July 24, 2014

45 RPM: Journey’s “Open Arms” [U.S. 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 Asteroids as one of the best inventions of the 20th century.

45_adapter

45 RPM: Journey’s “Open Arms” [U.S. 7″]

Journey has never had a #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100, but “Open Arms” came pretty damn close. Jonathan Cain began working on the song when he was still with The Babys, and Steve Perry helped Cain complete “Open Arms” after the keyboardist replaced Gregg Rolie in early 1981. The remaining members of Journey weren’t particularly fond of the song, but they changed their tune when they saw the response “Open Arms” elicited from the crowd when played live during the early dates on the Escape tour.

“Open Arms” was finally released as a single in early 1982, and likely would have been a #1 hit if not for the stunning staying power of two chart-topping songs. The J. Geils Band spent six weeks at #1 with “Centerfold” during February and March of 1982, and then Joan Jett & The Blackhearts follwed that impressive run with seven straight weeks at the top with “I Love Rock ‘N Roll.” “Open Arms” sat at #2 behind both of these songs for six consecutive weeks, but it could never break through to the top spot despite the love and adoration of every 14-year-old girl in America. You can still play the opening piano line from “Open Arms” for any woman in her 40s, and I guarantee you that she will melt like butter on the spot– such is the power of the best rock ballad of all time.

The b-side of “Open Arms” was “Little Girl,” a song that virtually no one in the U.S. had heard at the time. “Little Girl” was originally released on the Japanese-only Dream After Dream in 1980, an album that featured the last recorded output from founding member Rolie. Somehow, I talked my mother into buying me a $20 import copy of Dream After Dream at the Camelot Music in Collin Creek Mall sometime in 1982. I still have that piece of vinyl, but it has more crackles than a bowl of Rice Krispies and it’s just not in good enough shape to warrant a rip. Dream After Dream is still available only as an expensive CD import, and someday I will break down and buy it. It’s a really cool record that sounds a lot like Journey’s pre-Perry days, although “Little Girl” certainly has the Perry magic in spades.

Note: while Journey never has reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, the “Escape” LP did top the album charts. The reunited classic Journey lineup also topped the Adult Contemporary chart in 1996 with the gorgeous “When You Love A Woman.”

Open Arms [U.S. 7_]

Journey: Open Arms [U.S. 7″]

Columbia Records, 1982

 

A-Side: “Open Arms” (Perry/Cain)

Open Arms

B-Side: “Little Girl” (Perry/Schon/Rolie)

Little Girl

_______________________________________________________________

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.

Freeze-Frame

The J. Geils Band: “Centerfold” (Justman)

From the album Freeze-Frame

EMI Records, 1981

Centerfold

I Love Rock 'N Roll

Joan Jett & The Blackhearts: “I Love Rock ‘N Roll” (Merrill/Hooker)

From the album I Love Rock ‘N Roll

Boardwalk Records, 1981

I Love Rock ‘N Roll

Trial By Fire

Journey: “When You Love A Woman” (Perry/Cain/Schon)

From the album Trial By Fire

Columbia Records, 1996

When You Love A Woman

 

Posted by on July 24, 2014 in Rock and tagged , , , , , , , , .

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July 23, 2014

EP-iphanies: Peter Murphy’s “Cuts You Up” [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  or 33⅓ or 45!

I was at a Peter Murphy concert in the summer of 1992 when a very strange notion occurred to me: Peter sounded a lot like Neil Diamond. I am not really sure what twisted portion of my brain caused me to equate the Prince of Goth with the Prince of Schlock, but it happened that night at Starplex Ampttheater. Obviously, Peter’s operatic range is quite a bit larger than Neil’s, but when they both sing in that low, throaty voice…

You think I’m crazy, I know. But I speak from experience– after all, I am the lead singer of a Neil Diamond tribute band. I’ve been singing Neil tunes for 13 years now, and I do a pretty solid Diamond. Trust me when I tell you that Peter could take my place in a heartbeat– hell, he could probably take NEIL’S place on stage and nobody would know the difference. OK, maybe the black eyeliner and capes might give him away, but is that look really that far off from Neil’s seemingly unlimited collection of shiny sequined shirtwear? Add a tiger to the stage and both could headline Vegas, baby.

Diamondbag is still a Neil Diamond tribute band, but we’ve recently transitioned into playing ’80s pop and new wave songs as well. I’m sure it won’t be long before “Cuts You Up” becomes a staple of our set list– after all, I already know I can mimic the voice! “Cuts You Up” was the second single from 1989’s Deep, Peter Murphy’s third solo album. The song was released as a single in 1990, and it became Murphy’s breakthrough hit in the U.S. “Cuts You Up” topped the Modern Rock chart and went Top 10 on the Mainstream Rock chart, and it even made an appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 (it peaked at #55). The video clip was also a staple of 120 Minutes on MTV, perhaps the only show that was mandatory viewing for the Analog Kid in the late ’80s and early ’90s.

The U.K. 12″ for “Cuts You Up” contains an edited version of the song, an alternate version of the Deep track “A Strange Kind Of Love,” and an extended version of “Roll Call.” “A Strange Kind Of Love” is one of my favorite tracks from Murphy, and the slightly-faster take on the single is every bit as good as the album version.

I can sense it: you’re still not really buying the Murphy-Diamond thing, are you? That’s OK, I’m used to it. I’ve been pointing out the vocal similarities for 22 years now, and most people I mention it to look at me like I have just equated Siouxsie Sioux and Linda Ronstadt. Do me just one favor, though– check out the bonus tracks and listen to “Marlene Dietrich’s Favourite Poem,” and then try to tell me that you don’t hear a dash of the Diamond in Mr. Murphy’s voice. I guarantee you that if you get Peter Murphy drunk at a bar, he’s gonna karaoke some Diamond because he knows he will tear that shit up. My money is on “Love On The Rocks”– ain’t no big surprise.

Cuts You Up [U.K. 12_]

Peter Murphy: Cuts You Up [U.K. 12″]

Beggars Banquet, 1990

 

1. “Cuts You Up” (Murphy/Statham)

Cuts You Up

2. “A Strange Kind Of Love [Version Two]” (Murphy)

A Strange Kind Of Love [Version Two]

3. “Roll Call [Reprise]” (Murphy/Statham)

Roll Call (Reprise)

_______________________________________________________

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.

Deep

Peter Murphy: “Marlene Dietrich’s Favourite Poem” (Murphy/Statham)

From the album Deep

RCA Records, 1989

Marlene Dietrich’s Favourite Poem

Mad Love

Linda Ronstadt: “How Do I Make You” (Steinberg)

From the album Mad Love

Asylum Records, 1980

How Do I Make You

Feast

The Creatures: “Miss The Girl” (The Creatures)

From the album Feast

Wonderland Records, 1983

Miss The Girl

Live at the Barley House_ 7_27_2013

Diamondbag: “Heartlight” (Bacharach/Sager/Diamond)

Recorded live at The Barley House, Dallas TX on 7/27/2013

Heartlight

The Jazz Singer

Neil Diamond: “Love On The Rocks” (Diamond/Becaud)

From the album The Jazz Singer

Capitol Records, 1980

Love On The Rocks

 

 

Posted by on July 23, 2014 in Alternative, Pop, Rock and tagged , , , , , .

2 Comments

July 21, 2014

One Is The Loneliest Number: Peter McCann

The Analog Kid’s iTunes music folder contains over 97,000 songs, so you may think that I own everything by everybody. Not so fast, my friends– even a collection that large is bound to have some true one-hit wonders and/or obscurities mixed in with the 818 Neil Diamond songs. In this continuing series, I will feature an artist that has exactly one song in my entire digital library.

Songwriter Peter McCann got his big break when record executive Clive Davis decided that Jennifer Warnes’ debut Arista album needed a hit single. Clive chose a song that McCann had recently written entitled “Right Time Of The Night,” and Warnes went back into the studio to record it. “Right Time Of The Night” reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May of 1977, and Jennifer Warnes had her first hit single.

A few months later. McCann had a breakthrough smash of his own with “Do You Wanna Make Love.”  The song peaked at #5 in the summer of 1977, and was a classic example of the soft-rock sound that dominated airwaves in the late ’70s (think David Gates and Paul Davis). It was the only hit record McCann ever had as a solo artist, but he has enjoyed a long career as a country songwriter in Nashville. He also contributed a song to Whitney Houston’s debut album– “Take Good Care Of My Heart” wasn’t a hit, but the songwriting royalties from 25 million albums sold likely have allowed McCann to fool around just about anytime he feels like it. Thanks again, Clive!

 

Peter McCann

Peter McCann: “Do You Wanna Make Love” (Peter McCann)

From the album Peter McCann

20th Century Records, 1977

Do You Wanna Make Love

__________________________________________________

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.

Jennifer Warnes

Jennifer Warnes: “Right Time Of The Night” (Peter McCann)

From the album Jennifer Warnes

Arista Records, 1976

Right Time Of The Night

Goodbye Girl

David Gates: “Goodbye Girl” (David Gates)

From the album Goodbye Girl

Elektra Records, 1977

Goodbye Girl

Singer Of Songs, Teller Of Tales

Paul Davis: “I Go Crazy” (Paul Davis)

From the album Singer Of Songs – Teller Of Tales

Bang Records, 1977

I Go Crazy

Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston & Jermaine Jackson: “Take Good Care Of My Heart” (Peter McCann/Steve Dorff)

From the album Whitney Houston

Arista Records, 1985

Take Good Care Of My Heart

Posted by on July 21, 2014 in Country, Pop, Rock, Soul/R&B and tagged , , , , , .

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July 18, 2014

EP-iphanies: Phil Collins’ “Don’t Lose My Number” [U.S. 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  or 33⅓ or 45!

 

You had to love the ’80s– only then could a balding thirty-something drummer from a progressive rock band become one of the biggest stars in pop music. Phil Collins was seemingly everywhere in the mid-’80s, but his devil-may-care attitude about the whole thing made him seem lovable instead of irritating. OK, so maybe “Invisible Touch” was more than just a tad annoying, but how could you not love the man who made a video as silly as “Don’t Lose That Number?”

“Don’t Lost That Number” was one of four top ten U.S. singles from Phil’s 1985 album No Jacket Required. The song peaked at #4 in September of 1985, no doubt in great part due to the song’s hilarious video. The light-hearted clip made fun of (and paid homage to) classic videos by everyone from The Cars to Elton John to David Lee Roth, and Phil even managed to sneak in an Alamo reference. [Another reason to love Phil: he’s a life-long Alamo buff, and he recently donated his extensive collection of Alamo memorabilia to the state of Texas. We’re talking about artifacts valued in the millions here, and he did it for free.]

The U.S. 12″ single for “Don’t Lose That Number” contains the ubiquitous extended dance mix, and also features the non-album track “We Said Hello Goodbye.” It’s the video that we all remember, though, so here it is!

Hmmm…I’ve heard rumblings that a new Mad Max movie is in the works. I think Phil has more than earned a cameo appearance, don’t you?

 

Don't Lose My Number [U.S. 12_]

Phil Collins: Don’t Lose My Number [U.S. 12″]

Atlantic Records, 1985

 

1. “Don’t Lose My Number [Extended Version]” (Collins)

Don’t Lose My Number [Extended Version]

2. “Don’t Lose My Number” (Collins)

Don’t Lose My Number

3. “We Said Hello Goodbye” (Collins)

We Said Hello Goodbye

____________________________________________________

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.

Genesis_ Singles & B-Sides

Genesis: “Invisible Touch [Special Remix Version]” (Collins/Banks/Rutherford)

From the U.S. 12″ Invisible Touch

Atlantic Records, 1986

Invisible Touch [Special Remix Version]

Elton John_ Singles & B-Sides 1

Elton John: “I’m Still Standing [Extended Version]” (John/Taupin)

From the U.K. 12″ single I’m Still Standing

Original version from the album Too Low For Zero

The Rocket Record Company, 1983

I’m Still Standing [Extended Version]

Crazy From The Heat 1

David Lee Roth: “California Girls” (Wilson)

From the E.P. Crazy From The Heat

Warner Brothers Records, 1985

California Girls

Heartbeat City

The Cars: “You Might Think” (Ocasek)

From the album Heartbeat City

Elektra Records, 1984

You Might Think

 

 

Posted by on July 18, 2014 in Pop, Rock and tagged , , , , , , , .

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July 17, 2014

45 RPM: Van Halen’s “(Oh) Pretty Woman” [U.S. 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 Pop Rocks as one of the best inventions of the 20th century.

45_adapter

45 RPM: Van Halen’s “(Oh) Pretty Woman” [U.K. 7″]

Van Halen had never been shy about re-recording classic songs (“You Really Got Me,” “You’re No Good”), but their 1982 album Diver Down almost seemed like a covers record to many fans and critics. Diver Down was the band’s fifth album in a little more than four years, so it’s understandable that the group was running low on fresh material. Only seven of the album’s twelve tracks were original Van Halen compositions, and three of those were instrumentals. The remaining five tracks on Diver Down were all remakes of classic songs, highlighted by the record’s first single: a rockin’ cover of the Roy Orbison classic “(Oh) Pretty Woman.”

The band may not have been happy about being rushed back into the studio and forced into recording cover songs, but they had to have been happy with the results. Diver Down sold over four million copies, and “(Oh) Pretty Woman” became the band’s biggest hit  to date. It peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100, and might have gone even higher if the ridiculously hilarious video (directed by David Lee Roth) hadn’t been banned by MTV due to “lewdness.”

In addition to “(Oh) Pretty Woman,” two other covers from Diver Down received a lot of airplay in 1982. Van Halen’s version of Martha & The Vandellas’ “Dancing In The Street” reached the Top 40, and the album-opening “Where Have All The Good Times Gone” (originally a Kinks b-side in 1965) went to #17 on the Mainstream Rock chart. I saw Van Halen live for the first time on the Diver Down tour, and it’s an album that will always hold a special place in my heart– even if it is only 31 minutes long!

Pretty Woman [U.S. 7_]

Van Halen: Pretty Woman [U.S. 7″]

Warner Brothers Records, 1982

 

A-Side: “(Oh) Pretty Woman” (Orbison/Dees)

Pretty Woman

B-Side: “Happy Trails” (Evans)

Happy Trails

_______________________________________________________

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.

Van Halen

Van Halen: “You Really Got Me” (Davies)

From the album Van Halen

Warner Brothers Records, 1978

You Really Got Me

Van Halen II

Van Halen: “You’re No Good” (Ballard, Jr.)

From the album Van Halen II

Warner Brothers Records, 1979

You’re No Good

Roy Orbison_ Singles & B-Sides

Roy Orbison: “Oh, Pretty Woman” (Orbison/Dees)

Monument Records, 1965

Oh, Pretty Woman

Diver Down

Van Halen: “Where Have All The Good Times Gone?” (Davies)

Where Have All The Good Times Gone?

Van Halen: “Dancing In The Street”

Dancing In The Street

Both taken from the album Diver Down

Warner Brothers Records, 1982

Dance Party

Martha & The Vandellas: “Dancing In The Street” (Gaye/Stevenson/Hunter)

From the album Dance Party

Gordy Records, 1964

Dancing In The Street

The Kink Kontroversy

The Kinks: “Where Have All The Good Times Gone” (Davies)

From the album The Kink Kontroversy

Reprise Records, 1965

Where Have All The Good Times Gone

Posted by on July 17, 2014 in Rock and tagged , , , .

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