March 19, 2009 Earworm

That saxophone on "Do The New Continental" by The Dovells sounds as though it's enticing young ladies to the stage which is why it peaked at #37 in 1962. Even the piano sounds horny. It's filthy, but it rocks.

To see Len Barry, one of the dreamiest lugs in Philly, and his boys contributing to the delinquency of minors:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGQ5T9Ye4nk

March 18, 2009 Earworm

Imagine being tasked with creating a follow up to a number one single like The Temptations' "My Girl"...

To better, or even match, an instant classic of modern pop must have been daunting even if your name is Smokey Robinson but, following the Motown rule of making your hits successor sound enough like it, he managed to come up with a fine facsimile in "It's Growing" and, in lacking the success achieved by "My Girl", it remains a refreshing surprise when stumbled upon. Yesterday, while standing in line behind a technology challenged user for the self-serve machine at the post office, "It's Growing" came over the piped-in and what had been a few minutes of teeth gnashing suddenly turned into a group performance as I realized that the woman in front of me was singing along with the back up and the man behind me was tapping out the beat on his parcel. As our eyes met, he said, "What? You started it", so I guess I was humming, or worse, singing along absentmindedly. More surprising to me than our little big chill moment was that anyone knew this #18 pop hit well enough to pull it off.

"It's Growing" may not have that wicked bass line as it's opening but it does have a instantly catchy toy piano, and it's opening lyric - "like a snowball rolling down the side of slope of a hill" may not be one of Smokey's finest moments - it kind of sucks, actually - he still paints his visuals with a pen dipped in honey and candy hearts even if the message of love that David Ruffin delivers is honest enough to incorporate as much negative imagery as positive, suggesting an internal struggle that is further emphasized by several ebbs in a constantly expanding arrangement and whatever that it is that sounds like a wood block smacking a pipe*. Oh, and The Adantes make their one and only known appearance on a Temps record, adding an extra layer of concern to the mix.

"My Girl" is about unconditional love, "It's Growing" is about the anticipation and the anxiety that precedes it, and as time goes by, I find the latter far more interesting.

*probably a wood block smacking a pipe knowing those wacky kids at Motown.

March 17, 2009 Earworm

Need to get your shamrock shaking? May I suggest the "hey, whaddya mean they're not Irish" Milltown Brothers and their delicious A&M debut single, "Apple Green". Sounding like the world's best garage band, if the garage had enough room for a swinging horn section, and sporting some excellent Jesus and Mary fringe, the Milltown Brothers held indie pop in place while the 80's became the 90's and everyone tried to sort out what that transition meant. All these years later I still have no idea what the kid is on about on "Apple Green" but he sounds young and snotty and sure that everything that awaits him will be handled with aplomb and, with the way everything around him sounds as though it shivers in anticipation, you can't help but believe that he is right.

Momentary poster children of the UK music rags, their debut album, "Slinky" received greatly deserved high praise but the follow up, "Valve", released in 1993, could not withstand the pressure in the wake of Nirvana and the band were quietly dropped from A&M and then went their separate ways. They re-grouped in 2004 for the self-released "Rubberband" and, once again, received the praise of the press but little commercial interest. Over the years, the reputation of "Slinky" has only grown, as has the misconception that the band was from Ireland. In fact, led by brothers Mike and Simon Nelson, the Milltown Brothers hailed from the Colne, Lancashire, which was, of course, a mill town.

March 16, 2009 Earworm

During the months between "Just Like Honey" and "Some Candy Talking", my life had undergone a substantial change, going from criminally under-employed to juggling two jobs. With the lack of free time, one could assume that there was little opportunity for trouble and frivolity but when one job is done in a nightclub and the other is done in what seemed to many to be an overstaffed front for drug sales, it's not hard to wander. And with an ever growing cast of characters, there was no shortage of instigators.

Kenny and I could blow the rent money with just one visit to Howie's Music Machine which is exactly what we did on the magical week that the new Jesus and Mary Chain and the new Blow Monkeys singles arrived. Excitedly dragging Linda to her car, we rode out to Owings Mills, bitching and moaning until our respective medications kicked in, and spent a few hours and hundreds digging through the stacks. With no disrespect meant, I can say that I do not recall anything purchased that day beyond our intended targets.

After refreshing our medication for the ride home, we decided to call Jake, then manager of the Depot, and bribe him with a free McDonald's lunch to come to the club early and let us in; our goal being the dj booth and maximum volume. Upon arrival, pleasantries were exchanged, cigarettes were lit and, because it was five o'clock somewhere, cocktails were mixed as I uncovered the sound system. As I carefully placed the object of so much anticipation and speculation on the turntable, Kenny handed me my drink and said, "Have a seat, Missy", and I, focused on only one thing, did as told, not bothering with my usual response of "Don't call me Missy".

Even if I heard "Some Candy Talking" being played from two doors down, to this day my ears would still hurt from the flashback to the volume at which I first heard it that day. My stomach still flips a bit when I hear those opening notes and I can still see Jake frantically slapping Kenny's unfamiliar fingers away from the soundboard, trying to pull the noise down to a level safe for the ears of neighborhood dogs as Linda clings to the edge of the bar, trying to stay standing as she wipes tears of laughter from her face. And as the song fades out, I can still hear an exchange that would become all too familiar:
Jake: You three should not be allowed out
Linda: Nuh uh
Kenny: Fuck you, Jake
Larry: < shrug >

As this Depot reunion grows closer, the absence of my bookends becomes more and more apparent. It does not diminish my excitement but it does make realize that, no matter how full the place gets, it won't be full enough for me.