More about music

It’s been a long time since I’ve blogged about my twin interests of classic rock music, and ordering things into lists.  I got burned out on that music list project, and after a while I figured out why.

It was the ranking that did it, trying to come up with which was my favorite song for the year, then my second favorite, and so on.  I’d go back and forth on two or three titles, worry about whether to call a tie on some of them for the same place, and I’d keep second guessing myself.  Then I’d worry about where to cut off the list, what would be the last song, when was it all good enough, and so on.

It was just too much work for something which was supposed to be just a fun diversion.

So here’s my new, simpler approach, and I’m having more fun with this.

For a long time I’ve been intrigued with those “best of” compilations you can buy.  The only problem is that none of them perfectly match my interests.  Most of them are ratings driven, the “Number 1 Hits” which sold the most.  But good luck to you if you liked a deeper cut from the album better than the big hit.

So now I’m making playlists on my computer for each year, and I’m using Wikipedia as a reference source for US release dates.  Keeping it chronological makes for an easier, quicker project.  It’s like listening my way back through one year or other.

So, here’s what I recently did for...

1971.

January 

                  Mountain – Taunta / Nantucket Sleighride

February

                  George Harrison – What Is Life

                  Yes – Your Move / All Good People

March 

                   Jethro Tull – Aqualung

April 

                   James Gang – Walk Away

                   Rolling Stones – Wild Horses

May

                   Rod Stewart – Reason To Believe

                   Bill Withers – Ain’t No Sunshine

July 

                   Moody Blues – The Story In Your Eyes

August 

                  The Who – Baba O’Riley

September

                  Jefferson Airplane – Rock and Roll Island

                  T. Rex – Get It On
                  Three Dog Night – Never Been To Spain
                  Van Morrison – Blue Money

October 

                  Van Morrison – Wild Night

November 

                  Harry Nilsson – Jump Into the Fire

                  Led Zeppelin – Rock and Roll

December 

                  Badfinger – Baby Blue

It’s not perfect.  I really wish I had, or could check out from the library Paul McCartney’s “Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey” (released in May, after “Reason To Believe”).  And if I could find a copy of The Who’s “Behind Blue Eyes”, I would put that in the playlist instead of “Baba O’Riley”.

And maybe also Ringo Starr’s “It Don’t Come Easy” (in April, after “Walk Away”), and Santana’s “No One To Depend On” (in September, between whichever song by The Who, and Jefferson Airplane’s “Rock and Roll Island”).

1972...

...is turning out to be a bigger project.  Think:  two CD’s worth.  I haven’t got it completely figured out, but so far…

January

                  Paul Simon – Mother and Child Reunion

                  Jackson Browne – Doctor My Eyes

February 

                  Todd Rundgren – I Saw the Light

                  Allman Brothers Band – (2 of these 3:  “Melissa”,
                                         “Trouble No More”, “Blue Sky")

                  Neil Young – Heart Of Gold

March

                  Fleetwood Mac – Bare Trees

April 

                  Arlo Guthrie – City Of New Orleans

                  Hollies – Long Cool Woman In a Black Dress

                  Jim Croce – Operator

                  Creedence Clearwater Revival – Sweet Hitch-Hiker

                  Wishbone Ash – Sometime World

                  Wishbone Ash – Leaf and Stream

May

                  Randy Newman – Simon Smith and the

                                                   Amazing Dancing Bear

                  Bill Withers – Lean On Me (maybe)

                  Rolling Stones – Happy

June

                  Alice Cooper – School’s Out (maybe)

                  Eagles – Take It Easy

                  Johnny Nash – I Can See Clearly Now

                  Leon Russel – Tight Rope (maybe)

July

                 Argent – Hold Your Head Up

                 Doobie Brothers – Listen To the Music

                 Jefferson Airplane – Long John Silver

                 Rod Stewart – You Wear It Well

August

                  Seals and Crofts – Summer Breeze (maybe)

                  Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes –

                             If You Don’t Know Me By Now (maybe)

                  Pure Prairie League – Amie

September

                  Yes – Siberian Khatru

October

                  Steely Dan – (two of these three:  “Kings”,

                                        “Midnight Cruiser”,

                                        “Reelin’ In the Years”) 

                  Stealers Wheel –
                                  Stuck In the Middle With You (maybe)

                  Loggins and Messina – Your Mama Don’t Dance

                  Joe Walsh – Turn To Stone

                  Billy Preston – Will It Go Round In Circles

                  Albert Hammond – It Never Rains In

                                Southern California (maybe)                            

                  Stevie Wonder – Superstition

November 

                  Joe Cocker – High Time We Went (maybe)

                  Carly Simon – You’re So Vain

                  Gordon Lightfoot – Old Dan’s Records (maybe)

                  Edgar Winter Group – Free Ride

                  Moody Blues – I’m Just a Singer
                                           (In a Rock and Roll Band)

                  America – Ventura Highway (maybe)

If I end up burning two CD’s off this playlist, the dividing point will probably be Argent’s “Hold Your Head Up”.  That will likely be either the last song of the first CD, or the first song of the second.

One more thing…sometimes when you check out CD’s from the library, you’ll surprise yourself with something you missed.  My last week’s discovery was from The Doobie Brothers “Long Train Runnin’ 1970 – 2000” CD, where I got “Listen To the Music” for this playlist.  There’s a track, “Dark Eyed Cajun Woman” that I don’t remember hearing.  I didn’t know the Doobies ever did that much of a blues number.  As you might suspect, the lyrics are slightly suggestive if you want to take them that way, but it could have been worse.  Musically though, I like the song.

Cable drummer boy (updated and bumped)

(Note: I cannot claim to be a fan of Levon Helm's or The Band, in fact, I know very little about them. However I did write about him a while back for reasons, I hope, will be plain in the post. I thought it worth re-posting in light of the passing of Helm today. - Mike)

I'm sure most people with cable TV notice that there are all kinds of channels that broadcast programming of, shall we say, limited appeal. Some of them look like they were shot inside someone's house using lamps with the shades taken off for some really harsh lighting. And they look that way because it was shot inside someone's house using lamps with the shades taken off for some really harsh lighting.

For example, take this one program on Mediacom here in Springfield. It was shot in a nightclub and the focus of the program is the musical act that is performing there. More specifically, the subject seems to be this scraggly, old drummer with a gravelly voice who does all the lead singing. I watched it a for a few minutes and I thought, "Eh." They're probably some regional act that does all the hotspots in the college towns around here. And they probably drink up all their profits.

The things they show on TV.

And, it's interesting, in view of the discussion of popular music here at "The Porch" lately. Many of the acts that we admire would be old, gravelly and scraggly, like the drummer on this cable show. I heard a new Bob Seger song the other day and you can definitely hear some age in his voice.

Cousin Bob posted his list of favorite songs from 1973 and we've been having fun with it. He listed "Dancing In The Moonlight" by King Harvest and someone from that group was kind enough to reply and we got a kick out of that. Later, I posted in response and playfully asked Bob if his new friends, King Harvest, would explain how their name came about. Lo and behold! I got a reply from them! What generous and friendly people! It's an interesting story.

"In 1970 we made a last minute entry into a R&R contest in Paris, France. They asked for our band's name, which we had not yet decided on. On the stereo we had one of our favorite albums by The Band playing. The song was King Harvest Has Surely Come. So we gave them King Harvest as a name. As it turned out we won the contest and never changed the name. Two years later, still in Paris, we recorded Dancing in the Moonlight."

I think that is a cool story and it's a good band name. I think a lot of creativity is like this - it just happens, it's not forced.

So, in reading this reply, I had a thought. The record was by a group called The Band? That sort of rang a bell, so I did what any self-respecting person would do at this moment, I Googled. (I Google, therefore I am?)

I Googled "the band king harvest has come" and up came the typical Google page with lots links. At the top was a You Tube video of the song, so I clicked it and about 20 seconds later, I was floored.

The video opens with a shot of a cabin and the camera zooms in to look through the window. At about :20, I recognized someone. I recognized this bobbing head and the shrugging shoulders. I recognized the inelegant twisting neck so the singer could line up with a microphone.

It was the scraggly old drummer from the show on my local cable provider! Only he wasn't so old in this video! Amazing! You mean this guy on my local cable was SOMEBODY?

Quick! More Googling! I Googled The Band and got the Wikipedia page. (There is a sentence that would have been meaningless 10 years ago!) I saw a picture of The Band and their names. And I saw it! Levon Helm! He's the drummer for The Band and he's the drummer on my cable show! I remember seeing it when the credits rolled!

So, Levon Helm was the drummer for The Band and they recorded a song called King Harvest Has Come which inspired a nameless band in Paris to name themselves King Harvest and two years later they recorded "Dancing In The Moonlight" which my cousin listed as one of his favorite songs from 1973 on this blog and somebody from the band King Harvest replied to that and then I asked a question and they answered with a story about The Band and I looked it up and saw the drummer from my cable show was not a club guy but a real rock and roll pro, the drummer for The Band. Amazing.

Did I just win "Six Degrees of King Harvest"?

(Originally posted October, 2008)

Perhaps it's a supernatural delight

It's been said that it's a small world and I suppose in some way (or ways) it is. Or maybe it's not the size of the world but the number of possibilities that is relatively small, even though it seems as though a given event is about as unlikely as a whale landing on my house.

I'm expecting to see Bob this weekend, and thought I would see him tonight, but did not. His daughter's a senior at Missouri State and will graduate with a degree in Interior Design. I think that's right - her degree might be officially called something else.

Anyway, her and her soon-to-be similarly-degreed school chums were showing their projects in a gallery downtown and I went and saw her (and her project!) but missed her parental units. After a few minutes it was time to go, so I headed for the car. I got out onto the street and had not walked very far when I heard my name. I looked across the road and there was my daughter and her husband.

I ambled over and we chatted and soon up walked my son-in-law's uncle, whom they were meeting for dinner downtown. I left them and went on to the car. A few minutes later, in the car, and I was headed for my next destination and had the radio playing.

And what upon my wondering ears should fall, but the cheerful sounds of "Dancing In The Moonlight" by King Harvest. Regular readers of the Porch, whoever you are, would be familiar with the conversation that occurred on this blog with Bob and one of the members of King Harvest a while back. Bob had named "Dancing In The Moonlight" as one of his favorite tunes of 1973 and one of King Harvest's members was kind enough to chime in and provide some details, some real behind-the-scenes info! If you wish to re-live those heady times, the posts are here, also here and one there.

So, how likely is it that this confluence of events would occur in the space of 15 minutes and four blocks: I don't see Bob, who I expected to see; I see my daughter and her husband, who I don't expect to see; and I hear "Dancing In The Moonlight" on the radio which I probably haven't heard since Bob, who I expected to see but missed, was discussing it in the fall of 2008.

I'm not sure, but I think "Dancing In The Moonlight" should be considered the Official Song of Poppy's Front Porch.

The Evening Rambler for November 10, 2010

I've been thinking about the last entry of the Music List Project. It bothered me for a while and I wasn't sure why; now I think I have the answer. The top 39 songs (including ties) I'd still say were my favorites for the year. The other songs on the list I like well enough when they come on the radio, but to describe them as "favorites" would be stretching the point. So I'll go back and edit that post a bit, and in the future, I'll try to keep the lists simpler.

How about a couple of fall photos?

The colors weren't as intense as last year, but it would have been hard to beat 2009. Anyway, here's our maple.


I didn't go on the pumpkin patch outing this year, so I'm seeing this picture for the first time.



My son, doing a great job carving...


...Pumpkin Bubs! You know, the Jack-'o-lantern version of this character, from the Strong Bad e-mail "Original", from the Homestar Runner site.

That's about all for now, other than a friendly reminder that tomorrow, November 11th, is Veteran's Day. By all means, if you see a veteran, thank him (or her) for his (her) service!

The return of the Music List Project

A little over two years ago, I posted about my ongoing interest in the question, "if I were to make a list of my favorite songs, what would they be, and in what order?" I wrote, in part...

"I started to compile such a list…and took a break when I noticed it had grown to 448 entries...the task seemed daunting...I returned to a different idea. What if I could make a "best of" playlist for just one year? Such compilations exist, and most of them I’ve found to be disappointing. Simply put, I’m not interested in what sold the most. I just want to hear what I want to hear.

I found a site that listed virtually every song released by year...I’ve worked on this on and off when I could make a few moments. It could be the best method might be for me to work on each year separately, then eventually combine all the lists into one. Talk about a long term project."

(And if you want to review my list for 1973, go here.)

I didn't claim then, and I'm not claiming now, that these were the "best" songs of the year, just a ranking of what I like. And so without further ado, I now give you my favorite music from...

1969

1. Sea Of Joy – Blind Faith
First of all, find the “Blind Faith” album with the “B” cover, the one with the photograph of the band. The “A” cover I will not describe here, except to say it was a terrible choice, and turned off a lot of people from listening to the album. Pity, they missed some great music. I enjoy the first five songs almost equally well, but I’m a bit more likely to listen to this one. Maybe it’s the electric violin.
2. Ramble On – Led Zeppelin
My favorite of theirs, I like both the music and the Lord Of the Rings references.
3. Badge – Cream (with George Harrison sitting in).
My favorite song from the “Goodbye” album.
4. Can’t Find My Way Home – Blind Faith
Steve Winwood’s vocals are great here.
5. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down – The Band
A great song, and this original version is the one I like most.
6. Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles
My favorite from “Abbey Road”.
7. You Never Give Me Your Money – The Beatles
Then again, this might be my favorite from “Abbey Road”…it’s a close call. The piano intro and vocals here just might be John Lennon’s best moment.
8. (tie) Oh Well – Fleetwood Mac
Before the Beginning – Fleetwood Mac
I can’t choose, they’re both great. Before the Beginning (the last track on the US release of “Then Play On”) is the same music as “Blues in B Flat Minor”, an earlier release - but with lyrics this time. And nothing else quite sounds like Oh Well. You might have heard that before, at least the first couple of minutes. Most radio stations cut off the slower, more quiet part 2, with the Spanish guitar. Peter Green wrote this, and I’ve read that it’s about his conversion from Judiasm to Christianity.
9. Cinnamon Girl – Neil Young
One of his best. Listen all the way to the end to hear that nice guitar harmonic (often cut off on the radio).
10. Black Magic Woman - Fleetwood Mac
You’re more familiar with the Carlos Santana cover, but this original is great too. It has much more of a traditional blues ending.
11. Green River – Creedence Clearwater Revival
To me, this is the definitive CCR sound.
12. With a Little Help From My Friends – Joe Cocker
His best, in my opinion (they used this for the TV show “The Wonder Years”). The original by The Beatles is great of course, but if anything, I like this cover a little bit better.
13. What a Bringdown – Cream
Another great song from “Goodbye”.
14. Dreams – Allman Brothers Band
One of their best.
15. Baby It’s You – Smith
I like this “one hit wonder” a lot. The original is good too, but this cover is another song that doesn’t quite sound like anything else.
16. Coming Your Way – Fleetwood Mac
“Then Play On” was quite the experimental album, and while some of the tracks didn’t do much for me, this is another one I really like.
17. (tie) Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight / The End medly – The Beatles
Sun King / Mean Mister Mustard / Polythene Pam /
She Came In Through the Bathroom Window medly – The Beatles
“Abbey Road” strikes again – I like these two medlys equally well.
“Sunday’s on the phone to Monday, Tuesday’s on the phone to me, oh yeah.”
18. Albatross – Fleetwood Mac
An obscure instrumental, and perhaps the smoothest song I’ve ever heard; from Peter Green, the king of sustain. If this one doesn’t relax you, well I’m sorry, I can’t help you. Probably not a good choice for driving music, if you need help staying alert behind the wheel.
True story…one evening in September 1977, a local rock station was airing an early Fleetwood Mac special, and this song came on. I was enthralled, but was called away before I could hear the title. It was the evening of the great Plaza flood. While we weren’t in a low lying area, we were on our way to 16 ½ inches of rain in 24 hours, and the ground was more than saturated. The sump pump was backing up, and I spent the rest of the night taking turns with my mom and dad, frantically bailing the basement. 30 years later, I made a lucky guess on the song title, heard a clip from the internet, checked out a CD from the library, and was able to enjoy the entire song again.
19. The Israelite – Desmond Decker and the Aces
One of the first – if not the first – reggae song on “Top-40” radio. It’s fun, I like it, and “I don’t want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde” either.
20. Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Another great Creedence song.
21. (tie) Something – The Beatles
Oh! Darling – The Beatles
More fun from “Abbey Road”.
22. Presence Of The Lord – Blind Faith
Another great song from the album. Eric Clapton expresses his Christian faith here.
23. Had To Cry Today – Blind Faith
First track on the album.
24. Living In the Past – Jethro Tull
One of their better early efforts, I think.
25. Well…All Right – Blind Faith
A good, if unusual, cover of a Buddy Holley song.
26. Doing That Scrapyard Thing – Cream
If you don’t recognize the title, you’re not alone. You’d have to have gotten deep into the “Goodbye” album – the next to the last track. Fun song.
27. Gimme Gimme Good Lovin’ – Crazy Elephant
More “top-40” fun from another “one hit wonder”. I have this one on a 45 rpm record.
28. Cowgirl In the Sand – Neil Young
Ranked here more for the combination of the sound of the music with the lyrics, than for the lyrics just by themselves. If that makes any sense.
29. (tie) It Came Out Of the Sky – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Down On the Corner – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Commotion – Creedence Clearwater Revival
All good, fun Creedence music.
30. Proud Mary – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Probably the most recognizable CCR song to most people, and maybe the most copied. I rank it a hair behind the others; nothing wrong with it, but it’s been played So Much.
31. Pinball Wizard – The Who
From the rock opera “Tommy”, of course.
32. Eli’s Coming – Three Dog Night
One of their better efforts, I think.
33. Born On the Bayou – Creedence Clearwater Revival
34. Rock Me – Steppenwolf
35. The Court Of the Crimson King – King Crimson
Yes, it has an oppressive feel…not what you’d call cheerful. Interesting moment in progressive rock / art rock though; I figured it ought to make my list right about here even though I listen to it very rarely these days. Nothing else that I’ve heard sounds like this one. I read once somewhere that the band toyed with the idea of recording this as a country song…that would have been something to hear.
36. Astronomy Domine – Pink Floyd
While on the subject of progressive rock / art rock / space rock, this is early Floyd from two years into their tenure. Bought the Ummagumma album right after it came out; thought this was pretty wild. Still have the album. By the way, I’ve heard “Domine” here pronounced as three syllables “Dah-min-ee”.
37. Whipping Post – The Allman Brothers Band
As I’ve revised this list several times, this one has floated up and down a couple of points. I’ll peg it here at number 37.
38. Feeling Allright – Joe Cocker
“…Cause every night I have the strangest dream”
39. She Came In Through the Bathroom Window – Joe Cocker
His cover of The Beatles (see list number 17, above). 1969 really was his year.
************
It might be a bit of a stretch to call the rest of this list "favorites" for the year, but I like them well enough that if they come on the radio, I don't turn down the volume or change stations, at least not usually. They're worth mentioning here, anyway.
************
40. Come Together – The Beatles
I used to like this more…it’s another song that’s been played a Whole Lot.
41. You Can’t Always Get What You Want – The Rolling Stones
I’ll admit I’m not much of a Stones fan. But this one from “the bad boys” is listenable.
42. Hawaii Five-O – Ventures
A great TV show theme.
43. (tie) The Last Steam Engine Train – Leo Kottke
Crow River Waltz / Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring – Leo Kottke
Easter and the Sargasso Sea – Leo Kottke
I didn’t hear these until maybe 1972 or 1973, when I became a Leo Kottke fan and listened to any record of his I could get my hands on. I like some of his later stuff better.
44. (tie) I’m Free – The Who
Amazing Journey – The Who
Go To the Mirror! – The Who
Three more I like equally well from “Tommy” (see note number 31).
45. (tie) Lodi – Creedence Clearwater Revival
The Midnight Special – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Poorboy Shuffle / Feelin’ Blue – Creedence Clearwater Revival
More good Creedence music.
46. I’m So Glad (live version) – Cream
The only reason I don’t rate this higher is that I prefer the studio version.
47. Trouble No More – The Allman Brothers Band
48. Marrakesh Express – Crosby, Stills & Nash
49. Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye – Steam
50. I Heard It Through the Grapevine – Marvin Gaye
Creedence would go on to cover this later, for another excellent version.
51. One – Three Dog Night
52. Bouree – Jethro Tull
53. This Magic Moment – Jay and the Americans
I once had a conversation with a college friend who worked at a radio station. The subject “which year had the most change in rock and roll” came up. I suggested 1969, starting early in the year with “This Magic Moment” and ending with the “Led Zeppelin II” album. He agreed I might have something there…maybe.
54. Evil Ways – Santana
If Carlos Santana hadn’t done anything else, I’d rate this higher…but in my mind, I can’t help comparing it with some of his other songs I like a lot better.
55. Up On Cripple Creek – The Band
“…we had Spike Jones on the box, she said ‘I can’t stand the way he sings, but I love to hear him talk’”
56. Communication Breakdown – Led Zeppelin
57. A Saucerful Of Secrets (live version) – Pink Floyd
Floyd’s early “space rock” was…different. I have to be in the right mood these days to want to hear this one.
58. Nothing Is Easy – Jethro Tull
59. I’m a Man – Chicago
60. Get Together – Youngbloods
61. Leaving On a Jet Plane – Peter, Paul and Mary
Nice.
62. Atlantis – Donovan
I used to like this more; have it on a 45 rpm record.
63. I Say a Little Prayer – Aretha Franklin
64. Both Sides Now – Joni Mitchell
65. I Can’t Get Next To You – Temptations
66. Smile a Little Smile For Me – The Flying Machine
Another one hit wonder. As my tastes – especially back then – ran more towards classic rock than pop, I don’t really know and can’t explain why I like this one, but I do.
67. Crimson and Clover – Tommy James and the Shondells
At the end of the song (the”over and over” part), close your eyes and imagine that you and the band are under water. Yes I know…that was ornery of me.
68. Ma Cherie Amour – Stevie Wonder

Honorable mention:

All You Need Is Love (re-release) - The Beatles
I will put this on my 1967 list when I get around to that one.

Like Crying – Fleetwood Mac

Suspicious Minds – Elvis Presley

Kentucky Woman – Deep Purple

Wait a Million Years – Grassroots

Hot Fun In the Summertime – Sly and the Family Stone

Somebody To Love – Jefferson Airplane

Barabajagal (Love Is Hot) – Donovan

Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head – B. J. Thomas

Someday We’ll Be Together – Diana Ross and the Supremes

Galveston – Glen Campbell

Kozmic Blues – Janis Joplin

Crystal Blue Persuasion – Tommy James and the Shondells

Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond

Ruben James – The First Edition

A Fine and Natural (web)Site

So, do you know my cousin? Bob Wingate? No? Well, he knows King Harvest. They're a band and they had a hit and my cousin knows them like, they're BFF!

Whoa, dude! Slow down! Take a breath.

Congratualations, Bob, on pulling down a Comment from "The Outside". Pretty soon you will be, like ZZ Top, Nationwide.

I like your list and your method. It's good to have limits in which to create - they focus your efforts.

You were fortunate to hear and know all these songs and I guess you had that radio job which beefed up your knowledge. For me, if it wasn't on KWTO Rock 99, I didn't know about it. Still don't.

Now, about your list -

Well, to begin with, you know I am HUGE for Rocky Mountain Way (I think it's #2 on my Arresting list) . It has that 'double tempo' thing going on - it sounds and feels fast, but it's going slow and measured. A lot of great music is like that, he said expertly.

You've got a couple of songs that make me tired. Ridin' The Storm Out, Roundabout, I'm Just A Singer, Free Bird, Dream On and Smoke On The Water. Alright then, that's more than a couple. In my mind these are great songs for a verse or two and then, I get tired, but the song is still pounding on my door. For me, I am looking for something else after a minute or two, but they're good songs.

Desperado by the Eagles - superb, simply superb. I could hear it over and over.

Jim Croce was one of my favorites, and if I recall correctly, wasn't '73 the year he died? I like all of his hits and many of his non-hits and I wonder what his career would have been like had he lived.

I am exactly where you are with ZZ Top's Jesus Just Left Chicago. It's a great sound, but I always feel like I shouldn't be hearing it.

Angie. I always liked Angie. What? No! The song! I don't know any Angies!

And you know how much I like Billy Joel's music. I have 'The Essential Billy Joel', a 2-disc collection and there is a string on the first disc from #7 New York State of Mind to #18 Allentown that every song is a winner and it's just a joy to listen to.

Now, can you get your good friends, King Harvest, to 'splain their name? I am sure I could Google it, but I prefer the personal touch.

They don't bark...

So I checked my blog Sunday evening, and I noticed I had a comment under my 1973 in Music posting. I thought, hey Mike's left a comment...but lately he usually adds a new post. I wondered who it was...

Much to my surprise, it was King Harvest. I'd included their hit "Dancing In the Moonlight" on my list, and they'd sent a nice thank you note (they're on Blogger).

I am a bit embarrased though, that I didn't rank the song higher. So I looked at my list again. Wait a minute, Aerosmith's "Dream On" at number 41? What was I thinking? Sure that'll still be on my list, but I'm bumping it down at least six points. That song has a lot of power, but I've been screamed at sufficiently. Been there, done that. Back in the day, I was mostly listening to hard rock, British blues, and some art rock; I guess that's been reinforced by the classic rock radio stations since then.

Anyway, I definitely like "Dancing In the Moonlight" more than that, so I think I'll move it up to number 40. Maybe even tie it with Loggins and Messina's "My Music" at 39.

1973 in music

Two and a half years ago – March 2006, I think – Cousin Mike sent me a list of songs he described as “arresting”. When you hear these songs, you stop what you’re doing to listen, and maybe turn up the volume. An interesting email conversation developed, and I said that I’d probably call my list “songs I like”, or “Bob’s favorites”. My list would be mostly classic rock, but with some blues, folk instrumental, Irish, Cajun Zydeco, and soul mixed in. So, I started to compile such a list…and took a break when I noticed it had grown to 448 entries. Editing had to happen, and the task seemed daunting. Still does, in fact.

A month or so ago I returned to a different idea. What if I could make a "best of" playlist for just one year? Such compilations exist, and most of them I’ve found to be disappointing. Simply put, I’m not interested in what sold the most. I just want to hear what I want to hear.

Time to experiment, but what year should I choose? I got to thinking of “one-hit-wonders”, bands that had only one hit, or a few hits…and I only like one of them. A look at my Big List, and I noticed Mott the Hoople. Now, I sure wouldn’t want a whole disk of their music, but I do like All The Way From Memphis. I searched for that online, found that it was released in 1973. Hmmm…what else came out that year?

Actually, quite a bit more than I remembered at first. I found a site that listed virtually every song released by year, and though 1973 might not have been the busiest year in rock, I did turn up a few of my favorites. I’ve worked on this on and off when I could make a few moments. It could be the best method might be for me to work on each year separately, then eventually combine all the lists into one. Talk about a long term project.

Remember, I’m not at all claiming these were the “best” songs that year…just a ranking of what I like. And so, just for fun, here's my favorite music from...

1973

1. Eric Clapton / Derek and the Dominoes – Little Wing (live – Rainbow Concert)
(I’ve yet to hear a bad version of this powerful, musically emotional rock song. Sometimes I prefer the Stevie Ray Vaughan cover, or the Jimi Hendrix original; these three versions will likely tie somewhere in the top five on my final list.)
2. Joe Walsh – Rocky Mountain Way
(Of course.)
3. Fleetwood Mac – Hypnotized
(This one’s so smooth, and it’s *Way* underplayed. I don’t get to hear it nearly enough, so I always crank it up when it comes on - and I can get away with controlling the volume. Despite the band’s huge commercial success in the late 1970’s and into the 1980’s, I have a personal preference for the British blues years of the early Mac.)
4. (Tie) Paul McCartney and Wings – Mrs. Vanderbilt
Paul McCartney and Wings – Let Me Roll It
(I easily could have just said the “Band On the Run” album here, but I wanted this to be a list of individual songs instead. My two favorite tracks from the album.)
5. REO Speedwagon – Ridin’ the Storm Out (studio version *Only*)
(My favorite of theirs, and possibly the only REO song to make my final list.)
6. Led Zeppelin – Dancing Days*
7. Steely Dan – My Old School*
(* These two were a close call. When I’m on a Steely Dan kick, I’d rank My Old School slightly ahead of Dancing Days.)
8. Rick Deringer – Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo
(This song really says 1973 to me. Written by Rick Deringer and also previously recorded by Johnny Winter on his Johnny Winter And album in 1972.)
9. Mott the Hoople – All the Way From Memphis
(They had another song that was a bigger hit, but this is their song that I like.)
10. Pink Floyd – Time
(Yes, the alarm clock intro is annoying, but the rest of the song more than makes up for it.)
11. Yes – Long Distance Runaround / The Fish (live – Yessongs)
(If this was the earlier studio version it would be ranked higher. But after all, this is a 1973 list.)
12. Wishbone Ash – Everybody Needs a Friend
(My first obscure entry here, what little airplay it received was mostly on college radio stations. I might have ranked this higher, but the vocals are well, a little too sweet…strictly a slow dance number. It’s definitely worth a listen though, for the long guitar bridge around two thirds of the way through. Not quite as emotional musically as Little Wing, but it still can give me chills.)
13. Steely Dan – Reeling In the Years
(single release – album released in 1974)
14. Lynyrd Skynyrd – Tuesday’s Gone
(Before you hit the ceiling that I haven’t yet mentioned Free Bird…well, that’s a song I used to like more, and it might make my final list. But its Been. Played. Into. The. Ground. I prefer Tuesday’s Gone.)
15. (Tie) Paul McCartney and Wings – Band On the Run
Paul McCartney and Wings – Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five
Paul McCartney and Wings – Jet
(See my note for the two way tie at number 4.)
16. Hot Tuna – Letter To the North Star
(So obscure I never would have heard it if we didn’t have the The Phosphorescent Rat album at the college radio station. Happy and upbeat…I still like this one.)
17. Bob Dylan – Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door
(I’m not a huge Dylan fan, but there are a few of his songs I like. I like to turn this one up.)
18. Little Feat – Dixie Chicken
(I don’t recall if I heard this in 1973, but I have heard it since and it has grown on me.)
19. Eagles – Desperado
20. Bachman Turner Overdrive – Takin’ Care Of Business
(This one has surprised me a bit how well its held up over the years.)
21. Led Zeppelin – Over the Hills and Far Away
(Two or three years after this came out I walked by a student at MU who was sitting under a shade tree near the Francis Quadrangle, picking this out on an acoustic guitar…and doing a good job of it too. A nice memory.)
22. Led Zeppelin – The Ocean
(Sometimes I like this one better than Over the Hills and Far Away. It depends.)
23. Yes – Roundabout (live – Yessongs)
(See my note for number 11.)
24. Pink Floyd – Brain Damage
(I can’t resist these lyrics: "…The lunatics are in my hall, the paper holds their folded faces to the floor, and every day the paper boy brings more." Clever.)
25. Fleetwood Mac – For Your Love
(Their cover of a great song by The Yardbirds)
26. Lynyrd Skynyrd – Simple Man
27. Moody Blues – I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)
28. Emerson Lake and Palmer – Still You Turn Me On
(Two art rock / progressive rock songs in a row. That ought to do it for this list…I have to be in the right mood these days.)
29. Steely Dan – Do It Again
30. War – The Cisco Kid
(This one has grown on me a bit over the years.)

Honorable Mention, Part 1
(Many of these might make it to my final list):

31. Steve Miller Band – The Joker
32. Jim Croce – Operator (That’s Not The Way It Feels)
33. ZZ Top – Waiting For the Bus / Jesus Just Left Chicago
(I came close to leaving this off. Jesus is so much more than mere man, He is God and man, and with us always in Spirit. He’s always in Chicago, and everywhere else…he’s not limited to going from place to place like we do. But, I listened closely to the lyrics and I didn’t hear the mockery usual in the few rock songs that mention Jesus…it’s just more of a blues song. Musically good.)
34. Rolling Stones – Angie
(I’m not much of a Stones fan, but I do like some of their songs. This one’s pretty good.)
35. Lynyrd Skynyrd – Free Bird
(I liked this more when it first came out. See comment for number 14.)
36. Chicago – Feelin’ Stronger Every Day
37. Steely Dan – The Boston Rag
38. Lynyrd Skynyrd – Mississippi Kid
(Just for fun.)
39. Loggins and Messina – My Music
40. Dobie Gray – Drift Away
(A pop / soul song that’s grown on me over the years.)
41. Aerosmith – Dream On
(I’m not much for songs that scream at me, but this might be the best from what I think of as an early “hair band”.)
42. The Who – Love Reign O’er Me
(The Who have done better songs; I do think this one’s the best track from Quadrophenia.)

Honorable Mention, Part 2
(A few of these might make my final list):

43. Jim Croce – Bad Bad Leroy Brown
44. King Harvest – Dancing In the Moonlight
45. B. W. Stevenson – My Maria
46. Todd Rundgren – Hello It’s Me
47. George Harrison – Living In the Material World
48. Bryan Ferry – These Foolish Things
49. Focus – Hocus Pocus (part 1)

Also Ran
(Part of the 1973 music scene, and there will be songs from five of these artists on my final list. Probably not these, though.)

50. Billy Joel – Piano Man
51. Paul McCartney – My Love
52. Paul Simon – Loves Me Like a Rock
53. (Tie) Jim Croce – I Have to Say I Love You In a Song
Jim Croce – I’ve Got a Name
(Hard for me to list these two by rank.)
54. Deep Purple – Smoke On the Water (studio version)
55. Billy Preston – Will It Go Round In Circles
56. Sweet – Ballroom Blitz