Ahoy me Hearties!

Another week gone already and we have another NOTP. Not much news this week (excluding the marital affairs of a singer we wouldn't feature) so we'll get on with the show.

Three in a Row was a bit different this week as we hear that Abbey Road Studios may be sold off. So I trust you'll forgive me for featuring a track each from four decades recorded there? The Sixties had to be represented by those pesky Beatles and the ground-breaking 'A Day In The Life' Yes, I know that wasn't from the Abbey Road album, but does show what can be done with creative engineering and production. The Seventies had 'Broadway Hotel' by Al Stewart from 'Year of the Cat' (1976). The Eighties was a bit thin till I noticed that just scraping in under the bar was 'Nude' by Camel. Very dated (and scratched!) but, hey, we haven't featured Camel before. Bringing up the Nineties was Radiohead's 'The Bends' and 'Fake Plastic Trees'. 

Long Song tonight was Robbie Williams from a few years back - 'Me and my Monkey'. I know it's not cool to like Mr Williams, but who said we are cool here?

Charity Shop Corner featured the singular voice of Miss Ella Fitzgerald which is always a good thing. 'That Old Black Magic' did the trick.

After a split reaction when I played 'We Want War' as my Long song a few weeks ago, I decided - possibly against my better judgement - to feature 'Hidden' by These New Puritans as my album of the week. A bit hard going, you'll agree, but we do need to redress the balance here at NOTP!

A request came thudding in for Kitsch'n'Sink and who was I to argue? I must admit this had been blotted out of my memory, but a bit of digging gave us  'Jeremy is Innocent' by - and here's some confusion - either Ivor Biggun (ho ho) or Rex Barker and the Ricochets. Take your pick - they're still the same record. Oddly enough, I doubt we'll be featuring it again. Don't forget you can nominate a record too. But do think carefully first....

Also clinging to the wreckage were Brian Eno, The Besnard Lakes, Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood, Be Bop Deluxe, Fred Astaire, Underworld, The Postmarks, Dexy's Midnight Runners, Muse, Alphaville, Norman 'Hurricane' Smith, Brian Eno, Bob Dylan, Chorale and Joan Armatrading.

Have a good week - see you soon!

Glyn 

 

Hi there

These are this week's films. I'm delighted to see that Theatr Colwyn is showing the films that don't seem to be getting an airing at Cineworld - this week it's the Ian Dury biopic 'Sex and Drugs and Rock'n'Roll. Nowhere Boy and A Single Man are coming up next month so I'll keep you informed.

News: Starting next Friday, Cineworld will be showing Tim Burton's 'Alice in Wonderland' despite the industry boycott.

 

Film of the Week

THE LOVELY BONES

A murdered girl watches over her family from 'the in-between' of earth and heaven to help them find her killer so she can rest. Peter Jackson adapts Alice Sebold’s excellent novel. He makes a fair job of it too, with Saoirse Rona, last seen in 'Atonement', carrying off the role of fourteen-year-old Susie Salmon (like the fish) with aplomb. He tries too hard, however, to make this a thriller as well as a heavenly fantasy, a shocker and introduces a superfluous comedy character in the form of a horribly miscast Susan Sarandon for good measure. Thankfully it does keep to the spirit of the novel, but all these gimmicks stem the narrative flow and at times it gets clunky and characters such as Susie's brother remain undeveloped and there are plot leaps - how did her father and sister suddenly know who the killer was when everyone was baffled for a year? Some judicious editing at the script stage,  going with instincts instead of listening to a test audience's reaction, which resulted in a gratuitously nasty scene being shot and included,  and this could have been a film which would have done justice to the novel. Still, despite the flaws, it's certainly worth seeing, not least for the music by Brian Eno and the Cocteau Twins.

 

And the rest.....

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS 2 – THE SQUEAKUEL

“A truly terrible, utterly witless comedy” – The Guardian – and who am I to argue?

ASTRO BOY

A robot child, created by a scientist in the image of his son, is called on to save his city.

AVATAR

James Cameron’s epic 3-D blockbuster..

INVICTUS

How Nelson Mandela united post-apartheid South Africa behind the Springboks' triumphant run at the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Morgan Freeman; dir Clint Eastwood. Highly recommended.

PERCY JACKSON AND THE LIGHTNING THIEF

A student discovers that he is the descendant of Greek gods and has to recover Zeus's stolen lightning bolt. Chris Columbus directs a crash course in Greek mythology.

SHERLOCK HOLMES

Guy Richie’s take on the detective with Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law.Good fun - catch it whle it's still on.

THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG

A prince, transformed into a frog, has to get a princess to kiss him to break the spell. He finds one willing to do it, but she's not a princess. Randy Newman songs

SOLOMON KANE

A 16th-century hero's past forces him to redeem himself by battling evil in his homeland

VALENTINES DAY

A bunch of couples and singles in Los Angeles break up and make up in the run-up to 14 February. Includes a mummified Shirley McClaine. Makes Love Actually look like Citizen Kane.

THE WOLFMAN 

An exiled man returns to his ancestral home, only to discover a horrifying destiny. Remake of the 1941 film (Lon Chaney Jr and Claude Rains) with Anthony Hopkins.

YOUTH IN REVOLT

A sex-obsessed 14-year-old boy falls in love with a free-spirited girl while on holiday and stops at nothing to remain with her. Michael Cera in Jekyll and Hyde alter-ego comedy which is better than you would expect.

SEX AND DRUGS AND ROCK’N’ROLL (ThCol)

Ian Dury biopic with an amazing performance from Andy Serkis.

UP IN THE AIR (ThCol)

George Clooney and Vera Farmiga in a story about empty lives beneath the gloss. Excellent.

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE (ThCl)

THEATRE

Harper Lee’s TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD – ThCl till Saturday

ARDEN OF FAVERSHAM – ThCl till 6^th March

 

VIVA BROADWAY – RhylPav- Thuirsday – Linda Lusardi and Sam Kane

FRANKIE AND JOHNNY - – VenCym Thursday to Saturday                                            Kelly McGillis (Witness, Top Gun) and Rolf Saxon in American romantic comedy.

DATHLU GWYL DEWI – VenCym all weekend – celebrate St David’s Day

Hi there

Not much new at the pictures this week and even less worth seeing. So why don't we complain that The Big Cinema isn't prepared to show films like A Single Man, Oil City Confidential, Sex and Drugs and Rock’n’Roll, A Prophet or Precious? Are we too unsophisticated?

Still here are thir offerings this week:-

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS 2 – THE SQUEAKUEL

“A truly terrible, utterly witless comedy” – The Guardian – and who am I to argue?

ASTRO BOY

A robot child, created by a scientist in the image of his son, is called on to save his city.

AVATAR

James Cameron’s epic 3-D blockbuster..

EDGE OF DARKNESS

A homicide detective stops at nothing to unmask the cover-up behind the murder of his activist daughter. Remake of the 1985 TV thriller. Mel Gibson; Ray Winstone.

INVICTUS

How Nelson Mandela united post-apartheid South Africa behind the Springboks' triumphant run at the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Morgan Freeman; dir Clint Eastwood. Film of the week - by a mile. Great performances - it's perhaps a bit simplistic but you can't deny the great story-telling style of Eastwood.

PERCY JACKSON AND THE LIGHTNING THIEF

A student discovers that he is the descendant of Greek gods and has to recover Zeus's stolen lightning bolt. Chris Columbus directs a crash course in Greek mythology.

PONYO

A five-year-old boy finds a beautiful goldfish, but she is really the daughter of a wizard. Charming animation by Hayao Miyazaki. Matt Damon, Liam Neeson, Cate Blanchett.

SHERLOCK HOLMES

The detective at 221B Baker Street has to use his fists as well as his brain to get to the bottom of a plot that could destroy the country

THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG

A prince, transformed into a frog, has to get a princess to kiss him to break the spell. He finds one willing to do it, but she's not a princess. Randy Newman songs

SOLOMON KANE (opens tomorrow)

A 16th-century hero's past forces him to redeem himself by battling evil in his homeland

VALENTINES DAY

A bunch of couples and singles in Los Angeles break up and make up in the run-up to 14 February. Includes Shirley McClaine! Makes Love Actually look like Citizen Kane.

THE WOLFMAN 

An exiled man returns to his ancestral home, only to discover a horrifying destiny. Remake of the 1941 film (Lon Chaney Jr and Claude Rains) with Anthony Hopkins.

YOUTH IN REVOLT

A sex-obsessed 14-year-old boy falls in love with a free-spirited girl while on holiday and stops at nothing to remain with her. Michael Cera in Jekyll and Hyde alter-ego comedy.

ALSO NINE, UP (ThCl), ICE AGE THREE (VenCym), L’ARMEE DU CRIME (Gal)

 

THEATRE

Harper Lee’s TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD – ThCl till March

ARDEN OF FAVERSHAM – ThCl till March

RENT – RhylPav- Wed-Sat Musical with  TiC youth theatre.

LITTLE BIG CLUB – Live – VenCym tomorrow - Kids’ stuff.

JULIAN CLARY – Lord of the Mince, VenCym, Thursday

 

Enjoy!

Glyn

Good evening!

Well, the exciting news this week is we have a new studio - and I'm allowed to use it for NOTP. Unfortunately the CD players are programmed only to play Leona Lewis, JLS and Susan Boyle and they either refuse to play anything else or stop mid-track. So NOTP this week is a rather unpredictable and ramshackle affair - no change there, except this time I have an excuse. Still, we have a carpet which is jolly nice and a comfy chair. 

So what did this new-found luxury bring us music-wise? Well, since you ask, Three In a Row had a welcome return to non-rock'n'roll  names - this time Edwin. So Mr Hawkins and his singers gave us 'Oh Happy Day'. Mr Starr  sang 'Contact' and Mr. Collins (yes, I know his name is spelt with a 'y' but he's just showing off) gave us the wonderful 'With a Girl Like You'.

Charity Shop Corner gave us a little-known album by The "Ebenezer" Shamen called Strange Day Dreams.  Odd, but strangely good in parts.

No strangers to NOTP Stereolab provided the Long Song - from the album 'Transient Random Noise Bursts With Announcements' (really) we had 'Jenny Ondioline' - or at least most of it.

Kitsch'n''Sink this time had Sparks from the album 'Hello Young Lovers'  and 'As I Sit Down to Play The Organ at the Notre Dame Cathedral'. Yes, you young things,  wacky long titles are in this week!

Occupying the back seat of the bus were The Postmarks, Kasabian,  Razorlight, the late Johnny Dankworth, Bowie, The Divine Comedy, Supertramp, The Mighty Wah, Get Well Soon, Hot Chip, Dizzee Rascal, Laura Viers, Local Natives, Crosby Stills and Nash, and finally They Might Be Giants.

You'll be delighted to know that my old email's working again - glyn.james@tudnofm.co.uk so keep those suggestions a'coming in.

See you next week!

Glyn

Greetings!

Another cold Wednesday so what better way to spend an evening than huddled round the cosy glow of a wireless with a loved one, a glass of wine listening to Not On The Playlist? All right then, but as Mr Loaf says, two out of three ain't bad.

 So what lurked inside Tudno's hallowed walls for your entertainment this week? Well, Three in a Row featured some cards from the pack - Just JACK with 'Stars in their Eyes', The Good, the Bad and the QUEEN with Herculean and KING Creosote with the lovely 'Admiral'. 

Kitsch'n'Sink today gave us Spiritualized (sic) which are always handy for a big production and the amazing 'Do It All Over Again'. Hope that rattled your speakers!

The Long Song featured Kate Bush from her most recent album  and the  ever  so slightly bonkers 'Nocturn' and 'Aerial' as they lead into one another. Very Long Song, then.

Album of the Week was Massive Attack's latest long-player 'Heligoland'. A little different to what we're used to, but I'll be giving it a good listen - I suspect it'll grow on me.

I've been haunting the charity shop again - this time for an album, not a trendy jumper - and came out with (don't laugh - it could have been so much worse) The Hits of a-ha.  'Hunting High and 'was the song. Worth £1.99, I say.

In between the nonsense were tunes from Elvis Costello, Ben's Brother, Efterklang, OK Go, Hot Chip, 10cc, Air, KT Tunstall, Dolores O'Riordan, Lene Lovich, Emmy The Great and Janis Ian.

Oh - my email seems to be working again, so if you're so inclined glyn.james@tudnofm.co.uk will find me - I'd be delighted to hear from you.

Take care - see you next week.

 Glyn

Hello boys and girls!

Still here then? Look here, who's been buying Alvin and the Chipmunks? Has someone's granny got it wrong and bought it instead of Chipmunk (only a slightly less serious offence, if truth be told) or am I missing something and it will be added to the canon of classic albums of the decade?

Talking of canons we come, naturellich, to Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D. It's quite a straightforward sequebce of notes, but it's still a surprise to see how many songs it's influenced. I picked three - 'Go West' by the Pet Shop Boys, if only to give it some kitsch value, 'No Woman No Cry' by Bob Marley and 'All Together Now' by The Farm. I suppose we could have had a more obscure link, but I'm not sure I'd want one.

Talking of kitsch, we had Kitsch'n'Sink which this week featured one of my favourite seventies bands (yawn) - Klaatu and the Politzanian National Anthem. Now THAT'S what I call Kitsch'n'Sink!

Well, it had to happen. The Long Song had ignored it for almost two years so here it is - 'Stairway to Heaven' - by you-know-who - no, not Rolf! Still enjoyable after all these years.

As though not enough was going on we had the welcome return of the Album of the Week - this time the quaintly named 'In this Light and On This Evening' by Editors, a band I've been enjoying very much of late. Three tracks from that, then.

Now quantity if not quality ruled in the Charity Shop this week - a TRIPLE album All right, it was on the respected Readers' Digest label, but look - THREE! Hits (and misses) of 1962. If nothing else it was nice to see what was going on in the year before the Beatles. And I make no apology for playing 'Lesson One' by the mysteriously overlooked Russ Conway. And only two minutes long!

Also helping sink the lifeboat were Squeeze,  Muse, Magazine, King Creosote, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Genesis, 10cc, Television, David Bowie, The View, Donna Summer, Massive Attack and Simon and Garfunkel.

Hello everyone!

Another Wednesday night and with it, as sure as hangover follows good night out , comes Not on the Playlist.

We had an ancient featured album which was 'A Salty Dog' by Procul Harum'. One of those albums it's hard to pick just three tracks  from which is always a good sign.

The Long Song was by the Canadian group The Besnard Lakes and 'You've Got to Want to be a Star'. I hope to be featuring their new album in the coming weeks.

Kitsch'n'Sink featured the Alan Parsons Project's 'Don't Answer Me' with vocals by Eric Woolfson. Now Mr Parsons is the boss of Abbey Road. Probably gets to cross the famous zebra crossing every day, curse him!

Three in a Row featured another not-very-rock'n'roll name - this time Albert. Hammond pere et fils (99 miles from LA and The Strokes' 12-51) plus Paul McCartney and Wings' 'We're So Sorry Uncle Albert'.

Besides a rather natty jumper and a jigsaw, the charity shop's corner gave us 'Who Killed The Zutons?'. I'm not sure, but the track I featured was 'Confusion'. Appropriate, I suppose.

Now what else was going on? The Guillemots, for a start, plus Radiohead, David Byrne featuring Santagold, Efterklang, Brian Eno, Deaf School, Editors,  These New Puritans,  Dusty Springfield, It's Immaterial and Judie Tzuke.

Keep on keeping on!

Glyn

Hi there

Another Wednesday, another dollar - without the dollar, of course... So what's been happening tonight?  

Well, since you ask, Three in a row featured the decidedly un-rock'n'roll name Eric, so we had three of them - Carmen (disguised as a Raspberry), Clapton (as a domino) and Wreckless (as, well, wreckless). Thought of doing Albert, but only managed two (unless you count father and son, that is)  - can you do better? I'm excluding Maurice Albert for several reasons, most of them musical....

Charity shop corner brought us a real gem - well, actually it's a Jem, the Cardiff chanteuse, if they use words like that in Cardiff. The album's called 'Finally Woken' and has a couple of very promising tracks on it. I chose '24' as it's loud, but I might well be revisiting the album very soon.

Not had ELO on Kitsch'n'Sink before, so I thought it would be nice to give them a go. This was from 'A New World Record' and is the final track 'Shangri-La'. Even played it from vinyl!

The Long Song was by Underworld,  the album  'Oblivion With Bells' , the track 'Crocodile'. That was from 2007. Anything new on the horizon?

The less cloth-eared listener will have spotted some adverts appearing in the show - hope you liked them. More to follow! At least it's a pleasant change from me rambling on.

Other passengers in the NOTP  lifeboat were Fyfe Dangerfield,  Stereolab, Nerina Pallot, The Monkees, Amy McDonald, Kasabian, Led Zeppelin, Moby Grape, Cat Power, The Futureheads, Morecambe and Wise, 10cc, Evanessence, The Concretes, Ian Dury and the Blockheads, Nico, The Mull Historical Society, Lemon Jelly and the late great Jeff Buckley.

Delighted to hear the new Amy McDonald single which I should have by next week - the album's due in March. Still waiting for the new one by These New Puritans, and I'll be featuring that along with Vampire Weekend's new one next week along with a sneak preview of the David Byrne CD, this track featuring Santagold. Had a lot to do with Imelda Marcos, or so I'm told.

Keep your ears open - see you next week!

Glyn

Hi there

Here are your films for this week....

ALL ABOUT STEVE
A love-struck crossword puzzle setter - a very strange looking Sandra Bullock -  follows a cameraman around the country in the hope of convincing him that they are meant for each other. “Pointless, embarrassing, agonisingly unfunny.” – Philip French
ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS 2 – THE SQUEAKUEL
“A truly terrible, utterly witless comedy” – The Guardian – and who am I to argue?      AVATAR
James Cameron’s epic 3-D blockbuster, and now the biggest most record breakingest film in the history of the universe. In the distant future, an ex-marine is thrust into the battle to exploit a planet, and finds himself helping the alien race instead. Big on thrills, cutting edge effects (especially in 3-D) and length, less on storyline.
THE BOOK OF ELI
In post-apocalyptic America, one man fights to protect a sacred book that could hold the key to man’s survival. Denzel Washington, directed by the Hughes Brothers. Also has a cameo from Tom Waits and, alarmingly, Michael Gambon and Frances de la Tour. Will appeal to bible-toting Southern states - for the real deal see The Road.
DAYBREAKERS
In the near future a team of vampires sets out to capture and farm every remaining human. Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe. Looks big budget and bloody.
DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MORGANS?
An estranged New York couple who witness a murder are relocated to small-town Wyoming. Hugh Grant and Sarah J Parker in an unfairly slated romcom - there's far worse out there     IT’S COMPLICATED
A woman finds herself having an affair with her ex-husband. Then she meets a nice architect. Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. Not as funny as they say, but Meryl and Steve are always worth a look.
UP IN THE AIR
A management consultant who specialises in firing people and spends all his time in aeroplanes and hotels has his world turned upside down when he meets the woman of his dreams. Some funny moments, but as a study in the emptiness of people's lives it works best. George Clooney gives a well-judged performance and it manages to take some unexpected turns.
SHERLOCK HOLMES
The detective at 221B Baker Street has to use his fists as well as his brain to get to the bottom of a plot that could destroy the country. It's not Conan Doyle, and it's a bit too "Holmes the Superhero" at times, but on balance it's a jolly romp.
ST TRINIAN’S – THE LEGEND OF FRITTON’S GOLD
St Trinian's hunts for treasure after discovering the headmistress is related to a pirate. Based on Ronald Searle’s strip with Rupert Everett, David Tennent, Colin Firth and lots of over-age girls in unnecessarily tight school uniforms.
 NINJA ASSASSIN                              If you liked Bruce Lee then rent a video. Heads and assorted body parts roll all over the screen in this bloodbath. Revenge is the idea, but only hardened Ninjas and axe murderers need apply. Not recommended for your Valentine date.

TOY STORY 2 in 3-D                               Pixar doing what they do best - this time in 3-D. Woody is kidnapped (toynapped?) and it takes Buzz and his toy chums to rescue him.

AN EDUCATION (Theatr Clwyd only)                        Nominated for several awards and deservedly so. Nick Hornby's ad aptation of Lynn Barber's autobiographical coming-of-age novel.

See you next week!

Glyn

Hello again...

Hopefully your New Year Resolutions are to lose weight, drink less, give up chocolate and to listen to NOTP every Wednesday night. So one is possible, anyway!

What was in the magic box tonight then, me hearties? (sorry - been watching Pirates of the Caribbean). Well, Three in a Row was defiantly seasonal with Three Kings - those of Leon, Convenience (Toxic Girl) and Crimson (the mighty 'In The Court of the Crimson King'). Don't worry, I won't be doing a Queen special to even things out.

Kitsch'n'Sink featured the splendidly-named Fyfe Dangerfield, the Guillemots' front man. His new single is 'She Needs Me' and has such a big production by Adam Noble  it's welcome here. His new album, 'Fly Yellow Moon' is out next week and will be worth a listen.

The Long Song is one of those you'll either love, hate or say 'What the **** is that?'. It's by These New Puritans and is called 'We Want War'. Big, noisy and going off in several directions at once. They cite Benjamin Britten as a major influence, and who am I to argue? The album's released in a week so expect more tracks from it when I get my muddy paws on it.

In case I was in danger of becoming all modern, here comes Charity Shop Corner to spoil all that.  Simon and Garfunkel, to be precise, and a compilation. 'A live version of 'For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her' seemed a good choice, especially as that's my Mum's name.  Emily, that is, not Simon. Or Garfunkel, come to that.

Among the usual suspects were Squeeze, Muse, a great new single from Massive Attack, Bob Dylan, Portishead,  Fleet Foxes, The Monochrome Set, Yachts, Sex Pistols, The Divine Comedy, Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs, Rufus Wainwright,  eels, Marc Almond, Beth Orton, Robinson, Jimmy Helms, David Bowie, The Colourfield and The Verve.

Unusually there are a lot of interesting new albums on the horizon - besides Massive Attack and These New Puritans we can look forward to Marina and the Diamonds and the new one from Amy McDonald all of which I'll be featuring on NOTP, naturally.

 Keep in touch -it's glyn.tudno@gmail.com. 

Have a good week - and if you do have an accident, make sure it's not your fault.

Glyn