Under Cover

above: I liked RS in 1971 but since ‘74 I haven’t much liked his image. Rod the dude is not for me! But he is a legend alright.

Reason To Believe – cover
YouTube post by jstarks123

Above: an excellent cover of Reason to Believe by musician J. Starks
Below: another cover of Tim Hardin’s classic, this time by Rod Stewart
Reason To Believe – Rod Stewart: One Night Only! Live at Royal Albert Hall - 2004

Youtube post by www53
from the 2004 release One night With Rod Stewart – Live at London’s Royal Albert Hall. If you’ve never been there, it is a must. Sort of the Yankee Stadium of the concert world. I was first there in 1999 and had to pinch myself having realized that I was one of the holes filling the Albert Hall. Please please me and go – I’d love to turn you on to the venue.

Cat Power is really something huh. Love her stage presence as well as her music.

Cat Power – Metal Heart 2008
YouTube post by ThousandThrills

Cat Power myspace

photo credit

Haight-Ashbury or Hate Astbury

 

Haight-Ashbury is a part of San Francisco but it is also the intersection of two streets of the same names. The hippies flew Trans-Love Airways to that “mecca” in the 60’s. They found love on a street called Haight.  Love Street.

When Ian Astbury fronted the Doors for a reunion tour in 2006 some people did not like this “upstart”  taking Jim Morrison’s place. After all he’d only been in the biz for 20 or 30 years.

I saw them when they were in town and there is no doubt I am not one who hates Astbury.

Rain – The Cult with Ian Astbury – 1986?

Not really 80 “synthesizer pop” but classic 80s nonetheless.

Youtube post by jim90290

The Cult 

2006

Break on Through – The Doors with Ian Astbury 2006
YouTube post by LeoNoooooh

pic credit

Monty Trek

Two of the most popular television programmes of the era, Monty Python and Star Trek, are combined quite brilliantly by StarshipConductor, T. Jonesy & Killa for this gem of a video:

Star Trek Meets Monty Python

Short and Sweet and Long and Turbulent

Say what you want about people like Neil Young and Bob Dylan, but if they can make it through the music industry minefield for five decades and still have their ‘wits about them’ then they hold a special place in my heart.
Here’s an amazing YT post of Bob’s ‘first interview’ by former Winnipegger Oscar Brand in New York. Followed by former Winnipegger Neil Young’s recent return to his home town. Beautiful stuff!!

Bob Dylan First Radio Interview 1961
YT post by Gruftputze

Neil Young – Mts Centre – Needle and the Damage Done
YT post by ChuckBlack

Chaka dot Kahn

 

So there I was, cutting across Broadway in mid-town Manhattan last week when I come face à face with a camera man and two of NYC’s finest. I turn around and there is a small crowd of kids being hustled up to my side for a photo op.

Next thing I know I am being eased aside and I am standing next to Chaka Khan. She was promoting her foundation charitable organization.

Here she is with The Funk Brothers, the heart and soul of Motown Records.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW

2 Mints in One

David Munyon covers John Prine’s song:

Paradise – 2009 – YT post by Rollercoaster1972

Paradise lyrics and chords link.

I’m gonna Wash Your Mouth Out With Soap

 

Isa & The Filfthy Tongues  newest single is driving me back to a time in the 80’s when the music industry was just started to get real complicated.

They are a Scottish band (sort of) that uses available technology more than most acts. I like their stuff.

 
New Town Killers (theme Song) – Isa & the Filthy Tongues  2009  YT post by filfthytongues

 

 

check out their myspace  site

Soiled Charge

Levon Helm. He’s been called the best singing drummer in music. What do you think of when you think of Levon? Probably the singing drummer of one of the tightest bands ever, “The Band”.

I got a sneak peek at Mr. Helm’s newest CD – Electric Dirt recorded at the man’s Woodstock NY studio – thanks Sue Mc. The music of this piece of work is blended.  It’s a melange. I mean you can hear bits of The Band, some Cajun stuff definitely makes its appearance here and there. New Orleans is also present. And sure enough there is some mountain blue, R & R and blues are all in there too. But the end result is pure Levon. And you know it is Levon by his voice. By his musical presence. Oh yeah, he’s still got it.

Electric Dirt is ours to discover.

“Levon Helm: The Making of Electric Dirt”   2009    YT post by dirtfarmermusic

I still drool in my sleep when I think of the best concert I have ever been to.  Bob Dylan and The Band on tour at the height of disco fever. And Levon was a huge part of that very special night at The Forum.

Levon’s Site

MSPaint: Etch-a-sketch of the 21st Century

I never quite mastered that damn Etch-A-Sketch the way some of the other kids did….

Band from Italy + video from Brazil = good song and video by a talented 15 year old.
A Thousand Miles-Vanilla Sky (paint) – YT post by mayahgomes