The Rolling Stones - We Love You (1967)

In February 1967, Keith Richard’s chauffeur tipped off reporters, who, in turn tipped off police about a party in Sussex The Rolling Stones’ members were having that “involved drugs.” Although no arrests were made in the ensuing police raid, both Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were subsequently charged with drug offenses. On the day of their arrangement, police stormed the home of Brian Jones, arrested him, and pressed him, too, with drug charges. Although Jagger and Richards were imprisoned for their crimes, they were back out on the streets the next morning after making bail, pending an appeal. In the meantime, the public, some branches of the media, and fellow musicians had shown an outpouring of support for the band’s targeted members, feeling that their punishments for first-time offenses were far too harsh, unfair, and attributed to their celebrity-statuses.

While awaiting their appeal hearings, the band recorded this song as a means of thanking its fans for their loyal support. Although uncredited, both Paul McCartney and John Lennon appeared on the track to provide backing vocals. Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, the song’s opening features the sound of prison doors slamming closed, referencing the recent charges against the members. Released as an A-Side in Britain, the song reached number eight. Having been flipped to the B-Side for the US release, the song reached number fifty. “Dandelion” was the flip side for each release.



The Rolling Stones - We Love You (1967)

Loading the ABLYAM player...(Might not work on mobile devices)

Lyrics:

(We don't care if you only love “we”)
(We don't care if you only love “we”)

We love you
We love you
And we hope that you will love “we,” too

We love “they”
We love “they”
And we want you to love “they,” too

We don't care if you hound “we”
And love is all around “we”
Love can't get our minds off
We love you (We love you)

You will never win “we”
Your uniforms don’t fit “we”
We forget the place we're in
‘cause we love you
(We love you) Of course we do

(I love you, I love you)
And I hope that you won’t prove wrong, too
(We love you) We do
(We love you) We do

Cheech & Chong - Basketball Jones (1973)

Composed of Richard “Cheech” Marin and Tommy Chong, this duo is one of the earliest comedy acts to be classified under “stoner” comedy. Throughout their numerous albums and films, they targeted the hippie population with their marijuana-centered comedy. Their routines eventually earned them a Grammy Award. Currently reuniting, the duo has a feature film scheduled for release later this year.

This comedy song comes from the duo’s third album, Los Cochinos (translated “The Pigs”). The song features the following musicians: George Harrison on guitar; Klaus Voormann on bass; Nicky Hopkins on piano; Carole King on electric piano; Billy Preston on organ; Michelle Phillips (of The Mamas and The Papas) as a backup singing "cheerleader"; and many other notable musicians/acts of the era. The track reached number thirty-six in Canada, and would later be covered by Barry White and Chris Rock for the 1996 film Space Jam.



Cheech & Chong - Basketball Jones (1973)

Loading the ABLYAM player...(Might not work on mobile devices)

Lyrics:

Basketball jones, I got a basketball jones
Got a basketball jones, oh baby, ooh

Yes, I am the victim of a basketball jones. Ever since I was a little baby, I always be dribblin'. In fact, I was the baddest dribbler in the whole neighborhood. Then, one day, my mama bought me a basketball. And I loved that basketball. I took that basketball with me everywhere I went. That basketball was like a basketball to me.

I even put that basketball underneath my pillow. Maybe that's why I can't sleep at night. I need help, ladies and gentlemens. I need someone to stand beside me. I need- I need someone to set a pick for me at the free-throw line of life. Someone I can pass to; someone to hit the open man on the give-and-go and not end up in the popcorn machine. So cheerleaders, help me out!

(Basketball jones, I got a basketball jones)
(I got a basketball jones, oh baby, ooh)

Oh, that sounds so sweet. Sing it out. C'mon Coach Booty, Red Blazer, sing along with me. That be bad, honky, yeah. I want everybody in the whole stadium to stand up and sing with us. Oh yeah, sing it out like you're proud. All right, everybody watchin' coast-to-coast, sing along with us. Bill Russell, sing along with us. Chick Hearn, sing along with us. Chris Schenkel, don't sing nothin'.

(Basketball jones, I got a basketball jones)
(I got a basketball jones, oh baby, ooh)

Oh, it feels so good. Gimme the ball. I'll go one-on-one against the world, left-handed. I could stuff it from center court with my toes. I could jump on top of the backboard, take off a quarter, leave fifteen cents change. I could- I could dribble behind my back. I got more moves than ex-lax. I'm bad. I could dribble with my tongue. Here I go down court, try to stop me. You can't stop me 'cause I got a basketball jones. Here I come. That's my hook shot with my eyebrow. Yeah, I could dunk it with my nose. I'm- I'm bad as King Kong- gimme the ball. I'm hot- I'm hot as- I'm hot as- I'm hot as- uh, uh, uh, uh, uh…

(Basketball jones, I got a basketball jones)
(I got a basketball jones, oh baby, ooh)
(Basketball jones, I got a basketball jones)
(I got a basketball jones, oh baby, ooh)…

Beck, Page, Jones, Moon, & Hopkins – Beck’s Bolero (1966)

Although they never officially became a group, this collection of musicians did manage to get together long enough to record one song together, heard below, in 1966. The “group” was composed of: Jeff Beck of The Yardbirds (and later The Jeff Beck Group); Jimmy Page of The Yardbirds (and later Led Zeppelin); John Paul Jones, a session musician (and later of Led Zeppelin); Keith Moon of The Who; and Nicky Hopkins, a session musician keyboardist who had worked frequently with The Rolling Stones.

Keith Moon arrived to the session wearing a disguise so nobody would know he was playing with somebody other than The Who. John Entwistle, also of The Who, was scheduled to play bass until he had to back out and was replaced by John Paul Jones.

Later released as the B-side to Jeff Beck’s single, “Hi Ho Silver Lining,” this song was originally supposed to be only the beginning of the guys work together. Planning to record a full album, they failed to locate a lead vocalist after being denied by Steve Mariott of The Small Faces. Combined with contractual obligations, the album never happened and this was the only song recorded. The history of this song is quite interesting, and can be read in more detail, on Wikipedia, here.



Beck, Page, Jones, Moon, & Hopkins – Beck’s Bolero (1966)

Loading the ABLYAM player...(Might not work on mobile devices)

Lyrics:

(instrumental)

John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band - Happy Xmas (War Is Over) (1971)

When John Lennon and wife Yoko Ono had finished their second experimental album, Unfinished Music No. 2: Life with the Lions, they decided from that point on anyone who performed with them would be referred to as the Plastic Ono Band. Famous past members of the group have included Eric Clapton, Klaus Voorman, Alan White of Yes, Delaney and Bonnie, Keith Moon of The Who, Billy Preston, and as John and Yoko always reminded, “YOU are the Plastic Ono Band.”

This song was released too late in the year of 1971 to make any dent in the American charts, but when it was released in the UK the following year, it climbed to the fourth spot. The lyrics were based on an advertising campaign paid for by John and Yoko, where the couple paid for billboards around the world to remind everyone that “WAR IS OVER! (If You Want It) Happy Christmas from John and Yoko”. The backup choir heard in the song is the Harlem Community Choir.



John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band - Happy Xmas (War Is Over) (1971)

Loading the ABLYAM player...(Might not work on mobile devices)

Lyrics:

John and Yoko: War is over if you want it.
John: Peace.
Yoko: Peace.
Yoko: Happy Christmas, Kyoko.
John: Happy Christmas, Julian.

So this is Christmas
And what have you done?
Another year over
And a new one just begun

And so this is Christmas
I hope you had fun
The near and the dear ones
The old and the young

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

And so this is Christmas
(War is over)
For weak and for strong
(If you want it)
The rich and the poor ones
(War is over)
The road is so long
(Now)

And so happy Christmas
(War is over)
For black and for white
(If you want it)
For yellow and red ones
(War is over)
Let's stop all the fight
(Now)

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

And so this is Christmas
(War is over)
And what have we done?
(If you want it)
Another year over
(War is over)
And a new one just begun
(Now)

And so happy Christmas
(War is over)
We hope you had fun
(If you want it)
The near and the dear ones
(War is over)
The old and the young
(Now)

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

War is over if you want it
War is over now

Happy Christmas! Happy Christmas! Happy Christmas!