GMVW # 40: "Misfits"

Gem Music Video of the Week # 40:  Misfits

Song:  Spike by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

(Songwriter: Tom Petty)

October 9, 2008

After coming home from a 4-year college stint in 1984, I spent a good year or so trying to figure out what the heck I was going to do.  I bounced around for a while in Franklin, commuting into Boston to intern for the National Park Service Regional Office.  I also got my bartender license seeing as I had to find some way to make money (since the responses to my resumes consistently included words like ‘However’ and ‘Although’).  It was quite a transition from campus life.

Most of the old Franklin crew was scattered, but Dave was still a reliable connection.  Our friendship normally covered the gambit, but that year it was primarily focused on one common denominator: Competition.  We matched up against one another in all forms of one-upmanship from Risk to ping pong, for the most part splitting the fruits of victory and agony of defeat.  In a way, I guess I was unconsciously preparing for the dog-eat-dog world that lay ahead (thanks, Dave).  For Dave, it was not too many years down the road before he had replaced me with an equally competitive wife, cousin Becca (observing them during the show Jeopardy is a treat).

The most consistent and competitive of our matchups was billiards and there was only one place to do that: The Train Stop.  Over the years, the Train Stop in downtown Franklin had been and would be the location for a number of big-event sport gatherings from Celtics-Lakers to “Squish the Fish”, all witnessed on the bar’s big screen.  The heart of the place, however, was the 4-table billiard room. 

When you played pool with Dave at the Train Stop, the chip on your shoulder grew a bit larger.  This was true when we played against one another, but was even more so when we teamed up against outsiders.  This was home turf.  We were supposed to be familiar with the nuances of all the pool tables.  I covered the tight slice shots, Dave did well with the cross corner banks. For the most part, we did the place proud. 

Most everyone who played pool at the Train Stop, including Dave and I, would try to get the pool table by the juke box.  The music on this juke box was pretty darn good, so having a few chosen songs playing in the background was an added inspiration.  There was one song in particular that I always loved to play: Tom Petty’s ‘Spike’, this week’s Gem Music Video.  To this day, it’s the first song I look for on any juke box.  The subject matter and tempo of the song was perfect for a smoky pool-hall atmosphere, which needless to say, fit the Train Stop environs to a capital T. 

In the song ‘Spike’, Petty as lyricist and vocalist, sings from the perspective of an antagonist in the dark corner of a Southern Dixie bar, poking fun at an unconventional townie named Spike, who just strolled in rather innocently.  Petty himself is from the South (Gainsville, FL), and for such a peaceful soul, does a tremendous job of play acting this intimidator (“Hey Spike, your scaring my wife!” : “Hey Spike, tell us about life…. Can you tell us about life, Spike?”).  Mike Campbell does a great job laying out the attitude (along with Petty’s vocals) on the lead guitar.  Spike was a real-life character from Petty’s home town, and was nicknamed after the spiked dog collar he wore around his neck.  It’s that dog collar that draws the attention of the guy in the shadows, who I always pictured as someone like the dude who blew away Peter Fonda’s & Denis Hopper’s characters (Wyatt and Billy) at the end of ‘Easy Rider’.

The real meaning of the song, though, is about intolerance and, in the case of Spike, independence.  It’s a testament to the oddballs of the world, and their ability to stick to their guns despite the abuses they face.  The Train Stop was frequented often by both of these extremes (the intolerant and the independent), and on this level proved to be an unexpected location for experiencing some of life’s most valuable lessons.  With ‘Spike’ playing in the background, how could it not?

Speaking of letting your freak flag fly, I hear that the best place in the world to do that is Whitehorse up in the Yukon Territories.  Talking to someone from Whitehorse recently, it sounds like the type of place that makes the characters in Northern Exposure look like the characters in the Andy Griffith Show (Barney aside).  Spike would have no problem fitting in there. 

Tom Petty is always a great take in.  I saw him again this summer with Mac, John and Steve Cummings.  Great show.  Petty is as steady as they get. 

Below the Gem link are the lyrics to the song for your sing along, clap along pleasure.

- Pete

Gem Music Video: Spike

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MIHNuv2sjY&feature=related

or

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMXVQYQ6pKc

“ Oh, we got another one, just like the other ones

Another bad ass, another trouble-maker

I'm scared, ain't you boys scared?

I wonder if he's gonna show us what bad is?

Boys, we got a man with a dog collar on

You think we oughta throw ol' Spike a bone?

Hey Spike what do you like?

Hey Spike what do you like?

Here's another misfit, another Jimmy Dean

Bet he's got a motorbike,

What'a y'all think?

Bet if we be good we'll get a ride on it

If he ain't too mad about the future --

Maybe we oughta help him see

The future ain't what it used to be

Hey Spike, you're scarin' my wife

Hey Spike what do you like “

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About the video: Filmed live at Farm Aid (1986)

Video Rating: 1

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Best Feedback: Dave

Pete, you have brought a tear to my eye, perhaps the recollection of the heavy smoke in the Stop, cough, cough..... wheeze...

I do miss the non-stop competition; I still have a small taste with Bec and Sara, but nothing like it used to be.

Have not heard this one for quite some time.

Dave

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Also: Steve

Hi Pete;

I like this line, 'I guess I was unconsciously preparing for the dog-eat-dog world that lay ahead'

Then you go work for the US gov't for 20 years! You are also right on seeing some very interesting characters in Whitehorse. I've been to Whitehorse twice, Yellowknife a bunch of times and lived in Iqualuit on Baffin Island in the Arctic for 6 months.

People in the North are there for a reason - they're crazy! Think of the wildest, stupid, drunken thing you've ever done - they would think that's lame. Always a good party in the North! Come see me sometime, I'll be your tour guide!

Cheers

Steve

GMVW # 39: "It's the Singer, Not the Song"

Gem Music Video of the Week # 39:  It’s the Singer, Not the Song

Song:  Withered and Died by Richard and Linda Thompson

(Songwriters: Richard and Linda Thompson)

October 2, 2008

Most everyone on this email list has experienced it at least once: My sister Amy’s singing at a wedding.  Here’s how the scene typically unfolds: Folks shuffle into the church, a variety of thoughts on their minds; perhaps some still have the taste of that last parking lot Bloody Mary on their lips; perhaps a few laughs about the idea of putting a ‘kick me’ sign on an uncle’s back at the reception; a few meets and greets for friends and extended family whom you have not seen in a while; and then suddenly….Amy starts singing! Everyone is immediately brought to the moment at hand.  It never fails, and there’s a reason for it.  I hope to explain it here.

In Gem # 15 I discussed the bass guitar, along with the songs and musicians that showcase that instruments potential.  Following up on the theme, this gem focuses on another musical ‘instrument’:  Lead Vocals.  In a way all the gems thus far are a testament to the lead singer, because as Pete Townshend once wrote:  “It’s the singer, not the song that makes the music move along”.  Fans of Whitney Houston, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, and Billy Holliday probably know that better than most of us.  Vocals can make or break a song.

For me the lead vocal doesn’t have to dominate a band’s sound like it does in the music of the 4 singers listed above. I’m not looking for crooning, or shattering glass.  All I really need is balanced emotion, originality, and a few intangibles.  Even the cigarette ravaged vocals of Keith Richards can work on occasion (as in ‘Before They Make Me Run’, with a little help from Mick Jagger).  Yet, where other instruments in the mix can sometimes get away with the music for hire mentality (studio musicians have played on a number of great recordings over the years, walking in for the day, doing their part, and leaving) the one person in the band you cannot fill in with a studio musician is lead vocalist. 

Like other band members, the lead vocalist can take a while to find his/her sound.  I consider Roger Daltrey (and to a lesser degree John Entwistle) as the only member of the Who that was not gifted from the start with raw talent.  He had to work at it, and struggled for a while to carry his weight in the band.  By the time the Who went on tour in 1969 with ‘Tommy’, however (and even more so by the release of “Who’s Next” in ‘71), Daltrey had made himself irreplaceable.  The same could be said for Bob Weir with the Grateful Dead.

With most classic songs, the lead vocals just fit:  Great, but not dominant. Occasionally, however, the lead vocals are THE brilliant part of a song.  There’s Curtis Mayfield’s ‘Freddie’s Dead’ (from the ‘Superfly’ soundtrack);  any song by Joan Baez off the ‘Any Day Now’ album (and a thanks to Jeff Strause for introducing me to that album); Roger Daltrey’s fantastic vocals in the more recent Who song ‘Real Good Looking Boy’; Mick Jagger singing ‘Worried About You’ off the Stones ‘Tatoo You’; Van Morrison singing ‘You’re My Woman’, ‘Madame Joy’ and so many other songs; Roy Orbison near the end of his life singing ‘Not Alone Any More’; Robert Plant singing ‘Down by the Seaside’ off ‘Physical Graffiti’.

And then there’s Gem video of the week, ‘Withered and Died’, sung by Linda Thompson off the Richard and Linda Thompson critically-acclaimed early 70’s album “I Want To See the Bright Lights Tonight”.  There is an amazing depth to this song, and it lies in Linda Thompson’s vocals.  Linda Thompson doesn’t electrify a crowd like the 4 singers mentioned near the top of this email, but she conveys emotion as good as any of them.  Ideally, I would have the studio version to present, because it is there where you get the true depth of her vocals to this song, reflecting the lyrics precisely.  The live version in this url link was performed in the early 80’s at a time when Linda Thompson was suffering from a form of stage fright which was soon to drive her from the stage for 17 years.  The Gem works to a degree, but I recommend the studio version off the album.

So, this gem is for all the inspirational vocal chords of the music world, and particularly to Amy, who sings to us with deep emotion at the most inspiring of times  ** In fact, if I had a home brewed video I would probably showcase Amy here (note to self: get nephew Joe on that one) **

- Pete

Gem Video: Withered and Died (this video has been temporarily lost *Dec, 09*)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcKyZEnPWBQ

I’ve also included a performance of the album’s title track:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQBjaUZ_kUE

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About the video: A rare video of Linda Thompson singing (with Richard & band) circa 1983? The video was removed from YouTube.

Video Rating: 2 (how I would love to find something better)

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Best Feedback: Amy, responding to a follow up question on songs (vocals) that inspire her:

Let's see.
Off the top of my head, these are some of my all-time favs.  I'm sure I'm leaving out quite a few:

Son of a Preacher Man, Aretha Franklin
Bobby McGee, Janis Joplin
What's the matter here - 10,000 maniacs
Under my thumb, Stones
Just like a woman, Dylan (entire tribute album)
Last Dance with MaryJane - Petty
Once in a very blue moon - Nanci Griffith
Sunday Papers, Joe Jackson
I Must Have done something good, Sound of Music
How to Handle a Woman, Camelot
Sister Golden Hair, America
Famous Final Scene, Bob Seger Silver Bullet Band
Pictures of You, Cure 
Catch, Cure
Cool, Gwen Stefani
Video, India Arie
Underneath it all, No Doubt
Stop your Sobbing, Pretenders
Pete, the Pretenders came out with a new cd.  I heard a song from it yesterday called "Chinese Plastic"  I almost went off the road, it was so cool.  Paul ordered it for me last night.

GMVW # 38: "I Want My MTV!"

Gem Music Video of the Week # 38:  I Want My MTV!

Song:  King of Pain by The Police

(Songwriter: Sting)

September 25, 2008

Foxboro Stadium, 1983: Part 3 of 3

The 3rd and final band to hit Foxboro in 1983 was the Police. The Police rise to fame was rapid and was enhanced by the emergence of MTV at the same time.  Along with their numerous videos, the Police were regular guests with the MTV ‘VJs’, and as time went by, it was apparent that there was no love lost between the band members, particularly Sting and Stuart Copeland (reminiscent of Lennon vs. McCartney in the movie ‘Let it Be’).  By 1983, tensions were high and the end was near, but the show went on, and the tour was a grand success on all fronts.

The Police are proof positive that even yuppies can write good music (hold on, Glenn Frey already proved that!). A little harsh, perhaps, but that’s the way they appear to me as I view their old videos again.  After all, how many bands have done a video on the ski slopes (see the “Do-Do-Do-Do-Da-Da-Da-Da” video below, which is this weeks “Gem Light”).  Ok, I do seem to recall a certain Beatles film in 1965 that included skiing, but by this time John Lennon was yelling for ‘Help!’ (often admitting that these were his ‘bloated Elvis’ days), and it was not long before he was doing bed-ins with Yoko and practicing primal scream therapy.  For his turn, George Harrison was soon playing sitar with Ravi Shankar and squatting with the Maharishi (One other thought:  In the movie Help! the Beatles come across as pretty bad skiers… knowing Sting, he probably had a skiing form that would put

Picabo Street

to shame).

By 1983, Sting was on the verge of some life changes himself, however.  His solo career was about to take off.  More importantly, he was soon to become a staple in a variety of charity and protest concert tours in the late 80’s.  When I think of rock musicians that have dedicated themselves to charitable causes, the names that come to mind are Bruce Springsteen, Joan Baez, Peter Gabriel, CSN, Bono….and Sting.  Sting, as was the case with Lennon, realized a life of excess was not all it was cracked up to be and turned his life around to the benefit of himself and others. 

The Police were a band of extremes with their songs.  They were either playing music for the masses with a simple message and a simple sound (‘Every Little Thing She Does is Magic’, ‘Every Breath You Take’, and the aforementioned Gem Light) or they were waxing philosophy (‘Synchronicity II’ a song/storyline built on Carl Jung’s theory of meaningful coincidence). Another deep song was this week’s Gem, ‘King of Pain’, my favorite Police song.  Below the video url link are the lyrics to the song, which is said to be about clinical depression.

The recent reunion tour was nice to read about, but I didn’t have the urge to go myself:  In the case of this band, one show was great, and one was good enough for me. 

The Police were a rare breed of 3-piece bands.  Can anyone name at least 4 others?

- Pete

Gem Video of the Week: King of Pain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K72P09J7un4

Gem Light: Do-Do-Do-Do-Da-Da-Da-Da

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SojAZ0X1e0

Lyrics to ‘King of Pain’

There's a little black spot on the sun today

It's the same old thing as yesterday

There's a black hat caught in a high tree top

There's a flag-pole rag and the wind won't stop

I have stood here before inside the pouring rain

With the world turning circles running 'round my brain

I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign

But it's my destiny to be the king of pain

There's a little black spot on the sun today

(That`s my soul up there)

It's the same old thing as yesterday

(That`s my soul up there)

There's a black hat caught in a high tree top

(That`s my soul up there)

There's a flag-pole rag and the wind won't stop

(That`s my soul up there)

I have stood here before inside the pouring rain

With the world turning circles running 'round my brain

I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign

But it's my destiny to be the king of pain

There's a fossil that's trapped in a high cliff wall

(That`s my soul up there)

There's a dead salmon frozen in a waterfall

(That`s my soul up there)

There's a blue whale beached by a spring tide's ebb

(That`s my soul up there)

There's a butterfly trapped in a spider's web

(That`s my soul up there)

I have stood here before inside the pouring rain

With the world turning circles running 'round my brain

I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign

But it's my destiny to be the king of pain

There's a king on a throne with his eyes torn out

There's a blind man looking for a shadow of doubt

There's a rich man sleeping on a golden bed

There's a skeleton choking on a crust of bread

King of pain

There's a red fox torn by a huntsman's pack

There's a black-winged gull with a broken back

There's a little black spot on the sun today

It's the same old thing as yesterday

I have stood here before inside the pouring rain

With the world turning circles running 'round my brain

I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign

But it's my destiny to be the king of pain

King of pain

I'll always be king of pain

I'll always be king of pain

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About the video: Live from the 1986 tour

Video Rating: 2 (although it was hard to find a quality live version of this song)

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Best Feedback: Most everyone replied to the question regarding 3-piece bands, including Steve:

Hey Mac;

Do you still weigh 140lbs soaking wet?lol!

How about;

Triumph

Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Dinosaur Jr.

Beastie Boys

Dust

WolfMother

Blue Cheer

Ben Folds Five

Chevelle

Urge Overkill

Ten Years After

also, Sonic Youth and Talking Heads started as trios and added a fourth

member later

Cheers

Steve

GMVW # 37: "Mojo (and lack-thereof)"

Gem Music Video of the Week # 37:  Mojo (and lack-thereof)

Song:  Blue Jean by David Bowie

(Songwriter: David Bowie)

September 18, 2008

Foxboro Stadium, 1983: Part 2 of 3

The 2nd show to come rolling into Foxboro in the late summer/early fall of 1983 was David Bowie.  Bowie was on his ‘Serious Moonlight’ tour.  It was a tremendous show.  Bowie had all his ducks in a row in those days.  Over the 10 previous years, it seemed he was on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine every other month.  Bowie was intelligent and intellectual, traits the magazine loved for a cover article.  On top of that he had a boat load of talent. Like Mick

Jagger, Bowie also had the rare charismatic personality to pull off a big stage event (unlike Jagger, he did not need to be in a permanent band to pull it off).   

A major reason why David Bowie is so successful is that he is constantly morphing his music and stage act. His stage personas have included Ziggy Stardust, the Thin White Duke and others.  Tour after tour, including the Serious Moonlight tour, his evolution as a musician and stage presence was flawless. 

However, this is a tale of not one, but 2 concert tours.  Four years after Serious Moonlight, Bowie embarked on his ’87 Glass Spider Tour.  To say the tour was over the top and grandiose would be an understatement.  It was the Titanic movie of concert tours (or better yet, Waterworld), complete with an 80 foot tall giant glass spider.  It made little sense, and proved to be Bowie’s <temporary> downfall.

There can be a number of reasons why a show (or tour) does not connect with an audience but it all comes down to the musician, the ticket holder, or a combination of both.  For whatever reason, the musician could be off:  After years of success, they could find themselves in the predicament of having their priorities flipped.  The audience can usually sense this. As for the individuals in attendance, they could be off too.  People get cynical:  “What is he/she trying to prove up there anyway?”   “He’s only in it for the money!”  Other amazing concert memories fade away.  People move on.

Nancy and I attended the ’87 Glass Spider tour (also in Foxboro) and we left with a sense of disappointment.  For Nancy, it was the first step to shunning large shows, favoring the intimacy of smaller night clubs and festivals.  For me, it had me scratching my head at first….was it the end of the road for enjoying big concert events (I didn’t want it to be)?  Was this show supposed to be good (i.e. was Bowie enjoying it)?  Was I getting too old and cynical?!?  I’d seen it happen to many others my age.  What made me any different?

Not much can tear a performer like David Bowie down.  Unlike many Rock n Roll musicians, he appears to have a tremendous amount of self control.  For others, life on the road can take its toll (as chronicled in earlier gems).  Eventually for Bowie, however, it came down to the Icarus effect (and, no, I don’t mean Bec & Dave’s aptly named pet cockatail).  Bowie tried to soar too high.  He got burned.  He admitted this after the tour.  In an interview with Rolling Stone in '88, he divulged a conversation he had had with a close friend during the tour who asked him: “What are you doing?”  Bowie’s response: “I don’t know!”

Thank goodness for David Bowie’s honesty. If not for reading that interview, I may have missed out on some tremendous big events down the road.  Nancy is right, however.  It’s so hard for audience and artist to connect at a large event.  Bruce Springsteen and many others have lamented that fact.  It takes a lot to pull it off.  Fortunately, I’ve seen it work more often than not.  As for Bowie, he soon did a total about face, and proceeded to scale down big time.  He formed the band, Tin Machine (which included two of Soupy Sales sons), and took his name out as the headline.  Tin Machine toured at much, much smaller venues, and Bowie eventually found himself again.

Gem Music Video “Blue Jean” shows Bowie before the fall, not long after the Serious Moonlight Tour.   Thankfully, of the two sides of David Bowie I’ve seen, it’s this confident, priorities-in-order side that sticks with me.

Speaking of big shows, Mac and I are going to see the Who on October 24 and Mac has 2 spare tickets.  Is anyone game?

 “One day, I’m going to write a poem in a letter.

 One day, I’m going to get that faculty together”

- Pete

Gem Music Video: Blue Jean

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTgxGKWqISs

Speaking of blue jean(s), does anyone remember this commercial?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YZSG12-3Vg

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About the video: Blue Jean (Alternate version for MTV) 1984 / Rest of World – Jones Music America/RZO Music Ltd.  Directed by Julien Temple

Video Rating: 1

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Best Feedback: Fred

Glass Spider was THE concert that soured me on big concerts.....you hit the nail on the head.  AGAIN