TONYA MOSLEY, HOST:

That is FRESH AIR. Our rock critic Ken Tucker has an appreciation of rock singer-songwriter Dwight Twilley, who died late final month on the age of 72. Over the course of a profession that started within the Seventies, the Oklahoma native had solely two prime 20 hit singles however was broadly thought of a key determine within the subgenre of energy pop. You will have heard his best-known tune, “I am On Fireplace,” performed in the newest season of the TV present “Reservation Canines.” Ken has these ideas a few rocker who by no means fairly grew to become a rock star.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “I’M ON FIRE”)

DWIGHT TWILLEY BAND: (Singing) Bought your girl on the road. Bought your identify on the duvet. Although your pals are 99, honey, you ain’t bought no lover. And also you ain’t, you ain’t, you ain’t bought no lover. And also you ain’t, you ain’t, you ain’t bought no different.

KEN TUCKER, BYLINE: The Dwight Twilley Band launched the tune “I am On Fireplace” in 1975. It was a small miracle – a terrific pop tune with not one however two hooks. The primary got here on the finish of the verse – the you ain’t, you ain’t bought no lover phrase that I performed to begin this evaluation. The second hook comes up just a bit later, proper the place you’d anticipate it, in a refrain that pulls you in. You get singed by this man who’s on hearth with love.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “I’M ON FIRE”)

DWIGHT TWILLEY BAND: (Singing) I bear in mind the sensation that I could possibly be free. Now I do know it might by no means, by no means be me ‘trigger I am on hearth, bought myself on hearth.

TUCKER: “I am On Fireplace” appeared to return out of nowhere however had its origin in Tulsa, Okla., the place Dwight Twilley had met Phil Seymour after an area screening of “A Exhausting Day’s Evening.” Buzzed on Beatlemania, they shaped a band and minimize “I am On Fireplace” at Shelter Information, the label co-founded by one other Oklahoman, Leon Russell. Twilley had traditional teen-idol seems – excessive cheekbones, deep-set eyes, an ideal shag. He was able to set the world on hearth. It by no means occurred.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “LOOKING FOR THE MAGIC”)

DWIGHT TWILLEY BAND: (Singing) All my life, I am searching for the magic. I have been searching for the magic. Fantasize on a foolish little tragic. I have been searching for the magic in my eyes. Oh, oh, oh, I am searching for the magic in my eyes, in my eyes, child in my eyes.

TUCKER: The Dwight Twilley Band launched their debut album, “Sincerely,” in 1976, the identical yr, the debut album by The Ramones helped kick off punk rock. Between the abrasiveness of punk and the chart-topping gentle rock of the Eagles, the sound Twilley was making – crisp however fairly, vehement however intimate – fell by way of the cracks. He was among the many first of a subset of power-pop artists who made catchy, jangling guitar music that by no means caught on with the lots, akin to Matthew Candy, Large Star, Sneakers and one of many bands Phil Seymour joined after he cut up from Twilley, The Plimsouls. This is Twilley from that debut.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “THREE PERSONS”)

DWIGHT TWILLEY BAND: (Singing) Three individuals is a thorn in a facet of romance. Oh, child. Oh, no, no, child. Uh huh. Three individuals who will not give no one no probability. Oh, child. Oh, no, no, child. And once you’re pondering of me, respect, respect my sensitivity. Love you, love you, love you. Three individuals is a thorn in a facet of romance. Oh, child. Oh, no, no, child.

TUCKER: I like that tune, “Three Individuals,” for the totally charming awkwardness of its opening line. Quote, “three individuals is a thorn in a facet of romance.” Say what, Dwight? A bit later he sings plaintively, respect, respect my sensitivity. And that’s the good boiled-down essence of all power-pop music. It is the style that showcases largely males singing about largely girls in moments of romantic agony. A man’s coronary heart will get damaged, and he does not get indignant. He does not get bitter. He does not get revenge. He drops any macho pretense. He suffers and yearns and lays himself open to ridicule whereas begging, respect my sensitivity. And this is one motive Dwight Twilley by no means grew to become a rock star. Respect and sensitivity aren’t excessive on most individuals’s listing of sentiments to bop to.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “GIRLS”)

DWIGHT TWILLEY: (Singing) Nicely, I’ve seen so many issues. I have been everywhere in the world. Nicely, I’ve had ups and downs. I have been over for some time. I believed I knew all the pieces between the unhealthy and the nice. I assume I used to be improper as a result of I misunderstood about women, women. Nicely, after I was younger, my daddy sat down with me. He mentioned life is difficult if you do not know what you want. Nicely, I assume he was proper as a result of the best way that is it been, there’s nonetheless one factor I simply cannot perceive, and that is women. They need you to inform them you like them.

TUCKER: After I noticed on social media that Twilley had died, I found that I used to be buddies with him on Fb. I attempt to preserve a distance from artists whose work I would evaluation, however I believe on this case, with Twilley missing a report deal or a PR firm, I will need to have accepted his Fb good friend request as a manner of constructing certain that I would know when he put out new music. Twilley by no means misplaced the knack for dramatizing the ache of affection rejected. In the event you’re ever trying to discover a soundtrack for that scenario in your individual life, I hope you may hunt down Dwight Twilley’s rock ‘n’ roll sincerity.

MOSLEY: Rock critic Ken Tucker. Dwight Twilley died final month. He was 72. On tomorrow’s present, Black Thought aka Tarik Trotter, the lead emcee for The Roots and home band for “The Tonight Present With Jimmy Fallon.” In his new memoir, Trotter shares for the primary time how a collection of tragedies, together with unintentionally burning down his household’s dwelling at 6, have served as a catalyst for creating the sound of the pioneering rap group. I hope you’ll be able to be part of us. To maintain up with what’s on the present and to get highlights of our interviews, comply with us on Instagram at @NPRFreshAir. For Terry Gross, I am Tonya Mosley.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “RELEASE ME”)

DWIGHT TWILLEY BAND: (Singing) Launch me. I need to go. Darling, I do know that you simply did all the pieces that you could possibly to make our love be good. So launch me. I need to go. Do not want me. I need to know.

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