THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE TELEVISED.
Just before police moved in on the Occupy Oakland site last week, the live video feed was cut off. I was reminded of this song from 1970 by Gil Scott-Heron. It is more timely now than ever.
Already, people filming police with cell phones are being prosecuted. If the powers that be get worried, watch for them to call for limits on social media.
So one day my friend Robbie and I were cruisin’ in his red ‘68 Chevelle SS, jacked up in the back, with headers of course. Suddenly my ears were bombarded by the full throttle craziness of Frank Zappa’s Freak Out on Robbie’s 8-track. Frank Zappa. There was no one like him.
“I’m the Slime” was the sound track for the first video I ever did for a class at Michigan State. It was on the Overnight Sensation album, which also featured one of my favorites, “Montana”. Check it out on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smZA9Jv3qH0&feature=related
Don’t forget your zircon-encrusted tweezers!
When I first started getting into hard rock, it was the louder and more raucous the better. From Jimi Hendrix to Cream and finally to King Crimson. “21st Century Schizoid Man” is a great display of distorted vocals, screaming guitars and a wide dynamic range from ultra loud to very quiet. Featuring Greg Lake on vocals (Emerson Lake & Palmer), the group is a fine example of progressive, classically influenced rock.
“New York City”, by Dreams, 1970. This group featured John Abercrombie on guitar, the Brecker Bros. on horns and Billy Cobham on drums. Great performances and arrangements. Also listen to the “Dream Suite” on YouTube.
In March of 1970, classical met rock in the “Switched on Symphony”. The program included Ray Charles, Santana, and The Nice. This show led me to a long-time love of Jethro Tull and Santana. I love Ian Anderson’s eye contact with the camera.
Sometimes you just have to play everything very slow!
Vanilla Fudge was a band that specialized in slowed-down covers of Beatles, pop songs, and Motown hits. Their sound was dominated by the sound of the Hammond B3 organ. They’d slow it way down, and do great arrangements, including a quote from The King and I in “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)”.
This video is from the Ed Sullivan Show in 1968, “You Keep Me Hangin’ On”.
Sometimes you just have to play really fast!
Mahavishnu Orchestra was that kind of band. This clip from 1972 features one of my favorite drummers, Billy Cobham.
Introducing “Cracks in the Vinyl”
An occasional reflection on the music that made an impression on me back in the days of vinyl.
