177 episodes
In The Past: Garage Rock Podcast Weldon Hunter & Erik Komarnicki
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- Music
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5.0 • 9 Ratings
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The usual format is this: we pick a song from the 1950s or 1960s (genres range from garage, R&B, Girl Groups, Motown and Doo-Wop), and discuss three versions of that song, or sometimes we just play a song we haven’t heard before and react to it. We’ve covered classics like “Little Bit o’ Soul” and “Psychotic Reaction” to rarities like “Jump and Dance” by the Carnaby, and “Ringo I Love You” by Bonnie Jo Mason (aka Cher). Our aim is to discuss what makes these songs interesting, ineffable, or even intolerable. We place special emphasis on the “moments” in these songs where, perhaps, a new interpretation will emerge from. A close look at song structure is also present in our discussions. If that sounds academic, maybe it is a little bit, but we like to keep the analysis in the spirit of the songs we speak of – which means we drink some spirits (for Erik, it’s bourbon, for Weldon, it’s Stambecco) – and that means by the third song, things can get a little wild. Basically, we talk about rock!
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Bad Little Woman
This week, we take on one of the greatest "she done me wrawng" songs of all time - "Bad Little Woman" by The Wheels. We analyze the religious slant of the song written by these Northern Ireland velocity boys - is the singer's woman dating the literal devil?? Wild screams, a sparking organ, a malevolent atmosphere - this must have went over gangbusters at Belfast's Maritime Hotel on a stormy night. The American version of the song was credited to Wheel-a-Ways, and it's a totally different take/bake. It has what the Japanese call kagerou - "heat haze", or what the Great British Baking Show call "rough & ready." Cultural references! We also discuss cool versions by The Shadows of Knight and The U-Men. Who'll win the coveted BDA? The Lord only knows ...
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So Much In Love
Did The Tymes come up with their 1963 hit "So Much In Love" by repurposing the official song of the United States Army? That's Erik's theory, and we talk about it as well as the tune as doo-wop's "swan song" -its gentle and elegaic quality serves also as a goodbye to a more innocent era. Later in the 60s, Cleveland's The Munx did a bombing raid on the song, which belongs firmly in the "music for squares" camp. Luckily, in 1971, The Persuasions performed a pretty, and very masculine acappella version which set things right. In 1982, Was/Not Was's Sweet Pea Atkinson went for a wavey walk with the song before he walked the dinosaur later in the decade. Finally, in the 90s, All-4-One did the horniest version of the song, but kept the doo a woppin'! Wee-ooh-wee-ooh!
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Name That Vid!
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...
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Green Fuz
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!!
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A Series of Sounds You Know Means Good Music
The latter phrase comes early on in our discussion about band names - the good, the bad, and the s****y s****y! This is Part 2 of "S****y S****y 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!
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Walking The Dog
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?
Customer Reviews
Wonderful! BUT RUSH IS CANADA’s biggest rock band, right?!
For everyone who loves 60s music and indie music and just great rock music, and who loves to discover wonderfully quirky covers/interpretations of songs they love, this is your podcast. Our two hosts are both very savvy musically and very knowledgeable about the culture and recording histories of every band they cover — and not Wikipedia-type knowledge either. Episodes are meaty and solid. Genuine stuff and very clever! — However I am listening to the “No Sugar Tonight” episode (thank you as the Guess Who’s version is my third favorite all-time song after “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic”I know you won’t be doing The Police) and “More than this” by Roxy Music (yes I’m a new waver like you gentlemen are garage rockers), and I am screaming at you from across the US/Canada border in the middle of the night that SURELY Rush is Canada’s biggest all-time rock band? Or were you just teasing us? Also loved your episode on “Pictures of Matchstick Men,” which is also one of my all-time faves! Have you gentlemen listened to the cover by the British shoegaze band KVB? It was released in 2023, and as a lifelong new waver, I really, really love the interpretation of Francis’s masterpiece! Also, the covers of “no sugar tonight” especially the 60s psychedelic version went on my playlist immediately! LOVE THE SHOW
Nothing quite like it
I'm very picky about music podcasts. I can tell when the host(s) haven't done their homework, or sound like they're reading off a wikipedia page. I can assure you, this podcast does not fall into that category.
The hosts get very deep into the weeds, exhaustively dissecting minute details of songs and their history. It helps that these guys know their stuff and clearly have a deep admiration for the material. In the wrong hands, this podcast would "be kind of a drag", but thankfully it manages to be funny and upbeat, and I always learn something new.
Great job, guys!
The only academic garage rock podcast from America’s hat!
I’ve been a listener from the single digit podcasts - always fun, always pedantic, always perfectly too long. Moon episode? Where’s Land Beyond the Moon!?!?!? I gave you a chance. We’re done. And where’s my jingle dogs doing Sweets for My Sweet? Bring it back or else!!!!
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