Search - :: Legends: Pluggin' In Cd!

This CD is normally sold as a part of the Time/Life Music se

Jake Spar | Visalia, CA USA | 03/05/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

""LEGENDS: PLUGGIN' IN" is a great way to experience a variety of the wonderful music that was popular from 1965 to 1970. These are all hits that ranged from #1 to #69 on the Billboard charts.



The Lovin' Spoonful kicks things off with "Do You Believe In Magic", an upbeat Pop song about the positive power of music. The Beach Boys continue the cheerful mode with "Good Vibrations". This classic #1 single should be recognizable to almost anyone with a pulse. Four more easy listening numbers follow by Sonny And Cher, The Byrds, Bob Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel. "Sounds Of Silence" was originally recorded as an acoustic only folk song on Simon & Garfunkel's first album in 1964. That album flopped and Simon & Garfunkel split up. Unbeknownst to them, their record company overdubbed the tract with electric instruments and re-released it about a year later, where it slowly climbed the charts until it reached #1. Simon & Garfunkel reunited, and that song helped propel them to stardom.



"I Heard It Through The Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye is (sadly) the only Soul/R&B/Motown song on this CD. This song was also recorded by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Gladys Knight & the Pips, and Creedence Clearwater Revival. This version was (at the time) the biggest hit ever by the Motown label. Van Morrison brings the pace up a bit with "Brown Eyed Girl". Creedence Clearwater Revival continues the faster pace with "Proud Mary". This great song peaked at #2 in 1969, and was covered by Ike & Tina Turner two years later (their version made it to #4). After going six years without a #1 hit, Elvis scored a come-back with "Suspicious Minds" in 1969. This would be his last #1 hit.



The next six tracks are heavier Psychedelic Rock and Blues-Rock. "Somebody To Love" by Grace Slick became Jefferson Airplane's biggest hit, peaking at #5. "Hello, I Love You" by The Doors reached #1 in 1968. Cream also had their biggest hit (at #5) in 1968 with "Sunshine Of Your Love". That song (one of my personal favorites) was named the 65th greatest song of all time by Rolling Stone magazine. It is hard for me to believe that "Foxey Lady" by Jimi Hendrix only made it to #67 on the charts. Jimi was quoted as saying this was the only happy song he had ever written. "Piece Of My Heart" by Big Brother And The Holding Company (with Janis Joplin) made it to #12 in 1968. The Who's "Pinball Wizard" from the rock opera album "TOMMY" finishes up this set.



Things mellow out for the next two songs, "Uncle John's Band" by the Grateful Dead, and "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" by Crosby, Stills and Nash. "Black Magic Woman" follows by Santana. That song was written by Peter Green, and first appeared as a Fleetwood Mac single in 1968. However, Santana made it a hit (reaching #4) in 1970. As a typically great Santana song from his early days, it combines Latin Rock, Blues-Rock and Jazz fusion. Chicago wraps up this compilation with "25 Or 6 To 4", one of their biggest hits. This is early Chicago, when they were in their musical prime, combining Hard Rock with Jazz for their own unique sound...



Since this CD's title makes no claims about its contents, it's hard to criticize what songs were or weren't included (especially since I like every song in this collection). Any compilation that includes both Hendrix and Elvis on the same CD is pretty diverse. And... at about 75½ minutes there is really only room for about one more song. If I could add one more tune to this wonderful collection, I would probably add another Motown hit. Other conspicuously absent groups from this period are The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. The liner notes are sparse, but (more importantly) the sound quality is very good. This is an excellent CD representing much of the popular music from 1965 to 1970.



Track Listing



1. Do You Believe In Magic - The Lovin' Spoonful - 2:07

2. Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys - 3:38

3. I Got You Babe - Sonny And Cher - 3:13

4. Eight Miles High - The Byrds - 3:38

5. Just Like A Woman - Bob Dylan - 4:55

6. Sounds Of Silence - Simon And Garfunkel - 3:07

7. I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye - 3:16

8. Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison - 3:05

9. Proud Mary - Creedence Clearwater Revival - 3:09

10. Suspicious Minds - Elvis Presley - 4:31

11. Somebody To Love - Jefferson Airplane - 3:01

12. Hello, I Love You - The Doors - 2:15

13. Sunshine Of Your Love - Cream - 4:13

14. Foxey Lady - Jimi Hendrix - 3:20

15. Piece Of My Heart - Big Brother And The Holding Company - 4:29

16. Pinball Wizard - The Who - 3:03

17. Uncle John's Band - Grateful Dead - 4:45

18. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes - Crosby, Stills And Nash - 7:29

19. Black Magic Woman - Santana - 3:19

20. 25 Or 6 To 4 - Chicago - 4:53"