Friday, August 31, 2012

Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2) by Pink Floyd

Our week of end of summer and/or the return to school has come to a close. I'm thinking that we should keep the weekly themes going and I have the next three weeks covered. 'Another Brick in the Wall (Part2)' is our final selection for this week, and it just might be the best anti-school song in the history of rock and roll. 'Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)' was a #1 hit song from Pink Floyd's 1979 rock opera, The Wall.

Should I be happy that Roger Waters, the bass player for Pink Floyd, had a psychological breakdown while on tour during the late 1970s? I don't wish bad things on others, but it was that breakdown that led him to write The Wall. As a fan of Pink Floyd, I do like The Wall, but I'm not in love with the album. That statement may be blasphemy to some fans, and my personal favorite from Floyd is Dark Side of the Moon. However, if we need a school sucks type of anthem, then 'Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)' does the job despite the fact that the chorus is not grammatically correct.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Chalk Dust Torture by Phish

This week, The Lost Soul of Rock & Roll is selecting songs about the end of summer and/or the beginning of school. The song of the day for August 30, 2012 is 'Chalk Dust Torture' by Phish, which is featured on their 1991 album, A Picture of Nectar.

Haters gonna hate on Phish. They expect me to douse myself with patchouli oil, put on the finest hemp made clothes, and grab a pint of Ben & Jerry's Phish Food. Phish and The Grateful Dead are the poster children for dirty hippie jam band music, but one shouldn't deny the talent of both bands. Phish's A Picture of Nectar is a damn good rock and roll album, and 'Chalk Dust Torture' is quite possibly Phish's most rockin' song. Enjoy.


Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Here Comes A Regular by The Replacements

This week I am selecting songs that deal with the end of summer and/or the beginning of a new school year. The song of the day for August 29, 2012 is 'Here Comes A Regular' by The Replacements. This is the last song on their phenomenal 1985 release, Tim. If you're going to listen to a Replacement's album in your lifetime then my suggestion is Tim because the album features some all-out rockers like 'Bastards of Young', and some pop driven beauties like 'Kiss Me On The Bus'.

The Replacements are one of my favorite bands of all time, and Paul Westerberg, the lead singer and guitar player for The Replacements, has written some gems in his lifetime, and 'Here Comes A Regular' just might be his greatest work. The reason I selected 'Here Comes A Regular' for our end of summer/beginning of school week is because of the line in the song that goes, 'The summer's passed, it's too late to cut the grass. There ain't much to rake anyway in the fall'. 'Here Comes A Regular' is not some wishy-washy anthem about summer love or a phony rebellious high school anthem for the kids who shop at Hot Topic. 'Here Comes A Regular' is about friends that have gone away, uncertainty, and days wasted doing nothing, plus 'Here Comes A Regular' really goes somewhere that few songs can match. Enjoy.   

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Boys of Summer by Don Henley

This week I am selecting songs that remind me of going back to school and/or the end of summer. My selection for August 28, 2012 is 'Boys of Summer' by Don Henley, which was a major hit from his 1984 album, Building the Perfect Beast.

I'm not going to apologize for liking Don Henley as a solo artist or even as a member of The Eagles. 'Boys of Summer' is one catchy pop tune, and if you don't like it then I will tie you up, and smash all of your Tegan and Sara albums to cleanse you of your Don Henley sins. I'm joking. I'm not going to smash your Tegan and Sara albums. I'm going to set you on fire. JOKING!


Monday, August 27, 2012

Big School by Guided by Voices

Fun time is over because school is back in session. I've decided that this week I'll select songs that remind me of school starting and the end of summer. I'm not always in the mood to do themes at the Lost Soul of Rock and Roll because of my Generation X slacker attitude, but I have some motivation this week.  

The song of the day for August 27, 2012 is 'Big School' by Guided by Voices (GBV), which was released in 1993 on the Static Airplane Jive EP. Why did I choose this song? 'Big School' gets me pumped every time I listen to it  thanks to Bob Pollard's energetic intro of, "One, two, BIG SCHOOL!" I was in college when I discovered GBV in '94 and this song was blasted on my car stereo as I would drive to my classes. I give this song to the younger generation and to those of you that have not embraced the awesomeness that is GBV. Go forth and rock. 

Friday, August 24, 2012

Gouge Away by The Pixies

Last night, I was at the grocery store, and I saw someone wearing a 'Death To The Pixies' t-shirt. It was nice to see a fellow Pixies fan. I wanted to say, "Awesome shirt", but I chickened out and went on my way to the checkout lane.

I first heard The Pixies twenty years ago because my good friend, Ryan Dellwood, was fed up with my unabashed love of 70s classic rock. He stopped by my house one evening with a box of tapes, and one of them as 'Doolittle' by The Pixies. 'You have to hear this song', demanded Dellwood, and it was 'Gouge Away'. I was immediately hooked, and I purchased 'Doolittle' on CD a few weeks later. To this day it remains one of my favorite albums of all time.


Thursday, August 23, 2012

Nervous Breakdown by Black Flag

I was in the mood for some Black Flag this morning, so I decided that the song of the day at The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll should be 'Nervous Breakdown'. If you've never heard anything by Black Flag then you really need to give 'Nervous Breakdown' a listen because this is classic hardcore punk. Released as an EP in 1978, 'Nervous Breakdown' is a fantastic gateway song into the non-stop sonic attack universe of Black Flag. You might be wondering, "Is that Henry Rollins on vocals?", and the answer is no. The original lineup of Black Flag had Keith Morris (Circle Jerks) on vocals, but he was replaced by Ron Reyes, and he was replaced by Dez Cadena, but he was replaced by Rollins. Enjoy.  


Wednesday, August 22, 2012

My Wife by The Who

I was driving my kids to Battle Creek, Michigan on Sunday to have breakfast at The Pancake House, a restaurant I highly recommend to anyone who visits Battle Creek. While on the road, I was listening to one of those Sunday morning classic rock programs, and they played 'My Wife' by The Who.'My Wife' was written by bass player, John Entwistle, and it is one of the best tracks on Who's Next, The Who's 1971 rock masterpiece. This is definitely in my top five of greatest songs by The Who, and there are days when I list it as my favorite Who song. Some days it is 'My Wife' and other days it is the Rock and Roll Circus version of 'A Quick One While He's Away'. Enjoy.  

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Wishing Well by Terence Trent D'Arby

This is one of my jams. I've loved this song for ages, and it is one slick production by multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter, Terence Trent D'Arby. He was born Terence Howard, took the stage name Terence Trent D'Arby, and later changed his name to Sananda Francesco Maitreya. Terence Trent D'Arby made a grand entrance to the world of rock and roll in 1987 with his debut album, Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby. His debut sold some 14 million copies and he had a number one hit with today's song of the day, 'Wishing Well'. D'Arby's career didn't take off due to claims of Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby being a better album than Sgt. Pepper's.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Friday, August 17, 2012

Vacation by The Go-Go's

My wife is taking a much needed vacation this weekend, and I've selected 'Vacation' by The Go-Go's as the song of the day for August 17, 2012 at The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll. 'Vacation' was released in 1982, and I'm still in denial over the fact that this song was released thirty years ago. I remember watching the video on MTV, and it was even a major hit on the jukebox in the game room at the place I went swimming. That's enough of my 'woe is me' moment, so click the video below and enjoy.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Deceptacon by Le Tigre

Get up and dance! Le Tigre's 'Deceptacon' is the song of the day at The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll because it is one awesome electropunk jam. Le Tigre is Kathleen Hanna, J.D. Samson, and Johanna Fatemen, and they have been together since 1998. I've selected a live version of 'Deceptacon' which is featured in the documentary Who Took The Bomp? Le Tigre on Tour.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

The Waiting by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers

I've been expecting an important phone call for sixteen days, and that's why I've selected the 1981 hit, 'The Waiting, by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers. I know it is not the most original selection, but the waiting is the hardest part. I've got nothing else to say, so enjoy the music.  



Tuesday, August 14, 2012

World Shut Your Mouth by Julian Cope

Julian Cope is one of those artists that I respect, but I have not had the "a-ha!" moment where I connect with their musical brilliance. I've listened to Peggy Suicide a few times, and I'm at the "I like you, but I don't like you - like you" phase of our rock and roll relationship. One song that I have always enjoyed is 'World Shut Your Mouth' from Cope's 1987 album, St. Julian, which is a fantastic song to listen to after being bombarded with political and philosophical Facebook posts.

Monday, August 13, 2012

Temptation Eyes by The Grass Roots

My wife made a wonderful dinner Saturday evening. She had the radio on while preparing the meal, and decided to keep it on while we enjoyed our feast. The radio was set to the local oldies station, and they were in the middle of a mix of some really good music. When 'Temptation Eyes' by The Grass Roots came on the radio, it got the whole Lost Soul of Rock and Roll family grooving at the dinner table.

The Grass Roots were a fantastic L.A. based band back in the late 60s and early 70s, and shame on you if you don't know their hits like 'Let's Live for Today', 'Midnight Confessions', 'Two Divided by Love', and 'Temptation Eyes'. The band featured the vocals of Warren Entner and Rob Grill, but don't forget that Creed Bratton (The Office) was the band's guitarist from 1966 to 1969. Today's selection is 'Temptation Eyes', which hit #15 on the U.S. charts in 1971. Enjoy. 

Friday, August 10, 2012

Panic by The Smiths

I had another song selected, but something happened at work that demanded an immediate change to today's Lost Soul of Rock & Roll song of the day. Once a week, I work in an office area that has a radio playing a local "mix" station. "Mix" stations play the "best" of the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 00s. The DJ at the "mix" station made a major mistake this morning when they played 'Who Let the Dogs Out?' by The Baha Men. As that horrific song started to play, I heard Morrissey, the lead singer of The Smiths, in my head singing, "Hang the DJ, hang the DJ..." Please understand that I do not want to hang the DJ in the literal sense, but I was angry that they had to play that song or someone requested 'Who Let the Dogs Out?'

The Smith's 'Panic' was a single released in 1986 and it was a reaction against the non-stop bombardment of horrific pop music by radio stations and clubs. Sadly, we are still bombarded. 'Panic' is a great song and I agree with Morrissey when he sings, "Hang the blessed DJ/ Because the music that they constantly play/ It says nothing to me about my life." I know I can turn off the radio to stop the bombardment, but is it too much to ask as a rock and roll fan to have a radio station that consistently plays good music?


Thursday, August 9, 2012

Black Napkins by Frank Zappa

I don't expect everyone to "get" Frank Zappa as an artist, but I'd like for people to appreciate his work. If you just see Zappa as a weirdo then you've failed to see a gifted musician who has an impressive discography. Don't forget that it was the infamous Zappa Montreux Casino concert where a fan with a flare gun burned down the legendary venue, which inspired the Deep Purple classic rock anthem, 'Smoke on the Water'. Zappa also went before the United States Senate in 1985 to protect free speech against the evil empire known as The Parents Music Resource Center.

Take a listen to 'Black Napkins', an instrumental from the album Zoot Allures, and you'll see a guy that could kill it on the guitar. Zappa passed away at the age of 52 in 1993, but left a musical legacy that can not be overlooked.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

I've Been Loving You Too Long by Otis Redding

Last night, my wife asked me to name a song that was "sexy" and I mentioned 'These Arms Of Mine' by Otis Redding. She found the song online and played a clip, but then she played 'I've Been Loving You Too Long'. Both of those songs are definitely sexy and I decided to share Otis Redding's performance of 'I've Been Loving You Too Long' at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival.

Otis Redding has been a personal favorite of mine for many years and his songs can be incredibly sexy or incredibly sad. For every 'Try A Little Tenderness' there is a 'I've Got Dreams To Remember'. His catalog is solid and don't forget that this was the man that wrote 'Respect', which became a major hit for Aretha Franklin. Sadly, Redding was 26 years old when he died in a plane crash, but his musical legacy will never be forgotten.

One of the biggest highlights of Redding's career was his performance at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. This is the event where the world discovered Janis Joplin, where The Who smashed their equipment for an American audience, and where Jimi Hendrix set his guitar on fire. Backed by Booker T. and The M.G.'s, Redding made a splash on a predominately white audience, which made him a bigger star. He died six months later and the video below shows a one-of-a-kind artist that left us too soon.  

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

I Can't Drive 55 by Sammy Hagar

I have jury duty today and this is the fifth time I've been selected in the past ten years. I don't know if I'll make it to a courtroom, but I hope I'll be lucky enough to witness something equal to the tomfoolery that occurs in Sammy Hagar's video for 'I Can't Drive 55'. Let's watch the video and then read my thoughts.


After seeing that video again, I have come to a few conclusions. First, just drop the '55' from the song title and call the song 'I Can't Drive'. Was it just me or does Hagar put everyone's lives at risk when he is behind the wheel? Secondly, I have no sympathy for Sammy in this video. He drives like a dick, assaults a police officer, and then starts a riot with his grease monkeys/band mates in the courtroom. His reason? He can not drive 55 miles per hour. We must hire Atticus Finch and put this injustice to an end. On a side note, one should catch the spelling mistake at the 2:05 mark.

I don't know what awaits me for jury duty, but if Sammy Hagar shows up then it is going to be one awesome day. Hopefully he brings some Cabo Wabo

Monday, August 6, 2012

Hair of the Dog by Nazareth

I didn't expect my Monday to turn into a Facebook frenzy. My good friend, Billy Soundwave, likes to post items of a political nature on Facebook and I enjoy debating with him because he is willing to hear my opinion. Billy posted something last night and the end result was some guy I never met ended up insulting a friend and said something horrible and disgusting to my wife. Instead of jumping in my car and finding this buffoon, Billy Soundwave made the right move by deleting the post and by getting rid of the buffoon. You're my boy, Billy.

Music helps when I'm really angry, so a personal favorite I like to blast is Nazareth's 1975 hard rock classic, 'Hair of the Dog'. You may know Nazareth from their cover of 'Love Hurts', but they hit one out of the park with 'Hair of the Dog' because it's tough to beat the chorus of 'Now you're messing with a son of a bitch.'   

Friday, August 3, 2012

Things Can Only Get Better by Howard Jones

Sometimes it takes a few weeks, months, or years for a blogger to find their true voice. I'm 99% certain I just found my voice last night during dinner. The assigned music days are gone and from this point forward, I'm posting the songs that are stuck in my head.

Every day a different song creeps into my brain and parks itself there for approximately 24 hours. The songs show up while I'm driving home from work or at the grocery store or at three in the morning when I'm lying awake in bed. Those songs eventually fade away and are replaced by another song. The cycle is never ending.

'Things Can Only Get better' by Howard Jones popped into my head last night during dinner. My wife and I were talking about the string of bad luck we've had with some minor issues around the house and with our cars. A bad alternator, a busted garage door, the inability to find a sane buyer for our mini-van, and dealing with a check engine light have been the highlights of our past few weeks. The chorus of 'Things can only get better' popped into my head and I instantly felt better. Yes, these are small things to deal with in life, and I'm aware that people are still living in tents in Haiti, people are fleeing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and some are still rebuilding their lives after tsunamis and earthquakes. I know I'm sweating the small stuff, so if you're dealing with a similar string of bad luck, then enjoy this 1985 hit from Howard Jones' Dream Into Action.    

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Turn it to Eleven Thursday: Summertime Blues by Blue Cheer

Turn it to Eleven Thursday is a column at The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll where every Thursday I select a gem from the world of hard rock and heavy metal for your listening enjoyment.

This week I have selected Blue Cheer's cover of Eddie Cochran's 'Summertime Blues'. August has arrived and when I was a kid enjoying my summer break, I always caught the summertime blues when August arrived. I knew school was weeks away and my days of sleeping in and playing video games were about to end. As an adult, I still feel a little blue in August and I have come to believe it is some sort of sympathy for the younger generation who must return to school. Let's rock out to some Blue Cheer to beat the blues. 

Blue Cheer, a San Francisco power trio named after a certain brand of LSD, helped pave the way for hard rock and heavy metal with 1968's Vincebus Eruptum.  For those of you that know your rock and roll history, 1968 was a landmark year for hard rock and heavy metal because Blue Cheer's 'Summertime Blues', Steppenwolf's 'Born to be Wild', and Iron Butterfly's 'In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida' were released, plus it should be noted that 'Summertime Blues' was the first of the three songs to chart. I hope you enjoy the performance below and be sure to check out drummer Paul Whaley who might be mistaken for Cousin It from the Addams Family.


Wednesday, August 1, 2012

What The...Wednesday: You Standing There by Jandek

What The...Wednesday is a weekly series at The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll. Every Wednesday I select something wonderfully odd from the rock and roll universe, and this week I present to you 'You Standing There' by Jandek.

You are not ready for Jandek. You think you're ready, but you are not prepared to enter the avant-garde folk universe of Jandek. Who is Jandek? Houston resident Sterling Richard Smith is believed to be Jandek due to the fact that Smith's name is credited to all of Jandek's work at the Library of Congress. Jandek has released over 60 albums on his label, Corwood Industries, since 1978 and has kept his personal information a complete secret. There are two known Jandek interviews and one was conducted in 1985 with Spin magazine. You can click here to hear some of the interview so you can understand how we know almost nothing about this artist. This week I have posted 'You Standing There', a song from his twenty-seventh album, New Town, which was released in 1998. Enjoy.