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GENERAL QUERIES

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07:13 / 18.01.02

Got a simple, music related questions that needs answering? You have? Then stick that question on the end of your finger, prod it into the sticky interior of the massive, pulsating brain-mass that is the Barbelith collective and see if it doesn't spunk some knowledge into your eyes.

Oh brain, I insert:

1. It'll be a miracle if anyone answers this one, but: I need to find out who did a particular track that I used to have on tape, recorded from the Andy Kershaw prog back in 1987(!) This is what I have to go on:

- Done by a male, folky/bluesy, singer/songwriter type. Most likely American, but poss Irish. I thought it might be Paul Brady, simply because I remember Kershaw was always playing his stuff, but looking at his CDs he looks a wee bit cheesy to be the one.
- I think it was called 'The Werewolf'. The first line is "Oh the weeeerewolf, the weeerewolf," and I think it then goes "is cominggggg around..."
- Very simple, spooky and melancholy. The end bit where he goes from major to minor (maybe) and sings a melodic werewolf-howl style "Owww-ooo-ooo" bit is facking gorgeous. The lyrics though, which go on about the werewolf having a crack at "the maid" and tearing off her clothes are possibly a bit, um, dodgy.

2. What is the definitive (ie best) version of 'Anything Goes', and is it still available?

3. Who did the original version of "Don'cha Just Know it?" as covered by the Sonics?

Please supply answers, or ask you own questions.

[ 11-02-2002: Message edited by: Saveloy ]

[ 26-02-2002: Message edited by: Saveloy ]

[ 26-02-2002: Message edited by: Flux = Everything Extraordinaire ]

Regrettable Juvenilia

08:31 / 18.01.02

My first question:

1. What's the best Magnetic Fields album (not including 69 Love Songs)?

Haus about we all give each other a big lovely huggle?

08:31 / 18.01.02

Oh, you caprice....

How the fuck do you answer a question like that?

Like this: Pretty much all the Magnetic Fields albums are very good indeed, but in different ways. I would say their best are probably "The Wayward Bus/Distant Plastic Trees" - although these are very early and quite different, with Susan Anway on vocals and far more abstruse lyrics and the odd electronic harpsichord - and "Holiday", which has Merritt on vocals and, as you might expect, a holiday theme. Well, holiday/apocalypse, natch.

But that excludes tracks like "Famous" (probably their most....erm...famous song before 69 Love Songs") and "Smoke and Mirrors" on "The MAgnetic Fields Get Lost", "Either you don't love me or I don't love you" on the House of Tomorrow, and "Two Characters in Search of a Country Song" from "The Charm of a Highway Strip", all of which are mighty.

Best bet? Get MP3s of the whole lot of 'em, decide which ones you like.

[ 18-01-2002: Message edited by: The Haus of Rain ]

Regrettable Juvenilia

08:31 / 18.01.02

Cool, actually song titles is in some ways more useful, as I can hit Audiogalaxy. It did occur to me that I could have just e-mail you, Haus, but I wanted to get a spread of opinion. And completely hi-jack Saveloy's thread.

08:31 / 18.01.02

Cheeky little monster! No, it's cool, what you're doing is exactly what the thread is for. I'm hoping that people will see answer's to questions that they wouldn't have bothered asking themselves but which are useful or interesting anyway.

I don't expect my own main question to be answered till Jack Fear drags his lazy arse out of bed (I mean it's, what, 7am over there now, what the fack is he up to?)

No star here laces

08:31 / 18.01.02

Okay, goddamit, embarassing lack of knowledge here.

Y'know the Wu's "Hollow bones"? You know that sample? ("crash against my hollow bones") Well it comes from this really nice, soulful kind of vocal funk thing, with some guy singing about how he can't get on in life and "is it because I'm black?" Now, I know this is a relatively well-known tune, but can't remember what it is. And I want it.

Anybody know?

Regrettable Juvenilia

08:31 / 18.01.02

Syl Johnson, 'Is It Because I'm Black?'

I just tried to e-mail an MP3 to you but it wouldn't let me...

[ 18-01-2002: Message edited by: Flyboy ]

13:05 / 18.01.02

Who are these Magnetic Fields I've been hearing so much about lately?

Why haven't I ever heard them?

I mean ever?

13:05 / 18.01.02

quote:Originally posted by Flyboy:
Cool, actually song titles is in some ways more useful, as I can hit Audiogalaxy. It did occur to me that I could have just e-mail you, Haus, but I wanted to get a spread of opinion. And completely hi-jack Saveloy's thread.

I'll second everything Haus said, and include two more songs: "Rats in the Garbage of the Western World" (B-side to "All the Umbrellas in London"), and what I think is the best song on Highway Strip, "Crowd of Drifters."
But the Susan Anway stuff is the stuff I heard first, and I still think it's the best. The *very* best. "Josephine" will melt your heart.

>>>

The only werewolf song I know is Warren Zevon, "Werewolves of London," but that pretty clearly isn't the one you're describing. (Well and "Falling In Love With the Wolf Boy," see above.)

I'm partial to Ethel Merman's "Anything Goes," but haven't heard a vast variety of covers.

This won't answer the Sonics question, but will give you more information than you wanted. Ha Ha Ha.
The third paragraph of
this page will answer your question, but it's not nearly as much fun as the above one.

Note: I've never actually heard the song. Is it goood?

13:06 / 18.01.02

Werewolf answer.

Fear me, mortals.

Fear me.

(And fear this audio clip of another band covering the song. If you can get it to work)

Cherry: You haven't heard of the awesome majesty of the Magnetic Fields?

Maybe a free sample of the songwriting (albeit mangled in the cover versions of a heap of lo-fi bands) is what you need. I kind of like the sampler, but don't mistake it for the real thing. It ain't.

These live tracks are, though.

Oh, fear me!

[ 18-01-2002: Message edited by: grant ]

13:25 / 18.01.02

grant: You rock, again. Thanks.

"Note: I've never actually heard the song. Is it goood?"

Yep. Actually, I don't even know if the version I have is the original original, but I'm pretty certain it's pre-Sonics. It's on a tape my wife has of a compilation of 50s/early 60s R&B and stuff, recorded for her years ago by someone who couldn't be arsed to write a track listing.
It's mid-tempo but good and meaty and, delivery wise, sounds like a lazy lumox being forced to jog along a bumpy road by some guy with a pointy stick. The chorus goes like this (brackets denotes backing singers, which sound like a big gang of just any old people that were around):

"Uh-uh-uh-uh,
(uh-uh-uh-uh)
Ay-ay-ay-oh!
(Ay-ay-ay-oh!)
Grooba-grooba-grooba-grooba,
(Grooba-grooba-grooba-grooba)
U-uh-uh-uh-uh
(uh-uh-uh-uh)
UH-UH-UH-UH
(UH-UH-UH-UH)
WAY-AY-AY-OH!
(WAY-AY-AY-OH!)

It's going on the compilations I'm gonna be sending out, which is why I want the artiste, really. Huey "Piano" Smith sounds about right to me, there is a pretty prominent piano on there.

13:34 / 18.01.02

AND a thousand, billion thanks for finding the Werewolf song! I would kiss you, but I fear you!

13:35 / 18.01.02

If the maid's clothes bit seems dodgy, by the way, you should know the Holy Modal Rounders did a jugband song called "Boobs A Lot" that's on one of Dr. Demento's collections.
(You gotta like boobs a lot.. boobs a lot, boobs a lot....)

I'd be quite interested in that mix, Mister Saveloy.

13:49 / 18.01.02

Then you shall have it. It'll probably be only 10 or 20% new to you, but hey. If I get hold of a copy of the Michael Hurley tune I'll bung it on there as well. Hope it's as good as I remember it...

14:00 / 18.01.02

1. I have a desperate need to get some SMOG records. Which ones are the best? He seems to be pretty prolific..

2. It'll be a miracle if anyone gets this:
I spent some considerable time in a record shop yesterday, and they were playing this really wicked hip-hop album. The track that stood out most had a really dark backing track with a huge thundering bass-line and the vocals consisted of a sample of a guy ranting in a highly imaginative way, quite low down in the mix. Any ideas?

(Q:why didn't I ask the guy behind the counter what it was? A: I'm a fool.)

3.What's the track-listing to Mogwai's 'Ten Rapid'?

[ 18-01-2002: Message edited by: Rizla Year Zero ]

Haus about we all give each other a big lovely huggle?

14:10 / 18.01.02

quote:Originally posted by grant:

I'll second everything Haus said, and include two more songs: "Rats in the Garbage of the Western World" (B-side to "All the Umbrellas in London"), and what I think is the best song on Highway Strip, "Crowd of Drifters."
But the Susan Anway stuff is the stuff I heard first, and I still think it's the best. The *very* best. "Josephine" will melt your heart.

So, do you have the Susan Anway vocal version fo "Crowd of Drifters"?

14:18 / 18.01.02

Re: SMOG

I've only heard two LPs, so I don't know if it's his best but 'Knock Knock', the one with the cougar/leopard thing on the cover, is bloody fantastic. Features 'Teenage Spaceship', 'Cold Blooded Old Times' and 'Hit the Ground Running' (which starts off with a chorus of singing kiddie-winkies, ahhhh). Better LP than 'Dongs of Sevotion', I reckon.

14:42 / 18.01.02

I thought of getting 'Knock Knock' just because it has such a great cover, but I couldn't find it anywhere yesterday..

14:50 / 18.01.02

Riz:

1. I’d agree with Saveloy that “Knock, Knock” is pretty damn good - although I haven’t heard anything else by Smog except a recent Peel session which was also fantastic (and completely different).

2. "a really dark backing track with a huge thundering bass-line and the vocals consisted of a sample of a guy ranting in a highly imaginative way, quite low down in the mix". Dunno – but a wild ass guess is that it could be New Kingdom (though it could be anybody).
What was he rapping about? If it was unicorns and horses, space travel, conquistadors and Animal from the Muppets – then its definitely New Kingdom

3. Ten Rapid =

Summer
Helicon 2
Angels versus Aliens
I am not Batman
Tuner
Ithica 27 Φ 9
A Place for Parks
Helicon 1
End

14:54 / 18.01.02

Thanks for the Mogwai tracklisting .. just wanted to make sure I didn't have any of it already before I ordered a copy.

quote:Originally posted by Red Running Lord:

What was he rapping about? If it was unicorns and horses, space travel, conquistadors and Animal from the Muppets – then its definitely New Kingdom

Well .. it wasn't really rapping as such, more ranting .. I THINK some of those things might have been mentioned .. I was trying to remember some of the words, but I forgot them all 5 minutes after leaving the shop..

15:21 / 18.01.02

I can’t find any New Kingdom mp3’s online for you to check against, but even if it wasn’t them I would recommend that you pick up a copy of Paradise Don't Come Cheap , it’s full of tracks that match your description.

Fuck I wish I had a CD writer! I would happily send you a copy (I haven’t even got a tape deck). I spent so long trying to convince people to buy this when it came out……..

New Kingdom absolutely ROCK!

For a comparison think Funkadelic meets Outkast, with loads of growlin’ and testifyin’, produced by DJ Muggs in his prime.

15:57 / 18.01.02

Riz - Knock Knock is generally considered to be the best Smog album so far. It is fantastic (Held, River Guard, Hit The Ground Running are some of his greatest songs), butRed Apple Falls is easily as good, if not better. I also heartily recommend Dongs Of Sevotion. Get any one of those three. Get them all, if you can.

16:00 / 18.01.02

quote:Originally posted by The Haus of Rain:
So, do you have the Susan Anway vocal version fo "Crowd of Drifters"?

Nope. I think I tried to order a compile with it on it from Merge, but they were out of stock.

Sigh.

16:08 / 18.01.02

quote:Originally posted by Rizla Year Zero:
1. I have a desperate need to get some SMOG records. Which ones are the best? He seems to be pretty prolific.

I have two on a 100 minute tape. The first one is very lo-fi, and mostly annoying, and is called, uh.... shit I'll have to look it up. Julius Caesar. "Your Wedding" (I'm gonna get drunk.. sooo druuuunk... at your wedding!) and "Angel of Death" are pretty good, but on the whole, it's noisy, off-key, and unsatisfying after repeated listening.

On the other hand, Wild Love has "Bathysphere" (as covered by Cat Power) and "Prince Alone in the Studio" on it, which alone are worth the price of admission.

There's a full discography and track listing (with lyrics and even some tabs)
right here.

10:40 / 22.01.02

New question:

I'm after record shops that either specialise in folk/blues/roots type stuff, or have a goodly section devoted to that sort of thing, and they need to be in Brighton, Southampton or London. Do any exist?

13:21 / 22.01.02

I wish I could answer that .. but alas I can't. My blues comes from shit compilations bought at HMV sales.

Another question:

It just occured to me that the usually insanely prolific Man or Astroman? haven't released a new album in nearly 3 years - WHAT THE DICKENS ARE THEY PLAYING AT?

The Return Of Rothkoid

13:40 / 22.01.02

According to their website, they should be mixing their forthcoming live album right now.

Matthew Fluxington

13:46 / 22.01.02

I'm not a big Smog fan, but I have heard every Smog release save for the newest one, and I would say (and most people would agree) that Red Apple Falls and The Doctor Leaves At Dawn are the two best Smog LPs.

The Doctor... contains the best Smog song, "Lize".

Matthew Fluxington

13:55 / 22.01.02

quote:Originally posted by Cherry Bomb:
Who are these Magnetic Fields I've been hearing so much about lately?

Why haven't I ever heard them?

I mean ever?

I'm pretty amazed. Not hearing about the Magnetic Fields until recently must have meant that you didn't read any music publications in the year 2000. Everybody was writing about 69 Love Songs, everybody.

The Magnetic Fields are the most popular and prolific 'band' of the songwriter Stephin Merritt. You may remember him as being the man behind the Future Bible Heroes, the 6ths, and The Gothic Archies. He's amazingly prolific, along the lines of Bob Pollard and Billy Childish - but his influences mainly include synthpop, standards, and classic pop.

For more information about Mr. Merritt, go

here.

If you wanted to check him out, get the 69 Love Songs box set. It is literally 69 love songs, split over 3 cds. You can buy them individually too... I think Vol 3 is the best of them. If you want to be a little more wary, I would say get Vol 3. But be warned: the ratio of great songs to bad songs on each volume is about the same. You can trim down the whole set to maybe 30 really brilliant songs...

Matthew Fluxington

14:06 / 22.01.02

Okay, my turn: can anyone here hook me up with an MP3 or cd copy of Harpers Bizarre performing the song "If We Ever Needed The Lord Before"? It was recently released as bonus track for the cd rerelease of their fourth album, but I don't really have the money to spend on a record that I only really want one song on... and it's not available on Audiogalaxy.

If anyone would be so kind to hook me up, I'll send you a bunch of cool stuff in return.

06:41 / 11.02.02

Bumping this thread up.

06:41 / 11.02.02

good idea. you know, I thought of this question I *really wanted to ask* last night .. but I've forgotten it. darn.

um, um ... how about: Who are these 23 Skiddoo people and, seeing as they seem to sound like horrible loungey white boy funk remixed by some shite industrial band .. why does everyone seem to think they're so great? it's just cos they've got a cool name, ISN'T IT?

Regrettable Juvenilia

06:41 / 11.02.02

I think this thread should be dedicated to only the most important of musical questions. Such as:

Shirley Manson's blonde quiff - beautifully androgynous, or waaaay too Annie Lennox?

10:25 / 11.02.02

re: smog
bill callahan is a genius. listen to 'the doctor came at dawn', it sounds like emptiness and clarification. it settles right inside you. (flux, lize is my favourite too.)
other favourites include 'knock knock' and 'red apple falls'.
but, better than record, to realy listen to smog, go see them live. it's the best feeling in the world.

[ 11-02-2002: Message edited by: suds ]

11:43 / 11.02.02

I did see Smog live. In a tiny, friendly little room in Leicester. 'Twas thereafter that I thought 'I think I need to own these songs and know them off by heart'.

As an aside, that performance featured absolutely my favourite on-stage banter ever, occuring about halfway through the performance, previous to which Bill hadn't uttered a single word, but had muttered a lot about the sound not being right and scawled:

A BRAVE AUDIENCE MEMBER: So, how are you enjoying Leicester, Bill?

BILL: I .. don't know. We only just Arrived. I don't know anything about this place.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Have you heard of Joe Orton?

BILL: No. Is that your name? Why'd I have heard of you?

AUDIENCE MEMBER: no, he's Leicester's claim to fame..

BILL: Oh. So what did this J. Morton guy do?

(clique of audience members mutter and eventually come to agreement)

AUDIENCE MEMBER: He was a gay comedian basically.

(lengthy silence)

BILL:Well .. aren't we all.

aah, dry wit, dry wit..

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