Butterboy

Tuesday, September 29, 2026

The Stranglers: A Box of... (50th Anniversary 1977-2027 Super Deluxe Edition) (35CD) (2027)

A BOX OF...

The Stranglers: A Box of... (50th Anniversary 1977-2027 Super Deluxe Edition) (35CD) (2027)

In celebration of 50 years since The Stranglers released their debut single '(Get A) Grip (On Yourself)' on 28 January 1977, here is a splendid overview of their extraordinary work.

"Grip", or "(Get A) Grip (On Yourself)", is a single by the Stranglers from the album Rattus Norvegicus. It was the Stranglers' first single, released as a double A-side with "London Lady" in January 1977, and reached number 44 on the UK Singles Chart.

Background

"Grip" was written by Hugh Cornwell whilst the Stranglers were renting a house in Chiddingfold, where they had been based since 1975. He later said he was "very proud of it because it was my song completely. I was constantly writing songs by myself and this was the first one where I felt I'd really cracked it". In the first line of the lyrics, there is reference to a "Morry Thou", a slang term for a Morris Minor 1000.

In 1976, "Grip" was sent as a three-track demo, along with "Bitching" and "Go Buddy Go", to various record companies in an attempt to sign a record deal. Martin Rushent, who had been working as an engineer for a number of years, took the role of assistant to the head of A&R at United Artists Records, Andrew Lauder. On his first day in the role, he was played the demo of "Grip", and was asked for his opinion on whether United Artists should sign the Stranglers. Rushent's response was "well on the strength of that song I would sign them tomorrow". After then seeing the Stranglers perform at the Red Cow in Hammersmith, Rushent also offered to produce the band. The Stranglers signed for United Artists at the beginning of December 1976 and then immediately went into the studio to record "Grip" and "London Lady". The single was later that month announced for release on 28 January 1977.

"Grip" features a saxophone by Welsh coal miner Eric Clark, who was a friend of the Stranglers co-manager Dai Davies.

Release

Following its release, "Grip" was moderately successful, spending four weeks in the UK top-fifty, peaking at number 44. Apparently, there was an error by the chart compilers, BMRB, where sales for "Grip" were accidentally assigned to Silver Convention's "Everybody's Talking 'Bout Love" which peaked at number 25 during the first week of February. However, by the time the error was noticed it was too late to rectify. Despite having sold 15,000 copies by its second week, "Grip" only entered the chart that second week, reaching its peak two weeks later with the single unable to improve on the initial sales it had received.

Reviewing for New Music Express, Tony Parsons described the record as "a stunning double-sided single of distinctive, intelligent, contemporary rock'n'roll that sounds like Roxy Music would have if that old capped-tooth smoothie Ferry had been influenced by The Doors".

The Stranglers are an English rock band formed in Guildford, Surrey in 1974. The group's classic line-up, active from 1975 to 1990, consisted of guitarist and vocalist Hugh Cornwell, bassist and vocalist Jean-Jacques Burnel, keyboardist Dave Greenfieldand drummer Jet Black. Scoring 23 UK top 40singles and 20 UK top 40 albums to date in a career spanning over five decades, the Stranglers are amongst the longest-surviving bands to have originated in the British punk scene.

Formed as the Guildford Stranglers in early 1974, they originally built a following within the mid-1970s pub rock scene. While their aggressive, no-compromise attitude had them identified by the media with the emerging punk rock scene that followed, their idiosyncratic approach rarely followed any single musical genre, and the group went on to explore a variety of musical styles, from new wave, art rock and gothic rock to the sophisti-pop of some of their 1980s output. They had major mainstream success with their 1982 single "Golden Brown". Their other hits include "Peaches", "No More Heroes", "Strange Little Girl", "Skin Deep" and "Always the Sun".

The Stranglers' early sound was driven by Burnel's heavy, melodic bass, but also gave prominence to Greenfield's keyboard playing. Their early music was also characterised by the growling vocals and sometimes misanthropic lyrics of both Cornwell and Burnel. Over time, their output gradually grew more refined and sophisticated. Summing up their contribution to popular music, critic Dave Thompson later wrote: "From bad-mannered yobs to purveyors of supreme pop delicacies, the group was responsible for music that may have been ugly and might have been crude – but it was never, ever boring."

They have experienced several line-up changes following Hugh Cornwell's departure in 1990. Jet Black retired in 2018 and after many years of health problems, he died on 6 December 2022 at the age of 84, while Dave Greenfield died on 3 May 2020, leaving Jean-Jacques Burnel as the only original member still touring with the group.

Legacy

"No More Heroes" was featured in the first episode of the BBC fantasy crime drama series Ashes to Ashes and in the third episode of the second season of the American TV show Queer as Folk. The title was used for the 2007 video game No More Heroes, created by Japanese designer Goichi Suda, who is also a fan of the band. Despite the name, the cost of licensing the track prevented the song from appearing in the game. A cover version by Violent Femmes was used for the film Mystery Men.

The song "Let me Down Easy" was used as the opening credits theme for Hardcore Henry. "Peaches" appeared in the title sequence of Sexy Beast by director Jonathan Glazer and was used as the closing theme for many of Keith Floyd's cooking programmes, with the instrumental track 'Waltzinblack' providing the title music.

"Golden Brown" featured in Guy Ritchie's film Snatch (2000), was used extensively in the Australian film He Died with a Felafel in His Hand. It also featured in the Black Mirror episode "Metalhead" and in Season 2 of The Umbrella Academy.

More songs by the Stranglers have been licensed for use in commercials than from any other punk band. "Always the Sun" was used for a TV and radio campaign by insurance company Sun Alliance in 1992 and 1993. "Peaches" has appeared on adverts for Adidas, HSBC, Tesco and JBL speakers while "Waltzinblack" has been used for Vodafone and the Carphone Warehouse. In 2002 "Hanging Around", a track from the 1977 debut album Rattus Norvegicus which was never released as a single, was used in several French Wonderbra commercials featuring model Inna Zobova. "Golden Brown" was used to advertise Ore-Ida french fries and later used in Waitrose's 2008 Christmas campaign.

Tori Amos covered "Strange Little Girl" on her 2001 Strange Little Girls album.

Formed in 1974 as The Guildford Stranglers, they performed hundreds of gigs to little response. With the arrival of Punk and a new atmosphere sweeping music however, their style of playing and songs soon found a new audience. The Stranglers were unusually tuneful with a unique sound based on a growling base and swirling keyboards. Along with this, The Stranglers added aggression, intellect and a playful sense of deliberately provoking reaction. Only they could mention Shelley’s poem Ozymandias in the song Ugly while complaining that ‘an ugly fart attracts a good looking chick if he’s got money.’

Songs ranged from the growling punk of Shut Up, 5 Minutes and Burning Up Time to the sublimeness of Hanging Around, Toiler on the Sea and their cover of Walk on By. Left of stage, JJ Burnel on the “barracuda” bass. To the right Hugh Cornwell on guitar. Further right on keyboards Dave Greenfield. And at the back, Jet Black on drums.

Live, they were excellent, with Burnel and Cornwell prowling the stage and Cornwell providing terrible in between song jokes. Between 1977 and 1979, the band released a string of superb albums Rattus Norvegicus, No More Heroes, Black and White and The Raven - and singles that showed them to be innovative and progressive while still retaining a spiky punk attitude.

Sadly, the Stranglers have never been given the credit they deserve, largely being forgotten in books written about this time.

While Hugh left in 1990, both The Stranglers and he as a solo artist have continued on and still releasing some mighty fine stuff. It’s 2026 now and both Dave and Jet are sadly dead but JJ & Hugh continue though not in the same band.

More information, full discography and background history can be read here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stranglers

K’s original badge from 1977!

The albums included in this 35CD 50th anniversary box set are as follows:

Original Studio Albums:

01 The Stranglers - Rattus Norvegicus (2014 Remaster) (1977)
02 The Stranglers - No More Heroes (2014 Remaster) (1977)
03 The Stranglers - Black and White (2014 Remaster) (1978)
04 The Stranglers - The Raven (2014 Remaster) (1979)
05 The Stranglers - The Gospel According to the Meninblack (2014 Remaster) (1981)
06 The Stranglers - La folie (2014 Remaster) (1981)
07 The Stranglers - Feline (2001 Expanded Edition) (1983)
08 The Stranglers - Aural Sculpture (2001 Expanded Edition) (1984)
09 The Stranglers - Dreamtime (2001 Expanded Edition) (1986)
10 The Stranglers - 10 (2001 Expanded Edition) (1990)
11 The Stranglers - Stranglers in the Night (1992)
12 The Stranglers - About Time (1995)
13 The Stranglers - Written in Red (1997)
14 The Stranglers - Coup de Grace (1998)
15 The Stranglers - Norfolk Coast (2004)
16 The Stranglers - Suite XVI (2014 Remaster) (2006)
17 The Stranglers - Giants (Deluxe Edition) (2CD) (2012)
18 The Stranglers - Dark Matters (2021)

Compilations:

01 The Stranglers - The Great Lost Stranglers Album (1983)
02 The Stranglers - Off the Beaten Track (2014 Remaster) (1986)
03 The Stranglers - The Early Years 74-75-76 - Rare, Live & Unreleased (1992)
04 The Stranglers - The Hit Men 1977-1991 (2CD) (1997)
05 The Stranglers - The Rarities (2002)
06 The Stranglers - The Very Best of (2006)
07 The Stranglers - The UA Singles 1977-1982 (3CD) (2009)
08 The Stranglers - Here & There - The Epic B-Sides Collection 1983-1991 (2CD) (2014)

Live:

01 The Stranglers - Live (X-Cert) (2018 Expanded Edition) (1979)
02 The Stranglers - Live at the Hope and Anchor (2014 Remaster) (1992)
03 The Stranglers - Fifty Years in Black - The Anniversary Tour 2024 (2CD) (2024)

Please Thank K for sharing these sets and for the write up...

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Track lists

Can be found here:

https://www.discogs.com/artist/71891-The-Stranglers

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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Monday, September 28, 2026

VA - The Last Stiff Compilation [1980]

ROCK

VA - The Last Stiff Compilation [1980]

By 1980, Stiff Records had already become the most unpredictable, sharp‑witted independent label in Britain. The Last Stiff Compilation captures that spirit at full tilt, a snapshot of the label’s roster at a moment when new wave, punk, post‑punk and eccentric pop were all colliding. The album gathers sixteen tracks, some listed, some slipped in unannounced, all reflecting Stiff’s instinct for artists who carried personality rather than polish.

Side A opens with a burst of energy. Dexy’s Midnight Runners deliver early fire with Dance Stance, followed by Lew Lewis Reformer’s harmonica‑driven grit. The Cure’s Jumping Someone Else’s Train shifts the mood with clipped guitars and steady pulse, while Madness bring bright, brassy charm with Bed and Breakfast Man. Any Trouble and Mo‑Dettes add melodic tension and post‑punk edge, and John Otway keeps the label’s theatrical streak alive with his dramatic take on The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence. Hidden among the grooves is a surprise: Lene Lovich’s Japanese‑language version of I Think We’re Alone Now, unlisted but unmistakably Stiff.

Side B widens the frame. Anthony More leans into quirky art‑pop, Lori & The Chameleons offer a delicate, atmospheric track, and Wreckless Eric brings ragged charm. The Chords add mod‑revival punch, and John Cooper Clarke’s Chicken Town appears as another unlisted extra, a spoken‑word jolt of street poetry. The closing stretch turns heavier: Motörhead roar through No Class, Cockney Rejects deliver raw punk energy, and The Damned close the set with Smash It Up, one of the era’s most iconic bursts of melodic chaos.

What makes The Last Stiff Compilation special is its immediacy. These tracks weren’t curated to define a genre,they were chosen because they carried spark, attitude and individuality. Stiff Records championed artists who didn’t fit neatly anywhere else, and this LP captures that instinct perfectly. It’s messy, brilliant, unpredictable and full of life.

For collectors, the compilation is a treasure: variant pressings, unlisted tracks, and a two‑sided insert with credits and liner notes. For listeners, it’s a reminder of how thrilling Stiff Records could be when it threw everything into one place, a label snapshot of pure, unruly creativity. (B)

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Track list

01 Dexy's Midnight Runners - Dance Stance 3:45

02 Lew Lewis Reformer - Win Or Lose 3:30

03 Cure - Jumping Someone Else's Train 2:59

04 Madness - Bed and Breakfast Man 2:35

05 Any Trouble - The Hurt 3:23

06 Mo-Dettes - White Mice 3:40

07 John Otway - The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence 3:03

08 Lene Lovich - I Think We're Alone Now (Japanese) 2:45

09 A. More - Judy Get Down 3:01

10 Lori and The Chameleons - Touch 4:25

11 Wreckless Eric - Hit and Miss Judy 3:55

12 Chords - Maybe Tomorrow 3:15

13 John Cooper Clark - Evidently Chickentown 2:22

14 Motorhead - No Class 2:40

15 Cockney Rejects - Flares 'N' Slippers 1:38

16 Damned - Smash it Up 5:08

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BB LUCKY DIP #563

BB LUCKY DIP #563

Lucky Dip's will be a mystery gift to those who choose to pick them up.

Be quick. No re-uploads.

Today's topic: MIXED BAG

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Sunday, September 27, 2026

Andrew Hill - Mosaic Select 16 [2005] (3 x CDs)

SUNDAY JAZZ

ANDDREW HILL

Andrew Hill - Mosaic Select 16 [2005] (3 x CDs)

Imagine walking through a gallery where every room holds a different version of Andrew Hill’s imagination. Mosaic Select 16 feels exactly like that, three discs of Blue Note sessions recorded between 1967 and 1970, each revealing a new angle on Hill’s restless, brilliant mind. These tapes, all from Van Gelder’s studio, show Hill moving through ensembles, textures and ideas with the confidence of a composer who understood that jazz could be both structure and mystery.

The first room is the 1970 sextet, a band built for drive and tension. Charles Tolliver, Pat Patrick, Bennie Maupin, Ron Carter and Ben Riley give Hill a front line capable of sharp turns and deep colour. Tracks like Without Malice, Ocho Rios, Diddy Wah and Satin Lady move with a kind of controlled turbulence — horns cutting through Hill’s angular lines, rhythm section pushing forward with swing and grit. These pieces feel like Hill testing the limits of post‑bop, stretching form without losing pulse.

The second room shifts to 1969, where Hill pairs his quartet with a fully integrated string ensemble. Richard Davis, Mickey Roker, Carlos Garnett, Freddie Waits and Ron Carter appear across these dates, but the strings, cello, viola, violin, create the real transformation. Illusion, Poinsettia, Fragments, Soul Mate and Interfusion feel like chamber jazz refracted through Hill’s harmonic language. The writing is dense yet lyrical, the strings woven into the rhythm rather than laid on top. These sessions show Hill as a composer of rare imagination, unafraid to merge classical texture with improvisational fire.

The third room returns to 1967, where Hill explores ensemble variety with remarkable freedom. Robin Kenyatta, Sam Rivers, Woody Shaw, Howard Johnson, Herbie Lewis, Cecil McBee and Teddy Robinson appear across these dates, creating a shifting landscape of timbre and energy. Hill plays organ on several tracks, Interfusion, MOMA, Awake, Now, I, Yomo, giving the music an unexpected warmth and earthiness. The long forms, especially For Blue People Only, Mother’s Tale and Prevue, reveal Hill’s gift for building tension slowly, letting ideas unfold with patience and depth.

Across all three rooms, the common thread is Hill’s voice: angular, searching, melodic, and deeply personal. These sessions were once scattered across vaults, partial releases and unissued tapes. Mosaic’s set gathers them with care, presenting a complete view of Hill’s late‑sixties brilliance, a period where he pushed jazz into places few others imagined.

For collectors, Mosaic Select 16 is essential: a window into Hill’s most exploratory years. For listeners, it’s a reminder that Andrew Hill was not just a pianist or composer, he was an architect of sound, building structures that still feel modern, mysterious and alive. (B)

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Track lists

CD1

01 Andrew Hill - Without Malice 4:52

02 Andrew Hill - Ocho Rios 10:29

03 Andrew Hill - Diddy Wah 6:50

04 Andrew Hill - Ode to Infinity 4:54

05 Andrew Hill - The Dance 5:34

06 Andrew Hill - Satin Lady 7:59

07 Andrew Hill - Ocho Rios 2nd version 7:33

08 Andrew Hill - Monkash 6:30

09 Andrew Hill - Mahogany 6:53

CD2

01 Andrew Hill - Illusion 7:00

02 Andrew Hill - Poinsettia 6:24

03 Andrew Hill - Fragments 5:03

04 Andrew Hill - Soul Mate 6:21

05 Andrew Hill - Illusion (Alt take) 6:30

06 Andrew Hill - Interfusion 7:26

07 Andrew Hill - Resolution 6:24

08 Andrew Hill - Chained 5:40

09 Andrew Hill - MOMA 5:35

10 Andrew Hill - Nine at The Bottom 5:52

11 Andrew Hill - Six at The Top 9:10

12 Andrew Hill - Nine at The Bottom (Alt take) 6:15

CD3

01 Andrew Hill - For Blue People Only 9:37

02 Andrew Hill - Enamorado 6:10

03 Andrew Hill - Mother's Tale 9:30

04 Andrew Hill - Oriba (First Version) 5:40

05 Andrew Hill - Oriba (2nd version) 6:14

06 Andrew Hill - Awake 7:08

07 Andrew Hill - Now 4:43

08 Andrew Hill - I 7:27

09 Andrew Hill - Yomo 10:04

10 Andrew Hill - Prevue 6:17

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MY COMPILATION SERIES VOL. 258

MY COMPILATION SERIES

Where visitors provide their self-made compilation.

(Please note, I will not be re-uploading any of the "My Compilations" created. So, visitors need pick up what you want ASAP.)

I want to thank all for sending in your submissions and following the Guidelines and new format.

If you have a query on any compilation, leave a comment or contact the owner using the email link where provided.

I am pleased to be able to post the next MY COMPILATION series of submissions.

Here are NEW compilations to choose from or simply take them all...These compilations below, are all great listens and I encourage all to pick up these as you won't be disappointed.

Please thank the compilation owner if you like their work.

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MY COMPILATION SERIES VOL. 258

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#01

Title: VA - Horny Songs (320 Kbps)

Created By: Polinate

Contact: https://polinatewtc.blogspot.com/

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#02

Title: VA - Get A Little Vol.201 - I Live The Life I Love And I Love The Life I Live (320 Kbps)

Created By: John Angelatos

Contact: johnangelatos@gmail.com

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#03

Title: VA - Berni's A-Z Vol. 224 J (320 Kbps)

Created By: Berni

Contact: Not provided

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#04

Title: VA - All time Brazilian Hits- Volume 9 (320 Kbps)

Created By: Beto Pacheco & José Faria

Contact: betopacheco914@gmail.com or jfgomes@gmail.com

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#05

Title: VA - The Best Days of your Life (Var)

Created By: Shankly

Contact: shankly1956@outlook.com

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#06

Title: VA - The Sun Machine Is Coming Down And We're Gonna Have A Party

(A Tribute to David Bowie) Volume 1 (Mostly 320 Kbps)

Created By: PattiRules

Contact: Not provided

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#07

Title: VA - Echoes II (320 Kbps)

Created By: Obey Gravity

Contact: obey_gravity@usa.com

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#08

Title: VA - 100 Jazz Songs from 100 Countries, Volume 1 (320 Kbps)

Created By: Kipepeo Publishing

Contact: https://global-music-archive-sampler.blogspot.com/

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#09

Title: VA - Rupert Radio 36.5 (320 Kbps)

Created By: DJ Mello Ell

Contact: djmelloell@gmail.com

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#10

Title: VA - NME Cassettes 13 (Mostly 320 Kbps)

Created By: lemonflag

Contact: Not provided

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#11

Title: VA - Ride (320 Kbps)

Created By: Oniswa

Contact: Oniswa@proton.me

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#12

Title: VA - Let Me Sing (Power Pop Is Everywhere) (2/3)(320 Kbps)

Created By: Hervé Guilleminot

Contact: herve.guilleminot@gmail.com

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TRACK LISTS Vol. 258

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#01

VA - Horny Songs (320 Kbps)

01 Blood, Sweat & Tears - You've Made Me So Very Happy

02 Electric Flag - Groovin' Is Easy

03 The Ides Of March - Vehicle

04 Earth Wind & Fire - Shining Star

05 Tower Of Power - What Is Hip

06 Beatles - For No One

07 Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox featuring Sara Niemietz - Love Yourself

08 Ten Wheel Drive - Stay With Me

09 Average White Band - Pick Up The Pieces

10 KC and The Sunshine Band - That's The Way (I Like It)

11 The Buckinghams - Kind Of A Drag

12 Chicago - Make Me Smile

13 Lighthouse - One Fine Morning

14 Spice Girls - Stop

15 Blood, Sweat & Tears - I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know

16 Chase - Get It On

17 The Mavericks - Dance The Night Away

Looking back, I probably should have named this Me So Horny, but I wasn't so clever until it was too late. Following in the Instrument Pick series and following yesterday's Saxy pick, here comes Horny songs from horny bands. Not all of them are bands known for horns, but some are. And every one of these songs does have a great horn part in it. Blood, Sweat & Tears (yes, I put in two of their songs), Chicago, Earth, Wind & Fire are definitely bands that feature horns all the time and bands like the Beatles do not. All of that and it still comes up that these are great songs that feature a variety of Horns. Like the previous picks, there are a million choices and you may have different ideas than me. So, I would like to hear yours in the comments below.

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#02

VA - Get A Little Vol.201 - I Live The Life I Love And I Love The Life I Live (320 Kbps)

01 Country Joe & The Fish - No One Can Teach You How To Live

02 Big Maceo - Worried Life Blues

03 Dave Van Ronk - Sportin´ Life Blues

04 Buddy Guy - Bad Life Blues

05 Jimmy Dawkins - Hard Life Blues

06 Muddy Waters - I Love The Life I Live (I Live The Life I Love)

07 Animals - It's My Life

08 Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys - True Life Blues

09 Amy Macdonald - This Is The Life

10 George Harrison - What Is Life

11 Talk Talk - It's My Life

12 Coldplay - Viva la Vida

13 Black - Wonderful Life

14 Moby - The Perfect Life

15 Shirley Bassey - This Is My Life (1995 TV Special)

16 Frank Sinatra - That's Life

17 Mose Allison Trio - I Love The Life I Live

18 Billy Joel - My Life

19 Bon Jovi - It's My Life

20 Q65 - The Life I Live

21 Ramones - I Wanna Live

22 Eagles - Life In The Fast Lane

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#03

VA - Berni's A-Z Vol. 224 J (320 Kbps)

01 - Jackson Dean - Other Than Me

02 - Jaime Wyatt - Neon Cross

03 - Jack Browning - Factory Reset

04 - Jake Worthington - I'm The One (feat. Marty Stuart)

05 - Jane Rose & The Deadends - Spaghetti Jane

06 - Jesse Dayne & The Sagebrush Drifters - The Showman

07 - Jenny Don't and The Spurs - Broken Hearted Blue

08 - Jeremy Pinnell - Fightin' Man

09 - Jesse Daniel - One's Too Many (And A Thousand Ain't Enough)

10 - Jesse Welles - Why Don't You Love Me

11 - Jim Lauderdale & Buddy Miller - The Train That Carried My Gal From Town

12 - Johnny Falstaff - Rain (256)

13 - Joe Kelly & The Royal Pharmacy - 200 Years

14 - Joe Fournier - I Drive a Wreck

15 - John Fogerty - Southern Streamline

16 - John Howie Jr and the Rosewood Bluff - The Only Problem I Really Have (is You)

17 - John Mellencamp - Jailhouse Rock

18 - John Surge And The Haymakers - You're So Right

19 - Johnny Winter - Ain't Nothing To Me

20 - Jonathan Terrell - Born on a Saturday Night

21 - Jubal Lee Young - Why You Been Gone so Long

22 - Junkyard Cadilacs - Junkyard Cadilacs

23 - Justin Moses - Between the Lightning and the Thunder (feat. Dan Tyminski)

24 - Justin Wells - Can't Break My Heart

25 - Johnny Blue Skies - Don't Let Go

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#04

VA - All time Brazilian Hits- Volume 9 (320 Kbps)

1. Meninas Do Brasil — Moraes Moreira

2. Canção Dos Viajantes — Marcus Viana

3. Azimuth (Mil Milhas - Tema de Marcelo) — Apolo IV

4. Gente Humilde — Marcia

5. Canção Da Meia-Noite — Almôndegas

6. Irene — Elis Regina

7. Andrea — Joyce

8. Fala — Gottsha

9. Folia — Boca Livre com Beto Guedes

10. Sei Lá — Ricky Vallen

11. Selva De Pedra — Orquestra & Côro Som Livre

12. Whisky A-Go-Go — Roupa Nova

13. Borboleta - Sabiá — Alceu Valença

14. Eu E A Brisa — Baby Consuelo

15. O Beato — Marcos Valle

16. Amor Natural — Banda Black Rio

17. Vieste — Ivan Lins

18. Nova Manhã — 14 Bis

19. Paisagem — BR 3

20. Comportamento Geral — Gonzaguinha

21. Gosto De Ser Como Sou — Cláudia

22. Lágrima De Amor — Beto Guedes

23. Beijo Partido — Milton Nascimento

24. Anjo Bom — Flávio Venturini

25. Regra Três — Doris Monteiro

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#05

VA - The Best Days of your Life (Var)

1. First Day at School - Mostly Autumn

2. School Days - AC/DC

3. School - Supertramp

4. Don't Stand So Close to Me - The Police

5. Good Morning Little School Girl - Paul Rodgers

6. Schooldays - The Kinks

7. Bishop's Robes - Radiohead

8. Another Brick in the Wall Pt 2 - Pink Floyd

9. Teacher, Teacher! - Jinjer

10. Playground - XTC

11. School Mam - The Stranglers

12. I Hate School - Suburban Studs

13. Schooldays - Home

14. I Don't Like Mondays - Boomtown Rats

15. The Eton Rifles - The Jam

16. School revolution - Voice of Baceprot

17. When We Were Boys at School - Richard Thompson

18. Girls' School - Wings

19. Expectations - Belle and Sebastian

20. School Days - Sassafras

21. The Headmaster Ritual - The Smiths

22. My Old School - Steely Dan

23. School Days are Over - Ruth Notman

24. School's Out - Alice Cooper

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#06

VA - The Sun Machine Is Coming Down And We're Gonna Have A Party

( A Tribute to David Bowie ) Volume 1 (Mostly 320 Kbps)

01 - Bowie , Mercury Rev - memory of a free festival... sun machine 8:31

02 - Lulu - The Man Who Sold The World 3:45

03 - Tindersticks - kooks 3:00

04 - The Last Shadow Puppets - In the Heat of the Morning 2:41

05 - Divine Comedy - Life On Mars 3:12

06 - Seal -Quicksand-live 5:21

07 - Culture Club - Starman 5:14

08 - Guy Chadwick - Fall In Love With Me 4:05

09 - Donovan - Rock & Roll With Me 3:34

10 - Beck - diamond dogs 4:29

11 - Placebo - Five yrs 2:18

12 - Edwin Collins - The Gospel According To Tony Day 3:27

13 - Ian Mccullogh -The Prettiest Star 3:01

14 - Morrissey - Drive-In Saturday 5:01

15 - Dandy Warhols - Jean Genie 2:10

PattiRules returns this week with a Tribute to one of my fav artists of All time and featuring some of my favorite artists of All Time!

This is Volume 1

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#07

VA - Echoes II (320 Kbps)

01 - If You Give a Poet a Beer - Buddy Wynkoop

02 - Good Thing - Tina

03 - I'm Waiting For The Man (Live) - David Bowie

04 - Cool Breeze.mp3

05 - Ser Mejor (Better Man) - Robbie Williams

06 - You Don't Know Me - The Polyphonic Spree

07 - Great Southern Land (Byrralku Dhangudha Mix) - Icehouse

08 - 28 Miles Later (mashup)

09 - Freak on a Leash (mashup)

10 - The New Roxanne - Nemozob

11 - Agnes - Donnie Iris

12 - Lo Che non Vivo (Senza Te) - Pino Donaggio

13 - Smells Like Rockin Robin (mashup)

14 - Over You - Spanic Boys

15 - Something`s Gotten Hold of My Heart - Gene Pitney

16 - Somewhere In My Heart - Aztec Camera

17 - You Don't Have To Say (You Love Me) - Dusty Springfield

18 - You're the Boss - Ann Margret and Elvis Presley

19 - Talk - David Werner

20 - 2120 South Michigan Avenue - Rolling Stones

21 - My Little Beach Bunny - The Chesterfield Kings

22 - Girl Don't Tell Me - Beach Boys

23 - November Rain - David Garrett

24 - Believe In Me - Bonnie Tyler

25 - Better Man - Blake Rayne

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#08

VA - 100 Jazz Songs from 100 Countries, Volume 1 (320 Kbps)Django Reinhardt - Nuages (3:21)

Toots Thielemans - Bluesette (4:34)

Rita Reys - My One and Only Love (4:18)

Passport - Uranus (6:40)

George Gruntz - Hightime Keepsakes (6:54)

The Zawinul Syndicate - No Mercy for Me (Mercy, Mercy, Mercy) (4:32)

Enrico Rava - The Plot (15:00)

Tete Montoliu - Body and Soul (12:18)

Maria João - Beatriz (6:48)

The Soft Machine - Out-Bloody-Rageous (19:11)

Louis Stewart Trio - Alone Together (5:56)

Niels‐Henning Ørsted Pedersen - Dancing with the Foxes (12:26)

Jan Johansson - Visa Från Utanmyra (4:33)

Jan Garbarek - Witchi-Tai-To (4:23)

Edward Vesala - Moonlight Walk of the Soothsayer (8:08)

Mezzoforte - Garden Party (6:10)

Krzysztof Komeda - Rosemary’s Baby - Main Title (2:31)

Gábor Szabó - Gypsy Queen (5:13)

Miroslav Vitouš - Freedom Jazz Dance (10:53)

Laco Déczi - Sneh (Snow) (7:57)

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#09

VA - Rupert Radio 36.5 (320 Kbps)

1 Lil Tecca - 500lbs

2 Young Nudy - Peaches & Eggplants

3 Chlöe and Latto - For the Night

4 Muni Long - Hrs & Hrs (remix)

5 Sexyy Red - SkeeYee

6 Tems - Me & U

7 Janelle Monáe - Lipstick Lover

8 Lola Brooke - Don't Play With It (remix)

9 Kevin Ross - Look My Way

10 Olivia Dean and Leon Bridges - The Hardest Part

11 Baby Keem - The Hillbillies

12 Young Thug - Oh U Went

13 Babyface - Keeps On Fallin'

14 DaBaby - Shake Sumn

15 Travis Scott - Fein

16 GIVĒON - All to Me

17 Black Pumas - More Than a Love Song

18 Rod Wave - Turks & Caicos

19 Moneybagg Yo - Ocean Spray

20 That Mexican OT - Johnny Deng

21 Adam Blackstone - 'Round Midnight

22 Drake - First Person Shooter

23 Jorja Smith - Little Things

24 Coco Jones - Double Back

25 Doja Cat - Attention

"Rupert Radio" was started in 2004 and contains the top radio hits of the year, with a few deep cuts mixed in.

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#10

VA - NME Cassettes 13 (Mostly 320 Kbps)

1 Money's Too Tight (Dub) Simply Red

2 Black Sheep John Anderson

3 Dead End Street Lou Rawls

4 Eyesight To The Blind Mose Allison

5 I Hate Nerys Hughes From The Heart Half Man Half Biscuit

6 Murder New Order

7 Shadow On The House Madness

8 Fortune Teller Benny Spellman

9 War Wailing Souls

10 Don't Mess Up A Good Thing Fontella Bass & Bobby Mcclure

11 Lonely Crowd Special AKA

12 Too Much Trouble Blues (Original) T-Bone Walker

13 Sad House Three Johns

14 Love For Sale Fine Young Cannibals

15 Liar, Liar Castaways

16 You Turned My Bitter Into Sweet Mary Love

17 Johnny Make You Bad So Lone Ranger

18 You Left The Water Running Maurice & Mac

19 Why Kill Time Cabaret Voltaire

20 Crying In The Streets George Perkins & The Silver Stars

21 I'm A Hypocrite (A Crocodile Cryer) Daintees

22 Lies Knickerbockers

23 Slaughter Black Uhuru

24 Take Away The Pain Stain Patti Austin

25 Who Drank My Beer While I Was In The Rear Dave Bartholomew

In the 1980s the New Musical Express gave free cassettes with a magazine. These are a sampling of those. I have left the album name and track numbers on.

I got nothing, let the music speak. Enjoy.

Imagenutz link https://www.imagenetz.de/YTGFa

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#11

VA - Ride (320 Kbps)

1. Anne Briggs - Ride, Ride - Remastered (3:20)

2. Christy Moore - Ride On (4:05)

3. The Como Brothers - Ticket to Ride (3:01)

4. The Doors Of The 21st Century - Riders On The Storm (11:50)

5. Foghat - Slow Ride (Single Version) (3:56)

6. Goldfrapp - Ride a White Horse (4:41)

7. Grateful Dead - I Know You Rider (Live at Cow Palace, Daly City, CA, March 23, 1974) (6:01)

8. Hollis Brown - Ride On The Train (4:39)

9. Iron Butterfly - Easy Rider (Let The Wind Pay The Way) (3:06)

10. Jimi Hendrix - Ezy Ryder (Live at the Fillmore East, NY - 12/31/69 - 1st Set) (5:55)

11. John Hurlbut/Jorma Kaukonen - The Ballad of Easy Rider (10:18)

12. Katie Mae & the Lubrication - Toby's Ride (4:55)

13. Lenny Kravitz - Let It Ride (3:35)

14. Mind Overclock - Riders Of The Skies Part I-Xiii (25:40)

15. The Nude Party - Ride On (4:44)

16. The Outlaws - (Ghost) Riders In The Sky (5:51)

17. Primal Scream - Star Fruit Surf Rider (1:58)

18. Randy Newman - Rider In The Rain (3:54)

19. Sunny War - Got No Ride (3:26)

20. T. Rex - Ride a White Swan (2:16)

21. Tir Na Nog - Free Ride (3:08)

22. U2 - Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses (5:17)

23. Victoria Liedtke & Jason Ringenberg - Life Rides The Train (4:21)

24. Wooden Shjips - We Ask You To Ride (4:54)

25. Yola - Ride Out In The Country (3:27)

26. Bill Hicks - It's Just a Ride (4:38)

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#12

VA - Let Me Sing (Power Pop Is Everywhere) (2/3)(320 Kbps)

1 - Sugar - Changes - 1992

2 - Superdrag - Sucked Out - 1996

3 - The Wannadies - You and Me Song - 1994

4 - The High Water Marks - Suicide - 2004

5 - The Minders - Hooray for Tuesday - 1998

6 - Dressy Bessy - Kingsized - 2016

7 - The Waking Hours - Jade - 2003

8 - Nerf Herder - Down on Haley - 1996

9 - The Well Wishers - I’m In Love (Slight Return) - 2007

10 - The Bigger Lovers - I’m Here- 2001

11 - The Wellingtons - Song for Kim - 2008

12 - The Lackloves - Summer Rain - 2008

13 - Singles - Love Is Just a Game -2007

14 - The Finkers - This Time It’s Love - 1999

15 - The Nines - Virginia - 2007

16 - The Sails - Chocolate - 2006

17 - The Bluetones - Bluetonic - 1996

18 - The Frank and Walters - Fashion Crisis Hits New York - 1992

19 - theaudience - I Know Enough (I Don’t Get Enough) 1998

20 - The Family Cat - Steamroller - 1992

21 - The Boo Radleys - Find the Answer Within - 1995

22 - Cloud Eleven - Tokyo Aquarium - 1999

23 - Oranger - Eggtooth - 1998

24 - Liquido - Narcotic (Radio Edit) - 1999

25 - We Are Scientists - Worth the Wait - 2006

Bonus - The Housemartins - Bow Down - 1987

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GUIDELINES.

Please use this template for future MY COMPILATION submissions.

https://send.now/apli1yy71qgk

Only Various Artists compilations will be accepted.

Only one compilation per week from each contributor with a limit of 25 tracks per track list per submission. (Total 25 tracks only). You can submit a new track list the following week.

The Topic is your choice, Genre is your choice and any music is acceptable. (If readers don't like the topic or choices then they don't have to pick them up)

When presenting your submission, the Topic of your compilation should be Noted as well as the sound quality of the compilation. (i.e., 320Kbps MP3, Flac, etc).

Whilst most would prefer MP3's @ 320 kbps all I request is a good sound quality.

A track list must be supplied together with a LINK for your Compilation. (Please do not send the compressed file)

Artwork is not necessary but would be welcomed. All submissions need to arrive via email to:

BUTTER2020ap@protonmail.com

Entries must be received by Midnight, Wednesday. (Wherever you are in the world.)

Once received, your entries will be checked for content matching the track lists provided. If an entry is considered unsafe or different to the track list provided it will be deleted. If your submissions are outside the guidelines, they will not be included (No questions asked and no reply)

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Saturday, September 26, 2026

VA - Digging Your Scene, New Pop And All That Jazz 1982-1987 (4 x CDs)

JAZZ POP

VA - Digging Your Scene, New Pop And All That Jazz 1982-1987 (4 x CDs)

Digging Your Scene captures a moment when British pop stepped away from post‑punk austerity and embraced sophistication, rhythm and emotional colour. Between 1982 and 1987, a new kind of pop emerged — stylish, literate, jazz‑inflected, and shaped by musicians who wanted melody without blandness, groove without formula, and elegance without losing edge. This compilation gathers that world in motion, revealing how diverse the movement truly was.

The set opens in smoky, late‑night territory: Everything But The Girl, Robert Wyatt, Scritti Politti, Joe Jackson, Blue Rondo À La Turk. These tracks blend jazz phrasing with pop clarity, creating music that feels both urbane and intimate. Furniture, Weekend, Carmel and Mari Wilson add theatrical flair, turning everyday stories into small dramas carried by brass, brushed drums and cool‑blue harmonies.

As the mood widens, the compilation shows how New Pop absorbed influences from Latin rhythm, soul, art‑rock and dance culture. Working Week, The Special AKA, Malcolm McLaren and Jah Wobble bring global textures; David Sylvian, China Crisis and Virna Lindt add atmospheric depth; Alison Moyet and Fine Young Cannibals push toward emotional intensity. The sound becomes a blend of groove, intelligence and experimentation, pop that moves with confidence but thinks deeply.

Later selections highlight the era’s polished charm. Swing Out Sister, Heaven 17, ABC, Basia, The James Taylor Quartet and Mondo Kané deliver bright arrangements shaped by horns, synths and crisp rhythm sections. These tracks show how New Pop evolved into a mature, radio‑friendly style without losing its sense of craft.

What makes Digging Your Scene compelling is its sweep. It doesn’t treat New Pop as a narrow genre; it reveals a cultural moment when British musicians embraced sophistication and curiosity, creating songs that felt modern, stylish and emotionally resonant. For collectors, it’s a beautifully curated map of an era often overshadowed by louder movements. For listeners, it’s a reminder that the early‑to‑mid eighties produced some of the most inventive, elegant pop of its time, music built for night streets, quiet rooms and the thrill of discovery. (B)

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Track lists

CD1

01 Everything But The Girl - Night and Day 2:56

02 Robert Wyatt - Shipbuilding 3:06

03 Scritti Politti - Rock-A-Boy Blue 5:52

04 French Impressionists - Pick Up The Rhythm 2:05

05 Joe Jackson - Steppin' Out 4:26

06 Blue Rondo A La Turk - The Method 5:25

07 Weekend - Weekend Stroll 3:23

08 Paul Haig - The Song is You 2:36

09 Higsons - Run Me Down 3:48

10 Furniture - Why Are We in Love 5:10

11 Jah Wobble - Sunshine 3:25

12 Malcolm McLaren - Merengue 3:54

13 Republic - My Spies 3:43

14 JoBoxers - Why Don't You Do Right (Get Me Some Money Too) (Live at The Phoenix Theatre) 2:08

15 Carmel - Bad Day (Recorded Live in The Studio) 6:39

16 Swallow Tongue - Saari 4:40

17 Jah Wobble; Edge; Holger Czukay - Snake Charmer 6:15

18 Kalima - The Smiling Hour 4:37

19 Mari Wilson - Glamourpuss 4:41

CD2

01 Matt Bianco - Matt's Mood (Extended Version) 5:32

02 Pale Fountains - Southbound Excursion 2:34

03 Soft Cell - L'Esqualita 7:12

04 Everything But The Girl - Each and Every One 2:50

05 Working Week - Venceremos (We Will Win) (Jazz Dance Special 12') 10:15

06 Madness - One Better Day 4:09

07 Special AKA - Housebound 4:14

08 David Sylvian - The Ink in The Well 4:27

09 Tracie - (I Love You) When You Sleep 2:55

10 Friends Again - Thank You for Being an Angel 4:00

11 Pleasure Ground - Life of Jade 3:45

12 Level 42 - Seven Days 4:24

13 Bronski Beat - It Ain't Necessarily So 5:24

14 A Certain Ratio - There's Only This 4:22

15 In Embrace - Chocolates for Breakfast 4:00

16 Kane Gang - Giving Up 4:14

17 Colourfield - Castles in The Air (Instrumental Version) 3:56

CD3

01 Vic Godard - Holiday Hymn 2:57

02 Alison Moyet - That Ole Devil Called Love 3:07

03 China Crisis - Black Man Ray 3:40

04 Virna Lindt - Whistle Wind 4:45

05 Sound Barrier - Mornington Crescent NW1 4:31

06 Sting - Moon Over Bourbon Street 4:03

07 Pressure Point - Mellow Moods 4:37

08 Dexy's Midnight Runners - Listen to This 3:21

09 Dislocation Dance - He's The Man 3:51

10 Dee C. Lee - See The Day 4:23

11 Brilliant - It's A Man's Man's Man's World (The Trans Global Mix) 6:54

12 Fine Young Cannibals - Blue 3:34

13 Communards - Breadline Britain 2:34

14 Friday Club - Window Shopping (Extended Version) 4:27

15 J.B.'s Allstars - Al. Arm 3:37

16 Blow Monkeys - Digging Your Scene (U.S. Mix) 4:49

17 Anthony Adverse - T-R-O-U-B-L-E 2:41

18 Style Council - Have You Ever Had it Blue? (Uncut Version) 4:49

19 Makin' Time - Walk A Thin Line 3:45

CD4

01 Swing Out Sister - Breakout (A New Rockin' Version) 5:52

02 Heaven Seventeen - The Foolish Thing to Do feat. Jimmy Ruffin (Version 1) 3:41

03 Mondo Kane - New York Afternoon feat. Dee Lewis & Coral Gordon and guest star Georgie Fame (Extended Version) 5:44

04 Louis Philippe - Like Nobody Do 2:55

05 Kid Montana - Spooky 3:55

06 Marden Hill - Curtain 2:54

07 RAH Band - Take Some Thyme feat. ?Herb' Hewson 5:32

08 Eighth Wonder - Having it All (Extended Mix) 4:59

09 Stan Campbell - Crawfish (Extended Version) 4:21

10 Florentines - Whisper Not 2:12

11 Basia - Freeze Thaw 3:59

12 ABC - When Smokey Sings (The Detroit Mix) 6:48

13 King of Luxembourg - Something for Sophia Loren 2:23

14 James Taylor Quartet - Alfie 2:39

15 Stock Aitken Waterman - Roadblock 8:03

16 Martyn Bates - The Look of Love 3:52

17 Biting Tongues - Compressor 4:53

18 Night Trains - Open Channel D 4:43

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