Blitzkrieg - “Blitzkrieg” (1981)
This song is probably best known from the Metallica cover (and live performances). However, I actually prefer the original (and this is the first original - the band later recorded the track). Even though early metal is not widely respected nearly as much as early punk, there was a lot of very good heavy music being made in the late 70s and early 80s. Obviously, there was a great deal of crap, too, but that’s true of any genre.
Shocking Blue - “Send Me A Postcard” (1968)
If you think of hotspots for psych-influenced rock in the 1960s, the Netherlands is probably not in the forefront of your mind. Of course, Shocking Blue is no regular Dutch band. They’re really in their own realm. Today, their music is widely known even if their name isn’t. “Venus” is a famous hit and even “Love Buzz” is familiar to a lot of people who listened to alt rock in the 90s because Nirvana covered it. However, those two songs are only the start. “Send Me A Postcard” actually predates “Venus” and was their first hit with singer Mariska Veres. Known for her powerful vocals, Veres is in my opinion one of the best female rock singers of this era.
Vivian Girls - “Walking Alone at Night” (live, 2009)
Originally from Everything Goes Wrong (2009)
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - “Down By the River” (live, 1969)
Originally released on Neil Young’s Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (1969)
Sadly, this video cuts off at the end, but it’s still pretty amazing. The harmonies are wonderful, and the jam part is great. Also, the quality of the recording is impressive.
Flying Saucer Attack - “Heartbeat” (Peel Session)
Although I’m not sure how widely known they are, I believe Flying Saucer Attack was one of the most original bands of the 90s. They started in the early 90s, mixing spacey songs that had elements of showgaze, but also a lot more free form ambience. I still think their first two albums, Flying Saucer Attack (1994) and Further (1995), are brilliant. They were also keen on improvised experimentation, exemplified by “Heartbeat.” In many ways, they were ahead of their time. Drone and noise became a bigger and more popular niche in the 2000s, with Black Dice probably being one of the biggest bands in the genre (they are quite different from FSA in many ways). I listened to FSA back in the 90s and when I come back to their music now, not only does it not sound dated, it still sounds futuristic.
April 12, 2012
">Happy birthday, Herbie Hancock!
The keyboardist played in Miles Davis’ “second great quintet,” wrote classics spanning the music spectrum — from the game-changing post-bop of “Watermelon Man” to, yes, “Rockit” — and generally has one of the coolest, funkiest synth collections around.
Hear Herbie Hancock in a synth-heavy set from the 2008 Newport Jazz Festival.
Hancock also sat in with Marian McPartland for an episode of Piano Jazz in 1987.
Wow, this picture really makes me envious!
Reblogged fromHappy birthday, Herbie Hancock!
The keyboardist played in Miles Davis’ “second great quintet,” wrote classics spanning the music spectrum — from the game-changing post-bop of “Watermelon Man” to, yes, “Rockit” — and generally has one of the coolest, funkiest synth collections around.
Hear Herbie Hancock in a synth-heavy set from the 2008 Newport Jazz Festival.
Hancock also sat in with Marian McPartland for an episode of Piano Jazz in 1987.
Gandalf - “Hold On To A Dream”
From Gandalf (1968)
I know you may look at the name of this band and snicker, thinking of a bunch of guys in robes and long white beards playing music. However, it’s worth considering that this is a 60s band and that Tolkien’s LOTR books were published in the mid-1950s, so while they weren’t really new books, they weren’t as firmly established as nerd books in the collective cultural mind the way they are today. Once you forget about the name, you can pay attention to the music, which is really good. I have only recently come to listen to the 1968 debut, Gandalf. Although I had heard of the group before, I had the sense that they were closer to folk for some reason. In fact, they are classic 60s psych rock pop. If you enjoy this song, I’d recommend checking out the album. I think this is one of those bands that deserves to be more widely known.
The Germs - “Lexicon Devil” (live, 1979)
Originally released on (GI) (1979)
Although it might seem like Darby Crash is being a brat, I think there’s something exciting and right about this. You know this wasn’t premeditated or constructed. Plus, this clip is from 1979 when this kind of anti-performance was still unique and startling (although Iggy Pop and others had already started down this road). When I see musicians try to do this now, it’s really hard to pull off. For what it’s worth, the original recording of “Lexicon Devil” is totally a great song.
Marianne Faithfull - “As Tears Go By” (kinda live, 1965)
Originally released as a single (1964) and then on Marianne Faithfull (1965)
A lovely song that was Marianne Faithfull’s first release. It then appeared on her self-titled album. The song was written by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Andrew Loog Oldham (the Stones’ manager and producer who discovered Faithfull). A version of the song by the Stones would appear on December’s Children (And Everybody’s) in 1965.
Women - “Heat Distraction” (live, 2010)
From Public Strain (2010)
I was saddened to learn that Chris Reimer, the guitarist in the Canadian art rock group Women, died last month. Obviously, this is sad for the family and friends of Chris, who was very young. It’s also terrible news for fans of the band, who released two excellent albums, including Public Strain (which was one of my favorite albums of 2010). There had been rumors of the band fracturing and breaking up, although nothing official had ever been confirmed. One would have to guess that the band’s future is now very much in doubt. Even more importantly, a very talented musician is gone too soon.
