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The Kinks, Autumn Almanac
The Kinks. I love them. I love Ray Davies, the writer of this song, “Autumn Almanac,” an absolute stunning piece of musical genius from 1967. A lot happened in 1967. It was the year when the Beatles released Sgt. Pepper to critical and international fame, when Jimi Hendrix was revolutionizing the use of the electric…
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Jimi Hendrix, Hear My Train A Comin'
You’d suspect on a site like mine, there would be no shortage of Jimi Hendrix material to peruse through, but alas, this is the first one I’ve got. It’s not for lack of love for the man, as in fact, I possess great quantities of the emotion for the guy. I sit firmly in the…
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Greatest Rock Vocalists #1, Little Richard, Good Golly Miss Molly
Little Richard is the greatest vocalist in rock and roll history. He is the man that was James Brown’s #1 influence, the man Paul McCartney copied, the man who first employed Jimi Hendrix, and the man that arguably started rock and roll with the second he let out his primal rock and roll roar for…
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Marvin Gaye, The National Anthem
Soul week grooves on with part 84 of my youtube countdown. Today I have Marvin Gaye, the Prince of Soul, singing “The National Anthem” at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game. For my money, this is the greatest National Anthem ever, slightly better than Jimi Hendrix’s psychedelic Woodstock performance. Marvin managed to turn the normally stuffy…
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Jake Shimabukuro, While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Well, the world didn’t end, which is nice, so the youtube countdown continues with part 68. I have the “Jimi Hendrix of Ukelele,” Jake Shimabukuro, performing “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” from the “White Album.” Taking place at Strawberry Fields in Central Park, this is one of the most amazing performances I have ever seen. …