A Quick Guide To Long Tall Weekend
Released as part of a Summer 1999 Info Club newsletter,[1] the following is a quick guide to Long Tall Weekend:
Contents
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Drinking
- 3 She Thinks She's Edith Head
- 4 Maybe I Know
- 5 Rat Patrol
- 6 Token Back to Brooklyn
- 7 Older
- 8 Operators are Standing By
- 9 Dark and Metric
- 10 Reprehensible
- 11 Certain People
- 12 Counterfeit Faker
- 13 They Got Lost
- 14 Lullaby to Nightmares
- 15 On Earth My Nina
- 16 The Edison Museum
Introduction[edit]
The new They Might Be Giants album of unreleased studio material entitled "Long Tall Weekend" is available now now at EMusic.com. The EMusic web site at EMusic.com is also selling selected TMBG songs and albums in the MP3 format. "Long Tall Weekend" collects some very interesting new recordings from the past couple of years, and previews a couple of tracks that will appear on TMBG's next CD-format release.
In our attempt to switch our mailings from paper to email, we're giving you an exciting, previously unreleased MP3! Go to EMusic.com to register your email address and download this fine song.
The following is a quick guide to Long Tall Weekend:
Drinking[edit]
This peppy instrumental kicks things off, with a baritone guitar and bass sax leading the way.
She Thinks She's Edith Head[edit]
This track is the story of a New Wave fan who loses her mind and comes to believe she is the famous Hollywood fashion designer. "The accent in her speech she didn't have growing up." The song is already a featured staple of the Giants' new show. This recording has a driving guitar performance from Dan Miller. Look for this number to appear on the next Giants CD.
Maybe I Know[edit]
This beloved cover of the Lesley Gore hit from the '60s has been in the John's repertoire since the very beginning. Often an encore selection, it is now finally available to y'all. One of the few songs that the band busked with (along with "Cowtown" and "Alienation's for the Rich") on the Brooklyn Heights promenade.
Rat Patrol[edit]
This witchy rocker spotlights some really witchy singing, dueling guitar lines from Flans and Eric Schermerhorn and a truly blazing guitar solo from Eric as well. Not the same as the embryonic version heard on Dial-A-Song, this will get any rocker's mojo workin', whether you're into Hatchet or Pantera.
Token Back to Brooklyn[edit]
Another Dial-A-Song favorite finally makes it to the public. Drumming by Yuval Gabay of Soul Coughing. "The token back to Brooklyn fell between the grating, and we're just watching it sinking. The fare went up to $100 and we can never go home again..."
Older[edit]
A staple of the live show, this song can be experienced as a QuickTime video at tmbg.com, but now is available at CD quality here. Look for this track on the ABC "Brave New World" series airing this fall.
Operators are Standing By[edit]
BY Sung by Flansburgh with Linnell at the mighty Hammond B3 electric organ, this meditation on the torments of office work carries on in the grumbling tradition of "Minimum Wage."
Dark and Metric[edit]
"Just because you're floating doesn't mean you haven't drowned." With its Sesame Street vibe, this track features Graham Maby on bass and Brian Doherty pounding the tubs. A long-standing Dial-A-Song favorite, "Dark and Metric" is finally available for repeat listening.
Reprehensible[edit]
A swanky ballad with wall to wall horns about the most reprehensible fellow one could imagine. Features a Linnell Clarinet solo.
Certain People[edit]
This song was written around the time of the Factory Showroom album, and is finally available here.
Counterfeit Faker[edit]
A hopped up country number finds Linnell playing the banjo and fiddle (!) and some serious foot-stomping and cross-eyed harmonizing from Flansy. Different.
They Got Lost[edit]
This is the original slow version slated for Factory Showroom. It will surprise anyone familiar with the rave-up version on "Severe Tire Damage" with its somnambulating vibe. Spotlights TMBG Mk II rhythm section Brian Doherty and Graham Maby.
Lullaby to Nightmares[edit]
Lyrics by Joshua Fried, with a completely different feel than the Hello the Band version, this track includes the blazing trumpet of downtown klezmer king Frank London.
On Earth My Nina[edit]
A beautiful, plaintive ballad created by Linnell in a most unusual way. A cappella. Look to the tmbg.com site for details.
The Edison Museum[edit]
The true life story of "the tallest, greatest and most famous haunted mansion in New Jersey." Written by Linnell with Brian Dewan, and sung with profound gusto by WFMU dj Nick Hill.