I’m sure I have as much love of The Beach Boys as anyone else in the Hall. But I have a pet peeve about “Barbara Ann.” I know it’s a cover…so I’m not going to come down on them for this lazily-written song. But it’s the singing and the “Hey, let’s throw anything we do out there” sentiment that bums me out. It’s a lame song, covered lamely. And I can’t believe it hit #2 at the time.
Ok, I’m done. Thank you.
Recently, cdm asked,
I still don’t understand WHY Glad Girls by Guided By Voices was not a massive hit.
I think there were multiple nods of cyber agreement in response to this inquiry, and it begs the question, What are other songs that should have been, could have been SMASH HITS?
We at RTH are quite in the know and don’t need to convince ourselves (often) of our highly refined musical taste. But there are times when we just want to ask why a song didn’t fare better with the buying public.
What songs should have been contenders? I would like to nominate Velvet Crush’s “Hold Me Up,” a lovely little 3:00 minute power pop gem. And you?
I was listening to Jamey Johnson’s “Can’t Cash My Checks” inattentively. For those unfamiliar, he is reported to be the new country “outlaw” and he does seem to have a bit of Kris Kristofferson/Jeff Bridges-in-Crazy Heart kind of style. The song ended and a minute or so later I checked the iPod display to see what unfamiliar song had replaced it. It turned out to be the same track with an instrumental coda (right word?) inserted after the lyrics fade out.
[Check @ 4:12 if you don’t want to listen to a full-length current country track, I’ll understand.]
I guess the most well-known version of this is the lovely slide guitar and piano piece at the end of “Layla,” but I’m sure it happens in other places as well. It’s not very scientific, but I always figured the “Layla” piece added a bit of acceptance to the end of an anguished blues, plus, it was just too nice to throw away. Can anyone comment on what the coda adds to “Can’t Cash My Checks” or how it works in other songs with similar construction?
Slowhand-alls
As far as my research has taken me, no rocker has looked convincingly cool while sporting overalls. As hard as Eric Clapton tries he still looks like a weary truck driver after an 18-hour shift. Perhaps it’s the smack and not the clothes. You’d think with all those buttons and clasps, the average guitarist would be afraid of scratching the back of his SG or Strat. But beyond damaging your equipment, one’s maturity is also taking a hit. This is a rock and roll stage not Romper Room. The video below featuring the long and forgotten brothers Tom and David Farmer (yes Farmer) of the band Blackfoot Sue are totally missing the esthetic of the glam rock sound they are aping. The visuals are jarring.
Of course, I have not discounted the ’80s. What with Dexy’s Midnight Runners and their Too-Rye-Ay-ing up and down a desolate street looking like they haven’t showered in days for the “Come On Eileen” video. I’ll give them a pass since it appears this was just a phase. Plus the music sort of matches the look.
So does that mean, the “overall Look” is acceptable only when a fiddle and banjo are within reach?
Townspeeps,
I need to cancel this week’s edition of Saturday Night Shut-In as I drive back from a quick trip to Pittsburgh, where I will get my first look at the Pirates’ supposedly awesome PNC Park and, hopefully, meet one of my childhood idols, Manny Sanguillen, at “his” barbeque stand in the park. To make up for this huge hole in your Saturday night festivities I bring you a Very Special Edition of Dugout Chatter, in which I post songs for your listening pleasure, of course, but more so for your gut comments on the tunes and the associated question I pose regarding each track. Here goes!
For those of you on the “Krappa” side of the divide, does the following make you feel better or worse about Frank Zappa?
[audio:https://www.rocktownhall.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Ruben-And-The-Jets_01_If-I-Could-Only-Be-Your-Love-Again.mp3|titles=Ruben And The Jets, “If I Could Only Be Your Love Again”]I think I’m almost always disappointed by albums produced by Lee “Scratch” Perry. He strikes me as a more sham than shaman. The few tracks I have from an album by The Congos that he produced, however, are solid. Is this stuff and Junior Murvin‘s “Police and Thieves” the best I’ll ever hear from Perry (excluding The Clash‘s majestic “Complete Control,” that is, for which he probably did little more than roll joints and let engineer Bill Price produce)?
[audio:https://www.rocktownhall.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/The-Congos_01_01_Fisherman.mp3|titles=The Congos, “Fisherman”]Is this the last great song by David Bowie? I didn’t appreciate it in its time. Now I love it to the point that it might creep into my Top 5 Bowie Songs. Now that I think of it, what are your 5 favorite Bowie songs?
[audio:https://www.rocktownhall.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/David-Bowie_04_Ashes-To-Ashes-1999-Digital-Remaster.mp3|titles=David Bowie, “Ashes To Ashes”]Has Lou Reed ever sounded more the way he was meant to sound?
[audio:https://www.rocktownhall.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Various-Artists_17_Peggy-Sue1.mp3|titles=Lou Reed, “Peggy Sue”]I look forward to your comments.
Mr. Moderator’s on the road to Pittsburgh, way too late to catch Roberto Clemente‘s 3000th hit, but hoping to shake hands with Manny Sanguillen at Manny’s BBQ! That Clemente was a prophet, wasn’t he? What rock prophesy can you claim?
Hey, I know what you’re thinking when you think Pittsburgh + Rock ‘n Roll:
Is there any instrument that takes more abuse than the keytar? And does anyone ever feel the slightest regret for taking said shot at the instrument and any musician who’s ever played one? Today I challenge you to state the best argument for this deservedly derided instrument. I present the above clip and challenge you, Townspeople, to make a better argument for the instrument! (And don’t think I haven’t made it to the 50-second mark of this performance.)
