Not everything in life is simple. Red Smed, however, is. And to prove it this blog has been set up to take you deep into his deranged socialist utopia where Lenin was quite a nice bloke, , Bridgwater has been renamed Parretgrad , every home has to display a portrait of Jake Thackray and Leeds United are at the top of the premier league.

Tuesday 27 December 2022

2022 and it's a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from me too


This year I wrote nearly 300 Christmas cards but in solidarity with my Postal Worker comrades I then picketed myself to make sure they didn't get delivered. As a result I got none in return. Instead I am sending this cheery Christmas web link. A bit like Jesus might have done. If he'd have had a computer. And the internet. And not just a donkey. Like Jesus I have compiled a list of all my best You Tube releases and, as he might have done, if he'd been a bit more tedious than he was, I've kept a record of all of their hits on You Tube so I can judge for my own benefit (as literally, NO ONE , else would be the slightest bit interested) which are the more popular with the public each year. For me that's definitely not the sign of a growing insanity of which subject neither me nor my imaginary friend Dave the Talking Squirrel know anything about.


The interesting thing for me is that Top of the chart again is THE PARTISAN SONG...which has 388,679 views. I've always found it heartening that this Red Army marching song played in the style of the Shadows is so popular. However, this year You Tube made it 'restricted'. So I had to put it up again..and the new version only has 56 views. However, this is 30 more than my newest release 'ANOTHER WATERCOLOUR PICTURE'  by the Visitors, which only has 26.  

Interestingly also making a break into the big time is 'DROP DEAD DARLING' which was released again this year on the CHERRY RED compilation album C85. However, as I did 2 versions of this the 2002 version by the Red Smed band is easily winning on 923 views while the original Sedgemorons version from 1985 is somewhat behind on 636.


This means the Top Ten this year is

  • The Partisan Song (Red Smed)  388,679
  • Leon Trotsky (Red Smed) 6,897
  • Katyusha (Red Smed) 6,696
  • Secret Seven (The Dangerous Brothers) 2,252
  • Bridgwater (Red Smed) 1,661
  • Route 666 (Club Whoopee) 1,587
  • Me & My Clone (Me and Cathy) 1,112
  • Fat Bald Dave (Me and Cathy) 1,042
  • I'm Too Fat to Rock (Red Smed) 959
  • Drop Dead Darling (Red Smed) 923


Odd that the top 3 are also possible to mistake for You Tube documentaries or hits by the Red Army Choir, that the next one could be someone searching for Enid Blyton, or a Travel guide to an interesting West Country town. Or that 2 of the top 10 are just me and my daughter with a portastudio in the attic of my old flat on West Quay with me playing all the instruments...Who can explain such a phenomenon. Or. Even be bothered to. 

More's to the point, instead of wasting your time on Christmas TV, here's the full list with all the links you'll need to hear them for yourself......


THE RED SMED TOP 60 FOR 2022
1. Partisan Song Red Smed (Trad) 388,679
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1IDRK5Uryo 
2. Leon Trotsky Red Smed (Smedley) 6,897
3. Katyusha Red Smed (Trad) 6,696
4. Secret Seven Dangerous Brothers (Smedley) 2,252
5. Bridgwater Red Smed (Smedley) 1,661
6. Route 666 Club Whoopee  (Trad) 1,587
7. Me and My Clone Red Smed (Smedley/Newman) 1,112
8. Fat Bald Dave Red Smed (Smedley) 1,042
9. Too Fat to Rock Red Smed (Smedley/Newman) 959
10. Drop Dead Darling Red Smed (Smedley/Kane) 923
11. Ello Ello Ello Dangerous Brothers (Smedley/Rude) 916
12. Bohemia Sekt The Visitors (Bartlett) 904
13. The Bridgwater Stop Line Documentary (Smedley) 898
14. I Need a Girlfriend The Sedgemorons (Smedley/Beasley)  877
15. Do the Washing up Red Smed (Smedley) 861
16. County Councillor Dangerous Brothers (Smedley) 816
17. False Nose Dangerous Brothers (Smedley) 696
18. Bridgwater History Day 2020 Documentary (Smedley) 667
19. Drop Dead Darling (single) The Sedgemorons (Smedley/Kane) 636 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLjdGl2dt6U 
20. The Internationale Red Smed (trad) 575
21. Rock n Roll Lizard Club Whoopee (Smedley/Newman) 556
22. The Magnificent Several Red Smed (Trad) 528
23. Party at Brians Red Smed (SmedleyBeaslyFraserBruce) 521
24. Buddy can you spare a Dime Club Whoopee (Trad) 491
25. Swedish language yeh yeh yeh Red Smed (Smedley) 452
26. When Teddy’s Gone The Spanners (Smedley/Vernon) 439
27. Multifreight Red Smed (Smedley) 419
28. Don’t be so Bloody Miserable Red Smed (Smedley) 417
29. Sin and Sodomy Club Whoopee (Smedley/Mander) 413
30. Clever Students Dangerous Brothers (Smedley) 388
31. We’re all Going Shopping Red Smed (Smedley/Kane) 383
32. Greed The Sedgemorons (Smedley) 377
33. Rock n Roll is Pretty Exciting Red Smed (SmedleyBeasleyFraserBruce) 370 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yPQzPsENp8 
34. Rock n Roll is Pretty Exciting (live) Red Smed (Smedley/BeasleyFraserBruce) 303 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQQgLhs2iuA 
35. Wish I Was George Formby Dangerous Brothers (Smedley/Rude) 300 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FkO8Ay-3dg 
36. Stalin was a Really Nice Bloke the Spanners (Smedley) 282
37. Leon Trotsky The Sedgemorons (Smedley) 274
38. Internal Organs Dangerous Brothers (Rude) 273
39. Bonny Van Driver Red Smed (Smedley) 266
40. Stogumber Cajun Gumbo Red Smed (Smedley) 253
41. I Hope you Die The Funbunnies (Smedley / Newman) 214
42. Westover Rhapsody Red Smed (Smedley) 196
43. Rhapsody in Westover Red Smed (Smedley) 176
44. a very merry snowmouse Snowmouse himself (trad) 168
45. Sands of Morocco The Visitors (Bartlett) 165
46. Mezi Horami (B'int 2015) Red Smed (Cechomor arr Smedley) 160 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN4QMeyzWao 
47. Dancing Shoes Red Smed (Trad arr Smedley) 149
48. Clare to Here Red Smed (Trad arr Smedley) 142
49. Dave the Snooker Table Sheep Worrying Theatre (Smedley/Vernon) 129
50. Avengers Theme (B'int 2017-18)Red Smed (Trad arr Smedley) 127 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3s7iacaFwo 
51. Smalltown The Sedgemorons (Smedley/ Dixie) 124
52. Women Only The Sedgemorons (Smedley/ Dixie) 115
53. We'll be in Love Forever Sheep Worrying Theatre  (Smedley/McCausland) 112 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjZSnGOewLc 
54. Bad Sir Bastard Sheep Worrying Theatre  (Smedley) 110
55. Rock n Roll is Pretty Exciting The Sedgemorons (SmedleyBeasleyFraserBruce) 110 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w19WQvbey5E 
56. You're Sort of Okay Club Whoopee (Smedley/ Newman) 109
57. Moondance The Funbunnies (van morrison) 87
58. Snowmouse 21 Snowmouse himself (trad) 80
59. The Partisan Song Red Smed (trad) 56
60. Another Watercolour Picture The Visitors (Bartlett) 26

If you have been as fascinated as I have by all this (and I've been eating a very nice Kapustova soup while watching old episodes of Thunderbirds) then you can find out the background to all the above on the new Sheep Worrying Website
or if you'd rather organise a nice international trip for 2023 (or want to c heck out the ones we've done over the last 30 years) then have a look at this one

Sunday 12 December 2021

The Red Smed Hit Parade of the Year 2021

 

It's , yes, 2021. And it's Christmas. Covid has been with us for over a year and has now become Omicron. Which in the 1970's might have sounded like some Robot Saviour from another planet. But it isn't. So fuck all (in the most general sense) has happened since this time last year. And therefore here's the totally interesting (to me , if to no one else) updated 'Red Smed video charts'.  Most importantly, the big news of the year for me, is that i've now got a beard. I wasn't sure at first but now it seems to have grown on me.....

Song

Artiste

Composer

Dec-20

Dec-21

link

Partisan song

Red Smed

Trad

387,667

388,350

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1IDRK5Uryo

Leon Trotsky

Red Smed

Smedley

6,609

6,706

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUfcWfouE_c&t=24s

Katyusha

Red Smed

Trad

6,554

6,652

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQLu2qEUzv8&t=5s

Secret Seven

Dangerous Brothers

Smedley

2,165

2,214

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxTwPfewBSM&t=32s

Bridgwater

Red Smed

Smedley

1,523

1,594

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQPYMX5e7nw&t=19s

Route 666

Club Whoopee

Trad

1,536

1,566

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pniaNUyGBGQ

Me and My Clone

Red Smed

Smedley/Newman

1,073

1,083

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FtfJdpYp70

Fat Bald Dave

Red Smed

Smedley

965

1,022

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu8slHpvcEo&t=7s

Too Fat to Rock

Red Smed

Smedley/Newman

893

930

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxBbJ-15QhA

Drop Dead Darling

Red Smed

Smedley/Kane

865

883

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyGX0dt_imM

Bohemia Sekt

The Visitors

Bartlett

850

883

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj_zxkx7woc

Ello Ello Ello

Dangerous Brothers

Smedley/Rude

843

875

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBqJDSz_bpM&t=20s

I Need a Girlfriend

The Sedgemorons

Smedley/Beasley

774

837

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT4nGtbHWuk

Do the Washing up

Red Smed

Smedley

774

829

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4j54MhkOPw

County Councillor

Dangerous Brothers

Smedley

736

773

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2xYqM0pbLM&t=28s

The Bridgwater Stop Line

Documentary

Smedley

99

639

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBAcldyjmxk&t=138s

False Nose

Dangerous Brothers

Smedley

591

625

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA-l8JmGDyY

The Internationale

Red Smed

trad

548

563

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pQmCO3BB9Q

Rock n Roll Lizard

Club Whoopee

Smedley/Newman

509

531

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXuiavU3b-s

Bridgwater History Day 2020

Documentary

Smedley

265

515

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5BUD8igFRg&t=4800s

Drop Dead Darling (single)

The Sedgemorons

Smedley/Kane

452

510

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLjdGl2dt6U

Party at Brians

Red Smed

SmedleyBeaslyFraserBruce

472

500

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORcN-1_CnU4&t=36s

The Magnificent Several

Red Smed

Trad

470

497

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5KtBbuiqcY

Buddy can you spare a Dime

Club Whoopee

Trad

469

480

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukwqtlBwl9w

Swedish language yeh yeh yeh

Red Smed

Smedley

418

440

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVRm8TsjuQg

When Teddy’s Gone

The Spanners

Smedley/Vernon

406

416

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCAglEuYs60

Don’t be so bloody Miserable

Red Smed

Smedley

389

404

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnPv5TEFFQE

Sin and Sodomy

Club Whoopee

Smedley/Mander

327

384

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqaduML2aqA

Multifreight

Red Smed

Smedley

355

382

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX9YpFgI6VA

Rock n Roll is Pretty Exciting

Red Smed

SmedleyBeasleyFraserBruce

352

359

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yPQzPsENp8

Greed

The Sedgemorons

Smedley

347

356

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVUpuQPfDv4

We’re all going Shopping

Red Smed

Smedley/Kane

328

338

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXhBpSd4Tkc&t=26s

Clever Students

Dangerous Brothers

Smedley

298

323

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09YUtXsbBhs&t=4s

Rock n roll is pretty Exciting (live)

Red Smed

Smedley/BeasleyFraserBruce

279

285

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQQgLhs2iuA

Stalin was a really Nice bloke

the Spanners

Smedley

254

267

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8vMkT_8ouU

George Formby

Dangerous Brothers

Smedley/Rude

213

248

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FkO8Ay-3dg

Bonny Van Driver

Red Smed

Smedley

232

247

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YUyoe0BeC0

Leon Trotsky

The Sedgemorons

Smedley

214

245

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GW_XYw4YTdo&t=81s

Stogumber Cajun Gumbo

Red Smed

Smedley

230

242

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ0F1d34p58&t=13s

internal organs

Dangerous Brothers

Rude

212

239

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wapy23WiMzs

I Hope you Die

The Funbunnies

Smedley / Newman

157

196

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3Knhv8wj44

Rhapsody in Westover

Red Smed

Smedley

164

171

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn2hJa3gqKk

a very merry snowmouse

Snowmouse himself

trad

147

165

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiaLQWyL6XQ

Mezi Horami (B'int 2015)

Red Smed

Cechomor arr Smedley

142

151

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN4QMeyzWao

Sands of Morocco

The Visitors

Bartlett

142

148

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZchmnpwO90&t=2s

Dancing Shoes

Red Smed

Trad arr Smedley

127

140

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tu6v9WQkYP4

Westover Rhapsody

Red Smed

Smedley

70

130

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DmhqtXSQH0&t=31s

Dave the snooker table

Sheep Worrying

Smedley/Vernon

111

117

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg5ljIFuQlg

clare to here

Red Smed

Trad arr Smedley

101

115

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elwhdUGkgzE&t=41s

Avengers Theme (B'int 2017-18)

Red Smed

Trad arr Smedley

98

113

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3s7iacaFwo

We'll be in love forever

Sheep Worrying

Smedley/McCausland

103

106

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjZSnGOewLc

Smalltown

The Sedgemorons

Smedley/ Dixie

92

105

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkIm4RNheYU

Bad sir Bastard

Sheep Worrying

Smedley

97

104

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nqjFQDIe6A

Women Only

The Sedgemorons

Smedley/ Dixie

78

92

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUGS4ccArpU

Rock n roll is pretty exciting

The Sedgemorons

SmedleyBeasleyFraserBruce

72

90

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w19WQvbey5E

You're sort of okay

Club Whoopee

Smedley/ Newman

61

79

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhxZw2iS5wk