by Robert Wilkinson
Today’s the birthday of three unique figures in music, with a fourth birthday yesterday. Zal Yanovsky played jazz, blues, rock, country, and jug band, Phil Ochs was one of the most outspoken folk singers of the 60s, Professor Longhair gave us an iconic N’Awlins style, and Galt MacDermot, songwriter extraordinaire who just died yesterday, gave us some of the most iconic music ever to be performed on stage!
Zalman Yanovsky (December 19, 1944 – December 13, 2002) was a Canadian musician who played lead and sang for the Lovin' Spoonful, a rock jug band he founded with John Sebastian in 1964. From wikipedia, "According to Sebastian, 'He could play like Elmore James, he could play like Floyd Cramer, he could play like Chuck Berry.'" Just before he and Sebastian founded the Spoonful, he was part of The Halifax Three with future Papa Denny Doherty, and when they met Cass Elliot, they became the Mugwumps and recorded a classic album. I have a few tracks at the end of the tribute.
Live on the Sunset Strip in 1965 as filmed for The Big T.N.T. Show, we’ll begin with their first release which went to #9 on the charts! "Do You Believe In Magic" From Shindig in 1965, here’s another great “semi-live” performance of “Do You Believe In Magic”
Also from the Big T.N.T. Show, the Lovin’ Spoonful perform their second release which went to #10 in Jan 1966, the second in a run of 7 top 10 hits in a row, “You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice”
From the mid-60 in color, a live performance on tv of the title track for their second album. This tune went to #2 in 1966, "Daydream"
From Sept 1966 on the Hollywood Palace tv show (hosted by Phil Silvers), we have the Spoonful performing two of their huge hits off their third album! ”Rain on the Roof” (#10) and "Summer in the City" (#1)
Again singing and miming to a backing track (television was like that in the mid-60s!) here’s their final 1966 hit also off their third album, a humorous take on Nashville that went to #8! "Nashville Cats"
From the movie You’re A Big Boy Now, a tune John Sebastian wrote for the soundtrack. Last year I had a great 1967 live performance to a backing track AND a live backing horn and string section performing “Darlin’ Be Home Soon,” but this year it’s disappeared. So instead, here’s the studio version of “Darlin’ Be Home Soon”
From their 1965 album Do You Believe in Magic?, the studio versions of the ethereal "Younger Girl" followed by the good time feeling of “Fishin’ Blues.” We'll close that album with the final track, a very bloooozy “Night Owl Blues”
From early 1966, a rockin’ romp they wrote for the soundtrack of Woody Allen’s directoral debut, What’s Up Tiger Lily? “Pow.” They contributed some great instrumentals for that movie as well! “A Cool Million” and “Speakin’ of Spoken”
From the second album Daydream, a tune written by Zal and John that always was one of my favorites. Gave me pause when communications broke down! “It’s Not Time Now”
This rare gem from their second album was the flip side to “Summer in the City.” It’s one of the prettiest breakup tunes ever written, and it’s pure jug band! One of the rare tunes written by bassist Steve Boone, “Butchie’s Tune”
Zal and John wrote this mellow textural piece for their third album, the very dreamy “Coconut Grove”
From the Canadian Music Hall of Fame ceremony in 1996, John and Zal reunite in a great performance of “Jug Band Music” which they follow with their huge #2 hit from the Summer of 1966, "Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind?"
After he left the Spoonful, Zal played lead for Kris Kristofferson in the late 60s and early 70s. Here’s a 6 minute interview with Kris Kristofferson talking about those days. Kris Kristofferson talks about Zal Yanovsky
Here’s a great performance clip from the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival (bookended by clips from the same interview), where Kris faced one incredibly hostile crowd! This is the closer to the set, a song he wrote and the Pearl made her own! “Me and Bobby McGee” (If you stay to the end, you’ll see the promoter get on stage and melt down, along with the crowd. It’s as ugly as it gets!)
We’ll begin to close this dance with the title tune off his first solo album in 1968, “Alive and Well in Argentina.” From the same album “Raven in a Cage” and the classic “You Talk Too Much”
We’ll end that solo period with a single released at the same time, “As Long As You’re Here”
He also played bass on the 1st and title track of a very eclectic and psychedelic 1969 album by Jerry Yester and Judy Henske titled Farewell Aldebaran
Before we end this show, it wouldn’t be complete without a few tracks from his time as guitarist with the Mugwumps, his group before the Spoonful. As I told you earlier, yes, that’s Mama Cass and Papa Denny on vocals! They recorded this album in 1964, but it wasn’t released for some time after. Check these out (especially “Everybody’s Been Talkin’”!)
“Here It Is Another Day” (Given the era, there are clear Merseybeat influences here!)
“You Can’t Judge A Book By Lookin’ At The Cover”
We’ll close that Mugwumps album with this gem that’s proto-Mamas and Papas! “Everybody’s Been Talkin’”
For the encore, we go back to the beginning, when Zal and the band were riding a rocket ship! Live on the Sunset Strip in 1965, an upbeat tune if ever there was one, the irrepressible “Do You Believe in Magic”
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We’ll now salute one of the greatest songwriters of the Vietnam protest era, Phil Ochs (December 19, 1940 – April 9, 1976). From Wikipedia,, Phil was a “songwriter who was known for his sharp wit, sardonic humor, earnest humanism, political activism, insightful and alliterative lyrics, and distinctive voice. He wrote hundreds of songs in the 1960s and 1970s and released eight albums.
Ochs performed at many political events during the 1960s counterculture era, including anti-Vietnam War and civil rights rallies, student events, and organized labor events over the course of his career, in addition to many concert appearances at such venues as New York City's Town Hall and Carnegie Hall. Politically, Ochs described himself as a "left social democrat" who became an "early revolutionary" after the protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago led to a police riot, which had a profound effect on his state of mind.” He died way too young of a variety of mental health problems, but his protest music lives on! Today I’ll give you a few.
First, a great live video performance by Phil of his best known song “I Ain’t Marching Any More”
Here’s the original studio version of “I Ain’t Marching Any More”
“Here’s To The State of Mississippi”
Live in Montreal, “I’ve Had Her”
Live at Newport, one of his most powerful! “Links on the Chain”
From his live album, “Love Me I’m A Liberal” and “What Are You Fighting For?”
From the album Pleasures of the Harbor, “The Crucifixion”
Here’s the first known recording of “Crucifixion”
From Apr 1967, Phil live on "Come, Read To Me a Poem" in New York City. Phil Ochs - “Highwayman,” an interview, then “Changes”
For our closer, his first two albums! First, here’s his entire 44 minute debut studio album All the News That's Fit To Sing. (1964) and here’s his second studio album, Here’s his second, the very powerful I Ain’t Marching Anymore (1965)
Our first encore is a gem of a live show! From Houston’s “Club of our Own” in 1971, 53 minutes of Phil Ochs – Live in Houston 1971
For the second encore, I found a 1 hour 25 “American Masters” television episode devoted to Phil! Phil Ochs – American Masters
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Our next birthday celebration is a tribute to Professor Longhair (born Henry Roeland "Roy" Byrd - December 19, 1918 – January 30, 1980). From Wikipedia, “The music journalist Tony Russell (in his book The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray) wrote that ‘The vivacious rhumba-rhythmed piano blues and choked singing typical of Fess were too weird to sell millions of records; he had to be content with siring musical offspring who were simple enough to manage that, like Fats Domino or Huey "Piano" Smith. But he is also acknowledged as a father figure by subtler players like Allen Toussaint and Dr. John.’”
We’ll begin with his signature tune, “Mardi Gras in New Orleans”
Live in Montreux in 1973, the Professor smokes! “Big Chief”
I found a solid hour and 13 audio-only live recording of the Professor in 1973! Professor Longhair with the Meters - St. Bernard's, Chalmers, LA.
Here’s a great one hour Soundstage video of the Professor cranking out some serious N’awlins boogie woogie with other greats! “Dr. John: New Orleans Swamp 1974 featuring Professor Longhair, the Meters, Earl King, and the Night Trippers
From 1974, “Rockin’ Pneumonia with the Boogie Woogie Flu”
Last year I had the entire 43 minute album Rock ‘N’ Roll Gumbo but this year it seems someone has blocked most of the tunes on that album. I did find these, though! Rock ‘N’ Roll Gumbo - “Meet Me Tomorrow Night”
Rock ‘N’ Roll Gumbo - “They Call Me Dr. Professor Longhair” Rock ‘N’ Roll Gumbo - “Mardi Gras in New Orleans” Rock ‘N’ Roll Gumbo - “How Long Has That Train Been Gone?”Here’s his take on the old standard “Stagger Lee”
From 1975, a live recording of “Jambalaya”
From 1980, the title track of his album of the same name, “Crawfish Fiesta”
Back to some early ones!
From 1949, the studio version of “Hey Little Girl” and “Willie Mae”
From 1959, the studio version of “Go To the Mardi Gras”
Fast forward to 1972, and here he is with Earl Palmer, Red Tyler, and other greats cranking out “Boogie Woogie” followed by “Ball the Wall.” (Last year I had “In the Night” but this year it’s disappeared.)
We’ll close with the Professor doing his boogie woogie thang with “Red Beans” aka “I Got My Mojo Working”
Our encore comes from 1978, Live on the Queen Mary, with the Professor giving us “Tell Me Pretty Baby” and “Tipitina”
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We close today’s birthday feast celebrating the life and work of Galt MacDermot (December 18, 1928 – December 17, 2018), who gave the world FOUR number 1 smash hits including the title track of the monster 1969 musical Hair. He’s done jazz, funk, hip hop, theater and movie scores, and a whole lot more! Due to the lateness of the hour, today will be a brief tribute to this man’s songwriting talent! (To note, Hair was considered EXTREMELY subversive by Nixon, and one of its producers, Michael Butler, made Nixon’s “Enemies List,” quite a badge of honor at the time.)
The 5th Dimension scored a #1 in Apr/May 1969 with this medley that won a Grammy! "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" (We really believed it was happening!)
Live on the Tom Jones Show, here’s the 5th Dimension live giving us "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In"
Here’s the studio version of the original as done by the Broadway cast! “Aquarius” and “Let the Sun Shine In” (The soundtrack makes it clear these are actually 2 different songs, and not the medley we’re all used to.)
Oliver scored big with this one! Here’s a great live 1970 tv performance. “Good Morning Starshine.” Here’s how the original Broadway cast sang it. “Good Morning Starshine”
I found the Cowsills having fun on this 1969 “Wonderful World of Pizzazz TV” special with the title track to the musical! “Hair”
Last year I had a must see extraordinary clip from 1990, featuring Bob, John, Susan and Paul Cowsill performing “Hair” unplugged on the Hal Lifson tv show, with extraordinary harmonies as tight as a drum! It’s gone this year, but maybe it’ll resurface next year, since it’s lots of fun!
Here’s how the original Broadway cast sang it! “Hair”
Besides these, he also won a Grammy in 1960 for the Cannonball Adderley hit “African Waltz”
Among Galt’s soundtracks, here’s Cotton Comes To Harlem
He won a Grammy in 1960 for this jazz gem performed by Cannonball Adderley! "African Waltz," and here's his studio version of "African Waltz"
We’ll close this brief tribute with a live 2007 PBS performance by the Cowsills of what was truly a major anthem of the late 60s, the tune that inspired tens of millions of us to grow our hair as long as we could! (Mine made it about half way down my back. With the Jerry Garcia sideburns and a red goatee about 3 inches long, I was very much the hirsute wild man in 1969 letting my freak flag fly, as Jimi encouraged us to do!) “Hair”
For our encore, check out this great tune Galt wrote for the movie The Thomas Crowne Affair featuring Faye Dunaway and Steve McQueen! This is 3m and 39 of some serious blues set to some amazing cinematography! For your enjoyment, the erotic “Coffee Cold.”
© Copyright 2018 Robert Wilkinson
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