Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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CRENSHAW, Marshall

(b 11 Nov. '54, Detroit) Singer/songwriter. Took up guitar at age eight, infl. by Buddy Holly and by guitar solo on the Kingsmen's 'Louie, Louie'. Played in bar bands, oldies band mid-'70s ('I couldn't stand ... the current hits'), went to West Coast. Auditioned for Beatlemania with note-perfect rendition of 'I Should Have Known Better', played John Lennon on tour. Moved to NYC; prod. Richard Gottehrer heard tape of his songs resulting in first LP Marshall Crenshaw '82 with his only top 40 hit, 'Someday, Someway', as well as 'Cynical Girl', 'Rockin' Around In NYC', 'She Can't Dance', nine others incl. cover of Arthur Alexander's 'Soldier Of Love' (also recorded by the Beatles '63 but not released). Crisply produced songs and treatments paid homage to 30 years of pop; Crenshaw hailed as new AOR talent. Second LP Field Day '83 disappointed, some say overproduced by Steve Lillywhite. Third album Downtown '85 saw him back on form, swampier prod. by T-Bone Burnett incl. two members of NRBQ, Ben Vaughn song 'I'm Sorry, But So Is Brenda Lee'. His 'A Favourite Waste Of Time' was covered by Owen Paul for UK hit '86; he appeared with band in soundtrack of Peggy Sue Got Married '86, played Holly in La Bamba '87 (he was the best thing in it); LP Mary Jane And Nine Others '87 confirmed eclecticism with four stars in down beat, followed by Good Evening '89, his last on WB. Life's Too Short '91 on Paradox was prod. by Richard Gottehrer. He disliked modern production techniques; about some of his own '80s albums he said, 'Whose bright idea was it to remove immediacy and spontaneity from rock'n'roll?' Live: My Truck Is My Home '94 was on Razor and Tie; Miracle Of Science '97 on Grapevine was an honest home studio job with one instrumental, four sprightly covers and six good new songs. He is still an Artist Deserving Greater Recognition.