by Robert Wilkinson
Today we celebrate the birthdays of three amazing talents!
Because I’m just getting off the road as you read this, I had to make this year’s celebration relatively short and to the point. To that end, I’ve only included the best links to the most fantastic videos of our birthday talents!
Steve Marriott (30 January 1947 – 20 April 1991) was the guitarist and front man for the Small Faces, one of England’s most rocking mod groups of the 60s. Known mainly in the US for the song “Itchycoo Park,” the Small Faces actually rocked a lot harder than many knew at the time. And after he split the Faces, he went on to rock even harder with Humble Pie.
From 1967, the Small Faces live lip-synching “Itchycoo Park”
From Germany in 1967, a live performance by my personal favorite by the Small Faces, “Tin Soldier”
Also from 1967, a live performance by the Small Faces of one of their early hits, “Lazy Sunday”
From August 1969 in Belgium, an early live performance by Steve and Humble Pie doing “I Walk on Gilded Splinters”
From 1971, an incredible live performance by Steve Marriott and Humble Pie doing the awesome rocker “I Don’t Need No Doctor”
From 1974, a very electric live performance by Steve and Humble Pie doing “Thirty Days in the Hole”
We now turn to the awesome Phil Collins! It is almost impossible to list everything this multitalented performer has done in the world of entertainment! Phil Collins (30 January 1951) is a multi-instrumentalist, writer, actor, and all around brilliant performer. Whether with Genesis or a solo act, this guy has done some of the best work in recent history! For your enjoyment, Mister Phil Collins!
From 1973, here’s a solid hour of Genesis live! “Genesis Live in Concert - 1973”
From 1974, a solid 72 minutes of Genesis live in Montreal
From Live Aid in 1985, here’s Phil live doing “Against All Odds”
From 1987, the official music video for the very hypnotic “Tonight, Tonight, Tonight”
From 1986, the music video for "In Too Deep"
The official music video for "I Don't Care Anymore"
From 1987, a two hour live concert by Genesis! “Genesis Live At Wembley Stadium”
From the “First Farewell Tour,” here he is live doing “In the Air Tonight” From the same tour, "Invisible Touch." and "Take Me Home."
Here’s Genesis live doing a song that’s my personal favorite, and a strong political statement! “Land of Confusion”
And for a very surrealistic version of the song, here’s the official 1986 music video that managed to make every fan of Ronald Reagan very mad! It’s a remarkable creative work in itself, given the work of the Spitting Image puppet masters. This song is one of the more powerful indictments of the neocons (and Thatcher) ever done! For 5 minutes of amazing imagery, here’s “Land of Confusion”
Now for the tribute to the brilliant Marty Balin! Marty Balin (born Martyn Jerel Buchwald; January 30, 1942) first broke into the folk scene in the Bay Area, where he eventually teamed up with Paul Kantner and formed one of the most electrifying and psychedelic bands ever to play a note, the Jefferson Airplane, later becoming Jefferson Starship. A major songwriter and singer, his distinctive voice interacted with Grace Slick’s to create an amazing and distinctive vocal experience.
For your enjoyment, Marty Balin!
A great early live performance by Marty on vocals of “It’s No Secret”
From their early period, the studio version of the very beautiful “Comin’ Back To Me”
Here are a few, some of which Marty wrote, performed as only the Jefferson Airplane could!
From the legendary Monterrey Pop Festival in the Summer of Love 1967, here’s the Jefferson Airplane live doing "Today" From the same gig, “Flyin’ High Bird”
From October 1967, an audio-only 70 minutes of The Jefferson Airplane Live
From 1968 on the Perry Como show, the Airplane live performing "Watch Her Ride"
From Woodstock, live in 1969, the Jefferson Airplane doing two of Grace Slick’s dynamic tunes!
First, “Somebody To Love” followed by her equally trippy bolero, “White Rabbit”
From the same legendary gig, the equally legendary song calling for revolution! “Volunteers”
We’ll finish their Woodstock set with a live performance of “Uncle Sam Blues”
From the disastrous 1969 Altamont gig, here’s the Airplane doing “The Other Side of this Life”
From 1970, Live at the Family Dog, the Jefferson Airplane doing one of my favorites! “The Ballad of You and Me and Pooneil”
From 1975, the original studio version of Marty’s “Miracles”
We’ll close this birthday tribute with a performance from a more recent era. Here’s Marty live in 2005 with Paul Kantner and Jack Cassady doing his JA tune from the “Surrealistic Pillow” album, “Plastic Fantastic Lover.”
For an encore, here’s a great look at San Francisco in the 1960s via a full 80 minute documentary about the Jefferson Airplane called “Fly With the Jefferson Airplane”
So it’s a big Happy to two English rockers and an American psychedelic folkie. While Steve checked out way too young, we still have Phil and Marty rocking the house! May you both live many more years and do many more great gigs!
© Copyright 2013 Robert Wilkinson
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