On This Day – ‘We Built This City’ Hits #1 (despite being absolute crap)
Nov 18, 2009 On This Day
On this day in 1985 Starship (ex Jefferson Starship, ex Jefferson Airplane, ex Airplane, ex Jefferson, ex Jefferson Steamboat, ex Jefferson Ric Shaw) made it to number 1 with an abomination.
‘We Built This City’ was written by Bernie Taupin (words smith for Elton John), Martin Page (ex Q-Feel), Dennis Lambert (ex Lambert and Nuttycombe (?) who also wrote Rhinestone Cowboy), and Peter Wolf (ex the wonderful J Geils band – he should have known better). It was produced by Jeremy Smith and Peter Wolf (he REALLY should have known better).
It was Starship’s first single. It also managed to reach the list of the “Worst 50 Songs Ever” as compiled by Blender.com to mange the feat the songs had to be both popular, and dreadful. This one managed on both fronts, in spades. It shares this accolade with such songs as “Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da” by Marmalade, “I would Do Anything For Love” by Meatloaf, and “Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus. (Of course Celine Dion was also represented in the list – goes without saying)
The sight of a big haired, shoulder padded, spanky clean Grace and co singing such banal (but catchy) lyrics is appalling. Almost as much as the premise is that this is some sort of anti-commercial anthem while it is, in fact, steeped in 80s corporate rock commercial values and production.
Forgive me, but you have been warned!
Now For Some Covers!
This is Great!
I was looking for a copy by Frenzal Rhomb but couldn’t find one…..I also could not find a clip of the great Kid Carpet (another bristol boy) performing where he often sings “We built this city on slavery” as a reference to Bristol’s past. Never mind, if you get the chance go and see him and find out just what can be done with musical toys.
Really, forget this, go back to the start, when Grace and co made music to be proud of. From White Rabbit to this, it beggars belief.
Tags: Grace Slick, jefferson airplane, jefferson starship, On This Day, rock and blues, we built this city, white rabbit
Michael Jackson – The Funeral, Court Judgements, It Just Goes On….
Nov 17, 2009 About and things
Michael Jackson was a great singer. His personal and financial lives were a mess. The wrangle over money continues.
last week his father (Joe) lost his battle to get some money from the estate. He was also told that he could not challenge the executives named in Michael’s will. You will remember that Michael had a ’strained’ relationship with Joe. MJ had said that at some times during his life, both when a child and as an adult, he had felt physically sick at the sight of his father. So, not a normal close father son relationship, apparently.
It was a bit of a fractious day in court which ended with Judge Beckloff saying; “I don’t think he gets to step into this and create further litigation,” the judge declared. “Joe Jackson takes none of this estate. This is a decision his son made.” Seems fair to me.
Joe can, however, make a claim for living expenses on the basis that Michael was supporting him when he died. What sort of expenses? They include; Rent, $1,200. Dining out, $2,500. Entertainment & holidays, $1,000. Air travel; $2,000. Hotels; $3,000. Those are monthly expenses. The rent seems a bit low for a place in Las Vegas, but he got double his rent to eat out? Learn to cook is my advice. However, perhaps he did not need to rent a big place as he spent almost 3 times his rent on hotel rooms. As for the air travel, has no one in the USA’s C list celeb community heard of global warming?
Joe also gets $1,700 per month social security. What?
The funeral. Ah yes. You will remember that until he died Michael was, relatively, poor. that being one of the reasons he agreed to the daunting O2 schedule. However, the estate must be in good shape, what with the album sales and the film grossing squillions of dollars. It has to be to pay for the funeral.
The funeral took place on 3rd September and was really fit for ‘The King of Pop’.
$860,000 to Forest Lawn Cemetery for the purchase of plots in the family mausoleum and funeral charges.
$35,000 for funeral garments (presumably Michael’s).
$1,975 for the family’s wardrobe. (?)
$2,000 for the ushers’ costumes.
$3,682 to frame a photo of Michael (the one next to the coffin).
$959 for embroidery.
$11,716 for invitations (and prgrammes).
$30,000 for security and cars.
$15,000 for a funeral designer/director.
$21,455 for the ‘funeral repast’. (When I go there will be a couple of hundred quid behind the bar at my local).
In order to pay for the funeral Kathleen (Michael’s mother) filed papers with the administrators of the state for money to be released only 3 days before the funeral. They, obviously, had to agree. Apparently the papers said that without the funds being released that “the funeral will not proceed.” If that happened it would have caused Kathleen and the family “public embarrassment and added grief, along with the daunting task of having to make new arrangements.”
Surely they should have sorted out the money before arranging the funeral?
A statement for the family said;
“Mrs. Jackson and her family wish to honour her son by a funeral that seeks to offer solace to his multitude of fans and by which the family also may be comforted,” the attorneys said. The costs were substantial but “entirely commensurate with the decedent’s worldwide status as an entertainer and the world’s grief over his death.”
It is all such a mess.
Outside court on Tuesday, lawyer Howard Weitzman, who represents the administrators, said: “I would have done it less expensively. But it was Michael Jackson, who was larger than life. There’s no reason he should not have a funeral that’s larger than life.”
Isn’t there is something odd about saying that a funeral should be larger than life?
The funeral costs were on top of the costs of the Staple Centre tribute…………
Tags: joe jackson, kathleen jackson, michael Jackson, michael jackson funeral, michael jackson litigation, rock and blues
On This Day – Patti Turns 60!
Nov 16, 2009 On This Day
No not Patti Smith, Patti Santos. Patti who? The Patti with the wonderful voice that fronted the best West Coast band in the 60s. It’s A beautiful day.
Granted, most of you will not have heard of them but think of it as an opportunity to bring something truly wonderful into your life.
Formed in the mid 60s by violinist David la Flame and his wife Linda. It’s a Beautiful Day never really made it. They played a sort of jazz, folk, rock, mix. That they never became as big as the other bands around San Francisco at the time remains a mystery. They had the ethic, the songs and the musicianship. With Patti Santos they also had one of the best voices on the West Coat, knocking Grace into a cocked hat.
The eponymous first album contained some stand out tracks including White Bird. Other strong tracks were “Hot Summer Day”, “Time Is” and Bombay Calling (as an aside listen to Deep Purple’s “Child In Time” – where do you think that they knicked that opening?)
The second album “Marrying Maiden” was more commercial, but thankfully not much. There was no sign of selling out and “Don & Dewey” and “The Dolphins ” stand out.
Perhaps one of the reasons they never broke through is the choice of manager. Matt Katz had previously been sacked by both Jefferson Airplane and Moby Grape and in the early 70s the band and ex-manager were locked in a bitter legal wrangle.
The world is full of what ifs. What if ISBD did break through, if David and Linda had not split up, what if the manager matched the band in terms of talent? All I know is that I saw them when they came to the UK in 1970 and sat in a field in Somerset entranced listening to that pure and wonderful voice.
Patti, happy birthday.
Tags: david La Flame, its a beautiful day, On This Day, Patti Santos, rock and blues, white bird
Arrivals – 16th November
Nov 16, 2009 arrivals
Born on this day, any more?
1938 Troy Seals (James Brown’s backing band)
1938 Toni Brown (Joy of Cooking)
1949 Patti Santos (It’s a Beautiful Day)
1962 Mani (The Stone Roses)
Tags: born on this day, Mani, Patti Santos, rock and blues, Toni Brown, Troy Seals
On This Day – Bowie Makes it to US TV!
Nov 9, 2009 On This Day
It seems strange now to think that it was not until this day in 1975 that Bowie made it to national US TV. He appeared on The Cher Show singing ‘Fame’.
Looking back it is easy for us to think that Bowie’s rise to fame was easy and virtually instant but that is far from the truth. He started his first band in 1962, the Konrads. He then played in various bands and as a solo artist (using his real name of Davie Jones) until 1966 when he changed his stage name. Incredibly now, he was worried that sharing his name with one of the Monkees would harm his career. There were also at least 7 singles released under his name or with bands like The Lower Third that all sank like a stone until he released ‘The laughing Gnome’. Some kind people call this a novelty song, the rest of us call it crap.
In spite of this single, or because of it – it did reach number 6 in the UK, Bowie was signed by Deram and released a self titled album in 1967. It did not chart. Two years later he released the album ‘Space Oddity’ which reached number 16 in the US. This was to be a higher rating album in the US than The Man Who Sold The World, Hunky Dory, The Rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, Aladdin Sane, and Pinups. It was not until 1974’s Diamond Dogs that Bowie broke the US market.
So an instant and trouble free rise to mega-stardom? Nah, but cream always rises to the top in the end.
The first performance on US national TV.
This is from national UK TV 2 years earlier;
And this is supposed to be his first TV appearance (it isn’t) but I just love the flares – not even Bowie could make pink flares cool.
Tags: bowie, classic rock music, On This Day, rock and blues
Arrivals – 9 November
Nov 9, 2009 arrivals
Born this day, any more?
1941 Tom Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revivial)
1943 Lee Graziano (American Breed)
1948 Joe Bauchard (Blue Oyster Cult)
1944 Phil May (Pretty Things)
1969 Pepa (Salt and Pepa)
Tags: born on this day, Joe Bauchard, Lee Graziano, Phil May, rock and blues, Tom Fogerty
Michael Jackson Speaks!
Nov 9, 2009 Rants
So the seance with Derek Acorah and the Tweance with Jayne Wallace have come and gone. What did he have to say, what was his message to the world?
He told Jayne Wallace that he was singing ‘Heal the World’ when he was contacted and was sorry that he could not fulfill the gigs arranged for the O2 Arena in London.
Derek Acorah managed to get some more information from him. This seance had 4 ’super fans’ with Acorah. This would attract Michael more than just Acorah by himself, apparently. At least that makes sense. I would be more likely to go to meet 4 people that liked me rather than go anywhere to meet Acorah by himself……
Michael told the fans of his love for them, and some of them wept. (It seems that no ‘realty’ TV programme is complete without someone crying, be it a game show, house makeover, fashion makeover, facial makeover).
Acorah said the singer wished he had been laid to rest by his icon Marilyn Monroe. It is of course no secret that Michael had a statue of Marilyn in the gardens of Neverland and was a huge fan of the tragic actress. Acorah then said that Michael said ‘I wished to lie alongside her. I suppose it’s of no consequence.’
Michael also said through Acorah that he wanted to receive the fans’ love, that it was paramount that he did so. He also said that he was slowly adjusting to his new spiritual life and spending time with his grandparents. he would take time to look after his 4 new friends who were with Acorah at the seance.
All 4 of the super fans were affected by the seance. One said that when she looked into Acorah’s eyes she could see Michael. There were tears and emotion, as you would expect as they were desperately wanting to contact Michael. My beef is not with those fans who all miss their idol, it is with those seeking to make money out of this bogus show. The show was a ratings hit for Sky with some 607,000 viewers.
As an aside, a few days ago I wrote about Derren Brown criticising Acorah and this seance. What he actually said was He wrote: “Can you honestly imagine anything – anything – more anus-invertingly unpalatable than this? I hate myself for drawing attention to it.” Well, the medium has hit back saying; “He’s looking for publicity! He always does it. Every time. I don’t know why he wants to do it that way. We are worlds apart – Derren Brown is a magician and an illusionist. He can’t do what I do and I certainly don’t claim to do what he does. He’s riding the publicity off my back.”
It’s all handbags at 100 yards. I suppose that Derren Brown did benefit from the publicity but then so did Acorah. And it is true that Acorah could not do what Brown does but it is untrue that brown could not do what Acorah does.
What would it take?
The identity of the 4 super fans were known. It is easy enough to google and research the impersonator’s performances and chose one to comment about, especially if MJ had been there, there would be a record. Talking with the super fans during the days before the broadcast would reveal bits and pieces that could be used, interpreted and researched. Some generalities about loving the fans, a comment about being buried next to Monroe, impossible to prove, or disprove but likely to be believed by the fan base. Add to that the lighting, the super fans’ expectations and desires who could fail to pull this off?
Tags: acorah and jackson, derek acorah, michael Jackson, michael jackson seance, rock and blues
Not The Post It Is Supposed To Be!
Nov 8, 2009 Reviews
I was going to write a post about the reissue of Maxinquay by Tricky from 1995. This in itself was a bit of a surprise as I am not into Hip Hop (or whatever the genre is called these days) however, I have kept a bit of a watching (listening) brief on Tricky. For one thing he was born bristol which is where I grew up. Secondly, his music is a bit dark and he comments on social problems.
Anyway I was looking for clips from Maxinquay, which I heartedly recommend by the way, and came across this tremendous clip. It is called Puppy Toy and is from the 2008 album Knowle West Boy (the part of Bristol he was brought up in). It shows how he has developed as a writer and performer.
An interview with Tricky.
This is from Maxinquaye.
In Summary, Maxinqaye is a welcomed reissue, although I am not sure why it went away, however, Knowle West Boy shows what grown up hip hop is all about. And for my friends who deride hip hop as not being ‘real’ music I urge you to get yourself over to Youtube and just wander around the clips of Tricky you will be converted. As Frank Zappa said there is no such thing as bad music (mind you he obviously never listened to Country and Western, or ELO!)
Tags: hip hop, knowle west boy, maxinquaye, real rock and blues, rock and blues, tricky
On This Day – Fogerty Sued Fogerty, and Lost!
Nov 7, 2009 On This Day
On this day in 1988 John Fogerty, late of Creedance Clearwater Revival, was sued by the owners to the rights of CCR’s songs. They said that Fogerty’s song ‘The Old Man Down The Road’ plagiarised his own song “Run Through The Jungle”. Specifically, that they shared the same chorus.
In other words, Fogerty was said to have copied himself.
He (they) lost, he did not copy himself. His later song, though similar to his previous song, was dissimilar enough not to be the same.
I hope that is clear, I shall be asking questions later, class dismissed.
Tags: John Fogerty, On This Day, rock and blues, Run Through The Jungle, The Old Man Down The Road
Arrivals – 6 November
Nov 6, 2009 arrivals
Born on this day, any more?
1916 Ray Conniff (orchestra leader)
1933 Joseph Pope (Tams)
1937 Eugene Pitt (The Jive Five)
1938 P.J. Proby (Hold Me)
1942 Doug Sahm (Sir Douglas Quintet)
1947 George Young (Easybeats)
1948 Glenn Frey (Eagles)
1950 Chris Glen (Sensational Alex Harvey Band)
Tags: born on this day, Chris Glen, Doug Sahm, Eugene Pitt, George Young, Glenn Frey, Joseph Pope, P.J. Proby, Ray Conniff, rock and blues
