Yep - 1976 was my A Levels year. When I went to Cardiff Uni in October that year, this was on the radio
Contrary to what many people think (or are told) the 70s was the most eclectic, wonderful time for music. A smorgasbord of sounds. Whatever you wanted you could find it and I loved every minute. Here one favourite with a little story. I saw the Doobie Brothers in Sydney back in the 90s and me and the missus were disappointed the crowd weren't really getting up and dancing. When this came on we ran down the aisle to the front of the stage and started dancing. Tommy Johnston (the singer in this vid) was laughing and at the end threw his plectrum at me. It now sits in a frame in my living room. True story. This is a particularly good live version of a classic: Oh, and I came across this one too for all you guitar fans. THIS is how to rock n roll! You'll never see a tighter band.
Oh, I think you will Kiff A few of the bands I've had the absolute privilege of seeing live over the years.
Still in the 70's, I always liked the jazz/rock nuances of Steely Dan but this is a very early one of theirs off the first album that really rocks featuring the legendary Jeff Skunk Baxter and Denny Dias on guitars. Least said about Bill Cosby the better. Ignore the really poor directing here - focusing on the rhythm guitarist when a solo is happening isn't cool - but when purple velvet trousers make a comeback I'm there!! This is how to fuse jazz and rock. No live version but my god - that guitar work. Dias (always the jazz aficionado) is amazing here. Guitar fans, turn it up, press play and sit back. Brilliant.
I always had a thing for bands who could put on a show and that started as a teenager when I saw The Tubes on the Old Grey Whistle Test. They were nothing short of brilliant - but really outrageous. When the singer Fee Waybill turned around and had no arse in his trousers my parents were flabbergasted but I fell about laughing. Many towns in the UK banned them on that tour as a result. They always had humour in their stuff in the early days and poked fun at American culture, from U.S TV to rich kids taking drugs. This one features the great boogie boogie piano of the late Vince Welnick with backing vocals from Cher and a very young Deniece Williams. A really witty lyric and a song that many forgot when the band went way more commercial in the 80s. How 'bout checkin' the oil, fella! There's television, free religion, Rock 'n' roll, Standard Oil, Times Square, Jimmy Darren, Corey Wells, and Smokey Bear, price reduction, reconstruction, Peace Corps, and lots more Culture that we got to lend
Don't like the music but............. ...........all done in zero G; with only 58 vomit breaks, cool video
And some from one of the best and most underrated and important from the so called "Progressive" era.
Yes he`s one of the best, or was. Saw him there as well. At the Bardney festival in Lincoln 1972, he played on the Friday, then when Helen Reddy didn`t turn up, he played on the Saturday as well. Two for the price of one, both times dazzling. It was held on Whitsun weekend, bloody freezing and very windy. Stone the Crows also played there, this was about a month after Les Harvey got electrocuted and died at the Rank, Steve Howe stepped in to play his part. The first time I saw Slade there as well, wasn`t too keen on them because of their skinhead style until they started playing, they were absolutely superb.
Those were the days. Music,if you can call it that,these days is ****e. Saw some great bands at the Brangwyn and teachers college Townhill.