Tuesday 29 March 2011

Don't stop doin'

Or at least that's what it feels like. These last few days have been like non-stop work- It's now Tuesday and I've not finished working till gone 8.30 at night since Sunday.

So as usual Sunday was about getting the Sunday Shake Up show out and then working on the magazine to get it ready for publication first thing Monday morning.


Here's the playlist
1 Imagination - Just An Illusion
2 Princess - After The Love Has Gone
3 Michael Cooper - Dinner For Two
4 Four Tops - Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got)
5 Jacksons - Dreamer
6 Buddy Miles - I'm Just A Kiss Away
7 Toni Braxton - Breathe Again
8 Des'ree - Life
9 Sounds Of Blackness - I Believe
10 Deniece Williams - Baby Baby My Love's All For You
11 Blackbyrds - Walkin' In Rhythm
12 Gloria Gaynor - This Love Affair
13 Ramsey Lewis - Wade In The Water
14 Jr Walker & The All Stars - I Ain't Goin' Nowhere
15 Jackie Wilson - I'm The One To Do It
16 Norman Connors - You Are My Starship
17 Crusaders ft Bill Withers - Soul Shadows
18 Donny Hathaway - Flying Easy
19 Gil Scott Heron - In The Bottle
20 Bobby Broom - Clean Sweep
21 Idris Muhammad - Could Heaven Ever Be Like This
22 Manu Dibango - Big Blow
23 Instant Funk - Bodyshine
24 SOS Band - Take Your Time (Do It Right)
25 Heatwave - Posin' Til' Closin'
26 Change - Change Of Heart
27 Steve Arrington - Feel So Real
28 Barbara Pennington - Fan The Flame
To hear my recent shows, go to http://www.jamesmurphy.podomatic.com/

From getting the Sunday Shake Up done, it was time to get our heads down and get stuck into the magazine. Getting the final few pages together always seems to take an age, as does setting up the videos to embed in the magazine. It should be a simple job, but for some reason week in, week out it always is a problem. It should take about 15 minutes to set up the links for the videos that are embedded, but this week it took around an hour and twenty minutes - it's really frustrating, especially when you know that as soon as you've got that part of the magazine done, it's only a few minutes until you're finished. It was just after 8.30 by the time the magazine was sorted and I was finished. Not bad when you consider that my Sunday mornings start around 7am.

Monday is no better as I generally am getting the magazine published and on the various websites and facebook pages at around 7am.



Once that's out of the way, the week starts with sorting banking etc and getting letters ready for posting.

I was supposed to be getting some work on my van done on Monday, and after driving around 10 miles to get it done, things cropped up that end and after waiting about for around an hour, the job couldn't be done and so I've had to re-schedule for later in the week. By the time I'd got backing done and arrived back home it was almost 1 o'clock. First job when I got back was to start putting a playlist together for the 'Flashback show which is recorded later in the afternoon.

Generally, putting the playlist together takes around an hour. And once that's done I generally try and get something to eat before I record the show.

So generally, by around 4-5 o'clock the show is recorded and that part of the day is finished.

Next job on a Monday is to go online and buy all the new entries into this week's top 40. I need to keep doing this on an ongoing basis because I still do private parties as well as Requestfests with my disco and I need to keep my music current.

Moving on to today (Tuesday), I was once again up and at my desk around 7am sorting paperwork etc before I was off to college for 10 to continue my computer course. I only do 2 hours on a Tuesday and then by the time I get back here I have to start thinking about getting music ready to put onto my Disco computer.

Some days, and today was one of those, there are times when you just wish you could give it all up. I've been trying to get a survey done to help with improving the shows. The survey is just 10 questions long, and takes around 5 minutes to do. Now, each month thousands of listeners download and hear the shows and also read the magazine. About three weeks ago I asked people if they could  help us by doing the survey - now I'm not the most patient man in the world, but after 3 weeks less than 50 people have taken five minutes to do the survey. It's not as if I've only asked once. I've asked regularly and it's been mentioned in the magazine as well.

I spend around 60 hours a week doing the magazine and working on the shows for no financial benefit and less than 50 people could be bothered to do the survey. And you wonder why I sometimes think it's all just a waste of my time.

Anyway I've editied around 70 songs today and got them ready to put on my Disco computer. After that I've compiled a mix CD that I give away at the Soul Medicine night to the first 20 people through the door. I've designed and printed the covers and labels for the CDs and also run off the 20 CDs.

Whilst I was doing that, I also started compiling my playlist for this week's Pure Grooves show. I'll record that tomorrow morning. After finishing those jobs, I thought I'd better update this blog as I'd not touched it since Saturday.

And there you have it. My last three days in a nutshell. So yeah I've been fed up with it all today, but there's no doubt I'll just carry on doing it all again tomorrow.

So till the next time when hopefully I'll have cheered up a bit, I'm off to enjoy what's left of my evening. See ya!

Saturday 26 March 2011

Shoo be doo be doo da day!

Don't ask me why, I just felt like saying it. Had a few days feeling under the weather, but back to normal today so all's well.

Let me see what's the last few days brought then. OK let's kick off with the Pure Grooves show from Thursday night. I'm still not sure when to say the show goes out. I say this because it actually goes out at 00.00 Friday morning, but if I said Friday midnight everyone would be a day late. So basically as Thursday comes to an end , my show goes out at Midnight. Right. Have you got that?




Here's the playlist:
1 Teddy Pendergrass - Believe In Love
2 Jody Watley - I'm The One You Need
3 Brand New Heavies - Don't Let It Go To Your Head
4 Quincy Jones - Somethin' Special
5 Hi Gloss - You'll Never Know
6 Roy Ayers - Poo Poo La La
7 Tuck & Patti - All This Love
8 Paul Brown - 24/7
9 Mario Biondi - I Can't Keep From Cryin' Sometime
10 Brass Construction - Ha Cha Cha
11 Commodores - Flying High
12 Locksmith - Black Jack
13 Aurra - Like I like it
14 Brass Construction - Walkin' The Line
15 Maceo & The Macks - Cross The Tracks
16 Mario - C'mon (Stargate Mix)
17 Tweet - Boogie 2nite
18 Al Green - Everything Is OK (Ashley Beedles REMIX)
19 Sergio Mendes & New Brasil '77 - Real Thing
20 Leroy Hutson - All Because Of You
21 O'Jays - Message In Our Music
22 Three Degrees - Heaven I Need
23 Kleeer - Intimate Connection
24 Manhattans - Crazy
25 George Benson - Love X Love
To hear my recent shows, go to http://www.jamesmurphy.podomatic.com

Moving on to last night, I did a Skool Disco in Cambridge and it was quite a good night if you like that sort of thing. Which I do. Not too many came dressed up and although there wasn't a massive amount of dancing, people seemed to enjoy themselves, and I had a steady flow of requests throughout the evening. The music was mostly 80s, although we did have a little wander into both the 70s and the 90s.

So here's what was played

1 David Bowie - Absolute Beginners
2 Eurythmics - There Must Be An Angel
3 Jacksons - This Place Hotel
4 Nik Kershaw - Wide Boy
5 Haircut 100 - Fantastic Day
6 Communards - Never Can Say Goodbye
7 Aztec Camera - Somewhere In My Heart
8 Bangles - Manic Monday
9 Housemartins - Happy Hour
10 Pet Shop Boys - Domino Dancing
11 Blancmange - Living On The Ceiling
12 Spandau Ballet - To Cut A Long Story Short
13 Bruce Springsteen - Dancing In The Dark
14 Pat Benetar - Love Is A Battlefield
15 Bruce Hornsby & The Range - The Way It Is
16 Huey Lewis & The News - The Power Of Love
17 Jermaine Jackson - Let's Get Serious
18 Booker Newberry III - Love Town
19 Five Star - Let Me Be The One
20 Paul Hardcastle - 19
21 Colonel Abrams - Trapped
22 Steve Miller Band - Abracadabra
23 Howard Jones - Pearl In The Shell
24 Landscape - Einstein A Go Go
25 Art Of Noise - Close To The Edit
26 David Bowie - China Girl
27 Yazoo - Don't Go
28 ABC - Poison Arrow
29 Clubhouse - Do It Again - Billy Jean
30 Hall & Oates - I Can't Go For That
31 Elton John - I'm Still Standing
32 Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer
33 Pasadenas - Tribute (Right On)
34 Chaka Khan - I Feel For You
35 Prince - 1999
36 Spandau Ballet - Chant No. 1
37 Duran Duran - Union Of The Snake
38 Shalamar - Make That Move
39 George Benson - Give Me The Night
40 Curtis Hairston - I Want Your Lovin'
41 Skipworth & Turner - Thinkin 'Bout Your Lovin'
42 Galaxy - What Do I Do
43 Lionel Richie - Dancing On The Ceiling
44 Madonna - Into The Groove
45 Billy Ocean - Caribbean Queen
46 Kool & The Gang - Get Down On It
47 Bobby Thurston - Checkout The Groove
48 Shalamar - Take That To The Bank
49 Human League - Don't You Want Me
50 Bobby Brown - Two Can Play That Game
51 Robin S - Show Me Love
52 Livin' Joy - Don't Stop Movin'
53 Mousse T vs Hot N Juicy - Horny
54 Ultra Nate - Free
55 Sisqo - Thong Song
56 Duran Duran - Wild Boys
57 Dead Or Alive - You Spin Me Round
58 Thompson Twins - Love On Your Side
59 Madonna - Holiday
60 Stevie Wonder - Superstition
61 Fatback Band - Do The Bus Stop
62 James Brown - Body Heat
63 Duran Duran - Girls On Film
64 Human League - Fascination (Keep Feeling)
65 David Bowie - Let's Dance
66 Rod Stewart - Baby Jane
67 Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want To Have Fun
68 Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody
69 Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up
70 Alexander O'Neal - Criticize
71 Terence Trent D'arby - Dance Little Sister
72 Teena Marie - Behind The Groove
73 Deniece Williams - Let's Hear It For The Boy
74 Billy Idol - Rebel Yell
75 Iggy Pop - Real Wild Child
76 Billy Idol - White Wedding
77 Bon Jovi - Livin' On A Prayer
78 Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Which brings us to today. As usual, an early morning, up and in the studio to record tomorrow's Sunday Shake Up. With that sorted, I'm now doing this and I'm gonna try and chill today, well if that's at all possible for someone who struggles relaxing!

Till next time...



Thursday 24 March 2011

Shiny happy people!

Well it's amazing how everyone is walking about with a smile on their face at the moment. The old sun really does make a difference. I've noticed a lot of lilywhite legs out there.

I hope you enjoyed taking a look at my Top 100 records yesterday. Was fun to do and nice to look back on.

However, yesterday, being a Wednesday, was also Flashback radio show day.


Here's the playlist:
1 Pearls - Guilty
2 Three Dog Night - Mama Told Me Not To Come
3 Small Faces - Sha La La La Lee
4 Dave Clark 5 - Poison Ivy
5 Lulu & The Luvvers - Shout
6 Yvonne Elliman - Hello Stranger
7 Dusty Springfield - Wishin' & Hopin'
8 Jona Lewie - Kitchen At Parties
9 Shadows - Wonderful Land
10 Nilsson - Without You
11 Perry Como - Kewpie Doll
12 Maureen Evans - Like I Do
13 Maisonettes - Heartache Avenue
14 Dion & The Belmonts - A Teenager In Love
15 Gene Vincent - Be Bop A Lula
16 Elvis Presley - Trying To Get To You
17 Carl Mann - Pretend
18 Candlewick Green - Who Do You Think You Are
19 Monkees - I'm A Believer
20 Barry Manilow - Copacabana (At The Copa)
21 Dr Hook - Sexy Eyes
To hear James' my shows, go to http://www.jamesmurphy.podomatic.com

Yuo may have noticed that I've added a media player to the blogpage with some of the recent shows to listen to. If you want to listen to the shows without downloading them, here's a good place to do that.

If you're a friend of mine on facebook, I've decided I'm gradually going to stop putting my music related things on my home page as it seems to me that I'm repeating myself on various pages, so I'm going to start using the Very Old, Very Bald, James Murphy Page for the music-related posts. Please feel free to go and like the page. That way you'll always be able to keep up with my posts.

Till next time...

Wednesday 23 March 2011

My Top 100 songs of all time (in 2005) Part 5

So here we go with the final installment of my Top 100, with the Top 20. Looking at it, I'm able to say that the Top 5 are still my Top 5 and probably will be for years to come as they all have a significance to them.

So shall we crack on?  OK - in 2005, these were my favourite 20 songs in the whole world....EVER!

20 Barbara McNair - Steal Away Tonight (From the album 'Here I Am')


19 Beach Boys - Warmth Of The Sun


18 KD Lang - Constant Craving



17 Toni Braxton - Another Sad Love Song


16 James Taylor - Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight (From the album 'One Man Dog')



15 Isley Brothers - Harvest For The World


14 Jackie Wilson - Reet Petite


13 Ricky Nelson - It's Up To you



12 Marvin Gaye - What's Goin' On



11 James Taylor - Wanderin' (From the album 'Gorilla')


And so we come to my Top 10 favourite songs as it was in 2005- are they still the same? There are a few changes, but none too drastic. So here we  go with my Top 10...

10 Norah Jones - Don't Know Why

9 Marvin Gaye - Come Get To This



8 Four Seasons - Candy Girl



7 Nat 'King' Cole - Is It Better To Have Loved & Lost



6 Stevie Wonder - My Cherie Amour





OK so here's the Top 5 - and it's in exactly the same order today. So here it comes... My Top 5

5 Skyliners - Since I Don't Have You



4 Skyliners - This I Swear



3 The Drifters - I Count The Tears



2 Ruby & The Romantics - Our Day Will Come



1 Jackie Wilson - To Be Loved




Well, that's my Top 100 - I hope you enjoyed our little trip through my memories. It doesn't stop here though. I'm now working on my Top 100 albums of all time.

If you've enjoyed this, let me know and I'll see what else I can come up with.

Catch you later...

My Top 100 songs of all time (in 2005) Part 4

And so we come to the Top 40 - my favourite 40 songs of all time as of 2005. So let's crack on and see what's in the countdown from 40-21

40 Junior - Oh Louise



39 Gene McDaniels - Point Of No Return


38 Etta James - I Just Want To Make Love To You



37 Glenn Jones - Stay



36 The Tams - Hey Girl Don't Bother Me



35 Ricky Nelson - Travellin' Man



34 Jimmy Ruffin - Farewell Is A Lonely Sound



33 Beach Boys - God Only Knows





32 Roy Orbison - Blue Bayou



31 Thelma Houston - Saturday Night Sunday Morning


30 Elvis Presley - Return To Sender



29 Perry Como - Magic Moments



28 Sam Cook - That's It I Quit I'm Movin' On



27 Santana ft Rob Thomas - Smooth



26 Tammi Lynn - I'm Gonna Run Away From You


25 Gary Moore - Still Got The Blues


24 Ray Charles - Hit The Road Jack



23 Isley Brothers - I Guess I'll Always Love You



22 Buddy Holly - True Love Ways



21 Stevie Wonder - Ngiculela, esa Una Historia, I Am Singing (From the album 'Songs In The Key Of Life')




And so we're just outside top Top 20 - the songs I love most in the world. Well in 2005 anyhow.

So what's going to be in the Top 20? Find out next time...

My Top 100 songs of all time (in 2005) Part 3

Right things are starting to hot up now as we go from 60 - 41. As we come towards the halfway mark we're getting into the nitty gritty of my faves. As it's proved so far they're across the board. So are you ready? Here we go...

60 James Taylor - Mexico (From the album 'Gorilla')



59 Teddy Pendergrass - The Whole Town's Laughing At Me


58 Maxine Brown - Oh No Not My Baby



57 Elvis Presley - Treat Me Nice




56 Bee Gees - Spirits (Having Flown)


55 Ella Fitzgerald - Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye





54 John Lee Hooker - The Healer






53 Donnie Elbert - Without You




52 Bobby Vee - The Night Has A Thousand Eyes



51 Stevie Wonder - For Once In my Life



50 The Elgins - Heaven Must've Sent You



49 The Champs - Tequila





48 Lionel Richie - Love Will Find A Way



47 Roy Orbison - Only The Lonely



46 Alessi - Oh Lori



45 Roy Orbison - Blue Angel


44 Brook Benton & Dinah Washington - A Rockin' Good Way


43 Luther Vandross - Never Too Much


42 The Miracles - Going To A Go-Go



41 Chuck Berry - Johnny B Goode




So that's where we stand at the minute. The Top 40 starts next and we're coming to the serious end of my favourite songs in 2005 - what's in that Top 40? You'll see next time...