Blogger’s note: From time to time we’ll salute upstarts here at the Tongal Blongal -- take a little time to remind our readers (and ourselves) that people everywhere, at any age, can do creative work that’s beautiful and timeless. After all, that’s what we’re all about…
The folks at Tongal wanted to share our condolences and a few brief thoughts on two momentous deaths last week in the rock and roll / pop music world. Two of the great prodigies of the 60’s and 70’s: Michael Brown – most famous for his songwriting work with orch-pop legends The Left Banke; and Andy Fraser, the inventive bassist and songwriter for Free, died three days apart. The proximity of their deaths is notable because of their distinguished careers, but also because of the very young age at which they both made their mark. As you know at Tongal we love our own upstarts very much -- so we thought we’d share a little bit about these two:
You almost certainly know Andy Fraser’s most famous song: Free’s All Right Now – a gutbucket blues-rock number released in 1970 that went # 2 in the UK, (#4 in the States). Dial up the video – it’s from UK’s Top of The Pops – and dig that loping bass! Worth noting is the fact that Andy Fraser was 17 when that single was released. Actually, he was an old-hand by then – having played with John Mayall when he was a mere sprout of 15.
If you’re the deep-tracks type (or your dad, ma or older siblings are) you might also have come across some of the abundant evidence that Andy is one of the most inventive rock bassists in history. Many of the memorials that came out last week acknowledged that despite his youth, Andy was indubitably Free’s leader. How’s that for an upstart? Extra credit: if you want to hear Andy and Free at the height of their powers, the Tongal rock professors suggest looking for the (eponymously titled) record pictured above.
No, it’s not Oscar Wilde… but Michael Brown of the Left Banke.
The song you probably know of Michael Brown’s is Walk Away Rene, by The Left Banke. Brown was just 16 when he joined the band, and he wrote this timeless pop torch-song about the bassist’s girlfriend. (Which may have something to do with his quick departure from the group in 1967.) Your deep-cuts connection might be able to tell you about Brown’s later work with Montage, Stories, and Beckies – but if you’d like an extra helping of his angelic music today – gorge yourself on Left Banke’s other hit: Pretty Ballerina.
Brown also gets extra points for being scrappy. The string section on both of these hits? Arranged by his dad, Harry Lookofsky. Not that Beck Hansen would know anything about that…
Tongal raises a toast to Andy Fraser and Michael Brown – and to the many sympathetic and open ears who knew when they were hearing something sublime – no matter how old these musicians were.
Thanks for reading – and feel free to tell us about your favorite prodigy – in music, film, art, or business – and you just might see him or her in a future Blongal post!
