P is for Percy Sledge, Peter Frampton, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Pure Prairie League, Paul McCartney, Paul Revere & the Raiders, The Police, The Pretenders, Procol Harum, Prince, Paul Simon, Pat Benatar, Patti Smith, Patti Labelle, Peaches & Herb, Poison and Pink Floyd!!! Wowsa!

DISCLAIMER THAT APPEARS AT THE BEGINNING OF ALL A-Z 2015 PAGES:

Welcome to the A-Z Musical Tour of My Life! I have wanted to put something like this together for a long time now and the A-Z Challenge just seemed like the perfect opportunity. I’ve compiled stories, trivia, research, music videos and live concert footage on all the bands and musical artists who have been important to me over the years, especially during my youthful years in the 60s and 70s. At first glance, the posts may seem long – and some of them are due to the number of videos included – but it’s really laid out in a way that will enable you to scroll through and read, see or hear just what you want and then either move on to the next A-Zer or linger and listen to the great music that you’ll find here. By all means, bookmark my blog so you can come back! In addition to individual songs, there are some full albums here for those who may want to enjoy some music while they’re surfing or working. I hope you find that the stories are entertaining, the information educational and the trivia interesting. It would be a tremendous honor if you would bookmark the A-Z Musical Tour of My Life as a resource for great music and music information! Now, let’s get started with…

Wowsa! HUGE LETTER, P!

Let’s start with P is for Percy Sledge (1941-2015) – We lost an all-time great this week. Legendary singer Percy Sledge died this week (Tuesday, April 14, 2015) at his home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. From Huffington Post:

MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. (AP) — Percy Sledge, who soared from part-time singer and hospital orderly to lasting fame with his aching, forlorn performance on the classic “When a Man Loves a Woman,” died Tuesday in Louisiana. He was 74.

His family said in a statement released through his manager, Mark Lyman, that he died “peacefully” at his home in Baton Rouge after a yearlong struggle with cancer. The cause of death was liver failure, Lyman said.

A No. 1 hit in 1966, “When a Man Loves a Woman” was Sledge’s debut single, an almost unbearably heartfelt ballad with a resonance he never approached again. Few singers could have. Its mood set by a mournful organ and dirge-like tempo, “When a Man Loves a Woman” was for many the definitive soul ballad, a testament of blinding, all-consuming love haunted by fear and graced by overwhelming emotion.

The song was a personal triumph for Sledge, who seemed on the verge of sobbing throughout the production, and a breakthrough for Southern soul. It was the first No. 1 hit from the burgeoning Muscle Shoals music scene in northern Alabama, where Aretha Franklin and the Rolling Stones among others would record, and the first gold record for Atlantic Records…”

In tribute to the great Percy Sledge, here he is performing When A Man Loves A Woman:

 

Rest in Peace Percy Sledge. Thank you for your soulful contributions.

 

P is for Peter Frampton – I’m starting with Peter Frampton because that was one of my earliest concerts. Not my first but probably my second or third. I saw him at the Niagara Falls Convention Center and Rick Derringer opened up for him, and Golden Earring opened for Derringer. I remember having floor seats and being all dreamy over Frampton’s hair at the time! He had just released his international breakthrough live album “Frampton Comes Alive!”  Selling more than six million copies in the US alone, the album yielded several hits, including my favorites Do You Feel Like We Do and Baby, I Love Your Way.

Frampton, born in the UK, started young. At age 12 he was already playing in a band. He went to school with David Bowie and the two would sit together at lunch breaks and play Buddy Holly songs, according to history reported at Wikipedia. “At the age of 14, Peter was playing with a band called The Trubeats followed by a band called The Preachers, produced and managed by Bill Wyman of The Rolling Stones.

He became a successful child singer, and in 1966 he became a member of The Herd. He was the lead guitarist and singer, scoring several British pop hits. Frampton was named “The Face of 1968” by teen magazine Rave.” At 18 (in 1969), Frampton joined with Steve Marriot to form the band Humble Pie. After 4 studio albums and one live album, he left Humble Pie to strike out on his own with a solo career in 1971. Although he worked diligently, he saw little commercial success until 1976 when Frampton Comes Alive came out. His use of the Talk Box effects unit in Do You Feel Like We Do and Show Me the Way captured my attention and that’s when I discovered him.

Do You Feel Like We Do: Here’s Frampton performing the full version of the song on Burt Sugarman’s the Midnight Special in 1975.

 

Show Me the Way: also from the 1975 appearance on the Midnight Special.

 

Baby, I Love Your Way: In 2011, Frampton, with a lot less hair, embarked on a world tour celebrating the 35^th Anniversary of the release of Frampton Comes Alive!

I’m in You – videoclip from 1977:

 

P is for Procol Harum – an English rock band formed in 1967. They contributed to the development of progressive rock, and by extension, symphonic rock. Their best-known recording is their 1967 hit single “A Whiter Shade of Pale”, which is considered a classic of popular music and is one of the few singles to have sold over 10 million copies. (Source: Wikipedia)

A Whiter Shade of Pale  (1967):

 

P is for The Pretenders – The Pretenders are an English-American rock band formed in England in 1978 with front-woman Chrissie Hynde (lead vocals and rhythm guitar). I wasn’t a huge Pretenders fan, per se, but a few songs I really like and one in particular has special meaning for me. My City Was Gone is that song. Originally appearing in October of 1982 as the B-side to Back on the Chain Gang, the song is about Chrissie Hynde’s hometown of Akron, Ohio. “The song was written by Pretenders leader Chrissie Hynde and reflected her growing interest in environmental and social concerns; the lyrics take the form of an autobiographical lament with the singer returning to her childhood home of Ohio and discovering that rampant development and pollution had destroyed the “pretty countryside” of her youth. The song makes a number of specific references to places in and around Akron, Ohio including South Howard Street (line 5), and the historic center of Akron, which was leveled to make way for an urban plaza with three skyscrapers and two parking decks (line 8).” (Source: Wikipedia)

The reason it resonates with me is that when it came out I was living in Ohio at the time, attending Youngstown State University in Youngstown, OH. The song was getting a lot of airplay and my friends back home were telling me that every time they heard the song, they thought of me. It also deeply resembled what had happened to Youngstown at the time too, formerly a thriving steel-mill industry closed down and left the city in the depths of despair and depression. During the time I was there, the city was experiencing a startling 13% unemployment rate.

Another interesting tidbit about this song: Rush Limbaugh was using it for his radio talk show! I’ll start off by saying that I absolutely detest, abhor, HATE Rush Limbaugh. He is right-wing radical loudmouth who makes my skin crawl every time I hear his voice! That being said, he deserves mention here because of his use of Chrissie Hynde’s song. Taken from Wikipedia, here is the story:

“The opening bass riff from this song “was something that Tony Butler used to play just as a warm-up,” said Steve Churchyard, the engineer for the record. It has been used as the opening theme ‘bumper’ for Rush Limbaugh’s popular American talk radio program since 1984 during his days at KFBK in Sacramento, California. Even though he didn’t use the lyrics, Limbaugh said in 2011 he chose it because of the irony of a conservative using such an anti-conservative song, though he mainly liked its “unmistakable, totally recognizable bass line.” In 1999, Rolling Stone magazine reported that, according to Hynde’s manager, Limbaugh had neither licensed the song nor asked permission to use it. According to Rolling Stone, EMI took action after Limbaugh told a pair of reporters in 1997 that “it was icing on the cake that it was [written by] an environmentalist, animal rights wacko and was an anti-conservative song. It is anti-development, anti-capitalist and here I am going to take a liberal song and make fun of [liberals] at the same time.” EMI issued a cease and desist request that Limbaugh stop using the song, which he did. When Hynde found out during a radio interview, she said her parents loved and listened to Limbaugh and she did not mind its use. A usage payment was agreed upon which she donates to PETA. She later wrote to the organization saying, “In light of Rush Limbaugh’s vocal support of PETA’s campaign against the Environmental Protection Agency’s foolish plan to test some 3,000 chemicals on animals, I have decided to allow him to keep my song, ‘My City Was Gone’, as his signature tune…”

And here is that fabulous song, which I can listen to over and over and over again!

 

P is for Pat Benatar As a woman, I am a big supporter of female artists. Pat Benatar is a powerhouse female artist! In fact, she was the first female artist to play on MTV, with her hit single You Better Run.

Pat Benatar (born Patricia Mae Andrzejewski in Brooklyn, NY) was an Army wife, marrying her high school sweetheart Dennis Benatar. She worked as a bank teller near Richmond, VA, where her husband was then stationed. In 1973, Benatar quit her job as a bank teller to pursue a singing career after being inspired by a Liza Minnelli concert she saw in Richmond! You can read about her career history at Wikipedia, but it was in 1979 that Benatar saw her first commercial hit with Heartbreaker. This video is Pat and her band on German television show “Rock Pop” during their first European tour. AIRDATE: March 1, 1980:

In August of 1980, Benatar released her album Crimes of Passion featuring her signature song, Hit Me with Your Best Shot. The album won her a first Grammy for “Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.” Here is Pat Benatar performing “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” live as the musical guest on the cult classic comedy show Fridays:

Also on that album was her controversial song Hell is for Children. She was inspired to write that song after reading a series of articles in the New York Times about child abuse in America. Here she is performing the song live at the New Haven Coliseum in 1982:

And Treat Me Right:

Her third album, Precious Time, was released in July of 1981. A month later it topped the Billboard US Top 200 LP charts in the No. 1 spot. It was also her first album to chart in the UK. The lead single, Fire and Ice, won her a second Grammy Award. Here’s the official music video of the song:

Also from Precious Time was her hit Promises in the Dark:

Shadows of the Night earned Benatar her third Grammy:

Love is a Battlefield came next, released in December 1983. Official music video:

Her next hit single, We Belong, was released in October of 1984 and because another Top 10 U.S. hit. Official music video:

In 1985, Benatar released her sixth studio album and her single Invincible (the theme from the movie The Legend of Billie Jean) garnered her a Grammy nomination.

Wow, is Pat Benatar a prolific artist or what??!!! She’s a powerhouse of talent and drive!

 

P is for Paul Revere and the Raiders – Going back in time to showcase an American rock band whose main success was in the mid-60s and early 70s. My favorite song that reminds me of summer days back home when I was young is their platinum certified #1 hit single from 1971, Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian):

Kicks – Not sure what show this is from but it must be in the 60s as Kicks came out in 1966 and the show is in black and white. The dancing girls kinda crack me up! They are in need of some serious choreography! J

 

P is for Patti Smith

I was introduced to Patti Smith back in 1978 by my friend Joanne (God rest her sweet soul!) who had her album Horses. I was both intrigued and disturbed by the lyrics of the title track. It was poetic and dark, but very original. As stated in Wikipedia, Patti Smith ‘is an American singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist who became a highly influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album Horses. Called the “Godmother of Punk”, her work is a fusion of rock and poetry. Smith’s most widely known song is “Because the Night”, which was co-written with Bruce Springsteen and reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1978.”

I do like her Because the Night but I’m most drawn to Horses and Gloria. I’ve listed a live performance of Gloria as well as the album version. The other song I like from the Horses album is Free Money. The below video is a fabulous performance of that song.

Horses – In 1975, the Patti Smith Group recorded their first album, Horses. This is the title track:

Gloria – performed live on April 22, 1979 – Patti Smith Group at Rockpalast TV (Germany):

Gloria – the album version:

Because the Night – as seen on Vh1 (1978)

Free Money – Live in Stockholm, 1976

Dancin’ Barefoot (from the Wave album) –

 

P is for Peter Gabriel – “is an English singer-songwriter, musician and humanitarian activist who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock band Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career. His 1986 album, “So”, is his most commercially successful, and is certified triple platinum in the UK and five times platinum in the US. The album’s biggest hit, Sledgehammer, won a record nine MTV Awards at the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards. Sledgehammer remains the most played music video in the history of MTV.” (source: Wikipedia)

Big Time –

Shock the Monkey –

In Your Eyes –

Games Without Frontiers –

Red Rain –

 

P is for Phil Collins – English singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and actor, Phil Collins gained fame as both drummer and lead vocalist for the rock group Genesis, and he gained worldwide fame as a solo artist. Collins is one of the most successful songwriters and performers of all time, singing the lead vocals on dozens of hit albums and singles in the United Kingdom and the United States between 1976 and 2010, either as a solo artist or with Genesis. … Collins joined Genesis in 1970 as the group’s drummer and became their lead vocalist in 1975 following the departure of original frontman Peter Gabriel. His solo career, which was launched in 1981 and was heavily influenced by his personal life and soul music, brought both himself and Genesis greater commercial success. Collins’s total worldwide sales as a solo artist are 150 million. Collins has won numerous music awards throughout his career, including seven Grammy Awards, six Brit Awards—winning Best British Male three times, three American Music Awards, an Academy Award, two Golden Globe Awards and a Disney Legend Award in 2002 for his solo work. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999, was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003, and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010. Collins was listed at number 22 in Rolling Stone magazine’s “100 Greatest Drummers of All Time,” number 10 in a countdown by Gigwise and number 9 by MusicRadar.

Collins is one of only three recording artists (along with Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson) who have sold over 100 million albums worldwide both as solo artists and (separately) as principal members of a band.” (source: Wikipedia)

Wow! Impressive. Here are my favorite Phil Collins solo hits:

Easy Lover – Music video with Philip Bailey and Phil Collins performing a duet of Easy Lover. (C) 1984 Sony BMG Music Entertainment

In the Air Tonight – official music video

Another Day in Paradise – Live at Montreaux 2004

I Don’t Care Anymore – official music video

Against All Odds – official music video- the song was recorded for the soundtrack to the 1984 movie of the same name, starring Rachel Ward, Jeff Bridges and James Woods. The song peaked at #1 in the Billboard Hot 100. This was a first number 1 hit for Phil Collins.

Sussudio –  official music video

One More Night – Phil Collins Live at the Reunion Arena in Dallas Texas during his 1985 No Jacket Required world tour! Performed on May 29th 1985.

Take Me Home – official music video

 

Obviously Genesis was indeed the genesis of the incredible solo careers for both Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel! Wow, prolific solo success for these men!

 

P is for Pure Prairie League (Does anyone else always have a hard time spelling ‘prairie’??) – Okay, if this next song comes on when I’m driving, I just have to hit the pedal, go a little faster, find some open highway and roll! Amie is one of those songs that instantly makes me feel free. It’s not necessarily the lyrics but the music itself that moves me to a place of freedom.  Here’s an extended version, with lyrics. You might not recognize the beginning because the extended version seldom gets airplay, but two minutes in, you’ll recognize the strum and harmonies. Crank it up!

Amie was PPL’s first hit and started charting in 1975. The band, formed in the mid-1960s, played many gigs, mainly throughout the Northeast, Midwest and Southeast. “As a result of their heavy schedule, particularly at colleges, their songs became well known; “Amie” (Craig Fuller’s ode to an on-again/off-again relationship), from the second album, became a particular favorite.

As “Amie” grew in popularity, radio stations began receiving requests for it. As a result, RCA re-released [the album] Bustin’ Out and issued “Amie” as a single in late 1974. It peaked at No. 27 on April 26, 1975, just as a minor bluegrass revival was underway on midwestern college campuses.” (Source: Wikipedia)

Although they didn’t achieve great worldwide success, they are still performing today.

 

P is for The Police – an English rock band formed in London in 1977, The Police, for most of their history, consisted of “Sting (lead vocals, bass), Andy Summers (guitar) and Stewart Copeland (drums). The Police became globally popular in the late 1970s and are generally regarded as one of the first new wave groups to achieve mainstream success, playing a style of rock that was influenced by punk, reggae, and jazz. They are also considered one of the leaders of the Second British Invasion of the US.

Here’s an interesting bit of trivia that I bet most people don’t realize:

“Prior to his days in the Police, Sting had spent time as a secondary school teacher for English and Mathematics, and his work with the band reflects a literary awareness. For example, material on the album Ghost in the Machine was inspired by the writings of Arthur Koestler, and the Police’s final studio album Synchronicity was influenced by the writings of Carl Jung. Sting also peppers his songs with literary allusions: the song “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” mentions Vladimir Nabokov’s novel Lolita; the song “Tea in the Sahara” alludes to the novel The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles; and the song “Wrapped Around Your Finger” refers both to the sea monsters Scylla and Charybdis, from Greek mythology, and to Mephistopheles, from the German legend of Faust.” Who knew?!

Although I like quite a few Police songs, my favorite has to be Wrapped Around Your Finger:

Every Breath You Take – (“Synchronicity 1983”) – Live in Concert at Baseball Stadium Tokyo Dome 2008 Japan

Synchronicity II

Message in a Bottle – Live in Concert 2008 at the Tokyo Dome, Japan

Every Little Thing She Does is Magic (lyrics video):

Don’t Stand So Close to Me – music video (audio doesn’t start until a few seconds in):

So Lonely

 

P is for Paul Simon – Paul Simon is an American musician and singer/songwriter whose fame and influence began when he was part of the hit duo Simon & Garfunkel, which had formed in 1964 with his musical partner Art Garfunkel. Together they did three songs that reached No. 1 on the U.S. singles charts, with Paul Simon writing nearly all of the pair’s songs, including these three: The Sound of Silence, Mrs. Robinson and Bridge Over Troubled Water. The pair split up in 1970 when they were at the height of their success and popularity and Simon went on to begin a solo career in which he recorded three critically acclaimed albums over the following five years.

In 1972, his first solo studio album, Paul Simon, was released. Simon experimented with world music with the Jamaican-inspired Mother and Child Reunion, “considered one of the first examples of reggae by a white musician.” (source: Wikipedia)

This is a fabulous video posted on YouTube by user L Chang (see it at http://youtu.be/IiMdkY_5Gfw). Here is what the poster said of the video: “People have posted many interesting and very plausible meanings of this song online. But IMHO nothing compares to this short film here. After all , Simon came up with the title after seeing a chicken and egg dish called “Mother and Child Reunion” on the menu at 456 restaurant in Chinatown, New York. At least, the Ostriches in the film are still alive. Enjoy.” (my sentiments exactly!)

Another Top 30 hit around that same time was his Me & Julio Down by the Schoolyard: (this video is from 1992 however):

Simon’s next project was a pop-folk album called There Goes Rhymin’ Simon, released in May of 1973. His hit Kodachrome reached No. 2 in American charts that year.

Kodachrome (Simon & Garfunkel Live in Central Park, NY 1981)

Faring even better was his gospel-flavored Loves Me Like a Rock which topped the charts. Here’s Paul Simon with the Jesse Dixon Singers on the Dick Cavett Show (not sure of the year):

Simon’s third studio album was the highly anticipated Still Crazy After All These Years, released in October 1975. It was a departure in style as it was darker due to the fact that he wrote and recorded it during his divorce. The 18^th Grammy Awards names it Album of the Year and named Paul Simon as Best Male Pop Vocal. The album included a Simon & Garfunkel reunion song, My Little Town, and the single on the album that reached the No. 1 spot at the top fo the charts, 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.

My Little Town:

50 Ways to Leave Your Lover – performed live in 2000:

 

P is for Paul McCartney – Legendary member of the Beatles, McCartney went on to pursue and achieve a very successful solo career after the breakup of the Beatles. “Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in March 1999, McCartney has written, or co-written 32 songs that have reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and as of 2014 he has sold more than 15.5 million RIAA-certified units in the United States. McCartney, Lennon, Harrison and Starr received MBEs in 1965, and in 1997, McCartney was knighted for his services to music.

McCartney has released an extensive catalogue of songs as a solo artist and has composed classical and electronic music. He has taken part in projects to promote international charities related to such subjects as animal rights, seal hunting, land mines, vegetarianism, poverty, and music education.”

My favorite McCartney songs are:

Maybe I’m Amazed

Live and Let Die

Band on the Run

Junior’s Farm – Paul McCartney & Wings performing Junior’s Farm at Abbey Road Studios in Westminster, London, England. Performed and recorded live on August 15th, 1974. Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney, Denny Laine, Jimmy McCulloch, Geoff Britton.

Jet – a One Hand Clapping rehearsal in 1974

Listen to What the Man Said –

Let ‘em In – This song has particular significance for me since it started playing just as my greyhound Harry was making his transition. He was being euthanized by the vet at my house and I had music playing. This song played just as his heart stopped beating. It was perfect timing and I think not coincidental: I truly believe it was my angels letting me know that Harry had made it to his Heavenly home safe and sound. You can read more about Harry, his transition and the lyrics that spoke to me here. The video is a live version of the song from a 1976 concert (unknown location):

Silly Love Songs

Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey

 

P is for Patti Labelle – How about a little 70’s Disco? Here’s Patti Labelle doing her iconic disco song Lady Marmalade (performing in 1975):

And here she is, ten years later, in 1985 with her hit New Attitude (Music video by Patti LaBelle performing New Attitude. (C) 1984 Geffen Records):

 

P is for Peaches & Herb – a little more Disco for ya! Peaches & Herb performing Shake Your Groove Thing on an episode of Soul Train:

 

P is for Prince – I wasn’t particularly a huge Prince fan but I did see him in concert – in the same week that I also saw Michael Jackson in concert. Was such a fabulous comparison/contrast with the two pop artists! I don’t have my concert ticket stub because I was in a sky suite with one of the Washington, DC television stations. They treated a bunch of us media buyers to a night out. This was for Prince’s Sign “O” the Times Tour in 1987. My four favorite Prince songs are When Doves Cry, Purple Rain and Let’s Go Crazy and Raspberry Beret.

I did see the movie Purple Rain when it came out back in 1984. About the film, Wikipedia reports: “Purple Rain is a 1984 American rock musical drama film directed by Albert Magnoli and written by Magnoli and William Blinn. In it, Prince makes his film debut, which was developed to showcase his particular talents. Hence, the film contains several extended concert sequences. The film grossed more than US$80 million at the box office and became a cult classic. Purple Rain is the only feature film starring Prince that he did not direct. The film won an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score, currently the last film to receive the award.”

When Doves Cry – Prince’s first #1 hit single from the Purple Rain album (click on link to be taken to When Doves Cry video)

Purple Rain (click on link to be taken to Purple Rain video)

Let’s Go Crazy  (click on link to be taken to Let’s Go Crazy video)

Raspberry Beret (click on link to be taken to Raspberry Beret video)

 

P is for Poison – Poison is considered an American glam metal band whose peak success ran from the mid-80s to the mid-90s. I’m not big on metal bands but Poison has a few great sing-along songs. Their Top 100 Number 1 hit is a favorite song of mine: Every Rose Has It’s Thorn –

They have another song that is essentially my motto:

Nothin’ But A Good Time – Official Music video:

 

P is for PINK FLOYD – Let’s end this really long blog post on a mellow, mind-bending note. Kick back, smoke a doobie, put on some headphones and let Pink Floyd fill your head with their amazing sounds.

Here are three of my favorite Pink Floyd albums:

Dark Side of the Moon – Pink Floyd’s most commercially successful album and one of the best-selling albums worldwide. “The Dark Side of the Moon is the eighth studio album by the English progressive rock band Pink Floyd, released in March 1973. It built on ideas explored in the band’s earlier recordings and live shows, but lacks the extended instrumental excursions that characterised their work following the departure in 1968 of founder member, principal composer, and lyricist, Syd Barrett. The Dark Side of the Moon ’​s themes include conflict, greed, the passage of time, and mental illness, the latter partly inspired by Barrett’s deteriorating mental state. …

The group used some of the most advanced recording techniques of the time, including multitrack recording and tape loops. Analogue synthesizers were given prominence in several tracks, and a series of recorded interviews with the band’s road crew and others provided the philosophical quotations used throughout…The album’s iconic sleeve, designed by Storm Thorgerson, features a prism that represents the band’s stage lighting, the record’s lyrical themes, and keyboardist Richard Wright’s request for a “simple and bold” design.” (Source: Wikipedia)

From Dark Side of the Moon:

Breathe, Speak to Me/Any Colour You Like  (click on the link to be taken to YouTube to hear the song)

Money  (click on the link to be taken to YouTube to hear the song)

 

Animals – “Animals is the tenth studio album by English progressive rock group Pink Floyd, released in January 1977. A concept album, it provides a scathing critique of the social-political conditions of late 1970s Britain, and presents a marked change in musical style from their earlier work. …

Animals is the child of a Waters concept. Loosely based on George Orwell’s political fable Animal Farm, its lyrics describe various classes in society as different kinds of animals: the combative dogs, despotic ruthless pigs, and the “mindless and unquestioning herd” of sheep. Whereas the novella focuses on Stalinism, the album is a critique of capitalism and differs again in that the sheep eventually rise up to overpower the dogs. The album was developed from a collection of unrelated songs into a concept which, in the words of author Glenn Povey, “described the apparent social and moral decay of society, likening the human condition to that of mere animals”” (Source: Wikipedia)

Animals album – song: Pigs  (click on the link to be taken to YouTube to hear the song)

Animals album – song: Dogs (click on the link to be taken to YouTube to hear the song)

 

The Wall – “The Wall is the eleventh studio album by the English progressive rock band Pink Floyd. It is the last studio album released with the classic lineup of Gilmour, Waters, Wright and Mason before keyboardist Richard Wright left the band. Released as a double album on 30 November 1979, it was supported by a tour with elaborate theatrical effects, and adapted into a 1982 feature film, Pink Floyd – The Wall.

As with Pink Floyd’s previous three albums, The Wall is a concept album and explores themes of abandonment and personal isolation. The album is a rock opera that follows Pink, a character whom bassist and lyricist Roger Waters modelled after himself and the band’s original leader, Syd Barrett. Pink’s life begins with the loss of his father during the Second World War and continues with abuse from his schoolteachers, an overprotective mother, and the breakdown of his marriage; all contribute to his eventual self-imposed isolation from society, represented by a metaphorical wall. Waters conceived the album during Pink Floyd’s 1977 In the Flesh Tour, when his frustration with the audience became so acute that he imagined a wall between the audience and the stage.

The Wall features a harsher and more theatrical style than Pink Floyd’s previous albums. Wright left the band during its production but remained as a salaried musician, performing with Pink Floyd during the Wall tour. The album was one of the best selling of 1980, and by 1999 it had sold over 23 million RIAA certified units (11.5 million albums) in the United States. Rolling Stone magazine placed The Wall at number 87 on its list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.”  (Source: Wikipedia)

The movie: “Pink Floyd – The Wall” is a 1982 British live-action/animated musical film directed by Alan Parker based on the 1979 Pink Floyd album The Wall about a confined rocker who’s driven into insanity and constructs a wall to be protected from the world around him. The screenplay was written by Pink Floyd vocalist and bassist Roger Waters. The film is highly metaphorical and is rich in symbolic imagery and sound. It features very little dialogue and is mainly driven by the music of Pink Floyd. The film contains fifteen minutes of elaborate animation sequences by the political cartoonist and illustrator Gerald Scarfe.

This is a link to the movie on YouTube:

Pink Floyd-The Wall movie

Also available on YouTube are both discs of the full album. 

 

WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE ARTISTS OR BANDS THAT START WITH THE LETTER P? Who did I forget? Who would you have chosen? Please share in the comments section!