Music Labyrinth Episode 073
New Fang / Them Crooked Vultures (2009)
Hello Listener, and welcome to episode 73 of The Music Labyrinth. Now, I have a confession to make: I am not a fan of the sitcom Big Bang Theory - not that I greatly dislike it; its just that it and I never really hit things off. Anyway, I understand that in some circles this is a somewhat heretical viewpoint, and I am never shy about giving credit where it is due. So, let me observe that 73, according to Sheldon Cooper of the Big Bang Theory program, is the Best Number. Now his reasoning has something to do with 73 having what is called the product property (i.e., something very complicated involving the sequence of primes) and it also has the mirror property (i.e., something very complicated involving its permutable prime). Because of these two properties, 73 is the sole Sheldon prime, an homage to Sheldon Cooper. Right, I’m glad that is sorted, although we now have the additional burden of living up to those lofty expectations. And shortly, we will give that a try. May I just first welcome all listeners, with a particular roll of the red carpet towards new listeners, and remind you of the premise of this show which is - oh, look - you’ll get the idea. Lets get on with it. Now, for reasons that will become obvious to you shortly, the words “sublime” and “ridiculous” are in my head right now. Our first song was the sublime New Fang by Them Crooked Vultures, and you will have heard the reference in New Fang to “sometimes you break a finger on the upper hand”. Well, the term “upper hand” also gets a mention on this glam rock hit song from 1974.
Teenage Rampage / The Sweet (1974)
On The Music Labyrinth that was The Sweet with their 1974 hit Teenage Rampage. In 2019 the American rockabilly musician, performer and songwriter Rosie Flores came up with a zippy little instrumental track for her album A Simple Case Of The Blues, and for reasons I cannot explain to you, she also called the tune Teenage Rampage.
Teenage Rampage / Rosie Flores (2019)
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth where we last listened to the rockabilly blues instrumental Teenage Rampage by Rosie Flores. In 2021, Rosie Flores collaborated with American singer, songwriter, actress and filmmaker Patricia Vonne for this surprise Christmas hit of last year. This is Santa’s On A Rampage.
Santa’s On A Rampage / Patricia Vonne (feat. Rosie Flores) (2021)
As I mentioned earlier, Santa’s On A Rampage was recorded in time for Christmas 2021, and gained quite a bit of international attention courtesy of some exposure on the internet radio program Little Steven’s Underground Garage. The same recording session that led to that song also saw Patricia Vonne writing and recording with the American guitarist David Grissom, who was once a member of the Texan blues rock band Storyville. Here they are from their 1998 album Dog Years. This is Enough.
Enough / Storyville (1998)
From their album Dog Years, that was Storyville with Enough. Now, I really like that song, but we know each other well enough to know that you, The Listener, will probably accuse me of bringing us to the band Storyville just so I can link to one of my favourite albums, Storyville, by Robbie Robertson. And, in turn, I think I know you well enough, Dear Listener, not to insult you by denying it. Here is Robbie Robertson with Soap Box Preacher.
Soap Box Preacher / Robbie Robertson (1991)
From his 1991 album Storyville, that was Robbie Robertson with Soap Box Preacher. Backing vocals on that track were sung by Neil Young. Robbie Robertson and Neil Young had, of course, known each other for many years, both being Canadians at the pointy end of the music business over a prolonged part of the modern era. Back in 1974, Neil Young was recording music which would be released as the album Tonight’s The Night. There were plenty of tracks from those sessions which were not released, and were stored on a shelf until 2020 when they were released as the Neil Young album Homegrown. One of those songs was recorded with Robbie Robertson on guitar. This is it, and its called White Line.
White Line / Neil Young (1974)*
* It appears that Spotify has an incomplete library of Neil Young music, and this track is not available on Spotify. Sorry. It is, however, available on the Apple Music list.
I think its fair to say that the white line in the Neil Young song refers to the highway and is a metaphor for his love of being on the road. There have been suggestions that it is a reference to drugs, but that is a matter of conjecture. Unlike the white lines referred to in this next track by Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel. This is unquestionably a song warning of the dangers of drug use. From 1983, here is White Lines (Don’t Do It).
White Lines (Don’t Do It) / Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel (1983)
If you listened carefully to White Lines (Don’t Do It) you will have heard a sample of this particular version of Twist and Shout. From 1962, this is The Isley Brothers.
Twist And Shout / The Isley Brothers (1962)
That was the Isley Brothers with their 1962 version of Twist and Shout, written by Phil Medley and Bert Berns. Bert Berns also co-wrote this song, which was originally released by The Strangeloves in 1965, but achieved even greater success when covered in 1982 by Bow Wow Wow.
I Want Candy / Bow Wow Wow (1982)
From 1982 that was Bow Wow Wow with I Want Candy. That song, and plenty of others - stay tuned! - features a distinctive beat which is known as the Bo Diddley Beat because it was popularised by the great man with his debut single in 1955. Music educator and author Michael Campbell describes the beat as: a slightly altered version of the clave rhythm ... It shows the relationship between Afro-Cuban music, Americanized Latin rhythms, and rock rhythm. No matter how you describe it, it is a popular arrangement. Here is another modest example from 1975.
New York Groove / Hello (1975)
This is The Music Labyrinth where we have been dabbling with the Bo Diddley Beat, and our last example of it was the 1975 hit New York Groove, performed for us by the English glam rock band Hello. You, however, being the astute Listener that you are, will recognise that song as having been covered by Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley in 1978. Now, never being one to leave a point unstressed, I cant help but take us to just one more example of the use of the Bo Diddley Beat in popular music. You will know this one too.
Faith / George Michael (1987)
That, of course, was George Michael with his 1987 mega-hit, Faith. A year before George Michael’s release, The Violent Femmes recorded a song with the very same title.
Faith / Violent Femmes (1986)
That was The Violent Femmes with Faith, from their 1986 album The Blind Leading The Naked. One of the founding members of The Violent Femmes, Brian Ritchie, now lives in Southern Tasmania - and hello to you Brian if you are listening, which I’m sure you are - I mean, who isn’t?! In 2010, Brian teamed up with Midnight Oil members Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie and Martin Rotsey, and Jack Howard, formerly of Hunters and Collectors, to form the surf rock band, The Break. They released a single album called Church Of The Open Sky, which included this instrumental tune. This is Cylinders.
Cylinders / The Break (2010)
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth where we last blissed out to the sounds of The Break, with Cylinders. As mentioned, one member of The Break was Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst, who has found time between Oils commitments to embark on some interesting musical collaborations. One of those was in 2018 when he joined forces with Sydney musician Lez Karski (more on him shortly) to release an EP called Powerful Owls. From that EP, this is Low Net Worth Individual.
Low New Worth Individual / Powerful Owls (2018)
That was Powerful Owls with Low Net Worth Individual. Powerful Owls is a collaboration between Rob Hirst of Midnight Oil and Lez Karski. Lez Karski has been in and around the music caper for such a long time that he was the producer of Midnight Oil’s second album, Head Injuries. He went on to also produce the follow-up EP, Bird Noises, for the band. In the late 1980s Lez Karski was a member of the Sydney rhythm & blues band, The Hippos, who subsequently morphed into The Bondi Cigars. But, whilst still The Hippos, they released this song which was their biggest commercial success.
Dark Age / The Hippos (1989)
That was The Hippos, from their 1989 album Hippocracy, with Dark Age. We spoke about band member Lez Karski and his production credits with Midnight Oil. Karski also produced two albums for the Sydney ska/rock pub band, v Spy v Spy, including 1986’s A.O. Mod. TV Vers., which included this hit. This is Don’t Tear It Down.
Don’t Tear It Down / v Spy v Spy (1987)
This is The Music Labyrinth where we last listened to the Australian ska/rock band v Spy v Spy with Don’t Tear It Down, a song which laments the loss of cultural heritage in the pursuit of commercial gain. Whilst a million miles stylistically from Don’t Tear It Down, this next song similarly criticises the wanton tearing down of intangibles - particularly in the Dream Factory of the west coast of the USA. This is the gorgeous San Andreas Fault by Natalie Merchant.
San Andreas Fault / Natalie Merchant (1995)
Natalie Merchant is one of those gifted artists who could sing the phone book and sell a million records. Her talent was obvious right from the beginning of her career, as the singer with the indie band 10000 Maniacs. In 2008 Natalie Merchant was one of 14 artists selected to record an EP to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, with all proceeds going to Amnesty International. From that EP, and featuring the vocals of Natalie Merchant, this is The Price of Silence.
The Price of Silence / Various Artists (2008) #
# It appears that Spotify also has an incomplete library when it comes to obscure fundraising EPs on behalf of Amnesty International, and this track is also not available on Spotify. Sorry again. It is, however, available on the Apple Music list.
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth where we last listened to The Price of Silence, from an EP of the same name produced to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. One of the 14 artists you heard on that last song was another favourite of us here at The Music Labyrinth: Angelique Kidjo. So, the temptation to play one of her songs right now was irresistible. And, while I’m in the mood to indulge myself, it features You Know Who.
Salala / Angelique Kidjo (feat. Peter Gabriel) (2006)
I’m sure that you anticipated Peter Gabriel’s involvement in that Angelique Kidjo track even before you heard it. That was Salala, from her album Djin Djin. In fact, as a general rule here on The Music Labyrinth, its probably wise to assume that any given track will have the great man’s fingerprints on it somewhere. This next one does - all over it!
Signal To Noise / Peter Gabriel (2002)
This is The Music Labyrinth and we just immersed ourselves in Peter Gabriel’s Signal To Noise, from his 2002 album Up. Although the album was released after the death of the great Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn, his voice was featured on that track from earlier recordings with Peter Gabriel. Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn also features on this next track. This is Eddie Vedder, from the soundtrack, of the movie Dead Man Walking, with The Long Road.
The Long Road / Eddie Vedder (feat. Nusrat Fetteh Ali Kahn) (1996)
From the soundtrack of the movie Dead Man Walking, that was Eddie Vedder, featuring Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn, with The Long Road. When I was casting an ear towards the music of Eddie Vedder with a view to our next point of interest in our wandering in The Music Labyrinth, my compass needle kept being drawn towards the Pearl Jam classics - and I thought, why the Hell not? Here is my favourite Pearl Jam tune for us all to enjoy together.
Jeremy / Pearl Jam (1992)
On The Music Labyrinth, Pearl Jam’s 1992 hit song Jeremy has brought us to that part of the show where it is time to find a tune to bridge us over to our next episode - and can I say that we’ve done that in such a tidy fashion this time around that it is as neat as a store-wrapped gift with a neat little bow on it! More on that shortly. However, first let me thank you very much for your company during this episode and encourage you to come back again, with a friend or two, in a fortnight when we will do it all again. Now you may recall that the song that opened this episode of The Music Labyrinth tonight was New Fang by Them Crooked Vultures, and it featured the talents of Josh Homme. Well, Josh is back again to end the episode, by virtue of his 2006 collaboration with Eddie Vedder (whom we just heard with Pearl Jam) and The Strokes. This is Eddie, Josh and The Strokes’ cover of the Marvin Gaye classic tune Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology), which was the second single from Marvin Gaye’s classic 1971 album What’s Going On. Thanks for listening!
Mercy Mercy Me / Eddie Vedder, The Strokes, Josh Homme (2006)
Hello Listener, and welcome to episode 73 of The Music Labyrinth. Now, I have a confession to make: I am not a fan of the sitcom Big Bang Theory - not that I greatly dislike it; its just that it and I never really hit things off. Anyway, I understand that in some circles this is a somewhat heretical viewpoint, and I am never shy about giving credit where it is due. So, let me observe that 73, according to Sheldon Cooper of the Big Bang Theory program, is the Best Number. Now his reasoning has something to do with 73 having what is called the product property (i.e., something very complicated involving the sequence of primes) and it also has the mirror property (i.e., something very complicated involving its permutable prime). Because of these two properties, 73 is the sole Sheldon prime, an homage to Sheldon Cooper. Right, I’m glad that is sorted, although we now have the additional burden of living up to those lofty expectations. And shortly, we will give that a try. May I just first welcome all listeners, with a particular roll of the red carpet towards new listeners, and remind you of the premise of this show which is - oh, look - you’ll get the idea. Lets get on with it. Now, for reasons that will become obvious to you shortly, the words “sublime” and “ridiculous” are in my head right now. Our first song was the sublime New Fang by Them Crooked Vultures, and you will have heard the reference in New Fang to “sometimes you break a finger on the upper hand”. Well, the term “upper hand” also gets a mention on this glam rock hit song from 1974.
Teenage Rampage / The Sweet (1974)
On The Music Labyrinth that was The Sweet with their 1974 hit Teenage Rampage. In 2019 the American rockabilly musician, performer and songwriter Rosie Flores came up with a zippy little instrumental track for her album A Simple Case Of The Blues, and for reasons I cannot explain to you, she also called the tune Teenage Rampage.
Teenage Rampage / Rosie Flores (2019)
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth where we last listened to the rockabilly blues instrumental Teenage Rampage by Rosie Flores. In 2021, Rosie Flores collaborated with American singer, songwriter, actress and filmmaker Patricia Vonne for this surprise Christmas hit of last year. This is Santa’s On A Rampage.
Santa’s On A Rampage / Patricia Vonne (feat. Rosie Flores) (2021)
As I mentioned earlier, Santa’s On A Rampage was recorded in time for Christmas 2021, and gained quite a bit of international attention courtesy of some exposure on the internet radio program Little Steven’s Underground Garage. The same recording session that led to that song also saw Patricia Vonne writing and recording with the American guitarist David Grissom, who was once a member of the Texan blues rock band Storyville. Here they are from their 1998 album Dog Years. This is Enough.
Enough / Storyville (1998)
From their album Dog Years, that was Storyville with Enough. Now, I really like that song, but we know each other well enough to know that you, The Listener, will probably accuse me of bringing us to the band Storyville just so I can link to one of my favourite albums, Storyville, by Robbie Robertson. And, in turn, I think I know you well enough, Dear Listener, not to insult you by denying it. Here is Robbie Robertson with Soap Box Preacher.
Soap Box Preacher / Robbie Robertson (1991)
From his 1991 album Storyville, that was Robbie Robertson with Soap Box Preacher. Backing vocals on that track were sung by Neil Young. Robbie Robertson and Neil Young had, of course, known each other for many years, both being Canadians at the pointy end of the music business over a prolonged part of the modern era. Back in 1974, Neil Young was recording music which would be released as the album Tonight’s The Night. There were plenty of tracks from those sessions which were not released, and were stored on a shelf until 2020 when they were released as the Neil Young album Homegrown. One of those songs was recorded with Robbie Robertson on guitar. This is it, and its called White Line.
White Line / Neil Young (1974)*
* It appears that Spotify has an incomplete library of Neil Young music, and this track is not available on Spotify. Sorry. It is, however, available on the Apple Music list.
I think its fair to say that the white line in the Neil Young song refers to the highway and is a metaphor for his love of being on the road. There have been suggestions that it is a reference to drugs, but that is a matter of conjecture. Unlike the white lines referred to in this next track by Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel. This is unquestionably a song warning of the dangers of drug use. From 1983, here is White Lines (Don’t Do It).
White Lines (Don’t Do It) / Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel (1983)
If you listened carefully to White Lines (Don’t Do It) you will have heard a sample of this particular version of Twist and Shout. From 1962, this is The Isley Brothers.
Twist And Shout / The Isley Brothers (1962)
That was the Isley Brothers with their 1962 version of Twist and Shout, written by Phil Medley and Bert Berns. Bert Berns also co-wrote this song, which was originally released by The Strangeloves in 1965, but achieved even greater success when covered in 1982 by Bow Wow Wow.
I Want Candy / Bow Wow Wow (1982)
From 1982 that was Bow Wow Wow with I Want Candy. That song, and plenty of others - stay tuned! - features a distinctive beat which is known as the Bo Diddley Beat because it was popularised by the great man with his debut single in 1955. Music educator and author Michael Campbell describes the beat as: a slightly altered version of the clave rhythm ... It shows the relationship between Afro-Cuban music, Americanized Latin rhythms, and rock rhythm. No matter how you describe it, it is a popular arrangement. Here is another modest example from 1975.
New York Groove / Hello (1975)
This is The Music Labyrinth where we have been dabbling with the Bo Diddley Beat, and our last example of it was the 1975 hit New York Groove, performed for us by the English glam rock band Hello. You, however, being the astute Listener that you are, will recognise that song as having been covered by Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley in 1978. Now, never being one to leave a point unstressed, I cant help but take us to just one more example of the use of the Bo Diddley Beat in popular music. You will know this one too.
Faith / George Michael (1987)
That, of course, was George Michael with his 1987 mega-hit, Faith. A year before George Michael’s release, The Violent Femmes recorded a song with the very same title.
Faith / Violent Femmes (1986)
That was The Violent Femmes with Faith, from their 1986 album The Blind Leading The Naked. One of the founding members of The Violent Femmes, Brian Ritchie, now lives in Southern Tasmania - and hello to you Brian if you are listening, which I’m sure you are - I mean, who isn’t?! In 2010, Brian teamed up with Midnight Oil members Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie and Martin Rotsey, and Jack Howard, formerly of Hunters and Collectors, to form the surf rock band, The Break. They released a single album called Church Of The Open Sky, which included this instrumental tune. This is Cylinders.
Cylinders / The Break (2010)
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth where we last blissed out to the sounds of The Break, with Cylinders. As mentioned, one member of The Break was Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst, who has found time between Oils commitments to embark on some interesting musical collaborations. One of those was in 2018 when he joined forces with Sydney musician Lez Karski (more on him shortly) to release an EP called Powerful Owls. From that EP, this is Low Net Worth Individual.
Low New Worth Individual / Powerful Owls (2018)
That was Powerful Owls with Low Net Worth Individual. Powerful Owls is a collaboration between Rob Hirst of Midnight Oil and Lez Karski. Lez Karski has been in and around the music caper for such a long time that he was the producer of Midnight Oil’s second album, Head Injuries. He went on to also produce the follow-up EP, Bird Noises, for the band. In the late 1980s Lez Karski was a member of the Sydney rhythm & blues band, The Hippos, who subsequently morphed into The Bondi Cigars. But, whilst still The Hippos, they released this song which was their biggest commercial success.
Dark Age / The Hippos (1989)
That was The Hippos, from their 1989 album Hippocracy, with Dark Age. We spoke about band member Lez Karski and his production credits with Midnight Oil. Karski also produced two albums for the Sydney ska/rock pub band, v Spy v Spy, including 1986’s A.O. Mod. TV Vers., which included this hit. This is Don’t Tear It Down.
Don’t Tear It Down / v Spy v Spy (1987)
This is The Music Labyrinth where we last listened to the Australian ska/rock band v Spy v Spy with Don’t Tear It Down, a song which laments the loss of cultural heritage in the pursuit of commercial gain. Whilst a million miles stylistically from Don’t Tear It Down, this next song similarly criticises the wanton tearing down of intangibles - particularly in the Dream Factory of the west coast of the USA. This is the gorgeous San Andreas Fault by Natalie Merchant.
San Andreas Fault / Natalie Merchant (1995)
Natalie Merchant is one of those gifted artists who could sing the phone book and sell a million records. Her talent was obvious right from the beginning of her career, as the singer with the indie band 10000 Maniacs. In 2008 Natalie Merchant was one of 14 artists selected to record an EP to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, with all proceeds going to Amnesty International. From that EP, and featuring the vocals of Natalie Merchant, this is The Price of Silence.
The Price of Silence / Various Artists (2008) #
# It appears that Spotify also has an incomplete library when it comes to obscure fundraising EPs on behalf of Amnesty International, and this track is also not available on Spotify. Sorry again. It is, however, available on the Apple Music list.
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth where we last listened to The Price of Silence, from an EP of the same name produced to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. One of the 14 artists you heard on that last song was another favourite of us here at The Music Labyrinth: Angelique Kidjo. So, the temptation to play one of her songs right now was irresistible. And, while I’m in the mood to indulge myself, it features You Know Who.
Salala / Angelique Kidjo (feat. Peter Gabriel) (2006)
I’m sure that you anticipated Peter Gabriel’s involvement in that Angelique Kidjo track even before you heard it. That was Salala, from her album Djin Djin. In fact, as a general rule here on The Music Labyrinth, its probably wise to assume that any given track will have the great man’s fingerprints on it somewhere. This next one does - all over it!
Signal To Noise / Peter Gabriel (2002)
This is The Music Labyrinth and we just immersed ourselves in Peter Gabriel’s Signal To Noise, from his 2002 album Up. Although the album was released after the death of the great Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn, his voice was featured on that track from earlier recordings with Peter Gabriel. Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn also features on this next track. This is Eddie Vedder, from the soundtrack, of the movie Dead Man Walking, with The Long Road.
The Long Road / Eddie Vedder (feat. Nusrat Fetteh Ali Kahn) (1996)
From the soundtrack of the movie Dead Man Walking, that was Eddie Vedder, featuring Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn, with The Long Road. When I was casting an ear towards the music of Eddie Vedder with a view to our next point of interest in our wandering in The Music Labyrinth, my compass needle kept being drawn towards the Pearl Jam classics - and I thought, why the Hell not? Here is my favourite Pearl Jam tune for us all to enjoy together.
Jeremy / Pearl Jam (1992)
On The Music Labyrinth, Pearl Jam’s 1992 hit song Jeremy has brought us to that part of the show where it is time to find a tune to bridge us over to our next episode - and can I say that we’ve done that in such a tidy fashion this time around that it is as neat as a store-wrapped gift with a neat little bow on it! More on that shortly. However, first let me thank you very much for your company during this episode and encourage you to come back again, with a friend or two, in a fortnight when we will do it all again. Now you may recall that the song that opened this episode of The Music Labyrinth tonight was New Fang by Them Crooked Vultures, and it featured the talents of Josh Homme. Well, Josh is back again to end the episode, by virtue of his 2006 collaboration with Eddie Vedder (whom we just heard with Pearl Jam) and The Strokes. This is Eddie, Josh and The Strokes’ cover of the Marvin Gaye classic tune Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology), which was the second single from Marvin Gaye’s classic 1971 album What’s Going On. Thanks for listening!
Mercy Mercy Me / Eddie Vedder, The Strokes, Josh Homme (2006)