I got this from the US recently for $3 (+ $14 postage – sigh – can someone invent a cheaper form of sending parcels from A to B?).
I've had their first album since the 1980s and that's a cracker of a surf album so The Astronauts were not unfamiliar to me though I wasn't quite aware of their extensive discography.
The Astronauts were that strange "spit in the face" for anyone who wants to elevate music to "art" because they were a "working" band.
working = it's a job … weddings, parties, anything.
They were formed in Colorado in 1961 (though some of them had been playing together since as early as 1956) and played surf music (seriously – many surf bands came from the mid-west) and rock 'n' roll. They were nurtured in the frat rock scene, and endless gigs playing hits of the day no doubt gave them their skills as musicians. But, they were not a "covers band" as they wrote originals and more importantly, injected some originality into their interpretation of the covers they chose. Difficult types may disagree but if doing other peoples songs was the only criteria for being a "covers" act then 90% of all jazz acts are covers acts. And people like Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison are nominal covers acts as both recorded far more "covers" than originals. The key words here are "interpretation" and "originality".
As long as there is some thought and originality put into your "covers" I have no problems with that (yes it sounds like a contradiction but it's not). There is nothing more dire than a straight, note for note, uninspired cover.
Putting my agenda aside The Astronauts wrote originals, albeit in the style of music they were attempting to mimic, and they were well competent. Originals though, don't pay the bills so their repertoire leaned heavily on "cover versions". Before I get frowns I should say in their defence that they were not much different to the early Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Animals whose albums leaned heavily on "covers". The difference of course being that The Astronauts never really transcended that despite writing some great originals.
This is their third album in a year (they did about nine in four years) … did I mention they were a working band? If nothing else the Astronauts show they can think outside the box and adapt their sound to any new trends. Of course they had to if they wanted to keep working and keep the kids dancing. The beauty of The Astronauts is they could adapt to new trends while still injecting their own personality on the music. So from album to album (from what I have heard) you would get a touch of merseybeat, a splash of soul, some folk rock, a large dose of surf or drag music but all was balanced out by their straight ahead Chuck Berry like rock 'n' roll, updated rock-a-billy, white R&B and frat rock instrumentals.
This album is awash, not unsurprisingly given it's 1965, with Beatles, merseybeat and black soul influences. .. though there is the aforementioned rock 'n' roll also. No sign of the surf though, which is a pity, as that is where they excelled.
Tracks (best in italics)
- Ain't That Just Like Me – Carroll , Guy – starts off with a piss take vocal introduction of Elvis (or maybe Brando) before moving into a nifty mid tempo rocker with a hint of the Beatles, though with some un-Beatle–like guitar.
- Mary Lou – Ling, Jessie – an old slow R&B type song which has been given the English "beat" ... The Hollies had done a version a year earlier so maybe they were inspired by that but The Astronauts would have known the song anyway as it was popular in the 50s being covered by Sonny Burgess, Ronnie Hawkins, Buddy Knox and others. Steve Miller, Bob Seger and Gene Clark all later covered it …
- I Still Remember – Fifield – an original … and it could have been written in England … and as good as most of the Beat genre
- I'll Stay With You – Fifield – another original and a touch of Gary Lewis in here …
- Baby What You Want Me to Do – Reed – the old Jimmy Reed blues song – done a bit to slow and laid back for me.
- Twist & Shout -Medley, Russell – influenced by the Beatles version of the old Isley Brothers song though toned down and not as good a version. Still it's a good song, even if it has been done to death.
- Unchain My Heart – Richard – the Ray Charles hit from 1961. Bouncy and transformed into a pop song from the Charles R&B song.
- Crawfish Song – Trad –
- Brown Eyed Handsome Man – Berry – the magnificent Chuck Berry song … slowed down and given the Merseybeat stroll.
- Sweet Sweet Child – Fifiled –
- Reelin' & Rockin' – Berry – another Chuck Berry with all the innuendo included
Well I looked at my watch, it was 10:28
I gotta get my kicks before it get too late
And we reeled, reelin' and rockin'
We was reelin' and a rockin'
Rollin' till the break of dawn
I gotta get my kicks before it get too late
And we reeled, reelin' and rockin'
We was reelin' and a rockin'
Rollin' till the break of dawn
Well I looked at my watch, it was 10:29
I had to hold her hand, she was still holding mine
As we reeled, reelin' and a rockin'
We was reelin' and a rockin'
Rollin' till the break of dawn
I had to hold her hand, she was still holding mine
As we reeled, reelin' and a rockin'
We was reelin' and a rockin'
Rollin' till the break of dawn
Well I looked at my watch and to my surprise
I was dancing with a woman that was twice my size
I was reelin', reelin' and rockin'
I was reelin' and a rockin'
Rollin' till the break of dawn
I was dancing with a woman that was twice my size
I was reelin', reelin' and rockin'
I was reelin' and a rockin'
Rollin' till the break of dawn
For the unadulterated profane version check out Chuck's live version from London 1972 (see below).
- I'm A Rolling Stone – Resnick, Young – a gentle Bo Diddley beat
And …
This is a good album …not as great as the couple of others I have but good enough to keep me interested. I'm keeping this.
The Astronauts were never going to have any credibility outside cult circles as their music is too locked into the party rock, frat rock 'n' roll of the early 60s where music is for dancin' not thinkin'.
Music is an emotive thing anyway and dancing is one result of the expression of that emotion.
And you know there is nothing wrong with that … if you want "thinkin" go read a book.
And before someone cries "Bob Dylan" it should be noted that Dylan is just an emotive songwriter, maybe more complex, but to dissect his songs as some sort of philosophical treatise is absurd and ill-conceived.
It should also be pointed that you cant dance to Dylan.
Sounds
I Still Remember
attached
Brown Eyed Handsome Man
attached
Other:
Chuck Berry "Reelin and Rockin" live England 1972 ( tacky ? gaudy ? Maybe, but pure rock n roll – no low fi or shoe gazing here …. you guitarists out there could learn a thing or two here)
(his live version on record is even more lewd)
Bio
The music is for dancing!
Trivia
- In 1966 a young Jello Biafra of Boulder, Colorado encounters his first rock star. Bob Demmon, leader of the surf-garage legends The Astronauts, shows the second grade class his Alaskan malamute dog (Bob's mother worked in the school office).
- The Astronauts were huge in Japan in the 60s and toured there to sell-out crowds.
Picture
(originally posted: 23/05/2010)
