Rock Town Hall • Rock Music Discussion

Battle Royale: The Golden Age of Guitar Harmonies

Posted by cdm

Jun 182009

I was listening to the “Cowboy Song” by Thin Lizzy yesterday and got to thinking about twin-guitar harmonies. It seemed like every hard rockin’ arena band from the ’70s had them, and then, sometime in the early ’80s, they abruptly fell out of favor, possibly due to Boston’s egregious overuse of the technique.

What I’m looking for is the best example of the technique.

To be clear, I’m not looking for the longest solo employing guitar harmonies or the most intricate. I’m looking for the one that most captures the spirit ’70s arena rock in all its bloated glory. My determination as to who has the belt will be both arbitrary and capricious. In the event that I can’t decide if an entry is the current winner, the matter will be decided by the first two people to vote in favor of, or against, the entry.

Just to get things started, I’ll say the “Cowboy Song,” but know that I have an Ace up my sleeve.

Turned-On Burdon!

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jun 182009

For your pleasure, may I invite you to turn on with Eric Burdon and the Animals. Following are some tracks from the band’s 1966 to 1968 period. You may recall we discussed this period last week. I’ll spare you the studio version of my personal favorite, “San Franciscan Nights,” and if you don’t think “Sky Pilot” is one of the coolest “acid rock” songs ever we may have to part ways, baby.

As you listen to these tracks, think about the whole concept of Eric Burdon getting tuned in, think about an age in which Angry, Young Eric could begin to feel like he belonged, man. I mean, just a couple of years earlier he had to get outta that place. Check out the video that opens this thread and tell me you’re not witnessing the transformation at work. These songs must have begun the process of lifting a tremendous weight off Angry, Young Eric.

“Don’t Bring Me Down”

Another day, perhaps, we can explore the next phase of Eric’s career, in which he wrestles with his Black Man’s Burdon, so to speak.

Dugout Chatter

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jun 172009

Don’t think twice, it’s all right. The following set of questions require nothing more than your gut answers. There’s no right or wrong answer, but some answers may be correct. What’s most important is that you answer. Are you ready? Let’s roll!

Name an album you frequently dismiss or lampoon, despite the fact that you have never heard it!

Excepting your own band’s releases or releases you have recently received as a critic, do you own any unopened albums or CDs?

Have you ever purposely placed a certain lp at the front of a stack minutes before rock-nerd company arrives, you know, to impress them? Similarly, have you ever filed away an album that you’d rather not have your company find sitting in front of your stereo?

Honestly, do you get the slightest charge out of an lp’s surface noise?

What’s your favorite record that’s set at the “wrong” speed (ie, a 7-inch at 33 1/3 rpm or an lp at 45 rpm)?

What’s the first lp you remember buying with your own money?

What’s your favorite record label – not as in “record company” but the sticker on the record itself, be it a 45 or an lp. The graphics on a CD itself will be allowed as an answer only if you’re younger than 40.

Have you ever worn a record sleeve on your head, Pope’s mitre-style?

Whatever you do, please don’t…
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Let’s Talk About Warren Oates

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jun 172009

First of all, my close personal friend Townsman E. Pluribus Gergely, can pack his Hot Tuna album for me when he comes over next week for a night of film watching. The following clip from the undeniably excellent Two-Lane Blacktop includes a character with a Southern accent. And there’s no denying the greatness of this movie.

Two-Lane Blacktop

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I SUMMON E. PLURIBUS GERGELY TO COMMENT ON THESE NEW ELVIS COSTELLO TRACKS!

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jun 172009

Recently Townsman E. Pluribus Gergely has begun his summertime Rock Town Hall duties, which include monitoring the films of Al Pacino; giving grief to the likes of Hrrundivbakshi, BigSteve, and yours truly; and pooh-poohing the collected works of Elvis Costello, Lou Reed (Mistrial excepted), and other high school favorites post-1983. Some of what my man Gergs will say in the coming weeks will hurt. In some cases it will be the pain of a cowardly stab in the back; in other cases, the pain you feel will be the result of his occasionally piercing insight. Wherever the pain registers for you, I encourage you to take it like a Townsperson and give it back to the man as you see fit.

To help EPG re-establish his footing in the Halls of Rock, I feel compelled to SUMMON him to comment on the following tracks from Elvis Costello’s new album, the one with some overblown title and produced by T-Bone Burnett. I have not yet heard these songs myself. Maybe these will be initial spins for you as well. Don’t put all the burden on E. Pluribus to comment, and please be candid when you share.

Elvis Costello, “Down Among the Wine and Spirits”

Elvis Costello, “Complicated Shadows”

Elvis Costello, “I Dreamed of My Old Lover”

I look forward to your comments!

Yacht Rock Confidential: They’re Not Booing, They’re Yelling, Pablo Cruise!

Posted by jungleland2

Jun 152009

Ladies and gentlemen, raise your Michelob Light and welcome…Mr. Michael McDonald!

Chastain Park Ampletheatre, Summer 1982, Atlanta, GA. Parking lot full of Mercedes and BMWs..all leased. Husbands and wives (and second wives) march out to the “table” seats up front. Candles are lit, white linen table cloths are laid out, catered food from a chic Buckhead restaurant. They don’t normally do take-away, but hell, you lent the owner your lake house and helped with his quickie divorce…you are a powerful guy!

“Is he gonna do any Doobies? Hell yes! Who’s opening? Hey, it’s Boz.. Boz Scaggs. Wow, he has great hair, love the blow-dried Look! We were almost late, couldn’t decide between the Lacoste or Ralph Loren shirt with my chino shorts and bass boat shoes…anyway, remember that time we were out on Lake Lanier listening to Christopher Cross? Ride Like the Wind, baby!..Man we were trashed..good times! I ruined my Rolex when I fell off the boat trying to rescue our bottle of Cuervo Gold… The Guys from the firm are never gonna let that one go…

“Hey, I went to Turtles Records & Tapes and bought this thing called a CD player..it plays like mini records..and it’s digital..first class all the way. CDs cost like $20 but they sound crystal clear on the Hi-Fi…got all the great discs

Pablo Cruise, Doobies, Christopher Cross, Billy Joel, Orleans, Steely Dan (not the early stuff, the good stuff “Peg” and “Hey 19”), Little River Band, and of course Jimmy (Buffett not Hendrix)

The kid at the store tried to get me to buy some of that Punk and New Wave crap. I’ve never heard of these bands…Elvis Costello? The Jam? Adam Ant? The Clash?.. you can’t party to this stuff!. I kinda like Genesis, but wish they weren’t so out there..like Pink Floyd, jeez, I’m not some long-haired druggie….

…I made a mix tape for my Beemer, the song list is great…all the songs we love: What a Fool Believes, The Biggest Part of Me, Lido Shuffle, Steal Away, Peg, Ride Like the Wind, This Is It, Baker Street, Escape (The Pina Colada Song), I Just Wanna Stop, Baby Come Back, Summer Breeze, Reminiscing, Still the One…

So the show’s ready to start, my wife is on here third glass of Chardonnay, so we’d better get to the men’s room for a quick toot before Boz starts….”

So there is my (imagined) Yacht Rock experience – thanks for the invite to The Main Stage…. Please share your own or nominate an artist I missed (or blast me for one I’ve included that does not deserve this fate).

Regional Dialects in Rock Songs

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jun 152009

It may be argued that this thread is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt at railing against three Red Sox fans at this past Saturday’s Phillies-Red Sox game at Citizens Bank Park. I can assure you that musical content is all that I have on my mind, but if you don’t believe me, let me begin by railing at these three 25-year-old yuppie New Englanders who made it to Philadelphia to root for their home team.
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