re: My Merrily Mirthful Melodic Melange -- Myriad Musical Miscellania

The Hudson Brothers - "So You are a Star" (1974)

The Hudson Brothers were sort a '70s ripoff of The Monkees (yes, I see the irony) who tried to combine a music career with a goofy TV variety show -- a career path more successfully followed, at least as far as a long TV run is concerned, a few years later by Sha Na Na.



[One of them (does it matter who?) married Goldie Hawn and is the father of Kate Hudson]

I was in single digits when the TV show aired and only very, very vaguely recall it. I don't remember their records at all.

I discovered the posted song many years later. It reminds me of The Raspberries, though the boys from Cleveland would've used some jangly guitars and a less MOR arrangement.

There is a new feature film documentary on the great band Big Star, who rival Badfinger and Moby Grape in the hard luck sweepstakes.



NY Daily News

quote:

---

The musical equivalent of a secret handshake, Big Star has been the ultimate cult band for decades, inspiring countless fans and fellow artists to worship at the Lennon and McCartney-esque altar of co-founders Alex Chilton and Chris Bell.

Most of those admirers — led by the likes of the Replacements, R.E.M. and Wilco — have inevitably wondered why these brilliant Memphis musicians never achieved the ironic ambitions of their name. Though their debut album, wryly titled “#1 Record,” is now acknowledged as a timeless masterpiece, it was so mishandled upon its 1972 release that hardly anyone even knew it existed. Things didn’t get much better from there.

They are, in other words, an ideal documentary subject. And it seems like a bittersweet inevitability that even a celebration as reverential as this one is suffused with such aching poignancy.

---

Alex Chilton, Jody Stephens, Chris Bell and Andy Hummel in “Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me”



Rolling Stone (includes film clip)

NPR

NY Times

Great Moments in Rock & Roll

The Chantays surfin' the "Pipeline" -- on The Lawrence Welk Show (May 18, 1963)

Another artist that doesn't fit any particular musical style:

Lisa Germano - Reptile

I discovered this b/c there is an OT thread about a camp where "progressive" parents send their kids to do this, and I wanted to post the song as a joke:

The Who - "I'm A Boy" (1967)

They are lip-synching, but the track is clearly an alternate take. Different vocal phrasing, the "ooh ooh, ahh" bit just before the final chorus, which itself is higher pitched than the single. Never knew this existed until now.

Are you in your 70s ? serious question

How is that a troll. you post nothing but pics normally from weird movies or whatever from the 20's. And all your music is pretty ancient too

dont be catty, gramps. Its just a question

quote:

---

Phil Baugh was a country badass, plain and simple. Other than sporting some major, low-down twang-ability, he flaunted wicked chops that could make Jimmy Bryant or Joe Maphis blush. Baugh’s signature tune, “Country Guitar,” featured the California native reeling off impressions of 6-string giants such as Les Paul, Merle Travis, Luther Perkins, Duane Eddy, Hank Garland, and others. Impressive? You betcha. But that’s not the whole story. Baugh’s playing exuded joy and humor—two traits seriously lacking in hot country guitar these days. Whether he was aping a banjo and a saxophone on “One Man Band,” or playing it straight behind Vern Stovall’s honky-tonkin’ vocals on “Good Times,” Baugh (who passed away in 1990 at the age of 53) is a serious study for anyone interested in country guitar that oozes style and attitude. -- Sundazed

---

Phil Baugh - "Country Guitar" (1964)

I Can't Make Up My Mind

Can't Make Up My Mind

Barbara Keith ---> to now, Stone Coyotes


A singer/guitarist and folk-influenced songwriter, Barbara Keith's curious career began when she was discovered at Greenwich Village's famous Café Wha?. Her first appearance on record was in 1968, with her background vocals and one of her songs appearing on the self-titled debut from Kangaroo. Verve Records released the first of two self-titled albums in 1969. Some critics fell in love with the album but as far as sales the album went nowhere. Her second self-titled album -- released by Reprise in 1972 -- coupled Keith with producer Doug Tibbles. Keith and Tibbles married and soon became unhappy with the music industry. Deciding to focus on family and develop their art with a major-label influence, Keith and Tibbles gave back their Reprise advance, a move that caused the label to under-promote her album. Once again, the album didn't achieve much as far as sales, but Keith's songwriting skills were being noticed throughout the record industry. Barbra Streisand, Lowell George, Tanya Tucker, Delaney & Bonnie, the Dillards, and many others covered songs from the album, "The Bramble and the Rose" and "Detroit or Buffalo" being the favorites.

Keith reappeared in the '90s with her "AC/DC meets Patsy Cline" band the Stone Coyotes with her husband, and son John Tibbles, rounding out the band. The band found a cult following of which writer Elmore Leonard was a member. Leonard included the band in his sequel to Get Shorty, Be Cool, and included five Keith songs in the text.


Barbara Keith - Detroit or Buffalo
Free the People
Stone's Throw Away

Current Band
Stone Coyotes Live