Music Labyrinth Episode 014
Baba O'Riley / The Who
Hello Valued Listerner, and welcome to episode 14 of The Music Labyrinth. This is a place where we find ourselves lost in the annuls of modern music, and - to be honest - we're not too concerned about finding our way out. Our sole objective is to find a pathway to the next song in the labyrinth via some demonstrable link. Just before we try to find tht link away from our opening song, can I take the opportunity to remind you that, next week, as a personal indulgence, we are going to try a stand-alone episode which focuses solely on songs of celebration, liberation, transition or ending. Please help me put that show together by nominating a song to be played in that episode. To make a nomination, go to www.nonshedders.net and click the link to The Music Labyrinth. Once there, leave me your song suggestion in the comments field. OK, let's crack into episode 14 of The Music Labyrinth. We started this episode where we ended the last, with Baba O'Riley by The Who, from the 1971 album Who's Next. The listener will know that song - probably because of that song - but also from the CSI:NY television series, dozens of other movies and TV shows, NBA basketball and NFL football match entertainment and, possibly, from the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games - which also featured George Michael playing this song.
Freedom! 90 / George Michael
This is The Music Labyrinth where, a few moments ago, we revisited the year 1990 and listened to the George Michael track, Freedom! 90. The "90" appended to the song title was necessary to avoid confusion by a song Freedom which had been released by Wham, an earlier collaboration between George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. Freedom! 90 was contained on George Michael's second solo album, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1. Another single from that album, Waiting for That Day, is credited as having been written by George Michael, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Although the song was composed by George Michael, it was considered to be so similar to this next song, even sharing a key line, that Jagger and Richards were granted a songwriting credit on the George Michael song. The song alleged to have been copied is this one from 1969.
You Can't Always Get What You Want / The Rolling Stones
From the 1969 album Let It Bleed, that is the Rolling Stones with You Can't Always Get What You Want. I'm living proof of that truism. I was singing that song to myself once as I rode a motorcycle into a tree stump. I definitely wanted not to hit that stump - but there you go: QED. In addition to the names we associate with the Rolling Stones, several guest musicians contributed to the song we just heard. One of them was Kwasi Dzidzornu, who was also known as Rocky Dijon, who played percussion. Seven years later, he teamed up with Joe Walsh, who was just about to join the Eagles. However, as a solo artist, Walsh was captured live in concert for his album You Cant Argue With A Sick Mind. From that album, and featuring Rocky Dzidzornu on percussion, here is the standout track.
Rocky Mountain Way / Joe Walsh
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth where we recently listened to the classic Joe Walsh live version of Rocky Mountain Way. A prominent effect in that song was delivered by a piece of what was, in 1976, cutting edge technology in the form of the "Talk Box"; which is a device that allows musicians to shape the sound of an instrument - in this case Joe Walsh's guitar - to sound like a word. Walsh and Peter Frampton were the popular pioneers of the device, but it has been used in the years since by Todd Rundgren, Aerosmith, Pink Floyd, Bon Jovi, Queen and Rage Against The Machine. And, in 1999, by Dave Grohl in this Foo Fighters song.
Generator / Foo Fighters
From 1999 that was the Foo Fighters with Generator. A year later, the members of Queen were to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and Davel Grohl and Taylor Hawkins from the Foo Fighters were asked to preside over the induction. As part of that ceremony, Grohl and Hawkins joined Brian May and Roger Taylor from Queen on stage to perform a version of this song.
Tie Your Mother Down / Queen
From their 1976 album A Day At The Races, that was Queen with Tie Your Mother Down. The song was written by guitarist Brian May who, famously, has a Ph.D as an astrophysicist. Another person who is seemingly overqualified for a career in popular music is Dexter Holland who, in addition to being a virologist and a pilot, has a degree in molecular biology, and can be heard singing and playing guitar on this 1994 song which, by the by, he also wrote.
Self Esteem / Offspring
This is The Music Labyrinth and - moments ago - that was the Offspring from 1994 with their mega-hit Self Esteem. The lead guitarist for the Offspring is Kevin John Wasserman, who is better known by his single word stage name, Noodles. I decided to chase that rabbit down some burrows, and came up with a few modest examples: Lorde, Moby, Slash, Passenger and Pink. But, when it comes down to it, I'm a bloke of a certain era, and I've opted for familiar territory. Several years ago I was challenged to compile my ten favourite songs of all time. I took the exercise seriously and shortlisted, and trimmed and rearranged and reconsidered. Eventually the list revealled itself. This song, by Sting, came in at number two on my list. Here is All This Time.
All This Time / Sting
I suppose, having teased you with my number two favourite song of all time, the obvious link to our next song is to reveal my number one choice. Before I do, don’t forget that we will continue this journey through The Music Labyrinth in a fortnight, but next week we will be taking a diversion to a stand-alone episode featuring songs of celebration, liberation, transition or ending. Please help me with that if you can. To end this episode, I leave you with what was, several years ago, the song I determined to be my favourite of all time. As always, thanks for listening to The Music Labyrinth.
The Last Resort / The Eagles
Hello Valued Listerner, and welcome to episode 14 of The Music Labyrinth. This is a place where we find ourselves lost in the annuls of modern music, and - to be honest - we're not too concerned about finding our way out. Our sole objective is to find a pathway to the next song in the labyrinth via some demonstrable link. Just before we try to find tht link away from our opening song, can I take the opportunity to remind you that, next week, as a personal indulgence, we are going to try a stand-alone episode which focuses solely on songs of celebration, liberation, transition or ending. Please help me put that show together by nominating a song to be played in that episode. To make a nomination, go to www.nonshedders.net and click the link to The Music Labyrinth. Once there, leave me your song suggestion in the comments field. OK, let's crack into episode 14 of The Music Labyrinth. We started this episode where we ended the last, with Baba O'Riley by The Who, from the 1971 album Who's Next. The listener will know that song - probably because of that song - but also from the CSI:NY television series, dozens of other movies and TV shows, NBA basketball and NFL football match entertainment and, possibly, from the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games - which also featured George Michael playing this song.
Freedom! 90 / George Michael
This is The Music Labyrinth where, a few moments ago, we revisited the year 1990 and listened to the George Michael track, Freedom! 90. The "90" appended to the song title was necessary to avoid confusion by a song Freedom which had been released by Wham, an earlier collaboration between George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. Freedom! 90 was contained on George Michael's second solo album, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1. Another single from that album, Waiting for That Day, is credited as having been written by George Michael, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Although the song was composed by George Michael, it was considered to be so similar to this next song, even sharing a key line, that Jagger and Richards were granted a songwriting credit on the George Michael song. The song alleged to have been copied is this one from 1969.
You Can't Always Get What You Want / The Rolling Stones
From the 1969 album Let It Bleed, that is the Rolling Stones with You Can't Always Get What You Want. I'm living proof of that truism. I was singing that song to myself once as I rode a motorcycle into a tree stump. I definitely wanted not to hit that stump - but there you go: QED. In addition to the names we associate with the Rolling Stones, several guest musicians contributed to the song we just heard. One of them was Kwasi Dzidzornu, who was also known as Rocky Dijon, who played percussion. Seven years later, he teamed up with Joe Walsh, who was just about to join the Eagles. However, as a solo artist, Walsh was captured live in concert for his album You Cant Argue With A Sick Mind. From that album, and featuring Rocky Dzidzornu on percussion, here is the standout track.
Rocky Mountain Way / Joe Walsh
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth where we recently listened to the classic Joe Walsh live version of Rocky Mountain Way. A prominent effect in that song was delivered by a piece of what was, in 1976, cutting edge technology in the form of the "Talk Box"; which is a device that allows musicians to shape the sound of an instrument - in this case Joe Walsh's guitar - to sound like a word. Walsh and Peter Frampton were the popular pioneers of the device, but it has been used in the years since by Todd Rundgren, Aerosmith, Pink Floyd, Bon Jovi, Queen and Rage Against The Machine. And, in 1999, by Dave Grohl in this Foo Fighters song.
Generator / Foo Fighters
From 1999 that was the Foo Fighters with Generator. A year later, the members of Queen were to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and Davel Grohl and Taylor Hawkins from the Foo Fighters were asked to preside over the induction. As part of that ceremony, Grohl and Hawkins joined Brian May and Roger Taylor from Queen on stage to perform a version of this song.
Tie Your Mother Down / Queen
From their 1976 album A Day At The Races, that was Queen with Tie Your Mother Down. The song was written by guitarist Brian May who, famously, has a Ph.D as an astrophysicist. Another person who is seemingly overqualified for a career in popular music is Dexter Holland who, in addition to being a virologist and a pilot, has a degree in molecular biology, and can be heard singing and playing guitar on this 1994 song which, by the by, he also wrote.
Self Esteem / Offspring
This is The Music Labyrinth and - moments ago - that was the Offspring from 1994 with their mega-hit Self Esteem. The lead guitarist for the Offspring is Kevin John Wasserman, who is better known by his single word stage name, Noodles. I decided to chase that rabbit down some burrows, and came up with a few modest examples: Lorde, Moby, Slash, Passenger and Pink. But, when it comes down to it, I'm a bloke of a certain era, and I've opted for familiar territory. Several years ago I was challenged to compile my ten favourite songs of all time. I took the exercise seriously and shortlisted, and trimmed and rearranged and reconsidered. Eventually the list revealled itself. This song, by Sting, came in at number two on my list. Here is All This Time.
All This Time / Sting
I suppose, having teased you with my number two favourite song of all time, the obvious link to our next song is to reveal my number one choice. Before I do, don’t forget that we will continue this journey through The Music Labyrinth in a fortnight, but next week we will be taking a diversion to a stand-alone episode featuring songs of celebration, liberation, transition or ending. Please help me with that if you can. To end this episode, I leave you with what was, several years ago, the song I determined to be my favourite of all time. As always, thanks for listening to The Music Labyrinth.
The Last Resort / The Eagles