Let’s review the ground rules here. The Mystery Date song is not necessarily something I believe to be good. So feel free to rip it or praise it. Rather the song is something of interest due to the artist, influences, time period… Your job is to decipher as much as you can about the artist without research. Who do you think it is? Or, Who do you think it sounds like? When do you think it was recorded? Etc…
If you know who it is, don’t spoil it for the rest. Anyone who knows it can play the “mockcarr option.” (And I’ve got a hunch at least one of you know this one.) This option is for those of you who just can’t hold your tongue and must let everyone know just how in-the-know you are by calling it. So if you know who it is and want everyone else to know that you know, email Mr. Moderator at mrmoderator [at] rocktownhall [dot] com. If correct we will post how brilliant you are in the Comments section.
The real test of strength though is to guess as close as possible without knowing. Ready, steady, go!
I’m getting a “self-produced” vibe. Lots of layers that usually come from fiddling to much with a song. I’m thinking the drums aren’t real either. The guitar soloing is cliched.
Early 90’s ?? Is it John Stamos let loose in the studio.
I believe the drums are real. It is not self-produced, but it was produced by a man more known for producing more synthy records from Europe.
It is not John Stamos! It is not from the 90’s!
It sounds like Evan Dando covering an obscure Elvis Costello throw-away.
I can’t imagine Evan Dando making a recording that has this kind of production.
The artist is a member of a well-known band. The songwriter is also well-known, or at least, mostly well-known.
To me this sounds like a guitarist’s solo album — somebody who usually doesn’t do lead vocals. Is it John Munson from Semisonic?
Is that the flipside to Kokomo?
Funoka – very good! But John Munson plays bass and his voice doesn’t sound like that. But yes, it is a guitarist’s solo album! Munson had better moments in Trip Shakespeare than in Semisonic, IMHO.
Fun fact that I looked up: The B-side to Kokomo was Little Richard’s Tutti Fruitti, another song from the soundtrack of the major motion picture, “Cocktail.” Funny, nobody mentioned “Cocktail” in the great rock moments in film thread. I wonder why?
That is precisely what it sounds like!
I just bought the latest Sloan album. Is it a track I’m going to be hearing from that release? 🙂
Your hint about the producer makes me wonder if that same producer would later (or earlier) use similar pop sensibilities in unexpectedly producing an album by a certain Scottish octet (or however many people were in the band at the time of said album).
I can’t rely identify any particular style in the guitar solo, so I’m stumped about the artist – NOT that guessing is the purpose of the game!
Ok, ok, I can hear the Evan Dando thing a little.
Producer is not Trevor Horn! That might be a tough angle, to guess the producer. The artist and songwriter are easier. As a guitarist, I’d say he is known for playing economically and for brief, concisely melody solos.
You know those famous bands where people can name one or two members? He’s in one of those bands.
Melodic, not melody. Darn auto correct.
American or English, cher?
He is American and his band came blasting out of the gate with their first album in the late 70’s.
The guy from the Knack?
No. This band was waaay more popular and had a much longer run than the Knack. Also, every member of this band made a solo album, except for the drummer. I guess you could do that when the band had its own recording studio. And they are from the opposite end on the US from the Knack.
Greg Easton?
I mean Elliot Easton.
Boom! And the songwriter is…
The guy from the Knack has much, much better guitar tones.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTniZATZ9Ow
Producer of Easton’s album was Steven Hague…
Meanwhile, keyboard player Greg Hawkes has apparently been making ukelele versions of Beatles tunes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3wFv_UO_50
Todd Rundgren? Maybe this is how Todd got invited to The New Cars?
Didn’t Hague produce some lousy Costello album, perhaps the lousiest: Goodbye Cruel World?
Dang! I actually an Easton album way back when. Is it off “Change No Change”?
You’re thinking of Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley, who produced goodbye cruel world and I think also punch the clock. Also Bowie and Jagger’s dancing in the street. But more known for producing most of Madness’ albums.
Stephen Hague has produced Pete Shelley, New Order, PIL, etc.
I used to have an Elliott easton solo album. Didn’t he co-write the songs with Jules Shear?
Whoops. You Tube link in post 17 was meant to be labeled with Jules Shears’ name.
And yes, it was from Easton’s album, change no change. I read a glowing review of it eons ago and finally remember it while web surfing one night. That was the best of the songs I heard, which isn’t saying a lot.