Saturday, June 29, 2013

Top 5 - James Williamson(Iggy & The Stooges)

The next guy I've been so lucky to get a top 5 60's songs from, hardly needs any introduction. One of my first ever guitar-heroes, who was to join The Stooges in 1971 after a short stint with The Coba Seas and The Chosen Few. He would there swap lead and rhythm duties with Ron Asheton creating a spectacle and a thick wall of sound. The Stooges would desolve the same year and reform late in 1972 where James now would be alone responsible for the guitar-duties of this wild, agressive band, also penning a string of classic punk-rockers as important now as they were then. After the reforming of the Stooges and the passing of another guitar-hero, Ron Asheton(RIP).. James would re-enlist after being out of the game for decades.. As late as yesterday he did perform.. and I could definetively say that "the scull", "the dark prince", etch etch, of The Stooges are a natural who have come back to his element.. as the flash guitarist of the wildest -and one of the greatest- bands in the world.

I want to extend my thanks to James for taking his time(he gave me the list earlier on the day before going on the stage in Oslo.. By hearing him later that evening I can with certainty say that he didn't skip practice or the sound-check for this, as his guitar-work that created a wall of noise was definitively a Stooges guitarist worthy), and share with us his 5 all time favourite 60's songs. Actually James wanted to add another song in the mix -a song I agree is too good to ignore.. and who am I to deny people -including myself- to learn as much as possible about a favourite's favourites- so this time we'll make it a top 6.





6. The Trashmen - Surfin' Bird






5. The Rolling Stones - Satisfaction
Right of passage song for 15 year old





4. The Kingsmen - Louie Louie
Perfect small band small club song

 



3. Bob Dylan - Blowin' in the Wind
Because it introduced me to Bob Dylan 




2. The Ventures - Pipeline
Because it was the first song I was inspired to play on the electric guitar.






1. Martha and the Vandellas - Heatwave
Because it was the hit record in Detroit the Summer I moved there.