Evil Woman-Electric Light Orchestra
Electric Light Orchestra, commonly known as ELO, was a top-rated band of the 1970s.
Jeff Lynne, the lead singer of ELO, says he wrote “Evil Woman” in about thirty minutes. The line in the song “There’s a hole in my head where the rain comes in” is a tribute to The Beatles song “Fixing A Hole.”John Lennon was a fan and called ELO “Sons Of The Beatles.” Evil Woman” reached number five on the charts in 1975.
Jumpin Jack Flash-The Rolling Stones
“Jumpin Jack Flash” is the most performed song by the Rolling Stones, and the band has played it at every concert since its release in 1968. In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Keith Richards said he is very proud of his guitar part in this song. Aretha Franklin recorded a version in 1986, and Keith Richards produced and played guitar. Crank up this Road Trip song!
Brandy(You’re A Fine Girl)-Looking Glass
Just like all the other road trip songs, this is one you would love to be the songwriter because it’s being played somewhere in the world right now. Lead singer Elliot Lurie says “Brandy” was inspired by a high school girlfriend named Randy (yes, with an R). As he was writing the song, the first thing that came to mind was Randy. But, Randy was an unusual and unisex name, so he changed it to Brandy. It took Lurie about a week to complete the song. Find out the story behind the song in an earlier video. Brandy, You’re A Fine Girl went all the way to number one on the charts in 1972.
Hold My Hand-Hootie & The Blowfish
“Hold My Hand” dates back to 1990 when a small label signed them, and nothing happened. The song was re-released a few years later and got the attention of Atlantic Records. Legendary singer-songwriter David Crosby provided background vocals. The band recorded an album, Cracked Rear View. “Hold My Hand” was released and reached number ten on the charts in 1994. The album became the best selling in Atlantic’s history and best selling album of 1995.
Get Back-The Beatles
“Get Back” began as a sarcastic and critical look at attitudes towards immigrants in Britain. Early demo versions of “Get Back” contained the line:
Meanwhile, back at home, too many Pakistanis
Living in a council flat
Candidate Mcmillan, tell us what you’re plan is
Won’t you tell us where you’re at
Paul McCartney said the satirical song didn’t prevent racism accusations toward him for years to come. In a Rolling Stone Magazine interview, McCartney said, “If there was any group that was not racist, it was The Beatles.”Of course, McCartney rewrote the lyrics. The Beatles performed “Get Back” on the rooftop of Apple Records on January 30, 1969. They kept the act a secret, knowing it would get shut down quickly. The police eventually pulled the plug, but the performance serves as the climax in the film documentary “Let It Be.” The rooftop would be The Beatle’s last live performance.
A footnote: The Beatles Get Back Documentary Series produced by Peter Jackson famous for Lord Of The Rings was released in November 2021. It documents The Beatles making of the album Let It Be which had the title of Get Back.
Layla-Derek & The Dominoes
Layla was about George Harrison’s wife, Patti. Eric Clapton wrote Layla while Patti was still married to George. The song is about a man in love with a woman who loves him but is unavailable. The name Layla is inspired by a 12th-century Persian poem about desperate unreciprocated love, The Story of Layla. After working on George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass, Clapton formed Derek & The Dominoes with Bobby Whitlock, Carl Radle, and Jim Gordon. Duane Allman, already a mutual friend of Clapton’s, joined the band as a guest. Allman created the famous guitar riff and played lead with Clapton. Record companies in those days would make stupid bonehead moves like editing the song, Layla, to 2:43, and it flopped. The full version, which is 7:10, was released a year later and became one of the most famous songs in rock history. The album was Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. The Harrison’s later divorced, and Eric and Patti were married from 1979-1989.
Going Up The Country -Canned Heat
Canned Heat is an American Blues and Rock band famous in the late sixties and early 70’s known as the hippie era. Canned Heat was known to promote blues and its original artists. They had a lot of respect for blues music.” Going Up The Country” was a remake of a song from 1927 by Henry Thomas called “Bull Doze Blues.” Vocalist Al “Blind Owl” Wilson used the melody and rewrote the lyrics. Canned Heat performed “Going Up The Country” at Woodstock. Their scene was cut from the documentary but included in the director’s cut. “Going Up The Country” is also available on the triple album Woodstock.” Going Up The Country” climbed to number 11 in 1969.
Jessica-The Allman Brothers Band
Jessica is an instrumental with little chart success but has become a staple of classic rock radio and a favorite among fans. The band’s Guitarist Dickey Betts wrote it as a tribute to Gypsy Jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt so you could play with two fingers on the left hand. Reinhardt had lost two fingers in a fire. Bett’s infant daughter inspired “Jessica” as she crawled in the room and started bouncing with the rhythm when he wrote the song. After the tragic death of the band’s leader Duane Allman in 1971, they added keyboardist Chuck Leavell. After hearing him play on “Jessica,” you know why Leavell is one of the most sought-after musicians.” Jessica” was released in December 1973.
Oh, Pretty Woman–Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison wrote “Oh Pretty Woman” with his songwriting partner Bill Dees. The story is Orbison tells Dees to get started writing about anything that came to mind. Claudette, Orbison’s wife, walks into the room and says she is going shopping. Orbison asks, “do you need any money? Dees responds with, “pretty woman never needs any money.” This inspired Orbison to coin the phrase” pretty woman walking down the street.”The song reached number one on the charts in 1965 and is number 222 on Rolling Stone’s magazine’s top 500 songs of all time. In 1990 The movie Pretty Woman starring Julia Roberts, created a new audience for Roy Orbison.
The Boys Are Back In Town-Thin Lizzy
“The Boys Are Back In Town” is one of those songs you recognize when the guitar intro begins. Then you want to start a fight. Phil Lynott, the lead singer, was inspired to write the song from his own experiences as a child hanging around a bar his mother Philomena owned in Ireland. Some of her regular customers were from The Quality Street Gang, a criminal enterprise. The line “Friday night they’ll be dressed to kill” refers to the gang’s fashion sense. Thin Lizzy was known as a party band, sometimes ending in fights.
” The Boys Are Back In Town” reached number twelve on the charts in 1976.
Sadly The alcohol and drug abuse took a toll on Phil Lynott’s body. He died in 1986 at the age of 34.”