From Sing Facts.
In the last post I mentioned that Route 66 had something to do with the song "Signs" by Canada's Five Man Electric Band.
Written by lead singer Les Emmerson, this song is a look at class divisions and property rights. He wrote the song after taking a road trip on Route 66 in California, where he noticed way too many billboards that obscured natural beauty.
This posed a question for him. Who is allowed to put up signs that interfere with nature? This led to another question. Who gets to make the rules that appear on so many signs?
The song gives voice to those without power or property rights., which in many cases were young people.
The Five Man Electric Band are a Canadian group formed in the 1960s as the Stacattos. "Signs was included on their second album in 1970, but not considered single-worthy by their record label.. It didn't fit any pop music format.
In 1970, it was issued as the B-side of "Hello Melinda Goodbye" which made it to #55 on the Canadian chart. Disk jockeys preferred the flipside and began playing "Signs." It was released again in 1971 as the A-side. It went to #4 in Canada but #3 in the United States. Its follow-up "Absolutely Right" did alright as well, reaching #26.
--RoadDog
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