A "stream of consciousness" observation on music and how we relate to it. How we purchase, listen to and enjoy music is changing. What does it mean to be a music fan in a world where every song, performance and video is literally at your fingertips? I hope to be a guide to this new world of musical experience. Featuring tunes and comments about artists, old and new in nearly every genre.
My relationship with my Father, who passed away on Pearl Harbor Day 1997 was "complicated" at best. My parents split up before I was born. My Dad moved away to California to seek a career in acting. He remarried and had a second family. I had a long distance relationship with my Dad. One short uncomfortable visit from him when I was five. A 3 week trip to LA when I was 9. A weekend in Michigan when I was 11. A few phone calls. A few letters. And then, 15 years of total non-communication. After a family tragedy when I was 24, we reconnected. My renewed relationship with my Dad was marked, at first, by a sense that I had that he felt guilty about how things went down. I tried to tell him that I had no hard feelings toward his being absent.
There were times I actually convinced myself that I believed it.
I have tried to be the exact opposite toward my kids that my Dad was toward me. Caring, involved, giver of gifts and initiator of activities. Coach of their sports teams. Trying to provide them with everything I never had. And.......I feel at times that I am steering the boat of Fatherhood into a squall of anger, defiance, rage, sullenness, you name it. Which, I guess that means I am about the same as every other Dad out there!
So, Happy Father's Day from Chadwick's Listening Room! And here is a short Father's Day playlist!
"Papa Was A Rolling Stone"
"Color Him Father"
"Daddy Could Swear, I Declare"
"My Dad"
"Father and Son"
"Father To Son"
"Theme From the Courtship of Eddie's Father"
"Cats In The Cradle"
And Finally, Brian and the Beach Boys with "I'm Bugged At My Old Man!"
I'm sure I have missed a few, probably one of your favorites. Sorry!
Power Pop does not get any better than this! Veteran Detroit Rocker's "Chris Richards and the Subtractions" bring their mix of hard-edged but melodic rock n roll to the Berkley Front on Friday June 22, 2012 at 9pm. Celebrating the release of their new album "Get Your La-La's Out" Chris and the boys will surely burn down the house like they did at IPO a few weeks back. Chris will have plenty of copies of the new album, and I am sure you can pick up some of his tasty back-catalog releases. Chris' new album will even be available in a special "white vinyl" release with a "vinyl-only" track, a cover of "Dogs" by the Who. The Subtractions will be ably supported by Ryan Allen and his Extra Arms and the Corktown Popes. Berkley Front is unmissable on 12 Mile, across the street from the old Berkley Theater. Many,, many fine beers are available at this local gem! Take if from Steve McGarrett, "Be There, Aloha!"
Chris Richards and the Subtractions doing "Don't Do Anything Tonight" from "Get Your La-La's Out!"
"That's Why God Made The Radio" aka the new Beach Boys cd hit the racks yesterday. Is it any good? Does it rank with the best work of Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys? Let's answer the second question first. The Beach Boys best work ranks with the best albums recorded by any of the so-called "giants" going back to Edison's "Mary Had A Little Lamb" (covered by McCartney and Wings in the 70s). When your peak work, "Pet Sounds" gets compared to "Sgt.Pepper" "Exile On Main Street" "Blonde on Blonde" "In The Wee Small Hours"...you can see how difficult a task it is to assess a new work by Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys. Does it rank up there with their best. Probably not. If McCartney puts out a worthwhile album, it is probably not gonna equal "Pepper" or "Abbey Road." However, "TWGMTR" is, nevertheless, a worthwhile and rewarding listen and gets a high recommendation from this old Beach Boys fan.
First of all, the fact that we even have new Brian Wilson and the Beach Boy's music in 2012 is remarkable. The last "proper" Beach Boy's album was "Summer In Paradise" which went straight to the cut-out bins in the early 90's. Brian was not on board for that disc. Even as a fan, I didn't find much on that outing to recommend. For the Beach Boys to pull together a work as enjoyable as this release, not to mention beautiful in parts, is amazing. There are moments here that refer back to their best work.
Back in 1998, Brian recorded a solo album with country music producer Joe Thomas. The album, "Your Imagination" did successfully revive Brian's career to a degree with that effort's main criticism being a certain "sterility" to the backing instrumental tracks. Brian's vocal's were top-notch as were the vocal arrangements but the backing's had a certain "Middle-of-the-Road" quality to them. The Wilson-Thomas partnership broke up in a haze of bad vibrations, acrimony and litigation. The roots of this album are the demos that Wilson and Thomas wrote for the never-recorded followup. It seems that all but one track, the Mike Love penned "Daybreak Over The Ocean" stem from those demos. One reviewer, in assessing the new album said it was as if Brian released a new solo album and invited the other Beach Boys to contribute vocals. Not such a bad thing if you ask me.
With the exception of a couple of lyrical efforts by Mike Love to pretend that "Smile" and the last 45 years had never happened, "Spring Vacation" and "Beaches In Mind," (easily skippable in the cd format by judicious use of the "ff" button) the album has an almost "autumnal" perspective. It seems that, at one point, Brian was working on a project that would be his swan song to recording and some of the lyrics were written from the perspective of a writer who realizes that his life's days were dwindling down to a precious few.
The album starts off with the gorgeous "Think About The Days" whose wordless vocal, and minimal instrumentation (piano and....is that a French Horn I hear?) add up to one of their most melancholy, yet beautiful pieces ever.
This intro is followed by the single, which is the title track and the bouncy "Isn't It Time" which features a vocal by Al Jardine who sounds like he hasn't aged a moment since he waxed "Cotton Fields" in 1968.
The tunes getting the most attention are probably the "mini-suite" which closes the album. "From There To Back Again" "Pacific Coast Highway" and "Summer's Gone" flow from one to another, like the "Large Medley" on Abbey Road. "Summer's Gone has a Wilson/Thomas/Jon Bon Jovi (?!?) writing credit!
"Summer's gone/it's finally sinking in
One day begins
Another ends
I live them all and back again."
Sadly beautiful.
Could it have been better? Brian is in strong voice with his battered vocal instrument fitting the lyrical perspective of these tunes. Al Jardine sounds like a much younger man. His "solo/Beach Boys" tune "Don't Fight The Sea," featuring as it does a vocal by beloved Wilson brother Carl, would have fit nicely on this album (maybe in place of one of the Love penned tunes?). More Al would have been nice. Honorable mention to Jeff Foskett who picks up the Carl's mantle with his wonderful voice taking the parts Carl would have sung. He also sings the falsetto parts the younger Brian would have nailed. It's time to make him a full fledged Beach Boy (if you wanna keep him on salary that's fine-give him the "title" of full fledged band member. He has earned it!.
If Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys go out on this note, it will be a fitting and appropriate way to call it a career. At least, they would be ending it on a high note, with strong echoes of their greatest work. If they record again, I hope they meet the standard set by this album.
Highly recommended to those who already love the Beach Boys and are familiar with their body of great work!
As online services such as Spotify and Rhapsody become more popular, there has been more and more discussion of how the future music consumer will enjoy their favorite audio entertainment. At this time, the highest bit rate streams do not offer the sound quality achievable from a good stereo system playing so-called "hard" media, like vinyl, cds, DVD, SACDs, and Bluray. The possible audio quality achievable from for example, the Bluray of Adele's Royal Albert Hall show is unbelievable, and it's multichannel surround,too! There is just not enough bandwidth on most internet delivery systems and internet service providers to provide music in that audio quality...yet! But, that day is coming, my friends!
There has been talk of so called "all you can eat" music services where for a monthly fee, say $25.00 a month, you would be able to stream or download every note of every song ever made commercially available. If you subscribe to Bob Lefsetz's blog he covers these issues much more knowledgeably and in much more depth than I would ever be able to. The signs point to a future where you will have a monthly fee, like you do now for cable or satellite television, but in return you would have a stunningly deep and diverse world of entertainment to choose from. Whether a service like Spotify is part of this future or gets swept away like what we see happening to the major music labels remain to be seen.
I did go out yesterday and treat myself to some old media by hitting up Dearborn Music's 20 percent off sale (which runs through tomorrow). I find now, when I buy cds or albums that I stick with older titles and listen to newer titles mainly through Spotify and Sirius XM channels like the Loft. This weekend I am listening quite a bit to the "Beach Boys Endless Summer Weekend" on Sirius XM which is playing a healthy dose of great Beach Boys hits, rarities, interviews as well as non-Beach Boys "summertime" music, centered on their 60's hits channel. The highlight is a Beach Boys concert recorded in April which was played in it's entirety on Friday night. I only got to hear the first half of the show but it was outstanding. It greatly increased my anticipation for the Beach Boy's appearance at DTE Energy on June 30.
Honorable mention to what I consider the area's best burger at Millers Bar, a couple miles down Michigan from Dearborn Music, consumed just before shopping. You can't shop on an empty stomach, as it would be impossible to give full attention to your musical needs if your stomach is distracting you. You can't hear the in-store music if your stomach is rumbling and grumbling.
But here's a rundown of what I picked up at the Dearborn Music sale:
I blogged about the Paul McCartney "Ram" reissue a couple of days ago. I have owned two vinyl copies of what might be my favorite McCartney album, and I think this is my fourth cd copy. All with different bonus tracks and extras, with the exception of the first bare bones Ram release back at the dawn of the cd era.
Next up is the CD/DVD package of Elvis Costello and the Imposters "The Return of the Spectaculor Spinning Songbook.' I have only had the privilege of seeing Elvis in Concert once (moving him into a tie with Elvis Presley who I also got to see once). The "Spinning Songbook" is a wheel of Elvis Costello songs and covers placed prominently onstage. Elvis invites audience members up on stage to spin the wheel. Whatever random selection comes up, the band plays. I left behind in the EC bin at Dearborn the live Elvis album "Live at Hollywood High" which has an excellent track list also. Somehow that got under my radar. Maybe next time. I think Elvis is one of our finest living songwriters and performers and this deluxe package is a nice career overview. There is a single disc version if you are budget-minded. The tune I picked to highlight this package is his cover of the Rolling Stones "Out Of Time" which I find stunning. Great performance of a great song! DVD included in this package!
The Kinks reissued their first 6 albums in special Deluxe two cd sets with the original albums in mono and stereo versions, alternate takes, singles that did not make the album, unreleased backing tracks, demos...in fact just about every scrap of music the Kinks recorded over the course of their first 6 albums. If you are unfamiliar with this most British of bands, then these discs are probably not the place to start. I would recommend a comprehensive hits package or the 4 disc import "Picture Book" box set. These two cd sets are imports and they are pricey. However if you consider them, as I do, the second greatest English band, just behind the Fabs and at a level at, if not slightly above the Stones and Who, then this is a must buy. Dearborn Music had all 6 but I just needed the last to complete my collection. "Arthur or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire" gains more than a few votes for finest Kinks recording and is packed with moments that, in the hands of a lesser band, would be career highlights. "Victoria" is one of the mightiest of Kink's rockers and "Some Mother's Son" is a quite anthem of anti-war sentiment. Appropriate for Memorial Day Weekend. Essential. This is my fourth purchase of this particular cd, and I own it also on vinyl. a listen to the first 6 Kinks albums shows the same evolution from crudely-rocking band playing a lot of covers too musical sophisticates ala the Beach Boys and Beatles!
You probably never heard of the Durocs, who were not actually a band, but the studio brainchild of Scott Mathews and Ron Nagle. I was turned on to this album in the original vinyl which is still safe in it's original vinyl configuration in the Chadwick Listening Room. This one came out in High Fidelity/music store employment days and was recommended to me by my old boss, the great Warren Westfall at the wonderful Record Collector on the 9 Mile Drag in Ferndale. The new cd release has 8 bonus tracks and is touted as the "Twisted, Power Pop classic:" on the packaging. Probably the easiest entree to this album is the classic, slamming cover of Gene Pitney's "It Hurts To Be In Love" featured below!
You will be humming "stick in your head tunes" like "Saving It Up For Larry" and "Seeker (You Be Sucker) long after you put this one away. Highly recommended for Power Pop fans and those who like melodic rock and roll!
"Durocs" by the way, is a breed of pig!
I also picked up the two cd "Essential Laura Nyro" a collection by the mostly-forgotten songwriter/songstress who wrote some of the greatest tunes of the 60s and 70s. Her life was tragically cut short by Ovarian Cancer. She provided some great musical moments for artists like Blood, Sweat and Tears, Three Dog Night, the Fifth Dimension, Barbara Streisand and many more!
This is not a replacement for classic Nyro albums such as "Eli and the Thirteenth Confession" which was recorded in the Summer of Love and released in 1968 but it is a nice, career overview.
The tune here is "Stoned Soul Picnic" which you might recall as a hit for the Fifth Dimension and a tune included on "Eli" and on the "Essential" collection. "Can you surrey, can you picnic?"
Jerry Lee Lewis aka The Feriday Fireball aka the Killer has put out a couple of fine late releases and "Mean Old Man" is no exception. As is the pattern with "senior" artists like Ray Charles and Tony Bennett, this is a duets release, teaming Jerry Lee with a who's who of rock talent. He is in fine voice as he burns through a series or rock and country classics.
Here Jerry Lee covers the stones classic "Dead Flowers" in a duet with Mick Jagger!
The Killer, along with Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Fats Domino are the last of the 50's legends. Jerry's 77 and not moving very well anymore, and his piano playing is not up to the standards he set when he was putting on the "Greatest Show on Earth" but he is still worth a watch and listen.
Speaking of legends, I finally picked up "Buddy Holly-Not Fade Away-The Complete Studio Recordings and More!" which is a six disc box set purporting to be every note Buddy ever recorded in his too-short life. Includes a book on the life of the great man, and is chock full of alternate takes and overdubbed versions of his tunes, mainly released after his death to soak up every available Buddy dollar possible. This set allegedly uses the masters whenever possible! This is supposed to be the last word on the man who hugely influence the Beatles by being, with the Crickets, the prototype Rock N Roll band. The Beatles name was inspired by the Crickets!
Obviously a set for those with deeper pockets and, of course, those OCD-type obsessives like myself who belong at some spot on some spectrum somewhere. There are many, many Holly collections that will give most people all the Holly they need. Not to mention the multi-album vinyl set that had stunningly good sound that was released back in the 90s. Since Paul McCartney owns the Holly catalog, this, along with my Ram purchase gives Sir Paul a much needed infusion of funds, perhaps tip money when dining in the Hamptons this summer. Recommended for those who have the original Buddy Holly and the Crickets albums but want to dig a little deeper!
I can't conclude today's entry without mentioning the disc I purchased for my son, Lucas, at his request. William Shatner's "The Transformed Man" is a psychedelic/psycho classic of over-emoting and spoken word readings of late 60's rock classics. I turned my kids on to the Shaggs and Shatner during a Friday night listening session and he could not get enough!
Here's a taste of Bill
Here's a sampling of the Shaggs if you dare! However, the simple hummable melodies will stick in your head for days (daze)!
Please have a safe and happy Memorial Day! I don't need my constant readers (Cousin Ken and Dave Guest) or any other folks calling me on Tuesday morning because they were over-served at some barbecue and decided to drive home!
As you dodge the raindrops, and blow on the hot coals to fire up the grill, let's take a moment to remember those who served so valiantly. I have become more "anti-war" as I have gotten older and think that the exercise of military power as an extension of national goals is an evil we should renounce. Maybe WWII and Korea where the last of the "Good Wars?" I do know that the US spends as much on it's military budget as the next 28 countries combined. And 27 of them are US allies. Insane.
Anyway, here are ten Memorial Day songs, courtesy of the Nation magazine with some cool, more obscure selections.
I got reintroduced to an old friend this week. Paul McCartney re-released his 1971 classic "Ram" in a deluxe box set edition with lotsa bonus tracks and extras. While most Macca mavens consider "Band on the Run" to be his greatest album (arguably so-and it got the deluxe treatment a year or so ago) I have a soft spot for Paul's sophomore release. His first "McCartney" was disappointing to me upon it's release. As a 12 year old, I did not appreciate it's DIY charms, knowing only that it was "Not Abbey Road!" Nor was it even "Let It Be." It has through the years grown to be a favorite. "Ram" was more like "Abbey Road" with melodies, arrangements and orchestration that would not have been out of place on that classic. "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" was the hit single. I am not aware that Paul has ever put it in his live set list. "Ram" material rarely seems to make the cut. A few year's back Paul did perform "Too Many People" at the Palace but that's about it. Other highlights on this fine release, aside from the two tunes already mentioned are "Ram On" which would fit in nicely on the so-called "White Album." "The Back Seat of My Car" is also a favorite with an ambitious horn and string arrangement.
Here is "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" which reminds me a bit of "Yellow Submarine." A big favorite with my kids.
Strong album opener "Too Many People" which John Lennon interpreted as a dig at he and Yoko ("You took your lucky break and broke it in two"-nice line if it was!).
"The Back Seat of My Car" is the album's "Abbey Road-ish" closer!
You get a disc worth of bonus tracks such as the very fine "Oh Woman Oh Why" and the number one single "Another Day" which was on an earlier version of "Ram+bonus tracks." It does seem to have a natural place on this album. The other bonus tracks are less necessary but still a fun listen.
Highly recommended. I have put the above four tracks on the Chadwick's Listening Room playlist on Spotify but the whole thing is available on that fine pay-on-demand service (credited to "Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney). Clearly, this is gonna require the purchase of a hard copy. Available in finer record stores, and probably in a few "not so fine" ones!
The great rock magazine, Mojo, outa the UK just hit the newstands with their Beach Boys issue, in celebration of the Beach Boy's current world tour and imminent album release. They countdown the top 50 Beach Boys songs which I have reduced to a Spotify playlist. You also get a cool tribute cd called "Pet Sounds Revisited" with bands like the Flaming Lips covering every song on that classic 66 release.
I have posted the entire 50 song playlist on Spotify!
Mojo - The Beach Boys 50 Greatest Tracks - June 2012
A Mojo Contributors Favourite Beach Boy Tracks, To Be Followed Soon By A Readers Edition.
Format #. Title - Where To Find It
1. Surf's Up - Surf's Up/Smile (2011)/Brian Wilson Presents Smile
2. Good Vibrations - Smiley Smile
3. God Only Knows - Pet Sounds
4. California Girls - Summer Days (And Summer Nights)
5. 'Till I Die - Surf's Up
6. Caroline No - Pet Sounds
7. Heroes And Villains - Smiley Smile/Smile (2011)
8. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) - Pet Sounds
9. Wouldn't It Be Nice - Pet Sounds
10. I Get Around - Little Duce Coupe
11. Cabinessence - 20/20/Smile (2011)/Brian Wilson Presents Smile
12. Feel Flows - Surf's Up
13. I Just Wasn't Made For These Times - Pet Sounds
14. You Still Believe In Me - Pet Sounds
15. Don't Worry Baby - Shut Down Volume 1
16. Sail On Sailor - Holland
17. Let's Go Away For A While - Pet Sounds
18. Surfer Girl - Surfer Girl
19. In My Room - Surfer Girl
20. I Know There's An Answer - Pet Sounds
21. Do You Like Worms - Smile (2011)
22. Our Prayer - 20/20
23. I'm Waiting For The Day - Pet Sounds
24. Pet Sounds (Instrumental) - Pet Sounds
25. Fun, Fun, Fun - Shut Down Vol 1.
26. The Warmth Of The Sun - Shut Down Volume 2
27. Surfin' USA - SummerDays (And Summer Nights)
28. Disney Girls - Surf's Up
29. Darlin' - Wild Honey
30. Here Today - Pet Sounds
31. I Can Hear Music - 20/20
32. You're So Good To Me - Summer Days (And Summer Nights)
33. Break Away - 20/20
34. Barbara Ann - Party!
35. All Summer Long - Little Deuce Coup
36. Tears In The Morning - Sunflower
37. Sloop John B - Pet Sounds
38. Cool, Cool Water - Sunflower
39. When I Grow Up To Be A Man -
40. Cuddle Up - Carl And The Passions/So Tough
41. Long Promised Road - Surf's Up
42. Let Himk Run Wild - Summer Days (And Summer Nights)
43. Little Deuce Coup - Little Deuce Coup
44. That's Not Me - Pet Sounds
45. Wild Honey - Wild Honey
46. Do It Again - 20/20
47. Vega-Tables - Smiley Smile/Smile (2011)
48. Help Me, Rhonda - Today
49. Wind Chimes - Smiley Smile
50. Forever - Sunflower
