"Getting hung up all day on smiles. Walking down Portobello Road for miles. Greeting strangers in indian boots, yellow ties and old brown suits. Growing old is my only danger ..." sings Cat Stevens in his tribute to Portobello Road. Cat is in a fairly unique pop position having been brought up in the heart of London's West End. And yet this very early recording of a London song actually has lyrics written by Kim Fowley. Pop aesthetes can never resist mentioning those facts. Unfair in a way as from the off Cat wrote some cracking songs. One of the first singles I remember playing to death was his Matthew & Son. Over familiarity can mask the brilliance of this song, and so it is still possible to be surprised like members of the audience in this wonderful clip.Sunday, 13 December 2009
Portobello Road ... take two
"Getting hung up all day on smiles. Walking down Portobello Road for miles. Greeting strangers in indian boots, yellow ties and old brown suits. Growing old is my only danger ..." sings Cat Stevens in his tribute to Portobello Road. Cat is in a fairly unique pop position having been brought up in the heart of London's West End. And yet this very early recording of a London song actually has lyrics written by Kim Fowley. Pop aesthetes can never resist mentioning those facts. Unfair in a way as from the off Cat wrote some cracking songs. One of the first singles I remember playing to death was his Matthew & Son. Over familiarity can mask the brilliance of this song, and so it is still possible to be surprised like members of the audience in this wonderful clip.
Another track that mentions Portobello is 'Spring Collection' by The Vapors from circa '80.
ReplyDeleteHugely enjoyable blog by the way.
Many thanks
Blimey forgotten about the Vapors. Thanks for that.
ReplyDeleteI believe Billy Nicholl's has a track on his rare as hen's teeth Immediate LP called "Portobello Road" as well....
ReplyDelete