Today’s interview is a little unique. It includes Jackson, Henry Diltz (the photographer that took some of the most iconic rock photographs of all time) and Gary Burden talking about the creation of the cover for Jackson’s amazing first album. I think you will like it…….
So if you are wondering about the bonus part of the post, here it is……click on the video below to hear Jackson’s first album in it’s entirety. It was an amazing album…….I hope you enjoy it!
If you have been paying attention over the past year you already know that Dawes has been featured in several posts. The first time I heard them I knew that it was just a matter of time until they produced an amazing record and I am very happy to tell you that that time has arrived.
I am going to characterize their new album in an way that will probably be controversial but if you give me time I think you will understand. Here goes……Stories Don’t End is the best Jackson Browne album I have heard in many years. Let me explain…..Jackson Browne, at the height of his talent, produced some of the best albums of all time. His albums were an amazing combination of brilliant songs, beautiful vocals, and incredible instrumentation. Jackson wrote, and sang about, things that I had either been through, cared about, and/or wondered about. Put more simply Jackson’s music spoke to me in a very personal way. Stories Don’t End is the first album in ages that makes me feel the same way I felt when listened to some of Jackson’s best albums like Late For The Sky. Does that help??
Enough talking, let’s listen…..
This is my favorite song from the album. When the instruments drop out leaving only the drum beat for the following lyrics I knew for sure that I was listening to something special
At the scene of all I’ve left unlearned, in the directions to your house
In every swing I took to crack the code
I need a cold beer from a dressing room, I need a string of dates back out
I think there are a few of us that still belong out on the road
This is my second favorite song from the album. I am absolutely entranced each time I listen to this song and hear to breakdown where counterpoint vocals sing the chorus. Really good stuff!
To top things off here are a couple of really good live performances of other great songs from the album.
If you like great music you owe it to your self to buy this album.
While not as well known as many of his contemporaries Rod, nonetheless, managed to create two of my favorite groups from the 1960s and early 197s, the Zombies and Argent. He was an amazing keyboard player, a great songwriter, and recorded two of my favorite songs. So, for today’s Two’fer Tuesday post, join with me in celebrating the music of Rod Argent.
I don’t know about you but I loved getting to see the late, great, John Denver introduce Argent in that last video.
RIP John!
(Thanks to A. J. Sullivan who took the great picture of Rod!)
In case you missed yesterday’s post, here is how I promo’ed today’s Cat Stevens documentary…..
Cat may have been the most complex of all of the early 1970s singer/songwriters. Before achieving incredible success in the early 1970’s he had gone through many changes. Little did we know in 1971 that there were bigger changes yet to come.
It was clear to me from the first time I listened to Tea For The Tillerman that Cat Stevens was on a journey of self discovery. I think that is why he was so popular……people my age in the early 70’s were all trying to find our way along that same path. As you will learn in this documentary, Cat found answers on his path that gave his life meaning. His chosen path was not an easy one and I applaud the courage he has shown in following his convictions.
As for my own journey, I have come to the conclusion that there is no ultimate answer waiting at the end of my path….. it’s the journey down that path that is my ultimate reward. Let me know what you think…..
Today we have another amazing singer/songwriter, Cat Stevens, captured live on BBC in 1971. The set list is provided below. I hope you enjoy the show!
Moon Shadow
Tuesday’s Dead
Wild World
How Can I Tell You
Maybe You’re Right And Maybe You’re Wrong
I Love My Dog
Bitterblue
Changes IV
Into White
Father And Son
Cat may have been the most complex of all of the early 1970s singer/songwriters. Before achieving incredible success in the early 1970’s he had gone through many changes. Little did we know in 1971 that there were bigger changes yet to come. Much more about that tomorrow in a Cat Stevens focused Monday Matinee post. You don’t want to miss it.
As always……let me know what you think!
Today’s interviewee is James Taylor circa 1970 (there are actually a couple of interview segments and a great performance of Riding On A Railroad, one of my all time favorite songs). What you will discover from the interview is that James wasn’t really acting in Two Lane Blacktop….he is really that laconic. I actually think it’s one of the things that make me love James so much. Enjoy, and as always, let me know what you think!
A week or so ago I posted Simon and Garfunkel’s 1969 TV special as a Monday Matinee. The next day, I was telling a friend about the special and describing some of the highlights including the performance of America.
My friend asked if I had ever heard the Yes cover of America. I admitted that I hadn’t, even though I’m a Yes fan, and that I was intrigued by the fact that Yes had covered the song. When I finally got home and listened to the Yes version of the song I was unbelievably pissed! What a tone deaf interpretation of a beautiful song. While I love Jon Anderson, and fully believe that he could have done an amazing version of the song, his phrasing and the groups musical interpretation destroyed one of the best songs ever written. The melody was lost, the meaning was lost, and we were left with an exercise in musical excess. Let me be blunt it was a piece of shit and I hereby declare it to be the worst cover song of all time. Since it is Two’fer Tuesday you don’t have to take my word for it, you can decide for yourself. First up is America (the beautiful) by Simon and Garfunkel which is quickly followed by America (the 1972 abomination) by Yes.
I would like to issue a challenge to all of the readers of this blog to try to identify a worse cover song and post a comment identifying your nomination for worst cover song of all time. I will keep track of all of your nominations, post about them, and after a month or so stage an on-line vote to select our collective pick for the all time worst cover song of all time. Come on…..join in and let’s have some fun identifying some really bad music!!!!
I clearly remember going to see Two Lane Blacktop in 1971 and being completely enamored with the film. It featured two of my favorite musicians, James Taylor and Dennis Wilson, both of whom were quite laconic in the movie. I myself was a man of few words back then which you might find hard to read if you are frequent reader of this blog. It also didn’t hurt that the movie was all about fast cars…..back in the late 1960s early 1970s I was absolutely muscle car crazy. For those of you that aren’t from the US, I don’t know if the term “muscle car” will have any meaning for you but if you take a look at the Pontiac GTO Judge that Warren Oates drives in the movie you will get an idea about what muscle cars were all about.
The movie was not very successful (I can honestly say that I have never met a single person that has seen the movie). Fortunately for you, I found a copy on YouTube and now you can have the opportunity to relive my experience from 1971. Before showing the movie I thought you might like to learn a little more about it so here are some highlights that I borrowed from Wikipedia…..
Two-Lane Blacktop is a 1971 road movie directed by Monte Hellman, starring singer-songwriter James Taylor, the Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson, Warren Oates, and Laurie Bird.
Esquire magazine declared the film its movie of the year for 1971, and even published the entire screenplay in its April 1971 issue, but the film was not a commercial success. The film has since become a cult classic. Brock Yates, organizer of the Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash (better known as the Cannonball Run) cites Two-Lane Blacktop as one source of inspiration for the creation of the race, and commented on it in his Car and Driver column announcing the first Cannonball.
Two-Lane Blacktop is notable as a time capsule film of U.S. Route 66 during the pre-Interstate Highway era, and for its stark footage and minimal dialogue. As such, it has become popular with fans of Route 66. Two-Lane Blacktop has been compared to similar road movies with an existentialist message from the era, such as Vanishing Point, Easy Rider, and Electra Glide in Blue.
In 2012, the film was added to the National Film Registry
So, without further ado, here is our feature for today! I hope you enjoy it…..as always, let me know what you think.
RIP Dennis!
Tonight’s session is a 1971 concert by James Taylor. It is yet another of the great BBC singer/songwriter concerts from the early 1970s (God bless the BBC for recording and preserving these concerts for future generations to enjoy). James gives a wonderful performance, my favorite song is “Riding on a Railroad”…..let me know yours. The set for the concert is provided below…..enjoy!
Setlist
If you like James Taylor be sure to check back tomorrow for a great Monday Matinee post featuring James Taylor as an actor. He was a busy boy in 1971! Trust me….you don’t want to miss this one………
Update: My friend Gerard commented on this post indicating that he was unable to view this video. If you also had that problem please post a comment and let me know where you live so I can try to track down the issue. Also, please try the alternate link below to see if it works any better (there is an ad that you have to watch at the front of this one but it might be worth it if it works for you)…..
I think this is the best interview so far (the title above says it all). Great performances by Jefferson Airplane, Joni Mitchell, and Stephen Stills and some really great discussions during the interview part of the show. As always, let me know what you think!
