I got twenty acres and you got forty-three

[sovay]

Through a nearly normal chain of musical association beginning with the Moog Cookbook's "Basket Case" (1996) and progressing through Rasputina's "Why Don't You Do Right?" and "Brand New Key" (1996), spatch has just played me the Wurzels' "Combine Harvester" (1976) and I'm going to bed.

Comments

[asakiyume]

Oh yes! I love "Combine Harvester." Wakanomori introduced me to this when we first met. It was one of his father's favorites, and the Wurzels sing it in a Dorset accent, so it's perfect.

[moon_custafer]

Due to my particular radio-listening tastes as a teen, I think I heard "Combine Harvester" well before I heard "Pair of Roller Skates." In fact I'm not sure I've ever heard the latter in its entirety.

ETA-- have you ever seen the Hancock episode 'The Bowmans?' https://m.ok.ru/dk?st.cmd=movieLayer&st.retLoc=search&st.mvId=4468508068399&st.rtu=%2Fdk%3Fst.cmd%3DuserMovies%26st.vdsrch%3Dtony%2Bhancoc%26_prevCmd%3Dundefined%26tkn%3D5921&_prevCmd=undefined&tkn=8686#lst

[thisbluespirit]

and "Brand New Key" (1996), [personal profile] spatch has just played me the Wurzels' "Combine Harvester" (1976) and I'm going to bed.

As a bona fide wurzel myself, I did not need to look anything up to see what would get a person from "Brand New Key" to Combine Harvester; I just got an instant earworm, lol.

[gwynnega]

The Moog Cookbook were friends of friends of mine, back in the day.

Here's a track that seems to go along with the general vibe: "Wichita Lineman" (1997) by Optiganally Yours.

[sovay]

Oh yes! I love "Combine Harvester." Wakanomori introduced me to this when we first met. It was one of his father's favorites, and the Wurzels sing it in a Dorset accent, so it's perfect.

I'd never heard it before! I am contending with the possibility that it may be catchier than the other version. I think it's the jugband sound.

[sovay]

Due to my particular radio-listening tastes as a teen, I think I heard "Combine Harvester" well before I heard "Pair of Roller Skates." In fact I'm not sure I've ever heard the latter in its entirety.

I don't think I've ever heard the original! I thought I hadn't heard the Rasputina cover until it hit the chorus. I assume it went past me sometime in the '90's when I was reading something.

ETA-- have you ever seen the Hancock episode 'The Bowmans?'

I have not! Thank you for the link.

I hope it is not insulting if I say I am glad-to-not-surprised that you are familiar with the Wurzels. Their lead singer has your sort of eyebrows.

[sovay]

As a bona fide wurzel myself, I did not need to look anything up to see what would get a person from "Brand New Key" to Combine Harvester; I just got an instant earworm, lol.

It's so catchy.

[sovay]

The Moog Cookbook were friends of friends of mine, back in the day.

I love how many bands you were/are interlocked with, especially when I discover them via completely different routes.

Here's a track that seems to go along with the general vibe: "Wichita Lineman" (1997) by Optiganally Yours.

Absolutely. Thank you. I am totally playing this for spatch when he gets home.

[asakiyume]

I think it really is! "Brand New Key" seemed pale by comparison.

Oi carn't wait to get me hands on err land!

[sovay]

I think it really is! "Brand New Key" seemed pale by comparison.

I finally listened to the original and I think I prefer both covers! I appreciate Melanie providing the scaffolding, though. (I did not realize she had died this January. Time is strange stuff.)

[moon_custafer]

Their lead singer has your sort of eyebrows

Oh, I’d never actually seen them, I’ve only heard the recording. Do you mean the sort of eyebrows I have myself, or eyebrows I’d be attracted to?

*Watches vid*

Ah.

My god, it’s like if Hobbits invented disco.

[sovay]

My god, it’s like if Hobbits invented disco.

I love this description so much I am considering it canonically part of the legendarium.

[moon_custafer]

I see they’re still at it: https://youtu.be/t7F6Jnrqa4c?si=1NZjPTnnCbzHndm2

Meanwhile, here’s the Heimatdamisch covering “Highway to Hell”: https://youtu.be/n_gtGfAail4?si=csZNUWq7XdXZnS5L

[sovay]

I see they’re still at it

spatch actually subjected me to that one after I had declared my intention to pass out!

You may have worked your way around to it already, but I am leaving the 1976 Top of the Pops "Combine Harvester" here not because it's so much more musically interesting than the studio version—although the comments give me to understand it's unusual that they were allowed to perform the vocals live—but because it compounded my experience of "what the fuck, I guess the scrumpy-and-western phase went with the rest of the memories Buttercup was obliged to trade in."

Meanwhile, here’s the Heimatdamisch covering “Highway to Hell”

Entirely in keeping with the spirit of the enterprise, thank you!

Have I shared the Surfrajettes' instrumental cover of "Toxic" (2018) with you? It is unironically my favorite version of the song.

[moon_custafer]

it compounded my experience of "what the fuck, I guess the scrumpy-and-western phase went with the rest of the memories Buttercup was obliged to trade in."

We both agree he sometimes manages to sneak “Brand New Key” into rotation every few months, yeah?

Have I shared the Surfrajettes' instrumental cover of "Toxic" (2018) with you? It is unironically my favorite version of the song.

I think so, and I agree. (My favourite version of “Oops, I Did It Again” is Max Raabe’s)

[sovay]

We both agree he sometimes manages to sneak “Brand New Key” into rotation every few months, yeah?

Absolutely. (And agreed on Max Raabe.)