A DRUG FREE AMERICA COMES FIRST!

A random pick, never heard before: Beck's "Salt In the Wound". Man, this one has a lot of shit dangling from the same song. The opening riff, or the fuzz on the opening riff, has a definite Davie Allan feel to it. Then, eight seconds in, you have the repetitive single piano note played over and over like the piano in the Stooges' "I Wanna Be Your Dog". After that goes on for a couple measures it starts to sound like the Velvet Underground trying to become more radio friendly. At :38 seconds in, when the chorus starts, it becomes apparent. This isn't just Beck trying to sound like George Harrison in a Revolver outtake, it's Beck trying to sound like the Wondermints trying to sound like George Harrison in a Revolver outtake. Or not. I've never really bothered with Beck. Maybe that shit's always there. I should check the internet.

~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~

Listen:
Beck - Salt In the Wound mp3 at Internet Archive
A couple more random cuts from the same album that I have not yet listened to:
Beck - Arabian Nights mp3 at Internet Archive
Beck - This Is My Crew mp3 at Internet Archive

A DREAMY MASTERPIECE

I'm not sure what it was that struck such a chord with my friends and I, but when George Lucas's American Graffiti was released in 1973, we couldn't get enough of it.  Even though the tag line on the poster, "Where were you in '62?", was undoubtedly aimed at those who actually grew up in the era the film depicted, it didn't stop us from seeing it multiple times and devouring the soundtrack album. Most of us had already been listening to oldies stations, but the soundtrack, a two LP set, was as good a primer in early rock 'n' roll and doo wop as was available at the time. There were the oldies stations favorites (Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Bill Haley and the Comets, etc) but there were also vocal numbers rarely heard by our teen ears. For most of us, it was our first real introduction to doo wop and fifties vocal groups.

The Spaniels, the Diamonds, the Crests, the Platters, the Regents, the Del Vikings,...jeez, there were a ton of them on the soundtrack.  Lucas spared no expense, licensing all of the songs in their entire form, rather than snippets, so he could curate what is one of the most comprehensive soundtracks-as-time-capsule albums ever released.  There were forty one songs, and all but two (by Flash Cadillac and the Continental Kids) were by the original artists, dating from 1953 to 1962.  Due to the licensing fees, it wasn't a cheap album, but in terms of cost versus spins, it was a bargain.

I'd been meaning to do a thorough dissection of the album at some point, but when I ran into a cover of the Flamingos' "I Only Have Eyes For You" by Beck, I figured it was high time to quit cutting bait for a minute. His version is actually pretty good, and faithful enough that it sent me looking for the Flamingos' original. I'm glad I did, because I was reminded what a beautiful song it is.

~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~

Listen:
The Flamingos - I Only Have Eyes For You mp3 at Motel de Moka 
Beck - I Only Have Eyes For You mp3 at L.A.D.R.I. 
Visit: 
41 Original Hits from the Soundtrack of American Graffiti at Wikipedia