On June 14, 1980 Bill Joel started a six-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with Glass Houses, his second US No.1 album. The album features Joel’s first song to peak at No.1 on Billboard’s Pop Singles chart, ‘It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me.’ His first No. 1 album was 52nd Street. Interestingly, Billy Joel’s 52nd Street was the first CD ever released, by Sony when they released their first CD player in 1982, along with 49 other albums from Sony’s library, including Billy Joel The Stranger, Songs in the Attic, Glass Houses, Turnstiles; Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here, Michael Jackson Off The Wall, Chicago Chicago IX: Chicago’s Greatest Hits, Earth Wind & Fire The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1, Santana Greatest Hits, Simon & Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Water, and as well as a variety of classical titles from Beethoven to Mozart, Tchaikovsky to Strauss and Vivaldi.
So what was so special about 52nd Street? Was it the great collection of songs, including “Big Shot,” “Honesty,” and “My Life”? Was it because it won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. Or the too cool album cover photo of Billy holding a trumpet sporting a tailored suit and his Tretorn tennis sneakers? It actually was nothing more than 52nd Street, starting with a number, came first when alphabetized in Sony’s release list.
Billy’s first number one song “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” provides the theme for today’s playlist, songs with some variation of Rock and Roll in their title. Other alternatives include Rock & Roll and Rock ’N Roll. Only the biggest of music buffs will know the difference, not that it makes a difference.
Rock & Roll was a product of the early ‘50s, first coined by Cleveland, Ohio DJ Alan Freed. Its musical style is rooted in R&B with influences from gospel, jazz, boogie-woogie, blues, swing, and folk music. The “starting 5” that received significant airplay on the first Top 40 format radio station, KOWH in Omaha, Nebraska were Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bill Haley, Chuck Berry, and Fats Domino. While the genre initially more prominently featured piano and saxophone, it quickly transformed to an electric guitar led sound, largely through the efforts of Chuck Berry.
If the foundational period of Rock & Roll was the ‘50s to mid-60s, the mid-60s to late ‘70s was considered the Golden Age of Rock. The 60s brought Psychedelic Rock, Classic Rock, and the British Invasion, while the ‘70s ushered in Hard Rock, Progressive Rock, Punk Rock, and Heavy Metal. The ‘80s brought Glam Rock, Pop Rock, and New Wave, with the ‘90s brining Alternative Rock and Grunge. The 2000s appears to be revisiting variations of several of the old genres over the years with Garage Rock Revival, Pop-Punk and Indie movements.
But for me, “I like that old time rock and roll.”
So Marty McFly epitomizes the evolution of rock over the years in just one performance, transitioning from doo-wop R&B to Chuck Berry’s R&B rock style to ‘80s rock & metal.
And summarizing my opinion on the matter is Joan Jett
Even Country Music went to the School of Rock
Some Rock & Roll song greats include Bob Seger “Old Time Rock & Roll” and “Rock And Roll Never Forgets,” Chuck Berry “Rock And Roll Music,” Joan Jett “I Love Rock ’N Roll,” Huey Lewis “The Heart of Rock And Roll,” The Rolling Stones “It’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll,” Eric Clapton “I’ve Got a Rock ’N’ Roll Heart,” Boston “Rock & Roll Band,” Led Zeppelin “Rock and Roll,” Kiss “Rock And Roll All Nite,” Bad Company “Rock ’n’ Roll Fantasy,” John Fogerty “Rock and Roll Girls,” Elton John “Rock And Roll Madonna,” Meat Loaf “Rock And Roll Dreams Come True,” Moody Blues “I’m Just A Singer (In A Rock And Roll Band),” The Kinks “A Rock ’n’ Roll Fantasy,” Traffic “Rock ’N’ Roll Stew,” and Peter, Paul, and Mary “I Dig Rock and Roll Music,” among others. And that doesn’t even include the Rock & Roll releases by AC/DC and Kiss, who were so prolific they needed their own playlist.
On to the playlists, to enjoy some songs with Rock & Roll in the title. There are 3 to choose from:
Rock & Pop Rock & Roll songs:
Alternative, Punk, Techno & More Rock & Roll songs:
AC/DC & Kiss Rock & Roll Songs:
I hope that this music and my blog truly serve as a “revival: a new presentation of something old,” a springboard to return to the music of your youth, or perhaps to find artists you want to discover anew. Rediscover the passion of music in your life.
As I celebrate my 60th birthday, I felt compelled to share a project that I hope inspires others to consider embarking on using their own artistic skills, whether it be through music, writing, drawing, painting, photo or video compilation, recording of a verbal narrative, or any other creative means to create a lasting tribute to their own life.
I’d like to start with a quote oft attributed to Mark Twain, “reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.” While this blog is a self-penned tribute of my life, I, at least at the time of this writing, am far from dead. And I not only felt compelled to share it while I am still here among my family and friends, I wanted it to hopefully serve as an inspiration for others to document their story and share their talents and gifts with those you love before they leave this planet. It could be through music, as it is for me, but for others could mean artwork, song, poetry, prose, writing, or recording what had significant meaning while walking this journey we call life.
Every man’s life ends the same way. It is only the details of how he lived and how he died that distinguish one man from another – Ernest Hemingway
The idea for its genesis came a few years ago when creating my mom’s 80th birthday tribute blog and playlist. In celebration of her birthday, I wanted to share stories, memories, photos, and music of importance over her lifetime. And it was great to share while she was (and is) still alive, so not only could she reminisce and be aware of how much she has meant to so many, but also so she could share memories and stories herself. So I thought who better to create a tribute for someone than by that very someone, perhaps similar to people who pen their own obituaries, though this is most commonly done by those suffering a terminal illness.
So why not create such a tribute and legacy while alive and well, as we are on the back 9 of our lives? Beyond the sorrow of the loss of a loved one, it is also sad to have a family member or friend pass and not having a record of some of the history and stories of their life. Again, this is best captured while they are still alive, alert, and in control of their cognitive faculties.
As those who know me are aware, to quote Einstein, “I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.” Thus it is no surprise as I contemplate my time on earth and my own mortality, I embarked upon the creation of two playlists near and dear to my heart.
The first playlist In My Life is more or less the soundtrack of my life, the songs that circle round and round in my head and on my turntable, cassette deck (no 8-tracks), radio, CD player, iTunes, and Spotify streaming. To paraphrase the introduction to the Days of Our Lives, “like songs through the speakers, so is the music of our lives.”
The second playlist titled Set Me Free chronicles the story of my life and eventual death (and no, not yet, but perhaps in non-morbid anticipation). it starts with spiritual songs of great importance to me that helped me find meaning, purpose, and comfort in this time I spend on this planet. It continues with songs chronicling my life journey from childhood to where I am now. The playlist concludes with songs hopefully of comfort to those I will ultimately leave behind.
My blog won’t be a static document, nor are the playlists immutable. It can all be adjusted and expanded upon as future happenings contribute to my life journey. This initial narrative related to these playlists is in celebration of my 60th year on this planet. But I am over time working on a more detailed chronical to accompany the playlists as a personal remembrance of more specific memories of my life journey, ultimately for my family and friends I will leave behind, though such reminiscing is more than I feel appropriate to share at this point in my life.
Starting with the first playlist, In My Life is a compilation of my favorite artists and songs, with my very favorite artists getting greater attention. Reflecting my perspective on music in my life are the first two songs – “In My Life” and “Remember When The Music”:
There are places I remember All my life, though some have changed Some forever, not for better Some have gone and some remain
All these places had their moments With lovers and friends, I still can recall Some are dead and some are living In my life, I’ve loved them all
In My Life – The Beatles
Remember when the music Came from wooden boxes strung with silver wire And as we sang the words it would set our minds on fire For we believed in things, and so we’d sing
Remember when the music Brought us all together to sand inside the rain And as we joined our hands we’d meet in the refrain For we had dreams to live, and we had hopes to give
Don’t you remember when the music Was the best of what we dreamed of for our children’s time? And as we sang we worked, for we knew time was just a line A gift we saved, a gift the future gave
Remember When The Music – Harry Chapin
It then moves to some of my earliest memories of music. I sang “Puff the Magic Dragon” in preschool at 3 or 4 years old. Joy To The World,” “American Pie,” “Copacabana” and “Jesus Christ Superstar” were among the first songs I remember singing along with on the radio – “Jermiah was a bullfrog…”, “A long long time ago…”, “Her name was Lola…”, “Jesus Christ Superstar…” Though it’s a somewhat interesting image of a 5 year old wandering around belting out about some “mighty fine wine” and “whiskey and rye!” A few songs are from our “Columbia Cassette Club” include the Carpenters, John Denver, and the Grease Soundtrack.
Next are songs from among the first albums I ever bought, including Pat Benetar’s Crimes of Passion, Kenny Rogers’ The Gambler, Vangelis’ Chariots of Fire, and Billy Joel’s Turnstiles – actually my 3rd or 4th Billy Joel album, as I was searching for his song “Prelude/Angry Young Man” that he played at my very first concert, but I didn’t know the title of the song nor that album from which it came. There was no Google, Shazam, or Spotify back then.
Continuing with some of my favorite artists, Billy Joel, Elton John, Van Morrison, Genesis/Phil Collins/Peter Gabriel, Steely Dan, Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood including their various iterations, Dire Straits/Mark Knopfler, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Santana, Led Zeppelin, Rush, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, along with many others who shared my musical attention. There are even some instrumental, jazz, and classical selections dear to my heart.
The playlist ends with songs about music and me (which provided the inspiration for an entire previous more detailed playlist), the titles could be the story of my life: “Music And Me,” “Music,” “Listen to the Music”(providing my blog name), “Let the Music Play,” “Don’t Stop The Music,” “Play That Funky Music,” “Dance To The Music,” “Thank You For The Music,” “When The Music’s Over” – Though if Heaven is all it’s meant to be, there must be music there. Why else do angels have harps?!? And to close, one of my very favorite songs, “A Song For You.”
I love you in a place where there’s no space or time I love you for my life, ’cause you’re a friend of mine And when my life is over, remember when we were together We were alone, and I was singing my song for you
A Song For You – Leon Russell
In contemplating our own mortality, when our life is over, we consider the effects of losing those around us, sometimes seeming before their time, as when my dad died suddenly at 49, and by brother Bob at just 19. I have always maintained that such trials and tribulations of life are difficult enough to navigate with having Faith – I can’t imagine trying to make it through our life journey without Faith.
For those who doubt the existence of God or are angry at God due to the age-old conundrum of why bad things happen to good people, I offer one of my favorite scenes from the Netflix Marvel streaming series “Daredevil.”
God’s plan is like a beautiful tapestry, and the tragedy of being human is that we only get to see it from the back, with all the ragged threads and muddy colors. We only get a hint of the true beauty that would be revealed if we could see the whole pattern on the other side as God does
Matt Murdoch to Sister Maggie in Netflix/Disney Daredevil
And in this backdrop of a greater purpose beyond this life, the second playlist starts with a focus on faith, with songs by Christian artists I have enjoyed, many of whom I have seen, mostly through my involvement in youth ministry and annual attendance for many years at SoulFest (a multi-day, multi-stage Christian music festival in New Hampshire). These songs have given me great strength, comfort, and peace over the years.
In the morning, when I rise Give me Jesus… You can have all this world Just give me Jesus
Give Me Jesus – Jeremy Camp
To everyone who’s lost someone they love Long before it was their time You feel like the days you had were not enough When you said goodbye
And to all of the people with burdens and pains Keeping you back from your life You believe that there’s nothing and there is no one Who can make it right
There is hope for the helpless Rest for the weary And love for the broken heart And there is grace and forgiveness Mercy and healing He’ll meet you wherever you are Cry out to Jesus
Cry Out To Jesus – Third Day
I’m forgiven because You were forsaken I’m accepted, You were condemned I’m alive and well, Your Spirit is within me Because You died and rose again
Amazing love, how can it be That You, my King, should die for me? Amazing love, I know it’s true And it’s my joy to honor You In all I do, to honor You
You Are My King (Amazing Love) – Newsboys
And I feel compelled by the challange to serve others, not only treating other as we wish to be treated, but to care for those less fortunate. Mission work in Mexico, Guatemala, and Haiti, as well as to the underserved in the US through Christian work camps with my church in New Hampshire have been eye opening, rewarding, and inspiring.
Carry your candle, run to the darkness Seek out the helpless, deceived and poor Hold out your candle for all to see it Take your candle, and go light your world
Go Light Your World – Kathy Troccoli
God’s word and presence has calmed and comforted me when I’ve been sad or afraid, I feel he is always with me, guiding me, protecting me, helping me. Upon the unexpected death of my father at the age of 49, the loss of my brother at the age of just 19, and subsequently enduring the loss of our first pregnancy, God was instrumental in getting me through such trials and tribulations. Looking back, I have truly felt there was no challenge I couldn’t tackle or obstacle I couldn’t overcome with His guidance and help.
When I feel afraid Think I’ve lost my way Still you’re there right beside me And nothing will I fear As long as you are near Please be near me to the end
Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path
Thy Word – Amy Grant
I have tried to make my life, my relationships, my role as a son, husband, and father, my jobs, all a prayer to God. I tried to shine His light to all those around me through my attitude, my care, concern, and service. While I can’t say I have always been successful, it has definitely been my intention and effort, and luckily my God is patient and forgiving.
Make my life a prayer to You I want to do what You want me to No empty words and no white lies No token prayers no compromise.
I want to shine the light You gave Through your Son You sent to save us From ourselves and our despair It comforts me to know you’re really there.
Well I want to thank You know For being patient with me Oh it’s so hard to see When my eyes are on me I guess I’ll have to trust And just believe what You say Oh You’re coming again Coming to take me away.
I want to die and let You give Your life to me so I might live And share the hope You gave me The love that set me free.
I want to tell the world out there You’re not some fable or fairy tale That I’ve made up inside my head You’re God the Son You’ve risen from the dead.
Make My Life A Prayer To You – Keith Green
And some comfort and consolation when considering our passing, with a belief that our live beyond this world will be most extraordinary.
Whatever happens, whatever you see Whatever your eyes tell you has, become of me This is not, is not the end I am making, all things new again
New Again – Brad Paisley, Sara Evans
Right now all I can taste are bitter tears And right now all I can see are clouds of sorrow But from the other side of all this pain Is that you I hear, laughing loud and calling out to me?
Saying “See, it’s everything you said that it would be, And even better than you would believe. And I’m counting down the days until you’re here with me, And finally, you’ll see.”
But right now, all I can say is “Lord, how long Before you come and take away this aching?” This night of weeping seems to have no end. But when the morning light breaks through, We’ll open up our eyes and we will see
It’s everything that He said that it would be And even better than we would believe And he’s counting down the days ’til He says “Come with me.” And finally he’ll wipe every tear from our eyes And make everything new, just like he promised Wait and see, just wait and see, wait and see
See – Steven Curtis Chapman
The next portion of the playlist chronicles the various places and happenings in my life of significance. I truly have been blessed with so many wonderful places I’ve been and amazing experiences in my life. I couldn’t ask for better places to live, schools to attend, sports to play, events to experience, locales to travel, and family and friends to spend it all with.
It starts with my childhood in Connecticut, family, vacations, including amusement parks, vacations at the beach, baseball, wrestling, school, friends, memories of many wonderful Christmases, then college at Dartmouth, traveling to Europe, becoming a doctor, meeting my wife, the love of my life, with many a love song in tribute to the significance of that most important heppening in my life, living in Virginia, moving to New Hampshire, having a family, vacations, involvement in youth ministry, musicals, moving to South Carolina, and traveling as empty nesters.
The playlist then shifts to songs encouraging to not take life for granted, as well as songs of comfort and condolence, in hopes of, someday, when I am no longer here, easing the loss of a spouse and father. The playlist ends with a wink 😉 and a smile ☺️
While these playlists are very long, the beauty of digital media is the ability to skip around as needed, and to listen to them over time. I feel if my kids feel they are missing me, they can listen to part of the playlist and feel a little bit closer.
A year or so ago my aunt, my dad’s sister, gave me a very special gift of a pair of my dad’s sunglasses I believe from the ’60s. He had a similar pair even in the ’50s when he was stationed at Aviano Air Force Base in northern Italy. I have a photo of hip wearing them when skiing in Cortina, but I can’t quite believe these are one in the same.
I recently had lenses made with my prescription in his frames, and when I wear them I definitely feel closer to my dad, like a bit of him is with me, even though he has been gone for over 40 years.
Thus the intention of these playlists and blog. I don’t want my kids to feel a need to visit me in some hole in the ground. I’d prefer they could snuggle up on the couch, in a more warm, comfortable, intimate fashion and listen to a song or two or read a story or two and remember their dad and the many wonderful times spent together. I challenge all my family, friends, listeners and readers to find a creative, intimate way to do the same.
So as I look back on these first 6 decades of life, I realize how truly blessed I have been over those years with great love and strength from God and well as the gift of family and friends who have brought me joy on the journey and helped me to be who I am and to get where I am today. My wife just suprised me with a weekend of celebration with my children, family, and friends, looking back with those I’ve shared fond memories in the past and foward to creating more memories with my connections in this most wonderful world.
There have been so many who have touched my life in some way, some just for a little while, and others for much longer. We each have a role to play in lives of so many, sometimes just in the first act or two, other times as companions on much of the journey.
What a friend we have in time Gives us children, makes us wine Tells us what to take or leave behind And the gifts of growing old Are the stories to be told Of the feelings more precious than gold
Friends I will remember you, think of you Pray for you And when another day is through I’ll still be friends with you
Friends With You – John Denver
Many of you reading this, if you look and listen closely, will see yourself in my music, in my life. I thank you for having that special place in my life and in my heart and look forward to more moments and memories as I head toward my second act. No, I’m not retired yet, but someday… but not to dwell on that day, as it’s always better to focus on today, to live in the moment (which has been part of my traditional blog sign-off – see below).
Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift, that is why it is called the present. – Master Oogway, Kung Fu Panda
Remember then, there is only one time that is important – Now! It is the most important time because it is the only time when we have any power. – Leo Tolstoy
Happiness not in another place, but in this place… not for another hour, but this hour. – Walt Whitman
A happy man is too satisfied with the present to dwell too much on the future. – Albert Einstein
Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year – Ralph Waldo Emerson
We spend precious hours fearing the inevitable. It would be wise to use that time adoring our families, cherishing our friends, and living our lives. – Maya Angelou
I never think of the future. It comes soon enough. – Albert Einstein
So listen closely, and you’ll find yourself woven into the tapestry of my life:
Live in the moment. Enjoy the moment. Love the moment. Listen to the music!
There’s something about music and cars – a match made in Heaven. As a teen cruising in my ride, a ’72 VW Beetle, back before digital media and streaming, I’d be listen to tunes mostly on the radio, beholden to the DJs and what they’d play. Rotating through my preset stations, usually WCCC, “The Rock”, WHCN, “The River” famous for album oriented rock, rock blocks, and double shots, and WPLR out of New Haven, I’d search for the best song in the moment. And now and then, I’d stumble upon a song that would instantly inspire a spontaneous right hand to the volume knob, spinning it clockwise to crank up the volume. So what better inspiration for a playlist than songs that made me, over the years, as Autograph wails in the refrain of their song, “turn up the radio.”
Obviously some band and albums inspire cranking up the volume, like Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Guns N Roses, hair metal, etc. But I’m talking about individual songs that back before streaming, in the car or at home, would make you turn the radio up. They were songs you couldn’t get loud enough. Many were hard driving songs, but some were just amazing acoustically with the fullness of their sound, and others were songs you loved so much you wanted to just hear every little detail.
So here’s my list. I may have left a few off, and I included a few that weren’t ones I turned up back in the day, but are definitely now songs I want to turn up. For the most part I left out music since streaming began. These are mostly 70s and 80s, and some 90s songs. They aren’t necessarily my favorite songs by these artists, and many aren’t even my favorite artists. But they for whatever reason made me reach for that volume knob and turn up the radio.
For the most part I’ve only included one song per artist, with a few exceptions. Led Zeppelin blasts through the intro with “Immigrant Song”, as it did in the movie Thor – Ragnarok, such a great place to start.
But I had to also include one of my Zep faves “Good Times, Bad Times.” Van Halen’s Hot For Teacher” drums and guitar need that full volume sounds, as does “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love.” And the haunting Sting “I want my MTV” intro then kicking into the Mark Knopfler guitar riff on his Les Paul in “Money For Nothing” needs to test the limits your amplifier and speakers. But the beauty of Knopfler’s acoustic guitar and vocals on “Romeo & Juliet” also need to be felt as well as heard. And Rush’s “Tom Sawyer” is perhaps my all time favorite song to crank up (check out how young the band looked back in the day).
The songs that truly reminisce about those rides in my kelly green bug, windows down (partly for comfort – no AC back then), in addition to the songs listed above are Boston’s “Long Time,” The Kinks’ “Do It Again,” Yes’ “Leave It,” Scorpions “Rock You Like A Hurricane,” Blue Oyster Cult’s “Don’t Fear The Reaper,” ZZ Top’s “La Grange,” Spencer Davis Group’s “Gimme Some Lovin’,” Steve Miller Band’s “Jungle Love,” Steely Dan’s “Hey Nineteen,” Human League’s “Fascination,” Eagles “Seven Bridges Road,” Spandau Ballet’s “True.” Instant turn the volume to “11” while riding in my car.
Eric Carmen’s “Make Me Lose Control” made the list not out of any desire to turn it up, but by virtue of its lyrics “turn the radio up”!
Jimmy Page (Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin, The Firm), The Edge (U2), and Jack White (The White Stripes) got together to turn up the volume in It Might Get Loud – definitely worth a watch.
While not making my playlist, songs like Elton John’s “Sixty Years On” live with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra inspire turning up the volume to hear the beauty of every nuanced note:
While I think you’ll enjoy listening to my playlist, as I think it’s pretty great, remember they’re songs that made ME turn up the radio. My further intent and hope with this blog is to inspire you to make your own list of songs that make you want to immediately reach for that volume control (likely no longer a knob). Then, when listening, you can set the volume to “11” and listen to your whole list.
I had lots of fun doing this one, and love cranking it up in my car, though I do get a little embarrassed in parking lots or in my neighborhood, and feel obligated to turn it down a bit…
I hope that this music and my blog truly serve as a “revival: a new presentation of something old,” a springboard to return to the music of your youth, or perhaps to find artists you want to discover anew. Rediscover the passion of music in your life.
Live in the moment. Enjoy the moment. Love the moment. TURN UP THE MUSIC! Listen to the MUSIC!
Per Google Oxford Languages, to reimagine is to reinterpret (an event, work of art, etc.) imaginatively. To form a new conception. I thought in light of the upcoming New Year, where we often contemplate and try reimagining our jobs, our hobbies and interests, ourselves and our life paths, I would share a collection of songs expertly reimagined by many skilled artists.
There have been times when hearing a new song that somehow seems familiar, yet new, I then have the “a-ha” moment realizing it is an interpretation of a song I know, and marvel at the metamorphosis. Sometimes this entails a total reworking of the style, feel, and approach of the song, making it almost unrecognizable. Other times it is more a genre or energy shift. But the result is often a spectacular seemingly new cover song that is often equal if not superior to its original tune.
The ones that come to mind most readily for me are some interestingly enough by the original artist in a new iteration of themselves, often in their transition from membership in their rock band to their status as a solo artist. Think Phil Collins/Genesis with “Behind the Lines,” the solo offering a pop-R&B version of the song, with the original a progressive rock staple.
Or Sting/Police with Shadows in the Rain, with reggae rock giving way to a jazz-pop style.
And Clapton actually questions on Unplugged “See if you can spot this one” regarding his reimagination of Layla, virtually unrecognizable until you really focus on the lyrics and melody, so different than its early 70s guiotar driven blues rock.
Then CeeLo Green reenvisions his alter ego Gnarls Barkley’s psychedelic funk-soul “Crazy” to a more unplugged acoustic offering.
Sometimes, as discussed in my previous blog Cover Me – Great Cover Songs & Their Originals (October 21, 2021 – see/search via Playlist menu for an exhaustive list of cover tracks often better than their originals), songs we know and love, unbeknownst to us, are actually covers. The one that continues to blow me away in this regard is Led Zeppelin’s beautiful power rock ballad “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You,” originally a droning cat wailing song not worth remembering by Joan Baez. How Zep listened to that song and thought “we can turn this into a breathtaking, powerful track on their debut album to me is beyond comprehension. Only the most creative, gifted musical gods could pull off such a transformation.
Here is Pink’s fantastic cover of the Zep version:
Watching American Idol in 2008, David Cook was competing and as I listened to his cover, while I sensed I knew the lyrics and melody, I couldn’t quite place it, until it dawned on me it was Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.” Or was it? It was the Chris Cornell version/interpretation, which was pure genius.
One of my favorite Indie artists and former Glee and America’s Got Talent alum built a YouTube following with his creative interpretations of pop songs. His version of LMFAO’s “Sexy And I Know It” put him on the map. And Prince’s “I Would Die For You” was equally creative.
And his interpretation of Prince’s “I Would Die For You” was equally creative.
It often takes a verse or two of such wildly reimagined songs before you fully recognize and place the tune.
Other notable reimaginations include Natalie Merchant’s version of The Chiffons’ “One Fine Day” from the movie of the same name, Annie Lennox’ covers of the Clash’s “Train In Vain” and Bob Marley’s “Waiting In Vain” off her album of covers “Medusa.” There’s Lourde’s etherial somber cover of Tears For Fears’ “Everybody Wants To Rule The World.” Tori Amos covers Nirvana, of all bands, with a very non-grunge interpretation “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” And Ryan Adams covering miss Eras herself, Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off.” Or Evanescense soaring with Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain.”
Joe Cocker delivers the definitive soul interpretation of The Beatles “With A Little Help From My Friends” as does Johnny Cash with Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt.”
Many reimaginations are courtesy of a genre shift, often a shift from country or pop to rock, blues, reggae, techno-pop, or rap. Think Run DMC reenvisioning Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way,” of Stevie Ray Vaughn’s blues coverage of Stevie Wonder’s funk soul “Superstition.”
Or Elvis Presley’s 50s rock and Jim Hendrix’ acid rock reinterpretations of Big Mama Thorton’s blues classic “Hound Dog.” There’s Sting covering Hendrix’ “Little Wing,” Hendrix covering Bob Dylan’s “All Along The Watchtower,” and Guns N’ Roses covering Dylan’s “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door.”
Classic reggae reinterpretations include UB40’s “Red Red Wine” (Neil Diamond) and “I Got You Babe” (Sonny & Cher), Club Nouveau’s “Lean On Me” (Bill Withers), and Big Mountain’s “Baby I Love Your Way” (Peter Frampton). Techno-pop interpretations include Erasure’s “River Deep, Mountain High” (Ike & Tina Turner), The (English) Beat’s “Tears Of A Clown” (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles), Pet Shop Boys “Always On My Mind” (Willie Nelson), and Soft Cell’s “Tained Love” (Gloria Jones).
Some inspiration for creative covers of movie songs include Whitney Houston’s soaring anthem “I Will Always Love You” (Dolly Parton/Best Little Whorehouse in Texas), The Beatles “Till There Was You” (Barbara Cook/The Music Man), LL Cool J’s “Who’s Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf (Disney), Gipsy Kings “I’ve Got No Strings” (Pinocchio) – they also offer a Spanish guitar adaptation of Hotel California (Eagles).
While perhaps unfair to include Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, as the musical collective’s mission is to rework popular music into vintage musical genres, most often swing and jazz, I felt it was worth given them some representation with reinterpretations of Van Halen’s “Ain’t Talking ‘Bout Love” and Kiss’ “I Was Made For Loving You.” Here’s yet another PMJ offering with Blondie’s “Call Me.”
And I thought I’d close with Jeff Buckely’s beautifully haunting, prayerful reworking of Leonard Cohen’s almost depressively brooding “Hallelujah.”
So as you contemplate the endless possibilities of reimaging parts of your life on the eve of the New Year, I hope you enjoy listening to some great songs reimagined by some very skilled artists. Happy New Year!
I hope that this music and my blog truly serve as a “revival: a new presentation of something old,” a springboard to return to the music of your youth, or perhaps to find artists you want to discover anew. Rediscover the passion of music in your life.
