March 31, 2016 - The Beatles - Rain (1966)

As my friend Dave sings it, 'cause I'm a Beatle and with the help of George Martin I can make it sound cooolll...' during the 'when the rain comes' part. This song has some really cool moments from Ringo and Paul; Ringo's quick rolls at :33 on 'into the shade' and at :45 in the way he extends the drum fill beyond the end of 'when the sun shines', and Paul's bass line at 1:18 during the 'I can show you' verse. And then at the end we get the 'let's play stuff backwards' moment. I always think John's vocals sound like 'still drippin on memory...' Bring on the April showers.

March 30, 2016 - Brian Eno - The Big Ship (1975)

The Big Ship is my favorite recording ever made. Numero Uno. And Eno spelled backwards is One. Picture this, a ship moving slowly across the horizon, small at first but then coming into view as this gigantic, hulking object. I picture an ocean with a big cargo freighter. The music starts out quietly, then constantly builds, adding new layers of synthesizers while a drum machine creates the chugging sound of an engine. Each harmonic layer brings the ship closer, emotionally overwhelming us by its massiveness as the music builds to a near feedback explosion. After its intense perigee, the ship moves slowly off into the distance. The chord progression is heavenly, one chord bending into the next with natural grace. I first bought the album, Another Green World, on cassette in 1988. The Big Ship made a big impression on me the first time I heard it, and even after a zillion listens it still sends tingles of joy up my spine.

March 29, 2016 - Walter Wegmüller - Der Herrscher (1972)

The title translates as The Emperor or The Ruler, and it is a card in a tarot deck. The Emperor is represented by a Big Guitar Riff, offered up by some wild rockin Germans who knew how to stick to a good thing and not stray too far from the path. Your basic three minute guitar solo. Everyone else keep riding the riff, pay no attention to what the mystic artist Walter Wegmuller is droning on about, climb on! I imagine this piece being a sample of some never ending music. It goes on and on and....

March 28, 2016 - The Beatles - Tomorrow Never Knows (1966)

I am way into March Madness as I write this, constantly breaking to check in on the games. Who will win? Tomorrow Never Knows...uh, uh.. ha ha ha...good one there.

If tomorrow never knows, then today knows? And yesterday always knows? or knew? Future, present, past. It all merges together here in a big psychedelic daydream. Drums and bass lay down the groove, weird screechy birds swoop around, play everything backwards, John sounds like he's flying all around us in a state of pure cosmic energy. We could be in prehistoric times running around with dinosaurs, or cruising through another galaxy in a rocket, or in a comfortable room at home. It's all about turning off the chatter and letting our minds wander around. Listen to the colors.

March 27, 2016 - Rolling Stones - Get Off Of My Cloud (1965)

One of those 'what the heck is Mick singing?' Stones tunes. I still haven't learned all the lyrics to this song. Sometimes it's fun to just blabber along with Mick and make up my own words. Still, a click on google and the lyrics appear before my eyes. Oh yeah, so that's how the words go. Now I feel that if I had just listened very carefully I might have figured the lyrics out for myself. But that's all hindsight now.

Mick wishes he could stop the world for a minute so he can enjoy some peace and quiet. The main six beat drum riff from Charlie Watts punctuates Mick's frustration. This song is like a companion piece to 'Satisfaction'...Mick keeps getting hassled by commercial entities, neighbors, fans, mum...git oaf mi cloud, mum! 

March 26, 2016 - Pink Floyd - Arnold Layne (1967)

A sudden and dramatic bass and organ opening and then Syd goes right into the story of Arnold Layne, just a guy who likes to steal women's clothing from 'washing lines' and wear them. Oh, how shocking. And poor Arnold gets thrown in prison for this. I never quite understood the 'takes two to know' references, though I read that Syd and Roger's moms had clothes stolen from them, so maybe it takes to know means them? Of maybe just that someone else (Syd) saw Arnold taking the clothes and knows all about what he does with them because he does it also? Interesting and catchy descending chord structure during the verse, it follows the same tone followed by four semi-tones pattern normally placed at the end of a 12 bar blues. during the verses. Trippy organ passage from Richard Wright in the middle of the song. This was Pink Floyd's very first single.

March 25, 2016 - Booker T. & the MGs - Green Onions (1962)

One of the coolest pieces of music ever recorded. So simple, but that opening Booker T organ riff is off the charts cool. Excellent guitar from Steve Cropper. And Duck D---, nope, it's Lewie Steinberg on bass, and of course, Al Jackson Jr. on the drums.

March 24, 2016 - Bob Marley & the Wailers - Slave Driver (1973)

Chicka...chicka...chicka...that's the sound of the reggae, mon. Bob Marley. Peter Tosh. Bunny Wailer. Yeah. Slave driver, catch a fire. Very organic stuff, so many little chicka chickas, different percussional happenings, organ boppin along, yet so centered on the groove are the vocals. Dey got da riddim.

March 23, 2016 - The Velvet Underground - Sunday Morning (1967)

I remember seeing The Velvet Underground and Nico album in The Book of Lists as one of the top twenty albums ever. I am sure I thought it was odd that I had never heard any of their songs on the radio, especially if this was such an important record. I felt the same way when I first heard Love's 'Forever Changes' album. Corporate radio basically sucks because most stations never play any of these songs on a regular basis. They might show up on some fringe programming. A n y h o w . When the VU's albums were reissued in the 80s I bought a couple at a Chicago record store. The first time I heard Sunday Morning I was probably a bit nervous. The opening xylophone made me wonder if it were a children's lullaby. Lou Reed sings it so sweetly, I was like what's the big deal about this supposedly nefarious band? Then I heard the rest of the album.... Thinking about it now, this is like a negative photo of a Sunday morning. It is Sunday morning in bizarro world. I think this song might be about recovering from crazy Saturday nights, or possibly worry about the pressures of Monday (watch out the world's behind you!), but it does have a nostalgic longing to it, like remember when you were young and Sunday mornings were different? My favorite parts are the lines 'I've got a feelin I don't want to know' and 'it's all the streets you crossed not so long ago.' Lou plays a nice little guitar solo, and Nico adds some interesting vocal expressions near the end.

March 22, 2016 - Love - Dream (1969)

I love Love, and Arthur Lee is one of my favorite singers and songwriters. 'Dream' is one of his lesser known songs, appearing on the Four Sail album. Arthur's vocals are double-tracked. I really like the early guitar solo that starts around 0:27. I first heard this song on WXRT in 1991 or so, it was featured in a ten song playlist of Love tunes. I already knew about the three early Love albums, had never heard any of the post-original group songs. Enjoyed this song the first time I heard it. The John Cusack film, High Fidelity, features a couple of tunes from the Four Sail album.

March 21, 2016 - Blackrock - Yeah Yeah (1972)

I really know nothing about this amazing recording. It appears on the funk rock collection Chains and Black Exhaust. It starts out with a voice intoning 'black rock.' Then some piano and guitar and we are soon into the groove. It goes along like this until around 1:47, when the guitar goes off on a groovy solo that lasts until the end.

March 20, 2016 - Jeff Beck - Beck's Bolero (1966)

I first heard this instrumental sometime in the mid-80s, on WCKG's Psychedelic Supper program. I already knew about Ravel's Bolero for some reason, and this one had the same general rhythm, but very trippy guitar parts. Some cool reverby slide guitar and a fuzzed out middle section. Recorded in 1966, released as a b-side to 'Hi-Ho Silver Lining', it was also included on the 1968 album Truth.

March 19, 2016 - ZZ Top - Waitin for the Bus (1973)

'Have mercy...' First of all, I love Billy Gibbons' wah pedal solo that starts at 1:40. Prior to the guitar solo, there is a 30 second harmonica solo that kind of goes along like a slow crowded hot bus might. The whole story is pretty simple, and one that I know well. You wait for the frickin bus forever, with your bag, and when it finally arrives it's packed with people and there's no place to sit.

March 18, 2016 - Icarus - Spiderman (1972)

I have an exact date for when I first became familiar with this album. It was Saturday night, September 12, 2009. I was in my sleeping bag, in my tent, at Fort Stevens on the Oregon coast. I was listening to the great KMUN Astoria radio station program, The Other Side. The show that evening included a weird song about Thor. The host of the show kindly emailed me a playlist.

Spiderman rocks. The singer reminds me of a wilder version of the guy from Blood Sweat and Tears, you know, 'what goes up, must come down, spinning wheel...' This is a hippie street ode to Spiderman. Definitely the 1967 cartoon Spider-Man. It has some fantastic messed up crazy guitar solos, laid back organ out of the left speaker.

If you like Marvel comics and early 70s rock, you might like the two of them together. There is a great review of the album here.
 

March 17, 2016 - The Small Faces - Itchycoo Park (1967)

Ah yes, here we are with the lads on Carnaby Street, shopping for the gear outfits, enjoying the Swingin Sixties London scene. Picture the opening scene from the first Austin Powers film, that's what I'm going for. Or the film Blow-Up. 1967. Colors. Cars. People running around barefoot in the park. Technicolor, like Batman and Robin.

'It's all too beautiful!'

March 16, 2016 - The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Purple Haze (1967)

I love the 'every guy gets an afro' look of the Jimi Hendrix Experience. The video shows a live performance. It's great, especially when it gets to the end and you see all the well-dressed kids in the audience, as though this was to appear on the Patty Duke show or something. Yes mother dear, we enjoyed our trip to visit the performing madmen from outer space ever so much. Jimi also sings 'kiss this guy' and points to Noel Redding. Mitch Mitchell drums like Animal from the Muppets. Another forever riff like Day Tripper.
Have you ever seen the hippie exploitation movie Psych Out, with Jack Nicholson (as Stoney)? In the film, his band, Mumblin Jim, are playing this pathetic Purple Haze ripoff. Pretty hilarious. OK, actors, in this scene you are hippies, dance around like you're hippies. Oh wow, Jack, you are so groovy...how would you guys like a chance at the Ballroom? Wow, man, that's really groovy. I can play my freedom rock, man.

March 15, 2016 - The Beatles - Day Tripper (1965)

Again, no regular version of this song on youtube, so here is an instrumental. You can sing along! A memorable guitar riff, one of the first things I learned to play, probably lots of other folks, too. Oh yeah, and the solo. Thanks, George! And great drums from Ringo!

March 14, 2016 - The MC5 - Kick Out the Jams (1969)

Detroit. Grande Ballroom. Halloween 1968. Picture it. Smoke, sweat, beer, electricity, rock n roll ready. 'Right now, right now, it's time to...' This song is like a wild animal being unchained. I bought the 'Brothers and Sisters' version of the album Kick out the Jams, for $7.99 at 2nd Hand Tunes in Evanston around 1991. Still have it. I never cared that I didn't have the pricey motherf--- version. I still thought it was funny that Elektra executives were offended. I mean, 1968 was an angry militant year, let it out, express yourself! I think Howard Dean listened to this song before he made the speech that caused everyone to freak out. 'And then we're going to my house to listen to the MC5. Yeahhahhh!!'

March 13, 2016 - Bob Dylan - As I Went Out One Morning (1967)

The bass playing of Charlie McCoy is what I like best about this song, which is from the excellent John Wesley Harding album. The story seems to be about a guy walking about, breathing the 'air around Tom Paine' (person? place? thing?) and seeing a girl in chains. But she 'meant to do me harm,' how did he know? Who is this girl? He tells her to get away from him, but she begs him to take her with him. Tom Paine comes running up and tells the girl to let go of the narrator and apologizes to him for her behavior. Mysterious, shady and suspicious.

March 12, 2016 - Teungjai Bunpraruksa - Kanong Krung (early 1970s)

Are we present at a crazy fun party or a scary dark ritual? Take your pick, I have no idea what's happening here. This song is from a collection of Thai Luk Thung rock called 'Thai? Dai! - The heavier side of the Luk Thung Underground'. Luk Thung is Thailand's folk music, the lyrics tend to be about the rural life. There is also Luk Krung, considered urban music. The music on this compilation was basically a fusing of the two, although I really can't comprehend the cultural significance.
What I do know is this singer is badass and intense but she looks so sweet, watch out!, sometimes there are two of her singing! Lots of shouts and hollers. The bass is awesome, it mostly bounces shabbily between two notes, all floppy druggy, keeping it real. The guitar fast chops the chords. It all works perfectly. Horns poppin off every so often, backing up the singer's exclamations, very funky stuff.

March 11, 2016 - The Cryin' Shames - Nobody Waved Goodbye (1966)

A final Joe Meek production for the blog this year. We will be hitting the three minute mark of songs by the end of the month and most of Joe's songs were short. This gentle song by the Cryin' Shames borders on easy listening, it is very melodramatic and has lots of orchestral touches with the strings and horns. I think it's in Eb major. There is a lot of dipping in and out of major and minor chords (especially G) so frequently it keeps your emotions in a state of flux. The song is so sappy, but I just love the strings and little staccato horns. It's like some kind of Hans Christian Anderson story. So sad, this poor guy wandering off 'on the road to who knows where'. But I think he will find true love once he gets away from this mopey singer crying all over him.

March 10, 2016 - Queen - Coming Soon (1980)

Even though it's a favorite album of mine, I never liked the cover. The photo of the band is great, tough 50s greaser look, where's the Fonz? But the gray background, just the band name and title in some normal font, borrriingggg!!
This is my favorite song from The Game. And it's kind of hidden there on side 2, between the two ballads. It should have opened side 2, followed by 'Rock It (Prime Jive)', make stupid 'Don't Try Suicide' sit between the ballads. Oh well, I think Coming Soon is excellent. It totally rocks, kind of similar to Need Your Loving Tonight in that it has that 50s doo wop early rock with a new wave feel. Phased drums kick it off, followed by a brief section of oohs, dual vocal opening lyrics, sandwiched by cool guitar riffs. I also love the 'on the outside of the tracks' part, with Freddie's little upward inflection there at the end of 'tracks'. Nice harmonies on the yeah yeah yeah followed by another awesome solo from Brian May. Is 'somebody nagging you when you're out with the boys'? Then play this one loud!

March 9, 2016 - The Ramones - Sheena Is A Punk Rocker (1977)

The Ramones, rock n roll at its bare bones, minimal music and lyrics, every song a sing-a-long with Joey. Why should a song need more than one verse? Just repeat the first verse. And who is this Sheena? She is her. Sheena, Queen of the Jungle. Punk version.

March 8, 2016 - Queen - Need Your Loving Tonight (1980)

Queen's The Game is one of my favorite albums ever. I got it for Xmas in 1980. I was thirteen. I always preferred the lesser known songs. This tune rocks, has a fantastic guitar solo, and Freddie Mercury's vocals are great as always. Written by bassist John Deacon, he also wrote Another One Bites the Dust and You're my Best Friend. So cool. So loose. Love the 'ooh I need your loving' harmony section just before the solo ('hit me'). And a couple of little asides or interjections that I always liked:
'I don't wanna feel like a stranger' ('No')
'Ooh I need your loving tonight'
                                   ('let's go')
Have a seat, guys. There's more from you...coming soon.

March 7, 2016 - The Moontrekkers - Night of the Vampire (1961)

You get a twenty second opening of scary howling wind creaky coffin atmosphere before the music starts. This is a creepy instrumental only Joe Meek could have made. And in 1961! It sounds like the Sorcerer's Apprentice, but with spidery electric guitars treated with heavy distortion and reverb. I can imagine Tim Burton making some sort of stop motion film with little dancing vampires a la The Nightmare Before Christmas. The song was banned by the BBC because it was ‘unsuitable for people of a nervous disposition’. It is a great piece of music to play on Halloween. Joe Meek himself did the howling at the very end.

March 6, 2016 - Cream - Tales of Brave Ulysses (1967)

"Tiny purple fishes run laughing through your fingers..." Yeah, OK...Martin Sharp. He wrote the lyrics, Eric Clapton wrote the music. The song is from the psychedelic blues rock masterpiece, Disraeli Gears. Sharp also did the cover art for this album. He was also really interested in Tiny Tim.(?!) How come I never knew any of this stuff !!! I always just liked the song and only found out about Martin Sharp just now.

Strange Brew, World of Pain, Sunshine of your Love, all great tunes, but this is my favorite Cream song. It has some great wah wah pedal and heavy rock 7th chords, murky feel to it, Jack Bruce spewing these stream of consciousness words. Really, those lyrics! 'His naked ears were tortured'...I figured since Ulysses (Odysseus for all you Romans out there) was a guy I'd read about in school, then this meant something to me. But I never knew the Martin Sharp thing. Pretty cool, nice to learn something new!

Martin Sharp:

March 5, 2016 - Sinn Sisamouth - Don't Let My Girlfriend Tickle Me (late 60s?)

Any fan of great garage rock and lo-fi fuzz guitar owes it to themselves to seek out the amazing Cambodian rock and pop music that was created before the Khmer Rouge took over and decimated the whole country.

Sinn Sisamouth is the best-known singer associated with this music, but there are many others. Dig that crazy fuzz wah guitar solo! The organ is cool too, I love that one chord, there's an example right around 1:00. Sinn's voice is treated with some nice reverb. It seems like reverb vocals were pretty common in Cambodian rock songs.

March 4, 2016 - 101 Strings - Flameout (1969)

This piece of music is track #24 on the compilation called Everything You Always Wanted to Know about '60s Mind Expansive Punkadelic Garage Rock Instrumentals But Were Afraid to Ask. I bought this at Jackpot Records on SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland in the mid 90s. The album notes have no mention of 101 Strings being the artist, but there are dropped hints.

I remember first hearing the fuzzed out tremolo guitar at the beginning and thinking, "Well, this is a promising start." It is a spooky instrumental, with cellos and violins slowly creating the feel of a bad trip. The liner notes refer to 'some barking cello that you'd swear was your pet hound on doggie downers.' Nice.

Are there really 101 strings in this image? I'll just take their word for it.

March 3, 2016 - Them - Here Comes the Night (1965)

A classic tune from the British Invasion, although I think this song was more popular in Great Britain than the US. Van Morrison is in fine form on this one. 'Whoa oa yeah' (1:37). The song opens with a bang, starting off with that great ringing guitar chord and the all the guys belting it out on the chorus. The verses are choppy little two steps, the narrator telling his story of woe as his former girlfriend walks past his house with 'another guy-e-ay.' Night falls and he's all alone and imagines she is telling her new guy all the nice things she once told him.

The chorus is such a smash, the drums are fantastic, I especially like the long fill around 2:35 during the fade out. And how about the primary five note guitar riff? Classic.

March 2, 2016 - Sun Ra & his Arkestra - Hours After (1957)

I am including this 'jazz' piece even though I've not included any others, because I love its after midnight film noir b&w rainy smokey basement bar 1950s Chicagoness, it really has that vibe for me. I can also imagine it as the music that played when a station signed off for the evening back in the old days.

March 1, 2016 - Grace Lee & the Stylers - Why Are You Not Smiling? (1969)

This song is from the Sublime Frequencies compilation Singapore A-Go-Go. Why am I not smiling? Actually I am smiling, but I don't need anyone asking me this if I'm not...mind your own business! The little girl vocals of Grace Lee were hard for me to take at first, but I now really like this song. The bass is completely awesome, bouncing all over the place, doing its own thing. The guitar is great too, and I also like the other vocals that accompany the main vocals every so often. And the end, with all the la la las. She really means, look at me, I'm smiling, don't you want to smile too? The Stylers cool outfits make me smile.