"Rocky Racoon" Just a Novelty Tune?
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Cover art on "Pure McCartney" reminds me of Paul's Beatle song "Rocky Racoon" because he looks a little like a sun-burned hick hillbilly, or anyway reminds me of that and makes me think of his song "Rocky Raccoon" -- some probably think it's just a novelty tune type throwaway, but its ultra-catchy infectious melody, funny lyrics and strong cheeky vocal presentation render it a full-fledged Beatle song gem, methinks. I wonder about other fans' reaction to this song.
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Aren't catchy melody, funny lyrics and cheeky vocals the hallmarks of a novelty tune?
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Of course it's a novelty tune, but that's not a bad thing.
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Paul liked to write novelty tunes like Obladi Oblada, Honey Pie, etc. Even Lovely Rita was close to that, and probably When I'm 64. What do you all think?
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Nancy R:
Paul liked to write novelty tunes like Obladi Oblada, Honey Pie, etc. Even Lovely Rita was close to that, and probably When I'm 64. What do you all think?
I think your mother should know.
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steven ambrozat:
Nancy R:
Paul liked to write novelty tunes like Obladi Oblada, Honey Pie, etc. Even Lovely Rita was close to that, and probably When I'm 64. What do you all think?
I think your mother should know.
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"Maxwell's Silver Hammer" and "Rocky" exhibit Paul's eccentric Brit /Alfred Hitchcock type leanings with their violent black humor lines such as "to shoot off the legs of his rival" in R.R. and Maxwell sneaking up behind his victim to "bang bang" hit them in the head with his silver hammer--cheeky and irrepressible! Such a card!-- I get a big kick out of his so-called "Novelty" offerings--is "Martha My Dear" one? (Love it) My ears get gifted with quite a treat "Your Mother Should Know" oh yeah. Infectious, joyous. "Lady Madonna" (lyrics sort of sad, though)--I sure love "Honey Pie" and "Wild Honey Pie." And "Yellow Submarine" and I guess "With a Little Help From My Friends" is one, too. I can imagine him leaping up from the piano and prancing around dancing, just jumping for joy from the fun and pleasure of creating these, kind of mincing about, so English
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I don't call those songs "novelty" songs.... I prefer "genre" songs.... and Paul had the gift of borrowing and adding to so many wonderful genres. A real strength of his. Some call it light weight..... I call it genius. Now the real novelty songs for me were You Know My Name and What's the New Mary Jane.
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toris:
I don't call those songs "novelty" songs.... I prefer "genre" songs.... and Paul had the gift of borrowing and adding to so many wonderful genres. A real strength of his. Some call it light weight..... I call it genius. Now the real novelty songs for me were You Know My Name and What's the New Mary Jane.
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I love Paul's vocals on this one. He uses it as another instrument. I think John was jealous that Paul could crank out such infectious songs at will.
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JoeySmith:
I love Paul's vocals on this one. He uses it as another instrument. I think John was jealous that Paul could crank out such infectious songs at will.
John called them "Granny music" and he hated them. I read he walked out of the sessions for Maxwell's Silver Hammer.
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JoeySmith:
I love Paul's vocals on this one. He uses it as another instrument. I think John was jealous that Paul could crank out such infectious songs at will.
Yoko admitted that John once said, "I probably like Paul's music more than mine," or I read that somewhere anyways as I've always remembered reading that. Yoko did say, for sure, that "My Love" always brought tears to Lennon's eyes. And of Wings music John remarked, "That's Paul music, you know." If what I read was correct. John came out with ultra catchy stuff too, very catchy like "Oh, Yoko" which is quite perky and jaunty, upbeat, "Instant Karma" sounds infectious to my ears, "No. 9 Dream" infectious in a laid back, smooth, dreamy way--he's got other catchy numbers and I'll research and report back here "Whatever Gets You Through the Night" though sharp and raw sounding, gritty, wild, might possibly be an example (?). "Sea of Glass" not all that catchy but suddenly becomes heavy sounding in a cool, distinctive way and I always recall the totally smooth emerald green ocean in Jupiter, Florida when I hear this. He was describing that particular sea scene, I believe. Yoko and John liked Palm Beach County.
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It's called "Steel and Glass" not "Sea of Glass." On the album Walls and Bridges and believed to be about Allen Klein, according to The Beatles Bible.
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Man, did I ever get THAT wrong, oopsie ops:
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I was hoping "Sea of Glass" was some hidden song I'd never heard before.