May 31, 2016 - Urge Overkill - (Now That's) The Barclords (1992)

'A one two three...' From Chicago, Illinois, please welcome the great Urge Overkill!! I have no idea what a barclord is, maybe the Barclords are a tough Chicago street gang. Or New York. OK, boppers, the Warriors just rumbled with the Barclords. The Barclords? They're not in our network. They rumbled anyway. And? They got wasted.

This is as cool as UO ever got, the Stull EP. The lyrics flow like martinis in a velvet lounge:

'you're never seen on one side of the world they move along without a care'
'seated long side a mahogony table the sisters all let down their hair'

and the music rocks out in total guitar and drum land. This was Urge Overkill. Lounge lizard cool, fans of Neil Diamond, all out rockers.

May 30, 2016 - Elvis Costello & the Attractions - (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding (1978)

Bursting out of the gate like a mini Born to Run, it's obvious that we have an urgent message before us. This is my favorite Elvis Costello vocal, it's got that deep husky tone with the threat of maybe coughing up phlegm quality to it. I don't know, anyone else hear that? Like he might have a slight cold or adenoidal issue going on.

This song was written by Nick Lowe, I heard an interview with him on NPR a couple years ago, seems like a very cool guy. Well, he's the Jesus of Cool, isn't he? The lyrics express the frustration of living in a world that can often feel cruel and insensitive, insane and disturbing, ignorant and unjust. Why do things have to suck? Why are there people who want power and view life as a game to win and have the desire to keep everything for themselves? Those are the people who think peace love and understanding are funny. Abnormal funny, not ha ha funny. Stay away from me, you stinkin hippie commie, go get a job if you want any understanding from me! Yeah, it's easy to feel small and helpless in this kind of society, you can wonder when the saviors will arrive who will turn things into a utopia, or you can go out and create your own reality and live as though peace love and understanding are all around you. It is really hard to find that sort of courage, but people have achieved this level and someday I hope to also. It's funny 'cause it's true.

May 29, 2016 - Love - Maybe the People Would be the Times or Between Clark and Hilldale (1967)

Another great tune from Forever Changes, eight days later. This is a breezy little number, but way cooler than any similar 60s pop, like The Association or Gary Puckett. It's all about the genius of Arther Lee. No one else like him.

It is a really long title for a song. I am not going to type it again, just look up there at the blog title if you need reminding.Starts off with an earnestly strummed Am chord, into Em and the start of the first verse - 'What is happening and how have you been, gotta go but I'll see you again.' I like the percussion during the verses, there is this little 3-2-3-2 count, kind of reminds me of Grandmaster Flash's The Message...'don't push me(3), 'cause I'm(2), close to the(3), edge(2). Kind of a stretch, but I can hear it.

Nice acoustic solos in middle and towards end, horn accompaniment also has a great flair to it. Maybe a little bit of Herb Alpert stepping in there? Ah, the carefree times of 60s LA, pre all that Manson garbage.

May 28, 2016 - Freddie McKay - Picture on the Wall (1971)

'Cause it dop doo be day eh'...this is what I've always heard (and enjoyed, knowing that of course it does not go like this), but it's really 'Does it have to be there'. Picture on the Wall, another great track from the compilation of Coxsone Dodd productions, Respect to Studio One (see April 13 entry).

This guy and girl broke up, but her picture still hangs on the wall. Guy just can't get over it. 'Why is your picture still hanging'...? Dude, take it down already, what, is it superglued up there? Heck, knock the wall down or something. What if it's possessed? Perhaps it can never come down off the wall.

May 27, 2016 - Stooges - Loose (1970)

The Stooges. This is one of my top five favorite songs of all time. The guitar tones are so good, that low reverb rhythm guitar and the lead are amazing. Then you got Iggy, singing some suggestive lyrics and whoopin and hollerin all over the place. I am in music heaven from about 2:02 through 2:32. That guitar solo is incredible, I love the string bend around 2:25. Then there's Iggy's roar to top it all off at 2:30. Bass and drums are great too. A powerful three and a half minute blast of Detroit rock n roll.

May 26, 2016 - The Dramatics - Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get (1971)

1971 was also a great year for soul music. You had Shaft, What's Going On, Al Green Gets Next To You. Lots of cool orchestral soul. The Dramatics were from Detroit...such a great city for rock and soul of the early 70s. There are so many things to like about Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get. Let's go through it...

1) nice rhythm guitar punctuated with strings and horns during intro.
2) Great vocal variety, especially love high pitched voice 'some people are made of wood' and lower voice guy 'some people are up to no good'. Very Temptationsesque.
3) fuzz electric guitar comes in at 0:40
4) lots of excellent ahs, hahs, huhs, heys, other various grunts and stuff...see 0:37, 1:02, 1:33-1:35, etc.
5) 1:15-1:20 rough main vocals on 'I said what you see' especially on 'what'...then nice falsetto on 'baby'
6) 1:41-1:42 'people'...soul!!!
7) 3:01 piccolo? marching band music now...

May 25, 2016 - Amon Duul II - Archangels Thunderbird (1970)

1970 was also an excellent year for rock n roll. And in Archangels Thunderbird we have a tune as rockin as Walk Away from yesterday's entry. It is from the classic double album Yeti. And it's another great guitar riff. It took me some time to get used to Renate Knaup's voice, but it wouldn't be Amon Duul II without her.

When the everywhere eye
Asks you, "Who is the emperor
Of the sky"
Take the Archangels Thunderbird

Yes...please don't take the Archangels Edsel.

May 24, 2016 - James Gang - Walk Away (1971)

Hello Cleveland! Hello Cleveland! My favorite years for music are 1967-1972. I'm livin in the past, and it's not even my past. I was five years old in 1972. My college years were 1985-1989, among the worst years for mainstream rock n roll. 1971 was an excellent year. Some of the heaviest, loudest, funkiest electric guitar albums were released that year: Led Zeppelin IV, Aqualung, Who's Next, Maggot Brain, Sticky Fingers, Meddle, and on and on it goes.

Thirds, by the James Gang, is kind of in my second tier of favorite albums from 1971. But it has one of my favorite songs, Walk Away. This is a tough muscle car of a song. Joe Walsh kicks out the riffs, lots of great hooks. A nice little 'Life in the Fast Lane' style solo in the middle. And then we get like three excellent guitar layers on the way out. Some wah pedal, some distortion dive bomb whammy bar acrobatics, and of course that glorious stop and go primary riff.

May 23, 2016 - The Sex Pistols - Anarchy in the U.K. (1977)

This song is a classic. My friend Dave O had this album when he was in 6th grade or something. So I was familiar with it from a young age. I didn't love it then, but I was curious. Why is this guy yelling?! He sounds crazy. C'mon, put on the Beatles, Dave. Or the Clash, at least I know some of their songs. And that album cover. Nowhere near as cool as Point of Know Return. What the heck, I wasn't a punk, never will be. But I appreciate good music, no matter what the genre. I feel blessed that I can choose to listen to the Sex Pistols or  a Brandenburg Concerto and enjoy them both. This is why I love having a library of tunes that I can play at random, mix it all up so I never know what's next. It's all good.

So what is so great about Anarchy in the UK? Well, first of all, it rocks. The music is like a charge of electricity. This was a song (and album) that came out and jolted people awake. Stop listening to that awful singer songwriter crap! Things suck and you had better start paying attention!

May 22, 2016 - Can - Vitamin C (1972)

Don't you just love the way Damo Suzuki says 'vitamin C'? I chuckle with glee when I hear it. So cute. The song has a very sudden start. Just some great Holger Czukay bass and Jaki's drums and then Damo comes swooping in with his whispery little Japanese English voice. For another great Can tune, check out the April 7 post. Don't lose YOUR vitamin C! Eat your broccoli! Right right...ok, Bobbi, I will. And finally the song dissolves into crazy electronic spider talk. Guess this is what happens when you lose your Vitamin C. I don't lose mine, I eat these yummy chewy Vitamin C gummies every morning. It's kind of like eating a chuckles, but it tastes better. Well, I haven't had a chuckles in at least 30 years so I don't remember what they're like. Were they like gumdrops?

May 21, 2016 - Love - A House Is Not A Motel (1967)

OK, so Forever Changes is one of the greatest albums ever made. Everybody knows that. When I first heard it, in 1987, I was 20 years old. It was one of those albums, like the VU and Nico, that I knew about for awhile before I ever heard it.

It took at least four or five listens for me to 'get' it. It was a shock to my system, based on where I was coming from, which was classic rock land. All the orchestration, what is this...strings? mariachi horns? harps? forget it. But it finally made sense.

A House Is Not A Motel is included on this blog first of all for the excellent manic guitar outro, which starts at 2:18. Second is Arthur Lee's voice, that kind of intimate delivery that would turn into a sort of microtonal imperative or a full on scream. And the lyrics...really special. That third verse with 'the news today will be the movies for tomorrow.' Wow. To me, the main character is a dead soldier, singing from his tomb. Free in death, fighting to preserve the gold-paved streets of the warmongers.

May 20, 2016 - Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band - Fire Lake (1980)

Like the Beatles, it is difficult to find Bob Seger studio tracks on youtube I guess. Oh well. I am big Bob Seger fan. When you get a chance, check out Kid Rock's induction of Bob into the rock n roll hall of fame. Bob is a Taurus, born May 6, 1945.

Fire Lake is, well, I don't know...it's American, mysterious, old, legendary. You got Uncle Joe, the one afraid to cut the cake. Why? What's so scary about cutting a cake? Maybe Fire Lake is a never never land place, where death is unknown. Or a Shangri-La. No more birthdays for Joe, he's gonna run off. But now who's gonna break the news and tell poor Aunt Sarah? You got eights and aces, chrome three-wheelers, gypsy leathers. You got the Eagles singing back up. It's the most you're going to hear from the Eagles on this blog. Well, collectively, that is.

May 19, 2016 - Van Halen - And the Cradle Will Rock... (1980)

And I say ROCK ON....So, the opening to this song still surprises and freaks me out just as it did when I was young-er. It is one of my all-time favorite song openings, I love the scary. Like the opening to Dream Weaver by wait, whatshisname...Gary Wright. Or Pink Floyd's One of These Days I'm going to cut you into little pieces, or the spoken part in the Moody Blues Nights in White Satin. Hide under the covers, safe in the protective red glow of my Zenith clock radio. Then I found out it's not a guitar in the opening but a phase shifter-effected Wurlitzer electric piano played through Eddie Van Halen's 1960s model 100-watt Marshall Plexi amplifier. Wow, that makes it sound even more ominous. I am also still somewhat alarmed by David Lee Roth's line 'have you seen Junior's grades?' Like, uh, no I haven't dude, why are they bad or something? Arghh!! It's that opening scary part again! Abrupt and sinister. Then a sweet little Eddie solo there. A stone rock classic.

Ah, but so much of the fear factor for me wore off once I realized what a goofball David Lee was, a total ham, camera mugger. He was also really athletic and could do all sorts of splits and leg kicks. A show off but totally awesome. Oh yeah, and I frickin hated the Sammy Hagar albums. But that all happened in the awful synth electronic drums late 80s, so I cut them a tiny slack, but not much. Fortunately, I started listening to Metallica around that time.

May 18, 2016 - Neil Young - I Believe in You (1970)

Although this is a fairly sad song, I still feel better when I hear Neil sing 'I believe in you'. It is comforting. He delivers the vocals so perfectly, so yearning but with some confusion too. Like, what are you doing here? I am not sure this is a good idea. I've always liked the chorus, the way Neil's voice rises up the second time he sings the title. Lots of delicate little things happening throughout the music - couple of guitars, vibes on the left speaker, simple drum, piano. All providing space for each other in the overall conversation.

May 17, 2016 - The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (1967)

One night in 1991 I was fairly out there, and I lay down on the floor with my big headphones on and listened to this song. I had a musical epiphany such that I was really locked in to Paul's bass. It was almost like I was hearing it for the first time, especially on the fade out chorus. I'd always appreciated his playing, but this time it really hit me how great it truly is.
I love when John's vocals take on that trippy faraway hue on 'cellophane flowers...', it's like OK, Dorothy opened the door from her black and white world and entered the colorful land of Oz. Well, in this song, we start out already in Oz and on the cellophane part we open a door into an even more amazing land - John's imagination! This is psychedelic pop at its best. Alice in Wonderland, woooo!

May 16, 2016 - Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart (1980)

This is my favorite Joy Division song. The lyrics are amazing, Ian singing about the pain of his marriage breaking up. Like Bob Dylan, Ian Curtis is another singer I like to imitate. On this song, he sings just behind the beat with a loose kind of sleepy delivery, like I am really tired of trying to figure out what went wrong with us, but I can't help thinking about it.

Musically, I love that catchy hook keyboard/bass line. And the way the keyboard cheerily soars up and down during the verses. it reminds me of a dog wagging its tail to go outside. Like, love will tear us apart? Oh boy! Let's go have some fun! Poor Ian, he's on the left in the photo...he needed a dog or a cat...man he must have really been suffering. This year, July 15, he would have turned 60.

May 15, 2016 - Curtis Mayfield - Freddie's Dead (1972)

Freddie's dead, that's what I said...wow, Curtis Mayfield, what a beautiful person. I just love his voice, that silky laid back falsetto. And the cool way he delivers the lyrics with such precision, like 'everybody's misused him, ripped him off and abused him'. Cannot get enough. Great movie, Super Fly, there's a scene with Curtis and his group playing a little club. The soundtrack made more money than the film. Wow.

May 14, 2016 - Syd Barrett - No Good Trying (1970)

No Good Trying had me laughing in disbelief the first time I heard it, and it still does. I mean, what is the deal with these lyrics? This was likely the first solo Syd song I ever heard (or maybe Terrapin was, not sure). It is a truly glorious mess.

May 13, 2016 - Burning Spear - Marcus Garvey (1975)

I first heard Winston Rodney, aka Burning Spear, on the compilation album Harder Than The Best. This song sort of shocked me at first, since I did not know much about reggae at the time, other than Bob Marley. It has a trumpet on it, which felt strangely out of place, I was surprised when I first heard it burst out of the speakers, but still very cool. And then you've got the beautifully idiosyncratic voice of Burning Spear, hovering around the beat, sounding childlike and ancient at the same time. I always thought he was singing 'Where is Barbara Wyett, he's nowhere to be found...' but I figured this was wrong because Barbara is a woman's name. Then I thought he was saying 'Barb Wire'. Apparently, it's 'Bag a wire'. I and I have a hard time hearing the Burning Spear lyrics, mon. It is cause I live ina babylon.

May 12, 2016 - Astrud Gilberto - Goodbye Sadness (Tristeza) (1966)

Astrud Gilberto, such a sweet innocent voice. la la laaa laa...la la laaaa....Most people know her as singer of The Girl from Ipanema. What I most love about this song is the ice-skating rink organ from Walter Wanderley. The song still sounds sad, even though it's about saying goodbye to sadness. It's just the way Astrud sings. Melancholic. From the album A Certain Smile, A Certain Sadness.
 

May 11, 2016 - Dr. Feelgood - She Does It Right (1975)

A band for the working class, beers after work, straight ahead rock n roll. There is an excellent documentary about Dr. Feelgood called Oil City Confidential. I highly recommend seeking it out. The interviews are fantastic, especially the ones with guitarist Wilko Johnson. A true artist.

This song really showcases Wilko's playing style, it is all choppy and rhythmic. A cool rockin little tune.

May 10, 2016 - Tokyo Kid Brothers - Track 01 (1971)

If not for my music history instructor, Mr. Cope, I would not know this song. I would not know a lot of great music if I had not become a fan of his 25 years ago. Thanks, Julian!

I have no idea what this song is about or if it has a real title, but it is from a musical called Throw Away the books let's go into the streets, a sort of Japanese 'Hair' aimed at teens. There is a movie version in existence, I have seen clips but never the whole film. Here we have a two-part song. The first minute plus starts right off with a heavy two chord guitar and organ jam, filled with sing-shouting Japanese vocals. I like the 'hey!' at 0:26. At  1:11 the organ slows down into this sweet, contemplative choral section that lasts until the end. The guitarist picks out a nice progression and the organ grooves along. The primary vocal passage builds up with harmonic layers as individual voices pass in and out around it. It fades out like we are heading off on a long voyage until we disappear over the horizon.

May 9, 2016 - George Baker Selection - Little Green Bag (1970)

Mondegreen time (Little Greenback). I remember hearing this song in high school, on the WLUP Rock n roll roots weekend show with Bob Stroud. It was played often. Then it was in the Reservoir Dogs movie and a lot more people became familiar with it. Great tune. Cool bass line and reverb toms. Then offbeat rhythm guitar comes in. The chorus has a swinging European chalet in the alps quality to it. Or maybe a little bar along a canal in Amsterdam. OK, you folks now, sing along with George Baker here, thats right ladies and gentlemen. Now let us talk about the equally great video here...

Basically we are observing one big party, 70s Euro style. I have had this idea to recreate the video, using specific co-workers as the band and staff. It would be amazing. Have not mentioned it to anyone...yet. Not sure about the details. Maybe film it at VC across the street. Man, the wine keeps pouring, cigarettes are smoking, something rolling, George just kinda mumbling. It never ends. More food! More wine! Bingo! Now pay your bill and be on your way, fellas.

May 8, 2016 - The Velvet Underground - I Can't Stand It (1969)

I am all about that guitar solo starting at 1:40. The rhythm guitars are excellent too, bass, drums, all great. Lyrics are Lou Reedishly esoteric and silly. One of my favorite tunes by the VU, from VU. The song always made me think of Lou getting hit with a mop by his landlady, in the form of one of those Filmation Saturday morning cartoons. So, imagine the Velvets all living with Andy Warhol in this giant tree house in Central Park with a goofy animal sidekick, getting out to solve crimes and play shows at art museums. Whoa, that would be cool.

May 7, 2016 - John Lennon - Instant Karma! (1970)

We all shine on....3 4...I have always loved the drums, especially those fast fills like after how in the world you gonna see and why in the world are we here. Alan White of the band Yes is the drummer...yes that guy, yes the one who played on Owner of a Lonely Heart. The piano is great too, have to listen for it a bit. I also like near the end, when Johns primary vocals quiet down as the rest of the chorus powers on. Kind of a more raucous cousin of Imagine, another tune calling for unification of the world, you know, hey we are all special and worthy of joy, so live and treat others this way and you will feel the instant karma!

May 6, 2016 - Freddie King - Going Down (1971)

I first heard this amazing tune in 1997, in South Korea. My roommate had a cassette called Essential Blues, Vol. 2. We played this tape all the time. Going Down was the first track on side 2, and my favorite track on the album. It is a tornado of raw blues guitar and pounding piano. I love those whoos! at around 1:34 and 2:43. Freddie King...wow. He was this huge powerful Texan moved to Chicago worked in a steel mill, blasted out notes on his guitar like dynamite, died way too young at 42 from the stress of the hard-working, hard-partying blues lifestyle.

May 5, 2016 - Icarus - Fantastic Four (1972)

Another superhero tune from the fun Marvel World of Icarus (see March 18 entry). This time we get the Fantastic Four - nobody can whop em! Musically, we venture into prog/Jethro Tull/Doors/Stooges territory.
You better believe it...there ain't nobody like these people!

May 4, 2016 - Mahmoud Ahmed - Nafqot New Yegodagn (1973)

I love Mahmoud Ahmed, please go out and find the Ethiopiques vol 6 and 7 albums, they are so good. I was extremely happy to see him in Portland a few years ago. An Ethiopian soul music legend.

This song starts off with happy bouncy horns, then Mahmoud comes in with his intense vocals pushing the meter into the red, sometimes they threaten to reach through the speakers and grab you. According to the liner notes, the title means 'Missing you hurts'. The lyrics are very sweet, the first lines translate as:

When I face unhappiness alone
It is missing you that hurts
To be hungry and thirsty is no shame
But my head is spinning from wandering
It's because I loved you and I miss you

Excellent saxophone solo in the middle there, gets to make a couple rounds through the music. Rhythm guitar chugs along throughout.

May 3, 2016 - The Clash - London Calling (1979)

Bam bam bam bam...the urgency and alarm of the opening is intense! Add the bass with its apocalyptic quasi-Mars Bringer of War or Wagnerian thing and we are ready to take up arms with the band. Some bad stuff is going on in the world, what to do about it? Makes me think of that quote, 'if you're not outraged you're not paying attention.' The Clash are really pissed off - nuclear disasters, climate change, drugs, war...desperation.

May 2, 2016 - Grateful Dead - Sugar Magnolia (1970)

This is the perfect early morning summertime song. Warm light breeze, skipping through tall grass in a meadow. It all sounds like an ode to nature, a May Queen who can skim through rays of violet and wade in a drop of dew. Just bliss out on the morning and enjoy a sunshine daydream. The music has this crunchy nature granola vibe, jugband playing in the park. I love how Jerry's guitar is somewhat submerged in the mix as the rest of the group bubbles along around him. Happy little animated birds flutter about, and Eric M. dances in a toga with laurels in his hair and bells around his ankle, playing a little flute, smiling cheerfully as he pours out wine from his bota bag. Right, Dave?

May 1, 2016 - Bob Marley & the Wailers - Soul Rebel (1970)

Wow, the bass really rattles my speakers. One of my favorite Bob Marley/Wailers tunes, the vocals have some cool reverb. The atmosphere makes me wonder about the quiet, simple life in rural Jamaica, maybe in the area where Bob spent his youth. Yeah, Bob, talk won't bother you. Hey, those guys were about to say capturer but you had to jump in early there, Bob. I love the passion in his voice - 'see the morning sun, on the hillside'. Great backing vocals from Bunny and Tosh. Happy May Day!