The original or a cover? Like all things musical, it's subjective, and emotions can play a part....heck, they SHOULD! Keith and I share our personal stories of two recordings. Which one is your go-to?
It's a good one, but one could make the assertion that the two aren't necessarily (or always...or, maybe ever) mutually exclusive. Discuss.
If the power pop is "Magic" by Pilot, say, you'd have a point. I think Peter Case (not to mention the late Greg Shaw) would go to the mat to say that "A Million Miles Away" is a great example of rockin' power pop! Did the Goo Goos punch it up? Oh, hell, yeah, and in no way do I dislike it.
Keith's sentence from that same defining paragraph, in fact, perfectly describes my love for The Plimsouls' original: "First, it was my introduction to the song, and first impressions often linger."
I heard the 'Souls' arrangement in real time, and to hear a ground-breaker in and amongst other songs vying for attention in a similar lane or genre at a specific moment in time was as visceral to me as Keith's reaction to the GGD's was!
"It's a good one, but one could make the assertion that the two aren't necessarily (or always...or, maybe ever) mutually exclusive. Discuss."
We could be here all day discussing this topic. And I'm sure that I would learn a lot from you and gain some new perspective about Power Pop. I've lived in my dark little world for so long that sometimes it is hard to see the light of day. And I am referring to the Goth, Metal, and Punk music that I enjoy.
And to be clear, you will not find "Magic" by Pilot on any of my playlist. Nothing against Pilot, just not my style. You will not find much if any music that falls into the Power Pop genre.
I also had not hear the GGD version of the song. I agree that it is really a different song from the Plimsouls version. I will be adding the GGD to one of my playlist as it is a little more my style.
You go, Bob! You doing you....go nuts, is what I say! And, it's all perspective....your POV on how you landed onto your "dark little world" would be enlightening, I'm sure (don't underestimate my desire to house that story on FR&B, if you ever feel the need or inkling to do a guest post....seriously)!
My road to my love of shrewdly-crafted pop songs, in general, and power pop in particular, can be boiled down to only this: The Beatles, Ed Sullivan Show, 2/9/64....I was 8. My tiny tot mind could only come to this conclusion: "I've got to find more music that sounds just....like......that!" I continue that 6-decade-long search....happily.
Never heard either version of the song, nor had I heard of The Plimsouls (I’m giving that album a listen now). I think I prefer the Plimsouls version over GGD after one listen. To be honest I didn’t realize GGD had been making music that long as they only popped into my radar with 1995’s A Boy Named Goo
You'll get a kick out of this....In perusing a previous article of mine, I noticed that Jeff Eyrich, who produced the Plimsouls' album, was the bass player for the short-lived touring band for Stephen Michael Schwartz, opening for Paul Williams for one show in 1975! Here's the article with a photo of Jeff: https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/trust-money-and-guts-1975-recording
However small a world it may be, I have more than enough trouble remembering a lot of it!😁
😂I don't judge, Bob.....I'm stunned, and rather pleased, those Fu Manchu-ers even FOUND the song, and liked it enough to put their (admittedly) heavy-handed stamp on it! For its genre (not that I'm an expert, by any means!), I think it's a cover that's true to what they do, and their fans (and fans of the genre) are likely completely unaware of its origins....that's pretty cool.
Fu Manchu is a fun band. They’ve been around a while and found their sound and pretty much stick to it. I just looked it up and they’ve been around for 30 years! I will play that cover when I’m done with the doggies and give my opinion ...
I appreciate that, Steve....thanks! Nowhere in my wheelhouse, FuMan, but that's neither here nor there: They earn my respect by virtue of the fact they heard the song, didn't shy away from The Plimsouls' and song's genre (or fear it might offend fans...."What?! You're playing an L.A. power pop song?!?!"), made the song their own...owned it, and without hearing another Fu note, I can tell they did it right for them! All of which matches your second sentence!
And it's really to bad that the fans don't know it's a cover and will never take the time to explore the original version. That is really the best way to find new music and if nothing else, apricate what you do like more.
I have found some pretty surprising covers by Punk bands. Some good, some bad, most are "okay" at best.
That's a generous and thoughtful outlook, Bob. I actually am just pleased that the Fu's found it and adapted it in a way they thought/knew their fans would dig.
If the Fee-Fi-Fo-Fu fans go back 4 decades to discover the original (or 3 decades for the Goo's), good on 'em....I hope some do!
There are so many things to respond to, but it was a hoot collaborating with Brad! Thank you for the invite! Ahh, yes, Power Pop v. Rock... a wickedly dangerous road to go down - Hatfields/McCoy's, divorce, perhaps even murder territory. What defines either? Is that debut album by Great Buildings any less rock than, say, Breakfast in America by Supertramp? One was carpet bombed on FM "rock" radio, and one was ignored entirely. How different might the world be if it were the other way around? GGD's covering The Plimsouls and Prince... imho, it's the same kind of argument about what is better, the book or the movie? Book v. Movie - two different mediums, two different approaches, much too different to do a side-by-side comparison. They should be evaluated for their own merits. Original v. cover - same. Is the GGD's cover of the Prince song "good"? Not particularly, but it IS fun. And given the litigious nature of the late Prince, I can only imagine he, perhaps begrudgingly, signed off on it. If an artist isn't too precious about their work, should we be? I dunno. Songs That Saved Your Life took the right approach, don't listen. The beauty in all of it is that the music exists at all, and if it impacts someone enough to re-interpret it, that's cool. The one exception was the Gus Van Sant shot-by-shot remake of Psycho, which was just wildly unnecessary... and not even interesting, and YET I still paid to see it in the theater. Anywhoo, that Fu Manchu cover... interesting. It's neither great nor terrible, but it ain't my cup o' tea and it's unlikely I will ever listen to it again... but 85k people seem to like it. Thank you, Brad, and thank you all for giving it a look-see!
Well said, Keith, and thank you for your input, POV, and kind words! I think we've nailed down why the artists, themselves, hate genre labels! Too confining, and they can be needlessly divisive. But, the debates are fun, ne'ertheless!
Your mention of Great Buildings is timely, Keith (as you know), and I'd love to whet our readers' appetites for FR&B's upcoming "Yacht Pop Anchors" article which features the fabulous Great Buildings (and their equally fabulous Danny Wilde, Phil Solem, and Ian Ainsworth), in particular, their "Hold On To Something" song!
Readers, please enjoy Keith's recent interview (on his "Abandoned Albums Podcast" YT channel) with Danny and Phil: https://youtu.be/Gs8MvsUjCnk
Wow, I was hearing the lyrics as he sang 'em, and still couldn't recognize the song! Only the chorus gave me a clue....not the melody, mind you, just the lyrics..."Takin' it to the Streets"! I much prefer what they did with "A Million Miles Away"! Lemme know if you dig up a Fu cover of the Family Partridge's "I Think I Love You"!
I couldn't bring myself to even try and listen to that Prince cover. It's too sacred. But a great read here!
I had no skin in that Prince cover game at the time, frankly! But, Keith made this "Inside Tracks" a banger, no doubt! Mad props to him, yo!
I agree; that's one of my favorite Prince songs and the cover is probably not for somebody who thinks of that as one of their favorite songs.
"I react more viscerally to rock and roll than to power pop."
Great line. I may have to borrow that one.
It's a good one, but one could make the assertion that the two aren't necessarily (or always...or, maybe ever) mutually exclusive. Discuss.
If the power pop is "Magic" by Pilot, say, you'd have a point. I think Peter Case (not to mention the late Greg Shaw) would go to the mat to say that "A Million Miles Away" is a great example of rockin' power pop! Did the Goo Goos punch it up? Oh, hell, yeah, and in no way do I dislike it.
Keith's sentence from that same defining paragraph, in fact, perfectly describes my love for The Plimsouls' original: "First, it was my introduction to the song, and first impressions often linger."
I heard the 'Souls' arrangement in real time, and to hear a ground-breaker in and amongst other songs vying for attention in a similar lane or genre at a specific moment in time was as visceral to me as Keith's reaction to the GGD's was!
That's the beauty of the music we love!
Well said.
"It's a good one, but one could make the assertion that the two aren't necessarily (or always...or, maybe ever) mutually exclusive. Discuss."
We could be here all day discussing this topic. And I'm sure that I would learn a lot from you and gain some new perspective about Power Pop. I've lived in my dark little world for so long that sometimes it is hard to see the light of day. And I am referring to the Goth, Metal, and Punk music that I enjoy.
And to be clear, you will not find "Magic" by Pilot on any of my playlist. Nothing against Pilot, just not my style. You will not find much if any music that falls into the Power Pop genre.
I also had not hear the GGD version of the song. I agree that it is really a different song from the Plimsouls version. I will be adding the GGD to one of my playlist as it is a little more my style.
You go, Bob! You doing you....go nuts, is what I say! And, it's all perspective....your POV on how you landed onto your "dark little world" would be enlightening, I'm sure (don't underestimate my desire to house that story on FR&B, if you ever feel the need or inkling to do a guest post....seriously)!
My road to my love of shrewdly-crafted pop songs, in general, and power pop in particular, can be boiled down to only this: The Beatles, Ed Sullivan Show, 2/9/64....I was 8. My tiny tot mind could only come to this conclusion: "I've got to find more music that sounds just....like......that!" I continue that 6-decade-long search....happily.
Never heard either version of the song, nor had I heard of The Plimsouls (I’m giving that album a listen now). I think I prefer the Plimsouls version over GGD after one listen. To be honest I didn’t realize GGD had been making music that long as they only popped into my radar with 1995’s A Boy Named Goo
You'll get a kick out of this....In perusing a previous article of mine, I noticed that Jeff Eyrich, who produced the Plimsouls' album, was the bass player for the short-lived touring band for Stephen Michael Schwartz, opening for Paul Williams for one show in 1975! Here's the article with a photo of Jeff: https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/trust-money-and-guts-1975-recording
However small a world it may be, I have more than enough trouble remembering a lot of it!😁
I like both versions, but The Plimsouls’ still is my favorite
See what you think, Glenn, of the Fu Manchu one I just dropped in a comment above!
I like punk, but nah....
I'm with you, but keep that under your hat. I'm trying to appear cool to the slam-pitters!
I heard that
This just in: Someone on Reddit (of all places!) just dropped this in my lap: A Fu Manchu cover of "A Million Miles Away": https://open.spotify.com/track/29lbsKacBqcjyXcxGo0q8R?si=8bb294bc8ea343e1
I believe this is what the kids today would call thrash metal or something similar!
I'm sorry, please don't judge me to harshly. But, I liked it.
😂I don't judge, Bob.....I'm stunned, and rather pleased, those Fu Manchu-ers even FOUND the song, and liked it enough to put their (admittedly) heavy-handed stamp on it! For its genre (not that I'm an expert, by any means!), I think it's a cover that's true to what they do, and their fans (and fans of the genre) are likely completely unaware of its origins....that's pretty cool.
Fu Manchu is a fun band. They’ve been around a while and found their sound and pretty much stick to it. I just looked it up and they’ve been around for 30 years! I will play that cover when I’m done with the doggies and give my opinion ...
I appreciate that, Steve....thanks! Nowhere in my wheelhouse, FuMan, but that's neither here nor there: They earn my respect by virtue of the fact they heard the song, didn't shy away from The Plimsouls' and song's genre (or fear it might offend fans...."What?! You're playing an L.A. power pop song?!?!"), made the song their own...owned it, and without hearing another Fu note, I can tell they did it right for them! All of which matches your second sentence!
And it's really to bad that the fans don't know it's a cover and will never take the time to explore the original version. That is really the best way to find new music and if nothing else, apricate what you do like more.
I have found some pretty surprising covers by Punk bands. Some good, some bad, most are "okay" at best.
That's a generous and thoughtful outlook, Bob. I actually am just pleased that the Fu's found it and adapted it in a way they thought/knew their fans would dig.
If the Fee-Fi-Fo-Fu fans go back 4 decades to discover the original (or 3 decades for the Goo's), good on 'em....I hope some do!
There are so many things to respond to, but it was a hoot collaborating with Brad! Thank you for the invite! Ahh, yes, Power Pop v. Rock... a wickedly dangerous road to go down - Hatfields/McCoy's, divorce, perhaps even murder territory. What defines either? Is that debut album by Great Buildings any less rock than, say, Breakfast in America by Supertramp? One was carpet bombed on FM "rock" radio, and one was ignored entirely. How different might the world be if it were the other way around? GGD's covering The Plimsouls and Prince... imho, it's the same kind of argument about what is better, the book or the movie? Book v. Movie - two different mediums, two different approaches, much too different to do a side-by-side comparison. They should be evaluated for their own merits. Original v. cover - same. Is the GGD's cover of the Prince song "good"? Not particularly, but it IS fun. And given the litigious nature of the late Prince, I can only imagine he, perhaps begrudgingly, signed off on it. If an artist isn't too precious about their work, should we be? I dunno. Songs That Saved Your Life took the right approach, don't listen. The beauty in all of it is that the music exists at all, and if it impacts someone enough to re-interpret it, that's cool. The one exception was the Gus Van Sant shot-by-shot remake of Psycho, which was just wildly unnecessary... and not even interesting, and YET I still paid to see it in the theater. Anywhoo, that Fu Manchu cover... interesting. It's neither great nor terrible, but it ain't my cup o' tea and it's unlikely I will ever listen to it again... but 85k people seem to like it. Thank you, Brad, and thank you all for giving it a look-see!
Well said, Keith, and thank you for your input, POV, and kind words! I think we've nailed down why the artists, themselves, hate genre labels! Too confining, and they can be needlessly divisive. But, the debates are fun, ne'ertheless!
Your mention of Great Buildings is timely, Keith (as you know), and I'd love to whet our readers' appetites for FR&B's upcoming "Yacht Pop Anchors" article which features the fabulous Great Buildings (and their equally fabulous Danny Wilde, Phil Solem, and Ian Ainsworth), in particular, their "Hold On To Something" song!
Readers, please enjoy Keith's recent interview (on his "Abandoned Albums Podcast" YT channel) with Danny and Phil: https://youtu.be/Gs8MvsUjCnk
I just found this amazing sludgy cover of a Doobie Brothers classic .
https://open.spotify.com/track/2a57r9039Xx83snQWUj9o1?si=KsCUhTMNSNCypyBL49YsNQ
Wow, I was hearing the lyrics as he sang 'em, and still couldn't recognize the song! Only the chorus gave me a clue....not the melody, mind you, just the lyrics..."Takin' it to the Streets"! I much prefer what they did with "A Million Miles Away"! Lemme know if you dig up a Fu cover of the Family Partridge's "I Think I Love You"!
I will find it and I will send it to you every day for the rest of your life.
Aaaaaaaaand, we've found reason #47,938,376 why I love you!😉