Needle Drop Nation

Hi, welcome everybody. This is episode 10 of the Needle Drop Nation and today's title is Flame to the Fury. My name is Nick Wood. This is the amazing Jodi Barrias and together we're going to be dancing our way through the music of 1973. Jodie is going to be a corker as always.
Oh my goodness. This is an amazing year. It's a year of our It's reminiscent of our childhood, Nick. I mean, How beautiful was that, right? Lot of care in the world. Lot of care in the world. Looking forward playing and having fun, having that ice cream, you know, in the afternoon. And then 1973 hits. And then lo and behold, OPEC, the embargo,
oil prices rise up and flash forward to 2026. What are we experiencing? Right.
It's like having a second childhood, Jody. Yes. But the first the first oil crisis we weren't really aware we were happy we were it was a sunny time in 73 I seem to recall it's actually one of those years I start to remember have genuine memories and yeah we didn't care we had crisps we or chips as we call them in the states we had ice creams we had fizzy colas totally unaware that there was this big oil crisis going on uh and in fact in the UK we had um pet I know you call it gasoline we had gasoline or petrol r ing and so yeah, it was very real. We've not got that far yet. Um let's hope um I believe it'll all turn out quite well again. So yeah, but is a of course last time it then got certainly in the UK then got a bit of a spike in inflation because everything oil generates is comes down that food chain and goes into all the prices in shops.
We got that joy to come. So yes, it's our second child to Jod. There must be something nicer that happened in 1973.
I look at 1973 as a year of awakening. Um, finally we're getting to see the troops, the US troops going back home from Vietnam, you know, in accord to the treaty that was um, written in 1972. So now the troops are finally going back home. Um, also another significant thing about 1973 was Row versus Wade that provided the constitutional right to protect women. to decide um for an abortion. And um what's interesting, you go flash forward to that and what do we see 2022? Now it's left up to the states
to um govern um the women's rights to an abortion. So, you know, we these are very interesting times that we live in, aren't they? And
I find it incredible. I really do. Wade and such an important piece of legislation, Wade versus Row, that I actually am aware of it in the UK and so you know I'm not the most uh US aware person so if I knew it must have been really important
very
another strange circle of life moment Jod in 1973 the UK fully embraced the the European common market as it was called then the European Union as it's now called which of course we decided to leave in 2016 eventually left in whenever it was 2020 I think or 2021 and now It looks like they're going to realign us with the European Union through the back door. This is this is democracy in action. They're just they just announced that they're going to as part of their legislative program for the next two years. Um they're going to allow us to use what's called secondary legislation. So they don't even debate it in parliament um to align some of our laws back to the EU. It's as if we never had a referendum and all that pain. you genuinely couldn't make it up. But, you know, as I've always said, you have to live your life in spite of the politicians.
Exactly. Live your life to the fullest. You know, stay forever young, Nick. That's what you and I are here for.
Exactly. Yeah.
Let's get to Exactly. That's why we want to get to the fun of the show. So, there was a special somebody
music.
Yes. There was a special somebody who had She was born in 1973. One of our listen listeners. Via Barius had a request for us to put on our playlist on Spotify. Um, so I mean this is one of the treats that we look forward to. So Via requested born in 1973 in Detroit, Michigan. Um, let's get it on by uh Marvin Gay.
Yes. And uh, Killing Me Softly. So two amazing tracks from two amazing artists. Uh, And um talking about um Marvin Gay with the Let's Get It On album. I mean, Nick, did you let's talk about I'm going to talk about the story behind it. Um
yeah, please do because you are a Marvin Gay like afficionado. You know so much.
But before we do that, we just wanted to say greetings to Via and um you know, happy birthday here to you 1973. Um so um basically u Marvin Gay um was basically going through a rough patch with his wife um with the sister of Barry Gordy. They were going through a separation um and he was having writer's block because it's like how do you live up to uh what's going on that won so much awards um and also um Barry Gordy wanted uh Marvin to move from Detroit to Los Angeles. So now the thing is is that he also was um you know in a place where he wanted to evolve and talk about some of his struggles personally. I mean he talked about the world around him but also coming from a domestic violent household uh where his father who was a preacher uh psychologically and physically abused him and he wanted to explore his emancipation and freedom through this album let's get it on an amazing track. that track went to actually um platinum and I'll tell you what one of the inspirations are for that album. So um Barry I mean Marvin Gay actually while recording um had a friend that came um basically um into the studio who is a friend of the co-writer is the coowriter of Let's Get It On and um she had brought her 17-year-old daughter Yes. Um Yes. So, and um remember he was going through a rough patch with Barry Gord's sister um you know and uh he was so mesmerized by her. This is um 17-year-old Janice Hunter. Um and yes, and um they had such a amazing chemistry. Um and uh actually um after the divorce was finalized um with Marvin Gay and um Barry Gord's sister. Um they got married in 1981.
Wow. So he was singing Let's Let's Good, you know, to her.
Yes. Yes.
Cool.
And I always wanted to sing that too.
Yes. And the thing is um throughout the album on the track there is a continuation of Let's Get It On to getting it to a more sensual vibe, believe it or not. So, and It's funny because Yes. Yes. So, um, again, this album actually hit platinum. Um, Marvin hit another successful road and then and now the continuum getting him to become a sex symbol. Um, as you know, and then you see back in till 1983 up to his time of death, you know, with sexual healing. Um, so it's it's incredible how music helps an artist evolve. you know, through time.
Yeah. I was going to say, Joe, I was just about to mention sexual healing because I was just thinking, yeah, he was like like, you know, very similar to Barry White in some of the lyrics. He was able to to sing and in such a way. Yeah. You know, it it got our juices are flowing. Certainly as a young man in the 80s. Yeah.
Exactly.
Barry White or a bit of Marvin Gave.
Mhm.
Fingers crossed. I know, right?
Get that vibe, that motto going, you know? It's like
I can imagine young women too as well. You know, it's a
Yeah. There's another song, Paul McCartney. No more lonely nights.
Unfortunately, yeah. So good. And pretty much I'm sure there were very many lonely nights indeed.
Yeah. Oh, no. Marvin was great. And I actually I heard day. Um, never Dance My Father Again, that one.
Um, and again, what a beautiful song
it is. Yes.
Even though he had all that, uh, you that domestic violence and
his father shot him in the end, didn't he? I think his father shot him.
That is correcting his mom
through that domestic dispute.
I know. Amazing.
And an incredible songwriter, too. But then, Nick, talk about the special album that brought this amazing songwriter you know, in full full full
full view. Full view, everybody. Yeah. One of our one of our British one of our own. Well, two of our own because it was Bernie Toin and Elton John or Sir Elton John as we have to call him these days. Um, yeah. And it was um it was uh Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. It was a seminal album. It I think I'm right. It was a double album. There's so many tunes.
Double album. Double album.
So many tunes on it. uh Benny in the Jets. There was Goodbye Yellow Road, of course. Uh one of my all-time favorites was Candle in the Wind,
which of course then he he rewrote don't know whether he rewrote it or Bernie might have rewrote written it
um for obviously when he said goodbye to Lady Diana.
Um yeah, I it was just
just an incredible album and you know like the real launch pad then Mary was going to go and Yeah, phenomenally good. Phenomenally good songs. And I'm just going to say what I'm just saying. I think the What did we have on the playlist?
Oh, we've got Daniel and I think uh Daniel, you know, the thing is that album
and Saturday night's all right for fighting. I knew there was another one.
Yes, that's that's like the you know the fight at the bar kind of song.
The fight is
it's almost as if now here we go. If we're going to be playing um uh Needle Drop Nation Bingo where every week kind of mentioned feature
gonna get the someone's gonna get mentioned and you can guarantee get ready to take it off babies. It is of course David Bowie.
Yes, David Bowie.
We talked about life of Mars last week and so that was sailors fighting in the dance floor and that just triggered me with Saturday nights. All right for
Yeah. All right for I love that song and you know what also the song that I truly love see when I was a kid listening to that album and That album I was on the charts for two years. Okay. That's incredible. And you and you're talking about one of the best albums where multi-generational.
Yeah.
People can listen to it. And you know, one of the best albums in rock and roll history um by Elton John um was um as a child Daniel was one of my favorite songs. Um but and also Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Such a sad song. A beautiful song. But as got older and remind me of Glamrock and even reminding me that you know um he was a musician uh and he helped um you know um T-Rex um he performed with T-Rex I think it was on a British television show when they did get it on live
with Elton John.
So Benny So Benny and the Jets that song kind of gives me that element of glam rock.
Yeah. Oh and and he he was and he he really typified it in a a couple of years later when of course he played the pinball wizard.
Wizard. Yes.
And he used to he used to wear the most outrageous costumes, outrageous clothes.
Mhm.
And yeah, everyone has to have their little hook, I guess. But yeah, for someone so talented and such a brilliant pionist as well. I mean, it was incredible uh how he put all those uh those songs together, those tunes and of course the brilliant lyrics um uh from Bernie's just Yeah. was a match match made in heaven for sure.
Absolutely. Absolutely. And
yeah,
I have to say though, Jody, we're going to have to go there because he is on the is on the playlist and I have been since we had the pre-show chat. I I man living in my head. I'm ashamed not ashamed to say because I thought he was he was brilliant of his time and we till he blotted his coffee, but we of course talking about the amazing Gary Glitter.
Oh yes, Mr. Glamrock himself. Absolutely.
He was indeed. It was like, oh my goodness. And now it's not the one. It's not the one we got. It's the one we got on the uh on the playlist.
And then we've got the rock and roll part two.
That was like, you know, that reminds me of a precursor to punk rock. Okay. So, you know, Gary Glitter noted his contributions to music with um you know, on this playlist. The song that we selected and on the last um year for 1972 that it did Gary Glitter. Oh, do you want to touch?
Do you touch? Yeah. Do you want to touch? Yeah. Do you want to touch? Yeah. Do you want to touch me there? Yeah. Yeah.
That sounds like a actually I was telling um Nick the other day that song kind of reminds me of a strip club song in an SMM bar to be quite honest, you know. Um
and It's like that's like the imagery that comes in my head when I think about that and uh yeah, it's just so fascinating the contribution Gary Glitter.
So funny and I have and I've listened to and after after you talked about I then went and listened to one of his albums and did it on YouTube
and and I have to and I have to say they are they are so so easy to play on the bass guitar because they're really pretty simple.
Um yeah, it was it was just weird and It also reminded me of a time I was in primary school. So this is a genuine memory. And at the end of the year, we always had to do a play of some some sort of scene that our parents could come and see. And we did a top of the pots so we could only have been 11, 10 or 11.
Oh, that's so cute.
And and my mate Darren Hansen played uh Gary the drummer from Sweet. We had Sugar Baby.
Wow.
Drum for Sweet. Um, and my al my good friend Russell Hullbrook unfortunately had to be Jimmy Savile who was hosting
the legendary Jimmy Savile memories which you really should try and erase. They're still there. But, uh, yeah. Hey, that's that's music for you and it's just good. In fact, the playlist for 73 is uh is awesome. You know how I track Ed last week or the last episode I trashed the Rolling Stones uh album. Can't think of what it's called.
The album that came out that year 1972 7172.
Yeah,
that was your least favorite album. That's why
least favorite album. Yeah, it's got got it's got Tumbling Dice in it.
Yes.
But uh then they came back with uh with Goats Head Soup, which is a stupid title for a album, but on it is Again, it's got some brilliant tunes in it, but the one we like to listen to is that old ball. In fact, the Stones did a lot of great ballads.
They do. Yeah.
All about Angie Bowie. But yeah, they do they do some great ballots.
Yep. Yep. I like You can't always get what you want. Like that's one of my favorite ballads from them. Yeah.
Yeah. That's a good one.
No, I love it. Yeah. On this album, they had Heartbreaker. Heartbreaker.
Yeah, it was cool. Good album that I'm juggling.
Yeah, absolutely. And And speaking of which, I know that um this year of 1973, we have two ex Beatles on the um we've got um you know Paul McCartney and Wings and we got George Harrison, right? So um
Yes. Yeah.
Yeah. And we have it on our our playlist. But um one of the things that we must say to celebrate, let's talk about film and film soundtrack of that year, 1973. Nick, would you like to do the honors because your dream girl is on that She is the lady that stole my heart as a child. My childhood crush. Um, yeah. Jane Seymour.
Wow.
She was only 19 at the time
as I was only nine. Your age gap, Jody. Damn.
Yeah.
I know. You're like, "Darn it. I wish you were like, I wish I was older so I could date Jane Semore." She just had the most beautiful hair and everything. And remember in the P show We were chatting about this and I'd said, "Yeah." And that's actually at one stage I did have a girlfriend in my early 20ies who looked very much like her. Mainly cuz
Wow.
and everything. And I said to you, I can't remember why we split up. It was cuz she was married.
Oh sh That's okay. That's just between us and our listeners. It's okay. I'll have
So um Live and Let Die. Great
Live and Let Die on the movie. Sure. Roger Moore.
Yeah. Sorry. Roger Moore's first one.
Uh, and I I saw a great and it reminded me I saw a great um documentary with him one day and one of the reason, you know, he got very famous for just not not speaking so much, but he could raise his eyebrow and it was his look that he would give.
And apparently the very first scenes that he was shooting as a brand new James Bond were the ones in the Everglades with the speedboats and everything. So he didn't actually have anything to say. He had no lines. So all all of his stuff um had to be done in facial. So yeah, he was a great guy. I I got to I thought he was
a superb actor, great Bond actor. Knew how he could ham it up when he needed to. Um but in some other cracking cracking films as well. So it's a
good We liked We liked him.
Yeah. Live and Let Die that is like a great film, but it is actually I admit Nick, it is the song Live and Let Die by Paul McCartney and Wings is my favorite Bond soundtrack.
It is it is and it's played all the way through and it's awesome.
The amazing orchestra
and it goes into the amazing reggae and
and again testament to the geniuses Paul McCartney as well.
It definitely is and the song and the inspirations that he puts into the music which I truly love. Yeah. So yeah and then also when you talk about soundtracks this is the year when you know rock theater goes on the screen. This is the year that we see God Spell um on the big screen as well as we see um Jesus Christ Superstar.
Yes. Yeah. And I have to and that was the the stage version of that which was the original one with a guy another famous English actor that had a great voice, a guy called Paul Nicholas.
Uh and that was one of the very first uh albums I was ever bought because I'd wanted it for Christmas or something. I'd seen I'd heard something and so I wanted it. Um I think my parents thought, "Brilliant, we have a young Christian boy. Excellent." I just like the music.
Oh yeah, the soundtrack is great.
The story was kind of lost on me. But but the music was awesome.
I think one thing that made it really amazing um the soundtrack for um Jesus Christ Superstar because it had rock music. It had slow ballads. It had um you know the sign of the times when when music was popular then. And when you talk about an era piece uh that's dedicated to a time when it was produced, Jesus Christ Superstar definitely has that in its soundtrack. So yeah, I just saw a recent um um you know production of it um in 2018 with Sarah Bareilles.
Yeah. And um and also um Gosh, was the artist that um won a Grammy back in 2008. Um
2008, I'm not sure. I tell you what, Judy, you go look that look that up because I've got a couple of
mindn numbingly trivia items that you
in 1973 there was the first ever mobile phone cell phone was was ever created.
Um so we had our first cell phone call. Um and also though you guys used Skylab the first
That's right.
Space.
That's right. In 1973.
1973. And it didn't last up in space that long because I remember it started to break up and I was on holiday. I've only been about 15. So in the in the in the late 70s, early 80s. Um early 80s, sorry. Um and yeah, I remember being on holiday in France and I was playing badminton my with my sister and this was people and we hit that shuttlecock and it landed on the tent of a German man. Oh no, we got to go our shuttlecock back and so we went up to his tent and we said, "Oh, we're really sorry." He said, "Ah, a piece of Skyab, I think." Because in breaking up over Europe, German with a sense of humor. Who knew?
Piece of Skylab just fell down.
Well, you know, so I did find out who it was on that 2018 Um it was John Legend and it's so funny. You know how I It was John Legend. Um Grammy Award winner John Legend. Sar Bareilles did um um a 2018 2017 version of Jesus Christ Superstar. And I could tell you Helen Ready um did sing the in the soundtrack uh for Jesus Christ Superstar or she sang a version of I don't know how to love him.
Beautiful song.
Beautiful song. Yeah. And if and that's on our Spotify playlist, but if you also hear the Sarah Bareilles's version, it's It's also amazing. So, when you get a chance, it's it, you know, take the time to listen to it. But, um, so, Nick, 1974, next episode, what are we in for? Oh my gosh,
we are in
4. Uh, I think there's more. I think there's more David Bowie.
There's more David Bowie. And also, well, let's talk and you talk about um Glamrock. Let's Talk about a band that changed the face of rock history. Queen.
Oh, of course. Yes.
Uhhuh. And then if you want to add theater as well as the harmony and the singalong, you're going to see ABBA too as well. So, next episode in 1974 that we'll feature is going to be an amazing year. Um, you know what's
Early Queen, early Abba? Wow.
Yep. Um also actually early Yeah. So early that's gonna be Waterloo, isn't it? It's gonna be there.
Water. Oh, next it could.
Yeah, it could be a right old sing along. How do we This is the thing, J. As we get further and further into 70s and we're going to get we're going to get music which is more and more just ingrained into us. How are we not going to sing along?
Exactly. How are we not going to sing along or, you know, have built a karaoke and humune or something? We could, you know, down the road, we can figure out some creativity that can capture our audience. So, you know, we'll see. We never know.
Exactly. Yeah. Let me just add it on.
But um that'd be brilliant.
Folks, please do not forget. Um
Yes, do not forget. Um we do have a Spotify playlist that's on our YouTube channel for every episode that we publish. Um get a chance to listen, enjoy, and then on Transistor FM, our website, uh we have every episode on podcast. on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, and while you're driving your car and while you're washing the dishes or doing the laundry, you know, listen to our uh wonderful um animated conversations, Nick Wood and I, two Gen Xers dedicating music as a love letter to us. So, um definitely just Oh, Nick, I'm telling you, this is the dream, especially in the times that we live in doing this podcast. This just such a dream.
It is. It is. And of course, Jody, as you always know, actually before I say that, uh, and also of course if you do want us to play songs that you you like, it was your birth year or a certain celebration, then as we did earlier, we can just uh give you a shout out, mention the songs that you loved as well. I'll tell you what, Jody Baras, you're the best.
Oh, you're the best, Nick. Nick is my buddy, buddy. Buddy, buddy.
We're the buddies.
Until next time, guys. Whatever you're doing, stay safe and do let us know. Do let us know in the comments or or get in touch with us and let us know what you'd like to hear, what you'd like us to discuss because this lady knows more about music than I could ever ever know. So, it's always brilliant. I love I love listening to you, Joe. Thank you so much.
And until next time, guys.
You're the best. You're the best. Thank you everybody.