Alan Merrill, Theo, Vodka Collins, solo acoustic

The first foreigner to be "big in Japan" in the Group Sounds scene in the late 1960s, Alan Merrill performs a solo acoustic version of "Theo" from his legendary Tokyo based band Vodka Collins' "Pink Soup" album. The song has also appeared on the Vodka Collins best of collection "Boys In The Band." This was filmed with my simple camera phone at the Mean Fiddler in New York City. February 16th, 2008.
Vodka Collins were a Japanese supergroup, consisting of members of the biggest GS era Japanese pop groups, The Spiders, The Tigers and The Golden Cups.
If he'd performed this underground classic in Japan the audience would be hanging on every word and nuance, but the New York arrested development college crowd were chattering away clearly not understanding what they were witnessing, since Alan Merrill is totally obscure in his home country, the USA. His chart hits are in Japan, the UK and Europe.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Alan-Merrill
• Theo
• Mean-Fiddler
• New-York-City
• 2008
• vodka-collins
• pink-soup
• arrested
• development
• rock
• gs
• big-in-Japan

[bootcords]

I kind of prefer the Pink Soup album version, but the Live In Japan is a great version too.

[bootcords]

The song is on "Vodka Collins-Pink Soup" album and "Alan Merrill, Live in Japan."

[thickmickslick]

He never does a song the same way twice. On the record there are only three chords that he plays. A straight blues.

[ramalamadingadong]

I really enjoyed that clip, thanks! *****

[tsunamisasumi]

@bootcords Alan did this last weekend November 12 & 13th at Yokohama club sensation. It was great.

[jivingjunkosan]

He did this song at the Duo Music Exchange at Shibuya Tokyo 1-25-2010 and it was great with an all star band of former Vodka Collins bandmates!

[wexiflex]

True, Alan likes to change interpretation almost every time. Probably the roots of having jazz parents, he has a different approach than most rock musicians.

[mangledapeman]

I like the 'Live In Japan' version, with full band, the girl backing vocals and the brass.

[jojoranter]

I love the words to this song. They're very clever.

[mistyntwisty]

The song stands the test with just one voice and an acoustic guitar.

[heavyharpoon]

The song Theo is on three albums actually. Boys In The Band, Pink Soup, and Aleecat Live In Japan.