RonJonSurfer Posted August 5, 2005 Report Share Posted August 5, 2005 We've done things similar to this in a variety of formats, but I was hoping for a little more detail and explanation. I'm curious about songs that discuss, depict and celebrate events or non-events in rock history. It might be as simple as Tom Petty singing about him and Del Shannon singing "Runaway" from Running Down A Dream. It might be elaborate as in American Pie or Creeque Alley. (Is that spelled right?). So many rock songs honor rockers, concerts, movements, etc. that came before. Neil Young sings " I'm a million miles away from the helicopter day", referring to Woodstock in his "Roll Another Number For The Road". I'll start with Creeque Alley by The Mamas and Papas because it always fascinated me. John Phillips documents the struggles of the group to survive as starving musicians as well as the booming folk music scene. "John and Denny, working for a penny, trying to get a fish on the line. In a coffee house Sebastian sat, and after every number, they'd pass the hat. McGuinn and Maguire, still a-getting high, and LA, you know where that's at. And nobody's gettin fat except Mama Cass". That's a slice of rock history there. BTW, Phillips also wrote about Michelle and Denny having an affair right under his nose. He wrote "I Saw Her Again Last Night". wouldn't you know it became a hit and every night, with Denny, Michelle, and John on stage, Denny had to sing the words John wrote him..."I saw her again last night, and i know that I shouldn't..to string her along, is just not right" The perfect punishment. Anything you have would be lot's of fun to read and think about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Laurie_ Posted August 6, 2005 Report Share Posted August 6, 2005 I Love the Mamas and Papas...they had so much talent, and the band had a very interesting history behind them also...great harmony, I listen to the greatest hits cd all the time especially when I just want to mellow out. Im going to recommend them again...for list 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted August 6, 2005 Report Share Posted August 6, 2005 I also heard that mama Cass was in love with Denny since the beginning but she had to accept they would be just friends, so when they used to sing "I saw her today" on stage everybody´s was feeling a little uncomfortable. The Ramones did a very short review of rock in this one: "Do You Remember Rock N Roll Radio?" Rock'n, rock'n'roll radio Let's go Rock'n, rock'n'roll radio Let's go Rock'n, rock'n'roll radio Let's go Rock'n, rock'n'roll radio Let's go Do you remember Hullabaloo, Upbeat, Shinding and Ed Sullivan too? Do you remember rock'n'roll radio? Do you remember rock'n'roll radio? Do you remember Murray the K, Alan Freed, and high energy? It's the end, the end of the 70's It's the end, the end of the century Do you remember lying in bed With your covers pulled up over your head? Radio playin' so no one can see We need change, we need it fast Before rock's just part of the past 'Cause lately it all sounds the same to me Oh oh oh oh, oh oh Will you remember Jerry Lee, John Lennon, T. Rex and OI Moulty? It's the end, the end of the 70's It's the end, the end of the century Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katie_sane Posted August 6, 2005 Report Share Posted August 6, 2005 I love both those songs! I am actually listening to 'I Saw Her Again Last Night' right now! Edna, I think that 'Do You Remember Rock & Roll Radio?' totally sums up Joey Ramone, it's what he was all about: rock n' roll purity, Phil Spector, 50's & 60's girl groups and bubblegum pop. Totally different to the other members of the Ramones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted August 6, 2005 Report Share Posted August 6, 2005 Joey was the coolest Ramone for me... :: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bad wx Posted August 7, 2005 Report Share Posted August 7, 2005 For me one of the best songs about the history of rock and roll, and definitely the best "dues" tune is "Truckin" by the Grateful Dead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonJonSurfer Posted August 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2005 I forgot about that one by the Ramones...perfect!. I heard another today...The Temptations "Ball of Confusion". they have the line "The Beatles new record's a gas." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazy diamond Posted August 29, 2005 Report Share Posted August 29, 2005 Joey was the coolest Ramone for me... :: Me too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazy diamond Posted August 29, 2005 Report Share Posted August 29, 2005 Actually maybe not...I kind of like Johnny. And Dee Dee had the street appeal. Way for me to be indecisive. Let's just say I love them all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Posted August 29, 2005 Report Share Posted August 29, 2005 I am surprised Deep Purple's "Smoke On The Water" hasn't been included here yet. It tells in depth what the band was experiencing, and what was happening around them. And it tells it with those three fantastic chords, too! We all came out to Montreaux On the Lake Geneva shoreline To make records with a mobile We didn’t have much time Frank Zappa and the Mother's Were at the best place around But some stupid with a flare gun Burned the place to the ground Smoke on the water, fire in the sky They burned down the gambling house It died with an awful sound Funky Claude was running in and out Pulling kids out the ground When it all was over We had to find another place But Swiss time was running out It seemed that we would lose the race Smoke on the water, fire in the sky We ended up at the Grand Hotel It was empty cold and bare But with the Rolling truck Stones thing parked outside making our music there With a few red lights and a few old beds We make a place to sweat No matter what we get out of this I know, I know, we'll never forget... Smoke on the water, fire in the sky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Joe Posted August 29, 2005 Report Share Posted August 29, 2005 Joni Mitchell's Woodstock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted August 29, 2005 Report Share Posted August 29, 2005 I just learned about "Smoke on the water" when Ken posted the picture on the "Song Images" thread... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazooka Posted August 29, 2005 Report Share Posted August 29, 2005 From Do You Remember? by The Beach Boys: Little Richard sang it And Dick Clark brought it to life Danny & The Juniors hit a groove Stuck it sharp as a knife Well now do you remember All the guys that gave us Rock 'n' Roll Chuck Berry's got to be The greatest thing that came along He made the guitar beats And wrote the all-time greatest song ... Elvis Presley is The King He's the giant of the day Paved the way for the Rock 'n' Roll Star The critics kept a knockin' But the Stars kept on rockin' and the choppin' didn't get very far Goodness Gracious Great Balls of Fire ... They gave us Rock 'n' Roll They gave us Rock 'n' Roll They gave us Rock 'n' Roll Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miamisammy29 Posted August 29, 2005 Report Share Posted August 29, 2005 "R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A." - Little Johnny Cougar Mellencamp III "Rocket" - Def Leppard "When We Was Fab" - George Harrison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Laurie_ Posted September 2, 2005 Report Share Posted September 2, 2005 I always liked "City Of New Orleans"...with all that's goin on now, that song popped into my head...I love the story it tells also...Songfacts has a great write up on it, if you wanna check it out...here are the lyrics...love these lyrics... Lyrics for: City Of New Orleans Riding on the City of New Orleans, Illinois Central Monday morning rail Fifteen cars and fifteen restless riders, Three conductors and twenty-five sacks of mail. All along the southbound odyssey The train pulls out at Kankakee Rolls along past houses, farms and fields. Passin' trains that have no names, Freight yards full of old black men And the graveyards of the rusted automobiles. CHORUS: Good morning America how are you? Don't you know me I'm your native son, I'm the train they call The City of New Orleans, I'll be gone five hundred miles when the day is done. Dealin' card games with the old men in the club car. Penny a point ain't no one keepin' score. Pass the paper bag that holds the bottle Feel the wheels rumblin' 'neath the floor. And the sons of pullman porters And the sons of engineers Ride their father's magic carpets made of steel. Mothers with their babes asleep, Are rockin' to the gentle beat And the rhythm of the rails is all they feel. CHORUS Nighttime on The City of New Orleans, Changing cars in Memphis, Tennessee. Half way home, we'll be there by morning Through the Mississippi darkness Rolling down to the sea. And all the towns and people seem To fade into a bad dream And the steel rails still ain't heard the news. The conductor sings his song again, The passengers will please refrain This train's got the disappearing railroad blues. Good night, America, how are you? Don't you know me I'm your native son, I'm the train they call The City of New Orleans, I'll be gone five hundred miles when the day is done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tybalt Posted September 2, 2005 Report Share Posted September 2, 2005 (>) creequealley.com is an entire website devoted to study, analysis and discussion of the song, and Mamas and Papas fandom. Wow! What a lot of changes since my last visit to Songfacts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenacious_Peaches Posted September 2, 2005 Report Share Posted September 2, 2005 Hey, it's Tybalt! Do you like the new digs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miamisammy29 Posted September 2, 2005 Report Share Posted September 2, 2005 Welcome back, Good Prince of Cats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted September 3, 2005 Report Share Posted September 3, 2005 What a great site about Creeque Alley, Tybalt! And hi! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Laurie_ Posted September 4, 2005 Report Share Posted September 4, 2005 I always liked "Down On The Corner" by Creedence Clearwater Revival...I know it's about a fictional band, but they did portray the part on the cover of the album...I thought that was pretty cool...I like the lyrics, and It's gotta good beat to it too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tybalt Posted September 5, 2005 Report Share Posted September 5, 2005 Hey, it's Tybalt! Do you like the new digs? I'm adapting to this extreme makeover. You know I'm an spasmodic poster, only a "flounder". I'll risk adding my two cents when I have jewels to spare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazooka Posted September 6, 2005 Report Share Posted September 6, 2005 I always liked "Down On The Corner" by Creedence Clearwater Revival...I know it's about a fictional band, but they did portray the part on the cover of the album...I thought that was pretty cool In the early 70s, I worked for a while at an upholstery supply/foam cutting plant in east Oakland. The warehouse was just two or three blocks from Duck Kee Market, and my friends and I got our lunches there often (They made pretty good deli sandwiches). I hadn't noticed, but a few years later, after we had all moved on to more rewarding jobs elsewhere, one of these friends pointed out to me that Duck Kee Market is "the corner" pictured on the Willie And The Poor Boys album cover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Laurie_ Posted September 6, 2005 Report Share Posted September 6, 2005 Bazooka....that is sooooo cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky Posted August 9, 2009 Report Share Posted August 9, 2009 (edited) I know we have talked about this subject more recently, but how fun, digging this thread up from four (!) years ago! I Dig Rock and Roll Music - Peter, Paul & Mary I dig Rock and Roll music And I love to get the chance to play. (and sing it) I figure it's about the happiest sound goin' down today. The message may not move me, Or mean a great deal to me, But hey! it feels so groovy to say: I dig the Mamas and the Papas at "The Trip," Sunset Strip in L.A. And they got a good thing goin' When the words don't get in the way. And when they're really wailing, Michelle and Cass are sailin'. Hey! they really nail me to the wall. I dig Donovan in a dream-like, tripped out way His crystal images tell you 'bout a brighter day And when the Beatles tell you They've got a word "love" to sell you They mean exactly what they say I dig Rock and Roll music I could really get it on in that scene. I think I could say somethin' if you know what I mean But if I really say it, the radio won't play it Unless I lay it between the lines It's so funny that Peter, Paul & Mary are singing about Rock & Roll in their simple folk form, and including psychedelic Donovan & The Beatles .... Rock & Roll has come a long long way from the music they were singing about. Edited August 9, 2009 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Laurie_ Posted August 9, 2009 Report Share Posted August 9, 2009 LIFE IS A ROCK (BUT THE RADIO ROLLED ME) Reunion "Life Is A Rock (But The Radio Rolled Me)" was a #8 hit in 1974 for RCA studio group "Reunion". The lead singer was Joey Levine who used to be in Ohio Express (the sixties bubblegum group that did "Yummy Yummy Yummy"). B.B. Bumble and the Stingers, Mott the Hoople, Ray Charles Singers Lonnie Mack and twangin' Eddy, here's my ring we're goin' steady Take it easy, take me higher, liar liar, house on fire Locomotion, Poco, Passion, Deeper Purple, Satisfaction Baby baby gotta gotta gimme gimme gettin' hotter Sammy's cookin', Lesley Gore and Ritchie Valens, end of story Mahavishnu, fujiyama, kama-sutra, rama-lama Richard Perry, Spector, Barry, Archies, Righteous, Nilsson, Harry Shimmy shimmy ko-ko bop and Fats is back and Finger Poppin' FM, AM, hits are clickin' while the clock is tock-a-tickin' Friends and Romans, salutations, Brenda and the Tabulations Carly Simon, I behold her, Rolling Stones and centerfoldin' Johnny Cash and Johnny Rivers, can't stop now, I got the shivers Mungo Jerry, Peter Peter Paul and Paul and Mary Mary Dr. John the nightly tripper, Doris Day and Jack the Ripper Gotta go Sir, gotta swelter, Leon Russell, Gimme Shelter Miracles in smokey places, slide guitars and Fender basses Mushroom omelet, Bonnie Bramlett, Wilson Pickett, stop and kick it Arthur Janov's primal screamin', Hawkins, Jay and Dale and Ronnie, Kukla, Fran and Norma Okla Denver, John and Osmond, Donny JJ Cale and ZZ Top and LL Bean and De De Dinah David Bowie, Steely Dan and sing me prouder, CC Rider Edgar Winter, Joanie Sommers, Osmond Brothers, Johnny Thunders Eric Clapton, pedal wah-wah, Stephen Foster, do-dah do-dah Good Vibrations, Help Me Rhonda, Surfer Girl and Little Honda Tighter, tighter, honey, honey, sugar, sugar, yummy, yummy CBS and Warner Brothers, RCA and all the others Extended fade-out (with chorus singing in counterpoint): (musical intro to "Baby I Need Your Loving") (spoken: Listen--remember, they're playing our song!) Rock it, sock it, Alan Freed me, Murray Kaufman, try to leave me Fish, and Swim, and Boston Monkey, Make it bad and play it funky. (Wanna take you higher!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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