(Original recipe/extra crispy Manual Scan rhythm section Paul Kaufman and Dave Fleminger come to honor the decade, not to rile on it.)
Even the most hardcore among us admire some aspect of ’60s music and culture. And for some, this era still remains the zenith of everything that was cool. There were rapid changes in taste and style from one year to the next during that tumultuous time, and by the end of the decade the seeds of excess were already planted. So, we ask the simple question:
When did the ’60s jump the shark?
Some moments worth considering:
- The assassination of Martin Luther King.
- Death of Brian Epstein.
- Death of Brian Jones.
- Altamont.
- Letting Phil Spector “produce” the Let it Be album.
- Magical Mystery Tour.
- Sonny Bono says “Music took a left turn.”
But we’re sure everyone has their own opinions. Let ‘er rip!
— Paul Kaufman and Dave Fleminger
Well, it all depends on what you mean by “the 60s” and what you mean by “jumped the shark.” Even if you just mean 60s music, still that’s a pretty broad range of phenomena…
Ah well. The Nixon picture suggests Watergate as an obvious candidate (and maybe that’s when the presidency jumped the shark, too, Warren Harding and Andrew Johnson, notwithstanding). But some of the civil rights and social justice agenda of “the 60s” continues still.
As to music, how about the Moody Blues’ 2nd album as some kind of end of something? Man, do they suck from that point on!
Another argument might be that the beginning of revivalism is the real end of the beginning: so maybe Sha Na Na at Woodstock finally killed the 50s, and then Happy Days (the origin, of course, of shark-jumping as a cultural category) buried them. Maybethe Flamin’ Groovies… But I like them, so how about Beatlemania?
Well, it all depends on what you mean by “the 60s” and what you mean by “jumped the shark.” Even if you just mean 60s music, still that’s a pretty broad range of phenomena…
Ah well. The Nixon picture suggests Watergate as an obvious candidate (and maybe that’s when the presidency jumped the shark, too, Warren Harding and Andrew Johnson, notwithstanding). But some of the civil rights and social justice agenda of “the 60s” continues still.
As to music, how about the Moody Blues’ 2nd album as some kind of end of something? Man, do they suck from that point on!
Another argument might be that the beginning of revivalism is the real end of the beginning: so maybe Sha Na Na at Woodstock finally killed the 50s, and then Happy Days (the origin, of course, of shark-jumping as a cultural category) buried them. Maybethe Flamin’ Groovies… But I like them, so how about Beatlemania?
The 60’s officially ended on New Years day 1968 when Evel Knievel wiped out jumping the fountains at Caesers Palace. Then the 70’s started.
The 60’s officially ended on New Years day 1968 when Evel Knievel wiped out jumping the fountains at Caesers Palace. Then the 70’s started.
I’m going to put in a plug for the link I added to the Nixon photo … Not all ’60s, but the retro photo galleries on Lileks.com have made me drop a zoo on more than one occasion.
Special marks for the Dorcus Collection of menswear:
“From our popular Husky Bastard collection, this stunning checked jacket is a must for the arrogant theater major on your list. Those checks aren’t just for show -- they’re part of a metallic skeleton built right into the suit! When the jocks hold you down and beat the crap out of you, no doubt out of spite because they couldn’t ever HOPE to perform in Oklahoma! the way you did last month, well, your jacket will hold its shape. Available in many colors -- mud, blood, and hot snotty tears of shame.”
I’m going to put in a plug for the link I added to the Nixon photo … Not all ’60s, but the retro photo galleries on Lileks.com have made me drop a zoo on more than one occasion.
Special marks for the Dorcus Collection of menswear:
“From our popular Husky Bastard collection, this stunning checked jacket is a must for the arrogant theater major on your list. Those checks aren’t just for show -- they’re part of a metallic skeleton built right into the suit! When the jocks hold you down and beat the crap out of you, no doubt out of spite because they couldn’t ever HOPE to perform in Oklahoma! the way you did last month, well, your jacket will hold its shape. Available in many colors -- mud, blood, and hot snotty tears of shame.”
the 60s jumped the shark when Pete, Link and Julie sold out to the man by becoming cops. 🙁
the 60s jumped the shark when Pete, Link and Julie sold out to the man by becoming cops. 🙁
In the late 60’s there were incredibly skilled musicians but I think that the creative exploration that happened musically during 1967 (the magic year for albums) began to decline.
I guess? I was like knee high to a grasshopper in the 60’s. What do I know?
many feel that the end of 60’s happened with the shootings at Kent State.
In the late 60’s there were incredibly skilled musicians but I think that the creative exploration that happened musically during 1967 (the magic year for albums) began to decline.
I guess? I was like knee high to a grasshopper in the 60’s. What do I know?
many feel that the end of 60’s happened with the shootings at Kent State.
How about Bob Dylan’s motorcycle accident/nervous breakdown/hiatus in 66 (I think)? John Wesley Harding sure sounds like the first album of the 70s
How about Bob Dylan’s motorcycle accident/nervous breakdown/hiatus in 66 (I think)? John Wesley Harding sure sounds like the first album of the 70s
I like Simon’s nomination of Sha Na Na as the terminal point of the ’60s! Damn you, Bowser.
I like Simon’s nomination of Sha Na Na as the terminal point of the ’60s! Damn you, Bowser.
Seriously, what did happen to those people? It couldn’t be just drug burnout. On the Byrds live at the Fillmore 1969, you can hear the audience applauding after each guitar break, as though they’re watching jazz players. That says a lot about the whole mentality of the people watching the show… they obviously take the music seriously. How did all these people end up listening to Billy Joel in the 70s? How did the same people who wrote lines like “we are voices of chaos and anarchy” and “up against the wall, motherfucker” end up writing songs like We Built This City On Rock and Roll? I dont get it.
I’ve spoken many times of my fondness for San Francisco — how I enjoyed every day of the 5,000 or so I spent there — but I do think the town did drop more than its share of spores into the fast-moldering Petri dish of late-’60s excess.
I was never hugely into the ’60s bands from the Bay area, and I got a faceful of warmed-over Haightfulness arriving in SF for the 20th anniversary of the Summer of Love. (I remember some flyers circulating that read, “Fuck Hippie Nostalgia … Fuck the Summer of Love.” It does have a certain ring to it.)
Lou Reed: “We had vast objections to the whole San Francisco scene. It’s just tedious, a lie and untalented. They can’t play and they certainly can’t write … You know, people like Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead are just the most untalented bores that ever came up. Just look at them physically, I mean, can you take Grace Slick seriously? It’s a joke! It’s a joke! The kids are being hyped.”
Not nice at all, and not entirely fair, but …
Drugs took all the fun out of rock ‘n roll. Seriously. I like some psychedelic music (the silliest stuff), but rock ‘n roll became way too serious and introspective, until The Ramones and some others brought it back where it should be. It still had a sense of humor in 1966 but it seemed to have lost it sometime in 1967.
As far as growing up in the 60s, I remember as a child watching the Vietnam war on TV every night (the camera got right into the action in those days), along with all the awful inner city riots, and the shootings at Berkeley, etc. It didn’t seem that great to me. I was scared a lot of the time by what I saw.
I love the fashions, hair styles, cars, and much of the music, but I think the 60s are overrated, mainly by the generation older than me. And politically, what positive changes were made over the long term? I don’t want to get into a political discussion here but besides great strides in civil rights, we have not progressed much since the 60s.
Drugs took all the fun out of rock ‘n roll. Seriously. I like some psychedelic music (the silliest stuff), but rock ‘n roll became way too serious and introspective, until The Ramones and some others brought it back where it should be. It still had a sense of humor in 1966 but it seemed to have lost it sometime in 1967.
As far as growing up in the 60s, I remember as a child watching the Vietnam war on TV every night (the camera got right into the action in those days), along with all the awful inner city riots, and the shootings at Berkeley, etc. It didn’t seem that great to me. I was scared a lot of the time by what I saw.
I love the fashions, hair styles, cars, and much of the music, but I think the 60s are overrated, mainly by the generation older than me. And politically, what positive changes were made over the long term? I don’t want to get into a political discussion here but besides great strides in civil rights, we have not progressed much since the 60s.
I think Dean Curtis hit the nail suarely on the head with his last post.
I think Dean Curtis hit the nail suarely on the head with his last post.
“Drugs took all the fun out of rock ‘n roll.”
Nah… For a band about that was all about fun, the Ramones themselves always looked miserable. Now these people look like they’re having fun:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pY4ohB6VYw
“Drugs took all the fun out of rock ‘n roll.”
Nah… For a band about that was all about fun, the Ramones themselves always looked miserable. Now these people look like they’re having fun:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pY4ohB6VYw
>>>Lou Reed: “We had vast objections to the whole San Francisco scene. It’s just tedious, a lie and untalented. They can’t play…”
As opposed to Sterling Morrison and Mo Tucker? Artists who say things like that are just trying to create controversy to get attention. I’d bet Jefferson Airplane never mentioned Lou Reed in an interview.
>>>Lou Reed: “We had vast objections to the whole San Francisco scene. It’s just tedious, a lie and untalented. They can’t play…”
As opposed to Sterling Morrison and Mo Tucker? Artists who say things like that are just trying to create controversy to get attention. I’d bet Jefferson Airplane never mentioned Lou Reed in an interview.
Ok. It was too many hippies. Just like in the 80’s. The hacky sack tossing, drum circling, patchouli-ness of what happens to your brain after too many bong hits.
I love the 60’s! What a swing shift from the 50’s. In all areas -- an explosion of art, literature, spirituality, sex, music -- approach to life. It was an exciting time.
When the “cocktail nation” revival of the 50’s happened several years ago I just didn’t get it. Why would someone want to retro those values? F*king Marian Cunningham? Pre-birth control pill bound housewives? yuck! Might as well vote for….well…you know who.
>>I think the 60s are overrated, mainly by the generation older than me.
Testify, Dean. Our little community here may be a testimonial to the impulse to self-mythologize — but considering the sheer numbers at the peak of the Baby Boom, I’ve always felt like I’m kinda pushing the generational broom after the elephant parade!
Dave Ellison: Hell, yeah, Lou Reed was a cranked-up crank — and I certainly agree that the Airplane and Dead easily matched the Velvets for musicianship (which is a bogus rule anyway in my rocknroll book).
But if we’re looking at where lines were drawn (and how some of these folks ended up at “Built This City”), the whole NY-SF tension of ’67-’68 is an interesting moment to consider.
>>I think the 60s are overrated, mainly by the generation older than me.
Testify, Dean. Our little community here may be a testimonial to the impulse to self-mythologize — but considering the sheer numbers at the peak of the Baby Boom, I’ve always felt like I’m kinda pushing the generational broom after the elephant parade!
Dave Ellison: Hell, yeah, Lou Reed was a cranked-up crank — and I certainly agree that the Airplane and Dead easily matched the Velvets for musicianship (which is a bogus rule anyway in my rocknroll book).
But if we’re looking at where lines were drawn (and how some of these folks ended up at “Built This City”), the whole NY-SF tension of ’67-’68 is an interesting moment to consider.
How could any year be better than this one?
Testimony:
http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/15327933/the_40_essential_albums_of_1967/photo/1
Pipers at the Gates of Dawn. Cold Sweat. oh yeah…and Sergeant Peppers.
How could any year be better than this one?
Testimony:
http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/15327933/the_40_essential_albums_of_1967/photo/1
Pipers at the Gates of Dawn. Cold Sweat. oh yeah…and Sergeant Peppers.
Kristen, there are some definite gems in that list, but in typical Rolling Stones fashion they left out No Way Out by The Chocolate Watchband and Back Door Men by The Shadows of Knight, to name just 2 albums I think are better than The Grateful Dead’s first and some others on that list.
Your point is well taken -- some great music came out in 1967. But my point was that it was the beginning of the end for rock ‘n roll as it started to get too serious partly due to drugs which led to awful stuff like prog rock and jazz-rock fusion.
Kristen, there are some definite gems in that list, but in typical Rolling Stones fashion they left out No Way Out by The Chocolate Watchband and Back Door Men by The Shadows of Knight, to name just 2 albums I think are better than The Grateful Dead’s first and some others on that list.
Your point is well taken -- some great music came out in 1967. But my point was that it was the beginning of the end for rock ‘n roll as it started to get too serious partly due to drugs which led to awful stuff like prog rock and jazz-rock fusion.
Another great thread.
May I first come to the defense of Sha Na Na? There are few things more punk rock than playing a lightning fast “At the Hop” with slicked back hair and dressed in skin tight gold lame suits in front of a half a million stoned, smelly hippies who think Joe Cocker is the second coming of Christ.
The end of the sixties? Kent State, the Manson Murders, Altamont, the rise of heroin and methamphetamine abuse. Drugs and violence killed it, like they kill everything else. I consider the arrival of the Beatles to be the end of the fifties and the beginning of the sixties. Until then, the western world seemed to be in a holding pattern, waiting for something big to happen. And then, of course, Kennedy was assassinated and the Beatles arrived. It’s hard to imagine a period in history will see so much change in such a short period of time--it was idealistic, optimistic, experimental and above all, youth oriented. The differences between the United States of 1963 and 1969 are staggering. And I have to disagree about the lasting effects of the sixties: the Civil Rights movement (which was no small accomplishment), the fight for equal rights for women and gays and lesbians, the concepts of social responsibility, environmental stewardship and anti-war politics—these were all tremendously worthwhile achievements. I think a lot of us take for granted how much we have benefited from the efforts of previous generations. So while I don’t really like what the baby boomers have become, at least there were great numbers of them who looked at the rigid, repressive world of their parents and said, “no thanks.” Why would anyone long to return to Pleasantville, the world of cocktail hour, strictly defined gender roles, sexual repression and unabashed racism?
Oh yeah, and one more thing: Look, I’m no fan of Grace Slick or the Dead, but Lou Reed is a pretentious tool. Last time I checked he was playing “Sweet Jane” at an AOL corporate shindig. All right, bring on the Internet smackdown!
Prog-rock and jazz fusion are playing in the elevator that descends into the fiery pit of hell.
Prog-rock and jazz fusion are playing in the elevator that descends into the fiery pit of hell.
>>Oh yeah, and one more thing: Look, I’m no fan of Grace Slick or the Dead, but Lou Reed is a pretentious tool. Last time I checked he was playing “Sweet Jane” at an AOL corporate shindig. All right, bring on the Internet smackdown!
Ray: No smackdown here! I haven’t actually tuned into his new originals, but Lou Reed has left some pretty stinky piles in his time … And while it took me years to pull the stick out of my ass long enough to sit down and listen to it, I happen to think “Workingman’s Dead” sounds pretty good! 🙂
However … I still find something slightly overripe about the youth-culture machine that coalesced around SF in the late ’60s. I like some of the music (although I can’t honestly say any of it was ever my favorite) … But the hippie-capitalist thing there got a little yeasty for me — which is why I kind of enjoy the sheer astringent dickery of VU’s comments from the era.
>>Oh yeah, and one more thing: Look, I’m no fan of Grace Slick or the Dead, but Lou Reed is a pretentious tool. Last time I checked he was playing “Sweet Jane” at an AOL corporate shindig. All right, bring on the Internet smackdown!
Ray: No smackdown here! I haven’t actually tuned into his new originals, but Lou Reed has left some pretty stinky piles in his time … And while it took me years to pull the stick out of my ass long enough to sit down and listen to it, I happen to think “Workingman’s Dead” sounds pretty good! 🙂
However … I still find something slightly overripe about the youth-culture machine that coalesced around SF in the late ’60s. I like some of the music (although I can’t honestly say any of it was ever my favorite) … But the hippie-capitalist thing there got a little yeasty for me — which is why I kind of enjoy the sheer astringent dickery of VU’s comments from the era.
>>>my point was that it was the beginning of the end for rock ‘n roll as it started to get too serious partly due to drugs which led to awful stuff like prog rock and jazz-rock fusion.
There was a lot of awful rock and roll too before rock music came along in the 60s. I think rock music grew out of the folk and blues revival of the early 60s, where people wanted something more serious and meaningful than the lightweight pop music that was on the radio… so the bands in the late 60s just carried on that tradition. There’s good and bad in all kinds of music… but you can’t blame the good bands for the bad bands that came after.
I love Jefferson Airplane (their best stuff, anyway)… the live album Bless It’s Pointed Little Head is one of the most driving rock and roll albums ever. I admit I’m bored by most of the Grateful Dead’s music, but you have to respect their integrity. They always did exactly what they wanted, with absolutely no regard for the music industry, and were somehow hugely successful. Even the Clash and the Ramones couldn’t make that claim.
>>>my point was that it was the beginning of the end for rock ‘n roll as it started to get too serious partly due to drugs which led to awful stuff like prog rock and jazz-rock fusion.
There was a lot of awful rock and roll too before rock music came along in the 60s. I think rock music grew out of the folk and blues revival of the early 60s, where people wanted something more serious and meaningful than the lightweight pop music that was on the radio… so the bands in the late 60s just carried on that tradition. There’s good and bad in all kinds of music… but you can’t blame the good bands for the bad bands that came after.
I love Jefferson Airplane (their best stuff, anyway)… the live album Bless It’s Pointed Little Head is one of the most driving rock and roll albums ever. I admit I’m bored by most of the Grateful Dead’s music, but you have to respect their integrity. They always did exactly what they wanted, with absolutely no regard for the music industry, and were somehow hugely successful. Even the Clash and the Ramones couldn’t make that claim.
Ray, your description of Sha Na Na cracked me up! 😀
>and I have to disagree about the lasting effects of the sixties: >the Civil Rights movement (which was no small accomplishment)
Right on!
>the fight for equal rights for women and gays and lesbians
They’ve come a long way, baby!
>concepts of social responsibility
This is only prevalent in some large urban areas of the US, unlike in Europe where it’s much more mainstream -- in rural areas like Alaska forget it.
>environmental stewardship
We tried, but a little recycling can’t save the planet.
>anti-war politics
Hah! We are at war as you well know. Do you see anyone marching in streets against it like they did in the 60s?
Sorry if I’m just a bit cynical!
I have to defend the cocktail culture revival (or whatever you wish to call it). Just like Sha Na Na was copying fun things about the 50s, one can do that with full realization that there were also bad things going on. Everybody I know who likes 50s clothes, music, etc. is perfectly aware of the bad things that happened in the 50s and would never want to return to those, but can appreciate the good things from the era in a nostalgic sense.
Love this thread also!
>There was a lot of awful rock and roll too before rock music came along in the 60s. I think rock music grew out of the folk and blues revival of the early 60s, where people wanted something more serious and meaningful than the lightweight pop music that was on the radio…
I have a little pet peeve (haha) about people who insist there was no good music on the radio after Buddy Holley died and before the Beatles showed up.
How about R&B, soul, surf and instrumental groups, the Pacific Northwest sound, and girl groups? The era between when Buddy died and the Beatles arrived is one of my favorite music eras! Dig just a little deep and you will be amply rewarded.
I cringe when I hear that mantra “the era of Bobbys” (Bobby Vee, Bobby Vinton, etc) was all we had before the Beatles. No way!
This era was great in country music as well with the Bakersfield sound becoming popular, and there were still strong pockets of rockabilly and doo wop here and there.
>There was a lot of awful rock and roll too before rock music came along in the 60s. I think rock music grew out of the folk and blues revival of the early 60s, where people wanted something more serious and meaningful than the lightweight pop music that was on the radio…
I have a little pet peeve (haha) about people who insist there was no good music on the radio after Buddy Holley died and before the Beatles showed up.
How about R&B, soul, surf and instrumental groups, the Pacific Northwest sound, and girl groups? The era between when Buddy died and the Beatles arrived is one of my favorite music eras! Dig just a little deep and you will be amply rewarded.
I cringe when I hear that mantra “the era of Bobbys” (Bobby Vee, Bobby Vinton, etc) was all we had before the Beatles. No way!
This era was great in country music as well with the Bakersfield sound becoming popular, and there were still strong pockets of rockabilly and doo wop here and there.
>>I love Jefferson Airplane (their best stuff, anyway)…
OK, seriously, seriously … I really liked the Airplane’s vocal harmonies on some of the early stuff, which to me clearly influenced X. And the playing was always rock-solid. I’ve never found the kind of hooks that hold me rapt — but it’s been many, many years since I’ve heard anything but “White Rabbit” and “Somebody to Love,” so maybe I’m ripe for conversion!
>>I love Jefferson Airplane (their best stuff, anyway)…
OK, seriously, seriously … I really liked the Airplane’s vocal harmonies on some of the early stuff, which to me clearly influenced X. And the playing was always rock-solid. I’ve never found the kind of hooks that hold me rapt — but it’s been many, many years since I’ve heard anything but “White Rabbit” and “Somebody to Love,” so maybe I’m ripe for conversion!
Well what can I add to this…? I am not really sure were the 60’s ended and 70’s began.
I myself being the byproduct of the 60’s, one of two sons born to young hippie types, I pretty much grew up in the shadow of the era.
I really feel that we are force fed a sugar sweet glossed history about the whole San Francisco thing and the 60’s in general, Haight Street was a horrible dangerous place back then, Bill Graham was a total creep from what I have understand. Flowers in your hair, my ass!
I do dig a lot of the music, art, film & blah blah blah.
I like some of those San Francisco bands and there heavy reverb guitar solos that were inspired by the 13 Floor Elevators, and love The Velvet Underground , and the bubble gum sounds of The Archies, Ohio Express and the whole Buhhda thing, but I really feel that LA had the sound, love the Folk Rock!
Maybe the 60’s ended when David Crosby bought a yaht and started writing sounds about it, or maybe when everyone followed The Byrds, Graham Parsons Flying Burrito Brothers, Poco lead into country rock and we ended up being forced fed The Eagles for way way to long?
I do not hate country rock just not a big fan after Gene Clark and the Gosdin Brother and The Byrds “Sweetheart of the Rodeo” records.
I grew up watching Sha na na and looked up to the Fonz….so what do I know? First time I saw The Ramones was on Sha na na! Happy Days lost me at Fonzi in a tweed jacket.
Well what can I add to this…? I am not really sure were the 60’s ended and 70’s began.
I myself being the byproduct of the 60’s, one of two sons born to young hippie types, I pretty much grew up in the shadow of the era.
I really feel that we are force fed a sugar sweet glossed history about the whole San Francisco thing and the 60’s in general, Haight Street was a horrible dangerous place back then, Bill Graham was a total creep from what I have understand. Flowers in your hair, my ass!
I do dig a lot of the music, art, film & blah blah blah.
I like some of those San Francisco bands and there heavy reverb guitar solos that were inspired by the 13 Floor Elevators, and love The Velvet Underground , and the bubble gum sounds of The Archies, Ohio Express and the whole Buhhda thing, but I really feel that LA had the sound, love the Folk Rock!
Maybe the 60’s ended when David Crosby bought a yaht and started writing sounds about it, or maybe when everyone followed The Byrds, Graham Parsons Flying Burrito Brothers, Poco lead into country rock and we ended up being forced fed The Eagles for way way to long?
I do not hate country rock just not a big fan after Gene Clark and the Gosdin Brother and The Byrds “Sweetheart of the Rodeo” records.
I grew up watching Sha na na and looked up to the Fonz….so what do I know? First time I saw The Ramones was on Sha na na! Happy Days lost me at Fonzi in a tweed jacket.
The Ramones were on Sha Na Na? Really!?
For the record, I like Sha Na Na, agree with Ray about their punk rock credentials. I also loved the show as a child, largely because I thought the music was better than most of what my dad was playing (a lot of Billy Joel and 70s singer-songwriter stuff as well as the teenybopperist of British beat). What I was saying was that their appearance at Woodstock meant that the 50s were well and truly dead, ready for the burial that Happy Days provided. Likewise, you could say that the 60s were truly dead when mainstream revivalism nostalgia marketing of the 60s kicked-in in the 70s, maybe with Beatlemania. Ray makes a good case for the Beatles as the death of the 50s, but there was also the earlier moment when Eddie died and Gene was crippled; Buddy was already dead; Elvis was in the army; Chuck was in jail; Richard had found God; Jerry Lee’s devils were exposed; etc--and there was nothing but Frankies and Fabians and Bobbies.
As to the 60s--I know, I know: the actual question--I become more and more convinced reading this thread that something ended in 66, with the end of Beatles tours, Dylan’s accident, and the arrival of drugs, pretensions, gurus, outre facial hair, and big woolly jackets. The increasing emphasis on boring instrumental virtuosity was the wrong road, too. It’s hard to argue with Jimi Hendrix, and there are some good Cream songs, but those guys opened some terrible doors.
One last thing: I’m with those who say that, in the bicoastal battle of the past-their-sell-by-date, monosyllabically-named pretentious 60s titans, Grace could take Lou, whether in a battle of the bands, a streetfight, or a battle of the wits. Yeah, her late work is almost immeasurably bad, and, yeah, the decline started early, but the second JA album (first with Grace Slick) is awesome. Matt, there are a few great songs beyond “White Rabbit” and “Somebody to Love,” but even if it were just those two, especially the latter, wouldn’t that be some kind of contribution? I’ve never been the Velvets fan you’re supposed to be, and I’d take “Somebody to Love” over any Lou Reed song ever. Even if you won’t go that far, don’t write the JA off as spongy San Francisco hippies like the Grating Dead and the Quicksilver Messenger Service--at least not all their stuff. Plus, also, too--Grace Slick=earliest punk rock name ever and one of the best (up there with Cheetah Chrome, Poly Styrene, Lorna Doom!), and it was her REAL NAME!
Jeez, I’m a long-winded old man. Kids today! Harrumph!
And another thing: I was typing so damn long that I missed Dean’s post pre-emptively objecting to my dismissal of 59-63 as the era of Bobbies. Fair enough. Roy Orbison and Del Shannon made some great records around then! But still, I think of that stuff as more 60s than 50s. Shannon, I think, was the first to chart a Lennon-McCartney song in the US…
Fun to bicker about this stuff…
And another thing: I was typing so damn long that I missed Dean’s post pre-emptively objecting to my dismissal of 59-63 as the era of Bobbies. Fair enough. Roy Orbison and Del Shannon made some great records around then! But still, I think of that stuff as more 60s than 50s. Shannon, I think, was the first to chart a Lennon-McCartney song in the US…
Fun to bicker about this stuff…
The 60s started going downhill in ’66 when they made LSD illegal!
The 60s started going downhill in ’66 when they made LSD illegal!
>>Matthew: I really liked the Airplane’s vocal harmonies on some of the early stuff..
The vocals in Gracie’s first band Great Society are quite wonderful, like Sallie Goes Round in Roses. I must also give her snaps for her lyrical poetry in songs such as Lather or Greasy Heart:
“Lady’s eyes go off and on with a finger full of glue,
Lips are drawn upon her face in come-to-me tattoo.
Creamy suntan color that fades when she bathes.
Paper dresses catch on fire and you lose her in the haze.
Don’t ever change lady, he likes you that way.
Because he just had his hair done and he wants to use your wig,
He’s going off the drug thing cause his veins are getting big,
He wants to sell his paintings but the market is slow.
They’re only paying him two grams now for a one-man abstract show.
Don’t ever change people even if you can.
You are your own best toy to play with; remote control hands.
Made for each other. Made in Japan.
Woman with a greasy heart, automatic man.
Don’t ever change people. Your face will hit the fan.”
>>Matthew: I really liked the Airplane’s vocal harmonies on some of the early stuff..
The vocals in Gracie’s first band Great Society are quite wonderful, like Sallie Goes Round in Roses. I must also give her snaps for her lyrical poetry in songs such as Lather or Greasy Heart:
“Lady’s eyes go off and on with a finger full of glue,
Lips are drawn upon her face in come-to-me tattoo.
Creamy suntan color that fades when she bathes.
Paper dresses catch on fire and you lose her in the haze.
Don’t ever change lady, he likes you that way.
Because he just had his hair done and he wants to use your wig,
He’s going off the drug thing cause his veins are getting big,
He wants to sell his paintings but the market is slow.
They’re only paying him two grams now for a one-man abstract show.
Don’t ever change people even if you can.
You are your own best toy to play with; remote control hands.
Made for each other. Made in Japan.
Woman with a greasy heart, automatic man.
Don’t ever change people. Your face will hit the fan.”
Greasy Heart is a great song…
Matthew, check out the youtube videos of High Flying Bird, We Can Be Together and The Other Side of This Life. Those songs are probably more typical of their sound. On the album Bless Its Pointed Litttle Head, the bass playing sounds like punk rock…kind of like the Damned.
Greasy Heart is a great song…
Matthew, check out the youtube videos of High Flying Bird, We Can Be Together and The Other Side of This Life. Those songs are probably more typical of their sound. On the album Bless Its Pointed Litttle Head, the bass playing sounds like punk rock…kind of like the Damned.
I talked to an old guy I used to see every time I went to the La Boheme coffee shop in the Mission District in 89-90. His take on the Haight Ashbury scene in the 60’s was a lot of dudes preying on young girls from the sticks. It seems like a lot of people were let down when their political leaders Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy were assassinated. Dean Curtis asked if anyone saw people marching in the streets against the Iraq war. No, because the media doesn’t cover protest like they did in the 60’s. Hundreds of thousands of people marched many times in San Francisco against both Iraq wars, and that’s without the youthful baby boom and the urgency of the draft.
Musically I agree that drug-influenced prog rock was a turning point. But I don’t think it was a bad thing, always. Pink Floyd may have started it. Early King Crimson and Yes had some amazing songs.
I talked to an old guy I used to see every time I went to the La Boheme coffee shop in the Mission District in 89-90. His take on the Haight Ashbury scene in the 60’s was a lot of dudes preying on young girls from the sticks. It seems like a lot of people were let down when their political leaders Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy were assassinated. Dean Curtis asked if anyone saw people marching in the streets against the Iraq war. No, because the media doesn’t cover protest like they did in the 60’s. Hundreds of thousands of people marched many times in San Francisco against both Iraq wars, and that’s without the youthful baby boom and the urgency of the draft.
Musically I agree that drug-influenced prog rock was a turning point. But I don’t think it was a bad thing, always. Pink Floyd may have started it. Early King Crimson and Yes had some amazing songs.
I have no opinion on any of this. Having grown up in an extremely Beatle-maniac household (with just enough stones, Doors, and Airplane to keep things absolutely real), I didn’t know there was anything else of substance until after I was into punk. I’m afraid despite my ’65 birth date I’m pretty much a product of the seventies.
Not to detract from this totally interesting topic (no bullshit- you guys never fail to amaze me with how much you know about such a wide variety of topics surrounding music and our culture- I have to stay up nights and try to catch up, and never seem to keep up!) I work in Waikiki now- the Las Vegas of Polynesia, a barometer of the decline of American culture. I was stopped at a light on Kuhio Avenue the other day and some dipshit pulls up to me with all the stupid tattoos, the stupid hat, the stupid corporate hip-hop and the stripper girlfriend and he looks over at me and nods and asks, “Hey man- you need any weed?”
I just looked back at him straight-faced and said, “Fuck you cop- weed is for hippies.” and turned up my Fugazi and drove away, keeping a straight face until he was out of my rear view mirror. Dude looked pissed off about something.
The Kennedy years were indeed full of some great music, including some of the best records ever made, Phil Spector’s recordings with the Ronettes. Marvin Gaye’s first album, “Stubborn Kind of Fellow,” and the Miracles’ first album (with “Shop Around” were huge influence on me, too.
Paul A,
I agree that to a large extent the Summer of Love was a media creation. By 1967 a lot of the youth energy which had exploded on the Sunset Strip the previous year had reached its way into the mainstream press and the opportunists came out of the woodwork. When George Harrison visited San Francisco in 1967 to see what all of the fuss was about, he found a lot of undernourished, emaciated, drug addicted runaways, and older biker-pimp types looking to take advantage. This is exactly why Manson headed directly to the Haight upon his release from prison in ’67.
The Kennedy years were indeed full of some great music, including some of the best records ever made, Phil Spector’s recordings with the Ronettes. Marvin Gaye’s first album, “Stubborn Kind of Fellow,” and the Miracles’ first album (with “Shop Around” were huge influence on me, too.
Paul A,
I agree that to a large extent the Summer of Love was a media creation. By 1967 a lot of the youth energy which had exploded on the Sunset Strip the previous year had reached its way into the mainstream press and the opportunists came out of the woodwork. When George Harrison visited San Francisco in 1967 to see what all of the fuss was about, he found a lot of undernourished, emaciated, drug addicted runaways, and older biker-pimp types looking to take advantage. This is exactly why Manson headed directly to the Haight upon his release from prison in ’67.
Now that I’ve taken a few jabs at San Francisco (still my fave American city), I’ll poke at the Beatles (still my formative band after more than 40 years).
Given the wealth and media influence the Beatles exercised — hard to repeat since, given the novelty of their status then — it’s frustrating to consider how lame their efforts at brand extension proved to be in the late ’60s.
On the back of a cocktail napkin, Apple Corps actually was an interesting concept in enlightened capitalism … Sort of a proto-VC to provide seed money to start-up ventures at the cutting edge of arts, culture and technology. If someone had put down the coke spoon and picked up the slide rule, maybe the first Apple PC coulda been launched by the original Apple!
Instead, they blew a huge amount of money in 1968-1970 on hucksters peddling the flakiest collection of crap. The Fool, those dopey Dutch clothing designers … That silly retail space that ws supposed to sell only white stuff, IIRC … Some pretty lame acts (I have a soft spot for Badfinger, but James Taylor was Apple’s first artiste) … And in what was certainly the biggest squandered opportunity, an electronics division comprising the ridiculous Magic Alex (the con artist who promised to build them a flying saucer from car parts, a tiny sun to light a room and force-field soundproofing — among other wonders — and instead left a pile of bills and scrap metal).
It’s no coincidence that Beatles fan Steve Jobs named his company after the band’s and successfully harnessed in the mid-’70s the counterculture/tech convergence the original Apple almost grokked in the late ’60s.
Now I know why Badfinger sounded like Paul McCartney. I think for years every time I heard Come And Get It on the radio I thought it actually WAS Paul McCartney.
wikipedia has a pretty good article on the summer of love… according to that, it was about 100,000 college students on summer vacation who heard San Francisco was the place to be. After the summer was over most of them left and went back to school. 100,000 people in the Haight with nowhere to stay… it’s mind boggling. Im sure it was for people who lived there at the time too.
Now I know why Badfinger sounded like Paul McCartney. I think for years every time I heard Come And Get It on the radio I thought it actually WAS Paul McCartney.
wikipedia has a pretty good article on the summer of love… according to that, it was about 100,000 college students on summer vacation who heard San Francisco was the place to be. After the summer was over most of them left and went back to school. 100,000 people in the Haight with nowhere to stay… it’s mind boggling. Im sure it was for people who lived there at the time too.
Yeah, Badfinger was kind of positioned as the farm-team Beatles — by the Beatles, for the Beatles. Really a tragic story — and not a bad illustration of ’60s-to-’70s whiplash taking some vulnerable people out.
Yeah, Badfinger was kind of positioned as the farm-team Beatles — by the Beatles, for the Beatles. Really a tragic story — and not a bad illustration of ’60s-to-’70s whiplash taking some vulnerable people out.
Badfinger songs make me sentimental.
So does Bubble Yum bubble gum.
Badfinger songs make me sentimental.
So does Bubble Yum bubble gum.
I’m with Dave Ellison and Kirsten Tobiason on this one….thanks for sharing the videos and Gracie’s early lyrics. Man, she was one cool chica in the early days.
I’m with Dave Ellison and Kirsten Tobiason on this one….thanks for sharing the videos and Gracie’s early lyrics. Man, she was one cool chica in the early days.
Simon: Yes The Ramones were on Sha Na Na.
Simon: Yes The Ramones were on Sha Na Na.
I liked Sha Na Na until they became Sha Na Starship.
I liked Sha Na Na until they became Sha Na Starship.
I forgot to mention how much I love Toby. I’m picturing the dipshit in the car being played by Kid Rock.
I forgot to mention how much I love Toby. I’m picturing the dipshit in the car being played by Kid Rock.
Dylans right. I also saw the Ramones on the Sha Na Na prime time comedy show. I am not half the musical genius as most on this blog but I cant help feeling a little bad for anyone that might have enjoyed “We built this city on rock and Roll” and is tuning in. Remember, music is art and as such just a matter of opinion.
Peace out.
Dylans right. I also saw the Ramones on the Sha Na Na prime time comedy show. I am not half the musical genius as most on this blog but I cant help feeling a little bad for anyone that might have enjoyed “We built this city on rock and Roll” and is tuning in. Remember, music is art and as such just a matter of opinion.
Peace out.
Anyone who likes We Built This City On Rock and Roll is an idiot.
*smiley*
Anyone who likes We Built This City On Rock and Roll is an idiot.
*smiley*
In my opinion.
In my opinion.
We Built This (Shitty)
We Built This (Shitty)
“…We wrote this ditty for MTV…”
“…We wrote this ditty for MTV…”
Here’s how one Starship fan commented on the “We Built This City” video on YouTube:
“Anyone can play a mamba, choose to listen to the radio instead of go to a concert, and dance alone. But it’s about joining together, having a cause, and putting forth the effort. It’s about changing the system for the better good. It’s about that hardcore rock and roll feeling of surpassing the universe’s limitations with togetherness.”
Hey, when we were kids, my social life was generally delineated by people who shared some musical interests with me.
Now I interact with a lot more people, and I’m sure their playlists would make my ears bleed. I long ago came to the conclusion that I can’t judge someone’s character by their aesthetic choices (except maybe for big-time fans of white-supremacist bands or a few other sub-genres where the message completely swamps the medium, and then it’s really no longer an aesthetic choice anyway).
I’d reckon that most people who like “We Built This City on Rock and Roll” are absolutely wonderful folks who’d readily subscribe to the sentiments Ray quoted above. I still think it’s dreck, but … It’s not, like, inciting anyone to club baby seals!
So: unironic Starship fans welcome! … Unironic Skrewdriver fans, maybe not so much. 🙂
Hey, when we were kids, my social life was generally delineated by people who shared some musical interests with me.
Now I interact with a lot more people, and I’m sure their playlists would make my ears bleed. I long ago came to the conclusion that I can’t judge someone’s character by their aesthetic choices (except maybe for big-time fans of white-supremacist bands or a few other sub-genres where the message completely swamps the medium, and then it’s really no longer an aesthetic choice anyway).
I’d reckon that most people who like “We Built This City on Rock and Roll” are absolutely wonderful folks who’d readily subscribe to the sentiments Ray quoted above. I still think it’s dreck, but … It’s not, like, inciting anyone to club baby seals!
So: unironic Starship fans welcome! … Unironic Skrewdriver fans, maybe not so much. 🙂
Now THIS is about that hardcore rock and roll feeling of surpassing the universe’s limitations with togetherness:
Was Jerry the Bowser of our generation or are the similarities only surface in nature.I am now officially obsessed.
Was Jerry the Bowser of our generation or are the similarities only surface in nature.I am now officially obsessed.
How do we define “Enjoy” here?That is definitely a question worth considering.
How do we define “Enjoy” here?That is definitely a question worth considering.
RE the definition of “enjoy”: You know, I’m again going to tempt a group shunning and point out that there are a few contexts in which I can enjoy absurdly bombastic mullet-rock: amusement parks, thrill rides, some other kind of overloaded summertime pleasures seem suited to this stuff. (Not that the Zeros wouldn’t be awesome on a roller coaster!)
“Built This City” could actually work for me if I were on a water slide or, like, trying to ring a bell by slamming a big mallet down on a catapult somewhere that smells like popcorn.
Another example: The “Spongebob” parents among us may agree that the scene where Squidward wins the marching-band challenge was made by the (apparently custom-written!) ’80s-style anthem the group delivers. I’m on my feet waving my lighter every time.
Before he became a creepy little homunculus, Tom Cruise was very rockin’ dancing around to that dumb Bob Seger tune in “Risky Business.” I’d never listen to that song otherwise, but it’s perfect for the tighty-whitey boogie Cruise does in that film.
Can anybody else think of occasions when context renders acceptable music you wouldn’t sit still for otherwise?
RE the definition of “enjoy”: You know, I’m again going to tempt a group shunning and point out that there are a few contexts in which I can enjoy absurdly bombastic mullet-rock: amusement parks, thrill rides, some other kind of overloaded summertime pleasures seem suited to this stuff. (Not that the Zeros wouldn’t be awesome on a roller coaster!)
“Built This City” could actually work for me if I were on a water slide or, like, trying to ring a bell by slamming a big mallet down on a catapult somewhere that smells like popcorn.
Another example: The “Spongebob” parents among us may agree that the scene where Squidward wins the marching-band challenge was made by the (apparently custom-written!) ’80s-style anthem the group delivers. I’m on my feet waving my lighter every time.
Before he became a creepy little homunculus, Tom Cruise was very rockin’ dancing around to that dumb Bob Seger tune in “Risky Business.” I’d never listen to that song otherwise, but it’s perfect for the tighty-whitey boogie Cruise does in that film.
Can anybody else think of occasions when context renders acceptable music you wouldn’t sit still for otherwise?
Matt: The scene with Night Ranger’s “Sister Christian” in Boogie NIghts revealed the malevolent genius at the heart of of what had otherwise appeared a mere arena inanity. “Motorin’!”
Matt: The scene with Night Ranger’s “Sister Christian” in Boogie NIghts revealed the malevolent genius at the heart of of what had otherwise appeared a mere arena inanity. “Motorin’!”
My nephew keeps picking through his piano lesson in the next room -- “Danny Boy”. At the rate he attacks this, I keep hearing “The Prettiest Star”.
I gotta turn him on to that one -- once his piano teacher moves him along… 🙂
I like this. It’s my “Built This.. ” antidote. Jeff Lucas and I saw this in a re-run around ’81, on Pat’s couch at the E street house. We just about flipped out.
My nephew keeps picking through his piano lesson in the next room -- “Danny Boy”. At the rate he attacks this, I keep hearing “The Prettiest Star”.
I gotta turn him on to that one -- once his piano teacher moves him along… 🙂
I like this. It’s my “Built This.. ” antidote. Jeff Lucas and I saw this in a re-run around ’81, on Pat’s couch at the E street house. We just about flipped out.
Thanks for that brilliant clip, Jerry.
I’m long over that stage of life when I need to justify liking something, either through context, or relationship to something cool. An open mind and a sense of humor (sometimes just a good mood) always helps.
I think I would have been tarred and feathered at one point for admitting I like this:
Thanks for that brilliant clip, Jerry.
I’m long over that stage of life when I need to justify liking something, either through context, or relationship to something cool. An open mind and a sense of humor (sometimes just a good mood) always helps.
I think I would have been tarred and feathered at one point for admitting I like this:
(On … Blackberry! Can’t … See … Videos! Grrrrrr.)
Raising the lamestain ante: If you put me in an inner tube on one of those lazy-river rides at a water park, go ahead and play Jimmy Buffet. (They always do — God knows how much Jimmy Buffet makes from water-park residuals every blessed summer.) And I’ve even been known to bellow, “Thank God I’m a Country Bear!” at Disney’s eponymous cyber-ursine attraction.
My gosh, I’m getting nostalgic for summer! 🙁
(On … Blackberry! Can’t … See … Videos! Grrrrrr.)
Raising the lamestain ante: If you put me in an inner tube on one of those lazy-river rides at a water park, go ahead and play Jimmy Buffet. (They always do — God knows how much Jimmy Buffet makes from water-park residuals every blessed summer.) And I’ve even been known to bellow, “Thank God I’m a Country Bear!” at Disney’s eponymous cyber-ursine attraction.
My gosh, I’m getting nostalgic for summer! 🙁
Ray,
Oh yeah. I used to flinch on hearing ’em.
Now I’m all about Steely Dan. Especially the weirder/jazzier they are. What’s up with the intro to “Josie”? In fact, once they got a hold of Michael McDonald, I like the Doobies stuff -- once McDonald stops being a wannabe Levi Stubbs.
Earth Wind and Fire -- always impossibly commercially successful for adoration -- I can really dig. Some of theirs make me weep. It used to be only “Livin’ for the City” did that to me.
Who else, now? Boz Scaggs’ Silk Degrees is a great record -- like Winwood, he proves that white men aren’t excluded from making first-rate music out of the black tradition. It requires a deeply felt respect and understanding of the culture and experience that produced the music -- the wellspring of strength and beauty.
Also, I can really get into Taste of Honey -- those girls could play! All of the really musical ‘Boogie’ stuff from the era is good enough for me. Heh. “Disco Stu” 🙂 My iPod is full of Philly soul and the Ohio Players, Average White Band, whatnot.
Ray,
Oh yeah. I used to flinch on hearing ’em.
Now I’m all about Steely Dan. Especially the weirder/jazzier they are. What’s up with the intro to “Josie”? In fact, once they got a hold of Michael McDonald, I like the Doobies stuff -- once McDonald stops being a wannabe Levi Stubbs.
Earth Wind and Fire -- always impossibly commercially successful for adoration -- I can really dig. Some of theirs make me weep. It used to be only “Livin’ for the City” did that to me.
Who else, now? Boz Scaggs’ Silk Degrees is a great record -- like Winwood, he proves that white men aren’t excluded from making first-rate music out of the black tradition. It requires a deeply felt respect and understanding of the culture and experience that produced the music -- the wellspring of strength and beauty.
Also, I can really get into Taste of Honey -- those girls could play! All of the really musical ‘Boogie’ stuff from the era is good enough for me. Heh. “Disco Stu” 🙂 My iPod is full of Philly soul and the Ohio Players, Average White Band, whatnot.
Bobby.
Bowser!? Heh. One I never heard! I guess by that you mean “ham”.
Bobby.
Bowser!? Heh. One I never heard! I guess by that you mean “ham”.
The Doobie Brothers was one of the first concerts I ever went to -- not counting Donny & Marie Osmond at the Sports Arena when I was around seven years old. “Taking it to the Streets” puts ants in my pants. I played Aja by Steely Dan down to the nub of my needle. And Supertramp’s Coming to America.
I’ll admit I downloaded that Joe Walsh song recently: “Life’s been good to me so far…” It’s funny.
No Starship. Won’t do it. When I first saw We Built this City I was like “whoah! Grace Slick got a perm and a case of twinkies!” That was mean of me but the song is still lame.
Jerry: Great Bowie clip. That song gives me chills. I remember watching SNL with my dad back in the 70’s and Bowie came on with Klaus Nomi doing TVC15. I was really impressed!
The Doobie Brothers was one of the first concerts I ever went to -- not counting Donny & Marie Osmond at the Sports Arena when I was around seven years old. “Taking it to the Streets” puts ants in my pants. I played Aja by Steely Dan down to the nub of my needle. And Supertramp’s Coming to America.
I’ll admit I downloaded that Joe Walsh song recently: “Life’s been good to me so far…” It’s funny.
No Starship. Won’t do it. When I first saw We Built this City I was like “whoah! Grace Slick got a perm and a case of twinkies!” That was mean of me but the song is still lame.
Jerry: Great Bowie clip. That song gives me chills. I remember watching SNL with my dad back in the 70’s and Bowie came on with Klaus Nomi doing TVC15. I was really impressed!
Anyone who calls himself “anonymous guy” on a blog… is a pussy.
In my opinion.
In my opinion.
Ehhh, Steven — I assumed someone already here was trying to be a wiseguy, not a real troll. (At least that was my interpretation … Just call me Pollyanna!)
Kristen: My Maserati does 185 … I lost my license — now I don’t drive!
Ehhh, Steven — I assumed someone already here was trying to be a wiseguy, not a real troll. (At least that was my interpretation … Just call me Pollyanna!)
Kristen: My Maserati does 185 … I lost my license — now I don’t drive!
Anyone who calls himself “Steven”…is a Steven.
Anyone who calls himself “Steven”…is a Steven.
Bringing this all back around to that hypothetical ’60s/’70s pivot point, this may be an apt moment to recall that Joey Ramone’s first nom de rock was “Jeff Starship.”
Bringing this all back around to that hypothetical ’60s/’70s pivot point, this may be an apt moment to recall that Joey Ramone’s first nom de rock was “Jeff Starship.”
When my first solo CD came out, I called the band the Jefferson Minivan.
When my first solo CD came out, I called the band the Jefferson Minivan.
Sorry if I offended. I felt a little punchy.
Sorry if I offended. I felt a little punchy.
The other day I showed the Filipina housekeepers how I spell the letters with my arms when I karaoke “Safety Dance”. I kick some major ass at the Karaoke. I’ve shut the place down with a searing rendition of “Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground”. The trick is to think “junky” and roll around on the floor a lot. Nobody can follow that. Nobody normal anyhow.
I also enjoyed a Bruce Springsteen track the other day, and have ever since “Chris” on the Sopranos told Tony he was late because “The highway’s jammed with broken heroes on a last chance power drive”. Clever people to nail a whole demographic with an iconic line like that. I would bet you Springsteen’s sales soared the next couple days after that aired.
I agree that the days of me making excuses for my musical taste have long passed, and “kitsch” can make up for a lot of musical shortcomings. I am, however, absolutely overburdened with a back catalog of what most people might refer to as “guilty musical pleasures”. Abba comes immediately to mind, as does the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever.
I definitely don’t have the wierdest music collection of anyone I know. I have yet to unload all of my music since I moved and so have a limited catalog of music right now. Lately I’ve been jamming Fugazi, Nick Cave, Dave Alvin, John Doe, Lou Reed, Johnny Cash, Miles Davis, Hugh Masekela, Coltrane, Tom Waits, The Virgin Suicides soundtrack, Tsotsi soundtrack, Ghost Dog soundtrack, Sonic Youth, the Beastie Boys “the Mix Up”, Jeff Buckley and the Hearios (new stuff from Oahu/L.A.). And I’ve been feeling a little off because my playlist has been a little too mainstream for my taste. Of course I know a ton of people who don’t own anything on a major label, and some who only play vinyl. It’s tough being a sell out. 😉
OK, finally got to see everybody’s videos in this thread … Ray and Jeremiah, I’m totally down with the Steely Dan myself.
Plus, they named themselves after a sex toy in a William S. Burroughs novel — how subversive is THAT?
Well…I dunno about you music fiends, but I’m with Mel Gibson…VaticanII was the end for me. It’s no fun at all when instead of confiscating them, the freakin’ church is sellin’ you the Mary Magdalen pinup holy-cards.
Ecumenical Worship is just as bad as jazz-fusion,…nay worse!…It subverts the will of G-d!
What this (counter) culture needs are good authority figures to rebel against…so what’s wrong with the inquisition coming back and throwing a good heretic burning once in a while?
Get’s my tonsured dander up dontchaknow…
Higgle-die Piggle-die……..way down to Heaven………YAH!
Brother Patrick
Well…I dunno about you music fiends, but I’m with Mel Gibson…VaticanII was the end for me. It’s no fun at all when instead of confiscating them, the freakin’ church is sellin’ you the Mary Magdalen pinup holy-cards.
Ecumenical Worship is just as bad as jazz-fusion,…nay worse!…It subverts the will of G-d!
What this (counter) culture needs are good authority figures to rebel against…so what’s wrong with the inquisition coming back and throwing a good heretic burning once in a while?
Get’s my tonsured dander up dontchaknow…
Higgle-die Piggle-die……..way down to Heaven………YAH!
Brother Patrick
Well Barack Obama has a nice rythem to it- though John Mccain (as lyrically awkward as the name may be) seems the more likely figure to rebel against. Give either one their four years and I’m sure we’ll have plenty of fodder for protest songs.
I just have a hard time believing that George Bush’s reign of ridiculum hasn’t spawned some sort of youth counter-culture. I guess the kids are too busy buying it (or buying all the shiny stuff waved in their shiny happy faces). Or maybe their lack of reaction and protest is some sort of counter-protest in and of itself. “Fuck you people- buy it? We’ll buy all of it, and then some! Bring on the debt!!!”
Kristen,
TVC15 on SNL -- Bowie was standing in a tall, striped ‘chicken bucket’ instead of trousers! He had to be caried upto and back from the mike!
Weird TV appearances? What about the Doobie Brothers on “Whats Happenin'”? I think Re-run, Rog and Shirley were fighting over tickets. In the end they all got to bump to “What a Fool Believes”, or something…
Kristen,
TVC15 on SNL -- Bowie was standing in a tall, striped ‘chicken bucket’ instead of trousers! He had to be caried upto and back from the mike!
Weird TV appearances? What about the Doobie Brothers on “Whats Happenin'”? I think Re-run, Rog and Shirley were fighting over tickets. In the end they all got to bump to “What a Fool Believes”, or something…
The closest thing to rebellion I see nowadays is passive aggressiveness.
The closest thing to rebellion I see nowadays is passive aggressiveness.
Uh…the great Doobie Brothers appearance was their sermon about the evils of bootlegging. Rerun got busted ’cause he was bustin’ a move (the Doobies being so funky as you know) and the tape recorder he’d been cooerced into carrying into the show fell out.
Why do I remember this crap? I swear when I can’t remember my own kids’ names as an old geezer (a day not too far off I assure you) this is the flotsam that will clog my synapses!
What a script. What a performance. Not since the famous “lost episode” of Room 222 has something quite like this been seen on the small screen.
To have had a VCR back in the day….hey hey hey!
Patrick Works
Wanna B-boy
Uh…the great Doobie Brothers appearance was their sermon about the evils of bootlegging. Rerun got busted ’cause he was bustin’ a move (the Doobies being so funky as you know) and the tape recorder he’d been cooerced into carrying into the show fell out.
Why do I remember this crap? I swear when I can’t remember my own kids’ names as an old geezer (a day not too far off I assure you) this is the flotsam that will clog my synapses!
What a script. What a performance. Not since the famous “lost episode” of Room 222 has something quite like this been seen on the small screen.
To have had a VCR back in the day….hey hey hey!
Patrick Works
Wanna B-boy
ROOM 222!!!!!! That red afro was the absolute shit!! The only episode I remember was the one where someone was selling the kids acid and the girl tried to fly off the roof. (Might have been Mod Squad now that I think about it.)
I sometimes enjoy a little nostalgic viewing of Dragnet or Adam 12 on (Hulu.com) and can only see a defined, perfectly straight line between Dragnet’s version of the Hippy Youth, Adam 12’s half assed beatniks and Hollywod’s depiction of punks on Chips or Quincy. We’ve come a long way, baby.
ROOM 222!!!!!! That red afro was the absolute shit!! The only episode I remember was the one where someone was selling the kids acid and the girl tried to fly off the roof. (Might have been Mod Squad now that I think about it.)
I sometimes enjoy a little nostalgic viewing of Dragnet or Adam 12 on (Hulu.com) and can only see a defined, perfectly straight line between Dragnet’s version of the Hippy Youth, Adam 12’s half assed beatniks and Hollywod’s depiction of punks on Chips or Quincy. We’ve come a long way, baby.
Red Afro? Eric Bacher? 🙂
I was all ‘Mod Squad’ & stuff.
Link, and the Peggy Lipton experience. Now’s the time I gotta break out my collection of Pam Grier moves, and get my brain rinsed from that stuff.
Red Afro? Eric Bacher? 🙂
I was all ‘Mod Squad’ & stuff.
Link, and the Peggy Lipton experience. Now’s the time I gotta break out my collection of Pam Grier moves, and get my brain rinsed from that stuff.
Matt Johnson borrows Eric’s hair.
Matt Johnson borrows Eric’s hair.
I had an Afro pick around 1974. It had an upraised black fist, and I know that on at least one occasion I attempted to wear it shoved into my fluffy-‘n’-luxuriant Jewfro a la Freddie “Boom Boom” Washington.
In Milwaukee’s freshly integrated school system, who knows how this was perceived? (This was around the same time I was called a “honky” by a classmate and wittily shot back, “Oh, yeah? You’re a honky!” Which actually shut him up — at age nine, he likely wasn’t sure what he was talking about, either.)
I had an Afro pick around 1974. It had an upraised black fist, and I know that on at least one occasion I attempted to wear it shoved into my fluffy-‘n’-luxuriant Jewfro a la Freddie “Boom Boom” Washington.
In Milwaukee’s freshly integrated school system, who knows how this was perceived? (This was around the same time I was called a “honky” by a classmate and wittily shot back, “Oh, yeah? You’re a honky!” Which actually shut him up — at age nine, he likely wasn’t sure what he was talking about, either.)
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Matt, we know of other times that this happened as well. We’ll take that up later…
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Matt, we know of other times that this happened as well. We’ll take that up later…
The 90’s could be as confused about race cues and music as the 70’s -- both harkening back to the 60’s.
I love this stuff. Dansemusique D’acid jazz, indeed!
Yess! Almost BETTER than Ike & Tina’s:
The 90’s could be as confused about race cues and music as the 70’s -- both harkening back to the 60’s.
I love this stuff. Dansemusique D’acid jazz, indeed!
Yess! Almost BETTER than Ike & Tina’s:
STOP! CHILDREN!
Shark. Jumped. Fonzie.
‘fo’ wha’s worth’
STOP! CHILDREN!
Shark. Jumped. Fonzie.
‘fo’ wha’s worth’
Stop me -- before I kill again!
The BEST pop music EVER! EVER!
Stop me -- before I kill again!
The BEST pop music EVER! EVER!
I hate that I can’t get Youtube at work.
Matt- your fro-comb post reminds me of the Gary Trudeau/Doonsebury cartoon where the suburban kid rides the bus to his new inner-city school for the first time. He meets a black kid and calls him, “Hokey!”
Trudeau helped me get through my childhood.
I hate that I can’t get Youtube at work.
Matt- your fro-comb post reminds me of the Gary Trudeau/Doonsebury cartoon where the suburban kid rides the bus to his new inner-city school for the first time. He meets a black kid and calls him, “Hokey!”
Trudeau helped me get through my childhood.
Well. No YouTube? The last clip is the Morricone soundtrack that essentially played inside my head, continually from 1981-84, so you’ll just have to imagine!
Well. No YouTube? The last clip is the Morricone soundtrack that essentially played inside my head, continually from 1981-84, so you’ll just have to imagine!
RE: STOP! CHILDREN!
ew! modern pop synchronized dance routines make me shudder.
RE: STOP! CHILDREN!
ew! modern pop synchronized dance routines make me shudder.
On the subject of fro-licious white guys, I believe Mr. Kaufman shared my childhood predilection for the “Hair” soundtrack.
LBJ took the IRT to see the youth of America on LSD!
(Hippies on Broadway: another harbinger of the ’60s’ demise.)
On the subject of fro-licious white guys, I believe Mr. Kaufman shared my childhood predilection for the “Hair” soundtrack.
LBJ took the IRT to see the youth of America on LSD!
(Hippies on Broadway: another harbinger of the ’60s’ demise.)
I might- and I do mean MIGHT- be able to top it.
My mom took me to live performances of both HAIR and GODSPELL. It doesn’t get much more seventies than that.
I might- and I do mean MIGHT- be able to top it.
My mom took me to live performances of both HAIR and GODSPELL. It doesn’t get much more seventies than that.
At their Catholic high school in staid Grand Rapids, my wife’s older brother’s class caused a huge stir by performing a couple of numbers from “Hair” as part of their senior pageant. No nudity, but a draft card was burned in effigy.
Toby: IIRC, “Godspell” was the rainbow-suspendered gateway drug that led inevitably to Doug Henning.
Who’s willing to admit that some parts of “Jesus Christ Superstar” are pretty awesome?
(I’m not quite ready to discuss what transpired between my family and “Cats” in the late ’90s. Let’s just say that when you have a small girl you adore, certain compromises may be made.)
At their Catholic high school in staid Grand Rapids, my wife’s older brother’s class caused a huge stir by performing a couple of numbers from “Hair” as part of their senior pageant. No nudity, but a draft card was burned in effigy.
Toby: IIRC, “Godspell” was the rainbow-suspendered gateway drug that led inevitably to Doug Henning.
Who’s willing to admit that some parts of “Jesus Christ Superstar” are pretty awesome?
(I’m not quite ready to discuss what transpired between my family and “Cats” in the late ’90s. Let’s just say that when you have a small girl you adore, certain compromises may be made.)
Call me old fashioned, but I have a penchant for spontaneously (and with no forewarning) busting out vocal solos from West Side Story in crowded shopping centers. “I’ve just met a girl named marrriaaaaa!!!”
My favorite is when passing gang looking guys: “When yer a Jet yer a Jet from yer first cigarette to yer last livin’ daaaay!”
Call me old fashioned, but I have a penchant for spontaneously (and with no forewarning) busting out vocal solos from West Side Story in crowded shopping centers. “I’ve just met a girl named marrriaaaaa!!!”
My favorite is when passing gang looking guys: “When yer a Jet yer a Jet from yer first cigarette to yer last livin’ daaaay!”
“Who’s willing to admit that some parts of “Jesus Christ Superstar” are pretty awesome?”
I’ll step right up. When I was a kid we had the soundtrack album, except that it wasn’t the official soundtrack, it was the Pickwick version, sold in stores like White Front and Woolworths. We dug it so much that when I finally heard the real soundtrack, I didn’t like it much. “Heaven on Their Minds” is great--I always wondered what it might sound like with a really good band playing it. I’m not really big on musicals in general, despite the fact that there are a lot of good songs to be found. Most of them I find insufferable. “Cats”? C’mon Matt, couldn’t you have thought up an excuse?
“Who’s willing to admit that some parts of “Jesus Christ Superstar” are pretty awesome?”
I’ll step right up. When I was a kid we had the soundtrack album, except that it wasn’t the official soundtrack, it was the Pickwick version, sold in stores like White Front and Woolworths. We dug it so much that when I finally heard the real soundtrack, I didn’t like it much. “Heaven on Their Minds” is great--I always wondered what it might sound like with a really good band playing it. I’m not really big on musicals in general, despite the fact that there are a lot of good songs to be found. Most of them I find insufferable. “Cats”? C’mon Matt, couldn’t you have thought up an excuse?
Ray, there are things in my life I’m not proud of. Bad things.
Ray, there are things in my life I’m not proud of. Bad things.
Still waiting for mediocre situations to become musical numbers -- like at work or while waiting in line to get a coffee or in gridlock traffic, I wish that people would start singing out their the windows or dancing on the hoods of their cars!
Personally I like “Aquarius” and other songs from the musical Hair. I’ve only seen the movie and the song/dance number about “white boys” is so funny I end up in tears!
Give me Nell Carter over the wench from “Phantom” any day! Andrew Lloyd Suckfest.
Still waiting for mediocre situations to become musical numbers -- like at work or while waiting in line to get a coffee or in gridlock traffic, I wish that people would start singing out their the windows or dancing on the hoods of their cars!
Personally I like “Aquarius” and other songs from the musical Hair. I’ve only seen the movie and the song/dance number about “white boys” is so funny I end up in tears!
Give me Nell Carter over the wench from “Phantom” any day! Andrew Lloyd Suckfest.
Oby-tay: Have you heard The Jet Song done by Alice Cooper? Smashing.
Oby-tay: Have you heard The Jet Song done by Alice Cooper? Smashing.
Matt: Trace it, face it and erase it.
Matt: Trace it, face it and erase it.
JCSS?
The fuzz-guitar as Roman tanks roll over the hill behind Judas.
Judas’ big ‘Apollo Theater meets Carnegie Hall’ closer. I saw this when I was eight, and the sistas singing “don’t you get me wrong…” ? Not wrong at all!
JCSS?
The fuzz-guitar as Roman tanks roll over the hill behind Judas.
Judas’ big ‘Apollo Theater meets Carnegie Hall’ closer. I saw this when I was eight, and the sistas singing “don’t you get me wrong…” ? Not wrong at all!
Kristen, I love “Hair” also (The play, not so much the movie). My parents saw the original cast at the theater in the 60s and bought the original cast soundtrack album. I must have played that record hundreds of times growing up. I didn’t understand all of it, haha! But it was cool of my folks to let me listen to songs about drugs and sex.
To go way back in this topic, I love Jefferson Airplane’s Surrealistic Pillow album! I like some later Airplane stuff also, but the Starship doesn’t do it for me. And Grace Slick was gorgeous!
The 60s as a PHENOMENON definitely jumped the shark
when Brian Epstein died.
I was 16 in 1967, and clearly recall the immediate flipflop from bright to dark ~~ even though it took a few years for the players in that phenomenon to get it through their heads and realize it was all over.
-- The Swingin’ 60’s didn’t start until Brian made it happen.
-- The Swingin’ 60’s were effectively over when Brian died.
Brian Epstein WAS The Alpha and Omega of The Swingin’ 60’s. 🙂
The 60s as a PHENOMENON definitely jumped the shark
when Brian Epstein died.
I was 16 in 1967, and clearly recall the immediate flipflop from bright to dark ~~ even though it took a few years for the players in that phenomenon to get it through their heads and realize it was all over.
-- The Swingin’ 60’s didn’t start until Brian made it happen.
-- The Swingin’ 60’s were effectively over when Brian died.
Brian Epstein WAS The Alpha and Omega of The Swingin’ 60’s. 🙂
This is the blog topic that is packed with flavor -- so much good stuff here. Scrolling upwards, I noticed the Room 222 pic and began to drift off to a tv show in a time far away.
Q: Whatver happened to Karen Valentine? She was hot stuff during the late 60’s/early 70’s, and was a frequent guest star on Love American Style as well as Hollywood Squares (sitting directly below the snickering Paul Lynde).
That’s it! The 60’s jumped the shark when Paul Lynde and Don Rickles did regular guest roles on primetime television.
This is the blog topic that is packed with flavor -- so much good stuff here. Scrolling upwards, I noticed the Room 222 pic and began to drift off to a tv show in a time far away.
Q: Whatver happened to Karen Valentine? She was hot stuff during the late 60’s/early 70’s, and was a frequent guest star on Love American Style as well as Hollywood Squares (sitting directly below the snickering Paul Lynde).
That’s it! The 60’s jumped the shark when Paul Lynde and Don Rickles did regular guest roles on primetime television.
Kristen: Or on a related note, “Laugh-In” may have put a dum-dum bullet into the ’60s.
More TV musings: “Sesame Street” and Norman Lear sitcoms seem quintessentially ’70s phenomena.
Kristen: Or on a related note, “Laugh-In” may have put a dum-dum bullet into the ’60s.
More TV musings: “Sesame Street” and Norman Lear sitcoms seem quintessentially ’70s phenomena.
The first season of Sesame Street was in 1969. Rumour has it this clip features Grace Slick.
The first season of Sesame Street was in 1969. Rumour has it this clip features Grace Slick.
I just discovered this treasure trove of 60s fashions and hair styles:
http://digilander.libero.it/guido_1953/main.htm
There are some amazing photos! A great time burner.
I just discovered this treasure trove of 60s fashions and hair styles:
http://digilander.libero.it/guido_1953/main.htm
There are some amazing photos! A great time burner.
I’ve got to be pretty appreciative of the fact that my mom and older sisters took me to Hair, Godspell, Tommy, and the Beatles Movies throughout my childhood. Otherwise it pretty much just would have been Jaws.
I’ve got to be pretty appreciative of the fact that my mom and older sisters took me to Hair, Godspell, Tommy, and the Beatles Movies throughout my childhood. Otherwise it pretty much just would have been Jaws.
Kristen, thanks for posting that clip…those Sesame Street counting segments (the “Jazzy Spies” series) were my absolute favorite pieces of music as a kid, and I still consider them to be among the best music ever on tv (not to mention the fantastic animation), these continue to give me that sense of childhood wonder.
The bell-like guitars in the middle passage are so hypnotic…it wasn’t until I heard Robert Fripp and King Krimson that I found a similar blast.
The music was composed by Denny Zeitlin and the clips were created in San Francisco, produced by Jerry Slick and indeed vocalized by Grace Slick. Zeitlin also composed the soundtrack for the ’78 version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
On a similar tip: Tune in, turn on, and count to twenty…
Kristen, thanks for posting that clip…those Sesame Street counting segments (the “Jazzy Spies” series) were my absolute favorite pieces of music as a kid, and I still consider them to be among the best music ever on tv (not to mention the fantastic animation), these continue to give me that sense of childhood wonder.
The bell-like guitars in the middle passage are so hypnotic…it wasn’t until I heard Robert Fripp and King Krimson that I found a similar blast.
The music was composed by Denny Zeitlin and the clips were created in San Francisco, produced by Jerry Slick and indeed vocalized by Grace Slick. Zeitlin also composed the soundtrack for the ’78 version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
On a similar tip: Tune in, turn on, and count to twenty…
Here’s another Sesame Street clip, the famous pinball number count. It was recorded by the Pointer Sisters in 1972:
Thanks for all of the nice memories, everyone.
Here’s another Sesame Street clip, the famous pinball number count. It was recorded by the Pointer Sisters in 1972:
Thanks for all of the nice memories, everyone.
Hi Dave! Thanks for the factoids about the “Jazz Spies” series. One of my wisest recent investments was the Old School Sesame Street box set: 1969 -- 1972. It was originally intended for my son but now I know it was really for me. Joe Raposo received many awards for his songwriting and orchestration during those early years.
We frequently sing “Everybody Sleeps” and “Take a Breath” around the house.
The new Sesame Street has really lost its pizazz.
Love King Crimson. I saw a movie recently which had “Court of the Crimson King” in its soundtrack (I think it was Children of Men. Cool movie.) so I downloaded a bunch of Crimson stuff, old and from the newer Arian Belew period. I had Starless and Bible Black in highschool, which made me fit in even less with my peers -- but oh well….
“Great Deceiver! -- Cigarettes, ice cream, figurines of the virgin mary”
Hi Dave! Thanks for the factoids about the “Jazz Spies” series. One of my wisest recent investments was the Old School Sesame Street box set: 1969 -- 1972. It was originally intended for my son but now I know it was really for me. Joe Raposo received many awards for his songwriting and orchestration during those early years.
We frequently sing “Everybody Sleeps” and “Take a Breath” around the house.
The new Sesame Street has really lost its pizazz.
Love King Crimson. I saw a movie recently which had “Court of the Crimson King” in its soundtrack (I think it was Children of Men. Cool movie.) so I downloaded a bunch of Crimson stuff, old and from the newer Arian Belew period. I had Starless and Bible Black in highschool, which made me fit in even less with my peers -- but oh well….
“Great Deceiver! -- Cigarettes, ice cream, figurines of the virgin mary”
On a hipster related note…there was an all girl band in SF circa 1989 called Camel Toe…they had a wonderful singer named Julie Pavlovski who would periodically shout out to the crowd “This next song is brought to you by the letter “R” and the number “5”!. She had a really cool Ernie and Bert table lamp in her bedroom too.
And my fave part of her collection…an original LP of Lancelot Link, Private Chimp’s signal album of the early 70s “The Evolution Revolution”. Not to be missed. Somebody with youtube and web skills has gotta add a Lancelot Link link here…
Hey Kristen….I’m intrigued by the Sesame Street box set you describe and I’ve got little kids now…can you send me an email so I can find one?
patrickworksphotography@gmail.com
PW
On a hipster related note…there was an all girl band in SF circa 1989 called Camel Toe…they had a wonderful singer named Julie Pavlovski who would periodically shout out to the crowd “This next song is brought to you by the letter “R” and the number “5”!. She had a really cool Ernie and Bert table lamp in her bedroom too.
And my fave part of her collection…an original LP of Lancelot Link, Private Chimp’s signal album of the early 70s “The Evolution Revolution”. Not to be missed. Somebody with youtube and web skills has gotta add a Lancelot Link link here…
Hey Kristen….I’m intrigued by the Sesame Street box set you describe and I’ve got little kids now…can you send me an email so I can find one?
patrickworksphotography@gmail.com
PW
OK kids try this:
Pat
OK kids try this:
Pat
OK so I guess he was Lancelot Link Secret Chimp…not private chimp. I would counsel all here however, to keep your love of Lance very private.
Your spouse many not understand.
I know mine does not.
Patrick Works
Secret Chimp Lover
OK so I guess he was Lancelot Link Secret Chimp…not private chimp. I would counsel all here however, to keep your love of Lance very private.
Your spouse many not understand.
I know mine does not.
Patrick Works
Secret Chimp Lover
Lancelot Link -- used to be preceded on air by “The Double Decker Bunch” -- about a crew of under-10’s who lived together in an uncoverted London Transport.
Google as I might, no trace of this remains.
It was watching the Double Deckers that I first encountered the etiquette of enforcing an obligation on someone by announcing “No, I insist!” -- from an aged society matron offering lunch to the ragamuffins.
Lancelot Link -- used to be preceded on air by “The Double Decker Bunch” -- about a crew of under-10’s who lived together in an uncoverted London Transport.
Google as I might, no trace of this remains.
It was watching the Double Deckers that I first encountered the etiquette of enforcing an obligation on someone by announcing “No, I insist!” -- from an aged society matron offering lunch to the ragamuffins.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071220093626AANRLYf
Lancelot Link’s “Evolution Revolution” sounds a lot like “No Time” by the Guess Who:
Lancelot Link’s “Evolution Revolution” sounds a lot like “No Time” by the Guess Who:
I liked Lancelot Link until he became Lancelot Starship.
Firing Jane Goodall as producer was also a bad move … Phil Spector didn’t look as good in khaki, and the gun-waving disturbed the chimps.
At the end, when they all got on the roof together and flung poop … I think the ’60s ended on a high note that day.
I liked Lancelot Link until he became Lancelot Starship.
Firing Jane Goodall as producer was also a bad move … Phil Spector didn’t look as good in khaki, and the gun-waving disturbed the chimps.
At the end, when they all got on the roof together and flung poop … I think the ’60s ended on a high note that day.
It was really the Banana Splits which ruined the decade. You know, the cheap, commercial, television-oriented knock-off of the success seen by The Monkees.
It’s a pity that the brilliance of Jones, Dolenz, Tork and Nesmith was used so crassly to rake a few buck off the unwitting pre-teen generation, hungry for more.
The Banana Splits were only the most memorable example of these egregious efforts. Partially redeemed by their later association with Frank Zappa, the Splits were nonetheless to descend into the decadence and studio-oriented pseudo music, which characterize their becoming Banana Starship.
For reals, I mentioned elsewhere that “The Bugaloos” casting calls were publicized as a quest for “British Monkees.”
Extending the spiral another rotation, who’d be the “American Bugaloos”?
For reals, I mentioned elsewhere that “The Bugaloos” casting calls were publicized as a quest for “British Monkees.”
Extending the spiral another rotation, who’d be the “American Bugaloos”?
Sometime around 71-72, I was one of the Robots from the Bugaloos, for Halloween. The outfit lit up with two D-cells.
Odd.
Sometime around 71-72, I was one of the Robots from the Bugaloos, for Halloween. The outfit lit up with two D-cells.
Odd.
As Che Underground regulars know, the Syd Barrett/Sid Krofft connection was a definitive ’60s/’70s pivot point:
As Che Underground regulars know, the Syd Barrett/Sid Krofft connection was a definitive ’60s/’70s pivot point:
Ernie Kovacs meets The Beatles
Ernie Kovacs meets The Beatles
Nobody believes me when I tell them about a show I watched when I was a kid about talking hats that lived in hats ruled by an evil guy who flew in flying hat saucer.
Nobody believes me when I tell them about a show I watched when I was a kid about talking hats that lived in hats ruled by an evil guy who flew in flying hat saucer.
The easiest way I have found to embed Youtube stuff is to post whatever- an innocuous comment- and then edit your post and paste the code on the edit page. For some reason this platform doesn’t like to accept code from the front pages/quick reply type function. (Probably a safety feature for the admins.)
(I don’t recall who told ME how to do it many moons ago, but I didn’t actually figure it out myself. Ray?)
The easiest way I have found to embed Youtube stuff is to post whatever- an innocuous comment- and then edit your post and paste the code on the edit page. For some reason this platform doesn’t like to accept code from the front pages/quick reply type function. (Probably a safety feature for the admins.)
(I don’t recall who told ME how to do it many moons ago, but I didn’t actually figure it out myself. Ray?)
“There was something deep inside the hat — what could that something be?” When I was six, I made up a version of the song that ended there with the response, “It’s a BUG!”
I don’t think I ever realized that Butch Patrick from “The Munsters” played the lead in “Lidsville.” I also didn’t realize that he didn’t get any residuals … That blows!
“There was something deep inside the hat — what could that something be?” When I was six, I made up a version of the song that ended there with the response, “It’s a BUG!”
I don’t think I ever realized that Butch Patrick from “The Munsters” played the lead in “Lidsville.” I also didn’t realize that he didn’t get any residuals … That blows!
On a whole other tack:
Read the Wikipedia article about Rick James, grokking the connection with Buffalo Springfield -- which would not have formed if the Mynah Birds weren’t rejected by Motown, after discovering James was an AWOL in Canada.
Neil Young was signed to Motown? Yep. Weirdly, James’ Mynah Birds was a link between the Springfield’s and Steppenwolf.
If you can find a Mynah Birds track, it is interesting. There is almost nothing done by the E-Street band that you won’t find -- more palatable to my taste -- in the small Mynah oerve. Folk-rock meets wall-of-sound.
So, a secret ingredient in the peregrinations and obscure combinations throughout that decade was the War in Vietnam. From The Misunderstood to Hendrix, The Blendells to Archie Bell and the Drells and The Monks to Buffalo Springfield. One of the reasons behind this decades intensity of creative output was the enormous, new and relatively affluent youth population. Vietnam was a catalyzing agent, even for those who were in no way, expressly political.
Next? Where’s that confounded shark?!
On a whole other tack:
Read the Wikipedia article about Rick James, grokking the connection with Buffalo Springfield -- which would not have formed if the Mynah Birds weren’t rejected by Motown, after discovering James was an AWOL in Canada.
Neil Young was signed to Motown? Yep. Weirdly, James’ Mynah Birds was a link between the Springfield’s and Steppenwolf.
If you can find a Mynah Birds track, it is interesting. There is almost nothing done by the E-Street band that you won’t find -- more palatable to my taste -- in the small Mynah oerve. Folk-rock meets wall-of-sound.
So, a secret ingredient in the peregrinations and obscure combinations throughout that decade was the War in Vietnam. From The Misunderstood to Hendrix, The Blendells to Archie Bell and the Drells and The Monks to Buffalo Springfield. One of the reasons behind this decades intensity of creative output was the enormous, new and relatively affluent youth population. Vietnam was a catalyzing agent, even for those who were in no way, expressly political.
Next? Where’s that confounded shark?!
>>Read the Wikipedia article about Rick James, grokking the connection with Buffalo Springfield -- which would not have formed if the Mynah Birds weren’t rejected by Motown, after discovering James was an AWOL in Canada.
Jeremiah: I’m sure I’ve run this by the Che Underground crowd before, but it still amuses me:
>Neil Young and Rick James were in the Mynah Birds
>Stephen Stills and Young were in Buffalo Springfield
>Stephen Stills auditioned for the Monkees. Rumor has it Charles Manson also wished for Monkees membership.*
So, if history had zigged a little differently, Manson, Stills James & Young coulda been the harbingers of the ’70s.
*It sounds like the Manson-Monkees thing is actually BS, but I still think MSJ&Y would’ve been one hell of a show! “Garbage dump, garbage dump — it’s super-freaky, and you make it haaaaaaaaaaard!” — “Suite: Squeaky Blue Eyes”
>>Read the Wikipedia article about Rick James, grokking the connection with Buffalo Springfield -- which would not have formed if the Mynah Birds weren’t rejected by Motown, after discovering James was an AWOL in Canada.
Jeremiah: I’m sure I’ve run this by the Che Underground crowd before, but it still amuses me:
>Neil Young and Rick James were in the Mynah Birds
>Stephen Stills and Young were in Buffalo Springfield
>Stephen Stills auditioned for the Monkees. Rumor has it Charles Manson also wished for Monkees membership.*
So, if history had zigged a little differently, Manson, Stills James & Young coulda been the harbingers of the ’70s.
*It sounds like the Manson-Monkees thing is actually BS, but I still think MSJ&Y would’ve been one hell of a show! “Garbage dump, garbage dump — it’s super-freaky, and you make it haaaaaaaaaaard!” — “Suite: Squeaky Blue Eyes”
Pinball count composer Walt Kraemer worked in some capacity on an obscure psychedelic animated film from 1983 that I’d love to see. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twice_Upon_a_Time
Pinball count composer Walt Kraemer worked in some capacity on an obscure psychedelic animated film from 1983 that I’d love to see. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twice_Upon_a_Time
Re: Toby -- easiest way to embed YouTube
How do I get to the edit page?
Also, where can I find out how to upload pictures?
Re: Toby -- easiest way to embed YouTube
How do I get to the edit page?
Also, where can I find out how to upload pictures?
Paul: Maybe Toby has different privileges. I don’t have the ability to edit my comments either.
Paul: Maybe Toby has different privileges. I don’t have the ability to edit my comments either.
You have to register to get edit privileges, but beyond that I’m not sure if there’s more to it or not. Matt might know.
Easiest way to upload pics is a free web service like Flickr or Photobucket. Size matters with photobucket, not so much with Flickr (with Flickr it gives you the option of choosing code for larger or smaller versions of the same pic- not so with Photobucket, so if your photo is uploaded at a huge size it will be a pain in the ass on a blog or message board.)
I scan pictures at various rates depending on what I’m going to do with them (large files for prints, medium to small for web applications.) I like somewhere between 300 and 500 across for blog stuff myself, but I have a small screen and so am working at a handicap.
Hope this helps. I’m always totally stoked to see the stuff people here put up. Coolest time capsule ever.
You have to register to get edit privileges, but beyond that I’m not sure if there’s more to it or not. Matt might know.
Easiest way to upload pics is a free web service like Flickr or Photobucket. Size matters with photobucket, not so much with Flickr (with Flickr it gives you the option of choosing code for larger or smaller versions of the same pic- not so with Photobucket, so if your photo is uploaded at a huge size it will be a pain in the ass on a blog or message board.)
I scan pictures at various rates depending on what I’m going to do with them (large files for prints, medium to small for web applications.) I like somewhere between 300 and 500 across for blog stuff myself, but I have a small screen and so am working at a handicap.
Hope this helps. I’m always totally stoked to see the stuff people here put up. Coolest time capsule ever.
Danny Bonaduce will be paying $16,000 a month in spousal and child support? How much money can Danny Bonaduce possibly be bringing in?
Danny Bonaduce will be paying $16,000 a month in spousal and child support? How much money can Danny Bonaduce possibly be bringing in?
My younger daughter just returned from a birthday that her friend had billed as an “’80s party” … The invite featured headbands, peace signs, bellbottoms, tie-dye and use of the term “Groovy!”
When Lily asked for some fashion tips for dressing ’80s-style, I suggested her friend was actually thinking of the ’60s.
When I dropped Lily off, the first decoration that caught my eye was a life-size wall hanging of a young Elvis strumming his guitar.
My conclusion: For these kids, the term “’80s” is an all-purpose term synonymous with “old as DIRT.” 🙂
My younger daughter just returned from a birthday that her friend had billed as an “’80s party” … The invite featured headbands, peace signs, bellbottoms, tie-dye and use of the term “Groovy!”
When Lily asked for some fashion tips for dressing ’80s-style, I suggested her friend was actually thinking of the ’60s.
When I dropped Lily off, the first decoration that caught my eye was a life-size wall hanging of a young Elvis strumming his guitar.
My conclusion: For these kids, the term “’80s” is an all-purpose term synonymous with “old as DIRT.” 🙂
Does this make the JHE the first rock band with no surviving members?
Does this make the JHE the first rock band with no surviving members?
I’ve been racking my brain for counter examples. The closest I can think of would be the Ramones, whose three main members, Joey, Johnny and DeeDee all deceased several years ago. Tommy, the original drummer who moved over to management/production after the first few LPs, is still going strong as a folk musician.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Ramone
I’ve been racking my brain for counter examples. The closest I can think of would be the Ramones, whose three main members, Joey, Johnny and DeeDee all deceased several years ago. Tommy, the original drummer who moved over to management/production after the first few LPs, is still going strong as a folk musician.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Ramone
Tommy Ramone will live to 112, just out of spite.
Tommy Ramone will live to 112, just out of spite.
All 3 members of the Rock and Roll Trio (the Burnette Brothers and Paul Burlison) are dead, as of 2003. I can’t think of an earlier instance, in terms of either the demise of the last survivor or the original heyday. A curse on you for filling my head with this question…
All 3 members of the Rock and Roll Trio (the Burnette Brothers and Paul Burlison) are dead, as of 2003. I can’t think of an earlier instance, in terms of either the demise of the last survivor or the original heyday. A curse on you for filling my head with this question…
Nice work Simon!
Nice work Simon!
>>>My conclusion: For these kids, the term “’80s” is an all-purpose term synonymous with “old as DIRT.”
There’s an old coffee shop here in L.A. at the Fairfax Farmer’s Market called Dupar’s that dates back to the early 40s. While standing outside recently, I overheard one kid telling his younger brother, “This place is REALLY old. I think it’s from the 1970s.”
>>>My conclusion: For these kids, the term “’80s” is an all-purpose term synonymous with “old as DIRT.”
There’s an old coffee shop here in L.A. at the Fairfax Farmer’s Market called Dupar’s that dates back to the early 40s. While standing outside recently, I overheard one kid telling his younger brother, “This place is REALLY old. I think it’s from the 1970s.”
We haven’t mentioned Laugh-In!
Here’s a prescient feature of that show: “‘Laugh-In Looks at the News,’ a parody of network news (introduced by an unnews-like song and dance in varying motifs) commenting on current events. The segment often included … ‘News of the Future,’ predicting unlikely or bizarre future stories to comic effect. Rowan nailed some, mentioning ‘President Ronald Reagan’ in a story from ‘1988, 20 years from now,’ eliciting laughter. Another prediction, that the Berlin Wall would be destroyed in 1989, also came true, although the follow-up gag that it would be ‘quickly replaced by a moat full of alligators’ obviously did not.”
We haven’t mentioned Laugh-In!
Here’s a prescient feature of that show: “‘Laugh-In Looks at the News,’ a parody of network news (introduced by an unnews-like song and dance in varying motifs) commenting on current events. The segment often included … ‘News of the Future,’ predicting unlikely or bizarre future stories to comic effect. Rowan nailed some, mentioning ‘President Ronald Reagan’ in a story from ‘1988, 20 years from now,’ eliciting laughter. Another prediction, that the Berlin Wall would be destroyed in 1989, also came true, although the follow-up gag that it would be ‘quickly replaced by a moat full of alligators’ obviously did not.”
sadness….a drummer that wowed me
http://www.drummagazine.com/features/post/mitch-mitchell-legendary-drummer-dead-at-61/
sadness….a drummer that wowed me
http://www.drummagazine.com/features/post/mitch-mitchell-legendary-drummer-dead-at-61/
SSSSh Ten Years After closed the 60’s for me. Little schoolgirl was my first introduction to meaningful lyrics, Why is the death of Sha na na’s leading guitarist (Chico) David Allen Ryan a secret? He was from my hometown and would visit the high school, after he became popular. I had heard he choked to death and nobody at the dinner table knew the heimlich maneuver. What is the truth? He was 50.
SSSSh Ten Years After closed the 60’s for me. Little schoolgirl was my first introduction to meaningful lyrics, Why is the death of Sha na na’s leading guitarist (Chico) David Allen Ryan a secret? He was from my hometown and would visit the high school, after he became popular. I had heard he choked to death and nobody at the dinner table knew the heimlich maneuver. What is the truth? He was 50.
>>I had heard he choked to death and nobody at the dinner table knew the heimlich maneuver.
Lou: Awful! Well, these obits say he died in a nursing home, which suggests a slower demise, although he could have ended up there as a result of injuries suffered in a choking accident.
Are any members of Sha Na Na lurking on the blog? Everyone else seems to be! Bowser, if you’re out there, please help us out.
>>I had heard he choked to death and nobody at the dinner table knew the heimlich maneuver.
Lou: Awful! Well, these obits say he died in a nursing home, which suggests a slower demise, although he could have ended up there as a result of injuries suffered in a choking accident.
Are any members of Sha Na Na lurking on the blog? Everyone else seems to be! Bowser, if you’re out there, please help us out.
Buffalo Springfield Drummer Dewey Martin Passes Away at 68
Buffalo Springfield Drummer Dewey Martin Passes Away at 68
The Beatles’ last concert was 43 years ago today at Candlestick Park. Last song was “Long Tall Sally.”
The Beatles’ last concert was 43 years ago today at Candlestick Park. Last song was “Long Tall Sally.”
http://www.encyclomedia.com/video-marlboro_cigarette.html
http://www.encyclomedia.com/video-marlboro_cigarette.html
the smoking lamp is lit
the smoking lamp is lit
Ha! Forgot all about that….smoke and coke!!
Ha! Forgot all about that….smoke and coke!!
Cliff just reminded me of this:
Cliff just reminded me of this:
I love when Jack Webb says, “LSD is the bomb!”
I love when Jack Webb says, “LSD is the bomb!”
The infamous “Blue Boy” episode was the first in Dragnet’s return to television in 1967.
The infamous “Blue Boy” episode was the first in Dragnet’s return to television in 1967.
I remember just cracking up when these were broadcast!
And there’s the one where the moral of the story is that if you smoke pot, your baby will drown in the bathtub.
I remember just cracking up when these were broadcast!
And there’s the one where the moral of the story is that if you smoke pot, your baby will drown in the bathtub.
Recently discovered live footage record at the exact moment the sixties jumped the shark:
Recently discovered live footage record at the exact moment the sixties jumped the shark:
>>Recently discovered live footage record at the exact moment the sixties jumped the shark:
Ray: My God, he killed it.
>>Recently discovered live footage record at the exact moment the sixties jumped the shark:
Ray: My God, he killed it.
In the dance I see Ska, Twist, Watusi,….this is killer!!
Ironically, the 60s music is gone but the Lawrence Welk style still prevails!
In the dance I see Ska, Twist, Watusi,….this is killer!!
Ironically, the 60s music is gone but the Lawrence Welk style still prevails!
I KNEW there was a reason why you never saw Sonny Bono and Lawrence Welk in the same room at the same time!!
I KNEW there was a reason why you never saw Sonny Bono and Lawrence Welk in the same room at the same time!!
I need some Geritol
I need some Geritol
Forty-one years today since Altamont …
Wow, this is more traumatic than I remember when I was young and callous and first watched this movie:
Ridiculous….worse than FONO at an Injections show.
Dean’s right. Drugs did take the fun out of rock and roll. Good thing those clean living Ramones were there to save the day.
>>Drugs did take the fun out of rock and roll. Good thing those clean living Ramones were there to save the day.
“Carbona Not Gloom”!
To answer the question posed in the topic of this thread, April 4, 1969 the day that CBS cancelled “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” television program (though I’m sure everyone sees the absurdity of assigning specific dates to things like these).