One-Off Specials
This page differs from the One Hit Wonders, in that these artists had established careers; but released an album that made a significant impact in this time-frame. By and large, their other albums are worth exploring, besides those noted here. You'll see what I mean... |
This is the song that got the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour TV show in trouble (Tom, Dick: are you on this site somewhere ??). Pete taped "Waist Deep.." for a September, 1967 show. CBS censors, being snotty old coots, cut the performance from the broadcast. Execs were really "waist deep" when the boys found out about this. And thus started one of the great censorship battles in TV history. Good thing we don't have to worry about that anymore—fake reality and corporate run news. Pete was invited back to sing the song (in a medley with more anti-war songs!) on the Feb 25 show (Youtube link). Plus, Pete influenced a lot of people on featured on this website. Besides, Pete was from Beacon, where this humble writer lives. Always saw him at the Strawberry Festival, carryin' his banjo and singin' fer everybody. Always fightin' for the little guy and, most importantly, Mother Earth. The Hudson River thanks you, Pete. Nobody like him. |
Waist Deep In The Big Muddy And Other Love Songs | |
Columbia CS-9505 | |
7/67 [UK: 10/67] | |
Side One | ||
Oh Yes I'd Climb (The Highest Mountain Just For You) | Seeger | 4:06 |
Seek And You Shall Find | arr Seeger | 7:50 |
The Sinking Of The Reuben James | Guthrie | 2:42 |
Waist Deep In The Big Muddy | Seeger | 2:54 |
Last Night I Had The Strangest Dream | McCurdy | 2:51 |
Down By The Riverside | - | 3:13 |
Side Two | ||
Nameless Lick | Seeger | 0:56 |
Over The Hills | Seeger | 1:38 |
East Virginia | - | 2:34 |
My Name Is Liza Kalvelage | Seeger | 3:57 |
My Father's Mansion's Many Rooms | Seeger | 2:24 |
Melodie D'Amour | Johns-Salvador | 1:51 |
Those Three Are On My Mind | Seeger-Taylor | 3:02 |
Waist Deep In The Big Muddy / Down By The Riverside Seeger (2:54) / no credit (3:13) Columbia 4-44273, 9/67 |
And another thing...
Before we leave pioneer Pete, there is one single from the previous summer to show (out of sequence so as not to confuse you). Pete covering a Phil Ochs song, Draft Dodger Rag. Billboard thought it'd be a hit! Yeah, Top 40 DJs wouldn't touch this with a ten-foot pole. Anyway, you should know about it. |
The Draft Dodger Rag / Guantanamera Ochs (2:08) / Angulo-Marti-Seeger (4:37) Columbia 4-43699, 6/66 |
Another stab at stardom...
In 1970, some bright lad at Columbia thought that a recording of Pete singing Country Joe's I Feel Like I'm Fixin' To Die Rag would be a smash hit. Kids—a reminder: drugs are dangerous! The track made it only to the promo stage as Columbia cancelled the single and Pete's contract. Makes a nice twin-spin with the above single. Listen at Youtube . |
I Feel Like I'm Fixin' To Die Rag [Stereo] / I Feel Like I'm Fixin' To Die Rag [Mono] McDonald (2:17) / McDonald (2:17) Columbia 4-45257, 10/70 |
The Bells Of Rhymney | Judy Collins (#3) | 3/63 |
The Byrds (Mr Tambourine Man) | 6/65 | |
If I Had A Hammer | Peter, Paul & Mary (Peter, Paul & Mary) | 3/62 |
Kisses Sweeter Than Wine | Peter, Paul & Mary (Album) | 7/66 |
Living In The Country | Arlo Guthrie (Running Down The Road) | 9/69 |
Oh, Had I A Golden Thread | Judy Collins (Whales & Nightingales) | 11/70 |
Turn! Turn! Turn! | Judy Collins (#3) Arranged by Jim McGuinn | 3/63 |
(To Everything There Is A Season) | The Byrds (Turn! Turn! Turn!) | 12/65 |
We Shall Overcome | Joan Baez (In Concert, Part 2) | 11/63 |
Where Have All The Flowers Gone? | Peter, Paul & Mary (Peter, Paul & Mary) | 3/62 |
Note: Some of the above songs are adaptions or were written with other folks.
Pete also had a hand in The Token's 1961 hit, The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh)
Chad & Jeremy had quite a few hits during the British Invasion (Yesterday's Gone, A Summer Song), but they really went over the top on this album. The Progress Suite was a side-long indulgence that featured The Firesign Theatre (who ??) in a supporting role. It may sound kinda dated now, but it's still a groove! |
Of Cabbages And Kings | |
Columbia CS-9471 | |
9/25/67 BB [UK: N/R] | |
Side One | ||
Rest In Peace | Stuart | 6:47 |
The Gentle Cold Of Dawn | Clyde | 3:50 |
Busman's Holiday | Clyde | 3:23 |
Can I See You | Clyde | 3:49 |
Family Way | Clyde | 2:45 |
I'll Get Around To It When And If I Can | Guercio | 2:34 |
Side Two | ||
The Progress Suite, Movements 1 Thru 5 Prologue Decline Editorial (Vocal) Fall Epilogue (Vocal) |
Stuart Stuart Clyde Stuart Clyde |
5:49 4:07 2:54 8:33 5:05 |
Dave Van Ronk, "The Mayor Of MacDougal Street," was a legend in the New York folk scene, with recordings going back to 1958 (A Chrestomathy is a good starter 2-CD set). He was instrumental in the development of Bob Dylan's career. This release, in the spring of 1968, was his only major foray into electric folk-rock. His version of Clouds (From Both Sides Now) was a staple on WNEW-FM. |
Dink's Song / Head Inspector Lomax-Lomax (3:34) / Van Ronk (2:06) Verve/Forecast 5070, 10/67 |
Clouds (From Both Sides Now) / Romping Through The Swamp Mitchell (4:37) / Stampfel (1:58) Verve/Forecast 5080, 2/68 |
And The Hudson Dusters | |
Verve/Forecast FTS-3041 | |
3/68 [UK: N/R] | |
Side One | ||
Alley Oop | Frazier | 3:38 |
Head Inspector | Van Ronk | 2:06 |
Swinging On A Star | Burke-Van Heusen | 2:37 |
Mr Middle | Bogardus-Woods | 3:02 |
Chelsea Morning | Mitchell | 2:33 |
Clouds (From Both Sides Now) | Mitchell | 4:37 |
Side Two | ||
Keep Off The Grass† | Woods-Woods | 2:08 |
Dink's Song | Lomax-Lomax | 3:34 |
New Dreams | Woods-Woods | 2:22 |
Cocaine | Davis | 4:58 |
Romping Through The Swamp | Stampfel | 1:58 |
Note: †Hudson Dusters only
The Everly Brothers, singers of pure country heart, had stumbled in the 60s, trying to become something they weren't. This album was literally a journey back to their 'roots' and was by far one of the best records of their career. Coming amidst Sweetheart Of The Rodeo, Poco and the rest of the country-rock boom, they taught them all a lesson. |
Roots | |
Warner Brothers WS-1752 | |
12/68 [UK: 12/68] | |
Side One | ||
Introduction: The Everly Family (1952) | - | 1:09 |
Mama Tried | Haggard | 2:11 |
Less Of Me | Campbell | 3:01 |
T For Texas (Blue Yodel No 1) | Rodgers | 3:25 |
I Wonder If I Care As Much | Everly-Everly | 3:02 |
Ventura Boulevard | Elliott | 2:45 |
Shady Grove | Ertel-Everly | 2:38 |
Side Two | ||
Illinois | Newman | 2:05 |
Living Too Close To The Ground Don solo | Slater | 2:15 |
You Done Me Wrong | Jones-Price | 2:23 |
Turn Around | Elliott | 2:45 |
Sing Me Back Home | Haggard | 4:35 |
Montage: The Everly Family (1952) Shady Grove (reprise) Kentucky (reprise) |
- | 2:43 |
Note: Another excellent Everly Brothers album to own and enjoy is Songs Our Daddy Taught Us (Cadence CP-3106, 1958)
Guitarist extrodianaire John Fahey was a true one-of-a-kind. The Yellow Princess, released in the Spring of 1969, is one of his landmark albums. And not just because it featured several members of Spirit! |
The Yellow Princess | |
Vanguard VSD-79293 | |
3/69 [UK: 4/69] | |
Side One | ||
The Yellow Princess | Fahey | 4:49 |
View (East From The Top Of The Riggs Road/B & O Trestle) | Fahey | 4:54 |
Lion | Fahey | 5:10 |
March! For Martin Luther King* | Fahey | 3:43 |
The Singing Bridge of Memphis, Tennessee | Fahey | 2:53 |
Dance Of The Inhabitants Of The Invisible City Of Bladensburg* |
Fahey | 4:10 |
Side Two | ||
Charles A. Lee: In Memoriam | Fahey | 4:02 |
Irish Letter | Fahey | 7:17 |
Commemorative Transfiguration And Communion At Magruder Park |
Fahey | 5:58 |
A March For Martin Luther King / Singing Bridge Fahey (3:40) / Fahey (2:46) Vanguard VRS-35076, ?/69 |
In the spring of 1969, blues veterans Muddy Waters & Otis Spann were brought together with the "new kids on the block" (Paul Butterfield, Mike Bloomfield and friends). Several days of studio sessions were followed by a live concert at the "Super Cosmic Joy-Scout Jamboree" and the resulting 2-lp set was released in the summer. |
Fathers & Sons | |
Chess LPS-127 | |
8/16/69 BB [UK: 10/69] | |
Side One | ||
All Aboard | Morganfield | 2:50 |
Mean Disposition | Morganfield | 5:42 |
Blow Wind Blow | Morganfield | 3:35 |
Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had | Morganfield | 3:03 |
Walkin' Thru The Park | Morganfield | 3:07 |
Side Two | ||
Forty Days And Forty Nights | Morganfield | 3:04 |
Standin' 'Round Cryin' | Morganfield | 4:01 |
I'm Ready | Dixon | 3:33 |
Twenty Four Hours | Boyd | 4:46 |
Sugar Sweet | Morganfield | 2:16 |
Side Three | ||
Long Distance Call | Morganfield | 6:35 |
Baby Please Don't Go | Morganfield | 3:05 |
Honey Bee | Morganfield | 3:57 |
Side Four | ||
The Same Thing | Dixon | 6:00 |
Got My Mojo Working (Part 1) | Foster-Morganfield | 3:39 |
Got My Mojo Working (Part 2) | Foster-Morganfield | 5:33 |
Note:
Sides 1 & 2 recorded at Ter-Mar Studios, Chicago, April 21-23, 1969.
Sides 3 & 4 recorded live at Super Cosmic Joy-Scout Jamboree, Chicago, April 24, 1969.
An album that reverberated throughout college campuses in the spring of 1970 was this masterpiece by (now) legendary guitarist, Leo Kottke. Recorded on one afternoon, in the order on the record (most one take). Leo signed a recording contract with our friends at Capitol and released Mudlark in 1971 and a whole bunch since then. |
6- and 12-String Guitar AKA The Armadillo album | |
Takoma C-1024 | |
12/69 [UK: ?/72] | |
Side One | ||
The Driving Of The Year Nail | Kottke | 1:54 |
The Last Of The Arkansas Greyhounds | Kottke | 3:14 |
Ojo | Kottke | 2:12 |
Crow River Waltz | Kottke | 3:17 |
The Sailor's Grave On The Prairie | Kottke | 2:30 |
Vaseline Machine Gun | Kottke | 3:08 |
Jack Fig | Kottke | 2:10 |
Side Two | ||
Watermelon | Kottke | 3:07 |
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring | Bach, arr Kottle | 2:21 |
The Fisherman | Kottke | 2:29 |
The Tennessee Toad | Kottke | 2:37 |
Busted Bicycle | Kottke | 2:45 |
The Brain Of The Purple Mountain | Kottke | 2:07 |
Coolidge Rising | Kottke | 2:47 |
Two studios had great "house" bands creating some of the best recordings of all time. Motown had The Funk Brothers, while Stax had The Memphis Group. Backing Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, and Aretha Franklin (among others) were Booker T & The MGs. Two white dudes and two black cats laid on the soul stew to allow the records simmer. But, of these two house bands, only Booker T & The MGs had hit recordings on their own: Green Onions and Hip-Hug Her being top 10 hits. When The Beatles released Abbey Road, Booker was mighty impressed:"I was in California when I heard Abbey Road, and I thought it was incredibly courageous of The Beatles to drop their format and move out musically like they did. To push the limit like that and reinvent themselves when they had no need to that. They were the top band in the world but they still reinvented themselves. The music was just incredible so I felt I needed to pay tribute to it." |
McLemore Avenue | |
Stax STS-2027 | |
4/70 BB [UK: 5/70] | |
Side One | ||
Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End/Here Comes The Sun/Come Together |
- | 15:46 |
Something | - | 4:07 |
Side Two | ||
Because/You Never Give Me Your Money | - | 7:25 |
Sun King/Mean Mr Mustard/Polythene Pam/She Came In Through The Bathroom Window/I Want You (She's So Heavy) |
- | 10:39 |
Something³ / Sunday Sermon¹ Harrison (3:38) / Miller (4:10) Stax STA-0073, 5/70 |
Electric violinist meets Zappa more |
King Kong: Jean-Luc Ponty Plays The Music Of Frank Zappa | |
Pacific Jazz ST-20192 | |
5/25/70 [UK: 9/70] | |
Side One | ||
King Kong† | Zappa | 4:54 |
Idiot Bastard Son‡ | Zappa | 4:00 |
Twenty Small Cigars‡ | Zappa | 5:35 |
How Would You Like To Have A Head Like That‡ | Ponty | 7:14 |
Side Two | ||
Music For Electric Violin And Low Budget Orchestra† | Zappa | 19:20 |
America Drinks And Goes Home‡ | Zappa | 2:39 |
B B King & Lucille—a match made in heaven. This album, a tribute to his hometown in Mississippi, is one that B B himself rated: "I know the critics always mention Live & Well or Live At The Regal, but I think that Indianola Mississippi Seeds was the best album that I've done artistically." Who are we mere mortals to argue? Other fine B B King records for your collection: Completely Well, The Blues (1960) and Singin' The Blues (1956). |
Hummingbird³ / Ask Me No Questions Russell (3:49) / King (3:10) ABC 45-11268, 7/70 BB |
Indianola Mississippi Seeds | |
ABC Records ABCS-713 | |
9/70 BB RS500 [UK: 11/70] | |
Side One | ||
Nobody Loves Me But My Mother(B B King solo) | King | 1:26 |
You're Still My Woman† | Clark-King | 6:06 |
Ask Me No Questions‡ | King | 3:08 |
Until I'm Dead And Cold† | King | 4:45 |
King's Special‡ | King | 5:00 |
Side Two | ||
Ain't Gonna Worry My Life Anymore† | King | 5:18 |
Chains And Things† | Clark-King | 4:53 |
Go Underground | Clark-King | 4:02 |
Hummingbird‡ | Russell | 4:35 |
Note: Congratulations to Albert and Nora on your son Riley, September 16, 1925
Chains And Things³ / King's Special³ Clark-King (3:27) / King (3:22) ABC 45-11280, 10/70 BB |
Marvin Gaye was a hit machine in the singles-oriented world of Motown [How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You), Ain't That Peculiar, Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing]. But, he had something to say about the Vietnam War, race relations, and other things on his mind. In 1970, Gaye recorded the mold-breaking What's Going On. Berry Gordy didn't want to release it, saying it wouldn't sell. Gaye forced his hand (by not recording or writing anything else), and in 1971 had a best seller. |
What's Going On² / God Is Love² Benson-Cleveland-Gaye (3:40) / Gaye-Gaye-Nyx-Stover (2:50) Tamla 54201, 1/71 T20 |
What's Going On | |
Motown TS-310 | |
5/21/71 T20 RS500 [UK: 10/71] | |
Side One | ||
What's Going On | Benson-Cleveland-Gaye | 3:51 |
What's Happening Brother | Gaye-Nyx | 2:57 |
Flyin' High (In The Friendly Sky) | Gaye-Gaye-Stover | 3:40 |
Save The Children | Benson-Cleveland-Gaye | 3:04 |
God Is Love | Gaye-Gaye-Nyx-Stover | 2:31 |
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) | Gaye | 3:05 |
Side Two | ||
Right On | Derouen-Gaye | 7:20 |
Wholy Holy | Benson-Cleveland-Gaye | 3:20 |
Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) | Gaye-Nyx | 5:16 |
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)³ / Sad Tomorrows¹ Gaye (2:39) / Gaye-Gordy-Wilkinson (2:24) Tamla 54207, 6/71 T20 |
Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)³ / Wholy Holy Gaye-Nyx (2:58) / Benson-Cleveland-Gaye (3:08) Tamla 54209, 8/71 T20 |
Long John Baldry can be considered as a godfather to many of the English rockers of the 60s. He worked with Alexis Korner and Blues Incorporated (which featured future stars Mick Jagger & Jack Bruce). He then joined the Cyril Davies R&B All Stars, which he took over after Davies' death in 1964. Band members of the group included Rod Stewart. In the mid 60s, he formed Steampacket, which included Julie Driscoll and Brian Auger. His last major all star band, Bluesology, featured a young Elton John on piano. In the Spring of 1971, he reunited with Rod & Elton to record It Ain't Easy. |
It Ain't Easy | |
Warner Bros WS-1921 | |
6/71 BB [UK: ?/71] | |
Side One | ||
Intro: Conditional Discharge | Armit-Baldry | 3:15 |
Don't Try To Lay No Boogie-Woogie On The King Of Rock 'N' Roll† | Thomas | 3:26 |
Black Girl | Leadbelly | 2:50 |
It Ain't Easy | Davies | 4:52 |
Morning, Morning | Kupferberg | 2:38 |
I'm Ready | Dixon | 4:15 |
Side Two | ||
Let's Burn Down The Cornfield | Newman | 4:12 |
Mr Rubin | Duncan | 4:00 |
Rock Me When He's Gone† | John-Taupin | 5:01 |
Flying | Lane-Stewart-Wood | 6:50 |
Note: Side One, Track One is prefaced by the uncredited talking blues Conditional Discharge (3:15)
----------------------------------
Don't Try To Lay No Boogie-Woogie On The King Of Rock And Roll / Mr Rubin Thomas (3:29) / Duncan (4:00) Warner Bros 7506, 7/71 |
Backstage at the Fillmore Auditorium, after a concert by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Electric Flag, and Cream, Chess Records staff producer Norman Dayron spotted the guitar players of the latter two bands, Mike Bloomfield and Eric Clapton, talking and joking around. Dayron approached Clapton and, on impulse, asked "how would you like to do an album with Howlin' Wolf?" After confirming that the offer was legitimate, Clapton agreed, and Dayron set up sessions in London (wiki ) in early May, 1970. |
The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions | |
Chess CH-60008 | |
7/71 BB [UK: 8/71] | |
Side One | ||
Rockin' Daddy | Burnett | 3:43 |
I Ain't Superstitious | Dixon | 3:34 |
Sittin' On Top Of The World | Burnett | 3:51 |
Worried About My Baby | Burnett | 2:55 |
What A Woman! | Oden | 3:02 |
Poor Boy | Burnett | 3:04 |
Side Two | ||
Built For Comfort | Dixon | 2:08 |
Who's Been Talking? | Burnett | 3:02 |
The Red Rooster (Rehearsal) | - | 1:58 |
The Red Rooster | Dixon | 3:47 |
Do The Do | Dixon | 2:18 |
Highway 49 | Williams | 2:45 |
Wang-Dang-Doodle | Dixon | 3:27 |
Do The Do / The Red Rooster Dixon (2:20) / Dixon (3:47) Chess C-2118, 8/71 |