FlinterFile: Tony Joe White- Delta Love

Tony Joe White released this song in 1971.

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Song of the day: Led Zeppelin- Stairway To Heaven

At the start of the seventies, Led Zeppelin were a popular band.

Song of the day: John Lennon- Imagine

John Lennon made a song with a political melody and a great melody.

FlinterFile: The Doors- Riders On The Storm

This song was the last song the Doors ever recorded with Jim Morrison – he died a few weeks later in 1971.

FlinterFile: Juan Bastos- Loop Di Love

Juan Bastós had a hit with Loop di Love in 1971.

FlinterFile: The Doors- L.A. Woman

The album L.A. Woman, the last Doors album with Jim Morrison, was released in 1971.

FlinterFile: Cat Stevens- Moonshadow

In 1971 Cat Stevens released a song with a message of hope.

FlinterFile: Carole King- So Far Away

The album Tapestry brought us several singles, including this song, which was the fourth single from the album.

FlinterFile: The Doobie Brothers- Nobody

The Doobie Brothers made their debute in 1971.

FlinterFile: John Dummer’s Famous Music Band- Nine By Nine

John Dummer started a band in 1967, which we would now see as a kind of supergroup.

FlinterFile: Lindisfarne- Meet Me On The Corner

Lindisfarne released their second album in 1971. This album became a commercial success.

FlinterFile: Lally Stott- Jakaranda

Lally Stott, a British songwriter, probably is quite unknown.

FlinterFile: Joan Baez- The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down

In 1971, Joan Baez covered a song which was originally recorded by the Band.

FlinterFile: The New Seekers- I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing

In 1971, the New Seekers recorded a song which was originally used in a Coke commercial. The commercial was a success and radio stations got questions to play the complete song. However, that version did not exist…

FlinterFile: Roger Whittaker- The Last Farewell

In 1971, Roger Whittaker released his only big US hit. The song was written by Ron Webster, who was an amateur folk singer. He wrote the lyrics when he was on a bus, driving through the pooring rain, and he wished he was somewhere warm. Roger Whittaker had a radio show in which he invited listeners to send lyrics, which he would sing to his own music. Ron Webster did so, and Roger Whittaker recorded the song. Four years later, the song was released in the US, when the wife of a radio programmer heard the song in Canada. In the US, it became a number 19 hit, in the UK it was number 2! Enjoy

Roger Whittaker- The Last Farewell

FlinterFile: Jimmy Webb- P.F. Sloan

P.F. Sloan

In 1971, Jimmy Webb wrote a song for his fried P.F. Sloan. He had already written By The Time I Get To Phoenix, MacArthur Park, and others. This, however, was the first song he sung. He took Fred Tackett, another friend, to help him with playing the music for the song. Although the album got good reviews, the album did not sell well.

P.F. Sloan, the man for whom the song is written, was the writer of Eve of Destruction. He played guitar for the Mamas and the Papas, composed several other songs, but never had a hit with his own recordings. He thought it was the music industry, who isolated him for having such a strong text in Eve of Destruction. Probably he was just a better composer.

P.F. Sloan passed away on Sunday night, 15 November. He was 70 years old.

Enjoy

Jimmy Webb- P.F. Sloan

FlinterFile: T. Rex- Get It On (Bang A Gong)

In 1971, T.Rex recorded a song about sex. Although many listeners did not hear it, since it is quite vague. The song was called Get It On (Bang A Gong) in England, but in the US, they changed the title, since it was too sexual. The background vocals were done by two members of the Turtles. The last line referred to a song by Chuck Berry, Little Queenie. The Power Station and Blondie both recorded it later, but T. Rex established their fame with it. In the US it was their only hit, number 10, and in the UK, it was a number 1 hit. Enjoy

T.Rex- Get It On (Bang A Gong)

FlinterFile: Marvin, Welch & Farrar- Lady Of The Morning

In 1971, Marvin, Welch & Farrar (MWF) released one of their few singles. The trio was formed by Hank Marvin and Bruce Welch, both former members of the Shadows, and John Farrar, who came from the Stranglers. Though they tried hard to get the audience used to their new style, the audience did not pick their new style up: they kept asking for the old songs from the Shadows. Lady Of The Morning was a minor hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 34. Enjoy

Marvin, Welch & Farrar- Lady Of The Morning

Song of the day: Guy Fletcher- Mary In The Morning

In 1971, the nephew from Guy Fletcher (the one from Dire Straits) had a hit. He started as a session musician, but in 1966, he started writing songs for other artists, such as Elvis Presley, the Hollies, and Power To All Our Friends from Cliff Richard. He managed Chris de Burgh, and he was in the band Rogue. Solo, he had a hit with Mary In The Morning in the Netherlands, where he reached number 11. Enjoy

Guy Fletcher- Mary In The Morning

Song of the day: Jethro Tull- Locomotive Breath

In 1971, Jethro Tull released an instant classic. Though it never reached the charts, it has been stuck in the mind of a lot of people. The song is composed of various overdubs, something quite progressive for the early seventies. Ian Anderson recorded most parts himself, including the iconic flute parts. This because he couldn’t explain his idea of the song. Together with the other, seperate recorded, parts, it was mixed to one song. As Anderson thought it sounded like a train, he would joke about it. In the end, a reference to a train was included in the title… Enjoy

Jethro Tull- Locomotive Breath

Song of the day: Neil Young- Heart Of Gold

In 1971, Neil Young released one of his biggest hits from the album Harvest. It was recorded as an acoustic song, as Neil Young was unable to stand due to a back injury. He recorded the song in Nashville, where James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt were for the TV-show of Johnny Cash. They joined him for the backing vocals. In Canada and the US, it became a number 1 hit, and in the UK it was number 10. Enjoy

Neil Young- Heart Of Gold

Song of the day: James Taylor- You’ve Got A Friend

In 1971, Carole King wrote the song You’ve Got A Friend. Or better put: the song wrote itself, because Carole King feels the song just came out of nowhere. In the same session, James Taylor recorded the song too and had a bigger hit with it. In the US, it would be number 1 and in the UK number 4. Mary Hopkins was also offered the song, before Taylor recorded it, but she turned the song down. Enjoy

James Taylor- You’ve Got A Friend

Song of the day: John Denver- Take Me Home, Country Roads

If I say John Denver, you’ll probably think about the song of the day. Not strange, since it was the first big hit John Denver had. In the US, it would be number 2. After this song, a lot of other songs would follow. In West Virginia, the song is still seen as the icon of the state: not strange, the state is described as almost heaven! The song was written by Danoff and Nivert, who wanted to sell it to Johnny Cash. John Denver decided to take the song, a decision he would never regret! Enjoy

John Denver- Take Me Home, Country Roads

Song of the day: Nilsson- Without You

The original song was from 1970, but the cover version was the real hit. The original was made by the group Badfinger in 1970.

Song of the day: Derek & the Dominos- Layla

An early seventies song today! The song was written by Eric Clapton and Jim Gordon, both members of Derek & The Dominos. It was inspired by a Persian story about a love between Layla and Majnun, but since the father of Layla has forbidden to marry her, the love is unanswered and Majnun goes crazy. This moved Eric Clapton, who was in love with the wife of George Harrison at the time, which was a one-side love. When released in 1971, the song had no success at first. Later, it became one of the best rock songs. In 1993, the song would be in the hit charts again, because of the Unplugged-session from Eric Clapton. Enjoy

Derek & The Dominos- Layla

Song of the day: Michel Depech- Pour Un Flirt

An old French song today. And yes, it has been used in a commercial, which actually was the first time I heard it. That was a few years ago. The song, however, is much, much older. It was released in 1971, and was his only big success in Europe. He is still active, especially since 1997, when he started writing lots of songs again. After 1971, he had a sort of silent period, writing a lot, but not performing. That’s over, and he’s back. Well, not in the charts, but in the music industry. For today, we have this oldie:

Michel Delpech- Pour Un Flirt

Song of the day: Middle Of The Road- Sacramento

In the 1970s, a band popped up, called Middle of the Road. They made several hits, including Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep and the song of the day. In the Netherlands, they had a lot of success, and the rest of Europe enjoyed their presence in the hit charts as well. They started with a manager, who took all their money with them, and because of that they started playing in clubs. They were discovered by a man who offered them a contract. And the rest is history… Enjoy

Middle of the Road- Sacramento

Song of the day: Marvin Gaye- What’s Going On

In 1971, Marvin Gaye released this song on the Motown label. It was inspired by a police incident, where they were quite cruel. This all started with an anti-war protest, which were quite common these days. There, a member of the Four Tops witnessed the police acting violent against the protestors. He was upset and discussed it with the writer of this song. Now it’s more known as a protest song than what it actually was: a song about love and understanding. Later, the 4 Non Blondes renamed their song to avoid confusion. I think the song is very good, in text and in story, so take a listen to

Marvin Gaye- What’s Going On

Song of the day: Gilbert O’Sullivan- Nothing Rhymed

At first, I thought (because of his look) that the music by Gilbert O’Sullivan would be boring or old fashioned. He proved me wrong with several records. His hit Matrimony is one of them, but when I heard this song, I knew I really was wrong. What an incredible good song! His voice really fits the good lyrics, and the music finished it all. Give a good listen to

Gilbert O’Sullivan- Nothing Rhymed