In Defense of the Monkees

In Defense of the Monkees

Yesterday, I watched several hours of an IFC (Independent Film Channel) Memorial Day special of a block of the 60’s TV show “The Monkees.” The show ran from September of ’66 to March of ’68. It starred four young Beatle proto types, Mickey Dolenz, Mike Nesmith, Peter Tork and Davey Jones.
The 30 minute program was definitely influenced by the Beatles’ films :A Hard Days Night” and “Help.” It had a particular scenario of a poor group of musicians struggling to hit it big. They had a new crisis every week capped off by chase scenes with their songs as the back drop, or seemingly live performances.
As a kid, I loved the Monkees. I waited anxiously each week for the show. Of course, when I was a kid , the amount of pop/rock music on TV was near nonexistent … pre MTV. Pre Don Kirshner Rock Concert or Midnight Special.
My brothers and sisters divided up the band. (I WaAS Peter.) We sang along with the songs and adored the characters. It didn’t matter to us, manufactured or not, because they made some great music.
It was easy for a lot of people to dismiss the band as a ficxtion, created in a board room and brought to life by TV, a staff of song writers and session musicians. After all, there were really only 2 musicians in the band (Mike nd Peter). The other two were actors, but at least familiar with musical theater (Mickey and Davey).
But…. So what?
When you look at the music of the 60’s and 70’s, a huge majority of the hits from that period had one of three groups of session musicians on them. The west coast Wrecking Crew that contained everyone from a young Leon Russell to Glen Campbell and Dr. John (see the new documentary – “The Wrecking Crew”) or the session musicians that played on every single Motown hit of that era (“Standing in the Shadow of Motown” documentary) produced the music behind hit after hit. Even Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys used the Wrecking Crew on many Beach Boy albums. Muscle Shoals session musicians also produced the sounds of Aretha Franklin and the Staple Singers.
Many of the Rand R Hall of Fame inductees depended on these session musicians. Whether it was the Supremes, Dion, The Dells, the Four Seasonss, Mamas and the papas, or Aretha Franklin, they depended on these session musicians to give them a sound. They were the voice.
That voice also depended upon the people who wrote the songs. The Monkees were often criticized because they didn’t write their songs like the Beatles did (many early Beatle songs were written by others at capitol Records insistence). Many of the artists in the Hall of Fame did not write their songs. Elvis received some song writing credit from artists who wanted him to sing their song, but even he said “I Never Wrote a Song.” Nor did Aretha, or the Supremems or many others. These esteemed acts all fell in the same category as the Monkees. But, boy, did the MOnkees have some high powered songwriters!
Most Monkee songs were written by pop duo Tommy Boyce and bobby Hart. They were truly the musical backbone of the band. They, plus others were directed by Don Kirshner’s hit factory to churn out pop hits for the so called pre-fab four. That list also included carole King, Harry Nilsson, Michael Murphy, King and Goffin and Neil Diamond. No one can criticize the song writing quality for the Monkees. The songs were written by great musicians.
So what is it that made the Monkees so distained by some. It was either you love them or hate them. Apparently a lot loved them since during 1966 to 1968, their first four albums were number one on the charts and the 5th was number 3. Then, the show was cancelled. They made the movie “head” written and directed by Jack Nicholson. That album and movie, a psychedelic exercise that alienated many regular fans, only topped at 46. Peter Tork left the band and the fall continued.
Dolnez and Jones made more music with Boyce and Hart. Nesmith and Tork had solo music careers. Nesmith has a few country oriented semi-hits. The Monkees reunited a few times for well received tours, but never like it was in 66-68.
Davey Jones passed away not too long ago. The three remaining members reunited for a nostalgia tour paying tribute to Jones.
So, was it because they were shadow of the Beatles? Was it because they were on TV?
Who knows? Who cares? Although it would shock me if they were ever in the Rock Hall of Fame, many of those residing there share the same background as Mike, Davey, Mickey and Peter.
They are still on my IPOD. I still love their music. If “last Train To Clarksville”, “I’m a believer” or “Daydream Believer” come on the radio, you can bet I’ll be singing along.
And, if I’m walking through the house and hear the Boyce and Hart penned anthem “Hey Hey We’re The Monkees!” playing from the TV, I will stop and watch. It’s only Rock and Roll.

Elton John's "Yellow Brick Road"

Today had my IPOD on shuffle and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” came up. It made me nostalgic. I love the tune and there’s no doubt that Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin are of genius quality.
It made me think back through all my Elton moments that stand out. I remember standing in front of the old Kiefer High School, talking about the “Yellow Brick Road” double LP with Jerry Reale. Jerry and I were both collectors, going to great extents to find rare and unusual music. He still does to this day, having amassed a room filled ceiling to floor with all kinds of vinyl. I seem to remember that Jerry wasn’t as big on the Elton LP as I was at the time.
I also recall sitting in the small bedroom belonging to high school buddy Terry Richie while he played, for me, the LP “Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only The Piano Player” On his turntable. “Crocodile Rock” and Daniel”, my two favorite songs from that particular LP rolled through small speakers in a crisp, new LP sound. Terry loved the Lp.
In college, we would turn the lights out and listen to just a couple of epic songs. One was the Prophet's Somng by Queen, and the "Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" by Elton. Those songs brought an almost hushed reverence while we college guys sat or laid around the room, hidden in the dark, with only the music to surround and carry us.
I was lucky to see Elton at least three times live as he crossed through Tulsa on his tours. I saw him twice with a full band. The first time was before he put away all the extravagant costumes and glasses. It was a spectacular sight, not to mention the great live performance. This was before huge lit back screens and pyrotechnics. It was some great pure music. At one point Elton came sliding across the grand piano, dressed in a shining, white admiral uniform. The blue lights made him glow as he pounded through the next tunes.
The last time I saw him live was completely by accident. He was appearing at the Tulsa Convention Center. Tickets were expensive and sold fast. Ashley and I committed to working at the AIDS quilt showing in Tulsa, which was also hosted in another section of the Tulsa Convention Center. We worked the day as monitors, eyes on the various AIDS memorial quilts as spectators roamed the huge room in silence.
Late in the day, a representative for John came to the display. He offered some floor seats for a cheap price.. The seats had been opened late by rearrangement of sound equipment. Ashley and I, along with the Vandivers, jumped on the tickets. It was a great solo show… just Elton and his piano.
I went to the concession and ran into my nephew, who asked “What are you doing here? I thought you didn’t get a ticket?”
I explained the situation. Brian had gotten tickets from a scalper. “You bastard, “ he said. He ha paid $150 for a seat in the nosebleed section and our last minute purchases had us on the floor.
Elton’s music production has slowed as he reached his 60’s, but two years ago he popped into my life again though another old favorite. Elton teamed up with his piano hero, Leon Russell to make a new album. “The Union” is a great LP combining Leon’s and Elton’s pianos and styles. It was a shot in the arm for Leon, now 71 years old. In fact, Leon has a new LP slated to hit the stores in a month.
I was thinking… what is my favorite Elton John song? Trouble is, in a long career like his, there seems to be one for every season and mood. But, Elton is a lot more than “just” the piano player.

Queen and LIveAid

Today while I was wandering through the news on Rollingstone.com, I spied a video flashback… Queen playing the LiveAid concert in July of 1985. An amazing live performance. I still remember vividly, in 1974, listening with rapt attention to the metal opera like musical attack of “Queen 2.” I had taken a chance on trying a new band… that would be hard to get off the turntable any time soon!
L:iveAid was aired worldwide. It was the effort of Boomtown rats front man, Bob Geldoff. He get the best and most famous to donate their effort to raise money for starvation in Africa, It had alkready spawned the “do Thye Know It’s Christmas” charity song. Dozens of Brit pop stars sang on what was probably one of the best collection-of-stars song ever. Later, Americans would follow it up with a slick “We Are The World.”
Queen took the stage to a home town Wembley Stadium crowd and immediately electrified the overflow crowd with the opening to “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Freddy had the whole crowd in his baclk pocket as he strutted across the daytime stage. I watched and recorded the show from my sister’s TV and VCR.(Something was wrong with mine) I spent the day pushing record and pause in order to capture this extarorinary event. Shows were held simultaneously in England and America, with broadcasts between the 2 sites.
John Deacon and Roger Taylor thumped and pulsed their dependable bass and drum. Brian played that soaring guitar.. so recognizable everywhere. As Freddy danced across the stage during “radio Ga Ga”, the crowd, hands held high, sang along, thousands clapping in rhythm and he sang, “All We Hear is Radio Ga Ga”! “Carzy Little Thing Called Love”, “WE Are the Champions”, … and Mercury’s stage presense… wow! Even though I have seen some of the best on stage, I don’t think anyone measured upo to the power of Queen’s performance I witnessed on that television stet. As I sit here, at my laptop, the clip of the Wembley set playing as I write, It saddens me. I know the end of the story. Queen returned to the stage later for one tune.. the haunting “Is This the World We Created?” The last performance Freddy would have with Queen was one year later (1886).
They made three more albums, but did not tour to support any of them. “A Kind of Magic” was actually a soundtrack LP for “Highlander.”” The Miracle” was a well-received LP, but no tour. People were asking “Why?”
In 1991, Queen signed with Hollywood Records, and released “Innuendo”. I remember sitting in a car, on a Sunday afternoon, listening to the radio show “Rockline:” while I waited for Ash to get out of a meeting. They described the release party, which Brian, Roger and John attended… but no Freddy.
It was a short time later, November 23, 1991, that Freddy Mercury released an announcement with the news that he was suffering from AIDS. The promo video for the first release from the album had shown no direct pictures of the band. Now, the reason why became obvious. A second video, “These are the Days of Our Lives” showed a painfully thin Freddy. It was just over 24 hours after his official announcement that Freddy Mercury passed away.
Fans were heart stricken. To watch his live footage, it was hard to believe someone so full of life and song could be taken so early. In 1995, the band released a last posthumous album “Made In heaven.” The stories said Freddy, weak from his disease, had a bed in the recording studio. He would sing as long as possible, then retire to the bed. He wanted to get that last record out, but died before all the finishing could be done. His vocals were intact, but it took the band mates a couple years before thye could bear to finish working on the instrumentation.
It is not a sad album. “It’s a Beautiful day,” “Made in heaven”, and “IU Was Born To Love You,”.. all upbeat, hopeful songs. But the poignant “Let Me Live” said it best. The man, full of life and the idol of millions… it comes down to simply, “I want to Live.”
Freddie Bulsara 45 years old 1947-1991 “Why don't you take another little piece of my soul Why don't you shape it and shake it 'Til you're really in control All you do is take And all I do is give All that I'm asking Is a chance to live (So let me live) so let me live (Leave me alone) let me live, let me live (Why don't you let me make) a brand new start”

Lullaby.. rocking in the rocking chair

When the boys were babies, they grew up on Rock and roll Lullabies. Both Ashley and I would rock the boys to sleep… much against any child rearing wisdom that said..”lay them down and let them fuss their way to sleep.” I think our method was not so much for the boys as it was for us.
It was that moment out of a hectic day when that squirming bundle of arms nd legs settled down into a warm, irresistible child. We had a rocking chair I the bedroom. We would sit there, boy on arms, and sing song after song. Some nights, it went very quickly. A story book, or a made up tale, then the tunes. Ashley loved to sing Peter, paul and Mary’s “Puff the Magic Dragon” and “Eternal Flame” by the Bangles. Fletch would ask for “Close your eyes..” .. the first line of “Eternal Flame.”
Close your eyes, Momma! Close your eyes!” MY choices tended more toward the Beatles and the Monkees. I often sang “Mother nature’s Son,“ and “I Will” from the White Album. The Monkess were poured into their little brains with tunes like “I’m A Believer” and “What Am I Doping Hanging Round.” I also sang Todd Rundgren’s “A Dream Goes ON Forever.” Some nights, I would lay on the bed and listen as Ashley sang softly to either Fletch or Corwin. Patting their backs, bumping them up and down as the drifted away on the tunes of old songs until, at last, snoring softly, limp, they could be laid in the crib. As warm as freshly baked bread, and the smell of a just bathed baby, it was a good step toward sleep for us as well. I often wonder today, if the boys heard those songs, would they begin to doze? Would it be a good idea for a sleep aid on those sleepless nights, to hear the songs our mother or father sand g to us, to float us, reluctantly, from the busy world of awake on soft bed of rhythm? I know that my mother would sing to me, “Marianne”, a calypso song that was on the charts twice… once in 1946 and again the year after I was born. All day all night is Mary Ann,
Down by the seaside, sifting sand. Even little children love Mary Ann, Down by the seaside, sifting sand.
But, I guess even children can become music critics. As Corwin grew older, one evening as I started to sing, he put his little chubby hand to my mouth and said, “No Daddy. Don’t sing.” So much for my delusion that I sounded like Paul McCartney.
I always thought of the BJ Thomas song, “Rock and Roll Lullaby.” And she'd sing Sha-na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na It'll be all righ tSha-na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na Jus t Hold On Tight , Sing it to me, mama My, my, my, my, mama Sing it sweet and clear Oh mama, let me hear That old rock and roll lullaby “Rock and Roll Lullabye” BJ Thomas

Is Susan Aphrodite?

This weekend, Susan Herndon is one of the many musicians playing at the 100th birthday anniversary of Woody Guthrie in Okemah, Oklahoma. I know Susan has played the Guthrie shows before and I think she currently lives in Okemah.
Susan is a very talented musician. She is someone I always hoped would get a shot at bigger things as a writer, musician and singer. She took the big leap, leaving a steady paying job to pursue her dream, playing music. It’s funny, because the first time I heard about Susan, she was a new teacher at Cascia Hall High School in Tulsa. She had been hired as a French teacher. My wife Ashley, also teacher at Cascia, called me during the day and said, “You should see this new teacher we have. She’s like Aphrodite. She’s gorgeous!”
Ash said she knew right away this was a woman she would get along with because one of the first things Susan asked her at Cascia was “Where’s a good place to take a shit here?”
Susan promoted her career early. She teamed up with other local artists, including Dee Dee Ralph and my wife, , Ashley to put on a poetry and music evening. They read their poetry and Susan played songs to a group of invited guests for an arts happening. At one event, Ashley sang along with Susan on a song
Susann composed music for Ashley’s poem, “Saturn Returns.” Susan, Dee Dee and Ashley are all very talented ladies. Each of them can turn and phrase and create a scene with their words and music.

Susan began to play the local restaurants and clubs. She often played solo, and sometimes began to mix with other musicians. She would mix in originals with a large catalog of covers. We would go to Rick’s American Bistro to hear Susan play. We chose the French hen for an anniversary dinner because Susan was playing that night. Susan has always been a free spirit. She did move to France at one point, living for a while at a Buddhist Monastery, spending time playing her guitar, perfecting her style. She wrote many of her songs in French. When she returned to the U.S. and Oklahoma, she took the teaching gig for a few years, but it did restrict her playing time.
One of my favorite stories about Susan took place in my back yard. Susan wanted to take some photos for new next CD cover. She bought an underwater camera, brought it to my house so Ashley could take underwater pictures of her for the “1000 Pies” cover. They went out to the pool; Susan stripped off her clothes and hopped in. Ash climbed in the water and began snapping shots.
After they finished, my mother, the song leader and Sunday school teacher at a Southern Baptist Church, wandered into the back yard since no one had answered to door bell to find a stranger, the naked Susan standing poolside.
Susan also penned an instrumental called “Grandma’s China.” It never made it on any of her CDs, but it was great. She had come to dinner at our house with my wife, me and Dee Dee Ralph. Ashley had pulled out old China inherited from her grandmother. Susan was inspired and in fact, played that song as part of the music she did at the wedding of another friend.
Susan is nothing if not versatile. She sand lead for a Jazz band. It was a bunch of much older musicians with the much younger Susan on vocals. We got to see them perform at the Philbrook. The led guitarist was the elderly writer of the song “Tequila.” She has played with more Red Dirt oriented musicians and even cranked out some rockin’ stuff with others. Susan has her groupies and dedicated followers. I try to see her play every time she is at Mayfest of local festivals. Her area of play has increased from the Tulsa bars and restaurants to stretch across Oklahoma and Texas.
Often, Susan’s songs will come up on my IPOD shuffle playlist, and they always make me smile. It always makes me think of the dinners, late nights hanging out at her house, Dee Dee’s or ours, For a while there, the 4 of us, Susan, Dee Dee, Ashley and I kept in close touch. It was nice, and life seemed to have a soundtrack with it.

Admiral Twin on a hot July night

Tonight I sat with two friends in our foldout camp chairs in the July heat of an Oklahoma evening. Tonight was free concert night at Utica Square. The feature band was Admiral Twin. They are one of the more well known of the Tulsa grown bands with a long history that tattered on near stardom in 2000.
When I first saw the band, they were called the Melodramatic Wallflowers. I heard about them through an ex-student named Don Holman. Don was acquainted because he knew two of the saplupa guys in the band, Mark Carr and Steve Franzen. My wife and I followed them at a local Tulsa club called The Eclipse. Their music was creative and sometimes esoteric. It had a lot of instruments and sounds not typical to pop music. I bought their cassette from Don, and listened to it often in my car. We were fans.
Then something happened. Steve left the band. His parents lived just a few doors down from us in Sapulpa. I saw Steve a few times. He told me he was working on a few things, toying around with some music. The erst of the guys, now a quartet, carried on, but under a different name. Apparently, they heard threats from the Wallflowers, a band fronted by Bob Dylan’s son Jacob, that they must change their name. They decided to go with some local flavor and called themselves the Admiral Twin, Tulsa’s seminal and long enduring drive in theater. Apparently, Jacob Dylan was a little melodramatic about the whole thing, and although his band still exists in some shadowy place, they surely wouldn’t have been confused with something titled “melodramatic.”
The new Admiral Twin recorded their first CD in ’97. It was called “Unlucky.” It was a great power pop collection. The songs were good enough o get an invite to open form the Hansons who were experiencing their notoriety from the pop hit “mmm Bop.” Admiral Twin signed a record deal and recorded “Mock Heroic” which included new material and upgrades of “Unlucky” material. At this point, the band consisted of Mark Carr - vocals, bass, keyboards, Jarrod Gollihare - vocals, drums, keyboards, John Russell - vocals, guitar, keyboards and Brad Becker - vocals, guitar, keyboards. Mark was the other guy from Sapulpa.
Apparently the tour went well.. or so I was told, but soon there were problems with the record company. Mojo Records was dropped from their larger affiliate and Admiral Twin suffered as a result. Brad became disenchanted and left the band to pursue an employment opportunity out west. After several years of struggle and a near miss, he didn’t want to fight anymore. Mark, Jarrod and John carried on . They play everywhere, including clubs, casinos, festivals and events like the Utica Square free concert series. Their namesake burned down a short time ago, and after drives to rebuild the Tulsa monument, of which the band played a part, they will play at its rededication tomorrow night. You can’t keep a good thing down, or a good band down. The drive in and the band are a part of Tulsa. They are here to stay. Admiral Twin has continued to record and release original music.
On this hot, hot evening, as the relentless sun finally sank, and the band started their 2nd set to a crowd of renewed vigor, the people filled the front to dance to the covers and original music. My friends and I, max, and Michelle, snag along with the songs and clapped our appreciation as the sweat cooled in the late evening breeze. My beer was cold in my hand and the cool sounds of their last song, an original, “The In Crowd,” washed over a happy crowd. I know I will see them again, and also listen to their music on my IPOD. I only wish that such hard working musicians as these could enjoy the success that reflects the enjoyment and pleasure they have given me and so many others who sat in these chairs, casinos and clubs.

Top Ten Albums of All Time

Here are the top 5 albums ever made according to a Rolling Stone poll. 1. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles 2. Pet Sounds, The Beach Boys 3. Revolver, The Beatles 4. Highway 61 Revisited, Bob Dylan 5. Rubber Soul, The Beatles
I will give it to them, they are truly amazing albums. And as a Beatles fan, I am not surprised that the Beatles held court over the top 10. In fact, The "White Album" ("The Beatles") rounds out the top 10. 6. What's Going On, Marvin Gaye 7. Exile on Main Street, The Rolling Stones 8. London Calling, The Clash 9. Blonde on Blonde, Bob Dylan 10. The Beatles ("The White Album"), The Beatles It is a tough thing to pick the top albums, but we all have an opinion. Although I love everyone of these LPs, I have a few others that I pick as the top 10 LPs of all time. Some were further down on the list while others were not. I would exclude any collection form a list of top LPs. If they are included, then a band's "best of" ought to top their list of entries, right? A "Best of" is immediately disqualified from any list of top albumns.
No doubt, some LPs are monumrental and trend setting, such as "Sgt. Pepper" and maybe I am being blasphemus by not making it my #1, even though I would be considered a huge Beatles fan, but I don't consider it the best Beatles LP. Funny that Rolling Stones' top Beatle selections (Sgt Pepper, Rubber Soul and Revolver) all come at the end of their touring days in '66 and '67. here are my top ten 1. The Beatles "Abbey Road" 2. The Who "Tommy" 3. George Harrison "All Things Must Pass" 4. Neil Young "Harvest" 5. Queen "Queen II" 6. Derek and the Dominos "Layla and Other LOve Songs" 7. Led Zepplin "IV" (Zoso) 8. Pink Floyd "dark Side of the Moon" 9. Yes "Close to the Edge" 10. Todd Rundgren "Soemthing Anything" "Abbey Road" was the LP that the Beatles managed to pull it together for a great finish. They had recorded "Let It Be" or "Get Back" as it was originally intended, and then shelved the project, ready to break up and frift apart. After a few months, under McCartney's encouragement, the Fab Four pulled together for a classic beatles collection. The side two medley finishing with "The End" is a orgasmic musical treat that left you exhausted.
Later, Apple would try to salvage the "Let It Be" project with an LP and movie. The movie showed the last live performance of the Beatles on the rooftop at Saville Row. The sadness felt by a Bealtes fan watching the movie was undeniable in the fact that you could see thew band drifting apart. It is a shame that this image is what we are left with as a finale and not the triumphant "Abbey Road" which in truth was their last best effort.
Pete Townshend is a genius. He drove rock music to operetic heights with "Tommy", "Quadrophenia" and the aborted "Lifehouse" that became the "Who's Next" LP. Pete has written so many athems of rock music they are hard to lsit. But, in 1968, when "Tommy" was released, it was an awakening in the fairly young world of rock and roll. "Pinball Wizard", the so called 'deaf, Dumb and Bliand Boy" who reached enlightenment and fortune.. and fall.
Townshend's own philosophical being is evidenced in hsi rock operas. pete is a long time follower of Guru Bab Meher. "Tommy" illustrated the person cut off from the truth and his sudden enlightenemnet. That theme would resurface again in Townshend's offerings in "Lifehouse." The song "Pure and Easy" was "OM". The story followed a universal blending of sound into a one-ness. 'Lifehouse' became a 20 plus year effort through his solo career, but he started that move in "Tommy."
Although I believe that the solo Beatles have produced many great albums, such as Lennon's "Plastic Ono Band," McCartney's "Band on the Run" and "Ringo" by Ringo (obviously), george Harrison's 3 lp set after the Beatles breakup was a masterpiece. harrison, who always felt stymied by the song writing strengths of Lennon and McCartney was unleashed on this LP.
The LP features a star studded cast, including Eric Clapton, teh Dream Weaver Gary Wright, Ringo Star, members of Badfinger, etc. It was produced by Phil Spector's wall of Sound. Spector was also working a lot with Lennon. Harrison's songs were dynamic! He struck top 10 gold with "My Sweet Lord," and was finally able to truly express his religious self on the solo LP.
George would soon assemble a acst of rock stars as had never been seen before, playing hits form his new LP at madison Square Garden in a charity show for banla Desh disaster vistims. Dylan, Leon Russel, Ringo, ravi Shankar and Clapton all pitched in for the effort. I is probably one of the most poignant concert movies ever made.
Neil Young is as prolific and unpredicable as any musician on the charts. He might play the blues (On TH e Beach), go Country Coems a Time). be electronic (Trans) or rock the roof off (Sleeps With Angels). He is both the innovator and Grand daddy of grunge. Young has his hands in so many things ranging form developing a new digital music format to eletric car innovation. But, "Harvest," a masterpiece of the heart. .. because who can not feel the song "Old Man" or "Herat of Gold?" His lyrics and acoustic guitar mesmorize you. In the Neil Young concerts I have been to, he manages to captivate the crowds with his acoustic, a harmonica and that strianed unmistakeable voice. Everyone should own "Harvest."
Queen II would not have existed without "Abbey Road." Nor would My Chemical Romance's "The Black parade" have existed without Queen II. "The Ogre battle," "The Fairy Fellow," "Nevermore" and etc... all woven together in a medley that at once is mystical and fanciful, but then roars with eletric gi=uitars and Queen ahrmonies.
I remeber the first time I heard this LP, bought on a whim, it was like a baby tasting ice cream for the first time! I felt like the Monster in "Young Frankenstien" heraing the violin for the first time. It made me a Queen fan.
ERic Clapton mad ethis group, Derek and the Dominos. It featured a couple guys who would play with Clapton for the next several years, including Carl Radle of Tulsa. Radle had been introduced to Clapton by Leon Russell. IT contains the seminal rock song "Layla," which would later be revealed to eb the love song Clapton wrote for George Harrisons's wife Patti. Eventually, Eric and Patti would end up together, but like all of the bands Eric was a part of, this band and his marriage to Patti had an expiration date. Clapton was still dealing with a heroin addicition which would result in taking a year off after DErek and the Dominos faded. He would later have a career revived at the uring of Pete Townshend, gin=ving us the 1973 "rainbow Concert" followe dby one of my favorite solo LPs, "461 Ocean Blvd."
Clapton is still palying a hot guitar. He may be called "Slowhand" but the straings wail for him No, Clapti=on hosts guitar festivals to raise money for his charity organization, "Crossroads," for additon sufferers.
In the movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," one guy confides to another, the best make out music is side 2 Led zepplin 4. Now, as far as making out to this piece of music, I am dubious of that claim. But, it does contain one of the most well known of 70's album oriented rock tunes "Stairway to heaven." The album was also a marked change in Zepplin style and included several "Lord of the Rings" rferences throughout the lyrics. The album also became the target for the back-masking preachers in the 80's. There were supposed demonic messages when the LP was played backwards illustrating Zepplin's worship of Satan. That, like the other preposterous claims of media seeksing ministers disappered, btu the LP and its songs live on.
My 8th and 9th LPs have one thing in common.. I mean besides their 70's release date, progressive rock genre, etc...I first heard them sitting on a bean bag chair, a pair of cushy headphones on my head at my friend Jerry reale's house. Jerry and I were collectors, searching used LP stores, pawn shops, yard sales, etc. for the musical nugget given up by someone. We dealt in bootlgs, traded imports and chased elusive out of print music.
Pink Floyd grw into this LP with the addition of David Gilmore and the slow painful departure of Syd Barrett. In 1973, "dark Side of the Moon" was released, and stayed on the top 200 charts longer than any other LP. It is one of the best selling LPs worldwide. ranging form rock guitar oriented "Money" to the eclectic "Drak Side of the MOon" and "Brain Damage," this lp is made for hearing through great head phones. Anything by Yes is complex and imaginative.
"Close to the Edge" set a standard for later Yes works that were more symphonic in their structure than rock. The LP was basically 3 songs with various movements that combined the intricate guitar of Steve Howe, the wall of sound from the keyboards of Rick Waheman and Jon Anderson's soaring voacals. The previous LP, "Fragile" paved the way for this with tunes like "Roundabout."
Yes was the epitome of the progressive rock era. They still continue to make music, tour and sell out, but like many other artists of the refused, have never been recognized by the Rock Hall of Fame. This is another LP I would love to make the people who nominate Hall of fame inductees sit down and listen through those cushy, padded headphones. Yes would make it on the next ballot.
Todd is Godd. Todd is the Wizard, a true star. He is one of the true renaissance men of pop music, He shares a quality with Neil Young of innovation and a variety of styles and genres. He prodced someof the best seeling LPs (Meatloaf's "Bat out of Hell" for example) and constantly toors and reimagines music.
Anyone who likes pop music should own a copy of "Soemthing Anything." Released as a double album set, Todd plays all the instruments on 3 sdiea and then uses dome buddies to amke the cuts, icluding one of his best known songs in pop circles ("Hello Its Me") on side four. The LP contains seberal songs that are still standards of his performances such as "Couldn't I jsut tell You" and "It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference."
No one writes a pop song like Todd, but at the same time, he has gone through stages of progressive rock (early Utopia music), eletronic ('No World Order"), Blues ("Todd Rundgren's Johnson") and appearances with bands, such as the Nazz, Utopia and even fronting the New Cars on a tour and LP. Todd is also among the SArtists of the Refused. Despite his enormous contributions to rock music, he sits on the sidelines awaiting the call from the coach to eneter the Hall. Now these are m top 10 choices, and at times, I may think, well.. this one should be in there... but this is pretty close.
You can see the Rolling Stone list at this address http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231