Chuck Ruff (1951-2011)

I was saddened to learn this morning of the death of Chuck Ruff, drummer for the Edgar Winter Group.  Chuck hailed from Reno, Nevada and joined the band, Sawbuck at age 17.  It was in 1972 that he became a founding member of the Edgar Winter Group, where he gained fame.

In 1973, they came out with an album that is considered one of hard rock’s greatest, They Only Come Out at Night (shown below).  This album reached #3 in the Billboard charts and produced two great singles, Frankenstein (reached #1) and Free Ride (reached #14).  It was Ruff who named their #1 hit, Frankenstein.  The song by its nature induced jam sessions during the recording sessions.  The only way to produce it into a song fit for release was to make massive cuts and edit the pieces together, hence the name “Frankenstein.”

Chuck Ruff went on to record four more albums with the Edgar Winter Group, including one with rocker Rick Derringer and another with Edgar’s brother, Johnny Winter.  In 1977, he became the drummer for Sammy Hagar.  He played with other bands and eventually formed his own band, the Chuck Ruff Group, based out of Reno.

Tonight I’ll play the following three songs as a mini set tribute to Chuck Ruff:

Frankenstein, Edgar Winter Group, 1973

Bad Reputation, Sammy Hagar, 1978

Free Ride, Edgar Winter Group, 1973

Motown Great, Marv Tarplin (1941-2011)

We learn this weekend of the death of Marv Tarplin in Las Vegas this past week.  His name is not a household word, but his music is among some of the best known during the past half century.  I suppose a broad, but accurate, description of him would be that he was the guitarist behind Smokey Robinson.  He played with him on the first album by the Miracles, left the Miracles with Smokey in 1973 and continued to play guitar for him on many solo recordings and, until his retirement in 2008, toured with him.  That is a 50 year (1958-2008) corroboration of writing, recording and performing for Smokey Robinson and Marv Tarplin.

Tarplin was from Atlanta, GA and began his musical career as the guitarist for the Primettes, who would later go on to become the Supremes.  In 1958, he joined the Miracles and thus began a long relationship with Smokey Robinson.  The two co-wrote many of the Miracles’ hits including Tracks of My Tears, Going to a Go-Go and I Like It Like That.  He and his guitar were actually known in the industry as the “Miracles’ Secret Weapon.”  And who can forget those opening guitar chords to Tracks of My Tears?  They are so soulful and so moving.  With those chords he grips your heart and sets the tone for the highly emotional experience Smokey Robinson is about to lyrically place upon you.  One would not be complete without the other.

In 1973, Smokey Robinson left the Miracles on friendly terms after 15 years.  Shortly thereafter, Marv Tarplin also left the Miracles and, before long was collaborating with his old friend once again.  There were more hits like Cruisin’ and Being With You, and he toured with Smokey Robinson until his retirement in 2008.

Marv did work with other recording artists throughout his life.  He co-wrote and performed on a number of hits for Marvin Gaye such as I’ll be Doggone and Ain’t That Peculiar. He also played guitar on the Four Tops’ top 20 hit, Still Water (Love).

During my set tonight, I’ll include the following songs as a tribute to this Motown great.  All of them are co-written by Tarplin and his guitar is featured on each recording.

Going to a Go-Go, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, 1965

Ain’t That Peculiar, Marvin Gaye, 1965

Being With You, Smokey Robinson, 1981

I’ll Be Doggone, Marvin Gaye, 1965

Tracks of My Tears, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, 1965

 

The Miracles… Marv (with his guitar) and Smokey seated

Rest in Peace... John Du Cann

When I checked my email this morning, I found one from someone I know in the music industry that I haven’t corresponded with in a few years.  He knew of my great love of 60s psychedelic music and how much I loved bands like Andromeda.  He wanted to be sure that I heard the sad news that John Du Cann had died yesterday of what appears to be a heart attack.

His real name was” John Cann,” and he was probably best known as the guitarist for Atomic Rooster.  His first notable band was the Attack, formed in London during the 60s.  The Attack broke up in 1968 and several members, including John Cann, formed a new band call Andromeda.

In 1969, Andromeda released their only album, shown above, and it remains seminal among collectors and aficionados of 60s psych music.  The album and the band remain among my favorites and I often wished that they had released more than one album.  Back in July, I did a blog post on what I listen to and it was called “Farfisa and Fuzz.”  In it I included a mini set I intended to play that included many of my favorite psych tunes of the era.  On that list was Sleep Like a Child by Andromeda, one of my favorite songs and one that only exists as a demo.  Again, what more would have come from them if they had survived longer?

 John Cann’s departed to join Atomic Rooster, a new band forming from members of the Crazy World of Arthur Brown, which had just broken up.  John had been invited to join the new band as a guitarist and vocalist, which led to the breakup of Andromeda.  They soon began touring with Deep Purple and released their first album, Atomic Rooster, in 1970.  After that first album their drummer, Carl Palmer, one of the original members from the Crazy World of Arthur Brown, left the group to help form Emerson Lake & Palmer, and would later be the drummer for Asia.  John Cann stayed with Atomic Rooster for two more albums before leaving over creative differences.

In 1974 John Cann toured with Thin Lizzy and, sometime after that, officially changed his name to “John Du Cann” on the advice of his manger and began a solo career.  In 1977 he began work on a new album, The World’s Not Big Enough, which was produced by Francis Rossi of the Status Quo.  The album was not released until 1992!  His only hit after leaving Atomic Rooster occurred in 1979 with Don’t Be a Dummy, which he worked on with Gary Newman.

I will do a special mini set in tribute to John Du Cann today during my show.  He does lead guitar and vocals in both of these songs.

Devil’s Answer, Atomic Rooster, 1971 (written by John Du Cann)

Sleep Like a Child, Andromeda, 1969

Happy Birthday Freddie!

Last week we marked the 65^th birthday of Freddie Mercury, one of Rock’s greatest voices. He was born Farrokh Bulsara in Stone Town, Zanzibar, in 1946.  He was born of Parsi parents from India and spent most of his childhood living with his grandmother in India, where he learned to play the piano.  He developed the ability to listen to a song on the radio and then be able to play it on the piano perfectly. The Bulsara Family were devote Zoroastrians, a pre-Christian monotheistic religion from Persia.

In his teen years, he returned to his parents to live with them in Zanzibar.  He had already begun calling himself “Freddie Bulsara.”  In 1964 a revolution broke out in Zanzibar with African rebels attempting to overthrow the Arab Sultan.  With Zanzibar now a dangerous place, the Bulsara family, along with Freddie, fled to England and settled in Middlesex.  There Freddie went to college and earned a degree in Graphic Design.

Freddie performed with a number of bands after graduation before finally joining up with Brian May and Roger Taylor in 1970.  It was Freddie who chose the name “Queen” for the new band. Considering the connection the word had with homosexuality, it was a rather bold move, and the rest of the band was not completely comfortable with it. With the forming of Queen, Freddie Bulsara officially changed his name to “Ferddie Mercury.”  

Queen went on to tremendous success and remains one of Rock’s most innovated acts.  They took diverse styles of music, such as Opera, Jazz and Do-wop, and fused them into a style of Rock and Roll that was uniquely their own.  Most of us can hear a Queen and recognize it instantly just by its sound.  A big part of that sound was the voice of Freddie Mercury.  Queen went on to produce 18 number one albums, along with 18 number one singles.  By some estimates, they have sold over 300 million albums.  They are one of the most successful recording artists in the history of music.

Soon after Queen was formed, Mercury began a relationship with Mary Austin and the two lived together for some time.  By the mid-1970s, Freddie began seeing Jim Hutton.  This brought an end to his relationship with Austin, but she remained Mercury’s closest friend and confidant throughout his life.  He was private man and very discreet about his relationship and homosexuality publicly.  In the late 1980s he was diagnosed with HIV.  As the years went by, rumors of his HIV status started to spread and Mercury denied them.

On November 22, 1991, Mercury released a statement to the public finally admitting that he was HIV positive and had AIDS.  This was no surprise he had become quite gaunt and frail in his few recent public appearances.  Freddie died a little over 24 hours later with his partner Jim Hutton by his side.  His best friend, Mary Austin visited him daily up until the end and inherited the bulk of his estate.  Two days later, a Zoroastrian funeral was held and Mercury was cremated.  Mary Austin is the only one who knows the exact whereabouts of his ashes.

My entire set tonight will be dedicated to the music of Freddie Mercury.

Motown Great, Nick Ashford (1942-2011)

The sad news reached my ears this morning.  Nick Ashford has lost his battle with throat cancer and died in a New York City hospital.  He was 69.

He was born in South Carolina and migrated to New York where he met his wife, Valerie Simpson.  The duo of Ashford & Simpson went on to make a great mark among Motown artists.  During their career, 36 of their singles charted, the first in 1964 being credited simply to “Valerie & Nick.”  Their best known hit was probably Solid, released in 1984.

This would be great career for any musical artist, but there is more.  As well-known as they were, they were probably better known for the great hit songs they wrote for other artists.  These greats include Ain’t no Mountain High Enough, recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell (later by Diana Ross) and I’m Every Woman by Chaka Kahn, to name a couple.  Other great names they have written for include Ray Charles, Amy Winehouse, the 5^th Dimension, Gladys Knight, Teddy Pendergrass and Smokey Robinson, to name but a  few.

Ashford & Simpson were also owners of Sugar Bar in New York City.  This restaurant featured new, up and coming, talent.  In 2007, they accompanied Oprah Winfrey to South Africa for the opening of her Leadership Academy for Girls.

Nick Ashford is survived by his wife Valerie Simpson, their daughters Nicole and Asia, and two brothers of significance in the music industry.  His brother, Ray, sang with the Village People and his brother, Jimmy, was producer for the group, GQ.

During my show tomorrow, I’ll pay tribute to this Motown great with the following Mini Set…

Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing, Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (1968)

I’m Every Woman, Chaka Kahn (1978)

Solid, Ashrford & Simpson (1984)

Tears Dry on Their Own, Amy Winehouse (2006)

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, Diana Ross (1970)

Jani Lane of Warrant (1964 - 2011)

The Music World is saddened today to learn about the death of Jani Lane.  He achieved fame in the late 1980s as the lead singer for the glam metal band, Warrant.  Lane was found dead in his hotel room in Los Angeles this morning and no cause of death has been released.

Lane, a native of Ohio, started as a drummer at a young age.  By age 11, he was already playing live gigs in clubs.  He was a talented athlete and excelled as a football quarterback.  He actually turned several college football scholarships to pursue his musical career.

Warrant was formed in Los Angeles in 1984.  It wasn’t until two years later that Jani Lane joined as lead vocalist, replacing Adam Shore.  They became very successful in the club scene in the L.A. area.  In 1988, they signed with Columbia records and their first album, Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich, was released later that year.  The album produced three top 40 hits, Heaven, Down Boys and Sometimes She Cries.  Jani Lane wrote every song on that stellar debut album, still considered a staple among glam metal fans.

During the 1990s, Warrant had success but also hit some bumps.  In 1992 Lane actually left the band for a period but returned.  In 1994, Lane left Warrant one more time and, except for a couple reunion shows in 2008, would not be a part of Warrant again.

Today I will pay tribute to Jani Lane during my set.  I will play the following 4 songs; all sung by Lane and, except for We Will Rock You, all written by Lane.

Cherry Pie, 1990

Heaven, 1988
Uncle Tom’s Cabin, 1990
We Will Rock You, 1992

What Does Sue Listen to: Pt. 1 Farfisa and Fuzz

Today I’m doing a set in the afternoon of nothing but Madonna dance mixes.  In the past I have done complete two hour sets of Hip Hop, Trance and many other types of music.  I think most people have figured out that I’m really a classic rock girl at heart but the question has come up more than once in private conversation… Sue, what music do you really like?  What does DJ Sue listen to on her iPod when she is alone?  In other words, what are my true musical tastes?  I hope that this series will help you to get to know me better.  I will bare my musical soul to you in hopes that I can find others like myself that have an appreciation for the psychedelic.

My greatest musical love, and what I listen to 75% of the time on my iPod, is late 60s psychedelic music.  This type of music typically comes from 1966 to 1970 and is defined by certain elements.  I am calling this first installment, “Farfisa and Fuzz,” because those are two of the elements that I feel define this genre of music.

The Farfisa Combo was an Italian made portable organ that became quite popular in the mid-60s.  A good example of it can be found on Double Shot (Of My Baby’s Love) by the Swingin’ Medallions from 1966.  It doesn’t have to be a Farfisa; Vox, Continental, and others soon came out with their versions, but the high pitched electric organ sound begun by Farfisa is an important element in creating the sound.  Songs like Light My Fire by the Doors (1967) and Incense and Peppermints by the Strawberry Alarm Clock (1967) are great examples of the sound and showcase the organ prominently.

“Fuzz” describes a certain type of guitar distortion that was popular in the late 60s.  A great example of this sound is the guitar on the Rolling Stone’s hit (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.  Like most guitar effects, the musician plugged his guitar into a box on the floor, which in turn got plugged into the amplifier.  When he wanted to turn the effect on, he pressed the button on the box with his foot.  (See the photo below.)

Another important element in this sound is reverb.  Reverb is echo, but the kind of echo you get in a high school gymnasium.  It helps give this music its other worldly sound.  There is a story about a young engineer at International Artists Records a few years back.  I’m not sure how true it is, but he decided to clean up all the distortion he found in the master tapes of a band from the late 1960s, the 13^th Floor Elevators.  After much effort, he managed to remove ALL of the reverb from the master recordings.  In essence, he ruined precious master tapes by not understanding a musical genre from before he was born.

The final element I will discuss today is the outrageous names.  There is no denying that this form of music is heavily associated with drugs, especially LSD.  Many of the lyrics and song titles more than suggest this.  The band names are very often psychedelic gems in themselves, like the following..

The Peanut Butter Conspiracy

The Chocolate Watchband
The Electric Prunes
The 13^th Floor Elevators
The Strawberry Alarm Clock
Kaleidoscope
Iron Butterfly
The Orange Wedge
Frijid Pink

This is just scratching the surface.  I’m not sure why this music sings to my soul above all other types.  That is a question I have been pondering for decades.  Here are some songs that both touch my soul and are good examples of the elements I have outlined above.  They are among my favorites.  I will present them as a mini set during my show tomorrow (Monday) night.  So put on those headphones and place that little paper square on your tongue.  I’m going to take you on a journey through a few of my psychedelic favorites.  Some may wonder what I see in this music.  Others may find this a nostalgic trip back to a forgotten era.  But I’m hoping that a few of you will see what I see and maybe share this great love of mine.

Strawberry Tuesday, the Sidewalk Skipper Band (1968)

I’m Not Like Everybody Else, the Chocolate Watchband (1967)

She’s Coming Home, the Blues Magoos (1966)

Sleep Like a Child, Andromeda (1969)

Incense and Peppermints, the Strawberry Alarm Clock (1967)

Lose Your Mind, the Third Bardo (1967)

Please Note: My Monday set was dedicated to Rocky Horror and I lost track of that when I posted this.  This Mini Set will be played on Wednesday, August 3.

Gene McDaniels Passes at Age 76

I have yet another death to report.  Gene McDaniels passed peacefully in his sleep last night.  He was 76.

He was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and grew up in Omaha, Nebraska.  He had 5 top 40 hits during his career including Tower of Strength, which hit #5, and a Hundred Pounds of Clay, which reached #3.  He wrote Feel Like Makin’ Love for Roberta Flack, which hit #1 in 1974, and earned him a Grammy.  Later in life he moved to Maine and lived a reclusive life.  However, last year he began posting YouTube videos including recent renditions of some of his old classics.  You can find his YouTube page here.

During my set tomorrow, I’ll play a three song tribute to Gene…

Tower of Strength, 1961

Feel Like Makin’ Love, Roberta Flack, 1974 (written by McDaniels)

A Hundred Pounds of Clay, 1961

Dan Peek of America (1950 - 2011)

We awoke to the sad news this morning that Dan Peek of America passed away this past weekend.  No details surrounding his death have been released.  He was 60 years old.

Dan was born in Panama City, Florida but moved to the UK as a kid with his family when his father was station at a US Air Force Base near London in the UK.  It was at school that he met two other sons of American fathers stationed there, Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell.  Together, they formed a band, America, named for their native country, despite the fact that they hardly knew it.  Their first album, America, was released in 1971 and spent five weeks at #1 on the US charts.  A Horse with no name, a single from that album, also hit #1 in the US and #3 in the UK.

Dan Peek would remain with America for a total of seven albums (eight if you include History: America’s Greatest Hits).  All of these albums charted in the top 40 and five charted in the top 10.  Peek wrote such memorable tunes as Don’t Cross the River, Today’s the Day and Lonely People (hit #5 on the charts).  He collaborated on such hits as a Horse with No Name, Sister Golden Hair, Ventura Highway and Tin Man.

In 1977, Dan Peek left America having found a renewed faith in God.  He left what he saw as a negative lifestyle of drugs.  He continued with a solo career quite successfully as a Christian musician.  A single from his first solo album, All Things are possible, not only hit #1 in the Contemporary Christian music charts, it crossed over and became a hit in the Billboard Singles and Adult Contemporary charts as well.  Though he had no more crossover hits, he continued with a successful Christian music career until retiring in the 1990s.

America continued on without Dan, releasing 20 more albums, including both live and compilation collections but including much new studio material too.  They never recaptured the success they had with Dan, but they never stopped.  In fact, their latest album, Back Pages, was released YESTERDAY!  Through the years there had been many rumors of a reunion, but none ever came to pass.  It should be noted that a Rolling Stone publication in the 1990’s did report the fact that they had reunited for a concert but this was just not true, yet it is repeated by many as a fact to this day.

During my show tonight, I will do a mini set tribute to Dan Peek.  I usually keep these to four or five songs, but I just can’t do that in this case.  I need to do a few more.  My set will consist of…

Lonely People, America (Holiday, 1974), written by Dan Peek

Don’t Cross the River, America (Homecoming, 1972), written by Dan Peek
Sister Golden Hair, America (Hearts, 1975)
Tin Man, America (Holiday, 1974)
Horse with no Name, America (America, 1971)
All Things are Possible, Dan Peek (All Things are Possible, 1979)
On the Way Home, America (Back Pages, 2011), without Dan Peek, Released YESTERDAY

If there’s a Rock and Roll Heaven, well you know they have a hell of a band.

The Electric Light Orchestra

What do the British rock bands, the Beatles, Black Sabbath and the Move all have in common?  If you are reading this and saw the title, you know it must be the Electric Light Orchestra, or as they are commonly referred to, ELO.  Today my set will consist entirely of ELO music so let’s take a look at this great and fascinating band.

Let us start with the Move.  This band was started in the Birmingham area in 1965 in the UK.  Although they had little success in the United States, they were greatly successful in the UK with 12 singles charting in the top 40.  In 1970, Roy Wood, the Move's guitarist, had a plan for a band that would include violins and cellos.  He wanted to explore bringing Baroque and Classical arrangements to rock music.  He had previously tried taking the Move in this direction but it was now apparent that a new band was needed.  The basics of ELO were now there, but it was still nothing more than a side project by Move members, Roy Wood, Jeff Lynn and Bev Bevan (guitar, guitar and drums respectively).

The new fledgling project attracted other musicians and the three, Wood, Lynn and Bevan, continued to record with the Move and work with the new project at the same time.  Those three became the Move in these final years and released two final albums under that moniker to pay their bills and fund their new project, the Electric Light Orchestra.  The Move released their last album in 1971 and disbanded after releasing a couple of more singles in 1972, including Do Ya, a song that would be reworked by ELO in years to come and become a big hit for them. 

In 1971, before the Move disbanded, ELO released their first album.  It was supposed to be a self-titled album, but an error was made and it was released with a different title in the United States.  The decision to call the album the “Electric Light Orchestra,” was made in the UK.  In the States, a record executive forgot the time difference and called the office in London after they were already closed.  He responded to the note requesting the title of the album by simply writing “No Answer,” which is how it was released.

ELO used the same manager as the Move, Don Arden.  Arden also managed Black Sabbath and the two often toured together.  Arden would soon give control of this band to his daughter at a new label, Jet Records.  It was Sharon Arden who managed ELO to greatness and through their most successful albums of the 1970s.  By the way, you probably know Sharon by a different name.  She would marry Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath and is the Sharon Osbourne of reality TV fame.

For their fourth album, ELO released Eldorado, a concept album that made it to #13 in the US charts.  The Beatles had perfected the idea of the concept album with their Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.  It has been observed that ELO had formed in the days following the breakup of the Beatles.  The Beatles had taken rock music in many different directions, but there was still one direction that they had not explored, classical music.  Years after the breakup, John Lennon was asked if the Beatles had survived what would they sound like today.  Without hesitation, he said they would probably sound a lot like ELO.  That is a strong endorsement if there ever was one.

Also telling was the fact that Jeff Lynn, now front man for ELO after Wood’s departure in 1972, would be asked to produce solo projects by all four Beatles.  It has been said that a torch was past from the Beatles to ELO.  This is evident in the music, but also in the trust that the Beatles would put in Jeff Lynn in the years to follow.  It may have been the one thing that all four agreed upon.

The name “Electric Light Orchestra” is actually a pun.  It can be taken two ways.  The more obvious of the two is as a band/orchestra named the concept of electric lights.  Their first album cover depicted a large light bulb, which embraced this meaning.   The other meaning is that they were a light orchestra composed of just a couple of cellos and violins.  The word “electric” in this case showing that this light orchestra makes electric music.

ELO would come out with 12 albums before disbanding in the late 1980s.  They had more top 40 hits in the US and UK from 1972 to 1986 than any other band.  They had a #1 in the States in 1979 with their album, Discovery, or “Disco Very” as it is sometimes called by both fans and critics.  When we remember ELO today, we remember the flamboyance of the colorfully lacquered violins and cellos.  We recall the amazing light shows and the spaceships.  ELO was all of those things and they gave us music unlike anything we had ever heard before or since.  An interesting observation is that the Move was very successful in their native UK, but had no real success in the United States.  ELO turned that around.  While ELO was successful in the UK, it wasn’t near the success that they had in the US and the rest of the world.

In 1983 Bev Bevan, drummer for ELO and the Move from the beginning in 1965, left to be the drummer for Black Sabbath. The band fell apart and broke up after the release of their final album in 1986.  Jeff Lyn went on to other projects, including the Traveling Wilburys with former Beatle, George Harrison.  Others in the Wilburys read as a Who’s Who for whom Lynn had produced records or worked closely with on other projects, including Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Roy Orbison.  In 2000 Jeff Lyn reformed ELO and recorded an album in 2001, Zoom, with appearances by former Beatles, Ringo Starr and George Harrison.  Ticket sales for the supporting concert tour were so disappointing that it was cancelled and the Electric Light Orchestra officially came to an end.

New Member of the 27 Club... Amy Winehouse (1983 - 2011)

I have another death to report.  Amy Winehouse was found dead in her flat in London today and her death has been called “unexplained" by Police.  She was 27 years old and the latest member of the 27 Club that I wrote about last month.  Her troubles with drugs and alcohol were well documented but there is no word as to whether they played any part in her death.

Winehouse was a native of the UK and came out with her first album in 2003.  It was her second and final album that rocked the music industry.  She released Back to Black in 2006.  It peaked at #1 on the British charts and #7 in the USA.  Five singles from that album charted and she won three Grammys, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.  Lady Gaga has credited Winehouse for paving the way for her own success.

I will do a Mini Set in tribute to Amy today.  Here are the songs I intend to play…

You Know I’m no Good

Valerie (w/Mark Ronson)

Back to Black

Fuck Me Pumps

Rehab

Radio DJ Drowns

It is with profound sadness that I report the passing of a great female DJ and radio personality.  Allison Harte, who became famous on Michigan’s classic rock radio station, WLAV FM, was taken off life support today after being found unresponsive in her swimming pool Tuesday night.  Allison rose to fame in the early 1980s at the classic rock station where she was much beloved by her listeners and helped to build WLAV’s fan base, giving them a preeminent place in the market.

She is survived by her husband, Roger Dykstra, daughter, Brittany, two stepsons, her parents and siblings.  WLAV has posted a remembrance page that can be found here.  You are invited to post your thoughts and memories.  On that page, a couple of people refer to her by her real name, Prudence Dykstra.  The Dykstra family is in our thoughts and prayers tonight.

The Righteous Brothers said that Rock and Roll Heaven had a hell of a band.  They now have another jock to play their records.

Fleetwood Mac

There is a greatness about Fleetwood Mac that one just can’t write about or put in words.  They have worn so many hats, succeeded in so many things and the list of people who have been with them reads like a page out of Who’s Who in the Music Industry.  I put it that way because they were not just pop sensations.  They were rock greats and yet, they started strictly as a blues band and made a name for themselves in that genre first.

The story begins in the mid-60s when Mick Fleetwood was playing with a band called Peter B’s Looners along with a guitarist named Peter Green.  This band morphed into the Shotgun Express and had a young singer named Rod Stewart as a member.  In 1966, Peter Green left the group to replace Eric Clapton in John Mayall’s band, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers.  Later, when the Bluesbreakers needed a new drummer, Peter Green suggested Mick Fleetwood who now became a member of the Bluesbreakers.

They recorded an instrumental piece and Green named it after both the drummer, Mick Fleetwood, and the bassist for the Bluesbreakers, John McVie.  He called it Fleetwood Mac, “Mac” being McVie’s nickname based on his last name.  At this point, it was the title of a song and nothing more.

Green and Fleetwood broke away to form their own band in 1967.  They invited McVie to join and when he refused, they named their new band Fleetwood Mac in order to further persuade him.  He wouldn’t budge.  The band began touring and recorded their first single without him.  He eventually relented but he was not a part of the band from the very beginning, despite it being indirectly named for him.

They released their first album, the self-titled Fleetwood Mac, in early 1968. It made it to #4 on the British charts and Fleetwood Mac had become a blues band to be reckoned with.  They followed it up with a couple of successful singles, including one written by Green called Black Magic Woman.  This song would later become a big hit for Santana but was originally a Fleetwood Mac tune.  They continued to come out with albums and to tour.  They were a success by any standard and the story could end here and be considered happy, but there is much more.

Let me introduce you to Christine Perfect.  She began playing keyboards for Fleetwood Mac early on as an uncredited session musician.  She had played with a band called Chicken Shack, and during this period, came out with an album on her own simply titled Christine Perfect.  She was a successful musician in her own right and even sang lead vocals for Fleetwood Mac, despite not being a member of the band.  She wound up marrying bassist, John McVie and joining Fleetwood Mac officially in 1970.  Christie McVie would become a familiar name and member we all associate with the Mac.

Fleetwood Mac continued to steadily tour, turn out albums, and chart.  There were personnel changes and by 1975 the band consisted of Fleetwood on Drums, John McVie on Bass, Christie McVie on Keyboards, Stevie Nicks on Vocals, and Lindsey Buckingham on guitar.  This is the classic lineup that most people recall from the 70s and the one depicted in the photo above.  (l to r: Buckingham, C. McVie, Fleetwood, J. McVie, and Nicks).

They released a self-titled album in 1975 and it went to the number one position on the charts.  I was watching CBS Sunday Morning a couple of years ago and was taken aback by their piece on Fleetwood Mac.  It stated that the band formed in 1975 and that this was their first album.  Their version of history completely removed their first nine albums and all their success on the charts since 1968.  To be fair, not many bands have two self-titled albums, and the fact that the Mac did as their first and tenth did confuse things.  The 1968 album has since been referred to as Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac.

Their next album, 1977’s Rumours, was one of the most successful records of all times.  It hit #1 on the charts (and held #1 for 31 weeks in the USA!) around the world and had four singles in the top 10 in the United States.  It remains one of the ten best top-selling albums of all time.  Behind the scenes, this album was fraught with personal angst.  Nicks and Buckingham had broken up and Buckingham’s song, Go Your Own Way (#10 on the Billboard charts), was a result of that.  In 1976, the McVie marriage started to fall apart and they divorced in 1977 as Rumours was released.  Christie McVie’s Don’t Stop (#1 on the Billboard charts) was part of her efforts to put that behind her.  Many have said that it was this emotional turmoil that Fleetwood Mac drew upon and directed into the music that helps to make this album great.

Through the years, they have continued to record and tour.  There have been personnel changes but the members of that late 70s superstar lineup continue to return and there have been concerts and even an album by that particular group.  In 1997, Fleetwood, J. Mcvie, C. McVie, Buckingham, and Nicks took to the stage together in front of an audience.  This performance resulted in the album, the Dance.  After they had finished Go Your Own Way, each member of the band came to the microphone to say good night and goodbye.  They left and the house lights were down.  Everyone knew that an encore would follow.  Soon a hypnotic drum beat was emanating from the stage and as the lights came up, Mick Fleetwood was at the drums.  Lindsay Buckingham strummed a loud chord on his guitar and band was playing Tusk, one of their old hits from the 70s.

Partway through, Mick Fleetwood when into a wild drum solo, and as he did, the USC Trojan Marching Band marched down the aisles and joined the Mac on stage.  Tusk was originally recorded with the Trojans backing them in 1979.  The end result was incredible and everyone’s hairs stood on edge.  As a second encore, they did their only #1 hit, Don’t Stop.  The Trojans remained on stage dancing with the Mac and part way through the song, joined in.  You had Fleetwood Mac and the USC Trojans playing Don’t Stop and producing a sound that can only be described as awe-inspiring.  Towards the end, the members of the Mac quietly each left stage.  The Trojans finished the number on their own… The band played on.

Today I will be doing a set of Fleetwood Mac.  I plan on ending it with that performance of Tusk/Don’t Stop.

The Left Banke

The Left Banke undoubtedly wrote some of the most melodic and calming music to come out of the 60s.  In a time of peace and love, it is almost disturbing to learn that writers and performers of such tunes were so totally engulfed in strife and conflict.

They were formed in New York in 1965 by Tom Finn, George Cameron and Michael Brown.  Finn & Cameron (bass and drums respectively) were already friends.  Finn got to know Brown (a keyboardist), whose father owned a recording studio.  Steve Martin, a vocalist, had just moved to New York and got to know Cameron.  Since one of their dads had a recording studio, and all four were musicians, it was a natural thing for these four teens (yes, TEENS!) to play around and make some recordings.  Brown’s father was so impressed by what he heard that he offered to become their manager and the Left Banke was born.

Their first hit, Walk Away Renee, was written by Michael Brown who was just 17 at the time.  The song is supposedly written about Renee Fladen who was Finn’s girlfriend at the time and Brown had an intense infatuation for.  She was present for the recording and Brown was so nervous that he couldn’t get the harpsichord parts right.  He had to come back later and record them when he was alone.  The song was released in February 1966 and rose to #5 on the charts.  Their unique sound with the harpsichord and classical arrangements required the industry to concoct a new term just for their music, “Baroque Rock.”

Supposedly, Pretty Ballerina and She May Call You Up Tonight were also inspired by Brown’s infatuation with Fladen.  Pretty Ballerina would reach #15 on the charts in 1967.  Brown eventually decided he didn’t want to tour and would rather just record in the studio, while the course to rock stardom that the other three members wanted to follow required touring to promote their newly recorded album.  This led to two factions forming with Brown and his father claiming rights to the band name and replacing Finn, Cameron and Martin.

When the single, Ivy Ivy, hit the market in 1967, the other three used their influence with the Fan Club to get the record boycotted.  This move was successful and the record flopped.  Interestingly, among the session musicians used for this song were Bert Sommers, who would later play Woodstock as a solo musician, and Michael McKean who would later be a part of Spinal Tap (after also playing Lenny, of Lenny & Squiggy, on Laverne & Shirly).  Attorneys were hired and things would never be the same.  They did manage to reunite later in 1967 and recorded some more songs, including Desiree which was their third and final song to chart.  The damage had been done and they never really attained the success they could have.  Their records received little airplay as stations were reluctant to promote them due to all of the controversy.  However, during this period it is worth mentioning that a rather young singer did backing vocals for them by the name of Steve Tyler.  Tyler would later become the front man for Aerosmith.  This last material was gathered, along with a couple of songs by Brown & his session musicians, and released as a second album, the Left Banke Too.  They played live performances for a while longer but soon disbanded.

I plan a mini set today during my show of the Left Banke.  I hope to cover a bit of what I have talked about above and it will consist of…

Pretty Ballerina, 1967
Claudia, never released
Desiree, 1967
Nice to See You, 1968 (Steve Tyler of Aerosmith on backing vocals)
Walk Away Renee, 1966

Rob Grill of the Grass Roots (1943 – 2011)

It was during my set yesterday that a DJ friend of mine, Feliciana Zabaleta, broke the sad news to me.  Rob Grill of the Grass Roots had passed away at age 67.  I played a few Grass Roots songs as we put the word out of his death and both of us plan to play a few Grass Roots songs during our back to back sets today.  Let’s take a look at Rob Grill and the Grass Roots.

The band was originally the brainchild of P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri.  The two were looking to put together a band to perform the songs that they wrote.  They actually went through two versions of the Grass Roots in 1966, recorded some singles and had some success, but they failed to keep either group together.  It was the third version of the Grass Roots that we remember from the 60s and 70s today.

Rob Grill was part of this version of the Grass Roots and played bass and sang.  Their first Top 10 hit was Let’s Live for Today in 1967.  Between 1967 and 1972, they achieved the unprecedented feat of not going a single week without a song on the Billboard Charts for 307 weeks, charting 29 singles!   

In many ways, Rob Grill was the Grass Roots.  Of the original lineup, he remained the longest until starting a solo career in 1979.  He reformed them again in the 1980s with all new musicians and he continued to play with them well into this century. 

Bob suffered a stroke several weeks ago and injured his head when he fell.  He had been in a coma ever since.  He passed away in a hospital in Orlando, Florida, last Monday.  He was a native of California and attended Hollywood High School.  Before becoming associated with the Grass Roots, he was already friends with John Kay, later of Steppenwolf, and Cory Wells, later of Three Dog Night.

Feliciana and I both have mini set tributes planned for today.  My set is up first and I plan to play the following…

Heaven Knows, 1969

Where Were You When I Needed You, 1967
Two Divided by Love, 1971
Things I should Have Said, 1967

Probably not the best known tunes by them, but some great tunes by a great band nonetheless.  My friend Feliciana will also be playing some Grass Roots during her set.  She plans to play the following, though I’m unsure of the order…

Live for Today, 1967

Midnight Confessions, 1968
Temptation Eyes, 1970

We could wait a million years, walk a million miles, cry a million tears, swim the deepest sea, climb the highest hill and we will still never find another Rob Grill.