Old Records You Don't Play-SiriusXM This Week

The ones you love but rarely listen to.

Tune in Saturday August 24th to Faction Talk, channel 103, at 4 PM East, 1 PM West.

Phone #: 844-686-5863 

X/Twitter: @lefsetz

If you miss the episode, you can hear it on demand on the SiriusXM app. Search: Lefsetz 


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Kamala's Speech

Be afraid Donald, be very afraid.

This election is all about perception, and the media keeps talking about the issues.

The most important article you will read this week is in the "New Yorker":

"Among America's 'Low-Information' Voters":

https://apple.news/AvKdeIufhTTyhvRt-PvK60g

I hear from these people every day. You're never going to change their opinion. If you quote the "Times," they'll point to Facebook. They're not budging from their support of Trump and...

We've got the Pro-Palestinian contingent. Weren't they supposed to disrupt the convention, turn it into another '68? Well, it turns out the noise made by a few was larger than the feelings of the many. We live in a myopic country, most people can't find Gaza on a map, they might hate the Jews but that has got nothing to do with this election.

It's old versus new, baby. The known versus the unknown. Depression versus joy. A potentially bright future compared to a return to a bleak past. The world only moves forward, do you want to go back?

Really, no one does, but they're afraid of the future, the unknown, they need someone to hold their hand and make them feel like it's going to be all right.

And that's what Kamala Harris did last night. Actually, she equivocated on Gaza, saying the Israelis deserved support but too many people are being killed in Gaza, but how many people were really listening to that anyway?

And you'll hear all the naysayers, on both sides of the political fence, saying they still need to hear more about the issues, that that's what this election depends upon... NO IT DOESN'T!

If you weren't already in the bag for Kamala, what you saw last night was an intelligent woman with all her faculties, a competent woman, a younger woman, saying she's on the case.

Come on, most of what these candidates promise doesn't come to pass anyway, never mind the fact that both parties twist the truth.

But not like Donald Trump, the ultimate narcissist, who is spinning out of control.

The worst fear of a narcissist is no longer being on top, gaining the most attention. That's why Trump keeps lying about crowd size. Why he's boiling over all the focus on the Democratic convention and Kamala. That's his spot, and now they're usurping it!

Someone smart would change their game. That's what strategy is all about. But Trump is just doubling-down, digging his hole deeper.

Did you read about his phone call to Fox DURING Kamala's speech last night?

"Dialing In to Fox News, Trump Offers a Rambling Rebuttal to Harris's Speech - The network ended the live interview after 10 minutes. Beeps could be heard as the former president seemed to accidentally press the buttons on the keypad of his phone."

Free link: https://rb.gy/fye0v2

The piece-de-resistance was Greg Gutfeld's comment after Trump was cut off:

"'He's still talking, by the way,' Mr. Gutfeld joked."

I won't quite say that Fox News has turned into Don King, but the outlet is distancing itself from some of Trump's shenanigans (famously, King started out in the corner of his fighter, but when the opponent was winning, he slowly shifted to their end of the canvas).

You don't want to lose your core constituency.

And if you watched last night, you not only saw the rapt attention, but the raw inspiration and tears of women and people of color. Kamala was there for them.

Once again, it doesn't matter if you disagree, I'm talking about perception. You saw a deep desire and belief in Kamala the way you used to see it with Trump and his acolytes, but without the craziness. (Didn't Susan Powter implore us to stop the insanity?)

So what were the criticisms of Kamala in 2016... That she flip-flopped and was strident.

She ain't gonna flip-flop this time, as Ian Hunter sang, once bitten, twice shy.

As for being strident... She was the opposite of that last night. She was warm, and friendly, and she radiated intelligence and competence, and those qualities are not only lacking in Trump, people have been wondering about them re Biden for over a year.

But Joe's history.

Yet you've got Trump talking about Hunter last night. HYSTERICAL! A crybaby. You can only laugh.

So the bottom line is unless Kamala loses her mind and touches the third rail, the only thing that matters re the issues is the debate(s), when both candidates appear on stage.

Of course Kamala holds all the cards. From abortion on down. Statistics tell us most people support the Democratic agenda, even if they were disenchanted with Biden. And if Kamala prosecutes the case just like she did last night, it's over for Trump. He's going to amp it up with his lies, and she's going to smile and make fun of him.

This is where the non-primary is helping Kamala and the Democrats. She wasn't beaten to hell, she's not bruised and battered, she fresh as a daisy.

Meanwhile, Trump has been fighting his whole life.

And now he looks like his good friend Putin. Who told the world how powerful he was and then little Ukraine took Russian land and Putin still hasn't figured out what to do, he looks WEAK!

Trump looks anything but presidential these days. And like I said, it all comes down to perception.

And suddenly Trump doesn't dominate the news cycle. People have been bitching for eons about all his free press. Now it's all about Kamala, just like a new record replaces an old one on the chart.

Come on, do you really think someone is sitting at home debating who is better on immigration, Kamala or Trump?

There's this belief that the undecided are weighing the issues, calculating their votes... Nothing could be further from the truth.

No, what has happened is the disconnected have become incentivized. The battle has been recast. Suddenly Trump is the old fading man we know all about and Kamala is seen as new and fresh, a crusader against all the b.s. we've been experiencing from the right for years.

Once again, you right wingers can e-mail me your falsehoods, your hate of the left, ad infinitum, which you will do, but you're missing the point. THIS IS NOW A HIGH SCHOOL ELECTION!

Trump was never a wonk. That's not Harris's résumé. It's known bully versus new girl in school. It's that simple. It's a popularity contest. People want to see the self-satisfied male go down, it doesn't really matter who is running against him. But the fact that it's a fresh faced female...you can believe in that, you can have HOPE!

The blowback is already deafening. The mainstream media, the political junkies, they want to make it about the issues, the horse race, they want to dig deep, bloviate on TV, deliver their think pieces, not even knowing that most people are alienated by this class. No, most people are eager to get on with their lives. They believe Kamala is selling safety. Trump is selling chaos. And no one likes chaos.

That's why Trump got elected in 2016. He promised a disembowelment of the elite. And he did that. But there was no real plan after running, no idea what to do after victory. We mostly got the same Republican tax low get rid of services agenda we've always gotten from the right. With a whole bunch of hate to boot. Sure, some people want more of this, but most do not, they actually want us to get along, together.

And be able to get an abortion to boot.

That's how desperate Trump now is, he's changing his tune on abortion, trying to make it look like he's on the pro-choice side, assuming we've all had amnesia.

Once again, Trump is running on a record, and unless you're rich, the only benefit of his term was that it was anti-Democrat. Period. Whereas Harris is tainted by negative perception of the Biden term... But most people don't think the vice president has any power anyway.

And the video from the convention. Shawn Fain, with his "TRUMP IS A SCAB" t-shirt? And Ana Navarro comparing Trump to the leaders of her homeland Nicaragua? It's like shooting fish in a barrel. Trump's only second is Elon Musk, whose Tesla was outsold by BMW electric cars in Europe this quarter, and Wall Street can't get the X debt off its books, and...

Those in the right are in an echo chamber. Ignore them, even better, LAUGH AT THEM! They can't handle it, they've got no sense of humor. And most of the rank and file are completely uniformed on the issues.

So. other than the debates, Harris does not need to get down to the real nitty-gritty. It's only the pundit class who complain and want more detail. Her voters don't need it, they're IN!

Perception is Harris is a winner and Trump is a loser. Didn't he lose once already? And complained he didn't? That might work amongst his delusional fans, but no one else is buying it.

So it all comes down to turnout. That's the big concern of this election. Not what Kamala said today or Trump tomorrow. They'll meet together once, maybe a couple of times more, and then they'll be running separate operations that will not intersect, the final battle coming on Election Day.

This has been the right wing strategy forever, to get the left to fight the battle on their terms, to define the issues, force the left to play, whether it be inanities like Obama's birth certificate...and now Trump has rolled out that same trope with Kamala. If we don't pay attention to it, it doesn't exist!

Homey don't play that no more. The rules of engagement have been redrawn.

And I hate to tell you this, but it doesn't have a whole hell of a lot to do with Harris herself. The public was ready for a change, the public was ready for hope. We can question all day long whether she has enough experience, but how much experience did Trump have in 2016? NIL!

But now I'm taking the bait. The truth is Harris has plenty of experience. And when she said last night that her career has always been "For the people," man did that resonate.

So when people try to drag you into a discussion, the same battles we've been having for the last eight plus years, don't even bother. Don't insult, just, once again, laugh. Tell them you've got your team and we've got ours, and we'll see you on November 5th.

The popular vote is in the bag.

The Electoral College?

We need each and every vote.

At this point we don't need to convince you one way or the other, your mind is made up, even those who say it's not, they just like the attention, or they don't want to be labeled.

No, it all comes down to getting to the polls.

This is your job. Vote by mail if possible. In November drive people to their voting place. No excuses. I don't want to hear you're sick or don't care or...

This is the election of your lifetime.

Don't you want to have a say?

OF COURSE YOU DO!

And if everybody votes, that loser Trump will be banished forever, only to show up in court, hopefully to end up in jail.

Then we'll know there's justice for all the people, that the law applies to everybody.

I can't wait.


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Mailbag

Re: DJ Cassidy

When Cassidy was in high school , I was at his Dad's house (Jon Podell), at the time a great booking agent (CSNY) and many other huge artists. Jon sent me in to  try and tell Cassidy to put aside his passion to be a DJ and stay in school. Cassidy told  me basically to f*ck off. Yesterday I realize he became a star to spite of his Dad and me.

I take great pride in his success .  

Ron Stone

(Note: Zillions of people e-mailed to tell me DJ Cassidy was Jonny Podell's son, and almost all of them told me to KEEP IT OFF THE RECORD!, which I find hysterical, since it's public knowledge. But that's the music business, if you're not in it, you don't know it, because nobody talks. Having said that, those who stand up and speak their truth on the record are the ones who win.)

______________________________________

Re: DJ Cassidy

I've done a bunch of events with Cassidy… he's an absolute professional, and a curating party machine!!! We produced a few pass the mics for streaming fundraisers during the pandemic and raised a lot of $ for people hurting.  He's a good dude and a monster DJ!

Kerry Brown 
Owner Licorice Pizza Records & RLS

______________________________________

DJ Cassidy has been making his bones for 20 years or so. He often opened the years of JAYZ shows I ran and was professional and a step above the rest. He read the crowd and was grateful to be up there. 

We have hope and much to look forward to. Music is hope. 

Cheers 

Bobby Schneider 

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From: HARVEY B. LISBERG
Subject: 10cc

Hi bob glad that you and many fans felt the benefit of seeing 10cc again  . Just to clarify the move to mercury  which one of your readers  queriedI was purely because they were a subsidiary of phonogram whose offer was one of the highest in advance and royalty rates at the time no 4%of nothing any more !

Regards Harvey

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Subject: Re: Self-Promotion

Well Bob

I wrote a song 'Zo Zomer', a dutch song about the summer.
Than i released the song, choose a name- John de Koning- and it gotten played on the radio. And therefore it jumped on the Sterren Top 25, an hitlist that focus on dutch songs. On #22

Suddenly i was asked for promotion and photo's, but the singer of the song was not available.

So I decided that John was not available for promotions on the radio. Other artists are killing for a promotion slot on the radio.

Meanwhile the radio got some good feedback from the listeners.

And suddenly the media were writing about the song. Good or bad, and I was feeding them with information. But key was the unknown artists, with some funny facts (in the past he was writer of fortune cookie  texts) and a strong song (according to some radio dj's). The song went to #12.

After a podcast about the music industry (De Machine) cover the whatabouts of the song, all the serious main media jumped on the song.
The song went to #5

Other radio stations played the song, on tv there were coverage about this 'Song of the summer' and it went to a real hype.

'Zo Zomer' was on top of Spotify Viral 50 NL, and -still- Spotify Vital Hits

And
The song went to #3!

All with no budget, expect hiring a great plugger: Paul Jong!

There is still little information about the artist, and there is still 1 photo of him.  

What a great adventure!

______________________________________

Subject: Re: Re-Greg Kihn

Hi Bob,

Lots of mentions here about Beserkley label-mates The Rubinoos. A couple of weeks ago it was a thrill to present them at the small venue that I book, Hank Dietle's Tavern--their first time in our area since 1977, and they did not disappoint. It was sold out, and I was surprised to learn that a number of attendees didn't know their music, but wanted to check them out because, as one person said, "the cool kids were excited about it". Our musician community was out in force, and one exclaimed, "they sing like they're still in their twenties!" And they do. The harmonies were super, the energy in the room was really joyful. Long-time fans and new ones are still talking about it. Nights like that are why lifers in the biz like me do what we do, and fortunately for all of us The Rubinoos will be out & about again, in my opinion they are not to be missed!

As for "Pablo Picasso"…for many years now whenever I see the words Pablo Picasso, or hear them spoken, my brain adds "was never called an as*hole" in my head. Happens every time and I don't expect this will ever stop...nor do I want it to. 

Lisa V. White
Hank Dietle's Tavern

______________________________________

From: Nick Petropoulos
Subject: Re: The Last Dinner Party At The Fonda

This is a fascinating observation on the state of bands. Which proves your point on the commonplace of solo act/brand extension focus today. 

"The Rest Is Entertainment on Instagram: 'There have been just three weeks so far this decade where a band has been number one in the charts.'"

https://www.instagram.com/restisentertainment/reel/C9hOyt2oSz1/?igsh=MWQ3MGZra3BndHFmdg%3D%3D

______________________________________

From: Johnny Lloyd Rollins
Subject: Re: The Medium Affects The Message

Random note of how out of touch the labels are. My 17yr old son and I were recently watching Mad Men together. In season 2 there is a scene where Don Draper walks into the ocean as he contemplates his life. I immediately started to sing "return to innocence" by Enigma with the Native American vocal track. My son looked at me and was like "wtf are you singing?". So I showed him the video and he got it and laughed. The next day we were still watching mad men and he said "that song reminded me of some other tune that everyone is using on tik tok memes with some flute part and sampled drums".  So he tried to sing it and I reply "yeah! That's the same band that I showed you! ENIGMA!".  He was sooo blown away that we both were listening to the same band independently.
How many labels right now know that Enigma is trending with the kids on tik tok????  I doubt many at all. Apparently some remix of Sadeness is trending with kids right now. Lol
I told my son "this used to be called world music". Today it's just called music.

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Subject: The Country Coup

Bob,

Would love your thoughts on something that's been bugging me. 

I'm calling it "the country coup"

"The Country Coup "

This may be my hottest and most contraversial take yet. 

Post Malone, Beyoncé, Lana Del Rey, Falling In Reverse, and MGK. This is just the beginning. A plethora of stars already taking their shot at not only writing but releasing Nashville hit records. After all - Nashville does call itself music city. No need for any identifier or adjective before the word "music". 

Country is the most commercially successful the genre has ever been in its lifetime which has just surpassed its first century. 

But how did we get here?

In a land where radio seems to still be claimed as king, it would appear the streaming giants have arrived and a coup is taking place. 

In recent years it is my opinion that some of the strongholds of the Nashville music business have failed to understand their own expirations. Denied change. Resisted adaption and therefore ceased to survive and advance. 

It's not just labels, or radio, it's much more than that. 

A rich genre which once held its own grounds so sacred it hesitated to let outsiders in now has to deal with a hostile takeover. 

While artists like Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs and Lainey Wilson brought mainstream country music to the forefront globally, the "silent majority" of country fans, led by the likes of Zach Bryan, bolstered the anti-music row attitudes that fueled the flames of the genre to new heights. 

Outsiders saw an opportunity. 

There was blood in the water. 

Country music will be the hottest genre in the world for the next 18 months and who will be the face of it?

Post Malone. 

One of the world's uncontested, non genre confirming superstars. 

Not only will he be the face. But he will do it with an album completely written and recorded in Nashville. With features of every single one of the genres hottest acts. 

And he was just the Trojan Horse. 

Today I saw MGK's Spotify cover of "There's Your Trouble" released. 

I loved it. 

Lana says she will release a country album. 

One of metal's biggest acts (Falling In Reverse) currently has a chart topping song with Nashville's own favorite redeemed outlaw, Jellyroll. 

It's fantastic. 

Why does country, and Nashville, continue to have these identity crisis?

The biggest artists in the world are now coming into the genre. Ruling the charts. 

Let's not forget that once upon a time already that Nashville's darling and biggest star left the genre to put out one of the most pure pop albums of all time. 

If country music were your ex is now the part where they admit "it's not you it's me"? 

Is this thing still on?

From Nashville with love

Bradley Parker

______________________________________

From: Dylan Charbeneau
Subject: Re: The United States Of Cults

Hey Bob,

I have listened to Joe Rogan (full podcasts/episodes) for years, as well as a handful of my friends and colleagues. We all agree that while we have enjoyed much of his content and guests, he has become ideologically captured and less interesting. The reasons why we think that vary, but we all have now dropped listening to him regularly and only check in once in a blue moon when there is a fascinating guest.

From my perspective, Rogan has alienated much of his base that built him into the juggernaut podcast host he has become.

______________________________________

From: Steve Lukather
Subject: Re: The Solo In Do It Again

That's Denny on Your Gold Teeth II on Katy Lied and the song Aja as well!! 

Incredible choice of notes and phrasing! NO one sounds like Denny. 

One of THE most unique and original players... and a great old friend and hero as well. 

Steely Dan is one of my all time fave bands!  It is desert Island music for me. 

The detail and genius of their entire catalogue is peerless, including Nightfly,  Donald's 1st solo album! 

I love the later stuff too but the early stuff hit me and my muso friends hard. 

Denny's solo's always made the music special. Glad you are giving him the credit he deserves! 

______________________________________

From: Gary Lang
Subject: RE: The Solo In Do It Again

I met Denny when I became one of the developers of the dBase product and language at Ashton-Tate, which was in Culver City, though us programmers were in Glendale.
 
A company called Nantucket, also in Culver City developed a compiler for the dBase language which Ashton-Tate didn't like because after you compiled your code, it just ran on a PC without any Ashton-Tate software required to run it.
 
As a developer who used compilers every day to develop dBase itself, it made sense to me that someone did this, though I was supposed to see Nantucket as a kind of pirate company.
 
In 1986, an Ashton-Tate documentation writer, Tommy Rettig, who lived in Marina Del Rey had a party at his house and invited me to it. Tom was a friend of mine, who came to my bachelor party and who's desk in Glendale I took when he left Ashton-Tate.
 
(BTW, he was a former child actor, who had played in the Lassie Movie, a Dr. Suess live-action film "The 5 Fingers of Doctor T" and was in "River of No Return" with Marilyn Monroe: he had a poster of himself as a kid clinging to her legs in his Marina condo.)
 
At the party were several second string Hollywood types along with a bunch of Ashton-Tate, dBase, and Nantucket developers. One of them was Denny Dias! I was super pleased to meet him.
 
It soon transpired that I was the only person in the room that  had seen him play, in May 1973 at Winterland, with the actual band Steely Dan (before they mostly used studio people). He seemed genuinely pleased to hear that someone remembered him and not the other guitar player (Jeff Baxter) at that show. I was glad to please him, especially after he said that he was the person who started the band in the first place. They were – I'm not kidding – third-billed to Humble Pie and Slade.
 
Many of my programming friends have made more money than most of the rock stars of my youth so I'm glad he was able to become one of us and make some money.
 
I'm with you – he was a _killer_ guitar player! I asked his wife on FB a few years back if he still played, and she said that indeed he did. I just met him the one time.
 
So, he's still around, still playing guitar. I don't know why I was so pleased to hear this, but once again, you've recognized a hidden gem, as you often do.?

______________________________________

Subject: RE: The Solo In Do It Again

Hi Bob,

This piece really interested me because I did not know that Steely Dan originally started on the East Coast. I knew Fagen and Becker had gone to Bard College (Annandale), but were a couple years behind me. I moved out to Cali in 1969. I had an acoustic guitar-- a good one-- an old Gibson J-50. It had an exceptional sound, but I needed an electric. One night in the parking lot of the all night Mayfair Market on Santa Monica Blvd. I acquired an old Gibson Melody Maker for $15. Why was it so cheap? Two reasons: 1) probably hot, and 2) on closer inspection, I noticed that the neck had been broken and reset improperly. I instinctively knew this guitar could be resurrected. I took it to Valley Sound on Sunset. It's rep was that it had the best repair dept. in LA. And there I met my old bandmate from Boston, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter. He was an excellent lead guitarist, but he was also great at repairing and modifying instruments. This was about 1972. We hadn't seen each other in a few years, so we chatted and caught up. He checked out my Melody Maker and told me he could make it like new, which he did. What must've been about two weeks later Skunk called me up and said he'd been playing with a bunch of studio cats over at Dunhill (which had it's own state of the art studio), and would I be interested in auditioning with them as lead singer. I asked if there was anything on tape I could listen to. I went over to his apartment, which was furnished in amps and myriad guitars, including a pedal steel, which had become his new momentary passion. So he played me this one tape they had recorded called "Bye Bye Dallas." It was good and well-recorded, but, with Jeff's pedal steel, it sounded kind of country-ish. Definitely not my thing. Fagen was singing on it, and I think Walter Becker and Denny Diaz were singing harmonies. But the impression I got was that this was a brand new band that was just starting up. Fagen did not want to sing lead live, so they needed to recruit a front man, which is what I had been in the final permutation of Ultimate Spinach with Jeff, back in Boston. I complimented the music, but said it wasn't my thing. Besides, I was primarily a songwriter, and didn't think much of my singing. So I passed on the audition. A short time later, I was invited to their debut club performance at Under the Ice House in Pasadena. I was very impressed, especially by the songs. Why didn't Jeff play me "Dirty Work" or "Reelin' in the Years"? Later, I found out that most of the lead guitar work on their albums was done by an array of studio cats. Not Skunk. And "Bye Bye Dallas" was not on the set list. I thought I had witnessed their very first gig, but your story casts doubt on this. Wow, all these years later...

Anyway, that's my Steely Dan story and I'm stickin' to it.

Fond regards as always,
Ted Myers

______________________________________

From: Dannielle De Andrea
Subject: Re: Production

I know you get inundated!

 BUT this little story on the ABC in Australia is worth the watch!
 
It's on the phenomena of 
 Mr Beast and YouTube!
Incredible what he has created 

"How Mr. Beast Hacked The Algorithm":

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9EZkGbvSZQ/?igsh=MWV6eTF3ZTVwaTRkOA%3D%3D

Have a great day. 
 Thank  you for your emails 
Cheers and chocolate 
Dannielle 

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From: Steve Lukather
Subject: Re: The Nicky Hopkins Movie

Nicky is a legend ! 

As one who knows... when someone gives you a bunch of letters on a piece of paper.... often not even legit music paper, NO rehearsals- no demos, just show up ands say ' what are we doing today?' ...the artists and producers that hire you expect a lot! 

This is what most people don't know is that they THINK the music us session guys did was all just 'read the notes on the paper.'

Nope. 

Had to read music once in awhile but.. 98% was as I stated above. 'Make up your own parts and they better be GOOD.'!

That's how ya got called back time and time again. 

Nicky delivered EVERY time!  

Dig the piano intro on She's a Rainbow!  Pretty sure Mick and Keith didn't write that out in legit music notation note for note for him! That was him. 
The list of songs HE made better is vast. 

I got to work with him once and fan- boyed out and asked a ton of questions and he smiled and was very humble. 

It was an honor for me. 

______________________________________

Subject: Re: The Nicky Hopkins Movie

We had an album with Nicky on Columbia. Great guy. We went shopping for Stones bootlegs that were recorded on his side of the stage so he could hear himself play.

I figured out how to cram a full upright piano into KMET's tiny elevator and into their equally tiny studios.

Nicky played live on Steven Clean's show. Aside from artists bringing their acoustic guitars no one had ever done anything like this with a huge real piano. Steven loved it so much he had Nicky stay for his entire shift and had him play ins and outs to commercial breaks just like the bands on late night TV. 

Brilliant radio. Fantastic player. 

Paul Rappaport

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Subject: Re: Reach

Hi Bob,

I used to manage most of the UK's call-out research and recently put together some numbers for comparison. Let's consider the BBC Radio 1 morning show in the old economy: one play on the show and another 12 plays on rotation in the same week would typically reach around 15 million + listeners.  Even though these listeners were often passive, the likelihood of converting this reach into significant sales was very high. Just a few plays on Radio 1 could empty the shelves within a week. A 6-week rotation could generate 80-90% familiarity with the station's audience.

Now, let's compare this with the new economy. How can you reach 15 million listeners in a week today? Achieving this in the UK alone is challenging. Even if you're featured on several massive Spotify playlists, the numbers don't stack up the same way. For instance, being on a playlist with 1 million followers, positioned between spots 20 and 30, might result in about 25,000 passive listens per week. This is the closest equivalent to an old economy radio play.

To reach 15 million people globally, you would need approximately 600 playlists, each with 1 million followers. For perspective, Taylor Swift reaches 893 million people through playlists. To reach 15 million people in the UK in any given week, she would need a global playlist reach of 6 billion, assuming a 10% UK audience share.
(There are some considerations like playlist overlap, engagement rates and playlist positions that impact these calculations of course)

Best,

Peter Ruppert

______________________________________

Subject: Re: The Stones At SoFi

Hey Bob!

Loved your review of the Stones show at SoFi. What a crazy stadium. You enter and exit at the top of the building (kinda like part of Dodger Stadium) and go down to the sub basement to the stadium "floor."

The real reason I'm writing is to tell you about a cool part of my childhood. My father's Aunts and Uncle owned the "Memory Motel" during it's heyday as a Stones hangout in the 1970s. I was there quite often with my folks, though I never ran into Mick and Keith. I also was too young to appreciate that there were Rock and Roll icons hanging out at the bar during the summer. I would sit at the bar myself, Uncle Paul would pour me a coke, and Aunt Esther or Aunt Sara would fix me a sandwich. They sold the place in the 1990s, after Esther and Paul died, and Sara decided to finish her life in Florida. They never tried to make a dime off their relationship with Mick and Keith, nor did they ever think to try.

One of my favorite "Memories" of the Stones' relationship to the motel is when Aunt Esther was interviewed on the radio, sometime around 1978. Living on Long Island, It was hard for us to tune in the interview, which was being done on WRNW in Westchester, New York. We huddled around the stereo as she was interviewed by a young DJ named Howard Stern (yes - him!). Oh how I wish I was able to tape the interview! I wonder if Howard thinks about it (or even remembers it!) when he thinks of the Stones.

(Just a Memory… that used to mean so much to me…)

Mark Pokedoff
Warrington, Pa.

______________________________________

Subject: Re: Songs / Davina Michelle

Dear Bob,

Hope all is well in the heat over there. I manage Davina Michelle, thanks for your kind words! 
If you have a minute or two, please check out the showreel we did on everything she's done so far: https://youtu.be/L2hk7a2kibc

We've been slowly working the international market supporting acts such as P!nk, Robbie Williams and Maroon5, and mainly pushing for radio in Germany.
She's a great writer and an incredible live artist, check out a full show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMwUQIflgII&t=2303s (last month's Pinkpop Festival, check Skyward and Liar) and her Eurovision intermission performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QiftAFZoZM

She's had over 20 top 5 airplay songs in The Netherlands, received numerous awards, etc.

We're releasing a new album in September which will feature some of the songs you can find in this Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4LFVkIo6DJmkDGrMOG4XUX?si=11e051be84b84bf2 As you say, developing artists is a craft that's starting to disappear, but if you have any suggestions for labels or A&Rs, I'd be happy to hear them!

Thanks again, stay cool! 

Best regards,
Martijn Swier

Endless Music
The Netherlands
www.ndlss.com

______________________________________

From: Ben Webster
Subject: Re: Self-Promotion

H Bob,

As the old saying goes, "Self praise is no endorsement". 

______________________________________

From: Steve Gerardi
Subject: Re: Self-Promotion

Love this!

Once again you nail it!

I am constantly hit up by local / regional bands telling how they draw HUGE crowds and that I should book them.

I always think to myself if this band drew one quarter of the crowd, they claim their actual crowds would be twice the size that they are!

______________________________________

From: Mitchell Fox
Subject: Re: Self-Promotion

…an old road dog once said…

"…If you gotta tell me you are…you ain't."

______________________________________

Subject: Re: Blue Lights

Bob

I grew up in Ireland in the 60s and 70s and occasionally would venture up to Belfast and Derry with some very political bands like Moving Hearts and. Clannad and also with a songwriter called Phil Coulter who wrote many great hits like Congratulations and My boy for Elvis .

Blue Lights captures exactly like you say and is so well cast and acted and I've heard loved by all the people in Northern Ireland .

The Catholic minority was in deep jeopardy always as the majority of the Loyalists who are not unlike the Maga crowd but also majority of Peelers were of Protestant background .

A lot of tension always and this fabulous show explains how deeply divided the communities were but are on the other side of peace now but still a lot of trust issues .

I was fortunate enough to do a New Year's Eve gig in 1998 at the Ulster Hall..(where Stairway to heaven was performed first in the middle of the troubles in 1971) with a great Irish band called the Sawdoctors whose songs are all about loneliness and hope and lost loves, it was a few months  after the Good Friday agreement had been signed.

I do remember at the strike of midnight standing shaking hands with a RUC policeman and he had tears in his eyes as he could see, and he told me so \, an end to the fighting because of the bravery of both communities and some great American and European diplomats meeting in secret… As the band played on we had a great conversation…

Blue Lights shows how thin a line it is still and how difficult it is to police and how decent people will prevail to have a better life .

So happy you wrote about this show as a lot of other countries and ourselves here in Anerica could learn that peace only comes with both sides sitting down and a lot of honesty and admittances of wrongdoings .

Great words Bob and worth every penny to subscribe to Brit Box .. try and watch Extras .. house of cards uk version and Life on mars

Tom Kenny

______________________________________

Subject: Re: Mountain Queen-The Summits Of Lhakpa Sherpa

Bob,

Thanks for the heads up on Mountain Queen. I will check it out.

I too am into mountaineering having successfully summited Grand Teton and Rainier. Demanding but lots of fun. Rainier almost did me in….huge slog. 

Into Thin Air was mesmerizing. I couldn't put it down. 

Hope all is well with you.

Best Regards,

Bill Powell
Circus Ring Of Fame Foundation 
www.circusringoffame.org

______________________________________

From: John Brodey
Re: The Pool

Wow, what an interesting parallel. I don't know if it is age but, like you I did my share of snorkeling in the Caribbean and even the Great Barrier Reef (a wild ride for all time). But I've never been that comfortable in the water and my anxiety has increased in certain situations.

Last summer my siblings/spouses chartered a Turkish sailing ship called a gullah. Heavy and wide and very nice. 8 cabins, four meals a day and just us. Naturally the water is amazing and I love it. We were anchored in one little cove and everyone was overboard swimming to shore as did I. Most people made their way back after a while and I was the last. Now a good head wind was blowing onshore and the waves were choppy.  

If there was a dingy going back to the boat I would have taken it. I start making my way and I start getting a lot of water in the face. Gradually, I get close maybe 20 feet away and all of a sudden I can't breathe. I start to freak and that really does it. My head is barely above water and I can see myself dying. There are people on deck, I start waving an arm but not in a 'hi everybody I'm here' way but in a more dramatic one. Cristie sees me and dives in and one of the crew was in the dingy fortunately. Another crewman jumped into the boat. They got to me just in time and hauled my ass into the boat.

In explaining what happened to me, one of the crew said; You were in the process of drowning. I responded and said but I hadn't taken in any water. The answer is what they call dry drowning. Your trachea closes by instinct, since there's water and you're gasping for air. So, people can drown without their lungs having filled with water. Suffocation isn't fun.

Weird, not sure if I'll have another encounter somewhere in the Med., but the conditions will have to be perfect. Glad you made it back in the water. High five.

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Ed Roland-This Week's Podcast

Mr. Collective Soul.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ed-roland/id1316200737?i=1000666227223
 
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4qmrrxU4Ye1OKJ86Ifw0eu?si=kDzVJPGDTPWWRVfaqEzKzg
 
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-the-bob-lefsetz-podcast-30806836/episode/ed-roland-208001943/
 
https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9ff4fb19-54d4-41ae-ae7a-8a6f8d3dafa8/episodes/698445c7-e258-4c73-ba5a-25a173d71227/the-bob-lefsetz-podcast-ed-roland


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Anita de Monte Laughs Last

https://shorturl.at/cZW5N

This book is confusing, and for that reason I'm loath to recommend it.

But it really resonated with me, there were some universal truths that stuck out, like:

"To get to the destination your inner compass has been driving you back to, screaming it was home, only to discover that you don't really belong."

Things change. But not in your mind. History is set in stone. And you think if you just went back to that location, hooked up with your old love, it would work and...

Too much time has gone by. You've changed and they've changed. No matter how much you will yourself, it doesn't work.

So, what we've got here is two parallel narratives that ultimately connect.

First we've got Anita de Monte and her husband Jack Martin. Martin is a famous minimalist. de Monte is a fiery artist. And the result is a tempestuous relationship.

The book starts with a party. Jack enters and seeks attention, that's his style, and then Anita dances and...she goes out the window? At the party? She was drunk?

It clears up, but you have to keep reading. And then you're still not sure what happened until you are.

So therefore, if you need to know exactly what is happening at all times, this book is not for you.

The other half of the story is about art history students at Brown.

Art history is the laughingstock of college majors these days. Even though we all live for art. It's the books, the movies, the TV shows, the paintings that get us through. But art is hard to quantify. You can't give an objective test. Opinion is crucial. Better to major in science or math where it's either black or white, right or wrong, and there's a clear path to a career.

But that is not an element in this book. Furthermore, the art history majors believe they've got a future in the field.

So Raquel is a woman of color from NYC. Her mother works at the Met, but it's in food service, not as a curator. And Raquel is smart and ends up with a scholarship to Brown and...is angry that everybody believes she's an affirmative action admission, even though she's got the grades. In a world where not only is everybody white, but many are from the prep school world, and rich. Does she fit in?

Raquel's friend Denise got a full ride at Notre Dame, but passed that up for a state school, SUNY Buffalo. Turns out Denise was not eager to go where she was one of the very few minorities, she didn't want to feel like a fish out of water. As for Raquel, does being at Brown change her, forever?

Now Raquel's story goes deeper into art history, and school. The professor...is he coming on to her or not? Is he an object of respect or scorn?

And then there's the sh*t talking about academics who have different viewpoints.

Sounds like an insular world, I know. But Jack is a big swinging dick in the art world, and that's all he needs, the respect of these people. Art at that level of success is a rarefied air, with sometimes billions of dollars involved. Just because everybody doesn't know your name, that does not mean you're not a big name where it counts.

And the question arises whether Jack is past his prime. This is a thorn in the side of elite artists. You're famous for one thing, but if you don't change, and grow, you lose status. Braque was right up there with Picasso at the advent of cubism. But Picasso evolved and Braque didn't, and other than students of the game, most people have no idea who Braque was. The recently deceased Frank Stella burst on the scene at a young age with his protractor series. He moved on, but nothing he did thereafter titillated the critics to the same degree.

Once again, this is fine art. This isn't drawings for TV. It's not only what you see...then again, is it? The conception is almost as important as the execution. Which many people who go to the museum don't understand. They look at the old masters and can see all the talent on the canvas and then they might even look at a Stella and not get it, after all, Stella couldn't even draw.

So, once again, there's little concentration on art history studies in the news, other than denigration. But Raquel is dedicated and...

A lot of questions arise. And a lot learning how the world truly works. Relationships. There's an elite level of communication that most people in America still don't understand, even though they think they do. You can view the houses on "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," watch MTV "Cribs," yet not even know that many of the truly rich don't want the publicity, they're unknown to the masses, and have much more money than those flaunting it. Furthermore, how did they get there?

You can go to Yale, be exposed to it all and still graduate and remain broke.

In other words, you have to work it. Kind of like Hollywood, but in most verticals there are barriers to entry. The elite education, access to vast sums of money... That's why you go to the Ivys, for the people you meet more than what you learn. Chances are, the classes are just as good at the state school.

"I already knew how important it is for an artist to protect their time; time, that critical thing required to think and ponder and question and perfect."

This is what non-artists don't understand. They go to work from nine to five, or nine to nine, or even nine to midnight and they can quantify what they've done whereas an artist...might have read, might have gone for a walk... An artist's mind needs to percolate, unfiltered.

Which is why I'm always amazed at these partnerships where two people have an office with desks shoved up against each other. How can they get anything done? To create art you need silence, you need to be alone. You need to think. You've got to get in the zone, you can't be interrupted. And non-artists have a hard time understanding this.

Once again, I'm talking about art, not commerce. There's a ton of money in making records, painting, selling stuff...but does it change the culture, does it make people think? Sure, ideas come to you spontaneously, but usually you need to get into the right headspace.

And then there's this:

"Art is, if nothing else, always about the next thing."

This is what I was writing about the other day. You have to keep on moving forward, that's what an artist does. And that's ultimately what the audience demands. But it's so challenging, it's easier to repeat yourself. Also, what outsiders don't understand is the high of success doesn't last very long. An award? Maybe a day or two, not even a week. You have to get back to the work.

"Or maybe I'd go to a party and get drunk and cause an argument just to feel like I'd made a dent in someone else's existence."

Most artists are not easygoing, they're not well adjusted and they need to know they're alive and have you recognize it. So when you go to a party and encounter that edgy artist that makes a scene... Or even when you ask for an autograph or selfie... Once again, it's about time. But also, the artist knows the experience is hollow, ultimately worthless. It might be about building or maintaining your brand, but do you think Van Morrison thinks about that? Many of the performers who are constantly thanking their fans are not artists, they're ultimately business people, very successful financially, but not artists.

So most people don't care about the art history field.

And other than the artists themselves, and some gallerists, there's not a ton of money in the art world. There are a few jobs running museums, but they don't pay the kind of money you make in Silicon Valley, never mind Wall Street. You've got to love it, you consider it meaningful.

I was an art history major. And what it created in me was a sensibility.

Also, I went to a college where forty five percent of the people went to prep school, and many of them came from rich families, VERY rich. One of the things I learned most at Middlebury was how to interact with these people. I came from the melting pot suburbs. Everybody verbal, throwing sharp elbows to get ahead. Meanwhile, so many of the prepsters were mellow, took it all in stride, it was a completely different attitude. And if you wanted to befriend them, you had to adjust your behavior.

I recently went to my college reunion, and two months later I'm still not over this experience. These students were satisfied. They might not be household names, but they're pillars of their community, they feel accomplished. Me, not only am I still trying to work it out, I'm still not sure I'm worthy.

In their world.

And Raquel is always asking herself this question.

As for Anita? Can a woman from Cuba be respected for her art? Just by being married to a famous artist is her work pooh-poohed, and does her husband want to hold her back?

And there are many ways to hold someone back, you can read about them in the book.

But I read "Anita de Monte Laughs Last" because the reviews said she did, last laugh, that is. And she kind of does. And that's obvious from the very beginning.

But how does that happen? What happens between the covers?

As much as "Anita de Monte Laughs Last" is set in the modern world, it's also one step removed. Because art always is. And if you think raw quality will get you to the top...you just haven't met enough of the people who decide whether you make it to the top.

So I don't think this book is for everyone. But it made me think. I could relate. It created a whole world separate from my everyday existence, and I liked that.

So...maybe you're intrigued.

Or not.


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DJ Cassidy

Whose idea was this?

My research has not yielded the backstory, but that's the star of the evening. It's always about the idea more than the execution, and this one was brilliant, because it has an afterlife.

Jimmy Kimmel told me it was not about the show, but creating viral moments that live online. That's the ticket.

And that's the world we live in, one in which we all consume different items at different times, and if you criticize me for being late I can point to a ton of stuff you were unaware of.

I saw the DJ on the flat screen last night. I had no idea what he was doing, I was just passing by on my way out the door. I can't listen to these people rant and rave forever. Life's too short, I can find the highlights later online.

And that's what I did. I sampled all the videos served up to me, in bite-sized fashion.

Keep it brief. That's the mantra of virality. Or, keep it really long, if it's unique and great. It's either hit and run or pure dedication. There is no such thing as a short attention span, that's a canard cooked up by traditional media to explain why younger generations are not glued to their content. The oldsters grew up in an era where there was little. But when there is much, you keep clicking next until you find what you want, and then you go deep. Which is why you find kids who weren't even alive when "Friends" went off the air bingeing that series.

Bingeing is an immersive process that the aged still don't get. They think that the drip of every week keeps viewers coming back, keeps them subscribing. What they don't understand is bingeing is not only about content, but mood. We want to be taken away to a special place, where the real world doesn't exist. And this depends on high quality, which most can't achieve, so they berate the system.

For all the b.s. about endless smartphone use, the truth is we're dying to disconnect, it's just what we disconnect for must be better than what's on the phone.

Let's take dating. How many nights did you waste in a bar or a club just hoping to meet someone. It was endless and depressing. And despite all the present blowback about internet dating, it's a much more efficient use of one's time.

Which is why I don't watch the convention live. I don't want to find out after the fact that it was a waste when I can cherry-pick content later or avoid it entirely.

So I'm on the cesspool known as X right after I wake up and...

Yes, I'm like those zombies in "Dawn of the Dead," who go to the mall, because that's their instinct. I love instant news, you can't get it anywhere else. But in truth X is a cesspool unless you're a virgin bro or a dyed-in-the-wool Trumper or both. It's so frustrating.

But Meghan McCain said:

"I'm sorry but this #DNC2024 roll call with DJ Cassidy, themed state music and party/club atmosphere is blowing the RNC's roll call out of the water. It looks like a giant party and celebration and everyone in that room looks like they're having a blast."

Then I knew something happened. Although more reasonable than many, McCain is a dedicated Republican, for her to put them down...

You know you're on the losing team when your own members criticize you. This is exactly what was happening with Biden before he stepped down. There was all this public agitation from those in power. And if Biden refused to listen for weeks, what are the odds that Trump will change course? So far, nil.

So reading McCain's tweet made me aware of the fact that something happened.

And it wasn't long before I came across another reference, maybe in X, maybe in Apple News+, I was intrigued.

And then I found the playlist. The Spotify playlist.

BINGO!

You want to go back to the pre-internet era when people had to buy an overpriced CD to hear one good track? The ability to stick all these cuts together, instantly...allowed every news outlet to write about it and draw people to it, get them to listen.

And that's the power of music.

Playlist - "DNC roll call": https://shorturl.at/rRbGc

Click, you can't help but check out the picks.

The obvious ones, with the names of the states in the title, the other references. This is how you get people to listen, THEY'RE INTRIGUED!

I don't care if you're a Democrat, Republican or Independent, you're interested in the choices. And if you rain on the parade, nitpick... You're a hater. No one likes a party pooper, NO ONE!

And the music covered all bases, unlike the Spotify Top 50. There were songs both old and new, it was a celebration.

So how can you do this?

Well, virality can't be your sole motivation, that almost never works. Your idea must work on the surface. And if it's cool enough, interesting enough...people will spread the word.

This is creativity, this is art, this is what's missing in today's music business, especially at the major labels. You can sell anything if it's good and marketed well. But thinking outside the box? That's anathema.

Everybody wants to go viral, but how do you do this?

Once again, you can pour a ton of cash on execution, but it really comes down to the idea. Is it unique enough to draw attention without looking like you're doing it solely to draw attention?

And what will be the lifespan of this viral moment? Could be only two days.

That's what old marketers don't understand. That it's nearly impossible to get noticed, but when you do, it doesn't last, especially if it's something universal. If you start from nowhere, with an act or event that few know about, it can grow over time. But if everybody is aware of the underlying cause, whether it be the convention or a concert or...virality lasts a very short time.

That's what we're waiting to see with Kamalamania. Will it last all the way to November, Election Day?

WE DON'T KNOW! We've never been in this situation before!

That's how it used to be with music. We were surprised constantly. And in tech fifteen and twenty years ago there was a new app, a new platform, constantly, but those days of excitement are through. Apple stopped making the iPod, a huge hit that reached the end of its lifespan and then KAPUT!

So if you're a band...

You can go on the road and do the same thing every night and wonder why you don't get any traction outside the building or...

You can make it different every night. Instead of synching to hard drive, you can do something human, unique.

And the studio version... Rework your songs ad infinitum. The days of the pristine track are done. You need to cut it more quickly, to preserve the life. And then you can have alternate takes, acoustic versions, live versions, stems distributed to the fans... You want to enable virality, not shut it down.

It's the public that made DJ Cassidy and this playlist go viral. It was spontaneous. In the old days, it would all be premeditated, there'd be a PR person who'd spread the word to major media outlets and a concentrated campaign to spread the news. Now each individual is a media outlet, if they see something amazing they tell everybody about it.

And it's not only the playlist, which evidences its own creativity... Who is this DJ Cassidy guy? You WANT to Google him!

And the overall effect is to burnish the Democratic party and its convention and candidate. It all boils down to cool. And people want to be on the cool team. And in many cases, that's more of a driver than the issues, which most people don't understand, other than abortion.

Sure, the Republicans have Kid Rock, but not a whole hell of a lot more. That looks like a cult. Whereas all the performers of different stripes and colors at the Democratic convention...looks like the big tent the Democrats always say they are.

People want to belong. As a matter of fact, that's what has solidified the MAGA cult. It's them versus us. It's about team sports. And so far, the Democrats haven't found a way to counter this.

But now they have. They threw out the old for the new, not only getting rid of Biden but creating a viral moment with DJ Cassidy.

What other tricks do they have up their sleeve?

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE!


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Optimism

Has Kamala Harris's campaign ushered in a new era of optimism?

Was the pent-up demand already there, just waiting to be released?

And was Taylor Swift's Eras tour just a harbinger of a new era? And the nearly overnight success of Chappell Roan indicative of this newfound optimism?

Let's be clear, there's been a lot to be pessimistic about. The '08 crash. Covid. And the hulking giant, income inequality. People thought not only could they not get ahead, but they were falling behind. And they were angry.

But something funny happened along the way, the younger generations detached. This is where Biden and the Democrats had it wrong. They looked on paper and saw what Joe had done, they looked at it as a math problem as opposed to an emotional one. People were beaten down, they were depressed, they wanted a ray of sunshine, ergo Harris's great success.

And contrary to all the naysayers saying that the VP should have been Shapiro, to lock up Pennsylvania, the only people who have something negative to say about Walz are Republicans. Arguing about when he resigned from the National Guard after decades of service.

It's laughable, when Trump skated service completely.

This is why the "weird" descriptor has worked so well. There's no anger, no analysis of inane positions. Just a description of Trump and Vance as the other, out of step with the mainstream, not fully comprehensible.

Meanwhile, all Trump is selling is anger.

I can't watch the convention. Life is too short. If there are any highlights, I'll catch them later online.

There's a lot of ink on Biden's speech, which is ultimately irrelevant. It was the equivalent of giving him a gold watch before he rides into the sunset. Despite the hosannas, David Brooks was totally thumbs-down, saying the speech lacked intimacy, identity, all the elements that rile up the public in support of you. That it was just the usual political dreck and Joe was losing with this strategy and was going to lose again.

Actually, Biden's complete strategy was to portray Trump in a negative light. You don't want THIS guy, he's going to end democracy!

Well, it turned out that plan didn't work. The public is tired. They just can't fight the usual bogeyman one more time, they can't get it up.

But then the candidate was changed and this tsunami of energy and hope was unleashed. Suddenly, there were double digit increases amongst young people and those of color in support for the Harris/Walz ticket. The somnambulant awakened, the youngsters became active. And the weirdest thing is everybody believes their vote counts, and many of these people weren't even planning to vote at all!

And speaking of weird, RFK, Jr. self-immolated. Never mind the issue of residence, the bear in Central Park was a bridge too far. Unfathomable to people who've never even encountered a bear outside of a zoo, never mind put it in their vehicle and then dumped it in a major city. RFJ, Jr. was now laughable, indefensible, and his numbers tanked.

And RFJ, Jr.'s position was one of no. No vaccines! The CDC is the enemy!

What he and the Republicans want is chaos. That's what happens when you tear down government. As for the police, statistics tell us crime is going down. We want order. While not suppressing our individual rights. But somehow those in the hinterlands believe they have a lock on this, even when there is little law enforcement in the area.

Patriotism. Somehow the Democrats have reclaimed this. Turns out you can question your country and still love it.

As for Walz, he's everyman. People can relate to him and his background. He's not rich, he doesn't own stock. He's a man of the people. Not the people with rifles telling the government to stay away, but the people abiding by the rules who want a level playing field.

And all the Republicans are doing is attacking Harris.

She too could self-immolate, you can't predict the future, faux pas are lurking around every corner, but in truth her candidacy is not even about her, it's about what she represents. Hope.

Yes, that's what Obama rode all the way to the White House, hope. But we were sold a bill of goods. Congress was locked, other than the Affordable Care Act nothing was passed and the division between the parties grew and Trump won.

Trump won because of dissatisfaction. But homey don't play that no more. At some point you've got to have a plan.

As for Trump's term in office, the only people who view that positively are those committed blindly to support him. Those who actually lived through the era remember the chaos. In truth, we want to stop thinking about politics, we want to get on with our lives, we don't want to believe death and destruction is right around the corner. We're sick of fear.

I'm not saying there are not issues. But if you don't marvel at Shawn Fain's success with the UAW, you must be an owner. As for all this negativity about unions... That's an old paradigm. The corrupt officials. In a world where the federal minimum wage is less than ten dollars and manufacturing jobs have cratered, people want justice, they're for the little guy. It's less about you taking mine than all of us in it together for the benefit of everyone!

This is another way in which Trump bats zero. It's always about him. Solely about him. Everybody sees that. Those who vote for him believe the goodies will trickle down to them, even though he benefited the usual fat cat Republicans in office, but the rest of the public ain't buying it. They're not looking for a narcissist.

Think about it, last year's big hero was Barbie. The movie was dominated by pink.

As for "Oppenheimer"... A veneration of intelligence, of both the man and the viewer. It wasn't dumbed-down for lowest common denominator acceptance.

This is what the movie studios don't understand. They refuse to pivot to give the public what it wants. They make fewer movies in narrower verticals and even though some of these flicks do business, the overall numbers keep going down. You've got to break the trend.

Kind of like this spring's rap battle between Drake and Kendrick. Questlove declared it the end of hip-hop. Insiders and acolytes were hanging on to every diss. But most of the public? They'd seen this movie before, they didn't care, and what did it all mean anyway, two rich entertainers arguing about...exactly what? Their personalities, their choices? What about my personality and my choices!

Optimism does not mean no edge.

Then again, today's rock is all edge and no substance, and is also negative. Look at the history of rock, it had many upbeat moments. The whole lifestyle was upbeat. Sure, people were drinking and drugging and f*cking, but that's why they signed up, that's what we all wanted before AIDS and sober living, never mind smartphone cameras. The world changed, but rock did not, and then it evaporated.

Grow your hair long, don your leather jacket, sport your tattoos...maybe you feel good about yourself but most people see you as out of touch, stuck in a past that is never coming back.

People need to be optimistic or they can't go forward. Life is just too difficult sans sun. Sans belief you're mired in the mud, sunk in depression. People won't glom on to any false hope, but if everyone believes, they're eager to jump on the train.

Which is why you've got these Zoom calls for Harris. Everybody wants to play. And every niche, in a world comprised of niches, is included. I attended a Deadheads for Harris Zoom. Likeminded people want to hang together, and feel that there's a way forward.

And I could sit here and say how many ways Trump has it wrong, but that's the change, it doesn't matter, he's selling black and Harris and Walz are selling white. No one wants to hear him spew about how bad it is, how this or that person is evil, they're sick of it, they want something more positive.

And this does not only apply to politics. This optimism is and will continue to infiltrate all verticals. Sure there were scandals at the Olympics, then again there was Steph Curry's three-pointer, and Simone Biles and... People felt nationalistic, Paris was not a downer. As for the people claiming that bunch of misfits were recreating the Last Supper...

Some of us are misfits. Actually, I'd augur all of us are misfits. Those were heroes, those were outsiders brought in. Does everything have to be seen through a negative lens? Does religion have to permeate every pore? Can't we just have a good time?

But not be totally hedonistic?

The right keeps talking about the takers. Where on the left, people know they're working hard and that being on welfare is no picnic, never mind being homeless. Are we just going to ignore America's problems, throw our hands in the air, or are we going to dig in and address them, knowing progress is difficult, that not everything works out, but that does not mean you should stop trying.

This is a sea change in America. It's been happening over the last four years and D.C. certainly hasn't recognized it.

People want to leave the past behind. They want a fresh slate. They want something to believe in.

That's what Swift delivered. That's what Chappell Roan is delivering even more. You may not understand it, you may not care about it, but you must evaluate what it represents.

Everybody keeps painting the sixties as a dark era. And sure, there was Vietnam, protests, but there was also a hell of a lot of fun. Believe me, the Dead and the Airplane were having fun. Woodstock was all about fun.

That's what people want, fun. When they're not working hard.

And they want meaningful work. And they want to be heard.

All you have to do is give them opportunity.

When you keep telling them how bad things are, how the system is rigged, they are not energized. You've got to light a match to build a fire.

And that's what Harris has done.

I don't even care if you're voting Republican. You've got to recognize how America has changed. We want things to work. We want progress. Enough with the negativity, we want to party like it's...

A WHOLE NEW ERA!


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Repeating Yourself

Is death.

Or at best stasis.

But probably a step in the wrong direction.

Tell me about a band whose road numbers increased after they stopped having hits.

Tell me about a movie sequel that did better than the original.

Of course there are exceptions. Nitpicking is not the point. The point is if you're not changing, you're falling behind.

This is what is hobbling Trump. It's no longer 2016. Eight years later the world has changed. Not only do we have all these new voters, Trump no longer represents the outsider throwing the long ball, up against the usual suspects. Now Trump is a usual suspect. And that ain't working for him.

Of course Trump could still win. It's only about seven states, and although Nate Silver has Kamala triumphing, things don't look so good over at the WaPo. And never forget, if someone only has a twenty five percent chance of winning, that does not mean they cannot win.

But who is buying Trump's spiel who did not buy it before?

And what are the odds that everybody who bought it last time is on board this time?

This is a completely different question from whether those with Republican values will vote for him. We've seen even the brass hold their nose and fall in line for him. But this election is about very few people. Are nicknames, insults and falsehoods going to convince those on the fence, the undecided?

Trends change. I guarantee what you're doing today won't be in vogue eight years from now.

Meanwhile, everybody will keep telling you to do the same damn thing.

Change course and a healthy chunk of your audience will abandon you. Furthermore, the odds of success in your new vertical are not good, just ask David Bowie. He had commercial misfires before he won once again. As for Garth Brooks, he wanted it both ways, changing his name for his rock album, which ultimately satisfies no one. People need to believe in you. Otherwise they won't follow you to the next destination.

Look back, even the titans had very brief careers. The Beatles' studio albums were all released in one decade. And that's half a century ago. And as hard as they tried, no member of the band could achieve the ubiquity of the original band. Sure, Paul had huge commercial success following the same template he established with the other three, but John Lennon gets more respect because he widened his horizons, he experimented.

If you're not willing to fail, you're not going to succeed.

It's nearly impossible to make it, to garner an audience. And once they get it, people are afraid to lose it. The more success you have, the less eager you are to experiment. But Neil Young did, and he outsold, and has more cred than Crosby, Stills or Nash, even though some of his records were commercial turkeys, relatively speaking.

This is where the labels come into play. This is one reason they're faltering now. Because they're providing the same thing they have for nearly two decades. And public tastes have changed. Once upon a time, hip-hop was new and fresh, and there are exceptions, but so much is calcified today. The audience has seen the movie, they're looking for something different.

Nirvana killed the hair bands, but where do you go from there? There's a harder edged modern sound that has its own format, Active Rock, but it reaches a fraction of the number of people rock did in the past.

And distribution makes a difference too.

Used to be even Tower Records carried a limited stock. Now streaming services have everything, meaning you've got to compete against the greats of music history, and that's difficult. And if you're doing a poor job of imitation, I'd rather hear the original, as most people would.

And the world changes nearly instantly today. Trump got shot not even two months ago and not only does it seem like ancient history, it has nowhere near the gravitas, the import, of what it had back then and usual suspect prognosticators believed it would continue to have.

Stratospheric peaks are no longer the poles holding up the big tent. Today you need a lot of peaks, maybe not as high, but without them, there's no reason for the audience to continue to pay attention, it moves on.

And complaining gets you nowhere. If you think you're going to win by carping about Spotify payments, you've already lost. And I hate to tell you, if you win, and continue to win, there's a ton of money for everybody. But it's easier to complain about the game than figure out how to break through yourself.

You've got to change it up. Even if you do it as well as you did the first time around, the public saw it the first time around, it's no longer as incredible. There might be a bit of money involved, but very little excitement.

Post Malone's recording career was going in the wrong direction. But now he's gone country and it looks like he's following the yellow brick road all the way to Oz.

And somehow Post did it with authenticity. Evidencing country roots. And he did it live before records. Which is the opposite of the way it used to be. Do something different on stage and even though few people were there, word can spread.

You cannot be a prisoner of your audience. It just isn't comprised of enough people. This is Trump's failure. He's playing to the converted, not the uncommitted he needs to win.

As for Kamala... Most people still don't know who she is. All they know is it's no longer two aged men inured to the old system running for President. This is how much people wanted change. They've come out of the woodwork in support of...exactly what? Well, I don't think it's Harris herself, but what she represents, the new, the different, the young.

Harris is just like the new act replacing the old.

And you've got to make the news. The paper reports what has already happened. But news outlets need stories. Stunts can garner eyeballs, but how do you sustain viewership? Remember when BuzzFeed was all the rage? All those listicles? Well, they shut down their news department and no one has forwarded me one of those listicles in years. Turns out BuzzFeed didn't have a second act.

Same deal with Yahoo. And AOL.

But with music, you can always rely on your catalog, your hits. But usually, these acts complain that they're no longer on the chart, that no one wants their new music. That's right, they don't want new music that sounds just like the old. And blindly following trends doesn't work either, all those rock bands who made disco records in the late seventies in a dash for cash ended up losing credibility, never mind not having success.

But reinvention, pushing the envelope is hard. It's easier to rely on the tried and true.

But people always want the new. Look at the Sphere.

But that's not the only place to look.

The public always wants something different, even though it says it wants the same and doesn't know it wants the new until it does.

This is why market research doesn't work in music, never mind anywhere else. How did Apple become the most valuable company in the world? By going by Steve Jobs's gut. He famously did no research. He gave people what they needed, not what they wanted.

And this is all amorphous. It's one thing to decide to change, it's another thing to figure out where to go.

And don't count on any support. Your audience will complain that you've changed. Your percentage partners don't want to make less, they'll tell you to stay the course.

So it's down to you.

An artist challenges conceptions. Pushes people. Both irritates and thrills them. Which is why people who've never heard "Blitzkrieg Bop" know who the Ramones are.

Even the MLB changed the rules. The games were just too long. Going or watching is now a completely different experience.

But we haven't had a new sound in decades, whereas we used to have one every four or five years.

And the landscape is amorphous. It's a long hard struggle. There are no rockets to the moon. And TikTok is a game of chance.

No, it comes down to you.

Change is hard, but it's the only way to continue to win and have impact, the only way to keep yourself in the conversation, to dominate it.

Which is what you want, right?


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Re-10cc At The United Theater

Hi Bob

You never fail to take me back to the music I grew up with.

And I immediately wanted to be with you at The United Theatre.

So off I went, and what a show it was :)

"10cc - Donna - United Theater - Los Angeles, CA August 15, 2024"

https://youtu.be/zRB1iPmKAVM?si=UHbjcKR_oRS0zbAh

With love and appreciation 

Paul Holdom 

_________________________________

Hey, Bob: you really said it beautifully in your piece on 10cc.  I've been a lifelong fan since the beginning, and in fact saw them in 1978 in Cleveland on the same tour that you saw them.  I was delighted to see that they were touring the States this summer. Jill and I caught the show in Kent, OH on July 30. It was everything you said in your piece and more!!  In fact, they were so great that we trekked down to Cincinnati on Aug. 4 to see them again!! It was another perfect performance. Yes, it is no longer the full original band, but they did not lack for singing skills. In fact, their harmonies were staggering both nights. Your reference to The Beach Boys was right on-I don't think there is another live band who can pull off those intricate vocal arrangements night after night. The word missing from the reviews I've read is "intelligence," and it applies both to the words they have written and arranged, but to their tasteful playing as well.  Also, their collective sense of humor is…well…ridiculous! If 10cc's music is new to anyone out there, let me suggest a silly but brilliant song from the "Deceptive Bands" album called, "I bought A Flat Guitar Tutor", in which the words they sing are also the names of the chords to the song!!!!!  Think about THAT!!  Rumor has it that the band will return to the States next year.  If it happens, do not miss this unique and talented band.  They blew us away all over again.  Thanks for telling your audience about them.  

Jimmy Fox

PS: in reading this back, I think I sound like a groupie. I guess maybe I am.  Damn, what a band!!!!!!!

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Bob: Couldn't agree with you more. The a cappella version of DONNA and their rendition of FEEL THE BENEFIT were worth the price of the ticket. Prior to this L.A. show, like you I last saw 10cc at the Santa Monica Civic in 1978. Emailing you from Oakland Airport after seeing 10cc for the second time in 48 hours (at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco). By the way, I brought friends (now converts) to both shows - just like I did back in the day.  Bob Paris

_________________________________

Spot on, Bob.

I was also at Santa Monica Civic on November 1, 1978. 

Early in my tenure at Virgin Megastore, 10cc released a "reunion" album of sorts, and I hoped for a US tour, but that just couldn't happen in the new musical climate of 1992.

Thursday night was magnificent beyond my expectations. I literally bought my tickets solely to witness "Feel The Benefit" once again after 46 years.

Many of my "music business" colleagues were sitting amongst me, also participating in my many standing ovations. 

I felt like we were in some private club for a few hours. 

10cc is as relevant now as they were 51 years ago...

Bruce Kilgour

_________________________________

Thanks for writing this review Bob.

My wife and I saw 10CC two weeks ago in Cincinnati.  Admittedly, I was only familiar with three of their songs - I'm Not in Love, The Things We Do for Love, and Dreadlock Holiday.  We were more than pleasantly surprised with the show.  So many great tunes and musicianship.  

We expanded our appreciation of the band's work hearing tunes like Donna, Rubber Bullets, Silly Love, etc. for the first time. 

Great to see the three veterans of the band and Andy Park was impressive with vocals and the number of instruments he played - sometimes simultaneously.

I'm glad you had the same impression we did with their show.

Steve Edwards

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You are spot on! Saw them in Phila last month. Art for Art's Sake, Wall Street Shuffle, The Things We Do For Love, I'm Not in Love and Dreadlock Holiday. Wow! While they played those songs, I couldn't help but think that if you told me in 1976 that I'd be watching them perform fifty years later well, you know the rest…
Would have loved to hear Graham sing No Milk Today but he stayed true to the music and the band…the things we do for love.

jeffsackstennis

_________________________________

My wife, Carmen, and I went to see 10CC's final show on the tour at the Palace of Fine Arts theater in San Francisco last night, Saturday. Much like your comments, we were blown away. The place seemed sold out, with 1000 seats. I was not a super fan; I always liked them and have most of their records, but I have not listened to them often or in-depth for years. I did not fit the demographic last night. Nearly everyone knew and sang along with the band on every song, even the new song done with Brian May. They did not phone it in. They were authentic, great musicians and performers who seemed to enjoy themselves. I was going to tell you how much we enjoyed them and this ground-breaking experience, and then your note came into my email box. I would have watched the show over again, too. Thanks for mentioning this excellent performance. It was one of the best shows we have seen in memory, and we often go out to listen to live music.    

Steve Greene

_________________________________

We were there, Bob. Yes, it was wonderful.  Brought tears to my eyes and took me back to 1974.  Donna was my intro, Sheet Music was my education.  I'm so glad they came to our town.  

Daniel Rosen

_________________________________

With 10cc, you had four people who could all write...  and all sing a hit song. That was pretty incredible. I saw them in my hometown earlier this month. All I had heard was that it was their first appearance in Saint Louis since 1975, which seemed impossible for such an important band. So I bought tickets without checking who was still in the band.
 
When I got there and realized that Gouldman was the only original band member left, I was kind of bummed. But I did not go home disappointed. Material that good just needs an airing by somebody. And in Gouldman's loving and capable hands, with the help of some more-recent 10cc  members, that material came off great. (As you expounded upon)
 
You had mentioned the Jewishness of Jonathan Richman and Joey Ramone in your Greg Kihn obituary. Surprised you didn't mention it here. The Times of Israel called 10cc "the most successful three-quarters Jewish band in history." And they were from Britain, not Brooklyn! I think it came through in their humor, all the way back to when they were known as Hot Legs and recorded "Neanderthal Man".

Emmett McAuliffe Esq.

_________________________________

What a great experience 10cc are today Bob!. We hosted them in the ICC Sydney smaller theatre (2,000 seats) back in June 2023 and it was a real blast. Exceeded everyone's expectations. UP there being one of the tightest bands of the year. It didn't sell to the back row,  but it should have. They did 20 dates on the Australian leg, Talk about a work ethic. Your readers should see this one if they can, it won't disappoint, as you already know.

Don Elford

_________________________________

One of the best I have ever seen live, and I have seen many.

Graham Williams

_________________________________

Amen to That Bob – 10cc – Genius's at work – observational brilliance and fabulous music sprinkled with sardonic humour – irresistible I always loved them – mostly recorded by an unsung genius from Stockport near Manchester called Richard Scott – the engineering is amazing.

Warm Regards
Jonathan Miller 

_________________________________

I recall buying Sheet Music, I think I was about 14. It was like nothing else I was listening to at the time - which ranged from Elton John to Sparks and everything in between. I bought all their records through Deceptive Bends—I thought they were the best band I had ever heard, and was particularly blown away by The Original Soundtrack. I also had the thrill of meeting Godley and Creme when I was 17 and working as an intern for WYSP in Philadelphia, when they came in for an interview.

When my daughter was in high school, which was a small independent school that Daniel Pink referred to in his book Drive as "turning the 'one size fits all' approach of conventional schools on its head", I had the delight of teaching a class on the music of 10cc. It was a fantastic experience I'll never forget.

Hope you continue to experience the joy of having seen 10cc!

warm regards
Debra Bouchegnies

_________________________________

They were a huge on Montreal FM.stations (CHOM FM)  And not just the hits (I'm not in love, Things We Do For Love etc)
I'm talking about :
Rubber Bullets
Wall Street Shuffle 
The Dean and I
The Worst Band In The World

Thanks for the trip down memory lane

David Boloten

_________________________________

I was wondering if you were at 10cc! We've never met, but I'm of the same vintage and we have very similar tastes (I've seen 10cc twice, last Thursday and on Nov. 26, 1975 at the Santa Monica Civic; I think I missed the '78 show because I was in my 2nd year of law school). And of course I knew every word, as did everyone around us. While I missed Eric Stewart, Lol Creme and Kevin Godley (to this day the SM Civic show is among my favorites), I had no complaints about Fenn, Burgess, Park or Hayman. They were every bit as wonderful as you noted. Probably better. But that first show was amazing, and included Une Nuit a Paris, which I still love. (I loved the SM Civic. Among many others I saw there: Joe Cocker/Mad Dogs; David Bowie, Johnny Winter, J. Geils, Peter Frampton, Traffic, Supertramp, Derek & the Dominoes, ELP, ELO, Steely Dan, Lou Reed, Roxy Music, Sparks. . .)

Jeffrey Wruble

_________________________________

Great review Bob, I bought The Original Soundtrack soon after my wife and I separated in '75, me 25, she 21, I swear it and How Dare You got me through my divorce with many wry smiles.
 
Tony Barnes from downunder  

_________________________________

10CC were always the dog's bollocks. Some of us have always known….since Hotlegs!

Hugo Burnham

_________________________________

Great piece on 10cc 
That band did very well in Canada over the years. The polygram team worked them non stop and they did the same when Godley and Crème left to do their own thing 
We all have our favorite songs. Me, it's I'm Mandy fly me. So well crafted so different than the other pop stuff and so smart 
Big fan of Eric Stewart. Always reminded me of master Paul. Ironically they eventually worked together of a few McCartney projects way back. 
As for Graham Gouldman , he's one of rock music unsung heroes. When you realize all he's done in his 50+ year career , you get it 
Thanks for putting some light on this outstanding band. 
Mario Lefebvre
Montréal 
Envoyé du iPhone de Mario

_________________________________

I'm envious, NO 10cc tour for Toronto or Canada, BUMMER! 

In so far as Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan, pfft.

Olie Kornelsen

_________________________________

Saw them back in 1978 in Germany when I was in the army, it was a great show, jealous you just saw them!! 

Doug Gillis

_________________________________

Bob, I was a massive fan, and upon trying to lure friends into the web, I said, they are what the Beatles would have become if they had stayed together!, bloody tourists was every bit the equal to sheet music, in my opinion, doug bell, Bellevue Cadillac Band

_________________________________

So great you enjoyed 10cc Bob. 

One of The Great 1970's  -  but now receding in the public consciousness - British bands like SuperTramp, ELO, Barclay James Harvest and Manfred Mann's  Earthband amongst others… 

although as you say they sounded like no one else, perhaps they are akin to being the UK's Steely Dan in terms of their unique qualities?

Stephen Budd

_________________________________

These guys wrote great songs! Besides what you mentioned, there was "I'm Mandy Fly Me," "Life Is A Minestrone," "Good Morning Judge," "Dreadlock Holiday," "For You and I," a multitude of riches. I'm sorry they didn't come through my neck of the woods, I would have gone to the show!

_________________________________

Carl Nelson
Woodstock, MD

_________________________________

I saw them the week before last in Nashville with my son who insisted that we go. Very small crowd but that meant I got to stand right in front of Graham Gouldman all night. It was like a private show. And boy can they still play. "I'm Mandy Fly Me" has lost none of its weird magic.

They don't write or sing 'em like that anymore.

Best
David Vawter

_________________________________

In some ways, the funnier,  pop side of progressive rock. 10cc are pioneers, and I had a Gizmotron, an original version. 

"I'm Not in Love" is a masterclass in creative studio production.

Total fan. Glad to hear they "wowed" you

fritzdoddy 

_________________________________

Absolutely love your enthusiasm - this email is a perfect example!
I'm Mandy, Fly Me and Good Morning Judge are my favourites. Feel The Benefit is right up there too - what a band - as good as Lennon/McCartney as songwriters imho.

Cheers
Andy Fordyce

_________________________________

I love love love 10cc!
I am envious… good for you!

Brad Merritt

_________________________________

Such a great band - and it's so fun to play songs by these guys for my wife and tell her "yea, that's the same band that did the song ""I'm Not in Love""
"Dreadlock Holiday" freaked her out-nope not a reggae band !! 
Thanks for always keeping us hip to the good stuff.  

Craig Carrick
Clarkston, MI

_________________________________

Barry Lyons and our crew saw 10cc — the original four — play the Buffalo State College gym right after I'm Not In Love (on Mercury) hit and place was still half-empty.  We were on to them early from their singles on UK (distributed by London not Mercury). A spectacular show captured somewhere on cassettes by my snuck-in Sony TC-224. Guess I need to look for 'em.

Btw, Graham Goldman's new solo album is pretty, pretty good too.

Richard Pachter

_________________________________

Started with Sheet Music, worked my way back, and then kept buying their LPs thru Deceptive Bends. What a band! "I'm Mandy, fly me..."

Ross Field

_________________________________

Hi Bob. Smiling throughout your entire review! Had the exact same experience of pure musical joy! Saw them in a 1,200 seat theater outside of Philly.  You could tell there were a lot of die hard fans. I only knew the three hits but knew that they were a very talented band and I was intrigued after your interview with Graham on your podcast. Every song was brilliant! I go to see a lot of live music and I have to say that I haven't heard an audience roar with gratitude in a very long time!

Gary Sender

_________________________________

I WAS AND AM STILL A 10CC FAN FROM DAY ONE. BOUGHT THEIR FIRST ALBUM THE WEEK IT CAME OUT. AND EVERY OTHER ALBUM AFTER. i had tickets for a show in Detroit late 70's/early 80'a but was cancelled. Never got to see them. Glad you did. Twice now. Great band. Great songs. 
Lee Bryan from Detroit. Take care. 

_________________________________

Hey Bob, my name is Dan Birkbeck, my friend Dick Huey sent me your review on the 10cc show in LA. It's a shame that probably only music nerds read what you wrote, as I am not aware of the publication and accordingly would never have been exposed. What you have created was a perfect rehash of what I saw on their last show at the San Francisco Palace Fine Arts. a little background… 

My brother passed away from prostate cancer two years ago much too young at the age of 62. He used to listen to this crazy band 10 CC in our family's basement growing up in Michigan. Of course, as his little brother, I couldn't help but be ruptured by what I heard. "Feel the Benefit" is one of my all-time favorite songs, and I began sobbing when they played it and I experienced the beauty and clarity you describe. Well, I didn't know majority of the songs as you apparently do,but  I appreciated them with the same enthusiasm . Thank you for doing what you do and your summary brought me goosebumps. 

All my best, keep it up.

Dan Birkbeck

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Being a Brit and one of my oldest Music Biz friends Steve Parker being their (10cc) booking agent I know and love this band, the big problem they have is that people know the name but don't immediately put the songs to them, it has taken a few years of promotion to put the two together but now they are selling out Theatres and they are really an amazing band and so talented and of course the songs to match.

An amazing night out, probably one of your best shows.

Kindest,

Sir Harry Cowell

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Hi Bob,

I was hoping you were there and was looking forward your perspective. 

I couldn't agree more. The folks all around me knew every song in the setlist (easy to find nowadays) but we still high-fived in delight at the opening bars of such golden nuggets as 'Clockwork Creep' and 'Feel The Benefit'. Oh, we wanted to hear the hits for sure. But 10cc is a band whose oeuvre is more defined by their 'deep cuts' than a small handful of hits, many of which never crossed to the US. 

My first exposure to 10cc was 'Rubber Bullets' which received heavy rotation on KYA AM in San Francisco. I went straight to my local record shop (Banana Records) and put it on my dad's system while he was at work. Yes, their debut is riddled in pastiche but oh my what a biting sense of satire lurked behind every track. And the production! I was gob smacked by the details in every track.

Of course, we now know that each of the original members had been in 'the biz' for quite some time and that they had their own recording studio (Strawberry) and had recorded dozens of singles and albums for other artists or under other monikers before making their debut album.

But it was 'Sheet Music' that stripped away the 50s/60's pastiche and now here was a band that had all of the potential to be "The New Beatles". I didn't grow up with the Beatles. 10cc were my Beatles and their second album was my 'Revolver'. 

Sadly, after only two more brilliant albums the band split into two and all that potential fell by the wayside. Both factions still produced some fine music, 'Freeze Frame' by Godley & Creme is a masterwork, but the palpable magic of those four original members making music together is sadly lost. 

The current touring band does a remarkable job of reminding us of an amazing body of work that still resonates when expertly performed by a caring and capable band of musicians who know what these songs mean to the fans.  

Bravo.

Lee Elliott

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That's such a great review Bob, however, many of us in attendance were not "super fans" of 10cc. I was going to law school and working full time and listening to their music in the car on cassette, years before my music business career started. My "date" wasn't born yet. However, like everyone else in attendance at the beautiful Ace Theater, we found ourselves in what I would call a progressive pop/rock experience, with each member of a cohesive band excelling on each part. This was not formula music. There were tempo changes, style changes, key changes and fun intellectual lyrics, in each of the songs, with loads of the harmonies I love. Everyone knows "The Things We Do For Love" and it is a great song, but how often do you hear "new music" (new to me anyway) and become captured by an incredibly brilliant performance. 

And why are all the great bands I am seeing from the UK? So far this year it's been Alan Parsons, Al Stewart, what's left of the Moody Blues, a live version of the Beatles' White Album at the Grammy Museum, with Jeff Lynn's ELO next weekend, Ringo Star a couple of weeks later, and British Lion and Tony Moore (of Iron Maiden heritage) in the wings. 
I grew up in LA, but the British Invasion carried me away and gave birth to new sounding American pop, which was competing along side with the California country/folk/pop/rock artists hanging in Laurel Canyon and Hollywood and the Motown sound. 

So, I find myself with all these great classic bands playing music from a lifetime ago that you hear in current movies and Netflix. The music still works. 

The 10cc concert was a delightful surprise and shows that there is still a place for good artistry in a world of instant everything. Thursday night we found ourselves captured in a timeless moment that was everything but instant. I'm happy that you were there Bob, supporting good live music like we were. 

David Chatfield, Harmony Records. 

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I'm really sorry I didn't catch this tour.  

I knew ALL about 10CC from the outset because I knew ALL about Graham Gouldman's songwriting prowess ("Bus Stop," "Listen People," "Look Through any Window," "No Milk Today," "For Your Love," etc., and I knew Eric Stewart had been in the Mindbenders ("Groovy Kind of Love"). I even had (and still have) "The Graham Gouldman Thing" album, on RCA, production credit: Peter Noone.  I got the first UK label singles and the first two albums - which I believe were through London in the USA,  not Mercury.  Harvey Lisberg, who managed both Herman's Hermits and 10CC, and therefore also Graham Gouldman (I think they might have even been brothers-in-law at one point) knows more about the move from UK to Mercury.  I interviewed Jonathan King back then for, I think maybe Zoo World, in the UK label's NYC offices.  A likeable and very smart record guy with great ears who went through some rough times later in life but is still around today.

There's so much great music in the 10CC catalog, but I usually go all the way back to "Rubber Bullets" and "Donna."  

Toby Mamis

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From: Jonathan King

Thanks for the mention in your wonderful review of 10cc.

Had lovely lunch with Graham a few months ago.

All members of 10cc (my name) still speak to me. The problem is - none of them speak to each other!

I wanted them (and Genesis) to do a VOYAGE (we published Abba and I used to pick singles from demos) - so brilliant but better suited to my two bands - both of whom had spectacular solo careers as well as in groups. But only Graham agreed and even Peter G wasn't convinced (I fear Phil C will not be around much longer).

Nothing to do with me anymore. But I witnessed the pure joy at Voyage (still sold out every night). My music ought to be available to the future generations (most at Voyage were my grand children's age).

Anyway - again - so loved your review! Bet you wouldn't feel the same about an Iron Maiden gig.

JK
x

P.S. I had a dream that they were huge in America and there was a giant billboard in Times Square saying "10CC No1 on the Billboard chart". I phoned them the next day (having picked up Donna for release) and said "You have a name - 10cc".

One of STORM's first "hits" was the sleeve he did for me on Sheet Music (the name, by the way, should be said with a Mexican accent - sounding SHIIIIT!). One of the great things about 10cc was we shared an identical sense of humour. I was essentially the 5th member which was why it was so sad they were tempted away after two albums and then basically fell apart without me (as the "glue" - both personally and creatively).

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