Category: Music

A Gallon of Gas Can’t Be Purchased Anywhere

kinks low budget Since Hurricane Sandy hit New York, it has been quite difficult to find gasoline, as stations are still closed because they do not have power and those that are open run out of gas quickly. I have seen long lines and closed stations around and outside the city.

So, today, New York City and Long Island began a gas rationing plan like New Jersey previously implemented. Drivers with license plates that end in an even number can buy gas on even-numbered days, and those with vanity plates or plates that end in an odd number can buy gas on odd-numbered days. For the most part, it should cut down the length of lines at least. And it is hard to complain too much about the temporary rationing when so many people in the area were hurt much worse by the hurricane.

The rationing reminded me of when I was a kid in the 1970s and there was gas rationing across the country. Hopefully, our regional gas problem will end quickly, but the 1970s the problem lasted long enough for The Kinks to record a song about the problem. In The Kinks’ blues-influenced “A Gallon of Gas,” the singer finds himself successful enough to finally buy a Cadillac but then discovers he cannot get gas for it. He goes to his “local dealer” to buy some gas but is told that while a number of drugs are available for a reasonable price, there is no gasoline.

There’s no more left to buy or sell;
There’s no more oil left in the well;
A gallon of gas can’t be purchased anywhere,
For any amount of cash.

You also may track down a live performance of the song from “Rockpalast Night” in Essen in 1982. The Kinks released “A Gallon of Gas” as a single only in the U.S. in August 1979, and the song appeared on their 1978 album, Low Budget. While the song’s title may be aimed at the U.S. market, I believe the song uses the gallon measurement instead of the liter/litre because at the time the U.K. had not yet converted gas sales to the metric system, although I have found conflicting reports of the actual year the U.K. made the change at gas stations.

Bonus Gas Songs: There does not seem to be a lot of songs inspired by gas shortages, but another 1970s gas song is John Mayall’s “Gasoline Blues,” from the album The Latest Edition (1974). More recently, Britney Spears released a song called “Gasoline” on Femme Fatale (2011), although for some reason I don’t think the song has anything to do with gas prices and gas shortages (“Your touch, burning me / It’s too much, gasoline”).

What are your favorite gas-related songs? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Sufjan Stevens Reinterprets “The Star-Spangled Banner”

    sufjan stevens silver and gold Chimesfreedom has previously discussed some of the different versions of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and now we can add a version by Sufjan Stevens who has reinterpreted the national anthem. It is a new re-working of the song, changing the melody and some of the lyrics. Stevens posted the song last night before the election results, but it is not a celebration song: “And the flag marked with blood with the blood of our hands / And our hands marked with death, with the blood of a man.” Check it out.

    As part of his upcoming Christmas season tour, Stevens will release a holiday-music EP box Silver & Gold: Songs For Christmas on November 13. I know it is a little early for holiday music, but in case you want to check out one of the songs from the upcoming CD, check out his take on “Angels We Have Heard on High.”


    What do you think of the way Sufjan Stevens reinterprets “The Star-Spangled Banner”? Leave your two cents in the comments    .

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    If a Song Could Be President

    After an exciting election yesterday, congratulations to everyone who participated, including everyone who voted, all of the candidates for state offices, Gov. Mitt Romney, and Pres. Barack Obama. As the president begins his second term in office and all the elected officials begin the difficult work of governing, may we hope that all of our representatives learn a thing or two from music. Unfortunately, a song cannot be president, but what if it could? In this performance, the Ohio band Over the Rhine imagines what the world might be like.

    We’d vote for a melody,
    Pass it around on an MP3;
    All our best foreign policy,
    Would be built on harmony.

    Over the Rhine’s performance of their song “If a Song Could Be President” above is at the WUTK Radio studio where they appeared before a May 28, 2008 show in Knoxville Tennessee. I would vote for any song that imagines a better world while giving roles to John Prine, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Lightnin’ Hopkins and Patsy Cline.

    (Thanks to mh for reminding me of this song.)

    What is your favorite song about politics? Leave your two cents in the comments.

    Buy from Amazon

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  • Vote Today: This Is Our Country

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    Vote Today: This Is Our Country

    ballot box vote Happy election day for our U.S. readers. While we all often rightfully dabble in cynicism about politics most days of the year, for today, may we all feel the joy of going with members of our communities to cast a ballot. Even as the commentators divide the states between Pres. Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney and even as they call some states “red states” and others “blue states,” may we remember that every state has a large number of people who vote for each candidate. The supporters of “that other candidate” are your neighbors, your teachers, your fire fighters, and the wonderful hurricane relief workers we have seen so much of here in the northeast the last week.

    So may we remember that others have a right to disagree with us and vote for someone else. It is not my country, or your country. This is our country. May we make it until the polls close to start complaining again and fulfilling our job to be a check on our representatives. And may I forget for the next few minutes that this catchy song by John Mellencamp was used in a truck commercial and just enjoy it.

    The dream is still alive,
    Some day it will come true;
    And this country it belongs
    To folks like me and you;
    So let the voice of freedom
    Sing out through this land;
    This is our country.

    From the east coast,
    To the west coast,
    Down the Dixie Highway,
    Back home,
    This is our country.

    Do you remember when you first voted? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Hurricane Sandy Concert Ends With Springsteen’s Hope

    Springsteen Sandy Telethon When I heard that several stars like Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Christina Aguilera and Sting were going to appear last Friday on a one-hour “Coming Together” TV concert on NBC, I could not help thinking of the similar benefit that had aired on the four major broadcast networks September 21, 2001 after the 9/11 attacks. There were similarities to that benefit because both marked sad times with performances by many of the same artists in a darkened studio. There were some differences this time, though, such as the fact that the Fox network tried to stir up some controversy about NBC’s Sandy fundraiser.

    Also, on Friday’s show, some of the performers were able to touch on some hopeful notes while still acknowledging the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy. For example, Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Tyler remembered better times and looked to the rebuilding when they sang “Under the Boardwalk,” accompanied by some of the other artists.

    As the show went on, I tried to anticipate what Bruce Springsteen might sing. After reasoning that “4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)” probably would not fit with the night’s theme, I had suspected that Bruce Springsteen might perform the somber “My City of Ruins,” which he wrote about Asbury Park and which he performed after 9/11 and had performed at another show in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

    Instead, though, when Springsteen and the E Street Band took the stage for the final song, they reached into their catalog for one of Springsteen’s more hopeful songs, “Land of Hope and Dreams.”

    For an explanation of the legacy, history and optimism of “Land of Hope and Dreams,” check out our previous Chimesfreedom post on the song, including how the song connects to Springsteen’s ending reference here to “People Get Ready.”

    Finally, remember that organizations still need your help even after Hurricane Sandy is no longer on the front pages. Visit Red Cross’s website or some of the other organizations offering help to volunteer or donate. Or text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10.00 to help those hit by the hurricane.

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