Sep 292015
Sep 242015
A friend of mine recently posted this song in his list of Favorite 100 Songs. As most of you know, I’m a fan girl; it’s one of my favorite songs but I hadn’t watched the video in years.
As true Rock connoisseurs, we have frequently discussed various bands’ visual styles. And while Abba is known for its sartorial excess, I think it’s time to take out those seam rippers and deconstruct their Look in this video.
It’s clear that there is no attempt at really playing music here. I mean, Benny’s boot heels are so high that he abandons the use of the piano pedals within the first few moments of the song. And as for the shoulder chains, if Bjorn’s guitar was really plugged in, wouldn’t they interfere with the amplification?
Additional questions that came to me: What is the meaning of Frida’s prominently-displayed fish pin? (I don’t know about you, but I think it clashes with the Glam Bohemian Cowgirl look she is sporting.) What is the symbolism of the chains? Is it time to bring back satin gaucho pants? As Benny is the only member of the group to wear lace cuffs, is he really the Barefoot Paul in the band? Is there any other Rock video which uses mirrored clothing to a greater degree?
I believe that there is a greater visual message being communicated to us through this video. Or is this look just further evidence that Abba is, as my friend eloquently put it, “Incredibly catchy, Eurovision-winning space aliens”?
Thank you.
Sep 212015
Mick Jagger helps his old pal Don Henley sing a Tift Merritt song “Bramble Roaw” on his new Cass County album out this week. My first Stones record was Some Girls, and before I knew any of the backstory of the Stones and their dalliance with Gram Parsons, I was surprised by the stone country sound of “Far Away Eyes.” Now I always got the joke, but damn, I always enjoyed the song, and I’m sure it was one of the reasons I became more open to listening to my mom’s Johnny Cash records, and later fell into the rathole of alt-country for about 10 years. (Aside — a guy who worked at country station in Belle Fouche, SD, told me he almost got fired for playing “Eyes” in the early ’80s — he spun it once and only once.)
My question is — what songs would you put on a Stones, Jagger, Keef country compilation? Are there any country-tinged songs on solo records that are not well known for this compilation? In addition, I’ll offer up Mick’s “Evening Gown” above. Thanks for your ideas!
Sep 142015
I’m looking for the names of people mentioned in the Bible. The rules:
- The song must refer to an official saint or an actual person in the Bible (not just someone with the same name i.e. Abraham, Martin and John is not about the biblical Abraham).
- The name can only be used once.
- A song can only be used once.
- Be sure to heed the 11th commandment “Thou shall not Bogart the thread” and limit your answers to one per response.
I will start off with Abraham from “Highway 61” (“God said to Abraham ‘Kill me a son’; Abe said ‘Man, you must be putting me on…'”)
Sep 102015
If the Beatles’ Revolver was released today the song John wrote about his trippy conversation with Peter Fonda would be entitled “She Was Like, She Was Like.”
Sep 082015
You may know already that I’m a big fan of the late guitarist Robert Quine, who was first known to me as the guy behind the unbelievable short solos on Richard Hell & the Voidoids‘ “Blank Generation” only to blow my mind a few years later on Lou Reed‘s The Blue Mask. I just stumbled on this little clip of a guy playing one of Quine’s guitars, bought from his estate in 2004. It’s kind of poignant, at least to me (especially with the text accompanying the post, copied below), so let it be the start of this week’s All-Star Jam, where you bring to the table whatever musically relevant topic is on your mind.
This guitar is one of three I purchased as soon as the collection went public after his passing in 2004. I purchased them in 9/05 and have owned all three in the videos. He had 2 triple sunbursts and each one is totally different. The Barcelona triple sunburst has a fixed bridge, tremolo but bridge was anchored so I left it that way. The other, which is the one in the video, had a floating Quine feel and was amazing. The tone and ghost of Robert is all over it. I bought these becuase he used Fernandes Stratocasters with Lou Reed on tour, and on Blue Mask. I saw Quine in 1984 with Lou and am a true fan. Talk to Rudy Pensa on 48th Street in NYC about Bobby if you have a moment. Thank you Charles in Tokyo for the purchase of this instrument. Hope you hear Robert Q when you hold it.
Sep 062015
I fell down a You Tube wormhole the other day and hit rock bottom with this clip of Re-Flex better known for their 80’s classic “The Politics of Dancing.” In the video, keyboardist Paul Fishman is either doing his best to rock out between the plastic ivory and ebony or trying his best to upstage the rest of the band. Regardless, his “dancing” is enthusiastic but also rather distracting. I’ve never done any research on the history of the keytar but I’m sure it was invented by a dude who was feeling left out of the action when his fellow bandmates would prowl the front of the stage with guitar and mic in hand.
So, how come no one took inspiration from double-neck guitars to invent a double neck keytar? Just think what kind of animal would be unleashed if our boy Paul Fishman was unshackled and unrestrained by his keyboard stand.
