Uncanny

“A stunning collection of new songs for and about the time we live in,” billed the text on the backside of composer Doug Randle’s 1971 LP "Songs For The New Industrial State"

LIGHT IN THE ATTIC does it again. Another killer re-issue of a previously obscure vinyl treasure. Doug Randle's "Songs For The New Industrial State" is set for re-issue sometime in 2009. I'm listening to a stream of the album for the first time as I write this note. "Songs For The New Industrial State" is really growing on me as each track floats by. This album is right up my alley: elaborately arranged harmony vocals joined with strong pop/rock/funk tracks recorded by crack studio musicians.

Canadian Doug Randle is a totally new name to me, but I'm looking forward to getting to know him better over the coming months. LITA's promo blurb hits it on the head: think David Axelrod crossed with the Free Design. It's that good. Randle described this LP as “my bitter and twisted Simon & Garfunkel songs." Some of the lyrics are pretty out there for pop music. "Coloured Plastics" is about exactly that: plastics. Try these lyrics on for size: "Coloured plastics / stronger than steel / why do they always break when I need them?" Oddly inviting when sung in harmony. I will definitely buy "Songs For The New Industrial State" when it's released.

Vocalists include: Tommy Ambrose and Laurie Bower (Billy Van Singers, Mutual Understanding, Laurie Bower Singers)
Musicians include: Moe Koffman, Peter Appleyard, Rob McConnell, and Guido Basso

Track Listing:
Isn't It A Pity
Coloured Plastics
One-way Swimming
Nicolston Dam
Batteries Not Included
Warm in the Sunshine
Martin Of Her Mind
Friend Of Mine
Song For The Middle Ag-ed
Vive La Company
Life Will Be Worth Living

NUT HOUSE PUNKS is a link to a brief description of the interview. Here's a direct link to the interview. I have not had the chance to listen to this all the way through. After listening, post your thoughts in comments.

PRESS TELEGRAM "But [the Beatles] definitely were manufactured in the beginning. People complain that session people played on [the Monkee's] early records. Well, come on! The 'Wrecking Crew,' the batch of L.A. session musicians that played for Phil Spector, they played on just about every hit record from the Beach Boys on down during that era. It's not a meaningful distinction, especially now."

NEXTBOOK "Small wonder that I spent a lot of time at my friend Liz’s. She had four siblings and parents who listened to the Beach Boys and a house so big you could smoke pot even when they were home."

NASHVILLE SCENE

NDSMC OBSERVER 1
NDSMC OBSERVER 2

DAILY EXPRESS "Insiders say rock legends Brian Wilson and Sir Paul McCartney are set to join forces for a surprise performance during the Beach Boys star’s forthcoming London gig."

11/06/08 edit: see comments re date the linked article was originally published.

KHOU "Despite the hardships the attendees had gone through in the last month, everyone at The Beach Boys concert was in good spirits, which is exactly the reason why Moody Gardens decided to throw the benefit."

VINDY According to founding member Danny Hutton, Three Dog Night "always approached songs from a vocal sense and from a harmony sense. We were first produced by Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys. In fact, he called us Redwood. We cut a couple of songs with him and one of them was ‘Darlin’, which the Beach Boys ended up using. They had a hit with it, so we were a vocal trio without a band when we first started.”

Another interview of Three Dog Night's Danny Hutton.

NEWSWEEK "The first therapist I ended up with was the late Dr. Eugene Landy, the psychologist who eventually surrendered his license in California due to a controversial relationship with Beach Boy Brian Wilson. He was not a good man. He put me on so many drugs I didn't know if I was coming or going."--Maureen Mccormick, aka Marcia Brady

RECORDING SUNFLOWER BLOG

SOUTH COAST TODAY "My God, it's hard to say my favorite album. I don't think I could say. I also love The Monkees; they were massive in England. And The Beach Boys. When I done me Beach Boys book, they sent it to Brian Wilson, and he loved it, and he endorsed the book as official. How cool is that?"

As you may know, Badman was the target of "plagiarism" charges from such Beach Boys experts as Lou Shenk (his smile primer on the SMiLE Shop board) and ANDREW G. DOE. Badman gives his side of the story here: EAR CANDY MAG.

BEACH BOYS LYRICS BLOG: the name says it all.

COLLECTORS' CHOICE MUSIC is poised to re-issue two albums by the HOLLYRIDGE STRINGS: Beach Boys Song Book/Play The Beach Boys Song Book Vol. 2. I'm not very familiar with these albums. They appear to be easy listening/bachelor pad versions of Beach Boys classics.

We've been meaning to post links to these blogs but never got around to it before. So, here you go:

DUTCH BEACH BOYS BLOG
WARNAKEYS BEACH BOYS BLOG
BRIAN WILSON IN DEUTSCHLAND 2007 BLOG
LINEAR ZAP MUSIC BLOG
DO YOU LIKE WORMS BLOG
UNBENDING NEVER ENDING TABLETS OF TIME BLOG
BEACH BOYS BOOTS BLOG