Blog Archives
FlinterFile: Paul Revere & The Raiders- I Had A Dream
The Raiders originally started as an instrumental rock band, with Paul Revere as leader. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: The Spencer Davis Group- Keep On Running
In 1965, the Spencer Davis Group released a record which was written by a ska artist. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Beastie Boys- (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!)
In 1986, the Beastie Boys became superstars. However, it never was their intention: this whole song was a joke… Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Ten Years After- I’m Going Home
In 1971, Ten Years After officially released the single of the song I’m Going Home. This song was already on the album Undead from 1968, and in 1969, they played it on Woodstock. This ment their breakthrough, and it became a big hit. The name of the group refers to the years Elvis Presley had his first successes. Ten years later, the band established their name, resulting in Ten Years After (though they were already working in the bussiness for some years). Enjoy
Ten Years After- I’m Going Home
FlinterFile: Buckshot LeFonque- Another Day
In 1997, the American group Buckshot LeFonque released one of their most successful singles. The band was found by Branford Marsalis, who played with artists like Miles Davis and Sting, and as a result of that, he wanted to play the styles of those artists in one. It ment a fusion of rock, pop, jazz, hip-hop and R&B (who could have thought these could be mixed?). The band was almost a complete orchestra, including some DJ’s. The song charted at number 5 in the Netherlands. Enjoy
Buckshot LeFonque- Another Day
FlinterFile: The Greatest Show On Earth- Real Cool World
In 1970, The Greatest Show On Earth scored their only hit. They recorded progressive rock for the Harvest label, which wanted them to play rock with horns (like Blood, Sweat & Tears). They recorded two albums, before vanishing into nothing… The song Real Cool World was their first hit, which was a small hit in Europe (7 in the Netherlands). Enjoy
The Greatest Show On Earth- Real Cool World
FlinterFile: Mother’s Finest- Piece Of The Rock
In 1978, Mother’s Finest released one of their few hits. The group was founded by Joyce ‘Baby Jean’ Kennedy and Glenn ‘Doc’ Murdock, and they made a special mix of funk and rock. Their first single (Fire) was a small hit in the US, but the big success (in Europe) came with the song Baby Love. They became a regular act on several festivals, and their song Piece Of The Rock became a hit in especially the Netherlands, where it charted at number 7. Enjoy
Mother’s Finest- Piece Of The Rock
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: Ekseption- The Fifth
In 1969, Ekseption (Dutch band with Dutch spelling) decided to change their music style. They first had been playing quite some jazz, R&B and rock ‘n roll, but after seeing the English band the Nice they decided to make a mix of classical music and rock. The first hit that they made in this new style was The 5th, which was a different take on the fifth symphony from Beethoven. The song made it to the third place in the charts. Enjoy
Ekseption- The Fifth
Song of the day: Europe- Rock The Night
This song was written in 1984, by Joey Tempest, the singer of Europe. The band already performed the song during the concert tour of Wings of Tomorrow, the song itself was released on the album The Final Countdown in 1986. The year before it was already featured on the soundtrack of On the Loose. The song made it to number 12 in the UK and number 30 in the US. Enjoy
Europe- Rock The Night
Song of the day: Bryan Adams- Can’t Stop This Thing We Started
In 1991, Bryan Adams released the album Waking Up the Neighbours. While the first single (Everything I Do (I Do It For You)) may not have woken up the neighbours, this one would have done that. In the US it stuck to number 2, since Prince wouldn’t come down from the first place. The song did reach number 1 in Canada! Enjoy
Bryan Adams- Can’t Stop This Thing We Started
Song of the day: Bread- Guitar Man
In the early seventies (1972), the rock group Bread released their fifth album, Guitar Man. One of the singles was the Guitar Man, which became one of the hits of the album. Written by David Gates, the song made it to number 11 in the US. It uses 12 different chords, which is quite special for a rock song, since it makes the song very complex in music. A great song, enjoy
Bread- The Guitar Man
Song of the day: 10CC- The Wall Street Shuffle
In the early seventies (1974), 10CC released their second album: Sheet Music. With a number 10 on the UK chart, this song was the biggest hit from that album. There’s not something which is very special, it’s just a good classic rock song with a good guitar riff and good lyrics about Wall Street. Later it would be covered by Anni-Frid Lyngstad (from ABBA) with Swedish lyrics. Enjoy
10CC- The Wall Street Shuffle
Song of the day: The Script- Superheroes
Pop rock from Ireland! They have already had several hits, and their new album brought some more songs which are very good to us. Oneof them ended on number 3 in the UK and number 73 in the general US chart. Tastes differ… The song was written for all those heroes which don’t have a song (we can’t all be Superman, can we?). Enjoy
The Script- Superheroes
Song of the day: Red Hot Chili Peppers- Snow (Hey Oh)
The Red Hot Chili Peppers are an influencial band, who had different big hits in the nineties, but also some in the zeroes. Their zeroes hit album was Stadium Arcadium, released in 2006. The first single from this album was Tell Me Baby, and this was the second single. Its content is about starting all over, like the singer wanted to do. It would make number 22 in the US, number 1 on the US rock chart, and number 16 in the UK. In my opinion, it’s one of the best songs they ever made. Enjoy
Red Hot Chili Peppers- Snow (Hey Oh)
Song of the day: Blue Oyster Cult- Don’t Fear The Reaper
The rock band Blue Öyster Cult is a rock band which is a little forgotten… they had a big hit in 1976, written and sung by the guitarist of the band. The music is built around the guitar riff and the text was about love and death (which is inevitable, that’s the idea). Main idea: don’t fear death, since we all will die in the end… These things combined in the song made it go to number 12 in the US and number 16 in the UK. Enjoy
Blue Öyster Cult- (Don’t Fear) The Reaper
Song of the day: Extreme- Hole Hearted
The band Extreme is best known for another hit, namely More Than Words. However, I have heard that one a bit too much and like this (forgotten) song better. It was released as a single from the same album, Pornograffitti. The song would make it to number 4 in the US and number 12 in the UK. Extreme is a good example of a rock band which had hits with softer songs (they made some hard rock too). Enjoy
Extreme- Hole Hearted
Song of the day: Soundgarden- Black Hole Sun
A rock song by Black Hole Sun, written by Chris Cornell. Though it’s one of the best known songs of the nineties and by the band Soundgarden, but it has not made the Billboard Hot 100, due to the commercial release of the single. The song has been written in about 15 minutes, and according to Cornell, the song is very Beatlesque. About that can be argued, but it’s one of the best songs from 1994. Enjoy
Soundgarden- Black Hole Sun
Song of the day: The Sweet- Fox On The Run
English glamrock from the seventies. That says about all there is to say. Well, there’s more: this song was written by the band the Sweet itself, but that is not the case with all their songs: most are written by Chapman & Chinn (those also wrote Kiss You All Over). There actually are two versions from this song! The original and a version which is more for the pop market (also the best known version). It was not a bad choice to do that: the song would reach number 2 in the UK and number 5 in the US! Enjoy
The Sweet- Fox On The Run
Song of the day: Bad Company- Feel Like Makin’ Love
Back in the seventies, we’ll let those guitars scream out, since we’re going to listen to hard rock! In August 1975 the song was released as a single, after it had appeared on the album Straight Shooter that was released in April of the same year. The song would make number 10 in the US, number 20 in the UK and number 5 in Canada! The song would be recorded by several others later, but they never had the original feeling. Enjoy
Bad Company- Feel Like Makin’ Love
Song of the day: Radiohead- Karma Police
A band which had a big influence on the music in the nineties and which should not be forgotten! Though their alternative rock is something you either like or dislike, I enjoy most of their work. This song was on their famous album OK Computer, and is made up of an inside-joke from the band (which has to do with the system of reincarnation in the Hindu-belief). It was a hit in the charts, reaching number 8 in the UK and number 14 in the US. It was officially released in 1997, but already in 1996 played live, when Radiohead toured (only for a short time) with Alanis Morissette. The rest is history, and it’s a mystical and somewhat mysterious sort of track, taking you in and making you realise you have listened to it after it has ended. Enjoy
Radiohead- Karma Police
Song of the day: Mink Deville- Spanish Stroll
In 1976, Mink DeVille released his debute album. One of the singles on the album was Spanish Stroll. Though Mink DeVille did not have a lot of hits, this song charted in the UK at place 20 and in the Netherlands it even reached place 3! The writer of the song was Willy DeVille. Now you are thinking: his father? No. Mink DeVille was a rock group, with Willy DeVille as the frontman. The bassist of the group spoke the part during the break, which makes it sound like a real summer record. Enjoy
Mink DeVille- Spanish Stroll
Song of the day: Creedence Clearwater Revival- Bad Moon Rising
A bit of the good old sixties rock. Very good and decent, actually. It seems strange that so many people don’t like hearing Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR). On the other hand, I can understand: the voice of John Fogerty is one which doesn’t sound very smooth, and he can scream sometimes (to get over the music tapes in the studio, which made such an awfull sound that he couldn’t hear himself singing…). The song featured today was a hit, reaching number 2 in the US and number 1 in the UK! Since CCR, at least twenty artists had a go on the song, never reaching the same quality… Enjoy
Creedence Clearwater Revival- Bad Moon Rising
Song of the day: Nazareth- Love Hurts
These guys know where they are talking about. Or at least, you think they do, since the tone they sing it in is really like a broken hearted person. The original, however, is not theirs. The song dates back to 1960, when the Everly Brothers recorded the song. Roy Orbison had the first hit version of the song, and via a person called Jim Capaldi, who added a sort of pain to it, it came to Nazareth in 1974. They made a rock ballad out of it and changed a line in their version. The song became a big hit, reaching number 15 in the UK and number 8 in the US. Enjoy
Nazareth- Love Hurts
Song of the day: Thin Lizzy- The Boys Are Back In Town
Here are some old rockers for you! They come especially for you from the seventies, only to play a song for you! But remember, it’s a very good song, so that is a good cause! But what else is there to say than just listen to it? So enjoy
Thin Lizzy- The Boys Are Back In Town
Song of the day: Hoobastank- The Reason
Let’s rock a bit. I say a bit, since it’s not a typical rock song. It’s more, yeah, I don’t know, actually. Difficult to say. A magical song, that’s what it is. You can’t put your finger on it, it was a big hit, and it’s GOOD. That’s what it is. Enjoy
Hoobastank- The Reason
Song of the day: John Parr- St. Elmo’s Fire
To be fair with you: I had to look the song up, because I had some idea I knew the song, but I really couldn’t think of any melody or text which belonged to this hit from 1985. I heard the first tones, and I thought: wait, that song! And I absolutely am fan of the chorus (shouting out the words, feels great). So enjoy
John Parr- St. Elmo’s Fire
The Rolling Stones
With adding the Beatles to the Hall Of Fame, I should not forget this band! Some say they are better than the Beatles, others say they aren’t. And that’s allowed. Fact is, that in the sixties, you were either fan of the Beatles or the Rolling Stones. I am both, but the conflict has died down a bit. And that’s good, because I really can’t choose. The Beatles are nice boys, making nice songs, but the Rolling Stones are a bit more rough, but also make great music! Thinking about songs as Satisfaction and my personal favourite Paint It Black, I really can’t make up my mind which band is better. They both added something to music, and the Rolling Stones are still great. Rock on, and well deserved: a place in the Hall Of Fame!
Song of the day: Kings Of Leon- Wait For Me
Some bands keep coming back (of course they were never away). This year was the year with the return of several artists, and also the Kings Of Leon showed they were still there, by releasing a new album. The album, Mechanical Bull, had some good songs on it, and one of them is song of the day. It’s my favourite of the album, so enjoy:
Kings Of Leon- Wait For Me
Song of the day: Bon Jovi- Livin’ On A Prayer
Did I already introduce you to this great eighties rock band? No, I didn’t. And that’s why I’m doing it now. Actually, I like the music of Bon Jovi a lot, it is powerful and just as rock should be according to me. One of my absolute favourites of Bon Jovi is the song of the day. I came across an article on one of my favourite blogs, and that’s why I thought about Bon Jovi as song of the day. Read this article, because just like me, there are still a lot of fans of Bon Jovi, but they are hidden….
And of course, enjoy
Bon Jovi- Livin’ On A Prayer
Song of the day: Yes- Owner Of A Lonely Heart
This song is just in one word perfect. A good text, catching melody, good intro, excellent guitars and music, and it is eighties. And it was not only a hit in the eighties, because in 2005 Max Graham remixed the song and released it. It was a big hit, but the original song is a little bit better. So for today, enjoy:
Song of the day: Van Halen- Jump
Absolute eighties? And good music, too? Music which will be accepted today too? That’s a bit too difficult, but I think Van Halen has made a very good song which will last forever. Jump is one of the best songs I know, definitely a song which I don’t mind listening too for a few times. And that’s because it’s timeless. There is no label to it which puts it in a certain era, it could be made now as well, but that’s not the case. A good song for today:
Van Halen- Jump
Song of the day: Pearl Jam- Just Breathe
Pearl Jam… rock/grunge music from the nineties, but I don’t know a lot of songs by Pearl Jam… This is actually one of these songs, but I don’t know more by Pearl Jam. Well, they made the album Ten, which is quite famous, but their music is a mystery to me. Anyone got any ideas which songs to listen to explore the world of Pearl Jam?
Okay, what do I know by Pearl Jam? This relaxed song with a very good text. Listen carefully, because it is really about something serious: death… (that’s my interpretation)
Pearl Jam- Just Breathe
Song of the day: Santana & Rob Thomas- Smooth
Whilst listening to the radio you hear a lot of songs, and suddenly this song came along. Directly in the first seconds the mood was set: it’s a hot day, you’re in some sort of bar, drinking something cool, and this song is played. Well, only the last thing was true, the rest came along with the song (Think-It-Yourself). Isn’t that nice?
Of course, Santana is some sort of the king of the latin rock with the guitars, but they made a lot of different music styles, mostly in the rock side.
Enjoy
Santana featuring Rob Thomas- Smooth
Song of the day: Whitesnake- Here I Go Again
Oeh… now things are getting hard: hard rock, metal, etc.
And those are not the things which I like very much… however, there’s a very good song on the album, and maybe it’s the best known song of the band Whitesnake.
It’s actually quite funny how I came to the decision to choose Whitesnake as song of the day. I woke up this morning, and I had a window opened a bit. Opening the curtains, I heard pieces of the song of the day, and I thought: why not?
That’s the reason for Here I Go Again to be the song of the day!
Song of the day: Gary Moore- Still Got The Blues
An album which amazed me. I can’t say it otherwise. The first time I heard it, I thought like: Wow!
The part which amazed me a bit was the kind of mix between rock and blues.
And, like I have said the last days as well, my favourite song is the title track…
That’s also because of the great intro this song has. Oh yes,
Gary Moore with Still Got The Blues is the song of the day, and he deserves it!
Song of the day: Aerosmith- Love In An Elevator
Hello everyone,
Here’s the new song of the day. Today we take the elevator to go down.
It’s Aerosmith with Love In An Elevator.
Oh yes, do I like this!
Song of the day: Midnight Oil- Beds Are Burning
Hey there,
I’m looking out of my window and guess what? Yes, it’s snowing again.
Although it is snowing, I will not put in a summer song. I really want something more like rock.
And I have found some record which I came across in December last year, but which is really great.
Let me introduce you: Midnight Oil with Beds Are Burning.
The song is a protestsong, and its goal was to give land back to the Pintupi, Aboriginals in Australia who used to travel around in the desert.
Well, with this song, at least I can stand the snow some better. Tomorrow a new song!
Song of the day: Herman Brood- Saturday Night
Hello everyone,
Here’s the new song of the day:
Today it’s a very influencial man in the Dutch rock-music. He’s made a lot of good music, lived a real rock ‘n roll life, and finally he jumped of the Hilton hotel in Amsterdam.
It’s of course Herman Brood. The song of today is made by him, and is called Saturday Night.
Apart from being a singer, he was a painter, too.
I think he’s one of the best singers of the Dutch music.
Tomorrow a new song!
The FlinterFiles 