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pixiesseixip
- FB Fan -
75 Posts |
 Posted - 05/01/2004 : 22:50:20
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Does anyone know the story behind the pixies cover of "head on"?
It came out only a couple of months after the jesus and mary chain version and I heard that the pixies version is not really meant to "pay tribute" to the jesus and mary chain version. In fact, I heard it was quite the opposite. Apparently the pixies heard this song so much, grew to hate it, and therefore decided to cover it for Trompe Le Monde as a joke. Hence the straight-forward, almost dead-on rendition that they do.
If this is true, I would think it funny that they have played it a couple of times on this latest tour.
Does anyone know the real story?
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Edited by - pixiesseixip on 05/01/2004 22:53:40 |
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Douglas
= Cult of Ray =
Sweden
308 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2004 : 02:48:15
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quote:
"This song was continuously played on the radio while we were recording the album. It was too fresh in memories to cover it. That's why we did it" (Black Francis)
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Larry Norman Jr
- FB Fan -
45 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2004 : 04:14:38
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I do not believe both versions are that similar. One of the Reid boys even said: "This is the way it should have been played..." in response to hearing the TLM version..
<< watch what you're doing or 6-60-6 gon' get you >> |
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Thomas
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1615 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2004 : 04:23:38
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I do not think it is a "dead-on rendition" at all. There is a guote somewhere from the J&MC that compliments the Pixies version by say something like, "That is how the song was supposed to sound like." or something to that effect. Don't sue me for a missquote. In the J&MC version they actually say "Head On" in the song, not so in the Pixies version. Just my take.
"Our Love is Rice and Beans and Horses Lard" |
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pixiesseixip
- FB Fan -
75 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2004 : 07:02:04
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Of course the two versions are not IDENTICAL. My point was the pixies did not change it much from the original(a la "wild honey pie" or "in heaven").
REGARDLESS though, my question still remains, did they cover the jesus and mary chain because they liked them? or were they mocking them? |
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pixiesseixip
- FB Fan -
75 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2004 : 07:04:00
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quote:
Originally posted by Douglas
quote:
"This song was continuously played on the radio while we were recording the album. It was too fresh in memories to cover it. That's why we did it" (Black Francis)
This is similar to the story I heard, but does not help in terms of letting us know if the pixies got sick of hearing the song too much? what does "it was too fresh in memories to cover it" mean?
did he mean to say "it was too fresh in memories to NOT cover it"? |
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Douglas
= Cult of Ray =
Sweden
308 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2004 : 07:57:17
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| I'd say that from that quote it seems that they didn't do it to mock J&MC. but it's hard to say |
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peter radiator
= Cult of Ray =
USA
653 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2004 : 12:13:52
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I recall reading in a very old interview where Frank said that when he and the rest of the band first heard that song, they all agreed that it "sounded just like something they would have written themselves."
Someone in or near the group suggested they cover it as a friendly joke on The J & MC (whom they apparently had no gripe with and may have even dug), the kicker being that back in the '50s and '60s it was commonplace for groups to record almost note-for-note covers of popular songs and release them within a few months time to try and capitalize on the first success - but that practice had long since been deemed "tacky."
I think it was always meant as a tip of the hat, and when it was well-recived by fans and critics, they notched up the joke even further by actually shooting a great video for it and promoting it as a radio single.
~ Peter Radiator
"Real music is out there and real people are making it." ~ Webb Wilder |
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VoVat
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
9168 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2004 : 12:33:55
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quote:
what does "it was too fresh in memories to cover it" mean?
did he mean to say "it was too fresh in memories to NOT cover it"?
I'm pretty sure he meant exactly what he said. The Pixies purposely covered a song that they knew they really shouldn't have been covering, at least according to the general beliefs of the time (as peter radiator mentioned).
I find the Pixies' version of "Head On" to be much more energetic than the original.
I've reached 1000 posts / So I'm too cool to be in a cult. |
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pixiesseixip
- FB Fan -
75 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2004 : 20:14:15
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quote:
Originally posted by peter radiator
I recall reading in a very old interview where Frank said that when he and the rest of the band first heard that song, they all agreed that it "sounded just like something they would have written themselves."
Someone in or near the group suggested they cover it as a friendly joke on The J & MC (whom they apparently had no gripe with and may have even dug), the kicker being that back in the '50s and '60s it was commonplace for groups to record almost note-for-note covers of popular songs and release them within a few months time to try and capitalize on the first success - but that practice had long since been deemed "tacky."
I think it was always meant as a tip of the hat, and when it was well-recived by fans and critics, they notched up the joke even further by actually shooting a great video for it and promoting it as a radio single.
~ Peter Radiator
"Real music is out there and real people are making it." ~ Webb Wilder
Thanks!!! That story makes sense, and pretty much jives with what I had heard. I guess "head on" was a friendly poke at the jesus and mary chain! |
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Sprite
* Dog in the Sand *
1329 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2004 : 02:34:27
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| I'm sot sure about the close timing of the Pixies and J&MC versions as Automatic came out in 1989. I really like the J&MC especialy Stoned & Dethroned (released long after the UK music press had finished with them) which has a DITS rootsy feel to it but I hate the Pixies version of Head on - its the only Pixies song I ever skip. |
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leamanc
- FB Fan -
12 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2004 : 09:23:16
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| I don't recall exactly where I read it, but I know Frank was/is a JAMC fan. I don't think the cover was meant to be a shot at the JAMC. As others mentioned, it was an example of a classic pop tradition (covering recent songs as a cash-in) just turned inside-out by the Pixies. |
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DruggedBunny
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
395 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2004 : 13:28:12
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There's a TV interview from the time, where he says (and sadly, this is almost verbatim), "it was only 3 chords, it was on the radio every day, and we liked it a lot, and they looked pretty damn good in their video, so... what the heck, let's do a Mary Chain song". He was always a fan -- he even says the River Euphrates guitar solo (on the live/single versions) is a Mary Chain ripoff.
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"Nothing to do about it..." |
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oddball
- FB Fan -
Germany
242 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2004 : 14:08:12
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The Jesus and Mary Chain album "Automatic", containing the song head on, was played over the P.A. system in Heidelberg before the Frank Black and the Catholics concert back in November...for what its worth.
Erik |
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roomloo
= Cult of Ray =
USA
710 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2004 : 14:18:41
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| The J&MC version was played on the PA during one of the warmup tour shows, can't remember which one. I want to say Vancouver 4/23. |
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anazgnos
= Cult of Ray =
USA
383 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2004 : 15:19:16
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| Their version of the song is not ironic, but I think their motivation in covering it was. Just the irony of covering a contemporary song where the original version was still part of the public consciousness. |
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hilljack
- FB Fan -
33 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2004 : 17:54:00
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| I remember that it kinda blew my mind at the time. I really was into Automatic (especially Head On), and I thought it was so cool that they covered it so close to when the J&MC song came out. |
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darkoutsider
= Cult of Ray =
USA
285 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2004 : 18:09:57
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I remember my friends band, Starveya, use to cover it all the time a few years back. I'd never heard of J&MC and just started listening to the Pixies. For the longest I thought it was an original, and if you've heard they're original you'd see why. But then I heard the Pixies version and I was confused. Then I heard J&MC version and I was more confused. But I'd say they must have liked J&MC because they did the song so well. If they were mocking it they'd throw in something to make it seem like a joke. By doing it that accurate - with a few modifications here and there - they or at least Frank must have been fans.
We say we care, but look away. |
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Malax
* Dog in the Sand *
United Kingdom
1340 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2004 : 18:35:37
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quote:
Originally posted by pixiesseixip
Of course the two versions are not IDENTICAL. My point was the pixies did not change it much from the original(a la "wild honey pie" or "in heaven").
REGARDLESS though, my question still remains, did they cover the jesus and mary chain because they liked them? or were they mocking them?
How can you say that head on is identical (I know you have explained) but then not think that about in heaven? That song is exactly the same except for Franks screaming at the end. If he didn't scream it would be no different.
I May've Joined The Cult Of Frank If I Knew What The Balls Was Going On.
*Adapted By Carolynanna* |
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Topic |
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Story behind "Head On" cover-version??
