I was a closet musician in the ‘70s
OK, I am sure some people have this very same story and I’m wondering who does.
It’s 1972 and I’m in my bedroom walkin closet (my “studio”) on the upper west side of Manhattan tuned into Cousin Brucie on WABC. I had him on a toaster sized AM radio and a cassette recorder next to it on the shelf with a small flashlight sized microphone plugged into it and pointed at the radio.
I hope I’ll find the mixtapes I made those months, but among the songs like The Stones “Under My Thumb” and “Crocodile Rock” by Elton John and Bernie Taupin was a song that to me epitomised the ’70s. Jazz, funk and rock all rolled into one. Wow…I have to say that along with “Was a Dog a Doughnut” by Cat Stevens and “Crosstown Traffic” by Hendrix, this song does me in every time.
The song is “Also Sprach Zarathustra” by Deodato. Checkout this roster of musicians:
Eumir Deodato — piano, electric piano
Ron Carter — electric bass, bass
Stanley Clarke — electric bass
Billy Cobham — drums
John Tropea — electric guitar
Jay Berliner — guitar
Airto Moreira — percussion
Ray Barretto — congas
It was recorded on September 1972 at Van Gelder Studios in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey . Who knew! Very close to Palisades Amusement Park (could see it from down the block). Needless to say, I love this song and it will always be close to my heart and remind me of a simpler time.
Come over to my7 and share your favorites with us and your friends. A simpler, more genuine social media platform. A place where we only share what we love and no more. Come On, Come Over— Jaco Pastorius (another great song!) #my7social
