&ot absonderpop: April 2007

Thursday, April 26, 2007

50,000 Watts Of Power



Now, this one's a bit complicated.
Well, the song as such is all but complicated. Two chords (ok, a third one right at the end) and a guy mostly talking.

Roadrunner can be found on The Modern Lovers' only (self-titled) album, which was released in 1976, when the band had long ceased to exist. Jonathan Richman would name his backing band The Modern Lovers for quite some time, but none of the original members were ever part of that. Jerry Harrison had joined Talking Heads and drummer David Robinson had already become a member of The Cars.

I took the effort to track down and (hopefully) correctly identify all versions of this song (with a lot of help from Simes' Jonathan Richman Pages and Daniel Howards Modern Lovers Discography).

All versions (unless otherwise noted)
Jonathan Richman (git/voc)
Jerry Harrison (kb/voc)
Ernie Brooks (bg/voc)
David Robinson (dr/voc)

The Modern Lovers: Roadrunner (LP Version)
March or April 1972, Elektra Studios, Los Angeles, produced by John Cale

The Modern Lovers: Roadrunner (Alternate Version)
March or April 1972, Elektra Studios, Los Angeles, produced by John Cale

The Modern Lovers: Roadrunner #1
June 1972, Dinky Dawson's basement studio, produced by Kim Fowley

The Modern Lovers: Roadrunner #2
Autumn 1973, Gold Star Studios, Los Angeles, produced by Kim Fowley
additional musicians: Mars Bonfire (git)

The Modern Lovers: Roadrunner (live)
1971 or 1972, Harvard University, Cambridge MA, produced by Ernie Brooks
additional musicians: John Felice (git)

The Modern Lovers: Roadrunner (Demo)
Autumn 1971, Intermedia Sound, Boston

Jonathan Richman: Roadrunner (Once)
Spring/Summer 1974, CBS Studios, Fulson Street, San Fancisco, produced by Matthew King Kaufman and Glen Kolotin
Jonathan Richman & Earth Quake [Robbie Dunbar (git), Gary Philips (git/voc), Stan Miller (bg), Steve Nelson (dr), John Doukas (voc), Ron Rhoades (voc)]

Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers: Roadrunner (Thrice)
1977, Live
Leroy Radcliffe (git), Asa Brebner (bg) D. Sharpe (dr)


A posting like this one couldn't be complete without a couple of cover versions:
Greg Kihn: Roadrunner
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts: Roadrunner
Joan Jett: Roadrunner USA
The Jazz Butcher: Roadrunner
The Jazz Butcher: Roadrunner (live, 1985)
The Jazz Butcher: Roadrunner (live, 2000)
Ace Andres and the X-15's: Roadrunner
Yo La Tengo: Roadrunner
The Feelies: Roadrunner (live)
Sex Pistols: Johnny B. Goode/Roadrunner
R.E.M.: Eight Miles High/Roadrunner (live)
ADZ: Roadrunner

If you happen to have another version of this song, feel free to send it in and I'll include it in this list.

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posted by absonderpop at 3:08 PM 5 comments

Monday, April 23, 2007

He's Already In Me



You don't always have to write lyrics of epic proportions if you can convey your message in just two lines.

The Stone Roses: I Wanna Be Adored (7" version)
The Stone Roses: I Wanna Be Adored (12" version)
The Stone Roses: I Wanna Be Adored (Bloody Valentine Edit)
Joshua English: I Wanna Be Adored
Tangerine: I Wanna Be Adored
Year Of The Rabbit: I Wanna Be Adored
Axton Kincaid: I Wanna Be Adored
Death Cab For Cutie: I Wanna Be Adored (live)

If you happen to have another version of this song, feel free to send it in and I'll include it in this list.

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posted by absonderpop at 8:08 AM 1 comments

Thursday, April 19, 2007

I'm Not Going To Play Your Games Anymore



When listing the most influential bands of the sixties, most people tend to forget The Byrds. They were one of the first groups to combine traditional or contemporary folk songs with electric guitars and drums and later in their career introduced country to the world of rock music. They inspired bands like R.E.M., Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers or Teenage Fanclub and almost everyone (including me) ever to choose a Rickenbacker guitar over one made by Fender or Gibson…

Until he left the band in 1966 – for reasons of, amongst others, fear of flying (!) – Gene Clark was the main songwriter of The Byrds. Although he rejoined the band for one album in 1973, he never again gained much commercial success. He died of drug- and alcohol-related health issues in 1991.

And yes, that is Katey "Peggy Bundy/Leela" Sagal…

The Byrds: Feel A Whole Lot Better
The Byrds: Feel A Whole Lot Better (alternate take)
Gene Clark: Feel A Whole Lot Better
Gene Clark & Carla Olson: Feel A Whole Lot Better (live)
Dave & The Stone Hearts: Feel A Whole Lot Better
Marble Phrogg: Feel A Whole Lot Better
The Barracudas: Feel A Whole Lot Better
The Flamin' Groovies: Feel A Whole Lot Better
Dinosaur Jr: Feel A Whole Lot Better
Tom Petty: Feel A Whole Lot Better
Elf Power: Feel A Whole Lot Better
Teenage Fanclub: Feel A Whole Lot Better
Johnny Rivers: Feel A Whole Lot Better
Katey Sagal: Feel A Whole Lot Better
Charles Lyonheart: Feel A Whole Lot Better
George Elliott: Feel A Whole Lot Better

If you happen to have another version of this song, feel free to send it in and I'll include it in this list.

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posted by absonderpop at 1:16 AM 3 comments

Monday, April 16, 2007

Clash Week, Pt. 4: Everybody They Wanna Go Home



To finish off Clash Week in this blog, here's one of the highlights from the last album they recorded in their original line-up, Combat Rock.
The Clash have always been politically outspoken, as is Straight To Hell – a song which tackles a number of social issues ranging from drug abuse to immigration.

The Clash: Straight To Hell (unedited version)
The Clash: Straight To Hell (live)
Amy Loftus and Will Kimbrough: Straight To Hell
Emm Gryner: Straight To Hell
Josh Rouse: Straight To Hell
Moby feat. Heather Nova: Straight To Hell
Phil Cody: Straight To Hell
Red Letter Day: Straight To Hell
Skinnerbox: Straight To Hell

If you happen to have another version of this song, feel free to send it in and I'll include it in this list.

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posted by absonderpop at 4:44 PM 0 comments

Friday, April 13, 2007

Clash Week, Pt. 3: I Guess My Race Is Run



And another song, not written by any of the members of The Clash. This one could even have been considered a classic by the time The Clash recorded their own version, as it had been recorded by The Crickets in 1960 and been made popular by The Bobby Fuller Four in 1964.
Written by Sonny Curtis, the guitarrist of The Crickets, I Fought The Law was included on the first album the band released after the death of their former lead singer Buddy Holly.

The Crickets: I Fought The Law
Bobby Fuller Four: I Fought The Law
The Clash: I Fought The Law
The Clash: I Fought The Law (live)
The Pogues feat. Joe Strummer: I Fought The Law (live)
Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros: I Fought The Law (live
Dead Kennedys: I Fought The Law
Stray Cats: I Fought The Law
Nanci Griffith: I Fought The Law
Mike Ness (Social Distortion): I Fought The Law
Waco Brothers: I Fought The Law
The Oyster Band: I Fought The Law (live)
Mano Negra: I Fought The Law (live)
Gene October (Chelsea): I Fought The Law
Hank Williams Jr.: I Fought The Law
Green Day: I Fought The Law
Henry Kaiser and David Lindley: I Fought The Law
Yo La Tengo: I Fought The Law
Bryan Adams: I Fought The Law (live)
Status Quo: I Fought The Law (live)
Birdland with Lester Bangs: I Fought The Law (live)
Claude François: J'ai Joué et J'ai Perdu
Ace Andres and the X-15's: I Fought The Law
Left Alone: I Fought The Law
Roy Orbison: I Fought The Law
The Freddy Steady 5: I Fought The Law
Tom Bee: I Fought The Law
Voodoo DeVille: I Fought The Law

If you happen to have another version of this song, feel free to send it in and I'll include it in this list.

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posted by absonderpop at 6:14 PM 5 comments

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Clash Week, Pt. 2: Won't You Help Me Find The Speed I Lack?



There are songs that you associate that much with one band, you are stunned to find out they haven't been written by this band.
Even so, if the original version of the song is by someone you only know from a couple of poppy reggae tunes from the 80s.
Eddy Grant, who was the main singer and songwriter for the British pop/reggae-group The Equals before he went solo, wrote "Police On My Back" and the band released the song as a single in 1968.

The Equals: Police On My Back
The Clash: Police On My Back
The Deadcats: Police On My Back
Asian Dub Foundation & Zebda: Police On My Back
Die Toten Hosen: Police On My Back
Levellers: Police On My Back
Micky Fitz: Police On My Back
Pressure Point: Police On My Back
The Hated: Police On My Back
The Rocketz: Police On My Back
Willie Nile: Police On My Back

If you happen to have another version of this song, feel free to send it in and I'll include it in this list.

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posted by absonderpop at 4:45 PM 0 comments

Monday, April 09, 2007

Clash Week, Pt. 1: The Money Feels Good



The Guns Of Brixton was the only song written by Paul Simonon (who's now in The Good, The Bad And The Queen) ever to be released on an album of The Clash. There must be a gazillion cover versions of this one and the bassline has crossed over into mainstream pop via the sample used by Norman Cook's Beats International (before he became Fatboy Slim).

Interestingly enough, the song was released way before the Brixton Riot of 1981.

The Clash: The Guns Of Brixton
The Clash: The Guns Of Brixton (live)
Arcade Fire: The Guns Of Brixton
Calexico: The Guns Of Brixton
RTZ Global: The Guns Of Brixton
Nouvelle Vague: The Guns Of Brixton
Jeff Klein: The Guns Of Brixton
Rancho Deluxe: The Guns Of Brixton
The Bandits: The Guns Of Brixton
Blaggers ITA: The Guns Of Brixton
The Honeydippers: The Guns Of Brixton
Dropkick Murphys: The Guns Of Brixton
Die Toten Hosen: The Guns Of Brixton (live)
Die Toten Hosen feat. Gentleman: The Guns Of Brixton (live)
The Anacondas: The Guns Of Brixton
Los Fabulosos Cadillacs: The Guns Of Brixton
Enrico Ruggeri: The Guns Of Brixton
Bolchoi: The Guns Of Brixton
Inner Terrestrials: The Guns Of Brixton

Bonus (listen, and you'll know…):
Cypress Hill feat. Tim Armstrong: What's Your Number?
Soilent Grün: Spitz wie Lumpi
Beats International: Dub Be Good To Me

If you happen to have another version of this song, feel free to send it in and I'll include it in this list.

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posted by absonderpop at 7:25 PM 2 comments

Thursday, April 05, 2007

It's Better To Burn Out…

There are those moments in everybody's lives that you won't forget, no matter how long in the past the may have occured.
Some of them are sad, some are filled with bliss.
Some are private, some are very, very public.
Some are quiet, some are very, very noisy.

The "Monsters of Spex"-festival at the Tanzbrunnen, Cologne, 8/24/1991, was one of those moments in my life.
Because there was this band that arrived too late for their allocated time-slot in the early afternoon and got squeezed in between Sonic Youth, Bob Mould (doing an acoustic set) and Dinosaur Jr.
Most of the folks at the festival (including me) had never heard of them before, but we all somehow knew, we were experiencing something very, very big.

Oh, name of the band? Nirvana.



13 years ago today, on April, 5th 1994 Kurt Cobain shot himself.
(Needless to say, I never returned my ticket for their show at the Sporthalle, Cologne on 4/14/1994…)

To commemorate one of the greatest musicians ever to walk this planet, here's a couple of cover versions of Nirvana's break-through song:

Nirvana: Smells Like Teen Spirit
Patti Smith: Smells Like Teen Spirit
Tori Amos: Smells Like Teen Spirit
Paul Anka: Smells Like Teen Spirit
The Melvins & Leif Garrett: Smells Like Teen Spirit
Warp Brothers: Smells Like Teen Spirit
Scandal'us: Smells Like Teen Spirit
Scala: Smells Like Teen Spirit
The Bad Plus: Smells Like Teen Spirit
Willie Nelson: Smells Like Teen Spirit
Weird Al Yankovic: Smells Like Nirvana

If you happen to have another version of this song, feel free to send it in and I'll include it in this list.

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posted by absonderpop at 12:04 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Please Don't Confront Me With My Failures

I had to put this blog on hiatus for quite some time for personal reasons, but I promise to post regularly from now on again…



To start afresh, here's a couple of versions of "These Days".
Jackson Browne wrote the song in 1967 for German-born ex-model Nico to be included on her first solo album Chelsea Girl.

Browne would later record the song himself for his 1973 sophomore album For Everyman.

Nico: These Days
Jackson Browne: These Days
Jackson Browne: These Days (solo acoustic)
David Allan Coe: These Days
10,000 Maniacs: These Days
Fountains of Wayne: These Days
Barbara Manning: These Days
Denison Witmer: These Days
Paul Westerberg: These Days
Mates of State: These Days
The Golden Palominos: These Days

If you happen to have another version of this song, feel free to send it in and I'll include it in this list.
(There are other songs titled "These Days" by R.E.M., Joy Division, The Jesus and Mary Chain and Ron Sexsmith, which shouldn't be confused with this one.)

My Old Kentucky Blog has the perfect companion piece to this posting.

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posted by absonderpop at 7:16 PM 1 comments