Elvis is on the Edge of Reality (1968)

Just wanted to share this bizarre clip from one of Elvis Presley's least remembered movies, Live a Little, Love a Little. It's the last movie directed by Norm Taurog who made a number of movies with The King including It Happened at the World's Fair, Girls! Girls! Girls!, Blue Hawaii and G.I. Blues.

The song is written by the same team that wrote a lot of Elvis schlock during his movie era. And yes, that's Dick Sargent of Bewitched fame in this druggy dream sequence.

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#12 The Merseys "Sorrow" 1966

One Half of Led Zep + One Half The Merseybeats = Sorrow

When the Merseybeats broke up, two members ,Tony Crane and Billy Kinsely, carried on as The Merseys. They scored a #4 hit in the UK charts with "Sorrow", originally a B Side by Rick Derringer's band, The McCoys ( of "Hang on Sloopy" fame).
  The McCoys version has a folk rock feel. Billy has said that it sounded like a Neil Young tune but was far too country and western for him.So he reworked the harmonies and added the lagging second vocal line.



The line "with your long blonde hair and your eyes of blue" reappears on the George Harrison penned "It's All Too Much" on The Beatles' Yellow Submarine.
David Bowie cut the song for his Pin Ups album in 1973 and hit #3 in the UK chart.

Future Led Zep bandmates Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones are  playing on the Merseys cut which was recorded live at CBS Studios in New Bond Street, London.

Dig the horn break, pure Carnaby Street grooviness.

The Merseys Sorrow

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#11 Bill Anderson 3AM (1964)

There's an old saying: If you want somebody's attention, whisper. Whispering Bill Anderson earned his nickname with his soft breathy vocals and he earned his reputation as 6 time Country Music Songwriter of the Year with his knack of hitting listeners right where they live. "3 AM" is not one of his best known songs but it's got to be his most depressing. The singer lost his girl. The bars are closed. He's taking a lonely walk and his destination ends in his own demise.

Look at me walking the streets at 3 a.m.
And you're saying what a crazy fool I am
But the one I love is out tonight with him
Somewhere making love at 3 a.m.
I need a drink but all the bars are locked up tight
A lonely man gets mighty thirsty late at night
I won't ever kiss her sweet, sweet lips again
This old world's an awful place at 3 a.m.
--- Instrumental ---
There's the river here's the bridge it's too late now
I've got nothing left to live for anyhow
In the news they'll say he couldn't even swim
And he gave his love for love at 3 a.m.
Yes, he gave his life for love at 3 a.m...


I'm not the only one who thinks this song is great. Robert Forster of The Go-Betweens covered this tune on his album I Had A New York Girlfriend.
Bill Anderson 3 AM

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Peter Buck's 5 Catchiest Guitar Hooks

Compiled to celebrate R.E.M.'s apparent return to form with their new album:
 
                                          

   #5: R.E.M. "Talk About the Passion" from Murmer



Every mid-80's college student with a guitar tried to figure out this lick. On revisiting these albums it surprises me how many of the memorable riffs actually came from Mike Mills on bass.

 #4 The Replacements "I Will Dare" from Let It Be



The R.E.M connection helped sell the Mats to college radio stations who were still taking their cues from MTV. It's a great song but can you imagine "I Will Dare" without Buck's searching lead lines?

#3 R.E.M."Wolves, Lower" from the Chronic Town EP



Here's where we first heard the jangle and arpeggios ( as well as the mumbled lyrics) that inspired a hundred really sincere bands to form.

#2 Full Time Men "I Got Wheels" from Fast is My Name EP

Had to throw a curve. This is from Buck's 1985 EP with Keith Streng of the Fleshtones.Honestly the whole thing is one great guitar hook. Can't find it anymore so here's an mp3.


Full Time Men I Got Wheels

#1 R.E.M. "The One I Love" from Document



Buck used every trick in his arsenal, added a touch of distortion, and helped make "The One I Love" R.E. M.'s first major hit. Inescapable on Friday nights driving to football games in South Carolina's Low Country in 1987.


HONORABLE MENTION:
R.E.M. "Driver 8", "Shiny Happy People" ( hate the song but this is about "catchiest" riffs) and "Losing My Religion"
Decemberists "Down By the Water"

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Well That's One Way To Get The Kids Excited About Greek Mythology

The kids at Watville Primary School sing Iron Maiden's Flight of Icarus.
Hang around at least to the two minute mark. You WON'T be disappointed

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On Mardi Gras Day In N'Awlins, Da Best show Ain't On Da Floats

Every Year for Carnival Time, We make a new suit,

Red yellow green, purple or blue, We make a new suit,

We all try to make ours, as best as we could,

So when we out at Carnival, We be looking good,

Every Year for Carnival Time, We make a new suit,

Red yellow green, purple or blue, We make a new suit,

We got rhinestones on our suit, that shines like diamonds and stars,

Got to be sure that we 're together, cause we're sold on Mardi Gras, oh yall!

Every Year for Carnival Time, We make a new suit,

Red yellow green, purple or blue, We make a new suit,

Every Year for Carnival Time, We make a new suit,

Red yellow green, purple or blue, We make a new suit,

We got feathers, on our crowns, that stand a'bout eight feet high,

In every color, of the rainbow, We're beautiful , I ain't lying, oh yall!

Every Year for Carnival Time, We make a new suit,

We make a new suit

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Cyndi Lauper Just Wants to Have Fun

Stuck at Buenos Aires' Jorge Newbery Airport last Friday, Cyndi Lauper grabs the public-address microphone and sings her 1983 2-million selling platinum hit "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," as nearby travelers and airport workers sing along.



The song was originally written from a misogynistic man's point of view. Cyndi rewrote it and it remains one of the great feminist anthems of our time

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