I’m the sole vote for Side 1, Track 2. No cop-out there (not that you were suggesting that I had), just a powerful insight that the rest of this bunch could learn from.
I would have said the same thing, but whatever it was I said at the Standard Tap got jumped on by a bunch of folks, and it occurred to me later, that 1) I don’t know where the fuck to put songs on a record, less on a CD. 2) What any two people generally think is the “key song” rarely matches up. So I abstained in the poll.
Chickenfrank, your waffling on the Get Happy!! album sides over the years is most disappointing, especially when you shift over to Andyr’s side.
Au Contraire. I’ve been nothing but consistent, if outnumbered, in my reading the album jacket as the correct artistic A/B designation over the album label. I believe you, Andy, and Ken Cills argued the opposite. Any other RTH vinyl-philes even know what this ridiculously small issue is?
My apologies, Chickenfrank, if I’ve misrepresented what must be Andy’s waffling. I surely hope that Andy is proving himself the better man today.
This, for those of you who have not already duked it out with your best-loved rock nerd friends, concerns the true “side 1” and “side 2” of the original vinyl release of Get Happy!! I’ve always been of the belief that “Riot Act” is the end of side 2; Chickenfrank has felt the opposite. Considering just how large a man I can be, I will disregard the fact that all CD releases of this album end with “Riot Act”. I don’t need the support of a damn digital release to back up my claims!
The album label is different than the sleeve listing? I never noticed. I can’t wait to go home and check. Since all digital releases put Riot Act at the end, wouldn’t that end the argument? What evidence does the Riot Act/Side 1 contingent have?
Emotional resonance is the only argument I’m left to stand on. I recall when Rolling Stone first reviewed the album, they described the intentional discrepancy as creating a mobius strip of emotional blah blah blah. I’m confident that when the re-mastered version is released 10 years from now, it will be correctly sequenced MY way.
Back when there actually was a slim chance that a band I might be in might conceivably record and issue a two-sided vinyl artefact, I *so* wanted to issue said potential vinyl product with a “chicken” and an “egg” side.
I can’t believe no one got it: Hawkwind! I stopped in a cool record store en route to the movie, and there was something playing that sounded a bit like The Stooges’ Funhouse. I asked the dude behind the counter what it was, and it was a live Hawkwind collection from 2 shows in 1972. I’d never really heard that band – always figured they’d sound like a goofy hippie prog band, like Gong. The stuff on this CD is pretty driving and direct.
Plus, that 1972-era iteration featured *Stacia*. I refuse to post a link to any page explaining who this performer was, and what she brought to an otherwise hairy, smelly, greasy and beer-stank band, for reasons of propriety. I just hope the liner notes to this absurd purchase of yours were well illustrated.
Sounds like *Stacia* really *pushes your buttons* Hrrundi…;) p.s. Stacia kinda looks like a man, baby. I had no idea about the interpretive dancing… I just like that song…
No shots of Stacia, but I do recall a Mojo feature on the band that illustrated her talents.
Yep, folks, I’d never really heard them. Kept thinking they’d sound like Gong, who were a major disappointment the time someone lent me a few of their “classic” albums.
Even I voted for Felt, just to keep you off my scent. Truth be told, I can’t recall what Felt sounds like as well. What DO they sound like? Is that a 1-man operation from Chicago, or am I thinking of someone else?
I’m all ears when it comes to a Freddie Mercury piece – what does everyone think of Mika by the way? I think Sacha Baron Cohen is stretching it a, um, bit – but who would you have play Freddie Mercury, Art? Who? 😉 Although I just asked my younger brother (who’s favorite band is incidentally none other than Queen) and he can’t think for the life of him who else would be fitting either…
sally, i have no idea who would be ideal to encompass the mammoth performative icon that is freddie the merc. and to be fair, i have no idea of SBC’s skills. but my cynical side says: okay, he looks a little like him, but this is a “by the numbers” kind of choice: whatever director wants him to do it is confusing the hyperbolic, parodic nature of some of his characters for a “larger than life” quality, and hoping that, since he portrays “flaming” to gales of laughter with one of his ali g. show characters, this will all somehow translate into a successful cinematic portrayal of freddie. maybe said director is right. or maybe freddie will come without any subtlety or nuance. my money’s on the latter.
my cynical side also says…”can george michael act? what about him?”
Hey, no disrespect to the guy and his fans, but beside the fact that he was a bizarre talent in a strangley talented band that I had to work to like even a little, I generally thing biopics suck, and I don’t see what would make a biopic of Freddie Mercury interesting? What? Kind of closeted, over-the-top singer of mostly complete nonsense eventually cuts his hair, grows a ‘stache, decks himself out in leather, and still denies he’s homosexual until he’s a day or two away from dying of AIDS? I’m sorry for being so judgmental when I’ve got absolutely no stake in the matter and probably no business thinking he was such a cultural non-factor. I do think the guy was a unique talent and should be appreciated for his work, but what about his LIFE is even worthy of a failed biopic? You’re really stoked for the inevitable montage of him goofing around in a photo shoot with that woman who was his “best friend?” I only use quotes to hint at the song title, by the way, not to comment on anything that may or may not have gone on between them. All this said, I DO look forward to Kpdexter’s piece on Freddie. Something tells me I may be vastly overlooking more to this guy.
In totally unrelated news, yahoo reports the following:
http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/43496981
Sacha B. Cohen will play Freddie Merc in an upcoming Biopic.
un friggin buh-LEEEVUH-BULL.
Our Daily Copout (re: “key song” placement poll): “good albums have more than one key song”
I’m the sole vote for Side 1, Track 2. No cop-out there (not that you were suggesting that I had), just a powerful insight that the rest of this bunch could learn from.
I would have said the same thing, but whatever it was I said at the Standard Tap got jumped on by a bunch of folks, and it occurred to me later, that 1) I don’t know where the fuck to put songs on a record, less on a CD. 2) What any two people generally think is the “key song” rarely matches up. So I abstained in the poll.
Last song, side one. e.g. Riot Act from Costello’s Get Happy!!
Chickenfrank, your waffling on the Get Happy!! album sides over the years is most disappointing, especially when you shift over to Andyr’s side.
Au Contraire. I’ve been nothing but consistent, if outnumbered, in my reading the album jacket as the correct artistic A/B designation over the album label. I believe you, Andy, and Ken Cills argued the opposite. Any other RTH vinyl-philes even know what this ridiculously small issue is?
My apologies, Chickenfrank, if I’ve misrepresented what must be Andy’s waffling. I surely hope that Andy is proving himself the better man today.
This, for those of you who have not already duked it out with your best-loved rock nerd friends, concerns the true “side 1” and “side 2” of the original vinyl release of Get Happy!! I’ve always been of the belief that “Riot Act” is the end of side 2; Chickenfrank has felt the opposite. Considering just how large a man I can be, I will disregard the fact that all CD releases of this album end with “Riot Act”. I don’t need the support of a damn digital release to back up my claims!
The album label is different than the sleeve listing? I never noticed. I can’t wait to go home and check. Since all digital releases put Riot Act at the end, wouldn’t that end the argument? What evidence does the Riot Act/Side 1 contingent have?
Emotional resonance is the only argument I’m left to stand on. I recall when Rolling Stone first reviewed the album, they described the intentional discrepancy as creating a mobius strip of emotional blah blah blah. I’m confident that when the re-mastered version is released 10 years from now, it will be correctly sequenced MY way.
To me Riot Act is the last song on side 1, and the album ends with High Fidelity.
Will you have to wait that long? Isn’t a new remastered version of these early Elvis albums issued about every other year or so?
Back when there actually was a slim chance that a band I might be in might conceivably record and issue a two-sided vinyl artefact, I *so* wanted to issue said potential vinyl product with a “chicken” and an “egg” side.
All the rotten songs on one side and the frightened angsty ones on the other?
I totally forget where I stood on the Get Happy question. I think I was on the same page as Ken Cills
Groan. Where’s Berlyant when you need him?
What’s the true answer to today’s poll question?
I can’t believe no one got it: Hawkwind! I stopped in a cool record store en route to the movie, and there was something playing that sounded a bit like The Stooges’ Funhouse. I asked the dude behind the counter what it was, and it was a live Hawkwind collection from 2 shows in 1972. I’d never really heard that band – always figured they’d sound like a goofy hippie prog band, like Gong. The stuff on this CD is pretty driving and direct.
Wow. I never would have guessed that you didn’t have any Hawkwind, Mr. Mod. Totally surprised. My favorite song by them is “Silver Machine”, easy.
Plus, that 1972-era iteration featured *Stacia*. I refuse to post a link to any page explaining who this performer was, and what she brought to an otherwise hairy, smelly, greasy and beer-stank band, for reasons of propriety. I just hope the liner notes to this absurd purchase of yours were well illustrated.
Sounds like *Stacia* really *pushes your buttons* Hrrundi…;) p.s. Stacia kinda looks like a man, baby. I had no idea about the interpretive dancing… I just like that song…
No shots of Stacia, but I do recall a Mojo feature on the band that illustrated her talents.
Yep, folks, I’d never really heard them. Kept thinking they’d sound like Gong, who were a major disappointment the time someone lent me a few of their “classic” albums.
Mr. Mod stays mysterious:
I can’t believe no one got it: Hawkwind
I knew I had probably played you Felt back in the day, but I couldn’t guess, so I started the Felt stampede!
Even I voted for Felt, just to keep you off my scent. Truth be told, I can’t recall what Felt sounds like as well. What DO they sound like? Is that a 1-man operation from Chicago, or am I thinking of someone else?
yeah, but what about sacha baron cohen playing freddie mercury in an upcoming biopic?
man, it might be time for my aborted piece on Freddie Mercury as the greatest frontman in rock history to see the light of day.
bring it on, kevin!!!
I’m all ears when it comes to a Freddie Mercury piece – what does everyone think of Mika by the way? I think Sacha Baron Cohen is stretching it a, um, bit – but who would you have play Freddie Mercury, Art? Who? 😉 Although I just asked my younger brother (who’s favorite band is incidentally none other than Queen) and he can’t think for the life of him who else would be fitting either…
So sally, it appears that you bailed on your Hear Factor experience? It was not my intention to ruin your weekend.
Next thing you know, Mr. Mod’s gonna be going deep into the Nazareth back catalog.
sally, i have no idea who would be ideal to encompass the mammoth performative icon that is freddie the merc. and to be fair, i have no idea of SBC’s skills. but my cynical side says: okay, he looks a little like him, but this is a “by the numbers” kind of choice: whatever director wants him to do it is confusing the hyperbolic, parodic nature of some of his characters for a “larger than life” quality, and hoping that, since he portrays “flaming” to gales of laughter with one of his ali g. show characters, this will all somehow translate into a successful cinematic portrayal of freddie. maybe said director is right. or maybe freddie will come without any subtlety or nuance. my money’s on the latter.
my cynical side also says…”can george michael act? what about him?”
Re: Freddie Mercury
Hey, no disrespect to the guy and his fans, but beside the fact that he was a bizarre talent in a strangley talented band that I had to work to like even a little, I generally thing biopics suck, and I don’t see what would make a biopic of Freddie Mercury interesting? What? Kind of closeted, over-the-top singer of mostly complete nonsense eventually cuts his hair, grows a ‘stache, decks himself out in leather, and still denies he’s homosexual until he’s a day or two away from dying of AIDS? I’m sorry for being so judgmental when I’ve got absolutely no stake in the matter and probably no business thinking he was such a cultural non-factor. I do think the guy was a unique talent and should be appreciated for his work, but what about his LIFE is even worthy of a failed biopic? You’re really stoked for the inevitable montage of him goofing around in a photo shoot with that woman who was his “best friend?” I only use quotes to hint at the song title, by the way, not to comment on anything that may or may not have gone on between them. All this said, I DO look forward to Kpdexter’s piece on Freddie. Something tells me I may be vastly overlooking more to this guy.