Friday, May 20, 2011

Slacker Friday

No Listomania this weekend -- musical or cinematic.



Hey...I'm really old and I'm taking care of an ailing mom. Also, NBC just cancelled The Event without filming a final episode, and I can barely deal with the crushing disappointment, frankly.

Never fear, though. The List will return next week -- tanned, rested and ready. That's just the way I roll.

But in the meantime, I discovered this online the other day, and it's so confounding I simply have to share. From 1968, here's Sissy Spacek -- yes, her -- doing business under the nom du disque Rainbo, and the quite remarkable "John, You Went Too Far This Time."

A song occasioned by the full frontal nude photo of John and Yoko on the Two Virgins album that year. I am not making this up.




I think we can all agree that this is even worse than Welcome Back Kotter star Marcia Strassman's Summer of Love hit "The Flower Children", but to quote Nick Tosches again -- even though it was a bad record, it failed to sell. In any case, Spacek went on to acquit herself vocally in a far more credible manner on the soundtrack to Coal Miner's Daughter in 1980.

I should add that, as you can see, the single was released on Roulette Records, whose president was the legendary Morris Levy, the Jewish Mafia guy with whom John Lennon had some serious legal problems a few years after Spacek's record was released to an uncaring world.

14 comments:

Sal Nunziato said...

Thank you. I'm glad I got to hear this before we all die tomorrow.

"The man with the foolish grin is you."

HAHAHAHAAA

steve simels said...

Hey -- as long as the Fleet Foxes go down with us, I'm happy.

Noam Sane said...

Hey -- as long as the Fleet Foxes go down with us, I'm happy.

Seconded. Best to yer mom.

steves said...

I don't know why, but I remember that song. Well...hearing about it (most likely in one of the many Beatle books). I'm pretty sure I never actually heard it, though...and I had no idea it was Sissy Spacek who sang it.

Too bad ol' Morrie can't be here for Saturday (assuming the old kook is right, that is). Sounds like something he would have enjoyed.

Dutch Canuck said...

Morris Levy. Jeez, I just heard an interview the other night with Tommy James about Levy. James thinks it's a miracle he wasn't rubbed out.

Here's a somewhat rambling but informative blog posting about Levy, James and 'Rainbo' by Artie Wayne a.k.a. Shadow Mann, the partner of Ron Haffkine, who produced this wonderful record.

The music biz sure attracts a lotta scummy people.

Be a good son to your Mom, and don't worry about us.

Dutch Canuck said...

Oops, forgot the link:

http://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2010/02/09/tommy-james-shocking-new-book-methe-mob-and-the-music/

pete said...

I saw her sing this on a local UHF teen-dance show out of, I think, Cleveland. THAT WAS SISSY SPACEK?

Anonymous said...

Good to listen to this. Now I don't feel so bad about not remembering the 60s.

I know this is a stupid question, but what were they thinking? Could this piece of bizarre musical antimatter possibly have brought Morris Levy satisfaction? Maybe a few vats of vinyl fell off a truck. Still... it's just kind of disturbing.

Our prayers are for your mom.

AP

Brooklyn Girl said...

To paraphrase Indiana Jones, "Fleet Foxes ... I hate these guys."

Unknown said...

Hey, Steve: You may have discovered it here: http://www.halfhearteddude.com/2011/05/beatles-bizarre-vol-2/. It's in amongst a whole heap o' bizarro Beatle-related novelties. Fun, fun, fun!

steve simels said...

Peter:

Yes, indeedy. And some of those links go back to even more insane stuff.

geor3ge said...

Hey -- as long as the Fleet Foxes go down with us, I'm happy.

Throw in Pomplamoose and you've got a deal.

Who Am Us Anyway? said...

Sorry to hear your mom is ill, Steve. Very best wishes to you and her both.

Walking Oliver Productions, Ltd said...

Hey, let me also chime in on blowiong up the Fleet Foxes. Gawd. Steve, you are indeed the go-to guy for arcane pop music knowledge. Brilliant!