friday random ten, 1966 edition
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Artist:
1. The Mamas and the Papas, "Monday, Monday." Their first #1 single, from their first album, which also made #1. What a great debut album it was, not just "Monday, Monday" but "California Dreaming," "Go Where You Wanna Go," and terrific covers of "I Call Your Name" and "Do You Wanna Dance."
2. "LSD," Side 2. Where to begin? How about with the narrator, Dick Clark? Or the guests: Allen Ginsberg, Timothy Leary, Ken Kesey. This thing was actually released on Capitol Records. It includes a brief excerpt from an actual Prankster Acid Test. And it has sound from a real-life acid trip … the guy has a bummer, perhaps he sensed that they had placed half a dozen microphones in hidden places, "with the consent of his girlfriend." And you can download it here.
3. Sam & Dave, "I Take What I Want." The video link above is an especially good one … Sam & Dave are introduced by an excited Otis Redding. And it's in living color!
4. Buffy Sainte-Marie, "My Country 'Tis of Thy People You're Dying." We're really getting into the greatest hits of FM Underground radio now. The vibrato really works on this one. We're a long way from Sesame Street.
5. Napoleon XIV, "They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!" From the sublime to the ridiculous, or, The Joys of Shuffle Play #2523. This song made it to #3 on the charts. I guess that means the flip side made it to #3, as well … the flip side being the A side played backwards.
6. Nancy Sinatra, "How Does That Grab You, Darlin'?" I like this record and all, but am I the only one who thinks she sings flat half the time?
7. Stevie Wonder, "Uptight (Everything's Alright)." Motown is underrepresented on this random ten, although since I preferred Stax-Volt and they get more than one song, I'm not complaining.
8. Barbara Lewis, "Don't Forget About Me." Lesser Lewis. Dusty Springfield topped this version a few years later.
9. Eddie Floyd, "Knock on Wood." Great track. Yes, the disco version was great, too.
10. Lorraine Ellison, "Stay With Me." A cataclysmic way to end the list. God save us if American Idol ever gets a hold of this song. Well, Bette Midler's version is about the same thing. I love Bette, and some think she's made this song her own after The Rose, but my own thoughts are seen in #6 above. She gets away with it in the movie because her performance is so dynamic, but without the visuals, you've got someone who can't stay on key. Ellison doesn't have that problem.
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