The Song For Today - Jimmie Oliver (the lemonade war series txt) 📗

the latest U2 offering at the earliest opportunity. One such instance was when 'Desire' provided Ireland's biggest export with their first UK Number One hit single, and helped by a notable harmonica performance it acted as the ideal promotional tool for their latest project, 'Rattle And Hum'.
{Also on this date, Nelson Mandela becomes the President of South Africa in 1994}

MAY 11TH
Castles Made Of Sand by The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1967)
from the album Axis Bold As Love
Noel Redding, the bassist for the Jimi Hendrix Experience, along with the drummer Mitch Mitchell, was regarded as lucky to have the privilege of providing the rhythm section for the guitar genius Jimi Hendrix. This may be partially true, but Noel subsequently pointed out that the absence of forthcoming royalties suggested that he was not nearly so fortunate after all. His 'luck' finally ran out on this day in 2003 at the age of fifty-seven. Redding's brief association with the 'Experience' revolved around the power trio's first two albums from 1967. I am firmly in the camp that prefers the first LP, but 'Axis Bold As Love', the follow-up to 'Are You Experienced?' has its moments too. It does for example possess 'Castles Made Of Sand' which reminds the listener that things are not always what they are cracked up to be: "And so castles made of sand slip into the sea...eventually." The life of Bob Marley also slipped away on this date in 1981.
{Also on this day, 4 Israeli agents seize Adolf Eichmann in Buenos Aires in 1960}

MAY 12TH
Itchycoo Park by The Small Faces (1967)
available on the album The Masters
Four days after Victory In Europe was being celebrated, Ian McLagan, future keyboardist of the Small Faces was born in Hounslow. Twenty-two years later, McLagan made his considerable organ contribution to one of the most memorable products from the 'summer of love'. 'Itchycoo Park' was a substantial hit for one of London's great mods' trinity (alongside the Kinks and the Who). It is also a contender for one of the best songs of the 1960s. McLagan continued to provide his keyboards input when the Faces ably supported Rod Stewart along his early steps towards superstardom.
{Also on this date, John Smith, the leader of the British Labour Party, dies, aged 55}

MAY 13TH
Master Blaster (Jammin') by Stevie Wonder (1980)
from the album Hotter Than July
Stevie Wonder originally thrilled radio listeners in the 1960s as 'Little Stevie Wonder', the infant prodigy. Then in the 1970s he matured into an artist of some stature, courtesy of such critically acclaimed projects as 'Innervisions' and 'Songs In The Key Of Life'. Wonder then almost achieved his first British chart-topper in the autumn of 1980 with a terrific dance song which was a tribute to the new black superstar, Bob Marley. It was ironic that whilst 'Master Blaster' was ascending the UK hit parade, Marley collapsed in New York and was subsequently diagnosed with inoperable cancer. Anyhow, today represents the birthday of Stevie Wonder (nee Steveland Hardaway Judkins), an American icon, in 1950 in Michigan.
{Also on this day, Pope John Paul II survives an assassination attempt in 1981}

MAY 14TH
Badge by Cream (1969)
from the album Goodbye
Cream, the original and best power trio, and for me the world's first rock group, were well-named. The amalgamation of Ginger Baker, Eric Clapton, and Jack Bruce (born this day in 1943) represented the cream of talent from the ranks of British blues. However, when the two members of your rhythm section cannot suffer one another, then the group were not destined for longevity. They eventually bowed out in November 1968 with farewell concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, subsequently releasing the appropriately-titled 'Goodbye' album. Drawn from this long-player was one of their best singles, 'Badge'. Cream were renowned for lengthy improvisational solos and jams, yet they could also unleash the occasional three-minute, user-friendly opus. 'Badge' was indeed a comparatively soft rocker which made it accessible to a wider audience than just the band's core fans. I like the story behind the title of this fine release. George Harrison contributed on guitar and his lyric sheet contained the word 'bridge' which was misread as 'badge', hence the title!
{Also on this date, eight communist states sign the Warsaw Pact in 1955}

MAY 15TH
Virginia Plain by Roxy Music (1972)
eventually included on the album Roxy Music
Brian Eno, born on this date in 1948 in Suffolk, has been one of the most respected figures in the evolution of popular music, though he is scarcely a household name. Long before his production expertise proved beneficial to the likes of the Talking Heads and U2, Eno had served a brief stint in the avant garde, art-rock Roxy Music of the early 'seventies. Roxy Music can stake a justifiable claim to possessing one of the very best debut singles in pop history, with the unique 'Virginia Plain'. Eno's synthesizer skills were very much to the fore, supplementing this Top Five smash hit in Britain. Not just the keyboards but the saxophone and the interesting lyrics were instrumental in delivering a song which by itself should remind anyone that not only did music not end on December 31st 1969, but that it continued to flourish in the immediate years thereafter.
{Also on this day, the Soviet Union starts to withdraw from Afghanistan in 1988}

MAY 16TH
Radio Friendly Unit Shifter by Nirvana (1993)
from the album In Utero
'In Utero' would prove to be Nirvana's final studio project. It was at least on a par with its celebrated predecessor 'Nevermind'. The 1990s' most formidable power trio remained as uncompromising as ever in their commitment to ear-splitting, grunge rock. Whilst a recording for the MTV Unplugged series revealed a more subtle, acoustic dimension to the group, there were a dozen tracks from this new album which were anything but 'radio-friendly'. It was so typical of Kurt Cobain's wicked sense of humour that the pulsating rocker lurking in the midst of Side Two should be mockingly titled 'Radio Friendly Unit Shifter'. Played against a thunderous drumbeat and distorted guitar noise, this explosion of sonic mayhem deserves to be labelled as Nirvana's best song. Kurt, already in the grip of despair, wails "what is wrong with me?" Meanwhile, today is the anniversary of the birthday in 1965 of Nirvana's bassist, Krist Novoselic in California.
{Also on this date, in 1967 Jerusalem city is returned to the state of Israel}

MAY 17TH
Storms In Africa by Enya (1988)
from the album Watermark
There are a few critics who might dare to suggest that Enya's breakthrough album, 'Watermark' is not so much 'popular music' as 'easy listening'. Of course this long-player of supreme beauty is indeed easy listening, but it impacted sufficiently on the pop charts to indicate that this 'new music' struck a chord with both young and old. Enya was born on this date in 1961 in county Donegal. A former member of Clannad, she departed from the Brennan family circle and forged a hugely impressive solo career, based on a whole host of breath-taking recordings which comprised her albums. I have spent many a three hour session acquainting myself with her first four long players in succession. With few exceptions, the tracks are ambient, soothing, mournful, poignant, therapeutic, and nothing if not interesting. My favourite is 'Storms In Africa', a minor hit from 'Watermark'. Benefiting from stunning vocals and a majestic rhythm, this is music as God intended it. 'Pax Deorum', 'Marble Halls', 'I Want Tomorrow', and 'Caribbean Blue' are also worth repeated listening.
{Also on this day, Jacques Chirac becomes the President of France in 1995}

MAY 18TH
Atmosphere by Joy Division (1980)
available on the album Substance
On this day in 1980, Ian Curtis, the manic depressive frontman of Joy Division, took his own life, on the eve of the band's tour of the United States. He was only 23. With the death of Curtis, Joy Division expired too. The group's legacy was only two studio albums, but critics have perpetually raved about the quartet's contributions to popular music. For me, a lot of the tracks are far too introspective and inaccessible, but what is good is exceptionally good. An obvious example is 'Atmosphere', which was omitted from the 'Closer' album but which is a welcome inclusion on the posthumous 'Substance' compilation. 'Atmosphere' lived up to its name, decorated by atmospheric keyboards and moody lyrics. Here was one of those songs that was simply too good for the singles chart, where it failed to make a huge dent. Subsequent to Curtis's tragic demise, his colleagues have been at pains to stress that Curtis and the band were an awful lot more humorous than their image appeared to suggest.
{Also on this date, in 1974 India becomes the 6th state to detonate a nuclear weapon}

MAY 19TH
Private Life by Grace Jones (1980)
from the album Warm Leatherette
Has there been a better cover version ever? Grace Jones may be not so fondly remembered for her harmless assault on the late Russell Harty, but she merits recognition for delivering one of the best reggae tracks ever. This hit single was ably assisted by the hugely respected Jamaican rhythm section of Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare. However, centre stage belongs to Grace Jones. She takes this Chrissie Hynde effort from the Pretenders' debut album and transforms it into the most brutal and cold-hearted of put-downs for any drama queen bemoaning their "sex life complications". Hynde's lyrics are something to behold: "You ask my advice. I say use the door. But you're still clinging to somebody you deplore." Funnily enough, neither Hynde, nor Grace Jones (born on this day in 1948 in Jamaica) ever did find employment as a newspaper agony aunt. For me, any 'eighties compilation that omits 'Private Life' deserves itself to be omitted.
{Also on this day, Marilyn Monroe sings 'Happy Birthday' to President Kennedy in 1962}

MAY 20TH
With A Little Help From My Friends by Joe Cocker (1968)
from the album With A Little Help From My Friends
Gravel-voiced Joe Cocker enjoyed fleeting fame back in the autumn of 1968 when his interpretation of the 'Sergeant Pepper' album track 'With A