I Am Sitting In the Morning

There are songs from the late 80s and early 90s which I didn't buy at the time, songs I have never owned until getting mp3s of them in recent years, but which I know inside out. This is because-
a) you can't buy everything
b) limited budget
and c) record buying priorities.

It's probably also the case that there was some stuff I dismissed a bit at the time but which really sank in to my musical memories and in retrospect (or actually at the time) liked.

Tom's Diner, the 1990 DNA remix of Suzanne Vega's 1981 written but 1987 released song, is one of those songs. Everything is utterly familiar and known inside out, from the da-da-da-duh intro to the chugging Soul II Soul beat, every line of the lyrics, the grinding bassline and then the cathedral bells as the whole thing seems to slow down.

Tom's Diner (DNA Remix)

DNA remixed it without permission and distributed limited quantities on white label. The record label, A&M, heard about it, liked it and rather than sue DNA, sought Suzanne's approval and bought it to release officially. Which was wise as it was a massive hit in the UK (number 2) and USA (number 5). In one of those typical chart battle stories it was kept off the UK number 1 spot by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

I've Always Thought Of You As My Brick Wall

Mrs Swiss and I are off to see Johnny Marr at the Ritz this coming Friday- according to reviews of the gigs so far he's playing several Smiths songs (including Bigmouth, Stop Me, How Soon Is Now? and London) and a handful of Electronic ones- Forbidden City, Getting Away With It and the always ace Get The Message.

Here's Johnny, Bernard and four blokes from the Gay Traitor doing Get The Message on Top Of The Pops in April 1991 (if you pause it just before the end of the clip you'll avoid Nicky Campbell).




Here's the DNA remix version for some TV show...