For many people their favourite Creedence song but I always preferred Proud Mary as a 60s track and Have You Ever Seen the Rain? overall.

But I suppose this is iconic Creedence.

Creedence Clearwater Revival: Bad Moon Rising

A further tribute to John Lodge, who died last week.

This track, which he wrote (and whose mediæval and “orchestral” interludes in many ways presage Procession from Every Good Boy Deserves Favour,) was split into two for its appearance on In Search of the Lost Chord, with the Ray Thomas penned Legend of a Mind making the meat in the sandwich.

This TV appearance from 1968 –the Colour Me Pop session the Moodies did – puts it all together though.

The Moody Blues: House of Four Doors

Since Brian Wilson’s death the good lady and I have been listening to the Beach Boys a lot. While doing so it struck me that even without God Only Knows, Good Vibrations and Heroes and Villains they would still be remembered – even revered – for songs like I Get Around, Wouldn’t It Be Nice, Help Me Rhonda, California Girls, Do It Again, Break Away and the arrangement on Sloop John B. And too, the slower, more thoughtful tracks like In My Room, Don’t Worry Baby and The Warmth of the Sun.

I discount here the early surfing inspired tracks Surfin’ Safari, Surfin’ USA and Surfer Girl. (Very few people now remember Jan and Dean, after all.) The ‘hot rod’ songs, Little Deuce Coupe and Fun, Fun, Fun might just creep in however.

I always had a liking for this one though, the B-side of Sloop John B.

The Beach Boys: You’re So Good To Me

I was very much saddened by the news of Brian Wilson’s death. As the musical driving force behind the Beach Boys he was one of the most influential figures in popular music of the mid to late twentieth century: right up there with Lennon and McCartney.

I have already featured his masterpiece God Only Knows. Also Wild Honey and Do it Again.

But there are so many more. Too many to be confined to one post.

This track was the main follow up to Good Vibrations (the release of Then I Kissed Her was a stopgap.) Many people were disappointed with it but it has all the Wilson hallmarks.

The Beach Boys: Heroes and Villains

Then there’s this track, striking a more melancholy note. The title song from the Surf’s Up album.

The Beach Boys: Surf’s Up

Brian Wilson’s star continues to shine long after his heyday. His songs leave a legacy  to be revered.

Brian Douglas Wilson: 20/6/1942 – 11/6/2025. So it goes.

And this week, Garth Hudson, keyboard player, and the last surviving member, of the Band went to the great rehearsal room in the sky.

This Bob Dylan song, from their first album Music From Big Pink, was also the B-side to The Weight, so I know it well.

The Band: I Shall Be Released

Eric Garth Hudson: 2/8/1937 – 21/1/2025. So it goes.

Lyricist Pete Sinfield died last month.

His most famous work was done with King Crimson for whom he came up with the name and wrote most of the lyrics for the first four albums though he didn’t play on them.

I have featured his work before since he wrote the English language lyrics for Italian group Premiata, Forneria, Marconi (PFM.) The World Became the World is a prime example of Sinfield’s art.

He was also responsible for the words of Greg Lake’s great Christmas hit I Believe in Father Christmas.

Later in Sinfield’s career he moved more to pop and wrote songs for, among others, Leo Sayer, Cher, and even Think Twice for Celine Dion.

This is a haunting piece from King Crimson’s debut album, In the Court of the Crimson King.

King Crimson: I Talk to the Wind

Peter John (Pete) Sinfield: 27/12/1943 – 14/11/2024

I know it’s not Friday but 1960s record producer Shel Talmy died earlier last week; I saw the notice a bit too late for my posting. A Chicagoan, he moved to Britain in 1962. After blagging his way into a job in the record business in London he was in charge of the mixing desk for the first hits of both the Kinks and The Who. He also produced early David Bowie tracks and Friday on my Mind for the Easybeats, the song after which my category is named, plus Mike D’Abo’s debut as lead singer for Manfred Mann, Just Like a Woman.

The Kinks: You Really Got Me

The Who: Can’t Explain

Sheldon (Shel) Talmy: 11/8/1937-13/1120/24. So it goes.

Another of the most successful songwriters of the 60s, Ken Howard, has died. Together with his songwriting partner Alan Blaikley (whose death I noted here) he wrote hits for The Honeycombs, The Herd and, most notably, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich. Their songwriting list is impressive.

This was a no 4 for the latter band in 1965.

Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich: Hold Tight!

Later in their career Howard and Blaikley went into writing TV Themes and musicals.

This is perhaps the most familiar of those tunes.

Vejle Symfoniorkester: Miss Marple TV Theme

Kenneth Charles (Ken) Howard: 26/12/1939 – 24/12/2024. So it goes.

I have referred to this song before but never actually posted it here.

From the sublimely named LP Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake (don’t take up smoking kids). As I recall it came in a circular cardboard sleeve (and when released as a CD years later in a cylindrical tin resembling those tobacco  was once sold in.)*

The Small Faces: Song of a Baker

*Looking it up it seems that the very first release was also in a tin but quickly replaced by the circular cardboard as the tin was too expensive and rolled off record shelves!

I saw in Tuesday’s Guardian that Zoot Money has died.  He was one of the most celebrated performers of Rhythm and Blues in the early to mid 60s and a staple of the music press at the time.

His band had only the one real hit, though, Big Time Operator, which I featured here.

This is Zoot and his band playing what was in effect his signature tune

Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band: Barefootin’

George Bruno (Zoot) Money: 17/7 1942 – 8/10/2024. So it goes.