[ January 15, 2004 ]
Uncut: Paul on Al Green
Uncut
The Record That Changed My Life - Paul Heaton
15 Jan 2004
Courtesy of Gina Dipper
The Beautiful South singer on the blinding light of soul legend Al Green
I have dozens of records that changed my life but the first was Al Green's Greatest Hits. Actually it was a cheap compilation, Spotlight On Al Green. I first heard it in 1983 and was completely entwined with it for the next two to three years. I was on the dole at the time and a bloke in the record shop persuaded me to buy it. I was really into more gospel-based soul singers like Wilson Pickett, but he kept insisting 'You've got to listen to Al Green. It's not what he puts in that matters, it's what he leaves out'.
Anyway I took the record home and fell completely in love with it. It wasn't just the fact there's a lot of brilliant songs on there - it was his unique Southern drawl. I've still not heard the original of 'For The Good Times', but the way he leaves gaps and adds vocals where there aren't supposed to be any has been a massive influence on me and the way I've used my voice.
You probably can't tell as much listening to The Beautiful South, but when we started The Housemartins, I used to spend a couple of hours a day singing along to Al Green, trying to impersonate him. I have quite a high voice naturally, and I'd listen again and again, trying my hardest to follow him and hit the really high falsetto notes. I probably drove the rest of the band mad, but at the time they were quite happy to add in bits of soul and gospel. In fact 'You' on the B-side of Flag Day was a straight rip-off of an Al Green song from one of his religious records!
I've not got about 35 to 40 of his albums, but I still play that 'Best Of' the most. His versions of 'Unchained Melody' and 'How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?' are just fantastic. I know a lot of people think of Al Green as shagging music, but I would never ever lower the piece of vinyl by doing something like that!
Delores / Link to Here
[ January 14, 2004 ]
Scotsman: Dinner Date - Alison Wheeler
Scotsman.com
Dinner Date - Alison Wheeler
Jan 14, 2004
By Neil Brown, PA Features
Courtesy of Gina Dipper
Last year, Alison Wheeler made her debut as the new female vocalist for Hull-based band The Beautiful South, at the Carling Homecoming gig.
She was born on March 4, 1972, in Northampton, and worked at various record companies as a temp where she experienced all aspects of putting a campaign together for a single and an album.
After joining a gospel band in 2000, she was one of three people selected for a session job as backing singers for The Beautiful South's drummer Dave Hemingway's solo project. Through him she came to the attention of the rest of the band members, and the rest is history. Wheeler is currently engaged to her partner Andrew, and they live in London.
Q: YOU'RE HOSTING AN IMAGINARY DINNER PARTY AND CAN INVITE ANYONE IN THE WORLD, LIVING OR DEAD, TO YOUR HOUSE FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY... WHO WOULD BE ON YOUR INVITATION LIST?
A: "Elvis. I'd just want to find out about what made him tick. Madonna would have to be there as well. I was a real pop tart as a kid, and I'm amazed at how she's always recreated herself and continued to keep the fan-base that she's got. I'm pretty vocalist-based at the moment. Probably Ella Fitzgerald and Doris Day. I just love their voices. I'd invite Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.
"Nelson Mandela. I'd ask him about the time he was locked away. And I'd probably also choose to invite the Dalai Lama, because I've always wondered what that's all about. Bill Gates would be interesting, because he's not passing any of his wealth to his family when he dies. I'd have Brad Pitt -- because I can do. Mind you, I probably wouldn't eat a thing if I was sat in front of him."
Q: WHAT FOOD WOULD YOU SERVE?
A: "We'd have soup at the beginning, and then I'd have a really heavy roast, with lots of garlic -- I love garlic -- very kind of heavy winter food, with root vegetables and roast potatoes, and gravy. I'd have to have a really heavy chocolate dessert, something that with the last spoonful you really know you shouldn't have had it. And I'd have a dessert wine, heavy red wine, and a brandy at the end."
Q: WHICH MUSIC WOULD YOU PLAY?
"It would have to be lounge, jazz, kind of Frank Sinatra. And I would be in the perfect situation, because I could ask him to perform it live, as he's one of the dinner guests -- that is, if he RSVPs."
Q: WHO WOULD YOU HAVE AS THE LACKEY IN THE KITCHEN?
A: "Somebody to do the washing up. It would have to be the former Riverdancer Michael Flatley. He annoys the pants off me. I know I shouldn't say it, because he's very skilful."
Q: WHICH AFTER DINNER JOKE WOULD YOU TELL?
A: "I've got the shortest memory. It would have to be an anecdote of some description. Rather than telling a joke, perhaps I could talk about something good that's happened to me, like joining The Beautiful South. I'd love to pay recognition to Dave Hemingway. I owe everything to Dave. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be where I am now."
Q: HOW WOULD THIS UNLIKELY EVENT COMPARE TO THE WAY YOU NORMALLY ENTERTAIN FRIENDS?
A: "It's spot on. I'm a great fan of dinner parties. I can't go to really loud bars because you end up shouting and it ruins your voice. I'm a great fan of people arriving for seven and leaving about four or five in the morning, just having sat and drank and eaten. So it would be the same. We'd have cheese and port as well."
Delores / Link to Here
[ January 5, 2004 ]
NME: A Beautiful Collection
NME
A Beautiful Collection
Jan 5, 2004
THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTH's PAUL HEATON will release his 'UNDER THE INFLUENCE' compilation on February 23, giving fans an insight into his all-time favourite songs.
The singer - also the founder of The Housemartins in the 80's, follows in the footsteps of past compilers Morrissey, Ian Brown and Paul Weller and will draw together songs from Willie Nelson, Al Green , Elvis Costello and US rap trio Ugly Duckling.
Also including tracks from Pepe Deluxe and Manu Chao, the compilation will only be available on CD.
The tracklisting is:
* Pepe Deluxe - 'Supersound'
* Calvin Doze And His All Stars - 'Safronia B'
* Willie Nelson - 'Valentine'
* Lee Dorsey - 'Who's Gonna Help Brother Get Further'
* Ugly Duckling - 'A Little Samba'
* Hues Corporation - 'Freedom For The Stallion'
* Al Green - 'All 'n All'
* Manu Chao - 'Bongo Bongo/Je Ne T'Aime Plus'
* Bobbie Gentry - 'Chickasaw County Child'
* Tower of Power - 'It's Not The Crime'
* Syreeta - 'I Wanna Be By Your Side'
* Lavern Baker with Jimmy Ricks - 'You're The Boss'
* City High - 'Fifteen Will Get You Twenty'
* Elvis Costello - 'Lipstick Vogue'
* Hem - 'Lazy Eye'
* Randy Travis - 'Forever and Ever Amen'
Delores / Link to Here
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