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Album Review

Various Artists
Songs For The Dog and Duck Ace Records

Article written by Paul M - Jan 4, 2010

Songs for the Dog and Duck

The Dog and Duck is a real boozer in the heart of Soho. It doesn’t actually have a jukebox but Saint Etienne’s Bob Stanley has chosen it as it was one of the after work gathering points for staff from the nearby Heavenly label. Through his excellent sleeve notes he tells the tale of a night in it, the beer and snacks consumed, the tracks played on its mythical music dispenser and the banter about them. Even if you only know a fraction of the tracks featured, the images that Stanley’s words conjure up will resonate; the excitement and the joy to be had in listening to and passionately discussing music, especially if fuelled by booze. It’s certainly no stranger to my life, even if the pub juke box at its core is now sadly as rare as jars of pickled eggs.

If Stanley’s stories haven’t roped you in then surely his choice of music will. Plucked primarily from the mid fifties to mid seventies, he gathers nuggets of psych, rock n roll, glam, funk, doo wop and pop but it’s the toe tapping end of northern soul where he lingers, tempting us to kick over the damp beer mat strewn tables and, er, drunkenly lurch vaguely in time to the tunes. Like every good jukebox it has that knack of keeping you gripped, missing the last bus home if you have to, just to see if the next song is as good as the previous. Ultimately if they’d all been topped up with material as terrific as the stuff here it’s hard to imagine that Wurlitzers wouldn't still be as common in your local as an overflowing urinal.

Track listing:

1. Hi Flutin' Boogie - John Scott
2. Davy O'brien - Duffy Power
3. The Boy With The Way - Jamie Carter
4. Make Me Yours - Bettye Swann
5. I Was Born To Love You - Herbert Hunter
6. Walkin' Through A Cemetery - Claudine Clark
7. Strollie Bun - The Blonde Bomber
8. Jitterbop Baby - Hal Harris
9. Dancing Round The World - Little Richard
10. She Does Everything For Me - The Zombies
11. The Way Of The Crowd - Dan Folger
12. I Can't Get Through - Bill Oddie
13. Lay This Burden Down - Mary Love
14. Sweep It Out In The Shed - Little Ann
15. How Can I Tell You - Barbara Lewis
16. The Emi Song (Smile For Me) - Alex Chilton
17. Driver's Seat - Sniff 'N' The Tears
18. Midnight Flight 2 - Angelo & Eighteen
19. Good Time Comin' - Mustard
20. Hand Clappin' Time - Gino With Johnny Greek
21. Having A Good Time - Huey Smith
22. Varee Is Love - Ohio Players
23. We Belong Together - Robert & Johnny
24. Smoke Rings - Les Paul & Mary Ford
25. Pinball - Brian Protheroe

Links:
http://www.saintetienne.com/

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