In my ear (February) – E Wayne Ross

Meant to write this at the end of February, but…

Acquired in February:
John Mellencamp Freedom’s Road
John Hammond Push Comes to Shove
Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush Real Live!
Ali Farke Toure Savane

Heavy rotation for February:
Keene Brothers Blues and Boogie Shoes
Sloan Never Hear the End of It
Perry’s Picks for 2006
Robert Pollard Normal Happiness
John Mellencamp Freedom’s Road
John Hammond Push Comes to Shove
The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society
Ali Farke Toure Savane
Bobby Rush Folk Funk

Perry pretty much set the parameters for my listening in February as I was hooked on his “Perry’s Picks for 2006”, particularly the tracks from Jerry Lee Lewis album Last Man Standing.

Perry also “pando-ed” me the new albums from Mellencamp and Frank Marino.

The last time I bought a Mellencamp album was the 1980’s (I really liked “The Authority Song”), so I was taken by surprise with the new album, which I really have gotten into—including “This is Our Country” the tune that replaced Bob Seeger’s ubiquitous “Like A Rock” in the Chevy truck commercials.

[Note that Perry has taken his protest about the Mellencamp “selling out” directly to the the man…maybe he’ll post his letter here on Where the Blog Has No Name for everyone to read).

I did not hold much hope at all for the Chevy truck song, but it’s actually pretty darn good, much better than (and sends a different, more inclusive, message what’s implied by) the nationalistic Chevy commercials.

I usually carry some Kinks in my car and I’ve been listening to one of their best lately—The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society. Check out one of my fav Kinks’ tunes below. FYI there are two fantastic Kinks tribute albums I highly recommend, both released in 2001: Give the People What We Want: Songs of the Kinks (on Sub Pop), which includes artists like Young Fresh Fellows, The Minus Five, Baby Gramps, Mudhoney. And, This Is Where I Belong: The Songs of Ray Davies & The Kinks (on Rykodisc), featuring Fountains of Wayne, Matthew Sweet, Yo La Tengo, Ron Sexsmith, Steve Forbert, Jonathan Richman, Cracker (and Ray Davies doing a version of one of the best pop songs ever, “Waterloo Sunset”).

Listen to a bit of “Picture Book” below:

Wayne:

I agree that Mellencamp’s latest effort is his best in years since his classic “Scarecrow.” However, this does not mitigate the fact that the “principled” Mr. Mellencamp has sold out to the corporate interests. Perhaps we can persuade to donate his commercial royalties to a good cause like the Rouge Forum!

I also suggest all to give a listen to Frank Marino, a great guitartist whose critics from the 70’s blamed him for sounding too much like Hendrix. Check him out for a blast from the past to be played at maximum volume!

At the request of the GrandMasterBlogger, Sir Wayne, I am posting the letter that I sent to John Mellencamp about his selling out to General Motors. I encourage all who read this to do the same!

4 November 2006

Mr. John Mellencamp
P.O. Box 6777
Bloominmgton, Indioana 47407-6777

Mr. Mellencamp:

I have been loyal listener of your incredible music for almost 30 years. I first saw you at a small nightclub (the name escapes me) in Bloomington, Indiana, while I was a student at IU. In fact, we briefly met in a record store (yes, before Cd’s) across from campus. You were very kind to engage me in a very friendly chat about music and what you were listening to at that time.

I was then, as I am now, captivated by your music and its message. For me, your music represents an important and vital part of this country’s heartland spirit. I always saw you as a champion of the working class, sensitive to, and a spokesperson for the workers of the world who are trying to make a go of it in an unjust, often violent world.

I am however, very dismayed at your recent decision to use your wonderful music, and your good name, to sell Chevy trucks. In just one Sunday alone, I saw the spot with your music as background, not once, but literally dozens of times. I find the advertisement to be rather shameless and patronizing, using patriotic icons of the heartland to sell this gas guzzling, inefficient, vehicle for Chevy. I can’t begin to imagine the enormous amounts of money you are making from this deal, but I must say, this behavior seems very far removed from what you have done in the past with your much respected music and your political activism such as Farm-Aid.

Given that you, through your music, thought and actions, have always been a champion of the planet, its people and its ecology, I imagine that you must be taking the proceeds from this advertisement and donating them to a charitable effort somewhere in the world, but I have neither heard, nor read nothing of the sort. But even if that were the case, why Chevy trucks? When the world faces global warming, and our air and water continue to be fouled by the internal combustion engine, I am at a loss to see what would ever motivate you (short of the cold, hard cash) to embark on such a campaign. It all seems to fall far short of the character and spirit of your music. So, I am led to ask, why have you done this? I can’t imagine that it’s about the money, or is it? Just how much of a need do you have to make more and more money? How much is enough? And, even if you are donating every penny to charity, I think that you could have found a corporation that is a bit more green and socially responsible. Frankly I am sick to death of your song, and it has not even been released on a CD (though I see iTunes has picked it up). Television and its crass, merciless repetition kills the best songs, even yours.

I’ve taken the time to write this letter because I am a long time admirer and follower of your music, though I must admit, I am not hopeful that you will ever set your eyes upon this letter, let alone write a response. But, I write this on the slim chance that my single voice will encourage you to reconsider this crass capitalist use of your good name and music. As you have said, “you’ve gotta to stand right up for something, or you’re gonna fall…for anything.”

I wish you all the best and I look forward to a tour stop in northern California next year.

Best wishes,

Perry M. Marker, Ph.D (IU, 1985)

2 comments

perrymarker says:

March 21, 2007 at 8:52 am

Wayne:

I agree that Mellencamp’s latest effort is his best in years since his classic “Scarecrow.” However, this does not mitigate the fact that the “principled” Mr. Mellencamp has sold out to the corporate interests. Perhaps we can persuade to donate his commercial royalties to a good cause like the Rouge Forum!

I also suggest all to give a listen to Frank Marino, a great guitartist whose critics from the 70’s blamed him for sounding too much like Hendrix. Check him out for a blast from the past to be played at maximum volume!

At the request of the GrandMasterBlogger, Sir Wayne, I am posting the letter that I sent to John Mellencamp about his selling out to General Motors. I encourage all who read this to do the same!

4 November 2006

Mr. John Mellencamp
P.O. Box 6777
Bloominmgton, Indioana 47407-6777

Mr. Mellencamp:

I have been loyal listener of your incredible music for almost 30 years. I first saw you at a small nightclub (the name escapes me) in Bloomington, Indiana, while I was a student at IU. In fact, we briefly met in a record store (yes, before Cd’s) across from campus. You were very kind to engage me in a very friendly chat about music and what you were listening to at that time.

I was then, as I am now, captivated by your music and its message. For me, your music represents an important and vital part of this country’s heartland spirit. I always saw you as a champion of the working class, sensitive to, and a spokesperson for the workers of the world who are trying to make a go of it in an unjust, often violent world.

I am however, very dismayed at your recent decision to use your wonderful music, and your good name, to sell Chevy trucks. In just one Sunday alone, I saw the spot with your music as background, not once, but literally dozens of times. I find the advertisement to be rather shameless and patronizing, using patriotic icons of the heartland to sell this gas guzzling, inefficient, vehicle for Chevy. I can’t begin to imagine the enormous amounts of money you are making from this deal, but I must say, this behavior seems very far removed from what you have done in the past with your much respected music and your political activism such as Farm-Aid.

Given that you, through your music, thought and actions, have always been a champion of the planet, its people and its ecology, I imagine that you must be taking the proceeds from this advertisement and donating them to a charitable effort somewhere in the world, but I have neither heard, nor read nothing of the sort. But even if that were the case, why Chevy trucks? When the world faces global warming, and our air and water continue to be fouled by the internal combustion engine, I am at a loss to see what would ever motivate you (short of the cold, hard cash) to embark on such a campaign. It all seems to fall far short of the character and spirit of your music. So, I am led to ask, why have you done this? I can’t imagine that it’s about the money, or is it? Just how much of a need do you have to make more and more money? How much is enough? And, even if you are donating every penny to charity, I think that you could have found a corporation that is a bit more green and socially responsible. Frankly I am sick to death of your song, and it has not even been released on a CD (though I see iTunes has picked it up). Television and its crass, merciless repetition kills the best songs, even yours.

I’ve taken the time to write this letter because I am a long time admirer and follower of your music, though I must admit, I am not hopeful that you will ever set your eyes upon this letter, let alone write a response. But, I write this on the slim chance that my single voice will encourage you to reconsider this crass capitalist use of your good name and music. As you have said, “you’ve gotta to stand right up for something, or you’re gonna fall…for anything.”

I wish you all the best and I look forward to a tour stop in northern California next year.

Best wishes,

Perry M. Marker, Ph.D (IU, 1985)
Wayne says:

March 22, 2007 at 7:00 pm

Hey Perry,

Did Mellencamp ever reply?

Is he sending his Silverado blood money to the Rouge Forum?

2 comments

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