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.