Been a while since I did one of these, but, as usual, little has changed in the commercial radio world:
Cancon roundup: Hedley (Top Canuck at #8), Anjulie, Victoria Duffield, Nickelback, Kristina Maria, Craig Smart, Simple Plan, Drake, Jason Aldean (9/40=23%, well below the national law of 35%).
Chart notes: In the US Charts, it's Taylor Swift day, with three new singles debuting in the Top 40. In Canada, it's the same old artists. Jason Aldean checks in with the latest horrible song title, "Tattoos on This Town".
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
RIP Heavy D
Heavy D and the Boyz, led by Jamaican-born Dwight Myers, were part of the late 80s surge of hip-hop/R&B hybrids, blending elements of vocal R+B love songs, dance style hip-hop and rapping. Heavy D was a big more on hip hop side of things, but they had several very successful hits in the late 80s and early 90s. Their first hit came in 1987 with "Mr. Big Stuff", but they are best known for the song "Now that We Found Love".
I was never a big fan of the band's work, but my brother loved this stuff in the early 90s. While I was starting into college in 1988, often all I would hear coming from my brother's room was Heavy D, Keith Sweat, Jon Secada and Bobby Brown. His work is written on my brain, but not for a love of his work.
Myers was in Jamaica when he passed away. He had recently begun to record reggae music. He apparently passed away from respiratory problems. He was 44.
http://youtu.be/NNEgUPKxk7A
I was never a big fan of the band's work, but my brother loved this stuff in the early 90s. While I was starting into college in 1988, often all I would hear coming from my brother's room was Heavy D, Keith Sweat, Jon Secada and Bobby Brown. His work is written on my brain, but not for a love of his work.
Myers was in Jamaica when he passed away. He had recently begun to record reggae music. He apparently passed away from respiratory problems. He was 44.
http://youtu.be/NNEgUPKxk7A
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Covers Courageous #3: Revolting Cocks - Physical
Back in the early 80s, it was impossible to turn on mainstream radio without hearing the pox of OliviaNewton-John's "Physical". I remember long car trips with the AM radio on, with some sweet voiced chanteuse singing every second song. Sometimes it was "Never Been to Me", but mostly it was Newton-John. To be fair, she captured the post-disco zeitgeist and turned in into sweet, sweet AOR fodder and made a tonne of money with what was probably her last hurrah in mainstream music. Good on her.
Enter Al Jorgenson.
Old Uncle Al has a knack for turning pop culture into sheer ugliness. His main band, Ministry, had been subverting music for years before he started branching out into numerous side projects, which included the infamous Revolting Cocks, formed with fellow industrialists Richard 23, Luc Van Acker and Chris Connelly. While they sounded a lot like Ministry, the Cocks were much more subversive, meldling sleazy disco with pounding industrial. In 1990, the Cocks released Beers, Steers and Queers, which featured a brutal and sleazy cover of "Physical".
Now, when this song came out, it was like a bomb going off. I remember being at CKUL in Lethbridge listening to the 12" that came in for this song. There had been rumours going around that the band was forced to change the song due to Newton-John's people having trouble with the sheer ugliness of the cover version. And, the rumours turned out to be true. There's an original version of the cover, and a cover that appeared on the album itself. The differences are significant. The original version's lyrics are much closer to the original Newton-John song. The second version can be more rightly termed as an homage to the original song, with altered lyrics and less obvious references to the original song.
The original (censored) version:
http://youtu.be/vpvHeTsgdUk
There's no Youtube video for the studio version of the album track, but there are plenty of live versions.
Enter Al Jorgenson.
Old Uncle Al has a knack for turning pop culture into sheer ugliness. His main band, Ministry, had been subverting music for years before he started branching out into numerous side projects, which included the infamous Revolting Cocks, formed with fellow industrialists Richard 23, Luc Van Acker and Chris Connelly. While they sounded a lot like Ministry, the Cocks were much more subversive, meldling sleazy disco with pounding industrial. In 1990, the Cocks released Beers, Steers and Queers, which featured a brutal and sleazy cover of "Physical".
Now, when this song came out, it was like a bomb going off. I remember being at CKUL in Lethbridge listening to the 12" that came in for this song. There had been rumours going around that the band was forced to change the song due to Newton-John's people having trouble with the sheer ugliness of the cover version. And, the rumours turned out to be true. There's an original version of the cover, and a cover that appeared on the album itself. The differences are significant. The original version's lyrics are much closer to the original Newton-John song. The second version can be more rightly termed as an homage to the original song, with altered lyrics and less obvious references to the original song.
The original (censored) version:
http://youtu.be/vpvHeTsgdUk
There's no Youtube video for the studio version of the album track, but there are plenty of live versions.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Forgotten Music #11: Rockpile - Teacher Teacher
More from the LiveJournal vaults. Strangely appropriate since I just replaced my CD copy of Basher.
Rockpile is a collaboration between Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds, two musicians who got their start together in the legendary pub-rock band Brinsley Schwartz in the 70s. After that band broke up, Lowe and Edmunds started solo careers, but always worked back up for each other. Their band became known as Rockpile. While both men were successful as solo artists and recorded as back up on each other's albums, Rockpile only appeared once under that name with that 1980 album Seconds of Pleasure. The album is the usual mash up of rockers and covers of classic R&B and blues. "Teacher Teacher" was the standout track on the album, though the entire album is stellar, especially "When I Write the Book" and "Heart".
I got into Nick Lowe a bit late in the game. While I'm a huge and longtime fan of Elvis Costello's work, I didn't pay much attention to Lowe, but knew of his work through Elvis's albums. Lowe has produced several of Costello's albums (as well as many other artists on the early days of Stiff Records) and wrote "(What's So Funny Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding", one of my favourite Elvis tracks (It's also one of the few tracks I can count on to make me start bawling like a baby at times). I picked up his best of, Basher, a few years ago and fell in love with is work right away. I've played Basher so much that it's very scratched now and can't be played anymore without skipping. Good think Nick's got a new best of called Quiet Please out now. Weirdly enough, I discovered Dave Edmunds after Lowe and I love his work even more than Lowe's now.
http://youtu.be/n9_9k8-W1Po
Rockpile is a collaboration between Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds, two musicians who got their start together in the legendary pub-rock band Brinsley Schwartz in the 70s. After that band broke up, Lowe and Edmunds started solo careers, but always worked back up for each other. Their band became known as Rockpile. While both men were successful as solo artists and recorded as back up on each other's albums, Rockpile only appeared once under that name with that 1980 album Seconds of Pleasure. The album is the usual mash up of rockers and covers of classic R&B and blues. "Teacher Teacher" was the standout track on the album, though the entire album is stellar, especially "When I Write the Book" and "Heart".
I got into Nick Lowe a bit late in the game. While I'm a huge and longtime fan of Elvis Costello's work, I didn't pay much attention to Lowe, but knew of his work through Elvis's albums. Lowe has produced several of Costello's albums (as well as many other artists on the early days of Stiff Records) and wrote "(What's So Funny Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding", one of my favourite Elvis tracks (It's also one of the few tracks I can count on to make me start bawling like a baby at times). I picked up his best of, Basher, a few years ago and fell in love with is work right away. I've played Basher so much that it's very scratched now and can't be played anymore without skipping. Good think Nick's got a new best of called Quiet Please out now. Weirdly enough, I discovered Dave Edmunds after Lowe and I love his work even more than Lowe's now.
http://youtu.be/n9_9k8-W1Po
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Cancon Roundup for October 20, 2011
Cancon in this week's Canadian Top 40: Hedley (top Canadian at #8), Anjulie, Simple Plan, Marianas Trench, Kristina Maria, Mia Martinia, Alyssa Reid, Nickeblack, Martin Solveig and Dragonette, Drake, Craig Smart, Victoria Duffield (12/40=30%, still below the national law of 35% Cancon)
Notes: Nothing much of note on the charts this week. George Strait has a song called "Here for a Good Time", which I doubt is a cover of the Trooper song. And for those of you thinking what I am thinking with Kelly Clarkson:
And now, Kelly Clarkson with Mr. Know it All!
http://youtu.be/CuWhgyGWkgE
Notes: Nothing much of note on the charts this week. George Strait has a song called "Here for a Good Time", which I doubt is a cover of the Trooper song. And for those of you thinking what I am thinking with Kelly Clarkson:
And now, Kelly Clarkson with Mr. Know it All!
http://youtu.be/CuWhgyGWkgE
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees 2012
Yes, it's that time again. Last week, the nominees for this years Hall of Fame class were announced. Let's look at em shall we? (And celebrate that I started this blog with a similar post just last year!)
Guns 'n Roses: Probably a shoo in for this year's class. Guns 'n Roses defined the gritty edge of loud guitar rock in the late 80s, with "Appetite for Destruction" being one of the biggest selling albums of all time. The band's fortune's lately have been pretty sad lately, but their early work is career and genre defining. The drama behind the band should make an interesting induction speech too.
The Beastie Boys: They were nominated last year and missed out, but this year should be their year to get in. The Beastie Boys had a unique style that combined rock and hip-hop, then moved away from that formula and created some of the most innovative hip hop albums through the 90s. Someone from the rap field is going in this year, it should be the Beasties.
The Cure: A fascinating choice for the Hall. The Cure were part of the second big British Invasion during the 80s and had a unique style to their music, combining synth pop, new romanticism and, yes, goth into their sound. The Cure deserve to be in the Hall, but I think will be passed over this year.
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts: Interestingly, Joan Jett's first band, The Runaways, aren't in the Hall. Joan Jett's work with her second band, The Blackhearts, was gritty, biker bar style rock and roll. They were undoubtedly influential, but The Runaways deserve to be in the Hall before the Blackhearts. Without the Runaways, there would be no Blackhearts.
Heart: Seattle mainstream rock mainstays Heart are still recording today and have been a very successful band, stringing together hits since the late 70s into the early 90s. Nancy Wilson's skill as a guitarist is notable as well. I think they'll get in this year.
Donna Summer: Re-nominated this year, Donna Summer was a huge star in the late 70s as a disco singer, then had a few hits in the 80s as a pop singer. Her work is genre defining for disco. She's a dark horse in my books, but may get in this year.
Red Hot Chili Peppers: Starting as a goofy punk/funk band, RHCP have come to represent mainstream radio rock in their later years. While their earlier work was sometimes laughably bad, the band hit their stride in the late 80s and never looked back. I think it's a bit too soon to put them into the Hall, maybe next year.
Rufus and Chaka Khan: Most of you might think of Chaka Khan for the mid 80s hit "I Feel for You", but Rufus and Chaka Khan were a huge band in the soul/disco scene of the 70s. I figure some disco band will go in this year. I think Donna Summer has a better shot.
The Spinners: There's always a classic band that's been overlooked that gets into the Hall and there's usually three or four candidates. You can't go wrong with inducting The Spinners.
Laura Nyro: She was nominated last year and is still an intriguing pick for the Hall. Nyro's work isn't well known, but her influence to other musicians is huge, especially in folk, singer/songwriter and jazz. I'd love to see her in the Hall, but it likely won't happen for a while.
Eric B. and Rakim: If the Beasties don't get in, then Eric B and Rakim will. Rakim was one of the smoothest lyricists in rap and widely held up as a true poet. Eric B, his DJ, was a groundbreaking DJ, using samples from all over the world to use as backdrops for Rakim's rhymes. Check this out:
http://youtu.be/E7t8eoA_1jQ
Freddie King: The late Freddie King was one of the best blues guitarists of all time, mentioned in the same breath as B.B. King and Albert King. He's also known for his soulful vocals. Probably get bumped aside for the Spinners, but he'll get in someday.
Donovan Leitch: Donovan defined the folk and hippie music scene of the 60s. His clear tones while singing were breathtaking. He had a string of hits through the 60s and 70s, then disappeared as the folk style's popularity wound done. This won't be his year, but he'll get into the Hall eventually.
The Faces: Formed out of the ashes of seminal UK band The Small Faces, The Faces kickstarted the careers of vocalist Rod Steward and guitarist Ronnie Wood, both formerly of Jeff Beck's band. The band will probably be best known as a footnote in musical history rather than a Hall of Fame entrant.
War: California's War made some great funk and soul based rock through the 70s, and are best known for the tracks "Why Can't We Be Friends" and "Low Rider". They deserve to be in the Hall, might be an outside chance of that happening this year.
Predictions to get into the Hall: Guns 'n Roses, The Beastie Boys, The Spinners, Donna Summer, Heart.
Guns 'n Roses: Probably a shoo in for this year's class. Guns 'n Roses defined the gritty edge of loud guitar rock in the late 80s, with "Appetite for Destruction" being one of the biggest selling albums of all time. The band's fortune's lately have been pretty sad lately, but their early work is career and genre defining. The drama behind the band should make an interesting induction speech too.
The Beastie Boys: They were nominated last year and missed out, but this year should be their year to get in. The Beastie Boys had a unique style that combined rock and hip-hop, then moved away from that formula and created some of the most innovative hip hop albums through the 90s. Someone from the rap field is going in this year, it should be the Beasties.
The Cure: A fascinating choice for the Hall. The Cure were part of the second big British Invasion during the 80s and had a unique style to their music, combining synth pop, new romanticism and, yes, goth into their sound. The Cure deserve to be in the Hall, but I think will be passed over this year.
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts: Interestingly, Joan Jett's first band, The Runaways, aren't in the Hall. Joan Jett's work with her second band, The Blackhearts, was gritty, biker bar style rock and roll. They were undoubtedly influential, but The Runaways deserve to be in the Hall before the Blackhearts. Without the Runaways, there would be no Blackhearts.
Heart: Seattle mainstream rock mainstays Heart are still recording today and have been a very successful band, stringing together hits since the late 70s into the early 90s. Nancy Wilson's skill as a guitarist is notable as well. I think they'll get in this year.
Donna Summer: Re-nominated this year, Donna Summer was a huge star in the late 70s as a disco singer, then had a few hits in the 80s as a pop singer. Her work is genre defining for disco. She's a dark horse in my books, but may get in this year.
Red Hot Chili Peppers: Starting as a goofy punk/funk band, RHCP have come to represent mainstream radio rock in their later years. While their earlier work was sometimes laughably bad, the band hit their stride in the late 80s and never looked back. I think it's a bit too soon to put them into the Hall, maybe next year.
Rufus and Chaka Khan: Most of you might think of Chaka Khan for the mid 80s hit "I Feel for You", but Rufus and Chaka Khan were a huge band in the soul/disco scene of the 70s. I figure some disco band will go in this year. I think Donna Summer has a better shot.
The Spinners: There's always a classic band that's been overlooked that gets into the Hall and there's usually three or four candidates. You can't go wrong with inducting The Spinners.
Laura Nyro: She was nominated last year and is still an intriguing pick for the Hall. Nyro's work isn't well known, but her influence to other musicians is huge, especially in folk, singer/songwriter and jazz. I'd love to see her in the Hall, but it likely won't happen for a while.
Eric B. and Rakim: If the Beasties don't get in, then Eric B and Rakim will. Rakim was one of the smoothest lyricists in rap and widely held up as a true poet. Eric B, his DJ, was a groundbreaking DJ, using samples from all over the world to use as backdrops for Rakim's rhymes. Check this out:
http://youtu.be/E7t8eoA_1jQ
Freddie King: The late Freddie King was one of the best blues guitarists of all time, mentioned in the same breath as B.B. King and Albert King. He's also known for his soulful vocals. Probably get bumped aside for the Spinners, but he'll get in someday.
Donovan Leitch: Donovan defined the folk and hippie music scene of the 60s. His clear tones while singing were breathtaking. He had a string of hits through the 60s and 70s, then disappeared as the folk style's popularity wound done. This won't be his year, but he'll get into the Hall eventually.
The Faces: Formed out of the ashes of seminal UK band The Small Faces, The Faces kickstarted the careers of vocalist Rod Steward and guitarist Ronnie Wood, both formerly of Jeff Beck's band. The band will probably be best known as a footnote in musical history rather than a Hall of Fame entrant.
War: California's War made some great funk and soul based rock through the 70s, and are best known for the tracks "Why Can't We Be Friends" and "Low Rider". They deserve to be in the Hall, might be an outside chance of that happening this year.
Predictions to get into the Hall: Guns 'n Roses, The Beastie Boys, The Spinners, Donna Summer, Heart.
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