It’s been a stressful few days at Rock Town Hall. Heads have butted in the best of spirits, but it still takes a toll. Following is a healing mix of songs from Boston to wherever it is in the solar system that Sun Ra lived. Enjoy.
Black Moth Super Rainbow, “Lost, Picking Flowers In the Woods”
The Pretty Things, “Cries from the Midnight Circus”
J. Geils Band, “I’m Looking for a Love”
Prock me, Amadeus!
A friend and I were discussing The Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour album, which we both think is pretty great and each had in the back of our minds during that hypothetical discussion from a few days ago. Tracks like “Your Mother Should Know” and “Fool on the Hill” came up, and we admitted to each other for the first time, after 25 years of friendship, that we liked even those songs. Then one of us said, “That getting around will get you a critical rock wedgie!” Go ahead and try it, and while you’re at it, what song that you secretly like begs for a critical rock wedgie? Continue reading »
Last week, I believe it was, Townsman 2000 Man made mention of an album cover that was so appealing that he couldn’t resist buying the album, despite the fact that he knew almost nothing about the band. I had a similar experience in high school when I first saw a huge display of Elvis Costello’s My Aim Is True at the old Peeches record store on Roosevelt Boulevard. I bet I wasn’t alone in taking the plunge on that album. Great cover! In the days of vinyl and 12-inch come-ons for artists’ new works, I’m sure I took a chance on a couple of albums per year. These days, the old CD cover doesn’t pull as much weight with my wallet. What album covers made you take a chance on an artist you knew almost nothing about?
While you’re pondering this, if we kept track of the ratio of albums sales based on cover art to actual spins of purchased record, would any album have a lower ratio of sales to spins than the classic Zwol album? My guess is that my personal 1 sale:2 spins for that album is not far off the average among the other 43 people in the world who probably bought that album just for its ridiculous cover.
I look forward to the anticipation with which Oats looks forward to your responses!
As long as I’ve read about rock music, much has been made of Bob Dylan’s going electric and its polarizing effect on the folk faithful…as if anyone has cared since about 2 weeks after the early ’60s folk movement began to putter out. What I’ve never heard is the other side of the story: What did rock fans think of his move to the electric world? Shortly after turning electric, Dylan would become almost as big as The Beatles, which would have made him as big as if not bigger than God. Do any of our older Townspeople recall a feeling of “It’s about effin’ time you crossed over!” Has anyone read of such a feeling in the air? I would think someone would have been psyched that his great tuneage and boss Look had finally entered the rock realm.
I’m tying this into my thoughts in yesterday’s Dugout Chatter on feeling that you might love an artist if only you could get your head around the genre within which said artist worked. Someone may have mentioned Dylan if not for the folky part, and this is 43 years after the guy crossed over to rock!
Let me know if this “other perspective” on Dylan’s going electric has ever been documented or felt. Obviously, he became much more popular after having plugged in. Had I been of age back then, I like to think I would have welcomed his crossover. That folk stuff was holding him back. The hell with it! What took you so long, Bob?
Heavens to Mergatroid! These guys deserve a twofer. (Low-volume vids – must crank up.)
What band not known for its use of backing vocals makes the best use of them in the rare times backing vocals are employed?
Certainly you’ve had an experience hearing a song that you pooh-poohed when it was a hit to realize, years later, it wasn’t all that bad. Please share an example and, if possible, what you realized was actually good about that song.
What was your first car, and what car song best represents said wheels?
What’s your favorite Ron Wood moment?
Which artist not known as a producer but having done some outside production work would you most like to have heard produce other artists more often? In other words, as an example, Ray Davies produced The Turtles Soup but little if anything else for outside bands. Someone might wish he’d produced more bands. Who’s that person for you?
Musicians of any stripe, is there an artist whose music you learned to appreciate only after having learned to play it?
Which artist do you think you might truly dig if only you could get your head around around the genre in which said artist works? For instance, I think I’d be a big Steve Earle fan if only I could fully embrace country music, including country rock.
I look forward to your responses.
