Life On Venus

Album: Ridin' the Wind - The Anthology (1963)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song was group leader Joe Meek's tribute to the keyboard sounds of the day. The track starts with a voiceover: "News Flash: Signals have been received from the planet Venus. These resemble sounds similar to those created by a musical instrument such as an organ so perhaps there is life on Venus?"
  • The organ is the main instrument used in the tune, with a guitar solo in the second verse. Then the organ returns with the accompaniment of a vocal, which is similar to the Tornados hit, "Telstar." A second Meek example is "Pop Art Goes Mozart." In this track he combines as the title implies the modern beat of a pop tune with the sound of instrument that sounds a bit like a harpsichord.
  • Other tunes and tracks performed by the Tornados which have the organ as the main or featured instrument: "Cootenanny," "Costa Monger," "Do you come here often," "Exodus" (almost a standard tune in a band's playlist during the '60s and early '70s), "Globetrottin," "Hot Pot," "Hymn For Teenagers," "Indian Brave," "Jungle Fever," "Locomotion With You," "Monte Carlo," "The Ice Cream Man," "The Scales Of Justice." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Geoff - Sydney, Australia, for all above

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat WorldSongwriter Interviews

Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.

Song Titles That Inspired Movies

Song Titles That Inspired MoviesSong Writing

Famous songs that lent their titles - and in some cases storylines - to movies.

Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds

Jim McCarty of The YardbirdsSongwriter Interviews

The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.

Ian Gillan of Deep Purple

Ian Gillan of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan explains the "few red lights" in "Smoke On The Water" and talks about songs from their 2020 album Whoosh!

Superman in Song

Superman in SongSong Writing

Not everyone can be a superhero, but that hasn't stopped generations of musicians from trying to be Superman.

Rick Astley

Rick AstleySongwriter Interviews

Rick Astley on "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Cry For Help," and his remarkable resurgence that gave him another #1 UK album.