| Author |
Topic: Worst Band Ever II |
Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
|
Posted 28 Aug 2006 1:15 pm |
|
Meet... The Shaggs, an all-girl band from Fremont, New Hampshire. This group is considered the worst rock and roll band in the world (or the "best worst" by the New York Times), and this designation has made the band's one and only album a collector's item. Recorded in 1968.
Here’s a 1 min. MP3 segment of the title song Philosophy of the World:
Philosphy of the World
LYRICS:
Philosophy Of The World
Oh, the rich people want what the poor people's got
And the poor people want what the rich people's got
And the skinny people want what the fat people's got
And the fat people want what the skinny people's got
You can never please anybody in this world
The short people want what the tall people's got
And the tall people want what the short people's got
The little kids want what the big kid's got
And the big kids want what the little kid's got
You can never please anybody in this world
Oh, the girls with short hair want long hair
And the girls with long hair want short hair
Oh, the boys with cars want motorcycles
And the boys with motorcycles want cars
You can never please anybody in this world
It doesn't matter what you do
It doesn't matter what you say
There will always be
One who wants things the opposite way
It doesn't matter where you go
It doesn't matter who you see
There will always be
Someone who disagrees
We do our best
We try to please
But we're like the rest
Whenever at ease
Oh, the rich people want what the poor people's got
And the poor people want what the rich people's got
And the skinny people want what the fat people's got
And the fat people want what the skinny people's got
You can never please anybody in this world
|
|
|
 |
Larry Robbins
From:
Fort Edward, New York
|
Posted 28 Aug 2006 1:30 pm
|
|
| Wow, like these chicks sound real far-out and groovey! [This message was edited by Larry Robbins on 28 August 2006 at 02:31 PM.] |
|
|
|
Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
|
Posted 28 Aug 2006 1:32 pm
|
|
| Thanks Doug, I was looking for a clip of The Shaggs since they were mentioned in another thread recently but couldn't find anything... wow, they're BAD! |
|
|
|
Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
|
Posted 28 Aug 2006 1:50 pm
|
|
I'm glad you like it!
Yes, two cheapo guitars out of tune and out of time, drums out of time, two monotone voices singing awful lyrics in unison with a lisp... other than that they're fine! 
who let the dogs out?! |
|
|
|
Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
|
Posted 28 Aug 2006 1:51 pm
|
|
| If I know my vintage guitars,[and i DO know vintage guitars].. I would say they were playing Wurlitzer guitars.. Now THAT is just too cool.. [Gibsom amps too!!!]... bob |
|
|
|
Duane Reese
|
Posted 28 Aug 2006 1:52 pm
|
|
| Well, they sing more in key than the one I posted, but they are much worse overall. |
|
|
|
Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
|
Posted 28 Aug 2006 1:54 pm
|
|
| arrrgghhhh.. that was truly horrible... I am going to wash my ears out with benzene and muriatic acid... bob |
|
|
|
Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
|
Posted 28 Aug 2006 1:56 pm
|
|
| Hey! maybe if they get wind of all this commotion they might consider a "comeback" tour. |
|
|
|
Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
|
Posted 28 Aug 2006 1:56 pm
|
|
One of the amps looks like a Fender Princeton Reverb or maybe a Champ blackface. The amps sure don't improve their sound!
 [This message was edited by Doug Beaumier on 28 August 2006 at 03:00 PM.] |
|
|
|
chas smith R.I.P.
From:
Encino, CA, USA
|
Posted 28 Aug 2006 2:04 pm
|
|
[This message was edited by chas smith on 28 August 2006 at 06:09 PM.] |
|
|
|
Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
|
Posted 28 Aug 2006 2:16 pm
|
|
A Google search of "the shaggs" comes up with 115,000 sites! There are fan sites, reviews, other music sites... these girls have inspired a lot of people.. for some odd reason. Their father forced them to take lessons and record an album. He was convinced they would be stars, like the Beatles. He was looking for a way out of the mundane routine of mill work.
There is even NY show called The Shaggs: Philosophy of the World.
Here are the actors:
[This message was edited by Doug Beaumier on 28 August 2006 at 03:19 PM.] |
|
|
|
Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
|
Posted 28 Aug 2006 2:32 pm
|
|
"The Shaggs were beyond my wildest dreams. I couldn't comprehend that music like that existed. It's so basic and innocent, the way the music business used to be. Their timing was... fascinating. Their lyrics were... amazing. It’s a bad record - that's so obvious, it's a given. But it absolutely intrigued me, the idea that people would make a record playing the way they do."
Joe Mozian, VP of marketing, RCA Victor
Philosophy of The World was re-released by Rounder in 1980, again in 1988, and recently re-released on CD by RCA. It's gotten some airplay on college stations, and a few thousand CDs have been sold. [This message was edited by Doug Beaumier on 28 August 2006 at 03:54 PM.] |
|
|
|
Gene Jones
From:
Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)
|
Posted 28 Aug 2006 2:41 pm
|
|
| They sure weren't playing over anyone's head! |
|
|
|
Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
|
Posted 28 Aug 2006 2:52 pm
|
|
"better than the Beatles" Frank Zappa.
That says it all for me. |
|
|
|
Duane Reese
|
Posted 28 Aug 2006 3:06 pm
|
|
Upon looking at some things in the official Shaggs website, I was not surprised to see that Frank Zappa took an interest. Apparently they are still playing in one way or another... If their dad had them recorded not far into their playing careers, although I don't know this for sure, I'd dare say that they have improved since those days...
Then again, I know people who have been playing for 20 or 30 years that are still horrible, but who knows if it's the case with the Shaggs. |
|
|
|
Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
|
Posted 28 Aug 2006 3:13 pm
|
|
| In today's world of home recording there are a lot CDs out there that sound... amateur. Back in 1968 it wasn't as easy to make an album. A band would have to travel to a city where there was a studio and pay big bucks to record. It seems like only the good, organized bands would commit the time and money to record an album back then. Maybe that's why Philosophy of the World stands out. It's like... What were they thinking?! The audacity of producing and marketing this stuff is unbelievable. Well, it sure is innocent, I'll give it that! I played some of the tunes for one of my 18 year old guitar students and he said... "I know a lot of bands around here that sound like that". |
|
|
|
Archie Nicol R.I.P.
From:
Ayrshire, Scotland
|
Posted 28 Aug 2006 3:17 pm
|
|
| I've seen some shags in my time. These girls are not shags. |
|
|
|
Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
|
Posted 28 Aug 2006 3:25 pm
|
|
NRBQ had a lot to do with the Shaggs rediscovery. Legend has it that NRBQ found an original copy of Philosophy of the World at a Boston radio station and they convinced their record company to re-release the stuff. NRBQ played a record release party in NY (1980s? 70s?) and two of the Shaggs played on the show. The drummer wasn't there because she was suffering from depression (I don't blame her!)... so NRBQ's drummer filled in for her. I'll bet he worked for days learning those drum parts!  |
|
|
|
Billy Wilson
From:
El Cerrito, California, USA
|
Posted 28 Aug 2006 3:31 pm
|
|
| I was told they took the instruments straight from the music store to the recording studio without bothering to stop off and learn how to play them. |
|
|
|
Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
|
Posted 28 Aug 2006 3:34 pm
|
|
Archie, you bad boy! Shag was the hairstyle.
There is a current band called the The Shags, but they got nothin' on The Shaggs! |
|
|
|
Skip Edwards
From:
LA,CA
|
Posted 28 Aug 2006 3:37 pm
|
|
I had a copy of the Shaggs LP about 25 yrs ago.... glad to see them finally getting their due!
I love the tune that their Dad sings along on....
"Doin' it...yeeeaaahhh doin' it" |
|
|
|
Duane Reese
|
Posted 28 Aug 2006 3:42 pm
|
|
| Yeah Arch, I know what you mean by that Mr. U.K.! |
|
|
|
Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
|
Posted 28 Aug 2006 4:24 pm
|
|
Yeah we know... Shag baby!
 |
|
|
|
Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
|
Posted 28 Aug 2006 4:31 pm
|
|
| Are you sure that song was never used in a "Godzilla" movie? |
|
|
|
Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
|
Posted 28 Aug 2006 4:37 pm
|
|
| Doug! I can't get that infectious tune outta my head...anyone tab it out for C6 yet??? |
|
|
|
