November Playlist - A Jeff Winter's Tale

An hour's worth of stuff put together on the train home from London following Everton's 2-2 demolition of Fulham. Should be served with a bottle of Carmenere

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5 underrated Monkees records

As I suggested in my review of Eric Lefcowitz's biography, much of the Monkees' more interesting output emerged once creative control had been seized from Don Kirshner. While quality levels varied across the albums of the late 1960's and there was no consistent sound due to the variety of influences, they did produce a number of excellent records that did not receive the recognition of their earlier efforts. Here are five that deserve further examination:

While I Cry

A Mike Nesmith song from 1969's 'Instant Replay', 'While I Cry' gave an indication of the country direction its author would head in once he had left the band. Simple lyric, lovely harmonies, gentle melody. Ace, and maybe my favourite Monkees record.

 
As We Go Along
To suggest seizing the power over their music meant that there was no outside creativity employed by the band would be misleading, it was merely done on their terms. Carole King and Toni Stern's 'As We Go Along' was used as a B side to 'Porpoise Song (also co written by King), both songs forming part of the soundtrack to 'Head', the Jack Nicholson and Bob Rafelson movie that interests and confuses in equal measure. Featuring Ry Cooder, Neil Young and King herself on guitar, it is one of Micky Dolenz's best vocals.

 

You and I

A rare Davy Jones writing credit again featuring Neil Young on guitar, hence a heavier sound not too dissimilar from Buffalo Springfield. The reflective lyrics give an indication of Jones' acknowledgement that perhaps the band's time had begun to pass:

"In a year or maybe two,
We'll be gone and someone new will take our place,
There'll be another song,
Another voice, another pretty face"

 

Daily Nightly

A Nesmith composition that was one of the first records to employ the Moog Synthesizer. From the 'Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn and Jones' album (1967), the psychedelic sound is a clear nod to the music being made by both the Beatles and the Stones around this time.

Circle Sky
Another from the Head soundtrack complete with driving bassline and a more aggressive than normal Nesmith vocal. The footage is taken from the movie and the naked anti-war element of this section no doubt provides further evidence as to why the film sank without trace at the time. $165616

Monkee Business: The Revolutionary Made for TV Band – Eric Lefcowitz

The concept of pop acts landing their own TV shows, cartoons and films is a well-worn tradition, much of the inspiration for which can be traced back to one place. Eric Lefcowitz’s accessible read details the formation of the Monkees, the brainchild of producers Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider, and their somewhat about-face transformation (in comparison to many of those who followed them) from a manufactured, made for TV band with limited control over its own output to a ‘proper’ group destroyed by ego and a changing cultural climate.

Of particular interest is the description of the techniques used in the stringent and gruelling selection process (auditionees including Harry Nilsson, Stephen Stills and Beach Boys collaborator Van Dyke Parks) by which messrs Jones, Dolenz, Tork and Nesmith were chosen, the legacy of which can be seen in programmes such as the X Factor. Rafelson and Schneider receive much credit for channelling the feel of the Beatles film ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ into the TV series and realising that as the Beatles attempted to leave behind the innocence of their early releases, and the fans that attracted, towards a more psychedelic sound, a gap had emerged in the market. The groundbreaking combination of aggressive marketing and artificially assigned ‘personalities’ to each of the four also laid the foundations for the blueprint used on many manufactured acts, The Spice Girls being an obvious example.

Where the Monkees differed from these acts however was the speed at which Tork and Nesmith in particular, as professional musicians before the band, resisted the efforts of larger than life music publisher Don Kirshner – brought in to oversee the music side of the operation – to maintain a vice-like grip of creative production. A central theme running through the book, right up to its conclusion, is that all four to a greater or lesser extent felt disrespected by their peers and hamstrung through their career by the genesis of the Monkees and the inference that they were essentially puppets due to the use of session musicians and much of their music being written by others (as the book points out, an unfair stigma to bear when scrutinising the working practices of The Beach Boys, various Motown acts and others). Greater freedom in all areas, following Kirshner’s sacking, ultimately exposed the various musical differences and gave the impression of the group being four individuals pulling in separate directions. As much as this led to output of varying quality, culminating in the film Head – now considered a cult classic, then a vaguely offensive mess that represented the final nail in the coffin – a sense of artistic integrity at least prevailed.

The four complicated personalities and their contribution to the initial success, downfall, brief resurrection in 1986 and ultimate fracture are examined in length, Jones particularly coming across poorly as a money-fixated, jealous and petty individual, possibly explaining the other three’s slightly lukewarm reaction to his death earlier this year. Possibly just to this slightly cynical mind Nesmith emerges as the most likeable character; the least happy to accept mediocrity and, post Monkees, someone who quickly realised the potential of music as a visual medium – ironically his production company was prominent at the birth of MTV, whose later decision to re-screen the band’s TV show in some ways acted as a curse in his efforts to be known as something other than just an ex-Monkee.

Ultimately this is a decent read, although I would have welcomed greater musical scrutiny of the late 60’s albums, which contain some of the more interesting records the Monkees made. The use of multiple chapters with just a few paragraphs in each was also a random irritation. Nonetheless, as a case study of the way a non-organically formed band could be selected, marketed and achieve almost instant success (and an almost as rapid descent back again), sowing the seeds for many imitators across the world, it is a worthy musical biography.

ITN Source: 5 Everton-related clips

The constantly expanding and growing ITN Source website has thrown up a number of Everton-related clips not generally seen since the news bulletins of the day – behold 5 randomly great or interesting ones discovered by dedicated Blues across message boards.

1. Paul Wilkinson’s derby winner – May 23rd, 1985. Even on the recently released 84-85 official season review, no footage appeared to exist of the moment that sealed the last occasion on which we achieved a derby double in a single season. Played on the Thursday night following the cup final, Howard Kendall took the opportunity to 'rotate' his squad, making four changes and fielding the likes of Richardson, Bailey, Harper and Atkins. Although the £816 price for the clip might delay the search for a new striker, it would be nice to think updates of that season review or the Official History DVD might include this goal.

2. Alex Young header v Spurs – April 20th, 1963. A tremendous soaring header in front of over 67,000 at Goodison as the team, unbeaten at home all season, closed in on the league title.

3. A 2-2 draw at Fulham – December 14th, 1963. Proof if any were needed that, this year aside, winning at Craven Cottage is not a struggle particular only to this generation of Everton team. Having raced into a two goal lead, one from Brian Harris and another from the Golden Vision, the clear as a bell action records an all too familiar looking collapse…

4. Bob Latchford’s press conference - February 14th, 1974. Silent footage but worth it to remember a time when a) big money signings came into Goodison and b) such signings were seemingly dressed by Bob Ferris, or possibly more accurately Thelma. Nice to see the East German-looking exterior of Goodison at the time.

5. 2-0 Defeat to Dukla Prague - August 8th, 1961. The culmination of a lengthy American tour as the Blues took part in the 1961 International Soccer League, a competition held through the summer. Starting in late May, the Blues had to play seven games in a group featuring among others Kilmarnock, Dinamo Bucharest, Besiktas and Canadian giants Montreal Concordia . Despite sending home Roy Vernon in June for breaching a curfew, Harry Catterick's men won the group and proceeded to the two legged August final against Dukla Prague (referred to as Czech army squad in the ITN notes, reflecting the team's 1948 origin). They had progressed from the other group, led by 1962's European Footballer of the Year, Josef Masopust, using New York's Central Park as their training base. The action comes from the second leg, almost a dead rubber given the 7-2 battering Dukla handed out in the first game.

Delifonseca - a quick review

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The combination of a text message from a mate on holiday in New York reporting he was off to the majestic Katz’s Deli and a Friday off work was all the impetus needed to abandon plans for Christmas shopping and head to Delifonseca at Brunswick Dock, in search of great sandwich action. Already busy when we arrived, we were shown to a booth more than big enough to house the space that even the shortest trip out with a sixteen-week old baby demands. There was no massive inspection of the menu required, my jealousy at the aforementioned trip to Katz’s meant I was always going to be choosing pastrami, while Catherine had enjoyed the muffulleta on a previous visit and ordered that.



Both were excellent. The pastrami was of a high quality and was accompanied by a lovely deep mustard dip and monster gherkin. If anything, the muffulleta was unexpectedly slightly better, a generously stacked focaccia combination of Comte cheese, salami and prosciutto. Both were served with a portion of fresh and tasty chips – not enough if I was to criticise, but then I am a greedy get. I should also mention the well-dressed greenery that was a welcome addition to the plate rather than just taking up space on it.

As it was a flying lunchtime visit we did not take up one of the very decent dessert options or sample one of the many available bottled beers, which pleasingly included representatives from the Cains, Wapping and Liverpool Organic Breweries. We did though have a quick look round the deli, always a battle between heart and wallet, and ended up with some pasta and some pudding for the evening.

Well worth getting involved.

Random great Everton goals #12

James Vaughan - Chelsea v Everton
Stamford Bridge, May 13, 2007

As funny as the sight of Carlos Tevez encamped on the bench with all the determination of a Dale Farm occupant was on Tuesday (and incidentally why the surprise/shock? The man is a gobshite whose understanding of English extends as far as “Ladies and Gentleman, flight BA425 to Buenos Aires is now boarding”), it provided a grimly jarring contrast to the sight of James Vaughan being helped from the pitch in distress the previous evening. If there is any justice, the next time a serious injury is being handed out, it won’t be to a player whose career to now has been marred by a frustrating catalogue of injuries and who must be desperate for as much match time as he can get his hands on. As easy as it to dismiss many of the current crop of footballers as self-obsessed irritants, Vaughan’s almost anachronistic all action style and enthusiasm generated a lot of warmth for him amongst the Everton crowd. One of the best aspects of the FA Cup semi final win in 2009 was his return from long-term absence to coolly slot away his penalty, coupled with his post-match celebratory dash across the pitch, mirroring much of what was going on in the stands.



This flowing breakaway goal came on the final day of the season during arguably Vaughan’s best run of form in a blue shirt after he had finally displaced James Beattie in the first team, during a match in which he ragged John Terry, England’s permanently sobbing Lionheart, all over Stamford Bridge. Fingers crossed he starts to get the career he wants.

September Playlist - A Rose for Emily

I'd intended to do a follow up to May's mix sooner, but for a few reasons including the arrival of my daughter (hence the title) I haven't. Prompted and inspired by a walk round Sefton Park yesterday with the iPod on shuffle though, I have created the following. Bit of a mix of stuff, so as with the average buffet, pick and choose as you see fit... (tracklisting is revealed when play is pressed)

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A Rose for Emily by Davespowart on Mixcloud