https://anchor.fm/oldmanyellsatmusic/episodes/Episode-4-Rockin-grannies--Santa-muggers--and-a-beer-in-a-tree-The-Old-Mans-Holiday-Favorites-e9mrsj
The Christmas episode is here. No Bumbles, pathetic trees, or Heat Misers, just me talking about some Christmas songs I like. It comes without packages, boxes or bags, but it does have a YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDWLXjsOJPQmX7KOXWeGnHu1oij8SY4r_Every time you listen, an angel gets its wings. Or I just crack a smile. Definitely one of those things will happen. Merry Christmas.
Saturday, December 21, 2019
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
AOMA: UKT40 November 30, 1974 Part One
Late 1974 in Britain. Just days after the date of this chart, the final episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus aired. It was no more. It ceased to be. It was an ex-show. And now for something completely different, here's what the charts looked like.
40 - "Happy Anniversary," Slim Whitman
A country singer from Tampa, Florida, Whitman was bigger here thanat home, as his 1955 hit "Rose Marie" held the record for mostmweeks at #1 for over 35 years. He had his first hit in 17 years with this heartfelt declaration of love to his wife. His voice is strange, but just short of cheesy. There's a reason I backed him over Boxcar Willie in the 80's TV mail order album wars.
39 - "Blue Angel," Gene Pitney
The Connecticut crooner's last solo hit here was this country/schlager number lamenting a childhood sweetheart who left her safe hometown to become a singer, only to become involved with the sex and the drugs. Pretty much the song Forrest Gump would have written about Jenny, if he wasn't an idiot and all.
38 - "Farewell is a Lonely Sound," Jimmy Ruffin
The second reissue this year of one of this Motown stars old Brit hits. I probably like it better than "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted," but it could be another case of lack of saturation airplay making the heart grow fonder.
37 - "Dance the Kung Fu," Carl Douglas
Douglas followed up his defining hit with as song proposing that the moves he promoted in that sing be used for more peaceful purposes. It's better than I imagined, but it still can't overcome the taint of mercenary commercialism.
36 - "Under My Thumb," Wayne Gibson
This London singer got his only hit when his 1966 cover of a Stones song about exercising control over a woman got picked up by Northern Soul DJs. It's inferior to the original in every way. The only thing it has can say is that the Stones never put it out as a single, so Gibson's is the bigger hit by default. Ah, the two sweetest words in the English language.
35 - "Minuetto Allegretto," The Wombles
The trash-collecting critters again, this time with a song about how Uncle Bulgaria owes his long life to his mastering of a French social dance. I'm used to British weirdness. Or at least I thought so. Listening to this reawakened my WTF. How is this a thing?
34 - "Lonely This Christmas," Mud
Following the success of Slade's "Merry Xmas Everybody" the previous year, these Surrey glammers put out their own Yuletide record, a holiday-themed breakup lament. It succeeded in snaring the Christmas #1, but to me it's just limp cheese.
33 - "Only You," Ringo Starr
Ringo does a soft-rock Platters cover, with help from John Lennon and Harry Nilsson. It grows on you.
32 - "Let's Get Together Again," The Glitter Band
The third hit on their own by Gary's backup was this fun, danceable reunion request. It's always nice to be able to enjoy the sound without the odious aftertaste left by a certain scumbag.
31 - "Sound Your Funky Horn," KC and the Sunshine Band
The second of two hits Harry Casey and co. had before their American breakthrough. It's grittier and less produced than the songs that made them ubiquitous.. They had straight funk chops, but they went in the more lucrative direction. Can't really blame them, I suppose.
30 - "All of Me Loves All of You," The Bay City Rollers
The fifth hit by the Scottish bubblegum rockers was this bouncy bit of empty calories. A three minute sugar rush, then you forget about it and slowly reorient to the world around you.
29 - "Down on the Beach Tonight," The Drifters
Another from their post-Ben E. King 70s British heyday. It's like the upbeat version of "Under the Boardwalk." These guys were doing fine work, even if they had to leave home to be recognized for it.
28 - "Get Dancin'," Disco Tex and His Sex-O-Lettes
Another spin of those doo-dahs from Sir Monti Rock. It's like what would happen if a coke fiend commandeered the dancers from The Dean Martin Show. It would almost make Dean spit out his drink, before he would stop short, not willing to waste good booze.
27 - "Tell Me Why," Alvin Stardust
The first of the glamthrob's singles not to hit the Top Ten. Makes sense to me. Just a subpar rockabilly ballad, sung competently at best.
26 - "Goodbye, Nothing to Say," The Javells and Nosmo King
The only hit for Londoner Stephen Jameson was this bit of prefab Northern soul. Not bad, but clearly an imitation. And yes, we get the joke behind the "singer's" name. Don't worry, I don't.
25 - "Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth," Sparks
The third hit by the iconoclastic Mael brothers was this midtempo ballad about the destructive power of nature. I'd love to see them perform this on the White House lawn with guest vocalist Greta Thunberg.
24 - "Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy)," Al Green
Only the third Top 20 here for the soul legend. That surprises me. But I won't dwell on it, just get lost in Al's vocal silk and the bed of Memphis soul Willie Mitchell tucks it into.
23 - "Where Did All the Good Times Go," Donny Osmond
Donny's voice cracked, and while he could still carry a tune, he just didn't have the same charm at first. He couldn't sell big pop productions like this as well with the new voice, and thus, his golden era ended. Suddenly an idea such as, I don't know, a variety show with his sister, seemed appealing.
22 - "How Long," Ace
The Sheffield band's one big moment, this soul-rocker about learning of infidelity, went Top Five in North America but only hit #20 here. Paul Carrack would make out all right afterward, but the rest of them couldn't get even another ball over the net.
21 - "Junior's Farm," Paul McCartney and Wings
Macca with a nice rocker about a farm he stayed at in Tennessee and how he cheats at poker. It's got a loose, "Get Back" kind of feel. It would have been nice if he'd done more of this.
In Part Two: spices, gems, and sorcery.
40 - "Happy Anniversary," Slim Whitman
A country singer from Tampa, Florida, Whitman was bigger here thanat home, as his 1955 hit "Rose Marie" held the record for mostmweeks at #1 for over 35 years. He had his first hit in 17 years with this heartfelt declaration of love to his wife. His voice is strange, but just short of cheesy. There's a reason I backed him over Boxcar Willie in the 80's TV mail order album wars.
39 - "Blue Angel," Gene Pitney
The Connecticut crooner's last solo hit here was this country/schlager number lamenting a childhood sweetheart who left her safe hometown to become a singer, only to become involved with the sex and the drugs. Pretty much the song Forrest Gump would have written about Jenny, if he wasn't an idiot and all.
38 - "Farewell is a Lonely Sound," Jimmy Ruffin
The second reissue this year of one of this Motown stars old Brit hits. I probably like it better than "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted," but it could be another case of lack of saturation airplay making the heart grow fonder.
37 - "Dance the Kung Fu," Carl Douglas
Douglas followed up his defining hit with as song proposing that the moves he promoted in that sing be used for more peaceful purposes. It's better than I imagined, but it still can't overcome the taint of mercenary commercialism.
36 - "Under My Thumb," Wayne Gibson
This London singer got his only hit when his 1966 cover of a Stones song about exercising control over a woman got picked up by Northern Soul DJs. It's inferior to the original in every way. The only thing it has can say is that the Stones never put it out as a single, so Gibson's is the bigger hit by default. Ah, the two sweetest words in the English language.
35 - "Minuetto Allegretto," The Wombles
The trash-collecting critters again, this time with a song about how Uncle Bulgaria owes his long life to his mastering of a French social dance. I'm used to British weirdness. Or at least I thought so. Listening to this reawakened my WTF. How is this a thing?
34 - "Lonely This Christmas," Mud
Following the success of Slade's "Merry Xmas Everybody" the previous year, these Surrey glammers put out their own Yuletide record, a holiday-themed breakup lament. It succeeded in snaring the Christmas #1, but to me it's just limp cheese.
33 - "Only You," Ringo Starr
Ringo does a soft-rock Platters cover, with help from John Lennon and Harry Nilsson. It grows on you.
32 - "Let's Get Together Again," The Glitter Band
The third hit on their own by Gary's backup was this fun, danceable reunion request. It's always nice to be able to enjoy the sound without the odious aftertaste left by a certain scumbag.
31 - "Sound Your Funky Horn," KC and the Sunshine Band
The second of two hits Harry Casey and co. had before their American breakthrough. It's grittier and less produced than the songs that made them ubiquitous.. They had straight funk chops, but they went in the more lucrative direction. Can't really blame them, I suppose.
30 - "All of Me Loves All of You," The Bay City Rollers
The fifth hit by the Scottish bubblegum rockers was this bouncy bit of empty calories. A three minute sugar rush, then you forget about it and slowly reorient to the world around you.
29 - "Down on the Beach Tonight," The Drifters
Another from their post-Ben E. King 70s British heyday. It's like the upbeat version of "Under the Boardwalk." These guys were doing fine work, even if they had to leave home to be recognized for it.
28 - "Get Dancin'," Disco Tex and His Sex-O-Lettes
Another spin of those doo-dahs from Sir Monti Rock. It's like what would happen if a coke fiend commandeered the dancers from The Dean Martin Show. It would almost make Dean spit out his drink, before he would stop short, not willing to waste good booze.
27 - "Tell Me Why," Alvin Stardust
The first of the glamthrob's singles not to hit the Top Ten. Makes sense to me. Just a subpar rockabilly ballad, sung competently at best.
26 - "Goodbye, Nothing to Say," The Javells and Nosmo King
The only hit for Londoner Stephen Jameson was this bit of prefab Northern soul. Not bad, but clearly an imitation. And yes, we get the joke behind the "singer's" name. Don't worry, I don't.
25 - "Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth," Sparks
The third hit by the iconoclastic Mael brothers was this midtempo ballad about the destructive power of nature. I'd love to see them perform this on the White House lawn with guest vocalist Greta Thunberg.
24 - "Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy)," Al Green
Only the third Top 20 here for the soul legend. That surprises me. But I won't dwell on it, just get lost in Al's vocal silk and the bed of Memphis soul Willie Mitchell tucks it into.
23 - "Where Did All the Good Times Go," Donny Osmond
Donny's voice cracked, and while he could still carry a tune, he just didn't have the same charm at first. He couldn't sell big pop productions like this as well with the new voice, and thus, his golden era ended. Suddenly an idea such as, I don't know, a variety show with his sister, seemed appealing.
22 - "How Long," Ace
The Sheffield band's one big moment, this soul-rocker about learning of infidelity, went Top Five in North America but only hit #20 here. Paul Carrack would make out all right afterward, but the rest of them couldn't get even another ball over the net.
21 - "Junior's Farm," Paul McCartney and Wings
Macca with a nice rocker about a farm he stayed at in Tennessee and how he cheats at poker. It's got a loose, "Get Back" kind of feel. It would have been nice if he'd done more of this.
In Part Two: spices, gems, and sorcery.
Saturday, December 14, 2019
OMYAM Podcast Episode 3 - December 12, 1987
https://anchor.fm/oldmanyellsatmusic/episodes/Episode-3-December-12--1987-e9evb9
Episode 3 is here. I'm feeling hot, hot, hot, but I don't mind at all, because I have true faith that I'm not an animal, I'm the man. And I will try to write a letter from America, because I've got my mind set on you. This will make sense if you listen, and even more if you check out the YouTube playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDWLXjsOJPQn7ZO1SPvu_sqq6klwjv8hS And remember to keep warm during this hazy shade of winter or you might drop the china in your hand.
Episode 3 is here. I'm feeling hot, hot, hot, but I don't mind at all, because I have true faith that I'm not an animal, I'm the man. And I will try to write a letter from America, because I've got my mind set on you. This will make sense if you listen, and even more if you check out the YouTube playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDWLXjsOJPQn7ZO1SPvu_sqq6klwjv8hS And remember to keep warm during this hazy shade of winter or you might drop the china in your hand.
Friday, December 6, 2019
The OMYAM Podcast Episode #2: Helen's Crazy Ladies, Cher's Gals in Trouble, and their Sharpshootin' Little Sister
https://anchor.fm/oldmanyellsatmusic/episodes/Episode-2-Helens-Crazy-Ladies--Cher-s-Gals-in-Trouble--and-Their-Sharpshootin-Little-Sister-e9crm8
I'm back. If you've been reading here regularly, you know how much I love me some "Angie Baby." Now you get to hear me talk about it and six other hits by Helen Reddy, Cher, and Vicki Lawrence. And there's a YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDWLXjsOJPQnKj3DuUfIR8E-0xMrxDGNa You asked for it, you got more of me. I hope you like it.
I'm back. If you've been reading here regularly, you know how much I love me some "Angie Baby." Now you get to hear me talk about it and six other hits by Helen Reddy, Cher, and Vicki Lawrence. And there's a YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDWLXjsOJPQnKj3DuUfIR8E-0xMrxDGNa You asked for it, you got more of me. I hope you like it.
Thursday, December 5, 2019
AOMA: UKT40 November 10, 1979 Part Two
The finishing straight.
20 - "My Forbidden Lover," Chic
The disco kings' sixth hit is a little below their best, but that's still enough to be better than 95% of the genre. Nile Rodgers had the touch.
19 - "A Message to You Rudy," The Specials
The second hit for the Coventry ska bamd was this Dandy Livingstone cover advising youth to avoid behavior that would dim their future prospects. It would have me stop my messing around, if that counts for anything.
18 - "Star," Earth, Wind and Fire
EWF's seventh hit here was this horn-laden funk tune about celestial bodies and light and positive stuff. Tracks like this make them seem like actual forces of nature, not just a band named after them.
17 - "Making Plans for Nigel," XTC
The Swindon band's breakthrough was this loping rocker about parents who have their child's future mapped out for him, and are certain that his meek acceptance of their vision means he's happy with it. It has that Kinks thing of presenting a seemingly mundane scenario and bringing out the darkness lurking beneath. One of the best pop songs anywhere from this year.
16 - "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," Michael Jackson
Both Canada and Britain held Michael's ode to the power of The Force to #3. So very wrong. This deserves all the crowns, as the kids say.
15 - "The Sparrow," The Ramblers
This was a song by the choir of Manchester's Abbey Hey Junior School. It's a song about a bird and turnips and not having colorful feathers. The UK had a weird thing about songs by kiddie choirs popping up on the charts, and as these things go, at least it's weird. They're not just straight pandering to Grandma, like those St. Winifred's brats.
14 - "The Chosen Few," The Dooleys
The family group's third and last Top Ten is more cut-rate ABBA. Which looks especially pale when you see what the real thing was up to at this time.
13 - "OK Fred," Errol Dunkley
Jamaican Dunkley's biggest hit was this easy-going reggae track about the benefits of being a "yaga yaga," i.e., a cool, laid-back, stylish person. There are some sounds in the background that sound somewhat like someone hitting a bong, but really, marijuana use being glorified in a reggae record? Perish the thought.
12 - "Video Killed the Radio Star," The Buggles
The eulogy for the wireless that went to #1, became the first song played on MTV, and may have contributed to these guys joining Yes. But it should also be remembered as a damn excellent pop song.
11 - "She's in Love with You," Suzy Quatro
Suzi Q's last hit of the decade melds glam with disco successfully. It's too bad she was starting to flame out at this point, just as Pat Benatar and Joan Jett were starting to get rolling in the States. She might have been able to establish herself at home for something other than Leather Tuscadero.
10 - "Still," The Commodores
Lionel Richie's Alabama gang had their second American #1 with this ballad of enduring love. It didn't repeat the Triple Crown success of "Three Times a Lady," stopping at #2 in Canada and #4 here, but it's certainly not a lesser song. It's a more adult and realistic look at romance, and Lionel is up to the task, as always.
9 - "On My Radio," The Selecter
The Specials' 2 Tone labelmates had their second hit with this ska banger about a woman who loses her boyfriend's attenation to the music on the red radio she bought him. I like how Pauline Black's voice goes into some Siouxsie Sioux/Kate Bush territory on the choruses.
8 - "Gonna Get Along Without You Now," Viola Wills
Veteran L.A. session singer Wills scored her biggest hit at 40 with this disco cover of a 1952 Teresa Brewer song about moving on from a bad relationship. A more understated, but just as effective, "I Will Survive."
7 - "The Eton Rifles," The Jam
The Surrey moss had their first Top Ten with this snarling rocker about clashes literal and figurative between working class kids and posh private school boys. This distinctly British dynamic made for some fine rock n'roll, and this is one of the shinier gems.
6 - "Tusk," Fleetwood Mac
The biggest band in the world decides that they can do whatever the hell they want, and that meant using meat as percussion instruments and bringing in a full marching band. It was madness, it was blind excess, but I'm so glad it happen. I will say that I love it.
5 - "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," Queen
Freddie Mercury wrote this Elvis-style rockabilly number in ten minutes. Britain held it to #2, denying it a Triple Crown. I'm sure Fred got over it, maybe by taking a long ride on a motorbike.
4 - "Everyday Hurts," Sad Cafe
The first and biggest hit for these Mancunians was this ballad about post-breakup pain. It tries really hard to be more artful than cheesy, but it comes up short in my estimation. The group's name is apt, because this is the song that would be playing on a loop in the restaurant of the Heartbreak Hotel.
3 - "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)," ABBA
The point where sweet, innocent Swedish pop royalty suddenly sounded, as they might say these days, thirsty AF. Agnetha was lonely, and she wasn't shy about it. And it didn't sound like a sudden trendy pivot; rather, it seemed like a natural breakout after years of repression. Madonna nicked it a quarter-century later, but surprisingly, they elevated her, not the other way around.
2 - "When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman," Dr. Hook
These guys in their mush disco phase. Britain decided they had to make it a #1. Rolling Stone should have retroactively retracted their cover for this shit.
1 - "One Day at a Time," Lena Martell
Between Marilyn Sellars 1974 U.S. Top 40 hit version of this prayer for heavenly life assistance and Cristy Lane's 1980 country charttopping version, Glaswegian Martell took her recording to the top on this side of the Atlantic. I find her pronunciations of the word "strength" distracting, but that's probably the Scottish accent. Anyway, I think I'd appreciate this song more if I heard a rawer, more stripped-down version by its co-author, Kris
Kristofferson.
There's another one down. Be back tomorrow night for the second episode of the podcast. You guys encouraged me, so you only have yourselves to blame. Until then, goodbye to
20 - "My Forbidden Lover," Chic
The disco kings' sixth hit is a little below their best, but that's still enough to be better than 95% of the genre. Nile Rodgers had the touch.
19 - "A Message to You Rudy," The Specials
The second hit for the Coventry ska bamd was this Dandy Livingstone cover advising youth to avoid behavior that would dim their future prospects. It would have me stop my messing around, if that counts for anything.
18 - "Star," Earth, Wind and Fire
EWF's seventh hit here was this horn-laden funk tune about celestial bodies and light and positive stuff. Tracks like this make them seem like actual forces of nature, not just a band named after them.
17 - "Making Plans for Nigel," XTC
The Swindon band's breakthrough was this loping rocker about parents who have their child's future mapped out for him, and are certain that his meek acceptance of their vision means he's happy with it. It has that Kinks thing of presenting a seemingly mundane scenario and bringing out the darkness lurking beneath. One of the best pop songs anywhere from this year.
16 - "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," Michael Jackson
Both Canada and Britain held Michael's ode to the power of The Force to #3. So very wrong. This deserves all the crowns, as the kids say.
15 - "The Sparrow," The Ramblers
This was a song by the choir of Manchester's Abbey Hey Junior School. It's a song about a bird and turnips and not having colorful feathers. The UK had a weird thing about songs by kiddie choirs popping up on the charts, and as these things go, at least it's weird. They're not just straight pandering to Grandma, like those St. Winifred's brats.
14 - "The Chosen Few," The Dooleys
The family group's third and last Top Ten is more cut-rate ABBA. Which looks especially pale when you see what the real thing was up to at this time.
13 - "OK Fred," Errol Dunkley
Jamaican Dunkley's biggest hit was this easy-going reggae track about the benefits of being a "yaga yaga," i.e., a cool, laid-back, stylish person. There are some sounds in the background that sound somewhat like someone hitting a bong, but really, marijuana use being glorified in a reggae record? Perish the thought.
12 - "Video Killed the Radio Star," The Buggles
The eulogy for the wireless that went to #1, became the first song played on MTV, and may have contributed to these guys joining Yes. But it should also be remembered as a damn excellent pop song.
11 - "She's in Love with You," Suzy Quatro
Suzi Q's last hit of the decade melds glam with disco successfully. It's too bad she was starting to flame out at this point, just as Pat Benatar and Joan Jett were starting to get rolling in the States. She might have been able to establish herself at home for something other than Leather Tuscadero.
10 - "Still," The Commodores
Lionel Richie's Alabama gang had their second American #1 with this ballad of enduring love. It didn't repeat the Triple Crown success of "Three Times a Lady," stopping at #2 in Canada and #4 here, but it's certainly not a lesser song. It's a more adult and realistic look at romance, and Lionel is up to the task, as always.
9 - "On My Radio," The Selecter
The Specials' 2 Tone labelmates had their second hit with this ska banger about a woman who loses her boyfriend's attenation to the music on the red radio she bought him. I like how Pauline Black's voice goes into some Siouxsie Sioux/Kate Bush territory on the choruses.
8 - "Gonna Get Along Without You Now," Viola Wills
Veteran L.A. session singer Wills scored her biggest hit at 40 with this disco cover of a 1952 Teresa Brewer song about moving on from a bad relationship. A more understated, but just as effective, "I Will Survive."
7 - "The Eton Rifles," The Jam
The Surrey moss had their first Top Ten with this snarling rocker about clashes literal and figurative between working class kids and posh private school boys. This distinctly British dynamic made for some fine rock n'roll, and this is one of the shinier gems.
6 - "Tusk," Fleetwood Mac
The biggest band in the world decides that they can do whatever the hell they want, and that meant using meat as percussion instruments and bringing in a full marching band. It was madness, it was blind excess, but I'm so glad it happen. I will say that I love it.
5 - "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," Queen
Freddie Mercury wrote this Elvis-style rockabilly number in ten minutes. Britain held it to #2, denying it a Triple Crown. I'm sure Fred got over it, maybe by taking a long ride on a motorbike.
4 - "Everyday Hurts," Sad Cafe
The first and biggest hit for these Mancunians was this ballad about post-breakup pain. It tries really hard to be more artful than cheesy, but it comes up short in my estimation. The group's name is apt, because this is the song that would be playing on a loop in the restaurant of the Heartbreak Hotel.
3 - "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)," ABBA
The point where sweet, innocent Swedish pop royalty suddenly sounded, as they might say these days, thirsty AF. Agnetha was lonely, and she wasn't shy about it. And it didn't sound like a sudden trendy pivot; rather, it seemed like a natural breakout after years of repression. Madonna nicked it a quarter-century later, but surprisingly, they elevated her, not the other way around.
2 - "When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman," Dr. Hook
These guys in their mush disco phase. Britain decided they had to make it a #1. Rolling Stone should have retroactively retracted their cover for this shit.
1 - "One Day at a Time," Lena Martell
Between Marilyn Sellars 1974 U.S. Top 40 hit version of this prayer for heavenly life assistance and Cristy Lane's 1980 country charttopping version, Glaswegian Martell took her recording to the top on this side of the Atlantic. I find her pronunciations of the word "strength" distracting, but that's probably the Scottish accent. Anyway, I think I'd appreciate this song more if I heard a rawer, more stripped-down version by its co-author, Kris
Kristofferson.
There's another one down. Be back tomorrow night for the second episode of the podcast. You guys encouraged me, so you only have yourselves to blame. Until then, goodbye to
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