Who doesn't love a good story?, not I, that's certain - a decent tale is one of my soft-spots in popular song, seemingly harking back to a time long before iPods, CD's, lp's and even wax blimmin' cylinders.
I was planning to make this a possible series about fine, quality songs that majored on the story-telling; think 'She's Leaving Home' rather than 'She Loves You', and indeed I already posted about one of my faves by Mott the Hoople today, and I'd certainly include 'Caught by the Fuzz' from Supergrass, which I posted back here; also 'Girl from Germany' by Sparks - here.
After a while this idea seemed not only a bit non-specific, but also ignored one of my own 'unexpected pop-hits' rules, which clearly states that anything with a good, cheesy story in it, has a hugely increased chance of making the charts, at least here in the UK in my teenage years. Now, my addled mind can't grasp whether or not there's a grain of truth in this often repeated (by me, anyway) assertion... but I am sure that some Country & novelty tunes would never have graced(?) the British top-40 without a tale for the listener to follow along.
♫ Rasputin - Boney M
a huge UK hit in 1978
buy
Frank Farian wrote several historical 'gems' for Boney M, loosely based on Rasputin, Ma Barker and even Steppenwolf.
♫ The Devil went down to Georgia - Charlie Daniels Band
Million Mile Reflections (1979)
myspace | buy
♫ Camouflage - Stan Ridgway
The Big Heat (1986)
myspace | buy
and this is just good, I love it.
♫ The Mariner's Revenge Song - The Decemberists
Picaresque (2005)
myspace | buy
I was planning to make this a possible series about fine, quality songs that majored on the story-telling; think 'She's Leaving Home' rather than 'She Loves You', and indeed I already posted about one of my faves by Mott the Hoople today, and I'd certainly include 'Caught by the Fuzz' from Supergrass, which I posted back here; also 'Girl from Germany' by Sparks - here.
After a while this idea seemed not only a bit non-specific, but also ignored one of my own 'unexpected pop-hits' rules, which clearly states that anything with a good, cheesy story in it, has a hugely increased chance of making the charts, at least here in the UK in my teenage years. Now, my addled mind can't grasp whether or not there's a grain of truth in this often repeated (by me, anyway) assertion... but I am sure that some Country & novelty tunes would never have graced(?) the British top-40 without a tale for the listener to follow along.
♫ Rasputin - Boney M
a huge UK hit in 1978
buy
Frank Farian wrote several historical 'gems' for Boney M, loosely based on Rasputin, Ma Barker and even Steppenwolf.
♫ The Devil went down to Georgia - Charlie Daniels Band
Million Mile Reflections (1979)
myspace | buy
♫ Camouflage - Stan Ridgway
The Big Heat (1986)
myspace | buy
and this is just good, I love it.
♫ The Mariner's Revenge Song - The Decemberists
Picaresque (2005)
myspace | buy
Never heard the Decemberists before. Seriously good. In terms of telling a tale, it reminds me a lot of the Alex Harvey Band; in musical terms, it makes me think of Camper Van Beethoven, for some reason.
ReplyDeleteThanks, too for posting Charlie Daniels. Love that song! And I never realised how close in feel "Camouflage" came either, but now you mention it...
ooh I love C van B, & if you never heard the Decemberists before, you're in for a treat I think.
ReplyDeleteUntil 'researching' (ha!) this lot, I'd no idea about Stan Ridgway being a serious musician; just assumed it was a one-off novelty.
Now then... where's Coward of the county?
Kenny Rogers is a seriously overlooked talent; "Ruby" and the First Edition's "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) from '67, before he turned country in a big way, to name but two more.
ReplyDeleteI love a good story song, me. Camouflage is superb. One of those songs that takes me right back (to the summer of '86, thankfully, rather than to fighting the Viet Cong!).
ReplyDeleteha! Kippers, very droll - love it.
ReplyDeleteyep, they're addictive I think; just slinging some more together now.