The Mamas and the Papas: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1998

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/the-mamas-and-the-papas/bio/

Denny Doherty and John Phillips joined forces to form the Mamas and the Papas. They had each been in different folk bands. Phillips’ wife, Michelle, joined the new group as well. Cass Elliot joined later.

Go Where You Wanna Go (1965):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzG-BP6RYko

Then, they hit it big with a defining song of the 60s.

California Dreamin’ (1965):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN3GbF9Bx6E

Monday Monday (1966):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h81Ojd3d2rY

I Saw Her Again (1966):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zBMK5OAGyE&feature=related

Dedicated to the One I Love (1967):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M7gKZqgHn4

Glad to be Unhappy (1967):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nHNUCDO_Jo

They organized the Monterey Music Festival in 1967.

Monterey:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJPZwpei1AU

Monterey signaled a change to darker, more aggressive music. The San Francisco sound was passé by the end of the show. The band briefly split in 1967.

Dream A Little Dream of Me (1968):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajwnmkEqYpo

Cass Elliot decided she wanted to go solo and the band broke apart.

Step Out (1972):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jluE7kwI21c

Mama Cass died in 1974 of a heart attack.  John Phillips died of heart failure in 2001. Doherty passed away in 2007. Michelle Phillips appeared in film and TV and is still active.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLOAFQWgFfY

Lloyd Price: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1998

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/lloyd-price/

Specialty Records scouted New Orleans for new talent and discovered Lloyd Price. He had a string of hits from 1952-53.

Lawdy Miss Clawdy (1952):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQZVufJfcG0

Oooh-oooh-Oooh (1952):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qITdVIubb8Y

Tell Me Pretty Baby (1953):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9An8i-iGCYU

He was drafted in 1954 and did not return until 1957.

Just Because (1957):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SckF9InxB-E

Stagger Lee (1959):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCPutYaGFlE

Personality (1959):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBiJAxgZFFI

I’m Gonna Get Married (1959):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awAJxSiPN3Y

Dick Clark protested the violent nature of “Stagger Lee.”

Come Into My Heart (1960):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meZ0pWUgCsU

Question (1960):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKhobcJsYZU

Misty (1963):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVgHxtg8I28

“Misty” became a key plot device in the Clint Eastwood film, Play Misty For Me (1971).

He became a restaurateur in the 1970s and help promote boxing matches with Don King.

Trying to Slip Away (1973):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMSWLDkxAn8

Currently, Price manages his own food company.

These Days by Foo Fighters (2012)

Dave Grohl says "These Days" is his favorite song he has written. They performed the song in tribute to people killed at Pukkelpop in 2011 when they themselves played there in 2012. Rolling Stone mag listed it as one of the best songs of 2012. In all honesty, this might be the song of the year and the best thing Foo Fighters has done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNLhxlEU52c

 

Willie Nelson: On The Road Again (1980)

"On The Road Again" is about life on tour. Unlike Bob Seger's "Turn The Page", it is more upbeat and positive. The song remains Willie's biggest hit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TD_pSeNelU

Def Leppard: Gods of War (1987)

Most pop metal bands of the era avoided politics. Def Leppard eschewed this and critiqued Reagan-Thatcherism in "Gods of War." The song appears on their seminal album, Hysteria, and features soundbites from both Reagan and Thatcher. By the time the album was released, the Cold War seemed to be thawing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBZbO-SS-3Q
 

Randy Edelman: Last of the Mohicans theme (1992)

Daniel Day Lewis starred in The Last of the Mohicans in 1992. The epic music brought home the desperation of the times. The story was set during the French and Indian War (about 20 years before the American Revolution).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnRUznVrhs8

Guns n Roses: Don't Cry (1991)

The band released two versions of this song at the same time to coincide with the twin Use Your Illusion albums. Blind Melon's Shannon Hoon provided backup vocals. The video is part of a trilogy based on the short story "Without You" by Del James. "Estranged" and "November Rain" make up the other two parts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRIbf6JqkNc

Sting: Saint Augustine in Hell (1993)

This is an album track from Ten Summoner's Tales. The album title is a play on Sting's real name. The album spawned two smash hits including "Fields of Gold" and "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You."
I was partial to "Saint Augustine in Hell" because it is a good song and I found the lyrics amusing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JdpXp6qJRI

1946 in Music

Big Band music helped Americans through World War II.  The jazz scene dramatically changed the following year. Charlie Parker released “Ko-Ko” ushering in a revolution in jazz. The genre became less viable commercially and more artist driven. As a result, people gravitated toward pop and away from jazz. It was a defining moment that helped lead to rock n roll because pop was boring and Jazz unlistenable. On a side note,  B.B. King, Bill Haley, and Chet Atkins all began their careers in 1946.

Ko-Ko by Charlie Parker:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_ZajJd-1kY

Prisoner of Love by Perry Como:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbNPg_Rp0ws

Five Minutes More by Frank Sinatra:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvWEigjXVsI

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! By Vaughn Monroe:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kbb3skLR0Bo

To Each His Own by the Ink Spots:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pRarUQD3L8

The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jODKhUoFxzA

Bruce Springsteen: The Ghost of Tom Joad (1995)

Bruce Springsteen builds on Woody Guthrie's "The Ballad of Tom Joad" and the film adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath to create a song out of time. It was released in the boom 90s, but better fit the 1930s or post 2008 America. Rage Against the Machine recorded their own version of the song and Tom Morello still plays it live with The Nightwatchmen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-c6GphpAeY

Rage:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMaCg4fpJKg

Tom Morello:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yL-jU2nt_k

Henry Fonda:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ayi81QMuak
 

Duran Duran: Ordinary World (1992)

By 1992, Duran Duran had faded. They tried to adapt with the changing music scene, but to little success. "Ordinary World" briefly returned the band to prominence and became a worldwide smash. It peaked at #3 on the US Hot 100.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDLiVwpv89s
 

Social Distortion: 99 to Life (1992)

The character killed his wife and got 99 to life. Very Johnny Cash! Must have happened outside of Texas where they would have Texacuted the guy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFAYRMWiJiA


 

Adele: Skyfall (2012)

Adele received the honor to record the latest Bond theme. She takes it back to the beginning with an old school rendition.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry_VBptuMO0
 

R.E.M.: Star 69 (1994)

"Star 69" did not take long to become dated. The song is about a phone feature that allows people to check on the last caller. It still exists, but has been rendered irrelevant by caller ID. The song itself is fast paced and full of energy. It evolved from a 6 minute demo to become a 3 minute pop song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1dLr9uyfM0

Alice in Chains: Down in a Hole (1993)

Jerry Cantrell thought this was too soft for Alice in Chains, but the band liked it. Turned out to be one of Layne Staley's best efforts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8hT3oDDf6c

Bill Monroe: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1997

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/bill-monroe/bio/

Monroe began in 1929 and earned a recording contract in 1936.

Mule Skinner Blues (1940):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIuuI00XY_Y

His popularity peaked when Earl Scruggs joined his band in 1945.

Kentucky Waltz (1951):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTAKLM4hAVk

Blue Moon of Kentucky (1955):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffhqOy_A8KM

In the early 60s, the folk revival led to a Monroe revival.

Blue Ridge Mountain Blues (1963):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmDyz1M892Y

My Sweet Blue Eyed Darling (1977):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lo4-c4FlQZQ

He died in 1996