James Gang - The Midnight Man

Joe Walsh playing some downright amazing guitar, back home in Cleveland, circa 1971. Lovely last chorus vocal is by Mary Sterpka.

Count Five - Psychotic Reaction

Over, Under, Sideways, Down

Help on the Way

Merry Christmas Everybody

Merry Christmas Everybody - Slade

Got music?

Haven't had as much time for blogging, since its the holidaze.




But I have been storing up songs, so you're in luck.

~*~



First, a song about Daisy's childhood. Yes, this is about MY MOTHER, and all those other mouthy beehive-hairdo white trash ladies of the 60s ... I miss yall so much. (And especially during the holidays, I always miss my mama terribly.)

In my lifetime, I have gone from embarrassment over this song (amazingly accurate, thought the 12-year-old me, how did Tom T. Hall KNOW THIS ABOUT US??????), to giggling-glee and pride, to tearful nostalgia. Its from another time. This could never happen now.

But hey, really: it used to happen. My mother was a bit more colorful in her language than ole Tom's lyrics could be in 1968.

I included a version with the lyrics:

Jeannie C. Riley - Harper Valley PTA



~*~

Speaking of nostalgia, any comments I attempt on this one, would probably degenerate into blubbering... so I won't.

Cassidy - Grateful Dead



~*~

A sentiment I have often had, about people I love... it was such a surprise to hear the same feelings come from a man.

Delightful, sweet and very honest.

I wish I was your mother - Mott the Hoople



~*~

For you headbanging kidz, I remembered to bring the punk.

This song comes highly recommended; it once destroyed one of my friend's car speakers.

New Rose - The Damned



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Next up, a song about my husband's hometown:

Little Feat - Oh Atlanta



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Big finish!

Despite copious promises, I never have updated my old INSTRUMENTALS post, which continues to get hits from desperate music-lovers looking for the names of ancient, wordless tunes ... and so, as a consolation prize, here is a stunning instrumental tune you have probably heard many, many times, done with consummate class and finesse by Jeff Beck.

My very favorite version of the jazz classic first written and recorded by Charles Mingus in 1959.

Goodbye Pork Pie Hat - Jeff Beck

Blood, Sweat and Tears

I recently realized I had never posted any songs by BS&T (as they used to be called, and everyone knew the acronym too). These are two songs you won't hear on the oldies radio stations.

I never noticed there are (gasp) VIOLINS in this song. Sung and co-written by Al Kooper, who would soon depart the band, I just adored this record and listened to it every single day when I was about 13 years old. Which is probably why I never noticed the violins. The melody is lovely!

I Can't Quit Her - Blood, Sweat and Tears



And this is the Blood, Sweat and Tears most of you will remember; BEAUTIFUL BIG BRASS NOISE, headed up by singer David Clayton-Thomas.

Go Down Gamblin - Blood, Sweat and Tears

Too late for Tuesday Tunes

I woke up and thought, I'm wide awake, I'm not sleeping... and then I thought, wait, what song is that?

BAD - U2



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... which of course, made me think of ...

I'm only sleeping - Beatles



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And finally, when you sleep, you get...

Dreams - Allman Brothers Band



... which I might have posted here before?

That last song is so intense for me as I age, I can barely listen to it.

After so many years, it remains a masterpiece. Duane was amazing.

Give Ireland back to the Irish

Give Ireland back to the Irish - Paul McCartney



Unfortunately, too cold and rainy to show my tattoo today, or I sure would. (It got me into the St Patrick's section of the newspaper one year!) So I will show it to yall instead. Apparently, it is considered extremely uncool that you can see my BODY HAIR in this photo. (gasp) Sorry, yall!

But I daresay, anybody made nervous by pale yellow or red body hair probably should avoid Ireland.

Happy St Patrick's Day everyone! :)

Sunday music

Why Does Love Got to be So Sad? - Derek and the Dominos



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Namesake of this blog, Uncle Dave's Dead Air, featured this gem last week:

The Other Side Of This Life - Jefferson Airplane



~*~

Hope you are all having a lovely sabbath too!

PS: Map of where the week starts, worldwide. (that's just the sort of Tumblr-nonsense I end up lost in, for alarmingly long periods.)

Tuesday Tunes

This 53-year-old tune is somewhat spooky and weird. I heard it on late-night TV and scribbled down the title to share with you all. The verses remind me of another song (can't put my finger on which one, though, faster tempo) and the vocalized harmonies ending the chorus sound especially familiar.

I am sure both were mined for some later rock song(s), so if you can recognize the melodies, let me know. Driving me crazy.

Green Fields - Brothers Four (1960)



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Early techno brilliance from the celebrated producer of the Beatles' ABBEY ROAD, as well as Pink Floyd's DARK SIDE OF THE MOON.

I Robot - Alan Parsons Project (1977)



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He really needs NO introduction.

Rebel Music - Bob Marley and the Wailers (1974)

Monday Music

I miss my mama, who loved this song. I think she identified with the naughty girl in the song.

Warning: its PURE country, which means its pretty sexist. None of this nicey-nice American Idol-assimilated stuff!

Joe Maphis was very talented in the Chet Atkins-style, "thumb-picking guitar" that my stepfather also specialized in. (also described HERE) My parents also played this song in their band.

Nostalgic.

~*~

Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (And Loud Loud Music) - Joe Maphis (1953)



~*~

My tags tell me I've never blogged a Dire Straits song! Really?! ((shocked expression)) Corrected forthwith!

This is my favorite Dire Straits song. I love it whole bunches and have since I was 21 years old.


Water of Love - Dire Straits (1978)

Lou Reed 1942-2013

After hearing the news today, I find I am still not able to rationally discuss the impact of Lou Reed on my life.

I remember someone once remarked that the Velvet Underground only had about 200 fans, "but every one of them, started a band." And so, the legend was born; Lou was a legend to other legends. It is hard to describe the impact his work had on those of us who felt marginalized, those of us on the outside.

In so many ways, you had to be there.

I got a tattoo inspired by Lou. Early in recovery, I decided I did not want to be that heartless junkie in the middle-section of Street Hassle, who declares he won't wear his heart on his sleeve, will not become emotional when faced with the death of a stranger.

I knew that I did want to be that person, and that desire, that hope, is what prompted me to save my own life, to search for something better.

I do want to wear my heart on my sleeve. And so I got tattoo of a heart there, to remind me.

Goodbye dear friend. It hurts so much to lose you.

~*~



Some people got no choice
and they can never find a voice
To talk with, that they can even call their own
So the first thing that they see
That allows them the right to be
Well, they follow it.

You know, its called
Bad luck.



(from Street Hassle by Lou Reed)

~*~

We will be discussing Lou Reed's life and work on the radio show tomorrow.

And I hope to play this:

Rock and Roll - Velvet Underground



You know her life was saved by rock and roll.

~*~

Edit and Correction, from the New York Times, it was Brian Eno who said it, and here is their direct quote:

The composer Brian Eno, in an often-quoted interview from 1982, suggested that if the [The Velvet Underground]’s first record sold only 30,000 records during its first five years — a figure probably lower than the reality — “everyone who bought one of those 30,000 copies started a band.”

~*~

EDIT AGAIN 10/28/2013: I was really surprised to find this on YouTube, because, well, it just defies description. It's an 8-minute (spoken) story, and ... to say more is to ruin it. (Just one thing: if you start listening, please continue to the end.)

However, I don't mind telling you, I know the whole thing by heart and can recite it verbatim from memory: "Waldo Jeffers had reached his limit..."

I have never before admitted that out loud. But there it is.

The Gift - Velvet Underground



PS: Happy Halloween! ;)

Eyes of the World

Eyes of the World - Grateful Dead (studio version)



According to the invaluable ANNOTATED GRATEFUL DEAD (linked above), by way of Deadhead Scott Robertson:

"You are the eyes of the world" is a translation of the noted Buddhist practitioner Longchenpa's practical guide to the tantra (The Jewel Ship: A Guide to the Meaning of Pure and Total Presence, the Creative Energy of the Universe, byang chub kyi sems kun byed rgyal po'i don khrid din chen sgru bo). It was translated by Kennard Lipman and Merrill Peterson and published by Lotsawa of Novato, CA. I believe the change in name occurred after the last publication date of 1987. The song itself obviously held importance for the folks involved in its production for part of [Robert] Hunter's lyrics are printed opposite the title page. After reading the text the relationship becomes very clear since it instructs the reader how to experience pure presence. How many times at a show did I feel that...

I chose the studio version for the multiple sweet, sublime guitar solos. Just like a mountain breeze.

Thursday tunes

A variety of old tunes, excavated from Daisy's dusty memory vaults.


Listen to this woman's pipes! Outstanding! This is from Melba Moore's Tony-award winning performance in the musical "Purlie" in 1970. She was also in the famous hippie musical HAIR (both stage and movie versions). I am guessing this is from the TV broadcast of the Tony Awards, since this is also the year she won the Tony.

I Got Love - Melba Moore



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Listen to this woman's pipes! Outstanding! From the TV special "A Concert Behind Prison Walls" hosted by Johnny Cash, taped in 1976 in the Tennessee State Prison, and first broadcast in 1977. (On piano is Andrew Gold, writer of "Thank you for being a friend"--which you've heard at the beginning of every "Golden Girls" episode.) I do passionately love this weepy ballad, but I confess, I associate it with too much drinking. I'm sure I'm not the only one! (Written by Libby Titus and Eric Kaz.)

Love has no pride - Linda Ronstadt



~*~

Nice 70s classic rock anthem from Canadian band April Wine.

Roller - April Wine



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Decades ago, I heard that this extraordinary song was written by "a blind guy dressed like a Viking, who walks around New York reciting his poems"--which is not something you readily forget. Like many legends, it turned out to be true; his name was Moondog, and a documentary about his life titled "The Viking of 6th Avenue" is currently in production. I can't wait to see it.

In the meantime, enjoy:

All Is Loneliness - Janis Joplin with Big Brother and the Holding Company



~*~

Even all the awful violins cannot ruin this lovely 60s melody from Jimmy Webb, sang beautifully by Glen Campbell. (He also plays the lovely guitar break, showing off his celebrated session-musician chops.)

Wichita Lineman - Glen Campbell

Cadillacs

Black Cadillac - Lightnin Hopkins



~*~

Pink Cadillac - Bruce Springsteen



Cadillac Ranch - Bruce Springsteen



~*~

Freeway of Love (the Pink Cadillac Mix) - Aretha Franklin



~*~

Brand New Cadillac - The Clash



~*~

My great-uncle Kenneth, may his soul rest in peace, had a purple Cadillac.

Really.

Tuesday Tunes

I can't decide between the studio and live versions of Todd Rundgren's "Couldn't I just tell you"--so here are both of em. :)

I saw Todd Rundgren twice in the 70s (once at the infamous Legend Valley Jam) and this lovely tune was the definite high point for me on both occasions.

Couldn't I just tell you - Todd Rundgren (studio version from Something/Anything, 1972)



Couldn't I just tell you - Todd Rundgren (live at the Bottom Line, 5/14/78)



~*~

This video contains lots of nice vintage shots of Stills' entire career... I was attempting to find the heartbreakingly-sublime acoustic version of "Singin Call" by itself, but could only find these two songs joined as a duo. Looks like I'll have to settle for that!

"Singin Call" starts at approx the 4 minute mark, if you want to skip ahead.

You know you got to run/Singin Call - Stephen Stills (1973)

Tuesday Tunes

Bad Sneakers - Steely Dan



~*~

It's a long instrumental, but its real purty, too. ("Richard Betts pickin on that red guitar!") Relax, breathe, and visualize yourself right next to a waterfall.

It won't be hard to imagine at all.

High Falls - Allman Brothers Band



~*~

I've heard this one a lot on this blog's namesake, the indispensable Uncle Dave's Dead Air. GREAT STUFF!

Ride Mighty High - Jerry Garcia Band

Sherry Darling

This is what we used to call a "rave-up"--after much investigation, I still can't find out where it was recorded, but it sounds like it was performed live in some South Jersey saloon. The song was originally recorded for "Darkness on the Edge of Town"--but ended up on the subsequent album "The River" instead. The real puzzle is why someone didn't release it as a single and make trillions of dollars.

I challenge you to name the last rock song you heard in which a guy complains that he has to take his girlfriend's mom to the unemployment office and she's talking too much. Ahhh, working class Bruce, that is one reason we loved him.

Once upon a time, I played this tune every single day before I went to work ... it was as good as coffee. :)


Sherry Darling - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

Link Wray

Rumble - Link Wray (1958)



Visuals are from The Delicate Delinquent. (1957)

~*~

I'm not sure when the following tunes were recorded.

Raunchy - Link Wray




The Earth is Crying - Link Wray