Thursday 24th January 2008

Well its good to be back folks. Here is the first of the brand spanking new Captain Jacks Tracks. All the new features promised in the first Blog of the year will be making their debut appearances for you to enjoy, and in the next few weeks I will be adding one or two special features, but they are, for the moment at least, being kept under tight wraps!!!!

So, after a brief spell away, Thursday night has returned with a bang. Well more of a splutter really! As is always the case in January, most punters are suffering the post Xmas depression, and not really up for a night out on the Karaoke, so of course that gives us plenty of time to throw in new songs from the Guitar Hero III soundtrack, well me really, as Shaun is never one to attempt 'Rock Classics', but I do feel I am slowly weaning him into the true Rocker mode. I'm sure the first gig of the year we go to see, Linkin Park at the Sheffield Hallam Arena, will tempt him ever closer to the dark side. Apart from that not really much happened tonight to be fair, but as I said earlier, the first few nights of the year are always a bit empty, as most people were paid before Christmas, and don't get paid until the end of January. The bloody liberties these employers take, I tell you!

So lets get down to the new features. First up this week is going to be my choice for this weeks classic track. After much deliberation I felt a good old fashioned rock track should open the feature up so here it is.

Captain Jacks Classic Track #1

Whitesnake - Here I Go Again 1987

Here I Go Again is one of the classic Whitesnake anthems. Originally recorded in 1982 for the 'Saints And Sinners' album, it only had a mediocre reception. But when re-recorded for the 1987 'Whitesnake' album it took om a life of its own, reaching number 9 in the U.K. charts in October 1987, and reaching number one on the U.S. Billboard charts the same month. The music video for the song was directed by Marty Callner, who directed most of Whitesnake's videos in the 1980's. It became memorable due to actress Tawny Kitaen's appearance wearing white lingerie. In the video she is seen prancing on the hood of Whitesnake lead singer David Coverdale's Jaguar and massaging him while he is trying in vain to concentrate on driving. Kitaen would later become Coverdale's wife for a couple of years. The video actually didn't feature any of the band, apart from Coverdale, that had recorded the album, as he fired them all shortly before the album was released, but it does feature the bands new line up. Whitesnake enjoyed a brief stint at the top of the rock world after the release of the album, as if rocketed them in the states, mainly due to the MTV revolution. This spell at the top included a headline slot at 'Monsters of Rock' at Donnington in 1990. They are still together as a band, although believe it or not the line up has changed again! But Coverdale is still the frontman, and in 2008 they announced a double headline tour of Europe alongside Def Leppard, with the U.K. gigs in June.

The first in a long line of many that I am sure you will enjoy. So after your dose of nostalgia how about a little laugh to help you along the way. Now don't blame me if it's not funny now, just try it after a few beers and you will see the funny side honest.

Captain Jacks Joke Of The Week

"A Welsh Farmer is walking through his fields when he sees a man drinking one handed from a stream. Thinking he was a local he shouts in Welsh to stop drinking as that's where the cows have a sh[1]t in the stream. The man looks up and says "I'm from England mate, can you tell me what you just said in English" The Farmer replies to him "Use two hands mate you'll get more water that way"

Not quite sure that is the best, but be sure that more will come, and for god's sake they will get better. So now whats next then. Do I make you wait a bit longer Shaun or hit you with it now! No you can wait!

Now as you know being a celebrity myself I am first in with all the hot gossip, and my next new feature will bring some of my more exclusive celebrity stories to you from my endless source of Bull-Sh1t, Hayley's gossip mags! So here is my first in a long line of stories.

Captain Jacks Celebrity Bull-Plop Story Of The Week #1

Wrinkly rocker turned artist Ronnie Wood from the Rolling Stones is to paint celebrity nut-case Russell Brand ~ in the buff! Russell, famous for calling his manhood "dinkle" asked Ronnie if he could be a nude model for his next canvas, and pal Ronnie said yes. A source said " Russell is not shy about getting his kit off and he would to be painted by a Rolling Stone. He's a massive fan" He will join a long line of celebs who have posed for Ronnie including Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon and bond member Mick Jagger, pictured below.

An excellent piece of artwork I'm sure you will agree. So commence salivating boys. Here is the newest, and sure to be the most popular new feature.......

First to make the list is an English rose. Michelle Ryan. Michelle was born on 22nd April 1984, and shot to fame as 'Zoe Slater' on a small unknown t.v. show called Eastenders. After a torrid affair with 'dirty dennis' she was stitched up after being banged up, and then banged him on the head till he died, with the aid of Sam Mitchell, Chrissy Watts and a statue of Queen Victoria! They then buried him in the cellar, mixed three tonnes of concrete and did a bang up job of the floor in less than a few hours, before anyone noticed. Who says East End builders are rubbish. The guilt of such shoddy workmanship, and on hearing she was next to have an affair with Ian Beale, Michelle promptly quit, in 2005, to follow her dreams elsewhere.

In 2006 she auditioned to take over from Billie Piper as Doctor Who's assistant, but after reading the scripts she found they were ever so slightly far fetched, and with wanting to take on more serious roles, she appeared in an episode of ITV's Miss Marple, you know the one about the old bird who solves murders the police can't by sticking her hooter in where it's not wanted!

But Michelle's big break was to come, and in 2007 she landed the starring role in the re-make of 70's classic 'The Bionic Woman' In this she takes on the role of Jaime Sommers. In the updated version Sommers has bionic ears, eyes, legs and a bionic arm. It is not known if the customary bionic jumping sounds will be used in the show when she uses her bionic powers, or if they will be shown in slow motion for that added effect of realism! Well I'm sure you will agree she is quite the 'Hot Chick'

After all that its now time to call down with, yes you've guessed it, yet another new feature. This one is a little more simple to get your head around. For those of you who read this at work in your lunch break, or even when you can't be arsed to do something the boss has asked you to do. Or for those who read it at home and just want an extra five minutes away from er' indoors, then I have the answer to all your problems here with.........

Captain Jacks Five Minute Fag Break Game

So after searching the net, I will try to bring you the best free online games to play to whittle away the hours and minutes of your spare time. Here is the first for you to try....

Table Tennis Tournement

Now as your playing along at becoming the worlds greatest Table Tennis player at work, how about getting back to the music for the last of the new features. This one is entirely about the music. As those of you who are regular readers will probably know, I am a bit of a music fan, and in my opinion there is nothing that beats a live concert. So with the aid of all the beautiful punters who spend their hard earned cash to buy tickets all over the world, and then film for the pleasure of the rest of us the gig, and then post it up on YouTube, it is with great pleasure that I bring to you some of the greatest live acts performing some of their greatest hits in some of the best stadiums, arenas, and theatres of the world, starting with the biggest and best of them all in.......

Captain Jacks Live Is Best

Rolling Stones ~ Sympathy For The Devil

Budapest 14/07/2007

Well that's all the new features folks, some you'll no doubt hate, but this is my bloody blog and I'll put in what I like! Only joking. This is the new all action Captain Jacks Tracks, and its still ten months until I have to start the X-Factor report again. But along the way in 2008 there will be more to add onto the blog in all shapes and forms, so some features may be dropped, some may be added too and some may be given shorts breaks, but just to ease your fears, the Hot Chick feature is most definitely staying put!

So onto what this blog was originally about, the Thursday Karaoke. So as I said earlier those long January nights have been their usual quiet selves, giving us the chance to sing a few more songs. So this week I got around to singing four songs, and keeping up the tradition of 2007, four new songs I have never sang live before. They were 1. She Sell's Sanctuary by The Cult 2. Rock & Roll All Night by Kiss 3. You Wear It Well By Rod Stewart and 4. Shadow Of The Day by Linkin Park.

She Sell's Sanctuary by The Cult

Highest UK Chart Position: No 15 May 1985 & No 15 January 1993

This song is one of the Cults best known tracks. It was taken from the bands 'Love' album in 1985, but was re-released in 1993 to coincide with the bands Greatest Hits album, and ironically reached exactly the same chart position. The band were formed by Ian Astbury in the early 80's in Bradford, but only really hit the big time when he teamed up with guitarist Billy Duffy. The pair went on to become the band's songwriters, and in time they penned some of the bands anthemic rock classic's, such as L'il Devil (1987), Fire Woman (1989) and Edie (Ciao Baby) (1989). They have had limited chart success in the UK, with their highest chart position being number 11 with L'il Devil, but they are much more renowned for their quality albums, of which they have now released eight, the latest being in 2007.

After a disastrous tour of South America in 1995, Astbury called it a day and split the band up, but the feeling of unfinished business meant the band reformed in 1999, and had a sell out tour in the states. The brief second spell in the big time ended when the European Tour had to be cancelled in 2001, amid fears after the 9/11 tragedy, and the band split again in 2002 to work on other projects.

But the 'can't keep a good band down' attitude resulted in a second reunion in 2005 for the sell out Return To The Wild tour. In 2007 the band went on a European Tour supporting The Who, and in October 2007 they released their eighth studio album 'Born To This'. For added publicity the band also opened at the massive Led Zeppelin reformation gig late 2007 at the O2 arena.

The band are due to announce a full UK tour in 2008, and also a US and Canadian tour, where they still have a huge cult (excuse the pun) following.

Rock & Roll All Night by Kiss

Never Released In UK

Highest US Chart Position: No 57 April 1975 and No 12 October 1975

Kiss. What can you say about one of the greatest Rock bands in the world. Their music is just old fashioned get up and dance rock music. The band have been one of the most recognisable since they were formed in New York in 1973, and are easily identified with their black and white face paint, outlandish stage gear and their elaborate stage performances, which in the past have featured spitting blood, fire breathing, smoking guitars and pyrotechnics.

Six consecutive top ten hits shot them to prominence in the States, but they had very little chart success in the UK until 'Crazy Crazy Nights' which reached number 4 in 1987.

Rock & Roll All Night has taken it's place in Kiss history as their best known song, and they still use it to end their shows with now.

The song was written by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons while Kiss was still in Los Angeles, as part of their Hotter Than Hell tour. The tour ended early, when Casablanca Records founder and president Neil Bogart ordered Kiss to return to the studio to record a follow up to Hotter Than Hell, which had stalled on the charts and failed to meet Casablanca's sales expectations. One of Bogart's instructions to the band was to compose an anthem, something he felt the band needed. The song itself was inspired by the Slade song Cum on Feel the Noize, and is often referred to as the Rock And Roll National Anthem. Paul Stanley stated during the Kiss performance at the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards that "there's only one nation, that's Kiss Nation, there's only one Rock & Roll national anthem: Rock And Roll All Nite, party everyday!"
Stanley wrote the chorus, and Simmons wrote the verses, borrowing parts of a song he had previously written, entitled Drive Me Wild.

The main reason for me singing this one tonight is that the track features on the PS3 Guitar Hero III game, and as I have played the game to death since Christmas it has stuck in my head and I just had to give it a go on the old Karaoke.

You Wear It Well by Rod Stewart

Highest UK Chart Position: No 1 August 1972

This song was Rod Stewarts second solo number one in the UK, and was taken from his second solo album 'Never A Dull Moment', which was released also in 1972 and included Rod singing several covers of some of his favourite artists, including Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan and Sam Cooke. The song went to number one all over Europe and also in the States. The song was co-written by Stewart and classical guitarist Martin Quittentton.
As Rod's solo career started to take off, it coincided with the decline and subsequent splitting up of The Faces in 1975, when Stewart went on to pursue his solo venture full time, and Ronnie Wood left to join the Rolling Stones. With his career in its fifth decade, Stewart has achieved numerous hit singles worldwide, most notably in the UK, where he has achieved six consecutive number one albums and his tally of 62 hit singles includes 24 that went Top 10, of which six went to number one. It has been estimated that Stewart's album and single sales total more than 250 million.



Shadow Of The Day by Linkin Park

Highest UK Chart Position: No 46 November 2007

This is the bands third single of the number one album 'Minutes To Midnight'. The band experimented with several different versions of the keyboard loop, before deciding on the one used in the final version. Chester explained that they used over 60 different beats for this song until they found the suitable one. They also used different types of instruments like banjos at first, just experimenting on different styles until they came up with something that could fit the track. Like some of their other songs, such as Breaking the Habit and Faint, this song uses samples of live string ensemble recordings.
The samples come in before the second verse starts. Distorted guitar elements are only played after the second chorus. The lead is an 8-bar phrase which is later raised an octave. The song is written in the key of B Major, the first major key the band has ever used. The end of the album version of the song, which is an instrumental piece, leads into the start of What I've Done.
It is the second-longest track on the album, and features no vocals from Mike Shinoda. Many fans and critics have noted the similarities between the song's tempo and beat, and U2's With or Without You, although the band deny it was an influence.
The video shows Chester Bennington waking up. His alarm clock reads 11:55, the current Doomsday Clock time, referencing the album title Minutes to Midnight and the song which is the 5th song on the album. The video is over four minutes long, meaning that the time at the end would be 11:59 PM, or one minute to midnight.
Chester then watches the news, washes up, gets dressed, and goes outside. We then see that the video takes place in a war-torn world, where mass chaos is ensuing on the streets of the city. There is a lot of violence going on with many police and gunshots. Near the end of the video, a car is set on fire and bursts into flames as several people taking place in the riot throw molotov cocktails at police resulting in the Police Riot Control and SWAT teams opening fire and advancing while the mob of people retreat. Chester then stands in front of the burning car, while looking hopelessly at the carnage that surrounds him. He then turns towards the flames, and the video fades to black.
There is also an alternate ending to the video, which shows Chester begin to walk away from the flames. The police open fire, and the video ends with a shot of Chester's bag falling to the ground. What actually happens to Chester is not revealed, but it can be assumed that either he was shot and killed or he threw his bag away and joined the riot.
This is the only video so far with only Chester appearing, as Brad, Rob, Mike, Joe and Phoenix are absent in it. The video isn't completely dubbed by the song, meaning sound effects taking place in the video can be heard. It is also interesting to note when the music video was released on the Internet, during the scene where a person sets a car on fire, the sound effects of the glass bottle he threw shattering on the car and igniting on fire is out of sync with the video.
The video has similarities to From the Inside, another riot-based video by the band. There is also a painting of a whale in the video and this is seen to be a reference to the In the End music video.
When asked about the track, Mike Shinoda called it one of the most important tracks on the record, saying "There's always songs that stand out, and you kind of know those songs especially. You know they're going to make the record. And this song 'Shadow of The Day' was one of them" Linkin Park are currently on the UK leg of their European Minutes To Midnight Tour, and in 2007 they headlined the Donnington Monsters Of Rock Festival for the second time.



Just a couple of things to end with this week. As you will know a bitter tussle for supremacy has broken out between myself and fellow blogger/PS3 buddy Shaun in the old FIFA 08 online battles. Due to the fact we were going to see Linkin Park the next day at Sheffield, and after consuming a few shandy's in the pub, a four match battle broke out over the ether. Four games played, two more wins for me, Shaun got his first win, but I was drunk, and one draw, although the resulting penalty shoot out gave Shaun another shock win, but as I am running this thing, Shoot-Outs don't count as only results over 90 mins are being counted, so the score ended 2-2 (I did check Shaun and it was 2-2) So here below are the current league standings and as you can see, young upstart Shaun is bringing up the rear, and Captain Jack is firmly at number one.


So there you go folks, the first of this years all new Captain Jacks Tracks. All new and improved, and raring to go for a new year. All the new challenges of putting together a worthwhile read on a weekly basis is a challenge that I accept, and let me tell you I have as much fun bringing all this to your computer screens as you have reading it. But wait......there's more. Instead of good old Homer leaving us with his words of wisdom, 2008 dawns a new era in the ending of the blog, and as a bit of a film fanatic, this year each week will end with a classic line from a classic film, and lets face it there have been thousands, so another endless supply of rubbish to put on the end each week. Hope you like the first one. Until next time readers............

".......Surely you can't be serious ? I am serious.......And don't call me Shirley"