How The West Was Won: How The Brits Rocked America

[Adam Blake]

I put off watching this because I am overdosed on this kind of thing but this is an excellent documentary. 1963-66 is my favourite period of pop music and this is an absolute treat for anyone of a similar disposition. Also, Jackie DeShannon confirms once again my pet argument that The Beatles rescued American pop and rock'n'roll music rather than ruining it (or pillaging it).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0 ... t_Was_Won/

[Hugh Weldon]

Yes, very familiar ground but very well done nonetheless.

Worth watching for the documentary clip exchange between Graham Nash and Peter Noone alone. Speaks volumes about pop vs rock, hippy vs straight, art vs showbiz, dope vs booze, etc etc

(Though it must be admitted the present day incarnation of Mr Noone is looking a little sprightlier than that of Mr Nash).

[Adam Blake]

And what about Donovan???!!! Scar-eeee....

[Jude]

And what about Donovan???!!! Scar-eeee....

He was wasn't he..? But then he was the mover and shaker behind that whole hippy movement wasn't he? (I think he invented the Beatles and the Stones and Bob Dylan...)

[Adam Blake]

He wrote all their songs and his wife and he wrote all their sonnets...

(Actually, it's a shame about Donovan. He was a sweetie once upon a time. I play with a keyboard player who worked with him for years. It seems that two years living in the desert in Joshua Tree, California drove him round the bend. Perhaps he was chewing too much peyote. Perhaps it's the realisation that he hasn't written a hit song in 44 years. Whatever. I will always be fond of his 60s output.)

[Jude]

Yes he did write some truly excellent songs way back then...

[Rob Hall]

Agreed, but:

"First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is"

I think it's fair to say that his tunes were better than his words.

[Adam Blake]

Oh, I like that one. "Look upon my garden fence, a snail, that's what it is" and "Oh Juanita! Oh Juanita! Oh Juanita! I call your name" offered as a non-sequitur. Works for me

[will vine]

I think it's fair to say that his tunes were better than his words.

!

Googoobarabajagle ! (or similar)

[Rob Hall]

Love is hot! Truth is molten!

[AndyM]

When I were a lad, I heard Edmundo Ros and his Band/Orchestra/Combo do a version of 'There Is A Mountain' on some TV show. Awesome. And the Juanita line suited him particularly well.

[AndyM]

Well, part two of the series is now up on the iPlayer.

Cream onwards (horrid group, Cream, though 'I Feel Free' still tickles). Stadium rock, prog, etc, so the music gets (mostly) worse, the haircuts become unspeakable and the bafflement as to how dumb-ass kids from the Midwest fell for Jethro Tull remains undimmed. But it's all smartly done and the interviews aren't all just the usual suspects.
Ian Anderson looks curiously sprightly, Jack Bruce has become exceedingly raddled, Rick Wakeman still a dick.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0 ... to_Heaven/

[Rob Hall]

After all these years I still can't figure out if my loathing of Ian Anderson is entirely rational, or if it's simple prejudice. I loved the part where he accuses Roxy Music of wearing funny clothes, when there's various shots of him wearing tights, a codpiece(?) and a deerstalker, sometimes simultaneously.

[Adam Blake]

After all these years I still can't figure out if my loathing of Ian Anderson is entirely rational

I did a gig supporting him a couple of years ago. He was obnoxious to the nth degree. The whole area had to be evacuated while he and his band of hired lackeys soundchecked. Never mind that you might have wanted to fetch your wallet from the dressing room. No, big goons in uniforms prevented your access until his eminence had finished. Then, during the performance, he committed one of the ultimate sins of showbusiness: that of making your audience feel stupid for liking you. Having been forced to acknowledge that the audience were only interested in the songs from the period 1968-71 (when he did write some good songs), he would introduce them with such contemptuous little gems as - "this is the worst song I ever wrote, you probably love it."

Your instincts are entirely rational, Rob.

Andy: I am sure you've read Lester Bangs's hilarious trouncing analysis of the question as to why American mid-West kids fell for Jethro Tull, but if it still perplexes you I suggest you revisit it. It's in the "Psychotic Reactions and Carburettor Dung" collection.

[AndyM]

I must have read that, Adam, as it's a favourite book. but have forgotten the JT piece. I'll seek it out.