Felicity- Orange Juice, The Wedding Present, James Kirk...

felicity
• noun (pl. felicities) 1 complete happiness. 2 the ability to express oneself appropriately. 3 a felicitous feature of a work of literature or art.
— ORIGIN Latin felicitas, from felix ‘happy’.
Oxford English Dictionary

Back in the eighties when I was trying to make the transition from conventional poetry to songwriting (ha!) this song was very important to me, and I still love it.

Three versions here:
Orange Juice- from the LP You Can’t Hide Your Love Forever (1982)
The Wedding Present- from the LP Tommy (recorded for Peel Session in 1986)
James Kirk from the LP You Can Make It If You Boogie (2003)
James Kirk wrote the song. He left Orange Juice in 1982 and became a chiropodist.

15 Covers...

I've always had a thing about cover versions. Not in the Wedding Party Band sense, but in the way in which covers show that rock music is, at it's pure unadulterated heart, essentially about fandom, populism and the do it yourself ethos.
In putting together this compilation my aim was to include songs of quality covered by decent artists with a degree of originality.
1. Debaser- originally by Pixies- covered by Mother Universe.
2. Bonnie and Clyde- originally by- Serge Gainsbourg & Brigitte Bardot- covered by Luna & Lætitia Sadier
3. A Song From Under The Floorboards- originally by- Magazine -covered by Morrissey
4. Sad Dark Eyes- originally by The Loved Ones- covered by Mick Harvey
5. Head On- originally by The Jesus and Mary Chain- covered by Pixies
6. Make Me Smile- originally by Steve Harley’s Cockney Rebel- covered by The Wedding Present
7. Bigmouth Strikes Again- originally by The Smiths- covered by Placebo
8. Just Like Heaven- originally by The Cure- covered by Dinosaur Jr.
9. Ceremony- originally by New Order- covered by Galaxie 500
10. You Sexy Thing- originally by Hot Chocolate- covered by Cud
11. Leave Me Alone- originally by New Order- covered by Chappaquiddick Skyline
12. Pastime Paradise- originally by Stevie Wonder- covered by Patti Smith
13. Flowers In The Rain- originally by The Move- covered by Kaiser Chiefs
14. Hounds Of Love- originally by Kate Bush- covered by The Futureheads
15. Telegram Sam- originally by Marc Bolan & T Rex- covered by Bauhaus

This has been knocked together from many sources, so the bitrate is variable (fact)- the music is good (opinion).

The Wedding Present -Українські Виступи в Івана Піла (1989)

Surely one of the strangest career digressions in the history of popular music- dour Leeds based indie guitar band The Wedding Present recorded a series of adaptations of Ukrainian folk songs.
This, the 2000, Fresh Ear Records re-release of Українські Виступи в Івана Піла, was expanded to include all three ‘Ukrainian Peel Sessions’ and Hopak, the song with which it all began, making it a complete collection of Ukrainian-themed songs recorded by The Wedding Present.
Peter Solowka – accordion, mandolin, tambourine, backing vocals; lead guitar on Hopak
David Gedge – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Keith Gregory – bass guitar
Shaun Charman / Simon Smith – drums
Len Liggins – vocals, violin, balalaika, flute
Roman Remeynes – vocals, mandolin

The Wedding Present- Brassneck 12” (1990)

This is the original Brassneck:


Here is the 12” single by The Wedding Present, featuring an alternate recording of the song as well as a cover of the excellent Box Elder by Pavement.

The Wedding Present- Tommy 1985-1987 (1988)

I’ve always thought that The Wedding Present was an inappropriate name for a pop group — more like a poem, or a book or something — and therefore quite attractive (to me!). I’ve also always been fascinated by weddings... David Gedge
I have been unable to locate the origin of the phrase it’s grim up north. At a time when independent music was descending into tweeness the sound of The Weddoes, the scratchy urgency of their songs and the flat anguish of Gedge’s singing, was , well, very real .
Even though describing a pretty hopeless life, their gritty kitchen sink dramas, documenting disappointment and portraying relationships as dour wars of attrition between mutually uncomprehending parties, were a breath of fresh air.
Tommy (1985–1987) released in July 1988 is a compilation of their first four singles, and selected tracks from two early radio sessions. Readers please note: The band originate in Leeds, but I have made no reference to the Gang of Four…
Line up:
David Gedge – vocals, guitar
Peter Solowka – guitar
Keith Gregory – bass
Shaun Charman – drums (tracks2-12)
with: Julian Sowa – drums (track 1)
Mike Stout – guitar (track 8)