D.I.Y.: Blank Generation - The New York Scene (1975-78)

“Blank Generation” would be my second choice here.

Joey’s sui generis vocal style is key. He was trying to do something - Sound British? Sound like Ronnie Spector? - but whatever it was it came out sideways and became its own thing.

Yeah, I've got no idea what Joey thought he was doing but it was unique and brilliant. As for complaining about his diction? There's John Martyn thread over there that needs attention!

If he was indeed trying to do a British accent, it wasn’t your typical rock Northern Beatles/Sabbath/Spinal Tap accent. More like something he dreamt up sitting in front of the television in Queens watching the villagers in Son of Frankenstein on Million Dollar Movie on WOR-TV.

it's a little ray davies haha

Oh yeah!

Sonic Reducer still gives me the occasional chill when the riff starts, which is pretty remarkable. My already high opinion of Blank Generation when way up upon recently learning it's a Rod McKuen steal.

OTM. Always pleasantly surprised at how much I like all the different versions of “Sonic Reducer,” even the Pearl Jam cover.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mb2FcL4XvAc

Thanks, forgot about that! Music in that film is so good. Seem to remember some Feelies too.

sorely tempted to vote for "spanish stroll" here

This is what I settled on, because there are so many songs I love here that I went with one I was afraid wouldn't get votes. I have kind of a fascination with Willy DeVille, even in that scene he was an unusual cat.

And "Spanish Stroll" may be the best Lou Reed song not by Lou Reed.

Cheree barely over X Offender. If Frankie Teardrop had been on this comp, I would have been more adamant about its obvious superiority (based on the thematic elements of the other tracks, it would have been ideal)

i went for Cheree barely over X Offender too in the end. i haven't heard this comp but yes, Frankie Teardrop might have been a better fit. too long possibly?

Yeah, perhaps too long ... I have a bunch of live recordings and such so that I forget the track length of the original, guessing it's prob the same for you too?

I think in the context of the comp, where there was a certain New York almost "oldies" vibe, like X Offender or Crocodile Tears, the pop-ness of Cheree did make sense in that context. I think anything else from the first Suicide album would've been too jarring. I think it was intentional. But this is also where I first heard Cheree so it's hard to remove that context.

FWIW I had this on tape which had less songs, no Tuff Darts, no Spanish Stroll, only one song by Richard Hell or Television.

https://www.discogs.com/release/6891727-Various-DIY-Blank-Generation-The-New-York-Scene

But did it still have The Mumps?

Yeah. I loved that song and only recently got the 7". Played it on the Lot last week.

a certain New York almost "oldies" vibe,... the pop-ness of Cheree did make sense in that context. I think anything else from the first Suicide album would've been too jarring

true! oldies vibe is a good way to describe it.

I can't say I'm disappointed that "Cheree" was included over "Frankie Teardrop."

"Rocket USA" or "Ghost Rider" would have fitted on this album just fine.

wound up voting for the blank generation after seeing that spanish stroll had secured a vote lol

robert quine is a damn hero

God, culture moves so fast. This era was only 20 years after the initial explosion of rock'n'roll, and it was already considered "oldies".

Music from the 50s was considered oldies in the 60s, and pretty early in the 60s at that.

This one was formative for me for a lot of reasons but mostly because it's the first time I ever heard Suicide. I would vote for "Cheree" in more or less any poll it could appear on, so this is easy.

Blondies style in the x offender video combined with the farfisa is pure retro

"X Offender" ftw

Someone compiled a Spotify playlist of the album.

http://open.spotify.com/playlist/6hYaLYXcdR9csv0nWjX8C5?si=e84848b4ff294b59

Not sure if the compilation had different versions than what is on the playlist since I never heard it before. Also the album that the Mumps' track was culled from is off Spotify now. The single of the song is on Spotify, however, but the person who made the playlist didn't make it editable, so you'll have to make your own playlist if you want to correct that oversight. Still, this is good. Listening now.

see no evil because of my old band's masterful (heh) mashup cover version where i inserted the "ain't that nothin'" lead (sort of) in place of the "see no evil" lead. repeats --> download music files --> click on first track.

https://tv.obbard.com/tribute/content2.htm

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

70 votes!

Okay, I guess.

First time in a long time where my gut reaction to the results was an audible "well, alright"

Voted for Suicide.

Perfect!

Also love that if Blondie hadn't had 2 tracks to split their vote maybe there would have been a 3 way tie featuring them for 1st place.

If you combine tracks by same artist, I think Ramones would have been in 1st place, then Richard Hell & the Voidoids, and then a 2-way tie between Suicide and Blondie.

I get "Let Me Dream If I Want To" stuck in my head about once a year despite never listening to this comp anymore, should have thrown it a vote

D.I.Y.: We're Desperate - The L.A. Scene (1976-79)