Walter Rimler is quite the scholar of pop music. I found his 1984 book Not Fade Away in the Bracken library at Ball State lo nigh on 20 years ago.
This classic analysis of Broadway vs rock era songwriting made a big enough impression that I looked up the author years later on this newfangled internet thing they came out with. I'm pleased to call him a friend.
Besides being a scholar and a fine, humble human being, Walt turns out to be a pretty fair tunesmith in his own rite.
I'm thus doubly pleased as not just a friend but a connoisseur of popular music to be hosting some original Rimler music at MoreThings. He's kindly given me permission to post his song "I'm Sorry."
This exceptionally insincere apology for having a "breakdown" is the berries. Not to pigeonhole him, but Walt's got sort of a Tom Lehrer thing going on here- except that it's even better than most Tom Lehrer. It's just one damned catchy little tune.
He seems to be quite proud of the breakdown he's detailing. The part that kills me is the whip marks on the bust of Princess Grace. For starters, what kind of person would have such a thing in their home to begin with?
CLICK HERE to download "I'm Sorry" by Walter Rimler.
Article comments
1 - Thugs Ma
Wanna know why Tin Pan Alley tunesmiths kept writing hits (our modern day standards) practically on their deathbeds, and why some rock artists ring their deathknell of creativity after a couple albums? And WHY has the Rolling Stones sounded EXACTLY the same for the past 20 years?
I beat my hands against my head. WHY? Why? WHYYY????
Hmmm....
It's all here in Walt Rimler's "Not Fade Away."
And for you unlucky souls who don't know him, I reiterate that he is an amazingly decent, kind and cool dude, but you'll just have to take my word for it.
But you can find that he's a really fine writer who analyzes music astutely. No Simon Crowell angst washing out on Bob Dylan (even if "Time Out of Mind" really SUCKED and so did Paul McCartneys "Flowers in the Dirt", despite the critics tripping over themselves to pander to them). I said that, not Walt.
And "I'm Sorry" is a hoot. It's really wortha listen. Take a chance. I dare ya.