Today is John Carpenter’s birthday, which is a bit of an unofficial holiday around these parts! So, I figured what better way to celebrate than by starting off the day with a video that pays homage to the master and which contains references to many of Carpenter’s classic films, including Christine and Halloween?
There is no better way! I mean, it’s about everyone’s favorite director and …. this is key …. you can dance to it!
Anyway, enjoy!
Hey, it’s the song where they keep yelling, “TIME!” over and over again.
That’s how I best know this song. It’s one that I’ve heard in a few movies and in a few commercials and I always assumed that it was just like three minutes and that “TIME!” was the chorus. Then, last year, I decided to track it down on YouTube and I discovered that it’s actually a 15 minute song and it takes them a while to get to the “TIME!” part.
The 60s were apparently a good time for extended jams about the nature of the universe but I can imagine legions of hippies yelling, “GET TO THE TIME PART!” whenever this song was performed. I also have to admit that, listen to this song, I found myself thinking about my friend Suzi who was determined to put on a production of Hair in Denton. Everyone she hit up for money asked her if her version was involve much nudity, as Denton was seen as being a fairly conservative town and there was also some question about whether or not community actors would be willing to get naked for free.
“It’s not about the nudity, man!” she would reply, “It’s not about the nudity.” I have to admit that, for a few years afterwards, I would randomly bust out that line for no particular reason. Any conversation can be made suddenly awkward by suddenly shouting either “It’s not about the nudity, man!” or “TIME!”
That all being said, it’s a good song so here’s an early music video that was shot for German television.
Enjoy!
I can relate to the title of this song, as I think almost everyone can. The love of the title doesn’t just have to refer to romantic love. It can also just mean being loved as in being appreciated or admired or praised or …. well, really whatever you mean for it to mean. There’s all sorts of love out there. Everyone wants to be loved and sometimes, that mean exhausting yourself trying to see every movie released in one year in just two weeks. Not that I’m speaking from personal experience, of course…. heh heh….
Watching this video, I found myself a bit upset with myself for having never learned how to play the violin. It’s a neat little instrument and there’s no way you can’t look transcendent while playing it. Oh well. We’ll chalk that up as missed opportunity, I guess. To be honest, I have a feeling I’d end up putting out someone’s eye with that big bow that they use so I guess it’s for the best that I never learned.
Good song, though. You can dance to it. You can laugh to it. You can cry to it. This song came out in 1979 and, as we all know, the 70s were the best!
Enjoy!
I want your love
I want your love
I want your love
I want your love
Do you feel like you ever want
To try my love and see how well it fits?
Baby, can’t you see when you look at me
I can’t kick this feelin’ when it hits
All alone in my bed at night
I grab my pillow and squeeze it tight
I think of you and I dream of you all of the time
What am I gonna do?
I want your love
I want your love
I want your love
I want your love
I want your love
I want your love
I want your love
I want your love
Sometime, don’t you feel like you
Never really had a love that’s real?
Well, here I am and who’s to say
A better love you won’t find today
Just one chance and I will show you love
Like no other, two steps above
On your ladder I’ll be a peg
I want your lovin’, please don’t make me beg
I want your love
I want your love
I want your love
I want your love
I want your love
I want your love
I want your love
I want your love
I want your love
I need your love
I’ll share my dreams and make you see
I’m really there, your love I need
I want your love
I need your love
Just like the birds need sky above
I’ll share my dreams and make you see
I’m really there, your love I need
I want your love
I want your love
I want your love
I want your love
I want your love
I want your love
I want your love
I want your love
Yes, everyone, I am still in a 70s-type of mood. I imagine this will be the case for the rest of January. Once February comes around, I’ll probably be in a Canadian mood so get ready for a lot of songs off of the Degrassi soundtrack.
Anyway, this video is for Jive Talkin’, which was I guess one of the Bee Gees’s earliest disco songs. (Apparently, they were originally a non-disco band, which I just can’t imagine what that was like. Yes, I know that it would be very easy for me to listen to their non-disco music. That’s not the point. The 70s are all about disco and dancing. The 70s didn’t need any folk rock.) Jive Talkin’ is one of those songs that feels like it should have been written for the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack but it actually came out two years before that film appeared in theaters. That said, it does appear in Saturday Night Fever. Unfortunately, the song did not appear in Stayin’ Alive. That’s a shame since that film was all about jive and I think Frank Stallone could have done wonders with it.
Enjoy!
You know the lyrics.
You know the bassline.
You know the “waa waa” effect.
Even if you don’t know all the lyrics or you don’t know the name of the song or even the band, you do know that, in the 70s, someone was a picker, grinner, a smoker, and a midnight toker. Someone got their loving on the run.
I once took a creative writing class with an older student who claimed that he once met the Steve Miller Band in a bar. He said they were a cool group of guys, even in their older years. I’m not sure if he was telling the truth (it was creative writing, after all) but it was still a good story.
Why was this song not used in The Dark Knight, I ask you. We all know that Heath Ledger could sing. Imagine him singing this while holding up a mirror to the face of Aaron Eckhart. Or, if Heath didn’t want to sing it, Eric Roberts was in that film as well. Who wouldn’t want to watch Eric Roberts cover this song? Missed opportunities.
Enjoy!
Some people call me the space cowboy, yeah
Some call me the gangster of love
Some people call me Maurice
‘Cause I speak of the pompatus of love a
People talk about me baby
Say I’m doin’ you wrong, doin’ you wrong
Well, don’t you worry, baby, don’t worry
‘Cause I’m right here, right here, right here, right here at home
‘Cause I’m a picker
I’m a grinner
I’m a lover
And I’m a sinner
I play my music in the sun
I’m a joker
I’m a smoker
I’m a midnight toker
I sure don’t want to hurt no one
I’m a picker
I’m a grinner
I’m a lover
And I’m a sinner
I play my music in the sun
I’m a joker
I’m a smoker
I’m a midnight toker
I get my lovin’ on the run
Ooh, whoo, ooh, whoo
You’re the cutest thing that I ever did see
I really love your peaches
Wanna shake your tree
Lovey dovey, lovey dovey, lovey dovey all the time
Ooh wee baby, I’ll sure show you a good time
‘Cause I’m a picker
I’m a grinner
I’m a lover
And I’m a sinner
I play my music in the sun
I’m a joker
I’m a smoker
I’m a midnight toker
I get my lovin’ on the run
I’m a picker
I’m a grinner
I’m a lover
And I’m a sinner
I play my music in the sun
I’m a joker
I’m a smoker
I’m a midnight toker
I sure don’t want to hurt no one
Ooh, whoo, ooh, whoo
People keep talkin’ about me baby
Say I’m doin’ you wrong
Well don’t you worry, don’t worry, no don’t worry mama
‘Cause I’m right here at home
You’re the cutest thing I ever did see
I really love your peaches
Wanna shake your tree
Lovey dovey, lovey dovey, lovey dovey all the time
Come on baby now, I’ll show you a good time
Paper Lace was a British band. None of them were from Chicago. None of the had ever been to Chicago. Certainly none of them had a father who was a cop in Chicago or a mother who cried and prayed the night that Chicago died.
In fact …. CHICAGO DIDN”T EVEN DIE!
Well, it came close once. There was that whole fire that was caused Mrs. O’Leary’s cow. I’ll be honest, though. I think the cow was innocent. I think Mrs. O’Leary just forgot to turn off the stove and she was too embarrassed to admit it. So, the cow got blamed.
But that’s not what this song is about. The song is about a huge gunfight between the police and the members of Al Capone’s gang. However, the Chicago police never got into a gunfight with the Chicago Outfit, largely because Capone owned the cops.
I would also point out that, according to a friend of mine from the area, Chicago doesn’t even have an east side!
So, maybe the song isn’t historically accurate. Listen, I’m from Dallas. I know what it’s like when people assume that they know everything that they need to know about your city. I know how annoying it is. I can’t tell you how many movies I’ve seen that supposedly take place in North Texas but which have big mountains in the background or people exploring caves. There are no mountains in North Texas! There is no east side in Chicago.
But, on the plus side, The Night Chicago Died has a killer bass line and you can sing along with it. That’s always a good thing. Plus, the drummer looks like he might have been a magician in his spare time.
Enjoy!
My daddy was a cop on the east side of Chicago
Back in the U.S.A. back in the bad old days
In the heat of a summer night
In the land of the dollar bill
When the town of Chicago died
And they talk about it still
When a man named Al Capone
Tried to make that town his own
And he called his gang to war
With the forces of the law
I heard my mama cry
I heard her pray the night Chicago died
Brother what a night it really was
Brother what a fight it really was
Glory be!
I heard my mama cry
I heard her pray the night Chicago died
Brother what a night the people saw
Brother what a fight the people saw
Yes indeed!
And the sound of the battle rang
Through the streets of the old east side
‘Til the last of the hoodlum gang
Had surrendered up or died
There was shouting in the street
And the sound of running feet
And I asked someone who said
“‘Bout a hundred cops are dead!”
I heard my mama cry
I heard her pray the night Chicago died
Brother what a night it really was
Brother what a fight it really was
Glory be!
I heard my mama cry
I heard her pray the night Chicago died
Brother what a night the people saw
Brother what a fight the people saw
Yes indeed!
And ther was no sound at all
But the clock upon the wall
Then the door burst open wide
And my daddy stepped inside
And he kissed my mama’s face
And he brushed her tears away
The night Chicago died
Na-na na, na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na
The night Chicago died
Brother what a night the people saw
Brother what a fight the people saw
Yes indeed!
The night Chicago died
Na-na na, na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na
The night Chicago died
Brother what a night it really was
Brother what a fight it really was
Glory be!
The night Chicago died
Na-na na, na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na
The night Chicago died
Brother what a night the people saw
Brother what a fight the people saw
Yes indeed!
For the past few days, I have been driving everyone around the TSL Compound crazy by continually playing and re-playing the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. Though no one will admit it, I’m sure that they’ve all got the lyrics of I Can’t Have You memorized by now. We could probably start a Bee Gees cover band if we wanted to. And really, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t! Leonard can play bass, I’ll sing, Jeff can drum, Erin can play the sitar, it’ll be great!
Well, today, I thought maybe that we would take a break with another Bee Gees song that was covered by Yvonne Elliman, Love Me. While the Bee Gees version of the song didn’t get much attention, Yvonne Elliman’s cover was a huge hit and it probably played a role in the Bee Gees later writing How Deep Is Your Love for her. Of course, the Bee Gees later ended up performing How Deep Is Your Love for Saturday Night Fever while Yvonne recorded If I Can’t Have You. It can be difficult to keep track but the important thing is that everyone got recorded eventually.
Enjoy!
Love me; just a little bit longer
Love me
I remember times my love when we really had it all
You were always there to make me smile, help me when I fall
Ooh, I can’t believe you’re leaving me
When there’s so much more to say – I can’t let you go
Ooh, every time I look at you I still can feel the glow
Let it be, let it grow
Love me please, just a little bit longer
Together we can make it
Our love is much too young to break it
Love me please, just a little bit harder
Together we can make it
Our love is much too young to break it
Ooh, all I ever wanted was to have you to myself
Then I see you standing there in the arms of someone else
Ooh, you know a girl can stand so much
And it’s more then I can bear – I can’t let you go
Ooh, every time I look at you I still can feel the glow
Let it be, let it grow
Love me please, just a little bit longer
Together we can make it
Our love is much too young to break it
Love me please, just a little bit harder
Never even try to see things my way
It’s hard on a woman when love ain’t no love at all
And when you walk away – you probably will
You’re gonna be sorry, I’m begging you; please
Love me please, just a little bit longer
Together we can make it
Our love is much too young to break it
Love me please, just a little bit harder
Together we can make it
Our love is much too young to break it
Love me please, just a little bit longer
Together we can make it
Our love is much too young to break it
I’m sure you’ll remember this song from the soundtrack of any film that’s set during the 70s. I’ll always associate with John C. Reilly showing Don Cheadle a card trick in Boogie Nights. I guess that’s appropriate since it’s Boogie Shoes and Boogie Nights. “Don’t you worry about the evil spirits?” Cheadle asks Reilly shortly before Reilly runs off to help Dirk Diggler launch his musical career.
Apparently, this band was started in a record store. The man who would eventually be known as KC worked at the store and I guess the band was made up with either his customers or his co-workers. Either way, they came together to form The Sunshine Band and they spread happiness and cheer all throughout the cocaine-heavy 70s. They’re still doing it, playing the nostalgia circuit. Good for them. Disco is forever.
(That said, the best band to form in a record store remains the Empire Records band. SUGAR HIGH!)
This is another one of those videos that was originally a performance for a television show. In this case, the show was American Bandstand.
Dance and enjoy!
Based on Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, Walter Murphy’s A Fifth of Beethoven …. oh, wait a minute. I just got that. Fifth Symphony …. A Fifth of Beethoven. That’s clever. How would Beethoven have felt about a disco version of his symphony? I imagine Beethoven would probably sue for royalties. The music business is cutthroat.
Anyway, this song is best known for appearing on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. When Tony Manero and his friends step into the club, this is the song that’s playing in the background and it fits in perfectly with Tony’s view of himself as being a God among men.
The song was composed by Walter Murphy, who had previously been a jazz musician. He played all of the instruments himself on the original recording but the song was still credited to Walter Murphy and The Big Apple Band because it was apparently felt that it was better to be known as a member of a band than a solo artist.
This video is from 1976. Is that the Big Apple Band that Murphy’s performing with? I don’t know. It’s a good song, though. For the longest time, I thought it was also the theme music for Judge Judy but then I did some research at the University of Google and I discovered that Judge Judy’s theme song was actually the Fifth Symphony. I also discovered that Judge Judy was still alive so it was a productive session.
Enjoy!
Burn, baby, burn!
I kid you not when I say that this song was supposedly written after a viewing of the 1974 Best Picture nominee, The Towering Inferno. Now, of course, the song is also about the heat that rises from the dance floor while everyone’s out there moving and apparently, there are some who think that the song was meant to be a reference to the counter-culture’s cry of “burn, baby burn!” Myself, though, I will always assume that this song is all about Paul Newman, Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Steve McQueen, OJ Simpson, and a cast of thousands trying to survive that towering inferno.
“You keep building them,” McQueen said to Newman, “and I’ll keep putting them out.”
Disco Inferno became a hit when it was included on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. More recently, it’s become a hit-of-a-different-sort because of the Bernie Sanders presidential campaigns. It turns out that “Burn, Baby, Burn” can also be heard as “Bern, Baby, Bern.” I mean, no wonder he won Iowa.
(Did Bernie win Iowa? I can’t recall. Hey, remember when I said that I was going to vote for Marianne Williamson and everyone thought that I was being serious? What was that all about?)
Anyway, The Trammps is one of those bands that actually had a few hits in their heyday but will probably always be associated with just this one song. The Trammps are still performing, though they’ve split into two different groups, each one using the Trammps name. The fires of the disco inferno will never be extinguished.
Enjoy!
Through the Shattered Lens 