With the death of Joe Egan a couple of weeks ago, I am as much saddened that another great musician is gone as prompted to recall, as I often do, the many great singer/songwriters/producers and players whose work I’ve so enjoyed through the years, especially those who made my growing-up in the 1970’s so memorable.
And unfortunately, lots of people, I have to admit, I didn’t/don’t know so well.
I’m not talking about knowing them personally. Really, how was that going to happen way back when I was 15/16/17 growing up in New Jersey listening to the hits of the day on my tomato red Panasonic Panapet? I loved Meat Loaf and Bruce Springsteen both, and even though the latter was born and raised just a few miles south of my home, The Boss and I weren’t ever really going to cross paths. And all those mysterious and brash prog rock giants I loved? Well, they lived in England, worlds away to me at the time.
No, what I mean by the word ‘knowing’ here is learning about the artists beyond their famous songs or bands. Surely, as my musical education grew, now into my 6th decade and having been a singer/songwriter/instrumentalist of absolutely no acclaim (a legend in my own mind) for nearly half a century, I have absorbed lots of facts and figures of the artists I love. I also have had the honor to have met and interview a lot of them through the professional music writing I do (see here). But way back when I wasn’t so very educated, beyond being able to recognize a song by its first few notes, seeing that it was being played on the radio nearly 24/7, I was at a loss for the deeper dive.
Take my ignorance of Mr. Egan for example. If you didn’t know (and I didn’t way back when I was hearing the famous tunes he is credited for), he was co-founder of Scottish band Stealers Wheel. Along with his partner Gerry Rafferty (who died in 2011, at 63!), he of “All Down The Line,” and “Baker’s Street” fame, (this last one of my al-time favorite radio tracks of the 70’s…and on sax might I alert you to Raphael Ravenscroft) Steeler’s Wheel produced some stellar music, arguable best known for “Stuck in the Middle With You.”
And there’s lots more to learn about both of these men, on and off the wheel.
I loved the song “Magic,” by the Scottish group Pilot (who were Scottish as well, another fact I did not know). As well as other members, Pilot included bassist/guitarist/vocalist David Paton, who would as muchh go on to work with Kate Bush and The Alan Parsons Project (two other artists/bands I adore), as it would guitarist Ian Bairnson, another alum of APP.
Then there are songs like “The Night Chicago Died” from the group Paper Lace who also released that massive hit of “Billy Don’t Be a Hero.” And did you know that “The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia,” sung by Carol Burnett Show Vicki Lawrence was written by her husband at the time, singer/songwriter Robert L. “Bobby” Rusell?
And there’s just a smattered of 70’s stuff that made my summers and all else way back when.
Just recently we also saw the passing of Peter Collins, producer behind four Rush albums, Queensrÿche’s Operation: Mindcrime and many more artists, including Gary Moore.
Look, I know that when it comes to this kind of stuff, what you don’t know won’t really hurt you. In fact, I’d be you could live quite fine without ever knowing that one-time Kiss guitarist Vinnie Vincent was a staff songwriter on both Happy Days and Joanie Loves Chachi (ok, maybe not shows that spawned any of my favorite tunes, but still…). Or did you know that….Yes, the explorations of these facts can lead you Alice-like down any number o’ rabbit holes, so I don’t suggest searching unless you have the time or the inclination.
My point here, beyond mourning the loss of some great artists and wondering where others have got to, is that paraphrasing old Willy, indeed there are more things than we ever know about the music we love than we’d ever dream in our philosophy.
So, don’t be afraid to learn new shit, Potsie.
