Phonographic Memory
 

Welcome to my musical "dumping ground". Prepare yourself for gratuitous youtube links and short versions of memories connected to the music therein. Music has served as a lifelong companion to me, and my taste is varied even beyond my own understanding. Feel free to stay for a while, offer your thoughts, or just lurk and silently judge. :laughing:

I'll start here, with something I revisited this morning -

Fleetwood Mac - Gold Dust Woman

"Did she make you cry, make you break down,
shatter your illusions of love?"



This will always remind me of someone I trusted who acted as a mother figure for some time in my life, then suddenly turned me away and left me with the greatest devastation I ever knew at that point in my life. I then spent the next two years drug-addled, numb, and directionless. I pulled through with "Rumours" in heavy rotation on my phonograph (among others, but that album in particular really stood out for me during my time of need).

While I'm on the topic of drug use, I'm currently detoxing again and can't help but think of this classic song, which rolled into my life during my very first experiments with psychoactive medicine -

David Bowie - "Ashes to Ashes"

"Strung out and heavens high, hitting an all-time low..."



I'll probably be posting in this thread pretty often, so I apologize in advance if I seem a little spammy at times.

Also I really hope I didn't jack someone else's thread title, because mine seems so typical ... but fitting.

Firstly, welcome to the world of journals! Now we have a team of partners writing! Yay!

Secondly, don't worry about how often/seldom you post: from now on, this is YOUR journal and you post what, when and how you like. Anything deemed inappropriate would be rejected by the mods, who have to approve every post, but I don't see that ever happening.

Thirdly: two great songs. I love "Rumours" and though I'm not the hugest Bowie fan I do love "Ashes to ashes", especially with its clever nod back to "Space oddity". It's really interesting to see how these two songs relate to your life in a way they probably would not to anyone else.

Fourthly: Great title, and no, nobody else has used it.

Fifthly: Look for your name on the weekly update post for music journals this Sunday.

Sixthly: Welcome. Oh wait, I said that already didn't I? Well, it bears repeating. Welcome!
:thumb:

Both Ki and I have a unique flair when it comes to writing - especially about music.

I've recently been getting into the "old" Fleetwood Mac (Peter Green/Bob Welch (whose death I was greatly saddened by - I have a couple of his LPs in my collection, nice stuff)) but I have been a sucker for the late-70s 'Mac for my entire life. I've never really been a huge Bowie fan either, really (but I'm sure he'll show up off and on in this thread).

That's surprising. And thank you!

I was pointed out to your brilliant project of making a point to announce what's happening, etc. It's cool that you take the time to do that. :thumb:

I had this track stuck in my head earlier and couldn't help but remember the time I was singing it in the car, driving through a parking lot. I met eyes with someone who eventually turned out to be my boss. Talk about awkward.

Honey Ltd. - Silk & Honey



Earlier I briefly mentioned my struggle with alcoholism; this album will always remind me of an evening I spent by myself, completely wasted and sobbing as my (now ex) was asleep. (Note: the full album is in this video.) "The Wall" remains an album I only listen to when I'm deeply saddened for whatever reason.

Pink Floyd - The Wall



I also mentioned how I pulled through an abusive relationship. This song helped me get through - or simply realize that I was obviously with the wrong person if he wasn't willing to love me the way he was supposed to.

Tommy James & The Shondells - Get Out Now



Thanks, Tom. I really owe you one.

Enough of that, though, I'd like to bring forth the opening track on one of the very first records I had in my collection as a younger version of myself. This one always makes me melt away; it's one of my favorites especially in the summer, and I feel so smitten with the whole damn world every time I hear it.

Tommy James & The Shondells - Crimson & Clover



I could actually groove to Tommy James & The Shondells forever. I'll always be in love with that flower-child/garage rock-y stuff.

So I realize I haven't posted this in a while, but I was priming myself for Sparks (even though there was really no need to, but anytime is a good time for a Sparks binge - and that happened to happen for a couple weeks). I suppose now is a good time for a Sparks entry (but I'm sure there will be more).

Up until just a few weeks ago I wasn't really familiar with their album "Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins" apart from the major singles (which I have on vinyl) but I fell for this song. Hard. I'm still tripping over myself trying to explain what I love about it. I guess I just love it.

"Frankly, Scarlett, I Don't Give a Damn"



This was a little difficult to pinpoint, but the next song was the first Sparks song I'd ever heard (and the lyrics are hilarious). I became a fan in late 2008. They came when I needed them most (but that's a story for another day).

"She Got Me Pregnant"



Here's a song my sister and I used to sing in the car, both on the way to drop her off at school, and on the way back. She's an excellent kid; I love her to death. How cool is it when your younger sister will sing Sparks songs in the car with you (because she learned the lyrics in her spare time)? Seriously.

"Moustache"



This next one was one we'd sing on the way back (usually because I'd leave for work and she'd spend the rest of the night with my mother). Check these crazy vocal acrobatics.

"Don't Leave Me Alone With Her"



I was suffering from a massive heartache at the time I first heard this song (excuse the dumb video that goes along with it, really) and it took me a couple years before I could listen to it without crying. It's possibly the only Sparks song that has a hint of sincere tenderness in it (most of their songs are bathed in irony, snark, inappropriate jokes, and all sorts of delightful terribleness).

"With All My Might"



This next one will always remind me of cruising home at night in my dad's shitty '91 Plymouth Acclaim, in the middle of summertime, windows down, engine smoking as it always did. (He had aptly named the car Christine because of its weird behavior - my sister and I named it "Zombaby" for its ability to keep coming back from the dead, and for our strange affection toward it.) I always feel great when I hear this song.

"When I'm With You"



With 23 albums, countless B-sides, outtakes, demos, etc. it's really difficult to just choose a handful of Sparks songs to share, but these are the main ones coming to mind right now, in terms of nostalgia.

Nice journal and a bigger Sparks feature would be great............if you've got the time!

Thank you! There will be more, I promise that. There's more than enough to share from the plentiful vaults of Sparks. ;)

Sparks-themed post #2, because why the hell not?

Last spring I was met with this album on the phonograph for many mornings, because Ki (Rob) was going through a phase, and I can't say that I ever complained about it.

"No. 1 in Heaven" is an album with few tracks, but more than enough substance. Produced by Giorgio Moroder. Sparks were way ahead of their time with this electronic masterpiece.

Sparks - "No. 1 in Heaven" (FULL ALBUM)



This next song was one of my favorites just to sing on the way to work, a few years ago. I have a killer falsetto but I'm too ashamed/shy to show it off to anyone.

"Under the Table With Her"



This next song is a running joke in the fandom because it's one of the only songs written solely by Russell Mael. And it's about (no surprises) pineapples. I've heard stories of people bringing pineapples to the Maels in the 70s. Many silly image macros crafted by fangirls have involved pineapples. They're just a thing in the Sparks fandom.

Furthermore, my sister still randomly texts me lyrics to this song, and we've recited the whole thing in one go. Many times.

"Pineapple"



This next song is one of my most favorite Sparks songs. It's the origin of my username on almost every social networking site I've ever used. The lyrics are beautiful, though I'm always kept wondering just why the lady lingers. Oh well.

"The Lady is Lingering"



Now let's have some weird videos from the Maelian vault.

In case you've ever wanted to watch Ron Mael strip out of ladies' clothing, now's your chance. Here's Sparks' ode to the National Enquirer.

"I Predict"



Have you ever wanted to watch Ron Mael get pelted with pies? There's a video for that.

"All You Ever Think About is Sex"



Or maybe you've always wondered what it would be like if Ron tempted little girls with candy while wearing a bunch of weird masks. Well...

"Funny Face"



Or maybe you've always wanted to see the Maels kick each others' asses? Ok.

"Tips for Teens"



Oh, and just because I really like "Whomp That Sucker" in its weird, cheesy entirety, here's the full album in one convenient youtube video.

Today I was semi-fondly remembering 2009 as a really weird year for me.

Firstly, a song that reminds me of sitting alone in my bedroom after having been awake all night (one of my first nights after I quit taking drugs to make myself sleep, in the midst of a serious 10-15 pills a day problem) a few years ago.

It's still a soothing experience.

Steely Dan - "Any World (That I'm Welcome To"



In 2009 I was so obsessed with this dumb song that I bought it on 12". The maxi single (which I still have in my collection) includes the 7" single, with an extended mix. (Part II on side B.) Nobody should be surprised that I still enjoy it. And now, an ode to slobbing the knob.

Toto Coelo - "I Eat Cannibals"



More Toto Coelo, because I'm not sorry.

Toto Coelo - "Spy vs. Spy"



Another song I was totally obsessed with that year.

Thompson Twins - "We Are Detective"



Not surprisingly, I also went through a Knack phase that year. I still have one of their buttons on my jacket.

The Knack - "Baby Talks Dirty"



And then there was that time when Sparks teamed up with Les Rita Mitsouko, and this happened, and I loved it (many years after it happened).

Les Rita Mitsouko - "Singing in the Shower"



How could I forget Haysi Fantayzee?

Haysi Fantayzee - "Shiny Shiny"



And lastly, another song I loved so much in 2009 that I needed the 12" single.

Musical Youth - "Pass the Dutchie"



And that's my "2009 was my year of shitty pop music" post.

This morning:

Bobby Rydell - "Sway"



Summer is always the time when I get back to my hippie roots; I've always been head-over-heels for proper psych, so here's a few tracks I've always turned on, tuned in, and... grooved to.

Strawberry Alarm Clock - "Incense and Peppermints"



Vanilla Fudge - "You Keep Me Hangin' On"



The Association - "Along Comes Mary"



Tommy James & The Shondells - "Crimson and Clover"



The Electric Prunes - "Wind Up Toys"



Donovan - "Hurdy Gurdy Man"



There's thousands more I know I'm forgetting (but they will eventually resurface) but I must also mention that summer is also a great time for motown.

Marvin Gaye - "I Heard it Through the Grapevine"



Otis Redding - "Sittin' On the Dock of the Bay"



Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - "You Really Got a Hold On Me"



And I'll just throw in this super bonus for anyone ready to trip out today. It's 80 degrees and sunny in Seattle; this definitely calls for a major psych overdose.

Strawberry Alarm Clock - "Incense and Peppermints" (full album)