May 182020
 

This is a difficult topic for me to write about, because for all my god-given deficiencies for rock ‘n roll stardom, from having a “big-boned” build only suitable for being a member of The Guess Who to the even-more challenging hurdle of an overall lack of talent, I am blessed with a good head of rock hair. At nearly 57, my hair is wavy, thick, and still maintaining enough of its original territorial hairline borders that, even as I run a few weeks past my usual time for a haircut and wild, wiry tufts won’t behave, I don’t run the risk of being called the “bald guy with long hair,” like David Crosby.

Nevertheless, sometimes I panic, walk up to my wife, turn around, and ask her if I’ve got a bald spot. I notice continued traces of thinning at my part line and, for a few seconds, allow myself to silently mourn those lost follicles in front of the bathroom mirror. In hair terms, I’m basically the multimillionaire asshole who’s griping about the hardships of our current pandemic lockdown on the economy, the business owner who’s laying off “nonessential” staff to keep his investors happy. I apologize profusely for being, possibly, the wrong messenger to cover the topic of Hollies drummer Bobby Elliot‘s cutting-edge role as a balding, hat-wearing fashion pioneer. But someone’s got to tell this story.

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May 142020
 

The recent mention of a Talking Heads reunion song and Jerry Harrison being the only band member beside David Byrne to appear in the video, got me wondering it was time to FINALLY revisit Harrison’s 1981 debut solo album, The Red and The Black.

Before stores had to close and we had to stay safely tucked away in our homes, I’d spent a few months eyeing a used copy of that album in my favorite local record store. I first heard The Red and The Black in the basement frat room of one of my most influential college friends, an upperclassman who had both the most kick-ass stereo and the tightest purple buds I’d ever seen. To this day, I’ve only experienced one better stereo system. It’s been ages since I’ve smoked pot, but I doubt not even attendees at the weed convention featuring Jefferson Starship have enjoyed better buds.

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May 142020
 

Second to the “Vengeance Is Mine” episode of TJ Hooker, which reunited Kirk and Spock, what’s your favorite reunion in music history, from a single performance to an entire album?

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May 142020
 

This one goes out to Moon Martin, who died this week. Martin is one of those artists vaguely related to the New Wave era whose record including the original version of his composition “Bad Case of Loving You” I almost bought numerous times but ultimately didn’t buy for fear of being associated with the Robert Palmer hit. Sick, yes, but true. That was a good song, even as done by Palmer, who was right on the brink of becoming incredibly popular and annoying.

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May 132020
 

We here in the Halls of Rock Town are sometimes taken to task for being overly negative, snarky, hyper-critical, and all too often, just downright rude. As part of our collective efforts to bring a bit of sunshine and light to the world wide web, we occasionally make an extra effort effort to find something good to say about, you know, stuff that is clearly godawful. To some people.

It is in that spirit that we embark on yet another effort to bring some positivity to our proceedings. Please spend some quality time with music written by the band above, then—if you can—please find something nice to say about them. You’ll feel a whole lot better, I promise you.

I look forward to your comments. Just remember, if you can’t say anything nice about this “Arrow Through Me” video…please don’t say anything at all.

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Live Joy

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May 132020
 

I’ve been revisiting this 1966 performance by Little Richard the last 2 days. It’s got some great crowd shots, especially starting at 45 seconds in, while the camera focuses steadily and uncomfortably on a young man who looks like he’s tearing up in stunned joy at the proceedings. One minute in, he unleashes with a reaction before the camera cuts back to the stage and what has elicited this response. This is the joy that no digital performance of the future will elicit.

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May 112020
 

In our first pandemic relief Dugout Chatter, Townsman chickenfrank proposed the following surprisingly previously unexplored topic for discussion:

One of my cable channels showed Quadrophenia recently. I was pleased to see that it really held up for me as a well-made movie. I played the original album later, and kept having mixed emotions as to whether the whole concept was brilliant or silly. Where does it fit among all their albums in terms of quality? Is it better than Tommy? Does it have too may forgettable songs? Is the remixed movie soundtrack better or worse, and even necessary? Just curious how others react to the 3 different available Quadrophenia products. I have a sneaky feeling this topic might have been beaten to death already on RTH, but too many years ago for me to remember!

Let’s have at it!

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