"I can’t remember if I criedWhen I read about his widowed bride,But something touched me deep insideThe day the music died." – Don McLean, "American Pie"If nothing else rang loud and clear as I listened to the ten discs contained in the Flower Power box set, it was that the music of the sixties and seventies was simply different. The melodies, the harmonies, and the messages were delivered in a way you won't hear when you turn the radio on these days. Don't worry, I'm not going to opine about how corporate owned radio is destroying the music industry. What I am going to do is give you a sneak peek at this classic music from a hipper and cooler generation.Flower Power: The Music of the Love Generation is a box set containing five themed double discs brought to you by Time Life, the company well known for bringing the listening public genre-based music compilations. The five double CDs are titled Time of the Season, Born to Be Wild, Age of Aquarius, Summer of Love, and Groovin'. Each disc has in the neighborhood of 20 tracks, so what you get with this box is nearly 200 songs from the decade of peace and love by artists too numerous to list in their entirety.Known as the generation of peace, love, and rock 'n' roll, there are songs protesting war, songs of love, and songs of passion. For someone who came of age in that decade, or even if you’re a little younger but found yourself migrating toward this music like me, this collection will quickly become a treasured possession, and the songs will find themselves in high rotation on your iPod, if for nothing else than the memories you associate with them.Time Of The Season
This is probably the double-disc collection I've spent the most time listening to since receiving the set. Disc one has such favorites as The Moody Blues' "Nights in White Satin," Lobo's "Don't Expect Me to Be Your Friend," and Aretha Franklin's "Bridge Over Troubled Water." But it's not all about passion. Alice Cooper's "School's Out" and The New Seeker's "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" demonstrate the two opposite extremes of '70s rock included here.Disc two combines the reflective, contemplative sounds of Don McLean's "American Pie" and Jackie DeShannon's "What the World Needs Now is Love," with the protest songs so prevalent at the time such as "We Shall Overcome" by Joan Baez. In between are songs of discontent. Five Man Electrical Band's "Signs" is just one example.One of the main reasons I've found myself drawn to compilations like this box set is the familiarity. There are no surprises and no filler. Even though not every song in this massive collection rates high with me, I was aware of them enough to know what to expect going in, and the Time of the Season CDs didn't disappoint.Born To Be Wild
Article comments
1 - Glen Boyd
Nice review that brought back some memories, Connie. And considering what I was doing back then I suppose I should thank the Lord I actually have them (my memories that is).
-Glen
2 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Good write-up indeed, Connie. I think Spinal Tap said it best when they sang "Listen to the flower people..." But I'm afraid Lobo said it worse with "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo" which will be stuck in my head for a while. Wait, it gets worse: I hope for your sake that "Walking My Cat Named Dog" isn't on the album...
3 - Mark Saleski
nice review connie.
i'm working my way through this set too. boy, it is one large pile 'o tunes. lotsa fun.
4 - Connie Phillips
Thanks, Glen. Even though I was a bit young for this to be the music on the radio... it is what I seemed to migrate to and spend a good portion of my time listening to... and those memories seem to have withstood me annihilating a few brain cells too.
5 - Connie Phillips
Awe, but Gordon, I think there is a time and a place for the cheesier songs like the Lobo tune, every now and again at least.
In all actuality, though, those tracks are few and far between.
6 - Connie Phillips
Thanks, Mark. It is one massive box full of discs. I look forward to hearing what you have to say about it.
7 - Lisa McKay
Nice write-up on this, Connie. I usually stay away from compilations, but like Glen, this is the music I grew up on -- and if nothing else, it makes me nostalgic for the days when you could turn on the radio and hear stuff like this all the time.
I hated my high school years with a passion, but the soundtrack was something else altogether.
8 - Connie Phillips
Thank you, Lisa.
I understand there are downsides to compilations, but especially for someone like me, who loved a majority of the songs on here, but didn't own many of them -- it becomes a nice item to have.
I very very rarely turn my radio on these days, especially since I got an iPod hookup in my car, so I couldn't even tell if you there are 'oldies' stations out there that still broadcast this music over the airways... but there should be.
9 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
You're right, Connie, there is a time and place for the cheesier songs like the Lobo tune: 1967, long-buried in a time capsule no one can find.
Sorry--cheap joke. I actually cherish flower power, especially when the love generation is pushing up the daisies...
Sorry, again. I'm afraid I just can't stop... I'll go now...
10 - Connie Phillips
:::Smile::: Gordon!
Okay, okay, I rephrase it. I have a time and place for the cheesier stuff. Not all the time mind you, but sometimes.
11 - Al Barger
Why is it that this album review has me wanting to go into Cartman mode and start fumigating for hippies?
12 - Connie Phillips
Awe, Al, come on. Why all the hate for the concept of peace and love?