Born in Port Arthur, Texas in 1943, Janis Joplin was the eldest of three children but always, according to her mother, demanded more attention than the others. As a teen she was often seen as a misfit at school and was bullied for her appearance and different personality - "I was a misfit. I read, I painted, I didn't hate niggers." She ended up befriending a group of similar outcasts and one of her friends introduced her to blues artists such as Bessie Smith and Leadbelly. This inspired her to become a singer and she joined the local choir while also expanding on her knowledge of blues artists.
After graduating high school in 1960 Janis spent time at both Lamar State College of Technology in Beaumont, Texas and the University of Texas in Austin before dropping out and heading to San Francisco in 1963. During this first stint in San Francisco she made some of her earliest musical recordings, as well as acquiring a taste for psychedelics, amphetamines, heroin and heavy drinking and by early 1965 friends were so concerned about her emaciated state that they collected the money to send her back to Port Arthur for her own sake. Back home in Texas Janis didn't touch either drink or drugs, adopted a more modest appearance (even sporting a beehive hairdo) and enrolled in sociology major at Lamar State College. She did, however, continue her music aspirations and regularly commuted to Austin to perform solo shows.
In 1966 Texan promoter Chet Helms brought Janis back to San Francisco to join the band he was managing at the time, Big Brother & The Holding Company. For the first couple of months Janis managed to stay drug free but shortly after the band were signed to Mainstream Records and they moved into a house in Lagunitas, California with the Grateful Dead and she relapsed back into hard drug use.
In August '67 the band's debut album was released on Columbia shortly after the band made their breakthrough performance at the Monterey Pop Festival where Janis's singing had blown people away, including Cass Elliot from The Mama's & The Papa's who can be seen mouthing "Wow! That's really heavy!" during the bands performance in D.A. Pennebaker's documentary 'Monterey Pop'. This rise in popularity, however, saw them end their management contract with Chet Helms and sign up with renowned manager Albert Grossman.
This deal, and the increase in popularity, seemed to be the beginning of the end for Janis's time with Big Brother & The Holding Company. They started to tour beyond the confines of California and also made three appearances on the Dick Cavett Show where they were billed as 'Janis Joplin & Big Brother & The Holding Company' which lead to resentment from the other members of the band and also for people to start to mention to Janis that maybe she didn't really need the band after all.
Their second album, 'Cheap Thrills', was release in August of '68 and gave the band their breakthrough hit single 'Piece Of My Heart'. However, within four months of the album being release Janis left the band.
In early '69 Janis recorded the album 'I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama!' with her new backing band, The Kozmic Blues Band. During this time her heroin use had seriously escalated and she was allegedly doing $200 a day of heroin. Despite that and the slightly less favourable reviews than those for the 'Cheap Thrills' album it was still certified gold in the US and Janis and the band toured North America and Europe as well as appearing at the legendary Woodstock Festival, though it was only in the 25th Anniversary Directors Cut that any footage of her performing was included such was her drugged out and drunken state by the time she took to the stage. By the end of '69 The Kozmic Blues Band called it a day.
In '70 Janis formed the Full Tilt Boogie band and stated to her friends at the time that she finally had a band she felt totally comfortable with and that was hers. They spent the summer touring before returning to the studio in September to record what would be her biggest album, 'Pearl'.
Produced by Paul Rothchild, who also recorded many of the great albums by The Doors, Tim Buckley, Joni Mitchell and Neil Young to name but a few of the legends he worked with, not all of the tracks on the album were fully completed but were felt sufficient enough to warrant release after Janis's death on 3rd October. 'Buried Alive In The Blues', for example, was left as an instrumental as the vocals were due to be recorded on the day her body was found.
'Me & Bobby McGee' was written by Janis's friend and sometime lover Kris Kristofferson and had originally been recorded by country singer Roger Miller in 1969. The first time Kristofferson discovered Janis had recorded it during the sessions for 'Pearl' was the day after her death and, as well as the posthumous success of 'Pearl', Janis's recording of 'Me & Bobby McGee' went on to be her only number one single and became the second song to posthumously reach number 1 in the US (the first being '(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay' by Otis Redding).
Though it wasn't her song originally and she was not the only one to record it, Janis's version is seen to be the ultimate recording. The song has so much feistiness, passion, guts and emotion in it and I couldn't imagine it being any other way.
This week, for some reason, I've just really wanted to listen to it a lot and now I'm sharing it with you. I hope you all love it as much as I do & I'll catch you all next week!!
Janis Joplin - Me & Bobby McGee
Busted flat in Baton Rouge, waitin' for a train
And I's feeling near as faded as my jeans.
Bobby thumbed a diesel down just before it rained
And rode us all the way into New Orleans.
I pulled my harp on out of my dirty red bandanna
I's playing soft while Bobby sang the blues.
Windshield wipers slapping time, I was holding Bobby's hand in mine
We sang every song that driver knew.
Freedom is just another word for nothin' left to lose
Nothin', don't mean nothin' honey if it ain't free.
And feeling good was easy Lord, when he sang the blues
You know feeling good was good enough for me
Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee.
From the Ken-tucky coal mines to the California sun
Hey Bobby shared the secrets of my soul.
Through all kinds of weather, through everything that we done
Yeah Bobby baby kept me from the cold world.
One day up near Salinas, Lord I let him slip away
He's looking for that home and I hope he finds it.
But I'd trade all of my tomorrows for one single yesterday
To be holding Bobby's body next to mine.
Freedom is just another word for nothin' left to lose
Nothin', that's all that Bobby left me, yeah.
But feeling good was easy Lord, when he sang the blues
Hey, feeling good was good enough for me, hmm hmm
Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee.
La da da - la da da da - la da da - la la la da
La la la - la la da la da, Bobby McGee.
La - da la - da la da - la da da da da
La da la da la da, Bobby McGee
La da da - la da la - la da la - la da la
la da da la - la la la - la, hey now Bobby - lo na - Bobby McGee yeah.
Lo na lo na na lo na na - lo na na lo na na lo na na lo na na lo na na
Hey now Bobby, now my Bobby McGee, yeah.
Lord, Icalled him my lover, called him my man
I said I called him my lover just as fast's I can
C'mon, Where is Bobby now ? Where is Bobby McGee ? - yeah
Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lord
Hey, hey, hey, Bobby McGee, Lord!
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
Whew!
Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lord
Hey, hey, hey, Bobby McGee, yeah.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Song Stuck In My Head This Week - 26th March '11 - Bronski Beat - Smalltown Boy
I don't have too many strong recollections of actually liking the music in the 80's as a child, but as an adult I'm starting to appreciate it more and more. One song I've been listening to a lot lately has been 'Smalltown Boy' by Bronski Beat.
Formed in 1983 by Jimmy Sommerville, Steve Bronski and Larry Steinbachek, though bands with an openly gay image - all three members were gay - was becoming the norm, Bronski Beat were one of the first bands to tackle gay issues.
Peaking at number 3 in the UK singles chart, the bands debut single 'Smalltown Boy' tells the story of a young man in 80's Britain struggling with both family and society rejection for being gay.
In England & Wales gay sex was illegal until 1967 when it was decriminalise and the age of consent was placed at 21. In 1994 that age limit was brought down to 18 but was only brought in line with the straight age of consent, 16, in 2000. In Scotland it was illegal until 1980 when the age of consent was placed at 21 until 2000 when they joined England & Wales in making it 16. In Northern Ireland is was illegal until 1982 when the limit was set at 21. This was reduced to 17 in 2001 and then finally brought down to 16 in 2008. All this shows just how oppressed gay people would have felt at the time and how slow we have been in giving them some semblance of equality, though there is still plenty more we have yet to do.
Aside from the politics this is a catchy and memorable song and, despite the original line-up splitting in 1985 with Jimmy going on to have success with The Communards and then as a solo artist, it hasn't lost a single bit of it's quality over the years and is a classic song. The video also brings back so many memories of how the UK looked when I was a kid.
Hope you all enjoy the song and I'll catch you all next week!
Bronski Beat - Smalltown Boy
You leave in the morning
With everything you own
In a little black case
Alone on a platform
The wind and the rain
On a sad and lonely face
Mother will never understand
Why you had to leave
But the answers you seek
Will never be found at home
The love that you need
Will never be found at home
Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away.
Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away.
Pushed around and kicked around
Always a lonely boy
You were the one
That they'd talk about around town
As they put you down
And as hard as they would try
They'd hurt to make you cry
But you never cried to them
Just to your soul
No you never cried to them
Just to your soul
Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away.
Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away.
Cry , boy, cry...
You leave in the morning
With everything you own
In a little black case
Alone on a platform
The wind and the rain
On a sad and lonely face
Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away.
Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away.
Formed in 1983 by Jimmy Sommerville, Steve Bronski and Larry Steinbachek, though bands with an openly gay image - all three members were gay - was becoming the norm, Bronski Beat were one of the first bands to tackle gay issues.
Peaking at number 3 in the UK singles chart, the bands debut single 'Smalltown Boy' tells the story of a young man in 80's Britain struggling with both family and society rejection for being gay.
In England & Wales gay sex was illegal until 1967 when it was decriminalise and the age of consent was placed at 21. In 1994 that age limit was brought down to 18 but was only brought in line with the straight age of consent, 16, in 2000. In Scotland it was illegal until 1980 when the age of consent was placed at 21 until 2000 when they joined England & Wales in making it 16. In Northern Ireland is was illegal until 1982 when the limit was set at 21. This was reduced to 17 in 2001 and then finally brought down to 16 in 2008. All this shows just how oppressed gay people would have felt at the time and how slow we have been in giving them some semblance of equality, though there is still plenty more we have yet to do.
Aside from the politics this is a catchy and memorable song and, despite the original line-up splitting in 1985 with Jimmy going on to have success with The Communards and then as a solo artist, it hasn't lost a single bit of it's quality over the years and is a classic song. The video also brings back so many memories of how the UK looked when I was a kid.
Hope you all enjoy the song and I'll catch you all next week!
Bronski Beat - Smalltown Boy
You leave in the morning
With everything you own
In a little black case
Alone on a platform
The wind and the rain
On a sad and lonely face
Mother will never understand
Why you had to leave
But the answers you seek
Will never be found at home
The love that you need
Will never be found at home
Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away.
Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away.
Pushed around and kicked around
Always a lonely boy
You were the one
That they'd talk about around town
As they put you down
And as hard as they would try
They'd hurt to make you cry
But you never cried to them
Just to your soul
No you never cried to them
Just to your soul
Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away.
Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away.
Cry , boy, cry...
You leave in the morning
With everything you own
In a little black case
Alone on a platform
The wind and the rain
On a sad and lonely face
Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away.
Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Song Stuck In My Head This Week - 20th March '11 - Jedward - Lipstick
If anyone had told me, even a few weeks ago, I'd be blogging about Jedward I'd have laughed in their face but all that changed when I checked out the video for their Eurovision entry 'Lipstick' when it was put up on perezhilton.com. I was just curious to see how naff it was only to be confronted by what is a seriously good pop track.
For those of you reading this who are unfamiliar with the phenomenon of Jedward they are identical twins John and Edward Grimes who became popular when they appeared in 2009's UK series 'X-Factor'. With their big blonde quiff's and their slightly dodgy/comical performances, though they finished sixth in the show, they had developed a real cult following. In their penultimate week they performed a mash-up of Queen & David Bowie's 'Under Pressure' and Vanilla Ice's 'Ice Ice Baby' which, with a guest appearance on the track by Vanilla Ice, went on to be their first single and it reached number 2 in the UK singles chart.
Since then they have gone on to sign a three year album deal with Universal, performed a massive 75 date tour of Ireland which had originally just been a 27 date tour but was extended due to the extensive demand. They also performed a further 48 date tour of both the UK and Ireland. Despite dividing opinion with people either loving them or hating them they have certainly surpassed my expectations for how their careers would progress.
Last December it was announced that Jedward would be competing for the right to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest. They beat off the national competition and will now go on to the semi-finals on May 12th to see if they make it through to the finals on 14th May. I really hope they make it through as the song is brilliant and I'd love to see how well they'd do in the main competition. If they make it through to the final I'm definitely voting for them!
Hope you all enjoy it and I'll catch you all next week!!
Jedward - Lipstick
You say you’re on it but you just don’t know
You’re spending money like you’re on death row
You must be mis-educated
By all the guys that you’ve dated
You think I’ll take the bait but I don’t think so
Ohhhh
Am I headed for a car crash?
Ohhhh
Just about to meet my match, she takes the
Ohhhh
I’m about to fall in head first
Sisters let me tell you how it works
HEY!
She’s got her lipstick on
Here I come, da da dum
She’s got her lipstick on
Hit and run, then I’m gone
Check my collar, collar, hey, hey, ey
Check my collar, collar, hey, hey, ey
Oooohh, Oooohh
You look at me and I got you in mind
I come on over see what I could find
No appetite for delusion
How can I win when I’m losin’
You’re saying yes when it is no, no, no, no
Ohhhh
Am I headed for a car crash?
Ohhhh
Just about to meet my match, she takes the
Ohhhh
I’m about to fall in head first
Sisters let me tell you how it works
She’s got her lipstick on
Here I come, da da dum
She’s got her lipstick on
Hit and run, then I’m gone
Check my collar, collar, hey, hey, ey
Check my collar, collar, hey, hey, ey
She’s got her lipstick on
Here I come, da da dum
She’s got her lipstick on
Hit and run, then I’m gone
Check my collar, collar, hey, hey, ey
Check my collar, collar, hey, hey, ey
It’s not that I don’t wanna play (play, play)
And then I didn’t look your way (way, way)
It’s not like every girl’s the same (same, same)
You gotta know just how to treat this miss
Or she will be dismissed
Heyyyyy
She’s got her lipstick on
Here I come, da da dum
She’s got her lipstick on
Hit and run, then I’m gone
Check my collar, collar, hey, hey, ey
Check my collar, collar, hey, hey, ey
She’s got her lipstick on
Here I come, da da dum
She’s got her lipstick on
Hit and run, then I’m gone
Check my collar, collar, hey, hey, ey
Check my collar, collar, hey, hey, ey
Here I come
Here I come
dum da dum da dum da dum
Here I come
Here I come
dum da dum da dum da dum
Hit and run
Hit and run
dum da dum da dum da dum
Then I’m gone
Then I’m gone
Gone, gone, gone, gone
For those of you reading this who are unfamiliar with the phenomenon of Jedward they are identical twins John and Edward Grimes who became popular when they appeared in 2009's UK series 'X-Factor'. With their big blonde quiff's and their slightly dodgy/comical performances, though they finished sixth in the show, they had developed a real cult following. In their penultimate week they performed a mash-up of Queen & David Bowie's 'Under Pressure' and Vanilla Ice's 'Ice Ice Baby' which, with a guest appearance on the track by Vanilla Ice, went on to be their first single and it reached number 2 in the UK singles chart.
Since then they have gone on to sign a three year album deal with Universal, performed a massive 75 date tour of Ireland which had originally just been a 27 date tour but was extended due to the extensive demand. They also performed a further 48 date tour of both the UK and Ireland. Despite dividing opinion with people either loving them or hating them they have certainly surpassed my expectations for how their careers would progress.
Last December it was announced that Jedward would be competing for the right to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest. They beat off the national competition and will now go on to the semi-finals on May 12th to see if they make it through to the finals on 14th May. I really hope they make it through as the song is brilliant and I'd love to see how well they'd do in the main competition. If they make it through to the final I'm definitely voting for them!
Hope you all enjoy it and I'll catch you all next week!!
Jedward - Lipstick
You say you’re on it but you just don’t know
You’re spending money like you’re on death row
You must be mis-educated
By all the guys that you’ve dated
You think I’ll take the bait but I don’t think so
Ohhhh
Am I headed for a car crash?
Ohhhh
Just about to meet my match, she takes the
Ohhhh
I’m about to fall in head first
Sisters let me tell you how it works
HEY!
She’s got her lipstick on
Here I come, da da dum
She’s got her lipstick on
Hit and run, then I’m gone
Check my collar, collar, hey, hey, ey
Check my collar, collar, hey, hey, ey
Oooohh, Oooohh
You look at me and I got you in mind
I come on over see what I could find
No appetite for delusion
How can I win when I’m losin’
You’re saying yes when it is no, no, no, no
Ohhhh
Am I headed for a car crash?
Ohhhh
Just about to meet my match, she takes the
Ohhhh
I’m about to fall in head first
Sisters let me tell you how it works
She’s got her lipstick on
Here I come, da da dum
She’s got her lipstick on
Hit and run, then I’m gone
Check my collar, collar, hey, hey, ey
Check my collar, collar, hey, hey, ey
She’s got her lipstick on
Here I come, da da dum
She’s got her lipstick on
Hit and run, then I’m gone
Check my collar, collar, hey, hey, ey
Check my collar, collar, hey, hey, ey
It’s not that I don’t wanna play (play, play)
And then I didn’t look your way (way, way)
It’s not like every girl’s the same (same, same)
You gotta know just how to treat this miss
Or she will be dismissed
Heyyyyy
She’s got her lipstick on
Here I come, da da dum
She’s got her lipstick on
Hit and run, then I’m gone
Check my collar, collar, hey, hey, ey
Check my collar, collar, hey, hey, ey
She’s got her lipstick on
Here I come, da da dum
She’s got her lipstick on
Hit and run, then I’m gone
Check my collar, collar, hey, hey, ey
Check my collar, collar, hey, hey, ey
Here I come
Here I come
dum da dum da dum da dum
Here I come
Here I come
dum da dum da dum da dum
Hit and run
Hit and run
dum da dum da dum da dum
Then I’m gone
Then I’m gone
Gone, gone, gone, gone
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Song Stuck In My Head This Week - 12th March '11 - The Darkness - Friday Night
For the last week I have been awash with happiness and joy at the pending return of The Darkness. I'd always held out hope that the fuzzy & adorable drummer boy, the sexy stone god, the tache-bearing legend and the catsuit wearing genius would return, and it seems my faith in that hope was not in vain.
Now the wheels are in motion and the Darklings are regrouping in readiness for the return of the mothership it made me reflect on those happy, heady days of '03 & '04. From cooking my left shoulder to a crisp at Knebworth in '03 after losing my friends and the sunblock just so I could be near the front for The Darkness's support slot when I went to see Robbie Williams (I didn't mind where I was for his set after that!!). Seeing Justin 'flying' round the ceiling at Wembley Arena in '04. All the meet-ups with fellow Darklings. Getting dressed up and all OTT for a TV taping thing - I don't even remember what it was for now - which took place at the top of a very tall building near Earl's Court and standing on a balcony with other Darklings from all over the UK looking out at the view of London at night. So many happy times.
My favourite moment of all, however, has made the choice for this week's song so simple. In December of '03 I went to see The Darkness play at Brixton Academy. That night was the first time I had met up with fellow Darklings and so I was a bit shy and nervous at first but, before I knew it, I had been incorporated into the plans for 'Friday Night'.
The plan, admittedly, was quite simple. At the appropriate moments during the song items relating to the lyrics would be lobbed at the stage (thankfully they decided not to lob anything related to the line 'archery on Thursday' as it could've proved painful). So we were split into groups and given our specific 'props'. I was in the 'ping-pong' group while the other group were armed with playing cards (I think there was a group armed with shuttlecocks too but don't quote me on it!). It was so much fun feeling like part of a little 'gang' and, as we scattered ourselves around the venue and awaited our moment it left me feeling excited and full of joy. Now every time I hear the song it always reminds me of that fun night.
I look forward to what the future brings in this second coming of The Darkness and can only hope for more happy memories to come along with it.
Hope you all enjoy this weeks song and I'll catch you all next week!!
The Darkness - Friday Night
Hey you!
Do you remember me
I used to sit next to you at school
We indulged in all the extra-curricular activites
We weren't particularly cool
Monday cycling
Tuesday gymnastics
Dancing on a Friday night
I got Bridge Club on Wednesday
Archery on Thursday
Dancing on a Friday night
Hey you!
Could you ever fall for me
The way I fell for you
And do you dwell upon the thoughts that I occupy
Or do you give yourself things to do?
Monday rowing
Tuesday badminton
Dancing on a Friday night
I got ping pong on Wednesday
Needlework on Thursday
Dancing on a Friday night
With you, with you
Monday, Tuesday
Wednesday, Thursday
Dancing on a Friday night
Let the music smother me
Whole weekend recovery
Dancing on a Friday night
See the lady I adore
Dancing on the dancing floor
Dancing on a Friday night
God, the way she moves me
To write bad poetry
Dancing on a Friday night
With you.
Now the wheels are in motion and the Darklings are regrouping in readiness for the return of the mothership it made me reflect on those happy, heady days of '03 & '04. From cooking my left shoulder to a crisp at Knebworth in '03 after losing my friends and the sunblock just so I could be near the front for The Darkness's support slot when I went to see Robbie Williams (I didn't mind where I was for his set after that!!). Seeing Justin 'flying' round the ceiling at Wembley Arena in '04. All the meet-ups with fellow Darklings. Getting dressed up and all OTT for a TV taping thing - I don't even remember what it was for now - which took place at the top of a very tall building near Earl's Court and standing on a balcony with other Darklings from all over the UK looking out at the view of London at night. So many happy times.
My favourite moment of all, however, has made the choice for this week's song so simple. In December of '03 I went to see The Darkness play at Brixton Academy. That night was the first time I had met up with fellow Darklings and so I was a bit shy and nervous at first but, before I knew it, I had been incorporated into the plans for 'Friday Night'.
The plan, admittedly, was quite simple. At the appropriate moments during the song items relating to the lyrics would be lobbed at the stage (thankfully they decided not to lob anything related to the line 'archery on Thursday' as it could've proved painful). So we were split into groups and given our specific 'props'. I was in the 'ping-pong' group while the other group were armed with playing cards (I think there was a group armed with shuttlecocks too but don't quote me on it!). It was so much fun feeling like part of a little 'gang' and, as we scattered ourselves around the venue and awaited our moment it left me feeling excited and full of joy. Now every time I hear the song it always reminds me of that fun night.
I look forward to what the future brings in this second coming of The Darkness and can only hope for more happy memories to come along with it.
Hope you all enjoy this weeks song and I'll catch you all next week!!
The Darkness - Friday Night
Hey you!
Do you remember me
I used to sit next to you at school
We indulged in all the extra-curricular activites
We weren't particularly cool
Monday cycling
Tuesday gymnastics
Dancing on a Friday night
I got Bridge Club on Wednesday
Archery on Thursday
Dancing on a Friday night
Hey you!
Could you ever fall for me
The way I fell for you
And do you dwell upon the thoughts that I occupy
Or do you give yourself things to do?
Monday rowing
Tuesday badminton
Dancing on a Friday night
I got ping pong on Wednesday
Needlework on Thursday
Dancing on a Friday night
With you, with you
Monday, Tuesday
Wednesday, Thursday
Dancing on a Friday night
Let the music smother me
Whole weekend recovery
Dancing on a Friday night
See the lady I adore
Dancing on the dancing floor
Dancing on a Friday night
God, the way she moves me
To write bad poetry
Dancing on a Friday night
With you.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Song Stuck In My Head This Week - 5th March '11 - Gin Blossoms - Follow You Down
Formed in 1987 in Tempe, Arizona and taking their name from the caption of a photo of W.C. Fields, Gin Blossoms had a series of minor hit singles in the UK in the early to mid 90's. Last year I blogged about their first hit, 'Hey Jealousy' http://songstuckinmyheadthisweek.blogspot.com/2010/08/song-stuck-in-my-head-this-week-30th.html, and now this week it's the turn of their last hit 'Follow You Down'.
After the release of their second album 'New Miserable Experience' in 1992 the band suffered the loss of former songwriter and band member Doug Hopkins. The album was a success and so, after touring and promoting it, the band took their time to re-group and decide where to take things from there. There had always been the assumption that if Hopkins could conquer his alcohol problems he would return to the group. His suicide put an end to that notion and it took until 1996 for the band to come back with their third album 'Congratulations, I'm Sorry'.
'Follow You Down' was the lead single to be released from the album. Though the single 'Til I Hear If From You' was released the previous year (lifted from the soundtrack to the film 'Empire Records') it wasn't originally on the album and only appeared at a later date.
Reaching number 15 on the US Billboard 100 and number 30 on the UK top 40 Singles Chart, 'Follow You Down' was written just before the end of the recording of 'Congratulations, I'm Sorry' when band member Jesse Valenzuela came up with it one night. Not only was it a popular song but the following year, shortly before the band split up, it won an award from the American Society of Composers and Publishers as one of the most played songs in 1996 on US radio.
I've always liked the music produced by the Gin Blossoms and this song is no exception. Having had it come up on my lastfm player a couple of times it was already in my head but, to top it all off, a talented young man by the name of Chris Hepworth played it at the acoustic night I go to on Sunday nights which just reaffirmed it's position in this blog.
I hope you all enjoy is and check out more of their material. I'll catch you all next week!!
Gin Blossoms - Follow You Down
Did you see the sky
I think it means that we've been lost
Maybe one less time is all we need
I can't really help it if my tongue's all tied in knots
Jumping off a bridge, it's just the farthest that I've ever been
Anywhere you go, I'll follow you down
Anyplace but those I know by heart
Anywhere you go, I'll follow you down
I'll follow you down, but not that far
I know we're headed somewhere, I can see how far we've come
But still I can't remember anything
Let's not do the wrong thing and I'll swear it might be fun
It's a long way down when all the knots we've tied have come undone
Anywhere you go, I'll follow you down
Anyplace but those I know by heart
Anywhere you go, I'll follow you down
I'll follow you down, but not that far
How you gonna ever find your place
Running in an artificial pace
Are they gonna find us lying face down in the sand
So what the hell now, we've already been forever damned
Anywhere you go, I'll follow you down
Anyplace but those I know by heart
Anywhere you go, I'll follow you down
I'll follow you down, but not that far
Follow you down
Follow you down, but not that far
Follow you down
After the release of their second album 'New Miserable Experience' in 1992 the band suffered the loss of former songwriter and band member Doug Hopkins. The album was a success and so, after touring and promoting it, the band took their time to re-group and decide where to take things from there. There had always been the assumption that if Hopkins could conquer his alcohol problems he would return to the group. His suicide put an end to that notion and it took until 1996 for the band to come back with their third album 'Congratulations, I'm Sorry'.
'Follow You Down' was the lead single to be released from the album. Though the single 'Til I Hear If From You' was released the previous year (lifted from the soundtrack to the film 'Empire Records') it wasn't originally on the album and only appeared at a later date.
Reaching number 15 on the US Billboard 100 and number 30 on the UK top 40 Singles Chart, 'Follow You Down' was written just before the end of the recording of 'Congratulations, I'm Sorry' when band member Jesse Valenzuela came up with it one night. Not only was it a popular song but the following year, shortly before the band split up, it won an award from the American Society of Composers and Publishers as one of the most played songs in 1996 on US radio.
I've always liked the music produced by the Gin Blossoms and this song is no exception. Having had it come up on my lastfm player a couple of times it was already in my head but, to top it all off, a talented young man by the name of Chris Hepworth played it at the acoustic night I go to on Sunday nights which just reaffirmed it's position in this blog.
I hope you all enjoy is and check out more of their material. I'll catch you all next week!!
Gin Blossoms - Follow You Down
Did you see the sky
I think it means that we've been lost
Maybe one less time is all we need
I can't really help it if my tongue's all tied in knots
Jumping off a bridge, it's just the farthest that I've ever been
Anywhere you go, I'll follow you down
Anyplace but those I know by heart
Anywhere you go, I'll follow you down
I'll follow you down, but not that far
I know we're headed somewhere, I can see how far we've come
But still I can't remember anything
Let's not do the wrong thing and I'll swear it might be fun
It's a long way down when all the knots we've tied have come undone
Anywhere you go, I'll follow you down
Anyplace but those I know by heart
Anywhere you go, I'll follow you down
I'll follow you down, but not that far
How you gonna ever find your place
Running in an artificial pace
Are they gonna find us lying face down in the sand
So what the hell now, we've already been forever damned
Anywhere you go, I'll follow you down
Anyplace but those I know by heart
Anywhere you go, I'll follow you down
I'll follow you down, but not that far
Follow you down
Follow you down, but not that far
Follow you down
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Song Stuck In My Head This Week - 27th February '11 - My Lithium & Me/David Bowie - Lady Grinning Soul
it was a chilly autumnal night when, at the birthday party of a mutual friend, I first heard My Lithium & Me (a.k.a. Leah Kardos) first perform 'Lady Grinning Soul'. As our friend, like us, was a Bowie fan she had put together a set of her own take on Bowie songs and the haunting quality of her performance of 'Lady Grinning Soul' was just captivating.
Since then she has continued to do her own take on Bowie songs at various parties until she decided to turn these casual, fun performances into a project. The end result is My Lithium & Me's 'You Can't Hide The Beat', a set of six amazing Bowie covers that are free to download from the website http://youcanthidebeat.com/ as well as some fantastic videos for several of them, and I do encourage you to watch the wonderful video for this song, animated by the talented Izzy Foster.
The songs from this project have been on loop on my mp3 player this week as I soak in every single piece of these songs. From the subtle samples from other Bowie songs to the wonderful vocal harmonies the six tracks are just such a wonderful treat for the ears and everyone should give them a listen.
My only hope is that this is just the beginning for My Lithium & Me and that there will be more to come in the future, whether it is more Bowie or some original material, as it would be a shame not to hear more from this seriously talented young lady.
Hope you all enjoy this week's song and I'll catch you all next week!!
My Lithium & Me/David Bowie - Lady Grinning Soul
She'll come, she'll go. She'll lay belief on you
Skin sweet with musky oil
The lady from another grinning soul
Cologne she'll wear. Silver and Americard
She'll drive a beetle car
And beat you down at cool Canasta
And when the clothes are strewn don't be afraid of the room
Touch the fullness of her breast. Feel the love of her caress
She will be your living end
She'll come, she'll go. She'll lay belief on you
But she won't stake her life on you
How can life become her point of view
And when the clothes are strewn don't be afraid of the room
Touch the fullness of her breast. Feel the love of her caress
She will be your living end
She will be your living end
She will be your living end
She will be your living end
She will be your living end
Since then she has continued to do her own take on Bowie songs at various parties until she decided to turn these casual, fun performances into a project. The end result is My Lithium & Me's 'You Can't Hide The Beat', a set of six amazing Bowie covers that are free to download from the website http://youcanthidebeat.com/ as well as some fantastic videos for several of them, and I do encourage you to watch the wonderful video for this song, animated by the talented Izzy Foster.
The songs from this project have been on loop on my mp3 player this week as I soak in every single piece of these songs. From the subtle samples from other Bowie songs to the wonderful vocal harmonies the six tracks are just such a wonderful treat for the ears and everyone should give them a listen.
My only hope is that this is just the beginning for My Lithium & Me and that there will be more to come in the future, whether it is more Bowie or some original material, as it would be a shame not to hear more from this seriously talented young lady.
Hope you all enjoy this week's song and I'll catch you all next week!!
My Lithium & Me/David Bowie - Lady Grinning Soul
She'll come, she'll go. She'll lay belief on you
Skin sweet with musky oil
The lady from another grinning soul
Cologne she'll wear. Silver and Americard
She'll drive a beetle car
And beat you down at cool Canasta
And when the clothes are strewn don't be afraid of the room
Touch the fullness of her breast. Feel the love of her caress
She will be your living end
She'll come, she'll go. She'll lay belief on you
But she won't stake her life on you
How can life become her point of view
And when the clothes are strewn don't be afraid of the room
Touch the fullness of her breast. Feel the love of her caress
She will be your living end
She will be your living end
She will be your living end
She will be your living end
She will be your living end
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Song Stuck In My Head This Week - 19th February '11 - Nancy Sinatra - Sugar Town
For this song being in my head I have to place some of the blame on the gorgeous little head of actress Zooey Deschanel. If it wasn't for her singing it in the movie '(500) Days Of Summer' (an excellent film by the way) then I might well have never heard it. Also it would have meant that whenever I think of the film this song instantly pops into my head and, as I've been thinking about the film a lot this week, I've been thinking about the song. So it's all Zooey's fault!
Nancy Sinatra was born in 1940 and is the eldest child of the late, great singer Frank Sinatra. Despite her lineage, Nancy's career didn't automatically take off. Despite signing to Reprise Records in 1961 and releasing several singles they all failed to do particularly well and by 1965 Nancy was on the verge of being dropped. Then she began to work with Lee Hazlewood, a renowned producer, songwriter and arranger who had been making hit records for stars such as Duane Eddy for a decade by that point. Hazlewood changed Nancy's sound and singing style and, along with a Carnaby Street-esque make-over, she began to have hits, leading off in early 1966 with the anthemic 'These Boots Are Made For Walkin''. A flurry of hits soon followed including 'Sugar Town' which became her second single to sell over a million copies.
Nancy continued to make music, as well as work in both film and television, until the mid-70's when she slowed down to concentrate on being a wife and mother. Periodically since the early 80's she has made music and even appeared in Playboy magazine in 1995!
'Sugar Town', for me, is a great little song that I just haven't stopped singing to myself all week. It's such a happy little ditty that you have to smile when you hear it. And it's still all Zooey's fault!
Hope you all enjoy it and I'll catch you all next week!
Nancy Sinatra - Sugar Town
I got some troubles but they won't last
I'm gonna lay right down here in the grass
And pretty soon all my troubles will pass
'cause I'm in shoo-shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo-shoo
Shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo Sugar Town
I never had a dog that liked me some
Never had a friend or wanted one
So I just lay back and laugh at the sun
'cause I'm in shoo-shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo-shoo
Shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo Sugar Town
Yesterday it rained in Tennessee
I heard it also rained in Tallahassee
But not a drop fell on little old me
'cause I was in shoo-shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo-shoo
Shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo Sugar Town
If I had a million dollars or ten
I'd give to ya, world, and then
You'd go away and let me spend
My life in shoo-shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo-shoo
Shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo Sugar Town
la-la-la-la to end
Nancy Sinatra was born in 1940 and is the eldest child of the late, great singer Frank Sinatra. Despite her lineage, Nancy's career didn't automatically take off. Despite signing to Reprise Records in 1961 and releasing several singles they all failed to do particularly well and by 1965 Nancy was on the verge of being dropped. Then she began to work with Lee Hazlewood, a renowned producer, songwriter and arranger who had been making hit records for stars such as Duane Eddy for a decade by that point. Hazlewood changed Nancy's sound and singing style and, along with a Carnaby Street-esque make-over, she began to have hits, leading off in early 1966 with the anthemic 'These Boots Are Made For Walkin''. A flurry of hits soon followed including 'Sugar Town' which became her second single to sell over a million copies.
Nancy continued to make music, as well as work in both film and television, until the mid-70's when she slowed down to concentrate on being a wife and mother. Periodically since the early 80's she has made music and even appeared in Playboy magazine in 1995!
'Sugar Town', for me, is a great little song that I just haven't stopped singing to myself all week. It's such a happy little ditty that you have to smile when you hear it. And it's still all Zooey's fault!
Hope you all enjoy it and I'll catch you all next week!
Nancy Sinatra - Sugar Town
I got some troubles but they won't last
I'm gonna lay right down here in the grass
And pretty soon all my troubles will pass
'cause I'm in shoo-shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo-shoo
Shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo Sugar Town
I never had a dog that liked me some
Never had a friend or wanted one
So I just lay back and laugh at the sun
'cause I'm in shoo-shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo-shoo
Shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo Sugar Town
Yesterday it rained in Tennessee
I heard it also rained in Tallahassee
But not a drop fell on little old me
'cause I was in shoo-shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo-shoo
Shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo Sugar Town
If I had a million dollars or ten
I'd give to ya, world, and then
You'd go away and let me spend
My life in shoo-shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo-shoo
Shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo Sugar Town
la-la-la-la to end
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