Golden Nuggets #17: The Jackson Five- ABC

It's been quite a while, but I'm back to deliver the seventeenth installment of the Golden Nuggets series. With the combination of the pandemic, lack of motivation, and a broken laptop, it took me a minute to get back into the swing of things and start writing again. Now, normally this series takes on the number one Billboard hit from around the week of release 50 years prior, but it's going to take a minute to catch up now that I'm four months (yikes) behind, but hopefully I can get back into the game and start pumping these out, along with maybe some other content. Today we'll be looking at the classic track from the Jackson Five, "ABC". If you've somehow never heard the song (liar), or just want a refresher, you can check out the link here. Hopefully that link's still up; I made the draft for this post four months ago and I'm too lazy to check. Digressions aside, let's get started.

First things first, one of the many reasons I've been putting off writing was simply my uncertainty as how to tackle discussing this song. It's probably one of the most famous songs in Motown's catalog (and that's saying something), so there's obviously been a wealth of material written on just this song alone. For my part, I like the song alright. The melody is nice, lyrics are catchy and the groove is pretty tight. I really enjoy the fuzz tone on either the bass or guitar (can't really tell) that you don't really hear on a lot of bubblegum pop records, but other than that, this track doesn't hold a lot of nostalgia for me. My dad was about 14 when this song came out, and I feel like he would have been listening to stuff like Chicago or early prog stuff around this time, so I didn't really get that personal connection you get when your parents play their music to you as a kid. Admittedly, I'm not really into a lot of '60s Motown stuff, and even though this dropped in 1970, it still has a '60s feel to it. I feel like until Marvin Gaye challenged the assembly line formula of Motown with What's Going On, a lot of Motown was pretty boilerplate, meat and potatoes disposable pop. That may be blasphemy to some, but I'll take '70s Stevie Wonder or Marvin Gaye over a '60s girl group or Miracles record any time.

I think the experimentation into other forms of music other than pop and R&B wasn't really allowed in the '60s and early '70s at Motown, and as such, there's not a lot of diversity or depth there. That being said, I feel like this song is pretty good for what it is, and I can definitely see why it became popular. This song has survived for fifty years, and endured through the dissolution of the Jackson Five, the exposure of Joe Jackson's heavy handed (pun intended) managerial "parenting" that propelled the groups, and Michael Jackson's own controversies. The public has to have a pretty big personal investment in a song for it to survive relatively unscathed through all the years and scandals like that, even if I don't really get it. A solid hit? Sure. A classic? Of course. Defining song of a generation and childhood? Maybe for others, but not so much for myself or my parents.

Next time (hopefully soon), I'll be taking a look at the song 'American Woman', by the Guess Who, which unfortunately, is just as prescient as the day it was recorded. Some things never change it would seem. 

"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."

Golden Nuggets #16: The Beatles- Let it Be

Welcome to the sixteenth installment of The Golden Nuggets series, where I take a listen and provide a little commentary to the top song on the Billboard charts from fifty years ago. A blast from the past to get inside the heads of yesteryear's listening public. Today, we have a challenge. What am I going to say about the Beatles' 'Let it Be' that hasn't been said about a million times before over the half century since it's release. I guess we'll find out together. If you've somehow never heard this song, or need a quick refresher, you can listen to it here. I attached the single version, as the album version has a slightly different mix and a different George Harrison guitar solo, but we're talking about singles charts on Golden Nuggets (maybe I'll do Golden Albums at some point if this quarantine gets me super bored), so let's get into it.

As I've said, this song is super popular, even now, and The Beatles are one of the most famous bands in the world, even fifty years after their breakup (this song actually peaked at #1 for the first week of its two week spot at the top the same week the split was announced: April 12, 1970), so finding stuff to talk about that hasn't been mined before might prove a little difficult. I'm sure everyone is aware of the failed Get Back sessions before Abbey Road was recorded that produced this song, as well as the subsequent and controversial remix by Phil Spector. I'm sure all have at least heard of the accompanying film (seriously, can we get a rerelease of that? I know it doesn't paint a super glamorous portrait of the band, but it's history, man), and of the 2003 release of the stripped down Let it Be...Naked that stripped most of Spector's contributions (which coincidentally was released the same year he allegedly shot a woman in the face. A way to distance the Beatles from that legacy, perhaps?) I'm sure people even know that the "Mother Mary" being referred to in the lyrics is Paul McCartney's mother, and not as many people thought, Mary mother of Jesus (The Beatles weren't Catholic, they came from English Protestant backgrounds, that's a weird thing to assume). So, what's left to talk about?

I guess I might go into my personal thoughts about the record. The "words of wisdom" this song preaches may be able to be taken a couple of different ways, but to me, it kind of sounds like a just sit back and enjoy the ride and things will unfold as they should "Hakuna Matata" sort of philosophical nugget, or as the group had said previously, quoting ancient manuals and Timothy Leary "turn off your mind, relax and float downstream". I may be totally off base, but that's what I get. I can't help but feel this way during these trying times. One can take all the necessary precautions, but I feel like one also needs to relax a bit. Bad things are going to happen, and a lot of the time, they're beyond anyone's comprehension or control. It's best to sit back, relax, roll with the punches, and let it be. Plus stress has been known to reduce immune response. Just saying. 

As for the song, it's enjoyable enough. Very uplifting and emotionally powerful. Seems like 1970 audiences were really into these types of tunes. It's an interesting contrast, because in 2020 every pop hit seems to have a listless, depressing tone about it, and to be honest, the political landscape is pretty similar to those days. Maybe 50 years of the same has just burned everyone out, and there's not that much positivity any more in the mainstream, which is a shame. I hope that this crisis will come to an end soon, and that some hope can come back to the world, and music can rise from the doldrums, all while side stepping the 'Imagine' covers and benefit song templates that reek on insincerity and out of touch celebrities pandering to their audiences.

So, that's it for now. I'll be back soon to take a look at the next Golden Nugget to dominate the airwaves in 1970, 'ABC' by the Jackson Five. Stay safe and stay healthy, stay inside if you're fortunate enough to be able to. As for me, I'm back to my "essential" warehouse job, supplying the tri-state area with ephemeral crap they don't need. See you next time.

"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."

Golden Nuggets #15: Simon & Garfunkel- Bridge Over Troubled Water

Hello there, and welcome to the fifteenth edition of the Golden Nuggets series, where I take a look at the top Billboard chart hits from fifty years ago, and reflect on the listening habits of a bygone era. This time, we'll be taking a look back at the title track from Simon & Garfunkel's monumentally successful and final album, Bridge Over Troubled Water. If you're unfamiliar with the track, or just need a quick refresher, you can listen to the track here. With the introductions out of the way, we can proceed.

I feel like "Bridge Over Troubled Water" is a song that can make me tear up at any point in my life. It's just an amazingly powerful and uplifting song, and something that I feel a lot of people could use right now, instead of cynically, and predictably, letting R.E.M's "It's the End of the World as We Know It" climb the charts (yes, that's happening). It's a great song to hear to raise your spirits and know that someone is there for you. Plus, the string arrangements and Art Garfunkel's solo vocal performance are absolutely gorgeous. I know Paul Simon wrote the song, and he's a little regretful that he gave Garfunkel the vocal duties here, but sorry dude, it's his song now, don't care who wrote it. Paul Simon's voice is fine, and probably would have made a serviceable enough track, but it's Garfunkel's delicate timbre and higher register that really takes this song into the stratosphere. It's like listening to "I Shall Be Released" from Music from Big Pink and then listening to the Bob Dylan original that he eventually released on a compilation. Sure, Bob Dylan wrote the song, and I (unlike many others) think is voice is emotive and fine on its own, Levon Helm's falsetto is undeniable.

This song held the top spot on the Billboard charts for 6 whole weeks. That's crazy. I know we live in an era where "Old Town Road" was essentially unstoppable, but you've got to think, there was a lot more competition for pop dominance back then. What pop acts exist now? This held off the Beatles and the Jackson Five to become the top selling single of the entire year. That being said, I can't imagine this being on the radio for so long. This is not a song I'm always dying to hear. Who wants to get teary eyed every time they turn on pop radio? Especially when pop radio was what it was in 1970 (that is to say, a lot more ubiquitous in American culture than it is now). I feel like I might be a little more partial to hearing "The Boxer" off the same album on the radio, because although it's still a very powerful song (Simon opened his performance after 9/11 with it to lift New York up) it doesn't always make me cry like a total bitch.

So, that's my opinion on the song. Check back soon for my opinion on the next song in the Golden Nuggets series, the title track to the Beatles' swan song "Let it Be". I'm sure I'm the first person to ever talk about that undiscovered gem. Anyway, I'll be trying to maybe write a bit more, seeing as I don't have a lot better to do, given this whole pandemic situation. Hopefully, everybody's staying safe, staying inside, and keeping clean. Also, if you don't absolutely need to go outside, don't. As a person who by my state is considered an employee of an "essential and life sustaining" business, it kind of frustrates me to see people who could be staying inside just walking around like business as usual, or maybe even more so just to spite some unknown entity. I would love to stay inside, but my job prevents me from doing so, and I'm not getting paid that well to risk my life so you chumps can walk around all casually (warehouse workers don't exactly get paid like doctors you see). Anyway, rant over. Catch you on the flip side.


"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."

Golden Nuggets #14: Sly & The Family Stone- Thank You (Fallettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)

Welcome to the latest iteration of my Golden Nuggets series, where I take a look at the top single on the Billboard charts in the US from 50 years ago, and share my thoughts. I'm back to my lazy self again, as this post is about two weeks late, but hey, stuff happens. Anyway, this time I'll be looking at the hit single by Sly & The Family Stone, 'Thank You (Falletinme be Mice Elf Agin)'. If you're unfamiliar with the song or need a refresher, you can check it out here. Now let's dive in.

Sly & The Family Stone really pioneered the psychedelic soul and funk sounds, along with groups like Parliament/ Funkadelic and the Temptations, who I actually covered earlier in this series. However, where their hit songs were very much a cross over and a lot safer than their deep cuts a lot of the time, 'Thank You' is no such song. This song is 100% pure uncut funk with an undeniable groove, percussive guitar licks, and fat slap bass. When you look at the songs that surround it on the charts or even the number ones from the same period, it's hard to see how this song did as well as it did. I feel like the furthest the American public went down the African American music rabbit hole was stuff like Motown, which was still really geared towards a pretty safe AM radio audience, and then here comes Sly Stone and crew.

It actually took me a while to even understand the words in the parentheses, but if you speak it aloud it makes perfecrt sense. Strangely enough, this is the same way I'm finding myself reading Finnegans Wake. Anyway, all digressions aside, this song is awesome, and now that the Jackson Family Estate purchased the Sly & The Family Stone catalog, I'm sure you'll be hearing a lot more of this song aand others from their discography soon in commercials in media. After all the problems Sly Stone has had with money, drugs and the law, it's about time he and his bandmates see some capital and recognition for their great muscial contributions (they haven't seen money from their recordings in decades due to contract problems, among other things).

All in all, a great song, but a little baffling how it became so popular with the American listening public of early 1970, given what other stuff was on the charts at the time. Maybe I underestimated the couple generations prior and their taste in music. (Coughs) If only I didn't have to live with their political choices (Coughs). Before rocking the boat too much, it's my time to head out. I'll be back soon for the next installment of the Golden Nuggets, which is a song that makes me tear up like a punk pretty much everytime I hear it, and cannot believe people wanted to cry to this song on the radio for 6 straight weeks at number one, 'Bridge over Troubled Water', by Simon & Garfunkel.

"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."

Golden Nuggets #13: Shocking Blue- Venus

Welcome back to the Golden Nuggets series, installment lucky number 13, where I take a listen to the top song on the Billboard charts from 50 years ago, and share my thoughts. This time, we'll be taking a look at the song 'Venus', by the Dutch group, Shocking Blue. If you're unfamiliar, or need to get reacquainted, you can check out the song here. Now let's dive in.

Many of us may have been first exposed to this song from the '80s cover version by the girl group Bananarama. That one has a lot more busy production, with a lot of electronic drums and synths, while the original is a lot more rock based, with even a little bit of country guitar licks thrown in there. In my research for this song, the instrumental for this was actually lifted pretty much wholesale from 'The Banjo Song' by the Big 3, featuring a pre-Mamas and Papas Cass Elliott, which was itself 'Oh! Susannah' set to new music. So, people who ever say that the Shocking Blue song is the original version is kind of right, but not entirely. This song is like rip off inception, which I had no idea about until recently. This is why I do this series; for fun little facts like this.

Another fun fact: Mariska Veres, the group's lead singer, could not speak English until later, and therefore had no idea what she was singing about. In fact, she sings 'the godness on the mountain top' instead of 'goddess' in early versions of the song because the lyricist for the song as well as the group's guitarist, Robbie van Leeuwen, wrote the lyrics down wrong. This was corrected on later issues of the single.

However, as much as there are some shady things going on involving the music of the song, I feel like the group made it their own. While parts of the vocal melody and chord changes are definitely from the Big 3 song (I'm curious to when van Leeuwen admitted to the 'inspiration', before or after someone confronted him about it), the guitar licks, Veres' vocal chops, and punchier arrangement definitelybrought the track a new fire. I'd suggest you dig up this track, the Bananarama cover, and the Big 3 song (which is for all intents and purposes a reference track with different words) a listen to make up your own mind, but for me, this song is still pretty great.

So, that's it for this installment. I actually learned a decent amount about a song I was aready pretty familiar with, which is a fun side effect from doing this series. I was originally going to compare and contrasrt this song with the Bananarama version, but this angle definitely seemed to be the road less traveled. In today's sue happy climate, I doubt that Shocking Blue would have come away clean. Next time, I'll be lookin at the track by Sly & The Family Stone, 'Thank You (Fallettinme Be Mice Elf Agin).

"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."

Golden Nuggets #12: The Jackson Five- I Want You Back

Hello all, and welcome to the twelth installment of my Golden Nuggets series, where I take a look back, 50 years back in fact, to listen to the top song on the Billboard charts from the time. This go around, we're taking a look at 'I Want You Back'by the world famous and iconic Jackson Five. If you need to reacquaint yourself with the song, or just dug yourself out from under that rock, you can listen to the track here. With that out of the way, let's dive in. 

Let's get one thing crystal clear up front: I've never been a huge fan of Michael Jackson's work. It had nothing to do with his legal problems, or even his eccentric mannerisms; I just never found his brand of pop all that engaging. I was born in the early 90s, after his career had peaked, and the industry definitely wasn't pushing his music like they used to. Plus, no matter how old he was, I couldn't get into his vocal delivery. As a kid, his voice was preccious and grating, but as an adult , it was even worse, bordereing on incomprehensible. With all that being said, this song still slaps.

That late '60s/ early '70s soul sound is pretty irresistible, and the bass line and guitar licks are classic. Lyrically, its more of the same boilerplate stuff, but that doesn't get too grating, unlike the pap another family band would churn out in the near future (I'll be taking a look at the Jackson's Mormon knockoff, The Osmonds, before too long. I'll save most of my bile for when that moment comes around). 

I can definitely see why this took off with the American public. It was bright bubblegum pop with a fat groove, and every housewife ever loves a child singer, and while that sound bugs me, a child Michael Jackson is far more tolerable than a child Donny Osmond. I'm sure you don't need me to tell you that the Jacksons did all right for themselves, pumping out hit after hit, and even becoming a bit of a pop dynasty for a minute. All in all, a pretty good track, and the beginnings of a musical juggernaut.

Check back in soon for the next post in the series, where I look at the song 'Venus' by the band, Shocking Blue.

"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."

Golden Nuggets #11: B.J. Thomas-Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head

Hello all. Back to my perpetually late self in delivering this, the eleventh installment of the Golden Nuggets series, where I take a look at the top song from the Billboard charts on or around the 50th anniversary or achieving the position. Then I'll share my thoughts on the track and reflect on the listening habits of the America of yesteryear. In this installment, we'll be taking a look at 'Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head' by B.J. Thomas. You can listen to the track here to acquaint yourself. Ready? Great. Here we go.

I have actually been listening to this song for a long time, and I actually really enjoy it. It's kind of one of those songs that has some bittersweet kind of tone, but the lyrics are all about overcoming the tough times and being happy. It's definitely something I like knowing exists, and I wish I were better at having that kind of attitude. What I didn't know is that this song was written by Burt Bacharach for the Butvh Cassidy and the Sundance Kid film, and B.J. Thomas wasn't the first choice (thankfully, the first choice, Ray Stevens, either turned it down or was unavailable, since I would hate to see what he would have done to it. An installment on 'Everything is Beautiful' is unfortunately coming sooner rather than later). 

I really like what B.J. Thomas brings to the table. He was a pretty popular singer songwriter type who had some pretty popular hits during the late 60s/ early 70s (he actually did the first version of 'Hooked on a Feeling') before going into rehab for drug abuse and finding Jesus. He mostly did religious music after that. I feel like his voice really taps into the hopeful yet slightly melancholic tone of the song, and I really love this rendition. Whenever I'm feeling down, I like to play it, and sometimes that hopeful outlook is enough to pull me out of the bad mood I'm in.

Stop in again soon for the next installment where I'll be touching on 'I Want You Back' by the Jackson Five.

"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."