Terror in Turtlenecks

Episode 21:  Pot Noodle - Woodstock (August 14th 2019)

'Three Days of Peace, Love, and Pot Noodles '

This episode:   

We get stuck in traffic on the way to Woodstock, 50 years too late!   

Jeremy reveals his superpower: being able to identify minor rock stars by a glimpse at the back of their heads, and Vince gets all misty-eyed about that time when he was thirteen and went to a Dr Who thing at Longleat.  Jeremy remembers an obscure 70’s US sitcom that had John Travolta giving attitude to a teacher, Vince rages against Joe Cocker and unleashes the retributive ire of hardcore Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes fans, and both of us get on the phone to Operation Yewtree after deciphering the lyrics of a well dodgy Milf song. 

As Jeremy hopes that Graham Nash will one day sing the theme to The Generation Game, Vince prematurely kills Jerry Garcia, and laments his certain lack of luck with sexually free young hippie women of the late 60s, had he been around then, which he wasn’t. 

The artists we discuss and rate this show are Arlo Guthrie, Grateful Dead, John B Sebastian, Bobby Goldsboro, and Crosby, Stills and Nash (and Young), with mentions of Woodie Guthrie, The Byrds, Jefferson Airplane, Joe Cocker, Santana, Gram Parsons and The Flying Burrito Brothers, Buffalo Springfield, Manassas, Oasis, Frank Sinatra, The Sex Pistols, and The Clash.

FULL TRACK LISTING 

Overrated Podcast Theme Tune – There It Is (Royalty Free) 

Coming Into Los Angeles  – Arlo Guthrie 

Dark Star  – Grateful Dead 

Rainbows All Over Your Blues – John B Sebastian 

Summer (The First Time)  – Bobby Goldsboro (Deciphering The Lyrics) 

Here Comes The Sun  – The Beatles

JEREMY RECOMMENDS: 

Magical Connection - John B Sebastian 

Chilling of the Evening  - Arlo Guthrie 

Wooden Ships - Jefferson Airplane 

VINCE RECOMMENDS: 

Wooden Ships (Live) - Crosby, Stills & Nash

Episode 20:  Glen Campbell’s Existential Nightmare (June 18th 2019)

'The podcast with no regrets.  Literally.'

This episode:   

We tumble back in time to 1975, where we find Starsky and Hutch being politically incorrect on a voodoo island populated by porn actresses, and the Bay City Rollers in the grip of a tartan mania.  Jeremy insults everyone in the north, Vince wonders if anyone named Glen could ever be cool, and we both fail to remember JD Souther.  

As awfuls come over the phone, our supergroups go to war, and Jimmy Tarbuck begins his existential  Jaques Brel phase, we liken the lead singers of The Eagles to the worst people in the world as chosen by Viz Comic, and express much appreciation for David Soul, the Alan Parsons Project, and bikinis. 

The artists we discuss and rate this show are Pilot, The Eagles, Glen Campbell, and Scott Walker/The Walker Brothers, with mentions of David Essex, Jackson Brown, Linda Rondstadt, The Bay City Rollers, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, Mick Jagger & Marianne Faithful, The Alan Parsons Project, Steve Harley, Phil Spector, and Frankie Goes to Hollywood.

FULL TRACK LISTING 

Overrated Podcast Theme Tune – There It Is (Royalty Free) 

January  – Pilot 

Rhinestone Cowboy  – Glen Campbell 

One of These Nights – The Eagles 

No Regrets  – The Walker Brothers 

And Your Bird Can Sing  – The Beatles

JEREMY RECOMMENDS: 

Bye Bye Baby - Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons 

You’re All Around Me - The Walker Brothers 

Episode 19:  Pseudo American Teen Bollocks (April 11th 2019)

'Confidence is a preference for the habitual voyeur of what is known as… Podcast.' 

This episode:   

We hold conversations with an imaginary Luke Haines as we delve into the why, who, and what of irksome How’s My Chimney genre Britpop. The mockney affectations of Damon Albarn cause Jeremy to reach peak cynicism; Vince confesses to a grudging admiration for The Corrs; we pitch a 21st century revival of genial 80s sitcom Never the Twain, with warring neighbours Jimmy Page and Robbie Williams as perfect replacements for rival antique shop owners Windsor Davies and Donald Sinden; and in our exciting new regular feature, roving reporter Jeremy braves the wilds of Westbury village to bring us news of what’s hot and what’s not in the CD and DVD sections of the high street charity store. 

The artists/bands rated and/or discussed are The Auteurs, Texas, The Verve, and Blur with mentions of Robbie Williams, Jimmy Page, Oasis, The La's, Busted, McFly, Chicago and Peter Cetera, David Bowie, The Corrs, Suede, Pulp, Shed 7, and The King Singers.

FULL TRACK LISTING 

Overrated Podcast Theme Tune – There It Is (Royalty Free) 

Show Girl  – The Auteurs 

Halo –  Texas 

The Drugs Don’t Work  – The Verve 

Tracy Jacks  – Blur 

Free as a Bird – The Beatles 

JEREMY RECOMMENDS 

The Upper Classes by The Auteurs 

Real Love (piano demo) by John Lennon 

VINCE RECOMMENDS 

The Glory of Love by Peter Cetera 

Episode 18:  Music for People Who Don’t Like Music (February 21st 2019)

'The podcast that’s fully prepared to take ‘no deal’ off the table.' 

This episode:   

80s light entertainment magician Paul Daniels joins Dire Straits; Jeremy sets up an overrated hotline to ubiquitous pop culture pundit Stuart Maconie; Vince insults the Mafia; our Supergroups go to war, and we wonder what Dalek creator Davros would be like if he held a world peace conference; we speculate on ‘The Bono Factor!’; we wonder if Echo or his Bunnymen made Video Nasty Cannibal films; and Jeremy suggests that franchised taxi firms should release the Esher Demos from The White Album. 

The artists/bands rated and/or discussed are Madonna, Prince, Echo and the Bunnymen, and Dire Straits, with mentions of Culture Club, David Bowie, Pink Floyd, and Peter Tork from The Monkees.

FULL TRACK LISTING 

Overrated Podcast Theme Tune – There It Is (Royalty Free) 

Into the Groove  – Madonna 

Raspberry Beret –  Prince 

Bring on the Dancing Horses  – Echo and the Bunnymen 

Your Latest Trick  – Dire Straits 

Help! – The Beatles 

Episode 17:  Guffawing Buffoons (Dec 14th 2018)

 'The podcast that’s naughty and nice.'

This episode:   

We fit up Noddy Holder and Slade for a series of daring thefts from the homes of rival 70s Glam Rock bands; Jeremy gets unnecessarily furious with children’s TV character Mr Benn; Vince struggles with Kris Kristofferson and a Bristolian accent as Jeremy acts out a scenario where Bob Dylan asks directions to racist landmarks; We reminisce about our days as teenage stars of a new cutting-edge BBC drama; we wonder if dogs can hear Ed Sheeran; and Jeremy makes a right royal speech. 

 The artists/bands rated and/or discussed are Roy Wood and Wizzard, The Ronettes, with mentions of Bob Dylan, ELO, The Move, Milli Vanilli, Cold Play, Ed Sheeran, Robbie Williams, Dean Martin, Andy Williams and Bing Crosby. 

FULL TRACK LISTING 

Overrated Podcast Theme Tune – There It Is (Royalty Free) 

I Wish it Could be Christmas Every Day  – Wizzard 

Sleigh Ride –  The Ronettes 

Mary’s Boy Child  – Boney M 

Merry Xmas (War is Over)  – John Lennon and Plastic Ono Band 

I Feel Fine – The Beatles 

Episode 16: Ill-Thought-Out Analogies (November 16th  2018)

'We’ll show you something that’ll make you change your mind'.

This episode:   

Vince demands that everybody should stop making things as there’s too much stuff already; Jeremy insists that Gerry Rafferty didn’t die in Baker Street, and laments the lack of any doctors or good feelings in Dr Feelgood; we challenge Oasis to come on the show, and wonder if Bruce Springsteen has ever been to the Asda superstore in Bedminster; Jeremy takes issue with Stuart Maconie; and we try to pen rhymes for our wives in the style of Squeeze. 

 The artists/bands rated and/or discussed are Gerry Rafferty, The Clash, Squeeze, and The Pet Shop Boys, with mentions of Stealer’s Wheel, Oasis, Bruce Springsteen, U2,  

 FULL TRACK LISTING 

Overrated Podcast Theme Tune – There It Is (Royalty Free) 

Baker Street  – Gerry Rafferty 

London Calling –  The Clash 

Up the Junction – Squeeze 

West End Girls  – Pet Shop Boys 

The Fool on the Hill – The Beatles

 JEREMY RECOMMENDS: 

Star - Stealers Wheel 

Get it Right Next Time - Gerry Rafferty 

Another Nail in my Heart - Squeeze 

Can She Excuse My Wrongs [lyrics attributed to Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex] - Sting (on the Lute) 

 VINCE RECOMMENDS 

Nothing Has Been Proved - Pet Shop Boys and Dusty Springfield 

  LINKS 

Revolution in the Head by Ian MacDonald  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolution_in_the_Head 

Episode 15: Dear Bongo! - 1981 (September 27th 2018)

'The podcast with 99 problems'

We try to determine if --as Chas and Dave would have us believe--the meat aisles of Sainsbury’s in 1981 were stacked with rabbit; We celebrate Bob Holness’s best fictitious saxophone solos; Vince remembers lots of werewolves, but very little else; We pitch a new Sunday night middle class drama series which will showcase the sexy middle class roll-eyes of middle class actor Martin ‘Middle Class’ Shaw; Jeremy breaks some glass; And we get a buzz from discussing entomology-based band names.

The artists/bands rated and/or discussed are Soft Cell, Hazel O’Connor, Adam and the Ants, The Police, and Bucks Fizz; with mentions of Chas and Dave, Joe Dolce, Midge Ure and Ultravox, Fred Wedlock, Kylie, and Michael Jackson.

FULL TRACK LISTING
Overrated Podcast Theme Tune – There It Is (Royalty Free)
Tainted Love –  Soft Cell
Will You – Hazel O’Connor
Prince Charming – Adam and the Ants
Every Little Thing She Does is Magic - The Police
Making Your Mind Up - Bucks Fizz
You’re Going to Lose that Girl  – The Beatles

Episode 14: Being Mick Pointer
Marillion’s Clutching at Straws - Part Two (July 22nd 2018)

'The podcast too scared to go back into the water'

For the second episode of a two-part series, we go track-by-track through Marillion’s 1987 album Clutching at Straws, and as Vince casts Robert Downey Jnr to play Marillion’s frontman in a hypothetical biopic, Jeremy does Barry White impressions.

We struggle to name an album by It Bites, or anything by Then Jericho (remember them?); we give the album a final score; we discuss the hardest things we’ve ever had to do whilst chomping on sugar mice; and we vow to never again accidentally insult the north east of England.

FULL TRACK LISTING
Overrated Podcast Theme Tune – There It Is (Royalty Free)
Incommunicado – Marillion
Torch Song – Marillion
Slainte Mhath – Marillion
Sugar Mice – Marillion
The Last Straw – Marillion

Vince’s rankings:
11 - Just for the Record
10 - The Last Straw
9 - Going Under
8 - Incommunicado
7 - White Russian
6 - Slainte Mhath
5 - Sugar Mice
4 - Hotel Hobies
3 - That Time of the Night
2 - Torch Song
1 - Warm Wet Circles

Jeremy’s Rankings
11 - White Russian
10 - Sugar Mice
9 - Going Under
8 - Just for the Record
7 - Slainte Mhath
6 - That Time of the Night
5 - Hotel Hobbies
4 - The Last Straw
3 - Incommunicado
2 - Warm Wet Circles
1 - Torch Song

Final Scores: 157 / 220
Clutching at Straws gets a rating of 71/100

VINCE RECOMMENDS:
I Remember Elvis Presley (The King is Dead) - Danny Mirror

Episode 13: Inverted Commas
Marillion’s Clutching at Straws - Part One (July 22nd 2018)

'The podcast of angst fueled bravado'

This episode:
For the first episode of a two-part series, we go track-by-track through Marillion’s 1987 album Clutching at Straws, a record Vince has loved for thirty years, and which Jeremy has lots of affection for, too - possibly because Vince has played it to him so many times over three decades that it’s finally worn him down.

We discuss and rate every song, talk about the production of and meaning behind the album, and along the way we contextualize the album as a meaningful art form, and how changing technology has advanced music distribution, from vinyl to downloads.

Jeremy sneers with contempt as Vince mixes up Cream with Free; Vince wonders if David Crosby has put a hit out on him, and rushes off to Twitter to find Tanita Tikaram; Jeremy thinks Clannad should make a range of curries, and wonders why Les Dennis isn’t on a Marillion album cover; and Vince has to race against the Countdown clock to find a duff song on The Doors by The Doors.

Mentions: Dr Feelgood, Genesis, The Beatles (obvs), Whitesnake, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

FULL TRACK LISTING
Overrated Podcast Theme Tune – There It Is (Royalty Free)
Hotel Hobbies – Marillion
Warm Wet Circles – Marillion
That Time of the Night (The Short Straw) – Marillion
Going Under – Marillion
Just for the Record – Marillion
White Russian – Marillion

Episode 12: The Jeremy Wall Phenomenon (June 21st 2018)

'Five Sizzling Hot Tracks From 1976'

We discuss interpersonal band dynamics and how to fire your sulky lead guitarist; we take a look at the complete madness of the UK singles chart through the 70’s and 80’s and we suggest that a guaranteed number one hit these days would be The Floral Song Grime Rap by Drake feat. Tobermory.

We wonder how many Trump staffers would have been shown the White House door in the span of time Wet Wet Wet held the number one spot with their bland cover versions; and swarms of flying ants dominate early memories from our childhoods in the tarmac-melting heatwave of 1976.

The artists/bands rated and/or discussed are ABBA, Be-Bop Deluxe, Fleetwood Mac, and Todd Rundgren, with mentions of The Reynolds Girls (in Deciphering the Lyrics); The Demis Roussos Phenomenon; Manuel & The Music of the Mountains; Prince; and John Lennon and Elephant’s Memory.

FULL TRACK LISTING
Overrated Podcast Theme Tune – There It Is (Royalty Free)
Dancing Queen – ABBA
Ships in the Night – Be-Bop Deluxe
Rhiannon – Fleetwood Mac
Love of the Common Man – Todd Rundgren
Got to Get You Into My Life – The Beatles

JEREMY RECOMMENDS:
Crimson and Clover - Tommy James and the Shondells
Night Creatures - Be-Bop Deluxe
Mixed Emotions - The Rolling Stones

JEREMY’S SUPERGROUP (HAPHAZZARD!)
Bill Nelson (Be-Bop Deluxe) - Lead Guitar
Mick Tucker (The Sweet) - Drums
Jaco Pastorius (Weather Report / Word of Mouth) - Bass
Todd Rundgren - Guitars/Vocals/Piano

VINCE’S SUPERGROUP (THE PEDANTS)
Stevie Wonder - Piano / Vocals
David Crosby (The Byrds / Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young) - Rhythm Guitar / Vocals / Drugs Moby - Keyboards / Guitars / Vocals / Production
Steve Winwood (Spencer Davis Group / Traffic / Blind Faith) - Rhythm Guitar / Vocals / Piano

LINKS 

Revolution in the Head by Ian MacDonald  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolution_in_the_Head 

John Lennon’s amusing retaliatory letter to Todd Rundgren 

http://trconnection.com/trconn.php/article=lennon.art