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Seven Great Musical Acts from the 60s and 70s
These are some of my favorites.
Ok, I like the Beatles, but they weren’t necessarily one of my favorite musical groups. As for the Rolling Stones, I don’t care for them a whole lot. I really like my music a little lighter.
I like stuff that is up-tempo and generally don’t care for a lot of love ballads. That’s why I like the earlier Chicago stuff rather than their later work.
Chicago’s early work was great driving music.
“Beginnings,” “Dialogue” and “Make Me Smile” are examples of some of my favorite Chicago stuff. After the death of Terry Kath, Peter Cetera became more of a force in the group.
Not to knock Cetera, but his romantic ballads don’t work for me. I would just as soon that Cetera kept his love life to himself.
Three Dog Night struck me as unpretentious.
It seems to me like these guys enjoyed writing popular songs and didn’t aspire to explore deep or brooding emotions. Songs like, “Joy to the World,” ‘Mamma Told Me Not to Come” and “Shambala” aren’t tear-jerkers or don’t require a lot of introspection.
They just make you want to hit the accelerator. It’s really hard to be on cruise control when you listen to Three Dog Night music.
CCR was both a great band and a cautionary tale.
“Bad Moon Rising,” ‘Fortunate Son” and “Green River” are examples of some of the great songs the band put out. But it seems like, between infighting in the band and contractual/money problems, the band didn’t really reach its full potential.
America was very easy to listen to.
Songs like “Ventura Highway” “Sister Golden Hair” and “Daisy Jane,” while not profound can help you relax. That’s no small accomplishment these days.
This band is still active on the nostalgia circuit. I like America’s music, but I can listen to their stuff with the cruise control on. And if you find yourself listening to America, check to make sure you haven’t left your turn signal on.
