Is Louie Louie Obscene?
Put on the song Louie Louie and you'll have baby boomers up and dancing in no time! They'll feel like it's still 1966.
The Smoking Gun reports on the FBI's investigation of The Kingsmen song Louie Louie. The idea of this song being obscene is quite comical. There is nothing close to controversial in the lyrics! You can find copies of the original documents at The Smoking Gun website.
Related Tags: The Kingsmen, Louie Louie, Smoking Gun, FBI, music, 60s
No Relation to Celine
Dion DiMucci (better known as simply Dion) is the only performer from the day the music died who did not take the plane ride that fateful day. Being the only survivor from this tour took Dion on a profound Spiritual Journey.
I recently saw Dion perform a live concert for National Public Radio. Dion has a new album of Blues covers and is still a great performer. If you are not familiary with his work, here is a video for A Teenager in Love and sound clips for Runaround Sue and The Wanderer. Have a nice weekend!
Related Tags: Dion, Dion DiMucci, Buddy Holly, Spiritual Journey, NPR, National Public Radio, The Wanderer, music, rock and roll
Buddy Holly’s Unreleased Final Recordings
After yesterdays post about The Hollies, I wanted to post about one Holly- Buddy. Buddy Holly, best known as one of the creators of Rock and Roll, had great songs such as Peggy Sue, That'll be the Day, and Oh Boy. Prior to his untimely death- the day the music died- Holly recorded his final recordings in his living room. I really enjoy the recordings and I am not sure why they are not yet released on record. Enjoy.
Related Tags: Buddy Holly, Final recordings, The Hollies, Rock and Roll, music
Lost Melodies of the British Invasion
I was searching on the Internet to see if I could find more information about The Hollies. They were part of the British Invasion along with The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Their sound reminds me a bit of The Beatles, their harmonies are tight like Peter, Paul, and Mary. It's no wonder the vocals are so good- Graham Nash was in The Hollies prior to joining Crosby, Stills, Nash, and (sometimes) Young.
Anyway, I love the song Bus Stop and was looking to see if this group had any more lost melodies waiting to be found. I was thrilled to find a ton of great stuff! The best, most obscure of the songs would be Very Last Day. The song is a fantastic cover of a Peter, Paul, and Mary song featured on In The Wind. I can't believe it was never a hit! Other songs worth checking out are Sorry Suzanne, Hey Willy, Here I go again, Do the Best You Can and Stop, Stop, Stop.
Be Sure to check out tomorrows post: Buddy Holly’s Unreleased Final Recordings
Related Tags: The Hollies, British Invasion, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Peter Paul and Mary, Graham Nash, Crosby Stills and Nash, Bus Stop, Lost Melodies, Music, Classic Rock
All You Zombies
In addition to Moby Grape, The Zombies are another classic rock group that doesn't get it's due. Though the song Times of Season is on heavy rotation on classic rock stations, the songs Tell her no and one of my favorites- She's Not There are … never there! Check out these lost melodies and have a nice weekend!
Related Tags: Moby Grape, The Zombies, Classic Rock, Times of Season, music, lost melodies
Beware of Super Groups!
What do you get when you add Bob Dylan, The Beatles' George Harrison, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne (lead singer from the Electric Light Orchestra)? No, not a Fatboy Slim remix. Not a new mash-up by DJ Dangermouse. You get the Traveling Wilburys! The group lasted only two albums- the second one lacking Roy Orbison- he died of a heart attack. The first album- Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 is worth listening to, though it seems that it is out of print. But, don't expect it to be something that its not! Each one of the artists is great on their own. It doesn't mean that this super group will make this the best album ever made! Their work is different than other works by these artists and I do enjoy it. Anyway, check out this video of one of the nice songs from the first album: Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1- End of The Line. Other songs I enjoy are Tweeter and The Monkey Man, and Handle With Care.
Related Tags: Traveling Wilburys, George Harrison, Beatles, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne, Electric Light Orchestra, ELO, Fatboy Slim, Mash-up, DJ Dangermouse, End of the Line, Tweeter and The Monkey Man, Handle With Care
Bill Graham Presents
Bill "Wolfgang" Graham, legendary 60s concert promoter, died in the 1991 in a helicopter accident. Born in Germany, Graham was sent to France to live during World War II and thus escaped the horrors of the Nazis. However, many family members, including his mother were not so lucky. This history did not stop Bill Graham from thriving in his professional life. Graham had a knack for creating incredible concert bills. There has yet to be a promoter quite like him. Some of his lineups included:
Grateful Dead opening for Miles Davis
Jim Morrison and The Doors with Van Morrison
Muddy Waters with Buffalo Springfield and Richie Havens.
Jefferson Airplane with Jimi Hendrix
Luckily, Graham had the foresight to record many of his concerts. Today, Vault Radio provides free streaming music his live collection. The rest of the site, Wolfgang's Vault, offers an impressive number of posters, T-shirts, and other music related items for sale.
I hope that the recordings featured on Vault Radio will be transfered onto CDs and MP3s so generations to come will hear the brilliance that was created with the help of Bill Graham.
Related Tags: Bill Graham, Grateful Dead, Jim Morrison, The Doors, Van Morrison, Muddy Waters, Buffalo Springfield, Richie Havens, Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, Hendrix, Vault Radio, Wolfgang's Vault, classic rock, music
Soul Food
It will be 35 years this October that the late great Duane Allman died in a motorcycle accident at the age of 24. His performances with the Allman Brothers Band and with Derek and the Dominos on Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs are legendery. It is amazing that the Allman Brothers Band continued long after Duane's untimely death. And, continue to perform even to this day.
The only songs by the Allman Brothers I have heard on the radio are Ramblin' Man and Melissa- fine songs indeed. Another one of my favorite songs is Whipping Post. While searching the blogs, I came across a killer jam of You Don't Love Me- Soul Serenade by the Allman Brothers with an intro by Duane himself. Don't miss out on this. It's the best live recording I have heard in a while. It knocked my socks off!
Related Tags: Duane Allman, Allman Brothers, Ramblin Man, Melissa, Duane, jam, motorcycle, live, music
Stop requesting Stairway!!!
Just about every live concert I go to, someone yells "Stairway!" Though usually the band on stage ignores the desperate cry for a Led Zeppelin cover song, many do not. I was surprised to find a site that has over 60 versions of Stairway to Heaven! Maybe now people will stop requesting this song. Or… maybe not. Have a nice weekend!
Related Tags: Led Zeppelin, Stairway, Stairway to Heaven, music, Classic Rock
What makes your big head so hard?
When I went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three years ago, I was glued to the listening station. Learning about the greats of Rock And Roll past, I came across an artist known as Louis Jordan and His Tympany Band. Jordan was a singer, saxophone player, and band leader. Now this guy really knew how to party! BB King paid tribute to Louis Jordan with an entire album of Louis Jordan tunes. I love the style, lyrics, and energy that Louis Jordan brings to his mix of early rock and roll with a big band flair. Check out one of the many great songs of Louis Jordan- Caldonia. And a version performed by BB King.
Related Tags: BB King, Rock and Roll, Louis Jordan, Music, Caldonia
