Saturday, April 30, 2011

good lovin'








The Young Rascals had the fever and found the cure with their first hit. Written by Rudy Clark and Arthur Resnick, the song had been recorded by two different artists the year before. Limmie B. Good recorded it first, and then the Olympics; but neither version was a hit. Then one fine morning, Felix Cavaliere heard a the song on a New York station and decided to add it to their live act. They recorded their own sped up version for Atlantic Records; but were not happy with the sound. Producer Tom Dowd loved the rawness of it and released it as a single. The band was completely surprised when it reached the top of the charts.









http://www.young-rascals.com/
















1-2-3-
(Good lovin' )
(Good lovin' )
(Good lovin' )

I was feelin' so bad,
I asked my family doctor just what I had,
I said, "Doctor,
(Doctor )
Mr. M.D.,
(Doctor )
Now can you tell me, tell me, tell me,
What's ailin' me?"
(Doctor )

He said, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Yes, indeed, all you really need
(Is good lovin')
Gimme that good, good lovin
(Good lovin')
All I need is lovin'
(Good lovin')
Good lovin', baby.

Baby please, squeeze me tight (Squeeze me tight)
Now don't you want your baby to feel alright? (Feel alright)
I said Baby (Baby) now it's for sure (it's for sure)
I got the fever, Baby, Baby, but you've got the cure
(You've got the cure)








Friday, April 29, 2011

l.a. woman









The Doors rode the storm, sang a lonely song, and dug deep into our blue blue blues to come up with their swan song. After releasing five albums (The Doors and Strange Days in 1967, Waiting for the Sun in 1968, The Soft Parade in 1969, and Morrison Hotel in 1970) in four years, the band's music had became increasingly complex even as they embraced a more down and dirty rootsy sound; and Morrison's voice was more raspy due to the ravages of his excesses. Their long time producer Paul Rothschild had quit and their engineer Bruce Botnick took over. They decided to record very quickly with as few overdubs as possible. It all combined to a critical mass of earnest poetry and gutsy rock and roll that shows the strengths of the entire band.

Robby Krieger reveals: “We were pretty far down. People were saying we were over. We couldn’t play anywhere. Morrison Hotel hadn’t done much. Jim was getting fat. Nothing really seemed to be happening, and we didn’t have much material when we started the sessions. Before we even started recording, our producer walked out on us...I think we came up with an album so loose and cool that it has stood up for 40 years because there was no pressure. We figured we were screwed, so we started having fun again. We were so far gone that it was like a weight was lifted when Paul left. He was a great producer, and you can’t argue with the stuff we did with him, but he was always a very difficult guy to work for. He was a perfectionist, and we were looking forward to having the dictator off our back and just having some fun recording for once, which is exactly what happened." 


'L.A. Woman' went to number thirty-two in Germany, twenty-eight in the UK, fifteen in Norway, eleven in Canada, nine in the US, and number one in the Netherlands.





















The title track is the centerpiece to the album; a definitive statement of the contradictions of celebrity and desperation in the city of angels. Mr. Mojo Risin' is an anagram of "Jim Morrison". The reverb of the vocal comes from recording it in the bathroom at The Doors Workshop in West Hollywood.

"I see your hair is burnin'
Hills are filled with fire
If they say I never loved you
You know they are a liar"










Robby Krieger came up with album's shimmering pop moment in 'Love Her Madly'

"All your love is gone
So sing a lonely song
Of a deep blue dream
Seven horses seem to be on the mark"









'The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)'

"Some call it heavenly in it's brilliance
Others, mean and rueful of the Western dream
I love the friends I have gathered together on this thin raft 
We have constructed pyramids in honor of our escaping "









'Riders On The Storm' ends out the Doors' recording career in an understated opus that speaks of a transitional journey through an absurd life toward the inevitable end. 

"Into this house we're born
Into this world we're thrown
Like a dog without a bone
An actor out alone "









'L.A. Woman' 
full album:



Side A

1. "The Changeling"   Jim Morrison 4:21
2. "Love Her Madly"   Robby Krieger 3:20
3. "Been Down So Long"   Jim Morrison 4:41
4. "Cars Hiss by My Window"   Jim Morrison 4:12
5. "L.A. Woman"   Jim Morrison 7:49
Side B
6. "L'America"   Jim Morrison 4:37
7. "Hyacinth House"   Ray Manzarek, Jim Morrison 3:11
8. "Crawling King Snake"   Anon, arr John Lee Hooker 5:00
9. "The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)"   Jim Morrison 4:16
10. "Riders on the Storm"   Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, John Densmore 7:09





Thursday, April 28, 2011

fastlove







George Michael raced to the top of the charts and found more than enough inspiration, affirmation, and peace of mind with this tribute to a love affair in Kazakhstan. It was the second consecutive number one single from 'Older'. Bananarama's Siobhan Fahey sings the 'Forget Me Nots' outro to the song. Peaking at number eight,'Fastlove' was been his last top forty hit in the US.























Looking for some inspiration
Made my way into the night
All that bullshit conversation
Well baby can’t you read the signs?

I won’t bore you with the details baby
I don’t even want to waste your time
Let’s just say that maybe
You could help to ease my mind
Baby, I ain’t Mr. Right

Chorus:
But if you’re looking for fastlove
If that’s love in your eyes
It’s more than enough
Had some bad luck
So fastlove is all that I’ve got on my mind

What’s there to think about baby?

Looking for some affirmation
Made my way into the night
My friends got their ladies
They’re all having babies
But I just want to have some fun

I won’t bore you with the details baby
I don’t even want to waste your time
Let’s just say that maybe
You could help to ease my mind
Baby, I ain’t Mr. Right

Chorus

What’s there to think about baby?
Get yourself some lessons in love

In the absence of security
I made my way into the night
Stupid cupid keeps on calling the
But I see nothing in his eyes
I miss my baby
I miss my baby, oh yeah
So why don’t we make a little room in my BMW babe
Searching for some peace of mind
Hey I’ll help you find it
I do believe that we are practicing the same religion
You really ought to get up now

Looking for some affirmation?









Wednesday, April 27, 2011

right back where we started from

 



 





Maxine Nightingale had a worldwide smash with this sweeping disco plea recorded in a demo session. After years doing musicals, she caught a break when producer Pierre Tubbs heard her sing background vocals for Al Matthew's song 'Fool'. Tubbs came up with the title for the song right away and invited J. Vincent Edwards to write it with him. Tubbs and Edwards wrote 'Right Back Where We Started From' on the way to the hospital where Tubbs' wife was about to give birth. The strings were arranged by Wilfred Gibson of the Electric Light Orchestra. The song made it to number two on the US pop chart and hit number one on the Cash Box and Record World charts.






http://www.maxinenightingale.biz/








Ooo, and it's alright and it's comin' on
We got to get right back to where we started from
Love is good, love can be strong
We got to get right back to where we started from

Do you remember the day (That sunny day)
When you first came my way?
I said no one could take your place
And if you get hurt (If you get hurt)
By the little things I say
I can put that smile back on your face

Ooo, and it's alright and it's comin' on
We got to get right back to where we started from
Love is good, love can be strong
We got to get right back to where we started from

A love like ours (A love like ours)
Can never fade away
You know it's only just begun
You give me your love (Give me your love)
I just can't stay away
I know that you're the only one

Ooo, and it's alright and it's comin' on
We got to get right back to where we started from
Love is good, love can be strong
We got to get right back to where we started from
 










Tuesday, April 26, 2011

kiss











Prince and the Revolution showed us that you don't have to watch 'Dynasty' to have an attitude with this funky little come-on. During the recording sessions for his album 'Parade' Prince dashed off an acoustic demo of the song for Mazarati, a band formed by his former bass player Brown Mark that he had signed to his Paisley Park label. Minneapolis producer David Z worked with the band to transform it into the groovy little number we know now. When they played it for Prince he decided to take it back and put his own falsetto vocals on their backing track and add it to the album he had just finished. Although Warner didn't want to release the song as a single, it became the third number one for Prince in the states and was a top ten hit in the UK. At the Grammys, 'Kiss' won Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group and was nominated for Best R&B Song. It is one of my favorite songs to do in karaoke.





U don't have 2 be beautiful
2 turn me on
I just need your body baby
From dusk till dawn
U don't need experience
2 turn me out
U just leave it all up 2 me
I'm gonna show u what it's all about

U don't have 2 be rich
2 be my girl
U don't have 2 be cool
2 rule my world
Aint no particular sign I'm more compatible with
I just want your extra time and your

Kiss

U got to not talk dirty, baby
If u wanna impress me
U can't be 2 flirty, mama
I know how 2 undress me (yeah)
I want 2 be your fantasy
Maybe u could be mine
U just leave it all up to me
We could have a good time

U don't have 2 be rich
2 be my girl
U don't have 2 be cool
2 rule my world
Aint no particular sign I'm more compatible with
I just want your extra time and your

Kiss

Yes
I think I wanna dance
Gotta, gotta
Little girl Wendy's parade
Gotta, gotta, gotta

Women not girls rule my world
I said they rule my world
Act your age, mama (not your shoe size)
Not your shoe size
Maybe we could do the twirl
U don't have 2 watch dynasty
2 have an attitude
U just leave it all up 2 me
My love will be your food
Yeah

U don't have 2 be rich
2 be my girl
U don't have 2 be cool
2 rule my world
Aint no particular sign I'm more compatible with
I just want your extra time and your

Kiss


Monday, April 25, 2011

runaway










Charles Westover and Max Crook hit the top of the charts with this song that had people wa-wa-wa-wa-wondering what instrument they were playing. Del Shannon was the stage name that Westover took and his keyboard player Crook called himself Maximilian. The unique sound of the song came from "the Musitron", a monophonic synthesizer Crook built out of a clavioline which he adapted using additional resistors, television tubes, old amplifiers, reel-to-reel tape machines, and parts from household appliances. The track was recorded in a day at Bell Studios. Producer Harry Balk sped up the recording so that the pitch went from A minor to just under B flat minor. 'Runaway' was a number one single on both sides of the pond.






















As I walk along I wonder a-what went wrong
With our love, a love that was so strong
And as I still walk on, I think of the things we've done
Together, a-while our hearts were young

I'm a-walkin' in the rain
Tears are fallin' and I feel the pain
Wishin' you were here by me
To end this misery
And I wonder
I wa-wa-wa-wa-wonder
Why
Ah-why-why-why-why-why she ran away
And I wonder where she will stay
My little runaway, run-run-run-run-runaway

I'm a-walkin' in the rain
Tears are fallin' and I feel the pain
Wishin' you were here by me
To end this misery
And I wonder
I wa-wa-wa-wa-wonder
Why
Ah-why-why-why-why-why she ran away
And I wonder where she will stay
My little runaway, run-run-run-run-runaway
A-run-run-run-run-runaway





from 'American Graffitti'





Sunday, April 24, 2011

someone to watch over me










George and Ira Gershwin wrote this classic song from the Great American Songbook. It was originally composed for the musical 'Oh Kay!' which was probably inspired by Kay Swift, composer, pianist, and George's very close friend. Howard Dietz is credited with helping to write the lyrics to two of the songs from the musical during Ira's hospital stay; but not for this song, although he claimed to have come up with the title. The song was originally conceived as an uptempo number; but after playing around with it one day, the duo recognized how moving it was as a ballad. It has been covered by generations of music fans. Hopefully, you will find you favorite below.






George Gershwin





Ella Fitzgerald






Blossom Dearie





Stephane Grappelli




Frank Sinatra






Barbra Streisand





Willie Nelson





Linda Ronstadt





Sting





There’s a saying old, says that love is blind
Still we’re often told, "seek and ye shall find"
So I’m going to seek a certain lad I’ve had in mind

Looking everywhere, haven’t found him yet
He’s the big affair I cannot forget
Only man I ever think of with regret

I’d like to add his initial to my monogram
Tell me, where is the shepherd for this lost lamb?

There’s a somebody I’m longin’ to see
I hope that he, turns out to be
Someone who’ll watch over me

I’m a little lamb who’s lost in the wood
I know I could, always be good
To one who’ll watch over me

Although he may not be the man some
Girls think of as handsome
To my heart he carries the key

Won’t you tell him please to put on some speed
Follow my lead, oh, how I need
Someone to watch over me

Won’t you tell him please to put on some speed
Follow my lead, oh, how I need
Someone to watch over me

Someone to watch over me

Saturday, April 23, 2011

ramones







Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee, and Tommy started a punk revolution with fourteen hilarious nuggets of pure rock and roll passion. Clocking in at less than thirty minutes, these songs condense the essence of rock into four chords played at a furious pace. Drawing from the sounds of early rock and roll, doo-wop, surf and garage rock; the Ramones twisted and distorted those influences with their own deliberately offensive subject matter. They were flipping off the cerebral, self-important artists with their fast, loud, lowbrow, no nonsense style; and, in the process, inspired a generation.










http://www.ramones.com/









'Blitzkrieg Bop' compares the punk onslaught to the Nazi "lightning war". 

Hey ho, let's go! hey ho, let's go!
Hey ho, let's go! hey ho, let's go!

They're forming in straight line
They're going through a tight wind
The kids are losing their minds
The blitzkrieg bop

They're piling in the back seat
They're generating steam heat
Pulsating to the back beat
The blitzkrieg bop

Hey ho, let's go
Shoot'em in the back now
What they want, I don't know
They're all revved up and ready to go

They're forming in straight line
They're going through a tight wind
The kids are losing their minds
The blitzkrieg bop

They're piling in the back seat
They're generating steam heat
Pulsating to the back beat
The blitzkrieg bop

Hey ho, let's go
Shoot'em in the back now
What they want, I don't know
They're all revved up and ready to go

They're forming in straight line
They're going through a tight wind
The kids are losing their minds
The blitzkrieg bop

They're piling in the back seat
They're generating steam heat
Pulsating to the back beat
The blitzkrieg bop

Hey ho, let's go! hey ho, let's go!
Hey ho, let's go! hey ho, let's go!





Havana Affair / Listen To My Heart



Chainsaw



I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend









'Ramones'

full album:

RAMONES FULL ALBUM from Lax River on Vimeo.


Side A
1. "Blitzkrieg Bop" Tommy Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone  2:12
2. "Beat on the Brat" Joey Ramone 2:30
3. "Judy Is a Punk" Joey Ramone Leigh, Tommy 1:30
4. "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" Tommy Ramone  2:24
5. "Chain Saw" Joey Ramone  1:55
6. "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue" Dee Dee Ramone 1:34
7. "I Don't Wanna Go Down to the Basement" Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone 2:35
Side B
8. "Loudmouth" Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone 2:14
9. "Havana Affair" Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone 2:00
10. "Listen to My Heart" Dee Dee Ramone 1:56
11. "53rd & 3rd" Dee Dee Ramone 2:19
12. "Let's Dance" (Chris Montez cover) Jim Lee 1:51
13. "I Don't Wanna Walk Around with You" Dee Dee Ramone 1:43
14. "Today Your Love, Tomorrow the World" Dee Dee Ramone 2:09





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