Bideodromage
Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Peter Tork, and the enigmatic Michael Nesmith burst upon the scene in 1966, and took the world by storm with their irrepressible/cheerful/wacky magical powers.
Songwriters for the group included the likes of Carole King, Neil Diamond, and John Stewart. So there.
This English supergroup, consisting of the great Paul Rodgers (vocals), Mick Ralphs (lead guitar), Simon Kirke (drums), and bassist Boz Burrell, attained world domination in the 1970s. Managed by Peter Grant (also of Led Zep fame), Rodgers and the lads not only enjoyed massive hit after massive hit, but also enthralled millions with their live shows. The godlike Rodgers had few peers as a rock vocalist.
Some early titanic achievements by this legendary group. Ably demonstrated is this band’s fiercely combustible power and unstoppable propulsive energy. Moon, Townshend, Entwistle, Daltrey: rock gods, all.
Marc Bolan was the founder, guitarist, songwriter, vocalist, and sole constant member of the English band T. Rex, a group renowned for sensuous grooves and cryptic lyrics chock-a-block with innuendo. When Bolan appeared on Top of the Pops with glitter makeup, the glam era was officially underway. The vocalist also had a memorable way with ballads, as the above performances demonstrate. Most of all, of course, he was The Groover.
The 1996 film Fargo, a Coen Brothers masterwork, presents the story and precipitous moral/psychological decline of Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy), the misadventures of the bungling kidnappers (Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare) whose “help” he enlists, and the dogged attempts of Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand) to make sense of it all. Macy’s performance is mind-boggling, Buscemi and Stormare are brilliant, and McDormand carried away an Oscar for her finely-nuanced portrayal. Carter Burwell composed the memorable theme.
Eric was simply otherworldly in his approach, especially on bass clarinet and alto saxophone. A number of jazz titans held him near and dear, including Charles Mingus and John Coltrane, with whom some of his most stunning work was achieved. No one sounds remotely like Eric Dolphy. In his improvisations, he could be intensely intimate and tender, or utterly explosive and groundbreaking, or both, often in rapid succession.
Upon hearing of Eric’s death, at 36, Mingus said:
” Usually, when a man dies, you remember—or you say you remember—only the good things about him. With Eric, that’s all you could remember. I don’t remember any drags he did to anybody. The man was absolutely without a need to hurt.”
Dolphy’s shocking death came shortly before the release of his masterpiece, Out to Lunch. He was very interested in playing in Albert Ayler’s group, and was even preparing to play with Cecil Taylor.
Gifted with one of the most magnificent voices ever to be heard, Linda Ronstadt knew how to use it, as well. A vibrant performer with great presence, as is well-documented in the above vids. Can’t fault her material, either; she covered the likes of Emitt Rhodes, Warren Zevon, and Buddy Holly, to name just a few. A remarkable vocalist.
Featuring the great Kenny Rogers, and guitarist Terry Williams. Three distinctively different and inspired live performances of Just Dropped In, the Smothers Brothers appearance (w/studio version), a Reuben James video, and a lovely live Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town, coupled with a performance on Super Hit. Enjoy.
As a special addendum, we also include a gripping, masterful performance of Just Dropped In by the iconic song’s creator, Mr. Mickey Newbury.
The era of guitar great Terry Kath was tragically short-lived. Chicago was never quite the same after Kath’s accidental death. Even Jimi Hendrix lauded the guitarist. Check out his extraordinary solo on 25 or 6 to 4.
After Terry Kath’s death, Donnie Dacus assumed lead guitar duties, and performed admirably. He can be seen in action on I’ve Been Searching For So Long, a memorable Peter Cetera showpiece. The song was written by trombonist James Pankow.
The band encompasses many styles, and pieces from their body of work are often sublime. Cetera and keyboardist/vocalist Robert Lamm, along with Kath and drummer Danny Seraphine, were the core elements. In addition, their horn section is legendarily renowned. In short, they can get the job done for ya.
What can one say, at this point, about Mr. Dylan? This post represents but a minute handful of personal favorites composed and performed by one of the great artists of our time. His idiosyncratic, poetic, often cryptic and/or surreal lyrics changed the course of Music history; of that there is simply no doubt. The subsequent and current musical landscapes simply would not exist without him.
Bideodromage 