News Archive: February 2005

    Friday 25th February 2005 Link (MC)

    [Posted Saturday, February 26 2005 by MC_]

    The Clash Rock The Casbah - Rock The Casbah was released in 1982, the same year that “Arthur's Theme” was a hit for Christopher Cross - Cross in Spanish is “Cruz”, which is the name of the Beckhams new son and brother to Brooklyn and Romeo - “Romeo” is a word from the phonetic alphabet, a bit like “whisky”, “foxtrot”, “golf” and “papa” - Papa Don’t Preach was a hit for Madonna - Madonna married Guy Ritchie in Skibo Castle in the north of Scotland - The north of Scotland is where we’ll be this time next week, as we’ll be doing the show live from Inverness, before travelling to John O’ Groats to begin the Comic Relief Red Nose Rally - The word “rally” shares many of the same letters as the name “Sally”, as in Sally Gunnell the famous athlete - Athletes current single is Wires, the first track taken from their fantastic album “Tourist” (MC - bollocks, Athlete are so overrated it’s untrue) - The plural of tourist is tourists, who are often found on The London Eye or at Edinburgh Castle - The plural of castle is castles, which before the inventions of tourism were used as places of residence by kings and queens and stuff - and the castles tended to have dungeons for locking up bad people like thieves and deviants - and if you were a deviant thief in medieval times, you’d no doubt be hoping for a royal pardon, and for the king or queen to “set you free” - Which links us to N-Trance and Set You Free

    - FLAWS: - Factually spot on this morning, a nice end to the week for Comedic Dave...

    TRACK INFO: - Released 4 times - first in 1993, then May 94, Jan 95 and September 2001
    - Spent a collective total of 30 weeks on the chart, with the first release only making number 91. Chart positions chronologically from then onwards were 39, 2 and 4...
    - MC FACT ATTACK: - All four versions of this track feature the vocals of Kelly Llorenna (another one of my home towns famous exports... ahem), but she is only given label credit on the first release. Crazy stuff eh...
    - ALBUM DETAILS: - Available on my usual dance compilation recommendation, The Ministry Of Sounds Club Classics Box Set. This track is on disc 3 but there are shed loads of top tunes on there to tickle your fancy, full tracklisting can be found here...

    Thursday 24th February 2005 Link (MC)

    [Posted Saturday, February 26 2005 by MC_]

    Stereo MC’s Step It Up – Step It Up was released in 1992, the same year that Linford Christie won Olympic gold for Great Britain in the 100m – Meters of a different type are read by the leccy or gas board – Bored is probably what you’d probably be if you were yawning – Yawning can also be a telltale sign of tiredness, and is the body’s way of saying that it needs more oxygen – Oxygen combines with hydrogen to make water – “Water” rhymes with “daughter”, which is what Hannah Waterman is to Dennis Waterman – Dennis Waterman starred in the TV series Minder alongside George Cole – Coal is a fossil fuel, as is oil – Oyl, first name Olive, is the girlfriend of Popeye the sailor man – Sailors are also known as sea men – Seaman first name David is a man famous for goalkeeping and hair – Hair is a part of the body that can be brushed, as are teeth – “Teeth” rhymes with “Leith”, which is a port to the north of Edinburgh – Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, in the same way that England’s capital is London, and London Calling was a big hit for The Clash - Which somewhat bizarrely links us to The Clash and Rock The Casbah

    - FLAWS: - Amazingly seamless this morning...

    TRACK INFO: - Released June 1982 & April 1991
    - Reached number 30 originally (10 weeks on the chart) and then on re release reached number 15 in April 1991 (6 weeks on the chart)...
    - MC FACT ATTACK: - The Clash’s biggest US hit, used by the US military as a rallying cry when they invaded Iraq in 1991.... oooh a bit of politics for you there.
    - ALBUM DETAILS: - Taken from “Combat Rock”, a number 2 hit for The Clash in May 82, and an album than ran on the official album chart for 23 weeks... f-f-fact.


    Wednesday 23rd February 2005 Link (MC)

    [Posted Friday, February 25 2005 by MC_]

    Hayseed Dixie Ace Of Spades - Hayseed Dixie are from America, as is Britney Spears - Britney Spears has a husband called Kevin - Kevin Campbell now plays for West Brom, who last night drew 0-0 with Southampton - Southampton is the home city of Craig David - Craig David shares the same christian name as Craig Charles - Craig Charles used to be in Red Dwarf - The plural of “dwarf” is “dwarves”, which you’d obviously associate with Snow White - Snow White shares the same surname as Jimmy White, who has apparently changed his name to James Brown, as a result of a corporate deal to promote brown sauce - Brown sauce comes in a bottle, as does wine - Wine is made from grapes - Grapes are a good gift for sick people in hospital - Hospital is somewhere that has priority parking for ambulances - Ambulances have the word “ambulance” written backwards on the front of their vehicle, so that it can be read through the rear view mirror - A mirror is something you’d find in a gym, or dance studio - and a gym or dance studio is the sort of place where you’d do an aerobics or step class, where a lycra clad instructor would be encouraging you to “step it up” - Which links us to the Stereo MC’s and Step It Up

    - FLAWS: - The regular balls up by Dave today:
    *Grapes are not a good gift for people in hospital if they are diabetic, as grapes contain a lot of natural sugar
    *White isn’t Snow Whites real surname (we are guessing)
    *and “ambulance” isn’t written backwards on the front of ambulances, its a mirror image - cos through the rear view mirror “ambulance” backwards would read “ecnalubma”... fact.

    TRACK INFO: - Released December 1992
    - Reached number 12 and spent 12 weeks on the chart... amazing huh? *cough*...
    - MC FACT ATTACK: - The Stereo MC’s toured with EMF and The Happy Mondays back during this period, and their 1990 single “Elevate My Mind” was the first British rap single ever to reach the US pop charts.
    - ALBUM DETAILS: - Taken from the album “Connected”, a number 2 hit for the MC’s (no relation) in October 92, and an album than ran on the official chart for 52 weeks... thats like a year.. innit.

    Tuesday 22nd February 2005 Link - CHRIS’S BIRTHDAY!!! (MC)

    [Posted Friday, February 25 2005 by MC_]

    First of all a very happy 31st 25th to Mr Moyles, long may you continue to be a living legend... thank you please.

    The Boo Radleys Wake Up Boo! - Boo Radley is a character in the book “To Kill A Mockingbird”, which was written by Harper Lee - Harper Lee shares the same surname as Jason Lee, who used to play for Forest - Forests prize if they get past Spurs in the next Cup replay is an away tie at Newcastle - Newcastle is located on The River Tyne - Tyne Daly starred in Cagney & Lacey, alongside Sharon Gless - Sharon Gless shares the same christian name as Sharon Davies, who is good at swimming - Swimming is something you might do in a cossy or trunks - Trunks of a different type are what elephants breathe through - Through The Barricades was a hit for Spandau Ballet - Ballet is often done in tights - “Tights” rhymes with “heights”, which are what you’d be scared of if you suffered from vertigo - Vertigo was the first single to be taken from the latest album from U2 - a (cough) live track from U2 was the centre piece of Chris’s birthday celebrations a couple of years ago - and with Chris’s love of live music, it seems only appropriate that we continue to deliver the very best, and the very best, or hopefully somewhere close to it, is what awaits you Chris Moyles as we link to a carefully commissioned musical treat, which should hopefully await you on the other side of the customary, done-every day, Tedious Link pips, coming shortly... - ... which turned out to be Hayseed Dixie live from Maida Vale, and Ace Of Spades

    - FLAWS: - No way no way... mernamana.

    TRACK INFO: - Released er... *scrambles to find a date somewhere*... er soon (if not already)...
    - This may come as a huge shock to you, but the Dixie are yet to hit it big in the popular hit parade... so sadly its a big fat “N/A” from me here.
    - MC FACT ATTACK: - Just in case you were wondering (play along... I know you weren’t), Hayseed Dixie are made up of Barley Scotch (no really), Don Wayne Reno, Dale Reno and Jason D. Smith. Don’t say you don’t know now...
    - ALBUM DETAILS: - Available on the album Chris was playing to death on his old half time Kill Bill break last year - “Let There Be Rockgrass”. Other tracks on this hmm... unique CD (ahem), include “ I Believe In A Thing Called Love”, “Walk This Way” and “You Shook Me All Night Long”.

    BIRTHDAY BOY CHRIS - AND “DA DIXIE”...

    Monday 21st February 2005 Link (MC)

    [Posted Friday, February 25 2005 by MC_]

    Nomad (I Wanna Give You) Devotion - The word “nomad” contains the letter reversal of the name “Damon” - Damon Hill is a famous racing driver from the world of F1 - F1 is a key that you find on your computer keyboard, as is escape - “Escape from Alcatraz” was a 1979 film starring Clint Eastwood - Clint Eastwood is the mayor of a small town in California called Carmel - If you add an additional “A” to Carmel you get “Caramel”, which in the world of chocolate is probably my favourite - My Favourite Game was a hit for The Cardigans - Cardigans are great if you’re cold and want warming up, in fact I’m wearing one today - Today is Monday, which is statistically the worst day of the week, although it’s been made much better by the prescence of the mighty Ray Stubbs, and the imminent arrival of an actor called Will Smith - Will Smith is here to promote his new movie Hitch - If you swap the I in Hitch for a U you get “hutch”, which is a good place to keep rabbits - Rabbits have tails, as do dogs - Dogs can be called all sorts of names but the most popular is probably “Rover” - and the plural of Rover is Rovers, as in Tranmere Rovers who play their football on The Wirral, as did Ray Stubbs, who is from The Wirral, as are the band The Boo Radleys - Which links us to The Boo Radleys and Wake Up Boo!

    - FLAWS: - The obligatory “quibbles” (as Dave likes to call them) this morning:
    *Apparently the most popular name for a dog is Max not Rover
    *Clint Eastwood is no longer mayor of Carmel, he only was in the 80’s

    TRACK INFO: - Released March 1995
    - Spent 8 weeks on the Top 40, peaking inside top ten @ number 9
    - MC FACT ATTACK: - The band formed in Liverpool in 1988 - and er split up on February 1st 1999... thats it folks.
    - ALBUM DETAILS: - Taken from “Wake Up!”, an April 1995 chart topper from The Radleys (their biggest commercial hit) - which ran on the UK album chart for 21 weeks...

    Friday 18th February 2005 Link (MC)

    [Posted Friday, February 18 2005 by MC_]

    Doves Caught By The River - Doves were formerly Sub Sub, who had a hit with "Ain't No Love” - Love Will Tear Us Apart - Apart is how your legs should be when skiing - Skiing is best done in the mountains - Mountain Rescue patrols often employ the services of a St. Bernard dog, who will more than likely carry a small barrell of brandy around it’s neck - “Neck” in cockney rhyming slang is a “gregory peck” - Peck is what a seagull might do to you if it was trying to steal a bit of your hot dog - “Hot dog, jumping frog, Albuquerque” was a classic lyric from the band Prefab Sprout - The plural of sprout is sprouts, which can give you wind - “Wind Beneath My Wings” was a big hit for Bette Midler in 1989, but was also covered in 1994 by Bill Tarmey - “Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport” is a song you’d associate with Rolf Harris - Harris is a Scottish island famous for the production of tweed - Tweed is a nice material for making warm trousers - Trousers aren’t worn by African tribesmen, who instead tend to wear loin clothes and stuff, in the hot heat of the serengeti - and these African tribesmen in their loin clothes and stuff, often don’t live in one place, preferring instead to live a nomadic existence... because they are in fact nomads - Which links us to Nomad and the brilliant (I Wanna Give You) Devotion

    - FLAWS: - Just a couple of minor quibbles to end the week:
    *1 - Seagulls don’t eat hot dogs
    *2 - St. Bernard dogs now perhaps carry food and water round their necks, not barrells of brandy...

    TRACK INFO: - Released February 1991
    - Top top tune, reached number 2 and spent ten weeks on the chart...
    - MC FACT ATTACK: - Just proves that Dave really is running out of records. This was played last year as a Tedious Link on Friday 9th July - there must be some other good records out there surely! It is an oldie but a goodie though, so we’ll let him off. Nomad are Damon Rochefort and Sharon Dee Clarke btw - and this track features MC Mikee Freedom. er... yo.
    - ALBUM DETAILS: - Available on the brilliant 90’s club classics CD “Kisstory” - alongside tunes from< Alison Limerick, Baby D, Adamski, C&C Music Factory, K-Klass, Sneaker Pimps, Livin' Joy, Nightcrawlers and the Urban Cookie Collective. I don’t want this to sound like an advert or owt but its a f*ckin good CD.

    Thursday 17th February 2005 Link (MC)

    [Posted Thursday, February 17 2005 by MC_]

    The Spice Girls Stop - Stop is the opposite of go - Go was a 1991 hit for Moby - Moby Dick was the name of a very famous whale - The plural of whale is whales - Wales is where Aled is from - “From Russia With Love” is a famous James Bond film starring Sean Connery - Sean Connery is the father of Jason Connery, who used to play Robin Hood - Robin Hood is associated with Nottingham, as is Jermaine Pennant - Jermaine Pennant is currently on loan at Birmingham City - Birmingham City play their home matches at St. Andrews - St. Andrews Day is a special day in Scotland - Scotland is the birthplace of Ian McCaskill - Ian McCaskill shares much of his name with Ian McShane, who played the actor Lovejoy - Lovejoy first name Tim presents Soccer AM and is a big fan of Chelsea - Chelsea’s away kit is white - White is the colour of peace - and when you think of peace and white flags and all that kind of stuff, you also think of doves - Which links us to The Doves and Caught By The River

    - FLAWS: - Chris rather generously gave Dave the fact that Chelsea’s away kit this season is black, and their third strip is white - but in my book that still goes down as a flaw I’m afraid to say (well I’m not really, I couldn’t really give a sh*t either way to tell you the truth)...

    TRACK INFO: - Released October 2002
    - Reached a disappointing number 29, and 2 weeks later had vanished from the Top 40 altogether...
    - MC FACT ATTACK: - I’ll hold my hands up today - this fact is very well known but I couldn’t be arsed doing tons of research. The Doves used to be Sub Sub, as in "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" - an acid house sound that exemplified the trippy music coming from Manchester’s underground dance clubs. I wrote that myself, didn’t copy + paste it at all btw, no no no no no no....
    - ALBUM DETAILS: - Taken from May 2002’s number one album “The Last Broadcast”, a Mercury Prize Nominee that finally lost out to Ms Dynamite’s debut “A Little Deeper”...

    Wednesday 16th February 2005 Link (MC)

    [Posted Thursday, February 17 2005 by MC_]

    N.W.A Express Yourself - “Express Yourself” was also the title of a record in the same year by the artist Madonna - Madonna is of Italian descent, as is Robert De Niro - Robert De Niro starred in the film Cape Fear - “Fear” rhymes with “beer”, which is made from hops - Hopps are what rabbits do to get around - I Get Around was a 1964 hit for The Beach Boys - The Beach Boys were like the parents of the girl band Wilson Phillips, who had a hit with “Hold On” - Hold on is what you’d be forced to do if you were horseriding and the horse went mad and galloped off into the distance - Distance can be measured in kilometres or miles - Miles Davis is a famous musician, as is Yehudi Menuhin - Yehudi Menuhin is a big name in the world of violins (target) - Violins are played with a bow - Bo Derek starred in the film 10 - 10 multiplied by 7 is 70, which is the national speed limit on Britains motorways - and if you were silly enough to break the national speed limit on one of Britains many motorways, you’d rightly be pulled over by the police and told to “stop” - Which links us to The Spice Girls and Stop

    - FLAWS: - Pretty much there today, all bar the obvious of course:
    *Why the hell would the police pull you over and then tell you to stop? Surely you’d have already stopped at that point. Dave was having tense problems in other words...

    TRACK INFO: - Released March 1998
    - The only Spice Girls song never to reach number 1.... er it reached number 2 - and also spent a massive 17 weeks on the chart...
    - MC FACT ATTACK: - This track was beaten to number one by the brilliant Run DMC vs Jason Nevins: It’s Like It, which spent 6 weeks at number one in spring 98. “Choon” I believe is the word.
    - ALBUM DETAILS: - Taken from November 97’s “Spiceworld”, the huge follow up to their debut ‘Spice” - released a year earlier in Nov 96. Other singles from Spiceworld included Spice Up Your Life, Too Much and (the truly awful) Viva Forever...

    Tuesday 15th February 2005 Link (MC)

    [Posted Thursday, February 17 2005 by MC_]

    Nirvana Come As You Are - Nirvana were fronted by the late great Kurt Cobain, who was married to Courtney Love from the band Hole - Hole In My Shoe was a big hit for Neil - Kneel is what you might do in church - “Church” rhymes with “birch”, which is a type of tree - Other popular types of trees include sycamore, oak and beech - The Beach was a film starring Leonardo Di Caprio - Leonardo Di Caprio shares the same christian name as Leonardo da Vinci, who painted The Sistine Chapel, which I think is in Florence - Florence Nightingale is a famous former nurse, as is Abi Titmuss - Abi Titmuss used to go out with John Leslie - Leslie Nielsen starred in the Naked Gun films alongside Priscilla Presley, who was married to Elvis Presley - Elvis Presley was born in 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi - Mississippi is an American state that begins with the letter M, as is Michigan - Michigan is where Marshall Mathers III, aka Eminem, is from - Eminem is big mates with Dr Dre - and before Dr Dre became a multi millionaire rap mogul, and arguably the most influential man in hip hop, he was in a band called N.W.A - Which links us to N.W.A and the fantastic Express Yourself

    - FLAWS: - A fantastic choice for the second day in a row by Dave. However though...
    *Leonardo da Vinci DID NOT paint The Sistine Chapel. That was Michael Angelo.
    *Also the chapel is in Rome, not Florence - to which Daves excuse was he thought his sister saw it when she was on holiday in Florence recently. Lets just call it a lack of research basically... tut tut.

    TRACK INFO: - Released September 1989 + May 1990
    - Only reached number 50 originally but peaked at 26 on re-entry in 1990, spending 9 weeks on the chart collectively...
    - MC FACT ATTACK: - Three of the four members of NWA were Dr Dre, Ice Cube and Snoop Dogg... never heard of em myself but there you go. Big up yourself to to the fourth member MC Ren... no relation I assure you.
    - ALBUM DETAILS: - Taken from the highly controversial album “Straight Outta Compton”, which was re-issued in July 2003 - peaking at number 35 in the album charts... still 6 places higher than on original release in 89.

    Monday 14th February 2005 Link (MC)

    [Posted Thursday, February 17 2005 by MC_]

    Energy 52 Café Del Mar - “Café Del Mar” is actually the name of a real life café bar in Ibiza - Ibiza is known as “The White Isle” - I’ll Be There was a hit for The Jackson 5 - five is the channel that is showing the new series of Joey - Joey is a spin-off from the series Friends - Friends Forever was a 1999 hit for Thunderbugs, who once did a roadshow with us in Great Yarmouth - Great Yarmouth is in Norfolk, a county that our newsreader Dominic Byrne has a great respect and affection for - For Your Eyes Only was a 1981 hit for Sheena Easton - Sheena Easton is Scottish, as is Gordon McQueen - Gordon McQueen shares the same surname as the late great actor Steve McQueen, who starred in Bullet - Bullet trains are a popular form of high speed rail transport in Japan - Japan is known as “The Land Of The Rising Sun” - House Of The Rising Sun was a number one for The Animals - “Animals” is a general term for all sorts of creatures such as great big elephants or even small burrowing moles - “Mole” rhymes with “Grohl”, as in Dave Grohl from The Foo Fighters - and before he formed The Foo Fighters, Dave Grohl was in a band called Nirvana - Which links us to Nirvana and Come As You Are

    - FLAWS: - A very romantic Valentines Day selection from Comedy Dave today... er ahem. Seamless too.

    TRACK INFO: - Released March 1992
    - Reached number 9 in the UK charts, spending five weeks on the chart in total...
    - MC FACT ATTACK: - The album cover of Nevermind (see pic left and details below) shows a baby underwater reaching for a dollar bill. It symbolizes that you're taught to go after money from the moment you arere born. It was underwater because underwater birth fascinated Kurt Cobain... fact.
    - ALBUM DETAILS: - Nevermind spent 184 weeks on the UK album chart (over three years), was a US number one and still to this day is regarded as one of the most groundbreaking albums ever recorded - an album that to many people changed the world.

    Friday 11th February 2005 Link (MC)

    [Posted Saturday, February 12 2005 by MC_]

    Blur Girls And Boys - Girls and boys are collectively known as people - “People” rhymes with “steeple”, which is something you’d find on top of a church - “Church Of The Poison Mind” was a 1983 hit for Culture Club, who were of course fronted by Boy George - Boy George shares the same second name as Lloyd George, the former prime minister - Prime Minister Tony Blair has a son called Euan - You & Me Song was a 1996 hit for The Wannadies (MC - I love that tune, Dave should have stopped there) - The Wannadies are Swedish, as are The Cardigans - Cardigans are good if you need to keep warm - “Keep Warm” was a top 11 hit in 1995 for Jinny - “Jinny” is what someone from New Zealand would call Jenny Powell - Jenny Powell used to do Wheel Of Fortune with Nicky Campbell - Nicky Campbell is Scottish, as is Colin McRae - Colin McRae is a big name in the world of rally - Raleigh first name Sir Walter first introduced tobacco into this country, as he was a keen sailor - Other keen sailors include the Spanish, who discovered much of South America as well as the Balearic islands of Minorca and Ibiza - and when you think of Ibiza and iconic Ibiza tunes, you think of Café Del Mar by Energy 52 - Which links us to Energy 52 and Café Del Mar

    - FLAWS: - Well researched by Dave today:
    *”George” can’t really be classed as Boy George’s second name as people don’t go round calling him “Boy”. Dave said Chris was being “pernickity” (my word) and claimed he was going off “showbiz terms”... whatever the hell they are.
    *The ex British prime minister was actually David Lloyd George, not Lloyd George.
    *Minorca and Ibiza may have been discovered by the Romans.
    *Chris also questioned his Jinny/Jenny Powell link, but I’ll back Dave up on that one. Those crazy kiwis...

    TRACK INFO: - Released July 1998
    - Reached a disappointing twelth spot (should have been higher) and spent just 6 weeks on the chart...
    - MC FACT ATTACK: - Energy 52 is actually German DJ/ producer Paul Schmitz-Moormann... yah.
    - ALBUM DETAILS: - Available kids on the “Trance Nation Anthems” box set, which as you can see was apparently mixed by Mr Judge Jules. Also features tracks by Robert Miles, Chicane, Underworld and Matt Darey.... and that’ll be it, have a good weekend everyone.

    Thursday 10th February 2005 Link (MC)

    [Posted Saturday, February 12 2005 by MC_]

    The Rolling Stones (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - Rolling Stones gather no moss - Moss first name Kate is a special friend of Pete Doherty - Pete Doherty has just got out of prison - Prison is somewhere you’d find screws, as is B&Q, who have their name all over the sails of Ellen MacArthurs boat - Ellen MacArthurs boat has just been “all around the world” - “All Around The World” is a song title that links Oasis, Lisa Stansfield and The Jam, who have all been winners at The Brit Awards - The Brit Awards took place at Earls Court in London last night, and boy were they a lot of fun - “Fun” rhymes with ‘bun”, which is what you might have in the oven if you were pregnant and you were using cockney rhyming slang to describe their condition - Condition is an important detail when purchasing a used car - Used car salesmen are traditionally referred to as being “dodgy” - Dodgy had a 1994 hit with Staying Out For The Summer - Summer is one of the four seasons - Four Seasons is a type of pizza - Pizza is a popular meal of choice for parents when organising a childs birthday party - and childrens birthday parties always involve cake and party hats and goodie bags for all of the lovely “girls and boys” - Which links us to Blur and Girls And Boys

    - FLAWS: - A lovely error from Comedic Vitty this morning:
    *”Bun in the oven” clearly isn’t cockney rhyming slang at all, it’s a euphemism. The only thing “oven” rhymes with is “Govan”, which is a place in Glasgow. Infotainment/Enterformation from The Chris Moyles Show...

    TRACK INFO: - Released March 1994
    - Only their second top 10 hit, reaching number 5 and spending 7 weeks on the chart...
    - MC FACT ATTACK: - In America it spent 15 weeks on The Billboard 100, but only reached number 52. I’m yet to understand how the hell that chart works btw...
    - ALBUM DETAILS: - Taken from “Parklife”, 1995’s Best British Album at The Brits (which is topical, what with them being last night an that... ahem).

    Wednesday 9th February 2005 Link (MC)

    [Posted Saturday, February 12 2005 by MC_]

    David Bowie Let’s Dance - David Bowie is from Brixton in South London, as is former Conservative leader John Major - John Majors family were involved in the world of the circus - Circuses are good places to go if you enjoy seeing performing animals, like dancing bears and monkeys in hats - Hat making or millinery is the traditional industry in Luton, which is also the home town of Paul Young - Paul Young recorded “Senza Una Donna” with his good mate Zucchero - Zucchero is a famous Italian, as are Gino Ginelli and Frankie Dettori - Frankie Dettori supports Arsenal, as does Pete Tong - Pete Tong once kissed Vanessa Feltz... on the lips (*vomits*) - “Lips” rhymes with “pips”, as in “The Pips”, who were the backing group for Gladys Knight - Gladys Knight shares the same surname as Leon Knight, who plays for Brighton - Brighton has a pier, which is a nice place to eat fish and chips - Fish and chips are great on a very cold day when you’re really, really hungry - and if you were really hungry and eating fish and chips just didn’t fill you up for whatever reason, and you couldn’t satisfy your unquentionable hunger, you might say “I Can't Get No Satisfaction”... despite it being a double negative and grammatically incorrect - Which links us to The Rolling Stones and (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

    - FLAWS: - Monkeys in hats? Nuff said.

    TRACK INFO: - Released August 1965
    - The Stones’ fourth UK chart topper, which spent 12 weeks inside The Top 40...
    - MC FACT ATTACK: - Sesame Street did a version of this tune called "(I Can't Get No) Cooperation". It was about a school kid who couldn't find anyone to play jump rope or seesaw with... ah god bless songfacts.com.
    - ALBUM DETAILS: - Originally taken from “Out Of Our Heads” (number 2, Oct 65) but now also available on 2002’s 40 track greatest hits compilation “Forty Licks”.

    MC FACT ATTACK EXTRA: Transportation of The Stones’ 300-person entourage and 350 tons of stage set during the Forty Licks tour required the use of 10 buses, 53 trucks and one tour jet. Fact...

    Tuesday 8th February 2005 Link (MC)

    [Posted Saturday, February 12 2005 by MC_]

    The Beatles Can’t Buy Me Love - Can’t Buy Me Love topped the charts in March 64, making it almost 41 years old - 41 + 59 is 100, which would be classed as a century in cricket - Cricket is sometimes played on a village green - Green first name Linda was a character played by Liza Tarbuck - Liza Tarbuck shares the same surname as Jimmy Tarbuck, who is often seen on the celebrity golf circuit along with Alan Hansen and DJ Spoony - DJ Spoony makes up exactly one third of The Dreem Team - “The Dream Team” is also the name of a fictional football drama on Sky - Sky is blue, as is the sea - Seahorses are one of the only species where the male looks after the babies - Babies like sweet things, like sugar and stuff - Sugar and Jif Lemon are traditionally served with pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, which is today - Shrove Tuesday happens annually and comes just before Ash Wednesday, which signifies the start of Lent - “Lent” rhymes with “Bent”, as in Marcus Bent who scored a superb injury time equaliser at St Mary’s on Sunday - “St Mary’s” is a popular name for a church, as are “St Lukes” and “St Davids” - and David’s also a popular name in the world of celebrity, with famous Davids including David Beckham, David Copperfield and of course David Bowie - Which links us to David Bowie and Let’s Dance

    - FLAWS: - Debate was raging on the texts about the sky blue/sea blue thing - people moaning about light refraction or reflection or summat... but Chris found it all a bit dull and moved on. Understandable...

    TRACK INFO: - Released March 1983
    - His fourth UK number one and second American chart topper, which spent 14 weeks on the British chart...
    - MC FACT ATTACK: - One of Bowie’s blue eyes was changed to green in an unfortunate school playground incident where he was stabbed with a compass... fact.
    - ALBUM DETAILS: - Taken from “Let’s Dance”, which was one of ten albums simultaneously inside the top 100 by Bowie in 1983, a record still unsurpassed to this day. “Let’s Dance” ran on the album chart for 56 weeks in total, the single is now also available on 2002’s “The Best Of Bowie”.

    Monday 7th February 2005 Link (MC)

    [Posted Saturday, February 12 2005 by MC_]

    Pianoman Blurred - Pianoman’s Blurred was released in June 96, the same sort of time that Dreadzone scored a hit with Little Britain - Little Britain the telly series is written and performed by Matt Lucas and David Walliams - David Walliams has apparently dated such beauties as Patsy Kensit and Abi Titmuss - Abi Titmuss used to be a nurse - The plural of nurse is nurses, who should be paid more money - Money’s Too Tight To Mention was a hit for Simply Red - Simply Red are fronted by Mick Hucknall, who’s a mate of Sir Alex Ferguson - Sir Alex Ferguson used to manage Aberdeen - Aberdeen-Angus is a famous name in the world of cattle - Cattle are prevented from trespassing onto busy roads with the use of grids - The singular form of grids is “grid”, as in “The Grid” who had a 1994 hit with Swamp Thing - “Swamp Thing” was also the title of a 1982 movie by Wes Craven - Wes Craven shares the same surname as Beverley Craven - Beverley Craven plays the piano, as did the late great John Lennon - and Lennon & McCartney wrote some of the most important British pop music of all time - Which links us in the week of British music, to a classic track by The Beatles, Can’t Buy Me Love

    - FLAWS: - You just can’t fault the track in anyway at all, but strictly speaking it is not a great British track of the last 25 years (to fit in with current R1 policy). Dave said that didn’t count with Tedious Link though, as it has different guidelines and “parameters”. Fact.

    TRACK INFO: - Released March 1964
    - The fourth of The Beatles’ 17 UK number one singles, ironically spending 17 weeks on the chart...
    - MC FACT ATTACK: - This was a million seller and rock music's first ever simultaneous UK & US number one...
    - ALBUM DETAILS: - From the soundtrack to “A Hard Day's Night”, and later available on numerous Beatles Best Ofs and compilations - most recently their 2000 release “1”.

    Tedious Link - Great British Music Week (MC)

    [Posted Sunday, February 6 2005 by MC_]

    THIS WEEK AT 9AM: Monday 7th - Friday 11th February 2005

    Friday 4th February 2005 Link (MC)

    [Posted Sunday, February 6 2005 by MC_]

    Dodgy Good Enough - The amount of members in the band Dodgy is 3 - 3 multiplied by 7 is 21, which is the legal age for the consumption and purchase of alcohol in the United States - The United States have a president called George - George Best is mates with Milan Mandaric, who is chairman at Portsmouth - Portsmouth play at Fratton Park - “Park” rhymes with “bark”, which is the protective covering around the trunk of a tree - A tree is a natural environment for a squirrel - Squirrels have bushy tails and are fond of nuts - “Nuts” is also a slang term for testicles - Testicles are located outside the main part of the body for the purposes of temperature - Temperature can be measured in either celsius or fahrenheit - Fahrenheit 9/11 is something that I’ve got recorded at home and haven’t seen yet, and in that respect shares something in common with last weeks “A Question Of Sport” - “A Question Of Sport” is hosted by Sue Barker - Sue Barker shares the same surname as Ronnie Barker, who was the comedy partner of Ronnie Corbett, who was a famous wearer of glasses - and if you wear prescription glasses, and forget to put them on one day, you’ll probably find that your vision is slightly “blurred” - Which links us to Pianoman and Blurred

    - FLAWS: - Due to Rachel’s keyring giveaway crashing the text system, no feedback could be picked up on todays Tedious Link. Therefore Dave seemed to declare it seamless by default... fair enough.

    TRACK INFO: - Released June 1996
    - This was a number six hit, spending seven weeks in The Official Top 40...
    - MC FACT ATTACK: - Pianoman is UK producer James Sammon... and that’s a fact everyone.
    - ALBUM DETAILS: - Er... pass. But lets face it, its dance muck and you wouldn’t really be interested anyway would you?

    Thursday 3rd February 2005 Link (MC)

    [Posted Sunday, February 6 2005 by MC_]

    The Prodigy Voodoo People - The Prodigy are from Essex, as is Denise Van Outen - Denise Van Outen used to present The Big Breakfast, as did Kelly Brook - Kelly Brook is currently dating Billy Zane, who starred in the film “Dead Calm” alongside Nicole Kidman and Sam Neill - Sam Neill shares the same surname as Lucas Neill, who plays for Blackburn - Blackburn were beaten 1-0 by Chelsea last night, the same scoreline by which Everton beat Norwich to maintain the seven point gap between them and Liverpool - Liverpool were knocked out of The FA Cup by Burnley - Burnley play their home matches at Turf Moor - “More Than Words” was a 1991 hit for Extreme - Extreme ironing is where people try and iron clothes on top of mountains and under the sea - “Sea Of Love” was a film starring Al Pacino - If you add a “cap” to the front of “Pacino” you get “Cappuccino”, which is a type of Italian frothy coffee - Coffee is probably the second biggest export from Colombia - “Columbia” was a track taken from the classic Oasis album Definitely Maybe, released in 1994, the same year interestingly that “Staying Out For The Summer” was the first big hit for Dodgy - Which predictably links us to Dodgy and er... Good Enough

    - FLAWS: - Nope, seamless. Just anti-Everton abuse from Liverpool fans calling Dave “scum” etc...

    TRACK INFO: - Released August 1996
    - Reached number 4, spending eight weeks inside The Official UK Top 40...
    - MC FACT ATTACK: - This was Dodgy’s only UK top ten single, and also featured on the soundtrack to the 1998 Gwyneth Paltrow movie “Sliding Doors”.
    - ALBUM DETAILS: - Originally lifted from Dodgy’s number 7 June 1996 album release “Free Peace Sweet”... fact.

    Wednesday 2nd February 2005 Link (MC)

    [Posted Sunday, February 6 2005 by MC_]

    TLC Waterfalls - Waterfalls can be a major tourist attraction, such as Niagara Falls in Canada and Angel Falls in Africa - “Africa” was a hit for Toto - Toto was the name of Dorothy’s dog in The Wizard Of Oz - The Wizard Of Oz also features the characters Lion, Scarecrow and Tinman - Tinman had a 1994 hit with “Eighteen Strings” - Eighteen Strings is the equivalent of three guitars - Three guitars are what you’d find in the film “The Three Amigos” - The Three Amigos starred Martin Short, Steve Martin and Chevy Chase - Chevy Chase shares the same surname as Lorraine Chase, who did much in the 80’s to promote Luton Airport - Luton Airport is a good place to start your journey if you’re on the way to Spain - Spain shares a border with both Portugal and France - France is the country that invented the guillotine, which was widely used during The French Revolution to remove peoples heads - Heads is the opposite of tails - Tails are something you will not find on manx cats - A baby cat is called a kitten, in the same way that a baby owl is called an owlett - and if you add an H onto the front of “owlett” you get “Howlett”, as in Liam Howlett from The Prodigy - Which links us to The Prodigy and Voodoo People

    - FLAWS: - The link was fairly rubbish today, as demonstrated by the following errors:
    *The guillotine was invented in England not France, in and around Halifax and/or York
    *Also Angel Falls is not in Africa, it’s in Venezuela - which is very much South America. As Roy Walker might say “Oh no!”...

    TRACK INFO: - Released September 1994
    - Reached number 13 and spent six weeks inside the Top 40...
    - MC FACT ATTACK: - The Prodigy’s following album “Fat Of The Land” (released July 97) debuted at number one in more than 20 countries, including in that coveted US top spot.
    - ALBUM DETAILS: - Taken from The Prodigy’s July 94 number one album “Music For The Jilted Generation”, also featuring the singles “One Love”, “Posion” and “No Good (Start The Dance)”.

    Tuesday 1st February 2005 Link (MC)

    [Posted Saturday, February 5 2005 by MC_]

    Fine Young Cannibals She Drives Me Crazy - She Drives Me Crazy was taken from the album “The Raw And The Cooked” - Raw and cooked food shouldn’t be stored together - Together Forever was a hit for Rick Astley, the biggest name to come out of Newton-le-Willows - Willows are a type of tree that tend to grow next to water - Water is good for you and you should try and drink about two litres every day - “Everyday Is A Winding Road” was a hit for Sheryl Crow - Sheryl Crow shares the same christian name, albeit spelt with an S rather than a C, as Cheryl Tweedy, who is apparently tapping up Ashley Cole - Ashley Cole shares the same surname as George Cole, who played Arthur Daley alongside Terry, who was played by Denis Waterman - Denis Waterman used to go out with Rula Lenska and also has a daughter from another relationship in the form of actress Hannah Waterman, who was in EastEnders and played Laura - “Laura” was a hit for the Scissor Sisters - If you remove the “sisters” part of Scissor Sisters and then plural the word, you’re left with “scissors”, which are a sharp instrument for cutting and also a recognised move in high jump - and jump is what you’d be forced to do if you were kayaking down a series of white water rapids, and then suddenly realised you were approaching a huge waterfall - Which links us to TLC and Waterfalls

    - FLAWS: - Watertight today - or should that be “Waterfalls”? ... guh huh.

    TRACK INFO: - Released August 1995
    - The second of TLC’s 4 US number one singles, and a number 4 hit over here - spending 14 weeks on the chart...
    - MC FACT ATTACK: - At the time, the video for this song was the most expensive music video ever in history... fact.
    - ALBUM DETAILS: - Taken from May 1995’s “Crazysexycool”, which also charted on the UK album chart at number 4.

    Monday 31st January 2005 Link (MC)

    [Posted Saturday, February 5 2005 by MC_]

    Tom Jones The Green Green Grass Of Home -Tom Jones is used to being pelted with knickers - Knickers are worn by girls, as are bras - “Bras” is an anagram of “bars”, which are what you’d find in a prison - Prison was the setting for the classic British comedy series Porridge, while porridge was the meal of choice for Goldilocks and The Three Bears - Bears like to catch and eat fresh fish such as trout and salmon - Sam & Dave had a 1967 hit with Soul Man, and “Soul Man” was also the title of a classic 80’s film starring C. Thomas Howell - “Howell” rhymes with “towel”, which is something you’d have to take with you if you were going swimming - Swimming exercises every muscle in the body, fact - “Bodyrock” was a 1985 hit for Maria Vidal - Vidal Sassoon is a famous name in the world of hairdressing, as is Nicky Clarke - Nicky Clarke shares the same surname as Steve Clarke, who is Jose Mourinho’s number two at Chelsea - Chelsea is the name of the daughter of former US president Bill Clinton - Bill Clinton shares the same christian name as Bill Beaumont, whose birthdays in March - and if you were going to Bill Beaumont’s birthday it would polite to give him a gift - and Gift first name Roland, was the lead singer of The Fine Young Cannibals - Which links us to The Fine Young Cannibals and She Drives Me Crazy

    - FLAWS: - Just the one query today:
    *People on the text were disputing Daves claim that swimming “exercises every muscle in the body”. Respected Radio 1 doctor Mark Hamilton was in the studio however and backed up Daves point convincingly, saying er “it can do yeah”.

    TRACK INFO: - Released January 1989
    - A US number one single that reached number 5 in the UK, spending 11 weeks on the chart...
    - MC FACT ATTACK: - Used in the movie “Tin Men”, this track was originally called “She’s My Baby” when first recorded by lead singer Roland Gift... and that is unfabricated fact folks.
    - ALBUM DETAILS: - Taken from The FYC’s February 89 number one album “The Raw And The Cooked”, which spent a total of 66 weeks on the UK album chart...