Middle Aged Dummies - Artist - Round 3 - #1's have been posted! (3 Viewers)

[MAC_32]

It may have been more than just @simey and @krista4 that have used the phrase toe tapping to describe some of Chesney's work to this point, but I know those two did. Each time it was written I instantly thought of the #12 contribution, Kenny Chesney - Out Last Night. Fun song and good luck keeping your body still and the one thing I'll always remember (or not) about this song is my wife turning to me on the back deck a summer or two ago while this was on and deadpanned - 'this was an anthem to your early 20's and I am thrilled I didn't know you then.'

**whispers** she's right

 

[falguy]

Round 16
I enjoyed most of the songs from this round which I will henceforth refer to as Sweet 16
Limiting my list below to a few favourites

A better man - Blue October wow. Loved it. strings!
Think About the Children - Fanny has. A nice groove to it
Just Another Day - Oingo Bingo
Jealous Guy - Roxy Music. Well done
Setting the World On Fire - Kenny Chesney, P!nk. I have always liked this song. Forgot it was a Chesney collab
Going Down To Liverpool - The Bangles. Peppy!
Miracle - Chvrches

April Wine - Tell Me Why. I don’t think I had heard this cover prior to this process. I enjoyed the small guitar parts and, of course, Myles’ voice. Doesn’t sound anything like the Beatles’ version so you have to appreciate the re-imaging. The Youtube video is cute also.

 

[falguy]

Round 15
Went shuffle on this playlist for a change

Pretty Penny - STP -> One of my favourite STP tunes
The Story In Your Eyes - Moody Blues -> One of my favourite Moodies tunes
Boogie Wonderland - EWF -> One of my favourite EWF songs
(Interesting trend)
Love Is The Drug - Roxy Music (Ferry) > Love the bass in this one
Poppa Joe - The Sweet -> silly but fun
What I Like About Texas - JJW - I’m definitely enjoying me some Jerry Jeff music
Call It Dreaming - Iron & Wine -> Another I&W tune that I really enjoyed
Pirate Flag - Chesney
Bring It Back Again - Stray Cats (Setzer) -> toe tapping!

Another great round for my tastes. Really enjoying MAD V3s. Looking forward to the top 14 rounds.

April Wine - Anything You Want You Got It. Great live tune. Lots of guitar in this one.

 

[zamboni]

The Sony In Your Eyes - Moody Blues -> One of my favourite Moodies tunes

Kickoff song on their 1971 Japan tour.

 

[falguy]

The Sony In Your Eyes - Moody Blues -> One of my favourite Moodies tunes

Kickoff song on their 1971 Japan tour.

(at least I know someone read the post)

 

[MAC_32]

What a round of the 12's - whittled down the list, but need another listen to figure out the stand. Hopefully I have the energy when I log in tonight...

 

[Oliver Humanzee]

Alright rockers, I'm back in action with more dope for the dopes. Currently coming to you live atop the armed and armored penthouse of our West Town rock pile while the Democrat Nazi Commies and BLM Antifa burn Chicago to the ground.

Kidding. It's really nice outside and people seem to be in a good mood. I'm drinking beer and catching up on my dumb little write ups. Might get some food delivered later, IDK. Thank you for your patience.

17. Rx--Radar Love LIzard

Rx could be a real chore to listen to, what with all the shocking and transgressing and clanging and what-have-you. But this is just a funny rocking punk song that kinda sounds like Golden Earring's "Radar Love" and is about a guy who is also a lizard. It has lyrics like this.
'Gonna get a little place
Gonna keep it real warm
Eat only raw meat
Never hear the Beastie Boys again'
Which, I dunno know is pretty fuggin' funny to me. Young Steve hated the Beastie Boys so much he would rather be a lizard sunning himself on a rock than just have a good time with the other dopes on the planet. The goof.


16. Shellac-- Scabby The Rat

Hoo boy. I heard this song the first time on May 14, one week after Steve died. The lyrics are:

Scabby the Rat
Cooks all your potatoes
Scabby the Rat
Is twelve feet tall

Scabby the Rat
Ooh, he's inflatable
Scabby the Rat
That's right, I said inflatable
Scabby the Rat
Makes the whole room pregnant
Scabby the Rat
Pow! you're pregnant

Scabby the Rat
Does not fear death
Scabby the Rat
Is one Rob Warmowski
Scabby the Rat
That mean's he's immortal
Scabby the Rat

Inflatable rats (read about them here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflatable_rat) were widely used in labor actions and their attendant protests, and their voice on Twitter was one Rob Warmowski, who died in 2019. Rob was, among other things, my friend. He was extraordinarily funny, kind, and brave. He was so Chicago he looked like both John and Jim Belushi simultaneously.

Once, at a poker game, Rob Warmowski drew two perfect cards to beat my 8-perfect in Deuce, to which I, chuffed, replied "Nice hand, SIR." He immediately turned to Andy K and whispered, "So I guess SIR means ******* now?" Years later, he and Andy would start a band called, of course, SIRS.

Hearing my dead friend write such a loving tribute to my other dead friend was a bit too much for me at the time I heard it, and it might be a bit too much for me now.

Here's Rob's obit in the Sun-Times. https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/9...liants-punk-rock-buzzmuscle-sirs-steve-albini

 

[Mt. Man]

The 12s were another round where I had (or at least decided) to cut a list of nearly 2/3rds the list down to something more bite-size. I figured it’s appropriate for me to go with a clean (as opposed to dirty) dozen for the main category. So let’s get to it.

Selected (and shuffled) #12s
Only a Lad - Oingo Boingo
Rumble In Brighton - Brian Setzer Orchestra
Pot Can’t Call the Kettle Black - Jerry Jeff Walker
Very Happy Now - Slambovian Circus of Dreams
Makings of You - Curtis Mayfield
I Hope You’re Happy - Blue October
Expectations - Belle and Sebastian. Probably my favorite (new) song of the round.
Spare-Ohs - Andrew Bird
Wig Wam Bam - Sweet
Sour Girl - STP
Naked as We Came - Iron & Wine
Leave a Trace - Chvrches

Shuffle Adventures:
Destroyer’s “Students Carve Hearts Out Of Coal” was soft and soulful, flowing excellently into “Pictures of You” from The Cure.

 

[-OZ-]

Selections from the dozen added to my faves:

Very happy now - slambovian, it took me awhile but I’m digging this group lately

Wam wam bam - sweet, fun song!

Rumble in Brighton- Brian setzer, I need to listen to more of their stuff

JM - strand of oaks, continues to be possibly my favorite new band this round

Heroes and villains- beach boys, I don’t know if I had heard this one before. I likey

Pictures of you - cure, one of their most essential songs. The remake is solid

Sing a Song- EWF, another great song by a great band

All mine - Fanny, awesome vibe / rhythm

Looking forward to XI!

 

[MAC_32]

Fair warning- it may be a while before I get back to the 13's. I'll make sure to get the 11's in by Thursday, but not sure about anything beyond that. Thankfully this music is so good it doesn't feel like a chore even though I don't have any time! But anyway...

The 12's

Medal Stand
Gold Tea Party- Babylon, it's been a while since they've medaled. When these guys hit, they hit hard. And boy did this one. Except when it intentionally didn't. The peaks and valleys and sudden left turns within this cut were what did it for me. If anything I wish there were more, but 5 minutes of it was probably enough.
Silver Brian Setzer Orchestra- Rumble in Brighton, this stand wasn't intentionally geared towards those with long dry spells, they just hit some highs all at the right time. LOVE the tempo of this jam, the horns overlaid perfectly throughout, and he chose just the right spots to feature the guitar.
Bronze The Bangles- Tear Off Your Own Head, is pop perfection too hyperbolic? Maybe, but I thought it with spin one and it didn't change 8 hours later.
Honorable Mention1 Roxy Music- Editions of You, this medals most rounds, but not this loaded one.
Honorable Mention2 EWF- Sing A Song, not as much has connected with me as I expected, but I suspect that's going to change over the final dozen
Honorable Mention3 No way you convince me before this round Love Street doesn't medal, but here we are.

Medal Count
Tea Party - 3 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze
Blue October - 3 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze
The Doors - 3 gold, 1 silver
STP - 2 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze
The Slambovian Circus of Dreams - 2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze
The Beach Boys - 2 gold, 1 silver
Fanny - 2 gold, 1 bronze
DMB- 2 silver, 2 bronze
Susanna Hoffs - 1 gold, 2 bronze
Mazzy Star - 1 gold, 1 bronze
Brian Setzer - 1 silver, 1 bronze
Iron & Wine- 1 silver, 1 bronze
Oingo Boingo - 1 silver, 1 bronze
Ronnie Dio - 1 silver
Jerry Jeff Walker - 1 silver
Belle & Sebastian - 1 silver
Strand of Oaks - 1 silver
Judas Priest - 1 silver
Roxy Music - 1 silver
Mitski - 1 silver
Steve Albini - 1 silver
April Wine - 1 bronze
Sweet - 1 bronze
EWF- 1 bronze

 

[Zegras11]

#11's PLAYLIST

		#11 -
Blue October	-OZ-	Inner Glow - YouTube Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen. www.youtube.com
Fanny	Pip's Invitation	Hey Bulldog Hey Bulldog - Live Song · Fanny · 2024 open.spotify.com
The Tea Party	Scoresman	Save Me Save Me Song · The Tea Party · 1993 open.spotify.com
Sweet	John Maddens ****ing Lunchbox	The Lies in Your Eyes - YouTube Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen. m.youtube.com The Lies In Your Eyes Song · Sweet · 1976 open.spotify.com
Oingo Boingo	KarmaPolice	Something Isn't Right Something Isn't Right Song · Oingo Boingo · 1984 open.spotify.com
Belle and Sebastian	kupcho1	I'm a Cuckoo I'm a Cuckoo Song · Belle and Sebastian · 2003 open.spotify.com
Mitski	Ilov80s	Fireworks Fireworks Song · Mitski · 2016 open.spotify.com
The Slambovian Circus of Dreams	Yambag	Glide Glide Song · The Slambovian Circus Of Dreams · 2004 open.spotify.com
The Moody Blues	Charlie Steiner	Veteran Cosmic Rocker Veteran Cosmic Rocker Song · The Moody Blues · 1981 open.spotify.com - YouTube Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen. www.youtube.com
Stone Temple Pilots	Yo Mama	Days of the Week Days of the Week Song · Stone Temple Pilots · 2001 open.spotify.com
Brian Setzer	Mrs. Rannous	Brand New Cadillac Brand New Cadillac Song · The Brian Setzer Orchestra · 1994 open.spotify.com
Curtis Mayfield	Don Quixote	Let’s Do It Again, by The Staple Singers Let's Do It Again Provided to YouTube by RhinoLet's Do It Again · The Staple SingersLet's Do It Again Original Sound Trackâ 1975 Curtom RecordsVocals: Mavis StaplesWriter: Cur... youtu.be Let's Do It Again Song · The Staple Singers · 1975 open.spotify.com
Bryan Ferry/Roxy Music	BinkytheDoormat	The Thrill Of It All - YouTube Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen. www.youtube.com
Strand of Oaks	Eephus	Last to Swim Last to Swim Song · Strand of Oaks · 2010 open.spotify.com
Dave Matthews	Tau837	Pig Pig Provided to YouTube by RCA Records LabelPig · Dave Matthews BandBefore These Crowded Streetsâ 1998 BMG MusicReleased on: 1998-04-28Composer, Lyricist: David ... www.youtube.com
Mazzy Star	landrys hat	Ride It On Ride It On Song · Mazzy Star · 1990 open.spotify.com
Kenny Chesney	MAC	Boys of Fall - YouTube Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen. www.youtube.com
The Beach Boys	zamboni	"Surfer Girl" Surfer Girl - Remastered 2001 Song · The Beach Boys · 1963 open.spotify.com
Susanna Hoffs	Zegras11	In Your Room In Your Room Song · The Bangles · 1988 open.spotify.com
Judas Priest	Raging Weasel	Stained Class Stained Class Song · Judas Priest · 1978 open.spotify.com
The Cure	Juxtatarot	Burn Lovesong - 2010 Remaster Song · The Cure · 1989 open.spotify.com
Iron and Wine	Tuffnutt	Cinder and Smoke - YouTube Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen. www.youtube.com
Jerry Jeff Walker	simey	Up Against The Wall Red Neck Mother Up Against The Wall, Red Neck Song · Jerry Jeff Walker · 1981 open.spotify.com
The Doors	jwb	Light My Fire Light My Fire Song · The Doors · 1967 open.spotify.com
Chvrches	JML’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Secret Identity	We Sink - YouTube Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen. m.youtube.com We Sink Song · CHVRCHES · 2013 open.spotify.com
Earth, Wind, & Fire	Uruk-Hai	Fantasy - YouTube Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen. www.youtube.com
Destroyer	The Dreaded Marco	Savage Night at the Opera Savage Night at the Opera Song · Destroyer · 2011 open.spotify.com
Andrew Bird	Mister CIA	Dark Matter Darkmatter Song · Andrew Bird · 2007 open.spotify.com
Steve Albini	Oliver Humanzee	Shellac - Wingwalker - YouTube Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen. youtu.be
Ronnie James Dio	Mt. Man	Losing My Insanity Losing My Insanity Song · Dio · 2018 open.spotify.com
April Wine	Falguy	I Like to Rock I Like to Rock Song · April Wine · 1979 open.spotify.com - YouTube Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen. www.youtube.com

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Round 11 - Brian Setzer Orchestra - Brand New Cadillac

This is a cover of a song from 1959 by Vince Taylor. You may notice a familiar Henry Mancini tune peeking up in there.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

The Tea Party really like those Middle Eastern beats. Dig it.

And one of my favorite Bangles songs. How is this so low? The rest must be really great.

JJW is playing a song I've heard ever since I moved to Texas. Good times!

Also, Chvrches.

 

[-OZ-]

Blue October

-OZ-

Inner Glow - YouTube Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen. www.youtube.com

Another hit from their 2003 release, history for sale. It won’t be the last. Seriously, I love that album.

It’s a simple message, be true to yourself instead of trying to fit into someone’s box.

So here's a preview. shove it under old/new
Or call it rock, or pop, or Bach, or ****...
*******! Where did we go wrong?
Now there's a category for every song

Yeah, we only want to sing when we want to
Yeah, we only want a dream we can flaunt to
Yeah, we only want to fly by the side, making love
To the rhythm, be a Jeckyl and a Hyde

So stride... if you fail, at least you tried
To keep your aching, celebrating
Wonder making heart alive
And pride... Don't keep it all inside
Don't keep your aching, celebrating
Wonder making heart alone
Write your own song.

 

[kupcho1]

Belle and Sebastian

kupcho1

I'm a Cuckoo I'm a Cuckoo Song · Belle and Sebastian · 2003 open.spotify.com

#11, I'm a Cuckoo is an upbeat tune, the second (and, spoiler: final) song from 2003's Dear Catastrophe Waitress.
Shoutout to @zamboni for the reference to Round 2

An AllMusic reviewer described the track as being "like the indie pop version of Thin Lizzy" who are also mentioned in the lyrics.

I’d rather be in Tokyo
I’d rather listen to Thin Lizzy, oh
Watch the Sunday gang in Harajuku
There’s something wrong with me, I’m a cuckoo

 

[Raging weasel]

The 12's

Known and liked songs

Sour Girl
Pictures of You
Love Street
I

New to me likes

I Hope You're Happy
Wig Wam Bam
A Loving Feeling
Rumble in Brighton
Tear Off Your Own Head
Leave A Trace
Students Carve Hearts Out of Coal

 

[Yo Mama]

STP #11 - Days of the Week
Album - Shangri La Dee Da (2001)

Here’s my last song from SLDD - my top ten only has songs from the first 3 albums (well, one sort of is). This is another catchy Beatles-esque pop tune.

This is a song about Scott’s issues with heroin and how it affected his relationship with his second wife. For such an upbeat song, the subject and lyrics are pretty grim.


I gotta find a way to find her
Where could she be?
Four days of the week
She thinks I'm the enemy

Monday's gone
Tuesday's fadin'
Wednesday's gone
Thursday's all but wasted now

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Sweet​

#11 - The Lies in Your Eyes​

- YouTube

Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen.

m.youtube.com

Producer - Sweet
Writer - Sweet
Chart Positions - UK #35, Australia #14, Germany #5, US Did Not Chart
Album - Give Us a Wink
Year - 1976
Lead Vocal - Brian Connolly
Steve Priest Vocal - Backing only
Notes - Commonly referred to as a mix between The Who’s “Baba O’Riley” and Rolling Stones “Satisfaction”, with some Fox on the Run mixed in as well. But somehow it doesnt hit the right mark.

Ive always enjoyed the track, though but it was their last chart hit in most of the world, where it did chart, until Love is Like Oxygen.

Oddly the lyric recycles the #14 title Solid Gold Brass in the lyrics
“Whips and chains don't leave no trace
Solid gold brass got a plastic face, ah”

Next Up - We will go with a cover that was only released in one territory. It became a massive hit there and became the #25 biggest hit for the entire year.

 

[simey]

Up Against The Wall, Redneck Mother

Ray Wylie Hubbard wrote this song, and Jerry Jeff was the first to record and release it. It's on his 1973 album Viva Terlingua! Ray wasn't very known at the time, and he said JJ doing his song gave him a big career boost. I like a story Ray tells about his first time seeing Jerry Jeff. “The first time I saw Jerry Jeff was at the Rubaiyat coffeehouse in Dallas. In the corner of the Rubaiyat was a statue of the god Pan, about three or four-feet-high, with cloven hooves and a flute. Jerry Jeff came out wearing a cowboy hat and strumming ‘Driftin’ Way of Life’ as he got up onstage, and he took off his cowboy hat, sailed it across the room over the audience and it landed on this statue’s head. I don’t know if he practiced this all day or just got lucky, but obviously that impressed me because I’m still talking about it today some 35 years later. I mean, that’s the way to start a show.”

He was born in Oklahoma
And his wife's name is Betty Lou Thelma Liz
And he's not responsible for what he's doing
'Cause his mother made him what he is

And it's up against the wall, Redneck Mother
Mother, who has raised her son so well
He's thirty-four and drinking in a honky tonk
Just kicking hippies asses and raising hell

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Chvrches​

#11 - We Sink​

- YouTube

Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen.

m.youtube.com

Producer - Chvrches
Writer - Iain Cook Martin Doherty Lauren Mayberry
Album - The Bones of What You Believe
Year - 2013
Notes - Cant write a lot about every track, so will let someone else do it here.

Emily St.James of AV Club wrote an essay dissecting this track

Was there a better description of love in 2013 than “I’ll be a thorn in your side till you die”? That lyric, from Chvrches cacophonously beautiful “We Sink,” the second track on The Bones Of What You Believe, was applied to a self-destructive, codependent relationship dissected in the song’s lyrics, but it might as well apply to any relationship serious enough to leave bruises, a list that includes even the best marriage of all time. That’s the brilliance of “We Sink”: The verses take the short view, two people trapped in a locked room together with no way out, but the chorus looks ahead to the future, where even if one or both escape that room, the experience will always haunt them.

Art frequently presents love as something perfect and wonderful, a visitation from the heavens that just so happens to alight on two humans at just the right time. And to be sure, there are times and places where that’s exactly the kind of song you want to hear, where all you need is to turn up the radio and sing along to something schmoopy. And there are plenty of songs that take the opposite view, the “**** you!” songs to former lovers who’ve spurned the singer, meant to assuage pain in the face of a break-up.

Far less common is the genre into which “We Sink” properly fits: the “**** you for not letting me go” song, a subset of music that includes such classics as Fleetwood Mac’s “Tusk” and The Mountain Goats’ “No Children.” Any relationship will reach a point—even if just for a moment—where both parties are essentially ready to call it quits, but nobody’s ready to pull the pin on the grenade, because staying together is just easier than falling apart. “We Sink” works because it puts this sentiment in the ethereal vocals of Lauren Mayberry, who sounds like she’s floating above the dissolution of her own relationship, not just able to see all the pain it’s causing the two people in it but all of the pain it will cause her and her lover in the future, even if the two of them find their way to a reconciliation or a graceful exit.

The lyrics are simple to the point of abstraction. Anyone who’s been in love that’s curdled has been in this situation, to the point where all Mayberry needs to say is “I’ve come apart, and you made me” or “We are gonna fall if you lead us,” and the listener knows exactly what she means. Best of all is the bridge, in which chanting background singers repeat “Say, say, say” while Mayberry sings, “Can you not see why/ Love was/ That you see cry,” words that almost form a complete statement but not quite, even as they get across perfectly the endless vortex the singer and her lover are trapped in.

Yet it’s that chorus I keep coming back to. There are scars I still bear from high school girlfriends and memories of vicious nightlong fights with a wife I’ve had a 99.999 percent happy marriage with. We all have thorns, and we are all thorns to someone. Mayberry and her lover might find a way out, but they’ll always be sinking together.

Next Up - A absolute belter of a track that does everything that makes a Chvrches track great. Hooks, synths, changes of direction etc

 

[Pip's Invitation]

For the Cure entry, the text says Burn but the link is to Lovesong. So which is it?

 

[Pip's Invitation]

11. Hey Bulldog
Album: Fanny Hill (1972)
Writers: John Lennon and Paul McCartney
Lead vocals: Nickey Barclay, Jean Millington and June Millington

If you were recording at Apple Studios in the early '70s, you wouldn't be able to resist doing a Beatles cover, would you? Fanny didn't either. But their cover of Hey Bulldog does not feel rote or obligatory in the slightest. They even changed some of the lyrics and added a verse with the permission of the Beatles, presumably facilitated by Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick, who engineered the Fanny Hill album. (A notable change is "You don't know what it's like to listen to your fears" becomes "I know just what it's like to listen to my fears." The new verse is "Hedgehog/Running in the sand/Leapfrog/Giving them a hand/Some kind of attitude is measured out inside/You think you're going but you haven't got a ride.")

The basic structure of the Beatles' version remains, but Fanny immediately lets you know they have made it their own with a rumbling bass-and-piano intro (joined by clavinet on the studio version). The jauntiness of the Beatles' take is replaced by a ferocious intensity, which carries over from the verses to the chorus without as much contrast as the Beatles' version. June Millington's guitar solos are far more noisy and rocking than those from the original, but remain Beatlesque in their own way. And the tomfoolery of the outro in the Beatles' version is gone, replaced by the band pounding its way to a resounding conclusion, especially on the raucous Beat-Club version, which is represented on the playlist. The studio version is slightly but not significantly gentler and features a string arrangement at points.

Despite not being released as a single, Fanny's version of Hey Bulldog brought them some notoriety, which they acknowledged by including it in their 2023 reunion sets. Not surprisingly, the studio version is the second-most popular Fanny track on Spotify.

Studio version: https://open.spotify.com/track/3KK3yIddOIFXIvTT1el5uK?si=0c14a09c64be44be
Live version from Philadelphia in 1973 (appears on box set): https://open.spotify.com/track/15apb3ZOS0Kv9qWEfAq6ir?si=22a9c057c3f248cf
Live on WSIU-TV in Carbondale, IL in 1972: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oF5lRu4AmKY
Live in Sacramento in 2023: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXZUlbg19rc

Original, in case you've been living under a rock: https://open.spotify.com/track/4epbwW20tHuF9Q6FufAn7Y?si=0bca82d13861426f

At #10, a rocker that was worked up for the first album, included on the second album, and a regular feature of their live sets.

 

[Don Quixote]

Curtis Mayfield

Don Quixote

Let’s Do It Again, by The Staple Singers Let's Do It Again Provided to YouTube by RhinoLet's Do It Again · The Staple SingersLet's Do It Again Original Sound Trackâ 1975 Curtom RecordsVocals: Mavis StaplesWriter: Cur... youtu.be Let's Do It Again Song · The Staple Singers · 1975 open.spotify.com

I mentioned in my last five out that left out his Ms. Martha in part because had another song featuring Mavis Staples on my list. Let’s do it.

Let’s Do It Again is a 1975 film. Comedy action type film starring Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby (but I haven’t seen it). Curtis Mayfield was asked to write the soundtrack for it (like some others that I have posted, he wrote, produced, and played guitars on it). He knew The Staple Singers from their time touring together, and asked them to sing it. It took a little bit of cajoling because the lyrics were a bit more sexual than The Staple Singers were used to, but the results were great. Also had some influence in popular culture with a young Christopher Wallace (aka Notorious BIG), as Todd Mayfield describes below.

Like his last several albums, Let’s Do It Again was remarkably strong and consistent. Somehow, he still hadn’t run out of ideas. The material was also far more sexual than the Staples were used to. Mavis Staples recalled, “When we went into the studio and Pops heard his part—‘I like you lady, so fine with your pretty hair’—he said, ‘Man, I ain’t singing that, Curtis,’ and Curtis said, ‘Pops, come on. It’s a movie score. It’s not changing your religion. Do it for me, please?’ And Daddy just got tickled. He couldn’t say no to Curtis. He was that inspiring.” The album went gold, and the title-track single hit the top of the R&B and pop charts. The movie also hit big with audiences, including a young kid in Brooklyn named Christopher Wallace. Late in the next decade, Wallace began rapping on street corners to entertain his friends, eventually making a demo tape under the name Biggie Smalls—the name of the outsized pimp in Let’s Do It Again. A few years later, Wallace rose to the top of the music world as the Notorious B.I.G. with his debut album, Ready to Die.

I love Mavis Staples (how can anyone not) and find the combination with Mayfield’s infectious groove a bit irresistible here. Mavis Staples is now 85 years old, and still singing and kicking it. She released a new single earlier, Worthy, this year. NYT had a good profile on her recently too: Mavis Staples Is an American Institution. She’s Not Done Singing Yet.

 

[zamboni]

The Beach Boys

zamboni

"Surfer Girl" Surfer Girl - Remastered 2001 Song · The Beach Boys · 1963 open.spotify.com

Not much to say here - one of their early hits, simple yet elegant. I would argue its harmonies are in the conversation of their Mount Rushmore of harmonies (again, use good headphones here if you're listening).

One of Brian's first songs he ever wrote, as he describes: "Back in 1961, I'd never written a song in my life. I was 19 years old. And I put myself to the test in my car one day. I was actually driving to a hot dog stand, and I actually created a melody in my head without being able to hear it on a piano. I sang it to myself; I didn't even sing it out loud in the car. When I got home that day, I finished the song, wrote the bridge, put the harmonies together and called it 'Surfer Girl'."

 

[Yambag]

#11's PLAYLIST

The Slambovian Circus of Dreams

Yambag

Glide Glide Song · The Slambovian Circus Of Dreams · 2004 open.spotify.com

A bit about keyboardist and newest member RJ McCarty: Music runs deep in RJ McCarty’s blood. He is a seasoned multi-instrumentalist and a veteran of performing. With early roots in theater, his love of music has bloomed beautifully out of control since he left his home in New Orleans to hitchhike across America with his banjo in 2017. His intuitive and nuanced style of playing brings the band’s intricate and layered songs to life. Nowadays, you can find him playing with multiple different ensembles throughout New England and building handcrafted stringed instruments.

 

[zamboni]

11. Hey Bulldog
Album: Fanny Hill (1972)
Writers: John Lennon and Paul McCartney
Lead vocals: Nickey Barclay, Jean Millington and June Millington

I think this cover performance on The Beat Club was my first introduction to them a handful of years ago. Definitely intrigued me at the time and made me a big fan.

 

[zamboni]

Up Against The Wall, Redneck Mother

Ray Wylie Hubbard wrote this song, and Jerry Jeff was the first to record and release it. It's on his 1973 album Viva Terlingua! Ray wasn't very known at the time, and he said JJ doing his song gave him a big career boost. I like a story Ray tells about his first time seeing Jerry Jeff. “The first time I saw Jerry Jeff was at the Rubaiyat coffeehouse in Dallas. In the corner of the Rubaiyat was a statue of the god Pan, about three or four-feet-high, with cloven hooves and a flute. Jerry Jeff came out wearing a cowboy hat and strumming ‘Driftin’ Way of Life’ as he got up onstage, and he took off his cowboy hat, sailed it across the room over the audience and it landed on this statue’s head. I don’t know if he practiced this all day or just got lucky, but obviously that impressed me because I’m still talking about it today some 35 years later. I mean, that’s the way to start a show.”

He was born in Oklahoma
And his wife's name is Betty Lou Thelma Liz
And he's not responsible for what he's doing
'Cause his mother made him what he is

And it's up against the wall, Redneck Mother
Mother, who has raised her son so well
He's thirty-four and drinking in a honky tonk
Just kicking hippies asses and raising hell

I presume a tip of the hat (or ridicule) of Jefferson Airplane's "We Can Be Together".

 

[jwb]

Light My Fire

Light My Fire

Song · The Doors · 1967

open.spotify.com

The Doors biggest hit. I know, I know, how can this be number 11? Again, my list isn't in any particular order.

Now that that's out of the way, we'll talk about it a bit. This is essentially Robby's song. In the early days before the first album was recorded, Jim was the primary songwriter, but everyone felt they needed more songs, so Jim challenged the others to come up with something. To make it easier / more arcane, he said to use universal elements, like Earth, Water, Fire, etc. Robby comes in a few days later with this. The band went to work, each member contributing (as was their way) - John with the Latin inspired rhythm, Ray with the intro, Jim writes the wallow in the mire / funeral pyre verse, etc.

They felt they had something, and when the album was released, a lot of underground FM stations were generating serious buzz for this song. But FM was the little sister at the time - AM radio was what made you. The big problem was Light My Fire was more than 7 minutes, and AM radio doesn't like 7 minute songs. So it was edited to a concise under 3-minute version that strips out the keyboard and guitar solos, and it stormed up the charts to #1. The Doors had arrived.

 

[zamboni]

So it was edited to a concise under 3-minute version that strips out the keyboard and guitar solos, and it stormed up the charts to #1. The Doors had arrived.

I despise that truncated version.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

So it was edited to a concise under 3-minute version that strips out the keyboard and guitar solos, and it stormed up the charts to #1. The Doors had arrived.

I despise that truncated version.

Do any channels even play the single edit anymore? I can't remember the last time I heard it, but it's been a loooooooong time.

 

[zamboni]

So it was edited to a concise under 3-minute version that strips out the keyboard and guitar solos, and it stormed up the charts to #1. The Doors had arrived.

I despise that truncated version.

Do any channels even play the single edit anymore? I can't remember the last time I heard it, but it's been a loooooooong time.

Last time I heard that version was an an "oldies" station here in NYC (WCBS-FM) that still exists. That was several years ago and I don't listen to commercial radio, so not sure if they still play it.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

#1'1 - "Fantasy"

I'd guess this is one of their 3 or 4 most-known songs to civilians these days. As Pip mentioned upthread, it wasn't even the most popular song from the album it came from. But it's become rooted over the years by getting cross-genre airplay.

It's an uptempo PBS, with great harmonies from the group. The backing track is a seamless miracle of sound - strings, keys, guitars, and percussion all adding to the heady mix.

Next, a relatively obscure EWF song that I included for sentimental reasons.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

So it was edited to a concise under 3-minute version that strips out the keyboard and guitar solos, and it stormed up the charts to #1. The Doors had arrived.

I despise that truncated version.

Do any channels even play the single edit anymore? I can't remember the last time I heard it, but it's been a loooooooong time.

Last time I heard that version was an an "oldies" station here in NYC (WCBS-FM) that still exists. That was several years ago and I don't listen to commercial radio, so not sure if they still play it.

I'm trying to think what XM's 60s station does with it. I'm sure they play it, but I don't know which version. That channel stays away from the artier, non-hit stuff from the late 60s, but "Light My Fire" was a massive hit.

 

[MAC_32]

It's not like this everywhere in our country right now, but the first hint of fall hit this week. It wasn't quite hoodie weather for me, but it was for most. That isn't what prompted the inclusion of this track at #11 though. Kenny Chesney - The Boys of Fall is decidedly a football track, but while college and pro will start getting run this week my mind always goes to Friday Night Lights. It's more of an Ohio thing than it is most places elsewhere, but no matter your beliefs the gridiron is our cathedral for the next 10+ Friday's. Now was the right time to get this in y'all's ears.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

It's not like this everywhere in our country right now, but the first hint of fall hit this week. It wasn't quite hoodie weather for me, but it was for most. That isn't what prompted the inclusion of this track at #11 though. Kenny Chesney - The Boys of Fall is decidedly a football track, but while college and pro will start getting run this week my mind always goes to Friday Night Lights. It's more of an Ohio thing than it is most places elsewhere, but no matter your beliefs the gridiron is our cathedral for the next 10+ Friday's. Now was the right time to get this in y'all's ears.

It was 45 degrees here this morning. Felt great, but raised some goosebumps when I first walked outside.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

So it was edited to a concise under 3-minute version that strips out the keyboard and guitar solos, and it stormed up the charts to #1. The Doors had arrived.

I despise that truncated version.

Do any channels even play the single edit anymore? I can't remember the last time I heard it, but it's been a loooooooong time.

The FM stations always stuck with the long version. Even some AM stations played the long version at the peak of its popularity, because if people loved the song so much, you could prevent them from changing the channel for 7 minutes instead of 3.

 

[zamboni]

#1'1 - "Fantasy"

I'd guess this is one of their 3 or 4 most-known songs to civilians these days. As Pip mentioned upthread, it wasn't even the most popular song from the album it came from. But it's become rooted over the years by getting cross-genre airplay.

It's an uptempo PBS, with great harmonies from the group. The backing track is a seamless miracle of sound - strings, keys, guitars, and percussion all adding to the heady mix.

A top favorite of theirs. The groove to this is gripping. And taking a page from the Beach Boys discussion, the harmonies here are incredible.

 

[-OZ-]

The Doors biggest hit. I know, I know, how can this be number 11? Again, my list isn't in any particular orde

one of the top 2 quintessential Doors songs. IMO anyway (RotS being the other)

 

[Uruk-Hai]

So it was edited to a concise under 3-minute version that strips out the keyboard and guitar solos, and it stormed up the charts to #1. The Doors had arrived.

I despise that truncated version.

Do any channels even play the single edit anymore? I can't remember the last time I heard it, but it's been a loooooooong time.

The FM stations always stuck with the long version. Even some AM stations played the long version at the peak of its popularity, because if people loved the song so much, you could prevent them from changing the channel for 7 minutes instead of 3.

Pair it with "Stay" by Maurice Williams and you have two 4-minute songs!

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Light My Fire is one of the classic rock warhorses I never get tired of. Mainly because of the incredible rhythm and Robbie Krieger’s guitar solo.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

#1'1 - "Fantasy"

I'd guess this is one of their 3 or 4 most-known songs to civilians these days. As Pip mentioned upthread, it wasn't even the most popular song from the album it came from. But it's become rooted over the years by getting cross-genre airplay.

It's an uptempo PBS, with great harmonies from the group. The backing track is a seamless miracle of sound - strings, keys, guitars, and percussion all adding to the heady mix.

A top favorite of theirs. The groove to this is gripping. And taking a page from the Beach Boys discussion, the harmonies here are incredible.

I don't know who's singing the bass on those harmonies (might be White himself), but they really bring it forward on this record - something they didn't normally do.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

#1'1 - "Fantasy"

I'd guess this is one of their 3 or 4 most-known songs to civilians these days. As Pip mentioned upthread, it wasn't even the most popular song from the album it came from. But it's become rooted over the years by getting cross-genre airplay.

It's an uptempo PBS, with great harmonies from the group. The backing track is a seamless miracle of sound - strings, keys, guitars, and percussion all adding to the heady mix.

Next, a relatively obscure EWF song that I included for sentimental reasons.

A remarkable track. It sounded like nothing else at the time. And STILL sounds like nothing else.

 

[simey]

I presume a tip of the hat (or ridicule) of Jefferson Airplane's "We Can Be Together".

Ray Wylie Hubbard says he got the idea of the song from an incident that happened when he was in Red River, NM. He went out on a beer run, and went into a redneck joint to get some beer. He said he had long hair, and when he entered the place everyone stared at him. He said an older woman was in there, and she and her son walked up to him and started giving him a hard time about his hair. The son asked his mom if she thought he should beat up Ray. Ray said he grabbed his beer, and ran out out of there. He said he noticed a pickup truck with a novelty sticker out in the parking lot. Later on he wrote the song "Up Against The Wall, Redneck Mother," which includes some lines about the pickup truck.

 

[tuffnutt]

11.
Cinder and Smoke- Iron and wine
from Our Endless Numbered Days (2004)
Cinder and smoke
You'll ask me to pray for rain
With ash in your mouth
You'll ask it to burn again

I love this song. Its one of my personal favs to play around a camp fire. The lyrics are very descriptive and paint a picture in my mind. But my favorite part is the outro. With his humming breathing. Suddenly, everything else drops except for the drums and the shaker his humming and the back up voices, then the drums and shaker drop too, leaving only his humming and the backing vocals. So great.

Beam said of the song..."In that one, the melody worked out and it seemed like such a change from what I had been doing up until
then. You know, the reggae beat and all that stuff, the rhythm. But I thought it would be interesting to make some kind of image of destruction and rebirth. And
so the whole metaphor of the house burning down came out of that."

 

[Uruk-Hai]

#1'1 - "Fantasy"

I'd guess this is one of their 3 or 4 most-known songs to civilians these days. As Pip mentioned upthread, it wasn't even the most popular song from the album it came from. But it's become rooted over the years by getting cross-genre airplay.

It's an uptempo PBS, with great harmonies from the group. The backing track is a seamless miracle of sound - strings, keys, guitars, and percussion all adding to the heady mix.

Next, a relatively obscure EWF song that I included for sentimental reasons.

A remarkable track. It sounded like nothing else at the time. And STILL sounds like nothing else.

THEY didn't even sound like this on any other record

 

[Leroy Hoard]

So it was edited to a concise under 3-minute version that strips out the keyboard and guitar solos, and it stormed up the charts to #1. The Doors had arrived.

I despise that truncated version.

More like The Half Doors.

Google Image Result for https://media.tenor.com/kAiw-KSy9XwAAAAM/ed-horse.gif

 

[Charlie Steiner]

11. (Reflective Smile/) Veteran Cosmic Rocker (Long Distance Voyager, 1981)


Ray Thomas (co-founder, flute, tambourine, backing vocals, general collaborator) doesn't get a lot of outside recognition for his work with the Moodies, outside of Legend of a Mind, so I'm glad to turn the spotlight on to him for this song. To recall, he claimed that when he wrote that song, he was just taking the piss out of the whole Timothy Leary phenomenon, and while sounding bought into the narrative of this song, it's origin also seems to have come to him on a whim: "Some reporter from The New York Times came to one our gigs in the States and he referred to me as the 'Veteran Cosmic Rocker'. At the time I thought 'Bloody cheek. I'm not veteran.' And then I thought 'That sounds good actually.' So, I nicked it and wrote that song." Right or wrong, Ray's tangible contributions never again reached the level of this underrated banger and given the balance of the remaining songs on the list, it gives closure to their previous iteration that Octave did not provide.

***Note: Please listen to this on the youtube link as well; we get one last spoken word piece intro.

 

[falguy]

Round 14
A few less to highlight this round, but the previous success was probably unsustainable. Still a good round with lots of good new music for me,

Selected favourites

Clumsy Card House - Blue October - I have enjoyed many Blue October songs. More than I expected although I do like this guys voice so maybe no so surprising.
Sleep the Clock Around - Belle and Sebastian
I’m Just a Singer - Moody Blues
Uptown Number 7 - Setzer (Dion) - Nice blues tune
Keep On Pushing - The Impressions Especially enjoyed the horns

April Wine - Tonight is a Wonderful Time. Cowbell!

 

[falguy]

Round 11

Skipping rounds 13 and 12 for now so I can be somewhat current.

Added the following to my Favourites:
Save Me - The Tea Party. I knew this one. Good tune. I didn’t realize they are from Windsor, ON lol. 2 hours from my house.
Let’s Do It Again. Staple Singers. They made their point.
The Boys of Fall - Kenny Chesney. I’ve definitely enjoyed the Chesney playlist
Surfer Girl - Beach Boys. OMG with the harmonies
Light My Fire - The Doors. Signature song. 7 minute version is the way to go!
We Sink - Chvrches. Just realized this band reminds me of a Canadian artist “Lights”. Similar female voice.
Running with the Boys

April Wine - I Like To Rock. I suspect most of you have heard this one before . Always loved the intro to this one. Great rock guitar song. . Best part of the video, if you watch it, is the table hockey game they re playing during the outtro while the music pays homage to Satisfaction . I played that for hours on end. Leafs vs Habs.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

And his wife's name is Betty Lou Thelma Liz

It's the southern way. Mr R has an aunt named Earl D.