This weekend I’m going to take you back in history and
revisit some of the best guitar riffs and and power songs in history. There are
seventeen selections tonight and another seventeen tomorrow. The songs were
selected by several criteria. First, was there a great hook or guitar part that
sticks in your mind like a worm devouring your gray matter? “Songs like Walk
Don’t Run,” “Day Tripper,” “Louie, Louie,” or “Satisfaction” are representative
of this category. Second, did the song have such an impact that it’s been
re-recorded or covered numerous times? It seems like every acoustic guitarist
has to have a version of “Here Comes The Sun” in their repertoire. Third, were
they just real guitar anthems like Pinball Wizard or Watchtower? Fourth is a
miscellaneous category. The song defined an era. And last but not least, fifth,
I just plain liked it.
Judging from the fact that each entry of this blog gets
about 75-100 hits, it’s a good bet that some of the songs tonight were probably
recorded before many of my readers were born. So, a little background may be in
order. Louie, Louie by the Kingsmen was a classic, yet scandalous, rock tune in
the sixties. There were all kinds of takes on the lyrics and supposedly they
were quite sexually explicit. If so, the Kingsmen never sang that version
publically. The Ventures were an all guitar, all instrumental group. I had all
of their records (vinyl) and my favorite all time bass guitar was a Mosrite,
the guitar the Ventures played. It had a 30” scale, lightning fast neck, and
killer tone.
Wherever possible, I’ve linked to the original videos, i.e.
the Beatles videos are taken from their early TV recordings. Try not to laugh
at the hairstyles and clothes of the gals and guys. They were cool back then.
One thing you will not see either tonight or tomorrow. No “Free
Bird.” I hate that song. Sorry. Hope you get a kick out of tonight’s
collection.
Kingsmen
Louie Louie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cec1JInytH0
The Ventures
Walk Don’t Run: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I0jy1H5qTo
Beach Boys
Good Vibrations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwrKKbaClME
Beatles
Day Tripper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EwHnCDJljo
I feel fine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWLJegqXIgM
Here comes the sun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWwrhUX3iTM
Jimi Hendrix
Purple Haze: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjMuKP1GpLY
Watchtower: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2bYJQFQMs8
Rolling Stones
Satisfaction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhNm3WI8myM
Honkey Tonk Woman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiRXrFP7HGA
Jumpin Jack Flash: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ9D0UHP7x4
Who
Won’t get fooled again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rp6-wG5LLqE
Pinball wizard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GE8nR-5kL4
Led Zepplin
Immigrant song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlNhD0oS5pk
Cream
Sunshine of your love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cqh54rSzheg
There’s a lot to listen to here so I’m going to suggest a
box wine, namely Hardy’s Shiraz South Eastern Australia. (about $20.00 for 3 liters). I
love a good jammy Shiraz and this is a good one for a boxed wine. Lots of
blueberries, black raspberries, and spice with hints of oak and a bit of
vanilla. Nothing complex, it’s just a juicy, plush wine. Stick it in the Fridge
for an hour to give it a slight chill. Three liters should last through the
set. Enjoy!
Cheers!
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