Songs I Like

[Steve G.]

 RIP , at 78, Doug Ingle, founding member and lead voice singer of Iron Butterfly. No cause of death announced.

 In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida   December 1968.       


 Original 17 minute lead album track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIVe-rZBcm4&pp=ygUraW4gYSBnYWRkYSBkYSB2aWRhIGlyb24gYnV0dGVyZmx5IGZ1bGwgc29uZw%3D%3D

[hardrockminer]

That was a big song amongst us high schoolers back in 1968!

This guy was on the leading edge of social change back in the 60's and a fantastic singer.  This is one of his many hits.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3ncYwtsQWY

[hardrockminer]

This song has a strange title, explained by being the main song in a prison movie called "Unchained" back in the '50's.  The Righteous Brothers sang it, but so did this guy with his wonderful voice.  If you listen closely you can almost believe it's a woman singing.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV8XwoIGo5M

[hardrockminer]

Imagine a band from the sixties with three incredibly creative songwriters, but with two that dominate their music.  When the band eventually broke up the third songwriter had literally dozens of songs ready to go and had his first album on the charts within months of the breakup.  This song actually came later and it's always struck me by its simplicity...easy beat and easy lyrics.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNetfJQ9HAs

[Steve G.]

On this date in 1968, ERIC BURDON & THE ANIMALS released the single SKY PILOT in the U.S. (Jun 1, 1968)

Released on the album The Twain Shall Meet, when released as a single the song was split across both sides, due to its length (7:27). As "Sky Pilot (Parts 1 & 2)" it reached number 14 on the U.S. pop charts and number 15 on the Canadian RPM chart.

A "Sky Pilot" is a military chaplain, hence the lyric "He blesses the boys as they stand in line."

The song finds the chaplain telling the soldiers that they are fighting for a greater cause, as they are "soldiers of God." At the end of the song, one of the soldiers returns from battle and realizes the words of the chaplain go against what he learned in the Bible: "Thou shalt not kill."

Sound effects of fighting, gunfire, airplanes, and bagpipes were used. The pipe band was the Royal Scot's Dragoon Guards, a Highland regiment. Lead singer Eric Burdon tape-recorded them at a school and used the pipe music during the middle of the song along the war sound effects.

Burdon received an angry letter from the British government for his use of the pipe music. The tune he used was "All The Bluebonnet's Are Over The Border," which is a classic Scottish war piece written as an anti-war epic during the Vietnam War.

This song got little airplay as it was over seven minutes long. It also employs a string section and a trumpet, making it even less radio-friendly.
The single was split into two parts to fit on the 45. You had to flip the record to hear the whole song.

The lyrics, "He'll stay behind and he'll meditate" are sung by Burdon as "He stay'll behind and he'll meditate" on the version played mostly on the radio.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jpgyo4mb1s&pp=ygUlZXJpYyBidXJkb24gYW5kIHRoZSBhbmltYWxzIHNreSBwaWxvdA%3D%3D


  Live performance on Vancouver TV. 1968.


 

[Steve G.]

 I put this band and song on here before, but without an explanation of how it gained notoriety. Here is a quick story:


On this day back in 1973, a peculiar tune by Dutch rock band FOCUS, christened "HOCUS POCUS," scaled to the #9 spot on the Billboard Hot 100. Originally recorded in 1971, this track gained momentum through a lively performance on The Old Grey Whistle Test in London at BBC 1, in 1972 and a successful British club tour. With its eclectic mix of yodeling, organ playing, and flute riffs, "Hocus Pocus" stands as a testament to Focus’s audacious creativity.

   
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TV-X-5CcfYY&pp=ygURaG9jdXMgcG9jdXMgZm9jdXM%3D



 Here’s a later version live in the USA ,, perhaps even more audacious, live on Burt Sugerman’s Midnight Express,  October 5, 1973.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyxSvZOby54&pp=ygURaG9jdXMgcG9jdXMgZm9jdXM%3D

[hardrockminer]

The Vietnam War was peaking around the time Sky Pilot was released.  This probably made it more popular than if it had been released in say...1963.  Burdon had an interesting voice.  A few years later this song by his former band was released.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu_YVswb3p4

[hardrockminer]

On CBC Kelowna this week they have a contest where you email them your favourite song about fire.  I immediately thought about The Doors and Light my Fire, and Bruce Springstee's I'm on fire.  Then I thought of this one from the 60's. 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzHtePuz13U

[Steve G.]

On this date in 1967, the movie TO SIR WITH LOVE, featuring LULU, premiered in New York City (June 4th 1967)

Written by Don Black and Mark London, TO SIR WITH LOVE was the theme from James Clavell's 1967 film 'To Sir, with Love'. It was produced by Mickie Most, and John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin fame was the musical director.

The song reached No. 1 in the United States record charts, and it became the bestselling song of 1967 in the US.

Initially recorded by Lulu accompanied by the Mindbenders, who also acted in the film, she actually began with a small role in the movie, but Clavell was so impressed with her that he expanded her role and had her sing the theme.

The film starred SIDNEY POITIER as a high school teacher who had a big impact on his unruly students.

Lulu played one of his students, and sang this song to him at the end of the film as the students showed their appreciation for the teacher.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV1qmmMwc9M&pp=ygUVbHVsdSB0byBzaXIgd2l0aCBsb3Zl

[hardrockminer]

This guy was popular in the early 70's and was great friends with the Beatles.  He got into drug problems but managed to overcome them and is still singing. 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmWrJSBgyQk

[Steve G.]

On this date in 1973, CHICAGO released the single FEELIN' STRONGER EVERY DAY (Jun 5, 1973)

Written by band members Peter Cetera and James Pankow, FEELIN' STRONGER EVERY DAY was released as a single from Chicago's two-time multi-platinum album Chicago VI.

The song captured Chicago at the tail end of their original mode: the emotion and energy of the band's early work, while pointing to a more pop-centered future. Another Top 10 hit for Chicago, it's hard to resist this track's triumphant kick of energy. Not to mention the brilliant drumming of Danny Seraphine, a vastly underrated powerhouse behind the kit.

In a 1991 interview, Peter Cetera said that while the song is about "both healing and moving on after the end of a relationship," it could just as well apply to the dynamic wave of success that Chicago was riding at this time.

This was their second #1 album on the US album charts, their third two-time platinum album, and they would yet have two more consecutive #1's on the US album charts.

This song came right at what many could argue was the peak of their career, although even the lowest of Chicago's career could pass for moderate success for other bands.

1973 was a busy year for Chicago - their manager, James William Guercio, produced and directed the film Electra Glide in Blue, which had many Chicago members in minor roles as well as featuring Chicago on the soundtrack. The film, being a motorcycle flick shot in Monument Valley, Arizona, has had some small cult following. In order to ensure the budget could afford a good cinematographer, Guercio accepted a salary of just one dollar for directing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwmtB1XnMYY&pp=ygUhY2hpY2FnbyBmZWVsaW4gc3Ryb25nZXIgZXZlcnkgZGF5

[hardrockminer]

This country rock band appeared in the 1970's.  They were very talented but failed to generate the fan base of other country rock groups like the Eagles.  This was one of their hits.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uMWbZj-gWg

[hardrockminer]

Songs have been written about just about everything, including hookers.  Here's one from the 70's.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5oCR89eww8

[Galactica]

Doobie Brothers.

https://youtu.be/zt7kEqWlSyc?si=VVQNGrhssGBPMIv2

[Steve G.]

Doobie Brothers.

https://youtu.be/zt7kEqWlSyc?si=VVQNGrhssGBPMIv2

  One of my top 10 favourites!!