Rock Evolution – The History of Rock & Roll - 1985 - (page 203)

GoatersLeftShin said:
A few more from my list of rejections!

# Lulu - To Sir With Love

As annoying as Lulu is, this song is a belter.

# Stevie Wonder - I Was Made To Love Her

It's a testament to this year that one of his greatest songs probably doesn't even come in the top 50 songs of the year!

# The Box Tops - The Letter

A brilliant simple, short song - and a classic

# The Bee Gees - Massachusetts

Such a beautiful song from them.

# Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl

I thought this song was from the 70s - it's one of those songs that everyone knows and just seems to have been around forever!

# Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth

A great song from Stephen Stills and such an iconic riff which shows you don't always have to rip up the guitar to make a great riff!

# Engelbert Humperdinck - Release Me

Over the top, crooning and nonsense. But it's also melodic, catchy and one of those songs that is a classic from the time!

# Dedicated To The One I Love - Mamas & Papas

An older song but brilliantly performed by the Mamas & Papas
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Happy to second them although I'm slightly dubious about the big E.
 
Another six from me - all deserving of their place and demonstrating the breadth of genre, melody and technical excellence:

1. Respect - Aretha
2. Little Wing - Hendrix
3. Soul Man - Sam and Dave
4. See Emily Play - Pink Floyd
5. Heroes and Villains - Beach Boys
6. I Heard it through the grape vine - Gladys Knight and the Pips
 
Album


His first album in 1967.
Not going to recommend a track though.....
 
Saddleworth2 said:
Another six from me - all deserving of their place and demonstrating the breadth of genre, melody and technical excellence:

1. Respect - Aretha
2. Little Wing - Hendrix
3. Soul Man - Sam and Dave
4. See Emily Play - Pink Floyd
5. Heroes and Villains - Beach Boys
6. I Heard it through the grape vine - Gladys Knight and the Pips
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At least three of these are really great songs. Such a pity they were all crammed into a single year.
See Emily Play is sublime, Pink Floyd’s best. Written by Syd, of course. Listen to Syd’s slide guitar, probably using a plastic ruler.
 
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All added - it's still amazing that after all these songs we can still have See Emily Play, Respect and Little Wing nominated!
 
GoatersLeftShin said:
All added - it's still amazing that after all these songs we can still have See Emily Play, Respect and Little Wing nominated!
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So happy to see Syd Barrett in the list. A real innovator. I should mention that I saw PF in 67 when Syd was still there. The light show was extremely rudimentary then.
 
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threespires said:
I think by the sounds of it we're going to have the opportunity to discuss LN when we get to '68 which makes sense given the album she released that year.

Not a week goes by when I don't play at least a song or two by Redding.

As for the Group With No Name it's all lost in the mist of time isn't it? Supposedly Fayrar's wife (Renee?) and Jules Alexander were part of it but if Alexander was there then why didn't he play with The Association too? I suspect there's a book out there somewhere that sheds more light on it. I know there are books that cover Monterrey in depth and I keep meaning to buy one. You could make a book just out the people who didn't play (and why) let alone the acts that did. Zappa slagging of the SF bands and refusing to appear with them; the various British acts who couldn't get a US visa for various nefarious reasons; Berry Gordy refusing to let any Motown act play at all; Peter Tork having to announce (more than once?) that no The Beatles were not in the crowd in disguise! The Beach Boys heavily involved but then unable to get things together to play. Ry Cooder refusing to let CB take up the invite because he thought they weren't capable of playing well enough at that point. I really wish Arthur Lee had accepted the invite too as we'd have some classic footage to treasure, but maybe again that was part of the LA vs SF spats? John Phillips writing "San Francisco" in part to placate the increasingly narky/twitchy Monterrey local authorities. The boss of ABC, who'd paid big money for the film rights, telling the organisers/film crew they could keep the money but to get out of his office, after they showed him footage of Hendrix's performance!!

Monterrey could easily sustain an entire thread on its own.
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I think Jules had left the band by then TS and was in India when Monterey took place but as you say its all a bit sketchy and all I can say is I would have loved to been in the audience and seen all those that were to be on the bill but couldn't make it for one reason or another.

If I had to pick a decade of music to the exclusion of others and never be able to listen to again after much thought it would be the sixties because of how much music changed in that decade so quickly and for the better but the seventies would be a close second as we shall see while Micky Dolenz sang As We Go Along in 1968.
 
Saddleworth2 said:
Another six from me - all deserving of their place and demonstrating the breadth of genre, melody and technical excellence:

1. Respect - Aretha
2. Little Wing - Hendrix
3. Soul Man - Sam and Dave
4. See Emily Play - Pink Floyd
5. Heroes and Villains - Beach Boys
6. I Heard it through the grape vine - Gladys Knight and the Pips
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Black Magic Woman... Fleetwood Mac
 
Lots of good options already gone, but not all...

This song was one of Nina Simone's civil rights songs released on her blues, soul, and jazz themed album Nina Simone Sings the Blues released in January.

The song lyrics were written by her friend and poet Langston Hughes, who sadly died this same year after complications from surgery from cancer.

This song will harken back to our Blues playlist, but it's too important lyrically not to include it here.

"Backlash Blues" - Nina Simone
 
Groovin' on a Sunday afternoon
Really couldn't get away to soon
No, No, No, No

I like a timely nomination to fit the mood and the day, and the Young Rascals deliver again...

This was written by singer songwriters Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati. Cavaliere as co-lead singer of the Young Rascals and keyboards player was inspired to compose the song by his girlfriend, whom he only got to meet on Sundays amidst heavy touring and recording by the band.

Of course the record company (Atlantic Records) in "knowing what's best", were skeptical of releasing this as a single, given that it deviated from the bands' previous output. But after hearing it, DJ Murray the K convinced the record exec to release it and it came out on April 10. The single did well enough after hitting #1 to become the title of the album later in the summer.

Groovin' - the Young Rascals
 
RobMCFC said:
Whilst The Doors debut album is one of their best, I'm going to nominate a song from their second album, Strange Days, also released in 1967. The obvious choice is probably "People Are Strange", so I'll skip that. My favourite is "When The Music's Over", but at 11 minutes, it's probably a bit long for a playlist that will already be long. So I'm going for:-

"Love Me Two Times" - The Doors
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I got some friends inside...

Well, it was also on my shortlist too, and since "it's been quiet" absent my final few since last week, we need to end the playlist on an appropriate song closer, and I honestly can't think of a better one to have for 1967 to signify the completion of a colossal year in music, because...

Music is your only friend
Until the end
Until the end
Until the end

"When the Music's Over" - The Doors
 
Black&White&BlueMoon Town said:
I got some friends inside...

Well, it was also on my shortlist too, and since "it's been quiet" absent my final few since last week, we need to end the playlist on an appropriate song closer, and I honestly can't think of a better one to have for 1967 to signify the completion of a colossal year in music, because...

Music is your only friend
Until the end
Until the end
Until the end

"When the Music's Over" - The Doors
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I love it. That organ at the start is superb.
 
Saddleworth2 said:
I think in the second week I’m going to write about my favourite album from 1967. There are some absolute crackers but one stands out for me and I still play it very regularly.
What’s your favourite and why?
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Sgt. Pepper

When my older brother first bought this album in 1967 it was a revelation, and turned my monochrome world into vivid colour. Everybody knew all the songs, the Sunday papers had a field day with the lyrics (drugs, dark sinister hidden meanings!), Sgt.pepper became a whole culture. the boys had stopped touring and were sending us messages from space, and all sorts of weird things were going on. LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS still sends a tingle and A DAY IN THE LIFE is an all time classic.
The beatles were having a lot of fun and i wonder if it's still all taken too seriously,

The 13 compositions sound melodic, harmonic, varied and contain some surprising musical elements like the contrast between the rock guitar and the classical orchestrations in the title track, from the sitar and tablas in the sultry and dreamy many flowing shifting moods in it's brilliant finale. These guys were great tunesmiths, the pleasant vocal harmonies sound very distinctive and several songs deliver good solid rock and roll guitar.
Listening to this album in 67 was like a full psychedelic trip, a weird ethereal experience! So many different styles of wonderful music.

I've lost counts at the number of musical greats who have quoted this album as being the one thing that started them up on their musical path.

Sgt.pepper is maybe NOT the greatest ever album ever made, not even the best Beatle album, but will always go down in history as the one that changed everything!
 
It is still Monday night here, so I'll respectfully ask to include a final song as the penultimate track before "When The Music's Over".

I just heard today that Jesse Colin Young, who was an American singer and songwriter and a founding member and lead singer of the folk and psychedelic rock band The Youngbloods, passed away yesterday at the age of 83 at his home in Aiken, SC.

I also regret that we didn't get to mention the one hit the band had, but then again, given its history, this almost-omission is borderline poetic.

When this track, a paean to universal brotherhood, first appeared, it did not sell well, reaching only number 62 on the charts.

However, two years later – after Dan Ingram had recorded a brotherhood promotion for WABC-AM in which the song was used as a bed for the promotion, and after the National Council of Christians and Jews subsequently used the song in television and radio commercials – the track was re-released and cracked the Top 5.

This disc sold over one million copies and received a gold record, awarded by the RIAA, on October 7, 1969.

The song is an appeal for peace and brotherhood, presenting the polarity of love versus fear, and the choice to be made between them. It is best remembered for the impassioned plea in the lines of its refrain ("Come on people now/Smile on your brother/Everybody get together/Try to love one another right now"), which is repeated several times in succession to bring the song to its conclusion.

I distinctly and fondly remember hearing this song on the radio in the 70's as a kid, and it was one of my favourites. I just had always associated it with a time of my childhood, not of my infancy.

So, with the sad passing of Jesse Colin Young and the Youngbloods only charting hit, I'll add towards the end... "listen..."

"Get Together" - The Youngbloods
 
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Black&White&BlueMoon Town said:
It is still Monday night here, so I'll respectfully ask to include a final song as the penultimate track before "When The Music's Over".

I just heard today that Jesse Colin Young, who was an American singer and songwriter and a founding member and lead singer of the folk and psychedelic rock band The Youngbloods, passed away yesterday at the age of 83 at his home in Aiken, SC.

I also regret that we didn't get to mention the one hit the band had, but then again, given its history, this almost-omission is borderline poetic.

When this track, a paean to universal brotherhood, first appeared, it did not sell well, reaching only number 62 on the charts.

However, two years later – after Dan Ingram had recorded a brotherhood promotion for WABC-AM in which the song was used as a bed for the promotion, and after the National Council of Christians and Jews subsequently used the song in television and radio commercials – the track was re-released and cracked the Top 5.

This disc sold over one million copies and received a gold record, awarded by the RIAA, on October 7, 1969.

The song is an appeal for peace and brotherhood, presenting the polarity of love versus fear, and the choice to be made between them. It is best remembered for the impassioned plea in the lines of its refrain ("Come on people now/Smile on your brother/Everybody get together/Try to love one another right now"), which is repeated several times in succession to bring the song to its conclusion.

I distinctly and fondly remember hearing this song on the radio in the 70's as a kid, and it was one of my favourites. I just had always associated it with a time of my childhood, not of my infancy.

So, with the sad passing of Jesse Colin Young and the Youngbloods only charting hit, I'll add towards the end...

"Get Together" - The Youngbloods
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Excellent selection and at an obvious poignant moment.

Like you listened to it and attempted to play it many times a sixties classic and didn't know for a long time it was was written by Chet Powers.
 
Saddleworth2 said:
I think in the second week I’m going to write about my favourite album from 1967. There are some absolute crackers but one stands out for me and I still play it very regularly.
What’s your favourite and why?
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Can't say I'm familiar with many albums from the 60s - lots of songs, obviously. But The Doors debut album is a standout for me.

I bought the old double best-of in 1991 when they were in the media a lot because of the upcoming Oliver Stone film.
So for years, those 19 songs were all I knew of the The Doors. The best songs from the debut were on the collection that I had but it was good to finally listen to the full album a few years ago on Spotify - "Soul Kitchen" being the best addition to the songs that I already knew.
 
RobMCFC said:
Can't say I'm familiar with many albums from the 60s - lots of songs, obviously. But The Doors debut album is a standout for me.

I bought the old double best-of in 1991 when they were in the media a lot because of the upcoming Oliver Stone film.
So for years, those 19 songs were all I knew of the The Doors. The best songs from the debut were on the collection that I had but it was good to finally listen to the full album a few years ago on Spotify - "Soul Kitchen" being the best addition to the songs that I already knew.
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Ha, you have hit on my favourite from 67.

Probably one of the greatest debut albums ever made. When it was released in January 1967 it sounded ahead of its time and it still sounds very current. For me the mark of an all time great is that you never tire of it, there is always just a little bit more it reveals at every listen.

Jimbo was one of the first that fused rock music and (his own) poetry and that remained a trademark of the band throughout their career. Its brilliant that a few tracks (Light my fire, The End) from it have been chosen for the playlist but honestly there is not a poor or filler track on the album and any one of the songs could quite easily have made it on.
The Doors influenced many future bands, Ray Manzareks keyboard work fundamental to their sound.
Manzarek was the most jazz-influenced member of the band. He studied classical music and later jazz at DePaul University in Chicago. He was influenced by artists like John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk, and his jazz background gave him a unique approach to the keyboard. He didn’t just stick to traditional rock or blues structures, incorporating elements of jazz improvisation and harmonic sophistication into his playing. His use of jazz-influenced chord progressions and his ability to create atmospheric and dynamic sounds on the organ were key elements of the band's distinctive style.
While Robbie Krieger wasn’t formally trained in jazz, his guitar playing shows a significant influence from jazz, especially in terms of his use of unconventional chords and modal playing. He studied flamenco guitar, but his playing style also drew on jazz improvisation, particularly in his solos, which often felt free-flowing and exploratory, much like jazz solos. He was known for experimenting with different musical styles, blending blues, jazz, and rock elements into his playing.
Densmore had some jazz training, having studied under the famous jazz drummer Tony Williams who was part of the Miles Davis Quintet. Densmore's drumming style was highly influenced by jazz rhythms and polyrhythms, which made him a very versatile player. His subtle, dynamic playing could shift between more straightforward rock beats and intricate, jazz-inspired patterns, contributing to the band's ability to create fluid, organic music.

Paul Rothchilds production maintained the 'live' feel of the recording which was done very quickly with very few overdubs. This was made possible by the band honing their material as part of their residency at the Whisky A Gogo

I could go on and on (not like me) but will leave it there. If you haven't listened to the album, please do.

The Doors (album) - Wikipedia
 
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