Chicago Transit Authority - South California Purples (1969)

From the first, self-titled LP, I believe this turned out to be one of the best tracks on the entire album. Ironically, it is a deep cut, never released as a single. However, it got an incredible amount of airplay on FM radio. This montage takes us back to the year of release, 1969, especially featuring film and short film excerpts I have edited to the music from that year. Also, some footage of San Francisco and Hollywood from street and skyline views as well as brief documentary and home appearance by actress Sharon Tate who, according to a recent article, listed this band as one of her favorites along with The Beatles and The Doors (the album was released approximately four months before her tragic death in August). Following is a short clip from "Hollywood Heroines" starring Naomi Watts. The song also quotes the opening line from The Beatles' "I Am the Walrus:" "I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together." 1969 was the year the Paul McCartney death conspiracy began making its rounds throughout the United States and Canada. The reference to The Walrus was one of many "clues" The Beatles allegedly left concerning Paul's death in 1966. Thus, there is a short section devoted to this as well when the lyric is sung and the guitar reply is sounded.

An absolutely fabulous track worth hearing regardless of the visual framing.