An Ex-Hippie Remembers: Long-Haired Hippie Music

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Long-Haired Hippie Music

"Old hippies don't die, they just lie low until the laughter stops and their time comes round again." Joseph Gallivan, British journalist.



Yep, I was a commune living hippie back in the 70's. And as time has rolled on, I am finding very little to like about today's modern music. Ack, I'm repeating the mantra of my parent's generation when they made fun of the Beatles, those "long-haired hippies."

Let's look at some of the music from the 60's and 70's.

The Beatles Forever 

Yes, I was a screaming fan

lps


I was in my early teens when the Beatles became popular in America. My parents did not have a TV, so I remember watching the Ed Sullivan show through the window of a local restaurant. We all had favorites; John was mine. Some of my friends preferred the Dave Clark Five and Herman's Hermits, but I was a die-hard Beatle fan. The first thing on my Christmas or birthday wish list was their latest album or 45 record. Most of you probably don't remember the old hi-fi record players. You could put a stack of 10 or so 45's on them and amazingly, when one song was done, the next record would fall down. The things they come up with these days.

I took a lot of teasing from my parent's generation about this obsession of mine. Comments from "All they do is sing, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah," to "When are they going to get a haircut?" Looking back, their haircuts were pretty tame!
But it was their music that captured my heart the most. I've tried to list my favorite songs, but they change every day, depending upon my mood. When I get really nostalgic, I like to turn on an oldies station and listen to:

I Saw Her Standing Therelps
Twist And Shout.
She Loves You.
All My Loving.
I Want to Hold Your Hand.
Can't Buy Me Love

Then there is " Here Comes the Sun" - from The Abbey Road album. I played this at my first wedding, along with "Because" well just because I liked the words.

I also have a lot of fun singing "Octopus's Garden" when I'm feeling silly. Now that I'm getting older, "Will you still love me, when I'm 64?" makes a lot more sense. When I'm feeling quiet and thoughtful, I might play "Let it Be" or "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."

I was not happy when the Beatles broke up. In my young mind, it just didn't make sense. I didn't blame anyone in particular, but I've always felt that none of them have achieved in their solo careers what they accomplished together.

Then, of Course There Is..... 

Humorous Pictures


see more crazy cat pics

I guess the rumors of Paul's death were true since there are only 3 "tabbies" crossing the road!

Get a Real Abbey Road Poster from All-Posters.com 

40th Anniversary of Abbey Road 

The crosswalk where the famous picture was bedlam on Aug 8, 2009. Share the madness with someone who was there.

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curated content from YouTube

Were the Beatles Hippies? 

What is a Hippy Anway?

According to Wikipedia,

"The hippie subculture is a youth movement that began in the United States during the early 1960s and spread around the world. The word hippie derives from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district. These people inherited the countercultural values of the Beat Generation, created their own communities, listened to psychedelic rock, embraced the sexual revolution, and used drugs such as cannabis and LSD to explore alternative states of consciousness."


The Beatles had a huge effect on America's entire popular culture. According to the article Beatles redefined pop culture, had political impact" by Rique Harshman, in the Observer, February 13, 2004,

"On the night of The Beatles' famous performance on The Ed Sullivan Show, 73-million (45 percent) of the nation tuned in to watch the most-talked about group of the day."


The article goes on to say,

"The hippies of the sixties, arguably the most radical generation of youth America has seen to date, were directly influenced by The Beatles."


In another article, Hippie Music: Songs With A Message by Skip Stone states:

"So the early sixties saw music becoming more than just entertainment. It was now music with a message. And the messages our poets sang helped us identify with important issues and events that concerned us all. They spurred us to action. These songs had an impact on the consciousness of not just hippies but all society. Some of these songs also broke new ground musically. One way or another they hit us deeply, made us think, made us dream, made us feel as one people."


imagineThe later Beatle music had the messages people were craving. All You Need is Love, Let It Be, Strawbery Fields, to name a few. After they split up, John Lennon's Imagine as well. In addition, they were trend setters, wearing long hair, going to India to study with a guru, using drugs, and wearing psychedlic colors.

Were the Beatles hippies? Probably not, in the strictest sense of the word. Did their music and lifestyle resonate with hippies? Definitely.

"Hippy is an establishment label for a profound, invisible, underground, evolutionary process. For every visible hippy, barefoot, beflowered, beaded, there are a thousand invisible members of the turned-on underground. Persons whose lives are tuned in to their inner vision, who are dropping out of the TV comedy of American Life."
Timothy Leary The Politics of Ecstasy

All You Need is Love 

Just a few clips to get you in the mood. It's hard to pick out just a few, so these may change from time to time.
curated content from YouTube

Beatles Memorabilia on E-Bay 

I wish I had kept all the Beatles Memorabilia I used to own. Start your own collection at E-Bay

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Beatles Music on Amazon 

Add some to your collection today

The Beatles Stereo Box Set

Amazon Price: $179.99 (as of 11/15/2009) Buy Now

The White Album (Remastered)

Amazon Price: $16.99 (as of 11/15/2009) Buy Now

Abbey Road (Remastered)

Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 11/15/2009) Buy Now

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Remastered)

Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 11/15/2009) Buy Now

Get More Beatle Info at These Websites 

The Official Beatles Website
Plenty of information about all things Beatle related
The Beatles - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Beatles were a rock and pop band from Liverpool, England that formed in 1960 .
The Beatles - The Internet Beatles Album
A collection of Beatles related informational, sound and picture files, made available for study by Beatles fans and scholars all over the world to explore ...
I Am The Beatles
Their history, albums, songs, lyrics, and what the lyrics mean. News on album collections and answers to fan questions.

Lucy in the Sky Inspiration Dies 

The little girl named Lucy, who was the inspiration for the song Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, passed away recently. It turns out that the story about the drawing that Julian Lennon had made was true. He drew a picture and told his father it was his childhood friend, "Lucy in the sky with diamonds."

And so a classic song was born, and didn't have anything to do with LSD after all. But people will believe what they want to believe.

Read more about it at these websites.
'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds' dies - CNN.com
The childhood friend of John Lennon's son who inspired the Beatles' psychedelic masterpiece "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" has died aged 46 from the chronic disease Lupus.
Woman who inspired Beatles' Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds is dead at 46 | The Sun |News
LUCY Vodden, the woman who inspired The Beatles classic Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, has died aged 46 from Lupus

The Summer of Love -1967 

Monterey Pop Festival

I believe I must have had a past life in San Francisco because I have always had a fascination the area, although I have only been there one time while attending a convention. The song San Francisco, which was written by John Phillips of the Mamas and Papas and sung by Scott McKenzie, always seems to be calling me back. It was initially designed to promote the Monterey Pop Festival.

love2The Monterey Pop Festival took place during 3 days in June of 1967. Many great musicians had their first major American appearance there, including Jimi Hendrix, The Who, and Janis Joplin. Some critics claim that it has not received the recognition it deserved and has been overshadowed by Woodstock.

Some of the other musicians who performed during these three days include The Mamas and Papas, Jefferson Airplane, The Byrds, Simon and Garfunkel, and the Association.

Videos from the Monterey Pop Festival 

curated content from YouTube

Re-Live the Summer of Love 

Monterey International Pop Festival

Amazon Price: $21.98 (as of 11/15/2009) Buy Now

Summer Of Love: The Hits of 1967

Amazon Price: $39.98 (as of 11/15/2009) Buy Now

60s Summer of Love

Amazon Price: $9.49 (as of 11/15/2009) Buy Now

I Always Wanted a Volkswagon Bus 

Buy at Art.com
Swirly Turtles
Hopper Hippie Art
Buy From Art.com

The Music of Woodstock 

lps

I was still in high school when Woodstock happened in 1969, and I would have been too scared to participate at that time in my life anyway. But I've watched the video many times and feel like I was there in spirit. Some great songs were sung at that hippie love-in. Rolling Stone magazine named it one of the 50 Moments that Changed the History of Rock and Roll.

There is much written about the actual event, so I won't go into that here. It was definitely a moment in time that can never be repeated. I've included some links to other sites that give the history of Woodstock and some personal stories of those that attended. It is definitely worth reading. You will notice on the You-Tube comments that many people bemoan the fact that they were born too late to be a part of the 60's generation.

But what I want to focus on are some of the songs that were sung at Woodstock. There is Soul Sacrifice by Santana, White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane (one of my personal favorites), and Try by Janis Joplin, who was dead by drug overdose 14 months after Woodstock.

The first time I ever used the F...word was in college singing the anti-war protest song by Country Joe McDonald "I Feel Like I'm Fixing To Die Rag".."One, Two, Three, What are we fighting for?"

I had several Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young albums in college as well. I really like "See Me Feel Me" by the Who. My other favorites include Joan Baez, and Creedence Clearwater Revival. And of course, Arlo Guthrie was there. Joni Mitchell wrote the song that became the theme song for the whole Woodstock event and I've included her version in the You-Tube selections.

Remembering Woodstock at YouTube 

Take a look at some of my favorites
curated content from YouTube

Interesting Woodstock Websites 

1969 Woodstock Festival & Concert
A collection of Woodstock Facts, Figures, Stories, Photos, Current Happenings, Memorabilia, Links, and Assorted Tidbits. Assembled to give you a clearer picture of an event that reshaped Music and Society.
Woodstock in 1969 : Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone's 50 Moments That Changed the History of Rock and Roll.
Woodstock 69 Revisted by Glenn Weiser
Woodstock 69 site with stories, photos, and highlights from the 1969 program guide

Woodstock Memories at Amazon 

If you don't get anything else, be sure to have a copy of the Woodstock movie.

Woodstock: Music from the Original Soundtrack and More

Amazon Price: $38.99 (as of 11/15/2009) Buy Now

Woodstock '69 Festival - 3 Days of Peace and Music

Amazon Price: $8.95 (as of 11/15/2009) Buy Now

Woodstock Poster - T-Shirt

Amazon Price: (as of 11/15/2009) Buy Now

Memories of Woodstock 

The 40th Anniversary of Woodstock was celebrated the weekend of Aug. 14th. I'll add some more videos when people get them posted on You-Tube

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"You can get anything you want, at Alice's Restaurant." 

I am a huge Arlo Guthrie fan. When Alice's Restaurant Massacree came out in 1967, I was hooked. I was a peace activist in those days, so I really related to his message. The movie came out in 1969. I am absolutely amazed at how many young people today have never heard of the movie or the song. So telling someone to sing a bar of Alice's Restaurant when they are fed up with the system, makes no sense to them.

In the late 60's and early 70's, we were bombarded every day with the images from the Vietnam war. We were either being drafted or had friends that were being drafted. Those were scary times. And Arlo was one of the voices speaking out against the madness. Alice's Restaurant made a commentary about bureaucracy that expressed what many of us were feeling. This true story of his life was at the same time funny and entertaining, as well as poignant.

My husband and I refer to this movie/song many times during our lives. If we feel the need to prove something, we talk about the "8-by-10 color glossy pictures with the circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one explaining what each one was." When we feel as though people are judging us for our religious beliefs or the way we live, we talk about being sent to the "Group W bench," which is also kind of ironic since our last name begins with W. And don't get us started; we love to break into "You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant," at a moment's notice.

Arlo, the son of Woody Guthrie, is still performing today, along with several of his children. I was fortunate to see him perform in California several years ago. It is an experience that I treasure because of the memories. I also enjoy his humorous commentaries. He was particularly funny when explaining how all the "good" lyrics seem to float by him to Bob Dylan, while he ended up with lyrics such as "I don't want a pickle, just want to ride my motorcycle." (The Motorcycle Song)

"Everyone has a responsibility to not only tolerate another person's point of view, but also to accept it eagerly as a challenge to your own understanding. And express those challenges in terms of serving other people."
Arlo Guthrie

Arlo Guthrie Sites to Visit  

Just a few sites with Arlo information
The Official Arlo Guthrie Website
This is Arlo's official website. Be sure to drop into the Forum where you can mingle with his fans. From time to time Arlo drops by.
Rising Son Records
Arlo's band website. Here you can see some of Mrs. G's "Homegrown Videos."
Arlo Guthrie Official MySpace Page
Arlo singing "In Times Like These" in the background

Listen to Arlo on You-Tube 

If you've never heard Alice's Restaurant, you can see Arlo perform it on You-Tube. Warning, it is over 18 min. long. If you want to get nostalgic, listen to all the clips, including one from the Muppet Show
curated content from YouTube

Get Your Arlo Guthrie items at Amazon 

If you don't have the movie version of Alice's Restaurant, you have to add it to your collection. It is a classic.

Arlo Guthrie Greatest Hits

Amazon Price: $8.97 (as of 11/15/2009) Buy Now

Alice's Restaurant

Amazon Price: $10.99 (as of 11/15/2009) Buy Now

Alice's Restaurant

Amazon Price: $10.49 (as of 11/15/2009) Buy Now

Anti-War Songs 

Make Love, Not War

PhotobucketBack in the 60's and 70's, we all knew young boys who were being drafted. Some enlisted in other branches of the service to avoid being drafted into the army. My husband joined the Air Force and I had a boyfriend who joined the Coast Guard.

The nightly news was filled with violent pictures of the Vietnam conflict and included a daily body count. Folk singers and rock musicians started changing their civil right protest songs to ant-war songs.

"An anti-war song is a musical composition that either states anti-war sentiments directly, or one which is perceived (by the public and/or critics) as having an anti-war theme. Some show the negative aspects of war, while others satirize war. Most promote peace, in some form or another, while others speak out against certain specific armed conflicts. Many of these songs are considered protest songs, and some have been embraced by various peace movements" Wikipedia

Some Popular Anti-War Songs 

curated content from YouTube

More Information about Hippies 

There is a lot informatioin about the Hippie Movement collected here.
Hippies From A to Z by Skip Stone
Hippies From A to Z, their Sex, Drugs, Music and Impact on Society from the Sixties to the Present. A Hip book by Skip Stone

Be Sure To Visit My Other Music Lens 

Let the Ex-Hippie Know You Were Here 

I love to hear from my visitors There is a whole lot more to say about this era, and music I haven't touched on yet. Please bookmark this lens and come back later.

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  • Reply
    Tipi Tipi Nov 12, 2009 @ 4:11 pm
    I know I have visited this lens before and had a rush of memories, that all came back again.
    My hippy era is one I wouldn't trade for anything. I loved living on a commune and living off the land with other serious lovers of life. We worked hard and once in awhile took out some time for fun and play. I'm so happy that I can give this lens a Squid Angel blessing!
    Sister are very special!!!
    Susie
  • Reply
    Stazjia Stazjia Oct 31, 2009 @ 7:29 am
    I'm a baby boomer and, although never a 'visible' hippie, I think I assimilated and embraced the philosophy which still stays with me today. IMO, the whole hippie culture had a lasting effect on my generation. Blessed by an Angel.
  • Reply
    bethd821 bethd821 Oct 30, 2009 @ 7:37 pm
    "All You Need Is Love"! You got it here. Great lens. Oh, the memories. Remember, if you remember the 60's, you weren't there! LOL 5* & lenroll to my Iron Butterfly lens.
  • Reply
    Joseph Gallivan Joseph Gallivan Oct 30, 2009 @ 5:33 pm
    In context, that was a throwaway line in a music listing (for Gong, I think) 20 years ago, and I was referring to British hippies, who were a lot less interesting than the original American hippies.
  • Reply
    Steve_Andrews Steve_Andrews Aug 12, 2009 @ 11:06 am
    A real funny and groovy lens about hippies and hippie music. The music, styles, and fashions were the best.
    Come see my funny lens about an exhippie who exhales about Woodstock 40 years later.
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My name is Diane, aka GrannySage. I have a lot of interests, including music, writing, reading fantasy, metaphysics, wolves, cats, travel to interesti... (more)

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