From sweet and smooth classics, to new names, to old names with new music...the focus here, is to shine a little light on some damn fine music.

I'll find it. You can listen, review, or tell me I wouldn't know good music if it kicked me in the ass. I personally don't give a shit.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Mixed Tape Tuesday Goes 70's: Part 1

Since I already feel like I'm late to class and haven't handed in my homework assignment, here's my second post of the day. This one is for Jen's Twisted Mix Tape Tuesday. This week we are moving into Part 1 of the 1970's. Great decade for music. It came about after all the rules had been broken, after American blues clashed with the British Invasion and country and southern rock started to roll. I loved every minute of it.

This was the decade when I saw my first, second and probably my 250th live concert. I was old enough to do what I wanted and young enough to not have responsibilities getting in the way. Did I make some wrong decisions... hell yes, didn't we all. But did I have fun... indeed I did. And I have retained some of the memories to prove it. The rest were forgotten when those brain cells that were in such abundance back then, suddenly went pfft. C'est la vie.

My first choice is no big surprise, it is either #1 or #2 on virtually every Top 100 music list of the era. I could listen to it everyday of my life and still enjoy hearing it. The two parts of the song: the vocal and instrumental are each beautiful on their own. Put them together and it's seven minutes that are magical. The opening riff is one of the most recognizable in music.

What else can it be but "Layla"





The band which first comes to mind for me when I think 70's music is the Eagles. Initially I thought I would use "Take It Easy," written by Glenn Frey and Jackson Brown, as it's the first song I remember from them. But no Eagles song fills me with more emotion and takes me to a better place than this Tom Waits song.

"Ol '55."




I loved Loggins & Messina. I must have seen them a dozen times. When I heard Jimmy Messina from Buffalo Springfield was teaming up with this other guy, I was interested. Then I saw Kenny Loggins and wow. Not only was he hot, but he had that voice... yeah. Their first album, "Sittin' In" was brilliant, and their follow up was just as good. Their song that I've picked is the title cut. Loved the lyrics, loved the sound, love the long instrumental in the middle.

"What a shot you would be if you could look at me with those..."
"Angry Eyes"



Next up is the song I actually started this music blog with. It's all about the feeling. It's all about music. It's my definition of what music does to me. "Give me the beat boys and free my soul, I wanna get lost in your Rock & Roll and drift away." Isn't that how music should make you feel? This blog began with a post about the death of Dobie Gray, it lives because of the music.

"And when my mind is free
You know a melody can move me
And when I'm feelin' blue
The guitar's comin' through to soothe me"

"Drift Away"



Then there was Traffic. Oy, such a decision. Do I go with "Dear Mr. Fantasy", "Low Spark" or "Feeling Alright"? In the end, I went with the first song I played on my first CD player. From John Barleycorn Must Die, one piano infused instrumental that just rocked.

"Glad"



So that's five, the number we're supposed to pick. But it's missing someone and as a resident of the "Great State of New Jersey," I feel the need to break the rules. I need to bring in The Boss. Again, the choice is tough. Just choosing which album to take a song from is tough. Greeting from Asbury Park's "Spirit in the Night," or anything from Born to Run would have worked. But I'm going with one song which I wouldn't hear at every concert, which just made it more special when I did. Coming from probably my favorite Bruce album, Darkness on the Edge of Town, it's all Max and Roy at the start, with the tempo building as the song explodes with longing and passion.

"She says, Baby if you wanna be wild,
you got a lot to learn, close your eyes,
Let them melt, let them fire,
let them burn"

The exquisite "Candy's Room"


As a sad side note. It's two years today that we lost The Big Man,Clarence Clemmons. Sure hope he's having a good time playing with the band upstairs.

Thanks Jen for having us over at your place again. Promise next week I'll bring the beer.
Jen Kehl

22 comments:

  1. Awesome list!! Just to hear those words 'bring me the beat' gets me in a feel good mood. I wish I had thought about that one for my list. Maybe part 2. lol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, so much more to go in Part 2. Feel free to drift away...

      Delete
  2. Drift Away has to be one of the best, ever. Ever. I can't believe it's what you started this blog with. That's just one more thing that makes you cool.
    Great list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kristi, yeah it was about the time he died that I was just so pissed off with the state of music and that song just kind of told me what to do. Off to read everyone else's list...

      Delete
  3. nice choices,why do a lot of people never mention MOUNTAIN?one of best bands of their era?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. you just did. how many baby girls were named Robin Marie after hearing Felix sing it. Great band.

      Delete
  4. You had a few I didn't think of - how could I forget the Eagles? And Drift Away is perfection.

    ReplyDelete
  5. This list is right up my alley! The Eagles have always been a huge influence for me. Their songs were some of the first I learned to play. So many great ones. Jackson Browne...you reminded me...I need to include him next week. Wow - there was so much great music in the 70s - hard to narrow it down.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This week was the mainstream stuff, I think next week it will be time to jump to the edge.

      Delete
  6. Fantastic choices, especially Drift Away.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks, I'm so glad people are enjoying Dobie. It's always been my mantra.

      Delete
  7. "This week was the mainstream stuff, I think next week it will be time to jump to the edge"

    Totally can't wait for that list...especially given your list here. So much music is to be expected with a 10 year timeline, but I would submit that the diversity of the music created in the 70s is way wide. And, to me, liking nearly every style of music* the challenge is to 'see' the music when reviewing in my mind that ear.
    The best example of this comes from one of your Commentors (freddie) mentioning Mountain. Nothing less than one of the Top 10 rock songs (Mississippi Queen)... it got past me on this week's list.

    Gonna totally kick out the jams** next week! Look forward to it... you have one of the most listenable-at-any-time-of-the=day Lists this week!

    *with 2 exceptions: a) yodeling and 2) anything involving whistling as a lead instrument
    ** yeah, that was to get you on a false trail***
    no, nothing competitive here, lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. damn, I was looking forward to the yodeling. whistling, not so much. down and dirty next week, thanks for stopping by.

      Delete
  8. How great was duane allman? seriously, how great? That Whigs show I saw last week had an opening act whose bass player looked just like him. It was uncanny.

    I like the springsteen deep cut. That's an underrated song. Does he still play it live?

    great list. It shows your personality.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, this list is pretty much me. I've seen Bruce do it several times... gets me all tingly. Haven't been to a show since the last one at Giants Stadium before they tore it down. I would think he pulls it out once in a while.

      Thanks dude.

      Delete
  9. Kat I am so honored that you play Twisted Mix Tape, I love your lists. First of love the original Layla, after Eric Clapton did Unplugged, that version seemed to take over the airwaves, but as much as I love Eric, ain't nothing like the real thing. Love when people play the lesser known songs, I want to do a "B Sides" list... OL '55 is one of those songs...people have no idea the depth of The Eagles because all of their mainstream stuff is so amazing. And thank you for the LONG version of Angry Eyes! That short radio version has nothing on this one. I often crank this one in my car. I completely agree with you on Drift Away, Traffic...well you were right, so many to choose from. And don't shoot me, I am not the Biggest Boss Fan, however my father was. We are originally from New York, and back in the day my dad saw him playing in some teeny bar and never forgot.
    This list is perfect. Can't wait for next week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for having me. It's like going to a birthday party every week where everyone gets to open presents. As for the Boss, I can relate to his songs, and let's face it, being from Jersey kinda makes it a rule. And I like to say "Just because it's good doesn't mean you have to like it and just because you like it doesn't make it good." But mostly, it's all good.

      Delete
  10. What a really great list!!! Layla is right there at the top as you describe. Ol' 55 is such a beautiful song, such a joy to listen to. I love the "instrumental" in Angry Eyes... Your choice from Bruce is very nice.

    So enjoyed, Slu

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Slu, and we get to do it again next week.

      Delete
  11. I loved this! And why haven't I engaged in this challenge before?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. damned if I know. I only started last week. Now you must join in as well.

      Delete