Song picture
Summer of 69
Like
Playlist
2 Comment Share
Free download
I played my first paid gig in the summer of 69. I was almost 16. My rendition of this leans more towards an E Street styling. (Story behind the song continued below)
pop rock covers cover songs
Artist picture
Primary Site for Frederick's Rock Fusion Music & Philosophy
Primary site for Frederick's rock fusion incorporating elements of rock, electronic, folk, symphonic, world, blues, jazz, latin, and country influences, with lyrics based upon personal experience, informed spiritual humanitarianism, and political/religious independence. F. J. Serafim - Vocals, Electric/Acoustic/Synth Guitars, Synthesizers, Pianos, Bass & Production Hi Frederick, I liked the lyrical concept, the musical arrangements, musicianship and vocals... ....you are on the right track with your songwriting. Wishing you success with your music, Mike (Moody Blues co-founder Mike Pinder, 2018 R&R Hall of Famers) Song order is based upon technical considerations and not any intended sonic or creative merit. Licensing only upon direct contact with artist.
Song Info
Genre
Rock • Cover Songs
Charts
Peak #1
Peak in subgenre #1
Author
Brian Adams & Jack Vallance
Uploaded
February 08, 2025
Track Files
MP3
MP3 8.5 MB • 320 kbps • 3:43
Lossless
WAV 37.5 MB
Story behind the song
In 69 I played my first paid gig - in Buffalo NY. Our drummer's father got us the gig at a teen dance hall, which were popular back then. We were scared because we only knew 3 songs. Fortunately, they were all currently popular songs with extended guitar / organ solos - Light My Fire, In A Gadda da Vida and Steven Stills' Super Session version of Donovan's Season of the Witch. The organ player, who was very good, and I traded improvised solos back and forth all night. The audience danced the whole time and seemed to enjoy it and not even notice. That was 69 - screaming lead guitars and wah wah pedals were all the rage and small combo organs were still appreciated. Soon after, we expanded our repertoire and played to some fairly large audiences in the Niagara area. We were never hotshots, just good kids with early music lessons under our belts and parents determined to break us up and send us off to various universities. We were earning, in today's dollars, an average of about $800.00 per gig, but the problem was how horrendously expensive music equipment was at that time. My Gibson SG still sells for about $1100.00 today, as it almost did back then. No wonder our middle class parents were so upset about their upfront cash outlay and the incredible volume they endured. Even, our organ player's father who was a doctor, was always somewhat perturbed. We did however, by 1972, pay them back a good portion of the money, or at least I did. The way we looked at it was "You wanted us to take music lessons and constantly pressured us to practise, and we did, so now it's time for you to pay up." Could you imagine a 16 year old kid today, demanding that his parents help him buy a $6000.00 guitar and a 200 watt amplifier that stands 5 ft tall? We were trying to compete with bands usually at least 3 years older, with parents who were often trying to go for the gold. I'm still friends with our sound and light man, though his health is waning, and in 2007 I ran into my ex-girlfriend from that time in a strangely random business meeting near Toronto. It took a while for us to recognize each other. It was an interesting era, but unlike the song's lyrics, they weren't the best days of my life, pretty good though.
Song Likes
On Playlists
Comments 2
Please sign up or log in to post a comment.
roger john
Jan 21, 2022
Well done! ALways liked this song.
AlexisPatrick
Nov 20, 2021
Magnificent vocals and beautiful music. Excellent production, as well.