A big Welcome to Steve Wildes to A Frankie View.
What music are you currently listening to?
I enjoy listening to most genres including old and new stuff.
In the jazz category: John Martyn ‘Solid Air’, Louis Prima’ Angelina, Gregory Porter ‘Hey Laura’ and Leon Redbone ‘Shine on Harvest Moon.
Reggae: L.A.B ‘Controller’, Fat Freddy’s Drop ‘Wondering Eye, Swiss ‘Home Bound,’ Tomorrow People ‘Don’t Wanna Fight It and Katchafire ‘Love Letter.’
Soul: The Teskey Brothers ‘I Get Up, Ella Mai ‘Boo’d Up,’ The Chi-Lites ‘Have You Seen Her,’ Teeks ‘Never Be Apart,’ Brownstone ‘If You Love Me,’ Nicole Bus ‘ Unchanging Hand,’ jacksoul ‘1979,’ Dexy’s Midnight Runners ‘There There My Dear,’ Thee Sineers ‘Seems Like,’ Van Morrison ‘Wild Nights, Booker T. & the M.G.’s ‘Time Is Tight,’ Lyn Collins ‘Fly Me to the Moon,’
Irish Folk: Planxty ‘Raggle Taggle Gypsy/Tabhair dom do laimh,’ Daoirí Farrell ‘Creggan White Hare,’ Sweeney’s Men ‘Dreams For Me,’ Lemoncello ‘Morning,’ Ye Vagabonds ‘Willie O Winsbury,’ Voice Squad ‘Banks Of The Bann,’
Rock/Blues: Tedeschi Trucks Band “Midnight in Harlem” Blue Traveler ‘Run-Around,’ Creed ‘Hide,’ Dire Straits ‘Sultans of Swings,’ Bad Company ‘Bad Company,’ Rainbow ‘I Surrender,’ Motorhead ‘Ace of Spades,’ Creedance Clearwater Revival ‘Fortunate Son’ Cream ‘White Room,’ The Move ‘Blackberry Way,’ All About Eve ‘Martha’s Harbour,’
Brit Pop: Keane ‘This Is The Last Time,’ Sterophonics ‘Maybe Tomorrow,’ Style Council ‘Shout To The Top,’ Coldplay’The Scientist.’
Sorry, I could carry on and bore you with all of the other music I listen to. I hope that’ll for now. Take care and all the best for now.
Wow that’s a lot, Some I have heard of some not.
2- CD, Streaming or Vinyl?
Unfortunately streaming. I would love get back into vinyl and the first album I would buy is John Martyn Solid Air. I believe the sound is vastly superior and I’m a sucker for nostalgia.
I have a Spotify account, just wish the artist were getting more money from it, years ago it was a word of mouth or the radio, these days we have the internet where we can go and check.
I agree, it sad for the artist’s efforts that the only way artist can generate revenue is by doing concerts and selling merchandise. Technology is a double edge sword when it comes to streaming services. The consumer has a wide range of music to choose from for very little money but the quality of sound is poor compared to records. I’m sure these of the songs were not intended to be played this way…like chewing a toffee with the wrapper still on.
What, if push comes to shove, is your all time favorite album?
That’s a tough question. Like choosing your favourite child😁. It’ll be between Dick Gaughan ‘Handful of Earth,’ Al Green ‘Greatest Hits,’ and John Martyn ‘Solid Air.’ I would go for John Martyn.
What was the first record you ever brought? And where did you buy it?
The first record I bought was The Beat ‘Hang Off….She’s Mine.’ The record shop was on Portobello Road, opposite to Tesco( I have forgotten the name of the shop). I remember it was quite small inside. I remember in my class you were either a Madness, The Specials, Bad Manners or The Beat fan.
Oh, I forgot a small few where into The Selector.
What do you sing in the shower?
What do I sing in the shower? I try not unless I want to scare the neighbours 😁. If I were would be some old classic Ivor Biggin, Bernard Cribbins or Flanders & Swann
Anything really in a shower that has an upbeat tune.
What is your favorite Saturday night record?
I don’t stick to certain music or genre for a Saturday night. If I was getting ready to hit a club or pub on a Saturday night back in the day I would probably listen to Rock or Metal.
One of the songs I listened back then is AC DC ‘Shoot to Thrill.’
And your Sunday morning record?
On Sundays, I read or play around with art. I enjoy instrumental music to play in the background. Artists I enjoy are: Air ‘La femme d’argent,’ John Barry ‘You Only Live Twice,’ Four Tat ‘Lush,’ Beautiful Chorus ‘Throat Chakra, etc
Do you know what was number one in the UK the day you where born?
June 1967 and the No.1 was Procol Harum ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale.’ The best track in the top ten is The Kinks ‘Waterloo Sunset.’
Blur or Oasis?
Oasis. I saw them at Knebworth in 1996 with Mark O’Donoghue, Michael Farrell and a few others. The supports acts were The Prodigy, The Charlatans, Kula Shaker to name a few playing to a crowd of 250,000.
Coldplay or Radiohead?
I give Radiohead the edge purely for one particular track ‘Everything In Its Right Place’
Bob Dylan or Bob Marley?
Bob Dylan.
I like the version of Golden Brown that you posted on FB. There are a few other versions I like of that track. Have you seen these versions?
Wow love both them Golden Brown cover, its such a great song, maybe I should do a post on it. Here another version That I know about from Omar.
Good cover by Omar from a great artist himself. A friend of mine who got me into cover versions of songs especially bluegrass versions. Hayseed Dixie some good rock versions in bluegrass. My favourite version at the moment is Iron Horse’s ‘Rocketman’ and ‘Unforgiven.’
Beginning to hate you, Steve, you are going to cost me a fortune, I love when someone transforms a song like this and not a direct cover.
You better stop it 🤣
You are hitting my weak spot and that is good music.
What’s your favourite genre music?
Excuss my French but that is a bastard of a question for me and one a get asked a lot, I love the two-tone bands, very big fan of Raggae, and love certain types of Dub, Female Jazz vocals always get me, and some really great soul out there, Blues, Punk/Mod, Jazz, love trip-hop. Such a hard question, I am one of them people who knows what he likes no matter what genre, and the older I am getting, worse or wider it’s getting. Oh forgot some rock as well. Oh, and I am always finding new stuff like folk.
Bastard questions are my speciality 😁. It sounds like we both like exploring different genres of music and it’s hard for me to plant a flag on one style of music I like over another. The great thing about YouTube and Spotify they can generate music or artists that you may not have come across. Also looking through your music blogs has also introduced me to some excellent music I haven’t come across. I have a friend who sends me the most unusual cover versions and mashups. Most work and some are dreadful.
Oh, love finding out about new music to me, that’s why I like doing these interviews, all of you have shown me stuff that I did not know about.
I suppose it’s like panning for gold sometimes you can find some real gems.
Have an American blogger (The Aural Retentive), he got me listening to the Smashing Pumpkins and another from South Africa ( Loving the Music ) has introduced me to some nice stuff.
I very much enjoy some of Smashing Pumpkin stuff.
Smashing Pumpkin are new to me.
Van Morrison or John Martyn?
That’s a Bastard question. Touche my friend 😁. John Martyn. There’s a great tribute documentary about John Martyn life that’s worth a watch.
Al Green or Otis Redding?
Otis Reading. This recording was the year I was born.
Thanks, Frank for the interview. I quite enjoyed talking about music with you and hopefully meet up with you and Paul for a beer or two the next time I come to England. All the best.
Loved it mate, really enjoyed it, deffo meet up with you when you come over, great to talk to you.
Thank you Steve Wildes, stay safe.
A little PS from me, we did talk about lots of other stuff, school and school mates, comics, and dyslexia. I did ask to check for grammar and spelling mistakes, but two blokes with dyslexia checking spelling, there is a joke in there somewhere.
