Fleetwood Mac - "Over My Head"

 

Christine McVie, longtime member of Fleetwood Mac, died earlier this month.  As I've discussed earlier, most people don't recognize that Fleetwood Mac had released nine LPs prior to their 1975 LP "Fleetwood Mac", which was the first of their "classic" period, with Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. 

Christine was actually a session musician with Fleetwood Mac from about 1968-1971, since she was then in Chicken Shack as well as releasing a solo LP.  She became an official member in 1971, credited as a full member on 1971's "Future Games" LP.  Prior to Fleetwood Mac, she also won the Melody Maker "best female vocalist" award in both 1969 and 1970.  

Of course, Fleetwood Mac really took off in 1975 with the addition of Buckingham & Nicks, effectively making Christine the George Harrison of Fleetwood Mac: the third best songwriter in the group, while still being a songwriter that most other groups would love to have. 

Of the various songs that Christine is credited with, my personal favorite is "Over My Head", from their 1975 eponymous LP.  It's a mellow song, and reminds me a turbulent but exciting period for me in the spring of 1991. 

I wonder what will happen with Fleetwood Mac.  Of the three principal singers from the classic period, the recent past has only featured two.  Assuming Buckingham and Nicks will never work together again, can Fleetwood Mac continue with only Nicks?  

Fleetwood Mac - "Over My Head"

Low - Live at Austin Community Television (ACTV) Main Studio (1996)

 

Mimi Parker, the drummer for Low, died last month, after a battle with ovarian cancer.  She and her husband Alan Sparhawk were the two main members of the long-running and genre-defining slowcore band Low.  

I first learned of Low from the Joy Division tribute LP "A Means to an End", where their cover of "Transmission" was a standout among a strong LP.  Based on my enjoyment of their track, I got several of their early LPs, although I don't have nearly enough of their lengthy discography.  

Low's sparse, slow sound is perfect for contemplative late night listening.  Mimi's three piece drum kit,  as shown in the image above, is a nice metaphor for their minimalist, yet surprisingly large sound.  This 1996 four song set, which includes "Transmission", is a good example of their sound at the time.  I don't know the exact date of this concert, but setlist.fm puts them in Austin on both 1996-04-18 and 1996-03-15.

Low had a number of different bassists through the years, but Alan and Mimi were the constants.  Even if Alan continues to make music, I'm not sure he can continue as "Low" without Mimi.  

Bonus link: "Transmission" (studio version), original (Joy Division)

PS -- Given Alan a follow on Twitter; he's thoughtful and engaging.

Iron Maiden - "Live at the Rainbow"

Today's post is something that I barely remember from back in the day and was only reminded of it when I recently stumbled across it while browsing online: Iron Maiden's 1981 "video LP", "Live at the Rainbow".  I can't remember if Robert had this in HS -- maybe I just saw it for sale in a record store (remember those?) or in a video rental store (remember those too?!).  Even the rectangular (i.e., "portrait") shape of the cover art reflects a VHS orientation.  

I've earlier proclaimed my love for Paul Di'Anno-era Iron Maiden, and since his tenure was brief, you have to appreciate the material you can find.  Recorded at London's historic Rainbow Theatre on December 21, 1980 (during the sessions for Killers), guitarist Adrian Smith had just recently joined the band, replacing Dennis Stratton.  While Stratton was instrumental in the creation of the classic Iron Maiden "harmony guitar" sound, it really became what we know today when Smith joined up with Dave Murray.  Murray and Smith are arguably the best, most influential, and also most recognizable metal guitar duo.  

It turns out that the videos for "Wrathchild" and "Iron Maiden" (I especially remember this one) that populated the early days of MTV were pulled from this concert.  

I've embedded the video as released (~30 min) above, but the full concert (~76 minutes) is also available.  

The only live Di'Anno-era Maiden I had back in HS was their excellent but far-too-short EP "Maiden in Japan", so it was quite the unexpected pleasant surprise to (re-)discover this on Youtube.  

Biz Markie - Make the Music With Your Mouth, Biz (forgotten song)

This July Marcel Theo Hall, aka Biz Markie, died.  He was probably best known for his one big single, 1989's "Just a Friend", which I covered long ago in my post about Freddie Scott and "(You) Got What I Need".   While I have unlimited love for "Just a Friend", Biz was so much more: once again demonstrating the difference between centrality and popularity.  While he came across as a carefree clown, he was a serious rapper and DJ, well known for his extensive record collection and respected by his peers.  Luminaries such as The Beastie Boys knew this, and included him on their records (e.g., cleverly transforming a Ted Nugent instrumental ("Home Bound") into a "real" song ("The Biz vs. The Nuge")).  He was also a guest on DJ Kool's 1996 party anthem "Let Me Clear My Throat" (video).  

I'm choosing to remember Biz with an earlier song of his, "Make the Music With Your Mouth, Biz", since it nicely features both his rapping and beatboxing.  It can be found on his self-titled 1986 EP as well as his 1988 debut LP "Goin' Off".

So don't feel guilty about enjoying "Just a Friend", but do take the time to explore some of his lesser-known canon.  He was a big part of the classic hip hop sound, and there's a good chance he's among your favorite rapper's favorite rappers.   

"Make the Music With Your Mouth, Biz"

Bonus links: Covid-era (2020-04-03) home DJ set: part 1, part 2.

Plastic Bertrand - "Ça plane pour moi" (forgotten song)

 

Normally I try to choose songs for Danette's birthday based on songs that make me think of her, not necessarily favorite songs of hers.  This year, it's both:  "Ça plane pour moi", a song that she really enjoys -- to the point where it would be impossible for me to hear it and not think of her.

The song is by Belgian artist Roger François Jouret, aka Plastic Bertrand, and was released in 1977 on the LP "An 1".  I wish I could say that either of us were cool enough to know about French language punk songs in 1977, but it's only through us recently watching "Killing Eve" that we first heard it.  Killing Eve had a great soundtrack (check out this Spotify list), with many selections coming from the band Unloved (of which David Holmes is a member) but "Ça plane pour moi" was used only once (I think) and in that brief moment it managed to make quite an impression on Danette.  She ordered the CD shortly thereafter and has played it a ton since then. 

What does the song mean?  Well, it's mostly nonsense, but the chorus does translate as:

It's all working out for me, it's all working out for me
It's all working out for me, me, me, me, me
It's all working out for me
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
It's all working out for me

But after a long period of life complications, things both personal and professional are actually working out for her, so I guess the song is applicable.  

Happy Birthday Danette -- "You are the King [Queen] of the Divan!"

Fun facts about the song:

• It's not actually sung by Plastic Bertand, it's actually sung by producer Lou Deprijck.
• It has the same music as "Jet Boy, Jet Girl" by Elton Motello (vid).
  
• Although arguably a novelty song, it was good enough for Joe Strummer: "Plastic Bertrand compressed into that three minutes a bloody good record that will get any comatose person toe-tapping, you know what I mean? By purist rules, it's not allowed to even mention Plastic Bertrand. Yet, this record was probably a lot better than a lot of so-called punk records."

Plastic Bertrand - "Ça plane pour moi"

 

Previous birthday songs:

2021: Adam and the Ants - "Christian D'or"
2020: Walk Off The Earth - "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall"
2019: Nicki Minaj - "Monster"
2018: Bear Hands - "Giants"
2017: Alvvays - "Archie, Marry Me"
2016: Molly Hatchet - "Flirtin' With Disaster"
2015: Avett Brothers - "Kick Drum Heart"
2014: Ani DiFranco - "32 Flavors"
2013: The Green Pajamas - "Kim the Waitress"
2012: The Cure - "High"
2011: Blink 182 - "Josie"
2010:  Dead Milkmen - "Punk Rock Girl" 

Depeche Mode - "Death's Door" (forgotten song)

Andy Fletcher, a founding member of Depeche Mode, unexpectedly died earlier this week.  As part of the founding trio of Depeche Mode, Fletcher received no songwriting credits and his role in the band was that of business manager, spokesperson, and tie-breaker for creative disputes.  As I've gotten older, I can better appreciate the role of someone like Andy in a creative endeavor.  

As a member of Generation X, it's impossible to not like Depeche Mode -- it was a constant soundtrack in high school, college, and beyond.  While not to diminish the influence of their early work in their ongoing discography, for my money, it's hard to beat their three LP run of "Music for the Masses" (1987), "Violator" (1990), and "Songs of Faith and Devotion" (1993), all of which I plan to review here some day (tm).  

There are dozens of songs with which we could recognize Andy Fletcher's passing, but I will take overlooked "Death's Door", from the excellent 1992 Wim Wenders soundtrack "Until the End of the World".  Most of the soundtrack was original music, with some of the artists releasing the songs on later LPs.  I don't think Depeche Mode ever released "Death's Door" on a regular studio LP, so other than B-sides and a single with remixes, I think the soundtrack is the only place you can hear it. 

Depeche Mode - "Death's Door"

Cocteau Twins - "Cherry-Coloured Funk"

 

Super Bowl LVI begins in a few hours and I still haven't posted about the halftime show for Super Bowl LV.  Life has kept me pretty busy and I've been way behind in my blogging, but now is a good a time as any to catch up.  

Last year's halftime show was a bit unusual -- only one artist, no fans, no special guests, all due to Covid-19.  The artist was The Weeknd, and the show was mostly well-received (e.g., these reviews in Vox and The Guardian).  Unfortunately, I'm mostly unfamiliar with his canon and with no guests or cover songs,  for a long time I wasn't sure what my take would be on the show.  Then later I found out he's a big fan of The Cocteau Twins*, going so far to name one his songs "Heaven or Las Vegas" (after The Cocteau Twin's 1990 LP) and to sample that LP's opening track, "Cherry-Coloured Funk", on his 2011 song "The Knowing".  "The Knowing" wasn't on the setlist of the halftime show, but the 14 minute format limits how much artists can cover.  

"Heaven or Las Vegas" is probably my favorite LP by the Cocteau Twins, and having been in recent heavy rotation as dinner music at the house, I need to properly review it sometime soon.  The LP features three extraordinary songs, and "Cherry-Coloured Funk" is one of them.  

I'll have a lot more to say about tonight's halftime show, but until then enjoy the Cocteau Twin's "Cherry-Coloured Funk" and last year's show.

Links: Super Bowl LV Halftime Show

Cocteau Twins: "Cherry-Coloured Funk"

The Weeknd: "The Knowing"

* "I've always had an admiration for the era before I was born. You can hear it as far back as my first mixtape that the '80s – Siouxsie and the Banshees, Cocteau Twins – play such a huge role in my sound." -- Billboard.