Well, it's Friday and you know what that means. Yes, my Oriental glottal stop instructress Fah Lou Suee and I will be heading off to beautiful Flathead County, Montana, where we'll be investigating some of the odder reports in the recent Flathead Beacon Police Blotter. We're particularly taken with this item, from Monday: "Three vicious pit bulls on Kelley Road slobbered on a pregnant woman while she was out walking her dog."
That being the case, and since things will most likely be a little quiet around here for a day or two, here's a fun little project to help us all wile away the hours:
Post-Elvis Rock Group or Solo Artist Whose Life And Work Would Make a Great or Appalling Broadway Musical!!!
Totally self-explanatory, obviously, and I can't think of any arbitrary rules at all, you're welcome very much.
And my totally top of my head Top Six is:
6. The Monks
Five American GIs stationed in Germany during the Cold War shave their heads, invent Blank Generation Punk Rock ten years ahead of its time, and then return to the USA and three decades of complete obscurity. You can't make this stuff up, as it happens.
5. Patti Smith
Just finished reading her memoir, Just Kids, about her scuffling years and her love affair, if that's the phrase, with the late Robert Mapplethorpe. Fuck that Rent nonsense -- THIS has the potential to be the real La Boheme for the modern age.
4. Uriah Heep
The world's longest running, least photogenic and most clueless heavy metal band -- the real Spinal Tap, in other words, and what a comedy of errors their musical could be. Incidentally, there's a story -- possibly apocryphal -- that when this video debuted on MTV, the band's record sales began to plummet so dramatically that their management literally begged the network to stop airing the thing.
3. Michael Bolton
Dock of the Bay -- The Musical. Most Dramatic Moment: Michael changes the spelling of his last name so as not to appear too Jewish. Biggest Production Number: Michael sings "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You?" to his hair.
2. Jobriath
A story that starts in 1974 with an openly gay glam-rock star given the biggest hype in music history -- billboards in Times Square, choreography by the Joffrey Ballet, Peter Frampton and John Paul Jones playing on the album -- and ends with the now broke and forgotten hero playing Sunday brunch cocktail piano at a restaurant in Greenwich Village....
..before dying, alone and out of his mind, of AIDS in 1983. If there was ever a show about "That fame shit sure drives a hard bargain," this should be it.
And the Numero Uno musical life that most deserves to be on the wicked, wicked stage unquestionably was lived by --
1. The Kinks
For the story where Ray shoves a butter knife through Dave's ribs over breakfast alone. Although the story about the time Mick Avory thought Dave was spitting at him onstage needs to be in there too. Plus...oh, hell, there are enough great stories about this bunch to provide the book for ten musicals.
Alrighty, then -- what would your choices be?
[Shameless Blogwhore: My parallel Cinema Listomania -- theme: best or worst pop music documentaries -- is now up over at Box Office. As always, I'd take it as a personal favor if you could head over there at some point and leave something pithy in comments.]
Friday, October 15, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
An Early -- And Frankly Quite Terrifying -- Clue to the New Direction
I really don't quite know what to make of this, but from who knows when on what seems to be a cable access show from who knows where, please enjoy -- if that is even possible -- somebody named Record Man lipsynching to the sublime "Marlena" by The Four Seasons.
I should add at this point that over the years I've taken a great deal of crap from people over my fondness for the Seasons and this song in particular, and usually I'm defiantly unapologetic about it.
In this case, however, I am heartily sorry.
That said, 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.
I should add at this point that over the years I've taken a great deal of crap from people over my fondness for the Seasons and this song in particular, and usually I'm defiantly unapologetic about it.
In this case, however, I am heartily sorry.
That said, 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 Essay Question: The Lovin' Spoonful's "You Didn't Have to Be So Nice"
Power pop: Yea or nay?
I have a reason for asking.
It has something to do with the foreword I'm writing to a certain book by a certain blogger I know, in case you were wondering.
The song, of course, is from late 1965, which means -- historically -- that it's a little ahead of its time, genre wise.
So where do I come down on the question? Hmm. Let's see.
Gloriously melodic? Check.
Angelic harmonies? Check.
Great guitar riff? Check.
The drummer is totally kicking it? Check.
Yep -- it's power pop.
I have a reason for asking.
| The Lovin' Spoonful - You Didn't Have To Be So Nice .mp3 | ||
 | ||
 | Found at bee mp3 search engine |  |
The song, of course, is from late 1965, which means -- historically -- that it's a little ahead of its time, genre wise.
So where do I come down on the question? Hmm. Let's see.
Gloriously melodic? Check.
Angelic harmonies? Check.
Great guitar riff? Check.
The drummer is totally kicking it? Check.
Yep -- it's power pop.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Wednesday Essay Question: Mick Taylor -- Greatest Rock Guitarist of All Time or What?
Just a little postscript, as it were, to our Rolling Stones discussion of the other week. Here's the best sounding version I've ever heard of "Travelin' Man," a studio outtake from sometime circa Sticky Fingers or Exile, which is mostly Taylor's show. And a rather jaw-dropping one, in point of fact.
As you can hear, the song is really nothing more than a three-chord vamp, and Taylor is essentially noodling over the course of it. And yet by the time the track nears the six minute mark, he still hasn't run out of ideas.
I think what I'm saying is that I'd kill to be able to play even a fraction of the licks he tosses off here so blithely.
As you can hear, the song is really nothing more than a three-chord vamp, and Taylor is essentially noodling over the course of it. And yet by the time the track nears the six minute mark, he still hasn't run out of ideas.
I think what I'm saying is that I'd kill to be able to play even a fraction of the licks he tosses off here so blithely.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
More Proof, As If It Were Needed, That YouTube is the Greatest Thing Since the Library at Alexandria
From 1966, and the same German TV show (or so it seems) from whence yesterday's Kinks clip derived, here's Brit r&b; outfit The Untamed and their flavorsome version of Marvin Gaye's great "One More Heartache."
This song has been, justifiably, covered a lot (including by my college rock group God in 1969) but not only was this version a new one on me, so was the band. Apparently, The Untamed were some kind of missing link between Georgie Fame and The Who (Who producer Shel Talmy had something to do with some of their singles). In any case, on the basis of this clip, at least, it seems they had quite a bit on the ball.
Incidentally, the DivShare thingie of the God version of the song at the above link seems to be broken; if you're curious, e-mail me and I'll send you the mp3.
This song has been, justifiably, covered a lot (including by my college rock group God in 1969) but not only was this version a new one on me, so was the band. Apparently, The Untamed were some kind of missing link between Georgie Fame and The Who (Who producer Shel Talmy had something to do with some of their singles). In any case, on the basis of this clip, at least, it seems they had quite a bit on the ball.
Incidentally, the DivShare thingie of the God version of the song at the above link seems to be broken; if you're curious, e-mail me and I'll send you the mp3.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Words Fail Me (An Occasional Series): The Blues Came Down From Muswell Hill
From (I think) German TV in 1966 it's The Kinks and an astounding totally live version of "Milkcow Blues."
Found this one the other day, having previously not even suspected its existence, and frankly you could have knocked me over with the proverbial feather. Until now, I was unaware that there was any decent live documentation of the Kinks in their original and greatest incarnation; most of the TV stuff I've seen has either been lip-synched or has terrible sound, and the admittedly entertaining 1967 Live at Kelvin Hall album features taped-looped audience noise, badly overdubbed solos, and is in general a mess from a technical standpoint.
This, however...wow. It helps, of course, that the Kinks' take on the venerable Elvis song is pretty much my favorite rave-up in all of 60s rock. And it's nice to finally have a chance to hear how it sounded on what I would say was a very good night.
Dave Davies was 19 at the time, I might add.
Also -- make sure you watch this with some decent speakers turned on; otherwise you'll miss the ace bass work by the criminally underrated Pete Quaife.
Found this one the other day, having previously not even suspected its existence, and frankly you could have knocked me over with the proverbial feather. Until now, I was unaware that there was any decent live documentation of the Kinks in their original and greatest incarnation; most of the TV stuff I've seen has either been lip-synched or has terrible sound, and the admittedly entertaining 1967 Live at Kelvin Hall album features taped-looped audience noise, badly overdubbed solos, and is in general a mess from a technical standpoint.
This, however...wow. It helps, of course, that the Kinks' take on the venerable Elvis song is pretty much my favorite rave-up in all of 60s rock. And it's nice to finally have a chance to hear how it sounded on what I would say was a very good night.
Dave Davies was 19 at the time, I might add.
Also -- make sure you watch this with some decent speakers turned on; otherwise you'll miss the ace bass work by the criminally underrated Pete Quaife.
Friday, October 08, 2010
Tales From the Windy City
As noted yesterday, no Listomania -- again! -- this week, due to onerous professional obligations. Sorry about that, and I'll make it up to everybody, I promise.
But in the meantime, ace Chicago pop-punk combo and friends of PowerPop The Safes are going to be performing in Manhattan over the weekend. Here's "She's So Sad," their newest video.
Love the bear, BTW.
In any case, the guys will be performing at Fontana's [105 Eldridge Street; Phone: 212-334-6740], a low dive with continuous entertainment, tomorrow (Saturday) night. Admission is 8 dollars (cheap), and the show starts promptly at 9pm.
As it turns out, I'll be there (along with a certain shady dame). If you make the scene, you can't miss me -- I'll be the old Jew with the walker and the beret.
But in the meantime, ace Chicago pop-punk combo and friends of PowerPop The Safes are going to be performing in Manhattan over the weekend. Here's "She's So Sad," their newest video.
Love the bear, BTW.
In any case, the guys will be performing at Fontana's [105 Eldridge Street; Phone: 212-334-6740], a low dive with continuous entertainment, tomorrow (Saturday) night. Admission is 8 dollars (cheap), and the show starts promptly at 9pm.
As it turns out, I'll be there (along with a certain shady dame). If you make the scene, you can't miss me -- I'll be the old Jew with the walker and the beret.
Thursday, October 07, 2010
Welcome to the Working Week
From 1963, please enjoy the incomparable Sam Cooke, live at Miami's Harlem Square Club, and his ode to toiling for The Man -- "Chain Gang."
A great version, to be sure; you can practically smell the cigarettes, scotch and sweat. But if truth be told, I'm posting it because -- well, because I'm still snowed under with a bunch of freelance assignments that preclude me getting a Listomania up tomorrow.
I promise -- I'll make it up to you.
A great version, to be sure; you can practically smell the cigarettes, scotch and sweat. But if truth be told, I'm posting it because -- well, because I'm still snowed under with a bunch of freelance assignments that preclude me getting a Listomania up tomorrow.
I promise -- I'll make it up to you.
Wednesday, October 06, 2010
Happy Birthday!: Matthew Sweet Edition
We at Power Pop wish a very happy birthday to pop god Matthew Sweet, who completes his circuit around the sun today. Many Happy Returns!
And now: the most ambivalent love song evah!
And now: the most ambivalent love song evah!
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