The Yeah Yeah Yeah’s Nick Zinner‘s first band was called the Boba Fett Experience. Presumably this was a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.
“I pulled into Nazareth, was feelin’ about half past dead”
Apparently Aretha Franklin’s excellent cover of the Band’s equally excellent song “The Weight” featured Duane Allman on slide guitar. The song was recorded at the world-famous Muscle Shoals studio in Alabama. But what I found most interesting is that Duane played slide using an empty bottle of decongestant pills. Personally I thought he was hooked to harder stuff than that!
Is that Vicks that Duane is rubbing in?
I also feel that a major pharmaceutical marketing opportunity has been passed by. I think rock songs could be used to advertise prescription and over-the-counter products. Imagine that folks, rock music involved with the promotion of drugs! No one will believe that will they? Anyway I thought I’d kick things off with a request for Department S to reform and re-record their big hit “Is Vic There?” as “Is Vicks There?” Or maybe the Belle Stars could record “Sign Of The Times” as “Sinex Of The Times”. What do you think? I would love to hear your ideas for pharmaceutical promotion.
“She’s the sweetest queen I’ve ever seen” October 7, 2013
Many of you will recognise the two iconic 70s album covers pictured below. First Roxy Music‘s eponymously titled first album from 1972 and ‘The Hoople‘ from 1974 by Mott The Hoople. However did you know that the model on the cover of both albums is the same person? It is Kari-Ann Muller and she has yet another music link in that she went on to marry Mick Jagger‘s brother Chris.
In a strange twist of fate the model on another Roxy Music cover was Jerry Hall. She met Bryan Ferry at the photo shoot and began a relationship with him and then ultimately left him for Mick Jagger. So it is clear I think that the Jagger boys certainly like Roxy Music album covers! Incidentally Keri-Ann was paid just 20 pounds for the Roxy cover shoot. She also appeared in a James Bond film and is now a Yoga Teacher.
“I lose myself in the beat of the drum” September 22, 2013
According to an interview with diva extraordinaire Cher in the UK’s Observer newspaper today she was the first woman to show her navel on US TV. This monumental event took place on the Sonny and Cher Show in the early 70s. Given the amount of plastic surgery Cher is alleged to have had I wonder whether she still has the same navel/ What do you think?
“I don’t dream about anyone, except myself” September 7, 2013
I love the Smiths‘ song “William It Was Really Nothing” because it is so good and maybe because my ego loves the fact that it uses my name. Did you know that the song was written about the late, great Billy MacKenzie off of the Associates? One-time Smiths member Craig Gannon has previously said that Morrissey wrote the song about his brief friendship with Billy.
MacKenzie responded with “Stephen You’re Really Something”. There really aren’t enough response songs these days are there? Maybe that will have to be the subject of a future post!
“Lately I’ve been thinking if you wanna get tough, then let’s play rough” September 5, 2013
British dance duo Disclosure chose their name by selecting a random word on a car insurance form. The band is made up of brothers Guy and Howard Lawrence who were born in 1991 and 1994 respectively. They come from a musical family. Their dad was in a covers band and their Mum sang on cruise ships and provided the vocal for a number of TV advert jingles. Most notably for ‘Shake ‘n’ Vac‘. So there is a tenuous link with Elvis Costello was the writer and voice for the R White’s Lemonade Secret Lemonade Drinker campaign.
The band’s debut album ‘Settle’ was released earlier this year and has so far spawned four UK top 20 singles, the biggest of which was “White Noise” a collaboration with the magnificent Alunageorge whiched reached number 2 earlier this year. The other singles from the album were “Latch” which features Sam Smith, “You And Me” which features Eliza Doolittle and “F For You” Sadly I missed Disclosure at the Reading Festival last month, but I did get to see Alunageorge perform “White Noise” live. If you haven’t done it already I reckon you ought to check out Disclosure’s album ‘Settle’ along with Alunageorge’s ‘Body Music’.
“You say it’s easy just a natural thing, like playing music but you never sing”
The Ozark Mountain Daredevils 1975 hit “Jackie Blue” reached number 3 in the US chart but failed to chart in the UK. However I do recall it being played a lot on UK radio; which is how I came to know and love the song. The song was originally written about a friend of the band who used to go clubbing in search of women. He always carried a large wad of cash and a plentiful supply of cocaine. Their label loved the song and said they really did feel that the band had written a big hit. However the suits then said that the lyrics needed changing so that the song was about a Jackie who was female. So the lyrics were rewritten and the rest as they say is history. The song was covered by the Smashing Pumpkins in the early 90s. How many of my UK readers are fans of this classic song from the Ozark Mountain Daredevils?
“I’ll wait in the shower thinking of you” September 1, 2013
It has long been alleged that King George V’s last words before his death included the phrase ‘bugger Bognor‘. Having holidayed there as a child I think that is not undeserved! Anyway how about some famous last words of a British pop star? Apparently the last words of Adam Faith before his death in March 2003 were; ‘Channel 5’s all shit isn’t it?’. Again that could be quite true. What are your favourite famous last words?
“though I saw it all around never thought I could be affected” August 28, 2013
When Peter Gabriel decided that his song “Don’t Give Up” was to be a duet with a female vocalist he wanted Dolly Parton to share the vocals with him. Sadly though Dolly had no idea who he was and so turned him down. Kate Bush got the gig and put in a great performance too.
The song comes from Peter’s most successful solo album ‘So’. “Don’t Give Up” was the second of five singles to be taken from the album. It reached number 9 in the UK chart in 1986 but sadly only made it to number 72 in the US. Sometimes Americans just don’t have any taste do they?
“My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends”
Janis Joplin’s classic song “Mercedes-Benz” was written by her after she saw Bobby Womack‘s 1970 600 Series Mercedes. She recorded the song with Bobby Womack and died later that same night. Hopefully not because she was depressed about not having a Mercedes.
With Just A Hint Of Mayhem 