Hot (no pun intended, you'll see what I mean in a minute) on the heels of the first edition of the Resurrection Club (well, we've no time to waste!) - and on an appropriate day if you're into all that - comes a second instalment...
The premise is: Songs which expressed things, perhaps forty, fifty or more years ago, that are still as relevant now and which, as a counterpoint to cancellation, should be resurrected.
Firstly, thanks so much for all the great suggestions, many of which will feature in future posts - the list is growing! But before I get to those I had this already lined up because, like the last one, it's so spot on lyrically but has a deceptively light melody which is really at odds with its message. And after so much time listening to angsty words delivered against similarly doomy, angry music, I find it refreshing and surprising when it's turned on its head. This is one to sing along to; in fact it's so catchy that you may well find yourself with a new climate change and pollution anxiety earworm.
Hudson Ford were John Ford and Richard Hudson who had previously been in both Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera and The Strawbs. They later went on to be in the Monks, when all lyrical credibillity goes out the window in one fell swoop, for it was indeed them who came up with, ahem, 'Nice Legs, Shame About Her Face'. Moving swiftly on... here's what they were up to in 1974. 'Burn Baby Burn' reached no. 15 in the UK charts.
The world is changing only in reverse
And you can't live your life for what it's worth
'Cos it's a hell on earth
The world today of which we all endear
Has taken us about a thousand years
To go spoil all the things we had right here
'Cos it's a hell on earth
Burn baby burn, when you gonna learn
It's time to put out the fire, so
Burn baby burn, when you gonna learn
The earth is getting drier
The flames are growing higher
My clothes are dirty and the sky is red
And I've not anything to wash my head
'Cos all the detergent's on the river bed
And it's a hell on earth
Taking all your money so I'll tell you the facts
You join everybody trying to fiddle the tax
If you don't get them they'll try to con you back
'Cos it's a hell on earth
I realise this is never going to be a very uplifting series, sorry!
I have Nice Legs, Shame About The Face on the CCC list, inevitably.
ReplyDeleteHow could it not? I'll definitely have something to say about that one...look forward to it.
DeleteHudson and Ford also wrote the dreadful 'Part of the Union' when in Strawbs so they are 2-1 down in my book. I agree with you on this song though.
ReplyDeleteOn a similar theme, Marvin pretty much nailed it back in 1971:
https://youtu.be/efiDnHS3fzk?si=kzjb4Jd6JIN8hhjG
That's another perfect example, thank you Ernie. So true. I'm no fan of 'Part of the Union' either.
DeleteI don't know who actually wrote this song but it may at least help to balance out the score for Hudson and Ford (funnily enough those flames growing higher again, but not so literally) in this great slice of psychy freakbeat by Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oj5Isy8SeOY
The credits on Discogs say Elmer himself (Dave Terry) wrote that one. Also 'The Painter' which is another cracking tune.
DeleteStrawbs made some great records while Hudson and Ford were members but mostly written by Dave Cousins (Lay Down etc).
Maybe the trick is to have them in the band but don't let him write many of the songs.
Thanks for checking out the credits, Ernie, I think your last sentence is probably exactly right. No credit due to H & F then for the excellent Elmer Gantry songs. I agree about other Strawbs material too, although DC's vocals were an acquired taste which I never quite acquired.
DeleteCrikey, I remember this song from back in the day but obviously never took much heed of the lyrics before. Seems to be something many of us are guilty of.
ReplyDeleteThey were spot on though so yes, another one for the Ressurection Club.
That's interesting - maybe they misfired (no pun intended, again!) slightly in that it was just too singalong that the lyrics went over people's heads? I've been thinking that the more commercial the tune, the better placed you are to take note of the message but now I'm wondering if there's a point somewhere in the middle instead. I think tracks like Marvin Gayes's 'Mercy Mercy Me' as suggested by Ernie above are the ones that get it just right.
DeleteMy list of potential Resurrection Club numbers is getting pretty big - I'll have to spread this series out from now on!