Before the big heart day — I thought I would share this little number called “Tape Your Wife to the Ceiling.”
Here’s another kind of anti-valentine song from Tom Petty.
A personal aside: The biggest rock band in the Twin Cities in 1980-81 was not Husker Du or The Replacements or Prince. It was a large ensemble group called The Suburbs, who had a couple of minor hits (“Music For Boys”, “Love Is The Law”), a 1-record major-label deal, and then kind of faded away into local lore. The ‘Burbs packed ’em in — I saw them outside at Navy Island in St. Paul with R.E.M. — and R.E.M. wisely opened for these guys, because the ‘Burbs were always a tough act to follow. (That concert is also memorable because I saw some of my sister’s 14-year-old friends at the show, which freaked me out, because I was an old man of 19.)
Personal aside II: Petty’s “Long After Dark” is due for a critical upgrade.
So, anyway, what’s your favorite anti-Valentine song?
This will be a bloodbath. I believe that we need to start off with the master of the anti-romance, Mistah Warren Zevon. For My Next Trick I’ll Need a Volunteer’…
Do break-up songs count as anti-Valentine’s songs?
Oh, and nothang Mr. Petty had done is worthy of a critical upgrade. Ever seen him live? His Dylan/Byrds/Harrison wannabe act is pure Las Vegas schmaltz!
I’m a big Suburbs fan. On my one and only trip to Minneapolis in (I think) 1981 I took a cab to St. Paul to see them play at a club called (I think) the Payne Reliever. Great band.
And I’m all for giving Long After Dark a critical upgrade. It doesn’t have huge hits, but it’s one of my favorites.
Lou Reed’s “Sad Song” is one of my favorites. I think that qualifies, right? I don’t think you’re going to get much action on Valentine’s Day if you give your loved one a mix tape including the chorus, “I’m gonna stop wasting my time/Somebody else would have broken both of her arms.”
Harry Nillson – You’re Breaking My Heart (you’re tearing it apart so fuck you) With either Frampton or George Harrison on the guitar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqhoKLl21mc
That would be correct — now closed — the Payne Reliever was on Payne Ave. One of the few places for live bands. St. Paul was/is the tamer of the Twin Cities.
I’ve always liked Petty and have seen multiple times — including the Full Moon Fever tour which was a sing-along with a bunch of teenagers.
As a kid, I remember the first time I heard “Breakdown” on our stupid classic rock radio station in 1977 — loved it — and our course they quit playing him until “Damn The Torpedos” blew up.
I still think he’s putting out some pretty decent music, unlike some of the bands we lionize around these parts. One of my favorite albums of the 00s is Highway Companion.
http://youtu.be/5ZlFGLn52JU
“You Got Lucky” was freaking huge ’round these here parts!
Yeah, I used to be a big Petty fan too, but I guess over the years his shortcomings began to overshadow his virtues. But Ima open-minded. I’ll give “Highway Companion” a shot.
C’mon! Who can stand up to this???
http://metalalacarta.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/noelredding.jpg
Whoops! Sorry, that obviously should be posted on the White-Fro thread.
Great choice of a great song, Telewacker!
“I can saw a woman in two
but you won’t want to look in the box when I’m through
I can make love disappear
For my next trick I’ll need a volunteer
(step right up)”
That is cold!
Agree on Long After Dark. Other than “You Got Lucky”, which is an anomaly in tone for the album and had a big MTV video, it has no hits but several great songs of the short-and-bordering-on-power-pop variety.
I’m also a Suburb’s fan. Being from Mpls not a big surprise. As jeangray said, at their peak here they really packed in the crowds in places like First Ave. I first saw them warming up for Iggy Pop at the Longhorn. Beej had long hair somehow molded like a row of semi circles down his back. In the early days he would grimace while playing with what seemed like an endless stream of saliva coming out of his mouth. OK, you maybe had to be there to appreciate it. 🙂 They were wild that night and worked very well together live. The late BC Allen was great fun to watch play guitar too.
Then came Iggy!!
Great night and intro into the band.
“I ain’t saying you treated me unkind
You coulda done better but I don’t mind.
You just kinda wasted my precious time
But don’t think twice, it’s alright.”
aloha
LD
Add Talking Heads’ “Not in Love” to this playlist!
Nice one!
I always thought Long After Dark was a good record. Haven’t heard it in ages.