I'm participating in this week's Music Moves Me blog hop co-hosted by Curious as a Cathy. Themes this month were picked by Kim from The ReInVintaged Life. This week's prompt is "April showers bring May flowers"—songs about spring, rain, flowers, or even actual showers where you get clean. These are three somewhat mellow, almost psychedelic songs.
"Last Spring they called me the "Hyacinth Girl"/we laughed and left no regrets" sang Joe Marquis. A beautiful song invoking Spring by local NJ band Winter Hours. TW always thought it was inspired by Greek mythology or T.S. Eliot. Guitarist Michael Carlucci owned Subterranean Records down in the Village. NYC's Greenwich Village, that is. That basement store was magical or so TW told me. Mike would play all sorts of new records for TW as they were chatting about his band, politics and everything in between. After a Winter Hours' show where they segued from "Hyacinth Girl" to the Velvet Underground’s "Heroin," she remarked to Michael how much she loved the segue. He then mentioned “what do you think "Hyacinth Girl" is about?”
We all love the smell of lavender in fact some cat toys are made with a catnip/lavendar mix. Vocalist Donna Croughn worked the cash register at Pier Platters in Hoboken. TW loved to shop there. Donna also fronted Hoboken-based band Tiny Lights. I couldn't find just the song "LavenderMan" on YouTube but it's the very first song on the clip above.
Spring is all about April showers which lead to May flowers and leads me to a few rain songs. Did you expect me not to play R.E.M. again? Their guitarist Peter Buck worked at Wuxtry Records in Athens, GA and that's where he met Michael Stipe. The rest is history. TW first heard this song in March 1984 when some friends invited her to Boston to see a couple of shows. One gave her the advance copy of "Reckoning" that was due out a few months later. This version which also includes an abbreviated version of the old Creedence song "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" is from German tv. Why play one R.E.M. song when you can play two? The man of 1000 hair styles and colors went short and blond for their 1985 tour. On the other paw, I choose to keep my furz au natural.
I hope you enjoyed this week's selections. Has Spring sprung in your hood? We've seen a few crocuses aka croci but so far no lavendar or hyacinths. Then again there isn't much garden around this concrete jungle.
Hey Hyathinth Girl! Don't know what the song's about but you're looking lovely in lavender! We hide in April till all the flowers are out in May....
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy your music CK and I always learn something along the way!
ReplyDeleteHappy April Fool's day Hyacinth Cat! Our hyacinth isn't looking too good after last week's hail.
ReplyDeleteThe Florida Furkids
My human loved this week's choices. "South Central Rain" is still one of her favorite REM songs. (And she can't believe how young they look... but I guess so did she in 1985.)
ReplyDeleteGreat song pics and a lovely picture of you sweet one!
ReplyDeleteWinter Hours - Hyacinth Girl I've never heard so thanks for the introduction on that one. For the rest of them are too cool! GREAT JOB & thanks for joining us! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteLoved the music and loved the kitty too.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day and week. ♥
Excellent choices for today! It's nice to hear a different take on the theme.
ReplyDeleteCathy,
ReplyDeleteAs always you bring interesting new-to-me songs. Of these featured tunes, my ear especially likes 'Hyacinth Girl'. Thanks for joining the 4M crew on the dance floor. Have a boogietastic week, my love!
I've not heard of any of these (except REM) - interesting picks! #MusciMovesMe
ReplyDeleteGood set here! Interesting how that secondary theme worked itself in there, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteYou look extra pretty in the field of hyacinths. Darn voles ate all our hyacynth bulbs. These are all new to me. I new you would get REM in there like Melissa gets Conway in hers :) I used to love going to the record store in Worcester when I was in college. And every Sunday I would go to the department store called The Fair with my Dad and get a 45.
ReplyDeleteWould you believe I love the song "Have You Ever Seen the Rain"? Totally agree with you about working in a music store! I used to shop at Strawberries and Coconuts regularly back in the 80s and wish I could work there so I could bring home all the cool promotional items. Just over the weekend I tried to buy a huge cardboard promo picture of Conway that had been a record store display but it ended up selling for $250...a little beyond this girl's budget, even where he's concerned! MOL
ReplyDeleteNice pics this week, CK. We only know the REM one but these all make us wish for spring and flowers....considering we got snow yesterday.
ReplyDeleteWe're a huge fan of R.E.M. too, CK, and we loved the first song of Winter Hours very much. Glad you stay natural, Hyacinth cat😹Pawkisses for a swinging Day🐾😽💞
ReplyDeleteExcellent song choices, as usual! R.E.M. is my favorite! :) Thanks for the dance! :)
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