The Dead Trilogy

Okay, I'm kind of cheating here and what's worse, I'm self-promoting in the same post. I'm not going to apologise because I'm pretty certain I'll do it again at a later date.

This is an compilation/remix/mashup album I released via myspace.

And here's what I wrote on that page.

About The Dead Trilogy:

In 2001-2002, I had completed three songs that I wanted to release. Not wanting to release an EP, I thought I'd ask various friends if they could remix the originals, by providing them with the individual bits n' pieces that I used to make the originals. The remixers never heard the originals and were allowed to do whatever they wanted to do. The only thing I told them about the songs was that they were very loosely based around the concept of 'Night' (Force of Fear), 'Dawn' (Sunrise) and 'Day' (Wake Up!), and obviously referencing the original George A Romero 'Dead' films.

Eventually I received all of the submissions and compiled them onto two discs. Then numerous factors conspired to delay the release (poverty, third-rate computer equipment, laziness) and the compilation was essentially lost. After discovering it again recently, and re-listening to it, I think it still sounds great and people deserve to hear it.

Thanks to the artists that contributed:

Barbarian Rep., Belittle League, Blanche Devereaux & the Miserable Whores, Groverling, Home for the Def, Horrahedd, Matt's Little Brother, Matte Black, No Through Road, Onaka, Spencer Webb and Toit.

And especially those that don't even know they did. These unknowing participants include:

Siouxsie & The Banshees, Danny Elfman, Einsturzende Neubauten, Front 242, New Order, Faith No More, Buzzcocks, The Easybeats, Public Enemy, Pop Will Eat Itself, Aaliyah & Timbaland, and the composers of the following TV themes: Gimme A Break, The Muppets, Unsolved Mysteries. There are probably more.

Extra special thanks to Vincent Price and George A Romero.


The Dead Trilogy Disc One

Enjoy!

-Ringo Stalin

Cats, cats, cats

Well, this is actually quite sad. The CfMRF... family has been stricken with the loss of one of its own; Spencer's cat, Pepper, passed away a few days ago.

What a gorgeous cat.
RIP Pepper, 2001-2007.

The rest of the CfMRF... family sends its love and condolences to Spencer, Dina and Harry.

In other feline-related news, Corinna and I welcomed two kittens to our house: Butter Pecan Caramel Swirl and Fantoma. I would post a photo, but my phone is a piece of crap and we don't have a digital camera.

So here's a clowder of cat-related songs, in memory of Pepper, and in dedication to Harry, Butter Pecan Caramel Swirl, Fantoma, Hunter, Hazmangs and all the other pets in the CfMRF... pantheon:

Wild Cats of Kilkenny - The Pogues, from 'Rum, Sodomy & The Lash'.
Clyde - The Twilight Singers, from the album 'twilight'. 'Clyde' is Greg Dulli's cat, a photo of whom can be found on the inside sleeve of the album 'Blackberry Belle', which I recommend highly.
Wildcattin' - Belittle League, from 'Oh, I Fell Down'. This track uses a sample of Owen Wilson in 'The Royal Tenenbaums'. Belittle League's Myspace: here.
Cat Man - Gene Vincent & The Blue Caps, this version taken from 'Original Seeds, Vol. 1', which is a collection of tracks that influenced Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds over the years. It's well worth having a listen.
Catwoman - Shakespear's Sister, from 'Hormonally Yours'. If there's a Cat Man, there has to be a Cat Woman, right?
High School Hellcats - James Intveld, from the soundtrack to 'Cry-Baby'.


Oh yeah, and Merry Xmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, End Of Year or whatever takes your fancy. And I guess I should tie that in with a Lolcat, huh?

moar funny pictures

- Ringo Stalin

I believe an introduction is in order...

Please allow me to make the introductions; my name is Ringo Stalin and this is Champignons for My Real Friends...

Also, please allow me to explain, perhaps somewhat long-windedly, why I'm here:

I recently heard MIA's 'Paper Planes' at a party and thought 'Why, that's the Clash! And one of my favourite tracks, too! It's a shame that very few of my friends have heard the original version of 'Straight To Hell''. Shortly after that, someone on Hype Machine had posted the version of Paper Planes, with the original chorus (i.e., without the sound effects), while another had posted Straight To Hell. Then I thought 'How can I share these songs with friends with the least amount of tedium involved (at least at my end)?' and then I decided to create a blog... because there's nothing tedious about a blog! *knowing wink and nudge*

And then it occurred to me that a blog run purely by myself, containing only music that I liked might not be as interesting to other people as, say, maybe a blog that had other people contributing entries, too. And maybe those other people can be my friends, who I'm sure have a few things to share, too.

And thus, Champignons for My Real Friends... was born.

Obviously it's not the most original idea on Teh Internets, but it should be a bit of fun.

Be seeing you!
-r.










Megaupload links (mp3)

MIA - Paper Planes (original chorus)

The Clash - Straight to Hell

The Clash (ftg. Allen Ginsberg) - Ghetto Defendant

No Through Road - Crush This Town

Belittle League - Underfire

Paul Williams - The Hell of It