Classical music is one of those worlds I’ve just never found the time to explore, but I knew that was going to change sooner or later. I always told myself that if I had a kid I’d first immerse him in classical and jazz. Peaceful, complex stuff that would lull him to sleep while tuning his ears with the sort of precision he’d need if he ever decided to pick up daddy’s favorite hobby. It’s what my mother did with me, and I was going to pass on the tradition.
Well, baby Oliver arrived April 7th, and every night so far we’ve been exploring my meager classical collection together. Arleigh sent me a collection of Chopin’s Nocturnes years ago, and those seem to appeal to him most. I have a funny feeling this one will be Ollie’s favorite, because I play it first and last every time we sit down to listen. 🙂
So, please welcome Shattered Lens’ newest (future) author to the fold: Oliver Winston Smith. He celebrated his one week birthday last night by staring at my cats.
To say that I’m a huge fan of Led Zeppelin would be an understatement. They’re the band that combines both my love for hard rock and, ultimately, an even bigger love for that most American of musical style, the blues.
Led Zeppelin have always been rooted in their blues foundation. They’ve been an integral part of the British rock invasion to the US that was steeped heavily in blues rock. With classic blues heavily influencing their sound, Led Zeppelin would take the US by storm starting in 1968 and would continue to do so until the band’s dissolution in 1980 soon after John Bonham’s untimely death.
It’s a song from their third album that, for me, epitomizes Led Zeppelin’s early days. These were the years when they reigned as the blues rock kings of the rock world. They would later experiment and try new sounds with their later albums as the band began to branch out into new, diversified musical styles. Yet, for me, the band will always be that blues rock band from London, England who were the first supergroup.
“Since I’ve Been Loving You” is straight up blues and Robert Plant sings it with such emotional intensity that anyone hearing the song for the first time could easily mistake him and the band as one of the classic American blues bands. The song also makes the latest “Song of the Day” not just because it’s one of my favorites but also because of Jimmy Page once again demonstrating why he’s one of the best rock guitarists.
It’s not often a song starts off with a guitar solo, but this one does and Page does so in a slow, blues tempo that would segue into Robert Plant’s vocals. The second guitar solo arrives after the song’s second verse and would have a more blues rock sound to it, but no less impressive.
Since I’ve Been Loving You
(guitar solo)
Working from seven to eleven every night, It really makes life a drag, I don’t think that’s right. I’ve really been the best, the best of fools, I did what I could. (Yeah) ‘Cause I love you, baby, How I love you, darling, How I love you, baby, My beloved little girl, little girl. But baby, Since I’ve Been Loving You (yeah). I’m about to lose my worried mind, oh, yeah.
Everybody trying to tell me that you didn’t mean me no good. I’ve been trying, Lord, let me tell you, Let me tell you I really did the best I could. I’ve been working from seven to eleven every night, I said It kinda makes my life a drag Lord, that ain’t right… Since I’ve Been Loving You, I’m about to lose my worried mind. (Watch out!)
(guitar solo)
Said I’ve been crying, yeah. Oh, my tears they fell like rain, Don’t you hear them, Don’t you hear them falling? Don’t you hear, Don’t you hear them falling?
Do you remember mama, when I knocked upon your door? I said you had the nerve to tell me you didn’t want me no more, yeah I open my front door, hear my back door slam, You know, I must have one of them new fangled, new fangled back door man.
I’ve been working from seven, seven, seven, to eleven every night, It kinda makes my life a drag… Baby, Since I’ve Been Loving You, I’m about to lose, I’m about to lose, lose my worried mind.
Just one more, just one more, oooh, yeah, Since I’ve been loving you, I’m gonna lose my worried mind.
“War Pigs” is the classic heavy metal song by the godfathers of heavy metal itself, Black Sabbath. This song will kick you in the nuts from it’s ominous bass heavy intro right through one of the best guitar solos in the middle right up to it’s epic ending. It’s not a surprise that many heavy metal fans both new and old still consider this one of the best heavy metal songs ever. It also highlights Ozzy Osbourne as a frontman who became a template for future metal frontmen everywhere. Hearing him sing out the lyrics reminds us that he wasn’t a mumbling, drug-scarred reality tv show personlality. Ozzy was the face of metal and his voice in the early albums of Black Sabbath was one of the best in the business.
The song itself is actually an anti-war song despite many uses of it in films, tv and trailers highlighting war and violence. Last year’s 300: Rise of An Empireliterally reveled in using this song for it’s end credits. Which makes me wonder if those who actually listened to this song actually listened to the lyrics after the first verse.
The lyrics speaks of the inequality of war and how those most willing to begin one are the rich and powerful (meaning they would never ever be put into harm’s way) while those who do the killing and dying are the poor and downtrodden. The interesting thing about this song is how it’s early version was not an anti-war one but just a metal song about witches and black magic rituals. The early name for the song was “Walpurgis” but with the band already being seen as Satanic by puritanical groups in England and in the US they were convinced to change the title to “War Pigs” and adjusted the lyrics to make it the anti-war song it is today.
No matter it’s history and backstory, “War Pigs” remain one of the essential heavy metal songs that any prospective heavy metal newbie needs to listen to and study.
War Pigs
Generals gathered in their masses Just like witches at black masses Evil minds that plot destruction Sorcerers of death’s construction In the fields the bodies burning As the war machine keeps turning Death and hatred to mankind Poisoning their brainwashed minds Oh lord yeah!
Politicians hide themselves away They only started the war Why should they go out to fight? They leave that role to the poor
Time will tell on their power minds Making war just for fun Treating people just like pawns in chess Wait ’til their judgment day comes Yeah!
(guitar solo)
Now in darkness world stops turning Ashes where the bodies burning No more war pigs have the power Hand of God has struck the hour Day of judgment, God is calling On their knees the war pig’s crawling Begging mercy for their sins Satan laughing spreads his wings Oh lord yeah!
If there was ever a song that’s become synonymous with a TV series (and there’s been a lot of them) then I would say that the latest “Song of the Day” would be at the top of this particular mountain. This particular song became the signature song of the series. I am talking about that classic song from 70’s progressive rock group Kansas, “Carry On Wayward Song”.
The song was released as part of the band’s Leftoverture full-length album. The single for the song was released around 1976 and became one of the band’s biggest hits. “Carry On Wayward Son” is just one of those songs which instantly hooks you and won’t let go. From the acapella intro followed up by a prolonged progressive section that leads up to vocals accompanied by some subtle percussions and keyboards.
Then there’s lead guitarist and founding member Kerry Livgren starting, bridging then ending the song with guitar solos that were all different from each other. One usually will see two solos, but three in and in three different instances tend to be the exception to the rule.
In the long run this song will stick to your mind once it catches a hold of you and you’ll be happy to sing-along whenever it comes on. For Supernatural fans this song has become an anthem for their favorite show and definitely will send Wincest fans of the two brothers in the show into a-twitter.
Carry On Wayward Son
Carry on my wayward son
There’ll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest
Don’t you cry no more
(guitar solo)
Once I rose above the noise and confusion Just to get a glimpse beyond this illusion I was soaring ever higher But I flew too high Though my eyes could see I still was a blind man Though my mind could think I still was a madman I hear the voices when I’m dreaming I can hear them say
Carry on my wayward son There’ll be peace when you are done Lay your weary head to rest Don’t you cry no more
(guitar solo)
Masquerading as a man with a reason My charade is the event of the season And if I claim to be a wise man It surely means that I don’t know On a stormy sea of moving emotion Tossed about I’m like a ship on the ocean I set a course for winds of fortune But I hear the voices say
Carry on, you will always remember Carry on, nothing equals the splendor Now your life’s no longer empty Surely heaven waits for you
Carry on my wayward son
There’ll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest
Don’t you cry no more
If there was ever song which perfectly fused the two into the music genre commonly as blues rock it would The Allman Brothers Band’s iconic song from their 1969 self-titled album, “Whipping Post”.
I consider “Whipping Post” one of the greatest rock songs ever created. It’s blues origins could be heard throughout the song from the near-perfect slide-guitar playing by one of rock’s greatest guitarists in Duane Allman. The lyrics to the song is classic existential blues of an evil woman the cause of one’s ruination and of the metaphorical whipping post the song’s subject is put through.
While brother Greg’s vocalizing has been a highlight for some the true highlight of the song comes from the band’s two lead guitarists. The song manages to showcase both player’s skills in two separate guitar solos that come after the songs two verses and choruses. We get Duane Allman performing magic with the first guitar solo in slide-guitar fashion with Dickey Betts joining in on the tail end on rhythm guitar. The second guitar solo has the two performers switching roles with Duane augmenting Bett’s electric guitar work with some slide work on acoustic guitar.
The song’s lyrics were written by Duane’s brother Greg who is also the band’s lead singer. His vocals in this song comes out as if coming from the very depths of perdition. There’s genuine, fierce emotion in the singing by Greg Allman and everyone else who has covered the song never seem to replicate the very same emotion which made “Whipping Post” so great the moment it was first heard in 1969 and continues to be great as a new generation in the 21st century gets introduced to the band.
The studio version of the song is powerful in it’s own right…
…but it’s the 22-minute long live recording At Fillmore East that the song has attained mythical status.
Whipping Post
I’ve been run down I’ve been lied to I don’t know why, I let that mean woman make me a fool She took all my money Wrecks my new car Now she’s with one of my good time buddies They’re drinkin’ in some cross town bar
Sometimes I feel Sometimes I feel Like I’ve been tied To the whipping post Tied to the whipping post Tied to the whipping post Good lord I feel like I’m dyin’
(guitar solo)
My friends tell me That I’ve been such a fool And I have to stand down and take it babe, All for lovin’ you I drown myself in sorrow As I look at what you’ve done Nothin’ seems to change Bad times stay the same And I can’t run
Sometimes I feel Sometimes I feel Like I’ve been tied To the whipping post Tied to the whipping post Tied to the whipping post Good lord I feel like I’m dyin’
(guitar solo)
Sometimes I feel Sometimes I feel Like I’ve been tied To the whipping post Tied to the whipping post Tied to the whipping post Good lord I feel like I’m dyin’
I think I’ve been saying that all day and it’s all because of a very catchy and classic hard rock song from my youth. It’s also the latest “Song of the Day” and marks another entry in the current series of great guitar solos.
“Rock You Like A Hurricane” by Scorpions was one of those rock songs during the 1980’s that really help propel a very good rock band into the next level of epicness (yes, that’s a word I decided is a real one). It was also a song that took advantage of the new visual media called music video to help market it to a much wider audience.
Many people tend to just fixate on the chorus of the song and tend to not remember the bulk of the songs lyrics. If they did they would realize it’s quite the raunchy bit of songwriting. The song is pretty much about someone looking to hook up and once partner has been chosen…well we know by the chorus how the encounter will develop and end up.
For a song about no-nonsense one-night stands it also has a classic guitar solo in the middle by lead guitarist Matthias Jabs that has been admired by listeners since the song’s inception. Jabs might not be as well known outside of the hard rock and heavy metal community, but his guitar playing talent was and is just as good as any of his contemporaries during the early 80’s.
Rock You Like A Hurricane
It’s early morning, the sun comes out Last night was shaking and pretty loud My cat is purring, it scratches my skin So what is wrong with another sin?
The bitch is hungry, she needs to tell So give her inches and feed her well More days to come, new places to go I’ve got to leave, it’s time for a show
Here I am Rock you like a hurricane Here I am Rock you like a hurricane
My body is burning, it starts to shout Desire is coming, it breaks out loud Lust is in cages till storm breaks loose Just have to make it with someone I choose
The night is calling, I have to go The wolf is hungry, he runs the show He’s licking his lips, he’s ready to win On the hunt tonight for love at first sting
Here I am Rock you like a hurricane (Are you ready, baby?) Here I am Rock you like a hurricane Here I am Rock you like a hurricane (Come on, come on, baby) Here I am Rock you like a hurricane
Rock you like a hurricane
(guitar solo)
It’s early morning, the sun comes out Last night was shaking and pretty loud My cat is purring, it scratched my skin So what is wrong with another sin?
The night is calling, I have to go The wolf is hungry, he runs the show He’s licking his lips, he’s ready to win On the hunt tonight for love at first sting
Here I am Rock you like a hurricane (Are you ready, baby?) Here I am Rock you like a hurricane Here I am Rock you like a hurricane (Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on) Here I am Rock you like a hurricane
Even though it’s a day late I should still include as the latest “Song of the Day” an epic song from the greatest rock band to come out of the Emerald Isle.
The band is Thin Lizzy. The song is “Róisín Dubh (Black Rose)”.
I would’ve added this song somewhere down in the future even if it didn’t have an awesome guitar solo that segues into dueling guitars during the middle section. Why you ask would I have added it well it’s because it’s Thin Lizzy and was a great marriage of traditional Celtic music with that very American folksy blues rock that was huge during the 1970’s.
Phil Lynott (R.I.P.) does an amazing job on bass and with the vocals (one of the best there ever was on the mic). Yet, the song soars once Gary Moore and Scott Gorham start battling it out in the middle section with an opening guitar solo and then both going at it.
So, yes it is a great addition to our ongoing “Greatest Guitar Solos” series within the “Song of the Day” feature.
Róisín Dubh
Tell me the legends of long ago When the kings and queens would dance in the realm of the Black Rose Play me their melodies I want to know So I can teach my children, oh
Pray tell me the story of young Cuchulainn How his eyes were dark his expression sullen And how he’d fight and always won And how they cried when he was fallen
Oh tell me the story of the Queen of this land And how her sons died at her own hand And how fools obey commands Oh tell me the legends of long ago
Where the mountains of Mourne come down to the sea Will she no come back to me Will she no come back to me
Oh Shenandoah I hear you calling Far away you rolling river All down the mountain side All around the green heather go lassie go
(dueling guitar solos)
Oh Tell me the legends of long ago When the kings and queens would dance in the realms of the Black Rose Play me their melodies so I might know So I can tell my children, oh
My Roisin Dubh is my one and only true love It was a joy that Joyce brought to me While William Butler waits And Oscar, he’s going Wilde
Ah sure, Brendan where have you Behan? Looking for a girl with green eyes My dark Rosaleen is my only colleen That Georgie knows Best
But Van is the man Starvation once again Drinking whiskey in the jar-o Synge’s Playboy of the Western World
As Shaw, Sean I was born and reared there Where the Mountains of Mourne come down to the sea It’s such a long, long way from Tipperary
It’s just appropriate that we follow up the previous “Song of the Day” that was one of Ozzy Osbourne’s solo tracks with one who replaced him for a brief time as frontman of OZzy’s previous band, Black Sabbath.
Ronnie James Dio will always be one of the metal gods. People may disagree but they will always be wrong. Some would say it’s the height of arrogance to name one’s band after themselves and, for the most part, I would agree with them. Yet, if there as ever a musician who deserved to have their arrogance as part and parcel of their immense talent it would be Ronnie James Dio and the band he would form after his stint with Black Sabbath. A band that he would simply call Dio.
It would be remiss not to include the second track to be released as a single from the group’s debut album, Holy Diver.
I speak of the song “Rainbow in the Dark” which remains one of my favorite Dio songs and, I honestly believe, his best one. I’m not the only one who seem to think so, but even the song’s mass appeal to it’s heavy metal and hard rock following doesn’t dismiss the fact that it’s Ronnie James Dio at his best. Not to mention has one of the best guitar solos ever.
A guitar solo which comes midway during the song and performed by group guitarist Vivian Campbell.
Rainbow in the Dark
When there’s lightning You know, it always brings me down ‘Cause it’s free, and I see that it’s me Who’s lost and never found
I cry out for magic I feel it dancing in the light It was cold, lost my hold To the shadows of the night
No sign of the morning coming You’ve been left on your own Like a rainbow in the dark A rainbow in the dark
Do your demons Do they ever let you go? When you’ve tried, do they hide deep inside? Is it someone that you know?
You’re just a picture You’re an image caught in time We’re a lie, you and I We’re words without a rhyme
There’s no sign of the morning coming You’ve been left on your own Like a rainbow in the dark Just a rainbow in the dark, yeah
(guitar solo)
When I see lightning You know, it always brings me down ‘Cause it’s free, and I see that it’s me Who’s lost and never found
Feel the magic I feel it floating in the air But it’s fear, and you’ll hear It calling you, beware, look out
There’s no sight of the morning coming There’s no sign of the day You’ve been left on your own Like a rainbow
Like a rainbow in the dark, yeah-yay You’re a rainbow in the dark Just a rainbow in the dark No sign of the morning You’re a rainbow in the dark, whoa
Why is it that those with creative talents that border on genius tend to die young and much too soon. This has become almost synonymous with the premature passing of some of the greatest musician of the last 50 years. Most seem to be from the rock and metal corner of the musical landscape. Some has been due to the very lifestyle led by these musicians. A lifestyle of libertine excess that catches up to their talent way too soon.
One such individual who went before his time yet made such an impact on the music scene that he’s considered one of the greatest metal guitarist of all-time (I say one of the best guitarist in or out of metal). His name was Randy Rhoads.
Only 25 when he passed away not due to a life of excess (he was actually quite responsible a rock star in his era where sex, booze and drugs were commonplace) but to a tragic accident that didn’t need to happen.
While some always point to his guitar work on the Ozzy Osbourne song “Crazy Train” from his solo debut album, I always thought one of his best guitar work was on another song from that debut album. The song I speak about is “Mr. Crowley”.
The song itself is one of those songs that drove parents crazy when they first heard their young teenage sons listening to it. I mean it’s a song about self-proclaimed Anti-Christ, libertine and sex magick user Aleister Crowley. Yet, it’s not Ozzy’s vocals that make the song memorable. It’s Rhoad’s lead guitar performance with special focus on the two guitar solos which rise up in the middle of the track and closes it out.
Mr. Crowley
Mister Crowley What went down in your head? Oh, Mister Crowley Did you talk to the dead?
Your lifestyle to me seems so tragic With the thrill of it all You fooled all the faithful with magic Yeah, you waited on Satan’s call
Mister Charming Did you think you were pure? Mister Alarming In nocturnal rapport
Uncovering things that were sacred Manifest on this earth Oh, conceived in the eye of a secret Yeah, they scattered the afterbirth
(guitar solo)
Mister Crowley Won’t you ride my white horse? Mister Crowley It’s symbolic, of course
Approaching a time that is classic I hear that maiden’s call Approaching a time that is drastic Standing with their backs to the wall
Was it polemically sent? I wanna know what you meant I wanna know I wanna know what you meant, yeah!
As a child of the 1980’s it would be difficult to come up with a greatest guitar solo ever list and not make mention of the work of one Slash. The man with the top hat, who played a mean Gibson Les Paul would become part of what the 80’s called “The Most Dangerous Band” in Guns N’ Roses.
“Sweet Child o’ Mine” would become one of the band’s biggest hits and, ultimately, their most recognizable. This is quite an impressive considering this is the band that came up with quite a bit of classic tunes in the short time they all played together. It’s also the song where Slash truly made his mark by creating not just one of the most recognized opening hard rock riffs, but also one of the best guitar solos.
For a band that was seen and who saw itself as “the most dangerous” they also came up with a power ballad that combined not just genuine emotions, but the hard rock sensibility one expected from a band such as Guns N’ Roses. It’s a power ballad worthy of past great power ballads such as “Stairway to Heaven” and “Free Bird”.
Sweet Child O’ Mine
She’s got a smile that it seems to me Reminds me of childhood memories Where everything Was as fresh as the bright blue sky
Now and then when I see her face She takes me away to that special place And if I stared too long I’d probably break down and cry
Sweet child o’ mine Sweet love of mine
She’s got eyes of the bluest skies As if they thought of rain I’d hate to look into those eyes And see an ounce of pain
Her hair reminds me of a warm safe place Where as a child I’d hide And pray for the thunder and the rain To quietly pass me by
[3x] Sweet child o’ mine Sweet love of mine
(guitar solo)
[4x] Where do we go? Where do we go now? Where do we go? Sweet child o’ mine
Through the Shattered Lens 