Songs you first Heard at the Grove

Most of us got our musical education down there on a Saturday night...and for me there were songs I heard for the first time and wondered who was the singer or the band.

For example,Living in the Past,Whole Lotta Rosie,Silver Machine,Stay With me til Dawn, and even Whole Lotta Love,where I will (embarrassingly) admit to thinking...'hmm-whoever that is ripped off the old Top of the Pops theme...!'

When you would be lucky to hear one of these rock classics on the radio,you got that feeling of what you were doing or who you were with maybe just days earlier,it gave you that (what we know call) a 'real Grove Song' feeling.

What songs did you hear for the first time down there,which maybe prompted you to become a fan of someone?

Interesting thread.

I remember being aware of certain songs, but never played that loud - basslines and drums seemed that much better. I wonder was that the vinyl?

My brother was into metal, so I picked up a fair bit from him (AC/DC, Maiden, Motorhead, Sabbath, Zeppelin). My own taste was alternative, but Cecil brought that out much more. Certain songs just became classics in a way I never appreciated until that point (Whole Lotta Rosie, Rock & Roll, Paranoid). It was a musical education and my pashion for music has never dimmed since.

 It was at one of the reunions in the Sheiling that Cecil played a request for me (and in my maiden name to really take me back!) and it was none other than 'More than a Feeling' so it's really special to me now!

Ooh look!  I'm now a die-hard Grover! 

On a different angle,I didn't know who Psycho Killer was by. Nor did I like it very much-I think probably because it reminded me of the theme from Fraggle Rock! (go on-hum it...see what I mean?)

Never heard Smoke on the Water,Freebird,Alternative Ulster,Teenage Kicks or even Sweet Home Alabama (all obvious staples now) until I got down there. I met a girl from Clonliffe Road who helped me to headbang because I wasn't able to and we did a lot of Status Quo moves(remember them being played?) where we would stand legs far apart,head down and waist pivoting the weight from one leg to the other (you know the move) because this was easy to do,whereas headbanging that 'figure 8' style was hard to manage in time with the song.

And I hate to admit it,but apart from Stairway to heaven, I didn't know who Led Zeppelin were.Like most newbies to this culture,I thought Led Zeppelin was a bloke...

Fair enough,Jen.

Short Hair Hippie and Joanna-welcome back guys...long time no see.

I mentioned after the last Shieling re-union,standing in a circle with HD,BB,Pat,Tonto et al,air guitar in hand,belting out 'ANGUS! ne ne ne na na ne nah...) and closing my eyes,the hair swinging (not just mine!),the sweat,the feeling,it was an instant time transportation. Really felt like we were back there again.

Never heard of Santana,except from Tony going on about them cos he was at Slane in '84 when they played with Bob Dylan. He used to write the Santana logo on copybooks and that was enough for me-it LOOKED so cool that they had to be good! Rushed out and bought Moonflower-double album- and was instantly hooked. Guitar songs like Flor d'Luna (Moonflower),Black Magic Woman,Europa,Earths Cry-Heavens Smile and of course She's not There (I actually knew Argents version before Santana's) and that was it-I was a fan. Their Abraxas album was so cool,(Samba Pa Ti,Mother's Daughter,Hope your feeling Better-great guitar tracks) and Beyond Appearances had the haunting 'Written in Sand'.

Thanks Cecil (and Tonto!) for bringing them to me.