Sound and the Fury: Music with a Message...

Redartz:  Nobody enjoys a fun, swinging song more than I. Be it Rock, Pop, Dance, or whatever, a bit of fluff music is always a welcome thing. Nevertheless, there are times when one might want more from a song than a good beat. Popular music history is filled with singers, songwriters and bands who have used the stage as a soapbox. From the folk of Woodie Guthrie to the punk of the Clash, many great tunes have filled the airwaves with thought-provoking, cautionary, introspective, or even sometimes angry lyrics. 

In High School, I listened to protest songs from the 60's alongside then-current acts like ABBA and Wings. In college I sat around late nights with other art students (man, those Bohemian days of yore) listening to, and discussing, the musical proclamations from the Police , Heaven 17 and U2. In more recent years I've discovered so much more meaningful musings from the worlds of blues, jazz, and soul. It continues to be a most rewarding exploration.

You're probably waiting with great anticipation for a few examples. Well, wait no more; here are three songs which have moved, inspired, and engaged me: one from before our Bronze age, one from the Bronze, and one from after the Bronze (just to cover all the bases, you know). 

Sam Cooke; "A Change is Gonna Come"

I'd known Sam Cooke only from his pop songs (which were great). Upon hearing this for the first time, I was mentally staggered. Which is more powerful, the lyrics or Cooke's heart wrenching performance? Impossible to tell, but this song still chills me to the very soul. 

 

 

Three Dog Night:  "Out in the Country"

This song got to me (and still does) on a very personal level. TDN seemed to be singing for me: "...Out where the rivers like to run, I stand alone and take back somethin' worth rememberin'." In my youth, when I was hurting or upset, I sought the refuge of the woods, away from people. Nature remains a source of healing, and this song evokes that well.

 

 

Michael Jackson:  "Earth Song"

MJ's greatest song, in my opinion. Rarely has this world's painful afflictions been so effectively skewered.  As the video shows, the suffering is borne by, and the hope rests upon, the ordinary people all over. I can never hear this, or watch this video, without being brought to tears. Agonizingly amazing.

 

 

All these songs, and these performances, hit me deeply. But it's a good hit, and it's an impact that is good for the soul. They make me think, make me feel, make me want to try to make the world a little better. It may be naive or corny, but our world sure needs a little prompting to it's better nature. 

And now,  it's time for your input. What songs, what performers, have truly moved you; pushed you, made you sit and think in the dark?  Let's hear about the music that hits close to home for  you...

Sound and the Fury: The Perfect Pop Single...

 

 Redartz: It's a momentous week for fans of pop music: ABBA has released two new songs ahead of a new album due in November! Those of us who are fans of the Swedish foursome have waited some 40 years (and I was a fan from their start, back when my friends looked at me cockeyed as they played their Aerosmith and Nazereth lps).  For most of that time the likelihood of new ABBA tunes seemed remote. Nevertheless, here we are, and here they are; back with their engaging melodies and catchy hooks. Few acts in rock history could execute a pop song as effectively, as satisfyingly, as Anni-frid, Bjorn, Benny and Agnetha. Indeed, no less than Pete Townsend called the single "S.O.S." the greatest pop single ever made. 

And therein lies our topic for the week. What do you consider the perfect pop single? Yes, there are countless candidates that you could name. My pick- I'd have to agree with Mr. Townsend; "S.O.S." remains a stunningly rich performance, and is still greatly enjoyable even after countless listenings.But that's simply my opinion. What's yours? What are the greatest stand out singles of the rock era? What were your favorites, and why? And feel free to share your thoughts about ABBA, as well. I'll be setting aside funds for their "Avatar Concert" (ABBAtars?) next year...

Sound and the Fury: Perfect 'Headphones' Music- Art Rock!

 

Redartz:  If you were like me 'back in the Bronze Age', you spent some time (possibly a great deal of time) sitting in your room, headphones on, eyes closed, just listening to some fantastic lp. And not just listening: absorbing, experiencing, FEELING it. The best music lends itself to such activity, it grabs you on numerous levels. Music offers many styles, many genres, capable of appealing to any taste. But one particular genre, Art Rock, seemed ideally suited. to Serious Listening. 

Art Rock (or Progressive Rock, or Symphonic Rock: labels and genres can be rather fluid things)  arose in the 60's with the experimental work of such acts as the Beatles, Velvet Underground, and even the Beach Boys. Psychedelia also no doubt lent a hand. Albums became 'concepts', the music itself more complex. Yes, it sometimes edged into pomposity or self-indulgence, but the best experimental music led the way to the genre's popularity  peak in the 70's. 

There were many bands active in Art Rock, some exclusively and others just dabbling. This is the crux of our discussion this time; what were your favorite progressive bands? Which left you bleary eyed? What were the best albums, best songs, and conversely, which were the worst? What later acts do you feel owe a debt to Art Rock and it's practitioners?

To give you a starting point, here are three examples by three of my favorite Art Rockers. All three of these bands filled my youthful headphones often, and indeed still do.  

 

 Emerson, Lake and  Palmer:  "From the Beginning:

 

 

The Moody Blues:  "Tuesday Afternoon"

 

 

The Alan Parsons Project:  "The Raven"

 

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm grabbing my headphones and a comfortable chair...

Sound and the Fury: "Live Albums" and the Concerts that Inspire Them...

 

Redartz:  Over the course of the rock era, one of the signal features of many musical careers has been the release of a "Live" album. Once you got big enough, had a few hits, you could count on the eventual release of a live  performance recording; generally amounting to a 'greatest hits' collection, but often with some nice, uncommon tracks as well. Our discussion this time around will be centered upon such albums, as well as questions on concerts and preferred formats. Allow me a few words to illustrate.

 

Back in the Bronze Age (there's that phrase again), my favorite live album was "Wings Over America". Having been a fan of Wings (and that other band Sir Paul had been involved with) for a couple of years, the release of "WOA" in 1976 was most fortuitous.  That summer I got my driver's license, and got a car with, yes, an 8 track player in the dash. Ah, but what would be the first 8 track to drive to? No question, that 2-tape set was the choice, and it got worn out in play over the months that followed. Unfortunately I didn't get the chance to see the tour, but that album was a fine substitute. All of Wings' highlights, and for the first time since the Breakup, Paul included a few Beatles tunes on a commercial release. A perfect soundtrack for the Summer of '76.

 

 

Some years later, another live album (or more correctly, disc) took over the spot as my favorite live album. In 1985 I had the great pleasure to see Depeche Mode in concert in Chicago. I'd seen many shows, but none matched the magnitude and spectacle of this show in my book. They were incredible. Perhaps it was the electronic aspect of their music that made the show so appealing- unlike some live performances, the heavy use of synthesizers made the show sound as polished as a studio recording, while allowing the sheer energy of the live band to shine through. At any rate, the show was the best I'd ever seen.

 

Fast forward a few more years, to a local music store. While scouring bins for CD's, what do my eyes spy but a Depeche Mode disc with the title "101". As no Depeche Mode discs resided on my shelves at the time, I snatched it up, not realizing at the time that it was a live recording. A happy discovery, I assure you. It brought all the excitement of that 1985 concert right back into my living room. It's still a favorite.

 

 

 

 

 I've since added numerous other 'live' recordings to my collection, some great and some little more than semi-audible novelties. It has become  a source of interest to seek such recordings out now, in search of those unusual cuts and alternative arrangements you find therein. An example: Duran Duran, on "Seven and the Ragged Tiger", featured the song. "The Seventh Stranger". Subsequently that song was also included on DD's live album "Arena"; upon hearing that version, I greatly preferred it to the original studio recording. Which surprised me a bit at the time, as my experience had been that live performances often failed to match the quality of a fully engineered,  polished studio cut. Love the exceptions to the rule...

 To sum up, concerts are fun, and concert recordings can be as well. So, what live albums have you encountered, and which did you like? Were there any you thought fell pretty flat? How did they compare to the familiar studio albums? What rare performances, out-of-the-ordinary songs, and special appearances have you found on such albums? Do some artists sound better live, or  should they stick to the studio?  All these questions, and more, await your consideration...

Sound and the Fury: New Wave Faves, US Edition...

 

Redartz:  A couple of years ago we did a post in which we discussed our favorite  New Wave acts from the UK. We concluded with a promise to look at the US contingent. Never let it be said that we don't follow up on things, even if it takes us awhile!  

The late 70's and early 80's were rich times musically, with the surging presence of new sounds from new performers; a wide variety of approaches all encompassed beneath the umbrella term of
"New Wave". Much of that arose from the wondrous environs of the UK. But the USA
 was not to be left out, as these bands (and the others which you all will be naming) can attest . This discussion isn't really about the 'best', as obviously that is a relative and subjective judgement. This post we're dealing with our favorites; and here are three of mine.

 

Talking Heads

Probably the first 'New Wave' band I came to enjoy was Talking Heads. I was at first slow to jump on the bandwagon, still hanging on to my standard pop tastes. But the persuasive efforts of some art school friends, and this song, broke the ice for me. Shortly I was incurably hooked, hunting for any 'alternative' act I could find. And one of the first was the album from which this song came, "More Songs About Buildings and Food". I loved that lp, and every subsequent offering from David Byrne and Co. And that includes the excellent "Tom Tom Club". But anyway, here's the tune that started it all for me.

"Take Me to the River"

Devo

Next on my personal list of US New Wave faves is Devo. At first, I found their offerings to be rather weird. Too weird for my tastes. However, once my eyes (and more specifically, ears) were opened a bit, the Spudboys' brand of strangeness was irresistable. Although I didn't purchase any Devo records until "Whip It" hit big, I then made up for lost time. Within a short time I picked up all their previous lps, and was sure to grab the new ones that followed. Here's one great track from "Oh No! It's Devo!"

"Explosions"

The Go-Go's

Much as I loved the above two groups, I never had the pleasure of seeing them live. On the other hand, I had the pleasure of seeing these girls live not once, not twice but three times! Once at a small club in Indianapolis. Once as the opening act for the Police. And once as headliners themselves (at Purdue University, I believe our friend Charlie Horse 47 was there too). 

The Go-Go's output may have been smaller than many other acts, but the sheer fun they exuded made up for that. One great aspect of the 'New Wave' was a return to 'fun'. And that perfectly describes this group's music. And what's more fun than this cut from the group's second album?

"Vacation"

Okay, there's my three picks. There were many many others, but these three acts had a place close to my heart and mind. What acts from the American New Wave set your blood to pumping?

 

 

Sound and the Fury: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow- The 'One Hit Wonders'...

Redartz:  Don't know about you, but I've been listening to a lot of music lately. Which is saying something, as I listen to quite a bit of music during 'ordinary' times. Anyway, among the extensive tunes by the Beatles, Steely Dan and the  Moody Blues, I am also enjoying the likes of The Champs, Terry Jacks and Jump 'n' the Saddle. To clarify, those charming acts known collectively as 'one hit wonders'. Incidentally, the singular hits from those acts just mentioned were "Tequila", "Seasons in the Sun", and "The Curley Shuffle".  But you knew that.

Those single-hit sensations take numerous forms. Some represent the sole chart appearance of an act with a more extensive catalogue. One such example is Thomas Dolby, who gave the word "She Blinded Me With Science". Some know him only from that excellent tune, but I found his album cuts most enjoyable. 

Some one-hitters are basically novelty hits. The above- mentioned "Curley Shuffle" fits that category. And then, other one hit acts are just that, acts that made one brief splash and then disappeared into the ether. Anyone remember Clint Holmes and "Playground in my Mind"? 

So, here for your auditory assessment are a few of my favorite 'one hits'. What other such hits do you remember (or prefer to forget)? What acts do you know of that had great material that went undiscovered  by the majority of the listening public? And perhaps you might even consider some acts that should have been 'one hit wonders'; that is, they should have quit while they were ahead.
Let the discussion  begin!

Norman Greenbaum: "Spirit in the Sky"

Daddy Dewdrop: "Chick-a-Boom"

Rockwell: "Somebody's Watching Me"

Sound and the Fury: Instrumentals- No Lyrics Please, Just Music...

Redartz:   Ah, music. It's great to just sit and listen, it's a vast improvement over silence as background to whatever you're doing. But sometimes, the lyrics to that music can be a bit distracting. Sometimes, it's nice to simply enjoy the instruments and the notes they produce. Hence today's look at instrumental music. 

Now obviously some genres lend themselves to instrumental performance more than others. Classical and jazz are two that come immediately to mind. And for our discussion this week, I don't intend to limit things; but for my contribution today, I'll stick to popular music. 

And that limitation still leaves a lot to cover. Our beloved Bronze age alone has produced quite a few memorable instrumental hits (and many great wordless tunes that don't classify as 'hits'). In fact, I referenced one of my favorites just last week: MFSB's "T.S.O.P."; also known as the theme to Soul Train. And yes, I know that the Three Degrees supply some fine singing towards the end, but the main focus of that incredible song is the rythem, the beat, the jazzy instrumentation. It's impossible to stay still while that song is playing. 

Another favorite of mine is "Rise" by Herb Alpert. Now that truly qualifies as a hit, as it topped the Billboard Hot 100 in the US in 1979. I'd liked Herb (and his Tijuana Brass) for years by then, as their records were some of the few contemporary artists my parents played when I was a kid. So hearing this auditory gem was like revisiting an old friend....

Several years earlier, another instrumental song made the top ten, and even higher on my personal playlist. Mike Oldfields' "Tubular Bells", aka the theme from the Exorcist. If you play the full album cut it eventually segues into Mr. Oldfield verbal introduction to a progression of instruments, but the 'single' version everyone recognizes has no words. It sure packs a punch...

Next up: a great album cut from the incredible Alan Parsons Project (from the lp "The Turn of a Friendly Card"). The APP have a number of instrumental songs amongst their repertoire, and this one is phenomenal; a highlight from that lp: "The Gold Bug"...

Finally, here's one more favorite of mine; one that may be a bit more obscure. A friend in college introduced me to both the artist and this song; a favor for which I'm eternally grateful. Gary Numan, and "I Nearly Married a Human"...

All right, the turntable is set. I started the playlist, the rest is up to you. Do like to skip the lyrics occasionally, and if so, what instrumental tunes make your list? Do you have any 'less well known' suggestions of some fine instrumentals? This week, let's let the music speak for itself, while we speak about it...

Sound and the Fury: New Music, Then and Now...

Redartz:  Well, here is another post inspired by a flea market excursion. You might guess by now, correctly, that I haunt these things with some frequency. What can I say? It keeps me out of the pool halls (a good thing, as I'm a lousy pool player).

In this instance, the 'big find' wasn't a comic or collectible. It was a box full of compact discs; about 200 of them. Completely unsorted; this box was stuffed full, sitting on the floor of one particular booth, and marked for the whopping sum of 12 dollars. Most folks would pass over such a box; cds suffering in popularity from the availability of streaming services and the resurgence of vinyl. But not me; I took a brief look over the top of the stacks (one could realistically only access a couple dozen without emptying the box all over the floor). Yes, there was junk, but several discs of interest- enough interest to justify the purchase. 

So an hour later I was hunched over a card table in the living room, sorting and stacking piles of jewel cases. There weren't any 'big guns'; i.e. no Beatles, Stones, Duran Duran, Hendrix. But there were many I chose to keep: a Simpsons disc, Basia, Enya, Modest Mouse, Harry Connick Jr., and more. There were quite a number of classical discs, many not already among my collection. But providing the fun (and today's subject) were the many discs totally unfamiliar to me. Soundtracks to films I'd not heard of, cds by acts from all over. World music, Jazz, Big Bands, and so on. And how can you beat the fun of auditioning all this new (new to me, anyway) music? Right off the bat there was a great discovery; a disc by an act called Groove Armada. Now you UK residents may know of them, but I did not. Popped it in for a listen and was quite pleased, googled them and found out they have had some success 'over your way'. Now I will have to search out more of their work. 

The 'moral' of this tale is that it is still a pleasure today to discover good music. Maybe it's easier in today's world to explore different musical outlets. Back in the 70's and 80's, learning about new music meant having either a friend with a great lp collection or access to a record store with knowledgeable staff (and preferably a good imports section). In college we had a terrific used record store, called Second Time Around. They had a big selection of old and new lps, but the big attraction was that they kept receiving many of the hot new sounds from all around the world during those heady days of the Punk/New Wave era. Nobody else in our area could have introduced me to, for instance, Gruppo Sportivo. Every week, our little gang visited that store to see what was in (after a stop at the nearby comic shop, of course). And we rarely left empty handed.

So for our discussion: expanding your musical horizons. How did you do it 'back then'? How do you do it now? How important is it for you to 'stay current', and do you enjoy finding great music from the past that speaks to you now? What acts were you stoked upon first hearing? Go ahead, we're all listening...

Sound and the Fury: The Women of Rock

Redartz:  Growing up in the 70's, most of my peers in school were big fans of bands such as Kiss, Aerosmith, Boston, Styx, and singers like Alice Cooper, Bowie, and John Lennon. I also liked most of these performers, but there was just something missing...females. Unlike some of my friends, I really loved female singers and groups. From pop to soul to rock, 60's to 80's, these ladies filled my speakers with great sounds. 

Heart:  Ann and Nancy Wilson; their act was aptly named. Their music had heart, and loads of it. Heart, power, and emotion; and they produced some very catchy tunes as well. One of my favorites: 

 Heart, "Crazy on You"

 Carly Simon:  A great example of the 'singer songwriter' genre so prevalent in the 70's. Carole King was more influential, Joni Mitchell was edgier (and I loved both of those singers, of course); but Carly was tops in my eyes (and ears). Capable of poignant, sensitive lyrics, energetic rockers, dance tunes, and quirky bizarre-ness, Carly did it all. And with a wonderful, earthy, evocative voice. I collected her lp's as obsessively as I did Spider-man comics. 

Carly Simon, "Haven't Got Time for the Pain"

 Tina Turner:  Nobody, but nobody, can 'belt it out' better than Tina. From the swinging 60's onwards she swung with serious soul. This cut, with Ike, is jaw-dropping. George Harrison had high praise for this performance, and with good reason...

Tina (and Ike) Turner, "River Deep, Mountain High"

The Go-Go's:  Gina Schock, Kathy Valentine,  Charlotte Caffey, Jane Weidlin and Belinda Carlise. These ladies made some of the 'funnest' music of the 80's. Their debut album, "Beauty and the Beat", got worn out in our apartment building. And I got such a kick from them, I saw them live three separate times. Here's a great one:

The Go-Go's, "Skidmarks on my Heart"

 That's just scratching the surface. There are dozens more fab females I could name, but let's hear from you. Which ones rocked your turntable?

Sound and the Fury: Whatever Happened to Novelty Hits?

Redartz:  Recently we've featured several musically-oriented posts; hope you don't mind one more. In this case, we're looking at a small niche in popular music, but one inherently fun: novelty tunes!  

Once upon a time, you could listen to the top forty songs in a given week, and most likely be exposed to at least one laugh-inducing melody. From the fabulous 50's onward through the excellent 80's, novelty hits were fairly common; and at times even topped the pop charts. Some performers were notably linked with the genre- Ray Stevens, The Chipmunks (actually producer Ross Bagdasarian), Weird Al Yankovic and Jim Stafford, for instance. Others were among the ranks of  'one hit wonders' who brought us a smile and disappeared: think Kip Adotta ( "Wet Dream"), Reunion ("Life is a Rock But the Radio Rolled Me"), and Jump 'n' the Saddle ( "Curly Shuffle"). 

Hearing these humorous hits always made the Top 40 Countdown a bit more fun, and certainly made the radio more interesting to listen to. Unfortunately, in more recent years popular music seems to have lost it's sense of humor. I can't remember the last time I heard a new novelty hit on current radio or streaming. Granted, I'm not as well-versed in the latest pop music as I once was, but it would surprise me to hear any such songs today. I'm aware of satires and comedic routines on YouTube and such, but a true 'funny song' in the Top Ten? If only....

What about all of you? Did you get a kick or two out of those 'silly symphonies' and 'merry melodies'? Did you have a favorite novelty hit or performer? Perhaps you know of some more recent examples of novelty music; I'd love to hear about them. Let's get a little silly...and to help get in the mood, here's a few of my favorites from the genre. Enjoy!

Reunion, "Life is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)"

 Jump 'n' the Saddle, "Curly Shuffle"

Dickie Goodman, "Energy Crisis '74"

Ray Stevens, "The Streak"

Sound and the Fury: When I Was 17!

Martinex1: Have you ever been nostalgic for the days before stress and responsibilities set in?  Perhaps that is why we always look back at the Bronze Age.  But at what age was it that you were really on the verge of being an accountable adult, coming off the relative ease of youth and jumping feet first into life?  For me that was around age 17.  High school was ending; I'd had a few Summers of work in my past; driving was second nature; and life long friendships were secure. 

Whatever the age that you felt that transition, what were you listening to at that time?  What music, albums, bands, singers were on constant play?  This is the Sound and the Fury after all!  So whether you feel your life changing coming-of-age was at 15,16 17 or 22... what were you listening to?

This has been a rather musical week at BitBA and we have more fun around the corner, but indulge me with your favorite tunes of that important era and what they meant to you. 

Here are some key examples of what I was listening to at the time.   Am I still listening to this music now?  Well that can be some of the discussion we have later today!  So get us started, what were your tunes of transition, and do they hold true to this day?  Cheers!

Sound and the Fury: Considering Compilations...

Redartz:  Just about all of us, no doubt, have a fair collection of music (perhaps less extensive than our comic collection, but still impressive). You may have shelves of vinyl lp's, or racks of cd's. Or you may be 'up to date' and have thousands of tunes on your computer or phone. Regardless, many of those tunes are organized as albums, and probably most feature a single performer or group. Beatles albums, Kiss albums, Police discs, whatever. You get the idea. 

Well, I have many such as well; but I have an addiction to something different: compilations. It started back in the vinyl age, when K-Tel and Ronco albums offered twenty top hits on one cheap lp. With my limited budget, these discs were often purchased in place of a given artist's offering. And the wide range of music they  offered added an element of fun; often several of the included songs were new to me.

 A few years later, when the compact disc arrived, the compilation compulsion hit me double time. Now there was unprecedented variety of themed compilation discs: Beach music, British Invasion Hits, Dr. Demento's hits, and much much more. Among the most fun were "Television's Greatest Hits", a series of cd's which collected tv themes from the fifties to the present. Loads of fun. 

But one particular category of compilation discs stands out for me, and represents a large percentage of such discs in my collection: year-themed discs. These include the Time/Life sets (sets for the sixties, the seventies, organized year-by-year). Similarly, the "Billboard's Greatest Rock and Roll Hits" series (the only downside to that series is that they only feature ten cuts per disc)). Then there are the "Rock On" cd's; similar to the Billboard series but they contain a dozen  songs each, and tend to have less commonly-found picks). These 'yearly' discs appeal to the obsessive-compulsive in me: I love organizing it all chronologically (I will sometimes binge listen to a decade's assemblage, in proper order of course). 

And there are many other compilations to be found, too many to name. One cool set I picked up last year at a yard sale was a five-disc set called "Living in Oblivion: the 80's Greatest Hits". This massive set had about twenty songs per disc, and were heavily oriented towards UK new wave music. Loads of songs I'd only heard a few times, or not at all. These cd's only set me back a dollar apiece, so that got me a load of music quite affordably. That's one of the big appeals to compilation discs: usually a lot of bang for your buck. That, plus the likelihood of finding an intriguing compilation of tunes appealing to whatever esoteric nature you possess. That may explain why some friends call me the 'king of compilation discs'. Ok, not the greatest title, but one takes what one can get. In conclusion, here are a few choice collections from my collection...

 

Sound and the Fury: Concert Tees!

Martinex1: A few simple questions for you today - what were you wearing in your musical youth?  Was your wardrobe stacked with concert t-shirts back in the bronze age?  If so can you answer the key journalistic questions around that particular fashion piece - who, what, where and when?