Raydio > You Can’t Change That
Composed by Ray Parker Jr.
You’ll notice that neither Raydio or Ray Parker merit a “Legend of” on this post. Weird, because they had some great hits. It’s interesting how little of the post-disco soul/R&B does.
Random Hits Week #13 (70s Edition)
The Five Stairsteps > O-o-h Child
Composed by Stan Vincent
Personal trivia apropo of nothing on this great track: I used to see this group on New York’s weekly Clay Cole’s Disk-O-Tek as ‘The Five Stairsteps & Cubie’ (he was the tiny brother gimmick), so I was completely surprised when they showed up with an actual cool hit. My best buddy was a drummer, and he swore it was fusion-eer Billy Cobham on the studio drums. I doubt it.
Random Hits Week #11 (70s Edition)
Eric Burdon & War
Composed by War
When this single hit I really really gave a second thought to “War.” Then afterwards, I never gave a second thought to Eric Burdon.
Random Hits Week #10 (70s Edition)
Legends of Rock #15
Legends of the British Invasion #2
Legends of Funk #1
The First Edition - Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)
The most unlikely song ever recorded by Kenny Rogers, Just Dropped In was a Top 10 hit for The First Edition in 1968. Psychedelic, not only in sound, but it’s also quite obviously about the LSD experience. Not exactly The Gambler, you know.
According to Kenny, this was Jimi Hendrix’s favourite song, which possibly had a lot to do with the unusual mix of guitars for the time. Riffs in the intro are backwards and the solo played by Glen Campbell is heavy with reverb.
Interestingly, the track was first recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis, who ended up rejecting it. I’d be interested to hear how that would have sounded.
Hendrix should have done a version. Shame about that.
Random Hits Week #9 (60s Edition)
B. J. Thomas > Hooked on a Feeling
Composed by Mark James
This was a great pop record the minute it came out even if it didn’t hit the cool chart. But it didn’t occur to me at the time just what an amazing singer B.J. is.
Random Hits Week #8 (60s Edition)
The Buckinghams > Kind of a Drag
Composed by by Jim Holvay
I always dug this record. I really liked their “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” too, but this one was very cool.
Trivial triva for blues fans: The label mentions “A&R Man - Ron Malo.” Malo was the house engineer for Chess Records, with great records by Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and The Rolling Stones, and eventually, as an indepedent, Weather Report.
Random Hits Week #7 (60s Edition)
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown > Fire
Composed by Arthur Brown, Vincent Crane, Mike Finesilver & Peter Ker
I have to say that until I looked at Wikipedia I knew absolutely nothing about this record except that it’s always been one of my top underrated faves.
Random Hits Week #6 (60s Edition)
Legends of Psychedelia #2
Shocking Blue > Venus
Composed by Robbie van Leeuwen
Not to be confused with Bananarama.
Random Hits Week #5 (60s Edition)
Tony Joe White > Polk Salad Annie
Composed by Tony Joe White
What the hell is he talking about?
The late 60s wasn’t only a time of counter cultural musical explosion, but a moment when all of our regional differences weren’t completely flattened. Where a swampy confection like this could top the charts. Go figure.
Random Hits Week #4 (60s Edition)
The Young Rascals > Mustang Sally
Composed by Mack Rice
One of the rare cases where the big hit by the black singer was actually a cover of a white band cover the original black singer/songwriter. Got it? Too bad, just enjoy it.
Random Hits Week #3 (60s Edition)
Legends of Pop #6
Cover #36
