Mark Stratton's Blog: AGGASPLETCH, page 2
February 14, 2014
26. Don’t Change
I found a love I had lost
It was gone for too long
Hear no evil in all directions
Execution of bitterness
Message received loud and clear
I fell in love with INXS before many others did. It was the early days on MTV when they actually played music, talked about music and it wasn’t an afterthought.
Thefirst song on the album “Shabooh Shoobah” was ‘The One Thing’ and was the first video I saw. The video itself, like many video’s from the time, was sort of “well, we gotta do something, so let’s do….TH...
February 13, 2014
27. Under the Cold Streetlights
Come now, I’m leaving here tonight
Come now, let’s leave it all behind
Is that the price you pay?
Running through hell, heaven can wait
Is this a song of victory or a lamentation? Based on the lyrics, it’s difficult to tell.
Still, having known a wide variety of people through the course of my life, I have seen that long road to ruin in people’s eyes. It’s typically a loss of hope. It’s a road with many exits, yet many people elect not to take an off ramp as that means change and change is scary.
W...
February 12, 2014
28. Penny Lane
Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes
A four of fish and finger pies
In summer meanwhile back
Quite possibly the most British of their output, the nostalgia evoked in this song is done so well, that it crosses oceans, cultures, times and peoples. The feelings it evokes for that which is past makes this one of the most effective songs of this style.
It’s also just a damned good record and quite possibly my favorite by The Fabs…
Thanks for reading!
February 11, 2014
29. The Passions of Jealousy
Cause all I really want is to be with you
Feeling like I matter too
If I hadn’t blown the whole thing years ago
I might be here with you
Memory is strong. It also lies. Or at the least, misguides you. Then again, sometimes a song comes along that you’ve known all your life that you’re hearing for the very first time. It pulls up scenes from your past, real or imaginary, that strike a series of chords and you create a music video in your head.
I first heard this song in the booth at KFMZ back in 19...
February 10, 2014
30. – Bluebird, Power in Delicacy
If I had a voice like thine -
Melody like summer wine -
From sunshine islands, I would bring
Music to the newborn king.
Music has many abilities, most of which are dependent on the symbiotic relationship of the musicians and the listeners. Occasionally I run across a song that sounds more like a conversation amongst the players that they elected to share with listeners. This makes me feel like I’ve been drawn behind the curtain, into the inner sanctum, if you will. It’s a rare pleasure, to be sur...
February 8, 2014
Guest Post – Five Songs I Love Playing on Bass by Jon
Todays Guest Post is by my old LiveJournal buddy, Jon Chaisson….
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I bought my first bass guitar in early 1987, if I’m not mistaken, a used, beat up Arbor Stiletto that had the tuning pegs at the bottom of the body rather than at the headstock. Rather than take lessons, I taught myself by playing along with a number of songs in my collection, and picked up on a lot of different techniques and styles that have stayed with me ever since. I chose to avoid the slap-bass funk of Flea or the altern...
February 7, 2014
31. Used To Pull On Your Pigtails
Little sister, don’t you
Do what your big sister done
I think we’ve established I like cover songs. This is one of my favorites mainly because it blows the original out of the water. Well, to my ears anyhow.
Taking the best of the Bakersfield Sound (I mean, there’s a whole lot of Buck Owens in Yoakum’s vocal style), rock ‘n roll, punk and the energy of the LA Sunset Strip scene of the 80′s, and you end up with a blistering country record that even die hard rockers should enjoy.
Have a great weeke...
February 6, 2014
32. One little kiss and Felina, good-bye
Something is dreadfully wrong for I feel
A deep burning pain in my side
Though I am trying to
stay in the saddle
I’m getting weary u
nable to ride
Stories and songs go together like peanut butter and jelly, or going up meaning coming down and there are few story songs that are as eloquent, lovely and heartbreaking as El Paso by Marty Robbins.
Released in 1959 (which makes it older than me), it tells the story of a cowboy who lets his feelings for Felina get him in a world of hurt. Needless to say, i...
February 5, 2014
33. Heading Into That Sunset
And that road goes on and on into the sunset.
And my destiny is bound to move me on.
Self referential rock songs about leaving the girl behind because of the call of the road were fairly common. They are almost a sub-genre unto themself. Many bands did it, yet Missouri did one of the better ones to my ears. I think mainly because of the sound of the record.
Missouri hailed from, wait for it, Missouri. Kansas City to be exact. They had a loyal following in the area and through parts of the Midwes...
February 4, 2014
34. It’s Tuesday and the Weekend is On My Mind
Nothin’ matters but the weekend
From a Tuesday point-of-view
Like a kettle in the kitchen
I feel the steam begin to brew
The weekend used to mean different things when I was younger. It meant parties and seeing friends and parties and beer and girls and not having to go to school and work and did I mention parties?
The weekend is still something to look forward to, and hanging out with friends is likewise something to look forward to but the goals are different at this place in my life. I found my...
