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Probably doesn't need to be explained how fortunate Huey Lewis and the News were in terms of timing of their career. Shoot, if they "hit" 10 months sooner or 10 months later I'm not sure they sing on We Are The World or get the Back to the Future gig/Oscar appearance. They peaked at a perfect moment. That said, they also had been around long enough to handle the sudden success and milked it for everything they could. Also needs to be said, they could play and put on a lively show.

 

Neil Young to Release Bottom Line 1974 Concert as Official Bootleg

 

This came on the radio early this morning. So upbeat.

She's got some Bonnie Raitt in that voice.

 

Here's the old Commander with the boogie woogie called "Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar".

The little girl with the braids is Nicolette Larsen.

Same show. Nicolette. RIP.

 

It's easy to make a throwaway cut at these guys as middlebrow rock, but forty years later this is still great stuff. Tight band, great arrangement, jazz elements, a sweet listen. Jim Messina's guitar isn't flashy, but he's dead on with sweet fills and the whole thing is just rock solid.

 

I saw Billy Preston live in 1973. "Will it go Round in Circles" and "Outaspace" were both out. He put on an absolutely amazing show, just frenetically active, dancing, singing, playing, jumping and jiving nonstop. It was the first time I ever witnessed someone play a show while absolutely coked out of his mind.

It was one helluva show, though.