Hello, kiddies.

Here we go with another exciting and power packed installment of Come On In My Kitchen. I’ve been looking forward to this one all week so I won’t waste time with the excess and get right to this absolute stonker of a mix. Come on children, let’s take a trip to Planet Mondo!!! I’ll turn the kitchen over to my man Dave…

Hello bloggers, bloggettes, soul boys and girls

First up, I’d like to give a special Soul salute to Vince for allowing me to rustle up a concoction in his kitchen. Being based in Blighty I’ve decided to go for a funky fry up that’s as British as bangers & mash, fish & chips, and HP Sauce. I’ve tried to include a pinch of something special from all parts of the UK including a Welsh rare bit from Tom Jones, a splash of Scottish seasoning from Lulu and Jack Bruce and the traditional tastes of East and West London from The Who, The Kinks, Small Faces and Lord Sitar. As well as familiar tracks by unknown artists and lesser known tracks from famous artists.

Hopefully this funky Mod mix gives a flavour of some of the sounds that would’ve been spinning in the swinging London clubs at the height of the mid sixties beat boom, clubs like the Scotch of St James, The Bag of Nails, The Flamingo and Dollies. By the time Mod eventually faded in London (early Mods like Bowie, Bolan, Rod Stewart, Clapton and Steve Marriott having migrated from Rythm and Blues to Rock) Mod music had started to fill floors in north of England after receiving regular plays from promoters like Peter Stringfellow at the Black Cat and other DJs at The Wigan Casino, The Twisted Wheel, and Blackpool Mecca where the devoted following to obscure R n B, Soul and Motown tunes eventually became known as Northern Soul. Even though Mod itself was a really only a brief mid sixties movement, the mixture of American Blues, R n B, Pop Art and the Ivy League look, combined with English dandyism and modern Italian style has endured and kept a faithful following with ongoing variations and reinventions of the look, sounds, and styles of the time that are still just as popular now as they were back at the height of cool Britannia.

Todays Menu:

1 – Michael Caine on Swinging London
2 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band – Cool Britannia (EMI)
3 – The Small Faces – Grow Your Own (Decca)
4 – Georgie Fame – Somebody Stole My Thunder (CBS)
5 – Graham Bond Organisation – Long Tall Shorty (Decca)
6 – Tom Jones – Chills And Fever (Decca)
7 – Loose Ends – Taxman (Deram)
8 – Bo Street Runners – Drive My Car (Columbia)
9 – Lulu – Feelin’ Alright (Atco)
10 – Jack Bruce – The Ministry Of Bag (Polydor)
11 – Shotgun Express – Curtains (Columbia)
12 – The Shadows – Scotch On The Socks (Columbia)
13 – Kinks – Brainwashed (Pye)
14 – Quincy Jones – It’s Caper Time (MCA)
15 – Lord Sitar – I Can See For Miles (Capitol)
16 – The Who – Heatwave (Decca)
17 – Zoot Money – Uncle Willie (Decca)
18 – Tony Newman – Let The Good Times Roll (Decca)
19 – Keith Mansfield – Young Scene (EMI)
20 – The Italian Job -Getta Bloomin’ Move On! (The Self Preservation Society) (MCA)

Please download and enjoy Cool Brittania, an mp3 file, 65 MB.

Here’s the link to the mp3 file
Here’s the link to the zip file

When you’re done here, be sure to toddle on over and check out the latest episode of Funky Friday, featuring some outtakes and lots more bonuses… and next week I’ll be making an appearance as well serving up some of my favourite New Wave, Punk and other eclectic goodies. Dave, thank you for joining in the fun. It’s been an absolute thrill, not to mention that cracking mix (did I say that right?)…

Now if 45s are what you crave, then keep on scrolling down the page for a brand new all 45 rpm exercise! I’ll see you there.

Peace and blessings.