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Post by raliverpool on Mar 6, 2022 15:27:22 GMT 1
40 Bee Gees - I Started A Joke USA #6
Released as a single in December1968 It was not released as a single in the United Kingdom, where buyers who could not afford the album had to content themselves with a Polydor version by Heath Hampstead. This is the last Bee Gees single to feature Vince Melouney's guitar work, as he left the band in early December after this ballad was released as a single.
Written by all three Brothers Gibb, it featured a haunting Robin vocal and peaked at USA #6. But it topped the charts in Canada; Australia; Brazil; Denmark; New Zealand; and went top 20 virtually everywhere else making the decision to not release it as a single in the UK mystifying.
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 6, 2022 15:31:18 GMT 1
39 The Band - The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down USA #25
This USA #25 & Canada #10 was written by Robbie Robertson and originally recorded by the Canadian-American roots rock group in 1969 and released on their eponymous second album. Levon Helm provided the lead vocals. The song is a first-person narrative relating the economic and social distress experienced by the protagonist, a poor white Southerner, during the last year of the American Civil War.
Its more commercially successful cover version will appear in a future countdown.
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 6, 2022 15:42:24 GMT 1
38 The Flying Burrito Bros - Hot Burrito #1 (I'm Your Toy) LP
The Los Angeles country rock band, best known for their influential 1969 debut album, The Gilded Palace of Sin from which this song written by Chris Ethridge and lead vocalist Gram Parsons is taken. They lasted between 1969-72 with Gram Parsons going solo; guitarist/banjo player Bernie Leadon joining the Eagles; lead guitarist Chris Hillman (ex-The Byrds) forming Manassas; and bassist Chris Thridge would go on to session work, and play on a number of tracks which will doubtless appear on future countdowns.
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 6, 2022 15:47:55 GMT 1
37 Cream - Crossroads USA #28
The British rock supergroup consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker split after 4 albums in 1969. This USA #28, Canada #13 was a reworking of the 1936 Robert Johnson original. This live Wheels oN Fire album cut was recorded at Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco on 1st March 1968. It was released as a single after the band announced their intention to split.
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 6, 2022 15:52:22 GMT 1
36 Sly & The Family Stone - I Want To Take You Higher USA #38
The Sly Stone penned & produced Psychedelic Soul rocker was taken from the San Francisco group's 1969 album Stand! It became a Woodstock festival anthem, and peaked at USA #38, Canada #24 ...but worked better in a live setting, and helping the band become an album rock based act.
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 6, 2022 15:57:59 GMT 1
35 The Turtles - You Showed Me USA #6
The psychedelic sunshine pop number for the Los Angeles group was their 9th & final USA Top 40 hit. It was a cover of a 1964 The Byrds song written by Gene Clark and Jim McGuinn, but given a sunshine pop treatment peaking at UK #6 & Canada #13.
Subsequent cover versions in the 1990s by Salt-n-Pepa; & the Lightning Seeds would reach the top 15 in the UK.
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 6, 2022 16:04:50 GMT 1
34 The Zombies - This Will Be Our Year DNC
This baroque pop seasonal anthem was written by bassist Chris White, taken from their cult classic album Odessey and Oracle. It was released as a single in the UK at the end of 1968, where it failed to chart. In North America it was released as a single one year later, where despite their posthumous USA top 3 hit single, it too failed to trouble the Billboard singles chart.
It has been covered by the likes of OK Go; The Beautiful South; Nerina Pallot; Susannah Hoffs; & SMASH cast.
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 6, 2022 16:15:47 GMT 1
33 Led Zeppelin - Dazed and Confused LP
Jimmy Page turned the volume up to 11, and with his hard blues rock band turned it into a mighty dynamic, powerful different beast of a track. "Dazed and Confused", with new lyrics and vocal line, was recorded by Page's new group for their debut album, Led Zeppelin. It became a signature song and concert staple for much of the group's career.
In 2010, Holmes filed a lawsuit and the matter was settled out of court, with the credit on subsequent Led Zeppelin albums, such as Celebration Day (2012) and the remastered and deluxe editions of the group's debut album (2014), expanded the songwriter's credit for "Dazed and Confused" to "By Page – Inspired by Jake Holmes."
"Dazed and Confused" was the most regularly performed song by Led Zeppelin, appearing at over 400 concerts. It was played on every tour up to and including their 1975 shows at Earls Court. It was greatly expanded to include more improvisation, including short portions of other songs, and live performances could be as long as 30 minutes ... such as www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCKqlVU99rk&t
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 6, 2022 16:24:14 GMT 1
32 The Kinks - Picture Book AUS #36
The third track from The Kinks' album The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society. Written by Ray Davies, the song looks back at pictures in a picture book. It was released as an A-side in Australia. Elsewhere, it was released as a B-side to another track higher up in this year's countdown.
In the early 2000s Ray Davies lost a plagiarism case against Green Day "Warning" www.youtube.com/watch?v=eebfMFzJHNs Post "Got To Give It Up" versus "Blurred Lines" I reckon he'd have won the case with ease.
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 6, 2022 16:40:41 GMT 1
31 The Beatles - Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da AUS #1
(If streaming/digital downloading had existed back then Part 364..) Paul McCartney's cod Jamaican ska style The White Album earworm which John Lennon hated. The Beatles' decision not to release the single in the UK or the US led to several cover recordings by other artists, who sought to achieve a chart hit with the song. With Scotland's Marmalade inferior cover version reaching UK #1 www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax7J7HOP8II
In many ways it highlights the best & worst of McCartney in one composition. On the one hand his use of the lyrics "Desmond & Marley Jones" was a tip of the hat to to Desmond Dekker (who was subsequently able to capitalize on the namecheck via a UK #1 "The Israelites" and a string of hits) & Bob Marley (a good 4/5 years before signing to Island Records and becoming a global icon); on the other it is very trite and corny, so you can see why John Lennon, and musical hipsters hate the song. As Jann Wenner (co-founder of Rolling Stone magazine & The Rock N'Roll Hall Of Fame; and a long time Lennon fan/McCartney hater) sneered in his Rolling Stone magazine review "fun music for a fun song about fun".
Yet, where it was released as a single it reached #1: Australia; West Germany; Japan; New Zealand; Austria; Switzerland.
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vastar iner
Member
I am the poster on your wall
Posts: 17,431
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Post by vastar iner on Mar 6, 2022 18:35:58 GMT 1
^ I agree with John
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Post by Earl Purple on Mar 7, 2022 7:24:20 GMT 1
John didn't like it, but it was Maxwell's Silver Hammer that was the final straw for him really.
Paul McCartney then went on to do "Mary Has A Little Lamb" among his solo / Wings songs.
So he had a history of the occasional corny song or song aimed at children long before "We All Stand Together", one released after John's death so he never got to hear that one, nor "Tropic Island Hum".
In any case, John later said that if people missed the Beatles, they should just take a few songs from each of their solo albums and make a mixtape.
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 7, 2022 22:13:17 GMT 1
A quick dash through #30-#21 tonight: 30 Tommy James & The Shondells - Crystal Blue Persuasion USA #2
Sounding more like the Rascals on this psychedelic blue eyed soul number built around its organ riff. Composed by the band's Eddie Gray, Tommy James and Mike Vale. It peaked at USA #2, Canada #1, & Australia #80.
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 7, 2022 22:18:44 GMT 1
29 Young Holt Unlimited - Soulful Strut USA #3
Drummer Isaac "Redd" Holt and bassist Eldee Young, formerly members of Ramsey Lewis' jazz trio, formed a new outfit called the Young-Holt Trio with pianist Don Walker in 1966. In 1968, the group renamed itself Young-Holt Unlimited, and replaced Walker with Ken Chaney. The result was an instrumental USA #3 & Canada #1.
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 7, 2022 22:23:35 GMT 1
28 The Who - I'm Free USA #37
Written by Pete Townshend and taken from their double concept album Tommy. In late 1969 "I'm Free" was later released as a single in most of Europe (backed with "Tommy, Can You Hear Me?") as well as America (where it was backed with "We're Not Gonna Take It"). It peaked at USA #37; Canada #26; Australia #83.
In 1973, a single version sung by Roger Daltrey from the London Symphony Orchestra reached UK #13.
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 7, 2022 22:29:56 GMT 1
27 Jackie DeShannon - Put A Little Love In Your Heart USA #4
Composed with her brother Randy Myers and Jimmy Holiday this USA #4 (AC #2); Canada #12; Australia #15; & #1 in South Africa was later used in the Gus Van Sant film Drugstore Cowboy.
In the UK it is most well known for the Annie Lennox/Al Green cover duet (UK #28/USA #9/CAN #2/AUS #6) late 1988/early 1989.
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 7, 2022 22:35:00 GMT 1
26 The Kinks - The Village Green Preservation Society DNC
The pastoral opening track & defacto title track of the London band's definitive album. Written by Ray Davies, the song is a nostalgic reflection on cultural English "village green", country, and hamlet lifestyle, and references many different characteristics and features of it, such as Tudor houses and draught beer. At the same time, it speaks negatively of modern, industrial traits, such as office blocks and skyscrapers.
Unreleased as a single in the UK, it failed to make the top 40 in any country. But is now regarded as one of their essential compositions.
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 7, 2022 22:39:16 GMT 1
25 The Velvet Underground - Pale Blue Eyes LP
This folk pop song written and sung by Lou Reed and performed by the New York band who started the indie/alternative music genre. It was included on the band's 1969 album The Velvet Underground. The song is said to have been inspired by Shelley Albin, Reed's first love, who at the time was married to another man.
The song has been used in numerous films & TV shows; and has been covered by the likes of REM; Patti Smith; Edwyn Collins; Counting Crows; & Hole.
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 7, 2022 22:46:21 GMT 1
24 King Crimson - The Court of the Crimson King LP (Edit USA #80)
The fifth and final track from the British progressive rock band (founded by guitarist Robert Fripp & bass guitarist/lead singer Gregg Lake) King Crimson's seminal debut album, In the Court of the Crimson King.
This 10 minute track was composed by organist Ian MacDonald with lyrics from Peter Sinfield.
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 7, 2022 22:56:20 GMT 1
23 The Beatles - While My Guitar Gently Weeps LP/Bs
Culled from their 1968 double album The Beatles (also known as "the White Album"). It was written by George Harrison, the song conveys his dismay at the world's unrealised potential for universal love. But others have taken its lyrics to be a passive aggressive "riposte" to Harrison's bandmates who were blocking him out on the songwriting front. It features his friend Eric Clapton on lead guitar. On release, the song received praise from several music critics, and it has since been recognised as an example of Harrison's maturing as a songwriter beside his Beatles bandmates John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
The song was issued as the B-side of "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" in all territories where that was released making it a value for money single.
It has been covered a number of times in a live setting frequently featuring one or more of Paul McCartney; Eric Clapton; & Ringo Starr. But the finest cover version is unquestionably in 2004, when Harrison was inducted posthumously into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist, and that Prince guitar solo: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SFNW5F8K9Y
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