Repost: Hoyt Axton

I haven’t had much to say lately.  Too tired and achy tonight.  I’ve spent most of the last two afternoons assembling some closet storage and rearranging things.  Tomorrow, I might put together my new tv stand.  Or not.  That could probably wait until the weekend.  Anyway, the song in this post pretty much covers how I feel right now.

You’ve heard a Hoyt Axton song, even if you’ve never heard of him. After all, you’ve heard Three Dog Night sing “Joy to the World,” right? Then you’ve heard Hoyt, since he wrote that song. He also wrote “Never Been to Spain,” which as another hit for Three Dog Night. He also wrote “The No-No Song.” Hoyt Axton was popular in the 70s as a performer in his own right. He also acted on television and the movies; you might remember him as the dad in Gremlins.

Hoyt Axton is one of those artists like Jim Croce and The Band. I can’t gauge how well-known he is out in the world because he was always well-known in my family. My parents used to listen to the greatest hits collection we had a lot. He’s one of those guys who sang the soundtrack to my childhood. (There’s a lot of others on this childhood soundtrack; it might even be a box set.) The music in the 70s wasn’t any better than music from today (no era is better than any other, they’re just different). What makes it more important to me in some ways, I guess, is the emotional associations I have with it. I still love the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt today because my mom used put her records of them on while she did housework. I have fond memories of Hoyt Axton: the country twang of his voice, his big beaming smile. These musicians are a little like family in a way. Relatives you don’t see very often but who always make you smile.

I prefer Three Dog Night’s version of “Joy to the World”; that organ and the harmonies are so perfect for it. But my favorite Axton sung performed by the man himself is this weary country classic.

Here’s hoping the work week goes a little easier for everyone.

Hoyt Axton

You’ve heard a Hoyt Axton song, even if you’ve never heard of him.  After all, you’ve heard Three Dog Night sing “Joy to the World,” right?  Then you’ve heard Hoyt, since he wrote that song.  He also wrote “Never Been to Spain,” which as another hit for Three Dog Night.  He also wrote “The No-No Song.”  Hoyt Axton was popular in the 70s as a performer in his own right.  He also acted on television and the movies; you might remember him as the dad in Gremlins.

Hoyt Axton is one of those artists like Jim Croce and The Band.  I can’t gauge how well known he is out in the world because he was always well known in my family.  My parents used to listen to the greatest hits collection we had a lot.  He’s one of those guys who sang the soundtrack to my childhood.  (There’s a lot of others on this childhood soundtrack; it might even be a box set.)  The music in the 70s wasn’t any better than music from today (no era is better than any other, they’re just different).  What makes it more important to me in some ways, I guess, is the emotional associations I have with it.  I still love the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt today because my mom used put her records of them on while she did housework.  I have fond memories of Hoyt Axton: the country twang of his voice, his big beaming smile.  These musicians are a little like family in a way.  Relatives you don’t see very often but who always make you smile.

I prefer Three Dog Night’s version of “Joy to the World”; that organ and the harmonies are so perfect for it.  But my favorite Axton sung performed by the man himself is this weary country classic.

Here’s hoping the work week goes a little easier for everyone.