S9E460 - Alan Vega 'Alan Vega' with Ben Vaughn
Musician, songwriter, film and TV composer and record producer Ben Vaughn (Straight From The Hat with Ben Vaughn) brings us Alan Vega and his 1980 self-titled debut solo album. On this release, Vega - one-half of groundbreaking New York synth-punk duo Suicide - delivers stripped-down, minimalist songs that manage to feel both ancient AND avant-garde!
Songs discussed in this episode: Bye Bye Bayou (Alan Vega cover) - LCD Soundsystem; Ghost Rider - Suicide; Rock This Town - Stray Cats; Rocket USA - Suicide (Max's Kansas City 1976 & Beyond); 1969 - The Stooges; Wow - Lennie Tristano Sextet; Dream Baby Dream (Suicide cover), State Trooper - Bruce Springsteen; Jukebox Babe - Alan Vega; Never Understand - The Jesus & Mary Chain; Kung Foo Cowboy - Alan Vega; Fat City - Alan Vega, Alex Chilton & Ben Vaughn; Fireball, Love Cry - Alan Vega; Falling - Julee Cruise; Shoo Be Doo - The Cars; Black Train - The Gun Club; Speedway - Alan Vega; Dream Baby Dream - Suicide (Live Midnight Special 1979); Be Bop A Lula, Ice Drummer - Alan Vega; Frankie Teardrop - Suicide; Bye Bye Bayou, Lonely - Alan Vega; Dream Baby Revisited - Alan Vega, Alex Chilton & Ben Vaughn
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Conceptualist
Ben Vaughn grew up in the Philadelphia area on the New Jersey side of the river. At age 6, his uncle gave him a Duane Eddy record and forever changed his life.
In 1983, he formed the Ben Vaughn Combo. The band was together five years, releasing two albums and touring the U.S. several times. They received rave reviews in Rolling Stone and People magazine and video airplay on MTV. The attention inspired Marshall Crenshaw to record Ben's "I'm Sorry (But So Is Brenda Lee)" for his "Downtown" album.
Ben embarked on a solo career in 1988, recording several critically acclaimed albums, touring extensively in Europe and the U.S. and receiving more MTV exposure. During that period he produced three records for the Elektra Records American Explorer series (Memphis rockabilly legend Charlie Feathers, Muscle Shoals country soul singer Arthur Alexander) and recorded "Cubist Blues," a collaboration with Alan Vega and Alex Chilton. He also scored two films ("Favorite Mopar" and "Wild Girl's Go-Go Rama"), as well as appearing as a frequent guest commentator on nationally syndicated radio shows “Fresh Air” and "World Cafe."
In 1995, Ben moved to L.A. and released "Instrumental Stylings," an album of instrumentals in a variety of styles. A guest appearance on KCRW's "Morning Becomes Eclectic" led directly to being hired as the composer for the hit TV sitcom "3rd Rock From The Sun." "That 70s Show" soon followed, and for the next ten yea…Read More