Townsman Trolleyvox suggested the following Main Stage point of discussion: Rock Zen Koans. I’m digging the thought; you might too.
First up, Bryan Adams:
It cuts like a knife
But it feels so right
The conundrum: How can it cut like a knife, yet feel so right? The girl breaks up with him and he didn’t see it coming. He’s in pain. Yet, somehow it simultaneously feels so right.
Meditate on rock koan until mind goes blank.
Disregard, if you are able, the greatness of the above Neil Young song and the even greater audience shots of passionate mandancing. Certainly, there’s been a whole heap of Mandom shaken over this crowd! For now, however, I ask you to focus on drummer Ralph Molina.
Is there a drummer in the house to help me answer the following questions? But first, as always, I ask of our drummers to cast their well-trained, dispassionate eyes toward these questions, not getting hung up on cliched responses, like “It’s only rock ‘n roll, man!” or “What do you want, every drummer to play like Neil Peart?” Those of you who’ve kept a close eye on this feature can verify that for every Rick Buckler who goes under the microscope there’s a Billy Cobham. In the name of musicology, we will examine today’s puzzling drummer.
I look forward to your analysis.
One of the benefits of spending time in the Halls of Rock is the opportunity to air petty grievances. For those of us who love rock ‘n roll, there are moments in a day when a thought comes to mind that no normal person who ever consider nor feel the need to share. Here, we do and we do.
This morning I was searching for something decent for my wife and I to hear on commercial radio. As I flipped to a station playing U2’s “New Year’s Day”, I became quickly and mildly annoyed at the fact that any time I do run across a U2 song on the radio it’s rarely one of the half dozen or so well-known U2 songs I’d rather hear, that I could tolerate for a few minutes. It always seems to be the hit song from whatever album that I don’t get any pleasure from hearing! My wife told me that this is typical of me, claiming I only like any band’s obscure songs over their big hits. The she told me that it’s for this reason she’s always amazed that I consider The Rolling Stones’ “Satisfaction” to be the greatest song in all of rock ‘n roll. I explained to her that it’s just a coincidence that my great taste sometimes coincides with the taste of The Masses, but I digress. Yes, my wife suffers on an almost daily basis with hearing me express some beef along these lines.
Anyhow, following are songs by U2 that commercial radio chooses to play followed by hit songs I’d rather hear from the same album containing the track with radio programmer staying power. I could make a similar list for The Who, a band that I really do love yet for whom commercial radio programmers typically display equally bad taste in songs fit for broadcast. You may have your own examples regarding a band you either like mildly or love.
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Dick Wagner
Uriah Heep
Townspeople,
I know I’ve been tough on you the last few days. You had it coming to you. I’ve been tough on myself as well. It’s pretty stressful trying to be as fair an open-minded as I was in heaping that relative and appropriate amount of praise on George Thorogood these last few days. He had it coming to him. Remember when Spock would do that Vulcan Mind Meld thing to save someone’s life, how exhausted he would be for minutes afterward? That’s how I feel. To encourage a well-deserved period of healing for us all I offer the following tracks, burned from vinyl, with all the love and surface noise I can offer. You are truly the greatest!
This kick-off track from Graham Parsons’ GP album, like all these tracks, goes out to each and every one of you. But this one especially goes out to Dr. John. We still tight, right, bro?
Graham Parsons, “Still Feeling Blue”
Here’s a rare song written by Neil Young that shows a trace of his supposed Motown heritage. Has anyone ever verified the story of the band he and Rick James had as youngsters being signed to that label? This track goes out to any fans of The Byrds whose feathers I may have ruffled in the past. I’ll take Buffalo Springfield any day of the week, but we’re cool, right, Byrds fans?
Buffalo Springfield, “On the Way Home”
I’ve always dug this Everly Brothers track. This one goes out to no one in particular…OK, maybe myself. I’m feeling better already.
The Everly Brothers, “I Wonder If I Care As Much”
This next track, from The Turtles’ Ray Davies-produced Soup, is for HVB. We’ve gone through the fire more than once. I’m sure our latest bout won’t be the last time. And you know what? I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
The Turtles, “She Always Leaves Me Laughing”
I sensed that Alexmagic was trembling with a mixture of fear and disgust during our recent Steel Cage Match. I’m pretty sure this song from The Bee Gees’ Cucumber Castle lp will help calm his nerves.
The Bee Gees, “My Thing”
Years ago I turned General Slocum onto this Van Morrison tune. I believe he since bought the album, Veedon Fleece, in digital format. I’ve been keeping my eye out for a digitally remastered copy myself, but I bet the General sometimes misses the pops and scratches from my old vinyl copy. I bet you’ll miss it too, if you familiarize yourself with this version and then move on.
Van Morrison, “Fair Play”
Let the healing continue! Please share your experiences here. Thanks.
If it’s not clear what list of particular rock oddities I’m hoping we can exhaust, think about the Spencer Davis Group. When you and your rock nerd friends sit around and talk about Spencer Davis Group, do you ever talk about poor Spencer himself? Do you ever give him props for whatever instrument he played? Could you pick him out from a police lineup or Spencer Davis Group album cover? Probably not. Spencer Davis is nowhere near the best-known member of the group that bears his name.
Four bands immediately come to mind for this thread, along with a fifth band that is named after two band members who are not the best-known members of the band they founded. I’m banking on the fact that there are more than the five examples I have in mind. Let’s get it on! But first, remember the one rule in Last Man Standing competitions: Only one entry per post! You may not post a list that hogs multiple entries. Now, let’s get it on!
I’ve seen still photos of the band Slade during their early, skinhead period, but I’ve never seen this period of the band in action! This is not to celebrate what would become known as unsavory skinhead values, mind you, but a pretty cool Look and sound. Check it out!
Hrrundi, I am counting on your commentary, in particular. You’ve gotta dig the little bass=guitar player interplay captured around 1:35. You know, we’ve been through the fire these past couple of days. It’s important that newer Townspeople, who may have been frightened during the recent Steel Cage Match, see how an occasional walk through the fire can forge stronger bonds.
Here’s another clip from the same 1969 performance. This one doesn’t do it for me; in fact, it’s a real soft-on. However, it does open the door to some healing via highly anticipated/dreaded Beatles chatter.
