Do you dare play the following Old Grey Whistle Test clip of ’70s sensations Stackridge? Are you ready to rock? Move aside The Hives, this is rock’s most dynamic performance!
When you’ve finished watching this clip, how about sharing the moment that truly blew your mind?
Following the YouTube cover that accompanied Townsman Mrclean‘s Gift of Music offering, Mrclean himself sent us the Dead Milkmen‘s original demo of said song. Consider this yet one more gift of music!
Dead Milkmen, “Christmas Party”
Yet another relative newcomer to the Halls of Rock has submitted a musical gift for us. Townsman Loophole explains what this mystery track means to him. Open his gift and give back to us all with your impressions!
Loophole Shares the Gift of Music
OK, here’s a relatively new release that I picked up on a lark. The album’s getting a little publicity, but I would guess that the vast majority of Townspeople have never heard it. It’s a love-it-or-hate-it song with just voice and lightly strummed guitar. The lyrics make the song (or break it as the case may be). Either it will get to you or come off as too sappy. It got to me because it hits a little too close to home, and it reminded me not to take my lovely wife for granted.
“Hambone,” exclaimed Lou, “that’s what my sound has been lacking!”
From the collection of Townsman Mrclean comes the following, mysterious gift of music. He shares his thoughts following the track, which you are encouraged to open, contemplate, and comment on.
Mrclean Shares the Gift of Music
An old favorite that makes me think of rainy days or snow days and hanging out in West Philly. The LP cover is off putting with photos of some loutish looking lads with silly names that are odd compared to the LP title, itself a pretty bold and ridiculous statement. This vaguely intimidating package yields some lovely mellow pop. I love this whole album but was disappointed with their later releases. My guess is that at least one Townsman of my acquaintance in particular will immediately recognize this but I hope he withholds his comments until some others chime in…
Today I watched two great old movies back to back: To Have and Have Not and Night of the Hunter. Each film effectively worked in live performances of music – with the characters singing in an otherwise nonmusical film – to enhance the story, the tone, the plot. This is a device that has been used to great effect in a number of films, including many by Robert Altman, Tender Mercies, O Brother Where Art Thou, but how often has it been done successfully using a rock song or rock songs? I’m not talking about rock soundtracks of the Martin Scorcese/Wes Anderson variety. I guess that long, excruciating cover a Van Morrison by Jennifer Jason Leigh’s character in Georgia is close to an example, but her character is a rock musician. Is there a movie in which a character simply picks up a guitar and bangs out a song? Will Ferrell does, come to think of it, in his “serious” film from the past year, when he plays “Whole Wide World”. Any other examples that are that casually woven into the plot?
En route to an exotic, mysterious location, Townsman HVB asked that I post the following gift of music. A gamesman to the core, HVB has included a little mystery for us to solve!
Happy holidays from south of the border, fellow Townspeople! My holiday gift is here, under the palm tree, free for the taking. What do I like about it? Well, this mystery artist is justifiably reputed to be one of the greatest acoustic guitar players of the 20th century, but here he lets it all hang out with a touching, heartfelt, but downright ragged vocal performance. Telling you the name of the song would tip my hand on the mystery artist’s identity, but I’ll just tell you his wistful, earnest singing perfectly matches the lyric. I have an additional challenge for you: I’m currently in a nation next-door to this artist’s home — actually, the nation where this performer spent his formative years training with a classical guitar master before he struck out in his own revolutionary musical direction. What nation is that?
Your fellow Townsman and pal 4ever,
HVB
