Sorry to have been such a slacker last week (in terms of posting) but as I hinted, I was helping a certain Shady Dame relocate to her new digs in Forest Hills (just a block away from the Boulevard of Death, if you know what I mean).
Word of advice: If you're ever thinking of moving, don't. God, it sucks. Let's just say that at the moment there isn't an inch of my body that isn't in intense physical pain.
That said, regular and hopefully more entertaining posts resume on the morrow. But in the meantime, I have been informed that apparently I have a son who is playing bass in a very good soul revival band.
Honest to god, I don't know the kid...
...and my '90s girlfriend tells me she "doesn't have any children that she knows of." Heh.
Still, I couldn't be more proud. I mean, those guys are really good.
I saw this trending on my FB the other day, and it amused me mightily. It's from 2012. Enjoy!
You don't know her by name — maybe as the "Whipped Cream Lady" — but certainly by the album cover on which she is featured: the 1965 Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass' "Whipped Cream & Other Delights."
There she is, seemingly naked but covered in what is supposed to be whipping cream looking at YOU.
Whenever a list of the most memorable record covers is put together, that album is right at the top
From my old college, please enjoy the sheet music for the C.W. Post Alma Mater, written by boring (but nice guy) academic serialist Stefan Wolpe and super nice guy head of the English department Julian Mates.
In the early 1960s, Dr. Mates collaborated with the celebrated composer Stefan Wolpe, then chairman of the C.W. Post Department of Music, on the campus alma mater, “When Evening Falls.”
“The years pass quickly by/ And steal our youth and hopes/ But even time will die (and beauty fly)/ Ere we forget our Post,” goes the chorus of the song, which is played on the carillon atop Pell Hall every day at 8 a.m. and noon."
“The purpose of our song was not just to be sentimental, but to come up with an idea that made some sense," Dr. Mates said in an interview during the 50th anniversary of the Campus. "The idea that even time can die, but nothing will diminish our recollections of the school, made sense.”
And then, from 1970, please enjoy one of Beach Boy auteur Brian Wilson's most brilliant pocket symphonies (2:13 minutes) -- "This Whole World."
Lyrics and music (plus production and arrangement) by Brian.
Which do you think is a more important piece of 20th century art?
Before we go any further: I'll be on hiatus until next Monday, due to an insane schedule (it involves a certain Shady Dame, who I will be assisting in moving to her new digs).
Have no fear, however; NYMary -- the proprietor and creator of this here blog -- will be posting in my stead, and there may even be a special appearance by the redoubtable Kid Charlemagne.
Okay, with that out of the way, I would just like to note (and for the record as it were) that I have recently devoured veteran scribe Joel Selvin's study of the life and work of '60s writer/producer Bert Berns (1929-1967)..
In case you don't know who Berns was, here's just a partial list of the songs he either wrote or produced, or in some cases both.
"A Little Bit of Soap" The Jarmels (1961)
"Twist and Shout" The Isley Brothers (1962) / The Beatles (1963)
"Cry to Me" Solomon Burke (1962)
"Tell Him" The Exciters (1962)
"Cry Baby" Garnet Mimms (1963) / Janis Joplin (1971)
"Everybody Needs Somebody to Love" Solomon Burke (1964) / Wilson Pickett (1967)
"I Want Candy" The Strangeloves (1965) / Bow Wow Wow (1982)
"Hang on Sloopy" The McCoys (1965)
"Down in the Valley" Solomon Burke (1964) Otis Redding (1965)
"Piece of My Heart" Erma Franklin (1967) / Big Brother and the Holding Company (1968)
"Twenty Five Miles" Edwin Starr (1968)
"Nobody but Me" The Isley Brothers (1963)
"Under The Boardwalk" The Drifters (1964)
"Baby Please Don't Go" "Here Comes the Night" Them (1965)
"Baby I'm Yours" Barbara Lewis (1965)
"Make Me Your Baby" Barbara Lewis (1965)
"Brown Eyed Girl" Van Morrison (1967)
I mean, sweet Jeebus -- but talk about a work ethic.
Of course, apart from the hits, Berns was also a fascinating example of a certain kind of New York City music biz character from the Golden Age; intensely driven (by a justifiable fear of dying young, due to a childhood bout of rheumatic fever), he was also not above using his Mafia ties to get what he wanted, both from artists and industry moguls (not for nothing was the label he helmed called Bang Records). In any case, Selvin does full justice to both the man's music and to the dark side of the street he lived on. It's an absolutely smashing read; order it over at Amazon HERE
BTW, here's a representative Berns song and production (a little more obscure than some of those listed above, but no less great): Freddie Scott and "Are You Lonely For Me Baby."
Ah, there really were giants in the earth in those days.
[I originally posted the following Listomania back in September of 2009, but let's not bring the whole burning of Atlanta thing up after all these years. In any event, I think it's still a kind of interesting topic to ponder; as is my wont with these vault plunderings, I've done some rewriting and changed an entry or two. I should add that I find it curious that back in the day I did not even attempt to slip in a Smashing Pumpkins album. -- S.S.]
Best or Worst Post-Elvis Rock or Pop Concept Album!!!
Self-explanatory, I think, but for purposes of clarity, when I use the term "concept album" I simply mean a record in which some overarching theme, however tenuous, is discernible. As a result no arbitrary rules this time, although I should think you'd be ashamed to nominate a generic greatest hits package.
And my totally top of my head Top Six is:
6. Marty Robbins -- Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs
From 1959, a genuine crossover classic; "El Paso" is the best known cut, but the whole album works. That's Robbins on the cover, BTW, and in case you didn't notice he's doing Richard Boone as Palladin from Have Gun, Will Travel.
5. The Turtles -- Present the Battle of the Bands
The concept here is that the Turtles play each cut in a different style, from surf to country to hard rock, in post Sgt. Pepper guise as other bands. It's not really pursued all that rigorously, but since it features "Elenore" and the above gorgeous take on the early Byrds outtake "You Showed Me," I've always cut them a little slack.
4. Fucked Up -- David Comes to Life
A sort of post-modern rock opera set in England in the '70s and '80s.
You know, I rather like the idea (rather than the reality) of this band, and I once saw Damian Abraham, the lead singer of this bunch interviewed on my orthicon tube a few years ago, and found him surprisingly funny and politically very astute
That said, I'd rather have my eyes gouged out with a melon-baller than watch the guy shirtless in a live gig.
3. Garth Brooks -- ...in the Life of Chris Gaines
Brooks in his bizarre incarnation as a supposedly legendary 90s alt-rocker. I don't care if the damn thing sold two million copies -- it's a prime contender for biggest What the Fuck Was He Thinking? album in music history.
2. The Beatles -- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Yeah, yeah, yeah -- I know it's over-exposed (so is Bach's B-Minor Mass) and some people think it's a period piece (those people are just being difficult.)
Sorry, it's the tits. Deal with it.
And the most memorable for whatever reason High Concept rock or pop album obviously is --
1. The Paragons and The Jesters -- The Paragons Meet the Jesters
The very first (after the fact) thematic rock compilation (1959), and thanks to the brilliantly art-directed leather bar juvenile delinquent cover photo -- let's face it, Lou Reed based an entire esthetic on it -- still one of the most iconic.
...from 2006, please enjoy the great Graham Gouldman and his beyond transplendent remake of "Bus Stop." Which he wrote, obviously.
You know, there are some days -- and this is one of them -- when I think this is the single most magnificent song of the original British Invasion that wasn't written or performed by The Beatles.
Incidentally, there really isn't a CD called The Graham Gouldman EP. That version of "Bus Stop" (along with equally wonderful remakes of Gouldman's "Heart Full of Soul," "No Milk Today" and "For Your Love") were actually done for a 10cc Greatest Hits collection.
You can download all of them over HERE, you're welcome very much.
Via hilarious terroristssatirists culture jammers Negativland, please enjoy the late Casey's finest moment.
"These guys are from England and who gives a shit?"
Heh.
"A little dog named Snuggles."
Heh and heh again.
The above aural montage derives, of course, from Negativland's eponynmous U2 cd. Which got them sued big time by those Irish assholes. I don't particularly recall if Casey got involved as well.
BTW, you can read more about the whole U2 (the band) versus Negativland law suit by ordering a copy of their (Negativland's) fabulous book Fair Use over HERE. Haven't read it in years, but I recall it as quite a hoot (and thought provoking, obviously).
"Dark Sunglasses." The first single off of Chrissie Hynde's new solo album.
Jeebus, that's just great. Melodic hooks, a sense of humor, and a vocal with enough sex appeal to induce cardiac arrest in a yak.
And here she is doing it for Jimmy Fallon. Unless my eyes deceive me, she's using a tiny little vintage Ampeg amp. If so, she really IS the coolest human being alive.
Have I mentioned that "Dark Sunglasses" is just great?
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