"More Cowbell!"

Today in rock history, in 1973, Grand funk Railroad hits #1 with “We’re An American Band.” If you’ve ever seen Christopher Walken’s famous Saturday Night Live sketch imploring Will Ferrell and Blue Oyster Cult that he needs “More Cowbell,” you’ll know that this song embodies the spirit of that request. Here is my band North of Nowhere’s version of this song, taped live at the Ugly Mug, Farmington, MN, on 5-15-09. Thanks to http://rockhall.com/story-of-rock/today-in-rock/ for the info, and keep on rockin’, and please, more cowbell!

Keep on Rockin'...

... in the free world...Today in rock history, in 1989, Neil Young released 'Freedom,' his best album in a decade. A blistering performance of the opening track, "Rockin' in the Free World," on 'Saturday Night Live' is regarded as one of that show's best performances. Even though it is an intense performance, Neil never liked doing TV: Just the look on his face was enough. He really seemed insane. YOUNG: 'Yeah, well I was. I don't like TV. Never have. It always sucks and there's nothing you can do about it. You can't just walk on and do 'Rockin' in the Free World,' or you'll look like a fuckin' idiot. To perform that song the way it's supposed to be performed you have to be at peak blood level, everything has to be up, the machine has to be stoked. To do that I had to ignore Saturday Night Live completely. I had to pretend I wasn't there.' So Young developed 'a brand new technique for doing TV' - a half-hour before going on he worked out with his trainer, lifting weights and doing calisthenics to get himself wired. "

Since I must have been under a rock at the time and missed it, and since it is one of my most favorite Neil Young songs ever, now is the time to enjoy it one more time! Thanks to http://rockhall.com/story-of-rock/today-in-rock/ and http://thrasherswheat.org/fot/ritfw.htm for the info, and, well, you know what to do!


NEIL YOUNG / ROCKIN' IN THE FREE WORLD
Uploaded by Sunnychopper82. - Explore more music videos.

Black Bottom Stomp

Today in rock history (although this may be a stretch for some of you), in 1926, Jelly Roll Morton recorded his classic “Black Bottom Stomp” in a Chicago studio at the first of many small group sessions. His seven-man band, the Red Hot Peppers, included such esteemed musicians as trombonist Kid Ory and banjoist Johnny St. Orr. This is another argument that early jazz and blues recordings had an effect on the rock musicians of the '60's and '70's; for example, the use of a drum kit in a New Orleans-style song and a percussive "slapped" bass. Check it out in this video, and thanks to http://rockhall.com/story-of-rock/today-in-rock/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Bottom_Stomp for the info, and keep on rockin', New Orleans-style!

Good Ol' Boys Were Drinkin' Whiskey and Rye...

Singing this will be the day that I die...today in rock history, in 1972, Don McClean hits #1 with "American Pie." Based loosely on "The Day the Music Died," that bitter February day in 1959 when the plane carrying Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens (among others) went down in that Iowa cornfield, this song was Don's only major hit and signature song. Many interpretations of the lyrics exist, but Don preferred to let the music speak for itself, and refused to discuss the meaning of the lyrics. Let's enjoy the video one more time, and keep on rockin'! Thanks to http://www.rockhall.com/story-of-rock/today-in-rock/ for the info.