Old Guy Radio - Tribute 2020
I for one, am glad 2020 is finally over. And that means a Tribute playlist, commemorating some of the musical talents who died during the year. It has been a very stressful year, for many reasons. What with the pandemic, election chaos, grocery store panic, etc. Not to mention Murder Hornets. Because you know the First Rule of Murder Hornets.
There were some giants who left this year, so they will get their due. In addition, I always like to highlight some of the more obscure talents as well, and maybe expose you to something new. Tribute playlists tend to be eclectic, since Fate doesn’t provide themed playlists. Like the song says, “Death doesn’t discriminate between the sinners and the saints. It takes and it takes and it takes.”
As always, my Spotify profile name is pearsons3and2. Or just use the link at the end!
Rip It Up - Little Richard. Little Richard was a towering figure in the early days of rock and roll. His songs have been covered by artists as diverse as Elvis Presley, The Beatles, The Kinks, Johnny Winter, and even Pat Boone. He was a flamboyant, over-the-top performer, paving the way for other rock showmen. Instead of going with the usual “Tutti Frutti” or “Long Tall Sally”, let’s opt for another less often heard, but still top ten hit, “Rip It Up” from 1956.
A Summer Song - Chad & Jeremy (Chad Stuart). Chad & Jeremy were one of several male pop duos of the early sixties, like Peter and Gordon, or even Simon and Garfunkel. This was by far their biggest hit.
Oh Well - Fleetwood Mac (Peter Green). Green was the founder of Fleetwood Mac, which started as a British blues band. He even named it after his percussion section of Mick Fleetwood and John McVie. This is just about the only Green-era Fleetwood Mac song that the band still perform. That is, if they were performing.
Barefootin’ - Robert Parker. Parker scored a top ten hit with this one, but otherwise I would presume you’ve never heard of him. Parker started his musical career as a saxophonist, playing for many bands in New Orleans. In the late 50’s he decided to record some solo singles. This one came out in 1966, peaking at No. 7 on the Hot 100.
Suavecito - Malo (Jorge Santana). Carlos’ little brother had his own band, Malo. They were kind of horn-based like Blood, Sweat and Tears, but with a definite Latin flavor. When I looked them up, I was like “Hey! I remember that album!” A great one hit wonder too. This song broke into the Top 40 in 1972, and this particular OG remembers it distinctly. Enjoy.
Because the Night - Patti Smith Group (Ivan Král). Král was one of Patti Smith’s longtime collaborators, mainly playing bass and guitar. This song, of course, is famous because it was written (the music) by Bruce Springsteen. The lyrics were written by Smith. Later, Springsteen would perform it with his own lyrics. Anyway, this is the Patti Smith Group’s biggest hit.
Green Tambourine - The Lemon Pipers (Bob Nave). Any chance to include my favorite psychedelic pop song is a chance I’m going to take. Come on, it’s got sitar and vibraslap! Nave was the keyboard player on the track. Later in life, he would become a jazz DJ on Cincinnati radio.
Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb) (Edd “Kookie” Byrnes). Edd Byrnes played the character “Kookie” on the 60’s tv series “77 Sunset Strip”. This novelty record (with Connie Stevens) was actually sort of a hit. I don’t know who brought it into the house, but the Pearson household actually had this 45. I have no idea what was on the B-side, although the internet assures me it was a version of Cole Porter’s “You’re the Top”. “Baby, you’re the ginchiest!”
Never Been Any Reason - Head East (Mike Somerville). Head East were sort of the quintessential mid 70’s midwest rock band. This particular song, written by lead guitarist Somerville, became a Classic Rock staple, although you don’t hear it much anymore.
Ain’t No Sunshine - Bill Withers. This song was included in the RRHOF 2015 list, when Withers was inducted. It’s so good, I had to include it again.
Just Dropped In (Too See What Condition My Condition Was In) - Kenny Rogers and the First Edition. Before he gained fame and fortune as a pop country singer-songwriter, Rogers was the front man for this rockier outfit. Another great psychedelic pop song. Rogers first top ten hit. The guitar solo was provided by famous session guitar player, Glen Campbell.
Mississippi Queen - Mountain (Leslie West). More cowbell! From Mountain’s debut album “Climbing!” in 1970. With West providing the vocals and lead guitar licks. Mountain actually took its name from West’s debut album, released in 1969, which is what they mostly played at Woodstock. Later, West and drummer Corky Laing would join up with Cream’s Jack Bruce to form West, Bruce and Laing.
Timothy - The Buoys (Jerry Hzludek). Just your basic pop song about cannibalism. And it was a Top 40 hit! Written by Rupert Holmes. Yes, the guy that wrote “The Pina Colada Song”. The wholesome topics of cannibalism and infidelity. I have lots of questions. How long were they down there? “Nobody ever got around to finding Timothy”. They ate all of him!? I mean, for an average man of working age, you’re talking at least 50 pounds of muscle! And what did they do with the bones and viscera? Oh, and the singer blames it all on “Joe”. I feel slandered.
Gimme Some Lovin’ - Spencer Davis Group. Davis was born in Wales in 1939. He formed the Spencer Davis Group with brothers Steve and Muff Winwood and drummer Pete York in 1963. Steve Winwood was 14 at the time. Basically, the band was a vehicle for Winwood’s songs and vocals, and failed to achieve much post-Winwood success. Still gave us some classics, like this one. The Spotify list has the original UK version, which is a tad bit slower than the later US version. Finding the UK version elsewhere has proved difficult.
Losing It - Rush (Neil Peart). You should know by now that OG considers Neil Peart one of the best rock drummers of all time. But he also wrote the lyrics to all the Rush songs. And while his early efforts may have been a little spacey, as he matured and life happened to him, his lyrics became deeper and more personal. Case in point, this song. The second character is a fairly transparent reference to Hemingway. Oh, and the guy on the violin is Ben Mink, a frequent collaborator of k.d. lang. Rush never played this in concert until their final tour.
Pressure Drop - Toots and the Maytals (Toots Hibbert and Hux Brown). The Maytals were a pioneering reggae and rock steady band in Jamaica in the 60s and 70s. This song was featured in the film “The Harder They Come” in 1972, the film generally credited with exposing reggae to the world beyond Jamaica. The Maytals opened for The Who on their 1975-76 North American tour, including a stop at IU’s Assembly Hall. An article in the Indiana Daily Student at the time suggested Hibbert smoked more than an ounce of marijuana a day!
Textures - Cynic (Sean Reinert and Sean Malone). While researching this list, I noticed that two of the three members of Cynic had died in 2020. I was not previously familiar with this progressive/extreme metal outfit. Malone was the bass player; Reinert was the drummer. Hard to pick a representative song, as their sound shifted significantly from their first album “Focus” (extreme death metal which might remind you a bit of Opeth or Killswitch Engage) to their third “Kindly Bent to Free Us” (which is more alternative/progressive metal). And since I am pretty sure most of my audience does not care for growl vocals, I have settled on the instrumental “Textures” from “Focus”, highlighting the band’s chops (there’s even a jazz section in it!).
You’re No Good - Van Halen. On any other day, I would have picked “I’m the One”, which is a brilliant illustration of Eddie’s talent, but I just included that in June’s “Guitar Heroes” playlist. So that meant I had to listen to a bunch of VH, which is not my favorite thing in the world. The screeching of DLR just drives me up a tree! But I actually like this really down-tuned cover of “You’re No Good”, which does have some fantastic guitar work. So there you go.
I Remember Everything - John Prine. This one really hits me. Sort of like Leonard Cohen’s “You Want It Darker”, it seems written in anticipation of death. Prine was a very influential singer-songwriter, greatly admired by other giants in the field. Dylan said Prine was one of his favorite songwriters. His lyrics are clever and evocative. Frankly, go to Spotify and shuffle him. He can make you laugh as well as cry.
We’ll Meet Again - Vera Lynn. This is probably the most appropriate song I have ever closed a Tribute playlist with. Originally released in 1939, it became a hit in the UK at a time when many of Britain's young men were going off to war. Lynn re-recorded it in 1953, and that version is the better known one today. It is featured in the final scenes of the cold war black comedy “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb”. Additionally, Roger Waters name-checks Lynn in the song “Vera” on side three of “The Wall”. As he was born in 1943, Waters is probably more familiar with the 1953 version. Anyway, I have chosen the original because it is more intimate. Lynn had a full life, surviving to the age of 103.
On that note, I will say that I personally can’t wait until we can meet again. Maybe some sunny day. Hell, I don’t care if it’s raining!
Bonus Track - When Sunny Gets Blue - McCoy Tyner. And after that emotional rollercoaster, let’s chill out with one bonus track. OG does not pretend to know much about jazz. But he is aware of important figures in jazz, and Tyner was one of those. A frequent collaborator with John Coltrane and Wayne Shorter, Tyner also had an extensive and influential solo career. So we’ll ease out with this lovely jazz ballad.
Until next time!