I have this hanging in my music room. I saw it on shirts, bumper stickers, and walls everywhere once upon a time. This phrase was used in a song from the 1930s called “Truckin’ My Blues Away” by Blind Boy Fuller and is the origin of this image.
In the seventies as a kid…I remember this phrase and picture everywhere. I saw bumper stickers, pics in magazines, and on patches for pants. In one local restaurant I went to as a kid they had this poster in the dining room. Fast forward to the 90s and the picture was still there. The place was sold in the 2000s and I tried to get the poster but they threw it away…arghhhh. It would have been cool to have that original one.
Besides the smiley face…it’s one of the most iconic graphics of the 1970s. It was created by Robert Crumb for Zap Comics in 1968. The image was used many times without his permission for years. It was claimed that the Trademark symbol ™ was not on the original drawing.
Crumb went to court and the court ruled it Public Domain. The decision was later reversed in 1977. He sued many for using it including Amazon 2005. Crumb also came up with Fritz the Cat…
Quotes from Robert Crumb on the drawing.
For a while I was most well known for that [the Janis Joplin album cover, and for “Keep on Truckin’.” That was a drawing that came out of LSD trips, and the words came from a Blind Boy Fuller song from 1935. I drew it in my sketchbook and then for Zap. It sort of caught the popular imagination. It became a horrible popular thing.
Take Keep On Truckin’… for example. Keep on Truckin’… is the curse of my life. This stupid little cartoon caught on hugely. … I didn’t want to turn into a greeting card artist for the counter-culture! I didn’t want to do ‘shtick’—the thing Lenny Bruce warned against. That’s when I started to let out all my perverse sex fantasies. It was the only way out of being “America’s Best Loved Hippie Cartoonist.”
In the 1980s I worked at a printing place and I was a stock guy basically. I was in a locked cage full of printer and copier parts and my job was to put the place in order. They never had a stock boy before and I organized everything. When I was there I would listen to an oldies channel that played 50s – 70s songs and I learned about Johnny Rivers that way with Poor Side of Town, Slow Dancing, Summer Rain, Secret Agent Man, and many more including Seventh Son.
This is a song written by the blues legend Willie Dixon. Willie Mabon did the first version of this song back in 1955. The song is based on the folklore that a seventh son of a seventh son has mystical powers, such as prophecy and healing. The blues version never really hit big but this pop/rock version by Rivers did.
Rivers recorded live at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles, like many of his early hits. River’s version of it brought it to a mainstream audience. Rivers was different than many of his peers, he successfully mixed blues, rock, and pop for a teen audience. Rivers never wrote much but when he did…it was fantastic. He wrote his biggest hit Poor Side Of Town but only wrote a few more songs in his career to date.
The song was released in 1965 and peaked at #1 in Canada and #7 on the Billboard 100. It came from the album Meanwhile Back at the Whisky à Go Go and it peaked at #21 on the Billboard Album Charts.
Willie Dixon: The Seventh Son is kind of a historical idea. In New Orleans and Algiers, Louisiana, they have these people calling themselves born for good luck because they’re the seventh sister or seventh brother or the seventh child. The world has made a pattern out of this seven as a lucky number. Most people think the seventh child has the extra wisdom and knowledge to influence other people.
Seventh Son
Everybody talkin’ ’bout the seventh son In the whole wide world there is only one
And I’m the one, I’m the one I’m the one, I’m the one The one they call the seventh son
I can tell your future, it will come to pass I can do things to you make your heart feel glad Look in the sky, predict the rain Tell when a woman’s got another man
I’m the one, oh, I’m the one I’m the one, I’m the one The one they call the seventh son
I can talk these words that will sound so sweet They will even make your little heart skip a beat Heal the sick, raise the dead Make the little girls talk outta their heads
I’m the one, oh, I’m the one I’m the one, I’m the one The one they call the seventh son
I can talk these words that will sound so sweet They will even make your little heart skip a beat Heal the sick, raise the dead And make the little girls talk outta their heads
I’m the one, oh, I’m the one I’m the one, I’m the one The one they call the seventh son
I’m the one, hey, hey I’m the one Oh, I’m the one, babe Ooh, I’m the one I’m the one, I’m the one The one they call the seventh son I’m the one, I’m the one The one they call the seventh son
People tend to hate me Coz I never smile As I ransack their homes They wanna’ shake my hand
Good Who song that was not as well known as some of their others. In 1999 it was featured in the movie “The Limey”. This was The Who’s first single released after Tommy. I first heard it in the early 80s and it helped me become a huge Who fan.
Like most of Townshend’s songs around this time it was influenced by spiritual teachings and figures such as Meher Baba. It was recorded at IBC Studios in London during the sessions for Who’s Next but wasn’t included on that album. It’s been covered by Rush, The Smithereens, Joe Lynn Turner, Leslie West, and Nick Piunti.
The song was released as a single only at the time. After that, it was on the great album Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy released in 1971. It’s one of my favorite compilation albums. That album introduced me to pre-Who’s Next music. This one has a raw power to it and it’s pushed by Pete’s riff and Keith Moon driving the song along.
In 1970 The Seeker peaked at #44 in the Billboard 100, #19 in the UK and #21 in Canada.
Pete Townshend: “It sounded great in the mosquito-ridden swamp I made it up in – Florida at three in the morning, drunk out of my mind. But that’s where the trouble always starts, in the swamp.”
The Seeker
I’ve looked under chairs I’ve looked under tables I’ve tried to find the key To fifty million fables
They call me The Seeker I’ve been searchin’ low and high I won’t get to get what I’m after Till the day I die
I asked Bobby Dylan I asked the Beatles I asked Timothy Leary But he couldn’t help me either
They call me The Seeker I’ve been searchin’ low and high I won’t get to get what I’m after Till the day I die
People tend to hate me Coz I never smile As I ransack their homes They wanna’ shake my hand
Focusing on nowhere Investigating miles I’m a seeker I’m a really desperate man
I wont get to get what I’m after Till the day I die
I learned how to raise my voice in anger Yeah but look at my face ain’t this a smile
I’m happy when life’s good and when its bad I cry I got values but I don’t know how or why
I’m lookin’ for me You’re lookin’ for you Were lookin’ at each other and we don’t know what to do
They call me The Seeker I been searchin’ low and high I wont get to get what I’m after Till the day I die
No, it’s not a new or old rock band. I have posted on many icons and events of the 1960s-1970s but never really concentrated on this big fellow.
I know as a kid…Bigfoot was part of the culture and kids thought yea…he is real. Native American legends tell of large, hairy human-like creatures that have been part of Indigenous cultures across North America for centuries. Many tribes have their own names and variations of Bigfoot, each with distinct characteristics and significance.
The most famous film clip was the Patterson-Gimlin footage from 1967.
Jeffery Meldrum is a professor of anatomy and anthropology at Idaho State University, and he’s known for being one of the few academics to openly study Sasquatch. “It’s all so easy to say, ‘Obviously that’s a man in a fur suit.’ Until you see it up against a man in a fur suit.”
The National Geographic documentary Mystery 360: Bigfoot Revealed, where they went absolutely all-out to try and recreate the Patterson-Gimlin bigfoot with modern technology (suit and all…) but ultimately couldn’t. Before this documentary, everyone assumed there was someone with a gorilla suit.
No matter how real the subject in the film appears, how much muscle movement you think you see, or how unhuman they claim the gait is, the subject has no corroborating specimen, and can therefore be no more than a question mark. The film has always been, is, and likely always will be an unsettled controversy.
In 2003 Bob Heironimus, a retired Pepsi bottler from Yakima, Washington came out and said that he played Bigfoot in the film. “It’s time to let this thing go. I’ve been burdened with this for 36 years, seeing the film clip on TV numerous times. Somebody’s making lots of money off this, except for me. But that’s not the issue — the issue is that it’s time to finally let people know the truth.” Heironimus, 63, makes his full “confession,” as he calls it, in a published book by paranormal investigator Greg Long. He also wanted money from the film and filed a suit but it never went anywhere.
Tom Malone, a lawyer in Minneapolis, on behalf of Bob Gimlin, an associate of the now-dead Bigfoot filmmaker. “I’m authorized to tell you that nobody wore a gorilla suit or monkey suit and that Mr. Gimlin’s position is that it’s absolutely false and untrue.” And the mystery lives on . . .
Many have broken the film down frame by frame and investigating it. It’s really interesting.
I remember on television that some shows featured Bigfoot. The Six Million Dollar Man featured Bigfoot and don’t think we were all watching at the time. There has been many documentaries on him and movies including Harry And The Hendersons. We cannot forget the monster truck Bigfoot.
Bigfoot is part of our popular culture and will probably always be but I would guess he peaked in the 1970s.
When I played music as I was younger our singer could sing Journey songs and AC/DC songs (from both singers) but when it came to Orbison…a totally different story. Mark is a very good singer but he balked at Roy Orbison. He told me that couldn’t happen…at least not in the way Roy did it.
Not only did the man have a once in a generation voice he was also known to be an extremely nice and good guy. He went through so many tragedies in his short life. He lived around 30 minutes from me but I never got to catch him in concert or just seeing him.
There was a quote that Tom Petty gave…that when he joined the Wilburys he called his mom and told her “Mom, I’m in a band with Roy Orbison!” Not Mom I’m in a band with Bob Dylan or a Beatle George Harrison…no it was Roy. That voice was golden and magical but he paid for his success dearly as you will read below.
In 1957, Orbison married his sweetheart, Claudette Frady. She was 17 at the time and he was 21. As the young couple’s romance was soon thrust into jeopardy given Orbison’s rapid rise to fame, cracks began to appear. In November 1964, Orbison divorced Claudette over her alleged infidelities. However, within ten months, the pair had reconciled their differences and were once more in a loving relationship. They had three children.
It started on June 6, 1966, when Claudette and Roy were riding motorcycles. Claudette hit the door of a pickup truck and was killed instantly. Orbison poured himself into his work after that. He wrote and toured but was out of step with the mid to late-sixties music. It was in Birmingham, England in September 1968 when catastrophe struck once more. News reached Orbison that a fire had broken out at his home in Tennessee and that his two eldest sons had tragically passed away. His younger child went to live with his grandparents.
This song was written by Orbison and Joe Melson and released in 1961. It was a smash here, peaking at #2 on the Billboard 100, #3 in Canada, #11, and #25 in the UK. It would hit again in 1980-81, with Don Mclean covering it. It peaked at #5 on the Billboard 100, #1 on the Canadian Country Charts, #7 in Canada, #11 in New Zealand, and #1 in the UK.
Roy Orbison died suddenly on December 6, 1988, in Hendersonville Tennessee. His new album Mystery Girl would be released around a month and a half after Roy passed. The album was hugely successful peaking at #5 in America and #4 in Canada.
Crying
I was alright for a while, I could smile for a while Then I saw you last night, you held my hand so tight When you stopped to say, “Hello” You wished me well, you couldn’t tell
That I’d been crying over you Crying over you then you said, “So long” Left me standing all alone Alone and crying,
Crying, crying, crying It’s hard to understand That the touch of your hand Can start me crying
I thought that I was over you But it’s true, so true I love you even more than I did before But darling what can I do? For you don’t love me and I’ll always be
Crying over you Crying over you Yes, now you’re gone And from this moment on I’ll be crying, crying, crying, crying, Crying, crying, over you
I didn’t know what to think when I heard this song for the first time. It is very atmospheric to listen to but very catchy. I didn’t hear it on the radio, I saw the video and that is what made me uncomfortable at first. I read about the making of it and they got the blessing of the survivors. I guess I better describe the video…they feature Jim Jones and the People’s Temple. They intercut themselves into the footage…and yeah it looked real.
They first showed the People’s Temple when they were in California and then when they landed in Guyana. They showed most everything up to the night before the mass murder/suicide where over 900 people died. The survivors were happy with this video because it showed some of the good times they had there. The band did screen it for them before they released it…after that, I was ok with it but some would think differently. There are not many humans I hate but Jim Jones is one of them. He was an avowed atheist using people’s vulnerabilities to build a “perfect” socialist/communist town in Guyana and worked them day and night.
The sad part is the people were happy at first in Guyana but Jones refused to let them go if they wanted to leave. He collected their passports and would not give them back and had armed guards around the camp. The town they made had a post office, doctor’s office, school, and about everything they needed but a drug-fueled Jones pushed people to the brink and most were too worn down to resist.
The Cults was originally a duo comprising Madeline Follin on vocals and Brian Oblivion (multi-instrumentalist and producer). The two met while studying at film school in New York City. They released an EP called Cults 7″ and this song went viral and put them on the map. Since then they have released 6 albums including To The Ghosts released last year. Some of their songs have a sixties-girl group vibe along with that atmospheric sound on top.
They didn’t release this song but the video was hit a lot. I found it while reading a Jonestown book and searching for more information.
They evidently made two videos for the song. The Jonestown video is on the bottom.
Go Outside
But to me, death is not- Death is not a fearful thing, it’s living that’s treacherous
Do not be afraid to die If these people land out here They’ll torture some of our children here, they’ll torture our people They’ll torture our seniors, we cannot allow this
I, I really want to go out I really want to go outside and stop to see your day You, you really want to hole up You really want to stay inside and sleep the light away I, I really want to go out I really want to go outside and bathe in light all day You, you really want to hole up You really want to stay inside in the cave where you lay
Well, I know what’s good Exactly ’cause I have been there before Yeah, I know what’s gold Exactly those things night cannot behold
I, I really want to go out I really want to go outside and stop to see your day You, you really want to hole up You really want to stay inside and sleep the light away I, I think it’s good to go out ‘Cause if you don’t you’ll never make a memory that will stay I, I think that we should break up I think I want to live my life, and you’re just in my way
I didn’t really start listening to this band until last year. A few years ago, CB mentioned the song Fourth of July and I loved that song with Dave Alvin. I didn’t listen further until last year. This song is from their 1980 debut album Los Angeles. This song has a cool punk feel, plus a vintage cool guitar riff. The song was written by Exene Cervenka and John Doe, the principal songwriters of X.
X was formed in Los Angeles in 1977 and comprised of founding members singer John Doe, guitarist Billy Zoom, drummer D.J. Bonebrake, and singer Exene Cervenka. With their first album in 1980, their album Los Angeles was critically praised and considered a great one of that period.
The band was founded by Doe (real name John Nommensen Duchac) and Zoom. Soon, Doe would bring his girlfriend Exene Cervenka to band practice; she was a poet, and the band liked her work so she joined permanently. When trying to think of a name…Doe looked around the band members and focused on Exene Cervenka. Her unusual first name was shortened to X…Exene to X…
After Manzarek saw them live…he really connected to the lyrics. He was instantly struck by the lyrics to X’s song Johny Hit And Run Paulene: ‘He got a sterilized hypo, to shoot a sex machine drug/He got 24 hours, to shoot Paulene between the legs.’ Manzarek thought to himself…those are not lyrics…those are poetry.
Exene Cervenka:It was the first song I wrote where I’d had the ambition to combine a lot of different things. I was writing about the bigger picture – “the world’s a mess,” which is about as big as you can get – and combined it with something more personal – “it’s in my kiss,” which was also a nod to “The Shoop Shoop Song” and the history of rock and roll. There’s a baseball reference in there too, and I feel like the line I wrote “Dirty night dying like a lovely wife” foreshadowed the death of my sister, which is weird. So, yeah, it is kind of a surrealist song, but I chose it because I feel like it was the first time I had a real, kind of developed sense of songwriting, with lyrics that were sort of combining aspects of all the writing I’d been doing since I was young.
Ray Manzarek produced this and also their following three albums. Exene has picked this song in her top 3 of all the songs she did.
The World’s A Mess; It’s In My Kiss
No one is united And all things are untied Perhaps we’re boiling over inside They’ve been telling lies Who’s been telling lies? There are no angels There are devils in many ways Take it like a man
The world’s a mess it’s in my kiss The world’s a mess it’s in my kiss The world’s a mess it’s in my kiss The world’s a mess it’s in my kiss
You can’t take it back Pull it out of the fire Pull it out in the bottom of the ninth Pull it out in chords of red disease Drag on the system Drag on my head and body Some facts here (some facts here!) Which refuse to escape I could say it stronger But it’s too much trouble I was wandering down at the bricks Hectic, isn’t it? Down we go, cradle and all
No one is united And all things are untied Perhaps we’re boiling over inside They’ve been telling lies Who’s been telling lies? There are no angels There are devils in many ways Take it like a man
The world’s a mess it’s in my kiss The world’s a mess it’s in my kiss The world’s a mess it’s in my kiss (Go to hell, see if you like it, then come home with me!) The world’s a mess it’s in my kiss (Tomorrow night may be too late) (Both moons are full like a lovely wife) The world’s a mess it’s in my kiss (Dirty night dying like a lovely wife) (Goodbye, my darling!) The world’s a mess it’s in my kiss (How high the moon? Well, I wish I was.) (The world is fine, goodbye, my darling!) The world’s a mess it’s in my kiss (Both moons are full like a lovely wife) (Dirty night dying like a lovely wife) (Goodbye, my darling!) The world’s a mess it’s in my kiss The world’s a mess it’s in my kiss The world’s a mess it’s in my kiss
The world’s a mess it’s in my kiss The world’s a mess it’s in my kiss The world’s a mess it’s in my kiss The world’s a mess it’s in my kiss
After watching that Maria Muldaur video last week with Leon and Willie included…I wanted to listen to some of Nelson’s songs this past week. This one I remember as a kid. This song was on the album Shotgun Willie. It was a turning point for Willie Nelson…he left Nashville’s mainstream country for the Country Outlaw scene.
I remember Outlaw Country back when I was a kid. Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, Charlie Daniels, Johnny Cash, and Willie Nelson are who I remember the most. It was a no-frills version of country music. This was not as polished as what you heard on country radio. It had an authentic and raw sound that people were happy to hear.
I always thought they brought the Rock image element and feel into country music with these artists. Many of them would have songs that crossed over to the pop charts like Waylon, Willie, and Kristofferson.
Willie is an American icon, reaching people like Johnny Cash did in country music and beyond. He crosses genres quite well with his music and laid-back image. I also love his guitar Trigger. That guitar is an N-20 Martin. He bought the guitar in 1969 when someone stepped on his Baldwin Guitar. He had the pickups on the Baldwin moved to the Martin. Willie came to love the guitar, he said: “One of the secrets to my sound is almost beyond explanation. My battered old Martin guitar, Trigger, has the greatest tone I’ve ever heard from a guitar. … If I picked up the finest guitar made this year and tried to play my solos exactly the way you heard them on the radio or even at last night’s show, I’d always be a copy of myself and we’d all end up bored. But if I play an instrument that is now a part of me, and do it according to the way that feels right for me … I’ll always be an original”
Shotgun Willie marked a huge departure from Nelson’s previous work. Out came the Willie Nelson that we now know. His look and music changed.
The song was originally written by Johnny Bush and Paul Stroud in 1972. Willie’s version would always be the definite version of the song. If you listen to Bush’s version compared to Willies…you will quickly see the difference between mainstream country and Outlaw country. This song did well for Nelson…it peaked at #12 on the Billboard Country Charts and #3 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks charts. Bush was happy about Willie covering it…they were friends and Willie took the song to a huge audience. Outlaw country artists sought more creative control over their music, production, and image… breaking away from the Nashville establishment.
The late Toby Keith with “I’ll Never Smoke Weed With Willie Again” and yes it was a true story.
Whiskey River
Whiskey River take my mind Don’t let her mem’ry torture me Whiskey River don’t run dry You’re all I’ve got, take care of me
Whiskey River take my mind Don’t let her mem’ry torture me Whiskey River don’t run dry You’re all I’ve got, take care of me
I’m drowning in a whiskey river Bathing my mem’ried mind in the wetness of its soul Feeling the amber current flowin’ from my mind And warm an empty heart you left so cold
Whiskey River take my mind Don’t let her mem’ry torture me Whiskey River don’t run dry You’re all I’ve got, take care of me
I’m drowning in a whiskey river Bathing my mem’ried mind in the wetness of its soul Feeling the amber current flowin’ from my mind And warm an empty heart you left so cold
Whiskey River take my mind Don’t let her mem’ry torture me Whiskey River don’t run dry You’re all I’ve got, take care of me
How I love this song. I’ve heard it so many times and now I think of Planes, Trains, and Automobiles when Martin and Candy are singing it in a burntout car they were driving.
Elvis Presley recorded this song as the B-side to That’s All Right in 1954, marking his debut single with Sun Records. It was recorded during his second session with the label on July 6, 1954. Elvis, guitarist Scotty Moore, and bassist Bill Black reimagined the song in a faster, upbeat, rockabilly style. This transformation gave the song a fresh, raw feel that differed greatly from its bluegrass origins.
Presley’s recording became the best-known version of the song and is an early example of what was to become known as Rockabilly, a combination of Blues and Country together with an uptempo beat. The single was very popular locally, helping to build Elvis’s reputation in the Memphis area and laying the groundwork for his later success. DJ’s have said they would play the single multiple times over and over again when it was released.
Bill Monroe wrote this song in 1946 and recorded the first version playing mandolin backed by his band, the Blue Grass Boys. After the Presley version was released, Monroe recut the song and added both styles to it.
Elvis Presley got an invite to the Grand Ole Opry soon after this, and he was fearful of Monroe’s reaction to his version of the song. He sought out the older Opry star backstage and apologized to him for taking such liberties. Monroe reacted with generosity. Monroe later admitted Presley’s version of “Blue Moon of Kentucky” gave him very big songwriter royalty checks. This song is very important in history… celebrated as a groundbreaking moment where country music met rock and roll with a resounding success.
The state of Kentucky made this their official bluegrass song. Now let’s listen to the song and listen to the flip side performed by Elvis fan Paul.
Paul McCartney recorded the Arthur Crudup blues classic, That’s All Right, Mama, with Elvis Presley’s original band members, Scotty Moore (guitar) and DJ Fontana (drums).
Blue Moon of Kentucky
Blue moon, blue moon, blue moon, keep shining bright. Blue moon, keep on shining bright, You’re gonna bring me back my baby tonight, Blue moon, keep shining bright.
I said blue moon of Kentucky keep on shining, Shine on the one that’s gone and left me blue. I said blue moon of Kentucky keep on shining, Shine on the one that’s gone and left me blue.
Well, it was on one moonlight night, Stars shining bright, Wish blown high Love said good-bye.
Blue moon of Kentucky Keep on shining. Shine on the one that’s gone and left me blue.
Well, I said blue moon of Kentucky Just keep on shining. Shine on the one that’s gone and left me blue. I said blue moon of Kentucky keep on shining. Shine on the one that’s gone and left me blue.
Well, it was on one moonlight night, Stars shining bright, Wish blown high Love said good-bye.
Blue moon of Kentucky Keep on shining. Shine on the one that’s gone and left me blue.
A blogger named Warren brought up this song and I want to thank him. This is a great song by a great singer/songwriter who turned down Jimmy Page to join Led Zeppelin. He is the one who recommended Robert Plant to Page. Some people may know this song from Cheap Trick as they covered it on their debut album in 1977.
This was his self-titled second album released in 1969. I can see why Page wanted him…his voice was fantastic. His nickname was Superlungs for a good reason. He wasn’t a bad songwriter either…the artists that has covered his songs are many. The Hollies, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Jackson Browne, Arrival, Marianne Faithfull, Cheap Trick, Jack White with The Raconteurs, Joe Perry, Rumer and Chris Cornell.
In around 1967 or 68 Jimmy Page was ending the Yardbirds or continuing a new version of them. He was looking for a singer and Terry Reid fit what he wanted. Reid told Page that he was already committed to two tours with The Stones and one with Cream at the time. He did tell Page that if he paid him the lost money and talked with the Stones to get him out of it he would join. It didn’t happen but Reid also told him of a lead singer he knew named Robert Plant from the Band of Joy that might fit what he was after. Oh, it most definitely did.
Reid had a busy solo career as a songwriter and performer. He has some songs in movies and many artists as I’ve listed above have covered him. He also works with younger bands now and sometimes as a guest vocalist. Robert Plant called him the outstanding voice of his generation.
He has released 7 studio albums, the last being in 2016. After hearing his voice and his songs…I am surprised he didn’t hit more. In the later half of the 20th Century he worked with the Eagles drummer, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Marianne Faithfull, Joe Walsh, and many others.
Speak Now Or Forever Hold Your Piece
Yesterday feels like running away Feels like givin’ the child Gettin’ lost losin’ my mind I’m feelin’ low and I got no place to go Gettin’ all tied up Feelin’ all tied up yeah yeah
Oh yesterday feels like running away And I know, I’m givin’ up my time To still love still love Love’s got me blind
My mind sees the things I don’t know And I got no place to go Gettin’ all tied up Feelin’ all tied up
Things I need to tell you love You’ll be true I know There’s still a chance for a better life Yes, I know
I never knew much about The Damned but this song sounds great. I’ve read about this band a lot and the history around them but never really listened to them as much. I was expecting pure punk but this is quite different. This was left over from my Stiff Records week because this song they did not perform on Stiff Records…it was on MCA.
The song is a cover of a song written by Bryan MacLean, originally performed by the band Love on their 1967 album Forever Changes. The Damned’s version was released as a single in 1987 and featured on their album Anything. The Damned was formed when guitarist Brian James teamed up with drummer Rat Scabies. They were soon joined by vocalist Dave Vanian (a former gravedigger) and bassist Captain Sensible.
On the 6th of July 1976, The Damned made their live debut, when they supported the Sex Pistols at 100 Club. This was the start of a rivalry between the two bands. They were the first UK punk band to release a single called New Rose. It was 5 weeks before the Sex Pistols released Anarchy In The UK. They were also the first UK punk band to release an album… Damned Damned Damned in 1977 on Stiff Records.
After the release of their second album, Music for Pleasure in 1977, tensions in the band led to their initial breakup. They re-formed in 1978 with a new lineup and released Machine Gun Etiquette in 1979. They started to change with that album with more styles thrown in the mix with garage rock and better melodies. In the early 1980s, they went more to a goth darker version and then in 1986 a more polished and mainstream sound.
The Damned have released 12 studio albums, 5 EPs, and 22 live albums along with 48 singles…with 10 of those in the top 40. The band is still touring and they still have original members Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, and Rat Scabies. They last released an album called Darkadelic in 2023.
Alone Again Or
Yeah, I said it’s alright I won’t forget All the times I waited patiently for you As you do just what you choose to do And I will be alone again tonight my dear
Yeah, I heard a funny thing Somebody said to me That you could be in love with almost everyone You think people are the greatest fun And I will be alone again tonight for you
Hey, I said its alright You know I won’t forget All the times I waited patiently for you Now you do just what You choose to do And I will be alone again tonight its true
While I was in Atlanta I was having lunch with one of our corporate lawyers named Bill. He suddenly blurted out if anyone at the table wanted a Bearded Dragon as a pet. I thought I had some friends who might want one so I texted a few and all I got was a maybe. His son was getting tired of it so Bill wanted to find a home where he would get more attention.
Sorry for the red light but he was under his red light when I took this.
Later on, we met him at an exit and he gave me the dragon named Rocky with the aquarium, lights, heat lamp, and everything else you would need. We were in a cargo van so Rocky had a long bumpy ride the next day to his new home. I told the wife when we pulled up to unload…”I have a guy without a home…he needs to have somewhere to stay so I told him he could stay with us. ” She said…”you mean he is in the van????” I opened the door…a complete shock is the best way to describe it. Now Rocky has a permanent home with us. Forget the friends I thought would want him…he is the least needy soul of the entire household. Now we are starting to interact with Rocky more. He will climb on you and sit there on your shirt and chill out.
A lady I work with lets me babysit her prairie dog (Thea) every few weeks and we have grown quite fond of her. Lori came into my office on July 9, saying she had the prairie dog (Thea) with her. I picked her up and I stopped…she was much heavier and I remarked on how much she was feeding him. She smiled and said no…that is not Thea…it’s his brother. She wanted company for Thea but all they did was fight so she asked if I wanted him. Well yes, I did! She didn’t have a name but Rudy sounded good so we went with that.
One thing I’ll say about prairie dogs is that they’re incredibly unique pets. Rudy, for example, feels almost like having a small human in the house. They’re the most curious animals I’ve ever been around. Rudy is still a work in progress. He’s come a long way, though! At first, he was quite moody, though he still loved attention. Over time, he’s been improving, but I’d say to anyone considering a prairie dog—they require a lot of attention. Rudy craves interaction, so we plan to get him another prairie dog for company in the future.
They’re pretty easy to feed, too. You can find most of their food at the grocery store: oats, Cheerios, sweet potatoes, sunflower seeds, and other things they love. The main staple we get for Rudy is Timothy Hay, which we buy from the Tractor Supply store.
I take Rocky to an upstairs bathroom we don’t use and he runs amuck and there is nothing in there to chew that would be dangerous. He lives in a 4-story enclosed cage around 5 feet tall. I plan to make a 10×10 wooden box and fill it full of dirt so he can have a place to dig in the spring and he can be outside some.
I usually get a “yahoo” from him when I come home. He seems comfortable now, and even our dog Martha tolerates him but will tell on him if he gets loose. It’s funny: When a neighbor’s dog came into our house when we opened the door, Martha went to Rudy’s enclosure to guard him.
I will get Thea from Lori sometimes to take home. It’s like having two monkeys running amuck. Thea and Rudy will fight at times but it’s over in 2-3 seconds. They will whip their claws out like they are Ninjas. Prairie Dogs in the wild have a life expectancy of 4-5 years…captive they live 8-10 years. I can see why…they are afraid of nothing. He will stand on his feet and grab Martha’s nose when she bends down to look at him.
This will end our private zoo, which includes two turtles, a Bearded Dragon, a Prairie Dog, and a Saint Bernard. That is enough; the doors are shut tight now. Rocky gives us the least trouble of them all.
Bread was known as a light pop band in the 1970s. When I heard this I realized they stuck their toe in the power pop water. It sounded familiar when I heard it a few years ago. I then remembered…it was on their 1973 greatest hits album that my sister had.
Band members David Gates and James Griffin wrote this song at the Royal Lancaster Hotel during their first trip to London. Griffin wrote a lot of songs for Bread but the record company always seemed to pick David Gates songs for singles. This song was the B-Side to the song Diary.
The song was off their Baby I’m-A Want You album released in 1972. It was their fourth LP, which proved to be the highest-charting studio album of the band’s career and provided them with four top-40 hits. The hits were “Mother Freedom” – #37 “Baby I’m-a Want You” – #3 “Everything I Own” – #5 “Diary” – #15. That was quite impressive in the 70s when record companies usually didn’t release a lot of singles from an album. In the 1980s it became commonplace to squeeze as many singles as possible. Bread though…was more of a singles band to begin with.
It was their first album without founding member Robb Royer… Although his departure was due to increasing tensions between him and Gates, Royer continued to write songs with Jimmy Griffin, who remained in the band, hence Royer’s name still turning up in the credits as the co-composer of Dream Lady and Games of Magic. They replaced Royer with studio keyboardist Larry Knechtel who was a member of the Wrecking Crew.
James Griffin: “The lyric doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me – I think we were each writing about different things. But the song got a lot of airplay, and people seemed to like it.”
Down On My Knees
I’ve told you before Don’t you hear what I say? I won’t take it no more no more making me stay
Down on my knees You know I’m down on my knees, yeah Yes I’ve been down on my knees, but I’m through begging please I wont get back on my knees, yeah
Nobody knows what your putting me through Nobody knows if it’s worth it for you Nobody sees you got me down on my knees, yeah Well I’ve been down on my knees, well I’m through begging please don’t put my back on my knees, yeah
You know that I always loved you Never placed myself above you Don’t let me go with my ways that I could Don’t tell me no with my ways that you would
Down on my knees You’ve brought me down on my knees, yeah Well I’ve been down on my knees, but I’m through begging please don’t put me back on my knees, yeah
You know how I always loved you There’s no time that I have tried to place myself above you
Down on my knees You know that I’m down on my knees, yeah Well I’ve been down on my knees, but I’m through beggin’ please don’t put me back on my knees, yeah Ya I’ve been down on, but I’m through begging please don’t put me back on my knees
He wrote this song in 1971 and with the Wings they played it live for years. It’s not a love ballad by Paul…it’s a rock song with the same intensity as Juinor’s Farm. In 1974 the Wings recorded an in-studio live version that they were going to release on the album One Hand Clapping. They also shot a video while they were there for a documentary.
The album was shall we say… delayed. It didn’t see the light of day until June 14, 2024…over 50 years after it was recorded. It was recorded right after Band On The Run was released. I like hearing Paul reaching for a distorted guitar in his songs. I wish he would have done more through his career. Paul could write good rock songs such as Juinor’s Farm, Jet, Let Me Roll It, and a few more.
The video portion didn’t get released until 2010 when it appeared in a box set for Band On The Run. The 4K version hit theaters in September of last year. This song didn’t get released to the public until Wings Over America. It was the B side to Maybe I’m Amazed…both versions of course live. The film was going to be Paul’s way of introducing a new Wings.
Guitar player Henry McCullough and drummer Denny Seiwell had left Wings right before the recording of the Band on the Run album. New members…guitarist Jimmy McCulloch and drummer Geoff Britton took their spots. They would use this song as an opener through the years and an encore at some shows. It’s a song that is meant to be played live and was never featured on a studio album.
The One Hand Clapping Album peaked at #10 on the UK Charts and #74 on the Billboard 100 in 2024.
Jimmy McCulloch was probably the most talented guitar player Paul ever had in Wings. He famously made it when he was 16 with Thunderclap Newman. However, he had a lot of problems. He was somewhat depressed and when he wasn’t he was drinking heavily there were many arguments between the two men and he often would target Linda for her lack of musical talent. It really came to a head around the time of London Town when Jimmy quit.
Paul McCartney: “Looking back on it [the Wings era], it’s a lot better than I thought, though some of it is just not played as well as The Beatles. My son plays a lot of Wings, so I’m re-listening, and there’s good shit that I’d forgotten about. A lot of the lyrics were off the wall, drug stimulated. Things like ‘Soily – the cat in the satin trousers says its oily’. What was I on? I think the answer is stimulants.”
Soily
One, two One, two, three, four!
Well, people gathered here tonight I want you to listen to me To your left and to your right We’ve got some pretty soily company
Readers, writers, farmer, priest Breed controller, born deceased Indian, lawyer, doctor, dog And a plumber with a fattened hog
Soily, soily Well, the cat in the satin trousers said it’s oily Soily, soily Well, the cat in the satin trousers said it’s oily Yes, he did!
Well, come on, baby, that soily song Soily people Well, come on, baby that’s fine now Yeah
Romans, Italians, country men I want you to listen to me I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again We’ve got some pretty soily company
Liars, cheaters, jungle chief Saint, believer on relief Action painter, Hitler’s son And a commie with a tommy-gun
Soily, soily Well, the cat in the satin trousers said it’s oily Soily, soily Well, the cat in the satin trousers said it’s oily You know he’s right Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Ooh, yeah yeah
Well, come on, baby, that soily song Soily people Yeah, come on, baby, that’s going round Yeah!
People gathered here tonight I want you to listen to me To your left and to your right You’ve got some pretty soily company
Readers, writers, farmer, priest Saint, believer on relief Hitler’s painter, action son And a commie with a tommy-gun
Soily, soily Well, the cat in the satin trousers said it’s oily Soily, soily Yeah, the cat in the satin trousers said it’s oily Yeah, soily, soily Well, the cat in the satin trousers said it’s oily, yeah Soily, soily Well, the cat in the satin trousers said it’s oily And you know he’s right Ooh yeah!
Oh, how I love some British Rock. I want to thank Clive for bringing this song to my attention. I first learned about Pub Rock a few years ago from CB and Dave. The Motors are the first band I knew about and then Brinsley Schwarz. The genre sounded like raw rock and roll with a lot of power and punch. I could relate after playing in many bars myself through the years. There is a feel to that music…a lot of loud guitar and sweat which I enjoy.
I’ve been told that “pub rock” was not a compliment at the time. It started in the UK in the early 1970s. It was the anti-progressive and glam rock at a time when they were popular. It’s more of roots-type music which is right up my alley. Not that I don’t like glam and progressive but I like the stripped-back approach.
Dr Feelgood was formed in Caney Island, Essex, in 1971. Their members included Lee Brilleaux on vocals and harmonica, Wilko Johnson on guitar, John B. Sparks (Sparko) on bass, and John Martin on drums. They were one of the main bands in pub rock along with Brinsley Schwarz. They got their name from a Johnny Kidd and The Pirates song Dr. Feelgood. I’ve read different origins but that came from their official site.
By 1973 they were getting popular on the pub circuit and released their debut album in 1975 called Down By The Jetty. They released Milk and Alcohol in 1979 and it was written by Nick Lowe and John Mayo. Doesn’t it seem there were like 5 Nick Lowes back then? The man was everywhere. The song was influenced by Lowe drinking Kahlúa-milk drinks after a John Lee Hooker in the United States. It was inspired by a Hooker lyric about milk, cream, and alcohol.
The song peaked at #9 on the UK charts in 1979. This was the only top 10 song of their career. It was on the 1978 album Private Practice which peaked at #41 on the UK Album Charts that year. A version of the band is still going on now with different members.
Milk and Alcohol
White boy in town Big black, blue sound Night club, I paid in I got a stamp on my skin
Main attraction dead on his feet Black man rhythm with a white boy beat They got him on milk and alcohol They got him on milk and alcohol
Stay put I wanna go Hard work, bad show More liquor, it don’t help He’s gonna die, it breaks my heart
I decided eventually This ain’t doing a thing for me They got him on milk and alcohol
They got him on milk and alcohol
They got him on milk and alcohol They got him on milk and alcohol They got him on milk and alcohol They got him on milk and alcohol
Got up, I walked out To the car, start it up Feel bad, sad night I never saw a red light
Sirens were a screamin’ all around I pulled on over and I shut her down A black cop gave me a shove with his gun Said up against the wall and don’t make a run They got me on milk and alcohol They got me on milk and alcohol
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