America | Tin Man

My dad was playing this on the guitar last night as I sang the lyrics. Made me nostalgic since my dad used to always play 70's folk rock in the car. It's also pretty cool that he had a band in the Philippines and they would play really small gigs in lounges; they played this style of music, which I've come to love thanks to my dad.


America | Tin Man

Click "Read More" for another great America song.

What's Your Favorite Toto Song?

Context

Crosby, Stills & Nash

Happy Birthday, Dad! In honor of my dad's birthday, I'm posting a few songs by one of my dad's favorite bands--Crosby, Stills & Nash (the group included Neil Young at one point, but he left the group). This band is perhaps my favorite 70s folk rock band of all time (you know where I get my influence). Wish YouTube had the album recordings but CSN is great live!


Crosby, Stills & Nash - Just a Song Before I Go

(Expand the post to hear more!)


Crosby, Stills & Nash - Teach Your Children


Crosby, Stills & Nash - Cathedral


Crosby, Stills & Nash - Dark Star

Queen

I first heard this song when this guy in his car was singing it outloud during a red light on the right side of the lane.

Queen - Don't Stop Me Now

Chicago

Heard this in a bboy jam.

Chicago - 25 or 6 to 4

Neil Young - Old Man

My dad used to play this song in the car all the time. One of my favorite songs by Neil Young, made in 1971. Lyrics after the cut (a very poetic song, I might add). A perfect example of the fact that sometimes, making a really good song only requires a guitar and a guitarist.

From Wikipedia:

The song was written for the caretaker of the northern-California Broken Arrow Ranch, which Young purchased for $350,000 in 1970. The song compares a young man's life to an old man's and shows that the young man has, to some extent, the same needs of the old one.

Neil Young - Old Man


Old man look at my life,
I'm a lot like you were.
Old man look at my life,
I'm a lot like you were.

Old man look at my life,
Twenty four
and there's so much more
Live alone in a paradise
That makes me think of two.

Love lost, such a cost,
Give me things
that don't get lost.
Like a coin that won't get tossed
Rolling home to you.

Old man take a look at my life
I'm a lot like you
I need someone to love me
the whole day through
Ah, one look in my eyes
and you can tell that's true.

Lullabies, look in your eyes,
Run around the same old town.
Doesn't mean that much to me
To mean that much to you.

I've been first and last
Look at how the time goes past.
But I'm all alone at last.
Rolling home to you.

Old man take a look at my life
I'm a lot like you
I need someone to love me
the whole day through
Ah, one look in my eyes
and you can tell that's true.

Old man look at my life,
I'm a lot like you were.
Old man look at my life,
I'm a lot like you were.

Seals & Crofts - Summer Breeze

I've been meaning to post this song for a while... "Summer Breeze" (1972) by Seals & Crofts! A beautiful song with beautiful lyrics. I love listening to 70s folk music (my dad got me into it. I was practically raised with it). I'll be posting more 70s folk in the near future.


Seals & Crofts - Summer Breeze

Also, Jason Mraz apparently made a cover of this wonderful song... [Expand the post to see covers of this song.]


Jason Mraz - Summer Breeze


I just don't think he did the song justice though. It's a hard song to top, in my opinion. I know The Isley Brothers had their own version (made in 1974), though, which was pretty popular. A bit more sensual:


The Isley Brothers - Summer Breeze

See the curtains hangin' in the window, in the evenin' on a Friday night.
A little light a-shinin' through the window, lets me know everything is alright.
Summer breeze, makes me feel fine, blowing through the jasmine in my mind.
Summer breeze, makes me feel fine, blowing through the jasmine in my mind.

See the paper layin' in the sidewalk, a little music from the house next door.
So I walked on up to the doorstep, through the screen and across the floor.
Summer breeze, makes me feel fine, blowing through the jasmine in my mind.
Summer breeze, makes me feel fine, blowing through the jasmine in my mind.

Sweet days of summer, the jasmine's in bloom. July is dressed up and playing her tune.
And I come home from a hard day's work, and you're waiting there, not a care in the world.
See the smile a-waitin' in the kitchen, food cookin' and the plates for two.
See the arms that reach out to hold me, in the evening when the day is through.
Summer breeze, makes me feel fine, blowing through the jasmine in my mind.
Summer breeze, makes me feel fine, blowing through the jasmine in my mind.


Which version is your favorite?

Supertramp - Breakfast in America

Happy Fourth of July everyone! Thanks to Mark for starting up the themed post! In honor of the holiday, I'm posting "Breakfast in America" by one of the bands I love most--Supertramp (I'm a big fan of 70s & 80s rock). I'm sure most of you have heard [at least some of] it already, though, through this familiar revised version of the song. The original Supertramp hit was released in 1979. (I wasn't sure if I should the song was considered "70s" or "80s" in the label but I just stuck to the 70s.)

The song is about a person who has never been to America.

(By the way, Supertramp's hit "The Logical Song" is great, too [my favorite song by the group]. It's one of the songs I'm guaranteed to sing on karaoke.)