Show Notes
Music super-afficianado, Chris Hornbostel is back to break down The Rolling Stone's epic reflection of the waning days of the age of Aquarius, "Gimme Shelter". It's an eerie episode, folks! Almost everyone probably own's Let It Bleed, but, just in case you're only buying music features on the show, here are links to purchase "Gimme Shelter" at iTunes, Amazon Music (whole album free w/ Prime!), and Google Play.
For a little background on Merry Clayton, the distinct background singer in "Gimme Shelter", here's a clip from the film "20 Feet From Stardom":
And, if you want to see an era-appropriate Stones live performance of the song (minus Mrs. Clayton so...not quite perfect), here's a video:
And, of course, the lyrics: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Gimme Shelter"
Oh, a storm is threat'ning My very life today If I don't get some shelter Oh yeah, I'm gonna fade away War, children, it's just a shot away It's just a shot away War, children, it's just a shot away It's just a shot away Ooh, see the fire is sweepin' Our very street today Burns like a red coal carpet Mad bull lost your way War, children, it's just a shot away It's just a shot away War, children, it's just a shot away It's just a shot away Rape, murder! It's just a shot away It's just a shot away Rape, murder! It's just a shot away It's just a shot away Rape, murder! It's just a shot away It's just a shot away The floods is threat'ning My very life today Gimme, gimme shelter Or I'm gonna fade away War, children, it's just a shot away It's just a shot away It's just a shot away It's just a shot away It's just a shot away I tell you love, sister, it's just a kiss away It's just a kiss away It's just a kiss away It's just a kiss away It's just a kiss away Kiss away, kiss away --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So, listen, watch, read, and join us back here on Wednesday for the full discussion.
More from They're Playing Our Song
Special guest, Diana Parry-Cruwys, finally gets another chance to pick a song of her very own with this week's "To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High) by alt-country, prolific rocker, Ryan Adams. Not the guy who sang "Summer of '69". We discuss how unlike My Bloody Valentine this song is, how hard it is to pick just one song when you write an album a year, how drugs are bad. Stay in school kids.
Even though she's been our special guest more than anyone else, poor Diana Parry-Cruwys has only gotten to pick one song all on her own. Well, we're making up for it by talking about Ryan Adams' "To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High)" this week. Diana then fell asleep before we could record and I forgot to post the preview blurb...so we're going to be a little late this week. Please don't think this reflect poorly on how much I appreciate my wife's taste in music.
A return visit from Jack Every to the TPOS studio gets us bringing the funk. Noise may be brought as well. Regardless, we spend a pleasant time talking about the amazing Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings' "I Learned the Hard Way". What makes this modern take on the Motown sound so cool? And does anybody know how to make a hang-up click on a cell phone? We're plumbing unknown genres this week, folks! Also, a rare TV recommendation unrelated to music but correlated with deliciousness.
Returning guest and math teacher extrordinaire, Jack Every, returns to ensure the unrepresented genre of Motown gets its due by talking with us about Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings "I Learned the Hard Way", a song I had never heard of before last week. Which is reason enough to listen in.
After comparing our local classic rock stations (RIP, radio), super-guest and music encyclopedia, Chris Hornbostel, and I get into the deep talk about The Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter". Buy why is it an amazing song? Not just because it captures the turmoil of the 60's, not just because it's a secretly scary song, not just because of Keith Richards blusey, jazzy guitar, not just because of Mick Jagger's excellent lyrics, not just because of Merry Clayton's virtuouso performance, not just because of Charlie Watts' perfect snare beats, but...well, listen to the episode to find out. Let's celebrate the end of the peace and love era together, shall we?