As we all know, i like some interesting music from all sorts of genres but like everyone, I have some dirty little secrets buried in my playlists.
Today, the another secret will be revealed.
I really like mid 60’s to mid 70’s pop. No, not Helen Reddy but maybe some Tommy James and The Shondells or Melanie perhaps.
While most of these songs will probably be dismissed as “Too poppy” or even “Bubblegum”, they actually aren’t. Just judging by the amount of cover versions of some of these songs, they have a much broader appeal and impact.
Let’s start with the aforementioned Tommy James and The Shondells. Do they belong in the Rock and Roll hall of Fame? I don’t think so but if you look at their catalog and the overall impact, perhaps. No, I am not going to pick “Hanky Panky” but something, again from the middle of my pile, “Crystal Blue Persuasion”. This song was the bands answer to being labelled Bubblegum and it is a perfect summer song.
Speaking of Tommy James, he wrote and produced my next selection, “Tighter and Tighter” by Alive and Kicking. It just brings back some very good childhood memories. Not a great song but I have a thing for one hit wonders as you will see.
From the same era, “Ride Captain Ride” by Blues Image was another example of a one hit wonder. The song is emblematic of the Sixties. It is a story about leaving the troubles of the present day and going to a place where the troubles no longer exist. Unfortunately, very few people got on that ship and the World was still as messed up as ever. Sort of a metaphor for what was happening in 1969. Today as well.
My next selection is a two-fer. Same song different artist, slightly different interpretation. “Grazing in the Grass” by Hugh Masekala and his Orchestra and The Friends of Distinction. Both are good. I may lean to the instrumental by Masekala but I do listen to both.
Even as a young pup I liked instrumentals and another favorite was Herb Alpert’s “A Taste of Honey”. Herb Alpert was not only a great Trumpeter(?), he was also a very successful record producer and did what was unheard of back them, he started his own record company, A & M Records. I could easily put “This Guy is in Love with You” on this list as well. Super talented, and at 88 he is still touring!
No stretch with this song for sure. Otis Redding’s “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” may be one of the greatest songs ever written and performed. You can’t argue though with how great this song is and I have mentioned it before in other columns but if you are talking about my playlist, this is THE headline song.
Back to my guilty pleasure playlist. Archie Bell and the Drells’ “Tighten Up” is an awesome song. They recorded the song in like two takes and it was in someones basement. The guitar riff is so cool and Archie Bell is a funkmaster for sure. He doesn’t have a great voice but the band sounds like they are having so much fun recording this song, its contagious. Because “We dance as good as we want”.
”Liar” by Three Dog Night is by far my favorite song by the band. Unusual sounding for sure (it sounds like it was recorded in a bathroom stall) it has some excellent guitar work by Mike Alsup. Another excellent version of this song is done by Argent.
Another band in a similar vein as Three Dog Night is The Guess Who. It is well documented that I think Randy Bachman has one of the best voices ever. (Guilty Pleasure number 1). Picking my favorite from The Guess Who is next to impossible because I do think they were one of the most talented bands ever to come out of Canada and they did sell millions and millions of records so I am not alone. They could write a pop song just as easily as a protest song and both would be great. If I were to pick one song it would be “Guns, Guns,Guns” from their Rockin album. Even though Burton Cummings sings lead it is a great song. The message is very clear as well.
From strong anti-everything sentiments I now move to a few songs on the opposite end of the spectrum. First I will start with Melanie. Yes Melanie! Pretty easy to pick here since there aren’t all that many great songs in her catalog but I do love “Lay Down(Candles in the Rain”. Download the version with the Edwin Hawkins Singers.It is almost a religious experience.
Speaking of religious experiences, re-listen to The Edwin Hawkins Singers “Oh Happy Day”. I don’t go to church anymore but I would go if they were there. In my experience there are very few songs that I actually believe could go on longer. Usually, artists know the length of their songs and they rarely stretch it out because most songs can’t handle the added lift. This song is an exception. If they put out a 30 minute version, it wouldn’t be enough.
Here’s a shocker. The Grass Roots’ “Lets Live for Today”. The band never got the acclaim they deserved. They had some very good songs and for a period in the early 70’s they were one of the top bands in the World.
Another one hit wonder, The Ides of March’s “Vehicle” is probably one of the most over produced songs from 1970. Horn section, Chorus, Lead vocals all blended together. They did have some other hits but honestly, not one of them was familiar. Yes, they were a rip off of Chicago and Blood Sweat and Tears but it’s still a pretty good song and it does stay with you after it ends.
Hold on, I love Jackie DeShannon’s “What the World Needs Now is Love”. She has a beautiful voice and the orchestration is equally as beautiful. Oh and the message!
You want pop, I got it. The Jaggerz were some band out of Pittsburgh. They were a bar band that played a sort of Blue eyed soul and were signed to Gamble records which had a mediocre list of soul bands and Kenny Gamble. Soulman Gamble was half of Gamble and Huff songwriting, producing team. Anyway they signed these guys, had one hit and went back to being a bar band around Slippery Rock College. Only famous thing if you can call it that was that Donnie Iris was in the band. Iris is a C-level rock star with maybe two hits to his name.
Keeping in the pop sphere, “Green Tambourine” by The Lemon Pipers is worth a shot. I always liked this song. Had a little bit of bubblegum a little psychedelia. This truly was a one hit wonder band. They recorded the song and pretty much broke up within 7 months.
The next two songs are a little out of place simply because I doubt either one of them got much airplay in the early 70’s on AM radio. First is “One Fine Morning” by Lighthouse. The intro is superb and the song itself zips along with that funky understated guitar riff and then the horns break in.
The second song probably never made it to any AM station but it’s part of my pile and and I think you will like it. Jonathan Edwards had several major hits in the early seventies but “Shanty” was not one of them. I am a sucker for bluesy harmonica that mixes with drinking and being lazy. Here you go.
“I know I am Losing You” by Rare Earth sticks out from that Motown signed act. They have the distinction of being the first predominately white group signed to the label. They had a lot of hits and if you can find the live version of this song it is worth downloading it.
Getting back to 60’s pop, my next selection is a prime example of beautiful pop songs. “Like to Get to Know You” by Spanky and Our Gang has something that few bands back then, two distinct parts to one song. A faster first movement, then a slower lead with a chorus backing the song. Very creative for the time.
An easy selection for this column is “Windy” by The Association. Peppy, poppy, it was what Hollywood thought of America in 1967. The Association actually was more of a protest band and dipped into psychedelia from time to time but their bread and butter was songs like “Windy” and “Never my Love”. Their harmonies where as good as any group of the era.
My last song is “A Beautiful Morning” by The Rascals. Listening to this song their is absolutely no way you can’t feel happy. The Rascals and The Young Rascals produced a slew of hits in the 60’s and most were sung by Felix Cavaliere. Cavaliere had one of the best voices in rock and roll and if you listen to almost any song in their catalog you will see what I mean.
No doubt, there are dozens of songs I have missed and I would love to hear what songs you think would fit in this sub genre.
Thanks Peter for the trip down memory lane. I was right along with you till.....the Jaggerz. Never heard them, but I'll be looking this weekend for them;)
Now I can get Alex to stream some great music !! Like Brown Eyed Girl!
Thanks Pete
Ernie