Throwback Tracks--June 2, 2016
Shaun Cordingley
This week for Throwback Tracks, I took a good long look at the lineup of Woodstock, with an ear leaning toward blues-infused songs...and most of this list popped right out, so why fight it, right?
The Guys From do not hold the rights to any of these songs, it is more our hope to expose our readers to new (*cough*) and different retro music, or re-expose them to things they may have forgotten about.
At the top of each section, will be the song name, followed by the artists' name linked to their website (if possible), so you can fall down the rabbit hole, finding and supporting what you dig.
Hear My Train a Comin - Jimi Hendrix
'Hear My Train a Comin'" is one of those Jimi Hendrix (you know, the greatest rock guitarist of all time) songs that does not get as much attention as a lot of his other work, however, as with pretty much all of his work, is an absolutely excellent track. "Hear My Train a Comin'" is one of the staples of his more blues-infused work, and was a track that he would frequently play in concert, and record off and on, with the true single not really coming out until 1973 as part of the soundtrack to the documentary film Jimi Hendrix--being released in 1973 also means that it it was not released until 3 years after Hendrix's death.
Really, this is just another excuse to listen to some amazing guitar work, and as far as I am concerned, the improvisational guitar heart of "Hear My Train a Comin'" is as good as anything else (including "Voodoo Child").
Mississippi Queen - Mountain
Released as a part of their debut album Climbing!, and eventually released as a single as well, Mountain's "Mississippi Queen", a cowbell infused heavy rock song is just all sorts of awesome when you are driving around with your windows down, preferably when going camping.
This is pretty much the main song that anyone knows Mountain for (unless, I guess, you saw them at their third ever show at something called Woodstock). This is one of those early 70s rock songs that I really dig for, like "Hear My Train a Comin'", having a blues-infusion in it--you can definitely hear blues roots in "Mississippi Queen".
There's also, strangely enough, a pretty darn good Ozzy Osborne cover of the song from 2005...
Truckin' - Grateful Dead
A "catchy shuffle" of a song, with a heavy blues influence, "Truckin'" is from Grateful Deads' fifth studio album American Beauty (1970) and is really just a reworking of the bands' life on the road, into both a song, and a metaphor about dealing with constant changes life throws your way.
I'm not going to presume to write anything else about Grateful Dead, lest the Deadheads appear and strike me down (and I cannot say that I would fancy myself a big Dead fan), but 'Truckin'' is definitely one of my favorite Dead songs, as I really do like when they venture away from the purer folk a lot of their work trends toward.
Up On Cripple Creek - The Band
Originally the backup band to Bob Dylan, The Band went on to create 10, Americana, folksy, blues rock albums. This Canadian/American 'roots rock' band really ends up being one that I always forget about, then hear again, and listen to The Band (or The Brown Album; their second studio album) on repeat for a week...until I move on, and then somehow forget about them again.
Why The Band album? "Up On Cripple Creek". I love this song: the clavinet on a wah wah pedal, organ, piano, guitar mix...the always singable lyrics, and the fact that every time I hear it, my head instantly starts bobbing along with it....at least until the SLOW YODELING!
SLOW. YODEL.
I'm Going Home - Ten Years After
Wrapping up this week is British blues-rock band Ten Years After, with their song "I'm Going Home". Originally released as part of their second album, Undead, which was recorded live in a little jazz club, and came out in 1968, demonstrating not only a truly special guitarist, but a fun mix of blues, jazz, and 50s style jump, with the burgeoning 60s style rock...however it is "I'm Going Home"'s performance at Woodstock that really catapulted Alvin Lee and Ten Years After into becoming stars, breaking through in America.
If you've seen the Oscar winning documentary Woodstock, you already know the performance, but it is always, always worth another listen. Great track, from an oft forgotten band.
The May Throwback Tracks Apple Music Playlist is now ready to go! As per usual, I've done my best to turn them into a cohesive list, but it's a little all over the place...Plus, the first Throwback Tracks Apple Music Playlist, with all of the songs from the inaugural month of 'Throwback Tracks' here on The Guys From is still available.
Don't forget to check out the latest Tuesday Tunes for your new music fix, as well as the April Tuesday Tunes Apple Music Playlist here.
See you again next Thursday with some new....oldies, and the next Throwback playlist.
-S (@Shauncord)