gave me so much listening pleasure as the lead singer of the Australian group The Seekers but, sadly, she has passed on. “It’s Hard to Leave” was apparently written many years ago, and in the context of her leaving her family and friends in order to go on tour with the band. This was a new song to me which I recently came across by accident … but what an accident! Enjoy.
Music
This Category is mostly music that has been important to me over the years, together some occasional comments and thoughts. If you love music, this could be your favourite Category here!
“Close to You”
This song has been on my mind for a few days now. I am hoping that by inflicting you “guys” with it, my brain can move on to other songs! Enjoy!
1971
Here’s a good one, and it is just as good today as it was 50 years ago (time flies eh!).
1970
This was a tough one, with the Carpenters, Moody Blues, Gordon Lightfoot and so many others making an impact on me. However, one song from 1970 that I still play is this one. In general I was not a particular fan of Emerson, Lake & Palmer …. but this one was very creative and quickly “grew on me”!
1969
1969 was another amazing year of songs that I loved and, while I could easily pick any one of probably around 50 or so that impacted me, I decided that Melanie’s “Beautiful People” should be my choice. Enjoy.
1968 – A Wonderful Music Year!
There were so many really good sounds and songs for me to lose myself in, in 1968 (I was 22 after all)! It was very difficult deciding between Fleetwood Mac’s “Albatross, Nina Simone’s “Ain’t Got no ….”, Buffy Sainte-Marie’s “Take My Hand For a While” and so many more. However, 1968 was the year that I was introduced to The Moody Blues … and I loved their sound (and still play various tracks regularly). So my choice for 1968:
1967 – Flower Power!
1967 made San Francisco the “centre of the universe” for me. All the societal restraints had been discarded and a perceived idyllic lifestyle created. “Flower Power” was perhaps the diversion necessary from the ongoing daily threat of a nuclear holocaust. I loved this song!
1966 … a very good year!
1966 really was an amazing year of music for me. The Seekers made a huge impact, as did The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones and Simon & Garfunkel. I have to also mention The Mamas & Papas, The Lovin’ Spoonful, and Marianne Faithful …. where does it end? Well of course it doesn’t end, because there were so many other amazing recordings in 1966.
In 1966 I had started going to a local folk club so, as much as I loved the typical heavy rock sounds, I also loved a simple acoustic performance, hence my initial choice was Joni Mitchell’s “Circle Game”. However, the more I thought about it, the more 1966 has to be given to Judith Durham and The Seekers.
A musical message from 1965
This was such an easy choice, and it was not because of the selection (lack of) available from my 1965 memories. In fact there were so many really good songs released in 1965, all of which made some impact on 19 year old Colin however, evidence of WWII was still prevalent in England which, coupled with the apparent “stand-off” between the USA and (then) USSR ….. made this a very hard hitting song for an impressionable teen!
and then there was 1964!
Another good year of so much music, but this one stands out in my memory mainly because of the pounding drum during the chorus!
A New Direction Perhaps? 