Turntable Talk #26 – Music Music!

It’s time once again for another edition of Turntable Talk – our monthly, music topic from Dave at A Sound Day. This time around Dave’s topic is music! He says, “There are many great songs about music, so let’s highlight them. Pick a song you like either about music itself (eg, ‘I love Music’ and so on)  or about the life of a musician making music . Or anything else you can think of about music… about music!”

To have a topic that is as broad as this only makes it more difficult to decide what to write about. The first thing I did was think of all the songs I could with “music” or “song” in the title. Then I began to think about the genres of music – blues, rock, etc… Then songs about writing songs and playing music and musical instruments came to mind. My list of possibilities was huge, however, with each song I looked at, I just didn’t feel like I had one that “fit” the topic.

The more I looked at my list of songs and artists, my mind began to think of songs that mentioned other musicians. Night Shift by the Commodores mentions Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson. Then there was Sweet Soul Music by Arthur Conley which mentions some of the great soul singers. The more I thought along these lines, I came to my choice. This choice could have easily been featured last month, as many think of it as a novelty song.

When I think music, I think about singers, radio, DJ’s, record labels, dance crazes, and the many hit songs that made people feel good. I think about how they all come together to make music an experience. When you listen to Life is a Rock by Reunion, in just over three minutes you get a very quick music history lesson and travel through decades of “music.”

Reunion was founded in 1974 by songwriters Paul DiFranco and Norman Dolph. Truth be told, they had little success with the group, that is until they tapped bubblegum pop veteran Joey Levine to revamp a song they had shelved called “Life Is A Rock.”

Songfacts.com says : “I loved it, thought it was great,” Levine said of the original tune. “But I told ’em that the record they cut with it was really missing the mark. I’d love to just spruce it up.” The resulting demo, recorded at the Hit Factory in New York City, is a celebration of all things music. Levine rattles off a list of iconic musicians and beloved songs, interrupted by a soaring chorus about the magic of radio.”

The machine-gun vocal delivery,” DiFranco told Billboard, “is a result of no rehearsing whatsoever. The key was to read the lines rapidly and not to memorize them at all.” Levine, who was in the Ohio Express and had hits with Yummy, Yummy, Yummy and Chewy, Chewy helped to make the song sound “happy.” DiFranco told Rolling Stone, “We’re in the business to make happy, funny records, and I think right now it’s important for music to stay happy.”

Thanks to “Life Is A Rock,” Reunion was a one-hit-wonder. RCA tried to convince the makeshift group to record an album and go on tour, but Levine reasoned the associated costs would eat into the royalties from their Top 10 hit. “I figured it was just a novelty idea,” he explained.

As fast as he rattles off those lyrics, I cannot imagine ever being able to do that live in concert. I guess it can be done, though, Billy Joel does it for We Didn’t Start the Fire.

This was one of those songs that they cut special versions for Top 40 stations across the country. The line the changed in the chorus was “Life is a rock, but the radio rolled me.” The singers would substitute call letters for specific stations. Super CFL in Chicago’s was sang, “Life is a rock, but CFL rolled me..” (Side note: This still happens. When I worked on the country station, they would insert the call letters, city names, specific rivers, and sports teams in the lyrics on certain songs.)

Life is a Rock was a top 10 record in 1974. I will post the video with the lyrics on screen, however, I will warn you, it is even hard to read along because Levine sings them so fast! Thanks to Song Facts this will help you a bit, too:

Musicians and songwriters mentioned by name (in order of appearance) are: B. Bumble and the Stingers, Mott the Hoople, Ray Charles Singers, Lonnie Mack, Twangin’ Eddy (Duane Eddy), Poco, Deep Purple, Sam Cooke, Lesley Gore, Ritchie Valens, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Richard Perry, Phil Spector, Jeff Barry, The Righteous Brothers, The Archies, Harry Nilsson, Fats Is Back (Fats Domino), Brenda & the Tabulations, Carly Simon, Noddy Holder, Johnny Cash, Johnny Rivers, Mungo Jerry, Peter, Paul and Mary, Dr. John, Doris Day, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Bonnie Bramlett, Wilson Pickett, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Dale Hawkins, Ronnie Hawkins, John Denver, Donny Osmond, J. J. Cale, ZZ Top, David Bowie, Steely Dan, Edgar Winter, Joanie Sommers, Osmond Brothers, Johnny Thunders, Eric Clapton, and Stephen Foster. Legendary disc jockeys Alan Freed and Murray the K also earn nods.

Whew! That’s not even the song references!

Thanks once again to Dave for a great topic and allowing me to take part. Thanks to the other bloggers who participate. I always enjoy reading their contributions. Finally, thanks to YOU for reading!