Between The Covers - Part VIII

MC5 created a blizzard of punk noise long before the genre even existed

Hey kids... and grown-ups! Today I'll talk about some more cover songs, with insight into both the original and the version as played by another artist. The tunes I discuss here are very often ones that I happen to like a lot, either the original or its cover, or occasionally both. Okay, enough idle chit-chat. Let's get on with things...

Jesus is Just Alright, by the Doobie Brothers, has long been a favourite song of mine. I think the most impressive thing about this track is how, even with the very repetitious lyrics, it is one kick-ass rocker. Released on studio LP and as a single back in 1972, JIJA first came to my attention when I bought an audio cassette of the Doobies' greatest hits when I was in my mid-teens. A great compilation loaded with funky, rocking songs... and Jesus is Just Alright was among my faves right from the get-go. Still is.

The percussion is out of this world, with the drummer wailing a storm on his kit AND what sounds like a conga player going full tilt on his skins.

Searing keyboards and cutting guitars drive this thing to frantic, joyful levels. About midway through the song, there's a lengthy super-mellow section highlighted by a soulful guitar solo. This segues into a manic funk-rock finale that rivals any other. The Doobie Brothers are noted for their unison vocals, and they truly shine on this number.

The song was a hit back in '72 and made Billboard's Top 40. And this wasn't even written by the Doobies. No, Jesus is Just Alright was actually a gospel tune written by The Art Reynolds Singers, and its first recording was released back in 1966. It has been covered by many other artists since, including The Byrds in '69 (a far groovier version, lacking the fire of the Doobies' rock interpretation).

The original is actually pretty good even by today's standards. Just a touch awkward in rhythm - the drums feel a bit off, not quite in sync (or just not necessary?) with the vocal performance. But it's the singing that impresses most. The piano and (I think) little guitar accents barely register once the powerful voices kick in. Cool. As an historical note, I'd say it's worth checking this out. It's short and sweet at just a hair under two minutes.

Next up is the song California Man, which for the longest time I thought was written by Cheap Trick. When I was a young teen and first latched onto Trick, I sought out all their existing albums to that point, including the 1978 huge hit LP, Heaven Tonight. California Man appeared on that record, and man, I played that thing to death. One of the rockers on an album of pretty lightweight pop, it immediately caught my ear. The song simply sounded so Cheap Trick that there was never any reason to think it belonged to anyone else. Of course, at that tender age, it never occurred to me to look at the song credits and see that some other mooks wrote it. Anyway, the raucous tempo, with Carlos bashing his wee kit and some nifty electric piano flourishes, nearly sent this through the roof... until axe nerd Neilsen whips out a fiery lead solo. Crisp metallic guitar chords take the tune to its bold finish.

It was many years later that I learned that California Man was originally written and recorded by, then released in '72, by some group called The Move. Never heard of 'em. Their version sounds very early rock'n'roll, with saxophone all over the place, and a tinkly piano solo. The riffs are there, but it's got a vibe so unlike Cheap Trick's ultra-cool rendition that I just can't quite get into it. Whatever... at least I know the song's roots.

Now on to something by Blue Oyster Cult, a band I've always found fascinating yet never fully explored. I've had a "hits" CD and one of their studio albums for decades, and only a few years back picked up another studio LP on vinyl. One of their crazier rock'n'rollers (more party tune and less sci-fi excursion), Kick Out the Jams, appeared on the 1978 live album Some Enchanted Evening. This energetic locomotive tune simply does not let up... deranged guitar riffs and licks charging full speed ahead, aiming directly for the Dharma's pinnacle solo.

It was only years later that I heard the original version from 1969 by MC5, who I hadn't even heard of 'til that moment. These guys are credited with being punk before punk became a thing. Their sound is a proto-hybrid of musical genres yet to emerge. This is approaching metal, or at least hard rock, with its angry, noisy groove and punk-ish vocal snarl. The MC5 version is a bit slower, grittier, and possibly heavier than the BOC rendition.You know, I think I like this even more than BOC's take on it. This is not as cluttered-sounding and hurried as the BOC cover. There is more kick to this MC5 track. Quite cool.

My Favourite Songs - Part IV

What a hot and steamy day. But I'm not complaining... for me, this is preferable to the icy deep freeze of winter. At least in this weather, I can put a record on the turntable and watch the needle slowly sink into the melting plastic as it spins, then finally succumbs and entirely liquifies, oozing down into the mechanism. This is called "fun".

Mr. Petty sings about Jesus and Elvis in his ode to Los Angeles, Free Fallin' 

Anyway, on to the topic for today: the next instalment of My Favourite Songs. I might as well talk about some tunes that were made for sunny summer days, since this is what I'm currently baking in. Not that I'm complaining. Many songs seem to have been crafted precisely for a season, and there are definitely summertime songs that have found their way onto patio playlists the world over. No matter what year or season the music was released, if it sounded summery, it's on that playlist, even today.

And I'm not just talking about songs about summer, but ones that evoke a mood, a sense, of that idyllic time of the year. Warm, sunny days and deep, steamy evenings. There can be a party flavour or there can be a calm, chillaxin' vibe. Both work, and almost anything in between can, too, if it's done right. So there's a theme here today. Enjoy...

Free Fallin', by Tom Petty - one of the most evocative songs I know. Every time I hear the opening chords, I brace myself for a wave of summertime nostalgia. Friends and I always played this during the summer of 1990... and it became a regular on the car CD player for years to come. Good times. Warm, Americana lyrics transport me to the alleged "land of the free". The breezy rhythm guitar, easy-going tempo, nearly-Beach Boys harmonies... I feel great just listening to it as I write this. 

Beautiful Girls, by Van Halen - classic-era Van Halen, with Sir David Lee Roth on vocal duties. His playful beach pick-up banter and the tuneful vocal harmonies bring a fun, sunny element to the swinging hard rock core of the song. Among my favourite Halen songs, with searing guitar antics, and crazy whoops and hollers.

Take It Easy, by The Eagles - the lively country-ish guitars and banjo, lazy mid-tempo rhythm, and those famous Eagles harmonies elevate this to a timeless celebration of the simple life. The lyrics are simple - girls, a truck, and more girls. And there's a summery vibe that can't be denied. In fact, this past Friday night, this song came on the playlist while sipping beer by a friend's pool... and I felt my work-week just fade away as I fell into the perfect relaxed state. Perfect.

Last Train to Clarksville, by The Monkees - not at all obvious, like my previous songs on the list, but there's that jangly Byrds-like guitar, which always puts me in a summertime mood. The bright percussion, including tambourine, and trademark Monkees harmonies make this a fun, happy, boppy tune. The lyrics are far-removed from summer, I suppose, but who cares? The sound of this great old song brings me back to hazy August days when I was a kid.

Favourite Books Of All Time

Today, I would like to talk a bit about my favourite books, fiction only.  These are novels I've read and re-read several times, some decades old, some more modern.

It's hard to nail down fave books I've read over the course of a lifetime - over fifty years worth of page turning. And I've read a lot of books in my time. I read steadily through primary school, trying out mostly thrillers, mysteries, horror and science fiction. During high school, I'd often devour a book in an evening, when I should have been doing homework. Oh well. When I was married, there was less personal time for reading, but I snuck it in wherever I could. Marriage didn't work out - she wasn't a reader at all, and couldn't understand why I should be, either - so once out on my own again, I found the time to pore over the pages of my favourite novels again.

There will be a bit of overlap with some previous posts where I've written about fave books of various genres, or stuff I've read over the course of a year. But here I'll try to rattle off as many all-time favourites as I can think of. These are not in strict order of any sort, but the ones I know belong at or near the top will be higher up in my list.

I think it's safe to say that my absolute favourite book of all time is:

Lonesome Dove

Its sequels often came very close to the same quality of Old West adventure and romance of this first book of the sweeping saga by Larry McMurtry. So without naming them all, I'll just say this series is at the top of my list.

The Border Trilogy, beginning with what I feel is the best of the series, All the Pretty Horses, by Cormack McCarthy... a newer favourite author of westerns, though these stories are set long after the days of the Old West. A very close second to Lonesome Dove.

Earth's Past Trilogy: Three Body Problem, etc... by Cixin Liu. This guy has impressed me as perhaps the greatest modern sci-fi writer. His ideas and style are unique and challenging, encompassing both hard and soft SF.

Dune, by Frank Herbert. Do I need to say more? This and its two sequels formed what I feel was possibly the best of the science fiction genre... ever. Inventive, imaginative, intelligent. Epic in scope and yet the reader is given a chance to develop intimate relationships with the characters. 

Deptford Trilogy: Fifth Business/The Manticore/World of Wonders, by Roberston Davies. I first read this dark fantasy series back in high school, where the first book was actually part of the curriculum. Hooray for that teacher! I re-bought and re-read these novels not many years ago. I appreciated them on more than one level this time around.

China Mieville's Bas-Lag series, starting with Perdito Street Station. I love these far-out dark urban fantasy novels, weird and gritty and highly unique. I can't wait to re-read them someday. Yes, they're that good.

The Historian, by Elizabeth Kostova. I've revisited this once... no, twice... and am always thrown into a dream-like state as I turn the pages of this hunt across Europe for the "real" Dracula. History and geography play a big role in this creepy adventure thriller. The chilling parts would best be read in daylight.

Game, Set, Match series and Hook, Line, and Sinker series by master spy novelist Len Deighton. I've read nearly every one of his approximately two dozen wartime espionage and adventure stories. Some of them at least twice.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories of the world-famous London sleuth, all of them, pretty much, but especially his debut collection The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. I read these classic mysteries as a tween many moons ago, and have re-read them more than a couple of times since. Among the best storytelling of all time.

Author Mary Stewart's Merlin trilogy, though focused on the wizard's life and times, does include his friend and employer, King Arthur. Wonderfully written with warmth, detail, and atmosphere, I always look forward to my next re-reading of these historical fictional tales.

The Big Sleep, by Raymond Chandler, is among the many, many detective mysteries I've read... yet, the author's stylish prose makes him stand out among his peers. While movie adaptations have not impressed me much, the original novel is captivating, a blast every time I read it.

Maddaddam Trilogy: Oryx and Crake/Year of the Flood/Maddaddam, by Margaret Atwood. Who says Canadians are boring? Ol' Marg created a bizarre and engaging world in this series, the first two novels far better than the third. But as a whole, one of the most unusual and fun stories I've ever read.

The Crimson Petal and the White, by Michel Faber. A massive work of fiction, this book took me on a vivid journey with its protagonists and antagonist in Victorian England. A long, long read, but very satisfying. Someday I'll tackle it again.

The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings... duh. With these monumental books, J.R.R. Tolkien was responsible for all the copycat fantasy crap that would rain down on us for decades. None of it ever came close to Tolkien's pioneering vision of an epic quest led by short, furry-footed people. 

Ray Bradbury, almost anything... it's been a long while since I've gone to my collection of Bradbury books, but I think I'm due. Between his novels and his many collections of short fiction, his old-timey warmth, wisdom and humour gave an immediately relatable air to his stories of the fantastic - horror, sci-fi, and fantasy. He expertly weaves nostalgic tones into his works, and I feel wistful now just thinking about reading one of his books.

The Club Dumas by Arturo Perez-Revert. What was this - a mystery thriller? It's been so long since I've read this engrossing tale, yet I do know the movie adaptation The Ninth Gate quite well. The film altered things a bit, so my memory of the source novel is muddled. But I know I loved it.

The Sisters Brothers, by Patrick deWitt... a charming, funny adventure in the Old West. It was worth re-reading and even the film version did it justice. 

The Demonologist, by Andrew Pyper, caught me off guard. I bought it on a whim, based on a review, and was won over entirely. A smart and creepy story that is dense with atmosphere... and I think I'm ready to revisit it soon.

Boy's Life, by Robert McCammon, remains a favourite summertime read. Set in the 60's, with all the turmoil of that period, it is at its core a fantasy story... and a terrific one, at that. 

Summer of Night was the first horror novel written by Dan Simmons, who went on to make a name for himself after this highly regarded debut. This is the stuff of Stephen King and the 80's horror movies... a vibe that is at once familiar and captivating in its eerie power.

Hyperion, also by Dan Simmons, is his sci-fi masterpiece. I read this for the first time recently, and yes, it lives up to the hype. It is a more human tale than I expected, and that is part of its appeal... the futuristic, spacey side of things is simply the setting for the adventure and drama within.

Fritz Leiber wrote herioc fantasy that grabbed my attention as a young reader, but it was his horror novel Conjure Wife that really slayed me. I get chills just thinking about that book. I've seen a couple of film adapations, only one of which (Burn, Witch, Burn!) came anywhere close to this classic. Can't wait to do this one again. 

Michael Moorcock's Elric saga... I first plowed through this series of "sword and sorcery" fantasy back in high school, loved it, but left it at that. Many years later, I sold off all those mint condition books. Even more years later, I regretted that move and re-bought the series. Yes, still fun and cool as the reluctant emperor is tormented by his magic bloodthirsty sword.

Lyndon Hardy released Master of Five Magics back in 1980, and still, after all these years, it's a great read... an early example of "hard fantasy", which is to say the story follows a young man intent on learning the five disciplines of magic, and here we get into the nitty-gritty of what it takes to harness each of the systems: thaumaturgy, alchemy, magic, sorcery, and wizardry. 

Back in the early 2000s, I made a happy discovery at the local library. Canadian author Charles de Lint did wonders to revive my interest in the fantasy genre with his blend of folktale, myth, fairytale, dreams, and urban legend - which melded into his version of urban fantasy. I am most familiar with the novels he wrote in the 80's, like Moonheart (probably my favourite), Greenmantle, and Wolf Moon. Excellent and unique stuff, at least back then. I suppose the market is now flooded with imitators of this pioneer of the genre, but go back to de Lint for the real deal. I really need to explore more of his bibliography.

"New" Vintage Vinyl and In the Listening Room

I recently noted that I was edging slowly toward 200 LP records in my collection... 160 right now, plus twenty 7-inch singles and two 12-inch singles. Not bad for less than three years in the vinyl game. My record shopping was more furious in the first couple of years, but has slowed down a lot since. For one thing, my Wish List is very small now, and some of the stuff on there doesn't seem so important that I should hurry to get them. Besides, I have pretty much found all the albums that mean the most to me, holy grails and nostalgic favourites and other gems.

Yesterday I received some gently used vinyl records I bought on Discogs.com. As luck would have it, the seller was a local, so we skipped the shipping charges and the guy very generously hand delivered them to me - the day after I purchased online. What service!

So, what I got were a couple of early and first pressings of hit albums from the glorious 70's, when I first took the deep dive into music and collecting.

To begin with, there's ABBA, with their very first Greatest Hits. This is a 1977 reissue of their 1975 compilation of Europop bestselling songs. I vaguely knew of ABBA back in the day but wasn't a fan by any stretch. I was more into heavier, guitar-oriented rock... and just a little bit of pop. But in recent years, I have developed a bit of an appreciation for their music. I already have a couple of ABBA albums, one of them their Greatest Hits Volume II. That one is packed with songs I knew, but this first hits album only has a few I recognize, like S.O.S. and Mamma Mia. I'm sure the rest will grow on me as I get to know them. Pretty cool stuff.

Next up is an album I have owned in several formats over the decades (first vinyl, then cassette tape, CD), Cheap Trick's huge hit LP Heaven Tonight. Like I said, I owned this record before, way back in my teen years, but as time passed, the vinyl was supplanted by tapes and later CDs. Anyway, this is a first pressing from 1978, in very nice condition. As much as I Iike the music on Heaven Tonight, I have always felt weird about the album cover - the front cover, anyway. I know Cheap Trick were one of those bands that went for band photos as much as possible, since they were such a quirky and colourful bunch. But what an odd and uninteresting front cover... it looks like an impromptu - and unwelcome - snapshot of singer Zander and bassist Petersson in a backstage dressing room, just standing there looking dazed and bland... rather awkwardly posed, I think. And Petersson sporting his ever-messy mop of hair. If anything, I would have preferred the more eclectic other two band members, the wackily-dressed guitarist Neilsen and frumpy office-attired drummer Carlos, who appear on the back cover. In fact, for many years, I've flipped the booklet around in my CD case of the album so I see the latter pair of musicians instead. Whatever. 

Great set of songs: from the international hit Surrender, to the rockin' cover tune California Man, the metallic Auf Wiedersehen, the eerie ballad (?) title track, and all the hook-and-harmony-laden power pop that falls in between. Melodic and heavy, both alternately and at the same time, these tunes comprise an important album in the history of rock. While it's not my favourite Cheap Trick album, it is a key component in their "classic years" discography... to me, their first five albums (including the live At Budokan) are essential Trick, and were a major part of the arena rock (now dubbed "classic rock", which I hate) phenomenon of that time.

A few weeks back, after enjoying the hell out of the Destroyer album (by Kiss) on vinyl, I felt the urge to add one more Kiss record to my collection... and that was Rock and Roll Over, from 1976. At first, I had trouble locating an older pressing for a decent price, so I opted for a new, sealed copy of the 2014 reissue... for a song - less than twenty bucks. It sounds great and looks really nice with that snazzy graphic artwork and album cover reproduction on a big sticker (which I will frame one of these days).

Now, not vinyl, but still physical media, I found on CD something less Dad-rock-ish. Based on my musical tastes, a friend recommended I try out thrash metal band Death Angel, who I had heard of years ago, but never checked out before. Really impressed... like a groovier, no frills thrash attack version of Megadeth (who pretty things up and go extreme with the guitar pyrotechnics sometimes). They've been around since the early 80's, and led the second wave of thrash after the Big Four already made their mark. Listening on Youtube, I particularly liked their album Act III (from 1990). I would have liked it on vinyl, but whether an old or new pressing, the prices were prohibitive, so CD it was. Anyway, I am loving it. Every song is a winner, though standouts are The Organization, Stagnant, and Falling Asleep. Great twin guitar style... these guys are talented and creative on the fretboard. I'll definitely investigate more Death Angel albums once I've given this one a thorough workout.

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In the Listening Room, I discovered some cool modern metal on Youtube:

Vektor is the band and the album I checked was Terminal Redux, very progressive thrash in the vein of Voivod, with similar sci-fi lyric leanings and dissonant, technical musical approach. Being a Voivod fan, I found this pretty cool stuff.

Power Trip caught my attention with their song/video Executioner's Tax, then I went to its album of origin, Nightmare Logic. This thrash-punk hybrid is frenzied and catchy, wild and fun.

Then I revisited Swedish death metal band Opeth's 2005 album Ghost Reveries. These guys seemed to reign the progressive extreme metal for a long stretch, before altering their sound dramatically to something akin to traditional UK prog-rock (definitely lighter fare). But Ghost Reveries displays the range of Opeth's sonic palette, light and dark, light and heavy... a mastery rarely seen or heard.