Two More Rediscovered Gems

| March 28, 2020

Being on the road can be a pain, especially during the “great 2020 Covid-19 stoopid-fest”. As I said in an earlier article, I’m certainly glad to be home.

Yet being on the road, even during such times, does have a few good points. One of those is the chance to listen to music you missed the first time around – with the perspective of additional age and experience.

Here are two cuts I missed when they first came out. They were always great tunes; I just didn’t realize that until recently.

Yeah, this is another musical “walkabout”. Continue at your own risk. (smile)

. . .

David Bowie was a true original. And his breakthrough album – Ziggy Stardust – was critically acclaimed. It’s today widely regarded as a popular music classic.

However, like every other artist Bowie had to continue with his recording career; this meant putting out other albums. His next original album was eagerly expected – and like every other artist, I’m sure he knew he’d have a hard time topping his previous effort.

Bowie’s follow-up album to Ziggy Stardust was titled Aladdin Sane. The title is a deliberate play on words. It references an unfortunate fact in Bowie’s immediate family: mental instability was prevalent in his mother’s side of the family. That, however, won’t be discussed today (though it might be the topic for a future article).

I’d passed on getting a copy of Aladdin Sane when it was first released. And in truth, though it was initially more commercially successful and charted higher in the US than did Ziggy Stardust, IMO it’s nowhere near as good. (That’s understandable; few albums are as good as Ziggy Stardust.) It’s not as focused, thematically, and though it has its moments it’s simply not as good as its predecessor.

Because I’d passed on the the album, I’d missed a true gem of a tune – one that was never released as a single (though it was used on a single released in Italy as a the B-side for another tune from the album). For years it was also omitted from Bowie’s “best of” compilations. It’s a tune where Bowie rocks out in Rolling Stones style, and shows he can hang with anyone in rock ‘n roll.

Bowie himself described the Aladdin Sane album as “Ziggy Stardust comes to America”. This tune perfectly describes that – as well as the raucous early 1970s.

Without further ado: Watch That Man.

 

 

. . .

The second tune here has a similar history, at least for me. U2 is a favorite of mine, and their two great albums of the late 1980s/early 1990s – 1987’s The Joshua Tree and 1991’s Achtung Baby – though stylistically different are absolutely excellent. But after that, for a while U2 decided to explore dance and pop.

I’m not that big of a fan of dance/pop music. So I decided to pass on U2’s next album, 1993’s Zooropa.

Some time ago, I acquired a digital copy of Zooropa. But until this trip, I’d never listened to it.

I gave it a quick listen while traveling. The first nine songs were IMO, well, “meh” – OK, but not great. So that confirmed for me that it was an album worth passing on.

Then I listened to the album’s final track. I was amazed – by something I never saw coming.

First: it’s a collaboration between U2 . . . and the late Johnny Cash. It’s one of the few U2 songs where Bono doesn’t sing lead; Cash does.

And second: IMO it’s magnificent.

One note before the tune. There’s a rather extended period of silence at the end of the tune, followed by a rather jarring alarm. I’ve read that that was included as a joke, and that the alarm is a radio station “dead air” alarm used to alert DJs to dead air. When I first listened to the tune, I thought it might be some type of hospital code alarm. I’ve never heard either personally, except possibly on TV, so I can’t say for sure which it is.

I just wanted to mention that so that any readers listening to the tune wouldn’t be taken by surprise. For some people alarms – particularly when unexpected – can occasionally bring back bad memories.

 

 

A final note: Cash did a number of collaborations with younger popular artists over the decades, including some rock and roll artists. Some of those collaborations include videos; there’s a third-party video for “The Wanderer” that’s IMO quite good.

However, this may not the best cover or video Cash ever did when he covered a much more recent tune. If you’ve never heard/seen it, his cover of the Nine Inch Nails’ tune “Hurt” – and the video that was made for same – can be found here. It’s truly exceptional, and is worth the time; that’s particularly true if you know some of Cash’s history. But you might want to have a tissue handy.

. . .

Well, that’s all for now. It’s good to be back home, even if the world still seems “stuck on stupid”.

Category: Pointless blather, Who knows

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AW1Ed

Tom Petty also was a Johnny Cash fan, and was inspired by his music. So it was pretty much inevitable they would collaborate on an album together.

The album, “Unchained” received a Grammy for Best Country Album, and Cash was nominated for Best Male Country Vocal Performance for his version of “Rusty Cage”.

My personal favorite?

Thanks, Hondo.

AW1Ed

Don’t need to guess, Hondo. Thought I mentioned, MrsAW1 is a Gainesville gal and a big Tom Petty fan.
*grin*

Sapper3307

Hail, the Goblin King!

AW1Ed

“Labyrinth.” That was a surprising good fantasy movie.

Jay

Starring: -David Bowie

Co-Starring: David Bowie’s Dong. Still don’t know HOW that costume got a PG rating

5th/77th FA

“…the raucous early 1970s.” I helped make them that. You’re welcome! Much much respect and love for the “Man in Black.” Bono, his music is ok but didn’t follow them due to his politics. Off and on with Bowie.

When asked if anyone in the family suffered from mental instability, I replied, “No they seem to enjoy it.”

5th/77th FA

Roger that Hondo…Damn shame too. Prolly why I stick to the old classic rock and the real country of the 50s, 60s, & 70s. I’ll listen to them, but can’t tell you when the last time was I actually spent money on any. My nephew put an azz load of classic stuff on a memory stick a few years back when I bought Little Josey The Nismo. Think it was just before DS fired off, Bono had said something disparaging about our troops. My (step) Son was in the 24th over there then. It pissed me off and I never looked back. Can’t even remember what it was now that he said.

Steve 1371

5/77,
Check out Orange Blossom Opry face book page for some great music. They are putting on shows just to keep in practice and keep the Opry up front in everyones mind. The house band is as talented as any of the overpriced acts out there today. You can catch a recorded past performance there.

5th/77th FA

Tanks Bro. I can lurk on Fake Book thru Baby Sister’s page. Just spent some time jamming with the boys and girls there. Had done a “Like” on the regular Opry page and she has one on the We Despise Pop Country page. I’ve got a real good high quality set of headphones with Sony’s name on them. My main IT man (another (step) son) set this machine up with the whole you tube ‘scrip thing so I can rock and country out over there too. Orange Blossom had a good show tonight, but the sad news of the loss of Jan Howard. Hadn’t heard of that, seems like the only news out there is that of Trump causing the Chinese Communist Government’s developed viral disease spread through out the world. Might not want to tell the seagull about the OBO, he’ll be on here squawking “Orange Blossom Opry Bad”…click

Steve 1371

Copy all that, I listen on my wife’s page. There will be a show Monday nite and Thursday and Friday.

Dan

This

Dan
Kevin H

All I see when someone mentions David Bowie;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKLTP04JGc8

*sigh* Name edited to protect PII.
AW1

DUTCH in Atlanta

Thanks for the link to Johnny Cash’s “HURT”. That is really something special, as well as emotional.

Been there and done that life. Thanks again!

OldSoldier54

You and me both, Brother. Got a few of those t-shirts.

Thank the Good Lord for Repentance.

DUTCH in Atlanta

Thanks for the link to Johnny Cash’s “HURT”. That is really something special, as well as emotional.

Been there and done that life. Thanks again!

His last live performance can be seen here:

David

Amen on “Hurt” – the older I get, the harder it is to listen to.

About the mid’70s he did some really great stuff which did not sell well, but which he had written – well worth checking out. “Ragged Old Flag” is a great example.

Bill R.

Aladdin Sane? Being from metro Detroit, I believe this is the best song on that album.

Roh-Dog

Forgive the digression, do please allow:
Sunday was meant for the Blues. Dan Ackroyd used to have a syndicated Blues show on the local FM played here on Sunday nights. Many of time, before in ter nets and 1,000 cable channels, this broke 20something sat down with a bottle of cheap whiskey and enjoyed the journey, usually at the end of a stream of Lucky Strikes.
Thanks to people such as yourselves and Mr. Ackroyd showing this poor soul what real music be.
I leave you with a taste
https://youtu.be/82yNxiF-T4A

5th/77th FA

Did he say Blues? How about some from Statesboro? Rare cut with Duane and Berry. RIP Boys!

Skippy

The them song for pandemic Mania BHWHAHAHAHAHA !!!! Name the group Can you feel that? Ah, shit Oh, ah, ah, ah, ah Oh, ah, ah, ah, ah oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh Drowning deep in my sea of loathing Broken your servant I kneel (Will you give in to me?) It seems what’s left of my human side Is slowly changing in me (Will you give in to me?) Looking at my own reflection When suddenly it changes Violently it changes (oh no) There is no turning back now You’ve woken up the demon in me Get up, come on get down with the sickness Get up, come on get down with the sickness Get up, come on get down with the sickness Open up your hate, and let it flow into me Get up, come on get down with the sickness You mother get up come on get down with the sickness You fucker get up come on get down with the sickness Madness is the gift, that has been given to me I can see inside you, the sickness is rising Don’t try to deny what you feel (Will you give in to me?) It seems that all that was good has died And is decaying in me (Will you give in to me?) It seems you’re having some trouble In dealing with these changes Living with these changes (oh no) The world is a scary place Now that you’ve woken up the demon in me Get up, come on get down with the sickness Get up, come on get down with the sickness Get up, come on get down with the sickness Open up your hate, and let it flow into me Get up, come on get down with the sickness You mother get up come on get down with the sickness You fucker get up come on get down with the sickness Madness is the gift, that has been given to me No mommy, don’t do it again Don’t do it again I’ll be a good boy I’ll be a good boy, I promise No… Read more »

Skippy
The Stranger

Disturbed!
Saw them in a small bar before they were famous.

OldSoldier54

Ahh … Johnny Cash is Johnny Cash.