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What song can you listen to for an hour?
Several years ago a college radio DJ friend started playing Nelson Riddle's instrumental title theme to the television show Route 66 over and over and over again. On the third or fourth repetition the phone line started blinking, and after a few more repeats he answered the phone. The listener said "I was calling to complain, but while I was waiting for you to answer the phone I noticed my foot was tapping, so never mind."
A couple of years later I found The Exotic Trilogy, a CD on which three pillars of Exotica, "Quiet Village," "Taboo" and "Caravan," are repeated in seven cycles of three. I subsequently found a second volume with seven more versions of each song, and discovered that the CDs sprang from an 18-hour live performance given under the KB Zed banner, and tagged as "irritainment."
More recently I've taken to setting my car's CD player on repeat and listening to a single song for an hour's drive. I first did this as a way to learn all the lyrics to Spike Priggen's "Every Broken Heart," and a few months later got stuck on The Rockin' Berries' cover of the Tokens' "The Water is Over My Head." A few other songs have managed to entertain me for the better part of an hour, but not many really stand up to 15 or 20 repetitions.
So the question to you: what song can you listen to on repeat for an hour or longer?
A couple of years later I found The Exotic Trilogy, a CD on which three pillars of Exotica, "Quiet Village," "Taboo" and "Caravan," are repeated in seven cycles of three. I subsequently found a second volume with seven more versions of each song, and discovered that the CDs sprang from an 18-hour live performance given under the KB Zed banner, and tagged as "irritainment."
More recently I've taken to setting my car's CD player on repeat and listening to a single song for an hour's drive. I first did this as a way to learn all the lyrics to Spike Priggen's "Every Broken Heart," and a few months later got stuck on The Rockin' Berries' cover of the Tokens' "The Water is Over My Head." A few other songs have managed to entertain me for the better part of an hour, but not many really stand up to 15 or 20 repetitions.
So the question to you: what song can you listen to on repeat for an hour or longer?
Tags: Exotica, Irritainment, Nelson Riddle
Views: 98
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by steviedal on -
It's most certainly NOT the same song !
Unless RF have done it live , the song on Winnemucca is not the AMC song .
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Permalink Reply by Stephen A. Vinson on -
Man, I hate it when my mistakes are published! No place to hide.
Of course, you are 100% correct. I am really embarrased; neither the lyrics nor the melody are similar, really, although there is a like mood or tone, maybe, and, of course, the similar titles. Both great songs.
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Permalink Reply by declan culliton on -
Western Skyline by RF.... an hours listening is hardly enough! Musically and lyrically remains, in my opinion, to be their masterpiece. Despite an incredible output since Wiinemucca it's still to be surpassed.
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Permalink Reply by declan culliton on
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Yes. Great stuff. The Raymond Carver of his generation.
Willamette from Post To Wire is up there with Western Skyline.
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Permalink Reply by steviedal on
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I went a reading in Glasgow a few years back (Northline) and Willy read for a while and then got out the acoustic and (along with the pedal steel player) treated us to a few songs as well , i vowed there and then that i'd buy everything he puts out , brilliant . And one of life's good guys as well , which always helps !
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Permalink Reply by declan culliton on
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Did a similar show with Paul Brainard on steel here in Dublin a few years back. Also played here earlier this year with him on acoustic and Dan Eccles on electric guitar.. really outstanding. As you say, one really nice bloke at the top of his game. Great career as a novelist ahead of him based on 'Lean on Pete' which has been attracting excellent high profile reviews.
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Permalink Reply by steviedal on
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I like 'Lean On Pete' but his best so far , for me , is 'Northline' . He has many fine works ahead of him i'm sure , i'd like to try some of his short stories next.
Always on the lookout for new stuff to read so who else you into ? , i like guys like Russell Banks , Richard Yates , David Gates , Daniel Woodrell , that kinda thing .
Can you recommend anyone i may not have tried yet ?
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Permalink Reply by declan culliton on
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Raymond Carver short stories, if you havent already read his work. Really like some of Larry McMurtry, particularly his earlier material. Cormac Mc Carty also. You are probably familiar with them all. For music non fiction Barney Hoskyns a favourite.
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Permalink Reply by steviedal on
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Carver and McCarthy for sure , haven't tried McMurtry though i had a copy of THE LAST PICTURE SHOW in my hands just last Saturday - i bought RAIN GODS by James Lee Burke instead ! Damn ...i bet it's gone by the weekend when i get back in.
Oh and a big yes on Hoskyns , his classic work on Southern Soul " Say It One Time For The Broken-Hearted" is well worth seeking out .
Have you read "Affliction" by Russell Banks or any of David Gates' two novels (Jernigan and Preston Falls) ? My three favourite novels ever . -
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Permalink Reply by Jeff Richter on -
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