Mark Stratton's Blog: AGGASPLETCH, page 3

35. “She Didn’t Have to Say a Thing, I Knew What She Was Thinking’

Somewhere along a high road

The air began to turn cold

She said she missed her home

I headed on alone

When I was a kid, Calgon had an ad slogan “Calgon, take me away…” and as it was usually a harried housewife, I found it mildly amusing but odd because she ended up in the bathtub. Why would that be a destination to ‘get away’, my young mind wondered.

Years later, I realized that while the Calgon folks were trying to peddle their bath product, the idea of “getting away” wasn’t just an ad-mans gimmi...

36. Over My Head it’s Loud and Clear

Grandma used to sing

Grandma used to sing

Everynight while she was prayin’

Over my head

Over my head

I hear music, oh Lord

Meta songs used to be far more common than they are today. While this isn’t exactly a song that refers to itself or songwriting, it is about music and the singers perception of it.

I like the idea of music being over my head, being everywhere, hearing music everywhere I go and the celebration of same. This particular song by King’s X has a celebratory, gleeful sound to it. In it...

I’m Not Asking to Be Loved or Forgiven

Well I’m not wiped out by this poolroom life I’m living

I’m gonna quit this job, go to school, or head back home

And I’m not askin’ to be loved or be forgiven

I just can’t face shakin’ in this bedroom

One more night alone

He’s had bigger hits, but none of his other well known songs starts out with such an opening. It starts out like an announcement, then makes you lean in closer as it quiets, then kicks you in the head when all hell breaks loose. The kitchen sink was thrown into the musical br...

Anger At The Saved

The world is sleeping in the dark

That the church just can’t fight

’cause it’s asleep in the light

IF you know me well at all, you’ll know I have little use for the so-called Religious Right (which are neither). They wrap themselves up in God and Country, completely misrepresenting both in the process. They take the redemptive message of The Savior, and all He called us to do, and act high and mighty as though they were without sin. In short, they remind me of the Pharisees during the time of Je...

Crunchy Midwest Protest Music

Mortgage people you crawl to your homes

Your security lies in your bed of white foam

You act concerned but then why turn away

When a lady was raped on your doorstep today

I sort of imagine Gary Richrath sitting around in 1971 or so and seeing the world going to hell in a hand basket. All sorts of social ills and this is during the time when musicians thought music could make a difference, when they thought it mattered, when it was a way of talking to your peers and getting a point across. So, I c...

iPod Challenge Template

Mortgage people you crawl to your homes

Your security lies in your bed of white foam

You act concerned but then why turn away

When a lady was raped on your doorstep today

I sort of imagine Gary Richrath sitting around in 1971 or so and seeing the world going to hell in a hand basket. All sorts of social ills and this is during the time when musicians thought music could make a difference, when they thought it mattered, when it was a way of talking to your peers and getting a point across. So, I c...

Dive Right In, Swim In The Words & Power

And it’s whispered that soon, if we all call the tune,

Then the piper will lead us to reason.

And a new day will dawn for those who stand long,

And the forests will echo with laughter.

This may seem like an obvious choice for people of a certain age, but the rationale is anything but in my case.

I came to Zeppelin a few years after many of my peers due to the lack of an FM radio. I started listening to music during the waning days of AM Top 40 radio. When it was possible to hear Foghat, Franki Val...

Five Great Songs from Five Great Concerts – Guest Post by Eric

Another Saturday brings another Guest Post. This entry is done up by my friend in Real Life, Eric Parsons. I’ve known him for many years and can say that my life is a better place for knowing him. That, and he laughs at most of my jokes.

====

5. “California Stars” – Wilco

Click here to view the embedded video.

Uncle Tupelo is one of my favorite bands. Unfortunately, they broke up before I got to see them in concert. However, out of their wreckage came two bands that are pretty damn solid in their...

A Midnight Special Memory

Consider your fate,think about your age

There’s no time to wait for your luck to change

Memories can be a funny thing. I remember watching The Midnight Special but I have a hard time recalling who all I saw on that show. Sounds weird, but it’s true. It probably had a lot to do with the fact we typically saw the band once, or twice if we caught a rerun. It wasn’t played over and over like the videos on MTV just a few years later.

I do recall seeing 707 on Midnight Special with Wolfman Jack and n...

Single, No Album

They tell me it’s a thrill, but it’s the beat that always

kills you in the end and your heart will lie in pieces

I can point out several reasons why this song shouldn’t work, yet for me it does. On many levels, in fact. The annoying electric whip cracks, electric pops and whistles should sink this song in it’s own excess. The strange electric acceleration noises would probably sound better being done with an electric guitar but then again maybe it wouldn’t.

Sometimes the excesses or bad ideas a...