Work Songs & Opinions on Phish and Vivian Girls
Celebrate Labor Day with Jim and Greg’s favorite Songs About Work.
Work Songs
Despite the fact that most musicians spend their lives avoiding a "real job," there are a number of great songs about the drudgery and the glory of hard work. For this Labor Day episode Jim and Greg play their favorite Songs About Work.
Greg
- The Animals, "We Gotta Get Out of This Place"
- Van Morrison, "Cleaning Windows"
- Bob Marley, "Night Shift"
- The Jam, "Smithers-Jones"
Jim
- John Lennon, "Working Class Hero"
- The Clash, "Career Opportunities"
- Lou Reed, "Don’t Talk to Me About Work"
- The Flaming Lips, "Bad Days"
Joy Phish
For two decades the jam band Phish has held a massive fan base. But, as Jim and Greg explain, most of these "Phish Heads" aren't all that interested in the band's studio records; it's all about the live experience. Now, after a five-year hiatus during which lead singer Trey Anastasio battled drug addiction, the band is back with a new record called Joy. As always, the goal is to create songs that are successful on record and stage. With the exception of a couple of tracks, Greg doesn't think the songwriting holds up. He can only give Joy a Try It. Jim wishes the band would abandon its efforts at jazz and funk fusion and go back to its progressive roots. He loves the 13-minute suite "Time Turns Elastic," but gives the rest of the album a Try It.
Everything Goes Wrong Vivian Girls
Vivian Girls also have a new release called Everything Goes Wrong. The title might be referring to the year the band had following their successful self-titled debut. Not only did they lose their drummer, but guitarist/songwriter Cassie Ramone also went through a bad breakup. As Greg states, their pain is our pleasure. He loves this follow-up and hears a lot of musical growth. Jim agrees, adding that the Vivians' take on female sexuality is much needed in our culture. Everything Goes Wrong gets a double Buy It.
Featured Songs
- The Animals, "We Gotta Get Out of This Place," Animal Tracks, Columbia Graphophone Company, 1965
- John Lennon, "Working Class Hero," John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, Apple, 1970
- Van Morrison, "Cleaning Windows," Beautiful Vision, Polydor, 1982
- The Clash, "Career Opportunities," The Clash, CBS Records International, 1977
- The Clipse, "Grindin'," Lord Willin', Star Trek Entertainment, 2002
- R.E.M., "Finest Worksong," Document, I.R.S., 1987
- Bob Marley & the Wailers, "Night Shift," Rastaman Vibration, Island, 1976
- The Jam, "Smithers-Jones" (Single Version), Polydor, 1979
- Lou Reed, "Don't Talk to Me About Work, Legendary Hearts, RCA Victor, 1983
- The Flaming Lips, "Bad Days" Clouds Taste Metallic, Warner Bros., 1995
- Phish, "Ocelot," Joy, JEMP, 2009
- Phish, "Backwards Down the Number Line," Joy, JEMP, 2009
- Phish, "Time Turns Elastic," Joy, JEMP, 2009
- Vivian Girls, "Tension," Everything Goes Wrong, In the Red, 2009
- Vivian Girls, "The End," Everything Goes Wrong, In the Red, 2009
- The Isley Brothers, "Work to Do," Brother, Brother, Brother, 1972
- The Pretenders, "The Phone Call," Pretenders, Real, 1980
- Jackson 5, "It's Your Thing," Soulsation!, Motown, 1995
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