Middle Aged Dummies - Artist - Round 5 - #27's have been posted. Link in OP. (8 Viewers)

[Dr. Octopus]

31.

Song: Looking Forward to Seeing You

Album: Weird Tales

Songwriter: Kraig Johnson

Smog Lineup:

Kraig Johson – Lead Vocals, guitar

Jeff Tweedy – background vocals, guitar

Dan Murphy – background vocals, drums

Gary Louris - background vocals, mellotron, guitar

Marc Perlman – bass, background vocals



While most of the players in Golden Smog come from an alt-country background, a lot of their songs are straight rockers and/or power pop tunes. This is a combination of the latter. While Kraig Johnson or Run Westy Run, handles the lead vocals, Jeff Tweedy’s harmony on the chorus is a big part of the tune’s success.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

For my Billy Joel commentary, I'm going to wait for @simey 's writeups. But I think what I'm going to do is name and write about someone I think would've done the song better.

"We Didn't Start The Fire" should be epic.

I'm guessing that isn't one of his best 31 songs.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

As usual I plan on listening to every playlist - not sure I'll comment on everyone but will surely single out new to me songs that impress.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

MAD31s V5 #31s Looking Forward to Seeing You

Playlist · thelukewarm · 27 items

open.spotify.com

I got the playlist title to open things up.

 

[tuffnutt]

So I broke it up into three groups of 9, and It seemed to work. (it worked because each post was under 10,000 characters)

In MB "dark" mode, the song title you typed in on Line 1 of each song, doesn't show well at all. It does show ok in "light" mode.

Not a huge deal to me as we can see the song titles in the Spotify Links. (maybe this will lead to only posting the song links in the future?)

thanks for all your efforts!

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Prelude / Angry Young Man

Billy wrote this song for his 1976 album Turnstiles. The album marks when he returned to New York after living in Los Angeles for three years. He originally used some of Elton John's band to record this album in Colorado, and it was produced by Chicago's producer Guercio at the time, but the finished product wasn't what he wanted. He decided to scratch that recording, and produce the album himself in NY using his touring band for the first time on a studio album. It's one of my favorite albums by him.

He kicks off a lot of his concerts with "Prelude / Angry Young Man" because of its energy, and it gives the sound man time to adjust everything before the vocals come in. It starts out with a furious pounding on the piano, which Billy said his goal is to simulate the drum part in the song "Wipe Out" by The Safaris with the sound. It's a good way for him to get his fingers warmed up for this countdown.

And there's always a place for the angry young man,
With his fist in the air and his head in the sand.
And he's never been able to learn from mistakes,
So he can't understand why his heart always breaks.
But his honor is pure and his courage as well,
And he's fair and he's true and he's boring as hell
And he'll go to the grave as an angry old man.

Artist Who Should Have Recorded This: Little Richard

I think Joel was going for an allegory here (like most of his songs, it doesn't work). Richard Penniman didn't care about that crap. You wanna talk about piano energy? Turn Richard loose on this thing and hide the children/pets/elders. Nobody would know what Richard is singing, but that doesn't matter - in fact, it improves the song.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

For my Billy Joel commentary, I'm going to wait for @simey 's writeups. But I think what I'm going to do is name and write about someone I think would've done the song better.

"We Didn't Start The Fire" should be epic.

I'm guessing that isn't one of his best 31 songs.

That's because he doesn't have 31 best songs.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

For my Billy Joel commentary, I'm going to wait for @simey 's writeups. But I think what I'm going to do is name and write about someone I think would've done the song better.

"We Didn't Start The Fire" should be epic.

I'm guessing that isn't one of his best 31 songs.

That's because he doesn't have 31 best songs.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Besides my own,

What about your wife’s?

 

[KarmaPolice]

Besides my own,

What about your wife’s?

I didn't recognize the title off hand. I stopped my City and Colour deep dive to preserve some surprises on that playlist too. I am sure there are a bunch i know, but dont know titles well enough yet. Most of my deep listening was the newest 3 albums before she agreed to our madness.

 

[tuffnutt]

31.
Road To Joy- Bright Eyes
from I'm Wide Awake its Morning (2005)
"I could have been a famous singer
if I had someone else’s voice
but failure’s always sounded better
let’s f### it up boys, make some noise"

The final track off my favorite Bright Eyes Album, Road to Joy draws inspiration from the Beethoven classic "Ode to Joy," and turns it into chaotic folk-rock. The whole song is Conor essentially attempting to reconcile his own place in society and his perceptions of joy, success, failure - when such a massive societal change (the war in Iraq) was happening. To me, Just amazing song writing and a great way to kick off the countdown.

As for the Album itself, it was ranked at number 50 on Rolling Stone list of "Top 100 Albums of the Decade and at number 31 on NME's" Top 100 Greatest Albums of the Decade"

 

[simey]

I think Joel was going for an allegory here (like most of his songs, it doesn't work).

The song is about a friend of his that he hired early on as his road manager. His friend had just gotten back from Vietnam and was very angry. He ended up not working out as the road manager, because he was having a hard time adjusting to civilian life, and he couldn't get along with any of the crew and band members, and it became a big problem, so Billy had to reluctantly let him go. Anyway, the situation inspired him to write the song. Billy himself received a draft card, but his lottery number was really high, and it never got called. He did have a lot of friends go to Vietnam, and two close ones were killed there. Here's a couple more verses to the song...

There's a place in the world for the angry young man
With his working class ties and his radical plans
He refuses to bend, he refuses to crawl,
And he's always at home with his back to the wall.
And he's proud of his scars and the battles he's lost,
And he struggles and bleeds as he hangs on his cross
And he likes to be known as the angry young man.

Give a moment or two to the angry young man,
With his foot in his mouth and his heart in his hand.
He's been stabbed in the back, he's been misunderstood,
It's a comfort to know his intentions are good.
And he sits in a room with a lock on the door,
With his maps and his medals laid out on the floor
And he likes to be known as the angry young man.

 

[Yambag]

#31's

I Of The Mourning

The Smashing Pumpkins · Machina / The Machines Of God · Song · 2000

open.spotify.com

Album: Machina / The Machines of God
Summary: This song is from the last album before the band officially broke up in 2000. I wanted to kick off the playlist with a song from Machina, The Machines of God not only because it closed a chapter on the band (and me following them), but upon its release, it revealed a major surprise for fans that nobody saw coming. You will have to wait for that reveal later on, which includes this song, so I can’t say much more beyond the fact that I felt it is a solid rock song opener for the playlist.

 

[-OZ-]

Well, he did write his songs and is a valid performer so...

But did they make the whole world sing about love and special things?

 

[Mister CIA]

Track 31: Exhausted, by Headstones (2000)

This song was chosen for its accessibility to the new listener. The thrill ride begins on track 30.

Released in 2000, Exhausted could have stood on its own with the very best of 1970s AOR material, and still here in 2025 it doesn't sound the least little dated. Only four minutes long, it's complex and constantly shape-shifting. It also gives a little introduction to AMSR-like, therapeutic vibrations - all of it - guitar, bass, drums, and the unmistakable Hugh Dillon cadence. It ends with a nice little Layla-esque wind down.

Pairs with: Pensivity

Exhausted

Provided to YouTube by Universal Music GroupExhausted · HeadstonesNickels For Your Nightmares℗ 2000 Universal Music, a division of Universal Studios Canada L...

www.youtube.com

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Well, he did write his songs and is a valid performer so...

But did they make the whole world sing about love and special things?

He is music...

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

I almost didn’t include this one but felt like the last song for this band should be included.

I've never heard of Caro Emerald. Why on earth wouldn't you include this? It's so good.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I did not know this Go-Go's song - it's pretty different from their pop hits (kind of heavy). Liked it a lot.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Prelude / Angry Young Man

Billy wrote this song for his 1976 album Turnstiles. The album marks when he returned to New York after living in Los Angeles for three years. He originally used some of Elton John's band to record this album in Colorado, and it was produced by Chicago's producer Guercio at the time, but the finished product wasn't what he wanted. He decided to scratch that recording, and produce the album himself in NY using his touring band for the first time on a studio album. It's one of my favorite albums by him.

He kicks off a lot of his concerts with "Prelude / Angry Young Man" because of its energy, and it gives the sound man time to adjust everything before the vocals come in. It starts out with a furious pounding on the piano, which Billy said his goal is to simulate the drum part in the song "Wipe Out" by The Safaris with the sound. It's a good way for him to get his fingers warmed up for this countdown.

And there's always a place for the angry young man,
With his fist in the air and his head in the sand.
And he's never been able to learn from mistakes,
So he can't understand why his heart always breaks.
But his honor is pure and his courage as well,
And he's fair and he's true and he's boring as hell
And he'll go to the grave as an angry old man.

Artist Who Should Have Recorded This: Little Richard

I think Joel was going for an allegory here (like most of his songs, it doesn't work). Richard Penniman didn't care about that crap. You wanna talk about piano energy? Turn Richard loose on this thing and hide the children/pets/elders. Nobody would know what Richard is singing, but that doesn't matter - in fact, it improves the song.

I like Joel, but the contrast between this and Diamond's introspective "Solitary Man" is pretty huge. Joel's just seems busy and a bit pretentious by comparison. Joel is better when he's quieter.

 

[Mt. Man]

MA-D Round 5: Metallica
#31: Hit the Lights
Album: Kill ‘Em All (1983)

(Youtube Version/music video) Hit The Lights (Remastered)
(live version) Metallica: Hit the Lights (Las Vegas, NV - November 26, 2018)
(live verson2) Metallica w/ Mustaine, Grant and McGovney - Hit the Lights (Live in Frisco, Dec. 10th, 2011)

No life 'til leather
We're gonna kick some *** tonight
We got the metal madness
When our fans start screaming, it's right
Well, alright, yeah
–

This song probably would’ve landed higher, but how could I resist starting (the main section) here? First song written, first song recorded on their first album, as well as first song on the ‘82 Garage demo and the Power Metal demo roughly a month later. Not to mention having a title too appropriate for the beginning of something, as I'm sure the band would agree.

Kill ‘Em All is a fairly raw album. Raw in power, raw in technical achievement. It’s definitely a matter of taste whether the lack of polish works well in (heavy) metal. Though while few would argue that it’s the next three albums where Metallica really finds their sound, this is far from a humble beginning.

Then again, from just this first song, it would be hard to label Metallica as “humble”. Not with lyrics like “we’re gonna kick some *** tonight” and “we’re gonna blow this place away”. But that’s what “Hit The Lights” is, pretty simply a song about performing on stage. You don’t need to dig too deep here, and Metallica doesn’t ask you to do so.

Next on the countdown, I’m bending my own rules a bit. But hey, I’m not really a role model, no matter the time.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

The Gap Band playlist is going to be a lot of fun, based on the opening song.

 

[-OZ-]

I almost didn’t include this one but felt like the last song for this band should be included.

I've never heard of Caro Emerald. Why on earth wouldn't you include this? It's so good.

IMO There are 19 of her songs that were automatically in. Then another 13-15 that warrant including.
Glad you like it!

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I almost didn’t include this one but felt like the last song for this band should be included.

I've never heard of Caro Emerald. Why on earth wouldn't you include this? It's so good.

IMO There are 19 of her songs that were automatically in. Then another 13-15 that warrant including.
Glad you like it!

I dug it also.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

This MAD artist playlist flows much better than the last iteration. Not many harsh breaks - so far.

 

[Don Quixote]

The Gap Band playlist is going to be a lot of fun, based on the opening song.

There will be some ballads, and next one up is going to be a Charlie Wilson solo, which is more modern R&B sound. So, they all won’t be quite as fun as the opener. But a lot of fun ones will definitely be in here.

 

[Ilov80s]

Hey I submitted my songs in the correct order! Go me

 

[Zegras11]

Automatic Rainy Day (Live from Central Park 2001) - The Go-Go's *HQ Video*

More Go-Go's live from Central Park 2001: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=DD8990303839B4CF or visit http://grrlbandgeek.blogspot.com/Go-Go's - Automa...

www.youtube.com

Live from Central Park 2001.....

Automatic Rainy Day - Go-Go's

You walk into the room and the temperature falls
The mood disappears
Chased away by the gathering storm
That is here

I look up painted sky full of memories
And this house has no roof to shelter me

It's an automatic rainy day
When I see you
It's the perfect consolation prize
A little piece of blue
It's an automatic rainy day

Just when it feels like the world
Is together and whole
You come around
Dragging your permanent cloud
And the weather turns cold

Hang around for a repeat of history
Falling down in the hole you dug for free

It's an automatic rainy day
When I see you
It's the perfect consolation prize
A little piece of blue
It's an automatic rainy day



When you see the reaction you cause
Does it make you sad?
Do you even realize
That you're such a drag?

 

[Zegras11]

WTF.. I posted a Y2 video and the song title appeared...

 

[KarmaPolice]

Hey I submitted my songs in the correct order! Go me

5th time's a charm!

 

[Zegras11]

in PM, KP asked me what the schedule will be... here's my answer...

I'm thinking late Thursday like last night. That gives everyone Friday and Saturday to comment.

Then Sunday AM. This will give everyone Sunday and Monday to comment.

And then Tuesday afternoon... Rest of Tuesday and all of Wednesday and most Of Thursday.



This is subject to my travels of course. LOL. Lots of poker coming up. This Sunday to following Sunday for a week long "mixed game" series each day at Planet Hollywood.

Then June 2-18, playing about 7-8 events at WSOP. Retirement is the best!

 

[zamboni]

[td]Steve Marriott[/td][td]zamboni[/td][td]"Bang!" – Humble Pie

Bang! (Stereo Version)

Humble Pie · As Safe As Yesterday Is · Song · 1969

open.spotify.com

[/td]

For Steve, we start with a, yes, bang, from Humble Pie's 1969 debut album As Safe as Yesterday Is. A raw, minimalistic high-energy rocker that blends the band's hard rock, blues and soul roots. Steve showing his trademark powerhouse vocals although just as prominent is the heavy rhythm section, notably Greg Ridley's killer bass work.

The promotional video the band released gives a good visual of the high energy. Peter Frampton sure looked different several years before his solo explosion.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Track 31: Exhausted, by Headstones (2000)

This song was chosen for its accessibility to the new listener. The thrill ride begins on track 30.

Released in 2000, Exhausted could have stood on its own with the very best of 1970s AOR material, and still here in 2025 it doesn't sound the least little dated. Only four minutes long, it's complex and constantly shape-shifting. It also gives a little introduction to AMSR-like, therapeutic vibrations - all of it - guitar, bass, drums, and the unmistakable Hugh Dillon cadence. It ends with a nice little Layla-esque wind down.

Pairs with: Pensivity

Exhausted

Provided to YouTube by Universal Music GroupExhausted · HeadstonesNickels For Your Nightmares℗ 2000 Universal Music, a division of Universal Studios Canada L...

www.youtube.com

Liked this one - I have a feeling I’ll like this band a lot.

 

[zamboni]

#31 - Solitary Man - Neil Diamond

This is his first single as a recording artist (1966). As mentioned in the introduction, his earlier songs were recorded by others, which didn't really change. He's been covered a lot. It appeared on his first album, the marvelously titled The Feel Of Neil Diamond. What the heck? What were they thinking? It reached 55 on the charts in '66 and charted 21 in 1970. Like a lot of his songs, it is about himself, although it took him a while to realise it.

It was covered by Chris Isaak in 1993.

My list is arranged in the "some other way" category. It is largely chronological; but for reasons that will become obvious later, that wasn't always the best way to go.

I've always liked the horn section on this.

 

[tuffnutt]

Track 31: Exhausted, by Headstones (2000)

This song was chosen for its accessibility to the new listener. The thrill ride begins on track 30.

Released in 2000, Exhausted could have stood on its own with the very best of 1970s AOR material, and still here in 2025 it doesn't sound the least little dated. Only four minutes long, it's complex and constantly shape-shifting. It also gives a little introduction to AMSR-like, therapeutic vibrations - all of it - guitar, bass, drums, and the unmistakable Hugh Dillon cadence. It ends with a nice little Layla-esque wind down.

Pairs with: Pensivity

Exhausted

Provided to YouTube by Universal Music GroupExhausted · HeadstonesNickels For Your Nightmares℗ 2000 Universal Music, a division of Universal Studios Canada L...

www.youtube.com

Liked this one - I have a feeling I’ll like this band a lot.

was thinking the exact same thing

 

[zamboni]

I did not know this Go-Go's song - it's pretty different from their pop hits (kind of heavy). Liked it a lot.

Same - don't really know much of their material after their early success but I liked that one. To me, the glue of the band was always Gina Schock's terrific drumming, which is on display here.

 

[zamboni]

[td]John Waite[/td][td]Charlie Steiner[/td][td]Looking for Love

Looking for Love

The Babys · The Babys · Song · 1976

open.spotify.com

[/td]

This one kicks major butt.

 

[simey]

I like Joel, but the contrast between this and Diamond's introspective "Solitary Man" is pretty huge. Joel's just seems busy and a bit pretentious by comparison. Joel is better when he's quieter.

Being that one song is about an angry young man and the other is about a solitary man, it isn't surprising one song rips with energy and the other is pretty mellow. I don't think Angry Young Man is pretentious, but that's just my pointless point of view. Anyway, I'm a big fan of "Solitary Man."

 

[Charlie Steiner]

[td]John Waite[/td][td]Charlie Steiner[/td][td]Looking for Love

Looking for Love

The Babys · The Babys · Song · 1976

open.spotify.com

[/td]

This one kicks major butt.

When I was listening to the Humble Pie song, I realized that this is the type of band The Babys were trying to be, and it made me think that the reason they weren't bigger was because they were half a decade late to the party.

 

[zamboni]

[td]John Waite[/td][td]Charlie Steiner[/td][td]Looking for Love

Looking for Love

The Babys · The Babys · Song · 1976

open.spotify.com

[/td]

This one kicks major butt.

When I was listening to the Humble Pie song, I realized that this is the type of band The Babys were trying to be, and it made me think that the reason they weren't bigger was because they were half a decade late to the party.

Makes sense - they seemed to migrate to more pop sensibility, guessing that maybe they realized they needed to find their own niche. But I admittedly don't know a lot of their backstory.

 

[Charlie Steiner]

31. Every Time I Look Up I'm Down or White Dog (I Don't Know What That Means!)
Album: Vindicator (Arthur Lee solo, 1972)
All songs written and sung by Arthur Lee unless otherwise noted.

First, about the song title. Arthur Lee has several really long song titles in his catalog that appear to include two thoughts separated by "and" or "or". I presume the "or" ones are because he came up with two titles and couldn't choose between them. We will see more examples of this, but this one is the longest title on my list.

This is the only song to make my top 31 that I had not heard before starting this exercise. It boasts fierce, Hendrix-style riffs and doesn't sound out of place with the "boogie rock" of the early '70s. Lee turns in a gritty, impassioned vocal that conveys frustration and longing, and even engages in some Robert Plant-isms toward the end.

Lee/Love setlist records are spotty, but this song seems to have appeared somewhat regularly in early '70s sets, sometimes opening a show.

Live version from 1974 (appears on deluxe edition of Black Beauty): https://open.spotify.com/track/7yE9sqdF97xYTMAOTCyMKg?si=ef70cf7caf7b4155

At #30, a post-Forever Changes song that hints at what that album might have sounded like without horns and strings.

Banger.

 

[zamboni]

[td]The GAP Band/Charlie Wilson[/td][td]Don Quixote[/td][td]Steppin’ Out - The GAP Band

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

Steppin' Out

The Gap Band · The Gap Band II · Song · 1979

open.spotify.com

[/td]

Yessir I'm going to enjoy this playlist.

 

[Charlie Steiner]

[td]John Waite[/td][td]Charlie Steiner[/td][td]Looking for Love

Looking for Love

The Babys · The Babys · Song · 1976

open.spotify.com

[/td]

This one kicks major butt.

When I was listening to the Humble Pie song, I realized that this is the type of band The Babys were trying to be, and it made me think that the reason they weren't bigger was because they were half a decade late to the party.

Makes sense - they seemed to migrate to more pop sensibility, guessing that maybe they realized they needed to find their own niche. But I admittedly don't know a lot of their backstory.

There's just not a lot about their history. I'm just connecting dots, but since it started with the concept of putting a band around the keyboard player, it sounds like they were all hired hands and left to figure it out on their own. Wiki does say that it took a year to audition and choose the lineup, which is puzzling as well. Usually, time is money and spending a year to 'get it right' and then another year to make an album doesn't seem like a very good use of money.

I also guess that they realized that the keyboard player probably wasn't the right focal point and as we'll see through the balance of the countdown, John Waite was probably the best option and their strongest songwriter.

 

[zamboni]

31. Every Time I Look Up I'm Down or White Dog (I Don't Know What That Means!)
Album: Vindicator (Arthur Lee solo, 1972)
All songs written and sung by Arthur Lee unless otherwise noted.

First, about the song title. Arthur Lee has several really long song titles in his catalog that appear to include two thoughts separated by "and" or "or". I presume the "or" ones are because he came up with two titles and couldn't choose between them. We will see more examples of this, but this one is the longest title on my list.

This is the only song to make my top 31 that I had not heard before starting this exercise. It boasts fierce, Hendrix-style riffs and doesn't sound out of place with the "boogie rock" of the early '70s. Lee turns in a gritty, impassioned vocal that conveys frustration and longing, and even engages in some Robert Plant-isms toward the end.

Lee/Love setlist records are spotty, but this song seems to have appeared somewhat regularly in early '70s sets, sometimes opening a show.

Live version from 1974 (appears on deluxe edition of Black Beauty): https://open.spotify.com/track/7yE9sqdF97xYTMAOTCyMKg?si=ef70cf7caf7b4155

At #30, a post-Forever Changes song that hints at what that album might have sounded like without horns and strings.

Banger.

Indeed - much different Arthur from his baroque psychedelic Love days.

 

[Mt. Man]

Usually I listen to the #31s in playlist order, but I'm on the road at the moment. So, longer story short, it’s easier to go random. There’s a very strong start here despite recognizing very few of the songs (artists, sure, but not songs). Here’s the first batch:

Selected Favorites:
Looking for Love - The Babys
Automatic Rainy Day - The Gogos.
How Can You Stand There? - The English Beat
You Left the Water Running - Otis Redding
Wake Up Romeo - Caro Emerald
Four Thousand Days - Luna
The Golden Age - Beck
Solitary Man - Neil Diamond. I know the Isaak version better, but that’s just me.

Small spotlight:
I’ll try to hit every artist here, especially since I have the space to hit all 26 that aren’t mine.
First off, I had to double check that my Spotify hadn’t gone off the rails when “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” came on. I wouldn’t immediately connect Clapton to this, but that also serves as a way to rethink my perspective.

 

[zamboni]

[td]Metallica[/td][td]Mt. Man[/td][td]Hit The Lights

Hit The Lights (Remastered)

Metallica · Kill 'Em All (Remastered) · Song · 1983

open.spotify.com

[/td]

The first album has always been my favorite and this one kicks it off and just doesn't let up.

Seems like they were taking the baton from the new wave of British heavy metal and just kicking it up a notch or three.

 

[tuffnutt]

Rd 31

So much new to me music this round. I'll do my best to highlight each new to me artist throughout the countdown. Familiar to me artist include Smashing Pumpkins, Beck, Metallica, and Billy Joel. I know some City and Colour, Neil Diamond, Belinda Carlisle, Otis Redding and Eric Clapton, But I expect to hear several knew to me songs. After a once through of the playlist, I anticipate this to be a fun round.

Known Favs:

The Girl- City and Colour- Great way to kick off the countdown. Have always LOVED this song
Beck- The Golden Age- So happy someone is tackling Beck. Excited for this one!
The Smashing Pumpkins- I of the Mourning- This was about the time I started to move on from them too. I do have a top 31 that I had made for them(this one didnt make my list)

Unknown Favs:

Exhausted- Headstones- This one feels like it will be in my musical wheelhouse
Looking for Love- The Babys- Yup... this one hits!
Wake up Romeo- Caro Emerald- REALLY enjoyed this one as well

Honorable mention:

Looking Forward to seeing you- Golden Smog- Another band that I think I will like a lot
Every Time I look up I'm Down... -Arthur Lee- Jimi Hendrix vibe- DIG IT!
You Left the Water Running- Otis Redding- Man he could sing the phone book and it would sound great!

 

[Pip's Invitation]

31. Every Time I Look Up I'm Down or White Dog (I Don't Know What That Means!)
Album: Vindicator (Arthur Lee solo, 1972)
All songs written and sung by Arthur Lee unless otherwise noted.

First, about the song title. Arthur Lee has several really long song titles in his catalog that appear to include two thoughts separated by "and" or "or". I presume the "or" ones are because he came up with two titles and couldn't choose between them. We will see more examples of this, but this one is the longest title on my list.

This is the only song to make my top 31 that I had not heard before starting this exercise. It boasts fierce, Hendrix-style riffs and doesn't sound out of place with the "boogie rock" of the early '70s. Lee turns in a gritty, impassioned vocal that conveys frustration and longing, and even engages in some Robert Plant-isms toward the end.

Lee/Love setlist records are spotty, but this song seems to have appeared somewhat regularly in early '70s sets, sometimes opening a show.

Live version from 1974 (appears on deluxe edition of Black Beauty): https://open.spotify.com/track/7yE9sqdF97xYTMAOTCyMKg?si=ef70cf7caf7b4155

At #30, a post-Forever Changes song that hints at what that album might have sounded like without horns and strings.

Banger.

Indeed - much different Arthur from his baroque psychedelic Love days.

It's closer to the three albums issued under the Love name in 1969 and 1970 (and to the two "lost" albums from 1971 and 1973, respectively, that were finally issued in this century) than to Forever Changes and before.

It's not clear why Lee continued to use the Love name after 1968 when the sound and personnel completely changed. I'd say branding, but it's not like Love had a whole lot of commercial success. They were always more popular with critics and budding musicians than with the general public.

 

[Zegras11]

The Baby's song has a ZZTop/Thin Lizzy feel to the opening

 

[Mister CIA]

Track 31: Exhausted, by Headstones (2000)

This song was chosen for its accessibility to the new listener. The thrill ride begins on track 30.

Released in 2000, Exhausted could have stood on its own with the very best of 1970s AOR material, and still here in 2025 it doesn't sound the least little dated. Only four minutes long, it's complex and constantly shape-shifting. It also gives a little introduction to AMSR-like, therapeutic vibrations - all of it - guitar, bass, drums, and the unmistakable Hugh Dillon cadence. It ends with a nice little Layla-esque wind down.

Pairs with: Pensivity

Exhausted

Provided to YouTube by Universal Music GroupExhausted · HeadstonesNickels For Your Nightmares℗ 2000 Universal Music, a division of Universal Studios Canada L...

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Liked this one - I have a feeling I’ll like this band a lot.

Curious to see what you think of the next one - Polythene Pam meets meth.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I think these Beatles guys are going to be huge.