La-La-Bamba

Ritchie Valens was a pioneer of Chicano rock and Latin rock, and inspired many musicians of Latino heritage. He influenced the likes of Los Lobos, Los Lonely Boys and Carlos Santana as he had become nationally successful at a time when there were very few Latinos in American rock and pop music. As you may know from my previous post, he is considered the first Latino to successfully cross over into mainstream rock.

“La Bamba” proved to be his most influential recording, not only by becoming a pop chart hit sung entirely in Spanish, but also because of its successful blending of traditional Latin American music with rock. Ironically, the Valenzuela family spoke only English at home and Ritchie knew very little Spanish. Ritchie learned the lyrics phonetically in order to record “La Bamba” in Spanish.

Side One

Donna

Side Two

La Bamba

Side One

That’s My Little Suzie

Side Two

In a Turkish Town

Ritchie Valens

I believe I may have mentioned that Buddy Holly was my first crush as a kid, but as much as I loved his music, I happened to love the other musicians that died in the same crash nearly as much. La Bamba was one of my favorite singles to bop around the too and that’s definitely coming up soon.

Richard Steven Valenzuela (May 13, 1941 – February 3, 1959), known professionally as Ritchie Valens, was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. A rock and roll pioneer and a forefather of the Chicano rock movement, Valens’ recording career lasted eight months, as it abruptly ended when he was killed in a plane crash.

On February 3, 1959, on what has become known as “The Day the Music Died”, Valens died in a plane crash in Iowa, an accident that also claimed the lives of fellow musicians Buddy Holly and J. P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson, as well as pilot Roger Peterson. Valens was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.

Side One

Little Girl

Side Two

We Belong Together

(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction

I can’t get no satisfaction
‘Cause I try and I try and I try and I try
I can’t get no, I can’t get no

When I’m drivin’ in my car
And the man comes on the radio
He’s tellin’ me more and more
About some useless information
Supposed to drive my imagination

I can’t get no, oh no, no, no
Hey, hey, hey, that’s what I say

Side One

(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction

Side Two

The Under Assistant West Coast Production Man

 

I also want to take a moment to address a loss for the Stones this week. Bobby Keys, their saxophone player, pass away on Tuesday. He certainly will be missed. Although a lesser known member of the group when compared to characters like Keith and Mick, he left a huge impact on the group and rock music.

Bobby Keys was born in Slaton, Texas, on December 18, 1943. He started touring at age fifteen with Bobby Vee and fellow Texan Buddy Holly. He is best known as being the main saxophone player for the Rolling Stones. He played on every album from 1969 until 1974 and from 1980 to his death.

Keys met the Stones at the San Antonio Teen Fair in 1964. He is known for his relationship both as a musician and for his friendship with Keith Richards. Keys recorded with them around 1969 on their track “Live with Me”. He and Mick Taylor made their debuts on Let It Bleed. He toured with the Stones from 1970 until first half of the 1973 European Tour, from which Keys was thrown out after missing some shows. According to legend Keys filled a bathtub with Dom Perignon champagne and drank most of it. Allegedly this caused a falling out with Mick Jagger, and Keys only guested on some shows of the 1975 and 1978 tours, missing the 1976 tour completely. Keys returned to backing the Stones together with Gene Barge on the 1982 European Tour, and toured with the Stones on all subsequent tours up to his death.

Keys is heard on John Lennon’s first American solo number one single hit, “Whatever Gets You thru the Night”. Keys had played with Lennon in the Plastic Ono Band and two of Lennon’s solo albums. Additionally, he took part in the last known recording session between Paul McCartney and Lennon; A Toot and a Snore in ’74.

Although better known as a session musician, Keys released two albums of his own in the 1970s: a self-titled instrumental album that featured Ringo Starr, George Harrison and Eric Clapton in 1972; and Gimme the Key on Ringo’s record label Ring O’Records in 1975.

Bobby passed away as a result of cirrhosis at his home in Franklin, Tennessee, on December 2, 2014.

America!

Waylon Arnold Jennings (June 15, 1937 – February 13, 2002) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor.

In 1958, Buddy Holly arranged Jennings’s first recording session, of “Jole Blon” and “When Sin Stops (Love Begins).” While on tour during the “Winter Dance Party Tour,” in Clear Lake, Iowa, Holly chartered a plane to arrive at the next venue. Jennings gave up his seat in the plane. The flight crashed, on the day later known as The Day the Music Died.

Following the accident, Jennings worked as a D.J. in Coolidge, Arizona, and Phoenix. He also formed a rockabilly club band, The Waylors.

Side One

America

Side Two

People Up in Texas

The Roots of Rock & Roll: Rockabilly!

The Roots of Rock & Roll: Rockabilly!

Various Artists

Side One

Carl Perkins – Blue Suede Shoes
Gene Vincent – Be-Bop-A-Lula
Buddy Holly & The Crickets – Oh Boy
George Jones – White Lightning
Charlie Rich – Lonely Weekends
Johnny Burnette – The Train Kept a Rollin’
Johnny Cash and The Tennessee Two – Get Rhythm
Big Bopper – Chantilly Lace

Side Two

Jerry Lee Lewis – Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On
Roy Orbison – Ooby Dooby
Conway Twitty – It’s Only Make Believe
Charlie Rich – Mohair Sam
Chuck Miller – The House of Blue Lights
Billy Lee Riley – Red Hot
Guy Mitchell – Rock-A-Billy
Ray Campi & His Rockabilly Rebels – Rockabilly Music

Cruisin’ On A Friday Night

Cruisin’ (A Five Album Set)

Various Artists

Album One

Side One

Beach Boys – I Get Around
Orleans – Still the One
The Doobie Brothers – China Groove
Eddie Cochran – C’mon Everybody
Allman Brothers – Ramblin’ Man

Side Two

Jan & Dean – Dead Man’s Curve
Bobby Fuller Four – I Fought the Law
Sam & Dave – Soul Man
Tommy James & The Shondells – Mony Mony
Mason Williams – Classical Gas
Bay City Rollers – I Only Want to Be with You

Album Two

Side One

Steppenwolf – Born to Be Wild
Dion – The Wanderer
The Supremes – You Can’t Hurry Love
America – Ventura Highway
Beach Boys – Fun, Fun, Fun

Side Two

The Monkees – I’m a Believer
The Box Tops – Cry Like a Baby
Syndicate of Sound – Little Girl
Aretha Franklin – Chain of Fools
Ronny & The Daytones – Little G.T.O
Dwight Twilley Band – I’m On Fire

Album Three

Side One

Gene Pitney – It Hurts to Be in Love
The Contours – Do You Love Me
Wilson Pickett – Fire and Water
American Breed – Bend Me, Shape Me
The Guess Who – American Woman

Side Two

Fleetwood Mac – Go your Own Way
The Ventures – Walk – Don’t Run
Leslie Gore – California Nights
Paul Revere & The Raiders – Mr. Sun Mr. Moon
Connie Francis – Vacation
Jan & Dean – Drag City

Album Four

Side One

Creedence Clearwater Revival – Bad Moon Rising
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Up around the Bend
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Fortunate Son
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Travelin’ Band
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Proud Mary

Side Two

Chuck Berry – No Particular Place to go
Soul Survivors – Expressway to Your Heart
Booker T & The MG’s – Green Onions
Edwin Starr – Expressway to Your Heart
Everly Bros. – Bird Dog
Golden Earring – Radar of Love

Album Five

Side One

The Rivieras – California Sun
Everly Bros. – Problems
Bay City Rollers – Saturday Night
Zager & Evans – In the Year 2525
Chuck Berry – Maybelline

Side Two

Little Eva – The Loco-motion
J.J. Jackson – But It’s Alright
Freddy Cannon – Abigail Beecher
Wilson Pickett – I’m a Midnight Mover
Buddy Holly – Oh Boy
Grass Roots – Midnight Confessions