The Men They Couldn't Hang - Ironmasters 12"

I'm sure most people know all about this classic single, but if you don't then your in for a real treat. Around the time that "The Pogues" blended Irish Folk Music with Punk there was another band "The Men They Couldn't Hang" (TMTCH) who were doing the rounds. in my opinion they deserved the fame and recognition that the Pogues achieved, but as often is, it didn't quite happen. For me some of their songs surpassed anything the Pogues did (even though I loved the Pogues, and still do), and "Ironmasters" is one of those songs.

"Ironmasters" starts of like a gentle folk song and then builds up, getting louder and faster, until it fully bursts into life. Listen to it and see what you think, for me this is one of my all time favourite singles. On the b-side you get two great covers "Donald Where's Your Troosers" and the brilliant "Rawhide" which lots of bands seemed to cover in the mid eighties.

TMTCH were outstanding live, although I'm sure for some of you who saw them can remember how rough some of their gigs were, it was unusual if there wasn't at least one fight, which I think was mainly down to the speed and energy of many of their songs. They were regulars at the Mean Fiddler and the Sir George Robey and did have a fair size following, but clearly not big enough to break into the big time.

I was playing their excellent debut album "Night Of A Thousand Candles" (link to buy below) and whilst listening to one of their fastest stage favourites "Walkin Talkin" and for the first time noticed its similarity (although its about 10 times faster) to Johnny Cash's "The Wreck Of Old 97", anyone agree? leave a comment.

Band: The Men They Couldn't Hang
Label: Imp Records:
Year: 1985
Tracks:
1. Ironmasters
2. Donald Where's Your Troosers
3. Rawhide

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl

If you like this then your in luck, there are two albums worth getting, the first is their best and debut album: (if you want these tracks plus their other single "Greenback Dollar) you will have to buy this on iTunes)

Night of a Thousand Candles by Men They Couldn't Hang
Their second album "How Green Is The Valley" is worth buying just for their single "Shirt Of Blue" although this is a collectors version in CD or vinyl, so it cheaper to buy this on iTunes.

How Green Is The Valley by The Men They Couldn't Hang

Jamie Wednesday - Vote For Love 12" EP

This is 'Jamie Wednesdays' first of their two releases, both on the 'Pink Records' label. This one was released in 1985 but neither of them sold particularly well, and the band had split up by 1987. But bigger things were to come with James Morrison and Leslie Carter going on to form 'Carter USM' and James and Leslie became Jim Bob and Fruit Bat respectively. I saw Jamie Wednesday at the Mean Fiddler back in 83-84 and they did have a reasonable following but I guess it was mainly local, which would explain why the singles did not do so well.

Jamie Wednesday can also claim to have named the band 'Pop Will Eat It's Self' (if you wanna hear some of their stuff check out one of Longy's latest posting here) where in an interview with the NME Jim Bob said "pop music is ever-recycling its ideas, and that eventually pop will eat its self"

The other trivia point related to this single is their cover of the children's TV program soundtrack 'White Horses'. I used to hate this program, it was black and white (showing my age now), originally from Yugoslavia but dubbed in English, about some young girl living with her uncle and horses or something. I didn't like the soundtrack either (which you can hear here) until I heard Jamie Wednesdays version.

So check it out and leave a comment.

Band: Jamie Wednesday
Label: Pink Records
Year: 1984
Tracks:
1. Vote For Love
2. The Wall
3. White Horses
4. Button and Bows

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl

If you like this, you may like their second single 'We Three Kings Of Orient Aren't'.

Johnny Thunders and Patti Palladin - Crawfish

Question: What has Elvis Presley, Jowe Head, Joe Strummer, Johnny Thunders and Patti Paladin got in common?

Answer: They all recorded the outstanding 'Crawfish'.

The most famous version is most probably the Elvis Presley (with Kitty White) version from his classic from 'King Creole'., and the most obscure and strangest has got to go to brilliant 'Jowe Head' (no surprises there then) on two albums Pincer Movement and Strawberry Deutsche Mark.

Thunders and Palladin provide a faithful cover to the Presley version, but still manage to stamp that unique Thunders sound. The b-side is 'Tie Me Up' another Thunders/Palladin team up but this time taken from the Que Sera, Sera album. if you like Johnny Thunders you will love both of these tracks.

Artist: Johnny Thunders and Patti Palladin
Label: Jungle Records
Year: 1985
Tracks:
1. Crawfish
2. Tie Me Up

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl

If you like Crawfish then go out and buy their excellent covers album Copycats here:

Copy Cats
and if you like 'Tie Me Up' then you can buy that plus loads more excellent Thunders stuff here:

Que Sera, Sera