Rock Town Hall • Rock Music Discussion

A Belated Hail to General Johnson

Oct 172010

I saw it in passing the other day, but I never got around to posting notice of the passing of General Johnson, driving force of the Chairmen of the Board and other late-’60s/early-’70s AM radio soul-pop acts that kept an increasingly outdated mode of music on the shelves a little bit longer than it might have been kept otherwise.

As a boy, hearing this stuff fresh on the AM radio, mixed in with classic Motown hits from 5 years earlier, it never occured to me that Johnson’s contributions were those of a sort of anti-visionary, or a rearview-mirror visionary. Understandably we often applaud artists for their ability to be “5 years ahead of their time,” but I think it’s time to applaud Johnson for his ability to be 5 years behind his time—in a good way. For those not quite ready to leave behind razor-sharp hooks, blatant downbeats, and songs composed for their strength of their catchy titles/choruses rather than any deep, personal meaning, General Johnson had set about the task of, as Ray Davies might put it, “preserving the old ways from being abused.” I don’t know if this occurred to anyone at the time of the songs’ releases, but as I think about it now, hits like “Give Me Just a Little More Time,” “Patches,” and “Want Ads” may have been the slightest bit “old fashioned” compared with the “happening” music of its time, but the recordings had all the life of their times. They were of the moment, the way a middle-aged person still hopes he or she can be now and then. More power to the General for this unusual knack.

If you don’t get what I’m getting at, here’s Honey Cone‘s “Want Ads,” one of those slightly past expiry date hits I’m talking about. In 1970 even The Supremes were attempting to move beyond the standard Motown template, but this song epitomizes the label’s mid-’60s innocence. Also for comparison, at this time, think about the funky hits of The Jackson 5. “Want Ads” has just enough funk to sound contemporary, but it stops short of that added oomph that would characterize contemporary funk, such as one of those instrumental breakdowns in any of the early J5 hits.

NEXT: Rock Town Hall’s Official Eulogy…
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Carlos Santana Sex Tape Surfaces!

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 162010

Yeah, baby!

Recently, Rock Town Hall’s Erocktica division came across a Carlos Santana sex tape. To our knowledge this is the first public airing of this professionally produced but long-supressed group sex scenario in front of a live audience.

After taking the necessary legal precautions, we feel confident that the following clip is as legitimate as it is sexy. As lovely as you are likely to find this performance, however, it is definitely NSFW. Even on a weekend we only feel comfortable posting it after the jump…

If You Can’t Say Anything Nice About…Night Ranger’s “Rock in America”

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 152010

On behalf of Townsman hrrundivbakshi, who I believe is vacationing in England with the love of his life, and at the request of Townsman cdm, I am moving Townsman jungleland2‘s posted Night Ranger live performance of “Rock in America” to The Main Stage for our latest edition of If You Can’t Say Anything Nice About…

The rules are simple:

No potshots allowed at all the obvious targets in this clip. Rather, say something nice about the band, their performance, and anything else you may see, hear, or feel while watching this video. If you don’t have anything nice to say, that’s OK; Rock Town Hall offers the occasional thread to post a snarky comment.

Thanks.

Last Man Standing: People Who Would Be Unknown Were It Not For The Beatles

Posted by al

Oct 152010

You know his name...

I’ve been listening to a bunch of John Lennon interviews lately (4 hours with Jann Wenner in 1970, anyone?). They are quite fascinating when considered 40 years later. It did make me think of how many people there are who owe their fame to The Beatles or a Beatle. Hence this LMS.

Name a person who would be unknown were it not for the Beatles. What counts and what doesn’t? There are some fine lines here (in my head) but I’ll try and make some distinctions by example.

It doesn’t count if the person is a big part of the Beatles story. Brian Epstein, for instance, would be unknown without the Beatles but he’s too big a part of the Beatles to count. Ditto Yoko. By extension, let’s exclude all family members.

I guess I’m thinking more in the nature of hangers-on. Like my initial entry, Dr. Arthur Janov.

You Rock What You Eat

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 152010

"Would you like a carob shake with that order?"

The journalistic artist feature article conceit of beginning the piece with a description of the artist’s meal in whatever swank LA/NYC/London eaterie has long bugged me. Do I in any way care that Brian Wilson was eating a “turkey Reuben” and sipping a “diet Dr. Brown’s soda” while discussing his new album of Gershwin covers with some hack from Rolling Stone? Do I learn anything other than the fact that a) Wilson’s a wimp for eating a turkey Reuben and b) the diet soda’s not going to offset jamming any kind of Reuben down his throat? I think not.

But maybe I’m wrong. Maybe these artists actually rock what they eat.

Please describe the meal and drink that any or all of the following artists would be “munching on” at a hip LA/NYC/London eaterie not if but when you interview them for Rock Town Hall.

Donald Fagan
The Boss
Sting
Chrissie Hynde
Chris Squire
Polly Jean Harvey
Nick Lowe
Craig Finn of The Hold Steady
Eddie Vedder
Rod Stewart
Hamish Stuart
Bob Seger

As a bonus question, what would be caked in Walter Becker’s Beard?

I look forward to your responses.

Stage Formations That Are Burned in Your Memory

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 142010

Here’s an old thread on a topic that perhaps only Rock Town Hall is fit to fully document. Sadly some of the videos Townspeople posted no longer exist where they once did on YouTube, but maybe we can find new postings of those clips. I wouldn’t be surprised if we missed some killer stage formations way back when, so feel free to flesh out the record. I’m also curious, in revisiting this post, if we might begin the necessary task of cataloging and naming these memorable formations, so that future generations can readily identify a shared bank of archetypal formations to try out and expand on themselves.

One final note: It may be this thread where the controversial ZZ Top bison and buzzards tour first came up in discussion in the Halls of Rock. Bless you, General Slocum.

This post initially appeared 7/24/08.

As distinctive as the wishbone formation.

Quick! Just like I’m sure you can envision the stage formation of The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show, as pictured above, there must be other stage formations that are burned in your memory. Perhaps it’s The Rolling Stones on those risers, playing “Paint it Black” on one of their Sullivan appearances. Perhaps, like me, you occasionally take time to linger over the memory of Pere Ubu gathered in a philosophic group face off as they play “Birdies” in Urgh! A Music War.

What are the iconic rock stage formation that are burned in your memory? They can be alignments you saw in concert films, photos, or even live concerts you attended.

Burn, baby, burn!

Seven Deadly Sins: The Musical

Posted by cdm

Oct 142010

What I’m looking for here is a list of songs that you feel best encompasses each of the Seven Deadly Sins.

In case you’ve forgotten them, the sins are Pride, Greed, Wrath, Envy, and my three personal favorites, Sloth, Gluttony, and Lust.

The most creative answer will be determined by a special blue ribbon panel of judges and will be awarded the coveted RTH No-Prize.

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