A Bunch of Songs to Chill to on 4/20

April 20 is the day that stoners around the world gather together under one cloudy haze of cannabis.

In order to celebrate properly, here are some toke-tastic songs about marijuana.

Steve Miller Band – The Joker

It’s easy to be a Midnight Toker when you are a Space Cowboy named Maurice. The Joker is one of two Steve Miller Band songs that feature the nonce word “pompatus“.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgDU17xqNXo&feature=youtu.be

Sly & The Family Stone – I Want to Take You Higher

Even though this song was a b-side, “I Want to Take You Higher” became a Top 40 hit of its own in 1970. That same year, Ike & Tina Turner released a cover of the song that became a hit as well, peaking four spots above the original Family Stone recording on the US pop charts (at #34), and one position below the original on the R&B singles chart.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – You Don’t Know How It Feels

Let’s just get to the point -and roll another joint- MTV and many radio stations aired a censored version of “You Don’t Know How It Feels,” taking the word “roll” out of “let’s roll another joint” — although a version replacing the word “roll” with “hit” was also made.

Jimi Hendrix Experience – Purple Haze

Many fans and the press interpret the song as referring to a psychedelic experience due to lines such as “purple haze all in my brain” and “‘scuse me while I kiss the sky”. However, Hendrix and those closest to him never discussed any connection between psychedelic drugs and the song, although Shapiro admits that, at the time, to do so would have been “professional suicide”.

Rick James – Mary Jane

“Mary Jane” was released in 1978 on Rick James’ debut album, “Come Get It!”, and was one of the first songs to utilize the style of music Rick James labeled “punk-funk.”

Bob Dylan – Rainy Day Woman #12 & 35

Bob Dylan‘s connection with marijuana and music is historic. It was Dylan who introduced it to The Beatles in 1964, and by the time he released his 1966 masterpiece Blonde on Blonde, it had become a regular part of his creative process. This was especially true on the song “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35,” which, according to Dylan biographer Howard Sounes, required that session musicians Hargus “Pig” Robbins and Henry Strzelecki smoked a “huge amount of marijuana” prior to recording.

The Doors – Light My Fire

“Light My Fire” was performed live by The Doors on The Ed Sullivan Show broadcast on September 17, 1967. The Doors were asked by producer Bob Precht, Sullivan’s son-in-law, to change the line “girl, we couldn’t get much higher”, as the sponsors were uncomfortable with the possible reference to drug-taking. The band agreed to do so, and did a rehearsal using the amended lyrics, “girl, we couldn’t get much better“; however, during the live performance, the band’s lead singer Jim Morrison sang the original lyric. Ed Sullivan did not shake Morrison’s hand as he left the stage.

Led Zeppelin – Going to California

Led Zeppelin were always far more subtle in their musical drug references — although behind the scenes, they allegedly indulged as much as anyone. The wistful “Going to California” is a perfect example. Here, both the song’s protagonist and the band’s backing melodies seem to waver drastically between chilled out bliss and understandable paranoia — and it all begins with the woman unkind who smoked his stuff and drank all his wine.

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

Aerosmith – Reefer Head Woman

Steven Tyler had the lyrics to Reefer Head Woman in a notebook that got stolen, and had to call Dr. Demento from the Record Plant where they finished the album, and the Doctor read back the lyrics to him over the phone.