My Crucial Tracks this week - the Pogues, the Clash, Stick in the Wheel, Elvis, the Fureys, Christy Moore (and Damien Duff....after a fashion)
These are my Crucial Tracks for the last few days.
A song from college or early adulthood.
"Dark Streets of London (feat. Spider Stacy)" by Stick in the Wheel
I'm tempted to pick Bowie mentioning the London School of Eco-gnomics, but I've had that before....so instead this is a song of the time, and also a song of London
I remember in “Fresher’s Week” discussing whether the college’s Irish Society could book the Pogues (who were probably still Pogue Mahone at that stage). They couldn’t , but I got to see the band at the end of my first year, at a free open-air show in Battersea Park.
This is a cover by a band that supported the Pogues this year, at the Brixton Academy. It was an emotional night
"Dark Streets of London (feat. Spider Stacy)" by Stick in the Wheel on Apple music
A song from your teenage years.
"Way Down" by Elvis Presley
Sadly, both Elvis and Marc Bolan died within a couple of months of me becoming a teenager.
This was the Elvis song that posthumously charted in the UK. In my memory, it was number one for ages.
Great song, in any case.
If you were a professional athlete, what is your walk up or intro song?
"A Pistol for Paddy Garcia" by The Pogues
This used to be the Pogues' walk on music. While none of the Pogues are professional athletes, this was always quite dramatic so I will use it too, when the need arises
What's a song that you like but most of your friends don't.
"Tara Hill" by The Fureys And Davey Arthur
My partner likes this but I don't think any of my other friends have heard this, or would much like it if they did.
What is a song that makes you think of your first job?
"Hitsville U.K. (Remastered)" by The Clash
My first job was in a posh proto-Waitrose supermarket called the Country Market
I earned a whole pound an hour. I mainly spent that on Guinness, and on going up to London to see bands. At that time a pound an hour could cover that. This lot were the most famous of the bands I saw at that time. I think they cost £3.50
What's a song that instantly makes you smile?
"Joxer Goes to Stuttgart" by Christy Moore
This makes me smile because it's a funny song, and because Damien Duff picked it for a CD compilation of the Chelsea teams favourite songs.
The Duffer made me smile as a footballer, and putting this song in amongst the rest of the songs - Spandau, Bryan' Adams, Europe - on the CD makes me smile too..
