I love that video. It’s a great song, too. I’m thinking if I buy an Ice Cream Truck, and put a car stereo with four speakers in it, and use the speaker on the roof I can hear Nixon’s Head in Hexaphonic sound, the way I’m supposed to.
Good stuff, but I do have a question: will the LP have your cover of “Black Or White” on it, or are you guys putting that out as its own single, so that proceeds can more easily go to the City of Los Angeles to help defray costs of the Jackson memorial?
In the spirit of this title, I am going to gripe about something I should just “deal” with: who decided we needed to use the word “impact” as a verb? Is there really anything wrong with “affect”? Every time some corporate blowhard explains how some synergy of resources is supposed to impact me, I think of toothaches and a meteorite crashing into the meeting, and hopefully taking ONE victim.
Great stuff. Much better than the two videos I saw on VH1 Classic by Loverboy and Jefferson Starship. I wish I could remember the song titles (the internet was unable to jog my memory). These videos really nip any revisionist history in the bud.
Mockcarr,
It sounds to me like you’re having a little trouble thinking outside the box. I suspect the problem is a macro/granular thing.
I’m in the weeds so I don’t have the bandwidth to get into this right now but I’ll try to ping you later and provide you with a brain dump of my thoughts on the matter. It might require you to drink from the fire hose a bit but I think it will ultimately be helpful in moving the ball forward. Unfortunately, it can’t always be about the low hanging fruit…
Has anybody actually tried to mount a “You know, Starship actually wasn’t that bad…” movement yet? I don’t know where you’d start that, even if you tried to do it ironically. Maybe somebody like Klosterman will try it down the line.
I do admire how the Loverboy dude tried to sell the notion that it took Nirvana to put them out of business a few years ago. Nobody bought it, but it was still worth a try on his part.
The best I’ve been able to muster regarding your question, Alexmagic, is my “Jefferson Starship is better than Jefferson Airplane” argument. Once Jefferson left the band, I had to fold.
Opinions, please. On Saturday (July 18) at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Casino up here in Connecticut there is the following show:
(aside: Mr. Mod, do we have an award for the most convoluted sentence of the month? If so I claim July’s for that last sentence)
“Love Train: The Sound Of Philadelphia
Starring The O’Jays, Russell Thompkins, Jr and The New Stylistics, Harold Melovin’s Bluenotes, The Delfonics featuring William Hart, Jerry Butler, The Jones Girls, The Intruders and Eddie Holman.”
I don’t know many original members constitute the O’Jays these days. The name “Russell Thompkins, Jr and The New Stylistics” suggests Thompkins may be the only link to the past but who knows who were the Stylistics. Similarly for the Delfonics. Don’t know how the Iceman sounds these days but I gotta figure he’d be worth seeing; might not even get allocated enough time on a multi-act bill like this for all the Jerry Butler songs I’d like to here. Couldn’t name a song by the Jones Girls. I love The Intruders and their Greatest Hits album is one helluva great album; I’m mean, is there anyone who doesn’t love “Cowboys To Girls”? But I know the lead singer jumped off the Walt Whitman Bridge (or was it the Ben Franklin?) a while back and I’m pretty sure I remember reading that another member died not too long ago.
And Eddie Holman…well, Eddie Holman is the first musical act I ever saw (not counting seeing Bobby Rydell play drums in his basement back in the early ’60s) when he played at the Monsignor Bonner High School mixer – hosted as always by Ed Hurst – back in, I’d guess, the fall of 1969. I think Lonely Girl was just starting to hit in Philly and Whitburn says it debuted on the charts on December 27, 1969 so I’m guessing the timing from that. He probably did another number and I can’t remember if he sang to a backing track or just lip synced it. So, there’s an appeal to seeing him again, almost 40 years later.
So, RTH, go or no go? (BTW, ticket prices are $45 – $65.)
E. Pluribus Gergely and I went to an oldies show like this in AC about 10 years ago and had a blast. The Iceman was on the bill, and he was very good. Our bill was not Philly-centric, with the likes of Lloyd Price and the guy who sings “When a Man Loves a Woman” (blanking on his name at this late hour). The highlight was having Jerry Butler give a shout-out to his close personal friend, Don Covay, who it turned out was seated about 5 seats down from us in our row. We later saw another show like this with our wives at Philly’s relatively new orchestra place, and that was also good.
A couple of years later we went to a TSOP-themed bill at Temple’s arena. The setting and the show was lame. The bill featured lots of bands like The Cousin of Harold Melvin’s Stepdaughter and the Blue Notes. The basketball arena setting and sound did NOT help.
If this place has a good sound system, you’ll probably enjoy hearing these hits of yesteryear done by professionals. So long as no one throws in inappropriate solos, like the Van Halen-style solo that Paul McCartney allowed to appear in “Things We Said Today,” when Chickenfrank and I saw him at the Vet in the early ’90s, you’ll probably have a good night out for $50. I think the setting is really important to the success of one of these bills. It’s got to be “classy.”
Next week’s edition of the World Wrestling Federation’s “Monday Night Raw” will be hosted by Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill of ZZ Top. As detailed in the stipulations set forth by temporary Raw owner Donald Trump, Billy and the Dust will have “unlimited power” to set whatever matches they deem to be in best interest of the Raw franchise and the WWE fan universe in general.
Was Frank Beard run out of ZZ Top in a Loser Leaves Town match, or does he just want no part of this gig? And really, wouldn’t it be better if it was only Dusty or Billy, but the other one was on hand so they could keep switching places like The Killer Bees?
I think Billy has a foreign object under one of his many hats.
It will be a a tug-o-beard match, punctuated by fuzzy plush chairs being smashed over each other’s heads, but Dusty will win when he threatens to use “the pleaser” on Billy’s manager girlfriend.
John Fogerty’s new album, The Blue Ridge Rangers Ride Again, will feature covers of classic songs, including tracks by John Prine, Buck Owens, and John Denver, and will be out September 1. It’ll also feature Don Henley, harmonizing on Rick Nelson’s “Garden Party,” and Bruce Springsteen, dueting on the Everly Brother’s “When Will I Be Loved.”
So, which idea is worse: Having two of rock’s grumpiest scolds singing a song that can easily be turned into a whinefest, or roping in Springsteen for a song that requires pretty harmonizing?
“Some say the world will end in fire
Some say in ice.”
What is the point of an album like this? Who is this targeted at?
And I’ll bet heavy money at long odds that there will be alternate versions with Best Buy or Target or iTunes or all three having exclusive tracks, so that big fans – and who else will buy this? – can get soaked multiple times.
Put me down for a copy!
Me too.
Great Stuff, Mod. Really cool.
Sammy, is there any truth to the rumor that you did the cover? Fantastic job!
Sammy did the cover AND the video – and he plays theremin throughout the album.
I love that video. It’s a great song, too. I’m thinking if I buy an Ice Cream Truck, and put a car stereo with four speakers in it, and use the speaker on the roof I can hear Nixon’s Head in Hexaphonic sound, the way I’m supposed to.
That cheap GrooveDisques label never sprung for a cool video for my band!
I think ChickenFrank’s picture just screams MANDOM, although of a somewhat towheaded variety.
Hey,
How’d you get that Beastie Boy guy to do the cameo at 0:45, lip-synching the title phrase. Quite a coup.
Geo – If you signed a 15-year extension to GD like we did a few years ago, you could have gotten a cool video too
Nice job!
Sounds sounds good, where do I buy a copy? Do you have a song about an airline breaking your guitar on there?
Sounds good, where do I buy a copy? Do you have a song about an airline breaking your guitar on there?
The CD/LP will be available through Groove Disques, CD Baby, and elsewhere on July 28. I’ll be sure to let you know when it’s ready for sale. Thanks!
And no, we did not think to write a song about an airline breaking our guitar: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/07/08/united-breaks-guitars.html!
Good stuff, but I do have a question: will the LP have your cover of “Black Or White” on it, or are you guys putting that out as its own single, so that proceeds can more easily go to the City of Los Angeles to help defray costs of the Jackson memorial?
Good stuff, but those bikes need a drop of earl.
In the spirit of this title, I am going to gripe about something I should just “deal” with: who decided we needed to use the word “impact” as a verb? Is there really anything wrong with “affect”? Every time some corporate blowhard explains how some synergy of resources is supposed to impact me, I think of toothaches and a meteorite crashing into the meeting, and hopefully taking ONE victim.
Great stuff. Much better than the two videos I saw on VH1 Classic by Loverboy and Jefferson Starship. I wish I could remember the song titles (the internet was unable to jog my memory). These videos really nip any revisionist history in the bud.
Mockcarr,
It sounds to me like you’re having a little trouble thinking outside the box. I suspect the problem is a macro/granular thing.
I’m in the weeds so I don’t have the bandwidth to get into this right now but I’ll try to ping you later and provide you with a brain dump of my thoughts on the matter. It might require you to drink from the fire hose a bit but I think it will ultimately be helpful in moving the ball forward. Unfortunately, it can’t always be about the low hanging fruit…
I would choose all BUT Nixon’s Head’s 4 best songs from their adult career over any of Jefferson Starship’s 2 greatest hits.
Has anybody actually tried to mount a “You know, Starship actually wasn’t that bad…” movement yet? I don’t know where you’d start that, even if you tried to do it ironically. Maybe somebody like Klosterman will try it down the line.
I do admire how the Loverboy dude tried to sell the notion that it took Nirvana to put them out of business a few years ago. Nobody bought it, but it was still worth a try on his part.
CDM, please don’t reinvent the wheel.
The best I’ve been able to muster regarding your question, Alexmagic, is my “Jefferson Starship is better than Jefferson Airplane” argument. Once Jefferson left the band, I had to fold.
Opinions, please. On Saturday (July 18) at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Casino up here in Connecticut there is the following show:
(aside: Mr. Mod, do we have an award for the most convoluted sentence of the month? If so I claim July’s for that last sentence)
“Love Train: The Sound Of Philadelphia
Starring The O’Jays, Russell Thompkins, Jr and The New Stylistics, Harold Melovin’s Bluenotes, The Delfonics featuring William Hart, Jerry Butler, The Jones Girls, The Intruders and Eddie Holman.”
I don’t know many original members constitute the O’Jays these days. The name “Russell Thompkins, Jr and The New Stylistics” suggests Thompkins may be the only link to the past but who knows who were the Stylistics. Similarly for the Delfonics. Don’t know how the Iceman sounds these days but I gotta figure he’d be worth seeing; might not even get allocated enough time on a multi-act bill like this for all the Jerry Butler songs I’d like to here. Couldn’t name a song by the Jones Girls. I love The Intruders and their Greatest Hits album is one helluva great album; I’m mean, is there anyone who doesn’t love “Cowboys To Girls”? But I know the lead singer jumped off the Walt Whitman Bridge (or was it the Ben Franklin?) a while back and I’m pretty sure I remember reading that another member died not too long ago.
And Eddie Holman…well, Eddie Holman is the first musical act I ever saw (not counting seeing Bobby Rydell play drums in his basement back in the early ’60s) when he played at the Monsignor Bonner High School mixer – hosted as always by Ed Hurst – back in, I’d guess, the fall of 1969. I think Lonely Girl was just starting to hit in Philly and Whitburn says it debuted on the charts on December 27, 1969 so I’m guessing the timing from that. He probably did another number and I can’t remember if he sang to a backing track or just lip synced it. So, there’s an appeal to seeing him again, almost 40 years later.
So, RTH, go or no go? (BTW, ticket prices are $45 – $65.)
E. Pluribus Gergely and I went to an oldies show like this in AC about 10 years ago and had a blast. The Iceman was on the bill, and he was very good. Our bill was not Philly-centric, with the likes of Lloyd Price and the guy who sings “When a Man Loves a Woman” (blanking on his name at this late hour). The highlight was having Jerry Butler give a shout-out to his close personal friend, Don Covay, who it turned out was seated about 5 seats down from us in our row. We later saw another show like this with our wives at Philly’s relatively new orchestra place, and that was also good.
A couple of years later we went to a TSOP-themed bill at Temple’s arena. The setting and the show was lame. The bill featured lots of bands like The Cousin of Harold Melvin’s Stepdaughter and the Blue Notes. The basketball arena setting and sound did NOT help.
If this place has a good sound system, you’ll probably enjoy hearing these hits of yesteryear done by professionals. So long as no one throws in inappropriate solos, like the Van Halen-style solo that Paul McCartney allowed to appear in “Things We Said Today,” when Chickenfrank and I saw him at the Vet in the early ’90s, you’ll probably have a good night out for $50. I think the setting is really important to the success of one of these bills. It’s got to be “classy.”
Mr. Mod, hate to do the old “Prince-Nez” on you, but that was Percy Sledge who sang “When A Man Loves A Woman”.
Any thoughts on the All-Star Game?
Hey disko. I’m afraid I now need to Pince Nez you. It is Pince not Prince
Details here: https://www.rocktownhall.com/blogs/index.php/2007/01/16/pince_nez.
As the 21st Century cliche goes, “My bad”
NEWS FLASH!
NEWS FLASH!
NEWS FLASH!
Next week’s edition of the World Wrestling Federation’s “Monday Night Raw” will be hosted by Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill of ZZ Top. As detailed in the stipulations set forth by temporary Raw owner Donald Trump, Billy and the Dust will have “unlimited power” to set whatever matches they deem to be in best interest of the Raw franchise and the WWE fan universe in general.
Be there!
Your humble, thrilled correspondent,
HVB
Thorogood should take the two of them on!
Was Frank Beard run out of ZZ Top in a Loser Leaves Town match, or does he just want no part of this gig? And really, wouldn’t it be better if it was only Dusty or Billy, but the other one was on hand so they could keep switching places like The Killer Bees?
I think Billy has a foreign object under one of his many hats.
It will be a a tug-o-beard match, punctuated by fuzzy plush chairs being smashed over each other’s heads, but Dusty will win when he threatens to use “the pleaser” on Billy’s manager girlfriend.
I hope the rest of the album is as good as this track! Best production I’ve heard from you guys, too. Embrace the reverb!
What a shame, Little Hits is closing down shop!
http://www.littlehits.com/blog/?p=650
Thanks for years of great service, including key contributions from The Great 48 and Tvox.
ITEM!
So, which idea is worse: Having two of rock’s grumpiest scolds singing a song that can easily be turned into a whinefest, or roping in Springsteen for a song that requires pretty harmonizing?
“Some say the world will end in fire
Some say in ice.”
What is the point of an album like this? Who is this targeted at?
And I’ll bet heavy money at long odds that there will be alternate versions with Best Buy or Target or iTunes or all three having exclusive tracks, so that big fans – and who else will buy this? – can get soaked multiple times.