This week’s My Choice selection is from John S from Mount Hunter, New South Wales.
The song title is a link if the song is on our web site.
John’s comments about the songs are in italics.
The songs are in no particular order.
John says:
I’ve been in covers bands most of my life, and my list might indicate what we played to get people dancing, and therefore drinking… which made the publicans likely to ask us back!! 🤣😎
Rachel – Russell Morris
Simply exquisite pop song that made me stop what I was doing at the time to just listen.
Come Back Again – Daddy Cool
One we covered; liked this one much more than Eagle Rock for whatever reason!
Friday on My Mind – The Easybeats
Another one we covered because it absolutely rocked!
Eleanor Rigby – Zoot
To my mind, one of the best covers ever put to vinyl. Sat me on my arse when I first heard it!! Still does. 😁
I Remember You – Frank Ifield
What a beautiful voice and a wonderful song.
Bliss – Th’ Dudes
The ultimate beer-drinking, rabble rousing rock song. One of NZ’s finest, and a bottler to cover! 😁
Crusher – Mike Harvey
A lesser known NZ talent, this tune was the backing track to a TV ad for L&P, which is world famous in NZ! I stop whatever I’m doing and just soak it in to this day when it pops up on my playlist. It took me about 25 years to find out what the tune was called, and to find the tune on vinyl!
Ride the Rain – Quincy Conserve
What David Clayton-Thomas and Blood, Sweat & Tears wished they could sound like! NZ jazz rock with a nutter in charge; Bruno Lawrence.
Let’s Think of Something – Larry’s Rebels
Classic Kiwi rock; my eldest sister had the 45, and I played it smooth!
Out on the Streets – Space Waltz
A TV talent show song that was SO far out there compared to the rest, that it took my breath away!
Smoke on the Water – Deep Purple
What can I say?! I made the trip to QEII Park in Christchurch from Dunedin at 14 to see Ritchie! (It was Tommy Bolin, but I didn’t realise that at the time! )
Gypsy – Uriah Heep
A firm favourite of Form 3D in 1973!
Telegram Sam – T.Rex
Another glam rock favourite that I covered in various bands!
Fanfare for the Common Man – Emerson, Lake and Palmer
The song for the Commonwealth Games in Canada; the video is still worth watching! I was awestruck by Keith Emerson.
Roundabout – Yes
I never got to see Yes, but wanted to so badly I could taste it!
Go All the Way – The Raspberries
Power pop with balls; Wally Bryson was a personal guitar hero… RIP Eric Carmen.
Baby Blue – Badfinger
More power pop but gee, what a song! Loved playing and singing this… still do!
I Want You (She’s So Heavy) – The Beatles
Memories of lying on the lounge floor, with headphones on being blown out of my socks by Abbey Road in general, but this track especially.
Blue Turns to Grey – The Rolling Stones
Pretty much any Stones track from this era would do, but I’ve always loved the insouciance in this one.
Radar Love – Golden Earring
My first real inkling that great music was being made everywhere! Another one I loved covering.
Don’t Worry Baby – The Beach Boys
Yeah, yeah; I know… with their back catalogue and I choose this one – can’t rationally explain it… just love it!
Lazy – Deep Purple
After listening to SOTW, Space Truckin’, Pictures of Home et al… then this to end the record! Bugger me, what an absolute belter!!
More Than a Feeling – Boston
Could never sing it, but loved trying!
A Farewell to Kings – Rush
I ‘discovered’ Rush in 1973 on a NZ TV show called Radio with Pictures, been a fan ever since and finally got to a gig in England in 2011!
Rain Dance – The Guess Who
Can’t explain the sheer joy I get listening to Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings singing songs… deceptively tricky tunes to play, too!
Sylvia – Focus
Yet more wonderful Dutch virtuosity… I have sometimes snuck this onto a set list!
Some Kind of Wonderful – Grand Funk Railroad
Another band I wished I’d caught.
Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again? – The Angels
Perhaps not the Angels’ very best, but I saw them do this in Coogee somewhere as an 18 year old; the call and response in the chorus flattened me, as did the stagecraft of Doc.
Nice Boys Don’t Play Rock ‘n’ Roll – Rose Tattoo
Angry doing his thing; another band I saw when they were on their way up… made an impression, I can tell you!
Rosalie – The La De Das
Another I loved playing!
Thank you John for a great selection, and for introducing us to some exciting New Zealand music. I think a few of us would have loved to hear your cover band. 😎
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