Top 10 Food-Themed Recordings
Perhaps I’m not getting enough to eat. Musicians never get enough to eat, that could account for the plethora of food themed songs and albums out there. Suggest your own favorites and have yourselves a sandwich!
Butthole Surfers – Cream Corn From The Socket of Davis (Touch and Go, 1985)
This 1985 EP was also included in the later Rembrandt Pussyhorse release. Their psychedelic punk/country/surf brain bending sound still sounds as dangerous and demented as it did 25 years ago. Gibby’s strangulated swamp monster on “Moving To Florida” interchanging with screaming surf and lurching chords by Paul Leary give way to the industrialized assault of “Comb”. “TP Parter” drives epically into bell-laden instrumental torture and crashes to an end with “Tornadoes”, a psych punk stab in the ear. In the context of Pussyhorse (with it’s slew of legendary Buttholes tunes) the Cream Corn songs feel tacked on, but as an EP they stand up as a noxious brew of dark punk psychedelia.
The Allman Brothers Band – Eat A Peach (Capricorn, 1972)
Putting aside the totally unnecessary 33 minute Donovan cover/jam on this album, the studio songs are just amazing. The ill fated Duane Allman plays slide like he’s drinking water and songs like “Blue Sky” can make you feel like you’re driving down endless highway. Even if you’re just doing the dishes. Add to that the pathos of Duane’s near to last words “There ain’t no revolution, it’s evolution, but every time I’m in Georgia, I eat a peach for peace.” bring dimensions and striations to the sun-drenched landscape the music evokes.
Ween – Chocolate and Cheese (Elektra, 1994)
This would make my top 20 of all time. Chocolate and Cheese is one of those records you will always derive pleasure from, whether its Deaner’s soul notes on “Freedom of 76” or the gut wrenching lyrics of “Baby Bitch”, each song is a pearl of awesome. Hinting at thematic cohesiveness that underlined their later albums, this album elevated *Ween*’s production level far above the 4 track irrevency of Pure Guava.
Primus – Sailing The Seas of Cheese (Interscope, 1991)
Primus’ second album and first on a major label, it’s a completely unique subversion of the power trio format. Larry Lalonde’s howling guitar lines somehow never are obfuscated by Les Claypool’s demented and busy bass. There are so many nuggets on this record but it doesn’t get any better than “Tommy the Cat”, which overlays an improvised story phoned into the studio by Tom Waits over *Claypool*’s bass bubbling and awesomely awkward vocals.
Captain Beefheart – “Tropical Hotdog Night” from Shiny Beast (Warner Bros, 1978)
There are many hotdog themed songs to choose from (it’s true!), but none so pleasing as “Tropical Hotdog Night”. So unique and so catchy this tune weaves deftly through bizarre mariachi faux-tropicalia disco with some wonky contrapuntal breakdowns. Over all the grooving cacophony Beefheart sings in tongues emitting lyrical pearls about flamingos and triangles and assures a lucky girl she’ll meet the monster tonight.
The Beach Boys – “Vegetables” from Smiley Smile (Capitol, 1967)
From the ill-received but incredibly prescient Smiley Smile, “Vegetables” exists as this amazing crux of psychedelic pop and playful music concrete, employing only a thumping bass line and the sounds of vegetables being munched (featuring, legend has it, Paul McCartney on celery stick). The legions of current indie rockers who worship Brian Wilson’s oeuvre testify to his genius and musical importance, but it still blows that this and all the other tunes on Smiley Smile were so derided on it’s release.
Prince – Raspberry Beret (Paisley Park, 1985)
There is no real hook like a Prince hook and who could put this hook down? One of the keepers from my childhood stash of 45s this tune will always be seven inches of sunshine.
Booker T & The MGs – Green Onions (Stax, 1962)
The improvised riff that made a 17 year old Booker T, “Green Onions” never loses it’s power. How many times have you heard this tune? Hundreds? Thousands? But it gets your head bobbing still, a rosetta stone of soul, garage and rock balled into two minutes of lightening. The driving, menacing organ, Steve Cropper’s gnarly but restrained guitar licks… there are good reasons why this jam is eternal.
The Dead Boys – “I Need Lunch” from Young Loud and Snotty (Sire, 1977)
Aphex Twin – Donkey Rhubarb (Warp Records, 1995)
This EP from the twisted catalogue of Richard D James features two food themed tracks. Beginning with the impossibly sprightly percussive bleepcore of the title track, the damage increases with the squishy pounding “Vaz Deferenz” before subsiding into a hypnotic tribute to Philip Glass and bidding a chill adieu with the understated and amazingly titled “Pancake Lizard”.
