The Stooges

It's 1969, okay . . . all across the USA . . .
Another year for me and you. . .
Another year with nothin' to do. . .

Vietnam? Civil rights? Feminism? The environment? Ha!

It's The Stooges (1969), the Stooges' first album, and it's been remastered, repackaged and re-issued for all the world to love. Seriously, if you are a Stooges fan, and/or an Iggy Pop fan, go for it: it's beautiful in its primitive directness, as blunt and wild as the Heidelberg Project and as hard to miss as Detroit's factory ruins.

The real cool extra treat is disc number two: it's like going back in time and being let in on the alternate takes, catching a glimpse of the concept album that producer John Cale of the Velvet Underground apparently wanted to name The Psychedelic Stooges. More "artsy" (actually more somber) mixes of "No Fun," "1969," and "I Wanna Be Your Dog;" and alternate vocals by Iggy for "Dog," "Not Right," and "1969;" yet a different mix for "Real Cool Time;" and the very satisfyingly full length treatments of "Ann" and "No Fun". Love it! Too funny, so fun. . . . .

The Sex Pistols covered "No Fun" from time to time; on the single version, the song abruptly cuts out, making the ending no fun. When Johnny Rotten sings it, sounds like he's not kidding in the least. They ended their American tour on that note and promptly distintegrated.

No fun my babe no fun
No fun my babe no fun
No fun to hang around
Feeling that same old way
No fun to hang around
Freaked out for another day




Who could come up with subtler lyrics than that? (Actually, Trent Vanegas gave me a Shonen Knife album, Happy Hour, that pars with the Stooges and the Ramones for simplicity. Lines like "I Wanna Go to a Sushi Bar!")

With The Stooges re-issue, there's also a fun-filled booklet with photos, notes and more. A fine salute to greater Detroit and its surroundings.

From Pennsylvania, ciao!