Sister Sage's Musings

Posts Tagged ‘classics’

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted an edition of nostalgia. Not really sure why, perhaps I’m getting lazy. Summer does that to one.

After what happened to Brunaud Moise earlier this week, getting banned at Laronde, a ‘family values’ Six Flags owned amusement park in Montreal, for sporting a Bob Marley t-shirt emblazoned with green marijuana leaves, I thought I would put on some Bob Marley videos, as well as Peter Tosh’s “Legalize It”. The latter for Joey Elias having the idea of perhaps sporting such a t-shirt and attempting to get into Laronde with the tech producer, Mike Babins. I hope they do take the trip over to Laronde and provide feedback on how it went. It would be more telling if what happened to Mr Moise was really racially motivated.

Also, summer is drawing to a close. Reggae for some seems to keep summer in the minds of folks.

I’m too lazy to come up with trivia stories about them or find quotes this fine evening. They deserve better, I know.  If you want to know more about Bob Marley and/or Peter Tosh, click those links.

Enjoy!

I thought the first video would be appropriate for us in this day and age, not only for Brunaud Moise, but also for us.

“Exodus” from Santa Barbara, 1979

Bob with no dreadlocks; “Stir It Up”

Now, of course, “Legalize It” from Peter Tosh; An accoustic version.

Happy Saturday Nite!

Following this rather interesting debacle of an election result in Britain last Thursday night, I thought it fitting to do tonight’s edition of Saturday Nite Nostalgia with the British Invasion; a rock n’ roll movement that exclusively belonged to the Americans until the mid-1960s.

Officially, The Beatles kicked it off on February 7, 1964 when they first landed on American soil. However, it seems that the British Invasion was actually started by an instrumental,  “Telstar” by The Tornadoes when it hit number one on the American charts in 1962.

Then,  Dusty Springfield in 1963 when her hit, “I Only Want to Be With You” was released. She would sing it on the Ed Sullivan Show in early 1964.

Even the Beatles had their first hit aired on American radio (“I want to Hold Your Hand”) in 1963.

In Britain, the initial attempts to replicate American rock n’ roll failed commercially as it lacked two popular genres found in American music at the time: Country and Rhythm Blues. Skiffle bands and  craze of the 50s.   A young  Jimmy Page is shown, playing guitar for a Skiffle band on British TV in 1957. British teen-agers loved the rock n roll and Blues music of  the U.S. and attempted a “Do-it-yourself” approach to replicate the likes of such artists like Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley (naturally), Little Richard, Eddie Cochran, Buddy Holly, James Brown and Muddy Waters.

Below is  Dusty Springfield singing “You Don’t Have to Say You Love  in 1967.

Liverpool was the original capital of the so-called “beat-boom” movement, otherwise known as the Merseybeat . It was an Atlantic port town so, Liverpool merchant sea-men came back with American Rock n roll hits; even before they were widely available in the rest of Britain.  This movement started with such groups like  Jerry and the Pacemakers and The Searchers. Below, is The Searchers’ “Love Potion #9″

Within the next few years, groups and artists such as Manfred Mann, The Rolling Stones (of course), the Animals, Peter and Gordon, the Spencer Davis Group featuring a young Stevie Winwood, John Mayall and the Blues’ Breakers, The Zombies, The Moody Blues, The Yardbirds,  Petula Clark and so many more emerged from Greater Britain. Later such artists like The Who and Donovan would follow.

Below,   John Mayall’s Blues Breakers’ “I’m Your Witch Doctor”, one of many bands Eric Clapton played with throughout his career.

The last one is  Donovan’s “Atlantis”, released in 1968; the only song I like by Donovan.  Well, that and “Catch the Wind.”  There have been some who for some strange reason, felt he was Britain’s answer to Bob Dylan. Don’t ask me why.

Happy Saturday Nite All!

Jimmy Page is considered to be one of the  most influential guitarists of all time. He’s right up there with greats like Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix.

He is best known for his work as lead guitarist for Led Zeppelin, and The Yardbirds in the 60s where both Clapton and Beck played as well.

His earlier influences were more of the rockabilly types like Scotty Moore and James Burton. We see this rockabilly influence below in a rare video of a very young Page (age 14, approx)  in 1957, being interviewed and playing a few songs on the BBC’s Huw Wheldon Show. I’m not sure whether the band was called Skiffle Band or the Talismen; depends what you read.

Here is another video of them performing “Cast  my Spell on You”

Page had refused an invitation to replace Eric Clapton in The Yardbirds in 1965, but recommended his friend and guitar great, Jeff Beck to join. He would eventually be invited yet again (he accepted this time) in 1966, to join The Yardbirds to ostensibly replace the base player, but eventually moved to play twin lead guitars with Beck. Below is probably one of their more upbeat songs; yeah, I know, I rarely do upbeat here, but I always felt it was a cool party song with rhythm and uncomplicated lyrics.

Eventually,  lead singer, Keith Relf & Jim McCarty would leave  The Yardbirds in 1968. Jimmy Page would go on with The New Yardbirds who would become Led Zeppelin. I will feature Led Zeppelin at a later time.

The next video is the Yardbirds with Page after the departure of Jeff Beck. More on the biography of Jimmy Page here.

Some Jimmy Page quotes (after joining  Led Zeppelin):

I don’t think the critics could understand what we were doing.

I may not believe in myself, but I believe in what I’m doing.

I think it was that we were really seasoned musicians. We had serious roots that spanned different cultures, obviously the blues.

I’m just looking for an angel with a broken wing.

“My vocation is more in composition really than anything else – building up harmonies using the guitar, orchestrating the guitar like an army, a guitar army.”

“Nowadays, we’re more into staying in our rooms and reading Nietzsche.”

Happy Saturday Nite!

I would ordinarily do nostalgia on Saturdays and who knows? I just may do another one tomorrow as I had planned another Janis Joplin evening with some more stories and songs about the Pearl, herself.

Funny how best laid plans go to pot. I was going to post as to why Iggy’s screaming at Harpercons persistently over Mr and Mrs Disfunctional is getting overkill, to the point where this bad tactic will backfire miserably on him… stay tuned for that one. I will give a hint,  certain just seem to be hell bent on beating that 10 year old adscam dead horse. Points out the hypocrisy of not only Brother Steve who campaigned in 2006 that he would clean up Ottawa.  Since Steve is less than candid and Harpercon cheerleaders not only defend him through thick and thin, they have proven that they don’t really care about accountable government. More later, I promise, in a separate post.

Had to put it off, due to the fact  the site was down for awhile and after frustrating chats with tech support from my hosting provider, I just don’t feel like further research right now.

Pale put on some very apropos tunes. However, I have different ideas for music to commemorate the occasion.

Enjoy!

The first describes the happy couple to tee

Those who were in high school in the 80s would surely remember this goody.  The opening lyrics definitely describe Helena horrible; the rest of the song,well, describes the trashiness of it all. This song also works quite well for Ann Coulter and Dr Jabba the Roy when posing together for pictures.

Carol Pope certainly was before her time. The anti-diva after our hearts…

The next title is self-explanatory

Then, of course, the theme song of Mr and Mrs Guergis… If I knew how to do videos, I would create a video with my pic of the happy couple in a straight jacket and stuff. Oh well, the lyrics certainly suit them.

I was looking for some old Eric Clapton classics on Youtube for a future Clapton tribute for Saturday Nite Nostalgia and came across a few videos of Delaney and Bonnie and Friends.   I was thinking to myself, unless one is a baby boomer and/or someone who followed Eric Clapton and/or others such as George Harrison, Leon Russell, Duane Allman.  The fact is, he had influenced so many musicians of the time and it is impossible to talk about Delaney Bramlett or his ‘friends’ without dropping any famous names at all. Yet, so many of his friends became more famous than he and his wife, Bonnie ever were.

It has been said that Delaney Bramlett  was the one who taught Eric Clapton to sing and it was Bonnie who co-wrote Clapton’s  Let It Rain. Delaney had also taught George Harrison how to play slide-guitar.

INn 1969, Delaney and Bonnie open are the opening act for the Blind Faith (the band Eric Clapton was playing in at that time) Tour.  It was said that Clapton preferred playing Delaney and Bonnie songs and did play with them when they opened.  Below is the song, Poor Elijah with Eric Clapton and George Harrison in a  tribute performance to Clapton’s influence, blues’ legend, Robert Johnson.

Funny, up until a few years ago the only song I knew from Delaney and Bonnie and Friends was that honky tonk-ish (to me it was just, well,  hokey), Never Ending Song of Love in 1970.  Below is a slide show tribute to Delaney and Bonnie with  of course, Friends and/or family, to the Honky Tonk-ish song: deal with it; play it without the sound. I believe it was submitted by their daughter Michele.. I thought it was touching.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_gOw27cgj8

Below, Delaney and Bonnie with Duane Allman.

Unfortunately typical of many of these rock stars, Delaney treated Bonnie badly and they would divorce in 1973 and of course, their musical collaboration ended. Both would have solo careers with varying degrees of success.

Delaney died in 2008. Bonnie is still performing. She is currently supporting her daughters, who are trying to lobby to get Delaney into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.

Enjoy!

Happy Saturday Nite, all!!

Funny how I always consider the Sunday when the St-Paddy’s day parade is held here in Montreal. Yes, I spent the afternoon getting soaked.

However, today is the official day, so I shall play a couple of oldies here. Balbulican over at Stageleft has commemorated the occasion with some good ol’ Irish music, some recipes, some folklore, some memories.

There isn’t that much for me to add.  I can’t drink beer due to health reasons, so JJ and Balbulican will have to take that beer for me.

My contribution will be a few of my favourite tunes from “The Dubliners”, a group my mom introduced me to a few years back. I send these two tunes out to her.

Both are faves

I don’t know about you, but I have found that there is something comforting about  Irish folk music. I hope you do too.

Happy St-Paddy’s Day to All!

It is rare I do both a Saturday Nite Nostalgia and a Saturday Nite Funnies on the same nite. In fact, this is the only time I’ve don this.

Given that rumour of Gordon Lightfoot’s ‘death’ was proven shortly afterward to be false and all the drama that came about . All this because of a tweet.

Ok, I’m a closet Gordon Lightfoot fan. So, tonight’s selections are a few from the reincarnated Mr. Lightfoot himself; too bad youtube didn’t carry him doing Rainy Day People ; a favorite of mine.  Oh Well…

Enjoy!

This evening, a treat for the baby boomers and perhaps some gen-xers raised on the best of the psychedelic ’60s.

Those who are Gen-Y; it may take getting used to, given what is available to you these days, but I hope you like it.

Yes, it’s The Jefferson Airplane, and not their big commercial successes neither. Enjoy!

This first one is particularly trippy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL5EqX5PRKQ

I apologize for the poor sound quality. As one may understand, the fact that I found a video with this song is in itself a stroke of luck

Happy Saturday Evening!

I know, usually reserved for Saturdays, but, I’m still working on a piece which will only be published tomorrow. So, what the hell!  Perhaps tomorrow I can have comedy here.

Bon Jovi is probably one of perhaps very few bands past 1980 that I like and whatever I like past 1980, I can count on my fingers. I figured we can try to alter the lyrics somewhat to make it relevent to Stevie’s disappearing act.

To stay on that proroguing theme; here are the Doors live. Sound quality kinda sucks, but, worth a watch.

Don’t think Stevie is in Portugal or Spain. Remember, them ‘European Welfare States’ he hates so damned much.

If Stevie ever starts singing selections from the Doors or Meatloaf, I will have nothing to listen to again.

Happy Friday Nite, boys and girls!