Enjoy. Or don’t.
AI Video Just Turned A Corner
And I’m leaning more towards terrified than impressed.
EDIT: And one more …
Mitch
Cuz why not?
Pachel-Rebellion
We’ve discussed Pachelbel’s annoying Canon, one of the most loved and hated of works. Here’s a version I can almost get behind. This is played by some early music specialists (who are good when they stick to early music) in a way Pachelbel would recognize, and unlike the arrangement you usually hear, it actually moves along. On the other hand, the lush, syrupy version heard in waiting rooms, elevators, and businesses seeking an ambience of upscale exclusivity, is a 1960’s arrangement by the French conductor Jean-François Paillard. It doesn’t move; it just sits there and oozes. And it takes way too long considering it’s the same damn thing over and over. It’s a heavily romanticized take on a baroque piece, sort of equivalent to Muzak Beatles.
When the early music version was released, some purchasers angrily returned it because they wanted the jewelry store version.
While writing this, I was trying to remember what TV ads featured the Canon. I incorrectly remembered it as being in one of the Grey Poupon ads. A quick YouTube search revealed that one of those ads used part of one of Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos. When I arrive in the Great Beyond, J.S. Bach is going to KICK MY ASS. Because the Canon is still trash; it’s just way better trash when played fast.
Lock Me In And Throw The Key Away
Into Cherry Blossom Clinic, that is. Glib songs of mental institutions were an interesting sub-genre in the mid sixties. Perhaps the strangest was this novelty hit. The B-side of it was the same song backwards. Yes, I owned a copy, as did many of my fellow devotees of MAD and CRACKED. I was in 4th grade, OK?
A darker take on such facilities came from Porter Wagoner. But even it sounded funny to anyone under thirty at the time, and to pretty much everybody now.
No insitutions in these, but I have to add these two faves. I’m wondering if our resident Pacific Northwesterner knew anyone lucky enough to have seen the Sonics in their glorious prime.
5.15
Happy Who Day everyone!
Largo, Maryland from the tail end of the US Quadrophenia tour, 1973. Rhythm section is on a mission here.
Sorry it cuts out at the end.
Catch It Whilst You Can
Old Grey Whistle Test host Annie Nightingale recalls her favorite acts from the punk and new wave years on a BBC special not hosted on the BBC YouTube channel. So punk!
Is There Anything Bass Can’t Do?
More Rod
Rod wants you to look at his ass, and who am I to deny him?
Anybody Remember These Guys?
The late, great fIREHOSE. Man, I wore this cassette out (fROMOHIO) back in 1989 …
Firehose was formed in the spring of 1986 shortly after the accidental death of D. Boon brought an end to Watt and Hurley’s previous band, Minutemen. Crawford, a then 21-year-old Ohio State student and Minutemen fan, was invited up on the roof of Camper Van Beethoven’s van in Columbus, Ohio. The members of Camper Van Beethoven told Crawford a false rumor that Watt and Hurley were auditioning guitarists for the band. Crawford, having found Watt’s phone number in the phone book, called him up and expressed his desire to come out to California and play with them. Still mourning the loss of his best friend Boon, Watt initially was not interested and had lost much of his desire to play music; however, Crawford’s persistence eventually paid off when he showed up unannounced in San Pedro and asked Watt for the chance to come over and play for him. Watt eventually agreed and the two met with Crawford “auditioning” for Watt by playing him The Who’s “I’m One,” as well as a few Minutemen songs. Impressed with Crawford’s passion and enthusiasm, Watt and Hurley agreed to give the inexperienced “kid” from Ohio a shot and the band was formed. Crawford quickly relocated to San Pedro where he became known as ed fROMOHIO and spent nine months sleeping under a desk in Watt’s one-bedroom apartment. The name of the band was taken from a short film of Bob Dylan doing “Subterranean Homesick Blues” as Watt thought it was funny when Dylan held up a cue card for the lyric that said “firehose.” The name is stylized as “fIREHOSE” with a lowercase f as a subtle tribute to the Minutemen whose logo was an all caps MINUTEMEN.
Apparently, ed fROMOHIO (real name Ed Crawford) is struggling – or was back in 2020, anyway – as there’s a GFM campaign to get him back on his feet. Still open, if anybody wants to contribute.