For this month’s topic your blogger didn’t have some deep meaning in mind, but rather mostly older three-chord rock and roll that only the most obsessive music fans would likely remember. This is the kind of music I liked as a kid in the ’60s (and later when bands tried to copy it) that were either not big hits or were album tracks. I still slide back to it when I need a jump-start of adrenaline. Don’t expect anything more than primitive lizard-brain music but if you like rock when it still rolled then dig in. I frankly couldn’t stop with just 25 so next month’s post will add 30 more. By the way, I did two posts on Random Rare Records January and February of 2022 if you want more rare rock.
1.Cat Mother & The All Night Newsboys – Good Old Rock ‘N’ Roll
Back between my junior and senior years at Broomfield High in the summer of 1969, this was a #21 U.S. hit. They started out in New York City in 1967. After psychedelia had pushed old-school rock & roll off the charts, this was a return to basics being a medley of songs like “Sweet Little Sixteen” and “Chantilly Lace”. This was from their first album The Street Giveth… and the Street Taketh Away which was produced by Jimi Hendrix of all people – it’s not heavy, bluesy or psychedelic which would be the style you’d expect from Jimi. The young me was shocked after buying their second LP Albion Doo-wah and finding they had changed their sound to a rootsy style (sort of like The Band) eschewing good old rock and roll. In truth that album grew on me, but I still go back to this their first single as what I like the most. By the way, The Dave Clark Five did a cover version that charted at #7 in the U.K. in 1969.
2.Steppenwolf – Berry Rides Again
Here is the song that inspired this post as for some reason I found this going through my brain a few weeks back. Yes I bought the LP for the song “Born To Be Wild”, but this roots-rocker and “Sookie Sookie” were my other faves from their 1968 debut. Singer John Kay (Joachim Krauledat) wrote the song by stringing together the titles of old Chuck Berry classics like “Nadine” and “Maybelline” in to a story about old girlfriends. In 1968 this actually was pretty radical to be doing basic rock and roll as rock had gotten heavier and more complex. Michael Monarch plays some tasty Berry licks while Goldie McJohn really rocks the 88s a la Johnnie Johnson (Berry’s piano player).
3.NRBQ – Mama Get Down Those Rock & Roll Shoes
1969 was the year bands started edging towards basic rock and roll again and this Columbia LP grabbed my entertainment dollars back when I didn’t have much of them to spend. It was actually their cover of the old Eddie Cochran song “C’mon Everybody” that first enthralled the young me. They were originally a southern rock band called The New Rhythm & Blues Quartet which was shortened to NRBQ. The intro pictures show them at the far left. They’re still going today with pianist Terry Adams being the only original member left (he also wrote this rocker).
4.The Electric Flag – Wine
Let’s stay on the Columbia records label with a track from the first album by a band that was sort of a super group of ’60s blues/r&b players. Guitarist Mike Bloomfield and drummer Buddy Miles are the best known though singer Nick Gravenites, keys-man Barry Goldberg and bassist Harvey Brooks were big names too. Originally Mitch Ryder was asked to be the singer but he declined. Their debut record A Long Time Coming ended with this rockin’ reworking of the old Sticks McGee song “Drinkin’ Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee” (#2 r&b in 1949). When I bought this album in 1968 I was a bit disappointed as there weren’t enough tracks like this and “Killing Floor”. They are the middle band pictured in our intro.
5.Savoy Brown – Let It Rock (Rock & Roll On The Radio)
The only constant with the British blues group Savoy Brown was change with only one member lasting through all their albums – the late Kim Simmonds (guitarist). With all their line-up changes, there were two main eras us fans remember starting with their formation in 1965. The main core of that band left to form Foghat in 1970 leaving Simmonds alone to rebuild. This song was from the 1971 LP Street Corner Talking which was the first with Dave Walker on lead vocals along with three members from fellow British blues band Chicken Shack. One of those new members was keys-man Paul Raymond who had replaced Christine Perfect in Chicken Shack when she married John McVie and joined his band Fleetwood Mac. Paul composed and sang this song for Savoy Brown before eventually leaving to join UFO and their various offshoots. The lyric references Sticks McGee and his song about wine, by the way. Simmonds lived from Dec. 5 1947 till Dec. 13 2022.
6.Warren Phillips & The Rockets – Blue Jean Boogie
While Savoy Brown was recording the 1969 LP A Step Further, members Lonesome Dave Peverett, Roger Earl, Tony Stevens and Bob Hall knocked out a quick set of oldies. The record was only released overseas as The World Of Rock & Roll by Warren Philllips & The Rockets. Much later when Foghat was successful it was released in the U.S. by London Records under the title Before Foghat Days which is how I found it back in 1979. “Blue Jean Boogie” was one of the band originals on the album and is found at 4:45 in to this video.
7.Fleetwood Mac – Tallahassee Lassie
Let’s return to Fleetwood Mac with this Freddy Cannon stomper that the Peter Green-led act recorded for a March 1969 BBC radio session. I had wanted to feature the 1970 solo album Jeremy Spencer and the song “You Made A Hit” but every time a record is posted on youtube from that album, it gets deleted. This track is a pretty good 2nd choice and seems more typical of the oldies that Spencer liked than the blues Green liked – go figure as Greeny sings lead. The 3rd guitarist at this time was Danny Kirwan who played on their next album Then Play On which was way different than this rocker. The song was written by Bob Crewe, Frank Slay and Frederick Picariello (Cannon’s real name). It got to #6 in the U.S. and #17 in the U.K. back in 1959. By the way, as usual this proves my point that all rock and roll is better with handclaps. A note for all you youngsters – don’t be confused as this is an early version of the totally differerent sounding pop band of the same name from years later that dumped the blues as fronted by Buckingham and Nicks.
8.Ten Years After – Going Back To Birmingham
Another bigtime British blues band of the late ’60s and early ’70s was Ten Years After with guitar and vocals handled by the late Alvin Lee. Their eighth LP Positive Vibrations came out in 1974 and included this Little Richard cover. It was their last album of new material for fifteen years as Lee moved on to a solo career. Alvin lived from Dec. 19, 1944 till March 6, 2013 when he passed on during routine treatment to correct artial arrhythmia proving there is no such thing as simple surgery.
9.Canned Heat – Big Fat
Here’s another blues group but in this case an American one. This was an amped-up version of the 1949 Fats Domino song “The Fat Man” that frankly doesn’t get the recognition it deserves for being proto-rock and roll long before it existed (at least in name). The lyrics are a bit different (Fats for instance says he weighs 200 pounds while Bob Hite says 300) and the rolling piano and scat vocal break is replaced by Hite’s nasty blues harmonica. When your future Dentist bought the Hallelujah album by Canned Heat in the summer of 1969, it was a big let-down from Living The Blues and the hit “Going Up The Country”. The only redeeming song for me was this rocker. These guys are the far right band pictured in our intro.
10.Chicken Shack – Unlucky Boy
Barrelhouse piano man Champion Jack Dupree waxed the song “Chicken Shack” so it was only fitting that the British blues band of that name should record a song written by him (along with Big Mama Thornton). Thornton’s take on “Unlucky Girl” was far more bluesy and slowed down while Stan Webb’s outfit rocked it up after changing the gender and making it the title of their 1973 Deram label LP. By this point, Webb was the last original member with Christine Perfect (McVie) having left for Fleetwood Mac and the rest of the band for Savoy Brown. As this is being written, Webb (born Feb. 3, 1946 in London) still leads a version of the band.
11.Mungo Jerry – Baby Let’s Play House
In the U.S. this British group are known strictly for the #3 1970 single “In The Summertime”. When that song came out, I picked up their debut album on the Janus label which included this faithful cover of the old Elvis Presley rockabilly song on the Sun label (1955). His was a reworked cover of an Arthur Gunter original and was paired with “I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone”. Mungo Jerry was far more successful in the U.K. than in the U.S. and was led by Ray Dorset. One of the original members was pianist Colin Earl who was the brother of the Savoy Brown/Foghat drummer Roger Earl.
12.Long John Baldry – Don’t Try To Lay No Boogie Woogie On The King Of Rock & Roll
On the strength of this rocker your Dentist layed down his hard-earned $2.99 at Budget Tapes & Records back in 1971 and bought the LP It Ain’t Easy. As it turned out that and the title track were the only songs I liked which was your fear prior to the internet which now allows you to sample music before you buy it to see if the whole record is decent. At 6’7 John was tall hence the ‘Long’. He was involved with the early British blues scene and led a band that at one time or another included Rod Stewart and Elton John so each of them produced one side of this LP, his most successful. He had a couple of big ballad hits in the U.K., but this single was his biggest in the U.S. at #73. It was an edit of the 6:46 LP version that took out the 3+ minute rap at the start about John getting arrested for busking on the streets of London. The original hit was by Minnesota band Crow in 1970 (#52) and was written by Jeff Thomas who also recorded it. Both their versions were slower and didn’t have the same drive. Several of the Rolling Stones had also been in an early band with Baldry and if you listen to the intro to their 1966 live LP Got Live If You Want It you can hear John announce them before “Under My Thumb”. He lived from Jan. 12, 1941 till passing away in Canada on July 21, 2005.
13.The Guess Who – Don’t You Want Me
The 1974 Road Food LP included the big hits “Star Baby” and “Clap For The Wolfman”. The Burton Cummings original “Don’t You Want Me” first appeared as the third song in the comedic music medley “Hi Rockers!” from the 1972 Rockin’ LP. Here it is taken from the medley as a stand-alone ’50s piano-driven throwback. By the time I bought the Road Food album, guitarists Kurt Winter and Donnie McDougall had departed to be replaced by Dom Troiano. It was this version of the band that I raced to the mall (Villa Italia or Westland I think) back in the day to meet and get autographs on my album. While I enjoyed talking to Burton, as I recall it was a real Spinal Tap moment as I think I was about the only person there to meet the band.
14.Flash Cadillac & The Continental Kids – Betty Lou
After reading a glowing review of their self-titled debut Epic LP in the short-lived Phonograph Record Magazine, I had to buy this excellent album of covers and band originals. Little did I realize that they were a Colorado band who I would become close to and write an article about many years later (see my blog from Jan. 2016 for an update of that piece). At this point in 1972 they were about to be riding high from appearing in the 1973 movie American Graffiti as Herby & The Heartbeats (and later as Fish & The Fins in a 1975 episode of Happy Days). “Betty Lou” was a Kris Moe original that they redid for their 1997 CD Rock & Roll Rules. Moe, Sam McFadin and Linn Phillips III are sadly gone now with original bassist Warren Knight occasionally still leading a new Flash Cadillac in concert.
15.Johnny Winter – Slippin’ & Slidin’
The star of this Little Richard cover from the 1969 Second Winter LP is Johnny’s brother Edgar who pounds some mean piano and adds a tasty sax break. I honestly don’t know if there was ever another double album like this that only used three sides of the vinyl while leaving one blank. That was done to make the music loud on the original record by cutting the grooves deeply in to the vinyl. It worked and this was a better record than his self-titled debut Columbia album from the same year. Johnny was a great blues guitarist from Texas (Feb. 23, 1944 till July 16, 2014) while his brother was two years younger. Being albinos made them a rarity in music. Writing credit has been listed as by Richard Penniman, Edwin Bocage, Al Collins and James Smith.
16.Delaney & Bonnie – Soul Shake
Here is an album your blogger bought back in 1970 on the strength of this one song which also charted as a single at #43 – shoulda just grabbed the 45. This was a cover of a record from 1969 by Peggy Scott and Jo Jo Benson that hit #37 on the U.S. charts. The song was written by Margaret Lewis and Myrna Smith (of The Sweet Inspirations). The Scott and Benson version rocked but used a cheesy electric sitar guitar on the breaks whereas the Delaney & Bonnie version had full instrumental backing. Most of these players ended up backing Eric Clapton, Leon Russell and Joe Cocker over time. The Bramletts were married from 1967 till 1972. Delaney passed following gall bladder surgery at age 69 two days after Christmas 2008.
17.Don Nix – Olena
Nix was a southern rocker hailing from Tennessee and this was his only chart record – #94 in 1971. I grabbed the LP back then and frankly didn’t like anything other than this piano-driven rocker. He had played sax with The Mar-Keys (“Last Night”) and then become a well-known behind the scenes guy as an arranger and producer. His biggest influence on the young me (as guitarist and singer) and my drummer buddy Mr. D was with Nix’s composition “Going Down” (Jeff Beck Group) that we often tried to play (badly) in his basement till Dan’s neighbor would call to make us turn down the volume (sorry Cheryl Watkins wherever you are).
18.Badfinger – Rock Of All Ages
This was included in the 1969 movie The Magic Christian (Peter Sellers, Ringo Starr) and so appeared on the soundtrack LP plus the 1970 Badfinger LP Magic Christian Music on Apple records. Writing credit goes to the three band members who played on it – Tom Evans, Pete Ham and Mike Gibbins (before Joey Molland joined). Production was handled by Paul McCartney who also pounded out a rockin’ piano part. Evans’ histrionic vocal is one of his best. Evans and Ham both came to sad ends (which you can look up online) but while in Badfinger they created some outstanding music.
19.John Lennon with Elephant’s Memory – New York City
Let’s stay on the Apple label for the best song from a John Lennon album best forgotten (and most of his fans have) – Some Time in New York City . In 1972 to follow up his successful Imagine album, John and Yoko with Elephants Memory (as the Plastic Ono Band) released a double LP of strident political songs that critics and fans alike hated. Buried at the end of side one, however, was this pretty darn good rock and roll song about the Lennons’ move to New York (sort of a follow-up to “The Ballad of John and Yoko”). John was a rocker after all and his capable backing band here was Elephant’s Memory who were a New York street band that had charted in 1970 with “Mongoose” (#50). Elephant’s Memory also backed up Chuck Berry on his 1973 LP Bio.
20.The Raspberries – I’m A Rocker
Sort of an American version of Badfinger, The Raspberries were more than just Eric Carmen (R.I.P.) though admittedly he did write and sing their most-remembered songs. The guys could flat out rock as can be heard on this track from their third LP – Side 3 (1973 on Capitol records). “I’m A Rocker” was released as a single but barely squeaked in to the charts at #94. It was a toss-up whether to include this song or the equally great “All Through The Night” from their last album Starting Over from 1974 (I urge you to look for that video too).
21.Bobby Fuller Drive – Nervous Breakdown
Here is the newest recording on our list but you would never know it since it sounds like a classic oldie. The song is an Eddie Cochran rocker that was found on his posthumous LP Never to Be Forgotten with writing credit going to TV actor Mario Roccuzzo. Texan Bobby Fuller released his version in 1962 on the small Eastwood label. In 2003 Fuller’s brother Randy (who had been a member of The Bobby Fuller Four) and his band Bobby Fuller Drive (two guys who had played with Bobby in the ’60s also) released the CD Breakin’ Rocks which included this more polished take on “Nervous Breakdown”. The CD title was a reference to his brother’s biggest hit “I Fought The Law”. The track-list was mostly covers of his brother’s songs and was really pretty good if little heard at the time by any but the most dedicated fans. For that reason I’ve included it here even thought its not a stomper. By the way, “Never To Be Forgotten” is also the title of a Bobby and Randy Fuller composition that is also one of the best songs on this album.
22.April Wine – Wanna Rock
This album track from Canadian band April Wine was found on their most successful LP The Nature Of The Beast (1981). It contained their biggest hit, the ballad “Just Between You and Me”. “Wanna Rock” was written by singer/guitarist Myles Goodwyn as was most of the album. While the band is still going with one original member (guitarist Brian Greenway), Goodwyn passed in 2023 at age 75.
23.Russ Ballard – She Said Yeah
Rolling Stones fans may recognize this song as the lead track from their 1965 album December’s Children (And Everybody’s). It was originally the b-side to the 1958 single “Bad Boy” by Larry Williams and was listed as written by Jackson and Christy on his record but G. Roderick, S. Christy and R. Jackson on the Stones record. Other places list Sonny Bono and Roddy Jackson. Ballard was mostly successful as a songwriter but is best known as the singer of “Hold Your Head Up” for Argent (though it was written by Rod Argent and Chris White). This was found on his Barnet Dogs LP from 1980 which contained the #58 chart single “On the Rebound”.
24.Bram Tchaikovsky – I’m A Believer
Take a Monkees hit from 1966 and make it in to a monkey-beat rocker in 1979 in the thankfully fading face of disco and you have grabbed your Dentist’s entertainment dollar. The Bee Gees had just had their last #1 with “Love You Inside Out” and America was ready to burn their leisure suits and start rocking again with groups like The Knack and The Romantics (thanks guys!). Peter Bramall had taken the nom-de-classical-music Tchaikovsky while in the U.K. band The Motors (“Airport”). When he went solo his debut was Strange Man, Changed Man which spawned the #37 hit “Girl of My Dreams”.
25.Paul Collins’ Beat – Will You Listen
The Beat was lead by Paul Collins and was one of the best bands to come out of the New Wave of rock and roll in 1979/80. While their two Columbia albums are essential purchases, they never found chart success but you still need them if you love guitar rock and roll. Their self-titled 1979 debut is power pop from beginning to end while the 1982 followup The Kids Are The Same exhibits more maturity (though this track from it still rocks like mad). Collins grew up in New York and New Jersey and still occasionally records and tours.
Rock 'n' Roll Reviews and Trivia 