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Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Une Fille Américaine
Petty and the Heartbreakers, 1978.
This is what it looks like at that frozen moment in time when you just happen to be the greatest rock 'n' roll band in the world.
Do you know I actually saw both of them on a double bill in a small club right about this time.
McGuinn opened and did his nice, but overly polite version.
The Petty came out, they were dressed all in black, and about five times the volume.
One of the greatest sets I've ever seen....and there's a semi-official bootleg of another similar club show from the same tour that's definitely worth finding...
I saw them back in '78, in (of all places) Asbury Park. (Opening acts: Carillo and UK - the Holdsworth/Jobson/Wetton/Bruford supergroup.) A good show, but slightly frustrating; I was expecting it to be great. Somehow that extra bit of oomph just wasn't there.
I missed the last bus back to NYC and ended up spending the night walking back up north and trying to hitch a ride. I swear at one point around 3 AM I was nearly run over by a bus with "? and The Mysterians" on the destination sign. That would have been a hell of a way to go.
Did you see McGuinn around the time of his comeback CD "Back from Rio"? He had a pretty hot band at the time and they did a *GREAT* version of this song.
I did, actually. Somebody just gave me a copy of the album, too -- I'd forgotten there were some pretty good tunes on it...a great Elvis Costello song, in particular.
"You Bowed Down" is a great song. So is American Girl.
I just saw a piece last week on the MOJO Music HD channel on Tom Petty. It was a FOUR HOUR rockumentary. I like TP and the Heartbreakers well enough, but c'mon, 4 hours?...really?
That must have been "Running Down a Dream", the recent one directed by Peter Bogdanovich. I've heard it's excellent. Yes, 4 hours of any artist is a lot to digest, but I hoping to catch this one day.
I like McGuinn's version better. :O)
ReplyDeleteDo you know I actually saw both of them on a double bill in a small club right about this time.
ReplyDeleteMcGuinn opened and did his nice, but overly polite version.
The Petty came out, they were dressed all in black, and about five times the volume.
One of the greatest sets I've ever seen....and there's a semi-official bootleg of another similar club show from the same tour that's definitely worth finding...
1978...greatest rock & roll band in the world! Hmmmmm.... Steve, do you mean figuratively or literally?
ReplyDeleteI seem to remember both Bruce & The ESB and the Stones having a pretty good year in 1978 also!
No, I meant that very moment they were performing this take on TV...
ReplyDeleteI saw them back in '78, in (of all places) Asbury Park. (Opening acts: Carillo and UK - the Holdsworth/Jobson/Wetton/Bruford supergroup.) A good show, but slightly frustrating; I was expecting it to be great. Somehow that extra bit of oomph just wasn't there.
ReplyDeleteI missed the last bus back to NYC and ended up spending the night walking back up north and trying to hitch a ride. I swear at one point around 3 AM I was nearly run over by a bus with "? and The Mysterians" on the destination sign. That would have been a hell of a way to go.
Steve,
ReplyDeleteDid you see McGuinn around the time of his comeback CD "Back from Rio"? He had a pretty hot band at the time and they did a *GREAT* version of this song.
KC:
ReplyDeleteI did, actually. Somebody just gave me a copy of the album, too -- I'd forgotten there were some pretty good tunes on it...a great Elvis Costello song, in particular.
Yes, "You Bowed Down" was perfect for Roger!
ReplyDelete"You Bowed Down" is a great song. So is American Girl.
ReplyDeleteI just saw a piece last week on the MOJO Music HD channel on Tom Petty. It was a FOUR HOUR rockumentary. I like TP and the Heartbreakers well enough, but c'mon, 4 hours?...really?
Cleveland Bob:
ReplyDeleteThat must have been "Running Down a Dream", the recent one directed by Peter Bogdanovich. I've heard it's excellent. Yes, 4 hours of any artist is a lot to digest, but I hoping to catch this one day.