Fun Songs and Beckman Vineyard's Rosé

So, did you survive another Monday? Great day here in Nebraska cause it rained all day and only reached 66^o for a high, a record for us, but nobody’s complaining because we don’t usually see this kind of weather until October. So, how but some fun music? The blog tonight contains some of my favorite songs, some of which are the greatest ever. Lot’s of good guitar “Check out the tasteful bridge by Huey Lewis’ guitarist on Small World), but mostly just great songs  by some stellar groups and people. It’ll get your blood pumping for the rest of the week.

The criteria were the sentiment, the beat, i.e. does it pump you up, and do I just plain love the song. I purposely ended with two of the greatest dance songs by Gloria Estafan. Interesting when you look at these old videos. Beyoncé stole a couple of dance moves from her. See if you can get into her groove and dance. Blast it at the office and see if you can get the whole place moving. It’s a great way to start the day. Enjoy!

Sweet Freedom: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-xetxYwyak

Danger Zone: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK0P1Bk8Cx4

Small World: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71Kga9Onc60

Jesus is just all right: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwbGjzF3mB0

Footloose: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjqfGe_80Ck

I keep forgetting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY0--b6DLqQ

Don’t stop believing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcjzHMhBtf0

Fragile: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB6a-iD6ZOY

Old time rock and roll: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQswfILThsY

Takin care of business: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybtl9qVFAjc

Turn the page: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3khH9ih2XJg

Southbound: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loieSYMoLLs

Mississippi Queen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFhM1XZsh6o

Can’t find my way home: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoSn2Y-b6wI

Badge: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3nPXFcARkA

Watchtower: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw0Gd8uiM5s

Every breath you take: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMOGaugKpzs

Sunshine of your love: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhzF2K2b7Xo

While my guitar gently weeps: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3RYvO2X0Oo

Jump: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap2J9RbXaP4

Desert Rose: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3lWwBslWqg

Let it be: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Z8t8X2KCo

Smooth: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-y2LUh-9AA

Summer of Sixty-nine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2tOoBd9RP8

Conga: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww4Mil9GMJ4

Rhythm is gonna get you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr1Isgg7F7U

Since this entry focuses on fun, how about a  2012 Beckman Vineyards Grenache Rose ($18.00). Like Stolpman  Vineyards, Beckman’s “Le Bec” is one of my favorite Syrah’s and this Rosés is out of this world. “What is it with Syrah Vinyards? They seem to make incredible Rosés. The color is coppery red, almost orange and has an aroma of oranges, strawberries and fruit candies. Strawberries dominate the palate, but there are notes of citrus and herbs with a mineral berry finish. Lovely for sipping by itself, although it goes great with grilled teriyaki salmon. It’s just the ticket for the tonight’s musical selections.

Cheers!

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

Louie Louie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cec1JInytH0

The Ventures

Walk Don’t Run: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I0jy1H5qTo

Pipeline: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K40ryWp3Ro4

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

Money: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_pSCCzuU4Y

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!

Jimi Hendrix & Eroica Riesling

A couple of days ago, I was listening to Jimi Hendrix playing “Who Knows” and realized I’ve never done a full review of him and his music, so tonight, I’m rectifying that omission. He was born Johnny Allen Hendrix (later changed to James Marshall) on November 27, 1942, in Seattle, Washington. He learned to play guitar as a teenager and grew up to become a rock guitar legend.

Hendrix had a difficult childhood, sometimes living in the care of relatives and family friends. 

His mother, Lucille, was only 17 years old when Jimi was born. She had a stormy relationship with his father, Al, and eventually left the family after the couple had two more children together, sons Leon and Joseph. Hendrix would only see his mother sporadically before her death in 1958.

Music was a sanctuary for him. He was a fan of the blues and taught himself to play guitar. He got his first electric guitar at the age of 15 and eventually played with two bands - the Rocking Kings and the Tomcats. Struggling in school, but excelling in music, Hendrix dropped out of high school in 1959. He worked odd jobs while continuing to follow his musical aspirations.

 In1961 he enlisted in the army and trained at Fort Ord in California to become a paratrooper. Even as a soldier, he found time for music, creating a band named The King Casuals. Hendrix served in the army until 1962 when he was discharged due to an injury. 

After leaving the military, Hendrix pursued his music, working as a session musician and playing backup for such performers as Little Richard, Sam Cooke, and the Isley Brothers. He also formed a group of his own called Jimmy James and the Blue Flames, which played gigs around New York City's Greenwich Village neighborhood.

In mid-1966, Hendrix was discovered by Chas Chandler, a former member of the Animals, who became his manager. Chandler convinced Hendrix to go to London where he joined forces with musicians Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell to create The Jimi Hendrix Experience. The band continued to tour until it split up in 1969.
 That same year, Hendrix performed at the Woodstock Festival where his rock rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" was one of the high points of the festival.

After disbanding the Experience, Hendrix tried his luck with another group, forming Band of Gypsys in late 1969 with his army buddy Billy Cox and drummer Buddy Miles. The band never really took off, and Hendrix began working on a new album tentatively named First Rays of the New Rising Sun, with Cox and Mitch Mitchell from the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Unfortunately Hendrix didn’t live to complete the project. He died on September 18th, 1970, from drug-related complications. He was only 27 years old at the time of his passing, but left his mark on the music world as his songs are considered required material for any guitarist worth his salt.

Watchtower: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AuxJH2Mj30

Purple Haze: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OJqYCgl1z0&feature=related

Hear my train a comin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX0V9UlwuLM&feature=related

Who knows: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1714By_5xk&feature=relmfu

Machine gun: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9AaQQbvT4M&feature=related

Red House: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weBioUKEnGc&feature=related

Izabella: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcyPmOF4BMA&feature=related

Voodoo Child: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC-bm5MHYUM&feature=related

Wild Thing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB31q-Ap-RE&feature=related

Hey Joe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6z4qSdtkWc&feature=related

Hear my train a comin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaJefMdAyAc

1969 Concert, Stockholm: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeZ9OOAe1Ho&feature=related

Actually had some decent weather this weekend with temps in the 80’s during the day and 60s at night. Great weather for a summer wine like an Eroica Riesling ($18.00 at Costco) that originates from a partnership between Dr. Loosen of Mosel, Germany and Chateau Ste. Michelle of Washington State. It’s one of my favorites. Light straw-colored, with a beautiful floral and honeysuckle bouquet, followed by crisp flavors of melon, peach, and pineapple. It has excellent balance, and a long, pure, refreshing finish. Not too sweet, but rather semi-dry and it’s a wonderful accompaniment to the music of Jimi Hendrix. Enjoy!

Cheers!

Eric Gales & Starmont Rose

Born October 29, 1974, and originally from Memphis, TN, Eric Gales is a kickass blues-rock guitarist. Gales picked up the guitar at age four and was hailed as a child prodigy. His first teachers were his older brothers Eugene and Manuel who taught him licks from Hendrix, Albert King, B.B. King, and a host of others. One oddity about his style is that although he is not left handed, he plays a right-handed guitar "upside-down" (with the E-bass string on the bottom), due to the fact that his left-handed brother taught him much of his technique and it was easier to copy his style than transpose it to a right hand version.

Guitar World magazine's Reader's Poll named Eric as "Best New Talent", in 1991. In addition to his own band, he’s performed with guitarists Carlos Santana, Eric Johnson, Doyle Bramhall II as well as drummers Mitch Mitchell (Hendrix) and Chris Layton (Stevie Ray Vaughn). He’s been hailed as the second coming of Jimi Hendrix and like Hendrix, his singing is marginal, but his guitar playing is phenomenal.

Sign of the Storm: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB5A8E1BRVE

Trampled Underfoot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMgXBDRAKOE&feature=fvwrel

Waterfall: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_5FvYidt-I

I pity the fool: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG87i4yPgKY

The Liar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6OD9_fR0Lc

Superstitious: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77dOUr9lhD8

Sea of Bad Blood: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0tpkeD9k_s&feature=related

Resurrection: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D21ShGlkYsA&feature=related

Little Wing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmC-rxAs-ow&feature=related

When You’ve Got No Place To Go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmp4Byhx1Zk&feature=related

Block the Sun: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h25rSHvbU18&feature=related

Make it There: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OCDgooyZrc&feature=relmfu

Transformation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMdBbM7-jK8&feature=related

I’m really sick of 100 degree weather, but at least it gives me an excuse to drink lots of one of my favorite summer wines, namely Rosés and tonight’s Starmont 2011 Rosé ($15.00) should hit the spot as I sit on my deck and offer a sacrifice to the sun gods in order to get them to back off.  Vibrant ruby in color, this varietal blend starts with a nose of fresh strawberries, pink grapefruit, and vanilla. The palate offers up flavors of ripe cherry, strawberry, red raspberries, and tart rhubarb balanced with crisp acidity. For a Rosé, it has an unusually long finish. Hot music with a cool wine. Enjoy!

Cheers!