A Look Back: No Nukes

In 1979 a group of musicians under the acronym MUSE (Musicians United for Safe Energy) organized a monumental concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City, to support the idea of a nuclear free world. The concert known as No Nukes, was recorded and released the next year as a feature documentary and a live triple album.

The performances from this show are legendary. Springsteen, at this point gaining a reputation for his wild, all-night-long live shows, is finally caught on film. James Taylor singing with then-wife Carly Simon, Bonnie Raitt, The Doobie Brothers, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Jackson Browne, John Hall...the list goes on.

Today, we will take a few samples from that great concert.

James Tayor & Carly Simon "Mockingbird" ...just an incredible and joyful performance
Bruce Springsteen "Thunder Road" ...show a little faith there's magic in the night, you ain't a beauty but hey you're alright. yes indeed.
Doobie Brothers "Taking it to the Streets"... with a little help from their friends
Jackson Browne "Running on Empty"...hard to find a better version
John Hall "Power"...the unofficial anthem, with JT, Doobies, Carly etc.

One of the first, but certainly not last time when musicians came together for a common cause. This one was absolutely magical.

If you need to see more, check out TheMusicMan34 on youtube, his channel has the entire concert split into seven segments.

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Feeling The H.E.A.T.

When a lead singer is replaced, chances are a lot of people are not gonna be happy about it.

Over the years, Steve Perry was replaced in Journey first by Steve Augeri, then Jeff Scott Soto, and now Arnel Pineda has the job. Styx replaced Dennis DeYoung with Lawrence Gowan. Sammy Hagar took over for David Lee Roth in Van Halen, Jimi Jamison entered when Dave Bickler left Survivor and Michael McDonald stepped in for Tom Johnston as the head Doobie Brothers singer. Obviously some changes were more successful than others.

With his debut on their third release, today's taste has also gone through a lead singer replacement. Lead singer  Erik Grönwall has taken up the vocal duties from original lead singer Kenny Leckremo, for the Swedish band H.E.A.T.

After a very successful self-titled initial release in 2008, their 2010 CD Freedom Rock built on their popularity, but had a different type of production and style. Enter Erik Grönwall for lead vocals on the third studio album by H.E.A.T., entitled Address The Nation.

For shits and giggles, let's do a little comparison of vocal styles of the two.

Featuring Kenny Leckremo:

"Follow Me"
"There for You"

With new lead singer Erik Grönwall:

"Heartbreaker"
"Better Off Alone"

Since he joined the band in 2010, there has been enough passage of time for Grönwall to turn around the initial resistance. Whether that translates to continued success...we will wait and see.

In the meantime, take a listen.

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Road Trip: Let's Ride

Road Trip.

Two words, eight letters that get my blood pumping every time. This afternoon, we take off for an evening out, in a venue about 70 miles away.

Returning tonight, it's gonna be a lot of driving, on a lot of back country roads.

Time for a little traveling music.

Now there are different types of traveling music. Some bands themselves, just have a sound that works when the sun is shining and you are rolling down the highway. The Allman Brothers are a great example of this. Put on Eat a Peach or Live at the Fillmore, and you are always good to go.

Then there are specific songs that just put you in the mood for an adventure. Let's taste a few of those today.


Lynryd Skynyrd "The Breeze"
Doobie Brothers "Rocking Down the Highway"
Tom Cochrane " Life is a Highway"

and for a destination mood setter...
Survivor "Caught in the Game"

Turn up the volume, pedal to the metal and drive...
oh yeah baby...that's what I'm talking about.

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Some First-Class Food, Mighty Fine Music...Then Golden Slumbers

A celebratory dinner by definition requires the proper musical background.  Such was my quandry for New Year's Eve.  Depending on my mood, the options are limitless.  We first tried a little classical guitar by Segovia, but somehow it didn't fit with the lobsters, and the definite elation provided by the alcohol of your choice.

Instead, pulled out a little "Abbey Road"...and if I need to tell you who did Abbey Road...sorry it's just inconceivable to me.  Google it and come back enlightened.  If you really haven't listened to the entire album lately or ever...again inconceivable to me, click on the above link to experience an album so diverse...if you took every song on its own, you could never believe they "come together" so perfectly as a whole.

As a side note, after dinner, we threw on the "Doobie Brothers - Live at Wolf Trap" DVD, from which a previous blog referenced the kick-ass version of "Long Train Runnin."  Gotta say, the whole concert was smokin'.  Definitely was one great show to have seen.  Sure worth a look-see if you have a chance.

Live & Literally Kickass...the Doobie Brothers 'Long Train Runnin'

A great performance captured for us to taste...

If you have some good speakers or if you have great headphones, listen to the music.

Doobie Brothers doing Long Train Runnin', live at Wolf Trap.  Gotta listen to it LOUD.  Horns, Percussion, Bass & Guitars...absolutely blow you away.   First time I listened to this was through really good headphones and the sound was insanely wonderful.

A full 6 minutes of knock your socks off music.  Bands don't get much tighter than this.  If you're gonna rock...this is how it's done.

This concert is available on DVD, definitely worth a look-see.