Greetings, seekers of the rare, the unusual, and the remarkably cheap! Join me as I shirk my household chores to bring you another edition of Thrifty Music — the ongoing series where I share musical pieces of flotsam and jetsam, salvaged from thrift stores, junk shops, and flea markets across the Washington, DC metroplex.
This week, I have five fine tracks to share with you, acquired on average for about a quarter. To begin with, a fine, fine, groovy blues track by Jimmy McCracklin called “Steppin’ Up In Class”. I don’t know much about Mr. McCracklin, but I do know that this kind of mid-60s urban blues — backed by a loping, Memphis-style groove and wrapped around a sleazy guitar riff — hits me where it hurts. How can you not bob your head with this tune groovin’ in the background?
Next up, a prime example of excellence in Extremely White Music: “Let’s Call It a Day Girl” by the very inaccurately named Razor’s Edge. You may scoff, but I really, really dig this song. It’s got all the Kentonite structural flips and twists I crave, some nifty backup vocals, a melody you won’t be able to shake once you’ve heard it, and check out those inappropriately thunderous drum fills at the end!
Now, a song that really caught me by surprise: “The Day I Found Myself”, by Honey Cone. You may remember Honey Cone from their smash early ’70s hit “Want Ads.” That tune set a sort of template for these chicks: uptempo, funky, tuneful, hot-pants, afro, etc. So when I slapped this single down on the porta-play, I was taken aback. Super old-school, like something recorded in 1964! But, boy, what a great little tune — the lyric is memorable, the arrangement is sweet, and the chorus goes on for miles and miles. Good stuff!
To finish off: a two-fer from The Persuaders. In fact, I’m giving you the A-side and the B-side of their “Thin Line (Between Love and Hate)” single. Why am I feeling so generous? Well, it occurred to me that you Pretenders fans might have never heard the original of this tune. But, perhaps more important, I was really struck by the thematic consistency between sides A and B of this platter. Side A is, of course, the remarkable “Thin Line (Between Love and Hate)” — as sung by the Persuaders in the first person, which is interesting. But even more remarkable is the flip side, “Thigh Spy” — which is also sung in the first person. Here’s the deal, though: it’s clear to me that the guy singing on side A about how much his wife puts up with from him (until she lands him in the hospital) is the same guy singing “I’m a thigh spy, I peep to see, girls wearing mini-skirts, showin’ those legs to me!” And that’s not all he says about himself and his voyeuristic tendencies. It’s as frank a confession as the one he delivers on the plug side of this single, albeit a more carnal one. Anyhow, the song rocks, and in my mind, this is definitely sung by the same character who gets put in the hospital by a wife who’s finally had enough.
In any case, folks, enjoy. As always, I eagerly await your thoughts and impressions surrounding these fine songs — none of which deserved to be discarded, and all of which I was all too happy to rescue and put to good use.
Your friend and colleague,
HVB
HVB,
This is a great idea for an ongoing post and you have found some real gems there? Do you just post everything you find or do you listen and then select them?
Thanks, northvancoveman. This, as you can see, is Volume 14 in the series; there’s lots more to discover in RTH back issues. As to what I post: I buy a lot of crap; only the good stuff makes it to “Thrifty Music.” See volume 1 (just search for “Thrifty Music”) to better understand the methodology and rationale behind the effort.
Thanks again for your kind words!
HVB
Actually, I just realized I’ve named the last three installments “Volume 14.” So this one is actually Volume 16. But here’s a link to the post that explains the Thrifty Music methodology and philosophy:
https://www.rocktownhall.com/blogs/index.php/2007/03/04/thrifty_music_vol_1_john_lennon_suxx
Very cool idea. Looking forward to the next installment and reading the past ones. Being in Washington, you will have to give us some sort of rock and roll inauguration update next week-There has to be a Rock and Roll tie in to it!
A fine batch of thrifties. Great bass playing all around. It’s really a lost art.
I’ve now tagged this new edition so that Townspeople can now easily view all past Thrifty posts in one click. Good stuff, Hrrundi.
I don’t recall much talk on RTH about Bob Dylan’s XM gig, Theme Time Radio. It’s a source of both an incredible amount of good music as well as great insight into Dylan. It’s a Dylan you don’t see or hear anywhere else – engaging, informative, revealing, humorous, and articulate.
In addition to the songs, all tied to the theme of each week’s episode, Dylan gives lots of background to the artists, songs, composers, etc. Last week’s theme was Work. One of the songs was Honey Cone’s hit “Want Ads” and Bob had this to say about the group, a lot of which was new information to me:
“The Honey Cone were 3 girls on the Hot Wax record label. It was the record label that songwriters Holland-Dozier-Holland started when they left Motown. They were the first group signed and they had a great pedigree. Carolyn Willis was with Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans, Shelly Clark was an Ikette, and Edna Wright, you might know her older sister who was quite a singer in her own right. Her name was Darlene Love.”
Interesting stuff, Al — thanks!
The McCracklin tune is very cool. I like how active the horns are while the tune keeps its groove.
Razor’s Edge uses a certain kind of bell percussion that is used so consistently in Extremely White Music that there should have been a special bin in reocord stores for that stuff. The Four Seasons and bands of that ilk are who come to mind. I, too, generally dig these arrangements, especially when all the music stops and you just hear the kick drum before the take-out chorus.
Honey Cone has that sweet Supremes shuffle that I’m a sucker for. Very nice.
I won’t comment on “Thin Line,,,” – a great song – other than to say that if you had to hear this song from The Pretenders first I’m sorry for you:) The B-side is pretty boss and unexpected compared witth their big hit that I grew up with. It love how percussive the vocals are.