Saturday, June 27, 2009
THAT REPRESENT MAN
Near as I can tell it comes from Muddy. The boastful first person narrative set to song. Muddy told you he was a Man, then he told you how to spell it.
"Now when I was a young boy, at the age of five
My mother said I was gonna be the greatest man alive"
"I spell mmm, aaa child, nnn
That represents man"
He also told you he was a Hoochie Coochie Man, then he defined it for you.
"The gypsy woman told my mother
Before I was born
You got a boy child's comin'
He's gonna be a son of a gun
He gonna make pretty women's
Jump and shout
Then the world wanna know
What this all about
But you know I'm him
Everybody knows I'm him
Well you know I'm the hoochie coochie man
Everybody knows I'm him"
After the Beatles, John Lennon was lauded for the brave artistry of his naked first person approach to the song.
"I don't believe in magic
I don't believe in I-ching
I don't believe in Bible
I don't believe in Tarot
I don't believe in Hitler
I don't believe in Jesus
I don't believe in Kennedy
I don't believe in Buddha
I don't believe in Mantra
I don't believe in Gita
I don't believe in Yoga
I don't believe in Kings
I don't believe in Elvis
I don't believe in Zimmerman
I don't believe in Beatles
I just believe in me...
Yoko and me
And that reality"
Today, we hear the first person proclamation of superiority in Hip Hop fairly pervasively. Every MC has to mack in a compelling manner. If not, the artist will get eaten alive by the fierce competitive nature of the game. De La Soul's positive vibrations may have been honorable, but in the end it didn't serve them very well. P.M. Dawn anyone? Graciousness and intelligence just can't stand up the the muscle of a Microphone Fiend with Lyrics of Fury.
"I was a fiend before I became a teen
I melted microphones instead of cones of ice cream
Music orientated so when hip-hop was originated
Fitted like pieces of puzzles, complicated
'Cause I grabbed the mic and try to say 'yes yall'!
They tried to take it, and say that I'm too small
Cool, cause I don't get upset
I kick a hole in the speaker, pull the plug, then I jet"
For the generation between Lennon and Run DMC, however, it was Bon Scott who felt compelled to list his many vice related virtues. Scott's braggadocio of badness, perfectly supported by the super tight and sleazy boogie woogie of the band (AC/DC) was the jagged edge that poked a hole in the bag of 70's rock bands stuck in a self-conscious trend of journalistic commentary and observation. Rock was pretentious. Even the Punks, who's self proclaimed raison d'etre was to be the thorn in the side of the pretentious self-indulgent Rock establishment, were pretentious in so doing.
Bon Scott was not pretentious. On occasion he would write subjectively, or, even actually in the third person, but mostly it was Bon on Bon, like Muddy, like Jay-Z, Bon was a boaster, and he made you love him for his arrogance.
"I'm dirty, mean and mighty unclean
I'm a wanted man
Public enemy number one
Understand?
So lock up your daughter
Lock up your wife
Lock up your back door
And run for your life
The man is back in town
So don't you mess me 'round
I'm T.N.T.
I'm Dynamite"
Ain't that a man?
Surely there have been other noteworthy practitioners of the Boast, Ted Nugent and Kiss come to mind, but not nearly on the scale of Muddy, Bon, and two decades of MCs.
Near as I can tell it comes from Muddy. The boastful first person narrative set to song. Muddy told you he was a Man, then he told you how to spell it.
"Now when I was a young boy, at the age of five
My mother said I was gonna be the greatest man alive"
"I spell mmm, aaa child, nnn
That represents man"
He also told you he was a Hoochie Coochie Man, then he defined it for you.
"The gypsy woman told my mother
Before I was born
You got a boy child's comin'
He's gonna be a son of a gun
He gonna make pretty women's
Jump and shout
Then the world wanna know
What this all about
But you know I'm him
Everybody knows I'm him
Well you know I'm the hoochie coochie man
Everybody knows I'm him"
After the Beatles, John Lennon was lauded for the brave artistry of his naked first person approach to the song.
"I don't believe in magic
I don't believe in I-ching
I don't believe in Bible
I don't believe in Tarot
I don't believe in Hitler
I don't believe in Jesus
I don't believe in Kennedy
I don't believe in Buddha
I don't believe in Mantra
I don't believe in Gita
I don't believe in Yoga
I don't believe in Kings
I don't believe in Elvis
I don't believe in Zimmerman
I don't believe in Beatles
I just believe in me...
Yoko and me
And that reality"
Today, we hear the first person proclamation of superiority in Hip Hop fairly pervasively. Every MC has to mack in a compelling manner. If not, the artist will get eaten alive by the fierce competitive nature of the game. De La Soul's positive vibrations may have been honorable, but in the end it didn't serve them very well. P.M. Dawn anyone? Graciousness and intelligence just can't stand up the the muscle of a Microphone Fiend with Lyrics of Fury.
"I was a fiend before I became a teen
I melted microphones instead of cones of ice cream
Music orientated so when hip-hop was originated
Fitted like pieces of puzzles, complicated
'Cause I grabbed the mic and try to say 'yes yall'!
They tried to take it, and say that I'm too small
Cool, cause I don't get upset
I kick a hole in the speaker, pull the plug, then I jet"
For the generation between Lennon and Run DMC, however, it was Bon Scott who felt compelled to list his many vice related virtues. Scott's braggadocio of badness, perfectly supported by the super tight and sleazy boogie woogie of the band (AC/DC) was the jagged edge that poked a hole in the bag of 70's rock bands stuck in a self-conscious trend of journalistic commentary and observation. Rock was pretentious. Even the Punks, who's self proclaimed raison d'etre was to be the thorn in the side of the pretentious self-indulgent Rock establishment, were pretentious in so doing.
Bon Scott was not pretentious. On occasion he would write subjectively, or, even actually in the third person, but mostly it was Bon on Bon, like Muddy, like Jay-Z, Bon was a boaster, and he made you love him for his arrogance.
"I'm dirty, mean and mighty unclean
I'm a wanted man
Public enemy number one
Understand?
So lock up your daughter
Lock up your wife
Lock up your back door
And run for your life
The man is back in town
So don't you mess me 'round
I'm T.N.T.
I'm Dynamite"
Ain't that a man?
Surely there have been other noteworthy practitioners of the Boast, Ted Nugent and Kiss come to mind, but not nearly on the scale of Muddy, Bon, and two decades of MCs.
JACKSON'S REACTION TO THE DEATH OF JACKSON
Michael died on Thursday. It's now Saturday, and my two most frequented television channels - MSNBC and VH1 Classic - are both still in round the clock MJ programming mode. I can only watch the Thriller video so many times. My interest in this event waned about mid-day on Friday. So what's my recourse?
My extensive Rock DVD collection has been my refuge. Last night I watched my 'Old Grey Whistle Test' DVD, and this morning I slapped in AC/DC's 'Family Jewels', a collection of their videos from 1976 through 19991.
Later I'll probably watch 'Kissology Volume 1', and maybe 'The History of Iron Maiden Part 1: The Early Years', and there's always 'Running Down a Dream', the four hour Tom Petty movie.
I accept the fact that Michael Jackson was an entertainer of unparalleled talent and acclaim, but c'mon people, can we move on now?
Michael died on Thursday. It's now Saturday, and my two most frequented television channels - MSNBC and VH1 Classic - are both still in round the clock MJ programming mode. I can only watch the Thriller video so many times. My interest in this event waned about mid-day on Friday. So what's my recourse?
My extensive Rock DVD collection has been my refuge. Last night I watched my 'Old Grey Whistle Test' DVD, and this morning I slapped in AC/DC's 'Family Jewels', a collection of their videos from 1976 through 19991.
Later I'll probably watch 'Kissology Volume 1', and maybe 'The History of Iron Maiden Part 1: The Early Years', and there's always 'Running Down a Dream', the four hour Tom Petty movie.
I accept the fact that Michael Jackson was an entertainer of unparalleled talent and acclaim, but c'mon people, can we move on now?
Friday, June 26, 2009
VINYL, NEW AND USED
The surprising news of Michael Jackson's death will have it's impact upon the record collection. The Legal Diva and I do not have a copy of either 'Off the Wall' or 'Thriller', two records that have never hit the bargain bins, and now it is assured that they never will. Folks just don't sell off their old MJ records.
BUT
I'm quite sure all of Michael's catalog will be re-released on vinyl, like these recent purchases were:
The Chronic - Dr. Dre
Sign of the Times - Prince
The Harder They Come - Original Movie Soundtrack
While we were at it, we scored a number of used records including:
Super Session - Bloomfield/Kooper/Stills
Amazing Grace - Aretha Franklin
Vinyl is alive and well, long live vinyl, rest in peace Michael.
The surprising news of Michael Jackson's death will have it's impact upon the record collection. The Legal Diva and I do not have a copy of either 'Off the Wall' or 'Thriller', two records that have never hit the bargain bins, and now it is assured that they never will. Folks just don't sell off their old MJ records.
BUT
I'm quite sure all of Michael's catalog will be re-released on vinyl, like these recent purchases were:
The Chronic - Dr. Dre
Sign of the Times - Prince
The Harder They Come - Original Movie Soundtrack
While we were at it, we scored a number of used records including:
Super Session - Bloomfield/Kooper/Stills
Amazing Grace - Aretha Franklin
Vinyl is alive and well, long live vinyl, rest in peace Michael.
Friday, June 05, 2009
THE CONTINUING ADVENTURES OF NEW OLD VINYL
And so the collection grows:
David Bowie - Never Let Me Down
The album that launched the spectacle of crap that was the Glass Spider Tour marks the height of David Bowie's mid-eighties dive into commercial mediocrity, but, alas, it's Bowie, and it's vinyl, and it cost me two bucks.
Dreams - Dreams
(No Image Available)
Jazz-Rock or Fusion based band Dreams introduced drummer Billy Cobham to the world. I have yet to give this 'live in the studio' LP a listen, but I'm quite sure it has it's merits.
Jethro Tull - This Was
Tull's debut features 'A Song for Jeffery', and I'm quite sure plenty of standard Tull weirdness.
Johnnie Taylor - Eargasm
Disco pioneer Johnnie Taylor delivers classics such as 'Disco Lady' on this 1976 Columbia release.
The Band - Rock of Ages (Volume 2)
The follow up to the double live Volume 1, Volume 2 features more live classics from The Band including 'The Weight' and 'The Shape I'm In'.
Macy Gray - Sexual Revolution (12" remixes)
Ian Dury and the Blockheads - Laughter
The fifth release by the legendary London based band that created the blue-print for such acts as The Squeeze and Madness, finds Ian and the lads cracking it up in the studio, having a laugh, and delivering another fine record with tongue firmly planted in cheek.
Triumph - Stages
A double live record by Toronto's second favorite power trio.
Yes - Yessongs
A triple live record by English Prog masters proves yet again that whatever anybody else can do, Yes can do it longer.
Santana - Santana
The Bay Area's Guitar God's debut featuring 'Evil Ways' among other notable Latin fused blues jams.
Steve Miller - Fly Like an Eagle
This record plus 'Book of Dreams' equals Steve's Greatest Hits. You know all these songs, we all do.
J. Geils Band - Best Of
The first of two 'Best Of's released at the end of the 70's, this one includes 'House Party', and 'Musta Got Lost'.
Grandmaster and Melle Mel - White Lines (12")
What can you say........"Don't Do It!"
And so the collection grows:
David Bowie - Never Let Me Down
The album that launched the spectacle of crap that was the Glass Spider Tour marks the height of David Bowie's mid-eighties dive into commercial mediocrity, but, alas, it's Bowie, and it's vinyl, and it cost me two bucks.
Dreams - Dreams
(No Image Available)
Jazz-Rock or Fusion based band Dreams introduced drummer Billy Cobham to the world. I have yet to give this 'live in the studio' LP a listen, but I'm quite sure it has it's merits.
Jethro Tull - This Was
Tull's debut features 'A Song for Jeffery', and I'm quite sure plenty of standard Tull weirdness.
Johnnie Taylor - Eargasm
Disco pioneer Johnnie Taylor delivers classics such as 'Disco Lady' on this 1976 Columbia release.
The Band - Rock of Ages (Volume 2)
The follow up to the double live Volume 1, Volume 2 features more live classics from The Band including 'The Weight' and 'The Shape I'm In'.
Macy Gray - Sexual Revolution (12" remixes)
Ian Dury and the Blockheads - Laughter
The fifth release by the legendary London based band that created the blue-print for such acts as The Squeeze and Madness, finds Ian and the lads cracking it up in the studio, having a laugh, and delivering another fine record with tongue firmly planted in cheek.
Triumph - Stages
A double live record by Toronto's second favorite power trio.
Yes - Yessongs
A triple live record by English Prog masters proves yet again that whatever anybody else can do, Yes can do it longer.
Santana - Santana
The Bay Area's Guitar God's debut featuring 'Evil Ways' among other notable Latin fused blues jams.
Steve Miller - Fly Like an Eagle
This record plus 'Book of Dreams' equals Steve's Greatest Hits. You know all these songs, we all do.
J. Geils Band - Best Of
The first of two 'Best Of's released at the end of the 70's, this one includes 'House Party', and 'Musta Got Lost'.
Grandmaster and Melle Mel - White Lines (12")
What can you say........"Don't Do It!"
