Friday Musical Magic Celebrating the 2021 Birthday of Musical Greats Paul Anka, Buddy Guy, Sonny West, and Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond

by Robert Wilkinson

We kick off our musical weekend with some of the best of the best! Today is the birthday of four great musical talents representing four classic music styles. They're all alive and well, and we've all heard at least one of their songs! Today's celebration spans American pop to screaming blues to west Texas rockabilly to Aqualung!

We’ll begin with singer, songwriter, and actor Paul Anka (July 30, 1941). A huge hitmaker from the 50s through the 70s, he gave us some of the most memorable songs in history!

His first hit, written about his babysitter! Here’s Paul in a live television performance from 1957, when he was just 16!! Welcome to the #1 chart topper, “Diana”

Paul’s nails it in this 1958 television appearance! Singing live to a backing track, here’s Paul belting out the first tune I ever heard him sing on a 45 back in 1959! Major torch song city here, so check it out! A lot of pathos…… “Crazy Love”

Also from the late 50s, here’s Paul live cranking it out to a backing track. This one stays a little more faithful to the original. “Crazy Love”

Last year I had a smooth version of the song from his 1973 Paris performance, but it’s gone. So instead, I found this 2010 performance at the Festival de Vina of “Crazy Love”

From Dick Clark’s Saturday Night Beech-Nut Show in Nov 1959, here’s Paul giving up his #2 hit “Put Your Head On My Shoulder”

In a movie “live” performance from 1959, Paul agonizing out the period piece “It’s Time To Cry”

From Dick Clark’s Saturday Night Beech-Nut Show in Feb 1960, here’s Paul in a live performance of his #2 hit “Puppy Love”

From way back when on b/w television, Paul live giving us his #1 hit “Lonely Boy”

Paul live in 1966 on The Hollywood Palace cranking out a medley of his hits! “Diana,” “Put Your Head On My Shoulder,” “Puppy Love,” “Lonely Boy,” “You Are My Destiny,” and “The Longest Day.”

Here’s a song he wrote that the Chairman of the Board made into a huge hit! Here’s Paul and Yo Frankie in a live performance of “My Way”

In a live performance from 1974, here’s Paul and Odia Coates giving us Paul’s #1 hit “You’re Having My Baby”

From Switzerland, here’s Paul live performing his 1975 #7 hit “Times of Your Life”

Here’s the hit he wrote for Buddy Holly that made the charts after Buddy died. Here’s Buddy’s version of “It Doesn’t Matter Any More” and here’s Paul Anka’s version of “It Doesn’t Matter Any More” (on a side note, he donated all his writer’s royalties to Buddy’s widow. Wow.)

From slightly later in Paul’s career, here’s a song he wrote for Tom Jones that Tom took to the top!! Here’s Tom Jones in a live 1971 performance of Paul’s #1 Cashbox hit ”She’s A Lady”

Here’s a great Tom Jones performance where he’s obviously surprised by Paul joining him on stage where they obviously have a great time doing a duet of ”She’s A Lady”

On a related note, this is from The Tom Jones Show where he and Paul get together on a duet of “Nights on Broadway”

We’ll close this brief birthday tribute with a great one hour 26 minute live performance! From New Haven, CT, here’s “An Evening With Paul Anka”

For our first encore, we have two more great versions of “Crazy Love.” First, live in 2003 in a show for the CBC, Paul doing abbreviated versions of “Crazy Love” and “She’s My Woman, She’s My Friend,” and here’s the Italian version, sung in Italian with great passion! If you’re into Italian, this one’s over the top! “Crazy Love,”

For our second encore, here’s a tune Paul wrote that became one of the most famous tunes in the world! For your remembrance and enjoyment, here’s The Johnny Carson Tonight Show Theme

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Sonny West (July 30, 1937) is a singer and songwriter from West Texas, best known for two BIG songs! His brother Red was part of Elvis’ “Memphis Mafia,” and Sonny hung with the best of the best. This one’s short and sweet. For your enjoyment, Sonny’s two big ones, made into hits by the legendary Buddy Holly!

Live on The Ed Sullivan Show in January 1958, Buddy Holly in a live performance of “Oh Boy” (Ed Sullivan really was petty to turn down Buddy’s amp and kill his amazing rhythm solo!)

This year, a real score! Buddy played at the London Palladium in March 1958, and we have the live audio with screen caps for pictures. This tour blew England’s mind! “Oh Boy”

Here’s the original studio version by “the Chirping Crickets” of “Oh Boy”

Last year I had the legendary Hank Marvin and the Shadows on BBC television live at Abbey Road Studios in 1982 cranking out an almost completely unplugged rocking version of “Oh Boy,” with Hank doing amazing slide acoustic guitar and the Shadows singing, but it’s gone this year. However, I found the audio! “Oh Boy”

Here’s an audio-only electric studio version by Hank giving us the twangy version of “Oh Boy”

Another Sonny West original that’s one of my favorites of all time! The rocking original studio version by Buddy of “Rave On”

Here's the original 1958 single as done by Sonny West! "Rave On"

From 2012, a great live video performance by Sonny with Tommy Allsup, Buddy's lead player in the latter part of his career! "Rave On"

Here’s the Boss live in 1978 rocking hard! From December of that year, a cranked up audio-only live performance of “Rave On.” And from earlier that year at the Roxy, here’s another audio-only rave up of “Rave On”

We’ll close this brief set with a true gem! Here’s Rick Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band live in 1979 ripping some serious rock and roll guitar playing on a classic offering of “Rave On” (It cuts off at 2:14, but the rock and roll guitar work of John Beland is worth every second!) Stilll, I’d hate to leave you with a song that didn’t end, so here’s another SMOKIN’ live version in 1985 by Rick and the boys of “Rave On”

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Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond (July 30, 1946) was the bass player for Jethro Tull on the albums Aqualung, Thick As A Brick, A Passion Play, War Child, and Minstrel In The Gallery. Wow.

I saw Jethro Tull 5 times between 1969-1973, and since he joined Tull in 1971, I had the privilege of seeing Jeffrey stand out on the Aqualung and Thick As A Brick tours, and I can say it was one of the greatest stage shows of the times. Tull really was outstanding theater in those years! (The show in late 69 when Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac opened for Tull on the Stand Up tour was one of the most memorable concerts I’ve ever seen! I still have the imagery up front.)

From wiki: “Hammond narrated the surreal piece "The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles" on the album A Passion Play, and the related short film. He also received credit, along with Anderson and John Evan, for writing the piece.

Hammond was also credited with creating the "claghorn", a hybrid instrument. He took the mouthpiece and bell from a toy saxophone and attached them to the body of a flute. The result can be heard on the track "Dharma for One" on the album Living In The Past.

There’s not much live footage of Jethro Tull from that era, but I gave it my best shot!

We begin with Tull live in Berkeley in 1971, in an audio-only performance of “Aqualung.” From the same show, ”Cross-Eyed Mary,” which we’ll follow with Ian’s legendary scathing commentary on religion “Wind Up” – pt. 1 and “Wind Up” – pt. 2. We'll close this Berserkley show with their first big hit from the Stand Up album, “Nothing Is Easy.”

This year I found 4 great live shows from that era! Each has some of the same songs, and some different ones. First, from Berlin, Germany in January 1972, a one hour 26 show! Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick Tour 1972 - Berlin

On to Bologna in February for an hour and 46 of Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick Tour 1972 - Bologna

In Toronto in June 1972, here’s an entire 2 hours of Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick Tour 1972 - Toronto

Last year I had the 2 hour 13 Tokyo show from July 1972 but it’s gone.

In Montreal in June 1973, here’s an entire 2 hour 22 minute show of Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick Tour 1973 - Montreal

Here are some snippets from the Thick As A Brick Tour in 1972! Jethro Tull Live in 1972

From 1973 at Madison Square Garden, Tull live “Passion Play”

For your enjoyment, the awesome 1971 studio album that shook the world from the first 6 notes! One of my favorites of all time! Aqualung

Speaking of that album, this song may be one of the most scathing indictments of the hypocrisy of religion ever written. It still blows my mind every time I listen to it, as the message and music is just as powerful now as it was 50 years ago! This is one of the hardest rocking songs ever done. For your consideration, “Wind Up” (You’ll get the lyrics in Ian Anderson’s birthday celebration, but for now, here’s a small sample:

So to my old headmaster (and to anyone who cares)
Before I'm through I'd like to say my prayers
I don't believe you, You had the whole damn thing all wrong --
He's not the kind you have to wind up on Sundays.
Well you can excomunicate me on my way to Sunday school
And have all the bishops harmonize these lines

Though not as dramatic a statement, he followed that with Thick As A Brick, which can’t be found on one clip this year. But I did find these two taken from the remastered 1997 version of the 1972 studio album! Thick As A Brick pt. 1 and Thick As A Brick pt. 2

They remastered the 1973 album A Passion Play in 2003, and so we close this brief tribute to Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond with A Passion Play pt. 1” and A Passion Play pt. 2”

We’ll close with a gem I just found! From June 1971 at the LA Forum, an audio hour and 46 recording of Tull live! Jethro Tull Live at the LA Forum - 1971

For the encore, another audio recording from that famous 1971 tour, an hour and 29 from NYC! Jethro Tull Live in New York - 1971

For the second encore, this is from the tour I saw, and Ian’s outfit is identical to what he wore in Austin! Though Glenn Cornick (23 April 1947 – 28 August 2014) was the bass player in this show, it’s still an hour and 11 color video from the July 1970 Tanglewood show when Tull was fresh and Ian Anderson was a true wild man! Worth your time! Jethro Tull at Tanglewood – 1970. (Great set list! “Nothing is Easy,” “My God,” “With You There to Help Me,” “Dharma For One,” and “We Used to Know.”)

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We now close with the legendary blues Master Buddy Guy (July 30, 1936). His unique style has influenced countless blues guitarists, including Jimmy Page, Eric, and Stevie Ray. Once a member of Muddy Water’s band and house guitarist for Chess Records in the 60s, his work with Junior Wells is legendary! Besides Muddy, he also backed Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Koko Taylor, and others, so this guy is one of the originals!

We’ll lead with this extraordinary live performance from 1968 featuring Buddy with Son House, considered one of the trio of the “Fathers of the Blues.” For your enjoyment, ”My Black Mama” (In a notable event, “Blind Owl” Wilson of Canned Heat was such a huge fan of Son House that when he found out Son House had been out of music for decades and wanted to come back in, Wilson literally taught Son House all the music he had forgotten over the years. What you’re hearing is due to Wilson teaching Son House these licks all over again.)

From 1965, a very early live performance by Buddy Guy giving us his version of the James Brown classic “Out of Sight”

From 1968, 11 minutes of incredible footage! Here’s Buddy Guy joined by the Fire God Jimi Hendrix in a video memory for the ages! Buddy Guy and Jimi Hendrix

Here he goes acoustic in 1969 giving us “Hoochie Coochie Man”

From the movie Chicago Blues, Buddy takin’ us to church with “First Time I Met the Blues”

I found it again! This may be one of the most historic collaborative meeting of musicians of all time, with Buddy playing on 6 of the 16 tracks. It’s the historic March 1969 Supershow, subtitled “the last great jam of the 60s,” with Buddy Guy AND Eric and Jack of Cream joining with Buddy Miles, Steven Stills, Roland Kirk, and others to create some legendary music! For your enjoyment, smokin’ blues! Supershow – The Last Great Jam of the 60s

< i>Buddy Guy - Teachin' The Blues has disappeared again. The Master Class taught by Buddy on playing great blues is gone. However I found this clip of Buddy Guy - “Damn Right I’ve Got the Blues”

From Montreux in 1974, Buddy live delivering “When You See the Tears From My Eyes” (That whole set is one of our encores!)

From 1987, Buddy Guy and Eric Clapton live giving us 26 minutes of solid blues! Buddy Guy and Eric Clapton Live at Ronnie Scott’s - 1987 (last year I had the two hour studio album of this gig, but it’s disappeared.)

This year I found 54 minutes of uncut raw video from that show! Buddy Guy and Eric Clapton Live at Ronnie Scott’s - 1987

This is an extraordinarily well done 8 minute movie short! Mitsubishi wanted to promote one of their big screen products, so created this cute short of a kid trying to get to meet Buddy Guy. Buddy starts playing a little over 3 minutes in. Great footage! The Blue Jay (originally titled More Green Than Blue)

All the complete clips of this performance have disappeared, but I found this 25 minute audio jam. From July 1989, here’s Buddy Guy and Stevie Ray Vaughan Live at the Legends Club 1989 (There are more individual clips at the site).

Here’s 8 minutes of video from that show! Buddy Guy and Stevie Ray Vaughan Live at the Legends Club 1989

Classic footage! Here's Buddy with the equally legendary Junior Wells live at Montreux taking us to church with "Hoodoo Man" Here's the dynamic duo again, very live at a different gig, boogying down with "Trouble No More," and we'll close this trifecta with a 1971 video from PBS Soundstage of Buddy and Junior strutin' to "Little By Little"

Live at the 2005 Farm Aid with John Mayer, here they are cranking out “What Kind of Woman Is This.” From another gig, the same duo are live a smoking with “Damn Right I’ve Got the Blues,” and from still another gig, Buddy and John slowing it down with “Leave My Little Girl Alone”

Buddy in Houston ripping out a smokin’ version of “Sweet Home Chicago”

From 2008, a great show! Here’s an hour and 20 from the Lugano Jazz Festival! Buddy Guy Live at the Lugano Jazz Festival 2008

From 2015, Buddy Guy and James Cotton live in Austin cranking out a 9 minute Blues Jam

To close this brief tribute, here’s a great one hour 16 minute very live video performance! This one is really good, so if you want the real deal, here it is!! Buddy Guy Live in Red Rocks 2013

Our first encore features a 49 minute live show at the 1994 Newport Jazz Festival! Serious blues! Buddy Guy Live at Newport - 1994

Our second encore is from Solana Beach when the legend was at the top of his game! For your enjoyment, an hour and 55 of Buddy Guy Live in Solana Beach - 1995

Thanks to friend of the site Marsha Barkan, I'm adding this offering of Buddy Guy and the White House All Stars, including Mick, Jeff Beck, Gary Clark Jr. and other musical greats giving up this 6 minute live "In Performance at the White House" blues standard "Five Long Years."

If yer still feelin' a little bloozy, from 1968, here’s an hour and 20 clip with his second album followed by a live show. Buddy Guy – A Man and the Blues

You legends may play four entirely different types of music, but all of you have given me connectivity at some point in my life. Paul, thanks for the chills at 8 years old. Buddy, thanks for the hours you gave me with Junior Wells. Sonny, thanks for the memories of Buddy Holly at his best! Jeffrey, thanks for the concerts where you blew my mind! Thank you all!

© Copyright 2021 Robert Wilkinson

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