4a) THE Reason the 70's Rocked

4a1) The Who "Baba O'Riley" Who's Next (1971)

4a2) A ferocious cry of freedom with the heart of a ballad, it echoes the album cover–the monolith both desecrated, and untouched by man. The profane, insane, and transcendent. The higher gods leading rock into new horizons. This is the birth cry of the starchild called RAWK. It's shadow looms even today. On everything from punk to grunge to motorik kosmische to operatic narratives. Preceding or following, all bow to "Baba O'Riley." Happy birthday. 

5a) In Which More Cowbell is Needed...

4a1) SNL - More Cowbell

4a2a) ...and in which Will Farrell gives one of his great unhinged performances, Jimmy Fallon cracks up halfway through, Horatio Sanz gives his "I'm just lucky to be here" performance, and Cristopher Walken tries to keep the whole thing going.

4a2b) Which is all to say the skit itself is not that good. The concept is hilarious, especially to classic rock fans (see next item), but what saves it is that no one can really hold it together once things really get going. SNL often operates more on charm than actual comedic chops, and this is a prime example. One that never gets old. 

4a2c) And like a true music geek, I have to point out that Bruce Dickinson's (he, the lead singer of Iron Maiden, and fencer of Olympic medalists), first production credit was in 1984, nearly ten years after Blue Öyster Cult's "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" was released. Arguably putting them in the influence seat, not the other way around. But then, you knew that. And so did whomever wrote the script. 

4a) Reprise

 

  4a1) Can "Vitamin C" Ege Bamyasi (1972)

 

4a2) 24-Carat Black "24-Carat Black (Theme)" Ghetto: Misfortune's Wealth (1973) 

4a3) In a bit of a who made who mystery, this is a stunning coincidence. It is unlikely that Can made it to Dale Warren's turntable as he was putting together Ghetto: Misfortune's Wealth. Was anyone outside of Europe listening to Ege Bamyasi in 1973? Even in the 70's, I would assume there was a crew of global heads that had knowledge, access, and the wherewithal to grab up the oddities coming out of Germany, and Europe at large. 

I don't know that anyone would know the "true" story. But the similarities between the two songs are enough that it would be an odd coincidence if both groups stumbled across a similar rhythm, and then built a song out of it. That is, unless there was something in the ether of a more nascent form.

4a4) DJ Food's loop of 24-Carat Black pointed me to the similarities when I mistook it for a Can sample. 

4aWTF?) Just in case someone needs a copyright defense.

4a) Daily Zen

4a) Christophe "Sunny Road to Salina" Road to Salina (1970)

4a) Reasons Why the 70's Rocked

4a1) Linda Ronstadt "Tumbling Dice" and "You're No Good," Atlanta 1977

4a2) "There are two kinds of men in this world. Those with a crush on Linda Ronstadt and those who never heard of her."

Willie Nelson