Buoys, “Timothy” (1971)
Weird shit dept.: Sounding for all the world like the post-hippie bubblegum overrunning the airwaves at the time, “Timothy” is actually something much, much darker. It’s more famous now for its words—most of the YouTube videos I found are pleased to hammer you over the head with the theme (see here, and this is pretty good too). I don’t actually remember much controversy. I had heard it a lot before I caught the drift, and then I was kind of shocked. The Bloodrock, on the other hand, a full-on creepshow, was controversial, but that was more because the original version included sirens for effect and people hearing it in their cars were reportedly pulling over, which was understandably annoying. A later cut took out the sirens but that didn’t make it any easier to take.
More 1971 shock: Bloodrock, “DOA”
More stuff at Can’t Explain.
MikeJ
Last pimpage: Name that tune at cleek’s.
smelter rat
Even in the Northern Manitoba mining town of Flin Flon, this tune got air play back in the day.
Jamey
I know it well. Scranton, PA’s own Buoys! I was too young to have experienced it, but my older brother was a part of the mania.
Song was written by none other than Rupert “Pina Colada Song” Holmes.
Waldo
Timothy, what’s eating you?
different-church-lady
Here’s a spooky thought: do you suppose there’s any hidden violent messages in The Pina Colada Song?
MikeJ
@different-church-lady: He starts with “I was tired of my lady.” Of course he wanted to kill her.
Omnes Omnibus
@different-church-lady: There must be something subliminal in it; it causes violent reactions in me every time I hear it.
Tom
Heard this on Sounds Opinion’s Halloween special a year or two ago. Certainly a tasty nugget.
CT Voter
I always thought Timothy was a donkey.
That’s how the nuns explained it, at least.
Omnes Omnibus
@CT Voter: Sure, ruin it for everyone.
CT Voter
And in 1972, the Uruguayan soccer team crashed in the Andes.
I guess I probably thought there were donkeys on that flight, too.
Omnes Omnibus
@CT Voter: Rugby team. Important distinction and source of the “Rugby Players Eat Their Dead” bumper stickers – what?! you’ve never seen them?
burnspbesq
1971 was actually a pretty good year. Who’s Next, What’s Going On, Hunky Dory, Sticky Fingers, Allman Brothers at Fillmore East.
CT Voter
@Omnes Omnibus: Holy mackerel. All these years, I thought it was the soccer team. Donkeys? My illusions are shattered.
@burnspbesq: 1971 was a good year. What followed wasn’t.
Mark S.
I’ve heard of Timothy, but that’s the first time I’ve ever heard the song. It ain’t that good.
Omnes Omnibus
@CT Voter: Sorry, but rugby players do take a perverse pride in the incident.
tweez
Timothy was a duck
Omnes Omnibus
@tweez: Timothy was a witch?
a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)
@Omnes Omnibus: Indeed. Immortalized by the Clash, in a song I can’t remember what it’s called – Timmy Gun? Rudie can’t Fly?
Auguste
Zappa at Fillmore East 1971, too.
Aldorossi
In fifth grade, we listened to the 45 of DOA and it freaked out our little10 year old minds. I hadn’t heard it for 30 years, so I looked it up on the Internet. It didn’t freak me out anymore; it kinda sounded like Spinal Tap…
wrb
@CT Voter:
72 wasn’t bad
Exile on Main St. Talking Book, Europe 72, St Dominics, Salin’ Shoes, Ziggy Stardust, Close to the Edge, Sail Away, Dr Sardonicus, Obscured by Clouds, Mannassas, Music of My Mind…
wrb
@wrb:
Looking at the lists, 73 & 74 are also very strong. Classics from Van, Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Stevie, Springsteen, Yes, Joni, Neil Young, Pink Floyd
Suckage starts in 75. The year is saved by Dylan though, with both Planet Waves and Blood on the Tracks. Nothing else worth crap in the first 50 albums
Dougerhead
@wrb:
We can all agree it’s been all downhill since the early 70s.
wrb
@Dougerhead:
I didn’t care for the food.