What are you listening to and what do you have to say about it?

[Sancho Panza]

This song is, for me, one of the greatest songs of the 60s. I never tire of it. Both vocals and songwriting is as damn near perfection anybody ever will get.

Absolutely right! I think that Ron Elliot is underrated:

 

[axel]

While this is indeed a really great album, the claim that they deliberately tried to do is speculative to say the least. Unless there is a source that confirms this? I wouldn't call 'Don't Talk To Strangers' anti-commercial, a straight rip-off of the quasi-hit 'Bell of Rhymney'. But agreed, as a pop album it is quite introspective and even melancholic for its time. But so was Beatles For Sale?

Well, I thought it was clear that this was an exaggerated way to put it.
But if you take a close look at the songwriting, you will find that in most of the songs the chorus either ends almost abrupt, at a moment when you would think now comes the point from which on to sing-along. Or they don't even have something that can be called a proper chorus. This is very unusual. And it surely is a deliberate decision by the author.
While some of the choruses of the first album sound a bit flat (to me), it seems that Elliott then thought I don't need to do this. The songs are just as good or better without this kind of intrusive grabbing for attention.
It seems that Elliott at that point was quite self-condident, not using any potential hit compositions by well known authors, as even the Byrds did on their first two albums. Maybe a bit too self-confident as the third album shows (is it recommendable by the way?).

I listened to "Beatles For Sale" again recently, and it was a big disappointment. It has a great and cool start with "No Reply", "I'm a Loser" and "Baby's In Black", then it evolves into a quite patchy affair. It could have been a great album with a lot of cover versions, if they'd only gone back to their drive and power of the Star Club days. But maybe George Martin didn't encourage them to do so, and Norman Smith didn't really know how to record rock'n'roll. Even "Rock and Roll Music" sounds wimpy compared to the first Gene Vincent (or Chuck Berry) album. And no, it's not introspective either. The band was probably just burnt out due to Beatlemania. Well, I listened to it when listening to Gene Vincent a lot, and he just sounded way superior to me.

The Butch Engle collection on Sundazed rules totally. And it has a lot more catchy moments than the 2nd Beau Brummels (which doesn't say anything about either's quality, which I hope I've made clear enough now). Maybe Elliott gave all the catchy songs to Butch Engle, because he didn't want them to compromise his own anti-commercial concept? Just kidding.

I thought it was the Byrds/Buffalo Springfield who brought up suede leather jackets and then the Beatles on Rubber Soul. But this can very well be a misconception of mine. Anyway Keith Richards does look great in one. But then, who doesn't?

Just kidding again.

 

[Mr.Segment]

While on the subject of vocals, this

 

[Mr.Segment]

I'm sorry for the mess above, but the editing function on posts with both image and YouTube is a bit of a hit and miss. Either way, fantastic song, and again, fab vocals

 

[axel]

It reminds me of this song I posted some time ago. It starts strangely "proggy", but then goes on pretty cool. I also dig the clip.

 

[Mr.Segment]

Wow, what a complete mess. I'd never buy that. So much strange stuff from Italy.

 

[axel]

Wow, what a complete mess. I'd never buy that. So much strange stuff from Italy.

I'd buy it and cut off the intro (and the organ break).
On the subject of Italy, is there anything coming anywhere close to this?

 

[axel]

Wow, what a complete mess. I'd never buy that. So much strange stuff from Italy.

But, on a second thought, aren't the Bumpers meant to be a mess as well?

 

[Mr.Segment]

I'd buy it and cut off the beginning (and the organ break).
On the subject of Italy, is there anything coming anywhere close to this?

Yes. Not very impressed by this. Great sound, not that strong a song.

I love Italian beat for the fact that they were able to produce bands with a tough sound and strong songs. More so than a lot of other European countries.

 

[axel]

Sounds good. I'm totally unfamiliar with Italian beat. Can you name a few bands/songs or comps?

(I was quite impressed by Ricordami when I first heard it and I still am. I love how the singer spits out the words. And, believe it or not, I do think it's a strong song, avoiding all bland catchy-ness.
Not to be misunderstood: I love catchy melodies! But I hate trivial melodies trying to be catchy.)

 

[Andreas]

Well, I thought it was clear that this was an exaggerated way to put it.
But if you take a close look at the songwriting, you will find that in most of the songs the chorus either ends almost abrupt, at a moment when you would think now comes the point from which on to sing-along. Or they don't even have something that can be called a proper chorus. This is very unusual. And it surely is a deliberate decision by the author.

I agree that it seems more "folky" in the sense that the emphasis doesn't seem to be that every song has to be a hit. Could be there are a lot of (great) fillers, could be they had to have the album out quickly and didn't have time to write hits. Or maybe they wanted to make an artistic statement by releasing a cohesive album, which, by then, only Dylan and not even The Beatles (Rubber Soul) had done. Anyway, sounds to me like they'd been listening to a whole lotta Dylan, Beatles and The Byrds when they were recording that album, which, of course, can never be a bad thing.

Maybe a bit too self-confident as the third album shows (is it recommendable by the way?).

If you're referring to Triangle, the answer in one word is "yes". But be ready for something a bit different.

I listened to "Beatles For Sale" again recently, and it was a big disappointment. It has a great and cool start with "No Reply", "I'm a Loser" and "Baby's In Black", then it evolves into a quite patchy affair. It could have been a great album with a lot of cover versions, if they'd only gone back to their drive and power of the Star Club days. But maybe George Martin didn't encourage them to do so, and Norman Smith didn't really know how to record rock'n'roll. Even "Rock and Roll Music" sounds wimpy compared to the first Gene Vincent (or Chuck Berry) album. And no, it's not introspective either. The band was probably just burnt out due to Beatlemania. Well, I listened to it when listening to Gene Vincent a lot, and he just sounded way superior to me

You're right, the last part of side 1 is a bit uninspired. Side 2, however, is pure greatness. Great choises of covers (sorry MTM, remakes) and a few bits that points towards what would be known as 'folk rock'.

...suede leather jackets...

 

[mansson66]

I always preferred the 2nd Beau Brummels LP to the first. I can hum almost every song from memory just by looking at the titles on the sleeve. It must be years since I actually played the album - thanks for the reminder, it's comin out from the shelf now!
Triangle is great but it's a lot more 'mature' and ambitious. Their psychedelic album. Lots of killer songs and adventureous instrumentations and arrangements going on. I mean how many albums do you have where accordion sounds just right in a song?
Bradley's Barn is one of the great (overlooked) early country rock records with the pop sensibility and the moodines still present in almost all of the songs. I dig it a lot.

 

[massb]

Sounds good. I'm totally unfamiliar with Italian beat. Can you name a few bands/songs or comps?

Listen to these:

As far as comps are concerned I'd suggest you:

Roma Rave-Up
60's Beat Italiano

 

[EXPO67]

I know nothing about the Italian beat scene but I dig this 45.

http://expo67-cavestones.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-camaleonti-chiedi-chiedi.html

 

[pfft]

Yes. Not very impressed by this. Great sound, not that strong a song.

I love Italian beat for the fact that they were able to produce bands with a tough sound and strong songs. More so than a lot of other European countries.

Not impressed? Jeez :rolleyes:
It's insanely great. Who needs melody when it sounds this amazing?

Here's another Italian fave - stronger on melody, weaker on the fuzz:

Speaking of Italian (and to all the 'strictly garage'-heads: please look away now!), yesterday I ordered a copy of this compilation. Released last year in a numbered edition of 300 and disappeared almost instantly:

 

[axel]

If you're referring to Triangle, the answer in one word is "yes". But be ready for something a bit different.

No, I was referring to "Beau Brummels 66", their first album on a major label, consisting only of cover songs. I never tried to get it, because who needs covers by this group with such talented songwriting. But it doesn't seem to be that bad. Their rendition of "These Boots Are Made For Walking" might be a treat.
"Triangle" is great of course. And so is "Bradley's Barn", which to me has always been a masterpiece, not unlike "Forever Changes" and such. Top-notch songwriting, high originality, great instrumentation & sound. I don't think Ron Elliott owes a great deal to either Dylan, the Beatles or anyone else (well, at least not more than Gene Clark, Ray Davies, Arthur Lee, Neil Young or anyone else in that range; of course they all wouldn't have done what they did without the Beatles or Dylan). He has his own personal style of songwriting.

 

[mansson66]

Has anyone ever heard Beau Brummels '66? I've never cared. What I like is the song writing - I don't wanna hear them playing covers.
Btw my friends - Italian effin proto prog? Come on. Gimme a break. That (and Sgt Pooper) is just the beginning of all that went wrong with rock'n'roll. Bibidibabidibabidibibidibap.

 

[Mr.Segment]

Sounds good. I'm totally unfamiliar with Italian beat. Can you name a few bands/songs or comps?

Don't know squat about comps I'm afraid. My favourite Italian 45 is this (bar the others I don't own which must be kept a secret until I own them)

Unfortunately unable at this point to provide a soundfile.

 

[axel]

Is that Andrew Loog Oldham?
Frighteningly smart guy. Wasn't it his idea to not have the name of the band on front of the first two Stones albums? That is ultimate coolness in my book.

 

[axel]

Don't know squat about comps I'm afraid. My favourite Italian 45 is this (bar the others I don't own which must be kept a secret until I own them)

Unfortunately unable at this point to provide a soundfile.

Looks nice. Would love to hear it.