Friday, February 17, 2017

Pretty Fly for a Bunch of White Guys

From sometime (possibly) in the early 80s, please enjoy the incomparable Graham Parker and the Rumour and their pretty terrific studio version of the Jackson 5 classic "I Want You Back."



I'm not sure when this was actually released; there's a live version from 1979 that can be found on the bonus disc on the reissue of Squeezing Out Sparks, but I'm a bit confused about the provenance of this one and what album it originally appeared on. If anyone can enlighten me, I'd be your best friend.

I should add that Graham Parker is the only pop star...


...that I ever looked like.


Okay, that's not strictly true. As you can also see, Gary Lewis (son of Jerry) of The Playboys fame...


...looks pretty eerily like me in high school.


I always wanted to be the Jewish Keith Richards, but it's pretty obvious from those pictures that it was never gonna happen.

Have a great weekend, everybody.
at

17 comments:

  1. buzzbabyjesus2/17/2017 8:50 AM

    It's certainly not on "The Real Macaw". Most boys of a certain vintage with a guitar wanted to be Kieth Richard, myself included. Not anymore.

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  2. buzzbabyjesus2/17/2017 8:52 AM

    Cool bass. What is it?

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  3. edward2/17/2017 9:11 AM

    I Want You Back never appeared on an album (unless it was a greatest hits).
    I have it on the B Side of Local Girls, which would be from Squeezing Out Sparks. I also have it on two special promos from Squeezing Out Sparks, both as the A side backed by Mercury Poisoning.
    They are all credited as I Want You Back (Alive). I don't have the turntable active right now, but I believe they are the same version you have here.
    So I'd consider it a Squeezing Out Sparks outtake.

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  4. steve simels2/17/2017 9:27 AM

    The bass is a Burns of London. It looked great, it was light as a feather, and it basically sounded terrific (I recorded several demos with it) but for some reason whenever I did a gig with it, the next time I used it all the high end was gone. I would have to change the strings before every gig, which wasn't really practical. So I got myself a Fender.

    Really looked cool, though.
    :-)

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  5. FD13NYC2/17/2017 10:00 AM

    It's also on Graham Parker The Ultimate Collection.

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  6. MJConroy2/17/2017 10:04 AM

    (from http://homepages.uni-regensburg.de/~dej09534/gparker/singles.htm#Protection)


    - "I Want You Back (Alive)" is also available on the Universal reissue of "Squeezing Out Sparks," the Razor & Tie reissue of "The Real Macaw" and many compilations. And despite the name this is the studio version. The only issued live version I know is on "Live Sparks."

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  7. Mark2/17/2017 11:00 AM

    If you live long enough, you'll look like Keith Richards. As a friend of mine once said, "Why is that elderly rock stars all end up looking like your crazy Jewish Uncle Morris?"

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  8. Dave2/17/2017 11:18 AM

    Unlike Fulks's cover of "Black or White," I can't think of one thing about this cover that's better than the original. And I'm a big fan of Graham Parker.

    I went to the Losers Lounge tribute to Philly Soul recently and noted how many of the classic songs were obviously hits during the instrumental intros. "Back Stabbers" and "Didn't I" were indelible before the O'Jays or the Delfonics opened their mouths. I feel the same way about "I Want You Back."

    Dave F.

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  9. pete2/17/2017 5:14 PM

    a great tune is always a great tune

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  10. Anonymous2/17/2017 5:44 PM

    But the original IS much better.

    The Jackson 5 intro is killer. Too bad AM DJ's only used it to spew their barf over.

    I thought the "I Want You Back" blue vinyl single came as a bonus with the "Squeezing" album like "Live At Hollywood High" came out with Costello's "Armed Forces". But I could be wrong.

    VR

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  11. Anonymous2/17/2017 6:10 PM

    Re: that bass guitar. I think that's the same guitar George Harrison used on "She Said She Said."

    VR

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  12. steve simels2/17/2017 6:25 PM

    VR -- re: the bass. I'll do some research.

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  13. steve simels2/17/2017 6:28 PM

    VR -- wow. Looks like you're right.

    http://www.burnsguitars.com/imagesx/beatlesrain.jpg

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  14. Anonymous2/17/2017 6:56 PM

    Steve,
    Speaking as someone who's been reading your stuff since 1976, I have to ask: can we somehow put that high-school photo of you on a T-shirt ? I might have to wear it...

    J. Lag

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  15. steve simels2/17/2017 7:00 PM

    J. Lag -- I don't even know how to respond to that.
    :-)

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  16. Anonymous2/17/2017 7:38 PM

    Sorry, I'm an obsessed weirdo; a fan, in other words.
    :) :)

    J. Lag

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  17. Anonymous2/18/2017 3:06 AM

    Steve: Of course I'm right:-) Beauty isn't my only asset. Never doubt my expertise and enthusiasm regarding all things hedonistic.

    Here's another photo of George and that Burns Nu Sonic taken at the same session.

    http://images.equipboard.com/uploads/source/image/18561/big_georgebass.jpg?v=1440731491

    VR - breezy, breathless and brimmed

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