Steve Miller - Joker, Jungle, and Airplane

The first song that I learned when I joined the band “Wild Child” in Plattsburg NY, back in 1992, was Steve Miller’s Jet Airplane. Nobody else wanted to sing so I stepped up and became the singer. I had a hard time learning the song and have never been known as much of a singer, but I never let that stop me.

This first song is a solo jam by Steve of his classic tune The Joker. It is really one of my favorites.

The Joker



Jungle Love Sea World in San Diego



I couldn’t find a good version of Jet Airplane on youtube so I give you this cover:

Jet Airplane cover by Sheryl Crow and John Mayer

Eric Clapton - Tear in Heaven, Layla, and others

I have not seen Eric Clapton play a live show. I hope that someday I get the chance. Eric is an amazing guitarist, I have studied his music for years. He was listed in the top ten of Rolling Stone magazine’s greatest guitarists of all time. I don’t care if you are talking about the Yardbirds, Cream, Derek and the Dominoes, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers (I did see John play) or any of his decades of solo music and collaborations, Eric is one of the best. He knows his blues.

I felt bad after his son died which inspired this song:

Tears In Heaven



Here is a Bob Dylan tune that everyone (including me) covers

Knocking on Heaven’s Door



Wonderful tonight is a classic love song:



And here is one more for the road,

Layla Live in Japan

Joe Cocker - Woodstock, Beautiful, and U2 cover

Hymn For My Soul is the new release from Joe Cocker that came out in 2007. I may just have to check it out. Joe became famous for his cover of The Beatles “With a little help from my friends” which featured Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page on guitar. This song became the opening track to the hit TV show “The Wonder Years. Here is Joe performing this song at Woodstock:

With a little help from my friends



Joe had a number of hits in the 80’s such as the Grammy Award winning “Love lift us up where we belong,” the theme song from my first wedding, as well as the theme song from the movie “An officer and a gentleman” and this classic hit:

You are so beautiful



And it seems that everyone wants to cover U2 these days.


One

Bruce Springsteen - Thunder Road

Bruce Springsteen from New Jersey aka The Boss has been a favorite of mine since I first had paper route money to buy cassette tapes. Here are a couple of Springsteen classics:

Thunder Road acoustic unplugged




Jungleland