A Few of My Favorite Things
What I like to listen to while writing these newsletters...
I’m busy this week getting ready to co-host the annual Joey Ramone Birthday Bash (JRBB)—with the one-and-only Ramones Tour Manager Monte A. Melnick, Ramones’ t-shirt model extraordinaire Debra “Raffles” Trizzini and the ever-popular Rob Russo. The JRBB has been put together every year since 2000 by Mickey Leigh and produced by Peter Aschner and Mitch “Bubbles” Keller. It’s always great fun to work with the crew, the musicians and to hang out with Ramones fans, many who travel from far away to attend.
This 23rd annual Joey Ramone Birthday Bash is special: The Ramones were together for 22 years, which is a very long time for any band. For me, it’s difficult to comprehend that this event has been held longer than the band was together. Kudos to Mickey Leigh for keeping it together for all these years.
Before I begin, please check out my blog:
I wrote a long post about the song “Strung Out Johnny” from the new Iggy Pop LP Every Loser where I give all the details about the above Bruce Carleton drawing. John Spacely, was PUNK magazine’s Publisher for a short time, but for some reason has a much longer Wikipedia page than most of us. Bruce’s backstory of the drawing is very interesting (although sordid as hell).
This week I thought I’d write a list of some of my favorite 1970s songs (besides The Ramones and other obvious punk rocks), since the blog post about Spacely took up most of my time this week. And yes, they are mostly cover versions…
“Milk Cow Blues” by The Pirates, from their LP Out of Their Skulls
Usually no one visits the links I put in this newsletter, but this time I hope you check out THIS song in particular. Lead Guitarist Mick Green played in the original Johnny Kidd & the Pirates, one of the first English bands to enjoy a hit record (“Shakin’ All Over” in 1960) before The Beatles helped create the British Invasion a few years later. Green reformed the band in 1976 and Out of Our Skulls was released in 1977 at the height of Sex Pistols madness in the UK.
Listen carefully to his guitar playing: This is a trio! Drums, bass and guitar ONLY. Mick Green plays lead AND rhythm guitar at the same time! The whole album is great, so check it out if you like this track. I had the pleasure of seeing the band in 1979 at Hurrah’s (New York City’s first “New Wave Disco”), and they were a great live band.
“Get Out of Denver” by Eddie and the Hot Rods, from their EP: Live at the Marquee
In 1975, Eddie and the Hot Rods were written-up in the English press as the top English punk rock band. Apparently this changed during their set at the Marquee when their EP (which also contains cover versions of “96 Tears” and “Gloria/Satisfaction”) was being recorded: The Sex Pistols were the opening act. Violence ensued. From then on, thanks to the English music press the Pistols were “punk rock” while bands like Eddie and the Hot Rods became “pub rock.”
When Mary Harron told me that she was visiting England in the summer of 1976, she asked if there were any punk bands worth interviewing, and I said: “Eddie and the Hot Rods, the Damned and the Sex Pistols.” She did great interviews with all three of them.
“Kick Out The Jams” by Blue Oyster Cult, from their album: Some Enchanted Evening
Before the Ramones and the Dictators, my favorite bands were the Alice Cooper Group (his solo stuff: Eh!) and Blue Oyster Cult: Both were amazing live acts who also delivered some great studio recordings. This song shows that Blue Oyster Cult could punk rock as well as anybody. (Yeah, sorry all you latecomers and pop-punks who weren’t born yet: MC5 were punk rock. “Proto-punk” is a meaningless, bullshit term.)
Blue Oyster Cult need their own chapter in any book about: “Who created punk rock?” Their lyricists included Richard Meltzer (in my opinion he was the most influential writer on punk over Lester Bangs), Patti Smith and Helen Wheels. Their management team discovered The Dictators and got them signed to CBS Records, resulting in their first LP.
For the song “ME 262” (about the end of World War Two from a German’s point of view), the guitar solo featured all five members playing guitars at the same time! That was an amazing thing to see. It resulted in a crowd riot when they played Central Park in the summer of 1975! Check out their double live LP On Your Feet or On Your Knees (especially the last side, where they also cover the Yardbirds and Steppenwolf’s “Born To Be Wild”). BOC are an underrated rock ’n’ roll band.
“Gimme Some Truth” by Generation X, from their self-titled debut LP
When it comes to John Lennon’s solo career, a lot of people seem to love “Imagine”. I hate that f’n song! Rock ’n’ rollers prefer “Gimme Some Truth”. I think Generation X was the first punk band to cover a Beatles’ tune.
A lot of people were down on Generation X in 1977 because they were “too slick” and professional, and some people thought Billy Idol was too good looking or something stupid like that. I always thought they were one of the best English punk rock bands.
“Riot in Cell Block Number Nine” by Dr. Feelgood, from their LP: Malpractice
When Lisa Robinson asked me to review the first Ramones album for Hit Parader magazine (my one and only record review printed in a mainstream music mag), her husband Richard showed me this Dr. Feelgood LP and said that this was his favorite new album. (Hardly anyone loved The Ramones the way PUNK magazine did back in 1976!)
Later, he showed the now-famous video recorded at Arturo’s loft, which captures what it was like to see them live at CBGB. This was many years before MTV, so watching them on a large-screen TV set was an eye-opening experience. I had never seen a full set by a rock band on video before! Richard even had a video of The Ramones getting booed off the stage when they opened for Johnny Winter on July 11, 1975 in Wallingford, Connecticut. (This was a big reason I figured I would like the band and convinced me to go see them a month later at CBGB in the summer of 1975).
Just a few months later on May 11, 1976 I had a great seat at The Bottom Line when The Ramones opened for Dr. Feelgood! It was one of the first times The Ramones played a “showcase” gig. (The Bottom Line was a popular record industry venue). The Feelgoods were amazing, and The Ramones were a great opening act for them. Of course, the New York Times didn’t know what was going on.
“Kissing’ Cousins” by The Saints, from their debut LP: (I’m) Stranded
Whenever the (ridiculous) arguments begin about “who was the first punk band/did it start in London or New York City” etc. I like to point out that The Saints were from Australia and had “The Record of the Year” according to Englands Sounds newspaper (which was more punk rock than Melody Maker of the New Musical Express).
“Stay With Me” by The Dictators, from their album Bloodbrothers
A lot of people think this is the best song by The Dictators, but I have problems deciding which some I like the best.
Of course, as you probably already know their first album The Dictators Go Girl Crazy inspired the start of PUNK magazine, and like PUNK, we’ve both issued new material over the years but are mostly remembered for what we produced in the 1970s.
That’s all for now. Hope you enjoy the music!
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You got good taste! Thanks for the comment. Yeah, it was difficult to pick out the "best" song from those albums. I like "Lonesome Train" by the Pirates as much as "Milk Cow Blues", for instance.
Let me know when the Ramonas are playing in the East Village, OK?
Mr H, I don't visit the links only because of course In already own, treasure and play regularly all the above excellent songs! Tho much as I love Kissin' Cousins, the Saints 'Wild About You' might be the best cover version ever, or maybe I mean 'Lipstick On Your Collar' or River Deep, Mountain High on 1-2-3-4 EP ... Have a blast at the Birthday Bash, see the Ramonas if you can!