A New Appreciation
By Mitch Berg
As a kid in the seventies (I graduated from high school in 1981) who was aggressively contrarian about music (into classical, punk, the Who and Springsteen, mainly), I pretty much eschewed most of the Top 40 pop of the day. Of course, much of it deserved eschewing; it was the era of “Afternoon Delight” (still the worst song ever to make the Top 40, which after all these years continues to squeak a “win” out against Britney Spears’ loathsome “Lucky” and anything Dennis DeYoung ever sang), a time when people like the interchangeable Alan O’Day, Roger Voudouris, Henry Gross, Rupert Holmes, Robert John, Robbie DuPree, and Sammy John (no, I mean it. Look them all up. They were all interchangeable musically and visually. It says something about the impact of MTV that the musical careers of guys who looked like 35-year-old Woody-Allens-via-artin Scorsese dried up overnight) had interchangeable hits (“Undercover Angel”, “You Better Get Used To It”, “Shannon”, “The Pina Colada Song”, “Sad Eyes”, “Bread and Butter”, “Hot Rod Hearts” and “Chevy Van”). As to mainstream rock, I have two words; KissandTedNugentwere Thetopgrossingtouringacts. Foreigner ruled the charts, making Boston seem like Ray Charles in comparison.
Dreadful stuff.
And yet in the past few years, I’ve actually started to appreciate some of the stuff I hated so badly for what it was; solid, well-crafted, hook-laden pop. I’ve learned to listen to some of it the way it was meant to be listened to; unquestioningly, uncritically, like a good consumer.
And here’s what I’ve found:
- ABBA, “SOS” – Treacly manufactured Swedish pop? Yes – but they also managed to manufacture a hook that would have woken Connie Francis from the grave.
- Fleetwood Mac, “Rumours” – The album was inescapable when I was in ninth and tenth (and probably eleventh) grade, except by pure denial. So I denied. And walked away. And while I still can’t stand the sound of Christine McVie, and Lindsey Buckingham’s solo career served as aversion therapy to the sound of his voice, I can listen to “Don’t Stop” and “Second Hand News” all day and ask for more. Two of the most mathematically perfect pop songs ever.
- Kiss, “Destroyer” – I always hated Kiss. I probably always will. But “Destroyer”, featuring “Detroit Rock City” (the greatest death-rock song ever) makes you feel like you’re present at a moment; in this case, the moment when all of teenage America went gloriously stupid simultaneously. And I sorta miss being gloriously stupid without serious consequences.
- “Saturday Night Fever” – Yep, I was one of those “Disco Sucks” guys. I cheered when I saw Mike Veeck and the Insane Coho Lips on Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park. And I thought of the record as a campy novelty for years – sort of a “Flock of Seagulls” of the seventies. How wrong I was, of course, both in terms of its impact on pop culture (sheesh) and some of the music itself; “Night Fever” is, again, almost mathematically perfect, while Yvonne Elliman’s “If I Can’t Have You” has the most gorgeous hook of the decade.
- Slade – I sort of looked down my nose at Slade; they seemed like a bunch of drunken yobs. I realized years later – that was the point. “Mama Weer All Crazee Now” still rocks my world.
- Sniff ‘n The Tears, “Driver’s Seat” – I heard that one on KQRS a few weeks ago, for the first time in probably 20 years. What a cool song…
Oh, heck – nominate some!
January 11th, 2007 at 3:42 pm
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
There was a time when Elton John could write music that didn’t sound like a beer commercial.
January 11th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
Ooh, yeah. that whole album, actually. Shoulda put that one in.
January 11th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
‘k, lemme try another: July, 1979, The B-52’s
January 11th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
I’d like to put in a bid for something a bit more recent, but HIGHLY underrated. Dire Straits had some really great records, but “On Every Street” really is discounted…when it might be their best album of all for overall quality.
January 11th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
Also, for a great tune and great guitar, I’d go for “Winning” by Carlos Santana.
January 11th, 2007 at 6:22 pm
(Graduated ’83, Northern MN)
Madonna’s first album. Not the remixes or the live performances, or even the videos (we didn’t have cable, let alone MTV) but the original vinyl. Bought it at the local record shop because the cover looked cool and I was looking for something different. I’m still able to block out everything she’s done since and enjoy the hell out of it anytime.
Gary Numan. I liked “Cars”, but at the time I liked the rest of Replicas better. Forgot about him for nearly 20 years until I saw he was returning to Mpls for the first time since the early ’80’s and I started rediscovering his catalog. He’s definitely had some forgettable stuff along the way, but ever since the Tubeway Army, he has been highly underrated. Any he was terrific live.
Headpins, early April Wine, Kim Mitchell and a host of stuff I could pick up after dark from CITI-FM in Winnipeg.
And don’t be dissin’ the Nuge.
January 11th, 2007 at 7:38 pm
(Graduated 1981, St. Paul. I grew up by Central High.)
You’re right Mitch–the late 70s was a vile time in pop. But I defy just about any band around today to outplay 70s bands on pure musicianship.
That said, the best 70s single has to be the Eagles’ “Hotel California.”
Another great single is Carly Simon’s “That’s The Way I’ve Always Heard It Should Be.”
“Don’t Stop” and “Second Hand News” are great tunes, but “Rhiannon” from the previous album is better.
“Afternoon Delight” isn’t the worst song to make the Top 40; “Brand New Key” by Melanie is. How that song ever made hit radio airwaves has to be a tale of blackmail and deceit.
January 11th, 2007 at 11:05 pm
(Graduated 1982, Illinois)
I still like the music from the 70s, but only a little at a time, although “If” by Bread should be banned! Two must-have songs for me from that era that I picked up on compilation CDs were “Thunder Island” by Jay Ferguson and “Get Down” by Gilbert O’Sullivan (which is a total AM radio song). Rhino put out a 3-CD set called “Mellow Rock Hits of the ’70s” if you’re ever looking for a trip down memory lane.
What I’ve come to appreciate from that time period is Willie Nelson’s “Red Headed Stranger.” I’m not a huge fan of country music, but I watched a documentary on Willie, thought it sounded interesting, bought the CD, and just love it.
I will admit to owning “ABBA Gold” – in some bizarre way, it’s great music to jog to.
January 12th, 2007 at 4:44 am
Nobody did death death cult rock ballads like Blue Oyster Cult. Well, maybe Maynard, but the style is different. BOC was more . . . epic.
January 12th, 2007 at 6:28 am
For Angryclown’s money, you can’t beat “I’ve Never Been to Me” by Charlene or the Captain and Tennille with “Muscrat Love.”
January 12th, 2007 at 6:58 am
Hah, Clown. Good thing you don’t work in a field where you have to get facts straight. Charlene’s “I’ve Never Been…” was from 1982.
It was, however, a cover of the original, by Mary McGregor (of “Torn Between Two Lovers” “fame”), from 1977.
Can we please do try to strive for accuracy, here? It’s pretty vital.
January 12th, 2007 at 9:02 am
Ok, if you’re not gonna publish my “Pilot of the Airwaves,” by Charlie Dore (which was a song I loved to hate, but have since heard and thought, you know, that’s well done….), then how about some pure pop for now people: Nick Lowe’s Cruel To Be Kind?
Or Walter Egan’s Magnet and Steel? Pure California smooth… Gold by John Stewart? Both of which feature either Buckingham and/or Nicks….”People out there turnin’ music into gold, people out there turnin music into gold…”
January 12th, 2007 at 9:45 am
Oh, it’s gotta be 70s? Ok, forget Charlie Dore. I think that was 1980. My apologies.
January 12th, 2007 at 10:17 am
How terribly said, Mitch, considering you fancy yourself an authority on popular music and all. Angryclown, who has no such pretensions and who couldn’t give a rat’s a55 when “I’ve Never Been to Me” first blighted the airwaves, is of course correct. Rudimentary research shows that Charlene first charted with the song in 1977. 1982 was a rerelease. Mary Macgregor’s version was the cover.
While the 1982 release was a #3 hit, the song was written, recorded by Charlene, and charted in the ’70s.
You’re wrong. Have a nice day!
January 12th, 2007 at 11:14 am
Charlie Dore was 1979 – at my first radio job. It qualifies.
However, I never actually got that post in my moderation queue (where all first-time posters and some who’ve earned my ire go before their comments appear). I’ll double-check…
January 12th, 2007 at 11:15 am
Clown,
Oh, whoop-di-doo. I wrote a book on NaNoWriMo in ’03 about a planeload of people who crash-lands in a remote place full of weirdness, and has to survive by their own wits. I guess that means “Lost” debuted in ’03, right?
If it didn’t chart – and by “chart”, I mean Billboard Hot 100, not the New York Pop Crap Obsessive Afficionados Top Million – then it doesn’t exist!
January 12th, 2007 at 11:23 am
Oh my…..someone else who knows the Headpins? The Logical Husband and I got turned on to them by a friend when he was in the Army! Serious flashback!
LL
January 12th, 2007 at 11:48 am
First time through, it did indeed make the Hot 100.
January 12th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
LL
It’s hard to forget Darby Mills in a chambermaid outfit…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBV6srBHSIQ
And how can you not love Brian “Too Loud” MacLeod?
January 12th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
Psycho Killer
Talking Heads ’77
Talking Heads
Miss You
Some Girls
Rolling Stones
January 12th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
First time through, it did indeed make the Hot 100.
Hm. Odd. Because I looked the song up on Joel Whitburn’s Top100 reference (the one most radio people used), and Charlene only appeared once.
OK, Vobo, you win! You’re this forum’s Charlene expert! In fact, it is your official subtitle from now on!
January 12th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
Master o’ None,
Good songs – but I’m referring to songs we HATED the first time around.
Now, I wasn’t a big ‘Heads fan in ’77 – that took until “Go In Light”, for me – so it might qualify, except they weren’t really a “Top 40” band until “Burning Down the House”.
January 12th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
IIRC Brian “Too Loud” MacLeod was the reason we found out about the band. The Logical Husband’s military buddy was a friend of Too Loud’s. He was talking about the band ALL the time!
Missed the vid – we were stationed overseas at the time…no MTV (which was a godsend given the state of American music at the time).
LL
January 12th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
I found the Head’s ’77 album in 1979. It was a cut-out in a discount bin. It’s the only Head’s album I like.
I didn’t like Miss You when it first came out. The rest of the album I loved.
January 12th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
Do you think that what you like about these songs now are the memories they trigger.
January 12th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
Graduated 1984, loved the 80’s but you have to admit that some great groundwork was being laid in the 70’s. Sure some disco sucked, but some of it was pretty good and still works today.
Then there is the Punk and alt bands that were really pushing music in a new direction. The Talking heads were doing great work.
Finally, I have to through a bone to the hard rock/heavy metal/stadium rock guys that really kept rock alive through the seventies. The Stones kept rocking, Led Zeppelin turned in some of the best music ever, AC/DC was working up to Highway to Hell in 1979.
And Van Halen released Van Halen in 1978. (Please all stop what you are doing and genuflect at this time)
January 13th, 2007 at 7:55 am
Master – absolutely.
Tracy – I do genuflect to that anniversary. Although hearing that the Van Halens have ejected Mike Anthony from the band is a buzzkill.
January 13th, 2007 at 11:27 pm
(Graduated 1987, Spearfish, SD.)
How could a guy with the nick “Too Loud” possibly be in a band like Chilliwack? Mayhap his work in the Headpins redeems his other efforts? Gone, Gone, Gone indeed.
Anyway. My votes are for Neil Diamond, “Sweet Caroline” and “Still the One”, by Orleans.
Side note: Before seeing the error of my ways and turning from the likes of Kiss, Foreigner and Queen and into one of the Black Hill’s few punk fans, I actually laughed at my elder brother when he tried to broaden my horizons via “London Calling” (and specifically laughing at “Rudie Can’t Fail”.) I cry at memories like that, but I don’t think that really counts here.
January 14th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
SteveM- I made a similar transition during my first year of college. My freshman roomate (from Mpls) had boot-legged Elvis Costello tapes from a performance from someplace in Mpls. I never played my Doobie Brothers albums again.
January 19th, 2007 at 8:43 am
Ah…I agree with Rumors, in fact just listened to it this week for the first time in a long time (before reading this entry).
How about Billy Idol’s “Rebel Yell” or Van Halen’s “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love.”
And Led Zeppelin’s “Physical Graffitti” may be the best make-out album (yes, I first had it on vinyl) ever!
January 21st, 2007 at 9:19 pm
The great Connie Francis is alive and still performing to sell out crowds, although she has limited her performances.