Wednesday, April 29, 2015
RASPBERRIES "Starting Over" & BIG STAR "Radio City" reviews in The Rock Marketplace
Since there is this thing called throwback Thursday, I figured I'd post some stuff I thought was fun-worthy for a revisit... etc
I also stumbled across 2 editions of Alan Betrock's publication The Rock Marketplace and scanned some record reviews of which Big Star and Raspberries are included....
enjoy
I also stumbled across 2 editions of Alan Betrock's publication The Rock Marketplace and scanned some record reviews of which Big Star and Raspberries are included....
enjoy
Sunday, April 26, 2015
ABOUT A SONG
BEACH BOYS- Girl Don't Tell Me
This is one of those great moments just before everything begins to progress a bit too fast. There was just enough of a hint of the innocent wonder of the late 50s malt-shop-arama ethos mixed with what is obviously a musical step out of the simple surfdom Brain was seeking; the movement is on par with the best of “A Hard Day’s Night.”
And still it ended up being a b-side. Maybe they weren’t convinced that Carl’s big vocal debut (well, his 2nd, but this IS his big entry point) was worthy. Granted, it was probably being measured against the big Kahunas (“California Girls,” “Let Him Run Wild,” and “You’re So Good To Me”). And it’s fate was sealed.
A few weeks ago Bill Lloyd posted a clip of “Guess I’m Dumb” and there was some interesting points made; one of which was Marshall Crenshaw having a beef about the lyrics. Marshall noted Brian’s lack of experience with that department dragged the song down. I, on the contrary, thought Brian’s lyrics (as confused and sometimes awkward as they were) had a very unique and honest charm to them.
I know, the NHA boss (Steve Potocin), doesn’t give the lyrics as much thought as some other people do; and I’m one who can let some weak stuff slide with a genius song. But still, I wanted to take a better look at the songs Brian tackled all on his own.
What you get are tunes like the aforementioned “Guess I’m Dumb,” “She Knows Me Too Well,” “Wind Chimes,” “Time To Get Alone,” “This Whole World,” “Til I Die” and “Love And Mercy.” Oh, and this little gem…which really accentuates the “GURL” word which I’m sure Alex Chilton took note of.
Brian’s take: some girl he met on summer vacation up at his grandmother’s really played him and left him high and dry, although he sounds like it’s toughened him up over the ensuing September-to-June grind of school.
Sure, she’s gonna look that much hotter-- as that wonder of biological forms do when 15 goes to 16 (I’m guessing)--but this time, he’s gonna play it cool and not wear his heart on his sleeve.
Growin’ up’s a bitch.
(Another one that originally appeared on Steve Potocin's NHA group on Facebook. The song was Steve's choice for me to wax on about...)
on this day...
- PILOT- Get Up And Go b/w One Good Reason Why
- LITTLE RICHARD- Rip It Up b/w Ready Teddy
- CHRIS BELL- I Am The Cosmos b/w You And Your Sister
- 20/20- Tell Me Why b/w Yellow Pills
- THE MONKEES- Porpoise Song b/w As We Go Along
- HOLLIES- Dear Eloise b/w When Your Lights Turned On
- BEATLES- Help b/w I’m Down
- JERRY LEE LEWIS- Whole Lot Of Shakin’ Going On b/w It’ll Be Me
- THE JAM- Going Underground b/w Dreams Of Children
- THE KINKS- Set Me Free b/w I Need You
- ROLLING STONES- We Love You b/w Dandelion
- BRAM TCHAIKOVSKY- Girl Of My Dreams b/w Sarah Smiles
- THE SMITHS- This Charming Man b/w Jeane
- R.E.M.- Radio Free Europe b/w Sitting Still
- BUZZCOCKS- I Don’t Mind b/w Autonomy
- CHUCK BERRY- Johnny B. Goode b/w Around & Around
- ELVIS PRESEY- His Latest Flame b/w Little Sister
- COUNT FIVE- Psychotic Reaction b/w They’re Gonna Get You
- BEACH BOYS- Wouldn’t It Be Nice b/w God Only Knows
- FRESHIES- I Can’t Get ‘Bouncing Babies’ By The Teardrop Explodes b/w Tell Her I’m Ill
- THE ADVERTS- Gary Gilmore’s Eyes b/w Bored Teenagers
- THE RECORDS- Starry Eyes b/w Paint Her Face
- THE ONLY ONES- Another Girl Another Planet b/w As My Wife Says
- MARSHALL CRENSHAW- Something’s Gonna Happen b/w She Can’t Dance
- THE DB’S- Black & White b/w Soul Kiss
- KATE BUSH- Wuthering Heights b/w Kite
- TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS- I Think We’re Alone Now b/w Gone Gone Gone
- BOB DYLAN- Positively 4th Street b/w From A Buick 6
- THE ZOMBIES- Care Of Cell 44 b/w Maybe After He’s Gone
- GLEN CAMPBELL- Wichita Lineman b/w Fate Of Man
- THE CLASH- Complete Control b/w City Of The Dead
- RAMONES- She’s A Sensation b/w All’s Quiet On The Eastern Front
- WIRE- Mannequin b/w 12XU
- HOODOO GURUS- My Girl b/w Be My Guru
- THE REPLACEMENTS- I’m In Trouble b/w If Only You Were Lonely
- THE BYRDS- All I Really Want To Do b/w I’ll Feel A Whole lot Better
- DAVID BOWIE- Changes b/w Andy Warhol
- SLADE- How Does It Feel b/w So Far So Good
- SWEET- Hell Raiser b/w Burning
- MOTT THE HOOPLE- All The Young Dudes b/w One Of The Boys
- T. REX- Jeepster b/w Life’s A Gas
- RODERICK FALCONER- Rock City b/w Fame Is A Ball And Chain
- THE TURTLES- Can I Get To Know You Better b/w Like The Seasons
- THE WHO- The Kids Are Alright b/w A Legal Matter
- THE MOVE- California Man b/w Do Ya/Ella James
- TODD RUNDGREN- Hello It’s Me b/w Cold Morning Light
- BIG STAR- September Gurls b/w Mod Lang
- DWIGHT TWILLEY BAND- You Were So Warm b/w Sincerely
- BADFINGER- Baby Blue b/w Flying
- PAUL MCCARTNEY- Another Day b/w Oh Woman Oh Why
- PAGLIARO- Lovin' You Ain’t Easy b/w She Moves Light
- ALICE COOPER- I’m Eighteen b/w Is It My Body
- TOMMY KEENE- Back To Zero, Now b/w Mr. Roland
- SQUEEZE- Up The Junction b/w It’s So Dirty
- SEX PISTOLS- Anarchy In The U.K. b/w I Wanna Be Me
- PULP- Common People b/w Underwear
- WALKER BROTHERS- The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore b/w After The Lights Go Out
- LONG RYDERS- Looking For Lewis & Clark b/w Child Bride
- ABC- The Look Of Love (Part One) b/w The Look Of Love (Part Two)
- RASPBERRIES- Go All The Way b/w With You In My Life
- GEORGE HARRISON- What Is Life b/w Apple Scruffs
- THE LIBERTINES- What A Waster b/w I Get Along
- NEW YORK DOLLS- Personality Crisis b/w Trash
- ELVIS COSTELLO & THE ATTRACTIONS- Radio Radio b/w Tiny Steps
- PREFAB SPROUT- When Love Breaks Down b/w Diana
- DUSTY SPRINGFIELD- Stay Awhile b/w Something Special
- SHOCKING BLUE- Venus b/w Hot Sand
- GLORIA JONES- Tainted Love b/w My Bad Boy’s Comin’ Home
- ENDGAMES- We Feel Good [Future's Looking Fine] b/w Darkness
- STEVIE WONDER- I Was Made To Love Her b/w Travlin’ Man
- JACKSON 5- I Want You Back b/w Who’s Lovin’ You
- TRASHCAN SINATRAS- Obscurity Knocks b/w Who’s He
- JAMES BROWN- Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag (pt 1) b/w Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag (pt. 2)
- THE SMALL FACES- Tin Soldier b/w I Feel Much Better
- THE CREATION- How Does It Feel To Feel b/w Tom Tom
- THE EASYBEATS- Friday On My Mind b/w Made My Bed, Gonna Lie In It
- BUDDY HOLLY- Rave On b/w Take Your Time
- EDDIE COCHRAN- Somethin' Else b/w Boll Weevil Song
- GENE VINCENT- Be Bop A Lula b/w Woman Love
- CHEAP TRICK- Surrender b/w Auf Wiedersehen
- THE YARDBIRDS- I Wish You Would b/w A Certain Girl
- EVERLY BROTHERS- All I Have To Do Is Dream b/w Claudette
- PATTI SMITH GROUP- Dancing Barefoot b/w 5-4-3-2-1 (live)
- THE GRASS ROOTS- Temptation Eyes b/w Keepin’ Me Down
- BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD- Expecting To Fly b/w Everydays
- EMITT RHODES- Fresh As A Daisy b/w You Take The Dark Out Of The Night
- THE COWSILLS- The Rain, The Park And Other Things b/w River Blue
- THE KNICKERBOCKERS- Lies b/w The Coming Generation
- THE BOBBY FULLER FOUR- I Fought The Law b/w Little Annie Lou
- XTC- Senses Working Overtime b/w Blame The Weather/Tissue Tigers
- THE CHURCH- Almost With You b/w Life Speeds Up
- BOB LIND- The Elusive Butterfly b/w Cheryl’s Goin’ Home
- SOFT CELL- Bedsitter b/w Facility Girls
- CRISPIAN ST. PETERS- The Pied Piper b/w Sweet Dawn My True Love
- WE FIVE- You Were On My Mind b/w Small World
- MAMA CASS- Make Your Own Kind Of Music b/w Lady Love
- BOYCE & HART- I Wonder What She’s Doing Tonight b/w The Ambushers
- THE CURE- Close To Me b/w A Man Inside My Mouth
- 1910 FRUITGUM CO. - Indian Giver b/w Pow Wow
- BAY CITY ROLLERS- Rock & Roll Love Letter b/w Shanghai'd In Love
ABOUT A SINGLE:
"Well that’s the greatest record I ever heard…"
This is one of those.
"Nothing But A Heartache" is a massive (UK fueled) Northern Soul classic; about as immediate as any song gets this side of “I Wanna Be With You” by The Raspberries.
It was the brainchild of UK producer Wayne Bickerton and co-author Tony Waddington, who took their Supremes-Spector delusions of grandeur and concocted the ultimate female soul-pop raver with a bunch of soul sisters from South Carolina.
Produced within an inch of its life replete with enough horns and strings to propel it into the stratosphere, its true anchor, however, are the drums (xylophone doesn't hurt, either), which give it the action that goes blow for blow against a scorching lead vocal. (If I had to guess, it's Ernestine Pearce singing.)
The 45 is everything any sprouting lad with a whiff of pop sense could hear without hesitation despite the onset of hippiedom and the major split of AM and FM beginning to appear.
Alas, that could be why the damn (TOP SHELF) tune only made it to #34 on Billboard; staggered regional success WAS the culprit, however.
(This post originally appeared on a thread on The No Hipsters Allowed group on Facebook. Thanks goes to NHA ringmaster Steve Potocin for choosing this song for me write up.)
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