A Vision in Orange Satin
July 25, 2015 6:36 PM Subscribe
Mark Volman (in orange, wielding a French horn) totally owning a performance of Happy Together.
From wikipedia:
From wikipedia:
When performing the song on television, Mark Volman commonly "played" a different instrument not present in the song for each appearance. On Ed Sullivan he "played" a trumpet, on the Smothers Brothers a piano, and on others a French horn. This could be seen as a wink to the audience that they were lip-syncing, a common practice for 1960s television.Want more? One on the tambourine and some general low-resolution antics.
I named the cats Flo and Eddie. My wife approved.
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 6:43 PM on July 25, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 6:43 PM on July 25, 2015 [5 favorites]
TWOOOOHUNNNDREDMOTEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLSSSSSSS
(bonus round): WHAT CAN I SAY ABOUT THIS FABULOUS ELIXIR???
posted by tspae at 6:46 PM on July 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
(bonus round): WHAT CAN I SAY ABOUT THIS FABULOUS ELIXIR???
posted by tspae at 6:46 PM on July 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
That set is great with the forced perspective.
posted by zachlipton at 6:53 PM on July 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by zachlipton at 6:53 PM on July 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
So for some sloppy/foolish reason my husband and I have both entirely forgotten Happy Together somehow ended up as "our song". (To make things even more romantic, we dance to this song by jumping and up down basically doing a version of the fork in the disposal dance during the chorus). To see Mark Volman doing this to "our song!" just. . . makes it 1000x better!
posted by barchan at 6:56 PM on July 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by barchan at 6:56 PM on July 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
Lou Reed interviewed by Flo and Eddie.
Artist management by Flo and Eddie.
Flo and Eddie interview KISS (part 1)
Flo and Eddie interview David Bowie for 90 Minutes Live
posted by maudlin at 7:01 PM on July 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
Artist management by Flo and Eddie.
Flo and Eddie interview KISS (part 1)
Flo and Eddie interview David Bowie for 90 Minutes Live
posted by maudlin at 7:01 PM on July 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
One minor quibble: the "piano" in the Smothers Brothers segment is actually a harpsichord, making Volman's antics all the more hilarious.
posted by Smart Dalek at 7:05 PM on July 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Smart Dalek at 7:05 PM on July 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
So for some sloppy/foolish reason my husband and I have both entirely forgotten Happy Together somehow ended up as "our song".
We had Happy Together played as the exit music from the church after we were married.
posted by octothorpe at 7:09 PM on July 25, 2015
We had Happy Together played as the exit music from the church after we were married.
posted by octothorpe at 7:09 PM on July 25, 2015
The Stranglers breaking the fourth wall on Top of the Pops
posted by batfish at 7:10 PM on July 25, 2015 [9 favorites]
posted by batfish at 7:10 PM on July 25, 2015 [9 favorites]
Flo & Eddie (actually) live at the Capitol Theatre, October 29, 1975.
posted by Sys Rq at 7:21 PM on July 25, 2015
posted by Sys Rq at 7:21 PM on July 25, 2015
Yep, the Stranglers really strangled that one, but I'd love to see a lip reader interpreting the mangled lip-syncing...
posted by oneswellfoop at 7:34 PM on July 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by oneswellfoop at 7:34 PM on July 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
So that's what happened to Glen from Mad Men.
posted by saul wright at 8:07 PM on July 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by saul wright at 8:07 PM on July 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
...still, for much of the "Happy Together" performance, I was going "when's he gonna throw that horn? when's he gonna throw that horn?"
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:15 PM on July 25, 2015
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:15 PM on July 25, 2015
It's funny: I consumed, loved and was heavily influenced by 60's pop & rock music, but growing up withot a TV even then, I never saw most of the performances of the music I listened to hundreds of times.
posted by growabrain at 9:12 PM on July 25, 2015
posted by growabrain at 9:12 PM on July 25, 2015
I swear I hear another wind instrument in the mix every time I listen to that song. This time: oboe. But no one looks cool playing an oboe. NO ONE.
(I look forward to the rebuttals.)
posted by supercres at 9:52 PM on July 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
(I look forward to the rebuttals.)
posted by supercres at 9:52 PM on July 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
Dangerousminds featured the vocal isolations from Happy Together a couple of years ago, but unfortunately the video has been pulled. (It was glorious.)
posted by Catblack at 10:20 PM on July 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Catblack at 10:20 PM on July 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
Catblack -- happily the vocal track for Happy Together is still available on audiobook. It still is glorious.
posted by quallen at 11:37 PM on July 25, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by quallen at 11:37 PM on July 25, 2015 [6 favorites]
But no one looks cool playing an oboe. NO ONE.
As Woodwinds Section Leader in my High School band I wasrecruiteddrafted to learn the oboe in 3 months in order to play it for an annual Band Concert. I not only did absolutely NOT look cool, I couldn't hold a tone with it resulting in a band-wide disaster when the rest of the band was supposed to tune to the oboe. The low point of my musical career.
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:22 AM on July 26, 2015 [2 favorites]
As Woodwinds Section Leader in my High School band I was
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:22 AM on July 26, 2015 [2 favorites]
The Stranglers breaking the fourth wall on Top of the Pops yt
posted by batfish at 10:10 PM on July 25 [7 favorites −]
I have to wonder if that's actually the band's own keys kit or if they borrowed something from the studio because those things weigh like 70 lbs or so with the lid on and I'll be goddamned if I'm dragging that thing out of the house to pretend to play it. I mean that's some dedication to trolling some keyboard nerds if it is theirs, I suppose.
posted by mcrandello at 12:55 AM on July 26, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by batfish at 10:10 PM on July 25 [7 favorites −]
I have to wonder if that's actually the band's own keys kit or if they borrowed something from the studio because those things weigh like 70 lbs or so with the lid on and I'll be goddamned if I'm dragging that thing out of the house to pretend to play it. I mean that's some dedication to trolling some keyboard nerds if it is theirs, I suppose.
posted by mcrandello at 12:55 AM on July 26, 2015 [2 favorites]
But no one looks cool playing an oboe. NO ONE.
Hey, Paul McCandless doesn't look too bad, supercres!
posted by On the Corner at 1:20 AM on July 26, 2015
Hey, Paul McCandless doesn't look too bad, supercres!
posted by On the Corner at 1:20 AM on July 26, 2015
That was a lovely way to start my Sunday morning. "Happy Together" is one of my favourite songs and the best wedding song of all time.
posted by essexjan at 1:36 AM on July 26, 2015
posted by essexjan at 1:36 AM on July 26, 2015
Oh god, every time I see Mark Volman taking the piss in one of these lip sync performances, he makes me think of John Flansburgh in the manic silliness of the early TMBG videos. Laugh-out-loud perfect every time. They tried so desperately to crop him out of the Ed Sullivan clip altogether.
posted by mykescipark at 1:48 AM on July 26, 2015
posted by mykescipark at 1:48 AM on July 26, 2015
My fondest memory of Volman and Kaylan is them playing with Frank Zappa live at the Fillmore East-June 1971. Pick it up if you can find it. Very NSFW.
posted by Splunge at 4:29 AM on July 26, 2015
posted by Splunge at 4:29 AM on July 26, 2015
Oh, Catblack and quallen, that vocal track is genuinely the best thing that ever happened to me today. All the feels.
We sang this in choir at my (boys) high school. One of the most gloriously sexually ambivalent experiences I could hope to have had...
posted by prismatic7 at 4:33 AM on July 26, 2015
We sang this in choir at my (boys) high school. One of the most gloriously sexually ambivalent experiences I could hope to have had...
posted by prismatic7 at 4:33 AM on July 26, 2015
One minor quibble: the "piano" in the Smothers Brothers segment is actually a harpsichord, making Volman's antics all the more hilarious.
I bet Hannibal would find him very delicious.
posted by Pendragon at 4:51 AM on July 26, 2015
I bet Hannibal would find him very delicious.
posted by Pendragon at 4:51 AM on July 26, 2015
I have to wonder if that's actually the band's own keys kit or if they borrowed something from the studio because those things weigh like 70 lbs or so with the lid on and I'll be goddamned if I'm dragging that thing out of the house to pretend to play it. I mean that's some dedication to trolling some keyboard nerds if it is theirs, I suppose.
TV studio guy here. For musical performances most bands will rent most if not all the gear, and show up with a few guitars. Unless they're on tour, in which case you unload an ungodly amount of the touring rig to get to the few pieces of gear they need to perform the one song.
posted by nevercalm at 5:06 AM on July 26, 2015 [2 favorites]
TV studio guy here. For musical performances most bands will rent most if not all the gear, and show up with a few guitars. Unless they're on tour, in which case you unload an ungodly amount of the touring rig to get to the few pieces of gear they need to perform the one song.
posted by nevercalm at 5:06 AM on July 26, 2015 [2 favorites]
Hollywoo, get Jonah Hill playing this guy in a biopic. Make it happen.
posted by Rhomboid at 6:44 AM on July 26, 2015
posted by Rhomboid at 6:44 AM on July 26, 2015
I got a fever and the only prescription is more silly dancing with a French Horn!
posted by obscure simpsons reference at 7:40 AM on July 26, 2015
posted by obscure simpsons reference at 7:40 AM on July 26, 2015
I made a gif, in case anyone needs one. You know you do.
posted by phunniemee at 8:13 AM on July 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by phunniemee at 8:13 AM on July 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
But now I want to hear a kickass version of this song on horn. Perhaps accompanied by the KKK-taunting sousaphone guy.
And Supercres, me too on suddenly noticing the oboe.
(I have a theory that the way they have to breathe makes oboe players a bit different. But then, every assemblage has its eccentrics. When I used to watch the NHL it occurred to me one day that goalies are the oboists of a hockey team.)
As for the vid, it's fun, and the Turtles have an interesting story. I recall this song from back in the day, but also associate it with the John Malkovich movie (he played a scientist and the scientist's android).
posted by NorthernLite at 9:16 AM on July 26, 2015
And Supercres, me too on suddenly noticing the oboe.
(I have a theory that the way they have to breathe makes oboe players a bit different. But then, every assemblage has its eccentrics. When I used to watch the NHL it occurred to me one day that goalies are the oboists of a hockey team.)
As for the vid, it's fun, and the Turtles have an interesting story. I recall this song from back in the day, but also associate it with the John Malkovich movie (he played a scientist and the scientist's android).
posted by NorthernLite at 9:16 AM on July 26, 2015
Mark Volman was my professor for multiple classes at Belmont University! He's really wonderful and has lots of great insight on the music industry. He was always really nice to me and ended up being one of my favorite professors.
posted by SarahElizaP at 11:49 AM on July 26, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by SarahElizaP at 11:49 AM on July 26, 2015 [4 favorites]
I will never really understand how Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan became Frank Zappa's frontmen in the early 70s, but they were a trip. (This is when they started going by Flo & Eddie because due to terrible contracts signed while they were in the Turtles they weren't even allowed to use their real names.) I have't really encountered any other music like it - they'd do what were basically 30+ minute vaudeville skits that were half improvisation and half incredibly tightly synchronized musical performances. (Here's a 47-minute Billy the Mountain for reference.) The Flo & Eddie period is generally thought of as a relative low point in Zappa's career but I don't think it gets the props it deserves.
posted by dfan at 5:52 PM on July 26, 2015
posted by dfan at 5:52 PM on July 26, 2015
I will never really understand how Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan became Frank Zappa's frontmen in the early 70s, but they were a trip.
Short answer: Zappa needed singers who could sing his music, having recently lost two of the best singers who ever sang with him, Ray Collins and Roy Estrada, while Kaylan and Volman (and Jim Pons) needed a way to make a living since, as you noted, they were unable to tour or record either as the Turtles or under their own names.
So the Turtles and Mothers were not unknown to each other: Kaylan and Volman visited Zappa backstage at exactly the right moment: the famous "Hit it, Zubin!" concert at UCLA premiering the 200 Motels suite, with Zubin Mehta and the Los Angeles Philharmonic -- which happened to be the last show Ray Collins ever performed live with Zappa.
Zappa didn't make the former Turtles behave that way: he simply encouraged existing tendencies.
"The Phlorescent Leach" and "Eddie" were apparently private band nicknames for two roadies, one a flamboyant hippie type, the other a quiet brooding Brando biker type. Kaylan and Volman nicked the nicks, and the names stuck.
posted by Herodios at 6:23 PM on July 26, 2015 [3 favorites]
Short answer: Zappa needed singers who could sing his music, having recently lost two of the best singers who ever sang with him, Ray Collins and Roy Estrada, while Kaylan and Volman (and Jim Pons) needed a way to make a living since, as you noted, they were unable to tour or record either as the Turtles or under their own names.
So the Turtles and Mothers were not unknown to each other: Kaylan and Volman visited Zappa backstage at exactly the right moment: the famous "Hit it, Zubin!" concert at UCLA premiering the 200 Motels suite, with Zubin Mehta and the Los Angeles Philharmonic -- which happened to be the last show Ray Collins ever performed live with Zappa.
Zappa didn't make the former Turtles behave that way: he simply encouraged existing tendencies.
"The Phlorescent Leach" and "Eddie" were apparently private band nicknames for two roadies, one a flamboyant hippie type, the other a quiet brooding Brando biker type. Kaylan and Volman nicked the nicks, and the names stuck.
posted by Herodios at 6:23 PM on July 26, 2015 [3 favorites]
A Vision in Orange Satin
Why, as to that . . . two things:
I had a shirt very like that around that time, though not orange.
Here's Rod Evans of Deep Purple wearing the trousers to go with that shirt on Playboy After Dark.
posted by Herodios at 6:43 PM on July 26, 2015
Why, as to that . . . two things:
I had a shirt very like that around that time, though not orange.
Here's Rod Evans of Deep Purple wearing the trousers to go with that shirt on Playboy After Dark.
posted by Herodios at 6:43 PM on July 26, 2015
Here's Rod Evans of Deep Purple wearing the trousers to go with that shirt on Playboy After Dark.
And now . . .
the link.
posted by Herodios at 6:53 PM on July 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
And now . . .
the link.
posted by Herodios at 6:53 PM on July 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
This song was one of the covers the first band I was in used to do (we also covered Oh Yoko, as hilarious as it sounds). At hardcore speed. It was awesome. When we recorded it, our singer wasn't paying enough attention and when the song ended, he didn't. There was a split second of dead air when he realized we were done followed by him asking "What happened?" We left it in. For this reason, and Zappa, I have always loved this song.
posted by evilDoug at 8:38 PM on July 26, 2015
posted by evilDoug at 8:38 PM on July 26, 2015
TV studio guy here. For musical performances most bands will rent most if not all the gear, and show up with a few guitars. Unless they're on tour, in which case you unload an ungodly amount of the touring rig to get to the few pieces of gear they need to perform the one song.
posted by nevercalm at 8:06 AM on July 26
Okay I just did some more digging. This is actually their top of the pops performance, in 77. The earlier video was from a Dutch show called toppop from Jan 21, 1978. The keyboard in the one I just linked is a Hohner Cembalet, which is probably one of the few things heavier than the Clav for a keyboardist to lug around. The organ is also different (not to good at id'ing those, but Hohner gear sticks out like a sore thumb after setting one down wrong.) The forums for people who are still into these funky old instruments indicates that all their gear was stolen in 79 including a Cembalet which they weren't able to replace. So I'm guessing the manager booked the shows and gave someone a call with a list of the gear they used and the rental people got as close as they could (The clavinet D6 was a much more widely available keyboard back in the day.) Huh. Sorry for the David Letterman "didja rent those" siderail there.
posted by mcrandello at 6:00 AM on July 27, 2015
posted by nevercalm at 8:06 AM on July 26
Okay I just did some more digging. This is actually their top of the pops performance, in 77. The earlier video was from a Dutch show called toppop from Jan 21, 1978. The keyboard in the one I just linked is a Hohner Cembalet, which is probably one of the few things heavier than the Clav for a keyboardist to lug around. The organ is also different (not to good at id'ing those, but Hohner gear sticks out like a sore thumb after setting one down wrong.) The forums for people who are still into these funky old instruments indicates that all their gear was stolen in 79 including a Cembalet which they weren't able to replace. So I'm guessing the manager booked the shows and gave someone a call with a list of the gear they used and the rental people got as close as they could (The clavinet D6 was a much more widely available keyboard back in the day.) Huh. Sorry for the David Letterman "didja rent those" siderail there.
posted by mcrandello at 6:00 AM on July 27, 2015
So I'm guessing the manager booked the shows and gave someone a call with a list of the gear they used and the rental people got as close as they could (The clavinet D6 was a much more widely available keyboard back in the day.) Huh. Sorry for the David Letterman "didja rent those" siderail there.
That's exactly how it goes. My show gets a list, and they call around to the rental houses until they find either something close or spot on. If it's close, they'll call the band's management and say "I couldn't get X but I can get Y which they say is the next best thing. What do you think?"
posted by nevercalm at 6:03 AM on July 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
That's exactly how it goes. My show gets a list, and they call around to the rental houses until they find either something close or spot on. If it's close, they'll call the band's management and say "I couldn't get X but I can get Y which they say is the next best thing. What do you think?"
posted by nevercalm at 6:03 AM on July 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
I never really made it that far in the biz once I was out of college, this is actually pretty educational for me, so thanks! Also in that other video they appear to be at least giving the old college try, if not actually playing. Instruments appear to have cables and everything. It still seems a little off but at this point I'd have to view it carefully and sober to be able to tell.
posted by mcrandello at 6:48 AM on July 27, 2015
posted by mcrandello at 6:48 AM on July 27, 2015
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