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The United States of America…According to Joe Byrd

14 Oct

Try to picture this. You are recording music in 1967. The Beatles just released a little album entitled Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. Moby Grape, Jefferson Airplane and The Doors are setting the psychedelic scene on fire and Jimi Hendrix is pondering whether or not you are experienced (and setting his own guitar on fire). You cut an album to compete in one of the greatest years for music ever…and you don’t use a guitar!

Sure fire failure, right? Wrong. Utterly wrong. What you do get is a psychedelic record way before its time. A record that shattered preconceived notions of rock n’ roll and challenged listeners to understand its pulchritudinous and spatial splendor. And, like many great works of art, it was smothered by the popular music of the time and left to rot on the discount racks. But, it has been received well by recent reviewers and will now be featured as one of the most underrated albums of all time on the Music Court. It is the eponymous United States of America.

 

Straight out of LA, CA, US

 

The USA only released this one album that hit #181 on Billboard’s Top 200 in 1968. Afterwards, the band went their separate ways. Joe Byrd, the main electronic music man, went on to form his field hippies and go on creating psychedelic works. While it may not have looked like it at the time, the USA seriously quit while they were ahead of the psychedelic game.

The album was influential more for the band’s adroitness with the emerging electronic sound that was about to become pervasive in the 60’s music scene, rather than Byrd’s radical lyric that made the band name rather humorous). And, because the technology was obscenely expensive at the time, the band was left with whatever oscillators and other devices they could get their hands on. But, the sound that they produced. Wow.

Also, because Byrd was really into early American music (dixieland jazz and marches for example) he included clips of these pieces in USA’s elaborate compositions. Therefore, the listener is bombarded with a sound attack that combines old-time America mixed with the newer psychedelic sound and vocalist Dorothy Moskowitz’s freaky voice.

Just check out “The American Metaphysical Circus.”

The rap on USA at the time of this album’s release was that they were too mechanical. But, truthfully, they were just moving into a different realm of psychedelia. This was an experiment and it blew the top off of the conventions of an electronic sound.

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Get Back to Where You Once Belonged

11 Oct

I went out with a Beatles‘ song and six long days later I am certainly back to where I once belonged.

I apologize for the long Court hiatus. Court was still in session, but, blog posts were left entrapped in my head while my body moved from place to place to place. Business is in my nature.

But, as the Jets prepare for their Monday Night Football game against the Vikings of Minnesota, I am finally back writing and am quite happy to do so.

How about some Links?

How can we not remain on the subject of those man on the rooftop above. Well, specifically just the man in the picture. Arguably the greatest rock musician since Louis Jordan composed one of the first rock songs with “Choo Choo Ch’Boogie in 1946, John Lennon would have celebrated his 70th birthday two days ago, if he was still alive that is. His murder stopped an incredibly talented 40-year-old right in his tracks and cut off any chance of him to achieve more musically and politically. No post can do the man justice so I thought I would just provide you with something I found interesting in the large amount of news about Mr. Lennon that has been popping up on the internet recently.

Link: http://www.nme.com/news/john-lennon/53338

The FBI is still bothering Lennon even after his death. What? Conspiracy Theory? I am just kidding of course. I am keen to absurdity and the Lennon conspiracy theories are certainly absurd, but, so is the FBI seizing 34-year-old fingerprints. Seriously, even if it is government property, how is it affecting anyone anyhow. I am confused.

I mentioned Louis Jordan and this inspirational song helped bridge the gap between country and blues music. It formed some true rhythm and blues and was truly before its time. Enjoy.

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Out For a Few Days

5 Oct

Hello everyone. I will be out for a few days and will therefore not be able to post. I hope to be back as soon as possible. Keep enjoying the music.

Six Degrees of Your Ipod: Monday Edition

4 Oct

It’s Monday night! For many that means Monday Night Football (which is on mute right now on the television next to me). For others it means an end of the first day of the work week. For me it means Six Degrees of your Ipod. Why is it the Monday edition you ask? Well, coincidentally I turned on my Ipod with the intention of doing this post and “Monday, Monday” by the Mamas and the Papas started playing. So, enjoy another edition of SDYI. A terrible acronym, I know.

1.) “Monday, Monday” by the Mamas and the Papas

This 1966 classic written by John Phillips is the perfect Monday song. Billboard agrees. It is the only Mamas and Papas’ song that reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song features excellent vocal harmony and the underrated voice of Dennis Doherty.

2.) “Brain” by The Action

3.) “The End of the Innocence” by Don Henley

4.) “I Want to Tell You” by The Beatles

5.) “Zak and Sara” by Ben Folds

6.) “Yakety Yak” by the Coasters

Hey. If you don’t take out the trash and do your chores, you ain’t gonna rock n’ roll no more. This line is iconic. Yakety Yak, Don’t talk back. I heard this song way before I got into oldies. It is just one of those songs. Written by the wonderful songwriting duo of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller – who also wrote songs like “Hound Dog” and “Kansas City” – “Yakety Yak” became a hit for The Coasters (who would later go down as one of the best acts of rock n’ roll. Seriously, this band was influential.) Also, come on, who did not see the anthropomorphic yak in “Yakety Yak” the Nickelodeon show.

The Connection:

Okay, how can I make a connection between “Yakety Yak” and “Monday, Monday” besides that they are good examples of title alliteration. Think, think, think. Oh, I got one. Ready. “Yakety Yak” was performed by Sha Na Na during their famous *oh my, why are we at Woodstock* set during the Woodstock music festival. Also at that festival was one Jimi Hendrix, who made an appearance at the Monterey Pop Festival as well two years earlier. Who also performed in Monterey? None other than the Mamas and the Papas who belted out “Monday, Monday” at the conclusion of their set. So, Coasters to Sha Na Na through Jimi and on to Monterey and the Ms and Ps.

Justin Timberlake, Jimmy Fallon and the Roots Entertain

1 Oct

Who knew that Late Night With Jimmy Fallon could be funny? Just kidding! Justin Timberlake, the only modern teen idol who actually has proven that he has talent, was a guest on Fallon’s show last night. After getting into a brief (and planned) conversation about old hip-hop, Fallon and Timberlake erupt into a medley of rap/hip-hop songs (old and new). With the Roots providing the instrumental backing, this hilarious tribute entertained the audience and will most likely become viral and spread throughout the internet like a virus. It’s a funny, light-hearted video that will wake you up this morning. Plus, wow Fallon, way to not trip up on words. Enjoy.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xf0jen_late-night-with-jimmy-fallon-a-hist_news

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