The Donald looks on enviously as Walter’s Beard is awarded an honorary degree
Whether you enjoy contemplating his beard or not, this is your chance to exercise your formidable, rippling brain muscles in pursuit of a special Walter Becker-edition RTH No-Prize, created to honor truly awesome displays of sheer brain power. This space is being intentionally left blank so that you might fill it with some creative, innovative, Becker-caliber thinkery; something that would really make Walter proud. Apply the Heisenberg uncertainty principle to the career arc of Black Oak Arkansas! Write a one-act play from the perspective of Neil Schon’s hair, ca. 1973! Examine the connections between Jacques Derrida’s “Of Grammatology” and Bad Company’s first album!
I look forward to your responses, not that I expect to actually get any.
I know I’ve been tough on you the last few days. You had it coming to you. I’ve been tough on myself as well. It’s pretty stressful trying to be as fair an open-minded as I was in heaping that relative and appropriate amount of praise on George Thorogood these last few days. He had it coming to him. Remember when Spock would do that Vulcan Mind Meld thing to save someone’s life, how exhausted he would be for minutes afterward? That’s how I feel. To encourage a well-deserved period of healing for us all I offer the following tracks, burned from vinyl, with all the love and surface noise I can offer. You are truly the greatest!
This kick-off track from Graham Parsons’ GP album, like all these tracks, goes out to each and every one of you. But this one especially goes out to Dr. John. We still tight, right, bro?
Here’s a rare song written by Neil Young that shows a trace of his supposed Motown heritage. Has anyone ever verified the story of the band he and Rick James had as youngsters being signed to that label? This track goes out to any fans of The Byrds whose feathers I may have ruffled in the past. I’ll take Buffalo Springfield any day of the week, but we’re cool, right, Byrds fans?
This next track, from The Turtles’ Ray Davies-produced Soup, is for HVB. We’ve gone through the fire more than once. I’m sure our latest bout won’t be the last time. And you know what? I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
I sensed that Alexmagic was trembling with a mixture of fear and disgust during our recent Steel Cage Match. I’m pretty sure this song from The Bee Gees’ Cucumber Castle lp will help calm his nerves.
Years ago I turned General Slocum onto this Van Morrison tune. I believe he since bought the album, Veedon Fleece, in digital format. I’ve been keeping my eye out for a digitally remastered copy myself, but I bet the General sometimes misses the pops and scratches from my old vinyl copy. I bet you’ll miss it too, if you familiarize yourself with this version and then move on.
Mod, I want to end this senseless Thorogood/Top blood feud before any real harm is done. Can we at least reach across the aisle to agree that the lead singer of this band may be sporting the Worst Current Look in rock?
Also, note the hilariously gigantic rhythm guitarist on the left. He makes that Les Paul Custom look like a freaking ukelele! Guffaw!
If it’s not clear what list of particular rock oddities I’m hoping we can exhaust, think about the Spencer Davis Group. When you and your rock nerd friends sit around and talk about Spencer Davis Group, do you ever talk about poor Spencer himself? Do you ever give him props for whatever instrument he played? Could you pick him out from a police lineup or Spencer Davis Group album cover? Probably not. Spencer Davis is nowhere near the best-known member of the group that bears his name.
Four bands immediately come to mind for this thread, along with a fifth band that is named after two band members who are not the best-known members of the band they founded. I’m banking on the fact that there are more than the five examples I have in mind. Let’s get it on! But first, remember the one rule in Last Man Standing competitions: Only one entry per post! You may not post a list that hogs multiple entries. Now, let’s get it on!
I’ve seen still photos of the band Slade during their early, skinhead period, but I’ve never seen this period of the band in action! This is not to celebrate what would become known as unsavory skinhead values, mind you, but a pretty cool Look and sound. Check it out!
Hrrundi, I am counting on your commentary, in particular. You’ve gotta dig the little bass=guitar player interplay captured around 1:35. You know, we’ve been through the fire these past couple of days. It’s important that newer Townspeople, who may have been frightened during the recent Steel Cage Match, see how an occasional walk through the fire can forge stronger bonds.
Here’s another clip from the same 1969 performance. This one doesn’t do it for me; in fact, it’s a real soft-on. However, it does open the door to some healing via highly anticipated/dreaded Beatles chatter.
I gotta wash this ZZ Top / Thorogood shit out of my consciousness. It reminds me of Lou Reed’s words, back when his music sounded like it was supposed to: “And since I don’t have to choose I guess I won’t…”
eMusic just released two live Pink Floyd tunes, Interstellar Overdrive and Nick’s Boogie from Peter Whitehead’s Tonite Let’s All Make Love In London documentary. Most of us have probably seen it, but if you haven’t it is a pretty nifty time/place capsule that includes a healthy dose of The Floyd before they officially released anything. The YouTube clip is from the film.
I immediately downloaded the tunes upon release and though I enjoyed them enough, I must say that they aren’t nearly as satisfying as listening while watching a hunched Syd meld with his guitar while the rest of The Floyd looks mildly unclear on their own concept.
Oh and shots of painted boobs help too.
So if you’re tiring of deciding who’s dumber, “dumb or dumber”, take a break from your workaday, crank up The Floyd and fly your freak flag high and strong.
