Electric Light Orchestra – “Strange Magic”

This song is a like a dream, it is like everything all at once. It keeps building and building with that powerful endless chorus that sounds like a doo-wop band floating through time. It is ‘70’s mellow gold at its finest, and the melodies drive the flighty feeling home entirely horror show. This is some glossy production, but entirely necessary for a song of this variety, as quite a few ELO numbers are given that fancy studio touch. I like the vague lyrical content that just sort of repeats like a trance. The arrangement of the backing vocals sounds like something out of an epic tune by Queen. There are a few light moments with Jeff Lynne mumbling sweet nothings, but on the whole, this chap knows how to construct an appropriate Rock orchestral number with a generous helping of glitzy glamour, momma.

I mean, we’re not talking about that hideous recent tune by John Mellencamp, as you would actually want to hear “Strange Magic” in a car commercial, or while getting a filling at the dentist. This isn’t our country, honey, its strange magic country! I am no ELO expert, hell, I’m not even a fan, but a good tune is just that, and if you do not believe me then let me refer you to a little number by The Kinks called “Waterloo Sunset.” Do you get the picture now, sweetheart, or does daddy have to beat it out of you? Just back off and enjoy this airy spacey Pop Rock piece of music, that’s all I ask. I don’t want no fighting.

Now just shut up and get swept away in the musical peace of this trance-like mind twister that is ideal for those of us who like a good melody:



Traveling Wilburys are highly questionable characters…

"Be My Baby" by The Ronettes

Boom! Boom boom, cha! Boom! Boom boom, cha! Tied with "Slow Nerve Action" as my favorite drum intro ever...

Black screen. A single voice: "You don't make up for your sins in church. You do it in the streets. You do it at home. The rest is bullshit and you know it." The scene shows a young man getting out of bed, walking to the mirror. The dull roar of a bustling city, alive and kicking with the daily droan of modern transportation. Goes back to bed.

Harvey Keitel lying in bed. Boom! Boom boom cha! Boom! Boom boom cha!

Assuming you're not an uncultured cretin of the intelligence of a comatose caveman, you recognized the above anecdote as the opening scene of Mean Streets. Scorsese's first true masterpiece. But that's neither here nor there.

The point is, "Be My Baby" is among the finest two minutes forty-one seconds of pop history. It's raw, tuneful, orchestral, short but sweet! Yay Ronettes!

But Phil Spector is the real genius responsible. See, there's a belief going around that perhaps it's okay for Phil Spector to murder women in his spare time, just because he produced and wrote "Be My Baby". Perhaps the positives outweight the negatives in this case? Perhaps his defense team should cease sitting around with thumbs up their respective asses and instead merely play "Be My Baby" to the jury. He'll be acquitted, for sure. Or not.

But still. Take a lesson in background harmonies:

BE MY, BE MY BABY!
(Be my little baby!)
MY ONE AND ONLY BABY!
(Say you'll be my da-arling!)
BE MY BE MY BABY!
(Be my baby nooowww!)

Stereo? Who needs it. Echo? Phil needs it! The reverb on the drums is vital!

See, in a strange twist of fate, I was introduced to Spector's "Back To Mono: 1958-1969" compilation last week and, up until "In Rainbows" was unleashed, it ate up much of my musical listening diet. I don't know why, but disc one was most enjoyable for me. Something about those early doo-wop tunes are totally irresistible to me: "Pretty Little Angel Eyes", "Puddin' 'N Tain", "Why Do Lovers Break Each Others Hearts" are highlights, for example? Who cares if they all follow the same chord progression? Puddin' `n tain, puddin` `n tain, ask me again and I'll tell you the same. Disc three, in comparison, seemed a bit over the top with the wall-of-sound technique, didn't have the same charm.

But "Be My Baby" is still the lone masterpiece. It's a perfect melody. I love the chaotic drum fills during the ending refrain.


(Watch Mean Streets if you haven't already. Kill two stones with one bird! See full frontal nudity with scandalous 70's pubes!)

Phil Spector Back To Mono Box Set



(Acquit Phil!)

Boom! Boom boom, cha!

Barnes & Barnes ~ “Fish Heads”

Thinking about Comedy as Rock recently, thinking about you and me and all that is coming in between us, girl. I understand that my cultural identity resembles a Chevy, and I shat you super tasty and real. Any who, Barnes & Barnes did not change my life, but then again, neither did Punk Rock, but to each his or her respective own on the bright gray telephone mocking rasta fuzz for the long haul. The music video is quite probably as well known as the song, no? One of the blokes from Barnes & Barnes used to be a big deal on TV programs in the ‘60’s man, but his name escapes me…Bill something? He produced material by Wild Man Fischer, who formerly was produced by Mr. Zappa. He also produced Crispin Glover’s one released record as of this moment.

This is a great song on the whole, I love the feeling. Weird for the sake of weird, perhaps, but it is quite catchy and musical with fun little melodies. Comedy, novelty, I am so confused I might as well turn into a sassy little cheetah baby sipping your staircase under a starry Neanderthal gaze, because it is all about hunting and gathering in my neck of the spiritual atmosphere. The actor Bill Paxton actually directed (or acted in, whatever) the music video, so this is even before his bully brother routine in “Weird Science,” and he also appeared in a Tales from The Crypt episode with the great Brad Dourif, not a bad track record. However, his involvement with Barnes & Barnes is unknown to me, so you might want to ask Dr. Demento. The other bloke in Barnes & Barnes is a stranger to me but give him a call if you want to base your life upon his teachings…

Don’t fight the feeling:



Art and Artie Barnes, to be precise.