"Put a quarter in the jar, Pete!"
When you get to the 1:25 mark of Pete Townshend‘s demo for “Doctor Jimmy,” from the spectacularly fascinating Quadrophenia box set, listen closely and tell me what’s missing from the album version, the version we know so well and listened to while trying to make sense of our teenage angst.
[audio:https://www.rocktownhall.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/10-Doctor-Jimmy-DemoDemo-Version.mp3|titles=”Doctor Jimmy” (Demo)]
Consider this a Last Man Standing Speed Round of sorts. I’ve kicked things off with Pilot’s “January.” Now, in order, can we list—one song per post, in our well-established “don’t bogart that Last Man Standing thread” tradition—songs featuring the next 11 months?
To rule out cover-all-angles fall-back songs like Neil Sedaka’s “Calendar Girl,” the first month mentioned in each song is the ONLY month that can be used.
Blood, Sweat & Tears (post-Al Kooper in particular) is not the most beloved group around Rock Town Hall – for good reason, too. They represent the bad side of the so-called “jazz-rock” trend of the early 1970s. Not only did BS&T render up laughably horrific versions of classic songs (“Symphony/Sympathy for the Devil,” which I proudly inflicted upon the hall in a previous post), but they also served up some of the most annoying radio fodder ever (“Spinning Wheel”, “Go Down Gamblin'”). While lacking in any real rock credentials (unlike early Chicago) or true musical vision (unlike near-progsters like Soft Machine), they offered up fourth-rate bland Kentonisms backing up immortally-bad vocalist David Clayton-Thomas, who always sounded like he was vomiting when he pushed himself. No jazz-rock could be more unlistenable than BS&T, right? Dear children, prepare yourselves for a plunge into the abyss….
It is time to resume play in our tournament to determine—once and for all—rock’s greatest backing band ever.
The first two rounds have been completed. The attached grid shows where we stand as we enter the Regionals: REGIONALS 12/23/11
Feel free to think ahead to coming Regional battles as you begin work on the present conference match up. Meanwhile, tournament play resumes with the Legacy Conference. Four backing bands remain: The Crickets vs The Tennessee Two and The Texas Playboys vs The Famous Flames.
Because the selections from this point forward are so crucial to future generations’ understanding of rock history, play will follow a different course of action in this round. Before any voting can take place, Townspeople are encouraged to post comments and YouTube clips of the backing bands you support in this round. You may begin launching your campaigns now. After a few days of lobbying and counter-lobbying the poll for this conference’s regional round will open. We don’t want any rash votes on Day 1 that you may regret on Day 3 of discussion. Dig?
VOTING IS NOW OPEN THROUGH Monday, January 9 @ 11:59 pm.
Regionals, Legacy Conference: The Crickets vs The Tennessee Two
Total Voters: 17
Loading ...Regionals, Legacy Conference: The Texas Playboys vs The Famous Flames
Total Voters: 27
Loading ...Perhaps the only question to be asked is: How Does This Make You Feel?
At a recent holiday party I found myself having to defend one of my favorite mid-’70s light-rock nuggets, Pilot‘s “Magic.” Yes, it’s carefully constructed. Yes, it’s kinda schlocky. But so were a good amount of studio-churned hits during this time. I argue that this song is one of the best—that stands toe to toe with the Archies, Sweet, The Marmalade and yes — Jigsaw’s great “Sky High.”
I think this has a glam feel and the guitar solo is great.
Why, oh why does this song get shit on in the Hall? There is craft here. Critical upgrade I say!!!
"So, how do you know the newlyweds?"
