Friday, January 12, 2024

Le Fin De La Semaine Essay Question: Special "The Genius of George Morton" Edition

From 1966. please enjoy the (hubba hubba) Shangri-Las and their eminently danceable ode to "Sophisticated Boom Boom."

Produced and (more to the point) written by the aforementioned George "Shadow" Morton. Who if for no other reason than this intro -- declaimed with perfect New Yawk insouciance by lead singer Mary Weiss -- deserves to be immortal.

I was walkin' down the street

And it was gettin' mighty late

Well, the truth of the matter is

This poor girl had been abandoned by her date

When, from out of nowhere came this music loud and clear

Let me see, from over there?

(No, over there.)

Over there?

(Yeah.)

Well, I open up the door

And much to my surprise

The girls were wearin' formals

And the boys were wearin' ties

And I feel that I should mention

That the band was at attention

They just stood there, oh, so neat

While they played their swingin' beat

So I grabbed this little boy

Who came struttin' 'cross the room

And I say, "What's that?"

And he say

"Sophisticated boom, boom"

And that, my friends, is poetry.

Which leads us, inexorably, to business. To wit:

...and your favorite post-Elvis pop/rock/country/soul record featuring a spoken word section (of whatever length) is...???

No arbitrary rules, but c'mon -- no Dylan or rap allowed, for obvious reasons.

Discuss.

Oh, and here's my nominee -- note the big "Bonjour!" from guest speaker Joan of Arc at approximately the 2:20 minute mark.

Okay -- have a great weekend, everybody!!!

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is tough to top Tonio K. especially since it is part of the greatest album of all time.

There is Frank and Moon Unit Zappa's Valley Girl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5Q1yVLSR3I

and this one from Mike Oldfield and Viv Stanshall is hilarious
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syk1X0esick

- Paul in DK

mistah charley, sb, ma, phd, jsps said...


"shinola" from utopia

everyone's talking, but few of them know
the rest are pretending, they put on a show
and if there's a message, i guess this is it
truth isn't easy -- the easy part's shit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vg5eL9ZKAhQ

edward said...

Was the Shagri-Las song the prequel to Rufus Thomas' Sophisticated Sissy, or was there just a trend for "Sophisticated" songs?

steve simels said...

Edward -- my guess is the latter.

John K said...

A Viv Stanshall reference? Yes! Love it.

Gummo said...

Hail Atlantis!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAMYGzwUTK4

Keith said...

Frightening how "The Funky Western Civilization" keeps getting more relevant all the time.

neal t said...

my first impressions of you come former posing this album. in SR.

I'll start with. Poke Salad Anne

Anonymous said...

chomp chomp!

Anonymous said...

the vincent price monologue in michael jackson's Thriller is good. rs

Alzo said...

I've always hearted Long John Baldry's 'Don't Try to Lay No Boogie-Woogie on the King of Rock and Roll'
and I second the hailing of Atlantis and Polk Salad Annie.

Honorable Mentions: Velvet Underground 'The Gift' and Spinal Tap 'Stonehenge.'

Anonymous said...

1950s: Coasters 'Shoppin' For Clothes'
1960s: Doors 'Peace Frog' (or Beatles 'I Am The Walrus' or Trashmen 'Surfin' Bird')
1970s: Was gonna pick LJB's 'Don't Try....' but Alzo beat me to it, so I'll take War 'Cisco Kid'
1980s: Concrete Blonde 'It'll Chew You Up and Spit You Out'
1990s: Chumbawamba 'Tubthumping'
2000s: Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros 'Home'
2010s: ?
2020s: ?
C in California

Dave said...

Jan and Dean's "Dead Man's Curve", warning us all that Jaguar XKE's don't really handle all that well heading into a curve.

ChrisE said...

This song came up a few weeks ago in ANOTHER List-O-Mania post: the Diamonds - Little Darlin'. The spoken bit in the middle (My darling, I need you...)

edward said...

The Crazy World of Arthur Brown intro to Fire

Anonymous said...

The Diamonds version of Buddy's "Words of Love" also had recitation like "Little Darlin."

The "crack up" version of "Are You Lonesome Tonight" by Elvis, released as a 45 in Canada. The dude had the greatest laugh.

Bob in IL

getawaygoober said...

Leon Russell - Jumpin' Jack Flash / Youngblood medley.

Anonymous said...

Big Sky - The Kinks

Captain Al

Cleveland Jeff said...

Elvis Are You Lonesome Tonight

Anonymous said...

Far Away Eyes Rolling Stones
Spanish Stroll Mink DeVille
Gloria Patti Smith
Lord of the Ages Magna Carta
rs

pete said...

The Flying Burrito Brothers "Hippie Boy" - never carry more than you can eat!

https://youtu.be/a4M0_4hgFpE?si=emxt9yQ5VC_bs8y2

salhepatica said...

"Little Girl" by the Syndicate of Sound.

Anonymous said...

Ellen Foley in Paradise By The Dashboard Light.

But Tonio K wins this hands down!

Vince

Anonymous said...

Tonio K wins anything and everything hands down!

Captain Al

M_Sharp said...

"The Glory Of Love" - The Velvetones

"Deseri" and "Later That Night" - Frank Zappa, Reuben & The Jets