Floored at first listen...

[Pete70s]

Here's an interesting topic I just thought of:

Have you ever heard a song for the first time and been so floored by it that you had to hear it over and over again?

For me it would by "Soul Coaxing" by Raymond Lefevre. I first heard it in the summer of 2000, after downloading it. I was so captivated by the arrangement and melody, I played the song at LEAST 10 times in a row. Then, when I woke up the next day I played it ANOTHER dozen or so times.

How about you?

[H2IZCOOL]

pete70s said:

Here's an interesting topic I just thought of:

Have you ever heard a song for the first time and been so floored by it that you had to hear it over and over again?

For me it would by "Soul Coaxing" by Raymond Lefevre. I first heard it in the summer of 2000, after downloading it. I was so captivated by the arrangement and melody, I played the song at LEAST 10 times in a row. Then, when I woke up the next day I played it ANOTHER dozen or so times.

How about you?

Great topic, Pete!

First, on your song, Soal Coaxing (Ame Caline): I heard it back in '68 when it first hit the US airwaves. Back then it was viewed as more or less a "me-too" song, because it hit the charts about a month after Love is Blue (Paul Mauriat). Both songs were instrumentals by orchestras led by Frenchmen, and Love Is Blue (L'Amour est Bleu) had already hit #1 when Soul Coaxing debuted. It peaked at #37. However, I'd say that Soul Coaxing has stood the test of time far better. I've heard it played often; I can't remember the last time I heard Love Is Blue.

Now my "floored at first listen" song. Undoubtedly, "I Want To Hold Your Hand." I had heard of the Beatles in '63, but never heard anything by them until New Years Day '64 when WBZ in Boston was counting down the top 100 of '63, and every 30 minutes or so, they interrupted the countdown to play this new song by the grioup destined to rule the pop charts for the next 6 years. I was totally mesmerized by the song. Couldn't get enough of it. It had a sound that I had never heard before, and instantly fell in love with.

[Pete70s]

h2izcool said:

Now my "floored at first listen" song. Undoubtedly, "I Want To Hold Your Hand." I had heard of the Beatles in '63, but never heard anything by them until New Years Day '64 when WBZ in Boston was counting down the top 100 of '63, and every 30 minutes or so, they interrupted the countdown to play this new song by the grioup destined to rule the pop charts for the next 6 years. I was totally mesmerized by the song. Couldn't get enough of it. It had a sound that I had never heard before, and instantly fell in love with.

Interesting that you say that, Ed, because I had always been under the impression that the initial wave of Beatlemania was mostly embraced by the under-18 crowd, and that College students at that time were into Motown and Folk, viewing The Beatles as a "Teenybopper" group. But then again, they were SO huge they probably appealed to all ages anyway..

[H2IZCOOL]

pete70s said:

h2izcool said:

Now my "floored at first listen" song. Undoubtedly, "I Want To Hold Your Hand." I had heard of the Beatles in '63, but never heard anything by them until New Years Day '64 when WBZ in Boston was counting down the top 100 of '63, and every 30 minutes or so, they interrupted the countdown to play this new song by the grioup destined to rule the pop charts for the next 6 years. I was totally mesmerized by the song. Couldn't get enough of it. It had a sound that I had never heard before, and instantly fell in love with.

Interesting that you say that, Ed, because I had always been under the impression that the initial wave of Beatlemania was mostly embraced by the under-18 crowd, and that College students at that time were into Motown and Folk, viewing The Beatles as a "Teenybopper" group. But then again, they were SO huge they probably appealed to all ages anyway..

Not true, Pete. I was a college student in '63-'64, and the Beatles were very well accepted immediately by most of us. The ones who didn't like the Beatles from Day One were the same ones who didn't like Elvis or any other of the pop/rock stars of the day. -- The ones who were college age, but stuck with Perry Como and Frank Sinatra.

I don't remember people being into just Motown or just folk (well - maybe some were just into some grass-roots folk) or just rock/pop. Most of us liked all of it.

[Ken]

I can think of two songs that floored me at first listen:

Pride and Joy - Stevie Ray Vaughan - I remember hearing it for the first time back in 1983 on an automated top 40 FM station from Bellingham, Washington - KNWR - 104.3 .All I remember thinking was wow! who is this?. The song had (has) such an excellent groove.

Someday Someway - Marshall Crenshaw - Once again. another song I first heard courtesy of KNWR in 1982.It sounded so different from everything else on top 40 radio at that time - I loved it from the first time I heard it. A great retro feel.

[Dawn]

Cool topic, Pete!

One song that definitely floored me from first listen is Dave Mason's Mystic Traveller. About 3 years ago I was going through some of my 45s, and listening to B sides I wasn't too familiar with. When that song came on, I was absolutely captivated, and listened to it over and over. I downloaded an mp3 of it later on, and it still has the distinction of being the most-played song in my Media Player library.

Another that comes to mind occurred fairly recently. I was listening to a smooth jazz station over the internet last fall, and a song was played that I'd never heard before - Marc Antoine's Cubanova. Something about it struck a chord with me and I absolutely had to hear it again, so I downloaded the song and played it repeatedly that afternoon. It's still a huge favorite of mine.

[SAT-I need more room!!]

Excellent topic Pete! Man, I'd have to REALLY think. Even then I may not come up with any specific. But as I listen to songs, I may come across one and come back and post.

But in general, I think a lot of the Zeppelin stuff was a "WOW!" for a 16 year old boy back in 1988!

[gremashlo]

Three come to mind--

"River Deep Mountain High" by Ike and Tina Turner...this had been a legend--the supposed "greatest song of all time" that flopped and never even made it to oldies radio. Strictly because of its reputation, I bought the A & M re-release in the summer of 1985 and did not leave my room for an hour. Incredible--and like Spector said, "That song sounds like God hit the world, and the world hit God back."

"Addicted to Love"--Robert Palmer...granted, not a classic, but it hit at JUST the right time for me...my cruising song of choice that year.

"Mysterious Ways"--U2..I actually saw the video first, and IMMEDIATELY went and bought the cassette single...drove my wife crazy and I didn't care.

[55dodger]

The first song that ever "floored me" was in 1967 when we finally got the Doors debut album into the house. My older sister & I finally heard the entire version of Light My Fire, not the truncated version played on the radio. The four & half minute instrumental between Jim Morrison's vocals is still timeless. Great keyboards, great guitar. Still one of the most amazing songs ever, IMO.

[H2IZCOOL]

55dodger said:

The first song that ever "floored me" was in 1967 when we finally got the Doors debut album into the house. My older sister & I finally heard the entire version of Light My Fire, not the truncated version played on the radio. The four & half minute instrumental between Jim Morrison's vocals is still timeless. Great keyboards, great guitar. Still one of the most amazing songs ever, IMO.

Hey Woody! Welcome back!

I think the 45 version of Light My Fire is a totally different recording, not just a truncation. Since I heard the 45 version on the radio for probably a month or two before I bought the album, I was actually diappointed the first time I heard the album cut. Part of the 'heard it first' phenomenon, I suppose. I remember that even the vocals sounded different, a little slower maybe. I loved the rest of the album, though and played it often. Eventually, I came to love the album version more than the 45. And, I agree, that instrumental is great!

[55dodger]

h2izcool said:

55dodger said:

The first song that ever "floored me" was in 1967 when we finally got the Doors debut album into the house. My older sister & I finally heard the entire version of Light My Fire, not the truncated version played on the radio. The four & half minute instrumental between Jim Morrison's vocals is still timeless. Great keyboards, great guitar. Still one of the most amazing songs ever, IMO.

Hey Woody! Welcome back!

I think the 45 version of Light My Fire is a totally different recording, not just a truncation. Since I heard the 45 version on the radio for probably a month or two before I bought the album, I was actually diappointed the first time I heard the album cut. Part of the 'heard it first' phenomenon, I suppose. I remember that even the vocals sounded different, a little slower maybe. I loved the rest of the album, though and played it often. Eventually, I came to love the album version more than the 45. And, I agree, that instrumental is great!

That could well be true Ed, I don't know. What I do know, when I read Ray's book a few years ago about his life with the Doors, he was pretty steamed when the radio version was cut. They only agreed when the label said that was the only way it would get on the radio. And IMO, the radio edit is a really bad edit. I'm left thinking there is more here, what am I missing. Listening to the radio version is like listening to it on a K-Tel record. The album cut is legendary.

[jbd]

no doubt about it...these "floored" me:
HIGHWAY TO HELL-AC/DC
LET IT RIDE-BTO
GOOD LOVIN' GONE BAD-BAD CO.
GYPSIES, TRAMPS & THIEVES-CHER
LAYLA-DEREK & THE DOMINOS
KING TUT-STEVE MARTIN
COVER OF THE ROLLING STONE-DR. HOOK & THE MEDICINE SHOW
SIGNS-FIVE MAN ELECTRICAL BAND
RAMBLING MAN-ALLMAN BROTHERS
IN THE MOOD-GLENN MILLER
JUNGLE BOOGIE-KOOL & THE GANG
WIPEOUT-THE SURFARIS
WHAT YOU GOT-DUKE & THE DRIVERS
HOCUS POCUS-FOCUS
UP AROUND THE BEND-CCR
ROCK & ROLL ALL NITE (live version)-KISS
BAT OUT OF HELL-MEAT LOAF
ROCK & ROLL HOOCHIE KOO-RICK DERRINGER
ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER-JIMI HENDRIX
HOUSTON-DEAN MARTIN
ROCKAWAY BEACH-RAMONES
WHAT A SHAME-FOGHAT
PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC-WILD CHERRY
FRANKENSTEIN-EDGAR WINTER GROUP

[m c dornan]

Well, "Light My Fire" and "Incense and Peppermints". I was floored by the short radio version of "Light My Fire". Got floored again later hearing the LP version.

The day I first heard "They're Coming to Take Me Away Ha Ha" ', I biked to the Smitty's store to buy it. Guy behing the music counter said every kid in the area had been in that day to buy it.

Now I'm old & blase, and don't get floored. Maybe the last song to sorta do that was Smashmouth's "Walking on the Sun".