There’s one more tribute to do here, because 83 years ago today Keith Relf was born. He is best known as the singer in The Yardbirds. One of the finest band on the British Blues Boom scene in the 1960’s, who deserves to be remembered for more than being the “launching pad” for three great guitarists (Clapton, Beck and Page)
Anyway, to the memory of Keith Relf, here is one of the band’s best known songs
The Yardbirds - Shapes of Things (1966)
Keith Relf’s story is a rather sad one. He was a life long asmathic, who actually almost died three times as a child from asthma attacks. At one point he had to get one of his lungs removed. All this would eventually lead to his death.
In 1976 he died from electrocution while playing guitar in his own basement. It is believed that without the medication he was taking for his bad health, he would have survived the electric shock. He was 33 years old.
Why not celebrate the memory of record producers too, especially when they’ve produced quite a few great records? So this one about Jimmy Miller, who was born 84 years ago today. Born in New York, he relocated to th UK in the mid 1960’s, where he produced among others Traffic, The Move, Spooky Tooth, Blind Faith and Motörhead.
However, Jimmy Miller is best known for being the producer of The Rolling Stones fabulous five album run from Beggar’s Banquet till Goat’s Head Soup. He passed away in 1994, aged 52. To clebrate his memory, here’s a few songs produced by him
Traffic - Paper Sun (1967)
Delightful psychedelia from the Summer of Love.
Spooky Tooth - Better By You, Better By Me (1969)
Singer Mike Harrison is one of my favourite male singers.
The Rolling Stones - Sway (1971)
Great Stones track, that does not get mentioned too often.
Happy Birthday to the American musician Carol Kaye, who is turning 91 today! One of the most prolific session players in the history of modern popular music. It is estimated she has played bass or guitar on around 10,000 recordings, with among others The Beach Boys (Good Vibrations), The Monkees, Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles. In addition she played bass on loads of movie sountracks, examples being Bullit and Dirty Harry.
It would be too much of a chore to namedrop more artists/bands Carol Kaye’s played with, or movie soundtracks she’s played on. If you are interested, you can check for yourself.
Now to celebrate Carol Kay’s birthday with a couple of songs she plays bass on.
The Beach Boys - California Girls (1965)
Love - Andmoreagain (1967)
In 1976 Carol Kaye was in a car accident, after which she semi-retired from music. She has appeared on a few recordings after that, and has also been teaching music.
Carol Kaye is still active on social media. Today she posted this on her Facebook page:
Wait a Minute! I know it’s my Birthday but what happened all those years? 91 today?? Only OLD PEOPLE are 91!!! I’m just getting started towards “old age” – not there yet!!
Beware!!! I feel inspred to do another song run-down today. The song of the day is The Pusher, a song written by the country singer Hoyt Axton in 1963. So let’s get started.
Slash, with Chris Robinson - The Pusher
Taken from Slash’s 2024 album Orgy of the Damned, and featuring the Black Crowes’ singer Chris Robinson on vocals and harmonica.
Blind Melon - The Pusher
Blind Melon singer Shannon Hoon knew what he was singing about. He passed away in 1995 from a cocaine overdose. This version of the song was released on the compilation album Nico in 1996, and the proceeds from the album sales was placed in a college fund for Shannon Hoon’s daughter Nico.
Nina Simone - The Pusher
Nina Simone’s version was recorded live in 1971, but not released until 2007, when it appeared on a compilation album
Hoyt Axton - The Pusher
Then it’s time for the songwriter’s take on the song. Although written years before, his own version did not show up until 1969, when it appeared on a mail order compilation. Then in 1971 he put it on his tenth album Joy To the World.
Steppenwolf - The Pusher
So even if Hoyt Axton wrote the song, it is not the first major release of The Pusher. Because that is Steppenwolf, who recorded it late 1967 for the band’s self titled 1968 debut album.
The reason for my inspiration to do this post is that 88 years ago today, the writer of The Pusher was born. As an artist Hoyt Axton (1938-1999) had some success, although today he is best remembered for other artists versions of his songs. In addition to the one’s above, his songs have been covered by Elvis Presley, Ringo Starr, Joan Baez and John Denver, just to mention a few of the best known.
And Hoyt Axton knew what he was singing about too. He struggled with cocaine addiction for parts of his life. Anyway, he was a fine songwriter. So here’s to his memory
Once again, if anyone has actually gotten this far, you are my friend
