Sissy and Jodi

Going through my drive the other day I happened to hit upon a few tracks that are oddities of sorts. They are tracks from actresses turned singers, or, perhaps the other way around. Now, that’s not so unusual per se as there are copious examples of this phenomenon with one or two quick hops onto the charts – Richard Harris anyone? Dare I mention the great William Shatner? Unfortunately, there are many more tracks out there by those who try to venture into the recording studio that I’m sure have caused more than one to try to buy all available copies and melt them into blissful blobs of bubbling blackened goop.

John, You Went Too Far This Time
I am a big Sissy Spacek fan. Who could forget the image of her in “Carrie” with sticky, pig’s blood streaming down her face, eyes wide open in a trance, arms apart with the spotlight highlighting each body nuance? Or, can you forget her aloof coolness at the end of “In The Bedroom” when she says that she’ll make her husband some breakfast after knowing what he’s just done? Then there’s “Coal Miner’s Daughter”, “The Straight Story” and many other great appearances and characters.

Before her acting career vaulted off, Sissy was one of those cutie sixties teenaged flower girls trying to get a break. Lennon had remarked during an interview that The Beatles were bigger than Jesus, and everyone knows the backlash that ensued. Sissy recorded this lilting, folksy treatise against Lennon’s statement under the name of ‘Rainbo’ in 1968. Anyone else have a copy of this?

I recall you turned me on with “Pepper”.
The tour we took with “Lucy” was a trip I won’t forget!
And John I loved you when we both wore flowers,
But putting down your guru brought confusion and regret.

John I love you
But you went too far
This time

La Vie Ces’t Chouette
Jody has even more of an acting resume what with “Taxi Driver”, “The Accused”, “The Silence Of The Lambs” (… it puts the lotion on …), even “Foxes” (with Cheri Curri) and an episode of “The Partridge Family” and “The Courtship Of Eddie’s Father”!

From a movie made in 1977 titled “Moi, Fleur Bleue” and released only in France, Jodie, at her teenaged height of virginal innocence, declares that she is looking to get her cherry popped (actual dialog). Like I said, released only in France. I don’t know French, except for the obligatory swear words, so I don’t know a damn thing she’s saying. Except when spoken English appears. Typical French disco in which she giggles and breaths into the microphone. Again, anyone have a copy of this?

That girl next door she’s got a guy.
But I’m alone just skateboard and surf.
And I’m dreaming, of loving,
One whole night through.
But with who?

One whole night through
But I’m with who?

Yea, I’m sure Sissy and Jodi want to forget these.

Or, perhaps, they listen to them from time to time in smiling embarrassment - much as the rest of us all do when we see photos of ourselves when we thought we were cool, or see videos of ourselves singing or acting.

And, maybe that’s the way I’ll leave it. Remembered as an artifact from the past that we’re not overly excited to see or hear, but a part of us nonetheless and a statement of where we were at the time.

Sissy Spacek: John, You Went Too Far This Time [1968]

Jodi Foster: La Vie Ces’t Chouette [1977]

Addendum: I have been reading voraciously for these past months. So quickly do I read that no sooner do I read one then I begin another right away. I quickly forget just exactly what I've read! I'll keep track of them on this blog - if only for myself, but heck, see if you like any of them.

"Love In The Time Of Cholera" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Best quote "Marriage is not about happiness, it's about stability".

"Ronnie the Autobiography" by Ronnie Wood. Debauchery, mayhem, art and music.

"An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness" by Kay Redfield Jamison. Unsettling, disturbing and acute insite as to what happens to those with this affliction. Very lush and well written.

"Deltora Quest" by Emily Rodda. All eight books. Kind of in the vein of fantasy/Harry Potter, that sort of thing. Suggested by my 13 year old son. Hey, I have to keep up with what he's reading, right?

"Born Standing Up : A Comic's Life" by Steve Martin. How he grew to be what he is today. Intelligently written and without all the drawn out details of childhood.

Many more, but as I read so quickly, I can't remember them all!

Bread

Usually when one thinks of the band Bread, images of doe eyed girls sighing with their hearts going pitter patter come to mind with tracks such as “If”, “Diary”, “Everything I Own” (actually written about his grandfather), “Make It With You” and “Sweet Surrender” – Cupid gently calling out and inviting couples to romp within the garden of love.

But, I fondly remember Bread as having a bit more of an edge to them from time to time – albeit I admit to that edge being softened somewhat due to production. I remember the wah-wah of “Guitar Man”. That, above all, was the highlight for me listening to that track on my cheap-o transistor radio. I had the 45 and probably ground it transparent playing it over and over.

There are a few others that Bread did that may be forgotten by you – or, even better, you haven’t even heard yet.

Mother Freedom
This is an anti-Bread kind of track. Starting off with a chuga-chuga-chuga distortion rhythm guitar it almost (dare I propose this?) sounds like a garage band crunching it out with the best of them. Simple chord progression, straight to the point skin banging and crisp pied-piper lead all add up to a song that just begs to be noticed again – for good reason. I can easily see a lot of bands covering this and transitioning it as their own.

Freedom - keep walkin'
Keep on your toes and don't stop talkin' 'bout
Freedom - get goin'
Lots to be learned and lots to be knowin' 'bout
People - gotta reach 'em
Sit 'em right down and then you gotta teach 'em 'bout
Freedom - gotta win it
Gotta put yourself smack dab in it

Hey tomorrow
Now don't you go away
'Cause freedom
Just might come your way

Let Your Love Go
Another riff that you can’t believe that you forgot. There’s simply no choice but to slit your eyes in acquiescence while tapping your foot unconsciously – a classic example of well thought out rhythm guitar. Listen at 1’51 where it sounds as if the rhythm and drums both seem to lose the timing a bit and stumble trying to get it back on the track. But, in the true spirit of ‘garage’ type bands, they left it in – and I relish little mistakes like that, which give it more of an unpolished appeal.

I made a motion and its out on the floor
And it’s a notion that I'd love to explore
Cause I been tastin’ the love you been wastin’
So baby wont you give it to me...

You’re a lady
And I’m here in the palm of your hand
Such a lady
How much more do you think I can stand?

Not a bad couple of choices for a band you normally associated as background for “getting to third base” in the backseat of a LeSabre, eh?

Bread: Mother Freedom [89]
Bread: Let Your Love Go [63]
From: Bread Retrospective [1996]