Time to take a trip to Groovesville. Put on your high-heeled sneakers and lets make tracks!
Wasn’t Tomorrow Wonderful By The Waitresses (From the album, “Wasn’t Tomorrow Wonderful?”)
The Waitresses are mainly known as a one hit wonder band and that hit would be, “I Know What Boys Like,” from their first album, “Wasn’t Tomorrow Wonderful.” I’ve always felt they were an underrated band that had great songs which were written by Chris Butler and sung by lead vocalist, Patty Donahue. The band had two other minor hits with, “Christmas Wrapping” and the theme from the TV show, Square Pegs. Chris Butler got a nice little payday when the Spice Girls recorded “Christmas Wrapping” as the “B” side to a Christmas single they put out in 1998.
“Wasn’t Tomorrow Wonderful” is the title of their debut album and it’s my favorite song by The Waitresses.
Day After Day by the Pretenders (From the album, “Pretenders II”)
“Day After Day” is one of the few Pretenders songs co-written by band leader, Chrissie Hynde and orginal guitarist, James Honeyman Scott. It was featured on their second album, aptly titled, Pretenders II. This is the last album that featured the original Pretenders lineup. Shortly after the album came out they kicked out bassist, Pete Farndon because his use of drugs had made him become impossible to work with. Two days later, guitarist James Honeyman Scott died of heart failure due to a cocaine overdose. Farndon died a year later on April 14, 1983 of a heroin overdose.
I think this song really showcases James Honeyman Scott’s guitar playing. In my opnion he’s really an overlooked guitarist in the world of rock ‘n’ roll that sadly never makes those, “best rock guitarist” lists that magazines are so fond of printing.
Crystal Blue Persuasion by Tommy James and The Shondells (From The album, “The Best Of Tommy James And The Shondells”)
A long time ago I had read that the song, “Crystal Blue Persuasion by Tommy James and the Shondells was about blue mescaline, a drug I really got into in the late ‘70’s. While doing research for this post I found out that Tommy James said it was inspired from a passage in the bible. Here’s the quote:
“I took the title from the Book of Revelations [sic] in the Bible, reading about the New Jerusalem. The words jumped out at me, and they're not together; they're spread out over three or four verses. But it seemed to go together, it's my favorite of all my songs and one of our most requested.”
I still like to think that it’s about blue mescaline! The song was used very effectively in an episode of “Breaking Bad.”
Baby Blue by Badfinger (From the album, “Straight Up.”)
Speaking of “Breaking Bad,” this song from Badfinger was used in the last episode for the closing scene and it was the perfect song for a perfect ending to that series.
Badfinger is probably the only band where not one, but two of the members committed suicide by hanging themselves.
Pete Ham who sang and wrote most of Badfinger’s hits hit bottom in 1975 after learning that manager Stan Polley had stolen much of the band’s money and he was broke with a baby on the way. Depressed and despondent he hung himself on April 23rd, 1975. He left a suicide note that read: “I will not be allowed to love and trust everybody. This is better P.S. Stan Polley is a soulless bastard. I will take him with me.”
Badfinger broke up after that and eight years later on November 19th, 1983, singer/bassist, Tom Evans had an argument with former bandmate Joey Molland and after he hung up the phone he went out to his backyard and hung himself from a Willow tree.
Badfinger was one of the first bands to be signed to the Beatles Apple label and their first hit, “Come and Get It”, was written by Paul McCartney.
Police On My Back by The Clash (From the album, Sandinista!)
Sanddinista! is the fourth ablum released by The Clash. It was a triple album and it came out in 1980 after a lot of the original punk bands had crashed and burned. The album saw The Clash venturing into all kinds of musical territories such as, funk, reggae, jazz, rockabilly, dub, rhythm and blues and rap. Many herald it as their finest album, but I kind of wish they would’ve pared it down to just one album.
“Police On My Back,” was a cover of a song by the British band, The Equals. The band included Eddy Grant who later landed solo fame with his song, Electric Avenue.
Back Off by The Black Roses (The “A” side from their first single)
I first saw the band The Black Roses at The Beatle-fest out at Limelight that Craig Moore produced and performed at. I was really impressed with them and saw them a week ago at Craig’s shop, Younger Than Yesterday when they performed on Record Store Day and bought their single that Craig produced and was impressed even further. I think big things will happen for this band if they hang in there and keep playing. “Back Off” is the A side of the band's first single and it’s a tune I’ve grown to love.
Related Posts: MBIP Record Party: The April 13th Edition, April 6th Edition and March 30th Edition.
Surprise link, click on it...I dare you!
I’m Going To Be On The Big Perm Show Tonight!
Yours Fooly is going to be interviewed on the Big Perm Podcast tonight. The show starts at 8PM and I’ll be on around 9:15PM. It’s uncensored and freewheeling fun, so tune in to here me curse and say dirty words! You can listen live by clicking here.
