30 May 2021 - Julie Roberts - Break Down Here

I used to go to a lot of drug company dinners concerning drugs for multiple sclerosis.  This is because it is something that impacts my life (I won't betray medical privacy by saying why, but if you know me personally, you know why).  

I remember going to one in Webster, NY, hosted by Teva Pharmaceuticals - a drug called Copaxone, which was one of the first drugs developed to treat relapsing multiple sclerosis. The way these things work, a doctor talks about the drug and its efficacy for about a half hour, and then a patient taking the drugs comes up to tell their story. 

On this particular day, the patient's name was Julie.  They are TYPICALLY only identified by their first names.  She came in singing a Barbara Mandrell song.  I know you're wondering what song, but it isn't important.  That was the first clue that we were in for something different. 

Julie told a moving story about her life - about she dreamed of being a country music superstar, how she lost her home in a flood that also triggered an MS relapse (when she was trying to ignore having anything wrong), how she came to work for a record label (Mercury Nashville) as their receptionist and eventually was signed.  And.... 

"My debut album, Julie Roberts - that's my name, Julie Roberts....."

At which point I immediately reached for my phone to 1) find the post on Totally Covered that Scott had posted to 2) make sure I remembered correctly that there was a picture of him with her 3) wrote to Scott on Twitter to basically tell him all of this.  He told me to say hi for him after the talk.

Which I did.  Amazingly, she not only remembered him, but the venue in which he saw her perform - without a prompt from me. She was exceedingly nice.

Julie's patient story was far and away the best I've ever heard - so detailed, so moving, and so engaging.  I won't tell her whole story - but she is a working musician who happened to have multiple sclerosis.    

And she is a musician, and this was her debut single from that album.  It would be a top 20 country hit, with the album receiving a gold certification.  

You might be wondering why I am posting this on a Sunday.  Today is World MS Day.  I encourage you to visit the National MS Society website and tell 'em we sent you. Donate, learn more.  Help find a cure.  

Now here's more Julie Roberts performing this song live in some elementary school auditorium.

28 May 2021 - Jane Wiedlin - Rush Hour

Guys, Jane was my favorite Go-Go.  Let's start there.

That's why I saved this song, her biggest solo hit - top 10 in the US, top 20 in the UK - for last.  

Two things of note about this song:

1) The video is very dolphin-centric, which doesn't really have a lot to do with the lyrics.  It's a great video, for sure. but..... dolphins.  

2) Video of this song being performed live is incredibly rare.  It's complex and tough to reproduce live..... which is why this video from a couple of years ago is such a treat, and required a large band.  

A little bonus for you - two Go-Go's songs from the same performance.  This includes Jane's third verse of "Our Lips Are Sealed" and the Charlotte Caffey-penned "We Got The Beat".

To support this great cover band that doesn't usually feature Jane Wiedlin, go to nitewaveparty.com

27 May 2021 - The Graces - Lay Down Your Arms

In 1988, Go-Go's lead guitarist Charlotte Caffey formed a band with the woman who would eventually be a one-hit wonder for the song "Bitch".

Not kidding.   Meredith Brooks was a member of The Graces.  I guess she was a 2-hit wonder.

There was a 3rd member- Gia Ciambotti.   I add this because I don't feel like she should be forgotten.

On this song, the band's only hit, Caffey took the lead vocal.  

Here is the band performing the song live. It's clearly here what roles everyone plays on the song.

26 May 2021 - The Delphines - I Want You The Way I Want You Not How You Are

So, I had two options this week.

Either I open the week with Belinda Carlisle or I end with her.  

Either I open the week with Kathy Valentine's band The Delphines, or I end with it.  

Pretty clear which way I went.

Smack dab in the middle.

So enjoy The Delphines.  They are led by Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Kathy Valentine.   This was a great band in its own right - so great I won't even mention that other band she was a member of.

25 May 2021 - Belinda Carlisle - Mad About You

Belinda Carlisle's first solo release was this song.  It peaked at #3 in the Untied States and was a hit worldwide.  Featuring Andy Taylor from Duran Duran on guitar (yes, he's in the video), the video also features her husband - who she married three weeks before this song was released in 1985 (they're still together, people).  

Jane Wiedlin and Charlotte Caffey of the Go-Go's sang bankground vocals on this song, and replacement Go-Go (for Jane Wiedlin!) Paula Jean Brown co-wrote the song, so any rumors about acrimony in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted band were not well-founded.  In fact, this was almost a Go-Go's song - but when the band split, the song went to Belinda.  

24 May 2021 - House Of Schock - Middle Of Nowhere

InB4 the hate mail I will get reminding me that House of Schock was a thing.  I know.  I grew up in the 1980s.  

Former Go-Go Gina Schock is clearly not drumming here.  No, no.  She's singing and playing guitar.  And she does a fine job - the song is enjoyable pop-rock - but the band - formed with Ellen's brother Vance DeGeneres - was clearly lacking in chemistry and record label support, so they were a one-album wonder. 

21 May 2021 - Guided By Voices - The Official Ironmen Rally Song

Robert Pollard is perhaps the most prolific songwriter of all time.  He's written few better than this song.  

A clear workingman's anthem from the Dayton, OH band - that's the middle of the Rust Belt - it starts somewhat calm and controlled in the first verse, but Bob Pollard goes full on yell in the second verse, struggling to exceed the music that has also increased in volume, tempo and desperation.  The third verse is a hypercompressed repeat in feel of verses one and two - with something of a greater desperation ending on a more somber note.

Live in Cincinatti in 2016, the contrast between verses is even more pronounced,

What really got me feeling the chills on this song, however, was this version billed as the demo.  I heard a version the band recorded for the radio station KCRW, which is quite similar to this one.  The desperate emotion in Pollard's voice really shines through with a slightly quieter mix.