Thursday, November 24, 2011

Revisiting "America"

I went to see America perform at the Tulsa state Fair in September. This is something like the 4th time I have seen America over the years. Back in their so called "Heyday" (miod 70's), I saw them at the Tulsa Civic Center. Grat show! It was opened by Chad of Chad and Jeremy.. who was trying to make a solo career after the 60's furor had died down
At that show, all three guys, Dan, Dewey and Gerry played and harmonized. It was fantastic!
I had been turned on to the 1st America LP by my younger brother Tim. He bought the LP because of the song "Horse with No Name." I was, at that time, into a little harder edge of music... even though I had my bubble gum side, and my love for anything any of the ex-Beatles was doing, my collection had strayed into ZZ Top blues ( which they were doing then rather than the later MTV stuff like the "Eliminator" LP. As a side note.... Billy Gibbons can kick ass on a guitar), Nugent and etc.
The America LP was haunting. There at the tail end of the Vietnam War was a song about being drafted ( Sandman), and folky tunes that included "Riverside", "Three Roses" and "I Need You."
Seemed like everything they touched became a hit. The 2nd LP, "Homecoming" had the same folk oriented standard guitars. "ventura Highway" made me ant to drive that road. Te 3rd LP, they introduced some electric to, including some Joe Walsh solo.
Took my high school sweetheart to the show (even though she was destined to break up with me that winter...not even "Muskrat Love: could save that relationship!) WE had "way Back" seats, but they were great!
Dan Peeks eventually left the band to pursue a Christian oriented music career. Gerry and Dewey continued on. They scored the soundtrack to an animated version of a great book by Peter Beagle, "The Last Unicorn." "You can Do Magic" was classic America harmony.
I saw them again in the 80's at the Tulsa River parks floating stage, Once again, a great show. Then, I didn't see them agaion for 20 years. I know they passed nearby on their regular toursm, but between coaching and raising a new family, I missed a lot of concerts!
Just a couple years ago, I wnet with my son, Fletch, who had developed a love for classicl rock music, to see them play in Oklahoma City at the open Zoo Amphitheater. They opend the show for Chicago. Both ends of the show were better than expected. Gerry and Dewey were still great in their vocals and the music was tight. Chicago played a great set even though the band had been a revolving door of musicians for years.. since te early death of Terry Katt and the 80's departure of peter Cetera. A few of the originals are there... and they played like they were still in 1974. It was powerful.
I always check the fair schedules to see if there's anyone worth going to see. I rarely go to the fair now unless there's a band to see. The last couple had been disappointing. A few years ago, "Grand Funk," my first concert band, played there, but the only original member was Don Brewer the drummer. No Mark Farner. Then. last year, went to see another fav of mine, "Blue Oyster Cult." It rained like crazy, forcing the outdoor show to be moved into the fairgrounds pavilion and delayed till the finish of the rodeo that evening. Lead Guitarist Buck Dharma was delayed in Dallas because of the storm, and his licks were played by a back up ( who did a great job... but ti wasn't Buck) and the crowd was small because of the hellacious rain storm.
I was excited to see "America" listed at the big outdoor Oklahoma stage. I told some buddies about it.. and Max, fellow coach and teacher, was fired up about it. Max made me burn a best of CD so we could listen to it on the way to the show.
Max showed up at my house in his pick up to drive us to the show. As soon as I got in, he handed me a beer. I was a little nervous... open container, etc. We stopped to pick up Doonie, who brought 2 more beers out for each of us to drink on the 20 minute drive to the fairgrounds.
By the time we got to the stage, after stopping to buy another expensive fair beer, we stationed ourselves in the best seating possible... just behind the preferred seating section and waited, gossiped and sipped the most expensive cheap beer ever.
The sun finally dipped below the horizon and the band stepped on the stage. They played almost everything, including a few tunes from their new CD. Max was insistent that he, not pnly did not want to hear "Muskrat Love" at the show, but "By God", I better not put it on the CD I burned either.
It took me back. Their vocals were right one. The music was terrific. They had lost nothing, nor had they become one of those "oldies" bands that simply lived on 20 year old songs. It was like I was there in the 70's again, except for the fact that my date then was much cuter than Max or Doonie.
Just one month before the show, original member Dan Peeks had passed away. If I remember correctly, the immediate cause of death was unknown. He died in his sleep at teh age of 61.
I can still recall his soft vocals on songs such as "Lonely People." Great musician.

Friday, July 1, 2011

Summer songs

Ok.. since I have been a music collector for years, amassing quite a bit on the tune side of things in various formats from vinyl to digital, I was inspired this afternoon as I drove through this white hot Oklahoma afternoon, stereo playing, singing along with the IPOD at the top opf my lungs. (mind you, that is the only place I am allowed by law to sing at the top of my lungs.. alone, in a sealed auto)

The tune that set me off was "Sunny Afternoon" by the Kinks. I began to think.. "What would be the ultimate summer playlist?" I have a bunch of favorites, and there are the summer songs that seem to recycle over and over through the years.

But, what makes a great summer song?

It has to capture something we either experience azs summer, or embody the imagined summer of our fancy. It might be a song that we identified with some great summer experience. It might be that tune we heard playing over the radio while we lay, blisfully, in the hot sun on a dock, slowly drying after a swim. It might be the song that brings back the memory of that breath taking girl we saw on a summer day.

Lots of songs qulify in one of those categories, but some are pure SUMMER.

Below I ve listed a collection of my favorite songs that seem in one way or another to capture something about these mythical summers thta we always look forward to with such great anticipation.Sure... the list is not complete and does not include some new or some old tunes that fit the bill, but it is my list and will probably bear some revision as toime goes on.

These are not lsied in order of preference, but randomly... and of course, those eternal boys of summer, The Beach Boys do have the most tunes on the list. It would be blasphemy to do otherwise.

Some are obvious, such as "California Girls" by both the Beach Boys and katie Perry. Others are listed more by their feel, such as "Crimson and Clover" by Tommy James and the Shondels.



I'd like your input. What would you add or delete?

the Dugan List

Hot Fun in the Summer Time- Sly and Family Stone. To me, this is teh ultimate one. It is funky and laid back.. it reminds me of a summer day. Probably my number one.

Sunny Afternoon - the Kinks. Lazing on a sunny afternoon... in the summertime!

Summertime- Will Smith (Fresh Prince and Jazzy Jeff). Kinda catches that same feel of Sly Stones summer. Laid back and funky.

In the Summertime- Mungo Jerry. It keeps showing up. one hit that ever went away.

Summertime Blues - the Who or Eddie Cochran. Sometimes there ain't no cure for summertime blues.

Girls in Summer Clothes- Bruce Springsteen. When I heard this, I thought, "I know what he means." You know it's summer whne the girls are in the summer clothes.

Goou Vibrations- the Beach Boys. Never mentions summer, but is there any doubt that the best vibrations are on a summer day?

California Girls- Beach Boys- Man... those summer girls beach boy style!

Summer Song- Chad and Jeremy. And when the rain beats against teh window pane, I'll think of summer days and dream of you

Summer Breeze- Seals and Crofts. Tis has to be early summer.. caus ethe summer breeze, amkes me feel fine!

boys of summer- Don Henley. Cool images of summers gone. along with a Dead Head sticker on a Cadilac.

Summer nights- John Travolta - Olivia Newton John- Who doesn't know the words? even for the rockers, this is a guilty pleasure.

cruel Summer- Bananarama. Great late 80's tune that makes you feel the heat.

Summer in the City- Lovin' Spoonful- Hot town, summer in teh city!

California Girls- Katry Perry- Skin so hot it'll melt your popsicle? well, yeah!

All Summer Long - Kid Rock- even though I am not a great Kid Rock fan, this tune does amke the summer sun shine into my car stereo.

Summer of 69- Bryan Adams- Those blissful summers of our youth that become more mystical as time passes.

Kokoamo- Beach Boys- It was the summer come back by the Beach Boys, and they did nail it on this tune.

Wipe out - The Safarais - It doesn't take words to make a summer song and a beach blanket spontaneous dance!

Soak up the Sun- Sheryl Crow- and a bikini Sheryl Crow in video soaking up the sun?

Good day Sunshine- The Beatles- The sun is shining down,. Burns my feet as they touch the ground!

Crimson and Clover- Tommy james- What could be any more groovy than Tommy James on a summer day?

Indian lake - Te Cowsills- It's teh scene you should make, swim in teh cove, have a snack in the grove!

the Way= fastball- That fanciful idea of driving off into an eternal summer. Ahhhhh

Pleasant Valley Sunday - The Monkees- suburban summer, lawns being mowed, people cooking out...

Saturday in the Park- Chicago- Chicago managed to capture a summer day picnic in a song... and it's the 4th of July!

Rock Lobster- B 52's - The 80's beach party!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame??

I was elated to hear that , finally, Oklahoman Leon Russell would be inducted into the 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Pretty cool and long overdue.
Not only because I have managed to see a lot of Leon shows over the years, including a tour rehearsal in an auction barn in Glenpool, Ok., but also the cred this man has racked up
Not only does Leon have a great history, as a young man he took the chance moving from "Dusty Oklahoma" to California where he struck musical paydirt. He soon became a regular musician on Shindig with fellow Okie Carl Radle. he played back up to visiting musicians, and also some of his own tunes. he produced music for Gary Lewis and the Playboys ( "This Diamond Ring" and :she;'s Just my Style"), and ended up meeting people like Clapton and the the Beatles.
Leon not only wrote tunes for Joe Cocker, but also organized, played in and directed the music for Cocker's famous "mad Dogs and Englishmen" tour.
From there, Leon released a series of weell known LPs and singles, including ."Home Sweet Oklahoma," "Lady Blue" and Masquerade." He co-wrote and performed with Bob Dylan. One of my personal Dylan Favs is "watching the River Flow" with Leon on Piano. Leon appeared on George Harrison's "Concert for Bangla Desh." he also produced and played on Eric Clapton's first solo LP.
Why did it take so long for this master of Space and Time to finally make it into the Hall as a "sideman" while other acts, some short lived and less talented, made it in early?
Leon joins a few other notables in this year's inductees. Congratulations to them, but what speaks volumes is the people who have not been inducted. I went to the Hall web site and looked at the list. pretty amazing collection of talent there and most, undeniably, belong in that number.
The ones that puzzle me are the individuals and groups that made it there with less sales, longevity or impact than some of those who still sit, waiting, as some lesser talents make their way into the Hall. It's almost as if there is an attempt to include some of the lesser acts in order to placate the fringe and gain support for the hall from people of different generations.
As I look at my CD, LP and DVD collection, I see a host of worthy occupant of the Hall of Fame who have as of yet been denied while others slipped by.
Some of these notables include KIss, the Moody Blues, Rush, Def Leppard, Blue Oyster Cult and Todd Rundgren. . While these performers have been bypassed, other acts That I consider less deserving have been inducted.
Let's take Blondie, the Rammones and the Pretenders for example. each of these, good acts and sold music in their time, but lacked the longevity and wide base of appeal that many of the omitted acts have had. Blondie was basically an overrated band living off the sex appeal of their lead singer, Deborah Harry and willing to adapt to whatever musical form was getting airplay- for example, their 'rap' song "Rapture" and disco tinted "Heart of Glass.: As a live band , they were sloppy and forgettable, yet somehow are displayed in the Hall of Fame while a band like the Moody Blues is not. The Moody Blues produced hit after hit ranging from early blues tinged music to later progressive rock hits such as "Nights in White satin" and :Story in your Eyes." They had :greatest Hits while Blondie and Ramones were still flipping burgers. The Moody Blues produced radio hits while the Stooges gained an audience through shock and irreverence. The Moody's were a tight band while these others sucked in their live performances, hoping to make up for lack of skill through bloodletting, power chords and skimpy costumes.
I love the Pretenders and Chrissie Hynde, and saw them live a couple times. First time I saw "Brass in Pocket" on MTV in the 80's, I was a fan. But, does the band deserve to be in the R and R Hall while KIss is not? Kiss has continually produced massive live shows, drawing millions to their events over the years.
what do the Ramones have that Kiss does not? And whatever the Ramones have, Kiss has more. The funny thing is, if you check my CD collection, I have more Ramones than I have KIss, but seeing KIss live was truly an event. T This is not to say the Ramones were not an entertaining band, but that when it comes to being recognized in a Hall of Fame, they should still be waiting.
And that brings me to a couple of my personal Biases. The hall has ignored Rush, Def Leppard and Blue Oyster Cult, These bands have produced some of the seminal cuts of Rand R. Rush's career has spanned into now 5 separate decades. They still blow the roof off in their live shows, cranking out "Tom Sawyer" and The Spirit of radio." They are still used in movies and played on radio. Def Leppard still tours, filling stadiums. "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and "Rock of Ages:" still rock the airwaves. BOC, along with these others, created some of the most recognizable cuts from rock music. Who doesn't recognize the opening guitar riffs of "Don't fear the Reaper?" each of these bands dominated play lists back when music television still played music instead of reality shows.
But, the prince of the passed by, the czar of the ignored is TTodd Rundgren.
Todd started his career in the late 60's as guitarist, vocalist, writer for the Nazz. After 3 LPs, Todd went solo, starting a career than has made creative twists and turns while producing pop masterpieces and electronic works of rt. He is creative and innovative. He really is a Wizard, a True Star.
Songs by Todd litter movie soundtracks and sports arenas. His "Hello it's Me" is a pop classic. His "Bang the Drum All Day" roars out from arena sound systems. His musical compositions are found everywhere from off broadway ("Up Against It") to TV and movies("Pee Wee's Playhouse" and "Dumb and Dumber."). He has produced his own music since the early 70's along with Def Leppard, the Tubes and even Meat Loaf's original "Bat Out of Hell" LP on which he also plays and sings. He has produced Badfinger and Cheap Trick.
He has dabbled in electronic and synthesized music , fronted the band Utopia, and even took over Ric Ocasek's place as the lad singer of the Cars in their 2010 tour. He has performed in vegas in Beatles revues. He self produced the first digital video ever shown on MTV ( day one, 1981 - "Time Heals the Wounds.") He produced tones and programming for Apple and also created the first interactive Musical CD "No World Order." Todd started Patronnet, the 1st direct patron system for fans to invest in and receive direct products from their favorite musician.
Todd still tours, plays and produces. What does it take to put someone like this guy in the Hall of Fame??
The Dve Clark 5? I loved "catch Me if You Can." What was their lasting impact? The Young Rascals, Bonnie Riat, Rod Stewart....All people I like to listen to, but why are they in the Hall while other deserving and accomplished acts are not?

Bad Company, Badfinegr, Cheap trick, Deep Purple, Electric light Orchestra, Peter Frampton, Humble Pie, Grand Funk, Kansas, Monkees, Nugent, Nilsson, Styx, Joe walsh, etc.
Waiting Waiting Waiting.Each of these with equal or superior credentials to some of the acts already in the Hall.