Re: [Harp-L] the difference between funk and blues; a response to JR Ross

[fjm <bad_hat@xxxxxxxx>]

Ok 1967 was bleak, Monkees, Monkees Dr Zhivago, Sound of Music and the 
Temptations.  1968 was much better wit the Jimi Hendrix Experience 
topping the Billboard charts Simon and Garfunkel #2 with the Graduate 
soundtrack, Cream Disraeli Gears, Beatles Magical Mystery Tour and Diana 
Ross and the Supremes greatest hits in the number 5 slot.I'll spare you 
the entire 1969 lineup but Led Zeppelin was number 5 on the charts with 
Led Zeppelin.  Radio and album sales don't always equate but I think 
either Mike's right about this or more people were listening to 
alternative and underground FM that you were aware of.

What scares me is this stuff still gets played today.  Yikes! Especially 
in the compressed format that ALL FM stations have devolved to.  If 
you'd told me I'd have to listen to Smoke on the Water for the rest of 
my life I would have never believed you.  Speaking of Black Sabbath 
Cake's cover of War Pigs is so much better than the original and fun fun 
fun.  Pretty much zero harmonica content here except what we listen to 
does influence our music.  I can't stop listening to the second Norah 
Jones recording.  I know everybody thinks she's square.  I just love 
what she does with harmony.  Really subtle understated solos.  On 
Wurlitzer Electric Piano who would have thunk it?  Her and Cake, I keep 
playing my last Cake CD over and over.  fjm

ps Billboard archives their charts you can see the top 5 album sales for 
any given year.  Meaning you don't have to make this stuff or guess up 
you can actually know it.  Believe it or not records of this sort of 
commerce were kept, even in the previous century.