Elvis Costello video: High Fidelity from one of the great albums "Get Happy," produced by Nick Lowe

Knowing Elvis's personality, and knowing how cranky he was back then (remember the Ray Charles Incident?), it's amazing they got Elvis to do so many videos, and seriously dance and emote...here is Get Happy's High Fidelity. . .


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Music Video: Paul McCartney's Coming Up (with lyrics)

"Coming Up" opened Macca's McCartney II album in 1980.

Most of Paul's vocals are run through a Vocoder (you've heard the Vocoder in A Clockwork Orange's soundtrack in vocals on Beethoven's 9th and Timesteps; on ELO songs; on some Pink Floyd songs; and recently on Prince, Madonna and Cher tunes. Paul played all the instruments and sang harmonies with Linda.

John Lennon, who at this point disparaged Paul's solo work (see: How Do You Sleep?), liked the song very much and critics say that it at least partially inspired Lennon's own 1980 comeback (Starting Over/Double Fantasy) shortly before he was assassinated. The song "Coming Up" is known for this seminal video.

McCartney played ten roles in the video, including Hank Marvin (guitar), Mick Fleetwood (drums) [although I think he was really aping Levon Helm of The Band], Ron Mael of Sparks (keyboards), a Beatles version of Paul (bass and backing vocals), Frank Zappa (sax), as well as a long-haired guitarist (that had to be Neil Young), and there were a couple of sax players, and Linda playing a male back-up singer.



Coming Up
By Sir Paul McCartney

Want a love to last forever
One that will never fade away
I want to help you with your problem
Stick around, I say

Coming up, coming up, yeah
Coming up like a flower
Coming up, I say

You want a friend you- can rely on
One who will never fade away
And if you're searching for an answer
Stick around. I say

Its coming up, its coming up
Its coming up like a flower
Its coming up. yeah

You want some peace and understanding
So everybody can be free
I know that we can get together
We can make it, stick with me

Its coming up, its coming up
Its coming up like a flower
Its coming up for you and me

Coming up, coming up
Its coming up, its coming up, I say
Its coming up like a flower
Its coming up
I feel it in my bones

You want a better kind of future
One that everyone can share
You're not alone, we all could use it
Stick around were nearly there

Its coming up, its coming up everywhere
Its coming up like a flower
Its coming up for all to share
Its coming up, yeah
Its coming up, anyway
Its coming up like a flower
Coming up
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Band of Horses: four videos/slideos -- The Great Salt Lake; Cigarettes Wedding Bands; No One's Gonna Love You; and The First Song

A video for "The Great Salt Lake" by Band of Horses, from their first album, Everything All The Time on Seattle's Sub Pop Records. The video is directed by Whitey McConnaughy:




A slideo for "Cigarettes Wedding bands":



A slideo for No One's Gonna Love You:



A slideo of The First Song:



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A random (but good) collection of Paul McCartney videos...

His band Wings performs Jet (with their strongest band lineup):




Band on the Run:




Paul sings Please Please Me:





Paul Tells A Raunchy Joke:






Drive My Car:






Sgt. Pepper/and a smoking version of The End



The studio version of Band on the Run:


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Awesome White Album Era video of The Beatles's Revolution

It is so amazing to hear this song now with its dense layers of piano, bass, guitar, and top of his game Ringo. This is such a departure from the early music. Its density is an amazing leap from the earlier mono/4 track songs. I think playing music after The Beatles must have sometimes feel like writing a play in the 17th century after Shakespeare's departure...



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The Beatles perform Hello, Goodbye (with lyrics)

The Beatles perform Hello, Goodbye, in full psychedlic regalia. . .




Hello Goodbye
by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

You say yes, I say no
You say stop and I say go, go, go
Oh, no
You say goodbye and I say hello
Hello, hello
I don't know why you say goodbye
I say hello
Hello, hello
I don't know why you say goodbye
I say hello

I say high, you say low
You say why, and I say I don't know
Oh, no
You say goodbye and I say hello
Hello, hello
I don't know why you say goodbye
I say hello
Hello, hello
I don't know why you say goodbye
I say hello

Why, why, why, why, why, why
Do you say good bye
Goodbye, bye, bye, bye, bye

Oh, no
You say goodbye and I say hello
Hello, hello
I don't know why you say goodbye
I say hello
Hello, hello
I don't know why you say goodbye
I say hello
hello, hello
I don't know why you say goodbye I say hello
Hello

Hela, heba helloa
Hela, heba helloa
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Some videos by and around The Monkees

Someone on YouTube used Maya or another animation tool to create a short movie based on The Monkee's spoken word piece, Zilch.



The song Words, from an episode (The Monkey's Paw) of their TV show:



A Little Bit me, A Little Bit You (from another episode):



Finally (there would be more, but not a lot of videos are out there..surprising, since The Monkees performed songs on their show every week), here is a Slideo of Jimi Hendrix and The Monkees. Yes, on one tour, The Jimi Hendrix Experience opened for The Monkees.


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Music Video: The Talking Heads perform Slippery People

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Bobby Bare, Jr. at The Sunset Tavern in Ballard

We saw an awesome show last night at the Sunset Tavern in our neighborhood. My sister in law is a long time fan of Bobby. I knew his dad's music. In fact, I thought that who we were going to see, although I thought it mighty strange he was playing at the grungy but beloved Sunset Tavern. Like some other alt country folk, Bobby has a twisted sense of humor. Bobby stopped in Seattle after touring with Son Volt, and playing at Austin's SXSW. From a recent review in the Baeble blog:

"Blown to New York on a carefree combination of crude oil chords, and sweet summer melodies, Bobby Bare delivers the kind of take on authentic country blues and southern rock that lets the whiskey running through your blood do its job. Humid and hazy at times, fearlessly grungy at others, Bare brought the region that bred him to the Bowery's stage. Whether lamenting for a Flat-Chested Woman in two-part harmony, moaning and whaling like a real singing cowboy, or rolling through rock and roll barn burners, Bobby and his band rollicked like a southern fried Guided By Voices. "

Bobby Bare, Jr. , 43, has recorded several solo albums, along with two major label albums with his band, Bare, Jr., (1998 and 2000) and his new, loosely-confederated band, the Young Criminals Starvation League. Last night he released a DIY album, American Bread, consisting of him covering songs by Bread and America. You get the feeling Bobby is just barely keeping it together, and yet he is sweet and funny on stage.

Bare is the son of country musician Bobby Bare. In 1974 — when Bobby Jr. was eight — they were both nominated for a Grammy for the song "Daddy What If."

He plays now with the Young Criminals Starvation League, a constantly-changing group of musicians who have released three studio albums, an EP, and a live album. Bobby will be at the Sunset Tavern again this coming Friday, for an early show. Get tickets early--last night's sold out.
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Video: Mind by The Talking Heads

A music video culled from a strange documentary on The Talking Heads. It's worth watching--despite the somewhat muddy sound--for the opening religious bit, and for David Byrne's always awesomely bizarre dancing. Mind is one of my favorite TH songs.




Mind
by The Talking Heads

Time won't change you
Money won't change you
I haven't got the faintest idea
Everything seems to be up in the air at this time
I need something you change your mind
Drugs won't change you
Religion won't change you
Science won't change you
Looks like I can't change you
I try to talk to you, to make things clear
but you're not even listening to me...
And it comes directly from my heart to you...
I need something to change your mind.
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The Del McCoury band play My love Will Not Change

As I have slowly drifted away from jazz (but not rock) over the years, 'grass and country have filled the vacuum. The Del McCoury band are among the high practicioners of bluegrass


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Sly and the Family Stone - Stand! (A YouTube slideo)

This is a great video of one of the great rock and sould bands of the '60s. Sly & The Family Stone were one of the first integrated rock bands, with people in a range of hues. They gave a lot of hope and inspiration. And they flat out played great music.

Stand

In the end you'll still be you
One that's done all the things you set out to do
Stand
There's a cross for you to bear
Things to go through if you're going anywhere
Stand
For the things you know are right
It s the truth that the truth makes them so uptight
Stand
All the things you want are real
You have you to complete and there is no deal
Stand. stand, stand
Stand. stand, stand
Stand
You've been sitting much too long
There's a permanent crease in your right and wrong
Stand
There's a midget standing tall
And the giant beside him about to fall
Stand. stand, stand
Stand. stand, stand
Stand
They will try to make you crawl
And they know what you're saying makes sense and all
Stand
Don't you know that you are free
Well at least in your mind if you want to be
Everybody
Stand, stand, stand
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The Beatles: Ask Me Why (a YouTube "slideo:")

Ask Me Why
Lyrics and music by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

I love you, 'cause you tell me things I want to know.
And it's true that it really only goes to show,

That I know,
That I, I, I, I should never, never, never be blue.

Now you're mine, my happiness still makes me cry.
And in time, you'll understand the reason why,

If I cry,
It's not because I'm sad, but you're the only love that I've ever had.

I can't believe it's happened to me
I can't conceive of any more misery.

Ask me why, I'll say I love you,
And I'm always thinking of you.

I love you, 'cause you tell me things I want to know.
And it's true that it really only goes to show,

That I know,
That I, I, I, I should never, never, never be blue.

Ask me why, I'll say I love you,
And I'm always thinking of you.

I can't believe it's happened to me.
I can't conceive of any more misery.

Ask me why, I'll say I love you,
And I'm always thinking of you.
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Amelia by Joni Mitchell from the Shadows and Light tour (with lyrics)

Amelia is one of Joni Mitchell's great songs. . .in my booklet. The imagistic lyrics are gorgeous. This is an "acoustic" version with her soloing on the electric guitar, in one of her alternate tunings. I like the studio, electric version (with Jaco Pastorius) best, but this is very nice.



Amelia


Music and lyrics by Joni Mitchell

I was driving across the burning desert
When I spotted six jet planes
Leaving six white vapor trails across the bleak terrain
It was the hexagram of the heavens
it was the strings of my guitar
Amelia, it was just a false alarm

The drone of flying engines
Is a song so wild and blue
It scrambles time and seasons if it gets thru to you
Then your life becomes a travelogue
Of picture-post-card-charms
Amelia, it was just a false alarm

People will tell you where they've gone
They'll tell you where to go
But till you get there yourself you never really know
Where some have found their paradise
Other's just come to harm
Oh Amelia, it was just a false alarm

I wish that he was here tonight
It's so hard to obey
His sad request of me to kindly stay away
So this is how I hide the hurt
As the road leads cursed and charmed
I tell Amelia, it was just a false alarm

A ghost of aviation
She was swallowed by the sky
Or by the sea, like me she had a dream to fly
Like Icarus ascending
On beautiful foolish arms
Amelia, it was just a false alarm

Maybe I've never really loved
I guess that is the truth
I've spent my whole life in clouds at icy altitude
And looking down on everything
I crashed into his arms
Amelia, it was just a false alarm

I pulled into the Cactus Tree Motel
To shower off the dust
And I slept on the strange pillows of my wanderlust
I dreamed of 747s
Over geometric farms
Dreams, Amelia, dreams and false alarms
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Song: Tennessee Stud by Doc Watson with The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Doc Watson's Tennessee Stud is one of my favorite songs of all time. Doc did a stunning rendition of the song on the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's landmark album in the early 70's.



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Video: Johnny Cash plays A Boy Named Sue at San Quention Prison

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The Zombies - video: Tell Her No

I like about five Zombies songs. I never totally bought the critical acclaim for Odyssey and Oracle. It's kind of like Captain Beefheart's Trout Mask Replica, where after you listen once or twice, all you can say is huh? I fit them in with other bands like Paul Revere, or Herman's Hermits, who also recorded up to 10 really good songs. Here's one of them.
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Talking Heads video: Burning Down The House

A video of one of my favorite Talking Heads tunes from the Jonathan Demme film Stop Making Sense...

Video: The Beatles play Please Please Me, warts and all

I am always fascinated by The Beatles live performances, using PAs and guitar amplifiers far less powerful than what we see in 100 person clubs now. They couldn't usually overmatch the screaming. When I saw them in '66 in their second to last show, it was a murky jumble of sound, and the girl's screams won. And yet, it is amazing how good they were live, with the deck totally stacked against them...

Music video: Pierre Nadeau's "Girls Boys."

This is a video of Pierre Nadeau's "Girls Boys." It will probably one day be looked upon as a seminal music video. . .around 3:25 or so, you'll see Pierre rocking out on the KeyTar. The French video was re-released a couple years ago as Dans Le Speedo de Pierre Nadeau.


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