If you press Play on the Spotify Playlist for Outside Lola's, you'll hear 30 seconds from each track. Start reading straight away and you'll find that you can just about read the background to each piece and why I selected it while the relevant music plays. If you'd like to hear the whole track, just go to my Spotify page. It was important to me not to simply pick favourite songs, but to consider only tracks that clearly connected to the key moments and scenes from the novel. If Outside Lola's was a film, this would be its soundtrack.
Every Breaking Wave, U2, Songs of Innocence
A single taken from the band’s 13th album, Bono said it was about giving yourself to another person and the song refers to characters who are addicted to failure and rebirth. Jack’s looking to recover from redundancy and a broken marriage, so he’s certainly looking for a rebirth. “Every breaking wave on the shore, tells the next one there’ll be more” go the opening lines and indeed, that’s exactly what Jack finds as he swims out into the deep blue Mediterranean. No surprise really.
One of U2’s better songs from the modern era, it builds with classic melodramatic tension through Bono’s restrained vocal and a trademark guitar motif that could only be The Edge. “Gracias de nuevo”, Jack
“Sun”, Caribou, Swim
As Jack lies on the beach at Mojacar Playa at the start of the book he’s listening to Caribou on his iPod. ‘Sun’ is a track from the 2010 album ‘Swim’ that its creator Dan Snaith says was borne out of a desire to create “dance music that sounds like it’s made out of water”. The chants, layered over a techno-house throb, somehow convey the feeling of heat. It’s made for listening to on a beach, preferably as the sun comes up over the Mediterranean.
The lyrics throughout this album speak of loneliness and melancholy, crumbling relationships and relationship-related indecision, all of which loom large in Jack’s life when he heads out to Andalucia to take stock.
“Lola’s Theme”, Shapeshifters, Sound Advice
Before Jack goes to Restorante Cabo Norte to meet Beatriz he goes for a drink in Lola’s bar. The music is louder and livelier than at lunchtime. Naturally, it's ‘Lola’s Theme’, the debut single by British house duo, Shapeshifters, released in July 2004 and a big number one in the UK, a crossover club hit that also topped the American Dance Chart.
The track samples Johnny Taylor’s 1982 R’n’B hit ‘What About My Love?’. The song is written from the perspective of someone who is disillusioned and alienated, addressed to a love interest who’s helped the singer to develop a more positive outlook on life. “Turn my love around, I’m a different person” it goes. Little does Jack know, but he’s about to start having that effect on Beatriz.
“Old Man”, Neil Young, Harvest
Jack and Robert are having an evening out in Garrucha when they discuss their respective fathers, each having died in recent years. Wistful and pensive, it ultimately proves touching and humorous. This wonderful Neil Young song seems apt for the scene. Written about the caretaker of a ranch he’d bought in 1970, he compares his life to the old man’s.
This was one of the first tracks laid down for ‘Harvest’, 1972’s best selling album in America. The next day Young appeared on the Johnny Cash Show, then brought Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor back to the studio to do backing vocals, the latter adding a banjo tuned like a guitar. At Heath Ledger’s memorial service, the song was chosen to play over a slide show of his life and work. In 2018 a 72 year old Young said on stage in Chicago, “It’s hard to do ‘Old Man’ now. It’s like ‘Old man take a look at my life, I’m a lot like I am’”.
“Cuando Calienta El Sol”, Los Hermanos Rigual
When Alfredo returns to his home in Mojacar he’s surprised to find the door open. But when he hears a woman’s voice straining to sing this classic hit, he knows it can only be his Mama. Meaning ‘when the sun heats up’ it was written by a Nicaraguan bandleader called Rafael Gaston Perez. A big hit in many European countries in 1961 including Spain and Italy, it was recorded by Los Hermanos Rigual, a Cuban Mexican vocal group. This was Mama’s era!
Over the years it’s been covered by many singers, notably Alberto Vazquez, Connie Francis and Luis Miguel. If you watch A Celebrity Audience with Ken Dodd you’ll see him perform a beautiful version with perfect pronunciation. It was also adapted into an English language version called Love Me With All Your Heart, recorded by many artists including the Ray Charles Singers, Bing Crosby, Petula Clark, Englebert Humperdinck, Nancy Sinatra and Abba’s Agnetha Fältskog.
“Fiesta”, The Pogues, If I Should Fall From Grace With God
A live highlight of Pogues gigs, this song is based on a fairground melody overheard coming from a hamburger kiosk called ‘Hamburguesas Uranga’ in Almeria. It drove them mad as they were, unusually for the band, trying to sleep. They were up at six every morning to drive to the film set of ‘Straight to Hell’ (see below), then back to the Hotel Torreluz at eight at night just at Fiesta time - and in Almeria the locals fiesta until the sun comes up. As co-writer Jem Finer said, "it was either inflict it on the rest of the world or go mad".
Almeria is where all four of the story’s main characters appear together for the first time over lunch and the Torreluz is where Jack stays for a night. As well as the city, the lyrics refer to former bassist Cait O'Riordan's departure from the group and her subsequent marriage to Elvis Costello - in Spanish. The video for the single was directed by comedian and actor Ade Edmondson but sadly filmed in Barcelona.
“Strawberry Fields Forever”, The Beatles
On John Lennon’s 26th birthday he moved into Santa Isabel, a large villa in Almeria. He was in the city to play Musketeer Gripweed, a supporting actor in Richard Lester’s comedy ‘How I Won The War’. The villa, especially its wrought-iron gates and lovely gardens, reminded him of his childhood, playing in Strawberry Fields in Liverpool, owned by the Salvation Army and near where he lived. He was sufficiently inspired to complete the writing of a song he’d begun on an American tour. Using his acoustic guitar, the first recording of this psychedelic masterpiece, released as a double A-side with ‘Penny Lane’, took place in the bathroom of Santa Isabel.
The villa became the Casa del Cine de Almeria, which in the novel is where Beatriz is working, allowing Jack to visit and look around. Whilst much of the information used is factual, the account of the museum guide talking about his taxi driver uncle’s relationship with Lennon is fictional. Almeria is also where the Beatle first began wearing the round spectacles that he made famous.
“Entre Dos Aguas”, Paco de Lucia, Fuente y Caudal
An instrumental flamenco rumba, this track was recorded on Paco’s relatively unsuccessful 1973 album. Released later as a single, it took off and has long been regarded as a masterpiece of its genre and Paco’s most famous song, enjoying 22 weeks at the top of the charts in 1976. Amazingly, the song was improvised at recording rather than prepared, using two guitars, bass and bongos.
Paco de Lucia is the favourite artist of Beatriz’ Papa, which needs no justification. He needs no excuse to make it ‘Paco time’, especially on Sundays. Born in Algeciras, Paco revolutionised Flamenco music, especially in his early years recording with his friend Camarón de la Isla.
“Bananas”, Man, Be Good To Yourself At Least Once A Day
Man are simply Welsh rock aristocracy, having successfully imported West Coast psychedelic prog-rock to Merthyr Tydfil. They often threatened to make it big but always fell just short through a combination of bad luck and a revolving line-up who’s members came and went more frequently than Dominic Cummings. They were a storming live act known for their extended jams on tracks like this.
A fans’ favourite was ‘Bananas’: “I like to eat bananas, because they got no bones. I like marijuana, because it gets me stoned.” Fair enough. A logical choice for this playlist given Robert and Alfredo’s task of collecting a consignment of the yellow fruit from Mercamadrid.
“No Sufriré Jamás Por Ti”, Saratoga, “Secretos y Revelaciones”
Driving through Pinto on their way home, Robert learns from Alfredo that this is the hometown of Tete Novoa, lead singer of his favourite rock band, Saratoga. This track, meaning ‘I will never suffer for you’ was from their 2009 album ‘Secrets and Revelations’. The cargo in the van should be containing something that it shouldn't. Then, when they're stopped and searched by the police, Alfredo learns from Robert that the sniffer dogs from Madrid don’t like heavy metal! Who knew?
Saratoga were formed in 1992 and, through several line-up changes, are still performing today. Probably Spain’s best heavy metal band, they’re also big in Japan.
“Spanish Translation”, Low, Ones and Sixes
“Everything always confusion, things I could never explain. Then I saw your Spanish translation and nothing has since been the same.” The opening lines of the song could reflect Jack’s state before and after Beatriz. Taken from the brilliant 2015 album ‘Ones and Sixes’, the title makes it an obvious choice. It typifies the chilled ambience that runs through the album’s core and confusion is a lyrical theme.
Low are one of those bands that often pop up in cool TV soundtracks, sounding amazing but with no-one knowing who they are. And if you’ve never heard their Christmas album, you’ve not been doing Christmas properly.
“Concierto de Aranjuez (Adagio)”, Miles Davis, Sketches of Spain
The opening track of ‘Sketches of Spain’, AB Spellman claims that producer Gil Evans establishes a mood that “makes us feel like we’re on a hill in Andalucia, watching the goings on of a gypsy camp. At the same time there’s this cool-bop lyricism that’s all Miles Davis with its tone-bubbles blasting all round the place and all.” Better known as ‘Rodrigo’s Guitar Concerto’, it’s long, beautiful and with an unmistakably Spanish feel.
Apart from Ennio Morricone, this is the music that most immediately places me in the Tabernas Desert east of Almeria, featured in the story. Last word to AB Spellman: “This is listening music that is pensive and penetrating…it has the kind of depth to it that is transporting.” Indeed.
“Straight to Hell”, The Clash, Combat Rock
In 1987 Alex Cox directed a hurriedly conceived western parody called ‘Straight to Hell’. Named after The Clash song and starring Joe Strummer, it allegedly took only a few days to write and a month to film at peak summertime in Tabernas - the nearest town to Parque Oasys, where Robert, Beatriz and Alfredo hide out.
The film was not a success, despite cameos by Dennis Hopper, Grace Jones, Elvis Costello, Jim Jarmusch and The Pogues as coffee-addicted cowboys. Yet it seems fitting to include a track by Joe Strummer as he held a strong affinity with the area for the rest of his life. The crew stayed in Hotel Torreluz, like Jack on his night out with Beatriz. On a day off, Joe borrowed a film truck to visit San José and loved the place. In 1991 he stayed with his family at Mojacar until they found a place to stay for the summer at Los Genoveses in San José. Although there are many other connections, it’s worth mentioning that in 1986 his then partner Gaby gave birth to their second girl, Lola.
“For A Few Dollars More (Seq. 8 Chapel Shootout)”, Ennio Morricone
For the second of Sergio Leone’s spaghetti westerns, the director built new studios near Tabernas, still in use today as Parque Oasys, the theme park where Robert, Alfredo and Beatriz try to hide out. The film’s three main men are Clint Eastwood as Manco and Lee Van Kleef as Colonel Mortimer, both bounty hunters, and Gian Maria Volonté as villain El Indio. The musical score by Ennio Morricone uses a recurring motif from the identical pocket watches of Mortimer and Indio.
This motif begins for the final time during the chapel shootout where the three men face off in a triangle. The score builds the tension as they trade stares. Muscles twitch and perspiration increases. A slow acoustic guitar refrain plays, which you may feel is naggingly familiar. Imagine it in your mind speeded up and there it is…
“Blue Monday”, New Order
Yes, that’s right, the best selling 12” single of all time began life when Peter Hook tried playing Morricone’s guitar refrain a bit quicker on his six-string bass. “I’d been listening to Ennio Morricone, which sounds great on the Clint Eastwood film” said New Order’s Peter Hook. “It’s one of those wonderful riffs you carry round with you”. The band also admit there’s a number of other references that went into it. Originally released in 1983, it was re-released in various formats throughout the eighties.
In Outside Lola’s, once Jack’s final weekend has played out he feels a bit down about not seeing Beatriz and particularly about not having the chance to properly say goodbye before his return to England. At least until he rings her in the evening, he’s having a Blue Monday.
“Master Maqui”, Rodrigo y Gabriela, 11:11
The duo’s 2009 album was “eleven pieces paying tribute to eleven artists that, somehow, inspired us along the way to play what we play”. This track is dedicated to Paco de Lucia, legendary Spanish master of Flamenco. Maqui means ‘hand’ in Quechua, the indigenous language of the Andean region. In this case, as it’s a tribute to Paco de Lucia, the translation should be in Spanish: Mano Maestra.
Rodrigo and Gabriela are a Mexican brother and sister duo, influenced by ‘nuevo flamenco’, rock and heavy metal. After travelling in Europe they stopped in Dublin, performing live in pubs and busking on Grafton Street. During an eight year stay they met and opened for Damien Rice, their reputation grew and in 2006 they released their eponymously titled debut album. Go see them play live - Papa would definitely approve!
“All I Need”, Air, Moon Safari
“All I need is a little time, to get behind this sun and cast my weight”. The opening lines of this track from Moon Safari, the debut album of French band Air, seem to capture where Jack is at after he and Beatriz have said goodbye, but inadequately. He knows he just needs a little longer to sort this out and remove the frustration he feels.
Recorded at a time when the song-writing duo of Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel and guest vocalist Beth Hirsch all lived in Montmartre in Paris, it was aptly described as a “tragic café ballad”. It’s beautifully simple but achingly effective. Could Jack sort it out with Beatriz?
“One Kiss”, Calvin Harris featuring Dua Lipa
When Jack borrows Robert’s car to drive to Granada to see Beatriz for one last evening alone, it’s the most courageous he’s been since diving in to rescue Alfredo. He stays over but all he’ll admit to Robert is that they kissed. Did it go further? Was ‘one kiss’ all that happened? The track itself is 90s dance-pop that’s heavily influenced by house music and for many the soundtrack to summer 2018. Dua Lipa performed the song live ahead of the 2018 European Champions League Final between Real Madrid and Liverpool and the less said about that the better.
There’s little doubt that driving back to Mojacar the next day Jack was in a brighter, more upbeat mood. If he’d switched on the car radio there’s a good chance he’d have heard this song, a big number one in Spain and 20 other countries.
“Just one kiss is all it takes…”
“Going Back Home”, Dr Feelgood, Malpractice
The second track on the band’s second album gave its name to a 28 minute film of a hometown gig at the Kursaal in Southend in November 1975. It catches the band’s original line-up at their prime (and still in their prime a few months later when I saw them in Liverpool). This means Lee Brilleaux growling his vocals, looking dangerous and menacing; Wllko Johnson with his red and black Fender Telecaster, dementedly stalking the stage in his staccato style. It’s R’n’B laying the path to Punk and it's gloriously, energetically invigorating.
Jack may have been excited to be going home to see his family, but probably not this excited. It would liven up any journey, that’s for sure, and the aeropuerto at Almeria needs a bit of livening up.
“Ready To Start”, Arcade Fire, The Suburbs
This single, taken from 2010’s Grammy Award winning third album, was performed on the show, then again a few days later at the Brit Awards. It was also the opening track of their show at Birmingham that year, the first time I’d seen them. Were they good? Only the best live band out there. Then and now.
And the reason this track is here is because it just fits. Jack fires up the car, confused and irritated after being introduced to his wife's new friend in hospital, but knowing that something's clicked and he’s made a decision about his life. At last. It's a new stage of his life and he’s ready to start.
Comments