Trying on Songs For Size!

Still trying to decide on songs for our Summer of Love show Oct 13.  Actually, I'm deciding which songs to bring to our band.  So I'm wading through the vast pool of music released in 1967, watching the YouTube videos, printing out the chords and playing along to see what feels good.

The exercise is sort of like trying on other people's clothes.  Seeing how they fit.  Seeing if you can make them your own.

Sometimes you like the "idea" of playing a song, but then there's the reality of stepping through the chords, and singing the words, and you realize it's just not going to fly.  Example: The Velvet Underground "I'm Waiting for the Man."  Love the song, pretty easy to play, but for some reason it seems false.  I mean, it's so true to Lou Reed, but false on my lips, in my brain.  

Now Van Morrison's "Brown-Eyed Girl," hell, that one seems like a winner.  Beautiful chord progression, great lyrics.  Yes, it will be hard to top Van's version, but something tells me our band will find the groove.  I'm thinking we try it for sure.

Nico's take on Jackson Browne's "These Days."  Somber.  Our drummer described it as "dour." And the guitar part is almost too bright and jaunty.  I've slowed it down a bit. Love the little finger-picking part, could be a very beautiful, hushed moment.  Depends.  The Lovely Carla needs to own it.  And what key would work best?  Have decided to keep it in for now. Even with the outstanding questions.

Sure things: Cream's "Strange Brew" - tight little jam, "The Letter" by the Box Tops - what a perfect pop/rock song and Alex Chilton singing at 16!, "White Rabbit" - so iconic.  Great bass part, great drum part, cool, trippy guitar part, but can anyone sing it like Grace Slick does?  "Stepping Stone" - yes, it's a classic from that TV band.  We're thinking a stripped down version.  The lyrics are great.  The Who's "Happy Jack" - I love this song!  Love the lyrics, love what The Who do. Can our band do it?  We will give our best for sure!  The Doors "Soul Kitchen" - this one is already in our set.  We love it, we groove it, we have definitely made it our own.  More like the Patti Smith version, but it's ours now!

Not sures: "Little Wing" - a beautiful Hendrix song, silly lyrics, stunningly beautiful guitar part, "Hey Joe" - misogynist as hell, but what a great chord progression, the band would love to play it for sure. And maybe with the Lovely Carla singing we turn the meaning upside down? "San Francisco" - A friend wants to sing it.  I'm sure he will do a great job, he has a wonderful voice.  But man, do I hate that song.  It's really the hippie nightmare.  And you wonder if San Francisco ever recovered from all those poor hippies flocking to the city looking for those "gentle people!" It definitely captures a certain 1967 vibe.  But it seems like a ridiculous song to me.

Anyway, still wading through songs.  Probably more surprises on the way... "Walk Away Renee" - maybe!