Gavin B.

I always wondered who was playing the bass on the Door's studio albums. A few years back I heard an interview with Ray Manzarek on NPR and he said the Doors never used a bass player in live shows or on studio recordings. Manzareck said he played the keyboard parts with his right hand while playing the bass lines on the organ with his left hand. Damn, I never knew that!

I don't envy old rock & roll soldiers like Manzarek who spend the rest of their adult lives in the shadow of the musical accomplishments they earned when they were young and in their twenties.

It's hard to reinvent yourself if you used to play keyboards for the Doors. Manzarek stayed in the music business and produced a small legacy of respectable solo albums & even produced the Los Angeles the acknowledged masterpiece of the band X, L.A.'s premier punk band.

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There are two types of music: the first type is the blues and the second type is all the other stuff.
Townes Van Zandt

ladyislingering

I've been fond of the Doors for years, but I never knew Ray's talent extended to this -

Seriously, Ray was a keyboard badass.

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ladyislingering

Before I begin with this next feature, I have to stress the importance of the following statement:

I love Marc Bolan. I adore him for everything he was. It hurts a little, and my heart aches when I think of how his life ended. He was completely adorable, full of himself, believed in what he wanted in this world, and wouldn't settle for anything less. He is someone to be admired.

Glam is often dismissed as "silly" in all its flamboyance, but Marc Bolan was glam rock. He was the two-penny prince, and I absolutely love his fabulous little soul.



Here's the promised T. Rex feature.

This song will always remind me of my first time borrowing a rental car - I took it to the airport, and drove past 40 miles of cows and trees.

Marc's on backing vocals here - he spent a little time with this group in the late 60s. Ki and I had a stray cat named Desdemona Delilah. Or, simply, Desi D.

John's Children - "Desdemona"

Lift up your skirt and fly.



Andy Ellison was also a part of John's Children; he later went on to play with Radio Stars, with ex-Sparks bassist Martin Gordon. Marc later invited Radio Stars to his TV program in the late 70s.

Now here's Marc with Steve Peregrin Took - T. Rex was once Tyrannosaurus Rex, a folk duo.

Tyrannosaurus Rex - "Debora"



You can hear Marc speak here in this bootleg. He had a delicate speaking voice that makes me weak in the knees.

"Mustang Ford"



"Chariots of Silk"



Along came Mickey Finn (who met his demise in 2003 after a lifelong struggle with alcoholism) and this happened ...

"Lofty Skies"



"Jewel"



"Seagull Woman"



Their sound began to change in the early 70s.

"Ride a White Swan"



1971 brought us the T. Rex record that everyone and their mother knows. "Electric Warrior" ... which brought us the song that everyone knows. You know the one.

"Get it On" (ToTP)



One of my personal favorites from this album -

"Mambo Sun"



And another -

"Planet Queen"



Then, in '72, another popular T. Rex record was released. Let us not forget this next track, which was released only as a single, but kicks ass.


"20th Century Boy"



This next song also suffered the same fate.

"Children of the Revolution"



Marc Bolan never drove a Rolls Royce. He never drove anything, because he was terrified of dying in a car. (Much like myself - except, unlike Marc, I've had a license, and I drive every once in a while despite my fears.)

Speaking of cars...

"Cadillac"



"Buick MacKane"



And if you don't feel like a super badass listening to this, I don't think we're listening to the same song.

"Chariot Choogle"



Mark Volman of The Turtles sang backup on many tracks from "The Slider". If that isn't the most badass thing you've ever heard, get out of here. Seriously. Just go.

Last two from "The Slider" that I really really dig -

"Baby Strange"



"Telegram Sam"



"Tanx" (1973) was kind of a disaster (as well as the albums that followed, up to 1977...) thanks to a host of illicit substances (mostly cocaine) that were swimming through Marc's fine little self. So I think we'll just skip that whole thing for now and go right into this great track from "Dandy in the Underworld". Its title track.

Marc got his act together and had a child with Gloria Jones in '77. He had his own show, too.



Marc passed away in a car accident a couple weeks before his 30th birthday, on September 16th, 1977. He left behind his wife, Gloria, and his newborn son, Rolan.

Here's a photo of David Bowie being restrained by a couple friends after being harassed by the press at Marc's funeral. The two were very close friends.

There's a lot more that could have been added to this post, but I'm in a time crunch, and I would much rather inspire others to do a little digging of their own, and to fall in love with T. Rex on their own time.

By the way, I almost forgot to roll out my Song of the Day for 05/21/2013 -

This one's for Ki. Happy birthday tomorrow, sweetie.

The Beatles - "I'm Happy Just to Dance With You"



Next time: Who the hell knows?

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ladyislingering

Song of the Day - 05/23/2013. I almost forgot about this until today.

Petula Clark - "My Love"



Petula makes me happy.

"Don't Sleep in the Subway"



"Downtown"



Anyway, every so often this odd song runs through my head and reminds me of the entire week I spent as a sales associate at a Forever 21 shop in Northern California. I couldn't stand the irritating girls there; they were so preppy, plastic, caked with make-up, empty-headed. This song was the only tolerable thing that ever played in that store.

If only for the music. The lyrics are practically worthless.

Lindstrøm & Christabelle - "Lovesick"



It always reminded me of this lush creation -

Lynsey De Paul - "Sugar Me"



Around the time I discovered the song above, I was also getting groovy with Fox. This next song will always remind me of walking through town during the last summer I spent in Minnesota.

Fox - "Only You Can"



And then there's this. I love this cheesy garbage.

Fox - "Imagine Me, Imagine You"



During my intro to Fox, I was also becoming acquainted with some similar (though lesser known) sounds of the 70s.

Sailor - "Girls, Girls, Girls"



Racey - "Some Girls"



And this is just really dumb, but it's a real earworm.

Kenny - "The Bump"



Was any youth complete without Sweet? Nope. NOPE NOPE.

Sweet - "Wig Wam Bam"



I have this next vinyl single. Because I had to have it, and yes, I played it to death.

Silver - "Wham Bam (Shang a Lang)"



May as well throw in the Bay City Rollers ...

"Saturday Night"



Speaking of singles I drove my parents nuts with as a young lady ... my record suspiciously went missing at some point but I absolutely loved this song when I was about 15/16.

Rod Stewart - "You're In My Heart"



This song actually popped into my head this morning. I don't know why. But I do remember loving this one around 13/14. I also loved Neil Sedaka, but we'll explore his wonders on a different occasion.

Captain & Tennille - "Love Will Keep Us Together"



Here comes the part where I lose all credibility in having any sort of decent taste in music. I loved this song when I was about 14/15. Could these lyrics be any dumber? Good lord.

The DeFranco Family - "Heartbeat (It's a Love Beat)"



And of course, I had to have this LP. Had to.

Marshall Hain - "Dancing in the City"



I think I'm going to aptly name this post (everything after Petula, of course) "really terrible crap I have loved".



Next time: Squeeze, and why they're pretty alright.

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Gavin B.

Thanks for writing up Blondie, my favorite '70s pop group. Deborah Harry had a star quality that got her noticed on the New York scene even when she was a waitress at Max's Kansas City. Andy Warhol, Patti Smith, Lou Reed and other A-lists regular at Max's were mesmerized by the sassy and seductive Ms. Harry even when she was serving them drinks and dinner.

When Madonna first appeared on the NYC dance club scene in the late '70s, fans and critics alike wrote her off as another Deborah Harry wannabe. Unlike Madonna, Deborah Harry was able to deliver the goods in a live show without lip syncing pre-recorded vocals; or bumping & grinding with an entourage of male dancers. Deborah had charisma, while Madonna manufactured it.

Former Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham once said "Had Deborah Harry been six inches taller, she would have been the highest paid runway model of the era and Blondie would have never happened."

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There are two types of music: the first type is the blues and the second type is all the other stuff.
Townes Van Zandt

ladyislingering

Hey, MB, just checking in. Ki and I have been on a bit of a hiatus since we don't have wifi in our new apartment yet. (But I've been out and about stealing it elsewhere since I realized I needed a second job, so the search is on yet again.) However, many sick grooves have been felt as I've gotten back in touch with my vinyl collection (and my beautiful black babies are surely happy to see me again, let me tell you - they've been hiding in bins for the past year and I couldn't possibly be any more apologetic).

I'm also working on a novel in my spare time.

So here's some music I've been grooving to recently. I usually post what I'm listening to on Facebook, in the form of photos, and anyone's free to add me (just don't get too friendly or Ki will give you the death glare and fart on your pillow).

The other day I was drunkenly (well, not drunkenly, but ... buzzed) grooving to Jefferson Airplane. "Surrealistic Pillow" was a huge part of my adolescence and I just can't deny this song's lyrical value.

Jefferson Airplane - "3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds"

Take me to a circus tent, where I can easily pay my rent, and all the other freaks will share my cares....



There's also been some of the fabulous Pat Benatar in my listening experience. I've loved her since I was young. Not many people really cared for the "Precious Time" album, but holy shit, this is a gem.

Pat Benatar - "Fire and Ice"



And I'll throw in some Genesis for good measure, since "Abacab" has never fully left my consciousness as a fabulous album.

Genesis - "Me and Sarah Jane"



And my favorite ...

Genesis - "Dodo/Lurker"



That's all for me for now. I've got stuff to do. All the best to you crazy people; we'll meet again soon.

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Paul Smeenus

Good to see you, LiL

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Gentle Giant Catalog Review

The entire Ditty Bops catalog reviewed

ladyislingering

Likewise! Nice weather we're having lately, right?

Since I'm still around I'll throw in a couple tracks I've heard and loved today.

Steely Dan - "Doctor Wu"



Beatles - "Baby's in Black"

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ladyislingering

Just a quick update; my memoir is coming along slowly but I am well determined to write it (and hopefully fulfill my lifelong dream of actually publishing my writing). On the hunt for a new job because part-time gigs are a waste of time in this day and age.

A couple songs that have been rolling through my brain today (but I haven't actually heard in a while) -

Bobby Fuller - "I Fought the Law"



T. Rex - "Rabbit Fighter"



Genesis - "Alone Tonight"



Journey - "Feeling That Way/Anytime"

(This song will always remind me of an insanely stoned 3-block drive from a duplex I used to live in, to a nearby convenience store. I'll never forget the odd smell of the Pontiac Sunbird(?) when it sat in the sun all morning.)



I was playing this single the other day - I don't know why I have the 7" vinyl but whatever, my life is full of surprises. It just sounded really good. God damn it, it's so good.

Def Leppard - "Foolin'"



That same day, this song rolled into and through my head as I was dying from the heat (in spite of our fabulous new fans) upstairs in our apartment.

Billy Idol - "Hot in the City"



Hopefully, eventually I'll have more to post, more time, more resources, etc. For now this will do. Besides, I've been dusting off some LPs I haven't touched in years so perhaps the lack of internet in our apartment is a good thing.

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ladyislingering

The other day I had John Lennon's "Imagine" LP on the turntable. This song has always really stood out to me but I never realized that it perfectly expresses my feelings toward most people I know (though this song was written for Paul McCartney).

John Lennon - "How Do You Sleep?"



I guess I'll have a little more of John in this thread while I've got time.

"Instant Karma"



"Cold Turkey"

I have struggled with multiple addictions throughout my life. This song stabs me through the psyche every time.



Also I just found this and I'm crying a little; I love this song and never knew John recorded it at some point.

"Be My Baby"



This song will always give me shivers. In part because I feel there needs to be a revolution (it's been a long time coming, right?) but mostly because I realize the impossibility of a bunch of people giving a damn about anything.

"Power to the People"



Anyway, branching off from John, this song by the Monochrome Set has been running in and out of my head for a few days. I sort of forgot about it for a while and then it came back to me in the shower.

The Monochrome Set - "Eine Symphonie des Grauens"



What a great voice on that lead vocalist. I don't know much about the Monochrome Set, but they're in my mental list of artists I need to get into. Speaking of which ....

A long time ago I discovered Suede. I realized the lead singer's voice had a striking similarity to Russell Mael when he was in his prime. Real quick, here's one of their best known tracks.

"Animal Nitrate"



And something I actually just discovered minutes ago but surprisingly enjoyed.

Suede - "Beautiful Ones"



Oh, what do you know? Suede has a new album this year, called "Bloodsports". I'll post it here as sort of a bookmark/note to myself to get into it later.

Suede - "Bloodsports" (FULL ALBUM)



During my temp assignment at a warehouse I was talking with this aging punker dude and loosely mentioned the creepy sound of early Human League. Anyone familiar with this track, or is everyone too afraid to listen because I said "Human League" and all of a sudden you've got visions of "Don't You Want Me"? No, seriously, listen to this. This isn't 80s cheesepop. This is grand.

This is Kraftwerk-esque. And it's cool as hell.

Human League - "Being Boiled"



But if you want to hear something REALLY creepy, here's the "early version" of the song. It's much darker, and honestly, I prefer it to the polished version above. This is what I'd expect from some kind of awful horror film, and since I'm alone in the house I do think I'm going to stop listening before I become too paranoid (I made it about 52 seconds!).

"Being Boiled" (demo)



A couple more things that make my skin crawl and I can't explain why:

1) The quiet space noises at the end of this song. It makes me want to throw myself out of a damn window. It's all groovy til about 2:55 and then it's a nightmare.

Steve Miller Band - "Fly Like an Eagle"



2. I spent at least 20 years of my life repressing the memory of this, until I found it again some time ago. I don't know why, but it makes me just sick to my stomach. I just ... I can't. This is horrifying. I didn't even click it on youtube, I just copied the link because it just freaks me out.

Philip Glass - "Geometry of Circles"



I think that's all for me tonight. I'm heading out because this empty house is making me freak out! (I can't wait til Ki gets home.)

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