Come Along With Me
Come along with me on a magic carpet ride to the memories of a more innocent time. The echoes of the Mamas and Papas, the loving embrace of Sonny and Cher, the mystic melodies of Donovan, and all the way to Max Yasgur’s farm which sounded the end of the innocence of our youth. I still hear California dreaming and there is a scent of incense and peppermint in the air to take me back.
One of my most favorite genres of music seems to be getting lost in the definitions of the various genres of 60’s music. Flower power music only lasted about four years from 1965 to 1969. One of the reasons is that it was a mixture of various music types of the 60’s It was a mixture of light rhythm and blues and folk music and slow rock, but it definitely was not psychedelic music. Even the instrumentals of flower power were a little more laid back and melodic than the psychedelic or hard rock music that was starting to emerge in the latter part of the ’60s. Most of the stars of that type of music were crossing boundaries from pop-rock, folk-rock, and yes even underground rock to the music that was more about happiness, love, and treating your fellow human being with courtesy and respect. I guess that’s because of the movements of the antiwar and racial protests of that particular time. Rock took a dramatic turn to the more wild hard rock, while the folk side went on a rocky mountain high and as the country was in turmoil, artists were echoing this in the music that was being written and played. The best of it still remains for us to enjoy the music, but our innocence is gone.
What got me started thinking about my musical memories was the loss of one of the prettiest voices in music. Her name is Nancy Griffith and she had that folk-rock vibe to her music. She called it folk-a-billy. I thought she had the greatest sound of any artist I have ever heard. The types of songs she wrote reminded me of the flower power music I loved as a teenager.
For some reason when you look up flower power groups on the Internet they have no clue as to which years that flower power music was made. I find groups from the early 60’s all the way to the late 70’s pop up. It’s not that the music that other groups and other times had isn’t good, but it’s not what I’m looking for and is not what my soul desires. There was an innocence and a magic to both the music and the time. It started just as the Beatles landed in New York for the first time but it wasn’t British rock, it was totally and absolutely different than mainstream music. It not only fills the heart with joy, but it also had a message of peace and respect for your fellow man. Maybe it’s not that it’s not out there, maybe it’s that I can’t reach out with that innocence of the first love of music that I used to have and can no longer find. Maybe it’s me or maybe it’s that these younger programmers and computer whiz kids that I rely on to make the search into the inter-web for my memories have no concept of my heart's desires.
It wasn’t just wearing flowers in your hair or going to San Francisco. We were so happy together in those days no matter where we were. The music of that time emphasized the love and not knowing better than just being happy. I need to see what condition my condition was in, maybe my mind and heart have left youth and happiness behind as I have grown into a man. Finding my way back to hear the music that I love isn’t meant to be? That’s right, the songs that we heard and loved brought us to a plane of consciousness that is impossible to find with the cynicism of becoming an adult and realizing man’s inhumanity to man is not just stories we read in our history books, it was and is real and happening today.
Sadly, most of those artists are retiring or have retired and some are no longer with us. This is the time that they call our golden years, but if the truth be known, it is some of my saddest years to lose those great voices. The songs that they will never write are only brightened by the light of the music that they left us. That is why I am searching for the songs of my youth, the flower power music had a magic in those days and hopefully, I may find that magic again. It’s not too late, it’s never too late to enjoy the memories of youth and the joy that life has brought us.
No matter what type of music you enjoyed in your life, it has a magic that brings back the memories and feelings of that first kiss and even finding that one person that lit that light deep within your soul. I wish you all the same happiness of life and the love of music that I have. When someone tells you that there is no magic in the world today, pop-out that 45 of their favorite song and play it and look deep
into their eyes as they remember those special moments that only music can unlock within our minds.
The great singer-songwriters and musicians of the past have left a legacy of memories and love that can conquer any loneliness and misery and pain, just give it a try. It will take you back to a long and winding road that leads us to our past, yes, love is all you need. May God bless you and keep you and please be safe and healthy
your friend always,
Keith L House
0. Nancy Griffith
1. Scott McKenzie
2. Mamas and Papas
3.The Rascals
4.The 5th Dimension
5.Strawberry Alarm Clock
6.Melanie
7.The Loving’ Spoonful
8.Grass Roots
9.The Byrds
10.The Turtles
11.The Cowsills
12.The Grateful Dead
13.Donovan Leitch
14. Sonny and Cher
15.Arlo Guthrie
16.The Buffalo Springfield
17.Tommy James and the Shondells
18.Spanky and Our Gang
20. Oliver Urdaneta
21.Crosby Stills Nash and Young
I’m sure I left out so many so put in your suggestions in the comments.
