Sunday Video: Crimson and Clover
This is the first in a series of Sunday night videos (we’ll see if we make it past week one). Tonight, “Crimson and Clover”, by Tommy James and the Shondells….
And because I’ve had a decades long crush on Joan Jett, we have to hear her version too…
Whole Lotta Love in Copenhagen
Today, we have rockin’ Prince, and we have blues Prince. Coming from a 2002 aftershow in Copenhagen, Denmark, the man is all over his guitar here. May I recommend that you turn this m$%#@er up loud, and enjoy?
Prince:
Whole Lotta Love(mp3) (Led Zep cover)
The Question of U(mp3)Live from a Copenhagen aftershow, October 26, 2002 (Hit n’ Run Tour).
Buy the newly released Ultimate Prince.
The Prince Forum: Ickmusic’s new Prince forum is up & running. For you Prince freaks, get on over and register. It’s worth your while, trust me.
An Interview with Marah
Jeffro over at Last Second Thoughts had the chance to interview Dave Bielanko from Marah. Go check it out!
1981 Flashback: Journey’s Escape
There were three albums I remember dominating my life in the very early 80’s. If you’re over the age of 35, it’s likely you had these too. They were: REO Speedwagon’s ‘Hi Infidelity’, Foreigner ‘4’, and Journey’s ‘Escape’. Are you with me? “Take it on the Run”, “Open Arms”, “Urgent”, “Don’t Stop Believin”, “Waiting for a Girl Like You” – they are classic arena rock / pop staples of that era. These three albums are like the holy trinity of early 80’s rock albums and probably helped usher in the “power ballad”era.
So lo and behold, I see that Columbia/Legacy is re-issuing the entire Journey late 70’s / early 80’s catalog, and I hurriedly got my hands on ‘Escape’ (which is an expanded edition, with four bonus tracks). Ah reminiscing…. Okay, it was released in July of 1981, which makes me 11 years old when I was enjoying this album, so my memories of ‘Escape’ lean more toward cranking up the little stereo in my room rather than, say, parked on top of Lookout Point with a hottie and letting Steve Perry’s voice do some of the dirty work for me (Prince would end up performing that same function a few years later – a lot less subtly).
Hearing this album in its entirety again does what all good music does (or at least the music that’s important to you): it takes you back in time. It also makes you wonder how Journey can make it without Steve Perry. But they tour on and on. The current lineup includes two original members: Neil Schon (lead guitar) and Ross Valory (bass), and Jonathan Cain (keyboards), who has been with Journey since 1981. I won’t judge the latest lead singer, Steve Augeri, because I haven’t heard him, but my guess would be that his M.O. is to sound as close to the other Steve as possible. Where is Steve Perry, by the way?
So sit back and take in a track from Journey’s golden era, when the tuxedo-jacket-with-coattail clad Steve Perry ruled the microphone at center stage. Where feather-haired vixens lifted their 3-quarter sleeved concert shirts to the sky. Where dark bespectacled burners named Russ and Dirk passed quality concert spliffs back and forth, with oversized handled combs sticking out of their back pockets. A simpler time, my friends, a simpler time.
Journey:
Stone in Love(mp3)- Buy the reissued, remastered, expanded version of Escape.
- Journey’s Official Site | Tour Dates
- For a much more comprehensive look at the complete history of Journey, check out this post on Jefitoblog.
Marah Video from Schuba’s Tavern
It’s been a while since I’ve caught up with Marah on the road via one of Milwaukee Zack’s great videos. Well, here’s a performance of “So What If We’re Out of Tune (with the Rest of the World)”, live at Schuba’s Tavern in Chicago on Thursday night (July 28). Everybody say “Thank you Zack!”
New Tom Petty: Big Weekend
Well, I’m excited. ‘Highway Companion’, the new Tom Petty solo album – produced by Jeff Lynne, along with Petty and Heatbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell – will be released on July 25th. I’m enjoying the first single, “Saving Grace”, but hearing “Big Weekend”, another track off the album, has really got me fired up.
“Big Weekend” has that Jeff Lynne production signature sound that made ‘Full Moon Fever’ and the Traveling Wilburies albums such great guitar strummin’, carefree and loose records. “Big Weekend” certainly brings me back to ‘Full Moon Fever’, which came out in 1989 (anyone else hear a little “Yer So Bad” in there?). That was the year that my high school sweetheart and I split, and I hit the road on a long road trip with a friend (Graceland, South Carolina, Virginia, Philly, Ohio, back up to the thriving metropolis of Racine, Wisconsin). ‘Full Moon Fever’ accompanied me through both of those very different adventures. I don’t know how many times I sang “and I’ll probably be feelin’ a whole lot better when you’re goooone.” Ah, to be 19 with a broken heart.
I’m thinking that ‘Highway Companion’ is going to play that role in many people’s lives this summer. “Big Weekend” is definitely one of my top candidates for song of the summer. I’ll be jamming it on my 8 hour road trip in a few weeks, where I’ll really find out if ‘Highway Companion’ lives up to its name. I have a feeling it will.
Tom Petty: Big Weekend (Quicktime) | Big Weekend (WMP)
- Pre-order ‘Highway Companion’.
- Check out the video for “Saving Grace” here in Quicktime or WMP
- Check out Tom’s very cool Official Site.
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The Jam in San Fran
Stuart over at A Cultured Left Foot has been kind enough to bestow upon the blogosphere an additional live Jam show, from the Warfield in San Francisco, March 15th, 1980.
The Jam: Live at the Warfield (from A Cultured Left Foot). Stuart knows his football too (soccer to us Yanks), as you’ll see on his blog. A very good read, and another fine WordPress blog.
1980 Jam
Over the last few months, I’ve posted live performances by the likes of the Clash, the Sex Pistols, and the Style Council. Therefore, I’d be foolish not to explore the live experience of the Jam. Made up of guitarist Paul Weller (who later went on to form the Style Council, and is still a huge solo act in the UK), bassist Bruce Foxton, and drummer Rick Buckler, the Jam rose out of Woking, Surrey, England in the mid-70’s.
They were influenced by the mod culture of the 60’s (the Who, the Small Faces), the punk ‘revolution’ of the mid-70’s (the Clash in particular), and, increasingly, the Motown / soul sound (which would become increasingly apparent on their later albums, and the work of the Style Council). While they are often lumped in with coming out of the same ’76-’77 UK punk revolution as the Pistols, Clash, Buzzcocks, and the Damned, they definitely insisted on maintaining their own style and identity, always sharply dressed in mod-style suits and ties.
This show took place on November 30, 1980 in Dortmund, Germany. They had just released their fifth album, ‘Sound Affects’, which Weller likened to a cross between ‘Revolver’-era Beatles and Michael Jackson’s ‘Off the Wall.’ The Beatles influence is apparent in the opening bassline of “Start!”, which is the same bass riff that opens “Taxman.”
The Jam disbanded in 1982, when Weller decided to call it quits to form the Style Council. The other two members apparently still hold some bitterness toward Weller about the break-up. They wrote a Jam biography in the early 90’s which contains some vicious attacks on Weller (has anyone out there read it?).
So here is a 75 minute set from The Jam, at the height of their popularity. Enjoy…
The Jam
“Set The Skies Ablaze”
1980-11-30
Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Germany01 –
Dreamtime
02 –Thick As Thieves
03 –Boy About Town
04 –Going Underground
05 –Pretty Green
06 –The Man In The Corner Shop
07 –Set The House Ablaze
08 –Private Hell
09 –Liza Radley
10 –Dreams Of Children
11 –The Modern World
12 –Little Boy Soldiers
13 –But I’m Different Now
14 –Start!
15 –Scrape Away
16 –Strange Town
17 –When You’re Young
18 –In The City
19 –To Be Someone
20 –David Watts
21 –The Eton Rifles
22 –Down In The Tube Station At Midnight- The Jam’s All Music bio.
- The Jam on Amazon.
- Paul Weller’s web site.
Jerry Joseph’s Panama
Here’s one that’s quickly shaping up to be my favorite tune of the summer (right along side “Pay Me My Money Down”, which is undoubtedly my family song of the summer). Yeah I know, summer officially began on June 21st, but living in a place where it’s been over a hundred degrees for a month straight, summer kicks off a little early around here. When I walk outside in these sweet Arizona summer months, it often feels like Satan himself is holding a bus-sized blow dryer over my head, but hey, it’s still home, right? It’s not a complaint, just a fact. It’s worth living here for October through May.
The song comes to us courtesy of Jerry Joseph and the Jackmormons. A previous post of mine featured “Climb to Safety”, a long, powerful jam with lyrics about the struggle of overcoming addiction. “Panama”, on the other hand, has a nice groove, a funky little guitar riff, and a definite summertime feel to it. I’ve got most of the lyrics pinned down (I can’t find them online, so I resorted to pen, paper, and a sensitive ear). Who can help me fill in the gaps?
At least you’re tryin’
everybody else down here keep buyin’
whatever’s at the going rate today
always gotta be about the chase.Well my friend Spike
so sorry but it _________
put it on the table here today
So it’s gonna have to be okay.In Panama, Panama
In Panama, Yeah
It’s gonna have to be okay
Baby gonna give it all away.At least you’re thinkin’
everybody else here just keeps sinkin’
sinking in a wave of regret
and I don’t think the _______ is sinkin’ yet. [fin?]In the dancing hall
Samy and Sandra Sandoval
a finger on the heartbeat of it all
_________ [spanish]In Panama, Panama
In Panama, Yeah Yeah
Gonna have to be okay
Yeah they’re gonna love you more each day.And then the question come up
are we wasting our time?
Is this the presence of God
or a presence of mind?In Panama, Panama
In Panama, Yeah
Gonna have to be okay
gonna love you more each day.Hangin’ over
Over and a hangin’ for a party [?]
Flying season’s getting started
You take it on a wing and get away.And at least you’re flyin’
when everybody else down here just lyin’
What you gotta love about the crocodile
at least they gonna kill you with a smile.In Panama, Panama
In Panama, Yeah
It’s gonna have to be okay
Yeah we’re gonna give it all away.In Panama, Panama
In Panama, Yeah
gonna have to be okay
Yeah they’re gonna love you anyway.Can you figure out who the character in the song might be? From the bridge lyrics (“and then the question come up…”), it sounds like it might be from the perspective of a missionary. Jerry Joseph spent time living in both Utah and Central America, so this makes sense. And these lyrics: “What you gotta love about the crocodile, at least they gonna kill you with a smile.” Do lyrics get any cooler than this?
Top to bottom, this is just a great song. I figure some people out there will enjoy it as much as I do.
From ‘Into the Lovely’ [Buy on eMusic | Amazon]
- A page about Into the Lovely on Jerry & the Jackmormon’s Official Site.
Tom Petty at Bonnaroo
Let’s talk about the Grade ‘A’ Live American Rock & Roll experience. If you’ve seen Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers live, you know what I mean. Tom is the quintessential frontman: energetic, upbeat, and engaging. He immediately endears himself to any audience you put in front of him. I’ve seen them a number of times over the years: Milwaukee, Chicago, Denver, Phoenix; and my favorite one: front and center at The Joint inside Las Vegas’ Hard Rock Casino & Hotel in 2000 (the day after he got married).
This past weekend, TP and the Heartbreakers headlined the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee. I was happy to hear this, because it exposes the Heartbreakers to a whole new demographic. There are tons of younger people out there who now understand the genius of Petty. A big part of the greatness of his live show is his “give the people what they want” philosophy. He has an extensive catalog of hits to choose from, and he definitely delivers them, blow after blow. Artists I admire like Springsteen and Prince, both amazing live performers, are much more selective in unearthing their past ‘hits’ to live audiences. They’re interested in their latest material, and focus on the here and now, many times overlooking crowd favorites of the past. Not to mention that Bruce completely reconfigures his live show; his last two tours have been solo acoustic (behind ‘Devils & Dust’) and the folk hootenanny juggernaut that is his current tour with the Seeger Sessions Band.
Maybe I’m comparing apples to oranges, but Tom Petty delivers his hits, and the audience responds every time. His music is comfort food. It’s familiar, uplifting, and brings back good memories.
On July 25th, Petty will release ‘Highway Companion‘, another Jeff Lynne production. Lynne (formerly of Electric Light Orchestra and the Travelling Wilburys) also produced ‘Full Moon Fever’ and ‘Into the Great Wide Open’. I, for one, like the vibe Jeff Lynne puts forth. ‘Full Moon Fever’ and the two Travelling Wilburys albums are some of my favorites. So I’m looking forward to this release. The first single, “Saving Grace”, is streaming on his web site as we speak (he also played it at Bonnaroo).
Back to Bonnaroo. One of these years I’m going to make it out there. This seems like the festival for me (along with New Orleans Jazz Fest). So for those who weren’t lucky enough to be hanging out in the Tennessee countryside watching Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, we’ll just have to settle with this… oh, and did I mention that Stevie Nicks joined in on a few tunes? Yep, including a great version of “Insider”, from my favorite Petty album, ‘Hard Promises‘.
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
Bonnaroo Music Festival
June 16, 2006Listen to Her HeartYou Don’t Know How it FeelsI Won’t Back DownFree Fallin’Saving Grace– New songLast Dance with Mary JaneI’m a Man– Bo Diddley coverOh Well– Fleetwood Mac coverHandle with Care– Travelling WilburysStop Dragging My Heart Around*I Need to Know*Melinda– New songInsider*Learning to FlyDon’t Come Around Here No More*RefugeeRunning Down a DreamYou Wreck Me(cuts off before the end, sorry)Mystic Eyes– Van Morrison coverGloria* – Van Morrison coverAmerican Girl*
* Joined by Stevie Nicks.
- Buy Tom Petty Music.
- Tom’s Official Site.