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Classic Rock History: One Hit Wonders: 

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"Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" is a song by the American group Steam. It was released in November 1969 as a single, and it became a surprise hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. The song features a simple, catchy chorus with the lyrics "Na-na, na-na-na-na, hey-hey-hey, goodbye."

The song was written and recorded by Gary DeCarlo, Dale Frashuer, and producer/writer Paul Leka, and attributed to a then-fictitious band Steam. The song was recorded in one take, and it features a prominent organ riff and a driving beat. The song was pieced together from a song the three had performed while in a previous band. Deciding it needed a chorus to make it longer, Leka improvised the "na, na, na" part while waiting for a lyrical inspiration. DeCarlo added the "hey, hey", and they decided to leave it at that. The chorus has become a chant popular at sporting events, particularly at baseball games when a pitcher is removed.

Despite its success, Steam was unable to follow up the song with another hit, and they eventually disbanded in 1970. However, "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" has remained a popular song, and it has been covered by numerous artists over the years, including Bananarama, Donna Summer, and The Supremes. The song has also been used in various films, TV shows, and commercials, and it has become a part of popular culture.

Tools Of The Trade: 

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The talk box is a guitar effect that creates a distinctive vocal-like sound by shaping the guitar's tone through the player's mouth. It was first popularized in the 1970s by musicians such as Peter Frampton and Joe Walsh. The effect can be heard in songs such as Frampton's "Do You Feel Like We Do," and Walsh's "Rocky Mountain Way." In the 1980s, Richie Sambora used the effect on Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer."

The talk box works by routing the guitar's signal through a small speaker driver connected to a plastic tube that is inserted into the musician's mouth. The musician then shapes the sound with their mouth, producing vowels and consonants to create the desired sound. The resulting sound is then amplified by a vocal microphone through a guitar amp or PA system.

The talk box can create a variety of sounds, from a classic wah-wah effect to more vocal-like sounds. It is often used in funk, rock, and electronic music, and is a popular effect among guitarists. After the success of his album "Frampton Comes Alive!", which featured the talk box extensively, Peter Frampton marketed a version under his "Framptone" brand.

It is important to note that the talk box requires some practice and skill to use effectively, as it involves both playing the guitar and shaping the sound with the mouth simultaneously.

Classic Rock History: One Hit Wonders: 

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"Israelites" is a reggae song by Jamaican artist Desmond Dekker, released in October 1968. The song became a major international hit, reaching the top of the charts in the UK and several other countries.

The lyrics of the song describe the struggles and hardships faced by the Jamaican working class, particularly those living in the ghetto. The title of the song, "Israelites," is a reference to the biblical Israelites who were enslaved in Egypt and eventually freed by Moses.

The song features Dekker's distinctive vocal style, with a catchy melody and a driving ska rhythm. The horn section adds to the energetic and upbeat feel of the song.

"Israelites" is considered a classic of the ska and reggae genres and has been covered by numerous artists over the years. It has also been used in various films, TV shows, and commercials, cementing its status as a cultural touchstone.

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The Fender Precision Bass, also known as the P Bass, is a popular electric bass guitar that was first introduced by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation in 1951. It was the first commercially successful electric bass guitar, and it revolutionized the music industry by providing bass players with a more practical and versatile instrument that was easier to play and amplified better than upright basses.

The Fender Precision Bass features a solid body made of ash, alder, or other tonewoods, a bolt-on neck made of maple, and a fingerboard made of either maple or rosewood. It has a scale length of 34 inches and typically comes with 20 or 21 frets. The instrument is equipped with one split-coil pickup that is positioned in the middle of the body and controlled by a volume knob and a tone knob.

One of the key features of the Fender Precision Bass is its ability to produce a wide range of tones, from warm and mellow to bright and punchy, thanks to its pickup and control configuration. It is commonly used in a variety of music genres, including rock, pop, jazz, and blues, among others.

Over the years, the Fender Precision Bass has undergone several changes and modifications, including the addition of a second pickup, changes to the body shape and materials, and improvements to the hardware and electronics. Today, it remains one of the most popular and highly-regarded bass guitars on the market, favored by both professional musicians and amateur players alike.

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Classic Rock History: One Hit Wonders: 

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"Evil Woman (Don't Play Your Games With Me)" is a song by the American rock band Crow, which was released in August 1969. The song was written by lead guitarist Dick Wiegand and it was included on the band's debut album, "Crow Music."

"Evil Woman" is a hard-driving rock song that features a heavy guitar riff and a powerful vocal performance by lead singer David Wagner. The song's lyrics tell the story of a man betrayed by an "evil woman" to whom he says "Wickedness lies in your moistened lips."

The song's driving beat, memorable riff, and catchy chorus have made it a favorite among fans of hard rock and heavy metal. "Evil Woman" was a commercial success, reaching #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. It would unfortunately be Crow's only single to break into the Top 40.

Trivia: The song was covered, also in 1969, by Black Sabbath and was released in England as the band's first-ever single. The song also appeared on the European version of the band's debut album, Black Sabbath, though it was excluded from versions released in other markets and was replaced by its B-side, "Wicked World", on the American version of the album. The song was not officially released in North America until 2002, when it was included on the compilation album Symptom of the Universe: The Original Black Sabbath 1970–1978.

Crow genealogy and discography
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The Les Paul Junior is an electric guitar model that was introduced by Gibson in 1954 as a more affordable option for players who wanted the distinctive Les Paul sound and style without the additional features and costs of other Les Paul models. The Les Paul Junior became one of the most popular and recognizable guitars of the 1950s and has remained a classic instrument in the decades since.

The Les Paul Junior (1954-1958) features a single-cutaway mahogany body and neck, with a 22-fret rosewood fingerboard. It has a simple, no-frills design with a single P-90 pickup, a single volume and tone control, and a wraparound bridge/tailpiece. In 1958, it was redesigned with a double-cutaway body style. This initial run of the model lasted through 1963.

The P-90 pickup is known for its distinctive and powerful sound. The simplicity of the guitar's design belies its ability to produce a variety of sounds, especially through a high-gain amplifier. Even when played through an overdriven amp, its sound "cleans up" well when the volume control is rolled back slightly. Coupled with a variation in picking attack, the Les Paul Junior can be a formidable and versatile weapon in the arsenal of blues, pop and rock players.

The Les Paul Junior has been used by many notable guitarists over the years, including John Lennon, Mick Jones of The Clash, Billy Joe Armstrong of Green Day, Leslie West of Mountain, and Charlie Starr of Blackberry Smoke. Martin Barre of Jethro Tull recorded the entire Aqualung album with a 1957 Les Paul Junior, including the extended guitar solo of the title track.

The LP Junior remains popular with musicians who value simplicity and a classic rock and roll sound.

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Classic Rock History: One Hit Wonders: 

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The Rugbys were a rock band from Louisville, Kentucky that formed in the mid-1960s. They started out playing cover songs by artists like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, but soon began writing and performing their own original material. The latter part of 1969 and all of 1970 were spent touring the midwest and northeast, playing on the same bill with artists like Bob Seger, Grand Funk Railroad, the James Gang, and many others.

In 1969, The Rugbys released their debut album, "Hot Cargo," which included their hit single "You, I." Clocking in at only 2:50, the song opens with a droning buzz-saw, feedback-laden guitar note preceding the driving main riff and bass line, moving through a distorted wah-wah guitar solo over a trippy middle section before a key change leads to its raucous climax. "You, I" reached #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and helped to establish The Rugbys as a nationally and internationally known recording act.

Rugbys genealogy and discography
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The Fender Mustang is an electric guitar model that was first introduced by Fender in 1964. It was initially designed to be a student model guitar, but it has since gained popularity among many different types of guitar players.

The Mustang features a shorter scale length of 24 inches, which makes it easier to play for those with smaller hands or for players who prefer a shorter neck. It also has a unique offset waist body shape that sets it apart from other Fender models like the Stratocaster or Telecaster.

In terms of electronics, the Mustang typically features two angled single-coil pickups, each with an adjacent on-off-on switch, and a master tone and volume control. Some models also include a tremolo bar or vibrato system, which allows players to create unique pitch-bending effects.

The Mustang was a popular choice for surf music groups in the 1960s. It was eventually discontinued in 1982. Over the years, the Mustang has been used by many notable guitarists, including Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, who famously played a Fender Mustang during the band's early years, and whose embrace of the model was likely the impetus for its reissue in 1990. Today, Fender offers a variety of Mustang models with different features and finishes to suit different players' preferences.

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Classic Rock History: Landmark Albums: 

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"Agents of Fortune" is the fourth studio album by the American rock band Blue Öyster Cult, released in May 1976. The album is considered to be one of the band's best and most popular works, featuring their signature hard rock and heavy metal sound with elements of psychedelic and progressive rock. Although a bit more polished and slicker than their previous three albums, it would prove to be BOC's breakthrough commercially.

The album's most well-known song is "Don't Fear the Reaper," which became a major hit and is now considered a classic rock staple. The song features haunting guitar riffs and harmonies, and its lyrics deal with the topic of mortality and the inevitability of death.

Other notable tracks on the album include "This Ain't the Summer of Love," which features a driving guitar riff and a catchy chorus, and "Sinful Love," which has a bluesy, slow-burning feel.

"Agents of Fortune" was produced by Murray Krugman and Sandy Pearlman, who had worked with the band on their previous albums. The album was well-received by critics and fans alike, and it helped to cement Blue Öyster Cult's reputation as one of the most innovative and influential hard rock bands of the 1970s.

Blue Oyster Cult genealogy and discography
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The Gibson ES series of electric guitars is a line of semi-hollow and hollow body electric guitars manufactured by Gibson. The ES in the name stands for "Electric Spanish" and the series was introduced by Gibson in the late 1940s as a response to the growing popularity of electric guitars.

The ES series has been used by many famous guitarists, including B.B. King, Chuck Berry, and Wes Montgomery, among others. The guitars are known for their warm, rich tone, which is due in part to their semi-hollow and hollow body construction.

The ES-335 is perhaps the most iconic model in the series. It features a semi-hollow body construction with a center block that runs down the middle of the body, which helps to reduce feedback and increase sustain. The ES-335 has a warm and full-bodied tone that is perfect for blues, jazz, and rock music. Legendary guitarist Larry Carlton is affectionately known as "Mr. 335" owing to his association with that particular model.

The ES-345 and ES-355 are similar to the ES-335, but they include additional features such as stereo outputs, varitone circuits, and multiple pickups. These guitars have a more complex sound and are well-suited for players who want more tonal options.

The ES series has undergone various changes and updates over the years, with different models featuring different pickups, hardware, and finishes. Gibson continues to produce the ES series today, and the guitars remain popular among musicians of all genres.

Trivia: While it's easy to assume that ES guitar models are numbered according to their feature set (they mostly are), the numbers actually directly correspond to the original list prices, in dollars, of the various models at the time of their introduction.

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