Started in 1982 at the Crazy Loquat Club in a Balkan town called Szegerely, the 3 Mustaphas 3 went "Forward in all directions" after being transported to Britain in refrigerators. My favorite albums were "Bam! Mustaphas Play Stereo" (1985) and "Shopping" (1987).
The Mustaphas brought a rock & roll attitude to world music before the explosion of the genre. There weren't many artists doing anything like this back in the late eighties.
The title is Arabic for "My Darling, My Sweetheart".
"Can we take it to the fridge? Let me take it to the fridge!"
30 April 2012
26 April 2012
Songs I Wish I Wrote: "Poor Jenny" by the Everly Brothers
On the first day of school, or a new job, my Dad would always say "First impressions are lasting impressions." I guess that goes for first dates too. This brilliant song is about a first date gone wrong. The original version has the fight breaking out at 1am, but was changed to 10 pm, I guess because one might ask what a "good girl" was doing out that late. My dad gave me his original 45 when I was a kid, and it made an impression.
The single was the B-Side of "Take a Message to Mary" and made it to #22 on the American charts. It was written by prolific husband and wife duo Boudleaux and Felice Bryant, who brought us other Everly hits like "Bye Bye Love" and "All I Have to Do is Dream" as well as "Raining in My Heart" (Buddy Holly) and 3000 other songs. Boudleaux passed away in 1987 and Felice passed away in 2003 in Gatlinburg, TN, where she and her husband owned and operated the Rocky Top Village Inn.
I took my little Jenny to a party last night
At ten o`clock (one o'clock) it ended in a heckuva fight
When someone hit my Jenny she went out like a light
Poor Jenny
And then some joker went and called the cops on the phone
So everybody scattered out for places unknown
I couldn`t carry Jenny so I left her alone
Poor Jenny
Well Jenny had her picture in the paper this mornin`
She made it with a bang
Accordin` to the story in the paper this mornin`
Jenny is the leader of a teenage gang
Jenny has a brother and he`s hot on my trail
Her daddy wants to ride me out of town on a rail
I hope I`ll be around when Jenny gets out of jail
Poor Jenny
I went downtown to see her, she was locked in a cell
She wasn`t very glad to see me, that I could tell
In fact, to tell the truth, she wasn`t lookin` too well
Poor Jenny
Her eye was black, her face was red, her hair was a fright
She looked as though she`d been a`cryin` half of the night
I told her I was sorry, she said `Get out of sight`
Poor Jenny
It seems a shame that Jenny had to go get apprehended, a heckuva fate
This party was the first one she ever had attended
It had to happen on our very first date
Jenny has a brother and he`s hot on my trail
Her daddy wants to ride me out of town on a rail
I hope I`ll be around when Jenny gets out of jail
Poor Jenny
Here's an early unreleased version:
24 April 2012
Influences: The Residents
Most fans of Vladimir's Universe know only the guitar & drums incarnation from the Cross Street Station, or perhaps the short-lived four piece band. One earlier version featured me singing along to 3 channel 8-bit electronic compositions using my Commodore 64. The earliest version of "Purity of Essence" was recorded this way. The biggest influence on my approach to music at that phase would be the Residents.
They were known for their iconic eyeball heads and carefully guarded anonymity. The earliest Residents recordings grew out of N. Senada's "Theory of Obscurity" which believes that an artist can only produce pure art when the expectations and influences of the outside world are not taken into consideration. As for the lyrics, they used N. Senada's "Theory of Phonetic Organization" in which the musician puts the sounds first, building the music up from them rather than developing the music, then working down to the sounds that make it up.
The first song I can remember hearing by the Residents was "Constantinople" from the 1978 album "Duck Stab". I was probably around 10 at the time and it left a major impression. I would hear more tunes by them over the years, usually on the CBC's Brave New Waves radio programme.
My favorite album would have to be the "Commercial Album", which featured 40 one minute songs. Guest artists included Chris Cutler, Fred Frith, Snakefinger, Lene Lovich, and even Andy Partridge of XTC.
I'm sure I sent a demo or two to Ralph Records, the label they started. Some of my other favorite artists associated with Ralph include the Art Bears, Snakefinger, Eugene Chadbourne, and Fred Frith. When I moved to San Francisco in 1991 one of the first places I went to was their building at 18 Sycamore St. in the Mission District but was disappointed to find it locked with no one home.
They were known for their iconic eyeball heads and carefully guarded anonymity. The earliest Residents recordings grew out of N. Senada's "Theory of Obscurity" which believes that an artist can only produce pure art when the expectations and influences of the outside world are not taken into consideration. As for the lyrics, they used N. Senada's "Theory of Phonetic Organization" in which the musician puts the sounds first, building the music up from them rather than developing the music, then working down to the sounds that make it up.
The first song I can remember hearing by the Residents was "Constantinople" from the 1978 album "Duck Stab". I was probably around 10 at the time and it left a major impression. I would hear more tunes by them over the years, usually on the CBC's Brave New Waves radio programme.
My favorite album would have to be the "Commercial Album", which featured 40 one minute songs. Guest artists included Chris Cutler, Fred Frith, Snakefinger, Lene Lovich, and even Andy Partridge of XTC.
I'm sure I sent a demo or two to Ralph Records, the label they started. Some of my other favorite artists associated with Ralph include the Art Bears, Snakefinger, Eugene Chadbourne, and Fred Frith. When I moved to San Francisco in 1991 one of the first places I went to was their building at 18 Sycamore St. in the Mission District but was disappointed to find it locked with no one home.
20 April 2012
"Yawlidi" by Souad Massi
If Chrissy Hynde was born in Algeria, I'm sure this is what the Pretenders would sound like. Souad plays acoustic guitar and often sings country music in Arabic. This is a good driving song
"Yawlidi" means "My Boy" and the song is from a mother singing to her son.
You must get up early, my boy
And go run off to school, my boy
To become learned and educated, my boy
And be better than all the other kids, my boy
And as you get older, my boy
May your mind remain strong, my boy
And may you understand the world, my boy
Until you have a strong personality, my boy
You must get up, get up, early my boy
May you be proud, my boy
And choose whom you talk to and who you don't, my boy
And anyone that upsets you, stay away from him, my boy
And anyone that upsets you, stay away from him, my boy
May you be able to wreak havoc, my boy
And when things get serious, battle
You must get up, get up, early my boy
"Yawlidi" means "My Boy" and the song is from a mother singing to her son.
You must get up early, my boy
And go run off to school, my boy
To become learned and educated, my boy
And be better than all the other kids, my boy
And as you get older, my boy
May your mind remain strong, my boy
And may you understand the world, my boy
Until you have a strong personality, my boy
You must get up, get up, early my boy
May you be proud, my boy
And choose whom you talk to and who you don't, my boy
And anyone that upsets you, stay away from him, my boy
And anyone that upsets you, stay away from him, my boy
May you be able to wreak havoc, my boy
And when things get serious, battle
You must get up, get up, early my boy
18 April 2012
Songs I wish I wrote: "River on Fire" by Adam Again
Anyone who knows their Vlad-tunes (TM) will be familiar with the Ohio Trilogy: "Red Toledo", "Kill Me in Cleveland" and "I Don't Know which way it is to Youngstown" (bonus points to anyone who can name other Ohio references, and maybe even a "part 4" of the trilogy).
The Cuyahoga River in Cleveland caught fire in June of 1969, just four months before I was born. They used to say that the river oozed rather than flowed. The event raised awareness of environmental issues and helped get the Clean Water Act passed. I did do a song about pollution called "Fishy Fishy" featuring my brother Art who was around 4 at the time.
Randy Newman "Burn On" was about the incident, but my favorite on the topic is a 1992 song by Adam Again called "River On Fire". It uses the event as a metaphor for a relationship. I love how the haunting cello adds to the melancholy of the song.
What would you say if you knew what I was thinking?
Maybe you do, but you know not to dig too deep
What if I knew what you needed for sure?
I've seen in your eyes you need more, much more
And I could be happy, and you could be miserable
I'll grab a metaphor out of the air
The Cuyahoga River on fire
What can you say? The impossible happens
What can you settle for?
What can you live without?
I remember the night I first darkened your door
And I swore that I loved you
My heart was pure
You could be happy, and I could be miserable
My open window, a dream in the dark
My fingers, your face
A spark, a trace
I know a lot about the history of Cleveland, Ohio
Disasters that have happened there
Like the Cuyahoga River on fire
The Cuyahoga River in Cleveland caught fire in June of 1969, just four months before I was born. They used to say that the river oozed rather than flowed. The event raised awareness of environmental issues and helped get the Clean Water Act passed. I did do a song about pollution called "Fishy Fishy" featuring my brother Art who was around 4 at the time.
Randy Newman "Burn On" was about the incident, but my favorite on the topic is a 1992 song by Adam Again called "River On Fire". It uses the event as a metaphor for a relationship. I love how the haunting cello adds to the melancholy of the song.
What would you say if you knew what I was thinking?
Maybe you do, but you know not to dig too deep
What if I knew what you needed for sure?
I've seen in your eyes you need more, much more
And I could be happy, and you could be miserable
I'll grab a metaphor out of the air
The Cuyahoga River on fire
What can you say? The impossible happens
What can you settle for?
What can you live without?
I remember the night I first darkened your door
And I swore that I loved you
My heart was pure
You could be happy, and I could be miserable
My open window, a dream in the dark
My fingers, your face
A spark, a trace
I know a lot about the history of Cleveland, Ohio
Disasters that have happened there
Like the Cuyahoga River on fire
16 April 2012
Road Trip Mix Tapes
My family traveled so much when I was a kid. Usually down to the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee around Easter time. My dad would always have a box of tapes for the road. Some were made especially for the trip, usually full of upbeat songs to keep him awake. Many were hits of the fifties, but he did go through a disco phase in the late seventies (who didn't?). Sometimes he would just listen to what was on the radio to get local traffic info.
There are certain songs that make me think "ROADTRIP!" Some even take me back to a specific place, or the even car we were in. There is a groove, or a drive, that a good roadtrip song must have. Something about it pushes you forward, it echoes the anticipation in your soul, and sometimes you forget how fast you're going.
This 1980 single from Christopher Cross reached #2 on the Billboard charts and I consider it the road song that all others aspire to be. This video was from SCTV and pokes fun at how Michael McDonald was all over the radio that year as a lead and background singer.
Some other classic examples that come to mind include "Get Back" by the Beatles, "Don't Bring Me Down" by ELO, and "Green Onions" by Booker T and the MG's.
I still like to make a special mix CD for vacations or special occasions. That way when I hear the song months later it triggers a memory of that time. This song by Jens Lekman of Sweden was on a mix CD that we listened to the day after our wedding. When my wife heard it months later she said, "This reminds me of when we got married." I laughed because the song is about a guy chopping his finger off while cutting avocados.
When I travelled down to Tennessee a few years back I had a car with a USB port in the radio so I put together an eight hour playlist on my thumb drive. Some were classics that took me back to previous trips, but many were new songs that had that feel. One that will always remind me of that trip is "Keep the Car Running" by Arcade Fire:
As summer comes, if you have the luxury of taking a vacation, put together a special roadtrip mix and create a soundtrack for your memories.
There are certain songs that make me think "ROADTRIP!" Some even take me back to a specific place, or the even car we were in. There is a groove, or a drive, that a good roadtrip song must have. Something about it pushes you forward, it echoes the anticipation in your soul, and sometimes you forget how fast you're going.
This 1980 single from Christopher Cross reached #2 on the Billboard charts and I consider it the road song that all others aspire to be. This video was from SCTV and pokes fun at how Michael McDonald was all over the radio that year as a lead and background singer.
Some other classic examples that come to mind include "Get Back" by the Beatles, "Don't Bring Me Down" by ELO, and "Green Onions" by Booker T and the MG's.
I still like to make a special mix CD for vacations or special occasions. That way when I hear the song months later it triggers a memory of that time. This song by Jens Lekman of Sweden was on a mix CD that we listened to the day after our wedding. When my wife heard it months later she said, "This reminds me of when we got married." I laughed because the song is about a guy chopping his finger off while cutting avocados.
When I travelled down to Tennessee a few years back I had a car with a USB port in the radio so I put together an eight hour playlist on my thumb drive. Some were classics that took me back to previous trips, but many were new songs that had that feel. One that will always remind me of that trip is "Keep the Car Running" by Arcade Fire:
As summer comes, if you have the luxury of taking a vacation, put together a special roadtrip mix and create a soundtrack for your memories.
13 April 2012
"Riders on the Storm" by Señor Coconut
In high school I hung out with a guy named Gerald. When we met he was classified as a "burnout" while I was a "squid". Basically that meant that he liked rock & roll and I was new wave. Somehow we became friends on the bus and soon we were going to poetry readings and recording together as the "Liberated Corpses". Neither of us could play any instruments, but we made a few recordings of our rantings and improvisations.
I introduced him to the Dead Kennedys while he got me to listen to the Doors and Creedence. Thanks to Gerald I listened to music I might otherwise have avoided. What a shame if I never knew anything by the Doors other than "Light My Fire".
Señor Coconut is actually Uwe Schmidt, the man of a thousand aliases. You may also know him for his electronic music as Atom Heart, or Atom™ and the invention of "acitón" (acid-reggaeton). I love his Latin flavored versions of Kraftwerk, Yellow Magic Orchestra, and rock classics. Here he is taking on the Doors:
11 April 2012
Songs I wish I wrote: "Outside of a Small Circle of Friends" by Phil Ochs
So many songs by Phil Ochs inspired the social commentary and political songs of Vladimir's Universe. Out of them all, this one is the one I wish I had written. The case of Kitty Genovese, who was stabbed to death outside her home while dozens of her neighbors reportedly ignored her cries for help inspired the song. It was the closest thing he ever had to a hit, getting a good bit of airplay and reaching #119 on Billboard's national "Hot Prospect" chart. Censors promptly took the song off the air.
Phil captures the apathy found in America in 1967--and who could imagine that it would become even worse forty years later. We're busy on our mobile phones, or texting, or plugged into our iPods shut off from the world around us. Being in public is an inconvenience--it's noisy, it smells, and one might be forced to interact with other people. Better to stay at home, shop online, and order a pizza.
Try unplugging for one day. Take a "Social Media Sabbath" with no cell phone, texting, email, Facebook, or TV. Go outside where there is nature and people. Talk to strangers. Visit someone in the hospital or a nursing home. Do volunteer work. Interact with the world around you.
Look outside the window, there's a woman being grabbed
They've dragged her to the bushes and now she's being stabbed
Maybe we should call the cops and try to stop the pain
But Monopoly is so much fun, I'd hate to blow the game
And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends.
Riding down the highway, yes, my back is getting stiff
Thirteen cars are piled up, they're hanging on a cliff.
Maybe we should pull them back with our towing chain
But we gotta move and we might get sued and it looks like it's gonna rain
And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends.
Sweating in the ghetto with the colored and the poor
The rats have joined the babies who are sleeping on the floor
Now wouldn't it be a riot if they really blew their tops?
But they got too much already and besides we got the cops
And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends.
Oh there's a dirty paper using sex to make a sale
The Supreme Court was so upset, they sent him off to jail.
Maybe we should help the fiend and take away his fine.
But we're busy reading Playboy and the Sunday New York Times
And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends
Smoking marihuana is more fun than drinking beer,
But a friend of ours was captured and they gave him thirty years
Maybe we should raise our voices, ask somebody why
But demonstrations are a drag, besides we're much too high
And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends
Oh look outside the window, there's a woman being grabbed
They've dragged her to the bushes and now she's being stabbed
Maybe we should call the cops and try to stop the pain
But Monopoly is so much fun, I'd hate to blow the game
And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends
Phil captures the apathy found in America in 1967--and who could imagine that it would become even worse forty years later. We're busy on our mobile phones, or texting, or plugged into our iPods shut off from the world around us. Being in public is an inconvenience--it's noisy, it smells, and one might be forced to interact with other people. Better to stay at home, shop online, and order a pizza.
Try unplugging for one day. Take a "Social Media Sabbath" with no cell phone, texting, email, Facebook, or TV. Go outside where there is nature and people. Talk to strangers. Visit someone in the hospital or a nursing home. Do volunteer work. Interact with the world around you.
Look outside the window, there's a woman being grabbed
They've dragged her to the bushes and now she's being stabbed
Maybe we should call the cops and try to stop the pain
But Monopoly is so much fun, I'd hate to blow the game
And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends.
Riding down the highway, yes, my back is getting stiff
Thirteen cars are piled up, they're hanging on a cliff.
Maybe we should pull them back with our towing chain
But we gotta move and we might get sued and it looks like it's gonna rain
And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends.
Sweating in the ghetto with the colored and the poor
The rats have joined the babies who are sleeping on the floor
Now wouldn't it be a riot if they really blew their tops?
But they got too much already and besides we got the cops
And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends.
Oh there's a dirty paper using sex to make a sale
The Supreme Court was so upset, they sent him off to jail.
Maybe we should help the fiend and take away his fine.
But we're busy reading Playboy and the Sunday New York Times
And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends
Smoking marihuana is more fun than drinking beer,
But a friend of ours was captured and they gave him thirty years
Maybe we should raise our voices, ask somebody why
But demonstrations are a drag, besides we're much too high
And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends
Oh look outside the window, there's a woman being grabbed
They've dragged her to the bushes and now she's being stabbed
Maybe we should call the cops and try to stop the pain
But Monopoly is so much fun, I'd hate to blow the game
And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends
09 April 2012
Influences: Phil Ochs
When I first heard Phil's music a light went on in my head. I shifted gears from abstract surrealist beat poetry to topical lyrics. If I had never heard "Draft Dodger Rag" or "Cops of the World", then fans of Vladimir's Universe would not have "Your Kid Got AIDS" or "I'm a Contra".
He was also willing to criticize the hypocrisy he saw among those who claim to be progressive, but are just as selfish and narrow-minded as their opponents.
At Eastern Michigan University we had a student group that we referred to as the "Pseudo-Socialists for Suburban Conveniences". When their candidate ran for student council president Vladimir's Universe was asked to play at their rally mainly due to my political songs. Meanwhile one of my best friends was running against him as the "Apathy Party" candidate and I co-wrote his campaign song "Open Your Eyes and go to Sleep" which got airplay on local radio. Rather than choose sides, or be uncommitted, I supported both candidates. The PSSC won, but without RMC and the "Apathy Party" there would not have been any opposition.
The FBI had over 500 pages about Phil Ochs, due to his association with many "subversives". After the Vietnam war ended and the hippies traded their VW vans for station wagons I think Phil ran out of words. He became a lost soul without an anchor and hung himself on April 9, 1976. Yet, even after his death the FBI still considered him "potentially dangerous".
The FBI had over 500 pages about Phil Ochs, due to his association with many "subversives". After the Vietnam war ended and the hippies traded their VW vans for station wagons I think Phil ran out of words. He became a lost soul without an anchor and hung himself on April 9, 1976. Yet, even after his death the FBI still considered him "potentially dangerous".
In 2010 the documentary "Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune" came out. Also worth seeing, if you can find it, is the older "Chords of Fame" from 1984 which re-enacts moments from his life in a dramatic way rather than just showing pictures and clips.
06 April 2012
Holy Friday Lamentations by Fayrouz
To celebrate the Passion of Jesus Christ for Good Friday, I present the "Jewel of Lebanon", singer Fayrouz, praying the Lamentations at the tomb of Christ in Arabic.
In a tomb they laid Thee,
O my Christ and my Life.
The angelic hosts were overcome with awe
and glorified Thy condescending love.
Fayrouz Official Website
In a tomb they laid Thee,
O my Christ and my Life.
The angelic hosts were overcome with awe
and glorified Thy condescending love.
Fayrouz Official Website
04 April 2012
Songs I wish I wrote: "Ba Ba Ba" by the 77s
In 1984 I was "new wave", but a big Jesus Freak at the same time. There were a few bands like the 77s who were making quality music for kids like me. I bought their album "All Fall Down" and just about everything on the Exit Records label: Vector, Charlie Peacock, and Steve Scott among them. They did a cover of "Jesus" by the Velvet underground during these sessions that didn't make it on the album, but did appear on re-releases and box sets.
I will credit this song for my love of the word "lemonade", which appears in several Vlad-tunes (TM). The video is a bit cheesy, and I'm sure lead singer Mike Roe was reluctant to do the Robert Smith big hair thing since he never appeared on stage like that. But hey, it was the 80s and they were trying to get on MTV.
Welcome to the truth custom made
Come in and have some lemonade
Reality will readjust while we evade
The issues that are pressing us
And getting so depressing but
Undressing and unstressing
Makes them go away
We're tired of solid ground
We're wired up for sound
From any fool who'll keep us
Cool with all his lies
Cool with all his lies
Ba-ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba-ba
We believe, we believe
Cuz we felt it burning in our hearts
Ba-ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba-ba
And it's true, yes it's true
If it gets us all thru the night
For the rest of our lives
If there's a master race, we're one
And if by chance they drop the bomb
The heat will never find us
Cuz we've learned to run
No absolutes to spoil our time
So we won't have to change our minds
Just hope that we won't die
While we're still in our prime
Spoken: “Wie Schafe zur Schlachtbank geführt”
(Like sheep led to the slaughter)
I will credit this song for my love of the word "lemonade", which appears in several Vlad-tunes (TM). The video is a bit cheesy, and I'm sure lead singer Mike Roe was reluctant to do the Robert Smith big hair thing since he never appeared on stage like that. But hey, it was the 80s and they were trying to get on MTV.
Welcome to the truth custom made
Come in and have some lemonade
Reality will readjust while we evade
The issues that are pressing us
And getting so depressing but
Undressing and unstressing
Makes them go away
We're tired of solid ground
We're wired up for sound
From any fool who'll keep us
Cool with all his lies
Cool with all his lies
Ba-ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba-ba
We believe, we believe
Cuz we felt it burning in our hearts
Ba-ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba-ba
And it's true, yes it's true
If it gets us all thru the night
For the rest of our lives
If there's a master race, we're one
And if by chance they drop the bomb
The heat will never find us
Cuz we've learned to run
No absolutes to spoil our time
So we won't have to change our minds
Just hope that we won't die
While we're still in our prime
Spoken: “Wie Schafe zur Schlachtbank geführt”
(Like sheep led to the slaughter)
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