Remembering Ol' '55

Too often really good songs seem to get lost inside the passage of time and the constant parade of new music. I'd like to feature one of those tracks, a song that was written and originally recorded by Tom Waits. It's called Ol' '55 and it got radio play when the Eagles included it on their On The Border album.

Waits wasn't particularly fond of the Eagles interpretation of his song, terming it "a little antiseptic." Well, antiseptic or not, I liked the Eagles version when I heard it in 1974 and I like it now. For the most part it's gone from the radio, but now and again my memory plays it loud and clear.

1974 - Ol' '55 by the Eagles



And if you prefer the grittier, non-antiseptic Tom Waits style, check out songwriter Wait's version.

1973 - Ol' '55 by Tom Waits



That's another LookBack from Rock Steady. See ya next time.

LookBack #28: Walls and Bridges

Today, it's a classic album track LookBack. It's from John Lennon's 1974 release, Walls and Bridges. The LP gave us two singles, namely Whatever Gets You Thru the Night and #9 Dream. But this one is my favourite.

1974 - Nobody Loves You (When You're Down and Out) by John Lennon



That's another Classic Track LookBack. See ya next time.

LookBack #27: Stones Censored

A trip in our virtual way back machine offers another example of how much times change.

In January 1967, when the Rolling Stones performed Let's Spend the Night Together on Ed Sullivan's popular Sunday night variety show, they were instructed to change the recurring lyric line to "let's spend some time together." I guess this was because "nice people" did not spend the night together back in '67.

Anyway, the Stones complied, but Mick Jagger rolled his eyes several times as he sang the altered line. Ed Sullivan responded by saying that the Stones would never again appear on his show, and indeed, they never did.

Today's track features the Stones singing their classic hit, complete with those squeaky clean lyrics, at least a couple of eye rolls and a lot of camera work not being focused on Mick, or at least at a great distance. If I were a betting man, the cameras were being directed to avoid focusing on it as much as possible.

1967 - Let's Spend ... Some Time Together by the Rolling Stones[[cue eye roll]]


We now return you to your current century.

That's another Classic Track Lookback. See ya next time.

LookBack #25: Seger in '66

Those of us who were into rock music between the mid '70s and early '80s may still own at least one Bob Seger album, perhaps Night Moves on either vinyl or CD. But let's have a look and a listen to a Seger TV appearance from 1966. This is a lip-synched clip of Seger's first single, East Side Story, from a show called Swingin' Time, a local Detroit teen dance show hosted by WKNR's (Keener13) DJ Robin Seymour. It was enjoyed by the same viewers who more than likely tuned in American Bandstand.

1966 - East Side Story by Bob Seger


That's another Classic Track LookBack. See ya next time.

LookBack #21: All Things Past

This week's Classic Track LookBack looks back at an album that was released in late November 1970. Actually it's a triple album, not to mention a multi-platinum LP. George Harrison's All Things Must Pass still stands as the best selling post-Beatle release.

My Sweet Lord

The album opens with My Sweet Lord, a song which gently suggest we embrace the concept of a "higher being" rather than one specific religious denomination or even one specific definition of said "higher being." Side by side it embraces Hindu and Christian beliefs. It features co-producer Phil Spector's "wall of sound" and George's slide guitar technique. This peaceful song with its peaceful message was also the subject of a plagiarism claim, alleging that its sound copied that of a 1963 hit by girl group, the Chiffons, called He's So Fine. Personally, I don't see the intent to copy. For me, it's just a really good song. Yet for some reason no one asked me what I thought. But enjoy listening to it.

My Sweet Lord

Apple Scruffs

The song Apple Scruffs can be found on the B side of the 45 What is Life, as well as on All Things Must Pass. But who were theese Apple Scruffs?

The name was coined by George Harrison as the Beatle years raced toward their inevitable close. It referred to a group of fans who congregated outside Apple Corps and hung out within easy sight of London's Abbey Road Studios. In both cases, they were hoping for a glimpse of one of the group members, or maybe even some interaction with one of them.

Please note that the original version of Apple Scruffs has proved itself to be difficult to find. While I usually choose YouTube as video source because of its accessibility, Vimeo was the only place that I could find it. If you have trouble accessing it, please just let me know.

Apple Scruffs

George Harrison - Apple Scruffs from ana diaz on Vimeo.

Wah-Wah

And for our third song? You might wonder why I singled out Wah Wah instead of Isn't It a Pity which was the flipside of My Sweet Lord? Or I could have picked the hit single that asks the alltime conundrum of questions, What is Life?

Well I could fashion an explanation that sounds really intellectual, even artistic, while saying nothing at all. I'm pretty good at that and might even be doing just that right now. But the truth is that I just like the song, the sound of it when I say it, and the way George sings it. Is that baseless, groundless, shallow and even weak? Ok, I can live with that. But I can also tell you that George wrote Wah Wah following an argument with Paul McCartney during the Beatles Let It Be sessions. Ride with whichever explanation you like. They're both true. Then listen to George sing the song. I bet you'll like it too.

Wah-Wah



Till next time, that's another Classic Track LookBack at rock history. And speaking of rock history, check out Maindog Sound's Storified tweets all in one place or check out the original tweets in last week's Twitter's Rock History hashtag #rockhistory tweets and their rockin' music links right here.

Rolling from Yesterday through Today

This week's Classic Track Look Back features a cast that includes the Beatles, the Stones and a song that was deemed too naughty for number 1 status in the UK. We're rocking you back with the music that made our memories.

1965 - The Beatles 

In mid-October the Beatles started a 4 week #1 run on the US singles charts with Yesterday. Oddly enough, the song was not released as a single in the UK until 1976.
Yesterday

1968 - Big Brother and the Holding Company 

Big Brother and the Holding Company held the #1 position among charting albums in North America in mid October 1968 with Cheap Thrills. Janis Joplin was their lead singer on most tracks, including this one.
Piece of My Heart

1969 - The Beatles 

On a mid-October Sunday afternoon in 1969, DJ Russ Gibb from Detroit's WKNR FM received a listener call claiming that if you played the Beatles track Revolution Number Nine backwards, you could hear the words "turn me on dead man." The conversation soon evolved into a rumor that Paul was dead. It spread worldwide, gathering steam and supposed song references. One offered the certainty that Strawberry Fields Forever included the spoken John Lennon lyric line "I buried Paul." Rumors abound in rock history.
Strawberry Fields Forever

1969 - Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg 

This week in 1969 for the first time ever the UK show Top of the Pops refused to air the #1 song, due to its suggestive content. The song, Je t'aime by Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg holds the distinction of being the only track to appear at 2 different chart positions on the same UK chart. It's the same song in both cases, performed by the same artists. The reason why is simple. Je t'aime was originally released on Fontana Records, which pulled the song not long after release, due to the controversy building around it. However, some records pressed on the Fontana label made it into stores. The track was then released on Major Minor records, meaning that, for a time Je t'aime boasted 2 separate labels. Since UK chart positions were based on the record's label as well as the song and artist, it appeared at 2 distinct chart positions for 2 weeks.
Je t'aime... moi non plus

1971 - Led Zeppelin 

Led Zeppelin II was #1 on the US album charts for 7 weeks in fall 1971. The album climbed to number 1 twice, both times dethroning the Beatles Abbey Road, while enjoying a hundred weeks on the UK charts.
Whole Lotta Love

1971 - Three Dog Night 

In fall 1971, Three Dog Night hit #1 for 2 weeks, bringing joy to their world.
Joy to the World

1974 - Billy Preston 

In mid-October 1974, Billy Preston subtracted Nothing from Nothing and took the answer to #1.
Nothing from Nothing

1975 - Neil Sedaka and Elton John 

Sedaka was definitely back. Singing with Elton John, Neil had the #1 song this week in 1975. This was Sedaka's second time around for significant chart success. In the early 60s he scored big with songs like Happy Birthday Sweet 16, Breaking Up is Hard to Do and Next Door to an Angel. Here's how he sounded with Elton.
Bad Blood

1981 - A-Ha 

This week in 1981, A-Ha took on the task of hitting #1 and succeeded admirably.
Take On Me

1988 - Pink Floyd

Completing the ultimate display of chart success, Pink Floyd finally exited Billboard's Hot 200 list in October 1988, after spending a record 741 weeks on that chart. You could say that they certainly earned a lot of what our featured Floyd track is all about.
Money

2012 - Rolling Stones 

It's been a while since we've heard a new Stones track. But one was released a few days ago and it rocks. They recorded it to mark their 50 years as a band. So this weeks 2012 track is Doom and Gloom by the Rolling Stones.
Doom and Gloom


Till next time, that's another Classic Track Look Back at rock history.

A Double Shot Look Back

Our Classic Track Look Back takes a weekly look and a listen at the music that made our memories. Lots of double shots of rock, and check out the Remaking Rock History at the end of this post.

Rock continues to evolve as it should. Our mission is to remind you of where it has been, and offer a peak of where it's going.

1962 - The Beatles 

The Beatles' Love Me Do was released in England 50 years ago this week spending 26 weeks on theUK charts and peaking at number 17. The Fab 4 classic would not cross the Atlantic as a North American hit until 1964.
Love Me Do

1965 - The McCoys

Our next Classic Track Look Back takes us for another ride in the way back machine, this time to October 1965 for a song with 2 titles. When the McCoys released it, it was called Hang On Sloopy. It was with this song that they enjoyed their only chart topper. Not long before, the song had been released by the Vibrations, who called it My Girl Sloopy. Here's the McCoys version.
Hang On Sloopy

1969 - The Beatles 

Last week marked the anniversary of Abbey Road's UK release. This week, another track from that album, as we celebrate its' October 1969 arrival in North American record stores. Here's one from the album that we don't hear as often as we should.
Oh! Darling

1969 - Creedence Clearwater Revival 

None of their singles topped the charts but CCR's Green River LP hit #1 and stayed for 5 weeks in October 1969. This album is about more than the hits it contained. Check out Wrote a Song for Everyone.
Wrote a Song for Everyone

1971 - Janis Joplin 

This week in 1970 Janis Joplin died after an accidental heroin overdose. Still her music lived on. In 1971 her Pearl album and Me and Bobby McGee single topped the end of year charts.
Me and Bobby McGee

1971 - Rod Stewart

In October 1971, Rod Stewart's Every Picture Tells a Story album netted him a double sided 45 hit with Maggie May and Reason to Believe. Together, the tracks topped the singles charts for 5 weeks. The album remains my favourite Stewart release.
Maggie May (Side A)


Reason to Believe (Side B)

1975 - Pink Floyd 

Pink Floyd's album Wish You Were Here was selling strong in October 1975. The album included a tribute to former Floyd member Syd Barrett. That track is featured here.
Shine On You Crazy Diamond

1982 - John Mellencamp 

John Mellencamp doubled the fun with his double No. 1 in October '82. #1 LP with American Fool & #1 single with Jack and Diane.
Jack and Diane

1983 - Bonnie Tyler 

In Fall '83 Bonnie Tyler enjoyed a total eclipse of the chart, when Total Eclipse of the Heart eclipsed all other tracks of the day, landing at No. 1. That accomplishment made her the only Welsh singer to achieve No. 1 status.
Total Eclipse of the Heart

1987 - Aerosmith 

This week in 1987, Aerosmith hit the album charts for a long stay with Permanent Vacation. The album included 2 hit singles, Dude Looks Like a Lady and Rag Doll.
Dude Looks Like a Lady

Remaking Rock History 

This week we're closing with a rock remake. The song Money has received generous air play from at least 4 artists. First came:

1962 - Barrett Strong - Money (That's What I Want)


Then there was the Beatles in 1964, the Kingsmen in the same year... and and then came the most recent, just 50 years after the original...

2012 - David Gray - Money (That's What I Want)


Till next time, that's our Classic Track Look Back, yet another slice of rock history.

Looking Back: Born to be Wild and Crazy

This week, our Classic Track Look Back moves in a new direction. It will now be based on the rock history tweets that I present during the week. As is only natural, some of those tweets rise above others in their importance to music's legacy. So what I'll do is present the best of those tweets, eeach week in this space. Of course, I'll also offer a YouTube link to each entry, so that you can hear each song.

Whether you're hearing each classic track for the first time or are just rocking with it once again, I hope you enjoy our new twist to the Classic Track Look Back.

1968 Steppenwolf

Steppenwolf took their brand of "heavy metal thunder" all the way to the million seller mark this week in 1968.
Born to Be Wild

1969 Blind Faith

In the Fall of '69, Blind Faith was hot with their self-titled and only album
Can't Find My Way Home

1969 John Lennon

In a September 1969 meeting with Paul and Ringo, John Lennon announced he was leaving the Beatles.
Cold Turkey

1970 Edwin Starr

It could be said that Edwin Starr was anti-war. His song that said so topped the charts for 3 weeks as summer turned to Fall in 1970. The Temptations were the first to record the song, but it was decided to have Edwin Starr record the single due to concerns that the track might offend more conservative elements among the Temptations fan base.
War

1970 Jimi Hendrix

Was this week the week the music died? No, but in 1970 it was the week when we lost Jimi Hendrix
Angel

1974 Barry White

Back to 1974 when Barry White enjoyed his only #1 single
Can't Get Enough of Your Love Baby

1974 David Bowie 

Early Fall '75 meant Fame 4 David Bowie as the song he co-wrote with John Lennon hit #1
Fame
  

1980 Queen

Queen played the album charts game and won when their LP the game hit #1 in fall 1980
Another One Bites the Dust

1981 Rolling Stones

Did the Stones tattoo your album buying dollars to their fall '81 release? If so, you're not alone. Tattoo You began a 9 week #1 album run that year as fall was born.
Start Me Up

1994 Dave Matthews Band

Fall '94 saw the release of Under the Table and dreaming by the Dave Matthews Band.
What Would You Say


'Til next time, that's another Classic Track Look Back at rock history.

I Want My, I Want My, I Want My MTV... Back

Before August gets away from us, I want to take a classic track look back to August 1, 1981, when a very cool all-music video service called MTV was born. It launched its new music service with the perfectly-themed video, the 1979 hit which became even bigger, when MTV played Video Killed the Radio Star by the Buggles.

MTV of the 80s was much different from MTV as we know it now, except to say that in my not-so-humble opinion, today's MTV is a far cry from the original. In the 80s, MTV played music videos - all videos, all the time. There were no made-for-MTV series and no reality shows. It just played the best music videos that the 80s could offer, played by hosts - the VJs. Only the hourly music news stopped the music, and that was just the talk about the music. With the exception of the late J.J. Jackson who passed away in 2004, all of the original VJs are now anchoring Sirius/XM's 80s channel, a perfect rockin' home for them. 

The 80s were truly the MTV decade. During MTV's prime, they were even mentioned in songs such as Dire Straits' Money for Nothing, where Sting joins in, singing the falsetto introduction "I Want My MTV." Didn't we all?

In 1987, MTV Europe was born, opening with Money for Nothing. Another obvious choice.

So what happened to the network that gave us radio with pictures?

As the '80s became the '90s, MTV gradually evolved, and, in my opinion, not in a positive direction. Non-music shows were aired, such as Beavis and Butthead (in September '92), and obviously were aimed at teens and young adults. Slowly these types of shows began to creep into the daily broadcast schedule, gradually taking over from music videos.

 Truly worthwhile content, right? You be the judge.

Unquestionably, MTV is still aimed at teens and young adults, but now airs reality shows and original series. Although there was no specific day when the all-music-all-the-time concept died on MTV; the days of non-stop videos hosted by people who knew the music - the VJ stars of the day.

'Til next time, that's another classic track look back at rock history, and the day-in-day-out videos that we watched, defining rock history throughout the 80s and 90s.