From 1987 (apparently -- Wiki informs me there are three distinct versions of this), please enjoy loveable British pop tarts Bananarama and their sort of sprightly cover of The Supremes (post Diana Ross) classic "Nathan Jones."
A coveted PowerPop No-Prize will be awarded to the first reader who gleans the clip's relevance to the theme of tomorrow's Weekend Listomania.
Thursday, January 31, 2019
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Noted Without Comment
Had a long late night in the studio yesterday. Regular posting -- including a pretty amazing news item about David Bowie -- resumes on the morrow.
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Okay, My Last Thoughts on Greta Van Fleet
Basically, I prefer Jo Van Fleet.
No, but seriously, I had never heard of these guys (let alone had an opinion on them) until two weekends ago when they were on Saturday Night Live, and apparently pissed a lot of people off for being too blatant a Led Zeppelin knockoff.
So then I watched the SNL clips. And my immediate reaction was that they were more like a reasonably talented 1974 Southern bar band with a creepy lead singer than a Zep knockoff.
And yes, that's pretty awful.
But then I watched the second clip...
...and realized that the bass player had a) switched to actual Hammond organ(!) and b) was playing the bass part on the foot pedals, and my respect for the band went through the roof.
And then one of my much younger friends, who has actually seen them in concert and thinks they're awesome, turned me on to this song.
Which, yes, is about as much of a Led Zep homage as you can get, but frankly despite how derivative it is, I can't resist it.
,
And I don't even particularly like Led Zep.
Discuss.
[h/t Dan Fridman]
No, but seriously, I had never heard of these guys (let alone had an opinion on them) until two weekends ago when they were on Saturday Night Live, and apparently pissed a lot of people off for being too blatant a Led Zeppelin knockoff.
So then I watched the SNL clips. And my immediate reaction was that they were more like a reasonably talented 1974 Southern bar band with a creepy lead singer than a Zep knockoff.
And yes, that's pretty awful.
But then I watched the second clip...
...and realized that the bass player had a) switched to actual Hammond organ(!) and b) was playing the bass part on the foot pedals, and my respect for the band went through the roof.
And then one of my much younger friends, who has actually seen them in concert and thinks they're awesome, turned me on to this song.
Which, yes, is about as much of a Led Zep homage as you can get, but frankly despite how derivative it is, I can't resist it.
,
And I don't even particularly like Led Zep.
Discuss.
[h/t Dan Fridman]
Monday, January 28, 2019
Album of the Year
Apparently this went viral over the weekend, but in case you haven't seen it...
Click on the cover to enlarge and fully savor the song titles.
BTW, leaving Mike Love in the photo is the cream of the jest.
[h/t Laura Giantonio]
Click on the cover to enlarge and fully savor the song titles.
BTW, leaving Mike Love in the photo is the cream of the jest.
[h/t Laura Giantonio]
Friday, January 25, 2019
John Lennon's Finest Moment. Not.
So as i mentioned earlier this week, a certain Shady Dame and I were at London's Victoria and Albert Museum last Sunday, which is a fabulous place and I highly recommend it. More specifically, we were there to see an exhibition on the history of censorship in England. Which turned out to be unexpectedly droll, as you can see from the photos below.
In any event, the big whoop over a late 60s/early 70s Brit underground magazine called Oz featured prominently in the show; most Americans, even hippies like myself, were only vaguely aware of it at the time, but it was a very big and controversial deal in England and it's a fascinating story.
If only because John Lennon released an actual benefit record for the rag on Apple. Which I also hadn't known about...
...and so as soon as I got back to our hotel room, I sat down and listened to it.
And promptly wished I hadn't.
Let's just say it's not "Instant Karma."
Have a great weekend, everybody.
In any event, the big whoop over a late 60s/early 70s Brit underground magazine called Oz featured prominently in the show; most Americans, even hippies like myself, were only vaguely aware of it at the time, but it was a very big and controversial deal in England and it's a fascinating story.
If only because John Lennon released an actual benefit record for the rag on Apple. Which I also hadn't known about...
...and so as soon as I got back to our hotel room, I sat down and listened to it.
And promptly wished I hadn't.
Let's just say it's not "Instant Karma."
Have a great weekend, everybody.
Thursday, January 24, 2019
I've Lived Before!!!
From 1974, please enjoy the charmingly monikered Bridey Murphy and their why-wasn't it a hit? single "The Time Has Come."
Bridey Murphy -- named after my favorite 50s best-seller piece of nonsense The Search for Bridey Murphy (which involves a shrink who hypnotizes a young woman who then "remembers" a previous life as a young girl in 19th century Ireland) -- was a band featuring the great Waddy Wachtel, plus Paul, Barry and Bill Cowsill, of the 60s hitmakers of the same name. That single is the only record they ever made. Had it been successful, obviously, pop music history would have been changed in unfathomable ways.
Incidentally, you can watch the wonderfully cheesy B-movie version of said book over at YouTube HERE. You may or not thank me.
[h/t FD13NYC]
Bridey Murphy -- named after my favorite 50s best-seller piece of nonsense The Search for Bridey Murphy (which involves a shrink who hypnotizes a young woman who then "remembers" a previous life as a young girl in 19th century Ireland) -- was a band featuring the great Waddy Wachtel, plus Paul, Barry and Bill Cowsill, of the 60s hitmakers of the same name. That single is the only record they ever made. Had it been successful, obviously, pop music history would have been changed in unfathomable ways.
Incidentally, you can watch the wonderfully cheesy B-movie version of said book over at YouTube HERE. You may or not thank me.
[h/t FD13NYC]
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Wednesday Travel Notes
Returning home from London today, to reunite with The Incomparable Eddie©.
Regular music related postings resume tomorrow.
Regular music related postings resume tomorrow.
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
England Swings (And Apparently Too Damn Much)
Had high tea at Fortnum and Mason in London today.
BTW, it’s true — the Brits are polite to a fault. Unfortunately, given the number of them who bumped into me on the street on the way there, they’re also blind as bats.
BTW, it’s true — the Brits are polite to a fault. Unfortunately, given the number of them who bumped into me on the street on the way there, they’re also blind as bats.
Monday, January 21, 2019
Monday Shameless Filler
Checked out the Linda McCartney photo exhibition at London’s Victoria and Albert museum yesterday, and chanced across this fabulous pic of The Yardbirds circa 1968.
Hey sorry — that’s all I got today.
Hey sorry — that’s all I got today.
Friday, January 18, 2019
Weekend Listomnia: Special The Horn Blows at Midnight Edition
Well, it's Friday, and you know what that means. Yes, my Oriental fille-de-whoopie Fah Lo Suee and I are off to beautiful Mar-a-Lago(fuck yourself) to spray paint graffiti on the wall separating the President from the special counsel's investigators.
Okay, I made that up -- actually, a certain Shady Dame and I will be winging our way to London for a four day weekend, during which time -- seriously -- we will be taking in an exhibit of Linda McCartney's photographs and seeing a performance of the smash musical Hamilton. Could be a hot one, as I'm wont to say.
But in the meantime, here's a fun project for you all:
BEST OR WORST USE OF A HORN SECTION ON A POP/ROCK/SOUL RECORD!
No arbitrary rules at all, although remember, I'm talking horn section, not solo horns, so don't give me any of that Junior Walker shit. Also, I'd prefer it if the name Chicago did not enter into the festivities.
Okay, my totally top of my head Top Five:
5. Elvis Presley -- Trouble
As seen and heard in King Creole. Directed by Michael (Casablanca) Curtiz, of all people. I don't know who did the horn charts (Leiber and Stoller wrote the song, of course) but man, they kick some serious ass.
4. Otis Redding -- Can't Turn You Loose
Even the Blues Brothers couldn't spoil that arrangement.
3. Bruce Springsteen -- Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
Arrangement by the lovely and talented Little Steven, who should be immortal for this alone..
2. The Rolling Stones -- Rocks Offf
"The sunshine bores the daylights out of me." No better lyric has ever been written. Also, the horn arrangements on Exile are pretty stellar throughtout.
And the number one horn arrangement of all time, it's not even close, self-evidently is...
1. The Beatles -- Got to Get You Into My Life
Alrighty then -- what would YOUR choices be?
And have a great weekend, everybody!
Okay, I made that up -- actually, a certain Shady Dame and I will be winging our way to London for a four day weekend, during which time -- seriously -- we will be taking in an exhibit of Linda McCartney's photographs and seeing a performance of the smash musical Hamilton. Could be a hot one, as I'm wont to say.
But in the meantime, here's a fun project for you all:
BEST OR WORST USE OF A HORN SECTION ON A POP/ROCK/SOUL RECORD!
No arbitrary rules at all, although remember, I'm talking horn section, not solo horns, so don't give me any of that Junior Walker shit. Also, I'd prefer it if the name Chicago did not enter into the festivities.
Okay, my totally top of my head Top Five:
5. Elvis Presley -- Trouble
As seen and heard in King Creole. Directed by Michael (Casablanca) Curtiz, of all people. I don't know who did the horn charts (Leiber and Stoller wrote the song, of course) but man, they kick some serious ass.
4. Otis Redding -- Can't Turn You Loose
Even the Blues Brothers couldn't spoil that arrangement.
3. Bruce Springsteen -- Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
Arrangement by the lovely and talented Little Steven, who should be immortal for this alone..
2. The Rolling Stones -- Rocks Offf
"The sunshine bores the daylights out of me." No better lyric has ever been written. Also, the horn arrangements on Exile are pretty stellar throughtout.
And the number one horn arrangement of all time, it's not even close, self-evidently is...
1. The Beatles -- Got to Get You Into My Life
Alrighty then -- what would YOUR choices be?
And have a great weekend, everybody!
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