Song Of the Day: May 1-2, 2005
The What Gives-Summer Everywhere
The What Gives-Erin Gray
Unreleased recordings, ca. late 90s
The What Gives-Erin Gray
Unreleased recordings, ca. late 90s
Hi Everybody! I thought I'd take a break from thinking about Flannery O'Connor and the theme of retribution in her short stories to update this Little Hits thing. In what will probably become a tradition, since I'm flustered and overwhelmed here are two songs by The What Gives. Whatever meagre success was attained by this deservedly underknown Lawrence combo was undoubtedly the result of the incredible genius of Stephen Naron. While Jon Harrison and Bret Dillingham stole most of the credit, most onlookers (including Jon and Bret) agree that whatever brilliance existed in the What Gives was located inside the deft and fertile mind of reknowned bassist/scholar Naron. Unfortunately, the experience of playing with marginally talented egomaniacs soured Naron forever, and after burning his bass in a ritual ceremony, he has retreated into the world of academia. We present here two of the finest examples of his genius.
11 Comments:
Your fabulous site was linked on my wrestling message board in a thread about mp3 sites. Your site is a national treasure. (What are your four good songs off LET IT BE? I got "My Favorite Thing", "I Will Dare" and ... hmmm... "Answering Machine"?)
Is one of my childhood crushes, THE Erin Gray of Buck Rogers fame, completely coincidental to the name of the What Gives song?
Who is doing the guitar overdubs in Summer Everywhere?
Dean, I'd say "I Will Dare," Answering Machine," Unsatisfied," and "16 Blue." although the greatness of the latter is less obvious to me now than when I was younger.
Scott, it was originally "Darla Gray," but "Erin" was easier to sing. It had a familiar ring to it, but I wasn't sure who it was until we did a take and Ed pointed it out...speaking of Ed, that 12-string bit at the end of "Summer Everywhere" is him, elsewhere it's me.
Best,
Jon
Oh. Those little guitar flourishes are great. Tell Jon nice work.
I agree about 16-Blue. I thought it was pretty deep until I turned, oh, 19.
I still enjoy Androgynous and Unsatisfied, but would moreso if they were MUCH shorter.
RE: The discussion on great two sided singles -- after thinking about it, I want to change my answer to "Doledrums" / "Hidden Bay," of which Hidden Bay is the stronger -- right?
Ooh. Unreleased What Gives. Nice. Thank you so very very much.
I have a dream... a dream where Jon calls me and says, "Chris - we need you. Join our band!"
Unfortunately, the dream sours once Jon hears me sing...
Did these guys release a 7 inch witha a song calle "Isabelle" on it, or am I confusing it with some other band?
Jon, who would have won in a fight -- the What Gives or Vitreous Humor? What if Stephen had his shirt off?
Annonymous I: No, that was something completely, totally absolutely different. Totally. Definitely not us. No way. Absolutely not. Isa-who? I don't know who you're thinking of, but it must have been somebody else. Not us.
Anonymous II: I frequently used to beat up the whole band by myself, except for Dan Benson, who would look on admiringly and thank me afterword. I don't know about now though...I'm no spring chicken. I guess it comes down to this: Stephen could take Brad "If you make me lose my retainer, my mom's really gonna be mad" Allen, though he doesn't like to take his shirt off in public, as it reveals his ill-advised nipple tattoo he received one drunken night in LA shortly before our triumphant appearance at Poptopia. (It's either a yin/yang or Hello Kitty, I forget which.) Bret and Dan are both very hard men; Dan is now a bouncer in a Hell's Kitchen dive bar, and Bret a professional bounty hunter. We'll call that a wash. Even as a shadow of my former self, I could handle Brooks, as he lacks a certain "killer instinct," if you know what I mean. And "Iron Lung" Pound would be off to the side gasping and wheezing. I think the smart money, if there is any in this case, is on the What Gives. No disrespect intended.
"Handsome" Jon Harrison
that's not true, i like to take my shirt off in public, ask anyone
I agree. But stay away from Boy's Life. Brandon has more Hello Kitty tattoos on his little finger than there are hairs on both of Stephen's shoulders put together.
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