November 19, 2013 Playlist

"Stars Time Bubbles Love" by The Free Design (1970)
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
The Free Design  "Stars/Time/Bubbles/Love"  1970 (USA)
This week's classic album is by my favorite singing sixties siblings: Chris Dedrick (the songwriter) originally with Bruce and Sandy Dedrick, and later with  Ellen and then Stefanie Dedrick. Together they were The Free Design, one of the classic "Easy Listening" acts on Enoch Light's Project 3 record label. Chris Dedrick's songwriting was a wonderfully unique combination of smooth lounge pop with high-concept jazz and classical flourishes and surprisingly sardonic lyrics. The group never scored the hit single they deserved (though "Kites Are Fun", the title track of their debut album came closest, and "I Found Love" from their second has turned up in a few TV shows and movies), though they did make seven albums between 1967 and 1972, and even a reunion album in 2001 (Chris Dedrick passed away in 2010, so there won't be any more). The finest of their albums is their fourth Stars/Time/Bubbles/Love, featuring the wonderful leadoff track "Bubbles": on the surface a catchy song about chewing bubblegum, but the bridge mentions parents fighting, grandparents dying, and even the apocalypse! This sugary bitterness was one of the key influences on the fine 1990's retro-futurist pop group Stereolab, who similarly liked to dress up their Marxist laments in smooth lounge harmonies.
(N) = New Release
(R) = Listener Request
 
Artist Song Album Year Country
Budos Band
Golden DunesIII 2010
USA
Charles Bradley Love Bug Blues
Victim Of Love (N)2013 (Dunham/Daptone)USA
The ZombiesPlay It For Real
Breathe Out, Breathe In (N) 2013 (Red House)UK
MotorheadLost Woman Blues
Aftershock (N) 2013 (UDR)UK
Sebadoh Defend YourselfDefend Yourself (N)2013 (Joyful Noise)USA
Sleepy Sun11:32
CD single (N) 2013 (Dine Alone)USA
Strawberry Alarm Clock
Barefoot In BaltimoreIncense And Peppermints1967
USA
 
 
The Beachnuts (early Lou Reed recording)
Cycle AnnieOut Of Sight! (various artists)rel. 1967
USA
The Dot Wiggin BandBanana Bike
Ready! Get! Go! (N) 2013 (Alternative Tentacles)USA
The Shaggs
My Pal Foot FootPhilosophy Of The World 1969
USA
Buffy Sainte-Marie
God Is Alive, Magic Is AfootIlluminations 1969
Canada
Blue Oyster Cult
She's As Beautiful As A FootBlue Oyster Cult 1972
USA
Fifty Foot Hose
RoseCauldron 1967
USA
The Troggs (R)
Jaguar And Thunderbird (Chuck Berry)From Nowhere1966
UK
   
 
The Free Design
BubblesStars/Time/Bubbles/Love
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
1970
USA
The Free Design
Kije's OuijaStars/Time/Bubbles/Love
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
1970
USA
The Free Design
One By One (live)One By One (CD bonus track)1972
USA
The Free Design
That's All, PeopleStars/Time/Bubbles/Love
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
1970
USA
Stereolab
The Free DesignCobra And Phases Group Play Voltage In The Milky Night 1999
UK/France
Enoch Light (with The Free Design on uncredited vocals)
Walk On By (Burt Bacharach)Spaced Out1969
USA
   
 
James Brown
Get On The Good FootStar Time (box set compilation) 1972
USA
Parliament
Agony Of DeFeetTrombipulation 1980
USA
The Isley Brothers
Footsteps In The Dark (parts 1 & 2)Go For Your Guns1977
USA
The Flock
CrabfootDinosaur Swamps1970
USA
Frank Zappa
Stink-Foot
Apostrophe (')1974
USA
   
 
The Mothers Of Invention Big Leg Emma
A-side 7" single (bonus track on Absolutely Free CD)1967
USA
The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band Noises For The Leg
Keynsham1969
UK
Traffic Hole In My Shoe
A-side 7" single (Best of Traffic LP)1967
USA
The Guess Who Those Show Biz Shoes
Artificial Paradise1973
Canada
Stephen Malkmus No More Shoes
Face The Truth2005
USA
Black Moth Super Rainbow One Day I Had An Extra Toe
Drippers EP2008
USA
Toe Fat That's My Love For You
Toe Fat1970
UK
 
  
Caravan Nine Feet Underground In The Land Of Grey And Pink1971
UK
      
   
   
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