December 16, 2019

1984 - March: Spinal Tap “This is Spinal Tap”

36 minutes

In a What the Riff first, we are reviewing an album by a fictional band this week! In March, a mockumentary directed by Rob Reiner hit the theatres about English heavy metal band Spinal Tap. The soundtrack from that movie, This Is Spinal Tap, would produce...well...perhaps not hits per se, but a lot of fun songs that are actually quite good for those of us who don't take things too seriously. It started out as a sketch on a TV show, but the actors who play the band members actually play their own instruments. The film contains a lot of impromptu interviews interspersed with songs from the band.

This is Spinal Tap:

David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean) - vocals

Nigel Tufnel - guitar

Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer) - bass

Viv Savage (David Kaff) - keyboards

Mick Shrimpton (R.J. Parnell) - drums

The film would feature a number of comedy sketches including the amplifier sketch ("ours goes up to 11!"), getting lost backstage, and an unfortunately sized mock-up of Stonehenge.

We hope you enjoy this funny album pick.

Listen to the Flower People

This track spoofs the hippie rock songs of the '60's. A back story was created for the band, and this was an example of some of their early work.

Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight

The objective of this song is to be a straightforward rock anthem with poor quality lyrics.

BIg Bottom

If there is a "hit" off this "album" it would be this one. Borrowing heavily from Queen's "Fat Bottomed Girls" but well before Sir Mix-A-Lot's "I Like Big Butts," the lyrics are self-explanatory.

Hell Hole

This is the first song on the soundtrack.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

”Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)” by Phil Collins

This song from the movie "Against All Odds" received the most airplay of any song in the 80's.

STAFF PICKS:

"Nobody Told Me" by John Lennon

Brian's staff pick was originally recorded in 1976, and was released in 1984 after not making the cut for the album "Double Fantasy." John Lennon had been killed in December 1980.

"New Moon on Monday" by Duran Duran

Rob's staff pick brings us one from Duran Duran at the height of their 80's popularity off their album "Seven and the Ragged Tiger." The album title was taken from the five band members and two managers (seven) and the Ragged Tiger was success.

"Shooting Shark" by Blue Oyster Cult

Bruce brings us a melancholy melody from Blue Oyster Cult based on a poem by Patti Smith, the "Punk Poet Laureate." This pick features Randy Jackson of American Idol fame on bass.

"All Lovers Are Deranged" by David Gilmour

Wayne finishes off our staff picks this week with Pink Floyd alumnus David Gilmour's solo effort. Pete Townshend wrote this song.

LAUGH TRACK:

"Mighty Mouse" by Andy Kaufman (kind of)

Andy Kaufman did a version of "Mighty Mouse" on Saturday Night Live, that you need to see.

Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

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**NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.

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By Rob Marbury, Wayne Rowan, Bruce Fricks, John Lynch

4.9

4747 ratings