Reading this book is a reminder of just how much music is out there that you forget about, or forget to check out further. First view of the name The Youngbloods and I’m scratching my head, thinking I’ve never even heard of them. But of course I have…
Their 1967 single Get Together isn’t quite as ubiquitous as CCR on Vietnam-era soundtracks, but it’s a sixties touchstone for sure.
I remember first hearing it via the Forrest Gump soundtrack and hearing the “C’mon people, smile on your brother, everybody get together, try to love one another right now” and thinking it was a lift from Nirvana’s Territorial Pissings. I mean, of course it’s the other way around and I sorta knew that, but at the same time I made the illogical reverse-connection, because Nirvana meant so much to me at that time.
Well, it never occurred to me that The Youngbloods made albums, nor any other music worth hearing…
How silly. But you can only get to so much in one lifetime, eh.
And I’m trying to make up for earlier ignorance.
And Darkness, Darkness, the opening track of this, their 1969 album, is proof enough that The Youngbloods had plenty to say.
And on the album goes, through lovely, rolling organ sounds and beat-combo stuff and a more pastoral exploration of jazz and folk and all aspects that colour in and around those lines.
And shit it’s good. Like, really good. Like one of the of the happiest discoveries I’ve made as part of the 1001 Albums Challenge.
Good-o!