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02-13-09 Footnotes
Show 169: Unconventional Love Songs, Lux Interior Obit
Listen to the MP3 Stream of this show: (link)
Download the Podcast: (Download the MP3)
1 It’s only February and already we’ve got one of the biggest news stories of the year. Live Nation and Ticketmaster, the two most powerful entities in the concert business, have announced a merger. Now one company will control most of the concert venues, ticket sales, and even the artists appearing at those shows. Jim and Greg explain how this will affect the consumer. On the upside, the new company, Live Nation Entertainment, will do away irritating service fees and inconvenient internet cluster sales. But, for the most part, this won’t be a positive merger for music fans. The new “dynamic pricing” model will leave many ticket buyers victim to auction mark-ups. In addition, independent promoters will have even less luck launching shows.
2 In other music news, Muzak has filed for bankruptcy. The company that brought easy-listening into elevators and supermarkets across America has been hit hard like so many in this economy. Guess this means we won’t be hearing a sax version of “Lollipop” anytime soon.
3 Robert Plant and Alison Krauss won the top prize at last week’s Grammy Awards. It was one of many awards handed to artists from independent labels. One such musician is British singer Adele, who took home the often dubious Best New Artist award. But, while this title doesn’t often lead to career longevity, Jim and Greg believe Adele will go on to make more great music. They both recommend her album 19 as a Buy It.
4 While many thought he was immortal, Lux Interior, lead singer of The Cramps, died last week at the age of 60. Along with his wife, guitarist Poison Ivy Rorschach, Lux Interior helped to create the punk sound we know today. As Jim and Greg discuss, their chaotic live shows were especially memorable. Many music fans are disappointed to know they will never experience another Cramps live show, so they’ll have to turn to the next best thing—recordings like their 1980 album Songs the Lord Taught Us.
5 It’s easy to get overloaded with sugar on Valentine’s Day, especially when it comes to love songs. So Jim and Greg welcome an antidote: Unconventional Love Songs. Here are their favorite, slightly off-kilter love songs.
The Byrds, “Triad”
Concrete Blonde, “Bloodletting (The Vampire Song)”
Velvet Underground, “Venus in Furs”
The Beatles, “Happiness Is a Warm Gun”
Black Sabbath, “Sweet Leaf”
Alice in Chains, “Junkhead”
Lester Bangs & The Delinquents, “I’m In Love with My Walls”
Neil Young, “Will to Love”
Songs Featured in Show #168
The Rolling Stones, "Under My Thumb," Aftermath, 1966
Adele, "Right As Rain," 19, 2008
The Cramps, "TV Set," Songs the Lord Taught Us, 1980
The Cramps, "Human Fly," Off the Bone, 1983
Blur, "I'm Just A Killer For Your Love," Blur, 1997
Love is Strange
The Byrds, “Triad,” Never Before, 1989
Concrete Blond, “Bloodletting (The Vampire Song),” Bloodletting, 1990
The Velvet Underground, “Venus in Furs,” The Velvet Underground and Nico, 1967
The Beatles, “Happiness is a Warm Gun,” The White Album, 1968
Sheila E, “A Love Bizarre,” Romance 1600, 1985
Queen, “I’m in Love with My Car,” A Night at the Opera, 1975
Black Sabbath, “Sweet Leaf,” Master of Reality, 1971
Alice in Chains, “Junkhead,” Dirt, 1992
Lester Bangs, “I’m In Love with My Walls”
Neil Young, “Will to Love,” Chrome Dreams, 1992
Barbra Streisand, “Calling You,” The Movie Album, 2003
Buddy Holly, “Listen to Me,” Buddy Holly, 1958
The Ohio Players, “Singing in the Morning,” Pain, 1971
The Cramps, “Garbage Man,” Songs the Lord Taught Us, 1980
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