Remembering Jon Lord
Deep Purple (Photo credit: daniconil)
July 16, saw the passing of rock keyboard innovator, Jon Lord. He was 71. Best known as one of the founding members of 70′s icons, Deep Purple, he also played with Whitesnake. He played on the classic song by The Kinks, “You Really Got Me“. He was on albums by David Gilmour and George Harrison. He virtually created the riffs used to this day by keyboardists in all types of popular music.
In my life, Deep Purple was one of the bands that formed my musical tastes. Machine Head is still an album that makes me perk up and listen. I will never forget Smoke On The Water or Highway Star, which are very much a part of the soundtrack of my life. The band in heaven just got a bit better.
Highway Star
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Smoke On The Water
Remembering Bob Welch
Cover of French Kiss
June 7, 2012 saw the passing of former Fleetwood Mac guitarist, Bob Welch. Another great one lost. He committed suicide at the age of 66. In addition to his time with the band, he had a successful solo career. Here are a couple of those solo hits in his honor.
Sentimental Lady
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Ebony Eyes
Song Of The Day – Spanish Train – Chris De Burgh
Chris de Burgh in concert in Cork city. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Back home and figured this was an appropriate segue to getting back into things. A classic song from a great story-teller. Chris De Burgh released this song a long, long time ago and now that I have experienced the Spanish train system firsthand……it is fitting.
Spanish Train
The Song Of The Day – Roxy Blue – “Rob The Cradle”
Rob The Cradle
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Canada’s Best Music – 5 Songs At A Time – Part 20
With this post, we now have covered 100 songs of the list I am working from. Only 400 more to go. This particular set is a really good one. A bit of hip-hop, mixed in with some exceptional classic tunes.
1. Bryan Adams
“Straight From the Heart”
Bryan Adams (Photo credit: crumj)
A further entry from one of Canada’s premier singer-songwriters. The man has the knack for writing the big hits, and this is one of them. Great video, the man, a guitar and an adoring audience singing every word
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2.k-os
” Crabbuckit”
Crabbuckit (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
K-os came out with this tune several years ago and it became an instant sing-a-long song that is very hard to get out of your head once you have heard it.
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3.Neil Young & Crazy Horse
” Cortez the Killer”
Neil Young, 22/06/2008 Firenze, Nelson Mandela Forum (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
After CSN&Y there was Crazy Horse. Nothing to say, except enjoy the master and his friends in this live version from 2003. The man can play that guitar.
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4. Joni Mitchell
“Help Me”
Joni Mitchell, performing in 2004 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Born and raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Joni is one of the best anywhere. This song is on of my favorites in her catalog.
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5. Rush
“Fly by Night”
Canadian rock band Rush, in concert in Milan, Italy. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Rush is another world-wide breakout Canadian artist. Fly By Night was one of the tunes that broke them.
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Canada’s Best Music – 5 Songs At A Time – Part 19
This grouping is very heavy on the classic rock, with the inclusion of a classic country star and a present day Canadian icon.
1. Hank Snow
“I Don’t Hurt Anymore”
Hank Snow (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The venerable Hank Snow. What can you say. The man is simply an icon in traditional country music.
2. BTO
“Let it Ride”
Bachman-Turner Overdrive performing live in Örebro, Sweden 1991 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The band, to me, was a mixture of very good songs. like this one, and Nickelback. Very popular band, and, for Randy Bachman, proved that there is life after being in a mega-group.
3. The Guess Who
“Albert Flasher”
Star on Canada's Walk of Fame for the rock band The Guess Who. Signatures, from top left clockwise: Garry Peterson, Burton Cummings, Bill Wallace, Randy Bachman and Donnie McDougall (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Another classic tune from the original Canadian superstars. This song showcases Burton Cummings and his vocals. The piano is not to shabby either.
4. The Tragically Hip
“Little Bones”
The Tragically Hip performing in Aspen, United States (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
One could say this is classic rock as it was recorded in 1991. However, they are still putting out some great music and are still getting major airplay in Canada
5. Prism
“Spaceship Superstar”
Prism is a great under-rated Canadian band. this song is a classic. You can’t help but sing along on the chorus.
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Remembering Levon Helm
Levon Helm (May 26, 1940 – April 19, 2012) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
A tough couple of days.
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Canada’s Best Music – 5 Songs At A Time – Part 18
1. Limblifter
“Ariel vs Lotus”
Ariel vs Lotus
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2. Chantal Kreviazuk
“Surrounded”
Chantal Kreviazuk talks to the audience in between songs during a performance at Jackson-Triggs Winery, Niagara-on-the-Lake. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Winnipeg born Chantal Kreviazuk is a singer/pianist who is continually close to being a major international star. This song highlights her voice quite succinctly. Interesting side-note. We saw her in concert in Saskatoon once. This was the infamous row F fiasco. Lori and a friend of ours, Lorna, were purchasing the tickets for the show and came home, pleased that they had gotten floor tickets in Row F. They swore that it meant the front row. Obviously, Robin and I were skeptical. So, on the night of the show we head straight for the front row. Even though I pointed out that the row was noted as A on the aisle, they forced us to sit there. Within minutes, the people who actually had Row A arrive and we moved to our correct seats. I had to ask, but if Row F was the front row, was Row B at the back? If I remember right, I till have the scar from asking that question.
Surrounded
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3. Honeymoon Suite
“New Girl Now”
From Niagara Falls, Ontario, Honeymoon Suite (pun intended, I’m sure) formed in 1981. They had great success on the Canadian scene throughout the 1980′s. They are still touring on occasion, although the original lineup (reformed in 2001), broke up in 2009. Their most recent album “Clifton Hill” was released in 2008. The song here is from their self-titled first album, released in 1984, and is their signature song.
New Girl Now
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4. Triumph
“Hold On”
Triumph performing at Sweden Rock, 2008. Showing all three original members. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Triumph was a power trio band who cultivated a huge North American following on the backs of their insane live performances. The group has had several incarnations over the years but have reformed with original members Rik Emmett, Gil Moore and Michael Levine. They began touring again in 2008. They are icons in Canada and their songs are the type that you just start singing to as soon as you hear the first chords.
Hold On
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5. Stompin Tom Connors
“The Hockey Song“
Stompin' Tom Connors, 2005 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Stompin Tom Connors recorded this piece of Canadian lore in 1973. It is a song that creates a sing-a-long when it starts up as every Canadian has it in their DNA. A classic.
The Hockey Song
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Remembering Michael Hossack
Michael Hossack, drummer for the Doobie Brothers, passed away on March 12 at the age of 65 after a battle with cancer. Born in Paterson, New Jersey in 1946, started playing at a young age. After returning from Vietnam in 1969, he joined a band called Mourning Reign and moved to California. He did a blind audition with the Doobie Brothers who were experimenting with dual drummers. He passed and joined the band in 1971. He quit in 1975. he played with a few other groups, rejoining the Doobies in 1987. In 2010 he was diagnosed with cancer and took a leave of absence from the band, never rejoining them. A big loss to music community.
What A Fool Believes
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Listen To The Music
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Canada’s Best Music – 5 Songs At A Time – Part 15
A great set today. We have a band that will increase my perv quota, featuring one of the best singers you will ever hear, some current alt music, the expected classic rock and a some East Coast shanty song.
1.The New Pornographers
” Mass Romantic”
The New Pornographers @ HoBBoston (Photo credit: bradsearles)
The New Pornographers are am indie band out of Vancouver, BC. They feature the superb vocals of Alt-country superstar Neko Case. This song is off their first album of the same name from 2000.
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2. Metric
“Gimme Sympathy”
Toronto based Metric released this song in 2007. the band won Canada’s Juno award in 2010 as top Alternative Band. They have been together since 1998 and have been very influential in Canada for several years.
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3. Lighthouse
“Sunny Days”
Formed in Toronto in 1968, Lighthouse is an all time great feel good band. This song was a huge hit for them in 1972. Their sound was very mature for the day, reminiscent of Chicago. The version I have added is a live version recorded in 2010.
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4. Martha and the Muffins
“Echo Beach”
Martha and the Muffins have been together since 1977 and are still playing and touring. Echo Beach was their only major hit, and it dominated the charts in 1980, reaching top 5 in Canada and the UK and top 40 in the USA.
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5. Stan Rogers
“Barrett’s Privateers”
East coast Celtic classic by Stan Rogers, who passed away in 1983, a victim of a fire on board an Air Canada plane in Cincinnati.
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Blood Sweat and Tears = A Canadian Classic
David Clayton Thomas
Through the vagaries of Canadian content regulations, the band Blood Sweat and Tears became Canadian, although the only member (and not an original member) of the band who is Canadian (born in the UK) was David Clayton Thomas, the singer on most of their hits. The band was originally led by Al Kooper (not Alice Cooper) and was formed in the 1960′s. Harry Nilsson sang on their album “Child is Father to the Man“, which contained such classics as “Without Her’ (Nillson) and “I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know”, by Al Kooper.
After this album, the band underwent a radical line up change as Al Kooper left the band. Original members Bobby Colomby and Steve Katz began a search for a new singer and based on a recommendation by Judy Collins, who had seen him sing, hired David Clayton Thomas. Thus, Blood Sweat and Tears began their career as a Canadian icon. Their first album as the reformed group, “Blood Sweat and Tears” was a major hit, even beating “Abbey Road” out as album of the year at the 1969 Grammys. The album contained the hits “You Made Me So Very Happy”, “Spinning Wheel”, and “And When I Die”.
The band has undergone many changes in its lifetime and still maintain a heavy touring schedule. David Clayton Thomas had 3 stints with the band, 1968 to 1972, 1974 to 1981 and 1984 to 2004. The band spawned a new genre of rock, outside the acid rock and anti-establishment types of the era. The bands in this grouping included Chicago, Ides of March and Atlanta Rhythm Section to name a few.
The video is a live version of Spinning Wheel, recorded in 1969.
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Chilliwack = A Canadian Classic
Bill Henderson
Ah yes, Chilliwack. A Canadian staple on the radio in the 70′s. “Fly at Night”, “Lonesome Mary”, “Rain-O”, “Crazy Talk”, “Gone, Gone, Gone”, an extensive list of classics. The group was formed in 1964 as The Classics, later changing their name to The Collectors before settling on Chilliwack. Being around for so long, there have obviously been many changes in personnel, all rotating around the constant of Bill Henderson. They were innovators in their use of Native American instruments in their songs, predating Xavier Rudd by many decades. Over the years the band has released 14 albums and has had 8 Top 40 hits in Canada while charting 23 times and 2 Top 40 hits in the USA, while charting 7 times. The have not recorded since 1984, although a live album was released in 2003. An interesting side-note, band member Brian Macleod and the rest of the group, without Bill Henderson, played as the Headpins in the 1980′s with Darby Mills, another Canadian icon of the 1980′s. The band continues to tour today.
The song attached is a live version of “Sundown”, another Chilliwack staple. This version was done live on the old TV show, Come Together.
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April Wine = A Canadian Classic
April Wine
A new series of posts based on classic Canadian artists. In the early years of rock and roll, we in Canada had government regulated rules for Canadian content on the airwaves. This created a cottage industry for Canadian bands to create and record as radio stations had to put something on the air, and even though American Woman by the Guess Who is a great song (and fairly long), you couldn’t play it 15 times a day. The upside is that the rules did kick-start an entire stable of artists, which inspired more and more artists until it was no longer necessary to regulate the content. Think current artists such as Arcade Fire, Feist, Celine Dion, Avril Lavigne and even Justin Bieber. There is a possibility that none of these people would have made it without this intervention. We also have a catalogue of great songs that the rest of the world has not heard, which is kind of cool.
The artists that I have chosen to kick off this series with is “April Wine“. A band out of Montreal, formed in 1969 and still touring and still recording. In their heyday they were legendary for their live shows. Frontman Myles Goodwin has been the force behind the band from the beginning and has been the constant since day 1. He handled most of the vocals and played guitars in every incarnation of the band. Other long time members were Jim Clench on bass, Brian Greenway on guitars and vocals and Jerry Mercer on drums. In their career they recorded 16 studio albums (Electric Jewels is my favourite), had 15 compilations and 9 live albums. The most famous live one is Live at the El Mocambo. They opened for a band on that night called the Cockroaches, who in fact were the Rolling Stones.
Despite have 21 top 40 hits in Canada, they had limited success elsewhere. In the USA they had 3 top 40′s and 7 total that charted. In the UK only 2 songs reached the charts with none breaking into the top 40. Truly a Canadian phenomenon. The video is I Like To Rock, which charted in all 3 countries, hitting 86 in the USA, 41 in the UK and only hit 75 in Canada. This is the official video of the song, released in 1980.
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Listening To Classics – The Doobie Brothers
A definite classic, China Grove by The Doobie Brothers, recorded live in 1974. This band was always hit or miss for me. I loved lots of their stuff (Black Water) and some, not so much (Listen to the Music). No matter though, this particular song is part of the soundtrack of my life as it is for many others.
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Remembering – Jerry Lieber
Cover via Amazon
Jerry Lieber, who, along with Mike Stoller virtually created the R&B pop standard, died on August 22, 2011. He was 78. Some may not know the name, but you would certainly know the songs. Stand By Me. Hound Dog, Jailhouse Rock. Yakety Yak. On Broadway. Kansas City. There Goes My Baby. All in all, Lieber and Stoller wrote 24 songs that hit the US charts for “The Coasters” alone. Among his accomplishments are induction to the “Songwriters Hall of Fame” and the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” among many others. Many people, including Phil Spector apprenticed or collaborated with him.
Prior to Lieber and Stoller, R&B was primarily a straight forward in style. They surrounded it with a “big” sound and pop lyrics, allowing the sound to crossover into mainstream radio. This was evident in not only the Coasters and Ben E King, but also for white artists such as Elvis Presley. They were instrumental in moving R&B out of the black clubs into the traditional pop music mould.
A chapter in rock and roll history is now closed. His contributions were large and still impact today’s music. A true giant of the industry.
The video is “Stand By Me”, by Ben E King.
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Listening To Classics – The Who
Keith Moon
The Who and the Smothers Brothers, an interesting combination. The video is from a 1965 appearance on the Smothers Brothers, and was, unfortunately, lip-synced. The banter with Tommy Smothers and the performance are not, which makes for an interesting performance. Pretend they are live and enjoy The Who playing “My Generation“. An interesting side note for you. On the album “My Generation”, Jimmy Page plays lead guitar on “Bald Headed Woman” and rhythm guitar on “I Can’t Explain“.
Remembering – Jani Lane (Warrant)
Image via Wikipedia
The 80′s, time of hair bands, and one of the more successful bands was Warrant. Singer, front man, Jani Lane passed away on August 11. He was 47. Cause of death is unknown at this time. He was an on and off again member of Warrant, leaving the band for good in 2004. He was most recently appearing as lead singer for Greta White while Jack Russell was recovering from surgery. The video is a live version of “Cherry Pie“, one their bigger hits.
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Remembering Dan Peek – America
America
A tough week for music lovers. Dan Peek, member of America during the glory years in the 70′s passed away on July 24th. He wrote, sang lead and backup vocals and guitar with the band. America was one of those bands that you either liked or disliked passionately. Having said that, one cannot deny that they are part of any 70′s soundtrack. Their hits are iconic and will still be played for a very long time. Songs such as “Ventura Highway“, “Horse With No Name“, “Tin Man” and “Sister Golden Hair” are unforgettable.
Dan Peek left the band in 1977 and went on to a productive career as a Christian singer/songwriter. He chose this route as a foil to his years of recreational drug use. In contrast to Amy Winehouse, he was one of the lucky ones, escaping the rocker lifestyle as he did.
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Listening to Classics – Joe Cocker and The Box Tops – A 2fer
Listening to Classics – Joe Cocker and The Box Tops – A 2fer.
