Zero to 180 – Three Minute Magic

Discoveries of a Pop Music Archaeologist

Tag: Warner Bros

"Come Softly to Me"
Zeroto180

“Come Softly to Me”: Cinematically Recast

Crossing Delancey – a surprisingly compelling “small film” about a pickle salesman in pursuit of love – features a soundtrack sprinkled with songs by The Roches, highlighted by their endearing cover of The Fleetwoods‘ #1 1959 hit, “Come Softly to Me,” the film score’s emotional centerpiece: Neither The Roches nor

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"Body Surfing With the Jet Set"
Zeroto180

“Body Surfing With the Jet Set”: Anyone for Beach Bums?

The words of Rod McKuen and music of Anita Kerr effortlessly intertwine on this breezy romp through the Pacific Coast of one’s mind: “Body Surfing With the Jet Set“ The San Sebastian Strings (1970) “Body Surfing With the Jet Set” serves, fittingly, as side one’s closing track of 1970 album,

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"Mandolina"
Zeroto180

“Mandolinia” vs. The Remarkable Riderless Runaway Tricycle

Media Alert! A battle has suddenly erupted between two formidable foes who share a common sound — the analog synthesizer.  Not just any analog synthesizer sound, mind you, but a deep burbling one:  pulsating and insistent. In this corner, wearing a strangely intricate electronic eyepiece, we have Ronnie Montrose with

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"Broccoli"
Zeroto180

“Broccoli”: Virtually Unknown in the US until the 1920s

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

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"If You Never Say Goodbye"
Zeroto180

“If You Never Say Goodbye”: Warner Brothers Drops the Ball

Dionne Warwicke‘s first album for Warner Brothers in 1972, sadly, was her last with masterful songwriting duo, Burt Bacharach and Hal David, their partnership in the process of dissolution.  How perplexing that Warner Brothers would lure Dionne with a five-million dollar contract (big money in 1971) but then only release

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"Baroque-a-Nova"
Zeroto180

Mason Williams: Music + Comedy + Art

From David Bianculli‘s history of the Smothers Brothers’ groundbreaking television variety show, I discovered that Mason Williams was much more than the guy who wrote the million-selling instrumental, “Classical Gas.”   Williams not only recorded albums for Warner Brothers (and Mercury & Vee Jay) but also wrote incisive and edgy sketches for

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"Look at My Face"
Zeroto180

Look At Alan Price’s Face – But Be Sure To Listen To His Synth

Alan Price gets an intoxicating sound out of his trusty synthesizer on this lovely track from 1974’s Between Today and Yesterday on Warner Brothers: “Look at My Face“ Alan Price (1974) LP Musician & Production Credits Alan Price – Piano, Organ & Vocals Colin Green – Guitar Dave Markee – Bass

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"Bongo Man"
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Jimmy Cliff: Bongo Man II

In 1970 Jamaican music legend, Jimmy Cliff, was behind a recording that used powerful Nyabinghi drumming as the song’s primary percussion track, “Bongo Man“: A couple years ago I picked up one of those Warner Brothers artist samplers at a local flea market, this one a double album from the

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