Dick and Levon

Sorry for the recent paucity of posts lately. My free time has been a bit scarce lately, for various reasons. Fear not, I have some cool ideas jotted down and plan on getting to them when the time is available. However, I did feel it incumbent upon myself to post short tributes to America's oldest teenager Dick Clark and singer/drummer Levon Helms, who both passed away this week.

Dick Clark
Dick is best known for being the host of American Bandstand. While he still hosted the show until I was 9 years old, I never saw it as a child. I do remember him being omnipresent in my early years though, hosting the $25,000 Pyramid and TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes, not to mention ABC's New Year's Rockin' Eve. When I was in high school I saw reruns of American Bandstand on VH1. The episodes were plucked from the late '70s and early '80s, and featured either disco dancing or new wave acts lip syncing their latest hits.

I have a few clips to showcase Dick in action with various rock legends, the first of which is a personal favorite as it shows him interviewing the Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd in 1968 after a "performance" (Syd couldn't be bothered to convincingly lip-sync). I love the contrast of the button-downed showmanship of Dick Clark vs. the scruffy, Carnaby street style of the Floyd:

The next clip is from roughly 13 years later, with Dick interviewing the Go Gos. He winds up getting their names confused, perhaps due to being transfixed by their beauty. I of course look for any excuse to showcase the lovely Jane Wiedlin...I had my hair cut by a girl who looked just like her recently. Best haircut EVER:

Levon Helm
I first heard a song by the Band on a commercial back in the early '90s...I can't remember what the product was, maybe beer? The commercial featured perhaps their best known song, "The Weight," and to me the harmonies and honky tonk piano sounded as close to what music in the old west must have sounded like as I could imagine. Over the subsequent years I heard more songs by them and became impressed with their talent, especially drummer/singer Levon Helms. To drum and sing at the same time takes some skills, and this guy had them to spare. The Band (along with CCR) ushered in the era of roots rock, which provided a nice counterpoint to the psychedelic experimentation going on elsewhere in music at that time.

This clip is of the swampy, funky, "Up On Cripple Creek," as performed in the concert film "The Last Waltz" in 1976:

 Two more go to Rock and Roll Heaven...I'm afraid to ask who's next?

Tonight's Slab: I Got the Beat

Well, the Canadian Belle (my "Zooey-esque" girlfriend) is at the bar with co-workers, so I'm holed up in the office of Castle JEP looking at cool stuff online and digging some tunes. I purchased a BOATLOAD of records over the past month and am slowly listening to the mountain of sides that recently came into my possession. To record some of my purchases for posterity, I thought I would start a new semi-regular blog feature I'll call "Tonight's Slab."

Have fun babe. It's cute when you come to bed with Pabst on your breath!

Spinning on the table tonight is the debut album by The Go Gos, "Beauty and the Beat." I dropped the needle on this one, cranked the sound way up, and could feel the pulsing beat of the kick-drum as their song "Our Lips Are Sealed" bounced exuberantly out of my speakers. I have dug the Go Gos since high school, when I became acquainted with their hits via VH1 shows like "I Love the '80s." Their music has a punk attitude melded with catchy pop hooks. Unlike some of the *shudder* "mall punk" bands of 10 years back or so, the Go Gos had real punk credibility.

I picked up this record, along with their third studio album "Talk Show," for $2 each at East Lansing's legendary Flat, Black & Circular. Near mint vinyl for $2 a pop...you can't beat it! This store been around since 1976 and has a great selection with reasonable prices. When I went in there Super Bowl weekend the place was busy as heck! Word of warning, the record store clerks I have encountered are of the surly, music snob variety.

The Go Gos broke up in 1985 but have had numerous reunions. I think it would be a fun show to go see if they end up on tour again sometime soon. There's one other thing I should mention when discussing my fondness for the Go Gos: my humongous crush on rhythm guitarist and co-vocalist Jane Wiedlin. I just love her spunkiness and cutesy voice. And I have a thing for brunettes.

Pay no mind to what they say, Jane. It doesn't matter anyway. Shall we go to the pub for a Pabst?