Hidden Treasures - Drugs are bad mmm-kay!

[Scott]

Drugs are bad mmm-kay! This post does not advocate drugs or drug use, its a simple playlist based on songs written about or because of the influence drugs have had on these artists.


Face it, songwriting comes from personal experience, maybe not always, but mostly. And considering that these songs come from artists who experienced the 60's and 70's we shouldnt be surprised that this topic is so pervasive. Sometimes is very cryptic and sometimes obvious. Todays playlist will be a little of both, but theres no doubt what these songs are about. Stay sober and listen close...


PLAYLIST --> http://www.podsnack.com/CA69EFD9E8C/a13som9j

	Black Country Communion 2 2011 1 - Little Secret Frontman Glenn Hughes found himself battling drug addiction at the height of his professional success in the mid-'80s when he was the lead vocalist for Black Sabbath as well as playing bass and performing vocals for some of the later Deep Purple lineups. Hughes explained, 'It's a very honest song. In fact, it might be my favorite on the whole album. Like the title says, it's about secrets, and I'm a man who doesn't want to have any secrets from anybody anymore. The weight's too much. I need emotional freedom.'
	Thin Lizzy Bad Reputation 1977 2 - Opium Trail According to front man Phil Lynott's biographer Stuart Bailie, "Opium Trail" from the Bad Reputation album was inspired by a TV drama on triads, "a worrying obsession with Phil". Although Bailie may have been speaking with the wisdom of hindsight, there is no denying the core truth of this claim. On August 20, 1981 - his thirty-second birthday - Lynott was fined £200 at Kingston Crown Court for possessing cocaine. He said afterwards he was very concerned about the effect the conviction would have on his career. This should have been the least of his worries; on January 4, 1986 he died in Salisbury Infirmary from complications due to his addiction to heroin.
	Jackson Browne The Pretender 1976 3 - Your Bright Baby Blues This song about drugs featured Lowell George playing slide guitar. Browne spent many nights getting loaded with the Little Feat leader and he told Mojo: "There's a line in that song: 'Close your eyes and try a few of these.' That's exactly the way we turned each other on and gave each other drugs."
	Wings Venus and Mars 1975 4 - Medicine Jar This was the first song recorded by Paul McCartney's group Wings to feature a another member on all lead vocals. It is an anti-drug opus sung by lead guitarist Jimmy McCulloch (ex-Thunderclap Newman). Colin Allen, who is a drummer that was in the band Stone The Crows with McCulloch, wrote the lyrics, and McCulloch wrote the music.
	The Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers 1971 5 - Sister Morphine Mick Jagger wrote the music in Rome in 1968. Marianne Faithful wrote the lyrics, but The Stones did not give her an official songwriting credit until they released it on their 1998 live album No Security. Not long after writing the song, the lyrics came painfully true to Marianne Faithfull. She recalled to The Guardian: The story is about a man who gets in a car accident and dies in the hospital while asking for morphine.

[Jon]

See that you stayed away from that song about cocaine. Also see that you stayed away from that song about white lines. One I can see why, the other not so much. Is it because it's rap? There is a non-rap version, you know.

I bet there's five other songs about drugs. Maybe more. Seriously!

I have all these albums except for the Jackson Browne one. Didn't pick it up when I went on my mini JB kick last year. Maybe one day I'll pick it up, maybe not. Depends how I feel. 

Why this sudden love for "Sticky Fingers"? This from the guy who didn't/doesn't like the Stones.

If I were to rank these songs by druggy related song title, it would be:

2, 5, 4, 1, 3

If I were to rank these as lovey related song title, it would be:

3, 1, 5, 4, 2

Maryjane approves of this list.

[Scott]

The Stones thing is new for me and I'm enjoying a couple of their albums, I own only 3 (Sticky Fingers, Some Girls, and Exile)  would love to hear Let It Bleed, its the only other album I have an interest in, unless someone who might read this can point me in a better Stones direction....  wonder who that could be?  Mike Pell maybe?

Your jaunt through the JB catalog missed big with the omission of The Pretender...  Just Sayin'!!

[Jon]

Beggars Banquet, Let it Bleed, It's Only Rock 'n Roll, Goats Head Soup and Tattoo You are fine albums.

I really like Undercover as well, it's mostly hard rock and it's one of those albums you either love or hate.

Black In Blue is cool if you're in a funky mood.  

[Scott]

thank you sir!!  your expertise is much appreciated! 

[RJhog (Admin)]

Goats Head Soup

[Niels (Mod)]

BCC - I got tired of this band very fast. This one is clearly a copy of "Since I've Been Loving You". Hughes was once a good singer, not as great as some says. Now he irritates me, because he at times sounds like a frog that's choking. This track is just a copy of great music, that was made decades ago.

TL - Lizzy is a band, that I was a minor fan of in the late 70's, but as HM took my money, I lost interest, and when they made "Thunder And Lightning", I lost respect. A crappy title, and a bad attemt of making Heavy Metal with John Sykes. Occaisionally I listen to Lizzy from the 70's, and it's not bad at all. Just like this track. I remember listening the the news on the radio, about Lynnott's death in January 1986.

JB - Oh no, this is........soooo boring. I guess, he's not using speed?!

WINGS - Now, this is much better. The book, I'm reading right now, is "Many Years From Now" about/"by" McCartney. I never was a Wings-fan. In fact, the one kid in my class, that was, was teased or maked fun at. A losers band in the late 70's. Off course, They've made great songs, but this is not really one of them, but it's not bad.

STONES - Now this is what I'm talking about!! Classic stuff, and from a time, where Stones where at the very top of the game. It IS a good album, bit not as great as "Exile". But I wish, I'd seen Stones live around that time.

How about's this song about Drugs and stuff:

[Scott]

I don't recall anyone being made fun of for being a Winfs fan. In fact, I do recall Venus and Mars was very popular here. Interesting story though.

[Niels (Mod)]

I Think, it was because he had a Wings-watch.

"Wings" was probably an american thing. Besides a couple of hits (Listen to what the man said, with a little luck and of course band on the run (the song)), which probably was considered McCartney-solo tracks by me, anyway, Wings was considered a very bad move for McCartney after The Beatles around here, or at least at MY school :-)

[Scott]

I remember a friend of mine picked up Wings Over America - the 3 record set - and I thought it was the coolest thing ever released!  Seems the band knew who were buying their stuff and with a title like that its clear who they were playing to...  

Its interesting to learn about these differences when they come up....

[RJhog (Admin)]

BCC - Great album.  Love the bluesy intro for this song.  Thank you Joe Bonamassa.  I think it's an outstanding vocal performance.  One of the best tracks on a fantastic album.

Lizzy - This is a band that I've developed a bit of affection for since we started CRB.  Never heard this track though.  Thin Lizzy has a very distinctive sound, even musically, not just vocally.  Not the greatest production I've ever heard, but passable.  Killer solo and nice riffage.  Just a very good song.

Jackson Browne - Never heard this either.  It amazes me how much the band Dawes sounds like Jackson Browne.  This is a terrific, laid back track to listen to.

Wings - Can't say that I've heard this one either.  But I did just get this album recently, the new remaster deluxe.  I must ask, why would any band with Paul McCartney in it that isn't named The Beatles let somebody else sing?  That's rhetorical of course, don't answer it.  Seriously though, this song is quite cool.  Love the guitar work on it.  And despite the mix, you can occasionally hear the bass (and by that I mean the mix could be better).

Stones - Scott, you always mention the stellar acoustic playing of The Doobie Brothers, but I think The Stones deserve a shout-out for it as well.  And listen to the electric work on top of it.  This, my friends, is a killer song.  The industrial feel fits well and the electric guitar tone is the same one that Jason Isbell occasionally uses, and I'm a big fan of Isbell. So it's all cool.

As far as the drug theme, I've never done 'em, so I really don't pay much attention to a song with drugs as the subject. But this was a good listen.

[Scott]

Drugs?  Whats that!!!  I just noticed that bands sing about them...