The way the sales pitch gets wilder and increasingly metaphysical on Step Right Up is brilliant. Spanish Moon by Little Feat is a good one chord story, too.
Laura Nyro made an artform of these types of songs in the 1960's: New York Tendaberry, December's Boudoir, Timer, Tomcat Goodby, Captain St Lucifer, Wedding Bell Blues..
Really great topic I think there are loads of songs without chorus So i wanted go come up with one that is suitably unorthodox and a big hit single. This one reached #2 in UK O.Superman : Laurie Anderson
I found the demo of Grace Slick working on "Mexico". She is not credited often for her piano playing on a lot of the Airplane stuff not counting the piano playing by Nicky Hopkins on Volunteers. When she and Paul Kantner put out their first three collaborative albums, Grace does all of the piano playing I am pretty sure. Also the song Rejoyce on After Bathing At Baxters showcases her piano playing.
Surf’s Up is a masterpiece. Pablo Picasso by The Modern Lovers is a great song, but might the lyrics beginning, “He could walk down your street” and ending “not like you” might be considered a chorus, or at least a refrain (I don’t know the difference) since it repeats multiple times? A couple of Kinks’ favorites - “Cricket” from Preservation Act 1 and “Phenomenal Cat” from VGPS (although the “fum fum diddle um” part repeats)
This is a very intriguing episode. I’ve always been really big on great singing voices and song lyrics, but I’ve never really delved deep into this side of vocal arrangements. I tend to overlook this type of thing because I’m constantly caught up in the instrumental quality of bands and songs. And I noticed a very interesting comment by someone else in regard to Guided By Voices, a band that I’ve been crazy about since the late 90s. Thanks to your breakdown, it will likely give me a different perspective on why that band appeals to me.
- Brady Eye : Flick of the finger (2013). - Jefferson Airplane : DCBA - 25 (1967). - The Byrds : CTA- 102 (1967). -....Michael Head and The Red Elastic Band : The next day (2022)....amazing track sounding like à Love's lost song !
Of these types of songs, I can only think of two that went to No.1 on Billboard: the 5th Dimension's cover of Laura Nyro's Wedding Bell Blues in November 1969, and Bobby Darin's version of the 1920's song Mack the Knife in 1959, which is about a serial killer. Darin's version changes key several times to maintain momentum. His vocal is absolutely brilliant.
"Happiness Is A Warm Gun" is my favorite song on "The White Album"...As a matter of fact, I love most of the songs you mentioned; Peace and Love, Terry Tutor
Tom, you did it again; most interesting topic in this show. I played the songs along as you introduced them. Enjoyed the mentions in the comments, too. Great fun. I’ve not a song to add here, except I so enjoy your channel. Appreciate you sharing your insights into all this chewy goodness that is pop, rock, and jazz.
Kevin Ayers was a master at this, in a minimalist/repetitive way. On the first Soft Machine album, he had a track titled "We Did It Again" -- and the title is the lyric, over and over for several minutes. Later on, he had one called "A Religious Experience", and this is the lyric: "Singing a song in the morning/Singing it again at night/Don't even know what I'm singing' about/But it makes me feel I feel alright yeah yeah/Makes me feel I feel alright." It goes on that way for a while, with some mad guitar jams (Syd Barrett on the demo). Agreed that Grace Slick was very good with these rambling numbers -- I think there's some of that on Baxter's, too. BTW, did I hear you refer to Arthur Bremer as "Brennan"? I have a copy of his diary in paperback here somewhere...
I agree with you on A Quick One from the RR Circus. The definitive version. The Monterey Pop version is so wimpy!! I'm sure they didn't play it live for very long.
While never a major band, Mission of Burma, a Boston band from the 80s, released "Trem Two" on their 1982 LP, "Vs." I was never a "fan", particularly, because I didn't understand their 'point', or most of their other music, but I liked (and like) this track : ua-cam.com/video/4KKfH_MraCg/v-deo.htmlsi=2COe1o6fcs0roggs UA-cam also has a "live" version of it, from 1983, here: ua-cam.com/video/hXdmzl47cDs/v-deo.htmlsi=t8cECBJJ8B07mNoI
Maggie May. Rod Stewart
The John Wesley Harding album and best of all Sign on the Cross from the Basement Tapes
The way the sales pitch gets wilder and increasingly metaphysical on Step Right Up is brilliant. Spanish Moon by Little Feat is a good one chord story, too.
That sales pitch is hysterical.
Laura Nyro made an artform of these types of songs in the 1960's: New York Tendaberry, December's Boudoir, Timer, Tomcat Goodby, Captain St Lucifer, Wedding Bell Blues..
No doubt about it. This style is all over the Eli album.
Excellent video Tom.
I personally nominate approximately half of the discography from Guided by Voices.
Yep, GBV immediately came to mind for me, too!
Really great topic
I think there are loads of songs without chorus So i wanted go come up with one that is suitably unorthodox and a big hit single.
This one reached #2 in UK
O.Superman : Laurie Anderson
Indeed 😉
You surprised me, Tom. I was very much expecting to see Beyond Belief by Elvis Costello included.
Almost made the list. 😉
I found the demo of Grace Slick working on "Mexico". She is not credited often for her piano playing on a lot of the Airplane stuff not counting the piano playing by Nicky Hopkins on Volunteers. When she and Paul Kantner put out their first three collaborative albums, Grace does all of the piano playing I am pretty sure. Also the song Rejoyce on After Bathing At Baxters showcases her piano playing.
Great track!
Grace is a talented piano player and painter.
Surf’s Up is a masterpiece. Pablo Picasso by The Modern Lovers is a great song, but might the lyrics beginning, “He could walk down your street” and ending “not like you” might be considered a chorus, or at least a refrain (I don’t know the difference) since it repeats multiple times? A couple of Kinks’ favorites - “Cricket” from Preservation Act 1 and “Phenomenal Cat” from VGPS (although the “fum fum diddle um” part repeats)
❤ nyro ever
One of my fave artists.
@@tomrobinson5776yep ❤
This is a very intriguing episode. I’ve always been really big on great singing voices and song lyrics, but I’ve never really delved deep into this side of vocal arrangements. I tend to overlook this type of thing because I’m constantly caught up in the instrumental quality of bands and songs. And I noticed a very interesting comment by someone else in regard to Guided By Voices, a band that I’ve been crazy about since the late 90s. Thanks to your breakdown, it will likely give me a different perspective on why that band appeals to me.
- Brady Eye : Flick of the finger (2013).
- Jefferson Airplane : DCBA - 25 (1967).
- The Byrds : CTA- 102 (1967).
-....Michael Head and The Red Elastic Band : The next day (2022)....amazing track sounding like à Love's lost song !
Beady Eye........!!!!!!!!!
Suite for 20G, one of my top 3 J T songs. Talk about a non-hit…also Surf’s Up in a category of its own.
Good video Tom. Surf ‘s Up is one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written!
Of these types of songs, I can only think of two that went to No.1 on Billboard: the 5th Dimension's cover of Laura Nyro's Wedding Bell Blues in November 1969, and Bobby Darin's version of the 1920's song Mack the Knife in 1959, which is about a serial killer. Darin's version changes key several times to maintain momentum. His vocal is absolutely brilliant.
I agree.
"In Dreams" by Roy Orbison, from back when everybody followed the rules. Genius.Featured in the movie Blue Velvet.
Great film and a bizarre scene in the film. Actually the whole film is bizarre…
Excellent topic idea. I'll add to the mix Virginia Plain by Roxy Music.
Fascinating video Tom .. Dylan's Subterranean Homesick Blues would meet the criteria
Absolutely 😉
"Happiness Is A Warm Gun" is my favorite song on "The White Album"...As a matter of fact, I love most of the songs you mentioned; Peace and Love, Terry Tutor
Tom, you did it again; most interesting topic in this show. I played the songs along as you introduced them. Enjoyed the mentions in the comments, too. Great fun. I’ve not a song to add here, except I so enjoy your channel. Appreciate you sharing your insights into all this chewy goodness that is pop, rock, and jazz.
Thanks Chris 😉
What about “Paint A Vulgar Picture” from Strangeways, Here We Come
You’re right, great track. 😉
Kevin Ayers was a master at this, in a minimalist/repetitive way. On the first Soft Machine album, he had a track titled "We Did It Again" -- and the title is the lyric, over and over for several minutes. Later on, he had one called "A Religious Experience", and this is the lyric: "Singing a song in the morning/Singing it again at night/Don't even know what I'm singing' about/But it makes me feel I feel alright yeah yeah/Makes me feel I feel alright." It goes on that way for a while, with some mad guitar jams (Syd Barrett on the demo). Agreed that Grace Slick was very good with these rambling numbers -- I think there's some of that on Baxter's, too.
BTW, did I hear you refer to Arthur Bremer as "Brennan"? I have a copy of his diary in paperback here somewhere...
Oh, and on The Kids Are Alright, you can hear Moon damaging Townshend's hearing.
I thought I said Bremer, but may have come out as Brennan.
Would The Beatles, Tomorrow Never Knows and The Byrds, Eight Miles High fit into the category?
Absolutely
I agree with you on A Quick One from the RR Circus. The definitive version. The Monterey Pop version is so wimpy!! I'm sure they didn't play it live for very long.
While never a major band, Mission of Burma, a Boston band from the 80s, released "Trem Two" on their 1982 LP, "Vs."
I was never a "fan", particularly, because I didn't understand their 'point', or most of their other music, but I liked (and like) this track :
ua-cam.com/video/4KKfH_MraCg/v-deo.htmlsi=2COe1o6fcs0roggs
UA-cam also has a "live" version of it, from 1983, here: ua-cam.com/video/hXdmzl47cDs/v-deo.htmlsi=t8cECBJJ8B07mNoI
Cool, I’ll check these out. I remember having an album of theirs at one time…