Hi everyone, we’re on the final week of our month long look at the music of the second British Invasion of the Sixties, which ran from June of 1967 through the end of the sixties.
Next week we’ll start a month long look and listen to some of the best soul artists of the sixties.
For this final week of July, we’ll be taking a listen to the music of Procol Harum, King Crimson & The Small Faces. And on a beginning note, just in case anyone isn’t familiar with the music of these three bands two of them, Procol Harum and King Crimson, produced music that is more down the experimental progressive path and the third, Small Faces features music that is more of the straight ahead rock n roll variety.
I. Freegal Music Recommendations Of The Week (streaming music):
Procal Harum: Procol Harum formed in the U.K. in the mid-sixites. The original line-up included singer and keyboardist Gary Brooker, lyricist Keith Reid, Ray Royer on guitar, Matthew Fisher on organ, Dave Knights on bass and Bobby Harrison on drums. Also of note, the band’s lead guitarist from 1968-1971 was Robin Trower who received greater acclaim in the 1970s as a solo artist.
Procol Harum’s best known songs include: A Whiter Shade of Pale, A Salty Dog, Beyond the Pale, Ceredes, Grand Hotel and Conquistador.
In the sixties the group released three LPs:
Procol Harum (1967)
Shine on Brightly (1968)
&
A Salty Dog (1969)
The Freegal Music Catalog doesn’t feature any albums by Procol Harum but they do offer several by guitarist Robin Trower including one he did with Cream bassist, songwriter and singer Jack Bruce titled Songs From The Road – which is a great album, although it does hearken more to the heavier guitar music played in the seventies than what we expect to hear from musicians and bands of the sixties – which is fair as the album was recorded in 2009!
Songs From The Road
The album was recorded live and features the songs Distance Places of the Heart, Sunshine of Your Love, So Far Yesterday, Just Another Day, White Room and Politician.
Also in the Freegal Music Catalog is the Robin Trower solo album Living Out of Time Live which features the songs Sweet Angel, What’s Your Name & Rise Up Like The Sun.
King Crimson: King Crimson wasn’t a singles band. Instead during the late sixties, when psychedelic music was in vogue, they produced music that blended rock, jazz and classical elements. The group was together only five years and had a shifting line-up; however, the key players in the group during that time included experimental guitarist Robert Fripp, lyricists Peter Sinefield, multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald later of Foreigner, Greg Lake later of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, bassist Peter Giles and drummer Mike Giles.
Some of King Crimson’s best known songs include: 21st Century Schizoid Man, Dinosaur, Easy Money, Fracture, I Talk To The Wind & Elephant Talk.
The Freegal Music Catalog doesn’t contain any King Crimson albums; however, the do feature a full-length spoken album by Robert Fripp. And when I say “spoken” what I mean is that this LP features a live non-musical recording Robert Fripp made before an audience – it is an interesting album if you’d like to know more about Robert Fripp, his humor and his recording career – check it out!
For those that would prefer to stream music by King Crimson – here’s a link to YouTube to stream their song Moonchild from their first LP In the Court of the Crimson King:
Small Faces: The AllMusic biography of the Small Faces notes that they “were the best English band never to hit it big in America. Outside Europe, all anybody remembers them for is their sole hit, “Itchycoo Park,” which was hardly representative of their psychedelic sound, much less their full musical range — but in England, Small Faces were one of the most extraordinary and successful bands of the mid-’60s, serious competitors to the Who and potential rivals to the Rolling Stones.” And I think that assessment is spot on accurate! Small Faces were a great classic rock band whose original line-up consisted of Steve Marriott on guitar and vocals, Ronnie Lane on bass and backing vocals, Jimmy Winston on organ and future Who member Kenney Jones on drums.
Some of their best known songs include: Shake, What’cha Gonna Do About It, Itchycoo Park, Afterglow, Rene, Lazy Sunday and My Way of Giving.
The group released four albums in the sixties:
Small Faces (Decca Records, 1966)
Small Faces (Immediate Records, 1966)
Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake (1968)
There Are But Four Small Faces (1969)
In 1970 Steve Marriott left the band to form Humble Pie and the group was Ron Wood and Rod Stewart join the band for the album First Steps. The original band’s name came about due to the fact that Marriott, Lane, Winston and Wood were all of short stature – Ron Wood and Rod Stewart, on the other hand, are tall – so after they joined the group the band dropped the small from their name and simply became the Faces.
I’m going to recommend two albums by the Small Faces, their 1966 Immediate label self-titled album Small Faces and Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake from 1967.
Small Faces (Immediate Records)
This album features mono and stereo recordings and includes the songs: (Tell Me) Have You Ever Seen Me? Something I Want To Tell You, Feeling Lonely, Happy Boys Happy. Things Are Going To Get Better and more:
This is the group’s debut album. It contains the songs: A Whiter Shade of Pale, Conquistador, Salad Days, She Wandered Through the Garden Fence and Cerdes (Outside the Gates Of).
Here’s a link to request the CD version of the LP:
In the Court of the Crimson King – 30th Anniv. Ed.
That a group has a 30th anniversary special edition of an album tells us that the album is worth a listen to! This first King Crimson album contains the following songs: 21st Century Schizoid Man (Including Mirrors, I Talk To The Wind, Epitaph (Including March For No Reason/Tomorrow And Tomorrow, Moonchild (Including The Dream/The Illusion)& The Court Of The Crimson Song (Including The Return Of The Fire Witch/The Dance Of The Puppets)
Here’s the link to request the CD version of the album:
As I mentioned when I recommended this album as streaming favorite – it is a great LP that was obviously very influences by Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – but this one has a more playful nature to it. If you haven’t heard it – I highly recommend it!
21st Century Schizoid Man (Live at Hyde Park 1969)
Cat Food-Top Of The Pops March 1970
Small Faces:
Itchycoo Park
Lazy Sunday Afternoon
IV. References:
Print:
The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits by Joel Whitburn (Billboard Books. New York. 2009.)
Sixties Rock: A Listener’s Guide by Robert Santelli (Contemporary Books. Chicago. 1985.)
Online References:
All artist/group biographical information is from the AllMusic site except as noted. The AllMusic site is found at: http://www.allmusic.com/
Have a great day!
Linda, SSCL
P.S. If you have any questions about how to download or stream free music through the Freegal Music service to a desktop or laptop computer or how to download and use the Freegal Music app let us know! Drop by the library or give us a call at: 607-936-3713
*You must have a library card at a Southern Tier Library System member library to enjoy the Freegal Music Service. Your card can be from any library in the system, and the system includes all public libraries in Steuben, Chemung, Yates, Schuyler and Allegheny Counties and including our own Southeast Steuben Count Library in Corning, New York. Library cards are free and at our library you can obtain one by visiting the Circulation Desk and presenting staff with a form of ID that features both your name and your current address.
Hi everyone, this is week 3 of our month long look at the music of the second British Invasion of the Sixties which ran from June of 1967 through the end of the sixties.
This week we’ll be taking a listen to the music of The Moody Blues, Jethro Tull and Joe Cocker.
I. Freegal Music Recommendations Of The Week (streaming music):
The Moody Blues: The Moody Blues started out as an R&B group and through the sixties transitioned into a group that featured rich orchestrations as a background for their musical story telling. The band formed in Birmingham in 1964 and originally consisted of Denny Laine on guitar and vocals, Mike Pinder on keyboards and vocals, Ray Thomas on harmonica and vocals, Clint Warwick on bass and Graeme Edge on drums. This line-up had one hit – 1964’s Go Now. After the release of their first single Laine and Warwick left the group and John Lodge (bass) and Justin Heyward (guitar/vocals) joined the band – and thus their classic line up was in place.
The Moody Blues released six albums in the sixties:
The Magnificent Moodies (1965)
Go Now (1965)
Days of Future Passed (1967)
On the Threshold of a Dream (1968)
To Our Children’s Children’s Children (1969)
Freegal Moody Blues Streaming Suggestion:
Lovely To See You…Live
The Freegal Music catalog doesn’t feature any studio albums by the Moody Blues. However, they do have a greatest hits live LP from 2005 which features many of the band’s classic sixties songs and some from the seventies and eighties too.
Here’s the song list for Lovely to See You Live:
1. Lovely to See You, 2. Tuesday Afternoon, 3. Lean on Me (Tonight), 4. The Actor, 5. Steppin’ in a Slide Zone , 6. The Voice, 7. Talking Out of Turn, 8. I Know You’re Out There Somewhere, 9. The Story In Your Eyes, 10. Forever Autumn, 11. Your Wildest Dreams, 12. Isn’t Life Strange, 13. The Other Side of Life, 14. December Snow, 15. Higher and Higher, 16. Are You Sitting Comfortably?, 17. I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock & Roll Band), 18. Nights in White Satin, 19. Question, 20. Ride My See-Saw
Jethro Tull: Jethro Tull formed in England in the mid-sixties and its classic sixties line-up consisted of multi-instrumentalist Ian Anderson on vocals, Glenn Cornick on bass, Mick Abrahams on guitar and Clive Bunker on drums.
I think Bruce Elder well sums up the appeal of Jethro Tull’s music in his AllMusic bio of the band when he says “Jethro Tull were a unique phenomenon in popular music history. Their mix of hard rock, folk melodies, blues licks, surreal, impossibly dense lyrics, and overall profundity defied easy analysis, but that didn’t dissuade fans from giving them 11 gold and five platinum albums.” I agree with that assessment! Jethro Tull produces music that blends a number of musical styles, more than the average rock band by far, and as a result offers a great listening experience.
Jethro Tull’s released two LPs in the Sixties:
This Was (1968)
& Stand Up(1969)
And although their sixties albums sound great, I can’t help but mention that they produced some really great albums in the seventies too – of particular note are Aqualung (1971), Thick As A Brick (1972) and Minstrel in the Gallery (1975) all three of which are requestable in StarCat
Freegal Jethro Tull Streaming Suggestion:
Aqualung Live:
The Freegal Catalog features a few studio albums by Jethro Tull and even a Christmas album; but none of the studio albums they released in the sixties or seventies.
However, the Catalog does feature the Aqualung Live album recorded in 2005 – it sounds slightly mellower than the original to my ears but is well worth a listen here’s the link:
Joe Cocker: British R&B singer Joe Cocker hit number 1 in the U.K. with his cover of The Beatles With A Little Help From My Friends in 1968. The following year he appeared at Woodstock and his energized performance has gone down in rock history.
Cocker’s first three albums, With A Little Help From My Friends (1968), Joe Cocker! (1969) and the double live Mad Dogs & Englishmen (1970) cemented his reputation as one of the greatest classic rock singers. His vintage sixties songs include the aforementioned With A Little Help From My Friends, Delta Lady, Cry Me A River, She Came in Through the Bathroom Window, High Time We Went and The Letter.
Also of note, after the sixties he had two huge hits; the ballad You Are So Beautiful in 1975 and a number 1 duet with Jennifer Warnes – Up Where We Belong in 1982.
The Freegal Music Catalog does feature several of Joe Cocker’s studio albums; however, they are all from the 1990s. You can check out his With A Little Help From My Friends album on CD – for more information check out the CD Recommendations Section below.
Joe Cocker Freegal Streaming Suggestion:
Have A Little Faith
If you’d like to stream one of Joe Cocker’s albums to get a musical taste of the waters, as it were, you can stream a solid album of his from 1994 called Have a Little Faith. The album features the following songs: Let the Healing Begin, Have a Little Faith In Me, The Simple Things, Summer In the City, Soul Time and Angeline.
Days of Future Passed:
This 1967 album was a watermark album for the group because it ventured beyond the classic rock format offering a concept album that told the story of a day and had the band backed by the London Festival Orchestra.
Here is the song list for the LP:
1. The Day Begins
2. Dawn: Dawn is A Feeling
3. The Morning: Another Morning
4. Lunch Break: Peek Hour
5. The Afternoon: Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?)/Time to Get Away
6. Evening: The Sun Set/Twilight Time
7. The Night: Nights in White Satin
And here’s a link to request a CD version of Days of Future Passed:
The band’s first three albums, This Was, Stand Up & Benefit are available in one multi-disc collection.
Here is the song list for the CD set:
Disc: 1 (This Was)
1. My Sunday Feeling (2001 Remastered Version)
2. Some Day the Sun Won’t Shine for You (2001 Remastered Version)
3. Beggar’s Farm (2001 Remastered Version)
4. Move on Alone (2001 Remastered Version)
5. Serenade to a Cuckoo (2001 Remastered Version)
6. Dharma for One (2001 Remastered Version)
7. It’s Breaking Me Up (2001 Remastered Version)
8. Cat’s Squirrel (2001 Remastered Version)
9. A Song for Jeffrey (2001 Remastered Version)
10. Round (2001 Remastered Version)
Disc: 2 (Stand Up)
1. A New Day Yesterday (2001 Remastered Version)
2. Jeffrey Goes to Leicester Square (2001 Remastered Version)
3. Bouree (2001 Remastered Version)
4. Back to the Family (2001 Remastered Version)
5. Look Into the Sun (2001 Remastered Version)
6. Nothing Is Easy (2001 Remastered Version)
7. Fat Man (2001 Remastered Version)
8. We Used to Know (2001 Remastered Version)
9. Reason for Waiting (2001 Remastered Version)
10. For a Thousand Mothers (2001 Remastered Version)
Disc: 3 (Benefit)
1. With You There to Help Me
2. Nothing to Say
3. Alive and Well and Living in
4. Son
5. For Michael Collins, Jeffrey and Me
6. To Cry You a Song
7. A Time for Everything
8. Inside
9. Play in Time
10. Sossity You’re a Woman
This is Joe Cocker’s second album and features twelve classic songs: Feelin’ Alright, Bye Bye Blackbird, Change In Louise, Marjorine, Just Like A Woman, Do I Still Figure In Your Life?, Sandpaper Cadillac, Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood, With A Little Help From My Friends, I Shall Be Released, The New Age Of Lily & Something’s Coming On.
Woodstock: The 40th Anniversary Edition:This DVD features the entire performance of every artist filmed at Woodstock. This footage has been archived since that history-making weekend and has only recently been re-discovered. Never before has the complete performance been shown. And Joe Cocker’s career making performance is including in this set.
(And yes, I’m fudging it a bit to recommend this song/video as it is from the 80s — but it is still a fun song & video!)
Jethro Tull:
A Song For Jeffrey & My Sunday Feeling
Aqualung
A New Day Yesterday
Joe Cocker:
With A Little Help From My Friends
She Came In Through The Bathroom Window
Feelin’ Alright
IV. Print References:
The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits by Joel Whitburn (Billboard Books. New York. 2009.)
Sixties Rock: A Listener’s Guide by Robert Santelli (Contemporary Books. Chicago. 1985.)
Online References:
All artist/group biographical information is from the AllMusic site except as noted. The AllMusic site is found at: http://www.allmusic.com/
Have a great day!
Linda, SSCL
P.S. If you have any questions about how to download or stream free music through the Freegal Music service to a desktop or laptop computer or how to download and use the Freegal Music app let us know! Drop by the library or give us a call at: 607-936-3713
*You must have a library card at a Southern Tier Library System member library to enjoy the Freegal Music Service. Your card can be from any library in the system, and the system includes all public libraries in Steuben, Chemung, Yates, Schuyler and Allegheny Counties and including our own Southeast Steuben Count Library in Corning, New York. Library cards are free and at our library you can obtain one by visiting the Circulation Desk and presenting staff with a form of ID that features both your name and your current address.
Hi everyone, this is week 2 of our month long look at the music of the second British Invasion of the Sixties, which encompasses music of British bands released between June 1967 and the end of the Sixties.
This week we’ll be taking a look at the music of Jeff Beck, Pink Floyd & Traffic.
I. Links to AllMusic Biographies of the Artists/Groups of the Week:
II. Freegal Music Recommendations Of The Week (streaming music):
Jeff Beck: Jeff Beck, is one of the guitarists of the Sixties that you can truly describe as a guitarist’s guitarist in the same way you might say a writer is a writer’s writer – meaning of course, that he has great skill in the way he plays the guitar. Like many of his contemporaries Beck went to art school before launching a music career. He replaced Eric Clapton in the Yardbirds before forming the Jeff Beck Group in 1967 with future Faces and solo artist Rod Stewart on vocals, future Faces and Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood on bass and Mickey Waller on drums. This line-up released two albums which to my ears hold up well. Beck has always been a great guitarist and he seems to care much more for playing his guitar than making commercial records, as is illustrated by his releasing a number of all instrumental albums over the years, so in many ways these first two albums he made with the classic Jeff Beck Group line-up, and including a great vocalist, are the most accessible to rock fans.
So here are links to stream those first two LPs and a greatest hits collection titled Beckology:
Pink Floyd: Pink Floyd formed in London in 1965 and the original line-up of the band included Syd Barrett on guitar and lead vocals, Roger Waters on bass and vocals, Nick Mason on drums and Richard Wright on keyboards. Barrett was the main songwriter for the band’s first two LPs, Piper at the Gates of Dawn and Saucerful of Secrets. Longtime Pink Floyd member David Gilmore join the band on guitar after the recording of their first LP. After Barrett’s departure in 1968, Waters took over as the group’s main songwriter. And of course, the band went on to release one of the most successful albums of all time with their 1973 masterpiece Dark Side of the Moon.
And notably, streaming-wise, the Freegal Music Catalog is full of Pink Floyd albums!
Traffic: Traffic formed in 1967 and featured the then 19-year-old singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Steve Winwood, Dave Mason on guitar and vocals, Chris Wood on flute and other reed instruments and Jim Capaldi on drums and vocals.
Traffic released four albums in the sixties: Mr. Fantasy (1967), Heaven Is in Your Mind (1967), Traffic (1968) & Last Exit (1969).
Unfortunately, The Freegal Music Catalog doesn’t feature any albums by Traffic. However, they do offer a version of The Blind Faith classic Can’t Find My Way Home by the songwriter himself – Steve Window – recorded live in concert and from from the forthcoming album Winwood’s Greatest Hits Live which is being released September 1.
And coming soon the band’s excellent third album the self-titled Traffic which has a record in StarCat but isn’t quite ready to circulate yet — here’s the link to use once the CD’s status changes to available:
I’ve included this DVD set as the 1981 Amnesty International benefit ball, The Secret Policemen’s Other Ball, features some wonderful guitar playing by both Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton. And I recall being in the old Record Town down at the Arnot Mall in Big Flats, NY, in the early eighties, and hearing the album and asking where they had copies to purchase — only to be told the album they were playing, with that great guitar music, belonged to a staff member and they didn’t have any copies in the store to sell!
The Secret Policeman shows featured both comedy acts and music – here’s a review from Amazon that offers more information on the set: Imagine Saturday Night Live, in its heyday, but as a live series of hot-ticket events, with the best stand-up comics, sketch actors, and rockers of the time, held to benefit a good cause–all with a decidedly British accent. That comes close to describing the magic mayhem of The Secret Policeman’s Ball performances held as fund-raisers for Amnesty International from the late ’70s through the late ‘80s. This boxed set is a pop culture fan’s dream; included are all the members of Monty Python, Rowan Atkinson, Hugh Laurie (pre-House and pre-Black Adder), Dudley Moore, Peter Cook, Jennifer Saunders, and the Beyond the Fringe troupe–and that’s just the comics. Musicians include Sting, Pete Townshend, Phil Collins, Lou Reed, Joan Armatrading, and duets between Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck, and Mark Knopfler and Chet Atkins. And a very baby-faced Bob Geldof, who admits in an interview that these Balls spawned the idea for Live Aid and other events for charity. The best gem of all–and the best place to start to appreciate the depth and breadth of the series–is a 2004 documentary featuring interviews with some of the original shows’ principals, looking back on their younger selves and the current of the times. John Cleese, the true ringmaster of the events, recalls making the original phone calls and arranging for a West End theater to be available after its regular production ended. The programs became so popular that they made stars of the youngsters (Laurie, Stephen Fry, Atkinson), and brought worldwide attention for the first time to Amnesty International. Some bits are beloved and done here again–including the Pythons’ “Lumberjack Song” and “The Dead Parrot.” Cleese recalls, and the filmmakers oblige by including, a speech Margaret Thatcher later gave in the ‘80s where she repeated the “Dead Parrot” bit line for line about a piece of legislation–and bringing the audience to its knees. A young Barry Humphreys (Dame Edna, as a brunette) and a bushy-haired Billy Connolly are also delightful. The music acts are delicious, including Townshend’s acoustic duet with the American classical guitarist John Williams, and Phil Collins appearing onstage at a piano solo for the first time ever. Equal parts silly and inspiring, this boxed set will be in heavy rotation for the comedy and music fan. –A.T. Hurley, Amazon.com
Additionally, the shows feature historic unplugged performances by Pete Townshend, Sting, Phil Collins, Bob Geldof, Peter Gabriel, Donovan, Jackson Browne, Lou Reed, Kate Bush and Joan Armatrading. Also featured are rare duets from guitar legends Eric Clapton & Jeff Beck and Mark Knopfler & Chet Atkins.
The Balls:
Pleasure At Her Majesty’s (1976)
The Secret Policeman’s Ball (1979)
The Secret Policeman’s Other Ball (1981)
The Secret Policeman’s Third Ball (1987)
The Secret Policeman’s Biggest Ball (1989)
And here’s a link to request the entire Secret Policeman’s collection via StarCat:
Dear Mr. Fantasy recorded live in Santa Monica, California in 1972
Bonus Videos:
Jeff Beck & Eric Clapton playing Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers from The Secret Policeman’s Other Ball — the intro by the concert organizer is interesting but if you want to skip that and just listen to the music — fast forward to about 2 minuets into the clip.
Eric Clapton & Jeff Beck playing Shake Your Money Maker from the 2010 Crossroads Concert:
V. Print References:
The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits by Joel Whitburn (Billboard Books. New York. 2009.)
Sixties Rock: A Listener’s Guide by Robert Santelli (Contemporary Books. Chicago. 1985.)
Online References:
Jeff Beck’s AllMusic Discography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine https://goo.gl/F8yrsU
A Guitar Hero Won’t Play the Game by Larry Rohter published in The New York Times – February 12, 2010: https://goo.gl/GbtD
Jeff Beck Talks Seeing Jimi Hendrix, Topical New LP https://goo.gl/G0gnqh
Pink Floyd’s All Music Discography by Richie Unterberger by Richie Unterberger https://goo.gl/cWDcyM
P.S. If you have any questions about how to download or stream free music through the Freegal Music service to a desktop or laptop computer or how to download and use the Freegal Music app let us know! Drop by the library or give us a call at: 607-936-3713.
*You must have a library card at a Southern Tier Library System member library to enjoy the Freegal Music Service. Your card can be from any library in the system, and the system includes all public libraries in Steuben, Chemung, Yates, Schuyler and Allegheny Counties and including our own Southeast Steuben Count Library in Corning, New York. Library cards are free and at our library you can obtain one by visiting the Circulation Desk and presenting staff with a form of ID that features both your name and your current address.
Hi everyone, this week we’re kicking off a month long look at what author Robert Santelli, Sixties Rock: A Listener’s Guide, deems The Second British Invasion – this is the music British artists and bands put out between June 1967 and the end of the sixties.
You can think of the rock music of the sixties as having a musical call and response pattern. British musicians and bands who became popular in the early sixties were influenced by traditional American Rock and R&B artists of the fifties — artists including Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins and Little Richard. And and you can hear that influence in their music – in the sounds of British Invasion bands like the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Dave Clark Five and The Hollies. Those bands in turn, influenced the playing of American bands including The Beach Boys, The Monkees, Paul Revere & The Raiders, The Young Rascals etc.
Then in the aftermath of the release of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in June 1967, you get that sort of call and response pattern again – although it starts to spread out like pebbles thrown in water as Sgt. Pepper’s was a colossally influential album, and is arguably, the greatest rock album ever released. The music on Sgt. Pepper’s influenced all rock musicians and bands on both sides of the pond for the rest of the sixties, into the seventies and beyond. Certainly, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band sounded more experimental than any rock album released before it; and its release heralded a new more progressive and experimental era in Rock history.
In the aftermath of the release of Sgt. Pepper’s you hear albums that are more innovative and that start seriously taking Rock Music past its youth focused beginnings; albums like The Rolling Stone’s Beggar’s Banquet, The Who’s The Who Sell Out, Traffic’s Dear Mr. Fantasy, Days of Future Passed by the Moody Blues, Piper At The Gates of Dawn by Syd Barret era Pink Floyd and the classic Small Face’s LP Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake.
But enough musical pondering, on to the bands of the week!
So to kick this month long look at the British Invasion music of the late sixties, we’ll start off listening to the music of the three biggest bands of the era: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones & The Who and the albums they released between 1967 and 1969.
And as a reminder, our weekly music postings feature the following sections:
I. Links to AllMusic Biographies of the Artists/Groups of the Week
II. Freegal Music Recommendations Of The Week (streaming music)
III. CD Music Recommendations Of The Week
IV. Videos Of This Weeks’ Artists/Groups
V. References (for those who’d like to know a bit more about the artists of the week).
I. Links to AllMusic Biographies of the Artists/Groups of the Week:
The Beatles AllMusic Biography by Richie Unterberger:
II. Freegal Music Recommendations Of The Week (streaming music):
Unfortunately, The Freegal Music Catalog doesn’t contain any studio albums by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones or The Who. So for the artists specific LP recommendations skip down to the next section – CD Music Recommendations Of The Week.
And for the Freegal streaming suggestions of the week – here are some albums perfect for your summer listening pleasure!
Gorgoni, Martin & Taylor (1972) by Gorgoni, Martin & Taylor
This band’s music contains a great mix of acoustic guitars, traditional rock vibes and a few country threads thrown in for good measure. I’d never heard of this album or band before I stumbled across it in the Freegal Catalog. I don’t know who the Gorgoni and Martin of the group are/were but I was able to discover that the Taylor of the title is the classic rock songwriter Chip Taylor, who interestingly was born John Wesley Voigt and is the brother of the actor Jon Voigt. Chip Taylor is best known as a songwriter although he has also put out his own albums which range from 1971’s Gasoline to 2017’s A Song I Can Live With. Some of his songs that have been made popular by other artists include: I Can’t Let Go recorded by The Hollies, Make Me Belong To You recorded by Barbara Lewis, I Can Make It With You recorded by Jackie DeShannon, Step Out Of Your Mind recorded by The American Bread, Angel of the Morning originally recorded by Merrilee Rush and later by Juice Newton, and the classic rock anthem Wild Thing recorded by The Troggs and many other bands over the years. Getting back to the Gorgoni, Martin & Taylor album, the songs on the LP include: Fuzzy, Choo Choo Sharoo, You Crazy Girl and the Beatlesque Something About The Sunshine.
Here’s a link to stream the Gorgoni, Martin & Taylor LP: https://goo.gl/jrBcZo
Angel of the Morning by Marilee Rush:
Speaking of Marilee Rush, the singer who originally recorded the Taylor song Angel of the Morning, The Freegal Music Catalog features her Angel of The Morning album – which has a light, breezy 1970s country-folk feel to it. The album includes the title track, Taylor’s It’s All Worth It, Sandcastles, San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair), What The World Needs Now and a version of Hush which is quite interesting as it is much lighter in style than the better known Deep Purple version.
And at this point I’ll admit, I got a bit carried away with gathering listening suggestions for this week! The Freegal Music Catalog has some really fantastic musical gems to listen to; if you just have the time to hunt a little bit! And if you don’t have that time – you can just check out our weekly music postings! For the sake of trying to keep this posting semi-short, which admittedly is hard for me, for the rest of this week’s Freegal suggested listens I’m going to list the genres, albums/artists, a list of a few of the songs on each LP and the links to stream them – check them out!
Pop/Rock/Surf Music:
Classic Rock/Pop/Folk & Country: Jukebox Oldies Rockin’ Summer Vol. 1 – Great Rock, Surf, And Soul Songs of the 50s, 60s, And 70s with the Beach Boys, Link Wray, Sam & Dave, The Byrds, Little Richard, And More!
This 16 song set, with the massively long title, contains the following songs: Soul Man by Sam & Dave, Poison Ivy by The Coasters, Rumble by Link Wray, Mack the Knife by Bobby Darin, Mr. Tambourine Man by The Byrds, Surfin’ Safari by The Beach Boys, Pipeline by The Chantays an Surf City by Jan and Dean.
Guitar Legend: The Very Best Of Dick by Dick Dale:
This 15 song greatest hits collection by the the legendary Surf guitarist, contains the following songs: Miserlou, Let’s Go Trippin’, Hava Nagila, Riders In The Sky, Night Rider and Surf Buggy.
This is the 1965 debut album by the Lovin’ Spoonful. The album features twelve songs including: Do You Believe In Magic, Blues In The Bottle, Did You Every Have To Make Up Your Mind?, The Otherside Of This Life, Alley Oop & On The Road Again.
Here’s the link to the Do You Believe In Magicalbum:
And since no summer would be complete without hearing the Lovin’ Spoonful’s Summer In The City at least once, here’s a link to the album Hums of the Lovin’ Spoonful which contains that song and 16 other classic pop/rock tunes:
The Complete Recordings (1964-1968) by Ronnie & The Daytonas:
More fun Surf music! Songs include: G.T.O., Hot Rod Baby, California Bound, The Little Stingray That I Could, Surfin’ In The Summertime, When The Stars Shine Bright and more – 48 songs in all.
Here’s the link to stream the Ronnie & The Daytonas collection:
Skeeter Davis is sometimes classified as a country artist; to my ears though, her music sounds like classic pop music. This neat album features the songs: Under The Boardwalk, That Warm Summer Night, Remember (Walkin’ in the Sand), Sunglasses, That Summer Sunset and a vocal version of the classic Theme to a Summer Place.
Here’s a link to stream the Singin’ In the SummerLP:
This album really is just a great folk album and it is a stretch to classify it a “summer album,” because it only contains one summer themed song – Summer Days Alone. Even so it is a fun record that includes the songs: Frogg No. 2, The Tavern Song, Lady Greensleeves, Ole Smokey &Tarrytown.
Also available by The Brothers Four is a more in-depth collection titled Greenfields and Other Folk Music Greats – First Five Albums which contains, just what it says it does — their first five albums recorded in 1960 & 1961:
This is an entertaining orchestral pop album and contains the following songs: Mr. Lucky (Goes Latin), Rain Drops In Rio, The Dancing Cat, Cow Bells and Coffee Beans & Tango Americano.
Theme From A Summer Place And Other Great Themes by Billy Vaughn And His Orchestra:
This is another cool orchestral album prefect for listening to while relaxing by the pool or reading near the air conditioner. The album includes the songs Theme From A Summer Place, Tammy, Fascination, Some Enchanted Evening & All The Way.
This various artists collection contains 32 songs including: Papa Loves Mambo by Perry Como, Put On A Happy Face by Tony Bennett, You Are The Sunshine Of My Life by Liza Minnelli, A Steel Guitar And A Glass of Wine by Paul Anka, Green, Green Grass of Home by Elvis Presley, Wonderful! Wonderful! by Johnny Mathis, Day-O by Harry Belafonte, Italian Mambo by Rosemary Clooney and many others – this is a great classic easy listening collection.
Summer Solstice 2 by Various Artists (A Windham Hill Collection):
This LP contains what used to be called New Age Music – and is what Windham Hill fans will expect – generally light, smooth and atmospheric songs including: Birds In Flight by George Winston, Cruisin’ Negril by W. G. “Snuffy” Walden, No Na Mamo by Taj Mahal and A Child’s Song by Will Ackerman.
Jazz:THE MUSIC OF AMERICA: Inventing Jazz – Dave Brubeck by Dave Brubeck
Songs in the set include: The Duke, Ode To A Cowboy, Dialogues for Jazz Combo and Orchestra (with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra), The Golden Horn, Kathy’s Waltz & Non-Sectarian Blues.
This album, by Singer Jackie Cain and Singer-Pianist Roy Kral, includes the songs: Day By Day, Lazy Afternoon, Summer Song/Summertime, We Could Be Flying and more.
A fun collection for kids, this singalong set includes the songs: Barefootin’, Catch A Wave, In The Gold Old Summertime, Yes!We Have No Bananas, Bicycle Built For Two, On Top of Spaghetti &The Hokey Pokey.
Here’s the link to stream the 50 Best Summer Songs LP:
This musical is based upon the composer Antonin Dvorak’s visit to Iowa. And I was surprised to stumble across a classic musical whilst browsing through the Freegal Music Catalog! Songs include: Just Around The Corner,Once A Year Is Not Long Enough, Murphy’s Pig & Sing Me A Song.
All the albums released by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones & The Who between 1967 and 1970 are worthy of a listen; so I’m going to start out by listing the albums each group released during that pivotal three year period and then suggest several albums that are in the library’s collection.
The Beatles Albums Released Between 1967 – 1970:
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
Magical Mystery Tour Soundtrack (1968)
The Beatles (aka The White Album) (1968)
Yellow Submarine (1969)
Abbey Road (1969)
Let It Be (1970)
The Rolling Stone’s Albums Released Between 1967 – 1970:
Between the Buttons (1967)
Flowers (1967)
Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967) (And yes, they really did title an album “Their Satanic Majesties Request” – they were playing their bad-boy-anti-Beatles alternative band persona to the hilt)
Beggars Banquet (1968)
Let It Bleed (1969)
Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out (1970)
The Who’s Albums Released Between 1967 – 1971:
And I know that is really a baker’s dozen three years! However, I just couldn’t leave out the classic album Who’s Next which was released in 1971.
The Who Sell Out (1967)
Tommy (1969)
Live At Leeds (1970)
Who’s Next (1971)
The Beatles:
If you’re new to listening to Beatles albums, and I’m sure there are few people out there that have heard their songs on the radio but never listen to their albums, I’d recommend you start with their masterpiece Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band as it is recognized by most music fans and critics to be their best album. If you’re game to listen to a second full-length album by the band I’d recommend the one that is my personal favorite – Abbey Road. All The Beatles albums are available for request through StarCat.
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Song List:
1. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
2. With a Little Help from My Friends
3. Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
4. Getting Better
5. Fixing a Hole
6. She’s Leaving Home
7. Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!
8. Within You Without You
9. When I’m Sixty-Four
10. Lovely Rita
11. Good Morning Good Morning
12. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
13. A Day in the Life
Here’s a link to request the CD version of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band:
Between The Buttons, Flowers & Beggars Banquet will be available for request in StarCat soon.
In the meantime, the greatest hits collection Hot Rocks 1964-71is available for request. This two disc set contains 21 songs including: Time Is On My Side, Play With Fire, Satisfaction, Ruby Tuesday, Street Fighting Man and Jumpin’ Jack Flash.
P.S. If you have any questions about how to download or stream free music through the Freegal Music service to a desktop or laptop computer or how to download and use the Freegal Music app let us know! Drop by the library or give us a call at: 607-936-3713*You must have a library card at a Southern Tier Library System member library to enjoy the Freegal Music Service. Your card can be from any library in the system, and the system includes all public libraries in Steuben, Chemung, Yates, Schuyler and Allegheny Counties and including our own Southeast Steuben Count Library in Corning, New York. Library cards are free and at our library you can obtain one by visiting the Circulation Desk and presenting staff with a form of ID that features both your name and your current address.
Hi everyone, here are our recommended titles for today.
Our digital suggestion for today is the downloadable audio book:
The Rose Rent by Ellis Peters:
A late spring in 1142 brings dismay to the Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, for there may be no roses by June the twenty-second. On that day the young widow Perle must receive one white rose as rent for the house she has given to benefit the abbey or the contract is void. When nature finally complies, a pious monk is sent to pay the rent, but discovers that the rose bush has been destroyed and he is then found murdered inside it. The abbey’s wise herbalist, Brother Cadfael, follows the trail of bloodied petals. He knows the lovely widow’s dowry is far greater with her house included, and she will likely wed again. But before Cadfael can ponder if a greedy suitor has done this dreadful deed, another crime is committed. Now the good monk must thread his way through a tangle more torturous than the widow’s thorns.
Here’s a link to the checkout/request page in the Digital Catalog:
Perfect for fans of J. Courtney Sullivan’s The Engagement or Graeme Simpson’s The Rosie Project, The Reminders follows what happens when a girl who can’t forget befriends a man who’s desperate to remember.
Grief-stricken over his partner Sydney’s death, Gavin sets fire to every reminder in the couple’s home before fleeing Los Angeles for New Jersey, where he hopes to find peace with the family of an old friend. Instead, he finds Joan.
Joan, the family’s ten-year-old daughter, was born Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory, or HSAM: the rare ability to recall every day of her life in cinematic detail. Joan has never met Gavin until now, but she did know his partner, and waiting inside her uncanny mind are startlingly vivid memories to prove it.
Gavin strikes a deal with Joan: in return for sharing her memories of Sydney, Gavin will help her win a songwriting contest she’s convinced will make her unforgettable. The unlikely duo set off on their quest until Joan reveals unexpected details about Sydney’s final months, forcing Gavin to question not only the purity of his past with Sydney but the course of his own immediate future.
Told in the alternating voices of these two irresistible characters, The Reminders is a hilarious and tender exploration of loss, memory, friendship, and renewal.
P.S. The library is closed today in observance of the July 4th holiday. We’ll be open our regular hours on Wednesday – 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Online Catalog Links:
StarCat: The catalog of physical materials, i.e. print books, DVDs, audiobooks on CD etc. http://starcat.stls.org/
The Digital Catalog: The catalog of e-books, downloadable audiobooks and a handful of streaming videos: https://stls.overdrive.com/
Freegal Music Service: This music service is free to library card holders and offers the option to download, and keep, three free songs per week and to stream three hours of commercial free music each day: http://stlsny.freegalmusic.com/
Zinio: Digital magazines on demand and for free! Back issues are available and you can even choose to be notified by email when the new issue of your favorite magazine is available: https://www.rbdigital.com/stlschemungcony
About Library Apps:
You can access digital library content on PCs, Macs and mobile devices. For mobile devices simply download the OverDrive, Freegal or Zinio app from your app store to get started. If you have questions call the library at: 607-936-3713 and one of our Digital Literacy Specialists will be happy to assist you.
Hi everyone, this week we’re concluding our cliff notes look and listen at the music of the American rock bands that came to prominence just after the Beatles appearances on the Ed Sullivan Shown in 1964 .
This week our three groups are: The Bobby Fuller Four, Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels and Tommy James & The Shondells.
And just as reminder, each weekly recommended music posting features the following sections:
I. Links To AllMusic Biographies Of The Weekly Artists/Groups
II. Freegal Music Recommendations Of The Week (streaming music)
III. Compact Discs Of The Artists/Groups Of The Week
IV. Videos Of The Artists/Groups Of The Week
V. Books Related To The Artists/Groups of The Week
VI. References (for those who’d like to know a bit more about the artists of the week).
I. Links To AllMusic Biographies Of The Weekly Artists/Groups:
The Freegal Music Catalog homepage will display — it looks like this:
The Freegal Music app can be found in your app store and it looks like this:
II. Freegal Music Recommendations Of The Week (streaming music):
The Bobby Fuller Four: Bobby Fuller was born on October 22, 1942 in Baytown, Texas. Fuller was a huge fan of both Buddy Holly and British Invasion rock and you can hear those influences in the The Fuller Four’s playing – they played enthusiastically up-tempo classic rock. In addition to singer-songwriter and guitarist Bobby Fuller, the Fuller Four band included Bobby’s brother Randy Fuller on bass, Jim Reese on guitar and DeWayne Quirico on drums.
The group recorded two albums in the mid-sixties, KRLA King of the Wheels & I Fought the Law and had a huge hit with the title track from their second main stream album, I Fought The Law. But sadly, their success was short lived; as Bobby Fuller was mysteriously found dead in his car in Hollywood, California on July 18, 1966.
The band’s most notable songs include: I Fought The Law, California Sun, Another Sad and Lonely Night, Never To Be Forgotten and The Magic Touch.
You’ll have noted that I said, two paragraphs above, the I Fought The Law album was the second “main stream” album released by the Bobby Fuller Four…I used that terminology because the group recorded dozens of songs during the period 1960-1964 while still living in their home state of Texas, and before they moved to Los Angeles and broke into the big time with their first major label release the LP KRLA Kings of the Wheels.
The Freegal Music Catalog doesn’t feature either the KRLA LP nor the I Fought The Law LP; however, what it does features is cooler still — a collection of early recordings made by the band before the moved to L.A. including original versions of songs that later became hits for them including their top ten smash I Fought The Law. The collection is titled El Paso Rock: Early Recordings Volume 3, and features 26 songs including the previously mentioned I Fought The Law, You Made Me Cry, Summertime Blues, She’s My Girl and California Sun.
Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels: Mitch Ryder, the driving force behind the group, pun intended, was born William Levise Jr. on February 26, 1945 in Hamtramk, Michigan. Ryder was a huge Rhythm & Blues fan and you can hear that influence in the gritty sound of his music. In the sixties he put together a backing band, The Detroit Wheels, that consisted of Jim McCarty and Joe Cubert on guitars, Early Elliott on bass and John Badanjek on drums. The group recorded for only a year and half before Ryder split from his back-up band and went solo but in that time they recorded four classic albums: Take A Ride (1964), Breakout…!!! (1966), What Now My Love (1967) and Sock It To Me (1967) and had several hits including: Jenny Takes A Ride!, Little Latin Lupe Lu, Devil With A Blue Dress On & Good Golly Miss Molly (medley), Sock It To Me-Baby and What Now My Love.
The Freegal Music Catalog doesn’t feature any of the original albums by Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels; however, it does contain a Best of Mitch Ryder album that features an older Ryder singing his classic hits in a more mature, deeply felt style. The Best of LP features all the previously mentioned hits by Mitch and the Detroit Wheels sans the song What Now My Love.
Tommy James & The Shondells: Singer-songwriter and guitarist Tommy James was born Thomas Jackson on April 29, 1947 in Dayton, Ohio. His sixties back-up band, the Shondells, featured Eddie Grey on guitar, Ronnie Rosman on organ, Mike Vale on bass and Pete Lucia on drums. The group released eight albums between 1966 and 1969 and then James went solo.
The band’s hits include: Hanky Panky, Say I Am, I Think We’re Alone Now, Mirage, I Like The Way, Mony Mony, Crimson And Clover, Sweet Cherry Wine and Crystal Blue Persuasion.
The Freegal Music Catalog features a great live LP of Tommy James singing all his hits – the aptly titled Tommy James Greatest Hits Live:
III. Compact Discs Of The Artists/Groups Of The Week:
The Bobby Fuller Four:
KRLA King of the Wheels & I Fought The Law Double LP Set:
This 24 song set features the two break out albums recorded by The Bobby Fuller Four in Los Angeles. The LPs contain all their hits, some re-recorded in L.A. Songs in the set include: Fool of Love, Never to Be Forgotten, Another Sad and Lonely Night, Let Her Dance, I Fought The Law, Julie and Thunder Reef.
Here’s a link to request the double Bobby Fuller Four CD in StarCat: https://goo.gl/65dNo5
Mitch Ryder:
Rev Up: The Best of Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels by Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels:
This greatest hits collection, released by the great Rhino Records, features all of the best known songs released by Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels including: Jenny Takes A Ride,You Get Your Kicks, Snake A Tail Feather, Devil With The Blue Dress On/Good Golly Miss Molly & Sock It To Me, Baby!
The Original Album Collection by Tommy James & The Shondells:
This set contains five of the first six classic LPs released by Tommy James & The Shonells: Hanky Panky, I Think We’re Alone Now, Mony Mony, Crimson & Clover and Cellophone Symphony. And those albums feature great classic rock songs including: Hanky Panky, Don’t Throw Our Love Away, I Think We’re Alone Now, California Sun, Gone Gone Gone and Mony Mony.
Here’s a link to StarCat to request the Original Album Collection: https://goo.gl/q4yqE5
IV. Videos Of The Artists/Groups Of The Week:
Bobby Fuller Four:
Let Her Dance & Another Sad & Lonely Night from the Shivaree! TV Show
I Fought The Law
Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels:
C.C. Rider
Devil With A Blue Dress On
Tommy James & The Shondells:
Mony Mony
Crimson And Clover
V. Books Related To The Artists/Groups of The Week:
Me, the Mob, and the Music: One Helluva Ride with Tommy James & The Shondells by Tommy James and Martin Fitzpatrick https://goo.gl/ZN9wWY
VI. References
Artists Specific References:
Bobby Fuller References:
Bobby Fuller AllMusic Biography by Richie Unterberger https://goo.gl/EcziVg
Tommy James & the Shondells AllMusic Discography by Bruce Eder https://goo.gl/xGTi8Q
General References:
The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits by Joel Whitburn (Billboard Books. New York. 2009.)
Sixties Rock: A Listener’s Guide by Robert Santelli (Contemporary Books. Chicago. 1985.)
Have a great day!
Linda, SSCL
P.S. If you have any questions about how to download or stream free music through the Freegal Music service to a desktop or laptop computer or how to download and use the Freegal Music app let us know! Drop by the library or give us a call at: 607-936-3713.
*You must have a library card at a Southern Tier Library System member library to enjoy the Freegal Music Service. Your card can be from any library in the system, and the system includes all public libraries in Steuben, Chemung, Yates, Schuyler and Allegheny Counties and including our own Southeast Steuben Count Library in Corning, New York. Library cards are free and at our library you can obtain one by visiting the Circulation Desk and presenting staff with a form of ID that features both your name and your current address.
Hi everyone, this week we’re continuing our look at the sounds of American rock bands that came to musical prominence in the era just after the Beatles arrived in America in 1964 — so we’re roughly looking at music released between 1964 – 1969 but music that is more traditional rock than late sixties heavy rock.
And this week our three groups are: The Turtles, The Beau Brummels & The Velvet Underground.
And just as reminder, each weekly recommended music posting features the following sections:
I. Links To AllMusic Biographies Of The Weekly Artists/Groups
II. Freegal Music Recommendations Of The Week (streaming music)
III. Compact Discs Of The Artists/Groups Of The Week
IV. Videos Of This Weeks’ Artists/Groups
VI. References (for those who’d like to know a bit more about the artists of the week).
The Freegal Music Catalog homepage will display — it looks like this:
The Freegal Music app can be found in your app store and it looks like this:
II. Freegal Music Recommendations Of The Week:
The Turtles: The Turtles were a great pop/rock group that formed in Los Angeles in the mid-sixties. Singer-songwriter friends and lead vocalist Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan were the driving force behind the group and they sang with cheerful gusto. The original group also consisted of Al Nichol on keyboards, Jim Tucker on guitar, Chuck Portz on bass and Don Murray on drums.
The band’s hits include: Happy Together, a cover of Dylan’s It Ain’t Me Babe, You Baby, Let Me Be, She’d Rather Be With Me and Eleanor.
The Turtles put out the following albums in the sixties, and you’ll be glad to know A. that they are all top notch albums and B. that they are all available to stream through Freegal!
It Aint’ Me Babe (1965)
You Baby/Let Me Be (1966)
Happy Together (1967)
The Turtles Present the Battle of the Bands (1968)
Turtle Soup (1969)
Also of note, a 20 song greatest hits collection, released after the sixties and compiled by Volman and Kaylan titled Save The Turtles: The Turtles Greatest Hits.
Save The Turtles: The Turtles Greatest Hits:
This LP contains all the band’s hits and some other gems too like Guide for the Married Man, Chevrolet Camaro Commercial, Story of Rock and Rock and You Know What I Mean.
Here’s a link to stream the album Save The Turtles: The Turtles Greatest Hits: https://goo.gl/3iNBd3
The Beau Brummels: The Beau Brummels were a thoughtful pop-rock-folk band that formed in San Francisco in the mid-sixties. The group featured Sal Valentino on vocals, Ron Meagher on bass, John Peterson on drums and Ron Elliot on guitar.
The group only had two pop hits, Laugh Laugh and Just A Little. However, to my ears they were way underrated. Their music is what we’d describe today as deep and rich pop rock and the Freegal Music Catalog has several of their albums.
I’m going to recommend you give a listen to their first LP titled Introducing The Beau Brummels. This album features their hits Laugh Laugh and Just A Little and is full of great classic rock songs – harmonizing Beatlesque vocals, guitar, bass drums, keyboard and not a synthesizer in sight (or sound!) Other songs on the LP include: Still In Love With You Baby, Oh Lonesome Me, Stick Like Glue, That’s If You Want Me Too and I Want More Love.
The Velvet Underground:The Velvet Underground consisted of Lou Reed on vocals and guitar, John Cale on vocals, bass, viola and organ, Sterling Morrison on guitar and first Angus MacLise and then Maureen Tucker on drums.
The band released three albums in the sixties:
The Velvet Underground with Nico (1967),
White Light/White Heat (1968)
and The Velvet Underground (1969).
And The Velvet Underground’s music might be described as art rock or Avant Garde rock – overall it really does sound like experimental music from the seventies and not the sixties.
The Freegal Catalog doesn’t contain any albums by the Velvet Underground; however, it does feature one song – Noise from the various artist collection East Village Other and two tribute albums the various artists collection American Velvet: A Tribute to The Velvet Underground and an LP titled Solo Slide Guitar: The Velvet Underground and Nico by Mike “Slo-Mo” Brenner.
Here’s a link to the East Village Other LP which features the song Noise: https://goo.gl/q26TzQ
American Velvet: A Tribute to The Velvet Underground:
This collection features the songs:Foggy Notion by Jane Wieldlin, Here She Comes Now by Frank Agnew, I’m Set Free by Temple of Ho, I Can’t Stand It by 20-20 and more.
Solo Slide Guitar: The Velvet Underground and Nico by Mike “Slo-Mo” Brenner:
For those who prefer more traditional pop, rock, country or folk music – this album might just be the ticket introduction to The Velvet Underground’s music. This instrumental album features the following songs: Sunday Morning, I’m Waiting for the Man, Run, Run, Run, I’ll be Your Mirror,There She Goes Again and more – all played on a mellow sounding slide guitar.
III. Compact Discs of The Artists/Groups Of The Week:
As I’m running out of week as I’m typing this I’m going to simply note the titles and links to request the CDs by our groups for this week – they’re all worth listening to – please check them out!
The Velvet Underground:
This isn’t actually a video features the album cover for the first Velvet Underground album, The Velvet Underground with Nico, and allows you to stream the entire album from YouTube with a few commercials thrown in for good measure!
VI. General References & Artist Specific References:
P.S. If you have any questions about how to download or stream free music through the Freegal Music service to a desktop or laptop computer or how to download and use the Freegal Music app let us know! Drop by the library or give us a call at: 607-936-3713.
*You must have a library card at a Southern Tier Library System member library to enjoy the Freegal Music Service. Your card can be from any library in the system, and the system includes all public libraries in Steuben, Chemung, Yates, Schuyler and Allegheny Counties. And includes our very own Southeast Steuben Count Library in Corning, New York! Library cards are free and at our library you can obtain one by visiting the Circulation Desk and presenting staff with a form of ID that features both your name and your current address.
Hi everyone, this week we’re continuing our look at the sounds of American rock bands that came to musical prominence in the era just after the launch of the British Invasion.
And this week our three groups are: Paul Revere & The Raiders, The Association & The Young Rascals who later dropped the “Young” from their name and simply became The Rascals.
And just as a reminder, each weekly recommended music posting features the following sections:
I. Links To AllMusic Biographies Of The Weekly Artists/Groups
II. Freegal Music Recommendations Of The Week (streaming music)
III. Recommended Compact Discs Of The Artists/Groups Of The Week
Freegal Notes:
To access Freegal Music from a desktop or laptop simply click on the following link: http://stlsny.freegalmusic.com/
The Freegal Music Catalog homepage will display — it looks like this:
The Freegal Music app can be found in your app store and it looks like this:
II. Freegal Music Recommendations Of The Week:
Paul Revere & The Raiders:
Paul Revere & the Raiders were one of the most popular American bands of the mid-sixties. They sold more records between 1966 and 1969 than any other bands with the exception of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
The creator and driving force behind the group was Paul Revere Dick, who was better known simply as Paul Revere. Revere played keyboards, organized the band, managed the band, came up with the idea for their eighteenth century costumes and even worked hard after their sixties heyday to keep the band’s music alive on the oldies circuit. The band featured a number of musicians during their most popular years, 1966 – 1971,although only two were constant: Revere on keyboards and Mark Lindsay on vocals. The group frequently appeared on the weekday broadcast of the TV Show Where The Action Is which broadcast the band’s music to millions of Americans on a regular basis and no doubt this helped get their music out to the listening public at large!
The group’s hits include: Just Like Me, Kicks, Hungry, Good Thing, Him Or Me – What’s It Gonna Be? and Indian Reservation (The Lament Of The Cherokee Reservation Indian).
Here’s a link to stream their Greatest Hits album from Freegal: https://goo.gl/5PaKTa
The Association:
The Association was a very popular band whose singles charted repeatedly during the two year period 1966-1968. The band formed in Los Angeles and consisted of Jim Yester, Russ Giguere, Gary Alexander and Larry Ramos on guitars, Brian Cole on bass and Ted Bluechel on drums. All the band members sang and their lush, harmony-rich singles quickly became pop music staples. The bands hits include: Along Comes Mary, Cherish, Wendy, Everything That Touches You and Never My Love.
The Freegal Music Catalog features a number of songs The Association re-recorded after the sixties (think K Tel style). And as we all know, re-recorded versions of hits by the same group, in subsequent years, can’t usually hold a candle to the original versions.
So I’m going to recommend you actually skip streaming any Association music from Freegal. Instead, check out the videos listed below and the Original Album Series collection by the group as soon as it is available.
The Rascals:
The Rascals, who were originally known as The Young Rascals, formed in New York City and were one of the most popular “Blue-Eyed Soul” groups of the sixties. The band consisted of Felix Cavaliere on organ and vocals, Eddie Brigati on vocals and bass, Gene Cornish on guitar and vocals and Dino Danelli on drums. All members of the band, save Danelli, had previously been members of the early sixties group Joey Dee & The Starlighters – known for their hit ThePeppermint Twist.
The Rascal’s sixties his include: Good Lovin’, You Better Run, I’ve Been Lonely Too Long, Groovin’, A Beautiful Morning and How Can I Be Sure.
Unfortunately, the Freegal Music Catalog doesn’t contain any sixties studio albums by The Rascals. However, the catalog does contain a mellow and fun album from the band released in 1972 titled The Island of Real. The songs on this album sound very much like their sixties songs and include: Lucky, Saga of New York, Jungle Walk, Island of Real &Time Will Tell.
This studio album contains a great collection of classic rock songs including the tunes: Good Thing, All About Her, In My Community, Hungry, The Great Airplane Strike, Our Candidate &1001 Arabian Nights.
Here’s a link to request Spirit of ’67 (as soon as it is available): https://goo.gl/8nDwGe
The Association:
The Original Album Series:
This collection, which should be available in StarCat soon, makes up for the fact that you can’t stream any original studio albums by The Association through Freegal. And it does so as it contains all the music on their first five albums – so it includes all their bright, breezy, harmonizing hits and many more great songs!
The albums included in the collection are: And Then… Along Comes the Association (1966), Renaissance (1966), Insight Out (1967), Birthday (1968) & The Association (1969).
This is perfect music for summer!
Here’s a link to request The Original Album Collection (The Association) as soon as it is available:
The library has one album by The Rascals aready in circulation and an Original Album Set currently in process.
Ultimate Rascals
This LP, which you can request now, contains some really great songs including: I Aint’ Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore, Mustang Sally, Good Lovin‘ and People Got To Be Free.
The Original Album Series (The Rascals):
This set allows you to dig deeper into the classic rock sound of The Rascals as it contains, and you guessed it! all the music on their first five albums.
The AllMusic Review of this multi disc set by Steve Leggett sums it up nicely so here it is: “The Rascals’ blend of blue-eyed soul, British Invasion pop, and garage band R&B made them one of the more interesting American rock groups of the 1960s. This set, which includes the band’s first five original LPs, 1966’s The Young Rascals, 1967’s Collections and Groovin’, 1968’s Once Upon a Dream, and 1969’s Freedom Suite, shows the band’s rapid growth and expansion into psychedelic rock, urban soul, and other areas, even incorporating gospel, jazz, and Latin elements into the mix. It adds up to a complete portrait of a fine singles band with a whole lot of heart and soul.”
And perhaps needless to say this collection contains all their sixties hits.
The set will be available in StarCat & our New CD Section shortly and here’s the link to request it as soon as it is available:
Sixties Rock: A Listener’s Guide by Robert Santelli (Contemporary Books. Chicago. 1985.)
Have a great day!
Linda, SSCL
P.S. If you have any questions about how to download or stream free music through the Freegal Music service to a desktop or laptop computer or how to download and use the Freegal Music app let us know! Drop by the library or give us a call at: 607-936-3713
*You must have a library card at a Southern Tier Library System member library to enjoy the Freegal Music Service. Your card can be from any library in the system, and the system includes all public libraries in Steuben, Chemung, Yates, Schuyler and Allegheny Counties and including our own Southeast Steuben Count Library in Corning, New York. Library cards are free and at our library you can obtain one by visiting the Circulation Desk and presenting staff with a form of ID that features both your name and your current address.
Hi everyone, this week we’re concluding our cliff notes look at the first British Invasion. And in June our musical theme will be the American Response to that First British Invasion!
And as it has been super, super busy in Library Land this week this will be a cliff notes posting – as I’ve just run out of week!
But we’ll hit the high notes and you’ll be able to stream or request some great music with new CDs of the artists of the week to be available shortly.
The Freegal Music Catalog homepage will display — it looks like this:
The Freegal Music app can be found in your app store and it looks like this:
II. Freegal Music Recommendations Of The Week:
The Spencer Davis Group:
The Spencer Davis Group was a blue eyed soul group consisted of Steve Winwood in his pre-Traffic, Blind Faith and solo artist days, on keyboard and vocals, his brother Muff Winwood on bass, drummer Peter York and guitarist Spencer Davis. The band played organ-centric rock and their best known songs include: Keep On Running, I’m A Man and Gimme Some Lovin’.
I’m A Man
From the LP Soul Goes Psychedelic
The Freegal Music Catalog features many albums by The Spencer Davis group. However, most of them do not feature Steve Winwood on vocals.
I did manage to find a radio version of I’m A Man that features Steve Winwood on vocals – on a collection titled Soul Goes Psychedelic. The collection also features music by The Brothers Johnson, Santana, Blues Image, The Soul Survivors and Ike & Tina Turner.
The Yardbirds: The Yardbirds are best known for three of the great rock guitarists that played in the band in the sixties: Eric Claption, Jeff Beck & Jimmy Page. The group played a mix of traditional rock and R&B; and the original band consisted of Keith Relf on vocals and harmonica, Chris Deja and Anthony Topham on guitars, Paul Samwell-Smith on bass and Jim McCartey on drums. Eric Clapton replaced Topham in 1963 and he was in turn replaced by Jeff Beck in 1965. Jimmy Page joined the band in 1966. The group disbanded in 1968 and Page formed a new group, original called the New Yardbirds, which shortly after forming changed their name to Led Zeppelin.
The Yardbirds Story:This 89 song collection features every recording The Yardbirds made from 1963 – 1966. The set includes A Certain Girl, Heart Full of Soul, Shapes of Things, Five Long Years and more. https://goo.gl/le9jhu
The Who:
The Who formed in London in the early sixties and consisted of Roger Daltrey on vocals, Pete Townshend on guitar, John Entwistle on bass and Keith Moon on drums. The band had, to say the least, a very energetic and flamboyant stage presence.
And for the purposes of this posting we’re only talking about their sixties music – I feel I should point that out in case you’re not familiar with their work –and also as they put out some great albums in the seventies.
The Freegal Music Catalog features only one album by The Who all on their own – titled The Who Live. The album was put out by Discos Cada Records in 2011. The recordings seems to be of the band playing live and the sound and editing quality is only average at best. However, if you’re a major Who fan you might want to check it out: https://goo.gl/XF0912
Freegal Wild Card Streaming Pick Of The Week:
Bob Dylan – The Complete Album Collection – The 60’s
Since Bob Dylan’s birthday was this week, May 24 to be exact, I’m going to recommend you stream at least part of the set The Complete Album Collection – The 60’s which does indeed feature all the songs on all of Dylan’s sixties albums. This is great music for a holiday weekend: https://goo.gl/wGVvOz
III. Compact Discs Recommendations:
The Spencer Davis Group:
Eight Gigs a Week: The Steve Winwood Years:
This collection features all of the 51 songs recorded by the band while Steve Winwood was with them! So you get the hits, including Keep On Running, I’m A Man & Gimme Some Lovin’ and many more songs.
This Rhino records collection features the band’s hits released between 1964 and 1966. Including the songs: For Your Love, Evil Hearted You, Shapes of Things and A Certain Girl: https://goo.gl/DymOl2
Also coming soon is The Yardbirds Story on CD – this the same 89 song set mentioned in the streaming section – this time in a four compact disc set.
You can’t request the set just yet – but here is the link to the request page: https://goo.gl/MXMM1v
IV: Videos Of This Weeks’ Artists/Groups:
Spencer Davis Group:
I’m A Man
Gimme Some Lovin’
Yardbirds:
I Wish You Would (With Eric Clapton)
For Your Love (With Jeff Beck)
Heart Full of Soul (With Jimmy Page)
The Who:
Anyway Anyhow Anywhere
I Can’t Explain
VI. General References:
The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits by Joel Whitburn (Billboard Books. New York. 2009.)
Sixties Rock: A Listener’s Guide by Robert Santelli (Contemporary Books. Chicago. 1985.)
P.S. If you have any questions about how to download or stream free music through the Freegal Music service to a desktop or laptop computer or how to download and use the Freegal Music app let us know! Drop by the library or give us a call at: 607-936-3713.
*You must have a library card at a Southern Tier Library System member library to enjoy the Freegal Music Service. Your card can be from any library in the system, and the system includes all public libraries in Steuben, Chemung, Yates, Schuyler and Allegheny Counties and including our own Southeast Steuben Count Library in Corning, New York. Library cards are free and at our library you can obtain one by visiting the Circulation Desk and presenting staff with a form of ID that features both your name and your current address.
Hi everyone, this week we’re continuing our look at the sounds of the first British Invasion that ran, roughly, from February of 1964 to May 31, 1967.
And as a reminder, each weekly recommended music posting features following sections:
I. Links To AllMusic Biographies Of The Weekly Artists/Groups
II. Freegal Music Recommendations Of The Week (streaming music)
III. CD Music Recommendations Of The Week
IV. Videos Of This Weeks’ Artists/Groups
V. Wild Card Print Book Recommendation Of The Week
VI. References (for those who’d like to know a bit more about the artists of the week).
Our artists for this week are The Rolling Stones, The Kinks & The Animals.
And just FYI as a beginning note, since we’re taking a look at the early years of The British Invasion you won’t find recommendations for any music released after the end of May 1967. We’ll take a look at the music of the second British Invasion, that ran from June 1, 1967 through the end of the sixties in July.
Freegal Notes:
To access Freegal Music from a desktop or laptop simply click on the following link: http://stlsny.freegalmusic.com/
The Freegal Music Catalog homepage will display — it looks like this:
The Freegal Music app can be found in your app store and it looks like this:
II. Freegal Music Recommendations Of The Week:
The Rolling Stones:
Carol from the Various Artists LP Canciones Con Nombre De Mujer Vol. 2
The Rolling Stones original line-up included Mick Jagger on vocals, Keith Richards on guitar, Brian Jones on guitar, Bill Wyman on bass and Charlie Watts on drums. And the Freegal Music Catalog doesn’t contain any full-length albums by The Rolling Stones. However, I did discover the catalog features a live version of The Stones covering Chuck Berry’s Carol that offers you a good idea of their early sound.
Here’s a link to the live version of Carol is from the Various Artists LP Canciones Con Nombre De Mujer Vol. 2 https://goo.gl/fu0VTT
The Kinks:
The Kinks (1964):
This is indeed the first album released by The Kinks. The original line-up of the group included brothers Ray and Dave Davies on guitars, Mick Avery on drums and Peter Quaife on bass. And this album showcases their early, raw classic rock sound as epitomized by songs like You Really Got Me and All Day And All Of The Night. As the sixties progressed and Ray Davies songwriting skills matured the sounds of the band transformed into a smoother more polished style of rock. This collection of music though, aptly shows off the early, earthy sound of the Kinks and includes the songs: You Really Got Me, Beautiful Delilah, So Mystifying, Too Much Monkey Business, I’m A Lover Not A Fighter, Revenge and Stop Your Sobbing. https://goo.gl/em4bPZ
The Animals:
The Animals On Their Own – The Dave Cash Collection:
If you’re wondering who on Earth Dave Cash was? You’re not alone! I’d never heard of him before I did the research for this posting. It turns out he was the British equivalent to Dave Clark — a long time D J who worked for The B.B.C. for more than fifty years.
But I digress! Back to The Animals! The Animals original line-up included Eric Burdon on vocals, John Steel on drums, Alan Price on keyboard, Chas Chandler on bass and Hilton Valentine on guitar. The group played really great traditional rhythm and blues based rock. And unlike The Stones and The Kinks who branched out stylistically by writing their own songs The Animals remained true to their traditional R&B and rock roots – and you can hear that in all their music.This collection offers a great introduction to the band including the songs: House Of The Rising Sun, Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood, Bring It On Home, When I was Young and Hard Times.
Here is an interesting album featuring a mixture of fuzzy guitars and clear vocals – today I suppose you’d classify this album as Indie Rock. I like the sound of this Australian band and also, being a cat fan, I like the name of the group too!
The Summer Cats:
Songs for Tuesdays
“The Summer Cats aren’t the kind of cats who like to curl up and purr the day away, they’re more apt to chase things, run around wildly, and basically tear stuff up. The Australian quintet states their aim as clearly as possible on the first track of their first album Songs for Tuesdays. “Let’s Go” bursts out of the gate with a supercharged Flying Nun-inspired attack (the Clean especially, but also some early Chills too) built around fuzzy guitars, peppy organ, and shouted vocals. The rest of the album follows in kind with barely a break for breath. Thirteen songs in 32 minutes doesn’t leave a lot of space for meandering or epic ballads or wasting time with guitar solos; it does leave plenty of space for memorable hooks and for songs that sound like they were created just to be played loudly in the summertime. Any summer mixtape would be improved by the addition of the noisy rocker “Hey You,” the droning Stereolab-esque “Lonely Planet,” or the wildly oscillating “St. Tropez.” You could really take any song and plug it into that sentence; the record is that strong and unified. The only complaint you might have with a record as tightly constructed as this could be that the songs all run together. The group heads this off in a couple of ways. While bandleader Scott Stevens takes most of the vocals, he turns a few over to other members of the group, most notably Irene, who provides the innocent female vocals that pair up with Stevens’ slightly manic tones perfectly. Secondly, they vary the sound of each song just a little bit. Some songs are heavy; some are lighter than air. Some have distorted guitars; some have clean and jangly guitars. It’s an admirable attention to detail that does a world of good. The Summer Cats spent a few years honing their sound on singles and EPs, and it really pays off on their debut. It’s the sound of a great rock band playing and writing at the peak of their game, and Songs for Tuesdays is an album anyone with a fondness for spiky, catchy, and super fun indie pop should own.”
–AllMusic Review by Tim Sendra–
Out of Our Heads (1965):
Out of Our Heads shows the Stones at a great time in their career. The band was still playing music that mixed traditional rhythm and blues with the sounds of classic rock and they were still covering other artists songs while also branching out and writing their own songs. This great album includes some super covers songs including Don Covay’s Mercy, Mercy, Bo Diddley’s I’m Alright, Marvin Gaye’s Hitch Hike and Sam Cooke’s Good Times. The album also includes some great original songs by Jagger & Richards including: The Last Time, Play With Fire, The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man, The Spider & The Fly and one of their all-time biggest hits — Satisfaction.
This CD isn’t quite ready to circulate but should be in the next few days – here’s a link to the request page in StarCat: https://goo.gl/9obOZz
The Kinks:
Face to Face (1966)
The Kinks were so much more than the sum of the hits they had – great songs though they were – the band was capable of producing excellent albums that flowed together as compared to simply being a group that whose albums featured hit singles.
This album received a great AllMusic review, which praises the album and notes that it is “One of the finest collections of pop songs released during the ’60s.” And I agree with that assessment!
When you listen to the early sound of The Kinks, as heard on their first album from 1964, and compare it to the sound of this album, released just a scant two years later — you can hear how the band has matured. Songs like the Dandy, Too Much on My Mind, Rainy Day in June, Sunny Afternoon and, my favorite, Party Line are really great classic rock songs that feature cool, creative lyrics.
And I do have to wonder – who out there even has a party line anymore?
But once upon time people did!
And this great album will be available in StarCat and our New CD Section shortly — it isn’t quite ready to circulate yet.
I will update this posting to include a request link for the album on CD as soon as it is ready to circulate.
The Animals:
Animalisms (1966)
The Animals, like The Rolling Stones started out playing a combination of traditional rhythm and blues and classic rock with a heavy emphasis on rhythm and blues. This is a great album! And in his review of Animalisms AllMusic editor Bruce Elder describes it nicely as “a truly transcendent collection of a dozen songs, mostly superb covers interspersed with some good originals, principally by Eric Burdon and Dave Rowberry. Burdon was never singing better and the group had developed a bold, tight sound that seemed to lift his soul shouting to ever higher levels of passion and conviction.” This album features twenty five songs including: Maudie, Sweet Little Sixteen, Gin HouseBlues, I Put A Spell on You, Don’t Bring Me Down and Inside Looking Out.
And this album too, is not quite ready to circulate, It will be available in StarCat and our New CD Section shortly. I will update this posting to include a request link for the album on CD as soon as it is ready to circulate.
IV: Videos Of This Weeks’ Artists/Groups:
The Rolling Stones:
The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man
Mercy, Mercy
The Spider and the Fly
The Kinks:
A Well Respected Man
End of the Season
Waterloo Sunset
Bonus Video:
The Big Boys by Chuck Berry – this is Berry’s first ever music video from his forthcoming album Chuck – being released posthumously in June:
V. Wild Card Print Book Recommendation Of The Week:
Talking Guitar: Conversations with Musicians Who Shaped Twentieth-Century American Music
by Jas Obrecht:
In this lively collection of interviews, storied music writer Jas Obrecht presents a celebration of the world’s most popular instrument as seen through the words, lives, and artistry of some of its most beloved players. Readers will read–and hear–accounts of the first guitarists on record, pioneering bluesmen, gospel greats, jazz innovators, country pickers, rocking rebels, psychedelic shape-shifters, singer-songwriters, and other movers and shakers. In their own words, these guitar players reveal how they found their inspirations, mastered their instruments, crafted classic songs, and created enduring solos. Also included is a CD of never-before-heard moments from Obrecht’s insightful interviews with these guitar greats.
Highlights include Nick Lucas’s recollections of waxing the first noteworthy guitar records; Ry Cooder’s exploration of prewar blues musicians; Carole Kaye and Ricky Nelson on the early years of rock and roll; Stevie Ray Vaughan on Jimi Hendrix; Gregg Allman on his brother, Duane Allman; Carlos Santana, Eric Johnson, and Pops Staples on spirituality in music; Jerry Garcia, Neil Young, and Tom Petty on songwriting and creativity; and early interviews with Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani, and Ben Harper. https://goo.gl/gi71zo
P.S. If you have any questions about how to download or stream free music through the Freegal Music Catalog to a desktop or laptop computer or how to download and use the Freegal Music app let us know! Drop by the library or give us a call at: 607-936-3713
*You must have a library card at a Southern Tier Library System member library to enjoy the Freegal Music Service. Your card can be from any library in the system, and the system includes all public libraries in Steuben, Chemung, Yates, Schuyler and Allegheny Counties and including our own Southeast Steuben Count Library in Corning, New York. Library cards are free and at our library you can obtain one by visiting the Circulation Desk and presenting staff with a form of ID that features both your name and your current address.
Tech & Book Talk at SSCL 