Singles Released This Week Years Ago

   

This week's compilation takes us back to the early Rock 'n' Roll, give a little soul, some singer songwriter, former hits and early British rock from 60's. Just for your pleasure.

1958: Eddie Cochran

1972: J.J. Cale

1978: 10cc

1992: Lithium

1985: UB40 Featuring Crissie Hynde

1965: Lee Dorsay

1976: Blue Oyster Cult

1983: ZZ Top

1964: The Zombies

2006: Snow Patrol

1974: Barry White

1980: Peter Gabriel

1967: The Kinks

1969: Johnny Cash

1974: Kiki Dee

1979: The Clash

1957: Buddy Holly

1968: The Who

1979: AC/DC

Summer

 

As of today, it is June, the meterological beginning of summer, and the weather is with us. For the first time in a row, it has been warm, sunny and pleasant to sit outside, meet with friends and spend wonderful evenings. For me, there is nothing better than enjoying this time of the year. I've been thinking about which songs make the start of the new season easy for me, but there are too many of them to rank. With this in mind, just a few songs that came to mind ad hoc and without completeness or ranking. A good start into the new season to all.

Sixty Three

 

Today it 63 years ago when I was born and saw the light on earth. As every year it is just a day I got a year older and the age really doesn't bother if you have more fun in live than anger. For me it is also a day to the last year in comparison to the years before and I have to say it was another good year with all the troubles surround us. And I am happy to be alive in best health with good friend around me. This will be not the day to make a big party but I will meet with a couple of friends for an early lunch with Bavarian veal sausage, pretzel and a pint. Sadly there are no songs with 63 in my collection and I couldn't find any one in the internet so I will offer you a few tracks released in 1959 by Eddie Cochran. He was the one for me that made the real rock 'n' roll anthems playing his peerless twang guitar.

Eddie Cochran - Summertime Blues

Eddie Cochran -  Something Else

Summertime Blues Once Again

 

This week I don't spent time in office because in my last holidays a few weeks ago I got sick and my company told me to reduce my holiday entitlements for this year. I have nothing planned for vacation only to visit a few areas around my hometown once again. So I am sure that I will find some time to check my inbox from commercials accumulated during the last months. Most of them can be deleted but a few are worth to be checked out. One of them was the announcement that Reykjavik's psych-rockers Singapore Sling release their new album Good Sick Fun. Checking the playlist I was astonished to see that they covered Eddie Cochran's Summertime Blues. I expected nothing because I listened to many cover versions before. But this one is different to all. They reduced the speed of the original to a minimum, added some psychedelic guitars and the lyrics were almost spoken in a tempered mood. That is the way a cover version should be. The other songs are also not bad in their reduced psych mood but all in all the repeat the same pattern too often.

Rumble And More In Brighton

It was 40 years ago when my musical preferences changed massive into an new sound that was raw, fast and new when a band appeared that really confused me. Stray Cats from from the melting pot of these days moved to Britain with their own interpretation of classic Rock 'n' Roll in the tradition of Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent and met another addicted one by the name of Dave Edmunds who produced their first album. It was a kind of shock when we listened to their old fashioned music but most of us agreed to their music in these days. It was not another ride on the best of the early days of rock, it was transformation of good old music into the nowaday scene. I remember a lot of greasers moved from their cellars into the streets celebrating their music and I have to admit that I loved their music back then and now because I move back to rockabilly from time to time.

Stray Cats - Rumble in Brighton
Stray Cats - Rock This Town
Stray Cats - Ubangi Stomp

Twanging Tuesday # 95

I found these early live document by Eddie Cochran while searching for this series. It's as old as me and it shows one of the best early guitar players at his best. Doing some Rock 'n' Roll like C'mon everybode, Summertime Blues and Money, Honey as well as ballads like Have I told you lately that I love you. Nothing new or special but a document of musical history. Tonight I'll go out and watch my team playing in the German football cup against might Dortmund. I think (and hope) they will fight for their small chance.

Twanging Tuesday # 76

Today an accumulation of a song by Eddie Cochran. Something Else was covered during the last 50 years by a lot of bands and artists and became a standard for a lot of band playing Rock 'n' Roll. Here are few versions by a couple of bands that played this song in their very own way.

Twanging Tuesday # 74

In the early 1980s the American band Stray Cats appeared on the scene and brought us back Rockabilly with a heavy influence of New Wave and Punk. Close to their idols Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent they played a new style of Rockabilly, produced by Dave Edmunds who is also based in this genre. It was the hippiest sound of this summer and still a band I like to listen to after all these years.

Twanging Tuesday # 53

One of the most covered songs in rock history might be the classic 'Summertime Blues' by Eddie Cochran. Only a few songs could reach the level he did in this song. Only three verses that tell everything about the hopeless feelings of the 50s childs. You can do anything but someone gives you a lesson about not agree to your ambitions. This video is live and raw and so is the quality. So please don't mind - it's true and awesome.

Another great version from this song was recorded by The Who while they played live on Isle of Wright. Listening to the power of this music makes me smile again all over the years. And Keith Moon was one of the most powerful drummer in history.

Another great version come by Joan Jett:

TwangingTuesday

Even if it is just Tuesday it could be a day to start with a Rockabilly classic by Eddie Cochran. I love this tune and the sense behind when a guy want to visit his girlfriend and the elevator is out of order, arriving and being too tired to huge and the rest. Eddie Cochran gone to fast but his legacy is great.

Have a good week out there.

Eddie Cochran - Twenty Flight Rock