Category: 1960s

Peter and Gordon – Woman

When I first saw the Michael Myers character Austin Powers I automatically thought of Peter Asher. I learned about them in the 80s while listening to an oldies channel at where I used to work. Peter and Gordon were Peter Asher and Gordon Waller.

Peter Asher Austin Powers

The first song I remember hearing and liking from them was I Go To Pieces. They were part of the British Invasion to come in after The Beatles. Peter Asher had a secret weapon. His sister was going out with Paul McCartney and McCartney was living at the Ashers at this time in a room beside Peters.

McCartney first gave the duo a song called A World Without Love that John Lennon rejected because of the first line he didn’t like (Please lock me away). The record was huge… it peaked at #1 in the US, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK in 1964.  Paul wrote  “World Without Love,” Nobody I Know,” “I Don’t Want To See You Again,” and “Woman” for the group. Woman though was different than the others.

Paul didn’t want the Lennon/McCartney name on this song. People were saying they were only hits because of who wrote the song. Peter and Gordon were told they were only jumping on the Beatle bandwagon. When this song was released it first got credited to A. Smith and then Bernard Webb. The song was rising up the charts but only after two weeks, it was traced back to Lennon and McCartney’s publishing company Northern Songs so it was exposed.

The song was a hit regardless peaking at #14 on the Billboard 100, #1 in Canada, #28 in the UK, and #7 in New Zealand in 1966. The duo would have other hits not written by McCartney like I Go To Pieces and Lady Godiva. They had a longer career than I first thought. Their success lasted until 1967 but not before they amassed 10 top 40 hits in America alone.

Peter Asher would later become head of A&R for Apple Records in 1968. He signed, produced, and managed James Taylor. After Allen Klein destroyed what was left of Apple Records, Asher packed up and moved to California. He took James Taylor with him and produced him through the seventies. He also picked up another artist and produced her…Linda Rondstadt. He also produced albums by  J. D. Souther, Andrew Gold, and Bonnie Raitt. He also worked with Cher and 10,000 Mainiacs.

He became  Senior Vice-President, of Sony Music Entertainment in 1995 and held that job until 2002 when he went back to artist management. .

Peter and Gordon reunited in 2005 and played concerts when they had time. They did this up until Gordon’s death in 2009 of a heart attack. Peter would go on to Sirus Radio doing a Beatle show on their Beatles channel called  “From Me To You. ”

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He also wrote a book on The Beatles called The Beatles From A to Zed. I just read it and it is really good. It’s not a biography on the Beatles or any dirt though…it’s a fun book and he goes through the alphabet and names Beatles songs, places, things, and etc corresponding to whatever letter he is on.

Woman

Woman, do you love me?
Woman, if you need me then
Believe me I need you
To be my woman

Woman, do you love me?
Woman, if you need me then
Believe me I need you
To be my woman

And should you ask me how I’m doing?
What shall I say? Things are okay
But I know that they’re not
And I still may have lost you

Woman, do you love me?
Woman, if you need me then
Believe me I need you
To be my woman

I guess you’ll take your time and tell me
When we’re alone, love will come home
I would give up my world
If you’ll say that my girl is my woman

I’ve got plenty of time (I’ve got plenty of time)
Time just to get through it
Once again you’ll be mine (once again you’ll be mine)
I still think we can do it
And you know how much I love you

Woman, don’t forsake me
Woman, if you take me then
Believe me I’ll take you
To be my woman

Monkees – She

As a 6-year-old I watched the Monkees show in re-runs intently dreaming of one day forming a band and living all together. Most of that dream came true except the all living together…which we probably wouldn’t still like each other if that had happened. This song was popular with me because I remember the TV show and liked this song. The Monkees had their own MTV before MTV…their show would not only play videos of hits but album cuts as this was…and it’s a good one.

This song was written and produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart with lead vocals by Mickey Dolenz. He had one of the best pop voices in the sixties. “She” was on The Monkees’ second album More of the Monkees. This album was the last one they would not have much control over. The album was released without the band’s knowledge. They discovered it while they were in Cleveland, Ohio on tour. They were not happy at all. This album’s release was the key moment that started Mike Nesmith’s fight for control.

After the album was released Nesmith and the others met with Don Kirshner (the show and music creator). They met him in the Beverly Hills Hotel and Nesmith punched a hole in the wall and told Kirshner and his lawyer…“That could have been your face!” After that Nesmith was told to read his contract so Nesmith did the only thing he could do to break free from the control…he threatened to quit.

Kirshner refused to allow them to play instruments on their records, hiring seasoned studio musicians instead…although Nesmith and Tork did get to play some instruments on their first two albums. After Nesmith threatened to quit…the executives took notice. They dropped Kirshner from The Monkees completely. After he was dismissed from the Monkees…he created the Archies…because he said “I want a band that won’t talk back.”

Four months after More of the Monkees was released…The Monkees released their album Headquarters in May of 1967. This time they were in control and played their own instruments with no Kirshner to be found.

More of the Monkees peaked at #1 on the Billboard 100, in Canada, and The UK in 1967. Their first album with them playing everything…Headquarters peaked at #1 on the Billboard 100, #1 in Canada, and #2 in the UK. It tops some people’s Monkee album lists.

By the way…their next album after Headquarters, again playing most of the instruments themselves Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. also peaked at #1 on the Billboard 100 in 1967. So for those who are keeping score…that is three #1 albums released in 1967.

Here are quotes about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by each member of the Monkees.

Peter Tork: [Wenner] doesn’t care what the rules are and just operates how he sees fit. It is an abuse of power. I don’t know whether the Monkees belong in the Hall of Fame, but it’s pretty clear that we’re not in there because of a personal whim. Jann seems to have taken it harder than everyone else, and now, 40 years later, everybody says, ‘What’s the big deal? Everybody else does it.’ [Uses studio artists or backing bands.] Nobody cares now except him. He feels his moral judgment in 1967 and 1968 is supposed to serve in 2007.

Michael Nesmith: “I can see the HOF (Hall of Fame) is a private enterprise. It seems to operate as a business, and the inductees are there by some action of the owners of the Enterprise. The inductees appear to be chosen at the owner’s pleasure. This seems proper to me. It is their business in any case. It does not seem to me that the HOF carries a public mandate, nor should it be compelled to conform to one.”

Davy Jones: “I’m not as wealthy as some entertainers, but I work hard, and I think the best is yet to come. I know I’m never going to make the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but maybe there’s something else for me in show business. I’ve been given a talent—however big or little—that has given me many opportunities. I’ve got to try to use it the best way I can. A lot of people go days without having someone hug them or shake their hand. I get that all the time.”

Micky Dolenz:  “As far as the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame I’ve never been one to chase awards or anything like that; it’s never been very important to me. I was very proud to win an Emmy for The Monkees, having come out of television as a kid. When we won the Emmy for best TV show in ’66 or ’67 that was a huge feather in my cap. But I’ve never chased that kind of stuff. I’ve never done a project and thought, ‘What do I do here to win an award?’ Specifically as far as the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame I’ve been very flattered that the fans and people have championed the Monkees. Very flattered and honored that they do. If you know anything about the organization, and I’ve done charity work for the foundation, the Hall of Fame is a private club.”

She

She, she told me that she loved me,
And like a fool I believed her from the start.
She, she said she’d never hurt me,
But then she turned around and broke my heart

Why am I standing here,
Missing her and wishing she were here.
She only did me wrong;
I’m better off alone.

She, she devoured all my sweet love,
Took all I had and then she fed me dirt.
She, she laughed while I was cryin’.
It was such a joke to see the way it hurt.

Why am I standing here,
Missing her and wishing she were here.
She only did me wrong;
I’m better off alone.

And now I know just why she
Keeps me hangin’ ’round.
She needs someone to walk on,
So her feet don’t touch the ground.
But I love her,
I need her,
I want her.
Yea! Yea! Yea! Yea! Yea! Yea! She!

[Instrumental]

Why am I standing here,
Missing her and wishing she were here.
She only did me wrong now;
I’m better off alone.

Why am I missing her?
I should be kissing her.

My Least Favorite Beatle Songs

This is an interesting list to make. Everyone knows I’m a huge fan but there are some that I won’t listen to…not because they are burned out…I won’t even list those…these are ones I never really liked since I was a kid.

Some of you will notice that one “song” or experiment is not in here…that’s because I count Revolution #9 as an experiment and not a true song. I find it fascinating…a sound collage. I looked up the usual suspects… Yellow Submarine, Good Day Sunshine, Don’t Pass Me By, Rocky Raccoon, and Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da but I like those.

These are songs I’ll never post except this once.

5: Little Child – This was on their Meet The Beatles album in the US. Never liked it as a kid, teen, or now. But I did find a version I like by The Inmates that I just found recently.

4: Mister Moonlight – This song was written by someone else but I just never took to it at all…although John did a great vocal on it.

3: Can’t Buy Me Love – I know…this one seems out of place on this list but it was on the first Beatle album I ever bought (Hey Jude Again) and I skipped it even as an eight-year-old.

2: Maxwell’s Silver Hammer – I’ve heard my share of jokes about this song with me being named Max. I would like to use that damn hammer on every recording of this. I’ll never forgive Paul for introducing Maxwell to the world. The other three Beatles felt the same. There are some that really like it…more power to them!

1: Now the number 1 song…it’s the only one on the White Album I cannot and will not listen to. Wild Honey Pie. This song makes Revolution #9 look like Stairway to Heaven. I have to think they did this as a joke and just left it on. Patti Harrison liked this one so Paul left it on. Paul is the only one on this song.

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Jimmy Simpson – North To The Last Frontier

This post is more personal for me. Jimmy Simpson was my uncle…my mom’s brother. The man got around and had an interesting life. He was an extra in some movies (the one I know is The Alamo) because of his friendship with John Wayne and James Arness. He was built like them and reminded me of both.

He was born in 1928 and moved out of Tennessee in the early 50s and went to Florida and ended up in Texas working in oil fields while playing at night at clubs. He would go to gigs in Tennessee, Arkansas, Florida, Louisana, Texas, and everything in between. He wasn’t an amateur…he played with some big players like Jim Reeves’ Blue Boys.

He recorded some singles while living in Nashville and Texas. Jimmy and his wife got to know Jimmie Rodger’s widow which this below sounds like it’s heavily influenced by.

He then moved to Alaska in the late 50s to mine for gold which he was successful at. He bought into a snowmobile factory there and played country music in bars in Alaska and Canada. He also released a few albums and charted on local charts in Alaska and Canada.

Simpson Earnest Tubb
Nashville, mid-1950s. From left: Billy Byrd, Ernest Tubb, Jimmy Simpson. Courtesy Jimmy Simpson.

My dad’s side of the family made guitars and they gave Jimmy an acoustic. Gower guitars are compared to Martins and still get really high prices at shops and on eBay. He had that guitar stolen while playing in Alaska…he finally chased the guy down and got the guitar back. The man tore out one of the serial numbers inside the guitar but didn’t get by with it…and knowing my uncle Jimmy the dude was probably missing some teeth afterward. My uncle was a man’s man. He told me about it…“Max…you don’t mess with a man’s guitar…you just don’t.”

Around six months before my uncle passed away in 2014, he came by and gave me that guitar and another one his daughter once owned that our family made. I asked him why because he treasured those guitars (his daughter passed away a few years earlier) and he said, “I want you to have them before I pass away to make sure you get them.” He was 86 at the time. I will treasure them and I play them a lot. I would include a picture but they are getting serviced right now.

He also had an autobiography published in the mid-90s called A Vanishing Breed: The Gold Miner that I read and he lived 3 lifetimes in one. I remember as a kid him showing me this bag of gold…pieces as big as a quarter and very thick. You know it’s a shame…so many questions I would love to ask the man now.

Here is one recording from 1956… I’ll copy what it says from the wired-for-sound.blogspot.com. It’s called “Blue As I Can Be“…it has a little of the Johnny Cash sound in it.

Jimmy Simpson, Tennessee honky tonk singer, Texas oilfield wildcatter, and Canadian gold digger made this one superb session in a West Monroe, Louisiana radio station studio in 1956 with Bobby Garrett (steel) and Leo Jackson (lead guitar), both on hiatus from Jim Reeves’ Blue Boys. Records and gigs weren’t paying Jimmy’s rent, so he picked up jobs working in Texas oil fields for much of the 1950s, before moving to Alaska in 1957.

“I lived at Greggton, Texas (in 1956-57),” Jimmy said in an interview. “We were on our way back from Nashville to San Angelo, and we stopped at Greggton…little town just out of Longview. We had everything we owned in the car. I had my work shoes and my hardhat, ‘cause I could always go to work on an oil rig if everything else failed. In a little restaurant there in Greggton, there was a driller in there that was short-handed, and I overheard ‘em talking. I walked over there and said, “You looking for a derrick man?” He said, “Yeah. You got your work shoes and hardhat with you?” I said, “I got it all underneath the trunk of my car.”

At the time of this session, Jimmy was appearing at the famed Reo Palm Isle club in Longview. “That’s Bobby and Leo (on the session). I forget who that bass player was. He was from Monroe. I’m on rhythm guitar. I didn’t carry a fiddle at that time, but when I was in San Angelo at the Peacock Club, I had two steels and a fiddle. Everybody else would talk about two fiddles. I didn’t make any money up there myself. I was working on an oil rig. But I thought it would be different… Jiffy (Fowler) was a jukebox operator. I just kind of stumbled into him. It was a disc jockey there in Monroe, Ed Hamilton, who set us up in there and turned us loose…You know why that ‘Blue As I Can Be’ come by? Johnny Horton’s ‘I’m a Honky-Tonk Man.'” Two other songs recorded at this session were released on Big State 595 in the Starday custom series.

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Crow – Evil Woman (Don’t Play Your Games With Me)

I was browsing through songs to write about and this title jumped out at me. I had to listen to it and I recognized it right away. It’s probably been the 70s since I heard this one last. Who ever recorded the bass in this song knew what they were doing…it’s crystal clear in front.

Crow was a blues rock band from Minneapolis and their first band name was South 40. They formed in 1967 and their members were brothers guitarist Dick Wiegand and bassist Larry Wiegand, singer David Wagner, keyboardist Kink Middlemist, and drummer Harry Nehls who was replaced by Denny Craswell.

Crow gained popularity locally in Minneapolis and then expanded their reach by touring regionally. They built a strong reputation for their live performances and powerful blues-rock sound. In 1969, Crow signed a record deal with Amaret Records.

This song was on their debut album called Crow Music. It was their only big hit. and peaked at #15 in Canada and #17 on the Billboard 100 in 1969. Many people will know the song because Black Sabbath covered it with the name of just Evil Woman and it was their first single.

The band broke up in 1972…they reformed in 1980 with a different lineup. In 2005,  they were inducted into the Minnesota Rock/Country Hall of Fame and, in 2009, the Iowa Rock & Roll Music Hall of Fame. I had no clue they had those Hall of Fames in those states. They still play once in a while in the Midwest.

Larry Wiegand bass player:  “It was not a fictional story but had the same inspiration as Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.” Both tell the story of a guy who was accused of being the father of a gal’s baby. He claims he isn’t the father. ‘Evil woman, don’t play those games with me’ is his response to her accusations. Not an uncommon story for young folks – then or now. All the Crow songs were about what young folks had to deal with at one time or another. I like to think each song is a snapshot of what was happening to us at the time.”

Black Sabbath’s cover

Evil Woman (Don’t Play Your Games With Me)

I see the look of evil in your eyes
You’ve been filling me all full of lies
The morrow will not change your shameful deed
You will be someone else’ fertile seed
Evil woman, don’t play your games with me
Evil woman, don’t play your games with me

Now I know just what your looking for
You want me to claim this child you bore
But I know that it was he, not me
And you know just how it’s got to be
Evil woman, don’t play your games with me
Evil woman, don’t play your games with me

Wickedness lies in your moistened lips
Your body moves just like the crack of a whip
Black cats lay atop your satin bed
You sure wish that you could see me dead
Evil woman, don’t play your games with me
Evil woman, don’t play your games with me

…

Beach Boys – Do It Again

I remember hearing this song long in the late seventies for the first time. The intro drum sound is interesting. Their engineer at the time, Stephen Desper, came up with the drum effect heard at the beginning of the track. Desper created it by blending the original sound with that of one drum strike being repeated four times.

This song was released in 1968. By this time their popularity in America was falling since releasing Pet Sounds…which makes no sense considering the legendary status that album has. Brian Wilson and Mike Love wrote this song and went back to the surfing image with this one. The song peaked at #20 on the Billboard 100, #1 in the UK (where they remained very popular), and #10 in Canada.

This was a single release…released only two weeks after their album Friends. This was their second UK number one…the first one was Good Vibrations. Brian Wilson named “Do It Again” as one of his favorite Beach Boys original songs, offering insight into his creative process with Mike Love. He did say it was his favorite song that he co-wrote with Mike Love. Since its Spotify debut, this track has earned over 10 million plays!

Carl Wilson: Yes, I suppose it has got the old Beach Boys surfing sound. It’s back to that surfing idea with the voice harmony and the simple, direct melody and lyrics. We didn’t plan the record as a return to the surf or anything. We just did it one day round a piano in the studio. Brian had the idea and played it over to us. We improved on that and recorded it very quickly, in about five minutes. It’s certainly not an old track of ours; in fact it was recorded only a few weeks before it was released. We liked how it turned out and decided to release it.

Mike Love: “I went to the beach with my friends and we went to the surfing spot down at a place called San Onofre, down near the Marine Corps base down south. And it was such a beautiful day and the waves were great. And then of course one of the great things about the beach is it attracts good looking girls. [Laughing].”

I’ve never been a fan of Mike Love. He kicked Brian Wilson out of the band at one time and is not known as a nice guy. Here is a short clip of Brian Wilson talking about Mike Love.

Do It Again

It’s automatic when I
Talk with old friends
The conversation turns to
Girls we knew when
Their hair was soft and long
And the beach was the place to go

Suntanned bodies and
Waves of sunshine
The California girls and a
Beautiful coastline
Warmed up weather
Let’s get together and do it again

With a girl the lonely sea looks good
Makes your night times warm and out of sight

Been so long, long, long, long
Been, been, been, been, been
Been, been, been, been, been

Been so long

Hey now, hey now, hey now, hey now, hey now
Hey now, hey now, hey now, hey now, hey now
Hey now, hey now

Well I’ve been thinking ’bout
All the places we’ve surfed and danced and
All the faces we’ve missed so let’s get
Back together and do it again

Beatles – Any Time At All

I’m 8-9 years old again when I hear this song. It’s not a deep meaningful song but it’s just catchy and good. I heard it first in 1976 on the Beatles compilation album Rock and Roll Music. That was terrible packaging…not the albums but the packaging itself. It made the Beatles look like they were popular in the 1950s.

Beatles Rock and Roll Music InsideBeatles Rock and Roll Music Outside

Ringo Starr said: “It made us look cheap and we never were cheap. All that Coca-Cola and cars with big fins was the Fifties!” John Lennon told Capitol that the cover looked like a Monkees reject. He offered to design the cover but was declined. That doesn’t mean the album didn’t contain great music…a double album full of some great songs.

This song was on the UK version of A Hard Day’s Night album.  In America, it was on the Something New album. They were pressed for time and John finished the song off while on vacation and brought it to the studio. Lennon is believed to be the only writer of this song. This one was known then as an album track but it’s not like it doesn’t have a nice hook.

We know that Paul is very active in songwriting but on this album, John ended up writing 10 of the 13 songs. I had a book that measured each of them in the Lennon/McCartney songs and Lennon wrote a larger percentage, most of that because of the early days.

John later said it was an effort in re-writing It Won’t Be Long (my first favorite Beatle song) and it’s true. It’s also got some of All I’ve Got To Do theme in it.

On the albums in America. Something New peaked at #2 on the Billboard 100 and #2 in Canada. The reason it peaked at #2? A Hard Day’s Night was released in America on June 26, 1964, and peaked at #1 in America and Canada. Something New was released less than a month later on July 20, 1964. A Hard Days Night held its sister album off. There were 6 Beatles albums released in America and 5 in Canada in 1964. In the UK there were 2 released in 1964. Capitol pulled songs from 1962-1963 and all of them came rolling out.

I’ve also included the song It Won’t Be Long. A very underrated Beatles early rocker which they never played live for some reason. When you are 8 years old…that guitar riff sounded so cool…wait a minute…it does now also!

John Lennon: “An effort in writing ‘It Won’t Be Long’ – same ilk. C to A minor, C to A minor with me shouting.”

George Harrison:  “Paul and John write a song, bring it into the studio and usually, nine times out of ten, Ringo and I haven’t heard the song before, and we get into the studio and try all different arrangements. We all stick little bits here and there, you know.”

My first favorite Beatles song It Won’t Be Long

Any Time At All

Any time at all, any time at all
Any time at all, all you gotta do is call
And I’ll be there

If you need somebody to love
Just look into my eyes
I’ll be there to make you feel right
If you’re feeling sorry and sad
I’d really sympathize
Don’t you be sad, just call me tonight

Any time at all, any time at all
Any time at all, all you gotta do is call
And I’ll be there

If the sun has faded away
I’ll try to make it shine
There is nothing I won’t do
When you need a shoulder to cry on
I hope it will be mine
Call me tonight and I’ll come to you

Any time at all, any time at all
Any time at all, all you gotta do is call
And I’ll be there

Any time at all, any time at all
Any time at all, all you gotta do is call
And I’ll be there
Any time at all, all you gotta do is call
And I’ll be there

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Bobby “Blue” Bland – Turn On Your Love Light

Bobby “Blue” Bland, a renowned singer from Tennessee, gained popularity in the 1950s and 60s. His hit song “Turn On Your Love Light” was covered by various artists, including Van Morrison and The Grateful Dead. Bland’s career faced financial troubles but he continued to chart until the 1980s. His influence is felt across genres.

Turn on your love light, let it shine on me
And let it shine, shine, shine, let it shine

I learned about this guy through different sources. Van Morrison, Pig Pen, and finally Gregg Allman… all of them covered it. The other artists are  Lonnie Mack, The Rascals, Tom Jones, Edgar Winter’s White Trash, Bob Seger, Jerry Lee Lewis, Conway Twitty, and Jeff Beck just to name a few. The first version I heard was from Them, Van Morrison’s early band.

Bobby Blue Bland was from Rosemark Tennesse. He started to get popular in the 1950s and 60s. Some of Bland’s most famous songs include “Turn On Your Love Light,” “Stormy Monday Blues,” “Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City,” and “I Pity the Fool.” This song was written by Joseph Wade Scott and Deadric Malone.

Bland released this song in 1961 and it peaked at #28 on the Billboard 100 and #2 on the Billboard R&B Charts. Allman has talked about playing this on the jukebox. When you hear someone like Gregg Allman say that Bobby “Blue” Bland is one of his singing idols…you know something great is there waiting to be heard. This I have heard before and was impressed even without Mr. Allman’s recommendation. If you want to hear something that was just once in a lifetime…The Allman Brothers AND The Grateful Dead together at the Fillmore doing this song. 

Bland began his career in Memphis, Tennessee, with bluesman B.B. King and ballad singer Johnny Ace (all three were part of a loose aggregation of musicians known as the Beale Streeters). He had some hits in the 50s and early 60s but had some financial troubles in 1968 and had to break up his band.

His record company was then sold to ABC Dunhill and he started up his career again and continued to chart til the 1980s. Of all bands…Whitesnake covered his song Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City in 1978 and charted in the UK in 1980.

Below I have Them with Van Morrison, The Grateful Dead with Pig Pen, and the last one Bobby Blue Bland who they were all getting this from.

Turn On Your Love Light

Without a warning you broke my heart
You took it darlin’ and you tore it apart
You left me sitting in the dark, crying
You said your love for me was dying

I’m begging you, baby, baby please
I’m begging you, baby, baby please
Turn on the light, let it shine on me
Turn on your love light, let it shine on me
And let it shine, shine, shine, let it shine

And I wanna know
When I

I get a little lonely
In the middle of the night
I need you darlin’
To make things alright

Come on baby, come on please
Come on baby, baby please
Turn on the light, let it shine on me
Turn on your love light, let it shine on me
A little bit higher, a little bit higher
Just a little bit higher, a little bit higher
A little bit higher

Come on, baby, come on please
I’m begging you, baby, I’m down on my knees
Turn on the light, let it shine on me
Turn on your love light, let it shine on me

I feel alright, I feel alright
I feel alright, I feel alright, baby

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Ten Years After – I’m Going Home

I was reading about Bruce Springsteen in the 70s and the book said that some people called him “Alvin Lee by the Sea” because of his guitar playing. I thought to myself…hmm, I need to check out Alvin Lee. We all know “I’d Love To Change The World”  but I remembered another song from the Woodstock soundtrack. CB brought it up the other day, and after I clicked on the link, it returned to me.

That guitar intro to this song just ripped through my headphones when I listened to it yesterday. Alvin Lee was so aggressive on guitar and I love it. It was pedal to the floor and never looking back.

Ten Years After’s music was characterized by Alvin Lee’s guitar playing and their excellent live performances. They released their first album Ten Years After in 1967. This song was from the live album Undead released in 1968. It was written by Alvin Lee.

Their popularity kicked in after the Woodstock triple album soundtrack came out in 1970. That album was one of my first live albums. This song performance is one of the film’s standout performances. I’m Going Home was a live staple in the band’s set for a couple years and then was released as a three-minute edited single.

The single version

Woodstock Performance

I’m Going Home

Goin’ home, my babyGoin’ home, my babyGoin’ home, to see my baby

Our baby, how goodMy baby, be goodI’m goin’ home, my babyHome to see my girl

Oh baby, baby, I’m coming homeBaby, baby I’m coming homeTell me mama, baby, I’m coming home

Gonna see my baby, see my baby fineGonna take my baby, want to take my baby mineHoping my woman treats me real kind

I’m goin’ home, my babyI’m goin’ home, to see my babyGoin’ home, my baby

Gonna see my baby, see my baby fineTake my baby, take my baby mineGonna tell your mama how good that love of ours

I’m goin’ home, to see my babyI’m goin’ home, to see my babyOh, baby ooh

Gonna take you back, take where love belongTreat me baby, treat, don’t treat me wrong

Oh, baby, I’m rollin’Baby, baby, I’m rollin’Baby, baby, I’m rollin’

Won’t you shake me, baby, well get you rollin’ downWon’t you shake me, baby, well get you rollin’ downOh, baby, we’re gonna have some fun

Baby, please don’t go, baby, please don’t goBaby, please don’t go, baby, please don’t goPlease don’t go, she’s cold, I need you

Comin’ home, ooh, heyCome on over baby, whole lotta shakin’ goin’ onI’m goin’ home, to see my babyHome, to see my girl, ooh

I’m goin’ home, take my babyI’m goin’ home, see my babyGonna take me back, I’ll take her where I belong

I’m goin’ home, to see my babyI’m goin’ home, to see my babyCome on, take me, yeah

I’m goin’ home, I’m goin’ homeI’m goin’ home, hey, hooGonna take me back back back where I belong

I’m goin’ home, I’m goin’ homeI’m goin’ home, I’m goin’ homeHoo, hoo, right where I belong

…

Jefferson Airplane – Somebody To Love

This will wrap up the visit to the 60s and ’70s San Francisco sound. Sorry for not covering The Grateful Dead and Joplin…but I post those two regularly. My whole reason for blogging is to learn new artists and the stories behind those artists and songs. This week I posted 4 artists I never posted about before. I also picked up a few good songs. I was impressed by these artists. Also thank you to the ones who told me their stories of that time… Phil, Jim, and halffastcyclingclub…those are the stories I love hearing.

***Also, I want to ask my readers something…were you at the famous Watkins Glen concert held in New York in 1973 that drew 600,000 people? If you were there I would love to hear your story. Jim has given me his story so I can repost my post about that concert on the anniversary. Thank you so much.

I’ve only posted one song by this band version, so I’m happy to do another. I always favored the Airplane over Jefferson Starship a little and REALLY favored either one over just the 1980s Starship. I first learned about them in Gimme Shelter…the Stones film about Altamont and the destruction there. Marty Balin was knocked out cold there by the Hell’s Angels.

And here it is…”You gotta keep your bodies off of each other unless you intend love…” Grace Slick.

This is one of those songs played in most movies about the 1960s. It’s one of those songs that transport you there even if you weren’t…at least you think you are.

Grace Slick was in a band named The Great Society that featured her brother-in-law who wrote this song, Darby Slick. She was married to Jerry Slick, the drummer of the band. It was released as a single from that band but did nothing. The Great Society also did another song that Slick wrote…White Rabbit.

Darby Slick started to see the downside to free love that was taking over. He saw jealousy and disconnect with some. This song is about loyalty to one person and finding one person to be with.

The Great Society opened for the Jefferson Airplane at some shows. Grace Slick said she always looked at them with awe. When she was approached to join, she jumped at the chance. That essentially ended The Great Society. She brought both songs over with her to Jefferson Airplane. They play it faster, harder, and cleaner. They set up the pause before the chorus that kicks the whole song forward using dynamics. And their arrangement suits Grace Slick’s voice much better than the original.

The song was on the Surrealistic Pillow album released in 1967. The album peaked at #3 on the Billboard Album Charts and #5 in Canada.

Somebody To Love peaked at #1 in Canada and #5 on the Billboard 100. 

Somebody To Love

When the truth is found to be liesAnd all the joy within you diesDon’t you want somebody to loveDon’t you need somebody to loveWouldn’t you love somebody to loveYou better find somebody to loveLove, love

When the garden flowers, baby are dead, yes andYour mind, your mind is so full of redDon’t you want somebody to loveDon’t you need somebody to loveWouldn’t you love somebody to loveYou better find somebody to love

Your eyes, I say your eyes may look like hisYeah, but in your head, babyI’m afraid you don’t know where it isDon’t you want somebody to loveDon’t you need somebody to loveWouldn’t you love somebody to loveYou better find somebody to love

Tears are running downThey’re all running down your breastAnd your friends, babyThey treat you like a guestDon’t you want somebody to loveDon’t you need somebody to loveWouldn’t you love somebody to loveYou better find somebody to love

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New Riders of the Purple Sage –  Lonesome L.A. Cowboy

This is a band I’ve read about and I’ve liked most of what I’ve heard. They have a long history and are still going now. The membership is fluid in this band. Many have performed with them including Jerry Garcia, Mickey Hart, Phil Lesh, Spencer Dryden, Robert Hunter, and more.

This band grew out of jam sessions between Jerry Garcia and John “Marmaduke” Dawson in 1969. Their name was based on a band that included Foy Willing and The Riders of the Purple Sage…yea they just added the “new” and off they went…it worked. Jerry Garcia was learning the pedal steel guitar and they played a few small clubs initially. The two soon picked up Peter Grant on banjo, David Nelson on lead guitar, Bob Mathews on bass, and Mickey Hart on drums and that was the beginning of  The New Riders of the Purple Sage.

They would often open for the Grateful Dead. Garcia would leave in 1971 but he would go back to them from time to time and play with them live and on albums. Garcia had many side projects going on when the Dead were not touring and recording.

From what I’ve heard of this band…I think of the Flying Burrito Brothers. I love name-dropping songs and this one has them. Kris Kristofferson, Rita Coolidge, and Martin Mull was mentioned. Along with L.A.’s music hangouts like Barney’s Beanery and the Troubadour. The song was on the album The Adventures of Panama Red and was written by Peter Rowan. It peaked at #55 on the Billboard 100.

And off of their website: The New Riders of the Purple Sage received a Lifetime Achievement Award from High Times magazine at their Doobie Awards in September 2002 and performed a brief set (which included “Lonesome L.A. Cowboy” and “Panama Red” with Peter Rowan) at the festivities at B.B. King’s Blues Club in New York City.

Henry’s taken the brakes off and 2006 finds the New Riders of the Purple Sage back on the road with a revived and inspired lineup, bringing the songs of John Dawson back to the ears of adoring crowds nationwide as well as taking those songs to places they’ve never been before musically. Led by David Nelson and Buddy Cage, the current touring lineup includes Michael Falzarano (Hot Tuna) on guitar and vocals, Ronnie Penque on bass and vocals and Johnny Markowski on drums and vocals. John Dawson passed away on July 21 2009 but before he passed he had given the guys his blessing and was excited to know his music is being heard live again by a whole new generation of fans. The new lineup vows to keep the NRPS spirit and tunes alive by taking them to fans everywhere.  In 2009 the band released its first studio album in 20 years called Where I Come From on Woodstock Records. It features new songs written by David Nelson and Robert Hunter, Michael Falzarano, Johnny Markowski, and Ronnie Penque. The band continues to grow breaking out new songs on every tour while staying true to the legacy that was started over 40 years ago by John Dawson and Jerry Garcia.

Lonesome L.A. Cowboy

I’m just a lonesome l.a. cowboy,Hangin’ out, hangin’ onTo your window ledge, callin’ your nameFrom midnight until dawnI been smokin’ dope, snortin’ coke,Tryin’ to write a songForgettin’ everything I know‘Til the next line comes alongForgettin’ everything I know‘Til the next line comes alongThere’s so many pretty people in the city,I swear some of them are girlsI meet’em down at Barney’s beaneryWith their platform heels and spit curlsI buy’em drinks, we smoke our hopesTry to make it one more nightBut when I’m left all alone at lastI feel like I’ll die from frightRepeat Well, I know Kris and Rita, and Marty MullAre meeting at the troubadourWe’ll get it on with the joy of cookingWhile the crowd crys out for more‘Round six o’clock this morningI’ll be gettin’ kind of slowWhen all the shows are over, honey,Tell me, where do you think I go?Repeat

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Quicksilver Messenger Service – Fresh Air

This is a band I knew nothing about going in but I have a new respect for them now. I didn’t think I knew any of their songs…but I have heard this one. When I pick these bands that I’m learning about I usually pick a radio-friendly song to introduce them. After listening to their songs…there are songs I like a little more but this one is great and I’ve heard it somewhere at some point. It’s a cool song.

Quicksilver Messenger Service was formed in 1965 and quickly rose to prominence alongside peers like Jefferson Airplane, Moby Grape,  and Grateful Dead. With their melodies, guitar work, and some experimentation, Quicksilver became synonymous with the psychedelic scene. The members included John Cipollina on guitar, Gary Duncan on guitar, Greg Elmore on drums, David Freiberg on bass, and Jim Murray on guitar and harmonica…it also included the famous British session player Nicky Hopkins at one time. In 1970 it included Dino Valenti.

Their history is confusing because I get different stories as I read on. One of the members and possibly the founding member was Chester William Powers, Jr. He was known as Chet Powers and his stage name was Dino Valenti. But we are not done…as a songwriter he was known as Jesse Oris Farrow. He wrote the very popular “Get Together” made famous by The Youngbloods in 1967. He and Gary Duncan wrote this song…Fresh Air.

It seems that Cipollina and Duncan helped form the band with Dino Valenti in 1964-65. Valenti was busted for pot and amphetamine possession right after and sold his rights to Get Together for a legal defense. He spent time in jail until 1968. When he got out he made a solo album and even opened up for Jimi Hendrix at the Fillmore West. He would finally join Quicksilver in late 1969 or early 1970.

Fresh Air was released as a single in 1970 and also appeared on their album Just for Love. The album peaked at #27 on the Billboard Album Charts and #49 on the Billboard 100. Dino Valenti does the lead vocals on this song. They were a popular band because 4 of their album were in the top 30 of the Billboard Album Charts.

There is much more history to this band than I have of course. I will post another one by them shortly and expand on some of their history.

The band is still going with David Freiberg.

David Freiberg on the name: “Originally there were four Virgos in the band, and one Gemini. Of the four Virgos, there were only two birthdays: John and I were born on August 24, and Gary and Greg were born on September 4…. The ruling planet for Virgo in astrology is Mercury, and it is for Gemini also. So in searching for a name, we said, ‘Well, let’s see – mercury’s the same as quicksilver, right? Mercury’s the messenger god? Quicksilver Messenger Service.’” 

John Cipollina: It was Valenti who organized the group. I can remember everything Dino said. “We were all going to have wireless guitars. We were going to have leather jackets made with hooks that we could hook these wireless instruments right into. And we were gonna have these chicks, backup rhythm sections that were gonna dress like American Indians with real short little dresses on and they were gonna have tambourines and the clappers in the tambourines were going to be silver coins.” And I’m sitting there going, ‘This guy is gonna happen and we’re gonna set the world on its ear.’

Gary Duncan: That’s the story Cipollina told everybody. But according to Dino, that wasn’t the case at all. When he’d been looking for a band, he’d talked to Cipollina, and everybody somehow put two and two together. He actually lived with us when he got out of prison, and while we played some music together and wrote songs, he had no interest in playing in Quicksilver; he wanted to start his own career. Well, when his own career didn’t do so well, he had more interest in playing in Quicksilver!

Fresh Air

Oh, what you do to me
Oh, what you do to me, little girl
Oh, have another hit of sweet air
Oh, have another hit

I want to know where you going
I want to know, sweet mama, where you gonna go?
Oh, have another hit of fresh air
Oh, have another hit

Oh, baby what you gonna do?
I what to know what you gonna do sweet thing?
Oh, have another hit of sweet love in the morning
Oh, have another hit

I love you, yes I do
I love you, god knows I do
Oh, have another hit of sweet California sunshine
Oh, have another hit

Take me home, take me home
Take me home, I wanna go home with you
Oh, have another hit of fresh air
Oh, have another hit

Moby Grape – Hey Grandma

This week I’m hitting the San Francisco sound of the 1960s. This is one area that I haven’t touched on much since I’ve been blogging besides The Dead and Janis Joplin. Those two I’ve talked about quite a bit so I’ll probably leave those off this week. I can’t tell you how much fun this is. The whole point of blogging for me is to find new songs that I haven’t heard…whether old or new.  I hope you enjoy this week as we visit an area that I’m not familiar with very much.

I’ve read about this band but never heard their music. They really blew me away! They were very tight and their harmonies were great. I will post something else by this band in the future. So far I’ve found out that they are very much a song band. Not a band who will extend a song to 15 minutes…they got to the point and got out.

Alright, buckle up for a trip back to the groovy 60s! Moby Grape was this super cool band from San Francisco that rocked the scene with their unique blend of psychedelic rock. They were formed by Canadian Skip Spence and Matthew Katz. Katz was the former manager of the Jefferson Airplane and Spence was the Airplane’s original drummer. Katz asked Spence to form a band like The Jefferson Airplane.

I listen to this band and I think..how did they not make it? It comes back to some bad luck and some self-sabotage. They had it all…including five members who could all write, sing and play. Record labels were lining up for them. They have since fought for decades between each other and especially their manager Matthew Katz. Other bands like Buffalo Springfield said that Moby Grape was one of the best bands from San Francisco.

They faced more drama than your favorite soap opera. From internal squabbles to management mishaps, it was like they couldn’t catch a break. And for the icing on the cake…they were overhyped by CBS Records.

This next bit of info took me by surprise. CBS actually released 5…yes FIVE singles at once by the band. The label was convinced that each of the 10 sides had the potential to make it to the top of the national charts. The thinking was that a shot-gun approach would ensure that at least one of the five would hit and garner maximum airplay and revenue. It failed miserably. Rock magazines, underground newspapers, and the mainstream press viewed the ploy as a cynical way to move products. Having your record company behind you is good, but who could live up to that? Their reputation suffered greatly.

This was the last single of that batch to be released. It peaked at #127 on the Billboard 100 and #94 on Cashbox. The highest charting single was Omaha, another really good song and it peaked at #88 on the Billboard 100 and #87 in Canada in 1967. The album did much better. The self-titled album Moby Grape peaked at #24 on the Billboard Album Charts.

Moby Grape was formed in 1966 with Peter Lewis as rhythm guitarist. Jerry Miller on lead guitar, Bob Mosley as the bassist and vocalist. Skip Spence on rhythm guitar and experimental drummer, and Don Stevenson on drums and he did some vocals. Their debut album, simply titled Moby Grape was released in 1967. It featured tracks like “Omaha” and “Hey Grandma” became instant Moby Grape classics, showing off the band’s killer harmonies and eclectic sound.

I really like the guitar work in this. Their harmonies sound like the future Grateful Dead would in the early seventies. Things took a darker turn with Skip Spence, one of their star members, battling personal demons. His struggles with mental health and substance abuse led to him leaving the band in 1969. He would return in 1971 and later as they disbanded and came back together.

They are still together with some of the original members. Peter Lewis, Jerry Miller, Bob Mosley, and Don Stevenson. Skip Spencer died in 1999 of lung cancer. His son Omar Spence is now with Moby Grape…singing his dad’s songs. There is a cult following of this band and they had the talent to do much more. This is a case of a record company really hurting them the opposite way they usually do.

Peter Lewis:  “We were so young. All we wanted to do was be free. What made us feel worse was that Buffalo Springfield seemed to be getting along fine. They didn’t like Katz at all. Neil Young was up there at the Ark, sitting right there when we were told we had to sign this paper giving away rights to the name. I remember him sitting there, playing this orange Gretsch he had and staring down at his feet. He didn’t say anything. But after that meeting, he told us not to do it. Don’t ask me why, but we did. When Rubinson came along, he said that if we signed with Columbia he’d get rid of Katz for us. Then after he got us signed [in February 1967] he came back and said that the Columbia lawyers couldn’t do it, that they’d made a deal behind our backs. Then we were really screwed.”

Hey Grandma

Hey Grandma, you’re so youngYour old man’s just a boyBeen a long time this time (pow-pow-pow)Been a long time this time (pow-pow-pow)Been a long time this time round, this time roundEverything is upside down, upside downSure lookin’ goodYou’re lookin’ so goodYou’re sure lookin’ good

SF freak scene was on my mindFillmore Slim is just a-wasting timeWell I got high this time (pow-pow-pow)Well I got high this time (pow-pow-pow)Well I got high this time round, this time roundEverything is upside down, upside downCause your lookin’ goodYou’re lookin’ so goodYou’re sure lookin’ good

Robitussin make me feel so fineRobitussin and Elderberry wineHey GrandmaHey GrandmaHey GrandmaHey Grandma

Who – Go To The Mirror

I just can’t get enough of this band. Not counting the Beatles…this is the band I would take to a deserted island and listen to. Not only in the studio but especially live. In their concert prime, between 69-76, they were untouchable in pure rock.

This song is on their Tommy album. I just listened to the album again and I have only one complaint. The production is thin and they don’t sound like The WHO. I have the studio and live version at the bottom. When they took this album on the road it really blossomed and turned into a Who mini opera. Their next album Live At Leeds and Who’s Next made them, along with Led Zeppelin, two of the biggest bands of the 70s.

Tommy is about a deaf, dumb, and blind boy who plays pinball. He is not really deaf, dumb, or blind but he dissociates himself from society and those around him. No one can break through his shell.

This song is about him seeing a doctor. The doctor confirms that there is nothing physically wrong with Tommy and his condition is caused by mental blocks from trauma as a kid. The doctor says Tommy will come out naturally. He is encouraged to go to the mirror where they know he is getting some kind of stimulation. In the mirror Tommy sings to his enlightened self “listening to you”, furthering his spiritual journey.

It’s a song that you will hear the familiar refrains running through this concept album. The “See Me, Feel Me” and “Listening to you, I get the music” parts.

Go To The Mirror

He seems to be completely unreceptiveThe tests I gave him show no sense at allHis eyes react to light the dials detect itHe hears but cannot answer to your call

See me, feel me, touch me, heal meSee me, feel me, touch me, heal me

There is no chance no untried operationAll hope lies with him and none with meImagine though the shock from isolationWhen he suddenly can hear and speak and see

See me, feel me, touch me, heal meSee me, feel me, touch me, heal me

His eyes can seeHis ears can hear his lips speakAll the time the needles flick and rockNo machine can give the kind of stimulationNeeded to remove his inner block

Go to the mirror boy!Go to the mirror boy!

I often wonder what he is feelingHas he ever heard a word I’ve said?Look at him in the mirror dreamingWhat is happening in his head?

Listening to you, I get the musicGazing at you, I get the heatFollowing you, I climb the mountainI get excitement at your feet!

Right behind you, I see the millionsOn you, I see the gloryFrom you, I get opinionsFrom you, I get the story

What is happening in his headOoooh I wish I knew, I wish I knew