Late Night Music Part 57................."I Won't Tell 'Em Your Name"
So many times listening to music we'll hear a name in a song and wonder "who are they talking about?". The truth is, alot of times, the singer/songwriter doesn't even know! Alot of times, a name in a song is just a character in a story, but other times, these names are deeply personal and have made for some of the deepest music ever written, but also some of the funniest songs ever written. On a separate note, I am amazed at the amount of artists making their "Late Night Music" debuts on this list.
In order to be considered for this list, the SONG TITLE had to have a proper name in it (so "Mr. Telephone Man" would not be acceptable, neither would "Mr. Big Stuff"). Also receiving votes in this category were "Bad Bad Leroy Brown" by Jim Croce, "Jesse" by Janis Ian, "Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog" by Three Dog Night, "Lola" by the Kinks, and "Rosealia" by Better Than Ezra.
"Beth"- Kiss. In 1976, while not receiving mainstream success and awards, Kiss was one of the biggest cult following rock bands in the world. When their much anticipated fourth studio album "Destroyer" came out along with the lead single "Detroit Rock City", few people expected that the B SIDE of that single would prove more popular and wind up being the band's highest charting song ever and one of only 2 Billboard Top 10 hits. Sung by drummer (at the time) Peter Criss, it is the only Kiss song ever recorded that features no instrumental performance by any band member. The song was later released as an A Side single a few months later, and even though the song was always hated by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, it still remains one of the most requested Kiss songs at all of their concerts. Despite numerous stories, it is still debatable as to "Beth" actually was. Bonus points for the orchestra wearing Kiss face makeup.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbtO_Ayjw0M
"Carrie"- Europe. I'm glad our big hair friends from Sweden are able to join us again after a pretty long hiatus from "Late Night Music". While this was a good song in the dying days of hair band power ballads, no one knows who Carrie was, but I always find myself tickled to death that a group from European can sing English without sounding European. Despite their hit "The Final Countdown" being a staple at arenas across America in sporting events, "Carrie" remains Europe's highest charting song ever in the United States, peaking at #3 in 1987.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umCF6go6YAs
"Annie's Song"- John Denver. Only a guy like me can segue from Europe to John Denver with such ease. While our previous two songs have foggy meanings, John Denver said that he wrote this song for his then wife while skiing in Aspen, Colorado. You can say what you want about John Denver being goofy, corny, or cheesy, and before his untimely death in 1997, I might have thought the same thing, but there is no doubt the passion in the man's music and voice. Absolutely beautiful song here. Bonus points for the name "Annie" never being stated in the lyrics.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkGS263lGsQ
"Adam's Song"- Blink 182. In 2000, Blink 182 had burst into mainstream success with their third album "Enema Of The State", and despite being known for silliness and toilet humor, this song dealing with depression and the seriousness of a teenage suicide note, Blink 182 really showed their "serious" side with this final single from that album. I like this song, and I like the fact that the video isn't depressing, but Mark Hoppus just looks so serious when he sings, even on the goofy songs. Bonus points for the reference to Nirvana in this song- who ever can figure it out gets to name my next topic no matter how stupid it is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MRdtXWcgIw
"Layla"- Derek and The Dominoes. Few people how many bands Eric Clapton was ever in, but one song everyone knows he played was "Layla", which is actually a song about Clapton being in love with George Harrison's wife Pattie Boyd. Eric Clapton recorded with the Beatles in 1968's "The White Album" on the song by Harrison "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", even though he is uncredited on the album, which is where he first met Boyd. To add to the drama, Boyd and Harrison divorced in 1974, and Clapton and Boyd were then married in 1979 only to divorce in 1989. The song "Beautiful Tonight" is also written about Pattie Boyd. Great live performance here from Clapton's 1999 concert in Madison Square Garden. Just goes to show that even at his age you can still rock.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fX5USg8_1gA
"Mary Go Round"- Musiq Soulchild. Ok, the first song of the list that wasn't released as a single, but for the real fans of Musiq's debut album "Aijuswanaseing", the realness of this song is something you can't help but love. I remember buying this album in college and playing it to death. This was always my favorite song on this album.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JJ9l8wROKQ
"Tyrone"- Erykah Badu. I am glad I finally found an excuse to feature this song and video on "Late Night Music". One of the funniest, realest, and soulful R & B songs of the 1990's was on Badu's double platinum album "Live" and featured this song about her triflin' boyfriend and his stupid free loading friend Tyrone. Every time I hear this song I can't help but swing a little bit, I always laugh, but I can't ever be a fan of Erykah's outfit in this one. I know she's a beautiful woman, but I am just not feeling it. Oh well, who cares, great song!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVSIPHQdQT0
"Mr. Wendal"- Arrested Development. Another case of a group that it was "cool" to like in 5th grade. I remember how cool I thought people who had this CD were in 1992 when this song was played (at exhaustion) on the radio all over the country. While most of us 11 year olds just thought they were cool looking or cool sounding, this song was actually written about the plight of homeless people in the United States and is a plea to everyone not treat them differently just because of their appearance or their circumstances, but of course I was too stupid to realize this at the time. Dionne Farris almost seems like a distant cousin in this video- she is almost nowhere to be found. I like her alot more as a solo artist. Anyway, like most of the "thought it was cool" groups of the early 90's, Arrested Development soon faded into oblivion, but at least they left us with this video to watch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyDjRd0Tjss
"Mr. Jones"- Counting Crows. Ok, here is another group that was similar as far "cool" to like, but the Crows seemed to have just a LITTLE bit more of a successful career, at least on the mainstream level wouldn't you say? Back when MTV still showed videos, I remember seeing this video so much I almost had it memorized frame by frame, and I am still annoyed to this day at how much Adam Duritz swings his hair around. Like so many other songs on this list, no one seems to know who Mr. Jones is, while one claim (seriously) is that the song is about Adam Duritz's genitalia.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oqAU5VxFWs
"Amanda"- Boston. This song was an anomaly for several reasons. First of all, the song sounds nothing like Boston ever wrote or recorded, even for their album "Third Stage" which was a huge change with it being released in 1986 (8 years after their previous album), but also because the song was the band's only #1 hit, and is the only song in the "MTV age" to reach #1 on the Billboard charts without having a music video made for it. If you really think about the power of the music video at the time, that is seriously quite an accomplishment. Pretty good live performance here, just a little dark. A weird thing about this song also is that it was the FIRST track on the album, very rare for a rock band to do so with a ballad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpp19QS_SEk
"Sweet Baby James"- James Taylor. Ok, I just learned something, while it may be his signature song, "Sweet Baby James" was never released as a single by James Taylor. It was, however the title and first track of his second album released in 1970. That album was later nominated for the Grammy for Album of the Year, and catapulted James Taylor to worldwide famous status. I wish I could find his performance of this song that he did on Jay Leno's "final" "The Tonight Show". James Taylor might be the best one man band show you can find. Again, this is another great artist making his "Late Night Music" debut. Great performance from the BBC in 1970 here. I'm taking away points for the hair though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2EZUw2mvjs
"Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey"- Paul McCartney. This one was a slam dunk. When the Beatles broke up, Paul rushed the release of "McCartney" which was mainly songs that the Beatles had declined to record. After a vacation with his wife, Paul came back and put forth his best effort for 1971's "Ram" (the only album he ever made that he credited to himself and his wife Linda), which featured this famous song about his real life Uncle that he had upset as a child, while according to Paul, Admiral Halsey represents American General William "Bull" Halsey. Either way, this is one of Paul's sillier songs, but one he was definitely proud of. It was never said, but I am guessing that the use of sound effects on this song was a way of getting back at John Lennon who scratched sound effects constantly from Beatles songs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekhV4GyTW-Y
"Capri"- Colbie Caillat. I'm gonna end this one with my favorite song from this list. Colbie Caillat had this song on her debut album "Coco" and is about her friend who became unexpectedly pregnant. I can't watch this one without getting chills. What an incredible song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bEvY6SyEvM
BONUS VIDEO- "Name"- Goo Goo Dolls. Oh, why not? They inspired the title!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHaBc0sLwE0 
In order to be considered for this list, the SONG TITLE had to have a proper name in it (so "Mr. Telephone Man" would not be acceptable, neither would "Mr. Big Stuff"). Also receiving votes in this category were "Bad Bad Leroy Brown" by Jim Croce, "Jesse" by Janis Ian, "Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog" by Three Dog Night, "Lola" by the Kinks, and "Rosealia" by Better Than Ezra.
"Beth"- Kiss. In 1976, while not receiving mainstream success and awards, Kiss was one of the biggest cult following rock bands in the world. When their much anticipated fourth studio album "Destroyer" came out along with the lead single "Detroit Rock City", few people expected that the B SIDE of that single would prove more popular and wind up being the band's highest charting song ever and one of only 2 Billboard Top 10 hits. Sung by drummer (at the time) Peter Criss, it is the only Kiss song ever recorded that features no instrumental performance by any band member. The song was later released as an A Side single a few months later, and even though the song was always hated by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, it still remains one of the most requested Kiss songs at all of their concerts. Despite numerous stories, it is still debatable as to "Beth" actually was. Bonus points for the orchestra wearing Kiss face makeup.
http://www.youtube.com/wat
"Carrie"- Europe. I'm glad our big hair friends from Sweden are able to join us again after a pretty long hiatus from "Late Night Music". While this was a good song in the dying days of hair band power ballads, no one knows who Carrie was, but I always find myself tickled to death that a group from European can sing English without sounding European. Despite their hit "The Final Countdown" being a staple at arenas across America in sporting events, "Carrie" remains Europe's highest charting song ever in the United States, peaking at #3 in 1987.
http://www.youtube.com/wat
"Annie's Song"- John Denver. Only a guy like me can segue from Europe to John Denver with such ease. While our previous two songs have foggy meanings, John Denver said that he wrote this song for his then wife while skiing in Aspen, Colorado. You can say what you want about John Denver being goofy, corny, or cheesy, and before his untimely death in 1997, I might have thought the same thing, but there is no doubt the passion in the man's music and voice. Absolutely beautiful song here. Bonus points for the name "Annie" never being stated in the lyrics.
http://www.youtube.com/wat
"Adam's Song"- Blink 182. In 2000, Blink 182 had burst into mainstream success with their third album "Enema Of The State", and despite being known for silliness and toilet humor, this song dealing with depression and the seriousness of a teenage suicide note, Blink 182 really showed their "serious" side with this final single from that album. I like this song, and I like the fact that the video isn't depressing, but Mark Hoppus just looks so serious when he sings, even on the goofy songs. Bonus points for the reference to Nirvana in this song- who ever can figure it out gets to name my next topic no matter how stupid it is.
http://www.youtube.com/wat
"Layla"- Derek and The Dominoes. Few people how many bands Eric Clapton was ever in, but one song everyone knows he played was "Layla", which is actually a song about Clapton being in love with George Harrison's wife Pattie Boyd. Eric Clapton recorded with the Beatles in 1968's "The White Album" on the song by Harrison "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", even though he is uncredited on the album, which is where he first met Boyd. To add to the drama, Boyd and Harrison divorced in 1974, and Clapton and Boyd were then married in 1979 only to divorce in 1989. The song "Beautiful Tonight" is also written about Pattie Boyd. Great live performance here from Clapton's 1999 concert in Madison Square Garden. Just goes to show that even at his age you can still rock.
http://www.youtube.com/wat
"Mary Go Round"- Musiq Soulchild. Ok, the first song of the list that wasn't released as a single, but for the real fans of Musiq's debut album "Aijuswanaseing", the realness of this song is something you can't help but love. I remember buying this album in college and playing it to death. This was always my favorite song on this album.
http://www.youtube.com/wat
"Tyrone"- Erykah Badu. I am glad I finally found an excuse to feature this song and video on "Late Night Music". One of the funniest, realest, and soulful R & B songs of the 1990's was on Badu's double platinum album "Live" and featured this song about her triflin' boyfriend and his stupid free loading friend Tyrone. Every time I hear this song I can't help but swing a little bit, I always laugh, but I can't ever be a fan of Erykah's outfit in this one. I know she's a beautiful woman, but I am just not feeling it. Oh well, who cares, great song!
http://www.youtube.com/wat
"Mr. Wendal"- Arrested Development. Another case of a group that it was "cool" to like in 5th grade. I remember how cool I thought people who had this CD were in 1992 when this song was played (at exhaustion) on the radio all over the country. While most of us 11 year olds just thought they were cool looking or cool sounding, this song was actually written about the plight of homeless people in the United States and is a plea to everyone not treat them differently just because of their appearance or their circumstances, but of course I was too stupid to realize this at the time. Dionne Farris almost seems like a distant cousin in this video- she is almost nowhere to be found. I like her alot more as a solo artist. Anyway, like most of the "thought it was cool" groups of the early 90's, Arrested Development soon faded into oblivion, but at least they left us with this video to watch.
http://www.youtube.com/wat
"Mr. Jones"- Counting Crows. Ok, here is another group that was similar as far "cool" to like, but the Crows seemed to have just a LITTLE bit more of a successful career, at least on the mainstream level wouldn't you say? Back when MTV still showed videos, I remember seeing this video so much I almost had it memorized frame by frame, and I am still annoyed to this day at how much Adam Duritz swings his hair around. Like so many other songs on this list, no one seems to know who Mr. Jones is, while one claim (seriously) is that the song is about Adam Duritz's genitalia.
http://www.youtube.com/wat
"Amanda"- Boston. This song was an anomaly for several reasons. First of all, the song sounds nothing like Boston ever wrote or recorded, even for their album "Third Stage" which was a huge change with it being released in 1986 (8 years after their previous album), but also because the song was the band's only #1 hit, and is the only song in the "MTV age" to reach #1 on the Billboard charts without having a music video made for it. If you really think about the power of the music video at the time, that is seriously quite an accomplishment. Pretty good live performance here, just a little dark. A weird thing about this song also is that it was the FIRST track on the album, very rare for a rock band to do so with a ballad.
http://www.youtube.com/wat
"Sweet Baby James"- James Taylor. Ok, I just learned something, while it may be his signature song, "Sweet Baby James" was never released as a single by James Taylor. It was, however the title and first track of his second album released in 1970. That album was later nominated for the Grammy for Album of the Year, and catapulted James Taylor to worldwide famous status. I wish I could find his performance of this song that he did on Jay Leno's "final" "The Tonight Show". James Taylor might be the best one man band show you can find. Again, this is another great artist making his "Late Night Music" debut. Great performance from the BBC in 1970 here. I'm taking away points for the hair though.
http://www.youtube.com/wat
"Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey"- Paul McCartney. This one was a slam dunk. When the Beatles broke up, Paul rushed the release of "McCartney" which was mainly songs that the Beatles had declined to record. After a vacation with his wife, Paul came back and put forth his best effort for 1971's "Ram" (the only album he ever made that he credited to himself and his wife Linda), which featured this famous song about his real life Uncle that he had upset as a child, while according to Paul, Admiral Halsey represents American General William "Bull" Halsey. Either way, this is one of Paul's sillier songs, but one he was definitely proud of. It was never said, but I am guessing that the use of sound effects on this song was a way of getting back at John Lennon who scratched sound effects constantly from Beatles songs.
http://www.youtube.com/wat
"Capri"- Colbie Caillat. I'm gonna end this one with my favorite song from this list. Colbie Caillat had this song on her debut album "Coco" and is about her friend who became unexpectedly pregnant. I can't watch this one without getting chills. What an incredible song.
http://www.youtube.com/wat
BONUS VIDEO- "Name"- Goo Goo Dolls. Oh, why not? They inspired the title!
http://www.youtube.com/wat
One of Kiss's most famous album covers
Colbie Caillat's "Coco"
You were cool if you had this CD in 5th grade
posted by General 5A Pigott at 3:02 AM
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