Floppy, Dr. Max, & Betty Lou

When I was a kid growing up in rural Grinnell, we could receive 7 TV channels--incl WHO (ch. 13 from Des Moines), WMT (ch. 2 from Cedar Rapids--now called KGAN), and WOI (ch. 5 from Ames).

Each of the above had their own kids' show--WHO had "The Floppy Show" with Duane Ellett, WMT had "The Dr. Max Show", and WOI had "The Magic Window" with Betty Lou Varnum.

(We could also receive KCCI--ch. 8 from Des Moines--which had their own kids' show, "Dolph's Cartoon Corner" with Dolph Pulliam, but I didn't care for that show.)

Below are some links & videos for you all to enjoy! I haven't been able to find any vids of "The Magic Window" yet, but there are some "Tales Of The Riverbank" posted below.















Here are some links to sites & pgs re: "The Floppy Show" & the other shows, with pix & mp3s:

Wikipedia pg for "The Floppy Show"

The First Floppy Show Page

DesMoinesBroadcasting.com

IowaFalls.org

Wikipedia pg for "The Magic Window"

For The Children

Hi There, Boys and Girls!: America's Local Children's TV Shows

Beatlesque #5 & #6

I didn't get around to posting my Beatlesque #5 playlist before I did my KRUU radio show on Thur Apr 17. So below is the playlist.

"Lies" by The Knickerbockers probably should've been in the previous (or should be in a future) "Overtly, Purposefully Beatlesque" playlist. I don't know if I'll be doing another such "Overtly, Purposefully Beatlesque" playlist, however. There are a lot of good Rutles songs left over from the 1st such playlist--but the leftover Utopia songs are not so good, the leftover Two Lips songs are pretty bad, & there's only a small handful of such songs by other artists not yet used.

Note: iTunes has the Bee Gees' song "Turn Of The Century" (album version) mislabeled as "Bee Gees 1st"--which is actually the name of the album it's on. (Doing my playlists, I've come upon several songs--by well-known artists--in iTunes that are mislabeled. What the F, Jobs? Can't you find good workers who want to work for you?)

The links below are to the songs in iTunes, unless notated with an asterisk.

* = Amazon.com (not available in iTunes)

1. The Background To History - Monty Python
2. Lies - The Knickerbockers
3. The Way - Fastball
4. Someone To Love - Fountains Of Wayne
5. Same Changes - Sam Phillips
6. Golden Child Of God - Emitt Rhodes *
7. It's Over - Badfinger *
8. Turn Of The Century - The Bee Gees
9. I'm Not Bitter - The Minus Five
10. Dear Madam Barnum - XTC
11. I'd Die Babe - Badfinger *
12. Turn A Square - The Shins
13. Take You Far Away - Emitt Rhodes (www.EmittRhodesMusic.net)
14. The Sky Is Falling - Owsley
15. Money - Badfinger *
16. Flying - Badfinger *
17. I Need Love - Sam Phillips
18. I Can't Take It - Cheap Trick
19. Get It Together - Brendan Benson *
20. Not The Girl You Think You Are - Crowded House
21. Coming Up Roses - Owsley
22. Without You - Harry Nilsson
23. Latitude 88 North - Electric Light Orchestra
24. All The Way Home - Spinal Tap

Below is my Beatlesque #6 playlist. I'll be playing this playlist on my KRUU radio show on Thur Apr 24, from 9 to 11 PM Central.

Many thanks to Andy MacKenzie, KRUU radio show host extraordinaire, for his copies of "Meet The Beatlesque" 1 & 2. Also many, many thanks to KRUU listener Glenn Chumley for his copies of the Owsley, The Apples In Stereo, and Jamie Hoover & Bill Lloyd CDs.

As above, the links below are to the songs in iTunes, unless notated with an asterisk.

* = Amazon.com (not available in iTunes)

1. Blind Mary - Gnarls Barkley
2. Start! - The Jam
3. Zavelow House - Owsley
4. I Want You To Want Me - Cheap Trick
5. The Rainbow - The Apples In Stereo
6. Sub-Rosa Subway - Klaatu *
7. When I Fall - Sam Phillips
8. Know One Knows - Badfinger
9. What I'm Looking For - Brendan Benson *
10. Nobody Knows - The Raspberries
11. Bluebird Is Dead - Electric Light Orchestra
12. Ballet For A Rainy Day - XTC
13. 1000 Umbrellas - XTC
14. Bring Back That Leroy Brown - Queen
15. I Walk Away - Crowded House
16. That's What The Little Girls Do - The Knack *
17. Barbara H. - Fountains Of Wayne
18. Come On, Come On - Cheap Trick
19. Rainy Day People - Owsley
20. Submarine Dream - The Apples In Stereo
21. Shiny Cage - The Dukes Of Stratosphear (XTC)
22. Still Not Over You - Jamie Hoover & Bill Lloyd
23. Who's That? - Electric Light Orchestra

Beatles Songs (Group Or Solo) RE: Beatles (Group Or Solo)

Here is a list of songs (with their lyrics & links to their Wikipedia entries/mentions) written & recorded by Beatles (group or solo) about Beatles (group or solo).

Notice that each Beatle wrote & recorded at least 3 songs re: Beatle/s, & these songs span 40 yrs from the oldest to the latest. Most importantly, note how--in each song--the attitude of the writer/performer/s toward the Beatle/s at the time shines through (Ringo is the nicest).

The below songs are in chronological order, & the song titles are links to the songs in iTunes, unless notated with an asterisk

* = Amazon.com (not available in iTunes)

1. Glass Onion - The Beatles * (recorded Sep 1968, released Nov 1968)
Wikipedia entry
The song is a response to those who attempted to find hidden meanings in Beatle songs, and references "I Am the Walrus", "Strawberry Fields Forever", "Lady Madonna", "The Fool on the Hill", and "Fixing a Hole". The song's "The Walrus was Paul" lyric is both a reference to "I Am the Walrus" and Lennon saying "something nice to Paul" in response to changes in their relationship at that time.

Songwriting credited to Lennon/McCartney--but it was really written by John

I told you about Strawberry Fields
You know the place where nothing is real
Well here's another place you can go
Where everything flows
Looking through the bent backed tulips
To see how the other half live
Looking through a glass onion

I told you about the walrus and me, man
You know that we're as close as can be, man
Well here's another clue for you all
The walrus was Paul
Standing on the cast iron shore, yeah
Lady Madonna trying to make ends meet, yeah
Looking through a glass onion

Oh yeah
Oh yeah
Oh yeah
Looking through a glass onion

I told you about the fool on the hill
I tell you man he living there still
Well here's another place you can be
Listen to me
Fixing a hole in the ocean
Trying to make a dove-tail joint, yeah
Looking through a glass onion



2. Two Of Us - The Beatles * (recorded Jan 1969, released May 1970)
Wikipedia entry
Lennon and McCartney sang the song as a duet. It was written for Linda Eastman, McCartney's soon to be wife, though it sounds at times as if it is addressing Lennon, whose relationship with McCartney was tense at that time.
More info

Songwriting credited to Lennon/McCartney--but it was really written by Paul

Two of us riding nowhere
Spending someone's
Hard earned pay
You and me Sunday driving
Not arriving
On our way back home
We're on our way home
We're on our way home
We're going home

Two of us sending postcards
Writing letters
On my wall
You and me burning matches
Lifting latches
On our way back home
We're on our way home
We're on our way home
We're going home

You and I have memories
Longer than the road
that stretches out ahead

Two of us wearing raincoats
Standing solo
In the sun
You and me chasing paper
Getting nowhere
On our way back home
We're on our way home
We're on our way home
We're going home

You and I have memories
Longer than the road
that stretches out ahead

Two of us wearing raincoats
Standing solo
In the sun
You and me chasing paper
Getting nowhere
On our way back home
We're on our way home
We're on our way home
We're going home

We're going home
Better believe it
Goodbye

3. Wah-Wah - George (recorded May to Sep 1970, released Nov 1970)
Wikipedia mention
The January 1969 "Get Back" sessions saw early appearances of several other songs that would be considered for All Things Must Pass, including the title track, "Hear Me Lord", "Isn't It a Pity", "Let It Down", and "Window, Window", but nothing came of them at the time. The tense atmosphere fueled another song, "Wah-Wah", which Harrison wrote in the wake of his temporary departure from the band.
More info

Written by George

Wah-wah
You've given me a wah-wah
And I'm thinking of you
And all the things that we used to do
Wah-wah, wah-wah

Wah-wah
You made me such a big star
Being there at the right time
Cheaper than a dime
Wah-wah, you've given me your wah-wah, wah-wah

Oh, you don't see me crying
Oh, you don't hear me sighing

Wah-wah
I don't need no wah-wah
And I know how sweet life can be
If I keep myself free
Wah-wah, I don't need no wah-wah

Oh, you don't see me crying
Hey baby, you don't hear me sighing
Oh no no no no

Wah-wah
Now I don't need no wah-wah
And I know how sweet life can be
If I keep myself free of wah-wah
I don't need no wah-wah

Wah-wah
Wah-wah
Wah-wah
Wah-wah



4. God - John (recorded Sep to Oct 1970, released Dec 1970)
Wikipedia entry
In the second section of the song, Lennon lists many idols that he does not believe in (including The Beatles), ending by stating that he just believes in himself. Other idols he listed included magic, I Ching, the Bible, tarot, Hitler, Jesus, Kennedy, Buddha, mantra, Gita, yoga, kings, Elvis, and Zimmerman (Bob Dylan). The final section of the song describes Lennon's change since the breakup of The Beatles. He states that he is no longer the "Dreamweaver" or "The Walrus," but just "John." The final line of the song, "The dream is over," represents Lennon's stance that the myth of The Beatles had come to an end.

Written by John

God is a concept
By which we measure our pain
I'll say it again

God is a concept
By which we measure our pain
Yeah, pain, yeah

I don't believe in magic
I don't believe in I Ching
I don't believe in Bible
I don't believe in tarot
I don't believe in Hitler
I don't believe in Jesus
I don't believe in Kennedy
I don't believe in Buddha
I don't believe in mantra
I don't believe in Gita
I don't believe in yoga
I don't believe in kings
I don't believe in Elvis
I don't believe in Zimmerman
I don't believe in Beatles
I just believe in me
Yoko and me
And that's reality

The dream is over
What can I say?
The dream is over
Yesterday

I was the dreamweaver
But now I'm reborn
I was the walrus
But now I'm John
And so dear friends
You'll just have to carry on
The dream is over



5. Early 1970 - Ringo (recorded Mar 1970, released Apr 1971)
Wikipedia mention
He also participated in The Concert For Bangladesh organized by Harrison in 1971, as well as drumming on Harrison's All Things Must Pass and Living in the Material World, Lennon's John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, and Yoko Ono's early solo work. Indeed, his song "Early 1970" (the B-side of "It Don't Come Easy") voiced a hope that he could remain friendly and play music with all three of his former Beatles band mates.

Written by Ringo

Lives on a farm, got plenty of charm, beep beep
He's got no cows but he's sure got a whole lotta sheep
A brand new wife and a family
And when he comes to town
I wonder if he'll play with me

Laying in bed, watching TV, "Cookies!"
With his mama by his side, she's Japanese
They screamed and they cried, now they're free
And when he comes to town
I know he's gonna play with me

He's a long-haired, cross-legged guitar picker, mm-mm
With his long-legged lady in the garden picking daisies for his soup
A forty acre house he doesn't see
'Cause he's always in town
Playing for you with me

I play guitar, A - D - E
I don't play bass 'cause that's too hard for me
I play the piano if it's in C
And when I go to town, I wanna see all three
And when I go to town, I wanna see all three
And when I go to town, I wanna see all three



6. Too Many People - Paul (recorded Nov 1970 to early 1971, released May 1971)
Wikipedia entry
It was dedicated to John Lennon a former member of The Beatles. The song is one of several instances of "musical sniping" among the four Beatles after the band broke up. Others include McCartney's "3 Legs," Lennon's "How Do You Sleep?," and George Harrison's "Wah-wah." The song's lyric has something to do with Lennon's lucky break.

Written by Paul

Too many people going underground
Too many reaching for a piece of cake
Too many people pulled and pushed around
Too many waiting for that lucky break

That was your first mistake
You took your lucky break and broke it in two
Now what can be done for you?
You broke it in two

Too many people sharing party lines
Too many people never sleeping late
Too many people paying parking fines
Too many hundred people losing weight

That was your first mistake
You took your lucky break and broke it in two
Now what can be done for you?
You broke it in two

Too many people preaching practices
Don't let 'em tell you what you wanna be
Too many people holding back
This is crazy, and baby, it's not like me

That was your last mistake
I find my love awake and waiting to be
Now what can be done for you?
She's waiting for me



7. 3 Legs - Paul (recorded Nov 1970 to early 1971, released May 1971)
Wikipedia mention
Still smarting from the demise of The Beatles, he included a few subtle jibes directed at his former collaborator, specifically in "Too Many People". The back cover art includes a picture of one beetle riding the back of another beetle and apparently copulating. This was interpreted as a commentary on the state of affairs between the ex-Beatles at that time. "Three Legs" was also seen as being a jibe at the other Beatles.

Written by Paul

Well, when I walk, when I walk
Walk my horse upon the hill
Well, when I walk, walk, walk, walk
Walk my horse upon the hill
When I lay me down
Will my lover love me still?

A dog is here
A dog is there
My dog he got three legs
But he can't run

Well, when I thought, when I thought
When I thought you was my friend
When I thought, when I thought
When I thought you was my friend
But you let me down, hoo
Put my heart around the bend

A fly flies in
A fly flies out
Most flies they got three legs
But mine got one

Well, when I fly, when I fly, when I fly
When I fly above the clouds
Oh, when I fly, when I fly, when I fly
When I fly above the clouds
You can knock me down, with a feather, yes, you could
But you know it's not allowed

A dog is here
A dog is there
My dog he got three legs
But he can't run

My dog he got three legs, your dog he got none
My dog he got three legs, your dog he got none
My dog he got three legs, your dog he got none

8. How Do You Sleep? - John (recorded Jun to Jul 1971, released Oct 1971)
Wikipedia entry
The overwhelming impression of the song, however, is an attack on McCartney, such as in the lines "The only thing you done was yesterday/And since you've gone you're just another day." Considering the puns involved, these two lines particularly stand out since it was Paul McCartney who composed the Beatles' song "Yesterday" and also later in his solo career wrote "Another Day". Besides making satirical reference to other McCartney songs, the lyrics also refer to the Paul is dead hoax ("Those freaks was right when they said you was dead").

Written by John

So Sgt. Pepper took you by surprise
You better see right through that mother's eyes
Those freaks was right when they said you was dead
The one mistake you made was in your head

Oh, how do you sleep?
Oh, how do you sleep at night?

You live with straights who tell you you was king
Jump when your mama tell you anything
The only thing you done was yesterday
And since you're gone you're just another day

Oh, how do you sleep?
Oh, how do you sleep at night?

Oh, how do you sleep?
Oh, how do you sleep at night?

A pretty face may last a year or two
But pretty soon they'll see what you can do
The sound you make is Muzak to my ears
You must have learned something in all those years

Oh, how do you sleep?
Oh, how do you sleep at night?



9. Sue Me, Sue You Blues - George (George's version recorded in Oct 1972 to Jan 1973, released Jun 1973. Another version was recorded by Jesse Ed Davis & released in 1972)
Wikipedia mention
A wry commentary by Harrison on the court case involving The Beatles' dissolution

Written by George

You serve me and I'll serve you
Swing your partners, all get screwed
Bring your lawyer and I'll bring mine
Get together, we could have a bad time

It's affidavit swearing time
Sign it on the dotted line
Hold your bible in your hand
Now all that's left is to find yourself a new band

We're gonna play the sue me, sue you blues
We're gonna play the sue me, sue you blues

We're gonna play the sue me, sue you blues
Sue me, sue you blues

Hold the block on money flow
Move it into joint escrow
Court receiver, laughs and thrills
But in the end we just pay those lawyers their bills

When you serve me and I'll serve you
Swing your partners, all get screwed
Bring your lawyer and I'll bring mine
Get together, and we could have a bad time

We're gonna play the sue me, sue you blues
Sue me, sue you blues
I'm tired of playing the sue me, sue you blues



10. I'm The Greatest - Ringo (recorded Mar to Jul 1973, released Nov 1973)
Wikipedia entry
At this point after the end of The Beatles as a band, three of them—Starr, Lennon and Harrison—in addition to Voormann and Preston (usually referred to as "Fifth Beatles"), appear on this record. It sounds very much like something off of Let It Be, with its texture, lyrics (using "Billy Shears", Ringo's alias on Sgt. Pepper) and public noises insinuating Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Not surprisingly, when word of that session hit the media, furious Beatles reunion rumours (the first of several) began spreading.

Written by John

When I was a little boy
Way back home in Liverpool
My mama told me I was great

Then when I was a teenager
I knew that I had got something going
All my friends told me I was great

And now I'm a man
A woman took me by the hand
And you know what she told me? I was great

I was in the greatest show on earth
For what it was worth
Now I'm only thirty-two
And all I wanna do is boogaloo

I looked in the mirror
I saw my wife and kids
And you know what they told me? I was great

Yes, my name is Billy Shears
You know it has been for so many years
Now I'm only thirty-two
And all I wanna do is boogaloo

Hey hey hey, hey hey hey-ey
I'm the greatest!
And you better believe it baby!



11. Let Me Roll It - Paul (recorded Sep to Oct 1973, released Dec 1973)
Wikipedia entry
This song is thought by many listeners to be an imitation of John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band music style, in response to "How Do You Sleep?", Lennon's song aimed at McCartney in retaliation for the songs on Ram, many of which he believed were aimed at him. The main guitar lick is similar to Lennon's single Cold Turkey, with Lennon's lick starting on a more aggressive 2nd beat and McCartney's on the more passive 8th beat of a 4 triplet measure.

"Let Me Roll It" is however perceived as a peacemaking attempt, as it is a rather friendly parody/imitation and the lyrics do not contain any malicious attacks. The war in music and the press between Lennon and McCartney stopped after the song's release. This lends plausibility to the claims saying that Lennon actually liked this spoof on his own style.

Written by Paul & Linda

You gave me something, I understand
You gave me loving in the palm of my hand
I can't tell you how I feel
My heart is like a wheel
Let me roll it
Let me roll it to you
Let me roll it
Let me roll it to you

I want to tell you
And now's the time
I want to tell you that
You're gonna be mine

I can't tell you how I feel
My heart is like a wheel
Let me roll it
Let me roll it to you
Let me roll it
Let me roll it to you

I can't tell you how I feel
My heart is like a wheel
Let me roll it
Let me roll it to you
Let me roll it
Let me roll it to you

You gave me something, I understand
You gave me loving in the palm of my hand
I can't tell you how I feel
My heart is like a wheel
Let me roll it
Let me roll it to you
Let me roll it
Let me roll it to you



12. All Those Years Ago - George (recorded Nov 1980 to Feb 1981, released May 1981)
Wikipedia entry
Harrison originally wrote the song (with different lyrics) for Ringo Starr to record. Although recorded, Starr felt the vocal was too high for his range and he didn't like the words. Harrison took the track back and after Lennon's untimely death the lyrics were changed to reflect a tribute to Harrison's lost friend and colleague. In the song, Harrison makes reference to the Beatles song All You Need is Love and the Lennon song Imagine. The recording of the song featured all three remaining Beatles (Harrison, Starr, and Paul McCartney), though this was expressly a Harrison single.

Written by George

I'm shouting all about love
While they treated you like a dog
When you were the one who had made it so clear
All those years ago

I'm talking all about how to give
They don't act with much honesty
But you point the way to the truth when you say
All you need is love

Living with good and bad
I always looked up to you
Now we're left cold and sad
By someone, the devil's best friend
Someone who offended all

We're living in a bad dream
They've forgotten all about mankind
And you were the one they backed up to the wall
All those years ago
You were the one who imagined it all
All those years ago

Deep in the darkest night
I send out a prayer to you
Now in the world of light
Where the spirit free of the lies
And all else that we despise

They've forgotten all about God
He's the only reason we exist
Yet you were the one that they said was so weird
All those years ago
You said it all though not many had ears
All those years ago
You had control of our smiles and our tears
All those years ago



13. Here Today - Paul (recorded Feb to summer 1981, released Apr 1982)
Wikipedia mention
McCartney's tribute to John Lennon

Written by Paul

And if I said I really knew you well
What would your answer be
If you were here today
Ooh-ooh-ooh, here today

Well knowing you
You'd probably laugh and say that we were worlds apart
If you were here today
Ooh-ooh-ooh, here today

But as for me
I still remember how it was before
And I am holding back the tears no more
Ooh-ooh-ooh
I love you, ooh

What about the time we met
Well I suppose that you could say that we were playing hard to get
Didn't understand a thing
But we could always sing

What about the night we cried
Because there wasn't any reason left to keep it all inside
Never understood a word
But you were always there with a smile

And if I say I really loved you
And was glad you came along
And you were here today
Ooh-ooh-ooh, for you were in my song
Ooh-ooh-ooh, here today



14. When We Was Fab - George (recorded Jan to Mar 1987, released Nov 1987)
Wikipedia entry
"When We Was Fab" is a song written by George Harrison and Jeff Lynne about the days of Beatlemania, when The Beatles were sometimes referred to as the "Fab Four".

Written by George & Jeff Lynne (of Electric Light Orchestra)

Back then long time ago when grass was green
Woke up in a daze
Arrived like strangers in the night
Fab - long time ago when we was fab
Fab - back when income tax was all we had

Caresses fleeced you in the morning light
Casualties at dawn
And we did it all
Fab - long time ago when we was fab
Fab - you are my world you are my only love

And while you're in this world
The fuzz gonna come and claim you
But you mo' better wise
When the buzz gonna come and take you away
Take you away
Take you away

The microscopes that magnified the tears
Studied warts and all
Still the life flows on and on
Fab - long time ago when we was fab
Fab - but it's all over now baby blue
Fab - long time ago when we was fab
Fab - like this pullover you sent to me

Fab
Gear - and you really got a hold on me
Fab
Gear - long time ago when we was fab



15. The Song We Were Singing - Paul (recorded Feb 1995 to Feb 1997, released May 1997)
Wikipedia mention
The title Flaming Pie (also given to one of the album's songs) is a reference to a humorous story John Lennon told journalists in 1961 on the origin of The Beatles' name when they became newly famous: "I had a vision that a man came unto us on a flaming pie, and he said, 'You are Beatles with an A.' And so we were." The album itself has a definitively Beatles flare to it; "The Song We Were Singing" was written about the Lennon/McCartney writing team.

Written by Paul

For a while, we could sit, smoke a pipe
And discuss all the vast intricacies of life
We could jaw through the night
Talk about a range of subjects, anything you like
Oh yeah

But we always came back to the song we were singing
At any particular time
Yeah we always came back to the song we were singing
At any particular time

Take a sip, see the world through a glass
And speculate about the cosmic solution
To the sound, blue guitars
Caught up in a philosophical discussion
Oh yeah

But we always came back to the song we were singing
At any particular time
Yeah we always came back to the song we were singing
At any particular time

For a while, we could sit, smoke a pipe
And discuss all the vast intricacies of life
Yeah, we could jaw through the night
Talk about a range of subjects, anything you like

But we always came back to the song we were singing
At any particular time
Yeah we always came back to the song we were singing
At any particular time

Yeah, we always came back

Take a sip, see the world through a glass
And speculate about the cosmic solution
To the sound, blue guitars
Caught up in a philosophical discussion
Oh yeah

But we always came back to the songs we were singing
At any particular time
Yes we always came back to the songs we were singing
At any particular time
Yeah

We always came back to the songs we were singing



16. Liverpool 8 - Ringo (recorded 2006-2007, released Dec 2007)
Wikipedia entry
It is an autobiography of Starr put to song, with emphasis on his time with The Beatles. The title refers to the postal district of the Toxteth area of Liverpool, England in which Starr was born.

Written by Ringo & Dave Stewart (of The Eurythmics)

I was a sailor first, I sailed the sea
Then I got a job, in a factory
Played Butlin's Camp with my friend Rory
It was good for him, it was great for me

Livepool I left you, said goodbye to Madryn Street
I always followed my heart, and I never missed a beat
Destiny was calling, I just couldn't stick around
Liverpool I left you, but I never let you down

Went to Hamburg, the red lights were on
With George & Paul, and my friend John
We rocked all night, we all looked tough
We didn't have much, but we had enough

Livepool I left you, said goodbye to Madryn Street
I always followed my heart, and I never missed a beat
Destiny was calling, I just couldn't stick around
Liverpool I left you, but I never let you down

In the USA, when we played Shea
We were number one, and it was fun
When I look back, it sure was cool
For those four boys from Liverpool

Livepool I left you, said goodbye to Admiral Grove
I always followed my heart, so I took it on the road
Destiny was calling, I just couldn't stick around
Liverpool I left you, but I never let you down

La la la la la la
La la la la la la la la Liverpool!
Liverpool!

Less Than 2

While working on the Beatlesque playlists (of which there are more to come--woo-hoo!), I noticed that a few of these Beatlesque songs were less than 2 mins long (e.g., Queen's "Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon", Sam Phillips's "Love And Kisses", Spinal Tap's "Cups And Cakes", & several Rutles songs). This got me interested in doing a playlist that contained only pop songs that were less than 2 mins long.

Music History Lesson #37A: In the 50s & early 60s, most pop songs were less than 3 mins long--indeed, many were less than 2 mins long (see The Everly Brothers, Sam Cooke, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly, Ray Charles, etc.).

(Music History Lesson #37B: Nowadays, the term "pop" seems to refer only to songs that are light, catchy & short [3-4 mins]--& of no real depth or importance. But initially the term "pop" was just a shortened version of the word "popular"--i.e., "pop" songs were simply & all songs that the kids dug. Starting in the 50s, these songs were usually rock [and its now-estranged partner "roll"] but these songs were also R&B, soul, or even country [and its now-estranged pardner "western"]--as long as they weren't those other, unpopular genres of music: classical, gospel, & sea chantey.)

Music History Lesson #37A (cont'd.): In the mid-60s, pop songs became generally longer than 3 mins--indeed, toward the end of the 60s, many pop songs were over 5 mins long (see The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Temptations, every single prog-rock band, etc.).

In this day of decreasing attention spans & faster-paced media, it's interesting that a popular media staple would become longer. In my opinion, The Beatles were perhaps the biggest impetus behind this change (one of the biggest hits of all-time, "Hey Jude", clocked in over 7 mins).

Along with ushering in the mind-expanding, psychedelic 60s, the Beatles pioneered & changed everything about pop music--incl longer & longer songs, songs which faded out & faded back in ("Strawberry Fields Forever") and songs which didn't end til you picked up the phonograph needle from the LP ("Sgt. Pepper's" inner groove).

Even though The Beatles helped to create longer & longer pop songs, they also continued to create songs less than 2 mins long--but after the mid-60s, these Beatle songs were usu 1) partly-formed toss-offs, or 2) parts of a medley (& both were basically Paul's thing, which he continued through his solo career).

My friend Steve Scholz adds that the spawning of longer & longer pop songs was helped by (if not completely due to) the proliferation of FM radio in the 60s & the subsequent creation & rise of the AOR (Album Oriented Rock) radio format. But who the F cares what he thinks?

(Joke! Hi Steve!)

The point of all this is: Nowadays, pop songs shorter than 3 mins are very rare, starting from about 1963 (which is when The Beatles hit the charts)--& pop songs shorter than 2 mins are even rarer.

Below is the list of songs that I'll be playing on my radio show on KRUU on Thur Apr 10th from 9 to 11 PM Central. All songs are less than 2 mins long, & they were all recorded in or after 1963. In fact, these 78 songs can fit onto 1 CD, so the average length of these songs is just over 1 min.

The links below are to the songs in iTunes, unless notated with an asterisk.

* = Amazon.com (not available in iTunes)

1. Horn Intro - Modest Mouse
2. Theme From Flood - They Might Be Giants (TMBG)
3. Our Prayer - The Beach Boys
4. I'll Cry Instead - The Beatles *
5. Hello There - Cheap Trick
6. Judy Is A Punk - The Ramones
7. Little Honda - The Beach Boys
8. Wild Honey Pie - The Beatles *
9. Spines - TMBG
10. Single Pidgeon - Paul McCartney & Wings
11. Places - Fountains Of Wayne
12. It's Only Love - The Beatles *
13. Nine To Five - The Kinks
14. I Will - The Beatles *
15. Here Come The ABCs - TMBG
16. Who Is It? - Talking Heads
17. Shut Down - The Beach Boys
18. Koka Kola - The Clash
19. Cretin Hop - The Ramones
20. Why Don't We Do It In The Road? - The Beatles *
21. Minimum Wage - TMBG
22. Family Of Me - Ben Folds *
23. Through With Buzz - Steely Dan
24. Yours And Mine - Fountains Of Wayne
25. Hold On - John Lennon
26. Old Master Painter/You Are My Sunshine - The Beach Boys
27. Love And Kisses - Sam Phillips
28. Mean Mr. Mustard - The Beatles *
29. Polythene Pam - The Beatles *
30. She Came In Through The Bathroom Window - The Beatles *
31. Did You See His Name? - The Kinks *
32. Feelin' - The La's
33. Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue - The Ramones
34. Dance, Dance, Dance - The Beach Boys
35. Backwards Traveller - Paul McCartney & Wings
36. I'm Happy Just To Dance With You - The Beatles *
37. Here Come The 123s - TMBG
38. Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon - Queen
39. I'll Follow The Sun - The Beatles *
40. Spine - TMBG
41. The Lovely Linda - Paul McCartney
42. Be What You See (Link) - Paul McCartney
43. The Moneygoround - The Kinks *
44. Dallas - TMBG
45. Don't Back Down - The Beach Boys
46. Junk - Paul McCartney
47. Till The Morning Comes - Neil Young
48. We're Open Tonight - Paul McCartney & Wings
49. Cripple Creek Ferry - Neil Young
50. Cigarette - Ben Folds Five
51. Another Man's Done Gone - Wilco & Billy Bragg
52. Golden Slumbers - The Beatles *
53. Carry That Weight - The Beatles *
54. Her Majesty - The Beatles *
55. Dig It - The Beatles *
56. Catching On Fire - TMBG ^
57. Fingertips (Banjo) - TMBG ^
58. I Hear The Wind Blow - TMBG ^
59. Hey Now Everybody - TMBG ^
60. Who Is That Standing At My Window - TMBG ^
61. I Found A New Friend - TMBG ^
62. Wreck My Car - TMBG ^
63. Aren't You The Guy? - TMBG ^
64. Please Pass The Milk - TMBG ^
65. Leave Me Alone - TMBG ^
66. Who's Knocking On The Wall? - TMBG ^
67. All Alone By Myself - TMBG ^
68. What's That Blue Thing Doing Here? - TMBG ^
69. Something Grabbed A Hold Of My Hand - TMBG ^
70. I Don't Understand You - TMBG ^
71. I Heard A Sound - TMBG ^
72. Mysterious Whisper - TMBG ^
73. The Day That Love Came To Play - TMBG ^
74. I'm Having A Heart Attack - TMBG ^
75. Fingertips (Reprise) - TMBG ^
76. I Walk Along Darkened Corridors - TMBG ^
77. My Mummy's Dead - John Lennon
78. Maggie Mae - The Beatles *

^ = Songs 56 thru 76 are from the They Might Be Giants 1992 release "Apollo 18", in the order that they appear on the album. On the album, this medley is called "Fingertips", & these songs were intended to take advantage of the then-new feature of "Random Play" on CD players.

The album "Apollo 18" is available in iTunes, but as of today, the iTunes listings of the songs "Fingertips 1: Everything Is Catching On Fire" and "Fingertips 2: Fingertips" have the incorrect song samples & incorrect times.