They don’t make All-Star Jams like A&M Records made them in 1967! (CAUTION: The segment beginning at 5:30 may not be safe for work.)
May 272009
May 272009
Are there tales of triumphant second bananas in rock? I know there are second bananas who’ve moved away from their original band to go onto success in their own right, such as Brian Eno, but are there second bananas who have triumphed and taken over the lead of the same band? There must be, but aside from possible situations like The Beach Boys, in which leader Brian Wilson had to set aside the reigns for any sibling brave enough to pick them up, I’m not coming up with a killer example of “triumph.” Maybe the power plays I’m looking for were worked out in advance of the band making it in the first place. Do tell!
May 272009
Horror…
Ever have one of those weeks when you’re reminded too often of just how petty and self-centered some of your fellow adults can be? Man, oh Manischewicz, I’m having the second of such weeks out of my last three—don’t worry, it’s none of you and no one you know! Thankfully, over the course of the last two unseasonably chilly and gloomy days I’ve found comfort in some recently purchased songs. In case you’re feeling anything like I’m feeling and have a lot of stuff on your mind that’s better left unsaid, I thought I’d share the following mix. Enjoy!
Fairport Convention, “Who Knows Where the Time Goes” (live)
May 262009
Before departing for your desert island, you’re allowed to choose ONE of the variety of rock voices typified by each of the following singers. Once settled on the island, all recordings featuring that singer will be sung in the one style you have chosen. You won’t lose any songs in each artist’s catalog, just any voice in which they sang that song other than the one style you have chosen. Got me? Now, choose wisely!
Mick Jagger: Typical Jagger (eg, “Satisfaction” or “Rock Off”) style that all garage singers would attempt to mimic or “blackface” style employed on occasion in late-60s and early-70s.
Debbie Harry: “Tough chick” style of “One Way or Another” or high-pitched, dreamy style of “Heart of Glass” and “Dreaming”?
Roger Daltry: Coolly menacing Mod style of “Can’t Explain” or the bare-chested, anthemic, shouting style perfected at Woodstock and throughout Who’s Next?
Paul McCartney: Little Richard-derived rock belt; high-energy melodicism of “Magical Mystery Tour” and the rocking parts of the best Wings songs; or jaunty showman’s voice of “When I’m Sixty-Four”?
David Bowie: Slyly rockin’ voice of earlier rockers like “Queen Bitch” and “Rebel Rebel” or the Anthony Newly-inspired voice of “Heroes” and various ballads?
Following your choices, please feel free to add your own split-personality vocalists for us to consider.
May 262009
This was a sad bit of news you may have heard about already: former Wilco multi-instrumentalist Jay Bennett was found dead in his sleep in Champaign, IL. Summerteeth is still the one Wilco album I like playing, and I know he had a large hand in that one. I know he was kicked out of the band during the making of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, a story that was (I believe) central to that documentary that came out on the band around the time of YHF‘s release, I Am Trying to Break Your Heart. I was not a big fan of that album, and I have still not seen the movie. I do own a Bennett/Edward Burch album, The Palace at 4 am, which I like best among all Wilco-related albums I own next to Summerteeth, so I’m guessing I was a Jay Bennett fan more than anything. I’ll have to check out the rest of his solo catalog. Too bad I didn’t appreciate more of his stuff in his lifetime.
NEXT: Rock Town Hall’s Official Eulogy…
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May 232009
Time to strap on a dynamite belt?
In a recent thread Townsman Chickenfrank made the following comment that is worthy of bringing to The Main Stage, as part of our occasional Rock Crimes series. His comment may still qualify as May’s Comment of the Month (I’ll have to consult with the judges), but until then, this is too important a topic not to bring to the fore.
Chick wrote:
CNN has an article about classic rock bands reuniting and recording new material together. The photo of Journey, Styx, and REO Speedwagon all together seems akin to Hitler, Pol Pot, and Idi Amin miraculously being together simultaneously. If I were to strap on a dynamite belt and eliminate either of those trios, would the country celebrate a 3-day weekend for me?
Stay tuned for new songs by Chicago and Earth Wind and Fire together. I assume Tower of Power was busy that weekend.
Chick’s question raises a number of other questions that may be worth discussing here:
- If his dynamite belt could eliminate only two out of three of these heinous bands, which one would (to be clear I ask would not should) survive?
- In the Steven Speilberg film of this historic event, who would play our real-life hero, Chickenfrank?
- Which band is Mussolini and who in the rock industry is Chamberlain?
I’m sure you’ve got thoughts of your own on these questions as well as others. On this Memorial Day weekend, I think it’s only right that you share. Thanks!
May 222009
Who among us hasn’t been amazed by the wisdom of The Hall? For as many knowledgeable individuals who dazzle with their rock knowledge, it is the collective wisdom of our participants that I find most dazzling.
It is in this spirit that I want to continue a feature that was launched a couple of months ago, not only for the people but by the people.
As originally described, the concept is simple. This is a place to seek specific wisdom from the collective intelligence. These are not to be philosophical queries but rather to seek advice and wisdom on specific rock questions. It may be a place to seek listening and purchasing recommendations.
Today I have a simple request, for The Orockle, one that may spark lengthy conversation, or not, but will hopefully illicit some sage advice.
As always, when any of us consult The Orockle, the opportunity exists for folks to ask similar questions and receive similar advice. The topic shouldn’t necessarily focus just on my topic.
Here’s the question I would like to ask The Orockle:
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