Friday, May 29, 2009

Weekend Listomania (Special There's Gonna Be a Storm Video Edition)

Well, it's Friday and you know what that means.

Yes, my Oriental fille de nuit manual catharsis manager Fah Lo Suee and I will be travelling to...well, at this point, I was going to insert the traditional sort of lame topical political gag, in this case about the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court, but to be honest the naked racism and misogyny being spewed by the Limbaugh wing of the Republican party in the last few days has been so utterly loathsome that my heart's just not in it. Sorry.

In any case, posting by moi will be sporadic for a few days.

So on a hopefully much lighter note, in my absence, here's a fun project for you all to contemplate:

Most Memorable Post Elvis Song or Record Referencing Atmospheric Phenomena, i.e. Weather -- In the Title or Otherwise!!!

Self-explanatory, I think, so no arbitrary rules this time.

Okay, here's my totally top of my head Top Seven:

7. The Beatles -- Rain



Depending on my mood, either this or "And Your Bird Can Sing" is my favorite of the bunch of guitar-driven, vaguely metallic pop gems that the Beatles recorded around this time in late 65-early 66. This one has Ringo's most inventive drum performance, of course.

6. Lou Christie -- Rhapsody in the Rain



"In this car, our love much too far..."

The followup to the equally apt "Lightning Strikes," this one got banned by most 1966 radio stations, for obvious reasons. Good thing nobody knew Lou was gay at the time.

5. Smashing Pumpkins -- Raindrops and Sunshowers



The representative from Billy Corgan's pretentious cueball noggin, reporting for duty.

4. The Cowsills -- The Rain, The Park and Other Things



More for the title, which is one of the greatest things of its kind coughed up in the 60s, than the record itself. Points added for Susan Cowsill, the ex-Mrs. Peter Holsapple, becoming genuinely cool in recent years (see: Continental Drifters).

3. Steeleye Span -- One Misty Moisty Morning



Probably the oldest song ever featured on a Weekend Listomania, i.e., this probably dates back to Shakespeare's day. The 1973 Span studio version of this is one of the most adorable things you'll ever hear, BTW; the word goddess is overused in some circles, but I think Maddy Prior's vocal on this live version qualifies her for consideration as one.

2. Chi Coltrane -- Thunder and Lightning



A huge hit in its day (1973) and as convincing a piece of white girl r&b as could be heard at the time. Odd that she could never really follow it up.

And the number one ill wind that blows nobody good song, it's so ridiculously apparent that I can't believe we're even having a discussion, obviously is ---

1. Terry Anderson -- Weather or Not





If truth be told, this entire Listomania proceeded from the fact that I have wanted to post the audio clip of this song -- to my mind, the absolute best Rolling Stones/Keith Richards-style guitar rocker that the Stones or Keith never did -- for what seems like ages, so please press the play button above and enjoy. In case you're wondering, Anderson comes out of the Georgia Satellites axis (he co-wrote that group's semi-hit "Battleship Chains") and this derives from the early 90s solo album seen above the link. Catchiest goddamn chorus in the world, n'est-ce pas?

Anyway, you can download it HERE; as always, if the authorization has expired by the time you get there, just e-mail me. I think you can download it from the divShare link above as well, and their authorizations don't expire, or so I'm told.

Awrighty then -- what would your faves be?

[Shameless blogwhore: My parallel Cinema Listomania -- theme: most egregious miscasting of an actor in a starring or supporting role -- is now up over at Box Office. As always, if you could see your way to going over there and leaving a comment, thus making me look good in the eyes of management, I'd be your best friend.]

43 comments:

sdf (Stu) said...

Lessee, how about Replacements "Dose of Thunder."

Can we do entire albums? If so Pavement's "Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain."

Duane V said...

How could you leave 10,000 Maniacs' "Like the Weather" off your list? Classic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gm0ZWbMhWrE

TJWood said...

I noticed no snow songs got any mention, probably because no obvious candidates stick out. My choices will be "Snowman" from XTC (English Settlement) and "White As Snow", one of the lesser tracks from the latest U2 album.

jeff said...

Lovely to see the Steeleye Span listed; always one of my favorites. Some others:

Next Time Around - Sandy Denny

I See The Rain - The Marmalade

I Wish It Would Rain - Wreckless Eric

Misty Morning, Albert Bridge - The Pogues

It's Raining - Irma Thomas

Like A Hurricane - Neil Young

Mister Pleasant said...

Yep, Steeleye Span and Maddy Prior are way up there in my book. And "Rain" is a song I can listen to a hundred times in a row.

The Pretty Things did a killer original called "Rain" that deserves a listen. A real psychedelic barn burner.

And last but certainly not least, the Ronettes "Walking In The Rain" has atmosphere and some of the most gorgeous harmonies ever.

John Fowler said...

So many good weather songs to choose from!

thanks to Steve for the Beatles "Rain" clip, new for me; and I want to second TJWood on "Snowman" and Duane V for "Like the Weather"

I'll go with the following -


Randy Newman - "I Think It's Going to Rain Today" from his first album, although I think I prefer the piano-only version from his Randy Newman Songbook album. Saw him do this live a few years ago and it was just stunning. The crowd was just so silent and you could almost hear the tears welling up across the room.

Very close behind this one would be his "Louisiana 1927" off of Good Old Boys, which was played quite a bit after Katrina.

R.E.M. - "So. Central Rain" is an obvious choice, off of Reckoning. (bonus Rain at the Youtube link)

Yes, he's eccentric, but I really like the entire 7 plus minutes of Prince's "Purple Rain" (not on Youtube)

Neko Case - "This Tornado Loves You" from Middle Cyclone.

ELO - "Mr. Blue Sky" from Out of the Blue, perhaps the antidote to all this rain - complete with 70's clothes and video effects.

Liz Phair - "Johnny Sunshine" from Exile in Guyville.

Jason and the Scorchers - "Hot Nights in Georgia", off of their Fervor EP (but not on Youtube). These guys were so great live.

More hot nights with "Hot Night Crash" from the Swedish group Sahara Hotnights. I am not sure even how I have this song (Powerpop advice??), but it's pretty impossible to resist.

And close with a kid song, really a calendar song, but lots of weather mentions - Carole King's "Chicken Soup with Rice", from the Really Rosie soundtrack and cartoon (based on work by Maurice Sendak). Loved this one as a kid, most of the other songs from this are also fun!

Unknown said...

I bought Maddy Prior a drink in the bar of the Bournemouth Arms Hotel in 1970, after a duo concert she did with Tim Hart (I was all of 18) and I've worshipped her ever since.

Sal Nunziato said...

Can I vote for "Hurricane" by Bob Dylan without being disqualified?

Gummo said...

Jumpin' Jack Flash by the Stones ("Ahhh was bohhhhnnn in a crossfahrrr hurricannnnnnne")

Sunny Afternoon - the Kinks
Here Comes the Sun - Beatles
Looks Like Rain - Bob Weir
Let It Rain - Eric Clapton
Blue Sky - Allman Brothers Band
Who'll Stop the Rain - CCR
A Hard Rain's A'Gonna Fall - Dylan
Fresh Air - Quicksilver (? calling for a judge's ruling on this one)
Jack Straw - Grateful Dead ("sun so hot, cloud so low...")

and for double bonus points:

White Bird - It's A Beautiful Day (Not only does the song reference "on a winter's day in the rain" but the group name itself references weather - how many of those are there, I wonder?)

steve simels said...

White Bird - It's A Beautiful Day (Not only does the song reference "on a winter's day in the rain" but the group name itself references weather - how many of those are there, I wonder?)True story: Those guys played my old college in 1970, and a bigger bunch of hippies you never saw. In any case, I happened to see their sound check, and at one point the lead singer -- I think his name was David La Flamme (yeah, right) -- stopped in the middle of a song, and slowly looked around the concert hall.

He then smiled, and said into the microphone in the goofiest pothead voice I ever heard:

"Wow. What a round room."

Gummo said...

He then smiled, and said into the microphone in the goofiest pothead voice I ever heard:

"Wow. What a round room."
LOL.

That first album has some great music and some wonderfully awful pretentious hippie lyrics.

Unfortunately, they underwent a complete sonic transformation between albums 1 and 2. IIRC, their second album was a much more generic San Francisco affair.

halfpear said...

Bless your pea-pickin' heart for choosing Terry Anderson. He's just the best.

Susan Cowsill, the ex-Mrs. Me, has a great song called "The Rain Song" that has been recorded by our old band the Continental Drifters, as well as the Bangles and Hootie and the Blowfish. It's pretty damned undeniable.

Peter H.

steve simels said...

Peter Holsappele?


Oh. My. God.

I am so not worthy......

And I was going to include the Continental Drifter's "Rain Song" but I thought I'd save that for another post.

Oh. My. God.

billy b said...

Buddy Guy - Feels Like Rain

Meander said...

Madonna - Rain.

Don't hate - I love this song!

steve simels said...

I can't believe I just misspelled Holsapple.

aaarrrrrgggghhhhhhhh......
:-)

msw said...

Don't forget that Peter (with Chris) has a new CD out next week.
Here and NowIt even has a weather song - My Friend The Sun.

CoolSchool said...

Everybody must get stoned-"Rainy Day Women #12 & 35"-Dylan

billy b said...

Oh, and speaking of the Cowsills - The Rain, the Park, and Other Things.

dave™© said...

Gee, I thought I was the only guy who remembered that Chi Coltrane song!

cthulhu said...

Stevie Ray Vaughn's Couldn't Stand the Weather is one of his better original numbers. He also did a fantastic version of Texas Flood on his first record of the same name. While in the blues vein, check out Stormy Monday, although it may not be technically post-Elvis.

A second to Neil Young's Like a Hurricane - the live version on the "Berlin" DVD (from a concert with the Trans band in West Berlin ca. 1982) is jaw-droppingly-good.

And of course, from "Quadrophenia", the Who's tortured-romantic masterpiece Love, Reigh O'er Me - "Oh God I need a drink / Of cool cool rain..." Spine-tinglingly-good.

Noam Sane said...

I'd like to go on record as loving "The Rain the Park and Other Things". I love the chirpy reverb-laden kid background vocals and quarter-note organ (farfisa?) part and the harp glissandos. Call me crazy.

Not too long ago, Sal posted a show by Susan Cowsill and band where they covered the entire "Born to Run" album. It was quite charming.

Anyway, my vote goes to "Lightning Strikes (Not Once but Twice)" from Sandanista, a record that never grows old.

FOW's "Traffic and Weather" also comes to mind. Isn't it time for a new record from those guys? I'm jonesing.

The Kenosha Kid said...

It's A Beautiful Day apparently lost their name to a guy named Matthew Katz, a real shitheel that kept Jefferson Airplane tied up in litigation for about a decade over the same issue.

Cold Rain and Snow - Grateful Dead

Fool in the Rain - Led Zeppelin

Early Morning Rain - Gordon Lightfoot, Grateful Dead, Peter Paul & Mary, etc.

She's a Rainbow - Rolling Stones

steve simels said...

The Kenosha Kid said...
It's A Beautiful Day apparently lost their name to a guy named Matthew Katz, a real shitheel that kept Jefferson Airplane tied up in litigation for about a decade over the same issue.
And he's STILL tying up Moby Grape in litigation. Shitheel doesn't even begin to cover it.

Anonymous said...

kinks - rainy day in june

finalist for their most gorgeous song ever.

someone already mentioned 'i think it's going to rain today' - great choice, but i'd go with dusty springfield's version.

bettie serveert - ray ray rain

Kid Charlemagne said...

The Move could fill this list all by themselves:

Yellow Rainbow
Mist on a Monday Morning
Flowers in the Rain
Lightnin' Never Strikes Twice
Night of Fear
I Can Hear the Grass Grow
Sunshine Help Me (cover of Spooky Tooth)

steve simels said...

When's the next bus to Oswego? said...
kinks - rainy day in june
Somebody -- John Mendelssohn, I think -- famously said that Black Sabbath should have covered it.
:-)

sdf (Stu) said...

Oh how could I forget Pixies: Stormy Weather (not, of course, the real video, if there was one). Great tune, and hey, if you're the kind of person who has trouble memorizing lyrics, this is a good starter song for ya!

TMink said...

Steve, that was way cool. Peter dropping in. Whoa. I was just putting Paris Avenue on my hard drive last night. Whoa.

So how about "Spittin in the Wind" that Peter wrote for Like This?

Whoa.

Trey

Feral said...

Here's a few:

CCR - Change in the Weather

Matthew Sweet - Divine Intervention "when he comes, the sun shines"

Bruce - Thunder Road

Little Feat - Willin'

steve simels said...

Trey -- Like This is one of my all-time fave albums. "Love is For Lovers"...whoa!!!!
:-)

David said...

A gorgeous overlooked gem from the '80, Howard DeVoto's "Rainy Season"
http://www.merryswankster.com/archives/2009/05/retrohump_pray_1.html
"Weather With You" by Crowded House
"Blame the Weather" XTC
"Thunder and Rain" Graham Parker

Brooklyn Girl said...

"Fire & Rain" - James Taylor
"Good Day, Sunshine" and "Here Comes the Sun" - Beatles
"I'm Only Happy When it Rains" - Garbage
"Blue Sky" _ Allman Brothers
"Box of Rain" - Dead
"Traffic and Weather" - FOW

Anonymous said...

Broadcasters - Walk Like Thunder

ROTP(lumber)

Dave said...

The first song that popped into my mind, and one I love, is Sir Douglas Quintet's "The Rains Came."

Speaking of depressing songs, I have to throw in Brook Benton's "Rainy Night in Georgia."

And lest we ruin rain's PR totally, how about the sunny "Roses and Rainbows" by Danny Hutton?

And don't make me choose between Nolan Strong and the Diablos or Laura Nyro's version of "The Wind." What a great intro:

"Wind wind blow oooooh oooh blow wind wind

"When the cool summer breeze
Sends a chill down my spine
And I long for my love's sweet caress
I know she is gone but my love lingers on
In a dream that the wind brings to me"

Anonymous said...

Heh - we were talking about The Continental Drifters just the other night. Friend went to see The Bangles, who we all agreed are OK - but no CD. A mighty band!
I don't know Terry Anderson's solo stuff, but loved him in The Yayhoos - the supergroup he had w. Eric Ambel, Dan Baird, and Keith Christopher. Best cover of "Dancing Queen" evah. Also a mighty band!
Notjing to really add to weather songs, 'cept I always say that Albert Collins' "Stormy Monday" off "Live in Japan" is the definitive version. - bill buckner

Moose said...

Peter Holsapple? Terry Anderson? Steve... you definitely need to check out Comboland Radio!

Wendy said...

One of my all-time faves: "Knock on Wood" - Sam and Dave

(CHORUS)
It's like thunder, lightning
The way you love me is frightning
I better knock on wood
Baby...

Libby Spencer said...

BG! Knock on Wood is one of the key songs on the soundtrack of my life. I'm late to the party, so many of my favs are already mentioned. The only additional ones I can think of in this undercaffeinated state are The Wind Cried Mary - Hendrix and recycling from last week, Rain on the Roof - Lovin Spoonful. I'm probably circle back once the coffee kicks in... I'm sure there are more we have overlooked.

Who Am Us Anyway? said...

The wind it was howlin' & the snow was outrageous -- Dylan, IsisRe Cowsills, did you know Barry died in Hurricane Katrina? (I didn't.) Here's a senti-men-TAL but effective memorial video.

Anonymous said...

Shoes "The Summer Rain"

NYMary said...

Spike,
My first thought, but I just assumed it would reveal my all-too-obvious obsessions. And of course "She'll Disappear," which starts with my winter theme--"It's twenty below, it's so cold..."

Bobzilla said...

I couldn't agree more about your choice of Terry Anderson's song as #1. I was lucky enough to be David Enloe's guitar tech in the late 80's -- David was the guitarist in The Woods, a Raleigh, NC-based band (TwinTone Records) that also featured Terry, along with Jack Cornell. Most nights for about a two-year period "Weather Or Not" was the show opener. I could never get enough of that song. David's guitar playing was sublime. Sadly, he passed away in November 2007. More of his music (with Terry on drums) can be found here:

http://www.myspace.com/davidenloememorial