All Her Favorite Fruit

Camper Van Beethoven

I was thinking about Spotify and streaming platforms not paying artists enough money this morning. Immediately I thought of David Lowery who has been a crusader against unfairness in the music biz. This has been a longtime favorite song of mine and it was fun watching this recent live version of the song. (2014)

CAMPER could very well be the first U.S. indie band I loved growing up. Most music I discovered through radio and releases that hit the shelves at Tower Records. I’m not sure where I first heard Take the Skinheads Bowling, but somehow I purchased the 12 inch single. I thought of them as a local band — from nearby Santa Cruz where I went to the boardwalk. This wasn’t Asbury Park, this was my boardwalk — the boardwalk David Lowery would eventually write about. What I loved most about this band is that they did whatever the hell they wanted to. They were making weird, art music — but with melody and passion and they pandered to nobody. KEY LIME PIE was their masterpiece and the one that probably put them on the map. ALL HER FAVORITE FRUIT was such an anthem for me, that it became the title of a play I wrote about unrequited love in college. 😆

We dream our dreams
And sing our songs of the
Fecundity of life and love
Of life and love
Of life and love

The success led to CRACKER and their hit single LOW which brought them mainstream success. Something I don’t think they really ever wanted or asked for. Eventually they battled the music industry and returned to their indie roots, releasing both Camper and Cracker music under their own steam. Many strong records too — worth finding/buying. And KEY LIME PIE is still a strange, beautiful record that holds up so well 33 years later.