There was almost a sadness on May 1st, being the first day after the end of the Challenge. Believe me, there was also a big relief, like Whew, I made it. Now can I get some rest? But throughout the month, there is so much excitement and you find yourself zooming through the days, trying to visit as many blogs as you can and leave comments for your fellow bloggers, all who spent a great deal of time and energy putting together their posts or themes. And then May 1st hits and it’s sort of a let-down. The party’s over. Time to go home…
It was indeed a good party, that’s for sure! This was my second year participating in the Challenge and I enjoyed it as much this year as I did last year. Last year I didn’t do a theme and I found the freedom to write about anything I wanted to write about was intriguing and kept me enthused. This year I did a theme: a musical journey, the soundtracks of my life: I spent over 6 months compiling music videos, concert footage, band information and personal stories into ordered posts. It was a lot more work than I originally anticipated and was a considerable time investment. Even so, I had fun putting it all together. But I did find that my creativity seemed to be engaged so much more last year in not having a theme. Having a theme is good for several reasons: it kept me on a tract and narrowed my focus; it also gives the blog visitors sound expectations and a level of comfort, knowing what they’ll be getting. Still, I’m undecided if I’ll do a theme next year. Honestly, I don’t know which I liked better.
I have put together collections for both years so if you want to check out some great music, head on over to my 2015 Blogging A-Z Challenge Collection: you’ll find all the bands listed on one page with links so you can easily scroll through and pick out the posts you want to visit. And be sure to bookmark that page because I’ll be adding to it! Of course I forgot some bands and artists (like Bob Dylan — OMG, how could I have forgotten BOB DYLAN???), Steely Dan, the Temptations (what??! I know, I know…) so I’ll be adding them into their rightful categories. PLUS I’m going to do a One-Hit Wonders page so keep an eye out for that, coming soon! You can also check out my themeless posts at the 2014 Collection page.
As far as blog-hopping: What a ride! I had so much fun visiting all these news blogs and discovering subjects to which I had never before given thought. I met some fabulous people along the way and definitely made some new friends. Probably the best take-away is the amount of newfound knowledge. I learned so much from so many different blogs:
I learned a whole new vocabulary with Debbie’s Doglady’s Den. She did a new word each day and not only did she provide definitions and synonyms, she started conversations and discussions by weaving the word of the day into stories, posing questions and providing comic relief with fabulously fun videos and anecdotes.
I learned important elements of memoir writing at Arlee Bird’s Wrote by Rote blog, especially meaningful to me since I’m working on a memoir. He also provided valuable tips for blogging in general at his Tossing It Out blog.
Mark C over at the View from the Olive Grove had a neat theme: every day he posted a reason to be cheerful. I found his posts to be thought-provoking and fun.
Jeremy at Hollywood Nuts did a Disney theme and I learned so much about Disney that I never would’ve known had I not visited his blog.
I learned a wealth of incredible writing tips from Write On Sisters: I hope they do turn their posts into an ebook: I’ll be the first in line to buy!
Jeanne over at Animal Bliss did a collection of cool animals. That was neat. I discovered animals that I had never heard of before and she always included very interesting facts and information along with some stunning photos to go along with each post.
I could go on and on but you get the idea. There is a whole world of worthy blogs out there and I just scratched the surface. I did find it daunting, the number of A-Z participants (over 1500): In a perfect world, I would’ve visited each blog during the month of April but that’s just not possible…at least it wasn’t for me. I did make a decent dent in it though.
One thing that was available last year that was not available this year was the list of blogs with less than 200 followers (or maybe it was less than 100 followers). I liked that. I like being able to visit new blogs who are just getting started and showing them some blogosphere love. It’s a great opportunity, especially for small blogs. I missed it this year and I hope the A-Z gods will bring it back for next year.
All in all, this year’s Blogging A-Z Challenge was another awesome experience. I’ll definitely be doing it again next year. As for right now, well, I really feel like taking a nap…So that’s what I’m going to do. Sweet dreams, y’all!
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…
Wow, today is the last day of the A-Z Challenge! And it all comes down to this:
Z is for the Zombies – The Zombies are an English rock band, formed in 1961 in St Albans, England, and led by Rod Argent (piano, organ and vocals) and Colin Blunstone (vocals). The group scored British and American hits in 1964 with “She’s Not There”. In the US two further singles, “Tell Her No” in 1965 and “Time of the Season” in 1969, were also successful. Their 1968 album, Odessey and Oracle, is ranked number 100 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. (Source: Wikipedia)
She’s Not There – This song was released in 1964 as their debut single and reached #12 in the UK charts:
Tell Her No – Rod Argent’s “Tell Her No” became another big seller in the United States in 1965, peaking at No.6 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 1967 the Zombies signed to CBS Records and they recorded the album Odessey and Oracle (odyssey was accidentally misspelled by Terry Quirk, an art teacher who designed the cover). But by the time Odessey and Oracle was released in April 1968, the group had disbanded (in December 1967). The album sold poorly and was given a US release only because musician Al Kooper, then signed to Columbia Records, convinced his label of the album’s merits. One of its tracks, “Time of the Season”, written by Argent, was released as a single and eventually (1969) became a nationwide hit (Billboard Hot 100 peak position: No.3).
Time of the Season –
After the Zombies disbanded, Rod Argent formed a band called Argent in 1969, with Chris White as a non-performing songwriter. Atkinson worked in A&R at Columbia Records and Grundy joined him there after a brief spell in auto sales. Colin Blunstone started a solo career after a brief period outside the music business, including working in the burglary claims section of an insurance company. Both Argent and White provided him with new songs. He also did studio vocals for The Alan Parsons Project.
And finally:
Z is for ZZ Top – I have been a fan of ZZ Top since their 1972 Tres Hombres album. My brother turned me on to their Texas boogie rock and I was hooked immediately. It was cool then that my brother took me to see them back in 1983 at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium. Interestingly (for me, that is), Sammy Hagar opened for ZZ Top and kicked off his set with Bad Motor Scooter, a Montrose song that always reminds me of my brother.
So who are these bad boys from Texas? “ZZ Top is an American rock band that formed in 1969 in Houston, Texas. The band comprises guitarist and lead vocalist Billy Gibbons (the band’s leader, main lyricist and musical arranger), bassist and co-lead vocalist Dusty Hill, and drummer Frank Beard. One of the few major label recording groups to have held the same lineup for more than forty years, ZZ Top has been praised by critics and fellow musicians alike for their technical mastery. Of the group, music writer Cub Koda said “As genuine roots musicians, they have few peers; Gibbons is one of America’s finest blues guitarists working in the arena rock idiom […] while Hill and Beard provide the ultimate rhythm section support.”
Since the release of the band’s debut album in January 1971, ZZ Top has become known for its strong blues roots and humorous lyrical motifs, relying heavily on double entendres and innuendo. ZZ Top’s musical style has changed over the years, beginning with blues-inspired rock on their early albums, then incorporating new wave, punk rock and dance-rock, with heavy use of synthesizers. One of the best-selling musical artists in history, the band has had global album sales in excess of 50 million as of 2014.” (Source: Wikipedia)
Here are a few bits of ZZ Top Trivia for you:
In 1985, they turned down a $1 million offer to appear in a Gillette razor commercial, which would have required Gibbons and Hill to shave their beards. They claimed they were too ugly to be seen without them. According to Gibbons, “The prospect of seeing oneself clean shaven in the mirror is too close to a Vincent Price film…A prospect not to be contemplated, no matter the compensation.”
On the official ZZ Top website, I discovered another interesting tidbit: ZZ Top had to quit playing their song Just Got Paid (from their 1972 Rio Grande Mud album) at concerts because every time they played it, fans would throw coins on the stage. And apparently getting pelted with coins kinda hurts! They’d typically end up with about $50 in change on the stage after playing that song. They took the song out of their set lineup for quite a while. Now it’s back in as the coin-throwing phase has passed.
And if you’ve ever wondered where they got their name: According to TodayIFoundOut.com, “the name ZZ Top, according to band member Billy Gibbons, came from a tribute to B.B. King. The band was originally going to call themselves “Z.Z. King” in King’s honor [and a nod to Z.Z. Hill as well, but they decided it was too similar to B.B. King. Since B.B. King was at the “top” of the Blues world, they changed it to ZZ Top.”
There are so many ZZ Top songs that I like and since this is the only band that I’m posting about, I’m going to include a bunch of videos. So sit back and enjoy some boogie and blues from “That Little Ol’ Band from Texas”:
Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers – ultimately, my favorite ZZ Top song, set to this cool motorcycle montage video:
Hot, Blue and Righteous – (audio only):
Jesus Just Left Chicago – Live at the Crossroads Eric Clapton Guitar Festival 2010:
Balinese – photo montage video of the Balinese Ballroom in Galveston, TX:
Mexican Blackbird – ZZ Top photo montage video
Tush – Live performance in 2014:
I Thank You – a photo montage video:
I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide – a lyric video:
Cheap Sunglasses – a 1980 performance on BBC’s guitar heroes show:
Tube Snake Boogie – live performance at Rockpalast in Germany, April 1980:
Pearl Necklace – photo montage video:
Party on the Patio – 1983 performance for Sweden TV, right before the release of the Eliminator album:
Gimme All Your Lovin – official music video:
You Got Me Under Pressure – live at the Hellfest in Clisson, France on June 22nd, 2013:
Sharp Dressed Man – Official music video:
I Need You Tonight – a lyric video:
Legs – Official music video (from Rhino); I had that keychain that is featured in the video. I have no idea where it is but I’m sure it’s in my house somewhere…
Thug – audio only:
TV Dinners – official music video:
Sleeping Bag – official music video:
Stages – official music video:
Rough Boy – official music video:
My Head’s in Mississippi – official music video:
Doubleback – official music video:
Give It Up – official music video:
Arrested for Driving While Blind – Live at Rockpalast April 1980 in Germany:
So that’s it for the Letter Z. And that’s it for the Blogging A-Z Challenge! Wow, what a ride, huh? It’s been a blast exploring the soundtracks of my life and I hope you’ve had as much fun as I have this last month.
Thanks so much for joining me on this musical tour of my life. All the posts have been compiled and indexed on one page (see the 2015 Blogging A-Z Challenge Collection) so please come back and visit soon! I’ve loved having you all here. Happy Trails! And as always, Rock On…
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…
Y is for the Yardbirds – “The Yardbirds is an English rock band that had a string of hits in the mid-1960s, including “For Your Love”, “Over Under Sideways Down” and “Heart Full of Soul”. The group is notable for having started the careers of three of rock’s most famous guitarists: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page, all of whom are in the top five of Rolling Stone’s 100 Top Guitarists list (Clapton at No. 2, Page at No. 3 and Beck at No. 5). A blues-based band that broadened its range into pop and rock, the Yardbirds had a hand in many electric guitar innovations of the mid-1960s, such as feedback, “fuzztone” distortion and improved amplification. Pat Pemberton, writing for Spinner, holds that the Yardbirds were “the most impressive guitar band in rock music”.[2] After the Yardbirds broke up in 1968, their lead guitarist Jimmy Page founded what became Led Zeppelin.” (Wikipedia)
For Your Love – 1965 performance:
Heart Full of Soul – album cover photo montage video:
I’m a Man – a 1964 performance (with Eric Clapton):
Over Under Sideways Down – live (not sure of the date):
Shapes of Things – recorded in a sports stadium for French TV in 1966:
Y is for Yes – Yes reminds me of high school summer school. I went to summer school two years in a row, so I could get class credits and graduate early, which I did, one full year early. The first summer school, I took a history class with two of my hang-out buddies, Joe and Mike. Mike was a huge Yes fan and he turned Joe and I onto songs we didn’t know from Yes. Every time I hear a Yes song, it takes me back to those warm summer days sitting in a high school classroom, goofing off with my friends and getting yelled at by Mr. Letourneau…
“Yes is an English rock band that achieved success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. They are distinguished by their use of mystical and cosmic lyrics, live stage sets and lengthy compositions, often with complex instrumental and vocal arrangements.” (Source: Wikipedia)
Although I wasn’t a Yes fan to the degree that my friend Mike was, I did like most of the songs that got commercial airplay and there are a few songs that I will crank up when they come on:
Going for the One –
I’ve Seen All Good People – performance at the Beat Club in 1971:
Perpetual Change – from “The Yes Album” released in 1971:
Long Distance Run Around –
Owner of a Lonely Heart – music video
Leave It – music video:
Wonderous Stories – music video:
Yours is No Disgrace – recorded live at the Rainbow Theatre December 1972
Roundabout – Live at the Rainbow Theatre, London, UK. Dec 15 & 16, 1972 (‘Close to the Edge’ Tour):
Starship Trooper –
It Can Happen – June 24, 1984 at Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Germany
Y is for the Youngbloods – an American folk rock band consisting of Jesse Colin Young (vocals, bass), Jerry Corbitt (guitar), Lowell Levinger, nicknamed “Banana” (guitar and electric piano), and Joe Bauer (drums). Despite receiving critical acclaim, they never achieved widespread popularity. Their only U.S. Top 40 entry was the song Get Together. I love this song:
(studio version, audio only):
This is a slower version of the song, with fabulous video footage from (I think) Woodstock:
Here they are performing on a TV show (not sure which one) in 1970, combining the songs Get Together and Sunlight in their performance set:
Here’s Darkness, Darkness, a neat song from their 1969 album Elephant Mountain:
Here’s their performance of Grizzly Bear, with an introduction by Dick Clark. The interview discusses the song as well as some tidbits about the band members. Airdate: January 14, 1967 (video quality not great but it’s a wonderful snapshot of the past):
That’s it for the Letter Y. Hope you enjoyed these three bands that I showcased. What songs did you like best that I posted here? Who are your favorite Y bands?
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…
I guess I’m essentially cheating on this letter because this is supposed to be a Musical Journey of my Life and I’ve been highlighting and showcasing bands and music artists who have been important to me over the years. But I simply was not aware of any bands beginning with the letter X. So I set out to find some. To my surprise, there are several bands that start with the letter X. I discovered these three that I actually like.
X is for Xavier Rudd – The first up is Xavier Rudd – I am so excited to have found this guy! I LOVE the first song that I’m posting here, Follow the Sun. And it has a fabulous video to go with it. “Xavier Rudd is an Australian singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is well known on the music festival circuit for playing at musical festivals and concerts in Australia, North America and throughout Europe. His fan base is particularly strong in Australia and in Canada, where he has recorded several albums and performed live shows.” (Source: Wikipedia)
Of his music: “Rudd is a one-man band who plays surrounded by instruments in a complicated array. Typically, he has three didgeridoos placed in front of him on a stand, a guitar on his lap, a stompbox by his habitually bare feet, and an assortment of drums, harmonicas & bells near at hand, or near at foot as the case may be. Several of Rudd’s songs incorporate socially conscious themes, such as spirituality, humanity, environmentalism and the rights of Aboriginal peoples. His songs include stories of the mistreatment of the indigenous people of his homeland. Rudd has included both Australian and Canadian Aboriginal vocals in some of his songs. He tends to play the Didgeridoo in many of his songs.” (Source: Wikipedia) For more about Xavier Rudd, visit his website.
Follow the Sun – from the description on the Xavier Rudd Music channel on YouTube: ‘Follow The Sun’ is the first offering from Xavier Rudd since his 2010 release ‘Koonyum Sun’. The clip was filmed on location at Stradbroke Island, Queensland Australia. And it’s really good! Enjoy.
Lioness Eye – Xavier Rudd performs “Lioness Eye” from the album Spirit Bird – live at The Ogden in Denver, CO. Recorded 11-10-12:
The Letter – accompanied by a surfing video:
Spirit Bird – October 10, 2012 – Xavier Rudd with “Spirit Bird” in the Bing Lounge at 101.9 KINK.FM. Portland, OR. Presented by Intel.
X is for XTC – “a new wave rock band from Swindon, England, led by songwriters Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding [with Terry Chambers and Barry Andrews] and active between 1976 and 2005. The band enjoyed some chart success, including the UK and Canadian hits “Making Plans for Nigel” (1979) and “Senses Working Overtime” (1982).
Despite their three-decade career, XTC were a performing and touring band for only six of those years: they retired from live performance in 1982 … [after a breakdown of Andy Partridge]. In early 1982, while at the peak of their popularity, XTC embarked on a major tour. This was abruptly cut short when Partridge suffered a mental breakdown on stage during one of the first concerts of the tour in Paris on 18 March 1982.
On 2 April 1982, a Friday night, XTC were scheduled to play at the Palladium in Hollywood, California, but did not appear. The audience milled about the open festival floor for a long 45 minutes/hour after opening act Oingo Boingo departed the stage, and then finally it was announced that XTC would not take the stage due to the “illness” of one of the band members (later revealed as Andy Partridge’s ongoing fight with stage fright in Chris Twomey’s book XTC: Chalkhills and Children). The following day, XTC played one last concert at the California Theatre, San Diego, CA then never played another tour date. (XTC would perform several acoustic sets for radio only in 1989.)
Andy Partridge’s breakdown, which manifested itself as uncontrollable stage fright, was reportedly precipitated by his wife throwing away his supply of Valium. According to the band’s biography, Valium was prescribed to him as a teenager, but he was never taken off the drug and became dependent on it. Concerned about her husband’s dependence, Partridge’s wife threw his tablets away — without seeking medical advice — just before the Paris concert. Partridge particularly needed Valium to cope with the grinding monotony of concert touring, which he had always disliked but endured for the good of the band. In addition to “memory loss and limb seizures”, the sudden withdrawal of medication brought on anxiety attacks of such severity that he was soon forced to withdraw from performing permanently. The European and British dates were cancelled and after completing only one show in San Diego the whole US leg was also abandoned. After this XTC became exclusively a studio band (apart from occasional live-to-air performances from radio stations, and a handful of TV appearances).” Source: Wikipedia
XTC’s Senses Working Overtime single cover art
Senses Working Overtime – The first thing that jumped out at me in this video is that the guitarists and bassist are all left-handed players! I found that highly unusual, being a left-hander myself, but after some investigation, apparently they did that just for the sake of the video as other performances show them playing right-handed. They must have chosen to do that in keeping with the “senses working overtime” theme. I wonder how many people noticed. Does that stand out to you?
Making Plans for Nigel – First XTC hit single with remastered and synchronized audio. (C) 1979 Virgin records.
X is for X the Band – Here’s a band called X! From Wikipedia: “X is an American punk rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1977. Established among the first wave of American punk, the original members are vocalist Exene Cervenka, vocalist/bassist John Doe, guitarist Billy Zoom, and drummer DJ Bonebrake. The band released seven studio albums from 1980 to 1993. After a period of inactivity during the mid to late 1990s, X reunited in the early 2000s, and currently tours.”
It was interesting to note that X appeared at the 2008 SXSW Festival. If you’re not familiar, SXSW (South by Southwest) is a huge music festival here in Austin Texas that happens every March. It started in 1987 and now includes a film and interactive sets of the festival. “SXSW Music is the largest music festival of its kind in the world, with more than 2,200 official performers and bands playing in more than 100 venues. The music event has grown from 700 registrants in 1987 to nearly 12,000 registrants. SXSW Film and SXSW Interactive events have grown every year, most recently bringing around 15,000 to 20,000 registrants to Austin every March.”
Footage of the X performance at SXSW is viewable on Crackle.
Burning House of Love – this is the first song I heard of X and it’s quite good!
True Love – from their 1983 album More Fun in the New World:
So, that’s it for my X bands. Like I said, they weren’t any that I was familiar with before now but I’m happy to have come across them. Do you have a favorite X band?
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…
Because I’m in a disco kind of mood –which doesn’t happen very often- I’ll start this letter off with Wild Cherry.
W is for Wild Cherry – Wild Cherry was an American funk-rock band best known for their 1976 hit Play That Funky Music. The song ended up being a number one hit but that was the only hit the band ever had. Their subsequent singles and albums failed to chart. I guess you could say they were a One Hit Wonder, right? It’s a shame too, because they had some serious momentum going after Play That Funky Music:
From Wikipedia: “”Play That Funky Music” became a huge hit when released in 1976, peaking at number one on both the Billboard R&B and pop charts. Both the single and Wild Cherry’s self-titled debut album went platinum. “Play That Funky Music” was No. 1 on the Billboard charts for 3 weeks. The band was named Best Pop Group of the Year by Billboard, and received an American Music Award for Top R&B Single of the Year, as well as a pair of Grammy nominations for Best New Vocal Group and Best R&B Performance by a Group or Duo that year, adding to their success.”
Here’s Wild Cherry performing the hit Play That Funky Music on the Midnight Special in 1976:
W is for War – “War (originally called Eric Burdon and War) is an American funk band from California, known for the hit songs “Low Rider”, “Spill the Wine”, “Summer”, “Why Can’t We Be Friends?”, “The Cisco Kid”, and “The World Is a Ghetto”. Formed in 1969, War was a musical crossover band which fused elements of rock, funk, jazz, Latin, rhythm and blues, and reggae. The band also transcended racial and cultural barriers with a multi-ethnic line-up.
Although War’s lyrics are often socio-political in nature, their music usually had a laid-back, California funk vibe. A particular feature of War’s sound is the use of harmonica and saxophone playing melody lines in unison, sounding like a single instrument, for example in the melody of “Low Rider”.” (Source: Wikipedia)
Eric Burdon and War toured all over the US and Europe. Here’s a bit of trivia: “Their show at Ronnie Scott’s Club in London on September 18, 1970 is historically notable for being the very last public performance for Jimi Hendrix, who joined them onstage for the last 35 minutes of Burdon & War’s 2nd set; a day later he was dead.” Source: Wikipedia
Low Rider– This is a fun low-rider video:
Cisco Kid – a 1973 performance on the Midnight Special:
Why Can’t We Be Friends? – Here’s a flashback video from the vault on VH1:
Spill the Wine – here’s a September 26, 1970 performance Live at the Beat Club:
Summer– I like this song, not only because it’s evokes images of summer but the lyrics mention “Ridin’ around town with all your windows down, 8-track playing all your favorite sounds” – that was me over a number of summers. My poor 8-track in my ’71 Monte Carlo got a workout for sure.
W is for The Who – I saw the Who in concert sometime in the late 80s or the early 90s. I can’t find my concert ticket stub. I may not have even had one. I worked at WCXR, Washington DC’s Classic Rock station and we were presenting the Who, made possible because the station’s owners decided it was worth it to buy out the stadiums in all the cities in which they had rock stations in order to be the concert presenter and give away tickets on-air to countless lucky listeners. WCXR literally bought every single seat in RFK Stadium just so we could say on air that “WCXR Brings You the Who”. How cool is that? If I am remembering correctly, I believe we also bought all the parking spaces so when people came to the show, they would pull up to park only to find out that WCXR had paid for their parking. I’m almost positive it was the Who concert that we did that for; if not we did it for some other concert at RFK. Yeah, I worked for a very cool radio station. While it was owned by two guys, that is. Once they sold to a corporation things really changed. No longer could decisions be made with a single phone call. That’s exactly how it went down with the Who concert. I think our Music Director came up with the idea and our station manager called the owners and said, “Hey, how about we spend a couple hundred thousand dollars and buy out every seat in RFK Stadium so we can be the concert presenter?” About an hour later the station’s owner calls back and says, It’s a Go. And by the way, we’re going to do it in Philadelphia and Detroit too!” Now that’s some powerful dudes with some big cash. Working for the station while they owned it was super fun. Then they sold their group of stations to a big radio conglomerate (Group W Radio) and everything changed. A simple request seemed to take an act of Congress, for God’s sake. There was always a lengthy chain of command and so many rules and regulations. It just got to me after a while. Anyone who knows me knows I’m not big on corporations…and I’m not big on rules either. I think rules are made to be bent. Not necessarily broken, but bent on occasion.
Anywho, I saw the Who. It was fun. So just who are The Who? “The Who is an English rock band that formed in 1964. Their classic line-up consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century…
The Who developed from an earlier group, the Detours, and established themselves as part of the pop art and mod movements, featuring auto-destructive art by destroying guitars and drums on stage. Their first single as the Who, “I Can’t Explain”, reached the UK top ten, followed by a string of singles including “My Generation”, “Substitute” and “Happy Jack”. In 1967, they performed at the Monterey Pop Festival and released the US top ten single “I Can See for Miles”, while touring extensively. The group’s fourth album, 1969’s rock opera Tommy, included the single “Pinball Wizard” and was a critical and commercial success. Live appearances at Woodstock and the Isle of Wight Festival, along with the live album Live at Leeds, cemented their reputation as a respected rock act. With their success came increased pressure on lead songwriter and visionary Townshend, and the follow-up to Tommy, Lifehouse, was abandoned. Songs from the project made up 1971’s Who’s Next, which included the hit “Won’t Get Fooled Again”. The group released the album Quadrophenia in 1973 as a celebration of their mod roots, and oversaw the film adaptation of Tommy in 1975. They continued to tour to large audiences before semi-retiring from live performances at the end of 1976. The release of Who Are You in 1978 was overshadowed by the death of Moon shortly after.
Kenney Jones replaced Moon and the group resumed activity, releasing a film adaptation of Quadrophenia and the retrospective documentary The Kids Are Alright. After Townshend became weary of touring, the group split in 1982. The Who occasionally re-formed for live appearances such as Live Aid in 1985, a 25th anniversary tour in 1989 and a tour of Quadrophenia in 1996. They resumed regular touring in 1999, with drummer Zak Starkey. After Entwistle’s death in 2002, plans for a new album were delayed. Townshend and Daltrey continued as the Who, releasing Endless Wire in 2006, and continued to play live regularly.
The Who’s major contributions to rock music include the development of the Marshall stack, large PA systems, use of the synthesizer, Entwistle and Moon’s lead playing styles, and the development of the rock opera. They are cited as an influence by several hard rock, punk rock and mod bands, and their songs still receive regular exposure.” (Source: Wikipedia)
Here are 20 of my favorite Who songs! :
Baba O’Riley – How many people thought the name of this song was “Teenage Wasteland”? I did. I even got into an argument over it. I used to be so hard-headed! I’ve learned along the way that it’s okay to be wrong and it’s okay to admit that you don’t know something. I still don’t get why the song is called Baba O’Riley though…
(Wikipedia says “the title of the song is derived from the combination of the song’s philosophical and musical influences, Meher Baba and Terry Riley.”) So, there you go…
From the Classic Rock Hits YouTube channel, here’s the official Baba O’Riley video:
Bargain – here’s a lyric video:
Getting In Tune – a great photo-montage video:
Going Mobile – another photo-montage video:
Behind Blue Eyes – Live December 28th, 1979 at Hammersmith Odeon, London
Won’t Get Fooled Again –
I Can’t Explain – Here’s a great video of the early Who:
I Can See for Miles – a 1968 performance from Melody Varieties
Pinball Wizard – from 1975’s movie Tommy, featuring Elton John. Pinball Wizard was featured on the Who’s 1969 rock opera album Tommy. The original recording was released as a single in 1969 and reached No. 4 in the UK charts and No. 19 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100:
Magic Bus–
I’m Free – Live in 1977:
The Seeker – from 1970:
See Me, Feel Me – Live at Woodstock, 1969
Join Together –
Love Reign Over Me – from the Live Aid concert, introduced by Jack Nicholson:
Squeeze Box – photo-montage video:
Slip Kid – a lyrics video:
Who Are You –
You Better You Bet – music video with an MTV promo lead-in
Eminence Front – a VH1 Classic video:
W is for Warren Zevon – (January 24, 1947 – September 7, 2003) “Warren Zevon was an American rock singer-songwriter and musician. He was known for the dark and somewhat outlandish sense of humor in his lyrics.
Zevon’s work has often been praised by well-known musicians, including Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and Neil Young. His best-known compositions include “Werewolves of London”, “Lawyers, Guns and Money”, “Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner” and “Johnny Strikes Up the Band”, all of which are featured on his third album, Excitable Boy.” (1978 album produced by Jackson Browne and guitarist Waddy Wachtel).
Werewolves of London:
Zevon was a regular guest on the David Letterman show. Here he performs two songs on the show in 1988:
Trouble and Lawyers, Guns & Money –
“In interviews, Zevon described a lifelong phobia of doctors and said he seldom received medical assessment. Shortly before playing at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival in 2002, he started feeling dizzy and developed a chronic cough. After a period of suffering with pain and shortness of breath, Zevon was encouraged by his dentist to see a physician; he was diagnosed with inoperable peritoneal mesothelioma (cancer of the abdominal lining that is associated with exposure to asbestos). Although Zevon never revealed where he may have been exposed to asbestos, his son Jordan suggests that it came from Zevon’s childhood, playing in the attic of his father’s carpet store in Arizona. Refusing treatments he believed might incapacitate him, Zevon instead began recording his final album, The Wind, which includes guest appearances by close friends including Bruce Springsteen, Don Henley, Jackson Browne, Timothy B. Schmit, Joe Walsh, David Lindley, Billy Bob Thornton, Emmylou Harris, Tom Petty, Dwight Yoakam, and others. At the request of the music television channel VH1, documentarian Nick Read was given access to the sessions; his cameras documented a man who retained his mordant sense of humor, even as his health was deteriorating over time.
On October 30, 2002, Zevon was featured on the Late Show with David Letterman as the only guest for the entire hour. The band played “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead” as his introduction. Zevon performed several songs and spoke at length about his illness. Zevon had been a frequent guest and occasional substitute bandleader on Letterman’s television shows since Late Night was first broadcast in 1982. He noted, “I might have made a tactical error in not going to a physician for 20 years.” It was during this broadcast that, when asked by Letterman if he knew something more about life and death now, he first offered his oft-quoted insight on dying: “Enjoy every sandwich.” He also took time to thank Letterman for his years of support, calling him “the best friend my music’s ever had”. For his final song of the evening, and his final public performance, Zevon performed “Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner” at Letterman’s request. In the green room after the show, Zevon presented Letterman with the guitar that he always used on the show, with a single request: “Here, I want you to have this, take good care of it.”
The day after Zevon’s death, Letterman paid tribute to Zevon by replaying his performance of “Mutineer” from his last appearance. The Late Show band played Zevon’s songs throughout the night.
Zevon stated previously that his illness was expected to be terminal within months after the diagnosis in the fall of 2002; however, he lived to see the birth of twin grandsons in June 2003 and the release of The Wind on August 26, 2003. Owing in part to the first VH1 broadcasts of Nick Read’s documentary Warren Zevon: Keep Me In Your Heart, the album reached number 12 on the US charts, Zevon’s highest placement since Excitable Boy. When his diagnosis became public, Zevon told the media that he just hoped to live long enough to see the next James Bond movie, a goal he accomplished.
Warren Zevon died on September 7, 2003, aged 56, at his home in Los Angeles, California. The Wind was certified gold by the RIAA in December 2003 and Zevon received five posthumous Grammy nominations, including Song of the Year for the ballad “Keep Me In Your Heart”. The Wind won two Grammys, with the album itself receiving the award for Best Contemporary Folk Album, while “Disorder in the House”, Zevon’s duet with Bruce Springsteen, was awarded Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal. These posthumous awards were the first Grammys of Zevon’s thirty-plus year career.” (Source: Wikipedia; much more about his life and career can be found here).
Keep Me In Your Heart (for a While): taken from the documentary about the achievement of his latest album “The Wind”, 2003. Keep Me In Your Heart: Written by Warren Zevon & Jorge Calderón
That’s it for the Letter W. So tell us, who are your favorite bands or music artists that begin with W?
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