#247 – BLACK SHEEP – John Anderson - 3/13/2020

My personal mantra in the 80’s. My brother from another mother, Neal Phelon had lived in Oklahoma for years and began exploring then popular country music. He turned me on to this song. I could honestly relate to the song’s sentiment, if not the details. In hindsight I suspect I was no crazier than most, no more rebellious. While most of my siblings and cousins were “responsible” family men and women, I was simply acting out my teenage angst in my late 20’s early 30’s. The period of my life coincided with my years living in West Hartford, part of which was the 2 year House of Pain Saga.

I have enjoyed waltzing down memory lane with these songs. I suspect our upcoming relocation is an underlying reason for these memories bubbling up into my consciousness (something about turning pages and chapters….)…..   

I have sadly lost touch with Sue “Yoko Ono” Nash & Chris “Spud” Reed. We lost our dear friend Jimmy Ahern in 2011. Neal Phelon truly blessed me by asking me to be his  daughter Jessica’s godfather - a privilege I have always held dear; Jess has grown into a fine woman and mother who I love beyond words.

I will leave the last words on the House of Pain to John Anderson’s lyrics for this song:

“…the family had a good name.  Papa and mama wanted all for us they never had. Big brother, little brother. sister too - none of them turned out half bad, except me; I'm the black sheep of the family”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pJL7TRM00Y

1983

#2137 – WET DREAM – Kip Addotta - 3/14/2020

There was much uproarious laughter at the House of Pain. This tune has stayed with me since I first heard it in the mid-80’s. I’ve always been impressed by the sheer number of puns Addotta has come up with. The song was both an MTV and Dr. Demento staple from back in the day. It STILL cracks me up when I hear it to this day.

“Abalone! You’re just being shellfish”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6l1GvDWtccI

1984

#1634 – SALT OF THE EARTH – The Rolling Stones - 3/12/2020

Now it is time to recant the tales of the House of Pain MACH II. After our first year at the House of Pain, Sue & Spud left to go play house on their own. Neal & I were sad because we all got along so well, but then we found another volunteer from the studio audience: our long-time friend Jim Ahern. Jim had gone through a breakup in a relationship and was looking for a place to stay. He moved in and the good ship U.S.S. House of Pain Mach II was launched.

Neal & I had worked with Jimmy years previously and always remained friends. Living with this great friend and wonderful human being was a blast from jump street. The “Jimmy Acorn” stories are legendary; from keeping a goat in the hatchway to his son Jay the Wonder Boy’s visits to Neal & I rearranging furniture to barricade him in the bathroom to his undying love of beer, Ireland and The Rolling Stones, this tune is dedicated to our departed pal, St. Jimmy Man. Your turn with the iron, Jim. R.I.P. Brother! You are missed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-3fZ1dKxB4

1968

#895 – LET HIM DANGLE – Elvis Costello - 3/11/2020

I am right in the middle of House of Pain Week. This nugget is from Elvis Costello, whose LP ‘Spike’ on which this song is found was one of the best albums of the 80’s. My buddy Neal & I were lucky to see Elvis perform this song and others from ‘Spike” at Lake Compounce Park in Bristol, CT. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2hA_Xjr33E

1989

#1670 – DIGGIN’ UP BONES – Randy Travis - 3/10/2020

House of Pain Week continues with this 80’s country chestnut. I began to dip my toes in the country music pool because of some of the traditional and outlaw country artists in the 80’s. One of them was this guy: Randy Travis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkK9TY_YiV0

1986

#2006 – DEVIL INSIDE – INXS - 3/9/2020

It’s House of Pain Week. The house we rented was affectionately referred to by all who dwelt there as The House of Pain. I have decided that this week’s tunes (beginning with yesterday’s tune) are all inspired by my idyllic days living on Woodrow in West Hartford, CT. They have either played a prominent role in a specific recollection or just were WAY WAY WAY overplayed by one of us (usually me).

The House of Pain MACH I Saga began when I moved with 2 female room-mates: Sue Nash (not my present wife) and Dipshit Michelle (as we will call her because I can’t remember her last name). Don’t worry, she earned the nickname. Sue Nash & I suffered through many of her legendary hormone-fueled rides on the lability roller coaster (re: tantrums) as well as her almost burning the house down after she attempted to use a Wok without proper approval from the Army Corps of Engineers. Sue & I finally rid ourselves of her after WE sanded and repainted the burned up kitchen without Dipshit Michelle who was always conveniently busy elsewhere. Anyway, my friend Neal moved in and shortly after his arrival, Sue’s boyfriend (soon to be fiancé) Chris a/k/a “Spud” Reed moved in with her. This was the classic House of Pain lineup, which lasted about a year. It sounds weird but it was fantastic, Pherlonic, fur-filled (thanks to Pete & Emma, Sue’s 2 cats), wild, wacky, wombly and outrageous. We were actually approached by MTV to be the subject of a reality series but our manager screwed us out of the deal. We don’t like to talk about it.  

Anyway, one of bands whose music immediately transports me back to those days in the 80’a and that small white, Cape-style house is INXS. ANYTHING by INXS. INXS (especially the album ‘Kick’ which contained this song) has always reminded me of early  Stones, especially tunes like: THE LAST TIME, IT’S ALL OVER NOW & GET OFF OF MY CLOUD. I celebrated my 30^th birthday at the Hartford Civic Center with these housemates watching Michael Hutchence and the boys in all of their arena rock glory.

I know I rambled on a bit, but I hope you’ll forgive me. If any of you had been there, you’d know why I hold those days in such high regard.

Stay tuned for The House of Pain Saga – MACH II.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Prr2ELuBhps

1987

#1428 – GOOD TIMES – INXS & Jimmy Barnes - 12/31/2019

New Year’s Eve – what better way to pass over the threshold from one year to the next than having Good Times with friends and family.

This tune recalls the House of Pain Mach II. It kept on appearing on mixtape after mixtape.

Originally found on the soundtrack to the teenage vampire flick “The Lost Boys”. It is also an homage to fellow Aussies The Easybeats who originally wrote and recorded the song in 1968 with Steve Marriott as guest vocalist. George Young – one of the founding members of The Easybeats – was the older brother of the Malcolm & Angus Young in AC/DC. He co-produced his brothers’ first 7 LPs with his partner from The Easybeats, George Vanda.  

Enjoy & be safe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiUX0cKEEXc

1987

CAN’T GET THERE FROM HERE – R.E.M.

#977 - CAN’T GET THERE FROM HERE - 10/7/2019

A House of Pain special: R.E.M from 1985’s “Fables of the Reconstruction” LP – CAN’T GET THERE FROM HERE.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSe1dQBOuu4

CAN’T GET THERE FROM HERE – R.E.M. - 1985