In The Past: Garage Rock Podcast
247 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 14 hours ago - ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsThe usual format is this: we pick a song from the 1950s or 1960s (genres range from garage, R&B, Girl Groups, Motown and Doo-Wop), and discuss three versions of that song, or sometimes we just play a song we haven’t heard before and react to it. We’ve covered classics like “Little Bit o’ Soul” and “Psychotic Reaction” to rarities like “Jump and Dance” by the Carnaby, and “Ringo I Love You” by Bonnie Jo Mason (aka Cher). Our aim is to discuss what makes these songs interesting, ineffable, or even intolerable. We place special emphasis on the “moments” in these songs where, perhaps, a new interpretation will emerge from. A close look at song structure is also present in our discussions. If that sounds academic, maybe it is a little bit, but we like to keep the analysis in the spirit of the songs we speak of – which means we drink some spirits (for Erik, it’s bourbon, for Weldon, it’s Stambecco) – and that means by the third song, things can get a little wild. Basically, we talk about rock!
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Episodes
Name That Vid
April 26, 2024 21:00 - 1 hour - 53.2 MBAt In The Past, we always take things to the next level - some people are still satisfied with "Name That Tune," but we've invented "Name That Vid!" In this episode, your hosts read the Wikipedia descriptos of notable music videos, and try to guess which tune it belongs to. If you grew up in the MTV/Much Music Generation, then you better think quick! As always, the boys use the premise to astutely analyze the past as we ponder the future...
Green Fuz
April 19, 2024 15:00 - 1 hour - 74.5 MBWe've weathered several recessions and a pandemic, but there's an ever-present threat of ... Green Fuz. It all started back in 1968, when The Green Fuz had everything go wrong at the Crossroads Cafe in Bridgeport, Texas, and there's been several sightings of the escaped mold spores ever since. The original is primo primitive, a legendary tune amongst the garage gang - just ask your local weirdo with a Prince Valiant haircut. But why is there a Max Roach solo in there? We of course discuss th...
A Series of Sounds You Know Means Good Music
April 12, 2024 23:00 - 1 hour - 61.3 MBThe latter phrase comes early on in our discussion about band names - the good, the bad, and the shitty shitty! This is Part 2 of "Shitty Shitty Band Names!" - a popular new series that we're assured has created a lot of discussion around the family dinner table, and caused overturned tables at the local boozer. In this edition we talk about short names, long names, but we're going to save fat ones and skinny ones for a later episode!
Walking The Dog
April 06, 2024 03:00 - 1 hour - 76.7 MBIf you have a dog, you have to understand your responsibilty - "Walking the Dog" isn't as simple as you might think. Therefore, we start with Rufus Thomasand his instructional record of the same name from 1963. Is it a goofy great? It's definitely great, because a million bands have covered it. The Rolling Stones took the dog out in 1964 and Brian Jones sounds appropriately woofy. The amazing Jackie Shane walked the dog her way when back in Nashville, which also gives us a chance to talk abo...
No Sugar Tonight
March 30, 2024 00:00 - 2 hours - 96.2 MBThis week we pick a Canuck classic that's two songs in one - "No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature" by The Guess Who. The lyrics are faux-profound, but Burton Cummings' pipes and scattin' will spike your blood sugar. We scoured the record bins for our second version - a dirtbag bubblegum version by Steel Wool. They bring the song back to perfect popsong length by axing "New Mother Nature", but the guitar stings might be too long. The third in the pack definitely isn't sugar-free - The Shirelle...
All Day And All Of The Night
March 24, 2024 05:00 - 2 hours - 96.5 MBIt's time to revisit The Kinks Kanon and do "All Day & All of the Night." Have you ever noticed how weird the title is? Probably not, because of the Riff! It's dirty and has that "Louie Louie" fairy dust which produces misty brain fog where you can't remember how many duh duhs are in it. And Ray Davies savors syllables - apeman poet! The song travelled across the puddle and New York's Knickerbockers were one of the first to kover it. Their version adds sax and has a great sproing-y solo, bu...
Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron
March 16, 2024 06:00 - 2 hours - 91.3 MBThe first in a series celebrating Goofy Greats!: the 1975 K-Tel compilation that turned a generation of kids onto novelty songs, old rock n roll and R & B, and some very questionable tunes, too (we're looking at you, Ray Stevens) ... we go back to our old friends The Royal Guardsmen and their enduring hit, "Snoopy vs. The Red Baron." A lighhearted song about combat during the escalation of the Vietnam War? Sign me up! There's a LOT of Canadian connections with this tune, including the fact t...
In The Pastoral: Garage Rock Songs About Nature
March 09, 2024 05:00 - 2 hours - 94.4 MBWe're a bit weary of garage rock tropes, so it's time to head to the country. First this week is "The Woods" by The Nickel Bag. This 66er advocates leaving the city, but should you follow this pied piper? I might - the swirling organ has me hyp - mo - tized!! That same year, the "Old Macdonald" nursery rhyme got rewritten by some LA weirdos - The Seeds called it "Mr. Farmer." Lots of seedy sibilance, and when has Sky Saxon ever ssssteered you wrong? Let's cross the pond to celebrate the ch...
Be My Baby
February 29, 2024 21:00 - 2 hours - 102 MBThis one's a doozy - 4 versions of "Be My Baby" and a close relative! The first-born by The Ronettes is so good it's disqualified from the Bo Diddley Awards. We discuss Ronnie's "vibrato in a phone booth," Hal Blaine's boom-crash, the smiley backing vocals and so much more! The second child comes from the same year of 1963, it's by The Georgettes. Girl group workhorse Rickie Page makes you almost forget the absence of the Wall of Sound! A visit from a kissin' cousin comes third, "Don't Worry...
(Don't Give Me No) Friction
February 17, 2024 15:00 - 1 hour - 73.8 MBWe're back with a great garage tune that is the inverse? obverse? reverse? of 1965's "Satisfaction" - the tune is "(Don't Give Me No) Friction" by The Green Beans, released the same year as the Rolling Stones gem. The lyrics were written by a couple of middle-aged people, so it appears to be masquerading as hip, but of course our analysis finds deeeeeper meanings. It has a great chorus, a cavernous scream midway thru, and lotsa FUZZ! Australia's Misslng Links discovered the song like a group...
She's About A Mover
February 03, 2024 16:00 - 1 hour - 81.7 MBIt's early February, and time for love & conversation ... so this week's song is the 1965 classic "She's About A Mover" by the Sir Douglas Quintet (2:57). A simple groove, great manly singing from SIr Doug himself, and a cavernous, carnivalesque organ sound will keep this in the canon for years to come. The song migrated to Germany later in the year and The Boots gave it a good home (42:29). The organ is comparatively chintzy & warbly, but this is a remarkable raucous racket with strangled, ...
Police On My Back
January 27, 2024 05:00 - 2 hours - 96.4 MBIn this episode, we throw the book at The Equals and their 1967 non-hit, "Police on my Back." Written by the indestructible Eddy Grant, the debate centers around the song's rude boy narrative (Stratton 2013) and the question of the narrator's guilt or innocence. The next in the line up is The Stacattos (from South Africa). These guys mess the song up in interesting ways, but is it a social statement? Was the original? Well, on "Sandinista," The Clash made the song famous and it's taken on ne...
Leader Of The Pack
January 20, 2024 05:00 - 3 hours - 127 MBWe recorded this a few days before the very sad passing of Mary Weiss on Friday, January 19, 2024. We hope that this episode honours her memory, and the other departed Shangri-La's, Marge & Mary Ann Ganser. Love forever <3. Versions by The Shangri-Las, The Compacts, Die Crazy Girls, The Detergents, Twisted Sister.
Single File: Shepherd's Heard
January 13, 2024 18:00 - 1 hour - 71.4 MBSingle File is back and we're talking about a real rager: Shelby, Ohio's Shepherd's Heard and their only record "I Know" b/w "But That's Life." The first sounds like a demented version of The Rascals' "Good Lovin'." The drums and vocals are CRAZY and they're both performed by the same guy, Kim Shepherd, who rightfully named the band after himself since he does most of the work! Kim takes a breather on the flip, "But That's Life", an organ-driven sorta ballad. Man, Jonathan Richman should cov...
We're Pretty Quick
January 06, 2024 15:00 - 2 hours - 96 MBOur podcast's New Year's Resolution? To be quicker! Hence, we present you with "We're Pretty Quick," a wild 1967 side by New Mexico's finest, The Chob (4:32). There are covers by The Fuzztones and The Cannibals that fly by, too. But then we introduce The Lucky Seven Lightning Round Countdown, SEVEN other versions that we have progressively less time to listen to (for the first time) and react to! Take that challenge, Tik Tokers!!!
Bonus: Bo Diddliest of the Bo Diddliest!
January 03, 2024 20:00 - 59 minutes - 41.2 MBWe end 2023 and start 2024 with some final thoughts and we pick our favourite songs out of all the Bo Diddley Awards nominees. Is the discussion insightful? Maybe. Incisive? Probably not. Insane? Always!!
Third Annual Bo Diddley Awards!
December 30, 2023 02:00 - 2 hours - 108 MBThe categories are: Bo Diddliest Girl Group Song: Dedicated to the One I Love - Shirelles He’s Gone - Chantels Then He Kissed Me - Crystals Uncle Willie - Juliettes Mr. Scrooge - Orchids Bo Diddliest Video: Liar Liar - The Castaways Now and Then - The Beatles Must Be Santa - Bob Dylan You Really Got Me - Van Halen Jack The Ripper - Screaming Lord Sutch Bo Diddliest Song From A Theme Episode: Open Up Your Door - Richard & The Young Lions (Table Toppers) Oh Mom, Teach Me How to Uncl...
"Say It" With The Gruesomes!!
December 22, 2023 20:00 - 55 minutes - 38.1 MBWe kept the tape rolling after the recent episode we did with John & Bobby from The Gruesomes and we said more stuff about John's favourite song ever - "Say It" by the Five Royales. Along the way, we solve the problems of modern music.
The Gruesomes Salute The Five Royales!
December 16, 2023 20:00 - 2 hours - 106 MBWe know Pastronauts love it when John & Bobby of The Gruesomes visit our podcast, but this one's extra exciting because it's two episodes in one! John has picked two of his favourite songs by the unsung Five Royales ("Think" and "Dedicated to the One I Love"), and then the four of us talk about 2 cover versions. This means versions by James Brown (who did "Think" twice!), The Shirelles, and The Mamas and Papas. Top notch analysis from two esteemed scholars of Garage Studies, plus those no-...
Christmas Bonus!: Unwrapping Two Secret Songs
December 13, 2023 18:00 - 53 minutes - 36.8 MBWe enjoyed the eggnog so much last week that we decided to gift Pastronauts two more Holiday songs, and the talk that goes with it. 'Tis the season!!!
Rocking Your Stocking with Wild Xmas Tunes!
December 10, 2023 03:00 - 2 hours - 102 MBForget about all those uncool Xmas tunes you hear in the malls - we've got the good stuff for this Holiday season! The first present for you is "Mr. Scrooge" by England's GREATEST 60S girl group, The Orchids (2:16). If Georgina Oliver isn't in your 60s British Music Icons Advent Calendar - then one listen to this, and she will be! Great backing from Pamela Jarman & Valerie Jones. John Lennon gets coal in his stocking for puttin' 'em down on TV in '63. The next carol is by the legendary Sonic...
Shitty Shitty Band Name !
December 03, 2023 03:00 - 2 hours - 97.8 MBErik & Weldon discuss band names they hate. Will YOUR favourite band be included? - Listen and find out!!!
The New Beatles Song: Now And Then
November 24, 2023 01:00 - 2 hours - 111 MBLet's not Beat(les) around the bush here - the Garage Studies world has been waiting for Weldon & Erik to weigh in on the new Fab 4 tune, "Now and Then." We play it, talk about it, and also throw in some other AI versions of said tune. Along the way, there's questions from Erik and answers by Weldon, textbook slams, and a whole lot of goofiness and crucial digressions. What do the lads think? Is the song good, great, gear, or ghastly? More importantly, is it better than "Mr. Moonlight"?!?! ...
Monkey Business
November 19, 2023 06:00 - 2 hours - 106 MBTheme episode time! This one's a simian sensation, so we start off with Chuck Berry's 1957 baboon tune, "Too Much Monkey Business" (2:32:31). Is it anti-monkey, or anti-business? It may not really be about monkeys. but it's rock n roll poetry! The next in the evolutionary order is "Mickey's Monkey", sung by Smokey of Motown's The Miracles (59:37). A dance craze song, this one has a great hook, boozy organ, bongos, and the tasteful licks of one of our fave axemen, Marv Tarplin. Movin' thru th...
Everyday
November 12, 2023 08:00 - 2 hours - 109 MBWouldn't you love it if we published every day? Well, we can't do that, but here's Buddy Holly's magical 1957 b-side "Everyday" as compensation (3:35). A concerto for hambone, celesta, and hiccupping hillbilly vocals! A gentle, innocent, and hopeful rock'n'roll hay ride ... it's special! In 1964, surf duo The Rogues had a date with the song in the studio and it's a real rollycoaster ride! (1:09:54). Is this first bubblegum song ever? It has yakety sax and a "Louie Louie" reference, which mea...
Goodbye, So Long
October 29, 2023 02:00 - 2 hours - 106 MBLive! From Room 711 of the Georgian Court Hotel in Vancouver, BC - it's Erik & Weldon broadcasting in the same spot for the first time in In The Past history!! We say hello to Ike & Tina Turner's 1965 tune, "Goodbye, So Long" and then gab about it behind its back. Up second is a Raiders-y version by one of the many bands named The Uniques. It's a real cut up kinda cut! Third is a reprise by Ike & Tina from 1970 - does this version show development and maturity? Yes, by the bucketload! Tune ...
He's Gone
October 21, 2023 19:00 - 2 hours - 103 MBThis week the boys talk about the girls - it's doo wop time and we start with the fabulous Chantels and their 1957 debut, "He's Gone" (1:32). Picture perfect in every way, from Arlene Smith's powerful voice and glittering, subtle songwriting to the beautiful backing from Lois, Sonia, Jackie, and Renee. A real Teenage Symphony to God! In 1964, podcast favourite The Royalettes adopted the song and here's where the strings come in (Teddy Randazzo's, that is ...) (1:00:45). Sheila Ross skips an...
You Really Got Me
October 15, 2023 04:00 - 2 hours - 102 MBIt's Episode 152 and we're finally gettin' to "You Really Got Me" by The Kinks (1:06). Knife, amp, and THEE garage rock riff! But is it FUZZ? Is the song's repetitiveness a representation of obsessive thoughts of lust? Is it choral music? Yep Yep Yep! In 1966, The 13th Floor Elevators got the song and made it long (1:01:24). There's solos, acoustic jug, and the bassist adds another Kinks riff to the mix ... Remember Van Halen? In 1978, they were just beginning their climb to the heights of...
Single File: The Huns
October 07, 2023 19:00 - 1 hour - 72.3 MBSome people flip houses, but we at In The Past: Garage Rock Podcast flip singles. Yes, it's a return to the tried-and-true Single File format, and this week the subject is The Huns from Arlington Heights, Illinois, and their rampaging 1966 everblack, "Destination Lonely / Winning Ticket." The first side is a furious, fuzz-laden foray powered by the energy of Mom's snickerdoodles. The reverse is less terse and has a lot of verses: a jangly folk-rock number that's eight miles high! The singer ...
Bo Diddley: Episode 150 Celebration!!
September 30, 2023 02:00 - 3 hours - 133 MBWe celebrate Episode #150 with 1 artist, 5 great songs, and 0 misses! The spotlight is on Bo Diddley, and 5 of our favourite tunes by him. The beat starts with 1955's "Bo Diddley" (2:41). The second selection introduces you to Bo's legendary maracas rattler, Jerome Green, with "Bring it to Jerome" (1:02:06). A Bo ballad is up next with "Mona" and he sure moans for her (1:24:50)! We start "Crackin' Up" with Bo at (1:47:17) and you might worry that there is "No More Lovin" after song five (2...
Garage Rock Protest Songs!
September 16, 2023 07:00 - 2 hours - 105 MBNo one's gonna protest about this week's songs! Three of the greatest garage tunes PERIOD - with some astute social commentary as well?! The first missile we hurl is "Social End Product" by New Zealand refuseniks The Bluestars (1:59) A proto-punk anthem with a pounding rhythm, dive-bombing bass, extra-enunciated vocals, and a FUZZ riff for the ages. The second dissentful ditty comes from Bermuda boys The Savages, who riotously remind us "The World Ain't Round, It's Square" (51:46). Clangy ...
Let's Talk About Girls
September 10, 2023 21:00 - 2 hours - 111 MBThis week we talk about "Let's Talk About Girls"! The original was done by Tucson's The Grodes (aka The Tongues of Truth) (1:10). This gem features slinky guitar & organ, deft drumming, and a psychedelic pulse of a bassline. Not to mention Jagger-esque vocals and a fun, fantastic chorus! The most famous version (due to Nuggets) is by patron Saints of the podcast, The Chocolate Watchband (1:04:46). Huh! Singer Don Bennett takes the tune out of teen-town and makes an ADULT version (he even ...
Save It For Later
September 03, 2023 17:00 - 2 hours - 94.7 MBCh-Chk! This week we step out of the garage to discuss many people's favourite song, "Save It For Later" by The (English) Beat (1:27). A ringing guitar sound, soaring strings, and cheeky lyrics with some clever Catcher in the wry-ness. Dave Wakeling's timeless tune has a meaningful feel & an appealingly feelingful meaning! A lil later, his elder Pete Townshend showed his reverence for the song, making a quiet, beautiful, and vulnerable epic out of it (1:08:25). In 1999, Harvey Danger partied...
And My Baby's Gone
August 20, 2023 04:00 - 1 hour - 58.6 MBEnough of the big names - Beatles and Dylan have dominated the podcast for too long! This week we're talkin' bout the Moody Blues and their 1965 album track "And My Baby's Gone" (1:10). A little known slice of (squeaky) blue eyed soul an' R&B - it even has a faint "Bayou via Birmingham" feel because of the Allen Toussaint-esque piano rhythm. And it's the first song we've ever done with a guitar "swole-o" - listen and find out! ... In '66 or '67 (no one really knows), the awesomely-named Bedl...
Bonus Episode: Hamilton Camp
August 11, 2023 16:00 - 42 minutes - 29.3 MBHave you ever wondered what Erik & Weldon do when they sign off? They keep drinking and talking about music!! That's what we did right after we recorded our latest episode, on Bob Dylan's "Girl From The North Country." We had a folk cover left over, by a mysterious troubador named Hamilton Camp, and we decided to press "play" on the proceedings. We discovered something very exciting about the man, especially if you grew up watching syndicated TV in the 80s - listen and learn!!
Girl From The North Country
August 06, 2023 04:00 - 2 hours - 99.1 MBThis week we're staying in the world of the Big B's of the 60s - but now it's Bob Dylan and his achingly beautiful 1963 ballad "Girl from the North Country" (3:07). Erik thinks it's a meditation on being forgotten, written at a time before Bob was famous. We get deep into the song, including the lyrics, the "place" of the song, and the moaning mouth organ! Then, in 1965, Link Wray did the song! (1:18:59). This one rawks. 'Nuff said. The third version is by Kansas kids The Blue Things (1:39...
She Loves You
July 29, 2023 04:00 - 2 hours - 115 MBIf Bug Music gives you the horrors, stay away from this one! An early slice of Beatlemania, "She Loves You", is on the docket this week (2:11). We discuss why people don't really rate The Beatles of this period: is it the "yeah yeah yeah"'s? Is it because it's a single and not really an "album track"? After you hear this, you're going to go full mop-top! Version two is by Patron Saint of the Podcast, Mary Wells (1:09:12). Sadly not arranged by Sonny Sanders, but we like the wood block in thi...
My Flash On You
July 16, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 76.6 MBWe're re-doing an episode from the very early days of the podcast, when we didn't have our snappy patter & schtick down like we do now - the folk-punk classic "My Flash on You"! All versions are from 1966 : the original by Love is at 1:25, and we focus on FUZZ and Fashion (the drummer Snoopy's short-sleeved shirts). Thee Sixpence (soon to become The Strawberry Alarm Clock) play it FASTER at 55:58. And The Menerals from Texas add even more FLASH at 1:20:00!
Sweet Pea
July 09, 2023 02:00 - 2 hours - 87 MBThis episode is bigger than bubblegum! We chew on Tommy Roe's 1966 hit, "Sweet Pea" and we find it both delicious and diatonic (2:19). It has that wicked drum break, but the jangly guitar and bright organ also make the song POP! The second stick comes from Mexico's great girl garagers, Las Chic's (40:16). This is one of them refritos which we talked about long ago ... they make a cute song even cuter, and Weldon thinks they sound a bit like Shonen Knife or Trixie's Big Red Motorbike. Manfred...
Just Like Me
June 24, 2023 04:00 - 2 hours - 105 MBWe're back in the Garage Studies classroom to discuss the poetic masterpiece, "Just Like Me"! The first version by The Wilde Knights (1:25) gets us talking about iambic dimeter, and the poetry of John Skelton & Robert Frost. As one does. More importantly, the song has a mmmarvelous, Mike Mitchell-esque guitar solo. In late 1965, Paul Revere & The Raiders made the song a hit (44:28). They slow the song down, cut the bridge, and replace the strange, clipped enunciation of the original with th...
Land Of 1000 Dances
June 10, 2023 04:00 - 1 hour - 74.4 MBPastronauts Rejoice! We're finally taking you to the Land of 1000 Dances! The first dance goes to Chris Kenner, the author and soulful belter of the original one-chord wonder (1:30). CK mixes the sacred and secular, and Allen Toussaint and the band give the song a swampy New Orleans groove. Next, we cut a rug with Cannibal & The Headhunters (30:05). Were these guys an actual band, or a vocal group?! These guys add the famous "na na na"'s - which gets us talkin' about the doo-wop influence on...
Table-Toppers
May 27, 2023 17:00 - 2 hours - 82.8 MBIn this theme episode, we feature a trio of tunes with the proven percussive potency that makes you want to bash the nearest table like a raving Ringo … in fact, many of you tabletop thumpers have probably clattered the cutlery to at least one of these. First up is “Have I The Right” by The Honeycombs (4:57). The band is famous for having the hive-hairdo’d Honey Lantree as their drummer, but the whole band provides the backbeat on the chorus of this one. Wild, warbly guitar lines and Dennis ...
Good Lovin'
May 06, 2023 04:00 - 2 hours - 91.3 MBThis week's episode traces the evolution of one of the most beloved songs of the 60s: "Good Lovin'"! (A tune that should have an exclamation mark in the title). Lemme B. Good was the first to pitch woo in spring of 1965 (0:48). Exuberant vocals, crashing piano chords, horny horns & galloping drums will make your heart pitter patter. Rudy Clark wrote the original version's lyrics, but he decided he needed a Cyrano to help him express his true feelings, so he turned to Artie Resnick to over...
Better Than The Beatles: The Monkees
April 29, 2023 15:00 - 2 hours - 113 MBOur fifth edition of the ever-popular Better Than The Beatles series focuses on the first, and greatest, manufactured pop group: The Monkees. Literally cast into the limelight of pop superstardom, The Monkees, at their peak, outsold the Beatles while simultaneously filming weekly episodes of their zany and ultra-hip eponymous hit TV series. You’ll go bananas for our first foray: Last Train To Clarksville (2:19). This infectious oldies radio anthem leaves the station at Paperback Writer an...
Brand New Cadillac
April 22, 2023 04:00 - 2 hours - 104 MBIn this episode, we go for a wild ride with a golden oldie that still smells factory fresh, "Brand New Cadillac" by Vince Taylor & His Playboys (1:53). Hear how this 1959 bopper is a "crossroads", deal-with-the-devil ditty, as signalled by the otherwordly opening string strumming. In 1964, The Renegades took the song to Finland, renaming it "Cadillac" and passing it off as an original - a clearcut case of grand theft auto (1:01:04) !! This model goes from 0 to 95 in seconds, flirting with ...
Ball And Chain
April 15, 2023 05:00 - 1 hour - 71.4 MBIn this episode, we go down a Rabbitt hole and discuss one of the early songwriting efforts of the man who ruled the musical world of 1980 - Eddie Rabbitt! In 1966, his tune "Ball and Chain" (co-penned by Tricia Carr, who we also talk about) was released as a single by Scottish freakbeat merchants The Anteeeks (1:30). Yes, the spelling is correct, as is the band's use of fuzz. The song has a great riff and a great bridge, but is it enough to win this week's Bo Diddley Award? The Scottish dia...
Try To Understand
April 08, 2023 04:00 - 2 hours - 84.2 MBWhile some might see Lulu as an exemplar of cherubic innocence, one listen to "Try To Understand," written by the boss songwriting duo of Lori Burton & Pam Sawyer (see Episode 70) will clear up that misconception (1:27). This song is from the POV of a player, a female Casanova who's trying to keep her main man and her side piece (but which is which?) ... a big production, a "Bacharach stack" of grand pianos and Lulu's booming vocals make this a beautifully bombastic track! Little Hank comes...
Pictures Of Matchstick Men
April 02, 2023 01:00 - 2 hours - 90.1 MBThis week we discuss the song that Francis Rossi wrote on the toilet while trying to escape family life - the pop-psychedelic masterpiece "Pictures of Matchstick Men" by Status Quo (1:53). With that in mind, it's possible that the tune is a fever dream fantasy of familicide, with the wah-wah parts imitating his newborn baby crying ... who knew that there could be such a push-and-pull between the domestic and the psychedelic? (- The Beatles, probably) ... The second snapshot is by The Invader...
Then He Kissed Me
March 25, 2023 04:00 - 2 hours - 106 MB"Then He Kissed Me" by The Crystals is a somewhat underrated pop product of the early 1960s, so it's time to shine the spotlight on this brick in the Wall of Sound, featuring the powerful vocals of La La Brooks, the production of Phil Spector, the arrangement of Jack Nitzsche, and the Brill Building words of Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich (1:07). What a cast!! We then take a detour to see how the song's opening guitar riff inspired Lou Reed and John Cale's pre-Velvets band, The Primitives, o...
I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)
March 18, 2023 04:00 - 2 hours - 109 MBIn the latest episode, Erik & Weldon answer the question: "what's purple and goes buzz buzz buzz?" The answer is the Electric Prunes, who psyched out the world in 1966 with "I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night) (1:44). Unlike most people who tell you about their dreams, the Prunes keep you listening with some seriously spacy sounds. We analyze all the parts of this moody masterpiece, and Erik recounts a close encounter with some Taiwanese hornets. In '67, Rasputin & the Mad Monks took the s...