The Beatles--Helter Skelter (1968)

     It's difficult to separate this song from it's link to Charles Manson and his brutal madness, but just a couple of years before it was Paul McCartney's response to an article he had read....

      An 1967 article in Guitar Player, had Pete Townshend describing The Who's, "I Can See For Miles" as the loudest, dirtiest, rawest song the group had done to date. Paul began to think about a song that would have that feel as well. One also wonders if the criticisms about him being the "ballad" writer was stinging a bit as well. 

      Helter Skelter is a nonsense song that is raw, brutal and does exactly what Paul envisioned for it.  The version that ended up on the White Album was done in 18 5 minute takes. Despite what many think, the last exclamation, was Ringo  After the last take, Ringo threw his sticks across the room and screamed, "I've Got Blisters On Me Fingers".....we can almost feel the pain as the song grinds to a satisfying halt...

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Eddie Cochran--Summertime Blues (1958)

    No one disputes the fact that Elvis blew open the doors for all "Rock and Roll" artists in the mid-50's. However, I believe that Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran, had a much deeper influence on the post-Beatle era of musician. Their guitar playing and experimental work in the studio opened the door to many a young guitarist (especially in England). Holly and Cochran were close friends, both enjoyed working in the studio rather than touring. Eddie was badly shaken when his friend died in a plane crash in 1959, and was determined to dial down his having to travel so much so he could just work on making music. However, the times demanded that he be on the road to make enough money to continue, which led him to make a tour to Great Britain where he died in an auto accident  in April of 1960.
 
     His best known work is, "Summertime Blues" which came out in July of 1958 and was written by Cochran and his manager Jerry Capehart. It has been covered many times, most notably by The Who in 1970, and Alan Jackson in 1994.

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Happy Birthday to Pete Townshend....

    Today Pete Townshend turns 66....

     One of the raging music debates in the late 60's/early 70's was who was better, The Beatles or the Rolling Stones. Of course the question itself was framed in a way where one had to be the best and the other was second. Now don't get me wrong, the Stones have a lot of things going for it, but for my money the second best group to come out of the British Invasion was The Who. I'll spend a lot of time on them down the road, but one thing is for sure, Townshend was one of the best writers to come out of the 60's. If we hear Roger Daltry as the voice of the Who, it was Pete's lyrics that gave it's base and soul. Not to mention his demanding stage presence was as revolutionary as his songwriting talents.

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