Dodgy Dave's Extended 45 Mix - the feedback!

Brilliant! That guy, Dodgy Dave is a wonder. Not does he totally ignore the rules and goes for broke in his 57.59 extended extravaganza but what he loses in timing he gains in enthusiasm and determination. Obviously, so much thought has gone into this compilation whilst wallpapering and it is a delight to the ears.

The opening track is a belter "Bluebirds Over The Mountain" by the Beach Boys who sound in ripping form in this live performance. A great opener for a compilation - uplifting fun and frisky! Nice to hear the audience enjoying it so much

The second track takes us to the 70s with Led Zep's Misty Mountain Hop. At 4.38 minutes this is probably 4.30 minutes too long. Of all the Zep tracks to enjoy this one needs serious consideration - as one of their poorest. Overlong, probably sounded really good if you were on harpic or some such substance in the 70s but it really is tedious! The lyric is dire - have you ever listened to the words? If they had asked me for "some tea to have some Fun-un" I would have told them to squeeze my lemon. So such a relief when we went across to the Wild Mountain Thyme by the Byrds. Isn't it wonderful how they can record anything and make it their own sound. Nice track this! But what a joy to peak with Everest by the Fannies. Funny how I had forgotten about this wee classic off Songs From Northern Britain. Underrated track surely but on listening to it am still unsure what it has to do with Everest. Do you?

Blue Mountain have passed me by and I hadn't realised we had changed from Teenage Fanclub at first and loved the Harrisonesque break as the boys sang "What am I going to do when you're not around?" Nice warm sound.

And so to Mountain! Did they or did they not record a theme for World In Action or something? But they were a band of their time and some tracks surely have not stood the test of time well. Theme for an Imaginary Western (live at Woodstock) sounds like a band failing an audition for a singing lesson. Best thing about Mountain was their guitar breaks which are beautiful. But they really do make Gary Moore look like a good singer. As John Peel once said of Leo Kottke - he plays guitar like Daglish plays football but sings like Grobbelaar
playing on the wing.. If this is the theme for the Imaginary Western thank goodness they didn't make the film.

Bob Harris is always banging on about how brilliant Del Shannon was and I couldn't get it but it was refreshing to be uplifted and taken up to the Mountain again by the splendid Swiss Maid. And of course the richness of Roddy Woomble's vocals shines through on I came in from the Mountain. Stripped down Idlewild - absolutely gorgeous. So onto Donovan's hypnotic muse "there is a mountain" ..good choice!

"Mountain Woman" from the classic Muswell Hillbillies LP is a lost Kinks masterpiece and so brave when it came out. And the way Ray Davies manages to phrase his lyrics is sheer genius ..listen again to how he articulates "Hydro Electric Power Station" ..super.

The Robert Knight track "Love on a Mountain Top" sounds like it may have been a Northern Soul Classic. However, once again the lyrics leave me somewhat bewildered. Surely it must be rather uncomfortable making love on a mountain top whilst drinking out of a fountain. Most strange position. Also have you noticed how the sounds on the track make it seem like a kettle is boiling at the end?

So onto the Welsh Wizards - SFA with the explicit lyrics and a track which goes nowhere at all and bleeds the joke dry about a two foot mountain but well done Dave for being brash and brave enough for including it.

Oh Oh just when youy thought it was safe we are back with the Felix Mountain with Mississippi Queen. Much prefer Mott The Hoople's version I must say. So hasten on to the second track from Blue Mountain who have obviously been listening to their early Fairport lps carefully for this extended romp of folk rock reminiscent of Matty Groves tips the hat to Richard Thompson - and there is nothing wrong with that. And isn't it great we get a count out towards the end of the track before a cracking Alberto Y Los Trios Paranois style crescendo of a finale.

Again the Byrds come to liven the afternoon with their Blue Canadian Rockies followed by what starts off as a classic track by Mel Torme, who has an exceptional voice, I have never heard of him, someone is having great fun with the piano before the lyrics fall into the bizarre and plainly ridiculous. He at some point is tempting the girl with sandwiches and beans and then adds "fatter girl hatter girl. He obviously has been on the waccy baccy as he then descends into a jazz rumble where he makes it up as he goes along. Suggest some serious editing would make this song bearable.

Saving the best for last is the classy Harry McClintock "Big Rock Candy Mountain" a song as comforting as melted butter on freshly toasted teacakes. A great way to end the compilation! I'm licking my lips waiting for the next one.

So overall a 4 star review!