Howard Zinn

Howard Zinn

1922-2010

I read Howard Zinn's radical testament "A People's History of the United States" in High School. It was probably my first foray into my future academic pursuits in Ethnography and Cultural Studies. In case you haven't read it (you really, really should) Zinn tells the story of America through the eyes of the oppressed and defeated parties; from the Arawaks; the tribe who initally met and confronted Christopher Columbus, to the American Native and Slave populations, to the unsuspecting citizens of Nagasaki and Hiroshima (Kiroshima?) and more. Reading that book was one of the first times I was able to communicate my empathy for those who quashed by the debateable, yet inevitable "rise of humanity." I went on to expand my knowledge by reading other opinions by timeless critical thinkers such as Thomas Jefferson, Michel Foucault, Karl Marx, Jane Jacobs, Max Weber, Sigmund Freud and his frenemy, Carl Jung. All of those geniuses eventually tackle human nature as does Zinn, but he did so in a matter than brings the eternal dichotomy between Ruler and Subject to life through straight up beefs we can understand today (Sorry Howard). He was an eternal activist for justice and overall consideration among man. Howard Zinn was one of the greatest minds of my time, or any, and he will surely be missed. In his honor, today's song is by the appropriately named avant-garde psych-rock band, The United States of America. Not to be confused with The Presidents of the United States of America (although that would also be cool), The USA produced only one record during 1968 but it left it's mark as one of the most far out albums of the era. With amazing song titles like, Lovesong for Dead Ché, Osamu's Birthday (Remember: recorded in 1967) and I Won’t Leave My Wooden-Wife For You, Sugar, you could be contented just reading the album, but the tracks themselves are nothing short of audial hallucinations. My personal favorite is Stranded, a song with the most amazingly lysergic electric violin solo, the only problem is that its just not a crazy enough example of the depths of their psychedelia. I am also including as some sort of acid soaked barometer,  The American Metaphysical Circus, a song that starts off with a whole minute of crazy clown noises. For the stronger, 18+, NSFW oriented readers, there is a crazy intense version with some pretty naked phantasms coming out of their own genitals located here.

Goodbye Howard, I hope there's at least some injustice in heaven so you don't get bored.

(pssst did you vote?)


Song #57: The United States of America - The American Metaphysical Circus


BONUS: The United States of America - Stranded

Wham! Bam! Thank You Ma'am!

Since our last (and first) Guest Blogger was such a success, I decided to open the floor to another extremely interesting voice, another really great friend of mine, Lee. She and I go back basically as long as any of my adult masculine qualities do; oddly enough she seemed to get them first. Lee realized I have been holding back a little on posting British Rock Music from the 70's, since, checking the statistics, that would be the most common EDAS post. However I have just been slowing it down on my UK imports while I spread the love around to some of the other genres. Today I am able to stay true to my personal embargo, while a guest contributor hops across the pond for me. She is awesome... Remember to Vote and Enjoy!

Click to vote

________________

Hello Everyone. This is Lee, a long-time reader, first time contributor at Every Day, Another Song. While I know our fearless leader has put a personal freeze on Brit rock as he claims to write way too much about it (Small Faces, The Who, Queen, Yes, The Stones, Led Zep, Zombies, Spacehog) but luckily, us lesser contributors do not have to adhere to such lofty goals.

My love affair with British men in tight pants began early in life, as my father was a DJ, and I grew up with such gems as The Rolling Stones “Their Satanic Majesties Request.” So while other children at my all-girls Upper East Side private school were buying Prada and listening to Backstreet Boys, I was wearing my softball shoes all day and listening to the one, the only, David Bowie.

Now my favorite of the Bowie albums is the magnificent opus, 1972's “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.” I just… I can’t think of an album I love more as a whole than this one. I already have a tendency to dance down the street like a crazy, or at least strut my stuff to the beat (I have been caught by friends on more that one occasion and been made fun of mercilessly). And the one song that grabs a hold of my pelvis and just won’t let go is “Suffragette City” (MoHo would be proud!).

From the first chord all the way through the song grabs your face, throws a massive amount of pink glitter in it, makes you strap on some thigh high boots, and kick the first hater you see straight in the baby-maker (differs based on gender of said hater). Lastly, the build-up and execution of “WHAM! BAM! THANK YOU MA’AM!” is unparalleled. Before I spoil more, and without further ado, I give you “Suffragette City.”

Editor's side note/Citrus based confession: One time I threw a Lime into David Bowie's Rooftop Pool from Nat's Roof 4 buildings away.


Song #56: David Bowie - Suffragette City

The Ballad of The Blumstar

Once, a long, long time ago... This man promised me he would be a Senator. We were sitting around a table in a youth hostel in Montreal in 2003 and still to this day I believe him.

Looking back, I have known Andrew since the last Millenium, and granted, a lot has changed since then, but the allure of the Blumstar never wains. Was it the time he shared a drank with that Hobo, or the time we convinced a hacky-sack circle that Andrew was so good only because he was in a terrible boating accident and he had a cadaver bone-graft that made his leg extra flexible? Maybe it was the time we brought him to a bar for the first time and we couldn't bring him to the second floor without being tackled by adoring fans, or  even his world shattering rendition of "Shoe and Pillow," but it seems to be more than that. This post 9/11 Philosopher, this "Neo-Lebowski" if you will, unphased by the modern out of touch habits of today's iFake Humanoids, remains an endangered species in a world of Twitter-Suicide Fameballs and Day-Glo Hispter Marshmallows. There is just so much more to be said about a person of such valor, but there just simply isn't enough time, so I have put the rest of his information in a list of bullet points to give you the gist...

• Andrew was from Brooklyn not before it was cool, but before YOU knew it was cool.
• Andrew is a Cat Person (if you are too: see JacksonGalaxy.com)
• Andrew only hangs out in the Streets
• Andrew singlehandedly brought back Umbrella Hats
• Andrew is beautiful with, or without Sideburns
• Andrew was against the war
• Andrew runs on entirely Green Energy
• Andrew is one of my all-time favorite Drivers
• Andrew got to wear "The Chain"
• Pictures of Andrew are used to soothe crying babies
• Andrew loves Photography
• Andrew ruined Operation Neptune
• Andrew loves Sublime
• Andrew jumped into a freestyle cypher on New Years like 3 weeks ago
• Andrew one time wrote a blog post of ME in 2003
• YOU DIDN'T THINK I WAS GONNA FIND IT?

Sometimes it is a difficult path he faces, but he must continue to blaze his trail so that we may be reminded of what is best about Mankind.

On an unrelated note, don't forget to vote for the first ever Cover Clash below. See you tomorrow.

Song #55: Sublime - Greatest Hits

COVER CLASH #1

I am extremely honored and excited to present the newest segment here at Every Day, Another Song, (appropriately, yet tentatively named) Cover Clash. This will be the most interactive aspect of the blog thus far, unless of course you count everyone’s favorite game, Disagree with Aaron the Commenter. Cover Clash will pit two versions (sometimes more) of the same song against each other, and you, the democracy loving  visitor will vote on which one you like best. I will try to insert a poll (ha) into the post to see who the winner is, but feel free to sound off through leaving comments as well. UPDATE: I have inserted a poll, it can be found directly below the About Me box on the left hand column, Remember to Vote! REUPDATE: I ALSO ADDED THE POLL ON THE BOTTOM OF THE POST! Onwards to our first Cover Clash ever, PRESSURE DROP...

In the Red corner, we have the original performers and Jamaican Icons...

Toots and The Maytals

They originally released the song Pressure Drop in 1969 right after coining the phrase Reggae, with their understandably named hit “Do The Reggay” during the previous year.They went on to be and stay some of the hardest working Music Pioneers to this day. I saw Toots in Cleveland in March of 2007 and they completely destroyed, not to mention all the original Maytals blasting out the reggae vibes. Frederick "Toots" Hibbert might not be more than 5 feet tall but he carried the voice and power of a Reggae Giant. It was interesting to see a Reggae show at Cleveland's House of Blues, when I was already used to seeing shows 2 hours away at the Alrosa Villa but it was just completely amazing. I have pictures to prove it, they will be up soon. The video I found to play their version of Pressure Drop happens to be the most ridiculous and random video montage I've ever seen. I have no idea what any of the images have to do with anything, but just watching it is an experience unto itself.

And In the Blue Corner...

THE CLASH

Reggae Music was weirdly (see aggressively) appreciated in the UK. A chord must have been struck between the disenfranchised, working class Brits and their recently liberated, yet colonially oppressed compatriots, The Jamaicans. However this deal went down, Reggae was consumed across the pond almost as much as it was at home, and soon enough bands raised on Ska and Reggae began their own rebellious ways, but they never forgot their Island influences. I admit, it is weird to think of a really pumped up and volatile Punk group enjoying the relaxing soothing sounds of a nice Lovers Rock song, but the video below from a movie called This is England seems to prove that even listening to it (combined with Shaving your head and wearing crazy-thin suspenders) was considered rebellion enough. I'm not really sure what is happening in this video either, but if you looks closely at the background of the room in which the video takes place, you will see some of my own Reggae heros, including but not limited to, Jimmy Cliff, Alton Ellis, Bob Andy and Marcia Griffiths. The Clash released their version of Pressure Drop in 1978 as the B-Side for their single English Civil War.

Which one do You like better?

Toots and the Maytals

OR

The Clash

Song #54/ Cover Clash #1: Pressure Drop

Cover Clash #1: Pressure Drop

Come Back Dave Chappelle

Last night I was up late and I caught a syndicated episode of Chappelle's Show. Mos Def was the musical guest and he just ripped it up while Dave chauffeured him around New York. Chappelle came to OSU and did comedy right after his "breakdown." He was still hilarious, and I'm sure he still is, but he has been disappointingly reclusively. He has become the JD Salinger of Black Comedy, for better or worse. Here is the video below...


Song #53: Mos Def - Close Edge

The Return of Serge

This is the craziest video of 5 years of Graffiti outside of Serge Gainsbourg's house. from Arnaud Jourdain on Vimeo. Watch on fullscreen to get the full effect.

Also I realized since last time, that this recording features not only Rhythym masters Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare (below), but EDAS Favorite, Marica Griffiths as part of the backup singers, the I-Threes.

Photo via the Coolest Blog Ever, 

If Charlie Parker Was a Gunslinger,
There'd Be a Whole Lot of Dead Copycats

Song #51 - Serge Gainsbourg with Sly & Robbie & the I-Threes - Aux Armes Et Caetera

50!

HAPPY 50th... um... DAY!

To celebrate this momentous occasion I was originally going to play 50 Cent, but then I had a change of heart and I decided to play a song from the 1950's instead. Here is one of the two best Vibraphonists ever (Cal Tjader is the other).

I'm easily distracted by t-shirts about
 being distracted by vibraphonists 
(Buy me and take me to Williamsburg!!)

Behold, the wonder of Lionel Hampton and his Quintet with one of his classics, and just under that, a bonus Jam Session from the Apollo Theater in 1954... Enjoy the epic, 17 minute, scream filled album version of Flying Home that will have you coming back through the next 50 songs.

Song #50: Lionel Hampton Quintet - Flying Home (buy)

BONUS SONG: Lionel Hampton Jam Session, The Apollo, 1954

Rocksteady

Not only is it possibly my favorite genre, but Rocksteady is also this RIDICULOUS song by the Queen of Soul, Aretha.

Song #48 - Aretha Franklin - Rocksteady

Make it Mellow

Not since the Mighty Mighty Bosstones have I seen a group with a dance squad that was so awesome and plentiful, yet musically unnecessary. Anyway, enjoy the Tighten Up.

Also I feel like I'm falling just the littlest bit behind (or ahead actually) lately. I have a few extremely good pieces on some of my most influential artists coming soon, and in the near near future, I will be opening EDAS to some rarer, un-youtube-able songs and genres. Thanks for sticking around, things are about to get awesome here.

Thanks to Katie for the find.

Song #47: Archie Bell & The Drells - Tighten Up

Twice as Nice

Re: Last Week... Get it? Today's reggae jam is off possibly the best soundtrack of all time, and definitely one of my favorite movies of all time, The Harder They Come. But seriously this song is twice as nice.

Song #46: Dave and Ansel Collins - Double Barrel

Like Ma Bell...

Song #45: Beastie Boys featuring Q-Tip - Get it Together