How did pop's finest decade fair in the mother country? Strikingly similar to our own in most cases. It was the decade of The Beatles, and they dominated the British charts just as they did here in the states. Still, there are plenty of diamonds to be mined from our neighbor's hits, some familiar, some completely unknown. Today's post has been insanely fun to put together. The 70's are going to have to go quite a distance to top this!
1.) Bad To Me - Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas (August 22, 1963)
While not my favorite Lennon/McCartney track that the two gave away (That distinction goes to "Woman", magnificently covered by Peter & Gordon), "Bad To Me" is still a fine example of how anything associated with The Fab Four turned to gold in '63/'64. Reaching number nine in the US, it holds the distinction of being the first cover song by The Beatles to hit the Billboard Charts. In the UK, it stayed at number one for three weeks before being toppled by "She Loves You".
2.) Nut Rocker - B. Bumble & the Stingers (May 17, 1962)
Ladies and gentlemen, the birth of Prog Rock! Recorded by an American instrumental group with a strange name, it went to #23 here but topped the pops in England, showing an entire generation how the classics could combine with contemporary music seamlessly.
ELP pays tribute to their forefathers!
3.) Blackberry Way - The Move (February 8, 1969)
Dark Psychedelia from future ELO'er Roy Wood. Jeff Lynne would join the group by year's end, setting the stage for those seventies titan's genesis. It is said to be an answer song to "Penny Lane", which would explain the similar cadence. Chris Martin has said that "Strawberry Swing" is Coldplay's answer song to it! The circle continues!
4.) Albatross - Fleetwood Mac (February 1, 1969)
February 1969 was a good month for chart toppers in England! Before the Buckingham/Nicks era of the group, Peter Green ruled the Mac roost with incredible guitar workouts like this, which made it all the way to #104 in the US, showing that our across-the-pond neighbors still had us topped in musical taste!
5.) Go Now - The Moody Blues (January 28, 1965)
Before Denny Laine became the only permanent member of Wings (Besides the McCartneys), he fronted a Justin Hayward-less version of The Moodies, giving them their first success with this heartwrenching Bessie Banks cover. Makes you wish Macca had let him sing lead a few more times doesn't it?
6.) Lily The Pink - The Scaffold (December 14, 1968 & January 11, 1969)
Silly little folk song that captured the British imagination at Christmas time in 1968, becoming the all important number one of that holiday. It also came back to the top position in the following January. Oddly enough, a version by The Irish Rovers charted in America, while this one went nowhere!
7.) Legend Of The Xanadu - Dave, Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich (March 23, 1968)
Falling in love with this beat group after their inclusion on the Deathproof soundtrack, I am beyond shocked that these guys put out a psych masterpiece that had completely missed my ears!!! Another "no charter" in the US, I believe this is one of the great lost gems from the era, deserving of a revival! Wes Anderson, put this in your next flick! BEST FORGOTTEN SONG OF THE DECADE!!!!!!!!!!
8.) Cinderella Rockefella - Esther & Abi Ofarim ( March 2, 1968)
And what, pray tell, proceeded "Xanadu"? This crazy track from Isreali pop stars! The sixties were awesome!! Fun Fact: This is reportedly the last song broadcast on Radio Caroline of Pirate Radio fame! Fun Fact # 2: it was co-written by Mason Williams, of "Classical Gas" fame!
9.) Out Of Time - Chris Farlowe (July 28, 1966)
The Stones recorded their composition first, but it took Mr. Farlowe's version (Produced by Mick Jagger himself) to make it a number one smash.
10.) Israelites - Desmond Dekker & The Aces ( April 19, 1969)
Herein lies the spark that made Reggae an international phenomenon. It inspired The Beatles, Gus Van Zant and Jimmy Cliff, just to name a few. If not for those darn Dave, Dee and "such"-ers, it would easily be my favorite of the week. However, this transcends lists because it's one of the most important tracks of all time, regardless of chart position. Rest in peace dear Desmond (He passed away in 2006)!
That was incredible! I can't wait to see what the 70's have in store for the UK charts. See ya next week!!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Forgotten # 1's: UK Edition
AND WE'RE BACK!!!!!!!
It took a minute, but I think I've finally come up with an interesting topic to follow for a couple of months! The fact of the matter is that in both the UK and the US countless songs have been number one singles since their respective chart's debuts in the early 50's. However, as modern listeners we've probably only heard about 35%, which leaves a gaping hole of discovery ripe for the picking!! I've decided to do each post by decade, starting with the British Charts, than switching back to the 1950s and America after the UK Aughts are sufficiently covered. This could be quite a journey: 10 songs a decade, some great, some terrible, some downright odd.......GOOD TIMES!!!!!
Let's get cracking!!!!!
Forgotten # 1's: UK Edition (The 1950's)
1.) The Day The Rains Came - Jane Morgan (January 23, 1959)
Apparently it was very important that the rain finally made its appearance! Originally recorded as a French ballad, it was translated to English and became Ms. Morgan's career milestone, besides taking over Angela Lansbury's title role in the Broadway musical Mame. Odd, but quite pretty this one.
2.) It Doesn't Matter Anymore - Buddy Holly (April 24, 1959)
Although it only made it to # 13 in America, this posthumous hit, written by Paul Anka, skyrocketed to the top of the British hit parade in the wake of Holly's death. In a canon of highly influential work, this shows the balladeer Holly might have become.
3.) When - The Kalin Twins (August 22, 1958)
Well, we can't all be The Everlys!
Classic 50's revival circuit footage from Wembley in the late 80's!!!!
4.) The Story Of My Life - Michael Holliday (February 14, 1958)
An early hit by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, this track had already topped the country charts in the US with an immaculate version by Marty Robbins before British Crooner Holliday got his hands on it. While not a definitive take, you gotta love that clipped, proper whistling!!!
5.) She Wears Red Feathers - Guy Mitchell ( March 13, 1953)
So wrong, yet so damn catchy!!!!
6.) Answer Me - Frankie Laine (November 13, 1953)
One of the only instances in pop music history where the track that proceeded and followed a number one hit was the same song by a different artist (David Whitfield did both!). England simply couldn't get enough of this, I suppose!
7.) Oh Mein Papa - Eddie Calvert (January 8, 1954)
Everybody and their mother covered this standard, but only English trumpeter Calvert took it to the top of the pops, as an instrumental no less!!
8.)Rock and Roll Waltz - Kay Starr (March 30, 1956)
Catching your parents enjoying your music wouldn't be described this brilliantly until "Surrender" by Cheap Trick 22 years later! Also topped the charts in the US, which happens less often then you would think.
9.) Cumberland Gap - Lonnie Donegan (April 12, 1957)
The father of Skiffle and the reason John Lennon picked up the guitar was number one for seven weeks with this classic. BEST FORGOTTEN SONG OF THE DECADE!!!!!
10.) A Fool Such As I - Elvis Presley (May 15, 1959)
Elvis had so many hits in both the UK and the US that it is easy to overlook a few, and this country classic originally recorded by Hank Snow was a double A-Side with "I Need You Love Tonight" that made it to the top in England but not in the King's homeland. Great vocal delivery on this one!
The 60's rears its head next week, and the UK doesn't disappoint with some forgotten gems. See ya then!
It took a minute, but I think I've finally come up with an interesting topic to follow for a couple of months! The fact of the matter is that in both the UK and the US countless songs have been number one singles since their respective chart's debuts in the early 50's. However, as modern listeners we've probably only heard about 35%, which leaves a gaping hole of discovery ripe for the picking!! I've decided to do each post by decade, starting with the British Charts, than switching back to the 1950s and America after the UK Aughts are sufficiently covered. This could be quite a journey: 10 songs a decade, some great, some terrible, some downright odd.......GOOD TIMES!!!!!
Let's get cracking!!!!!
Forgotten # 1's: UK Edition (The 1950's)
1.) The Day The Rains Came - Jane Morgan (January 23, 1959)
Apparently it was very important that the rain finally made its appearance! Originally recorded as a French ballad, it was translated to English and became Ms. Morgan's career milestone, besides taking over Angela Lansbury's title role in the Broadway musical Mame. Odd, but quite pretty this one.
2.) It Doesn't Matter Anymore - Buddy Holly (April 24, 1959)
Although it only made it to # 13 in America, this posthumous hit, written by Paul Anka, skyrocketed to the top of the British hit parade in the wake of Holly's death. In a canon of highly influential work, this shows the balladeer Holly might have become.
3.) When - The Kalin Twins (August 22, 1958)
Well, we can't all be The Everlys!
Classic 50's revival circuit footage from Wembley in the late 80's!!!!
4.) The Story Of My Life - Michael Holliday (February 14, 1958)
An early hit by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, this track had already topped the country charts in the US with an immaculate version by Marty Robbins before British Crooner Holliday got his hands on it. While not a definitive take, you gotta love that clipped, proper whistling!!!
5.) She Wears Red Feathers - Guy Mitchell ( March 13, 1953)
So wrong, yet so damn catchy!!!!
6.) Answer Me - Frankie Laine (November 13, 1953)
One of the only instances in pop music history where the track that proceeded and followed a number one hit was the same song by a different artist (David Whitfield did both!). England simply couldn't get enough of this, I suppose!
7.) Oh Mein Papa - Eddie Calvert (January 8, 1954)
Everybody and their mother covered this standard, but only English trumpeter Calvert took it to the top of the pops, as an instrumental no less!!
8.)Rock and Roll Waltz - Kay Starr (March 30, 1956)
Catching your parents enjoying your music wouldn't be described this brilliantly until "Surrender" by Cheap Trick 22 years later! Also topped the charts in the US, which happens less often then you would think.
9.) Cumberland Gap - Lonnie Donegan (April 12, 1957)
The father of Skiffle and the reason John Lennon picked up the guitar was number one for seven weeks with this classic. BEST FORGOTTEN SONG OF THE DECADE!!!!!
10.) A Fool Such As I - Elvis Presley (May 15, 1959)
Elvis had so many hits in both the UK and the US that it is easy to overlook a few, and this country classic originally recorded by Hank Snow was a double A-Side with "I Need You Love Tonight" that made it to the top in England but not in the King's homeland. Great vocal delivery on this one!
The 60's rears its head next week, and the UK doesn't disappoint with some forgotten gems. See ya then!
Monday, May 9, 2011
JDIZZY's 365 # 365: The Luckiest
The Luckiest - Ben Folds (2001)
Here we are.
When I started this project a year ago, I knew that this song would end the list. I think that's what made me keep going, more so than stubborn determination or wanting to follow through with something of this scope for the first time in my life. I knew that "The Luckiest" was waiting for me.
And it deserved to be praised.
On September 11, 2001, Ben Folds released his first proper solo album, Rockin' The Suburbs. After a few weeks, when our nation had a chance to breathe again, people began to take notice of this brilliant little set of tunes. It's now become regarded by fans as his greatest work. The wiley prankster of "Song for The Dumped" and "Army" seems to grow up here into a songwriter of extraordinary depth, only hinted at before on his biggest hit single, "Brick".
We are shown a elderly man being forced into retirement against his wishes.
We are given the Savior-like delusions of an acid casualty.
We meet a bored suburban girl who spelled her name without an H.
And we were given the most beautiful love song of the 21st Century.
"The Luckiest" captures everything holy about two people's love for each other better than any Sonnet of Shakespeare, any Song of Solomon or any Soliloquy of Sondheim. Questions are asked, alternate realities are proposed and comparisons are made, yet the one constant truth that this song shows us is that soulmates exist. There's no sense in trying to explain it away with science, psychology or cynicism. The love of your life is out there, and they will feel the same way about you.
The idea of one person being made for you can sometimes feel like the most naive , antiquated myth to ever grace the hopeful minds of human existence.
Then you meet them.
In just a few months, the woman that has made every word of this song true for me, Candice Marie Brechbiel, will change her name to Candice Marie Jewell. After she does, we will follow in the time-honored tradition of our forefathers and dance our first dance as man and wife.
And it will be to this song.
And I'll cry.
And she will too.
And that's ok, because both of our lives have been leading up to this moment.
Thank you fate, from the bottom of my heart.
Thanks to everyone who's stuck with the 365. It's been an honor.
Here we are.
When I started this project a year ago, I knew that this song would end the list. I think that's what made me keep going, more so than stubborn determination or wanting to follow through with something of this scope for the first time in my life. I knew that "The Luckiest" was waiting for me.
And it deserved to be praised.
On September 11, 2001, Ben Folds released his first proper solo album, Rockin' The Suburbs. After a few weeks, when our nation had a chance to breathe again, people began to take notice of this brilliant little set of tunes. It's now become regarded by fans as his greatest work. The wiley prankster of "Song for The Dumped" and "Army" seems to grow up here into a songwriter of extraordinary depth, only hinted at before on his biggest hit single, "Brick".
We are shown a elderly man being forced into retirement against his wishes.
We are given the Savior-like delusions of an acid casualty.
We meet a bored suburban girl who spelled her name without an H.
And we were given the most beautiful love song of the 21st Century.
"The Luckiest" captures everything holy about two people's love for each other better than any Sonnet of Shakespeare, any Song of Solomon or any Soliloquy of Sondheim. Questions are asked, alternate realities are proposed and comparisons are made, yet the one constant truth that this song shows us is that soulmates exist. There's no sense in trying to explain it away with science, psychology or cynicism. The love of your life is out there, and they will feel the same way about you.
The idea of one person being made for you can sometimes feel like the most naive , antiquated myth to ever grace the hopeful minds of human existence.
Then you meet them.
In just a few months, the woman that has made every word of this song true for me, Candice Marie Brechbiel, will change her name to Candice Marie Jewell. After she does, we will follow in the time-honored tradition of our forefathers and dance our first dance as man and wife.
And it will be to this song.
And I'll cry.
And she will too.
And that's ok, because both of our lives have been leading up to this moment.
Thank you fate, from the bottom of my heart.
Thanks to everyone who's stuck with the 365. It's been an honor.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
JDIZZY's 365 # 364: From The Darkness
From the Darkness - Spock's Beard (2010)
One of the main reasons I started this blog was to express my love for a much maligned genre of music. Besides New Age or Disco, no group of musicians were more loathed at one time the 20th century than the proggers. Amazingly, times have changed. New Age has an outstanding nationally syndicated radio prgram called Echoes to sing its praises. Disco is considered the epitome of 70's pop culture, and is roundly celebrated for its brilliant producers and artists. However, prog rock's rebirth has to be the most surprising. Not only has it been reconsidered by most music critics, but the wealth of new material is staggering ( So much so that you can walk into Barnes & Noble and puchase a magazine entitled Classic Rock Presents Prog.) Much of this has to do with three bands, and their offshoots: Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree and Spock's Beard. The band that makes the cut for the 365 is the latter. Spock's Beard truly embraces Prog's history while hurling it further into the present. Once lead by Neal Morse (who now rules Transatlantic with former Dream Theater drummer/mastermind Mike Portnoy), Spock's Beard has continued to release masterful works that challenge, entertain and stupefy all at the same time. Their current disc, X, is a doozy: track after mindnumbing track of dexterity, passion and craftmanship. If I had to pick a favorite in their 19 year career, it would be this. And the penultimate track from the disc is 17 minutes long, with not an ounce of filler. Set aside some time for "From the Darkness", pull up the lyrics on the web and listen. You will see why this album was almost completely financed by fans of the group. Who wouldn't want this music to be recorded for the ages?
Prog will continue to mutate, grow, digress and change just like any other art that we love. What's reassuring about this journey is that thanks to bands like Spock's Beard, rock's intelligent, redheaded stepchild has quite a future ahead of him!
From the Darkness by manticorelover98
One of the main reasons I started this blog was to express my love for a much maligned genre of music. Besides New Age or Disco, no group of musicians were more loathed at one time the 20th century than the proggers. Amazingly, times have changed. New Age has an outstanding nationally syndicated radio prgram called Echoes to sing its praises. Disco is considered the epitome of 70's pop culture, and is roundly celebrated for its brilliant producers and artists. However, prog rock's rebirth has to be the most surprising. Not only has it been reconsidered by most music critics, but the wealth of new material is staggering ( So much so that you can walk into Barnes & Noble and puchase a magazine entitled Classic Rock Presents Prog.) Much of this has to do with three bands, and their offshoots: Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree and Spock's Beard. The band that makes the cut for the 365 is the latter. Spock's Beard truly embraces Prog's history while hurling it further into the present. Once lead by Neal Morse (who now rules Transatlantic with former Dream Theater drummer/mastermind Mike Portnoy), Spock's Beard has continued to release masterful works that challenge, entertain and stupefy all at the same time. Their current disc, X, is a doozy: track after mindnumbing track of dexterity, passion and craftmanship. If I had to pick a favorite in their 19 year career, it would be this. And the penultimate track from the disc is 17 minutes long, with not an ounce of filler. Set aside some time for "From the Darkness", pull up the lyrics on the web and listen. You will see why this album was almost completely financed by fans of the group. Who wouldn't want this music to be recorded for the ages?
Prog will continue to mutate, grow, digress and change just like any other art that we love. What's reassuring about this journey is that thanks to bands like Spock's Beard, rock's intelligent, redheaded stepchild has quite a future ahead of him!
From the Darkness by manticorelover98
Saturday, May 7, 2011
JDIZZY's 365 # 363: The Ballad Of Booth
The Ballad Of Booth - The cast of Assassins (1990)
Broadway musicals don't get any more powerful, disturbing or brilliant then Stephen Sondheim's Assassins. This long black journey into the minds of people who have successfully or unsuccessfully tried to kill a United States President is certainly not "Oklahoma"-esque in its story or scope.First of all, the assassins themselves are set up like they are playing a shooting game at a carnival. You will feel revolted, amused, sympathetic, and moved to tears at different points of the production, which can be jarring given the historical monsters presented on stage. An original cast album by design is often just a souvenir of a show, but the Off-Broadway (and Broadway revival of 2004) Assassins albums are some of the best of their kind. Sondheim's style of jamming every word possible into the singer's libretto while still maintaining resonant melody and structure is on superb display here. Both casts handle the material in breathtaking style. If I had to pick one track to best describe the experience, it would have to be the story of the man who started it all, John Wilkes Booth. Sung by the Balladeer character and Booth himself, the audience is given the questions of a nation and the answers of a murderer. For my non-musical theatre nerd readers, I truly believe this will blow your mind. Having never seen the show myself, I know that this song did for me as well.
Broadway musicals don't get any more powerful, disturbing or brilliant then Stephen Sondheim's Assassins. This long black journey into the minds of people who have successfully or unsuccessfully tried to kill a United States President is certainly not "Oklahoma"-esque in its story or scope.First of all, the assassins themselves are set up like they are playing a shooting game at a carnival. You will feel revolted, amused, sympathetic, and moved to tears at different points of the production, which can be jarring given the historical monsters presented on stage. An original cast album by design is often just a souvenir of a show, but the Off-Broadway (and Broadway revival of 2004) Assassins albums are some of the best of their kind. Sondheim's style of jamming every word possible into the singer's libretto while still maintaining resonant melody and structure is on superb display here. Both casts handle the material in breathtaking style. If I had to pick one track to best describe the experience, it would have to be the story of the man who started it all, John Wilkes Booth. Sung by the Balladeer character and Booth himself, the audience is given the questions of a nation and the answers of a murderer. For my non-musical theatre nerd readers, I truly believe this will blow your mind. Having never seen the show myself, I know that this song did for me as well.
Friday, May 6, 2011
JDIZZY's 365 # 362: Home To You/O Caroline
Tie:
Home To You - Mark/Almond (1973)
O Caroline - Matching Mole (1972)
It was bound to happen, right? Well, at least its here, in the twilight of the list! A tie is completely respectable anyway, especially since today's songs are one in the same: sad ballads about love from prog rock cult acts!
Mark/Almond 73 was an album of my fathers that I literally wore out the grooves on. Its mellow jazz/folk/prog spirit is the finest in the group's catalog. "Home To You" tells the story of being on the road with the band, away from the woman you love. Sure, the guy makes mistakes galore (he seems to be a serial cheater!) but the sentiment that he plays his tunes every night for his muse back home is really quite beautiful. The same can be said for "O Caroline" which, regardless of all the influential acts he's been apart of, is my favorite thing Robert Wyatt has ever done. His voice is a fragile wraith, talking about how hard it is to write a love song that expresses how you feel about the person you wrote it for without it being crap. He even describes the band playing their parts in the lyrics! It's ridiculously charming, naive and heartbreaking all at once.
Peaceful easy prog rock love songs!
Now, pour yourself a fine port, light a candle, sit back and enjoy these tunes!
Children singing obscure Prog!?!?! God bless youtube!
Home To You - Mark/Almond (1973)
O Caroline - Matching Mole (1972)
It was bound to happen, right? Well, at least its here, in the twilight of the list! A tie is completely respectable anyway, especially since today's songs are one in the same: sad ballads about love from prog rock cult acts!
Mark/Almond 73 was an album of my fathers that I literally wore out the grooves on. Its mellow jazz/folk/prog spirit is the finest in the group's catalog. "Home To You" tells the story of being on the road with the band, away from the woman you love. Sure, the guy makes mistakes galore (he seems to be a serial cheater!) but the sentiment that he plays his tunes every night for his muse back home is really quite beautiful. The same can be said for "O Caroline" which, regardless of all the influential acts he's been apart of, is my favorite thing Robert Wyatt has ever done. His voice is a fragile wraith, talking about how hard it is to write a love song that expresses how you feel about the person you wrote it for without it being crap. He even describes the band playing their parts in the lyrics! It's ridiculously charming, naive and heartbreaking all at once.
Peaceful easy prog rock love songs!
Now, pour yourself a fine port, light a candle, sit back and enjoy these tunes!
Children singing obscure Prog!?!?! God bless youtube!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
JDIZZY's 365 # 361: Former Lee Warmer
Former Lee Warmer - Alice Cooper (1983)
I love "School's Out". I crank up "I'm Eighteen" every time it comes on the radio. If we're talking about hard rock songs, you have to mention the monster that is "No More Mr. Nice Guy".
Still, it's recent Hall Of Fame inductee Alice Cooper's more esoteric recordings that keep me coming back to his body of work. From heartfelt ballads to brilliant parody, the man's catalog is rich with songs that show how much depth the man has. Even so, his 1983 album DaDa is a strange one in his catalog. At the pinnacle of his substance abuse, Cooper doesn't even remember recording it. Somehow in that haze master producer Bob Ezrin was able to draw an incredible concept album about mental illness out of him. Not only is today's track a standout from the disc, it's also the creepiest song Alice ever recorded. It feels like a Victorian horror film in a 4 minute package. While Cooper has continued to produce strong material, he's never matched DaDa's artful insanity. Oddly enough, he's never performed any of the songs from it live.
Mr Cooper, if you're listening, this record has Rock Opera written all over it! Get on that!!!
I love "School's Out". I crank up "I'm Eighteen" every time it comes on the radio. If we're talking about hard rock songs, you have to mention the monster that is "No More Mr. Nice Guy".
Still, it's recent Hall Of Fame inductee Alice Cooper's more esoteric recordings that keep me coming back to his body of work. From heartfelt ballads to brilliant parody, the man's catalog is rich with songs that show how much depth the man has. Even so, his 1983 album DaDa is a strange one in his catalog. At the pinnacle of his substance abuse, Cooper doesn't even remember recording it. Somehow in that haze master producer Bob Ezrin was able to draw an incredible concept album about mental illness out of him. Not only is today's track a standout from the disc, it's also the creepiest song Alice ever recorded. It feels like a Victorian horror film in a 4 minute package. While Cooper has continued to produce strong material, he's never matched DaDa's artful insanity. Oddly enough, he's never performed any of the songs from it live.
Mr Cooper, if you're listening, this record has Rock Opera written all over it! Get on that!!!
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