As is the tradition here at the Aspidistra and Hatstand, when someone asks the question “who is the least Afterword friendly artist?” – a little while later, when the momentum of that question loses pace – the opposite question is worth raising. But here’s the twist – we can all suggest, say, David Bowie – and very little argument will be forthcoming – but to distill things into one song – what one *song* is the most AW-friendly, it is hard to argue against “(We ain’t gonna play) Sun City”. Steve Van Zandt is not at all my cup of tea – but he has always struck me as a good sort – and many years ago he penned the song and roped in Brooce to help out. Before you know it, we have a bona fide protest song featuring seemingly dozens of performers that would attract mass Afterword nods of approval. In there is Run DMC, Jackson Browne, George Clinton, Grandmaster Flash, Lou Reed, Bob Dylan, Bono, Ringo, the Ramones, Carlos Santana, Hall and Oates and many many more. There’s even an Aussie in there in the gigantic form of Peter Garrett to appease the Southern Hemisphere contingent.
So I put it to you that there has not been a song before or since that has featured so many AW artists in one place – and even better, the song still stands up. Unless of course you know different.
Not necessarily the actual record, but the sentiment at least.
(John Miles – Music)
One of the Youtube comments: “Possibly the most epic turd of a song but with great lyrics & intentions”.
(Funkadelic – Groovallegiance)
We still do bonkers here, don’t we?
(Richard Harris – Macarthur Park)
It’s difficult to argue with Little Steven’s sentiments but where are the musical protests against Mugabe’s regime in Zimbabwe or indeed the post-Mandela ANC government under Jacob Zuma in South Africa?
Well, of course Neil Young devoted a whole album to protest against Zuma…
You’re saying he invented Zuma, Donovan style?
No, DONOVAN style.
While I rack my brains for several AW-friendly artists on one song, this wonderful track, featuring Robert Wyatt and Tracey Thorn, will do nicely. Jazzy, latin beats and a positive message.
An AW anthem? It’s got to be this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TMiXjtS8uA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bmSEHhIs-Q
is the right answer……
(The sentiment and the song, not necessarily the (current) band.)
Much as I love Working Week’s song Venceremos, I think you are on the money here, Retro.
Any record that brings together members of Genesis with Robert Fripp and Sandy Denny must be regarded as Afterword-friendly.
Meet on the Ledge is an excellent choice.
Then again, BC, you don’t need to leave New Zealand to find a great AW anthem. The Conchords can always be relied upon.
Hard to dispute the credentials of the song in the OP, but second place must go to Plastic Ono Band’s Give Peace A Chance. The recording session was attended by dozens of journalists and various celebrities, including Timothy Leary, Rabbi Abraham Feinberg, Joseph Schwartz, Rosemary Woodruff Leary, Petula Clark, Dick Gregory, Allen Ginsberg, Roger Scott, Murray the K and Derek Taylor, many of whom are mentioned in the lyrics and contributed backing vocals, hand-claps and tambourine bashing. Lennon and Tommy Smothers of The Smothers Brothers played acoustic guitar. André Perry played percussion and produced.
It was quite the party.
https://youtu.be/tlKX-m17C7U
Oh. And the song’s message is very Afterword.
Yeah, but it’s a bit shit though. Bit of a problem, non?
It’s this, isn’t it? Two heritage bands from the sixties, one from each side of the pond, with a jolly pop tune to get the foot of every boomer tapping.
I’m torn between The Freshies’ two big “hits” I Can’t Get Bouncing Babies By The Teardrop Explodes and I’m In Love With The Girl On The Manchester Virgin Megastore Checkout Desk. The former tracks the weary miles plodded by the frustrated record collector whose musical archive stretches from the window to the door (been there); the latter is a banging tune which feature a Van Morrison’s incontinentstreamofconsciousness style list (and we love a list) of record labels, many now gone. Both offer the AWer the opportunity to be the “big nose who knows” that Chris Sievey went on to be Frank Sidebottom (and peering right down our hooter, add “You must be familiar with the work of Frank Sidebottom? No? YOU ARE DEAD TO ME”) and was an indie pioneer who released his own records, which is why the song about a record that’s hard to get is so hard to get well of course I have it wanna come back to my place no I won’t let you touch it… etc
You are on to a winner there, Sewer.
That made me think of the wonderfully funky LCD Soundsystem’s Losing my Edge.
Ageing hipster realises that his finger is slipping slowly away from the pulse.
“I was there at the first Can shows in Köln in 1968” ……
Names are dropped with a vengeance.
I think you’ll find that this is the correct answer:
I would say the perfect AW mash-up would be “What a Waste” played by the E Street Band with vocals by Nick Drake with a Roger Dean gatefold sleeve.
Additional (and, I’ve read, true) Afterword fact – What a Waste was Dury’s attempt to write a song in the style of Richard Thompson.
That does make the song a very strong contender.
Reading between the lines, I think I am being told that the Sun City song may suffer from a distinct lack of the old prog. Don’t worry though, I read on Wikipedia just now that Peter Gabriel was involved.
“Interestingly” the song didn’t set the charts on fire in 1985. No 21 in the UK and low-level Billboard placing. Apparently, the song’s lyrics – the bit with Joey Ramone – criticises the President and that was seen as rather near.
It was definitely not going to be promoted on Kids TV or Nozin’ Aroun’ – so it hasn’t exactly stuck in the public conciousness despite its stellar cast. Miles Davis is in there too.
Shirley…