I bought a second-hand CD a long time ago, specifically for the purposes of having a bit of fun on the blog, and I’ve decided to use the normally quiet festive period, when the traffic and number of visitors drops quite dramatically, to go with it.
The CD was issued in 1996. It is called Beat On The Brass, and it was recorded by The Nutley Brass, the brains of whom belong to New York musician Sam Elwitt.
The concept behind the album is simple. Take one bona-fide punk/post-punk/new wave classic and give it the easy listening treatment.
There are 18 tracks on the CD all told. Some have to be heard to be believed.
Strap yourselves in.
mp3: The Nutley Brass – Hong Kong Garden
And, just so you can appreciate the magnificence (or otherwise) of the renditions, you’ll also be able to listen to the original versions as we make our way through the CD in random order.
mp3: Siouxsie and The Banshees – Hong Kong Garden
The debut single, from August 1978.
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
It’s my view that Nutley Brass plays fast and loose with the term brass. Yesterday a lot of strings. Today a lot of keys. What will tomorrow bring? A noodling guitar solo?
It sounds very much like the type of stuff played on a Wednesday night at the old 13th Note (Glasgow) – club night name escapes me. The Johnny 7 played a few times. I only ever attended a few nights concluding it was not my ‘thing’.
I was really intrigued and looking forward to this, but would agree with Flimflamflam, a distinct lack of brass, it is almost a ballad with the lush strings. Not one I will be returning to.
Hey Mr JC…just checking that you got the email I sent you before Xmas….
Happy Christmas All
Everyone quit yer gripin’! These versions are hilarious. And the strings are synths and an arpeggiator anyways. Totally psyched for the rest of this series.