Monday, July 30, 2007

Arrrrrgghhh! Frustration!

I've been ordering and purchasing a lot of music lately through Amazon. Also, I've been burning CDs for a friend. There's been a flood of music going on around here at my cabin!

Yesterday, while sitting enjoying a sip of wine and conversation with my music-loving friend, a thought flashed through my mind...in one side and out the other, leaving a trail, but not a clue as to the name of the thought! Since that "flash" I've been tearing my hair out trying to think of a particular rock group. I had taped, onto reel-to-reel, years ago, a borrowed album of not an extremely well-known a band. They weren't a "commercially-popular" group, but they were excellent. Of course, the reel-to-reel tape player is long gone, as are the tapes...as is my memory of the particular group's name! And ever since its teasing, fleeting appearance in my mind yesterday, leaving behind not a trace of a clue to its name other than a vague, foggy image, I've been tormented, trying desperately to recall. Isn't this kind of thing so damn frustrating?

As I've been going slowly insane here trying to remember, I've been searching the Net in an attempt to trigger some movement in my brain. I've come up with a list of pop/rock music from the early to mid-seventies that still stands up today....see what you think...

  • Ain't Too Proud to Beg - The Rolling Stones
  • The Air That I Breathe - The Hollies (always has been a big favourite of mine)
  • Already Gone - Eagles
  • Annie's Song - John Denver
  • Another Park, Another Sunday - The Doobie Brothers
  • Back Home Again - John Denver
  • The Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me - Gladys Knight & The Pips
  • Billy, Don't Be a Hero - Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods (this is a bit "whatever" but it reminds me of a special time in my life...so it always brings back memories when I hear it)
  • The Bitch is Back - Elton John
  • Bungle in the Jungle - Jethro Tull
  • Call on Me - Chicago
  • Can't Get Enough - Bad Company
  • Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe - Barry White
  • Carefree Highway - Gordon Lightfoot
  • Cat's in the Cradle - Harry Chapin
  • Clap for the Wolfman - The Guess Who
  • Come and Get Your Love - Redbone
  • Come Monday - Jimmy Buffett
  • Country Bumpkin - Cal Smith
  • If You Could Read My Mind - Gordon Lightfoot
  • Daybreak - Nilsson
  • Devotion - Earth, Wind & Fire
  • Distant Lover - Marvin Gaye
  • Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me - Elton John
  • Dream On - The Righteous Brothers
  • Fly Like An Eagle - The Steve Miller Band
  • Take The Money & Run - The Steve Miller Band
  • Piano Man - Billy Joel
  • Ricky Don't Lose That Number - Steely Dan
  • Do It Again - Steely Dan
  • Dirty Work - Steely Dan
  • Reelin' In the Years - Steely Dan (Oh! The whole album "Can't Buy a Thrill")!
  • Feel Like Makin' Love - Roberta Flack
  • Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd
  • Free Man in Paris - Joni Mitchell
  • Haven't Got Time For the Pain - Carly Simon
  • Help Me - Joni Mitchell
  • Hooked On A Feeling - Blue Swede
  • I Can Help - Billy Swan
  • I Feel a Song (in My Heart) - Gladys Knight & The Pips
  • I Honestly Love You - Olivia Newton-John
  • I Shot the Sheriff - Eric Clapton
  • I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song - Jim Croce
  • Joy (Pt. 1) - Isaac Hayes
  • Lookin' for a Love - Bobby Womack
  • Midnight at the Oasis - Maria Muldaur
  • Midnight Rider - Gregg Allman
  • Mockingbird - Carly Simon & James Taylor
  • My Thang - James Brown
  • The Night Chicago Died - Paper Lace (this was on the same compilation album as "Billy Don't Be a Hero...so same memories of that time)
  • One Hell of a Woman - Mac Davis
  • Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues) - Three Dog Night
  • Please Come To Boston - Dave Loggins
  • River's Risin' - Edgar Winter Group
  • Rock and Roll Heaven - The Righteous Brothers
  • Seasons In the Sun - Terry Jacks - (based on a Jacques Brel song)
  • Je t'aime - Jacques Brel
  • The Show Must Go On - Three Dog Night
And as "The Show Must Go On"...so could this list! So much good music came out of the early to mid-seventies. Not to mention "Vanilla Fudge" who, of course, formed earlier than the seventies...but they, too, were great. And of course, if I insist on writing about music of that time, who could or should ever forget "Time" and "The Time Has Come" by The Chambers Brothers? Or Crosby, Stills, Nash (And Young)...The Moody Blues! And still...there is Tangerine Dream....and I've not even mentioned David Bowie, yet! Just as I wrote that, Santana poked his head around the corner!

And how-about the "Easy Rider" soundtrack!!! Oh! Dear! How could I even think of leaving out Van Morrison's "Astral Weeks"?

Did I hear someone mention "Canned Heat"? And of course, Deep Purple had to join in!

*Cough*...excuse me! Who opened The Doors and let Hendrix and Joplin in?

I shouldn't start on music...I never know where to end! Same goes with books...I'll have to formulate a list of books and authors soon, too...just to stir up the pot even more!

In the meantime, I'll keep tearing my hair out, strand by strand, until I can remember the name of the band that originally started all of this!

24 comments:

  1. Oh, my God, I'm dying of nostalgia here. What a great list! I love just about everything on it, saw a lot of those groups back in the day. The song that is eluding you -- can you think of any lines from it? That would help to track it down.

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  2. It's not a song, Serena...it's a whole album...I can't remember the name of the group. It wasn't a 'commercial" group and probably wasn't that well-known to the "mainstream"...if you understand what I mean. It will eventually come to me, but it's just very frustrating at the moment...it's there, hidden away in the filing system of my...I'll finally find it, I hope! ;)

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  3. I hate when I can't remember something. I torment myself until I do. I saw in a movie or something once where this guy went through the alphabet and hit on what he was trying to remember. I tried it and it works, except for me it isn't until the second round through the alphabet that it hits me.

    Ex:
    Alabama
    Black Sabbath
    Creedence Clearwater Rival
    Def Leppard
    Eagles
    Foreigner
    Georgia Satelite
    Hootie & The Blow Fish
    etc.
    etc.
    etc.

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  4. I do the same, Robbie...go through the alphabet...sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't...this is one of the times it doesn't! ;)

    Good to see you...thanks for trying to job my memory..it will come...I just don't know when.

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  5. Goodness, Lee, what a trip down a musical memory lane. So many of those songs zapped me straight back to various times in my life...not sure whether I like that or not. The music was great though.

    I had that same compilation album with Paper Lace and Bo Donaldson, too.

    BTW, you'll remember that name in the middle of the night. But don't call me if you do...:-)

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  6. I know, Robyn...it almost came to me a moment ago...then I remembered I still had an indexed notebook somewhere that listed the music on the reel-to-reels...Eureka! I thought, and went on a hunt for it. Found the book...but of course, the album I'm looking for isn't in there!!!!!

    I'm doing a search through Amazon....I only have 18,000 more albums to go! ;)

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  7. Hi Lee ~~ Something different - but
    a great list of music there. I love
    so many of those songs, esp. John Denver, the Eagles and Elton John.
    Thanks for the info on the "Fairy Cottage" just out of Gympie and if I get there again, that will be a must.
    Take care dear friend, Love, Merle.

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  8. Anonymous5:52 AM

    I like them all, but I'm not much of a John Denver fan. Just a matter of taste.

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  9. lol
    I love your writing "in one side & out the other, leaving a trail,but not a clueas to the name of the thought"
    What a HOOT. Mine go through at 200 miles and hour and leave only a smoke trail. ha ha
    Your memory is so great it is a comfort that you too cannot remember.
    ah, you always inspire walks down memory lane and the music will never stop. thanks

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  10. Oh, wow, now I've got so many old tunes running through my head I'll never get them all back out.

    Some others that your list brought to mind: Black Water, Saturday in the Park, Ventura Highway, Horse with no Name, ...I'm never gonna get any work done now.

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  11. Great list of music. I am going to my vinyl cupboard now! Do let us know when you remember the name of that band...

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  12. oh man.. how i STILL love John Denvers songs.. all of them!

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  13. Hi Lee

    I've lost most of my favorite oldies, as I gave the reel-to-reel deck away along with all my old tapes.The Idea was to replace them with CDs, but I never have.

    The LP turntable has been stareing at me for several years, and since we moved I don't know where the records are either.

    Your list has me on the hunt for some of the oldies I miss. I went through a period when I really liked Pink Floyd. I have everything they recorded (I think) in digital format thanks to a friend and fellow Fan.

    Your missing Album...what type music was it? (Shhhhh! that's called a senior moment in my house. Don't tell anyone)

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  14. I'm not a big fan of Elton John's Merle, but there are a couple of songs of his that I like. Be careful if you go to the "Fairy Cottage", they throw "fairy dust" all over you! ;)

    I saw Denver perform live about 18 months before his untimely death, Steve...his voice was pure and strong. He was a wonderful wordsmith...but as you say, it's all individual taste. :)

    It's driving me insane, Lady Di...even more insane than I already am, if that is at all possible! I just creep up on it...and it slips away like quicksilver! ;)

    "Horse Without a Name" almost got there, Kyle...I thought about it. Also Seals & Croft "Summer Breeze"...sorry to open the floodgates...but you will have some fun in the flood! ;)

    Sure will, Welsh...you'll hear me "whoop-de-do" from down here! ;)

    Denver was some kind of wonderful, Deslily. :) Good-looking fellow in real life, too, which was a bit of a surprise...fortunately, I got to meet him.

    I love Pink Floyd, Marc...I had most of their stuff on vinyl, too...I've just ordered "Dark Side of the Moon" on CD through Amazon. I think that will kick-start me to replacing other albums of theirs. They were great. I still have a turntable as part of my Panasonic set-up (reason why I bought it in the first place) and every now and then drag out a vinyl or three to play. I sold such a lot of them...still have a couple of cartons of them stored at a friend's place from when I moved to Hinchinbrook! I kept a few extra-special ones and am not hunting through second-hand Op Shops and repurchasing! lol

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  15. Robyn...in reply to your comment about having that same compilation album way back when...what a coincidence! It was a good album that album.

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  16. Lee, you are awarded the Order of the Schmooze! [See my blog.]

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  17. Yaaaaaaaa! I've been schmoozed! Thank you so much, Welsh! :)

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  18. Wow, your list is what I listened to and heard my first true love play, many of those songs either we listened to them or him and his band would play them. Those where some wonderful days and great music.

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  19. Music is a very important part of my life, Sandra...it always has been since I was a child. I like all types of music...my collections is vast, wide and varying. I do not like hip/hop.

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  20. I can't think of the group either.

    I do like the song "One good turn will usually get all of the covers"
    It's country western I think.

    You and I have much the same taste in music.
    That worries me.

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  21. It worries me, too, Cliff! You of all persons I thought would have known the name of the album I'm valiantly trying to think of! lol

    It also makes me happy you like the two genres of music...country...and western! ;)

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  22. It drives me crazy when I can't remember something, it consumes my life until I think of it. Keep trying on the computer google anything that you can possibly remember about the group. Good Luck!

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  23. Hi Lee,
    Have you remembered The group's name????

    How about lyrics from a song.

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  24. Shelly and Marc...no, the damn thing is still being elusive! Every now and then, a flash...but then as quickly it disappears again. I'm not going to give up trying to remember it...when I least expect it, hopefully it will pop into my mind! ;)

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