Music Chat

[Tippaporn]

That's right . . . I'm an old fart. And maybe I'm just a bit biased, too, but it seems to my mind that starting with the British Invasion and lasting nearly throughout the next two decades this world had experienced a Renaissance of Music that I highly doubt I'll ever experience again in this lifetime. Just my opinion, grant you, but I staunchly believe that the music back then was about the best it could ever get. And a part of me has always been deeply grateful that I had been blessed to have had the pleasure to live as a youth during that time.

A part of me knows quite firmly, too, that so much awesome music of my formative and wild years of unconstrained exuberance and unabashed stupidity will die out with me and my generation - never to joyfully grace (and ravage) the ears of another living soul.

What got me to onto all of this? Well, I was just relaxing with a mate of mine while the radio broadcast happened to flash back to '69. I found myself listening to Mason Profit's "Two Hanged Men Hanging From A Tree," and I rather pleasantly perked up at a tune I hadn't heard in, well, I rightly can't remember when! When was the last time anyone heard Bob Seeger (pre-Silver Bullet Band) belting out "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man" - admittedly at greatly increased decibel levels. Or Steppenwolf's John Kay grinding out the lyrics to "The Pusher?" Lou Rawls at the '67 Monterey Pop Festival smoking out "Dead End Street?" Canned Heat boogeying to "On The Road Again?" You get my drift???

Not only was the music so utterly diverse - from The Who to The Allman Brothers to Pink Floyd to Electric Light Orchestra to The Incredible String Band to Fairport Convention to Buffalo Springfield, Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Jesse Winchester, Jethro Tull, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Bob Dylan, Long John Baldry, Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac (when they were still one of the mainstays of the British Blues scene) - the lyrics were incomparable.

I was living in the States during those years; excepting '66 & '67 when I was back in Germany - listening to the BBC broadcasts. Where were you? I've often wondered what the British scene was like during the time of flower power, peace and love from Haight Ashbury in Frisco all the way across to Greenwich Village in NYC in the U.S. What was it like in Australia or New Zealand? What were some of your most memorable bands and songs? Songs you rarely, if ever, hear on the radio anymore?

All you young pups out there . . . given the "Classic Rock" you've most likely heard do any of you hear an old tune for the first time and mistakenly believe that it's new, only to find out you were in diapers when it came out - while you're parents were pushing the limits of their stereo system listening to that same song when it did first come out (probably high, too . . . ) Do you compare the music of yester year qualitatively to what's current for your generation? What are some of your favorite 'oldies?'

What were some of the best concerts people went to? For me it might have been the Ozark Music Festival of '74 at the Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia. 130,000+ hippies for four days of music in the armpit of the U.S. midwest during a record breaking heat wave. Temps never fell below 102°F (39°C) during the day the entire stretch of the fest. Showers and johns turned co-ed. People walking around everywhere holding signs of the particular drugs they were hawking. The occasional ambulance. I saw a guy passed out in his sleeping bag, zipped to his neck, laying in the wide open blazing sun, at 12 noon during the heat of the day.

Myself? A bit immersed in the atmosphere of the event I can't claim to remember much of the line-up; Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Aerosmith and Wolfman Jack as MC.

Well, who has favorite long-forgotten music to remind us all about? Memories of crazy times living in a society that seemed to come loose at the seams? Who's traveled the Hippie Trail, been to Kathmandu during it's heyday?

Edited July 7, 2006 by Tippaporn

[ProfessorFart]

Seems more like you remember the era of your youth and these bands provided a soundtrack for that.

Music is a powerful memory stimulant. Most people can be whisked to a certain time and place just by listening to a certain tune.

I must admit that I have not heard of most of the acts you mention but don't feel as though I missed out because I too have my own soundtrack to my own youth.

[ProfessorFart]

Nice post BTW!

[Tippaporn]

You could be right, Prof. The music was the soundtrack to that era . . . but what a powerful soundtrack it was!! I think the fact that classic rock is played to this day, and enjoyed by many much younger than me, is a testament to the quality of the music of the times. It's unfortunate that so much good music has already fallen into the cracks.

[Tippaporn]

I first started listening to Can with the release of Tago Mago. It was never popularized in the States but did they ever achieve notoriety in Europe?

[Tippaporn]

I must admit that I have not heard of most of the acts you mention but don't feel as though I missed out because I too have my own soundtrack to my own youth.

And who comprised that soundtrack?

[Boon Mee]

What were some of the best concerts people went to?

Eric Clapton - Lumpini Stadium, circa 1977

Khon Kaen Crippler was 5 cents a stick!

[Tippaporn]

Khon Kaen Crippler was 5 cents a stick!

[suegha]

Great post Tipp. I could really relate to all the music you mentioned and I agree, we will probably never see times like them again. I remember watching 'The Old Grey Whistle Test' on the BBC and seeing many of the bands you mention (one for the Brits).

As well as all the music you mention I must add my passion for clasical music and opera. As I type this I'm trying to decide which opera to play. Music is a major part of our lives and has so many positive memories attached to it. It's a God given gift.

[Ulysses G.]

Music in the 60s was great, but the 80s was almost just as good - although there was no equivelent to The Beatles and The Stones.

Joy Division, The Cure, The Smiths, Husker Du, Sisters of Mercy. Lots of bands were in their prime and putting out great music, but the 60s tend to dominate in the minds of Baby Boomers because it was so unexpected after music as it had been before.

[Tippaporn]

Great post Tipp. I could really relate to all the music you mentioned and I agree, we will probably never see times like them again. I remember watching 'The Old Grey Whistle Test' on the BBC and seeing many of the bands you mention (one for the Brits).

What was 'The Old Grey Whistle Test?' I recall watching a feature in '67 on the BBC whilst in Germany about the explosion of rock bands starting up in Britain during that time. Some bands whose comprised members were only in the 12-15 year old age bracket.

AM ruled the air waves; unfortunately they were sickenly over commercialized and played songs to death. They truncated songs that ran longer than the then allowable 3-4 minute time slot. Bands actually recorded AM versions of their lengthier material. The Chambers Brothers "Time Has Come Today" (which arguably could have been the all-time psychedelic jam) was recorded as three versions, the full version running approx. 11 minutes. (Just curious if anyone ever realized that buried within that jam was "The Little Drummer Boy?")

FM radio wasn't home to rock n' roll until '69 in Chicago. Anyone living there would remember WLS-FM, which was commercial-free and featured DJ's with trippy names such as Dr. John. FM was geared to the mature audiences who tired of AM's selective and ever-repetitious playlists. Although, WLS-AM did for a short time host a late Sunday night programme called "The Underground Circus" that stepped away from the scrutinized format of acceptibility which plagued AM radio on the whole. Geezus, to think that at one time Peter, Paul and Mary's "Puff The Magic Dragon" was banned from the airwaves due to drug connotations?

As well as all the music you mention I must add my passion for clasical music and opera. As I type this I'm trying to decide which opera to play. Music is a major part of our lives and has so many positive memories attached to it. It's a God given gift.

That it is, suegha. Music dominated my social life and that of my friends. Anytime we had an opportunity to spin an album, or listen to an 8-track ( ) or cassette, or turn on the radio we much preferred music to TV. H.ell, I didn't own a television set until 1985.

Music in the 60s was great, but the 80s was almost just as good - although there was no equivelent to The Beatles and The Stones.

Joy Division, The Cure, The Smiths, Husker Du, Sisters of Mercy. Lots of bands were in their prime and putting out great music, but the 60s tend to dominate in the minds of Baby Boomers because it was so unexpected after music as it had been before.

True, UG. The late '70's and early '80s churned out some great progressive rock bands as well. U2, The Pretenders, Elvis Costello, Talking Heads, Blondie, et al. But comparatively few super groups. The Beatles, The Who, The Stones, The Kinks, Cream, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, The Byrds, Grateful Dead, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young . . . Let's not forget one of the era's all-time influencial solo artists - Bob Dylan.

[suegha]

The old grey whistle test was a late night music programme on the BBC. It was fantastic! Ran for years hosted by a guy called Bob Harris. They tried it years later with a young trendy format and it fell on its arse!

You never knew what you were going to get - you name it, it was on there. There was no studio audience so it had a very 'raw' feeling to it. Bob would often interview guests who were so stoned they did'nt know who they were. We would come home from the pub, roll a spliff and tune in to what we called 'The Ole Grey'. Oooh, heady days.

[thaibebop]

I think you have something of a point Tip. The music of your day left something behind that music before it didn't and that's why we remember it. However, new stuff is always showing up and changing the history of music. Today many complain about music, lackluster, poor musicianship, whatever. Well, in the 60's the music was connected with social and political movements, that isn't happening today.

I grew up with all sorts of music around me so I became familar with the older groups as well as what was being played that day more than other kids my age. I remember groups and songs they many in my age group have no clue of. This has lead me to see that it's a person connection to the music more than the music itself. I have listened to outstanding music that was played by masters and seen other people just shake their heads at it, then some one beat bass line rap song comes on and they are happy.

To love music outside of ones experience I think requires an open mind and maybe a little work.

[Guest endure]

The old grey whistle test was a late night music programme on the BBC. It was fantastic! Ran for years hosted by a guy called Bob Harris.

Whispering Bob...

[Tippaporn]

The old grey whistle test was a late night music programme on the BBC. It was fantastic! Ran for years hosted by a guy called Bob Harris. They tried it years later with a young trendy format and it fell on its arse!

You never knew what you were going to get - you name it, it was on there. There was no studio audience so it had a very 'raw' feeling to it. Bob would often interview guests who were so stoned they did'nt know who they were. We would come home from the pub, roll a spliff and tune in to what we called 'The Ole Grey'. Oooh, heady days.

Chicago has a single progressive rock station, WXRT, still airing since it's inception in 1973 - and still going strong. Very unusual but a blessing for me and those in Chicago. For it's initial 6 years XRT managed to stave off broadcasting pre-recorded commercials. Starting with strictly service announcements they then began airing commercials with copy read by the DJs. Not until '79 did they capitulate to those annoying canned commercials. XRT is broadcast on the Internet so I can still listen to them while in Thailand.

I think you have something of a point Tip. The music of your day left something behind that music before it didn't and that's why we remember it. However, new stuff is always showing up and changing the history of music. Today many complain about music, lackluster, poor musicianship, whatever. Well, in the 60's the music was connected with social and political movements, that isn't happening today.

You can't keep anything from changing, for sure. Nor would you want to. As the Prof. mentioned, the music of the '60s was like a soundtrack of the entire era. But it was more than that, I believe. Music during that decade did more to shape our generation than any music today does for it's generation. Musicans had more profundity to their lyrics, IMHO, and never has there been an era before or since where music was used as a vehicle for social commentary and change. Who wasn't writing protest songs? Of course, thank the Vietnam War for that.

But no, today there aren't many lyricizing about the war in Iraq. Except for possibly Neil Young? Natch! But neither is there much social commentary in today's music. Music of the '60s was definitely much more intertwined with the events of the period, each shaping the other.

I grew up with all sorts of music around me so I became familar with the older groups as well as what was being played that day more than other kids my age. I remember groups and songs they many in my age group have no clue of. This has lead me to see that it's a person connection to the music more than the music itself. I have listened to outstanding music that was played by masters and seen other people just shake their heads at it, then some one beat bass line rap song comes on and they are happy.

To love music outside of ones experience I think requires an open mind and maybe a little work.

The personal connection with music I think has to do with relating to it on many levels, especially the lyrics. What single guy who had been dumped by a GF couldn't relate to Tom T. Hall's "Pamela Brown," which was popularized by Leo Kottke?

Pamela Brown

I'm the guy that didn't marry "pretty" Pamela Brown

Educated, well-intentioned good girl in our town

I wonder where I'd be today if she had loved me too

Probably be driving kids to school

I guess I owe it all to Pamela Brown

All of my good times - all my roamin' around

One of these days I might be in your town

And I guess I owe it all to Pamela Brown

Seen the lights of cities and been inside their doors

Sailed to foreign countries and walked upon their shores

I guess the guy she married was the best part of my luck

She dug him cause he drove a pick-up truck

Chorus:

I don't have to tell you just how beautiful she was

Everything it takes to get a guy like me in love

Lord I hope she's happy cause she sure deserves to be

Especially for what she did for me

Chorus

What amazes me is the identification of so many white suburban kids (including my son ) to rap music. How other worldly are rap lyrics to the average white kid's experience? To each their own, but I'll take disco over rap anyday. It's been on more than one occasion that I've been thankful that living in Thailand I don't hear any rap.

Kind of sad to me when I think of the wonderful genres black musicans have produced throughout their history - blues (the basis of rock n' roll), reggae, the Motown sound, soul . . . heck, even gospel music. Rap sucks big time. Again, only my opinion.

Edited July 7, 2006 by Tippaporn

[Guest endure]

Motown!

[thaibebop]

The old grey whistle test was a late night music programme on the BBC. It was fantastic! Ran for years hosted by a guy called Bob Harris. They tried it years later with a young trendy format and it fell on its arse!

You never knew what you were going to get - you name it, it was on there. There was no studio audience so it had a very 'raw' feeling to it. Bob would often interview guests who were so stoned they did'nt know who they were. We would come home from the pub, roll a spliff and tune in to what we called 'The Ole Grey'. Oooh, heady days.

Chicago has a single progressive rock station, WXRT, still airing since it's inception in 1973 - and still going strong. Very unusual but a blessing for me and those in Chicago. For it's initial 6 years XRT managed to stave off broadcasting pre-recorded commercials. Starting with strictly service announcements they then began airing commercials with copy read by the DJs. Not until '79 did they capitulate to those annoying canned commercials. XRT is broadcast on the Internet so I can still listen to them while in Thailand.

I think you have something of a point Tip. The music of your day left something behind that music before it didn't and that's why we remember it. However, new stuff is always showing up and changing the history of music. Today many complain about music, lackluster, poor musicianship, whatever. Well, in the 60's the music was connected with social and political movements, that isn't happening today.

You can't keep anything from changing, for sure. Nor would you want to. As the Prof. mentioned, the music of the '60s was like a soundtrack of the entire era. But it was more than that, I believe. Music during that decade did more to shape our generation than any music today does for it's generation. Musicans had more profundity to their lyrics, IMHO, and never has there been an era before or since where music was used as a vehicle for social commentary and change. Who wasn't writing protest songs? Of course, thank the Vietnam War for that.

But no, today there aren't many lyricizing about the war in Iraq. Except for possibly Neil Young? Natch! But neither is there much social commentary in today's music. Music of the '60s was definitely much more intertwined with the events of the period, each shaping the other.

Many artist today try to write songs about that war, I just don't think most have the skill to do so, that's the problem.

I grew up with all sorts of music around me so I became familar with the older groups as well as what was being played that day more than other kids my age. I remember groups and songs they many in my age group have no clue of. This has lead me to see that it's a person connection to the music more than the music itself. I have listened to outstanding music that was played by masters and seen other people just shake their heads at it, then some one beat bass line rap song comes on and they are happy.

To love music outside of ones experience I think requires an open mind and maybe a little work.

The personal connection with music I think has to do with relating to it on many levels, especially the lyrics. What single guy who had been dumped by a GF couldn't relate to Tom T. Hall's "Pamela Brown," which was popularized by Leo Kottke?

Pamela Brown

I'm the guy that didn't marry "pretty" Pamela Brown

Educated, well-intentioned good girl in our town

I wonder where I'd be today if she had loved me too

Probably be driving kids to school

I guess I owe it all to Pamela Brown

All of my good times - all my roamin' around

One of these days I might be in your town

And I guess I owe it all to Pamela Brown

Seen the lights of cities and been inside their doors

Sailed to foreign countries and walked upon their shores

I guess the guy she married was the best part of my luck

She dug him cause he drove a pick-up truck

Chorus:

I don't have to tell you just how beautiful she was

Everything it takes to get a guy like me in love

Lord I hope she's happy cause she sure deserves to be

Especially for what she did for me

Chorus

What amazes me is the identification of so many white suburban kids (including my son ) to rap music. How other worldly are rap lyrics to the average white kid's experience? To each their own, but I'll take disco over rap anyday. It's been on more than one occasion that I've been thankful that living in Thailand I don't hear any rap.

Kind of sad to me when I think of the wonderful genres black musicans have produced throughout their history - blues (the basis of rock n' roll), reggae, the Motown sound, soul . . . heck, even gospel music. Rap sucks big time. Again, only my opinion.

Rap wasn't that bad when it came out and was more for everybody as well. That is what is strange when rap become narrowminded and only for those you live that life, everybody started liking it. Rao from the 80's is more approachable and understandable. I hope one day it returns to such. Your son though is a perfect example of what I was talking about. It's what is being played on the radio, what his friends are listening to so... I just hope your son isn't acting like a rapper.

[kayo]

Another example of how anything that is well marketed becomes popular. In the meantime, kids in our countries are becoming more and more like sheep. They won{t like somehting unless it is popular to like it.

At the bar I work, I play obscure but awesome tracks always. If I put on something well known, it´ll e some obscure band covering that song and usually sounds twenty times better than the original. People generally don´like it, unless I go through the whole process of explaining the song to them, pointing out to them he cool parts, or "that sound" or a whatever.

people are being educated as sheep nowadays.

Music, good music, comes and goes. Deffo the fifities, sixties and seventies were perhaps the most revolutionary. all the sounds that exist today through PC chips, were created y experimentation...Sticking a microphone in a bowl of water, re-rigging amps, etc... Nw it can all be done with a touch of a button.

not to say that there is no more originality and creativeness in music today though, for there is. It´s maybe more of a hunt and search to find it, yet it is also more accesible. The musicians are no better or worse, and many incredible bands and new sounds still exist.

It´s the education of the masses that, very sadly, is lacking.

Everybody wants a macdonalds. be it in the bars they go to, the hotels they choose, the full moon parties, or he drugs,

and as the gorilla´s said, It´s the music that we choose.

[thaibebop]

Another example of how anything that is well marketed becomes popular. In the meantime, kids in our countries are becoming more and more like sheep. They won{t like somehting unless it is popular to like it.

At the bar I work, I play obscure but awesome tracks always. If I put on something well known, it´ll e some obscure band covering that song and usually sounds twenty times better than the original. People generally don´like it, unless I go through the whole process of explaining the song to them, pointing out to them he cool parts, or "that sound" or a whatever.

people are being educated as sheep nowadays.

Music, good music, comes and goes. Deffo the fifities, sixties and seventies were perhaps the most revolutionary. all the sounds that exist today through PC chips, were created y experimentation...Sticking a microphone in a bowl of water, re-rigging amps, etc... Nw it can all be done with a touch of a button.

not to say that there is no more originality and creativeness in music today though, for there is. It´s maybe more of a hunt and search to find it, yet it is also more accesible. The musicians are no better or worse, and many incredible bands and new sounds still exist.

It´s the education of the masses that, very sadly, is lacking.

Everybody wants a macdonalds. be it in the bars they go to, the hotels they choose, the full moon parties, or he drugs,

and as the gorilla´s said, It´s the music that we choose.

I think you are right. I think what you are talking about is what C.S. Lewis was warning us about in The Abolition of Man. People are losing what makes us freethinkers and trail blazers.

[kayo]

whuch is fine by me... I intend to leave my mark on this world, and if there is less competition to do so, then great.

[thaibebop]

whuch is fine by me... I intend to leave my mark on this world, and if there is less competition to do so, then great.

[Tippaporn]

Motown!

[image]

Martha Reeves and The Vandellas (Dancin' In The Streets), Marvin Gaye (I Heard It Through The Grapevine), Edwin Starr (War), The Supremes (Baby Love - Stop! In The Name Of Love), The Four Tops (Reach Out, I'll Be There), The Temptations (Ain't Too Proud To Beg), . . . . . . . . .

Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding, James Brown, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Jackson 5 , Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin (Chain Of Fools), Bill Withers, . . . . . . . .

Rap wasn't that bad when it came out and was more for everybody as well. That is what is strange when rap become narrowminded and only for those you live that life, everybody started liking it. Rao from the 80's is more approachable and understandable. I hope one day it returns to such. Your son though is a perfect example of what I was talking about. It's what is being played on the radio, what his friends are listening to so... I just hope your son isn't acting like a rapper.

Thankfully, no. Anytime I'm in a car with him he's got his album of rap discs and blasts it to the point where we can't even converse. If that's what he likes I can't very well take that away from him - without being a total hypocrite. But geezus, I'd rather take a bus and meet him at our destination.

Another example of how anything that is well marketed becomes popular. In the meantime, kids in our countries are becoming more and more like sheep. They won{t like somehting unless it is popular to like it.

At the bar I work, I play obscure but awesome tracks always. If I put on something well known, it´ll e some obscure band covering that song and usually sounds twenty times better than the original. People generally don´like it, unless I go through the whole process of explaining the song to them, pointing out to them he cool parts, or "that sound" or a whatever.

people are being educated as sheep nowadays.

Music, good music, comes and goes. Deffo the fifities, sixties and seventies were perhaps the most revolutionary. all the sounds that exist today through PC chips, were created y experimentation...Sticking a microphone in a bowl of water, re-rigging amps, etc... Nw it can all be done with a touch of a button.

not to say that there is no more originality and creativeness in music today though, for there is. It´s maybe more of a hunt and search to find it, yet it is also more accesible. The musicians are no better or worse, and many incredible bands and new sounds still exist.

It´s the education of the masses that, very sadly, is lacking.

Everybody wants a macdonalds. be it in the bars they go to, the hotels they choose, the full moon parties, or he drugs,

and as the gorilla´s said, It´s the music that we choose.

In every era there's always a certain percentage of the population that would seem to be totally lost if not led by the nose. Ah, well.

I envy ya, kayo, because it's always been a dream of mine to own an establishment that would provide the opportunity to play music. I own approx. 1,500 CDs of music spanning largely the '60s and '70s. Let me provide the playlist for the next TV Xmas party!!! I'd guarantee no one would be falling asleep anytime soon.

[thaibebop]

Rap wasn't that bad when it came out and was more for everybody as well. That is what is strange when rap become narrowminded and only for those you live that life, everybody started liking it. Rao from the 80's is more approachable and understandable. I hope one day it returns to such. Your son though is a perfect example of what I was talking about. It's what is being played on the radio, what his friends are listening to so... I just hope your son isn't acting like a rapper.

Thankfully, no. Anytime I'm in a car with him he's got his album of rap discs and blasts it to the point where we can't even converse. If that's what he likes I can't very well take that away from him - without being a total hypocrite. But geezus, I'd rather take a bus and meet him at our destination.

[Tippaporn]

"Triad was a progressive, free-form, inovative radio program that aired in Chicago on WXFM-FM between 1969 and 1977. There was a lot of interesting music that went out over the air-waves of Triad on WXFM-FM 105.9 in the early 70's."

Coincidently, I was bartending part time back in '79 and it turned out that the owner of the establishment was the former owner of Triad. A few times I visited at his Lincoln Park townhouse and was able to view his album collection - gleaned from 8 years in radio. I've never seen so many albums in my life and you can well imagine I had a hard time containing the saliva in my mouth. Whenever he got haircuts he'd pay the barber in albums. Triad was a bit bizarre and was truly free-form radio - a little of everything.

From Triad:

Nektar ca. early '70s

Richie Havens during an interview on Triad Radio ca. 1971

Dutch super-group Golden Earring backstage at the Auditorium in Chicago ca. 1974

Triad has been revived on Internet radio. Anyone interested, check out what radio used to be like at one time in Chicago.

Edited July 7, 2006 by Tippaporn

[Tippaporn]

Concert venues of the early '70's in Chicago included the Aragon Ballroom, the Kinetic Playground, and the Amplitheatre among others. Of all the venues the best was the Auditorium Theatre in the heart of downtown Chicago. Built approx. 1893 this concert hall was well known for it's superb acoustics. Thus, to hear rock bands play there was always a great treat as you were guaranteed great sound. Not only was the sound a huge plus but the atmosphere itself was grand. Seating was plush, especially in the balconies either stage left or right where seating was only two deep.

It always felt a little strange, though, considering the grandness of the place contrasted by the visage of thousands of long-haired freaks in their bellbottomed jeans and otherwise disheveled dress. Worth submitting some photos of the place to impart it's oppulent ambience.

Among the acts I had the pleasure of catching here were Cat Stevens, Emerson, Lake & Palmer with Yes as their backup band, the Kinks, and Jefferson Airplane.

Auditorium Theatre 1930

Auditorium Theatre Interior Shots

It was from these balcony seats that I saw Keith Emerson performing "Knife Edge" back in '71. Playing two organs facing each other he eventually mounted one of them, rocking it back and forth with him atop, and then proceeded to imbed knifes in the keyboards. Wild! Although I'm a great fan of early Yes their act was somewhat of a dissapointment.

[Tippaporn]

As I said earlier, there's a lot of great music from the '60s and '70s that we just don't hear on the classic rock stations anymore. In fact, some artists don't seem to get any air time any longer these days. Hot Tuna, Boz Scaggs, Commander Cody, Humble Pie, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Iron Butterfly, James Gang, T-Rex, Deep Purple, Doobie Brothers, John Sebastian, early Fleetwood Mac, Flying Burrito Brothers, Foghat, Peter Frampton, Al Kooper, King Crimson, The Kinks, Joni Mitchell, Country Joe & the Fish, John McLaughlin, Mountain, Nilsson, Poco, New Riders of the Purple Sage, The Faces, Leon Russell, Robin Trower, Velvet Underground, ZZ Top, Wishbone Ash, Blind Faith, . . . Well, I can't say they never get airtime, but it seems awfully rare when I do hear these artists.

Now, a friend of mine just turned me on to a golden nugget today - Wolfgang's Vault. What is it? The legendary Fillmore East in NYC and the Fillmore West in San Fran were run by Bill Graham (1931-1991). Anybody who was anyone during rock's golden years more than likely played at either or both of these venues. Perhaps a little copy and paste might be easier.

About Vault Radio

Bill Graham and his concert promotion company, Bill Graham Presents, produced more than 35,000 concerts all over the world. His first venue, the legendary Fillmore Auditorium, was home to many of rock's greatest performers - Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Doors, The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Prince - and the list goes on and on.

Graham taped thousands of live performances and stored the tapes in the basement of the BGP headquarters. These tapes and the concerts they captured lay dormant until the Bill Graham archive was acquired by Wolfgang's Vault (Bill Graham's given first name was Wolfgang) in 2003.

Vault Radio is now playing selected tracks from these concerts in an FM-quality, 128K digital radio stream. Songs will be added to and removed from the radio show on a regular basis. We will be broadcasting unaltered live performance music from many of the greatest bands of the last 40 years. You'll be listening to what the band played that night - nothing more, nothing less.

This is the real thing and we hope you enjoy it. If you like the music or would like us to add other bands to the playlist, let us know through Feedback.

Aside from the broadcasts this site is a goldmine of Bill Graham's artificats collected throughtout the years. For true rock fans this is a must site to check out.

[Tippaporn]

Billing for a show in '68. What would you give today to see this line-up with original members?

Probably all for the price of a couple of bucks, too.

Edited July 10, 2006 by Tippaporn

[Tippaporn]

If ever I had a rock-n'-roll idol it would have to be Peter Green with Fleetwood Mac. I still consider Green one of the best guitar players in the world during his prime. Although I never did get to see them live before Green left in early '70 I did catch up with him after he formed The Splinter Group. I was able to take in two shows at the premier venue, Park West, in Chicago back in 2001 and 2002. The '02 gig had him billed with his old bandmate, John Mayall. Unfortunately, and incredibly, they didn't play together. Among his old Fleetwood Mac tunes that he performed were Albatross and Green Manalichi. Mesmerizing!

During the '02 gig I got a tip that after the show was over and most of the people had exited Green and the band would come out and chat. So my sister and I hung around and sure enough they did. There were maybe a half dozen other folks still lingering so we all got to meet Green and the band and chat for about 20 minutes. Still have the ticket with everyone's autograph - Peace and Love was what Green had written. Some things never change.

Fleetwood Mac, 1968

Peter Green, 1970

Peter Green, Chicago Blues Recording Sessions

Fleetwood Mac: Jeremy Spencer (vocals, guitar, slide guitar); Danny Kirwan, Peter Green (vocals, guitar); John McVie (bass guitar); Mick Fleetwood (drums).

Great supporting cast of blues musicans on this album.

Mentors: Otis Spann (vocals, piano); David "Honeyboy" Edwards, Buddy Guy (guitar); Walter "Shakey" Horton (harmonica); J.T. Brown (tenor saxophone); Willie Dixon (acoustic bass guitar); S.P. Leary (drums).

Recording information: Chess Ter-Mar Studios, Chicago, Illinois (01/1969).

Peter Green & The Splinter Group, 1996

[Tippaporn]

If I have more than 50% of posts in a thread does that make it a blog?

Great lyrics by one of the most influencial song writers ever to grace the musical landscape.

Bob Dylan

Just Like A Woman

Nobody feels any pain

Tonight as I stand inside the rain

Everybody knows

That babys got new clothes

But lately I see her ribbons and her bows

Have fallen from her curls.

She takes just like a woman, yes, she does

She makes love just like a woman, yes, she does

And she aches just like a woman

But she breaks just like a little girl.

Queen mary, shes my friend

Yes, I believe Ill go see her again

Nobody has to guess

That baby can't be blessed

'Till she sees finally that shes like all the rest

With her fog, her amphetamine and her pearls.

She takes just like a woman, yes, she does

She makes love just like a woman, yes, she does

And she aches just like a woman

But she breaks just like a little girl.

It was raining from the first

And I was dying there of thirst

So I came in here

And your long-time curse hurts

But whats worse

Is this pain in here

I cant stay in here

Aint it clear that?

I just cant fit

Yes, I believe its time for us to quit

When we meet again

Introduced as friends

Please dont let on that you knew me when

I was hungry and it was your world.

Ah, you fake just like a woman, yes, you do

You make love just like a woman, yes, you do

Then you ache just like a woman

But you break just like a little girl.

Girl Of The North Country

Well, if youre travelin in the north country fair,

Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline,

Remember me to one who lives there.

She once was a true love of mine.

Well, if you go when the snowflakes storm,

When the rivers freeze and summer ends,

Please see if shes wearing a coat so warm,

To keep her from the howlin winds.

Please see for me if her hair hangs long,

If it rolls and flows all down her breast.

Please see for me if her hair hangs long,

Thats the way I remember her best.

Im a-wonderin if she remembers me at all.

Many times Ive often prayed

In the darkness of my night,

In the brightness of my day.

So if youre travelin in the north country fair,

Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline,

Remember me to one who lives there.

She once was a true love of mine.

[Tippaporn]

Geez, I was hoping to hear some interesting stories . . . engage in some chitchat with music lovers from other parts of the world . . . find out what the musical favorites of other TV members are . . .

I think I'll go Dancin' With Myself.

On the floor of Tokyo

Or down in London town to go, go

With the record selection

With the mirror reflection

I'm dancing with myself

When there's no-one else in sight

In the crowded lonely night

Well, I wait so long

For my love vibration

And Im dancing with myself

Oh dancing with myself

Oh dancing with myself

Well theres nothing to lose

And theres nothing to prove

Ill be dancing with myself

If I looked all over the world

And there's every type of girl

But your empty eyes

Seem to pass me by

Leave me dancing with myself

So let's sink another drink

Cause it'll give me time to think

If I had the chance

I'd ask the world to dance

And I'll be dancing with myself

Oh dancing with myself

Oh dancing with myself

Well, there's nothing to lose

And there's nothing to prove

I'll be dancing with myself

If I looked all over the world

And there's every type of girl

But your empty eyes

Seem to pass me by

Leave me dancing with myself

So let's sink another drink

Cause it'll give me time to think

If I had the chance

I'd ask the world to dance

And I'll be dancing with myself

Oh dancing with myself

Oh dancing with myself

If I had the chance

I'd ask the world to dance

If I had the chance

I'd ask the world to dance

If I had the chance

I'd ask the world to dance

(scat)

Dancing with myself

Dancing with myself

Dancing with myself

Dancing with myself

If I looked all over the world

And there's every type of girl

But your empty eyes

Seem to pass me by

Leave me dancing with myself

So lets sink another drink

Cause it'll give me time to think

If I had the chance

I'd ask the world to dance

And I'll be dancing with myself

Oh dancing with myself

Oh dancing with myself

If I had the chance

I'd ask the world to dance

If I had the chance

I'd ask the world to dance

If I had the chance

I'd ask the world to dance

And then there was the Grateful Dead Fest at the Iowa State Fairgrounds back in '74. Traffic was jammed up so bad that we emptied the car and walked along side while throwing the frisbee for the last few miles.

Pulled into our campsite the night before the concert and partied with Dead Heads from all over the country. Sometime during the night I swore I heard someone calling my name. I followed "the voice" to I can't remember where - was it in my head? - but I eventually found my way to oblivion. I think that's what her name was. Had a hel_l of a time finding my way back to my own campsite the next morning. Saw lots of people at the concert that looked a lot more lost than I felt that morning searching for my mates.