Song of the Week: The Stooges - Search And Destroy

[originally posted 9/13/2010]
We just read at the hep-cat blog, Nitro-Retro, that Stooges drummer Scott Asheton has died at 64. RIP. Here is an old post on The Stooges regurgitated for you to enjoy Scott's work today. 

Detroit is a rough and tumble town. Broken windows, broken concrete and broken noses abound in this city of a broken economy. That profile fits it's music too. In the late 60's Detroit birthed two of the most violent, ugly, out of time bands that ever committed noise to wax. One was the way cool MC5 (watch their way cool live vid here), and the other is the karate blow of a band, The Stooges, the band best known for thrusting Iggy Pop onto the world.

Today's SOTW, is Search and Destroy, the single from Iggy and The Stooges critically acclaimed third album, Raw Power and was recorded in the Fall of '72. I think the name of the song and the name of the album say everything that needs to be said. So sit back, and enjoy.

Song of the Week: Little Richard - I Don't Know What You Got, But It's Got Me

Something about I Don't Know What You Got, But It's Got Me just melts my soul.

Little Richard's days in the sun were setting by the time he recorded this Don Covay penned number in October of 1965 for Vee Jay Records, but the quality of Little Richard Penniman's work sure wasn't. Here we have the hugely influential rock-n-roll pioneer exploring his gospel roots, and lordy-lord, does he testify. Just like the wonderful Don Covay track to which we just linked, the guitarist on this track is none other than Jimi Hendrix. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

And what an awesome photo we have for you below. Mercy. 

Until next time, we'll see you On The Flip-Side!

The Empty Streets: I'm Not Going To Worry About You/You Can Make It

It's not everyday that we feature a song with bongos, glockenspiel and backtracking, but you get them all from today's Side A, I'm Not Going To Worry About You by Salem, Ohio's The Empty Streets. Yes, this is our second Ohio artist in one week! The band consisted of John Vail on guitar and vocals, Larry Siddle (on ?) Mark Riffle on bass, Mike Riffle on keyboards (and glockenspiel!) and Ian Robinson on skins.

They recorded in the attic of an Ohio garage in June of 1967 and then mixed and pressed the songs in Pennsylvania where I'm Not Going To Worry About You got some vocal and lead overdubbing and the flip, You Can Make It, remained as recorded in the attic.  Both sides are penned by band member John Vail and display a keen pop sensibility for which I have no ready comparison. They are in their own universe. Sit back and enjoy!

All information furnished by the reliable Buckeye Beat which chronicles '60s music out of the buckeye state. I'd love to get a picture of this band. Anyone?

See you on the Flip-Side!

Song of the Week: Betty Everett - Been A Long Time

From November of 1969, we have for you today, soul veteran Betty Everett performing Been A Long Time. The number was written by Philadelphia song writers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff as well as soul singer Jerry Butler (of The Impressions fame). 

Until next time, we'll see you On The Flip-Side!

Song of the Week: The Rebounds - (I'm Not Your Stepping Stone)

Hailing from the State Capitol of Columbus, The Rebounds were a quintet of pimply faced High School cats from Brookhaven High School in Ohio. Early in '66 the snot nosed punks recorded (I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone for Tower Records after winning a local Battle of the Bands competition. The song had already been recorded by Paul Revere and the Raiders but by the time Tower released The Rebounds' version in November, The Monkees put their mark on So-Ci-E-Tee by releasing The Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart composition as the Flip-Side of I'm A Believer the very same week as The Rebounds. The Rebounds, which were, according to the website, Buckeye Beat, Bob Bishop, Tom Williams, Will Finch, Brady Wanger, and Dave Manley, failed to rebound from the simian beat down they received from the Pre-Fab Four. The Rebounds never released another single. Too bad for us.

Until next time, we'll see you On The Flip-Side!