Certain Songs

Certain Songs #1906: The Replacements – “Message to The Boys”

September 2, 2020 by Jim Connelly

Album: Don’t You Know Who I Think I Was?
Year: 2006

. . .

Oh god, I miss her voice

And so it was that The Replacements broke up after their July 4, 1991 show in Chicago’s Grant Park. And that probably should have been that. It’s the oldest story in the book: a band makes a few critically-lauded records, but never really catches on with the general public and finally breaks up, eventually to reside in the “Where Are They Now?” file.

Certain Songs #1905: The Replacements – “Torture”

September 1, 2020 by Jim Connelly

Album: All Shook Down
Year: 1990

. . .

You hide yourself in darkness, but we’re heading for the sun

The guess here is that some of you really hate this song, which is one of two or three on All Shook Down that clearly feel like they were just Paul all by his lonesome, overdubbing all of the instruments and the vocals.

I could be wrong, but “Torture” almost lives up to its name, a really claustrophobic couple of minutes that’s based upon a pair of furiously strummed acoustic guitars — one of the ironies here that if it had drums and electric guitars, it would have been the fastest, punkiest song on the album — and a organ (I think) hook that is pretty fucking torturous itself.

Until it isn’t.

Certain Songs #1904: The Replacements – “Happy Town”

August 31, 2020 by Jim Connelly

Album: All Shook Down
Year: 1990

. . .

The plan was to sweep the world off its feet

The fifth and final time I saw The Replacements on the main was on January 19, 1991 at the Hollywood Palladium. By that time, of course, Chris Mars was long gone, the disrespect he was served during the All Shook Down sessions having resulted in his leaving the band once and for all.

Chris Mars’ Replacements replacement was Steve Foley, meaning that I got to see every single touring incarnation of the Replacements at least once, though I remember the Palladium show as being the weakest of all of the times I saw them, though Doc and I were still glad to get to see the ‘Mats one last time, as well as The Posies, who opened the show.

Certain Songs #1903: The Replacements – “Attitude”

August 29, 2020 by Jim Connelly

Album: All Shook Down
Year: 1990

A few years ago, on the album Wrecking Ball, Bruce Springsteen put out a song called “Jack of All Trades,” and all I could think of was how surprised it took him that long to write a song with that title. Cos it seemed inevitable that he would write one.

So extra kudos to Paul Westerberg for writing his inevitable song much earlier in his career, as “Attitude” pretty much sums up the ‘Mats in a single line.

Certain Songs #1902: The Replacements – “Sadly Beautiful”

August 28, 2020 by Jim Connelly

Album: All Shook Down
Year: 1990

. . .

You got my soul

In preparation for when I get to the Rolling Stones later in the year, I’m currently re-reading Tony Sanchez’s gossipy, opinionated Up And Down With The Rolling Stones, which chronicles his stint hanging with the band while they were making some of the greatest rock and roll music ever, and given the amazing amounts of coke and smack, it’s amazing that they were able to.

And, of course, there were casualties along the way: Brian Jones, of course, but also Anita Pallenberg and Marianne Faithfull, whom — at the point I’m at — Mick has just left a strung-out wreck.

Certain Songs #1901: The Replacements – “Nobody”

August 27, 2020 by Jim Connelly

Album: All Shook Down
Year: 1990

. . .

Still in love with nobody

“Nobody” just might be the greatest song Paul Westerberg has ever written.

It was most certainly the highlight of All Shook Down, the final studio album that the Replacements would ever release, and as we all know, even that was kinda bullshit.

Certain Songs #1900: The Replacements – “Talent Show (Milwaukee, 1989)”

August 26, 2020 by Jim Connelly

Album: Dead Man’s Pop
Year: 1989

. . .

“Feeling good from the pills we took”

“Talent Show” just might be the greatest song Paul Westerberg has ever written.

Out of all of his “state of the Replacements” missives, it has the most breadth and the most depth, capturing the essence of the cockiness needed to go on that stage and play your songs as well as the insecurity that it all might go to shit.

Certain Songs #1899: The Replacements – “Anywhere is Better Than Here (Milwaukee, 1989)”

August 25, 2020 by Jim Connelly

Album: Dead Man’s Pop
Year: 1989

. . .

You’re life’s a joke so tell me, ain’t it?

Sometimes a live version of a song that you’re lukewarm on can reveal its hidden treasures.

On Don’t Tell a Soul, “Anywhere’s Better Than Here” was a weird beast, a song with a great beginning — that scream! — and a great ending, but not a whole lot in between, as it lurched around without ever settling down.

Maybe that was the mix, maybe it was the performance, as even the Dead Man’s Pop version failed to revive it for me.

Certain Songs #1898: The Replacements – “Date to Church (Matt Wallace Remix)”

August 24, 2020 by Jim Connelly

Album: Dead Man’s Pop
Year: 1989

. . .

Take your honor fast

When “Date to Church” first surfaced as the b-side of “I’ll Be You,” I really didn’t think that much of it.

I believe that we knew that Tom Waits was on it, but outside of the prominent Hammond B-3 — a right and proper sound on a gospel tune — there didn’t seem to that much Waits on it.

Certain Songs #1897: The Replacements – “Asking Me Lies (Matt Wallace Mix)”

August 21, 2020 by Jim Connelly

Album: Dead Man’s Pop
Year: 1989

. . .

The rich are getting richer, and the poor are getting drunk

The third and fourth times I saw The Replacement were a couple of days apart in May, 1989. The fourth time was the first time I ever hit the road to see them: a drive up to a club in Santa Clara called One Step Beyond with Doc, Mike and Nikki, and the ‘Mats were really really great, of course, as a glance at the setlist would show. But otherwise uneventful.