One of the best-known songs on what remains the longest charting album in rock music history features none of the band’s four members, has no words, and spotlights only a session singer who initially turned down the gig to attend a Chuck Berry concert.. … More Pink Floyd “Great Gig In The Sky” (1973)
There are records, there are nights, and there are memories. Indelible, irreplaceable, lifetime memories. This one included me and my friends Zing and Stenley in our frat house (and later, critically, Stenley’s roommate Yak), and it featured one album: The Best of The Guess Who.. … More The Guess Who “No Time” (1969)
..I’d like to revisit the topic here to award an equally important title for the longest single fake ending duration – call it the qualitative title – to Creedence Clearwater Revival. In their 1970 hit ‘Molina,’ the band held their false finish for a full, time-stopping.. … More Creedence Clearwater Revival “Molina” (1970)
Over the years, rockers seem to have exhibited some curious ideas about sisters, but in particular little sisters. The thought occurred to me recently when hearing Elton John’s much-forgotten rave-up ‘Your Sister Can’t Twist (But She Can Rock and Roll)’ – not explicitly about a “little” sister, but with the lyric.. … More Rolling Stones “Dance Little Sister” (1974)
Of all the iconic performances that took place at Woodstock during its era-defining “3 Days of Peace & Music,” 32 acts in total, perhaps none was as singularly identifiable with the event, as historically significant for truly capturing the zeitgeist of the counter-culture moment, as Richie Havens’ classic rendition of his song ‘Freedom.’ Guess how … More Richie Havens “Freedom” (1969)
..on the occasion of the 30th anniversary tribute concert to Bob Dylan. As they set forth into Dylan’s 1964 classic ‘My Back Pages,’ the procession of participants taking a turn went as follows: Roger McGuinn, Tom Petty, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, and George Harrison. Talk about a murderers’ row!.. … More Bob Dylan “My Back Pages” (1964) [performed 1992]
It’s two songs, really. The second part – the seemingly endless rounds of classic chord progressions and never-to-be-matched guitar wailing – made it what it is, arguably the greatest rock song of all time. But would it be remembered that way without the first part, that sweet, melancholic ballad written and sung by perhaps the … More Lynyrd Skynyrd “Freebird” (1973)
Since the onset of the Coronavirus crisis we’ve been bombarded with the message “We’re all in this together.” Celebrities, newscasters, friends, neighbors, all well-intentioned, no doubt. Well guess what, I’m calling bullshit. Sad to say but we’re not actually all in this together … More The Beatles “All Together Now” (1969)
Another weird week, in a string of weird weeks. Another 19 songs. Another Covid 19 Playlist. Unlike my prior effort, no self-imposed, OCD-driven, 1970’s-only restrictions for this one, so I can now give ‘Strange Days’ the opening slot it deserves. Lots of cautions lately to please ‘Don’t Stand So Close To Me,’ ‘Keep Your Hands … More Another Covid 19 Playlist
What can I say, what can any of us say, to describe the surreal times in which we find ourselves. Well, not much, unfortunately. So, I thought I’d take a shot at providing a small benefit to the current manifestly twisted zeitgeist, in about the best way I know: with a Playlist.. … More The Covid 19 Playlist
