Please keep “my people” far, far away from rock ‘n roll!
Apr 062010
Apr 052010
Chuck Woolery, “Soft Velvet Love”
Still on track to make 20 Thrifty Music posts in 40 days — and today’s post allows me to both fulfill my Thrifty Music Anniversary Pledge and be counted as the Last Man Standing on the topic of show biz personalities who got their start as rockers. Why? Because today’s thrifty score is a late-’60s single by Chuck Woolery — yes, that Chuck Woolery — who traveled from his home in Kentucky to the hills of Hollyweird to find fame and fortune as a rock star before he settled into his role as host of innumerable teevee game shows.
Chuck actually scored a top 40 hit in, I think, 1967, with his band, The Avant Garde, entitled “Naturally Stoned” — but this slab of cheese was released after The Avant Garde called it quits. I originally meant to post it as a 100% gag, but I’ve grown to appreciate the Lee Greenwood-esque over-the-top-ness of it, so I offer it to you as a mere 75% gag. In any case, enjoy! And please note:
I AM THE LAST MAN STANDING!
HVB
Apr 052010
In honor of the opening of baseball season (yeah, I know, a couple of teams that fly under the radar opened their seasons last night, but the season really begins at 1:05 EST, when the Nationals’ John Lannan throws his first pitch to Jimmy Rollins, shortstop for the repeat-defending NL champion PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES), let’s open a baseball-themed thread for discussion.
One of the simple joys of reviewing the schedule for the upcoming baseball season is seeing if your team is going to have a throwback uniform day, that is, a day when an old-style uniform is brought back into use for one game. I read that the Houston Astros are planning a 1965 throwback-uniform day, complete with the grounds crew reviving the astronaut suits they originally wore when the Houston franchise first switched its name from the Colt 45s. When the home team wears throwback unis the road team gets to wear them too. The Phillies will be wearing their own ’65 road throwbacks when they face the Astros in this game. Better yet, when facing the Brewers in their ’70s throwback uniforms later this season the Phils get to revive their polyester road blues!
So what’s this have to do with ROCK Town Hall, you ask? Imagine the following artists were going to tour in a Throwback Look. Which Look would you choose for them to bring back? Please be as specific and nerdy as your heart desires. Please feel free to cap off your choices with an artist of your own choosing in a desired Throwback Look.
- The Beatles
- Devo
- Elvis Presley
- Roy Wood
- Madonna
- The Rolling Stones
- David Bowie
The Ramones, Chrissie Hynde, AC/DC, and other slaves to a single Look will not be scheduled to perform on this day.
Apr 052010
Here’s something fun that Townsman Hrrundivbakshi put together last fall and is worth bringing back to The Main Stage today. (For future reference, most baseball-related pieces should be tagged “baseball,” as this one was. Those of you reveling in the start of the greatest season of all sports may want to click on the tag at the bottom of this post to see other baseball-themed pieces from the past.)
Now that’s what I call walk-up music!
Apr 052010
As uncool as it now seems for knowledgeable, passionate music lovers like ourselves, I think we can all agree that The Who produced one masterpiece of an album, Who’s Next. After that, I don’t know that they produced a second great album. Some of us Who fans will go to the mats for Sell Out, but in all fairness it does get bogged down in gimmickry for a so-called great album and contains more delicate Townshend lead vocals than some Who fans prefer to hear on one album.
What else comes close to Who’s Next? I love Quadrophenia for its epic celebration of The Power and Glory of Rock, but at this stage in my life can I listen to it more than once every couple of years? No.
We’re all too in the know to claim Tommy is a great album. The first two Who albums, which I bought in high school as a twofer, have their obvious high points but they’ve also got a ton of filler. Then there are long stretches in the band’s prime years that are devoid of a contender. Someone’s likely to suggest that Live at Leeds is the band’s second great album, but we’re not about to reach consensus on that one.
Among bands who blossomed during the album era, is The Who the most highly regarded band that lacks a second great album?
Apr 032010
In honor of Easter Sunday, it’s only right that Rock Town Hall reserve some time and space to discuss issues of rock ‘n roll martyrdom, resurrection, and communion.
Who are rock ‘n roll’s martyrs? What constitutes rock ‘n roll resurrection? Who makes up your rock ‘n roll ministry? Mine begins with Patti Smith and Joe Strummer, with the self-excommunicated John Lennon working in the wings. Let’s roll away the stone this weekend, shall we, and enjoy the festivities in whatever way seems right.
Apr 032010
Warning sign.
Artist Toby Wetland pulls no punches with his depiction of The Boss’ second fall. “Even with help, The Boss stumbled and fell to the ground once more,” explains the artist. “This time Julianne was the tipping point, but not – I stress – the sole cause of his fall.”
Bruce has seen death before, but now He can feel the profound weakness of disability and disease and aging itself, there on his knees, clutching onto the mic stand, under the weight of his Telecaster. Continue reading »
