GROOVY NOODLES
THE ELM TREASON NEWSLETTER NO. 43
FEBRUARY 11, 2022
Just jammin’
Treason Tidbits
– Next week, we’ll be asking for your help. We need some reliable input from people who know our music and are willing to take a short five or six question survey anonymously. You guys are the ones we turn to for this. We will use the input for targeting new fans. If you’re willing, your input will be SO very much appreciated. It’ll be quick and painless. We promise. If you’re not, we love you anyway.
– Work, in earnest, has begun on Elm Treason’s fifth studio album. We have a slightly different approach with this new record. We are looking to create shorter songs so that we can put MORE tracks on a standard vinyl release. We won’t ever compromise our creativity, but we’re disciplining ourselves to keep ’em short and sweet. BREVITY rules!
-This next album will NOT use the word “Treason” in any kind of pun or wordplay. We’ve done that already. Time to do something else.
Misheard Lyrics
‘We Built This City’
Starship, 1985
What you thought you heard: “We built this city on sausage rolls.”
What you actually heard: “We built this city on rock ‘n’ roll.”
‘Purple Haze’
Jimi Hendrix, 1967
What you thought you heard: “Excuse me while I kiss this guy.”
What you actually heard: “Excuse me while I kiss the sky.”
‘Sweet Dreams’
Eurythmics, 1983
What you thought you heard: “Sweet dreams are made of cheese.”
What you actually heard: “Sweet dreams are made of these.”
‘I Can See Clearly Now’
Johnny Nash, 1972
What you thought you heard: “I can see clearly now, Lorraine is gone.”
What you actually heard: “I can see clearly now, the rain is gone.”
‘Livin’ on a Prayer’
Bon Jovi, 1986
What you thought you heard: “Doesn’t make a difference if we’re naked or not.”
What you actually heard: “Doesn’t make a difference if we make it or not.”
‘Tiny Dancer’
Elton John, 1972
What you thought you heard: “Hold me close, young Tony Danza.”
What you actually heard: “Hold me closer, tiny dancer.”
Your Input: Another Cover EP?
If you were Lord and Master of the ELM TREASON universe, and you decided it was time for the band to create ANOTHER cover songs ep of one artist (like the 5-song Beatles EP we did called “For Mersey’s Sake”), which band or srtist should we do?
The comments section is yours.
Hit it!
Birthdays This Past Week
Birthdays we didn’t mention on our Facebook page.
Garth Brooks had his 60th birthday on Monday.
William Bruce Rose, Jr. -better known as Axl Rose of Guns N Roses – turned 60 on Sunday.
BAND FLASHBACK
We accept the embarrassment associated with it … but this was, believe it or not, the band’s VERY FIRST logo. (You’re right. We didn’t put a HELL of a lot of thought into it). Circa 2011.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Going all the way back to February 2013 … Bobby Steel and his prized Moog Lil Phatty during very early Elm Treason studio sessions. Staten Island, NY
JUST BECAUSE
Alice Cooper and Salvador Dali
15 YEARS AGO THIS PAST WEEK
Apple Computers settles a long-standing legal battle with Apple Records, the Beatles record label. The companies have disputed the rights of the computer maker to sell music under the Apple name.
16 YEARS AGO THIS PAST WEEK
David Bowie is awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
25 YEARS AGO THIS PAST WEEK
Brian Connolly (lead singer of Sweet) dies of renal and liver failure after multiple heart attacks. He was only 51.
25 YEARS AGO THIS PAST WEEK
In Honolulu, Hawaii, Soundgarden play their last gig until 2010.
39 YEARS AGO THIS PAST WEEK
Karen Carpenter dies at age 32 of complications from anorexia.
Blondie lands the FIRST of six number one singles in the UK with “Heart Of Glass.”
52 YEARS AGO THIS PAST WEEK
Carole King releases her landmark album, TAPESTRY. An all-time classic.
FAIR QUESTION, NO?
ONE MORE FUNNY
We can.
CONTACT US
Want to contact us directly with a guaranteed direct response via email? —> andy@elmtreason.com
Copyright 2022 Realm Tones Music, LLC
Thanks for brightening up my week. It was a tough one and Groovy Noodles came to the rescue. Covers? Hmmm…man, Tom Petty would be pretty sweet.
Hey, Bob! How you be? AWESOME to hear from you.
So pleased our little weekly scribble could come in handy at an opportune moment! 🙂 The pleasure is all ours.
Petty is seriously a MAGNIFICENT choice. He’s right in our whellhouse.
Thank you, brother. Rock on!
May I suggest cover songs of Bob Dylan…lots of good material to choose from…
OR (my favorite) Paul McCartney (solo career): the world tonight, maybe I’m amazed, mull of Kintyre, so bad, biker like an icon…
Blessings
John
Hi John! Marvelous to hear from you. Thank you for commenting.
You’re right. Dylan has SUCH a wealth of material that can be tapped into and made “our own.” So many artists did it in the 60s, taking DYlan tunes and literally reinventing them – from the Turtles to Jimi Hendrix…. from Peter, Paul and Mary to the Byrds. Great suggetsion.
Solo McCartney is also a delicious choice… So many songs… but that era from, say 1970 through 1976 would be so perfect for us. There are probably four songs on RAM alone we’d love to tackle.
John Couger Mellencamp
Hey, Michael! Very interesting choice. I (Andy) like it. It may be the first time anyone has ever suggested we do some of his music. Let’s face it, there is a treasure trove of material there to dig into.
Thank you, man.
OMG just laughing right out loud. Thanks I needed that!
Kinks, maybe or Zombies.
Glad the Noodles could bring a smile, Ann. 🙂
I (Andy) have ALWAYS wanted to covers of Mr. Pleasant, Apeman and Sunny Afternoon…. SO GOOD.
Zombies, too…. SHE’S NOT THERE is magnificent… right in my vocal wheelhouse.
Thanks, sister!
For some reason I wanna say U2. I’m not sure you like them,but some acoustic U2 covers are sure to go over well. I loved them since day one. I do the song one,and I’m thinking about with or without you. What do you think??
U2 is a very intruguing choice, Joe. There are songs of theirs we love… and frankly, there are songs we don’t care for… Bono is a difficult one to cover, because part of what makes U2 songs so effective is the WAY he sings them, all that “dramatizing” (and I don’t mean that in a negative way at all), his expressiveness, the almost theatrical nature of how he tackles the lyrics…. but that doesn’t mean we wouldn’t do it. We’d have to find just the right songs to “make ours.” Almost certainly, they would be deeper cuts.
Love the suggestion, brother. Thank you.
I like the question: I will list a few: Arctic Monkeys, “Do I Wanna Know.” Rick Derringer, Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo. Led Zeppelin, Going To California. Harry Nilsson, Jump Into the Fire, Me and My Arrow. Elton John, Writing. Billy Joel, Stiletto, The Stranger, I Don’t Wanna Be Alone Anymore, New York State of Mind. America, Hold Me Tight. Paul Simon, Late In the Evening, Bob Dylan, Things Have Changed, Dean Friedman, Ariel, Badfinger, No Matter What. Guess Who, Star Baby. Monkees, Pleasant Valley Sunday, Steppin’ Stone, Papa Gene’s Blues, Valerie, Eagles, James Dean, Eagles, Early Bird. Reunion, Life is a Rock, Marvin Gaye, Ain’t That Peculiar? Sheryl Crow, A Change Would Do You Good. Beatles, Happiness Is a Warm Gun. Allman Brothers, Melissa
…Jammin’ Me and Yer So Bad from Tom Petty
I know you said artist, not songs from different artists, but if you were to ever do a cover album, my opinion is that you wouldn’t want to limit it to just one group or artist. Ya’;ll seem more eclectic than that. The way Elm Treason writes music to multiple genres makes me like the idea of you doing covers that high-light and inform your personal musical influences. I’d be interested in owning that Album.
Bill, you are right in that regard. We’d probably be more inclined to do an eclectic collection of covers, rather than focuing on one band or artist.
We did do the Beatles EP, so we thought we’d approach the question that way… but you are, of course, more accurate in how an Elm Treason cover release might more realistically look and sound.
Thank you, brother.
Oh yeah.. PETTY is pretty much in our sweet spot. 🙂
Now THIS is an all star list, Bill.
I (Andy) have literally gone through this carefully a couple of times now, and pretty much all of them could be made to slip into a Treason groove. Some might be more of a challenge, of course (all the more fun, frankly)… but NONE would ne off the table. Marvin Gaye would be difficult (I just haven’t that kind of immaculate soul vibe in me), but I would never say “no.”
Some are, right off the bat, in our zone, to be sure…. PAPA GENE’S BLUES, THE STRANGER, LATE IN THE EVENING, NO MATTER WHAT, A CHANGE WOULD DO YOU GOOD… but I could definitely see us tackling some harder vibes, too. We do it all the time acoustically. RICK DERRINGER, sure…
These are marvelous, brother. Thank you so much.
My Pleasure, bro. Funny you mentioned Marvin Gaye. The reason I added ain’t that peculiar is that I recently heard an old recording of the all girl group, “Fanny” play it and they just turned it into Rock. I really enjoyed it! Not trying to talk you into anything, just found it interesting how they chose to play it.
Hello Dudes!!!
I can TOTALLY hear you guys killing it with some Black Sabbath songs.
I think so, too, Mark…
Bobby could WRECK them riffs with his lightning style on acoustic. he would CRUSH it, to be sure…
I could lend a little to the jams, too.
NIB… War Pigs (especially the verses. What a groove) …
Giday, first band that comes to mind is Yes, song called Roundabout, off their Fragile album totally suited to your voices and skills, great band,also Allman bros, loving the news letters,keep them coming….????
For what it’s worth, I totally agree with that.answer
For What It’s Worth – Buffalo Springfield
Hi Katie! Andy here!
Yes, that is literally one of the greatest (and most easily recognizable) songs ever created.
Stills’ vocals are right in my most comfortable range and I’ve been playing that one as a warm up for years.
I could see ELM TREASON banging that one out… with a few personalized touches peppered throughout.
Thanks a million, Katie!
LOL. Not an intended pun. Good catch on your part. And It might not be a bad idea for Elm Treason to do.
Hi Shirl! Yes, ROUNDABOUT is a great song, seriously killer performance (I (Andy) am partial to the bass in that tune)… There a few YES tunes we might be able to handle quite well. Bobby, certainly, would knock it out of the park. No question.
MIDNIGHT RIDER would especially be a great one for us to do. I agree wholeheartedly.
So PLEASED you dig the newsletter. 🙂 It’s great to have you out there! 🙂 REALLY appreciate the input.
Elvis Costello
Sensational. Yeah, there is an edge in his work that seems to suit us quite well… plus his songs (in a strange way, much like the Beatles) are open to varied interpretations. It’s almost as if his songs are crying out, “Cover me. Do it the Way you want to. It won’t ruin us!”
Thanks, Mark.
Neil young songs could be cool.
Hey, Jake! So many eras of Mr. Young to choose from…so many styles… I (Andy) actually see us doing chunky acoustic versions of songs like COWGIRL IN THE SAND and DOWN BY THE RIVER>.. Those vibes are VERY MUCH in that Elm Treason pocket. 🙂
Thanks, man!
Matchbox Twenty
Hi Marcia! You are NOT the first to suggest that.
In fact, to be completely honest, quite a FEW folks have said that MB20 is kind of in the Elm Treason window of vibe and feel.
The suggestion is SO interesting and intriguing.
Thanks a million, Marcia!
Steven Stills Love the One your with. The way only you guys can do.
Such a great song and such an influential acoustic player… it’s almost like it was made for us.
Thank you, Dennis! GREAT selection.
You’ve just mentioned her – Carole King simply because she wrote everything … we’ll, close!? ????
Jeff Lynne is another ????
Carole King was (and is) a stupendous writer. As a kid learning guitar, as much I (Andy) wanted to be a rock guitar hero, I was MORE impressed by the people who actually WROTE the songs we all sang. She penned so many great tunes for others (and, of course, herself), a cover EP of favorite tunes by her would be not only a challenge (a welcome one), but an opportunity to really (and humbly) put our own stamp on already great works.
Jeff Lynne, obviously, is a major influence. GREAT writer as well. And incredibly creative. 🙂
Thanks, Phil!
Hey guys,
Hope all is well with the two of you. Here’s a band I believe you’ll do justice. How about Rush?
Have a wonderful week!
Hi Lisa! Funny you should say that… we actually started a couple of RUSH covers in the months after Neil died. We still have a couple of sessions in the can that we never did anything with… We may revisit that again! GREAT call.
The Band. Would love to hear some of the Band covered by you guys… RIP Levon!
Levon was sensational. We would LOVE to do some Band covers. RIGHT in that zone! Thanks, Craig!
Although because of recent statements by him I think he’s being a jerk I think Elm Treason covering Neil Young songs would be cool. Just my opinion.
There are actually quite a few songs I think ELM TREASON would cover quite well from his catalog – all pre-1978 stuff.