The Bop Shop 3.17.24 -Peter Bruntnell-

peter bruntnell “ perfume river”

from: ghost in a spitfire, 2005

Mr. Bruntnell is another to step from the “best kept secrets department” having persisted in his craft on the other side of the pond since the mid nineties. His tastefully soulful poetic rock arrangements and moody vocals occur pleasingly throughout his catalogue. And yes “Perfume River” builds and sustains a mystic, crystal groove that glides and coolly carries a country punk tension. During 2023, he toured the West Coast with the band Son Volt celebrating their first record “Trace” and their recent tribute to the late great Doug Sahm the poster for which can be viewed below.

Down here on the lunar wind, the sugar stars are flickering
And the smoke rules from the southland
From the fragrant shores and the silver sands
And it rains down, on account of nothing, don’t count on nothing


Don’t know why I wanna stay
But the whirlwind won’t turn away
And I don’t know why I wanna hurt
And wanna feel the years I don’t deserve
And they lean down, on account of nothing, don’t count on nothing


You sold the car and jumped the fence to the wrong side of indifference
Where the water’s cool but it brings no rest
And it strikes out time under house arrest
That burns down, on account of nothing, don’t count on nothing
— P.B.

The Bop Shop 3.16.24 -Neko Case-

neko case, “hold on, hold on”

from: fox confessor brings the flood, 2006

The most tender place in my heart is for strangers
I know it’s unkind, but my own blood is much too dangerous
Hangin’ round the ceiling half the time
Hangin’ round the ceiling half the time
Compared to some, I’ve been around
But I really tried so hard
That echo chorus lied to me with its
Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on
In the end, I was the mean girl
Or somebody’s in between girl
Now it’s the devil I love
And that’s as funny as real love
I leave the party at 3 a.m.
Alone, thank God
With Valium from the bride
It’s the devil I love, it’s the devil I love
And that’s as funny as real love
And that’s as real as true love
That echo chorus lied to me with its
Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on
That echo chorus lied to me with its
Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on
— Songwriters: Travis Good / Dallas Good / Sean Dean / Neko Case / Michael Bellitsky

There are some marvels in this piece. Although it emanates largely through the lens of Ms. Case’s vocals, I’d like to point you at the guitar work of the two founding members of the Sadies, a Canadian rock group. Dallas and Travis Goode appear on sonic duty here and ignite a new brand of hypercool psychedelia, inhabiting a soaring peninsula of inspiration.

the late Dallas and Travis flank this photo of the Sadies

The Bop Shop 3.15.24 -Richie Havens-

richie havens “younger men grow older”

from: alarm clock, 1968

“Wish I was a younger man”
Said the old man to the young man
Oh, I’d show you what I would do

That is if I could find something to do
I never did before
Because the younger men
Grow older everyday

Wish we had a better plan
To get us where we want to go
How peaceful it would be

But I feel if we don’t plan ahead
We surely will need a helping hand
’Cause younger men
Grow older everyday

Wish I could see my children grow
And doing what they want to do
Oh, that is all I am living for

But if you don’t tell them
How to do what they want to do
You find out that
Younger men grow older everyday

Wished we had not wrecked the land
By understanding without a plan
And wastin’ all those lives, yeah, yeah

So if we do not say it now
We may never ever survive
To hear them say
Younger men grow older everyday

We may not even see
We may not even see
We may not even see
Younger men grow older
Oh, no, no, no, no

We may not even see
Younger men grow older
We may not even see
We may not survive
To even see younger men grow older
No, no

Younger, younger men grow older
Older, we may not even see
Younger men grow older
— R.H.

There are a lot of quietly powerful and instrumentally sophisticated sleeper songs buried on the early recordings of Richie Havens. Topically he is capable of delivering messages about difficult developments in the human predicament in the most soothing ways. Almost seeing the challenge in having the courage to challenge oneself. His voice is like reassuring friend willing to listen. Guitarist Paul Williams fills the piece with some beautiful leads.

The Bop Shop 3.10.24 -Nina Simone-

nina simone, “brown baby”

from: nina at the village gate, 1962

Brown Baby Brown Baby
As you grow up I want you to drink from the plenty cup
I want you to stand up tall and proud
And I want you to speak up clear and loud
Brown Baby Brown Baby Brown Baby
As years go by I want you to go with your head up high
I want you to live by the justice code
And I want you to walk down freedom’s road
You little Brown Baby
Lie away sleeping lie away safe in my arms
Till your daddy and you mama protect you
And keep you safe from harm
Brown Baby
It makes me glad you gonna have things that I never had
When out of men’s heart all hate is hurled
Sweetie you gonna live in a better world
Brown Baby Brown Baby Brown Baby
— Oscar Brown Jr.

The full extent of high quality material largely unknown from the career of Ms. Simone is perhaps to be expected. Her star has long since risen and set. But one of the fun aspects of The Bop Shop is the opportunity to go further exploring down the waiting avenues of forgotten songs. Here’s one that finds her in 1962 at the very epicenter of Black emancipation through identity appreciation.

The Bop Shop 3.10.24 -Special Announcement- The Bop Shop Returns to Every Day!

Due to unpopular demand beginning March 15, the birthday of Ry Cooder, The Bop Shop will again arrive in your mailbox daily. The space between publication days has been too intolerable with so much music there is to share among ourselves. And so, if you would like to share your favorites, it’s easy. Jot down a few lines about the piece and email it along. Off we keep going!

The New Orleans Shotgun House Dilapidatsio!

Ry Cooder
He’s a real straight shooter
Is that Ry Cooder?
So laid back and exact in his attack of the discipline
Like a cat I wonder what bag he’s next going to get in
He’s a real shapeshifter
Better call him Mister
”Uh, Mister Cooder?”
English rocker’s all the money goes right up their nose
While Ry just smiles
And tries another difficult yoga pose
He’s a real straight spiner
Gold song 49er
He freed Cuba with a Buena Vista
Him and them, and it turned me on to old Kim Sinh
And remember those licks he played on Chicken Skin
Now imagine him laying a part down right here
Where the song grows thin
Drawing all the listeners who tuned out right back in
He’s a real sidekicker
And a mighty good leader
In and out of so many bags
A recent mandolin with bluegrass Ricky Skaggs
— B.C.

The Bop Shop 3.10.24 - Miles Davis-

miles davis “autumn leaves”

from: ballads and blues, 1950

Blackbird

(Miles Davis, 1926–1991)

This is what heroin must feel like—

Miles Davis exacting

his way through “Autumn Leaves”—

pretty and cold, a slowly spreading frost

along synapses and veins,

mapping interstellar darkness

one blue note at a time. Sometimes you could hear

him thinking through the changes

like he was hunting himself, relentless

and without mercy, then a burst of blue

flame, squeezing the Harmon mute like a man screaming

from the bottom of a mine shaft—

but however brightly the darkness glows,

it is still darkness, and Miles was a blackbird

on a field of snow, beautiful, distant, quiet—

and however many steps you take to meet him he flies

ten more feet away.

-Gary West-

The Bop Shop 3.8.24 - Moyun-

moyum, “hotel california”

from: you tube

I never owned any of the Eagles’ multi-million selling records. They just weren’t my cup of tea. Hotel California was one of their many hits. But I doubt they ever would have guessed that a mysterious Chinese musician named Moyun would have a video with over 11 million views featuring their song on a tape loop and the zheng, a plucked zither.

-Alan West-

On a dark desert highway
Cool wind in my hair
Warm smell of colitas
Rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance
I saw a shimmering light
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
I had to stop for the night

There she stood in the doorway
I heard the mission bell
And I was thinkin’ to myself
”This could be Heaven or this could be Hell”
Then she lit up a candle
And she showed me the way
There were voices down the corridor
I thought I heard them say

”Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place (Such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Any time of year (Any time of year)
You can find it here”

Her mind is Tiffany-twisted
She got the Mercedes Benz, uh
She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys
That she calls friends
How they dance in the courtyard
Sweet summer sweat
Some dance to remember
Some dance to forget

So I called up the Captain
”Please bring me my wine”
He said, “We haven’t had that spirit here
Since 1969”
And still those voices are callin’
From far away
Wake you up in the middle of the night
Just to hear them say

”Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place (Such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face
They livin’ it up at the Hotel California
What a nice surprise (What a nice surprise)
Bring your alibis”

Mirrors on the ceiling
The pink champagne on ice, and she said
”We are all just prisoners here
Of our own device”
And in the master’s chambers
They gathered for the feast
They stab it with their steely knives
But they just can’t kill the beast

Last thing I remember, I was
Running for the door
I had to find the passage back
To the place I was before
”Relax,” said the night man
”We are programmed to receive
You can check out any time you like
But you can never leave”

Don Henley, Don Felder & Glenn Frey

The Bop Shop 3.6.24 -Small Faces-

small faces, “itchycoo park”

from: there are but four small faces, 1967

Over bridge of sighs
To rest my eyes in shades of green
Under dreamin’ spires
To Itchycoo Park, that’s where I’ve been

What did you do there?
I got high
What did you feel there?
Well I cried
But why the tears there?
I’ll tell you why

It’s all too beautiful
It’s all too beautiful
It’s all too beautiful
It’s all too beautiful

I feel inclined to blow my mind
Get hung up, feed the ducks with a bun
They all come out to groove about
Be nice and have fun in the sun

I tell you what I’ll do (what will you do?)
I’d like to go there now with you
You can miss out school (won’t that be cool)
Why go to learn the words of fools?

What will we do there?
We’ll get high
What will we touch there?
We’ll touch the sky
But why the tears then?
I’ll tell you why

It’s all too beautiful
It’s all too beautiful
It’s all too beautiful
It’s all too beautiful


I feel inclined to blow my mind
Get hung up, feed the ducks with a bun
They all come out to groove about
Be nice and have fun in the sun

It’s all too beautiful
It’s all too beautiful
It’s all too beautiful
Ha! It’s all too beautiful
It’s all too beautiful
It’s all too beautiful
It’s all too beautiful
It’s all too beautiful

— Ronnie Lane & Steve Marriott

What makes a strong song? Perhaps the catchy chorus – “the answer my friends is blowin’ in the wind” – the melody, the emotion, the power of the lyric?

Itchycoo Park is about getting high, going to a park and then…being blown away by the beauty? The song was the first to use a electro-mechanical studio process called flanging in which two synchronized tape copies of a finished recording were played simultaneously into a third master recorder, and by manually retarding the rotation of one of the two tape reels by pressing on the flanges, a skilled engineer could subtly manipulate the phase difference between the two sources, creating the lush 'swooshing' phase effect that sweeps up and down the frequency range. The original single version was mixed and mastered in mono, and the phasing effect is more pronounced in the mono mix than in the later stereo mix.

-Alan West-

              Small Faces Members in 1967

 

Steve Marriott – lead and backing vocals, guitar

Ronnie Lane – backing vocals, bass

Ian McLagan – backing vocals, organ, piano

Kenney Jones – drums, percussion

The Bop Shop 3.3.24 -Reed Foehl-

reed foeh, “wild wild love”

from: wild, wild, love, 2024

Mr. Foehl is not a household name but has a bevy of quality recordings out. Had a chance to see him with a crack band in Western Mass recently including the great guitarist Jefferson Hammer. This small anthem creeps up on you as perhaps a quiet reminder of our many oft unappreciated gifts. Gem of a writer worthy of your investigation.

I got old songs showing up like best friends
Out on the weekend on the radio
just like “Sam Stone” or “Hallelujah”
They give you what you need

All this wild love
Staring at the botton of a well
Looking for one way out
All this wild love look around look at all this wild

January blew through the springtime
The winds from the north still fell in time
All these memories showing up like enemies which cast their anger for to long

All this wild love
Staring at the bottom of a well
looking for one way out
All this wild love look around
look at all this wild, wild love

On the back porch telling stories of how they got there with a pipe and a dream
And how a little bit of love goes quite a long way

— R.F.

Mr. Foehl’s graphic insignia for wild wild love!

The Bop Shop 3.1.24 -Adrianne Lenker-

adrianne lenker, “sadness as a gift”

from:bright future, 2024

Two
A one, two, three, four
You and I both know
There is nothing more to say
Chance has shut her shining eyes
And turned her face away
Leaning on the windowsill
You could write me someday, and I think you will
We could see the sadness as a gift and still
Feel too heavy to hold
Snow fallin’
I try to keep from callin’
Watch the spring turn to winter
Fireflies all frozen
The seasons go so fast
Thinking that this one was gonna last
Maybe the question was too much to ask
Been searching for your eyes
All I see is blue skies
And that old man beats his crooked cane
It’s time to let go
Leaning on the windowsill
You could write me someday, and I bet you will
We could see the sadness as a gift and still
The seasons go so fast
Thinking that this one was gonna last
Maybe the question was too much to ask
You and I could see into the same eternity
Every second brimming with a majesty
Oh, kiss so sweet, so fine
You could hear the music inside my mind
And you showed me a place
I’ll find even when I’m old
Just leaning on the windowsill
You could write me someday, and I hope you will
We could see the sadness as a gift and still
The seasons go so fast
Thinking that this one was gonna last
Maybe the question was too much to ask
— A.L.

What a truly sweet sentimental prayer this song quietly drifts. There are some places that only poetic language can take us. Away from the stuffy chains of reason and into the less sung portions of our being close to out of reach. Ms Lenker is associated with the Brooklyn based group Big Thief.

The Bop Shop 2.28.24 -Mason Williams

mason williams, “overture”& “baroque a nova”

from; The mason williams phonograph record, 1968

The Mason Williams Phonograph Record was released in February 1968 around the time I was 12. The album included the instrumental “Classical Gas”, a huge hit featuring Williams on guitar backed by the Wrecking Crew. If you’re reading this you’re likely familiar with the tune but unaware that it was originally named “Classical Gasoline”. The album also included a life size poster of the Greyhound Bus shown on the cover. Three million copies sold and three Grammys.

Still with us at age 85, Williams other credits include an Emmy Award for comedy writing on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour where he developed the character of Pat Paulsen and hired an up and coming comedy writer named Steve Martin. He also has writing credits for Andy Williams, Glen Campbell, Dinah Shore, Roger Miller and Petula Clark. There was a brief stint as head writer for NBC’s Saturday Night Live in 1980*.

I suppose the album came into our house due to the popularity of “Classical Gas” but I loved listening to nearly all of the other tracks on the album. (Track 9, “The Prince’s Panties” would not be played on air today.) The opening “Overture” is a brief powerful statement of what’s to come. “All the Time” and “She’s Gone Away” are catchy pop tunes with great orchestral arrangements. “Long Time Blues” is a maudlin masterpiece.

For me, Mason Williams is much more than the “Classical Gas” guy. Hopefully The Bop Shop will spread some of that message. And if all you listen to is the above-mentioned Track 9, any disappointment or confusion is well deserved.

Steve Hart

The Bop Shop 2.25.24 -Jackie Wilson-

jaCKIE WILSON, “LONELY TEARDROPS”

from:lonely teardrops. 1959

“Mr. Excitement” was the consummate entertainer who influenced many artists including James Brown, Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley. It was reported that he believed sweating caused “the chicks to love it.” He would take salt pills and drink a great deal of water prior to performing and in 1975 this led to him having a massive heart attack on stage. He never fully recovered and died from pneumonia at 49.

Does anyone else see a bit of Jackie in the antics of Alfonso Ribeiro?

=Alan West-

My heart is crying, crying
Lonely teardrops
My pillow’s never dry of lonely teardrops
Come home, come home
Just say you will, say you will
(Say you will) say you will (say you will)
Hey, hey (say you will)
My heart is crying, crying
Lonely teardrops
My pillow’s never dry of lonely teardrops
Come home, come home
Just say you will, say you will
(Say you will) say you will, (say you will)
Hey, hey (say you will)
Just give me another chance for our romance
Come on and tell me that one day you’ll return
’Cause, every day that you’ve been gone away
You know my heart does nothing but burn, crying
Lonely teardrops
My pillow’s never dry of lonely teardrops
Come home, come home
Just say you will, say you will
(Say you will) say you will, (say you will)
Hey, hey (say you will)
Say it right now, baby
(Say you will) come on, come on
(Say you will) say that you
Say it right now, baby
(Say you will) come on, come on
(Say you will) hey come on
— by Berry Gordy Jr., Gwen Gordy and Roquel "Billy" Davis

The Bop Shop 2.23.24 -Peter Case-

peter case, “all dressed up for trial”

from: Hw 62, 2016

I ventured out to see the great Peter Case not that long ago and was richly rewarded, especially when he did this song live on 12 string guitar! It was as if the entire Who band from the 60’s had stepped on stage, and he was able singularly, to equal the full powers of their sound! With all the trials swirling around us, it is good to have his incisive anatomical portrait of the curious wheels of justice spinning cosmically onward.

Put on my cousin’s suit and old blue tie
Shine my shoes and said goodbye
Today at noon I’ll know the tale
Will I go free or back to jail
Well I’m all dressed up
I’m all dressed up for trial

Never hurt nobody else
No one knows the way I felt
Now in the care of the public d
fender says I should cop a plea
And I’m all dressed up
I’m all dressed up for trial

The PFO was wait around
They all assume I’m jailhouse bound
I’ll tell the truth if that won’t help
I’m terrified to be myself

They listen in to smoke me out
The court says there’s no room for doubt
A witness lied, the jury coughed
The judge got scared she’d look too soft
And I’m all dressed up
I’m all dressed up for trial

My lawyer says there’s a railroad down
to prison from my side of town
They saw my face and read my skin
The colors say I’m goin in

The wheels and gears of justice grind
But justice still gets left behind
So when you see me on the street
Your heart don’t have to skip a beat
Cause I’m all dressed up for trial

A higher court will now decide who gets judged for real this time
And I’m all dressed up,
I’m all dressed up for trial
— Peter Case

The Bop Shop 2.21.24-Ry Cooder-

ry cooder, “you must unload”

from: the prodical son, 2018

Now you fashion-loving christians sure give me the blues
You must unload, you must unload
You’ll never get to heaven in your jewel-encrusted high-heel shoes
You must, you must unload
For the way is straight and narrow and few are in the road
Brothers and sisters, there is no other hope
If you’d like to get to heaven and watch eternity unfold
You must, you must unload
And you money-loving christians, you refuse to pay your share
You must unload, you must unload
Trying to get to heaven on the cheapest kind of fare
You must, you must unload
And you power-loving christians in your fancy dining cars
You must unload, you must unload
We see you drinking whiskey and smoking big cigars
You must, you must unload
And you power-loving christians in your fancy dining cars
You must unload, you must unload
We see you drinking whiskey and smoking big cigars
You must, you must unload
— Blind Alfreed Reed

Mr. Reed

In the stinky murky depths of agnosta-atheisma songs like this must surely stick in the craw! Who knows when in history trust in the divine mysterious bit the dust. Wonders like the discovery of fire and the invention of the screw fell prey to all the trouble from the neck up. Any excuse for presenting Ry Cooder’s versions of any gospel classic summon the enduring sacredity clinging wearily to our existence.

Ry likes to restore old ice cream trucks!

The Bop Shop 2.18.24 -Lucinda Williams/Charles Lloyd-

lucinda williams/charles lloyd, “unlock my love”

from: vanished gardens, 2018

Lucinda Williams (vocals) Charles Lloyd (sax), Bill Frisell (guitar), Greg Leisz (pedal steel) Reuben Rogers (bass), Eric Harland (drums)

The Marvels weave a perfect tapestry for Lucinda's seductive plea.  A gentle hammock under her restless pain

She vanishes and their tapestry begins to unravel. loyd's mournful howls, Frissel's electro-pizicatto loops, Leisz's steel waves, and Harland's bop chops become a trippy jam that no dead-head could have seen coming. But wait - Lucinda's back (or perhaps her ghost).  Words fail her and she slips into the weave - unsuffered?

-Bill Boehm-

 

Unlock my love
And set me free
Come fill me up
With ecstasy
Surround my heartbeat
With your fingertips
Unbound my feet
Untie my wrists
Come into my world
Of loneliness
And wickedness
And bitterness
Unlock my love
Unsuffer me
Take away the pain
Unbruise, unbloody
Wash away the stain
Anoint my head
With your sweet kiss
My joy is dead
I long for bliss
I long for knowledge
Whispered in my ear
Undo my logic
Undo my fear
Unsuffer me
Unlock my love
And set me free
Come fill me up
With ecstasy
Unsuffer me
Take away the pain
Unbruise, unbloody
Wash away the stain
Surround my heartbeat
With your fingertips
Unbound my feet
Untie my wrists
Come into my world
Of loneliness
And wickedness
And bitterness
Anoint my head
With your sweet kiss
My joy is dead
I long for bliss
I long for knowledge
Whispered in my ear
Undo my logic
Undo my fear
Unsuffer me
— L.W.

The Bop Shop 2.16.24 - Leo Kottke-

leo kottke, “jack gets up'“

from: my father’s face, 1989

Everyday in the morning when you get up and you crawl out of bed
And you crawl out of bed and you crawl out of bed
Everyday in the morning when you get up and you crawl out of bed
And you look at the moon where the window is
And the stars shine, and the stars shine, and the stars shine
Everyday in the morning when you get up and you crawl out of bed

And way down below in the sun belt
And the telephones, and the telephone, and the telephones
And you look out the moon where the window is
Everyday in the morning when you get up and you crawl out of bed

And some of us breathe in the brown ground
Where the worms clown, where the worms clown, where the worms clown
Way down below in the sun belt
Everyday in the morning when you get up and you crawl out of bed

And every night when you lay down
You fall flat, you fall flat, you fall flat
Some of us breathe in the brown ground
Everyday in the morning when you get up and you crawl out of bed

So we’re asleep in the same dream
In the snort fort, the snort fort, the snort fort
And every night when you lay down
Everyday in the morning when you get up and you crawl out of bed

Santa Claus modified snow peas
On the sun roofs, on the sun roofs, on the sun roofs
So we’re asleep in the same dream
Everyday in the morning when you get up and you crawl out of bed

If you look in the mirror it’s your father’s face
And the thin grin, the thin grin, the thin grin
It’s Santa Claus pulling up snow peas
Everyday in the morning when you get up and you crawl out of bed

And there’s tears in the bank and the credit card
In the back yard, in the back yard, in the back yard
If you look in the mirror it’s your father’s face
Everyday in the morning when you get up and you crawl out of bed

And once in a while when the wind blows
And the heart winds, and the heart winds, and the heart winds
There’s tears in the bank and a credit card
Everyday in the morning when you get up and you crawl out of bed

But there’s lint in the pocket and a breath mint
Or a car key, or a car key, or a car key
Once in a while when the wind blows
Everyday in the morning when you get up and you crawl out of bed

And your kid has a face like a walnut
From the ice cream, from the ice cream, from the ice cream
But there’s lint in the pocket and a breath mint
Everyday in the morning when you get up and you crawl out of bed

Everyday in the morning when you get up and you crawl out of bed
Everyday in the morning when you get up and you crawl out of bed
— Leo Kottke

I love this tune and I love nonsensical, to me at least, lyrics, like:

“And your kid has a face like a walnut

From the ice cream, from the ice cream, from the ice cream”

And

“So we're asleep in the same dream

In the snort fort, the snort fort, the snort fort”

And, finally

” Santa Claus modified snow peas

On the sun roofs, on the sun roofs, on the sun roofs”

And the kicker for me had always been:

“If you look in the mirror it's your father's face

Everyday in the morning when you get up and you crawl out of bed”

 -Gary West-

The Bop Shop 2.14.24 -The Carpenters-

the carpenters, “(they long to be) close to you”

from: Close to You, 1970

Why do birds suddenly appear
Every time you are near?
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you
Why do stars fall down from the sky
Every time you walk by?
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you
On the day that you were born the angels got together
And decided to create a dream come true
So they sprinkled moon dust in your hair of gold
And starlight in your eyes of blue
That is why all the girls in town
Follow you all around
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you
On the day that you were born the angels got together
And decided to create a dream come true
So they sprinkled moon dust in your hair of gold
And starlight in your eyes of blue
That is why all the girls in town
Follow you all around
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you
Wa, close to you
Wa, close to you
Ha, close to you
La, close to you
— Burt Bacharach & Hal David

Even a song approaching perfection may come up the hard way. Burt Bacharach and Hal David co-wrote “They Long to Be Close to You” in ‘63 followed by disappointing recordings by Richard Chamberlain and Dionne Warwick in ’63 and Dusty Springfield in ’64.

The Carpenter’s recording of the song, renamed “(They Long to Be) Close to You”, arrived May 14, 1970, immediately becoming a chart topping smash. Although Karen possessed credible percussion chops, the novelty was abandoned on this recording in favor of The Wrecking Crew with Hal Blaine on drums and Karen featured on lead and backing vocals. Karen’s brother Richard, the pop duo’s keyboardist, refined the arrangement with Bacharach resulting in the aforementioned approach towards perfection, and possibly (I’d like to think) leaving Bacharach weeping in the studio.

From the standpoint of a boy or man craving attention from the opposite sex, the lyrics ARE perfection. (Or whatever comes after that.) An uncontrollable, magnetic attraction to be close. No discussion of kissing, hugging or holding hands. The feeling of being desired may be better than being loved. And given the complexity of the word love, it’s a hell of a lot more fun.

-Steve Hart-

Bacharach & David

The Bop Shop 2.11.24 -Toumani Diabate-

toumani diabate, “elyne road”

from: the mande variations,

Solo music for the 21 stringed harp-lute, the kora, is not for everyone. In the hands of a master, it is a transformative journey to the heart of creativity. Toumani is widely considered the greatest kora player of his generation and this album is one of his finest, though one would be hard pressed to find any that are not outstanding.

Toumani said this about Elyne Road

“This is my own composition and it’s my first recording of it. The melody was inspired by UB40’s recording of the song Kingston Town that I first heard when I spent time in London in the late 80’s, as I listened, I heard a Bamana phrase in my head that fit to the melody. “You are as beautiful as the honey that sweetens porridge.’  I decided to call it Elyne Road after a street in North London where I played it – one memorable night.”

-Alan West-

The Bop Shop 2.9.24 -US 69-

us 69, “yesterdays folks”

from: yesterdays folks, 1969

I can remember when your daddy used to be a preacher
He used to set you on his knee and tell you things
But now years’ve gone by and your daddy can hardly reach you
Ever since the first time that you heard your birdy song
Your mama’s worried ‘bout your family’s reputation
You live on top of the hill and you got a good name
Your mama don’t understand that you come from a generation
That’s gettin’ sick ‘n tired of that silly social game
Can’t tell the woman nothin’ cause her mind don’t think the same
Soon you’ll be old enough to move out on your own
Then you can have the chance to see who you really are
It’s awfully sad that your mama and your papa are so alone
But they can’t help themselves they haven’t traveled very far
Maybe someday they’ll get there but it ain’t gonna be by car
I got lots of good friends, people who wanna help you
Let me introduce you to my friends
People with good vibrations ain’t no hesitations
They have found the secret to a love that never ends
Matter o’ fact it’s just the beginning
Take a look around you, you can see it in the air
And all the old folks of yesterday wonder why we’re grinning
They’re all hung up on things like war n’ phony hair
You’d better leave them behind you cause those people don’t really care
— Bil Durso

The name of the band(US '69) had a quick expiration date (But what are we gonna do in 1970?) and their Buddah Lp stands as a masterpiece of soulful, funky psychedelia. More sophisticated than the Garage Bands of the time, both in terms of the song writing and arrangements, this album went straight from the pressing plant to the cut-out bins. It was also released on Quad 8-track and Playtape ( talk about an obsolete format), which indicates that the record company thought they might have a hit on their hands.

I don't believe the record has ever caught the ear of the musical archeologists who have exhumed many an inferior artifact and elevated them to collector's status. Being from Connecticut may not have helped.

commentary by Roberto Jimenez, reviewer.

The Bop Shop 1.7.24 -Zephyr-

zephyr, no time lonesome

from: sunset ride, 1972

Used to play this a lot in the early 70’s while talkin’ a lot of trash.

““No Time Lonesome,” which has all of the heartbreak of a Hank Williams song, features a lovely, unexpected violin break by Bobby Notkoff, known for his work with Neil Young.”

(I apologize for any inaccuracy in the lyrics. There are a couple of lines that are a little difficult to discern.)

 -Gary West-

Lookin’ out my window at the
Mountains in the sun
Feelin’ fine, just killin’ time
Thinkin’ of someone thinkin’ of you
There’s nothing I would rather do
I’m in love with you baby
I’m in love with you baby
And I know I wanna spend no time alone
No time lonesome

It’s been so long since I saw you yesterday
Guess that’s because it’s been so long
Since I felt this way feelin’ this way
Tell me this time you’re gonna stay
I’m in love with you baby
I’m in love with you baby
And I know I wanna spend no time alone
No time lonesome

It may have looked like I was
Happy but my heart was concealed
Been smokin’ hash, just talkin’ trash
Wishing things felt real
Since you’ve been gone I’ve forgotten how to laugh
I’m in love with you baby
I’m in love with you baby
And I know I wanna spend no time alone
No time lonesome