Althouse: When you want to hear a song but you need a cover version because you're not up for the harsh saxophone in the original....

April 10, 2022

When you want to hear a song but you need a cover version because you're not up for the harsh saxophone in the original....

... I found this:

I was in the mood to listen to that song after talking about rhyming in this post (and its comments). Here's the original by Supertramp. It's perfectly fine. I just don't need a saxophone yelling at me.

57 comments:

Andrew said...: Weird serendipity. I was just listening to The Long Way Home recently. But it's a harmonica wailing in that one.; 4/10/22, 11:18 AM
The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...: Jeez, the Class of ‘68 longing for Muzak. What next? Trusting the FBI and the CIA?

And it was Supertramp, for crying out loud. It isn’t like you were looking for a more palatable version of a Husker Du song.; 4/10/22, 11:27 AM
loudogblog said...: “A saxophone player has an ill-wind that blows no good” was published in a syndicated “Tom Sims Says” newspaper column in December 1921.; 4/10/22, 11:33 AM
tim in vermont said...: Like that cymbal in The Joker, was the drummer pissed off? Or so high he maybe should have lain down for a while. Maybe he let his nephew or his girlfriend play it, IDK.; 4/10/22, 11:38 AM
Joe Smith said...: Supertramp had a unique sound, but to me they are in that weird 'talented but mostly unlistenable' category, along with Jethro Tull and the Eurythmics (to name two).; 4/10/22, 11:46 AM
Iman said...: Yakety Sax? Go see Mr. Acker Bilk!; 4/10/22, 12:05 PM
Ann Althouse said...: I don't know if there's any example of saxophone (or trumpet) in rock music that I don't wish had been left out.; 4/10/22, 12:05 PM
Iman said...: Earlier circa ’74-‘75 stuff was better…; 4/10/22, 12:06 PM
Temujin said...: Supertramp was an acquired taste. Yes, they had some hits. But when you listened to their entire albums, there was a lot of unique sound there. Some very good, some...weird. But they definitely had their own sound- both musically and vocally.

Not sure I need to hear the 'Logical Song' without the sax. It does become sort of Muzak in that version. Is this what we've become? "Turn down that noise. And...get off my lawn!"

Perhaps.; 4/10/22, 12:06 PM
Gator said...: Ann says, "I don't know if there's any example of saxophone (or trumpet) in rock music that I don't wish had been left out."

I agree nearly 100%, the only exception I can think of is "I Can't Stay" by The Killers and even that is sort of rock music and the saxophonist is not a member of the band. The live version at Royal Albert Hall is amazing to watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaTWKiQTQeM

Unfortunately the saxophonist killed himself a few years ago.; 4/10/22, 12:11 PM
Joe Smith said...: 'I don't know if there's any example of saxophone (or trumpet) in rock music that I don't wish had been left out.'

Not sure if you consider Steely Dan 'rock' (some do), but the Phil Woods sax solo on 'Doctor Wu' is sublime.

As good a short solo as has ever been played.

The same for any sax part on 'Dark Side of the Moon.' 'Us and Them' in particular...; 4/10/22, 12:17 PM
Earnest Prole said...: My wife of 35 years has slowly but steadily warmed to Bob Dylan’s charms, with one critical exception: She cannot bear the sound of his harmonica and will plug her ears if she happens to hear it. She says the particular tone sets her nerves on edge and the response is involuntary. I do my best to edit the offending songs from my playlist, both to increase her enjoyment of Dylan’s music and to increase the odds we stay married.; 4/10/22, 12:24 PM
Amexpat said...: I don't know if there's any example of saxophone (or trumpet) in rock music that I don't wish had been left out.

The sax in Baker Street works for me.; 4/10/22, 12:31 PM
The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...: “I don't know if there's any example of saxophone (or trumpet) in rock music that I don't wish had been left out.”

Yikes! The English Beat’s first album without Saxa? Gut my 18 year-old self…; 4/10/22, 12:32 PM
Bill Peschel said...: "'I don't know if there's any example of saxophone (or trumpet) in rock music that I don't wish had been left out.'"

I just listened to a wonderful cover of Gerry Rafferty's Baker Street, in which the sax riff is essential.

https://youtu.be/y3aCFoIZRh8

I loved Pomplamoose's songs when they were getting started, so it's nice to see they're still performing. Pretty silly hygiene theater in this viddy, though. I guess they think singing doesn't spread the Covid cooties.; 4/10/22, 12:37 PM
Howard said...: Shine on You Crazy Diamond.; 4/10/22, 1:00 PM
Brian McKim and/or Traci Skene said...: Cracker Emcee Refulgent sez:

"Yikes! The English Beat’s first album without Saxa? Gut my 18 year-old self…"

Saw them at the Ripley in PHL-- the full band WITH Saxa! Their "I Just Can't Stop It!" album got me through the long slog of open mics and horrific, beer-money one-nighters.

(Full disclosure: I bought Supertramp's "Crime of the Century" because of "Bloody Well Right," which has some splendid saxaphone.)

I grew to hate sax in the mid-80s, when it was mandatory on every recording for a period of about 18 months.

Saw Colin Hay (great, defining sax on "Who Can It Be Now?") and Violent Femmes a few years back on the roof of the Cosmo here in Vegas and was charmed by Blaise Garza, who played a giant bass sax, so large it rested on a stand while he played it!; 4/10/22, 1:00 PM
Robt C said...: "I don't know if there's any example of saxophone (or trumpet) in rock music that I don't wish had been left out."

The sax solo in "Who Can It Be Now" by Men at Work makes the song.; 4/10/22, 1:10 PM
Robert Cook said...: I've been a fan of Pomplamoose's videos and songs for many years. They began as just a duo, multi-instrumenalist Jack Conte (the keyboard player here) and his wife Nataly Dawn, (the singer here, who also played bass in their earlier videos).

Conte, btw, is the creator and co-founder of Patreon.; 4/10/22, 1:32 PM
Ironclad said...: The vocalist has no range. It’s almost flat with emotion And the band is wearing masks? Same room. Same air Total turn off%; 4/10/22, 1:33 PM
Coop said...: The version you posted is much more appealing than the original. I agree that the sax is a bit in your face on the original but not sure that portion of the song is adequately covered in this cover. But I was went back and forth on the versions and determined it was really a difference in lead vocals. While the original is crisp and almost aggressive in enunciation, the cover vocalist is more angelic and smooth. A bit breathy but not distracting.

She makes it a bit more current. But, it seems lacking a bit. So my wind wandered on angelic type voices which reminded me of the first few songs of Tool’s later album Fear Innoculum and Maynard James Keenan’s considerably softer tone than he traditionally uses on other albums as well as Fear Innoculum’s progression through it’s tracks. And following that thought I was reminded of his project band, A Perfect Circle and the wonderful release of “So Long and Thanks for All the Fish”. I would love to see Tool, APC or just Keenan cover “The Logical Song” and I imagine whatever he came up with in lieu of the saxophone would be masterful.

Here is the link to APC’s “So long…” https://youtu.be/UkHSmDxX1t4; 4/10/22, 1:34 PM
Earnest Prole said...: Three indelible songs with essential saxophone:

Steely Dan’s “Deacon Blues.”

Al Stewart’s “Year of the Cat,” where the solo moves seamlessly from acoustic guitar to electric guitar to saxophone.

George Michael’s stone masterpiece “Careless Whisper.”; 4/10/22, 1:43 PM
Jupiter said...: Logical Song?

That's Racist!; 4/10/22, 1:46 PM
F said...: One of the key musicians of the group Supertramp is John Helliwell, the sax player. His sax solo in “The Logical Song” is a commentary on the music, it is in opposition to the keyboards played by the two main songwriters, Hodgson and Davies. The song is presenting two points of view, the benefits of conforming to English society and the raw emotional power of letting your personal desires rule. When you take away the sax, you destroy the underlying meaning of the music. That’s why the other version of the song, without the sax, is Musazk.; 4/10/22, 1:53 PM
Yancey Ward said...: A solid cover of a favorite of mine. Breakfast in America is one of the 13 free albums I got with my Columbia Record Club membership in 1980, and remains one of my top ten favorites of all time. I spin it up on Youtube in the background about 3 or 4 times a year.; 4/10/22, 1:56 PM
DINKY DAU 45 said...: TURN THE PAGE PERFECT..; 4/10/22, 1:59 PM
Iman said...: Ann Althouse said...
I don't know if there's any example of saxophone (or trumpet) in rock music that I don't wish had been left out.

“Baker Street” Gerry Rafferty; 4/10/22, 2:13 PM
William50 said...: I liked the sax in "The Heart of Rock and Roll" by Huey Lewis.; 4/10/22, 2:15 PM
Andrew said...: 'I don't know if there's any example of saxophone (or trumpet) in rock music that I don't wish had been left out."

Well, others jumped on Baker Street before I could.

And while I am not at all a fan of Janet Jackson (and she is more "pop" than "rock"), add Herb Alpert and it becomes something special.

https://youtu.be/SqXT3FVPgLU; 4/10/22, 2:29 PM
MadTownGuy said...: Danny Kaye:

"It all began when I was born a month too soon
My ma was frightened by a runaway saloon
Pa was forced to be a hobo
Because he played the oboe
And the oboe, it is clearly understood
Is an ill wind that no one blows good"; 4/10/22, 2:30 PM
maximusK said...: Ms. Althouse said "I don't know if there's any example of saxophone (or trumpet) in rock music that I don't wish had been left out."

I agree with the sax, but the trumpet? I object!

Genesis - No reply at all, and others?
Phil Collins - can't think of one of the top of my head but there were a few.
Chicago - every song?

I could add more but I think I've made my point.; 4/10/22, 2:33 PM
Michael K said...: This is my favorite cover band, but of course they are Russians so cover your ears.; 4/10/22, 2:58 PM
Fritz said...: The Dead's Mexicali Blues.; 4/10/22, 3:04 PM
Carol said...: I liked the sax in Brown Sugar.

But sax generally went away for a few years around 1968 but came back with a vengeance. Yet totally supplanted by guitar nonetheless.

It had a good run.; 4/10/22, 3:06 PM
jerpod said...: I always thought that The Rolling Stones at their peak in the 70s made the best possible use of horns: blats and blares and long, loud roller coaster slides that added serious punch, almost like percussion. Think "Bitch" and "Rocks Off" and "Brown Sugar".

Or maybe that was just Bobby Keys.; 4/10/22, 3:36 PM
PerthJim said...: The sax (and synth-sax) of the 80's was a bit tiresome, and Supertramp's best stuff (and less sax content) came earlier in their career but there is lots of great sax in rock. Several mentioned above, especially the Beat and Pink Floyd, and Lennon's "Whatever Gets you Through the Night" came immediately to mind, but I'm surprised this thread has gone this long without a mention of the great Clarence Clemons. His solos in concert were sometimes chill-inducing (see: Jungleland for example).; 4/10/22, 4:45 PM
Mr. Forward said...: "Take a Walk on the Wild Side" Lou Reed. The baritone saxophone solo played over the fadeout of the song is performed by Ronnie Ross, who had taught David Bowie to play the saxophone during Bowie's childhood. Wiki; 4/10/22, 4:49 PM
JMW Turner said...: Meh...this version is cocktail music. Also, what's with the affectation of backing musicians in face masks in contrast to the wan lead singerett?; 4/10/22, 5:02 PM
jerpod said...: Also, the saxophone on David Bowie's "Young Americans" is pretty darn integral to the sound and feel of hat song.; 4/10/22, 5:13 PM
SoLastMillennium said...: Don't mellow my Harsh!; 4/10/22, 5:36 PM
Clyde said...: The sax on Bob Seger's "Nine Tonight."

Clarence Clemons on most of Bruce Springsteen's music.

The Tower of Power horns backing up Huey Lewis and the News on "The Power of Love." I saw them in concert when I was in Berlin back in late '80s. Awesome show, with a then-unknown-to-me Melissa Etheridge opening the show with an acoustic guitar solo set and blowing me away. I bought her debut CD at the show.; 4/10/22, 6:04 PM
Jay Vogt said...: Ann Althouse said...I don't know if there's any example of saxophone (or trumpet) in rock music that I don't wish had been left out.

Hugh Masekela in "So You Want to be a Rock & Roll Star"

. . . . . I'm just sayin'; 4/10/22, 6:14 PM
Yancey Ward said...: I see someone mentioned "Careless Whisper"- no way the sax doesn't help set the mood for that song- absolutely integral.; 4/10/22, 6:27 PM
Ann Althouse said...: “ "Take a Walk on the Wild Side" Lou Reed. The baritone saxophone solo played over the fadeout of the song is performed …”

That was a good suggestion for me. I’ve always liked that recording. The sax is very mellow and nonaggressive, so it’s not like that screaming, showoffy stuff in Supertramp or Springsteen. And it only shows up after more than 3 minutes to close things down. But my statement still holds. I’d prefer no brass.

Someone mentioned Chicago. I hated that whole trend in rock music.; 4/10/22, 6:27 PM
Ann Althouse said...: “ Also, the saxophone on David Bowie's "Young Americans" is pretty darn integral to the sound…”

I’d prefer that without the sax. I can see that it’s well integrated, but let me here it without that irritating sound.; 4/10/22, 6:30 PM
Joe Smith said...: 'Someone mentioned Chicago. I hated that whole trend in rock music.'

40 million albums sold in the US alone.

Heckuva 'trend.' : )

Admit it, AA. You're a saxaphobe.; 4/10/22, 7:13 PM
maximusK said...: An anti-sax-ite; 4/10/22, 7:33 PM
John Orzechowski said...: So you don't like saxophones. Do you prefer bagpipes?

https://www.poetry.com/poem/32485/the-ballad-of-how-macpherson-held-the-floor; 4/10/22, 7:54 PM
John Orzechowski said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 4/10/22, 7:55 PM
Lucien said...: I bet Ann finds the trumpets on “Penny Lane” beneficial.; 4/10/22, 8:29 PM
Andrew said...: How could I/we forget?
"Money" - Pink Floyd; 4/10/22, 9:00 PM
Iman said...: “Reva’s House” by Los Lobos… such a simple sax riff, but it adds a lot.; 4/10/22, 10:17 PM
West TX Intermediate Crude said...: Re sax, trumpets-
Nobody so far has mentioned very early Blood Sweat and Tears- when Al Kooper was still involved, before they tried to go pop. Several songs on "Child is Father to the Man" album used all sorts of wind instruments extremely well- those guys were good. "Try "Something Going On" for an intro to that album.; 4/11/22, 5:32 AM
Iman said...: Sly and the Family Stone. “Dance to the Music”.; 4/11/22, 6:28 AM
richlb said...: Love Pomplamoose. They got some exposure a few years ago when they were features in some Holiday car commercials (I think Hyundai).; 4/11/22, 7:13 AM
lonejustice said...: I'm definitely a Saxon.; 4/11/22, 8:55 AM
walter said...: Asaxual.; 4/11/22, 7:26 PM