Little River Band--Help is on it's Way (1977)

     The guys who made up the Little River Band had already achieved success with other bands in their native Australia. From the start the band became known for tight harmonies, and a sound that was as mature on the singles as the album cuts. I imagine that because one of their big hits ("Reminiscing" in 1978) was their sappiest, they have been given the tag of lightweight, which is far from the truth.   If you have not spent much time with the band, I suggest that you do so...you'll find a lot of treasures awaiting.  

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Gordon Lightfoot--Sundown (1974)

     Love and/or sex are two subjects that have been the main source of songwriters from the beginnings of time. Longing for it, looking for it, what to do if you get it,...any variation of the subject has been explored. Our song for the day deals with love, but perhaps a more seamier side....

     Cathy Smith had spent much of the 60's in a relationship with Levon Helm (from the Band), and most of the 60's were spent traveling with The Hawks then later The Band. In the early 70's she began a relationship with Gordon Lightfoot, who was married at the time. The marriage crumbled, and he was racked with jealousy throughout their time together. The song 'Sundown' was written with Smith in mind. After a few years she went back to Helm, but is most infamously known as the woman who injected John Belushi with his lethal injection of cocaine and heroin.....

     Lightfoot had been on the top 10 before with, "If You Could Read My Mind" in 1970. But starting with, "Sundown" and ending with "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" he had a four song, two year run on the top 40. At the age of 72, he continues to write and to perform albeit at a slower rate. He had not recorded since 2004.

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Mildred Anderson--Hard Times (1960)

     Mildred was a mostly forgotten jazz and blues singer. She began as a singer in Albert Ammons' band in the late 40's and sang in several other bands through the 50's. Anderson recorded a couple of albums in the 59/60 time period that are really good and if you can find them, it's worth a listen.

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O.C. Smith--Little Green Apples (1968)

     O.C. Smith had bounced around in jazz and pop circles for over 13 years when he had his only hit with the Bobby Russell song, "Little Green Apples".

     He was born in Louisiana in 1932, but due to his parents divorce spent much of his time in California. After earning a degree in Physiology, he entered the Air Force, where he began to show off his talent by entering talent contests. On his discharge from the military in 1955 O.C. started singing jazz to help pay the bills. This led eventually to a gig as lead vocalist with the Count Basie band from 1961-1965.

      During all of this time he recorded songs that really went nowhere until 1968 when "The Song of Hickory Hollow's Tramp" made the top 40 in the states and reached number 2 in the UK. This set things up for "Little Green Apples" which shot up to the second spot on the top 100. He was on the pop charts regularly until 1974 and on the R&B charts well into the 80's. O.C. passed away in November of 2001....

     Just a reminder that the "Rock and Roll Omnibus Live!" will be broadcast at 9pm-11pm Central time US tonight!. Just go to www.radiofreenashville.org and follow the instructions. Hope that you will give us a listen!

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Sunday Morning Vault: Maya Angelou--Run Joe (1957)

     Maya Angelou is a professor, author, poet, civil rights activist, playwright, actress, and motion picture director. She has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1971, and has been one of two poets since 1960 to speak at a president's inaugural (Robert Frost being the other one in 1961). However, what many might not know is that she began her career as a dancer and later as a singer. Her one album, "Miss Calypso" was released in 1957 to attempt to cash in on the Calypso craze begun by Harry Belifonte. The Album went nowhere, but the songs I've heard on it were quite good, and much like Belifonte, focused a lot on the plight of the downtrodden, and the longing for freedom...themes that would be a part of her work for the rest of her life. Her story is one of courage, triumph and the power of the human soul to seek freedom both inwardly and out.  If you get a chance to read her autobiographies I would suggest you do so....her mark wasn't made in music, but that failure moved her to a position where she has become one of America's treasures.  

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The Beatles: Strawberry Fields Forever (1967)

Ok....up against a deadline.....have to be out for business this morning....what's a person to do?? Well....thank God for the Beatles.....be sure to catch up tomorrow for the Sunday Morning Vault.

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Johnny Angel & the Halos --(If I Had) One More Tomorrow (1962)

     In this lifelong study of all things rock, I find myself in admiration of many of these northeast groups who realize that music is a great profession even when your time on the charts has long gone away. Johnny Angel & the Halos out of the Pittsburgh area had their moment in regional popularity back in the late 50's/early 60's. I do not have their whole story, and would like to know more about them. But if you were interested you can find their webpage and phone number to book them for your meeting/wedding/reunion etc. They have day jobs, and several of them seem to be doing very well for themselves, but it's obvious the passion and love is on the weekend, when they not only relive their youth, but still touch people today with their music. And for those of us who love to perform....life doesn't get a lot better than that.

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Sil Austin--Slow Walk (1956)

     Sil Austin was born in Florida in 1929, and picked up the tenor saxophone about the age of 12. Although influenced by jazz, he spend much of his career playing pop and other styles. Although recording 30 albums, his most popular work remained in the late 50's, with "Slow Walk" becoming his signature song in 1956....

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The Raspberries--Overnight Sensation (1974)

     It happens to the majority of artists. The time in one's career when it is obvious that it's time to go into another direction. For some it's leaving the music business totally and go into another vocation. For others, it's giving up a musical dream that you had. For The Raspberries and Eric Carman the frustration had to be compounded by the fact that the public and critics didn't "get" them. The Who/Beatles/Beach Boys sound was immediately catchy, but many labeled them "bubblegum rock", which was as far from the case as one could get. Even listening to just the singles, one could hear a band who knew how to rock. They took their influences and formed them into a band that could not only garner airplay, but has influenced a couple of generations of rockers. However, at the time they were wanting to be taken seriously by the rock press, but were marketed to the teenaged girls. The creative tensions that arose between Carman and Dave Smalley led to the latter leaving the band before their fourth album, "Starting Over"

     In what could be seen as a list ditch effort, Scott McCarl, and Michael McBride were enlisted to replace Smalley and drummer Jim Bonfanti. "Starting Over" included this song and was a great album, but never dented the top 100 album charts. Overnight Sensation was a song that brought the hopes and dreams of every artist who straps on a guitar, or sits behind a drum kit into four minutes of rock and roll bliss.  All of the things that make The Raspberries one of the defining influences are here...crunchy guitars, harmonies, and great vocals. Carman soon left for a successful solo career, but time has shown that the influence of The Raspberries has been wide and deep. Along with Big Star, they are seen as one of the fathers of power pop music and have influenced hundreds of artists (especially in the power pop sub genre).
    
     All four original members came together for a tour in 2005 and a CD/DVD of the event at the Sunset Strip was recorded and released in 2007. The band sounded great, and frankly from a production standpoint actually sounded better than the originals. A satisfying album for those fans who wanted to take a trip back...

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Happy Birthday to Brian Wilson....

.    First of all, I know that this blog is a day late, since Brian celebrated his 69th birthday yesterday. However, with the death of Clarence Clemons, and my being behind a blog or two, we end up giving him Omnibus wishes today....
      When discussing the best songwriters in the history of modern music (pre-1980), most of us can come up with about 10-15 who are all about the same level. At that point, personal taste and historical significance comes into play. For me, the question of the best depends on what day you ask me. Brian Wilson is in my top three. There are several reasons to give for that, and someday I"ll write a blog about it. But when I hear those harmonies and his ability to put to vinyl what is in his head, there should be no debate that Wilson is in the same discussion with Lennon/McCartney and Dylan...
      Wilson worked well with lyricists, but no one could lay bare their emotions in song like he could in songs like, 'Don't Worry Baby", "In My Room" and later masterpieces "Till I Die" and "Sail On Sailor". At times his lyrics would plum the depths of loneliness and isolation to the point that it almost hurt to listen to them. At the same time, many of us have felt those emotions, which endeared the songs to an entire generation of men. Make no mistake about it, Wilson's music was distinctly romantic, but also from a male perspective which was radically different than the most of the macho posturing that was generally heard. The harmonies had an almost angelic quality to them, and if you are a sucker for harmonies, it was hard to beat this combination. 
      The story of Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys is a distinctly American one, complete with all of the melodrama you would want in a TV mini-series (there was actually a movie made about it...it's a shame the flick wasn't very good...am still waiting for an authentic version). There are places you can get that story...besides it's too long and complex to try to explain in a short blog. It CAN be said however, that Brian's comeback in the last decade has been amazing (not to mention the reconstruction of his "lost" album "Smile"). I wish him all of the best, and continued success. The man has earned it....
      We celebrate with three songs, the first is "Don't Worry Baby" which is one of the best of marrying lyric with song. Second is his production masterpiece,"Good Vibrations", and then last is my favorite from the 70's, "Sail On, Sailor". If you have not spent time with the albums from the 1970's it is more than worth the time to wade through the sub-par stuff to get to the gems... 

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Farewell to Clarence Clemons...

     I was in a hotel room in St. Louis when hearing the news of Clarence's passing. He had suffered a stroke about a week before, and died of complications on Saturday. For almost 40 years his tenor saxophone was as distinctive a sound to the E Street Band as the voice of their leader, Bruce Springsteen.
    Clemons had made his claim to fame with Springsteen, but has a long list of credits to his resume recording with artists as diverse as The Four Tops, Twisted Sister, Joe Cocker, and most recently, Lady Gaga. He was also could be found in several movies and television shows through the years.
 

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Barry Manilow--Could It Be Magic (1975)

     Barry Manilow is 68 today!!

    It's amazing how time changes perspective. In the rock community, Barry Manilow was ridiculed and mocked. I personally liked him, but made sure that my friends didn't know that he took up space in my collection. My personal favorites were the first two albums, but at one time owned the first five (right next to John Denver and The Carpenters...but that's another blog...or two!). Thirty-five years later, I realize that he was not attempting to compete with rock artists, but was carrying on a tradition blazed by artist like Paul Anka, Liberace, and Tony Bennett.

    Before the 80's and the splitting up of sub genres, anything from Manilow to Melissa Manchester (who supposedly was the 'Melissa' in our  song subject today) to Aerosmith to Earth, Wind, and Fire, was all lumped together on the charts. As prone in Classical, Jazz and Folk, this led to a rock music "snobbery" and a constant ridicule of Barry's music. Even today a residual still remains from those who grew up in the era of total “let’s worship at the altar of FM rock.” However a look (and listen) to the Adult Contemporary charts today would suggest that artists like Michael Buble and Clay Aiken carry on the tradition that was kept a flame during the 70's by Manilow.

     

     As I mentioned before, my favorite albums were the first two before his propensity to modulate keys into swelling choruses got a bit out of hand. "Could It Be Magic" began and ended with an excerpt from  Fredric Chopin's Prelude in C Minor. In fact, the entire song revolved around the piece. Listen to the two albums and then listen to any of the Adult Contemporary artist today and you will see that stylistically it holds up well.

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Free--All Right Now (1970)

     The group Free was made up of four VERY young musicians. At the time of their first gig together in 1968, Bass player Andy Fraser was 15 (and already been a member of John Mayall & the Bluebreakers!!), lead guitar player Paul Kossoff was 17 and singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke were 18. In today's Disney tainted world of pop music, that might not seem like a big thing, but these guys were playing heavy blues music in pubs and clubs around England. Kossoff was already gaining a reputation as a fine guitar player and Paul Rodgers even at that time was labeled as "the voice".
      They garnered a strong following in Britain with a pair of straight ahead blues albums. Their 1970 release, "Fire and Water", was in a more straightforward rock direction and it paid dividends with, "All Right Now" reaching No. 1 in the UK and No. 4 in the US. In late 1970, "Stealer" cracked the top 50, but that was to be all that was heard from the group in the stateside pop charts.
       Increasing tensions between Rodgers and Fraser plus the extra burden of Kossoff's increasing drug use caused the band to break up in 1973, with Rodgers and Kirke to form Bad Company, Fraser formed the group Sharks, and Kossoff started Back Street Crawler. Kossoff died of drug related heart failure in 1976, Fraser recorded and wrote up until about 5 years ago when ill health has curtailed much of his activity. Of course, Rodgers has had a prolific career fronting several different bands and is now touring with Queen. The clip here is a rare black and white from Australia....enjoy.

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Kansas--Dust in the Wind (1978)

      Steve Walsh, lead singer/keyboardist for rock group Kansas turns 60 today.....

      Growing up playing the organ (and later piano), looking for the same in my rock heroes was paramount. Except for Billy Joel and Elton, this is probably why I gravitated towards progressive rock. Kansas was a favorite because of Steve Walsh's great keyboard, but also Robby Steinhardt's violin and Kerry Livgren's lyrical abilities. "Dust in the Wind" was their biggest seller, and only top 10 in the winter of 1978.

       The song is actually quite depressing, but very thought provoking, and it wasn't a surprise to me at all when Kerry Livgren announced his conversion to Christianity a year or two later.  In fact in several interviews over the years he points back to songs like "Dust in the Wind" questioning life and fame. Walsh continues to tour with Kansas, Livgren still writes for the group and does a lot of session work with different projects, but doesn't tour any longer......

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Earth, Wind & Fire--September (1978)

     Every so often (a lot less than you would believe) I get stumped for a blog subject. Usually it will be something that I've been reading about, or came across in my research for the radio station or the Omnibus Live! program. This morning however, nothing came up of note, so my plan B is to just go to a quiet place and listen to the music that comes up in my head.....and we have our subject for this morning!

     Earth, Wind, and Fire were already very well established as one of the best bands of the 70's. However the peak period for the group chartwise was between July of 1978 to July of 79. They produced four top 10 hits: Got To Get You Into My Life, Boogie Wonderland, After the Love Has Gone, and September. The great thing about EWF was the creativeness of the work. It was a welcome sound because in an era where disco was everywhere, they were favorites on the dance floor, but the sound was always intelligent and creative at the same time. Even now, September just comes at you with a beat that insists that you move....hope this livens your day up....Happy Tuesday everyone!

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Peter Allen--I Go To Rio (1976)

      Peter Allen was an Australian singer/songwriter who was discovered by Mark Herron, who was married to Judy Garland at the time. Allen would soon marry her daughter, Liza Minnelli in 1967 until 1974.

      Throughout the 70's and 80's, he would earn his reputation as a great songwriter, writing hits for Olivia Newton-John ("I Honestly Love You"), Melissa Manchester (Don't Cry Out Loud) , Rita Coolidge (I'd Rather Leave While I'm In Love), among many others. In 1981 he received an Oscar for Arthur's Theme (The Best You Can Do) along with Burt Bacharach, Carol Bayer Sager, and Christopher Cross. He was a great entertainer on the stage as well. The tapes I've seen of some of them are full of humor and joy as it was hard not to at least smile at his acrobatic, over the top persona.

     Taken from his 1976 album, "Taught By Experts", "I Go To Rio" was a great encapsulation of his stage energy. It never became a hit, as none of his solo singles did, but he was a distinctive entertainer and songwriter that should not be forgotten.

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Sunday Morning Vault: Les Paul/Mary Ford--How High The Moon (1951)

      Usually this spot on Sunday morning is reserved for a song and/or artist that has been forgotten. Today is different as I wanted to put a spotlight on a legend and innovator who's birthday was remembered a few days ago....

       Les Paul didn't invent the electric guitar, but his version of it's design, his innovations that brought distinct sounds to popular music, and his actual playing prowess easily gives him the title, "Father of the Electric Guitar". Paul was one who not only had ideas, but loved to tinker with possible solutions to the problem. For instance, when he was a boy, the harmonica was his first instrument. As he learned to play the guitar, he needed a way to hold the harmonica, so as a young teenager, he fashioned a holder for it, that, in it's basic form is the still being used today by artists of all genres.

       In the late 40's he began experiments with overdubbing and, over the years would develop tape delay and phasing effects into his recordings. He was also a groundbreaking guitar player as well, his style and musical licks put him in a class by himself. What is even more extraordinary was the fact that, after a car accident which left him with extensive injuries, including his right arm, he instructed doctors to set his elbow at a permanent 90 degree angle rather than have it amputated. He would never be able to straighten it again.

         "How High The Moon", sung by his then wife Mary Ford, shows off the skill, style, and innovation that would influenced anyone who strapped on an electric guitar. Rock and Roll would not be what it is today without him.....

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Joey Dee & The Starlighters--Peppermint Twist (1961)

     On today's date in 1940, Joseph DiNicola better known as Joey Dee was born in Passaic, New Jersey. Along with David Brigati, Larry Vernieri, Carlton Lattimore and Willie Davis, Dee and The Starlighters got a standing gig at the Peppermint Lounge in New York in 1960. This song was based on that venue, and also gave them their only number one song in late 1961.

     The hits kept coming over the next two years (including three top 40's) then dried up. However, the band never stopped touring and still continues to this day (www.joeydee.com). Another interesting note, during the early 60's they had some interesting members of the backing band including three future members of The Young Rascals, Jimmy Jones, who would later drop the moniker and go by his real name of Jimi Hendrix, and a young Joe Pesci.

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Judy Garland--Somewhere Over the Rainbow (1939)

    Judy Garland's was born today in 1922...

     I have always had a fixation for melancholy songs. Am not sure what makes them so appealing, but since recorded music, songs that tug at the heartstrings have always had a special place in the minds of many. This song, if not my favorite of all time is in the top three....not only did it highlight one of the best movies of all time, but it framed and almost became a precursor to the life of it's singer. The most interesting thing about this song is that almost didn't make the cut as the movie was being edited. Am not sure who made the decision to keep it in....but it not only altered the history of film, but the history of popular music as well....

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Meat Loaf--You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth (1978)

     Last week I was driving around town running errands when on the radio this song jumped out of my speakers....just like it did in 1978. Like with many artists in almost all genres, Meatloaf's success was a much timing as anything. After all the idea for the project that was to become, "Bat Out Of Hell" was started in 1972, and begun in earnest in 74. Todd Rundgren chose to work on the project, and finally after shopping the music around to just about every record label, it was released by Cleveland International Records in 1977. It wasn't that the music wasn't good, it's just there was no category (as far as record executives were concerned) to put it.  

      Looking back, it was overblown and way over the top, but nothing had been done quite that bombastic before....the long theatrical songs....the almost operatic approach to the music....not to mention the totally over the top performances. From the first notes of the album, "Bat Out Of Hell", you are grabbed by the collar and not let go...even the sound of the ballads will not let up. Listening to it almost 35 years later, it still catches you attention, but by about 3/4 through, your going, "enough already". Which might be why Meat Loaf's singing career has gone the way it has because you can only take small doses of it at a time. Thankfully, besides being a talented singer, he also is a great actor having been in many roles on the stage, movies and television.

      Having said all of that, in the midst of my "disco winter", this seemed like manna to get me through (I wasn't into the punk scene...not tuneful enough)...until the next big thing musically. So listen and enjoy to a true original...

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Da Doo Ron Ron --The Crystals (1963)

     The interesting thing about this song is that the Crystals didn't actually sing it. He recruited Darlene Love and the backup group "The Blossoms" (which included a VERY young Cher) to record the song.  Supposedly because  of a contract dispute, Love's lead vocals were stripped off of the record and replaced with Crystal's lead Delores Brooks.The entire story of The Crystals is a fascinating one which we'll delve into at a later time.

      This song along with others has had a productive life having spanned several generations. Shawn Cassidy's version was a #1 hit in 1977, then The Donnas recorded it as a single in 1998. Both are great to check out, but for me at least, you can't be the original...

 

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Dean Martin--Everybody Loves Somebody (1964)

     Dean Martin was born today in 1917....

     There were many sounds emanating from our house growing up. My mom liked hymns and religious music along with the pop singers of her day, Perry Como, Nat King Cole, etc.. Dad however was old school country. When you mentioned, "The King" to him, you had to be talking Hank Williams Sr., not Elvis. The singers that mom like didn't do much for him...except one. Dad LOVED Dean Martin. The only show I remember growing up that was must-see TV for him was his variety show on Friday nights on NBC. Looking back over all of these years it was easy to see why, Dean was everything my daddy wanted to be in life, successful and wealthy, all of it with this laid back persona that dazzled the guys and charmed the ladies.  Sinatra recorded this song in 1948, but  Martin made it his own as it was the first song to at least temporary knock the Beatles from their stranglehold on the pop charts in the summer of 1964.

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The Four Tops--I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)--1965

Levi Stubbs was born this day in 1936...he died in 2008 at the age of 72....

The Four Aims having become The Four Tops in 1956 had been bouncing around the supper club circuit for years. They signed a contract with Chess records in 56 (which precipitated the name change), but had gone nowhere, moves to Red Top and Riverside produced similar results. They were playing the best clubs in the country, but couldn't make that major breakthrough. In 64' they signed with Motown and after a bit of time experimenting on Berry Gordy's experimental label Workshop Jazz, they settled in with the Holland-Dozier-Holland songwriting team and things began to pop.

"Baby, I Need Your Lovin" was the first charting song for them in 1964, and "I Can't Help Myself" would bring them a #1 hit., they would reach the top twenty 16 more times before the last, "Used to be My Girl" in 1981. During that time Levi would refuse to have his name in top billing like Diana Ross or Smokey Robinson would do, nor would he opt for a solo carrier choosing to remain true to his fellow mates. He would remain their lead singer until a stroke in 2000 put an end to his career.

For those younger, one might also remember Stubbs as the voice of Audrey II in the 1986 movie "Little Shop of Horrors"....

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Sunday Morning Vault: Iain Matthews--Seven Bridges Road (1973)

     It was a normal afternoon in the basement of my childhood home. Not sure why I was down there, but was, as usual, listening to my favorite FM radio station, KSHE 95, when out of the speakers came the smoothest harmonies I'd ever heard on underground radio. It then launched into a country rock/folk tune that stuck in my ears now for the last 38 years. The fact the Eagles made the hit out of it has slightly annoyed me over the years since in my opinion it is the weaker of the three versions. (More on my Eagles bias later....)

      The singer, Iain Matthews joined Fairport Convention in 1967 but left just two years later as they began to move in a more British folk direction. He released his first solo album, "Matthews Southern Comfort" then built a band around it and released two more albums under that name in 1969-70. He also spent short period with the group Plainsong, all the while working on solo material. So by 1973, he had already released his 5th solo album, "Valley Hi"...

      The song, "Seven Bridges Road" was written by Seven Young in 1969 for his album, Rock Salt & Nails. Young would later be considered a pioneer in the "outlaw country" movement and greatly influenced Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. He was known to mix quite of bit of rock into his country, but "Seven Bridges Road" was about as country as he ever got. In the version here, you get a beautiful country ballad.....

     In my opinion the person (for better or worse depending on which version of the song you like), is Michael Nesmith. He was asked to come in the produce the album, "Valley Hi" for Iain. Am not sure who made the decision to change the arrangement, but having heard all of Nesmith's solo work, his stamp is all over the song. All three men are writing and recording music...I invite you to check all three out for some quality county/rock/folk music....

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Tommy Roe--Dizzy (1969)

     Tommy Roe was a singer/songwriter who had a very successful run of hits from 1962-1973. Oldies radio chooses only to play a few of them, although he had 11 of them reach the top 40 during this time. He will always be known as a "bubblegum" singer, but the style was anything but that early in his career (check out his first #1, "Shelia" in 1962). As you will here me opine many times in this blog, bubblegum is not a disparaging term, nor is it synonymous with poor quality. In fact, "Dizzy" has an extremely catchy tune with 11 (yep...11!) key changes distributed among four keys. Hope you like it...hope you have a great Saturday....and check in with us tomorrow for the Sunday Morning Vault!!

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Ray Charles--I Can't Stop Loving You (1962)

      By 1962, Ray Charles was on top of him game commercially. After basically inventing soul music in the 1950's with Atlantic Records, he moved to ABC-Paramount in 1959 and began a streak of songs that became signature for him. "Georgia on my Mind" began the streak in 1960, then "Hit the Road Jack" in 1961 (The movie "Ray" gives the impression that he wrote that 'Jack', but it was actually written by songwriter Percy Mayfield). He wanted to move in a more country direction and with, "Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music", not only showed his brilliance, but also brought an audience to the music as well.

     "I Can't Stop Loving You" was written by Don Gibson and recorded in December of 1957 as a B-side to "Oh, Lonesome Me", which garnered him  a two sided country hit. This clip is from 1969...

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Vicki Anderson--Message From the Soul Sisters (1970)

     Vicki Anderson was the lead female singer in James Brown's revue from 1965-68 and then again from 1969-72. Brown had labeled her the best female vocalist he ever worked with. She had a string of records out during that time including a couple of duet's with Brown. Although it never charted, her best known work as a solo artist was, "Message From the Soul Sisters". in 1970. She was married Bobby Byrd (who was an original member of Brown's band) up to his death in 2007 and their daughter Carleen Anderson has had some success in Great Britain.

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