October 20, 2016 - Led Zeppelin - Fool in the Rain (1979)

I remember hearing Fool in the Rain on the radio in 1980 and calling the radio station to find out what it was. I wasn't too familiar with Led Zeppelin yet, so I was later surprised at how poppy this song was compared to stuff like Whole Lotta Love. The middle samba section is fun, but the best part of the song is the awesome fill that comes out of it at 3:44. I get fixated on it sometimes and have to rewind and listen to it multiple times. Jimmy's guitar solo after the break is also one I like a lot. It's a bit sloppy, but so is standing in the rain.

Fool in the Rain is Robert Plant channeling his inner Elvis Presley and Bill Murray's Nick the Lounge Singer. He sings like he's suavely strolling on a Vegas stage with a glass in his hand...Well there's a light in your eye that keeps shinin' (thayouverymuch), like an ol star that can't wait for the night (you know what I'm talkin about), somebody get me a scotch and tonic, it's gonna be a long night, hrumph.

And I stand in the rain on the corner (with no umbrella mind you) just watchin people go shuffling on down-town-uh. Look at those crazy ol people, they gonna turn it aroun, roun roun. (hey where's Charlie Hodge with my scarf, I'm sweatin like a pig here, ladies and gentlemen). I'm a fool in the rain, I'm just a fool in the rain. I'm all wet and I'm cold and don't you know that I'm a fool in the rain, (scats: 'see I was on the wrong corner all along and so all this worryin was really unnecessary'). Hit it, Ron. (big drum roll and ensemble flourish) Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, thank you.

I still don't know why Robert makes that spitting sound at 1:05 after and you said you would always be true...puxchh. What's up with that?

I remember seeing the below image from Knebworth 1979 and thinking John Paul Jones (left) must be the coolest guy in the band. Then I watched The Song Remains the Same and he was so geeky. Fee! Fi! Fo! Fum! Of course I liked him even more once I imagined him the cool geek of the group. Brush with fame moment: I shook his hand in 1994 or 1995 when he was in Portland supporting Diamanda Galas.

October 19, 2016 - BLO - Chant to Mother Earth (1973)

With Chant to Mother Earth, we BLO across the six minute mark in songs.....!!.....and set sail for beautiful Nigeria. BLO is an acronym of the band members' names - Berkley (g), Laolu (d), and Odumosu (b). The track is from the compilation album Nigeria Rock Special.

It is a song of praise to the ultimate provider. It starts off like a new day has just begun, waking up and stretching and looking out the window, shaking off the sleep. The music has a San Francisco acid rock 1968 feel to it, particularly the guitar. At 0:45 we are up and moving about, making the coffee, turning our brains on. The chant starts up at 0:52, o-way,  o-way-ay-o. The first verse comes in at 1:33, I'm not sure but it sounds like My feeling this morning, show me I'll tell it to you. The reverb and accent make it hard to understand.

Following the second verse and another chant, at 3:15 the guitar solo comes on like a mix of Clapton, Garcia and MC5/Stooges Detroit. It is raw and bluesy and chaotic, all Mother Earth-inspired wildness, opening the wah pedal at 3:32 to bliss out even further.

We come out of the trance at 4:55. Time for one last chant and then we wander off into the rest of the day.

October 18, 2016 - Pink Floyd - One of These Days (1971)

I am not sure when I first heard it, but I remember my friend Fred asking me if I knew the song where a growly voice says...you know. That part still freaks me out. Was it really necessary, Nick Mason and sound engineers? Nick: Of course it was, it's gotten me a few extra Ferraris now, hasn't it?

The first 0:34 is mostly faint whispers of air that build to a couple of small gusts, blowing across a barren icy landscape. The first bass note hits at 0:35, the second at 0:38, and then at 0:41 we climb aboard the mighty Rubberband Express and drive across the speakers. It's a fluid and reliable vehicle designed to transport us safely across this desolate territory.  Unfortunately, soon into the trip we pass across some sort of organ chord minefield that shakes the earth beneath us. At 1:53 our vehicle is pelted with reverse blow darts, but we must keep going. Then at 2:07, unknown pursuers pull up along side us; large fists pound on the door and power drills are forced against the sides of our only sanctuary.

Finally, at 2:49 we can go no further. We are dead in our tracks. A massive helicopter descends. We wait with our hearts beating, wondering if our transport is about to be boarded. At 3:09 we can hear faint sounds outside the vehicle. By 3:20 we can tell that the main door is being pried off its hinges. There are a few loud pounds at 3:30.  Suddenly, at 3:37 a giant scary head materializes outside the door and bellows ONE OF THESE DAYS I'M GOING TO CUT YOU INTO LITTLE PIECES!!

But not today! We immediately come to our senses, apply the emergency 'get us the hell out of here' power supply and take off. Our enemies follow, and we race across the ice field once again. Finally, at 5:35, we see our stronghold ahead and the ones from whom we fled evaporate into the wind.

Cool moment: from 3:02 - 3:07 listen for Ron Grainer's Doctor Who theme. Huh, I can imagine Doctor Who in the above story. Of course it would have to be Jon Pertwee, who played the Doctor during 1971. Yes, I can also picture Lethbridge-Stewart alongside him, and poor Jo worrying and/or in trouble back at the stronghold.

October 17, 2016 - Steve Miller Band - Space Intro/Fly Like An Eagle (1976)

I can't imagine listening to Fly Like An Eagle without the one minute plus Space Intro. It is an essential part of the whole mind-blowing experience. Space Intro is basically an ARP Odyssey solo from Steve Miller, something that wouldn't sound too out of place as incidental music from Land of the Lost, perhaps during an episode where Will and Holly are tripping on Pakuni mushrooms or pylon crystals.

The song is from the album of the same name, which was released in May of 1976, when I had just turned nine. It is one of the songs I remember hearing a lot on the radio while hanging out in the back seat of the Mercury station wagon as my parents drove me somewhere, to a swim meet or baseball practice, or maybe to McDonalds afterwards. (see April 17 and August 29 entries)

After Space Intro ends, there is a whoosh of wings that welcome in Fly Like An Eagle, followed soon thereafter by a classic Steve Miller guitar riff. The song features some of the coolest Hammond B3 organ ever, played by the late Joachim Young. As Miller's ARP meanders around, Young chops the air with some awesome staccato notes. Impeccable timing, applying the drawbars, harmonics and swells perfectly. Lyrically, it's pretty dreamy stuff...bummed out by all the problems in the world? Well, there's a solution. Just fly like an eagle to the sea. Groovy, but it sounds like too much hippie talk, man. Yeah, just fly away to the sea, that will solve everything, Steve Miller.

October 16, 2016 - The Rolling Stones - Moonlight Mile (1971)

A beautifully delicate song that was based on a Keith Richards riff he called 'Japanese Thing', Moonlight Mile is about the exhaustion of being on the road for too long, and wanting to be home. Mick Jagger plays the acoustic guitar. Mick Taylor on lead. It is mostly a two Micks composition (Jagger and Taylor). Keith wasn't around when the Micks were working on it, so Mick J wasn't so self-conscious and poured out these improvised lyrics. They conjure amazing visions:

The sound of strangers sending nothing to my mind
I'm sleeping under strange strange skies
Made a rag pile of my shiny clothes
I got silence on my radio

It is full of majestic strings, and you can definitely feel a Japanese theme running through it, like a Samurai traveling home after battle. Charlie Watts is amazing, the drums and cymbals are incredible. The beginning is the longing to be home, and the end is finally arriving. The final chord reminds me of the end of Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony. Beethoven ends on these two chords that are like a big sigh of relief of getting home after a long day in the country, and Moonlight Mile ends on a long chord - getting home and closing the door behind you.

October 15, 2016 - Funkadelic - Comin' Round the Mountain (1976)

Comin' Round the Mountain is from Hardcore Jollies, a CD I apparently bought through BMG. The album cover artist is Pedro 'Blastoid Blaster' Bell, creator of over two dozen George Clinton and P-Funk covers and liner notes. Sadly, this man who was basically responsible for creating the outer space image for the group was barely paid anything. Hmmm, that first article was from 2009. Thankfully, an article form earlier this year reports that Pedro Bell is doing better and receiving more appreciation for this contribution to the history of funk music. Yea! A Vote for Pedro!

This is a funkified version of the classic song She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain. The lyrics are the opening verse Comin round the mountain when she comes and second verse Ridin two white horses when she comes, with an added line Get out on the dancefloor when she comes. Instead of all going out to meet her, George Clinton and the gang are letting her come to them, since where else would she be going but to the dancefloor?

The music grooves along to about twelve repetitions of those lyrics and the doin it just for fun parts. The vocalists sing the first few in unison, then individuals take turns. Check out 2:04 (kind of Sly Stone-ish), 2:13 (low guy voice), 2:17 (awesome group chord), 2:21 (all singing in high voices), and 2:41 (a capella).

While everyone is singing over and over, the music is driving those horses round the mountain with great intensity. The bass is a thumping coach, the guitars are a coaxing, occasionally cracking whip from the driver, the drums are pounding hooves.

She eventually arrives to the dancefloor at 2:49, and everyone gets to groove on a three minute Eddie Hazel guitar effects masterpiece. One of my favorite solos in existence, it starts out all phaser wah and distortion. At 3:40, Eddie turns on the reverb and delay and the dancefloor lifts off the ground and everyone ventures off around the galaxy. Check out the pitch bend at 4:39.

Whoa, Nelly! I like to think the horses are eating well and resting up in a nice cozy barn while everyone is away.

October 14, 2016 - Cornershop - We're In Yr Corner (1997)

Punjabi is the 10th most spoken language in the world. So, you'd think finding a translation of this song on the internet would be easy. If you find one, please let me know. All I could find was another person bemoaning its nonexistence. Maybe the lyrics are Punjabi nonsense words?

One of the three fantastic albums I bought in South Korea that were released in 1997 was Cornershop's When I was Born for the 7th Time. Great album. I had read a review...in Q...bought it new...then I flew...back to Sangju...to...listen to...it. I liked the idea of Indian music with a modern sampled DJ twist on it. Sitars and breakbeats, bring it on.

We're In Yr Corner is the best of the album. Sitars and cymbals...Hanji (google translate says it means Hanji in English...hey google, what are we paying you for?) Drums and sitars and finger cymbals, Indian instruments are so psychedelic...why is that? Not because of the Beatles, the instruments are just naturally trippy. The tones feel so ancient, magical and mysterious; you tune in on a spiritual level automatically.

I always thought the first lyrics were 'marijuana shout it come on and wanna shout it.' But, the almighty google says it's Mar, mar osharle Ekuh, oshart mar, mar. Whatever, the vocals are cool so let's just enjoy the sounds and not worry about what's what. Tjinder Singh does mention IBM and Coca-Cola, and says the m-----f--ker word too at 3:31, yeah get those corporate douches off our land.

The final two minutes are an East meets West jam. It all dissolves into a cloud of smoke in some Peshawari opium den. Or so I imagine.

October 13, 2016 - Parliament - Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker) (1975)

It doesn't get much funkier than the bass-playing of Bootsy Collins. One of the most impressive rubberband man bass recordings you'll hear. Just try to follow along, he plays beats between beats...blows the mind how prodigiously amazing he is.

The opening Tear the roof off the sucker words are spoken by Ray Davis. The primary lyrics are grouped in three clusters, with multiple voices, crazy asides, harmonies and shouts. Musically, it all comes around to the main bass riff, also doubled by guitar. It's from Mothership Connection, one of the most influential funk albums ever released.

October 12, 2016 - Bob Dylan - The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll (1964)

I was unable to find a youtube video of the studio recording, so I'm posting a live version. A link to the studio version is here: Biograph version...

The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll is Bob Dylan's take on the killing of 51 year old African-American barmaid Hattie Carroll by a drunk rich white asshole named William Zantzinger. During a charity ball in Baltimore in 1963, Hattie, who had health issues, didn't respond immediately to this guy's request for a drink, so he hit her with his cane and she died hours later from a stroke. Zantzinger only served six months and was fined $625.00. He eventually died in 2009.

It's just Dylan and his guitar. The lyrics describe the event and court case like a news story. The refrain is:
And you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears
Take the rag away from your face
Now ain't the time for your tears.

Dylan expects people to be outraged by the story, don't cry about it, speak out. When the ruling finally comes down and justice does not prevail, Dylan allows that now's the time for your tears.

October 11, 2016 - Earth, Wind & Fire - That's the Way of the World (1975)

That's the Way of the World is the name of the song, the album, and...the soundtrack for the motion picture of the same name...really?! I never heard of the movie. Harvey Keitel was in it, and several members of Earth, Wind & Fire in cameo roles. It must have been a pretty bad movie, and not bad meaning good either. It got 6.4 stars on imdb.com so I guess some people like it.

This is a big slice of mellow 70s music melon for your ears. Soft keyboards start it off, then drums and light horns come in. Heart of fire, creates love desire, sings...I'm not sure, I assume it's Philip Bailey? He had the falsetto voice, but he could sing in multiple octaves. I love EWF tunes, because they usually have a message and feeling of love and hope. The world is a hard place, but with love we can rise above it all and exist on a higher plane of joy and share that joy with others. There are lots of cool little soulful vocal moments, too: 1:19 and 4:10 'well', and especially late in the song: 5:01 'listen now', and all those 'don't you hear me now' moments. So cool. Nice guitar solo at 2:38.

I hope you feel better after listening to this song...I know I always do. Thanks, Maurice White, and the rest of you guys, for all the great music you gave to the world.