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The search for a song - US Times

Posted on 7/2/14 at 11:52 am
Posted by tom1987
Member since Aug 2011
620 posts
Posted on 7/2/14 at 11:52 am
First off, sorry this is so long!
Back in the early 80's, a fraternity brother of mine used to loan me his mix tapes to listen to. This guy was from Baton Rouge, and he was always on the cutting edge of new music. There was one particular tape that I loved. It had a song on it that I played over and over and over.
I never knew who the band was, or even the name of the song. I remember, as I neared graduation, thinking, "I need to make a copy of this tape."

Well, I never did. I even remember the day that I gave it back to him, thinking to myself, "I've gotta find that song."

As the years passed, I would occasionally try to figure out what the song was. If I would meet old 80's D.J.'s, I would quiz them on the song to see if they knew anything about it. No one ever did.
Early in the 2000's, I ran into my old frat buddy at an Auburn game. My first question to him was about "The Song". He knew the song I was talking about, but couldn't remember the band or the name of the song. He gave me the name of an 80's music expert in Atlanta who might be able to help. I emailed him, but no luck again.

The internet is a wonderful thing. You can find all kinds of stuff here. Once I discovered Google, I periodically began searching for "The Song". Every 6 to 12 months I would do a search, using different parts of the lyrics that I could remember. I remembered that the song was catchy, but had a dark message. It was about a girl from the sticks who comes to the big city, gets hooked on drugs and o.d.'s. (not your typical happy ending song). The song was very " UK new wave meets punk". Kind of a Clash meets Billy Bragg meets the Kinks kind of thing.

One week in 2009 I was doing my bi-annual search for "The Song" when I came across a reference in the comments on a blog. This girl mentioned a song by a Baton Rouge band called the U.S. Times. She was asking if anyone remembered a song that she called "Sandy Jane" about a girl who o.d.'s. That's it, that's the song!!

I immediately emailed this girl, asking about "The Song". It turns out that one of the band members from U.S. Times was a member of this discussion group and saw the girls comment. He emailed the song to her, and she forwarded it to me.

So, for the first time in 22 years, I heard "The Song".
Here it is, for your listening pleasure:

LINK
Posted by Zappas Stache
Utility Muffin Research Kitchen
Member since Apr 2009
42406 posts
Posted on 7/2/14 at 1:56 pm to
You can buy the "Wanna Go To London" album on amazon.... LINK.....although I guess Sandy isnt on there.

Saw the final US Times at the Chimes circa 1984 or so. Gino Luti and Hans Van Brackle then formed Ants Climbing a Tree and did a bunch of acoustic stuff including an acoustic version of Wanna Go to London. I have that on a tape somewhere around here from an in studio performance at KLSU.
This post was edited on 7/2/14 at 1:58 pm
Posted by Dire Wolf
bawcomville
Member since Sep 2008
39939 posts
Posted on 7/2/14 at 2:28 pm to
I have been going throw this a lot lately. I broke down my old laptop down loading from various blogs that hosted mediafire/megaupload/ect. I was listening brazilian funk to russian punk to mexican jazz. I can not find half of the stuff i use to have some of which was awesome it is so so depressing.

I am glad you found your white whale
Posted by tigers1956
baton rouge
Member since Oct 2008
5334 posts
Posted on 3/23/21 at 7:45 pm to
At one time they lived in spanish town in baton rouge...I think they were from New York city...
Posted by Kafka
I am the moral conscience of TD
Member since Jul 2007
154268 posts
Posted on 3/23/21 at 7:53 pm to
I recall the Times (as I always heard them referred to) but I don't think I ever saw them. I was a broke student and I saved my local band budget for my faves, the Dick Nixons.
Posted by Zappas Stache
Utility Muffin Research Kitchen
Member since Apr 2009
42406 posts
Posted on 3/23/21 at 8:01 pm to
Nice 7 year bump.
Posted by LifeTimeTiger2
Member since Apr 2017
493 posts
Posted on 10/9/22 at 3:57 pm to
Playing live at Chelsea’s Live Nov 12th
Posted by Zappas Stache
Utility Muffin Research Kitchen
Member since Apr 2009
42406 posts
Posted on 10/9/22 at 10:28 pm to
quote:

Playing live at Chelsea’s Live Nov 12th


Wow, wish I could be there!
This post was edited on 10/11/22 at 11:43 pm
Posted by Lazer Legz
South
Member since May 2020
365 posts
Posted on 10/10/22 at 8:26 pm to
They played Mid City Ballroon 3-4 YA. They killed it!
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