“Black Friday” has passed in the in the US, marking beginning of the period of the year in which retailers go “into the black,” or profit. In honor of this day, one which has extra weight in the middle of the largest financial crisis since the great depression, we ask a simple question. We’re talking about “The Benjamins,” “Moolah,” “Deniros,” “Loonies,” “Dead Presidents,” “Sawbucks.” Which is the greatest song about money?
Early vote: “Money Don’t Matter,” by Prince.
I’ve heard of couples who have agreed to give each other a free pass in the unlikely event he has the opportunity to boink, say, Angelina Jolie, or she gets picked up by George Clooney in a bar. As a sad indicator of my rock nerdiness, I realized the other day that my wife and I do not have such agreement, but that she did say that I could quit my job temporarily and go on tour if Paul Westerberg ever called looking for a guitarist.
So, in an effort to separate the real rock nerds from the guys who were just into this because of some vague (and misguided) notion that it might get them laid, the question is this:
Would you opt for a one-night stand with a celebrity or a chance to sit in with a musical hero? In either case, who would it be?
A few rules:
How many typical Thanksgiving foods can you cite in the lyrics of rock songs?
For what is a veteran rock star more thankful in his autobiography: the patience, love, and support of his first wife, who raised their children almost singlehandedly during the rocker’s long journey to unfulfilling superstardom, or the “on-the-rebound” support of his younger, new edition wife?
Which rock musician or entire band would you most like to invite to your Thanksgiving dinner – and why?
When you think pre- or post-song “thank you” from the onstage patter of a live album or concert film what’s the first one that comes to mind? (See my choice, above.)
What’s your favorite song of thanks, specifically a song with the words “thanks” or “thank you” in the title?
Finally, if you haven’t gotten around to it yet, here’s an opportunity to give thanks to a fellow Townsperson for turning you onto something during your time in the Halls of Rock!
I’ve written this three times, because it’s always way too long for RTH, and way too fawning for me. Maybe Mwall’s “tuneless” comment is intimidating me! I found out about Lucero from a one=word post on a message board that answered the question, “Where does a Replacements fan go in this century?” A one-word answer that seemed so sure, stuck in the middle of a bunch of posts that lamented the loss of The ‘Mats and the usual, “Rock is dead now,” crap that every generation seems to say when they get bored with rock n roll seemed to say it all. “Lucero.” I was intrigued.
I missed The Replacements. I had some Uncle Tupelo cd’s while they were a functioning unit, but never saw them. I found out about Whiskeytown when Stranger’s Almanac came out, and again never saw them. I completely missed Jawbreaker. I found Lucero’s latest album (at the time) in Massachusetts the week it came out. The kid at the counter asked me who they were and I just said, “I dunno. I hope they’re good.” The album was That Much Further West and as it turns out, guitar player Brian Venable isn’t on it, and he’s a main reason I’ve come to like all their other albums more than the one I initially found. I’ve seen them several times, the first time all by myself. The last time I had six other people with me. They were my band, then they were our band. They aren’t quite everyone’s band, and maybe that will never happen. I hope it does for them, but if it doesn’t I already know that their albums aren’t the kind that sit on my shelf for years between plays, and I know in 20 years I’ll still feel lucky to have their music.
Where does Jawbreaker fit in all this? The other bands I mentioned have that Americana vibe, and share a knack for decent lyrics and nice turns of phrase. Jawbreaker shares that lyrical sensibility, and while their sound musically leans more punk than country, Lucero are big fans and Jawbreaker shares as much in their influences as The Replacements or Uncle Tupelo. The Jawbreaker song “Kiss the Bottle” is always a highlight when they play it live. I bet some of their fans think it’s a Lucero song. Their live shows are always fun, and the band can range from super tight to drunk and sloppy all in the same song, but that’s how bands that I like tend to play. I think for some of Lucero’s fans, their nods to Jawbreaker and The Replacements are just one more thing that brings them closer to their fans.
Jawbreaker – “Kiss the Bottle”
Lucero – “Kiss the Bottle”
Wanna hear someone famous miss the point?
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Gergs, don’t bother cueing up those Spooky Tooth records in your basement. I thought we were forgetting some worthwhile song by them, but a brief YouTube search turned up extremely poor results.
First, they do the almost unthinkable: they fail to impress, even on an unintentionally humorous level, on a 1969 Beat Club appearance. How many excellent Beat Club videos have we seen through the years, and how often does a band fail to impress – in some way – in those well-shot B&W clips?
Then there’s the following monstrosity. I doubt they are responsible for the video, but this is as ponderous a cover as you’re likely to hear this side of Vanilla Fudge.
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“It will vanish and shrink We’re more popular than Jesus now – I don’t know which will go first, rock and roll or Christianity. Jesus was alright, but his disciples were thick and ordinary. It’s them twisting it that ruins it for me.” – John Lennon, 1966
After 40 years, the Vatican has forgiven John Lennon for his “bigger than Jesus” remark. In a piece celebrating the 40th anniversary of “The White Album,” L’Osservatore Romano also stated its preference for the single version of “Revolution” and cited a 1973 radio appearance in which he sang along to Beatles songs, making up nonsensical lyrics, as evidence of the solo Lennon’s ability to poke fun at his time in the Beatles.
The Vatican would not budge on one issue, however:
John Lennon’s 1975 album of pre-Beatles covers, Rock ‘n Roll, continues to disappoint.
This question might be answered sooner than I would hope, exposing an embarrassing oversight by my rock nerd powers, but I’ve been thinking about it for a few days and need your help, Townspeople!
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