Excerpted from a press release…I wonder if Dylan even knows who Bryan Ferry is. I’ve always been a big fan of the above cover.
BRYAN FERRY SINGS CLASSICS FROM THE BOB DYLAN SONGBOOK ON ‘DYLANESQUE’
Capitol Music Plans June 19, 2007 U.S. ReleaseNEW YORK – Fulfilling a long-held dream, BRYAN FERRY will release a full album of classic songs written by Bob Dylan in early spring. The album, titled DYLANESQUE, is scheduled for release on Capitol Music Group on June 19, 2007.
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Last week – on Mardi Gras to be precise – I had intended to post a link to a .zip file of a Swamp Pop compilation that Townsman BigSteve made me last year for my fellow Townspeople to download and enjoy. A week later, that link is now here:
Swamp Pop Compilation .zip file
Track List follows!
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Based on Townsman Mrclean‘s comments the other day, during the Musical Nightmares Come to Life thread, in which he mentioned the nightmare of his old band, The Dead Milkmen, getting paired up with all sorts of “wacky” and “goofy” bands, it seemed right to put aside some time to discuss the role of Humor in Rock. To kick off discussion, a few Townspeople have contributed words on an aspect of humor in rock that they feel strongly about. Other opinions are sure to follow, including your own. Care to chime in with a stance on this union?
As you consider this topic, please make some time to comment on Frank Zappa’s humor. I look forward to your comments.
The humor in the Dead Milkmen music wasn’t labored. It was a natural expression of our selves. I think we often talked about serious issues but tempered the delivery with humor – if only to prevent us from getting weighed down with the shit that was going on. We also thought the hardcore punk scene that we began playing shows in took themselves way too seriously. Our attitude was that this all should be fun.
Rodney is one of the funniest and smartest persons I know. He can think fast on his feet and he still cracks me up!
I think humor brings people together, and by having a sense of humor we were able to bring the crowd to us more. Some bands cultivate the em>”we’re special up here – keep your distance” vibe. We were trying to get to know the local crowd. After all – wasn’t the “punk ethos” something like, “Everyone can do it! Anyone can be in a band!”.
As an aside – one of the items on our “rider” was a local newspaper. This provided a little local information sometimes that we could play off of on stage.
Now, enjoy a whole mess of Dead Milkmen videos here!
Townsman Scott checks in on the elephant in the room.
Before anybody gets upset, let me reassure you: I have no problem with humor in music. My problem is when the humor isn’t funny and/or when it detracts from the overall appeal of the music.
Zappa comes to mind primarily because, more than anyone else, he always made a big deal about the humor he used. And, more often than not, his humor doesn’t do much for me. Let’s face it – the guy was a dork. That doesn’t mean he didn’t make some good music – dorks often do – but his insistence that he was somehow better and smarter than his audience wears on me.
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While we’re on the subject of humor in music – and, inevitably, Frank Zappa – I thought I’d pass along a link to The Real Frank Zappa Book that Townsman Mrclean discovered. Enjoy.
Former Paul McCartney sideman and Average White Band leader Hamish Stuart ended years of silence following his dismissal from McCartney’s band, leveling charges of musical and emotional abuse and threatening to petition for full custody of the Hofner “Beatle” bass they shared during the Flowers in the Dirt tour.
The charges were contained in an addendum to a 13-page court document filed previously by Mr. Stuart, said London’s Daily Mail. A copy of the original document was faxed to news organizations by an anonymous source Monday night. Details of the addendum were leaked to the Daily Mail yesterday.
In the original 13-page document Mr. Stuart claimed that Mr. McCartney had forced him to cancel a crucial hair salon appointment because the appointment would have interfered with Mr. McCartney’s planned rehearsal of “Live and Let Die” with pyrotechnics. Mr. Stuart also charged that Mr. McCartney had refused to let him keep a spittoon by the side of the stage.
“I don’t want that stinking thing up here because it makes the stage smell like a f*ck*ng old man’s home,” Mr. McCartney is alleged to have said when Mr. Stuart pleaded with him to let him use the spittoon.
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