In The Past: Garage Rock Podcast Weldon Hunter & Erik Komarnicki

At In The Past,  we always take things to the next level - some people are still satisfied with "Name That Tune," but we've invented "Name That Vid!" In this episode, your hosts read the Wikipedia descriptos of notable music videos, and  try to guess which tune it belongs to. If you grew up in the MTV/Much Music Generation, then you better think quick! As always, the boys use the premise to astutely analyze the past as we ponder the future...

We've weathered several recessions and a pandemic, but there's an ever-present threat of ... Green Fuz. It all started back in 1968, when The Green Fuz had everything go wrong at the Crossroads Cafe in Bridgeport, Texas, and there's been several sightings of the escaped mold spores ever since. The original is primo primitive, a legendary tune amongst the garage gang - just ask your local weirdo with a Prince Valiant haircut. But why is there a Max Roach solo in there? We of course discuss the version by The Cramps, and we throw in a spaghetti western adaptation by The Lemonheads, plus there's a Farsi-language version by Habibi! You better run!!

The latter phrase comes early on in our discussion about band names - the good, the bad, and the shitty shitty! This is Part 2 of "Shitty Shitty Band Names!" - a popular new series that we're assured has created a lot of discussion around the family dinner table, and caused overturned tables at the local boozer. In this edition we talk about short names, long names, but we're going to save fat ones and skinny ones for a later episode!

If you have a dog, you have to understand your responsibilty - "Walking the Dog" isn't as simple as you might think. Therefore, we start with Rufus Thomasand his instructional record of the same name from 1963. Is it a goofy great? It's definitely great, because a million bands have covered it. The Rolling Stones took the dog out in 1964 and Brian Jones sounds appropriately woofy. The amazing Jackie Shane walked the dog her way when back in Nashville, which also gives us a chance to talk about Noble Blackwell and the amazing Night Train variety show, where she performed the song live. The Sonics went out with Rover in '65 and they seem to have strutted off to sniff some chip bags or sumthin'. You know it's good - uh huh huh. In '66, Duluth's finest musical product ... The Yes It Is made a surfy/rockabilly/Mexican version of the tune. It's off leash!!! Finally, in the 70s, Aerosmith created a weird hybrid version which make us go "Ruh Roh!" like Scooby! What's your 12?

This week we pick a Canuck classic that's two songs in one - "No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature" by The Guess Who. The lyrics are faux-profound, but Burton Cummings' pipes and scattin' will spike your blood sugar. We scoured the record bins for our second version - a dirtbag bubblegum version by Steel Wool. They bring the song back to perfect popsong length by axing "New Mother Nature", but the guitar stings might be too long. The third in the pack definitely isn't sugar-free - The Shirelles and their 1971 version is "so sweet" and superfunky. For dessert, an Italian confection by the amazing Mia Martini. She gives BC a run for his money, sounding like a vampire fronting Led Zeppelin - a real Saskatoon-to-Sicily transformation! She's gettin' us all!!!

It's time to revisit The Kinks Kanon and do "All Day & All of the Night." Have you ever noticed how weird the title is? Probably not, because of the Riff! It's dirty and has that "Louie Louie" fairy dust which produces misty brain fog where you can't remember how many duh duhs are in it.  And Ray Davies savors syllables - apeman poet! The song travelled across the puddle and New York's Knickerbockers were one of the first to kover it. Their version adds sax and has a great sproing-y solo, but it's no slam dunk. The third kulprits are Kenny & the Kasuals from Dallas - they add a kool organ, a RAW vocal performance, & a loosy goosy guitar solo. The final Kountdown goes to The Remains, who leave us with a very rockin', snotty version. Oh kome on! (and send Weldon to Bulgaria!!)