Stephen Pennell ©CELEBRATION OF THE CENTURY
Stephen Pennell ©
To mark a hundred blogs on King City Online, editor Stephen Pennell lists a hot one hundred of his favourite West Midlands tunes…
I’m A Man - The Spencer Davis Group
Gimme Some Lovin’ is also considered a masterpiece but speaking as a Mod this one just edges it for me. (Both sold a million copies in the US by the way). Quite simply the greatest British Mod single of all time, sung by the greatest ever white soul singer, and I say that as no fan of cultural appropriation. There’s an interview somewhere on the ‘net in which Winwood is asked about his influences and (if my memory serves me correctly) he talks about Ray Charles (obvs) and Otis Redding. “Any white singers?” asks the interviewer, to which Stevie replies with a curt “no”. A shame he left the Spencer Davis Group when he did as they were taking Soul Music to places that even Black America hadn't reached, but four top ten albums in the US for Traffic and his incredible later solo success screams 'what the hell do I know?' Fun facts; The SDG were signed by Chris Blackwell of Island Records after a gig at The Golden Eagle in Hill Street, and Traffic were formed at the notorious Elbow Room in Aston.
Free Nelson Mandela - The Specials
A keen politico, I was aware of the plight of Mandela long before hearing this anthem, but there’s no doubt it increased awareness and opposition to the disgusting apartheid regime in South Africa, and received the ultimate co-sign as it was adopted by protestors in the streets and townships of that rapidly-changing nation. So with all due respect to Woody Guthrie and Bobby D, that for me makes it the greatest protest song of all time.
This Is What She’s Like - Dexy’s Midnight Runners
Have you got ten minutes? It’s worth it to hear this epic symphony of blue-eyed Brummie soul, including a wonderful spoken intro that mentions The Little Nibble, a long lost cafe in Bearwood. Warning: the lyric contains a rather harsh judgement on Moseleyites. I lived there for a while myself but I try not to be offended!
Blue Lights - Jorja Smith
Take a Dizzy Rascal sample, add your own atmospheric instrumental, emotional narrative and evocative chorus, upload it to Soundcloud and fame, fortune, Brit awards and fawning critics will surely follow - on two provisos: it has to be an utterly brilliant song sung by a stunningly talented singer.
Day Is Done - Nick Drake
When Chris Blackwell sold Island Records, he did so on the proviso that the buyers would always keep Drake’s three albums on the label’s catalogue, such was his regard for the Tanworth-in-Arden troubadour. Drake was a true songwriting genius, his family’s ‘Midlands legends’ status further enhanced by the fact that his sister Gabrielle was in Crossroads, which in turn prompts me to recall that this song once played over the closing credits of a particularly dramatic episode of Corrie. Stitch that M*nchester…
Tyler - UB40
Signing Off is one of the most important Brummie albums, and the beginning of a sparkling career for the band. Every track is a contender, but I picked the opener because it sets the agenda for everything that follows. Brian Travers’ signature sax, the yearning for political change and racial justice - I liked it so much I named a son after it. Many artists do a great job of representing the city of Birmingham - UB40 embody it.
Toothache - Jaykae
The icy beats, atmospheric backing vocals and intense delivery of dozens of great bars led to this song being included on the soundtrack to iconic, 50 Cent-produced hit TV show Power. Shaquille O’Neal was watching, tweeted about it, and now here we are, 14 million views later. That’s for the official video though - I think this one one better showcases the genius of the lyrics:
We’ll Live and Die in These Towns - The Enemy
Which towns? Well, considering group leader Tom Clarke is from Castle Bromwich in Birmingham and attended Park Hall school, then met the rest of the band when his family moved to Coventry in search of a better education for him, it’s safe to assume that it’s those towns he’s referring to. The song itself reminds me a little bit of The Smiths’ urban melancholy, but with bigger balls and more empathy for the people being sung about.
From Under Liquid Glass - Peace
Are you wearing your steel toe-caps? I’m about to drop some names…
Kurt Cobain’s daughter Francis Bean cited this as her favourite song of the decade (2010s) and I’m minded to agree, but then again for three days out of every seven Peace are my favourite band in the world, and Harri’s voice and lyrics have never sounded better than on this one. The song will always remind me of a triumphant return journey from a gig in Bristol by The Novus, the band’s drummer Euan giving this the full beans next to me on the back seat as it played out on the aux, with lead singer Connor Hill driving and Edie from Cage Park in the passie.
Blinded By The Lights - The Streets
A blurry-eyed reminder of nightlife at the turn of the millenium, when coachloads of 24-hour party people from all over the country came to let their hair down at Wobble, Miss Moneypennys, God’s Kitchen and Sundissential in the rave capital of the UK - Birmingham. And no-one summed it up better than Mike Skinner on this absolute masterpiece. Enjoy the video, then listen to The Streets’ classic album A Grand Don’t Come For Free to find out what was really going on in the song.
I Must Be Mad - The Craig
More Mod magic from the King City. A fantastic frisson of Freakbeat, voted the second best psychedelic song of the sixties by The Observer (after Pink Floyd's Arnold Layne - a track like this one with a Brummie drummer). The Craig were short-lived but Handsworth's Carl Palmer went on to great success revolutionising rock drumming with The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Atomic Rooster, Asia and of course Emerson, Lake and Palmer.
TBC - AffieJam
47 - MIST, Stefflon Don, Sidhu Moose, Wala, Steel Banglez
King City - Swim Deep
BBT - Sanity
Iron Deficiency - Yikes
Cum On Feel The Noize - Slade
Journey With No End - The Novus
In My Element - The Clause
Joy Affair - Sugarthief
On Your Own - Overpass
Ugly - Tydal
BX19 - M1llionz
Mirror In The Bathroom - The Beat
DIV - Lady Leshurr
Mood Ring - TrueMendous
Livin’ Thing - Electric Light Orchestra
Papa’s Got A Brand New Pigbag - Pigbag
Hundred Mile High City - Ocean Colour Scene
Guapa - The Twang
Fire Brigade - The Move
Ride My See-Saw - The Moody Blues
Erdz Boy - Mowgs
My Life - Depzman, Jaykae, Dapz On The Map
The Stranger - Call Me Unique
Please Be Kind - Jaws
Coconut - Macka B
Ku Klux Klan - Steel Pulse
Arranged Marriage - Apache Indian
Saharan King - Lycio
Mundian To Bach Ke - Panjabi MC
Whatever I Do - Certain ft. Ange Lloyd
I Don’t Mind - Glass Ceilings
Edge of This - Eliza May
Gales Doc - The Nightingales
Beady Eyes - Sipho
Sign In, Dream On, Drop Out - Poppy and The Jezebels
Don’t Let Me Down (Gently) - The Wonder Stuff
Turtleneck Boy - Spilt Milk Society
No Don - Lotto Boyzz
Three Wish Genie - The Elements
Esse - White Flag Dares
Opening Up - The Circles
The New Consistent - The New Consistent
Sirens - LaDharma
Drum and Bass Father - Devilman
To Isabelle - The Assist
Love and Affection - Joan Armatrading
Indigo - Katherine Priddy
That’s Alright - Laura Mvula
Heartache - Table Scraps
The King (You and Me) - Sam Lambeth
Your Balloon Is Rising - Stone Foundation, Paul Weller
Chicken Bones - Cult Figures
Emergence of Forgotten Power - Pagans SOH
All Sparks - Editors
Lightning - Cage Park
When You’re Depressed - Go-Kart Mozart
Is There Anyone Out There? - Mighty Mighty
Pass The Dutchie - Musical Youth
Where The Rhythm Takes You - Makin’ Time
Mood Bomb - Superfood
Cross Me - Point A
Rudi’s In Love - Locomotive
Higher Heights - Young Culture Band, Ben Mckone Dub Mix
I’m Not The Man I Used To Be - Fine Young Cannibals
Good Enough - Dodgy
Comin' Over Here - Stewart Lee, Asian Dub Foundation
The Girl Who Waves At Trains - The Lilac Time
Track of the Cat - Pram
Where Could I Go? - The Singing Stewarts
Since I’ve Been Loving You - Led Zeppelin
Mighty Hard Time (A Prayer) - Ruby Turner
Come On, Let’s Go - Broadcast
Thank You - Jamelia
Nazi Punks Fuck Off - Napalm Death
Talking With Myself - Electribe 101
International Rescue - Swell Maps
Made Up Love Song #43 - Guillemots
Leopard Print Onesie - The Humdrum Express
Long Gone - Lekky ft Sanity
World Shut Your Mouth - Julian Cope
The Bristol Road Leads To Dachau - The Prefects
Birmingham Crew - Yatez ft. Latisha Gordon, Mowgs
Def Con One - Pop Will Eat Itself
The Wizard - Black Sabbath
She Wants A Man From Brum - Safone, Trilla, PRessure0121, Bomma B
Wound Up - Namiwa Jazz
The Tunnel of Love - Fun Boy Three
You Don’t - Ruth Kokumo