I was on a Vancouver Whitecaps board the other night, and someone said "Wow, your optimism is really not grounded, more free-form. Like you've been smoking hash." In a heartbeat I was back in Notting Hill c1970-71. Back then I was stoned every-night, always on righteous hashish which seemed to appear when anyone arrived at my door. And the music was always on, and the very best thing in the world was to lie on the carpet, which must have been laid sometime in the 30s because you couldn't make out the pattern never mind the colour. I'd have a speaker about six inches from each ear and go where the music took me. Instrumentals (or extended instrumental breaks) were the best. Words didn't get in the way and the psychedelic drone became a kind of language.
Anyway that was then, and I haven't been there for almost fifty years. But I got thinking what were my favourite instrumental tracks to ride away on back then? Here are three, all live, all pretty well known in their studio form, but these versions get to the heart of the matter:
Section 43 — Country Joe and the Fish
The hippiest band in the world with a recording contract (except for the 13th Floor Elevators perhaps). Performing at Monterey in the Summer of Floor. Put a frame around it.
Embryonic Journey — Jefferson Airplane
Jorma Kaukonen performs this short acoustic piece at the induction of the band into the R&R Hall of Fame in 1996. Not typical but quality, wouldn't have been out of place in English folk clubs of the time.
Jessica — The Allman Brothers
An early live and long version. It's a tad slower than the the record (to my ears) and the guitars a little crisper, not sure about Butch's drums mid-way, but otherwise I could lose myself in this until tomorrow morning.
Anyway that was then, and I haven't been there for almost fifty years. But I got thinking what were my favourite instrumental tracks to ride away on back then? Here are three, all live, all pretty well known in their studio form, but these versions get to the heart of the matter:
Section 43 — Country Joe and the Fish
The hippiest band in the world with a recording contract (except for the 13th Floor Elevators perhaps). Performing at Monterey in the Summer of Floor. Put a frame around it.
Embryonic Journey — Jefferson Airplane
Jorma Kaukonen performs this short acoustic piece at the induction of the band into the R&R Hall of Fame in 1996. Not typical but quality, wouldn't have been out of place in English folk clubs of the time.
Jessica — The Allman Brothers
An early live and long version. It's a tad slower than the the record (to my ears) and the guitars a little crisper, not sure about Butch's drums mid-way, but otherwise I could lose myself in this until tomorrow morning.
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