Another month in the books, man 2024 is flying by. We all have been listening to a lot of music lately especially to drown out the outside noise that comes every four years. Here’s a little sample of what we are listening too
Big Iron – Bob Weir
A remake of the Marty Robbins 1960 number, Weir modernizes the song and retells a story with a true and more than likely fictionalized character in the old west. The catchy lyrics paint a picture and Weir’s voice parallels Robbin’s smooth delivery. – Pritch
Why Can’t We Be Friends – War
A fitting song for these troubled times. Not a lot more needs to be said. – Bear
You’ve Changed – Eric Clapton
A standout blues track about a relationship heading straight down the drain. It’s available on EC’s latest release “Meanwhile”. – Cornel
Franklin’s Tower – Grateful Dead
This is one of my favorite Grateful Dead tunes. With the passing of Phil Lesh there are only three of the Grateful Dead band members left. My tracks this month are all about Phil. – Dom
Goldfinger – Shirley Bassey
In my book the best James Bond them of all time! Rolling Stone points out that Jimmy Page plays acoustic guitar and it’s kind of tough to pick him out. Also, it was loosely based, at least the title, on Henry Mancini’s “Moon River”. – Mike Olszewski
I Heard it Through the Grapevine – Creedence Clearwater Revival
The Marvin Gaye version is good but CCR stepped it up a notch for me. Fogerty’s rock voice and the bluesy guitar draw me into a listening tunnel. Does get drawn out a bit at the end but still gets it done. – Pritch
Something I Can Never Have – Nine Inch Nails
Haunting, eerie, raw, depressing, desperate, and after 35 years–still a NIN masterpiece! – Cornel
Shakedown Street – Grateful Dead
Phil Lesh was rated the 11th greatest bassist of all time by Rolling Stone. He was in the Dead from the beginning, until the end when Jerry died. He and The Dead were inducted into the Rock Hall in 1994. – Dom
Baby, Please Don’t Go – Them
Jimmy Page and Van Morrison make a dynamic duo but the B-Side “Gloria” got all the attention. – Mike Olszewski
King of Hollywood – Eagles
Forgot about this song from the Long Run album. Another Henley/Frey number which focuses on the sleaze of Hollywood. It features the transition from Randy Meisner to Timothy B. Schmit on bass and is the last album that Don Felder played on. – Pritch
Girl on LSD – Tom Petty
This track didn’t make the “Wildflowers” album, but it’s TP at his trippy best! Simple lyrics, loads of humor, memorable phrasing. Man, I miss this dude! – Cornel
Shakedown Street – Grateful Dead
Jerry Garcia asked Phil Lesh to play bass in his band The Warlocks. Phil learned how to play bass, and the band soon became The Grateful Dead. – Dom
Heart of Stone – The Rolling Stones
We had to wait until the ABKCO Records compilation to hear this version that was not the release that went to the top of the charts. – Mike Olszewski
Rolling Stone – Muddy Waters
This Muddy track inspired a British band (The Rolling Stones), a popular rock magazine (Rolling Stone), and arguably the most influential song in music history (Like a Rolling Stone). The year was 1950, and Muddy was the baddest cat on the planet! – Cornel
Box Of Rain – Grateful Dead
Phil wrote this song to sing to his dying father. Phish’s cover is worth a listen too! “A box of rain will ease the pain, and love will see You through.”– Dom
With a Little Help from My Friends – Joe Cocker
How do you miss that distinctive biting guitar style that sets up Cocker on this Beatles’ classic? This was done before Jimmy buckled down on his work with Led Zeppelin. – Mike Olszewski
Champagne and Reefer – Muddy Waters
Muddy loved weed. And when he sings, “bring me champagne when I’m thirsty, bring me a reefer when I want to get high,” THE SHIT IS GETTING REAL! Long live The King of Chicago Blues and the Champion of Cannabis. – Cornel
Downtown – Petula Clark
Certain songs capture the mood of the era when they were released, and this is a perfect example. If anything, it shows the wide range of styles Jimmy Page mastered. Take a close listen to the middle of this tune to hear his contribution. – Mike Olszewski
Box Of Rain – Grateful Dead
A lot of the people we listened to in our formative years are leaving us. Were all getting older and it’s sad at times. When I heard Phil passed the first thing that went through my mind was the lyrics from Box Of Rain. – Bear
