Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: One man’s Meat Puppets is another man’s Poison

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  • Lilith __, in reply to Russell Brown,

    listening to (and taping) Casey Kasem's American Top 40

    Far out. I used to listen to that on my Dad's old valve radio. And tape the songs I liked by holding a mic up to the (embroidered) speaker. I still remember the clunk between tracks caused by pressing stop on the tape deck.

    Compact they aren't, but valve radios do have a lovely tone. And the sense of anticipation while you wait the 30 secs or so for it to warm up! I remember listening in the dark watching the glowing buttons and that weird green light with a bird on it.

    I used to listen to the SW bands, too, BBC world service and who-knows-what in languages I couldn't even identify.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • philipmatthews, in reply to Lilith __,

    listening to (and taping) Casey Kasem's American Top 40
    Far out. I used to listen to that on my Dad's old valve radio. And tape the songs I liked by holding a mic up to the (embroidered) speaker. I still remember the clunk between tracks caused by pressing stop on the tape deck.

    More formative for me was when Radio with Pictures was simulcast on radio in the early 1980s (no idea what station -- not Radio B?). Getting random mix tapes that would capture Birthday Party, The Fall, whatever.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2007 • 656 posts Report Reply

  • JacksonP, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Casey Kasem's American Top 40 was on my musical education.

    +3

    And my mum on the radio about the same time. It's where the Leo Sayer, Janis Ian and Donna Summer came from.

    Along with these guys.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2011 • 2450 posts Report Reply

  • JacksonP, in reply to Geoff Lealand,

    Kid Creole and the Coconuts were interesting back then, for 5 or 10 minutes. Saw them live in a Long Island club.

    Saw them in Tokyo in 1991. Fun show.

    It's a wise man who knows he's not your daddy.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2011 • 2450 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Beard, in reply to Sacha,

    Oh yes. I remember reading a Keyboard magazine article about Jan Hammer where de discussed in painstaking detail how he used synths and effects to create the lead "guitar" line on that. I spent a lot of time holding my Casiotone like a keytar.

    Keyboard magazine was a strange, anachronistic beast. At a time when I was hoping for tips on how to sound like Depeche Mode, Eurythmics, or Art of Noise, they were banging on about Weather Report, Rick Wakeman, and Emerson Lake & Palmer.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart, in reply to Tom Beard,

    I spent a lot of time holding my Casiotone like a keytar.

    Huh. So. Turns out we don't have nothing in common. Except I'm pretty sure only one of us was wearing a leather tie with a saxophone on it.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    From the 'you can forgive your heroes most things but there are limits' files:


    Nothing posted by anyone in this thread comes close to either of these in sheeeeer awfulness.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Tom Beard,

    At a time when I was hoping for tips on how to sound like Depeche Mode, Eurythmics, or Art of Noise,

    Would Gary Numan count as well? This particular number is one I personally identify with, because I interpret it as being about borderline autism.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Martin Lambert,

    Christmas Music - 6 years of part time work at a Foodtown meant about 6 weeks exposure to 'Snoopy's Christmas' and the f**king Slade song every year!! Still leave shops when I hear it now. Unfortunately my father in law LOVES Christmas music, so every 2nd year I have to suck it up at theirs - luckily he's usually got a well stocked cellar as well....

    North Shore • Since Dec 2006 • 6 posts Report Reply

  • Will de Cleene,

    As for musical educations, Kasem's Top 40 was up there with Ready to Roll and Radio with Pictures (the first show to feature a host with a kiwi accent). As for bad songs by good artists, there was the influential Intruder (Warning: home invasion theme. May be a trigger):

    The song gave us the sound of the '80s, the gated reverb drum effect. Gabriel and Collins still haggle over whodunnit.

    If you haven't seen it, BBC's Synth Brittania is a trip down electronica memory lane. It's amazing how many Aspies were in the vanguard of synth (where they utterly rip into prog):

    Raumati • Since Jul 2011 • 107 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __, in reply to Simon Grigg,

    Arrrgh, Tin Machine!!! Back in the day I bought that album but I had blocked out the memory. Hard to believe, but there were actually worse tracks than that one.

    I remember hearing a 45 of Marilyn Waring singing Working Class Hero . Now that was cool.

    Can’t bring myself to listen to the Lou Reed/Metallica, I don’t think I’ve heard it and plan to preserve my innocence.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    Attachment

    It was actually...

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to JacksonP,

    See ya and raise ya Doobies

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    What I find most interesting about this thread is, amongst other things, these parallel universes that we all lived in, some of us at the same time. And how much that tells us about who we were/are. Fascinating.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand, in reply to Simon Grigg,

    She is about as working class as Rupert Murdoch. The problem with Marilyn and why I have never had much time for her is that she chose the wrong political party,

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Jackie Clark,

    What I find most interesting about this thread is, amongst other things, these parallel universes that we all lived in, some of us at the same time. And how much that tells us about who we were/are. Fascinating.

    A lot of us parallelled to Casey Kasem, then the next wave, then, then, right up to now when we're parallelling on the net. I bet lot of us are on similar internet trajectories too.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Simon Grigg,

    I can't watch that Lou Reed Metallica clip -- on the first frame he looks too much like Paul Holmes for it to be comfortable.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg, in reply to Geoff Lealand,

    She is about as working class as Rupert Murdoch.

    The irony was intentional I think.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    There seems to be a growing consensus that Lou & Metallica is the worst thing ever recorded (and no, please don't hit play on that clip. I've taken the blow for the forum.. )

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    Lilith___

    I remember listening in the dark watching the glowing buttons and that weird green light with a bird on it.

    Geek time.

    It is/was called a magic eye. Used for getting that old AM radio right bang on the station to make sure you got rid of the "sssttaa" at the beginning of consonanted words.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • JacksonP,

    ELO and Olivia Neutron Bomb. It was a match made in... Xanadu..

    Auckland • Since Mar 2011 • 2450 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to JacksonP,

    ELO and Olivia Neutron Bomb

    I should report you for that.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Simon Grigg,

    There seems to be a growing consensus that Lou & Metallica is the worst thing ever recorded (and no, please don't hit play on that clip.

    How could I resist that challenge. The only use I can find for it is helping along the Christchurch CBD demolitions if played loud.

    Ooh this thread is soo much fun, thank you all very much for the earworms.


    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    When the Americans went into Panama, legend has it they got Noriega to surrender by playing Queen's We Will Rock You (and The Clash) over and over all night.

    It would only take a couple of run throughs of this and I'd be begging for that Florida cell:

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark, in reply to Hebe,

    But you won’t. Because aren’t you secretly enjoying it? I know I am. But then ELO could never do any bad in my books, at least not the early/mid stuff.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

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