Throwback Tracks--October 27, 2016
Shaun Cordingley
This week on Throwback Tracks, I felt that I would like to spend some time getting my groove on with 60s and 70s rock, including one of the longest songs I have ever included (Dave's more the 'ZOMG this 14 minute track is sooooo good' than me.
Which is weird, since I was a DJ, and that meant long dance tracks...
Anyway. ROCK!
The Guys From do not hold the rights to any of these songs, it is more our hope to expose our readers to new (*cough*) and different retro music, or re-expose them to things they may have forgotten about.
At the top of each section, will be the song name, followed by the artists' name linked to their website (if possible...which is totally hit and miss with oldies), so you can fall down the rabbit hole, finding and supporting what you dig.
Live and Let Die - Paul McCartney & Wings
I just recently updated our 'Every Bond Movie Ranked' feature to include Spectre and a few other new thoughts I have had since I have recently rewatched a bunch of the films, and it led to "Live and Let DIe" by Paul McCartney & Wings to be in my head the entire time I was working on it. Originally composed by Paul and Linda McCartney for the 1973 film of the same name, "Live and Let Die" went on to be one of Paul McCartney & Wings' most successful singles, and the most successful theme to a James Bond film to that point. I love this theme--it's one of the catchiest, it is super easy to sing along to (thus it's super easy to get stuck in your head), and I particularly love the instrumental sweep this track has; it takes you on a journey through a few different feelings, and genres, before kicking in a full-out film orchestra. Awesome.
Oh and the song was covered by Guns N' Roses, which...exists.
I'm sorry, but I'm going to take Paul McCartney over Axl Rose 100% of the time.
Don't Bring Me Down - Electric Light Orchestra (ELO)
ELO is one of those English rock bands who I remember, but can never seem to remember any of their songs when someone asks me, and then I look it up and feel like an idiot. "Don't Bring Me Down" was the bands' most successful song (to-date) in North America, and is probably my favorite; though I am pretty sure this will not be ELO's only appearance on Throwback Tracks.
"Don't Bring Me Down" was the ninth track on their seventh album, Discovery (1979), and features a tape loop percussion, and was the first track by ELO to not feature any strings....although I have to say that I think my favorite thing about "Don't Bring Me Down" is the misheard lyric. According to Jeff Lynne, after the title line, he says "Grooss", however so many people thought/think that he says "Bruce" (as in "Don't Bring Me Down, Bruce" that Lynne will occasionally sing "Bruce" for fun....
Although this Bruce sounds like a dick.
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood - The Animals
The Animals' cover of Nina Simone's "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" is just one of those 60s rock tracks that, while it does sound very 60s (being originally from 1965), there's something to The Animals English blues-rock style that just transcends to be one of those 60s songs that still feels absolutely great. Erid Burdon's deep, gritty voice--especially considering he's a rock singer in the era of bands in suits--makes every song the Animals play have a certain unique gravity to them.
At the end of the day"Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" is just a great song--whether you like the slower, Nina Simone version , the epic 10 minute long disco-y version by Santa Esmeralda (which you will most likely recognize from it's use in Kill Bill), or the more recent Lana Del Rey version (which is very Lana Del Rey), you cannot really go wrong.
Just Dropped In - Kenny Rogers and The First Edition
This little slice of psychedelic pop-rock, originally intended to be a song reflecting (and warning about) the LSD experience, "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In") is a song that I'm aware of, and like, because of it's use in The Big Lebowski. This is also a very different track from most of what the rest of The First Edition did, as, being fronted by Kenny Rogers (yes, that Kenny Rogers), they were largely more of a country-rock band.
Which would be why they have never been on Throwback Tracks until now.
"Just Dropped In" is definitely psych-rock, but there's something charming about it that makes it stand away from a lot of the other psych-rock that has not aged well, and that could very well be thanks to Rogers' vocals: this is a great song for him, and I have to say I wish he had more like it--he has a snappy rock voice.
I'm a Man - Chicago Transit Authority (Chicago)
Originally, "I'm a Man" was released by The Spencer Davis Group as the band's final single in 1967 before the Winwood brothers left the band, and the original version is quite good, and about 5 minutes shorter (listen to it here), but there's just something about Chicago Transit Authority (now more commonly known as 'Chicago')'s cover from their 1969 debut The Chicago Transit Authority.
Perhaps I prefer this version because of the blues injection the band gave it, the really great combination of guitar, keys, and a variety of percussion instruments (I am of the "more cowbell" generation, after all), or maybe it's for the epic drum solo in the middle, followed by the the really, really good mini-guitar solo at the end.
I realize that "25 or 6 to 4" should probably have been the first Chicago song we talked about, because it's awesome, but I could not pass up "I'm a Man" to wrap October up for Throwback Tracks, plus Dave did kind of mention it in his 'Top 10 Rock Songs with Unconventional Instruments'...
Here's the Apple Music Playlist for September 2016! I think this list might be missing the most songs off of it that any Tuesday Tunes playlist ever has, but that is what happens with indie music--but you do get 17 great tracks this month, so it by no means feels bare. Nor was it super quick & easy for me to put together...but that's a given.
Remember, if you want me to put these playlists on other services (like Spotify), let me know on Twitter (I've linked it below)
If you're looking for more Tuesday Tunes, are late to the party, or just want more theguysfrom.com in your day, here are the playlists for:
There are other (earlier) playlists available for you if you check out earlier articles or search on Apple Music itself.
If you're wanting me to put these playlists on other music services (ones that I don't regularly use myself) let me know in the comments below.
See you again next Tuesday with five more Tuesday Tunes, and the next Playlist!
-S (@Shauncord)