Free Design
It’s actually the other side of this 45, which I didn’t feel like digging for,
but you get the idea, right?
Listen – Free Design – The Proper Ornaments – MP3
Greetings all.
As previously stated, Christmas is upon us once again, and I wouldn’t be a fit member of the bloggerati were I not to provide something seasonal for your delectation.
I’ve gone into this many times before (here and at Funky16Corners) but to recap briefly, I’ve never been a big collector of holiday music, and as a result diving into the crates in search of same is rarely fruitful.
Sometimes – however – I get lucky and get myself a holiday record by accident, which is how I came upon today’s selection.
I’ve been a big fan of the Free Design since I first heard their music back in the 90s when the easy/sunshine pop savants over in Japan got wise to their particular brand of wonderfulness and started to rerelease their 60s and 70s albums.
If you’re not familiar with the Free Design sound, working with Easy maestro Enoch Light, the Dedrick brothers and sisters created a mix of intricate harmony singing and progressive pop that was ahead of (and outside of) its time when it was first released. It’s not too much of a stretch to suggest that there are probably a lot of people today that wouldn’t cozy up to their sound, put off by its seeming naiveté and polished veneer. I am not one of them.
Enoch Light’s mini-empire of easy/space age pop was staffed with lots of talented musicians and singers, and while some of the output on his Command and Project 3 labels was in fact disposable, there is lots of gold in them thar hills for those willing to dig a little deeper.
I found today’s selection, ‘The Proper Ornaments’ when I picked it up on the flipside to the 45 for the Free Design’s best known song, ‘Kites are Fun’. The tune is a Christmas song, but it takes the Charlie Brown-ian tack of indicting the commercialism of the season. Check out the lyrics….
Ornaments of Life, ornaments of life
There’s your brand new car, sir, here’s your hat and gloves
There’s your pretty wife, sir, whom you almost love
There’s your color TV set and your impressive pad
There’s your little baby girl you’re almost glad you had
Such a pretty dress, miss, such a graceful walk
Bubbling femininity, authoritative talk
There’s your man he’s prominent; treats you like a queen
All your little secrets kept, your reputations clean
The proper ornaments of life.
Gotta have status
have a paid vacation,
have an intellectual education
ornaments of life
proper ornaments of life
fur coats, jewels and laces, bright red lipstick, big cars, money, tuxes and top hats
hide behind the mask of clothes and makeup: ornaments
There’s your brand new car, sir, here’s your hat and gloves
There’s your pretty wife, sir, whom you almost love
There’s your color TV set and your impressive pad
There’s your little baby girl you’re almost glad you had
What’s behind that countenance
What’s behind the lace,
What is in your mind and heart
Thats hidden by your face
Behind the ornaments in your life?
Not exactly a cup of warm yuletide cheer, is it?
The tune appeared on their debut LP (also called ‘Kites Are Fun’). You can pick up the Free Design’s best stuff in reissue, and their original albums are still not too hard to find (if you’re willing to dig).
I hope you like the song, and that – if you celebrate the holiday – you have a most excellent Christmas.
I’ll see you next week.
Peace
Larry
Head over to Funky16Corners for some soulful Christmas cheer…
1 Comment(s)
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The Free Design are very impressive, I do agree. Not really a Christmas song, though, is it, despite the ‘ornaments’ in the title? Their “Close Your Mouth (It’s Christmas)” is one of my absolute Christmas favorites–and this is coming from a guy who doesn’t like Christmas as a rule! Thanks for posting this.