Savoir Faire

28 Jun

I’ve always found it curious why some songs become ‘go-to’ songs.  There really isn’t a tangible reason, at least not in my case.  I guess they were originally there at the right time or something.  For me, one of these songs “Savoir Faire” by Family Fodder.  Aptly, I find it goes well with any situation or mood.

Family Fodder is an odd sort of band.  First of all, the center of it is an accordionist, Alig Fodder.  Secondly, they’ve managed to stay around, on and off,  for over 30 years even though they’ve not had much success.  Their last record, released in 2010, utilized the vocals of the daughter of the original singer.  That’s keeping the family in Family Fodder.

Though “Savoir Faire” is one of their earliest recordings, they’re very much still around.  I’d love to see them live.  And their website says they would love to perform (“preferably not paid in peanuts this time. Pistachios. Walnuts.”) It would be nice if our loves can meet someday.

Till then, I’m sure that the simple act of downloading this song will boost your own savoir faire.  I’m not sure how, but I am absolutely sure of it.

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God v. The Devil

27 Jun

Bunker Hill – a.k.a. Dave Walker – might have one of the most intense voices ever recorded.  He doesn’t sing as much as holler and the primitiveness of it is ridiculously powerful.  Walker was originally a gospel singer and was a member of The Mighty Clouds of Joy, a very successful gospel group.  But then something funny happened.

Link Wray heard him, flipped out and he and his brother arranged for a recording session immediately.  But Dave Walker was a good Christian boy and didn’t think the other Mighty Clouds members would appreciate him singing the Devil’s music.  Luckily the Wrays weren’t going to let that get in the way.  They just gave him a pseudonym so that the gospel folk wouldn’t know about it.  The first name suggested was ‘Four H Stamp,’ which I love, but they ended up with Bunker Hill.  As someone who had a weird historical crush on the Revolutionary War hero, Dr. Joseph Warren (for real), I approve.

One of the first songs to be recorded was “Hide and Go Seek.”  It had to be separated into Parts 1 and 2 when it came out because it was too long to fit on a 7″ single.  It was a crazy song to put out as a single in the first place, but even crazier, it charted!  In 1962!  And not just on the R&B Charts, but on the Hot 100. It rose to #33 and stayed on the charts about 3 months. AND this was especially crazier because a lot of radio stations had banned it because of its suggestiveness.

A few other great singles came out and then in 1963, “The Girl Can’t Dance” was released.  Boy-oh-boy is that possessed hollering present on this track!  It’s amazing that this many years later these songs sound cutting edge.

Bunker Hill ended up returning to being Dave Walker and to the gospel circuit. In this case, I was really rooting for the Devil.

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Lord Sausage

26 Jun

I know next to nothing about Lord Sausage except that his  name is fabulous and the song “Funky River” is even better than that.  Mind you, that’s all the info that’s necessary.

One word of warning:  you will get completely funkified upon listening.  Please don’t download before bedtime or while operating heavy machinery.

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Phew.

25 Jun

What a difference a day makes.  Such a completely simple thought, but one that everything boils down to, no?  “What A Diff’rence A Day Makes,” the song, was actually originally a Spanish language song and the original lyrics are completely different (diff’rent?) than they are in English.  So even with the song itself, look at the difference a day makes! It was written by Maria Grever in 1934 and was called “Cuando Vuelva A Tu Lado” and I guess for the sentiment I want to convey, I should really be posting the English song.  But I just love the Spanish version too much not to go with it.

Maria Grever was the first successful female Mexican composer. It’s said that she composed her first music at age 4. I scoffed at that tidbit when I first learned it, but I had my first blog at age 4, so maybe that’s true. Well, that’s not true.  But had there been internet, I totally would have, so I still believe the Maria Grever story.

But I digress.

Back to what a difference – or diff’rence – a day makes. For those of you who have been sending those positive vibes and good thoughts, thank you. The vibes in question have apparently reached their intended destination and things are looking up. Still not out of the woods, but the forest has gone from redwoods to white birches so it’s way easier to navigate. For those who are reading and don’t know what on earth I’m talking about, don’t worry. It won’t affect your enjoyment of the amazing song that’s just waiting for your ears.  Let’s just leave it as good thoughts were direly needed and good thoughts have been wholly received.

Apparently I have friends with super powerful good thoughts ability.  And, you know, that’s even a more basic truth that ‘what a difference a day makes.’

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Where Are You Registered?

24 Jun

Okay, NY, this one is for you.  Here’s the original 1978 version of  ground-breaking hit “Glad To Be Gay” by the Tom Robinson Band.

More tomorrow.  I may even tell you why I missed yesterday.  Or not.  Time will tell.

In the meantime, sing if you’re glad to be gay.

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Cannes You Believe This?

22 Jun

Lou Deprijck

Almost everybody I know is in Cannes this week.  I can’t help but wish I were there too – especially tonight.  A Girl Story – which I wrote about previously – won a Cyber Lion earlier and I’d have loved to have been there to hear that announced.  Regardless, yay!!

So with France on my mind lots, you might think I should post a song by a French artist.  And I kind of am.  What I mean by that is that I am going to give you one that you thought was by one.  Plastic Bertrand’s 1977 smash “Ça Plane Pour Moi” is as Frenchie a song as they come, but Plastic Bertrand (Roger Jouret) is actually Belgian.  He’s half French though.  But it really doesn’t matter what he is because….he never even sung on the record!  It was actually sung by the composer, Lou Deprijck.  It gets weirder.  Lou was the singer on not one, not two, but three Plastic Bertrand LPs!

After denying reports that he was not the real singer, Plastic Bertrand finally came clean and admitted his voice does not appear on any of the songs of those albums.  Somehow, for reasons I don’t completely understand, Belgian courts said that even though he did not appear on the record, he could still claim he was the “legal performer” of the song.

Wait!  I’m not done with the story of the song yet!

Also in 1977  an English band called Elton Motello released “Jet Boy, Jet Girl” which was basically the same song with very different and far more risque lyrics.  Elton Motello was a legit band, but this single “Jet Boy, Jet Girl”  wasn’t actually them.  It was the original “Ça Plane Pour Moi” musicians and was sung by….Lou Deprijck!  When the Plastic Bertrand news came to light last year, Alan Ward, who was the main guy in Elton Motello, confirmed this fact as well.

I know none of this makes much sense.  But you don’t need sense to have a lesson.  The moral of this story is that just as it really doesn’t matter if Lou Deprijck was the singer on a huge hit for Plastic Bertrand or that Elton Motello’s gay cult hit wasn’t really Elton Motello, it also doesn’t matter that I wasn’t in Cannes to hear the news.

It’s all completely awesome.

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Summer Solstice

21 Jun

As far as seasons go, I like Fall the best, Spring second best and Winter third best, if it’s snowy.  If it’s not, then maybe Summer third best.  But in either scenario, Summer doesn’t top the list.

What’s strange about this is that I absolutely love heat. I love being super hot to the point of uncomfortableness.  Actually, maybe Summer should be higher up. Yeah.  I need to think more carefully about this. Today, the first day of Summer, is the longest day in the year.  It’s all downhill from this point.  Or uphill if you’re like me.

Earlier today, a friend and I were trying decide what the perfect First Day of Summer Song would be and “Sun Is Out” by Apples in Stereo won hands-down.  I’m sure you’ll agree.  In fact, I’m listening to it as I’m writing this and I’m realizing that my earlier ranking was definitely wrong.

I like Fall best and then SpringSummerWinter second best.

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Baby You Make My Love Come Down

20 Jun

Occasionally here in Margauxville, a song is posted just because I have a craving for hearing it.  And I have nothing to say about it, really.  It doesn’t happen often, but it’s the case today with Evelyn “Champagne” King’s disco hit, “Love Come Down.“

I just can’t help the way that I feel.

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Happy Father’s Day

19 Jun

I suppose there are more cheerful songs I could have picked for a Father’s Day post, but I can’t imagine that I could find a prettier one.

I know it’s sacrilegious for me to say that I’m not the hugest Springsteen fan – especially so close to Clarence Clemons’ death – but it’s also true that as the years go by, I am appreciating Bruce’s music far more than I ever have before.  So in case you were already going to attack me, register that fact and get off my sac.

Nowhere is my appreciation so strong as on the “Nebraska” album.  So while you won’t get any Clemons tributes with this post,  you will get the most introspective song you’re likely to listen to on this lovely but Hallmark-y holiday:  “My Father’s House.”

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Motorcycle Mama

18 Jun

I am a sucker for one-hit wonders.  But one-hit wonders with a concept album?  Well that’s something even more special.

Sailcat was a group who had a hit in 1972 called “Motorcycle Mama.”  The album that this song was on tells the story of a motorcycle drifter who steals, falls in love, settles down, but is still the same person at his core.  Each song had a motorcycle-related drawing to illustrate it.  “Motorcycle Mama” is a kind of breezy ’70s tune that somehow seems like it would fit right into a soundtrack from that era.

Fast forward nearly 20 years to 1990, when Elekra Records celebrated its 40th anniversary with a compilation, Rubåtiyåt.  That album was actually an interesting concept in itself.  It featured then-current groups covering songs made famous by past Elektra/Asylum artists.

The SugarCubes covered “Motorcycle Mama” and I think their version is a more compelling one than the original.  But download ’em both and see what you think.  In either case, I wouldn’t mind seeing the world from someone’s Harley right now. Not as much as I’d like to see it from a Ducati, of course, but the Harley view might be more comfortable.

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