posted by Tom Lane at 9:26 AM
posted by Tom Lane at 9:32 AM
The first time I really paid attention to David Crosby's voice, sometime in the early 70's, I was surprised by how tender, fragile and yes, angelic it was. Crosby may have been one of the ultimate hippie counter-culture musicians of his era. Certainly one of the most unforgettable characters in Rock history.
His greatest moments are peppered throughout some remarkable records with the Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash (sometimes Young). Not to mention his duo albums with Nash. Then there's his solo career which got off to an amazing start with 1971's of its time masterwork, If I Could Only Remember My Name. Some critics hated its managed to grow in praise over the decades. "Music Is Love", "Laughing" and "What Are Their Names" endure. Oddly enough Crosby wouldn't release another solo album until 1989.
With the Byrds, Crosby's harmonies were often a highlight. And he wrote or co-wrote some of their most interesting pieces like "Lady Friend", "Everybody's Been Burned", "Renaissance Fair" and the masterpiece "Eight Miles High". Leaving the Byrds his hookup with Stills & Nash resulted in even more classics like "Long Time Gone", "Guinnevere", "Wooden Ships", "Almost Cut My Hair" and "Deja Vu". And on his duet albums with Nash, "Carry Me". But as the years rolled on Crosby's drug problems hindered his creativity. Remarkably, he managed to make some of his best music in the last few years of his life. Sky Trails and For Free, his last released in his lifetime are very strong, showing that Crosby's voice has maintained its immediacy.
Crosby reached a new generation of readers and listeners with his presence on Twitter. Often playing the part of the great curmudgeon he really was, his opinions bounced off any topic that he or his followers could think of. For more of that check out his excellent 2019 documentary, Remember My Name.
A two-time Rock Hall inductee with the Byrds and CSN, plus a Songwriters Hall inductee with S&N, Crosby will always be linked with the 60's and early 70's Classic Rock era. His best music from that era still ringing out from Laurel Canyon.
posted by Tom Lane at 2:35 AM
posted by Tom Lane at 8:43 AM
Labels: Song Hall, SongHall, Songwriters Hall of Fame
posted by Tom Lane at 8:20 AM
Also known as the early years. What was the first song you remember hearing? Doing these posts on my music life had me going way back to my childhood for the answer. My conclusion is that the first songs that I heard had to have come from sister's bedroom. It was there that the radio and turntable were playing the latest hits.
And I'm convinced that the first sounds I heard were from the Beatles. My sister had the 1966 album, Yesterday and Today, which was a collection of songs from the '65/'66. The song that stuck with me was "We Can Work It Out", which topped the charts in early '66. Is is the first? Maybe. But it's possible that I heard that album in 1967. "Hello Goodbye" is another Beatles contender. Released in late '67 and getting lots of airplay through early '68. But there was another song released earlier and discussed below.
Here's the story. I was born in 1964. But I can still recall hearing certain records even at the age of 2 or 3. My sister had a small collection of singles and very little albums. But AM Top 40? Always on. Most of the records I remember are from '67-'69. Her 45 of "Daydream Believer" ('67) was played a lot.
Other songs from that time frame that I never forgot:
"These Eyes" - Guess Who ('69)
"Good Morning Starshine" - Oliver ('69)
"Love Is Blue" - Paul Mauriat ('68)
"Like To Get To Know You" - Spanky and Our Gang ('68)
"People Got To Be Free" - Rascals ('69)
"In The Ghetto" - Elvis Presley ('69)
"Whiter Shade Of Pale" - Procol Harum ('67)
There are others, but none would qualify as first heard.
But here's the surprise. Is it possible to remember something when you're a year old. The Beatles' "Eight Days A Week" always held a special place in their pantheon for me. And I think the reason is pretty obvious. Released in early '65, it has to be the song I heard first. I'll never know for sure, and it's not something one discusses with their parents, but if it's a Beatles song that lodged into my brain first, and set me on my way to being the music nut I am today, then so be it. Could have been something worse.
posted by Tom Lane at 2:25 PM
posted by Tom Lane at 7:43 AM
Lisa Marie Presley had her own music career. From 2003-12 she released three very good albums. But they are but forgotten nowadays. Her first two came out in '03 and '05. Then there was a seven year break until her last one, Storm & Grace. The latter produced by T Bone Burnett. Before these albums were released the only time Lisa Marie's voice was heard on a recording occurred in 1997. During Elvis Week in August 1997, 20 years after Elvis' death, she released a virtual duet with her father on "Don't Cry Daddy".
Talk about pressure. We know of many children of famous singers who go on to have good music careers. But what if you're the daughter of the most famous musician in history? Her first album, To Whom It May Concern, shows plenty of promise. It's Pop/Rock, but Lisa Marie's husky vocals put most of it over. The autobiographical "Lights Out" is her best song. One her second album, So What, the sound is the same but the writing is more confident. Most of the songs were co-written with Linda Perry. "Shine" is strong, but the best one is a cover of Don Henley's "Dirty Laundry". With T Bone producing there is no question that her last album is her best and most organic. "How Do You Fly This Plane" the standout.
And that was it. Save for another virtual duet of the Gospel song, "Where No One Stands Alone" in 2018, there would be no more albums. Give her albums a listen today and they hold up very well. Lisa Marie never reached the Pop stardom of her Dad, but then again no other child of Elvis would have either. But she lived long enough to see her Dad reach a new audience thanks to the 2022 Elvis movie. A moment of happiness in a life that didn't have much in the last couple years.
posted by Tom Lane at 8:41 AM
Rock historians will tell you there were 3 Jeff Beck eras: Yardbirds British Invasion, Hard Rock innovator as the Jeff Beck Group and in the 70's jazz-rock fusion champion. But there was a fourth and that occurred in the last 20 years, which would be the elder statesman of the Guitar Heroes from the 60's. Sure Pete Townshend and Keith Richards were still playing. But Beck had a flash about him. A style of playing that would influence other flashy players that followed him from his early days.
He was at his most influential with the Yardbirds, but on his own I tend to gravitate to the two Jeff Beck Group albums he did with Rod Stewart in 1968/69. Both underrated hard rock, even metal, crunchers. Next up would be his foray into Jazz-Rock with Blow by Blow and Wired in 75/76. Beck never came close to those mid-70's peaks again, but his output from the 80's until he died always had great moments ("People Get Ready" with Rod Stewart on vocals from 1985's find Flash is excellent). His best moments from the latter part of his career though can be found on the tons of concert footage that exists on YouTube.
Jeff Beck was one of the last of his kind from an era that may seem quaint to some of today's Rock guitarists but not to those of us who remember when Rock Guitar Heroes ruled the earth.
posted by Tom Lane at 2:55 AM
January 1969, I'm just about 5 years old. But I'm already starting to hear songs that I continue to love in 2023.
For this latest poll, 35 songs were picked to vote on. The list below is in the order that the songs finished in popularity for that month. For example, "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" was #1, "Showdown" #36.
posted by Tom Lane at 11:47 AM
Link Wray - It Was Elvis
Lisa Marie Presley - Lights Out
posted by Tom Lane at 2:33 AM
posted by Tom Lane at 3:29 AM
posted by Tom Lane at 7:59 AM
