Singles Released This Week Years Ago

 

A broad review of notable publications without a contextual link.

1967 - Buffalo Springfield released their only chart success. For What It's Worth became an anthem of the opponents of the Vietnam war.

1977 - Boz Scaggs is an musician which has never been mentioned in this blog before. He is well known in America but he was never the big thing with his honest rhythm & blues. His album Silk Degrees reached the top ten at the time, was pleasant to listen to and very similar to the sound of Graham Parker.

1986 - Simply one of the best pop songs from this year and one that made The Bangles everybody's darlings.

1978 - American Girl was the last song on Tom Petty's debut album and shows his ability to write catchy songs that have lost none of their class even after decades.

1965 - Martha Reeves & the Vandellas are one example, why you should dive into 60's soul from time to time.

1982 - ABC released their their debut album The Lexicon Of Love. One that you can either hate or love, because their completely arranged songs are very close to kitsch. But there are some damn good songs on the album.

1956 - Hard to believe that this song by Gene Vincent and his Blue Caps is almost 70 years old. For me is this song more rock and roll than from other artists of this era.

1981 - The Jam. Just another great song from them.

Love Makes Magic

 

During the last days I listened a lot to late 60's West Coast sound, especially CSN&Y, Byrds  and Buffalo Springfield. While I was listening to these songs, an album came to mind that I had wanted to say a few words about here for some time. Just over a year ago JIM released his first full length album Love Makes Magic. JIM is the project of Nottingham's producer and DJ Jim Baron. He was the forming member of Crazy P. an electronic project mixing in the mid 90's soul, house and disco to a never heard this way cocktail. Since a couple of years he walk another road an rebuilt the sound of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Similar harmonies, superb fingerpicks on the guitar and a smooth backbeat that drifts in it's best moments to Balearic. 

Earlier this year JIM released a remix-album of many of the songs, showing what could be possible, if the controllers are free of constraints.

Drop Out

 

While I was saving some files on an external drive I found in the deepest corner a record that I almost forgot. Drop Out is the only album by East Village, a band from Buckinghamshire (the only one I know). The first time I got aware of them was in the late 90's when I traveled through Thailand and stopped for a late afternoon drink in a small bar in Kho Chang. From the first tunes I loved their songs and had to ask the bartender, a bloke from Leeds what's the name of this band. Back in Germany I tried to get a copy of their record but all were sold out. Because the main figure of the band, Martin Kelly, is now a leading person in Heavenly Records from time to time there will be a re-release of this album. The next one is planed for January next year and I have to subscribe for this. The music is another step to make the perfect pop album and finally they are very close with their mixture of Byrds/Buffalo Springfield inspired songs. Great harmonies and a voice that reminds me of Michael Head makes this album to another underrated gem. Worth to check out.

East Village - Circles

East Village - Silver Train

East Village - Everybody Knows

Monday's Long Song

 

In 1970 Brinsley Schwarz released their eponymous first self titled album and it is one that was a good friend to me over decades. Someone named them as a blend of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Bob Dyland and The Band, Buffalo Springfield with a heavy dose of early Yes and I can agree to this description. For me they were the unbeatable band of the pub-rock days and their songs were always a pleasure to listen to. Their debut album showed more roots in rock music before they drifted into country albums later. And it was Nick Lowe who wrote the most songs and shows his abilities on writing great songs. Maybe the reason I like this album is that they turned away from rhythm and blues and added country blues to it. It is  unbelievable that this record still sounds fresh after almost 50 years.  

Brinsley Schwarz - Ballad Of A Has-Been Teenage Queen

He got game

A few days ago another Spike Lee movie was sent on TV. There is another drama about a father son relationship. Although the plot is not new and can be seen in many other variations I was impressed with the acting of Denzel Washington again. Public Enemy created some songs for the soundtrack. The title track includes a sample of Buffalo Springfields 'For what it's worth' one of the leading protest songs against the Vietnam war in the late 60s.

Public Enemy - He got game

Angry Eyes

Seems like the summer arrived yet and will stay for more than two days. It's the time to sit outside on your balcony, patio or Beer Garden with your family, friends or mates. That is exactly the time to listen to some relaxed music. Loggins and Messina is an American singer/songwriter duoconsisting of Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina (former member of the country rock bands Poco and Buffalo Springfield) who achieved their success in the early to mid-1970s. Mostly know for their country/pop-songs they showed on their live record 'On Stage' what they are able to play. Some rocking tunes filled up with some Caribbean flavor and longer improvisations can make a sunny and warm day even better.

Kenny Loggins quit playing with Jim Messina to start a solo career. Loggins also wrote the song 'What a Fool Believes'with Michael McDonald. Each man recorded his own version of the song, with McDonald's recording his version as a member of The Doobie Brothers. Loggins's version was released first, but the Doobie Brothers' version achieved greater success, scoring No. 1 on the popular music charts and earning Loggins and McDonald the 1980 Grammy for Song of the year." Later he was successful writing songs for soundtracks like 'I'm Allright' from Caddyshack. Hits followed with 'Footloose' from 'Footloose' and 'Danger Zone' from 'Top Gun'.

Loggins and Messina - Angry Eyes