I was amazed to see Cloud Control kick into this song at a recent gig.
One of those odd times where the band hates their own biggest hit and refuses to play it - they describe it, with disdain, as a "pop song". I guess the Butthole Surfer's will be remembered for more than this song.
But they forget how awesome and fresh this sounded in 1996. It fits perfectly with stuff like Beck at the time - weird, cool, fun. Whats wrong with pop songs anyway?
Get Smart’s sexy and deadly agent, she played it straight but was madly in love with Maxwell Smart. Played with allure by Barbara Feldon, she helped make Get Smart the TV hit it was.
In the height of the show’s popularity, Feldon was talked into recording a novelty single – “99” (and it’s b-side “Max”). It’s hardly the only TV show tie-in song (the Monkees is pretty much a whole show of them), but “99” is a cut above the standard novelty song. Both Beck and the White Stripes have covered it.
Get Smart may be a rip on James Bond, but “99” is a loving tribute to James Bond music. John Barry-esque orchestra, that chinkiny chink guitar and Feldon purring over the top. The lyrics are great, it still sounds great – it really should have come back around and been an ironic hit with the hipster scene. One or two more cover versions ought to do it, I think.
The single was a flop, released on a Motown subsidiary and treated as nothing more than junk food for kids. It was only saved in Australia of all places when Glenn A Baker’s Raven label did a Get Smart soundtrack and put both sides of Feldon’s single as bonus tracks. That compilation is no longer on the Raven website so could well be gone as well. You can still enjoy it here...
Today we've got a song from my good mate Yauman, direct from the UK and in your face now.
Danny Yau’s Occasional Obscurities.
The Brits had the Jam. The US had the Replacements. Australia had no shortage of working class rock with hints of punk. Almost totally forgotten now, but one of the very best singles at the time was by Dave Warner’s From the Suburbs – and it’s called Suburban Boy. How’s that for dedication to a theme, Mr Win Butler?
The album it came from, 1978’s Mug’s Game was released by Mushroom, but is sadly deleted, and kind of dated. Suburban Boy, however, remains timeless.
That stuttering intro! That keyboard riff! That splash of guitars! And Dave up front, singing from his suburban heart.
Such a simple song as well. About watching football (“just to hear myself scream”) and losing out to pretty city boys – I’m surprised this wasn’t as big as other Australian pub/punk classics.
I look at my mates and we all lived this song, but didn't have it in our lives. I would have loved this song as a teenagers. As it was I discovered it in my mid 20s, and still feel the same.
The film clip is hilarious. Hip city cats pushing a poor blue collar kid around at a local dance. Sadly, the band broke up shortly after, and angry Dave Warner became a script writer for MacLeod’s Daughters.
If someone released this song now, it would be a hit. In any event, it’s ripe for rediscovery. It’s as good as I’m Stranded, Alone With You, My Pal, etc. Which means – Australian rock at it’s best.
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