Alternative Grab Bag IV – Part 2

I remember a time before the ‘90s when the term alternative music didn’t even exist, but as bands like the Cure, Nirvana, and Pearl Jam cracked the mainstream music scene the suits needed some kind of inoffensive marketing label to help sell these freaks to conformist consumers- and alternative was born. (I remember MTV even aired a one hour “special report” in 1991 to help explain this  “new” alternative music phenomenon to its confused viewership.)

King Tuff

To me alternative represents artists who- for the most part- grew up listening to commercial radio and followed the well-worn rock and oldies highway before going off-road and forging their own musical paths- only to find lots of other people following them. Here are some more of my favorite alternative songs including Goth, grunge, new wave, garage rock revival, ska revival, and alt dance. Enjoy!

The Gaslight Anthem

01. Pearl Jam – “Supersonic” (2009)

02. Pavement – “Frontwards” (1992)

03. Pearl Jam – “The Fixer” (2009)

04. King Tuff – “Screaming Skull” (2012)

04. New Order – “Weirdo” (1986)

05. The Gaslight Anthem – “‘45’” (2012)

06. Superchunk – “FOH” (2013)

07. The Cure – “The Only One” (2008)

08. The Specials – “Enjoy Yourself (It’s Later Than You Think)” (1980)

09. Superchunk – “What a Time to Be Alive (Acoustic)” (2018)

10. The Cure – “The End of the World” (2004)

11. Fucked Up – “Queen of Hearts” (2011)

12. Lou Reed – “I’m So Free” (1972)

13. Jack White – “I’m Shakin’” (2012)

14. Elvis Costello and the Attractions – “Watch Your Step” (1981)

15. Stereophonics – “Positively 4th Street” (1999)

16. Stephen Malkmus – “Freeze the Saints” (2005)

17. Descendents – “Suburban Home” (1982)

18. Devo – “Whip It” (1980)

20. Baby Gramps – “Cape Cod Girls” (2006)

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Devo – “Whip It”

Alternative Grab Bag IV – Part 1

Woo-hoo! It’s summertime, kiddies, and while the warm weather has had me grooving to mostly oldies and classic rock for most of June, I think now might be a good time for some alternative sounds. That’s right, it’s the return of the alternative grab bag- and boy is it ever heavy! This first round of picks includes some of my favorites from punk, power pop, Britpop, emo/hardcore, indie/alternative, and even some rockabilly (since ‘50s greaser rockabilly artists like Gene Vincent were the first punks). It’s the summer alternative grab bag, campers, so grab yourself a cold one- and enjoy the music!

Stiv Bators

01. Buzzcocks – “Wish I Never Loved You” (2006)
02. The La’s – “There She Goes” (1988)
03. Operation Ivy – “Missionary” (1989)
04. Say Anything – “Alive with the Glory of Love” (2004)
05. Dinosaur Jr. – “We’re Not Alone” (2007)
06. King Tuff – “Bad Thing” (2012)
07. Me First and the Gimme Gimmes – “Believe” (2014)
08. The Dictators – “Who Will Save Rock and Roll?” (2001)
09. The Gaslight Anthem – “Howl” (2012)
10. Stiv Bators – “Evil Boy” (1980)
11. Green Day – “Wake Me Up When September Ends” (2004)
12. The Go! Team – “Everyone’s a V.I.P. to Someone” (2004)
13. The Boo Radleys – “Wish I Was Skinny” (1993)
14. Jimmy Eat World – “23” (2004)
15. Jimmy Eat World – “A Praise Chorus” (2001)
16. Snow Patrol – “Chocolate” (2003)
17. Dinosaur Jr. – “Almost Ready” (2007)
18. Gene Vincent – “Blue Jean Bop” (1956)
19. Circle Jerks - “Wild in the Streets” (1982)
20. Beck – “Debra” (1999)

Jimmy Eat World

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King Tuff – “Bad Thing”

Stones – Part 5

Like most Americans, I grew up listening to the Rolling Stones’ music on the radio but it wasn’t until the ‘00s that I really began exploring their vast catalogue- and there’s a lot to discover! Founded in London in 1962, the Stones started out as a scrappy, Chuck Berry-worshipping cover band who just couldn’t get enough American blues and soul music. Not only did the Stones get major props from their American heroes (the tasty a cappella breakdown on “Tumbling Dice” is enough to make any blues artist jealous) but the Rolling Stones in my opinion are the funkiest rock group of all time. Period.

The Rolling Stones: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Bill Wyman, and Charlie Watts

Many have credited the Stones’ founder and leader, Brian Jones, with instilling in the band a fierce dedication to mastering, spreading, and teaching the blues; yet Jones’ influence began to wane at the height of the British Invasion when Mick Jagger and Keith Richards emerged as wunderkind songwriters and began delivering hit after hit for the group (Jones died alone in his swimming pool in 1969).

It was Mick and Keith who introduced folk, Baroque, and psychedelic elements into the Stones’ ‘60s recordings and comparisons to the Beatles were inevitable (the two groups were friends). While the Stones are often parodied as sleazy, decadent dinosaurs who just don’t know when to quit, their music continues to endure because it is built upon a solid blues foundation which touches and excites listeners’ souls- and time just can’t kill that. Here are some more of my favorite Stones songs. Enjoy!

01. The Rolling Stones – “Respectable” (1978)

02. The Rolling Stones – “Thru and Thru” (1994)

03. The Rolling Stones – “Blinded by Rainbows” (1994)

04. The Rolling Stones – “Congratulations” (1964)

05. The Rolling Stones – “Hoo Doo Blues” (2016)

06. The Rolling Stones – “Hate to See You Go” (2016)

07. The Rolling Stones – “Empty Heart” (1964)

08. The Rolling Stones – “Happy” (1972)

09. The Rolling Stones – “I’m a King Bee” (1964)

10. The Rolling Stones – “Rip This Joint” (1972)

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Muddy Waters & The Rolling Stones – “Baby, Please Don’t Go (Live)”

Stones – Part 4

Among the Stones’ many secret weapons was Ian Stewart- the so-called “Sixth Stone”- who in addition to being a founding member of the group also played piano on many of their albums. Stewart, who died in 1985, rarely appeared in public with the Stones- his looks reportedly just didn’t fit their image- but he continued working behind the scenes as the band’s road manager for years (and while the other Stones enjoyed burning their candles at both ends, Ian much preferred golf). In his 2010 autobiography Life, Keith Richards wrote of Stewart: “Ian Stewart. I’m still working for him. To me the Rolling Stones is his band. Without his knowledge and organization... we’d be nowhere.” When the Rolling Stones were inducted into the Rock and Roll of Fame in 1989 they made damn sure Ian’s name was also included.

Ian Stewart (far left) with the Stones in their early days

The Complete Singles Collection: The London Years was one of the first Stones’ compilations I ever owned- just before I joined the Peace Corps- but at three discs it was way too much music for me to digest and so for early Stones music I preferred their briefer but jam packed debut, England’s Newest Hitmakers. As for later albums, Let It Bleed and Exile on Main Street were always high on my list but it’s been years since I listened to either one. Recently I’ve become much more interested in the Stones’ early blues recordings from the Brian Jones years as these songs still sound both fresh and timeless and if you allow them to keep playing, build up, and hit their groove- well, it’s pretty hard to beat. Maybe the eccentric Brian Jones- who wanted the Stones to play only blues music- was onto something.

Brian Jones

When you claim to be the world’s greatest rock band then you better deliver the goods and the Stones have continued to deliver- and then some. For 30 years the Rolling Stones had the coolest rhythm section in rock with Bill Wyman on bass and Charlie Watts on drums (Wyman retired in ‘93) and whether it’s Brian Jones, Mick Taylor, or Ronnie Wood, that dueling and interweaving of the second guitar with Keith’s has always been the spark that sets the Stones on fire. Not every Stones song has aged gracefully and some of their tunes have been so overplayed as to become annoying yet whether it’s cruising down the road on a warm summer’s day with the car windows rolled down or trimming the hedges few rock bands sound better than the Stones. Here are some more of my favorites. Enjoy!

01. The Rolling Stones – “Around and Around” (1964)

02. The Rolling Stones – “My Obsession” (1967)
03. The Rolling Stones – “Confessin’ the Blues” (1964)
04. The Rolling Stones – “Connection” (1967)
05. The Rolling Stones – “She Was Hot” (1983)
06. The Rolling Stones – “Sad Sad Sad” (1989)
07. The Rolling Stones – “New Faces” (1994)
08. The Rolling Stones – “All About You” (1980)
09. The Rolling Stones – “Rough Justice” (2005)
10. The Rolling Stones – “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me) (Live)” (2006)

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Mick Jagger and Keith Richards on the Blues

Stones – Part 3

For over half a century, the partnership between Mick Jagger and Keith Richards has been one of rock’s great love stories- and the glue holding the Rolling Stones together. Mick is the head- Keith is the heart- and like an old married couple they somehow continue to make it work. The two knew each other long before they were rich and famous and perhaps that’s what keeps their relationship functioning: they know not only how to get on each other’s nerves but also how to keep each other’s egos and bad habits in check- and that’s priceless (especially on the road).

Yet if one believes the media reports then the friendship between Mick and Keith died back in the ‘80s- they really can’t stand each other- and the only reason they remain together is because they can’t make it as solo artists and the Rolling Stones empire keeps them both filthy rich. Their feuds have been so public over the years that one suspects it all may be part of a publicity strategy: “Right, time for another album and world tour, lads, so let’s have Keith say something nasty about Mick’s willy on Twitter.” The fact is Jagger and Richards- mom and dad- still continue to perform together on stage and that’s all the fans- their children- really care about. Whatever happens in the bedroom is none of our business.

Like most rock bands the Stones have employed their share of studio musicians including backup singers and horn players but in my opinion the best was English session pro Nicky Hopkins who provided such memorable piano parts for so many of my favorite Stones’ songs including “She’s a Rainbow”, “Sympathy for the Devil”, “Street Fighting Man”, “Tumbling Dice”, and “Waiting on a Friend”. Other Stones collaborators have included Jack Nitzsche, Billy Preston, Sonny Rollins, Jimmy Page, Bobby Womack, and Eric Clapton. Not bad. Here are some more of my favorite Stones songs. Enjoy!

Nicky Hopkins with the Stones

01. The Rolling Stones – “Waiting on a Friend” (1981)
02. The Rolling Stones – “Back Street Girl” (1967)
03. The Rolling Stones – “Dandelion” (1967)
04. The Rolling Stones – “All Sold Out” (1967)
05. The Rolling Stones – “Laugh, I Nearly Died” (2005)
06. The Rolling Stones – “You Don’t Have to Mean It” (1997)
07. The Rolling Stones – “She’s a Rainbow” (1967)
08. The Rolling Stones – “Memory Motel” (1976)
09. The Rolling Stones – “Hey Negrita” (1976)
10. The Rolling Stones – “Under My Thumb” (1966)

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Mick & Keith talk about their time living in Edith Grove

The Rolling Stones: 50 Exhibition – Mick & Keith at Somerset House

Stones – Part 2

For me the heart and soul of the Rolling Stones is guitarist Keith Richards (my all time favorite guitar player) whose substance abuse issues, physical appearance, and general wackiness have made him the butt of jokes over the years (his fall from a coconut tree in Fiji in 2006 made international headlines). Sometimes Keith even sings lead vocals on Stones songs and when he does it’s usually pretty sweet. The Rolling Stones as a group understand rock music- what it can and cannot do- better than anyone and whether they’re playing in a bar or a stadium you know you’re going to get your money’s worth. Jagger may be the group’s ambassador but it’s Keith and his guitar- just like it was Chuck Berry and his guitar- that are the real crowd pleasers and the blood and guts of every Stones performance.

Every rock band since the Beatles has had to have at least one songwriter in the group (that’s where the money is) and the songwriting partnership of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards has produced some of rock’s greatest songs (for me “Sympathy for the Devil” alone secures their legacy as rock geniuses). Jagger and Richards were on a creative streak in the ‘60s and while they channeled the blues like nobody's business the pair also didn’t hide their British background and education; their use of art, history, and theology in their lyrics is one of my favorite things about the Stones’ music.

St. Augustine of Hippo wrote in the fourth century, “Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee” and the Stones went and translated that into “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”. We are finite beings with infinite desires and suffering is the consequence of original sin. The daily grind- the struggle between our bodies and our souls- never seems to end and it’s a real drag, man. So the Stones wrote a song about Satan. So what? We are all living with him every day- at least the Stones are hip to the truth about life. Here are some more of my favorite Stones songs. Enjoy!

01. The Rolling Stones – “Sympathy for the Devil” (1968)

02. The Rolling Stones – “Carol” (1964)

03. The Rolling Stones – “Yesterday’s Paper’s” (1967)

04. The Rolling Stones – “Play with Fire” (1965)

05. The Rolling Stones – “Dead Flowers (2009 Mix)” (1971)

06. The Rolling Stones – “Ruby Tuesday” (1967)

07. The Rolling Stones – “2000 Man” (1967)

08. The Rolling Stones – “I Am Waiting” (1966)

09. The Rolling Stones – “Street Fighting Man” (1968)

10. The Rolling Stones – “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” (1965)

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Chuck Berry Hail! Hail Rock 'n' Roll

Who the f*(k is Mick Jagger?

Stones – Part 1

When it comes to music it seems the Rolling Stones can do- and have done- it all: rock, funk, reggae, punk, chamber music, Motown, Baroque ballads, honky-tonk- there is simply no denying the Stones are versatile artists. A decade or so ago I watched the Rolling Stones rock documentary Gimme Shelter for the first time and the live concert footage from the Stones’ ‘69 U.S. tour really blew me away. These guys were great- playing perhaps at their zenith- and finally ready to snatch the title of world’s greatest rock band away from the Beatles (the Fab Four were only months away from breaking up).

Most classic rock fans know how the Stones’ ‘69 tour of America ended: with a free December concert at Altamont in Northern California where 300,000 people showed up and experienced the anti-Woodstock and all those ‘60s dreams of peace, love, and freedom died amidst bad vibes, violence, and a homicide (watch the documentary). But the Stones by 1969 had already ditched the flower children scene and were fast on their way to becoming a rock stadium juggernaut, soldiering on through the ‘70s, the ‘80s, the ‘90s- and these Brits are still going strong today (with a few lineup changes along the way).

To me Mick Jagger remains the definition of what it means to be a solid rock front man and yet there is more to Mick than just chicken strutting and clapping on stage. No matter how rich and famous he’s become- and no matter how many beautiful women he’s bedded- Jagger still has the ability to express vulnerability in his songs and you still believe him when he sings the blues or cries out about the pain of rejection- or the one who got away. Now that’s talent. Sure, there were times through six decades when the Stones may have been faking it- and the well was running dry- but then they always seem to bounce back and find a way to roll on. Here are some of my favorite Rolling Stones songs. Enjoy!

The Stones at Altamont

01. The Rolling Stones – “Just Your Fool” (2016)
02. The Rolling Stones – “Sweet Virginia” (1972)
03. The Rolling Stones – “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” (1969)
04. The Rolling Stones – “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)” (1978)
05. The Rolling Stones – “Lady Jane” (1966)
06. The Rolling Stones – “Tumbling Dice” (1972)
07. The Rolling Stones – “Slipping Away” (1989)
08. The Rolling Stones – “As Tears Go By” (1965)
09. The Rolling Stones – “Beast of Burden” (1978)
10. The Rolling Stones – “Mixed Emotions” (1989)

The Stones in Cuba!

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It Came from the ‘70s – Part 4

In Alice Cooper’s ‘70s music one can find not only the roots of glam, punk, Goth, and pop metal but also radio shock jocks, gender bending pop stars, and elaborate stage productions to rival any Super Bowl halftime show. While parents and moral conservatives in President Nixon’s America may have pretended to be shocked by Alice Cooper’s songs and concerts, the whole brouhaha seems silly- even innocent- now and Cooper’s stage antics and lyrics (even the ones about necrophilia) are about as shocking to today’s audiences as a whoopee cushion (or a Vincent Price movie).

By the late ‘70s, Alice Cooper the innovator was already starting to imitate himself and without the original (and awesome) AC band to give him his trademark sound and edge Alice Cooper the singer started becoming even more of a parody (if that’s possible). If you’re looking for some fun hard rock to add to your music collection, barbecue, or Halloween party, you could do a lot worse than Alice Cooper. For newbies, I would recommend starting with either Alice Cooper’s Greatest Hits or Mascara & Monsters: The Best of Alice Cooper. Here are some more of my favorites. Enjoy!

Alice Cooper with John Lennon and friends

01. Alice Cooper – “Only Women Bleed” (1975)

02. Alice Cooper – “Gutter Cat vs. the Jets” (1972)

03. Alice Cooper – “Killer” (1971)

04. Hollywood Vampires – “Itchycoo Park”  (2015)

05. Hollywood Vampires feat. Paul McCartney – “Come and Get It” (2015)

06. Alice Cooper – “Billion Dollar Babies” (1973)

07. Alice Cooper – “I Love the Dead” (1973)

08. Alice Cooper feat. Vincent Price – “Devil’s Food” (1975)

09. Alice Cooper – “The Black Widow” (1975)

10. Alice Cooper – “Generation Landslide” (1973)

Hollywood Vampires with Paul McCartney

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Alice Cooper: The Gentle Man Behind the Shock Rocker

Guest Host Dave Grohl Interviews Alice Cooper

It Came from the ‘70s – Part 3

These days Alice Cooper is still performing and recording and he also sings and tours in a rock supergroup- Hollywood Vampires- with Joe Perry and Johnny Depp. Alice Cooper’s music has been labeled classic rock, hard rock, glam, prog rock, and pop metal but in the end it’s really its own genre with equal parts vaudeville, rock opera, Goth, comedy rock, Broadway musical, and garage rock.

I think what I like most about Alice Cooper’s music is its unpredictability- you never know what you’re going to get with an Alice Cooper album and perhaps that was part of the charm of ‘70s music- it was weird and eclectic but somehow all sort of blended together into a fun and interesting mix of popular music. Here are some more of my favorite Alice Cooper songs. Enjoy!

Johnny Depp and Alice Cooper

01. Alice Cooper – “Is It My Body” (1971)

02. Alice Cooper – “How You Gonna See Me Now” (1978)

03. Alice Cooper – “Last Man on Earth” (2011)

04. Alice Cooper – “Luney Toon” (1972)

05. Alice Cooper – “Mary Ann” (1973)

06. Alice Cooper – “Public Animal #9” (1972)

07. Alice Cooper – “Unfinished Sweet” (1973)

08. Alice Cooper – “Years Ago” (1975)

09. Alice Cooper – “My Stars” (1972)

10. Alice Cooper – “Muscle of Love” (1973)

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It Came from the ‘70s – Part 2

In the mid-‘70s the singer Alice Cooper went solo and took the band’s name with him. I first became aware of Alice Cooper in the late ‘80s when his pop metal song “Poison” became a hit on MTV and his ghoulish and cartoonish stage persona enthralled a new generation of little monsters.

Little did I know then that Alice Cooper had been one of the biggest rock stars of the ‘70s- selling out stadiums, palling around with the biggest stars, and even appearing on The Muppet Show. It wasn’t until the mid-00’s that I began exploring Alice Cooper’s music- which now seems to be enjoying a well deserved renaissance- and the verdict? The Coop rocks! Here are some more of my favorites. Enjoy! 

01. Alice Cooper – “Poison” (1989)

02. Alice Cooper – “A Runaway Train” (2011)

03. Alice Cooper – “Elected” (1972)

04. Alice Cooper – “Genuine American Girl” (2017)

05. Alice Cooper – “Paranormal” (2017)

06. Alice Cooper – “I'm Eighteen” (1971)

07. Alice Cooper – “Go to Hell” (1976)

08. Alice Cooper – “You and Me” (1977)

09. Alice Cooper – “Be My Lover” (1971)

10. Alice Cooper – “Steven” (1975)

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Led Zeppelin, Alice Cooper, The Who and the Birth of the Mega Rock Tour

It Came from the ‘70s – Part 1

Largely forgotten save for their eternal rock anthem “School’s Out”, Alice Cooper remains one of the most underappreciated bands/artists of the ‘70s even though in my opinion they were one of the decade’s most influential acts. The band’s name was Alice Cooper (also the stage name of the group’s lead singer, Vincent Furnier) and the main reason for the band’s massive ‘70s success was they remembered the secret of rock music: rock is for kids- not critics- and Alice Cooper’s music was all about monster movies, junk food, teenage rebellion and alienation, having fun, and the power of imagination. Their live shows were Halloween rock carnivals featuring all the freaky stuff kids love and parents hate- and this was all before punk. Here are some of my favorite Alice Cooper songs. Enjoy!  

01. Alice Cooper – “Caught in a Dream” (1971)
02. Alice Cooper – “No More Mr. Nice Guy” (1973)
03. Alice Cooper – “Teenage Lament ‘74” (1973)
04. Alice Cooper – “Under My Wheels” (1971)
05. Alice Cooper – “School’s Out” (1972)
06. Alice Cooper – “I Never Cry” (1976)
07. Alice Cooper – “Welcome to My Nightmare” (1975)
08. Alice Cooper – “Hello Hooray” (1973)
09. Alice Cooper – “Feed My Frankenstein” (1991)
10. Alice Cooper – “Desperado” (1971)

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Soul by the Dozen IV

Name me some soul music giants from the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, or even the ‘80s and I’ll bet you he or she got his or her start singing at church (and many of them would have probably been better off staying in the world of sacred music instead of going secular). I’m not saying the decline in church attendance is to blame for the sorry state of popular music today, but perhaps if more people started going to church then more people would discover their God given singing talents and share them with the world. Here are some more of my favorite soul songs including soul, funk, Motown, and contemporary R&B. Enjoy!

Bill Withers

01. Bill Withers – “Lean on Me” (1972)

02. The Spinners – “I’ll Be Around” (1972)

03. Five Stairsteps – “O-o-h Child” (1970)

04. Bill Withers – “Grandma’s Hands (Live)” (1972)

05. Bobby Womack – “Harry Hippie” (1972)

06. The Meters – “Wichita Lineman” (1970)

07. Marvin Gaye – “Ain’t That Peculiar” (1965)

08. The Jackson 5 – “Lookin’ Through Windows” (1972)

09. Sam Cooke – “Good Times” (1964)

10. Jimmy Ruffin – “Gonna Give Her All the Love I’ve Got” (1967)

11. Sam Cooke – “Wonderful World” (1960)

12. Mary J. Blige feat. U2 – “One” (2005)

Sam Cooke

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Oldies: Pass the Fritos III – Part 5

From a young age I was indoctrinated with oldies music- not only from the radio but also while watching television cartoons. Animated kids shows like Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, Groovy Goolies, and of course Josie and the Pussycats all featured awesome ‘60s era garage rock and bubblegum music (and as a child I developed a huge crush on not only the three Pussycats but also the alluring yet sinister Alexandra Cabot- the girl with the white stripe in her hair. Man, that show really messed me up).

The Rolling Stones

It’s amazing to see and hear just how quickly popular music changed during the ‘60s- from the black & white rock n’ roll icons like Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, and Chuck Berry to the full blown psychedelic Technicolor grandeur of Sgt. Pepper’s era Rolling Stones- and all the British Invasion, garage rock, girl groups, and bubblegum that came in between- oldies music has it all and it influenced everyone who heard it (including my favorite punk bands). Here are some more of my favorite oldies songs. Enjoy!

The Kinks

01. Kim Fowley – “The Trip” (1965)
02. Boyce and Hart – “I Wonder What She’s Doing Tonight” (1967)
03. Chuck Berry – “Back in the U.S.A.” (1959)
04. Les Fleur de Lys – “Circles” (1966)
05. ? and the Mysterians – “96 Tears” (1966)
06. Tomorrow – “My White Bicycle” (1967)
07. Little Richard – “The Girl Can’t Help It” (1956)
08. The Rolling Stones – “Lady Jane” (1966)
09. The Rolling Stones – “She’s a Rainbow” (1967)
10. The Standells – “Sometimes Good Guys Don’t Wear White” (1966)
11. Them – “Gloria” (1964)
12. Love – “No Matter What You Do” (1966)
13. Them – “Don’t Look Back” (1965)
14. The Rolling Stones – “As Tears Go By” (1965)
15. The Murmaids – “Popsicles and Icicles” (1963)
16. The Rolling Stones – “Ruby Tuesday” (1967)
17. The Kinks –“Tired of Waiting for You” (1965)
18. The Kinks – “You Really Got Me” (1964)
19. The Knickerbockers – “One Track Mind” (1966)
20. Flamin’ Groovies – “You Tore Me Down” (1974)

Alexandra Cabot

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Groovy Goolies

Josie and the Pussycats

Oldies: Pass the Fritos III – Part 4

I was living and working in Bulgaria at the turn of the century when I received in the mail from my sister in America a CD version of the Rushmore soundtrack (at the time it was one of my favorite movies) and the album helped renew my interest in British Invasion music. Then, after moving to Northern Virginia in 2001, I started becoming reacquainted with other oldies music and I especially enjoyed listening to oldies songs on those booth jukeboxes at the Silver Diner in Clarendon (diners + oldies = good times).

The Hollies

After a painful break up in the mid-‘00s I started turning more and more to music for healing and oldies music was often just what the doctor ordered. I remember spending quiet nights in my Falls Church basement apartment with a glass of red wine and my French bulldog, Maurice, listening to Love’s Forever Changes album and feeling pretty content. Perhaps that sounds pathetic but it was all part of a healing process and those nights made me a much stronger, more artistic, and more spiritual person. Music can help do that. Here are some more of my favorite oldies songs. Enjoy!

Love

01. Dusty Springfield – “24 Hours from Tulsa” (1964)

02. Elvis Presley – “Do the Clam” (1965)

03. Pink Floyd – “See Emily Play” (1967)

04. Chad & Jeremy – “A Summer Song” (1964)

05. Love – “Bummer in the Summer” (1967)

06. Love – “The Red Telephone” (1967)

07. The Cyrkle – “Red Rubber Ball” (1966)

08. Love – “7 and 7 Is” (1966)

09. The Zombies – “The Way I Feel Inside” (1966)

10. The Bobby Fuller Four – “Let Her Dance” (1965)

11. Peter and Gordon – “A World Without Love” (1964)

12. Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders – “Game of Love” (1965)

13. The Walker Brothers – “Stay with Me Baby” (1967)

14. The Hollies – “Bus Stop” (1966)

15. The Hollies – “King Midas in Reverse” (1967)

16. The Mindbenders – “Groovy Kind of Love” (1965)

17. Roy Orbison – “I Drove All Night” (1987)

18. The Tremeloes – “Here Comes My Baby” (1967)

19. The Hollies – “I’m Alive” (1965)

20. The Kinks – “Nothin' in the World Can Stop Me Worryin' 'Bout That Girl” (1965)

The Jean and Maurice

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Oldies: Pass the Fritos III – Part 3

What makes certain oldies stand the test of time? Is it just nostalgia that keeps listeners coming back for more? Back in the ‘50s and ‘60s radio stations played songs people wanted to hear- and discarded the songs they didn’t- and what people wanted to hear were catchy songs that made them feel something- good or bad, happy or sad- love stories from the universal human experience- and oh how there was money to be made off human emotion (and too often the artists saw very little of it).

The Box Tops

It was the popular songs- the cream of the crop- that were admitted to the oldies canon but thankfully one can still find forgotten gems. For me there is innocence and simplicity in oldies music and the best oldies songs are like magical spells that go straight to my soul and make me feel young and free and it’s summer again. These days people will do almost anything to feel something and with oldies music there is little danger of getting arrested, injured, or divorced. Here are some more of my favorites. Enjoy!

Paul Revere & the Raiders

01. The Box Tops – “The Letter” (1967)

02. Buddy Holly – “Rave On” (1958)

03. The Animals – “We Gotta Get Out of This Place” (1965)

04. The Beach Boys – “Do You Wanna Dance?” (1965)

05. The Grass Roots – “Let’s Live for Today” (1967)

06. The Box Tops – “Cry Like a Baby” (1968)

07. The Partridge Family – “I Think I Love You” (1970)

08. Nancy Sinatra – “So Long, Babe” (1965)

09. The Box Tops – “Neon Rainbow” (1967)

10. The Beach Boys – “Good Vibrations” (1966)

11. The Partridge Family – “Somebody Wants to Love You” (1970)

12. Manfred Mann – “Do Wah Diddy Diddy” (1964)

13. Johnny Rivers – “Secret Agent Man (Live)” (1966)

14. Paul Revere & the Raiders – “Hungry” (1966)

15. The Animals – “House of the Rising Sun” (1964)

16. Tommy James and the Shondells – “Mirage” (1967)

17. Lulu – “To Sir with Love” (1967)

18. The Beach Boys – “I’m Waiting for the Day” (1966)

19. Manfred Mann – “Just Like a Woman” (1966)

20. Tommy James and the Shondells – “I Think We’re Alone Now” (1967)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...