Today's birthday boy is Scott McKenzie, protege and friend (for a while, like everyone else) of the great John Phillips, whose album Wolf King Of LA is, as I need hardly remind readers of this blog, a heartbreaking work of staggering genius (or is it a staggering work of heartbreaking genius?). Anyway, Scott is 70 today (I suspect the picture might be a tad out of date)and still remembered for the great Flower Power anthem, San Francisco (a Phillips creation, of course). Those of us of a certain age have only to hear the opening bars of that one to be instantly suffused with a potent mix of heady nostalgia and blush-making embarrassment.
A couple of years ago, I found The Voice of Scott McKenzie (12" vinyl, naturally) in a charity shop and snapped it up. Apart from the monumental San Franscisco, there are two good songs on it - Like an Old Time Movie and What's The Difference? A rather lovely voice though, and it's perhaps a pity that he didn't join the Mamas & the Papas - though it would surely have ended badly. Scott's still around - he's made the three score and ten and seems to have had a decent life - while John has gone, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. And some great music.
Happy birthday, Scott.
He's still around ? donner und blitzen, as one of those certain agers that song is electron beam welded into my psyche, rumbling around the innermost reaches of the bonce, occasionally even surfacing as a whistle. It shares that privilege with Tony Bennett's San Francisco, Frank's Laura and I've got you under my skin plus the Stone's Paint it Black. Happy days.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to mention Bridgette Bardot, no singer but the lass had other, just as important assets.
Have you heard her version of Je t'Aime (Moi Non Plus), Malty? If not, I suggest you leave it that way - might just finish you off...
ReplyDeleteShe did that and didn't tell me ? how fickle are wommen.
ReplyDelete