When asked about the contents of his iPod, John McCain declares the love that dare not speak its name:
“Dare I say Abba?” he replied. “Everybody says, ‘Ugh. Abba.’ Why is that? Abba was the largest-selling record act ever. Nobody likes them, but they sold more records than anybody in the history of the world, including the Beatles. But everybody hates them. You’re a no-class guy if you like Abba. Why does everybody go see Mamma Mia!? Hypocrisy! Rank hypocrisy! I’m not embarrassed to say I like Abba.”
The Telegraph busts McCain on the fact that the Beatles have sold 150 million more records than ABBA — just wait until ThinkProgress and the HuffPo get ahold of that less-than-straight talk. However, the musical Mamma Mia! (the movie adaptaion of which opens a week from today) has grossed over $2 billion. The paper’s Ivan Hewitt takes a chance on dissecting the Scandanavian quartet’s formula, while the Independent’s James Delingpole enlisted the expertise of famed lyricist Tim Rice (who has worked in some capacity with all of the band’s members) to try to explain it.
As for why McCain cannot resist ABBA, we may have to await the learned opinions of Rand Beers or McCain’s former Democratic colleagues like Bob Kerrey, Max Cleland and Chuck Robb.
couldn’t escape if I wanted to
On the other hand I guess, if this does business he’ll come out looking like he’s got his finger on the pulse and all that. To me it looks kind of ghastly though. What an ungainly cast really.
Heh. The wife dragged me to see Mama Mia! on Wednesday.
It’s official. I’m voting third-party.
I could support a man whose fawning by the meretricious media back in 2000 led him to believe he was shinier, brighter, sparklier than the rest of the GOP. A healthy ego is necessary for a successful politician.
I could support a man whose attitudes about illegal immigration come straight from Pandagon. Comprehensive reform won’t work, so we’re basically back to square one for the next election.
I could even grit my teeth and hold my nose and pull the lever for a guy who thinks cap-and-trade a good idea. A good insurgency in Congress will kibosh that bad-boy, and quick.
But I am not voting for a fucking ABBA fan. ABBA makes God cry.
Ok for real I like ABBA too. A*Teens rule. For real what’s better to listen to when it’s just you and a buddy, cruising down PCH1 with the top down…
Feet, I may have to kill you. Nothing personal.
Opening his mouth is hazardous to his campaign. What’s next? I expect him to announce his preference for polyester and bell bottoms.
I get them mixed up with Ace of Bass sometimes. Some scandi-phile I am.
Could be worse. Could be a-ha or Ace of Base
*shudder*
Ace of Base was in good shape until that one kid’s neo-nazi thing sort of ruined everything. That was an unusual choice I remember thinking at the time. Then it turned out he was a big progressive liberal and it all made sense really.
He didn’t give the popular answer, did he?
McCain likes ABBA?
Maybe he is serious about wanting my vote…
<ducks, runs, gets hit anyway>
feets: This line is Hi-larious!
No, I’m not! Yes, Uffe, you were! Bwaa Hahaha!
I was just going to correct that “base” thing.
Ulf always struck me as a big blumbering goof.
But then, have you ever noticed? Swedish women are all drop dead gorgeous pert minxes, but Swedish men have that “goofy Swede” thing going on? I have miniature portraits going back to the 18th century, and the Swedish men all have this same goofy looking expression.
Ok, I need to amend my previous comment … I’ll take old Men at Work over Abba any day… Even the stupid “who can it be” song..
Lorenzo:
…Since nought so stockish, hard and full of rage.
But music for the time doth change his nature.
The man that hath no music in himself,
Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils;
The motions of his spirit are dull as night
And his affections dark as Erebus:
Let no such man be trusted. Mark the music.
W.Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice
16: Yeah, but the feminists are working hard to get their signs removed. I saw their signs.
If I’d been surrounded by drop dead gorgeous pert minxes during my adolescence, I’d look goofy too.
From the wiki entry on Sweden:
Also, Ingrid Bergman and Greta Garbo – both Swedes. Who knew?
“The Sign” has been proven to cause Grand Mal seizures.
This could be important:
A GIS of “swedish man” popped this right up. Best Swedish Man Ever.
Goof-smile? Check!
Linky no orky, Sarah.
“That’s not my bag, baby.”
What no “fuckin’ scandi” comments?
What’ll Ace say?
What’ll Ace say?
“Die, hobo! Die!”
no “W”orky, doesn’t work, link no good, blah blah
“I saw their signs.”
Karl, you’re going to hell for that. Jebus! It’s bad enough McCain is apparently some kind of dancing queen.
I want “couth” points for not making an awful McCain/ ABBA music/ POW torture comment.
What? It would have been classy.
I’m comfortable enough in my manhood to admit to having at least 3 ABBA songs on my iPod.
Ace of Base, not so much. I mean, I’m no queer.
The only thing worse than an ABBA fan (I’m one of those) is an ABBA fan who’s taking a stand and sticking it to the Man, all Maverick-style, by bravely declaring (unprompted) that he’s an fan of a band almost everyone likes (in the same brave-Maverick-y way, to hear them tell it).
McCain is never not a douche, about anything.
I’ve despised every major-party Presidential nominee since about 1800, but this year’s special. They’re just amazing assholes.
Barry Manilow, too. There, I said it. Unprompted. Because I’m just that fucking cool that I don’t even care what you think — this being a performative of my indifference to your unspoken taunts, writ large, and, by its very existence, ironized.
Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Wayne Booth.
“I’m comfortable enough in my manhood to admit to having at least 3 ABBA songs on my iPod.”
I call bullshit. No way you’d “admit” that prior to jettin’ around, taking specialized MMA lessons.
You only said that ABBA nonsense so some idiot will come for your lunch money, and you can fuck ’em up all legal like.
I’m on to you.
Jeff,
The Mountain Goats covering “The Sign” is kinda funny, however.
“Barry Manilow, too.”
That prooves it!
Do not approach JeffG on the street.
Hookers, that means you too.
Oh, you’re wrong, Lamont. In fact, how anyone CAN’T like “Take a Chance on Me” or “Fernando” or “Waterloo” is beyond me.
I call bullshit on the haters!
Just a note, for anyone who has “Dancing Queen” on their iPod or whatever, that it was rated “Gayest Song Ever” a while back. NTTAWWT.
BTW, I happen to like that song, as well as a few other ABBA songs. Part of my youth and all that.
Ironically, when the Mountain Goats play Sweden, they go for a mash-up of Thin Lizzy and R. Kelly.
Damn it, Karl. IT BURNS!!!!!
psycho:
Not the change you were looking for?
Jeff, please tell me Fernando isn’t one of the ABBA songs on your iPOD. Next, you’ll tell us Eric Carmen’s, “All by Myself”, is your favorite song.
Abba is fun. Fun fun fun fun fun.
Anybody who doesn’t like at least some Abba is a bit fat cranky crankypants.
That John Darnielle guy sounds like a young Loudon Wainwright III
I’m not very happy hearing about this ABBA thing with McCain, but
… knowing me, knowing you, it’s the best I can do.
You had to be there, SevenEleventy. This was the stuff that was playing on the radio at daycamp back in the day. Nostalgia kicks in. The Knack. “Bluer than Blue.” “Sad Eyes.” Crack the Sky, Rush, Climax Blues Band, 10 CC…
Everytime I drop a little Jewish kid during a game of dodge ball these days, I think back fondly on “Grand Illusion” or “Desperado”; I am the Proust of sprawled out, scraped up Jewlettes who’ve left a tiny bit of their dignity on the asphalt at Camp Mildale.
If you are intent on garden growing Jeff, maybe this would fit the mood.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgXMxhMhYm4 (Bernstein Candide, finale)
Oh, I’m a hater. I hate the “Fernando” song by ABBA most of all. It’s on my top ten of hated songs.
They are Swedish and should not be singing about guys named Fernando crossing the Rio Grande.
Sometimes I’m accused of hating Mexico.
That should be big fat, not bit fat.
Haters.
“Bit Fat”. It’s only two days since that chocolate Rocket. I can’t be fat yet.
I was Jeff. Aerosmith, Black Sabbath, Ted Nugent, etc. were the rage in Upstate New York. I got my ass kicked at football practice for listening to “Afternoon Delight” with my girlfriend during lunch hour.
What will kids of the future remember too fondly? “Behind these Hazel Eyes?”
I found “Afternoon Delight” a little shocking. I was 12 or thirteen, I guess. I remember that tragic aging hippie band that sang it, though not the name so much. “Starlight funshine Hippie parade”? They seemed all over-excited surprised about their midday outdoor TV talk show performances.
They were mostly awful and got broomed off the stage in short order.
Well, shit Jeff…
…if that’s all true, my poster of you comes off the wall and goes in a trunk. A trunk with all the good comics that Marvel made “gay.” And my Star Wars and Lego stuff. And my Micronauts. And my leaky Stretch Armstrong (I shot him with an arrow. It was a good shot).
Anyway, it’s a big fucking trunk. And ABBA puts you in it (but, please God, don’t stop writing).
BTW, I think Stretch Armstrongs’ were filled with gooey uranium but I haven’t verified it on the internet.
Anyway, it’s a big fucking trunk.
This awful truth has ruined my weekend.
On the other hand…I now know why you had to learn to fight. So I learned something.
That’s always good.
“leaky Stretch Armstrong”
Food-grade corn syrup. Don’t ask.
I found “Afternoon Delight†a little shocking.
I was trying to get laid! I would’ve listened to Janis Ian to get a blowjob!
“Food-grade corn syrup.”
My Mom said the same thing.
But Stretch’s innards looked like something that could fuel the space shuttle, and that makes him cool.
They seemed all over-excited surprised about their midday outdoor TV talk show performances.
They were mostly awful and got broomed off the stage in short order.
Are we talking Mike Douglas? I think I’m gonna be sick!
That was a funny screed, SarahW. I knew Bill and Taffy Danoff in ’68, long before their brush with pop fame. They were hippies though not a bit dirty and reasonably good bar musicians at the time. And they shared their weed, so they were ok by me.
I remember at that age being bothered by the unwholesome turn of my thoughts.
Like, the Starshine Volatile Leftover-Seventies Band had these girl singers – this skinny girl and an Hawaiian or Asian cutie, and I think their was some inter-band marriage and it caused bad thoughts. They seemed all old and wifey to me at the time. I think maybe now I would have a different perspective.
Sdferr,
Unless you Googled that John Darnielle guy, I suspect you already know he’s quite the lyricist in his own right. Plus, he’s written a book about Black Sabbath. He is a man of diverse tastes.
BTW, at either of those Mountain Goats links, you can click on the “Mountain Goats” and bring up all MG tracks currently streaming at the Hype Machine.
Karl, I don’t know the guy as they say, from Adam. I did google to find his name but didn’t bother to hang in there to learn more. His voice and guitar style just hit the LWIII button in my head (though I think JD a better singer as such than LWIII). I once thought LWIII was the coolest thing and drove my poor father mad playing his first record to death. Lost interest after awhile. Quelle suprise.
My first visit to Stockholm two years ago showed me that tall and rather attractive women wearing boots in Sweden were not limited to lead vocalists from a 1970’s pop band. If I may…simply wow. Made it difficult to see the stage for a Ryan Adams concert at the Berns Hotel, however, and I’m 6’2″. I have 36 ABBA songs on my iPod. Bring it, bitches!!
Mama Mia!
Is it scary that I know the name of the “Afternoon Delight” band without googling? Probably. I remember not really understanding exactly what they were talking about. I also remember their video, and that there was an Asian chick in the band. That’s about it. Oh, and of course, I know the lyrics.
Somebody shoot me.
ABBA is OK, but they’re no Little River Band.
Have you heard about the lonesome loser? He figured it was time for a cool change.
When that was out, I was dating a girl who had a cousin in the band. Yep, I’m a starfucker, twice removed.
Hey, Take It Easy On Me.
Pablo, sounds like you’ve been “Reminiscing”.
On the other hand…I now know why you had to learn to fight. So I learned something.
Instead of “A Boy Called Sue” Johnny Cash should have sung about a boy who listens to Abba and Barry Manilow.
Ears … bleeding …
Instead of “A Boy Called Sue†Johnny Cash should have sung about a boy who listens to Abba and Barry Manilow.
“Egg Sucking Dog” if you’re at the Downs in Bristol.
Sdferr and all,
I can attest that the Mountain Goats put on an entertaining show, much more fun than the recorded angst would suggest. These videos from the M-Shop are in the ballpark.
But if you’re going to bring the Wainrwight, I have to say that empirically, Rufus Wainwright is pretty gay. Openly so. Recreated the Judy Garland conert at Carnegie Hall, in fact.
And on a total note of trivia, both Loudon and Rufus have bit parts as singers in Scorsese’s The Aviator.
LionDude,
In Sweden it’s an (actual/ no bullshit/ swear to God) crime to not put the toilet seat down.
Just saying…watch out for that.
…and ABBA’s gay.
…also, when you mention Ryan Adams most of us don’t know who the fuck that is and we’re to lazy to Google, so we can’t help but think “Bryan Adams.” Who is an awful Canadian retard that possibly inspired that South Park movie in the late 90’s.
ABBA is gay.
Stop doing that.
Also, I’m a little disappointed that no one has gone for the Anchorman reference yet.
Never saw Anchorman. I find that guy whose name escapes me to spend a lot of time trying too hard to be funny. To me, he’s always on the two-person cheerleading squad.
Yeah, I’ll rag on him. And I don’t care who knows.
Heh, Karl, I know Rufus (Doofus?) Wainwright about as well as I know John Darnielle, so far am I out of the pop loop. Would that someone was up to the task of re-creating Benny Goodman’s Carnegie Hall concert. Don Byron mebbee? But who’ld be Lionel, let alone Teddy Wilson, Krupa, and James?
Rufus Wainwright is pretty gay
No, he’s militantly gay. NTTAWWT! I won tickets to his concert in San Diego through a local radio station two years ago. Between songs we were treated to his views on gay right. He couldn’t remember the words to the songs he sang. It sucked(no pun intended)!
ABBA is cliche for “the band you love but are embarrassed to admit you love”.
I went to an Ani Difranco show on Monday, Mama Mia! on Wednesday, and now that it’s Friday I guess the only thing left to do is to go find a purse that matches my shoes. Shit.
NTTAWWT.
ABBA is cliche for “the band you love but are embarrassed to admit you loveâ€Â.
Jeff admitted it, and LionDude jumped in with both feet. They’re balls drag on the ground!
Karl has shamed me.
But only because I’m running low on Sex Panther…by Odeon.
Today I’m wearing “London Gentleman.” Look out ladies.
You go fuck yourself Karl..er, I mean San Diego.
What? Wha’d I say?
Jeff admitted it, and LionDude jumped in with both feet.
They’reTheir balls drag on the ground!Sdferr,
It’s far from a recreation of Benny Goodman, but the new album from Wynton Marsalis & Willie Nelson is streaming for free through the weekend via AOL.
cigarettes and chocolate milk is my theme song
Hah, ED. My wife took me to see “First Wives Club” several years ago. I’ve been leveraging that horror in avoiding chick flicks at the theater ever since.
Of course I did take her to see “Schindler’s List” on Valentine’s day. It’s why I’ll be seeing “Dark Knight” with my son.
Whoa … E’G’ … Whoa …
ABBA IS NOT FUCKING GAY!!!!
Gender identity issues….
That’s another story…
Of course I did take her to see “Schindler’s List†on Valentine’s day.
Heh. When I was in High School I took a date to see Platoon on Valentine’s day. It’s a good thing she really liked me anyway.
Also, on Wednesday it was the stage version which is something like 33% less manly than the screen version. Plays are just like that. Not sure why.
I can admit to liking some of the music. In fact, I promised my wife I would learn to play some of it for her.
While she holds my purse, of course.
“Knowing me, knowing you…”
There’s an awful lot of gayety here for such a queer thread. I mean, a presidential candidate coming out about what’s on his pod?
Actually, perhaps Dancing Queen being on his pod is the only thing that reconciles the fact that the oldest candidate ever is running in a time when cultural mores are changing faster than ever.
Damn.
“ABBA rules out reunion
July 8, 2008
Despite the astonishing success of Mamma Mia!, ABBA has ruled out any reunion tour.
Songwriters Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson of the Swedish pop quartet told Britain’s Sunday Telegraph that ABBA will never perform together again.
Ulvaeus said “money is not a factor and we would like people to remember us as we were. Young, exuberant, full of energy and ambition.”
ABBA was one of the biggest bands of the 1970s, with hits including “Waterloo,” “Dancing Queen” and “Money, Money, Money.” The group also included singers Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad.
ABBA split in 1982 but continues to sell nearly 3 million records a year. Last week all four members appeared at the Swedish premiere of “Mamma Mia!,” a film based on their hits.”
Good Lord. How’d we get from Anchorman to Schindler’s List and (what sounds like) a drive-in theater in 3 comments?
You guys cut it out with your crappy venue dates…
…unless you banged her behind the snow cone/ popcorn machine, or some such…
In which case we’d like to hear all about it.
lee,
My unstated (until now) presumption has been that ABBA was topping the charts during his post-Vietmam, “wild oats” phase, much like it makes Jeff G think of daycamp.
I think I am beginning to understand why, when I look at McQuacky, I see two hams attached to his wrists, rather than hands.
So Karl, are you saying that McMaverick was banging Thai and Fillipino hookers (like the rest of the Navy) while he was doing those WESTPAC cruises?
NTTAWWT
There may be a lot of gayety in this thread, but not nearly as much as in South Carolina apparently.
“We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun…”
Oh, sorry. I was just reminiscing about my polyester girly-man sensitive new age guy phase.
Carry on!
OK… I’m listening to Iron Maiden now to purge the gayness.
I love Little River Band, as well. I’ll be listening to “Lady” and “Cool Change” in short order. While practicing my grip strength by tearing a phone book in two.
I am a man of mystery.
I’m sure you are right Karl, I was just trying to fit in the maximum number of homo references in the quickest time possible.
You know, like opening night of Mama Mia!.
Terry Jacks, BJTex. On my iPod. Along with a lot of Dave Loggins and Sammy John.
No worries, though. I’m heading to the Styx / Boston concert on Sunday. Wearing an ACDC concert tee. So that oughtta set the universe back in balance.
Now I’m listening to Judas Priest TO REALLY purge teh gay….
… uh….
whoops.
Making the maverick only the 34th president to have suffered a venereal disease at sometime in his life should he be elected, eh dewclaw?
Dewclaw,
I was referring to McCain tomcatting around once he got back from Vietnam (as opposed to his early aviator days with the Brazilian model).
BJTexs
I was just listening to some Terry Jacks the other day.
This thread ‘oughta come with a rainbow sticker.
Now I have to drunk dial ex-girlfriends while playing Barry White as loud as it will go.
#105
I think VD should be a REQUIREMENT to be president.
EG,
South Carolina’s top tourism agency has canceled an overseas advertising campaign targeting gay tourists.
Ha! They probably took note of what happened to California after Arnold had similar plans.
Those lightning bolts can be a bitch
Jeff G,
I once was invited onstage at a Soul Asylum show and given free beer because I correctly identified Sammy Johns as the original “artist” responsible for their cover of “Chevy Van.” Which I have on a 45. Which I bought during my one vacation in Denver.
Lamont,
Had to have the toilet seat in my Stockholm hotel room removed to make room for my ground-dragging ‘nads. The manager said it was no problem. That is, he said it after I discovered I had been dragging him under my ‘nads accidentally all over the Vasa Museum.
Chevy Van is on the iPod, along with a few others. I have his greatest hits CD. He’s actually really good — more than just a one hit guy.
Another greatest hits CD I recommend is BW Stevenson. Died way too young, he did.
Dude, Arrowsmith T shirt! That way you ease back into balance rather than jerking it into place.
Man, I have an overwhelming urge to rub up against velvet and hum “Oooo, Love to love you baybee…”
GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!!!
Jeff,
I’ll make a note of that. Or a letter.
Sha la la la la la my lady.
Surprisingly, this is not gay.
And of course, some of the lefties have already gone after me for my admiration of Fogelberg. I can deal.
Is Styx still using that (~substandard~) replacement singer, or did Dennis DeYoung finally pull his head out of ass and rejoin the group?
Seasons in the Sun is enormously gay. I can say that because I have no idea what happened to the 45. It’s not like I really cared about it.
Jay Ferguson is on the iPod, too. “Thunder Island” is the name of the song. Man, if I could pull off that hair and mustache, I’d be so there. In fact, I think I’m going to make that my goal for next summer…
Dan Fogelberg is one of my faves.
Just another reason to loathe the left.
Jeff,
Had you not been leaving town, I would have recommended catching Dennis DeYoung at the Naperville Rib Fest. And Foghat.
Which reminds me of a delightful night at the Cubby Bear where a band named “Snaketrain” — the members of which could not have legally entered the bar — concluded their opening set with a dead-on jamming cover of “Slow Ride.”
They were opening for a band called The Service, who also had “Chevy Van” in their set list.
You got Alan O’Day on there? That guy is a stud.
Dewclaw,
As you can now see, DeYoung remains estranged.
“Wearing an ACDC concert tee. So that oughtta set the universe back in balance.”
You know it’s summer, right?
The kids stuck in bible camp fucking hate you right now.
You should build them all bunk beds to make up.
Or just buy them a lap dance if your really busy.
I don’t know what your schedule’s like.
Back n Black bitches.
England Dan and John Ford Coley
Since I feel as if I’m among friends I can admit to having “Sundown” on my iPod. Also some Bruce Cockburn. Which I’m having looked at.
And no, they are not necessarily gay. They are Canadian. Common mistake.
I have half a mind to start a band that does covers of all those great forgotten seventies tunes.
On my birthday a few years back, I hopped on stage and did Chevy Van with whatever bar band happened to be playing at the time. Surprisingly, they remembered the song after I sang a little bit of it.
I pretty much sucked, but I had fun. Almost as much fun as the time I sang “Mandy” at a biker bar. Got a standing o for that one.
Didn’t Mark Andes play base with Jay Ferguson? I met Mark when he lived in Boulder and I was working at a health food store there.
Mark later played base for Heart, among MANY others.
A very nice guy.
England Dan and John Ford Coley are also all over my iPod. I love their cover of Todd Rundgren’s “Love is the Answer,” among others.
I just hope no one here has the Village People on their IPod.
That might be more than I can take.
EG —
How can you NOT have “Sundown.” Or “Early Morning Rain,” for that matter.
I saw AC/DC a while back. Went with a couple I met in school. The wife is from England, so my favorite part of the show may have been that — while she liked the band well enough — she had no idea of what a gathering of thousands of AC/DC fans would be like.
Karl,
I was afraid of that.
I saw a Styx video recently, and seeing that replacement guy in his sequined Captain Stubbing jacket singing Lady was very depressing.
If Alan O’Day does “Undercover Angel,” I have that on my iPod, too. Under 70s music. I have most of the “Have a Nice Day” set.
And yeah, I have David Soul on there, as well. Come and knock this battery off my shoulder. I DARE YOU!
At my regular web gig, I annually make a big deal of the anniversary of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
OK, finally, I really liked Fogelberg. Good song writer, great musician and excellent singer.
One of the best live shows I ever saw was Dan and his band (One Trick Pony? Karl?) at Tanglewood in bucolic Western Mass in 1975. Except…We arrived at the show and it was announced that his band wouldn’t be playing. He came out and grumped that the good folks at Tanglewood determined that his band was “too loud,” which ticked him off to no end.
He procceded to perform for over three hours, three encores (I think) playing piano and multiple guitars, including classical instrumentals. He was in beautiful voice and it was one of the most enjoyable, most professional shows I have ever seen. I was only pissed aboput the fact that I didn’t have a date that night because it would have been, how you say, in the bag.
I’ve performed “Longer” at a couple of weddings and shed a tear when he died of prostate cancer. A real folk/rock giant.
I’ll take the slings and arrows for $1000, Alex.
One of my friends was subjected to a England Dan and John Ford Coley concert at his school. It still gives him the shakes, even worse that Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds.
Tommy Shaw is doing a lot of the lead vocals for Styx now, I hear. In fact, to my surprise, I learned recently that they’ve put out several albums in the last decade.
Another band to look up, for those of you who like a bit of the soft rock/folk, is Pure Prairie League. Everyone remembers “Aimee,” but “Boulder Skies” is one of my favorite tunes.
Okay. Off to listen to “This Old Cowboy” from Marshall Tucker Band. To make sure my balls are still attached.
Dobie Gray – Drift Away
Amen Jeff. “If You Could Read My Mind” is another Lightfoot must have.
For Album Rock… you can’t do any better than Kansas.
My favs are their less popular songs, like “Play the Game Tonight,” “Chasing Shadows,” and “The Pinnacle.”
BJTexs,
IIRC, Fogelberg’s backup was Fool’s Gold.
Did I really post “base” instead of “bass?” (i.e. post 128)
~sadly leaves to turn in rock cred~
Ace of Bass.
Heh
Gilbert O’Sullivan. Top that.
Kool and the Gang
Thanks Karl! I only saw him solo so I never got to hear his band. I had heard that they were pretty decent.
One of the highlights of my life was performing “Leader of the Band” for my father. He cried, I cried and my older brother told us to stop, we were embarrassing him.
Good times…
EG: While Gordon Lightfoot was a disappointment live, never be embarrassed to have him on your IPod. Karl, you did a great tribute here on the “Wreck.”
Right now I’m a little obsessed with “Nickle Creek” which takes me completely out of this genre discussion.
Michael Martin Murphy.
Y’all are so those guys from The Big Chill.
Lindsay Lohan. TOP THAT!!!
(not really)
Henry Gross
Pablo: Didn’t we do a “bad song thread” about a year and a half ago that ran over 400 comments? I remember the tears streaming down my face and the dizziness from the non stop laughing.
Rupert John’s Sad Eyes
OK… Rupert is very gay. You win.
1. Hey, I brought the Mountain Goats;
2. Who is it that gets all of hf’s Madonna allusions? Me.
3. I’m really more a Diner guy. Don’t touch my records.
4. Really, who can get through the day without a juicy rationalization?
Oh. Touchy. I just felt left out is all.
Rupert Holmes, otoh, is not gay, just adulterous.
hf,
Between the Madge and the Rufus, I would think you would be enjoying everyone’s feminine side. ;-)
Karl. PLEASE. Look at the video for “Sad Eyes” and tell he me he is not a rump ranger…
I try to check out your “regular gig” once a week or so. That’s an amazing amount of work you do really. So for real, I know you are a lot au courant. Dazzlingly au courant really.
Oh. I was kind of figuring no one would really get that cigarettes and chocolate milk thing anyway. Busted.
And I’m cool with talking good and bad music from the past few decades, but immediately spotted the McCain ABBA thing as eminently within the pw sphere.
Actually Henry Gross is mega-gay, Shannon.
Oh. Robert John. My bad.
Another band to look up, for those of you who like a bit of the soft rock/folk, is Pure Prairie League. Everyone remembers “Aimee,†but “Boulder Skies†is one of my favorite tunes.
“I’ll Fix Your Flat Tire, Merle” was one of my faves. Did you know Vince Gill was in that band?
hf,
I see my regular gig as sorta Bizarro-world Instapundit.
I wish you would make your name orangey really. Claude gets pushed down my bookmarks sometimes and then I have to rediscover it.
Robert John is not gay. Rupert Holmes would fuck anything with a pulse. These Swedes are not gay. And yet, this will gladly blow you in the nearest men’s room. Yes, it is a mystery.
BMOE: Vince Gill was in Pure Prairie League???? Holy crackers you just caused a mini explosion inside my head.
Did he do all of the tasty lead acoustic guitar work?
hf,
The orangey is mostly a function of when I’m signed in to post stuff.
Pablo,
The Blue Swede I find preferable even to the original BJ Thomas. It’s all about the ooga-chuckas.
Afternoon Delight indeed. Not only do I have the album, yes on vinyl, but I could name the song on the B side of the single, which I actually liked better. There’s a group that faded fast.
Pablo: I’m pretty sure that you’ve committed a “Crime Against Humanity.” (ooga chaka)
This, on the other hand, is more retarded geh.
As for being au courant, a friend probably came closer in calling me “a gushing firehose of pop culture trivia.”
It’s so not trivial. I really believe that. But then I would.
“Silly Love Songs”! I couldn’t bring myself to link it.
The Starland Vocal Band landed their own short-lived CBS variety series,which featured a then-unknown David Letterman.
First of all, while Pablo was typing, I was outside on the phone talking to Tony C, and “Alone Again Naturally” by Gilbert O’ Sullivan came up, along with “I Believe in Music” by Gallery. Both on the iPod.
Secondly, Robert Johns did said eyes. Rupert Holmes did the Pina Colada Song. Both on the iPod.
Right now I think I’ll go download Jack Wagner’s “All I Need,” then go outside and kill a rabbit with my teeth to make up for it.
Boogie Till You Puke
In the summer, I’m more of a “Jet” guy. In fact, this week’s cutout bin features a “Jet” cover from Big Dipper.
The best vintage goofy Swedes disco party you have ever seen. And you WILL be gay by the end of it. Klicka Thar!
Did he do all of the tasty lead acoustic guitar work?
He joined in the late 70s, not really sure what albums he played on.
IIRC, I have “I Believe in Music†by Gallery on a K-Tel compilation with that title from back in the day.
Karl, with much respect to BJ Thomas, I concur.
John Paul Young’s Love is in the air. I still think Henry Gross is giga-gay.
BTW, the cutout bin this week also has a cover of “Jimmy Loves Maryann,” plus selections from the Bay City Rollers, Hot Chocolate and… Whiskeytown (for you Ryan Adams fans).
The John Paul Young thing puts me right back at the roller-rink.
BJ, this is a crime against humanity. But I apologize for the Hasselhoff.
The Lion Sleeps Tonight. Henry Gross may be tetra-gay.
Pablo, that BCR leads the cutout bin.
Then again, I have a weakness for anything that sounds like cheerleaders.
Bay City Rollers? Before I check, I expect to be dancing to the rock and roll of Saturday Night.
Spot on.
Karl,
Toni Basil?
Pablo: That’s Crime Against All Living Things!™
However, almost universally considered the worse song evah, beyond crime or teh gey is this.
I condemn myself in advance.
Tetra-ghey x 1000:
Olivia Newton John and ELO signing “Xanadu.”
… and I LIKE ELO.
~shudder~
Dewclaw,
Of course. Did you know she did the video for the Talking Heads’ “Once in a Lifetime?” And choreographed the hop in American Grafitti?
Also The Cars’ “Let’s Go.”
Currently the Ting Tings’ “That’s Not My Name.”
Also, if you like ELO, check the cutout bin track from Apples In Stereo. Their latest album is vocoderiffic.
BJTexs,
MacArthur Park was written by the then boy-genius Jimmy Webb, who also wrote “Up, Up & Away,” “Wichita Lineman,” “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” and many more.
The Last Farewell by Roger “Buttdart” Whitaker, a lot teh gay.
the start of some Roger Whittaker song about a ship leaving England used to be the station ID for WGN before it was a superstation.
Karl, you are exploding my brain with all this trivia.
You truly are the Cliff Claven of music…
“NORM!”
Oh, come on! Why Roger Whittaker gotta be a homo? Dude was fixing to go off and die in the war. Kinda like Billy, who did indeed go be a hero.
I knew that, Karl. He’s an extemely talented songwriter, one of the giants.
My assumption was it was either bad pad acid or a three day bender in Tijuana that made him write that incoherent muddle of pop nonsense. The cake metaphor is the funniest “not meant to be funny” image of all time. Unrequited love, indeed.
BJTexs,
Webb is famous for not wanting to discuss MacArthur Park, but from what I have heard from him over the years, it’s actually autobiographical and not nearly as trippy-poetic as most think.
Don’t go there, Pablo, if you have an ounce of mercy in your soul.
Karl, I bow to you and your knowledge of pop culture, especially music.
McCain isn’t doing anything maverick here. People have been making “brave ABBA confessions” since the ’70s, when people like Elvis Costello and Pete Townshend declared their affection for the group’s music.
And rightly so: ABBA’s best stuff is utter pop perfection. (There’s a lot of dross and filler in there too, but so it is with any prolific act.) Those harmonies and melodies were yummy enough to eat. So was Agnetha Faltskog. Christ, I’d tear into those platform boots and sequined skirt like there’s no tomorrow. Luscious little blondie, mmm mmm mmm.
Pablo, we are joking around, aren’t we? Sorry if I offended anyone!
I would agree with that, having heard him say something to that effect. It’s a combination of the pretencious chord changes, Harris’ thin, dewy voice and the strange imagery that, rolled together, makes it so deliciously awful.
This is not unlike what most Fridays would have been for me in college. Hanging with my friend who ran the local record store, “High Fidelity” style, except also drinking in the store.
He’s right, by the way: Apples in Stereo is a great band. Occasionally a little twee, but consistently, marvelously well-crafted.
High Fidelity is an awesome movie.
Kindred spirits, and all that. :)
I can’t decide if this is Teh Geh, which is scaring me.
Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods. And then, Paper Lace. Some friends and I used to get hammered at parties and do Billy Don’t Be a Hero and the Night Chicago Died back to back.
But let us not forget the brilliance that was Pilot. Or Nick Lowe, whose Cruel to be Kind had a resurgence thanks to 10 Things I Hate About You.
Make me stop. Please, I beg of you. LOOKING GLASS!
I find it very strange that what definitely sounds like a cover of the Apples In Stereo’s “Powerpuff Girls Theme” is in that new phone commercial, when the little screen says Apples In Stereo.
While using the Yahoo online music thing, I specifically learned the first few notes to two songs so that I could change/skip them as quickly as possible.
Nick Lachey and Paris Hilton.
I’ve got A-ha on mine, so whatever that might say.
Paper Lace also covered “Billy, Don’t Be A Hero,” which is like crossing the streams.
Pilot’s “Magic” was produced by Alan Parsons.
Nick Lowe is fabulous. Before the hit version of “Cruel,” his Jesus of Cool record (Pure Pop for Now People in the US) is the bomb. And recently reissued on CD, iirc.
Perhaps a snifter of Brandy?
Also, The Service (mentioned upthread) used to do an incredible cover of “Brandy,” like Exile-era Stones would have done it.
Plus: The Sweet.
Speaking of the pure definition of “one hit wonders.”
Karl: Brandy is actually a really fun song to play. I used to sit in with a friend of mine who did gigs around town to do that and a couple of other chestnuts. It’s got some really cool chord progressions done pretty fast.
I missed BJT’s earlier link to Yusuf Islam. I still have some residual fondness for a few, though I perefer the Tremeloes’ take on “Here Comes My Baby.”
Technically, Looking Glass was a two-hit wonder (the aforementioned “Jimmy Loves Maryann” being the other).
The Sweet had at least three — “Ballroom Blitz,” “Fox on the Run” and “Little Willy (more cowbell).” “Action” also got airplay, but I don’t recalll how high it charted.
The Service’s “Brandy” would enlist the audience for the back-up vocals. And the “rage and glory” would become a “raging something else.”
Once I saw the service give away a bag from McDonalds to a member of the audience who could sing them through the first verse of “Come sail Away” (laaaaad.)
Well that Cat Steven’s song was what was refered to in the day as the “layin for a layin'” song. Leonard Cohen, Boz Scaggs, Randy Newman’s “Marie”, James Taylor, Paul Simon.
Never underestimate the power of the acoustic guitar and voice.
Clint,
a-Ha was (and sorta still is) big in Europe. I once read a music blogger diss them and a horde of a-Ha heads descended on her.
So true, even though in the back of my mind, I always picture Belushi taking Bishop’s guitar and going all Townshend with it.
SevenEleventy, kidding yes, offended no.
The Chili Peppers do a sweet cover of Brandy.
Hah, Karl! I was thinking about the Belushi/Bishop bit as I wrote that comment.
I had forgotten about “Jimmy Loves Maryann” and I don’t remember it being that big. I must say those guys had a good grove and were playing a lot of jazz chords in their music.
Must hit the road. I’ll check back later.
The RHCP also did a fab cover of “Crosstown Traffic.”
Karl,
As Type O Negative printed on their liner notes to “Bloody Kisses” – “Do not mistake lack of talent for genius.”
And I think the entire Pop genre since about 1990 is a testament that being popular has nothing to do with ability.
That said, STP’s “Creep” is currently playing in my ears.
“”Jimmy Loves Maryann” hit #28 in the fall of 1973. And I must skedaddle for a bit now also.
I prefer “Interstate Love Song” or “Vaseline,” but must away now.
Adios, Sultan of Seismic Rock Utterings….
:)
Jeff,
But are you man enough to admit that you like Michael Bolton?
I happen to like him because his real name is Michael Bolotin, and he used to be my hash dealer.
“Pure Pop for Now People in the US”
Oh lord, did I play my copy to death.
Nick Lowe is still a fave in the present day.
Oh yeah.
Anybody remember “Afalafagah”?
Hint: Soupy Sales.
TLD – that is really freaky man. For some reason I was just now thinking about Soupy Sales and the “go get the green stuff from Mommy’s purse” debacle. Seriously.
I’m back, intermittently.
…and now I can get my mitts on Billboard’s Book of Top 40 hits.
Corrections: “Jimmy Loves Maryann” only made it to #33.
The Sweet had 5 top 40 hits
Little Willy, #3 (3/17/73)
Ballroom Blitz, #5 (8/2/75)
Fox on the Run, #5 (11/22/75)
Action, #20 (3/6/76)
and
Love Is Like Oxygen, #8 (4/15/78)
Love is Like Oxygen is a great rock and roll song, as is the RHCP’s cover of Higher Ground.
Has anyone mentioned The Raspberries yet?
Love is like oxygen. Sometimes, when there’s too much of it, it can incinerate your entire space capsule.
Here ya go. 80’s synth-pop at its finest.
Men without chairs.
Pablo,
The Raspberries no, though someone took a swipe at Eric Carmen’s “All by Myself” early in the thread. But “Go All the Way” and “I Wanna Be With You” are pure gold, imho. Like Orbison fronting the Fab Four.
Slart,
“Don’t You Forget About Me” has some the most dead-on drumming in modern pop.
Would you prefer death by Squeeze, or by Stranglers?
Oh, I like Simple Minds well enough, Karl. I just think ’80s pop videos were…well, whatever they were, it didn’t translate well into a couple of decades later.
Boney M’s Rivers of Babylon
When I found out the lead singer of Looking Glass was white, I was shocked.
Anybody else have Feliciano’s “Chico and the Man” on their iPod? I have that, John Sebastian’s “Welcome Back Kotter,” Bob James’ Taxi Theme (which is called something else, a chick’s name, I think — too lazy to Google, “Angela”, maybe?), and the themes to Hill Street Blues and Rockford Files.
Chris Rea’s Fool(if you think it’s over)
Good Christ, I leave a thread that was all about proper ABBA-hate and come back and everyone’s waxing nostalgic about mewling 70’s pop like they’re auditioning to be in the opening sequence of Reservoir Dogs. The fact that I own a copy of Sweet’s “Desolation Boulevard” on vinyl spares none of you my scorn. None.
I’m gonna go listen to Raw Power and reflect on how people will listen to anything if there’s a hot chick involved.
Oh, that’s a classic, 7-11ty. I like Rea’s later stuff ok, but that’s kinda ’70s cringeworthy.
I bought a CD, Hard to Find 45s on CD. Here’s a few that are equally cringeworthy:
Last Song by Edward Bear
Love Really Hurts Without You by Billy Ocean
My Angel Baby by Toby Beau
Ebony Eyes by Bob Welch
Driver’s Seat by Sniff ‘N’ the Tears
Beautiful Sunday by Daniel Boone
Which Way You Going Billy by The Poppy Family
Toot toot, haaaaaaa, beep-beep!
Smirky,
“Search and Destroy” is also in the cutout bin this week.
SevenEleventy,
“Driver’s Seat” is excellent. It can be heard in “Boogie Nights” iirc.
I’m gonna go listen to Raw Power and reflect on how people will listen to anything if there’s a hot chick involved.
Well, in ABBA’s case, the hot chick (occasionally chicks, depending on the redhead’s hair style) was just a bonus. The real music magic was created by the two dudes. Or, at least, the one who wrote all the melodies. Bjorn or Benny, can’t recall which is which. That guy and their studio engineer, actually.
Hell, yes. That may be the most infectious groove in the pop rock pantheon, and the black dude’s backing vocal is classic. I’ll also stick up for Ebony Eyes, but I’m gonna leave Last Song to Jeff. He’ll probably have to find a wolf to bugger after that one. If I’m gonna get squishy, I’ll stick with Rod Stewart and maintain some hope of respecting myself in the morning.
Fuck it all, Sniff n the Tears is a great band. Drivers Seat is probably the worst song on that album.
You come in to look for a king, anybody could be that guy, night is young and the music’s high..
#259 Slart
Really? I don’t think I’ve heard anything else from them. What songs stand out?
brilliant, dorkafork. And that smile is infectious.
[…] natch. I suppose I could add one about how women will never have their sexuality questioned for loving ABBA, but the main point here is to raise the profile of said checklists, because of the patriarchy. […]
I’m amazed no one has mentioned Pricilla! Yes, I’ll admit it’s one of my favorite movies, thus proving my ultimate manliness. Every gay cliche ever known. But they wouldn’t be cliche if they weren’t terribly true.
Pablo, “popular” and “good” are not interchangeable. But you don’t need me to tell you that.
New Lines On Love is quite good. Also The Thrill Of It All. Slide Away would have been their biggest hit, in a better world. Driver’s Seat did have good hooks, though, and that’s what sells songs.
I used to have a recording of the whole album lying around, or possibly even the album itself. I’ll have to rifle my vinyl collection and see if I can transcribe it to digital. It’s one of those pieces that I never got tired of listening to.
Back to ABBA, though…spawn of Abba.
They did have teh ghey thing all locked down, though. The really remarkable thing about ABBA is there are several tribute/lookalike bands that, according to their websites, make a fair living at touring and doing ABBA’s material.
[…] I got a few words wrong, but the meaning was intact. McCain is never not a douche, about anything. I’ve despised every major-party […]