CONTEST TIME - TRI-COLOR GIVEAWAY!
Brendan Benson
“Half a Boy (And Half a Man)” b/w “Big Kid Face”
179 tri-color copies, unlimited quantity on black vinyl
I just want the whole world to know, I am so incredibly excited to have a Brendan Benson record on Third Man.
Yeah yeah, I know we put out Raconteurs and JW and the Bricks stuff that he slays on, but this is different.
Brendan was the first musician I ever really met who I considered having “made it.”
He was signed to Virgin! He bought a house with record label money! He opened for the Wallflowers! He got fan mail from Japan! He jammed with Dave Grohl!
For me, at 16 years old, that was eye-opening.
And as his career has progressed, both solo and in bands, he’s never failed to make a record that was interesting or tuneful or compelling.
Dude just does good work. And this a-side is quintessential BB like he has not lost a step. You need this in your life. Much respect to the first lyric in the song referencing his obscure b-side “Son of a Welder.” Also, so stoked that we’re pressing tri-colors in Detroit and how sick they look!
Side notes: in the height of my Sub Pop collecting phase I bought a copy of the Flaming Lips 7” off of him. He gave me a bowl of blueberries and cream (or was it milk?) It was, at the time, the most exotic thing I had ever eaten. He was amazed I had never eaten a salad. I would not eat my first salad until the age of 21.
On the way to a JW & the Bricks rehearsal back in ’99 I wrecked my car. I was 17 years old. I asked all the other band members how old they were the first time they’d wrecked a car. Jack and Kevin both responded “16.” Brendan responded “15” and I thought that was BADASS. Like he stole the car or something.
I hopped in the Whirlwind Heat tour van for a day back in 2003 when they were opening for the Dirtbombs. They put in the “Lapalco” CD and all three of them together just got SOOOO EXCITED to be listening to it, like it was some long waited-for treat. So I asked them how often they listen to “Lapalco” and they said “Once a day, every day.” They just loved the album so much they couldn’t contain themselves.
I sing “Jet Lag” to my daughter Violet usually 4th or 5th in my setlist of “Shit I Know All the Words To While I’m Trying to Get This Booger To Bed.”
I’m giving away one copy of the limited edition tri-color of this record. In the comments below, do whatever…tell a story about Brendan, make me laugh, make me cry…it’s free reign to impress me. Whichever comment I like most gets the prize. SIMPLE!
Hello Ben. Oh how we love Brendan! I bought One Mississippi at Record Time in Roseville. In a cut out bin for a buck! I remember there being a Dave Grohl connection, Foo fighters first record cover art? Anyway, we fell in love with that record. My story is about my first ever show at The Lager House. The Lapalco record release show, 2003? I had tickets to see Sloan that night at The State Theatre. I was wondering if I could see both, so I went over to the Lager House early and payed the door person to let me in later. I went to see Sloan and they were great as usual. I met a group of dudes in the lobby bar and told them about Brendan’s show and how they would be floored. I remember meeting Free Press music writer Brian McCollum there and we talked about One Mississippi. It was a great show and those dudes were floored, especially when I got on stage and sang Aerosmith’s No More No More with Brendan(he forgot the words). How about TMR putting out One Mississippi on vinyl?
Well… hands down… best ROTW from BB about BB eva…
Brendan Benson (TV series)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
“Brendan Benson is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from September 13, 1979, to April 19, 1986. The series is a spin-off of the soap opera parody Soap in which the character Brendan Benson, portrayed by Robert Guillaume, had first appeared as the wise-cracking yet level-headed African-American butler for the highly dysfunctional Tate family. However, Brendan Benson eschewed the soap opera format of its parent show for a more conventional sitcom structure. The series was created by Susan Harris, and produced by Witt/Thomas/Harris Productions. In 1985, Guillaume won an Emmy award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in the show.”
I would love to hear a record of Brendan covering Paul McCartney’s songs. His version of “Let me Roll it” may be better than the original. Imagine Jet, Maybe I’m Amazed, live and let die.
B. B. Bumkin. Fast on the straights. Corners like an elk.
I was so excited yesterday about the new Brendan Benson release. I took a vacation day from work to go to TMR Detroit to get the tri-color. This morning I woke up got in my car, started it up and my dashboard instrument panel was blank. Nothing. I was so bummed. I knew I had to take my car to the dealership. By the time they got done with the repair it was 2 p.m. and I knew that it was too late to get the tri-color. I was crushed.
What no dance remixes?
Great tune! I have a great memory of Brendan non-chalantly taking the stage on opening day of the Cass Corridor store and at one point bringing his little boy on stage to sing the Spider-Man theme song with him. Great artist and seems like a great dad too!
Simple, down to earth, real music. Brendan really just knows how to rock. No fronts, no nonsense! I was introduced and so grateful for the opportunity to enjoy something thats vastly underrated. Looking forward to future releases. Thank you Brendan!
The first time I met Jack in 2000 .. my brother and my girlfriend at the time went up to him ,hugged him and were kissing his neck . haha.. I shook his hand ,hugged him and have him a demo CD I recorded in my bedroom . I was young and it wasnt very good but I did my best with what I had and we were huge white stripes fans. I also got Megs autograph on my drivers license cause that’s all I had on me and your not not gonna get megs autograph. I met Brendan after a Raconteurs show in Chicago new years eve night 2006 ,he was very nice and a great guy