Head East/”Never Been Any Reason”: An Appreciation
I think about music a lot. Although I play a couple of instruments poorly and sing in a church choir, I don’t consider myself “a musician.” I just love music—a pay attention to the sounds, the words, and how it makes me feel. I am also a great lover of multi-part harmony.
My favorite music is good rock and roll in multi part harmony—different voices singing different parts, combining into a whole better than any of the individual parts. Some of my favorites from the “Rock Era” (60s to 80s):
• “Seven Bridges Road” by the Eagles. (if you have time, just listen to the first 20 seconds: (Click here to listen ). That’s five male voices, singing five different parts, in perfect harmony.)
• “Southern Cross” by Crosby, Stills, and Nash (it’s worth taking 40 seconds of your life --Click here to listen--advance the recording to 1:00, and to listen from then until 1:40). You’ll never hear better harmony singing than that.)
• “I’ve Seen All Good People” by Yes (if you’ll give me 15 more seconds, just listen to the first 15 seconds here: (Click here to listen) Like the Eagles, this begins a capella, meaning voices only, with no instruments. Like Crosby, Stills and Nash, this is perfect 3 part harmony.
I won’t go on and on, but, if you like good singing, I will say it’s good stuff. All of it came out in a 10 year period from 1971 through 1980 and was intended to be sung live, in front of people (as opposed to the recording studio; in fact, the Eagles never recorded “Seven Bridges Road”; it only exists through recordings of live concerts.
In case you’re wondering where I’m going with this, it’s because, this past weekend, I found another song to add to this list. Diana (my bride) and I were out on Saturday and realized that, the next day, all the restaurants would be closing. So, on impulse, we went to La Playa on Saratoga, and ordered some Nachos A La Playa (basically, shrimp nachos with a yummy sauce) and enjoyed them together; kind of a “last party” until things reopen. Their music system was playing classic rock.
Head East’s “Never Been Any Reason” came on. I loved this song with it first came out (I was a freshman in high school), and, although I hadn’t heard it in years, I realized why I loved it so much—terrific harmonies and great instrumentation.
The lyrics are pretty typical mid-70s rock—about a relationship with the speaker (presumably a girlfriend) that is rocky. But the music itself. . . .
It’s pretty unusual. First of all, there are two lead vocalists, not just one. Steve Huston and John Schlitt switch back and forth on the lead; Huston was the drummer (pretty unusual for a drummer to sing lead in rock) starts out “Did you see any action . . .” and sings three lines. Then, John Schlitt, the usual lead vocalist (If you are a Christian Rock fan, Schlitt was later the lead singer for Petra) jumps in, about half an octave higher with “I’ve been walking behind you . . . “
Then the fireworks start. The chorus begins with two part harmony: “There’s never been any reason . . .” Next, comes one of those glorious accidents that can occur. Roger Boyd, the vocalist, laid down one track after the chorus, and then, just to try something different, laid down a different track (this was in the early days of synthesizers, which are called “keyboards” now). When they got into the studio, the recording engineer accidentally played both tracks at the same time. When they heard it, says Boyd, “we thought WOW!” so the accident became part of the final version of the song.
Boyd and Schlitt do through another shared verse, and to the two part chorus.
Then, after the second chorus, it happens.
Full blown, five part harmony: “Save my life, I’m going down for the last time . . .” This is the only song I know of that has five part harmony in the middle of a song when you have full drums, guitar, bass, and synthesizer going at the same time. With the Eagles and Yes, the five part harmony is a capella, no instrument, and with Crosby, Stills, and Nash, it’s one simple, slow rhythm guitar. I don’t’ know of any other rock song that has five part harmony in the midst of the instruments all going full throttle. And, to nerd out a bit more, this second, five part chorus (“Save my life, I’m going down for the last time” is repeated at intervals throughout the rest of the song, with several key changes.
In case you’re wondering why it’s a big deal, it’s hard to sing.
It’s not easy to play a musical instrument.
If you have never tried it, try, just once, to sing and play a musical instrument at the same time. Sing well, like you’re trying to sound good. Since something that doesn’t match what you’re playing on your instrument.
Then, try and do it singing in parts. Sing something that’s a completely different set of notes from what four other people are singing at the same time, but that somehow fits in perfectly. Now, do it while you’re playing a part on a musical instrument that is a completely different set of notes than what you’re singing.
Hint: this may sound hard; if you try it, it’s even harder than you imagine it is.
My point: that Head East’s “There’s Never Been Any Reason” is a musical gem, and underappreciated masterpiece, that’s well worth a listen. If you are inclined to try it, there's a link to it on the top of this page.
