Come Drink With Me

Classic Wu Xia action from Shaw Brothers starring Cheng Pei Pei. I saw this a couple of years ago on the big screen at the National Film Theatre in London when they had a Martial Arts season on. Fantastic to see it on the big screen. Cheng Pei Pei is familiar to most Western audiences from her role as Jade Fox in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon but she was a big Shaw Brothers star back in the 1960s. The movie features a prototype for the Drunken Master character, called Drunken Cat played by Yueh Hua.
According to IMDB Cheng Pei Pei currently has 3 films in production. Her daughter Eugenia Yuan is also an actress and had a minor role in Memoirs of a Geisha (a film which I did not rate highly!), she stars with her mother in the upcoming The Shanghai Hotel. You can see a trailer for this new movie on Youtube.

Tofu Herb Salad Recipe

easy and tasty lunch recipe

• 1 block firm tofu
  
• 1 small bunch coriander
  
• 1 small bunch mint
  
• 1 small bunch sweet basil
  
• handful of toasted sesame seeds
  
• sesame oil
  
• soya sauce
  
• black pepper
  
• 1 clove of garlic
  

cut the tofu up into medium chunks, leave to marinate for an hour or so in sesame oil and soya sauce. tear coriander, mint and basil into a bowl. toast some sesame seeds and add to the herbs with the tofu chunks, mix in. add chopped raw baby sweetcorn for added crunch. make a dressing with sesame oil, soya sauce, black pepper and finely chopped garlics and mix into salad. serve with rice. nice.

talking of tofu, check out Tofu magazine: http://www.tofu-magazine.net/newVersion/pages/home.htm

Marlene Dietrich 'Shanghai Express' poster

Chinese Jamaican Reggae part 2 now online as podcast

Click here to get your own player.

Listen to Lucky Cat shows online

At last I have set up a podcast facility for 2005-6 Lucky Cat shows. To kick things off I have put up the show on Chinese Jamaican Reggae, co-presented by Jak Ripley, from 10th Feb 2006. More to come....


Click here to get your own player.

Great Chinese LP Cover

Tom Yum Goong/Honour of the Dragon/The Warrior King/Thai Elephants In Space/Trunken Master

Review by Simon of mediapill.com

Anyone who has seen Ong Bak may be slightly apprehensive at the start of Tom Yum. Ong Bak pretty much went straight in with fast paced action and didn't let up. Tom Yum starts with a 20-30 minute sequence establishing young Kahm's (Jaa) love for elephants (platonic).

Some may find this beautiful and necessary exposition to set up the character for the events and journey he is to undertake as a young man, others may feel this is twenty minutes of cloying sentimentality that could have been better spent showing Jaa kicking heads/lampposts/windows. I'm on the fence. Hopefully a fence Tony Jaa would kick a man through whilst I watched in slack jawed amazement.

Don't worry though, after the I-Love-My-Elephants bit is out of the way, the pace picks up back to what we expect. After his two elephant friends are kidnapped, Kahm travels to Australia to get them back - and uses his Muay Thai fighting to skills battle a series of thugs, punks, scum, bodyguards, Wushu fighters, wrestlers, Capoeira fighters, BMX gangs and an evil woman. All right!

Aided by a Thai born Australian cop (Thai comedian Petchtai Wongkamlao, who appeared as 'Dirty Balls' in Ong Bak) Kahn discovers a conspiracy that involves Chinese gangsters and corrupt Australian government officials. The action is slick and spectacular, and Tom Yum even manages to squeeze a brief cameo from Jackie Chan giving Jaa a thumbs up gesture. Awesome!

Tom Yum isn't that different to Ong Bak - it's the story of a man fighting against incredible odds to reclaim his heritage - though it's still and incredibly enjoyable film. If you're a fan Jaa's previous outings then this won't disappoint, and if you've never seen any of his films you should watch Tom Yum Goong and Ong Bak in one sitting. You know. Bak to bak.

The Voice of Doraemon

Doraemon is a Japanese anime robot cat from the future. I love him.
Visit the Doraemon shop: http://www.pingmag.jp/2005/11/14/the-doraemon-shop/

Together At Last

R Kelly style RnB and Peking Opera! Stumbled across this on YouTube. It's by Lee-Hom Wang, American born Taiwanese singer/songwriter. It's not to my taste but it's an interesting product of the global diaspora.
Find out more about him at Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee-Hom_Wang

Operation Blue Wasp

These are a selection of lobby cards from the movie Operation Blue Wasp that I found whilst browsing ebay. Looks like a great Hong Kong B movie. I have been unable to find any information on the film online.

Jaa is back on the big screen

No wires, No CGI, No stuntman - JUST JAA!

Warrior King is the latest movie from Thai action star Tony Jaa. Titled in Asia Tom Yum Goong (a Thai soup, see my recipe here), also known as Elephant Love Soup! The UK title is slightly less eccentric. Aw. Well, I suppose no one would want to go see an action movie set in Scotland called Mulligatawny would they? Or would they.....

Check out the trailer here:
http://onlinemoviepromo.com/player.php?id=774

Mira Stout / Korean cultural info

Korean/American writer Mira Stout was on last week's programme. We talked about her wonderful book One Thousand Chestnut Trees which is semi-autobiographical and tells the story of a young woman tracing her Korean roots.
Mira recommended the Korean restaurant Kaya in Albermale Street London for fancy Korean food. She also gave a recipe for Bulgogi.

Talking of all things Korean the Yohangza Theatre company are putting on A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Barbcian Theatre in London this summer,see:
http://www.barbican.org.uk/theatre/event-detail.asp?ID=3655

Playlist for 16th June 2006

• The Butterfly Lovers - Excerpt from a Traditional Chinese Opera
  
• Moonlight Reflected On The Water - Chinese Traditional Erhu Music
  
• Tea Harvest - Lei Qiang, Erhu music
  
• Peking Opera Melodies - from a Chinese Folk Music LP
  
• Flowing Water - from Pekiing Opera melodies LP
  
• Tzuyeh-Thundering Dragon - from Gongs & Drums Of The Peking Opera
  
• Jet 747 - The Jets
  
• A Thousand Changes Tonight - Jackie Chan & Anita Mui
  
• Years Flow As Water - Anita Mui
  
• Ying Tian - Karen Mok
  
• Sweet Like Candy - Winston Williams
  
• Jasmine - Chinese Traditional Erhu Music
  
• The Flickering of the Candle Flame - Chinese Traditional Erhu Music
  

Lucky Cat Show on every Friday 1-2 pm on Resonance 104.4 FM or listen online at www.resonancefm.com,repeated Tuesdays at 10am.

Win The Peacock King DVD

Hong Kong Legends (www.hongkonglegends.co.uk) have released this crazy Yuen Biao martial arts DVD based on the manga Kujaku-Oh, it's about the gates of Hell opening and Armageddon on Earth. Written by Izô Hashimoto (co-writer of Akira) it features claymation monsters and the Queen of Hell feasting o na human arm - what more do you want?! Oh yes, there's some excellent martial arts action too. I have one copy of the DVD to give away to a lucky winner! Yes, another competition, another FREE DVD yours by answering a very simple question:

The Peacock King also stars martial arts movie legend Gordon Liu (36th Chamber etc). Gordon more recently starred in Tarantino's Kill Bill II as Uma Thumran's Master. Who killed him in the movie? Name the actress (clue!) or character.

Email me with your answer: djmymelody@yahoo.com by Thursday 22nd June 2006. Competition open to UK and Europe only.

Lucky Cat Show on every Friday 1-2 pm on Resonance 104.4 FM or listen online at www.resonancefm.com,
repeated Tuesdays at 10am.

Playlist for Show 26th May 2006

• 007 - Desmond Dekker
  
• It Mek - Desmond Dekker
  
• The Israelites - Desmond Dekker
  
• Woman From Yonder - Composed by Kenji Kawai for the Seven Swords soundtrack
  
• Massacre Rhapsody - Composed by Kenji Kawai
  
• Talking About Fighting Skills - Josephine Siao Fong Fong and Chan Pao Chu (Shaw Bros soundtrack EP pictured above)
  
• Encounter at the Shrine - Composed by Kenji Kawai
  
• The Spirit of the Swords - Composed by Kenji Kawai
  
• Handsome Man - Unknown Chinese Artist (1950s)
  
• Zaijian - Josephine Siao Fong Fong
  

Lucky Cat Show on every Friday 1-2 pm on Resonance 104.4 FM or listen online at www.resonancefm.com,repeated Tuesdays at 10am.

Donnie Yen box set competition

Hong Kong Legends (www.hongkonglegends.co.uk) have brought out this fantastic Donnie Yen box set and I have one to give away to a lucky winner! The 3 films included are :

• Yuen Wo Ping's all-action martial arts classic Iron Monkey
  
• Tsui Hark's epic sequel Once Upon A Time in China II where Donnie is pitted against Jet Li
  
• The New Dragon Gate Inn, directed by Tsui Hark & Raymond Lee with a star cast: Maggie Cheung, Brigitte Lin and Tony Leung Ka Fai
  

To win this high kicking prize please tell me - What do Keanu Reeves and Donnie Yen have in common?
Email me with your answer: djmymelody@yahoo.com by Thursday 8th June 2006. Competition open to UK and Europe only.

Lucky Cat Show on every Friday 1-2 pm on Resonance 104.4 FM or listen online at www.resonancefm.com,
repeated Tuesdays at 10am.

Seven Swords Competition

The don of Hong Kong cinema, Tsui Hark, returned to our screens with the wu xia epic Seven Swords. Did you miss it at the cinema (why? I told you to go see it!) ? Well, fret not, it is now available on DVD. To celebrate the release of Seven Swords on DVD I am running a special Lucky Cat competition. To win the DVD please answer this question:

Tsui Hark appears in a Michelle Yeoh film, what is his charcater's name?

Email me at djmymelody@yahoo.com with your answer by Thursday 1st June 2006.

One entry per person. Only open to UK and Europe.

RIP Desmond Dekker

Sad news today that Desmond Dekker, King of Ska, died of a heart attack at age 64 yesterday. Desmond started out as a welder but soon found he had musical talents and was signed up to Beverley's records in Jamaica by the great producer Leslie Kong. He recorded the huge hits '007' and 'The Israelites' for Kong in the late 1960s. The latter was a massive chart hit in the UK where Desmond moved to in the 70s and pursued a career. Kong, his friend and mentor sadly died of a heart attack in 1971. Desmond's career path was not smooth after his move to the UK. In fact he was declared bankrupt in 1984. Then a TV advert for tape cassettes used 'The Israelites' and his music was brought to the attention of a new generation. He died of a heart attack in Dublin yesterday, he was about to embark upon a European tour. A distinctive, melodic voice, classic tunes, and always the nattiest of dressers, Desmond Dekker we salute you - a true Jamaican Reggae music pioneer. RIP.

Obituary: http://www.radiojamaica.com/news/story.php?category=2&story=24957

Interview: http://www.set-the-tone-67.co.uk/dis-information/dis-info%20des%20dekker.htm

Recommended listening: Rudy Got Soul: the Early Years 1963-1968 Desmond Dekker. On the Trojan label.

Korean Punk Band Crying Nut Playing Live on Today's Show

LIVE in the studio today are Crying Nut, Korea's premier punk band. For more info on the band see:

http://koreanrock.com/kr.pl?CryingNut

Lucky Cat show, 1 - 2 pm (UK time) 104.4 FM in London or online anywhere: www.resonancefm.com. The show will be repeated Tuesday 10 - 11 am.

A Chinese Tall Story

Here's a shot of Charlene Choi Cheuk-Yin from the fantasy film very loosely based on 'Journey to the West'

Early 1960s Hong Kong style

Just LOVE this pic so wanted to share it...

Playlist Friday 5th May 2006

From my Resonance FM show (every Friday 1-2 pm, repeated Tuesday 10 - 11 am), 104.4 FM in London or online anywhere at; www.resonancefm.com

First up, a few summer songs:

• Remember (Walking in the Sand) - The Shangri-Las
  
• From a Logical Point of View - Robert Mitchum
  
• Who's Sorry Yvonne - Mighty Sparrow
  
• Shimmy, Shimmy Ko Ko Bop - Little Anthony & The Imperials
  The Thai version excursion extravaganza with Thai tracks from Thai Beat A Go-Go CDs (volumes 1-3):
  including: Kawliga, Your Cheating Heart, Hit The Road Jack, Thai Boxing....
  
• Kawliga - Hank Williams
  
• Hit The Road Jack - Big Youth
  
• It's a Pity - Tanya Stepehens
  
• Money Mad - London Posse
  

Once Upon a Time In High School DVD Review

From the sub title of this film ‘the spirit of Bruce Lee lives on’ I was expecting an all action martial arts film or a perhaps a violent Korean movie with a high shock factor in the style of Old Boy and other recent offerings. However, when I watched the DVD I was pleasantly surprised as Once Upon A Time in High School is neither of these types of film. Instead it is a contemplative and touching film with bursts of violence which act not to shock but are actually relevant to the story and therefore do not sit awkwardly with the viewer. You may have guessed by now that I am not a fan of Park Chan-wook’s films Old Boy and Sympathy for Lady Vengeance. Although these films are visually stunning and have moments of brilliance I found that they descended too easily into preposterous plot twists and camp violence.

Once Upon a Time in High School is a coming of age tale, nicely framed by the main character’s fascination with Bruce Lee. The film starts with clips from Fist of Fury and Bruce Lee is referenced again at the end of the story. Set in 1978, perhaps at the height of Bruce Lee’s popularity, the film deals with the difficulties of bullying and the hierarchy system in a militaristic Korean boy’s school. There is also a love story in here (unrequited) and the comedic elements are provided by a kid called Hamburger (Park Hyo-jun) who peddles porn to his fellow students to pay for his tuition. There are some brutal fights and violence looms over the characters’ lives. The film by director Ha Yu is apparently semi-autobiographical and it is an interesting portrayal of Korea and the young generation growing up at this time. There are references to Korea's new democracy e.g. a teacher who says his badly behaved pupil ‘shames democracy’ as if that were the ultimate insult. There are also 70s references - the boys attend discos and listen to Western music. In fact, this was the one thing that made me cringe slightly - there are romantic moments in the film when the playing of 70s ballads, which now sound trite, made me snigger instead of swoon.

The young actors are all excellent, particularly the hard man Woo-sik (Lee Jung-jin) who befriends the main character Hyun-soo (Kwon Sang-woo). Over here in the UK we tend only to see a very small section of Korean cinema - mainly the violent action dramas and thrillers such as A Bittersweet Life and Old Boy (there are exceptions such as Drunk on Women and Poetry). This is a great example of other types of films that are being made in Korea. I thoroughly enjoyed Once Upon a time in High School and I would recommend a viewing.

Above are the two covers for the movie, I think the Korean DVD cover portrays the film more accurately.

This Korean movie is out now to buy from Premier Asia and all good retailers.

To find out more about Korean cinema visit: http://koreanfilm.org/index.html

Playlist Friday 28th April

• Sex Education Ghetto Style - Gil Scott Heron


• Stay in School - Otis Redding


• Good Monring Little School Girl - Smokey Hogg


• Bald Headed Teacher - Max Romeo


• Love Will Make You Fail in School - Mickey & Sylvia


• Musical Alphabet - Dennis Alcapone


• School Days - Chuck Berry


• School is Out - Gary 'U.S.' Bonds


• Teacher, Teacher - Dennis Alcapone


• Only Woman DJ With Degree - Sister Nancy


• Teacher, Teacher - Slick Rick


• Chinese verions by unknown artist of: Ce Sera Sera, Roman Guitar and Cowboy Sweetheart

Copesetic Sat 6th May

I'll be DJing in Bolton at Copesetic on Sat 6th May. It's not all flat caps and whippets up North you know...There's some great music and dancing to be had with nice vibes and friendly beer prices.
More info at www.copesetic.co.uk

Messy in Camberwell Fri 5th May

My club night MESSY returns to the traditional boozer with lovely staff The Joiner's Arms in Camberwell on Friday 5th May. £2 after 10 pm FREE before. Or pirnt this page and get in for £1.

Playlist 21st April

• Always Together - Stephen Cheng (the ONLY 1960's Rocksteady Reggae tune sung entirely in Chinese!)
  
• Chinatown - Skatalites (from the Ska Boo Da Ba LP on the Top Deck label - Justin Yap production. Recently re-released and in the shops to buy now! Lucky Cat recommends!
  
• Wisdom - The Wailers
  
• Confucious - Skatalites
  
• 2 songs from Molam: Thai Country Grove form Isan CD:
  Man Drunk, Woman Drunk - Unknown
  Broken Heart - So Let's Dance -
  
• For the Babies - Damian Marley & Stephen Marley (from Welcome to Jamrock LP)
  

Update on the Save Chinatown Campaign

Jabez Lam from Minquan (www.minquan.co.uk) joins me on today's programme to give an update on the Save Chinatown Campaign. The developers Rosewheel (www.rosewheel.co.uk) have declined to take part.

Playlist 14th April

• Ode to Tobago - Lord Kitchener (pictured above)
  
• Pagan Love Song - Al Caiola and His Orchestra and Chorus
  
• You Gotta Eat Your Spinach Baby - Shirley Temple
  
• Don't Sleep in Subway - Betty Chung
  
• What Will Be Will Be (Chinese Cover) - Unknown Artist
  
• Fox Hunt - Ben Douglas
  
• Bonjour Cheri - Gloria Lasso
  
• Cha Cha Cha De las Secretarias - Monchito and his Mambo Royals
  
• Anita Mui live in concert
  

Remembering Leslie

Today's Lucky Cat pays tribute to Leslie Cheung who tragically passed away 3 years ago on 1st April 2003.
I am joined in the studio by Annie Kwan (from The Light Surgeons) to discuss Leslie's career in film and Cantopop music.

Chinese Hip Hop

Watch a video from Taiwanese Hip Hop Group Machi: http://www.youmeiti.com/youth/pangeaasian_hiphop_artist_mach.html

Read an article on Chinese Hip Hop here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_hip_hop

Get MESSY in Camberwell this Friday 7th April

Messy web site: www.messy.org.uk

Hip Hop and the Martial Arts Movie Playlist

On today's show I was joined by artist (and my brother!) Harry Baxter to discuss Hip Hop and the influences of martial arts cinema. Harry brought in a some records to illustrate this, they were:

• Chinese Food - Biz Markie (pictured above)
  
• Perverted Monks in the House (skit) - Jeru
  
• Physical Stamina - Jeru and Afu Ra
  
• Samurai Showdown - RZA (from the sound track of the film Ghost Dog)
  
• Liquid Swords - GZA
  
• Mighty Healthy - Ghostface Killah
  
• Duel of the Iron Mic - GZA
  
• Guilloteine Swords - Wu Tang Clan
  
• Wu Tang Tribute - Rahzel
  
• The Dum Dum - Tajai
  
• Walking Through the Darkness - Tekitha (from the sound track of the film Ghost Dog)
  

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By simply emailing me: djmymelody@yahoo.com

Playlist for 10th March Show

• Massachusetts - Betty Cheung
  
• Massachusetts - Alton Ellis
  
• Enter the Dragon - The Upsetters*
  
• Exit the Dragon - The Upsetters*
  
• Sonny - Betty Cheung
  
• Anita Mui Classic Moment Live CD
  
• Hapkido - Big Youth*
  
• Kung Fu - Linval Thompson*
  
• St. James' Infirmary - Bobby Bland
  
• Cry, Cry, Cry - Bobby Bland (see discography)
  
• Ask Me 'Bout Nothing (But The Blues) - Bobby Bland
  

* Tracks from the Trojan CD Kung Fu! Reggae Vs The Martial Arts
Lucky Cat goes out LIVE every Friday 1 - 2 pm on 104.4Fm in London or online at www.resonancefm.com. Repeated Wednesdays at 10 am

Clapham Goes Ska!

My club night Messy tries out a new venue this month. Check out the web site www.messy.org.uk

Heroines of Hong Kong and Chinese Cinema

From Lingyu Ruan to Maggie Cheung Man Yuk.
I am presenting this documentary show for the Cinema Series 'I'm Ready for My Close Up' on Resonance 104.4 FM, Thursday 9th March. Tune into your radio if in London or tap in to www.resonancefm.com if not in the range and listen online, anywhere!
Special guest HK film fanatic Annie Kwan (http://www.thelightsurgeons.co.uk) talks to me about her favourite modern actresses.

Links of interest:
Lingyu Ruan:(pictured above)http://www.geocities.com/lingyuruan/engmain.html
Betty Loh Ti:http://www.geocities.com/lediweb/index_E.htm
Ivy Ling Po:http://www.genting.com.my/en/live_ent/2001/ling_po/info.htm
Josephine Siao Fong Fong:http://www.lovehkfilm.com/people/siao_josephine.htm
Cheng Pei Pei:http://www.filmfreakcentral.net/diff/cpeipeiinterview.htm
Angela Mao: http://angelaslegacy.com/
http://www.angelfire.com/az/ying/
Michelle Yeoh:http://michelleyeoh.info/
Gong Li:http://www.admiringgongli.com/
Anita Mui Yim Fong:http://www.mui-mui.org/
Maggie Cheung Man Yuk:http://www.asianconnections.com/ent/p.php/19

Playlist 3rd March 2006

• The Cowboy Serenade (Rolling My Last Cigarette) - The Charioteers
  
• Jamaica Ska - Byron Lee and The Ska Kings
  
• Please Don't Let Me Love You - Hank williams
  
• Alone and Forsaken - Hank Williams
  
• Weeping Willow Tree - The Lilly Brothers
  
• Pine and Cypress Trees in Whirling Snow - Wong Ching
  
• Devil's Gallop - The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
  
• Try Hard - The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
  
• Make Up your Mind - Poon Sow Keng
  
• No Fish Today - The Red Caps
  
• Ital Stew - Augustus Pablo
  (background for dim sum lunch box; Chinese Malaysian Salt Fish Fried Rice)
  
• A Kiss of Love - Wong Ling
  

Chiu Wai - Upcoming Projects

Hong Kong Star Leung, U.S. Crime Writer Join Forces

Tony Leung Chiu-wai to Star as Mei Lanfang
Excited about this one. It will be a biopic of the Peking Opera star of the early 20th Century Mei Lanfang (pictured above next to Tony)

Even more excited about the project with Wong Kar Wai, though not sure when this will finally come out. It will be a martial arts film set in the 1950s based on the life of Bruce Lee's master. Read more about Wong Kar Wai's upcoming projects (unfortunately for Kar Wai - Chiu Wai fans this project is no. 3 on the list. Get your priorities right WKW!): http://www.ioncinema.com/beta/news.php?nid=1061

Not so excited about this one (due to Woo's recent lack of form, he's making another He Man movie for goodness sakes!) : Tony Leung to team up with John Woo. Of course the two have worked together before ('Bullet in the Head', 'Hardboiled') but that was before Woo was wooed by Hollywood. Go to monkey Peaches (love that site) for all the latest: http://www.monkeypeaches.com/battleofredcliff.html

Want more Tony Leung Chiu Wai? Got to www.tonyleung.org there are even downloadable sound clips of Tony singing here.

Seoul Raiders - Tony Leung Chiu Wai

Seoul Raiders has been released on DVD by Hong Kong Legends, 27th February. This is not the DVD cover for the UK edition (I like this one more because it's just Tony!). The film co-stars Shu Qi (from The Eye 2 & The Transporter) and Richie Ren (Silverhawk) and is directed by Jingle Ma (brother of Jangle ;-). Lightweight, glossy, comedic kung fu shenanigans. The film tries too hard to be an amalgamation of Western style secret agent/spy/thriller/Charlie's Angels/car chase movies. High production values and capable direction but nothing exceptional. This is a follow up to Tokyo Raiders which I have not seen (please comment here if you have). It's all a bit of silly nonsense really and it's one of those films that makes you keep guessing about Leung's career path. (Don't worry, his new projects sound interesting...see my latest post...).

Pork - Jamaican/Chinese style

Remember I was looking for a Chinese/Jamaican fusion recipe? I found one! It's for Chinese Jamaican pork fried rice and can be found here:
http://www.jamaicans.com/cooking/pork/porkfryrice.shtml
Some care seems to have been taken over the presentation but it's served in a tin foil take away dish!
For an Ang Lee pork dish see: http://www.danwei.org/archives/002416.html

Playlist for 24th Feb Show

• White Snow in Early Spring - Wong Ching
  
• He's So Fine - Chiffons
  
• Haiphong Harbour - UNIT
  
• She's But a Little Girl - Max Romeo
  
• I'm in the Mood for Ska - Lord Tanamo
  
• I'm in the Mood for Love - Betty Hutton (pic on right is from http://theimaginaryworld.com
  
• Yumeji's Theme - Shigeru Umebayashi
  
• 2046 Main Theme (With Percussion) - Shigeru Umebayashi
  
• Mo Wan's Dialogue - Tony Leung
  
• Angkor Wat Theme 1 - Michael Galasso
  
• Main Theme ITMFL - Michael Galasso
  
• Shuang Shuang Yan - performed by Deng Bai Ying
  

Brilliant new club night next month

I have been meaning to put this up for ages. I am guest DJing in Bolton on 25th March at the Balmoral Hotel at this cool new night called COPESETIC. It will be a great night of vintage sounds - Ska, Soul, RnB and Rocksteady in a friendly venue with cheap booze - what more could you possibly ask for? If you live in the locale or fancy a trip away it would be great to see you there.
Check out the marvellous web site for more details:
www.copesetic.co.uk
Or mosey on over to the Copesetic blog:
www.copeseticnights.blogspot.com/
Jak Ripley who co-presented the first of my shows on Chinese Jamaican Reggae will be DJing alongside Perry and Rob. Trust me these guys have some phenomenal 45s! Gonna be a scorcher!

My Jerk Chicken Recipe

My Jerk Chicken Recipe

Ingredients:
Chicken thighs / legs
Lime
Fresh Thyme
Powdered Jerk Seasoning
Cayenne Pepper
A few Pimento Balls
A few Black Pepper Corns
Cinnamon
3 Spring Onions
1/2 Carrots
Tin of tomatoes (chopped)
Pinch of Salt
Fresh Ginger
Fresh Garlic
Vegetable Oil


Remove the skin from the chicken. Wash with lime (rub lime on to chicken flesh). Score the chicken flesh a little with a knife.
For the marinade: Pound garlic and ginger and mix in Jerk powder with a small pinch of cinnamon and a little cayenne pepper. Add a teaspoon of oil and two teaspoons of water to make it into a paste. Crumble in a little fresh thyme.
Cover the chicken with the marinade and leave in the fridge for at least an hour (more time = more flavour).
Chop carrots and spring onions into rounds. Get a deep oven dish and place chicken in it. Cover with the tin of chopped tomatoes, mix in carrots and spring onions, black pepper corns, pimento balls and a pinch of salt. The chicken should now be sitting in a tomato-y sauce. Cover with some sprigs of fresh thyme. Roast in the oven at medium heat for 2 hours or so.
Serve with rice n peas and coleslaw.

Chinese Reggae Playlists

Friday 10th Feb - the 50s & 60s

• Kingston Thirteen - Bells Group (early Blue Beat 45 the kind of tune that Tom the Great Sebastian aka Thomas Wong would have played on his soundsystem, which was one of the first in Jamaica in the 1950s)
  
• Hot Reggae - Byron Lee & the Dragonnaires
  
• Rocksteady - Byron Lee
  
• Chinatown - The Skatalites. Produced by Justin Yap, Top Deck Records. Available on the recently re-issued Ska Boo Da Ba double LP. Highly recommended! Get it on vinyl from HMV or from Amazon on CD
  
• China Clipper - The Skatalites
  
• Forward March - Derrick Morgan (Leslie Kong prouction celebrating Jamaican Independence in 1962)
  
• Judge Not - Robert Marley (Marley's first tune was cut for Kong's Beverleys label!)
  
• Pee Pee Cluck Cluck - Toots and the Maytals (from the LP From the Roots)
  
• She Does it to Me Right - Jimmi Cliff (B Side to Vietnam, heralded as the best protest song ever by Bob Dylan. Another acheivement for Beverleys)
  
• Look Before you Leap - Derrick and Patsy
  

Friday 17th Feb - late 60's, 70's

• Blackhead Chinaman - Prince Buster (Buster taunts Derrick Morgan and insinuates that the Chinese are taking over the record business in JA)
  
• Blazing Fire - Derrick Morgan (produed by Leslie Kong). The answer record which features Derrick cussing in Cantonese.
  
• East of the River Nile - Augustus Pablo (produced by Herman Chin Loy cousin of Leslie Kong and founder of Aquarius Record Label)
  
• Lost Penny - Toots and The Maytals (from the LP Skatalites and friends at Randys). Vincent 'Randy' Chin started Randy;s Records shop in JA which later became Randys record label when they built a recording studio above the shop. Vincent's son Clive entered into the business aged just 15.
  
• Mission Impossible - Randy's Allstars (Clive Chin's Impact! label)
  
• Jackie's Theme - Jackie Mittoo & Randy's Allstars (Impact!)
  
• Ghetto Guns Randy's All Stars (produced by Clive Chin on Impact! Record Label)
  
• Sugar Sugar - Bob Marley (Impact!)
  
• Lover's Mood - Augustus Pablo (produced by Leonard 'Santic' Chin - no relation to Clive)
  
• I Man Time - I Roy (prod Jo Jo Hookim)
  
• Here I am Baby - Al Brown (prod Geoffrey Chung)
  
• It's a Pity - Tanya Stephens (published by Chin family owned VP Records)
  

Chinese Contribution to Reggae Music

Today's Lucky Cat show celebrates the Chinese Contribution to Reggae Music. 1 - 2pm Resonance 104.4FM www.resonancefm.com
Today's show will discuss Tom the Great Sebastian, Leslie Kong, Justin Yap and Byron Lee.
Presented by myself Zoe Baxter and guest co-host Jak Ripley.
See Danwei for an interesting article on Chinese Jamaican Reggae Pioneers: http://www.danwei.org/archives/000657.html
Jak and I are DJing tonight in Camberwell - see www.messy.org.uk for details
Join the Luck Cat mailing list by emailing djmymelody@yahoo.com

Seven Swords the new Tsui Hark film

The new Tsui Hark wuxia epic Seven Swords is released here in the UK on 24th February. Definitely one to watch at the cinema with sweeping visual style and plenty of gruesome beheadings! Highlights for me were Lau Kar Leung's performance and someone getting pounded to death by a lute. The story is a little disjointed at times as it buckles under the weight of the seven main characters but stick with at as it really picks up in the second half. The seeds for the sequel are planted in this movie, perhaps this will not run as long as the Once Upon a Time in China series but it will run. . .

Playlist Friday 3rd Feb 2006

• 'Jealous of You' - Connie Francis
  
• 'Love Me' - Sam Cooke
  
• 'Never Be the Same' - Rita and Sakura
  
• 'Watch This Sound' - The Uniques
  
• 'Lam Phun Songlao Mao Ganja (Ganja Better Than Booze)'
  
• 'Sao Noi Makaleng (Young Girl from Makaleng)'
  
• 'Red Eyes' - Vivian Jones
  
• 'Single Girl' - Rita and Sakura
  
• 'Don't Want to Lose You' - Carolyn Franklin
  
• 'Every Little Bit Hurts' - Brenda Holloway
  
• 'My Baby Likes to Boogaloo' - Don Gardner
  

Michelle Yeoh Supercop Desktop

Click to enlarge and then save to have Michelle as Supercop on your Desktop!

Resonance Show Friday 27th January

Today's programme featured an interview with special guest Betty Yao, Programme Director at Asia House (www.asiahouse.org). We talked about Asia House and their programme of events, Chinese New Year and special foods. if you missed the show it will be repeated on Tuesday at 10am at www.resonancefm.comor if in London you can tune in to 104.4FM.
Today's playlist:

• Hound Dog by Big Mama Thornton
  
• Don’t Want, Don’t Want - Marriage? No Way / Mai Ow, Mai Ow by Gawow Seungthong. Singer Chaba Petchaboon
  from Molam: Thai Country Groove from Isan on the Sublime Frequencies label
  
• Cry Into the Pillow / Sop Na kap Mon by Sbaithong Powpuri (also from Molam CD)
  
• Tears on My Pillow by Little Anthony and the Imperials
  
• Jin Long Uen/Song Huei Liou - Excerpt from Hanshan Temple
  
• JAVA SUNDA Gamelan music
  

Playlist for 20th Jan Show

• El Pussycat - Roland Alpshonso
  
• Xiyang Xiaogu (Flute and Drum at Sunset) - UK Chinese Ensemble
  
• James Bond Theme - Gerry Glenn & His Orchestra
  
• James Bond - Roland Alphonso
  
• Housewife's Choice - Derrick and Patsy
  
• Japanese Girl - Lloyd Clark
  
• Flying Machine - Byron Lee and The Dragonnaires
  
• A Wedding Interrupted - Tan Dun & Yo Yo Ma (CTHD Soundtrack)
  
• Night Fight - Tan Dun & Yo Yo Ma (CTHD Soundtrack)
  
• A love Before Time - Coco Lee (CTHD Soundtrack)
  

Today's Lucky Cat radio show celebrates Michelle Yeoh

'Wing Chun' (1994) is my favourite Michelle Yeoh movie of all time! I'll be reviewing Michelle's films, playing Michelle-related music and talking about her life on today's show. 1-2 pm www.resonancefm.com or if you're in London tune in to 104.4 FM.
The Michelle Yeoh Web Theatre is a great site. Also, check Michelle Yeoh Daily for recent photos (some here from the UK premiere of 'Memoirs of A Geisha').

Playlist for Fri 13th Jan 2006

• Love By the Riverside - Wong Ling
  
• Valse Chinoise - Jo l'Auvergnat
  
• Wives and Lovers - Roland Alphonso & Soul Bros (from Ska Au Go Go LP)
  
• Shaft - Byron Lee and the Dragonnaires
  
• Hound Dog - Big Mama Thornton
  
• Muay Thai music
  
• Tears That I Cry - Wong Ling
  
• One More Drink - Wong Ling
  

Lucky Cat is on every Friday 1-2 pm on Resonance 104.4 FM (London) or listen online at www.resonancefm.com, repeated Tuesdays at 10am.

Chinese New Year Events in London

The Year of the Dog approaches. Check out the Visit London web site for events details:
http://visitlondon.com/whats_on/china_in_london.html
2006 is China in London Year and there are events happening throughout the year, find them on this site too.
Yellow Earth Theatre are participating in a performance at the Royal Opera House on 1st February, click here for details:
www.yellowearth.org

My Tofu Recipe

you will need:

• tofu
  
• black bean sauce
  
• spring onions
  
• plenty of ground nut or veg oil
  
• rice
  
• lime
  
• 2 little cucumbers
  
• rice wine vinegar
  
• white sugar
  

Buy a large block of firm tofu. Cut it into cubes. In a bowl place two teaspoons of black bean and garlic sauce (see above brand recommendation) and a little water, mix. Then dip each tofu cube into the mixture, coating all sides. Place the tofu cubes in another bowl (or in the plastic container it came in) and when all coated put in the fridge for a couple of hours.
Heat plenty of oil (ground nut or veg) in a wok, make sure it is hot but not burning and put 4/5 cubes in, repeat until all cooked. Once fried, place cubes on greaseproof paper and keep in the oven on a plate.
Serve with rice, sprinkle chopped spring onion over the tofu, add a lime wedge and some little cucumber slices pickled in rice vinegar and sugar.

Lucky Dog - Playlist from 6th Jan Show

• Walking the Dog - Rufus Thomas
  
• Do the Dog - The Specials
  
• Can Your Pussy Do the Dog? - The Cramps
  
• Old Shep - Elvis Presley
  
• Canyons of Your Mind - Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band
  
• Rin Tin Tin TV Theme
  
• Maga Dog - Peter Tosh
  
• Maga Dog - The Heptones
  
• House Cleaning - The Spaniels
  
• Tracks from I Hate You Deeply LP
  
• I Wont be your Low Down Dog No More - Leonard Fitch
  
• Sugar Dumpling - Sam Cooke
  

Cool Anita Mui Yim Fong Wallpapers

This site is in Chinese but you can just click on the pictures to download Anita Mui Yim Fong wallpapers: http://www.anitamuiclub.com/download/index.htm