Another Tower of Song?

This is for all non-EC or peripheral-EC topics. We all know how much we love talking about 'The Man' but sometimes we have other interests.
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laughingcrow
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Post by laughingcrow »

OUT: Dionne, sorry love
IN: Billy Bragg - St Swithens Day


Django Reinhardt - Japanese Sandman
Joni Mitchell - Amelia
Bob Dylan - Lily Rosemary & The Jack Of Hearts
Tom Waits - Jockey Full Of Bourbon
KRS-One - 9mm
Johnny Cash - The Beast in Me
Ella Fitzgerald - Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
Radiohead - Pyramid Song
The Byrds - Draft Morning
Billy Bragg - St Swithens Day
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LessThanZero
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Post by LessThanZero »

OUT: KRS-One
IN: Roy Orbison

Django Reinhardt - Japanese Sandman
Joni Mitchell - Amelia
Bob Dylan - Lily Rosemary & The Jack Of Hearts
Tom Waits - Jockey Full Of Bourbon
Roy Orbison - Only The Lonely
Johnny Cash - The Beast in Me
Ella Fitzgerald - Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
Radiohead - Pyramid Song
The Byrds - Draft Morning
Billy Bragg - St Swithens Day
Loving this board since before When I Was Cruel.
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El Vez
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Post by El Vez »

I'm an unrepentant tower hog....

OUT: Radiohead (Mainly because there are about a half-dozen other songs by them I would pick before this one)
IN: The Blasters

Django Reinhardt - Japanese Sandman
Joni Mitchell - Amelia
Bob Dylan - Lily Rosemary & The Jack Of Hearts
Tom Waits - Jockey Full Of Bourbon
Roy Orbison - Only The Lonely
Johnny Cash - The Beast in Me
Ella Fitzgerald - Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
The Blasters - Just Another Sunday
The Byrds - Draft Morning
Billy Bragg - St Swithens Day
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so lacklustre
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Location: half way to bliss

Post by so lacklustre »

OUT - Johnny Cash - The Beast in Me
IN - David Bowie - Starman

Django Reinhardt - Japanese Sandman
Joni Mitchell - Amelia
Bob Dylan - Lily Rosemary & The Jack Of Hearts
Tom Waits - Jockey Full Of Bourbon
Roy Orbison - Only The Lonely
David Bowie - Starman
Ella Fitzgerald - Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
The Blasters - Just Another Sunday
The Byrds - Draft Morning
Billy Bragg - St Swithens Day
signed with love and vicious kisses
bobster
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Post by bobster »

Wow -- two personal favorite songs/bands added in a row -- Esp. impressed to see the city of Downey's finest, the Blasters. And I love "Starman" a lot.

Anywho...

Out -- My namesake, Mr. Dylan
In -- Los Beatles

Django Reinhardt - Japanese Sandman
Joni Mitchell - Amelia
The Beatles -- Hey Bulldog
Tom Waits - Jockey Full Of Bourbon
Roy Orbison - Only The Lonely
David Bowie - Starman
Ella Fitzgerald - Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
The Blasters - Just Another Sunday
The Byrds - Draft Morning
Billy Bragg - St Swithens Day
http://www.forwardtoyesterday.com -- Where "hopelessly dated" is a compliment!
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Boy With A Problem
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Post by Boy With A Problem »

Has anyone seen the Blasters since they've been doing their "reunion" shows? They really are better than ever. Phil is a great frontman and Dave couldn't look tougher just hanging back throwing out his blistering leads - he's playing at peak form right now (his solos shows are terrific as well).
laughingcrow
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Post by laughingcrow »

Out: Roy Orbison
In: The Beautiful South - Let love speak up itself

Django Reinhardt - Japanese Sandman
Joni Mitchell - Amelia
The Beatles -- Hey Bulldog
Tom Waits - Jockey Full Of Bourbon
David Bowie - Starman
Ella Fitzgerald - Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
The Blasters - Just Another Sunday
The Byrds - Draft Morning
Billy Bragg - St Swithens Day
The Beautiful South - Let love speak up itself
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bambooneedle
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Post by bambooneedle »

I like this Beatles song better. Much more oomph. That's my OBS (obligatory Beatles song) done with.

In: Paperback Writer
Out: Hey Bulldog

Django Reinhardt - Japanese Sandman
Joni Mitchell - Amelia
The Beatles -- Paperback Writer
Tom Waits - Jockey Full Of Bourbon
David Bowie - Starman
Ella Fitzgerald - Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
The Blasters - Just Another Sunday
The Byrds - Draft Morning
Billy Bragg - St Swithens Day
The Beautiful South - Let love speak up itself
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BlueChair
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Post by BlueChair »

Out: Ella Fitzgerald - Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
In: Billie Holiday - Strange Fruit

Django Reinhardt - Japanese Sandman
Joni Mitchell - Amelia
The Beatles -- Paperback Writer
Tom Waits - Jockey Full Of Bourbon
David Bowie - Starman
Billie Holiday - Strange Fruit
The Blasters - Just Another Sunday
The Byrds - Draft Morning
Billy Bragg - St Swithens Day
The Beautiful South - Let love speak up itself
This morning you've got time for a hot, home-cooked breakfast! Delicious and piping hot in only 3 microwave minutes.
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El Vez
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Post by El Vez »

Boy With A Problem wrote:Has anyone seen the Blasters since they've been doing their "reunion" shows? They really are better than ever. Phil is a great frontman and Dave couldn't look tougher just hanging back throwing out his blistering leads - he's playing at peak form right now (his solos shows are terrific as well).
I was fortunate enough to see Dave Alvin & The Guilty Men perform as the opening act for Joni Mitchell & Bob Dylan in Atlanta. I had no idea who the man was at the time, but I remember what a terrific show he put on and he made a real impression on me. Very cool guy and a great songwriter.
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BlueChair
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Post by BlueChair »

I saw the same opening act on the same tour and remember enjoying him. Though I also remember laughing at the funny faces he made while playing the guitar at certain points. He kind of reminded me of Mark Knopfler in some ways.
This morning you've got time for a hot, home-cooked breakfast! Delicious and piping hot in only 3 microwave minutes.
bobster
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Location: North Hollywood, CA

Post by bobster »

I see, two of my entries have been erased. Ella's recording of "BB and B" is a personal favorite, but I sure can't argue with it's replacement, though the tonal shift is from bittersweet to one of the most frightening and beautiful recordings of all time....And my quirky-yet-ever-poppy tastes immensely prefer the piano-driven rumble of "Hey Bulldog" to the hard guitar/vocal combo of "Paperback Writer" but it's a great song too and realize a lot more popular (and I also want to be a paperback writer).

And thanks for the tip, BWAP -- I haven't exactly been seeking out the recent incarnation of this band for fear of nostalgia. Glad to hear they can still rock the house old-school (which reminds me it's time to listen to the rest of the Outkast album).

Out: The Byrds
In: The Flying Burrito Brothers sing about L.A.!

Django Reinhardt - Japanese Sandman
Joni Mitchell - Amelia
The Beatles -- Paperback Writer
Tom Waits - Jockey Full Of Bourbon
David Bowie - Starman
Billie Holiday - Strange Fruit
The Blasters - Just Another Sunday
The Burrito Brothers -- Sin City
Billy Bragg - St Swithens Day
The Beautiful South - Let love speak up itself
http://www.forwardtoyesterday.com -- Where "hopelessly dated" is a compliment!
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BlueChair
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Post by BlueChair »

Isn't "Sin City" about Las Vegas?
This morning you've got time for a hot, home-cooked breakfast! Delicious and piping hot in only 3 microwave minutes.
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cosmos
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Post by cosmos »

Out: Beautiful South
In: Johnnie and Jack - This World Can't Stand Long


Django Reinhardt - Japanese Sandman
Joni Mitchell - Amelia
The Beatles -- Paperback Writer
Tom Waits - Jockey Full Of Bourbon
David Bowie - Starman
Billie Holiday - Strange Fruit
The Blasters - Just Another Sunday
The Burrito Brothers -- Sin City
Billy Bragg - St Swithens Day
Johnnie and Jack - This World Can't Stand Long
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Otis Westinghouse
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Post by Otis Westinghouse »

Has anyone ever done a thesis on the prevalence of the letter B in great rock 'n' pop names?

Here's a sidways move. I love Rain Dogs to death, but am gonna switch the gorgeous Jockey for the simply heartbreaking Hang. A lovely and moving song, co-written with themissus Kathleen, and a great example of how for every rough-edged weird gnarly one he does, he can do a beautifully melodic ballad to contrast. And this has some of the world's best guitar solos on it . Is that Marc Ribot? I like to think it is.

Django Reinhardt - Japanese Sandman
Joni Mitchell - Amelia
The Beatles - Paperback Writer
Tom Waits - Hang Down Your Head
David Bowie - Starman
Billie Holiday - Strange Fruit
The Blasters - Just Another Sunday
The Burrito Brothers - Sin City
Billy Bragg - St Swithins Day
Johnnie and Jack - This World Can't Stand Long
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BlueChair
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Post by BlueChair »

Ooh, good call Otis.
This morning you've got time for a hot, home-cooked breakfast! Delicious and piping hot in only 3 microwave minutes.
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miss buenos aires
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Post by miss buenos aires »

How about a rule that everyone is limited to ten switches? That way, if someone had absolutely impeccable taste, they could theoretically rule the Tower with quality, not quantity.

Out: Johnnie and Jack
In: Bratmobile

Django Reinhardt - Japanese Sandman
Joni Mitchell - Amelia
The Beatles - Paperback Writer
Tom Waits - Hang Down Your Head
David Bowie - Starman
Billie Holiday - Strange Fruit
The Blasters - Just Another Sunday
The Burrito Brothers - Sin City
Billy Bragg - St Swithins Day
Bratmobile - Fuck Yr Fans
bobster
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Location: North Hollywood, CA

Post by bobster »

BlueChair wrote:Isn't "Sin City" about Las Vegas?
I don't think so. (Though if we have any true Gram Parsons enthusiasts on the boards, they might know better.)

To me, the clincher is the line "this old earthquake's gonna leave me in the poorhouse." -- They don't really have many earthquakes in Vegas.

Also remember that "Sin City" has been applied to lots of big cities in the U.S. When I was a kid, you'd hear it more about New York than anywhere else,though Vegas was clearly always in contention.

In any case, there vibe in that song seems very L.A. to me. "From the 31st floor, a gold plated door won't keep out the Lord's flaming wrath" -- or something like that -- insularity is big here.

However, I do think that "Heathen Town" and possibly "Glitter Gulch" are about Vegas (though EC claims not to have spent much time there).
http://www.forwardtoyesterday.com -- Where "hopelessly dated" is a compliment!
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BlueChair
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Post by BlueChair »

See the bold text for an indication of why (beyond the song's title), the song might be about Vegas.

The Flying Burrito Brothers
(gram parsons/chris hillman)

This old town is filled with sin
It will swallow you in
If you’ve got some money to burn
Take it home right away
You’ve got three years to pay
But satan is waiting his turn

The scientists say
It will all wash away
But we don’t believe any more
Cause we’ve got our recruits
And our green mohair suits
So please show your i.d. at the door


This old earthquake’s gonna leave me in the poor house
It seems like this whole town’s insane
On the thirty-first floor a gold plated door
Won’t keep out the lord’s burning rain

A friend came around
Tried to clean up this town
His ideas made some people mad
But he trusted his crowd
So he spoke right out loud
And they lost the best friend they had

This old earthquake’s gonna leave me in the poor house
It seems like this whole town’s insane
On the thirty-first floor a gold plated door
Won’t keep out the lord’s burning rain
On the thirty-first floor a gold plated door
Won’t keep out the lord’s burning rain
This morning you've got time for a hot, home-cooked breakfast! Delicious and piping hot in only 3 microwave minutes.
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El Vez
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Post by El Vez »

cosmos wrote:Out: Beautiful South
In: Johnnie and Jack - This World Can't Stand Long
Bob Dylan did a great version of This World Can't Stand Long a couple of years back on his tour.
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cosmos
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Post by cosmos »

Yes, Buddy Miller is a big fan of theirs too. Johnnie Wright is married to Kitty Wells and they live here in Nashville. And Jack Anglin died in a car accident on his way to Patsy Cline's funeral.

You'd dig 'em, El Vez.
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Boy With A Problem
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Post by Boy With A Problem »

"Sin City"

I'm coming down on the bobster side of things, sorry Chair.

From the Ben Fong-Torres biography of Gram Parsons, "Hickory Wind" - (aside - I think my entry point on the Narbawlx site was quoting from this same book concerning "Wild Horses")


One afternoon...Gram stumbled into the living room to find Chris (Hillman) working on a tune about a town occupied by insanity, Satan and sharks in mohair suits. It was "Sin City" and although it was heard as a dire warning about the trials of a big city, for Chris it was a personal matter.
"I was just going through this horrible divorce at the time, where the wife had been going out with the road manager, and it was just a nightmare and it was making me crazy. Our managerhad robbed us and I had quit the Byrds and there went my life." Chris shruged and smiled. "And this whole town is filled with sin."


If the song is about any one place it's Hollywood.
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cosmos
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Post by cosmos »

Too little soul in this tower right now.....

In: Al Green - Love and Happiness
Out: Bratmobile


Al Green - Love and Happiness
Django Reinhardt - Japanese Sandman
Joni Mitchell - Amelia
The Beatles - Paperback Writer
Tom Waits - Hang Down Your Head
David Bowie - Starman
Billie Holiday - Strange Fruit
The Blasters - Just Another Sunday
The Burrito Brothers - Sin City
Billy Bragg - St Swithins Day
bobster
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Post by bobster »

Thanks for reprinting the lyrics to Sin City. Actually, I forgotten about the "it will all wash away" line.

Around the same time as the "Paul is Dead" rumor and the Zodiac Killer in San Francisco (at large to this day, as far as anyone knows), there was a rumor that someone had predicted that a giant earthquake was going to make California fall into the ocean. Prompting the lyrics to the following song (don't remember the names of the one-hit wonders who recorded it, but my sister bought the single!)

"Day after day
More people come to L.A.
Shh! Don't you know tell anyone
The whole place is slipping away.

Where can you go
When there's no San Francisco?
Oh, better get on the boat to Idaho."

I was only six or so and plenty freaked out about it. (Radio was a scary place in those days -- "I'm Coming to Take You Away" was pretty spooky stuff to me!)

Also, I think the lyrics about the "the best friend they had" might be a reference to Bobby Kennedy being shot at the Ambassador Hotel -- or possibly to the first time run of African-American ex-cop Tom Bradley against racist, ultra-conservative Democrat (yes, Democrat) Sam Yorty. Yorty red-baited Bradley and he lost by a large number in 1968. (Bradley ran again and won in 1972, thanks be to Jehovah. He stayed in office well into the eighties -- fewer thanks be to Jehovah.)

But, leave us return to the tower...

I agree, more soul is needed, so...

Out -- Billy Bragg
In -- The Four Tops!

Al Green - Love and Happiness
Django Reinhardt - Japanese Sandman
Joni Mitchell - Amelia
The Beatles - Paperback Writer
Tom Waits - Hang Down Your Head
David Bowie - Starman
Billie Holiday - Strange Fruit
The Blasters - Just Another Sunday
The Burrito Brothers - Sin City
The Four Tops - Seven Rooms of Gloom
http://www.forwardtoyesterday.com -- Where "hopelessly dated" is a compliment!
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bambooneedle
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Post by bambooneedle »

Bobster, I always look forward to Hey Bulldog in particular whan playing that album, until I space out with the instrumentals which are also great if you want to listen to as you doze off.

In: The Rolling Stones - Wild Horses
Out: Django

Al Green - Love and Happiness
The Rolling Stones - Wild Horses
Joni Mitchell - Amelia
The Beatles - Paperback Writer
Tom Waits - Hang Down Your Head
David Bowie - Starman
Billie Holiday - Strange Fruit
The Blasters - Just Another Sunday
The Burrito Brothers - Sin City
The Four Tops - Seven Rooms of Gloom
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