Rockin' Chair - The Early Years vol 1 [234]

This week's sees Sam & Martin at odds and Alice forced to mediate over this country-style song about boredom and ageing. Returning to Waits's 70s writing brings us back to a discussion of appropriation, as well as unique voices and their contribution to songs' meaning and tone.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Rockin' Chair, The Early Years vol 1, Tom Waits (1991)

September Song, The Collection, Eartha Kitt (2002/195?)

September Song, The Collegiate Chorale Presents: Knickerbocker Holiday, Victor Garber/Kurt Weill/Maxwell Anderson (1938/2011)

September Song, Live from the Café Carlyle, Eartha Kitt (2006)

What makes Ringo a Great Drummer, sina-drums, via Youtube (2019)

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Ice Cream Man - The Early Years vol 1 [233]

Alice returns for our first demo-to-studio jump, as Waits either trades frozen treats for hot lovin', or just embarks on a peripatetic dairy-based romance. Song endings, the interpretation between demos and final versions, as well as the nature of demos and producers/production in general all get consideration.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Ice Cream Man, The Early Years vol 1, Tom Waits (1991)

Hit The Road Jack, demo, Percy Mayfield (1960)

Ice Cream Man, Closing Time, Tom Waits (1973)

Hit The Road Jack, single, Ray Charles (1961)

The Doppler Effect: what does motion do to waves?, Alt Shift X, via YouTube (2013)

O Death, Ralph Stanley, O Brother Whereart Thou? Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2000)

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Had Me a Girl - The Early Years vol 1 [232]

Alice Fraser of The Bugle and The Last Post joins Martin and Sam to take a look at Waits's geocached conquest spreadsheet and the blue consequences thereof. The sexual politics of "having" and "virginity" gets serious consideration, as well as more discussion of the survivability of material outside the live venue.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Had Me a Girl, The Early Years vol 1, Tom Waits (1991)

Like A Virgin, Like A Virgin, Madonna (1984)

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