Arts and Entertainment
Song of the Day 11/6: Python Lee Jackson ft. Rod Stewart, “In a Broken Dream”
Python Lee Jackson was an Australian band, founded in 1965, that tried its luck in England in 1969. Despite catching the attention of producer John Peel, they didn’t make it big, or even medium-sized, but they did record three tracks with a guest vocalist, bloke by the name of Rod Stewart, who had just left […]
Song of the Day 11/5: Quicksilver Messenger Service, “Fresh Air”
The only song by this quintessential San Francisco psychedelic outfit to make the singles charts, this Santana-sounding 1970 cut talks about something in short supply these days in fire-ravaged California. Dino Valenti, who had just rejoined the group after a prison stretch for marijuana possession, moved the band to Hawaii to record their “Just for […]
Song of the Day 11/4: Vanilla Fudge, “You Keep Me Hangin’ On”
This Holland-Dozier-Holland tune was a No. 1 hit for the Supremes in 1966, just a year before Long Island band Vanilla Fudge slowed it down and turned the song’s minor-key moodiness into sinister anguish. This version reached No. 4 on the charts, and it’s credited as one of the songs that helped steer psychedelia toward […]
Song of the Day 11/3: Paul Simon, “Night Game”
A song I play every year as the elegy for the baseball season. Paul Simon’s natural melancholy, some jazzy chords and the harmonica wizardry of Toots Thielemans combine to roll the tarpaulin upon the winter frost.
Song of the Day 11/2: The Box Tops, “Soul Deep”
Another 1969 track El Som couldn’t squeeze into October was the last top 40 hit by the Box Tops, featuring lead singer Alex Chilton, a 16-year-old high school student when the band’s “The Letter” topped the charts in 1967. Like all their hits, “Soul Deep” was written by Wayne Carson, with legendary Memphis producer Chips […]
Song of the Day 11/1: The Archies, “Sugar, Sugar”
El Somnambulo did a great job of highlighting some of the music of 1969, but he left a big one out — the song that topped the Billboard charts for the entire year. No, not the Beatles, or the Stones, or any other flesh-and-blood musical act. It was The Archies, a studio-only “band” created for […]
Songs Of The Day: Several By The Band
The Band’s self-titled second album helped me make it through my freshman year of college. Not a cure for homesickness, exactly, but a balm to salve doubts as to whether I belonged. It remains my favorite album ever. Most of you already know ‘The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down’ and ‘Up On Crickle Creek’. […]
Song(s) Of The Day 10/30: The Beatles-Abbey Road Medley, aka The Long One
Only two days remaining of my nostalgic trip back to 1969. This was how the medley was originally ordered before some late edits, which is why ‘Her Majesty’ appears where it does:
Song Of The Day 10/29: Frank Zappa-Peaches En Regalia
If you feel so inclined, light up a thick one and sink into this:
Song(s) Of The Day 10/28: The Kinks-Three From ‘Arthur (Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire)’
While everyone else was zigging from Woodstock to Altamont in 1969, the Kinks, who were barred from the US due to alleged misbehavior on a previous tour, zagged. Created this masterpiece with an interesting backstory. And great songs:
Song Of The Day 10/27: Roger McGuinn-Ballad Of Easy Rider
Legend has it that Dylan scrawled the opening lines on a napkin and said, ‘Give it to McGuinn, he’ll know what to do with it.’ After viewing a private screening of the film, Dylan demanded that his name be removed from the songwriting credit–either b/c he didn’t like the movie, and/or he didn’t want his […]
Song Of The Day 10/25: John Mayall-Room To Move
Following the breakup of The Bluesbreakers, John Mayall decided to form a band that would play ‘low-volume music. This cut comes from a live concert at Bill Graham’s Fillmore East in July of 1969:
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