Funny how a paucity of music one likes makes one look back fondly. When I first heard this in the late sixties I was already listening to Deep Purple and such, and thought how absolutely average it was. But really it was super smooth and cool. I was just too rough and ready to notice. The Zombies and Time of the Season:
This was on the soundtrack of the Vietnam War series some of us were banging on about the other day. Great track.
Might as well throw in She's Not There from a few years earlier. This audio isn't the very best, but I really like the video intro:
This reeks of protest 1960's USA. Can't help feeling that the latest young generation will need to get out on the streets before long. Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth:
Buffalo Springfield and The Byrds defined a certain sector of music and a time in the USA. They were also part responsible from Crosby Stills & Nash, so no bad thing there. This is the best audio I can find on Youtube of 8 Miles High. Unbelievable that I thought this was outdated crap when I first heard it, probably in the early seventies. It sounds as fresh as a daisy to me these days:
I can't hear that song without thinking of the intro to Lord of War which follows a bullet from construction all the way to a, er, child soldier's head. What a odd film that was, but Jared Leto was fiiiiiiine.
Trying to find a definitive song which sums up The Hollies and Graham Nash. But this is the one, and he'd gone to CSN by then. He Ain't Heavy [He's My Brother]. Fantastic restored video: OK, have a definitive Hollies number but featuring Graham Nash. I'm Alive. If you think the audio is a bit too good for the video, you're right. This is an old authentic live version with the single over-dubbed onto it:
My music stint finishes with Graham Nash ending up with Stephen Stills and Dave Crosby. The album is CSN and the track is [I'm Flying In] Winchester Cathedral. Not my absolute favourite track from the album, but my older brother always loved it with a little Mary Jane or more. He probably still does:
I've always found Leto to be an underrated actor, starred in some really good films too. 30 Seconds to Mars are pretty solid too, especially the first few albums.
The late Progressive Rock Keyboardist, Keith Emerson of The Nice and Emerson, Lake and Palmer/Powell was born on this day in Todmorden, Yorkshire in 1944. Here are two pieces of music that my older brother never stopped playing in the early 70s...
Finishing off those Zombies tracks, I stumbled over the Colin Bluntstone hit, Say You Don't Mind. I think I must have bought the single because I've known from way, way back that it was written by Denny Laine [Moody Blues, Wings]. CB has a memorable voice, and the musicians and he do such a good live performance here that I chose it over the recorded single:
Got a couple of Argent albums, Circus and Counterpoints. Neither feature this famous single [this is the extended album version actually], Hold Your Head Up. One day I shall turn up a copy of the LP All Together Now and find myself in a buying mood. By the way, there is another Zombies connection here [always a thread to my posting songs]:
You don't get away with it that easily. Here's a track from each Argent album I have. Highwire from Circus: And On My Feet Again from the Counterpoints album:
Oh mate. Simply the best keyboard player in rock history. This is Keith as an 18 year old. His early "Nice" work was clearly an extension of this. Take a peak at this, and note the size of the audience. I practically stalked The Nice and there were rarely more than a handful of aficionados, so when ELP started selling out arenas I could see the attraction for Emerson.
I read a funny thing that Sex Pistol, John Lydon and him him were neighbours and best buddies in the latter years of his life in California and Lydon called him a "great bloke". As Johnny Rotten, he mercilessly slagged off ELP in the 70s...
Here's one you didn't expect. Youtube comes up with the Detroit Spinners every time one requests something from this foursome. They had their moments. Wholesome, yet they definitely had something about them that was entertaining. Navvy Boots, from the album Live Performance:
