885 MMMM: Voting Starts Today!

All of the suggestions are in, and today, WXPN has put up on the website the ballot for the Most Memorable Musical Moments. In what must have been a harrowi interesting experience, the station staff has come up with a list of 100 moments. As I expected, Jimi Hendrix's rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" made it, as did the murder of John Lennon, and the appearance of The Beatles on "The Ed Sullivan Show". But there are some I didn't expect, for better or worse. And, I may just blog about them.

885 Most Memorable Musical Moments: A Fairytale Of New York

I got to thinking after my last "Guest Blogger" post 2 weeks ago that I hadn't seen anything in the MMMM discussion about Christmas or holiday songs. How could that be-these are some of the best-loved songs of our culture! It's not so much about the quality of the music (and there is an abundance of that), but the memories we associate with them-worship, parties, shopping, family, and friends. One of the most festive (in its own way) is "A Fairytale of New York", by the Pogues and the late Kirsty MacColl.

Shane MacGowan and MacColl trade lines, as two lovers (or ex-lovers) reminisce about their hopes and failures, and their arguments, on Christmas Eve in New York City. It's a rollicking romp, with a nice contrast between their voices, singing some often bittersweet lyrics.

"A Fairytale of New York" became an instant hit in the U.K. upon its release in December 1987, and has consistently been ranked in polls as one of the best Christmas songs.

Here's the video:


UPDATE: Here's how the post looked on the XPN site:

885 Most Memorable Musical Moments: More Cowbell!

"I got a fever, and the only prescription ... is more cowbell!"

Well, who am I to disagree with The Bruce Dickinson? Although it wasn't as instantly popular as other lines that originated with Saturday Night Live, "more cowbell" has become one of the great catchphrases of the last few years. It all started on April 8, 2000, with a parody on SNL of VH-1's Behind The Music featuring 70s rockers Blue Oyster Cult. Famed record producer Bruce Dickinson (Christopher Walken) is determined to make the band's next song, "(Don't Fear) The Reaper," a hit, and the key to success would be the cowbell. The band's lineup includes a fictional cowbell player, Gene Frenkle (Will Ferrell). As Ferrell responds to Walken's demands for "more cowbell" with more frenetic (and annoying) cowbell playing, several takes are ruined; the band becomes more frustrated, and very nearly falls apart.

Here's the moment:



In real life, the cowbell was added as an overdub to "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" at the last minute; the cowbell player's identity is a matter of some dispute. And, while there is a record producer named Bruce Dickinson, he had nothing to do with the original Blue Oyster Cult record, Agents of Fortune.

Since the sketch first aired, "more cowbell" has become part of pop culture, appearing in song mash-ups, emblazoned on t-shirts, and inspiring a website which tracks songs using a cowbell. Christopher Walken is constantly asked about the sketch, and the song proudly remains a staple of Blue Oyster Cult's shows (cowbell included). Gene Frenkle, wherever he is, must be smiling.

UPDATE: Here's how the post looked:

885 Most Memorable Musical Moments: Earth's Greatest Hits: Voyager's Golden Record

It was, perhaps, the ultimate mixtape: a 90-minute selection of music, recorded on a gold-plated copper disk that was sent into space aboard the spacecraft Voyager 2, on August 20, 1977. Knowing that the path of Voyager would take it, and its twin, past the outer planets and out of the Solar System, NASA decided to create an ambitious message for them to carry along.

A committee headed by astronomer Carl Sagan selected the contents of the record, which also included photographs, natural sounds, and spoken word greetings to extraterrestrial civilizations in dozens of languages. The music is an eclectic selection from different cultures, nations, and eras. You may recognize "Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry, "Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground" by Blind Willie Johnson, J.S. Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, but there are also works from Peru, Indonesia, Senegal, New Guinea, Azerbaijan, and the Solomons.

Mixtapes (or mix CDs) can say a lot about the person (or species) who compiles them. Although the two Voyagers won't pass near another star for 40,000 years, it was the hope of Sagan and his team that someone or something, finding them, would discover who we are, and like finding a message in a bottle, would maybe look us up someday. Hopefully, we'll still be around.

Here's Chuck Berry with "Johnny B. Goode"

885 Most Memorable Musical Moments: Bill Clinton On "Arsenio"

When you're running for office, one of the most important keys to victory is seizing the initiative, and building momentum from it. Bill Clinton, one of the great politicians of the last 30 years, knew this well. In 1992, trailing in a three-way presidential race, he took a gamble, and accepted an invitation to appear on "The Arsenio Hall Show".

Late night TV then was in a state of flux: Johnny Carson had just given way to Jay Leno, and David Letterman had switched to CBS. Arsenio Hall's syndicated program had been building a surprisingly large audience for a few years: it was hot, hip, and diverse. Its younger demographic seemed a natural fit for Clinton, whose campaign was trying to woo these voters back to the Democratic Party.

On June 3, 1992, he stood confidently on stage with Hall's house band. Wearing black shades and toting a saxophone, he ripped into "Heartbreak Hotel" (a trademark song of his idol, Elvis) and "God Bless The Child". He got generally good marks in the press for his playing. But, even better, the image that he projected, that of a young, likeable, charismatic guy, made an impact, and moved his poll numbers.

Of course, emotional appeal and image are only good for so much. Everyone remembers the saxaphone, but not what he said. In his interview with Arsenio, Clinton chatted about race relations and poverty, and his plans for the country. He won the White House with 43% of the popular vote that November.

The 2008 presidential primary campaign is now underway. All of the major party candidates are barnstorming the early states, debating, raising gobs of money, and trying to stand out from the pack. I don't know if any of them sing well or play an instrument (John Edwards on electric guitar? Mike Huckabee on keyboards?). But showing that might just help give them an early edge.

From a VH-1 special, some highlights of Bill Clinton's appearance:



UPDATE: This was the main Guest Blogger post on August 17:

885 Most Memorable Musical Moments: TSOP: The Sound Of The Phillies

It's a hot and steamy night at the stadium in South Philadelphia, and I'm watching the Phillies, and their MVP slugger, battling for playoff contention. Only the year isn't 2007, but 1980, and the song playing after another victory is McFadden & Whitehead's "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now". Throughout the run to the World Series that year, it was the unofficial anthem of the team. There were a lot of great players on the Phils then, but the team behind the song was pretty remarkable too.

Gene McFadden & John Whitehead sang together as the Epsilons and toured with Otis Redding, before going to work for Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff at Philadelphia International Records. In addition to producing, they wrote or co-wrote, such Philly soul classics as "Back Stabbers" by the O'Jays, "I'll Always Love My Mama," by the Intruders, "Wake Up Everybody", by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, and many others. When they decided to become performers as well, they reportedly said "ain't no stoppin' us now" as they headed to Sigma Sound Studios for their first record.

In 1979, "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" went platinum, going to #1 on the R&B chart and #13 on the pop chart. McFadden & Whitehead were native sons of Philadelphia, working for a Philadelphia-based record label known for the Sound of Philadelphia, in a city that seemed down on its luck. To long-suffering Phillies fans, the message was more than just in the groovin' music, it was in the positive lyrics: have hope, be strong, we're going to win:

But we won't let nothin' hold us back,
we're putting our selves together,
we're polishing up our act!
If you felt we've been held down before,
I know you'll refuse to be held down anymore!

With scrappy players like Larry Bowa, Pete Rose, Bake McBride, Tug McGraw, the Phillies gelled as a team, and won their first, and to date, only world championship.

A live version of "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now"



Fast forward to November 2001: my friend and co-worker, Ellen D., got me tickets to Me & Mrs. Jones, a musical based on the Billy Paul song, that was playing at Philadelphia's Prince Music Theatre. Starring Lou Rawls, Darlene Love, and 'Nita Whitaker, the show included over three dozen of Gamble & Huff's greatest songs, including "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now". Listening to all of this wonderful music again, now as an adult, with an orchestra backing up the terrific singers, did even more than give me great appreciation for the huge contributions of Gamble & Huff, and their fellow artists. It also took me right back to the Vet and that magical Phillies season.

Where are they now?

John Whitehead was shot dead on May 11, 2004 while working on his car outside his home in the West Oak Lane section of Philadelphia; his murder remains unsolved. His widow began the John Whitehead Foundation in his honor.

Gene McFadden died of lung and liver cancer on January 27, 2006.

Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff continue to work together. Their Sound of Philadelphia Souvenir Shop, which includes displays of their platinum records and their original mixing board, is located at 309A South Broad Street in Philadelphia.

UPDATE: This post is now up at the XPN MMMM site here:

885 Most Memorable Musical Moments: Elvis & "My Way"

My mom was a bit of an Elvis Presley fan in the 1950s, and like millions of others on August 16, 1977, was a little shaken after hearing of his death. Two months later, we sat down to watch the CBS broadcast of "Elvis In Concert". Comprised of performances taped from his last tour that summer, the special showed Elvis was not a well man: he was quite overweight, and appeared pale and sweaty. Still, he had some power left in his voice, especially in gospel songs like "How Great Thou Art". When he sang "My Way", however, it all became clear to Mom: Elvis knew he was going to die.

"My Way" was written in 1968 by Paul Anka, who based the melody on a French song, "Comme d'habitude". The lyrics are about a man, facing death, who looks back at his life's ups and downs, and is proud of being true to himself:

I've loved, I've laughed and cried
I've had my fails, my share of losing
And now as tears subside
I find it all so amusing
To think I did all that
And may I say, not in a shy way
Oh, no, no not me
I did it my way

It was a big hit for Frank Sinatra in the early 1970s, becoming one of his signature songs. And, Elvis had performed it for a couple of years, including his previous TV concert, the 1973 special, Aloha From Hawaii. But here, in the summer of 1977, he invests the song with additional poignancy: there is sadness in his eyes, as if he was sensing that his life really was ebbing away.

Elvis, 1977:


Over the years, "My Way" has become something of a cliche; it's a popular selection in karaoke bars as well as at funerals(!). Then there are the interesting interpretations:

"My Way" by Sid Vicious


"Your Way", a version of "My Way" by William Shatner, at a George Lucas tribute


EDIT: I almost forgot Nina Hagen's!

UPDATE: My post on the XPN site can be found here

885 Most Memorable Musical Moments: My Simpsons List

Last week, in anticipation of the opening of The Simpsons Movie, Kathy O'Connell of XPN named her Top 5 Musical Moments From The Simpsons. After 18 seasons (and counting) on the air, there could easily be 885 of them. Hers are all excellent choices, but I came up with a few more:

-the Ramones sing “Happy Birthday Mr. Burns”, after which Burns orders "have the Rolling Stones killed"
-Homer yells at Bachman-Turner Overdrive to play “Takin’ Care of Business”, then later, “get to the ‘working overtime’ part!”
-the Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show theme
-Fat Tony calls a radio show to threaten Homer, then requests “Radar Love” ... and Homer sings along!
-the theme from “The Sting” plays as Homer relates how in the 70s, on a visit to New York City, he was robbed, chased by pimps, had garbage dumped on him by Woody Allen … “and that’s when the CHUDs came at me”

So many great memories!

Check the movie out, too, it's a blast!

885 Most Memorable Musical Moments: The PMRC vs. Musicians

Since the 1950s, rock 'n roll and parents have had a little trouble getting along. There's been concern about a perceived loosening of morals and traditional family structure, and less respect for authority. But there had never been a concerted effort to actually attack the musicians and the labels who produce the music.

That changed in the mid-1980s. Mary "Tipper" Gore, wife of Sen. Al Gore (D-TN), along with their daughter Karenna, was shocked to hear sexual references in Prince's "Darling Nikki". Along with Susan Baker, wife of U.S. Treasury Secretary James Baker, and other "Washington wives", they formed a committee, the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC), to lobby the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) to adopt album content stickers, outside lyric sheets, restrictions on sales to minors, and to reassess the contracts of artists with "objectionable" music.

On September 19, 1985, the Commerce, Science, and Transporation Committee of the U.S. Senate held a hearing on labeling records, and 3 musicians offered testimony. As expected, Dee Snider of Twisted Sister and Frank Zappa declared their opposition to the PMRC's proposals. Zappa was particularly pointed in his criticism of the PRMC's "ill-conceived piece of nonsense". In a discussion with committee member Senator Gore, Zappa voiced his concern about a hidden agenda, that even without a new national law, there were parts of the country where laws or regulations would be passed that would take his place in raising his children as he sees fit:

I want them to grow up in a country where they can think what they want to think, be what they want to be, and not what somebody's wife or somebody in Government makes them be.

In a surprise to many, country/folk singer-songwriter John Denver also objected to censorship. He recalled that some radio stations had banned "Rocky Mountain High" due to misinterpreting his lyrics. He offered that:

Discipline and self-restraint when practiced by an individual, a family, or a company is an effective way to deal with this issue. The same thing when forced on a people by their government or, worse, by a self-appointed watchdog of public morals, is suppression and will not be tolerated in a democratic society.

Unfortunately, a few weeks before, the RIAA had caved in to pressure from the PMRC and other groups and agreed to put a simple "Parental Advisory: Explicit Lyrics" label on select albums. This led to a refusal by some retailers to carry these records. The following year, the Dead Kennedys were unsuccessfully prosecuted for the use of a poster included in their album Frankenchrist. In 1990, a store clerk in Florida was arrested on obscenity charges for selling a copy of a 2 Live Crew record. The controversy over racist, violent, and misogynist lyrics, particularly in rap and hip-hop, continues to this day.

UPDATE: My post on the XPN MMMM site can be found here

885 Most Memorable Musical Moments: Travolta Is Back

In the late 1970s, John Travolta was a rising star who seemed to have the world as his oyster. As the white leisure suited-disco king Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever, his style and enthusiasm catapulted him to the status of a pop culture icon. He danced, of course, to one of the best-selling movie soundtracks of all time; the Bees Gees at one time had 5 songs in the Billboard Top 10 simultaneously. In 1978, he danced opposite Olivia Newton-John in the 50s tribute Grease, further confirming his position. In Urban Cowboy, in 1980, his two-stepping, as well as 10-gallon hat, is credited with leading to a boom in pop country music (and for a while, in mechanical bulls at country music bars).

But after that, he turned down the lead in An Officer and A Gentleman to reprise his role as Tony Manero in the Sylvester Stallone-directed Staying Alive. After he ended the film (which flopped) with his "strut", it was easy to think that his dancing days were done; aside from acting with a talking baby and Kirstie Alley, some very forgettable films followed.

In 1994, in Quentin Tarantino's masterpiece, Pulp Fiction, he appeared as veteran hitman Vincent Vega. Assigned to watch Mia (Uma Thurman), the wife of his boss, Marsellus, they go to a 50s retro diner, Jackrabbit Slim's, and enter a dance contest.

You have to see this: wearing dark suit, bolo tie, slightly bloated, and with long, stringy black hair, Travolta (as Vega) is all about being cool, but is trying not to flirt with Mia. But with them twisting to Chuck Berry's "You Never Can Tell" (a #14 Billboard hit in 1964), their attraction is apparent. It was an incredible, terrific moment of abandon, and to be perfectly honest, I think it had what many people wanted to see again: Travolta dancing (even if it was the Batusi). Ain't it cool?!

It is a terrific soundtrack!

The moment:


"You Never Can Tell" was renamed "C'est la Vie (You Never Can Tell)" by Emmylou Harris, and was a hit for her on the country music charts in 1977:


UPDATE:This, my first MMMM Guest Blogger post, can be found on XPN's site here.

MMMM ... 885 Countdown ... (Homer drool sound)

MMMM stands for the Most Memorable Musical Moment, the theme for the latest 885 countdown by Philadelphia's WXPN-FM. Starting today, listeners are invited to submit lists of 10 music moments that are historically important and/or personally significant. The lists are to be compiled by the station into a workable list of 885 moments, the top 100 of which will then be put in a final playback order by a listener vote in September. The special MMM website the station is developing for the countdown will be chock-full of lists, links, posts, and photos.

This is going to be interesting. There's a lot more diversity than some may think exists among the XPN listenership. I expect to see people talking about genres and artists that generally don't get much airplay on the station, if at all. Who knows-maybe part of this will develope into a permanent resource,

And, each Thursday, starting this week, I will be a "Guest Blogger" on the website; that day's post here will be on the XPN site as well. From time-to-time, as this whole train rolls through the rest of summer into the October playback, I'm sure I'll have other moments that come to mind. So check back often, and leave a comment!