It’s the 70’s. It’s not a GIANT decade for me musically because, let’s face it, I was born in 1970. Most of my musical influences were not my own. Although – lucky for me – my dad had awesome taste in music. When I did get the opportunity to make some of my own decisions, I can’t say they were the best…
and this…
This week’s Mix Tape is 1970’s part 2. Next week we will be checking out Hair Bands and Neon with the 80’s part 1.
So let’s go ride with this train: Still assuming I have no knowledge of the future, BUT knowing what I know about music now, I’m digging the 70’s.
Little Green Bag – George Baker Group I really wanna give you some fabu info about this song, but’s lets face it – I just really like it. Ironically there is some debate about whether or not he is saying Green Back or Green Bag, however why would the song be called Green Bag? And come on… “Sister Kind?” I followed the Grateful Dead for 4 years, I’m pretty sure I know what people mean when they say “The Kind”.
Shoot – So my next song was going to be Magic Carpet Ride and I realized that I was creating a soundtrack for a movie in the future. So….
There’s this guy – his name was Frank Zappa. I can’t possibly tell you everything you should know about him. I can tell you this. I was trying to narrow down some ideas on who I would include in this list. And you see – everyone came back to Frank Zappa. Little Feat – they met while playing with Frank Zappa. You know the song Smoke on The Water? Well it’s about an accident Frank Zappa had at a concert:
We all came out to Montreux,
On the Lake Geneva shoreline.
To make records with a mobile,
We didn’t have much time.
But Frank Zappa and the Mothers,
Were at the best place around,
But some stupid with a flare gun,
Burned the place to the ground.
Smoke on the water and fire in the sky.
Smoke on the water…
So Deep Purple was there, at the Montreux Casino in Switzerland, when some crazy Zappa fan shot off a flare gun that caused the whole Casino to burn down.
Frank had a gift for identifying and attracting amazingly talented musicians. Here’s a much abbreviated list of musicians/bands (who contain musicians) you might never have heard of if it wasn’t for Frank Zappa: Missing Persons, Talking Heads, King Crimson, OK WAIT. I can’t do this whole list, it is RIDICULOUS go here the names might not mean anything to you, click on them and you will see band names like The Doors, David Bowie, Berlin, Steely Dan…it goes on and on and on. So. In lieu of putting any of those bands on the list. I decided to go with the FIRST CAUSE:
Frank Zappa – Cosmik Debris (I chose the studio version, his live stuff is fantastic and a must see, but if you want to hear the amazing musicians and production, well we go to the studio folks)
I know, that should have been its own post – well, tough.
Three Dog Night; also known in the late 60’s as Redwood when their band included Brian Wilson (yes, Beach Boy). This amazing band had the kind of sound that the American public loved to hear, thanks to them some songwriters like, Randy Newman, Leo Sayer and Harry Nilsson got to move up that food chain. Three Dog Night; named after a tradition an aboriginal tribe had; they slept with Dingo’s to keep warm at night, if it was super cold it was a “Three Dog Night.”
Shamabala – Three Dog Night
I love this song, and apparently other Glam Rock bands do too. Not that I’m a Glam Rock Band. Originally recorded by Hello, a British Glam Rock band, then covered by Ace Frehley (of Kiss) and later Sweet (of Ballroom Blitz fame). Love the Hello version, especially the music video– but….
Ace Frehley and Kiss – New York Groove
This one Elton John called one of his all-time favorites. I can see why. The emotion of this song is so raw and right there. It’s not theatrical, it’s metaphors are just beautiful and transport you away. Apparently Bernie Taupin wrote this in response to Spanish Harlem, he heard a gun go off during his first visit to New York, and it really left an impact on him. Elton John’s translation into song makes me want to roll the windows down, crank it and sing along.
Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters – Elton John
Now to break my own rules and turn the list up to 6. I must include this song. This one is a memory of my childhood. I was 5, my parent’s best friends lived across the street. My parents were technically “Squares” however since investments and plastics abounded, they partied in ways I would rather not know the details of – the pictures are burned into my eyeballs. So looking; back it comes as no surprise that my parent’s friends divorced when I was 7, it also comes as no surprise that the song 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover was Bruce’s favorite song. I remember him singing it all of the time. I remember he would be playing the album and I would hear the line “Get off the bus Gus” and I would picture some guy climbing down from a school bus. Thank’s for the memories Paul, if it were up to me I would play Late in the Evening, but that’s his memory, not mine…
50 Ways to Leave Your Lover – Paul Simon (by the way the famous drums in this song – Steve Gadd – another Zappa alum)
OK folks. Now I want to hear what you’ve got! The rules of Twisted Mix Tape are as such: Try and create a 5 song mix; based on this week’s theme. As we move through the decades the assumption is you know about the music in the past, but not what is to come. Create your own post and link it up, or put your mix in the comments. If you’re going to link-up there must be a song – relating to the theme – in your post. Share this all over the place, the more the merrier. And Go visit my lovely, mostly Co-Host – Kristi at Finding Ninee. She’s always got a song, a funny story and some silly Drawrings. Mostly, just have fun, there’ s no pressure here.
http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=198999
If you need to own any of these songs – and you know you do. Click these links to go to iTunes:
Little Green Bag – Reservoir Dogs (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Cosmik Debris – Apostrophe (‘)
Shambala (Single Version) – 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Three Dog Night
New York Groove – The Very Best of Kiss
Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters – Honky Château
50 Ways to Leave Your Lover – Still Crazy After All These Years
Also, as promised, here are the latest YouTube video playlists. This is awesome because it is a way we can share all of the music from all of the lists – including the lists in comments. You can just set it to play and listen in the background while you’re on your computer. Or hook it up through speakers. However you like to groove. Check it out, I bet you’ll enjoy. And if you subscribe to my channel you will know when I create the next playlist.
Jen Kehl 
Seriously had no clue about the origins of Smoke on the Water. Seriously, you really taught me something new tonight. And Leif Garrett, there was a total blast from the past. So, looking forward to the 80’s and hair bands now!! 🙂
You know Janine, that’s why I love music. It’s not only what you hear, there are so many great stories behind it! AND maybe you’ll bring us a post next week 😉
I’m here and I am super early! WOOP!
This week, I’m going to dedicate my picks to flash memories, you know the kind… where you have a vivid memory regarding a song and it will forever remind you of that.
I Will Survive- Gloria Gaynor: Camp in 7th grade, we serenaded the boys
Rainbow Connection- Kermit the Frog: My first nanny job, it was her fav song
Dancing Queen- ABBA: Rolling skating, need I say more?
Thank God I’m a Country Boy- John Denver: Giants World Series win #2, a crazy old man dancing
My Sharona- The Knack: My first cheerleading performance. I’m pretty sure I can still nail that routine.
Erica ~ You totally rock! Thank you so much for coming to the mix tape again, I love that I can always count on you! And, I love all of those songs. Was so trying to figure out how to squeeze the disco in. But I think I’ll do a songs that make you happy mix later on, and I’ll get the disco in there!
I didn’t realize how much I loved Elton John until I did your mixtape challenge. I have two of his songs this week out of five. I had never heard “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters,” but I love it and am listening to it right now. So beautiful. You know how to pick ’em, Jen. I love this so hard.
Sarah ~ You being part of this Mix Tape is so awesome for me. I love that you love music, I don’t give your “generation” a lot of credit for knowing good music, but you rock girl!
Pingback: Twisted MixTape Tuesday the Wakefield Doctrine (“…and his hair was perfect!”) | the Wakefield Doctrine
damn! I thought I would be so early… night before and all you peoples is way to quick for me…. in any event, here my TMT yo
http://wakefielddoctrine.com/2013/06/24/twisted-mixtape-tuesday-the-wakefield-doctrine-and-his-hair-was-perfect/
Clark you are ever impressing me!
I just linked up! Thanks again for hosting this wonderful Blog Hop! 😉
Hey Yo: Thanks so much for hosting and letting us have fun!!!
Your List is Amazing… I love how, as I get more familiar with everybody, how you come to know their likes & sounds. With you, I get a lot of “Tenderness” from your list’s and that is really cool.
Frank Zappa was just in his own world… Your choice is very nice. Little Green Bag is one of those songs that I remember so well, but had totally forgotten about until seeing your list. Love it!!! Elton John, Three Dog Night… Sweet!!!
Totally Enjoyed, Slu
Thanks Slu! I love this so much. You are probably right about my music tastes. I am not a Rocker. I appreciate some rockin’ but It’s not usually on my playlist 🙂 I am so glad you keep playing!
I’ve been traveling around to the different blogs and filling my brain with all the different stuff that people shared. This is too fun!
I forgot about old Frank Zappa-I tend to think about him in terms of his kids, remember Moon Unit and Dweezil? 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover-what a great Paul Simon song! You always have very interesting lists. 😀
Thanks Sarah! I know I love reading all of the posts, that’s why I created the YouTube lists, so once everyone has put their time and energy into it, it’s not over!
50 Ways to Leave Your Lover…I can’t help but love all the rhyming! Looking forward to the 80’s. I will know more of those for sure! 😉 So fun to hear the stories behind these songs.
Thanks Angie! Can’t wait to see you next week!
I’m not sure if its a good thing or a bad thing that I got the soundtrack reference of George Baker Selection and Magic Carpet Ride (Tarantino fanatic). I may live in the south and have no desire whatsoever to visit NY, but I love Back in the New York Groove.
Yeah, I wasn’t really planning on the soundtrack thing, but then when I started posting the videos I was like “this line-up is familiar…” oops!
Dude. Not only do you have excellent taste in music, you’re quite smart! I’m impressed and love the stories behind the music. It’s such a fascinating industry. I LOVE that Elton John song – how did you find out that it’s one of his own favorites? In fact – how did you find out any of this? Love your choices and thanks for letting me play again!
TTTx10
Kristi~ You crack me up! I really just love to learn what makes musicians tic, it’s fascinating to me that they can create something that really moves us from a “deep down in our soul” kind of way. Think of how strongly music is tied to our lives, and ONE person created that song.
I’m not a huge fan of 70s music but you found some good ones- I should have known you would!
Hey Kate! So glad I could turn you on to something worthwhile 🙂
*Kimberly crawling out of a 1980 baby born rock*
I don’t know these songs.
I know.
I’m sorry.
I do lurve Bowie. For real.
Oh now Kimberly, that’s OK 🙂 Join us next week and share some memories!
I LOVE 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover. Love, love, love. Thanks for hosting such an awesome hop. Don’t tell anyone else, but it’s my favorite. 😀
I won’t tell anyone Tracy 😉 Your secrets safe with me…and everyone else who comments 🙂
The 70’s. The decade of man rock. Not my favorite. Elton John and Paul Simon do the trick though!
Oh now Rachel. Joan Biaz, Joni Mitchell, Heart, Helen Reddy, Karen Carpenter, Aretha Franklin, Olivia Newton John, Linda Ronstadt, Carly Simon…..should I go on? Sorry I didn’t include them here, but I’ve got some of the ladies lined up…
You are gifted at this, friend! And how awesome that you have the YouTube playlist! Ahh, yes, to David Bowie, Elton John, Paul Simon… and one of my favorites is Sister Golden Hair Surprise by America. I love the hell out of that song.
Stephanie ~ I love Sister Golden Hair, I’ve been wanting to fit that in to a themed mix… I love you but not enough to marry you??
And that “future movie” you mentioned . . . ? Fan-fucking-tastic flick!! Little Green Bag and 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover are two of my favorites, and now that I’ve listened to it, I’ll be singing the latter for the rest of the night. At least, until I sit down to watch Pitch Perfect for the 5th time in 2 days and I start singing Ace of Base . . . again.
I really do love Ace of Base too Kelly! My sister hates them so much, we were driving home from SC in a major storm and when they came on and I was jamming and NOT freaking out about the storm, she changed the song on me because “She just couldn’t handle it.” LAME
It’s a good thing we didn’t hang out in the 70’s. I would have been totally intimidated by your sophistication. Had I joined this week my post would have been so heavy on ABBA and Simon & Garfunkel. I can’t wait for 80’s though, next week, because no one made good music in the 80’s right? And these are the times when I thrive.
Katia – In the 70’s I was listening to Shaun Cassidy, Leif Garret, The Bay City Rollers, The Carpenters and all things Disco. No worries. And I think you might be right about the 80’s, but it’s such a BIG decade. No pun intended (the hair).
Smoke is a real strong choice. I did know the story behind it and yeah the background stuff is the BEST. Since last week, we’ve all been talking Mad Hatters another great, great song. Three Dog Night, love all of it. Frank was a damn genius.
Kat – I think the most tell-tale sign of Frank’s genius is that through it all. The fire, the accident when he crushed his larynx and had multiple fractures, having a Charles Manson follower in his band, getting cancer, NOTHING ever stopped him! Nothing. He is to be admired, truly.
That KISS song is great because Ace’s version is so NEWWW Yawk…it’s a great guitar song with the top down.
I love 3 Dog Night. I know they were overtly commercial, didn’t write a lot of their songs, and they were a morphed pop band of many styles but damn they recorded good songs.
excellent list
Yeah Lance, it’s all good. You can’t blame TDN for their awesome interpretations of other people’s songs right? They got those names out there and made some great music at the same time!
Three Dog Night.
I think it’s safe to say I wouldn’t have survived the decade with them!
OK, I’m in this week Jen – hope you like my mix!
Loved your mix Troy! Are you on twitter? Wanted to tag you in a tweet about your post.
Mona Lisas…for sure. And I had that Shaun Cassidy album. “Hey Deanie won’t ya come out tonight…” Oh yes I did. And I cah-ried when he married that skanky playboy bunny whose sister was a model on The Price Is Right.
But I digress…
Frank!!! Excellent choice!!
YEA Linda! I loved Shaun so hard and was heartbroken too! Loser.
Wow, I had no idea about the origins of Smoke on the Water! Thanks for the schooling. 🙂
Okay, I’ve been doing the hop with my own rules… only songs from the decade under consideration.
The Boxer — Simon & Garfunkel (1970)
Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard — Paul Simon (1972)
Roxanne — The Police (1978)
Fool In the Rain — Led Zeppelin (1979)
The Logical Song — Supertramp (1979)
As usual… you are my musical soul sister Deb. I so love Me and Julio, I had a boyfriend with a cat named Julio, I used to pretend the song was about Paul Simon and his cat. The Logical Song! Totally forgot, gonna get these all in the YouTube playlist right now!
Wow, the Kiss NY Groove has me in shock. That doesn’t sound like a Kiss song. I played SongPop for a few months last summer/fall like an addict and I noticed that whenever I heard a song that sounded like Van Halen, but I didn’t recognize it, it was always Kiss. This song doesn’t sound like Van Halen or Kiss. Ha! Great list! You always introduce me to something new. 🙂
I love Elton John singing this song. Bernie writing this one and several others, just makes them epic.
I totally agree Donetta.
SORRY I’m late!!!! LOL can I say “Born Late”
lmao you got Paul up!
my teaser: be still my tiger beat heart
oops wrong teaser link: Be Still My Tiger Beat Heart
Woohoo! I need to get in on this Mix Tape action! These are the the kinds of posts I can get down with! I’ll start playing along on my blog.
My five:
1st and foremost: “Melissa” by the Allman Brothers- named after this
2. “Ventura Highway” by America
3. “Tiny Dancer” by Elton John
4. “Suffragette City” by David Bowie
5. “Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac
This list was REALLY hard to keep to 5 (as are any of lists for me involving music). I was born in 1980, so these are influenced by my folks. Like you, I was very lucky to have parents who adored music and have great taste.
Those are all great choices Melissa! I love Melissa, the song, so much. You don’t have to be a Melissa for that, although I remember wishing I was! Come back for next week! It’s the 90’s!