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My Life In Songs 1954 – 2024

Boy, the lists are getting longer with each passing year. Music is becoming really important to me as I get older. I think you may have realised by now that I cross over to many genres. You miss out on a lot of great music if you stick to the one style of music.

Studio & Recording Advancements

  • Automatic Double Tracking (ADT): Developed at Abbey Road by Ken Townsend for The Beatles, this allowed vocals to be “doubled” automatically, saving singers from manual re-recording.
  • Tape Loops & Varispeed: Artists began using manipulated tape loops and varying tape speeds (varispeed) to create “otherworldly” textures, most notably on “Tomorrow Never Knows”.
  • Backmasking: 1966 saw the first significant use of reversed vocals and instruments (backward tapes) in pop music, specifically in The Beatles’ “Rain”.
  • Close Miking: Engineers began placing microphones closer to instruments (such as drums and acoustic guitars) to achieve a more “intimate” and punchy sound. 

Genre Evolution & Instrumental Shifts

  • Birth of Psychedelic Rock: Landmark tracks like The Yardbirds’ “Shapes of Things” and The Byrds’ “Eight Miles High” pioneered distorted guitar tones and modal improvisation.
  • Raga Rock: The integration of Indian classical music became a trend, with The Rolling Stones featuring the sitar on a #1 hit (“Paint It Black”) and The Beatles exploring Hindustani structures on “Love You To”.
  • Symphonic Pop & High Production: Brian Wilson’s production on The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds set a new standard for complex arrangements, utilizing orchestral instruments and unusual sound effects in a pop context.
  • Concept & Double Albums: The Mothers of Invention released Freak Out!, one of the first double albums and an early example of a rock concept album. 

Technological & Industry Changes

  • Portable Radios & Amplification: The rise of solid-state technology made portable transistor radios common. Larger PA systems and higher-wattage amplifiers were introduced to handle growing concert crowds.
  • The Synthesizer: While invented earlier, the Buchla modular synthesizer began commercial sales in 1966, providing a new palette for electronic music.
  • FM Rock Radio: New York’s WOR-FM became the first station to adopt a rock format, leading a shift away from strictly Top 40 AM radio toward “freeform” broadcasting.
  • The Radiorecorder: The precursor to the “boombox” was invented by Philips in 1966. 

Just as drugs was going hand in hand with the music scene Paul Revere and the Raiders released the anti-drug song “Kicks”. Sam and Dave’s hit “Hold On I’m Coming” was banned by some radio sations because of its supposed sex references. The same for Ray Charles’ song “Let’s Get Stoned” for drug reasons. Has there ever been a more pleading love song than Percy Sledge”s “When A Man Loves A Woman”. Sledge was a hospital orderly and part-time singer when the song became the first #1 Southern Soul hit.

Let me know in the comments what the initials in the Joe Tex Song “S.Y.S.L.J.F.M. (The Letter Song) stand for . The Grateful Dead were originally called the Warlocks (Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir).

The Song 96 Tears band name ? & The Mysterians is not a typo! It only took one song, the organ-driven number one smash “96 Tears,” to make ? ((Rudy Martínez) & the Mysterians into garage rock legends. Eccentric frontman Question Mark (actually spelled “?,” once he had his name legally changed) cultivated an aura of mystery by never appearing in public without a pair of wraparound sunglasses; he frequently claimed he had been born on Mars and lived among the dinosaurs in a past life, and that voices from the future had revealed he would be performing “96 Tears” in the year 10,000. On a more earthly level, the Mysterians’ sound helped lay down an important part of the garage rock blueprint, namely the low-budget sci-fi feel of the Farfisa and Vox organs (most assumed that “96 Tears” had featured the former, but ? later remembered using the latter). What was more, they were one of the first Latino rock groups to have a major hit, and ?‘s sneering attitude made him one of the prime suspects in the evolution of garage rock into early punk.** The keyboard player Frankie Rodríguez was only 14 years of age!

The Beach Boys “Good Vibrations” was their first stab at the every increasingly popular Psych Rock. “Crosscut Saw” was the first major label Stax hit for the legendary Bluesman Albert King. Stax did not give him any royalties for 8 years so he left them. The song has became a classic and has been recorded by artists such as  Eric Clapton, who popularized it further in rock. Other notable artists covering the track include Stevie Ray Vaughan, R.L. Burnside, Lonnie Brooks, Otis Rush, Earl Hooker, and modern blues guitarists like Tab Benoit and Robben Ford.

‘Gimme Some Lovin” Spencer Davis Group was written by the 17 year-old Steve Winwood. Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth” was their third single and was written by Steve Stills.

nineteen and sixty-six

  • (We Ain’t Got) Nothin’ Yet – The Blues Magoos
    19th Nervous Breakdown – The Rolling Stones*
    96 Tears – ? & The Mysterians
    All Or Nothing – Small Faces
    All Your Love – John Mayall*
    Allergic To Work – Crosscut Saw
    Barefootin’ – Robert Parker*
    Batman Theme – Link Wray & The RayMen
    Bend It – Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich
    Black is Black – Los Bravos
    But It’s Alright – JJ. Jackson
    California Dreaming – The Mamas & The Papas
    Can’t Satisfy -The Impressions
    Cool Jerk – The Capitols
    Crosscut Saw – Albert King
    Day Tripper – The Beatles
    Daydream – The Lovin’ Spoonful
    Devil with a Blue Dress On -Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels
    Diddy Wah Diddy – Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
    Don’t Ease Me In – Grateful Dead Double
  • Crossing Time – John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers & Eric Clapton
    Dry Your Eyes – Brenda & The Tabulations
    East-West – Paul Butterfield Blues Band
    Eight Miles High – The Byrds
    Eleanor Rigby – The Beatles
    Five O’Clock World – The Vogues
    Friday on My Mind – The Easybeats
    Funky Broadway Part – Dyke and the Blazers
    Get Ready – The Temptations
    Getaway – Georgie Fame
    Gimme Some Lovin’ – The Spencer Davis Group
    God Only Knows – The Beach Boys
    Good Lovin’ – The Young Rascals
    Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys
    Green Green Grass of Home – Tom Jones*
    He’ll Be Back – The Players
    Hey Leroy, Your Mama’s Callin’ You – Jimmy Castor
    High Flyin’ Bird – Richie Havens
    Hitch Hiker – Bobby & Laurie*
    Hold on I’m Comin’ – Sam & Dave
    Holy Cow – Lee Dorsey
    How Can We Hang on To a Dream – Tim Hardin
    I Can’t Quit You Baby – Otis Rush
    I Feel Free – Cream
    I Fooled You This Time – Gene Chandler
    I Had Too Much to Dream – The Electric Prunes 
    I’ll Be Lovin’ You Forever – The 5th Dimension
    I’II Make You Happy – The Easybeats
    I’m A Believer – The Monkees
    I’m A Boy – The Who*
    In The Midnight Hour – Wilson Pickett
    It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World – James Brown
    I’ve Got the Blues – Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs*
    Just A Little Misunderstanding – The Contours
    Just Like a Woman – Bob Dylan*
    Keep On Running – The Spencer Davis Group
    Kicks – Paul Revere & The Raiders
    Knock on Wood – Eddie Floyd
    Land Of 1000 Dances – Wilson Pickett
    Let’s Go Get Stoned – Ray Charles*
    Li’l Red Riding Hood – Sam the Sham & The Pharaohs
    Little Girl – Syndicate of Sound
    Pretty Flamingo – Manfred Mann
    Mercy, Mercy, Mercy – Cannonball Adderley
    Mercy, Mercy – Don Covay & The Goodtimers
    Monday, Monday – The Mamas & The Papas
    Morningtown Ride – The Seekers
    Ninety-Nine and One-Half – Wilson Pickett
     No Milk Today – Herman’s Hermits
    No- No- No- No- No -Billy Boy Arnold
    Omar Khayyam – The Rubaiyats
    Out of Time – Chris Farlowe
    Paint It, Black – The Rolling Stones
    Papa’s Got a Brand-New Bag – James Brown
    Paperback Writer – The Beatles
    Pass The Hatchet – Roger & the Gypsies
    Pay Day – Mississippi John Hurt
    Pretty Flamingo – Manfred Mann
    Psychotic Reaction – The Count Five
    Pushin’ Too Hard – The Seeds
    Reach Out I’ll Be There – The Four Tops
    Right Track – Billy Butler
    River Deep Mountain High – Ike & Tina Turner
    S.Y.S.LJ.F.M.(The Letter Song) – Joe Tex
    Sally Free and Easy – Bert Jansch
    Season Of the Witch – Donovan*
    Semi-Detached, Suburban Mr. James – Manfred Mann
    Shapes Of Things – The Yardbirds
    She Comes in Colors – Love
    Sitting In the Rain – John Mayall &The Bluesbreakers
    Sloop John B – The Beach Boys
    Somebody Help Me – The Spencer Davis Group
    Someone To Love – The Great! Society
    Spann’s Boogie – Otis Spann
    Stop Stop Stop – The Hollies
    Stop! In The Name of Love – The Supremes
    Talk Talk – The Music Machine
    Tell It Like It Is – Aaron Neville*
    The Jerk – The ID Featuring Jeff St. John*
    The La La Man – Oliver Morgan
    The Mojo Boogie – J. B. Lenoir
    The Sound of Silence – Simon & Garfunkel
    The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore – The Walker Brothers
    Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye – The Casinos
    They’re Coming to Take Me Away – Napoleon XIV
    This Old Heart of Mine – The Isley Brothers
    Time Has Come Today – The Chambers Brothers
     Try A Little Tenderness – Otis Redding
    Visions Of Johanna – Bob Dylan
    Wedding Ring – The Easybeats
    What Becomes of The Brokenhearted – Jimmy Ruffin
    When a Man Loves a Woman – Percy Sledge
    Wild Thing – The Troggs
    With A Girl Like You – The Troggs
    Working in the Coal Mine – Lee Dorsey
    Wouldn’t It Be Nice – The Beach Boys
    You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me – Dusty Springfield
    You’re Gonna Miss Me – The 13th Floor Elevators
  • *Seen perform live
  • ** Alll Music Guide https://www.allmusic.com
     
     

? & The Mysterians

Posted on by treme54 · 2 Comments

My Life in Songs 1954 – 2024

What a year for classic Rock, songs that are as fresh today as when they were released back in’65. Smokey Robinson is listed and as many of you know he has been accused of some very serious crimes against women. It raises the question do you disregard an artist’s body of work because of horrible behavior? I guess you could add in Ike Turner as another of those who did some horrid things.

The Guess Who’s “Shakin’ All Over” was originally released by Johnny Kid & the Pirates in 1959. Do you believe that Mae West recorded it in 1966 and then Billy Idol in 1987.

The Them’s “Gloria” has been sung by everyone including Patti Smith and the Doors. They named themselves after a 1954 sci-fi horror Film. Gloria was the “B” side to the single “Baby Please Don’t Go“. Them’s “Here Comes the Night” features a young studio guitarist in Jimmy Page. Them’s “Here Comes the Night” features the young studio guitarist Jimmy Page.

The Impression’s’ “People Get Ready” is an anthemic Civil Rights song. For the time Dylan’s “Like A Rolling Stone” helped break the mould of the 3-minute single. Clocking in at 6:13 minutes it was an A and B side single release. Because of listener demand many radio stations were forced to play both sides. Although Barry McGuire’s “Eve of Destruction” was a bit of a one hit wonder it is still as relevant today as when it was released.

The Animals ‘We’ve Gotta Get Out of This Place” became a popular anthem for those conscripted for the Vietnam war. Before drummer Rick Allen of Def Leppard became a one-handed drummer due to a 1984 car accident there was Victor Molton of the Barbarians. Their song “Are You a Boy Or Are You a Girl” was a reference to The Rolling Stones, Liverpool hair styles and skintight pants.

The Bobby Fuller Four’s “I Fought the Law” has been covered by diverse artists such as Hank Williams Jnr. (1978) the Clash (1979) and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (1992). I guess we would all be more familiar with Hendrix version of “Hey Joe” (1967) than that of the Leaves.

The Who’s “My Generation” was banned by the BBC because Daltrey’s vocals resembled stuttering and might be deemed to be offensive.

A couple of my absolute favourites of 1965. Son House with “Death Letter“, Slim Harpo’s “Baby Scratch My Back the Byrds, “Chimes of Freedom”, Junior Wells’ “Hoodoo Man Blues” and Donovan’s “Universal Soldier“. Unfortunately, Sir Mack Rice’s “Mustang Sally” has lost its shine due to the fact that nearly every bar room Blues Band offers up a rendition. Of course, every Beatles song listed is a favourite

ninteen and SIXTY-FIVE

  • (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones*
    1-2-3 – Len Barry
    99 Plus One – June Gardner
    A Lover’s Concerto – The Toys
    A Taste of Honey – Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass*
    A Well-Respected Man – The Kinks
    All I Really Want to Do – The Byrds*
    Are You a Boy or Are You a Girl? – The Barbarians
    Baby Scratch My Back – Slim Harpo
    Barbara Ann – The Beach Boys
    Big Chief – Professor Longhair
    Blues Run the Game – Jackson C. Frank
    Can’t Seem to Make You Mine – The Seeds
    Catch The Wind – Donovan*
    Catch Us If You Can – The Dave Clark Five
    Chimes of Freedom – The Byrds
    Club-A-Go-Go – The Animals
    Concrete And Clay – Unit 4 + 2
    Could You Would You – Them feat. Van Morrison
    Darling Baby – The Elgins
    Death Letter – Son House
    Desolation Row – Bob Dylan*
    Desperado – The Playboys
    Dirty Water – The Standells
    Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) – Frank Wilson
    Do You Believe in Magic – The Lovin’ Spoonful
    Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood – The Animals
    Draft Dodger Rag – Phil Ochs
    Eight Days A Week – The Beatles
    Eve Of Destruction – Barry McGuire
    Feeling Good – Nina Simone
    Finger Poppin’ – lke And Tina Turner
    First, I Look at The Purse – The Contours
    Five Long Years – Eddie Boyd
    Fool, Fool, Fool – Ray Brown and the Whispers
    For Your Love – The Yardbirds
    Friday on My Mind – The Easybeats
    Get Off of My Cloud – The Rolling Stones
    Gloria – Them
    Going To a Go-Go – Smokey Robinson
    Grab This Thing – The Mar-Keys
    Green Green Grass of Home – Tom Jones*
    Heart Full of Soul – The Yardbirds
    Help! – The Beatles
    Here Comes the Night – Them feat. Van Morrison
    Hey Joe, Where You Gonna Go? – The Leaves
    Highway 61 Revisited – Bob Dylan
    Hobo Blues – John Lee Hooker
    Hoodoo Man Blues – Junior Wells
    I Belong with You – Bobby & Laurie*
    I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) – The Four Tops
    I Can’t Stand It – The Spencer Davis Group
    I Do Love You – Billy Stewart
    I Fought the Law – The Bobby Fuller Four
    I Got Loaded – Lil Bob & The Lollipops
    I Got You Babe – Sonny & Cher
    I Want Candy – The Strangeloves
    If You Gotta Go, Go Now – Manfred Mann
    I’m Into Something Good – Herman’s Hermits
    I’m Your Witchdoctor – John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers*
    In My Life – The Beatles
    In the Midnight Hour – Wilson Pickett
    It Ain’t Me Babe – The Turtles
    It’s Not Unusual – Tom Jones
    John The Revelator – Son House
    Keep On Running – The Spencer Davis Group
    King Of the Road – Roger Miller
    L.S.D. – The Pretty Things
    Like a Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan 
    Maggie’s Farm – Bob Dylan
    Maiden Voyage – Herbie Hancock
    Matchbox Blues – John Jackson
    Monkey Dog – O.V. Wright
    Mr. Jones (Ballad of A Thin Man) – The Grass Roots
    Mr. Tambourine Man – The Byrds
    Mrs. Brown – Herman’s Hermits
    Mustang Sally – Sir Mack Rice
    My Generation – The Who*
    My Little Red Book – Manfred Mann
    Mystic Eyes – Them feat. Van Morrison*
    Never Again – The Whispers
    New Orleans – The Strangeloves
    Night Life – Willie Nelson*
    Nothing Can Stop Me – Gene Chandler
    Nowhere To Run – Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
    OOO Baby Baby – Smokey Robinson
    People Get Ready – The Impressions
    Preachin’ Blues – Son House
    Railroad Bill – John Jackson
    Rescue Me – Fontella Bass
    Respect – Otis Redding
    Rock Me Baby – Otis Redding
    Shakin’ All Over – Normie Rowe & The Playboys*
    Shakin’ All Over – The Guess Who
    She’s About a Mover – Sir Douglas Quintet
    She’s So Fine – The Easybeats
    Shotgun – Jr. Walker And the All Stars
    Smokestack Lightnin’ – Howlin’ Wolf
    Soul Man – Sam & Dave
    Strange Fruit – Nina Simone
    Subterranean Homesick Blues – Bob Dylan
    Teasin’ You – Willie Tee
    The Carnival Is Over – The Seekers
    The Cheater – Bob Kuban & The In-Men
    The Dawn of Correction – The Spokesmen
    The End – The Union
    The Last Time – The Rolling Stones
    The Ostrich – The Primitives
    The Price of Love – The Everly Brothers
    The Tracks of My Tears – Smokey Robinson
    Ticket To Ride – The Beatles
    Too Many Fish in The Sea – The Marvelettes
    Trash – Duane Eddy
    Treat Her Right – Roy Head
    Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season) – The Byrds
    Turquoise – Donovan
    Twisting Time – King Curtis
    Universal Soldier – Donovan
    Uptight (Everything’s Alright) – Stevie Wonder*
    Wang Dang Doodle – Koko Taylor
    We Gotta Get out of This Place – The Animals
    We’re Gonna Make It – Little Milton
    Whip It on Me – Jessie Hill
    Whittier Blvd. – The Midniters
    Wild About You – The Missing Links
    Wild Thing – The Troggs
    Wolly Bully – Sam the Sham & The Pharaohs
    Yes, I’m Ready – Barbara Mason
    Yesterday – The Beatles
    You – Marvin Gaye
    You’re Gonna Make Me Cry – O.V. Wright
    You’re Gonna Miss Me – The 13th Floor Elevators
    You’ve Got Your Troubles – The Fortunes
    You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling – The Righteous Brothers
    Zydeco Sont Pas Sale (Snapbeans Ain’t Salty)-Clifton Chenier
  • * Seen perform live with some qualifications – The Byrds no but I did see McGuinn, Hillman and Clark. Bobbie &Laurie no but I have seen Bob Bright (R.I.P.) sings on numerous occasions, and he was a dear friend of mine.
     
     
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