Wednesday, September 17, 2008

An Exceptionally Early Clue to the New Direction

On all sorts of deadlines for money this morning, so today's teaser must go up early.

Consequently, from 1996, here's (on balance) Australia's greatest rock band ever, the incomparable You Am I, with one of the great lost singles of the decade, "Mr. Milk."



Love those Rickenbackers.

Anyway, as always, a coveted PowerPop No-Prize will be awarded the first reader who divines the clip's relevance to the theme of tomorrow's Weekend Listomania.

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

about groovy guitars?

David said...

Wow--this is really good! I might even have to reconsider my No. 1 Aussie band, Hunters & Collectors, if I can manage to find more of these guys. Unless, of course, you own some of their tracks...
In any case, my guess is you're going for the Top 10 songs that have "Mr." in them, but please, don't let "Mr. Moonlight" win because I firmly believe it to be the Beatles' worst song. Think Otis Redding...

steve simels said...

I actually like Mr. Moonlight, which is a note perfect remake of the r&b original -- group's name escapes me.

Actually, Rhino used to have an album of the original songs the Beatles covered, and that was on it. Also: Larry Williams rules. Wonder if that's still in print...

But no -- it's not songs with Mr. in the title.

David said...

I will make a point of hearing the original Mr. Moonlight--I think it all stems from the dull, fat sound of that organ which just irked my 6-year-old ears to no end. But just out of curious: Mr. Bigstuff, Mr. Pitiful, Mr. Soul, Mr. Pharmacist? Mr. Bad Example? The mind it doth boggle.

steve simels said...

The original Mr Moonlight
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Moonlight_(song)

And a YouTube of the record
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DkfeL2Rt8c

steve simels said...

BTW -- I discovered this song courtesy of our friend Sal Nunziato, back when he ran the coolest indie record store in history.

Go over to his new blog and thank him...
http://burnwoodtonite.blogspot.com/

David said...

Veddy interesting indeed...but I have to say I feel slightly vindicated to know that, at least according to wiki, I'm not alone among Beatles fans in this regard. I guess you're either of the Mr. M-hating school or the Hello Goodbye-hating school.

TMink said...

Songs about buildings and food? Well, songs with food or drink in the title?

Steve, did you ever play a Rick bass? I had a nice black and white stereo model for awhile. I loved it, then of course sold it like a moron. I sold it for a guitar as I recall.

Trey

TMink said...

As far as favorite Australasian band, I have to go with the Hoodoo Gurus.

Trey

David Rasmussen said...

The "Here's To You, Mrs. Robinson" list of songs containing la, la, las, bop, bop, bops, or comparable nonsense words as lyrics.

steve simels said...

No, no, and no (and Trey, no I never played a Rick bass).

Okay, here's a clue -- does the song remind you of another more famous band?

Who Am Us Anyway? said...

Bands influenced by the kinks?

Bands influenced by the who?

Bands influ -- OK, i'll stop.

David Rasmussen said...

Bands influenced by the Rockerfellers (of Minneapolis)? or more likely, bands influenced by whomever influenced the Rockerfellers?

steve simels said...

The operative words are "bands influenced..."

Anonymous said...

Bands that remind me of XTC

Who Am Us Anyway? said...

Bands influenced by the need to answer the question posed by my screen name?

David Rasmussen said...

References to alcohol?

Who Am Us Anyway? said...

Hmm ... those backing "woo-woos" have a Sympathy for the Devil vibe.

Bands influenced by the Stones?

steve simels said...


who am us anyway? said...
Bands influenced by the need to answer the question posed by my screen name?


You are a very funny man, my friend.

But no.

I'm actually stunned nobody's got it.

Okay, let's try this again.

They sound like somebody else.

steve simels said...

I think they sound just like the early Who, BTW....

That's also a clue.
:-)

Anonymous said...

Sounds like "Senses Working Overtime" by XTC

David Rasmussen said...

Bands that sound like The Early Who (or the Makes Nice)

Who Am Us Anyway? said...

OK One more at bat & if I strike out i promise I'll stop embarrassing myself (for a while anyway).

But the very opening riff sounds like Honeyman-Scott doesn’t it?

Bands influenced by the Pretenders? (Strike 1!)

OK, & then when I start really hearing those Rickenbackers I’m also hearing:

Bands influenced by the Byrds? (Strike 2?)

By the Heartbreakers? (Strike 3!) (Throws bat down in disappointment.)

geor3ge said...

Bands influenced by Mixolydian mode?

Who Am Us Anyway? said...

OK I lied -- but was trying to do some quick reading for the big meeting when I had another Rickenbackery moment:

Bands influenced by Elvis Costello & the Attractions?

TJWood said...

Late in the game to this one, but every clue seems to be pointing to: Best Imitations of One Artist by Another Artist.

Anonymous said...

Bands influenced by amphetamines?

steve simels said...


tjwood said...
Late in the game to this one, but every clue seems to be pointing to: Best Imitations of One Artist by Another Artist.

9/18/2008 11:24 PM


Ta-dah!!!!!!!

Not exactly, but way close enough. Your coveted PowerPop No-Prize is headed your way by trained carrier worms as we speak.

steve simels said...

Oh, and the list goes up right after midnight if anybody's still up...

Who Am Us Anyway? said...

Rats! But another great early clue to the new direction. What's so cool about these things is that, as with any great mystery story, at the end you look back & see that, sure enough, week after week the clues all did point to the answer if one had only been clever enough to notice. I still can't believe you let us all play for free.