Thursday, January 31, 2008

An Early Clue to the New Direction

From 1967, here's The Hollies (featuring seriously underrated drummer Bobby Elliott) and a killer live version of "Bus Stop," their absolutely glorious ode to summer romance. Full disclosure: There are some days that I think this is, without question, the song that best defines the mission statement of the blog you're currently reading.



In any case -- and don't even get me started on its recent satanic offspring, Rihanna's "Umbrella" -- a coveted PowerPop No-Prize will be awarded to the first reader who divines its relevance to the theme of tomorrow's Weekend Listomania.

PS: This is not in the nature of an additional clue, but I would like to mention that there's a really wonderful Beatles video in the WL tomorrow that I, for one, had never seen before. You'll kvell, I think.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Weather songs??

Anonymous said...

Underrated rock & roll acts? Dismissed by many fans and critics, the Hollies were often one of the best acts of both the sixties and seventies.

steve simels said...

No, and no.
:-)

Anonymous said...

Great, great, GREAT song. I think you know Cleveland Bob-- I'm his brother AKA Akron (now, sadly, Appleton) Dave. I was in a band in 79-80 that was an asterisk to a footnote of the superb post-DEVO Kent-Akron scene (think The Action led by Mike Purkhiser, brother of Lux Interior) that covered this song.

We were very DIY (as was the rest of the scene) so we kinda made it up as we went along. I was "tasked" with the guitar solo and, weirdly, the key to figuring that one out came to me after listening to Chopin's Nocturne No. in E flat, Op.9 No.2. I also did the back-up harmony which came easily to me since CleBob and I grew up on the harmonies of Crosby, Still and Nash. To this day, whenever I pick up that old Melody Maker I bought in 79, I work through "Bus Stop" for old time's sake.

Does this week's feature have anything to do with FOW's killer cover of "Bus Stop" on "American Dreams" a few years back?

Kid Charlemagne said...

Reddy, you were in the Action? I had one of your singles. I sold it for $30 on eBay. "Get Back To Me" b/w "Any Day Now." Some very Raspberryish stuff going on in that!

Anonymous said...

Silliest neckwear?

Anonymous said...

KC-- definitely NOT in The Action, although Mike's been a friend of mine for lo these many years. I met him when my band, Bits 'N Pieces, opened up for them a few times. Oddly, Mike, Cleveland Bob and I used to play a lot of golf back in the early 80s. Ha, ha. Yeah, they were super Raspberryish, but with some fun rockabilly and Beatle leanings, as well.

$30?!? Damn, I shoulda hung on to that copy I had of "Radio Music"!!

steve simels said...

Does this week's feature have anything to do with FOW's killer cover of "Bus Stop" on "American Dreams" a few years back?

FOW covered this? I've never heard that...

I know my beloved Material Issue did a not terribly good version on the otherwise superb tribute album "Sing Hollies in Reverse".

My 80s skinny tie band did a killer version; we worked really hard on the harmonies. I've got a tape somewhere...

Anyway -- here's a hint for the Listomania.

Think Bobby Elliott........

The Kenosha Kid said...

Is the Beatles video going to be Eleanor Rigby?

steve simels said...

The Kenosha Kid said...
Is the Beatles video going to be Eleanor Rigby?


Nope.

Mister Pleasant said...

Is it bands with members who wore hats to hide their baldness (and later really bad wigs)?

steve simels said...

Mister Pleasant said...
Is it bands with members who wore hats to hide their baldness (and later really bad wigs)?


Ah, poor Bobby. Went bald even before Mike Love.

But no....
:-)