ROCK Sex: "Dropout Boogie" - Capt. Beefheart > PJ Harvey > The Kills

PJ says, "Lick my decals off, baby!"


ROCK Sex relays another relay drop-off.

Today's song thread is "Dropout Boogie".

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"You told her you love her so bring her to mother
You love her adapt her, you love her adapt her"


The song takes its fuzzy riff from this Garage Rock classic.

THE KINKS -"You Really Got Me" (1964)



And here's how the manic Captain Beefeheart rechanneled it through Howlin' Wolf and Frank Zappa, with Ry Cooder slashing on guitar.

(Tom Waits fans, take note.)

CAPTAIN BEEFHEART And His Magic Band -"Dropout Boogie" (1967)



Captain Beefheart was so extreme as to be record industry poison, a cult status that made him that much more cool. Perversely, here's an English acolyte braving an excellent cover version.

EDGAR BROUGHTON BAND -"Dropout Boogie" (1969)



Here's PJ HARVEY doing a subtle sequel to the song, flipping the perspective; after the slow build-up it becomes apparent in the rhythm and similar lyric lines like "I love her, I kept her".

PJ HARVEY -"I Think I'm A Mother" (1995)



Lately here's The Kills with a cover they do often in concert. Music fans may also know singer Alison Mosshart from her other band The Dead Weather, with Jack White.

THE KILLS -"Dropout Boogie" (live, 2002)




© Tym Stevens

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See Also:

• "Uh Huh Her" - P.J. Harvey > Uh Huh Her


• The Real History of Rock and Soul!: The Music Player Checklist

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ROCK Sex: Rock Revolution = Busted Amp! - Ike Turner > Burnette Trio > The Kinks > The Beatles

ROCK Sex gets caught by the fuzzzzz.

Wanna change the world? Play through a busted amp! Here's a pervasive problem that became a brilliant revolution.

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In 1951 Ike Turner and his band made what is arguably the first Rock'n'Roll song, releasing it under singer JACKIE BRENSTON's name. It is a retooling of Jimmie Liggens' "Cadillac Boogie" (1947) but rowdier and revved up. The extra edge came from a fuzzed-out amp that had been broken in transit. Voila, Rock'n'Roll!

JACKIE BRENSTON AND HIS DELTA CATS -"Rocket '88" (1951)



Paul Burlison's amp was damaged before the recording of The JOHNNY BURNETTE TRIO's studio session, and more sonic revolution ensued:

THE JOHNNY BURNETTE TRIO -"The Train Kept A-Rollin'" (1956)



Dave Davies of The Kinks took a knife to his amp to get the distorted snarl he'd discovered. But he went too far and was thrown across the room by an electric shock!
(Legal Disclaimer: ROCK Sex says, "Don't try this, kids."):

THE KINKS -"You Really Got Me" (1964)



John Lennon used a busted amp to get the raw distortion for "Revolution", even singing on his back on the studio floor shouting at the mike to get the extra edge in the vocals:

THE BEATLES -"Revolution" (1968)



Have fuzz, will frazzle!



© Tym Stevens

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See Also:

• "Rumble" - Link Wray > Adam Ant > TWIN PEAKS

• 1950s PUNK: Sex, Thugs, and Rock'n'Roll!

• DON'T TREAD ON ME: The Original Punk of 1960s Garage Rock, with Music Player!

• BEATLESQUE Songs: 1968-esque, with Music Player!


• The Kinks > Sex Pistols > The Kinks

• "I CAN'T EXPLAIN" - The Who > David Bowie > The Clash > Fatboy Slim > The Hives

• ROCK Sex: "THE TRAIN KEPT A-ROLLIN'", Tiny Bradshaw> Johnny Burnette Trio> The Yardbirds> Aerosmith


• The Real History of Rock and Soul!: The Music Player Checklist

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