So in keeping with Philippa's idea of getting things moving a little, let's have your decisions on these questions.....

1. First single you bought?
2. First/last album/cd you bought?
3. Favourite Saturday night tune?
4. Favourite Sunday morning tune?
5. What do you sing in the shower?
6. last cd you bought?

For my sins

1. Come Outside by Mike Sarne
2. Shadows Greatest Hits (album) Electronic (last vinyl)
2. Chris Rea - On The Beach (cd)
3. Graham Parker & the Rumour - Heat Treatment
4. None - I prefer the radio
5. I don't, but I do whistle any old crap very tunelessly
6. The Autumn Defense


There! all yours.......

1. I remember that Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini by Bombalurina was the first ever single I bought on cassette, but I can't remember what I bought on vinyl before that.
2. First album - my mum actually did the paying, but when I was two, and Andy's Records was just a market stall, I got my mum to buy me the Hi-De-Hi album. It was excellent.
3. If we're talking bouncing round the living room, then there are about 20 songs that I like to put on, all in a row, but the first one that comes to mind is Jump Up and Down by Helen Love.
4. I presume you're after something quiet... but I don't really like quiet things on Sunday mornings. This morning (i.e. Sunday), the song I was most pleased I'd put on was Getchoo by Weezer.
5. It's not a song as such, but I usually shout, "Aaargh, shut up! Stupid question! F***ing John Humphrys. T***er!" in response to the Today programme.
6. I haven't bought anything for ages. But Dan reckons the last CD that we had in the post was an album by the Icelandic rock band, Minus. It's pretty good.

I haven't heard of Graham Parker and the Rumour. Or The Autumn Defense. Or Mike Sarne.

WHAT!!!!!!!!!

Graham Parker & the Rumour - vanguard of punk. Pub rock personified, late 70's, early 80's. Just the (second) best band in the world. You should seriously check out their first two albums!!! You'll not be disappointed. I obviously need to give you a serious talking to on this subject!!

the Autumn Defense - Wilco sidesmen offshoot. Glorious 70's throwback stuff.

Mike Sarne - '62 single with Wendy Richards (of Eastenders fame) in pre "Are You Being Served"voiceover. Truly crap, but I still have the single!

Graham Parker and The Rumour pretty much gave birth to the idea of Rocket From The Crypt, from what I can gather, and thus should be lauded.

1) Something or other by Queen, I think. Can't remember which one.
2) First ever cassette bought was Live in Houston and Lyon by Jean-Michel Jarre. As you do. And first ever CD was Revolutions by the same individual. Both sold some time ago it has to be said. Most recent CD bought was Ginger's Market Harbour, which is only officially released tomorrow but was on my doorstep today when I got home from a nice weekend away.
3) Probably anything by The Wildhearts or Therapy?. Teethgrinder is the best jump around tune ever made.
4) Currently either of the Loney, Dear albums. But I very rarely listen to much downtempo stuff. Which will probably change when the new Elbow album comes out unless they've made an album of 'bangers'. Looking forward to that record more than just about anything this year, musical or otherwise.
5) Have never sung in the shower, ever. I don't know why.
6) Hang on? Isn't this covered in question 2? I'll go for 'next CD' then, which'll be the albums by These New Puritans, Vampire Weekend and Sons and Daughters.

Y'arr, why not indeed.

1. First single you bought?
Really can't remember, though it was undoubtedly something appalling.

2. First/last album/cd you bought?
I used to get a lot of random dance stuff back in 1991/92 when I were but a lad... but the first I really remember buying for myself was White On Blonde by Texas.

3. Favourite Saturday night tune?
That'll totally depend on my mood, where I am, what I'm doing, etc.

4. Favourite Sunday morning tune?
Um, see above, I guess.

5. What do you sing in the shower?
Nothing... I don't sing. Ever. Evarrrrrrrrrr.

6. last cd you bought?
The two new compilations by the ever-marvellous Eels. I never know how you're supposed to write that. On some of their albums it's eels, on others it's EELS, grammar would dictate Eels. ANYWAY. That band wot did Novocaine For The Soul. I loves them I does, though oddly they never spring to mind when considering a list of favourite bands.

With you there. I've ordered the "Useless Trinkets" odds-and-sods compilation, and the "Things The Grandchildren Should Know" book.

The only question I seem to be able to answer is the last CD I bought, which was Attack of the Grey Lantern by Mansun.

At the British Sea Power gig last night, I bought the split 7" they did with The Wurzels, where The Wurzels do Remember Me and BSP play I Am A Cider Drinker.

1. 'Come on you Reds', the 1994 Manchester United FA Cup single. Everyone's got to start somewhere...
2. First album (on tape) was The Great Escape by Blur. First CD was Modern Life Is Rubbish by Blur. I've been going backwards ever since...
3. Whigfield – Saturday Night
4. The Hussy's – Sunday Morning
5. Whatever's stuck in my head at the time, as long as I know the words. Or at least some of them.
6. I bought the new singles by the Little Ones and the Courteeners last week.

Re EELS/eels/Eels, did anyone see a documentary called 'Parallel Worlds, Parallel Lives' on BBC Four a couple of months ago? It was the story of the main bloke from Eels (Mark) trying to find out about his dad, who was a quantum physicist. He lived with his dad, but his dad always hid himself away, working, and they barely spoke to each other. After his parents died, Mark decided to find out about the work his dad was doing, to try to understand him better. He goes round meeting all these quantum physicists who are in raptures to meet him and tell him that his dad was the most amazing, influential person ever. Oh my goodness it was interesting! When it's repeated, you must definitely watch it, whether you're into Eels or quantum physics or neither.

I really wanted to see it and missed it. If anyone gets wind of a repeat (I watch very little TV), let me know.

I read an article about it in New Scientist. It was very good.

I read the article in New Scientist too, it made the programme sound interesting. I don't think the BBC iPlayer was around back then was it? Otherwise hopefully I would have thought to watch it on that (I only have terrestrial television).

Aye. I don't have a functional TV here at uni (just a little thing for playing the Xbox 360 on) but I'll get my parents to Sky+ it if it's on.

Incidentally, other bands that I absolutely adore that don't seem to come up when listing my favourite bands: Grandaddy and Bright Eyes. Actually they're both listed on my Myspace thing but that's because I had ages to sit and write it. But if I was stopped in the street and asked to list my ten favourite bands, I probably wouldn't think of them.

EDIT: Woooooo! It's on BBC iPlayer for two more days!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/page/item/b008d2zj.shtml
(if that doesn't work, just Google the title of the show and it's like the fifth link)

...another edit: BBC iPlayer uses a peer-to-peer system. Guess what? Our campus network blocks peer-to-peer systems. Arse.