Margo Guryan - I Don't Intend To Spend Christmas Without You (1967)

If I have this right, this was an unreleased demo of the song Margo wrote for Claudine Longet. This and other demos were released on 2001's (imaginatively titled) 25 Demos.

Margo on Claudine here - "She's a little bit bit rhythmically challenged" haha.

Saint Etienne - La Poupée Qui Fait Non (1994)

This English-language cover is top-form Saint Etienne - just lovely. Originally appeared on the 'Hug My Soul' single, and later on A Tribute To Polnareff.

*Thanks Robert, for letting me know this is a different version to the one on Hug My Soul. I haven't actually heard that one, but just assumed it was the same one when I checked a discography. I just read the B-side version is actually a live performance ...is that correct? I'd love to hear it if anyone wants to send me a copy. This version from the tribute album was produced by Bertrand Burgalat (as are half the tracks on there). You can download some free Bertrand mp3's here.

Cristina - La Poupée Qui Fait Non (1980)

I think this might be the best description imaginable of Cristina's version:

"Poupée Qui Fait Non" features clichéd calypso steel drums versus clichéd disco cow bell plus skeletonized fragments of fake Gene Krupa, with vocal stylings by the ineffable Cristina, sounding like a lunatic talking to herself in the street.  (silverlakeblvd.com)

If you missed Part 1, it's here.

From the depths of the bargain bin, today's tracks are from a gem of a soundtrack to a film called Splendor, which I'd never heard of and still haven't seen. Not sure I want to, it looks like it might be a bit lame - oh, who am I kidding, as if I don't have a secret penchant for films starring 90210 alum.

One of a few remixes on the CD especially commissioned for the film, and a truly stunning reworking. It's one of those rare remixes that, in my opinion, surpasses the original. Everything amazing about the song is amplified here, and this version highlights Brett Anderson's incredible vocal performance on the track. This is what I love about brilliantly-conceived pop; a simple, prosaic line like 'Class A, Class B' can sound like the most beautiful, poetic thing ever sung.

Lush - Sweetness and Light (The Orange Squash Mix) (1999)

Lush remixed by My Bloody Valentine. Splendor indeed.

Other highlights on the soundtrack:

Blur 'Beetlebum' (Moby's Mix): You wouldn't think a mix that simply takes the lines 'Nothing is wrong/ She turns me on' and repeats it over and over would be as affecting as this. Taking that one languidly erotic moment of the song and exquisitely drawing it out feels like it creates an alluring secret cove you don't want to leave. I'm surprised at how much I like this, as I'm not normally a big fan of Moby, although I will say the rapping bit is naff.

Slowdive 'Shine' (Splendiferous Locust Mix): The soundtrack has a few lovely shoegaze remixes, on each of which the subtle electro reworking brings out something crisper and clearer from the beautiful mess.

Lowlights: 

Sigh - why does every compilation I own from this era seem to start with a Fatboy Slim song? 

If you know of any good online photo galleries for Suede, Lush or Pulp, please let me know. Most fansite links are dead, and searching for photos of bands with common words as their name is a real pain.

Thanks to Jayenkai for originally hosting this track on his (sadly) now defunct website Pulpmania, and for letting me post it.

From Bar Italia:

A very Pulp reworking of a particularly obscure Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons song, very upbeat and smothered in beautiful 80s-sounding electronica. Performed exclusively for French radio as part of Pulp's first appearance on the France Inter Black Sessions in November 1992, a lot of work has clearly been put into this. It's very radically re-arranged, to excellent effect, and the performance is a good one - without having heard the original, it would be hard to know this was not a Pulp composition.

A brilliant description. As with their incredible Polnareff cover, 'Le Roi De Fourmis', this song is like discovering a great lost Pulp single. There are very few covers by Pulp floating around, which is a shame as they do such a good job of them. 

I have to say I disagree with the second Bar Italia reviewer about the original, which is amazing:

Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons - The Night

Can anyone tell me the year this was released (think it is between 72 and 75)?

(Pic credit: Release Magazine)

Time for SpikedCandy to get teary over this Dubstar B-side - partly because of the lyrics, partly because I seem to do that these days when I hear a beautiful piece of pop perfection like this!

When I picked up Lush's Topolino on CD for a couple of pounds in London years ago, I didn't know it was a compilation of B-sides and rarities. I just thought, this is another really good Lush album! I also didn't know that it could be quite hard to track down and quite expensive until my original was destroyed and I had to replace it. Mine's the Canadian version which has 5 songs the Japanese release doesn't; the Japanese one has 2 songs the Canadian one doesn't.

It's worth buying if if you can find it for a decent price. Only the stronger Lovelife B-sides are included (I have a couple of the Lovelife singles and the B-sides that aren't on here aren't as good, in my opinion). 

A couple of covers from Topolino, proving Lush had excellent taste in music (if not in coats):

(Pic credit: Last.FM)

Ms Laverne is the bee's knees to me, because of quotes like "We [Kenickie] were always pop stars, it's just a fact. I don't think anyone should keep their feet on the ground. They might step in something." Was/is she any good as a TV host, UK people, or is it overexposure? I do find it hard to imagine there'd be such a thing. 

Mint Royale feat. Lauren Laverne - Don't Falter (1999)

And I guess I may as well give you the song that I nicked the title of this post from, a shimmery number from Finnish group The Crash (from 2001's Wildlife) with an irresistible French chorus:

The Crash - Lauren Caught My Eye

That's for being so welcoming and for all your kind comments.