Same Old Song And Dance

Album: Get Your Wings (1974)
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Songfacts®:

  • This song started with a riff Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry came up with in the summer of 1973 while the band was living together in a house on Beacon Street in Boston. While Steven Tyler is capable of writing meaningful lyrics ("Dream On), he's also prone to senseless but fun non-poetry that fits the music. That's the case here, as he matched the words to Joe Perry's riff, which drives the song. This might be the only song containing both the words "constipation" and "hurdy gurdy."
  • This was the first single released from Aerosmith's second album, Get Your Wings. Their first album sold poorly, suffering from lousy promotion by Columbia Records, and the label nearly dropped the band. "Same Old Song And Dance" wasn't a hit, but it helped sell the album, which stayed on the Billboard album charts for nearly a year as Aerosmith hit the road, establishing themselves as an outstanding live act and growing their fan base.

    Aerosmith managers, Steve Leber and David Krebs, had a big stake in the album, as they were also facing a financial shortfall. At Columbia Records, Clive Davis had been replaced with Bruce Lundvall, and Leber-Krebs convinced him to put more effort into promoting Aerosmith this time, which he did.
  • Jack Douglas, who previously produced The New York Dolls, produced the album. He brought in a horn section to play on this track: Michael and Randy Becker, Jon Pearson and Stan Bronstein.
  • The guitar work on this song is some intricate stuff. In the video game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, it's a playable song as a Master Track. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Martin - Detroit, MI

Comments: 5

  • Luna Loud from Royal Woods, MichiganIDK if anyone can answer this but, it seems like for the sheet music to Aerosmith's greatest hits, there is at least one guitar solo that's not tabbed out. The only conclusion I can come to is that the tabs are transcribed exactly from the versions on the "Big Ones" compilation album, which possibly has an edited version of this song on it. I only have the original album version (well, the CD version). Can anyone help me out?
  • Dannation from Ma - MassachusettsUnlike a lot of ROSmth songs, this one is listenable after one spin. Fantastic Urban Blues. Healthy cynicism towards "The System". Absolute gem.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 7th 1974, Aerosmith began their 56-date 'Get Your Wings' tour with a performance at the Michigan Theatre in Detroit, Michigan...
    Fifty-two days later on March 1st, 1974 the album of the same name was released and eventually it peaked at #74 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart...
    Three tracks from the album were released a singles; "Same Old Song and Dance", "Train Kept-A-Rollin'", and "S.O.S. (Too Bad)"; but none of the three made the Top 100 Singles chart.
  • Craig Lee from Valdosta, GaThe lyric "gotcha with the cocaine, found with your gun" was changed for the Greatest hits package.
  • Lalah from Wasilla, AkThere is TOO meaning to these lyrics. There's a commentary on the US judicial system and repeat offenders.
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