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Pop Rock Nation

Author: David Middleton

  • FORTY-FIVE REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE #34: I Died In Burst Of Lemon Piper

    The Seeds' "Pushin' Too Hard"

    THE SEEDS  “Pushin’ Too Hard”  b/w  THE STANDELLS  “Dirty Water”  (Collectibles Records #3028, early-’80’s reissue)

    Though yet another questionably licenced oldies-bin cheapie, this two-fer practically reads like page one of Garage Rock 101:  Lesson One.  Woe to Ye Puny Mortal Punkf who’ve ne’er Deigned Immerfe Thyfelvef unto Yon Hard-Drivin’, Pot-Fmokin’ Clafficf.  I Pity the Soolf.

    Originally released on Crescendo in late ’66, A-side “Pushin’ Too Hard,” a “gassy” barnstormer by L.A.-based rockers The Seeds (led by the still-sometimes-active-yet-very-reclusive Richard “Sky Saxon” Marsh), crept to #36 by early ’67.  And at a time when the charts were dominated by acts like The Association and The Supremes, mind you.  But teens had sent proto-punk classics like “Wild Thing” and “96 Tears” to the top of the pops in months previous, so the doors (and The Doors) were wide open, and the ’60’s were in full-swing.

    Watch The Seeds lip-sync \”Pushin\’ Too Hard\” on Casey Kasem\’s SHEBANG! (1967)

    While you’re YouTubin’ it, stop by here for a low-res kinescope of Saxon & Co.’s ’66 appearance on the Kaye Ballard/Eve Arden vehicle, The Mothers-In-Law.  A true brain-burner if there ever was one.  Our next guests were once prominently featured on The Munsters, but we’ll save that for another time.

    The Standells' "Dirty Water"

    Now, try not to let the Massachucentric subject matter fool you;  this band did not hail from Beantown.  Side B backtracks to the Summer of ’66 with “Dirty Water” by Sunset Strip mainstays The Standells.  Originally pressed on the Tower Records label (a Capitol subsidiary, no relation to the failed retail chain), “Water” spent 9 weeks on Billboard, peaking at #11.

     (The little video linker suddenly crashed, but you can see The Standells roll their eyes, pick their noses, and lazily mime “Dirty Water” on TV circa 1966 by going here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBD8SObQYD0)

    When I was a kid, I (along with many others, I’m sure) mistook this for a Stones track.  Years later, my junior-high pals & I were rocking again to “Dirty Water” as redone by British new-wavers (read:  neo-garage-rockers) The Inmates.  Since then, it’s become the flagship theme song for MA’s legendary Tewksbury Comets Action Paintball Team.  Great rock never dies.  (And don’t even pretend to be a rock guitarist if you don’t know that killer opening riff, pal.)

    As for the song’s subject matter, I’ll let Money Mike fill you in on how much he loves that dirty water.

    NEXT WEEK:  I get a bullet in the head.

  • FORTY-FIVE REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE #33: Self-Dressed Man

    Social Distortion's "Cold Feelings" 45

    SOCIAL DISTORTION  “Cold Feelings”  b/w  “Bad Luck (Live Acoustic)”  (Epic Records #ES7- 4568, white-label promo, 1992)

    Since there’s a million people out there who know more about Social D than I do, I’ll keep this brief.  My first exposure to L.A. punk stalwart Mike Ness and his brilliant Johnny-Cash-meets-The-Clash alchemy was ’81’s “1945” from the 2nd installment of Posh Boy’s Rodney On The ROQ series, which my high school accomplice Beaker and I spun endlessly in his bedroom while trashing all the furniture.  Black Flag’s “Rise Above” was on that same record.  God, what days.

    Social Distortion promo 45

    Fast forward a decade later, and that whole L.A. punk scene seemed decimated, with the exception of the more hard-melodic-power-pop punks like Bad Religion and Green Day (who had yet to really pick up the torch and run with it, along with Rancid, who had not yet fully blossomed out from the ska-rooted Op Ivy).  It was at this time that Ness and his Social D cohorts hit the height of their powers with the hooky, muscular (and very successful in an MTV-sorta way that doesn’t happen anymore) Somewhere Between Heaven And Hell LP.  This still-unplayed tour promo 45 from ’92 showcases the album’s lead-off track, “Cold Feelings,” which I still think is Ness at his best.

    Play \”Cold Feelings\” by Social Distortion

    Side B features a live acoustic take on Somewhere…‘s classic 2nd track, “Bad Luck.”  It’s a great rendition, but let’s keep things fresh, shall we?  Check out this recent, hard-chugging electric live take with The Boss & his E-Streeters at the LASA.  It totally kills.

    Play \”Bad Luck\” live in L.A. with Mike & Bruce

    Well, both “1945” and 1981 are long behind us, yet there’s still no stoppin’ the D.  Keep up with all the hottest poop at socialdistortion.com.

    NEXT WEEK:  Two…Two…Two Garage-Rock Classics In One!

  • FORTY-FIVE REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE #32: If You Like Penis Colossal

    Cheech & Chong's "Earache My Eye"

    CHEECH & CHONG  “Earache My Eye” (featuring Alice Bowie) b/w  “Turn That Thing Down” (A&M/Ode Records #66102, August 1974)

    Oh, how my mom hated this one.  All I remember is my older brother was driving me somewhere, and this 5-minutes-&-change comedy sketch popped up on the radio.  We both howled with laughter until our sides ached, and I insisted we stop off at King’s department store (the most cavernous, dimly-lit treasure chest on Earth) and buy the record.  Being the ultimate enabler, my brother agreed.  My copy even still has the “Dept. 1-463” sticker on the back.

    Since then, this track has become both a comedy and rock classic, the S&M-joke-riddled father/son sketch at the back referenced by hundreds of writers, and the untitled Gaye Delorme-penned glam satire at the front nicked by everyone from 2 Live Crew to Soundgarden.  And let’s face it, nothing’s funnier than Cheech Marin, America’s super-stoned answer to Cantinflas, wearing a tutu and pasties.

    See Cheech & Chong\’s \”Earache My Eye\” Live from 1978

    This disc’s non-LP flip, “Turn That Thing Down” is merely a cacophonous continuation of side A’s ending, effectively extending the whole sketch to 10 minutes total, for the true masochist in you.  A lease-breaker if there ever was one.

    Whaddaya tryin' to do? Tickle me?

    Personally, I would’ve preferred to hear one of Cheech & Chong’s Wedding Album‘s other great sketches, like “Black Lassie” or that “3 Little Pigs” bit, but I’m not one to begrudge C&C their dadaism.  After all, “Earache My Eye” spent 8 weeks in the Top 40, peaking at #9.  Not bad for a hilarious clusterfuck of satirical slacker stoner raunch.

    Cheech & Chong to this day continue to…oh, I don’t need to go into it.

    NEXT WEEK: I try to separate my body from my mind.