There's bizarro Bunghole Surfers Middle America F'd Up Noise Rock and there's Camper Van Beethoven West Coast Mellow Folkie Bizarro. The Camper Vans played a whole list of bizarro covers; Pictures of Matchstick Men, Oh Death, and the complete Tusk album by Fleetwood Mac.
C.V.B. also played heavily in the soundtrack of my adolescents. While the lyrics of Wasted didn't describe my life style it is funny and has a "catchy tune." Plus, I love Black Flag too. Today, while I sit here typing, I am wearing a Cal Berkley sweatshirt which fits perfectly with the West Coast Mellow Folkie theme.
We have all been "gnarley as we drove our dad's car" too.
Just for the fun of it, here's the original version by Black Flag.
D. J. Danger Donkey's Bizarro Cover Tunes:
1. Richard Thompson -- Opps, I did it again.
2. Bunghole Surfers -- Hurdy Gurdy Man
3. Camper Van Beethoven -- Wasted
You all may have discovered this one after watching my list post from the B-Holes. Hurdy Gurdy Man is pretty bizarro and what better way too make it full-blown BIZARRO than to have it preformed by the Bungholes? This one's a stoner classic, 'nuff said.
D. J. Danger Donkey's Bizarro Cover Tunes:
1. Richard Thompson -- Opps, I did it again.
2. Bunghole Surfers -- Hurdy Gurdy Man
So, so, so, here we go with the last tune of this countdown. I actually had not heard this tune until I began playing GTA: San Andreas recently. Yeah, I just started playing a twelve year old game 'cause that's how old farts roll.
The YouTube video mentions many Hip Hop artist that have sampled Bob James. To me, Nautilus sounds like it was directly influenced by Miles Davis. That's all I got.
Now that the first twenty five of my music list are done I am going to do a short list of bizarro cover tunes. This will be five to ten songs by some musicians which appeared in the first 25 along with some others. And, let's start it tomorrow!
Twenty-five tunes you've never heard because you were not listening!
1. The Damned -- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1.5. The Damned -- White Rabbit
2. Junior Kimbrough -- Gotta Try You Girl
3. Paul Simon -- Stranded in a Limousine
4. Booker T & the M.G.s -- Green Onions
5. Lee Scratch Perry -- I am Happiness
6. The Jam -- In the City
7. Brute -- Nine High a Pallet
8. The Doors -- Peace Frog
9. Scientist -- Dance of the Vampires
10. Patti Smith -- Dancing Barefoot
11. Tribe Called Quest -- Left My Wallet in El Segundo
12. Ray Wylie Hubbard -- Snake Farm
13. James McMurtry -- Too Long in the Wasteland
14. The Everybodyfields -- The Only King
15. Old Crow Medicine Show -- Wagon Wheel
16. The Dream Syndicate -- Tell Me When It's Over
17. Bung Hole Surfers -- Pepper
18. Azarcheal -- Leg
19. Hawkwind -- Silver Machine
20. Spinal Tap -- Short and Sweet
21. Mountain -- Nantucket Sleigh Ride
22. Richard Thompson -- Clavary Cross
23. Yabby You -- Conquering Lion Dub
Here we are again . . . I started a new job last Saturday, April 17. Unfortunately, it is not a new job with more money for less work. It's another job which I work a few days a week after the day is done at my old job. It's just a thing and only put a delay in this music countdown.
This guy, how about some Delta Blues from the Nile Delta? I probably learned about Vieux Farka Toure by listening to Public Radio. His father was Ali Farka Toure. Martin Scorsese's quote in the Wiki article summarizes this music. The music of the Toure boys is influenced by the "D.N.A. of the Blues." As noted by the similarity of their style with Junior Kimbrough.
I also love the fact that the name Farka means donkey and Ali's description of how the name applies to himself. I would add, there's a little Farka in all of us.
I was lucky enough to see Vieux play a few years ago. Certainly wish he'd come on back and visit us in the States.
One through 24!:
1. The Damned -- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 1.5. The Damned -- White Rabbit 2. Junior Kimbrough -- Gotta Try You Girl 3. Paul Simon -- Stranded in a Limousine 4. Booker T & the M.G.s -- Green Onions 5. Lee Scratch Perry -- I am Happiness 6. The Jam -- In the City 7. Brute -- Nine High a Pallet 8. The Doors -- Peace Frog 9. Scientist -- Dance of the Vampires 10. Patti Smith -- Dancing Barefoot 11. Tribe Called Quest -- Left My Wallet in El Segundo 12. Ray Wylie Hubbard -- Snake Farm 13. James McMurtry -- Too Long in the Wasteland 14. The Everybodyfields -- The Only King 15. Old Crow Medicine Show -- Wagon Wheel 16. The Dream Syndicate -- Tell Me When It's Over 17. Bung Hole Surfers -- Pepper 18. Azarcheal -- Leg 19. Hawkwind -- Silver Machine 20. Spinal Tap -- Short and Sweet 21. Mountain -- Nantucket Sleigh Ride 22. Richard Thompson -- Clavary Cross 23. Yabby You -- Conquering Lion Dub
It seems only fair that I dedicate some time to a few more international musicians with the final three tunes. This guy, Yabby You, I discovered through an impulse buy at an old CD shop in Birmingham, Al. I'm sure glad I made that impulsive purchase because I still feel that Yabby You is another jewel in the rough.
I do love some Dub too. We'll get too my introduction to Dub in another list. Now enjoy the mellow mixology of Yabby You and company.
One through 23!:
1. The Damned -- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 1.5. The Damned -- White Rabbit 2. Junior Kimbrough -- Gotta Try You Girl 3. Paul Simon -- Stranded in a Limousine 4. Booker T & the M.G.s -- Green Onions 5. Lee Scratch Perry -- I am Happiness 6. The Jam -- In the City 7. Brute -- Nine High a Pallet 8. The Doors -- Peace Frog 9. Scientist -- Dance of the Vampires 10. Patti Smith -- Dancing Barefoot 11. Tribe Called Quest -- Left My Wallet in El Segundo 12. Ray Wylie Hubbard -- Snake Farm 13. James McMurtry -- Too Long in the Wasteland 14. The Everybodyfields -- The Only King 15. Old Crow Medicine Show -- Wagon Wheel 16. The Dream Syndicate -- Tell Me When It's Over 17. Bung Hole Surfers -- Pepper 18. Azarcheal -- Leg 19. Hawkwind -- Silver Machine 20. Spinal Tap -- Short and Sweet 21. Mountain -- Nantucket Sleigh Ride 22. Richard Thompson -- Clavary Cross 23. Yabby You -- Conquering Lion Dub
Number twenty-five is sneaking up quickly and it's getting all Rock n Roll in here. Now we go back too the U.K. for a musician who I am surprised didn't appear earlier in the list. Richard Thompson is, a personal favorite and, a rear commodity in the in Rock n Roll. Thompson has been surpassed in Super Star status by lesser talented musicians. That's how it is with quality, often we have to seek too find the best, top quality. I'm that guy, I wanna find the great music.
I'll let you all investigate the details of Mr. Thompson's career which started way back in the 60s with Fairport Convention. I just have to ask, what other rock musician finger picks that dang electric guitar like this? The other candidate for the Thompson tune was Shoot out the Lights, it rocks too!
If you investigate Mr. Thompson, your are bound to learn that is son and daughter are both musicians too. Richard's duo with Teddy, Persuasion, is another lovely tune.
One through 22!:
1. The Damned -- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1.5. The Damned -- White Rabbit
2. Junior Kimbrough -- Gotta Try You Girl
3. Paul Simon -- Stranded in a Limousine
4. Booker T & the M.G.s -- Green Onions
5. Lee Scratch Perry -- I am Happiness
6. The Jam -- In the City
7. Brute -- Nine High a Pallet
8. The Doors -- Peace Frog
9. Scientist -- Dance of the Vampires
10. Patti Smith -- Dancing Barefoot
11. Tribe Called Quest -- Left My Wallet in El Segundo
12. Ray Wylie Hubbard -- Snake Farm
13. James McMurtry -- Too Long in the Wasteland
14. The Everybodyfields -- The Only King
15. Old Crow Medicine Show -- Wagon Wheel
16. The Dream Syndicate -- Tell Me When It's Over
17. Bung Hole Surfers -- Pepper
18. Azarcheal -- Leg
19. Hawkwind -- Silver Machine
20. Spinal Tap -- Short and Sweet
21. Mountain -- Nantucket Sleigh Ride
22. Richard Thompson -- Calvary Cross
Now back to the States. This tune was almost number twenty until the grooviness that is Short and Sweet popped up in my Pandora rotation again. I think there is little question that Mountain was a precursor too Jam Bands. Nantucket Sleighride is basically a long instrumental with some improvisation, isn't that what Jam Bands do? And heck, they played at Woodstock!
Let's review again class:
One through 21!:
1. The Damned -- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 1.5. The Damned -- White Rabbit 2. Junior Kimbrough -- Gotta Try You Girl 3. Paul Simon -- Stranded in a Limousine 4. Booker T & the M.G.s -- Green Onions 5. Lee Scratch Perry -- I am Happiness 6. The Jam -- In the City 7. Brute -- Nine High a Pallet 8. The Doors -- Peace Frog 9. Scientist -- Dance of the Vampires 10. Patti Smith -- Dancing Barefoot 11. Tribe Called Quest -- Left My Wallet in El Segundo 12. Ray Wylie Hubbard -- Snake Farm 13. James McMurtry -- Too Long in the Wasteland 14. The Everybodyfields -- The Only King 15. Old Crow Medicine Show -- Wagon Wheel 16. The Dream Syndicate -- Tell Me When It's Over 17. Bung Hole Surfers -- Pepper 18. Azarcheal -- Leg 19. Hawkwind -- Silver Machine 20. Spinal Tap -- Short and Sweet 21. Mountain -- Nantucket Sleighride
Here we are folks! With some delay we have arrived at track number twenty. For this one we are staying in the U.K. A nonfictional song by a fictional band. I'm not certain when the fictional Spinal Tap was formed, you can look it up.
The point is, this tune's got Nick Lowe written all over it. I wouldn't be surprised if Nick Lowe had a hand in producing some of the Spinal Tap recordings. I will try to remember too feature some Nick Lowe when I do the list of personal favorites.
I give you all the Boogie Woogie stylings of Short and Sweet, and
remember, list Spinal Tap above the puppet show on the marque!
And now I have learned that this track features John Mayer and Steve Vai, no wonder it is so funky. Also, this tune is featured on Guitar Hero and Lego Guitar Hero. So, maybe you have heard it and I wasn't listening?
One through twenty!:
1. The Damned -- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 1.5. The Damned -- White Rabbit 2. Junior Kimbrough -- Gotta Try You Girl 3. Paul Simon -- Stranded in a Limousine 4. Booker T & the M.G.s -- Green Onions 5. Lee Scratch Perry -- I am Happiness 6. The Jam -- In the City 7. Brute -- Nine High a Pallet 8. The Doors -- Peace Frog 9. Scientist -- Dance of the Vampires 10. Patti Smith -- Dancing Barefoot 11. Tribe Called Quest -- Left My Wallet in El Segundo 12. Ray Wylie Hubbard -- Snake Farm 13. James McMurtry -- Too Long in the Wasteland 14. The Everybodyfields -- The Only King 15. Old Crow Medicine Show -- Wagon Wheel 16. The Dream Syndicate -- Tell Me When It's Over
17. Bung Hole Surfers -- Pepper
18. Azarcheal -- Leg
19. Hawkwind -- Silver Machine
20. Spinal Tap -- Short and Sweet -- Nantucket Sleigh Ride
Now class, let's review. Why my obsession with Johnson City, Tn? I currently live 56 miles from Johnson City. When I lived in Strawberry Pains, Tn. I was 80 miles from J.C. It is a quaint little place but, as I hope I have mentioned, Jonesborough, Tn. is more quaint. (Home of the International Story Telling Fest. ya know?)
Second: This 25 tunes project was originally conceived as a 100 song list. I opted to try twenty-five tunes and see how it progressed. So far, so good. There will probably be a "25 tunes you haven't heard because you're a Millennial" list. It should contain plenty of music that is older than I am. There may be a personal favorites list and, maybe, a list of tunes from the Grand Theft Auto gaming franchise. 'Cause they license the music for the game soundtracks. The music in the games runs the gambit from great tunes to bizarro to disposable Pop.
Let's finish the first 25 tunes and then I will let you all know what's up next from the Danger D.J.
After that Arzachel vs. Pink Floyd meltdown I introduce Hawkwind. They can clean this mess up. As a rock fan, I had heard of Hawkwind for years but was only introduced to them through, again, Pandora. Had I known more about these guys when in college, I would have been a Hawk Head.
Here are three essential facts about Hawkwind. No, four, four essential facts about Hawkwind:
1. Like Arzachel and Pink Floyd, the members of Hawkwind were, and are, Brits.
2. They have a tune titled Motorhead.
3. Which was written by this guy who once played with them. Upon departing he formed a banded named . . .
4. They were contemporaries of, and collaborated with Sci-Fi author Michael Moorcock.
My personal description of Hawkwind would be, Heavy Stoner Rock. I believe that Silver Machine will stand up too that description. They also appear to me as a precursor to Jam Bands without so much improvisational jamming.
One through nineteen:
1. The Damned -- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1.5. The Damned -- White Rabbit
2. Junior Kimbrough -- Gotta Try You Girl
3. Paul Simon -- Stranded in a Limousine
4. Booker T & the M.G.s -- Green Onions
5. Lee Scratch Perry -- I am Happiness
6. The Jam -- In the City
7. Brute -- Nine High a Pallet
8. The Doors -- Peace Frog
9. Scientist -- Dance of the Vampires
10. Patti Smith -- Dancing Barefoot
11. Tribe Called Quest -- Left My Wallet in El Segundo
12. Ray Wylie Hubbard -- Snake Farm
13. James McMurtry -- Too Long in the Wasteland
14. The Everybodyfields -- The Only King
15. Old Crow Medicine Show -- Wagon Wheel
16. The Dream Syndicate -- Tell Me When It's Ove
17. Bung Hole Surfers -- Pepper
18. Azarcheal -- Leg
19. Hawkwind -- Silver Machine
I'm gonna stop the Americana theme before it gets any uglier. Here's one
from the Wayback Machine, so old and dusty that Pandora had to dig it
up for me. So, the best source for their info will be, the Gods forbid, Wikipedia.
One of my oldest and best friends described their sound as early Pink Floyd, I have to agree. Pipers at the Gates is my favorite Floyd recording, Wish You Were Here would be second. I do appreciate Pink Floyd but I don't adore as the Stoner Rock gods they are.
Sorry Arzachel/Uriel, my post about your grooviness just turned into me "coming out" about how I really feel about Pink Floyd.
One through eight-teen:
1. The Damned -- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1.5. The Damned -- White Rabbit
2. Junior Kimbrough -- Gotta Try You Girl
3. Paul Simon -- Stranded in a Limousine
4. Booker T & the M.G.s -- Green Onions
5. Lee Scratch Perry -- I am Happiness
6. The Jam -- In the City
7. Brute -- Nine High a Pallet
8. The Doors -- Peace Frog
9. Scientist -- Dance of the Vampires
10. Patti Smith -- Dancing Barefoot
11. Tribe Called Quest -- Left My Wallet in El Segundo
12. Ray Wylie Hubbard -- Snake Farm
13. James McMurtry -- Too Long in the Wasteland
14. The Everybodyfields -- The Only King
15. Old Crow Medicine Show -- Wagon Wheel
16. The Dream Syndicate -- Tell Me When It's Over
17. B-Hole Surfers -- Pepper
18. Arzachel -- Leg
We've had a bit of a set back with the ol' blog for a few weeks. No personal crisis, just some distractions which may or may not be covered in another blog entry. On we go . . .
Continuing the Americana theme in one of the most bizarre ways possible, I give you the B - Hole Surfers. I had totally forgotten the title of this tune. If you have heard of the Surfers, you have probably heard this. If you have heard 90s Alternative Rock and are not a Millennial, you have probably heard it. Yes, I am censoring the band name. I have gotten a bit soft with time.
I had forgotten the song name but remembered the "Cinnamon and Sugary" chorus, that's pretty memorable. I had a recording of this and some other Surfers songs at one time, most likely on a cassette tape. Who knows what ever became of it? I censored the song choice here too. I considered using the Surfers tune Barking Dogs, I no longer enjoy Noise Rock as I once did.
I'm not about to try to analyze that video. If their reputation holds any truth, the day they shot this video must have been one of their most sober days ever.
Just three more tunes, or tracks, to number twenty. Hopefully we can work through that this week.
One through seventeen:
1. The Damned -- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1.5. The Damned -- White Rabbit
2. Junior Kimbrough -- Gotta Try You Girl
3. Paul Simon -- Stranded in a Limousine
4. Booker T & the M.G.s -- Green Onions
5. Lee Scratch Perry -- I am Happiness
6. The Jam -- In the City
7. Brute -- Nine High a Pallet
8. The Doors -- Peace Frog
9. Scientist -- Dance of the Vampires
10. Patti Smith -- Dancing Barefoot
11. Tribe Called Quest -- Left My Wallet in El Segundo
12. Ray Wylie Hubbard -- Snake Farm
13. James McMurtry -- Too Long in the Wasteland
14. The Everybodyfields -- The Only King
15. Old Crow Medicine Show -- Wagon Wheel
16. The Dream Syndicate -- Tell Me When It's Over
17. B - Hole Surfers -- Pepper
