Music of the Day, 27 November 2024

a failure yesterday led to today's earworm

Alas and alack, I did not listen to the album that yesterday’s MotD came from. Alasser and alacker,¹ remembering various things from my youth put today’s unwanted earworm in my mind.

Unlike with Boston, I’ve never much liked Aerosmith. Steven Tyler’s voice has always grated on my ears,² and their sound strikes me as thin and rather formulaic. When they started to dominate the FM airwaves, I shrugged and did my best to endure it.

“Remember (Walkin’ in the Sand)” caught my attention as something different by Aerosmith, but not different enough to be of more than passing interest to me. Since it came from the late 1979 release Night in the Ruts, I didn’t hear it often. I’d matriculated at university in August and had little time for music.

Today I discovered why this song stood out: it’s a cover. The song was originally titled “Remember” by writer and producer George “Shadow” Morton, and was recorded by the Shangri-Las in 1964. It’s likely I heard their version back then, but I have no memory of it.³ So of course I had to find it. Here’s the single version (there’s also an extended stereo mix):

I know I’m biased against Aerosmith,⁴ but I can’t be the only one who strongly prefers this take. It’s simply better songcraft. Here’s hoping it will replace the Aerosmith take on the radio station in my mind.

Anyway, enough with remembering. I have too many things to accomplish today to be focused in the past. For those who celebrate, warm wishes for a congenial Thanksgiving.

1. if this phrase isn’t a thing already, it should be

2. like nails on a chalkboard (anyone else remember that sound?)

3. “Leader of the Pack” is the near-reflexive response my mind has to a mention of the Shangri-Las

4. for more reasons these days than not liking their music back then. IYKYK