The latest
Rolling Stone magazine with Steve Jobs on the cover had a number of rockers writing about their favourite playlists. Mick Jagger's top 10 on reggae, Gregg Allman's top ten on blues vocals, Billy Gibbons' top ten on blues guitar and so on...you get the idea.
It was called
The Playlist Special.
Magazines like to do this from time to time and I am an absolute stone cold rickem ruckem pass the ammunition all day SUCKAH for them.
Can't help it, the boy can't help it - I LOVE LISTS.
So armed with the excuse of
if-it's-good-enuf-for-Rolling-Stone-it's-certainly-okay-for-me, here is the first of my Playlist Specials (an occasional series).
Wozza's Top Five (it's a short party - my knees aren't what they used to be)
Party Starters
My parties have always been of the jump and jive around the room to loud music variety. The next ten songs are guaranteed to get the leg twitching and then I'm motorvatin' to the centre of the lounge and doing moves that David Byrne would relate to (if not exactly envy).
1. Let's Have A Party Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs 1974
This was a B side to a great version of
Over The Rainbow. Talk about slow and fast. The version of
Let's Have A Party zings along at a million miles an hour. It bears all of Billy Thorpe trademarks - terrific impassioned vocal, guitars turned up to 11, a stellar group of okkers called The Aztecs (a bit of a revolving cast around the central figure of Billy). It's impossible to sit still!
Jump to 2.40 in the youtube link below for the skinny on Billy!
2. Highway Star Deep Purple 1972
The live version on
Made In Japan trumps the studio one on
Machine Head but only just. Mainly because it's longer. Ritchie Blackmore is the ultimate air guitar hero. When he and Jon Lord get together to duke it out, like they do here, there is no one to touch them.
3. Model Gary Myrick & The Figures 1980
This song pretty much sums up 1980 for me - being a student, living in my parents' basement, beautiful summer sun and bopping and a jiving to the first Gary Myrick album. Amazingly
Model is one of about five songs in a row that maintain a relentless energy.
4. Save Us Dream Evil 2002
Just to prove that age shall not weary me - this track on the Evil's 2002
Dragon Slayer album is a keeper for the next party. I play it a lot in the car and it's able to propel the car forward on its very own.
5. I Don't Want To Spoil The Party The Beatles 1965
Part of a party should be a good old fashioned singalong and wind down before it comes to its proper conclusion. If you haven't got
The Beach Boys Party! album on hand then try this lung buster from the mighty Beatles.
When you get to this bit in particular John (and a bit of Paul) gives us 100% permission to sing along at the top of our lungs. Try it - it's very therapeutic!
Though tonight she's made me sad,
I still love her,
If I find her I'll be glad,
I still love her.
And then it's time to sit down, have a rest and dig out a chill out album!
P.S. I know what you're thinking - Holy Fulele Wozza - five bopping party songs and no Madonna?? How is that possible? To be honest I'm not quite sure myself so next list will be five of the best from The Divine Miss M (the younger).
