Music Labyrinth Episode 054
American Idiot / Green Day and the Original Broadway Cast of American Idiot
Hello Listener, and welcome to episode number 54 of The Music Labyrinth. Now, you will recall that last episode (which was - and I’m sure you will be unsurprised by this fact - episode 53) we spoke about Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy and the fictional book 53 More Things To Do In Zero Gravity. Well, 54 is also a number of note in those wonderful stories by Douglas Adams. Your will recall that Arthur Dent’s quest to discover the Ultimate Question was, at one point, guided by plucking random letters from a bag, to reveal the question: What do you get if you multiply six by nine? For very complicated reasons, Arthur mistakenly arrives at the answer 42, but - well, now we all know the truth, don’t we. 54 is also the number of coloured squares on a standard Rubik’s Cube, so lets send a big shout out to all the cubists who are listening. Now, before we leap into this episode, I have some news about a wonderful enhancement to the whole Music Labyrinth experience. Good Friend Of The Program Rob, who has significant skills in this area, has designed a wonderful enhancement for our web presence called The Vault. The Vault is a database of every single track we have played since episode 1 of The Music Labyrinth. It is searchable, and has a magnificent feature by which you can search for a track and see, on a single screen, that track, the one which led to it and the one which followed it. AND, hovering over the links between the tracks gives you a text explanation of the (ahem) logic which led us. By tomorrow I promise to have The Vault available for anyone who cares to jump over to www.themusiclabyrinth.com to have a peek. It goes without saying that I am immensely grateful to Rob for his work in developing and delivering The Vault. Right! In a pattern which should now be familiar to the listener, we commenced episode 54 of the show with the song that ended episode 53, and that song was American Idiot, from the Broadway production of American Idiot, The Musical. American Idiot won a couple of Tony Awards for its production, and a Grammy Award for the musical soundtrack, and the whole show was based on the concept album of the same name by Green Day. It should surprise you not at all to find that another top-selling album has been successfully staged as a musical on Broadway, this one being nominated for 15 Tony Awards and also winning the Grammy for the musical soundtrack. From the Broadway musical Jagged Little Pill, this is the original cast with Hand In My Pocket.
Hand In My Pocket / Lauren Patten, Celia Rose Gooding and The Original Broadway Cast of Jagged Little Pill
Of course that was the Alana Morrisette song, Hand In My Pocket, but performed by the Original Broadway Cast of the Jagged Little Pill musical. I’ve had a look at the synopsis of that story, which starts off with one of the lead characters composing a Christmas letter about how well the family is doing, when in reality the family is beset by drug addiction and dysfunctional relationships. I didn’t need to read very far at all before another song about a letter describing similar events found its way into my head. This is Tom Waits with Christmas Card From A Hooker in Minneapolis.
Christmas Card From A Hooker in Minneapolis / Tom Waits
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth where we last heard Tom Waits from his 1978 album Blue Valentine with Christmas Card From A Hooker in Minneapolis. And now, Dear Listener, it is time for our semi-regular segment: Were You Paying Close Attention? Those that were (bless you all) will have picked up on a reference in the lyric to Little Anthony & The Imperials, who had a string of hit records in the 50s, 60s and 70s, but few bigger than this next song. I’ve skipped past the original version in order to play you a version recorded for the soundtrack of the 1998 film Living Out Loud. This is Queen Latifah with Goin’ Out Of My Head.
Goin’ Out Of My Head / Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah is an actress, singer, rapper, songwriter and producer with an impressively versatile skill set. By way of example, lets compare her beautiful singing on that last track with her contribution to this David Bowie staple.
Fame ‘90 / David Bowie (feat. Queen Latifah)
That was David Bowie, featuring Queen Latifah, with Fame ‘90, a stand alone single released in 1990 as a promotional strategy for Bowie’s Sound+Vision Tour and the release of the ChangesOneBowie record. I had forgotten that John Lennon co-wrote that song with Bowie in 1975, and I have learned that there was a third member of the songwriting team for Fame. Carlos Alomar is a gifted musician and a long time collaborator with David Bowie. He is credited as a songwriter for Fame. He is also a highly regarded session musician, and in 2015 he was engaged by Brandon Flowers to play guitar on this track. This is Dreams Come True.
Dreams Come True / Brandon Flowers
I was tempted to tell you that you find yourself smack bang in the middle of The Music Labyrinth, but then it occurred to me that, in terms of locating its centre, The Music Labyrinth is a lot like the universe. I think there is something in that for all of us. Whilst you ponder the incredible vastness of those concepts, let me remind you that we just listened to Brandon Flowers, sounding - I think - quite Springsteenesque, with Dreams Come True. Now I know that you are playing the game as you listen and I know you know that Brandon Flowers is the lead singer of The Killers. So, you might think, perhaps we will be hearing a Killers track next. Nope. We’re going to an 80s club anthem, and we get there because Brandon Flowers’ album The Desired Effect, from which we heard Dreams Come True, also contains a track called I Can Change, and songwriting credits for that song include Jimmy Somerville and Steve Bronski, of Bronski Beat. The credit is due to the fact that I Can Change includes a sample of a big chunk of this song. This is Smalltown Boy.
Smalltown Boy / Bronski Beat
That was Bronski Beat with Smalltown Boy. That song was the subject of one episode of the excellent BBC radio program Soul Music, which devotes each episode to exploring stories associated with particular pieces of powerful music. In series 6 of Soul Music, an episode focused on Tainted Love, which most of us know as another club hit of the 80s courtesy of the band Soft Cell. But something I had forgotten is that the song was written in 1964 and was an early soul hit for Gloria Jones. Here is that version.
Tainted Love / Gloria Jones
From 1964, that was Gloria Jones with Tainted Love. Gloria Jones was 19 when that song was recorded. She was born in Cincinnati and raised in Los Angeles, but her early recordings engendered such a significant following in northern England that she became known as The Queen Of Northern Soul. In 1969, whilst a cast member of the musical Hair, Jones met Marc Bolan. Soon after, she joined his band, T-Rex, and became involved in a romantic relationship with Mark Bolan. On 16 September 1977 Gloria Jones was the driver of a car in south-west London in which she and Bolan were returning home after a night out. The car crashed into a tree. Marc Bolan was killed, and Gloria Jones was seriously injured in that car crash. From the era when Gloria Jones was a member of T-Rex, this is I Love To Boogie.
I Love To Boogie / T Rex
You are back with The Music Labyrinth where we last listened to T-Rex from 1976 with I Love To Boogie. Last year, the music of Marc Bolan and T-Rex was celebrated in the tribute album, Angelheaded Hipster. From it, this is Father John Misty with Main Man.
Main Man / Father John Misty
From the 2020 album Angelheaded Hipster: The Music Of Marc Bolan And T-Rex, that was Father John Misty with Main Man. Father John Misty has made his own significant contribution to modern music, with a total of 15 albums under his belt in the several identities he performs under. We’ll speak in a moment about his song-writing abilities as well, but before that, lets listen to him (as Father John Misty) with Real Love Baby.
Real Love Baby / Father John Misty
On The Music Labyrinth that was Father John Misty from 2016 with Real Love Baby. Father John’s real name is Josh Tillman and he has a number of hit songs to his credit. He is also a songwriter of note, having participated in successful collaborations with Kid Cudi, the Avalanches, and Beyonce. Tillman is also the co-writer of this Lady Gaga song. This is Sinner’s Prayer.
Sinner’s Prayer / Lady Gaga
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth where we last engaged in what The Music Labyrinth Elves call “a bit of twang” as we listened to Sinner’s Prayer from Lady Gaga’s 2016 album Joanne. That song was written by Gaga, Josh Tillman (who we earlier heard as Father John Misty) and Thomas Brenneck. Brenneck’ s musical CV includes a lengthy period as a member of the band Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings. Here they are with Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In).
Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) / Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
That was Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings with their 2005 cover of Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In). The original version of that song was released by First Edition in 1967. By the way, the lead singer of the psychedelic rock group First Edition was a young bloke called Kenny Rogers! The First Edition version of Just Dropped In appeared in the soundtrack of the 2010 Dwayne Johnson film Faster, as did this song.
I Wanna Be Your Dog / The Stooges
From the soundtrack of the 2010 film Faster, and first recorded in 1969, that was The Stooges, led by Iggy Pop, with I Wanna Be Your Dog. That song also featured in the soundtrack of the movie American Psycho, as did this song.
Who Feeling It / Tom Tom Club
Hello, and welcome back aboard The Music Labyrinth, were we find ourselves in the part occupied by The Tom Tom Club. The song we last heard was by that band from the year 2000, and it was called Who Feeling It. Now, as I’m sure you know, The Tom Tom Club was a side project of Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads. The lyrics of the song we just heard mention a whole bunch of musicians who are considered geniuses, most of whom worked closely with Talking Heads. One of the musicians mentioned in lyrics is Wally Badarou, the French-African multi-instrumentalist who has worked with - well, everyone really. In 1988 he played keyboards on the debut album of a young artist called Melissa Etheridge, which included this track.
Bring Me Some Water / Melissa Etheridge
From her 1988 debut, self-titled album, that was Melissa Etheridge with Bring Me Some Water. The personnel who contributed to the sessions that resulted in that album included Waddy Watchel, who we have indirectly encountered before on The Music Labyrinth for his guitar work with The Rolling Stones on Saint Of Me. Now, because of the availability of The Vault, which I discussed at the top of the show, I can tell you that Saint Of Me was the 3rd song in Episode 40 of The Music Labyrinth. Make sure you have a look at The Vault tomorrow. Its really impressive - www.themusiclabyrinth.com. Anyway, in 1995 Waddy Watchel joined forces with the late John Prine for Prine’s 12th studio album Lost Dogs And Mixed Blessings. That album contains what many, including Bob Dylan, consider to be one of the great songs. This is Lake Marie.
Lake Marie / John Prine
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth where we last heard John Prine’s wonderful song, Lake Marie. I have to admit that, despite being aware of John Prine ever since I first heard You Am I’s song Damage, in which Old John Prine is mentioned, I’ve paid him far too little attention if the quality of that song is anything to go by. I’m really enjoying that one. Of course, it goes without saying, that you were paying close attention to the lyrics of that song, and you picked up the reference to the couple laying in each other’s arms by the lake, one of them humming this song.
Louis Louis / The Kingsmen
From 1963 that was The Kingsmen with their version of Richard Perry’s 1955 song Louis Louis. The Kingsmen version has a fair bit of folk law associated with it. The band recorded it in a single take, all standing around a single microphone. The Kingsmen’s lead singer, Jack Ely, had to stand on tiptoe in an attempt to be heard. He probably needn’t have bothered. His lyrics are so unintelligible that they took on a mystique of their own, which resulted in an FBI investigation when a parent’s group complained that the lyrics contained deliberate profanities. On the strength of rumour alone, the song was banned on many radio stations and prohibited by the Indianna governor. The 31 month investigation by the FBI eventually concluded that the lyrics were unable to be interpreted at any speed or volume. Now, all this talk about unintelligible lyrics - and you know where this is going, don’t you - leads me to one particular Australian band with one particular Australian singer. Here is one of my favourite Australian Crawl songs. This is the live recording of Unpublished Critics.
Unpublished Critics / Australian Crawl
From the 1983 live album Phalanx, that is Australian Crawl with Unpublished Critics. Seven years after Unpublished Critics was first recorded, our next song was written and recorded and became a huge international hit. Then, about 27 years after that, someone posted to an online forum that the songs sounded quite similar in the chord progression and melodic structure. James Reyne of Australian Crawl, when asked to comment on what action his band might take said something along the lines of, “as if we are going to be taking on THEIR lawyers!” Anyway, you make up your own mind.
Sweet Child Of Mine / Guns & Roses
Here we are in The Music Labyrinth, poised for our last bracket of songs for the evening. We last listened to Guns N’ Roses from 1988 with Sweet Child ‘o Mine. In 1991 our next artist was recording an album which would become one of the biggest selling records of all time. A huge hit from that album contained a very catchy guitar riff which was NOT played by Slash from Guns N’ Roses. Slash’s contribution to this next song is that he played the guitar which is featured in this skit which introduces that track.
Black or White / Michael Jackson
From 1991 of course that was Michael Jackson with Black or White, from the mega-selling album Dangerous. We established before we played that song that the guitar in the main part of the track was NOT played by Slash. It was, in fact played by Bill Bottrell, who also produced the album. Two years later, Bottrell was part of a group of musicians who gathered together to contribute to the debut album for an American singer-songwriter. Those musicians nicknamed themselves the Tuesday Night Music Club, which became the name of the album that produced this huge hit which Bill Bottrell co-wrote with Sheryl Crow. This is All I Wanna Do.
All I Wanna Do / Sheryl Crow
That was Sheryl Crow with All I Wanna Do, from her hugely successful 1993 album The Tuesday Night Music Club. And it will be with Sheryl Crow that we remain as we conclude this episode of The Music Labyrinth. Thanks VERY much for your company through this show. Thanks also again to Rob for his magnificent work on The Vault. You should be able to see that soon at www.themusiclabyrinth.com. Remember, we’ll be back in a fortnight for more wandering in The Music Labyrinth. Until then, stay well. I’ll leave you with a compilation from 2014 when a whole bunch of musicians came together to celebrate the career of Smokey Robinson. One of those artists was Sheryl Crow, and from that album, Smokey & Friends, this is Tears Of A Clown.
Tears Of A Clown / Smokey Robinson and Sheryl Crow
Hello Listener, and welcome to episode number 54 of The Music Labyrinth. Now, you will recall that last episode (which was - and I’m sure you will be unsurprised by this fact - episode 53) we spoke about Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy and the fictional book 53 More Things To Do In Zero Gravity. Well, 54 is also a number of note in those wonderful stories by Douglas Adams. Your will recall that Arthur Dent’s quest to discover the Ultimate Question was, at one point, guided by plucking random letters from a bag, to reveal the question: What do you get if you multiply six by nine? For very complicated reasons, Arthur mistakenly arrives at the answer 42, but - well, now we all know the truth, don’t we. 54 is also the number of coloured squares on a standard Rubik’s Cube, so lets send a big shout out to all the cubists who are listening. Now, before we leap into this episode, I have some news about a wonderful enhancement to the whole Music Labyrinth experience. Good Friend Of The Program Rob, who has significant skills in this area, has designed a wonderful enhancement for our web presence called The Vault. The Vault is a database of every single track we have played since episode 1 of The Music Labyrinth. It is searchable, and has a magnificent feature by which you can search for a track and see, on a single screen, that track, the one which led to it and the one which followed it. AND, hovering over the links between the tracks gives you a text explanation of the (ahem) logic which led us. By tomorrow I promise to have The Vault available for anyone who cares to jump over to www.themusiclabyrinth.com to have a peek. It goes without saying that I am immensely grateful to Rob for his work in developing and delivering The Vault. Right! In a pattern which should now be familiar to the listener, we commenced episode 54 of the show with the song that ended episode 53, and that song was American Idiot, from the Broadway production of American Idiot, The Musical. American Idiot won a couple of Tony Awards for its production, and a Grammy Award for the musical soundtrack, and the whole show was based on the concept album of the same name by Green Day. It should surprise you not at all to find that another top-selling album has been successfully staged as a musical on Broadway, this one being nominated for 15 Tony Awards and also winning the Grammy for the musical soundtrack. From the Broadway musical Jagged Little Pill, this is the original cast with Hand In My Pocket.
Hand In My Pocket / Lauren Patten, Celia Rose Gooding and The Original Broadway Cast of Jagged Little Pill
Of course that was the Alana Morrisette song, Hand In My Pocket, but performed by the Original Broadway Cast of the Jagged Little Pill musical. I’ve had a look at the synopsis of that story, which starts off with one of the lead characters composing a Christmas letter about how well the family is doing, when in reality the family is beset by drug addiction and dysfunctional relationships. I didn’t need to read very far at all before another song about a letter describing similar events found its way into my head. This is Tom Waits with Christmas Card From A Hooker in Minneapolis.
Christmas Card From A Hooker in Minneapolis / Tom Waits
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth where we last heard Tom Waits from his 1978 album Blue Valentine with Christmas Card From A Hooker in Minneapolis. And now, Dear Listener, it is time for our semi-regular segment: Were You Paying Close Attention? Those that were (bless you all) will have picked up on a reference in the lyric to Little Anthony & The Imperials, who had a string of hit records in the 50s, 60s and 70s, but few bigger than this next song. I’ve skipped past the original version in order to play you a version recorded for the soundtrack of the 1998 film Living Out Loud. This is Queen Latifah with Goin’ Out Of My Head.
Goin’ Out Of My Head / Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah is an actress, singer, rapper, songwriter and producer with an impressively versatile skill set. By way of example, lets compare her beautiful singing on that last track with her contribution to this David Bowie staple.
Fame ‘90 / David Bowie (feat. Queen Latifah)
That was David Bowie, featuring Queen Latifah, with Fame ‘90, a stand alone single released in 1990 as a promotional strategy for Bowie’s Sound+Vision Tour and the release of the ChangesOneBowie record. I had forgotten that John Lennon co-wrote that song with Bowie in 1975, and I have learned that there was a third member of the songwriting team for Fame. Carlos Alomar is a gifted musician and a long time collaborator with David Bowie. He is credited as a songwriter for Fame. He is also a highly regarded session musician, and in 2015 he was engaged by Brandon Flowers to play guitar on this track. This is Dreams Come True.
Dreams Come True / Brandon Flowers
I was tempted to tell you that you find yourself smack bang in the middle of The Music Labyrinth, but then it occurred to me that, in terms of locating its centre, The Music Labyrinth is a lot like the universe. I think there is something in that for all of us. Whilst you ponder the incredible vastness of those concepts, let me remind you that we just listened to Brandon Flowers, sounding - I think - quite Springsteenesque, with Dreams Come True. Now I know that you are playing the game as you listen and I know you know that Brandon Flowers is the lead singer of The Killers. So, you might think, perhaps we will be hearing a Killers track next. Nope. We’re going to an 80s club anthem, and we get there because Brandon Flowers’ album The Desired Effect, from which we heard Dreams Come True, also contains a track called I Can Change, and songwriting credits for that song include Jimmy Somerville and Steve Bronski, of Bronski Beat. The credit is due to the fact that I Can Change includes a sample of a big chunk of this song. This is Smalltown Boy.
Smalltown Boy / Bronski Beat
That was Bronski Beat with Smalltown Boy. That song was the subject of one episode of the excellent BBC radio program Soul Music, which devotes each episode to exploring stories associated with particular pieces of powerful music. In series 6 of Soul Music, an episode focused on Tainted Love, which most of us know as another club hit of the 80s courtesy of the band Soft Cell. But something I had forgotten is that the song was written in 1964 and was an early soul hit for Gloria Jones. Here is that version.
Tainted Love / Gloria Jones
From 1964, that was Gloria Jones with Tainted Love. Gloria Jones was 19 when that song was recorded. She was born in Cincinnati and raised in Los Angeles, but her early recordings engendered such a significant following in northern England that she became known as The Queen Of Northern Soul. In 1969, whilst a cast member of the musical Hair, Jones met Marc Bolan. Soon after, she joined his band, T-Rex, and became involved in a romantic relationship with Mark Bolan. On 16 September 1977 Gloria Jones was the driver of a car in south-west London in which she and Bolan were returning home after a night out. The car crashed into a tree. Marc Bolan was killed, and Gloria Jones was seriously injured in that car crash. From the era when Gloria Jones was a member of T-Rex, this is I Love To Boogie.
I Love To Boogie / T Rex
You are back with The Music Labyrinth where we last listened to T-Rex from 1976 with I Love To Boogie. Last year, the music of Marc Bolan and T-Rex was celebrated in the tribute album, Angelheaded Hipster. From it, this is Father John Misty with Main Man.
Main Man / Father John Misty
From the 2020 album Angelheaded Hipster: The Music Of Marc Bolan And T-Rex, that was Father John Misty with Main Man. Father John Misty has made his own significant contribution to modern music, with a total of 15 albums under his belt in the several identities he performs under. We’ll speak in a moment about his song-writing abilities as well, but before that, lets listen to him (as Father John Misty) with Real Love Baby.
Real Love Baby / Father John Misty
On The Music Labyrinth that was Father John Misty from 2016 with Real Love Baby. Father John’s real name is Josh Tillman and he has a number of hit songs to his credit. He is also a songwriter of note, having participated in successful collaborations with Kid Cudi, the Avalanches, and Beyonce. Tillman is also the co-writer of this Lady Gaga song. This is Sinner’s Prayer.
Sinner’s Prayer / Lady Gaga
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth where we last engaged in what The Music Labyrinth Elves call “a bit of twang” as we listened to Sinner’s Prayer from Lady Gaga’s 2016 album Joanne. That song was written by Gaga, Josh Tillman (who we earlier heard as Father John Misty) and Thomas Brenneck. Brenneck’ s musical CV includes a lengthy period as a member of the band Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings. Here they are with Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In).
Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) / Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
That was Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings with their 2005 cover of Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In). The original version of that song was released by First Edition in 1967. By the way, the lead singer of the psychedelic rock group First Edition was a young bloke called Kenny Rogers! The First Edition version of Just Dropped In appeared in the soundtrack of the 2010 Dwayne Johnson film Faster, as did this song.
I Wanna Be Your Dog / The Stooges
From the soundtrack of the 2010 film Faster, and first recorded in 1969, that was The Stooges, led by Iggy Pop, with I Wanna Be Your Dog. That song also featured in the soundtrack of the movie American Psycho, as did this song.
Who Feeling It / Tom Tom Club
Hello, and welcome back aboard The Music Labyrinth, were we find ourselves in the part occupied by The Tom Tom Club. The song we last heard was by that band from the year 2000, and it was called Who Feeling It. Now, as I’m sure you know, The Tom Tom Club was a side project of Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads. The lyrics of the song we just heard mention a whole bunch of musicians who are considered geniuses, most of whom worked closely with Talking Heads. One of the musicians mentioned in lyrics is Wally Badarou, the French-African multi-instrumentalist who has worked with - well, everyone really. In 1988 he played keyboards on the debut album of a young artist called Melissa Etheridge, which included this track.
Bring Me Some Water / Melissa Etheridge
From her 1988 debut, self-titled album, that was Melissa Etheridge with Bring Me Some Water. The personnel who contributed to the sessions that resulted in that album included Waddy Watchel, who we have indirectly encountered before on The Music Labyrinth for his guitar work with The Rolling Stones on Saint Of Me. Now, because of the availability of The Vault, which I discussed at the top of the show, I can tell you that Saint Of Me was the 3rd song in Episode 40 of The Music Labyrinth. Make sure you have a look at The Vault tomorrow. Its really impressive - www.themusiclabyrinth.com. Anyway, in 1995 Waddy Watchel joined forces with the late John Prine for Prine’s 12th studio album Lost Dogs And Mixed Blessings. That album contains what many, including Bob Dylan, consider to be one of the great songs. This is Lake Marie.
Lake Marie / John Prine
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth where we last heard John Prine’s wonderful song, Lake Marie. I have to admit that, despite being aware of John Prine ever since I first heard You Am I’s song Damage, in which Old John Prine is mentioned, I’ve paid him far too little attention if the quality of that song is anything to go by. I’m really enjoying that one. Of course, it goes without saying, that you were paying close attention to the lyrics of that song, and you picked up the reference to the couple laying in each other’s arms by the lake, one of them humming this song.
Louis Louis / The Kingsmen
From 1963 that was The Kingsmen with their version of Richard Perry’s 1955 song Louis Louis. The Kingsmen version has a fair bit of folk law associated with it. The band recorded it in a single take, all standing around a single microphone. The Kingsmen’s lead singer, Jack Ely, had to stand on tiptoe in an attempt to be heard. He probably needn’t have bothered. His lyrics are so unintelligible that they took on a mystique of their own, which resulted in an FBI investigation when a parent’s group complained that the lyrics contained deliberate profanities. On the strength of rumour alone, the song was banned on many radio stations and prohibited by the Indianna governor. The 31 month investigation by the FBI eventually concluded that the lyrics were unable to be interpreted at any speed or volume. Now, all this talk about unintelligible lyrics - and you know where this is going, don’t you - leads me to one particular Australian band with one particular Australian singer. Here is one of my favourite Australian Crawl songs. This is the live recording of Unpublished Critics.
Unpublished Critics / Australian Crawl
From the 1983 live album Phalanx, that is Australian Crawl with Unpublished Critics. Seven years after Unpublished Critics was first recorded, our next song was written and recorded and became a huge international hit. Then, about 27 years after that, someone posted to an online forum that the songs sounded quite similar in the chord progression and melodic structure. James Reyne of Australian Crawl, when asked to comment on what action his band might take said something along the lines of, “as if we are going to be taking on THEIR lawyers!” Anyway, you make up your own mind.
Sweet Child Of Mine / Guns & Roses
Here we are in The Music Labyrinth, poised for our last bracket of songs for the evening. We last listened to Guns N’ Roses from 1988 with Sweet Child ‘o Mine. In 1991 our next artist was recording an album which would become one of the biggest selling records of all time. A huge hit from that album contained a very catchy guitar riff which was NOT played by Slash from Guns N’ Roses. Slash’s contribution to this next song is that he played the guitar which is featured in this skit which introduces that track.
Black or White / Michael Jackson
From 1991 of course that was Michael Jackson with Black or White, from the mega-selling album Dangerous. We established before we played that song that the guitar in the main part of the track was NOT played by Slash. It was, in fact played by Bill Bottrell, who also produced the album. Two years later, Bottrell was part of a group of musicians who gathered together to contribute to the debut album for an American singer-songwriter. Those musicians nicknamed themselves the Tuesday Night Music Club, which became the name of the album that produced this huge hit which Bill Bottrell co-wrote with Sheryl Crow. This is All I Wanna Do.
All I Wanna Do / Sheryl Crow
That was Sheryl Crow with All I Wanna Do, from her hugely successful 1993 album The Tuesday Night Music Club. And it will be with Sheryl Crow that we remain as we conclude this episode of The Music Labyrinth. Thanks VERY much for your company through this show. Thanks also again to Rob for his magnificent work on The Vault. You should be able to see that soon at www.themusiclabyrinth.com. Remember, we’ll be back in a fortnight for more wandering in The Music Labyrinth. Until then, stay well. I’ll leave you with a compilation from 2014 when a whole bunch of musicians came together to celebrate the career of Smokey Robinson. One of those artists was Sheryl Crow, and from that album, Smokey & Friends, this is Tears Of A Clown.
Tears Of A Clown / Smokey Robinson and Sheryl Crow