The Underground of Happiness

Over the summer, in among the piles of great new music arriving, I became more than slightly obsessed with one song from 1972. It was contained on the great compilation Our lives are shaped by what we love: Motown's Mowest Story 1971-1973 , brought out by the wonderful Light in the Attic label. The song in question is the first track on the album, You're a song (that I can't sing) , by Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons . Unfortunately, I haven't been able to track down a video or full listening link for it, but you will find a 30 second sample on the LITA website here (there's some other top class tunes on it too, from the likes of Odyssey, Sister Love and G.C. Cameron ). http://lightintheattic.net/releases/572-our-lives-are-shaped-by-what-we-love-motown-s-mowest-story-1971-73 As you'll see on that page, the label was the brainchild of Berry Gordy , the Motown boss, an idea to transfer the Detroit operation to the west coast, and launch a west-coast ver...

I've been meaning to put down a few thoughts for quite a while about Van Dyke Parks . He's one of these Zelig-like characters, appearing at many crucial junctures in pop music history. This much I knew. I knew he played keyboards on the title track of The Byrds' 1966 album 5-D (I can hear that sunburst organ on the playout now - actually so can you, here). I knew about his association with Brian Wilson , co-writing several songs with him for the lost Smile album. Including this absolute classic, Heroes and villains . What a great lyric - I'm fit with the stuff To ride in the rough And sunny down snuff I'm alright He was also involved in plenty of other Beach Boys compositions, co-writing with Brian mostly, not always with the approval of the other 'Boys (Mike Love in particular, I think). And I notice he crops up on backing vocals on one of my all-time favourite Beach Boys songs, A day in the life of a tree from Surf's up , 1971. Mmmm. ...

My musical tv highlight of last weekend? No, not the Eurovision (Jedward's somersaults were impressive), but Warpaint on Later with Jools Holland . I must say I wasn't fully convinced by their debut album on this side of the world, The fool , which came out last year. It certainly had some great moments, of which Elephants was one of the best. I haven't seen the band live though and they look like they could be a different proposition in the flesh. The rhythm section look like they really mean it, for one thing. By the way, Brian Wilson was on the same show. I love the man but I just don't think he should sing in public any more. I find myself slightly on edge watching him, as if he might fall off the stool any minute. Other than that, he and band (same one as played in Cork some years ago, made up of most of The Wondermints I believe) played a stirring version of Good Vibrations . However, the highlight was a shot of Warpaint dancing along to it, oblivious to the c...