June 25, 2009 Earworm

The best laid plans yada, yada, yada. Bad timing abounds as my planned departure time fades into the past. Yet, Split Enz's "One Step Ahead" - the one that was gonna put them over in the US - rolls around my head. It didn't put them over. Maybe it was the white shoes in the video at the wrong time of year. Regardless, it's a classic.

I miss my fringe.

June 24, 2009 Earworm

Pac-Man, Asteroid, Space Invaders. Five teenage boys, ages 14 to 17, in the video arcade at Security Square Mall in 1980. The only song they all sing along with is Rockpile's "Teacher Teacher". One of the boys is taking it more seriously than the others.

Lesson two, nothing new...

June 23, 2009 Earworm

It's just a slap and tickle to get from Squeeze to Paul Carrack and if you grab Nick Lowe - which everyone involved did at some point - you get Paul's solo hit, "I Need You", which managed to squeeze into the top 40 back in the summer of '82. I wore out two copies of the 45 before finally realizing that I needed the album.

His latest album is great, too. Finally.

In related news, Elvis Costello will be playing on The Tonight Show in about thirty minutes. If you don't know how that is related, I don't know why you are here.

June 22, 2009 Earworm

Mondays are always murder but another one passes and we're much more lucky than Francesca in Squeeze's bestest b-side, "What The Butler Saw". "The porch light, the torch light, the frosted morning lawn. The cloak of daylight has finally been drawn on the tale of what the butler saw".
Wonderful.
But, not for Francesca...