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| Rholonne Déodoranté holds aloft prestigious "Alfred" trophy at opening ceremony! |
Every Monday, [huh? - Ed.] as is the tradition here on th' Iof©, we play host to the Sunday Slugfest [I give up - Ed.], where two popliar artistes from the business we call The Music are pitted against each other in front of a blood-thirsty crowd! Oboy!
At left, weighing in at 150lb, is lanky beverage enthusiast Hank Williams with his signature brand of death row downer and honky-tonk hoedown! He certainly has the reach, but has he the firepower?
At right, weighing in at 600lb (est.) are those coke-crazy cuties from Californ-i-a The Go-Go's! They have the advantage of weight and numbers, but have they got the balls to K.O. the Cowboy Croonster?
Who will toss the prestigious "Alfred" trophy in the trunk of their car? Place your bets in th' comments!
Hank Williams is represented by 41, which is basically 40 Greatest Hits plus the one they missed out - Honky Tonkin', and a swell cover what I done, instead of the piece-a-shit one you got.
The Go-Go's are represented by their first album Beauty And The Beat, which is as swell as the title, although frankly the cover is a little too ironic for my liking, and a challenging fap.
This screed made palpable thru' th' auspices of Boxy Moxie's Bratwurst Bake-Out™, Cheeseboro, AK.
Sports Fans! Try to back your bet with a reason! (Doesn't have to be a good one).
ReplyDeleteEasily, five to one that the Go-Gal's shall bluff young Hank into "setting-his-woods-on-fire" in return for their "This Town/Skid marks on my heart" towel-dropping dance routine. Or, something of that nature...
ReplyDeleteTwo acts I just could never get into. That, said with Hank, I did make an effort. Be that as it may...
ReplyDeleteIn the first (and last) round, Belinda, Charlotte, Gina, Kathy and Jane circle Hank, and start chanting “Nya, nya, nya, nya, nya”. Hank, already grumpy from chloral hydrate and Tennessee sour mash, gets really pissed-off. Belinda sneaks up behind hank, slams her elbow into the back of Hank’s, sending him to “The Mat”. The Go-Go’s, thinking Hank is knocked out, form a Rockettes’ Radio City Music Hall style, “Kickline”, still chanting “Nya, nya, nya, nya, nya”. Ala-Fucking-Bama’s favorite son rises to his knees, reaches into his white fringed cowboy jacket, pulls out a .45 Colt. Five shots ring out, and that’s all she wrote.
I thought there was something wrong with me after my repeated and failed efforts to enjoy ol' Hank. When his songs are covered by others, they sound so great I wanted to go to the source, and found difficulties right from the start - there's something about his delivery. Flat, unemotive, like every song is a demo.
DeleteThe Go-Go's I never thought much of at the time. The Bangles were everything the Go-Go's weren't, and had better songs. Debbie Harry was a more "iconic" figurehead than the vaguely mumsy Belinda Carlisle. But I haven't played this record yet, so I'm hedging my bets until I do.
This was also my experience with Hank.
DeleteOff-topic, but, in many ways, it could also sum up J.J. Cale, whom I listen to regularly.
I'm the same way with Bob Dylan, brilliant songwriter, but the covers by The Byrds, etc go down better.
DeleteGo! Go! Go! for the Go-Go's!
ReplyDeleteFive young crazy lasses like that shouldn't have a problem with the brittle boozer...he yells one "Hey Good Lookin'" in their general direction and gets smacked in the face right away...
This strikes me as eminently plausible.
Deleteyou mean this cover? Afraid I love it - but only because this was the first Hank I ever bought c.81, and I played it to death till the grooves wore out - so it has a place in my heart! https://i.discogs.com/UyIY4ojtkFIozC5tgez-oUqHJK5GkJP24V44qj_sODU/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:500/w:500/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTI1ODY2/ODEtMTU1OTk0NTA0/OC0xOTY2LmpwZWc.jpeg
ReplyDeleteIt's indefensibly wretched. Looks cheap because that's what it is. Print shop graphics, coarse newsprint photograph (probably the first picture they could find) with no masking or remedial work at all, cheesy staves/notes reminding us it's a music album, album title off-center, drop shadows all over (tell-tale sign your design stinks), all the graphic dignity of a windshield flyer for meat offcuts. And typing out your URL took me the best part of an hour. Gee whiz.
Deleteall true sir (apologies I couldn't see how to link in my comment :-S) - but that compilation was literally a life changer for me - our band changed direction (and started to cover some Hank), my musical taste expanded, my wife to be (I didn't know at the time) wanted to borrow it... so whenever I see it I have good thoughts sorry!
DeleteNo apologies necessary. That's the best reason for loving an album. I wish I could make that personal connection with the music, but his versions of his own songs don't touch me anything like as much as other artists'. He's a truly great songwriter. And he deserves better packaging, which is why I took the time to work up an alternative cover, something that looks as if it's been thought about and cared for. When labels put out great music in cheap paste-up sleeves they're showing disrespect for the artist and cynicism for the consumer.
Delete... I copy-pasted the link! Sorry!
Deletehah! I should bloody hope so - and likewise no apologies necessary - I didn't think you wold have typed it!
DeleteFunnily enough I am the other way round - I find covers never have quite the same power to me as his originals - I think because of his voice. I think some of the live material actually captures him better too. My favourite cover is Jerry Lee who turns a really poignant lyric totally on its head with "You Can't Help It If You're Still In Love With Me".! I get you about the cover - and also agree why on earth was Honky Tonkin' not on it?!
Maybe a licensing problem. I know next to nuthin' about Hank, but I knew that song and missed it. Thanks for your comments, Chester.
DeleteThank you for your enjoyable and informative blog :) Does Kreme like Hank?
DeleteHank Williams' best work swings like there's a mighty, mighty drummer behind him Sometimes it sounds like some guy is slapping two whisk brooms on suitcase— maybe — and sometimes clearly not, but either way it's a textbook lesson in how a band ought to work together. Between the band and the lyrics ("My tubes and tires are doin' fine but the air is showing through") there's real genius here that more than compensates for Hank's whine, which was, of course, how country stars were supposed to sing in those days and will grow on most people in time
DeleteI'm not sure there's any drums - it's all damped acoustic guitar.
DeleteFrom Hank Williams (dot nl):
Delete"Hank Williams formed his first band in Montgomery AL. Drums were not present in his bands. The 'southern swing' came from the rythm-guitar and the bass. He named his band "the Drifting Cowboys" allthough the era of the cowboys was long gone. Bandmembers stayed for some time and some musicians played with him on most of his records. Don Helms is the steelguitar player who is heard on most of Hanks recordings. Braxton Schuffert was a guitarplayer and friend from Montgomery. Lum York is the funny bassplayer seen on a lot of photo's. Furthermore there are Carolyn Parker, "Pee Wee" Moultrie, Jimmy Porter, Wimpy Jones, M.C.Jarett, Bernice Turner (guitar), R.D.Norred, Clent Holmes, Jerry Rivers (violin) and Joe "Penny" Pennington (guitar)."
from what i have heard and read and bought and downloaded, it would seem that the original recordings have been fucked with even more times than buddy holly's. there's more guilding than actual lilies.
DeleteThis release (Forty Greatest Hits) seems to get the critic's seal of approval for having the most authentic and best-sounding tracks.
DeleteInteresting blog post about drums and the Grand Ole Opry. I seem to recall Hank being banned from there - but not because of drums.
Deletehttp://musicweird.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-first-drums-on-grand-ole-opry.html
not time to find a link to demonstrate but one of hanks bass players used to use a technique where he had a bit of drum skin on there that he hit with a brush while playing... there's also slapping on some e.g. Move It On Over
Deletenot hank but you get the idea https://www.facebook.com/dusttodigital/videos/1384503661679632
Deletecloser - don helms! https://www.facebook.com/GatorRockVideo/videos/748223506131928
DeleteHank was doing really well up to round 5, when his second gave him a shot of morphine and a hefty slug of Jack. After that, the Go-Gos gave him what is commonly termed "an ass whuppin'".
ReplyDeleteNext time, I'd like to see the Runaways against the Go-Gos.
Hank? There's none in my collection. I just find him dull, although I can appreciate his compositions.
The Go-Gos? I'm not aware that I've ever heard anything by them.
Steve - the whole idea of this feature - as a moment's research would have told you - is to pit contrasting acts against each other. Not obviously similar.
DeleteI know that, but the fight would be amazing!
DeleteFor shame!
DeleteHank will win by a mile when he brings on his tag team of everyone that's covered his songs. Not sure about Karen Carpenter, but George Thorougood will knock em for six.
ReplyDeleteComment moderation in effect for a few hours while I put on my soy algae facemask, elastic chin support, and retire to the boudoir while Rholonne reads me a bedtime story. Keep the comments coming, they'll be nailed to the door as soon as I spring refreshed from my dreamless slumber.
ReplyDeleteAsk Rholonne to tell you the one about the 21 MPs who resigned from the English Conservative Party, it's very sad, bo hooo. Sleep well.
ReplyDeleteI carry a $2.00 bill in my wallet. While I didn't have a hot rod Ford, I had a Studebaker, and I knew that place over the hill. One time, we were at a party in San Francisco at the sister of one of the Go-Go's and we stayed late because the sister in the band was supposed to come to the party.
ReplyDeleteMy bet's on Hank. I love his delivery...he's rural and makes no attempt at appealing to the city. While I love the Go-Go's, too, the don't have the back catalog; there is no Go-Go's 40 Greatest Hits, although there's easily a Twenty Greatest Songs.
No contest! Belinda drops her towel and while Hank's (pre-porn) jaw drops to the ground, one of the other young women (who can remember all their names?!) kicks him in his nads while another pushes him over the other one who crawled behind his knees. Now if it were Jr., we might have a fairer fight since he'd be more immune to the sight of a nekkid young woman.
ReplyDeletemmmpphh!!
ReplyDeleteYou sound like my first wife.
Deleteall hank williams lovers sound alike.
Deleteyour cover is gorgeous and genius. i wish i could see it bigger in high razor.
you must have been the ideal employee, doing your best no matter what you thought of the project.
*flourishes kerchief, makes courtly leg* No, I was a shit employee. I worked in shit agencies, mostly below-the-line (promotions for supermarkets, that kind of thing), and apart from the fun in the studio (often weeping with laughter) hated the business, the clients, and the work. I consoled myself that I was doing no lasting cultural damage, unlike (say) architects, but no job satisfaction, apert from clients in the world of Fine Yartz - I did some nice work for festivals and galleries. Working for Brand Managers was the worst - a bunch of talentless career crawlers with zero sense of design or humor. I earned a lot of money for many years eating their shit, when I should have been doing something useful and good.
Deleteyoutube brilliant satire. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIyKmqEdgR4 Honest Government Ad | COP26 Climate Summit
ReplyDeleteBucephalus
The votes are in, and it looks like 4 to 3 for the coke-crazy cuties from Calif-orn-i-a!
ReplyDeleteAnyboy wants the albums - ax!
me I needs GoGos. Trying to reconstruct all tracks off my jukbox, need Sealed Lips.
ReplyDeleteHere's your gal group, Dave. @ a Jeff Bezos-friendly 320.
DeleteMany thanks, Farq. The project continues, hopefully to be posted here in (what else?) the future.
DeleteBound to be a Luke the Drifter link 'round here somwears, but 'ell I cain't find it fer shucks. I brought a quarter just in case...
ReplyDeleteI wasn't aware of Luke the Drifter - that was a pretty radical idea for the time, wasn't it?
DeleteThree Sheets was prolly already taken.
DeleteYou're on fire, rev.b!
DeleteHeeeeeere's Hank!
ReplyDelete