Sebastian's music Blog

Earthquake some more February 28, 2010

Earthquake released their penultimate LP in June of 1977, also on the Beserkley label but now distributed by Columbia instead of Playboy.  Leveled is even better than 8.5 had been a year earlier.

Lovin’ Cup: Co-written with Kenny Laguna, later of Joan Jett fame.  Power pop of the first order.  John Doukas sings to a girl he loves but who is with some other guy who treats her like a trophy, like a loving cup.  The chorus says it all: “He’s got you where he wants you / He has you when he wants to / But I’m the one who wants you / I think that ain’t fair…”  The harmony is very good, and the extended and repeated “It ain’t fair” line is so much fun to sing along with.

Emma: I happen to heart Earthquake’s version of this song.  Hot Chocolate did the original, but Earthquake turns it into a moody rocker.  It’s about suicide — the title woman “can’t go on living on dreams no more” after zero success in launching an acting career.  A scorcher.  John Doukas lets out a few rock screams that are chilling.  Not a top-40 prospect because of subject matter.

Kicks: The Paul Revere & The Raiders classic, written by Barry Mann (“Who Put The Bomp…”) and his wife Cynthia Weil.  Earthquake ups the energy, and Doukas’ vocal actually pays attention to the lyrics.  It’s an anti-drug, anti-casual sex warning.  “That road goes nowhere”.  The band repeats the title in harmony while Doukas vamps on the ending.  It is a superb performance that makes you realize the song is ten times better than you remembered.

Trainride: The obligatory extended jam song.  Robbie Dunbar and Gary Phillips are no slouches on guitar, and they put together some worthwhile call-and-response guitar parts.  It probably was a barnburner live, a great rock dance song.  Alas, sometimes I skip past it on the CD I burned from the LP.

Nothing Personal: Mid-tempo rocker with a distinctive guitar line.  Nice chorus with the band chanting the title in harmony in response to Doukas’ ad libs.  The bridge is muscular and leads into a superb guitar solo over descending chords.  Drummer Steve Nelson shines.  A later guitar solo is very different, but still well executed. And I cannot figure out what the hell the song is about.  Like it though.

Street Fever: Uptempo power pop.  The bass is uncharacteristically loud and that ain’t bad.  The singer bitches about radio (which never did Earthquake any favors) with a great line about “Radio is blasting out the same six songs”.  The song is a bit wordy, but the chorus is about dancing in the street.  And, as usual, the instrumental break shows a concise and satisfying solo — until it goes over the top into a Yardbirds-styled raveup.

Julie Anne: Also co-written with Kenny Laguna.  Wonderful twin guitar riff to open the track.  Very pop, with handclaps and acoustic-electric guitar.  Julie Anne is quite the heartbreaker who shut down the singer.  “How many more hearts will she abuse / How many more men will she misuse?”  The band sings those lines while Doukas vamps in front.  Good melody, strong rhythm, and an irresistible chorus.  If that is electric organ on the final turnaround, who the hell is playing it?

Upstairs: Finger picked electric guitar opens what sounds like a rocked up folk song.  It’s Earthquake’s original take on The Beach Boys’ “In My Room.”  The band and Doukas alternate vocal lines about the refuge so many of us feel about our room.  Not as memorable a melody as other songs on the LP, but it’s so well put together.

Earthquake fucking ROCKED.

I added a couple of tracks from the ‘best of’ CD when I burned this.  The live version of an early 45, “Sittin’ In The Middle Of Madness” is a lot of warped fun.  During a rhythmic break Doukas speaks a few lines like “Madness is just a form of escape.”  Another line borrows the cliche “Insanity comes slowly to the well-constructed mind.”  And how can you ignore a line like “I told him where to go / I said ‘fuck you, don’t you know’” The live version is more than 6 minutes and is a great extended rocker.  Doukas could sound whiney sometimes, but he could belt out a rock-n-roll scream worthy of Roger Daltry.

Because I am a huge Velvet Underground fan I had to include their live take on “Head Held High.”  Alas, there is none of Lou Reed’s humor.  I hate to have to say, it is one of the few losers in the Earthquake catalog.

Whatever happened to these musicians?  Dunbar and Phillips were lyric guitarists, Steve Nelson was a powerful drummer, and Stan Miller was no slouch on bass.  Their harmony often was better than Doukas’ lead vocals.  Every guy in the band should have gone on to rock stardom.