ROCKY’S PANDEMIC PLAYLIST, PART 10
TELL ME HOW DO YOU FEEL
Lee Michaels,1969: Back in Playlist 1, we explored how important the B3 Hammond organ was to the late ’60s sound. Nobody got a bigger sound out of the B3 than San Francisco’s Lee Michaels. This track — a Percy Mayfield/ Ray Charles composition — is from his self-titled album, recorded live in the studio with the sole backing of Barry “Frosty” Smith on drums. “Tell Me How Do You Feel” is the start of a 23-minute improvisational jam. Michaels’ howling vocals are incredible.
LAUNDROMAT
Rory Gallagher, 1972: Playlist 6 included some underappreciated guitar greats and probably should have included Irish phenom Rory Gallagher. He recorded “Laundromat” originally on his first solo album (his previous band was Taste), but Gallagher was an incredibly dynamic live performer so I always preferred the version on his “Live in Europe.” Gallagher’s guitar was down-and-dirty. Unfortunately, his liver didn’t survive the road: dead at the age of 47.
DARLING BE HOME SOON
Slade, 1972: British bands were making a lot of noise in the early ’70s, but none as much as Slade. “Darling Be Home Soon” — a John Sebastian composition and a minor hit for The Lovin’ Spoonful — appeared on Slade’s breakthrough LP “Slade Alive.” It’s a beautiful tune, aching with sincerity and so out of character for these glammed-up proto-punks. But Noddy Holder’s vocals are simply spine-chilling. Please excuse his belch midway through the performance. It adds character.
YOU DIDN’T HAVE TO BE SO NICE
The Lovin’ Spoonful, 1965: It would be remiss to include Slade’s version of ‘Darling’ without an actual song from The Lovin’ Spoonful, a U.S./Canadian conglomerate that released a series of extraordinarily well-crafted hits in 1965/66. “You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice” was the band’s second single, a followup to “Do You Believe in Magic.” Singer John Sebastian and Canadian guitarist Zal Yanovsky were the key players, but bassist Steve Boone gets a credit on this one.
WOULDN’T IT BE NICE
The Beach Boys, 1966: It’s hard to listen to The Lovin’ Spoonful without thinking the band must have had some impact on The Beach Boys’ 1966 masterpiece “Pet Sounds.” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” was the opening song on the album and released as a single backed by “God Only Knows” — an amazing one-two punch. These two songs show the funloving “Boys” entering the world of adults. Production by Brian Wilson, who wrote the song with Peter Asher, is immaculate.