Saturday, February 15, 2025
Black History Month on Set List - Play it, Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall Hendrix
November 27, 1942 - September 18, 1970
American guitarist, songwriter, & singer
Genres considered - Rock, Psychedelia, Blues, R&B
"...the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music..."
the Jimi Hendrix Experience -
Noel Redding - Bass
Mitch Mitchell - Drums
With his band, Jimi achieved fame in the UK with the songs, "Hey Joe," "Purple Haze," & "The Wind Cries Mary." Jimi achieved fame in the U.S. when he performed at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967.
Jimi headlined Woodstock (1969) and the Isle of Wight Festival (1970).
Honors -
Artist of the Year (Billboard, 1968)
Performer of the Year (Rolling Stone, 1968)
Rock Guitarist of the Year (Guitar Player, 1970)
Grammy Awards -
Lifetime Achievement (1992)
Are You Experienced & Electric Ladyland (1999)
Axis: Bold as Love (2006)
Hall of Fame - "Purple Haze" (2000)
Hall of Fame - "All Along the Watchtower" (2001)
Rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" (2009)
Are You Experienced (1967)
Axis: Bold as Love (1967)
Electric Ladyland (1968)
- all on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
No. 1 on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time
No. 6 on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time
Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time -
"Purple Haze" - 17
"All Along the Watchtower" - 47
"Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" - 102
"Foxy Lady" - 153
"Hey Joe" - 201
"Little Wing" - 366
"The Wind Cries Mary" - 379
Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time -
"Purple Haze" - 2
"Voodoo Child" - 12
"Machine Gun" - 49
Are You Experienced was one of 50 recordings added to the U.S. National Recording Registry in 2005.
Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (1991)
Inducted into the Native American Music Hall of Fame (1998)
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 with his band, the Jimi Hendrix Experience
Inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005 with the Jimi Hendrix Experience
Inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame (2016)
In 1970, Jimi Hendrix formed Band of Gypsys -
Billy Cox - Bass
Buddy Miles - Drums
This trio recorded the live album, Band of Gypsys.
As I write this post, I realize that Jimi Hendrix is not new to Set List. In fact, my coverage of him is akin to my signature share of "Uptown Funk." I suppose musical and pop cultural icons think alike.
Friday, February 14, 2025
Set List Special Edition - Pride of Canada
The United States lost its ally and friend to the north when Donald Trump was sworn into office. He kept his word on tariffs, purging, and deportation. He did not keep his word on "MAGA."
On Set List, however, music unites.
And so in this post, I am freely opening the door to Canada and the talent that has reached an audience worldwide.
Thursday, February 13, 2025
Set List Special Edition - Speaking of Radio
Every invention throughout time impacts its current want and future need. Inventions become assumptions when they are established. For example, the automobile - novelty to boom and evolving every year and decade since. Another example includes the television. In early film, screens were black and white so technicolor in The Wizard of Oz was awe inspiring...the same could be said of television. Television as a concept was groundbreaking as viewers could watch entertainment on a scaled size rather than imagine entertainment when listening to the radio...
...Speaking of radio, the history of radio.
The majority of my research source is technical to the build and transmission of radio waves to home use. The transition from AM to FM is also critical to the history of radio. FM is connected to music and other entertainment as well as broadcasting prior to television...
...Yet prior to television came entertainers who would grace the small screen in grand Hollywood style.
Consider Lucille Ball and My Favorite Husband. Did you know that this radio program laid the foundation for the television series, I Love Lucy, and the ultimate franchise behind Lucille, her husband Desi Arnaz (although later divorced), and DesiLu Productions?
Consider Jack Benny - the "king of comedy." The Jack Benny Program featured comedy sketches, song performances, and much more. If you close your eyes and listen intently, the radio program comes to life. After the series and the advent of the television, Jack made guest appearances on such shows as Johnny Carson (which was passed on to Jay Leno and now Jimmy Fallon...who was on Saturday Night Live for some time...and SNL has featured musical guests since Season 1, Episode 1.)
Consider released singles to radio stations ahead of albums that would chart and certify. Consider signature songs that receive airplay to this day. For these reasons, consider bands that have skyrocketed to legendary status because of the radio.
Consider tuning into sports broadcasts when not able to be at the game itself.
Consider college radio stations. Consider news based radio stations.
Consider this -
What do you listen to when a major story breaks through?
Consider now -
How do you listen to music? YouTube? Streaming? iTunes - iPod? CDs? If you have a CD player, is it a stand alone or combined with a radio? I have a CD player and radio...
...that has seen a lot of play, from one album to a collection by a variety of artists to WDCB - a public music and news station run by College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois (where I received my Associate's Degree, was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa, and discovered a healthy number of jazz musicians), and in conclusion...
...Speaking of radio, Set List is because (well, and Duran Duran).
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Tears in Heaven - Heal on Earth
With life comes loss, whether foreseen or unforeseen. When an animal dies, their human(s) grieve. The animal had a faster heartbeat that love could not keep up with. Tears in Heaven. When a loved one dies, there is prayer for a peaceful end even when getting there is difficult. Tears in Heaven.
I never appreciated watching my sweetheart cat Darby's beat stop. She was my soul kitty. Five days before, she was fighting for people food. By the end of the week, she was gone. What happened in between?
I did not appreciate watching my grandmother deteriorate. I knew her time was coming but did not know when and maybe did not want to know when. How is someone ready to say goodbye to their best friend and soulmate? I refuse to see closure so that I can move on despite her "visiting" me in my dream state the day she passed. I took her loss the hardest and will never get past it. Maybe I don't want to get past it? Tears in Heaven indeed. Rest in peace, Grandma.
The loss of a child though...I cannot imagine how he copes day to day, week to week, month to month, year to year, and every birthday his son would have celebrated. Rest in peace to your Conor, Eric Clapton.
So let's highlight the profound reception of "Tears in Heaven" -
No. 2 on Billboard Hot 100
No. 5 on UK Singles Chart
Top 10 in over 20 countries
- Awards & Nominations -
Billboard Win - Best-Selling Soundtrack Single
Golden Globe Nomination
MTV Movie Awards Nomination
MTV Video Music Awards - 2 Nominations, 1 Win
(Best Male Video)
3 Grammy Award Wins
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
Song of the Year
Record of the Year
BMI Win - Most Performed Pop Songs
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll
No. 353 on Rolling Stone's The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
Certifications -
Gold in Australia, Italy, Japan (digital single), New Zealand, UK, & U.S.
Platinum in Japan & the U.S. (physical single)
To cope with his grief, Eric Clapton co-wrote the lyrics to "Tears in Heaven" with American lyricist, Will Jennings.
Music is magical and universal. A key, a stroke, a lyric, a beat can unite in its own way.
"I almost subconsciously used music for myself as a healing agent, and to and behold, it worked...I have got a great deal of happiness and a great deal of healing from music." - Eric Clapton
Unplugged by Eric Clapton
1992 live album for the MTV Unplugged television series
Reception -
Boosted Clapton's popularity
"relaxed" and "pleasant"
"Clapton is embracing his middle age"
AllMusic - 4.5/5 Stars
Awards & Honors -
3 Grammy Awards
Grammy - Best Male Rock Vocal Performance
Grammy - Album of the Year
Grammy - Best Rock Song ("Layla")
Best-selling live album of all time & Eric Clapton's best-selling album overall with 26 million in sales worldwide
No. 9 on Guitar World's Best Guitar-Albums of 1992
No. 3 on German Albums Chart
1.25 million in sales
No. 3 on Austrian Albums Chart
100,000 in sales
No. 3 in Switzerland
No. 1 in the United States
"Layla (Acoustic)" (The song was performed in an acoustic version on Unplugged.) ... No. 1 on RPM Canadian Top Singles Chart & No. 4 on Canadian Adult Contemporary Tracks ... No. 4 on Billboard Pop Singles Chart & No. 9 on Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart ... No. 12 on Billboard Hot 100
Tracks -
1. Signe
2. Before You Use Me
3. Hey Hey
4. Tears in Heaven
5. Lonely Stranger
6. Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out
7. Layla
8. Running on Faith
9. Walkin' Blues
10. Alberta
11. San Francisco Bay Blues
12. Malted Milk
13. Old Love
14. Rollin' and Tumblin'
Album Certifications -
Gold in Chile, Finland, Italy (sales since 2009), & Poland
5x Gold in Germany
Platinum in Brazil, Mexico, & Sweden
2x Platinum in Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, & Switzerland
3x Platinum in Denmark
4x Platinum in Argentina, the Netherlands, Spain, & the UK
8x Platinum in Australia
12x Platinum in New Zealand
Diamond in Canada & the U.S.
Milli0n in Japan
VHS/DVD Certifications -
Gold in Brazil & the UK
Platinum in France & the U.S.
2x Platinum in New Zealand
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton
b. March 30, 1945
English guitarist, singer, & songwriter
Genres considered - Blues, Rock
One of the most successful and influential guitarists in rock music
No. 2 on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time
No. 4 on Gibson's Top 50 Guitarists of All Time
No. 5 on Time magazine's The 10 Best Electric Guitar Players (2009)
From 1963 to 1965, Eric Clapton was a member of the Yardbirds.
In 1966, Eric formed Cream with Ginger Baker (drums) & Jake Bruce (bass, vocals). The band recorded four albums. The members disbanded in 1968.
Following Cream, Eric formed Blind Faith with Ginger Baker, Steve Winwood, and Ric Grech. The band recorded one album and embarked on one tour but broke up shortly thereafter.
In 1970, Eric formed Derek and the Dominos with Bobby Whitlock, Carl Raddle, and Jim Gordon. They only recorded one album -
Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs - which produced Clapton's now signature song, "Layla."
Early notables -
"I Shot the Sheriff" Bob Marley cover (1974)
Country driven Slowhand album (1977) ... "Wonderful Tonight" highlight
Pop rock influence in August album (1986)
"Tears in Heaven" in Unplugged live album (1992 - song tribute to Eric's son's death)
"My Father's Eyes" - released in 1998 & a Grammy winner
Meanwhile - latest album released in 2024
Honors -
18 Grammy Awards
Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music
Silver Clef Award
BAFTA Award
Awarded a CBE for services to music (Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, 2004)
4 Ivor Novello Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award
3-time Inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (solo, the Yardbirds, & Cream)
Royal Albert Hall Walk of Fame (2018)*
*Point of intrigue - Other inductees include Muhammad Ali, Winston Churchill, the Suffragettes, and Albert Einstein..."key players" in the building's history
As a solo artist, Eric Clapton has sold 100 million records worldwide. This makes him one of the best-selling musicians of all time.
In 1998, Eric founded the Crossroads Center on Antigua for recovering substance addicts.
Side note -
Eric Clapton is a phenomenal guitarist and singer with meaningful lyrics. Yet he had demons in the form of severe alcohol and drug addiction that instead of devastating him, lifted him into a better place upon getting sober and reminiscing what could have been if not clean.
Back to music -
Eric Clapton's greatest guitar influences include Muddy Waters, Freddie King, B.B. King, Albert King, Buddy Guy, and Hubert Sumlin.
Eric's guitar brand preferences include Gibson Les Paul and Fender Stratocaster. In the past, he used Gretsch and Fender Telecaster.
Pop culture notes -
"Wonderful Tonight" was played in the Friends episode, "The One with the Proposal, Part 2" and "River of Tears" in the Friends episode, "Rachel Has a Baby."
Other features include Back to the Future, Lethal Weapon 2, Goodfellas, and School of Rock, to name a few.
To sum up,
He had the lowest of low points, all the best in honorable points, and can still rock on. Play it, Eric Clapton.
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