November 2, 2013

10.15 Saturday Night: The Kids Are Alright

It’s 10:15 Saturday night, and time for a quick song (or two) from the vaults of the Analog Kid. I’ll only interrupt your drinking/lovemaking/bootyshaking for a moment, I promise. And no, the songs are not always going to have “Saturday” in the title because even my vast back catalog would eventually run out of tunes!

 

The Who released the album Endless Wire in October 2006, their first album of new material since 1982’s It’s Hard. During that 24 years, The Who toured multiple times and released remastered versions of their albums that were packed with rarities and alternate takes. The one thing they rarely did was release new music.

One of the few brand-new songs released by The Who during that time span appeared on the 1991 Elton John/Bernie Taupin album Two Rooms. They chose to cover “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting,” Elton’s #12 single from 1973. While The Who’s take is by no means spectacular, it certainly has its moments– my favorite is the middle break in which they incorporate Elton’s “Take Me To The Pilot.” This clever bit served two purposes:

1) Pete Townshend sang the “Take Me To The Pilot” part, echoing a familiar refrain from the middle of so many classic Who songs.

2) It paid tribute to Elton’s classic version of “Pinball Wizard,” in which he segued into a bit of “I Can’t Explain.”

Sadly, this version of “Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)” was John Entwistle’s last studio recording with the band he helped form way back in 1961.

The Who_ Singles & B-Sides

The Who: “Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)” (Elton John/Bernie Taupin)

From the tribute album Two Rooms

Polydor Records, 1991

Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)

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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.

Elton John

Elton John: “Take Me To The Pilot” (Elton John/Bernie Taupin)

From the album Elton John

Uni Records, 1970

Take Me To The Pilot

 

Tommy The Movie_ Original Soundtrack Recording [Disc 1]

Elton John: “Pinball Wizard” (Pete Townshend)

From the original soundtrack recording Tommy

Polydor Records, 1974

Pinball Wizard

 

The Who_ Singles & B-Sides 1

The Who: “I Can’t Explain” (Pete Townshend)

Decca Records, 1965

I Can’t Explain

 

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Elton John: “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting” (Elton John/Bernie Taupin)

From the album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

MCA Records, 1973

Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting

Posted by on November 2, 2013 in Rock, Soundtrack and tagged , , , , , , , .

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November 1, 2013

Berry. Buck. Mills. Stipe.

When I finally completed my six-year degree plan at the University of Texas in the spring of 1991, I sent out 25 graduation announcements. 24 went to friends and family, and the last one was sent to R.E.M. headquarters in Athens. Sound strange? It shouldn’t. R.E.M. did more to help me get through college than almost anyone I knew, and sending out that announcement/party invitation to Berry-Buck-Mills-Stipe was the very least I could do.

I didn’t expect them to show up for the party. and of course they didn’t make it. But the truth is that I wouldn’t have been shocked to see Peter Buck and Mike Mills walk through the door with a bottle of tequila– R.E.M. was just that kind of band.

Here are 5 rare R.E.M. songs for your enjoyment. I imagine that this will be the first installment of a long, ongoing series…

R.E.M._ Singles & B-Sides

R.E.M.: “Academy Fight Song” [Live] (Clint Conley)

Promotional 7″ single from Bucketfull Of Brains magazine, 1992

Vinyl rip courtesy of the Analog Kid

Academy Fight Song [Live]

This live version of Mission of Burma’s “Academy Fight Song” was given away as a 45 with Bucketfull Of Brains magazine in 1992, and it remains one of the rarest R.E.M. collectibles. Thank you, Beth Hooper, for one of the best gifts ever!

 

R.E.M._ Singles & B-Sides 2

R.E.M.: “Fretless” (Berry/Buck/Mills/Stipe)

From the soundtrack Until The End Of The World

Warner Brothers Records, 1991

Fretless

“Fretless” was an outtake from the Out Of Time sessions, and in retrospect it probably should have been on the album. Perhaps it was just a little too depressing for the mostly uptempo Out Of Time, but it sure makes one hell of a b-side.

 

R.E.M._ Singles & B-Sides 3

R.E.M.: “Revolution”  (Berry/Buck/Mills/Stipe)

From the soundtrack Batman & Robin

Warner Brothers  Records, 1997

Revolution

R.E.M. debuted a slew of new songs during the extensive Monster tour in 1995, and most of them ended up on 1996’s criminally-underrated New Adventures In Hi-Fi, “Revolution” didn’t make the cut, but it did finally surface on the Batman & Robin soundtrack in 1997. I saw R.E.M. five times on that monster Monster tour, and they played “Revolution” at every single show. I was very grateful to finally own a copy of a song that I had been singing in my head for two years.

 

R.E.M._ iTunes Originals

R.E.M.: “The Outsiders” (Buck/Mills/Stipe)

iTunes Originals, 2004

Original version from the album Around The Sun

Warner Brothers Records, 2004

The Outsiders

I’ll admit it: Around The Sun wasn’t R.E.M.’s finest hour. Only a few songs really stood out, one of them being the moody “The Outsiders.” Q-tip performed the rap on the album, but Michael Stipe does it himself on this iTunes-only version.

 

R.E.M._ Singles & B-Sides 1

R.E.M.: “Dark Globe” (Syd Barrett)

From the U.K. 12″ single Orange Crush

Warner Brothers Records, 1988

Dark Globe

R.E.M. does Syd. This may be my all-time favorite R.E.M. b-side.

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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 Madcap Laughs

Syd Barrett: “Dark Globe” (Syd Barrett)

From the album The Madcap Laughs

Harvest Records, 1970

Dark Globe

 

Around The Sun

R.E.M.: “The Outsiders” (Buck/Mills/Stipe)

From the album Around The Sun

Warner Brothers Records, 2004

The Outsiders

Posted by on November 1, 2013 in Alternative, Rock, Soundtrack and tagged , , , , , , , .

4 Comments

October 31, 2013

“Koona t’chuta Solo?”

The early ’80s was a great time to be the singer in a famous rock group. Your band put out a record every two years, you toured, and yet you still had plenty of time to make solo records that garnered airplay on their own. Red Bull and Five Hour Energy didn’t even exist back then– how DID these guys find the stamina? [Ed. note: Drugs. Lots and lots of drugs.]

Here are five solo songs from lead singers who took a break from their bands to make hits of their own:

McVicar

Roger Daltrey: “Free Me” (Russ Ballard)

From the album McVicar

Polygram Records, 1980

Free Me

Roger Daltrey’s solo records had always steered away from the classic Who sound, but he made an exception for the McVicar soundtrack, The Who were on hiatus at the time, still attempting to figure out how to proceed in the wake of Keith Moon’s death. Both Pete Townshend and John Entwistle play on the album, and “Free Me” helped fill the void between Who Are You and Face Dances in excellent Who-like fashion.

 

Peter Cetera 1

Peter Cetera: “Livin’ In The Limelight” (Peter Cetera)

From the album Peter Cetera

Full Moon Records, 1981

Livin’ In The Limelight

Remember when Peter Cetera actually kinda rocked? He really did. Honest. “Livin’ In The Limelight” may not have received quite as much airplay as that other limelight-themed song from 1981, but it was still all over my classic rock radio dial. Peter went back to Chicago for one more album before branching off full-time into the schmaltz business.

 

ocasek2

Ric Ocasek: “Something To Grab For” (Ric Ocasek)

From the album Beatitude

Geffen Records, 1982

Something To Grab For

“Something To Grab For” would have easily fit onto any Cars album of the era, and I mean that as a compliment. After Beatitude, the Cars went to work on Heartbeat City and Ocasek went to work on Paulina Porizkova, Both efforts were extremely successful.

 

Hello, I Must Be Going!

Phil Collins: “I Don’t Care Anymore” (Phil Collins)

From the album Hello, I Must Be Going!

Atlantic Records, 1982

I Don’t Care Anymore

Phil Collins was the busiest man in show business in the early ’80s. Between 1979 and 1985, he made six records (three solo and three with Genesis), played drums on tour for both Robert Plant and Eric Clapton, and produced countless albums for other artists.

“I Don’t Care Anymore” peaked at #39 on the Billboard Hot 100, and at #2 on the Mainstream Rock chart.

 

The Friends Of Mr. Cairo

Jon & Vangelis “The Friends Of Mr. Cairo” (Jon Anderson/Vangelis)

From the album The Friends Of Mr. Cairo

Polydor Records, 1981

The Friends Of Mr. Cairo

I admit that I am cheating a bit with this one, as obviously “The Friends Of Mr. Cairo” isn’t a true solo effort  from Jon Anderson.  Anderson and Vangelis made three records together during Anderson’s down time from Yes, and they are all worth seeking out. This song is a personal favorite, and today it goes out to my good friend Eric Byro. Eric lost his mom this week, and all of the friends of Mr. Byro have him in their thoughts and prayers.

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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.

exit

Rush: “Limelight” [Live] (Music By Lee & Lifeson/Lyrics By Peart)

From the VHS Exit…Stage Left

Polygram Video, 1981

Limelight [Live]

Star Wars

John Williams & The London Symphony Orchestra: “Cantina Band” (John Williams)

From the album Star Wars

20th Century Records, 1977

Vinyl rip courtesy of the Analog Kid; inspiration courtesy of Mrs. Analog Kid

Cantina Band

Posted by on October 31, 2013 in New Wave, Rock and tagged , , , , , , , , , , .

3 Comments

October 30, 2013

5 Led Zeppelin Songs That Are Not Led Zeppelin Songs

It seems rather ridiculous to give bands shit for ripping off Led Zeppelin, given that most of Zep’s early output was an inch away from outright thievery (ask Robert Johnson & Willie Dixon). But Led Zeppelin was about more than the riffs– Led Zeppelin was a sound and an attitude, and that is what other bands have been trying to recapture for forty years.

Let’s take a look at five extremely blatant attempts to capture that Zeppelin mojo!

Little Queen

Heart: “Barracuda” (Ann Wilson/Nancy Wilson/Roger DeRosier/Roger Fisher)

From the album Little Queen

Portrait Records, 1977

Barracuda

Ann & Nancy Wilson have never attempted to hide their love for Led Zeppelin. Heart has always covered Zeppelin songs in their encores, and earlier this year the band toured with John Bonham’s son Jason and played a set loaded with Zep classics.

“Barracuda” was the lead single from “Little Queen,” Heart’s second album. Without question, the galloping guitar rhythm pays homage to the Zeppelin epic “Achilles Last Stand.” It also proves beyond a doubt that the Wilson sisters could rock as hard as any band out there. A classic.

 

Zebra

Zebra: “Who’s Behind The Door” (Randy Jackson)

From the album Zebra

Atlantic Records, 1983

Vinyl rip courtesy of the Analog Kid

Who’s Behind The Door?

“Who’s Behind The Door?” was a huge AOR hit from Zebra’s 1983 debut record. The band had been playing together since 1975, and had frequently incorporated Zeppelin songs into their set. I suppose if you have a voice as high as singer/guitarist Randy Jackson, you are required to sing like Robert Plant. Note that Zebra released its albums on Atlantic Records, meaning they never had to worry about being sued by Zeppelin’s record company. The Discovery Channel is right: zebras are very intelligent.

 

Don't Say No

Billy Squier: “Lonely Is The Night” (Billy Squier)

From the album Don’t Say No

Capitol Records, 1981

Lonely Is The Night

Don’t Say No had bigger hits, but “Lonely is The Night” is its centerpiece. Drummer Bobby Chouinard lays down a monster Bonham groove, and the song oozes that Zeppelin swagger I was talking about earlier. Squier made a living cranking out pseudo-Zep anthems, and “Lonely Is The Night” is easily the best of a fine lot. Thankfully, Billy didn’t put on a pink shirt and dance around a loft in the video.

 

Slide It In 1

Whitesnake: “Slow An’ Easy” (David Coverdale/Micky Moody)

From the album Slide It In

Geffen Records, 1984

Slow An’ Easy

Like Squier, Whitesnake built an entire career on Zeppelin-esque riffs. The chorus on “Slow An’ Easy” kinda kills the Zep vibe, but the beginning is so Plant-like that I had to include it here. I suppose it’s no shock that David Coverdale eventually made an album with Jimmy Page, and it’s also no shock that I can’t remember a single song on it.

 

Kingdom Come

Kingdom Come: “Get It On” (Lenny Wolf /Marty Wolff)

From the album Kingdom Come

Polydor Records, 1988

Get It On

Without question, Kingdom Come wins the prize for most blatant Led Zeppelin rip-off of all time. They were essentially a Led Zeppelin tribute band that didn’t play any actual Zeppelin songs. I hated this on principle in 1988, but in 2013 I have to give it a little respect. Kingdom Come didn’t hide what they were trying to do, and they hired producer Bob Rock to make sure that they did it very well.

I can think of at least ten other songs that could have easily made this list. What songs make YOU think of Zeppelin? Let me know in the comments section!

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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.

Presence

Led Zeppelin: “Achilles Last Stand” (Jimmy Page/Robert Plant)

From the album Presence

Atlantic Records, 1976

Achilles Last Stand

Posted by on October 30, 2013 in Rock and tagged , , , , , , , , .

21 Comments

October 29, 2013

Groovy Tuesday: 1979

Every Tuesday, the Analog Kid blog goes back in time and features five groovy R&B/soul songs from a specific year. Warning: by R&B/soul, I also mean disco. I could go Gloria Gaynor on your ass at any given moment, so just be ready!

 

Today, we go back to the year 1979. The disco backlash was beginning, but there were still plenty of great songs to make you shake your groove thing!

Rock On

Raydio: “You Can’t Change That” (Ray Parker, Jr.)

From the album Rock On

Arista Records, 1979

You Can’t Change That

“You Can’t Change That” randomly popped into my head one day in the summer of 1995. I don’t think I had heard the song in almost fifteen years, but I was able to find it on a soul compilation CD that I ordered on this new-fangled thing called the internet. When the CD arrived, I found that I remembered (and liked) every single song on it. My love for ’70s R&B/soul had been rekindled, and I haven’t stopped digging through the genre since.

“You Can’t Change That” went to #9 in the summer of 1979, and band leader Ray Parker Jr. would go on to write a large number of hits, both for Raydio and as a solo artist. Some of them even managed not to rip off “I Want A New Drug.”

 

Big Fun

Shalamar: “Second Time Around” (William Shelby/Leon Sylvers III)

From the album Big Fun

Solar Records, 1979

Second Time Around

When your album cover features Jody Watley riding bareback on a killer whale, you set expectations pretty high. “Second Time Around” delivers on those expectations– it has one of those naturally infectious melodies that sticks in your brain. It sticks in your brain for 24 YEARS.

Don Cornelius put Shalamar together from his troop of dancers on Soul Train, a show that had already made Watley semi-famous for her moves and fashion sense. “Second Time Around” went as high as #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was the only Top 10 single for the group. Of course, Watley went on to enjoy tremendous success as a solo artist in the ’80s. Based on my wife’s excited yelps whenever “Looking For A New Love” comes up on shuffle, I may just have to devote an entire blog to her solo career in the near future.

 

Ray, Goodman & Brown

Ray, Goodman & Brown: “Special Lady” (Harry Ray/Al Goodman/Lee Walter)

From the album Ray, Goodman & Brown

Polydor Records, 1979

Special Lady

Ray, Goodman & Brown had been making records as The Moments for over ten years, but a contractual obligation forced them to adopt a new moniker. They hit #5 with “Special Lady,” an old-school slice of early-’70s soul that almost equaled the success of “Love On A Two-Way Street.”

 

We Are Family

Sister Sledge: “Lost In Music” (Nile Rodgers/Bernard Edwards)

From the album We Are Family

Cotillion Records, 1979

Vinyl rip courtesey of the Analog Kid

Lost In Music

If “Lost In Music” sounds like a great lost Chic track, that’s because it basically is a Chic track. Like the rest of Sister Sledge’s We Are Family, the song was written and produced by Nile Rodgers & Bernard Edwards. The Bee Gees get all of the credit for dominating the pop music charts in the late ’70s, but Nile & Bernard weren’t far behind. “We Are Family” went as high as #2 in late 1979, and earlier that year Chic’s “Good Times” made it all the way to #1.

“Lost In Music” only reached #35 on the R&B charts in the United States, but it’s a great cut from a fantastic album. Sister Sledge are often written off as a one-hit wonder, but their entire catalog is excellent (notation made for another future blog entry).

As for Nile Rodgers & Chic, the band is once again deservedly nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame this year. Anyone who questions their inclusion should not be reading the Analog Kid blog.

 

Disco Nights

GQ: “Disco Nights (Rock-Freak)” [Single Version] (Emanuel LeBlanc/Herb Lane/Keith Crier/Paul Service)

Original version from the album Disco Nights

Arista Records, 1979

Disco Nights (Rock Freak)

GQ stands for “good quality,” and this classic dance track from 1979 is indeed quality stuff. “Disco Nights (Rock-Freak)” went as high as #12 on the Billboard Top 100, and it topped the R&B chart.

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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.

Sports

Huey Lewis & The News: “I Want A New Drug” (Huey Lewis/Chris Hayes)

From the album Sports

Chrysalis Records, 1983

I Want A New Drug

 

Ghostbusters

Ray Parker, Jr.: “Ghostbusters” (Ray Parker, Jr.)

From the original motion picture soundtrack Ghostbusters

Arista Records, 1984

Ghostbusters

 

Jody Watley

Jody Watley: “Looking For A New Love” (Andre Cymone/Jody Watley)

From the album Jody Watley

MCA Records, 1987

Looking For A New Love

 

A Moment With The Moments

The Moments: “Love On A Two-Way Street” (Sylvia Robinson/Burt Keyes)

From the album A Moment With The Moments

Stang Records, 1970

Love On A Two-Way Street

 

Sister Sledge_ Singles & B-Sides

Sister Sledge: “We Are Family” [Single Version] (Nile Rodgers/Bernard Edwards]

Original version from the album We Are Family

Cotillion Records, 1979

We Are Family [Single Version]

 

Risque 1

Chic: “Good Times” (Nile Rodgers/Bernard Edwards)

From the album Risque

Atlantic Records, 1979

Good Times

Posted by on October 29, 2013 in Disco, Rock, Soul/R&B and tagged , , , , , , , , , , .

2 Comments