Okay, so I grew up with a lot of musicians who were a bit older than me on my block. Waking up Saturday morning as they rehearsed in their garages or basements, playing cover songs of many bands. Some actually are names you hear today who have made it or either played with other well-known musicians.

Didn't matter what race you were, if the music sounded good, you listened to it back then, no question, from funk, rock, pop, r&b, soul ballads, gospel, salsa, etc., you name it, it was there to take. We were open to all types of music, and all types of musicians who merged together to form their own bands. The days of good and real music, because we lived in a city where access to all forms of music, from many types of musicians were at our hands. The garage and basement bands I grew up with, played the covers of many songs from Jimi Hendrix, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross and the Supremes, The Temptations, Santana, Chick Correa, Return to Forever, The Righteous Brothers, Simon & Garfunkel, Rare Earth, Zeppelin, 3 Dog Night, The Beatles, Beach Boys, and I can go on. Many with real classics out there that are treasured today. So I'll post some of my favorites.

Rare Earth....

[Edited 10/25/11 17:28pm]

Sweet sounds of Santana - Latin Rock

Black Magic Woman - Carlos always played that guitar like he's making love.

Ooohh....sexy...

[Edited 10/25/11 19:45pm]

These guys had a nice soul sound and great harmony.

3 Dog Night - 'Eli's Coming'

Easy to be Hard

3 Dog Night - One

[Edited 10/25/11 19:56pm]

The great late John Lennon...."Instant Karma' I love this song, so upbeat and love the message.

[Edited 10/25/11 19:40pm]

The Beatles - Let It Be

Yesterday

The Young Rascals - Groovin'

It's a beautiful morning

People Just Got to be Free

[Edited 10/25/11 16:52pm]

The Tempting Temptations...Just My Imagination

Ain't Too Proud to Beg

Smoking Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

Ooh...Ooh Baby, Baby

Great post, very inspiring.

Hot sounds of the Ohio Players

Ohio Players - Skin Tight

Fire

I haven't listened yet, but I'm going to bow down anyway.....

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Awesome thread! It was the 80's,but Beatles songs like She Loves You and All My Loving were played

Shaolin325 said:

I haven't listened yet, but I'm going to bow down anyway.....

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Thanks. Today I just reflected and thought about all the great music I had access to from so many great musicians. I wish I appreciated it more then, because I didn't realize the value of their creativity and hard work. Not to mention the message in their music, that moved so many during some rough and turbulent times in America. I so appreciate all of the music of the musicians ones I posted on this thread, and there's so many more it would take forever to mention all of them.

2elijah said:

It's a beautiful morning

This is one of the happiest songs ever made!!! It makes me feel so good

2elijah said:

Hot sounds of the Ohio Players

Fire

Check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/wa...Pu59h8OrL4

Shaolin325 said:

2elijah said:

Hot sounds of the Ohio Players

Fire

Check this out:

That's the one I was going to originally post, but changed it to the studio version. I used to love when it was summer and that song would come on the radio. Good music. Back in those days, musicians were creative with their 'costumes' on stage. When I look back at some of these groups, even the days of the soul ballad bands like the Tempations/Delfonics and Smokey, what they wore defined the band's stage presence.

Shaolin325 said:

2elijah said:

It's a beautiful morning

This is one of the happiest songs ever made!!! It makes me feel so good

Yep! 'Groovin' and 'It's a beautiful morning' came on the radio 24/7. These were good summertime songs. The kind you reminisce about when school is out and all the fun you had with your friends during summer.

Joe Cocker - 'You Are So Beautiful"

I Get By With A little help from my friends

Okay, this was another 24/7 radio song, by Richard Harris and I was always so curious about a part of the lyrics, "Someone left my cake out in the rain, and I don't think that I can take it, 'cause it took so long to bake it, and I'll never have that recipe again..ohhh noo"

For some reason that part of the song made me laugh, but it was one of those songs that stuck in your head and you found yourself singing it, even if you didn't like it. Thing is, regardless, it was still a beautiful song. Then Donna Summer sings a cover of it, and turns it into a big disco dance hit.

Here's the original version....

Donna Summer's version

alphastreet said:

Awesome thread! It was the 80's,but Beatles songs like She Loves You and All My Loving were played

Thanks. Glad you enjoy it. I agree the Beatles had some nice songs, and I remember that one.