Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick

I’ve never played a musical instrument, not even a recorder as a kid at school.  I always figured that the only thing I’d like to play was the drums.  I couldn’t face the thought of cutting my fingers on guitar strings and a piano-style keyboard always seemed to difficult to fathom.  Why are they all black or white with nothing on them to give a clue as to what not might lurk beneath?  In 1973, a single based around a drummer doing his thing was a revelation; drums could be more than something going on in the background.

I don’t know much about Cozy Powell, and it’s not a name that crops up too often these days.  I know he died relatively young several years ago, after a career working with a number of major bands.  While it’s not the greatest drumming I’ve heard, I still want to have this recording in here as a reminder of the time when I recognised that a bit of percussion could be lifted to a different level in a pop record.

There has been much debate about the best rock drummers and few would argue against the likes of Moon and Bonham and Grohl and Baker and Copeland, among others, but I have to stick with my favourite for my next choice.  He became successful as a solo artist, and has since become a figure of ridicule, rather unfairly, in my view.  Many of his records may not be to my taste, but that’s no reason to ignore his earlier work.  I have a craving for chocolate just now.  Good night.

You better bet your life

Although not a huge fan of The Who, they do have a number of classic recordings and I cannot get through this year without featuring one or two.  This isn’t my favourite, and it’s probably seen as one of their less ‘credible’ songs by the pop music police, but it always gives me a warm feeling for some reason.  I do have the album, although I forget what it’s called.  The cover featured painted portraits of the band members.

I may be right in thinking that this was the first hit not to feature Keith Moon, following his untimely death a few years earlier.  (The Who fans feel free to correct me.)  Townshend seems on top form in the video and Entwistle always looked so cool on the bass.  I recall taking a renewed interest in The Who around this time as I had seen Daltrey playing (John) McVicar at the cinema and he seemed like a decent ordinary bloke (albeit playing a villain), rather than a rock God.

I’ve not heard much music today and have not been reminded of anything on particular, so tomorrow’s choice is just going to be a long-time summer favourite from some brothers.  At least, I think they were brothers.