Abacab - Genesis (the name originated from the three song fragments – titled A, B, and C – that the band strung together to make this song) The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys - Traffic (taken from an inscription that actor Michael J. Pollard placed in a book for Jim Capaldi)
The Edge of Seventeen - Stevie Nicks (the name came from Nicks mishearing Tom Petty’s first wife, Jane, saying that she met Tom “at the age of seventeen”) Lawyers, Guns and Money - Warren Zevon
“Anal Retentive Calliope Music” — FZ, duh. I suggested this when my high school English reached asked us for an example of trochaic tetrameter. Or was it iambic? Whatever!
“Neon Meat Dreame of a Octafish” — Captain Beefheart. Misspelling and a/an violation intentional, apparently. A friend once dressed as this for Halloween.
“Jazz Discharge Party Hats” — more FZ. The song is a raunchy story (sorry about the misogyny), set to guitar by Steve Vai - a reminder that our every utterance is musical.
Anything off the Victorialand album by Cocteau Twins, or their*The Moon and the Melodies*collab with Harold Budd. Ooze Out and Away, Onehow is an especial favourite. Actually, many other Cocteaus titles thrill me in their earnest tweeness: Ella Megablast Burls Forever Frou-Frou Foxes In Midsummer Fires It’s All But an Ark Lark Spooning Good Singing Gum Suckling the Mender When Mama Was A Moth
This Mortal Coil’s The Horizon Bleeds and Sucks Its Thumb is a great one, too. Maybe it’s a common 4AD thing, let’s check:
Dead Can Dance has some lovelies: As The Bell Rings The Maypole Spins, Fortune Presents Gifts Not According To The Book, *The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove *
His Name Is Alive: Caroline’s Supposed Demon, You and I Have Seizures, How Ghosts Affect Relationships, Hope Called in Sick, There’s Something Between Us and He’s Changing My Words…I could go on.
In the same vein as other “comedic” rock acts like Zappa and Bonzo…
“The Infant of Prague Customized My Van” - The Dead Milkmen
“Vince Lombardi Service Center” - The Dead Milkmen
“In Praise of Sha Na Na” - The Dead Milkmen
Also favorites:
“Nobody Really Cares If You Don’t Go To The Party” - Courtney Barnett
“Lonliness of a Middle Distance Runner” - Belle & Sebastian
My Girl Bill
I Ain’t Sharin’ Sharon
16 Little Red Noses and A Horse That Sweats
Turn Loose of My Leg
Don’t Fool Around When There’s A Fool Around
Cow Patti
You Can Call Me Clyde
The Half-Eaten Sausage Would Like to See You in His Office
Anything Jesus Does I Can Do Better
Solar Panel Asses
Backbones of Jack Asses
Gluing Carpet to Your Genitals Does Not Make You a Canteloupe
Spitting in the Faces of Fools as a Source of Nutrition