From Can’t Explain.
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Ultravox!, “The Man Who Dies Every Day” (1977)
Somebody, maybe a record store clerk, sold this to me as punk-rock back in the day, but in retrospect it’s much easier to see it as late-breaking glam. It’s hard to imagine anyone playing it without a face caked and streaming with makeup. It’s cartoonish, but irresistible, with its dramatic dynamics, rubber-ball tempo, harmonies at the top of the lungs, and all the B-movie pseudo-noir spy subterfuge affect and gesture. If it’s practically stalking around in a trench coat and fedora, to me that just means it’s in character: “Someone stood beside me for a moment in the rain / A silhouette, a cigarette, and a gesture of disdain,” etc., etc. In the ’80s, Ultravox experienced some personnel changes, dropped the exclamation point from the name, and went New Romantic. That worked too, although maybe left a few purity questions
Pretty: “Reap the Wild Wind”
More stuff at Can’t Explain.
Tom Hilton
John Foxx-era Ultravox (or Ultravox!, depending on the album) was great stuff. The first album was more glam/prog, Systems of Romance (their last album) is early post-punk (and a classic).
After John Foxx left, Ultravox (or “Ultravox”) made one pretty decent album (Vienna) and then a whole lot of mostly dreck. I confess that Reap the Wild Wind has its schlocky charm, but it’s definitely “Ultravox” and not Ultravox (much less Ultravox!). Foxx himself did two great albums, one pretty good one, and then gradually wandered off into tinkly ambient oblivion.
Tom Hilton
Hum…do two x’s together trigger moderation?
trollhattan
Never considered them punk, myself. Weren’t they a Brian Eno collaboration?
FlipYrWhig
About 10 years ago, in the heyday of Napster, a friend tried to get me into Ultravox. “Dan-cing! With tears in my eyes!” gives “guilty pleasure” a whole new meaning.
Comrade Carter
This is a better Ultravox, and earlier…
youtube.com/watch?v=nHt2rzHcY1A
Elizabelle
Can’t Explain is a way cool website. Thanks Doug.
George Martin (the Beatles’ producer) produced at least one of Ultravox’s albums; I believe the one with “Reap the Wild Wind”, which is the only one I own. (Album is “Quartet.”)
Hmm. Per Wiki, Martin produced some of “America’s” hits too (Sister Goldenhair, Tin Man …)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Martin
gbear
But nobody in polite company ever mentions the band ‘America’. It’s still too soon…
Elizabelle
And George Martin produced Jeff Beck’s Blow by Blow and Wired.
He’s 85, and just received an honorary Doctorate of Music from Oxford this June.
Raven (formerly stuckinred)
@gbear: puleeezzzeee, what’s next Bread?
Tom Hilton
@trollhattan: Eno produced the first (eponymous) album. Keep in mind that back in 1977 or so, anything that was at all different and interesting was considered ‘punk’ (or ‘new wave’) in some quarters.
@Comrade Carter: I think that’s my favorite off that album.
Elizabelle
@gbear:
Yeah, I hear you.
One of the 3 band members just died in the past 2 weeks or so.
Some of their work has been played to death, but I still like “Don’t Cross the River” and “Lonely People.” Perk up when I hear them on the radio.
“Sister Goldenhair”. Um. “Free Bird” territory. Can’t listen again until about 2023.
RossInDetroit
I bought Ultravox’s Rage in Eden on vinyl when it came out in ’81 and Midge Ure was in the band. Still have it. Pretty cool record.
mongo
Ah, memories… Steve Strange was easily one of the most photogenic pop stars of that time. My vote is neither punk nor glam — I’d make a new pigeonhole called “Emo before its time” instead. I’ll always have a soft spot for them on account of losing my cherry right after dancing to Fade to Grey… :-)
trollhattan
@gbear:
But, but, but…the lyrics!
Raven (formerly stuckinred)
@RossInDetroit: Watching the 74 OSU-UM game on the BTN!
Ridnik Chrome
The original Ultravox with John Foxx was awesome! I wouldn’t call them glam, though — they were much too dark and weird. Check out “I Want to Be A Machine” or “My Sex”, both on their first album (which was one of the first records Brian Eno ever produced). I’d say they were New Wave, in the same way that Pere Ubu and early Devo were New Wave, before that term became synonymous with commercial pop songs like “Heart of Glass”. The later version with Midge Ure had its moments (“Rage In Eden” is pretty good), but they never, ever topped the original lineup.
gbear
For some reason, I always used to get Ultravox and Polyrock mixed up, although they’re very different bands (maybe just because of the sound of their names). Polyrock had a pretty seductive sound for back then. Guitar techno.
RossInDetroit
I’ve been reading a bit about the ’70s music scene in England. Joe Jackson’s memoir Cure for Gravity and Stewart Copeland’s essay collection Strange Things Happen are both good. It’s long enough ago that I can be a little objective, but at the time I was so wrapped up…
Tom Hilton
@mongo: You’re thinking of Visage, not Ultravox (although Midge Ure was in both Visage and “Ultravox”).
Tom Hilton
@Ridnik Chrome: This. “Ultravox” was never nearly as good as Ultravox! or Ultravox.
Elizabelle
Uh, the featured song is just not that good.
“Cuz you’re the MAN who DIES every Day – Ay”
Background music for some SNL skit with Mike Myers in a costume, successful or not.
And a little bit of Dire Straits’ Industrial Disease tension underneath.
However, Ultravox does got better music in their queue …
Derf
Is this website broken? DOW up +125 today. About +550 the past 2 days. Surely there must have been booming breathless blog posts about it from Cole and the usual gloomers. They can always be relied on to do that when it moves equally the other way so it only stands to reason.
So I guess I just missed those posts eh? Buried in the noise somewhere?
RossInDetroit
@Derf:
That noise is between your ears. Go away and listen carefully to it for a long time. It’s speaking to you.
trollhattan
@RossInDetroit:
Heh, indoozle. I understand market growth since 1970 has been “robust” in a Christina Hendricks sort of way.
Omnes Omnibus
I have to toss my vote in for Vienna as a quality tune and for Dancing with Tears in my Eyes as a top notch guilty pleasure.
trollhattan
Perhaps the lamest teevee show concept, evah.
blogs.sacbee.com/the_state_worker/2011/08/california-dmv-setting-for-new-reality-tv.html
JPL
The President had the Packers at the White House today and he is now an owner among thousands. The video is up on nbcsports and since it’s a video I can’t just copy and paste the link. Since he’s an owner he tried to trade Aaron Rodgers to the Bears but it was quickly pointed out that he was a minority owner. It was a cute video and the blog boss needs to see it.
13th Generation
What’s with the “Big Baby”? Did someone insult you a la ABL? Don’t do that please. Also, too, does Cole even live here anymore? Not that I don’t love you DougJ, cause I do, but you seem to be carrying most of the weight around here lately. Time to stake out your own digs maybe?
JPL
@Omnes Omnibus: how did the interview go?
Odie Hugh Manatee
OT: (via the GOS)
Indiana politician has a problem in renting some male ass for the night. Be sure to read more about it at this link!
I think it’s interesting that the wife wanted to cover up for her husband. They must have one of those marriage of convenience pacts that are so popular among right-wing politicians.
I think their marriage just became inconvenient for her.
Thoughtcrime
@trollhattan:
Someone should produce “Are You Smarter Than a Teabagger?”, or something akin to “Jay Walking” but only Teabaggers are asked common knowledge questions. This Teatard should be on the first show: talkingpointsmemo.com/documents/2011/08/gop-freshman-asks-cbo-what-spending-cuts-do-to-economic-grow…
talkingpointsmemo.com/documents/2011/08/letter-to-huelskamp.php?page=1
Omnes Omnibus
@JPL: Yesterday’s interview went reasonably well. Today’s, I think, was great. Should hear about next steps sometime next week.
gbear
@13th Generation: If it annoys so sorely to not have John around, you could go to his twitter account and see that he’s been dealing with a sick doggie today. If it pains you so much to read DougJ, you could always avert your delicate gaze to items which pleasure you more.
JPL
@13th Generation: I enjoy the diversity of the site. Last I heard John was taking care of Rosie’s anal gland problem.
lamh34
@JPL:
here’s the video: President Obama Host Green Bay Packers at White House
13th Generation
Oh yeah, BTW..
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Tom Hilton
@Elizabelle:
Says someone who actually likes the late-model, schlock-crap incarnation of “Ultravox”.
Um, right.
JPL
@lamh34: Thanks. The NBC feed did not have a way to copy and paste.
JPK
@gbear: I like Polyrock a lot too.
13th Generation
@gbear:
Man, you dont get me at all. Sorry about that..
Cat Lady
1977 was auspicious.
Sid Vicious, Margaritaville, B-52s, Elvis Costello, Elvis Presley dies, Lynyrd Skynyrd dies, Rumours, Bee-Gees, Cars, Bootsy Collins, Santana, The Clash, Little Feat, Stevie Winwood, Terrapin Station, Meat Loaf, Ramones, Boz Scaggs, Al Green, Phoebe Snow, Earth Wind and Fire, Aerosmith, Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne and ABBA. Beat that.
13th Generation
Again, to all you puritan juiceboxers that haven’t been around here as long as think you have (JPL), lighten up! It’s Friday!
Omnes Omnibus
@lamh34: Woohoo!!!!!!!
gbear
@13th Generation: Oops, then sorry back.
Comrade PhysioProf
Ultravox was definitely “New Wave”.
cleek
um, no, the song of the day is Chinese Bones
eemom
@13th Generation:
Secessionist!
Derf
Still looking for the spittle on the side of the mouth wided eyed breathless blog posts from Cole about the Dows +550 rise the past couple days. I’m sure that post is here somewhere. Just like this post when it was going the other way.
balloon-juice.com/2011/08/04/a-feature-not-a-bug
Since we all know Cole is only interested in facts and reality and all that like any good twice Bush voter and Libertarian sympathiser he must have just over looked this. I’m sure he will get right on it soon enough. Guess he is off baking bread or drinking Tequila shots or something.
Omnes Omnibus
@cleek: I like. Then again, I like most Hitchcock. My current, and all time, fave of his is 1974.
gbear
For those who were busy at work today, can I repost the story about a republican representative from Indiana who went to Craigslist to find a little hot fun with a young man? Who could have guessed that things would go horribly wrong. Jaw-droppingly wrong. Such a fun read.
J. Michael Neal
How does Twitter work? I signed up today, and this whole business of Following and being Followed is triggering some of my social aversions. It’s the first online medium to have done that. I’m just staring at it, kind of paralyzed.
Omnes Omnibus
@J. Michael Neal: You have gone farther than I have. I just stare at the whole thing, kind of paralyzed, unless someone links to an amusing tweet or set thereof.
J. Michael Neal
@Omnes Omnibus: Yeah, but I need to use the damned thing for marketing. Which is a concept that eludes me, really, but apparently one can’t break in as an author these days without using it.
Odie Hugh Manatee
@Derf sez:
Mmmmm, pie.
@J. Michael Neal:
You have my condolences. :)
RossInDetroit
@JPK:
I completely forgot about Polyrock. I need to excavate that record, spin it an decide if it was worth forgetting.
Maybe I’ll play some Landscape and Bow Wow Wow as well.
Omnes Omnibus
@J. Michael Neal: Christ, marketing… That’s one of the primary reasons I am trying to get out of solo practice and into gov’t legal work.
Seriously though, as I understand it, you should follow important people in your field, important businesses or people in your region, and then put your tweets out there with the hope and expectation that those you are following will start to follow you and that word of mouth will spread regarding your awesomeness. Or something like that.
RossInDetroit
I feel like going out for live music tonight. Unfortunately I don’t even know someone who knows a guy who knows where the next White Stripes are playing.
Bonus for having white hair & being an Eisenhower era baby: I show up alone in a crowd of twentysomethings at a club and they think I must be someone Important.
Omnes Omnibus
@RossInDetroit: If you find a place, stand near the back and look serious. If you do it right, people may buy you drinks.
RossInDetroit
@Omnes Omnibus:
The fact that I’ve already been up for 12 hours as hipsters are reaching for their first cigarette of the day means this will fail. I mean, I’m under the covers before most bands even start putting their gear in the van to go set up.
Bill Murray
@RossInDetroit: Ros if you are in Detroit, the Fucking Awesome Fest is going on at the Majestic and the Magic Stick.
Those Darlins (the only band in today’s shows I know much about) are playing at 11
majesticdetroit.com/2011/06/13/fucking-awesome-fest-friday-2/
RossInDetroit
@Bill Murray:
Yup. Thanks for the recommendation. It’s within reasonable driving distance (I’m by the Zoo). The Stick was one of the places I was going to check out. Many fond memories…
Comrade Mary
I remember all the lyrics to that song. I’m old.
JPK
@Comrade Mary: My sympathies — I know the feeling!
Cheap Jim
The entire punk rock thing could have not happened and I would feel the same about it.
Dr. Morpheus
Definitely New Wave, sounds a lot like Gary Newman, Devo, et. al and nothing like The Sex Pistols. Don’t know what that record store clerk was smoking…
handy
I like Midge Ure-era Ultravox. This is one of my faves.
Bill Murray
@Dr. Morpheus: well music was a lot less segmented back in the day. If punk started today, it seems unlikely that Sham 69, The Buzzcocks, The Jam, The Damned, The Clash and The Sex Pistols would be classified together
Phoebe
@Bill Murray:
Ultravox is not punk rock. It’s new wave. And things were at least THAT segmented back then. And all those bands are great, and should be lumped together, but yeah, shitty McShit like the Police got lumped in with them too. But shouldn’t have. I don’t think anyone called them punk rock though. Wait, did they?
RalfW
This was a treat. I loved loved loved Ultravox in high school in the early 80s. Thanks for this nice distraction.
Lancelot Link
Midge Ure haters should suck on this;
youtube.com/watch?v=tTubfc48iPU
Uncle Clarence Thomas
.
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We wouldn’t have all these disagreements if we were all posers.
.
.
N W Barcus
Yep, the first, eponymous, Ultravox album was the best. Conny Plank’s production on the third, Systems of Romance, is worth listening to but ultimately kind of gormless.
Some have said Eno’s participation on the first was pretty minimal (wrapped up with tape loops, they said). His production around the same time of Devo’s Are We Not Men? (subbing for Bowie) was apparently limited by their precociousness, as they pretty much wanted to re-make their demo tapes. Though I’d like to think that the reverb tail trick on “Satisfaction” was his idea.
RossInDetroit
@Phoebe:
Stewart Copeland says in his book that The Police originally came out of punk, prog and art rock so I guess they did. Ultimately they became a colossally successful rock band with modern influences and left the S*x Pistols behind. Sting’s lute album may be the terminus of that divergence.
RossInDetroit
It can be difficult to fit some big ’70s/’80s bands into the popular music taxonomy. Country artists are clearly country. Nobody would ever mistake GNR, Metallica, Warrant, W.A.S.P., Cinderella, Poison, Def Lep, Motley Crue, AC/DC and Black Sabbath as anything but Metal. What would you call Talking Heads, The Clash, Elvis Costello, The Pretenders and X?
OmerosPeanut
The labels in the late 70s and early 80s are not distinct, like RossInDetroit says. You can roughly think of it like this:
Punk is the rejection of the norms for rock music while New Wave was the rejection of norms for pop. Punk got inspiration from bands like the Stooges while New Wave was inspired by Roxy Music. But most of the (good) bands were listening to both.
I don’t even have time to try to explain how Kraftwerk or Can fit into this.
RossInDetroit
@OmerosPeanut:
I’ll go along with that and I’ll add Bowie as an influence on New Wave.
Three groups that pretty much collectively describe New Wave are Talking Heads, The Sugarcubes and Gary Numan. There’s a whole nimbus of others but those 3 are more or less at the center.
The defining principles of Punk may be incompetent DIY and indifference to image. X got lumped in, possibly because of Exene’s lack of vocal ability but a band with a Rockabilly guitarist, Leadbelly covers and a love of Woody Guthrie doesn’t belong in the same category as The Damned.
Bill D.
Notice how the song is “The Man Who Dies Every Day” while the YouTube posting is “The Man Who Dies Everyday”? Not the same meaning.
Bill Murray
@RossInDetroit: also, New Wave is really an American category. Also, did you go see Those Darlins, Ross?
if you don’t want a wild one, quit hanging ’round with me
you knew right from the start that’s my personality
if you can’t handle crazy, go ahead and leave
if you don’t want a wild one, quit hanging ’round with me