The Republican Right Wing Extremist Tea Party continues to hold the US Government hostage. No one knows what is going to happen next (my prediction). As long as we maintain a sense of humor about this absurd situation I think we will have a fighting chance so…….
OK…..maybe this one is too close to the truth to be funny!
So…..this is my first post in the new series that I promo’ed a few days ago. Most of you probably assumed that the series would be focused just on guitar riffs but when you listen to the riff posted below you can tell that I won’t be afraid to mix things up. You can expect plenty of opening guitar riffs but you can also expect bass riffs, drum riffs, synth riffs, etc.
This opening riff is one of my all time favorites. It is unbelievably soulful and sets the stage for the rest of the song. The riff opens the song, is revisited in the middle, closes the song, and, in the process, totally defines the song. If I hear just the opening note I am instantly transported back to 1976 when I was lucky enough to see the band play this song live. It was amazing…….
It’s your turn now….be the first to post a comment with the name of the song and the group and I will recognize your superior musical knowledge when I post about the song in a couple of days. This will be a lot more fun if you join in so start commenting.
Here’s a tidbit about the riff that I think you’ll enjoy. The sax player in the song was inspired to play the riff when he was told……
……..think about it like this: You’re in New York City, on the Bowery. It’s 3 a.m. You’re under a streetlamp. There’s a light mist coming down. You’re all by yourself. Show me what that sounds like.
He absolutely nailed it!
The Chi-Lites were a Chicago based group as you might have guess from their group name. They initially formed in the late 1950 but didn’t really hit the big time until the early to mid-1970 where they were pure gold for Brunswick Records. Have You Seen Her started their run of hits in late 1971 and here is a great performance of it from the wonderful Soul Train show…….
Have you seen her was quickly followed up by their number one hit single Oh Girl. I personally think the lead vocal on this song is one of the best ever! Let me know what you think…..
Yes….I know that Paul Young did a successful cover of this song and that many of you may be more familiar with that cover version than you are with the original. As a bonus, here is Paul’s cover version.
Now that you have listened to both versions, I am betting that you will agree with me that while Paul does a nice job his version……it is not match for the original!
The Beatles were over and Paul was out singing with his wife Linda who had no musical talent…..disaster!
But guess what….Paul was a happy man, enjoying his life. loving his wife, raising his family, and still making music that puts most of the crap that is out today to shame. Here is some great rare footage and interviews from those days to prove the point. I think you will really enjoy this!
If you long for the days of Paul McCartney and Wings stay tuned on Sunday and Monday for a great Wings show and TV Special. The 70s……Paul was young, I was young, and all was well with the world!
Pete is an amazing composer, a brilliant musician, AND an amazing interview. He always has something intelligent to say and I always feel like I learn something when listening to him. He never hesitates to speak his mind which is quite refreshing these days but be aware that his stated position almost always change over time. Bottom line…..he is always entertaining.
I have two interview offerings for you today. Up first a very young Pete talks about Tommy…….
(Pete Talks About Tommy)
Next up is an interview of an older Pete by Murray Lerner who captured the Who live at the Isle of Wright festival in 1970. The interview is intermixed with Who footage which makes for an interesting viewing and listening experience.
Part 1 of 5
Part 2 of 5
Part 3 of 5
Part 4 of 5
Part 5 of 5
Stay tuned on Sunday when I will bring you the Who live at the Isle of Wright festival. Really good stuff!
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!
I don’t talk to much about Country Music in this Blog but I have to comment on the passing of George Jones this weekend. Without a doubt George was the greatest country singer of all time. I can’t think of any better way honor his passing than this great performance of He Stopped Loving Her Today, the song he will always be remembered for……
If you listened to this song and didn’t have a tear in your eye by the end you don’t have a heart!
So……back on March 18th I did a Two’Fer Tuesday post about 10cc and challenged the readers to post a comment explaining the origin of the groups name. No one…..let me repeat….No one responded 😦
Undaunted, I am throwing down the Pop Quiz gauntlet again!
Yesterday i posted about The Lovin Spoonful and, as it turns out, the origin of their name is closely related to the origin of the name for 10cc. Your challenge is to be the first to post a comment explaining how the two names are related.
Ready….set….comment…. Come on, I know you can do it!
This is a great BBC documentary that makes a nice companion piece for our Southern California series from last year. Here is what the BBC website has to say about it….
Documentary looking at the music and mythology of a golden era in Californian culture, and telling the story of how Los Angeles changed from a kooky backwater in the early 1960s to become the artistic and industrial hub of the American music industry by the end of the 1970s.
Alongside extensive and never before seen archive footage, the programme features comprehensive first-hand accounts of the key figures including musicians (David Crosby, Graham Nash, J. D. Souther, Bernie Leadon and Bonnie Raitt, music industry bosses (David Geffen, Jac Holzman, Ron Stone and Peter Asher) and legendary LA scenesters including Henry Diltz, Pamela Des Barres and Ned Doheny.
The film explores how the socially-conscious folk rock of young hippies with acoustic guitars was transformed into the coked-out stadium excess of the late 1970s and the biggest selling album of all time.
I think you will like this one! Let me know what you think………
