Drag Me Over The Rainbow - Songs 1969

Another in the series of songs from albums released in 1969 that were in my heavy rotation pile now and then. More of what would be later called classic rock.

1. Neil Young - Down By The River (Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere)
2. Boz Scaggs - Loan Me A Dime (Boz Scaggs)
3. The Allman Brothers Band - Whipping Post (The Allman Brothers Band)
4. The Beatles - Oh Darling (Abbey Road,)
5. The Rolling Stones - Honky Tonk Women (Single)
6. Led Zeppelin - Heartbreaker (Led Zeppelin II)
7. Janis Joplin - One Good Man (I Got Dem Ol Kozmic Blues Again Mama)
8. Dusty Springfield - Son Of A Preacher Man (Dusty In Memphis)
9. Smith - Baby It's You (A Group Called Smith)
10. The Doors - Wild Child (The Soft Parade)
11. Joe Cocker - She Came In Through The Bathroom Window (Joe Cocker)
12. Quicksilver Messenger Service - Who Do You Love (Happy Trails)
13. Cream - Badge (Goodbye)
14. Three Dog Night - Celebrate (Suitable For Framing)

Do It Again - Songs 1969

This is the first post of my Songs 1969 series of mixes of songs from albums released in 1969 that were in heavy rotation now and then.

1969 was one of my favorite years in rock music and I was buying a lot of albums back then and going to many concerts and shows.

This mix also clearly illustrates the concept of classic rock and it was considered classic for a reason. This is it.

1. The Beach Boys - Do It Again (20/20)
2. Sly & The Family Stone - Hot Fun In The Summertime (Single)
3. The 5th Dimension - Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In (The Age of Aquarius)
4. The Beatles - Come Together (Abby Road)
5. Badfinger - Come And Get It (Magic Christian Music)
6. The Rolling Stones - You Can't Always Get What You Want (Let It Bleed)
7. The Velvet Underground - What Goes On (The Velvet Underground)
8. Jeff Beck Group - Plynth (Water Down The Drain) (Beck-Ola)
9. Donovan - Barabajagal (Barabajagal)
10. Chicago - I'm A Man (Chicago Transit Authority)
11. Booker T. & The MGs - Time Is Tight (Uptight)
12. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Born On The Bayou (Bayou Country)
13. Tony Joe White - Polk Salad Annie (Black and White)
14. The Band - Up On Cripple Creek (The Band)
15. The Byrds - This Wheel's On Fire (Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde)
16. Fairport Convention - Genesis Hall (Unjalfbricking)

Flyers Hockey 1974

It was 40 years ago this week the Philadelphia Flyers won their first Stanley Cup in 1974. Their first season in the National Hockey League was 1967-1968. I didn't pay attention to them then. I enlisted in the Navy in December 1969 and shipped out in early 1970. I never paid attention to any hockey during my four years in the service.

However, when I moved into the house on Seymour Street in Germantown in early 1974 with three other guys I was suddenly immersed in a winning season with the Flyers heading for the playoffs.  We had a small black and white TV in the living room that hardly got any use except to watch every hockey game and later also the Phillies games. 

So I sat there with the others and tried to quickly understand hockey. This was the first time I had ever watched any hockey on television and I had a hard time following the puck around the ice. I also had no idea about the rules including being offsides. Everyone was patient with me and I actually think they enjoyed explaining everything to me as it happened which added a new dimension to the game. We spent a lot of time drinking beer and watching hockey. This was the team of Bobby Clarke and Bernie Parent.

The Flyers had developed a particular rough style of hockey for which they were named the "Broad Street Bullies". The fans embraced the nickname. In February and March I was learning about hockey and then the playoffs started in early April after winning their division with a 50-16-12 record. Boston won the other division with a 52-17-9. 

Then I had to learn about playoff hockey. The Flyers first swept the Atlanta Flames 4 games to none. The next series with the New York Rangers went seven games with the Flyers winning the final game 4-3 at home. Meanwhile Boston swept Toronto 4-0 and took the Chicago series 4-2. We watched every game on TV.

Boston was the overwhelming favorite to win the series but Philly stunned the Bruins by winning the series in six games 4-2. Then they hoisted the Stanley Cup on their home ice at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. We had a party.

Then we went downtown for the victory parade. I remember the drive down the expressway in George B's VW with John and me. Somehow we found a place to park and to part in the festivities. It was a lot of fun.

The next season was a little easier for me and then the Flyers repeated their quest for a Stanley Cup by beating the Buffalo Sabres in the finals in 1975. Went to that parade too.

Everybody Knows - New Soul

Here is a collection of soul music from this past decade. Call it retro soul, neo-soul, nu-soul or whatever. I love the classic soul sound and these songs are from some of my favorite new soul albums of the past decade or so.

Charles Bradley in the pic. I saw him perform last year. Great show.

1. The Revelations - Everybody Knows (The Bleeding Edge, 2009)
2. CeeLo Green & Phillip Bailey- Fool For You (The Lady Killer, 2010)
3. Raphael Saadiq - Sure Hope You Mean It (The Way I See It, 2008)
4. Ryan Shaw - Nobody (This Is Ryan Shaw, 2007)
5. Alice Russell - Living The Life Of A Dreamer (Pot of Gold, 2008)
6. Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings - How Do You Let A Good Man Down (Naturally, 2005)
7. JC Brooks & The Uptown Sounds - Rouse Yourself (Howl, 2013)
8. Fitz & The Tantrums - MoneyGrabber (Pickin' Up The Pieces, 2010)
9. Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators - My Four Leaf Clover (Keep Reaching Up, 2006)
10. Ruby Andrews - Help Yourself (Lover) (Just Loving You, 2004)
11. Amy Winehouse - Tears Dry On Their Own (Back To Black, 2006)
12. Mayer Hawthorne - Back Seat Lover (Where Does This Door Go, 2013)
13. Aloe Blacc - Love Is The Answer (Lift Your Spirit, 2013)
14. Kings Go Forth - High On Your Love (The Outsiders Are Back, 2010)
15. Gnarls Barkley - Smiley Faces (St. Elsewhere, 2006)
16. Adele - Rumour Has It (21, 2011)
17. Alabama Shakes - Heartbreaker (Boys & Girls, 2012)
18. Charles Bradley - I Believe In Your Love (No Time For Dreaming, 2011)