Charlie Daniels has been around the music scene forever, though the first song I heard was his massive country, southern-rock crossover hit “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” – arguably the greatest fiddle song ever recorded. Dig the groovy bass line during the “devil’s” jam section – it comes back at the end for a flash as well.
It may be a stretch to say Gil Scott Heron invented rap, but his classic “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” certainly sets the stage for the powerful and politically charged tirades by Public Enemy and others (the first time I heard Gil Scott Heron was actually something sampled on Public Enemy’s “It Takes A Nation of Millions”).
Gil Scott Heron’s early recordings are in the Impulse! label (home of John Coltrane, Archie Shepp and other jazz masters) and I think is a testament to the musicality and depth of his music, transcending the politics and issues of his time.
Paco de Lucia is probably the world’s most famous Flamenco guitarist. A composer and solo artist in his own right, de Lucia became a household name with a series of performances and recordings he did with fusion greats John McLaughlin and Al Di Meola. A guitar geek’s fantasy-come-true, this trio spewed out the fastest, most chops-intensive guitar music ever recorded.
I found this video clip of Paco’s solo spot from a concert done with the trio – classic and dazzling as usual.
Stevie Ray Vaughan first hit the scene playing a few solos on David Bowie’s Let’s Dance album (the guitar stuff at the end of “China Girl” is Stevie Ray). Stevie Ray didn’t tour with Bowie that year, but by that point it didn’t matter – his first album was out and he was about to become a guitar superstar.
At the time Stevie Ray was lumped in with the Hendrix wanna-be’s (completely unfair) and that was what dominated much of his early media hype – bummer, but no one makes those comparisons anymore and most people recognize Stevie Ray as a guitar master in his own right.
Dig “Couldn’t Stand the Weather” – it was the first Stevie Ray song I heard and always my favorite.
What can you say about Stevie Wonder – he became a celebrity at 12, has a string of top 10 hits, and has won more Grammies then any other artist. His voice is amazing, his grooves funky, and his abilities on a range of different instruments prodigious to say the least.
Check out this clip (poorly recorded, probably straight off the TV) of “Living in the City.” His vocals are incredible, as his the band and backing vocalists.
My first exposure to Kool and the Gang was “Celebration” – the ultimate wedding, bar mitzvah, party hit. If I remember correctly, I think I first heard the song when it was still getting airplay.
Years later, after college, one of my roommates turned me on to “Jungle Boogie” and I became a born-again Kool and the Gang junkie (also on the album I bought was “Open Sesame” with gongs and everything).
Dig the funky grooves, great clothes and guttural grunts.
First there was organ jazz, then the fusion scene, now it is Medeski, Martin and Wood. Complete virtuosity, impeccable musicianship, groove, interesting phrasing and harmonies, comfortable in the pocket or at the frontiers of tonality – MMW is the ultimate Jazz/Groove ensemble.
I went to college with these guys and it was obvious then that they were going to be huge – their student recitals were to packed houses, they were featured in every honors group, they got the choice gigs around town, and they generated a sincere excitement every time they performed. It was only a question of time before someone gave them a break.
Whether or not you dig out-there instrumental music, it is worth your time to give MMW a listen – if nothing else, you will be dazzled by their complete mastery of their instruments and the incredible way they interact with each other.
In 1968 the Rolling Stones put together the “Rolling Stones Rock N Roll Circus” for BBC TV. A handful of bands – including the Who, the Stones and John Lennon – spent the night in a circus tent performing and recording. In the end, the Stones pulled the plug on the entire project and the “Rolling Stones Rock N Roll Circus” became a much talked about but unheard part of rock history. (Clips of the Who from that night were in the film “The Kids Are Alright”).
The clip here is the band John Lennon put together for the Stones’ aborted TV show and includes Eric Clapton on guitar, Mitch Mitchell (from the Jimi Hendrix Experience) on drums and Keith Richards on bass*. The song is “Yer Blues” from the White Album – also dig the introductory interview.
*Keith Richards often played bass with the Stones in the studio.
Leslie West and Mountain had a huge hippie hit with the megaton in-your-face Mississippi Queen. The live version here lacks the blistering guitar leads from the studio cut, but the vocals are absolutely incredible. The last I heard of Mountain was a stint opening for Van Halen a few years ago – bring them back!
I was deep into JB and P-funk when my roommate turned me on to Sly Stone – one of the most important pioneers of funk. I bought his albums “Fresh” and “There’s a Riot Goin’ On” and I was hooked. Many of the songs on these albums are open funk vamps that were probably extended indefinitely live – I am sure the band was incredible to see in person, especially as the night wore on. (There are one or two goofy songs on these albums as well – I can only blame them on the seventies – they were goofy times).
Larry Graham played bass with Sly for many years and is credited with inventing slap bass (the technique used in this video clip – I don’t know what Larry Graham looked like and I am not sure if he is the bassist featured here).
In spite of the seventies, wild clothes, and whatever else was going on – Sly’s voice sounds great (as do the backing vocals) and the band is extremely tight – early funk at its best.