Forward Into The Past!
Regular readers are no doubt aware that the Management is of the opinion that the greatest records ever made were generally produced between the late ‘70’s and mid-‘80’s.
Which is why we mention that Simon Reynolds has put up a site for his book Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978-84 that might be worth checking out from time to time. It’s a little threadbare at the moment, with the exception of an interview with Scritti Politti’s Green Gartside, but promises footnotes, news, and links in the future. You can also zip over to Reynolds’ own blog from there, which is worth a read.
I should mention that you’d do well to order or otherwise get hold of the U.K. edition, which is out now, as opposed to the truncated U.S. version coming out next year.
Someone wrote a note to the wife describing the Donovan show they just attended in Connecticut. This particular fan approached him with some old singles for him to sign, to which Don replied, “Ah, yes…we called these ‘45s’!” Indeed we did. Some came with pretty covers, too. Donovan’s usually came festooned with his traditional antediluvian/psychedelic lettering, which is why I still remember being traumatized by the sleeve of Celia Of The Seals, with its graphic photo of the aftermath of a seal clubbing and the smiling perp responsible.
Four of his greatest albums have just gotten the expanded edition treatment in the U.K. and they come from what was arguably his most fertile period. All of the albums, Mellow Yellow, Sunshine Superman, Hurdy Gurdy Man, and Barabajagal, come with exceptionally well-written notes that place Donovan’s contribution in context and paint a larger, more appreciative picture of the man than the usual flower-power figurehead he’s made out to be. Siren Disc has them all available for $10.99 each if you’re interested.
Speaking of outmoded technology, perhaps you’ll be able to glimpse a 45 or two on the set of MTV’s latest cranial insult “The 70’s House,” which premiered last night.
This time the idea is that 12 young people must live in a house that’s equipped as if it were the 1970’s. That’s right, no Internet, no cell phones, no cable TV.
And the only video game they’ve got is “Pong.”
Good lord. However will they manage? However did we manage? I hope there’s a paramedic on set.
And London may have gotten the Olympics, but Bono got his pants back.
Which is why we mention that Simon Reynolds has put up a site for his book Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978-84 that might be worth checking out from time to time. It’s a little threadbare at the moment, with the exception of an interview with Scritti Politti’s Green Gartside, but promises footnotes, news, and links in the future. You can also zip over to Reynolds’ own blog from there, which is worth a read.
I should mention that you’d do well to order or otherwise get hold of the U.K. edition, which is out now, as opposed to the truncated U.S. version coming out next year.
Someone wrote a note to the wife describing the Donovan show they just attended in Connecticut. This particular fan approached him with some old singles for him to sign, to which Don replied, “Ah, yes…we called these ‘45s’!” Indeed we did. Some came with pretty covers, too. Donovan’s usually came festooned with his traditional antediluvian/psychedelic lettering, which is why I still remember being traumatized by the sleeve of Celia Of The Seals, with its graphic photo of the aftermath of a seal clubbing and the smiling perp responsible.
Four of his greatest albums have just gotten the expanded edition treatment in the U.K. and they come from what was arguably his most fertile period. All of the albums, Mellow Yellow, Sunshine Superman, Hurdy Gurdy Man, and Barabajagal, come with exceptionally well-written notes that place Donovan’s contribution in context and paint a larger, more appreciative picture of the man than the usual flower-power figurehead he’s made out to be. Siren Disc has them all available for $10.99 each if you’re interested.
Speaking of outmoded technology, perhaps you’ll be able to glimpse a 45 or two on the set of MTV’s latest cranial insult “The 70’s House,” which premiered last night.
This time the idea is that 12 young people must live in a house that’s equipped as if it were the 1970’s. That’s right, no Internet, no cell phones, no cable TV.
And the only video game they’ve got is “Pong.”
Good lord. However will they manage? However did we manage? I hope there’s a paramedic on set.
And London may have gotten the Olympics, but Bono got his pants back.
posted by Count Screwloose at 6:25 PM
1 Comments:
Thanks for the kind words on the sadly overlooked Donovan. He was touted in the mid 1960's as Britain answer to Mr. Zimmerman. Not quite that heavy but a vital artist in his own right. The first time I listened to Hurdy Gurdy Man (on a 45!!) it just blew my mind...
Cheers!
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