex
(I'M) STRANDED - The Saints
CA PLANE POUR MOI - Plastic Bertrand
TOP OF THE POPS - The Rezillos
NOWHERE GIRL - B-Movie
PART OF THE PROCESS - Morcheeba
COME TOGETHER (7" Version) - Primal Scream
BEAT DIS - Bomb The Bass
THE LOVE CATS - The Cure
THE KILLING MOON - Echo & The Bunnymen
WARM LEATHERETTE - The Normal
EVERYDAY IS LIKE SUNDAY - Morrissey
NEVER NEVER - The Assembly
OBLIVIOUS - Aztec Camera
INSIDE OUT - The Mighty Lemon Drops
SOON - My Bloody Valentine
LEAVE THEM ALL BEHIND - Ride

III
BLITZKRIEG BOP - The Ramones
ALEX CHILTON - The Replacements
COME ON LET'S GO - The Paley Brothers and Ramones
ALOHA STEVE & DANNO/THEME FROM HAWAII FIVE-O - Radio Birdman
THE WAGON - Dinosaur Jr.
SONIC REDUCER - Dead Boys
WHITE HORSE - Laid Back
BLANK GENERATION - Richard Hell & The Voidoids
I WANT THAT MAN - Deborah Harry
I'LL BE YOUR EVERYTHING - Tommy Page
SUMMER TEETH - Wilco
WORLD CLASS FAD - Paul Westerberg
BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG - The Pretenders
GIVE BACK THE KEY TO MY HEART - Uncle Tupelo
SHAKE SOME ACTION - The Flamin' Groovies
COUNTING BACKWARDS - Throwing Muses
BOY - Book Of Love
ROMEO HAD JULIETTE - Lou Reed
O.G. ORIGINAL GANGSTER - Ice-T
JESUS BUILT MY HOTROD - Ministry
BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE - Talking Heads

DVD
POP MUZIK - M
ROCK 'N' ROLL HIGH SCHOOL - Ramones
LET'S GO TO BED - The Cure
A LITTLE RESPECT - Erasure
BRASS IN POCKET - The Pretenders
THE CUTTER - Echo & The Bunnymen
BASTARDS OF YOUNG - The Replacements
SHE SELLS SANCTUARY - The Cult
ONCE IN A LIFETIME - Talking Heads
LIKE A PRAYER - Madonna
ENJOY THE SILENCE - Depeche Mode
FEED THE TREE - Belly
DRIFTING, FALLING - The Ocean Blue
REACH - Martini Ranch
GROOVY TRAIN - The Farm
THINGS CAN ONLY GET BETTER - D:Ream
NEW YORK CITY BOY - Pet Shop Boys
IN THE MEANTIME - Spacehog
ONE WEEK - Barenaked Ladies
COME TO DADDY - Aphex Twin

What's your favorite Sire record?

No comments: