The Candy Shop #19

BRING BACK THE BRASS!

For Fans Of A Big Horn

by Nayt Housman

It was big in the ‘30s/‘40s/’50s then flopped, was revived in the ‘80s then went soft for a while until a revival in the ‘90s. Will it grow again? Has it returned? Is it still too daggy because your dad liked it?


Today in The Candy Shop I endeavour to find out, as I share my love affair of the toots and honks of a good brass horn (aka saxophone, trumpet or any other brassy tooting instrument) over the last 60-ish years. So go to the closet, pull out your old horn and dust it off ready for some action. PAAAAARRRRRRRRP!


The jazz era was big on big band brass and oh what an era it was. I wouldn’t be privy to it’s glory had I not purchased one of those cheesy box set of “jazz classics” which introduced me to such delights as these…

The Peacocks 

by Bill Evans Trio featuring Stan Getz

I remember hearing this for the first time and getting major chills. Stunning piece, so classy and sad.

Salt Peanuts 
by Dizzy Gillespie 

Lunacy! Pure lunacy. I LOVE IT!

Brass seemed to have faded away mostly until it was again adopted in the 80s bigger, better and cheesier than ever. Cheesy is not a swear word! Everyone loves a cheesy horn…

Smooth Operator 

by Sade

Oh lordy cheeses sliced! Does pop really get much better than this? Not only is Sade one of the most beautiful women in the world with one of the sexiest voices ever but man she made the right decision to include tootingly good brass in this song.

Bakers Street 

by Gerry Rafferty

This is actually the first song I remember hearing and thinking “Wow! Saxophone is AWESOME!” What a classic.

Careless Whisper 

by George Michael

George you’ve featured quite a lot in The Candy Shop lately but really who can resist you? (Except for cops in public toilets you’re cruising.) Faux pas aside this is some great sex…errrr sax.

Chant No.1 

by Spandau Ballet

I learnt of this song working in my shitty retail job. The one benefit of shitty retail (particularly in my place of employment) is the amazing (this is subjective) music I keep discovering.

Never Tear Us Apart 

by INXS 

A beautiful song, a beautiful man, a beautiful horn…solo.

Hail the 90s! You may not have noticed much tooting during this decade but it’s surely there, especially with the ska revival (remember No Doubt and well, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones). Also there’s Kenny G though lets try not to think about him too hard. Kenny G = Bad Cheese.

Break In The Weather 

 by Jenny Morris

This is one of my all time fave songs. The sax, the floating lips, giant eye, trumpeting ventriloquist dummy and OH the dancing! The fist-pumps beside her face are my fave moves. You are so classy Jenny…so classy indeed.

Bathwater 

by No Doubt

Were No Doubt responsible for reviving the horn section in the 90s? WHO CARES! I only care how awesome this song (and the album Tragic Kingdom) were and that they reintroduced me to some gold shiny brassy goodness. I was hardly going to credit The Mighty Mighty Bosstones.

History Repeating 

by The Propellerheads ft. Shirley Bassey

Combining old and new, Bassy and brassy never sounded so good.

00s and beyond and my love of the horn only grows stronger, however, apart from the odd Gaga or Katy Perry track, it’s still not a common element to current pop music.

Lady 

by Regina Spektor

This was never a single but by far one of my favourite Regina Spektor songs. Her Brooklyn accent, touching lyrics and simple piano combined with one of the most emotional sax sections I’ve ever heard. Music needn’t be complicated to be pure perfection.

Only Here For The Fight 

by Jenny Wilson 

Highly underrated and incredibly talented, Jenny Wilson combines the perfect amount of quirk with comedy and well, brass. Rather than incorporating it as a specific solo the brass slowly creeps in toward the end until it crescendos then slowly fades. Gorgeooooous.

Never Again 

by Spender

This dashing Australian saxophonist is not only good for a blow but is a craftsman of some deliciously poptastic tunes. One I will be keeping my ears closely tuned to.

Aeroplane 

by Bjork

There is no way I could leave out Bjork. Always the one to go against the grain and in this song pretty much dominated by it’s horn section is definitely a fave from this impish lil fire cracker.
It’s funny how a single instrument can make you fall in love with an entire song. 

I always say to get into new music it either has to be a simply amazing song or it needs to have what I call an “in”. A single element to connect with, that opens me up to the whole song, that may not always be within my realm of taste but for me the brass section, specifically a good bit of sax has been my 'in' for so many great songs. Now excuse me while I go play with my horn.

*We are aware sax is actually a woodwind instrument but for the sake of this post if it toots and honks and is made of brass it qualifies.

Countdown: Shaken, Not Stirred...

Bond Theme Songs

It looks like it's going to be a loooong time until we see the 23rd installment in the James Bond franchise. While this could be a tad disappointing to fans of Daniel Craig's new and improved Jason Bourne-ish Bond, I say look at the positives. By the time the next film is ready to go, Amy Winehouse may finally be out of the gutter (literally) and ready to take on a project that her voice was destined to be a part of; the Bond theme legacy. Realistically the next couple of years for laWinehouse will go a little something like this... remarries her Blake, divorces her Blake, removes breast implants, jail time, remarries her Blake, puts back in breast implants, releases second CD, divorces her Blake, remarries her Blake. With all the court appearances, public meltdowns, booby makeovers and honeymoons I don't think Amy's going to have time to get around to doing a Bond theme. One can dream though. Anyway, here's ten of the best Bond themes for your listening pleasure.

10. Gladys Knight - Licence to Kill

While the film was nothing to write home about, you can't say the same about Gladys Knight's R&B infused title theme. Built around the brass part in 'Goldfinger,' the track would go to #6 in the UK but, much like the movie, failed to light up the American charts.

9. Madonna - Die Another Day

Again, not the best Bond film on offer, but 'Die Another Day' was definitely a winning track provided by the former/maybe current/who knows/who cares Queen of Pop, Madonna. I'll admit that when I first heard it I wasn't the biggest fan. It certainly grows on you though. The strings vs electronic composition is pretty awesome, as is the music video with all the homages to Bond films. Some of the lyrics, not so awesome - "Sigmund Freud, analyze this, analyze this, analyze this." Why Madge, why? 'Die Another Day' went Top 5 in the UK and managed to break into the Top 10 in the US, peaking at #8.

...download...

8. Duran Duran - A View to a Kill

It's so tragically 80s which just makes it cooler. 'A View to a Kill' would be the only Bond theme to top the US charts. Don't you want to live in a time where this could be at the top of the charts? The music video walks the fine line between cheesy and amazing, leaning towards the latter. Kudos.

7. Sheryl Crow - Tomorrow Never Dies

Sheryl's never sounded better (or sexier) than on the amazing theme to Pierce Brosnan's second outing as 007, Tomorrow Never Dies. She passionately belts out the chorus and provides some of the better lyrics to a Bond theme. I find it to be criminally underrated. Whenever 'Tomorrow Never Dies' is brought up in conversation it's generally met with a fairly 'meh' response. Maybe it's just me, but I find it to be a true Bond theme; an epic song performed by one of the best in the business.

...download...

6. Tom Jones - Thunderball

It's based on one of Bond's greatest motifs and sung by one of the most powerful male voices of all-time. 'Thunderball' has suave written all over it, but you wouldn't expect anything less from 'Sex Bomb' (I think I just threw up in my mouth) Jones. Legend has it that Jones passed out while recording the track from the strain of sustaining the final high note for such a long period of time.

5. Shirley Bassey - Diamonds Are Forever

Dame Bassey's second go at a Bond theme oozed sexuality and was riddled with innuendo. A jazz-funk sound combined with Shirley's incredible vocals made for not only one of the most popular James Bond theme songs, but also one of the most popular songs of its time. It's popularity was given a boost in the new millenium when Kanye West used a sample of it in the smash hit 'Diamonds From Sierra Leone.'

4. Paul McCartney & Wings - Live and Let Die

McCartney brings the awesome to the party on 'Live and Let Die.' Unfortunately the movie failed to follow his lead. Sure Baron Samedi was a cool henchman, but try watching it now and not shaking your head in disbelief at the many, many racial stereotypes. 'Live and Let Die' incorporates big band, stadium rock, power pop and even a little bit of Ska. The track earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.

3. Garbage - The World Is Not Enough

Garbage + a 60 piece orchestra = musical magic. The elaborate string arrangements, Shirley's emotional delivery of the vocal part and the overall 90s-ness of 'The World Is Not Enough' make it just about the coolest Bond theme ever. Watching robo-Shirley make out with for real-real Shirley in the video is pretty fun too. Even if she ends up giving her the kiss of death and blowing up a packed theatre moments later.

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2. Shirley Bassey - Goldfinger

Yes, it's the most widely recognised, the most critically applauded and arguably the most popular, but it's still not #1 for me. Not to take anything away from 'Goldfinger,' it is one of the rare perfect movie songs and the best song devoted to a villain ever. It's so good that virtually every artist to record a Bond theme since Bassey has been inspired to attempt to recreate how powerful it was. Countless imitations and parodies have also popped up over the years, most notably Dr. Evil's theme from Austin Powers 2: The Spy Who Shagged Me.

1. Tina Turner - GoldenEye

The greatest Bond theme of all-time. It helps that GoldenEye is also the best Bond movie of all-time too. Bono & The Edge wrote Turner a killer track that showcased Tina's powerhouse vocals. Definitely worth a listen if you've got the time. I guarantee you won't regret it. "Revenge is a kiss, this time I won't miss, now I've got you in my sight, with a GoldenEye." Outstanding.

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