Lie-a-lot was a great album and Brother Lib was even better.
But Paul wanted Running On Empty to be very special, because if
the Clintons had lost the White House, it could have been his last album.
So he set out to make Running On Empty
as humorous and musically diverse as he could.
He succeeded!
From the robust harmonies of The Turtles, The Association
and even The Andrews Sisters (!), to the haunting sound of Roy Orbison
and the raw sound of Sam the Sham & The Pharoahs, and from Broadway
to Hollywood to the 60's California beach, there is (to borrow a phrase)
"Something for everyone!" in the 14 songs on Running On Empty.
Everyone Knows It's Hillary
Who fired all the Travelgate people? Who hired Livingstone and his crew? Whose name keeps coming up in Whitewater? Everyone knows it's Hillary! Rush's new de facto "Hillary Update Theme", based on (Everyone Knows It's) Windy by The Association.
Perusin'
What's in those FBI files, anyway? Craig Livingstone and his pals must have had a great time perusing through them. And what might the Clinton Administration do with the dirt they could find on private people in those files? Well, "life will be ecstacy . . . using it on our enemies!" Based on Groovin' by The Young Rascals.
Bob Dole Picked Jack
Hey, la-de-la, Bob Dole picked Jack! - and he makes the ticket "so awful strong". A spirited parody based on My Boyfriend's Back by The Angels. Everyone knows this tune!
They Debate Tonight
We know they're no Jack Kennedys, but . . . do they wear boxers or briefs? Focusing on the now-traditional national televised debates, this parodies Zero Mostel's version of Comedy Tonight! from the Broadway and Hollywood classic A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum. One of Paul's very best!
Only Baloney
He'll promise you steak, but give you baloney! Based on Roy's Only the Lonely, it's one that will stick in your mind long after you hear it.
Eleanor
Hillary couldn't reach Houdini (he was "tied up" playing Ouija) while Dionne holds and Elvis is waiting. Based on Elenore by The Turtles, this parody looks at The First Lady's attempt to get some "good vibrations" from the Great Beyond. Rush made it a Dittohead favorite.
The Boogie-Woogie Tenor Sax Commander-in-Chief
His lawyers claimed "he's in the Army now!" (and the Navy, Air Force and Marines to boot!) Based on The Boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B first recorded by The Andrews Sisters and re-released by Bette Midler. If you don't laugh out loud during this one, your idol must be David Bonior!
Funds, Funds, Funds
Oh, those legal bills from Whitewater, Travelgate, Paula, etc. keep piling up. So how did the Clintons figure out how to foot the bill? Why, they did what all good Liberals do, of course - they got someone else to pay it! "The Beach Boys" do the honors here.
The Beat Goes On
This parody deserves special mention, because it was written with creative input from Paro-Dise visitors. And it turned out great! Thanks to all our participants!
