Song of the Day #2,160: ‘Brian Wilson (Live)’ – Barenaked Ladies

bnl_rock_spectacleI’m not a fan of live albums as a rule, viewing them as the contractual obligations they usually are. But I do allow for a few exceptions.

Among those are Billy Joel’s Songs in the Attic, Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense and Simon & Garfunkel’s Concert in Central Park.

Today’s Random Weekend SOTD comes from another live album I enjoy quite a bit — Barenaked Ladies’ Rock Spectacle.

This album captures not just the solid musicianship and vocal talent of the band but the sense of humor and camaraderie they deliver in their live shows. The audience is practically a participant in the set, as in today’s track when they sing a verse in unison with Steven Page.

Drove downtown in the rain nine-thirty on a Tuesday night,
just to check out the late-night record shop.
Call it impulsive, call it compulsive, call it insane;
but when I’m surrounded I just can’t stop.
It’s a matter of instinct, it’s a matter of conditioning,
It’s a matter of fact.
You can call me Pavlov’s dog
Ring a bell and I’ll salivate- how’d you like that?
Dr. Landy tell me you’re not just a pedagogue,
cause right now I’m

[Chorus]
Lying in bed just like Brian Wilson did
Well I’m lying in bed just like Brian Wilson did.

So I’m lying here, just staring at the ceiling tiles.
and I’m thinking about what to think about.
Just listening and relistening to Smiley Smile,
and I’m wondering if this is some kind of creative drought
because I am

[Chorus]

And if you want to find me I’ll be out in the sandbox,
wondering where the hell all the love has gone.
Playing my guitar and building castles in the sun,
and singing “Fun, Fun, Fun.”

[Chorus]

I had a dream that I was three hundred pounds
and though I was very heavy,
I floated ’til I couldn’t see the ground
I floated ’til I couldn’t see the ground
Somebody help me, I couldn’t see the ground
Somebody help me, I couldn’t see the ground
Somebody help me because I’m

[Chorus]

Drove downtown in the rain nine-thirty on a Tuesday night.
Just to check out the late-night record shop.
Call it impulsive, call it compulsive, call it insane;
but when I’m surrounded I just can’t stop.

One thought on “Song of the Day #2,160: ‘Brian Wilson (Live)’ – Barenaked Ladies

  1. Dana says:

    I would add Joe Jackson’s Big World and Jackson Browne’s Running on Empty to the list of my exceptions to generally not liking live albums.

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