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:: Just Like In The Movies ::



:: Music, Sex, And Cookies ::



:: Give A Care ::



I received this record from my good friend Kevin (of Pop Zeus fame) during a memorable birthday celebration held in the presidential suite of a posh San Fransisco hotel last November. After much good cheer, Kevin went off to sleep in the closet, as usual, while the rest of us stared at this album and wondered what it might sound like. Well, unfortunately it's not as good as I might have hoped, or actually, it's too good. Problem is, it's just not bad/funny enough to make it very interesting.

Side one of the collection features the winners of the various "professional" categories, while side two is dedicated to the amateurs. Actually though, it's pretty hard to tell the difference. Contestants were encouraged to submit entries on cassettes, but the American Song Festival is quick to point out that the masters for this album came from high quality reel to reel tapes. Considering these recordings date back to 1979-80, and the emphasis is squarely on the mainstream, just about all of these "winners" are pretty damn bland.

The 3 songs I've chosen are from the amateur side. Ironically, the Top 40 winner, "Just Like in The Movies" by Steve Skovran clocks in at nearly 6 minutes. A bit lengthy for Top 40, but it's kinda catchy, i think. George Uetz's "Music, Sex and Cookies" was chosen for obvious reasons, and amateur Folk winner, "Give A Care" by Alan Hale (?) is mildly amusing as well. I haven't researched it extensively, and if I'm wrong please enlighten me, but as far as I know, none of these people went on to great careers as song writers, which is typical of a collection like this, but thanks to the ASF transferring these tunes from reel to reel to vinyl, we can still hear this shit in 2007. Good thing or bad thing? You decide.


Mike

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2007 at 5:51 AM. You can skip to the end and leave a response.