Marty Robbins -- Big Iron -- 1960
About fifty years ago, this song became just about the first big country/pop crossover hit. I think its unique blend of Western storytelling, Freudian imagery and TexMex seasoning still make it something special today. And the animation brings it into a whole new century (not this one).
About fifty years ago, this song became just about the first big country/pop crossover hit. I think its unique blend of Western storytelling, Freudian imagery and TexMex seasoning still make it something special today. And the animation brings it into a whole new century (not this one).
The Byrds -- Eight Miles High -- 1966
The Byrds again. This particular song might be about culture shock on a trip to London, or it might be about an acid trip. Either way, it pretty much finished them as a conventional band and established them as the grandfathers of alternative rock. This clip is from a home movie the guys filmed on an actual trip to England. Trhe music doesn't kick in until about 0:35.
The Byrds again. This particular song might be about culture shock on a trip to London, or it might be about an acid trip. Either way, it pretty much finished them as a conventional band and established them as the grandfathers of alternative rock. This clip is from a home movie the guys filmed on an actual trip to England. Trhe music doesn't kick in until about 0:35.
The Hollies -- Look Through Any Window -- 1965
The Hollies were a pretty good band from Lancashire; relatively clean-living guys who specialized in happy little slice-of-life songs, written both by themselves and by the great Graham Gouldman. One of them went on to become reallly famous in another group.
This particular appearance was on an American variety show called Hullalaboo. This show ewas notorious for making its acts lip-synch amid props that had little or nothing to do with what was being sung about. Since this particular episode aired in October, everything had a football motif. And the band had to endure a rather patronizing and clueless introduction from Frankie Avalon. But this was the only way most kids back then ever got to see their favorite bands.
The Hollies were a pretty good band from Lancashire; relatively clean-living guys who specialized in happy little slice-of-life songs, written both by themselves and by the great Graham Gouldman. One of them went on to become reallly famous in another group.
This particular appearance was on an American variety show called Hullalaboo. This show ewas notorious for making its acts lip-synch amid props that had little or nothing to do with what was being sung about. Since this particular episode aired in October, everything had a football motif. And the band had to endure a rather patronizing and clueless introduction from Frankie Avalon. But this was the only way most kids back then ever got to see their favorite bands.
The Byrds -- Feel A Whole Lot Better -- 1965
The Byrds were really the first American band to make a real impact after the British invasion. Their trick was to combine the folk music that had been popular before with the new English sound. At the beginning the key members of the group were the likable Gene Clark on vocals, the crafty Roger McGuinn on lead guitar, and the ambitious David Crosby playing rhythm.
This video is from a 1965 appearance on the variety show Shindig. Way back before cable, such programs were the main way rock bands got themselves before a mass audience. Shindig was famous for letting their acts simply get up on a stage and sing live.
The Byrds were really the first American band to make a real impact after the British invasion. Their trick was to combine the folk music that had been popular before with the new English sound. At the beginning the key members of the group were the likable Gene Clark on vocals, the crafty Roger McGuinn on lead guitar, and the ambitious David Crosby playing rhythm.
This video is from a 1965 appearance on the variety show Shindig. Way back before cable, such programs were the main way rock bands got themselves before a mass audience. Shindig was famous for letting their acts simply get up on a stage and sing live.
The Who -- I Can't Explain -- 1965
The Who's very first video for their very first hit song, from 1965. Part One of my Cool Sounds of the Sixties series. Time will tell if a Part Two is called for.
The Who started out sort of as spokesmen for the "Mods", who were a bit like the Beatniks in their intellectual aspirations and love of coffee, but dressed flashier and rode about in outrageously tricked-up Vespa scooters. Of course, Americans had never experienced anything like them.
The Who's very first video for their very first hit song, from 1965. Part One of my Cool Sounds of the Sixties series. Time will tell if a Part Two is called for.
The Who started out sort of as spokesmen for the "Mods", who were a bit like the Beatniks in their intellectual aspirations and love of coffee, but dressed flashier and rode about in outrageously tricked-up Vespa scooters. Of course, Americans had never experienced anything like them.
