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.

Happy Birthday Eric Clapton: I'd Would Do Anything

Friday is traveling time.

Just couldn't let the day go by without a shout-out to today's birthday boy...Mr. Eric Clapton. Now to pick one tune as his best is impossible. Sure we have, Layla and then there's the rest. I have two dozen favorites at least.

My taste for today is one song while not his best, is one that I enjoy more and more, each time I hear it.

"God's got a plan, he's making it clear
Sweet little love songs in your ear"


Happy Birthday Eric, hope all the birthday wishes you get today "put a little wind in your sail."

Eric Clapton "I Would Do Anything"

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Rest And Listen Under My Little Wing

Today we will finally go through my slight obsession with one song..."Little Wing"

Don't ask me why this song so invades my musical judgement. All I know is that until yesterday, I did not think there could be a bad version of it. To me it is just magical. Jimi Hendrix it has been said, wrote the song for his mother. It has been covered countless times...wonderfully.

"Well she's walking through the clouds
With a circus mind that's running round
Butterflies and zebras
And moonbeams and fairy tales
That's all she ever thinks about
Riding with the wind."


I've seen the original lyrics to "Little Wing" and it seems no artist has ever sung the words as written. Fine by me. The variations on the theme just make each version more memorable. So whimsical, so joyful.

"It's alright she says it's alright
Take anything you want from me,
Anything."

Then there's the guitar.
To hear the interpretations gets my head spinning in twenty directions...all of them good. Except for the one I listened to yesterday. I'm going to include it with the tastes as a cautionary tale...this is not "Little Wing", this is unrecognizable crap.

So here we go with just a few great versions, an interesting one by the Coors and one shit one by very talented Japanese guitarist Kumi Adachi. Some of her stuff is amazing, this isn't.


Kumi Adachi "Little Wing" ... I think
Stevie Ray Vaughn "Little Wing"... the ultimate instrumental version
Eric Clapton/Steve Winwood "Little Wing"... saw them do this live at MSG. Still get tears as I think about how good it was.
Sting "Little Wing"... pure vocal, not quite the guitar emphasis, but a fine blend of instruments
The Coors "Little Wing"... like you've never heard it
and...
Jimi Hendrix "Little Wing"...where it all started

Nothing's sweeter than that.

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A Little Traveling Music Please

In a good mood this morning. Temperature is supposed to hit 70 here in the NY tri-state area. I'll take that any day of the year, on March 8...it's positively magnificent.

The taste today is someone I consider a very underrated singer-songwriter. Sure she's won four Grammy awards and has sold millions of albums, but except for a splash here and there..she's done it quietly.

Tracy Chapman burst onto the scene with a song called "Fast Car." Anyone who ever thought of walking out on a bad situation could identify with the storyline. Her vocal conveyed the desperation, hope and resignation.

With a wonderful quality and clarity in her voice, she is as smooth as a milk shake on a hot day. Take the time to drink it in.

"You're The One" so smooth
"Give Me One Reason"  with Eric Clapton...worth a taste right there

and the list would not be complete without...
"Fast Car"

It's a beautiful day, take a ride...with the top down of course.

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Working On The Valentine's Mojo

Ok, so I just finished the Theory of Life blog about Valentine's Day and now it's time to write the VDay themed music blog. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

Now for New Year's Eve, in a post titled "Hot Licks For New Year's Eve" I offered up some "in the mood" selections. So let's see if we can find a few more.

The New Year's list began with Marvin Gaye and I've already tweeted  it this morning, if you can... start the day with it.  Because how do you not start with Marvin...?  "Let's Get It On."  oh yeah

Lou Gramm "Warmest Rising Sun"...sultry
Survivor "Too Hot To Sleep"...just too damn hot
Joe Cocker "You Can Leave Your Hat On"...anybody for a pole dance?
Eric Clapton "I Wanna Make Love To You."...well alright then

Feel that temperature rise, after that you guys are on your own.
Let it flow.

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