While looking at more of Sister Rosetta, I stumbled onto this little documentary which is wicked good.
Thought her guitar might be a Guild also, but one of the Dixie Hummingbirds said her axe was all metal so I thought it might be a Wandre a la Buddy Miller, but who knows? There are some other vids of her playing what looks like a 335 E but not totally sure.
This is really good, though. It is also the first of I believe four 15 minute clips, so if you like this, there is more on YouTube….
Bad lyrics and bad songs go together, as do good lyrics and good songs. Most songs have a good line or two, or a bad line or two, and the rest of the words are neither here nor there. I don’t mind. I like my mindlessness intentional. If you are attempting profundity you have to be profound. Don’t tell me that “the future’s open wide.” I had guessed.
Thinking about it, good songs with bad lyrics are pretty rare. Here is one. Great tune, great sound in its way, killer drum break, even the singing is good. But the words are one embarrassment after another, and enunciated proudly so you can’t avoid them. Right from the title: I’ll melt with you? Gosh. Easy, kid. Then into “there’s nothing you and I won’t do.” Really, nothing? I tell you flat out, pal, there are going to be problems.
And I especially like “making love with you was never second-best.” Just so she (and we) know he’s got a scorecard.
They never followed it up. I saw them open for Roxy Music in 1982 and they were terrible, but the words were unintelligible. The food was bad but at least the portions were small.
Any others come to mind?
There are very few bands I would pay money to see in 2017. The Raveonettes, Social Distortion, I’m sure Bryan Ferry/Roxy Music would still be worthwhile, a few others I guess. And these guys. Name a better band. Really, I want to hear them.
We knew this was coming. The Big A claimed him some years back and he had a dignified last stand.
But today, my first thought was Gentle on My Mind, which is I think the first time I ever knew his name.
My second thought was watching them shoot Rhinestone Cowboy, the movie, on Bank Street. By them I mean Dolly Parton and Sylvester Stallone.
My third thought was plumbing the depths of Campbell’s time in the Wrecking Crew and the Beach Boys.
But finally, really, this bit of corny soundtrack to a good movie he starred in and contributed the soundtrack is a testament to his giant talent and versatility and big hearted spirit. A little more country than rock ‘n’ roll, a little more mainstream than any of us would like, he cut a big swath across the culture. Good for him.
This shows what Hank and the Hammerheads are doing, sort of. Two drum kits. A cheesey organ. The vocals here are more traditional hard core, but the band can percolate, and it is excellent fun watching the audience sift itself.
We recorded this a couple of weeks ago, and originally I was going to wait to “master” it, but the more I listen the more I want it exactly as it is. It’s not hard rock but it is hard pop. This one has Bill Stevenson (Descendents, Black Flag) on drums, and might be the softest he has ever played, at least on the verses. I played everything else and wrote the song, the girls are in fine form, and if Cecilia Webber is not a GREAT singer I don’t know what a great singer is. Cecilia just turned 15. I hope you enjoy it.
https://girlsnextdoor.bandcamp.com/
He took the jazz/R&B stylings of T-Bone Walker and invented a new guitar style that IS rocknroll. He turned the whole concept of “authenticity” on its ear fifteen years before it reared its misguided head, by writing perfect vignettes of white middle class teenagers as a 30-year old black man. He was sometimes bitter and sometimes difficult and had good reasons for both, but he always got his due and always will. And check out this smoking drummer, who I’d give his due if I only knew who he was. Bye bye.
Here’s a band we don’t talk about. They had their moments, like this one which is their best song imho. I urge you to seek out the original, but here is a smoking performance from Beat Club. Shit, we missed a lot missing this show.
Nice video, Lawr, I really enjoyed it and you spurred me on. I did this four years ago with Bill Stevenson on drums. It is rocknroll and although some of the references are dated I don’t think it matters. I can only hope it is unusual. Play it loud.
http://www.wiseguybaseball.com/daily-pick/new-old-song/
Shut up and like this:
