At last I find myself writing about a month whose name isn’t derived from a Latin number. That would be because we have moved on from the Roman calendar to the Julian and Gregorian ones. The ‘unorganised winter’ period became ‘organised’ and the months of January and February were added to the calendar so that it covered a standard lunar year of 354 days (a slight flaw there but in time it was adjusted for). The month of January is named after Janus, the god of beginnings and transitions in Roman mythology. Sounds about right.
Here in Scotland, which is in the Northern Hemisphere, it is the coldest month of the year, and true to form it has been very parky around here of late. A bit of a disaster in a year when our heating bills are sky-rocketing. Conversely, for all you lucky people in the Southern Hemisphere, it is your warmest month.
As for songs relating to the month, I ended up with a few more suggestions than I expected, so let’s crack on with them. Before I start here are a few words from C of Sun Dried Sparrows fame:
“I have a slight case (is that the right word?!) of synaesthesia, and see the months (along with days of the week and letters of the alphabet) as colours. January is a colour that I can’t even describe, kind of grey but also purple.”
I hear you C, and although the colours in my head are not quite as vivid as the ones you possibly see, that grey/purple hue sounds about right, just as orange was apt for the month of October.
Just about everyone suggested the song January by Pilot for this edition of the series but I’m going to leave it for last, as it would have been my suggestion too. Other contributions came in first of all from Ernie Goggins, who put forward January Song by Lindisfarne. I see that song is from the album Fog On The Tyne which has been written about here before when I shared photos of my late father-in-law, who also came from Newcastle. The band really were at the top of their game back in 1971 when this beautiful song was recorded.
The next set of suggestions came in from Khayem and here are his own words:
“First up is Dave Goulder from 1970 with his song January Man, covered by the likes of Bert Jansch, Christy Moore and Martin Carthy. I’ve just got one, a rather fine version by Rachel Unthank & The Winterset, link here. Also, Nick Heyward eschewed folk for frenetic acoustic pop with his same-name-song in 1993.”
Two very different styles of song there and as I said in my reply to him last month, I was a big fan of the very cute Nick Heyward back in the day, so lovely to hear something from him that was new to me.
The next contribution was from Rol:
“Very late to this, so I’ll keep it brief. I had a few suggestions, but I’ve narrowed it down to just one, The Decemberists with January Hymn.“
Another beautiful folksy song and a great clip made up of footage from a harsh 1960s winter it seems (check out the person at 1:38 – very funny). Thanks Rol.
The final suggestion was from The Swede, who thought he might be too late, but because of my tardiness he wasn’t!
“I hope I’m not too late to offer a January song suggestion. Khayem beat me to it with my first thought of January Man, so I’ll head off in a 1960s psych/prog direction with The Doorway to January, an instrumental piece by Mandrake Paddle Steamer, a band formed in my home town of Walthamstow in 1967.”
Crikey TS, it seems the Summer of Love came to Walthamstow after all, but being only aged seven I imagine you missed out. Very psychedelic as you say.
But here is the song that immediately sprang to mind for many of us of a certain vintage, January by the Scottish band Pilot. Written by lead singer David Paton and produced by Alan Parsons (he of The Project fame and Dr Evil’s scientist) the song was their sole No. 1 hit, reaching the top spot this exact week back in 1975, where it stayed for three weeks.
The song, however, was not about the month but about a girl named January, the name taken from a female protagonist in a book that David Paton’s wife was reading at the time. It’s obvious now of course but I’m not sure if it clicked back in the day, it becoming a big hit for them at this time of year.
Before I go I want to share a discovery just made this morning. I was only 14 when Pilot appeared on TOTP with their song. A few months later an artist called Andy Fairweather Lowe also appeared on TOTP, as he had a hit with the song Wide Eyed and Legless. Until today I always thought the lead singer of Pilot and Andy were the same guy, who had now gone solo – separated at birth or what? I feel really silly now, but hey, I was young and had no access to any of the info we have at our disposal nowadays.
Andy on the left and David on the right
Next month will be February, so any song suggestions will be gratefully received as ever. The worst of the winter will be past by then hopefully, and our thermostats will return to more economically manageable settings. Lighter nights too, or rather lighter afternoons, which is always a good sign.
Until next time…
January Lyrics
(Song by David Paton)
January
Sick and tired, you’ve been hanging on me
You make me sad with your eyes
You’re telling me lies
Don’t go, don’t go
January
Don’t be cold, don’t be angry to me
You make me sad, come and see
Oh, January
Don’t go, don’t go
Life gets me higher (Higher)
I can show, I can glow
I can wake up the world, little world
Gotta know you, gotta show you
Sun, like a fire (Fire)
Carry on, don’t be gone
Bring me out of my home sweet home
Gotta know me, gotta show me
You’ve been facing the world
You’ve been chasing the world
January
Sick and tired, you’ve been hanging on me
You make me sad with your eyes
You’re telling me lies
Don’t go, don’t go
January
Don’t be cold, don’t be angry to me
You make me sad, come and see
Oh, January
Don’t go, don’t go
Time, it’s a flier (Flier)
Sunny day, fly away
English summers are gone, so long
Gotta go up, gotta blow up
Sun, like a fire (Fire)
Carry on, don’t be gone
Bring me out of my home sweet home
Gotta know me, gotta show me
You’ve been facing the world
You’ve been chasing the world
January
Sick and tired, you’ve been hanging on me
You make me sad with your eyes
You’re telling me lies
Don’t go, don’t go
January
Don’t be cold, don’t be angry to me
You make me sad, come and see
Oh, January
Don’t go, don’t go
Postscript:
Some of the other people who have been suggested also look like David Paton. I’ll leave you to be the judge.
What's It All About? 
Hey, great post. The Decemberists “Jan. Hymm” is my favorite winter song ever but never saw that great video to it. Also, love Lindisfarne and the Newcastle United team! Not a ton of great February songs but “Xmas in February” by Lou Reed is a good one, pretty sad tale though it is. Happy New Year!
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Happy New Year Rick. January Hymn was new to me but what a beautiful song – I can see how it would be a favourite. Some amount of snow in that video clip and ladies heading to work in their little shoes and short skirts – Brrr…
Of course, you are a fan of football/soccer, and the Magpies it seems. I had a friend who went to Newcastle University and her halls of residence overlooked St James’ Park. Sadly she wasn’t a fan of football so wasted on her. Yes, that is a great song from Lindisfarne too. We went to Holy Island where Lindisfarne is when on holiday once in that neck of the woods. You have to time it right otherwise the causeway floods and you are cut off from the mainland. Can see why they thought it would be a good name for their band.
Thanks for the February suggestion. The suggestions mean these posts almost write themselves.
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Here’s a suggestion for February (or for March): Van Morrison’s March Winds In February.
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Thanks Neil – a suggestion for the next two months it seems.
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Very nice post thanks, Alyson, the highlight of which is definitely the Pilot video. I see what you mean about the resemblance, Mr Paton looks like Andy Fairweather-Low with a bit of Woody from the Rollers mixed in (especially around the teeth area). I also like the guitarist’s proto-mullet.
Only a couple of suggestions for February, both of them as miserable as Rick’s suggestion – ‘Cold Days of February’ by Edinburgh’s own Incredible String Band and, prompted by Khayem’s reference to Rachel Unthank, ‘Sad February’ by The Unthanks.
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I don’t mean mullet, I mean whatever the opposite of a mullet is. Watching the video again I’ve also just noticed that the keyboard player seems to have borrowed one of Les Gray’s outfit (either that or he’s auditioning for the Rubettes)
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Yes, not sure if that haircut had a name but even if you were going thin on top you still wanted to have it long at the sides it seems. The video is classic mid-70s isn’t it – a tight fitting jumper with the band name on the front, someone in a pastel suit with the wide collared shirt over the lapels and flared trousers/platform soles. My teenage wardrobe as much of it was unisex.
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Hi Ernie – Thanks for the suggestion. The second time the Incredible String Band have been put forward for this series. They must like writing seasonal songs.
It seems David Paton looks like a lot of people – Nicey (of Smashy and Nicey) has also been suggested and my husband thinks he looks like a young Nick Owen (of breakfast news fame). I seriously thought he and AFL were the same person back in the day though.
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Ah, that’s warmed the cockles of my heart, if not our rather parky house, this morning! Taking a cue from Ernie’s suggestion re: BCR’s Woody in the separated-at-birth commentary, might I also suggest that at least one of them went on top become fictional DJ Dave Nice from Fab FM? https://youtu.be/1ZaKaz-jLK8 Poptabulous!
My February suggestion is a lovely little instrumental ditty by Australian musical collective Architecture In Helsinki. One Heavy February is the opening song of their debut album (Fingers Crossed) from 2003, just under a minute long but with a fun video. https://youtu.be/Y2NZ1Vq1QZU
I own a different version from 2008 on the Like It Or Not EP. No video for this one (though an image pops up around 0:38) but it’s a veritable extended club banger, with a handy run through of the calendar towards the end, all done in under three minutes. That’ll blow the cobwebs away! https://youtu.be/MbU4dZv0Lns
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I think I’ll have to add a gallery of all the people who look like David Paton – he was a very smiley chap with nice teeth so anyone with those same features will end up a bit of a lookalike (and the longish straight hair with a side parting). Enjoyed watching that clip with Smashy and Nicey. Will add it here:
As for your suggestion, that’s a left-field one by a band/collective I’ve never heard of – it will put in an appearance next month so thanks.
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I’m not sure if Architecture In Helsinki have parted ways or just remained dormant since the Covid pandemic, but I’d highly recommend checking them out if you need your spirits lifted. I think there was a real buzz around AIH in 2007/08 which is probably how I heard them first. Heart It Races is a personal favourite.
Their videos were always highly entertaining too, most of which you can find on the AIH YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@aihmusic
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Thanks for the info.
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Has anyone pitched Fourteenth of February by Billy Bragg yet? Studio version and also a lovely, simple, live version here.
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Not yet Martin so thanks for that.
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Haha, yes, David Paton and Andy Fairweather Low – the jury’s stil out, I mean have they ever been seen together? That’s a great video for the Decemberists. Racking my brains to think of a February song but I can’t think of anything at all (apart from January February by Barbara Dickson which, as I’m sure you know is not my cup of tea at all, but for some reason I seem to know it very well, it must have had a lot of radio play at the time). Will be good to listen to others’ far more interesting suggestions next month.
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Hi C – Barbara might not be your cup of tea but she is Scottish, and used to work for the dad of one of my good friends (when she was a humble office junior in the civil service), so I may well include that one.
I’ve now added a gallery of other people who look like David Paton and although the hair is the wrong colour I’m definitely seeing Dave Nice in him too!
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I can’t beat Martin’s suggestion, but I will offer February by Dar Williams as an also-ran.
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Ok thanks – looking forward to listening to all these suggestions next month as most are new to me.
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Barbara Dickson can cover January and February (a sort of Scottish MOR Folkie Two For The Price Of One).
From the Foo Fighters The Colour & The Shape – is it the best Foos album? – comes February Stars.
Actually, just writing that album title I’ve just noticed – The Foo Fighters spell “Colour” properly, not the US English version sans U.
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Nothing wrong with a bit of Scottish MOR and as C also suggested it (grudgingly I think!) above, it’s a shoe-in for this month’s edition.
February Stars new to me so will give it a listen and report back. Yes unusual to see the word colour spelt that way. The way my computer is set up it will highlight the word to change it to color – oh the irony.
Thanks for dropping by.
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