Pure Punk Picks
Heartbreak Hotel – John Cale
I am indeed an ancient fellow. So old, I can recall when JFK was assassinated. While you you probably don’t remember when JR from “Dynasty” was assassinated.
But never mind, the past is passed.
There’s a website that will tell you what was the number song on the day you were born. But let me forewarn you, you’re most likely to be disappointed with the results.
But I wasn’t with mine.
“Heartbreak Hotel” by Elvis Presley was number one when I was born. Ahh, I remember it well.
John Cale was a member of my favorite band, The Velvet Underground, a bit later. That band, along with Iggy & The Stooges are my favorite, and I feel most important, proto-punk bands.
And Cale has created a very good, very original solo career. Though, I wouldn’t call him a punk artist.
I really have no idea how to classify him. I guess, singer-songwriter, but that puts him in with such dreck as Billy Joel and Elton John. He fits in with that like immigrants or minorities at a GOP convention.
I always hate when some recording artist does a cover version of someone else’s song and it’s almost an exact duplicate. I feel what’s the point? What I appreciate much more is when someone takes a well-known song and puts a totally new, unique spin on it.
I’m thinking Johnny Cash’s version of “Hurt” (which I just wrote about), Marilyn Manson’s take on “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This), and Jimi Hendrix’s brilliant “All Along The Watchtower.”
And along with the greatest covers of all times, I put Cale’s “Heartbreak Hotel” right up there with all of them.
Cale’s version, in technical terms, moves the music from major (happy) to minor (sad).
It also leads off with synthesizers that sound like car alarms or air raid alarms going off in full force while a doom-y, dissonant guitar and bass line saunters in.
“Since my baby left me, I found a new place to dwell,” Cale states shakily and with trepidation. “Down at the end of lonely street, Heartbreak Hotel.”
The chorus has classic rock power chords that stop and start again with a wailing chorus of female gospel singers that explode at the end with a desperate, emotional shouted plea of-
“THEY COULD DIE!”
This song takes the subtle, bluesy loneliness of the original version and escalates it into a full-blown, metal/goth paranoiac version of doomsday.
Now, the sadness is not understated but is made more apparent in shrieking agony.
Instead of a jumpy, light rockabilly strut- this sounds more like someone out on a ledge wondering if they should leap or someone in a hotel bathroom with razor blades.
Cale was not in his best “health” during this period. That’s the polite way of saying he was fucked up on drugs and drink. But so many of us involved in music at that time were- I know I was. And it’s obvious that Cale must’ve changed his ways as he is still with us. As I’m still here, or- at least I think I am, and yes! I had to change my ways, too.
“Well, if your baby leaves you and you got a tale to tell.” What a great twist of words in this line. “Just take a walk down Lonely Street, Heartbreak Hotel.”
So I’ll meet you down at the end of Lonely Street. It’s on the corner of Desperation and Main. It has been pretty lonely for me, lately, and I feel for many others, in this quarantine time.
“Although it’s always crowded you still can find some room. For broken-hearted lovers to cry there in their gloom.”
Another lovely line, another sad one, too. But one that contains true expression along with the sadness.
I took my ears for a walk down lonely street, to this great version, several years ago, and though- maybe I don’t want to linger there too much-
Musically, it was and is- such a great place to stay.
(Slimedog)
