Welcome back, musical Sneakers! Please pull up a big comfy chair and join our little circle of friends around the old Victrola as we listen to Side 1 of Thomas Callaway’s second mixtape. Very exciting!
We know you’ll enjoy this week’s fine selection of songs – even though Dave seems to have had a hard time getting past 1971 this episode:
- Crazy Horse – “Dirty, Dirty” – Crazy Horse, 1971
- Emitt Rhodes – “Pardon Me” – American Dream, 1970
- Todd Rundgren – “Long, Flowing Robe” – Runt: The Ballad of Todd Rundgren, 1971
- Matthew Sweet – “Sick of Myself” – 100% Fun, 1995
- Jimmy Webb – “P.F. Sloan” – Words and Music, 1970
- John Simon – “The Song of the Elves” – John Simon’s Album, 1971
- The Futureheads – “Hounds of Love” – The Futureheads, 2004
- American Spring – “Fallin’ in Love” – American Spring…Plus, 1989
- The American Flag – “Oh, My Mind” – Just Like Friend EP, 1999
- Jim White (with Aimee Mann) – “Static on the Radio” – Drill a Hole Through the Substrate and Tell Me What You See, 2004
Other songs featured during the show:
- The Rockets – “Hole in My Pocket”
- The Ronettes – “He Did It”
- Elvis Presley – “One Night”
- Kate Bush – “Hounds of Love”
- Dennis Wilson and Rumbo – “Lady”
Don’t forget to tell us your favourite long album title!
Thanks for listening.
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Thanks for another great show, folks. It’s so cool to have this combination of fairly obscure songs, musical knowledge and insights, and frequent laugh-out-loud moments from your conversation. (Mary’s line, ‘It’s not The Sky’s in Love with You’, and the ‘no relation’ exchange were particular highlights of this episode.)
Let me be the 43rd listener to point out that the bass player in Crazy Horse is Billy (not Danny) Talbot. Billy and drummer Ralph Molina reunited last year incidentally, on the new album by Phil Lee – credited as Phil Lee And The Horse He Rode In On.
It was interesting to hear The Rockets before they hooked up with Neil Young. Once was enough though. Danny Whitten wrote some great songs, and I also love a good racket, but a couple of the players were way out of tune on this one, and the repetition of ‘Come on baby’ drove me nuts. Over-use of ‘baby’ and (even worse) ‘lady’ also marred both versions of the Dennis Wilson song for me, although the arrangement was nice, and the American Spring vocals were really pretty.
Favourite songs this time included those from Jimmy Webb and Emitt Rhodes. I fist heard P F Sloan a few years ago, and didn’t think too much of it, but it’s really grown on me. Rhodes’ McCartneyish melodicism was also pretty good, and who doesn’t love a well-placed tubular bell?
Everything paled, though, in comparison with the closing track from Jim White and Aimee Mann, which was glorious on every level.
Well, I don’t know what happened, but this is my second try posting this. As a result, the episode isn’t as fresh in my mind as it should be, but I shall do my best.
Overall, I loved this episode. Lots of laughs and good information. Music-wise, it was probably my least favourite group of songs so far – a bit 1971-heavy perhaps? Maybe try jumping into the future and give another year a try – like 1977, maybe? I don’t think we’ve heard anything from that particular time, yet.
Anyway, here is what I thought:
Crazy Horse – meh
Emmit Rhodes – loved it. So melodic. Very catchy.
Todd Rundgren – not my favourite
Matthew Sweet – that was fine
Jimmy Webb – there are other Jimmy Webb songs of love – many come to think of it. Just not this one.
John Simon – nope
The Futureheads – so great! Love them!! In fact, have seen them about five times, and they were always great. At the last show we met a guy who had been following them, had first seen them in Japan and then he had come to Vancouver to catch them. They’re great leave. And I’m happy that I lived through the ’80’s and somehow missed Kate Bush and her original of this song. To me there is no comparison – The Futurehead’s version is just some much richer. That is probably pretty close to musical sacrilege, I realize. However, I stand by my opinion.
American Spring – it was okay
The American Flag – that was kinda cute
Jim White with Aimee Mann – very great closer. Good choice.
Again, nicely done. Looking forward to the next installment.
Another great podcast! Thanks so much for the bonus Elvis!
I agree with most of what Lezah said above about each song.I loved hearing Matthew Sweet. I’ll have to listen to “Girlfriend” again, I don’t remember it being too long.I love his “Under the Covers” albums with Susannah Hoffs.
Strange coincidence… I knew the name PF Sloan was familiar when you played Jimmy Webb–then the next day I was listening to a great songwriting podcast hosted by Louise Goffin (Carole King’s daughter)–she was interviewing 60s-70s producer Lou Adler. Adler had worked with PF Sloan and was telling some great stories about him–for example Sloan wrote and played on Johnny Rivers’ “Secret Agent Man”, and played the opening guitar riff on “California Dreaming” by the Mamas and Papas. Sorry to have cheated on Sneaky Dragon with another podcast, but I was all caught up on SD.
Favorite Long Album Title: “You’re Never Alone with a Schizophrenic” by Ian Hunter. (It’s not the longest, but I always thought it clever)
Carry on! I look forward to the next LP!