Mr. Moderator

Mr. Moderator

When not blogging Mr. Moderator enjoys baseball, cooking, and falconry.

Surprisingly Effective Unexpected Overdubs

 Posted by
May 202008
 

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been listening to John Entwistle‘s Smash Your Head Against the Wall, an album I hadn’t heard since high school or college days and thought I should own. So a few weeks ago I rectified that situation. The purchase verified why I didn’t spend my precious extra cash on that album all those years ago, but now I’m a hard-working adult with the extra cash to occasionally risk $7.99 on what would have been a good, scratchy, $1-used bin pickup circa 1980. This is one of those albums that could only have been made by a bassist in a hugely successful band in the early ’70s. It’s no Who’s Next, but it’s got enough of what’s cool about early ’70s Who to make the album better than something I might pick up by, I don’t know, Head East, or some other cutout bin orphan from that period. But all this is not why I write of this album and include the following tracks for those of you who’ve never heard it.

John Entwistle, “Heaven and Hell”

John Entwistle, “Ted End”

John Entwistle, “You’re Mine”

The real reason I bring up this album is because the following bonus track, a cover of Neil Young‘s “Cinnamon Girl”…
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Lou Reed…As Satellite Radio Was Meant to Sound!

 Posted by
May 172008
 

“For years, I’ve always been a fan of eclectic radio, such as FM radio in the past when you could hear stations play widely divergent music, ranging from rock to country to jazz to opera,” Reed said in a statement. “We will try to bring Sirius’ listeners audio from all parts of the world that covers the whole musical spectrum.”

Lou Reed is coming to Sirius Radio! Here’s a special message from Lou, courtesy of Townsman Oats, that will help you prepare for this historic occasion.

Previously, in the News!

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Rock Squeezes

 Posted by
May 152008
 

Wouldn’t it be nice?

Were you ever young and wishing you were in love, with someone, anyone? Did you ever gaze at the iconic image of Bob Dylan and his squeeze, Suze Rotolo, on the cover of The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, and think something to the effect of, “Wouldn’t it be nice?”

I’m not sure how long into adulthood the effect of a rock squeeze lasts – and the artist can’t be too much older than his squeeze without the whole thing coming off as sleezy and cliched, but a good Rock Squeeze at the right time in an artist’s career – and the right time in the artist’s fans’ lifetimes – softens the image of the rock star, brings him down to earth, makes him even more like you as a young, idealistic rock nerd, that is, if you had more charisma and a more happening social life.

Think of the role Anita Pallenberg played in softening the image of at least 2 Rolling Stones:

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Songs That Not Even American Idol Contestants Can Butcher

 Posted by
May 152008
 


Driving in today I was listening to Laura Cantrell‘s take on one of the most lovely, slightly sad songs I know, Burt Bacharach and Hal David‘s “Trains and Boats and Planes”.

Laura Cantrell, “Trains and Boats and Planes”

I grew up with a Dionne Warwick/Bacharach/David-loving Mom. The Warwick version is fantastic, and every other version I’ve heard works. It’s not that this is my favorite Bacharach/David song, mind you, but the rolling, slightly suspended, extremely deliberate construction of the song seems to give any decent musician a toehold for injecting his or her own special feel. For example, here’s an essentially instrumental version by Fred Frith.

Fred Frith, “Trains and Boats and Planes”

I’ll go one further, and demonstrate that this song is so tightly constructed that not even the man with a “voice for songwriting,” Burt Bacharach himself, can screw it up.

Burt Bacharach, “Trains and Boats and Planes”

I try very hard never to watch American Idol, but when I do catch a minute or two, I’m usually horrified at contestants’ ability to butcher well-known songs. I believe that “Trains and Boats and Planes” is a song not even AI contestants can butcher. I have no proof of this, but two YouTube clips on the following page make the case that Bacharach and David might be the songwriting team equivalent of Bruce Willis‘ character in Unbreakable.

So I ask you, Rock Town Hall…What songs do you believe are so well written that not even American Idol contestants can butcher them?
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Constructing the Perfect 10-Song Intro to The Move

 Posted by
May 142008
 


As a fan of The Move, I’ve found it more difficult than it should be to turn cool rock fans onto this band. In part, it might be because of the rambunctious production of their records and the broad, unfocused scope of their songs. The various vocalists may throw people off as well. I don’t know. I suspect that even fans of The Move will have wildly divergent recommendations for constructing the perfect 10-song intro to The Move. So let’s get to it! Post your suggestions, then let’s argue about them until we come to some agreement.

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Dugout Chatter

 Posted by
May 132008
 

In belated celebration of Mother’s Day, today’s Dugout Chatter will center around themes of rock ‘n roll and family relations. Don’t worry, we’ll be gentle. As always, your gut responses are sought. Got to keep it in the family!

Which mother-related rock ‘n roll song best describes your relationship with your mother?

Across at least 2 generations, what is your favorite rock ‘n roll family? (Note: This category may extend to not-exactly-rock ‘n rollers like the Cash clan, the Thompsons, the Williamses, and so forth.)

Family or MFSB?

What’s a record from either your present or past that you and your family dig/have dug together?

Which father-related song best describes your relationship with your father?

Who’s the Hank Aaron/Tommie Aaron combined sibling home run leader among rock ‘n rollers?

“Mother and Child Reunion” or “Loves Me Like a Rock”?

What’s your favorite rock ‘n roll song that pays homage to a relative outside the immediate family, such as a grandparent or aunt/uncle?

What’s the most underrated family in rock, siblings or transgenerational?

Who’s the redheaded stepchild of rock?

I look forward to your responses.

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