Discussion - Apr 28 1998 to Aug 02 1999

Apr 28, 1999 - Aug 2, 1999

Alrighty, I'm not sure how much this counts as a guilty pleasure (by the way, 'To Sir With Love' is just a good song and Marti Jones does an incredible version if you can find it anywhere), but I've been on a serious Linda Ronstadt kick lately. I've been enjoying all of the songs I listened to when I was a kid, but especially a song I don't remember ever hearing (and I know it's a cover, I just don't know who did it originally. Maybe someone could tell me) called 'Carmelita'. Once it's in my head I sing it all day and am just thankful that my four year old hasn't caught on and started singing "...and I'm all strung out on heroin on the outskirts of town"!
Jessie <Jessie_wills@hotmail.com>
Baltimore, MD USA - Mon Aug 2 0:02:11 EDT 1999

"Georgy Girl". Wasn't that "The Seekers", or " The New Seekers", or something like that? "My Belle Amie" was another guilty pleasure.
Randy
Nashville, TN USA - Mon Aug 2 23:31:37 EDT 1999

Chicago has frequently snuck a couple way guilty pleasures into all our collective consciousnesses--we called "Colour My World" butt-rubbin' music, cuz it was one of the few songs that guys would dance to, and the hands would begin to roam. Since I never had any problems jumping around on the dance floor like an epiletic banshee, I didn't have to wait for the "butt-rubbin'" tunes, but I was sympathetic. Mention of Petula Clark reminds me of another guilty pleasure, "Georgy Girl" by who knows who?? Still a good '60s tune, and then extrapolating on that vein, I'm reminded of Lulu's actually rather stirring "To Sir, With Love." I'm not sure if that's a "guilty" pleasure, but rent the video of the film and also check out the house band that plays at the little school dance that the kids have--the "Mindbenders." They actually have a kinda catchy moment or two.... Later skaters....
Kramer <kramerman@erinet.com>
Dayton, OH USA - Mon Aug 2 23:18:58 EDT 1999

It was great to read that there were people who check out this site that caught FOW and Owsley when they were in So. Calif. last week. I think it would be good to have some kind of network to keep all those in this area (or those visiting) up on what shows are coming up and on bands like this that we all enjoy.

Also, have to chime in on Petula Clark. One of my all time favorite songs, guilty pleasure or not, is "Color My World" (sorry, I guess that should be "Colour My World") I know that when I was little (yes, I know I'm dating myself here) I thought she was the greatest.
Randy Keller <randyk1492@aol.com>
Redondo Beach, CA USA - Mon Aug 2 23:01:02 EDT 1999

Yes, "Rainy Night In Georgia" was the classic cut I was refering to. Man, I do love that song. I too think the GOGOs made great pop records. I love "Head Over Heels". Isn't everyone ALWAYS head over heels? It seems the expression should be Heels over Head.
Randy
Nashville, TN USA - Mon Aug 2 22:23:25 EDT 1999

Randy Keller : I was at the Fountains of Wayne show at the Galaxy last Monday. Who was the second band that was so godawful ?? The only way I could describe that would be dirge-rock. I am not an alcoholic but after that, I was willing to learn. Owsley was a lot of fun, and reminded me of a cross between Todd Rungren and John Hiatt. A lot of energy. FOW were in top form. Paul Westerberg has it right, when it's great, it gives you chills and makes you feel fifteen again. "Red Dragon Tattoo" refuses to leave my brain since, nor do I want it to.
Guilty pleasures : "Dancing Queen" (both cheesy and great) and "I Lie" by the dB's (a song everyone show hear once before they keel).
Out !!
Mark Wesley <mwesley@uwmc.com>
Placentia, Ca USA - Mon Aug 2 18:52:33 EDT 1999

I love Petula Clark. Don't sleep in the subway, that's a cool one.

Re: Fountains of Wayne/Owsley. The noble page master, Jeff CDO and I saw FOW/O at the Troubador last Saturday. Great show. Marshall Crenshaw fans will love both of these guys. Owsley is sort of a Badfinger/Squeeze/Dbs kind of songwriter, lots of hooks, and suprisingly British sounding, considering he's from Alabama. The Dbs I think are definitely an influence of his. Fountains of Wayne are really good hook writers also, and can get the house rocking when they want to. Their songs are clever and have a bit of that gen-X ennui to them. The bass player is Adam Schlesinger, who wrote the title song from "That Thing You Do!" I talked to Owsley, very nice, gracious young man, and Jeff and I chatted with Chris, the lead singer from FOW. He's a very nice guy too, and we talked about the place that exists for guitar bands that play songs with melodies, harmonies and clever lyrics that don't rely on "nookie" or sticking things up your ass. I highly recommend seeing them live. The vocals on the records are really good. This is less obvious live because they really crank up the guitars, but it does your sould good to see someone playing a Les Paul throught an AC-30.

Thanks for the info on Bobby Bloom and Tony Joe White.

Next good show is L.A. is Steve Earle at the HOB later this month. I think on this tour he's OFF heroin.
Scone Mason <smason@greenjournal.org>
HollylostintheBlairWitchWood, CA USA - Mon Aug 2 12:09:13 EDT 1999

Belinda Carlisle and Patty Smyth! Kramer, dude, now we're talking guilty pleasures. I _loved_ The Go-Go's and defend them to this day as a far better band than The Bangles. In fact, the CD rerelease of "Vacation" and "Talk Show" have had me on Cloud Nine since buying them a couple of weeks ago. And what's more, I think "Mad About You" is great, great pop music. (Interviewing Belinda and Charlotte Caffey was one of my career highlights at UPI.) As for _my_ guilty pleasure, well, I, too, might have said Belinda and The Go-Go's, but I can go deeper: Petula Clark.
Mark Wukas <mwukas@concentric.net>
Chicago, USA - Mon Aug 2 10:11:55 EDT 1999

Classic Tony Joe White would be "Rainy Night In Georgia" (a hit for Brook Benton?) which was rewritten by Prince Buster as "Big Five".

Biggst money spinner for Mr White would be "Steamy Windows" which I believe was recorded with some success by Annie MAe Bukllock.
mike deller
north greenford, UK - Mon Aug 2 3:22:57 EDT 1999

thanks Jessie! (and Jim & Brian) Nice to hear that someone else likes Good Evening, and that was a great quote from the review. Let us know how the show is on Wednesday - we're gonna try to catch him again when he plays for WRSI on Sept. 11. Wish he'd play CT again, maybe Toad's Place again - he did quite a Valentine's Day show there some years ago...
roland <roldeb@gateway.net>
USA - Sat Jul 31 22:39:52 EDT 1999

I didn't care for "The Warrior" ( surely that song was intended for Pat Benetar, it just screams out Pat Benetar ),but I did like her other song "Goodbye to You". What a cheesy video though, it looked like those kind you can get made at amusement parks for twenty bucks.
Randy
Nashville, TN USA - Sat Jul 31 22:34:36 EDT 1999

Any Feat fans out there?? Well, there better be, cuz the Feat were fantastic. The live version of "Dixie Chicken" on "Waiting for Columbus" is guarenteed to liven up your next party. The band did essentially end when LG checked out, but the survivors were able to put out a couple okay follow-ups.

Guilty pleasures?? Boy, "Blue Heaven" by Brenda Carlisle sure is one. That tune may also have one of the stupidest videos of all time too (I realize there is a lot of competition in that arena), but I like the song. "Warrior" by Patty Smythe also makes me feel guilty (talk about dumb videos--Geez!!), but I like that one too. Later skaters!!
Kramer <kramerman@erinet.com>
Dayton, OH USA - Sat Jul 31 9:59:57 EDT 1999

Meaningless trivia: Tony Joe White lives 3 houses down from an ex-friend of mine. Anyone remember what classic song he wrote?
Randy
Nashville, TN USA - Fri Jul 30 21:59:54 EDT 1999

Montego Bay by the guy whose name I can never remember
Polk Salad Annie by another guy whose name I can't remember

That's Bobby Bloom and Tony Joe White respectively.
Mark Wukas
Chicago, USA - Fri Jul 30 14:18:28 EDT 1999

Since I was introduced to this band by people mentioning them on this site, I thought I would ask if anyone got a chance to see Fountains of Wayne when they played at Southern California's Galaxy Theatre this week. I enjoyed them as well as the warm-up, Owsley. HBO was taping the show for their program, "Reverb". Hope all you fellow MC and Fountains of Wayne fans will keep a look out for when it airs.
Randy Keller <randyk1492@aol.com>
Redondo Beach, CA USA - Fri Jul 30 14:05:49 EDT 1999

Guilty pleasures:

Brandy by Looking Glass (quoted in my other post)
Don't Pull Your Love Out by Hamilton, Joe, Frank, and Reynolds
Montego Bay by the guy whose name I can never remember
Polk Salad Annie by another guy whose name I can't remember
Suspicious Minds by Pelvis Arsely
Burning Love by Ibid
Ode to Billy Joe by Bobby Gentry (one of the best story songs ever It almost sounds like Carson McCullers or Flannery O'Connor)
The whole Superfly soundtrack (when Curtis Mayfield was on, he was a fucking genius).
Scone Mason <smason@greenjournal.org>
Wollyhood, CA USA - Fri Jul 30 13:03:00 EDT 1999

True Feat purists (such as myself) believe that Little Feat ended when Lowell George left, and any chance of regaining their previous glory was lost when he died. He was what made the band something other than just a boogie/R&B outfit. I remember seeing Alicia Bridges lipsynching "Nightlife" on Bandstand, no bra, tits swirling, ass gyrating...I thought, wow, I could go put a Who record on over this and it would be cool. Speaking of Who soundtrack recordings, Summer of Sam SUCKED despite having some cool songs other than disco crap on the soundtrack. It's not Sco'ish and its crrrrraaap!
Scone Mason <smason@greenjournal.org>
Wallyworld, CA USA - Fri Jul 30 12:53:11 EDT 1999

I've been a Marshall Crenshaw fan for 12 years (since I was only 14). I saw/heard him in La Bamba and have been hooked ever since. I bought everything back to his first album (when they were albums) and every new release the day it came out. I'll be at the Ram's Head and anywhere else I can see him play. I was reading the messages here and remembered a review of Good Evening I had saved from forever ago (I was a teenage girl, OK?). A very possitive review by Tim Holmes ended with this paragraph:

"Marshall Crenshaw is unabashedly in love with rock's lost strain, the hope-infusing beauty of the sub-dominant chord, Buddy Holly-Beatle poignancy, the moment where you're just watching the little girl dance and there's not another thing under the whole wide sky. That's what you'd call a Good Evening."

It's a great album with lot of grat songs on it. He may not have written them all, but he certainly made them all his own. And, isn't that why we listen so often and so attentively?
jessie <jessie_wills@hotmail.com>
baltimore, md USA - Fri Jul 30 12:23:05 EDT 1999

Some miscellaneous ramblings with appropriate apologies for the lack of brevity......Roland: You're right "Good Evening" is a tough one but aren't they all? The most attractive tracks for me are the covers ..... New York Jim mentioned Hiatt's "Someplace Where Love...." and the other is Richard Thompson's "Valerie"....2 great tunes from 2 great singer/songwriters.

California Jon revealed one of his guilty pleasures to be "Still the One." As I recall, this was an Orleans song written by John Hall. I was fortunate enough to see him play before, and with, a band called "Little Feat." Elvis Costello once said that Little Feat was the only good thing musically to come out of the 70s. Any Feat fans out there?...especially before Lowell George's death (George of Muthers of Invention fame)...boy is that dating myself or what??

With all the talk here about it being difficult to find MC's "Downtown", I was quite frantic when my CD couldn't be located....looked everywhere and even accused the kids of absconding with it.....checked the LP section of the bman's archives and voila' there it was in vinyl....am lucky I suppose even if absent minded

A few days until MC's Maryland date (Aug. 4)....gettin' goosebumps already from "doing the fair thing" and playin' it loud...thanx for your time........b
Brian Clevenger <Bclevenger@aol.com>
Baltimore, MD USA - Fri Jul 30 10:54:57 EDT 1999

Regarding "Good Evening," no, the album didn't have any hits, I think by that time the contract was just sort of being finished off (he did switch labels w/ the next record)...I do remember driving on Northern Boulevard in Queens near Main Street(which was becoming (and still is) a very Asian enclave -- lots of Koreans and Chinese -- no problem w/ this,but I remember noticing that very day in `89 how suddenly I couldn't read a lot of the signs)and hearing on the radio an ad for Sam Goody that pushed 2 records, one I don't remember, the other "Good Evening," -- they played a section of "Some Hearts." So Warner Bros. did pay for a little advertising. Anyway (I was 18 at the time), I already had the debut album on CD --one of three CD's I bought before having a player -- the other 2, for some reason, were Tom Petty's "Damn the Torpedoes," & Living Color's 1st record -- but I went out and bought Good Evening, and that's when I was hooked, sort of working backwards to get the rest. (I had Mary Jean on cassette, but never really listened to it)
Mary Jean was already out of print, but I found a copy at a Record World at the Roosevelt Field Mall. Once I realized how brilliant that record was (great headphone record!) I got my friend into it...he went to the same Record World...and they had another copy! I guess their distributor had a little stockpile or something...so, this long-winded story is just to relay that I love "Good Evening," especially "You Should've Been There," "Someplace Where Love Can't Find Me", & "She Hates To Go Home..." It, more than anything, got me into Crenshaw beyond "Someday Someway" and turned me into a full-fledged disciple of the true king of rock!
jim kenney <jimfk@hotmail.com>
NY, NY USA - Fri Jul 30 8:41:06 EDT 1999

arrgghhh!!! The "ak-shun" part is the one that drives me most crazy! Now its stuck in my head! Get it out..get it out...! I have plenty of guilty pleasures, its just that none are disco. By "guilty pleasure" I'm assuming we mean songs we like that we know aren't very well respected. By that definition two of mine would be "Reflections Of My Life" by Marmalade, and "New York Mining Disaster" by the BeeGees. ( in response to previous posts, I too like The Pilot and Cowsills songs mentioned). My apologies to MC for getting off track, but this is a fun topic.
Randy
Nashville, TN USA - Thu Jul 29 21:26:16 EDT 1999

My Ten All-Time Guilty Pleasures:

1. Jessie's Girl -- Rick Springfield (1970)
2. Killer Joe -- The Rocky Fellers (1963)
3. Gimme Good Lovin' -- The Crazy Elephants (1969)
4. You Shook Me (All Night Long) -- AC/DC (1981)
5. Chevy Van -- Sammy Johns (1975)
6. Disco Inferno -- The Trammps (1977)
7. Martian Hop -- The Ran-Dells (1963)
8. Love Grows Where my Rosemary Goes -- Ed. Lighthouse (1970)
9. Could've Been Me -- Billy Ray Cyrus (1992)
10. The Homecoming Queen's Got a Gun -- Julie Brown (1984)

Honorable Mention: The Rain, The Park, and other Things -- The Cowsills

Please send no explosive devices or hearing aids.

Larry <CheeryGuy@aol.com>
Gaithersburg, MD USA - Thu Jul 29 18:40:13 EDT 1999

Well, I could name a number of guilty pleasure type singles (aren't they always singles - it's that pure pop song thing!) Like the Pilot song - ho ho ho it's "Magic" - forgot about that one & I know I've still got it somewhere (hiding with "Wildfire" and anything by Lobo no doubt!) Anyway, I remember quite distictly when "Good Evening" came out, after years of waiting, and as I listened to it, I said to myself, this sounds like the record company is trying to get a hit from MC. And then I heard it, that ascending lead-in keyboard figure, the mandolin (or sounded like it), the yearning vocal. And I thought, this is great, an instantly hummable, singable song - this could be a hit! "Some Hearts" what a perfect pop song.

You know the rest, I looked at the credits, and there it was "written by Dianne Warren", the hit songwriting machine herself...

But damnit, I still love that song...

...and did they ever get ANY hits from that album? I know they released "Hearts" as a single, but I think it sank.

Everyone always ranks that album at the bottom of their lists, but it did have some great songs. Anyone?
roland <roldeb@gateway.net>
USA - Thu Jul 29 13:49:37 EDT 1999

Randy, it's not the word "boogie" that cracks me up about that song but line, "I want some ak-shone." It's just so over the top that I have to laugh. Anyway, chalk it up to a guilty pleasure. (Anyone else care to share their guilty musical pleasures?)
Mark Wukas <mwukas@concentric.net>
Chicago, USA - Thu Jul 29 11:11:08 EDT 1999

Many thanks to Scott Wilson for the early review! My heart is already swelling with excitement and anticipation--like Roland, I do not think I can wait a whole two months, especially knowing that the record is finished and ready to be heard!!!

Thank goodness there are new records coming out by other terrific artistes that will make the wait a little easier. Just got the new Freedy Johnston and am anxious to give it a close listen. Los Lobos' "This Time" is really good; I would also recommend Cesar Rosas' solo record, "Soul Disguise," which came out a little earlier this year. The more I play it, the more I like it: it's a lot of fun, full of energy and spirit.

BTW, I got quite a bit of (good-natured) ribbing a while back for admitting to having an affection for songs like "Magic," "Still the One," and other Songs from the Soundtrack of My Youth, so it's been great to hear others come clean with their guilty pleasures. (Free free to give me more hell for liking "Magic" and "Still the One," I don't mind. :O))

Jon Mochizuki <jamochiz@uci.edu>
Irvine, CA - Wed Jul 28 22:35:13 EDT 1999

I have to go along with the disco-bashers on this one. Disco music is totally soulless. I'm particularly disappointed in you Mark. I've enjoyed some of your past posts, but "I Love The Nightlife" is unforgivable! It's easily in my top three all-time most hated songs. Just the word "boogie" gives me the dry heaves. Thank God for the soldiers of rock who fought the good fight. By the way, the funniest disco hit had to be "I Was Made For Loving You". Disco Kiss. Those guys would do anything for a buck.
Randy
Nashville, Tn USA - Wed Jul 28 20:42:50 EDT 1999

"My life, my love, and my lady...is the sea" Ahhh being a newly turned 38, those one-hit wonders of the pre-disco 70s are the songs that were on the radio when I felt my first tit, drank my first beer, smoked my first joint, drove my first car, hit my first pedestrian...wait...I was talking to my younger sister the other day and she was reminiscing about the first concert she ever got to go to, with me, which I remember as good, but of course it was a monumental life moment for her. I took her with a group of friends of mine (she was 14 or 15, I was 17) to see Bob Seger at the Checkerdome in St. Louis. I worshipped ol Bob back then. It was a great show. At one point my sis said (remember we're from a small farm community in Illinois) Shaun! (my real name) those guys are smoking marijuana, I think. This was at the point when the entire Checkerdome could have qualified as a giant pipe, just filled with smoke. I don't remember this, but she said I sighed deeply and said, "just be cool, Shelly." She's looked up to me ever since. "Come back, baby, rock and roll never forgets".
Scone Mason <smason@greenjournal.org>
Nataliewood, CA USA - Wed Jul 28 18:00:41 EDT 1999

Thanks for the info, Scott! As someone who ranks "Theme From Flaregun" as one of the outstanding tracks from MOS, I can't wait to hear the new instrumentals on 447. Sept. 28 can't get here quick enough!
roland <roldeb@gateway.net>
USA - Wed Jul 28 13:21:12 EDT 1999

Just got an advance of Number 447, the new MC (I write for the KC alt.weekly--many thanks to the fine folks at Razor & Tie for hearing my pleas). It's really strong, though not as aggressive as MOS. I agree with Robert about the standouts, though I'd add the first real song (like MOS there's a short intro, though this one's a 30 second song), "Dime a Dozen Guy." An instant classic Marshall tune. There's an emphasis on instrumentals, one of which captures the fifties rock sound he hinted he'd be trying for. 11 songs (counting the snippet). The closing "You Said What??" is a killer instrumental in the vein of "They Never Will Know" and the album overall has a late night feel that has a familiar MC warmth and catchiness, but a lonely vibe that has never been this potent in his stuff before. I'll be playing it a lot. The release date is set for September 28.
Scott Wilson <scohea@gvi.net>
Roeland Park, ks USA - Wed Jul 28 12:41:37 EDT 1999

Not MC related in the least, but I went to see Bruce last night for the first time in about 7 years. What a show! He isn't doing the 4+ hour marathons from days of old, but he is still pretty energetic for a man who will be 50 in a couple of months.

Kathy Paul <kmp@ms.com>
NYC, NY USA - Wed Jul 28 10:11:23 EDT 1999

I think Terry Jacks ("Seasons In The Sun") changed his name to Chris Stamey in the late 70's, just prior to joining the dB's. On a more serious note, someone please suggest to Marshall that he cover "I Push Right Over" by Robbie Fulks.
Doug McCurry <dkmccurry@mindspring.com>
Charlotte, NC USA - Mon Jul 26 21:46:12 EDT 1999

Damn it, Nancy. I never thought I'd hear "Playground in My Mind" again in my life. In fact, I'd happily forgotten it'd ever been recorded. And now, several hours after reading your posting, I CAN'T GET IT OUT OF MY HEAD. AAAAAAAAGH!
Mark Wukas <mwukas@concentric.net>
Chicago, USA - Mon Jul 26 17:21:51 EDT 1999

Schaumburg is a Chicago suburb about 30 miles to the northwest. He's playing at the Prairie Center for the Arts, a concert venue of about 400 seats. Tix go on sale around September 1.

As for Paper Lace, if daddy was a cop on the East Side of Chicago, I hope he had his snorkel. But I will grant you Jigsaw. "Sky High" was terrific, one of the best pop songs of '75.
Mark Wukas <mwukas@concentric.net>
Chicago, USA - Mon Jul 26 11:45:19 EDT 1999

Speaking of all this (great) bad 70's songs & acts, I have the box set called "Have a Nice Decade." Mind you, I did NOT get the deluxed edition with the shag carpet cover, but I got the regular version, and it is definitely the hit of the summer scene at our beach house. It has all the favorites you guys have been mentioning (of course, Rick Springfield is not included - different decade).
Kathy Paul <kmp@ms.com>
NYC, NY USA - Mon Jul 26 11:18:47 EDT 1999

Best cover : Ironman/black sabbeth Traverse city MI.
small bar packed show opening band was a bunch of locals who just happened to grow up around the Crenshaw clan (luther gravy and the soul bisckits)
Keith Tondreau <bugalley@gtii.com>
benzonia , mi USA - Sun Jul 25 23:49:08 EDT 1999

last word i heard is marshall is back in tinsletown working on some tunes for an up coming movie thats what i heard any way . Robert get in touch with me when you get up north love to see you and the Family again later all!!
Keith Tondreau <bugalley@gtii.com>
benzonia , mi USA - Sun Jul 25 23:44:57 EDT 1999

No worries, Tony, I'm not at all offended by your eloquent defense of the Jukebox from Hell. I have to assume you also treasure your copy of "Playground in My Mind" by Clint Holmes ("My name is Michael/I've got a nickel...") and I won't be arm-wrestling you for it any time soon.;-)

I think I'll stick with my disco favorites, including one I heard today for the first time in probably 20 years, "Doctor's Orders"! Now *that* rocks my particular playground.:-)

BTW, enjoy the Mavs! They were slated to play here at Tramps next month, though the most recent Tramps ad I saw didn't mention it. If it's still on, I'll be there!
Nancy Arnott <ngrace@aol.com>
New York, NY USA - Sun Jul 25 20:30:34 EDT 1999

Just a quick note to recommend the new Freedy Johnston album that came out this week, entitled "Blue Days Black Nights". It's mellow, but delivers that inimitable "Freedy" sound. My only disappointment was that Graham Maby (of Marshall and Joe Jackson fame) neither produced or played bass on the album. But it's still worth picking up!
Dave <Redbutton@aol.com>
NY USA - Sun Jul 25 2:26:56 EDT 1999

Isn't Schaumberg just outside of Chicago? North of it I believe...Not sure how you'd get there from Big Rapids but if Big Rapids is near Detroit I'd assume you take 94 (someone else may know a better route I am sure....)

So what's wrong with Rick Springfield anyway??? Working Class Dog I'd definitely put in the class of REO's High Infidelity as albums most of us probably have and enjoy but would not admit to owning when asked about it.

Just guessing of course....

Take care,

Tony P
Tony <avp64@aol.com>
Hamilton Square, NJ USA - Sat Jul 24 15:25:42 EDT 1999

And BTW, where in the H E double-hockey-sticks in Illinois is Schaumburg?!?!?!?!?

Any estimates on the drive between Big Rapids, MI, and there?

Keep on rockin'!
Don Kissick <yzermania@hotmail.com>
Big Rapids, MI USA - Sat Jul 24 14:32:40 EDT 1999

Rick Springfield.... hhmmmmmmm.... NOOOOOO comment.
Don Kissick <yzermania@hotmail.com>
Big Rapids & Royal Oak, MI USA - Sat Jul 24 14:30:28 EDT 1999

Wasn't Alex Call a member of "Clover" in the 1970's...the band that was the genesis for Huey Lewis And The News & played on E.Costello's first record? I think so, only because I believe he was the writer of Huey's `88 hit, "Perfect World," and I remember reading some background on him at the time...I didn't give any info on a new album, I know, but hopefully shed some light on the man.
Jim Kenney <jimfk@hotmail.com>
NY, NY USA - Sat Jul 24 10:03:03 EDT 1999

On a more serious note...

Just surfing the web a bit and came across an announcement of a relatively new (1998) album from Alex Call. Does anyone know anything about this? Remember listening to some of his stuff in the early-80's (about the same time I started listening to MC). Particularly remember a song called "Just Another Saturday Night" but hadn't heard anything about him since....

Any info is appreciated!

Thanks,

Tony
Tony <avp64@aol.com>
Hamilton Square , NJ USA - Fri Jul 23 18:13:01 EDT 1999

Nancy,

What's the deal trashing Paper Lace? By the way, I was actually SUSPENDED from my college radio station for playing "The Night Chicago Died"......I suppose, Jigsaw, Pilot, Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods and, of course, Terry Jacks - weren't Legends in their own time????????

I could go on but no doubt you didn't appreciate the best of them all, Gilbert O' Sullivan, either!!

As for Marshall...great to hear about the live dates!! Tin Angel on the 6th!! Can't wait.

Unfortunately, head-to-head with the Mavericks (at Count Basie) on the 14th. Kind of like Bruce Springsteen kicking off his US run on the same night Bobby Bandiera was playing Kat Man Du here in NJ. Real no brainer (Bobby was a lot less expensive...lol!!!!)

Only hoping that you take this message in the spirit it was intended....

"Daddy was a cop....In the East Side of Chicago...."

Take care,

Tony
Tony P <avp64@aol.com>
Hamilton Square, NJ USA - Fri Jul 23 18:01:42 EDT 1999

Oh, boys...Rick Springfield?? OK, I enjoyed his turn as Dr. Noah Drake on General Hospital, but....:-)

I'm with you on some of those disco hits, though! How can anybody not sing along and dance with "Best of My Love"? Or George McCrea's "Rock Your Baby"? Or "Kung Fu Fighting," for that matter? And in retrospect, that KC and the Sunshine Band were all right, too! Disco was great until the tunes fell out of the equation and all that was left was the monotonous thumping, whistle blowing, and "whoop-whoop"-ing. I remember lying on a beach in New Jersey in 1979 and being driven half-mad by what was coming out of the radio via WJRZ--"Ring My Bell" and the like. Ugh.

That said, you know I'm basically in Kramer's camp--the '70s were almost a total wash, musically, until Brucie came along (no, I didn't get tickets to the Meadowlands:-(.) Disco was far from the worst of it--what about the Bay City Rollers? Paper Lace? and Eric Carmen's solo career, making a mockery of the greatness that was the Raspberries? Not to mention the earnest likes of Bad Company (sorry, I mentioned them).

Anyway...still have to get my ticket for the Bottom Line Aug. 14! I'm looking forward to a preview of the new album. I'm glad to hear, via Robert C.'s post, that "Television Light" will be on it. I was having the darndest time finding that Japanese import!
Nancy Arnott <ngrace@aol.com>
New York, NY USA - Thu Jul 22 23:08:27 EDT 1999

Hey Roomies: Haven't posted in a while but how's the summer going.....It's hot here in the Land of Pleasant Living. In fact, it will soon be hotter as MC is to play the Ram's Head Tavern on August 4th in Annapolis, MD. Great Venue!! I will be getting tickets soon for a show that will be one of dozens the misses and I have seen. My better half and I did the courtin' thing to Marshall's "Usual Thing" when it was new and we both are excited. Email me if you have questions.

..and regarding Houston Dave H's suggestion that "Life's Too Short" maybe MC's best, I can't agree Dave. It may-be, but as I've posted here in the past...it's the first album that wins by a length and a half, sorry....thanx for your time......b
Brian Clevenger <ClevengerB@aol.com>
Glen Burnie, MD USA - Thu Jul 22 15:57:41 EDT 1999

mershall's new album is great! i gonna keep on listening
this summer long!
yutaka suzuki <yutakas@pb3.so-net.ne.jp>
chigasaki, kanagawa japan - Thu Jul 22 8:26:22 EDT 1999

several things: check the latest news - new MC dates in the Northeast! two: has anyone gotten Andrew's custom MC CD? Someone was going to review it but I never saw a posting. I was looking for a (somewhat) objective opinion. And three, I also loved some of the disco area music; after all, and great pop song is a great pop song whether it's 1958, 1978 or 1998. But I would rather have my fingernails torn out than listen to the Bee Gees...
roland <roldeb@gateway.net>
USA - Thu Jul 22 7:44:23 EDT 1999

Hey Mark W, I'm with you on this disco thing. Sure, a lot (OK, most) disco was pre-fab, studio-created dreck. Unfortunately, people always seem to lump the great dance tunes from the 70's into the "disco" category, and don't understand that some of that stuff was great. Check out "The Love I Lost" by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, "Usta Be My Girl" by the O'Jays or "Best of My Love" by the Emotions. Undeniably great music that I'll take the Pepsi Challenge with against anything cranked out over the last 25 years. And oh yeah, you could also dance to it. Hell, I think the three tunes by the Bee Gees off "SNF" might be the best pop of the decade. Unfortunately, you could dance to it too, which seems to be the kiss of death.
Vic Morales <Vimoral@home.com>
Lakewood, co USA - Wed Jul 21 22:50:50 EDT 1999

The truth about disco? Chicks! Before: me and four guys sitting around big speakers listening to Zep, Black Sabbath, the Stones. No girls in sight. After: me and four guys driving to "Uncle Sam's Disco" in Pasadena, Texas where the girls were dressed to kill, desperate to dance and usually drunk. Sure, the music sucked, but when we got home we could still put on Zep. SOME of the songs played in discos were pretty tight -- O'Jays, Isley Bros., Johnny 'Guitar' Watson (a big dance floor fave in Houston) -- but mostly it was just an excuse to co-mingle.

Has anyone else come to realize that "Life's Too Short" may be MC's best?

By the way, thanks, RC, for participating.
Dave H <dave@coolfilms.com>
Houston, TX USA - Wed Jul 21 19:58:57 EDT 1999

Dear Mark & Crew,
I realize I risk joining Mr. Wukas in banishment... But take a listen to "Working Class Dog" and especially "Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet," Mr. Springfield's two early 80s albums. This is top quality pop-n-roll, folks. Not highbrow or deep in any way, but a lot of fun to listen to and scream along with-- when no one else is watching, of course.
It just hit me that it was 17 years ago this month that a girlfriend of mine took me to the newly remodeled Universal Amphitheatre in L.A. to see R.S. for my 16th birthday-- *twice.* She was so hot for the guy after the first show, she went right out and bought tix for another! (He played like 10 nights.) The Greg Khin Band opened both shows. I always liked him.) Anyway, the shows were both teriffic, and R.S. nearly got himself raped when he jumped into the audience during a guitar solo. Made me want to be a rock star.
This isn't the first time I've seconded one of Mark's comments, but it might prove to be the most costly, reputation-wise...

Michael <michael.bennett@ksl.com>
Salt Lake City, Ut USA - Wed Jul 21 16:44:08 EDT 1999

Hello all! Just got a copy of Los Lobos' "This Time," which is terrific--a cross between their earlier, rocking music and the weird, ambient stuff they've been doing of late. A wonderful record!
Jon Mochizuki <jamochiz@uci.edu>
Irvine, CA - Wed Jul 21 16:43:07 EDT 1999

All right, I'll come out and admit that I liked a lot of disco music. As someone who started listening to the radio in 1963 on a 6-transistor Sony, I find that my big influences are the 1960s garage bands, the British Invasion and Motown. I liked a lot of early 1970s R&B (cf. Rhino's "Didn't It Blow Your Mind," Vols. 1-15), which led me to disco. There sure wasn't much else going on in the mid-70s. (I'm thinking of "Philadelphia Freedom" and "The Night Chicago Died" here.) Favorite disco tunes include "Get Down Tonight," "Shame" and "I Love the Nightlife." I hope this doesn't disqualify from the MC message board. I was listening to Rick Springfield the other night and thought to myself, "Hey, this holds up." Or does that put me in a deeper circle of hell? Oh, well...
Mark Wukas <mwukas@concentric.net>
Chicago, USA - Wed Jul 21 16:03:12 EDT 1999

Not being a fan of disco.. we must all remember than MC covered a song by disco-divas ABBA. Knowing Me, Knowing You. Another great ABBA cover was delivered by an obscure band called "Any Trouble", who performed Name of the Game.
TonyM <skipm@psinet.com>
Richmond, VA USA - Wed Jul 21 9:26:18 EDT 1999

isn't that now called the "soy bomba"?
roland <roldeb@gateway.net>
USA - Wed Jul 21 5:29:47 EDT 1999

Don't get me wrong--I always thought that there was some okay music that came out of disco--I just couldn't dance to it. I was about as opposite from Tony Manero as you could possibly get. The Anti-Tony.... My general line-dance phobia started then, I guess! My style was more like leaping foolishly around in Golden Gate Park with no shirt on.... I'm not sure what to call that dance step! Later skaters!
Kramer <kramerman@erinet.com>
Dayton, OH USA - Tue Jul 20 9:19:50 EDT 1999

OK, guys, I am from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, you know, home of Tony Manero? So I could not escape the disco scene back in the 70's. God, I hated it back then, but now, I don't mind listening to a tune once in awhile. I picked up a disco hits cd by subsribing to Entertainment Weekly a few years back, and it's good for a laugh, but I, like Kramer was heavy into Bruce at that time. Bruce, the early Who, the Beatles, Elton John, these were my favorites of those days. Of course, later on I started hanging out in NYC and being exposed to the likes of the Ramones, Blondie, Elvis, and of course, Our Boy, MC! I miss those days.

BTW, what do we have to do to get a copy of Andrew Curry's labor of love?

Kathy Paul <kmp@ms.com>
NYC, NY USA - Mon Jul 19 17:18:47 EDT 1999

Boy, does disco bring back bad memories, most of which hi-lite my own personal insecurities. I didn't have the hair, the clothes, the moves--none of it. I retreated deep into the Summer of Love during the disco nightmare, hanging desperately onto memories of the Woodstock Nation, on which I cut my musical teeth, so to speak. And then there was always Springsteen, keeping the faith. I was living in southern Italy at the time and the locals were crazy about disco. But then acts like Elvis Costello and Dire Straits began to appear, and Springsteen continued to be the Boss. Brrrr.... Chilly daze, that disco era.... Later skaters!!
Kramer <kramerman@erinet.com>
Dayton, OH USA - Mon Jul 19 11:39:27 EDT 1999

this is me-a long - time m.c. fan, singer/ songwriter/ musician/ m.c.-wanna-be....actually, i am a songwriter who regards m. c. quite influencial!! primarily a drummer/ percussionist who dabbles in guitar and keyboards-ya know, ta write my toonez! i've seen m.c. a few times and thoroughly enjoyed it! introducing myself to m.c. at the iron horse in mass., i found him to be quite courteous w/ advice and just plain old socialization.
welp......that was me! 'ta!

adamcouture <adamcouture@hotmail.com>
hartford, ct USA - Sat Jul 17 19:08:05 EDT 1999

Scone -- Just kidding on the pun thing. I actually considered trying to get a "Crenshaw" t-shirt, after I saw one of the stars of "Boyz In The Hood" wearing it in that movie. So keep the puns coming.
Interesting perspective on Disco/Dance Music vs. Live Music. I never made the connection and I have to say that this side of the Disco Sucks argument is being lost in time. All I ever hear is how it was a racist, homophobic plot against good-time music. Listening to it now, separate from personal memories (6th grade roller-parties) and historical perspective, it all just sounds like silly novelty tunes. Even McCartney did one -- "Goodnight Tonight"!
Robert -- big surprise that one of my personal fave drummers hates drum machines. I would say that it's a little like the clerk at my bank who hates ATMs, but I don't think the analogy holds, given the art and feel inherent in good drumming that just isn't there in a bank clerk (sorry, June!)
And, yes, I guess I have to admit that I do drive around listening to the Chemical Brothers and Fatboy Slim, if that qualifies as techno. I'm just too boring (married, kids) to go to a dance club these days, if they even have them around here...
And I'm a world class bad dancer. Self-conscious, lower-lip-biting, foot-shuffling, out-of-time head nodding, "isn't-this-kitschy-I'm-actually-dancing!", wish I was better, bad dancer.
J.D.
E. Amherst, NY USA - Fri Jul 16 22:42:56 EDT 1999

Not a pun in that post!
Scone Mason <smason@greenjournal.org>
USA - Fri Jul 16 14:24:42 EDT 1999

I like RC was playing live music in the disco era. We used to have bumper stickers on our guitar cases that said "Disco Sucks! Support Live Music!" Club owners discovered that they could take the money they pay bands, add a light-up dance floor to their club, and only have to pay a DJ and not have to worry about booking. They liked the idea, and the idea that if people came to dance, they would get thirsty and drink more. Although punk and power pop were going on at the time, most rock that was pervasive throughout the Midwest (where I was at the time) was bombastic and not conducive to dancing, ergo unpopular in clubs. Most album listeners sat at home with the headphones on, bong at the ready, playing the Zeppelin catalogue over and over. Disco made people want to dance. It was dance music that wasn't even made to listen to, only move to. Just like tekno today, does anyone really drive arond listening to tekno? For the most part, they go to clubs and dance to it. Even the goddamn Rolling Stones put out a disco song (Miss You) just to keep people dancing to them. It wasn't unti the 80s that rock music embraced the dancing idea again, and that's when disco died. There were other factors involved, of course, not the least of which was the cartoonish polyester clothing involved (the resurgence of which I'll never understand). The same year MC's first album got 5 stars in Rolling Stone, there was a grammy given for Best Disco Record. I preferred to cuff my jeans and wear Converse All-Stars and cut my hair short and pogo at the time, but we were definitely the minority, and we were having fun.
Scone Mason <smason@greenjournal.org>
Hollyweird, CA USA - Fri Jul 16 14:22:25 EDT 1999

I'm the one who has the "I hate disco music" single, which is one side of a single done by "The Sides"...Disco is written by and sung by Crenshaw, the b-side is a tune written by and sung by Glen Burtnick (which isn't disco)...it's copyright is 78 or 79 (I don't have it in front of me)...I bought it at Bleeker Bob's (where if you're lucky the owner yells at you!) for fifteen bucks about six years ago...I think it's pretty funny, and, hey, you can dance to it!
Jim Kenney <jimfk@hotmail.com>
NY, NY USA - Fri Jul 16 10:24:36 EDT 1999

All you DC-MD-Northern VA Crenshaw-philes take note -- according the Washington Post Weekend section -- Marshall will be appearing at The Birchmere on August 13th.

If any of you know of a confirmed Baltimore date, lemme know.

Larry

Larry <cheeryguy@aol.com>
Gaithersburg, MD USA - Fri Jul 16 8:38:49 EDT 1999

I almost forgot. DRUM MACHINES. Drum machines are the antichrist of music . Disco=drum machines .DISCO SUCKS
Robert Crenshaw
USA - Fri Jul 16 5:51:24 EDT 1999

JD,
I dont know about about MC but when I look back on that era I think of rock clubs turning into discos. I'm sue it was the same all over the country if not all over the world. Here I was working as a musician playing around town trying to make an honest buck when up pops the mirror ball and live music gets replaced by Andea True singing MORE MORE MORE. When I look back there were some fine records that were made during that time but for me its despite that they're disco records. LIVE MUSIC RULES-DISCO SUCKS
Robert Crenshaw
USA - Fri Jul 16 5:39:36 EDT 1999

Although lately this site has not been the premier spot for sharp-eyed musical analysis (see the bizarre pun-fest below), here goes.
I'm listening a lot to Andrew Curry's excellent rarities compilation "Little Things You Say and Do" and I keep getting stuck on "I Hate Disco Music." Where did this come from? Did Marshall write it? Did he perform the whole thing?
The other thing that keeps nagging at me is this -- current historical thinking places all haters of disco music in the 70s in one of several camps: Humorless Joyless Bastards (we know that's not Marshall), Homophobes (again, not Marshall -- see "Shake Up Their Minds"), Racists (definitely not Marshall) or punks (MC5 cover notwithstanding, also not Marshall).
So what gives? Could it be that another segment of the population simply found it to be soulless, repetitive blather, unrelated to any emotion or deep feeling associated with great music?
Anyone feel like addressing that? Marshall? Robert?

J.D.
E. Amherst, NY USA - Thu Jul 15 22:03:43 EDT 1999

Jill Sobule...she kissed a girl...WOW! You think she'd come over and kiss a girl at my birthday party? Just think, if Marshall became a Marshal and lived in the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles, he'd be Marshall Crenshaw, Crenshaw Marshal. He'd probably also be black.
Stone Cold Scone Mason <smason@greenjournal.org>
Buddy Hollywood, CA USA - Tue Jul 13 19:51:25 EDT 1999

I caught the Brian Wilson show last night here in Tokyo - what a thrill to see him solo. Jeff Foskett fans out there should try to see it when they get back Stateside, he's playing right alongside Brian and is in great form...he's got another CD out over here as well, tho I don't know if either Crenshaw is on it this time. Anyway a fantastic show!

Tom Picard
Tokyo
Tom Picard <tpicard@lehman.com>
Tokyo, Japan - Tue Jul 13 11:43:01 EDT 1999

ROBERT!!!
MORE INFO, MAN! YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO US!
At least tell us which cover songs he includes on it.
PLEASE!!
Note also that Jeff has quietly changed the release date to September 24.
J.D.
E. AMherst , NY USA - Sun Jul 11 22:42:12 EDT 1999

I got a copy of the new MC record yesterday. I believe its called NUMBER 447. What can I tell you.Tammy and I give it 2 thumbs up.MC makes swell records.I just listened to it once but so far my faves are TELIVISION LIGHT and another some called T.M.D.I think you guys are gonna dig it
Robert Crenshaw
USA - Sat Jul 10 5:32:32 EDT 1999

A few people have e-mailed me, and I've not yet responded, but I thought I'd let people know about the great collection that a friend of mine and I recently completed. It is a CD worth of b-sides and rarities of MC's material, and it has been in the works for what seems like years! At any rate, we have finally finished, and if you would like to know more about it, drop me a line. And I promise I'll respond.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Andrew in Houston
Andrew Curry <andrewc@alleytheatre.com>
Houston, TX USA - Fri Jul 9 17:16:15 EDT 1999

For Mick (or anyone who's seen "Loud, Fast and Out Of Control"... Some 15 or 20 years ago a few record-collector acquaintances played some stuff by the Rocketeens (or Rock-a-teens or something like that). I recall it being some great stuff but I haven't heard of them anywhere else. Are they by chance represented on this compilation?
Jim Keller <doctorbozo@aol.com>
Plymouth, MN USA - Wed Jul 7 8:39:45 EDT 1999

... Just wanted to chime in about Bill Lloyd's "Standing on the Shoulders of Giants," a truly spectacular guitar pop album if ever one existed. Check it out not only for the collaboration with MC but for the entire package in all its guitar pop glory.

Thanks!

Larry <Cheeryguy@aol.com>
Gaithersburg, MD USA - Tue Jul 6 19:20:12 EDT 1999

Regarding The Robert Crenshaw album. I was in Borders Books and Music last weekend and in the the Marshall Crenshaw bin was a copy of Roberts ablum. UNBELIEVABLE BUT TRUE. Either there's a thinking person ordering the music for that particular store, or they made a mistake, either way I got the disc.
Charlie <bubarc@polaroid.com>
boston, MA USA - Tue Jul 6 8:47:37 EDT 1999

Thanks for the info Roland! For anyone that is unfamiliar with Morphine's music it is unique in that the only instruments the group played primarily were 2 string slide bass, baritone sax and drums. If you are interested in investigating their music I would recommend starting with their "Cure for Pain" and "Yes" cds.
Jim <Jrecklin@aol.com>
Roanoke, VA USA - Mon Jul 5 12:19:41 EDT 1999

Some of you looking for MC's out of print CDs, etc should also try eBay.com...they are listed on that auction site quite a bit. Don't forget, he's got a great book out too!
Shawn
Duluth, MN USA - Mon Jul 5 11:41:22 EDT 1999

Jim, here's what CNN had. I'm sure there will be more info coming. Sad day for a great band....

Lead singer of Boston rock group Morphine dies in Italy

July 4, 1999
Web posted at: 9:39 p.m. EDT (0139 GMT)
ROME (AP) -- The lead singer of the Boston rock band Morphine, Mark Sandman, collapsed on stage and died of a heart attack at a concert outside Rome.
"We're devastated," said band manager Deborah Klein, hours after Sandman collapsed just before midnight Saturday in front of several thousand spectators at a music festival. "We don't even know what to say. We're all in shock."
A doctor tried to revive the 47-year-old Sandman but failed, and he was pronounced dead in an ambulance en route to a hospital.
Sandman played bass, sang and wrote all of Morphine's songs.
"His music was completely special and unique," Klein said in a telephone interview from Boston. "People loved him."
Morphine is a guitar-less trio that includes Dana Colley on saxophone and Billy Conway on drums. It started out playing at parties and bars around Boston and Cambridge in the early 1990s and built a solid cult following. Morphine has released five albums, including "Good," "Cure for Pain," "Yes," "Like Swimming" and "B-Side."
Sandman died on the second day of the three-day music festival at the Giardini del Principe in Palestrina, 30 miles east of Rome. Festival promoter Flavio Maniri said Sunday's performances would be dedicated to Sandman.
Palestrina was the second stop on a two-week European tour. Klein said the band was supposed to start two-week West Coast tour on July 19 after returning home.

She said funeral arrangements for Sandman, who is survived by his parents, were pending.

roland <roldeb@gateway.net>
USA - Mon Jul 5 9:09:41 EDT 1999

Does anyone know the particulars about Mark Sandman's death of the group Morphine in Italy? I am a big fan of the group and was saddened to hear of his death. I heard that he had a heart attack on stage and died but that is all I know. Any help would be appreciated.
Jim <Jrecklin@aol.com>
Roanoke, VA USA - Mon Jul 5 0:12:02 EDT 1999

does anyone have any information on any appearances by MC on July 23, 24 or 25. will be in the state of new york and would love to catch a gig. saw him in San Francisco few years back and thoroughly enjoyed the music. thanks. ceyeinkc
ceyeinkc <teye3@aol.com>
USA - Sun Jul 4 21:17:29 EDT 1999

Long time, first time -- as they say on the call-in shows here in New York. (Translated in this context as "Long-time lurker, first-time poster.")
First off, I love this site and especially the dialogue that goes on here. Other sites just have seemingly random people shouting postings into oblivion, but here there seems to be some continuity of comment. Which really makes it worth coming back to.
Second, a few Crenshaw stats from me: seen him live 7 times, favorite song (this week)? "What Do You Dream Of?"; favorite album? The first one, bonehead. Thoughts on Field Day? Would have toned down the drums a bit if it were up to me, but a great record anyway you mix it.
Third, let me second what someone else said here about the Old 97s album -- excellent and worthwhile. I got it for $8.99 too and it is among the best CD per penny that I've gotten in a while.
Finally, as an antidote to the 70s box set (shudder...) JD mentioned here last month, let me recommend the recent fifties rock box "Loud, Fast, and Out of Control." All the big players are here and some of the smaller forces, but as good a compilation as I've ever seen of good 50s rock. I have about 1/3 of this stuff elsewhere but some of the stuff that I hadn't heard is just jaw-droppingly great. THe people compiling it even purposely left some stuff out because it didn't "rock" enough, including certain Buddy Holly and Elvis songs. Check it out and see if you agree.
Mick
NY, NY USA - Sat Jul 3 16:20:39 EDT 1999

whoops! I thought it would print below my name. For those of you that can't link my URL is:

http://www.angelfire.com/ma2/shecantdance
beth <beth2459@aol.com>
boston, ma USA - Thu Jul 1 17:04:07 EDT 1999

hey folks! Some of you already know about it and thanks for the comments, but I would like to extend an invitation to all of the Cren-heads to check out my website! I hope Jeff doesn't mind that the link to this page is first on the list. There are some photos and examples of my design work and plenty more to com, so bookmark me!

MC content- besides listening to MOs in the car all week? Look at me address silly!

:-)

beth
beth <beth2459@aol.com>
boston, ma USA - Thu Jul 1 17:01:30 EDT 1999

From Philly's Tin ANGEL site: http://tinangel.com/schedule2.html

Fri 8/6 8 pm & 11 pm $18 Marshall Crenshaw & Jan Krist pop-rock

I'll have to read about this show & all the other summer dates right here since I most likely won't be able to make it ... my wife and I are happily awaiting the birth of the next-generation Crenshaw (dinizio/smithereens, dixon & jones) fan ... our son!
frank <fsmcguire@juno.com>
hamilton, nj USA - Thu Jul 1 4:10:59 EDT 1999

Hello all,

A belated thank you from all us unfortunates way out west to those who reported on the recent MC gigs. Great to hear so many new songs on the set list. The one that intrigued me the most, though, was the opener, "Love's Theme," a great guilty(?) pleasure. I'm still trying to figure how MC & Co. pulled that one off! Speaking of which, I happened to buy a copy recently of Barry White's Greatest Hits Vol. 1, which is a _fantastic_ pop record that everyone should own a copy of! Great groovy music, and lyrics that range from the sublime ("It's taken my whole life to find you, and it's gonna take the rest of my life to try and keep you") to the absurd ("You're the reason I can't stop thinking about you"), or both (take your pick).

Re. the difficulty of finding "Mary Jean" and "good evening" on CD: I have yet to find a copy of MJ myself, and if anyone at Razor & Tie is listening, there are many of us who would be forever grateful for reissues of these records, especially if they had some extra stuff (liner notes, bonus cuts, anything!).
Jon Mochizuki <jamochiz@uci.edu>
Irvine, CA - Wed Jun 30 20:01:34 EDT 1999

I just saw that Marshall is playing at the Bottom Line in NYC on 8/14. Does anyone know of any other announced dates?
Arnie Baum <cupguys@aol.com>
New Rochelle, NY USA - Mon Jun 28 19:55:05 EDT 1999

J.D., I've found myself obsessing over the new Bill Lloyd album, "Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants". At first, I wasn't so warm to it (it is even a bigger departure than his last album, "Set To Pop". But I've been listening to it over and over again, and now I find myself unable to go a day without dropping it into the CD player.
Once again, Bill features a co-write with MC on it, this one titled "Holding Back The Waterfall" and Marshall provide more guest musicianship on the CD. Great stuff!

And, as always, keep on rockin'!
Don Kissick <yzermania@hotmail.com>
Big Rapids & Royal Oak, MI USA - Sun Jun 27 13:11:45 EDT 1999

Just thought I'd share some of my recent musical obsessions with the gang here. Feels like a lot of great stuff has come out recently.
Top of my list right now is Old 97s "Fight Songs" CD. Like Wilco, this is a former alt-country band playing "straighter" rock on this album. From the first song's soaring chorus ("I would give anything/ Not to feel so jagged!") to the acoustic country closer ("Valentine") there's not a bad song. Every time I listen to the album a new song is my favorite. One of the best albums of this year IMHO and currently available for like $8.99. Pick it up -- you won't regret it.
I also recently got the Rhino 70s box set, "Have a Nice Decade" -- really weird, but worthwhile. Sound bites, one-hit wonders, crap, and really great songs all spread over 7 CDs, housed in a book made of shag carpeting. Reminds me of being 9 and going to the pool. Don't know why. And yes, fellow Marshall fans, "Kung Fu Fighting" is on there (as well as that song that someone posted here recently "The Love Theme" from the Mavishnu Love Orchestra (or something like that)).
The Austin Powers soundtrack is really a cool surprise too. Even the Madonna song is palatable. REM does Tommy James and Elvis Costello and Burt B. do "I'll Never Fall In Love Again." Haven't seen the movie yet, but the soundtrack rocks.
What is everyone else listening to?
J.D.
E. Amherst, NY USA - Sun Jun 27 9:57:56 EDT 1999

ok....here's my question/wish....I've found all kinds of MC recordings out there (thanks for the gemm link, btw) and there are a lot of song samples in Real Audio and MPEG formats.....but there are no .wavs!

First, let me explain why I'm looking for wav files of MC songs. As you can tell from my e-mail address, I'm on AOL. A friend and I host a weekly trivia game on Friday nights with questions based on rock and roll, tv, and movies. It's a rather free-wheeling game and we do it for fun more than anything else. The host (my pal) always has one question where the answer is "Marshall Crenshaw" with the key words being "What Pop genius...."

Now, it may be hard to believe, but some of these people have never heard a MC song! (In spite of our encouragement to go get the MOS or LTS cd's).

I don't have the ability to record wavs (at least not ones that sound halfway decent), but I'm sure if I had a couple of wav clips to share with 'em, it would certainly pique their interest.

SOOOO....(I'm long-winded, I know...it's hereditary)... I'm wondering if anyone out there either HAS wav files of MC songs or could record a few for me. The size of the file has to be fairly small but still clear. Can anyone help me with this quest?

I was thinking that Fantastic Planet of Love would make a nice wav, also Someday, Someway, Cynical Girl, What Do You Dream Of, There and Back Again, Better Back Off ....but if anyone is willing to record wav files for me, I won't be picky about which songs you use. I'll just be mighty darned grateful for any wav donations you'd care to send.

I'm just SURE once they hear a snippet of MC, they will be more than pleased with what they hear!!

Post here and/or send me email with your thoughts, suggestions, scoldings, admonitions, support, or whatever.

Thanks!!!

Sarah <MsDucks@aol.com>
Columbia, MD USA - Sat Jun 26 19:51:37 EDT 1999

yes, Columbia House has Downtown in stock for $13.98, plus S&H and tax. I'm a member if someone really can't find a copy, but I was under the impression that only MJ&9O and GE were out of print (and fetching >$20)....
roland <roldeb@gateway.net>
USA - Thu Jun 24 22:41:32 EDT 1999

Howdy!
I just realized "Field Day" is still in print. Duh. There are apparently lots of places it can be found. I'll keep looking for the *really* hard-to-find discs. So far I've dug up three copies of "A Collection." I'll keep searching for more...
Michael <michael.bennett@ksl.com>
Salt Lake City, Ut USA - Thu Jun 24 18:25:00 EDT 1999

One good resource is GEMM at http://www.gemm.com. The out of print stuff can get pricey there too. A current search for Downtown results in a 20.49 backordered Japanese import.
Jeff Castel De Oro <jeffcdo@primenet.com>
Los Angeles, CA USA - Thu Jun 24 17:47:28 EDT 1999

Modpop, the reason you can't find Downtown, Mary Jean, or Good Evening, is that they are out of print. Unless you can find a used copy you are out of luck. The exception being Downtown, someone posted on here earlier that one could order it through Columbia House and I pulled up their website and it was listed. The only catch is that I would assume you would have to join their club. They can be found on Ebay on a regular basis, although the prices tend to be high. Good Luck!
Jim <Jrecklin@aol.com>
Roanoke, VA USA - Thu Jun 24 16:32:53 EDT 1999

I have most of Marshall's CDs. Trouble is, when I look for the ones I don't have (Downtown, Mary Jean and Goodnight) at stores they're NEVER in stock.

It's as bad as trying to find a 70s Nick Lowe release. What's the deal?
Glenn Wall <modpop@aol.com>
chicago, IL USA - Thu Jun 24 16:28:58 EDT 1999

Hey Gang,
Whilst shopping for-- and finding I add with a smile-- Robert's new cd, I stumbled across a new copy of "Field Day" at a Salt Lake store. The price was either $12.99 or $13.99. (Low prices not being the strong suit of this store. But it has instituted a cool VHS to DVD exchange program.) Anyhow, if anybody wants me to pick it up and send it off, I will do so at cost. (About $15 plus $3.25 for Priority Mail.) Just e-mail me. Have fun!

Michael <michael.bennett@ksl.com>
Salt Lake City, Ut USA - Tue Jun 22 19:59:15 EDT 1999

Well now that I've read the archives, I see that alot of you are loking for those deleted MC titles! Another good source of MC stuff, besides e-bay, is gemm.com. It's not an auction site, but a conduit for many independent dealers with stuff to sell. They presently have about 5.8 million listings posted, so give it a shot. I know they have someone listing Downtown for about $20. First time I went on the site, I got a promo comp that I had been looking for, and cheap at that. Here's the URL:
http://www3.gemm.com
Also, local record conventions are a must, lotsa titles and reasonable prices - wish I had picked up those extra MC titles that I already had! See ya...
roland <roldeb@gateway.net>
USA - Tue Jun 22 13:43:56 EDT 1999

Matt: My affiliation with the Jersey Shore is a long one. I've been going down there for about 38 years. My parents own a home in Ortley Beach (it is the town North of Seaside Heights). I currently rent a house in Bay Head (which is just South of Point Pleasant), and my older sister owns a condo in Brant Beach (in LBI), so I am all over Ocean County. If you need directions to Ortley, e-mail me privately, and I'll send them to you. I know the place is going to be swarming with "the kids" (gen Y'ers), but what the heck, for $8 bucks, I'll go! Maybe I'll see you there!

BTW, there are no violations when directing our attention to new sounds. That's one of the things this site is all about! ;)
Kathy Paul <kmp@ms.com>
NYC, NY USA - Tue Jun 22 12:01:01 EDT 1999

Hey Kathy.
Where on the shore were you? I used to live in Surf City (on LBI)myself. Unfortunately, I moved before I could really appreciate "two girls for every boy".
Where is Ortley Beach? I gotta go if the Smithereens are there. I've seen em thrice and they get better each time. As I'm sure you know, MC played organ on "Strangers When We Meet" off of "Especially For You" under the name Jerome Jerome.

To all, if you're REALLY into surf guitar, check out www.dickdale.com (I apologize if I violated any rules about listing another link)

Take care gang
Matt
Matt Pensabene <Matthew.Pensabene@aig.com>
Mt Holly, NJ USA - Tue Jun 22 9:32:54 EDT 1999

This month's ICE indicates that MC's next album won't be out until sometime in September now.
Boo hoo.
JD
E. Amherst, NY USA - Tue Jun 22 8:22:38 EDT 1999

Got back last night from my weekend at the Jersey Shore. [Scott & I share a home with 20 of our closest friends ;)]
Anyway, there's a great radio station down that way call FM 106.3. I've been listening to them for about 10 years now, even when I lived in Brooklyn, I could still get their signal! Very much like college radio, they will play MC once in a while (older stuff), but they also plays lots of Clash, Elvis C., XTC, etc... along with new stuff that I really like (Fountains of Wayne among others).

I heard an ad over the weekend about a concert they have going on July 2. It's called Surfstock 99, and some of the acts are the Smithereens, Gigolo Aunts and Fountains of Wayne. Concert is being held at Joey Harrison's Surf Club in beautiful Ortley Beach, NJ. Tix are 8 bucks in advance at TicketMaster, and 10 bucks day of the show. It's an all-day thing. Just thought I'd pass it along to those of you who might be able to make it.
Kathy Paul <kmp@ms.com>
NYC, NY USA - Mon Jun 21 15:48:07 EDT 1999

Hi there! I am new to this part of the site, although I've visited a number of times for news updates. I just saw MC at the Iron Horse in Northampton, Mass. (5th time I've seen him) and the show was great - gotta love the guy, he kicks off with the "Love Theme" by the Love Unlimited Orchestra and ends with Hendrix's "Fire"!! If any of you have never been to the Horse, it's one of the best places to see a club show - smoke free, great beer & food, and great atmosphere & sound. That, and it's very easy to interact with the musicians. Not only have I met and talked with MC, but also Jewel and Joan Osborne (her band even hung out at the bar after.)
Anyway, the reason why I am here is that I am looking for the CD format of MC's four album, "Mary Jean and 9 Others". I have practically everything else, and I am willing to pay a reasonable price (unlike on e-Bay!) or discuss trading some of my MC vinyl.
Thanks!
roland <roldeb@gateway.net>
unionville, ct USA - Sun Jun 20 13:32:11 EDT 1999

Hmmm, it's been a while since anyone posted, just wanted to make sure this thing's still working! As there are like-minded individuals here, just wondering if anybody got the new Cranberries CD? I have the first, like it a lot, didn't like what I heard from the last, so hestitating on the new...also, still wondering if anyone has a report from the Crensh's NY show last Saturday...
Jim Kenney <jimfk@hotmail.com>
NY, NY USA - Sat Jun 19 18:22:30 EDT 1999

hi!folks!Ｉ'm a big fan of ＭＣ!Ｉ wanna see the ＭＣ gig
someday someway!please come back in Tokyo again!
there's a plenty of MC fan in japan!
yutaka suzuki <asakos@pb3.so-net.ne.jp>
chigasaki, kanagawa ＪＡＰＡＮ - Tue Jun 15 12:39:28 EDT 1999

Speaking of The Association, I'll get MC could turn "Everything That Touches You" into something as wonderful as "WYOMM."
Mark Wukas <mwukas@concentric.net>
Chicago, USA - Tue Jun 15 12:17:37 EDT 1999

'Yes' to The Association cover. Saw them when I was 10 at Astroworld and I've never been the same.

Personal choice for MC cover: "Shake Me, Wake Me" by the Four Tops. Totally rockin' Motown with the degree of difficulty MC requires.

In need of MC swing through Texas...
Dave H <dave@coolfilms.com>
Houston, TX USA - Mon Jun 14 20:21:41 EDT 1999

It may or may not be common knowledge, but "That Thing You Do" was written by the guys from "Fountains of Wayne" (who have been discussed on this board before). Does anyone know if it's also Fountains of Wayne doing the song in the Pentium III commercial?? (the name of the song escapes me right now)
Dave <Redbutton@aol.com>
NY USA - Mon Jun 14 17:32:16 EDT 1999

While watching " That Thing You Do" I couldn't help but think how much it sounded like a MC song. Did anyone else think so too?
Randy <Fstball999@aol.com>
Nashville, TN USA - Sun Jun 13 21:53:20 EDT 1999

Did anybody see the Crensh in NYC last night (Saturday)? I had theatre tickets so I couldn't go!!! (saw him in March and 4 or 5 times previous), so don't sharpen the knives...I also missed Chris Isaak in Central Park, I've got to get my time management together!
Jim Kenney <jimfk@hotmail.com>
NY, NY USA - Sun Jun 13 20:59:00 EDT 1999

Hey,
Just wanted to recommend a cool record for Crenshawmaniacs: the PushStars "After the Party." Beyond the hateful cover art--a slavish-recreation of a mod, 60's party gone sad--the record itself is super yummy guitar pop. Very smart (but not trying to be) and really hooky.

Yep yep yep.

Larry
Larry <lfrye@csw.org>
Boston, USA - Sun Jun 13 16:50:08 EDT 1999

Speaking of one singer "turning into" another, is it just me or does Joey Ramone sound exactly like Ray Davies on the Kinks' "Tired Of Waiting"?
Jim Keller <doctorbozo@aol.com>
Plymouth, MN USA - Sun Jun 13 7:12:54 EDT 1999

A couple of additional cover suggestions: Whenever I listen to "'Til That Moment," on Mary Jean, it evokes the Raspberries for me (MC *really* turns into Eric Carmen at the end). I think he could do a bang-up job on any of their hits, especially "Tonight" or "Let's Pretend."
Nancy Arnott <NGrace@aol.com>
New York, NY USA - Sat Jun 12 10:52:56 EDT 1999

We were discussing cool covers for MC to do--I realize this list is absolutely endless. I thought the Monkees suggestions and especially the Partridge Family stuff was right on. This one hit me, though, just now out of the blue--"Wendy" by the Associations. I can see MC being pretty wicked on that one..... Of course, Wes Montgomery laid down such a great alternative cover on that tune, but still.... Have a great weekend, ya'll.... Later skaters....
Kramer <kramerman@erinet.com>
Dayton, OH USA - Fri Jun 11 22:49:40 EDT 1999

Gang:

Seconding that emotion; Wilco is perfect for MC types.
I also highly recommend Luna...

Dave Henry <dave@coolfilms.com>
Houston, TX USA - Fri Jun 11 21:15:43 EDT 1999

Gang:

Seconding that emotion; Wilco is perfect for MC types.
I also highly recommend for Luna...

Dave Henry <dave@coolfilms.com>
Houston, TX USA - Fri Jun 11 21:15:15 EDT 1999

Hey Gang,
I just want to take a second to second Jim's comments about the Wilco and Pat DiNizio cds. They're both quite good, and they both get better with repeated listenings. Give 'em a listen!
On another subject... Anybody actually gone into a music store and asked about Robert Crenshaw's cd? Geez, if it ain't in the top 3 nobody's heard of it. 'Don't know who he is.' 'Can't order it.' 'Never heard of that label.' 'Sorry.' Pathetic! Thank goodness for the internet.

Michael <michael.bennett@ksl.com>
Salt Lake City, Ut USA - Fri Jun 11 19:59:08 EDT 1999

I'd also like to recommend another lp, Wilco's latest "Summerteeth" It contains some of the best pop music of the past 10 years! It is the perfect summer album.
Jim <Jrecklin@aol.com>
Roanoke, VA USA - Fri Jun 11 18:09:53 EDT 1999

Kramerman, I have a copy DiNizio's solo cd and in my opinion it is wonderful. I am a big Smithereens fan and this lp is better than the last 2 Reens lps. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Jim <Jrecklin@aol.com>
Roanoke, va USA - Fri Jun 11 18:01:08 EDT 1999

Like Kathy, I saw the 9:30 show at the Turning Point on Wed. night. Way cool to see MC, or anyone of his stature, in a place that small. I was literally only about four feet back. As a struggling guitarist, a terrific opportunity to see how MC does what he does -- also to shake his hand and say thanks after the show.

The set was about an hour and a half long. I know its sacrilege to say this here, but I was underwhelmed by the first hour. I thought Marshall sounded a little rusty. His guitar playing was hesitant, especially during some of the early lead breaks, where I could see him holding up and deciding which way to go. This put behind the music a little. Also, although I don't have a great ear, I though the vocals were occasionally off key.

However, the last half-hour, starting w/Someday Someway, was everything you'd hope for and more. A couple of classics, a letter perfect cover of Travelin Man -- and they did wing it, unless you believe they planted a shill in the crowd to yell "Do some Ricky Nelson." And Hendrix' Fire, done on an acoustic guitar, was worth the price of admission alone. All in all, I'm really glad I went - more than anything for a chance to say thanks because I've been listening to the guy's music for so long.

Another note - there were some earlier messages about Fountains of Wayne. Not a band I know. But I've been working on a project in North Jersey (thus how I got from Illinois to Piermont NY) and there on Rt. 46 at the Totowa/Wayne line is a very large lawn statuary store by the name Fountains of Wayne. I'm assuming its where the band got its name. Full of spouting fish, cherubim, magi, etc. Must be a local landmark. Anyway, imagine my surprise.
Dan Wallace <dwallace@wvmgt.com>
Naperville, IL USA - Fri Jun 11 14:56:19 EDT 1999

Hey, if anyone is interested I picked up a used cd copy of MC's Good Evening. I'd love to find a good home for it.

Also, would like to second Jeffro's feelings from a few days back about MC doing "Don't Fear The Reaper". I saw him do that song with Graham Maby several years ago and always thought it would be great for him to record.
Randy Keller <randyk1492@aol.com>
Redondo Beach, CA USA - Fri Jun 11 13:20:03 EDT 1999

To the MC gang: Pat DiNizio has a pretty cool website running at www.psycholaborations.com In addition to several cool features/info, etc., there is an excellent digital jukebox available. Has anyone heard Pat's new album, "Songs and Sounds"?? There's some info about that, too. Later skaters....
Kramer <kramerman@erinet.com>
Dayton, OH USA - Fri Jun 11 12:17:59 EDT 1999

Hey has anyone ever actually heard the Astropuppees CD MC plays on? I've searched all over the net for it to no avail.
Also -- anyone have a good starting place for someone who knows nothing about George Jones? MC covering him got me interested.
jd
e amherst, ny USA - Thu Jun 10 13:45:03 EDT 1999

Ok, ok, back down from my high of last night. Wanted to let everyone know that there are quite a few Marshall items on sale at e-bay. Most I've ever seen under his name. I saw A Collection, Good Evening, etc. Couple of posters up for sale, too, and the Jones Bug Juice bottle (unopened).

Kathy Paul <kmp@ms.com>
NYC, NY USA - Thu Jun 10 13:27:53 EDT 1999

Looking for DAT/CD trades of MC rarities or live shows.
I can burn CD-Rs of any of my material. Yes, I do have
MC shows to trade, but not as many or as recent as I
would like. Trades only, please. With the recent shows someone must have recorded on DAT! Write & let's set-up
a trade!!
Kyle Spain <kyle_spain@warnerbros.com>
Glendale, CA USA - Thu Jun 10 12:11:15 EDT 1999

OK, Kiddies, I'm back from the show and here's the scoop! Lots of new stuff and surprises!

Set List:

Love's Theme (you know the 70's instrumental by the Love Unlimited Orchestra)
Cynical Girl (which in honor of tonight, MC referred to as Cyn KNICK GO Girl)
Laughter
Tell Me All About It (new)
Television Light
Fantastic Planet of Love
Only an Hour Ago
Better Back Off
He's a Dime a Dozen Guy (new)
Somewhere Down the Line
1 Glad Goodbye (new, I think that was the title)
Someday, Someway
What Do You Dream Of
Encore:
Whenever You're on My Mind (yipeeeeee)
(the George Jones song he played in Feb, don't remember the name)
Travelin Man (they said they winged it, but sounded damn good to me)
Fire (MC commented that it was so popular on the first leg of the tour [all four dates] that they decided to keep it on the second leg of the tour [all four dates]).

Marshall sounded great, and was backed by Glenn Burtnick, Dave Hofstra on standup bass, and a guy named Diego on drums. I could never quite hear his last name.

All in all, MC was at his best. Very funny, told some stories. One favorite was about his daughter. She's 1 1/2, and he saw her put something in her mouth. When he asked her to put it in her hand she did...it was a booger! Cute story from a papa.

Turning Point capacity is 69. There were about 50 people there tonight, I think largely because of the Knicks game. Here it is 11:34, and I don't even know how they did!

That's all for now. I have to get to bed. I may include more details when I get to the office tomorrow. (That is if I remember them.)

Kathy Paul <glammapuss@hotmail.com>
Piermont, NY USA - Wed Jun 9 23:34:20 EDT 1999

ANY INFO ON THIS WEEKEND'S SHOWS IN THE METRO AREA??

SOUNDS LIKE MC'S CRANKEN/ROCKIN!!!!
BARRY <GREENMATTE@AOL.COM>
HARRISON, NJ USA - Wed Jun 9 21:01:49 EDT 1999

Arrived home today to find Andrew Curry's "home burnt" Crenshaw rarities CD in my mailbox -- I had almost forgotten about that project!
At any rate, I'm happy to report that from what I can tell it's definitely a worthy addition to my Crenshaw collection. I've never heard these ASTIGAFA songs (in spite of reading about them here) and there are even a couple of other songs on here that I don't own (Men Behaving Badly Theme and, er, "I Hate Disco"?). The cover is especially worth noting -- as a complete neophyte when it comes to computer graphics, I can't believe how well the cover art turned out (a collage of MC's face over several album covers). At any rate, very cool.
I haven't even listened to it yet (going down to do that right now), but the track listing looks great and I'll review it at my next opportunity
Kevin <bkwal@erols.com>
Princeton, NJ USA - Wed Jun 9 20:29:16 EDT 1999

Did anyone notice MC bud Glen Burtnick playing bass for Styx this weekend during the CMN telethon? Another musician with talent to burn
Matt Pensabene <Matthew.Pensabene@AIG.com>
USA - Wed Jun 9 16:33:47 EDT 1999

Anyone going to see MC tonight at the Turning Point? I have tickets for the 9:30 show. I'll report back later tonight or tomorrow.

Kathy Paul <kmp@ms.com>
NYC, NY USA - Wed Jun 9 13:50:24 EDT 1999

Randy, I'd heard one of them died, but I didn't know it was a suicide. To paraphrase John Donne, each great songwriter's death diminishes me. "I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight" will always be my pantheon of pop. (I can hear MC singing this a little less frenetically than they did but with just as much feeling...)

And, gang, I'm plugging Robert's album again. The more I listen, the better it gets.
Mark Wukas <mwukas@concentric.net>
Chicago, USA - Wed Jun 9 10:29:07 EDT 1999

Thanks for the info Mark. The only other memory I have of them is performing on as episode of Bewitched (as themselves). I don't know if its well-known or not that Tommy Boyce commited suicide here in Nashville about five years ago.
Randy
Nashville, TN USA - Tue Jun 8 17:27:17 EDT 1999

Randy, Boyce & Hart followed up with something titled "(You're Still My Favorite Girlfriend) Alice Long." I have that 45. They also did a song in �68 called "LUV," which stood for Let Us Vote, which was to rally 18 year olds to work for the franchise. Beyond that, who can say?
Mark Wukas <mwukas@concentric.net>
Chicago, USA - Tue Jun 8 15:09:57 EDT 1999

Random thoughts:

All MC fans should check out Walter Clevenger's new release. A little less Nick Lowe-inspired this time around. Great stuff. The new Bill Lloyd record is also very cool.

Marshall's Byrds cover on the "Bleecker St." record is the best thing it.

I heard MC do a great version of Blue Oyster Cult's "Don't Fear the Reaper" that I'd love to hear recorded.
Jeffro <jeffrey_rose@eri.eisai.com>
Andover, MA USA - Tue Jun 8 12:33:21 EDT 1999

Can't say I'm that much impressed with Tommy Roe, Tommy JAMES on the other hand is a different story. I love just about everything the BeeGees did, except for their biggest success. I can't stand their songs from Saturday Night Fever. I hated to see them abandon their sound. Speaking of Monkee songwriters, did Boyce/Hart ever have any performing success beyond " I wonder what she's doing tonight"?
Randy <Fstball999@aol.com>
TN USA - Tue Jun 8 11:48:02 EDT 1999

mmmm - covers I'd like to hear:
Shaking All Over (Johhny Kidd and the Pirates)
Lies (The Knickerbocks)
Crimson and Clover (Tommy James and the Shondells)
I'm Ready for Love (Martha and the Vandellas)
I'm Gonna LOve You To (MC does Blondie doing an American teen band impersonating an English Invasion outfit doing Buddy Holly - now thats a long way round the houses).
mike deller
north greenford, london England - Tue Jun 8 9:14:41 EDT 1999

Actually, the reason for the Monkees popularity and why their tunes still stand up is no secret - those guys had a freaking all-star team writing (and playing) their stuff: Boyce/Hart, Carol King, Neil Diamond, Neil Sedaka . . . The liner notes to the Rhino CD reissues are full of cool stories about these guys and the recordings. Also nice to know there are more closet Tommy Roe freaks out there.

Is this right time to mention that I think the Bee Gees are severely underrated?
Vic Morales <Vimoral@home.com>
Lakewood, CO USA - Tue Jun 8 0:30:14 EDT 1999

Until I bought a "Greatest Hits" CD, I never realized that I didn't really like the Monkees hits, but preferred their album tracks. I mostly liked the "Mike songs," things like "Sunny Girlfriend," "Papa Gene's Blues" and "You just may be the one" (but then again, there's "Sometime in the Morning," "Forget that Girl, etc.) As for "Steppin' Stone," I always felt that Paul Revere and the Raiders did a better job on that one (and I believe they recorded it first too)

Also, thanks Vic, for mentioning the vastly underrated Tommy Roe. I bought the "12 in a Roe" greatest hits album at a thrift store when I was a kid and played it for years. He's did a lot more than "Shelia" and "Dizzy." He did a LOT of great power pop stuff; just put on "Jam up and Jelly tight" and see if it doesn't bring a smile to your face!
Nancy Burke
Southgate , MI USA - Mon Jun 7 22:14:21 EDT 1999

WOW...Look at all this! I'm not alone. I knew you were my people! I, too, also love listening to the Partridge Family. I guess TV had a real big influence on the music I like. I used to watch the Beatles cartoon, thanks to my older sister, I used to watch the Monkees TV show (Monday nights 7:30 p.m. on NBC), and I also like the Partridges. Oh, and Randy, I also like a handful of ABBA songs.

Nancy previously mentioned Mike Appel (former Springsteen managers and Partridge Family tunesmith). I met Mr. Appel a few years ago ('83/84) when I was working at TicketMaster. (Or TicketBastard, as I know like to call it.) ;) I used to work with his brother, Brian, there. Brian introduced me to Mike with a "this is Kathy, she is a BIG Springsteen fan, and knows ALL about you!" Talk about your sticky situation! He seemed alright for all the 5 minutes I met him.

Kathy Paul <kmp@ms.com>
NYC, NY USA - Mon Jun 7 10:57:42 EDT 1999

Hey, did I accidently stumble into The Monkees webpage? It's funny that it's now okay to admit you like them. Maybe I can come out of the ABBA closet now too.
Randy <Fstball999@aol.com>
USA - Sun Jun 6 23:42:21 EDT 1999

I saw postings about The Monkees and I thought I'd chime in.When I was a kid we would come home from school at lunch. I think there may have been about a year period where we listen to nothing but Monkees.Those are some great record, Really good songs. Plus the last season of the show was really wierd.
Years ago I used to play guitar and play Steppin Stone . MC would play drums .It was cool. MC is one of my favorite drummers Good Stuff
Robert <robcren@earthlink.net>
USA - Sun Jun 6 20:33:34 EDT 1999

So glad I found this MC 'community' -- I thought I was the only one so affected by his music. When the first album came out, my college roommate and I -- who had pledged to buy an album a week for a year to improve our collections -- stumbled on it almost by accident. We liked the jacket design; I still think it's excellent graphic design. Anyway, we were smitten. Favorite songs: Rockin Around NYC, Whenever You're On My Mind, What Do You Dream Of?

If you haven't seen it, there's a good entry on our man in Spin's "Alternative Record Guide." Concluding the brief article, Renee Crist writes "'Unsung Hero' would be an ironic title for Crenshaw, though, because anyone who knows these songs sings them all the time."

Here, here!
Dave Henry <dave@coolfilms.com>
Houston, TX USA - Sat Jun 5 15:56:07 EDT 1999

I remember having a thread of possible MC covers going through this page a few years back. I said then and will reiterate that the Turtles did some songs (Happy Together, You Know I'd Rather Be With You) which I think would be right up MC's alley. Actually, you could probably choose any top-40's song between 1964 and 1969 and MC could ace it.
Jim Keller <doctorbozo@aol.com>
Plymouth, MN USA - Sat Jun 5 11:37:58 EDT 1999

Incredible how one little mention brings all of us closet Monkees fans out of the woodwork:-). One of my favorite Monkees tunes that I've been flashing back on lately is "You Just May Be the One," by Mike Nesmith. What a great song! I also love "I'm a Believer," "Valleri," and many more (well, at least a few more).

And Lynn, I'm with you on the Partridge Family, too! It must be a function of my age, but I am positively transported and start singing along on the rare occasions that the oldies station plays "I Think I Love You." Of course, remembering those groovy PF songs means blocking out the knowledge that some of them were written by Bruce Springsteen's first manager, with whom he engaged in that endless court battle that delayed "Darkness on the Edge of Town" by about two years, but...when my mind strays in that direction, I try to just substitute happy thoughts of the young David Cassidy;-).

But my ultimate guilty pleasure has got to be AC/DC's "Dirty Deeds (Done Dirt Cheap)." I don't think it's really melodic enough for Marshall to cover, but it's still mighty catchy and great fun to snarl along with!
Nancy Arnott <NGrace@aol.com>
New York, NY USA - Fri Jun 4 22:19:10 EDT 1999

Erotic, there is a copy of Good Evening up for sale on Ebay right now. The last time I checked the high bid was only $6.00!
Jim Reckling <Jrecklin@aol.com>
Roanoke, VA USA - Fri Jun 4 20:41:00 EDT 1999

anyone have an extra copy of good evening? lost mine-pls e-mail me
jeff zoslaw <erotic_tempter@yahoo.com>
wash, dc USA - Fri Jun 4 20:09:50 EDT 1999

Maybe the Crenshaw boys have a secret Monkee's fetish, too. About ten years ago, I heard Marshall sing "Daydream Believer" at a fabulous show at the Trocadero in Philadelphia (the Ben Vaughn Combo opened). Not long before or after that, at a show at the Stone Pony, Marshall took over on drums, while Robert sang lead on "Steppin' Stone."
Martha Hickson <hickson@att.com>
Washington, NJ USA - Fri Jun 4 13:58:29 EDT 1999

hey- put my name on the list of Monkees fans while you are at it. I think I imprinted on both the Monkees and the Beatles at a very young age, hence my penchant for pop, and perhaps-groovy pop guys. I would be interested in hearing more of the Beatles personality ratings as my friend Jeanne and I have always classified each Beatle in a different way too! Paul- heart/ John-intellect/ George-spirit/ Ringo-humor. What your favorite Beatle reveals about you..." I can see the book now!

In MC news- I am going to be "Rocking Around in NYC" for a few days next week and would be thrilled with ANY suggestions of cool places to go/shop/eat/see. I am going to be even more excited to get home from the Big Apple so that I can catch MC himself in Northampton on Thursday!

Thanks a bunch!

beth
beth <beth2459@aol.com>
boston, ma USA - Fri Jun 4 12:00:07 EDT 1999

Wow, the Monkees.... Cool.... MC could probably nail a couple of their tunes.... Here's another one that would be a trip: "Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes" by (I believe) Edison Lighthouse. Spinnin' down memory lane here.... Later skaters!
Kramer <kramerman@erinet.com>
Dayton, OH USA - Fri Jun 4 11:52:37 EDT 1999

I _hated_ the Monkees when I was 12, probably because my sisters liked them. Now, well, I think "Steppin' Stone" holds up with anything from the period, although I'm still no sure whether to credit the lads of Boyce & Hart and the studio talent. Anyway, I feel confident to come out of the closet as a big Gary Lewis fan, and whoever mentioned the Buckinghams has his ears on straight. They were a Chicago garage band produced by James William Guercio, whose next big act was Chicago. You can hear the pedigree in some of the horn arrangements. Now, let's see, guilty pleasures for Marshall to cover? "Sugar and Spice" by the Cryan' Shames, "Needles and Pins" and, if I can have one more, "Already Gone." Have a nice weekend, all.
Mark Wukas <mwukas@concentric.net>
Chicago, USA - Fri Jun 4 10:16:14 EDT 1999

Kathy, I am a huge Monkees fan as well. And I will also admit that there's nothing better than driving with the windows open and singing along to the Partridge Family's best of album!
Lynn Jackson <ljackson@eclipse.net>
Bedminster, NJ USA - Fri Jun 4 9:54:51 EDT 1999

Hmmmm...guilty pleasures? How about MC doing a rendition of "Pleasant Valley Sunday?" I might as well confess to all my Marshall friends, I love the Monkees (meaning I STILL do). There, I said it. Cast your (steppin') stones if you must!

Kathy Paul <kmp@ms.com>
NYC, NY USA - Fri Jun 4 9:48:11 EDT 1999

Interesting thread re MC and "guilty pleasures" covers.... A few that pop into mind right away are "Saturday Night's Alright For Fightin'", "Suffragette City," and "Take On Me" (originally by the infamous A-Ha)..... A couple more will probably occur to me later.... And speaking of later--later skaters!
Kramer <kramerman@erinet.com>
Dayton, OH USA - Fri Jun 4 8:56:28 EDT 1999

One of the things I've always liked about about MC is his fearlessness in choosing material to cover live - regardless of what the conventional wisdom says about the song or the original artist. He's not afraid to let his "guilty pleasures" be made known, whether its Hatchet's "Flirting With Disaster" or ABBA's "Knowing Me, Knowing You" - two songs (and bands) I had never paid much attention to before, but saw MC do live. Anybody else have any other guilty pleasures, good songs by dreck artists (or vice-versa), "shoulda been hits" or just songs that MC would nail live? The weirder the better. I mean, I never would've thought anybody could salvage some of ABBA's stuff, much less MC. Anyway, here are my choices:

1. "This Diamond Ring"/"She's Just My Style" - Gary Lewis & Playboys. I've always thought that MC could've dropped cover versions of GL&P's stuff onto his first album and not missed a beat. I mean that as a complement.

2. "Carrie Anne" - The Hollies. While the Hollies are certainly a cut above ABBA (maybe), I would kill to hear MC play this.

3. "Come On, Come On" - Cheap Trick. While I'm not suggesting MC play Budokan, IMHO, the Tricksters never got the respect they deserved. I think "Surrender" is a power pop classic. But I nominate MC to mine their early albums for nuggets like this.

4. "Dizzy" - Tommy Roe. Then again, maybe I need some sleep. But throw an electric guitar in the mix and . . .

5. "Hey, Baby, They're Playing Our Song" - the Buckinghams. I accidently caught these guys live at a Denver saloon 3 years ago. Maybe it was the 4 kamikazes I had, I've liked his tune ever since.

I'd like to hear your choices.
Vic Morales <Vimoral@home.com>
grand junction, CO USA - Fri Jun 4 2:34:00 EDT 1999

Had a Marshall kind of day yesterday. Picked up the Bleecker St. cd and paid for my tickets to next Wednesday's show. (The beauty of a small club [The Turning Point] in a small town [Piermont, NY] -- they take reservations! No hard tickets whatsoever!

Liked "My Back Pages," and ditto for the psychedelic ending. I also really like "Last Thing on My Mind" by Cry Cry Cry. They are a trio I've been listening to alot this past winter. Dar Williams, Lucy Kaplansky & Richard Shindel. Great harmonies. They covered REM's "Fall on Me" on their (self-titled)debut album. Very nice.
Kathy Paul <kmp@ms.com>
NYC, NY USA - Thu Jun 3 11:15:43 EDT 1999

All of this Beatles talk also reminds me of a friend's psychological theory that you can classify everyone in the world by his/her dominant and recessive Beatle. For example, Clinton would be a John/Ringo, i.e., a serious intellect with a careless buffoon lurking beneath. I'm guessing our man MC would be a Paul/John. Try it on your friends. It works.
Mark Wukas <mwukas@concentric.net>
Chicago, USA - Thu Jun 3 11:09:53 EDT 1999

Yo Robert, just received my copy of "Full Length Stereo Recordings" from Gadfly. Nice job! I've been trying to get my hands on it for some time. For those of you that would like to get a copy, I found Gadfly easy to deal with. Robert, do you remember a show you did years ago at Mount Holyoke College in Hadley, MA? N.R.B.Q. opened for you and they ended their set by Tar and feathering a cabbage patch doll. Very funny, you guys did a great set. See ya.
Larry
Larry Interlande <toben@crocker.com>
Greenfield, MA USA - Thu Jun 3 2:40:18 EDT 1999

Here's a site that shows the Bug Juice label:

http://www.bradthegame.com/jones/limited-edition-labels.html

And here's the company's site, which includes links to sources for buying the soda online:

http://www.jonessoda.com

Martha Hickson <hickson@att.com>
Washington, NJ USA - Tue Jun 1 11:37:10 EDT 1999

Has anyone seen Jones Bug Juice? Its some kind of soda and it has different "pop artists" on it. Someone told me there is a lable with the picture of MC from the 9V cover. Anyone else see this?
Robert Crensahaw <robcren@earthlink>
USA - Mon May 31 17:38:31 EDT 1999

I meantquasi-psychedelic. (You'd think Jeff could put a spell-check on this site!)
Mark Wukas <mwukas@concentric.net>
Chicago, USA - Mon May 31 15:34:53 EDT 1999

Agree completely on MC's "My Back Pages." It's a great cover, and I like the quasi-psychedlic guitar licks at the end. The rest of the album hasn't grabbed me yet, either, although I've given it three or four spins. Much as I like Jules Shear, I have to say that I'm a bit disappointed with his version of "Darling Be Home Soon," which is my favorite from the Spoonful. It all needs to sink in more.
Mark Wukas <mwukas@concentric.net>
Chicago, USA - Mon May 31 15:33:04 EDT 1999

Wow, I thought I was the only person who loved "Things We Said Today" (although I do recall Bob Green -- syndicated Chicago Trib columnist -- writing a column years ago about how he loved that song). It is my favorite Beatles song, but I have to mention that the Hollywood Bowl version (Memo to Capitol: PUT THAT OUT ON CD!!!) is really cool too -- different harmonies from John. McCartney put out a live B-side version of it from one of his early 90s tours, which I also think is excellent.
Marshall's version of "My Back Pages" is really great -- even goes into a cool guitar freak out at the end, which is almost more "Eight Miles High" than "MBP" -- the rest of the CD hasn't really caught my attention yet.
Have a great holiday weekend, everyone!
J.D.
E. AMherst, NY USA - Sat May 29 9:16:24 EDT 1999

Mark, I half agree with you on the best Beatles tracks. "Things We Said Today" immediately came to mind as a favorite when I read Kathy's post, but "Run for Your Life" used to scare the bejabbers out of me as a five-year-old "little girl.":-) Overall, however, Rubber Soul is my first great musical memory, and I was quite disheartened when I bought it on CD many years later (through Columbia House) and got the British version. I was really hoping for that Proustian experience of putting it on and hearing the opening chords of "I've Just Seen a Face"--which isn't on the Brit version at all. On the bright side, however, it does contain "If I Needed Someone," one of my favorite George songs.
Nancy Arnott <NGrace@aol.com>
New York, NY USA - Fri May 28 21:02:22 EDT 1999

Re Mark's comment, "I think a lot of what we like and don't like in music comes with the time of life when it hits us." that was/is what adds to my intense feelings about the first. I distinctly remember coming home from the store with that album, putting it on, being amazed, and calling my best friend to tell him he had to get over to my house to hear this. A great musical moment for me and (as I have said before on this site) to hear someone come right out and say "I hate TV/ there's gotta be somebody other than me" carried me to a new level of disdain for TV that I continue to this day. MC is the man!
Pat <carrollp@ih.k12.oh.us>
Cincinnati, OH USA - Fri May 28 14:10:49 EDT 1999

Just restating that while the debut has the best collection of tunes, I think as an album experience, from beginning to end, "Mary Jean & 9 Others" is a tour-de-fource...the first time you hear it, it doesn't grab you the same way, bu� boy does it grow...anybody hear the "Bleeker Street" track yet? I saw it at Tower but didn't pick it up yet...did get the new Rosie Flores, good as always...
Jim Kenney <jimfk@hotmail.com>
NY, NY USA - Fri May 28 12:55:25 EDT 1999

The Beatles, eh? I'll put my chalk mark under "Run for Your Life" and "Things We Said Today."
Mark Wukas <mwukas@concentric.net>
Chicago, USA - Fri May 28 10:16:26 EDT 1999

The Beatles, eh? I'll put my chalk mark under "Run for Your Life" and "Things We Said Today."
Mark Wukas <mwukas@concentric.net>
Chicago, USA - Fri May 28 10:16:20 EDT 1999

Since Beatles tunes seem to be coming to the fore.... "You're Gonna Lose That Girl" still makes me look over my shoulder.....
Kramer <kramerman@erinet.com>
dayton, oh USA - Thu May 27 23:22:45 EDT 1999

Doh!
Just realized Marshall's new one isn't scheduled 'til August 24th. Oh well, only a few extra weeks...
Michael <michael.bennett@ksl.com>
Salt Lake City, ut USA - Thu May 27 19:18:31 EDT 1999

Hey Gang,
I agree there's something different *and* special about each of Marshall's albums. I tie each one to the time of my life at which it was released. May I pick one from the '80s and one from the '90s? I'm with Kathy, "Field Day" 'does it' for me, though Steve Lillywhite's "bombastic" production was widely criticized when it came out. Helluva record. But I can't see living without "Life's Too Short," either. Great batch of songs. And I'm waiting with baited breath for the new one July 26. (My b-day's the 30th, so thanks Marshall for the early gift.)
Months ago I touted the Gigolo Aunts latest, so I will re-tout and second Al's opinion. If you're a Marshall fan-- and you are if you're reading this-- you will dig their record. Don't miss it. Also "The Ego Has Landed" from England's own Robbie Williams (ex Take That singer) is a great pop record. Part George Michael, part Oasis, and part Howard Jones. You won't be disappointed. Give it a listen!
Michael <michael.bennett@ksl.com>
Salt Lake City, Ut USA - Thu May 27 19:13:26 EDT 1999

a brief digression... Ditto on the Beatles' "I Need You"
Don Kissick <radioboyferris@hotmail.com>
Big Rapids & Royal Oak, MI USA - Thu May 27 18:22:06 EDT 1999

To the MC Gang: I started with MC via "Field Day" and WYOMM, which is still such a great song.... But that first one is startling in how good it sounds from beginning to end--crisp, clean, pure power pop, as Mark correctly notes. And great songwriting. But I have to admit that MOS really REALLY impressed me. It's both a homage to roots and an attempt to do a bit of experimenting. So I guess that's my favorite, but shoot--I can't really complain about any of the others. Later skaters....
Kramer <kramerman@erinet.com>
Dayton, OH USA - Thu May 27 12:20:23 EDT 1999

Haven't been on this site for awhile....but a local Boston band, Gigolo Aunts, has put out a great CD that I've been enjoying for a couple months called "Major Themes, Minor Chords". It's woth the money. I decided to go back and hear some early stuff and picked up a CD single they did for the movie "Dumb and Dumber" with 4 tracks and discovered a song called "Serious Drugs" that is UNBELIEVABLY Marshall Crenshaw!!! The other tracks are very Gin Blossom-y. Check it out!! Also, currently listening to Owsley and the new Fountains of Wayne. Super pop!!
Al Peach <apechulis@asaint.com>
Medfield, MA USA - Thu May 27 11:04:40 EDT 1999

In re the best MC album, I have to agree that for pure power pop, MC is the best; however, I cast my vote for Field Day as my fave. I've been following MC since Day One and bought everything on wax through MJ&90 when I switched to CDs. (I'm also lucky enough to have bought the CDs as they were reissued, so my collection is complete.) I think a lot of what we like and don't like in music comes with the time of life when it hits us. While I appreciated MC, Field Day was the soundtrack for my life in late '83 and early '84, hence my dogged devotion to it. Despite MC having some great tunes as well, Field Day always hung together as a concept album for me, not unlike Pet Sounds or Avalon. Anyone else know what I mean or have a similar experience? I'm curious to hear.
Mark Wukas <mwukas@concentric.net>
Chicago, USA - Thu May 27 10:50:26 EDT 1999

Pat: While I (of course) agree with you that MC's first album is his best, I still have to cite Field Day as my personal fave. I can't remember whether I saw MC before the first release came out or after, but I do know that FD just "does it" for me. It's only a personal choice. Like my favorite Beatles's song is "I Need You" from the Help soundtrack. I can't explain that, either, but that's my personal fave. It doesn't mean I don't love other Beatles' tunes.
Kathy Paul <kmp@ms.com>
NYC, NY USA - Thu May 27 9:57:30 EDT 1999

Regarding Brian Clevenger's comments: I couldn't agree more that MC's first album is his best (which is NOT to say the others are weak). I was so surprised when the regulars on this site were weighing in with their favorite MC album and so few of them named his first as their favorite. In my self-centered world, I figured anyone who is as into MC as I am (like the regulars here) would surely be so fanatic because of his first. That album (IMHO) must be recognized the world over as THE best, most beautiful expression of pop music. It defines it better than anything else I have ever heard and it stands up as a piece of art as well as any other creation. My fanaticism in regard to MC has its roots entirely from that album. Anyone who can write a string of songs like that on one album deserves to be put on a musical pedastal. I'm curious; did those of you who listed favorites before not begin your "relationship" with MC with the first album? Perhaps that explains our different opinions on which is best. Sorry for the lengthy post. Although I rarely post, I always appreciate the comments from those of you who do. See ya!
Pat <carrollp@ih.k12.oh.us>
Cincinnati, OH USA - Thu May 27 9:21:04 EDT 1999

I've always been very fussy and particular about what I'll spend money on when it comes to music (primarly since it's been hard to come by while in college). As such, most of my efforts with CD's have been spent getting caught up on people's older releases that get reissued on CD. But (IMHO) 1999 may turn out to be the best year for new material in quite a while. Considering the release of new albums by Bill Lloyd, Kelly Willis, and the Paladins and anticipated releases by MC and (again) the Paladins, the only thing left to make this a perfect year of music would be Albums by Doyle Bramhall II, John Hiatt, and reunion work by the Blasters and Rockpile.

And, as always, keep on rockin'!

Don

Don Kissick <radioboyferris@hotmail.com>
Big Rapids & Royal Oak, MI USA - Wed May 26 19:06:06 EDT 1999

Sorry for the deja vu, guys. My first message didn't seem to get posted, so I told the story all over again:-)!
Nancy Arnott <NGrace@aol.com>
New York, NY USA - Tue May 25 22:29:19 EDT 1999

Kramer, hang in there, record store miracles can happen. I found my CD copies of both Good Evening and Mary Jean on the same incredible day at J&R Music World. I was flipping through the cutout bins on the off chance that I'd find either of them. When I found one, I couldn't believe my good luck--then I dove back in and found the other! I truly felt fortune was smiling on me. Here's hoping you have a similarly miraculous experience!
Nancy Arnott <NGrace@aol.com>
New York, NY USA - Tue May 25 22:27:50 EDT 1999

Kramer, don't despair--miracles can happen! I found my CD copies of both Good Evening and Mary Jean on the same incredible day at J&R Music World. They were *both* in the cut-out bins, which I flipped through on the off chance that either would be in there. I found one and couldn't believe my luck, but dove back in and found the other! Shortly thereafter the store was rearranged and they got rid of the whole section, so I nabbed them in the nick of time. Here's hoping you have a similar experience soon:-).
Nancy Arnott <NGrace@aol.com>
New York, NY USA - Tue May 25 22:22:23 EDT 1999

Although you would be potentially at the mercy of non-MC fans, I suggest any and all of you, looking to complete your MC collections, check out E-Bay. Go to "Books, Music" etc and search Marshall Crenshaw. There seems to be a steady stream of CD's, LP's, Posters etc. Good luck and bring your checkbook.
Don Evans <donevans@WRGB.com>
Saratoga Springs, NY USA - Fri May 21 17:11:38 EDT 1999

I do not no if the offer is accurate, but Columbia House (www.columbiahouse.com) has offers Downtown. The catalog number is 439851.
Scott Erlanger <serlange@ix.netcom.com>
Sayville, NY USA - Fri May 21 11:27:30 EDT 1999

I lucked out and found "Downtown" at a close-out sale about two months ago. The guy that owned the shop said he thought he'd had that CD on the rack since around 1990, when he first opened!! Anyway, all I need to complete my MC CD stash is "Mary Jean".... I guess my chances of finding it are about as good as MC playing Ohio again.... Later skaters!!
Kramer <kramerman@erinet.com>
Dayton, OH USA - Fri May 21 8:49:13 EDT 1999

Evan, Mary Jean and 9 Others was at one time availiable on cd. I bought my copy as a cut out about 6 years ago, so probably the only way you can get it is to find a used copy from an individual or a used cd store. Downtown and Good Evening are also out of print, with Downtown especially hard to find on cd. Happy hunting!
Jim Reckling <Jrecklin@aol.com>
Roanoke, Va USA - Thu May 20 16:32:30 EDT 1999

Thought i'd pass along an opinion about MC's music. For the last 10 years or so i'v been doing the compact disc thing in my house and in the car. Have pretty much abandoned my LPs. Well over a recent weekend, i pulled Marshall's first LP out of moth balls and gave it a spin and a spin and another. I had a "The Usual Thing" demon for a couple of days that i had to excorcise. Picked this LP up when it was new and i believe that any MC fan worth their weight should say this was his best. Have any of you listened to it lately? If you haven't, make sure you do.....Outstanding and i think it's his best.....that might last until i pull Field Day out!!!!!...thanx for the time...B
Brian Clevenger <ClevengerB@aol.com>
Baltimore, MD USA - Thu May 20 16:13:31 EDT 1999

In my typical compulsive way, I've listened to Robert Crenshaw's album, "Full Length Stereo Recording," every night for the past two weeks and have come to the conclusion that it stands right up there with his brother's best stuff. For those of you who don't have it, you're missing a terrific album. (And Marshall, if yer readin', let's bring a tour to Chicago!!!)
Mark Wukas <mwukas@concentric.net>
Chicago, USA - Thu May 20 10:59:25 EDT 1999

saw mc 3years ago at the mercury lounge. small place but great 2man show.keep touring!!!
barry mattern <greenmatte@aol.com>
harrison, nj USA - Mon May 17 22:33:40 EDT 1999

One more thing.....I'd also be interested in the King Biscuit recording in whatever form
Evan <evan0702@aol.com>
Eatontown, NJ USA - Mon May 17 19:41:04 EDT 1999

Anyone have any sheet music, or know of any available of MCs music? (particularly, tab transcriptions).

Also, has "Mary Jean and 9 Others" ever had a CD issue..its the only MC I'm missing (although I do own it on vinyl)
Evan <evan0702@aol.com>
Eatontown, NJ USA - Mon May 17 19:36:56 EDT 1999

I heard MC's cover of "My Back Pages" this morning on WXPN. The cover is part of a new album called "Bleeker Street," where today's singer-songwriters cover songs from the '60s folk scene. I think it is to be released Tuesday.

Oh yeah, the song? If that's Marshall playing drums, those lessons have really paid off. He also doesn't repeat the licks ingrained in your memory from the Byrds' version, which is nice.
Lynn Jackson <ljackson@eclipse.net>
Bedminster, NJ USA - Mon May 17 11:53:08 EDT 1999

Thanks for the notes on the King Biscuit thing. I have it on vinyl, but would love to find a CD copy. Anyone have one on CD they'd want to part with?
In other quasi-Crenshaw-related news, I heard that Pearl Jam is releasing a cover of "Soldier of Love" on a new album showing support for the Albanian refugees. I guess it's coming out on June 8. Should be cool.
J.D.
E. Amherst, NY USA - Fri May 14 20:20:18 EDT 1999

Jon M : Yes, the King Biscuit promo cd does exist. I was lucky enough to find one. It was recorded at the Ripley Music Hall in Philadelphia and includes : "Monday Morning Rock", "Whenever You're On My Mind", "Cynical Girl", "There She Goes Again", "Someday, Someway", "Little Sister" (yes, the U.S. Remix track), and best of all, an early version of "Blues Is King" ( 1983 !!). Marshall is in great form throughout. Highly recommended !!
Mark Wesley <mwesley@uwmc.com>
Placentia, Ca USA - Fri May 14 9:52:36 EDT 1999

Hey, just heard an english language cover of "You're My Favorite Waste of Time" on an Italian FM station. I didn't catch the artist's name, but I think MC would think he did the song proud. The singer did however take some artistic license with a line or two. For example: "the blows are gonna fall" in place of/after "I've got to give you my love tonight..." I believe other artists that covered this song have done similar changes, however I found this most recent change kinda dark. Anywho...anyone know if RNT will pony up any money for the Crensh to promote his new album via a tour?
Ciao!
R.C. Wood
Aviano, Italy - Fri May 14 8:28:26 EDT 1999

PLEASE come to Texas, Mr. Crenshaw!
Best regards,
Dano <dkueck@hotmail.com>
Corpus Christi, TX USA - Tue May 11 13:44:01 EDT 1999

J.D.: there _is_ a King Biscuit CD w/MC and John Hiatt; unfortunately, it seems to be extremely rare. (Anyone out there have a copy?) I believe the "Little Sister" live cut from the '83 Remix EP is also on the CD.
Jon Mochizuki <jamochiz@uci.edu>
Irvine, CA - Tue May 11 13:10:03 EDT 1999

Would someone be so kind as to post the tour dates for MC again? I was thinking of makingthe trek out to NOrthampton to see him, but I need details!
In other pop news- once again I must tell you folks that "Walter Clevenger and the Dairy Kings" are right up the alley of anyone who is a MC fan. This release is truly rocking my world.
The Candy Butchers are also going to be (finally!) putting out an album on Sony this summer I believe-rock on MV!

Sunshine & Lollipops,
beth
beth <beth2459@aol.com>
boston, ma USA - Tue May 11 8:59:36 EDT 1999

does anyone know where i can get a cd copy of "mary jean and 9 others?" it has always been my favorite MC record and my tape is wearing out.
tommy <tomsith@aol.com>
blacksburg, sc USA - Tue May 11 0:28:45 EDT 1999

Can someone please tell me why, WHY, there is a damn "APRIL WINE" King Biscuit Flower Hour Live CD out, but not one for Marshall Crenshaw? WILL SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME!!??
......friggin' April Wine? Who's buying this shite?
J.D.
E. Amherst , NY USA - Mon May 10 20:48:37 EDT 1999

I finally had a chance to listen to a friend's copy of Fountains of Wayne's latest CD. Now I can see why so many people in here are so high the band.

And, as always, keep on rockin'!
Don Kissick <radioboyferris@hotmail.com>
Big Rapids, MI USA - Fri May 7 16:48:33 EDT 1999

Looking through DISCoveries this month (excellent article on Springsteen rarities), I noticed a letter referencing an article by MC last month on "Pirate Joe and WHVW Poughkeepsie" -- anyone know anything about the article or the topic? We should try to get a copy to post on the site.
In other Springsteen news, serious fans should do what they have to to get a copy of the new issue of "Backstreets" which includes a pull-out section to put into "Tracks" box set which far outshine the actual liner notes for that set. Really worth having. I think you can get it off their website.
J.D.
E. Amherst, NY USA - Wed May 5 9:22:13 EDT 1999

If anyone has or knows of a copy of Mary Jane & 9 Others on CD for sale, PLEASE e-mail me with details.
Matt Woore <catfan@pacbell.net>
San Leandro, CA USA - Sun May 2 23:13:14 EDT 1999

are the gigs in June solo or with a band?
Steve Rhoades <Steve_Rhoades@sonymusic.com@WORLDCOM>
Cambridge, Ma USA - Fri Apr 30 21:47:24 EDT 1999

Ditto for all of us on the West Coast!
Jon Mochizuki <jamochiz@uci.edu>
Irvine, CA - Fri Apr 30 14:55:18 EDT 1999

I second what Kramer says... MC, pay the home folk a visit... or two or three!!

And, as always, keep on rockin'!
Don Kissick <yzermania@hotmail.com>
Big Rapids & Hockeytown, MI USA - Fri Apr 30 13:25:29 EDT 1999

Once again, you east coasters get all the fun!! Hey MC--come back to the heartland!! Later skaters....
Kramer <kramerman@erinet.com>
Dayton, OH USA - Fri Apr 30 12:10:25 EDT 1999

I'm searching all over for a cd copy of "Good Evening". This is my favorite album by MC. Anybody have any ideas where I can get one?
Rick McSheehy <morickocala@worldnet.att.net>
Ocala, FL USA - Thu Apr 29 23:34:38 EDT 1999

we just booked Marshall to play at the club on June 9 wed. Tickets are $20 showtimes 7:00 and 9:30 tickets are on sale now at 914-359-1089
turning point <turning@turningpointcafe.com>
piermont, ny USA - Thu Apr 29 17:47:30 EDT 1999

Jeff, thanks for the upcoming gig dates! MC's coming to my new home town! I just can't wait!
Kathy Paul <glammapuss@hotmail.com>
Piermont, NY USA - Wed Apr 28 9:20:54 EDT 1999