Monthly Archives: October 2021

191) Johnnie Taylor — “Watermelon Man” The Philosopher of Soul pours some soul into Herbie Hancock’s composition on this track from his ’67 album. Alex Henderson says that “[a]dding lyrics [to] Herbie Hancock’s ‘Watermelon Man,’ Taylor removes the song’s jazz elements and turns it into pure Southern R&B.” (https://www.allmusic.com/album/wanted-one-soul-singer-mw0000674917) 192) The Paupers — “Think IContinue reading “Johnnie Taylor — “Watermelon Man”, The Paupers — “Think I Care”, The Eyes — “When the Night Falls”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — October 9, 2021″

188) Them — “I Can Only Give You Everything” Them, actually Him – Van Morrison ‘66. The Nuggets II comp says that the single possesses a “magnificent, soul-stirring vocal, spawning a thousand garage-band imitators.” 189) The Brigands — “Would I Still Be (Her Big Man)” Richie Unterberger in All Music Guide calls this April ‘65Continue reading “Them — “I Can Only Give You Everything”, The Brigands — “Would I Still Be (Her Big Man)”, The Elastik Band — “In a Family Tree”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — October 8, 2021”

185) Gabor Szabo and the California Dreamers — “A Day in the Life” Yes, that “A Day in the Life”! Douglas Payne says that: [The album by the Hungarian guitarist] celebrates much of what was important to [him] — the new world of rock music, the lure of California and the hope and inspiration ofContinue reading “Gabor Szabo and the California Dreamers — “A Day in the Life”, The Caravelles — “New York”, The Sons of Adam — “Take My Hand”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — October 7, 2021”

182) Smokey Robinson and the Miracles — “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy” Off his ‘70 album of “wedding” songs. As Andrew Hamilton says: A stunning concept album . . . that should have fared better. . . . Every selection is a wedding song, and Smokey caresses the lyrics like they were newborns. TheContinue reading “Smokey Robinson and the Miracles — “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy”, The Alan Price Set — “The House that Jack Built”, Shadows of Knight — “Bad Little Woman”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — October 6, 2021”

180) The Orange Seaweed — “Pictures in the Sky” B-side of the English group’s only single in April of ‘68. Dazzling pop-psych. 181) Willie Mitchell — “That Driving Beat” Grooving ‘66 song by trumpeter/bandleader (and later force behind Al Green) Mitchell.

177) Dr. John — “Mama Roux” Off of Dr. John’s debut album Gris-Gris (’68) — which Gabe Soria calls “the spookiest album ever recorded” (https://www.trunkworthy.com/dr-johns-gris-gris-spooks-us-the-hell-out/) — “Mama Roux” is a song that Alison Fensterstock described in Rolling Stone as a “co-composition with local New Orleans R&B star Jessie Hill” that is “spooky [and] snaky” andContinue reading “Dr. John — “Mama Roux”, The Koobas — “Barricades”, The Jelly Bean Bandits — “Say Mann”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — October 4, 2021”

175) The Bread and Beer Band — “Mellow Yellow” Groovy cover of Donovan by Elton John’s first band. “The album was planned for June of 1969, but cancelled, and the band put out on their own label in a handmade sleeve. . . . Reginald Dwight was enlisted by aspiring producer Tony King to joinContinue reading “The Bread and Beer Band — “Mellow Yellow”, The Voice — “Train to Disaster”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — October 3, 2021”

172) The Plastic Cloud — “Art’s a Happy Man” Sole album (‘68) by the Canadian folk-rockers. Expose yourself to Art. 173) Matthews Southern Comfort — “Something in the Way She Moves” No, not George Harrison’s song, but Iain Matthews’s (former lead singer of Fairport Convention). The song, off MSC’s ‘69 Second Spring album, has theContinue reading “The Plastic Cloud — “Art’s a Happy Man”, Matthews Southern Comfort — “Something in the Way She Moves”, Randy Newman — “Mama Told Me Not to Come”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — October 2, 2021”

169) Georgie Fame — “Seventh Son” Georgie’s version of Willie Dixon’s oft-covered classic reached #25 in the UK in December of ‘69. The video is such a guilty pleasure! Here is Dixon’s version: 170) Paul Jones — “Tarzan etc.” From the ex-Manfred Mann lead singer’s ’67 solo album. 171) The Music Machine — “Come onContinue reading “Georgie Fame — “Seventh Son”, Paul Jones — “Tarzan etc.”, The Music Machine — “Come on In”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — October 1, 2021”