Saturday 16 April 2011

Jesus Christ Superstar - I Don't Know How To Love Him

Yvonne Elliman - If I Can't Have You

Go crazy is what I will do - If I can't have you, I don't want nobody baby

70's Pick of the Week

“I Don’t Know How to Love Him” and “If I Can’t Have You”, Yvonne Elliman, (1973/1977)

I was watching the new Hawaii Five-O the other day....ya don’t start with me, I know! Anyway, I was thinking that I had seen Yvonne Elliman in the old version of it. I seemed to recall a version of it with a singer. Sure enough, in checking it out, there was a 2-part episode that she starred in as a struggling singer.

Friday 15 April 2011

Martha & the Vandellas - Heatwave

It's like a heatwave burning in my heart I can't keep from crying tearing me apart

Fun Fact of the Week

(Love is Like a) Heat Wave, Martha and the Vandellas, 1963

Martha Reeves was a secretary at Motown who got her break when the famed Mary Wells (‘My Guy’, ‘You Beat Me to the Punch’) did not show up for work at Motown and her group got a chance to record. Barry Gordy was so impressed he offered them a contract in 1962. Martha lived on Van Dyke Street in Detroit and loved the singer Della Reese, so putting the two together named her group the ‘Vandellas’.

Thursday 14 April 2011

bee gees-how deep is your love

I believe in you. You know the door to my very soul You're the light in my deepest, darkest hour

Hip to be Square

“How Deep is Your Love”, The Bee Gees, 1977

I remember in high school our crusty, but lovable math teacher gave us a problem once with a hypothetical group called the “Heebie Jeebies”, everyone knew he was referring to the Bee Gees. I thought it was great that a 60-some year old was trying to connect with us in his way.

You know those songs that you can’t turn on the radio without hearing – well this was one of them.  After that you could not turn on the radio for about a year or two without hearing the Bee Gees or brother Andy Gibb.

Tuesday 12 April 2011

The Night Time is the Right Time...

 Chillin' With Rhythm...
 
Honeybus - Story

April Wine - Stand Back
Maximum Cowbell
Reggatta Mondatta -  A Reggae Tribute to the Police

Monday 11 April 2011

Split Enz - I Got You

Crowded House - Don't Dream It's Over

And Now Presenting: The Amazing Finn Brothers!

Pick of the Week

“I Got You”, Split Enz (1980)
“Don’t Dream It’s Over”, Crowded House (1986)

Neil and Tim Finn were New Zealanders that later had to go to the big island next to them (otherwise known as Australia) to hit the big time. They formed in 1971 and called themselves ‘Split Ends’ until they went to Australia, and to signify their NZ roots changed it to ‘Split Enz’. Starting off with more of a progressive rock sound, when Neil Finn joined, this quickly became more of a ‘new wave’ sound in the late 70’s  - set off with the help of Tim’s “Mellotron” keyboard. Their brilliant live act, gained them overseas tours opening for bands like Roxy Music, Lou Reed and Leo Sayer.

My favourite Split Enz song to this day is “Poor Boy” off the ‘Colours’ album. Awesome recording!

After many tough years but with a manic-like cult following in New Zealand and Australia, the Enz finally hit pay dirt with “True Colors” released in 1980. The album itself released by A&M has multicoloured shapes cut into the vinyl with a laser – a true collector’s item now1. “I Got You” went to the top of the charts in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Number 12 in the U.K.  The song only reached number 53 in the U.S for some reason but the album, went to the top 40.
With stalled American success, the band eventually broke up in 1984. Sort of...

Sunday 10 April 2011

Thanks Faithful Davo-rama Music readers!

I appreciate the feedback and comments I have been getting via face book, email, etc.

If you like my blog, please share it with your friends and family. If you have any suggestions on what I may do to change or improve it, let me know.


Davo-rama

EDDIE MONEY Baby Hold On To Me live 1977

So baby hold on to me whatever will be, will be

Songs Everyone Should Know

“Baby Hold On”, Eddie Money, 1977

Believe it or not I had an 8-tack player in my first car. I also had a Radio Shack “Realistic” 8-track tape recorder in my room at home (with my turntable of course!). I was able to make compilation tapes of all my favourite records at the time, and play them in my car. One tape in particular that I played incessantly had “Baby Hold On” and “Two Tickets for Paradise” by Eddie Money.