Not a subject that gets tackled much in a musical discussion group such as this. But after watching CNN's recent special on Marvin Gaye's masterpiece "What's Going On" I pulled the disc off the shelf and was reminded once again of it's intense greatness. For me the greatest addiction song ever recorded is "Flyin' High In The Friendly Sky" from What's Going On.
Here you have this genius reflecting on the social issues of the day: Vietnam, police brutality, environmental tragedy. And amazingly, it all sounds so relevant today.
Yet right smack in the middle of all this social commentary, in an astonishingly honest admission, Gaye confronts his own addiction and does it the framework of a sparse musical backdrop accented by strings. "Rest of the folks are tired and weary/And have laid their bodies down" he announces. But no, not Marvin. And we all know why. "I go to the place where danger awaits me/And it's bound to forsake me/So stupid minded/But I go crazy when I can't find it."
I can't think of an artist being that honest on record and doing it in such a poignant, elegant and aching fashion.
I remember listening to this tune one night when I was "flying high" in the throes of my alcoholism. And knowing that Marvin was speaking to me and for me. I can't think of any record ever that caused me to relate to someone else's pain so intimately. FYI I've been sober for exactly 10 years.
If you missed it, look for a rerun of CNN's recent special on What's Going On narrated by Don Lemon. Smokey Robinson said it's his favorite record of all-time. I don't need to hear any other review.
For those who may not own What's Going On (I pity you), here's Flyin' High In The Friendly Sky:
@bob1954: Carmelita is a great one for sure, right up there with Flyin' High.
@aiq: Huh??
Cold Turkey, Lennon
Compass, CSNY (David Crosby)
Heroin - Lou Reed
"There is no mechanical problem so difficult that it cannot be solved by brute force and ignorance"
I was into Janes Addiction and The Fix, now I'm into the Cure.
"Trouble Trouble" Foghat (studio version)
Sister Morphine by the Stones.
I would've gone with that one, also, but I was recently watching a video about Marianne Faithfull and she said that song is actually supposed to be about a man lying in a hospital bed, dying of injuries he suffered in an automobile accident.
As long as I'm here, I'll add this one since it hasn't been mentioned yet...
Hurt.
Johnny Cash.
Master of Puppets
needle and spoon-savoy brown
@oldcoot: Heroin is another great one, especially the live version on Rock and Roll Animal.
A couple of obvious ones:
J.J. Cale and better known by Clapton. "Cocaine".
"The Needle and the Damage Done" by Neil Young.
Everything in Moderation. Including Moderation.
@crosseyedcat: Forgot all about Champagne and Reefer! "It's good for your head, and it relax your body don'tcha know!". CLASSIC.......can't touch that 70's Muddy with James Cotton and Johnny Winter.
This one was a no brainer for me
I'm surprised no one mentioned "All Night Train".
I just remember it when it played just now on Spotify.
@aiq: Huh??
August West is an alcoholic.
@aiq: You are still being cryptic, but hey man, whatever floats your boat.
@bill_graham: I was a huge Sabbath freak in my late teens/early 20's. I've thought about Snowblind many times and how PITIFUL it is that a huge band like Black Sabbath was freely advocating cocaine use in the 70's, on Volume IV. Fortunately I never took their advice. Not saying I never used it, I did, maybe 10 times at parties. In L.A. in the 70's and 80's it was like weed: It was everywhere. I never liked it, I never bought it, and I never became a regular. But for Sabbath to openly advocate such an addictive substance which has taken so many...........as mentioned, simply pitiful.
@robslob That was the culture back in the early 70's rob. It was almost part of the gig for them to take drugs back then. That and sleeping with underage groupies and flaunting it. Not saying it was ok but just pointing out those were different times.
If you actually read the lyrics to that song I am not so sure Sabbath is actually glorifying cocaine but rather telling a story how it left them empty after initially being something they enjoyed and relied on but who really knows what the lyrics mean.
Things that don't come easily
Feeling happy in my vein
Icicles within my brain (cocaine)
Winter's ice, it soon will spread
Death would freeze my very soul
Makes me happy, makes me cold
The snowflakes glisten on the trees
The sun no longer sets me free
I feel there's no place freezing me
Let me feel the frost of dawn
Fill my dreams with flakes of snow
Soon I'll feel the chilling glow
Don't tell me that it's doing me wrong
You're the one who's really the loser
This is where I feel I belong
Turn my days to frozen hours
Lying snowblind in the sun
Will my ice age ever come?
I remember a song on the radio about 1955 by Frank and it was on one of my parents Frank Sinatra albums and Frank sings about COCAINE. I finally found it. It's at 1:15 in to this song. Then I remember asking what cocaine was and my mom said ask my dad and my dad said he didn't know.
A couple of obvious ones:
J.J. Cale and better known by Clapton. "Cocaine".
"The Needle and the Damage Done" by Neil Young.
cocaine though is an anti drug song
