What’s a Signature Song? It’s a song that’s timeless and a song that seems to epitomize the period it was recorded. An example might be “Won’t Get Fooled Again” for the ‘70’s. A song you justed loved when it came out but seems dated years later would disqualify it from this category. Everyone has their favorites but there’s another class of songs that are special. I’d love to find out what are your Sig Songs are.
Guess I need to clarify some things: I should have mentioned that a Signature song normally applies to an individual artist or band. It’s a song that’s undeniably associated with a particular artist or band. No one- hit-wonders here. And the cool thing is is that geography plays a role in this—what’s great in the U.S. isn’t necessarily the case in England. I was trying to break this thing by decade but that may be difficult. So, what you should be thinking is who’s your faves and what song of theirs defines them in your mind. Example: When I think of Aynsley, the song that pops up in my head is With Me Tonight. That’s the song I’d play for someone if they asked me about Aynsley. Maybe Britbabe can decipher what I’m trying to say here but I think this can be alot of fun.
The first thing that sprang to mind when I read this was that easily the signature song of the Seventies, of the band and even for me of adult orientated rock - if such a thing still exists - would have to be Blue Oyster Cult’s ‘Don’t Fear The Reaper’. It’s also the defining song in the making of me into a music fan and appreciating things on a no longer childish level. Imagine then, how distraught I was when I logged in a few weeks ago to check the start time for their gig here the following night - and discovered it was THAT night and I’d left it too late to get there. I still think those are the best lyrics ever written.
Blue Oyster Cult was one of the top bands in the Seventies and most certainly The Reaper is worthy of Signature status, but my nomination for that decade goes to Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin. The first time I heard it,on vinyl with my closest buddies, we all looked at each other and instantly knew Zep would never top that song. In those days it was an event when a favorite band released something new especially a band as legendary Led Zeppelin. It still sounds good to me all these years later so I guess it passes my test. Enough of ancient history, who’s got sig songs for the last two decades? Anyone?
A Design For Life by the Manic Street Preachers is a suggestion for the 1990s. The songs lyrics relate to the lives of the working class (fi I can still use that phrase) and their aspirations. Musically it is impressive with strings playing behind the band and I think was very influential on the bands that followed ie The Verve, Travis etc. So it summed up the period pretty well. The song possibly gets some of its emotional feel as it was written shortly after the disappearance of one of the band members, presumed dead.
Great choice Greenose. I’ve got their new album Send Away the Tigers and a video from it featuring Nina Persson. At the time (earlier this year) that was the only music I could get of The Preachers on itunes. Since then Apple has added to their catalog and it included the song you suggested. After listening to it I noticed it had an anthem type sound to it. Was this song big in England? I don’t recall hearing of them back then. Speaking of song popularity, is Rory Gallagher that big with mainstream listeners or just people interested in the blues genre? I can remember when he was still a teenager and people were hailing him as the next Clapton and then he just seemed to disappear—at least here in the States. I’d be curious to hear Rory’s story from anyone.
Indyscott - there is no doubt that Rory Gallagher was pretty big in the 70’s and continued to have a strong fan base throughout the 80’s - I can remember seeing him at the time of Deuce and Live in Europe being released, 1971/1972 and he continued to have a strong following up until his untimely death in 1997 (i think that was the year) - the booze got the better of him in the end - another big band of that time, early 70’s, was The Groundhogs and Tony McPhee was regarded as one of the best blues/rock guitarists around during that time - he certainly had a distinctive style - nowadays, they are more a pub band - I saw them play a few months back at the Half Moon in Herne Hill (vids are on youtube) - how times change, but I guess there aren’t really that many super groups still doing it at the highest level - most seem to have their time and then struggle to keep the new material going at a high level, then dispand - the Supergroups then reform, like Led Zep, for financial purposes, as the tours can make big bucks.
Rory Gallagher does still have a following over here, but I guess its mainly blues fans and guitarists that are most aware of him. With Bonamassa and back Door Slam covering his songs I think this has helped raise his profile a little. Actually the first time I heard of him was when I saw a photo of him jamming with Slash from Guns N Roses in about 1994. While booze may have contributed to his death, he got hooked to drugs prescribed to combat his fear of flying that caused his liver damage, very sad. Scott I’d suggest you read Gerry McAvoy’s book Riding Shotgun which covers the 20 years he was in Rory’s band.
http://www.amazon.com/RIDING-SHOTGUN-YEARS-GALLAGHER-BELOW/dp/0955032008/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218124208&sr=8-1
A Design For Life was big in Britain (Manics are Welsh!), I think it got to no 3 in the pop chart. They have had no 1s since, but this is still their best known song. I think it was pretty gig in Germany, Scandanavia etc too. Everything Must Go is a very good album.
Yeah Greenose - you probably know a lot more than me about Rory, but he was a well known heavy drinker on the circuit and his early death was a great shock to me and all his fans at the time - there are some great early Taste vids on youtube - well worth a look - and On The Boards is still a great album - probably the album I would choose to keep out of all the Rory stuff I have, if I had to choose one.
Yeah Greenose - you probably know a lot more than me about Rory, but he was a well known heavy drinker on the circuit and his early death was a great shock to me and all his fans at the time - there are some great early Taste vids on youtube - well worth a look - and On The Boards is still a great album - probably the album I would choose to keep out of all the Rory stuff I have, if I had to choose one.
Cheers for the tip, I’ll check that one out. Not sure I’ll know much more about Rory though I was too young really to see him play. He was featured in a recent article in Classic Rock magazine. Actually it was not the liver transplant that caused his death, but an infection he caught in the hospital whislt recovering.
Thanks Eldo and Greenose for the Rory info. I’ll definitely get the book you suggested. Didn’t realize he had had a liver transplant given his history of alcoholism. As for the album On the Boards, I’m afraid I’m SOL cause it’s not listed in Taste’s catalog here. I have bought a bunch of his music though and continue to be amazed his talent. Next up will be more Peter Green. Any song suggestions?
Regarding this thread since it seems to be a down time for Aynsley, I’ll throw out Everybody Wants To Rule the World by Tears For Fears for the 80’s. That song just oozes the Eighties. In my life I think that decade was the most interesting for music.
Next up will be more Peter Green. Any song suggestions?
The essential ones are Oh Well (part 1), Black Magic Woman, Albatross, The Green Manalishi, Man Of The World, Need You Love So Bad, Stop Messin’ Round, Love That Burns, Merry Go Round, Jumping At Shadows, Drifting & Rattlesnake Shake. Recorded with John Mayall try Supernatural, The Stumble, Double Trouble, Looking Back, So Many Roads and Out of Reach (great track). Should do for starters…
Green of course came out of his self imposed exile in the 1990,s but sadly the work he did since then did not compare to the classic stuff. Martin Celmins book on him is worth a read.
Jumping At Shadows would be a good one for Aynsley to cover too. It was originally written by a British blueman called Duster Bennett.
Jeeezus! What a freakin’ treasure trove of unbelievable blues. Supernatural, Double Trouble (John Mayall), Man of the World, Black Majic Woman and The Green Manalishi are the songs from your list I’ve listened to so far. I bought others, namely Fleetwood Mac’s Live In Boston Remastered circa 1970. Great album that includes some great playing by Jeremy Spencer on Got To Move and Jumping at Shadows. I also recalled a gem I already had,Midnight, from Tribute to Hank Marvin & the Shadows—very Fifties-sounding that showcases Pete’s axe playing. Again thanks and don’t hesitate to ask for anything from my end.
That Boston Live was Volume 1 which seems to be the best of the three. I’m a little ticked though because I’m not finding the original studio version of Oh Well Part 2. Oh well, can’t have everything. I did find a version by some group called Miss Moneypenny that’s passable.
Jeeezus! What a freakin’ treasure trove of unbelievable blues. Supernatural, Double Trouble (John Mayall), Man of the World, Black Majic Woman and The Green Manalishi are the songs from your list I’ve listened to so far. I bought others, namely Fleetwood Mac’s Live In Boston Remastered circa 1970. Great album that includes some great playing by Jeremy Spencer on Got To Move and Jumping at Shadows. I also recalled a gem I already had,Midnight, from Tribute to Hank Marvin & the Shadows—very Fifties-sounding that showcases Pete’s axe playing. Again thanks and don’t hesitate to ask for anything from my end.
Glad to be of help. Let me know if you can get a copy of Evil Woman Blues. It is on the US reissue of Mayall’s a Hard Road album, but not on the UK version (it was originally on a Decca complilation. I’ve never heard it.
