Nazareth This Flight tonight

Joni Mitchell - This Flight Tonight

It wasn't the one that you gave to me that night down south between the trailers. Not the early one that you wish upon not the northern one that guided the sailors

Fun Fact of the Week

In 1970 Joni Mitchell wrote “This Flight Tonight”, but most people know, and have heard only the 1973 Nazareth version. In 1971 it appeared on her notable album “Blue”, which many argue is one of her very best.  In 2000 the New York Times called it one of the 25 albums that represented "turning points and pinnacles in 20th-century popular music".

Dusty Springfield - Son of a preacher man

Bein' good isn't always easy no matter how hard I try. When he started sweet-talkin' to me he'd come'n tell me "everything is all right"

Hip to be Square

“Son of a Preacher Man”, Dusty Springfield (1968) 

From the very cool album “Dusty in Memphis”, this classic song Dusty definitely made her own. 

Originally offered to Aretha Franklin, who turned it down, Dusty made “Son of a Preacher Man” a huge hit - and then Aretha decided to record it on her 1970 “The Girl’s In Love With You”. With incredible control, tone and finesse with difficult material, Dusty was arguably one of the best female singers of the sixties. Obviously with considerable innate talent, Dust was also a student of music with an analytical approach to listening to other performer’s song – dissecting songs like butterflies. She adored Motown and the gospel sound, and was one of the few white singers to be able to properly pull-off some of the complex Motown material.

Steve Miller - The Joker

People keep talkin' about me baby Say I'm doin' you wrong Well don't you worry, don't worry, no don't worry mama Cause' I'm right here at home

Songs Everyone Should Know

“The Joker”, The Steve Miller Band (1973)

  

If you were born under a rock as they say, you may not have heard this song, otherwise, I’m pretty sure you have. Released in late 1973 it went to number one in January 1974.

This song has some interesting lyrics. First of all, he makes reference to ‘Space Cowboy’ and ‘Gangster of Love’, both of which were previous Steve Miller songs.  Some people think it draws heavily from Allen Toussaint’s song ‘Soul Sister’. The cadence sounds similar to me, and similar to other Toussaint songs like ‘Working in a Coalmine’.

Stages of a Music Listener: Where are you at?

Not listening to music				You are dead
				You are stone deaf
				You are hearing impaired but still hear a bit
				You never pay attention whether music is playing or not
				You may observe that music is playing somewhere
				Never turn music on
Passive Listening				Doing something else that consumes your attention while music is playing
				Hearing music but not really hearing what or who it is
				Sometimes paying attention to songs you hear
				Hearing songs and deciding if you like them
				Turning on your radio or going on the Internet to hear streaming music
				Observing that you have heard a song before
Active Listening				Listening for who did a song on the radio
				You start to like a certain radio station
				Recognizing some songs
				Recognize the various instruments playing in a song
				Deciding that you like a particular artist
				Can sign along to a song - know the lyrics
				Discovering that you dislike an artist
Listening for understanding				You buy a portable music device
				See the beauty in an artists lyrics
				Frequent stores or websites that specially sell music
				Dissatisfied with a song you constantly change stations
				Attend a concert or performance by an artist
				Downloading a song
				You recognize a 'muzak' song in an elevator or shopping mall
				Buy a portable devise to listen to music, and actually load it, and use it.
Seeking Out				Start to collect music
				Recognizing an artist's work
				Listening to the lyrics at face value
				You listen to music in your car: many ways radio, satellite, mobile device
				Determine that you like a certain type or style of music
				Recognizing a song by an artist you like
				Buying a set of recordings - an anthology or multi-disc set
				Talk to others about music
Recognition and deeper				Read the 'liner notes' on a CD or recording
understanding				Look for information on the artist
				Asking others if they like certain artists
				You look at flyers for deals on music or technology
				People start to give you music as a gift
				You hear remakes or covers of songs and know the original artist
				You buy a car ensuring that the music system meets your needs
				Dispose of or delete a song from you music library
				Your ears get sore from your ear buds or headphones
Conversant on Music				Your enthusiasm for an artist is contagious
				Read an article or review of an artist
				You play music for others to hear
				Seeking out an artists work - all of it.
				Categorize and devise storage systems for your music
				Argue/debate  with someone about a song or artist
				You start to give people music as a gift
				Understanding the style or category of music an artist is performing
Active expansion of				Knowing they type of music an artist is known for
understanding & appreciation				Subscribe to a periodical or sign up to follow a blog
				Actively look for concerts in your area, and go to them
				You really have developed a music 'library'
				Talk to others about the meaning of a song
				Know where the best music stores are in town
				Putting on a recording you are in the mood to hear
				Deciding what styles or types of music you like
				Have a favourite song, or at least an infatuation with a song
				You read and comment on blogs
				Listening to the lyrics for true understanding
				You seek out hard to get music via Internet of travel
				Able to determining artists that have similar sounds or styles
				Read a book about a particular artist or music era or style
Understand artists and styles				Pay extra money to get great seats at a concert
				Recommend or share a song or artist with someone else
				People ask you to bring music to things
				Love a particular artist and seek out their music
				Start to understand the technical aspects of music
				Understand the instruments common in certain styles of music
				Acquire most or all of the artists material
				Seeking to fully understand the lyrics and the meaning
				Label, classify, photograph and/or otherwise catalog your music
				Others seek you out for musical advise
				Listening to the lyrics for meaning
Music researcher				Knowing some of the music an artist has done
				Attend a concert and purchase a shirt or CD of the artists
				Others comment that you seem to know an artist
				People ask if you can DJ for them
				Know music related to an artist, or another band they were in.
				You search for music  when you travel
				You disagree with someones understanding of the meaning of a song
				You read everything you see about music if you have time
				Hearing a song, you know the artist, title and year
				Discuss music with experts
				Listen to music as an interest or hobby
Becoming expert				Start running out of space for music storage
				Fly or drive long distances to see live performance of artists you like
				You decorate your home of office with music as art
				You fit concerts into your travel plans
				Research music styles or types
				People expect you to know everything about music
				Seek out the historical development of music styles
				Share your research on music and accept feedback
				Listen to music 24/7
				Become a maniacal musical recluse that only comes out for concerts
Fanatical				You write a music blog
				You write a serious book about music

Will You, Willyum - Janis Martin 1956

Wanda Jackson - I Gotta Know

They can call you Bill or even Billy But you’re my sweet William and you drive me silly

Quick Hits

“Will You Willyum”, Janis Martin, (1956)

“I Gotta Know”, Wanda Jackson (1956)

Like any definition of what the ‘first’ of anything was in history, it is fuzzy. Things aren’t that clear- cut. I have said this before, and I will say it again: music is a continuum, an evolution. Is anything ever entirely original? Some more than others, and it is a judgement call at the end of the day.  

The first female rockers were arguably ‘rockabilly’ artists who were steeped in country music and tainted by the wildness of their male contemporaries. One of these was Janis Martin.

April Wine - Roller

She likes to play for double or nothin' She's tellin' all the boys she's hot And everybody knows she's ready To give it everything that she got

Pick of the Week

“Roller”, April Wine (1979)

In my mind this is one of the greatest Canadian bands of all time. This is a case where Cancon certainly helped a Canadian band. What has always left me  really puzzled is why they did not do better in the U.S., at least not like their contemporaries, like Rush? I question what their management and the record companies were doing. They were always a consistent, enduring, solid band that produced many, many fine rock songs and great ballads. Goodwyn's voice was better than Geddy Lee's, any day of the week - a great rock voice for sure.