How many typical Thanksgiving foods can you cite in the lyrics of rock songs?
For what is a veteran rock star more thankful in his autobiography: the patience, love, and support of his first wife, who raised their children almost singlehandedly during the rocker’s long journey to unfulfilling superstardom, or the “on-the-rebound” support of his younger, new edition wife?
Which rock musician or entire band would you most like to invite to your Thanksgiving dinner – and why?
When you think pre- or post-song “thank you” from the onstage patter of a live album or concert film what’s the first one that comes to mind? (See my choice, above.)
What’s your favorite song of thanks, specifically a song with the words “thanks” or “thank you” in the title?
Finally, if you haven’t gotten around to it yet, here’s an opportunity to give thanks to a fellow Townsperson for turning you onto something during your time in the Halls of Rock!
Pass de turkey ‘pon da left han side.
The line “oh, you forgot cranberries, too” from The Waitresses’ “Christmas Wrapping” immediately came to mind here. The song also has a line about the “world’s smallest turkey”. I know, wrong holiday, but right food!
Isn’t it always the second wife? For example, I just read Johnny Cash’s autobiography recently and as you might expect, it seemed like half of it was about his relationship with June (not a bad thing, I’m just sayin’).
Maybe Elvis Costello?
Does the “scream for me Long Beach” segment of Iron Maiden’s Live After Death count? Or Elvis’ “thank you, thank you” stage banter?
Big Star’s “Thank You Friends”.
Others:
The Damned “Thanks for the Night”
Sticks and Stones “Thanks for the Cash”
The Three Wise Men (aka XTC) “Thanks for Christmas”
This also makes me think of the “thanks Malc” t-shirt that Pete Thomas wore on SNL back in 1977.
I’ve gotta thank Mr. Mod for sending me a copy of The Undertones’ Hypnotised a while back and kpdexter for hooking me up with some Pollard rarities and other stuff.
How many typical Thanksgiving foods can you cite in the lyrics of rock songs?
One: the Mashed Potato
For what is a veteran rock star more thankful in his autobiography: the patience, love, and support of his first wife, who raised their children almost singlehandedly during the rocker’s long journey to unfulfilling superstardom, or the “on-the-rebound” support of his younger, new edition wife?
Always the new bride.
Which rock musician or entire band would you most like to invite to your Thanksgiving dinner – and why?
Not a rock guy but Tony Bennett has long been my number one celebrity to have over for dinner. He’d show up with a nice bottle of wine or maybe some cannoli from Petito’s, and spin show biz yarns from back in the day in that soothing voice of his. He wouldn’t trash the place or shoot up/throw up in the bathroom.
When you think pre- or post-song “thank you” from the onstage patter of a live album or concert film what’s the first one that comes to mind? (See my choice, above.)
That’s probably mine too.
What’s your favorite song of thanks, specifically a song with the words “thanks” or “thank you” in the title?
Either Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin), or Thank You Friends, which I used to hate but am a-okay with now
Finally, if you haven’t gotten around to it yet, here’s an opportunity to give thanks to a fellow Townsperson for turning you onto something during your time in the Halls of Rock!
I want to thank Mr. Mod for his tireless efforts to provide a safe haven for rock nerds to gather. I’d also like to thank Big Steve for helping me track down the music to “Bid Bad Bill Is Sweet William Now”. Finally, I’d like to thank all the little people.
“Which rock musician or entire band would you most like to invite to your Thanksgiving dinner – and why?”
Wings! More turkey left for me!
How many typical Thanksgiving foods can you cite in the lyrics of rock songs?
Cranberry Sauce in I Am The Walrus
Cold Turkey
Pass The Peas
Flaming Pie (I would certainly get drunk and forget the pie was in the oven)
For what is a veteran rock star more thankful in his autobiography: the patience, love, and support of his first wife, who raised their children almost singlehandedly during the rocker’s long journey to unfulfilling superstardom, or the “on-the-rebound” support of his younger, new edition wife?
New Model
Which rock musician or entire band would you most like to invite to your Thanksgiving dinner – and why?
I like what the Three Stooges do with turkey, but as they are not a rock band I will have to say
When you think pre- or post-song “thank you” from the onstage patter of a live album or concert film what’s the first one that comes to mind? (See my choice, above.)
The supposedly not-making-fun-of-his-Beatle-self rooftop thank you from John in Let It Be
What’s your favorite song of thanks, specifically a song with the words “thanks” or “thank you” in the title?
I Thank You
Finally, if you haven’t gotten around to it yet, here’s an opportunity to give thanks to a fellow Townsperson for turning you onto something during your time in the Halls of Rock!
Thank you for turning me onto the Honeybus those many years ago. I believe it was Chalfen. I’d heard the one hit, but the other stuff they did from that era is so much better.
1. Mojo Nixon, Stuffin Martha’s Muffin. Two foods in one song!
2. If he wants to stay married, he better thank the new wife.
3. The Eagles, just to see if the Felder book is accurate. Unfortunately I don’t have enough rooms at my place for each Eagle to eat separately in his own private space.
4. Elvis’ “Thankyuvurrymush.”
5. Sam & Dave, I Thank You.
6. I want to thank The Back Office. Now I don’t feel like I need new glasses anymore.
I don’t have too much time to answer now, I just want to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.
On the food question, let’s not forget John Lennon’s Give Peas A Chance.
[rimshot!]
How many typical Thanksgiving foods can you cite in the lyrics of rock songs?
I’m sure Radiohead has a couple in some of their songs. They mention Flan in Wolf at the Door; and being a Mexican-American, Flan usually coincides with Thanksgiving
For what is a veteran rock star more thankful in his autobiography: the patience, love, and support of his first wife, who raised their children almost singlehandedly during the rocker’s long journey to unfulfilling superstardom, or the “on-the-rebound” support of his younger, new edition wife?
definitly hte younger edition, though John Lennon is kind of a paradox with Yoko being older than his first wife, i think. What pretensious loser!
Which rock musician or entire band would you most like to invite to your Thanksgiving dinner – and why?
I think the Flaming Lips would make for a fun Thanksgiving
When you think pre- or post-song “thank you” from the onstage patter of a live album or concert film what’s the first one that comes to mind?
I actually can’t think of any! I don’t have many live albums.
What’s your favorite song of thanks, specifically a song with the words “thanks” or “thank you” in the title?
Gracias by Café Tacuba! It’s hilarious. they sarcastically thank no one in particular for liberty and freedom, and then throw in a random 16-tom drum solo for no apperent reason (and this is a band that until recently, used drum machines exclusively).
Berlyant sighs:
Maybe Elvis Costello?
I say:
Oh, please. “Maybe”?!
mockcarr wrote:
OK, let’s get something straight: no one suggested that Lennon was not mocking his Beatle self. The problem, regarding that thread, was that Lennon was not yet a former Beatle. I was starting to feel sorry for giving a few of you such a hard time over that thread and your comments, but now I see that what I did was necessary. Sadly, my work in these areas is not done.
That said, I’m very thankful for your answers so far. Keep on keepin’ on!
Hrrundi writes:
He’s gonna have to fight Andyr for Elvis’ Thanksgiving attention.
More importantly, I’m still waiting for Berlyant to answer the “why?” part of that question. I put it in there specifically for him:)
How many typical Thanksgiving foods can you cite in the lyrics of rock songs?
“My Sweet Potato,” Booker T & the MGs
For what is a veteran rock star more thankful in his autobiography: the patience, love, and support of his first wife, who raised their children almost singlehandedly during the rocker’s long journey to unfulfilling superstardom, or the “on-the-rebound” support of his younger, new edition wife?
The latter, usually.
Which rock musician or entire band would you most like to invite to your Thanksgiving dinner – and why?
Townsman Massimo once told me about an MTV contest in the 80s where the winner would get to have Kevin Dubrow over for Thanksgiving. He correctly observed that the winner of said contest ought to receive a guarantee that Kevin Dubrow would NOT be coming over to the holiday feast. Honestly, can you imagine a worse guest on that occasion?
I suppose if I could choose anybody, alive or dead, it’d be “Pops” Staples. Or Curtis Mayfield. Both those guys would have a sincere appreciation for the thankfulness we’re actually supposed to be feeling right about now — and they’d have amazing stories to tell. In the “alive only” category, I suppose I’d choose… oh… David Lee Roth. Might as well have some fun with it.
When you think pre- or post-song “thank you” from the onstage patter of a live album or concert film what’s the first one that comes to mind?
I have a dreadful/fantastic “trackkkkk” by the New Barbarians where a clearly intoxicated Ronnie Wood belches the words “thank yewww…” into the mic at the end of “F.U.C. Her,” which I’ve always waited for. One of these days, I’ll post that track. It’s quite remarkable.
What’s your favorite song of thanks, specifically a song with the words “thanks” or “thank you” in the title?
“Thank You Friends” is a Great one.
Let it be said, by the way, that I’m thankful for all the hard work Mod and thebackoffice put into this site — thanks!
HVB, please do post that New Barbarians track – or maybe you can hold off until we launch our offshoot blog, devoted solely to the music of the New Barbarians.
By the way, there’s no need to thank Mr. Mod on that last question. I thank you for thanking me, but you thank me every day you log on and make me laugh and/or think about music in a new way.
1) Mashed Potatoes in the Kink’s Skin and Bones
2) More grateful to the first wife for all the pre-fame support and taking care of the batch of kids he doesn’t care about.
3)Willie Nelson, cause he always brings the “salad” to dinner.
4) Lennon’s “rattle your jewelry” line might qualify as a pre Thank You. Johnny Thunder’s numerous thank yous to all the boring motherfuckers are great too.
5) All the good Thank You songs are taken. (I’ll leave Natalie Merchant’s on the table) so give me Please, Please, Please from J.B. and You’re Welcome from The Undertones.
6)Your Love is like a Seesaw. Mmmmm, welsh stallion!
Maybe because he would have amazing stories to tell. I wouldn’t mind having Curtis Mayfield (if he was still alive) over for dinner, either! So far I like chickenfrank’s answer (Willie Nelson) the best. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
I just keep thinking of King Khan and BBQ’s song, “What’s for Dinner.” I think it has pretty much every kind of food mentioned in it.
I would think it would always be the current wife. Some rock stars are pretty dumb, though.
The Sadies. They seem like nice normal people that I wouldn’t mind having over for dinner. It’s Thanksgiving, not Jack Daniel’s Day.
On a 73 King Biscuit broadcast of The Stones after Keith sings “Happy,” Mick says, “Fank yooo Keef. That wuz a gooood wan.” It just cracks me up.
All I can think of off the top of my head is Faraway Eyes. Thank you Jesus, thank you lord..
Thanks Saturnismine for The Original Sins. I like that quite a bit!
Mr. Mod – I have the unedited version of The New Barbarians Culver City Rehearsals from a source very close to the master. It has all the ten minute pauses between takes where absolutely no one says anything and all you ever hear are lighters and doors closing. Maybe we could splice all that together and with the first All New Barbarians, All The Time Blog post we could call them the rehearsal outtakes.
Think of the traffic that’ll draw!
Hope you all had a good Thanksgiving. I guess our Canadian and Australian Townspeople did not celebrate this awesome holiday today. Too bad. I think it’s the best the US has got. Here are my answers:
1. Honestly, I didn’t put much thought into this. I threw the question out there because I knew you’d come up with more than the one that came to my mind, the crandberry sauce in “Strawberry Fields Forever.”
2. As I tore through the awesome Don Felder autobiography, I was struck by the Mad props he gave to his first wife. The woman stuck it out through his entire 27 years on and off with The Eagles. She lived through finding out about his countless groupie gropings on The Road. She raised 4 kids. Eventually she gets a life for herself, while the newly faithful Don is winding through his final years with the band. She throws herself into her own business. Now, when Don is home for a month, Susan no longer fawns over him like she did when they were in the early years of their marriage and she didn’t have 14 years of anonymous blowjobs on her mind. Now, Don’s feelings are hurt by the distance in their marriage. All along he’s dishing out the props, telling us how much he loves her, how supportive she’s been, how much of a saint she’s been…BUT THEN…Don convinces her to cut out from her jewelry business a little early for a movie and dinner. Susan shows up 40 minutes late, and then – because she skipped lunch for her work – she gobbles down a box of popcorn during the movie, then tells Don she’s not hungry for dinner. Don is crushed. Divorce papers are served shortly thereafter, and then New Model Squeeze (NMS), a younger edition, comes into his life. Although NMS is the woman he’d been looking for since the dawn of time, when things go really rotten with the Eagles and Don gets the boot, it’s Susan who gets the call for understanding and sympathy. Don gushes over his first wife until his fantastic autobiography closes.3. Well, I would have thought about Joe Strummer if he were around, but it’s best I invite a fellow countryman. Watching football games is a big part of my Thanksgiving, even the hideous Lions and the hated Cowboys. Even though I’m not a huge fan of his music and even though he’s be rooting for the Cowboys, for some reason I think Lyle Lovett might be a good Thanksgiving dinner guest, able to make conversation with family members across generations.
4. I answered this one already.
5. Sly and the Family Stone’s “Thankyoufaletinmebemicelf,” or however he spells it, nudges The Beatles’ “Thank You Girl.”
6. There are always lots of thanks to go around, but one Townsperson I haven’t thanked recently is E. Pluribus Gergely, who’s as much the soul of this place as anyone. I’m still hopeful we’ll see the groundbreaking piece he talked about and intended to draft all this past summer. Maybe over the holidays…
Hey Mod, don’t spoil the ending of that Felder bio for those of who are slower readers and working through it at our own pace.
Sorry about that spoiler, Mwall. I’ll delete what I wrote.