James Gang - Ashes, the Rain, and I (1970)

Formed in Cleveland, Ohio in 1966, this band became more popular after one of their guitarists quit and went on to bigger things. Joe Walsh, that guitarist, went on to find success in the Eagles and as a solo artist. People wanting to trace Walsh’s past would often wind up listening to this group. Despite the band releasing nine albums in eleven years, they didn’t really get a strong taste of success until 1971 with their album Thirds. “Walk Away,” the opening track on that album, was their highest charting single, reaching number fifty-one in the US. That same year, in late ’71, Walsh quit the band. The remaining members never attained the (small) success they had achieved with him, and they eventually dissolved the group in 1977.

Before the bands third album appropriately titled Thirds, the band had released James Gang Rides Again in July 1970. This song was the closing track on the album and was written by Joe Walsh and fellow bandmate Dale Peters. Although not one of the band’s more well-known songs, it was sampled by Fatboy Slim on his hit 1999 song “Right Here, Right Now.”



James Gang - Ashes, the Rain, and I (1970)

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Lyrics:

Sometimes I sit and I stare at the rain
Isn't rain filled with sorrow?
Wonder if I'll see my home again
Will it be dry tomorrow?

Time passes softly and I'm a day older
But still I’m living days gone by
Ashes to ashes, the rain's turning colder
Finding tomorrow, the ashes, the rain and I

Keith Moon - Naked Man (1975)

Depending on who you ask, the greatest rock drummer of all time is either John Bonham of Led Zeppelin or this man. Between his fourteen year career as The Who’s drummer, blowing up toilets in hotel rooms across America, and passing out on stage in the middle of a song, he is remembered as one of the most charismatic, talented, and insane figures in rock history. It was said that had he been born at a later date, he probably would have been diagnosed with a borderline personality disorder. Sadly, an overdose of sedatives ended his life prematurely at the age of thirty-two. Considering that he is one of rock’s most legendary artists, it is with no doubt that his life cannot be fully summarized here.

This song comes from Moon’s only solo album, titled Two Sides of the Moon, and features a slew of Moon’s famous friends. It was composed entirely of cover songs written by artists such as John Lennon, Pete Townshend, and Brian Wilson. This particular song was originally written by Randy Newman, who stated that its lyrics were based on a true story told to him by a friend who worked as a public defender.



Keith Moon - Naked Man (1975)

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Lyrics:

Old lady lost in the city
In the middle of a cold, cold night
It was fourteen below and the wind starts to blow
There wasn't a boy scout in sight

Pull down the shades 'cause he's comin'
Turn out the lights 'cause he's here
Runnin' hard down the street
Through the snow and the sleet
On the coldest night of the year

Beware- beware- beware of the naked man
Beware- beware- beware of the naked man

Old lady head up toward Broad Street
Shufflin' up town against the wind
She had started to cry, wiped a tear from her eye
And looked back to see where she had been

Old lady stand on the corner
With a purse in her hand
She does not know but in a minute or so
She will be robbed by a naked man

Beware- beware- beware of the naked man
Beware- beware- beware of the naked man

Old lady lean ‘gainst a lamp post
Starin' down at the ground on which she stand
She look up and scream
For the lamplight's beam
There stood the famous naked man

And he say, "They found out about my sister
And kicked me out of the navy
They would have strung me up if they could
I tried to explain that we were both of us lazy
And we’re doing the best we could"

But he faked to the left and he faked to the right
And he snatched the purse from her hand
"Someone stop me," he cried
As he faded from sight
"Won't nobody help the naked man?"
"Won't nobody help the naked man?"

Beware- beware- beware of the naked man
Beware- beware- beware of the naked man

I’m not naked, but beware
I’m not naked, but beware
I’m not naked, but beware
I’m not naked, but beware

Do you think The Beatles will get back together?