About 5 years ago I decided to put together a mix CD of “tough” songs so that I could play it on RANDOM in my car stereo and determine which of the dozen or so songs was the most kick-ass of my selections. The mix included some usual suspects among my preferred kick-ass listening habits, but to my surprise a song I don’t play too often was declared the winner:
I’ve always liked the first 2 Stiff Little Fingers enough – and loved maybe 3 of their songs over those albums – but I’ve also had the same reservations with them that I’ve had with Generation X: the band seems a little too contrived. I’m aware that rock ‘n roll wouldn’t be much of a genre without contrived bands and songs, but SLF and Gen X were two punk bands that I thought tiptoed a too far over that line. They left themselves exposed; I wanted to look away, feeling embarrassed for them. However, stacked against kick-ass songs by the likes of MC5, Slade, and others I happened to grab the day I made that mix CD, “Suspect Device” truly kicked ass!
In retrospect, it was beneficial for the band behind this “Most Kick-Ass Song” that I did not have to watch this live video. Although the song itself is still pretty kick-ass, having to see Stiff Little Fingers and their basement-dwelling fans is a letdown. As a result, 5 years after the fact, I’m stripping “Suspect Device” of the title of “Most Kick-Ass Song on My Quickly Compiled Mix CD” and handing the title over to this song, which I will – wisely – choose to present in audio-only YouTube form.
Yes, I’d feel very comfortable taking Steppenwolf’s “Hey Lawdy Mama” into an alley fight with me. Considering all the kick-ass songs out there, my main man of a streetfighting song may be accompanied by The Stooges’ “1970” and Led Zeppelin’s “Ramble On” (those high-pitched vocals are deceiving). I considered calling on Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band’s “Hot Head”, but Eric Drew Feldman’s synth break makes me worry that the song might turn and run if we’d find ourselves up against a formidable quartet of alley fighters, maybe like you and your 3 songs.
So how about it: What 3 songs would you want on your side in an alley fight?
Coincidence! I was iPoddin’ my way into work, and the Minutemen version of “Hey Lawdy Mama” came through the car stereo. This is the first time I’ve ever heard the original. I must say, though both rock, I prefer the Minutemen version!
Mad props to that awesome Telecaster sound in the original, though. And the vote was *close*, brother!
Maybe I could flank myself with both versions in that alley fight. Just those two versions at my side and “1970” out front, ready to land the first blows and take a righteous beating, if only to wear down our opponents. How about you, brother? I wanna know which 3 songs you’d take into an alley fight.
“Rumble” – Link Wray
“Trouble” – Elvis
“Iron Man” – Black Sabbath
Well, out front would be “The Boys are Back in Town,” followed by AC/DC’s “Problem Child.” The third? “Wouldn’t it Be Nice”… nah, just kidding. I have to think about the third one. I’l get back to you on the song that would really have my back in case they brought in backup.
I’m Bad I’m Nationwide?
“street fightin’ man” (mick may have ultimately been a prancing priss, but this song SOUNDS tough).
“one of the guys” (mc5: pretty much speaks for itself)
it was then a tossup between “jailbreak” (the lizzy), “makin’ time” (creation), “away from the numbers” (the jam), and “the good’s gone” (the who).
i’ll take “away from the numbers”: so terse.
You guys are coming equipped and ready to rumble! What are the rest of you bringing to this alley fight?
Man o man…I just heard the song “Primitive” from Pebbles 10. It’s my new number 3. Sorry, Weller, you can take your Ascott out of here.
But guys, how *tough* does Daltrey sound on both “The Good is Gone” and the verses of “Much too Much”?
Finally, this thread is making me realize that I’ve REALLY gotta finish this dissertation so that I can convert the Prisoners “Rare and Unissued” stuff to the digital realm for you guys. There’s a lotta tough talk on that album alone.
I wish it was football season. The Flyers will have to do.
I have wanted to beat up on Les Canadiennes (the poofters), ever since ’76.
If there are any Flyers fans of old out there…guys…tonight….this one is for the Moose, Andre Dupont (no. 6!!!). Are you with me???
Oh and also, gang, I defend my dissertation on the 27th of May.
So until then, I may be rather explosive in these hallowed halls, putting firecrackers in the toilets and whatnot. This “tough” thread has got me all stoked, though.
I want to go into my defense on the OFFENSE NOW!!!
Posting on RTH has been a great way for me to work through the mental blocks. Thanks!
There WILL be some sort of gathering some time in the month of June to celebrate my passage into Doctordom.
You will hear from me.
BigSteve — hey, “I’m Bad…” is about *stylin’*, not fightin’. Thanks for thinking about the Zeez, though. I’m tempted by “Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers.”
I’m leading with The Stooges too but am taking “Down in the Street” with me. I’m strollin’ with the confidence of a Cheetah in slow motion, my hand steady and ready to flick that blade with blinding speed and precision.
Then for the heat of action I’m reigning blows with X’s “Your Phone’s Off the Hook.”
And when we’ve got ’em down and beat I’ll start slowly carving slices of their flesh and force feeding it to them with Joy Division’s “Atrocity Exhibition” .
“Your Phone’s Off the Hook”? A song about a deadbeat loser?
Joy Division? Those pasty, brooding, turtle-neck wearing Heathcliffs? It reminds me of the Bill Hicks routine about “hoooligans”: “two hooligans upset a dustbin in SHAAAFTSBREE”.
Meanwhile, Weller wants no parts of ANY of this. He’s stammering and quaking out on main street, reaching into his bag full of romantic love songs, getting all Spandau Ballet on people.
They might not be hooligans. They might actually be ruffians.
Or ne’er-do-wells.
FLYBOYS!!!!!!!!!
Yeah, a song about a deadbeat loser who’s ASS I’M KICKING!
Yeah but he sings “Nobody give me trouble cause they know I got it made.” This is one way to defuse hostility, by stylin.’
Hey saturn, good luck on the dissertation defense!
My three songs:
Neil Young, Cinnmaon Girl
Led Zeppelin, Communication Breakdown
Wire, Reuters
Replacements – Kids Don’t Follow
Angry Samoans – Lights Out
Beastie Boys – Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun
The Dead Boys- High Tension Wire
Motorhead – Ace of Spades
Blue Oyster Cult – The Red and the Black
Hey, Townsman petesecrutz — You just found my number three — “Ace Of Spades.” I feel certain I could kick anybody’s ass now.
“Ace of Spades” is a strong one!
Boom Boom Mancini, Warren Zevon
Who Killed Davey Moore? Bob Dylan
Samson & Delilah, Rev. Gary Davis
I’m shocked no one has suggested Eye of the Tiger. Shocked!
“Kick Out The Jams” by MC5 seems an obvious choice, but somebody has to say it.
Two more? Hmm?
“Guns of Brixton” The Clash
“Kung Fu Fighting” Carl Douglas
I sincerely love “Ramble On” but I think I see that more as a song for being on the way to a fight, not the fight itself. And it helps if you’re traveling to the fight on horseback. And instead of a fight, it’s more of a quest.
You all seem like nice people, but when I come walking down the alley in step with “The Payback” you and your boys are going to get a little nervous, and rightly so. And that’s when “We Bite” will jump out from behind a dumpster and smash you in the head with a bottle. None of you were ready for this – you’ve got glass in your head, everybody’s starting to panic – so you all bolt for the other end of the alley. But wait, is someone waiting down there for you? Who…who is that? Is that “If You Want Blood (You Got It)”? You’re damn right it is.
Alexmagic — “The Payback” is a *brilliant* choice!
There are a lot of options one could choose, I think. But it’s important to put together the right team. So:
First, remind them of my reputation and let them hear the footsteps coming: Thin Lizzy’s “The Boys Are Back In Town.”
Then, remind them that pretense, posturing, and preening fancy footwork will get them nowhere. This is a fight in which the naked truth about who we are will be exposed: Stiff Little Fingers, “Nobody’s Heroes.”
Then, I unleash the dogs and kick their ass with the whole weight of history: Roky Erickson’s “Two-Headed Dog.”
They would recoil in disbelief when I unleash Fleetwood Mac’s (with Peter Green)”Green Manalishi”. They’d never see it coming.
That would have to be “The Grange” for the ZZ portion, for the circling around sizing each other up, during which you hope that sheer vibe will make your opponent run away. Then “Mr. Pharmacist,” as covered by the Fall, to cover my wishes for the drugs I’d like to be on while getting my ass kicked, and then, maybe “Down In the Tube Station At Midnight” to validate my belief that I’m not the only sensitive soul too wimpy for street fighting.
Sadly, my opponents have selected all 16-odd minutes of John Coltrane’s “Africa” for a tour-de-force of tag-team choreographics for all three of their choices. I could have just gone with “Year of the Cat” and let them get it over with.
Has anyone used Nazareth’s “Hair of the Dog? That song would stick up for me.
Hey General:
Songs like “Hair of the Dog” are all about guys telling women that they’re going to kick the shit out of their pretenses. Not tough. But “Your Phone’s Off the Hook, But You’re Not,” which Sammy chose, is about a woman kicking the shit out of a man. That’s tough.
Trivia question that I want an answer for; “I’m Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down” has appeared in both possibilities above, yes? Anybody have the details?
Live Wire – ACDC
Snortin’ Whiskey and Drinkin’ Cocaine – Pat Travers
We’re Coming Out – Replacements
I know I’m a bit late here butI couldn’t log on from home this weekend for some reason.
“Hair of the Dog” was my choice for song I’d make them play for me if I was a Major League closer. mwall makes a good point, but even removing the male-on-female violence aspect, I guess I also see that more as driving to a fight music than a song I’d want to have my back when the shit is actually on. Can you really trust that cowbell to not cut out on you?
NYHC edition:
1)Sheer Terror “Here to Stay”
2)The Cromags “Survival of the Streets”
3)Sick of It All “Pay the Price” (really anything on their 1st album)
U.S. punk/hardcore edition:
1) Negative Approach “Evacuate”
2) Black Flag “Police Story” or “Annihilate This Week”
3) Naked Raygun “Treason”
UK street punk/oi! edition:
1) The 4-Skins “Chaos”
2) Blitz “Someone’s Gonna Die”
3) Menace “GLC”
Heavy metal edition:
1) Motorhead “Killed by Death” or “Iron Fist”
2) Metallica “Fight Fire with Fire”
3) Pantera “Walk” (I’m not much of a fan of this band, but you can’t deny the effectiveness of this track)
Hard rock/proto-metal edition:
1) AC/DC “If You Want Blood, You’ve Got It” (whoever suggested this before is right on)
2) Black Sabbath “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” (that riff alone could scare someone)
3) The Runaways “Cherry Bomb”
Funk/rap edition:
1) Curtis Mayfield “Superfly”
2) Public Enemy “Bring the Noise” or “You’re Gonna Get Yours”
3) The Notorious B.I.G. “Gimme the Loot” or NWA “Straight Outta Compton” (tie)
“Richard III,” Supergrass
“Dog Eat Dog,” AC/DC
“Scentless Apprentice,” Nirvana