(Log in to disable ads.)

I agree the recordings are very dated - too much reverb and an overuse of "psychedelic" effects dated it pretty quickly. The songs themselves never struck a chord for me either.

This is the only country his music was a hit, and he didn't even know it until Steven Segerman tracked him down in '97. He never saw a penny from the multi-platinum local sales (gee, where have I heard that before?).
    I didnt like it then ie early 70's when in school. They used to pay it at parties plenty. Springs was not a big town and there was a group of girls with tight jeans and high heels and if you wanted to dance with them slow like, you waited for one of those drony sort of Rodriguez songs and then you tackle one of them. Somehow they seemed to think then you're a head with some sensitivity. So, a vital part of the recipe - thanks Rodriguez. One thing though, the lyrics stuck in your head like shit to a wet blanket. Moon is hanging in a purple sky 'nall. But Thin Lizzy, ya that was too grand.
      This is the only country his music was a hit, and he didn't even know it until Steven Segerman tracked him down in '97.
      When I first heard that it was scary to believe, that this man only found out 20 years later that he had fan ?
      He never saw a penny from the multi-platinum local sales
      Never knew that, thanks Alan! That sucks, he could have bought a new car!
        Ray wrote: I didnt like it then ie early 70's when in school. They used to pay it at parties plenty. Springs was not a big town and there was a group of girls with tight jeans and high heels and if you wanted to dance with them slow like, you waited for one of those drony sort of Rodriguez songs and then you tackle one of them. Somehow they seemed to think then you're a head with some sensitivity. So, a vital part of the recipe - thanks Rodriguez. One thing though, the lyrics stuck in your head like shit to a wet blanket. Moon is hanging in a purple sky 'nall. But Thin Lizzy, ya that was too grand.
        Good Stuff Ray ? You share a lot of history of what South Africa was really like back then. Springs produced some good bands though, and any town that has a suburb called Daggafontein is tops in my book ?
          inflames wrote: When I first heard that it was scary to believe, that this man only found out 20 years later that he had fan ?
          Scary, but all-to-familiar a record company trick so they could pocket all the proceeds (BTW, I've been trying to remember - who was the local group that fought for 40 years before getting any royalties?). And they now wonder why people have no qualms about ripping them off by downloading...
          Ray wrote: Springs was not a big town and there was a group of girls with tight jeans and high heels and if you wanted to dance with them slow like, you waited for one of those drony sort of Rodriguez songs and then you tackle one of them.
          I think that was universal. "Of course I love Rodriguez/the Thompson Twins/Men without Hats!". The teenage male at his most sincere...
          But Thin Lizzy, ya that was too grand.
          +1
            Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
            inflames wrote: When I first heard that it was scary to believe, that this man only found out 20 years later that he had fan ?
            Scary, but all-to-familiar a record company trick so they could pocket all the proceeds (BTW, I've been trying to remember - who was the local group that fought for 40 years before getting any royalties?).
            wasnt that clout , iirc , they were also heavily shafted
              as for royalties... the song the "lion sleeps tonight" was stolen and used in stage productions and only recently was the original composer a black south african creditted and awarded royalties or his family was ......... if i'm not mistaken ...this is totally from meomory and i think i recall this only happenng a few years ago..........

                Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
                But Thin Lizzy, ya that was too grand.
                +1
                + a whole lot. I got 'Live and Dangerous' recently, (one of) the first album(s) that was recorded live and substantially dubbed over. You can think of this 'technique' whatever you want, to me the album sounds like I did miss out on some mind blowing concerts (being too young at the time). The sheer expression of rock 'n roll rebellious emotion echoes through from first to last note:
                'Tonight there's gonna be a jailbreak
                somewhere in this town
                tonight there's gonna be a jailbreak
                don't ye be around..'
                  I thought Cold Fact was great. I don't own a copy. One bad thing I can say about it is it's easy to saturate yourself. If I think of any of those songs now, I get no desire to listen to them because they feel over-listened - if you follow me. I'm sick of them, and have been for many years, would be putting it plainer.
                    I know of allot of people from my generation that loves Rodriguez ...like myself? ( I am 21 ) Especially songs like Sugar man and I wonder. Which I am not sure is his original songs. I have even asked random people who their favorite band is and they would answer Rodriguez..and they would know all the words etc. A few years back SABC 3 had a documentary on how they found him and brought him to South Africa. Would like to see it again.
                      Write a Reply...