Chet seems to be a swinger of sorts these days. Who knew nerds had it in them? Hmmm….
Oh, man, do I remember Quadraphonic as a miserable failure of an audio format. It was even worse then the Beta vs. VHS clash of the 80s. Here it was 2 vs 4 speakers. The biggest problem with the format was there was *NO* definitive format. There were at least 4 or 5 different formats fighting and on top of that there were technical issues with Quad records and so the format never took off. Today you may recognize Quad as Surround sound!
“Quadrophenia” was a 1973 double album release by the Who which returned once more to the Rock Opera format that they created with “Tommy” back in 1969. I think this outing was much stronger than its predecessor, not only in the overall production and sound (which is driven by Keith Moon’s impecible drumming) but Pete Townsend had really found himself as a composer and musician. I received “Quadrophenia” as a Christmas present from my first girlfriend (well, first girlfriend I could *actually* take out on dates as I had a driver’s license finally). I felt like a real turd as I had gotten her a Jethro Tull album for FREE by joining the Columbia record club (remember those damn “no album this month” cards you had to return or you’d end up with a Barry Manilow album?). She had dropped like $10 on me and I spent, um, nothing. I’m a cheap date. 🙂 Remember, in 1973 you could, like, buy a house for $10 so it was a *lot* of money for a 16 year old girl to spend on her cheap boyfriend. She was also the first girl to “french” me and what a discovery that was at age 16. “What the hell is that?” I remember asking her. Ew! How unsanitary! I remember thinking. I quickly forgot about the germs…
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Discussion (41) ¬
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! That may be the BEST reasoning that I’ve ever heard! Lol!
If you’re gonna sell something, put in terms people can understand.. that’s been my rule for decades.
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… she said her stereo was four-way …. and i’d just love it in her room…
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quadrophenia is one of those records you either really love or absolutely cannot stand. there doesn’t seem to be a middle ground with that one from what i’ve seen. it’s a cohesive work, the music is pretty standout, but i’ve just never liked that record. always loved “who’s next?” much better for some reason. most of the songs from that record was also written as a rock opera originally (at least in townshend’s mind), and i have often wondered what “who’s next?” woulda been like had it been fleshed out completely, quadrophenia-stylee, as the plot for the rock opera that it woulda been was pretty interesting.
–dee!
Ah yes, the Lifehouse project… sitting unfinished like a Colleridge poem, tantalizing us with what might have been.
I’m in the “Quadrophenia is great” camp, being a dedicated Follower of the Noise. I think the Who’s entire output from A Quick One to Who Are You is an artistic triumph (their first album had a few great tracks but too many covers and not enough of THEIR sound), though they went into decline after Moon’s death. Quadrophenia particularly appeals to me as a historian, since it’s Townsend’s look back at the time the group was just starting out and wrestling with the question of how the 60s all went so terribly wrong in the end.
Also, great timing on this strip, coming out the day after the Who performed at the Superbowl. Their light show still uses some of the same tricks as 40 years ago, and it’s great to see that Townsend still jumps around on stage when he plays.
My timing had nothing to do with the Superbowl. I didn’t even know they were on it. And no, I didn’t watch it either. I caught the score on the evening news and that’s all I needed to know. Not much on most professional sports. Can yo tell?
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I wasn’t much on “Who By Numbers” but I would agree that their output is hard to equal by most groups. Such iconic songs and albums by one group. John Entwistle is my one true influence on my wanting to play bass. (God, the bass riffs on “The Real Me” just floor me…)
I am getting the “Live at Kilburn 1977” DVD set and that is just one helluva a show. Saw it on PBS a while back and got it ordered for my birthday. Nice…
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I’m currently loving Entwisle’s playing on “What’s Happening?” from the otherwise mostly-unannoying “Flash Fearless and the Zorg Women: Parts 5 and 6”.
“Who’s Next” is a far superior rock album, but “Quadrophenia” is the best rock opera out there. I know exactly where you’re coming from. I can just put on “Who’s Next” and rock to it. “Quadrophenia” is for listening. It’s the same with Floyd’s “The Wall” you gotta be in the mood to listen to it. And “Quad” blows “Wall” right out of the water in my opinion.
“Quadrophenia” was also a great example of rock album packaging. Big booklet inside a gatefold cover. They don’t make them like that anymore.
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“Out of my brain on the 5:15!”
Been there, done that! 😉
I had the strange claim to fame that I actually dated Keith Moon’s sister for a while!
This was after his sad/mad passing, but nevertheless, it’s my claim to fame!
Quadrophenia was given to me by another girl of my acquaintance, I got around a bit back in the day! 😉 (In fact I think the term was “Seventies Slapper”! 😉 If that could be applied to a bloke! LOL) But that was back in the day when I was young, slim, had a full head of very long hair and could pull an all-nighter! If you get my drift!
After all this time I still have all my own hair, it’s in a box in a cupboard somewhere! 😉
The good old days, when men were real men, and women were grateful! 😀
Well, to quote Bud “It was the 70s.” If you didn’t get around back then, you were doing something wrong. It must have been something in the water, as even a sod like me could find a good time just about every weekend.
Keith Moon’s sister! That’s a great claim to fame! Talk about 6-degrees to someone… nice!
Carol, that what her name! I knew the old brain would kick in and fart the answer out eventually.
She was a nice kid as I remember it.
And as to those stories about those who talked a good talk didn’t do the walk, it isn’t always that way! 😉
Some of us are proud to have been a “70’s slapper”! 😀
LOL
And two girls at once … Mmmmmm!! <>
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LOL
I agree. If got some… I was talking about it. Just some guys seem to ONLY talk about that. I at least talk about music too…
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Heheh! Hair in a box. Good one.
I was at a Police Concert last year and I looked around at the teeming masses and said to the bloke next to me “When did we all get so old?”
He replied: “Well, y’know everyone here is on drugs. Mostly Lipitor, but some blood thinners and beta-blockers too.”
Geezer-rock humour.
LOL! Nice! That will make a nice single panel comic for Old Bud someday…
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‘…and I’m still living at home, even though it won’t last…’
I agree with you that Quadrophenia is the stronger of the two ‘Oo rock operas. Tommy wwas a lot of fun and spawned some iconic classics, but I always felt that Quadrophenia was more mature musically *and* emotionally, filled with yearning and with jagged energy and the zeitgeist of the times, and in many ways more of a window into Peter T’s own creative and personal heart (and it was some of the songs from Quadrophenia that triggered my Weird Moment with him – I think you know the story…?).
Also, the movie rocked hard. Like a hard rocking thing. Damn, I’m going to have to track it down on DVD now…been years since I’ve watched it…
‘…still can’t explain, why this uncertain feeling is still here in my brain…’ ~wanders off shivering with justified nostalgia~
I believe I do remember that story…
Now you’ve got me wanting to go grab that movie too. It was really good if I remember it correcctly (been a while).
“Quadrophenia” was one of those rare albums that has spoken to me on many levels. I’m not very deep (you’re shocked, I know) but I get that album. And of course it has a fond place in my heart from being a present from my early sweet-hearts!
~ wanders off with satisfied smile on his face ~
That does it. It’s time I listened to Quadrophenia aloud again instead of merely in my head!
~adds Quadrophenia to CD shopping list~
Germs. LOL!
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Yeah, I’m one of those people that actually think about things like that.. at least for a moment or two.
Man, he oughtta go into marketing. 🙂
The “real” Chet is quite the salesman…
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Those who talk about it probably aren’t getting it.
You bet! There’s the “doers” and then there’s the “talkers” and anyone boasting about it is more than likely not getting any.
One of my true turn offs about men (beside my being one myself) is that some men can only talk about sex. God, get a hobby already…
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I love The Who anf an deeply grateful I saw the line up with Moon.
My friend Alice de Buhr from the rock band Fanny tells a nice tale of how Keith stopped by a gig back in the day around here in Chicago and he filled in on a song or two, but Alice had to take over as he was a bit too drunk to keep the beat. He was a one helluva a drummer and could party like none others it seems. It is sad how he passed, but he lived life to the fullest it would seem, and, we have his music to remember him by.
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The Brown Shoe club. In the Loop…? Two-sets-a-night gig. Hotter than the brazen hinges of Hell, and that was just the ambient temperature. If only someone had been filming that night…oh, and she forgot to tell you about Peter and John passionately French-kissing at the back bar. Just in fun, but oh my, how the punters’ eyebrows shot up…those were the days, eh…
Worth noting that Mr Moon knew what he was doing, at least more than his legend indicates. For instance, there was a certain New Year’s Eve in Lost Angeles when he was out partying with a young rockstar friend, and the friend eventually wandered off before dawn, expecting to not see Moonie for days based on how hard he was partying – so said friend was surprised to get a sober-sounding phone call from him only a couple of hours later. He said he was at home and was sending a limo round to pick said friend up to join him for breakfast. ‘I thought you’d be at it for days!’ the friend said, astonished. ‘So did I,’ said the Moon, ‘but when I got to the fourth party I realised I was making sense, so I knew I had to leave.’ Bless 🙂
Yep, the old Brown Shoe story. Did not know about the Pete and John kissing part… those crazy Brits… of course I’d do anything to raise an eyebrow too, so I can see how that would happen.
Tim Allen has a bit about who better to give a guy a blow job then another guy? Makes sense, we have one, thus we know what makes it happy. Allen goes on to say “Hey, Bill, you’re looking down. Come on over and I’ll cheer you up.” Or something along that lines. Funny as hell. Separates the homophobes in a crowd real quick. I laugh my ass off every time.
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I was going to say ‘Tim Allen – who’s he?’ but I decided to wiki first. I didn’t know he was a stand-up! I only know of him from one thing – which gives me an excuse to shout out one of my favourite film lines:
‘NEVER GIVE UP! NEVER SURRENDER!’
~giggles and scuttles off clutching Grabthar’s hammer~
Even more important than Quadrophenia… I remember shopping at Lafayette Radio & Electronics back in the 70’s.. (I graduated High School in 1975). They had some AWESOME stereo equipment, and you could also get heathkits there!
AH! A fellow Lafayette Electronics customer! I knew I couldn’t be the ONLY person in the world to remember them!
I got my very first bass guitar (a real piece of shit) from Lafayette. Use to buy stereo gear and all types of stuff there. My good friend (who Chet is based on) worked there… thus why Chet pitched Bud in today’s comic!
Glad you remember them too! They had it all… CB radios, tape decks, speakers, guitars… you name it, they probably had it. I don’t recall Heathkit stuff there, but then I had a Heathkit store not far from me, so I would go there instead.
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I Like the blur effect in the background, it really makes the foreground pop! I’ve been doing that with my comic for a long while now and it really is a great way to add depth and dimension. I actually learned it from Doug MacReas “Acorn Place” way back when.
Being a photographer, I realized early on that a lot of comics forget depth of field. I like my characters to stand out (I often don’t even draw backgrounds unless it’s integral to the story/joke). The blur effect is pretty easy. I always do my backgrounds on separate layers anyway, so I simply draw a lasso around the areas I want blurred, and bam, I’m done. God bless the people that wrote Photoshop…
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I do that as well, my backgrounds are minimal, just a few things to fill the area as I want the focus to be on the foreground activity. The thing I do different is I make my backgrounds on a separate layer, which, for me, makes the background blurring process simpler! What I haven’t done, is see how well the blur technique translates to print!
Stop the lens down, man! What are you drawing in? F8?
8o)
Nice one.
Quad. Hmm. Early 70s urban legend went that Bridge Over Troubled Water is recorded in Quad as an attempt to up the fidelity – and that every copy of BOTW is, in fact, a quad copy, but I’ve never had a quad set-up to try it out for myself. Don’t flame me over that album. It is still effing fan-bloody-tastic, even by today’s standards, if you know what you’re listening to.
Virgin Records were known for their signature comedic inserts into unlikely places. During their days as a mail-order record business, their letters to purchasers were sometimes a riot. In those days they had two stores, one in London, one in Birmingham and thay were meccas for my generation. Stay with me.
When they became a recording label and started their first regional stores they issued Mike Oldfield’s “Tubular Bells” as one of the first four records on their label. It had the standard boilerplate on the back cover: “This stereophonic recording can be played on mono equipment provided a compatible cartridge is fitted. Consult you local record dealer for more information”.
Only, if you took a good hard look it wasn’t. The blurb actually read: “This stereophonic recording cannot be played on old tin boxes no matter *what* they are fitted with. If in possession of such equipment, hand it in at the nearest police station”.
When they issued the quad version of Tubular Bells it had a sticker prominently placed on the front. A square sticker with the four letters “Q-U-A-D” in a sort of square font arranged in a two-by-two matrix. Underneath, in *very* small letters was written “for people with four ears”.
Reminds me of the urban myth of a computer support technician asking a customer to package up their PC and return it as the customer was too stupid to own one. I would love to know if that is true or not because that’s killer…
I’m into smart ass little notes myself, if you haven’t… read the bottom of the website “fine print” sometime. The end credits for “Airplane” had the usual “…this motion picture is purely fictional and any likeness…” blah, blah… but ended with “…So there.” Pissed my pants the first time I saw that and have used that line sooo many times in my life.
Hey, “BOTW” is a great album and an excellent song. Yes, I’m a rocker, but that’s just great music on that album (I have the reel tape of it). Hit a “home run” with a woman once just as the song “BOTW” was building up to the big ending. Lucky for her I had good timing. Damn, there I go talking about sex again… crumbs, DM!
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Dang. There is absolutely know arguing with that reasoning…absolutely none at all. I’m searching Craigs List for a Quad system right now, see even I couldn’t come up with an argument so now I have to follow thru. 🙂
This is a proof men think with their penis.
My grandparents built out their basement in the mid-70’s (including a bar… awesome), and they actually installed quad speakers in the four corners of the rumpus room. They still have them to this day, along with the original 8-track and record player (they stopped using the room to entertain company in the 80’s… when it basically became my toy room… with a bar… again, awesome… so all the new stuff stays upstairs).
I grew up not knowing that no one else had any idea what the hell quadrophonic sound was.