OooOooo Canada, what’s left after the olympics? In Finland they used to hand out vinyl copies of Neil Young’s “Lucky Thirteen” album to doctors. That was like in the nineties and they = medicine companies. Nowdays these “gifts” are more like Viagra mousepads or such (both true stories).
This is not deep knowledge or anything but Neil Young did have his moments with synthesizers and vocoder. “Sample And Hold” is a prime example of that. Here’s what was previously unreleased version of the song from the aforementioned “Lucky Thirteen” album (1993). Almost three minutes shorter original version came out on “Trans” album in 1982.
A detail to be noticed here: drum hits are nicely offbeat from time to time. And no doctors in my family.
Sunny day (or partly cloudy)… But I’d like to think that spring is here to stay. Thinking of heading to a record shop to grab this and this. You want anything?
“Stormtrooper in Drag” by the late Paul Gardiner is often credited to Gary Numan. Maybe because Numan contributed not only the production and co-composing but also played, sang the lead vocals and released it on his label.
After this release the pair drifted away because of Gardiners escalating drug use. This alienated Numan, who himself claimed absistence of drugs. The lyrics of Stormtroopers in Drag and the death of Paul Gardiner both had something to do with drugs.
Robing Gibb of Bee Gees fame came out with a synth-pop album “Secret Agent” in 1984. It has couple of really decent cuts plus plenty of hand claps and “woooo ooo oooou ooo” vocals in choruses which is always regarded as a strongly positive extra around this house.
Now everything would be just fine if it was saturday afternoon instead of sunday since this song has more that kinda edge – like getting ready for a dangerous night or something. I feel adventurous.
LYRICS
I grabbed my hat and I went walking in the rainy night.
My world turned upside down.
I heard the roaring of the engines of a DC3.
I’m Casablanca bound.
The stewardess was standing staring in a fashion
that could only take my breath away.
The pilot’s voice came on the intercom and
told me he was working for the CIA.
Oh…
And he’s lost in a dangerous world.
So keep on running, running in the black of night,
secret agent,
Just keep on running, running at the speed of light,
secret agent.
Oh…
Oh…
Ooh. And three days later I was woken by a lady in black.
She took my photograph.
And in the safety of the shadows
threw her cameras down the elevator shaft.
She ran and stumbled in the darkness of the empty streets.
My job had just begun.
And without a warning I was shaken by a blinding light.
Didn’t see the gun.
Oh….
And he’s lost in a dangerous world, ooh.
So keep on running, running in the black of night,
it’s your secret agent.
Just keep on running, running like the speed of light,
it’s your secret agent.
Oh…
Oh…
Oh oh secret agent
Oh oh secret agent, agent.
Look out.
So keep on running, running till you get away.
You’re a secret agent.
So keep on running, running in the black of night.
You’re a secret agent.
So keep on running, running in the black of night .
You’re a secret agent
Just keep on running, running like the speed of light.
‘Cause you’re a secret agent.
Just keep on running, running till the break of day.
‘Cause you’re a secret agent.
Just keep on running, running till you get away.
‘Cause you’re a secret agent.
British house music! Really lovin’ the cover of this 12″ release. “Jealousy And Lies” was a big tune in the old days within Uk house/club scene. Here’s the Alternative Dance Mix version which has more percussion in it than the original mix. Few years before the turn of the millenium Julian Jonah went onto the uk garage tip for example as other half of the 187 Lockdown. In the early noughties guy was producing house again, with some disco flavour this time.
