Foghat--Slow Ride (1975)

     From the dawn of Rock and Roll, from first base to home, sex has been a lyrical topic. In it's infancy, artists had to shroud the intent from the prying ears of the government (via the FCC) and parents. As the music became more daring in the late 60's the envelope was pushed as lyrics played more explicitly with double entendres. In the song "Slow Ride" we have not only lyrical examples of this, but musical ones as well.     The group Foghat was formed from three members of Savoy Brown who broke away to form their...

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John Fogerty/Blue Ridge Rangers--Jambalya (1972/3)

     John Fogerty ranks easily as one of great songwriters/singers of the early days of modern rock. Having said that, it seems like much of his career has been spent fighting for his own self significance. Some of the fights, like with Fantasy records were wholly justified, others, like with his brothers and band-mates left one scratching their head and wondering what the fuss was really about.      Without going too deep into it here, John's brother Tom had already left the band, over wanting more control...

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King Floyd--Groove Me (1970)

     King Floyd III was born in New Orleans in 1945. He started singing in the Bourbon Street area before entering the army. After that he went to California where he hooked up with former AFO producer Harold Battiste and recorded an album featuring songs written by Dr. John. The album failed to chart, and Floyd moved back to Louisiana.      By 1969, he was working for the post office with most ideas of making in the industry fading. It was there however that Wardell Quezergue, an R&B arranger convinced him...

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Dan Fogelberg--Same Old Lang Syne (1980)

     1980 was arguably Dan Fogelberg's best year in the music industry. It began with the album, "Phoenix" rising up to the #3 spot on the charts, his best selling single, "Longer" reaching #2 and "Heart Hotels" making the top 40 as well. Late that year came the release of, "The Innocent Age" which, although not quite reaching the same heights on the charts (still was #6 at it's peak), spawned four top 20 hits through 1982. One of the reasons several of these songs became classics was the autobiographical nature of his writing....

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Focus--Hocus Pocus (1973)

     With it's odd blend of classical, jazz, and avant-garde, progressive rock in the early 70's struck an odd pose compared to much of what was going on around it. Every so often however some of this music broke through to a wider audience. One of those songs was "Hocus Pocus", with it's yodeling, whistling set on top of a hard rock base.      What is somewhat unfortunate is that a majority of those who remember that song is unaware of the Dutch group's background in improvisational-jazz style progressive...

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The Flying Machine--Smile A Little Smile For Me (1969)

     In the late 60's there were two groups called, "The Flying Machine" that became footnotes in the history of rock/pop music. One of them was a group that James Taylor was a member of before going solo, and made mention of in one of his biggest hits, "Fire and Rain" ("sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground"). The second one isn't known either other than it's one and only hit here in the US.      The group was from Britain, but none of the members were of note before or after this song save...

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The Flying Machine--Smile A Little Smile For Me (1969)

     In the late 60's there were two groups called, "The Flying Machine" that became footnotes in the history of rock/pop music. One of them was a group that James Taylor was a member of before going solo, and made mention of in one of his biggest hits, "Fire and Rain" ("sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground"). The second one isn't known either other than it's one and only hit here in the US.      The group was from Britain, but none of the members were of note before or after this song save...

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Eddie Floyd--Knock On Wood (1966)

     Floyd was born in  Birmingham, AL and raised in Detroit. The founded the Falcons which included Mack Rice and later Wilson Pickett on lead vocals. After the group disbanded he was signed by Stax Records as a songwriter in 1965 and soon was teamed up with guitarist Steve Cropper to write some songs for Wilson Pickett. It was this collaboration that put him on the map as a writer. "Knock On Wood" was written the pair for Otis Redding, with Floyd providing the vocals on the demo. However, the result was so good that Stax...

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Weekend Vault: AFO Executives With Tammy Lynn (Pt.2)

     When we left off, many of the members of AFO, including Tammy Lynn went to the west coast seeking work. After some difficulty getting regular work in LA she went to New York long enough to play some gigs at the Birdland and to hook up on a recording session with producer Bert Berns. However, there wasn't enough to keep her busy so she moved back to California and reunited with Harold Battiste who had made a foothold for himself by producing early sides for Sonny and Cher, and reuniting with other New Orleans musicians such...

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The Weekend Vault: AFO Executives and Tammy Lynn, Part 1

    Today we start a two part set featuring the AFO Executives with Tammy Lynn. AFO stands for "All For One' and was the brainchild of New Orleans native Harold Battiste who believed that his city needed and deserved a black owned and operated record label. A place where local songwriters and musicians could come together as a collective and everyone could share in the profits rather than the constant bickering with labels who's dealings were a bit more than shady.      Part of the support for the label was bankrolled...

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A Flock of Seagulls--I Ran (1982)

     The memories of the 80's and it's music seem to be indelibly stamped on the minds of those who lived through it in a way that no other decade of music ever will. That's isn't necessarily because the music was that much better (although there was great music made), but with the advent of MTV and it's rock and it's country offspring, the images that were connected  in a way never done before. By the 90's and beyond a generation of music listeners and TV watchers had  gotten used to it and videos became strictly...

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The Fleetwoods--Come Softly To Me (1959)

     The Fleetwoods consisted of three high school classmates from Olympia (WA) High School. Gary Troxel was heard singing a tune as he was walking the halls of the school. Gretchen Christopher heard it and commented that it was the same progression to a song she had been working on. She sang the lyrics to his riff to her friend and singing partner, Barbara Ellis.      The trio performed the song a few times around school, and classmates began to ask for recordings of it. They made a demo on a tape player...

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Flatt & Scruggs--The Ballad of Jed Clampett (1962)

     It might come as a surprise to many that I am not, nor ever have been, much of a television watcher. We all have our favorite media, and for me, the radio (and now the internet) has always been my preferred carrier of information and entertainment. Having said that, there are still some shows that have been favorites over the years no matter how many times  I've watched them, and one of them are The Beverly Hillbillies.      The opening of the show is one of the more iconic songs in the history...

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The Flamingos--I Only Have Eyes For You (1959)

    The song, "I Only Have Eyes for You" has been a touchstone song for many generations dating back to it's origins in 1934. Written for the movie "Dames" starring Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler, then later used in the movie the following year, "The Lady in Red" starring Barbara Stanwick and Gene Raymond. The song was recorded by Peggy Lee in 1950, but it was this version by The Flamingos that has become the standard version.     The song later became a hit for Art Garfunkel in October of 1975 and have been used in...

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Playlist for The Rock and Roll Omnibus #82 (week of March 4, 2013)

We're on the air tonight at 9pm Central on WRFN 107.1 in Nashville . You can also listen at www.radiofreenashville.org Opening The Four Tops—Can't Help Myself 1965 The Four Tops---Reach Out I'll Be There 1966 The Four Tops—Bernadette 1967 The Four Tops—Ain't No Woman Like The One I Got 1973 Ernie Freeman—Raunchy 1957 Bobby Freeman—Do You Want To Dance 1958 Freddie and the Dreamers—I'm Telling You Now 1965 The Free Movement—I've Found Someone Of My Own 1971 Connie Francis—Who's Sorry Now 1958 Connie Francis—My Happiness 1958 Connie...

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The Flaming Ember--Mind, Body, and Soul (1969)

     For many music fans, when you say, "Detroit", the first thing that comes to mind is "Motown", and of course the pop/soul music machine did take front and center on the charts throughout the 60's and 70's. However, the city was a hotbed of many styles and genres. The MC5, Stooges, Frigid Pink, Alice Cooper, Grand Funk Railroad, all called the auto capital of the US it's home. The Bob Seger System represented more of a white soul sound along with this group, The Flaming Ember.      The group began as...

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