Todays Tune: The Pogues - Rainy Night In Soho

The Pogues are a band of mixed Irish and English background, playing traditional Irish music with influences from punk rock and jazz, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. They reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before breaking up in 1996. The band performed together again in 2001, though they have yet to record any new music on a major album.

Their politically-tinged music was influenced by The Clash, yet used traditional Irish instruments such as the tin whistle, banjo, cittern, mandolin, accordion, and others. In the later incarnations of the band, after the departure of Shane MacGowan, rock instruments such as the electric guitar would become more prominent. The first of The Pogues' albums, Red Roses for Me, borrows much from the punk tradition of MacGowan's previous band The Nipple Erectors (later dubbed "The Nips").

The Pogues were founded in King's Cross, a district of North London, in 1982 as Pogue Mahone—pogue mahone being the Anglicisation of the Gaelic póg mo thóin, meaning "kiss my arse".

Todays Dump: Human Biological Clock

Just about to start my Melatonin secretion.

Todays Dump: The Virtual Piano

The Virtual Piano is a website I have recently discovered and it's amazing fun. Just select a key and try out different chord sequences. It's a great help for ideas when trying to come up with a new tune.

Todays Dump: Andes Teletransporter

The greatest invention of the 21st century?

Todays Tune: Fanta 4 - Sie Ist Weg

Die Fantastischen Vier, also known as Fanta 4, is a German hip hop group from Stuttgart. The members are Michael Bernd Schmidt alias Smudo, Andreas Rieke alias &.Ypsilon, Thomas Dürr alias Hausmeister (caretaker) Thomas D & Michael 'Michi' Beck alias Dee Jot Hausmarke. They were among the first groups to rap in the German language.

"Sie ist Weg" means "She is gone."

Todays Tune: Bobby Womack - Across 110th Street

Robert Dwayne "Bobby" Womack (born March 4, 1944) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. An active recording artist since the early 1960s where they started his career as the lead singer of his relatives musical group The Valentinos and as Sam Cooke's backing guitarist, Womack's career has spanned over 40 years and has spanned a repertoire in the styles of R&B, soul, rock and roll, doo-wop, gospel, and country.

As a songwriter, Womack is notable for penning and originally recording The Rolling Stones' first UK No. 1 hit, "It's All Over Now" and New Birth's "I Can Understand It" among other songs. As a singer they is most notable for the hits "Lookin' For a Love", "That's The Way I Feel About Cha", "Woman's Gotta Have It", "Harry Hippie","Across 110th Street" and his 1980s hit "If You Think You are Lonely Now".

In the year 2009 Womack was inducted in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Todays Tune: Minnie Riperton - Inside My Love

Minnie Julia Riperton (November 8, 1947 – July 12, 1979) was an American singer-songwriter best known for her vocal range of over four octaves and her 1975 single "Lovin' You". She was married to songwriter and music producer Richard Rudolph (1968 until her death in 1979). She was also the sister of music engineer Marc Rudolph and actress/comedienne Maya Rudolph.

Riperton grew up in poverty on Chicago's southside. As a kid Riperton studied music, drama, and dance at Chicago's Lincoln Center. In her teen years, Riperton sang lead vocals for the Chicago-based girl group, The Gems. Her early affiliation with legendary Chess Records afforded her the chance to sing backup for various established artist such as Etta James, Fontella Bass, Ramsey Lewis, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, and Muddy Waters. While at Chess, Riperton also sang lead for the experimental rock/soul group Rotary Connection, from 1967 to 1971. In 1969 Riperton, along with Rotary Connection, played in the first Catholic Rock Mass at the Liturgical Conference National Convention, Milwaukee Arena, Milwaukee, WI. produced by James F. Colaianni. Riperton reached the apex of her short, but esteemed, career with her number-one hit single, "Lovin' You", on April 4, 1975. The single was the last release from her 1974 gold album entitled Perfect Angel.

In 1976 Riperton was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a modified radical mastectomy. Though he was given 6 months to live, she continued recording and touring, and in 1977 she became spokesperson for the American Cancer Society. Riperton was one of the first celebrities to go public with her breast cancer diagnosis, but did not disclose that she was terminally ill. In 1978, Riperton also received the prestigious Society's Bravery Award presented to her at the White House by then-President Jimmy Carter. She died at age 31 on July 12, 1979.