Clap Your Hands

 

Another episode in this series begins in 1969. Norman Greenbaum wrote this psychedelic-style hit. Handclaps are a key element of the track’s driving, gospel-style rhythm and were added in the studio alongside backing vocals from the Oakland-based gospel trio, the Stovall Sisters.

Mott The Hoople released several good, albeit unsuccessful, albums in the late 1960's and early 1970's, and were on the verge of splitting up in 1972. One of their fans was David Bowie, who wrote and produced All The Young Dudes for them, turning it into a glam rock classic.

‘Dog Days Are Over’ is the opening track on Florence + The Machine’s debut album from 2009. On this album, Florence Welsh has achieved a remarkably successful blend of alternative, art-pop and soul.

From the ashes of the doo-wop group Dion and the Belmonts, their lead singer rose to unprecedented heights as a solo artist and had several hits. Something for those with a nostalgic streak.

Singles Released This Week Years Ago

 

This week, we take another look back at the 70's, plus a few older and newer songs.

1965: Bob Dylan

1972: Uriah Heep

1972: Mott The Hoople

1972: Randy Newman

1977: Thin Lizzy

1991: Metallica

1971: Rod Stewart

1964: Martha and the Vandellas

1970: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

1989: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

1980: David Bowie

1959: The Coasters

1971: Cher

1973: The Velvet Underground

1987: M|A|R|R|S

I Hate Hate

 

I was surprised when I got the news that Ian Hunter is going to release a new album and I can't say what I expected to happen. For those who don't know him, Hunter was the founder of Mott the Hoople, a British rock band that was quite successful in the early seventies. They were a part of the glam-rock scene but with more keyboards and guitars and very close to David Bowie who owned them his song All The Young Dudes that reached higher places in the charts. Originally I was afraid it was going to be another album that nobody really needed. But Ian surprised me by demonstrating that he is still capable of writing great songs that are reminiscent of the Hearbreakers on the one hand and celebrate classic English songcraft on the other.

Listening to him made me want to step back 50 years and listen to the old songs by Mott The Hoople and I have to admit that they didn't lost it attraction after all these years. And Ian's humor was shown in the credits to Alice, when he called the brass section a Reeperbahn saxophon.

Mott The Hoople - Alice

Mott The Hoople - All The Young Dudes

Back Then

 

Last weekend a few of my pals watched the Stuttgart game for the Bundesliga and we were all disappointed by the result. Stuttgart were the far better team but they lost at home 0:1 at home against Freiburg. After we got over our frustration we went to a friends home to finish the afternoon, There was nothing more to do than talking and have good conversations until a friend started to play some music. Step by step each of us took over the controls and finally it was my decision DJing for half an hour. I didn't know much better than to go back to the early 70's to play some glam rock. We all enjoyed this evening and so it is a pleasure for me to kick you all back to music more than 50 years ago. Enjoy this little journey.