Song of the Day: "Give Me One More Chance" by Wilmer and the Dukes

Music Mike provides some great context.

Unfortunately, I never made it to The Inferno in suburban Buffalo. At the same time, Wilmer never played the compact stage at Surf Club in Bemus Point during the summer of 1968. (Rebuilt from the ground up, or so it appears from the pics.) At least not that we were aware. And, despite the 60-mile round trip from Warren, PA, we were there just about every weekend.

The album, by the way, is as solid as the single.

What do you think this is?

A happy Fizzies party?

Song of the Day: "I Scare Myself" by Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks

I saw Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks in concert during the spring of 1972 at the UB (a.k.a State University of New York at Buffalo) Folk & Blues Fest. The event, scheduled over three evenings, was held in a 60' x 100' tent (or so I seem to recall) in the vicinity of Diefendorf Hall and Clark Gym.

The band played a long, relaxed, but well-paced set that featured numerous songs from Striking It Rich. The highlight was an extended version of "I Scare Myself", with Sid Page's searing, goose-flesh-inducing violin solo creating a sense of heat emanating from the stage. (Which was nothing more than a slightly raised platform.)

I doubt if there were more than 100 people at this concert -- about the same number who saw Bonnie Raitt and her band on the following night. Highlight: Raitt scorching the small but rapturously receptive audience as she blazed her way through "Mighty Tight Woman".

Hungry musicians in an intimate setting. The best venue for live music.

Song of the Day: "Tramp (How It Is)" by Stray Dog

"jonsilence" sums it up nicely with this YouTube comment: One of the all time great 70s hard rock epics....totally unique. Its got everything: a bit of Texas blues, prog flourishes, killer guitar, and gobs of testosterone. 'Livin' out of a suitcase makes a man feel fat and sassy!" Go Snuffy!

Snuffy is William Garrett Walden, lead guitarist for Stray Dog. Since the late 1980s, he has enjoyed a very successful career as a composer of music for television shows.

Stray dog's self-titled album was released in 1973.

Song of the Day: "I Put a Spell on You" by Audience

Interesting variation of the Screamin' Jay Hawkins original (1956).

A California friend introduced me to Audience's House on the Hill in the summer of 1972, and though we've been long out of touch, the album and I have stayed in contact.

An amazon reviewer describes Audience as a blend between Jethro Tull and Frank Zappa. I can certainly see the Tull but can't place Zappa in the musical picture.