Has There Ever Been a Better Rock Band?

The Easybeats. "Friday on My Mind."

And the answer to the title question is -- no. There hasn't.

Have a great weekend, everybody!!!

Your Thursday Moment of "How Totally Alternative!"

And speaking as we were yesterday of the incomparable Todd Snider, please enjoy -- from 1994 and a hidden track on his debut album -- the utterly hilarious "Talking Seattle Grunge Rock Blues."

That was apparently a radio hit back in the day; I don't remember how I tumbled to it, but I do recall that every time somebody came into my cramped office at The Magazine Formerly Known as STEREO REVIEW, I would inflict it on them, with mostly positive results. Holds up nicely, I should add.

I should also add that it's somewhat less sardonic than Snider's "Reality Television Talking Blues," which I posted previously in the recent vesion by Sir Tom Jones.

Records That Were Way Better Than Their More Famous Hit Remakes (An Occasional Series)

 From 1979,  please enjoy New Wave faves Bruce Woolley and the Camera Club and the original version of "Video Killed the Radio Star."

And the word is -- wow.

I should add two things.

First: The Buggles more familiar cover is perfectly okay, if not as cool as the above, and I'm not saying that because its producer, Trevor Horn, went on to do Yes records, and is thus a piece of shit because of his involvement with the dreaded Prog Rock. (I kid, I kid!!!!)

I should also also add that one can only assume that Mr. Woolley, the song's composer, has been living very comfortably for all these years on the royalties of said Buggles version, and good for him.

Your Tuesday True Confession (And This May Surprise Some of the People Who Know Me Best)

[Posted this elsewhere yesterday, but I thought I'd share it. Forgive the self indulgence.]

As much as I've enjoyed and been proud of the music I've played and performed over the years since my first foray into a professional recording facility in 1964 -- long story, but the guitar player in my high school band had an uncle who owned one of the most well-equipped and prestigious studios in NYC -- I thank God on a daily fucking basis for the fact that I never became a rock star.

 

Why is that you ask?

 

Very simple.

 

1. I'd have been dead decades ago.

 

2. Touring? Oh how fabulous -- a plane, a crappy motel room, another plane, another crappy motel room ad infinitum.

 

3. Having to spend countless hours glad-handing industry assholes, and if you don't understand what that entails you utterly lack a soul.

 

4. I should also add that I have enormous respect for musicians, but I have no intention of ever becoming one. Fooling around in the studio? Tons of fun. Doing that shit for a living? Gross me out of my condo. 

 

Regular posting -- with, like, you know, music -- resumes on the morrow.

 

Your Monday Moment of Words Fail Me

From his brand new album, please enjoy Sir Tom Jones (and I love typing those words) and his devastatingly topical new single "Talking Reality Television Blues." A cover of a Todd Snider song, and if you don't know him, well, we'll deal with him later in the week.

In the meantime, however -- gee, I wonder who that song could be ultimately about?

Seriously, that is just beyond awesome; in fact it's as good and exciting a record as any I've heard yet in this young year.

I should also add that the cat who sings it is 80 fucking years old.

RETURN OF THE SON OF GIRLS! GIRLS! GIRLS! WEEK -- Episode Five: As Bill Hicks Famously Said, Some Drugs Have Done Good Things

From 2014, Miley Cyrus covers The Arctic Monkeys, who asked the musical question "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?"

Have I mentioned that this kid can really sing?

Have a great weekend, everybody!!!

RETURN OF THE SON OF GIRLS! GIRLS! GIRLS! WEEK -- Episode Four: Practice Makes Perfect, Sweetheart!

From 1965, please enjoy should-be-better known British singer/songwriter/babe Barbara Ruskin...

...and her charmingly Sandi Shaw/Petula Clark-ish "You Can't Blame a Girl For Trying."

Ruskin never had a major hit, either here or in her homeland, but as you can hear, she should have; comparisons to Jackie DeShannon would not be far-fetched, IMHO.

BTW, I've mentioned this before, but you can download a fabulous free compilation of Ruskin's work...

...OVER HERE.

RETURN OF THE SON OF GIRLS! GIRLS! GIRLS! WEEK -- Episode Three: The Song is Not About S&M. Get Your Minds Out of the Gutter!

From 1999 and the motion picture 10 Things I Hate About You please enjoy Letters to Cleo -- featuring lead singer of the female variety Kay Hanley...

...and their winsome cover of Nick Lowe's classic "Cruel to Be Kind."

That's just cute as a button. I suspect it's impossible to do a bad version of that song, and this isn't one, obviously.

BTW, never saw the flick, but given that Julia Stiles is in it, I probably should.

RETURN OF THE SON OF GIRLS! GIRLS! GIRLS! WEEK -- Episode Two: Mom Spelled Upside Down is Wow

From 1993, please enjoy former Lone Justice chanteuse Maria McKee and her exquisite cover of Mott the Hoople/Ian Hunter's "I Wish I Was Your Mother."

I've loved this song since forever, and I still find it hard to believe that it works in the context of the otherwise glam-rock 1973 Mott album, where it first appeared. Lordy knows, it threw me for a loop at the time.

RETURN OF THE SON OF GIRLS! GIRLS! GIRLS! WEEK -- Episode One: From the Mean Streets of the Disney Channel

Why didn't I get the memo on this one sooner?

Seriously, this was from just last year. How did I miss it?

In any case, wow -- this kid can sing.