Some FEATURED ARTISTS on this week’s Stronger Than Dirt (Saturday, 8-10pm) include the Monkees, Fairport Convention, Osmonds, Jook, John Cooper Clark, Standing Waves, Dickies, Chrisma, Mallard, new music by the Cripples (Seattle), Living Pins (Austin), Warm Exit (Belgium), and Spiritual Mafia (Australia), as well as the weekly Dusty Diamond.
PICTURE SLEEVE OF THE WEEK: The Osmonds revealed a heavier, more rocking side with their 1972 song “Crazy Horses.” Their record label, MGM, was initially skeptical, but it went on to be a smash hit, especially in Europe where it reached the top of the charts in several countries (only number 14 in US charts). It was the only Osmonds hit to feature Jay on lead vocals. Donnie had no vocal parts as his voice was changing due to puberty. He did, however, provide some pretty crazy runs on the organ. In the US it was released in a generic MGM sleeve. In Europe, however, it came in a sleeve with a rather bleak industrialized themed design. (see image) “Puppy Love” this is not. The artwork is uncredited. Watch a mind-blowing live performance of “Crazy Horses” here:
LAST WEEK’S DUSTY DIAMOND (a forgotten gem from the STD vaults): King Loser were a lo-fi experimental/garage/surf/pysch band from New Zealand who had several releases in the mid 90s. “Broken Man” is a gritty slab of garage-y psych with tasty keyboards and lysergic guitar drones. It has a Modern Lovers vibe, if not the exact sound. It appeared in 1995 on the “You Cannot Kill What Does Not Live” album on Flying Nun. Listen to it here:
Promo art from the Standing Waves’ 1979 self-titled EP on Classified Records. Photo by David Fox