what Frank is listening to #64 – ZAGER & EVANS – Self Titled – (RCA) – 1970
![[zag.jpg]](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_n7Fl9SjlnG4/RqDbv8mW_YI/AAAAAAAAAMI/Qh6MabGSM-U/s1600/zag.jpg)
Mention their names and the only thing that normally springs to mind is "In the Year 2525" the magnificent apocalyptic song that hit #1 in 1969 as man was landing on the moon ... and I think that historical event must have had some effect in propelling it to #1. And it was at the top spot for 6 weeks! That is a long time in the US given their market is so big … the hit was so big, Zager & Evans were compared to the Beatles at the time.
But, I assume like the track because, apparently, as a toddler I watched the moon landing with my father. So, we could have been grooving to "In the Year 2525"? Who knows. In any event it is a incredibly catchy song.
After that big bang Zager & Evans never charted again … but … for that song alone they should be remembered. That song is not on this album.
Thud.
I have the "In the Year 2525" single and the album, and the album isn't great but it is interesting. This album is generally regarded as being worse than that first album. In fact this LP is that lowly regarded it is barely reviewed … but there was a lot of other crap coming out at the same time that's lauded (though unintentionally funny nowdays) so why should this be bagged mercilessly?
Zager & Evans were a folk rock duo who had roots in various frat/garage bands and were vaguely Beatnik (Evans has a goatee … a pop cultural giveaway).This follow up album has them trying to capitalise on the "spacey" themes of "In the Year 2525". Evans wrote all the tracks and sings – so I assume Zager does the guitar (he is a guitarist) and backing vocals (though Mark Dalton and Dave Trupp were also part of "Zager & Evans").
So what do we have:
- Pop with a lot of brass thrown in;
- Groovy artwork;
- Droll (read "alienated") vocals;
- sped up bits / slowed down bits;
- sound collages / vocal snippets;
- indispersed spacey sounds, sound effects, and tricked up instruments;
- "relevant" trippy song titles: "During REM", "The Plastic Park", "Mister Turnkey", "Crutches";
- social commentary;
- "head" lyrics – for example: the lyrics for "the Candy Machine" (this is dying for a cover and I know some of you may contemplate it – you guys know who I am talking to)
Once in a dream
I was a candy machine
and all of my friends
I covered with chocolate ice cream
and jelly beans
When I awoke
Nobody spoke
Everyone was frozen
I took them upstairs
and put them in my Frigidaire
along with the dreams
and things I keep in my Tupperware
then I went back downstairs
thinking of when
I thaw out my friends
I decided never
Now that I'm old
and covered with mould
I'm thinking of things
like frozen friends and jelly beans
and the candy machine
la da da da
da da da da dah dah dah
Aren't you glad you're not my friend
Fucken oath!
Lyrically, they where attacked at the time for being too square with a tendency to moralise and preach (the end of "In the Year 2525 " is at the hand of God). I must admit there are some totally sappy moments on this record but I assume they are just aiming for the middle ground (they were from Nebraska and in their late 20s so maybe it came naturally). So, intentionally I assume, they come across like Bing Crosby meets folk music on acid (later Bing not early jazz Bing) or "Blood Sweat and Tears" if recorded by Henry Mancini … but its all part of the fun … some people think the record is strictly MOR but I think that they were trying to be "out there" and tried so hard they actually got there … there is some weird shit going on … though not always weird "good".
Best Tracks:
- "In My House" – sounds like a Blood Sweat and Tears song – white funk – lyrically I think its about eating people or something …
- "The Candy Machine" – the best song ever about "being" a candy machine … can you think of a better one?
- "Mister Turnkey" – which rock critic Dave Marsh once listed this as one of the creepiest singles ever. It certainly is "out there". The songs narrator is in jail after raping a woman and is addressing the jail guard (" Mr turn key" … get it?). At the end we learn that he has crucified himself to the cell wall with a nail through his wrist and is hanging there remorseful and near death … and this is sung as an up-tempo ballad. This was the follow up single to "In the Year 2525" – it failed to chart. Thud.
The biggest problem is nothing is particularly catchy – if there was a tune in there this would be a cult classic. No, I take that back … fuck all you disbelievers … it's growing on me … this is ripe for re-discovery.
Better to be twisted than safe and boring.
Put this on at a party and create controversy and maybe have a few beer bottles pegged at you.
I'm keeping it as a companion piece for the other album … and I may put it on if any of you come over …b e afraid, be very, very, afraid …
Sounds:
"Mr Turnkey"
attached
"The Candy Machine"
attached
The big hit "In the Year 2525"
The Italian release – "In the Year 2033" (I assume it works better in Italian than 2525!)
more info:
(originally posted: 19/07/2009)
