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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 that there are a lot who 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!
Nice — is it Bobby Vee? I saw him perform with his kids (The Vee Band) at a bar in Alexandria, MN, in the late 80s. He is the only 50s-60s crooner I ever saw live. With no research, I believe his hit was “Rubber Ball.” BTW, the chicks I hung with in the 80s would think ZZ Top dudes to be dreams and David Lee Roth to be a dud.
I know who it is, and I think it’s great. I think a lot of people avoided them for some reason, and I think they missed out on a much more diverse and interesting band than a lot of people think.
Nope, it’s not Bobby Vee. Thanks for keeping the identity of our Mystery Date under wraps, 2K. I’m sure there are a handful of our regulars who know this song, but I’d never heard this stuff until recently. It makes me think I should hear a little more.
For those who don’t know who or what this is, how does it make you feel, man?
I know who it is, and the fact that Bobby Vee seems a credible guess is pretty funny in its own right.
It makes me feel like they should have tried harder.
As long as it isn’t a former member of Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship, Starship, or Ship, as I believe they were known for about a week, I will be happy & grateful.
I have no idea. Nope. Nothing.
1971? Beatles influenced, but Billy Preston Beatles with that electric piano. Dunno if it’s an English guy trying to sound American, but he also has a weird kind of Neil Young vibe. And how does it make me feel? Uncomfortable in that songs about guys who sell shoes who might be heroin addicts are creepy. Did Lou Reed produce this?
bostonhistorian is real close, if not on the money, with the release date; his impressions of our Mystery Date are EXACTLY what we’re looking for, AND his guess on a Lou Reed connection is very warm, although no, Reed did not produce this.
bobbyb, fear not, to the best of my knowledge I have spared us all a Jefferson Airplane/Starship connection.
It’s like Herman’s Hermits working with Leon Russell or something like that
Hmmmm, maybe I do have an idea who this is, after all.
I like the song and sound. Has a Mike Nesmith updated as Sloan vibe to my ears. Clues seem to indicate it’s a group rather than an artist so my guess is probably wrong, but, is it Jackie Lomax?
It sounds like post-sexual revolution Cowsills or Monkees or Herman’s Hermits, although it certainly is NOT a British band…just American wannabes. Production values are post-70’s, I think, as are the ironic sentiments. “I know a shoe salesman. He’s an acquaintance of mine.” I laughed at he outset…then I cried. I’m not sure who this is, but I’d be surprised if the writer and/or singer weren’t a keen observer of pop music history.
I have no idea, but here’s the circumstantial evidence I gathered:
1. Dude can’t sing — hence the double-tracked vocals, to try and cover his inability to stay on pitch. So he’s a second banana from a more famous band with a good singer.
2. Dude sounds wasted — drug-taking second bananas don’t seem to get record contracts anymore, and the major 7 chords — well, I’d say this was recorded in the late 70s/early 80s
3. Production is pretty shambolic, but the song structure is otherwise pretty traditional (almost 1970s AM radio)… which leads me to believe it was a side production project of a guy active as a “senior statesman” during punk’s heyday. Can’t think who that could be, though.
4. Accent is British.
Is any of that close? In general, I thought the track was pretty weak.
It’s not Jackie Lomax, chick, but your description is a good one. Yours too, gary – and you’re right, it’s a highly American *band*.
1. British
2. Sloppy playing/production – almost sounds like a demo
3. Very Beatles influenced – but as someone pointed out sort of early 70’s production style
After that…I got nuthin.
hrrundi, a few replies to your fine observations:
1. Nope, somehow this guy has maintained lead banana status his entire career.
2. You’re wrong on the date, and I believe the singer is one of rock’s most notorious faux-keeeerrraaaaazzzy! artists. I could be wrong about the pose, and that probably gives away way too much, if you know me and my longstanding biases.
3. No.
4. It may be, but it’s fake British.
The Beatles style with early ’70s production is something I think we can agree on. I’ve got to run to a meeting, but I’ll probably post the identity of our Mystery Date before lunchtime. For those of you who DO NOT KNOW this song, keep posting your observations of the music and the artist’s possible identity!
After hearing this, I may have to hit the golf course…And I don’t golf. I got it.
TB
No, I have no idea who this is….. Or don’t I?
Right after “I do not know what to say,” catch how he rips off the Beatles’ piano riff that comes after “Baby you can drive my car”
TB’s hit on an EXCELLENT clue! Meanwhile, bobbybittman has reached me offlist, finally making a correct guess. He had a few incorrect guesses first, including consideration of one of my own bands – until he realized that I probably would have heard the song before had I been involved in its recording!
I’ll reveal the Mystery Date shortly. Meanwhile, the rest of you can keep pondering this oddity!
I think I’ve got it entirely due to reading the clues. My 1st thought (since disproved) was one of those whimsical, stoned-on-the-Canterbury-Green type bands like Caravan or Camel.
Listened again after and I still don’t hear him in the vocal but the backing band sounds right.
Oh, I’ve got it! It’s the lead singer for Cannibal Corpse!!!