May 14, 2015

Goofy Greats!

First of all, please accept my apology for my recent absence. A few of you emailed to ask if the blog was over, and it’s nice to know that a few lovely souls actually read this thing! I assured those who asked that I was simply taking a little break, and I promised that the blog would return soon. And here it is!

I actually did a lot in the last month– my band played two huge shows, I saw The Who and Rush on their (supposed) farewell tours, and I even did some yardwork (those who know me understand exactly how shocking it is to see my whacking weeds). But now it’s time to get back to blog business, and I’m happy to start off with one of my all-time favorite records: the 1975 K-Tel compilation entitled Goofy Greats!

I adored this record as a child. I have vivid memories of playing “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” and dressing my poor dog Snowball up as the lion (construction paper and tape were handy tools), and I was jamming out to “Mah Nà Mah Nà” long before The Muppets made it cool to do so. I managed to hold on to my original copy of Goofy Greats for a very long time, but I lost track of it around 1981 or so. In the late ’90s, I found a great used copy at my local Half Price Books and joyously revisited the anthems of my youth. When 2007 rolled around and I finally acquired the ability to transfer vinyl into digital files, Goofy Greats was the first album I ripped. I still had some of those original mp3s in all of their crappy 128 kbps glory up until yesterday, when I decided to painstakingly recreate this kitschy classic using the best audio sources available (and we all know that ain’t a K-Tel record). Some of the songs below were ripped from CD, some were downloaded, and two lucky tracks that you just can’t find anywhere else received new rips from the actual Goofy Greats LP.

I hope you enjoy this record as much as I do. And if you don’t, just play it for your kids– you know they’ll love it. Just be kind to animals and hide the family pet before you do so, OK?

 

Goofy Greats 6

Goofy Greats

K-Tel Records, 1975

 

1. The Royal Guardsmen: “Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron” (Holler)

Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron

2. Brian Hyland: “Itsby Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini” (Vance/Pockriss)

Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini

3. The Newbeats: “Bread And Butter” (Parks/Turnbow)

Bread And Butter

4. The Fendermen: “Mule Skinner Blues” (Rodgers/Vaughan)

Mule Skinner Blues

5. Bobby Day: “Rockin’ Robin” (Thomas)

Rockin’ Robin

6. The Hollywood Argyles: “Alley Oop” (Frazier)

Alley Oop

7. Johnny Thunder: “Loop De Loop” (Dong/Vann)

Loop De Loop

8. Ohio Express: “Yummy, Yummy, Yummy” (Resnick/Levine)

Yummy, Yummy, Yummy

9. George Baker Selection: “Little Green Bag” (Visser/Bouwens)

Little Green Bag

10. The Tokens: “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” (Weiss/Peretti/Stanton/Creatore)

The Lion Sleeps Tonight

11. The Trashmen: “Surfin’ Bird” (Frazier/White/Harris/Wilson, Jr.)

Surfin’ Bird

12. Ohio Express: “Chewy, Chewy” (Resnick)

Chewy Chewy

13. Ray Stevens: “Ahab The Arab” (Stevens)

Ahab The Arab

14. Shirley Ellis: “The Name Game” (Ellis/Chase)

The Name Game

15. The Lemon Pipers: “Green Tambourine” (Leka/Pinz)

Green Tambourine

16. 1910 Fruitgum Company: “Simon Says” (Chiprut)

Simon Says

17. Piero Umiliani: “Mah Nà Mah Nà” (Umiliani)

Mah Nà Mah Nà

18. Bill Haley & The Comets: “See You Later, Alligator” (Guidry)*

See You Later, Alligator

19. The Playmates: “Beep, Beep” (Cicchetti/Claps)*

Beep Beep

20. Jewel Akens: “The Birds And The Bees” (Stuart)

The Birds And The Bees

21. The Lovin’ Spoonful: “Nashville Cats” (Sebastian)

Nashville Cats

22. Larry Verne: “Mr. Custer” (Darian/Delory/Van Winkle)

Mr. Custer

23. Larry Williams: “Bony Moronie” (Williams)

Bony Moronie

24. 1910 Fruitgum Company: “1, 2, 3 Red Light” (Trimachi/Trimachi)

1,2,3 Red Light

 

* vinyl rips courtesy of the Analog Kid

____________________________________________________

Bonus Tracks!

The first rule of The Analog Kid blog is that if you write about a song on the Analog Kid blog, you share the song on the Analog Kid blog.

 

The Muppet Show_ Music, Mayhem & More!

The Muppets: “Mahna Mahna” (Umiliani)

From the album The Muppet Show: Music, Mayhem, And More!

Rhino Records, 2002

Mahna Mahna

 

Posted by on May 14, 2015 in Children's Music, One-Hit Wonders, Pop, Rock, Schmaltz and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

7 Comments

April 2, 2015

EP-iphanies: The Jam’s “Town Called Malice” [U.K. 12″]

As you probably know by now, The Analog Kid lives for b-sides and non-album cuts. In this continuing series, I will share some of my favorite EPs and 12″ singles from over the years in their entirety. And since it’s digital, you don’t have to worry about correctly setting the turntable speed to 33⅓ or 45!

 

The Jam

My wife often laughs at me because I’ll hear a song and say, “That one’s in my all-time top ten.” She thinks that statement is hilarious, as that “all-time top ten” list includes at least 1,434 songs (by her last count).

OK, OK, perhaps I do get a little over-exuberant (and over-inclusive!) when I talk about my top ten. However, I can state now and for the record that I am not bullshitting when I say that The Jam’s “Town Called Malice” has a guaranteed spot in that top ten. Really. I promise.

The version of “Town Called Malice” on this U.K. 12″ single is actually a live track that was recorded at the Hammersmith Palais on December 14, 1981. The flip side of this double a-sided single is an extended version of “Precious,” another standout track from 1982’s The Gift. That album was The Jam’s final LP before Weller left to form The Style Council, and to say that the band went out on a high note would be a huge understatement.

By the way, Paul, one of the reasons I don’t have any kids is so that I won’t have to cut down on beer. One more thing: we all know that you and Bruce stole the bass line on “Town Called Malice” from “You Can’t Hurry Love,” but it’s so awesome that we forgive you.

 

Town Called Malice [U.K. 12_] [320 kbps]

The Jam: Town Called Malice [U.K. 12″]

Polydor Records, 1982

Vinyl rip courtesy of the Analog Kid

 

1. “Town Called Malice” [Live] (Paul Weller)

Town Called Malice [Live]

2. “Precious [Extended Version]” (Paul Weller)

Precious [Extended Version]

________________________________________

Bonus Tracks!

The first rule of The Analog Kid blog is that if you write about a song on the Analog Kid blog, you share the song on the Analog Kid blog.

 

The Gift

The Jam: “Town Called Malice” (Paul Weller)

Town Called Malice

The Jam: “Precious” (Paul Weller)

Precious

From the album The Gift

Polydor Records, 1982

 

The Supremes A' Go-Go

The Supremes: “You Can’t Hurry Love” (Holland/Dozier/Holland)

From the album The Supremes A’ Go-Go

Motown Records, 1966

You Can’t Hurry Love

Posted by on April 2, 2015 in Alternative, Motown, New Wave, Pop, Rock, Soul/R&B and tagged , , , , , , , .

1 Comment

March 27, 2015

The Lost Boys: Hard-To-Find ’80s Albums (Cowboy Junkies’ “Whites Off Earth Now!!”)

“The Lost Boys: Hard-To-Find ’80s Albums” gives you exactly what the title implies: a rare or out-of-print album from the ’80s in its entirety. Some will be from CD, but most will have been lovingly transferred from pristine vinyl culled directly from the Analog Kid’s vast collection. Whatever album I choose, it will be one that you can’t easily find a physical copy for sale on Amazon or in your local record store (if you even have one anymore). Death…by stereo!

 

junkies

Cowboy Junkies may just be the best band name of all time. Can you think of another name that so perfectly evokes a band’s sound? I first heard that trippy alt-country-blues sound when I purchased The Trinity Session in late 1988. The album was on every critic’s Top 10 list that year, and I bought it cold– never heard even a single note from the album until I popped in the CD. I was pleased to find that everything the critics had said was true: the album was an eerie masterpiece, and it was somehow recorded completely live with just one ambient microphone.

Strange but true: “Blue Moon Revisited (Song For Elvis)” is one of the band’s signature songs, but it was actually a bonus track on the CD version of The Trinity Session and does not appear on the vinyl version.

A few months after I purchased The Trinity Session, I found a copy of another Cowboy Junkies album in the bins at Waterloo Records. Was it a new record already? Nope– turns out that Whites Off Earth Now!! was the band’s little-known first album, recorded back in 1986. I can still remember the first time I dropped the needle on “Shining Moon”– Alan Anton’s bass shook my walls, and Michael Timmin’s beautifully ragged guitar solo perfectly summed up everything that was great about the band.

Unlike The Trinity Session, Whites Off Earth Now!! consisted mostly of cover songs. The one original track was “Take Me,” and Margo Timmins received a rare co-writing credit alongside her brother Michael. As a Springsteen junkie, I was thrilled to hear the Junkies’ take on “State Trooper”– it may not have reached the same heights as their classic interpretation of “Sweet Jane,” but I still loved it. In fact, I still love everything about the Cowboy Junkies. They still tour frequently, and I would estimate that I have seen them live at least ten times over the past twenty five years. Their shows are always low-key, extremely intimate affairs that really take you inside the music of the Cowboy Junkies.

“Cowboy Junkies.” That name is STILL perfect.

 

Whites Off Earth Now!!

Cowboy Junkies: Whites Off Earth Now!!

Latent Recordings, 1986

 

1. “Shining Moon” (Lightning Hopkins)

Shining Moon

2. “State Trooper” (Bruce Springsteen)

State Trooper

3. “Me And The Devil” (Robert Johnson)

Me And The Devil

4. “Decoration Day” (John Lee Hooker)

Decoration Day

5. “Baby Please Don’t Go” (Big Joe Williams)

Baby Please Don’t Go

6. “I’ll Never Get Out Of These Blues Alive” (John Lee Hooker)

I’ll Never Get Out Of These Blues Alive

7. “Take Me” (Michael Timmins/Margo Timmins)

Take Me

8. “Forgive Me” (John Lee Hooker)

Forgive Me

9. “Crossroads” (Robert Johnson)

Crossroads

________________________________________________

Bonus Tracks!

The first rule of The Analog Kid blog is that if you write about a song on the Analog Kid blog, you share the song on the Analog Kid blog.

 

200 More Miles_ Live Performances 1985-1994 [Disc 1]

Cowboy Junkies: “State Trooper” [Live] (Bruce Springsteen)

From the album 200 More Miles: Live Performances 1985-1994

RCA Records, 1995

State Trooper

 

The Trinity Session

Cowboy Junkies: “Misguided Angel” (Margo Timmins/Michael Timmins)

Misguided Angel

Cowboy Junkies: “Blue Moon Revisited (Song For Elvis)” (Margo Timmins/Michael Timmins/Richard Rogers/Lorenz Hart)

Blue Moon Revisited (Song For Elvis)

Cowboy Junkies: “Sweet Jane” (Lou Reed)

Sweet Jane

From the album The Trinity Session

RCA Records, 1988

 

Nebraska 1

Bruce Springsteen: “State Trooper” (Bruce Springsteen)

From the album Nebraska

Columbia Records, 1982

State Trooper

 

 

 

Posted by on March 27, 2015 in Alternative, Country, R&B/Blues and tagged , , , , , , , , , , .

Leave a comment

March 25, 2015

45 RPM: Iron Maiden’s “Run To The Hills” [U.K. 7″]

Here’s your ticket to some of the best (or, perhaps, most infamous) 7″ singles ever released! No adapter is required, although in my opinion the device pictured below is right up there with corn dogs as one of the best inventions of the 20th century.

45_adapter

 

Maiden

The date was July 17, 1982, and I spent virtually the entire day outdoors at Anaheim Stadium. Baseball was (and still is) one of my passions, but I wasn’t there to see the California Angels play. In fact, I was about 180 degrees* away from anything angel-related: that was the day that I saw Iron Maiden live for the very first time.

My main reason for going to the Big A that day was to see headliners Foreigner and Loverboy, but it was the two opening bands that made the biggest impression on me. MTV had been playing the videos for “Run To The Hills” and “The Number Of The Beast” on a regular basis that summer, so those were the only two Iron Maiden songs that I knew at the time. Maiden took the stage at about 1:00 in the afternoon in full leather and spandex, and they only played about nine or ten songs.

That was more than enough for me– I was hooked. Of course, it didn’t hurt that Maiden were playing tracks from one of the best metal albums of all time: The Number Of The Beast. I bought the vinyl later that summer, and I’ve seen Iron Maiden live at least another ten times since.

The Scorpions took the stage after Maiden, and I didn’t really know anything about them. Didn’t matter. The Scorps were always at their best live, and let’s just say that Loverboy and Foreigner had no chance of upstaging what Iron Maiden and the Scorpions did on that glorious southern California afternoon

“Run To The Hills” was one of the highlights of Iron Maiden’s set that day, and it remains the one song that even non-fans of the band seem to know. My sister went to see Maiden with me on the Brave New World tour because I had an extra ticket, and she thought it might be fun to people-watch. She seemed to enjoy the concert for the most part, but afterwards she said, “They didn’t play “Run To The Hills,” and that’s the only song I know.” I felt bad for her, especially since she said the same thing after Queensrÿche’s opening set: “They didn’t play “Silent Lucidity,” and that’s the only song I know.” Sorry, sis!

The U.K. 7″ single for “Run To The Hills” contains “Eclipse,” one of Iron Maiden’s most-loved b-sides. The band had to decide between “Gangland” and “Eclipse” for the last available slot on The Number Of The Beast, and time has convinced founding member Steve Harris that they made the wrong choice when they opted for “Gangland.” Recent remasters of the album actually include “Total Eclipse” as an extra track, but back in 1982 you could only hear it if you bought the “Run To The Hills” 45.

A special note to Bruce: get well, brother! Can’t wait to see you on stage again in the very near future. Up the Irons!

 

*coincidentally, this was also the temperature on the stadium infield where we were sitting!

Run To The Hills [U.K. 7_]

Iron Maiden: Run To The Hills [U.K. 7″]

Harvest Records, 1982

 

A-side: “Run To The Hills” (Steve Harris)

Run To The Hills

B-side: “Total Eclipse” (Steve Harris/Dave Murray/Clive Burr)

Total Eclipse

___________________________________________________

Bonus Tracks!

The first rule of The Analog Kid blog is that if you write about a song on the Analog Kid blog, you share the song on the Analog Kid blog.

 

The Number Of The Beast

Iron Maiden: “The Number Of The Beast” (Steve Harris)

The Number Of The Beast

Iron Maiden: “Gangland” (Adrian Smith/Clive Burr)

Gangland

Both taken from the album The Number Of The Beast

Harvest Records, 1982

 

4

Foreigner: “Waiting For A Girl Like You” (Mick Jones/Lou Gramm)

From the album 4

Atlantic Records, 1981

Waiting For A Girl Like You

 

Get Lucky

Loverboy: “Lucky Ones” (Paul dean/Mike Reno/Scott Smith/Denise Thurlow)

From the album Get Lucky

Columbia Records, 1981

Lucky Ones

 

Animal Magnetism

Scorpions: “The Zoo” (Rudolf Schenker/Klaus Meine)

From the album Animal Magnetism

Mercury Records, 1980

The Zoo

 

Empire

Queensrÿche: “Silent Lucidity” (Chris DeGarmo)

From the album Empire

EMI Records, 1990

Silent Lucidity

 

Posted by on March 25, 2015 in Metal, Rock and tagged , , , , , , , , , .

2 Comments

March 24, 2015

Groovy Tuesday: Sade’s Best B-Sides & Remixes

Every Tuesday, the Analog Kid blog goes back in time and features some of the best groovy R&B/soul songs from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. Sometimes you’ll hear songs from individual artists or from a specific year, and other times you’ll get an entire full-length classic LP ripped directly from the Analog Kid’s vast vinyl vault. Warning: by R&B/soul, I also mean disco. I could go all Lipps Inc. on your ass at any given moment, so just be ready!

 

Sade

The summer of 2011 was a slow one on the concert front, so my wife and I decided to go see Sade at the last minute when they played in Dallas in July. I was familiar with most of Sade’s biggest ’80s hits, but I never really considered myself a fan. That all changed about five songs into the show after Ms. Adu and the band blazed through “Love Is Found,” a new song that I had never even heard before. The song, the staging, the sound, the atmosphere– I was simply blown away. By night’s end, I was already placing the concert in my all-time Top 5.

Two months later, the tour returned to Texas when Sade played in Austin. It was on a Tuesday night, but I took the afternoon off work and drove 200 miles south so that I could experience the show again. The set list was the same as the Dallas gig, but there was one major difference this time: I now knew the words to every song, as I had spent the past two months devouring the entire Sade catalog. I have no idea why it took me so long to”discover” the band, but at least I finally came to senses.

By the way, Sade didn’t take the stage that night in Austin until almost 11 PM. I got back to Dallas at about 5:30 the next morning, and managed to squeeze in about an hour’s worth of sleep before I had to get up for work. And yes, it was totally worth it!

Here are some of my favorite Sade b-sides/remixes/obscurities on this very special Groovy Tuesday. This list of b-sides is by no means comprehensive, as I am still trying to track down a number of rare tracks from the many Sade 12″ singles of the past. Hopefully, this post will soon have a Part II…

 

Sade_ Singles & B-Sides 2

Sade: “Smooth Operator” (Sade Adu/Raymond St. John)

From the U.S. promo 12″ Smooth Operator

Portrait Records, 1985

Smooth Operator

This rare extended version of “Smooth Operator” comes from a U.S. promotional 12″ single. “Smooth Operator” was Sade’s first Top 10 hit in the United States.

 

Sade_ Singles & B-Sides

Sade: “Hang On To Your Love” [Short Version] (Sade Adu/Stuart Matthewman)

From the U.S. 12″ single Hang On To Your Love

Portrait Records, 1984

Hang On To Your Love [Short Version]

“Hang On To Your Love” is probably my favorite Sade song, although “Ordinary Love” might have something to say about that. This “Short Version” from the U.S. 12″ is actually slightly longer than the 7″ version.

 

Never As Good As The First Time [U.S. 12_]

Sade: “Never As Good As The First Time” [Extended Remix] (Sade Adu/Stuart Matthewman)

Never As Good As The First Time [Extended Remix]

Sade: “Keep Hanging On” [Live Instrumental] (Sade Adu/Andrew Hale/Stuart Matthewman/Gordon Hunt)

Keep Hanging On [Live Instrumental]

Both taken from the U.S. 12″ Never As Good As The First Time

Portrait Records, 1985

The extended remix of “Never As Good As The First Time” is almost exactly the same length as the version on Promise, but don’t let that fool you– this remix is completely different than the album cut.

 

Absolute Beginners_ Songs From The Original Motion Picture

Sade: “Killer Blow” (Sade Adu/Larry Stabbins/Simon Booth)

From the soundtrack album Absolute Beginners

EMI America Records, 1986

Vinyl rip courtesy of the Analog Kid

Killer Blow

I didn’t even know that “Killer Blow” existed until about two years ago, and I’ve been searching for it on vinyl ever since. I finally found a mint copy of the Absolute Beginners soundtrack this past January, and it turned out to be well worth my efforts. I’ll feature the full soundtrack on a future Lost Boys post, but in the meantime I hope you enjoy one of the rarest Sade tunes on the planet!

 

Sade_ Singles & B-Sides 4

Sade: “Turn My Back On You” [Extended Remix] (Sade Adu/Stuart Matthewman/Andrew Hale)

From the U.K. 12″ single Turn My Back On You

Epic Records, 1987

Vinyl rip courtesy of the Analog Kid

Turn My Back On You [Extended Remix]

Remember all of those trippy dance-hall singles from the early ’90s like “Hippychick” and “The Power?” Soho and Snap! clearly learned from the master.

 

Sade_ Singles & B-Sides 2

Sade: “Kiss Of Life” [7″ Version] (Sade Adu/Stuart Matthewman/Andrew Hale/Paul S Denman)

Epic Records, 1992

Kiss Of Life [7″ Version]

‘The 7″ version of “Kiss Of Life” cuts almost two minutes off of the album version, but the song is still so smooth that you’ll hardly miss it.

 

Sade_ Singles & B-Sides 3

Sade: “No Ordinary Love” (Sade Adu/Stuart Matthewman)

No Ordinary Love [7″ Version]

Sade: “Paradise” [Remix] (Sade Adu/Stuart Matthewman/Andrew Hale/Paul S. Denman]

Paradise [Remix]

Both taken from the U.S. CD single No Ordinary Love

Epic Records, 1992

OK, I must now rescind what I said earlier about “Hang On To Your Love” being my favorite Sade track. “No Ordinary Love” now officially holds the title– at least until I hear “Hang On To Your Love” again.

 

Philadelphia_ Music From The Motion Picture

Sade: “Please Send Me Someone To Love” (Percy Mayfield)

From the album Philadelphia: Music From The Motion Picture

Epic Records, 1992

Please Send Me Someone to Love

I haven’t watched Philadelphia since I first saw it in the theater back in 1992– why thoroughly depress yourself on purpose, after all– but I do love the soundtrack.

 

Sade_ Singles & B-Sides 1

Sade: “Love Is Found” (Sade Adu/Stuart Matthewman/Andrew Hale/Paul S. Denman)

Love Is Found

Sade: “Still In Love With You” (Phil Lynott)

Still In Love With You

Sade: “I Would Never Have Guessed” (Sade Adu/Tony Momrelle/Andrew Hale)

I Would Never Have Guessed

From the album The Ultimate Collection

Epic Records, 2011

These three tracks first appeared on the 2011 compilation The Ultimate Collection. You already know how I feel about “Love Is Found,” so let’s check out the live video version that helped me fall in love with Sade in the first place!

_________________________________________________

Bonus Tracks!

The first rule of The Analog Kid blog is that if you write about a song on the Analog Kid blog, you share the song on the Analog Kid blog.

 

Promise

Sade: “Never As Good As The First Time” (Sade Adu/Andrew Hale/Stuart Matthewman/Gordon Hunt)

From the album Promise

Portrait Records, 1985

Never As Good As The First Time

 

Hippychick [U.S. CD Single]

Soho: “Hippychick” [Extended Vocal] (Timothy London)

From the U.S. CD single Hippychick

ATCO Records, 1990

Hippychick [Extended Vocal]

 

World Power

Snap!: “The Power” (Benito Benites/Durron Butler/John Garrett III)

From the album World Power

Arista Records, 1990

The Power

 

Philadelphia_ Music From The Motion Picture

Bruce Springsteen: “Streets of Philadelphia” (Bruce Springsteen)

From the album Philadelphia: Music From The Motion Picture

Epic Records, 1992

Streets Of Philadelphia

 

 

Posted by on March 24, 2015 in Dance, Jazz, Pop, Soul/R&B and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , .

1 Comment