1968 saw The Association release a strong album, Birthday, that included what may be “one of the greatest songs ever recorded,” to quote the person who posted this audio clip of “Everything That Touches You” (I can certainly understand the sentiment – have you heard the beautifully arpeggiated bass line by Joe Osborn that kicks off the song?)
The following year’s self-titled release, The Association, was a less cohesive affair, but it did produce a paean to everyone’s favorite member of the cabbage family – broccoli – that, nevertheless, raises the question: should humor be permitted in music?
“Broccoli”
The Association (1969)
“Italian Asparagus“
According to Texas A&M’s Aggie Horticulture website —
Despite broccoli’s antiquity, sprouting broccoli apparently was unknown in England until about 1720, when it was introduced as ‘sprout cauliflower’ or ‘Italian asparagus.’ It is surprising that such an excellent vegetable as sprouting broccoli, known for more than 2,000 years in Europe and perhaps 200 years in America, should have become popular here only in the past 25 years. Since 1925 it has suddenly become an important market and home-garden plant in the United States.
Written by Russ Giguere –
who wrote the group’s smash hit, “Windy“
Two years later, Giguere would cut a solo album for Warner Brothers – Hexagram 16 – on which he would enjoy backing from Jim Keltner and Russ Kunkel (drums); Chris Ethridge and Larry Knechtel (bass); Bobby Womack, Buddy Emmons, and Judee Sill (guitar); Spooner Oldham (piano); Bud Shank (flute); and Herb Pederson (banjo).
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LINK to Humor +/- Satire on Zero to 180
