In any case, since things will be a little quiet around here for the forseeable future, here's a fun little project for us all:
Best or Worst Rock Era Record or Song With the Word "Ain't" in the Title or Lyrics!!!
Self-explanatory, I think, and no arbitrary rules whatsoever, you're welcome very much.
And my totally top of my head Top Seven are:
7. Elvis Presley -- Ain't That Loving You Baby
The Ivory Joe Hunter song. EP's version here was recorded in 1958 but not released until 1985 (on the brilliant but now out of print Elvis blues comp pictured above). A different, mid-tempo version (with the Jordanaires) was a minor hit (in the early 60s, if memory serves) but this vastly superior bare bones revved up assault on the tune is one of the most genuinely exciting records in the Presley canon.
6. Marvin Gaye -- Ain't That Peculiar
On balance, not only my favorite Marvin record, but probably my all-time fave Motown record as well.
5. Queens of the Stone Age -- You Think I Ain't Worth a Dollar (But I Feel Like a Millionaire)
Because, as you know, we like to have something recorded in the current century.
4. The Skeletons -- I Ain't Lying
From the 1997 album by America's greatest roots-rock/bar band. The opening verse about the Arab girls and Israeli boys holding hands is perhaps even more startling today than it was then, but my favorite is still the following:
I'll tell you about this guy we knew
Who thought he'd figured it out
He said time was just a concept
And he was gonna sit it out
He sat down by the sewer on Wednesday
And on Thursday he died
And at the coroner's inquest
They called it sewercide
3. Marvelous 3 -- I Could Change
One of the great kickass rockers of the last ten years, with a chorus to kill for. And this inspirational verse:
New Year's Day, lyin' next to my bed
With a hand in my pants and a song in my head
About being depressed 'til I figured out
It ain't the 90's anymore
2. Bobby Marchand -- Ain't No Reason for Girls
And speaking of Queens of the Stone Age, Marchand sang lead on the original version of "Rockin' Pneumonia," and made a whole slew of really great New Orleans R&B records in the 50s and 60s. Including this one, which seems to come from a very personal place.
And the Numero Uno grammar-deficient song of them all has simply got to be...
1. Television -- Ain't That Nothin'
Not necessarily the greatest Television track, but if pressed probably my fave, although I'm not entirely sure why; it might be the way that tiniest hint of Hammond organ sneaks in on the verses.
Alrighty, then -- what would YOUR choices be?
[Shameless Blogwhore: My parallel Cinema Listomania -- theme: best or worst performances by non-actors in a drama or comedy -- is now up over at Box Office. As always, I would take it as a personal favor if you could kill a minute or two leaving a comment over there. Thanks!]
