How Deep Is Your Love For The Bee Gees

This will be my shortest music blog: GO WATCH HBO’s 2020 documentary The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart .  That’s it!  

Now my favorite music documentary this side of The History of The Eagles - if you’ve seen other versions of their story - trust me, this one’s different.  It will make you love them.  And it will make you listen to “Night Fever” for weeks after.  So don’t go there I guess if you don’t want that to happen.

OK just a few comments.  I enjoy knowing the stories of modern music and think I know a bit.  I had no idea The Bee Gees formed way back in 1958, nor that they were essentially an Australian “peer” of the Beatles through the 60’s.  Suzy didn’t remember that Andy was the kid brother and not actually a Bee Gee (she did remember his sad overdose).  And while the music is catchy and surprisingly ever-green - I thought they were lightweights.  Wrong. (For proof listen to “Words”, “I Started a Joke”, “Massachusetts”, then listen anew to the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack in entirety and double check your opinion about their depth (in case you’ve been mistaken like me).

Amazing family, bond-of-brothers, and evolution including the move to Miami, the decision to take their talents in the funky R&B, falsetto / vibrato / disco direction that they are now most known for.  And what interesting individuals fraternal twins (didn’t know that either) Maurice and Robin were, and older brother Barry still is.  And the breadth of music is incredible.  Wow.  More respect, please?

OK I won’t re-tell the story because I only know it through the film and the obsessive googling that followed.  

Thank you brothers Gibb and those associated for creating what you have.  Music and the making of it is incredible.

Hawaiian Baby by Buffalo Tom, er - the Spinanes

I've written about specific artists and albums - and every time I spend more time than I allot - and while I love it and know it's therapeutic - I always expect to condense everything down to a magical few paragraphs that people can click, give a quick look, and then maybe someone, somewhere, will end up spending a part of their day like I did, immersed (maybe not Air Supply, but you never know?).  And everyone else can smile and move on.

So I thought if I just do a single song the post could be more "soundbite grade" - pleasant and digestible to more people.  I blew that already today with this rambling preamble.  But a friend the other day said "I like your blog - but can't you do it more than once a year?" - and so this is also a reaction to that.  Can I commit less, produce more, and nail a "quick-hitter"?

Driving to work on Tuesday my phone randomly played "Hawaiian Baby" by Buffalo Tom.  I don't know why my phone randomly plays songs some days when it connects to my car but it's one of those things I just don't want to waste alive time trying to figure out.  Plus it often takes me somewhere good - and this happened with Hawaiian Baby....

OK, here's the point of this post: I just love this song.  It's mellow, earnest, melodic.  Maybe a bit haunting but in a good way.  It touches on several of my favorite things - Hawaii, cool-vibe-music, descriptive imagery, a Santa Claus reference - if they'd somehow integrated a peanut butter and jelly sandwich it might just have become my perfect song.  

I knew the song as a hidden Buffalo Tom gem (and there are many - sometime I will bore with a full-on post about one of my favorite bands - surprised I'm sure that they are a bit obscure).  This morning I spent time thinking about the specific lyrics and trying to learn what the song means.  I found out quickly that it was actually written by a woman named Rebecca Gates from The Spinanes - a 90's 2 piece from Oregon with a pretty cool story itself (check out the link and you will dive into the Spinanes if you're like me).  Hawaiian Baby has an intense, hopeful, and caring feel to it - and probably more meaning in the lyrics than I can interpret but that's not obvious and I don't really care.  Snippets that suggest depth - "it's my heart"... "dinner with your father"... "Letters sprawled across"...over muted guitar and a pronounced rhythm - someone please give it a listen and try to like it! 

OK I have to get off the computer because I want to get back to that first Spinanes album while I'm cleaning the garage... 

The Spinanes eventual release of their gem (it was a b-side, not on one of their primary albums):
Hawaiian Baby, by the Spinanes

Buffalo Tom's cover (also on their album "besides" - which was considered a collection of b-sides but would beat many bands' best albums head to head - check out Anchors Aweigh, Butterscotch, don't get me started down this path):
Hawaiian Baby, covered by Buffalo Tom

One woman’s “...tapestry of rich and royal hue...”

One of my biggest musical regrets has been understanding Carole King too late.  Like many, I've enjoyed her songs and always kind of have generally known who she is.  But it wasn't until Suzy and I saw the Broadway show "Beautiful" last year that I really had a sense for her broader place in music.  Such an amazing story, such an amazing person.  Not to mention amazing music.

Similar to many entertainment industry stories of the time - while Carole wrote James Taylor's biggest hit song "You've Got a Friend" (and though he is amazing and wrote and recorded many of his own songs) - she was content in his shadow gathering credit but for the most part remaining peripheral in many of our views as JT proceeded to define the American "singer-songwriter" genre as many of us know it.

Well, a new listen to the entirety of Tapestry, her so-appropriately-titled, definitive 1971 masterpiece tells you all you need to know about the "Singer-Songwriter" genre.  Timeless, hopeful, beautiful.  "You've Got a Friend" and the complete Tapestry album, for that matter, are mere slivers of the impact she has made in singing and songwriting through the history of modern American music.  For the most part she stopped playing live in 2010, after contributing substantial music to our world.  Wish I'd listened more closely earlier - I would have loved to hear and watch her in person.  I now think she defined this genre as much as anyone.

Rolling Stone has Tapestry at No. 36 of their 500 greatest albums of all time, but it's much higher on my list.  While only 3 of the top 36 has a woman as lead - a quick scan of the 33 men in front of her tells me why today's emphasis on giving women their due is so overdue.  I believe this album is not only be ahead of the two women above her (with all due respect to Stevie Nicks at No. 26 and Joni Mitchell at No. 30 who are also phenomenal) - but more significantly - I can only imagine that it not being in the top 10 overall and way above most of the 33 male-fronted albums rated ahead of her is a result of the bias that so many are consciously adjusting for today.  It's definitely in my top 5 overall and I appreciate a broad range of music created by both men and women.

Give it a fresh listen.  Here's a great article to lean yourself into it.
https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2020/02/carole-king-tapestry-anniversary.html

And on that “this is only a sliver” front - see this list of other artists she contributed her talents to:
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/10-songs-you-didnt-know-carole-king-wrote-108268/

Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the Replacements

love that this picture came from a shoot they did at the Walker Art Center - a Mpls treasure that has become part of my Minnesota experience through my work at Mortenson (we replaced the window to their left in 2004 :))

OK here we go...

Suzy let me play most of the replacements catalog on Spotify / Sonos this morning as we made breakfast, got ourselves organized, and did a bunch of planning.  Paul and company set a perfect tone for any kind of day.  I love the Replacements and anything Paul Westerberg has done.  Many know they are the reason I chose Minneapolis over Kansas City, Chicago - the ‘Mats were from here, so I came here - not exactly the most mature or professional reason for choosing but hey, it worked out.

This morning we walked backward through All Shook Down, Don’t Tell A Soul, Pleased To Meet Me, Tim, and we are currently on Let It Be.  Hootenanny, Stink, and Sorry Ma will likely require some filtering for Suzy’s enjoyment but there is plenty of content she likes there as well (at least on Hootenanny - Color Me Impressed, Within Your Reach most notably).

If you’re reading this and don’t know about them - I would say that the Replacements / Paul Westerberg, and Big Star / Alex Chilton, are my two favorite musical “things”.  Legendary personalities, stories, and music with depth, diversity, and importance in the history of rock music.  An underground, under-dog, under-appreciated aspect to both.  Dive in, ask me - there are books, documentaries, and of course albums to guide you through the stories.  Both band's stories involve angst, frustration and success, band members tragically lost along the way, and most importantly - raw, core, timeless musical and poetic talent.

The 10 best replacements songs, IMHO - not necessarily in order:
1) Unsatisfied - point me to a song with more raw emotion
2) Left of the Dial - captures the 1980s underground spirit - can hear Paul's spirit
3) Here Comes a Regular - no cooler, more tone-setting song ever made
4) Alex Chilton (named my son after this one) - bridges the two bands and geniuses
5) Achin’ To Be - classic Westerberg clever lyricism 
6) I’ll Be You - should have been a bigger hit
7) Never Mind - lyrics, power, music
8) Can’t Hardly Wait - defines the band and their genre.  Clever, with hooks and horns!
9) Bastards of Young - lyrics, power, music
10) I Will Dare - jangly music, lyrics, emotion.  Another singular definition of the band.

OK now back to my taxes.  :(

Scenes from an Italian Restaurant

OK.... it's been awhile.  I guess I haven't done a music blog in nearly two years.  How can time fly this fast?

I've got so many artists pent up in my head that I would like to re-explore and share thoughts about.  Most are more obscure than not.  I find it interesting that my favorite bands, in nearly-particular order, include Big Star, the Replacements, Buffalo Tom, The Hold Steady, Wilco, the Foo Fighters, the Posies, and Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (and whomever he was playing with at the time) - yet 2 of the first 4 music blogs I chose to write were about Chicago and Air Supply.  Seriously - Air Supply?  What was I thinking??

I love music, and one of the things I love about it is that it can overtake you quickly.  Depending on your mood, setting, activity, and so many more variables - the right song at the right time can inspire, reward, excite, relax - or at the very least, stick in your head for sometimes way-too-long.  I'm going to chalk my Air Supply moment up to one of those.

But here I go again.  I've been making dinner for our family most Sunday nights for a few years now.  A few weeks back I made spaghetti with a home-made sauce.  Sometimes I like to complement the meal with music that somehow relates.  The Billy Joel song "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" popped into my head when I cracked open the first can of crushed tomatoes.  It's been kicking around up there off-and-on ever since.  Great song.

So, today, our first day back from Spring Break travel - has been a big organizational day.  In an attempt to exercise Billy from my head I have subjected Suzy to a run through of most of his albums (not counting anything after 1983).  Then I just did a bit of googling to round out my Billy Joel experience.  Maybe tomorrow I'll be back to one of my favorites!

So I won't go deep on Billy - like most people, I know all the hits and have always held him up there as one of those "there will never be another one of those" kind of guys.  Like Elton, like John Lennon, like Madonna, like Neil Diamond, like Joni Mitchell, like Johnny Cash...OK I'll stop but you get the gist.  An artist that has defined some aspect of our lives.  But I never obsessed about him, and never thought of him as much more than the "Piano Man", soft-rock hits, and Christie Brinkley.  (Google told me that, while that didn't end well - the ever-romantic Billy remains friendly with all 3 of his exes, although together they cleaned him out (?)).

I am going to quickly list the albums we listened to today (in NO particular order! but blue are my personal highlights), in case anyone is seeking out a good, atmosphere-setting, piano-heavy, New York listen -

1) Cold Spring Harbor - 1971 - you've got to be kidding me that "She's Got a Way" was his first ever song.  Wow.  The album is pleasant but that's the only widely-known song.  You can hear him figuring out if he wants to be McCartney, the Monkees, or his own piano man..

2) Piano Man - 1973 - here you find he decided to be his own "Piano Man".  Another WOW.  Chock full of great piano work.  This album makes you want to see "Bill Martin" (again, google told me he went by that name for 6 months prior to this album) banging out melodramatic music from his piano and vocal chords in a hollywood piano bar back in 1972.

3) Streetlife Serenade - 1974 - my guess is this is his weakest album of the era - by far?  You hear some synth and other non-Billy experiments.  No hits.  Google suggests this album was a record company obligation he had to fill without time to write because he was touring.  Sounds like it.

4) Turnstiles - 1976.  He's back in New York - thank God!  Could be my favorite.  "Say Goodbye to Hollywood", "New York State of Mind", "Prelude / Angry Young Man" all great hits and the album as a whole pleases.  Sounds like Billy again.

5) The Stranger - 1977.  OK, now he's cooking with gas.  Now this one could be my favorite - along with everyone else's.  This one includes the aforementioned song titling this blog.  And four mega-hits to boot.  This is (google says) his "Magnum Opus".  Agreed.

6) 52nd Street - 1978.  Still rolling out the hits.  "Big Shot" starts it off and kind of defines his New York tough-guy image that gets so incredibly softened by his piano and balladeering voice.  This contrast makes him so interesting to me.

7) Glass Houses - 1980.  Still going!  "You May Be Right", "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me".

8) The Nylon Curtain - 1983.  One of Billy's favorites, often considered to be an homage to the Beatles.  "Allentown", "Goodnight Saigon", a very strong album all around.  This is right about the time he hooked up with Christie.  Sounds like his first marriage was really tough - but must have inspired much of his best music.  This one is good - but in my opinion, things slip from here.

OK - Billy's output through this period was incredible.  Probably as good - in the aggregate - as anyone during his era?  (Eagles, Elton John, probably several I should think longer about before I consider pulling the question mark from that statement....).  Give it a listen - it will get you in a "New York State of Mind" without a doubt.

Alright.  Next blog is going to be about something that requires no googling.

Now - Suzy's hounding me to grill.  But she hasn't said she's tired of the music yet (and it's been ALL DAY).  She even just sang along to our third listen of "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)".  Cool day.

Band on the Run

I've had Wings music ringing through my head for the past month but haven't taken the time to exercise it through a blog post so here we go.

Just a quick note to reflect on a sometimes overlooked POWERHOUSE in popular music, and then back to the grad party preparations that Suzy is not-yet hounding me about....

I'm not going to make this long or difficult - Wings was an awesome band.  Some of the catchiest pop-rock music ever made.  Paul spent just as much time with Wings as he did with the Beatles, and he was in his 30's, married, having kids, and at the stage of life where his mental and emotional capacities were really peaking and it shows.  This after "defining rock and roll" with the Beatles in his 20's.  Unbelievable.  So I'm just going to share a "top 10" and you will not be able to disagree.

1. Band on the Run
2. Maybe I'm Amazed
3. Live and Let Die
4. Jet (my current personal favorite - moving up this list)
5. With a Little Luck
6. Silly Love Songs
7. Listen to What the Man Said
8. My Love (how majestic and sweet is this??)
9. Junior's Farm
10. Another Day

This could go on and you'd know those songs, too.  If you don't think you know one above - I'll bet you do - click on the link to check.  And I'll bet if you click- it will be in your head all day.  What could say more?

Plus he made the band with his wife.  That's like having a wife who loves watching football, only better.  What do you think, Suzy - can we get you a drum set?

In case you're wondering, I AM still mad at myself for committing an early post in this blog to Air Supply.  But hey - wherever the day takes you, right?

Maybe I'm Amazed!

So I made Suzy go see a 73 year old man play rock-n-roll music live for three straight hours the other night.  It was awesome.

The Beatles impact around the globe in the 60's is similar to that of Apple today, and few others ever.  They transformed the world.  Suzy gets annoyed when I opine about this too long.  I do feel sorry for her because she - until this blog - is the outlet for many of my pop culture opinions/trivia/deep thoughts.  Surprised that she still hasn't read last week's posts?

The combination was perfect.  Sweet, likeable Paul.  Deep, confident, opinionated John.  Classy, talented, dependable George.  And  the closest-to-mortal, "how talented is he really," but agreeable drummer Ringo.  So many organizations or teams in any walk of life need the perfect combination of talent and personalities - the Beatles would not have been the same without their perfect mix.

The range of music that they created in just about 10 years is remarkable.  Think about it - from the sweetest of songs (Something, Hey Jude, Yesterday, Let It Be), to the hardest rocking of songs (Revolution, Twist and Shout, Helter Skelter), to the most universal staples, adored and known by children and adults across the world (I Want to Hold Your Hand, Yellow Submarine, She Loves You, All You Need is Love, Help!), and then to some of the most rich and complex music that will ever be made (A Day In The Life, The Long and Winding Road, Across the Universe, Blackbird, Eleanor Rigby)... Something for everyone, everywhere, at any time.  Forever.  Wow.

On that Apple analogy.  I love music, and from my view - without the Beatles - today's music is not the same.  There are other analogies - the signers of the US Constitution set the course for our country, the architects of Washington, DC laid out a new City to serve as the hub of our government, etc. - but I like Apple the best because of the universal, social + technical, kids-to-old people, cross-cultural, lasting change-to-the-world-as-we-know-it nature of both the Beatles impact on pop culture and Apple's impact on social culture.  I could get cute and map the parts and pieces - John could be Steve Jobs, Paul might be the iPhone, George might be Wosniak, not sure about Ringo (OK, this might not survive the published blog...)... but you get the gist.  Debatable of course but the scale and breadth of accomplishment is similar and rare.

So back to the other night.  Paul McCartney could have been an animatronic (interesting - I thought the same thing about Taylor Swift the first time I saw her live...).  His performance was almost too perfect, especially at 73.  That's not a complaint - he was simply amazing.  How he can still commit to the music, the crowd, and the touring schedule I don't know.  But clearly it's who he is, and it was awesome to see.  Like I told you, Suzy - we're lucky we had this chance to see a Beatle live.

I don't want to dilute the Beatles impression from this blog - but I was really surprised to re-remember what spectacular music Paul made with Wings after the Beatles.  They all made great music after the breakup (yes, even Ringo - "It Don't Come Easy"), but Wings is as good a collection as there is.  I will commit a future post while it's still in my head.

But that's enough for today.  If you just read this, why don't you spend the day with "Michelle" in your head.  You know -

Michelle, ma belle
Sont des mots qui vont tres bien ensemble
Tres bien ensemble

I love you, I love you, I love you
That's all I want to say...

Just remarkable.  The diversity of what they created, and it's oh-so-catchy nature.  I love the Beatles.