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Thursday, Jun 16 2022, 7AM
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars was released 50 years ago today. 50! Back in 1972 it reached #5 in the UK but peaked at #75 in the US. Hopefully we made up for the error - in 2017 it was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry, being deemed "culturally, historically, or artistically significant" by the Library of Congress.
Another album anniversary - "Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space", Spritualized's third studio album turns 25 today!
The album's title is from the philosophical novel "Sophie's World" by Jostein Gaarder. The excerpt reads, "Only philosophers embark on this perilous expedition to the outermost reaches of language and existence. Some of them fall off, but others cling on desperately and yell at the people nestling deep in the snug softness, stuffing themselves with delicious food and drink. 'Ladies and Gentlemen,' they yell, 'we are floating in space!' But none of the people down there care"
The inspiration for Bernie Taupin's lyrics for "Rocket Man" was the short story The Rocket Man, written by Ray Bradbury. The sci-fi author's tale is told from the perspective of a child, whose astronaut father has mixed feelings at leaving his family in order to do his job. It was published as part of the anthology The Illustrated Man in 1951.
"The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars" turns 50 today!
Woody Woodmansey was the drummer in Bowie's backing band, The Spiders From Mars. In 2008, he spoke about his impressions of this song: "I love 'Starman' as it's the concept of hope that the song communicates. That 'we're not alone' and 'they' contact the kids, not the adults, and kind of say 'get on with it.' 'Let the children boogie': music and rock 'n' roll! It lifted the attention away from the depressing affairs in the '70s, made the future look better. 'Starman' was the first Bowie song since 'Space Oddity' with mass appeal. After 'Starman,' everything changed."
Big Audio Dynamite's The Globe came out today in 1991 - This track samples several musical compositions, including the keyboard component of The Who's song "Baba O'Riley," the organ from the introduction to the Deep Purple song "Child in Time," a drum break from Tommy Roe's "Sweet Pea," drums and guitars from a break in Pigmeat Markham's "Here Comes the Judge," a line from The Sugarhill Gang's song "Rapper's Delight" where Big Bank Hank raps "a time to laugh, a time to cry," and a vocal sample from Peter Sellers in Fred Flange's song "You Keep Me Swingin,'" where Sellers talks about "rhythm and melody."
They'll probably play this! The Who will be at Climate Pledge Arena on October 22nd, 2022. Here's what it might look and sound like, live: www.youtube.com
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The keyboards in "Baba O’Riley" are one of many samples in Big Audio Dynamite's "Rush".
Big Audio Dynamite released The Globe 31 years ago today. Singer Mike Jones wrote "Should I Stay or Should I Go" during his tenure with The Clash, and samples for that classic are heavily featured in this single -- as was a sample from Lionel Richie's "All Night Long (All Night)"
The Guardian ranked The Clash's 40 "greatest songs" and "Should I Stay or Should I Go" didn't make the list... www.theguardian.com
You can see Soccer Mommy on August 12th at the Day In Day Out Festival!
Soccer Mommy’s latest, called "Bones," is a song she originally wrote for a rom-com, but ended up liking too much and kept it for her album rather than submit it. "Bones is a song about struggling with the parts of yourself that you don’t like in a relationship," Sophie Allison explains. "It’s about wanting to become better for someone and feeling like you’re standing in your own way." bit.ly
Happy birthday to Katherine Paul, aka, Black Belt Eagle Scout! She's playing July 8th at the Northwest Tune-Up Festival in Bellingham.
Watch her perform "Soft Stud" and other songs during this live in-studio session: bit.ly
Playing every song today from this iconic album - 50 years old today!
From allmusic's Ned Raggett: "David Bowie's love for Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground had already been well established by the time the Ziggy Stardust album came out in 1972 -- the previous year, on Hunky Dory, "Queen Bitch" was openly listed as a homage. "Suffragette City" revisited similar inspirational ground, arguably to even finer results. The traded-off "hey man!" backing vocals clearly clone the Velvets' "White Light White Heat," and Bowie himself doesn't bother to hide his own aggressively camp sass, derived in part from Reed's lead on the same track". bit.ly
On a mission from God...The Blues Brothers film, starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, premiered in Chicago 42 years ago today. The film also featured Aretha Franklin, James Brown and Ray Charles in the role of a streetwise store owner.
"Everybody Needs Somebody to Love" was originally recorded by Solomon Burke in 1964. Wilson Pickett covered the song in 1966, and his version (which explicitly mentions Solomon Burke in the opening section) made it to #29 pop, and #19 R&B in early 1967. Other notable versions of "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love" were recorded by The Rolling Stones, Jerry Garcia Band, and this version by The Blues Brothers.
When asked about this song Bowie stated he felt the song is "very David Bowie". Awesome.
Happy 50th birthday to The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars
NEW ALBUM OUT TOMORROW!
This song is about the people who’ve always stood by me, even when I was wretched. When I was trying to be something other than myself—they saw me even through that and held me down. Folks from past lives, and folks who’ll play a big part in my future—I’m grateful for them and the love they’ve poured into me. This song is for and about them. -Bartees Strange
Sharon Van Etten plays Marymoor Park in Redmond, WA on August 3rd with Julien Baker and Angel Olsen.
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Here's a recent interview with the artist about her sixth full-length album, the pandemic, having kids and making art in the face of upheaval: bit.ly
Happy 50 years of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars!
In a 2003 interview with Performing Songwriter magazine, Bowie explained how the song "Sure Know a Lot About Love" by The Hollywood Argyles influenced this song. Said Bowie: "It was a combination of the baritone sax and the piccolo on the solo which I thought, 'Now there's a great thing to put in a rock song' (laughs). Which I nicked, then put in 'Moonage Daydream' later." www.songfacts.com
Good morning, John! I might be picking up on a theme this morning. Could you play some Smashing Pumpkins either Rocket or Spaceboy from Siamese Dream? Have a great day!
Derek from Johnston, IA
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Lead singer Billy Corgan: "There's this line from the song 'Rocket': 'Bleed in your own light.' I wanna f---in' bleed in my own light, not in Kurt Cobain's, not in Perry Farrell's. I wanna go down in my own f---in' ship. That's what I'm about."
We're celebrating 50 years of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars and playing every song!
"What I did with my Ziggy Stardust was package a totally credible, plastic rock & roll singer...,” David Bowie later said of his definitive alter ego. “I mean, my plastic rock & roller was much more plastic than anybody’s. And that was what was needed at the time.
www.rollingstone.com
Bauhaus does Bowie: Looking back at their 1982 tribute to 'Ziggy Stardust': faroutmagazine.co.uk
We couldn't celebrate 50 years of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars without playing some vinyl. Side B, track 1.
And another track from the vinyl because it sounds so good... and we can!
Another incredible release from 50 years ago today. Can you imagine heading home from the record store in 1972 with Roxy Music *and* The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars and hearing them both for the first time?!!
BRAND NEW shoegaze from Chicago's Panda Riot! The group records, mixes, and self-releases their own albums -- and even make their own guitar pedals! Read more at Glide: tinyurl.com
pandariot.bandcamp.com
Beach Bunny are playing the Capitol Hill Block Party on July 22nd!
beachbunnymusic.com
Music good morning John and Owen and assorted others in the room.
Any chance you could play Presidents of the United States “Peaches” for my daughters Mirriam and Emmy. They have been singing it all morning around the house.
Have a great day. Happy Friday eve.
Justin in Leavenworth
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"Hey ladies, where y'all going to?" "To the pool!" This call-and-response repeats throughout the entire two-and-a-half minutes over a funky, retro groove and killer saxophone line. It’s an incredibly fun and catchy song that will make you ache for the days of summer. And, it's yours, for free: kexp.org
This song was originally slated to appear on the The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars album but it was eventually released as a stand-alone single. It was included on reissues of the album.
Celebrating 50 years of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars
This amazing Staple Singers song from 1961 would be covered by The Rolling Stones song “The Last Time” and eventually leads to The Verve's Bittersweet Symphony ...
The Andrew Oldham Orchestra then covered this Stones song for The Rolling Stones Songbook in 1965...
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Wow okay so I'm sitting in my office as an elementary school psychologist in Federal Way listening to 'The Last Time'. Today is the last day of school. I am leaving this summer for Las Vegas to pursue my PhD. I have carried this school through a pandemic, and my emotions are so mixed right now. Relief, exhaustion, sadness, guilt, pride. Something about this song is helping though. Going to open my office door and wave good morning to all the kids one more time. Thanks for everything ❤️ Erin (Seattle)
... and in this version we hear the iconic sample that became the basis for The Verve's Bittersweet Symphony and the lawsuit ...
... The Verve's Bittersweet Symphony was released 25 years ago today. The lawyer who owned the rights to the Rolling Stones musical catalog pre-1970’s, sued The Verve claiming the band had reneged on their original 50/50 split of royalties by using more than 5-notes of the symphonic version of the song.
Then in 2019 the son of lawyer Allen Klein and the Rolling Stones themselves gave the rights and royalties back for the song. Singer Richard Ashcroft
"It's been a fantastic development," he said. "It's life-affirming in a way."
"Hit The City" first appeared on the 2004 Mark Lanagan album, Bubblegum.
Drew Grow of Slang says, "Singing another person’s song is not simple for me, especially one by someone of such unparalleled gravitas and poetic power as Mark Lanegan. I wanted to understand it, to give myself over to it, to find my own resonance with it. This song is devastating and looming and required weeks of effort. I really feared I couldn’t do it. But you know, late one night, singing it again in our home studio, it let me in. With Lanegan’s recent untimely passing, the tribute we recorded in 2019 hits us harder. I hope we did it justice. Thank you, Mark. RIP.”
killrockstars.com
theeslang.bandcamp.com
Mark Lanegan died February 22 at the age of 57. Listen to this KEXP Sound and Vision Podcast for reflections on Lanegan's music, career, personality, and life. www.kexp.org
Another from The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars on the 50th anniversary!
Owen: This bowie song influenced EVERY Ramones song ever. This is Blitzkrieg Bop before there was a Ramones
#FACT
The Queen is Dead came out today in 1986!
"Bigmouth Strikes Again" was about Morrissey's frustration with the music industry, specifically Morrissey's negative experiences with the music press. When asked by the NME about the song, Morrissey replied, "I can't think of one sentence [I regret saying]. We're still at that stage where if I rescued a kitten from drowning, they'd say: 'Morrissey Mauls Kitten's Body'. So what can you do?"
Composed by American songwriter Ron Davies, ‘It Ain’t Easy’ appeared on his 1970 album Silent Song Across The Land. It was covered by Three Dog Night in 1970, and in 1971 by Long John Baldry, as the title tracks of their respective third and fifth albums.
‘It Ain’t Easy’ was written by this guy Ron Davies, who wasn’t terribly well known. It was very unlike David to do a cover version of anything. It was just another session at Trident – I did a lot of session singing in those days. David was very professional – you’ve got to know what you’re going to do, and David always did.
Dana Gillespie
David Bowie: Ultimate Record Collection (Uncut)
www.bowiebible.com
This disorientation anthem was written by Pixies lead singer Frank Black, who was inspired by a snorkeling adventure. He said, "The song is about a high-school trip to the Bahamas. I was swimming in clear water and there was a small fish – about four inches, not dangerous at all – that was aggressively following me and poking me. It kept doing it – it freaked me out. I was like: “I have to get away from this f**king crazy fish.": www.theguardian.com
Small Paul was born in a Seattle basement In the early days of COVID as a happy accident between housemates Kevin Murphy from The Moondoggies, Chris King and Malcolm Roberts from Chris King & The Gutterballs with Seth McDonald from All Star Opera.
They released 'Strangeland' EP earlier this month.
smallpaulband.bandcamp.com
J. Spaceman (aka Jason Pierce) plays 16 different instruments on this album -- recorded at 11 different studios, including his home! This track was inspired by J. Spaceman’s (aka Jason Pierce) experiences in lockdown, with the frontman saying: “I felt like I’d been in training for this my whole life.”
www.spiritualized.com
On this track Bowie handles lead and backing vocals, 12-string acoustic guitar, baritone saxophone, and handclaps.
50 years of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars
Happy Birthday to the legend Tupac! Today he would have been 51 years old. R.I.P.
Crackly vinyl *sigh*
Just turn on with me and you're not alone
Let's turn on with me and you're not alone (wonderful)
Gimme your hands 'cause you're wonderful (wonderful)
Gimme your hands 'cause you're wonderful (wonderful)
Oh gimme your hands
You are not alone. Happy 50th anniversary of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars
There’s a brief scene in On The Road, director Michael Winterbottom’s upcoming docu-drama hybrid set against the backdrop of Wolf Alice’s 2015 UK tour, in which a roadie jokingly asks one of Ellie Rowsell’s friends if the frontwoman was more talkative when the pair were at school together. “She does talk,” comes the whip-smart reply. “She just doesn’t talk to you.” Read this 2017 interview with the band on NME: www.nme.com