Video Vault

Here's something to get you in the mood for summer's scorching hot weather -- "I Want More" by Can. The tune sounds as good as it did back in 1976 and the video will make you seek out the nearest beach break.

By the way, Can are enjoying a revival of sorts with the release of their three-disc Lost Tapes collection of unreleased material from 1968 to 1977. Should be a good one.

Video Vault - 1977

In the year of Star Wars, a great Southern rock classic was released by a group specifically because for this song.  Ram Jam was born to play "Black Betty."  Black Betty is an old early 20th century African-American work song, most likely about a musket.  What Ram Jam does with it, is turn it into  a mystery with gongs, double guitar leads, and a scorching solo.  You can hear Ram Jam rip off Dickie Betts, Lynryd Skynyrd, even Edgar Winter in this version.

What is most striking is the video.  This looks like it was filmed in my neighborhood, by some guys on a Saturday afternoon who parked their bikes in the yard, took out their equipment and decided to lip sync a video.  The lead singer looks like he is wearing a Star Trek Next Generation shirt, while we have a guy in the band (far left) who's only job is to dance around.  Is he the original hype man?

Also look for the random things like the girl dancing with the cup of coffee, or the kid going into the house while filming.  Priceless - ram-a-lam!

Video Vault - 1976

Ah, the bicentennial.  For '76 I went with a band that never got it's due among the Pantheon of great hard rock bands: Rainbow.  Rainbow could rock with the best of them.  Originally formed when Ritchie Blackmore felt Deep Purple was going in the wrong direction, he along with members of the American band Elf (featuring 5'4 lead singer & inventor of the devil horns, Ronnie James Dio), got together. (Side note: there is a statue erected  in Bulgaria in honor of Dio.)

The problem with the band was that the leader singer role was a revolving door.  They probably had their most commercial success in 1982 with Joe Lynn Turner and "Stone Cold."

To me the best era of the band was the middle one with Graham Bonnet taking lead vocals.  The problem was, he didn't look like a hard rock singer of the mid '70's.  He had short hair and wore suits.  Not real fitting for a band that features the guy who wrote "Smoke on the Water."  Anyway, the Russ Ballard penned "Since You've Been Gone" is a '70's rock favorite of mine. Rainbow and Thin Lizzy are the two bands from that era that I always felt never got their due; but a black-Irish bass playing lead singer is a story for another time.  Enjoy.

Video Vault - 1975

Yes, 1975 was the year of Born to Run, but to ruffle feathers, I went with Three Dog Night's "Shambala."  3DN covered the song, but theirs is the one most known to all.  The song really stuck with me after watching one of the only "feel-good" episodes of Lost, as Hurley, Charlie, Jin & Sawyer get the VW bus working again.

Here are the boys in their heyday (bell bottoms, feathered hair,etc) with the feel good song:

Video Vault - 1974

If I were to build a Mt. Rushmore of Canadian musicians, I would have to pick Neil Young, Rush & Gordon Lightfoot (sorry Bryan Adams, Triumph, April Wine, etc.)  Gordon Lightfoot is a cool dude.  In college, I bought a used copy of Gord's Gold in a dollar bin.  After going away one weekend, someone stole my copy.  The secret society of Gord fans exists!  I think I saw him perform in Colorado, but I'm not really sure.  he looked like him, and sang his songs, but I walked in late and randomly sat at the bar.  In Aspen, many people look like Gord. 
To me, "Sundown" is a classic 70's song.  Smooth guitar, and great lyrics that really fit the era: "I can see her lookin' fast in her faded jeans/She's a hard lovin' woman, got me feelin' mean."  Good stuff Gord. 

Video Vault - 1973

"Reeling in the Years" is one of my all-time favorite songs.  Back in 1986, when I got my first CD player, A Decade of Steely Dan was one of the first CD's I ever purchased.  I enjoyed the whole disc, but I would put this song on repeat, and listened to it over, and over, and over...I never got tired of it, but I know the rest of my family surely did.

There is something about Donald Fagan's nasally tone that I always loved.  Maybe it is the snide, sarcastic, yet sincere tone he uses when he sings.  I don't think I would like him as a person, but I love his songs. 

Elliot Randall's guitar work in the original, studio version is incredible.  Jimmy Page declared that it was the best guitar solo of all time.  David Palmer's & Walter Becker's  harmonies with Fagan are spot on.

The video itself is priceless.  It comes from television series, The Midnight Special. Host Bill Cosby, with a great afro, porn-stache, and vinyl jacket, chomping on a cigar are priceless. He even gives a great "Cosby face" to end his introduction. 

The camera work is awful.  They focus on the wrong guitarist during the leads and solos.  Guitarist Danny Dias looks like a serial killer, while Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, better known as a Doobie Brother (remember when they were on What's Happening?) gets into his groove during the song.  Better yet, check out the teeth on David Palmer - yikes!  Enjoy.

Video Vault - 1972

When I was a kid this was one of the songs I remember from my childhood.  My parents had one of those gigantic stereo/furniture pieces in our living room.  My mom always loved music and one of the records she use to play was Seals & Crofts' "Summer Breeze."  I still remember the water color album cover with the one guy (not sure if it was Seals or Crofts) with the beard and the hat.  I use to run around the house while "hummingbird" played.  I was usually exhausted afterwards, and would mellow out to the title track. 

It had a bit of a resurgence with Jason Mraz and Peter, Bjorn, & John covering it.  Even basketball star Wayman Tisdale covered it - probably because it's a great song .

Video Vault - 1971

Ah, 1971, the year I was born.  For today's selection I had a hard time deciding which song to go with.  Originally, I was going with the Isaac Hayes classic "Shaft," but wasn't sure about the video.  My favorite Rolling Stones song, "Brown Sugar" came out in 1971, but still, too common.

Ultimately, I decided to go with a little known one from Neil Diamond.  For many, Neil Diamond is "Sweet Caroline" or that lame ET song "Heart light." For others he is the idol loved by Steve Zahn & Jack Black in Saving Silverman.  To many others he is the drunk, crazy man portrayed by Will Farrell in a SNL "Behind the Music" spoof.  

In reality, he was a successful hit machine without a true genre.  Is he pop?  He is not considered rock?  I couldn't tell you where he fits.  "Cracklin' Rosie" was released in late 1970, but was a radio hit in 1971.  Songs just don't sound like this anymore. 

Video Vault - 1970

The 70's were an amazing, and overlooked time in popular music.  I don't think musically any other decade covered such a vast spectrum of music: rock, disco, & pop ruled the airwaves.  Punk and new wave began their origins.  Reggae was exposed to the American public, so was classical with a twist, and even jug bands.  It was also an era pre-MTV where looks didn't play as big of a factor int eh success of a band. 

Here is year one of the decade than spans the musical spectrum.  For the beginning of the decade, I went with one of the most upbeat, kitsch, one-hit wonders of the decade, "In the Summertime" by Mungo Jerry.  Lead singer, Ray Dorset looks like he should be Andre the Giant's gay brother.  Also, the focus on the jug & use of fish-eyed lens help make this what it is.  Funny thing, I bet you can't stop yourself from singing along.

Video Vault Friday -- My Response

"I Predict a Riot" by the Kaiser Chiefs. It doesn't have the same social bite that "Ghost Town" had back in 1981, but this 2004 single shares some of its spirit with the Specials song and put this Leeds band on the map.

Video Vault

I was scanning channels in the car and came across "Smalltown Boy" by Bronski Beat.  The video goes hand in hand with the song telling of a young gay man dealing with  rejection, loneliness, and homophobia in British society in the mid 80's. 

Something about this song always grabbed me.   Maybe it's the electronic beat along with the repetition of the phrase "runaway" that really set the tone of needing to escape.  The small piano coda helps create the loneliness felt.  

The song has become somewhat of a gay anthem, yet pop culture/sportswriter Bill Simmons even respects the song and recommended using it as a song to preview a past NBA final. Still, for the average listener, most have forgotten about Broski Beat and the smalltown boy.

Video Vault Friday

This one's in my head today -- but it's Rick Rubin's headbanging I really like.

Here you go:

Video Vault

We're going back to 1978 for an under-rated power pop gem by Shoes called "Tomorrow Night". For some reason, this song popped into my head yesterday, and I had to think pretty hard to remember the name of the band. They're called Shoes -- not The Shoes -- and they were a quartet formed in Zion, Illinois. If I'm not mistaken, we acquired the 45" because my cousin was a radio DJ and this was one of his rejects. That said, I have to agree with some of the comments on the YouTube page -- it's a surprise this song (and this band) didn't leave a bigger mark. I hear the obvious notes - Power Pop and New Wave - but there's almost a shoe-gaze feel to this. And the jangly rhythm guitar under the chorus sounds like it could have been played by Peter Buck's alter ego. Call me crazy. All in all, a nice find.

Video Vault

Here's the video for "Scarecrow" by Pink Floyd. This 1967 Syd Barrett classic and its bizarre video of the band members carrying around a stick-figure scarecrow through the English countryside before falling victim to a serious case of the slow-motions. Musically, it's a pretty direct line from this to Robyn Hitchcock and early Blur, don't you think?

Video Vault -- More Spike Jonze

Here's the video for Arcade Fire's "The Suburbs", directed by everyone's favorite video director Spike Jonze. This one isn't in the same mold as his other work -- it's dark and serious and not very fun at all.

The song's a bit dark, too. I especially like this part of the lyrics:
"So can you understand?
Why I want a daughter while I'm still young
I wanna hold her hand
And show her some beauty
Before this damage is done

But if it's too much to ask, it's too much to ask
Then send me a son"

Video Vault -- Sexy Sax Man

In case you missed it, this is a great YouTube clip -- the Sexy Sax Man -- who plays that annoying sax riff from Wham's "Careless Whisper" in public places, defying rent-a-cops who threaten to have him arrested. Stick with it til the end -- it's only five minutes long. Warning: "Careless Whisper" will be in your head after watching this video.

Video Vault Friday!

Bow Wow Wow's "Do You Wanna Hold Me". No idea why... but I like the quick flash frame of Matt Pinfield at the top of this video.

Video Vault Friday!

Here's the innovative 1999 video for Blur's "Coffee & TV" featuring a cute little dancing milk carton who goes searching for guitarist Graham Coxon, who has gone missing. The video won several awards and was voted 17th greatest pop video of all time in a 2005 poll by Channel 4. I remember seeing it for the first time on MTV2, back when MTV2 actually played videos. Enjoy!

Video Vault Friday!

Today's date is 3/11. Every year on this date I am reminded of the folly that was a certain 90s rock-rap band who's crappy songs seemed inescapable on mainstream alternative radio (How's that for an oxymoron?)

I apologize in advance for this. Please forgive me.

Video Vault Friday!

Time to open the vault and show my first video selection.  In an era where videos are not really shown much anymore, I found an entertaining video from Rutgers own, Danielson. A great family band complete with old time nursing outfits.  So good!