Let’s get a little chatter going! Most of you know this drill by now, but if you’ve been following along from the sidelines and want to make your initial splash in the Halls of Rock the following questions require nothing more than your gut answers! There’s no better way to jump into the fray because the only expertise required is a sound knowledge of your gut feelings!
Father’s Day is this Sunday: What song best represents your feelings about your dad?
Who’s the Chris Penn of rock?
I can think of a number of songs specifically about a mother or a father, but what’s the first song that comes to mind when you think, Songs about both a mother and father?
The Roches, The McGarrigle Sisters, or the Wilson sisters of Heart?
What song would you say your mother thinks best represents her feelings toward your father?
What is/was your father’s favorite song or artist?
Who’s your musical father figure, and what makes this person so? (It can be your actual father.)
I look forward to your responses.
Chris Penn= Tim Finn
Mom & Dad= “Pulled Up” Talking Heads
Wilson Sisters, at the same time (in their prime, though Nancy is still workin’ it)
Mom probably thinks Rod Stewart’s “Tonight’s the Night” about my dad. Ewwwww.
Father likes any 50s song in the vein of Bird is the Word. Favorite artist is probably Buck Owens or George Jones…
Musical father figure= Mr. Mod of course. If for no other reason than he turned me on to English Settlement, Fun House, Piper at the Gates of Dawn and the Barret solo albums, wait for it, on the same night. Kinda like a musical birthing.
“Pulled Up” is an EXCELLENT answer! All of your answers are appreciated, in fact, but now I’m not sure if I most regret asking the one about your moms or your musical father figures:)
What song best represents your feelings about your dad?
“My Old Friend” by Carl Perkins
Who’s the Chris Penn of rock?
Rich Robinson
I can think of a number of songs specifically about a mother or a father, but what’s the first song that comes to mind when you think, Songs about both a mother and father?
“Mother” by John Lennon
The Roches, The McGarrigle Sisters, or the Wilson sisters of Heart?
The Wilsons. They can rawk.
What song would you say your mother thinks best represents her feelings toward your father?
Wow. “Open Arms” by Journey? I can’t believe I just had to say that. Wow. My parents aren’t very “musical.”
What is/was your father’s favorite song or artist?
My dad likes to take credit for turning my on to The Beatles, but it’s not true. He did have the Hey Jude american LP, which may have planted a seed. As I said earlier, my parents weren’t really musical, but I have memories of certain records and songs from their collections which still hold a special place in my heart. That Beatles LP is one. My dad is an Elvis man, but he’s no fanatic about anybody.
Who’s your musical father figure, and what makes this person so?
I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating here: I would not write songs if it weren’t for Pete Townshend. There’s something about the balance of rock and spirit that Pete implicates in his music. There are tons of artists I admire and they serve as inspiration, but Pete transcends that and is the most direct influence. In terms of writing, performing, and playing style, Pete Townshend is the most obvious.
TB
I forgot the song re: feelings for my dad: Take Me Out to the Ball Game
Father’s Day is this Sunday: What song best represents your feelings about your dad?
James Brown’s Papa Don’t Take No Mess.
Who’s the Chris Penn of rock?
Dave Davies.
I can think of a number of songs specifically about a mother or a father, but what’s the first song that comes to mind when you think, Songs about both a mother and father?
The first one that comes to mind is Daddy Sang Bass (“Mama sang tenor”).
The Roches, The McGarrigle Sisters, or the Wilson sisters of Heart?
McGarrigles. The Roches’ quirkiness got old fast, though the first two albums are still pretty good. I never had any use for Heart.
What song would you say your mother thinks best represents her feelings toward your father?
Casey Jones. Not really — I have no idea really — but my dad was a railroad engineer for Southern Pacific, and because he had a weird given name (Oran, which I only ever heard my Cajun relatives say) my mother renamed him Casey, and she would occasionally demand that I sing “the song about the train and cocaine” for her.
What is/was your father’s favorite song or artist?
I don’t know if he was his favorite artist, but late in his life I discovered that my dad loved Charlie Rich. Even though he of course liked the smooth Behind Closed Doors Rich, it was a way of bonding musically which we had never done otherwise.
Who’s your musical father figure, and what makes this person so? (It can be your actual father.)
I don’t have one among my acquaintances. I think I probably played that role for a few people, but my whole life has been a search for my own father figure. Dylan is the closest, but he never calls.
Father’s Day is this Sunday: What song best represents your feelings about your dad?
You can’t fit all the things I feel about my dad in a song.
Who’s the Chris Penn of rock?
Dave Davies?
I can think of a number of songs specifically about a mother or a father, but what’s the first song that comes to mind when you think, Songs about both a mother and father?
“Surrender,” by Cheap Trick.
The Roches, The McGarrigle Sisters, or the Wilson sisters of Heart?
McGarrigles, pleez.
What song would you say your mother thinks best represents her feelings toward your father?
I dunno. Some ’40s or ’50s-era big-band ballad about missing someone. It’s actually pretty much all she listens to nowadays.
What is/was your father’s favorite song or artist?
I most remember Roger Whitaker, the occasional spin of a Joan Baez platter, Wagner when he could get away with it, and the Jesus Christ Superstar soundtrack. In his last coupla years he developed an odd taste for the “Legs”-period ZZ Top.
Who’s your musical father figure, and what makes this person so? (It can be your actual father.)
You guys don’t know him, but his name’s Umberto Crenca and he runs AS220 in Providence, the place where I spent my artistic youth. It was (and is, though I don’t hang there like I used to) a place where on one hand you were free to do whatever you wanted, and on the other you knew that there was almost certainly someone in the audience who was at least as good as you were at it, so you better not mess around. Good training for music, art and life.
Father’s Day is this Sunday: What song best represents your feelings about your dad?
Hoo boy, that’s a hard one. There’s a long, and tear-jerking, story behind this one, but I’ll skip it for now. The song in question is Duke Ellington’s “I Let a Song Go Out Of My Heart.”
Who’s the Chris Penn of rock?
Who’s Chris Penn?
I can think of a number of songs specifically about a mother or a father, but what’s the first song that comes to mind when you think, Songs about both a mother and father?
There’s some song which includes the phrase “mummy and daddy” in it, but I’m blanking. I’ll say XTC’s “No Thugs In Our House.”
The Roches, The McGarrigle Sisters, or the Wilson sisters of Heart?
Man, I don’t know!
What song would you say your mother thinks best represents her feelings toward your father?
Who knows? I’d like to think it would be one of his silly rewrites of classic big band/tin-pan alley material. One of my fave Conrad silly songs was this one:
(sung to the tune of “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore”)
Missed the toilet last night
Crapped all over the floor
Cleane it up with my toothbrush
Don’t brush my teeth much anymore
What is/was your father’s favorite song or artist?
Hm. There was a time when it was… STAN KENTON! But I think he was most in man-love with the Four Freshmen. Or maybe the Duke, or Woody Herman.
Who’s your musical father figure, and what makes this person so? (It can be your actual father.)
Probably my real dad, with townsman kcills in second place.
“Surrender” is another good one that wasn’t coming to mind for me. Funny you should mention AS220, Rick. I’ve never been to Providence and I’d never heard of that club until seeing that Andy Shernoff (see another Main Stage thread from today) will be there next week.
Damn, not only another song I love but one of my favorite songs of all time, “No Thugs in Our House,” is another great song that involves both parents. How did I not think of a single song in the minute or two I allowed for gut contemplation?
I love your Dad’s scatological song, HVB. Yet another sign that the apple didn’t fall far from the tree!
I actually love “Behind Closed Doors” and Rich’s other hits from the ’70s. I was researching something, recently, and stumbled across this satorially splendid clip of another one of those hits:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzBt-2jQ3Iw
It was only years later that I heard his earlier stuff, which I also tend to dig. I’ve got a Sun collection of his stuff that’s strong.
I wish I could have thought of “Surrender.” It’s way cooler than mine. Reset assured, from this day forth, it will be first song that mentions a mother and father that comes to my mind!
TB
Sam Phillips always felt that Rich was an artist that eluded him in some way. He knew that he’d had the talent to be as big as Elvis, but he never quite got there. Sam kind of blamed himself for Rich’s ignored success.
TB
I LOVE Charlie Rich. I was never prouder of my singing chops (in which I rarely take pride) than when I successfully covered — with mockcarr and others in a short-lived band from recent years — “Behind Closed Doors.”
But I gotta pass out a resounding “boo” to Rich’s progeny, to whom I paid $30 and from whom I never received a “Silver Fox” T-shirt!
I was in the full bloom of my man crush on Rich during the period I’m talking about (late 70s). At the time I felt very superior about the breakthrough material like Behind Closed Doors. I can appreciate it more now, even though it’s not his best work.
I can TOTALLY hear you singing “Behind Closed Doors,” hrrundi.
Dad song: I don’t know, “My Way” is too melodramatic and “The Pretender” is too harsh.
Chris Penn: Simon Townshend
Mother/Father song: “Good Golly Miss Molly” I looked these up but have no clue what they mean: “Mama papa told me son you better watch your step / If I knew my mama papa havta watch your papa self”!
Sister acts: How about the Deal sisters? I saw the Roches in college and they were pretty interesting.
Mom about Dad song: “We Can Work it Out”
Dad’s favorite artist: Sinatra
Musical father figure: None really. I can’t play an instrument well enough to have a teacher and my listening habits are mostly self-taught.
To Rick Massimo and your mention of AS220 – a place I knew well and visited often (in both locations). I was a DJ at WRIU and was a frequenter of the Providence clubs throughout the 1990s. I just put 2 and 2 together when I saw your name.
Sorry to gush, other RTHers.
Father’s Day is this Sunday: What song best represents your feelings about your dad?
Maybe Like Your Dad Did by John Hiatt. Not for the specific details but just for the general idea of what a seismic shift fatherhood is and how things are so much the same despite generational and personality differences.
Who’s the Chris Penn of rock?
I don’t know what this means. Michael Penn?
what’s the first song that comes to mind when you think, Songs about both a mother and father?
The End by the Doors
The Roches, The McGarrigle Sisters, or the Wilson sisters of Heart?
Ann and Nancy
What is/was your father’s favorite song or artist?
Amazing Grace
Who’s your musical father figure, and what makes this person so?
My friend Don who taught me my first song on the guitar (Train Kept A Rollin) at 2 a.m. Then his mom came in and yelled at us to knock it off.
Father’s Day is this Sunday: What song best represents your feelings about your dad?
My Dad by Paul Westerberg. He didn’t die of cancer, but I like the sentiment of the song.
Who’s the Chris Penn of rock?
Chris Jagger.
I can think of a number of songs specifically about a mother or a father, but what’s the first song that comes to mind when you think, Songs about both a mother and father?
Our house is a very very very fine house.
It’s stuck in my head now.
With two cats in the yard.
The Roches, The McGarrigle Sisters, or the Wilson sisters of Heart?
I don’t ever listen to the first two, so I guess it’s the Feart sisters. I like that first album.
What song would you say your mother thinks best represents her feelings toward your father?
I have no idea. They were divorced for longer than they were married, and he’s gone now, so I can’t even begin to guess.
What is/was your father’s favorite song or artist?
Mozart. Easily. He said everything Mozart did was so much better than anyone else. He liked showtunes a lot, too.
Who’s your musical father figure, and what makes this person so? (It can be your actual father.)
I guess my dad was. He never said I was wasting money when I bought records, and he always said I should listen to what I like, even if everyone else thinks it’s weird.
1. “The Man Who Never Was,” Nixon’s Head
Who’s the Chris Penn of rock?
2. I had nothing, when I asked the question. You have provided me with a wealth of tremendous answers. Our oldest son has always loved “Pulled Up,” and that’s a really nice song. I hope he thinks of that song some day in the future, when he’s blowing off time on Rock Town Hall or the future-day equivalent.
3. The Roches. Like BigSteve said, their act got old after the first two albums, but I still love those albums and the sentiments expressed.
4. Is there a song like “The End,” but in which the mother wants to kill the father? Like 2K, my parents were divorced UNamicably so long ago that there’s no good song my Mom could have in mind.
5. The only two songs I can recall him digging were “1812 Overture” and “Mack the Knife.” When “Mack the Knife” would come on the radio he’d get a faraway look in his eye, like that boyfriend of Elaine’s did when he heard “Witchy Woman” (?), and sing along. I don’t recall him ever singing along with any other song. Someday I’ve got to study the lyrics of “Mack the Knife” and see how they might help to explain him.
6. My Uncle Joe, the guy who bought me my first records, played Traffic and Leon Russell songs for me on the piano, and let me paint Day-Glo designs on the wall next to his 8-track player in his bedroom, a room that always smelled of “cheesesteaks,” as he put it when I asked him what that smell was. He just stopped by our house a few minutes ago to wish me a happy birthday!
feelings about your dad?
Who’s the Chris Penn of rock?
Chris Isaak. There is something depressingly try-hard about Isaak, running in the wake of those he so admires.
I can think of a number of songs specifically about a mother or a father, but what’s the first song that comes to mind when you think, Songs about both a mother and father?
California Cottonfields. Merle Haggard, via Gram Parsons.
The Roches, The McGarrigle Sisters, or the Wilson sisters of Heart?
McGarrigles. (Much preferred over their offspring, to boot.)
What song would you say your mother thinks best represents her feelings toward your father?
Cold, Cold Ground – Tom Waits (not a lot of affection there)
What is/was your father’s favorite song or artist?
Oh dear, very pre-rock and roll, my father. Dean Martin, Sinatra, Englebert Humperdink…
Who’s your musical father figure, and what makes this person so? (It can be your actual father.)
Tough one. Paul McCartney. Grew up with uncle and aunts who were Beatles fans in the late 1960s. Definitely got something started.
Sorry, missed the key question. Calling Dr Freud…
Yes, John Hiatt’s Like Your Dad Did gets close…
Lines like ‘but you keep it hid’ and ‘get out and sell your smart ass door to door’…
Hard to go past.
I’ve been thinking about these questions for the last few days. Tonight, I had the benefit of my father and my brother attending a Father’s Day dinner that Mr. Royale and I hosted. So I asked them the questions, too. Here is the extended Royale family responses:
Song that epitomizes my feelings about my father: The only one I could think of was, “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” Mr. Royale responded that the song that best describes his feelings about his own father is “Who Are You?”
We agreed that Simon Townsend was an excellent choice; thank you for allowing us to pilfer your response.
A song about a mother and a father: My brother came up with Cheap Trick’s “Surrender,” esp. since we both thought, when were growing up in Az, that our European parents were pretty weird.
Sister act: the Wilson sisters, or as another RTH’er suggested, the Deal twins. (By the way, how many other twins are there performing music together, RTHers????)
My mother wasn’t dining with us this evening, but my brother suggested in her stead, “When I’m 64.” I would guess that the answer would be something a bit more romantic.
My father has always loved classical music, but was also went to high school on a glorified communist farm collective, so he tempered his Bach with a lot of Seeger and Baez. He has also sang in a choral group as long as I can remember. He was amazingly open minded to the music we played as youths on the car radio. He’d ask, “Oh, this sounds like the Human League,” and he had a penchant for singing CCR. So I was surprised when he said his favorite song was “Bohemian Rhapsody.” (Maybe it’s because his chorus is singing a group arrangement of it as part of their next concert.)
My musical father figure? A tough question to answer as I think a woman’s response to this question may be semantically different than a man’s. I would say that no one man has been a primary “father figure,” but each of the significant men in life have shaped my enjoyment of music: my grandfather and father – classical music; my brother – synth pop; ex’s – more rock, pop, indie, rap (but it was often their lack of adventure with music that led to their ex status); my husband for his continued interest in older and current artists.
In Australia, Father’s Day is the first Sunday in September. So you have sprung this one on me.
WE also have a public holiday for the Queen’s Birthday, though this is celebrated on different days in different state.
Oh, and a public holiday for a horse race.
What song best represents your feelings about your dad?
Though in none of the specifics, Ian Dury’s “My Old Man.” Just the feel of the sentiments expressed. A kindly ambivalence about a father no longer here.
Who’s the Chris Penn of rock?
I don’t know who the Chris Penn of non-rock is, so it’d be hard to say.
Songs about both a mother and father?
All Day Long I Felt Like Smashing My Face In a Clear Glass Window – Yoko Ono.
The Roches, The McGarrigle Sisters, or the Wilson sisters of Heart?
Teen lust, obviously Heart. Musically, the Roches. The Hammond Song alone makes me grateful. I wouldn’t know the McGarrigle Sisters if they bit me. Which, they may have.
What song would you say your mother thinks best represents her feelings toward your father?
The Parting Glass, I suppose.
What is/was your father’s favorite song or artist?
My father listened to easy listening radio, but if someone put something better on, he would enjoy it greatly. But, boy, when we went with him to his office on the odd Saturday as a kid, he always had some AM syrup playing.
Who’s your musical father figure, and what makes this person so? (It can be your actual father.)
Gee. Who would that be? I’m stumped. I think I had a dearth of those.
Ladymisskirroyale: Glad to hear from another Rhode Islander. (I bet I know who you are.)