Samba Pa Ti- Santana: This is the 7th track taken from the band’s sophmore ablum Abraxas. This is purely an instrumental track, but it plays so good. The sound is unlike anything I’ve heard before. The begining of the track is one of the most beautiful guitar solos I’ve ever heard. I love how the end of the song picks up towards the end. Carlos Santana is widely considered one of the best guitar players ever, and this track is what sets him apart from the other musicians. As a group, Santana was not afraid to mix their latin and african musical styles within their music, which makes them one of a kind!
Hey Joe- Jimi Hendrix: This song was voted as the #198 on Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Songs of All-Time, and #22 by VH1’s Top 100 Hard Rock Songs of All-Time. Doing some research for this song, I was suprised to learn that the Jimi Hendrix version was actually a cover. I did not know that. The song was originally recorded in 1965 and released by a band named The Leaves. The song was a major hit here in Los Angeles, but the song didn’t get much fame until 1967, when it was recorded by Jimi Hendrix. See, you learn something new every day!
Baby, I’m A Star- Prince: This song is off of the super-huge, mega hit album soundtrack Purple Rain. This album came out at a time where Prince dominated the music scene. Prince is a gifted musician, but this album put him over the top and into an elite status. There are tons of greats songs off this album, but most of our readers know the standard hits: When Doves Cry, Purple Rain, The Beautiful Ones, Let’s Go Crazy. I thought I’d highlight a track that wasn’t so obvious. Baby, I’m A Star has the energy of a Prince show. From the over the top bass, to the over the top melodies. This song was originally recorded earlier in Prince’s career, but it didn’t really fit into any of his other albums, so he waited. The wait paid off, because this song blends in well with the other songs on the album.
Under the Boardwalk- The Drifters: The night before this song was to be recorded, the lead singer for the Drifters died. The group brought in Johnny Moore to sing the track, and the rest was history. This song was released in 1964 and was an instant classic. The song itself was voted #487 on Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Songs of All Time. What I love about this song is the way it sounds. It has that 60’s vibe to it. I can remember the TV show, American Dreams, where this song was played, and it just felt like magic. This song has been covered many times, but it never really captures the true essence of the track. When I hear it, I can close my eyes and imagine what it must have been like to live during that time period!
Since I had You- Marvin Gaye: Released on the highly sexual 1976 release, “I Want You,” this was the 8th track off the album. This song talks about old lovers reuniting after seeing one another at a local dance. This song’s melody and beat is so good, especially the girl moaning at the end. This album is great from start to finish. Although the critics did not like the album too much at the time of its release, many of those critics have now changed their minds. This album was recorded at a time in Marvin’s life where things were about to get very bad. The girl at the end of the track is Minnie Ripperton, who is the mother of SNL star Maya Rudolph. Ripperton rose to fame in the late 70’s, but was tragically diagnose with cancer and died in 1979.