A few good times in my life
This week's compilation consists mainly of releases from 1982. I can't say why, but perhaps it's simply because only good songs were released that week.
1967: Kaleidoscope
1987: Pink Floyd
1971: Chicago
1979: Sugerhill Gang
1982: George Thorogood
1982: The Clash
1982: The Pretenders
1982: John Cougar
1967: Bee Gees
1980: The Police
1963: Marvin Gaye
1982: Tears For Fears
1979: Chic
Enjoy this week's selection of a ride through various genres.
1958: Big Bopper
This week's bundle of songs starts with a classic by the early Elton John and shows how great he was in these days and had more to give than weird outfits.
Graham Parker is another artist I loved in my younger days until punk and new wave changed everything.
We finish with a pop song by Chicago when they were already on the decline musically.
In 1969 Chicago Transit Authority released their self titled debut album. Of course, As a ten year old kid I was much too young for music like this but a couple of years later an older friend introduced me to this. Their sound was very different to everything else I heard in these days and couldn't grasp this music. Not hard-rock or blues or classic but with a monumental brass section. Most of their songs lived on the arrangements of classic band line-up and wind movements. Chicago made a few long songs in their career but a cover version of Steve Winwood's I'm A Man could be their trademark.
Chicago - I'm A Man
A few years ago I purchased a compilation in a charity shop. When I was looking for something in my CD collection recently, I came across a compilation that I no longer knew I owned. The compilation is called Disco Roots 68-75 and filled with late soul and funky gems but also some songs that I wouldn't file under early disco. These songs are from bands that I would categorize as rock/jazz-rock bands. But all have one thing in common - a strong driving rhythm, accentuated guitar riffs and a throaty vocals. In this context you can name them as pre-disco sounding but after all this are classic songs from decades ago.
Chicago - I'm A Man
Doobie Brothers - Long Train Running
Dr. John - Right Place, Wrong Time
It is 50 years ago when American rock-jazz band Chicago released the first four long player included first live album. It was recorded during a tour in the early 70's when they played for a week in London's Carnegie Hall. In my early days I enjoyed their combination of classic rock, prog and fantastic horn arrangements. And listening to their songs decades later they have still a kind of attraction to no and not only because of I was in a nostalgic mood.
Chicago - South Californian Purples
