Sharelist #11 — The one which is not merely a flesh wound

The one which is not merely a flesh wound, by John

April 18, 2021 — I don’t know that I am going to go deep into each track as I did with the previous two, but I thought I would at least use this sentence as a play on words to explain the theme. This list’s theme are deep cuts from the 60’s. Some might immediately question, “What is a deep cut?” Much like “story song”, I don’t know that I have a great answer or definition of the term. I think as I have used it, a deep cut is just a song which isn’t an obvious track or hit from an iconic artist. Some deep tracks are hidden treasures and some are just better left in the deep. It was my intent to mine for the former.

I started this out trying to take iconic albums from the 60s and highlight a deep track from those iconic albums. However, I found it to be a somewhat difficult task and so I changed it up to just a deep track from an iconic artist.

Depending on your upbringing and what your focus has been in your life, it may be that you don’t consider the track a deep cut at all as you are very familiar with it. Hopefully, as with my other lists, there are tracks you recognize and sing along to, as well as items that you haven’t heard before and may want to hear again. Using iconic artists decreases the likelihood that you have not heard a song on this list, but I won’t be disappointed if I have put together a list of songs you know and like either.

If anyone has a 60s deep track that should have been included, please share. I would love to hear everyone’s thoughts.

I’ll go ahead and provide the artist an album for easy reference:

1. Bob Dylan — Highway 61 Revisited

One of the most iconic albums of all time, and almost impossible to identify any item on it as a deep cut. This happens to be one of my absolute favorite Dylan items and something I don’t think I have ever heard on the radio so here it is.

2. The Velvet Underground and Nico — The Velvet Underground and Nico

Another iconic album. It was hard to call any song on that album a deep cut, but I thought that I would include one of the Nico numbers. After Nico parted soon after this recording, the group continued to play the song in their appearances, but I always felt that Nico’s voice was always the right voice for this great song.

3. The Monkees — Head

Maybe one of the best deep cuts on this list. The Monkees were hugely popular during their time, but many attacked the group’s credibility because they relied upon studio musicians. I could go on and on about how that is a ridiculous argument, but I would rather just point out that I have loved this song for a long time. Recently, others have learned to love it to as it appeared in a soundtrack of a movie I cannot remember now.

4. The Doors — The Doors

In my opinion, this is another iconic album from the 60s. This track also is one of my favorites by the group. They would go in various directions over their relatively short time together, but nothing would quite stand up to the tracks on this debut offering. I realize there are some who do not like this group much, but maybe they can see the positives of this track.

5. Donovan — Sunshine Superman

Donovan was a very popular artist during the time and had a similar arc to Dylan when he went electric.

6. Creedence Clearwater Revival — Green River

It was hard to decide on a CCR deep cut as well. In the end, I felt that any track not on the first volume of Chronicle would apply.

7. The Byrds — Sweetheart of the Rodeo

This is a great cut from an iconic album. The wrinkle here is that it wasn’t released on the original album. Lead singer and guitarist for the group, Roger McGuinn, was a little jealous of how Gram Parsons took this album over and so prior to release, McGuinn replaced many of Gram’s vocals with his own, giving the album a very different sound. I felt that this deep cut needed to be restored to the version which was originally intended.

8. The Beatles — Magical Mystery Tour

How is any Beatles song a deep cut? I suppose if it is their only instrumental.

9. The Rolling Stones — Beggars Banquet

Finding a deep cut is also challenging with the Rolling Stones. This item though provides a different side of the group that was seldom shown.

10. The Beach Boys — Pet Sounds

Maybe my favorite track from an iconic album. If you have not seen the doc on The Wrecking Crew, you need to! I can hardly recommend a music doc more than that one. There is also a great one on just the recording of Pet Sounds that is great as well. I think they both show that the Beach Boys were much closer to the Monkees than anyone wants to claim.

11. The Flying Burrito Brothers — Do You Know How It Feels

I assume that if someone is going to take exception to my iconic artist selections, this may be the one. Not a success during their time, this Gram Parsons lead group, though, is truly iconic if you travel in country rock crowds.

12. Van Morrison — Astral Weeks

Certainly this is an iconic artist, but I don’t know if many would call Astral Weeks an iconic album. It certainly isn’t as visible as say Moonshadow or Tupelo Honey. This is a great track which may be the new find for some here.

13. Janis Joplin — I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama!

Janis gives an interesting cover of the Bee Gees’ To Love Somebody. Its been done by several others but Janis certainly tries to make it her own on her version.

14. Jimi Hendrix Experience — Axis: Bold As Love

If you have listened to the three Experience albums as much as I have, it would be tough for you to choose something which could be referred to as a deep cut. This is a great song and don’t know it is a deep cut, but I wanted to include a Hendrix tune and I like this one a lot.

15. The Band — Music from Big Pink

This was their debut album and its name derived from the fact that it contained a lot of music created when they were in Woodstock, New York, with Dylan. In fact, this song was written by Dylan.

16. Sly and the Family Stone — Dance to the Music

Dance to the Music was their breakthrough hit. They included this extended song on the same album and provides almost a reprise to the hit. Sly had a knack for being able to write musically interesting songs which did not compromise energy or innovation.

17. Simon and Garfunkel — Bridge Over Troubled Water

The reference to Tom was a throwback to the beginning of their career when they went by the name, Tom and Jerry. Otherwise, it is about the time they spent apart when Art left to appear in a movie. Being the last song on their last album together, though, seems fitting.