Makes Me Feel Glad That I'm Not Dead

I heard this song for the first time a couple of years ago over at the always fabulous Art Decade.  An almost indescribable combination of Native American peyote chant, trance, and sunshine pop.  From
Harpers Bizarre 4 (1969), this never fails to put a smile on my face. 

It was written Native American jazz saxaphonist Jim Pepper.  The production is truly transplendant, with tinkling bells and tom toms, and later in the song a very simple but lovely guitar line provides a counterpoint to the vocals.

I am smiling ear to ear.

Tell Me Again What You Told Me Before

It is always a good day when I discover a new "nugget" from the late 60's.   Being a fan of Dave Edmunds for many years it is a bit odd that I never investigated his first band, Love Sculpture. Today while browsing on YouTube I chanced across a tune from their second album Forms and Feelings.  In The Land of The Few starts off with what sounds like a clavichord - and within seconds I was hooked.  Then a Who-like verse kicks in, to be followed by a chorus that has to be heard.  Just phenomenal, almost like a 17th century baroque melody.  Also packed in is a jangly middle section and one of Mr. Edmunds white hot guitar solos.

I am verklempt.  How did I not know about this song before now?

Feel Only Me

I know the biggest question in the back of you mind is "what is Mr. Pleasant's favorite John Lennon song not written by John Lennon?"  And the answer is a doozey because frankly it is a song forgotten by everyone in the universe.

Well, before I tell you who and what, let me just say that you really have to give this a listen before you make a judgement.   The song is a beautiful amalgamation of Imagine-period melodiousness merged with Help-period group harmonies.  And shades of "We Can Work It Out" - it even has a harmonium!

So here is the deal.  The recording artists had a short-lived TV variety show back in the mid 70s, and one of the members was married to Goldie Hawn for a period of time.  Of course I a referring to the Hudson Brothers and their one and only top 40 hit - So You Are A Star.    Apparently the brothers had a real penchant for Beatles-ish power pop, but were never given a chance on their insipid TV program to show what they could really do.  So the only evidence is this one song, but it is truly gorgeous, and clearly a loving tribute to Mr. Lennon.  It just makes me swoon every time I hear it.

Some Are Bound to Glory

In 1973 there was a short lived reunion of all five original Byrds.   The one LP they produced never registered on my radar. The story goes that each of the songwriting Byrds (Crosby, McGuinn, Clark, and Hillman) withheld their best materials for their own solo projects. Drummer Michael Clarke brought along two Neil Young songs.

A few years ago I chanced upon their cover of an at-that-point unrecorded Neil Young nugget.  (See the Sky) About to Rain is a miraculous song and this performance captures Neil's sense of loss and yet also succeeds as a Byrd's number.  When the wall of chiming guitars and mandolin enters at 2:40 the bliss becomes heavenly.

See the sky about to rain,
broken clouds and rain.
Locomotive, pull the train,
whistle blowing
through my brain.
Signals curling on an open plain,
rolling down the track again.

Waiting for the Operator on the Line

The dreary late 70's found the pop music scene in a real funk.  Pre-punk, post-Beatles, and the very last days of the vanished 45rpm 7" single.  From that bleak period there were a few real gems to be heard on top 40 radio.  One of my favorites is the Electric Light Orchestra's Sweet Talking Woman.  Jeff Lynne managed to combine the unusual chords and vocal harmonies of the Beatles with a Motown influence and his usual violin flourishes.   I am not the world's biggest ELO fan but this song really floats my boat.

Tapestry

One of my new year's resolutions is to post more blog entries this year.  So I am starting a new theme.  Artists that write/record music in the style of other musicians.  The first entry is near and dear to my heart.   Here is Todd Rundgren channeling Carole King - I Saw The Light.  Discuss.

That's Just One Of My Personal Crusades

Mr. Who Am Us Anyway - you are right, autumn is here and its about time I posted something for the new season.  Today's post really doesn't have anything to do with the fall season but it is such a great song that I could not help myself.   First of all I am a sucker for a rock song that starts out with tubular bells!  Then a groovy bass line kicks in and time starts to fly.  By none other than Todd Rundgren's band The Nazz, this is the first track off of their second album Nazz Nazz.  Forget All About It has an off kilter rhythm that sets it firmly in the late 60s.   Todd finds just the right guitar tone throughout, sometimes jangly, sometimes psychedelic on the solo.  A softer middle section with harpsichord accompaniment is almost a jump forward to his Runt period wherein he became the male version of Carole King.  And a short but great bridge back to the chorus, a few bangs on the chimes and it is sadly over.