Settle in. This is going to take a while. 🙂
Today I am going to add a little “history” to the music medley by giving you the backstory to each song.
The Badfinger song which starts the medley featured a beautiful slide guitar solo by singer Pete Ham. Most people think that is the case but on the day the song was to be finished (and Ham was prepared to add his solo), producer George Harrison had also brought in his guitar and intended to do the solo himself.
A compromise was reached and the two decided to perform the solo as a duet. What may sound like a single guitarist is actually two legends playing together. As an additional Rock Factoid, the piano on the song was played by future Hall of Famer Leon Russell.
The song by Wings was the first James Bond theme to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Additional Rock Factoid: It lost to Barbra Streisand’s The Way We Were.
The Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young hit song was recorded without Neil Young. As was often the case, Young decided to sit that one out, but the presence of Jerry Garcia on pedal steel guitar more than made up for Neil’s absence.
The song by Creedence Clearwater Revival was, according to songwriter and singer John Fogerty, “The old saying about rich men making war and poor men having to fight them.”
When he wrote the song, Fogerty was thinking about David Eisenhower, the grandson of President Dwight Eisenhower, who married Julie Nixon, the daughter of then-President-elect Richard Nixon in 1968. Eisenhower spent three years in the military, most of it as an officer aboard the USS Albany in the Mediterranean Sea, well out of harm’s way.
The interesting factoid about the T. Rex song are the details about the piano player. Rick Wakefield, just months away from becoming a member of Yes, was desperately trying to work on a session so he could be paid and cover his rent. He contributed only the piano glissandos that can be heard several times throughout the song but he made enough money to pay his rent for another month.
The Joe Cocker song was the very first single he ever released, back in 1964. His cover of a Beatles song, the first of four he would release in the sixties, was a major flop and his recording contract was dropped by his label. Four years later, he would once again cover a Beatles song and the results were far different.
And finally, the Three Dog Night song, one of the very few to feature Danny Hutton on lead vocals, was a cover of a Pete Seeger 1956 song, inspired by the 1954 landmark Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court decision which outlawed racial segregation of public schools.
Memories … That’s What We’re All About
Play buttons are on the left … Volume sliders are on the right
The Backstory Medley
Badfinger – Wings
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – CCR
T. Rex – Joe Cocker – Three Dog Night
Ray today I am just going to sit back and have my coffee!! After all we do this day after day!! Ray this is an ever changing world we live in!! And I really thought this should have one over Barbra!! I have really never missed Neils sit outs!! I just know they love us!! This is a great story and who better than to preform it than CCR!! So this am we are getting it on with T-Rex!! I do remember thnking that Joe did not impress me at all but I gotta admit that just as we learn to read and write we can learn to like Joe!! I always liked this song and I think at the time it sure showed us about segregation!! This was very well done Ray!! It was fun to get the backstories as you know I love the history and the meanings of most all songs!! Who would know one could pay his rent and how many would know about Neil Young!! And I totally forgot about Nixon and Eisenhowser!! I really enjoyed this Ray!! love ya!!
For a guy who was “just going to sit back and have my coffee,” I’d say you went above and beyond! Hey, if the time ever comes that you want a break from all of this, let me know and that’s when I’ll start my vacation. The decision is all in your hands, my friend. 🙂
Love Ya!
Glad you just sat back and enjoyed your coffee, Fred!!
As if he could! 🤣
Love backstories…always revealing
Thanks, I really enjoyed
Always liked these songs and now know more about them
Thanks, Mary Helen. I’m happy the backstories were enjoyable. 🥰
Ray whenever you feel it’s time for your vacation I am happy to vacation with you !! You deserve a good rest and if the weather is where you want it to be make It so!!
Then Friday will be it, Fred. I think we both deserve a long break. 🙂
Wow, what a great lesson to have been learned today. I love the backstory, as it gives us an insight that we might never have known this is so clever of you to bring this to our attention. Like I had no idea on any of these songs of the inner makings of them. Why did they make certain songs, what inspired them, and so on. This was fun, and certainly puts another wrinkle in the brain. And just to add that even though I know a rest and vacation from this is so well deserved by you, I will miss you greatly, and I will miss Fred and all of his wonderful comments that he makes in his blogs. I’m becoming very nostalgic here so let me stop before I say something silly. I hope you have a wonderful time off, and I look forward to your return. Drop in to Facebook now and then let us know how things are. You’re the best! 🥰
Sandy, that is such a beautiful comment 🥰
I am going to miss you and your upbeat comments so much!
Enjoyed these and the back stories, Ray. I hope you guys enjoy your vacations, though I will miss you.
Thank you, Pat. I am going to miss you … a lot! 🥰