Nonamedufus's Blog – July 2009 Archive (10)

Rock-funk fusion band War was formed in 1969 and fronted by Eric Burdon, former lead singer of the Animals. They were a fusion of two sorts. Their music encompassed rock, funk, jazz, Latin music, R&B and raggae. And the band line up was multi-ethnic; a fusion of races and cultures.



For more and a video hit up my blog at: http://dufusdownbeat.blogspot.com/2009/07/low-rider.html…



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The vocals by lead singer Jack Ely have been referred to as sounding "like Donald Duck on helium", but regardless The Kingsmen had a hit on their hands in 1963. Louie, Louie was actually a Jamaican love song written in 1955. Several groups covered it, from Paul Revere and the Raiders to Iggy Pop.



For more, and a video, hit up my blog at http://dufusdownbeat.blogspot.com/2009/07/louie-louie.html…



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As far as I'm concerned the most anticipated release in virtually all of rock and roll history is a bust. Neil Young's Archives Volume One certainly busted me, and for what?



Oh I thought I was so smart. I convinced my wife to get me a Blu-Ray player for Father's Day in anticipation of the second-coming of box sets. And then, instead of paying $399 Cdn. at the CD store I saved myself $85 by ordering through Amazon.ca. And then I… Continue

This week's 70s Thursday feature looks at Jackson Browne, an artist who struggled significantly until finally making it. Early in his career he was better known for writing songs for other people such as Joan Baez, Tom Rush, Linda Ronstadt, the Byrds and the Eagles.



For the rest of the story and a video go to my blog at:… Continue

One critic called it the greatest live rock solo ever and he was referring to Eric Clapton's guitar solo during a performance of Crossroads by Cream at San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom in March of 1968. Cream's original version of the song had bassist Jack Bruce handling the vocals but in this version it was Clapton front and center.





Clapton, Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker formed Cream in 1966. Clapton had left the Yardbirds… Continue

I first became aware of the Strawbs in the early 70s with the release of their album From the Witchwood in 1971. In those days Rick Wakeman was still with the group before joining Yes. But the group was first formed in the mid-60s by Dave Cousins and known at that time as the Strawberry Hill Boys, a bluegrass group. The line-up has changed over the years.



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Anyone remember this catchy song? Friday On My Mind was the first international hit by The EasyBeats, released in 1966. The EasyBeats were an Australian band, formed in 1964 and relocated to London, England two years later. The group broke up in 1969.



For more go here: http://dufusdownbeat.blogspot.com/2009/07/friday-on-my-mind.html…



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One of my favourite 60s bands was the Byrds. They wrote and performed great songs and did amazing covers of Bob Dylan tunes such as Mr. Tambourine Man and My Back Pages. A big part of their distinctive sound was Roger McGuinn's unique voice and Rickenbacker guitar. Roger turns 67 today.

Read more here:http://dufusdownbeat.blogspot.com/2009/07/happy-birthday-roger.html…



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In the 1970s I discovered Asylum Records, the record label created by David Geffin solely to provide Jackson Browne with a recording contract. Asylum had some pretty great artists in addition to Browne such as The Eagles, Joni Mitchell and Linda Rondstat. But one of my favourites was an artist signed in 1976, Warren Zevon.



For more, go to dufusdownbeat @ http://dufusdownbeat.blogspot.com/2009/07/mohammeds-radio.html…



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The Grass Roots was an American band with a string of hits from the mid 1960's into the 1970's. The group went through several incarnations, the first version being the brainchild of songwriters P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri. For more, go here:…



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