What the Riff?!?

1968 - June - Hourglass - Power of Love

Episode Summary

Riffing on June 68, “Power of Love” by HOURGLASS, hosted by Wayne. (I'm Hanging up my Heart For You / Home for Summer / I can Stand Alone / Down in Texas). SOUNDTRACK: Elvis - “Speedway”. BRIAN: Gary Puckett and the Union Gap Band - “Young Girl Get Out of My Mind” ROB: The Rolling Stones - “Jumpin' Jack Flash” BRUCE: Blues Magoos - “I Can Hear the Grass Grow” WAYNE: The Nice - “America” LAUGH TRACK: Tiny Tim - “Tiptoe Thru' the Tulips”

Episode Notes

FEATURE: HOURGLASS - Power of Love from JUNE 1968

Hour Glass was a band based in Los Angeles, California in 1967 and 1968. Among their members were two future members of the Allman Brothers Band, Duane Allman and his brother Gregg. Power of Love was their 2nd album. The first was a lighthearted, poppy 60's type sound with a slight soul taste, and "the music had no life to it" according to Allman. This one started to branch out into the southern rock they would end up going to. It contained more original songs by Allman, though they still felt constricted by its process. The album flopped. The band broke up when Duane explicitly told off executives at Liberty, and the band disbanded.​
Liberty Records threatened to sue the group for disbanding.

Consequently, Gregg Allman gave them the rights to a solo album to prevent their doing so. Tracks for the album were only issues twenty-five years later when they were released as bonus tracks.

I'm Hanging Up My Heart for You

This song is very close to the southern rock sound that would ultimately become The Allman Brothers.

Home for Summer

The two-minute pop song format of the day was very restricting to Duane Allman.

I Can Stand Alone

The sound of the Hammond organ is prominent in this song, along with a more psychedelic sound in the guitar.

Down in Texas

This is a more guitar-laden and upbeat piece, though keeping with the soulful feel. Duane Allman died in a motorcycle accident in 1971.

SOUNDTRACK:

Elvis Presley - “Speedway”
Elvis plays alongside Nancy Sinatra in this racing movie.

STAFF PICKS:

Gary Puckett and the Union Gap Band - Young Girl Get Out of My Mind

Brian explains this is a song about a relationship with a girl too young. Perhaps this wouldn't go over quite as well today as it did in the 60's. The Wrecking Crew backs this song.

The Rolling Stones - Jumpin' Jack Flash

Rob recalls this classic riff (not really, because he was TWO). Bruce suggests that Rob may have been "born in a crossfire hurricane." Hey...are those bagpipes in the background?

Blues Magoos - I Can Hear the Grass Grow

Bruce is all about the Hammond organ on this one. This cut is off their third album, "Basic Blues Magoos."

The Nice - America

This was Wayne's pick, based on his appreciation of ELP (Emerson Lake and Palmer). As part of the group, “The Nice,” Keith Emerson remakes the song "America" from West Side Story with a little Dvořák in the mix as well. You get a lot of the feeel of Emerson, Lake, and Palmer in this group and song.

LAUGH TRACK:

Tiny Tim - Tiptoe through the Tulips

We round out this episode with a very eclectic piece of music from the TV show, “Laugh In” regular, Tiny Tim. Can you ever get enough ukulele?