Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: One man’s Meat Puppets is another man’s Poison

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  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Lilith __,

    Raise you some John Barrowman. :-)

    I see your 'Barrowman does Cole Porter like a proper time-travelling omnisexual ho-bag should" and raise you "John Barrowman gets more excited by Carol Burnett than you'd think possible".

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Tom Beard,

    Oh sure, it’s got soul. And it’s fantastic, and it’s the original. But saying it’s the best version is like saying that Gloria Jones’ original “Tainted Love” is the best. Gloria had the heart and the authenticity … but without the icy syncopated synth blips, scungy bass, strangled vocals and whiplike percussion it lacks the gloriously alienated sleaze of the Soft Cell version. It’s just not … tainted enough.

    I see your point – and I agree with you in the case of ‘Tainted Love’.

    But wrt ‘Don’t Leave Me This Way’, I believe the finishing order is:

    1. Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes
    2. The Communards
    3. Thelma Houston

    I’m sure there are soul folk appalled by my placing the Communards second, but like I said, it’s classic on its own terms.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Jonathan Ganley,

    Here's Barry

    Why thank you. He looks in surprisingly good nick.

    Hebe:

    T Rex

    Now you cook with gas.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Simon Grigg, in reply to Lilith __,

    Ultravox. Still got no idea what this song is about, but.

    On that Synth Britannia doco Midge Ure (who wrote it) says exactly the same thing.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report

  • Lilith __,

    I used to love this song:

    But that was before I saw the original, which is beyond compare:

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    But if I was stocking my own personal torture chamber, it would have to be Philip Glass. Einstein on the Beach, the repeat button locked with super glue and you’ve broken every law of God, Man and nature.

    Or if you're feeling particularly mean-spirited...

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Hebe,

    One of the best songs ever IMHO

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report

  • Danielle, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I agree with you in the case of ‘Tainted Love’

    Hmph. No love for that crazy yelling ghost-chorus of echoing backup singers, and the almost tripping-over-itself-in-distress clomp-clomp beat? (I think they're equally great.)

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report

  • Lilith __, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    John Barrowman gets more excited by Carol Burnett than you'd think possible

    <3 them both. In very different ways.

    Just as well JB didn't follow the advice of his singing teachers and become an opera singer, eh?

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Danielle,

    (I think they're equally great.)

    Perhaps - but Gloria Jones doesn't render me impotent with weary contempt for the sick comedy of it all.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Roger Lacey,

    I know this supposed to be about bad songs but someone just sent me this list of the worst album covers. http://blog.tastebuds.fm/worst-album-covers-of-all-time/

    Whatakataka Bay Surf Club… • Since Apr 2008 • 148 posts Report

  • Tom Beard, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    But if I was stocking my own personal torture chamber, it would have to be Philip Glass. Einstein on the Beach, the repeat button locked with super glue and you've broken every law of God, Man and nature.

    I have the 4-CD set, and have listened to it precisely once, about twenty years ago. And I still can't get that "It could be Franky, it could be very fresh and clean ... we could get some wind for the sailboat" lyric out of my head.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Hebe,

    One of the best songs ever IMHO

    Along with this (+ more P P Arnold).
    Thanks to Simon, who spotted this vid a few years back.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Hebe, in reply to Lilith __,

    Ultravox. Still got no idea what this song is about, but

    To me it says three months living on the hill above Aro Street eating Weetbix and Gold Coin Chinese takeaways and drinking strong coffee and learning to smoke Camel plain.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Just felt the need to post The Saints' 'Know Your Product'.

    That is some rock 'n' roll.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Hebe, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Perhaps - but Gloria Jones doesn't render me impotent with weary contempt for the sick comedy of it all.

    Heh; you got Tainted Love in one.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report

  • Hebe, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    Tin soldier: Oh yesss.That man should've taken over the world.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report

  • Simon Grigg, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    I just went looking for that and there it is...

    I'll click play one more time - the first minute or so of that is amazing, after that it's just fabulous - once I crawl up for air from my Philly box set.

    Here's another:

    Greatest UK pop singer ever.... (today it's all about gushing superlatives)

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I should probably be too embarrassed to share this, but when in a really good mood I've been known to sing this in the shower...

    And an orchestral arrangement, conducted by the composer

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • st ephen,

    "Equally great" works for me most of the time: A Good Heart AND Teenage Kicks . (Jackie - you should also check out Maria McKee's versions on Youtube - she was appalled at what Feargal did to the dreary country song she wrote at 19 when her boyfriend dumped her).

    I'm surprised yodeling hasn't popped up yet, but to jump straight to the exceptions that prove the rule: Tall Dwarfs I've Left Memories Behind would be the local standout, but Jimmie Rodgers' Blue Yodel No. 9 is the one for me. Nothing to look at unfortunately but if visuals are more your thing, someone on Youtube has helpfully complemented Blue Yodel No. 13 with footage of hermaphrodite leopard slugs exchanging sperm. So if that's your thing, you know where to find it... (If it's not, there's always Louis Armstrong duetting with a yodeling Johnny Cash on No. 9 in there too).

    dunedin • Since Jul 2008 • 254 posts Report

  • Tom Beard,

    Just because it's getting late, and I need something mellow, some genuinely beautiful (though bewitchingly complex) Philip Glass:

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    I've been known to sing this in the shower...

    Nothing like a good Japanese children's march.
    And Joe Hisaishi is up there with Ennio Morricone IMHO.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Martin Lindberg,

    We’re all still posting music we hate, right? Right?

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report

  • nzlemming, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Smalltown Boy' and the Communards' authentic disco classic version of 'Don't Leave Me This Way':

    Word.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report

  • Tom Beard, in reply to Martin Lindberg,

    It's all got a bit blurry.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report

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