Bideodromage
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.
A sampler of mesmerizing performances by phenomenally gifted vocalists, of the Goddess persuasion.
Vocalist/keyboardist Burton Cummings and guitarist Randy Bachman led the Canadian band The Guess Who to legend and lore by the late sixties. Personnel changes ensued, with Bachman leaving to form BTO, and Cummings pursued a solo career. The band, though, touched the skies during their heyday. Randy Bachman’s composing and guitar skills were instrumental. Cummings leaves a legacy as one of the greatest vocalists ever to walk the earth.
In closing…the development of the BTO hit You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet deserves a read. Here.
Iconic singer-songwriter Emitt Rhodes died today. He left behind some of the most memorable music of his era, and on the recorded versions, he oft-times played every instrument. He will be missed.
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.
An introduction to some of the musical goings-on way back in the 1980s. We have: The Vapors, Falco, Eddy Grant, Dead or Alive, XTC, Lene Lovich, Echo and the Bunnymen, Paul Young, Bryan Adams, Lloyd Cole, Fiction Factory, Dream Academy, Crowded House, Split Enz, Squeeze, Tears for Fears, and The Housemartins. Some of these performances are not, strictly speaking, from the 80s, but that decade claims all of the hits above during the time it held sway.
The great Jackie Wilson gives two electric performances of Higher and Higher, circa 1974. His mindboggling gifts are on full display throughout; it’s as if time/space were suspended.
We have here a modest collection of four of the most brilliant, gifted vocalists ever: Peggy Lee, Chris Connor, Lulu, and Dusty Springfield.
A soupçon of personal favorites, from a decade rich in great material. In order, we have: Edison Lighthouse, Pilot, Lee Michaels, Zager and Evans, Daddy Dewdrop, The Fortunes, The Ides of March, King Harvest, Hurricane Smith, Clint Holmes, Jigsaw, Walter Egan, John Stewart, Looking Glass, Tee Set, and JD Souther.
The Scottish band Pilot emerged in 1974 with {arguably…} the greatest pop single ever recorded. Written by lead vocalist David Paton, and produced by Alan Parsons {with whom Paton and two other members were to later join forces}, “Magic” became a monster hit for the group. The first and last videos are live; the 2nd is lip-synched, to the studio version of the song, on which Parsons allegedly speeded up David’s vocal track a tad.
Bideodromage 