Lying in bed this morning, Mr SDS and I started talking about Chas ’n’ Dave. As you do.
He and I both have some tenuous connections to this 'Rockney' duo. Dave Peacock used to live in a village up the road from Mr SDS’ family home, so he would sometimes be seen drinking at their local. And, if you believe in the ‘born within the sound of Bow Bells’ birthright, I'm truly Cockney, as I came into the world at the London Hospital in Whitechapel (and it was so long ago that said bells could still be heard above the clatter of hooves on cobbles). However, I promise you that neither of us has ever owned a Chas ’n’ Dave album, nor been to a Cockney Knees Up. Hand on strawberry tart.
Anyway… Mr SDS was reminding me of the time when Dave left the band and rumour had it that Chas advertised for a replacement, with the condition that the new incumbent would also have to be called Dave.
“Imagine all the Daves he could’ve teamed up with,” Mr SDS says, with a gleam in his eye, “like….Dave Gilmour?”
“Or David Cassidy!” I reply.
“How about David Byrne?”
We giggle at the thought of Chas singing the chorus to 'Psycho Killer': Fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa far better… With silent ‘T’s in ‘better’, of course.
“David Sylvian!” suggests Mr SDS and launches into a staccato rendition of ‘Ghosts’ in a faux East End accent.
“And David Bowie!” I can sort of hear David returning effortlessly to his early Anthony Newley singing style, perhaps duetting with Chas on ‘Love You ‘Til Tuesday’.
Then Mr SDS came out with the classic. “Dave VANIAN!”
“New Rose!” I exclaimed. At this point I’d like you to imagine a Cockney Knees Up version of this song – it’s not hard, is it? It would be perfect. Absolutely perfect.
I gotta new rose, I got ‘er good
Guess I knew that I always would
with a strident pub piano hammering out the chords, and then the chorus…
I never thought this would ‘appen to meeeeeee
Plus, they could make ‘Neat Neat Neat’ into the new ‘Rabbit’. And can’t you just imagine joining in for their pub singalong … Just for you, ‘ere’s a love song…
Chas ’n’ Dave Vanian. Who wouldn’t pay good sausage ’n’ mash to see that?
I can SO hear that version of New Rose! Might not be able to listen to it in the same light ever again now.
ReplyDeleteSorry about that. If it's any consolation, I'm having the same problem...
DeleteSaw that Chas and Dave are playing a tiny Cardiff venue soon and was actually very tempted. Who doesn't love a bit of 'The Old Sideboard'? I love your 'Daves' concept and would particularly love to have seen some sort of Chas/Bowie thing happen - maybe they should consider it. As for a version of 'New Rose', I'm not so sure as it's already one of the greatest records ever made and won't take improving. Maybe 'Stab Your Back'?
ReplyDeleteI love that, SB: "...won't take improving" :-)
Delete'Stab Your Back' - yes! - and I think 'Smash It Up' would be worth a try too.
I did see them once. They were on the support bill to ... Led Zep!!!
ReplyDeleteStairway to Gercha
Surely not?!
DeleteOr maybe 'Down By The Seaside' and 'Down To Margate' are actually one and the same?
Knebworth 4 Aug 1979. Guy next me who was a Geordie said "this lot can f***off to the next field and play to the cows "
DeleteAs above!
ReplyDeleteI'm available. And surely perfectly suited ?
ReplyDeleteDavid Essex.
Rock On.....
Yes, you'd be perfect, David. They'll book you at the Queen Vic!
DeletePS. We've overlooked the obvious: Mr Van Day!
DeleteI think we're missing the opportunity for soul / rockney crossover here with Chas and Dave Prater (of Sam and Dave fame) and of course the reciprocal arrangement of Dave teaming up with Sam Moore. I for one would pay to hear 'I can't knees up for falling down' or a James Brown (pie and)mash up of 'There aint no please please pleasing you'....
ReplyDeleteI bow to your greater knowledge of all things '60s soul - hadn't even thought of that Dave. I like the 'wife-swap' version too!
DeleteThe Leprechaun Goth...Dave Navarro.
ReplyDeleteDavid Berman maybe.
You had to bring up that Leprechaun Goth again...
DeleteLet's forget all about Chas 'n' Dave and just put Dave Navarro with Jim Dandy. I really would love to see that ;-)
(Excuse my ignorance, but I had to look up David Berman!)
Chas and Dave Lee Roth
ReplyDeleteChas and Dave Hasselhoff
Chas and Dave Grohl
Chas and Dave Gray
Oh no I feel listmania comimg on. Must go.
I'd love to see all of those - especially David Gray on the joanna.
DeleteChas 'n' Dave Gahan?
ReplyDelete'Everything counts in large amounts
Counts, counts, mounts, mounts...gercha!'
No? Oh well, there ain't no pleasing you!
This one could run & run - what have you started C?
(Happy Birthday to Mr SDS, by the way.)
Excellent! I think we need pictures too! Some will look better together than others...
DeleteThanks so much for birthday wishes too which I'll pass on. But how did you know I was secretly married to Paul McCartney? ;-)
Don't think Dave Crosby is doing amything they could do a version of the Birdy song.....oh! boy Old Pa that is bad...even for you.
ReplyDeleteI'll let you off, Old Pa :-) They could do a version of Bells of Rhymney rejigged as Bells of Bow...
DeleteI've been chewing this over today and have concluded that less is actually not more. I therefore suggest The Chas'n'Dave Clark Five or Chas, Dave, Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch. If that's too large for a Transit van, or insufficiently East London, how about Chas'n'David Beckham ?
ReplyDeleteHmm, a few too many for the Transit van I think, and I'm not sure how Chas would feel about some of them being dead ;-)
DeleteBut how about Dave Bartram of Showaddywaddy? Perfect!