Status Quo – Caroline (1973)

I’m having an eclectic day. You might even call it a “communist” sort of day.

How so?

In the mid 1840s, Karl Marx wrote the following paragraph in “The German Ideology”:

…. in communist society, where nobody has one exclusive sphere of activity but each can become accomplished in any branch he wishes, society regulates the general production and thus makes it possible for me to do one thing today and another tomorrow, to hunt in the morning, fish in the afternoon, rear cattle in the evening, criticise after dinner, just as I have a mind, without ever becoming hunter, fisherman, herdsman or critic.

Now, admittedly, I haven’t done an enormous amount of fishing nor the rearing of cattle today. However, I did do a spot of “hunter gathering” when I nipped out to buy a couple of bread rolls at the Co-op (into which I then incorporated some Quorn ham slices and a generous helping of mustard). Hunter gathering then continued apace as I picked a bowlful of blackberries from the garden. And later on, I will be conducting some amateur “wine tasting” and I’d be surprised if we get through the family dinner without a spot of criticism or, indeed, some sort of full blown argument!

I’ve also done some laundry and read cover to cover Charles Murray‘s recently published book on race in America, “Facing Reality” – it is an interesting, data driven analysis, though its implications for British society will need some significant reflection – our history and circumstances are so different from those experienced in the USA.

And, of course, I’ve listened to a lot of music.

I started off with Blue Oyster Cult‘s 1976 album Agents of Fortune and, to be honest, other than the superlative “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”, it is entirely forgettable and the CD will be off to a new home soon. Having said that, “Don’t Fear” really is one of my all time favourite songs and was previously posted here.

I also finished listening to a 4 CD box set of Chuck Berry‘s 1960s recordings on Chess Records. Sadly, almost all his best songs were composed in the 1950s in my view and the collection was, ultimately, pretty disappointing – check here for the recently posted “School Day” and here for “Johnny B. Goode” for evidence to support this assertion. His only real classic of the 1960s was “You Never Can Tell” which I’ve previously posted here including its appearance in the magnificent “twisting competition” scene in Pulp Fiction.

Now it must be said that Chuck Berry is a key figure in the history of rock’n’roll and was a major influence on the Beatles, Rolling Stones, and The Beach Boys. However, it also must be said that, in the end, he only composed about four different tunes which he then recycled shamelessly – but what four tunes!

Another band who recycled a limited number of ideas for decades were Status Quo and, while the band never got close to being important as Mr Berry, they did compose the odd corker of which “Caroline” from 1973 is my favourite.

To be honest, it might have made a better instrumental because I just keep waiting for the vocals to finish so that the absolutely incessant guitar riff can kick back in again.

The introduction to the song features duelling twin guitars which lay down the riff before the bass and drums then join in to achieve musical heaven. In this regard, it reminds me a bit of the first minute of “You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC which features a similar process of building the tune – check here for a previous post of that!

Three videos: a possible live version, then the LP take and finally a delirious performance from Wembley Stadium in 1985 at the Live Aid concert.

Play loud!

Chuck Berry – School Day (Ring Ring Goes The Bell) (1957)

Getting towards the end of the second week of my holiday and I’m largely on track to do all the things I had planned – in particular, to work my way through a number of books.

Yesterday, I finished off Nathan Leamon and Ben Jones‘ excellent book “Hitting Against The Spin” which describes the application of data science and other analytical techniques to the development of strategy in cricket matches – very warmly recommended although quite a few of the graphs have incorrect labels!

Today, I finished reading Robert Nozick‘s classic philosophical treatise “Anarchy, State, and Utopia” which sets out the rationale for a “minimal state”. I found the discussion really interesting and largely compelling but the book was weak (in my view) in its too simple rejection of the moral case for allowing compulsory redistributive transfers to ameliorate (not eliminate) differential outcomes that arise because of differences in the scale or nature of inherited talents and capabilities. I think I’m going to have to re-read the chapter that addresses this issue.

A favourite quote from the book:

Everyone realises that tacit consent isn’t worth the paper it’s not written on ….

Anyhow, with those two books out of the way, I needed to decide whether next up it was “Cork Dork” – Bianca Bosker‘s account of her experience of the world of elite sommeliers – or Simon Akam‘s recently published “The Changing Of The Guard – The British Army Since 9/11”.

I read the first chapter of the former and, while it was reasonably interesting and entertaining, it hasn’t yet grabbed me. Given what has been happening in Afghanistan, I suspect that the Akam book would be the appropriate one to read first.

As you can see from all this, when I’m not at work, I am always trying to learn something new!

I was working my way through a CD boxset featuring Chuck Berry‘s complete recordings on Chess Records in the 1950s. He’s written so many great songs that I need to get a few more of them on vinyl.

“School Day” has always been one of my favourites and it features some absolutely classic guitar playing.

Two versions, the original LP/single version from 1957 and then a “live” version from US television in 1958.

Perfect pop music.

Ritchie Valens – La Bamba (1958)

Most people probably know this song via Los Lobos‘ chart topping version from 1987.

However, that was simply their take on the tune for the biopic La Bamba which charted the brief life of Ritchie Valens.

Valens’ original version from 1958 is a thing of beauty and a rock’n’roll version of an old Mexican folk song. It remains one of the few top 40 songs in the USA not to be sung in English.

Born in 1941, Valens was killed in the same plane crash that ended the lives of Buddy Holly and “The Big Bopper” in early 1959.

He was only 17.

The consequences of the plane crash for the development of popular music inspired Don McLean to write the outstanding “American Pie” in 1971 (mental note, post this next)!

Anyhow, twangy guitar, urgent vocals, and no agenda make this the ideal tune to post tonight.

Perfect pop music.

Play loud!

Billy Fury – Wondrous Place (1960)

I’ve always struggled with the notion of a “credible” English rock’n’roll star from the golden era when Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Gene Vincent, Little Richard, etc, were doing their thing.

And someone from Liverpool christened Ronald Wycherley doesn’t begin with the most promising moniker. The fact that under the “Personal Life” section of his Wikipedia entry, the first thing we learn about the rebranded Billy Fury is that “he was a keen birdwatcher” further undermines one’s confidence in what he’s likely to sound like.

However, great songs by British rock’n’rollers do exist – check here for a previous post featuring Vince Taylor and the Playboys‘ outstanding “Brand New Cadillac” which was subsequently covered by The Clash. By the way, for those who enjoy “fun facts”, Vince was originally christened Brian Holden and was apparently the main inspiration for David Bowie‘s Ziggy Stardust character. Who knew that?

Another great British rock’n’roll song was “Shakin’ All Over” by Johnny Kidd and the Pirates which might get an airing on this blog at some point – Mr Kidd was originally christened Frederick Albert Heath …..

Anyhow, “Wondrous Place” is a lovely record and has turned up in the odd advert over the years. Apparently, it was originally recorded by the American singer Jimmy Jones (originally christened James Jones) but that version failed to dent the charts. In more recent years, the tune has been covered by Last Shadow Puppets and Jason Donovan (separately, I must emphasise, not as an implausible collaboration).

I have to say that “Wonderful Plaice” would be a great name for a fish and chip shop if anyone is thinking of opening one (see what I’ve done there?) If you do use it, please feel free to pass the idea off as your own, I’m not litigious.

Perfect pop music!

The Ventures – Walk, Don’t Run (1960)

I haven’t posted on the blog for a few days as its been a bit busy at work closing stuff down so that I can have a two week break.

Ardent followers of the blog (good evening sir!) will recall that in my last post (here), I came up with the outstanding idea of posting a series of great songs which either feature the word “walk” in the song title or another synonym for perambulation.

Rest assured that this idea is alive and kicking. In fact, it’s got legs.

Anyhow, it turns out that I have already posted a few songs which might be regarded as early incarnations of this new “genre”. Check here for The Stranglers definitive reading of “Walk on By” and here for The Yardbirds career highpoint “Stroll On”. You could also check here for a classic by, errr, The Walker Brothers (see what I’ve done there?) but I fear that the pedants following the blog might rule this out as not strictly complying with the idea as stated …. which would be fair enough.

Funnily enough, I didn’t manage to get out for a walk today because the weather was miserable. However, I had already chalked up three 5 mile walks this week and had used that time productively to muse on potential candidates to be added to the blog over the next few days.

And what better place to start than this classic slice of surf pop from The Ventures from 1960? I have recently dusted down my own electric guitar and have resolved to master this tune over the festive period ….

Two versions for your perusal: the original single accompanied by a bespoke video and then some live footage of The Ventures on US Saturday night television in August 1960. Edgy, it isn’t!

Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers – Dodge Veg-O-Matic (1977)

Children can be cruel.

So cruel.

I spent two and a half hours washing my car today.

It’s only done 30 miles in the last 9 months.

My middle daughter had laughed at me last weekend telling me that there was mould growing on my car.

Well, well well. Who is having the last laugh tonight?

Turns out that it wasn’t mould at all but rather moss that was growing; a completely different kettle of fish ….

She owes me an apology, big time.

Anyhow, while I wait for that apology, this song sprung to mind. Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers at their most whimsical.

My “metal firecracker” (see here and here for details of its moniker) remains on top form. 20 years old, 67,000 miles on the clock and not a single spot of rust on the bodywork. It’s a classic car.

Big Boy Groves – I Gotta New Car (1954)

I’ve had an excellent day.

Up at 6am and then visited Sam, my “stylist”, for a haircut an hour later.

Back at the ranch, I parcelled up a 63 CD box set of recordings by Fritz Reiner that I’d just sold to a chap in Germany for £300. I’d bought the set new from Amazon for £68.22 in early 2016 … 🙂

Then off to get the “metal firecracker” MOT’d. Check here for Lucinda Williams‘ outstanding tune that I always associate with my 21 year old Renault Clio.

Also, see below for a typical picture of my car “in action” …..

I then spent a lovely hour in Costa Coffee nursing an outstanding flat white while reading a chapter or two of David Reich‘s extraordinary Who Are We And How We Got Here – a riveting account of how the study of ancient DNA is changing our understanding of human evolution and past population migrations.

Wandered back to the garage to find that the metal firecracker had passed its MOT with flying colours and is now ready and waiting for my youngest daughter to get on and pass her driving test. There can be few bigger incentives to have the right to drive a car than to have the right to drive this car …!

Anyhow, here’s a stone cold classic tune about a considerably less reliable automobile.

Ian Dury – Sweet Gene Vincent (1977)

I haven’t got enough words to keep up with all the songs I want to post on this blog.

I’ve had a great weekend. I’ve listened to dozens of CDs, managed a few thousand step ups and a thousand or so press-ups, watched the England vs West Indies test match and several live football matches. The highlight? Manchester City’s sumptuous demolition of Brighton – how on earth are City not still champions?

I’ve also been reading a few recent copies of Mojo magazine. Some great stuff in there but nothing better than the recent article on the peerless genius who was Ian Dury.

Dury’s New Boots and Panties LP was an all time favourite from the moment I heard it (probably not 1977 but, maybe, 1979 when I was 15). There are plenty of great tracks on the LP, but this is the best.

A heartfelt tribute to Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps; just an all time classic rock’n’roll track in its own right.

Start with the original LP version, then enjoy Wilko Johnson joining Dury on some live Old Grey Whistle Test version! Then some other random version with Wilko and then  live in Paris in 1978. All beautiful!

 

Little Richard – The Girl Can’t Help It (1956)

Having managed to get through two days without having to post something in honour of a just deceased musician, I’m now back to having my agenda set by the vagaries of the human condition.

Now, truth be told, while I am a very big fan of 50s rock’n’roll, I’ve never been that much of a fan of Little Richard. Indeed, only last week, my efforts to cull my CD collection resulted in my Little Richard compilation making an honourable exit onto my Discogs inventory.

Sure, there are a lot of hit singles to consider: “Good Golly Miss Molly”, “Tutti Frutti”, “Long Tall Sally”, “Lucille”, etc, but, for me, they just don’t swing.

That cannot be said of this gem from 1956 though.

Written by Bobby Troup, “The Girl Can’t Help It” was the title song of the highly influential film starring Jayne Mansfield which made a big impression on John Lennon when it came out.

I now have only one Little Richard item in my music collection: this on 7″ single!

Chuck Berry – Johnny B. Goode (1958)

It’s been another long day but I just had to follow up on yesterday’s post which featured Beethoven‘s stunning “Cavatina” from his outstanding String Quartet No. 13.

As mentioned in that post. “Cavatina” is the final song on the extraordinary Voyager Golden Record that was launched into infinity via the spacecrafts Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 in 1977 (for further details check here).

The Golden Record is, in fact, a double LP, and the 11th track on side one is this song, “Johnny B. Goode”, by the immortal Chuck Berry.

Musing upon this, I wonder whether it would have been more puckish of the compilers to have instead included Chuck Berry’s “Roll Over Beethoven” as the final track of the set as a postscript to Ludwig’s String Quartet (missed opportunity alert, methinks?)

I’ve previously posted Chuck’s (Mr Berry’s?) perfect “You Never Can Tell” here, as featured, memorably, in pretty much the best scene in Pulp Fiction.

But “Johnny B. Goode” really takes you back to the motherlode of rock’n’roll – an all time classic that is highly likely to build many relationships with alien life forms in the millenia to come!

See below for the original 1958 studio recording, then a live(ish) cut from the same year and then a simply joyous version from 1972.

Perfect and timeless pop music.