Filed under: Rock Odyssey
I’m still alive. I’ve just hit a large era of busy that seems indefinitely long. The Rock Odyssey will soon begin again, as it would be a shame to end it prematurely. I’m not ignoring it either. Currently I’m enrolled in MMC 1702: Rock & Roll and American Society here at UF. So, I’ll have a bunch of new goodies to share once that’s through. Hell, I may just sit in on it again to keep better notes. If you’ve got a chance, I highly recommend it.
What’s worse is that I’ve stumbled upon yet another project, god damn me. I’ll chronicle that here, and maybe that’ll offer some motivation. Anyway, stay tuned, Zach. Ha.
Filed under: Rock Odyssey
Soulful Shantytown
That dirt road led to a poor town. Children played games in the street. For that moment they were happy and didn’t have to work odd jobs for income. A single inexpensive radio broadcasted gospel songs from a porch. Together they would clap, sing their little hearts out, and not care who watched. To sing was to be free. Most of them would simply grow old and fade away. The special ones would become immortal.
Gladys Knight- Let the smooth backings by The Pips wash over you. Their soft vocals paired with the enduring voice of Gladys produce tension-melting melodies to soothe your troubles. Or they can turn on the juice and get you dancing in your seat with beats like Friendship Train. Their record company, however, often treated them as second-liners, giving most hits to Diana Ross or Marvin Gaye. At one point, Dian Ross cut them from opening her show because they were too good! Originally a collection of Gladys’ siblings and cousins, the group has always exuded an intimacy resembling family. Many songs celebrate that special someone or offer friendly advice. No matter how you splice it, Gladys Knight & The Pips are a class act.
Otis Redding- Surprisingly, Otis’ best single, Sittin’ On the Dock of the Bay, was released posthumously. It was an unexpected hit, not because of his demise but for its departure from his usual sound. Ballads and love songs were his standard, which makes his pop songs that much better. I suppose his wide influence is realized in that most of his songs sound modern. The plane that was carrying him and most of his backup singers crashed into a Wisconsin lake in 1967. He was only 26.
Sam Cooke- Though he didn’t sing it, this is the ‘Soul Man’. He was one of the founders of soul music, and many of his songs classic. He started out singing gospel music and added the ‘e’ to his name because it added class. To avoid backlash from the religious community, he released his first secular album as Dale Cooke. No one was fooled. His distinct tones were a dead giveaway. It took him a while to find an agreeable record label (eventually he started his own [unheard of at the time]) but once he did the hits took off. The standard Another Saturday Night was his creation. Unfortunately, he died under questionable circumstances when he was 34. The account is an interesting read. Cooke’s legacy is that of the soul genre- he left an indelible mark on its sound.
Marvin Gaye – What Sam Cooke started, Marvin Gaye finished. He even added the ‘e’ to his name because his idol Cooke did. Early on, he struggled to produce hits but found his voice when he found Tammi Terrell. Together, they sang American classics like Ain’t No Mountain. Life was peaches until Tammi was diagnosed & died from a brain tumor. Marvin was devastated by her death. He became reclusive and didn’t perform a concert for two years. After singing about love for so long, he wanted to make music with an impact. What’s Going On is that statement. The album’s passion and spirituality is unmatched; it recounts a Vietnam vet returning home only to see injustices in the land for which he fought. A few years later, Gaye would also release Let’s Get On, an album blatant in its sensuality. Both of these great works cement Marvin Gaye as ‘the real thing’ in soul music.
Stevie Wonder- Stevie was an early bloomer. He signed with Motown Records at the tender age of 11. By 20, he had created some of his most known works including Uptight and My Cherie Amour. Soon, he (and Marvin Gaye) found Motown’s infamous recording process too restrictive. It separated the songwriters from the producers and the artists and didn’t allow for much collaboration. He left the record out of protest but they caved after he released two independent albums; Stevie was given full artistic control. He was 23 when he released his best album, Innervisions (RS’ #23). Just days later on the highway, a log came loose and crashed into Stevie’s head. He spent four days in a coma and permanently lost his sense of smell, but otherwise made a full recovery. At 25, he began work on his intended magnus opus and released it a year later as Songs in the Key of Life. As a double album, it is considered the last of his great works. Wonder, even though he only has 3 of the 5 senses, is culturally famous for his look, and for supporting numerous charities. He’ll even joke about his blindness with others. At one award reception, he “read” the title on the plaque- even noticed a spelling error!
Diana Ross & The Supremes- This super group had humble beginnings. Originally formed as a sister group for The Primes (eventually The Temptations) in the Detroit projects, they were known around Motown as the “no-hit Supremes” after eight singles tanked. They reluctantly sang the hand-me-down song Where Did our Love Go which had been rejected by The Marvelettes. It was a smash hit and the first of twelve number one hits. During their reign, they knocked down social walls for both blacks and women. Graceful choreography, television appearances, and product endorsements (Supreme Bread!) blazed a trail for future artists. Unfortunately, Motown president Berry Gordy’s insatiable desire for profit created tension when he renamed the group Diana Ross & The Supremes. Relationships deteriorated and Diana split off to go solo. As part of her bon voyage, she introduced a new act, The Jackson 5, to the public. Her singing branched into movies where she impersonated Billie Holiday and got nominated for an academy award. Her next venture placed her in the oh-so-special cinematic production of The Wiz, cast alongside Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow. The movie flopped but the soundtrack sold near a million. Diana breathed more than enough life back into her career with diana. The album is her most successful to date with over 6 million copies. Diana has been in music for a long time and her story from girl group to pop diva is more interesting than most.
James Brown- The “Godfather of Soul” himself. Before becoming a singer, he was a 7th grade drop-out, hustler, cotton picker, shoe shiner, car washer, small-time criminal, & prison inmate. Quite a track record. His infectious showmanship originated as a child when he would sing and dance to entertain WWII troops. Primarily known for an electric stage presence, much of his music has funk traits. Brown’s vocal style is particularly identifying. It’s not really singing; it’s a mix of spoken words and elongations featuring occasional pitch. The utterances would help mature a new genre called ‘rap’ and influenced the young leader of the Jackson 5, Michael. After hits like Get Up Offa That Thing and Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag, he became a crossover star by being featured in The Blues Brothers, Rocky IV, and The Cosby Show. James Brown was a uniquely American act and his energetic personality made him endearing. Only 7 months ago, he passed away.
Aretha Franklin- Known for her passionate and belting voice, Aretha carries the moniker ‘Lady Soul.’ Many of her hits liberate & celebrate the finer qualities of being a woman. Respect and A Natural Woman exemplify today’s fighting females. She won eight Grammies for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance; people joked it might as well be the Aretha Award. Despite a dry spell during the disco era, she made a return in the 80′s and cemented her place pop culture. Always a powerful act to listen to, she now lives in her adopted hometown of Detroit.
Isaac Hayes- He’s a bad mother- Shut your mouth! Isaac’s claim to fame exists in two pieces of work. The first is the funky, bad ass groove from Shaft. He won an Academy Award for the soundtrack of that blaxplotation film. The second was his lovable role as Chef on South Park. His presence gave some novelty & humor to the show, until Scientology was ridiculed one episode. Hayes, an active Scientologist, found offense in the depiction of his religion and left the show last year. As for Chef, he died a horribly graphic death at the bottom of a gorge.
Al Green- A true class act in the modern world of music. He has always been religious but became an ordained pastor after being doused with boiling grits by an unstable girlfriend who committed suicide minutes later. His passion for music seeps visually out of the speakers. It exemplifies a man performing the art, not the business. Al is always a joy to listen to.
Sly & the Family Stone- The original line-up broadcasted peace and togetherness. Despite pressures from a number of sources, they resisted replacing members of different gender or race. The band’s gospel foundation appealed to black America, while the rock & roll in their blood appealed to the mainstream. Band leader, Sly Stone, brought an abrupt change after building a habit of cocaine and PCP. The next album, There’s a Riot Goin’ On, chucked the bright sound of the past to reveal a pessimistic attitude, which most of America shared in the early 70′s. Even though Sly worked more and more alone, funk musicians were irreversibly influenced by the last two albums. Shifts can be seen in the work of legends like Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis. Even the Black Eyed Peas have similar style.
Notable Tracks/Albums:
Gladys Knight
Midnight Train to Georgia
Neither One of Us
Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me
If I Were Your Woman
I’ve Got To Use My Imagination
The Way We Were
Friendship Train
Make Yours a Happy Home
I Heard It Through the Grapevine?
Every Beat of My Heart
To Be Invisible
Otis Redding
Sittin’ On the Dock of the Bay
I’ve Got Dreams to Remember
Knock on Wood
Try a Little Tenderness
I’ve Been Loving You Too Long
That’s How Strong My Love Is
Sam Cooke
album, Portrait of a Legend
Marvin Gaye
album, What’s Going On
album, Let’s Get It On
Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing
Ain’t No Mountain
Sexual Healing
I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Got To Give It Up
Ain’t That Peculiar
How Sweet It Is
You’re All I Need to Get By
It Takes Two
Stevie Wonder
album, Innervisions
album, Songs in the Key of Life
All I Do
Do I Do
For Once in My Life
I Just Called To Say I Love You
I Was Made To Love Her
Master Blaster
My Cherie Amour
Overjoyed
Part Time Lover
Signed, Sealed, Delivered
Superstition
Uptight
You Are The Sunshine of My Life
Diana Ross & The Supremes
Where Did Our Love Go
Baby Love
Come See About Me
Stop! In the Name of Love
Back in My Arms Again
I Hear a Symphony
You Can’t Hurry Love
You Keep Me Hangin’ On
Love is Here and Now You’re Gone
My World is Empty Without You
Reflections
Someday We’ll Be Together
Touch Me In The Morning
Theme From Mahogany
Love Hangover
Upside Down
Endless Love
I’m Coming Out
James Brown
album, Live at the Apollo
You Got Me (I Feel Good)
I Got The Feeling
It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World
Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag
Please Please Please
Cold Sweat
Mother Popcorn
Funky Drummer
Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine
Doing It To Death
The Payback
Papa Don’t Take No Mess
Get Up Offa That Thing
Living in America
Aretha Franklin
Respect
I Never Loved a Man
Chain of Fools
A Natural Woman
Think
Until You Come Back to Me
Something He Can Feel
I Say A Little Prayer
Isaac Hayes
Theme from Shaft
Don’t Let Go
If Loving You Is Wrong
Any early South Park episode
Al Green
album, Greatest Hits
Sly & the Family Stone
album, Greatest Hits
Filed under: Rock Odyssey
Soulful Psych Stroll
Walking along a shoddy dirt road, incredible wailing began to be heard from a distance. Closer, there thrashed a shaggy haired, American-faced brunette howled into a microphone. She saw us and stopped. The sun burned bright and I blinked. She was gone. In her place lay an album entitled Pearl by Janis Joplin.
Upon hearing Janis, immediately the difference between soul and psychedelic rock stands out. As Hendrix’s guitar claims legend status, so does Joplin’s voice. She doesn’t hit high C’s or mesmerize audiences with pitch inflection; instead she invigorates with a frantic barrage of words after a soulful ballad. A song like Cry Baby is worlds apart from Me and Bobby McGee.
Janis followed her male counterparts and imitated the style of black R&B. Then she added electricity. Boy did it make things zoom. Their second album, Cheap Thrills, sold one million units in only the first month! It featured an eccentric, raving, and raw Janis Joplin who became a star after the famous Monterey Pop Festival in 1967.
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After performing at Woodstock, she created the material for her next album, Pearl. Before finishing however, she died of a heroin overdose. Her usual dealer employed a ‘taster’ to determine the correct consistency but he was out of town. The replacement produced an overly potent batch. The label collected what usable material there was and released it anyway. It became her bestselling album.
Janis’ influence has grown in appreciation over the years. At first shunned by her high school, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. Her records keep her alive as a wild child.
Notable Tracks/Albums:
Pearl
Cheap Thrills
I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama!
Filed under: Rock Odyssey
Glam Galaxy
Our path turned downhill and I feared we’d end up in the swamp again. Then we chanced upon an individual. He called himself Major Tom and offered us a trip to a higher plane of existence. After all that we’ve seen, our smug moods invited this attempt at strange. Instantly, we shot through the atmosphere and flew past gaseous planets and gargantuan asteroids. We arrived at a space station, full of androgynous citizens. Our nauseating stomachs subsided when we saw a familiar face. David Bowie was to be our guide around this unusual universe.
David Bowie- He’s a strange musician, much in the same vein as Prince. Don’t be shy however, he definitely stands up under pressure. Bowie (who’s stage name originates from the Alamo defender & his Bowie knife) has always had albums that feature metrosxuality, but the term didn’t exist at the time. At a young age he was inspired by the ostentatious Little Richard. In support of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust, his best known album [especially among Guitar Hero players], he toured as the persona Ziggy Stardust. At concerts he wore outrageous outfits and had a flaming red wig. For the next album cover, David painted a lightning bolt across his face for a shocking, and now famous, image. He was a heavy cocaine user throughout much of his career; the influence can be seen in his work. The concerts were extravagant, his health fluctuated, and his actions seemed unfounded. At one point he denied Spain the use of a broadcast satellite to announce the death of their dictator because Bowie had already booked it for an album promotion. He did manage to escape the addiction and has achieved immense success. Perhaps you’ve seen him in Labyrinth as the Goblin King, or his cameo in Zoolander as the “walk-off judge”?
Alice Cooper- He’s from a time when society wouldn’t freak out when they heard, “School’s been blown to pieces!” Musically, Cooper is mediocre. Only School’s Out could be considered a classic, but this is glam so music is just the first half. He’s (in?)famous for producing shock rock. At an early concert, a chicken was unintentionally thrown into the crowd and ripped to pieces. Frank Zappa, their producer, loved the publicity and told Cooper to not not talk about it. This reputation stuck and later, giant characters, demented props, and execution devices thrilled audiences into a frenzy. This perverse style contrasted with the laid back hippie bands of the time. After a few bouts with acloholism, Alice Cooper has emerged as one of the most affable personalities in rock music. His current venture is that of golf pro – he even wrote a book!
T.Rex- To Americans (and thus me) T.Rex is a niche band. As with most of the glam genre, they’ve got more popularity in the UK. The album Electric Warrior is a solid listen and ranked #160 on Rolling Stones 500 Greatest. They’ve got a lot of catchy beats but I can’t see them headlining in the US.
Roxy Music- Slow songs… They can be so drab. Even though four of their albums are listed among the 500 Greatest, I can’t see why. These are the slow songs they played during highschool dances in the 80′s. They just don’t work for me.
Notable Tracks/Albums:
David Bowie
album, Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust
album, Hunky Dory
Modern Love
Let’s Dance
Under Pressure
China Girl
Space Oddity
Rebel Rebel
Fame
Golden Years
Heroes
Young Americans
Diamond Dogs
Magic Dance (not the remix!)
Alice Cooper
No More Mr.Nice Guy
Poison
School’s Out
I’m Eighteen
Only Women Bleed
Welcome to My Nightmare
Billion Dollar Babies
Feed My Frankenstein
Bed of Nails
T-Rex
album, Electric Warrior
Hot Love
We Love to Boogie
Thunderwing
20th Century Boy
Roxy Music
More Than This
Avalon
Love is the Drug
Filed under: Rock Odyssey
Southern Rock Savannah
Don’t let the name fool you, this is no African Serengeti- it’s The South. Home to yokels, carpetbaggers, the Hat-fields & the McCoys, The South is one of a kind. The people don’t care where you’re from or where you’re going, as long as you don’t stir up no trouble and you know supper’s at 6. Their music is the same way. It doesn’t matter what everyone else is playing, those Southern Gents are gonna play their guitars like only they know how. And everyone else is fine with that. It makes the cornbread taste better.
Allman Brothers- You gotta love their laid back yet charged style. They’re also uniquely American, mentioning regions like Tennessee or the bayou in songs. The Allman Brothers have become famous among musicians for their amazing ability to improvise. Jessica is really a seven minute long song made up on the spot. The live album At Filmore East, #49 on Rolling Stone’s Greatest Albums Ever, showcases their rare talent. When the Filmore East closed, the Allman Bros. played an unintentional all-night concert as a farewell. The band had simply lost track of time and were unaware it was dawn until the doors opened and light came pouring in. Southern rock would be drastically different or nonexistent today without their early influence. Despite the death of an Allman brother, the band still continues to tour.
Lynyrd Skynyrd- FREE BIRD!! I bring you the creators of classic rock’s supersong. I’m sure I’ve lost more than two hours of my life listening to that 10 minute rock gauntlet. Interestingly, even though they wrote Sweet Home Alabama, they were raised in Jacksonville, FL. Their trademark sound actually came from triple-lead guitars, allowing for serious fret shredding. Robbie Van Zant provided the smooth and tough Southern man vocals and projected the Deep South atmosphere. Unfortunately, he and many other band members were killed in a plane crash in Mississippi in 1977. Fuel exhaustion and crew ineptness were probably the cause: the pilots were seen handing a Jack Daniel’s bottle back & forth during pre-flight inspections. Despite unfortunate endings, they live on as gentlemen of Southern rock.
ZZ Top- As much as I can rack my brain, I can’t find what makes ZZ Top an appealing band. First of all, their beards may be more famous than they are. The Gandalf-esque growths were actually coincidental. After a two year hiatus early on, the pair met again to find that they had grown similar crumb catchers, without knowledge of the other! They play mostly electric blues, singing of innuendo & humor. It’s exactly what you’d hear at a Logan’s Roadhouse on a Friday night. The team too closely resemble dirty old men for me to become a fan. At some point you gotta shave!
Ozark Mountain Daredevils- An obscure band with not a lot of information about it. Despite a lack of publicity, you may recognize the ooh ooh’s of Jackie Blue. The band’s sound has been described as “a countrified Steely Dan”. They use more harmonica than the other Southern rock bands. It gives some bounce and conjures images of an Appalachian family playing on the front porch. Although a quirky group, they shouldn’t be overlooked as bumpkins.
Black Oak Arkansas- Now this is the band you classify as yokels! They a loud, hootin’ hollarin’ crowd that come rode into town and they been makin’ a ruckus ever since. The source of their sound is obvious: after being indicted for stealing a high school’s PA system, they fled to the hills. There they lived off the land and “refined” their style. The influence is obvious. Wow.
Molly Hatchet – I couldn’t wait to see what would crawl out of the wood work after Black Oak. Fortunately, people familiar with electricity emerged. Don’t let the name fool you, this is a group of men. The name comes from a folk lore in which a prostitute decapitated her patrons. Because of hard rock’s popularity in the 80′s, they became a hard rock band but did not have much success.
Dr. John- Because of his placement on the rock chart, I expected a Southern David Bowie and wasn’t too far off. Without a doubt you’ve heard his Right Place at the Wrong Time. For some reason, Rolling Stone chose a seemingly unknown album for #143 on their Greatest Album list. This album, entitled Gris-Gris, belongs to Dr. John and it ain’t half bad! I’ve never heard any of the songs and individually they were weak, but together produced a grisly, country blues album. Fantastic! If you enjoy the tracks below, I strongly suggest further investigation.
Little Feat- It seems Little Feat was placed as an afterthought. They started as Southern rock but had shifted to jazz fusion by their break up. Their first hit, Willin’, is still the best they offer. It begins with a monologue over music, very reminiscent of Lullaby by Shawn Mullins.
Notable Tracks/Albums:
Allman Brothers
album, At Filmore East
Ramblin’ Man
Jessica
Midnight Rider
Melissa
Statesboro Blues
Whipping Post
One Way Out
Blue Sky
In Memory of Elizabeth Reed
Soulshine
Lynyrd Skynyrd
album, Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd
Sweet Home Alabama
Call Me the Breeze
What’s Your Name
That Smell
Saturday Night Special
Ballad of Curtis Leow
Don’t Ask Me No Questions
ZZ Top
Sharp Dressed Man
La Grange
Legs
Tush
Gimme All Your Loving
Cheap Sunglasses
I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide
Tube Snake Boogie
Ozark Mountain Daredevils
Jackie Blue
If You Wanna Get to Heaven
Chicken Train
Country Girl
Standing on the Rock
Black Oak Arkansas
Jim Dandy
Molly Hatchet
Flirtin’ With Disaster
Dr. John
album, Gris-Gris
Blue Monday
Right Place at the Wrong Time
Mood Indigo
Little Feat
Willin’
Dixie Chicken
Filed under: Rock Odyssey
Question Mark Quagmire
The land gradually became softer over a few day’s travel. Soon, I had gone deep into the marshy depths of a swamp. Much of it was worthless gunk that stuck to your shoes or stunk to high heaven. In this wasted wetland, people had actually built decent homes. The music reflected the environment – strange yet purposeful.
Frank Zappa- Zappa was the man behind the scenes for about thirty years. His name has been mentioned in more band histories than any other third party. As a producer, composer, and artist, he helped many fledging groups become commercial successes. Ted Nugent, Jefferson Airplane, Jethro Tull, and Grand Funk Railroad have all had collaborations with him . Even Deep Purple’s Smoke on the Water was inspired by a Zappa concert where a hotel caught fire in Montreux, Canada. His own style, however, is difficult to classify. It sounds like an early, ADD-riddled Weird Al. He frequently broke the fourth wall by laughing at his own material or leaving interruptions unedited. Despite the unusual approach, his music is enjoyable. The informal style is a pleasant break from the ‘serious’ works of other bands. It provided a peak into his personality and he seemed to befriend you via the speakers. But it doesn’t take long for the goofs & the gimmicks to wear thin, leaving you longing for the ‘serious’ bands again.
Can- A big influence in krautrock, a German psyche-progressive movement. They’ve a few catchy tracks but many songs fall into the avant-garde genre. For those who don’t know: avant-garde is crazy. It attempts to break from traditional music by dropping time signatures or melodies. This disorganization tends to scare the mainstream public away. As it has me. When it comes to classic rock, it seems Can can not.
Capt. Beefheart- He’s a goofy man. His experimental music has paved the way for daring artists to reach mainstream. The album Trout Mask Replica has been hailed as a masterpiece and is listed as #58 on Rolling Stone’s Top 500. I listened to it… and cannot contemplate what makes it a masterpiece. While it may be important for rock theorists, it fails a general listener.
Notable Tracks/Albums:
Zappa
Bobby Brown
Catholic Girls
Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow
Muffin Man
Titties and Beer
Dancin’ Fool
Ice Cream Man
Can
Paperhouse
Capt. Beefheart
None
Filed under: Rock Odyssey
Progressive Point
I travelled along the coast until I found progressive rock near the sea. It differed drastically from the psychedelics I had just came from. The newest technologies abounded everywhere. Synthesizers, lasers, and strange combinations of instruments were common. Instead of seducing your brain with mellow tunes, they mesmerized your mind with complex sequences and ‘dazzling’ riffs. Surely a nice place to visit…
Yes- Another band that has a part of speech for a name, along with The Who. Yes’ sound is very spacey. The songs come and go as they please stylistically. Add to that the high pitched vocals and you’re on a wild shuttle ride to the moon. Many of their tracks are comparable to classical music. Most have intros, motifs, and distinct sections for mood. They didn’t do much outside the studio, so just go give a listen.
Pink Floyd- Lyrically intriguing. The unique and questioning verses contain much of the band’s appeal. Pink Floyd makes it seem that you don’t know the whole story behind a track. A lot of them sound, for lack of a better term, drugged out. The melodies meander between liquid solos, and added voices warp you back & forth between alternate realities. The album cover for Dark Side of the Moon is classic. It’s a simple physics trick professors have known 
for decades, but put it on an album and it becomes a symbol for exploring new dimensions. Floyd went on a tangent to produce the strange film The Wall. If you’ve ever seen it, you know it’s a trip. I can’t shake the image of all those hammers marching in line. For those engrossed in PF lore, the Dark Side of the Rainbow is merely coincidence but engaging nonetheless. Pink Floyd is a rock staple selling 250 million albums, besides – how can you have any pudding if you don’t eat your meat?
Genesis- Phil Collins’ voice stands out more than anything. I prefer it over the synthetic drums and electronic timbres. Although producing a few upbeat singles, they prefer long pop ballads. Genesis is a concert band anyway. Elaborate theatrics entrance audiences, and they were one of the first to develop a laser light show. Despite huge sales round the world, I can’t listen for too long. If you’re interested, check out their early albums.
Jethro Tull- I’d never heard of this group before but I was pleasantly surprised- this is quite a good band. Even more surprising was the appearance of a rock flute. In addition to a lead guitarist, they chose to showcase a lead flautist. This isn’t your 3rd grade recorder either; even Ron Burgundy would lose in a flute-off. The tracks are a bit quirky. The first half minute might consist of classical music which slowly becomes bluesy which then becomes rock. It gives the music a transcendental quality that keeps it modern. Jethro Tull went on to prefer folk music but their rock remains classic. [Side note: if you've played the swamp levels from Donkey Kong Country II, you might have a flashback during the intro to Bungle in the Jungle]
Rush- If space had a rock band, this would be it. They rely heavily on synthesizers, and science fiction inspired lyrics augment their presentation. Neil Peart, the drummer, has concert behavior in the same vein. At concerts, he enlists a rotating drum set. The snares and basses orbit him while he keeps the beat as they pass by. It’s quite a sight. Rush plays good music but their style doesn’t have me running to the dance floor. I find myself doing laundry to it instead.
ELO- My unfounded bias appears once again- I like Electric Light Orchestra. It’s not completely arbitrary though; they’ve had more Top 40 hits, without a #1 single, than any other US band. You can recognize them by the distinctive use of violins and cellos. Strings smooth over the rough edges an electric guitar might leave. They’re also versatile. Within a few songs you can hear a power ballad, a pop hook, a rock riff, or a classical sequence. It’s a shame they disbanded in 1989. ELO is my BFF.
Residents- So weird. As an example of their strangeness: no one knows who they are! The band wears these big eyeballs over their heads, concealing their identity. I’m just gonna skip over these guys. Jeez.
King Crimson- I’m listening to music again, yay! This group really only has one album of consequence, but it’s a doozy. In The Court of the Crimson King has been credited with beginning the progressive rock movement. It’s a rambunctious ride.
Notable Albums/Tracks:
Yes-
album, The Yes Album
album, 90125
Roundabout
Love Will Find a Way
Long Distance Runaround
Pink Floyd-
album, Dark Side of the Moon
album, Wish You Were Here
album, The Wall
Genesis-
I Can’t Dance
That’s All
Invisible Touch
In Too Deep
Land Of Confusion
Man on the Corner
Throwing It All Away
Jesus He Knows Me
Follow You Follow Me
Jethro Tull-
album, Aqualung
Thick as a Brick
Bungle in the Jungle
Skating Away
Rush-
Tom Sawyer
Limelight
YYZ
Spirit of Radio
Subdivisions
Closer to the Heart
ELO-
Telephone Line
Strange Magic
Don’t Bring Me Down
Evil Woman
Fire on High
Can’t Get It Out of My Head
Mr. Blue Sky
Livin’ Thing
Turn to Stone
Roll Over Beethoven
Do Ya
Residents-
None
King Crimson-
In the Court of the Crimson King
Filed under: Rock Odyssey
Psychedelic Port
If you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to wear psychedelics in your ears. The summer of ’67 in San Fran solidified psych as a genre. During the Summer of Love, as it came to be called, youngsters gathered by the thousands for free music. These newly coined ‘hippies’ were laid back and didn’t trust The Man.
The Doors- This is the band you listen to when you’re coked out of your mind. Break On Through instantly conjures images of Forrest Gump when Jenny climbs onto the balcony ledge. The Doors’ front man Jim Morrison is a handful. The genre is called psychedelic for a reason: he liked hallucinogens and alcohol. His reputation as pop bad boy spawned from raucous stage behavior, police trouble, and television misbehavior. The transition from good bad boy to bad bad boy was an infamous exposure incident in front of 7,000 people. After seeing a new age play, Morrison felt new personal freedom and ‘took it out’ on stage. This fall from grace was secretly welcomed by Jim; the pressure of super stardom was gone. After releasing LA Woman, he moved to Paris and began drinking- a lot. He died there of a heart attack. The Doors, although dated, still carry over well today. Heck, they’re still selling a million albums a year!
Jefferson Airplane- I got my first surprise when I learned this group was not someone named Jefferson. It’s a collection of people. That aside, Jefferson Airplane most closely resembles the psychedelic movement. Their appearance in newspaper articles prompted a migration of young people to San Francisco. Along with music from The Beatles, thus began the Summer of Love. About 200,000 people attended the famous Monterey Pop Festival- essentially the first Woodstock. News coverage publicized the hippie lifestyle and made it nationally known. A few years later, Airplane made a political stand by voicing their opposition to the Vietnam War with Volunteers. They were the voice of young people in the late 60′s and a fragment of the group successfully went on to produce We Built This City (On Rock and Roll).
Grateful Dead- For the longest time, I thought this was a metal band. Further from the truth I could not be. Formed in San Francisco in ’65, they are quite mellow and laid back. Their devoted fans, known as Dead Heads, followed the group from concert to concert spreading love in their wake. The Grateful Dead were givers when they toured. They arranged for free food & lodging, and had more free concerts than any other band. Front man Jerry Garcia wrote emotionally laden songs due to his rough childhood. At age 4 he lost his right middle finger while splitting wood, at 5 he watched his father drown in a freak accident, and in his teen years he was involved in a car crash where he lost a close friend. As a result, their songs are both healing and reflective. Remember this the next time you eat Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia.
Iggy Pop- A real wild child. Iggy is featured here because he was a contemporary of psychedelics, not because he sang like them. His style was that of pre-punk. During concerts, he acted like a gross misfit. Flashing of genitals, cutting himself, and stage diving (yes, he invented it) were common. Iggy’s exciting character sustained minimal success but heroin addiction barred him from ascending the charts.
Psychedelic Furs- This is modern psychedelic rock. The Furs took punk and morphed it with psych rock to develop their sound. If 80′s teen movies flash through your mind while listening, that’s no mistake. Their song Pretty in Pink was inspiration for the same movie starring Molly Ringwald.
Notable Albums/Tracks:
The Doors-
album, The Doors
album, LA Woman
Hello, I Love You
People Are Strange
Touch Me
Roadhouse Blues
Love Me Two Times
Peace Frog
Jefferson Airplane-
album, Surrealistic Pillow
album, Volunteers
Miracles
Jane
Count On Me
Rock Me Baby
Grateful Dead-
album, American Beauty
album, Workingman’s Dead
Not Fade Away/Goin’ Down The Road
Bertha
China Cat Flower
St. Stephen
Iggy Pop-
Lust for Life
The Passenger
Search and Destroy
Real Wild Child
Psychedelic Furs-
Love My Way
Pretty in Pink
Filed under: Rock Odyssey
Breakaway Bridge
Found a lone traveler along the trail today. He was quite intriuging. He wore his hair in an afro, framed neatly with a bandana. His guitar he held upside-down when he played because he was a lefty. And boy, oh boy, could he play! Blues riffs gave foundation to the psychedelic solos, and all the while he belted out over the notes. I asked him his name and he simply replied,” Jimi Hendrix.”
Jimi had a varied life. He started off in the army but was kicked out for being a sub-par soldier. He then played clubs in Tennessee and New York with little success. Most bands didn’t enjoy his rampantly wild playing style and his flashy stage antics like playing behind his back or with his teeth. Finally, he caught the attention two major groups: The Beatles and the Who. Soon after, Hendrix signed to a record company and produced the first album.
Are You Experienced catapulted The Jimi Hendrix Experience to international fame. It would’ve peaked at #1 on the charts if The Beatles hadn’t released Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (their best album EVER). When The Experience toured extensively in support of the album, Jimi became famous for destroying and then igniting his guitar. Many stage managers asked him to tone it down. The most famous venue was, of course, Woodstock. He headlined at the festival and played the iconic Star Spangled Banner.
Hendrix publicly supported the hippie movement and often used hallucinogens. His music, therefore, has become synonymous with tripping; his first album even looks like a black light poster. Unfortunately, these habits led to predictable results: getting arrested, band break ups, inability to play on stage, and fan abuse. Eventually, Jimi Hendrix was found dead in a hotel basement. Wine and nine sleeping pills caused him to asphyxiate on his own vomit.
Today you’ll find the Hendrix name, most commonly, at the top of lists. Rolling Stone named him Greatest Guitarist ever, he has 3 albums in their 500 Greatest, VH1 placed him at #3 on Best Pop Artists. Many movies use his songs in scenes set in the late 60′s and early 70′s (Forrest Gump anyone?). His face symbolizes free love, groovy times, and rockin’ music.
Notable Albums
album, Are You Experienced
album, Electric Ladyland
album, Axis: Bold as Love
Filed under: Rock Odyssey
Hard Rock Highway
Life on the road is tough and it takes forever to get to where you’re going. That was the case with Hard Rock. What a collection of bands! Put these guys on a tour bus and just call it The Awesome Tour.
The Who- No, it’s not a question; it’s the one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century. They’re one of those bands that’ve been around forever. They were rocking at Woodstock, they started using the synthesizer when it was brand new, and their public front man, Pete Townshend, was Rolling Stone’s first interview EVER. Game over: The Who win, period. They’ve been described as the ‘best live band ever’ and for good reason. Early performances are famous for the complete destruction of musical instruments. At one show, the drum set was rigged to explode. They were even featured in the Guinness Book of World Records for the ‘Loudest Concert Ever’ at 126 dB (for comparison, artillery fire is rated at 130db).
These amp ruining antics are responsible for Townshend’s partial deafness. As a result, he became a founding member of H.E.A.R.- Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers.
The Who’s commercial success is insane. Tommy was their most famous album, and essentially created the rock opera genre. Tommy paved the way for works by David Bowie, Pink Floyd, and the Flaming Lips. Who’s Next, their best selling traditional album, features Baba ‘O Reilly, the epitome of classic rock. Finally, the concert album Live at Leeds is a candidate for best live album of all time.
There’s no question. The Who wins. Period.
Led Zeppelin- What do you say about Led Zeppelin? Let the music speak for itself. The many tracks they produced can sound completely opposite from to each other. They can electrify audiences with hard hitting metal or calm crowds with introspective acoustic, and that’s all in one concert! Their first album cost only $2,000 to make; six years later it had grossed $7 million. Led Zeppelin soon became known for outrageous behavior, and many of rock’s infamous stories come from this era. Donning themselves in exotic clothing and jewelry, they flew in a private jet (nicknamed Starship), and rented out entire sections of hotels. In one famous case, the drummer hurled a television set from a window. Another incident, known as the shark episode, involved perverted acts with a fish- I find no desire to detail it, so Google it if you must. Zeppelin’s music is immortal. They have five albums featured on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums, four of which appear in the top 100. Led Zeppelin II is basically a blueprint for 70′s hard rock. The enlivening vocals of Robert Plant and the unreal guitar solos by Jimmy Page are an inextricable tile to the rock music mosaic.
Aerosmith- The third in our supertrifecta. Who doesn’t recognize the freakishly large lips of Steven Tyler? Essentially, there exist two Aerosmiths. The band first gained international fame in the ’70s. The albums Toys in the Attic and Rocks captured their pure rock sound and launched them to superstar status, bumping elbows with Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones. However, like a broken record, drug addictions caused a break up of the band. Five years later, the members met again and it seemed those five years had never happened. The electricity in the recording studio was tangible, but now Aerosmith had to make their comeback. Despite an album release, it was the collaboration with Run DMC that caused their rebirth. The band members then decided to enter rehab, and have been clean and rocking ever since. A near constant stream of singles has produced fame that far surpasses their 70s heyday. Their appeal stems not only from musical talent but also their history. As of 2007, Aerosmith has been around for 36 years. Most marriages don’t last that long. I’m sure Tyler didn’t expect to have such a long legacy when he started!
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AC/DC- The thunder from down under, I’m a fan of DC. Their style is exactly what rock should be. It’s intense, contagious, with a flair of ridiculous as well. The lead guitar riff of Thunderstruck is amazing, yet the lead guitarist, Angus Young, wears a school boy outfit on stage! Along with Zeppelin & Sabbath, they blazed the trail for heavy metal. One problem arises when trying to write about AC/DC: they didn’t break the rules! There aren’t scandalous tales involving eccentricity; they just made great music. Go give it a listen.
Deep Purple- If you don’t know Smoke on the Water, stop reading this right now because you are not worthy. Seriously. Those of us that are will continue on and you can catch up later. The list grows as Deep Purple, along with Zeppelin & Sabbath & DC, were the pre-cursors to heavy metal. Despite the innovations, most of their music is largely forgettable. Only Smoke on the Water survives as a rock classic. Purple is notable because it burgeoned a number of future headliners such as Dio and Black Sabbath.
Grand Funk Railroad- Another small but endearing band. In the early 70′s they were quite a bang. They broke a record set by The Beatles by selling out a concert in just 72 hours. However, much of their fan base did not stick around when they shifted from rock & roll to rhythm & blues. Grand Funk still has some goodies and I’m sure you’ve heard them on your local classic rock station.
Ted Nugent- Yep, he was a rock star before he had a reality show- some people have it all. As a person, he annoys me to no end but he is quite outspoken against drugs. That’s a rare and noble cause in the rock industry. A lot of his songs are classic rock staples (Great White Buffalo) so I guess it’s ok if he’s a little crazy.
Van Halen- I place Van Halen last simply because of their comparatively late arrival (1978). Eddie Van Halen can rip the guitar like no other. Or play keyboard; he’s a versatile man. They had a little trouble with lead singers though. David Lee Roth sang the classic stuff (Runnin’ with the Devil, Cradle Will Rock) but eventually split because of showmanship issues. Sammy Hagar came in next and sang their pop hits. Speaking of pop hits, they are laden with synthesizer use, almost making the opening riffs cringe worthy. It doesn’t matter though, as I will always jump to Jump.
Notable Albums/Tracks:
The Who- album, Tommy
album, Live at Leeds
album, Who’s Next
Who Are You
Eminence Front
You Better You Bet
Love, Reign O’er Me
Squeeze Box
Long Live Rock
I Can’t Explain
I Can See for Miles
Led Zeppelin- album, Led Zeppelin
album, Led Zeppelin II
album, Led Zeppelin IV
album, Physcial Graffiti
album, Houses of the Holy
All My Love
Immigrant Song
Tangerine
Aerosmith- album, Toys in the Attic
album, Rocks
Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing
Janie’s Got a Gun
Crazy
Dream On
Sweet Emotion
Dude (Looks Like a Lady)
Angel
Cryin’
Livin’ On The Edge
Jaded
What It Takes
Amazing
Rag Doll
Pink
Last Child
Love in an Elevator
AC/DC- album, Back in Black
album, Highway to Hell
TNT
Thunderstruck
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
It’s a Long Way to the Top
Money Talks
For Those About to Rock
Who Made Who
Jailbreak
High Voltage
Deep Purple- Smoke on the Water
Hush
Knocking at Your Back Door
Pictures of Home
Highway Star
Grand Funk Railroad- W’ere an American Band
Some Kind of Wonderful
I’m Your Captain
The Loco-motion
Ted Nugent- Stranglehold
Cat Scratch Fever
Fred Bear
Great White Buffalo
Van Halen- album, Van Halen
Jump
Right Now
Panama
Hot For Teacher
