Wednesday Jul 14, 2021
Two Songs. 18 Versions of "Age of Aquarius" and 15 of "Light My Fire". A unique ecstasy or a very exacting torture. You know me!!
The Age of Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In (Also known as The Flesh Failures)
Music by Galt MacDermot; lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado
From Peter Lawford to Georgio Moroder, just about every singer had taken this anthem of flower power and tried to make it their own. From the Tony-nominated Broadway musical "Hair", you couldn't swing a love bead without bumping into a version of this song when it came out. It summed up the era succinctly, simply, and inoffensively. If you're of a certain age, it will send chills down your spine as you recall a very brief time where The Man was on his heels for once. It made #1 for The 5th Dimension and has been covered over 70 times, which isn't much compared to Yesterday or Summertime, but you have to understand that all those versions were grouped into two years, basically.
Bert Tenzer (with Kings Road) (1969) VERY bad voice-overs of actors pretending to belong to that generation. Old voice-over pros either paying tribute or making fun. We shall never know.
Andy Williams/The Osmonds (1969) Andy Williams was old showbiz but I love the fact that he tried everything. Including Claudine Longet. I really love Andy Williams. He was daring and cool.
Diana Ross and the Supremes (1969)
Englebert Humperdinck (1969)
Donna Gaines, AKA Donna Summer/Original German Cast of “Hair” - Wassermann (Aquarius) (1968)
Johnny Mathis (1969) You hear him most during the holiday season. Then he goes away!
Melba Moore (1970) My second-favorite version. God damn, she sings it. One of the few versions here that tried to reinvent and recontextualize.
Peter Lawford (1969) Yes, the designated driver in the Rat Pack.
Raphael (Live) (1980)
Ray Conniff And The Singers (1969)
The Ventures (Instrumental) (1969)
Tony Martin (1969) My favorite version. Discogs: Tony Martin (Alvin Morris) had enjoyed a long and illustrious career as a star of stage, screen, and shellac (his first national hits for Decca came before the Second World War!), scoring international Top Ten singles in the Forties and Fifties along the lines of his rendition of Stranger in Paradise, overshadowed in the wake of Tony Bennett’s competing version. But by the time Tony pitched up at Motown, he had had no hits for eight years, and his film career had long since hit the skids.
Ethel y Los Drakers - Siempre Brilla El Sol (Spanish) (1971)
Jennifer (Warnes) (1969) Yes, the same gal that sang "Right Time of the Night" and "I Had the Time of My Life" with Bill Medley. If you look close, she's singing backing vocals during the Roy Orbison "Black and White" concert.
Galt MacDermot (1968)
Julien Clerc (French) (1969)
Light My Fire
The Doors
Again, a ubiquitous cover song which appeared in every singer's set-list at that time. Provocative enough for the young, melodic and simple enough for the more seasoned entertainer. One more thing: The Doors were an amazing band when it came to producing singles. Their albums are sometimes embarrassingly naive and treacly, sort of like The Moody Blues or Three Dog Night. But those singles, whew boy, they were good.
Stevie Wonder (1969) This is a great version. Listen to the king of soul bassists, James Jamerson, eviscerate all that came before him.
The Free Design (1971) This album is in my hall of fame for GREAT albums I could listen to over and over and find new things. Albums I discovered since I started this old show. Everything, from the production to the harmonies to the amazing upside-down covers. I am trying to get my hands on Chris Dedrick's solo record "Be Free". Soon. Maybe my birthday? Come on, now. Anyhow, this I put up there with Syreeta's records with Stevie, The United States of America, The Seeds of Love, all of them. The peak of the concept, along with There Is A Song (1972). And no one bought them!! If you like Sunshine Pop, this is the stuff. Better than The Mamas and the Papas. To my ears, by far. Listen to how low the Dedrick sisters are asked to sing. I love women in the lower register. I am a huge fan of all the Dedricks.
And that's Billy Cobham on drums!
Bob Thiele and his New Happy Times Orchestra with Gabor Szabo (1967)
Clarence Carter (w/Duane Allman) (1967)
Rhetta Hughes (1968)
Shirley Bassey (1970) Also extremely very good. She is perhaps best known for having done the vocals on the theme tunes to three films in the popular British espionage film franchise James Bond.
Woody Herman Orchestra (1969) Another cool version, this one by the Woody Herman Orchestra. Herman had been recording since the Big Band era. Fans of Frank Zappa will recognize the name Sal Marquez, who played trumpet solo #1.
Amii Stewart (1979)
Chet Atkins (1968) Even though he made his bones as a session player/producer, Chet was surprisingly open to doing modern songs by pop artists, to his credit. Like my friend Andy Williams.
Minnie Ripperton/Jose Feliciano (1979)
Os Baobas (AKA The Bubbles) (1968)
The Soul Merchants (1968)
The Lettermen (1968) This album made it to #43 on Billboard.
The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band (1969)
Al Green (1971)
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