1969 Music Sampler

I have loaded the Last FM player in the sidebar with music from the year of my birth, 1969

Guilded Palace of Sin

Do you like Alt-Country music?

Country-Rock started way back in the 60's.

Turnipblog readers know that I love the year of my birth, 1969.

That is also the year the Flying Burrito Brothers released the great country/rock album Guilded Palace of Sin.

Here is the video for Christine's Tune.

The dude on the left with the pot leaf on his suit is none other than Gram Parsons, widely regarded as the first Country/Rock star.

Mud - Dyna-mite

I am a big fan of Glam Rock.

Glam represents everything that was great about the 70's.

Little Kids love it.

Best Album Contest

I love discovering new music.

I want Turnipblog readers to leave a comment telling me about the best music album or cd (whatever you want to call it) that you think I have never heard.

I will download the albums and write a review.

Whoever suggested the best album will win, something.

If you suggest an album that I have already heard - You lose.

Song - Old Yeller

I had the idea of writing call-and-response songs that display my knowledge of trivia.

I sing these songs by myself, on a stage, in front of a crowd, with a microphone.

Where-ever I leave a blank space in the lyrics, the crowd sings the answer to a trivia question.

Let's try it.

Famous Golden Retriever, Old _____.

Another word for "star-like". _______.

157 1/2 E. Franklin St, Ramshead _______.

I refuse to Honk for the Bank ______.

"H - E - R" is how you _____ ___ .

The things Suess likes in his cellar. The ______, and the______, and the______, and the ______, and the ______, and the _______, and the ______.

Then some girls would come out on stage or get pulled out of the audience to dance on stage while the band jammmed.

... and then I come back out and bust out with some freestyle...


First Billionaire. ____ _ ___________.


He never talks, "Penn and ______."


She couldn't hear or see. ______ ______.


Prarie Home Companion Guy ________ ______.


Paleontologist on Friends. ____ ______ .


Spoon-bending psychic. ___ ______.

Buffy! _____ ________ ______.



Robocop! ____ ______.



"Where's The Beef?" _____ ______.

80's Singers Named Kevin Song

I had the idea of writing songs that display my knowledge of trivia.

I sing these songs by myself, on a stage, in front of a crowd, with a microphone.

Where-ever I leave a blank space in the lyrics, the crowd sings the answer to a trivia question.

Let's try it.

Mickey Mouse's Girlfriend - ______.

Driving and Crying, Kevin - ______.

Germany always first invades - ______.

Dexy's Midnight Runners, Kevin _______.

Robert De Niro played a modern-day Samurai in - _____.

REO Speedwagon, Kevin - ______.

Velvet Jones wrote "I Wanna Be a - __.

Quiet Riot, Kevin - ______.

James Brown - Popcorn, 1968

A truely great South Carolinian died this week. The "Godfather of Soul" taught Michael Jackson to dance and taught us all how to get up on the down stroke. Like Elvis, Jb is best remembered young and thin.

Worst Supergroup Ever - TRON

Do You remember the very bad 80's Disney Movie, Tron, where Jeff Bridges gets sucked into a computer.

Do you remember the 2 Tron arcade video games?

Do you remember the 80's supergroup Tron?

Bonnie Tyler had just released her most successful 80's single and video, Total Eclipse of The Heart, when she fired her band and decided to form a Supergroup with her two best friends Andrew Ridgley (of Wham) and John Oates (of Hall & Oates). The entire band The News dumped Huey Lewis and joined up immediately when Bonnie called.

Thus,

Tyler, Bonnie
Ridgley, Andrew
Oates, John and
News, The

was born.

Does anyone remember what Tron's only hit was?

Supergroup Defined

A few days ago I blogged about the supergroup XYZ(link) and then I realized that some of you who are Rock-Challenged may not know what a "Supergroup" is.

In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe music groups composed of members who had already achieved fame or respect in other groups or as individual artists.

The term took its name from the 1968 album Super Session with Al Kooper, Mike Bloomfield, and Stephen Stills. The coalition of Crosby, Stills and Nash (later Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young(photo at right)) is another early example, given the success of their prior bands (The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, and The Hollies).

Supergroups tend to be short-lived, often lasting only for an album or two, perhaps because of the natural conflict of egos between established stars. Additionally, supergroups are often formed as side-projects that are not intended to be permanent.

Great Mix Tapes - Juju Eyeball

I had a friend in college named Brian who loved the Beatles, particularly John Lennon. Brian had even based his hair style on a photo of John Lennon.

Before I met Brian, I was a casual Beatles fan who had heard Sgt. Peppers and "Stars-On-45 Beatles Medley".

Brian changed all that with one tremendous Beatles Mix Tape, Juju Eyeball. Juju Eyeball was named after a line in the song "Come Together" from the album Abbey Road.

Last week on the way to day-care I was playing a Beatles Studio Bootleg (link) called Acoustic Submarine. Madeline really liked one of the songs and now I have to play it once or twice, every morning. Madeline sings and Sam air-guitars.

I remembered when I had first heard that song...

Juju Eyeball

The Diamond Shines No More

"Remember when you were young,
you shone like the sun.

Shine on you crazy diamond.

Now there's a look in your eye,
Like black holes in the Sky.

Shine on you crazy diamond."

Syd Barrett the troubled Pink Floyd co-founder who spent his last years in reclusive anonymity, has died, the band said Tuesday. He was 60.

A spokeswoman for the band said Barrett died several days ago, but she did not disclose the cause of death. Barrett had suffered from diabetes for years.

The surviving members of Pink Floyd — David Gilmour, Nick Mason, Roger Waters and Richard Wright — said they were "very upset and sad to learn of Syd Barrett's death."

"Syd was the guiding light of the early band lineup and leaves a legacy which continues to inspire," they said in a statement.

Barrett co-founded Pink Floyd in 1965 with Waters, Mason and Wright, and wrote many of the band's early songs. Barrett is thought to have named Pink Floyd after two little-known bluesmen, Pink Anderson and Floyd Council, whose recordings were part of his record collection.

Pink Floyd's jazz-infused rock and drug-laced, multimedia "happenings" made them darlings of the London psychedelic scene. The 1967 album "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" — largely written by Barrett, who also played guitar — was a commercial and critical hit.

But Barrett suffered from mental instability, exacerbated by his use of LSD. His behavior grew increasingly erratic, and he left the group in 1968 — five years before the release of Pink Floyd's most popular album, "Dark Side of the Moon" — to be replaced by Gilmour.

Barrett released two solo albums — "The Madcap Laughs" and "Barrett" — but soon withdrew from the music business altogether. An album of previously unreleased material, "Opel," was issued in 1988.

He reverted to his real name, Roger Barrett, and spent much of the rest of his life living quietly in his hometown of Cambridge, England. Moving into his mother's suburban house, he passed the time painting and tending the garden. His former bandmates made sure Barrett continued to receive royalties from his work with Pink Floyd.

He was a familiar figure to neighbors, often seen cycling or walking to the corner store, but rarely spoke to the fans and journalists who sought him out over the years.

Despite his brief career, Barrett's fragile, wistful songs influenced many musicians, from David Bowie — who covered the Barrett track "See Emily Play" — to the other members of Pink Floyd, who recorded the album "Wish You Were Here" as a tribute to their troubled bandmate. The band also dwelt on themes of mental illness on the albums "Dark Side of the Moon" and "The Wall."

From David Bowie's website:

"I can't tell you how sad I feel. Syd was a major inspiration for me. The few times I saw him perform in London at UFO and the Marquee clubs during the sixties will forever be etched in my mind. He was so charismatic and such a startlingly original songwriter.

Also, along with Anthony Newley, he was the first guy I'd heard to sing pop or rock with a British accent. His impact on my thinking was enormous. A major regret is that I never got to know him. A diamond indeed." - David Bowie, July 11th 2006

Scariest Album Cover?

I vote for Black Sabbath's self titled debut album which was released in the UK on Friday the 13th, February 1970.

The trees are scary, the landscape is scary, the building is scary, and then there is the witch...

Can anyone top this album cover in terms of scariness?

Great Music - Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd is one of the best bands ever.

When Pink Floyd first formed around 1966, they were led by a wierd dude named Syd Barret who wrote the songs and did a lot of LSD. During this time period Pink Floyd kind of sucked. Luckily for music fans, Syd Barret was so crazy (He would later be institutionalized) that he was replaced around 1968 by guitar player David Gilmour.

Pink Floyd, with David Gilmour(guitar/vocals), Roger Waters(bass/vocals), Richard Wright(keyboards), and Nick Mason(drums), went on to become one of the greatest rock bands of all time. Probably the most famous Progressive Rock Band.

In my opinion, the first great Pink Floyd album is 1971's Meddle, with every album after that also being different and good.

Roger Waters left the band in 1985, so any album after The Final Cut is not true Pink Floyd but is still good.

Pink Floyd was known for their concept albums (where all of the songs are based on a single story or concept as opposed to just being a collection of random songs), elaborate concerts, and album art.

Pink Floyd is also knowm for having some long songs such as: "Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts 1-9)" (25:40); "Echoes" (23:29); and "Dogs" (17:08)

Pink floyd also has some of the coolest song names of any band such as: "Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict"; "Careful with That Axe, Eugene"; and "Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast."

Pink Floyd related memory - When I was in high scool, me and a few of my friends made fake ID's and went to a bar in downtown Columbia and saw Clearlight, Reflections of Pink Floyd, a Pink Floyd cover band. The guy at the door could tell we were underage, but didn't care.

Pink Floyd Trivia - Pink Floyd's 1973 album Dark Side Of The Moon is the second best selling album of all time behind Michael Jackson's Thriller.

For more about Pink Floyd, check out this website(link).

The Mix Tape

A mix tape is a home-made compilation of songs (typically copyrighted music taken from other sources) recorded in a specific order, traditionally onto a compact audio cassette. Creating and distributing mixes in the form of a compact disc or MP3 playlist has become the contemporary method of choice, but the term mix tape is still commonly used.

A mix tape, which usually reflects the musical tastes of its compiler, can range from a casually selected list of favorite songs, to a conceptual mix of songs linked by a theme or mood, to a highly personal statement tailored to the tape's intended recipient.

There are many types of mix tapes: the collection of favorite songs, the "snapshot" mix of recent favorites, the driving mix, the workout mix, the party mix, the concept/theme mix (a mix of Christmas songs, songs about cars, or covers of songs by a particular artist), the mood mix (simply a mix of songs intended to sustain a specific mood, stated or unstated), the romantic mix and the break-up mix.

The Semisonic song "Singing in My Sleep" is about a mix tape. The lyrics: "Got your tape and it changed my mind... / I've been living in your cassette... / Now I'm falling in love too fast / With you or the songs you chose / I can hear you sing it to me in my sleep."

An episode of Friends entitled "The One With the Mix Tape" features a mix tape given by Chandler to Monica for Valentine's Day. This mix tape had been given to Chandler by his ex-girlfriend Janice, a fact which Monica discovers when we hear Janice's voice on the tape.

I have made and popped the tabs on many a mix tape. I started with my JVC dual tape deck and cd player in 1987 and still make mix cd's for myself, the kids, and others, today.

Essayist Geoffrey O'Brien has called the personal mix tape "the most widely practiced American art form," and many mix tape enthusiasts believe that by carefully selecting and ordering the tracks in a mix, an artistic statement can be created that is greater than the sum of its individual songs.

Making a good mix tape is an art form and is a lot like blogging. I don't actually make anything up, I just find cool stuff and arrange it an an interesting order.

Mix tapes, and blogs, are a form of emotional self-expression. But there is also a science involved. For instance, in my opinion, a good mix tape has short songs that you don't hear on the radio, and shouldn't have more than 1 song from the same band. Nowadays, I mostly make Sinbad(link) mix cd's that have songs that girls and children will like.

Like wise, Turnipblog is mostly Sinbaded, I try to have a visual in every post, and I would never put 2 kid tips or Duke-bashing posts back to back.

There are mix tape masters like Kate Tell and Krebby. I am pretty darn good.

If I make a good mix tape with cool songs that you never heard before, or have a good blog where I collect cool things from the internet; It makes me a cooler and a better person.

Tell me about the best mix tape you ever made or even the lamest mix tape you ever received.

I am going to post some song lists from my mix cd's. I will also attempt to dig up some old mix tapes and post the song lists.

Tragically Hip - Intimate Show

Tragically Hip is the official Turnipblog Band(link).

I have seen the Tragically Hip in concert many times. The first time that I saw the Tragically Hip live was in a club in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1991, right after the Hip cd Road Apples was released (link). It was a small, intimate, show and we stood at the very front, right in front of the stage. You have to have somewhere to set your beer, right.

The Hip usually rolls through the South-East United States in support of every cd that they release, and I have been there. There was a bar/small-concert-hall in 5-Points, Columbia SC called Rockafellas. Art Burke was an owner of Rockafellas. We bugged Art until he got the Tragically Hip to play Rockafellas twice. Both times, I was at the very front, standing right in front of the stage. You could go pee, grab a few beers, and still push your way back to the front. One time the Hip even played in Augusta, GA at a bar. Talk about intimate.

Intimate Hip Show Moment - When I was In Law School, The Hip played in Augusta Ga in support of Fully Completely cd. A few of us went and we stood right in front of the stage. When people playing pool can easily see the band, that is intimate. My friend Beattie was standing right in front of the stage, singing very loudly.

The hip played a slow song, I can't remember what song. Beattie was singing super loudly. Not only that, but Beattie was anticipating the words to the song and screaming them just before Gordon Downie, the Hip's singer. Gord was frustrated and yelled "Shut-up" at Beattie. Beattie shut-up and Gord reached down and offered Beattie a sip of his water in consolation.

I treasure the memory of those intimate shows, because they don't exist any more.

I have never been back to Europe.

Rockafellas is now "Jake's". Jake's doesn't have bands and If I walked in there, the college kids would wonder who the old guy was.

The Hip have gotten older and they don't waste time playing in small grubby venues in the United States.

The Hip now know that Augusta, GA is grubby.

The Hip only play larger places near me, like House of Blues in Myrtle Beach and Variety Playhouse in Atlanta. I still go see the Hip, but it just isn't the same.

Have You Heard Your Hip Today?

Ok, the official Turnipblog Band is The Tragically Hip.

There is a link to The Hip's web site in the Turnipblog Links Section (in the sidebar on the right), where you can listen to a new, different, live Hip song every day.

If you are too lazy to look in the sidebar, here is the Hip web site(link).

It's Good for You.

Why Me?

Right now, Styx is playing in Columbia at the 3 Rivers Music Festival. I didn't go. $25 for a one day ticket is too much, even for Styx and Little River Band.

Dennis De Young is not touring with Styx. He is at home, alone, wearing a blazer. Dennis walks by a clock and looks at the time. He knows that Styx is playing at that very moment in Columbia. Dennis slumps his shoulders. He walks over to the wall, the wall with all of his platinum albums. Dennis pulls down his "Kilroy Was Here" mask from the wall and holds it in his hands. He shuffles over to a chair and plops down in it. Dennis slumps down in the chair, still holding the mask in both hands. Dennis looks at the mask and starts to sing.

Good Music - Truth

Truth is a Jeff Beck album that Rod Stewart sang on at the age of 24.

I write this post to put in perspective just how ridiculous Rod Stewart's comments were last night on American Idol (discussed in yesterday's Turnipblog post).

The History

The Yardbirds is a famous white boy blues band from England from the 60's. Any Rock Trivia person must be familiar with The Yardbirds' history of great guitarists; Jeff Beck replaced lead guitarist Eric Clapton, who was then replaced by Jimmy Page. Page and Beck were actually band mates for a six-month period in 1966. Then, depending on whom you believe, Beck either quit the group or was fired.

Beck moved on, seeking to create a “super group” featuring a heavier blues sound. Beck formed the Jeff Beck group, and in 1968 the group released their first album, Truth. The Jeff Beck Group featured a then relatively unknown 23 year old, Rod Stewart on vocals, Ron Wood on bass, and Mick Waller on drums. Beck also got legendary rock pianist Nicky Hopkins to guest on several tracks, and even future Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones appears on organ.

Jeff Beck is known, by music geeks, as one of the best guitar players of all time. Beck is not as well known as Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, or Jimi Hendrix because Beck can't sing, write songs, or keep a band together. Sure enough, after a second album (Beck-ola), Rod Stewart and Ron Wood quit the band in 1969. They joined the Small Faces, who became The Faces. Ron Wood later joined The Rolling Stones as a guitar player, and Stewart went on to a successful solo career.


The Significance of Truth

Many people consider Truth the first heavy metal album, preceding the early Led Zeppelin albums, with which it has much in common in terms of its approach. That approach = a combination of wailing vocals by Rod Stewart, the thunderous rhythm section of Ron Wood's bass and Mickey Waller's drums, and Beck's blistering lead guitar.

Truth established Jeff Beck as a star in his own right and brought Rod Stewart to a wider audience. It also established the group in the US and had a major impact on Jimmy Page who was in the process of putting together Led Zeppelin and developing the sound.

Truth was released several months before Led Zeppelin shipped their first album. Jimi Page used Truth as a blue print for Led Zeppelin's sound, as Beck 'n' company belted out blues-based hard rock. Truth has a cover of "You Shook Me", and so does Led Zeppelin I.

Truth was a launching pad of three Rock legends and an important piece in the history of rock. Others may have perfected the heavy metal sound, but Truth is where it all began.

Rod Stewart not telling "Truth"

Tonight Rod Stewart was on American Idol, working with the 7 finalists on American Standards.

On more than one occasion, Rod said something to the effect that he couldn't have possibly done what the Idol contestants were doing at such a young age.

I screamed at the TV, "What are you talking about?"

Here are the ages of the remaining male contestants: Ace = 25, Chris = 26, Elliot = 27, and Taylor 28.

Rod Stewart signed his first recording contract and released his first single in 1964, at the age of 19.

In 1968, at the age of 24, Rod was asked to join The Jeff Beck Group and sang on the album "Truth". This is a Classic Rock Album that made it to #15 on the Billboard Charts.

It is pretty sad when I know more Rock Trivia about Rod Stewart than Rod himself does.

Good Music - Old 97's

The Old 97's are one of my favorite bands. Old 97's are an Altertnative Country Rock band from Texas(think Uncle Tupelo or Jayhawks).

Old 97's have been around since 1993, but I discovered them on the internet in 1999.

My wife and kids love the Old 97's. The lead singer, Rhett Miller, is good looking, and the lyrics and music are catchy. I have yet to see Old 97's live, but I will some day soon. I have a few Old 97's soundboards, and the band sounds great live.

I bought the Old 97's CD Fight Songs, when it came out in 1999. The very Kinks-ish song Murder (Or a Heart Attack) from Fight Songs got some radio airplay.

I bought Satellite Rides, when it came out in 2001. Satellite Rides is probably my favorite Old 97's CD.

I bought Drag It Up, the latest Old 97's CD, when it came out in 2004. Won't be Home, The New Kid, and Bloomington are my favorite songs on Drag It Up.

I will now perform the Old 97's song Question, from Satellite Rides as featured on the TV show Scrubs when Turk proposed to Carla.