Stephen Schneider: Great
Balls of Fire Island: 13 Original-ish Songs
Atlantique AQ-10001
Format: CD
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 Summer is the
season when we all seem to crave something different, frequently something a tad silly. In
popular music, think of Mungo Jerry's "In the Summertime" or Chuck Berry's
"My Ding-A-Ling" -- or even Brian Hyland's "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow
Polka Dot Bikini." None of these songs was high art, but they sure sounded good on a
radio perched on a blanket near the water.
Well, add Great Balls of Fire Island to that list.
It may never scale the charts the way the others did, but it will make you smile, and it
wouldn't sound too bad blasting out of that blanket-perched boombox (progress, you know?).
But before I tell you more about this giddy collection of summertime songs about the good
life at the Atlantic seaside, I should probably warn you that Stephen Schneider isn't a
professional musician. On the plus side, he takes a bunch of chances that no one intent on
actually having a music career would attempt -- like singing, for instance, which, I
guess, counts as the minus side.
But don't look to me for focused criticism of anyone's
vocal talent. I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket myself, and I happen to like singers who
turn their collection of vocal weaknesses into a style (Tom Waits and Bob Dylan
constituting two of my favorite singers ever). Schneider's voice isn't unpleasant, just a
trifle reedy and insubstantial. Consider it part of his charm.
Because, make no mistake about it, he is charming.
Most of these songs are parodies or amusing riffs exploring the realities of life in a
seaside resort community. "We're Not All Gay" puts to rest the most widespread
myth about Fire Island, Schneider's summer home: "We're not all gay, though gay's OK
with us/We're not all gay, we're not all gay/In fact we're mostly straight." (Note
intentional ambiguity in that last verse.)
This is followed by what may become the tri-state area's
beach anthem, "The Hamptons Suck." There's no need to quote that one, the
title's the chorus -- and a good bit of everything else as well.
There are also paeans to peeing by the sea, the joys of
volleyball, and nude beaches populated by the aging and unsightly. Elevated? No, and
that's part of Great Balls’ appeal. As I march resolutely into codgerdom, I
never cease to be amazed by how much of the 13-year-old in me has survived. Great Balls
of Fire Island feeds the inner snickering adolescent in us all (who, frankly, is much
better company than that bratty inner child).
And Schneider's no one-trick pony, either. In places, he
approaches a kind of beachku, as in "Sunday," the last song on the disc:
Sunday in the afternoon
Watch the sea green foam,
Soon you'll have to pack your bag
Take a ferry home.
Sunday in the afternoon
On a melancholy note,
You may have to sail away
But you can take a later boat.
Go on and take a later boat.
The most delightful thing about this CD, however, is just
how darn good it is. The recording quality is clean, honest, and uncompressed -- major
labels should feel ashamed to be shown up by a "label" like Atlantique.
Of course, the disc has a secret weapon in Dave Fields, who
was musical director, co-producer, arranger, and engineer. I had never heard of Mr.
Fields, but he obviously is a professional musician and he brings a high level of
craft and polish to the proceedings. He also contributes acoustic, electric, classical,
12-string, pedal steel, and "Old Moon" guitars, as well as bass, dobro, ukulele,
mandolin, piano, synthesizer, and background vocals. The musicianship from all involved is
of a very high level, but Fields is the musical heavyweight here, and in a just world, we
would hear a lot more of him.
By the way, the CD -- which anyone with a beach house
should own -- can be ordered at: www.cdbaby.com.
A portion of the disc’s profits will be donated to The Fire Island Lighthouse
Preservation Society.
...Wes Phillips
wes@onhifi.com
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