Lee Hazlewood wrote some songs that turned the world on its ear. This was one of them.
Frank and Nancy Sinatra.
Author Archives: peter
LINK: Barrage Rock!
There’s a story in today’s NY Times about some guys who get together in a garage in Queens (NY) and podcast their takes on recent rock news. They also have guests. This week: CJ Ramone. Other weeks? Steve Albini and the guy who directed the movie Riot on the Dance Floor, about that New Jersey club, City Gardens, that everybody says was legendary.
These guys are in their 40s, by the way. And one of them has an actual bar in his garage, where his wife lets him hang out so he doesn’t hang out with his friends in their house. And probably ruin their kids. I don’t know. It’s a fun story well worth reading.
Which reminds me that the Remnants have talked about doing their own podcast. I think we think it would mostly be music. But I suspect there will be talking. I have some ideas for features:
Remnants Telephone. One Remnant plays a song, then the other Remnants in turn each play a song with some connection to the preceding song. After the four songs are played, each Remnant in turn says why he chose his song and its relation to the preceding song. Conversation ensues.
This Day In Rock. Each Remnant, or one Remnant, tells a story about something that happened in history on that date, and conversation ensues.
Song of the Week. Tom plays and explains his song. Conversation ensues.
Prick up your ears. One Remnant plays a contemporary song, a find, a discovery, others listen, conversation ensues.
Outro. Four (or five, if Tom is in) songs, without comment or conversation, one each by a Remnant.
Fade to black.
In subsequent episodes we start with clips from the Outro and comments by Remnants and we hope eventually listeners and commenters about the songs. And so the snake eats its tail. And we eat our tale.
But maybe you have other ideas? Like what does Moyer think about Graveyard now? Some of us have bated breath. Some of us have abated caring.
See you on the radio!
The Three Stooges
Charles Pierce said this was essential to understand last night’s Republican debate.
Yes. But this is also rock ‘n’ roll long before that term was in play. Plus, I laughed out loud.
Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, from Striking It Rich
I didn’t mean to dwell on this, but I happened to put the Hot Licks’ great album Striking It Rich—which came as a die cut fold out, that opened like a matchbook—on tonight and was reminded of more great Dan Hicks songs.
Here are two, tracks one and three, that I feel compelled to share. Great songs, clever arrangements, ace (but not showy) solos, all the homely appeal of a ukulele band, with all the jazz chords and standout performances.
Graveyard, The Apple and the Tree
I had two chances to see Graveyard in NY this week, and I didn’t. I’m sorry about that, but it couldn’t be helped.
Here’s the first single from their new album, which is pretty darn good.
Dan Hicks Died.
Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks made four records back in the late 60s and early 70s that I wore out. Dan was a jazz guy, he liked novelty songs and the sounds of the 30s, though he started out as the drummer in the somewhat psychedelic Charlatans, a forerunner of the SF bands of the second half of the 60s. One Charlatan ended up in the Flamin’ Groovies, even.
Hicks didn’t play drums in his band, he played guitar, and he played with terrific fiddle players and acoustic bass and, of course, the Lickettes. They always sound a little crazed, mad with joy or fear or whatever bit of gut and smile they’ve got going in one of Dan’s terrific songs. All of them sound like they’re going to spin out of control, but they never do, at least not unless it’s on purpose, and the reward is a collection of great songs that are made even greater because of Hicks’ thoroughly delightful commitment to them.
This first clip is a promotional film featuring the first Hot Licks band in 1969, lip synching to their recording of the the Jukies Ball.
Here’s a silly party song with the Lickette’s out front from the Flip Wilson show.
His greatest song has all the same elements, yet isn’t silly at all.
Back in those crazy early 70s I listened a lot to Dan Hicks and Commander Cody, another funny band playing old music not for nostalgia’s sake, but because the songs are catchy and great, especially when played straight, as if the sound of before was a perfect fit for today. There were plenty of other bands mining this same vein of ore, not rock, but for me the others felt false and lacked the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll. They were playing old peoples music, while Dan and the Commander were delighting in their eternal youth.
Until this week.
Allman Brothers, Leave My Blues At Home
I read a cute story today about Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi in the New Yorker, which for some reason got me thinking about Idlewild South, the second Allman Brothers Band album. The one before Live at Fillmore East. The record was kind of a bomb, but you have to wonder why.
I like this cut, which should be an amiable shuffle, but somehow turns all the good feelings inside out. Leave ’em at home? Sure, but they’re coming with you. That’s how it sounds to me.
Bernie or Hillary 2
Every Motorhead Song Played at the Same Time
My Facebook friends, Hans Condor, just posted this link. Someone has posted a Soundcloud file that is all 265 Motorhead songs played at the same time. You don’t have to turn it up, it is already up.
http://www.teamrock.com/features/2016-01-25/this-is-what-it-sounds-like-when-you-play-every-motorhead-song-at-once
Bernie or Hillary!
