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Post by razorbacker on Dec 18, 2023 12:01:29 GMT
The Electric Prunes are a psychedelic rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1965. Evidently, they are still out there with original member vocalist & guitar player James Lowe. The band originated from a surf rock-influenced garage rock group, the Sanctions, in 1965. The Sanctions, which included James Lowe (vocals, guitar), Mark Tulin (bass guitar), Ken Williams (lead guitar), and Michael "Quint" Weakley (drums). Over the years they have had a lot of members. Even Kenny Loggins was a member in 1968… During their career they have released 9 studio albums with the most recent one coming in 2014. This song comes from their self – titled debut from 1967. It landed at #113 & included both of their top 40 hits. I Had To Much To Dream Last Night hit #11 & Get Me To The World On Time got to 27. This song goes all the way back to 1935 when it was introduced by Al Jolson in the Broadway Musical Go Into Your Dance. About A Quarter To Nine by The Electric Prunes
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Post by razorbacker on Dec 18, 2023 18:32:41 GMT
A lot of folks have recorded this song. Today we hear the 1st & probably one of the more unusual examples.
Al Green, is a singer, songwriter, pastor and record producer from Forrest City, Arkansas. He will be 78 next April.
He is best known for recording a series of soul hit singles in the early 1970s, including "Take Me to the River", "Tired of Being Alone", "I'm Still in Love with You", "Love and Happiness", and his signature song, "Let's Stay Together". After his girlfriend died by suicide, he became an ordained pastor and turned to gospel music.
Al has been nominated for 21 Grammy Awards, winning 11, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. "Let's Stay Together" and "Take Me To the River" have both been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. In 2004, he was inducted into the Gospel Music Association's Gospel Music Hall of Fame. That same year, he was inducted into The Songwriters Hall of Fame.
This song comes from his 6th studio album. It was called Call Me & it came out in 1973. The album got to #10 on the Top 200 & to #1 on R&B album chart. The album contained 3 top 10 singles: "You Ought to Be With Me," #3 "Here I Am (Come and Take Me)" #10 and "Call Me (Come Back Home) #10."
The song linked to here was written by Willie Nelson & was recorded for the 1st time in 1961 by Billy Walker.
Funny How Time Slips Away by Al Green
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Post by razorbacker on Dec 19, 2023 12:48:01 GMT
Robin Trower is an English rock guitarist, songwriter from Catford, London. He will be 79 next March.
Prior to launching his solo career he had been a member of Procol Harum between 1967 & 1971.
During his career he was a part of 6 albums before departing Procol Harum, & then he returned to be a part of 2 more in the mid 90’s. He has also released 27 solo efforts with the most recent one happening earlier this year. The have been multiple Live albums, many compilations & 5 albums he recorded with Jack Bruce & 3 with Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music.
This song comes from Bridge of Sighs. It was his 2nd solo album & was released in 1974. The album was his commercial breakthrough as a solo artist. Songs such as "Bridge of Sighs", "Too Rolling Stoned", "Day of the Eagle" and "Little Bit of Sympathy" became live concert staples. The album landed at #7 in the US.
The album was produced by organist Matthew Fisher, formerly his bandmate in Procol Harum. Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick was the sound engineer. Regarding the title of the album: In an interview with Guitar World, Robin said that he had had the first line of the song for years and one day saw some sport pages which listed a racehorse called Bridge of Sighs, which he thought would be a great title.
Other than Robin on guitar, we hear James Dewar – bass & vocals, & Reg Isidore – drums.
About To Begin by Robin Trower
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Post by razorbacker on Dec 19, 2023 18:54:48 GMT
I have 14 songs with this title, some of them may be the same song, some of them may be different, but we will see how it plays out over time as we hear the 1st one today.
Sam Cooke, was a singer/songwriter from Clarksdale, Mississippi. He was shot and killed by the manager of a motel in Los Angeles in 1964. After an inquest and investigation, the courts ruled his death to be a justifiable homicide. His family has since questioned the circumstances of his death. He was just 33.
In 1986, he was inducted as a charter member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 1987, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 1989 he was inducted a second time to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when his original group, the Soul Stirrers, were inducted. In 2013, he was inducted into the National Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, at Cleveland State University. He has also been inducted into the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame & in 2023, he was named the third "Greatest Singer of All Time" by Rolling Stone.
His catalog consists of 14 studio albums, 2 live albums, 49 singles, 13 compilations and 2 box sets. All totaled he had 29 Top 40 singles as well as 20 singles in the Top Ten of Billboard's Black Singles chart.
This song was included on his Ain’t That Good News album. It was his final studio album, it was released in 1964. The album got to #34. It included the hit singles Another Saturday Night #10, Ain’t That Good News #11, the song which is liked to here went to #11 & was backed with The Tennessee Waltz which charted at #35 & they closed out the era with the classic, A Change Is Gonna Come which charted at #31 & was his 1st posthumous hit single.
Sam wrote the song himself, & the backing musicians are John Ewing (trombone), Edward Hall (drums and percussion), John Pisano (guitar), Clifton White (guitar) and Johnnie Taylor (back-up vocals).
Good Times by Sam Cooke
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Post by razorbacker on Dec 20, 2023 14:30:38 GMT
Pulp is an English rock band formed in Sheffield in 1978.
At their critical and commercial peak, the band consisted of Jarvis Cocker (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Russell Senior (guitar, violin), Candida Doyle (keyboards), Nick Banks (drums, percussion), Steve Mackey (bass) and Mark Webber (guitar, keyboards).
The band has separated & re – formed multiple times in the past, but they seem to be back at it again.
They have been nominated for & won multiple awards across the globe, but so far, The Grammy Awards have evaded them.
This song was included on His 'n' Hers. It was their 4th studio album & was released on 18 April 1994. It was their 1st charting album landing at #9 on the UK Albums Chart, and was nominated for the 1994 Mercury Music Prize. The album has been certified Gold in the UK. They have never charted an album nor a single here in the states.
This album includes all the original members.
Acrylic Afternoons by Pulp
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Post by razorbacker on Dec 20, 2023 20:09:04 GMT
Yesterday we heard the 1st song in a series about the Good Times. Well, the Hard Times have been written about a lot as well.
Seinabo Sey is a Swedish singer and songwriter from Stockholm. She turned 33 in October.
She won the 2014 breakthrough artist of the year in Sweden & Soul R&B Artist of the year in 2015.
This song comes from Pretend. It was her debut studio album & was released on 23 October 2015. The album features the singles "Younger", "Hard Time" and "Pretend". She released her 3rd & most recent album earlier this year.
Her single Younger was an international hit & charted at #49 on the US Dance Chart, her only chart hit here, so far.
Hard Time by Seinabo Sey
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Post by razorbacker on Dec 22, 2023 16:48:22 GMT
I had had internet connections issues. It seems to be back as of now. I know you didn't miss me, but maybe I'll have something new this afternoon.
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Post by razorbacker on Dec 22, 2023 18:04:05 GMT
This might just qualify for my personal theme song.
Even though the album Sunflower came out in 1970, it was already their 11th studio album. Unfortunately it sold poorly, getting only to #151 on the top 200 and became their lowest-charting album to that point.
There are tons of different musicians playing on this album with all the usual Wrecking Crew contingent & even Daryl Dragon of The Captain & Tenille plays organ & Carnie Wilson provides backing vocals. Dragon also became part of the touring contingent in support of the album.
The song linked to here was the 1st single released & peaked at number 64. DJs generally refused to play the song on the radio. According to band promoter Fred Vail, WFIL program director Jay Cook refused to play the song even after "telling me how great the Beach Boys are and how great Brian is." Another DJ reportedly stated that the Beach Boys "aren't hip anymore".
There were 3 subsequent singles to be released & none of them charted. Despite all that, the album got sterling reviews & was voted number 380 in Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2003).
Add Some Music To Your Day by The Beach Boys
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Post by razorbacker on Dec 23, 2023 12:09:07 GMT
Sam Salter was an R&B singer/songwriter from LA. He died in 2021 at the age of 46.
He seems to have had much more success as a songwriter than as a recording artist. His songs have been recorded by 98 Degrees, Aaron Skyy, Kandi Burruss, Boyz II Men and Sisqó.
During his career he released just 3 albums with very little success. This song was his 1st single from his debut album. The album was called It’s On Tonight & was released in 1997. The song landed at #19 on the R&B chart & #52 on the Hot 100. The album hit #41 on the R&B chart & #199 on the top 200. It was the only one of his albums to actually chart, & the single was his highest charting hit.
After 12 Before 6 by Sam Salter
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Post by razorbacker on Dec 23, 2023 18:36:39 GMT
Elvin Bishop is a blues and rock singer, guitarist, bandleader, and songwriter from Glendale, California. Elvin is still rockin & turned 81 in October.
In 1963, he met harmonica player Paul Butterfield in the neighborhood of Hyde Park, joined Butterfield's blues band, and remained with them for five years. As an original member of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015. He was also inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in his own right in 2016 & into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame in 1998.
So far, a Grammy Award has not been in the cards for him. In 2017 his album Elvin Bishop's Big Fun Trio received a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album but he lost out to The Rolling Stones for Blue and Lonesome.
Then in 2021, his album with Charlie Musselwhite, 100 Years of Blues, received a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album. This time the winner was Cedric Burnside for his album I Be Trying.
During his career he has released 22 solo studio albums with the most recent one coming in 2020. This song was included on Struttin My Stuff. It was his 6th studio album & his most successful. The album charted at #18 & also included his biggest hit single, Fooled Around & Fell In Love which charted at #3.
Have A Good Time by Elvin Bishop
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Post by Kao on Dec 24, 2023 2:32:58 GMT
I found out that Trent Reznor of NIN produced David Bowie's Earthling album and I've had it on repeat for a few weeks now, lol. This song is a particular favorite:
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Post by razorbacker on Dec 24, 2023 11:58:32 GMT
Merry Clayton is a soul and gospel singer from New Orleans. We can wish her a Happy Birthday as she turns 78 tomorrow on Christmas.
She has had an interesting career in which she contributed vocals to numerous tracks and worked with many major recording artists for decades, including a duet with Mick Jagger on the Rolling Stones song "Gimme Shelter". Her voice is also heard as a backing singer on songs by Pearl Bailey, Phil Ochs, Burt Bacharach, Tom Jones, Joe Cocker, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, Tori Amos and on several tracks from Neil Young's debut album. Which led to her being prominently featured in 20 Feet from Stardom, the Oscar-winning documentary about background singers and their contributions to the music industry.
Going way back, her 1st appearance on record came in 1962, at the age of 14 when she sang on "Who Can I Count On?" as a duet partner with Bobby Darin.
During her career she has been able to release 7 albums on her own with the most recent one happening in 2021. There was a 15 year break between #5 & 6 & a further 27 years between #6 & 7. This song comes from her self titled 3rd studio album released in 1971. It was her highest charting album landing at 180 on the Top 200 & #36 on the R&B & Soul Charts.
The song was written by Carole King who also adds help on the keyboards.
After All This Time by Merry Clayton
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Post by razorbacker on Dec 24, 2023 18:01:05 GMT
The Trammps are a disco and soul band from Philadelphia. The group has had tons of different members since their beginning in 1972, but they are still active today.
Their single "Disco Inferno" (1976), was included on the Grammy Award-winning Saturday Night Fever: The Original Movie Sound Track in 1977. The song hit #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 1978. On September 19, 2005, it was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame at a ceremony held in New York.
During their career they have released 9 studio albums, multiple compilations & 43 singles. This song was a part of the The Legendary Zing Album. It was their 2nd studio album & was released in 1975. The album consists of tracks recorded in the early 1970s with the Philadelphia Soul sound. The album features the singles "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart", which peaked at No. 17 on the Hot Soul Singles chart and No. 64 on the Billboard Hot 100, "Pray All You Sinners", which peaked at #34 on the Hot Soul Singles chart, and the song linked to here, which peaked at No. 10 on the Hot Soul Singles chart and No. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Hold Back The Night by The Trammps
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Post by razorbacker on Dec 25, 2023 12:57:00 GMT
Merry Christmas to each & everyone that stops by here once in a while. My gift to you is music. You can choose to unwrap it or not, but the music keeps playing. Little Richard was a singer, pianist, and songwriter from Macon, Georgia. He died at the age of 87 in 2020 from a cause related to bone cancer. His full real name was Richard Wayne Penniman.
Richard has been described as the "Architect of Rock and Roll". His most celebrated music, characterized by frenetic piano playing, pounding back beat and powerful raspy vocals, laid the foundation for rock and roll. James Brown and others credited him and his mid-1950s backing band, The Upsetters, as the first to put funk in the rock beat.
Even the Beatles opened for him on some tour dates.
In 2007, a panel of recording artists voted "Tutti Frutti" number one on Mojo's Top 100 Records That Changed The World, hailing the recording as "the sound of the birth of rock and roll". The recording was inducted to the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry in 2010.
He never won a Grammy, but he did receive the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993.
There is almost no musical Hall Of Fame he has not been installed into. He was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the initial class in 1986, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1984, the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003, the Apollo Theater Hall of Fame in 2006, the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2009, & into the Blues Hall of Fame & the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2015.
This song was included on his 1959 album called The Fabulous Little Richard. The song was released as a “B” side to a single called Shake A Hand, neither side charted.
The album marked the end of his rock & roll journey as he departed & turned to Gospel Music. He claimed to had received a vision of a plane on fire, and took it as a sign from God to leave showbusiness.
All Night Long by Little Richard
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Post by razorbacker on Dec 25, 2023 17:09:16 GMT
Seems like Christmas is the day to go back & hear a couple of the founding fathers of Rock & Soul. From Little Richard to Wicked Wilson Pickett.
Wilson Pickett was a singer and songwriter from Prattville, Alabama. He died in 2006, as a result of a heart attack, he was just shy of his 65th birthday.
Wilson was a major figure in the development of soul music. He had over 50 hits on the R&B charts, many of which crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.
He was nominated for Grammy Awards 5 different times, but didn’t win any of them.
Other than the already mentioned charting singles he also released 21 studio albums & has been a part of multiple compilations.
This song was included on his 1967 album, The Sound of Wilson Pickett. The album was recorded at the famous FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Musicians accompanying him on the album were all a part of the original edition of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, or as they became known, The Swampers. They were Spooner Oldham on keyboards, Chips Moman lead guitar, Jimmy Johnson rhythm guitar, Tommy Cogbill bass, & Roger Hawkins drums. The songs these guys played on through the years goes on & on & a lot of them are legendary.
Spooner Oldham even co- wrote the song along with Dan Penn who was a part of writing many huge hit singles like The Dark End Of The Street, I’m You Puppet, Do Right Woman, Do Right Man, & Cry Like A Baby & many others.
I Need A Lot Of Loving Every Day by Wilson Pickett
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Post by razorbacker on Dec 26, 2023 11:33:09 GMT
I reckon I missed the boat by not posting this song yesterday, but we’re still in the season & everyone has to eventually answer the questions these guys are asking, that's why I provided a video with the lyrics.
Black Sabbath was an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1968.
The band started with vocalist Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward. They are often cited as pioneers of heavy metal music.
Ozzy’s excessive substance abuse led to his firing in 1979 & at that point the membership of the band seemed to be in constant flux. During all their years & all their changes, Tony Iommi was the only constant member.
Black Sabbath, together with Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, have been referred to as the "unholy trinity of British hard rock and heavy metal in the early to mid-seventies". They were ranked by MTV as the "Greatest Metal Band of All Time" and placed second on VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock" list.
The band was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. They have won two Grammy Awards and in 2019 they received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
This song was included on their 3rd studio album, Master Of Reality, released in 1971. The album charted at #8 on the US Billboard 200 & has been certified double platinum.
The song’s lyrics were written by Geezer Butler while the music was written by Tony Iommi. Geezer was brought up strictly Catholic. At the time, some religious and conservative groups viewed them as Satanists (which they had consistently denied) due to their dark sound, image and lyrics, with occultism and horror as a recurring theme.
After Forever by Black Sabbath
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Post by razorbacker on Dec 26, 2023 18:18:54 GMT
We began the day with a British band, we may as well end with another.
Ten Years After is a blues rock group from Nottingham. The band began in 1966 & are still operating today. Unlike so many other long lasting entities, they have had very little turnover in membership.
The band began with Alvin Lee, Leo Lyons, Chick Churchill & Ric Lee, (no relation to Alvin). Ric Lee on drums & Chick Churchill on keyboards are still with the band. Lead guitarist, vocalist & main songwriter Alvin Lee, passed away in 2013 at the age of 68. Bassist Leo Lyons is now 80 but no longer with the band.
The band has released 12 studio albums, 10 Live albums & 27 singles. This song comes from Ssssh, it was their 3rd studio album & came out in 1969. It charted at #20 in the US.
The album was released in June, but 1969 as a whole was a big year for them & launched their careers into a higher orbit. In July 1969, they appeared at the 1st of the Newport Jazz Festivals that rock bands were invited to. On 26 and 27 July, it was on to the Seattle Pop Festival held at Gold Creek Park. On 17 August, they had their major breakthrough appearance at the Woodstock Festival; their rendition of "I'm Going Home" with Alvin Lee as lead singer/lead guitarist was featured in both the film and soundtrack album and increased the group's popularity.
I Woke Up This Morning by Ten Years After
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Post by razorbacker on Dec 27, 2023 12:41:26 GMT
The Mary Jane Girls were a female R&B/Hip Hop group formed in LA in 1983.
The members were Joanne "JoJo" McDuffie (who sings lead on the linked to song), Cheryl Ann "Cheri" Bailey, Candice "Candi" Ghant, Kimberly "Maxi" Wuletich, & Yvette "Corvette" Marine.
All of them were protégées of Rick James & also a part of his backing band, the Stone City Band. In their live performances, they were also backed by the Stone City Band.
The group was inducted into the Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2019.
This song comes from their self - titled debut album released in 1983. The album peaked at #56 on the top 200 but got to #6 on the Top R&B albums chart. Rick James produced the album, wrote all the songs & played guitar, synthesizer, bass, drums, percussion, sitar, & timpani.
This song was released as a single & came in at #11 on the R&B chart & #8 on the Dance chart. The song was later included in the soundtrack of the 2002 video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and "Boys". The sax solo is played by Danny LeMelle & the bass comes from Alan McGrier.
All Night long by The Mary Jane Girls
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Post by razorbacker on Dec 27, 2023 18:37:18 GMT
Count Basie introduced several generations of listeners to the Big Band sound and left an influential catalog. In his autobiography, he wrote, "I think the band can really swing when it swings easy, when it can just play along like you are cutting butter."
He also worked with many famous, or soon to be famous vocalists. Jimmy Rushing in the late 1930s. Joe Williams in 1956 & 57. Billy Eckstine in 1959. Ella Fitzgerald made some memorable recordings with Basie, including the 1963 album Ella and Basie!.
Frank Sinatra recorded for the first time with Basie in 1962. Basie also recorded with Tony Bennett in the late 1950s & they toured together including a date at Carnegie Hall. He also recorded with Sammy Davis Jr., Bing Crosby, and Sarah Vaughan. But one of his biggest regrets was never recording with Louis Armstrong, though they shared the same bill several times.
On this song we hear Joe Williams. During his career he sang with big bands such as the Count Basie Orchestra and the Lionel Hampton Orchestra and with his combos. He toured with Coleman Hawkins & sang with Red Saunders at the Club DeLisa in Chicago in 1945, and in 1946 was in New York with Andy Kirk.
This song comes from an album that Count & Joe did together back in 1955 called Count Basie Swings, Joe Williams Sings
In The Evening When The Sun Goes Down by Count Basie & Joe Williams
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Post by razorbacker on Dec 28, 2023 12:41:09 GMT
Erskine Hawkins was a trumpeter and big band leader from Birmingham, Alabama. He was dubbed "The 20th Century Gabriel". He died at his home in 1993, at the age of 79.
He is best remembered for composing the jazz standard "Tuxedo Junction" (1939) with saxophonist and arranger Bill Johnson. The song became a hit during World War II, rising to No. 7 nationally and to No. 1 nationally ( by the Glenn Miller Orchestra). It was his biggest pop hit, but he had multiple top 5 hits on the R&B chart.
In the late 1930s his Orchestra was one of the house bands at the Savoy Ballroom. They alternated with the Chick Webb band, and often used "Tuxedo Junction" as their sign-off song before the next band would take the stage. They also engaged in "battles of the bands" with such bandleaders as Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, and Lionel Hampton.
In 1978, Erskine became one of the first five artists inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame & in 1989, he was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.
He had multiple Top 40 Pop & R&B hits between the years of 1936 & 1950. This song was released as a single in 1946 & landed at #3 on the R&B Chart. It was also included on an album released in 2003 called Erskine Hawkins Jukebox Hits 1940-1950.
After Hours by Erskine Hawkins
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Post by razorbacker on Dec 28, 2023 18:39:17 GMT
The Doors formed in Los Angeles in 1965, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger, and drummer John Densmore. Jim Morrison died in Paris in 1971 at the age of 27. Ray Manzarek passed in Germany in 2013, he was 74. Robby Kreiger is still with us & will turn 78 in 2 weeks. John Densmore is also still alive & turned 79 just 3 weeks ago.
The band took its name from the title of Aldous Huxley's book The Doors of Perception.
They have been honored many times over the years:
They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. "Light My Fire" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame under the category Rock (track) in 1998. Their self-titled album' was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame under the category Rock (Album) in 2002, the album was also honored when the Library of Congress selected it for inclusion in the National Recording Registry based on its cultural, artistic or historical significance in 2015. The band received a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement in 2007. "Riders on the Storm" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame under the category Rock (track) in 2010.
During their career they released 9 studio albums & 21 singles. This song was included on Morrison Hotel. It was their 5th studio album & was released on February 9, 1970. The album got to #4 & has been certified Platinum. They released just 1 single from the album, You Make Me Real, which peaked at #50, the B side was called Roadhouse Blues which became pretty popular on its own.
Indian Summer by The Doors
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Post by razorbacker on Dec 29, 2023 12:23:19 GMT
Rainbow is a rock band formed in London and Los Angeles in 1975 by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. The band was established in the aftermath of Blackmore's first departure from Deep Purple.
The group has had many breakups, reformations & members during their history, but they seem to be back active since 2015. Each studio album used a different line-up, leaving Richie as the band's only constant member.
They have released 8 studio albums, 16 live albums, 16 compilation albums, 8 box sets, 3 EPs and 24 singles. This song was included on their Down to Earth set. It was their 4th studio album. It is their last album to feature drummer Cozy Powell and their only album with vocalist Graham Bonnet. The album was released in 1979. The lineup this time included Ritchie Blackmore – guitar, Cozy Powell – drums, Roger Glover – bass, backing vocals, producer, Don Airey – keyboards, backing vocals, & Graham Bonnet – lead vocals.
The album came in at #66. This was the 2nd & final single released, but it did not make it to the Hot 100 stalling out at #110 on the Bubbling Under Chart.
All Night Long by Rainbow
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Post by razorbacker on Dec 29, 2023 18:20:54 GMT
The Crickets were a rock and roll band from Lubbock, Texas, formed by singer-songwriter Buddy Holly in January 1957. Buddy was just 22 when he died in that plane crash in 1959 that also took the lives of Ritchie Valens & The Big Bopper.
The Crickets helped set the template for rock bands, with their guitar-bass-drums line-up, performing their own self-written material. The band included lead guitarist and vocalist Buddy Holly, drummer Jerry Allison, bassist Joe B. Mauldin, and rhythm guitarist Niki Sullivan. Sullivan dropped out after a little more than one year to resume his education. The band continued on as a trio.
This song comes from their debut album called The Chirping Crickets. The album was released in 1957. It landed at #5 in the UK but did not chart in the US. It included the hit singles That’ll Be The Day which hit #1, Oh, Boy charted at #10 & Maybe Baby #17.
It was the group's only album released while Buddy was still alive.
This particular song was written by Chuck Willis & had been a #3 R&B hit single for him in 1956.
It’s Too Late by The Crickets
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Post by razorbacker on Jan 3, 2024 12:04:21 GMT
I have had some internet connectivity issues for the past few days, but hopefully they are fixed & I can roll on with some music. Sarah Vaughan was a jazz singer and pianist from Newark, New Jersey. She was diagnosed with lung cancer & died at the age of 66 in 1990.
During her time she won 2 Grammy Awards out of 9 nominations. She was also presented with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. She was given an NEA Jazz Masters Award in 1989.
During her career she released 48 studio albums, 10 live albums, 35 compilation albums, 2 extended plays, 5 box sets and 8 album appearances.
This was the title song to her 2nd compilation album released in 1955. She recorded for Columbia from 1949 to 1953 and the album picks up some of her recordings for the label durng that time.
It appears as though she 1st performed the song in the 1951 movie Disc Jockey in which she had a role along with Tommy Dorsey & other musical artists of the time.
After Hours by Sarah Vaughan
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Post by razorbacker on Jan 3, 2024 18:30:13 GMT
Roger Miller was a singer-songwriter, born in Ft. Worth, Texas. He was a lifelong cigarette smoker & died of lung and throat cancer in 1992, at age 56.
He began his musical career as a songwriter in the late 1950s, writing such hits as "Billy Bayou" and "Home" for Jim Reeves and "Invitation to the Blues" for Ray Price. He later began a solo career and reached the peak of his fame in the mid-1960s, landing his final top 20 country hit "Old Friends" with Price and Willie Nelson in 1982.
He also wrote and performed several of the songs for the 1973 Disney animated film Robin Hood. Later in his life, he wrote the music and lyrics for the 1985 Tony Award−winning Broadway musical Big River.
He won 11 Grammy Awards. He also won a Tony Award for Big River, which won a total of 7 Tony's including best musical in 1985. He was voted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1973 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1995.
During his career he released 19 studio albums & 52 singles. He had two number 1 singles on Hot Country Songs and nine additional Top 10 hits.
This song was included on Words and Music. It was his 4th studio album & was released in 1966. The album hit #32 on the country album charts and #108 on the Billboard 200. This song was the 2nd single released from the album. It charted at #13 on the Country chart & #39 on the Hot 100.
Long Time Leavin by Roger Miller
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Post by razorbacker on Jan 4, 2024 11:56:45 GMT
The Velvet Underground was a rock band formed in New York City in 1964.
The group originally comprised singer and guitarist Lou Reed, Welsh multi-instrumentalist John Cale, guitarist Sterling Morrison, and drummer Angus MacLise. MacLise was replaced by Moe Tucker in 1965, who played on most of the band's recordings. Though their integration of rock and the avant-garde resulted in little commercial success, they became one of the most influential bands in rock, underground, experimental, and alternative music.
They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.
The catalog from the band consists of 5 studio albums, 6 live albums, 14 compilation albums, 6 box sets and 11 singles.
This song comes from their self - titled 3rd studio album released in March 1969. It was their first record with multi-instrumentalist Doug Yule, who had replaced John Cale. Lead vocalist Lou Reed wanted other band members to sing on the album; Yule contributed lead vocals to the opening track.
This was the closing track on the album & is sung by drummer Maureen Tucker. Lou stated the song was "so innocent and pure" that he could not possibly sing it himself. Her vocals are accompanied by Lou on acoustic guitar and Doug on bass guitar.
The album did not chart until its 1985 reissue, when it reached No. 197. It also got pretty average reviews until the re issue when 5* reviews were seen across the board.
After Hours by The Velvet Underground
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Post by razorbacker on Jan 4, 2024 18:10:06 GMT
The Mar-Keys, formed in 1958, were a studio session band for Stax Records, in Memphis, Tennessee, in the 1960s.
The song linked to here was their 1st and most famous recording. It hit #3 in 1961 & became their only top 40 hit. The single also became their biggest R&B hit, landing at #2 over there. It sold over one million copies & was certified as a gold record.
The lineup for this recording included Steve Cropper (normally a guitarist, here playing second keyboard; producer Chips Moman did not want a guitar part on the song), Packy Axton (tenor sax), Wayne Jackson (trumpet), and Jerry Lee "Smoochy" Smith (main keyboards), augmented by horn players Floyd Newman (baritone sax), Gilbert Caple (tenor sax) and others.
As the first house band for the STAX label, their backing music formed the foundation for the early 1960s Stax sound. These musicians, in addition to being the studio Mar-Keys, served as the backing band on singles and albums by dozens of rock, R&B, and soul music artists who recorded at the Stax studios, including Otis Redding, Carla Thomas, Wilson Pickett, and many others.
While still involved with the Mar-Keys and Stax studio work, Cropper, Steinberg, Jones and Al Jackson Jr. also began recording as Booker T. & the M.G.'s in 1962. These folks are legendary & are heard on many, many big hits of the era.
Last Night by The Mar - Keys
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Post by razorbacker on Jan 5, 2024 12:48:37 GMT
Eric Clapton recorded a few songs written by JJ Cale. In fact, he had a lot of success with his version of the song linked to here. We’ll take a listen to that one tomorrow, but we have to start with the guy that wrote the thing.
J. J. Cale was a guitarist, singer, and songwriter from Oklahoma City. He died at the age of 74 in 2013 following a heart attack. His full name was John Weldon Cale.
After high school he was drafted into military service, studying at the Air Force Air Training Command in Rantoul, Illinois. He recalled, "I didn't really want to carry a gun and do all that stuff so I joined the Air Force and what I did is I took technical training and that's kind of where I learned a little bit about electronics." His knowledge of mixing and sound recording turned out to play an important role in creating the distinctive sound of his studio albums.
In 1970, it came to his attention that Eric Clapton had recorded "After Midnight" on his debut album. J. J., who was languishing in obscurity at the time, had no knowledge of Clapton's recording until it became a radio hit in 1970. He recalled to Mojo magazine that when he heard Clapton's version playing on his radio, "I was dirt poor, not making enough to eat and I wasn't a young man. I was in my thirties, so I was very happy. It was nice to make some money."
During his career he released 12 studio albums, & a 13th that was came out posthumously. This song comes from his 1st album. It was called Naturally & was released in 1971. The album got to #51 in the US. It included his 1st chart hit, Crazy Mama, which landed at #22 & then he released this version of the song & it came in at 42.
JJ had recorded his 1st version of the song back in the late 60’s & released it as the B side to a single called Slow Motion in 1966. Neither side charted, but he states that version of the song was more in tune to what Clapton did.
After Midnight by JJ Cale
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Post by razorbacker on Jan 5, 2024 18:29:13 GMT
Harry Nilsson was a singer-songwriter from Brooklyn. He was born with congenital heart problems & died of heart failure on January 15, 1994, at the age of 52.
He was nominated for 5 Grammy Awards & won 2. He won Best Contemporary Vocal Performance, Male in 1970 for Everybody’s Talkin & Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 1973 for Without You.
He released his 1st album in 1966 & his 16th & final one was released posthumously in 2019.
This song comes from Nilsson Schmilsson. It was released in 1971 as his 7th studio album. It was his biggest album ever coming in at #3 & being certified Gold. The album included the award winning Without You which was written by Pete Ham & Tom Evans & recorded by their band Badfinger 1st. Other singles released were Jump Into The Fire & Coconut. The album was nominated for album of the year but lost out to The Concert For Bangladesh from George Harrison & Friends.
Let The Good Times Roll by Nilsson
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Post by razorbacker on Jan 6, 2024 11:55:10 GMT
Today we hear what Eric Clapton did to JJ Cale’s song.
Eric Clapton CBE is a English rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter from Ripley, Surrey, England. He will be 79 in March.
He certainly has a long string of famous groups that he was a member of.
He joined the Yardbirds from 1963 to 1965, and John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers from 1965 to 1966. After leaving Mayall, he formed the power trio Cream with drummer Ginger Baker and bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce. After Cream broke up in 1968 he then formed Blind Faith with Baker, Steve Winwood, and Ric Grech, recording one album and performing on one tour before they broke up. He then toured with Delaney & Bonnie and recorded his first solo album in 1970, before forming Derek and the Dominos with Bobby Whitlock, Carl Radle and Jim Gordon.
He has won multiple awards all across the world including being nominated for 37 Grammys & winning 17 of them. He has 2 albums (Disraeli Gears with Cream & Layla with Derek & The Dominos) & 2 singles (Layla & I Shot The Sherrif) in The Grammy Hall Of Fame.
He was presented the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006 & was installed into the Blues Hall Of Fame in 2015, The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame as a member of The Yardbirds in 1992, as a member of Cream in 1993, & for his solo career in 2000. He was also installed into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame in 2001.
As a solo artist he has released 21 studio albums & has reportedly sold 280 million records worldwide, becoming one of the best-selling artists in history. He has 1 diamond, 7 multi-platinum and 23 gold records.
His version of After Midnight was a part of his debut, self – titled, album released in 1970. The album hit #13 in the US, it is one of his few albums that has not achieved any gold or platinum certifications at all. The song linked to here was his 1st hit single, landing at #18, it was followed by Blues Power which didn't chart.
After Midnight by Eric Clapton
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