Hello everyone. It's time for a Life On This Planet List. Today we're looking at songs named after famous musicians. Now, some of these musicians may not be 'famous' in the way of say.... Mick Jagger's fame, so I've given you a little background on each entry. I hope you enjoy this - be sure to join me over on Facebook at the Life On This Planet Blog page. Cheers.
The 'Mats - as they are called by their hardcore fans - are notorious for being one of the few bands to have been banned from Saturday Night Live. If you read my blog, then you already know that I am huge fan of the late Alex Chilton. Getting his start in The Box Tops as a teenager, he went on to front one of my favorite bands, Big Star. He passed away in March 2010.
I doubt you need an introduction to either Elvis or U2, but I will say that this is one of the most under-appreciated songs in the U2 canon. Appearing on 1984's The Unforgettable Fire, the drums were taken from another track on the LP, 'A Sort Of Homecoming,' and then slowed down - then Bono improvised a vocal melody and some lyrics. Due to producer Brian Eno's persistence, the track was left as-is, and released as a first take.
Sun Kil Moon is the guise of former Red House Painters' Mark Kozelek. Glenn Tipton is a beautiful track from SKM's debut LP, 2003's Ghosts Of The Great Highway. Give up on who Glenn Tipton is? He's been one of the lead guitarists in Judas Priest since 1974. :)
Brian Eno is one of the most respected producers in the music business. His credentials: original member of Roxy Music, a pioneer in ambient music, has worked/produced David Bowie, U2, Talking Heads, James, etc etc etc. MGMT? You've heard 'Kids' haven't you? Or 'Time To Pretend'? If not, head over to the youtube now. :)
Here's two more names that don't need an introduction. 'Song For Bob Dylan' appeared on Bowie's 1971 LP, Hunky Dory - amazing.
Charles 'Buddy' Holly was only 22 years old when he died in a plane crash along with Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper. On what would've been Holly's 57 birthday - September 7th, 1994 - the relatively-unknown band Weezer released their song 'Buddy Holly' - which of course became a huge hit.
First things first - Heatmiser. This early 90s Portland band featured the late, great singer/songwriter, Elliott Smith, as one of the two lead singers. Antonio Carlos Jobim? Jobim was a Brazilian songwriter / multi-instrumentalist, whose most widely known work is perhaps 'The Girl From Ipanema.' In addition to his large body of work, he recorded a couple of brilliant albums with Frank Sinatra.
Syd Barrett, as you may know, was the original singer of Pink Floyd. In 1968, he left the band due to his inconsistent behavior, as a result of drug use. Regardless, both his early Floyd material and solo work, are both pretty brilliant. Audra? An amazing band from Arizona. :) The track 'Syd Barrett' appears on 2009's Everything Changes. Check it out. :)
Maureen 'Moe' Tucker was the drummer of The Velvet Underground. Moe is known for playing drums from a standing position - keeping a pulsing beat on the kick drum by turning it upright and striking with a mallet. She also sang lead vocals on 'After Hours' - a nice little ditty from the third VU LP. One of the greatest sibling bands, Scotland's The Jesus And Mary Chain, released the song 'Moe Tucker' on their final album, 1998's Munki.
Kraftwerk, the German electronic pioneers, showed some love for Austrian composer Franz Schubert, on their celebrated, 1977 record, Trans-Euro Express.
Kim Deal, as you may know, is the bass player, sometime singer, of Pixies. The Dandy Warhols are from Portland, Oregon, having released eight albums to-date. 'Cool As Kim Deal' appears on 1997's ...Dandy Warhols Come Down.
Everyone knows the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. In 1991, Dutch electronic group L.A. Style released a huge dance single called 'James Brown Is Dead.' I remember hearing this one so much back then at techno clubs. Good times.
She's super freaky! You know who Rick James is, right? He wrote 'Super Freak,' which MC Hammer then turned it into 'U Can't Touch This.' The Lemonheads featured a song called 'Style' on their sixth LP. A few tracks later, the song appears again, re-worked and slowed down in the style of... well, Rick James. AND, take a guess who is on backing vocals? Yep, Mr. James himself.
Nico was a member of The Velvet Underground for just one album, singing lead vocals on only three tracks of their amazing debut record. After leaving the VU, she went on to have a solo career - releasing some outstanding LPs like Desertshore and The Marble Index. She passed away in 1988. The Cult released their tribute on 2001's Beyond Good And Evil.
The Doors frontman gets a name check in the title of this instrumental from Scottish band, Mogwai. 'I'm Jim Morrison, I'm Dead' is the lead-off track on their sixth LP, The Hawk Is Howling.
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