Has it stood the test of time?

 

Last weekend an old friend of mine played with his band a gig in our local pub. They are all amateurs, but have been playing together in various bands for years. Since they haven't written any songs of their own, they have focused on reinterpreting classics from recent decades. It's pure nostalgia to hear these old songs again and be reminded of times long past. One of the most impressive cover versions was Bob Seger's Turn the Page, which prompted me to listen to his 1975 live album again.

Live Bullets was pretty much the last classic rock album I enjoyed listening to back then, before punk and new wave changed everything. Nowadays, I find it difficult to listen to the double album in one go. There are still some great tracks on it, but overall the sound is too undifferentiated and no longer blows me away. I'm considering whether I can turn this into a small series.

Bob Seger - Turn The Page

Bob Seger - I've Been Working

Bob Seger - Get Out Of Denver

Singles Released This Week Years Ago

 

Another week, another journey into musical history.

Enjoy.

1965: Smokey Robinson and The Miracles

1972: Alice Cooper

1972: Chi Coltrane

1967: Jefferson Airplane

1977: Heart

1977: Bob Seger

1980: Diana Ross

1982: Dexy's Midnight Runners

1969: Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin

1980: Joy Division

1983: Bananarama

Back To Schooldays

 

When I retired a few months ago, I never thought I would end up back at school. The fact that it turned out that way was down to a friend who told me that the local primary and secondary school was looking for reading mentors.

Around 400 pupils from 30 nations are taught at the school, which is just round the corner, and the proportion of pupils with a migrant background is 90%. So it comes as no surprise to me that many pupils have problems with the difficult German language. The aim is for selected children to read to me for 15 minutes from a book they have chosen themselves and for me to talk to them about the content and, if necessary, explain words that they are not familiar with.

Today is my first day and I'm already a little excited. Beforehand, I thought of a few songs that deal with teaching and teachers. Most of the songs have been around for 50 years or more, but have lost none of their lustre or bring back memories of that time.

Graham Parker - Back To Schooldays

Bob Seger - School Teacher

Rockpile - Teacher Teacher

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - Teach Your Children

Famous Covers And The Original

 

Tim Hardin was an American folk and blues songwriter and mostly known as the composer of hits other people had. His first albums from 1966 to 1969 contained so many classic songs like no other songwriter released in these days. His records were critically acclaimed and he reached his climate when he played at Woodstock festival. Like many others of this era he turned into drugs, got rid of them and fall back again and died in December 1980 on an overdose Heroin in Los Angeles. His legacy were a lot of songs about love and hope with intensive lyrics and melodies other would kill for. I played his record The Homecoming Concert the other days again and thought I should give him a place at this little place in the internet.

You can listen to his last album in full length and see that he was in a good condition for singing his songs live for the last time.

Sixty Five

 

Today I turn 65 and another year has passed far too quickly and I reflect on everything that has happened in these years. We are getting older and that is inevitable. And transience is a theme that crops up in every genre of music, from rock n' roll to country and blues. And songs that have dealt with getting older, the past and everything in between. It's impossible to pick a favourite, especially when you consider how much choice is out there. That's why I limited myself to the songs that came to me spontaneously and that have stayed with me over the years.

Live Bullet

A few days ago I was out with some old friends for an evening to view some pubs. Later the evening a song come to our ears and one asked which band played this song. Most of us agreed that it was Metallica but one of us tried to explain that Turn The Page was originally written by Metallica. As we told him that it was a song from the mid 70's and originally performed by Bob Seger he was much surprised. When I came home I just wanted to play Live Bullet from 1976 once again. In these days Bob Seger was one of those who made his very own music. Not too deep in classic rock and a lot of soul in his music. And his voice was very unique - a bit of a shouter but with a lot of feeling for soul. It is  a long time ago since I listened to him and I have to admit that it was a lot of fun.

Bob Seger - Turn The Page
Bob Seger - Get Out Of Denver
Bob Seger - Bo Diddley
Bob Seger - Nutbush City Limits