From this early psychedelic rock group’s only album, from 1967:

Here’s the first track on this singer-songwriter’s only album, Gordon’s Buster, released in 1968 by Columbia.

From this Texas-born singer-songwriter’s 1975 LP Your Place or Mine, a song dedicated to Jim Croce after his death in 1973:

This American rock singer-songwriter has made no name for herself in this country, but her music has been well received in both Europe and Canada. “Sittin’ in the Dark” is a song from her 1979 self-titled debut LP:

From the album All the Friendly Colours by Hedge Capers and Donna Carson, released in 1969. They released six LPs in the 60s and 70s and seemingly disappeared.

Best known for her Grammy-winning “We’ll Sing in the Sunshine,” here’s a song from Gale Garnett’s second LP, Lovin’ Place (1965) :

From this jazz pianist’s 1989 album New Beginnings, with Gary Peacock on bass and Tony Williams on drums:

Bridget St. John is an English singer-songwriter, best known for a small handful of LPs recorded between 1969 and 1974. Ask Me No Questions is the first of the four:

From this blues & soul group’s 2012 CD Soul Flower, a song written by Frank Sinatra:

   Japanese animation, better known as anime, is a favorite of mine for many reasons, one of which is the music. An OP is the opening theme for the series. Check out four of my favorites opening themes (each under 2 minutes long).

MACROSS PLUS. (1994-95) English version. Performed by Michelle Flynn; composed by Yoko Kanno.

   No list of anime op should be without Yoko Kanno (Cowboy Bebop). This is from popular anime series that was a sequel to TV series Macross. The four part OVA (original video animation) and movie tell the story of three childhood friends that had grow apart. The two men rivalry grows when the female friend returns.

BACCANO! (2007) “Guns and Roses.” Performed by Paradise Lunch; omposer: Makoto Yoshimon.

   Anime TV series adapted from series of novels by Ryohgo Narita. Set for the most part in prohibition-era America with multiple storylines told in a chaotic fashion.

TRIGUN (1998) “H.T.” Composed by Tsuneo Imahori.

   This comedy-Western is the story of Vash the Stampede “The Humanoid Typhoon” and his adventures on the planet Gunsmoke with a 60-billion double-dollar bounty on his head.

R.O.D. – THE T.V. (Read Or Die). (2003) Composed by Talu Iwasaki.

   Like many anime series the series exists in many forms – novels, manga, OVA, TV series, and films. The various versions often have the same characters but in different situations. In this version three paper-manipulating sisters are bodyguards to a famous writer.