So this is it, the only material The Nerves officially released. One lousy EP in 1976, which, in mint condition, can now fetch upwards of $600 on eBay.
And One More
This might be my favorite Pretenders song. Never seen that intro before, though. That’s great! Honeyman-Scott said that his solo is an homage to his three favorite guitarists, but I can’t remember which parts are who.
I do feel a tad guilty knowing now that Chrissie Hynde is addressing her sexual assault by a biker gang. One of her assailants apparently said, “Shut up or you’re going to make some plastic surgeon rich,” which of course made it into the song. (In her book, she says it was totally her fault and she sort of knew what she was getting into. But still.) The audio on this version is shit, so here’s the 2006 remaster …
The mid-twenty joys
Around a heart that’s black and blue
Tattooed love boys
I tore my knees up getting to you
‘Cause I needed
To find out what the thing was for
Been reading
Man, the time came to explore
I went apewire
‘Cause I thought
Like I’d like it
Little tease
But I didn’t mean it
But you mess with the goods, doll
Honey, you gotta pay
Yeah
A good time
Was guaranteed for one and all
The tattoos
Target practice in the hall
While waiting
For their number to get called out
I, I, I, I found out what the wait was about
I was a good time
Yeah, I got pretty good
At changing tires
Upstairs, bro
I shot my mouth off and you showed me what that hole was for
Now I see you
All impressed and half undressed
You got paint stick
All over the scars and lumps and bumps
Tattooed love boys
Have got you where I used to lay
Well, ha ha and too bad
But you know what they say
“Stop snivellin’
You’re gonna make some plastic surgeon a rich man”
Oh, but the prestige and the glory
Another human interest story
You are that
Who’s Bad?
https://youtu.be/KT_bu9QpOFg
This is either the best or worst thing I’ve ever seen.
It’s A Team Effort
Just started reading No Country for Old Men last night, and somehow stumbled onto this video while eating breakfast. It’s a script-to-screen comparison of THAT scene. Brilliantly written, adapted, directed, acted, costumed, lit, shot, edited. It all has to be there for it to work this effectively.
Best YouTube comment regarding Chigurh’s motivation for the coin toss …
I think he would be fine with it either way. The way he sees it, it’s just. The coin makes the decision not him. If the coin says heads then he should be pitied, a worthless peasant able to finish out his life. If its tails, he should be despised for his weakness, a waste, and removed from the earth. Chigurh understands this, that he is both, and the coin simply dictates the action to be taken. So it doesn’t matter either way. There’s always a reason to kill him and there’s always a reason to spare him. So the coin will sort it out.
The Sexiest Collarbone You’ve Ever Seen
And a song I’ve had on repeat for a little bit. How did I miss Lisa Hannigan?
Anyway, thanks for the heads-up, Aashish!
Speaking Of Great Covers …
A little … context, courtesy of you-know-who.
The Elvis Costello & the Attractions version was first issued as the B-side of Lowe’s 1978 single “American Squirm”, credited to “Nick Lowe and His Sound”. At the time, Lowe was Costello’s producer, and he produced this track as well. When the song became a hit, it was quickly appended as the last track to the US edition of Costello’s album Armed Forces. It has appeared on most of Costello’s “Best of…” compilations over the years, as well as on the soundtrack to the film 200 Cigarettes. Live versions appeared on Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Volume 7: 2002–2003, and 2012’s The Return of the Spectacular Spinning Songbook, both by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. In 2004 Rolling Stone magazine ranked this version of the song as the 284th best song of all time.
Modern Drummer said of drummer Pete Thomas’ performance, “A beautiful thing happens on this song, common to many early Attractions songs. It’s that feeling that the track could derail, when in reality Thomas has everything locked down. He does a lot of playing here without overplaying. Like most Attractions songs from that era, this was cut live, full-band and lead vocal. That’s probably why so many years later, it still sounds so energized and inspired.”
The video for the song was directed by Chuck Statler.
What’s Your Sign Girl?
Chilton was an underrated guitarist. Feeling nostalgic for the late Nineties today …
From 1999 performance at Memphis’ Cooper-Young Festival. With Ron Easley – bass & background vocals, and Richard Dworkin – drums. Video by David Julian Leonard.
I’m In
What’s not to love?
High Score is a documentary series about the golden age of video games, when legends – from Pac-Man to Doom – were brought to life. Through ingenuity and sheer force of will, computer pioneers and visionary artists from around the globe spawned the iconic worlds of Space Invaders, Final Fantasy, Street Fighter II, Mortal Kombat, Sonic the Hedgehog, MADDEN NFL, and beyond. Without rules or roadmaps, players and innovators alike pushed the limits of money to be made, rivals to be crushed, and hearts to be won. This is the story of the brains behind the pixels and how their unmatched innovation built a multi-billion dollar industry – almost by accident. High Score premieres on Netflix on August 19, 2020.
They Call Me Naughty Lola
VERY British personal ads from the London Review of Books. All are witty, many are pants-wettingly funny. Here’s a taste …
Bald, short, fat and ugly male, 53, seeks short-sighted woman with tremendous sexual appetite. Box no. 9612.
I’ll see you at the LRB singles night. I’ll be the one breathing heavily and stroking my thighs in the ‘art’ books. Asthmatic, varicosed F (93) seeks M to 30 with enough puff in him to push me uphill to the post office. This is not a euphemism. Box no. 4632.
I once found the perfect match in this column, but then it turned out to be an ad I’d written two years earlier that they’d forgotten to publish. Still, you have to admire my consistency. Man, 43. Consistent. Admiring. Admirable. Box no. 4321.
In a certain light I look like Robert Mitchum. In a certain light, you look like Kim Novak. More usually, I look like Shrek. More usually, you still look like Kim Novak. Yes, you’re very unlucky. Now pass me the Doritos and get over it. Box no. 3917.
My favorite Ben & Jerry’s is Acid-Boiled Bones of Divorce Lawyer. They don’t make it, but, damn, I can taste its sweet, sweet ice-creamy softness already. Bed-sit-living doctor (M, 54). Box no. 6321.
Shy, ugly man, fond of extended periods of self-pity, middle-aged, flatulent and overweight, seeks the impossible. Box no. 8623.
The Absent-Minded Waiter
I have to believe this was inspired by actual events. From Wiki-wiki-wikipedia …
The Absent-Minded Waiter is a 1977 American comedy short film starring Steve Martin, Buck Henry and Teri Garr. It was written by Martin and directed by Carl Gottlieb. The film was produced by William E. McEuen, who would go on to produce Steve Martin’s next six films.
The short was screened as part of “The Best of the Shorts” program at Filmex on March 26, 1977 and was also shown at Martin’s stand-up shows before he went on. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film.
It’s a classic. By the way, Steve Martin is 75 now.