Ben messaged me to ask, "Did you do a blog post for Ace Frehley?", to which my shameful reply was, "No. I meant to, but never got round to it."
Still, better late than never.
As "Spaceman", the original guitarist in Kiss, Paul Daniel "Ace" Frehley clearly left a sizable crater in the history of rock 'n' roll... even though he eventually left to pursue a solo career / was kicked out for excessive substance abuse, depending on which version you believe. Bridges were rebuilt in the late 90s and the remaining Kiss members had nothing but good things to say about him in eulogy, while Alice Cooper remarked, ""He always brought it every night. He did it every night. And it's just hard to see somebody like that go. Ace was an ACE."
I did quite like that back in 2001 - enough to swipe it from the chuck-out box, anyway - but listening back it all seems very polished and I don't particularly take to Mayer's voice anymore. Plus, Mayer appears to be a bit of a dick, having given some supremely dodgy interviews in his day. And obviously, I will not stand behind any artist who says stupid, inflammatory things in interviews.
The Swede dropped by to offer Magdalena 83 by Alan Vega - which I'm sure is pretty good since I do like a bit of Suicide every now and then... but as I couldn't find it anywhere on t'internet, and it doesn't (yet) feature in my record collection, I had to give it a pass.
Martin suggested Wafia - 83 Days, which to be fair he caveated with "don't like very much" (alongside John Mayer... which made me question the darker crevices of Martin's record collection as much as I sometimes do my own) but then he redeemed himself slightly by offering Major Tom (Coming Home) by German Bowie obsessive Peter Schilling. That doesn't actually mention 83 at all in title or lyrics, but Martin offered the following defence: "(a) it was used as the theme for the excellent Deutschland 83 and (b) is actually quite good", which would generally be enough for me... although I haven't seen the show myself.
The only other song I'm aware of with 83 in the title comes from the soundtrack of Flashdance... but it's hardly What A Feeling!
All of which led me to search for lyrical references to the number 83, most of which revolved around the year... but rules are meant to be broken in times of desperation. So, here's My Top Ten 83 Songs... leading up to this week's winner:
It was summertime in '83 We were burnin' out at the rubber tree Wonderin' what in the world Would make all this worthwhile And if I knew then I was older then Would I see regret to the last mile?
It was back in the summer of '83 There's a reason I remember it well I was slipping and sliding, drinkin' and drivin' Bringin' me closer to Hell
And the Devil sat in the passenger's side Of Delorean's automobile He said, "Hey Frehley, Frehley let's not be silly There's a life out there to steal!"
I got a couple of rods; they got tape where they broke I got a bobber, some sinkers and two packs of smokes I got the sun goin' down and the moon comin' out And it's 83 degrees and I'm pissin' in the river
Well, it's a fiddler from Kentucky Who swears he's 83 And he's fiddled every contest From here to Cripple Creek And it's old ones and it's young ones And it's plain they half agreed That it's country music in the park As far as they can see
You were standing next to me, In '82 and '83, In all that time I barely proved I love you Well there's nothing wrong but the wrong in me You were everything you were meant to be
Well my body sank below the ground It became as black as night, Overhead the sounds of horses hooves, People fighting for their lives. Some joker in a headband was still Getting chicks for free. And Big Brother was still watching you Back in the days of '83.
1. Amy Rigby - The Summer of My Wasted Youth
Summertime in '83 I didn't need a j-o-b Cause unemployment kept me free To study country harmony And find somebody with a car Drink cheap beer in the Polish bar Take photos in the photo booth The summer of my wasted youth
So, lyrics will be allowed for 82... as will years. Unless you have an amazing title suggestion. These are the toughest numbers. They will get easier.
