Singles Released This Week Years Ago

 

Another round of songs I loved when they were released, I love still or just make fun to listen to them after a long time.

1978: Blondie

1977: Steve Miller Band

1977: The Jam

1983: Fun Boy Three

1991: Marc Cohn

1958: The Coasters

1968: Aretha Franklin

1966: The Temptations

1979: Joe Jackson

1984: Ultravox

1967: Jimi Hendrix

Feats Don't Fail Me Now

 

In August 1974 Little Feat released their fourth album Feats Don't Fail Me Now. It wasn't their best one but I still remember the day when I bought it. From 1979, I had to do my military service for 15 months. One day when I was at home for weekend the news arrived that one of the oldest discotheques in our town will close down and they will sell all of them records. The location was more a pub than a discotheque were me and a friend often went to because they didn't mind to sell beer to teenagers like us and they had a turntable where they played music. This place was heavily frequented by American soldiers and late hippies and we were introduced to psychedelic rock, funk and soul. It was the first time I listened to James Brown, Marvin Gaye and The Temptations on the one side and to Little Feat and comparable bands. The pub had a bad reputation because it was known as a marijuana distribution centre. And so I experienced more than one raid by the American military police. Nevertheless, it was a meeting place for us youngsters and I have seen older friends taking pictures, chairs and glasses as souvenirs with tears in their eyes on the last day. Amongst other albums, I was also able to purchase the Little Feat album, which I still enjoy listening to today, along with sentimental feelings.

Little Feat - Feats Don't Fail Me Now

Little Feat - Skin It Back

Little Feat - Spanish Moon

Little Feat - Oh Atlanta

Ball Of Confusion

 

It is almost 40 years ago when Daniel Ash, David J and Kevin Haskins formed from the ashes of Bauhaus formed Love And Confusion, a band that tried to transform the energy of post-punk and underground rock into another kind of popular music. That they hadn't the possibilities for a greater career was in the fact that they weren't able to write great pop songs. Nevertheless, they have a place in history because they covered a song covered a Motown classic by The Temptations and transported it into a gothic-style mood and a song that was massive inspired by glam-rock kings T. Rex. I came back to them when I played a CD the recent days I got as a gift to my 30th birthday and I enjoyed listening to this after decades. All in all another band you should remember from time to time.

Love And Rockets - Ball Of Confusion

Love And Rockets - So Alive

Monday's Long Song

It is time for a monument of a song in this series. Temptation covered a song by Motowns's Undisputed Truth and made made a milestone of soul and funk with their version. Unusual for 1973 Norman Whitfield who also wrote and produced the original took Papa Was a Rolling Stone to re-record it with The Temptations. And indeed the song starts unusual with an extended intro until a plucked bass and hi-hats forms the musical theme. Later other instruments join the theme with blues and wah-wah guitar, electric piano, strings, trumpets and handclaps. This long version is a regular guest at my place.

The Temptations - Papa Was a Rolling Stone

And as a bonus the original short version

Gone But Not Forgotten # 5

During the last weeks I have heard the music of Gil Scott-Heron over and over again. I remember when I got in contact for the first time with this kind of music. It was in the late 1970s when was a young guy. Some older friends made it possible that I could get into a club where a lot of American soldiers used to hang around. Because also many coloured soldiers hung around there, their music has also run. So I was introduced what they called soul music. They played the long live version from James Browns 'Sex Machine', a lot of The Temptations and Gil Scott-Heron as well. This kind of music opened my ears to another kind of music that most of my friends used to listen to. First I was impressed about the rhythm and the whole sound of songs like 'The Bottle' and later I understand the lyrics of him. He had something to say and was always a politic person who spoke about the things his compatriots moved. Over the years he was still a possibility to grab out one of his records when I didn't know what to play. It was a long time quietly around him and all the more it has surprised me that he has published a record a few years ago again above all that it was at the height of the time and has left his successors a legacy in which they can compete.

Gil Scott-Heron - Me and the Devil
Gil Scott-Heron - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
Gil Scott-Heron - Ain't No Such Thing As Superman
Gil Scott-Heron - I'll Take Care Of You
Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Johnson - Your Daddy Loves You
Gil Scott-Heron - New York Is Killing Me