June 7th – Don’t you find that in the most unexpected places
a gem often lurks?
In past rock bands I've known of and done covers of some of Alice Cooper’s back catalogue. Never been much of fan, but was aware of his influence from the time when Frank Zappa, on walking past the theatre where Mr. Cooper was performing saw the audience leaving with the show only a half-hour in with the words
In past rock bands I've known of and done covers of some of Alice Cooper’s back catalogue. Never been much of fan, but was aware of his influence from the time when Frank Zappa, on walking past the theatre where Mr. Cooper was performing saw the audience leaving with the show only a half-hour in with the words
“That’s gross!”
forming most of their critique.
‘Gotta go see this!’
He said.
He did, got on their case, promoted
them and the rest is herstory all leading to the present state of affairs; a
snake-loving mascara-ed golfing fanatic who does occasional rock concerts.
Desert Island Discs has cropped up
here before (and yes, I will list mine at some point) and it’s still required
listening for me if I'm in the car of a Sunday morning. Sometimes bad
(mathematicians, nuclear scientists, top surgeons) sometimes good (risqué
actors, high-class madams, 60’s photographers) one of the guests, our friend
Mr. Cooper proved to have, against my jaundiced expectations, an interesting
back-story and a level of musical nous that was refreshingly honest…and he was
the guy who first drew my attention to Jane’s Addiction, one of whom, Dave
Navarro, was born on this day in 1967.
There’s a truncated version of the DID
remit that I play (I was a lonely child) where I pick my favourite openings of
a track; just the opening, the hook that snatches you up and locks you away for
the duration of the recording. When Mr. Cooper was on DID he named a Jane’s
Addiction track, Been Caught Stealin’
as one of his eight, citing the fact that it stopped him driving when he first
heard it. I listened to the snippet and thought;
‘Want to know a bit more ‘bout these
guys’.
I made enquiries and stumbled on Just Because off their Strays album which immediately entered
my top 20 of the best openings. I've listed them below in no particular order,
not because you’ll all agree with my selection but because you won’t. Enjoy.
1) Just Because –
Jane’s Addiction – If you play this and don’t know why I chose it you’re in
the wrong arena.
2) Sin City
3) One Night Stand
– The Aloof – Filmic in the extreme, the vast air of the opening soon
segues into a real palette of sound and vision. Just excellent from the get-go.
4) Blackbird –
Alter Bridge – There’s something menacingly restrained about the opening
that keeps you on the edge, as if the horses are about to bolt. When they do,
the vocals and detuned guitar keep the carriage rolling…and such a great lead
break for the journey.
5) John Lennon’s
Guitar – Barclay James Harvest – Those swelling, verging on religious
chords give way to a simple chanting playout; very flower-power and
Beatles-esque. Clever lyrics and an excellent true story.
6) Caoineadh Cu Chulainn (Lament) –
Bill Whelan (writer) – Riverdance – This is the one that you can play
at my funeral. You’ll see my soul soar.
7) Hearts Burst
Into Fire – Bullet For My Valentine – Faultless both in promise and
delivery.
8) Say Goodbye to it All – Chris de
Burgh – I know, I know, “What, the ‘Lady in Red’ guy? Are you
serious!?’ Still think it’s an excellent track from start to finish…and I bet
you can’t resist joining in with the harmonies…betcha!
9) Get Your Hands
off My Woman – Darkness – The opening that’s like the first shove you get
as you begin your tin-tray ride down the ski slope, and its not often you find
the word ‘Motherfucker’ in a song by whitey.
10) Puttin’’ On The
Ritz – Fred Astaire – Such a great dance tune opening; even if you can’t
you want to.
11) American Idiot
– Green Day – I rest my case.
12) Money to Burn –
Gun – Great restraint and tension sliding into a quality piece of song
writing.
13) Late Night
Walks – Just Like Pictures – Such an excellent build full of clever tricks
and delivered promises.
14) Dead Cell –
Papa Roach – An opening that tells no lies, leaves no promise unfulfilled;
you know exactly what you’re going to get.
15) The Lark
Ascending – Ralph Vaughan Williams – No room for manoeuvre, it just picks
you up and takes you away from the first note.
16) I Wanna Go
Where the People Go – The Wildhearts – Got it all, and the machine-gun
entry into the first verse is epic.
17) God Only Knows
– Beachboys – 1966 f’r Chrissakes! Clever, clever teaser to an unexpected,
multi-layered closing section.
18) Speed of Light
- Joe Satriani - Just makes me want to pick up a set of sticks and play.
19) Our Kate/The
Welcome Home - Kathryn Tickell - A
looking-glass opening through which the listener's landscape of childhood, love
and loss is laid out all leading to the happy days when you could skip and not
fall.
20) Puttin' on the Ritz - Fred Astaire - If you don't want to
dance by the second bar you're probably dead.
Now, go find your own.
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