Now imagine a full band … at ten in the morning. Now take yr wildest dreams
& toss ‘em. It’s better than all that.
Howdy, citizens! Long time no post … and no paycheck, either! But, we’re here, live and in the flesh (and of course, the spirit, too), from our very own beloved WSRN 91.5FM, loud and strong outta Swarthmore, Penna. We’ve got a special treat for you today — Tristen & the Ringers, proud sirens & troudabours of recent Nashville descent, stopped by today for a little bit of banter and a whole lot of blowing our minds. Truly, we’re in love.
The session will be uploaded here as soon as the gods permit*, but, for now, listen! Tune into Jeff’s show, “Mountains of Eternal Light, ” on WSRN tonite, 6-8pm! Or tune in, again, to “troubles, troubles (trouble on my mind)” on Tuesday, from 8-10pm! We’re bringing you five-give-or-take brilliant cuts from Tristen’s “Charlatans at the Golden Gate,” and a bonus track that will make you pee yourself.
* clap yr hands three times if you want to help the gods permit!
UPDATE: In case you lost tune with us due to the Phantom Unpredictable Windstorms, tune back in on Tuesday night — we’ll be playing Tristen & co. a-glorious-gin, alongside all sorts of brilliant swamp-pop, and, you know, Linda Ronstadt amoung the pigs.
Is this the right lineup?!? I don’t even know how to tell anymore !
Now, I know next to nothing about Fleetwood Mac. Next to nothing, except for the fact that my ex-boyfriend’s dog’s sister-dog (and the brother-dog of my West Coast pal Jesse, too — hi, Jesse!) is named Stevie, as in, Stevie Nicks. That, and this kid I don’t talk to anymore once wrote me a letter about Stevie Nicks, and called her “heroine pretty.” I thought that that was kind of wonderful.
SO: apparently, the bar is pretty high. I know lots about Fleetwood Mac, so this little episode of rambling is going to serve to put that in perspective.
*
I know nothing about Fleetwood Mac. I’m interested in the origins and history of their music. I’m interested in the 1970s, which are a time period as foreign to me as, well, everything after that. I’m interested in this strange hybrid form that seems unique to the 70s, “stage-driven ballad, with woman singer and backing male band,” which may or may not be distinct from its apparent 80s successor, the “power ballad.” And more importantly than all that, I am interested in the origins and meaning of the term “Fleetwood.”
Now, I’ve seen “Fleetwood” in alot of places. First of all, there’s a fantastic all-nite dive bar in an aluminum-sided trailer parked permanently in downtown Ann Arbor, and they make a great hash:
Voila: the Fleetwood!
And there’s also a pretty fantastic 50s-oldies group called The Fleetwoods, whose tragic songs of life apparently include “Mr. Blue” (this was before rock’n'roll, ladies & gentlemen! Excuse them!) and this fine gem of my earnest listening career:
No joke — this is one of my favorite songs of all times! Thanks to my pal from Big Sur, Mike, who put this on his impeccable old-time playlist!
Well — apparently — according to Wikipedia — it is a town. A British town! And one that garnered mention by Ptolemy, if that makes any difference to you! (I’d love to get mentioned by Ptolemy!) The “cultural references” section of Fleetwood’s entry, however, does little to de-mystify why it has done so much to merit giving its name to several significant American institutions over the last half-century. Hmph.
So, I’ll exploit the twilight days of my academic privilege, and ask the Oxford English Dictionary. Unfortunately, “fleetwood” is not a recognized word. “Fleet,” “fleeting,” and “fleg” (“a fright, scare”) are all recognized words; but I guess we’ll have to chalk “Fleetwood” up to one of those Authentic American Inventions that Stuck like, uh — I actually can’t think of any other examples right now. But I do want to say something about the arches in Utah:
Yeah, Fleetwood …
It’s alot like that. (Don’t you wish it was summer? Don’t you just wanna go on a roadtrip?)
Anyway: Fleetwood Mac. Ex-boyfriend’s dog, “heroine pretty,” something about “Avalanche” and the predecessor to power balladry — what were these folks really all about? How, when, and why, did the fierce wild tundra of America give birth to Stevie Nicks and her unnamed, presumably guitar-slogging companions?
This is the first song that came up for “Fleetwood Mac,” so here you go:
First of all: whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. I’ve heard this song! Everybody’s heard this song! And I had no idea this was Fleetwood Mac! But, since it’s only the minor goal of the blog (think major and minor arcana, yin and yang, people) to declare my rampant musical ignorance, or better yet, to remediate it in public, I’ll cut to the real goods.
Wow — I’ve learned so much already. Turns out that:
1. “Fleetwood Mac” comes from the names of two guys who used to be in the band, but really were never in the band.
2. Rumours is an album we need to check out.
3. Stevie Nicks is not necessarily synonymous with Fleetwood Mac — at least not with early Fleetwood Mac.
(Personal autonomy went extinct in 1985.)
We’re deep, ladies & gentlemen, into the 70s. Make sure to (t)read with caution; and put yr tiger masks on!
(Also: you know what I love? This Old House magazine! They have the best kitchens!)
oh, and –
4. They’re British ?!?!?!?
*
So: Fleetwood Mac. (This post is just starting & stopping! Sorta like Early Fleetwood Mac! Take that, mimesis!) So: they started out as a late-1960s British Blues band (who didn’t?) sorta switching personnel around with Eric Clapton and all that (who doesn’t, these days?), and they released a handful of so-or-so-la acclaimed-ish albums with titles like Fleetwood Mac (1968), Mr. Wonderful (1968), English Rose, and, impressively, The Pious Bird of Good Omen (more or less American remixes of the first two). Then (like everybody else) they came to America, and recorded some stuff on Chess records, before signing to Reprise (just like Gram!) and proceeding to produce Then Play On (1969), which signaled the end of their all-blues-sets and a movement towards, hold yr breath and stare, rock’n'roll.
Then came the 70s. Several members of the band either developed mental illness, joined cults, were fired, or got hired because of convenient marriage to a drummer. They continued to put out albums, which apparently got them a pretty fantastic following, despite some of the weird things that went on, including the emergence of a “fake Fleetwood Mac” band.
And then, it was 1975! Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks joined the band! They released Fleetwood Mac (again?!?) and everybody loved them! Everybody got divorced and fell out of love! Then came Rumours! It was 1977! They also put out an apparently very weird New Wave album called Tusk! The year is now 1979! Oh goodness we’d better stop before we hit the 1980s!
Well: thank you for letting me read Wikipedia to you. It was truly a blast. But, I suppose we’ll have to do what I’ve never done before: actually listen to Fleetwood Mac.
(By the way: you should read the lineup timeline on Wikipedia. It’s really funny.)
From Fleetwood Mac, 1975:
(You know, this really is all starting to sound familiar. I think I’ve absorbed 70s music like weird oxygen, without ever thinking about it. I think I might … like it? But still, kind citizens, I’m ((still)) telling you — I wish it was the 1950s!)
((These lyrics are so wild. What’s she saying?
Have you ever seen a woman
taken by the wind ?
Crazy! ))
Here another one:
Hmm:
(Does it ever pick up? Maybe things don’t ever pick up in the 70s. I’m starting to understand where some of the more bizarre — but loveable — Gram & Emmylou duets come from:
Who am I kidding, I LOVE THIS SONG !!!)
Anyway: Fleetwood Mac. (I’m honestly having trouble going back to listening to Fleetwood Mac after listening to Gram & Emmylou; in fact, I’m still listening to Gram & Emmylou. Maybe I’ll try to write about Fleetwood Mac anyway.)
Here’s another one! Nice Calypso (i.e. 1970s) feel!:
I kinda like this one. It’s what they call — understated.
(Although I have to admit the line
Yoooouuu — made me a woman tonight
– is really creepy!)
Oh, I like this one! It really picks up! These 70s bands are diverse. Just look at Linda — they seem to be really interested in trying on different stylistic influences and becoming a different outfit with every song. This song, in fact, reminds me of some of my favorite Dillards tunes (“One A.M.,” in fact — is that uncanny? I know this song’s been posted before, so forgive my duplicity, but, honestly — whoa, uncanny?!?):
- annnnnddd -
(Holy moly — I’m taking this one from Jeff, he’s got a clean mouf! — I REALLY LIKE THE DILLARDS!)
And — some rockers from Rumours:
I like this one! I genuinely like this one.
Oh! I’ve definitely heard this one! And I love it!:
(Or maybe it just sounds like a Cat Stevens song?)
((Nope! I’ve heard it!))
(((I’m glad I came all the way out here to explore Rumours. I was on the fence about Fleetwood Mac, and thinkin’ about giving it the quits; but I think all this fierce YouTube-surfing determination has really paid off.)))
She kinda sounds like Sandy Denny:
This one sounds fun!:
Oh, damn! That is fun. I really like this song. Or, in particular, I love the crazy-saturated-yet-distanced sound of their harmonies. And, whoa, did I catch that right?
Take a listen to your spirit
It’s crying out loud
[clap clap clap clap clap]
OK. Best Fleetwood Mac song ever. (I love any song that includes the phrase: “walkin’ on down the line.”) Hands down.
(Update: I’ve now listened to this song a total of five times. Bets in that I’ll get it up to at least twenty before the clock strikes noon. It’s that good.)
*
We might as well stop here. Save some for tomorrow — if there is a tomorrow. I don’t think I’ve ever found a band I feel as ambivalent about as Fleetwood Mac. Honestly, I love a few of these tunes. And a whole bunch of other ones, I could just leave behind. I guess I’m out of my comfortable range of country-folksy. There’s no Appalachia in these tunes. In fact, I’m not sure we’re even in the territory of Americana anymore. I mean, they’re not American. But, uh, who is? They became American.
(Why is this blog always about nascent issues of musical nationalism, and the American folk claim to homeless authenticity? Damn!)
This blog has really turned into a foray of really well-known acts of the post-rockabilly era that I’ve somehow missed. Jeff, where are you! Save us with your dark tales of banjo-slayers and crooning Delta know-how! Save us with your entry on Buck Owens in space!
To all yr final frontiers,
jessi
xoxo
PS — uh, is anyone else kinda thinking that Hedwig’s partner in probably my favorite movie of all time is, uh, based on what I’m assuming is Christine McVie (see the picture, above)? Case in point:
Uh, yeah. QED, baby.
PPS — Thanks, Fleetwood Mac! Through your opening the floodgates to discussions of 1970s music and culture, I just learned that one of my parents’ first dates was to a Pink Floyd laser lights show. Swee-t!
And apparently the product of a “shadow figure” in the rockabilly biz!
Boston, USA!
I’m not even sure where this is from! But it’s killer!
I can’t tell you how impossibly grateful I am for the scores of amazing people who upload their old 45s to YouTube — otherwise this great music would be who knows where; but certainly not getting heard by scores of new listeners. If I ever get ahold of a stack of these 45s — or anything from that era, really, other than my sole vinyl Buddy Holly Lives! compilation — I’ll make sure to do the same.
Make sure to check out the Starday and Phunkyjunction YouTube feeds, lots of good stuff there! As well as this blog — lots of smart stuff, we’re green with envy! So glad to have such fantastic rockabilly resources on these wild wild interwebs!
More brilliance from Ferris & the Wheels!
Doo-wop & not rockabilly but who cares! This is the 50s! Who can even make that distinction? (And, whoa! It’s this guy’s dad !!! Soooooo good !!!)
do you ever secretly wish this blog had a podcast?
that you could hear my mellifluous voice saying embarassing things while playing you songs in a wild and undocumented order, reminiscent of spring in alaska?
that you could relive the wild glory of your “rrradio” days as you shout hallelujah over and over, while listening to yr 23rd tanya tucker song?
(i dream about it every night.)
WELL! –
today is yr lucky day, cowgirl or cowboy! IT’SYERMISFORTUNE is teaming up with the kind folks at WSRN 91.5 FM, SWARTHMORE COLLEGE’S FIERCELY INDEPENDENT RRRADIO (mostly jeff! hi, jeff!) to bring you a WEEKLY AMERICAN PODCAST FROM AMERICA ON AMERICA delivered right to your very doorstep. you can access said glories & hootin’ and hollerin’ real direct-like by checking out WSRNFM.ORG& streaming live on TUESDAY NIGHTS, 8-10pm (this is prime time for rrradio, people!); or by LIVING IN THE PHILADELPHIA SUBURBS (which I wouldn’t reccomend!) AND TURNING YR DIALS STRAIGHT TO 91.5 (or a bit off, to account for static); or by DOWNLOADING OUR PODCAST STRAIGHT FROM WSRN, when podcasting is working, if podcasting is working.
but, best of all, we’ve got a special treat for you fond reader(s) ((hi, jeff!)) — i’ll be linking up to each week’s show — and it’s a TWO-HOUR BROADCAST, get this ladies & gentlemen, TWO HOURS! — straight from ITM, so’s you can download direct and laugh and weep and question whether the crossroads decision is really worthwhile, all in the comfort & safety of your home/tourbus/bathtub**/stable.
so, without further ado:
here’s the first hour! (feat. warren storm, lotsa swamp pop, all sorts of crazy-ramblin’ regional rockabillies, and hillbilly bop; plus a liberal dollop & sho-shallop fulla buddy holly)
&
here’s the second hour! (feat. even more buddy holly! so much goodness i can’t even remember! oh yeah, tanya tucker & linda ronstadt! & some sordid confession o goodness!)
*
enjoy! and, as ever, send along requests — for individual songs, for particular sorts of research-y rampages, or, please please me, for entire (or at least hour-long segments of the) shows!
all love and much staticccc,
jessi
* PS! — I got this photograph from the internet, from someone named Patrick! I don’t normally attribute these things, because — uh, maybe I should! — but this one is actually of his mom (hi, Patrick!), so, um, how could I not? Patrick, your mother is beautiful! And indeed carefree! And lends so well her image of grace & serenity to this fine blog, so please I hope you’ll pardon/embrace our useage.
