The Who 68

Just finished reading an article about The Who in 1968.    I didn't realize their output that year consisted of merely three singles.    In the USA, Decca managed to scrape together an album of leftovers and B-Sides called Magic Bus - The Who on Tour.    Between The Who Sell Out in late 1967 and Tommy in early 1969 - this was it.

Call Me Lightning b/w Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde.

A Jan & Dean ish surf romp b/w a typically macabre Entwistle composition from 1967.  Their UK company refused to release it.

Dogs b/w Circles


This is where it starts to get a little weird.  It's a song about the dog races.  It was not a hit in the UK.  Never got a release in the USA.  For some reason, it was a big hit in Southeast Asia.   I picked this one up at Paul's in Hong Kong.  The pressing is from Singapore.  B-Side is from 1967.  

From Youtube - Not my record

Magic Bus b/w Someone's Coming.

After two misfires, finally a gem.  Not a huge hit when it came out.  It's now a concert staple thanks to the airing it got on The Who Live at Leeds.  No drums until the very end.  Moon plays woodblock instead.  Awesome rhythm track.    B side is another old song from Entwistle.

Thanksgiving is Over - Now Go Out and Get Some Exercise

Happy Thanksgiving - Now Dance!

It's Thanksgiving.  This is as close as I can get to a Thanksgiving record.  

Little Eva was Carole King's babysitter who had a huge hit with The Locomotion.  This was an attempt to start another dance craze.  It never quite caught on.

I've had this record as long as I can remember.   I think it used to belong to my older sister.

Eno and REM Wimoweh

The Lion Sleeps Tonight.  

The song can be traced back as far as the 1920's.  It was based on a Zulu chant.  In the early sixties, it was covered by British doo-wop group The Tokens and became an international hit.

Not From My Collection

Subsequently it was covered a few times...

Whether you're a cutting edge experimental artist/musician or an early hipster college rock indie band - everybody wimoweh's.

REM issued is as a B-Side to The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight

Brian Eno issued it as an A-Side.   

Eno was a little more generous in crediting the original South African composer.  

So there you have it.  Both artists covered this song and both artists appear frequently as answers in crossword puzzles.  Take that Asta and Fala.

Evidently there's a B-Side by NSYNC as well.  No plans to seek that one out.  Well maybe.  I would bet it's hilarious.

Wimoweh, Baby!

I Read The News Today, Oh Boy

In the early 70's a few records came up with fake newspapers as their cover.  Here are some examples.



Jefferson Airplane - Volunteers.  (RCA 1969)

This is one of the earliest ones from 1969.   A mock conservative newspaper with drug references throughout.  

Included as an insert with more of the fake conservative newspaper.  

Then used the following day to wrap a sandwich.

John & Yoko - Sometime in New York City (Apple 1973)

Since the music on this album was topical, might as well make it appear as it's front page news

 

Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick (Reprise 1972)

This parody cover from 1972 actually folds out to to a full size newspaper.  Its around 16 pages.  

Jack in the Box Vol 1 - Why A House Makes Noise

Volume 1 in the Jack in the Box comic/flexi series.  A little comic and record affair that was designed to make a kid not freak out at strange noises in the house at night.  It's mostly likely the gastro-intestinal function of those who dined at Jack in the Box during the day.  

Actually, the little song they sing to the greasy onion ring hiding under the covers (right on the sheets I might add) terrifies me even more.  

Rather than be afraid of ghosts or burglars, I'm now terrified of the house collapsing.  It doesn't help that the house depicted on the label appears to be a cross between the Addams Family house and the Psycho house. 

Sing this to your kids before bedtime


If sometimes you hear a noise at night
that makes you feel afraid
There's nothing to be frightened of
That's how a house is made
You think a house is standing there
As solid as a rock
But it's really changing all the time 
And ticking like a clock

Remember that a house must take
So many kinds of weather
Both hot and cold and wet and dry
They often go together
Now houses feel the temperature
The same as people do.
A house can shiver and perspire too.

When wood gets wet it swells up.
Iron shrinks when it gets cold
And bricks get twice as heavy
With the water they can hold
Hot tar gets soft and paint expands
Believe me girls and boys
It's all this pushing and pulling, swelling
Causing all the noise.

So picture all the changes
That go on in every way
When that big house cools down at night
After a sunny day
And now that I've explained it
I hope you see the light
And they you'll smile and not be scared
At noises in the night.

Bagels and Bongos

Not much I can say about this one.   I dig the beaded curtain made of day old bagels.   My only regret is that I don't have the first one.