…and the fuse is lit. The Q cutting up as only they could.
Born Fighter
Not his greatest song, but it has one of the funniest first verses I’ve ever heard and a Dave Edmunds solo (2:00) that curls what’s left of my hair. When I searched YouTube for this song, I ran across a ’79 documentary of the same name. Here is a clip where Lowe and Edmunds talk a bit about Phil Spector, then work on takes of that same solo. I haven’t watched past where the solo recording ends at 15:00, so I don’t know if the rest is worth watching. Nick Lowe seems rather, um, “relaxed.”
Oh, Not Whoa
Sometimes aesthetics call for an “oh” instead of a “whoa,” as in the chorus of this forgotten Wings song. This overlooked album track is pretty good, with a good guitar riff, a decent enough hook, and some Stax horns. Far better than this album’s single, “Listen to What the Man Said,” which is just dishwater. The post-Beatles careers of Lennon-McCartney revealed that they needed each other, or at least assertive bandmates.
The Makes Nice
In ancient times when colossi bestrode the earth and people downloaded instead of streamed, I downloaded a couple of albums by this band. I have no idea who they are/were or any recollection of where I heard about them, but they’re pretty good. Here’s a good Who rip-off, and here’s another one like the one above. More songs on YouTube if you’re so inclined, some may be better. It looks like they only made two albums.
Whoa Indeed
Paul McCartney + Todd Rundgren + Memphis = Van Duren. Van made probably the best album from the ’77-’78 local power pop “scene.” I use quotes because that “scene” consisted of three bands, a revolving cast of girfriends, about 20 midtown weirdos, and no clubs that would book those bands more than once. So barely a scene at all. Which is why everyone tried relocating, with varying degrees of failure.
Great song, although he might have overused the “whoas.”
Inspiration
An uplifting tune to get you over the midweek hump.
Just Don’t Dance
It can’t be New Year’s without seeing someone make an ass of himself. Who’s better at that than Mike Love? This begins as a funny/sad skit, but the real comedy begins at 2:27 with 70’s footage of Love trying to preen and prance around like Mick Jagger. He also apparently hit a Goodwill dumpster trying to copy Mick’s look. Jesus.
People who shouldn’t dance (I’m one) should know better by the time they reach adulthood. The most blessed of us never really wanted to anyway. I get that singers feel awkward just standing there. Fine, but if they can’t dance, give them a prop guitar. I’m guessing the other Beach Boys preferred letting him make a fool of himself to arguing with an asshole.
Shit
Fun facts:
His mother, single and working multiple jobs, invented Liquid Paper in her kitchen blender and made a fortune.
Contra his “quiet Monkee” persona, he had a temper. When Don Kirshner told them he’d sue the Monkees for breach of contract for wanting more artistic control, Nesmith punched a hole in the wall, telling Kirshner it could have been his face. He’d grown to think Kirshner was an idiot, especially after DK refused to let the Monkees record his song, “Different Drum,” which afterward became a huge hit for Linda Ronstadt. (If you ever watched Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert back in the 70’s, he really did sound like an idiot.)
Post Monkees, one of his media companies was defrauded by PBS. He won in court, and afterward said, “it’s like catching your grandmother stealing your stereo. You’re glad to get your stereo back, but you’re sad to find out that Grandma’s a thief.”
Sex-Crazed Sanity
A new use for Viagra. I carry some genetic risk for Alzheimer’s, indeed you bastards may have already diagnosed me. If I go this treatment route, Mrs. Renfield’s probably going to throw open the marriage on my end.