Concrete Blonde

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Concrete Blonde is an alternative rock band dating from the early 1980s to the early 1990s (and re-formed again in the 2000s). They are most known for the poignant songwriting and vocals of Johnette Napolitano.

Singer / songwriter / bassist Napolitano formed the band Dream 6 with guitarist James Mankey in Los Angeles in 1982, releasing an eponymous EP in France on the Happy Hermit label in 1983. When they signed with I.R.S. Records in 1986, labelmate Michael Stipe suggested the name Concrete Blonde, describing the contrast between their hard rock music and introspective lyrics. They were joined by drummer Harry Rushakoff on their eponymous debut album. Roxy Music drummer Paul Thompson replaced Rushakoff on Bloodletting and several tracks on Mexican Moon, while Rushakoff was in treatment for drug addiction. Rushakoff was kicked out of the band in 2002 for failing to show up for several rehearsals and shows. He was replaced by Gabriel Ramirez.

Their most popular album was the 1990 Bloodletting. The band broke up in 1995, but reunited in 2001, releasing Group Therapy in 2002 and Mojave in 2004.

Contents

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Famous songs

The two most well-known are from the Bloodletting album:

  • Joey, which made it to the Top 20. The acoustic version is particularly well-known;
  • Tomorrow, Wendy, a cover of an Andy Prieboy song. It has the chorus "Tomorrow Wendy is going to die ... ". In concert Johnette was known to introduce "Tomorrow Wendy" as a song "about a woman with AIDS."

Other notable songs from the group include:

  • Still in Hollywood, their first song which got a lot of MTV play
  • Someday
  • Dance Along the Edge, Many people would recognize this song due to its distinctive prechorus.
  • God is a Bullet, which received much airplay on college radio
  • Everybody Knows, a cover of a Leonard Cohen song (made famous since this version appears on the Pump Up the Volume movie soundtrack in place of Cohen's version, which is played throughout the film. The CB version shows up towards the end of the film.)
  • Ghost of a Texas Ladies Man from Walking in London
  • Bloodletting (the Vampire Song), the title track from the Bloodletting CD, which features the sounds of a downpour and a chiming clock not unlike that of Big Ben

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Discography

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Singles

  • True, 1986, vinyl-only
  • Caroline, 1990
  • Joey, 1990
  • Ghost of a Texas Ladies' Man, 1992
  • Someday, 1992, two part cd single
  • Walking in London, 1992
  • Heal it Up, 1993
  • Mexican Moon, 1994
  • Jonestown, 1994, vinyl-only, includes uncensored version not available on album
  • Roxy, 2002
Year Title Chart positions Album
U.S. Hot 100 U.S. Modern Rock U.S. Mainstream Rock UK
1989 "God Is a Bullet" - #15 - - Free
1990 "Joey" - #1 (4 weeks) - - Bloodletting
1990 "Everybody Knows" - #20 - - Pump Up the Volume [Soundtrack]
1990 "Caroline" - #23 - - Bloodletting
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Related Projects

  • Dream 6: Dream 6, 1983, reissued in 2003. Pre-CB group featuring Johnette Napolitano and Jim Mankey
  • Johnette Napolitano and Holly Vincent: Vowel Movement, 1995
  • Pretty & Twisted: Pretty & Twisted, 1995, Johnette Napolitano and Marc Moreland of Wall of Voodoo
  • Johnette Napolitano: Sound Of A Woman, 1998, unreleased solo album
  • Johnette Napolitano: Sketchbook, 2002
  • James Mankey: Jam, 2002
  • Catfish Scar
  • Johnette Napolitano: Sketchbook 2, 2006
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External links

pt:Concrete Blonde

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