Friday, April 25, 2008

Last Man Standing Friday Random Ten

I realized recently that I'm just about the last blogger still doing the Friday Random Ten. No problem-- I still love doing it, and will continue doing it. And when it becomes all the rage again in the future, you'll all be saying "Hey-- Johnny Yen's been doing this all along!"


1. Everybody Plays the Fool- The Main Ingredient
2. Ticket To Ride- The Beatles
3. I Can Help- Billy Swan
4. Never Said Nothing- Liz Phair
5. Mexican Radio- El Vez
6. Give It Away- Red Hot Chili Peppers
7. Me and Bobby McGee- Janis Joplin
8. Little Deuce Coupe- The Beach Boys
9. I Fall To Pieces- Patsy Cline and Jim Reeves
10. Early Morning Rain- Gordon Lightfoot


Notes:
1. This was The Main Ingredient's biggest hit, in 1972. Looking them up, I discovered that their lead singer was Cuba Gooding Sr., the father of the actor.
2. One of the great opening riffs ever.
3. Another one-hit-wonder.
4. From Liz Phair's first and best album.
5. This guy is so cool-- a Mexican-American Elvis impersonator who sings politicized versions of pop hits.
6. Remember when Flea was a musician and not an actor?
7. Great Kris Kristopherson song done by the late Janis Joplin.
8. I love me some Beach Boys.
9. A rerecording of one of Patsy's hits with another country legend singing with her.
10. Peter, Paul and Mary and Ian and Sylvia did nice versions of this song as well.

10 comments:

Joe said...

Keep going with the random ten! I'll have one up later today

Erik Donald France said...

#5 -- this is his version of Wall of Voodoo?

Kewel.

Johnny Yen said...

Bubs-
Cool!

Erik-
That's correct.

Have you ever heard his version of Elvis' "In The Ghetto?" Of course, it's "In El Barrio.' Way cool.

Did you know that he was an original member of The Zeros, an early punk band that was all hispanic?

Splotchy said...

I'd like to hear that Mexican Radio cover.

There are still people out there doing the Friday Random 10 -- Matty Boy, for example.

Mnmom said...

Love em all, except the Beach Boys - never could stomach most of their stuff.

Johnny Yen said...

Splotchy-
I'll email it to you!

Mnmom-
A lot of people I know don't like them. I'd always love the melodies and songs, and grew to love them even more after I learned to play guitar; I began to really respect good song-writing.

lulu said...

El Vez was in Catholic Discipline as well. My friend Belinda was one of his original El Vettes and Sharon and I have had the opportunity to met him. A lovely guy.

I'm glad you're still doing your shuffle 10. I stopped because I don't work on Fridays, and I don't have computer at home.

Cup said...

I always enjoy checking out your Random Ten. They's always so ... random ... which makes them wonderful.

justacoolcat said...

"I realized recently that I'm just about the last blogger still doing the Friday Random Ten"

You have no idea how wrong that is.

Johnny Yen said...

Lulu-
You've mentioned that before. I need to catch him next time he's in town.

Beth-
My tastes are kind of all over the place, aren't they?

Justacoolcat-
I stand corrected!