I've always been a fan of songs that slowly, slowly build. Not the ones - like Freebird or Stairway to Heaven - that build toward a purpose. But the ones that find that rhythm and stay there.
Here are my top pics.
Kashmir by Led Zeppelin -
So Cruel by U2 -
And the one that inspired my post, my all-time favorite Cars song, Double Life -
Showing posts with label Led Zeppelin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Led Zeppelin. Show all posts
Friday, September 30, 2016
Friday, August 09, 2013
Top 10 Songs Featuring Harmonica
Carlos is not a fan of the harmonica or any song containing it. And I love the harmonica.
Back in the day, my friend Matt and I each bought $60 harmonicas for the sole purpose of learning how to play - and then woo women.
It was the early 1990's.
I was still dating women then.
I still love the sound of the instrument and any song containing it. Here are my Top 10 Songs Featuring Harmonica. Enjoy. You too, Carlos!
Black Country Woman - Led Zeppelin
From Me to You - The Beatles
I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues - Elton John Featuring Stevie
Wonder
Isn't She Lovely - Stevie Wonder
Long May You Run - Neil Young
Piano Man - Billy Joel
Roadhouse Blues - The Doors
Running To Stand Still - U2
What I Like About You - The Romantics
What Would You Say - Dave Matthews Band
----------------------------
I've never been a fan of Bob Dylan or Bruce Springsteen so I couldn't list their songs. I could have listed many more U2, Neil Young or Stevie Wonder songs. What songs are your favorites?
Friday, November 19, 2010
List: Top 5 Classic Rock Bands
Our friend Debbie loves to ask, "What is your Top Five ____________? Go."
My list of Top Five Classic Rock Bands has been set for years.
1. U2 - which I discuss fairly often.
2. Led Zeppelin - which I have discussed numerous times, including my Top Ten Led Zeppelin Songs of All Time list
3. Rush
4. Queen - one mention so far
5. Pink Floyd - also one mention
I thought today I would discuss Rush.
In 8th grade (1980), Rush's album Moving Pictures came out. My friend Steve brought it to school and insisted I borrow it. I did. And I was hooked for life.
The cover's double meaning (right) was lost on a 12 year old.
For years later, I wanted to be a drummer because of Neil Peart. Ironically, I never tried to play (the drum solo song) YYZ from the album. I used my drum sticks - known to my dad as his screw drivers - on my drum kit (AKA the floor and pillows of my bedroom) to perfect Tom Sawyer, Red Barchetta, Vital Signs and especially Limelight.
Here is what I wanted to be able to do as a 12 year old - done by a (then) 9 year old: Teddy Z covering, drums only, Tom Sawyer.
Hell, I'd like to play like that now.
Here is Vital Signs live in 1984.
My friend Lloyd and I would endlessly discuss the meaning of the songs Red Barchetta, Witch Hunt, Camera Eye, and all the other songs on the album.
A small footnote at the end of Red Barchetta says, "Inspired by 'A Nice Morning Drive' by Richard S. Foster." In the pre-internet world, it took me years to figure out that was a short story in the November 1973 issue of Road and Track magazine. I am still trying to hunt down a reasonably priced copy of the magazine on eBay. Those damn Rush fanatics.
Here's an article by Richard Foster describing when he finally met Neil Peart, Rush's drummer and main lyricist, in 2006.
After listening to Moving Pictures, I had to find out everything about this band.
I started at the beginning with their eponymous first album, continuing through Fly By Night and Caress of Steel. All noble efforts, but nothing that really hit me.
Then I discovered their fourth album (right) - 2112.
The first side is all one song, divided into seven parts. I remember thinking, "It's something about a world without music, but I don't get it." Then I listened to it again and again and again.
Here are parts 1 and 2, live in 2007:
Side two has some decent songs, but nothing like the fantastic side one.
Moving up the band's history, I then discovered A Farewell To Kings, Hemispheres and Permanent Waves. Without exception, every song on those three albums are fantastic and as still some of my favorites.
A Farewell to Kings has the (sort of) hit Cinderella Man, but I'm more partial to their longer songs such as Xanadu and Cygnus X-1.
I don't play an instrument, but I have been told that mastering their 10 minute instrumental La Villa Strangiato from Hemispheres is prized among musicians. Something about all the odd timing changes. My friend Kyle used to be in a bar band that covered that song - and well too.
Here is a live version of La Villa Strangiato from around 2004:
The Trees, another of the songs from Hemispheres is an allegory about, well, here are the lyrics:
There is unrest in the forest
There is trouble with the trees
For the maples want more sunlight
And the oaks ignore their pleas
The trouble with the maples
(And they're quite convinced they're right)
They say the oaks are just too lofty
And they grab up all the light
But the oaks can't help their feelings
If they like the way they're made
And they wonder why the maples
Can't be happy in their shade
There is trouble in the forest
And the creatures all have fled
As the maples scream 'Oppression!'
And the oaks just shake their heads
So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights
'The oaks are just too greedy
We will make them give us light'
Now there's no more oak oppression
For they passed a noble law
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet, axe and saw
Here is a live version of The Trees from the late 1970's.
Permanent Waves has some of their most popular songs, including The Spirit of Radio - which they opened their concerts with for many years. (Even their 2005 live 30th Anniversary CD opens with the song.)
Here is The Spirit of Radio live from 1984:
By the time Signals - their next studio album after Moving Pictures - came out, I knew every song of theirs, and ate up the new CD. I was a Sophomore in high school and my Theology class (Catholic boys school requirement) was informally called "Sex, Drugs, and Rock N Roll". All we discussed were those three subjects. In detail. For nine months. Our professor, Fr. Ed, was quite cool. (I still keep in contact with him via Facebook.)
We were encouraged to bring in our favorite albums. He would play the songs and we would discuss the lyrics. We did one Rush song, Losing It, from Signals. Here are the lyrics:
The dancer slows her frantic pace
In pain and desperation
Her aching limbs and downcast face
Aglow with perspiration
Stiff as wire, her lungs on fire
With just the briefest pause
The flooding through her memory
The echoes of old applause
And she limps across the floor
And closes her bedroom door...
The writer stares with glassy eyes
Defies the empty page
His beard is white, his face is lined
And streaked with tears of rage
Thirty years ago, how the words would flow
With passion and precision
But now his mind is dark and dulled
By sickness and indecision
And he stares out the kitchen door
Where the sun will rise no more...
Some are born to move the world
To live their fantasies
But most of us just dream about
The things we'd like to be
Sadder still to watch it die
Than never to have known it
For you, the blind who once could see
The bell tolls for thee...
I don't remember the exact discussion. All I remember is how proud I was that we were talking about MY band with the entire class for an entire hour. How very cool.
There is no video or live performance of the song by the band, but here is the studio version of the song.
Geddy Lee, the band's singer/bass player/keyboard player, introduced keyboards more and more into the bands songs - starting with Signals. I kept buying their albums for awhile - after Signals came Grace Under Pressure, then Power Windows, then Hold Your Fire. By their latest live set A Show of Hands, I had moved on to other bands (though I diligently bought every new release, and still do). But every so often, I pick up a Rush CD from my pile and listen to it.
Recommendations -
If you have never ever heard a song by Rush, start with Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures or their second live album Exit...Stage Left, which contains songs from that time period. Those are the easiest to jump into.
If you're a fan of prog rock, start with 2112 or Hemispheres.
If you're already a fan of Rush, you must see the documentary Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage. My favorite part is watching the actual home movie of Alex Lifeson (guitars) telling his parents that he is dropping out of high school to go on the road with his band. Priceless.
-----------------
Final Note -
Moving Pictures and 2112 are the two Rush albums contained in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
----------------
Final Final Note -
Apparently the creators of South Park are Rush fans too...
My list of Top Five Classic Rock Bands has been set for years.
1. U2 - which I discuss fairly often.
2. Led Zeppelin - which I have discussed numerous times, including my Top Ten Led Zeppelin Songs of All Time list
3. Rush
4. Queen - one mention so far
5. Pink Floyd - also one mention
I thought today I would discuss Rush.
In 8th grade (1980), Rush's album Moving Pictures came out. My friend Steve brought it to school and insisted I borrow it. I did. And I was hooked for life.
The cover's double meaning (right) was lost on a 12 year old.
For years later, I wanted to be a drummer because of Neil Peart. Ironically, I never tried to play (the drum solo song) YYZ from the album. I used my drum sticks - known to my dad as his screw drivers - on my drum kit (AKA the floor and pillows of my bedroom) to perfect Tom Sawyer, Red Barchetta, Vital Signs and especially Limelight.
Here is what I wanted to be able to do as a 12 year old - done by a (then) 9 year old: Teddy Z covering, drums only, Tom Sawyer.
Hell, I'd like to play like that now.
Here is Vital Signs live in 1984.
My friend Lloyd and I would endlessly discuss the meaning of the songs Red Barchetta, Witch Hunt, Camera Eye, and all the other songs on the album.
A small footnote at the end of Red Barchetta says, "Inspired by 'A Nice Morning Drive' by Richard S. Foster." In the pre-internet world, it took me years to figure out that was a short story in the November 1973 issue of Road and Track magazine. I am still trying to hunt down a reasonably priced copy of the magazine on eBay. Those damn Rush fanatics.
Here's an article by Richard Foster describing when he finally met Neil Peart, Rush's drummer and main lyricist, in 2006.
After listening to Moving Pictures, I had to find out everything about this band.
I started at the beginning with their eponymous first album, continuing through Fly By Night and Caress of Steel. All noble efforts, but nothing that really hit me.
Then I discovered their fourth album (right) - 2112.
The first side is all one song, divided into seven parts. I remember thinking, "It's something about a world without music, but I don't get it." Then I listened to it again and again and again.
Here are parts 1 and 2, live in 2007:
Side two has some decent songs, but nothing like the fantastic side one.
Moving up the band's history, I then discovered A Farewell To Kings, Hemispheres and Permanent Waves. Without exception, every song on those three albums are fantastic and as still some of my favorites.
A Farewell to Kings has the (sort of) hit Cinderella Man, but I'm more partial to their longer songs such as Xanadu and Cygnus X-1.
I don't play an instrument, but I have been told that mastering their 10 minute instrumental La Villa Strangiato from Hemispheres is prized among musicians. Something about all the odd timing changes. My friend Kyle used to be in a bar band that covered that song - and well too.
Here is a live version of La Villa Strangiato from around 2004:
The Trees, another of the songs from Hemispheres is an allegory about, well, here are the lyrics:
There is unrest in the forest
There is trouble with the trees
For the maples want more sunlight
And the oaks ignore their pleas
The trouble with the maples
(And they're quite convinced they're right)
They say the oaks are just too lofty
And they grab up all the light
But the oaks can't help their feelings
If they like the way they're made
And they wonder why the maples
Can't be happy in their shade
There is trouble in the forest
And the creatures all have fled
As the maples scream 'Oppression!'
And the oaks just shake their heads
So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights
'The oaks are just too greedy
We will make them give us light'
Now there's no more oak oppression
For they passed a noble law
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet, axe and saw
Here is a live version of The Trees from the late 1970's.
Permanent Waves has some of their most popular songs, including The Spirit of Radio - which they opened their concerts with for many years. (Even their 2005 live 30th Anniversary CD opens with the song.)
Here is The Spirit of Radio live from 1984:
By the time Signals - their next studio album after Moving Pictures - came out, I knew every song of theirs, and ate up the new CD. I was a Sophomore in high school and my Theology class (Catholic boys school requirement) was informally called "Sex, Drugs, and Rock N Roll". All we discussed were those three subjects. In detail. For nine months. Our professor, Fr. Ed, was quite cool. (I still keep in contact with him via Facebook.)
We were encouraged to bring in our favorite albums. He would play the songs and we would discuss the lyrics. We did one Rush song, Losing It, from Signals. Here are the lyrics:
The dancer slows her frantic pace
In pain and desperation
Her aching limbs and downcast face
Aglow with perspiration
Stiff as wire, her lungs on fire
With just the briefest pause
The flooding through her memory
The echoes of old applause
And she limps across the floor
And closes her bedroom door...
The writer stares with glassy eyes
Defies the empty page
His beard is white, his face is lined
And streaked with tears of rage
Thirty years ago, how the words would flow
With passion and precision
But now his mind is dark and dulled
By sickness and indecision
And he stares out the kitchen door
Where the sun will rise no more...
Some are born to move the world
To live their fantasies
But most of us just dream about
The things we'd like to be
Sadder still to watch it die
Than never to have known it
For you, the blind who once could see
The bell tolls for thee...
I don't remember the exact discussion. All I remember is how proud I was that we were talking about MY band with the entire class for an entire hour. How very cool.
There is no video or live performance of the song by the band, but here is the studio version of the song.
Geddy Lee, the band's singer/bass player/keyboard player, introduced keyboards more and more into the bands songs - starting with Signals. I kept buying their albums for awhile - after Signals came Grace Under Pressure, then Power Windows, then Hold Your Fire. By their latest live set A Show of Hands, I had moved on to other bands (though I diligently bought every new release, and still do). But every so often, I pick up a Rush CD from my pile and listen to it.
Recommendations -
If you have never ever heard a song by Rush, start with Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures or their second live album Exit...Stage Left, which contains songs from that time period. Those are the easiest to jump into.
If you're a fan of prog rock, start with 2112 or Hemispheres.
If you're already a fan of Rush, you must see the documentary Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage. My favorite part is watching the actual home movie of Alex Lifeson (guitars) telling his parents that he is dropping out of high school to go on the road with his band. Priceless.
-----------------
Final Note -
Moving Pictures and 2112 are the two Rush albums contained in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
----------------
Final Final Note -
Apparently the creators of South Park are Rush fans too...
Friday, September 17, 2010
Music Update
U2 is the Greatest Band of All Time.
Led Zeppelin is second.
U2 Bad...
But daily, I have to be sure.
Here are today's contenders -
Spoon - Got Nuffin...
The Arcade Fire - Wake Up...(dammit. I'm 8 months late with this one.)
Joe Bonamassa - Just Got Paid / Dazed and Confused (With a ZZ Top opening and a Zeppelin finish - and a subtle Frampton interlude - I'm hoping I beat you to this one.)
What are your contenders today for Greatest Band of All Time?
Led Zeppelin is second.
U2 Bad...
But daily, I have to be sure.
Here are today's contenders -
Spoon - Got Nuffin...
The Arcade Fire - Wake Up...(dammit. I'm 8 months late with this one.)
Joe Bonamassa - Just Got Paid / Dazed and Confused (With a ZZ Top opening and a Zeppelin finish - and a subtle Frampton interlude - I'm hoping I beat you to this one.)
What are your contenders today for Greatest Band of All Time?
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Mixed CD: Strummin'
Tonight, I'm making a mixed CD for my brother-in-law. The theme: Strummin' Songs
When making a compilation, I cast a wide net, bringing in every possible song by every possible artist - starting with about 40 songs. Then narrowing that list to the final 15 or so (depending on the song length).
I am about half way through my initial list compilation and am stuck. Here is my current list. Any suggestions?
Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town - Cake
Thought I Knew You - Matthew Sweet
I Wanted To Tell You - Matthew Sweet
Blue - The Thorns (Matthew Sweet and others - covering the Jayhawks song)
Among The Living - The Thorns
*Amie - Pure Prairie League
Gonna Make You Love Me - Ryan Adams
New York, New York - Ryan Adams
Comin' Atcha Live/Truckin' - Tesla (I've always had a soft spot for Tesla.)
Dead Flowers - The Rolling Stones
Bootleg - CCR
Cross-Tie Walker - CCR
Have You Ever Seen The Rain? - CCR
*Cotton Fields - CCR (though I think I put this one on too many compilations)
Don't Look Now - CCR
Leather and Lace - Stevie Nicks with Don Henley
I Should Have Known Better - The Beatles
The Ballad of John and Yoko - The Beatles (Can you believe this song went to #1?)
Ten Years Gone - Led Zeppelin
Gallows Pole - Led Zeppelin
Again, I'm trying to create an initial list that I can then narrow down to about 15 songs.
Suggestions?
-----------------
*CCR's Cotton Fields
-------------
*Pure Prairie League's Aime (though the cut single version)
When making a compilation, I cast a wide net, bringing in every possible song by every possible artist - starting with about 40 songs. Then narrowing that list to the final 15 or so (depending on the song length).
I am about half way through my initial list compilation and am stuck. Here is my current list. Any suggestions?
Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town - Cake
Thought I Knew You - Matthew Sweet
I Wanted To Tell You - Matthew Sweet
Blue - The Thorns (Matthew Sweet and others - covering the Jayhawks song)
Among The Living - The Thorns
*Amie - Pure Prairie League
Gonna Make You Love Me - Ryan Adams
New York, New York - Ryan Adams
Comin' Atcha Live/Truckin' - Tesla (I've always had a soft spot for Tesla.)
Dead Flowers - The Rolling Stones
Bootleg - CCR
Cross-Tie Walker - CCR
Have You Ever Seen The Rain? - CCR
*Cotton Fields - CCR (though I think I put this one on too many compilations)
Don't Look Now - CCR
Leather and Lace - Stevie Nicks with Don Henley
I Should Have Known Better - The Beatles
The Ballad of John and Yoko - The Beatles (Can you believe this song went to #1?)
Ten Years Gone - Led Zeppelin
Gallows Pole - Led Zeppelin
Again, I'm trying to create an initial list that I can then narrow down to about 15 songs.
Suggestions?
-----------------
*CCR's Cotton Fields
-------------
*Pure Prairie League's Aime (though the cut single version)
Friday, March 26, 2010
Top 10: Led Zeppelin
In preparation of another blog entry I have planned – and because I love top ten lists – here are my…
Top Ten Favorite Led Zeppelin Songs of All Time (alphabetically):
Babe I’m Gonna Leave You
Bring It On Home
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
In My Time of Dying (For me, the best 10 minutes in rock music!)
No Quarter (The Song Remains The Same live version)
Over The Hills and Far Away
Tangerine
Ten Years Gone
The Lemon Song
The Wanton Song
Click on the songs to hear them.
--------------------
Least Favorite Led Zeppelin Songs of All Time:
Kashmir
Stairway to Heaven (just because it’s so overplayed)
Anything on Presence
Click on the songs to hear them.
--------------------
Favorite Led Zeppelin Album of All Time:
Physical Graffiti
Top Ten Favorite Led Zeppelin Songs of All Time (alphabetically):
Babe I’m Gonna Leave You
Bring It On Home
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
In My Time of Dying (For me, the best 10 minutes in rock music!)
No Quarter (The Song Remains The Same live version)
Over The Hills and Far Away
Tangerine
Ten Years Gone
The Lemon Song
The Wanton Song
Click on the songs to hear them.
--------------------
Least Favorite Led Zeppelin Songs of All Time:
Kashmir
Stairway to Heaven (just because it’s so overplayed)
Anything on Presence
Click on the songs to hear them.
--------------------
Favorite Led Zeppelin Album of All Time:
Physical Graffiti
Monday, January 25, 2010
Song History: More Than A Feeling
Original post January 25, 2010
Updates and re-post June 15, 2011
------------------
My ongoing Song History Project entails that I pick a song that I love that has been covered many times and research its history.
My goal: Find every version ever recorded – plus any song, according to the original artist, that had influenced the song’s composing.
First up is More Than A Feeling by Boston.
According to rollingstone.com, the song was “released as the lead single from their eponymous debut album on Epic Records in September 1976, with ‘Smokin’ on the flipside. The single peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100. The track...is ranked as #500 on the list of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and in 2009 it was named the 39th best hard rock song of all time by VH1.”
From Dave Marsh's The Book of Rock Lists: “The chorus riff may itself be a subtle homage to the Kingsmen's classic, ‘Louie Louie’. The descending verse riff is also similar to the hook from ‘Badge’ by Cream. The song's instrumental guitar bridge is heavily inspired by the instrumental hooks of the Tornados' 1962 instrumental hit ‘Telstar.’"
Tom Scholz, who composed the song, credits "Walk Away Renee" by The Left Banke as the main inspiration for the song.
Walk Away Renee by The Left Banke...
Here is a list of cover versions I have found.
(If you know of any other ones, let me know!)
South African Thrash Metal band Agro: 2004 CD Gouda Than Hell
Info Link
Swedish Hair Metal band Bad Habit: 1989 CD From After Hours (and on their greatest hits CD 13 Years of Bad Habits)
Ingram Hill: 2005 Herbie Fully Loaded soundtrack
This version is closest to the original. That is not necessarily a good thing. Ingram Hill also did a cover version of Queen's song '39. I don't see a video for Ingram Hill's version, but here is Queen's original version, probably one of my Top Ten Favorite Queen Songs.
Japanese female pop singers Nav Katze: 1994 album Uwa No Sora
Info Link
The band seems to cover other classic rock songs (like Wild Horses) so I was hoping they would sound like Shonen Knife covering Top of the World. Instead they sound like electronic noise.
NSYNC: 1998 debut CD
Sleater-Kinney: 1996 CD Move into the Villa Villakula and The Virgin Suicides soundtrack
UK Soft Rock Artist Sylvain Cossette: 2008 CD 70’s
The Big Mess Orchestra
Web Site
The Stafford Brothers - A couple of DJ’s remixing the song
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill acappella group Achordants – 2007 CD High-Stakes Old Maid
Info Link
There is no video of their version of the song, though their web site has videos of them covering Carry On Wayward Son (Kansas), September (Earth, Wind and Fire), Long Train Running (The Doobie Brothers) and other songs.
Here is a list of songs that sample “More Than A Feeling”.
- DJ Peter Presta: "Totally Hooked" (See this blog entry to hear the song.)
- Hunters & Collectors
While not an actual cover, the main riff for the song is the same as More than a Feeling's chorus riff, except in a different key.
Songs That Inspired “More Than A Feeling”
The Kingsmen's Louie Louie
Cream's Badge
---------------------
Of all the songs listed, I have a copy of ALL of them except for Agro, Nav Katze, The Big Mess Orchestra, and Achordants.
I posted about Brad Delp’s death here.
Final Thought:
------------------
Another time: A song originally recorded in 1933 and covered by artists such as Shocking Blue, John Mellencamp, Led Zeppelin and Bob Dylan...
Updates and re-post June 15, 2011
------------------
My ongoing Song History Project entails that I pick a song that I love that has been covered many times and research its history.
My goal: Find every version ever recorded – plus any song, according to the original artist, that had influenced the song’s composing.
First up is More Than A Feeling by Boston.
According to rollingstone.com, the song was “released as the lead single from their eponymous debut album on Epic Records in September 1976, with ‘Smokin’ on the flipside. The single peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100. The track...is ranked as #500 on the list of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and in 2009 it was named the 39th best hard rock song of all time by VH1.”
From Dave Marsh's The Book of Rock Lists: “The chorus riff may itself be a subtle homage to the Kingsmen's classic, ‘Louie Louie’. The descending verse riff is also similar to the hook from ‘Badge’ by Cream. The song's instrumental guitar bridge is heavily inspired by the instrumental hooks of the Tornados' 1962 instrumental hit ‘Telstar.’"
Tom Scholz, who composed the song, credits "Walk Away Renee" by The Left Banke as the main inspiration for the song.
Walk Away Renee by The Left Banke...
Here is a list of cover versions I have found.
(If you know of any other ones, let me know!)
South African Thrash Metal band Agro: 2004 CD Gouda Than Hell
Info Link
Swedish Hair Metal band Bad Habit: 1989 CD From After Hours (and on their greatest hits CD 13 Years of Bad Habits)
Ingram Hill: 2005 Herbie Fully Loaded soundtrack
This version is closest to the original. That is not necessarily a good thing. Ingram Hill also did a cover version of Queen's song '39. I don't see a video for Ingram Hill's version, but here is Queen's original version, probably one of my Top Ten Favorite Queen Songs.
Japanese female pop singers Nav Katze: 1994 album Uwa No Sora
Info Link
The band seems to cover other classic rock songs (like Wild Horses) so I was hoping they would sound like Shonen Knife covering Top of the World. Instead they sound like electronic noise.
NSYNC: 1998 debut CD
Sleater-Kinney: 1996 CD Move into the Villa Villakula and The Virgin Suicides soundtrack
UK Soft Rock Artist Sylvain Cossette: 2008 CD 70’s
The Big Mess Orchestra
Web Site
The Stafford Brothers - A couple of DJ’s remixing the song
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill acappella group Achordants – 2007 CD High-Stakes Old Maid
Info Link
There is no video of their version of the song, though their web site has videos of them covering Carry On Wayward Son (Kansas), September (Earth, Wind and Fire), Long Train Running (The Doobie Brothers) and other songs.
Here is a list of songs that sample “More Than A Feeling”.
- DJ Peter Presta: "Totally Hooked" (See this blog entry to hear the song.)
- Hunters & Collectors
While not an actual cover, the main riff for the song is the same as More than a Feeling's chorus riff, except in a different key.
Songs That Inspired “More Than A Feeling”
The Kingsmen's Louie Louie
Cream's Badge
---------------------
Of all the songs listed, I have a copy of ALL of them except for Agro, Nav Katze, The Big Mess Orchestra, and Achordants.
I posted about Brad Delp’s death here.
Final Thought:
------------------
Another time: A song originally recorded in 1933 and covered by artists such as Shocking Blue, John Mellencamp, Led Zeppelin and Bob Dylan...
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Greatest Cover Songs of All Times
Back in my college radio DJ days, one of my shows fell on a Tuesday. (I usually had two or three shows per week - some solo, some with an on-air partner.) All of us Tuesday DJ’s got together at the beginning of every semester and decided to have our respective radio shows (each three hours long, each with a different type of music) every Tuesday a “Two for Tuesday” show.
Our radio station had an unspoken rule: Once a song was played on your radio show, you could NEVER play it again. Because of this, by the end of the semester, I was coming up with very creative ways to present my “Two for Tuesday” shows.
The very last show of the semester became “Reverse Two for Tuesday” shows – meaning that instead of two songs by the same artist, I would play the same song by two different artists. This out-of-necessity creation became a hit, and was anticipated by my audience every semester until I finished the semester’s shows with another edition.
I was thinking of that today because I was listening to Killer Queen: A Tribute To Queen, that Carlos got me for Christmas. It has some great cover songs on it, and thought I’d start making a list of the Greatest Cover Songs of All Time.
Here is what I have come up with so far – in random order.
We Are The Champions (originally Queen) – Gavin DeGraw
Though listening to the song, I thought it was Jonny Lang singing
Totally Hooked (Boston’s More Than A Feeling reworked and remixed) – DJ Peter Presta
Billy Jean (originally Michael Jackson) – Cobra Starship
Rehab (originally Amy Winehouse) – Paolo Nutini
Smooth Criminal (originally Michael Jackson) – Alien Ant Farm
Baker Street (originally Gerry Rafferty) – Foo Fighters
We Can Work It Out (originally The Beatles) – Tesla
Going back to the 1980's, I have always been a closet Tesla fan.
Hey Jude (originally, well, you know) – Wilson Pickett
This is my favorite Beatles cover - even considering Aretha Franklin's "Let It Be" and Stevie Wonder's "We Can Work It Out".
Babe I’m Gonna Leave You (originally Anne Briggs, then Joan Baez) – Led Zeppelin
This may be my all-time favorite Zeppelin song.
Blinded By The Light (originally Bruce Springsteen) – Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
Hazy Shade of Winter (originally Simon & Garfunkel) – The Bangles
I Heard It Through The Grapevine (originally Gladys Night & The Pips) – Creedence Clearwater Revival or Marvin Gaye
Both are great versions. The video is of Marvin Gaye’s version.
Stand by Me (originally Ben E. King) – John Lennon
------------------
Interested in remakes / cover versions? Here is the best web site about the subject that I have found.
-----------------
This post looked at newer cover songs. Especially early in their careers, The Doors, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Cream and other bands rerecorded old blues songs. There are tons more remakes for me to explore.
That’ll be in a future post.
Our radio station had an unspoken rule: Once a song was played on your radio show, you could NEVER play it again. Because of this, by the end of the semester, I was coming up with very creative ways to present my “Two for Tuesday” shows.
The very last show of the semester became “Reverse Two for Tuesday” shows – meaning that instead of two songs by the same artist, I would play the same song by two different artists. This out-of-necessity creation became a hit, and was anticipated by my audience every semester until I finished the semester’s shows with another edition.
I was thinking of that today because I was listening to Killer Queen: A Tribute To Queen, that Carlos got me for Christmas. It has some great cover songs on it, and thought I’d start making a list of the Greatest Cover Songs of All Time.
Here is what I have come up with so far – in random order.
We Are The Champions (originally Queen) – Gavin DeGraw
Though listening to the song, I thought it was Jonny Lang singing
Totally Hooked (Boston’s More Than A Feeling reworked and remixed) – DJ Peter Presta
Billy Jean (originally Michael Jackson) – Cobra Starship
Rehab (originally Amy Winehouse) – Paolo Nutini
Smooth Criminal (originally Michael Jackson) – Alien Ant Farm
Baker Street (originally Gerry Rafferty) – Foo Fighters
We Can Work It Out (originally The Beatles) – Tesla
Going back to the 1980's, I have always been a closet Tesla fan.
Hey Jude (originally, well, you know) – Wilson Pickett
This is my favorite Beatles cover - even considering Aretha Franklin's "Let It Be" and Stevie Wonder's "We Can Work It Out".
Babe I’m Gonna Leave You (originally Anne Briggs, then Joan Baez) – Led Zeppelin
This may be my all-time favorite Zeppelin song.
Blinded By The Light (originally Bruce Springsteen) – Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
Hazy Shade of Winter (originally Simon & Garfunkel) – The Bangles
I Heard It Through The Grapevine (originally Gladys Night & The Pips) – Creedence Clearwater Revival or Marvin Gaye
Both are great versions. The video is of Marvin Gaye’s version.
Stand by Me (originally Ben E. King) – John Lennon
------------------
Interested in remakes / cover versions? Here is the best web site about the subject that I have found.
-----------------
This post looked at newer cover songs. Especially early in their careers, The Doors, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Cream and other bands rerecorded old blues songs. There are tons more remakes for me to explore.
That’ll be in a future post.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Cleaning Out The Attic
Whenever I have an idea for a blog post, I scribble it on a sheet of paper, later transferring it to a Word file.
I have tons of Word files.
Tonight I'm going to clear out a lot of them.
---------------------
Sometimes the ideas are just the title of the Word file, that I know for sure I will remember later the significance, but of course over time forget. Song titles seem to be a popular starting point for me:
Desolation Boulevard (the name of an album by Sweet)
Love Vigilantes (the name of a song by New Order)
Tiny Dancer (from Elton John, resurrected by Cameron Crowe)
The references for the first two are lost to me, but my best guess about Tiny Dancer is that I wanted to discuss "Music Heals All Wounds" or "Cameron Crowe" as one of the answers to "Name the people in history you would like to have dinner with."
Here's the clip from Cameron Crowe's movie Almost Famous to help explain the former. The set up: Billy Crudup ditched the band to go party. The next morning he is found. The scene opens with the band's manager wishing the party goers goodbye, while the rest of the band are still resentful that Billy disappeared. Music heals the wound...
I have before mentioned how cool I think Dave Grohl is. Here is another reason:
-------------------------
Sometimes the ideas are snippets of thoughts:
- Scott and the bus stop trash can
- $5000 bank error in my favor
- Larry Tyler Moore Parties
- My job: Like a frog in water slowly boiling
- Paw Paw Was A Rolling Stone (We called my grandfather "Paw Paw")
- The Sauna and Super Balls
- In early 2009, I was an expert witness for a case involving the hospital I work with.
- Artificial Hoops
- The Monty Hall Paradox
Expanding on the last one: I have always been fascinated with math, math problems and math puzzles. The more complex the better!
In college, I tested out of my first two semesters of math. I got an A in both my third and fourth semesters. To make extra money, I tutored in the Math Lab during my freshman and sophomore years. I was even a math major for one semester. (When I discovered that I would have to take advanced calculus, I changed my major. Not because I was scared of the challenge. Because the course was only offered at 8 am five days a week. Back then, sleeping late was more important to me.)
Here is the best explanation of the Monty Hall Paradox/Problem that I have found. Plus David Krumholtz is kinda cute.
Or if you're a Kevin Spacey fan, here is a clip from the movie 21 explaining the same thing...
Any of those snippets could be turned into a 1000+ word blog post. I just never seem to run out of current thoughts to explore in details my past ones.
---------------------
I am also a big fan of lists. Here are some lists that I never finished enough to blog about...
Name the people in history you would like to have dinner with:
Bob Costas
Larry Mullen Jr.
Jeff Buckley (RIP)
Ryan Adams
Cameron Crowe
Why do I want to have dinner with them? I need time to discuss. That's the reason I haven't posted about that subject yet.
The Top 10 songs of the 1980's:
Change - Tears For Fears
I Melt with You - Modern English
The Great Commandment - Camouflage
The Promise - When In Rome
Dreaming – OMD
Just Like Heaven or The Lovecats or Boys Don't Cry - The Cure
Strangelove or Nothing (or really anything from their album Music for the Masses) - Depeche Mode
Don’t You Want Me - Human League
A Little Respect – Erasure
I can't finish the list because I could add to that list forever - and I can't narrow my choices down to ten.
As you can see, I was a fan of New Wave, pop and dance music in the 1980's. Interestingly though, back in the 1980's I was actually listening to Led Zeppelin and other classic rock gods much, much more than any of those other types of music. I don't think of any classic rock as having a time period. That music to me is timeless.
Here is the video for Camouflage's The Great Commandment. No matter how much I prod, Carlos swears he has never heard this song before.
And here is The Promise, When In Rome's only hit. This is my cousin Casie's Favorite Song of All Time...
I can't find a video for Depeche Mode's Nothing. How about a cute guy lip syncing to it?
In 1987, I was living in our fraternity house. That same year, I was the co-Social Chairman (along with my friends Todd and Sean. More on them one day soon), which meant in part that we had to plan and play the music for our parties.
Imagine 100+ (straight) frat boys dancing to Depeche Mode's Strangelove...
-------------------
This summary post of Cleaning Out The Attic is long. Imagine how long the actual posts could have been.
I do have enough material to fill another really long post, but I will stop here. I will finish this post with...
Quotes I Live By
Again, the explanation of each could fill a blog post...
"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut." - Ernest Hemingway
"Tart words make no friends; a spoonful of honey will catch more flies than a gallon of vinegar." - Benjamin Franklin
"It is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission." - Grace Hopper
"Alcohol. The cause of - and solution to - all of life's problems." - Homer Simpson
I have tons of Word files.
Tonight I'm going to clear out a lot of them.
---------------------
Sometimes the ideas are just the title of the Word file, that I know for sure I will remember later the significance, but of course over time forget. Song titles seem to be a popular starting point for me:
Desolation Boulevard (the name of an album by Sweet)
Love Vigilantes (the name of a song by New Order)
Tiny Dancer (from Elton John, resurrected by Cameron Crowe)
The references for the first two are lost to me, but my best guess about Tiny Dancer is that I wanted to discuss "Music Heals All Wounds" or "Cameron Crowe" as one of the answers to "Name the people in history you would like to have dinner with."
Here's the clip from Cameron Crowe's movie Almost Famous to help explain the former. The set up: Billy Crudup ditched the band to go party. The next morning he is found. The scene opens with the band's manager wishing the party goers goodbye, while the rest of the band are still resentful that Billy disappeared. Music heals the wound...
I have before mentioned how cool I think Dave Grohl is. Here is another reason:
-------------------------
Sometimes the ideas are snippets of thoughts:
- Scott and the bus stop trash can
- $5000 bank error in my favor
- Larry Tyler Moore Parties
- My job: Like a frog in water slowly boiling
- Paw Paw Was A Rolling Stone (We called my grandfather "Paw Paw")
- The Sauna and Super Balls
- In early 2009, I was an expert witness for a case involving the hospital I work with.
- Artificial Hoops
- The Monty Hall Paradox
Expanding on the last one: I have always been fascinated with math, math problems and math puzzles. The more complex the better!
In college, I tested out of my first two semesters of math. I got an A in both my third and fourth semesters. To make extra money, I tutored in the Math Lab during my freshman and sophomore years. I was even a math major for one semester. (When I discovered that I would have to take advanced calculus, I changed my major. Not because I was scared of the challenge. Because the course was only offered at 8 am five days a week. Back then, sleeping late was more important to me.)
Here is the best explanation of the Monty Hall Paradox/Problem that I have found. Plus David Krumholtz is kinda cute.
Or if you're a Kevin Spacey fan, here is a clip from the movie 21 explaining the same thing...
Any of those snippets could be turned into a 1000+ word blog post. I just never seem to run out of current thoughts to explore in details my past ones.
---------------------
I am also a big fan of lists. Here are some lists that I never finished enough to blog about...
Name the people in history you would like to have dinner with:
Bob Costas
Larry Mullen Jr.
Jeff Buckley (RIP)
Ryan Adams
Cameron Crowe
Why do I want to have dinner with them? I need time to discuss. That's the reason I haven't posted about that subject yet.
The Top 10 songs of the 1980's:
Change - Tears For Fears
I Melt with You - Modern English
The Great Commandment - Camouflage
The Promise - When In Rome
Dreaming – OMD
Just Like Heaven or The Lovecats or Boys Don't Cry - The Cure
Strangelove or Nothing (or really anything from their album Music for the Masses) - Depeche Mode
Don’t You Want Me - Human League
A Little Respect – Erasure
I can't finish the list because I could add to that list forever - and I can't narrow my choices down to ten.
As you can see, I was a fan of New Wave, pop and dance music in the 1980's. Interestingly though, back in the 1980's I was actually listening to Led Zeppelin and other classic rock gods much, much more than any of those other types of music. I don't think of any classic rock as having a time period. That music to me is timeless.
Here is the video for Camouflage's The Great Commandment. No matter how much I prod, Carlos swears he has never heard this song before.
And here is The Promise, When In Rome's only hit. This is my cousin Casie's Favorite Song of All Time...
I can't find a video for Depeche Mode's Nothing. How about a cute guy lip syncing to it?
In 1987, I was living in our fraternity house. That same year, I was the co-Social Chairman (along with my friends Todd and Sean. More on them one day soon), which meant in part that we had to plan and play the music for our parties.
Imagine 100+ (straight) frat boys dancing to Depeche Mode's Strangelove...
-------------------
This summary post of Cleaning Out The Attic is long. Imagine how long the actual posts could have been.
I do have enough material to fill another really long post, but I will stop here. I will finish this post with...
Quotes I Live By
Again, the explanation of each could fill a blog post...
"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut." - Ernest Hemingway
"Tart words make no friends; a spoonful of honey will catch more flies than a gallon of vinegar." - Benjamin Franklin
"It is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission." - Grace Hopper
"Alcohol. The cause of - and solution to - all of life's problems." - Homer Simpson
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Stairway To Foo
Every kid who picks up a guitar first wants to play Stairway to Heaven. Or Smoke On The Water.
It’s such a cliché that back in college while joining my manic-guitar-playing friend Jeff into a musical instrument store, I have personally seen “No Stairway” posted.
Led Zeppelin is, after U2, my All Time Favorite Band. Yet, I haven’t listened to Stairway all the way through in about 10 years.
Dave Grohl, the leader of the Foo Fighters and Nirvana’s former drummer, has always been a Zeppelin fan.
I really admire him:
1) He is established enough in his career that he can play live with Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones. In June, the Foo Fighters played a show at Wembley Stadium, joined by Page and Jones for the Zeppelin tunes Rock and Roll and Ramble On. According to this and other articles, Grohl says, “"Welcome to the greatest day of my whole entire life."
2) He is respected enough that he can play Stairway to Heaven live on Craig Kilborn, making fun of his presentation just enough that the audience knows that it’s cheezy, but playing it seriously enough to agree with the audience that the song should be granted reverence, no matter how overplayed it is.
Here are Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins covering Stairway To Heaven. Enjoy.
------------------
Update:
I did an further mention of ideas from this post here.
It’s such a cliché that back in college while joining my manic-guitar-playing friend Jeff into a musical instrument store, I have personally seen “No Stairway” posted.
Led Zeppelin is, after U2, my All Time Favorite Band. Yet, I haven’t listened to Stairway all the way through in about 10 years.
Dave Grohl, the leader of the Foo Fighters and Nirvana’s former drummer, has always been a Zeppelin fan.
I really admire him:
1) He is established enough in his career that he can play live with Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones. In June, the Foo Fighters played a show at Wembley Stadium, joined by Page and Jones for the Zeppelin tunes Rock and Roll and Ramble On. According to this and other articles, Grohl says, “"Welcome to the greatest day of my whole entire life."
2) He is respected enough that he can play Stairway to Heaven live on Craig Kilborn, making fun of his presentation just enough that the audience knows that it’s cheezy, but playing it seriously enough to agree with the audience that the song should be granted reverence, no matter how overplayed it is.
Here are Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins covering Stairway To Heaven. Enjoy.
------------------
Update:
I did an further mention of ideas from this post here.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Hurricane Gustav I - Evacuating
Carlos and I are evacuating New Orleans and going to Atlanta, where my younger sister lives. That's assuming Hurricane Gustav stays on his same path.
More on that later.
I wanted to share with you the mixed CD I made for the 10+ hour car ride. The theme is Hurricane.
Like A Hurricane - Neil Young
When The Levee Breaks - Led Zeppelin
Flood - Jars of Clay
Texas Flood - Stevie Ray Vaughn
Here Comes The Flood - Peter Gabriel
Flood - Sarah McLaughlin
Floods - Fightstar
The Levee - Jonny Lang
When The Levee Breaks - Dread Zeppelin
Riders on the Storm - The Doors
Stormy Weather - Etta James
Storm - Lifehouse
Shelter from the Storm - Bob Dylan
Riders on the Storm (live) - Creed
Riding The Storm Out - REO Speedwagon
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Typical Saturday Night
Carlos and I get along really well, and always have. We have never had a fight in the six plus years we've been dating.
I feel the main reason is because we are very similar - first children with younger sisters very close in age to us, Catholic upbringing, parents still married, and on and on.
In addition though, we celebrate the differences, instead of having them come between us.
Last night was a typical Saturday night for us. We sat around my house, watching TV, reading. After a night out Friday night at Vincent's going away party, it was a welcome rest for both of us. How we approached the night highlights our differences.
I had DVR'ed a two and a half hour Led Zeppelin concert from VH1 Classic and wanted to watch it with Carlos. He is always very patient with me when I go into my Music School mode: "Did you know that this Led Zeppelin song is a remake of an old blues song by Sonny Boy Williamson? Let me play it for you.", "Did you know that this song is from the first Zeppelin album that was released after Rober Plant's son Karac died? Let me show you a picture of him.", "The live version of this song has to be between 1975 and 1977. The album came out in 1975. Zeppelin never played the song in concert after 1977. They were superstitious in that they thought the song may have been a bad omen after Karac's death." (Click the links for the answers.)
Meanwhile, Carlos was reading Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austin.
Viva la difference!
To close, here is a Zeppelin cover band doing a great cover of a great song from Physical Grafitti.
I feel the main reason is because we are very similar - first children with younger sisters very close in age to us, Catholic upbringing, parents still married, and on and on.
In addition though, we celebrate the differences, instead of having them come between us.
Last night was a typical Saturday night for us. We sat around my house, watching TV, reading. After a night out Friday night at Vincent's going away party, it was a welcome rest for both of us. How we approached the night highlights our differences.
I had DVR'ed a two and a half hour Led Zeppelin concert from VH1 Classic and wanted to watch it with Carlos. He is always very patient with me when I go into my Music School mode: "Did you know that this Led Zeppelin song is a remake of an old blues song by Sonny Boy Williamson? Let me play it for you.", "Did you know that this song is from the first Zeppelin album that was released after Rober Plant's son Karac died? Let me show you a picture of him.", "The live version of this song has to be between 1975 and 1977. The album came out in 1975. Zeppelin never played the song in concert after 1977. They were superstitious in that they thought the song may have been a bad omen after Karac's death." (Click the links for the answers.)
Meanwhile, Carlos was reading Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austin.
Viva la difference!
To close, here is a Zeppelin cover band doing a great cover of a great song from Physical Grafitti.
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