It seems fantastic, but there's a possibility that one or even two of th' Four Or Five Guys© don't gots these swell recordings.
Tongue Twister suffered from being hyped by product placement in Porky's - the distinctive sleeve was even visible in the shower scene. The stunt backfired so badly (preview audiences booed every appearance) the movie was reshot, removing every trace of the album. Which is a damn shame, because it's a swell record.
Smarting from their wounds, the boys secretly released the next album Boomerang with no publicity at all, in a blank sleeve, and distributed free to footwear stores within Zion's own Korea Town district. When Elektra boss Rodney Dangerfield discovered the ruse, he reissued the album in a shit sleeve and terminated their contract.
This is a continuing series. If youse bums don't know how to use the search facility by now, I can't help you.
Babs - I'm trying to forget The Rasberries, so please don't mention them. Ever again.
ReplyDeleteWhat, never?
DeleteHey Babs, I know the name, but having wikipedia'd them I don't know any of their songs and I don't think they got anywhere over here. So whilst Farq's down the cobblers how about giving us the lowdown, but you better be quick before he gets back.
DeleteThey-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, had a hit with 'Go All The Way'. Give it a search on the interwebs.
DeleteI could reciprocate with some Strawbs, maybe a bit more insipid compared to raspbs but the seeds don't get stuck in your teeth.
DeleteWell, Raspberries tried to bridge the gap between gooey teen heart-throbs and the powering chording of band like the Who. A good place to see if it works for you is their hit "Go All The Way," which has one of the more exciting intros....28 seconds of powerful chords and vocal yelps...before settling into a verging-on-mellow pop confection. Luckily, the power chords return for a nice bridge that's (again) far more exciting than the rest of the song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULL7apmAJTE
Deletedraftervoi mentioned, the unmentionable!
DeleteI see on the wikepedia raspberries entry that Pete Townsend invented the term powerpop to describe the who, which seems to make more sense to me than the bands the term was eventually used for. Discuss...
DeleteNobby mentioned, the unmentionable!
DeleteSnitch
DeleteTotal Small Faces / Steve Marriott intro'...
DeleteYeah, well, a lot of that is due to Greg Shaw's BOMP! magazine "Power Pop" magazine which attempted to wish-away PUNK by taking the stance that "now that punk has cleared the field, it's time for the REAL bands to come back and fill the space filled by the explosion." I thought it was bullshit at the time ('78 or early '79) but he was a few years older and was hoping the future would sound like Flamin' Groovies Shake Some Action album and not like oh, say, the Undertones, Clash, Damned, Lords of the New Church, Real Kids, Ramones...all of which NODDED towards the 60s but didn't try and ape the sonics. In the 90s powerpop or "power pop" became a post-grunge style that was more of a cult than a chart success. Some great records came out of it...the Wondermints did some good work, Cotton Mather, Jellyfish....all worth checking out.
DeleteHere's a link that excerpts some of Shaw's thoughts on power-pop: http://biteitdeep.blogspot.com/2012/10/greg-shaw-on-powerpop-bomp-magazine-feb.html
Delete"The one Pop Revival band that could really have done it was THE Raspberries."
DeleteIt's a strange label. Try and describe power pop and it gets tricky. However, you know when something's power pop when you hear it.
DeleteYep, and I don't think its ever The Who.
DeleteSometimes. 'The Kids Are Alright' is pretty much power pop.
DeleteBut I can't say that if I hear the label I think of the Who.
Yes that fits the description it ended up as, but its a shame it didn't come to mean Substitute, Happy Jack, I'm a Boy etc.. cos I can see what he probably meant.
DeleteThe Lowe, Bremner, Edmunds, Rockpile axis is often pretty much power pop - especially Ol' Nick.
DeleteAlso, good to see Jellyfish get a mention. Some of the offshoot acts are worth hearing, too.
DeleteNow Rockpile would fit into what I think Townshend was on about. Nick Lowe "pure pop for now people"
Delete"It's a strange label. Try and describe power pop and it gets tricky. However, you know when something's power pop when you hear it."
DeleteThis is true of many subgenres.
Along with Rockpile, The Steve Gibbons Bands were sort of power pop, although the pub rock scene and rock'n'roll is also in their DNA. They had a hit single in 1977 with Tulane. Too many sub-genres.
DeleteSo I reckon there's a wide scale here, stretching from what we now know as Power Pop on one extreme through a middle ground of Townsend's version through to Pub Rock/ RnB at the other end. I'll put The Records "Starry Eyes at one end; Nick Lowe "So it Goes" on one side of the middle ground, flip the single over to "Heart of the City" for the other side of middle ground and then romp through to Steve Gibbons and Rockpile towards the other end but stopping just short of Dr Feelgood and The Pirates.
DeleteHeh, that's very true, Babs.
DeleteI think some of Lowe's work can be deemed power pop, but Edmunds is more roots-rock (I know, another vague and poorly defined after-the-fact genre...). As a general rule, if it sounds influenced by 50s American rock & roll rather than the 60s British rock, it may not be power pop.
DeleteNobby's definition is pretty good; Starry Eyes is definitely power pop...but I think Gibbons and Rockpile may be little bit too "Chuck Berry" to qualify. Dr. Feelgood and Pirates are not power pop.
Thats a good definition - influenced by the 60's rather than the 50's yep that sounds right. Agree with the too chuck berry bit, we're getting there.
DeleteMaybe part of the definition is who you want to be...and from what period. Um....a few years ago there were a couple of excellent homemade "best of" collections put together by enterprising bloggers. If there's any interest, I can see if I've still got copies in my archives.
DeleteSeveral pub rockers went power pop: Will Birch, Nick Lowe, Ian Gomm, and Bram Tchaikovsky among them. Eddie and the Hot Rods' "Do Anything You Wanna Do" is a fab power pop anthem from a pub rock band.
DeleteLet us not forget Bram's old band - the Motors.
DeleteThe thing about the Raspberries (aside from the fact they named the band after th' Bronx Cheer) was their absolute refusal to even flirt with the possibility of anything less than redlining the Corny-Meter®. They make Menudo look hip. Yes, they had a couple of songs, but so did everybody. Oh - and they were a Girls' Group, which is why Babs likes 'em. Fooey on them, say I. And - go Shoes!
ReplyDeleteFor the record: Babs does not like 'em.
DeleteEric Carmen was pretty cute back then, though.
What's the Mass Debate topic du jour o' th' day?
DeleteArgh no - he did " All by myself"
DeleteMr. Throckmorton³ hits the nail on the head: the Raspberries were a group that wanted to rock out for the boys, but wanted the girls to put 'em up as pin-ups on their wall even more. That first 30 second and the bridge of "Go All The Way" are for the boys, the rest of it is smooth, slick pop, aimed at the girls.
DeleteFarq might like "Go All The Way" better when it's sung by Susanna Hoffs:
Deletehttps://youtu.be/I341XIq5lM0
Ah, jeez, I forget the article. THE Raspberries. Maybe another way to view it is THE Raspberries wanted to be (the?) Badfinger, but didn't quite get it right. The other hits to check out are "I Wanna Be With You," which doesn't have any moments as exciting as "Go All The Way" but balances the romantic gloop with the rockin' moments; it's less jarring, and is a bit Beatlesque. "Overnight Sensation (Hit Record) made Dave Marsh's list of the "1001 Greatest Singles" back in the 80s. He heard something great; I heard a faux-wall-o-sound. I get what they were going for, but for my money I'd play Bohemian Rhapsody before "Overnight Sensation." Hmm...jeez...listening now, what this recorded needed was an EPIC GUITAR SOLO during the fade-out... Check out those three songs; if they don't click, move on. :)
ReplyDeleteI respect your collegiate catholicism. But THE Raspberries reside in the *shudder* rack for me, along with THE Queens.
DeleteI've given up axin' for THE Badfingers screed, but I'd be pleased to get it.
Hey, I'm with you on this one, but not quite in the "shudder" rack. I can hear all three of those songs, every couple of years, and they're okay. Every time I hear "Go All The Way" I think, "this is great! What is this? Wow, what a song..." and then it's "Oh. THAT. Ugh." I urge Nobby to check 'em out, it's not like it'll cost him a dime (or whatever you use for money in England). A shilling? Whatever...he'll know in a few seconds whether they're worth excavating.
DeleteWhat's raising the DRaftervoi hackles today is the new Bob Marley release, with the dubbed in string section. YIKES. Shudder doesn't begin to describe it; my thoughts have already turned to murder.
Dubbed-in string section???? *passes out*
DeleteRaspberries are exactly the kind of band best summarized by a twelve track greatest hits compilation
DeleteIn relation to the Marley monstrosity this is as clear an example of two forces coming together and creating a gut-churning debacle: first up we have the Marketing people wondering how else they can exploit Bob's legacy and trap a few more gullible mugs into buying the records they already have and, secondly, we have the hip "young" things who see this is an opportunity to raise the stakes higher in promoting Marley's talent and legacy while ignoring the fact that if Bob had wanted a bloody orchestra in the first place he'd have got one. No wonder kids stick to streaming - at least that way they won't feel duped. I recently counted the number of Elton John albums I'd bought on the strength of one song - played the album - decided it was crap and subsequently got rid - ELEVEN of the damned things. I eventually learned....
DeleteFor those who want to step into this mess, here's "Get Up Stand Up" reimagined, with an orchestra: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB8TqUW5k9Q
DeleteHi, Greenockian! I think some of these projects work, if work means "I can listen to it all the way through and it's okay." I really liked the version of David Bowie's "Let's Dance" that Nile Rogers did. It struck me as David Bowie if he was doing a Chic record. Interesting. Some of the Beach Boys with orchestra songs worked, too. But most of it falls into the "worth hearing once" pile. The Marley stuff...jeez, it just seems like such a mismatch. It seems crowded, too much sound...so much of reggae is about the empty space between the notes. Get up, stand up (space) stand up for your rights is now getupstandupstandupforyourrights with a big smear of string swells over it.
DeleteThat's Marley for people who don't like reggae. But it may appeal to people who've never heard Marley, if there is anyone that fits that description.
DeleteEven my 85 year old mum knows who Bob Marley is. She was doing a crossword the other day (she has no internet)
question: a tall woollen hat worn by Rastafarians, 3 letters beginning with T
answer: Tam, short for a tam-o'-shanter. She looked it up in a dictionary, remember those?
It’s got to be a challenge for the marketing suits at UMe to keep devising innovative ways to re-sell Bob Marley’s durable and timeless catalog. After all, the albums have already been remastered and expanded, there is a definitive box set plus other compilations, the outtakes and vault live concerts are available and the music has been remixed and twisted into every imaginable structure. What could possibly be left?
Delete“How about bringing in classical instrumentation to enhance those tracks?” suggested the famed cellist with the Chineke! Orchestra. It probably took record company management and the Marley family that controls his legacy about five minutes to realize this was a viable new source of hawking the reggae icon’s catalog… again. Cha-ching!
The “cash grab” notions reign supreme..
Exactly who this is meant for is difficult to ascertain though. Existing fans probably won’t appreciate anyone messing with Marley’s classics and it’s unlikely that those who, for whatever reason, weren’t interested in his music before, will suddenly change their minds hearing these rejiggered versions.
"Raspberries are exactly the kind of band best summarized by a twelve track greatest hits compilation"
DeleteAs if there are, twelve good Raspberries songs.
Just play Overnight Sensation 12 times.
DeleteEven better - the Zappa album.
DeleteToday's subject for mass debate is:
ReplyDeleteWhat are your favorite Beatles albums?
Only one: https://falsememoryfoam.blogspot.com/2019/03/hello-goodbye-paul-mccartney-interview.html
DeleteI'm serious. It's their best album. Seriously.
NO! Wait! It's this one!
Deletehttps://falsememoryfoam.blogspot.com/2021/04/hello-goodbye-george-martin-interview.html
I've told you before ut's Bwatles For Sale esoecially mr moonlight, case closed
DeleteI'd love to hear "their best album", but both links are as dead, as Paul. Any chance of a new link?
DeleteAs far as I know Pete didn't record an album with them, boom, boom ! (wow no spelling mistooks, must be time for a kip)
DeleteMy favorite Beatles album is Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, & Jones.
Delete"My favorite Beatles album is Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, & Jones" - just about my favorite album by anybody. Rainbow bubble of freaking crystalline perfection.
DeleteFavorite Beatles album? Usually the last one that I listened to.
ReplyDelete-Blipt99
ReplyDeleteThe Best Beatles Album, Like, Ever. Seriously.
Mommy, is it bad not to have a favorite Beatles album?
ReplyDelete(Ok, Abbey Road, in the very unlikely case that my life depended on answering...)
Abbey Road for me, too. But only Side 2 is indispensible.
DeleteGenuinely, I really like Beatles Love album made for the Cirque du Soleil show. I play it more than any other of their albums, it used to be the Blue double album. I know I'm a heathen, I don't get why Lennon was so popular as a solo artist. And with that I'm running away very quickly.
ReplyDeleteWhilst we are all on a sartorial discussion, does anyone know anthying about The Shirts? I've got a poster for them, so they must have appeared in Liverpool in 1977 -1980 cos thats were I used to buy surplus gig posters for 10p. According to wikies they were part of the CBGBs scene and recorded in the UK. Any good?
ReplyDeleteI recall a strong lead singer with a bit of a Broadway musical voice. I never bought them back in the day but knew they were part of the CBGBs scene (I was in San Francisco, and lots of those bands never made it to the west coast). I did chapter a tape of theirs, which is still available at https://voodoowagon.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Shirts
DeleteThanks I'll give it a listen, just to put a name to a poster thats been sitting in a cardboard sleeve for 40 years!
DeleteMy favorite (mostly for sentimental reasons) is 'Yesterday and Today', which was the only Beatles album I bought when they were current.
ReplyDeleteSo did you manage to miss the "British Invasion", Babs ? I enjoyed your piece on the Babs Bunny and James Brown dancing, so just wondered what your first person experience of the whole Beatlemania hits America was like, or did it not impress when you already had the real thing?
DeleteUnless you lived in a cave, It would have been impossible to miss the British Invasion from 1964 to 1967(ish).
DeleteIn 1964 (I was 17), The Beatles were a little too “cutesy” for my tastes. At the time I was studying jazz theory for piano, and apart from jazz, I was listening to Blues, R&B and anything danceable, most of which, was from African-American acts. That said, I’ve been a fan of The Rolling Stones ever since I first heard their danceable (girls do like to dance), take on Rock, Blues, R&B and always liked their “bad boy” POV.
I’ll write some screed on the 60s, once two of my 19 and 21-year-old grandchildren who are staying with me for the summer go back to school. They’re running me ragged - lol.
Yeah go for it Babs, I want to hear all about how you were groovin' to the blues and r&b before the Brits came over with their sanitised version. Turn the usual story on it's head, it's always sounded a bit too neat for me.
DeleteSend the grandkids off to summer school or somewhere, your audience are waiting.
Favourite Beatles album is side one of Band on the Run then it's 1967-70 (the blue album).
ReplyDeleteMaybe I don't really have the right to comment as I basically hate The Fab Four, but I bought & can still listen to The Beatles (White Album).
DeleteAlright, who misplaced my shoes? And put the penny back in the loafers while you're at it!
ReplyDeleteSlinky shoeslink: https://workupload.com/file/BggCZEEHEGA
ReplyDeleteJust listening to these two albums right now - very lovely stuff, again.
ReplyDeleteAlso beats the stuffing out of any Raspberries. Just sayin'...
The Pleasers who spectacularly did not.....I remember being touted in NME as pop with power although i recall they looked like Mike Read clones...maybe I missed something ..love the Shoes have almost all lps but not that one with FFS cover...thanks FT3
ReplyDelete