T Heads True Stories Singles

Talking Heads released the soundtrack to David Byrne's film 'True Stories' in 1986.   Originally the release was to be an actual soundtrack featuring the vocalists from the film.  The record company insisted that it be released with David Byrne vocals, so the vocal tracks were redone.  Some of the original tracks with other vocalists snuck out as B-Sides to the 45's from the album.

First Up

Wild Wild Life b/w People Like Us.

Vocal in the B-Side is by John Goodman.

Next we have

Love for Sale b/w Hey Now.

B-Side vocal by a local children's choir.

Jethro Tull Stands Up....

Jethro Tull's second album, Stand Up was released in 1969.  In addition to being one of their best records, it sports an unexpected surprise.

Open it up and the band 'stands up!'

The Clash - Spot the Difference

The Clash's second album, Give 'Em Enough Rope,' was their first release in the USA.   The US division of Columbia/CBS didn't think their first album was fit for domestic consumption.  The sound was raw, unprocessed, unproduced and immediate.     It only added to the impact of the music.  Subsequently, it became one of the top selling import albums.

Since the US executives knew what the kids today wanted, they hooked The Clash up with heavy metal producer Sandy Pearlman for their second release.   Initial reaction had those who loved their first album recoil a bit at its slick arena rock sound.  

When it was initially released 1978, it was a bit hard to find.  I remember going into my local Music Plus (at one time fairly decent chain store in Southern California) on my lunch break to pick it up day of release.  I couldn't find it.  The clerk said they didn't carry 'obscure punk rock records.'   I replied that it was on Epic/Columbia and shouldn't be considered 'obscure.'  Since it had the punk stigma, it wasn't carried.  Music Plus soon changed their tune and began to carry local independent punk '45's.

So on to another store to complete the purchase.  I don't remember where.  Possibly Lovell's in Uptown Whittier, CA.

There are some cover variations as well.

The first pressing had block letters

It was soon replaced with a faux oriental font.

There are a few variations on the back as well.   The tracks on the back are listed out of sequence (how punk!).  The first press lists the title of the last song as 'That's No Way to Spend Your Youth'

The second pressing correctly names the last track as 'All the Young Punks (New Boots and Contracts).'  It also adds a credit for mastering.  I wonder if that's why there was a scramble for a cover redo.

I'm told there is a third version with a slightly different font that lists the tracks in the correct running order.

Around this time, I was in the habit of saving concert ads from the Los Angeles times in the related album.  This one is from the first time the Clash visited the USA.  One of the best shows I've ever witnessed.  In addition to Bo Diddley, local band The Dils also opened.

Bo Diddley was a very cool choice. Evidently the promoter didn't know who he was.  It looks like they thought it was a band as they describe him/them as 'special guest stars.'

 Punk was in danger of being pigeonholed with all the rules of conduct, instrumentation, appearance, volume and speed.  What set The Clash apart was their ability to expand on the genre.  Other bands sort of imploded as they couldn't take their music beyond the basic 1-2-3-4.   The Clash seemed to realize this early on.

The Ventures - Expo 7-0

The Ventures, America's premier instrumental guitar band, was a big deal in Japan.  Probably because they didn't have to deal with the language barrier.  They toured there often.  An oft quoted statistic has them outselling The Beatles in Japan 5 to 1.  

In 1970, Japan hosted Expo 70 in Osaka.   The Ventures supplied the official theme song.  

I found this on EBay. This particular pressing came via Canada.

The B-Side is a take on Swan Lake.  I always thought the tune was from the original soundtrack of Lugosi's Dracula.  I know now that I'm mistaken.

Sayanara

Dirty Old Broads

Sometimes I'll be going through the cheap bins at the used record emporium and come across something like this: 

The cover doesn't lie.  This is one of those 'Dirty Old Broad' record.   They're hilarious.  Raunchy sex jokes that are actually funny.

Belle Barth was known as the 'Lenny Bruce of Miami' and was even arrested a few times for saying obscene things on stage.  She must have had a hard life because she was only in her mid-fifties when these cover shots were taken.

Here are some quotes for your enjoyment.

(responding to some hecklers in Boston)  If I was Paul Revere I never would have warned you bastards

One hooker says to another I made $150 last night. The other asks 'Gross?'  The first replies 'No Schwartz.'

Woman walks into a butcher shop and inspects a chicken.  She smells it front, back, underside, inside.  She says to the butcher 'This chicken stinks'  The butcher replies 'Madam, could you pass a test like that?"


They like drivin' for the Jews because they blow the sho-fer.


And so on..

KHJ Boss Oldies

With the rise of FM radio in the late '60's, AM top forty stations struggled to stay hip and relevant.   In the world of top forty, a song was considered an oldie if it was more than a few months old.  Stations would lease masters and release them in low cost compilations.  I've seen these in other markets.  It's possible they were the same pressings with a different radio station on the cover.

KHJ was one of the primary AM radio rock outlets in Los Angeles.  In their effort to stay relevant, they released a compilation with the cover below.

It really is kind of creepy.   Peace sigh contact lenses and a mouth sealed shut shrunken head style with 'love.'

Not to be outdone, rival AM station KRLA released these things as well.

Roxy Music - B-Sides Part 1

Roxy Music was one of my favorite bands of the 70's.  Huge in England, their popularity didn't really cross the Atlantic.  

My prog loving friends criticized them for not being very good musicians.  I couldn't disagree, but it really didn't matter.  Does playing intricate arrangements carry more of an emotional wallop than the riff from Jumpin' Jack Flash?  Not in my book.

I was attracted to their entire approach.  They were a band of contrasts.  The drummer (Paul Thompson) played hard and loud as though he was in a heavy metal band.  Their sax player (Andy McKay) tended to push his instrument to the extreme.  (Outside the band, he was responsible for the sax solo on Mott the Hoople's 'All the Way From Memphis').  Throw in Eno who 'treated' existing instruments to achieve new and interesting tones.  Throw in a guitar player (Phil Manzanera) who grew up in South America and brought a somewhat latin influence to his rock playing.    On top of that, we get a tuxedo clad singer (Bryan Ferry) who crooned like Bing Crosby.

They were very generous with their B-Sides.  Most of which were never released in the USA.

1.   The Numberer (B-Side of Virginia Plain)   1972

Technically a stand alone single as it wasn't included on the European release of the first album.  In the USA, Virginal Plain was included.  The record company released a single and included the original B-Side.  The Numberer is an instrumental with a bit of sax and synth flourishes.

2.  Pyjamarama b/w The Pride and the Pain.   1973

A standalone single in the UK.   Pyjamarama didn't appear on an LP until the live take on Viva! a few years later.

The Pride and the Pain is an instrumental with a dirge like pace.  It features wind and bird noises, a clarinet playing a vaguely Middle Eastern melody, searing guitar, whip noises, and a heavenly chorus.

3.   Hula Kula (B-Side of Street Life)   1973

Eno is now gone.   Roxy Music carries on with the release of their third album, Stranded.

Hula Kula, an instrumental,  features Phil Manzanera's workout on a Hawaiian slack key guitar.

4.  Your Application's Failed (B Side of All I Want Is You)  1974.

Roxy Music carries on with the release of their fourth album Country Life.  The A side was pulled from that album.  The B-Side, Your Application's Failed, is a rockin' (almost) instrumental credited to the drummer.  Bryan Ferry steps forward with the sole vocal, stating the song's title at the end of a solo break.

5.  Sultanesque (B-Side of Love is the Drug). 1975

1975 saw the release of the fifth Roxy Music album, Siren.   This one took a step or two towards a fairly mainstream sound and included their first 'hit' in the USA, Love is the Drug.   The B-Side, Sultanesque, consists solely of Bryan Ferry doodling on a synthesizer with a drum machine.

6.  For Your Pleasure (live) (B-Side of Both Ends Burning)   1975

A second single taken from Siren.  The B-Side is live take of a song from the second Roxy Music album.  For Your Pleasure had the coveted place in their live show as the last song before the (rock concert cliche) fake encore break.  Each musician departs the stage one by one until there's just a drone left.   The drone continues while the audience yells for more.

I tend to use this as a restroom break so I don't have to wait in huge lines when the entire arena empties out.  There is usually time to get back to my seat before the first notes of the fake encore.

After the release of a live album from the Siren tour, Roxy Music went on hiatus.  When they returned a few years later, their sound was less edgy, but still interesting.  A good chunk of the 'new wave' artists that dominated MTV in the early days took their cues from Roxy Music.  In my humble opinion, they only cared about the surface image, not the musical contrast of the musicians that made Roxy Music great.

After the hiatus, they continued with the B-Sides.  I will cover those in Part 2