Amoreena by Elton John (1970)

Many people, especially young people, take the internet for granted. I'm glad that I'm old enough to have experienced adult life prior to the widespread use of the internet. It makes me appreciate how easy it is these days to find any piece of information that I'm seeking.

Case in Point: In the early 90's, I rented Sidney Lumet's 1975 film, Dog Day Afternoon. I was getting into Al Pacino movies at the time. This was a great film. I remember the opening credits of the movie give a gritty picture of summer in New York in the early 70's. It was dirty, sweaty, but brimming with life. Here is that opening. Good stuff.

In any case, I immediately recognized the opening music as an Elton John tune, but couldn't quite figure out what song it was. The first time that you here this song, it is hard to guess that the name of it is "Amoreena". I looked at the credits at the end, but didn't see the musical info. Since there was no Google, I checked out Elton John albums, but nothing that was released around the film's release date(1975) seemed to be a hit. Again, as this was now the early 90's, I couldn't just listen to clips of all of Elton John's songs on iTunes to find the right one. Eventually, I considered that it was just someone who sounded like Elton John and I gave up my search.

Years later, after the explosion of the internet, I stumbled on this song. Who knew that it would have been from a 1970 Elton John album. I ended up downloading the album. It became and has remained my favorite EJ album. There is something about the Americana themed, country-tinged sound that I like on this album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmSgjBgo-OM

Night Witch by Shady Lady (1971)

SEE LINK BELOW

Shady Lady was an early glam rock band that formed in New York in the late 60's. In 1970, the band moved to Los Angeles and became pretty popular in the emerging rock club scene. At some point(1971?), they managed to record tracks, including Night Witch, which ultimately did not see any wide release until a 2004 re-issue. Shady Lady were victims of the record company machine in the early 70's. Check out lead singer Stefan Shady's description here.

All of the tracks on their ultimate album, Raving Mad, are examples of the best that glam rock had to offer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6xxEHrARcw

Baby Won't Ya by MC5 (1971)

The MC5 were a lot like the Stooges. They both were hard rocking bands out of Michigan who each put out three seminal albums in the late 60's/early 70's. The Stooges are a bit more known these days. This is probably because Iggy went on to have a strong solo career to this day, whereas most of the MC5 are now dead. The music on their three albums, Kick Out the Jams, Back in the U.S.A., and High Time have great energy. I urge you to crank it loud when listening to Fred "Sonic" Smith and the boys. Here is a powerful track from their last album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNLUgn-Xha0

Race with the Devil by Girlschool (1980)

I generally try not to classify bands by the gender of its members. I think it trivializes a band or performer by saying that they were the "one of the best 'girl' bands" or "she is a top five female guitarist". I would rather just focus on the performance quality in and of itself -or- maybe compare them to other groups of the same genre.

That said, this all-female band did name themselves Girlschool. So, I'll talk about gender for a minute. Girlschool managed to come up in the New Wave of British Metal movement of the late 70's. That's notable for a couple of reasons. First, it could not have been easy to break into heavy metal as a girl-centered band in that time frame. Secondly, they've managed to carry on to the present day, which is about 35 years as a unit with minimal lineup changes. While the band's success was mostly in the early days and primarily in Britain, their perseverance to continue on this long probably makes them the longest running all female band.

Here is a track from their first album, Demolition. It is a cover of the The Gun's Race with the Devil. It features the late Kelly Johnson's on guitar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmEzoeD3P8o

Death Warmed Up by High Tide (1969)

SEE LINK BELOW

High Tide was an interesting band. I would say they were sort of proto-prog if I had to put a label on it. Whatever the classification, you can immediately hear that these guys are good musicians. The most unique aspect of this band is the electric violin played by Simon House. Simon would go on to join Hawkwind a few years after High Tide's premature demise in 1970.

While the band was only around for a couple of years, they put out two really interesting albums, Sea Shanties and High Tide.

This track shows off their instrumentality. The link below is to the Japanese youtube site where the full version can be heard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FijyZQRryig

The 'In' Crowd by the Mamas & the Papas (1966)

I liked this song the first time that I heard it. Of course, the first version that I heard was the Bryan Ferry version. Many younger people would only recognize this version from a 2012 DSW commercial.

This song, though, has a history. It was written by Billy Page in 1964 and first recoreded by Dobie Gray. A popular instrumental version was then recorded by the Ramsey Lewis Trio. By 1966, the Mamas & Papas included their version as the last song on their debut album. Mama Cass sure did have a confident voice. Maybe this song was sung with tongue firmly planted in cheek, but who knows? It makes it more enjoyable to me imagining that Mama Cass was just delivering some truth...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAO_38KJ1S0

Early Morning by The Collectors (1969)

The Collectors were a 60's garage band from British Columbia. Towards the end of the decade, their music had taken a slightly psychedelic turn. By 1970, the band would call it quits. Here is a nice track that feels like a nice cross between garage and psychedelia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTYF1Nx_o08

Walk of Shame by Deap Vally (2013)

So far on Deep Rock Mining, almost all of the bands discussed are either past their prime, broken up, or dead(!). That's probably because most of today's music is non-guitar driven auto-tuned twaddle. However, there are exceptions. Deap Vally is one of them. Just listen to one of their songs and you'll know that they are not auto-tuned and they are definitely guitar driven.

If you found out that this duo of Lindsay Troy and Julie Edwards met at a needlework class, you may be surprised at the music they would go on to create.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGSHDjh-Hsg

The Witch of Berkeley by A II Z (1980)

In the late 70's, a new British hard rock/heavy metal wave began to gather steam. This likely happened in order to satisfy a new generation of music fans who weren't getting off to disco or punk/new wave. Bands like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Saxon, and Motorhead were being snapped up by record companies trying to capitalize on the new trend. As a result, many bands got signed to record deals, as long as they had the right look.

A II Z(terrible name, I know) was one of those bands. This Manchester group had only formed in 1979, but were immediately signed. A live album that was actually recorded in a high school gym was rushed to press. The band subsequently released a couple of singles in the following year, but then they started to splinter. They ultimately disbanded in 1982.

That rushed live album, though, wasn't too bad. They sound a bit like early Judas Priest on this track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzpdA_9ireU

Hot Smoke & Sassafras by Bubble Puppy (1969)

In the 80's, as a teenager, I can remember watching commercials for compilation CDs or Cassettes for various rock genres. There was Soft Rock of the Seventies, Biggest Hits of the 60's, etc...My favorite, though, was the Best of the Psychedelic 60's(or some such title). I liked it because of the goofy flower power band names like the Strawberry Alarm Clock and the Chocolate Watchband. The goofiest name, for me, was Bubble Puppy. I always got a laugh out of seeing that name scrolling down my tv screen.

It wasn't until very recently, though, that I took the time to listen to any music from Bubble Puppy. I stumbled across this minor hit from the Austin, Texas band. It's got a good groove(not at all what I had expected). If you can forgive the silly lyrics sung in harmony, it's not a bad tune.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_otNCZ5T2o

Illegal, Immoral And Fattening by Flo & Eddie (1975)

Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan have had an interesting and varied musical career. They were founding member of The Turtles of 'Happy Together' fame. As the 60's came to an end, the Turtles dissolved. Mark and Howard ended up joining Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention under the nicknames Phlorescent Leech and Eddie. They continued as back up band members until Frank injured himself at the end of 1971 and the Mothers were put on hold.

Volman and Kaylan needed to work, though. They couldn't perform under the Turtles' name, as there were ongoing lawsuits from the dissolution of that band. So, they carried on and released several albums in the 70's under the Flo & Eddie moniker. Here is the title track from their 1975 release.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZws_6kVNVg

Tell Me All the Things You Do by Fleetwood Mac (1970)

Over the years, Fleetwood Mac was many different bands. Only the band's namesakes, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, were the constants. Since they manned the back beat, you can imagine the change in sound when the guitar, keys, and vocals changed every few years.

The band formed in 1967 and was primarily a blues band featuring the great Peter Green on guitar. After three albums in three years, he left the band. It would still be another 5 years or so until Nicks and Buckingham joined the band and their late 70's signature sound would be defined.

1970-74 featured the gradual introduction of Christine McVie to the band and a few other guitarists(Bob Welch, Jeremy Spencer, and Danny Kirwan) holding down the front face of the band.

The first effort of this "transitional era" began to transition away from just blues rock. This track is a tasty little Danny Kirwin song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzReLGYIJZc

Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking for her Hand in the Snow) by Plastic Ono Band (1969)

As the Beatles were coming to the end of their existence, John and Yoko did not slow down. They were constantly involved in peace movements trying to create change in a turbulent time.

Come September 1969, John and Yoko formed the first version of their Plastic Ono Band to appear at a Toronto peace festival. The band features Eric Clapton on guitar, Klaus Voorman on bass, and Alan White on drums. As an interesting side note, the late, great Kim Fowley introduces the band at this show.

This performance featured some Beatles material, some 50's covers, and some of John's new material(Cold Turkey, Give Peace a Chance). To me, though, the most interesting piece is Yoko's Don't Worry Kyoko. Yoko got a bad rap. I think, in retrospect, that she was ahead of her time. She was avant garde before anyone knew what that meant and her attitude was definitely "punk".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NozpF57VQYI

I Don't Want to be Nice by John Cooper Clarke (1978)

Looking at any still photo of John Cooper Clarke and you might mistake him for Bob Dylan. Like Dylan, he is a poet, but the similarities stop soon thereafter. Clarke is considered to be a "punk poet". I think that is an apt description as he seems a bit surly. Wait, now there is something else he has in common with Dylan.

I don't know what it is that I like about this tune. The music is relatively simple. I think I just like his attitude...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1gB-KNqa9k

The Snake by Pink Fairies (1970)

The Pink Fairies are often referred to as pre-punk or proto-punk. I'm not quite sure how they got that label. The music that they created sounds a lot more like rock bands of the late 60's/early 70's than that of the Sex Pistols, Ramones, or the Clash(I'm not even sure if the Clash was really a punk band. But that argument is for another day).

The Fairies could produce good time rock n roll. But here, in the early days of the band, they were a little more serious with some extended jamming.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvbJopqBjmY

Warmth of the Day by Black Cat Bones (1969)

Black Cat Bones was an electric blues band from England that had many lineup changes during it's five year or so existence(1966-71). At one point, in 1968, the band included future Free members, Paul Kossoff and Simon Kirke.

Come 1969, the band was trying its hand with some psychedelic material. This track was actually included in a QE2 cruise ship promotional video. The older execs of the giant ocean liner must have been trying to appeal to the next generation of cruisers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_nhK6YC8UA

Chatterbox by the New York Dolls (1974)

Chatterbox is probably my favorite New York Doll's song. It's right up there with Pirate Love. This track comes off their second and final studio LP, Too Much Too Soon. That is an apt album title.

Oftentimes, with bands like the Dolls, I wish that they stayed together longer, as if they would have continued to produce great, high energy rock. But, maybe that's just wishful thinking. The Dolls probably only stayed together as long as it was meant to be. They did leave a good stamp of outrageousness during their time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uZuyYs-muc

For the Love of Ivy by Japandroids (2012)

Following the two-piece format of drums/guitar popularized by the White Stripes a decade earlier, Japandroids are a Vancouver band making straightforward rock n' roll in a time where authentic music can be hard to find.

Here is a sample of their work from their most recent album, Celebration Rock, released in 2012.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlQcnAlvnU8

Ghost Rider by Suicide (1977)

Any electronic/synth-based music is at serious risk for dropping out of the rock n' roll spectrum. If this type of music loses the beat or overall edginess to its sound, I lose interest. Long before electronic music became it's own category of popular music, there were some forerunner bands that were pioneering the sound.  Suicide was one of the best.

Here is a track from their debut album in 1977

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn7SBQ6X5HU

In My Girlish Days by Martha Velez (1969)

What do you do if you're a young singer/model who has recorded a couple of relatively unsuccessful albums in the early sixties and you are still looking to make a splash in the music business? Easy, you fly to London in 1968 and record a blues rock album using Eric Clapton, Mitch Mitchell, Jim Capaldi, Jack Bruce, Christine McVie, and many others as backing musicians.

While a lot of credit has been (deservedly) given to these heavyweights providing the music for Fiends & Angels, the one thing you notice when you listen to this album is Martha's phenomenal voice. She has been compared to Janis Joplin by some. That's a bit unfair, as I don't know of many vocalists that can keep her company. However, Martha's vocal work here is impressive. It is a shame that she didn't do much more in the rock format.

Here is a short bluesy number from those sessions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHuxWGyJWZw

Out in the Street by Count Five (1966)

Count Five was a typical "one-hit wonder". Their big hit, Psychotic Reaction, is heralded as a garage rock classic. It is definitely worthy of praise. This California band would ultimately only keep it together for one album and would splinter by 1969. That album, 1966's effort also called Psychotic Reaction had some great tracks.

Here is a cover of the Who's Out in the Street.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2vDGCAfurQ

Head in the Sky by Atomic Rooster (1971)

Out of the ashes of the Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Atomic Rooster was born. This hard rock/psych/prog band from England would put out some great efforts in the early to mid 70's before line up changes would significantly alter the sound of the band.

Here is a track from their first album, In Hearing of Atomic Rooster.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IB6KSvl0E7o

All in Your Mind by Stray (1970)

This hard rock/pysch British band never got much recognition during the time of its existence in the early to mid 70's. But, man, can they play. This 9 minute plus track is the first song on their first album. This was later covered by Iron Maiden.

Check out their version here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_c3Kaodgs0

Dean by Terry Reid (1973)

To the average rock fan, Terry Reid is a guy who had a winning lottery ticket, only to throw it out, Twice! Of course, I am referring to the opportunities he had to join Jimmy Page in forming Led Zeppelin and later when he had a chance to become the new lead singer of Deep Purple. Passing those opportunities by would surely have eaten me up, if I were him. But it didn't appear to do so with Terry, or at least it didn't stop him from creating some great music on his own, albeit much less well known.

Terry went on to open for the Rolling Stones, Cream, Jethro Tull, and Fleetwood Mac. Clearly, the heavy duty musical acts of the late 60's/early 70's recognized his talents, even though he didn't have huge album sales.

If you haven't heard of Terry Reid, you just have to listen to a few tunes to see why he was so revered among his peers. He had a phenomenal voice(maybe he still does as he is still out there performing). Check out this track from his 1973 album, River.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ccV6xsFPmY

Rumble by Link Wray and his Ray Men (1958)

Link Wray proved early on that you don't need vocals to make a monster rock track. My first memory of this tune is hearing it on the radio being played in the background while deejays talked over it. I remember wishing the deejay would just shut up and turn up the music under his voice. I could never quite place the song, though, as it was never announced.

It wasn't until Pulp Fiction came out in 1994 that I would consciously recognize this track again. This time it appears as John Travolta and Uma Thurman discuss uncomfortable silences. I remember finally identifying the song once I picked up the soundtrack.

Most recently, I enjoyed seeing Jimmy Page get off listening to this record from the It Might Get Loud guitar documentary in 2008.

For me, though, the best way to enjoy this music is just to close my eyes and listen to the ourity of it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucTg6rZJCu4

You Got a Hard Time Coming by The Remains (1967)

"They were how you told a stranger about rock 'n' roll" wrote rock critic Jon Landau about The Remains in early 1967. High praise, indeed. This Boston band had formed a few years earlier in 1964 and were lumped in with the British Invasion sound. They enjoyed much regional success in the Northeast in the mid-Sixties. They even landed a spot opening for the Beatles on a leg of their final tour in 1966.

Unfortunately, the band broke up right after the U.S. tour and could not capitalize on that exposure. That's too bad, as this was a pretty solid band. Updated link includes album: goto 14:15 for song featured here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TY1Hb89CUU

Hot Blooded Mama by Smokin' Willie (1972)

I don't know too much about this band, other than two main points. First, they were a bluesy/pysch band from Southern Indiana in the early 70's who did most unique cover versions of popular songs such as Get Ready, House of the Rising Sun, and A Whiter Shade of Pale. The other fact about the band is that there only LP is highly sought-after. Apparently, only 500 copies were made and many unsold copies were destroyed in the 1990's. Once interest in the band's sound was reignited, the value of their first pressing vinyl shot up.

Here is a tune which is indicative of their sound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kpfwuzUel4

Rollin' My Stone by Manassas (1973)

Largely known as Stephen Stills early 70's side project, Manassas sounds more like a more guitar-driven version of CSNY with fewer harmonies. To me, this band is more interesting than a lot of what CSN/CSNY was recording at the time, and I consider myself a fan of that super group.

Manassas was a bit of a super group in its own right with supporting cast Chris Hillman(Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers), and Al Perkins(Flying Burrito Brothers). The band also featured Dallas Taylor on drums, who just died this January.

While Manassas' first self titled album from 1972 was critically well-received, their followup, Down the Road, was not. I don't know. I still like it. Check out the final track from that album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9WD_IZ8Oa0

You'r So Boring by Rocks (1978)

Nope, I didn't spell the title of this post wrong. Punk bands like to spell things wrong, and Australia's Rocks were no exception. Proper spelling notwithstanding, this band hit the right sound and the right time. Click here for more details on the band's history.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuiYZUVul6Q

If Sugar Was as Sweet as You by Rockpile (1980)

By 1980, pub rock veterans Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds had been performing and recording together for a few years. They had recorded unofficially on Dave Edmunds records and a Nick Lowe record. They would end up recording only one album officially under the Rockpile name, 1980's Seconds of Pleasure.

Rockpile is my idea of good "pop rock". There is nothing too deep here, just an updated cover of a good ole Joe Tex rock n' roll song with a hook and a catchy phrase.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMz1rbmaR7U

Gloria by Patti Smith (1975)

"Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine"...Wow, when Patti Smith covered a song, she really made it her own. She added lyrics, changed arrangements, created poemic introductions. She was one of those few artists who were truly artists. Her interpretations on Hey Joe, My Generation, Time is on My Side, and Pale Blue Eyes are really original. It's ironic that her most popular song, Springsteen's "Because the Night", is the least interesting of the bunch.

Patti's version of Gloria is not exactly "unknown", but I couldn't resist posting it here. Van Morrison's "Gloria" was one of the most covered rock songs, but this is my favorite version, by far. In my life, I've managed to resist the urge to make a list of my favorite songs of all time. I've not done this because that "list" would always be changing, I would invariably forget a song that belongs on the list, and finally "who cares". That said, I've always known that were I to make such a list, this tune would be near the top...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPO0bTaWcFQ