Rock Town Hall • Rock Music Discussion

Happy Together: Meg, Jack, Porter, Marty, and Mom

Jul 262007

At her own space, Townswoman Citizen Mom delivers the goods on the recent Madison Square Garden concert by White Stripes with Porter Wagoner opening. Read all about it here, but first chew on the following excerpt, rock nerd hatas:

The prevailing wisdom on Meg White seems to be that she’s there only to be a foil for Jack, with people sneeringly wondering whether he writes the drum parts for her (as if that matters, actually), as if she’s little more than a performing doll, the little plastic ballerina who twirls only when you open the lid of the jewel box. Bullshit. This woman is far more sure of herself than her doe-eyed persona suggests, with far more skill as performer than her detractors allow. The importance of her presence to the expression of Jack’s furious genius is infinitely greater than any of us probably suspect.

Earlier on Rock Town Hall…
KingEd reviews Icky Thump and The Wagonmaster.

A Healing Mix

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jul 252007

(Rundgren tunes not included)

It’s been a stressful few days at Rock Town Hall. Heads have butted in the best of spirits, but it still takes a toll. Following is a healing mix of songs from Boston to wherever it is in the solar system that Sun Ra lived. Enjoy.

Ornette Coleman, “Sadness”

Sun Ra, “Nubians of Plutonia”

Black Moth Super Rainbow, “Lost, Picking Flowers In the Woods”

Big Dipper, “Mr. Woods”

The Pretty Things, “Cries from the Midnight Circus”

J. Geils Band, “I’m Looking for a Love”

All-Star Jam

Posted by Gerry Todd

Jul 252007

Prock me, Amadeus!

Stigwood and Brothers Gibb Reunite to Produce Magical Mystery Tour Remake

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jul 252007

MIAMI, FL — Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club movie producer Robert Stigwood and the surviving Bee Gees, Barry and Robin Gibb, have announced plans to produce a full-length feature remake of The Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour. The original made-for-television film will be expanded for theatrical release. The surviving brothers Gibb, who starred along with since-deceased brother Maurice and Peter Frampton as the fictional Lonely Hearts Club Band, do not plan to star in the Magical Mystery Tour film, but they will produce the soundtrack and do expect to make a cameo appearance.

“We expect to interest a contemporary band to portray The Beatles,” said Robin Gibb, stopped outside the brothers’ Miami headquarters. It was suggested Maroon 5 would be a strong candidate for the parts. “Yes, they’ve been bandied about,” confirmed Gibb, “but we’re concerned about finding a role for the fifth member.”
Continue reading »

What Song That You Like Begs for a Critical Rock Wedgie?

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jul 242007

A friend and I were discussing The Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour album, which we both think is pretty great and each had in the back of our minds during that hypothetical discussion from a few days ago. Tracks like “Your Mother Should Know” and “Fool on the Hill” came up, and we admitted to each other for the first time, after 25 years of friendship, that we liked even those songs. Then one of us said, “That getting around will get you a critical rock wedgie!” Go ahead and try it, and while you’re at it, what song that you secretly like begs for a critical rock wedgie? Continue reading »

Best Foot Forward: Album Covers That Made You Take the Plunge

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jul 242007

Hey, that’s my old copy!

Last week, I believe it was, Townsman 2000 Man made mention of an album cover that was so appealing that he couldn’t resist buying the album, despite the fact that he knew almost nothing about the band. I had a similar experience in high school when I first saw a huge display of Elvis Costello’s My Aim Is True at the old Peeches record store on Roosevelt Boulevard. I bet I wasn’t alone in taking the plunge on that album. Great cover! In the days of vinyl and 12-inch come-ons for artists’ new works, I’m sure I took a chance on a couple of albums per year. These days, the old CD cover doesn’t pull as much weight with my wallet. What album covers made you take a chance on an artist you knew almost nothing about?

While you’re pondering this, if we kept track of the ratio of albums sales based on cover art to actual spins of purchased record, would any album have a lower ratio of sales to spins than the classic Zwol album? My guess is that my personal 1 sale:2 spins for that album is not far off the average among the other 43 people in the world who probably bought that album just for its ridiculous cover.

I look forward to the anticipation with which Oats looks forward to your responses!

Dylan Goes Electric: “It’s About Time!”

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jul 242007

As long as I’ve read about rock music, much has been made of Bob Dylan’s going electric and its polarizing effect on the folk faithful…as if anyone has cared since about 2 weeks after the early ’60s folk movement began to putter out. What I’ve never heard is the other side of the story: What did rock fans think of his move to the electric world? Shortly after turning electric, Dylan would become almost as big as The Beatles, which would have made him as big as if not bigger than God. Do any of our older Townspeople recall a feeling of “It’s about effin’ time you crossed over!” Has anyone read of such a feeling in the air? I would think someone would have been psyched that his great tuneage and boss Look had finally entered the rock realm.

I’m tying this into my thoughts in yesterday’s Dugout Chatter on feeling that you might love an artist if only you could get your head around the genre within which said artist worked. Someone may have mentioned Dylan if not for the folky part, and this is 43 years after the guy crossed over to rock!

Let me know if this “other perspective” on Dylan’s going electric has ever been documented or felt. Obviously, he became much more popular after having plugged in. Had I been of age back then, I like to think I would have welcomed his crossover. That folk stuff was holding him back. The hell with it! What took you so long, Bob?

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