Mandolin Rain - Mandolin Songs in Rock & Pop

[WilliamS68311]

Continuing with my series of playlists of rock and pop songs featuring particular instruments, with past blogs highlighting the piano, keyboards, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, harmonica, accordion, and flute, today’s blog salutes the mandolin. While most common in classical, bluegrass, and folk music, the mandolin has found a place in some great rock and pop songs. A few bands with regular inclusion of mandolin in their music included Led Zeppelin, the Grateful Dead, REM, and the Hooters. Some mandolin song greats included Zep’s Battle of Evermore and Going to California, Grateful Dead’s Friend of the Devil and Ripple, REM’s Losing My Religion, Hooters And We Danced, Steve Winwood’s Back In The High Life, Goo Goo Dolls Iris, Billy Joel’s Piano Man, Bruce Hornsby’s Mandolin Rain, the playlist title song, and Elton John’s Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters, perhaps my favorite song on the list.

So give it a listen, and give attention to the mandolin, sometimes in the background, sometimes as a little solo or flourish. You might be surprised at some of the songs you’ve listened to many times without acknowledging its presence and its important contribution to the song.
 
I hope that this music and my blog truly serve as a “revival: a new presentation of something old,” a springboard to return to the music of your youth, or perhaps to find artists you want to discover anew.  Rediscover the passion of music in your life. Live in the moment. Enjoy the moment. Love the moment. Listen to the MUSIC!

https://listentothemusicblog.com/mandolin-rain-mandolin-songs-in-rock-pop/

[WebWiseWoman]

I noted there was some smack talk about Rod; I want to add a personal note...

I never considered anything he did as disco, ever. I remember the first time my lil-Sis and I played "Da Ya' Think I'm Sexy" and we caught our Mom (recently widowed) dancing with hands in the air in the kitchen while fixing breakfast...

In 1983, while preggo with our 2nd daughter, my lil-Sis and a whole pack of ladies attended his concert; 28 costume changes, if I remember correctly; the first time we'd seen anyone use a lift to sing out over the audience; the only time Jack bottles were passed from row to row for everyone (we didn't know then it might be bad for pregnant women)!

The show ended, and we all sat in the parking lot and sang "It's A Heartache", "You Wear It Well" and "The Killing Of Georgie" awaiting our husbands and SOs...

I've attended so many shows in the past 50 years; this one will always be my favorite and my best remembered...

Just saying...

[BeatleloverKT]

Great playlist. Glad to see Rod Stewart, a long

time fav of mine, well represented

[Therapist4u]

Hi @BeatleloverKT

I also loved Rod in the early days....(pre...Disco crap era & Do Ya think I’m sexy...hahaha) like Rod Stewart with Jeff Beck...& then the Small Faces (when Steve Marriott left to form Humble Pie)/ then the Faces

Rod and Jeff had a relationship that went back to the late 60s when Stewart joined the post-Yardbirds 'The Jeff Beck Group'

"Despite disagreements among band members, Stewart found Beck to be an astounding musician. They remained close friends until Beck’s death, and Stewart praised Beck for actually listening to him sing and respond during live performances..."

My fav from back then was “Gasoline Alley”!

(I’ll suggest this to add to your list if you don’t already have it William @WilliamS68311 )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poaOlVSMTrM&t=126s

And if I'm called away and it's my turn to go

Should the blood run cold in my veins

Just one favor I'll be asking of you

Don't bury me here, it's too cold

Take me back, carry me back

Down to Gasoline Alley where I started from

Take me back, won't you carry me home

Down to Gasoline Alley where I started from

Stay safe....&...Take care!

☮️  🌩🌦~Allen

🌈  ⛵  🌞

[WilliamS68311]

Agree about Rod and Beck. "Gasoline Alley" is on there 😉 

[Therapist4u]

Hi William

@WilliamS68311

"Mandolin Wind"

.....written by Rod Stewart. It was first released on Stewart's 1971 album Every Picture Tells a Story and later as the B-side of a single from that album, his version of " (I Know) I'm Losing You ."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPbjk6TycMc

Mandolin Wind (Live Unplugged) (2008 Remaster) · Rod Stewart : Ronnie Wood

Stay safe....&...Take care!

☮️  🌩🌦~Allen 🌈  ⛵  🌞

[WilliamS68311]

The studio version of Rod Stewart's "Mandolin Wind" is already on the list (40th song). 🙂 

[Therapist4u]

OK...well didn't see it here....

& hadn't seen the whole list....

Thanks for replying Allen

even tho "Mandolin Wind"....

was way way down my list....

that was a great LIVE Version....

[WilliamS68311]

No worries - I'm happy people comment. And I actually just added the live version of "Mandolin Wind" as well, as it better features the mandolin. I had never heard it before - thanks for pointing it out!

[Therapist4u]

Hi William

THANKS FOR THAT.....

Glad to know that you had never heard it before....and thought the LIVE Version was better as it features the mandolin.....& added it to your list...

BTW: Rod plays the Banjo on it

also....

I did go to your blog & look around

Stay safe....&...Take care!

☮️  🌩🌦~Allen

🌈  ⛵  🌞