Hell, if for nothing else than this 1966 masterpiece of an LP...
...he would deserve to be immortal.
I should add that -- and I was unaware of it until the other day -- he was also at the helm for this little gem, which has a special place in my heart, sentimental old fluff that I am.
Doesn't seem like his style, per se -- you know, like "My Generation" or "You Really Got Me" et al -- but just beautifully, beautifully crafted. A gorgeous pop record.
Okay, now I have to tell a story.
When that Chad and Jeremy song came out originally (in 1964 -- wotta year!), my long time friend and bandmate (of Weasels fame) Allan Weissman was particularly known, at least amongst our high school chums, for his song parodies. I can't remember all the hits Al rewrote satirically, but I recall he did a particular classic, featuring our 11th grade science teacher Mr. Dubin, which was set to the tune of Petula Clark's "Downtown."
Anyway, Al was later inspired to write a take-off on "A Summer Song," which we actually performed in public on a couple of occasions, and it still cracks me up. The revised lyrics (and sing along, won't you?) were...
Planes
Crashing into mountainsides
With a loss of many lives
That's what I likeSoft
Areas of baby's heads
Hit them there and they'll be dead
That's what I likeThey say that all good things
Must end someday
Governments must fall
But don't you know
That I like it more
When I read in the news...
That someone got mugged last night
It serves them right
So when your aunt
Goes and takes her landlord's life
And does it with a butcher knife
That's what I like
That's what I like...
Thank you.
And thank you, Shel Talmy. You did good, sir.
7 comments:
Not sure which was my first exposure to Chad and Jeremy, but I remember both...
https://youtu.be/ZfbmiULQuqM?si=cTwfnmL2_2uT-yEn
https://youtu.be/jxpJf1xPXOY?si=3RRlIZudUD5aI_cT
1/"Summer Song" hasn't crossed my auditory threshold in the 21st century, and probably not for several decades before that, but the parody words had me "hear" it clear as a bell - metaphorically speaking.
2/My mental filing system has Chad and Jeremy next to Peter and Gordon - now that Chad and Gordon are gone, Wikipedia tells us:
Since 2018, Clyde has been performing with Peter Asher of Peter & Gordon fame.
Re: Weird Allan (not to be confused with satirist Weird Al). Perhaps the lyrics you shared inspired Mr. Zevon, notably for Excitable Boy. The sentiment (or lack of) seems very similar. :-)
- Paul in DK
Re: Shel Talmy
It's amazing how many of my all-time classics he produced. He helped create the Rock & Roll we loved.
As to Allan Weissman:
I remember you guys singing the Chad & Jeremy parody. It's songs like this with Allan's lyrics that helped shape my sense of humor. Thanks a lot Allan!!!
Captain Al
:-) Do you think if some enterprising record company put together a best-of set on Shel's productions, they could call it "Talmy Something Good" ?
HEY NOW!!!!!
Yeah, Allan could go pretty dark sometimes in those days.
Jai Guru Dave
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