The Collection: Peel Acres - 8. Colleen "Cosmo" Murphy

THE COLLECTION: PEEL ACRES - 8. COLLEEN "COSMO" MURPHY (320kbs-m4a/137mb/60mins)
BBC Radio 6 Music broadcast: 21st March 2022

DJ and audiophile Colleen "Cosmo" Murphy is the latest guest to Peel Acres, helping Tom Ravenscroft make sense of his dad, John Peel's legendary record collection. Originally from Massachusetts, Colleen started her radio career at just 14-years-old and is the founder of listening event, Classic Album Sundays.

Track 1: David Bowie - Life on Mars? (from Hunky Dory)
Colleen wastes no time in tracking down her favourite David Bowie album - with an original press release hidden in the sleeve. Bowie had been commissioned to write English lyrics to the French song Comme d'habitude - but his work was rejected and instead Paul Anka rewrote it to be My Way. Annoyed at the success of Frank Sinatra's version, Bowie wrote the parody Life on Mars? in response.

Track 2: Cymande - Dove (from Cymande)
Track 3: Cymande - Bra (from Cymande)
British funk band Cymande formed in 1971, releasing their debut self-titled album the following year. They were initially more successful in America, but found wider recognition in the following decades after being sampled by various artists, including De La Soul and Grandmaster Flash. Colleen remembers hearing both tracks at The Loft in New York; the invitation-only parties hosted by her friend David Mancuso.

Track 4: Amon Düül II - Soap Shop Rock (from Yeti)
Colleen remembers playing krautrock pioneers Amon Düül II on her psychedelic radio show in college. The band formed in the late 60s and take their name from the political art commune in Munich, where they met.

Track 5: Sylvester - Southern Man (from Sylvester and the Hot Band)
African-American falsetto singer (and flamboyant dresser) Sylvester is best know for his disco hits, including the UK Top 10, You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real). Southern Man, his debut single, is a funk cover of the Neil Young song, which carries an overt anti-racism message.

Track 6: The Cure x François Kevorkian - Hot Hot Hot !!! (Extended Remix)
Colleen is delighted to happen across this remix by her friend, DJ and producer François Kevokian in the 12" singles shed. The Cure are often associated with gothic rock - but the band reject being categorised as one particular genre.

Track 7: The Fall x Zeus B. Held - Hit The North (Part 4)
Next she pulls out a white label 12" by post punk outfit The Fall - who were famously known as John's favourite band. This 1987 single - considered the band's most musically conventional - was remixed by German producer Zeus B Held.

Track 8: Chicken Shack - I'd Rather Go Blind
This 7" single from British blues band Chicken Shack, features the beautiful vocals of Christine Perfect - better known by her married name, McVie - and was released a year before she joined Fleetwood Mac. The song was first recorded by Etta James

Track 9: Ozo - Anambra
Colleen selects a fitting end to the day; a track which would often be played at the end of a Loft party, to help party-goers re-entry into the world. This is the debut release from fusion band Ozo, which appeared on their 1976 album Listen To The Buddha.

Strawberry Alarm Clock - Incense And Peppermints [Hollywood]
David Bowie - Life On Mars? [EMI]
Cymande - Dove [Janus]
Cymande - Bra [Janus‎]
Amon Düül II - Soap Shop Rock [Liberty]
Sylvester And The Hot Band - Southern Man [Blue Thumb]
The Cure & François K - Hot Hot Hot!!! (Remix) [Elektra]
The Fall & Zeus B. Held - Hit The North (Part 4) [White Label]
Chicken Shack - I'd Rather Go Blind [Blue Horizon]
Ozo - Anambra [DJM]
Sylvester And The Hot Band - Southern Man [Blue Thumb]