Heart Smart

above: Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson in 2004

image credit

The one concert story I’ve told over and over again goes way back to around ‘75. I was at the Montreal Forum to see a Rod Stewart show (he was good at one time) opened by a little known group ‘Heart’.
Heart opened alright. In fact, they blew the place away! After 2 (or was it 3) encores with the crowd screaming for more, Nancy admits that they only know one more song.
They then played Without You and left it all on the stage.
The audience had little energy left for the headliners.
The first time I saw this on You Tube last year was the only other time I had ever heard this cover by them. Still great!

Heart – Without you (live 1978) YT post by lovesheart

Lies. All Lies!

 From just down the road in  Fargo North Dakota (you know we were probably pub crawling around Broadway when this guy was born):

Jonny Lang – Lie To Me Youtube post by mistatt2

(Numéro sept sur le top cinquante) pas trop pire

 

 

pic credit

Sucre c’est Sweet

 

above: Lou Reed in 2007

No words are needed for this good ole song ‘cept that I play it all the time. It loosens me up real good.
Sweet Jane – Velvet Undeground - 1970  YT post by SeeYouNextFall

Money Back Guarantee

I personally guarantee you have never heard anything like this before……unless you have heard this before. The best Russian band to come out of Finland, The Lenningrad Cowboys, cover one of the most overplayed songs ever. But they have added a polka twist to it.

Leningrad Cowboys – Smoke On The Water – 1997

YT post by jarksu

Dried Plums Electrified

The raw garage sound of The Electric Prunes.

The Electric Prunes – Ain’t It Hard recorded at Leon Russell’s Sky Hill Studios

YT post by sunshinetunes67

Their classic hit: Too Much to Dream Last Night-1966

YT post by meekfreak51

The Electric Prunes website

Interview with James Lowe and pic credit

Tom Waits For No One

Tom Waits is an interesting performer. He tends to growl out his lyrics set to a musical style that resembles every genre imaginable. The result is different and I’m sure that’s how he wants it to be.

vickieburns3 has done a great job with this video…..as per usual. It is from his Real Gone CD released in October 2004.

How’s It Gonna End – Tom Waits – 2004

Mon coeur brise – My Broken Heart

Here is a beautiful snapshot of JJ performing with Big Brother. Pure classic bliss!

Piece of My Heart – Janis Joplin with Big Brother & The Holding Company – 1968

 

YT post by zeezberlin

Roarin Rory

I have a friend named Rory, and when we were around 17 he had this album by an Irishman named Rory Gallagher. Rory played Rory all the time – and Rory talked about Rory all the time. I thought the guy was cool but I never bought any of his albums.

Now, over a decade after RG’s passing, I am a true Rory Gallagher fan.

Rory Gallagher – Too Much Alcohol

YT post by moonrocket

 Rory pic credit

Rory Gallagher – Cradle Rock

YT post by chuckwagon

When the Water…Came Tumbling Down

This is just a terrific song about New Orleans taking on water. It’s by the Cajun boy Zachary Richard. (He doesn’t sing in English a lot but when he does – watchout).

When the Levee Broke – Zachary Richard

YT post by ralphzachary

Zach pic credit

Cover Me Beautiful

Smith was a 1960’s ‘cover’ band, but to call them that simply would not tell the whole story. The were an excellent band. View these two covers and see for yerself.
The Weight – Smith  from the LP A Group Called Smith – 1969

Baby It’s You – Smith  featuring the scintillating voice of Gayle McCormick – the pride of St. Louis, MO.