Kiss – “Love Gun” (Live – 1977)
If this song wasn’t one of the main inspirations for Spinal Tap’s “Big Bottom” and “Sex Farm” I don’t know what was. Hilarious!
Budgie – “Breadfan” (Live – 1973)
One of the most underrated of the early 70s British metal bands. This song was covered by Metallica years later.
John Lennon – “Instant Karma” (Live – 1972)
John with the Plastic Ono Elephant’s Memory Band from Live in New York City.
Albert Jones & Carla Whitney – “Mother Nature” (1977)
This 1977 mildly funky R&B song was sampled by Common on the title track to his 2005 Be album. I don’t know much else about this one.
“The Story of the Undertones: Teenage Kicks” (2003 – Part 5)
Part 5 of this 2003 documentary, featuring interviews with all the band members, as well as the late, great John Peel, who helped give them their start and who always stated he wanted the song “Teenage Kicks” to be played at his funeral.
More installments to come soon…be sure to check out Parts 1-4 (just go to search & type in “Undertones”)
Kool & the Gang – “Kool & the Gang” (1969)
The first self-titled single by Kool and the Gang, long before they started having mainstream pop hits. This was back in the day when they were a serious jazzy funk band. No less a funk authorian than James Brown said in the early 70s, “They’re the second-baddest out there…they make such bad records that you got to be careful when you play a new tape on the way home from the record store. Their groove is so strong you could wreck.” 3 guesses as to which band he thought was the best.
Caesar Frazier – “Sweet Children” (1975)
This jazz-soul organist recorded this funky rare groove track in 1975 which was sampled on Common’s title track to his 2005 Be album.
The Grateful Dead – “El Paso” (Live – 1972)
From the Aug. 27, 1972 Veneta, OR show (see “Dark Star” below) that is considered one of their best ever shows. “Dark Star” segued into this song, a cover of the old Marty Robbins’ Western ballad.
The Beat Patrol 