I posted a couple of songs by them a couple of years ago. Here’s another.
Secret Bar of the Stars
Last weekend I visited Muscle Shoals Sound Studios. Above is a hidden bar accessed via a panelling cut-out. The county was dry back in the day, so it had to be hidden. Twenty-mile drive to the Tennessee state line for restocking. That’s an old video player on the counter for, um, “films.” Original furnshings. The picture on the wall is of Jerry Wexler and Willie Nelson. Some huge talent relaxed in that little room, along with the Swampers, of course. I still find it very funny that musicians came from all over the planet to work with those “black musicians” who played on Staples Singers and Wilson Pickett (and 100 others) records, just to find four white guys who looked like they worked at the local Tractor Supply.
An interesing fact (of many) about that dumpy little building: it’s slightly twisted. No parallel surfaces, so no standing waves. You can place a mike pretty much anywhere without issues.
The tour guide was knowledgeable. Unlike a few years ago when I toured nearby Fame Studios (where the Swampers worked for Rick Hall before striking out on their own). The guide was a young ignoramus whom I tormented with corrections and questions. Sorry, but if I’m paying for a tour, the guide should know more about the place than I do.
Friday Classical Dump
While no one’s paying attention, I’ll slip in another elitist post. I went to see this ensemble last night, and it was a smoker of a performance of Schubert, Bartok, and Beethoven Op. 131. I think these groups relax and take more risks when playing in backwater towns like Memphis, and the results are often tremendous. The cellist might look like an assistant night manager at Kroger, but musically he’s a badass; he was pushing them all to the brink in the Beethoven. Here they are in 2nd mvmt. of Beethoven Op.135. I’ve said it here before, and I’ll say it again: the late Beethoven string quartets and piano sonatas, at 200 years old, are still ahead of the times.
Speaking o’ Memphis
Here’s a radio show of some 60’s-70’s rarities. I love the ones by the Breakers and Flash and the Memphis Casuals. I bet they kicked ass live (I’m not old enough to have seen them, although I did see about half of the others on this list). Unlisted after the Tommy Hoehn song is a pretty terrible cover of “I Walk the Line” by a band called Hot Dogs, who had some good songs; why on earth was that chosen? I find Chris Bell’s acoustic version of “I Am The Cosmos” too slow, sludgy, and depressing–which I guess makes sense, as he was chronically depressed. It’s the sound of Quaalude abuse. The official single version moves along better, although there’s still about as much sludge as I can endure.
Righteous Gemstones
Any of you bastards watching this? I’m through most of S1, and much of it is hilarious. Bogs down a little in a couple of middle episodes involving flashbacks and a ho-hum subplot, but it picks up again and looks like it’s heading for a strong finish. I’m hearing S2 is good.
I Got A Rocket In My Pocket…
…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.”
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.
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.