Call Me the Breze.

JJ Cale had several of his songs covered (maybe the most famous being Cocaine and After Midnight by Eric Clapton) but this one by Lynard Skynard is a rockin southern version played the way the Alabama boys did it best.

Lynard Skynard – Call Me the Breeze – 1976

Youtube post by 92586tony

One Toke over the Line was a 1971 song by Brewer and Shipley that not only got them scolded for being a bad influence on American youth (smokin too much pot) but had their song covered on the uber wholesome Lawrence Welk Show (sweet Jesus).

Crazy times!

One Toke Over the Line – Lawrence Welk Show – 1971
TouTube post by Bakedpotatoesshow

Original – One Toke Over the Line – Brewer & Shipley – 1971
YouTube post by gallopingalligator

This is simply a great old sizzlin’, ballsy tune by The Guess Who from their #10 album released back in 1973. Wish they woulda cut more like it. It rocks!

I also remember another cut from that album – Cardboard Empire –  featuring a great duelling guitar solo by Kurt Winter.

This clip contains audio only:

The Guess Who- JUST LET ME SING – 1973
YouTube post by Radio ALY Tritan2095

This is just way too funny:

Vintage TV Commercial – Flintstones and Winston (1961)
YouTube post by oldiesmusiconline

Whenever my Icelandic uncle (Snidal) met someone (like a friend of mine – Nordal) who had a last name endaing in “dal” he would ask excitedly “Are you an Icelander?”
Paul Valdemar Horsdal would have made my uncle jump for joy if they had ever met. PVH was born in Ottawa, Canada, and was better know in folk circles as Valdy.

The guy is an old favourite of mine and still plays from time to time.

One of his most famous songs was released around 1972 and was written about his encounter with an audience that was only craving Rock music (he was one of them tree hugger types). Looking back now I realize one of the unique aspects of this song is it represents that pivitol time in the early seventies when there was a concerted effort to “quash” that hippy, anti-war, anti-pollution, anti-establishment attitude that gained so much strength during the latter part of the sixties. (You didn’t think record labels’ and society’s decision to turn away from issues and songs of ‘social import’ came naturally did you?).

It is simply a great old tune!

Valdy – Play Me A Rock’n'Roll Song 1972
Youtube post by LearnRootsMusic

Original disco sign site

Lyrics: Valdy – Rock N Roll Song

I came into town as a man of renown
A writer of songs about freedom and joy
A hall had been rented and I was presented
As the kind of a singer most folks could enjoy
As I climbed up the stair to the stage standing there
It was obvious something was missing
I could tell by the vibes they wouldn’t be bribed

They weren’t in the mood to listen, they yelled out
Play me a rock ‘n’ roll song
Don’t play me songs about freedom and joy
Play me a rock ‘n’ roll song
Or don’t play me no song at all

I played them some songs about peace and contentment
And things that I’ve come to believe in
When I was through to a chorus of boo
Some track star yelled thank God he’s leaving

Now someone play me a rock ‘n’ roll song
I’ve had it to here with your flowers and beads
Play me a rock ‘n’ roll song
Or don’t play me no song at all

Well if I played you a rock ‘n’ roll song
How could it be fair ’cause my head isn’t there
So I’ll leave you with your rock ‘n’ roll songs
And make my way back to the country

Still I hear play me a rock ‘n’ roll song
Don’t give me music I don’t want to hear
Play me a rock ‘n’ roll song
I should have stayed home with a big case of beer
Play me a rock ‘n’ roll song

Or don’t play me no song at all

Gorgeous painting of Valdy from this site

Xavier Rudd is a performer who has taken on the topic of our planet’s present situation. He also acknowledges the existence of the indigenous people, in particular, those of Canada and his native Australia.
You gotta love the presence of the didgeridoo.

The video uses Xavier’s song Footprint as the soundtrack for the images of the granite towers of Gros Morne and the metal and glass towers of Manhattan.
Shortly after Xavier Rudd made a bunch of new fans at the Winnipeg Folk Festival last summer, I packed my bags and headed out to Newfoundland and Labrador (Gros Morne National Park) and then flew into a much larger footprint – Manhattan.
Compare and contrast.
NYC = Bigfootprint country.

Xavier Rudd – Footprint on West Newfoundland and Manhattan

rsensorat3
Pic of Xavier from here

Although Mickey Newbury recorded countless albums from the sixties to this decade, he never received the kind of financial success that was his due. His songs were covered by many, many artists from Elvis Presley to Buffy Ste. Marie to Johnny Cash to Andy Williams.

One of the most famous songs that Newbury wrote was a late sixties hit:  Just Dropped in (to See What Condition My Condition Was In) by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition.

The lyrics of his works often reflected the darker side of the human condition.   This is one of those songs that sounds so unlike what you’d expect from the artist who recorded it that it draws interest from people who normally would turn the guy off. That’s a good thing. And that’s probably the reason why I like it so much.  Even Jimi Hendrix said it was one of his faves….

Kenny Rogers & The First Edition – Just Dropped In – 1969
YouTube post by 2old2Rock

Mickey Newbury’s Final Performance, Part 1
YouTube post by asdasdasd

“Handsome Dick” Manitoba is a Bronx New York punk styled performer that had an almost cult like following in the NYC area. More evidence of the existance of urban wilderness.

Manitoba’s Wild Kingdom – The Party Starts Now 1990
Right efffin NOW!
YouTube post by thunderbell92

Cities can get pretty wild too.

This song is all about Grad ‘73 for me.  After the “celebration” my special girl and I went to the mountain to watch the sun come up – which was tradition back then. The thing is the grad ceremonies ended about 12:00 0r 1:00 meaning we had a long wait before sunrise. Guess that’s why it was tradition….

This song by Lou Reed was on top of the charts at that time and we probably heard it about 5 times during our stay at Mount Royal. Good times!

Lou Reed “Walk On the Wild Side” Spring 1973
YouTube post by mfuggi

image from tcritic.com

Little Feat – now there is a band that I liked but I never bought any of their records – I guess there was something radically upsetting going on in my life at that time. But my buds had their stuff so I got my fix.

These days I still like ‘em but Canada’s gone metric so we call them Little Meters.

Little Feat-Rocket In My Pocket
Now WHY would anyone want to walk around with a rocket in their pocket??
YouTube post by austinpickers

Excellent Little Feat photo from this excellent Little Feat photo site:
http://www.morethings.com/music/little_feat/photo_gallery01.htm