The Death Whisperer Series

The Death Whisperer Series
The Death Whisperer Series available at https://www.amazon.com/author/dmichaelolive

Friday, January 11, 2013

Power Guitar Riffs and a Box of Shiraz


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

The Ventures

Beach Boys

Beatles

Jimi Hendrix

Rolling Stones

Who

Led Zepplin

Cream

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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