Steve Winwood, Because With You I'm Stronger

Bass, tambourine, drum, then kick into an almost psychedelic organ, it sure didn't sound like most of the other stuff on the radio. But wait, let's get into the opening line... "HEY"

And that voice, I wasn't sure what to make of it, but I was instantly in love with it. The song was "Gimme Some Lovin" by the Spencer Davis Group, and the voice belonged to little "Stevie" Winwood, who was still a teenager at the time he first made his mark in music. His tenure with the Spencer Davis Group also included a song which would be a hit not only for himself, but for every garage band playing at that time. "I'm A Man," was later covered by Chicago for their first album The Chicago Transit Authority.

Next career step for Winwood was not too shabby. Along with Jim Capaldi, Dave Mason and Chris Wood, Winwood formed Traffic. Let's not even start on their vision and influence on rock music. Think "Feelin' Alright," or "Dear Mr. Fantasy," or "Pearly Queen," or the entirety of John Barleycorn Must Die and Low Spark of High Heeled Boys.

So where do you go from there? Well, I guess it's time to form a supergroup. Let's pull in some friends by the names of Ric Grech, Ginger Baker and oh, how about Eric Clapton, and see what happens. One album was what happened, the self-titled Blind Faith album. Without that album, we might never have heard "Can't Find My Way Home," and wouldn't our lives have been a bit less joyful, if we hadn't.

It was then time to take a break from the intensity of a major band, so Winwood did session work, got together with various incarnations of Traffic, even recording John Barleycorn during this period. Approaching the 1980s, Winwood went solo, not a bad career move at all. The timing could not have been better. First the Arc of a Diver album, followed by Talking Back to the Night and the extremely successful, Back in the High Life.

Steve Winwood was a boy when he began his professional music career. Today he turns 66.

Happy Birthday.

.

It's Only Rock and Roll, But I Like It

Driving up to the weekend house, I was thinking that I was in need of some serious Rock & Roll. And because my mind easily wanders, I started to list in my mind, songs that have Rock & Roll in the title. There's a shitload for sure.

So for today's exercise, I thought I'd post some Rock & Roll videos. Some are pretty obvious, some are not. Check out a few if you're not familiar with them, or if it's a song you haven't heard in a while, take a listen, smile and just rock.

Up first, let's start with the lowest common denominator.

Rock & Roll - Led Zeppelin

Getting hungry for more? How about a little....

Rock & Roll Stew - Traffic

"She started shakin' to that fine, fine music. You know her life was saved by rock & roll".  Yeah, that.

Rock & Roll - Velvet Underground

Originally recorded by The Byrds, how about a little TP.

So You Want To Be A Rock & Roll Star - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Had a dose of Robert Plant... bring on Paul Rogers.

Rock & Roll Fantasy - Bad Company

Just had to put this on the list because, well...

Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo - Rick Derringer

This list could go on forever, Off the top of my head I had another twenty songs: Joan Jett, Kiss, Huey Lewis, Billy Joel, The Ramones, Bob Seger and ELO to name a few artists I've omitted. But the last on this list is one artist who had to be here. Because, as Bob Seger sang "all of Chuck's children are out there playing his licks."

Rock And Roll Music - Chuck Berry

"You can come back baby, rock and roll never forgets."

.

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.

An Easy Ride Today...Just A Little Traffic

Forty-five years ago today, one of rock's most interesting, talented and influential bands made their first live appearance. On September 24, 1967, Traffic played at the Saville Theatre in London.

Traffic was not one of those 3-minute wonder British bands. Their music was diverse, complicated and full of surprises...both melodically and lyrically. Chris Wood, Jim Capaldi, Dave Mason and Steve Winwood...not a bad lineup, don't you agree? Over the years, the line-up changed, but the core four created a legacy which still stands the test of time.

A few tastes today...a bite from a few different albums.

From their first album Mr. Fantasy, reflecting the sound of the time...heavy organ and of course, some cowbell.... "Coloured Rain." 

Off the 1967 release Traffic... "Pearly Queen"

From John Barleycorn Must Die, "Empty Pages"

Low Spark of High Heeled Boys has so many choices, but love Capaldi doing "Light Up or Leave Me Alone."

Ending it off with a little something from Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory. Never afraid to throw in an instrumental, "Tragic Magic" is mesmerizing.

We've lost both Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood, way too young, Finding joy in their music all these years later gives testimony to their talent and vision.

Savor each little trip, with Traffic...the joy most definitely is in the ride.

.

Roll Me Away: So High

Feeling like something a bit lighter today.
Here's just an infectious rock song by Dave Mason. "So High,"  gives you everything you need...great beat, a chorus you have to sing along with, and a firm vision of the promise of a great first night... all in 4 minutes.

"Tellin' you darlin' we can do it in style
My imagination is drivin' me wild
'Cause the things that you're sayin'
Cuttin' right through me
Way that you're swayin'
Is gonna undo me and I'm...So High"

Dave Mason, originally of Traffic and famous for "Feeling Alright," also had a nice hit with "We Just Disagree." Love those songs, but when I need to get happy fast...I'm going with "So High."

Keep on rockin' me baby.

My First Time: Glad

Back in the 80's, I bought my first CD player.  While most music purists bitched that the sound was not as clean as albums, I didn't care.  No more using a record player with a damn stylus.  Never being one of those zealots who had their record collection in pristine condition, I was perfectly happy to take a CD out of its case,  plop it into the drawer, hit close and then play.  No scratches, no clicks, no hissing...just music.  Does it sound the same...no, but for me it was good enough.

What I do miss about the extinction of the record album is the artwork.  From the 60's to the mid-80's, the industry that was cover art, was alive and kicking.  If you knew the artist who did the cover without looking at the credits, there was a sense of being an insider...part of an underground community.

Today, CDs are rapidly going the way of the dinosaur.  Downloads of individual songs are quickly replacing buying entire albums.  Except for an occasional one-hit wonder that entertains me, I still feel the need to pick up a full CD.  I always like to taste just what the musician had in mind when it was recorded.  Some songs you might like immediately, while some take a few listens to enjoy.  While I like instant gratification as much as the next person, there's something to be said for savoring a new lyric or melody...appreciating it more each time.

So, today's tasty treat is the first song of the first CD I ever bought. "Glad" by Traffic, off the John Barleycorn Must Die CD.  I could not wait to get home and hear Steve Winwood pounding on the piano...bring up the sax and whack on that bass...so fine.

Feast on it.