As the Napster era threatens to come to a close, I've been stealing singles
that I've always wanted. Some of these singles were made by one-hit wonder
bands so I hesitate to spend $15 on a whole long-player. (That's how I
justify it to myself although I realize it's just plain stealing.) So, in
the spirit of spreading the word, here's what I've been enjoying.
============================
Red Ryder- "Lunatic Fringe"
This one totally, totally rocks. It'll give you a contact high even if
you've had a bad day. Like most highs though, it's addictive and
habit-forming. And no, Virginia, I don't care one bit that the rhythm
guitar is a total rip-off of "Another Brick In the Wall, Part 2".
=========================
Frank Sinatra- "Under My Skin"
Wow! This was after Mister Sinatra learned how to belt when he wanted to.
He starts words off-pitch on purpose so he can sliiiiide into them and uses
this trick judiciously and skillfully to build tension as the song
progresses to a big, big finish. It's obvious that he listened to great
jazz horn players for a very, very long time. This track begins as a
controlled, normal version through the first 3 minutes, then the trombone
solo goes OUT there and it sounds like the walls are blowing out and the
weather is changing. Frank, scolding himself for falling in love again,
goes,
"DON'T YOU **KNOW** YOU FOOL??
AIN'T NO CHANCE TO WIN!!
WHY NOT USE YOUR MENTALITY??
GET UP!!
WAKE UP! TO REALITY.
<quickly>
AND EACH TIME I DO
JUST THE THOUGHT OF YOU MAKES ME STOP JUST BEFORE I BEGIN.
<full halt> .........
<much quieter>
because....
I've got you......
under my skin.
And I like you.... under my skin."
If you love a track that starts one place and takes you somewhere else
entirely, this is a fan-damn-tastic arrangement with a Master at the top of
his game. Not every song has to include a hurricane AND a whisper but this
one does. Way recommended.
================================================================
Pure Prairie League- "Amie (Fallin' In and Out Of Love With You)"
It was hearing the reports of the Paz-produced, Mueller-sung, Mixon-solo'ed
version at Ashara's last year that made me remember this one. For a while
there Country and Rock were like roman candles crossing paths; each was on a
different path but they passed closely and felt each other's light and it
was an interesting period. If you like Southern Rock. Eagles, Ronstadt,
Emmylou, Pure Prairie League, Lynard Skynard, and the mother of all Southern
Rock bands: The Allman Brothers Band. Who wants to talk about Southern
Rock? Is it Southern Rock when an LA band like Little Feat plays a New
Orleans shuffle like "Mercenary Territory"? Nah..... If you decide to
steal this track, er... I mean download it... be sure to get the one that's
more than 6 minutes long. The shorter versions are like..... well, like
coitus interruptus. Would you want HALF of "Stairway To Heaven"? The
electric version of "Layla" without the piano solo? Me neither.
=========================
Los Lobos- "La Bamba"
Okay, I *know* it a cover but it's a perfect cover. The vocal is dead on-
just the right edge to make you sit up straight and wonder, "Is he going out
of control?" I'll be buying some Los Lobos!!! Where do I start?
=========================
Richie Valens- "La Bamba"
Again, I blame Paz for re-kindling my interest in this fun, fun, fun song.
This is totally a perfect example of a garage band sound and it works! This
is what rock and roll should sound like. Too bad that the version that I
stole is in fake stereo, with Mr. Valens ping-ponging ridiculously. May he
rest in peace. Richie Valens *HAD IT*. I just might have to buy some
officially released stuff now. I knew I loved it _then_ but I wasn't so
sure how well it would stand up. Which brings me to......
The Nightcrawlers- "Little Black Egg"
=====================================
Well, I loved it when I was 15 or whatever. We were away from our suburban
Columbus, Ohio life for a week at the beach on Long Island, near New York
City. When I wasn't sailing a Sunfish, or collecting shells, or walking the
boardwalk barefoot, or swimming with my (rarely seen) cousins, I was
reveling in a New York City pop station. They were playing this song but I
don't think it ever made it to the radio in Columbus. With the distance of
all these years, I can see why. It's a weird little song but it's not funny
enough to be a novelty song. Just odd. I must have heard it a couple of
times way back then and had not made up my mind about it till now. Now I
can let it go. Thanks Napster. It sucks as a song but it's a very powerful
incantation of that summer. Most everything else has lost its power to do
that for me because I've played it to death.
=================================================
Dylan, McGuinn, Harrison, Young, Clapton, & Petty
sing-
"My Back Pages"
Need I say more?
=================================================
Neil Young and Chrissy Hynde rip up
"All Along The Watchtower"
If you don't nod your head to the beat, you're in a body cast.
The Byrds- "Eight Miles High"
=============================
Somewhat sheepishly, I must admit to not owning ANY Byrds. I must also get
"Chestnut Mare" eventually. Did these guys ever really flesh out an album?
(Donning my asbestos suit.) I mean, with Roger (Jim) McGuinn at the helm,
they weren't exactly brimming over with singers, so how could they fire
Crosby? I want to hear some stories about great Byrds albums and why I
should I buy some. Kakki B., Kakki B., taaaaaalk to me!
================================================
John Williams & The London Philharmonic (I think)
"Main Theme to Star Wars"
It's fun. I chopped it off at 1 min 31 seconds though.
======================
Tom Petty- "Breakdown"
Remember this? It builds like a Beatles hit.
Two short verses, then......
"*****BAAAABEE*****!!!
Breakdown, honey
go ahead and give it to me."
With that "baby" a star was born.
The Rolling Stones- "Happy"
===========================
By now everyone has made up their own minds about these guys, eh? For my
part, this is nearly the beginning and end of my interest. Another great
garage band track. I know Keith can't sing but it works!
Stevie Wonder- "We Can Work It Out"
===================================
God, I love this one. My old 45 of it is completely trashed. I have two of
Mister Wonder's albums and need to get more. I heartily recommend "Original
Musicquarium" and "Innervisions". Marcel- how did Stevie get the snare to
sound like a swish and like a snap at the same time? Is it a partially open
hi-hat overdub?
And you know there may be more......
All the best,
Lama
PS- Question to the techies. If I have 200k/sec available at this end and
the other guy has a DSL connection, why do I typically get mp3 swapping
speeds of 7k/sec?????
I always thought it was bullshit when I heard Napster users defend Napster
by claiming that they have actually bought *more* music since they began to
download. Now I get it.
BTW, IMO, garage bands sound great on computer speakers. The whole vibe of
garage rock is not about poetic words or virtuosity. It's about adrenaline.
np: Expose- I'll Never Get Over You (Gettin' Over Me) on mp3, natch.
This is sooo sad to me that I should never play it. It destroys me every
time so I rarely play it.... <sniff, sniff>
