We’d like to welcome back Sleepy Floyd for this week’s B List…
One of the most degrading jobs in the world, aside from greeter at Best Buy, has got to be the classic rock DJ. Playing a pre-programmed format, day after day – the same Rush songs followed by the same Foreigner songs followed by the same 38 Special songs followed by the same Boston songs.
The only thing more boring than working a tollbooth on the turnpike would have to be manning the controls of a corporate classic rock station. You know those stations: “100.7 KZLX – playing the greatest hits of yesterday and today.” Since when was Jukebox Hero or Shakin’ a greatest hit?
Bands like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and the Stones have a plethora of greatest hits. Yet we only hear Black Dog, Another Brick In The Wall, and You Can’t Always Get You Want over and over again. At least those tracks are halfway decent compared to these ten tunes which just need to be stopped from playing…period. Not that in this age of the iPod and satellite radio, anybody listens to classic rock radio anymore, but here it is anyways…
1. Manfred Mann’s Earth Band - Blinded by the Light
Alright, what most people don’t know is this obnoxious tune was actually written originally by Bruce Springsteen and featured on his album – Greetings From Asbury Park. But as the boss explained himself in concert, somehow the words got changed from “revved up like a deuce” to “revved up like a douche.”
READ ON for more tunes we can live without hearing anymore…
Good news: One of our favorite musicians is coming out with a new album on October 30th. Levon Helm’s Dirt Farmer will be the drawling drummer’s first album of new material in more than a decade. Larry Campbell, Teresa Williams, Amy Helm and George Receli contribute to the album, which was recorded at Helm’s studios in Woodstock. Let’s hope Levon hits the road to support Dirt Farmer, so everyone can see the goods. Now here’s some other shit to digest…
MTV is teaming up with RealNetworks and Verizon to take on iTunes
Bernie Worrell is releasing a new album that features guest spots by Mike Gordon (the “G” is soft) and Warren Haynes
Van Halen adds some tour dates to the list they originally announced
Gathering of the Vibes attendees donated more than 3,300 pounds of nonperishable food to the Bridgeport Veteran’s Affairs Food Bank
As long as the roots are not severed, all is well. And all will be well in the garden. –Chance the Gardner
The first time I saw the movie Being There I recoiled in surprised horror at my ignorance of white funk. You mean there’s more out there than 1997 Phish bootlegs, Average White Band and some facets of Edgar Winter? Then I heard Brazilian musician Eumir Deodato tear up a version of Also Sprach Zarathustra in one scene that the popular rock band Phish had been playing the whole time, and I jumped right into his whole awesome cheesyfunk catalog. Well, I just came across this clip of Deodato and The Heritage Orchestra throwing down on ASZ, and I had to share with the class:
As we mentioned before it was officially announced, Stevie Winwood and Eric Clapton will finish their unfinished business at Slow Hand’s Crossroads Guitar Festival this summer. Kudos bar to Clapton: First Cream, now a bit of ye olde Blind Faith. We’re diggin’ it, and we’re also diggin’ this Under My Thumb from Hyde Park in 1969.
Pete Townshend’s launching a festival called Atticfest with his girlfriend Rachel Fuller, host of In The Attic. About six weeks ago I downloaded the Attic Jam compilation from iTunes and posted a great video of The Fratellis playing with Petey. Today, let’s circle ’round and watch a live version of The Fratellis’ Got Ma Nuts From A Hippy.
Elton John celebrated his 60th birthday at Madison Square Garden this week, where Robin Williams came out with Whoopi Goldberg (hey, does she kinda look like Vlad Guerrero from afar?) to do some shtick. And, whoa, Willie Clinton was there, too. But to truly celebrate the man, let’s look back at a rousing rendition of my favorite Elton tune, a fantastically under-appreciated song: Here’s Razor Face from the BBC Studios in 1971.
Lastly, check out this nine-year-old drummer’s stunning tribute to Boston lead singer Brad Delp. I don’t approve of a kid that young playing a song with Foreplay in the title, and the Red Sawx gear makes me want to kick him in the shins, but his drumming is strong to quite strong. Rock on, li’l man.
No nine-year-old kids were abducted in the making of this post.
It was Friday afternoon, and all of the sudden the impact of a long work week had me doubting my decision to spend my weekend seeing multiple concerts. The moment I entered the Gramercy Theater that night, though, I realized why I made those plans to see music in the first place.
After two great shows from Gene Ween and Tea Leaf Green, I’m feeling refreshed and ready for another week. Sometimes seeing music is just what you need, even when you least expect it. With that said, check out some great links from around the Interwebs and let the music start off your week:
As if there weren’t enough unbelievable reunions happening this summer, we found a very interesting item from the Rush and Molloy gossip column in Wednesday’s New York Daily News. I think it just moved:
We’re going to set up our tent tonight to get tix for Al Gore’s 100-act, 24-hour worldwide concert on July 7 to fight global warming: A source says the Police, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd - including Roger Waters, who’s refused for years to play with his former bandmates - have signed up.
While I compose myself and change my shorts, check out the following links:
Backstage notes from Monday’s R&R Hall of Fame induction ceremony
A handful of news stories broke while your friendly HT staff concentrated our efforts on the kickoff to festival season down at Langerado. It kinda reminds me of Die Hard With a Vengeance. We fell for it hook…line…sinkah. So let’s take a look at some of the shit that went down outside the state of Florida:
West Virginia’s All Good Festival announced its initial artist lineup, with RatDog, moe., Keller Williams, Michael Franti and Les Claypool at the top of the bill (the random jamband festival generator works again!)
Police arrested Blues Traveler frontman John Popper for possessing an assload of weapons and a wee bit of drugs during a traffic stop last week. First Trey, now Popper — anyone else from the 1993 HORDE tour feel like getting arrested? I’m predicting a “Big Head Todd Stabs Single Mother” headline next week
Eddie Van Halen has finally been institutionalized…eh, it’s just rehab, the psych ward will have to wait
Lastly, it’s Tourney Time. The brackets are printed and the madness is upon us. We’re all big music fans, but for the next few weeks the only song that’ll truly matter is One Shining Moment. If you care about college hoops in the slightest, make sure to bookmark SI.com’s Tourney Blog and check back repeatedly — it’s easily the best page on the world wide web this month.
