Give Thanks For Obscurities–Donnie & Joe Emerson’s “Baby”
In 1979 we were in the thrashing throes of unbridled punk rock love. England had exploded in song, and LA was marching to the mosh. So excuse us if we missed this one. Included on the soundtrack to recent film Celeste and Jesse Forever (starring Rashida Jones), check out below Donnie & Joe Emerson’s (who?) dreamily-hypnotic song, Baby. The song, which marvels at Marvin Gaye and smacks of Smokey Robinson, has been championed and covered recently by Ariel Pink and the Haunted House. You can read more about the Emersons below and Pink’s love below, and buy their 1979 album HERE. After the Emersons’ studio version, check out Ariel Pink’s Smokeyed-up cover. Happy Thanksgiving all!
On the Emersons and their recording:
“Pacific Northwest isolation mixed with wide-eyed ambition, a strong sense of family and the gift of music proved to be quite the combination for teenage brothers Donnie and Joe Emerson. Originally released in 1979, Dreamin’ Wild is the sonic vision of the talented Emerson boys, recorded in a family built home studio in rural Washington State. Situated in the unlikely blink-and-you-missed-it town of Fruitland and far removed from the late 1970s punk movement and the larger disco boom, Donnie and Joe tilled their own musical soil, channeling bedroom pop jams, raw funk, and yacht rock.
Ariel Pink:
“‘Baby’ has been a staple on just about every playlist/mixtape I’ve assembled in the past 3 years. It is nothing short of sublime.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Wh4srtfv4k