I came across this CD as I was perusing a used section somewhere. I wasn't even aware that it had come out when it was released. My loyalty to Morrissey had waned; I had moved onto new sounds, I was creating new sounds and I guess at the time of this CD's release, I just didn't have space for Poor Stephen.
I was a big Smiths fan. I could sing all of 'Meat Is Murder', front-to-back. 'The Queen Is Dead' still ranks amongst my favorite albums and I stayed onboard through the beginning of Morrissey's solo-career. Behold one of the most wicked riffs of the 80's, kiddies. 'How Soon Is Now?' changed a lotta what Rusty thought about Music...
...of course, in the wrong hands, anything can be turned to total crap...
'Southpaw Grammar' opens with the most remarkable orchestral sound, a sample looped driving the record. A Morrissey record opening with a sample? A SAMPLE? Yep, and used to remarkable effect to my ears. Many did not agree. I'm also certain that the length of the opening and closing tracks, both clocking in at over ten minutes might have been a bit off-putting to a lotta people who had still holding their gladioli aloft for their hero. The fourth track 'The Operation' opens with a TWO-MINUTE DRUM-SOLO, for God's sake. It seemed as if Morrissey had found 'self-indulgence' while I was away. It is universally acknowledged as Morrissey making an album he wanted to make, if simply for himself. I have never heard any of the hardcore Smiths/Morrissey fans I know speak of it. It's as if it just appeared and disappeared.
I can't tell you a whole lot more about this album, but this opening track still gives me goosebumps. Check it out for yourself.
Oh, did I catch hell for this. I'll tell ya what though; you can say all you want about the acid wash jeans, the 'doo-doo faces', the monobrow (with parts cut into the center. ugh), and the uncomfortably lush falsetto coming from a man of Mr. Sure's stature...but when I first heard this song, I knew that is was the JAM.
Man, there was no way you couldn't tell me that Al B. Sure! wasn't the FUTURE. Okay? 'Nite And Day' was a MONSTER hit. I remember going to the mall to buy Mr. Sure's album and being bummed that there was no full release. There was however, a maxi-single featuring the extended mix of 'Nite And Day' as well as the French and Spanish versions ('Nuit Y Jour' and 'Noche Y Diaz'. Oui, Oui! Si, SI!). I copped that and waited for the future of R&B to come with the full album. The cassingle made me aware that Mr. Sure was not only a 'SONY Innovator', but he was also co-signed by none other than Quincy Jones himself.
A few weeks later, I popped into the mall again and right there, in the window was the display for Al B. Sure's debut release, 'In Effect Mode'. You had a cassette that was broken into two sides; the 'Nite' side and the 'Day' side (wow, we are really riding this thing, eh?). The smash hit starts the album, rightfully. Then it's off into the ballads...'Oooh, This Love Is So', a cover of 'Killing Me Softly' (way before L-Boogie laced it and made it hers) and the classic booty-rubber, slow-grinder, 'Naturally Mine', which always reminded me of an Isley Brothers song.
ahhhh, yeeeeeah.....
The second half of the album focused more on the dancefloor, kicking off with 'Rescue Me' and bouncing into the second single, 'Off On Your Own (Girl)'. 'Off...' is still one of my favorite pieces of 80's R&B, combining bubbly synths, orchestra hits, and even a faux 'Slick Rick' style rap from Al himself. The album winds up with 'If I'm Not Your Lover', where Al let go of the falsetto for the lead vocal (with mixed results) and 'Just A Taste Of Lovin' which is as much a showcase for the banging production of Kyle West.
As stated before in my posting about 'Big Thing', I stay with you. I know for a fact that everybody from the hardest of hard-rocks to baby-mama's and babysitters was FEELING 'Nite And Day'. Trust me on this one...love it, mayne. It is a certified classic joint. As for the rest of the album, I can't say that it has held up quite as well. The follow-up to this album, 'Private Times And The Whole Nine' was massively forgettable, totally fell off the radar and Mr. Sure was soon to follow suit. Al B. has popped up again recently, supporting his son on a crappy talent show on MTV.
*Click the title of the post to see the future of B. Sure's to come*
Some might knock him as a one-hit wonder with a silly name, but for one summer, you can be sure that Al B. Sure was on a lotta peoples' mind. If you were to ask me, I'd say it's easily the best 'new jack swing' album that wasn't produced by Teddy Riley (though he did lend his golden touch to 'If I'm Not Your Lover'. Yep yep.)
You see it; thats right...the 'Duranduran' album, in a special 'gold' case, even...the one where they wanted to be taken seriously. And I went for it. I still believe in it.
I always liked Duran Duran; I was with them as soon as I heard 'Hungry Like The Wolf'. I was caught in the initial wave of MTV and I always made sure to watch for the Durannies. They were all over MTV in the early days, kiddies. The 'Rio' album is still one of my favorites from that era. The videos were iconic; the cats just looked cool as hell and they actually could play. (John Taylor is a silly bass player, y'all...and no one on Earth has a tone like Simon LeBon.) I was turned onto to the actual first release by an awesome show that used to be on the USA Network called 'Night Flight'. They showed the 'uncensored' videos laaaate at night. I caught 'Girls On Film' and it was a WRAP...!
*click the link in the title of this post for my redemption*
... and I stay with my bands for a while, man. Once a band puts out something that REALLY connects with me, I'll buy everything they put out until I think they just don't care anymore (or they have just lost it).
I stayed with the Durannies. I bought that crappy 'Seven And The Ragged Tiger' album (and I didn't dig too much on that alubm) I bought the albums by the side projects (The Power Station & Arcadia) when there was too much ego going on within the group for them to function as a whole, I stayed with them through the departure of two members, 'Notorious' was aight...a lotta cats had given up on them and then they dropped this joint...
The big 'hit' on this album is 'I Don't Want Your Love'.
As far as I can tell, 'Big Thing' was not in fact a 'big thing'. I still bust this one out, kids. There are no less than four songs other than the single that showed my loyalty to the Durnannies was warranted. They had kinda fallen out of the spotlight by this time, I was a whole new person by the time this came out, having gone through a lotta awkward 'first' experiences of all kinds, but they were 'growing' and so was I.
Hated the title track. Horrible opening track. There's the single, okay...'All...She...Wants...Is...'....NOPE....I started to think that Duran Duran had been listening to too much industrial music. It was the new burgeoning sound, but I sure as hell didn't want that from the Durannies. Gimme some hooks, some melodies, synth sweeps, guitars, wicked hit-hat work and funky basslines.."doop doop doo doop, doop doo doo, doop doo doo doop, doop dooooooo"....I am with you on the growth thing but gimme something, man. I already like Nitzer Ebb (we'll get to that), I don't need that from you doop doop dooooooo
...and then this sweet little piano line and this funky little drum machine. Almost too smooth, reminiscent of the cool-down stuff on 'Rio' ('Lonely In Your Nightmare', 'Save A Prayer'). I was caught by it, off-top...'Too Late Marlene'. Keeper.
Another dancefloor burner called 'Drug (It's A State Of Mind;)'. And then you flip the tape...and find the reason I bothered to upgrade to a CD on this one when it was time to do so...
The second side of this album was as 'serious' as Duranduran (their spelling for this album, another way for them to say, 'This is different...') They had a tribute song for Andy Warhol followed by what it still, to this day, one of my favorite album sequences ever. 'Palomino', which one of my favorite melodies and an awesome little atmospheric interlude...although it's one of those songs that a lotta people may classify under 'filler'. I think it is proof that my boys were reaching for something else.
...followed by a nice ethereal piece called 'Land', that may or may not be about mermaids or something...pieced together with a coupla interludes and wrapped up with an instrumental.
'Big Thing' caught up with me at a time when I wanted to be taken seriously too. I was growing up and so was Duranduran. I remember very vividly listening to it over and over on the way back to Gary, IN from Washington, DC to see my Grandma Mary for the last time. It was the first and last time I rode a train for an extended period also. Life was changing. I was changing. People that were here all the time were gone. We all hafta soldier on though. We all hafta know that there are people out there pulling for us.
"Aight, I'll spell it as one word, Yeah, Roger and Andy are gone, but I am with the team. And y'all call me 'Rock J' from now on."
'Yeah, Russ; that is NOT 'hood', bruh. Bumpin' Carly Simon is NOT 'hood'."
Oh, I know.
She just has one of THOSE voices. She writes GREAT songs. This 'No Secrets' is one of those sentimental CD's. I remember seeing this album in my Mom's stack of LP's.
The cover image has always stuck in my mind. Now that I am older, I recognize there was a lot more going on in that picture than a child could pick up.
It is decidedly unposed, Carly is happily letting the girls fly AND smuggling raisins, and what is with the bag? That bag is huge...like you could carry a change-of-clothes in it. Ladies and gentlemen, you are seeing a woman on-the-go, but where is she going...and where is she coming from? The look on her face is priceless, too; as if to say. 'You got me...'. (I wonder if she knows she is throwing the universal set-up for a 'punch for lookin' right below the typography for the title...)
Here's the opening track and the cover image...check it out, it's the 'Right Thing To Do'.
This of course, the album with 'You're So Vain' on it, as well. My Mama noted in my 'Baby Book' that is one of the first songs I sang along to. I'll bet I thought that song was about me. I'll still jump in and sing along with that tune whenever I hear it. There's a coupla lines in that tune that automatically set off visual images in my young mind...
'You walked into the party Like you were walking onto a yacht.'
The realest person on there was Lawanda 'Aunt Esther' Page.
Watch it, sucka. I'm having dreams, there were clouds in my coffee...
'No Secrets' is my favorite Carly Simon album mainly because it was the only one I really needed for a long time. Whenever it was time to go back to comfort, I had my Carly. 'The Right Thing To Do', 'The Carter Family', 'We Have No Secrets'; this was all I needed for a while. There was actually a Summer Sojourn to Gary, IN where I fell in love with a copy of 'Boys In The Trees'. My Aunt jessie actually heard me singing 'Tranquillo' VERY LOUDLY in the shower. Very unhip... 'You Belong To Me' is also on that album, featuring the velveteen backing vocals of Michael McDonald. Badass tune...
I guess I always hear something that reminds me of 'Home' in this album. Click the title of the post to see what muh girl is up to.
Now, most of the stuff that is in there, I can explain why I have it. There are some CD's though, that can only be classified as 'Guilty Pleasures', 'Stuff I Can't Seem To Get Rid Of', 'Sentimental Leanings', or 'I Fell For That, Too'. I'll be breaking down some of the choices in my CD collection that some of my friends shot me blank stares, open guffaws, or just confused laughter for owning.
GUNTHER - 'PLEASUREMAN' (2006)
I came across the musical stylings of Gunther while I was working at Rockin' Billy's Music a.k.a. 'The Best Record Store Ever Ever Ever'. This promo CD came in and as soon as I saw the cover, I knew that I would be claiming that one. Check dude's pose out...how ready is he? The 'stache, the glasses, the pout. I was taking this one cuz I KNEW there was gonna be a gem on here.
I flipped the CD over to see the tracklist. I was not disappointed. Track One; 'Ding Dong Song'. Track Three; 'Teeny Weeny String Bikini' Track Five; 'Tuttifrutti Summerlove'. I didn't even hafta listen to it. It was already 'good'.
Playing the CD fir the first time revealed a special kinda magic, kiddies. The opening chords let me know that some of the bestest, most 'Euro' of Euro dance Music was on the way. Oh yes, Gunther stated his personal with the first words uttered on the CD...
"Oh, you touch my tra-la-la Ummm, my ding-ding-dong"
And then non-stop 4/4 kicks and synth punches that I hadn't heard in a looong time. My first instinct was to get my groove on like so...
It took me back, but I knew that GUNTHER was the future, at least for the next two weeks of my life. I put everyone I could up on the irresistible dancefloor leanings of GUNTHER. Then when I found the video on Youtube, I had a new obsession. OH, the choreography, the SUNSHINE GIRLS, the wardrobe...where is this magical place where they are still doing 'The Snake' AND 'The Running Man'? Please make sure to watch the video until the end, just in case there is any confusioin as to what the Pleasureman is all about. It's quite the cliffhanger.
Now, in all honesty, can you get that song and those images outta your head?...and don't get me started on 'Teeny Weeny Siring Bikini' or the slow jam, 'Enormous Emotion (I Love You)'...
There is no way I could get rid of this CD. In fact, 'Ding Dong Song' at full volume in the whip is my official 'Let's Start The Summer!' Song. Click the title of this post to learn more about the Pleasureman, GUNTHER.
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