Sixty-two years after the Beatles released āLove Me Doā ā the first of many songs written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney ā their offspring have come together to bring back their tune-making magic.
Sean Ono Lennon and James McCartney have joined forces on a song cowritten by them and released by McCartney called āPrimrose Hillā. Named for a public park in London, this is the first-ever collaboration by Lennon & McCartney, Part 2. And if any song could sound just like taking a bittersweet stroll in the park with nothing but longing memories, then this one pretty much captures it.
Thereās instantly something familiar about it but it never seems to fall into Beatles mimicry. Nor does it ever reach the heights of Beatles transcendence ā¦. I mean, how could it?
Let me know what you think of this rebirth of Beatles music.
This is “Primrose Hill”, co-written by Lennon & McCartney, 2nd Generation.
Thereās something very comforting about Montauk; itās steeped in tradition, averse to change.
Case in point: the Montauk Shirt Shop which never changed its inventory ā¦. and that was just fine. People popped in to get their mandatory summer vacation t-shirt …. not the latest fashion craze.
Things just weren’t the same after the familiar shop was renovated featuring a new step-up, almost exclusive section with high-end merchandise and souvenirs no one wanted. We looked around the new area once; it was overpriced and a bit too chi-chi for the sleepy fishing village.
This is the Stones with āMemory Motelā, located on 27 East in Montauk, NY right across the street from the old diner and the t-shirt store. In my younger days I’d go to the bar at the Memory Motel and may or may not have caught a glimpse of Mick and Keith mingling very comfortably with the locals. It was a simpler time, no big deal, ya know?
Welcome to Birthday Thursdays! Each week I will feature someone from the world of music whose birthday falls on this day. There wonāt be any chit chat from me, no facts and figures ā just some great tunes (and an occasional surprise). Check it out right here every Thursday and enjoy the music.
Happy Birthday to Paul A. Rothchild (Record Producer) Born April 18, 1935 inBrooklyn, New York
Written for Glynās Mixed Music Bag #16,where we are asked to write abouta song by a group or solo singer beginning with the letter G or H.
Besides my husband, during my lifetime Iāve been madly in love with three other men: āGeorge Harrison, Daryl Hall and Rick Springfield. They were all so very talented, gorgeous and sexy! I would cut out their pictures from music magazines, make scrapbooks, hang posters in my bedroom and mail them letters. My missives were never answered but Iām sure thatās only because they were so busy making music. I would imagine myself as Mrs. Harrison or Hall or Springfield, which got weird because by the time Daryl Hall and Rick Springfield were dominating the billboard charts I had been married for about 10 years! Things could have gotten strained between me and my husband during that time but they didn’t because heās a very understanding, realistic man and didnāt feel threatened at all. It also didnāt hurt that I had about as much chance of meeting Daryl or Rick as I did winning the Miss Universe pageant.
Well, dear George has passed away but Daryl and Rick are very much alive and I bet theyāre kicking themselves for not answering my letters seeing as how Iām now such a bigshot storyteller, poet and music blogger! I saw Rick recently on TV and I must say I was shocked; maybe it was the lighting but he really hasnāt aged well and someone should gift him with a jar of Crepe Erase. But Daryl is another story; he still sounds fantastic, looks gorgeous and is one big hunk of burning love. And whatās more ā¦. Darylās Garage where he does live shows and podcasts is 90 minutes from where I live and his house in Connecticut is only one hour away. (We stalkers fans have to stay on top of things like that!) I just might get my āI ā¤ļø Daryl Hall Tank Topā autographed after all!
Since the letters for Glynās April MMB are G and H, I immediately wrote about George Harrison last week. Unfortunately, Rick Springfield is out of luck and will have to wait another 6 months before I can write about him. But no worries! You can all breathe a sigh of relief because today is all about Daryl Hall (and some other guy named John Oates).
Did you know that Daryl Hall & John Oates are the number-one selling duo in music history? Theyāre bigger than Simon & Garfunkel, Sonny & Cher, Ike & Tina Turner, Sam & Dave, The Righteous Brothers, Loggins & Messina and The Everly Brothers. (The statistics are impressive and are readily available on Wiki, if youāre interested.) During their time together (starting in 1970), they released 18 studio albums and 63 singles. They also broke up their act and got back together numerous times until October 2022 when they officially called it quits; sadly, they are currently in the middle of an ugly legal battle. But what sweet music they made together!
Some of you may recall that I wrote about this song a while back for Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday; it’s just so nice, I had to feature it twice! You may also remember that the original singer of this song is a guy named Billy Paul who recorded his song in 1972. So why feature a cover of someone else’s song and not an original Hall & Oates song? Because it’s a great song and after all these years, I still āhave a thing going onā for Daryl Hall.
For all the obvious reasons, here is my pick of the day by Hall & Oates ā¦. from 2003 it’s āMe And Mrs. Jonesā.
Well, no offense John Oates, but threeās a crowd and for me thereās only room for Daryl. Heās certainly come a long way and still has plenty of mileage left in a career thatās taken him from the streets of Philly to the halls of R&R in Cleveland. And the best is yet to come ā¦. especially for me. My hubby, who isn’t the least bit threatened by the likes of Daryl Hall, is taking me to see him live, up-close and personal at the Mohegan Sun arena in July! Now, I just need to find that old tank top …. and you better believe I will wear it!
Thanks to Glyn for another great Mixed Music Bag and thank you for stopping by.
See you on the flip side. š
PS: I almost forgot! For all you purists reading this right now, I simply could not leave without playing one Hall & Oates original; after all, they are the #1 selling duo in music history! This song debuted on the Billboard Top 40Ā on February 5, 1977 at #38 and by the end of March it had become Hall & Oates’ first of six #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100.Ā At the end of 1977,Ā BillboardĀ ranked it as the 23rd biggest hit of the year.Ā From the album Bigger Than Both Of Us, here is Hall & Oates’ first #1 hit, “Rich Girl”.
When little Summer was just a few days old, her mother Laura started the tradition of sitting with her in the nursery to read stories before bed; in the corner of the nursery was an old floor lamp that used to belong to Lauraās grandparents, Momma and Poppy, and it filled the nursery with a soft, soothing glow.
As a little girl, Laura spent a lot of time with Momma and Poppy and the three of them developed a deep and loving bond so when Momma and Poppy passed away, the one thing Laura asked for was the floor lamp which was in the bedroom of their house where little Laura napped; now, each night Laura would tell baby Summer all about her beloved Momma and Poppy.
This one particular night as Laura and Summer were sitting in the nursery, the glow from the floor lamp caught the babyās attention and she was captivated by it, something Laura thought was a sweet connection, especially since the lamp originally belonged to Momma and Poppy, Summerās great-grandparents, but then Laura noticed a pattern developing, a pattern that would repeat two or three times most nights at Summer’s bedtime where the baby would gaze calmly and quietly at the lamp, then slowly begin to coo, gurgle and giggle for a few minutes before becoming animated ā smiling, eyes glowing, arms waving, laughing and babbling loudly ā then back again to quietness but still very much attracted to and aware of the lamp …. even when the floor lamp was off, Summer was attracted to it.
One afternoon when Summer was around 3 years old, Laura heard her talking and laughing, just like she did when playing with her stuffed animals, and when Laura peeked into Summer’s room expecting to find her little girl on the bed, she was surprised to see her in the big over-stuffed chair where Laura read bedtime stories; the floor lamp was lit and Summer appeared to be having a happy and lively conversation ā not with her stuffed animals but with the lamp.
When Laura asked Summer who she was so happily talking to, the little girl was quick to reply āMomma and Poppy, of course; canāt you see them, Mommy?ā
Laura caught her breath for a moment but she was not completely shocked for she knew Momma and Poppyās lamp was special ā the very reason Laura wanted it in her own home, but she didnāt realize how special it was; Laura never tried to stop Summer from talking to the lamp for she truly believed the spirits of Momma and Poppy were presentand Summer’s conversations with them were real …. and who are we to say they werenāt. šŖ½
One of the biggest hits in 1970 for the Canadian group The Guess Who was a song that seemingly warned against getting involved with American women. However, songwriter Burton Cummings said that it was simply his way of saying he preferred Canadian girls. Whatever the meaning, Lenny Kravitz tapped into the songās magnetism and added some guitar theatrics in his 1999 remake that has since become a cover version that stands alongside the original. The song was, of course, “American Woman”.
The single version by The Guess Who reached #1 and held on for three weeks on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the Canadian RPM magazine singles chart. Kravitz covered the song for the soundtrack of āAustin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me”. When it was released as a single, it reached #49 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The Guess Who joined Kravitz and his band for a live performance of “American Woman” at the 1999 MuchMusic Video Awards in Toronto.
From 1970, here are The Guess Who with āAmerican Womanā
And this is how it sounded when Lenny Kravitz released his version in 1999.
Thatās todayās Twofer Tuesday! Thanks for stopping by.
Written for Quadrille Monday dVerse Poets Pub; De Jackson is asking us to create a 44-word poem using the word āFriday”. My poem is a Dectina Refrain: 1st line is 1 syllable, 2nd line is 2 syllables 3rd line is 3 syllables, and so on for 9 lines; the 10th line is comprised of the first four lines as one stand-alone sentence.
Our Friday night dinner we wait all week to sit on the couch and eat sexy pizza with cheese like hot melted love, gooey and deliciously good, and we drink tall glasses of red wine. Our Friday night dinner we wait all week
The Motown Sound has something extra-special about it. Berry Gordy, Jr. knew people would be listening on their car stereos and transistor radios and he was going to do what it took to make songs sound good and memorable. Even if you couldnāt put your finger on it, when a Motown song came on, baby, you knew it. Still do.
Smokey Robinson was the lead singer of a band called The Miracles …. five teenaged friends from Detroit, Michigan. He produced, wrote and sang several of Motown’s most memorable hits including the label’s first smash song, “Shop Around” in 1960. A year later, “Please Mr. Postman”, by The Marvelettes, was the label’s first No. 1 song. It would not be the last.
Letās begin todayās musical journey withĀ The MiraclesāĀ first smash hit ā a song about a mother giving advice to her grown son on how to find a woman worthy of being a girlfriend or wife.
From 1960, Ā written by Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy, hereās āShop AroundāĀ byĀ The Miracles.
And this is what was on the B side ā āWhoās Lovinā You”. Thatās right ā¦. this was not originally done by the Jackson 5!
Thanks for joining me today for Monday Motown Magic.
In the fall of 2017, Kevin Spacey’s life and his astronomical career in acting, writing, directing and production (and more) came crashing down with devastating swiftness and near Shakespearean consequences. The reason: sexual assault allegations from 30 years ago.
On October 29, 2017, actor Anthony Rapp alleged that Spacey, while appearing intoxicated, made a sexual advance toward him at a party in 1986, when Rapp was 14 and Spacey was 26. Spacey stated on Twitter that he did not remember the encounter, but that he owed Rapp “the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior” if he had behaved as asserted.
Almost three years later, on September 9, 2020, Rapp sued Spacey for sexual assault, sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress under the Child Victims Act. In the subsequent federal civil court proceeding, a jury found that Spacey did not molest Rapp and was found not liable on all counts, with Rapp subsequently ordered by the court to pay Spacey $39,089 in damages.
Fifteen other accusers emerged from the woodwork and jumped on the bandwagon alleging similar abuse. The Guardian was contacted by “a number of people” who alleged that Spacey “groped and behaved in an inappropriate way with young men” while he was artistic director of The Old Vic theatre.Ā
On the same day as Rapp’s allegations against him, Kevin Spacey came out as gay when apologizing to Rapp. His decision to come out via his statement was criticized by gay celebrities as an attempt to change the subject and shift focus from Rapp’s accusation, for using his own drunkenness as an excuse for making a sexual advance on a minor and for implying a connection between homosexuality and child sexual abuse. Spacey expressed regret over the way he came out and said that it was “never his intention” to deflect from the allegations against him or conflate them with his sexual orientation.
Amid the allegations, filming was suspended on the sixth and final season of House of Cards starring Kevin Spacey. His livelihood, public acceptance, reputation, peace of mind and very existence was hanging by an extremely slender thread.
As Rapp’s trial lawsuit against Spacey commenced in October 2022, it was revealed Rapp had given an inaccurate description of the apartment where he alleged the abuse took place. The judge dismissed the emotional-distress charges as a “duplicate” of the battery charges and a jury found Spacey not liable of all charges.
On May 26, 2022, Spacey was charged by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in the UK with four counts of sexual assault against three complainants which were said to have taken place between 2005 and 2013 in Gloucestershire and London. According to the CPS, it would be possible to formally charge Spacey only if he entered England or Wales either voluntarily or through an extradition request. In a statement to Good Morning America on May 31, 2022, Spacey said he would “voluntarily appear in the UKā.
In his first British court appearance, on June 16, Spacey denied the allegations against him. On July 14, he pleaded not guilty to the charges in London. During the hearings, the complainant gave conflicting reports, false information regarding deleted text messages on his phone and eventually refused to answer any other questions, invoking the Fifth Amendment. On November 16, the CPS authorized an additional seven charges against Spacey, all related to a single complainant arising from incidents alleged to have occurred between 2001 and 2004. Three charges were dismissed before or during the trial, which began on June 28, 2023, and, on July 26, 2023, a jury found Kevin Spacey not guilty of the remaining nine charges.
Kevin Spacey has received countless accolades, including two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Tony Award and two Laurence Olivier Awards. He was named an honorary Commander and Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2010 and 2015, respectively.
Kevin Spaceyās brother, Randy Fowler, has stated that their father was sexually, physically and emotionally abusive and that young Kevin shut down emotionally and became “very sly and smart” to avoid beatings. Spacey addressed the matter in October 2022, saying that his father was a white supremacist and a neo-Nazi who beat him regularly and called him derogatory names, including ‘faggot‘. Spacey stated that the abuse at the hands of his father caused him to become extremely private about his personal life which, in turn, resulted in him choosing not to come out as gay earlier in his life.
The following video aired prior to Kevin Spaceyās hearings in the UK where he was found not guilty of all charges. There are other videos available for viewing on YouTube if you so desire. I went with this one, choosing to avoid the sleazy and salacious nature of āentertainment newsā.
This next video is a clip from the movie āBeyond The Seaā with Kevin Spacey portraying Bobby Darin. Spacey did all his own singing which is rather impressive. I could have gone with songs like āMack The Knifeā or āBeyond The Seaā but the name of this video tickled my funny bone.
Here is Kevin Spacey as Bobby Darin singing āDream Loverā.
The theme today at Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday is to write about songs with the words āhot, burning, fire or blazingā.
If reports in recent years are to be believed, former JourneyĀ singer Steve PerryĀ and keyboardist Jonathan CainĀ donāt have much of a personal relationship anymore, but when they first met nearly 43 years ago, the situation was very different.
Journey, originally known as the Golden Gate Rhythm Section, was formed in San Francisco in 1973; the name was officially changed to Journey in 1975, shortly after signing with Columbia Records. The band’s early sound was influenced by jazz and fusion music. They gradually shifted towards a more pop-oriented sound in the late 1970s. Steve Perry joined Journey as their lead vocalist in 1977 and became one of the band’s most recognizable members. Jonathan Cain was hired in January 1981 and it wasnāt long before he and Perry began writing together.
One of the first things they did was a song called āWhoās Crying Now.ā Steve Perry said the chorus popped into his head while driving to Los Angeles, which he recorded on his mini cassette player. Once Steve Perry arrived in LA, he went straight to Jonathan Cain’s house to play his work in progress. Perry had come up with most of the melodies and rhythms but was stumped on the lyrics. Perry said, āJonathan just like zeroed in on it. We had the beginning, we had the middle, he helped do the lyrics with me .ā¦ and it was done!ā
“Who’s Crying Now” tells the sad and age-old tale of good love gone bad. The song, the first single from Journey’s album Escape, helped the LP achieve sales of over nine million copies. The song charted at #46 in the UK Singles Chart, the band’s highest charting single in the UK until “Don’t Stop Believin'”. Billboard praised “Who’s Crying Now” as one of Journey’s “strongest and classiest records” and one of the most appealing love songs of 1981. Escape remains their only #1 album.
In 1996, Steve Perry suffered a hip injury while hiking in Hawaii and was unable to perform. The diagnosis was degenerative bone disease and a hip replacement was required but Perry was reluctant to rush into the surgery and touring was postponed indefinitely. While Perry kept putting off the inevitable surgery, the other members of the band waited nearly 17 months after the initial diagnosis before presenting him with an ultimatum: If he did not undergo hip replacement surgery so the tour could proceed upon his recovery, the band would hire a replacement singer. Still hesitant to undergo surgery, and now upset at his bandmates, Perry announced in 1988 that he was permanently leaving Journey.Ā No one loves the idea of surgery but Steve Perry made a big mistake making his band mates wait so long.
The position of lead singer went to Steve Augeri who was then sidelined with a chronic throat infection. The very hard-working singer-musician-songwriter Jeff Scott Soto temporarily stepped into the role of lead singer until Arnel Pineda signed on as frontman in 2007. Pineda, a vocalist for a Filipino cover band, was hired as a result of a video he posted on YouTube and is still Journey’s current lead vocalist. Hey …. sometimes you just gotta give it a shot!
According to the Recording Industry Association of America, Journey has sold 52 million albums in the US, making them the 11th-best selling band. Their worldwide sales have reached over 100 million records globally, making them one of the world’s best-selling bands of all time. A 2005 USA Today opinion poll named Journey the fifth-best US rock band in history. In 2017 Journey was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They are without a doubt a truly great band and, IMO, Steve Perry’s voice is one of the best in the business.
Thanks for hanging with me at Jim’s place.
See you on the flip side. š
Now let’s listen to “Who’s Crying Now” and Steve Perry’s phenomenal voice. From 1981salbum Escape, this is Journey.
Lyrics
It’s been a mystery But still they try to see Why something good can hurt so bad Caught on a one-way street The taste of bittersweet Love will survive somehow, somewhere
One love, feeds thefire One heart, burns desire I wonder who’s crying now? Two hearts, born to run Who’ll be the lonely one? I wonder who’s crying now?
So many stormy nights So many wrong or rights Neither could change their headstrong ways And in a lover’s rage They turn another page The fighting is worth the love they save
One love, feeds the fire One heart, burns desire I wonder who’s crying now? Two hearts, born to run Who’ll be the lonely one? I wonder who’s crying now?
Only so many tears you can cry ‘Til the heartache is over And now you can say your love Will never die
Whoa ooh ooh, ooh ooh
One love, feeds the fire One heart, burns desire I wonder who’s crying now? Two hearts, born to run Who’ll be the lonely one? I wonder who’s crying now?
Lead Vocal, Composer, Lyricist: Steve Perry Background Vocal, Keyboards, Composer, Lyricist: Jonathan Cain Background Vocal, Bass: Ross Valory Background Vocal, Guitar: Neal Schon Drums: Steve Smith Producer(s): Mike Stone, Kevin Elson Engineer: Wally Buck
Writing about the death of my husbandās twin brother has been a huge outlet for me. It has helped me and Bill to grieve in a way I never experienced before. I am forever grateful to you ā¦. my dear friends, my readersā¦. for your patient understanding and acceptance. I am humbled by the outpouring of love, sympathy and comfort. Now itās time to move forward. With all my heart, thank you. ~ Nancyā”
āNorwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)ā Written by: Lennon-McCartney Recorded: October 1965 Producer: George Martin Engineer: Norman Smith
Released: December 3, 1965 (UK), December 6, 1965 (US)
Available on: Rubber Soul Anthology 2
Personnel: John Lennon ā vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar Paul McCartney ā harmony vocals, bass George Harrison ā sitar, 12-string acoustic guitar Ringo Starr ā bass drum, tambourine
The first time George Harrison saw a sitar was on the set of Help; a group of Indian musicians had been recruited to add an authentic ambiance to the restaurant scenes. Back in London after the filming, George found a store called Indian Goods; inside was an inexpensive sitar which he bought and began playing around with. While recording āNorwegian Woodā, George felt it needed something in addition to the guitars. He picked up his sitar and ājust sort of found the notesā. When the recording was played back, everyone agreed the sitar brought the whole piece together.
From 1965ās Rubber Soul, here are the Beatles with āNorwegian Woodā
Thanks for stopping by. May your Saturday be smooth sailing.
Written for The Unicorn Challenge, where we are asked to write something creative in 250 words or less byusing the photo below for inspiration. This is my story.
The moment we stepped out of our car, the temperature felt like it dropped twenty degrees and a cold wind whipped my black-stockinged legs. We cringed at the frigid slap in the face and huddled deeper into our jackets as we climbed the steps to the church.
We found the seats reserved for us ā¦. second pew directly off the center aisle. I clutched my husbandās hand and felt his body quiver as he raggedly exhaled, desperately trying not to cry. The tears would come, but on his terms.
The pews on both sides of the church were filled with people celebrating a life and mourning a loss. Everything leading to this moment had been a maelstrom of emotions; there are very few things that shake us to our core like a sudden death.
A man appeared at our pew; I recognized him as the manager of the funeral home. He spoke softly to my husband and together they started to walk to the back of the church. I looked up at my husbandās face and he gave me a sad smile.
There was a heavy silence in the church, mourners sitting side-by-side lost in a fog of grief. Had someone played us the cruelest joke?
As one, the pallbearers heaved the casket onto their shoulders and the organ began to play. That’s when I saw my husband walking behind his brotherās coffin, our widowed sister-in-law on his arm, and there were tears.
The son of Bob Dylan shares what his father has passed on to him and what heās passing on to his children ā¦. his passion for great songs.
Jakob Luke DylanĀ was born in New York City on December 9, 1969 to Bob Dylan and Sara Lownds. He began is music career in various indie bands before rising to fame as the lead singer and primary songwriter for the rock band The Wallflowers. He has written hit songs such as ā6th Avenue Heartacheā and āOne Headlightā, which is listed at #58 on Rolling Stoneās list of the “100 Greatest Pop Songs”, and for which he won two Grammy Awards. More recently, Jakob Dylan has released two solo albums ā āSeeing Thingsā and āWomen + Countryā; the latter became Dylan’s highest-charting album since The Wallflowers’ 1996 breakthrough āBringing Down The Horse“, peaking at #12 on the Billboard 200.Ā
This is Jakob Dylan and The Wallflowers with āOne Headlightā
After the wake, a few of us went back to our sister-in-lawās house. A question tap-danced in my brain: now that my husbandās brother was dead, was his widow still our sister-in-law or will she eventually be erased from the familial slate, ties severed, connections lost?
The room which they call āthe officeā was a confusion of books, photo albums and memorabilia piled high like Babel.
Flipping through yellowed snapshots, we spotted her, the widow, in every image ā¦. halcyon days when we all spoke the language of youth and happiness ā¦. and my question was answered.
Welcome to Birthday Thursdays! Each week I will feature someone from the world of music whose birthday falls on this day. There wonāt be any chit chat from me, no facts and figures ā just some great tunes (and an occasional surprise). Check it out right here every Thursday and enjoy the music.
Happy Birthday to Joss Stone Born April 11, 1987 inDover, UK
“Son Of A Preacher Man”
“Midnight Train To Georgia”
“I Put A Spell On You” Jeff Beck featuring Joss Stone
Written for Glynās Mixed Music Bag #15, where we are asked to write about a song by a group or solo artist beginning with the letter G or H.
This was a no-brainer for me; not only does my featured performerās first name start with the letter G, his last name starts with the letter H. Itās almost as if I had a sign from the heavens, divine intervention. Yes, as soon as I saw this weekās MMB challenge, I knew who and what I would write about. And if you know me or follow my blogs then you know, too! As the title of my post says āItās The (Not So) Quiet Beatleā so, unless youāve been in a 50-year-long coma or stranded on a desert island since infancy, youāve already figured out that my featured artist today is George Harrison, the multi-talented musician born February 25, 1943 in Liverpool.
George was the youngest of four children born to Harold, a bus conductor, and Louise, a shop assistant. His earliest musical influences included Cab Calloway, Hoagy Carmichael, Carl Perkins, Elmore James and Lonnie Donegan. One day while riding his bicycle, George heard Elvis Presleyās āHeartbreak Hotelā playing from a nearby house and the song piqued his interest in Rock & Roll. At first his father was apprehensive about Georgeās interest in pursuing a music career but he was willing to let his son give it a go. He bought him his first guitar and had one of his friends teach George how to play a couple of old songs; like many others at the time, George started a skiffle* group with his brother and a friend.Ā At the age of 14 George met Paul McCartney on the bus to school and the pair bonded over their shared love of music. Paul introduced George to John Lennon and the rest, my friends, is the stuff that dreams are made of. [*a genre of folk music with influences from American folk music, blues, country, bluegrass and jazz]
While thereās a plethora of songs to choose from Georgeās days with the Beatles, I will be focusing on a few songs from his prolific solo career. These songs may be lesser known but they will all be fun, clever, amusing and uniquely special ā¦. just like George. As he said, āDidnāt want to be a star, wanted just to play guitar in this cockamamie businessā.
I hope you enjoy my selections today.
Chris OāDell is probably the most well-known woman in Beatledom. Not only did she land a job at Apple Studios, she was an assistant and facilitator to the Beatles and other acts including Derek & the Dominos, the Rolling Stones, Dylan, Santana etc., etc. Besides Freda Kelly (the Beatles’ personal secretary), Chris O’Dell knew more about the guys in the band than their own wives. She was on the roof during that famous concert; not just anyone got invited to the roof! You had to be really popular and Chris O’Dell had that market cornered as a super-groupie, something she proudly wrote about in her bio. She was such a favorite among the rock stars, she had songs written about her …. like this one which George Harrison wrote in Los Angeles in April 1971 while waiting for OāDell to ‘pay him a visit‘ šš at his rented home. For whatever reason, she never showed and George wrote a light-hearted number which provides insight into the Los Angeles music scene at the time. Chris OāDell went on to write her memoirs in a book called āMiss OāDellā, named after Georgeās song. George recorded several versions of the song but this one is my favorite. The string of numbers you hear George reciting at the end of the song was Paul McCartneyās actual phone number.
From George Harrison’s album āLiving In A Material Worldā, this is āMiss OāDellā. I dare you not to smile.
This next song was George Harrisonās humorous send-up of the āHeās So Fineā/āMy Sweet Lordā silly little plagiarism court case. The lyrics have a playful reference to the case (āMy expert tells me itās OKā) and, at one point, Eric Idle chimes in with some very funny Motown song references. In case youāre not familiar with the legal goings-on, in 1981 George Harrison was ordered to pay $587,000 for āsubconsciously plagiarizingā the Chiffons’ 1963 hit single āHe’s So Fineā during the creation of his own song āMy Sweet Lordā. Harrison reflected in his biography āI wasn’t consciously aware of the similarity to ‘He’s So Fine’.” I don’t think the law suit had much of a negative impact on George’s pocket or popularity.
From 1976 (and featuring a full cast of characters), this is the funny, campy, in-your-face āThis Songā from George Harrison’s album āThirty Three And 1/3ā.
My last song today is from George Harrisonās 1987 album āCloud Nineā. āWhen We Was Fabā, one of the first songs cowritten by George and Jeff Lynne, looks back to his Beatles days and contains various musical and lyrical references to the 1960s, including quotations from songs by Bob Dylan and Smokey Robinson. This beauty of a tune harkens back to several well-know Beatles songs, particularly from their psychedelic period. Beatles drummer Ringo Starr is fittingly behind the kit on this recording and is prominently featured in the video. Pay attention to this one; there’s a lot of little things going on that are easy to miss.
From āCloud Nineā, this is āWhen We Was Fabā.
I hope you enjoyed a look at a different side of George Harrison …. the funny, sharp-witted, clever and not-so-quiet side that he enjoyed in this cockamamie business.
Thanks to Glyn and his Mixed Music Bag weekly prompts. See you next time.
Written for Six Sentence Story #309; the required word is ācoreā
John Black always keeps his tools in the finest condition, each one hanging on the rack with incredible precision like soldiers standing at attention, lined up by size depending on his needs, clean, sharp and at the ready at all times.
There are saws that could cut down the largest tree and mallets strong enough to pound huge spikes into boulders, screwdrivers and files of every shape and size, pliers to yank out the longest of nails and wrenches to loosen joints rusted together, planes that could shave off the thinnest slice of wood and blades that could cut through the toughest leather.
John Black scrubs his tools clean after each use so they are gleaming, polished and waiting for his next job, whenever that might be .ā¦ every day and into the night ā¦. and he is ready, a busy man who never waits to be called, a man who easily finds his own clientele.
John Black is not a carpenter or a plumber, not a roofer or a mason, not a mechanic or a custodian ā no, his job is of a different nature, his instruments weapons meant to inflict the most pain a human could endure ā for you see, John Black is a psychopath, a stalker of the innocent, a torturer, a murderer; oh, yes, his tools serve him well, sate his sadistic needs and, being an unassuming man, his victims are so very easy to find.
John Black lives nowhere yet everywhere, next to your sister or your daughter or your mother or you, so keep your doors locked and never go out alone, even to check your mailbox or collect your newspaper or to bring in the cat, for he is ever vigilant, constantly at the ready, waiting patiently to show you in the minutest of detail what every last one of his tools can do in the hands of a master.
Come now, donāt look at me like that ā¦. Iām just the storyteller telling the story of John Black whoās a bad seed, the devilās spawn, a blot on the escutcheon, a moldering apple, rotten to the core.
Written for the dVerse Prosery Prompt by Amy Woolard: āWhat does it matter that the stars we see are already deadā
āWhat does it matter that the stars we see are already dead? What does that even mean, Margie?ā
āOh, Nell. If I have to explain it to you, it loses its gravitas, its pathos, doesnāt it?ā
āGravitas? Pathos? Iām sorry .ā¦ when were you named chief cook, bottlewasher and poet laureate?ā
Margie gave her friend a dismissive eye roll before turning her back, busying herself with little scraps of paper on her desk.
There was a time the two were like sisters, cherishing a bond they never found with anyone else. Now they barely recognized each other; their conversations were stilted to the point of being painful.
And it all came down to Nicole, a newcomer in their exclusive inner circle …. a renaissance woman and Margie thought she hung the moon.
āI miss us, Margieā
Intense silence. Spoken words were never as wounding.
Kris Kristofferson is one of country musicās most covered songwriters and the most famous instance of the troubadourās work translating beautifully to another performer is Janis Joplinās iconic recording of “Me And Bobby McGee”, certainly the one we recall when thinking of her doing bluesy country rock. Her renditionis full of vocal improvisation and heartbreak ā¦. an embrace of blissed-out guitars, smokey twang and free spirits.Ā Without a doubt, Janis Joplin was the most transcendent, mesmerizing, complex yet naĆÆve and unpretentious artist I’ve had the privilege of seeing in concert.
A posthumously released version of “Me And Bobby McGee” by Janis Joplin topped the US singles chart in 1971, making the song the second posthumously released #1 single in US chart history after āDock Of The Bayā by Otis Redding. Billboard ranked Joplin’s version as the #1 song for 1971. In 2002, Janis Joplin’s “Me And Bobby McGee” was inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame.
Let’s listen to the original first. From 1970, this is āMe And Bobby McGeeā by singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson.
And this is what the song sounded like when Janis Joplin recorded it.
Written for Weekend Writing Prompt #358 ~ Superscript
Just like something out of the evening news.
Did the attractive young woman, a former nurse and mother of one toddler, actually feed her little boy bleach or was it just a dreadful accident?
How could any jury not believe the clean-faced white woman in the proper skirt and blouse as she tearfully recounted the events of that horrific morning?
But they did believe her and only the most perceptible viewer in the courtroom or the living room caught the slightest cold-blooded superscript curl of her top left lip.
The Motown Sound has something extra-special about it. Berry Gordy, Jr. knew people would be listening on their car stereos and transistor radios and he was going to do what it took to make songs sound good and memorable. Even if you couldnāt put your finger on it, when a Motown song came on, baby, you knew it. Still do.
Not every story is a success. The early history of Motown Records is filled with promising newcomers who didn’t find immortality along the lines of the Supremes or the Temptations. A guy with the unlikely name of Henry Lumpkin is one example, a young singer and composer who bore more than a passing resemblance to Chubby Checker physically and Ben E. King vocally. Henry had one good song under his belt ā¦. āWhat Is A Man (Without A Woman)ā, cowritten by himself and Carolyn Strong, produced by Brian Holland and Robert Bateman. Poor Henry never charted and by the end of 1962 he was off the Motown roster. Mostly forgotten by all but the most hardcore soul enthusiasts, Henry Lumpkin was one of many early Motown discoveries who deserved better than he got, or at least better luck than he found, with his records.
From January 1962, hereās a funky, gritty dance number by Henry Lumpkin. This is āWhat Is A Man (Without A Woman)ā …. an excellent question!
And this is what was on the B side ā āDonāt Leave Meā (cowritten by Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy)
Thanks for joining me today for a little Monday Motown Magic.
Bill stood at his open closet mumbling and cursing under his breath as he pulled out one pair of pants after the other. He was in a mood that has no definition or perhaps many definitions, none of them good. He was searching for something to wear for the funeral of his twin brother, Jim, who died suddenly on April 2. Had it been anyone elseās funeral, Bill would have just pulled out a suitable pair of pants and a dress shirt, but this was his brother and he said he needed his black suit. He couldnāt find it in the closet and he was getting angry but, of course, the errant suit was not the cause for his consternation. I walked to the closet and spotted the suit immediately. Handing it to Bill, I hugged him and kissed his cheek. As I ironed his shirt I could hear him crying softly. āWhyād you have to go and die, Jim?ā
Written forFriday Fictioneers. Greetings, friends. Some of you know, others do not. We had a death in the family last week ā¦ my husbandās twin brother passed away on Tuesday. Iāve taken some time off from writing but now I’m ready to return. You may read about our loss hereĀ if you are so inclined. Thank you for your thoughts. This is my story today.
It wasnāt in the evening when a calm tide rolls out, nor in the early morning as the glorious sun rises but rather in the middle of the day, just after noon when he crossed the bridge and left us stunned and lost. One minute he was with us ā¦. happy, strong and alive. The next he was gone, in an instant, in the blink of an eye, he crossed the bridge and slipped away. We had no time to prepare, no time to say āGoodbye and fare thee well, brotherā. He was just gone, peacefully and silently across the bridge.
“For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun? And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.” – Kahlil Gibran
Bill & Jim at their childhood home, City Island, The Bronx, NY circa 1950
My husband encouraged me to write today; I didn’t want to …. I felt like I should sit by his side, hold his hand, cry with him but his tears and his grief have not hit home yet.
One minute he’s walking around the house in a daze, the next he’s playing LEGOs with our 4 year old granddaughter. It’s good for her to be here; she’s keeping him distracted.
You see, my darling husband Bill’s twin brother Jim died today around 12:30pm. His wife Lynne went upstairs to their bedroom and found him on the floor. She tried desperately to breathe life into him but he was gone. Just like that, alive one minute and dead the next.
Losing a sibling is so hard; losing an identical twin is unfathomable. I am Bill’s wife but his twin brother was his other half and I say that with nothing but love in my heart. They shared their mother’s womb, their crib, their playpen, their bedroom, their car. They went to school together, worked in the same marina together for many summers. Bill graduated Iona College first in his class; Jim was second. They even failed the army physical together!
They were on polar opposites of the political page and their taste in women couldn’t have been more different but in every other way, they were as one. Of course they looked the same and talked the same, they had the same laugh, the same sense of humor. They loved watching hockey and going fishing together. Now that will never happen again.
If you look at the last photo on the bottom of the page you’ll see them, two little suntanned towheads sitting side by side fishing with their older brother, dad and grandfather. Now everyone in that boat is gone except for my husband, Bill.
All I’m thinking about right now is what a great time Jim and Lynne had last week. They spent the whole week in North Carolina with their son, his wife and two teenage grandchildren. They texted photos of everyone on the boardwalk, arms around each other, looking incredibly happy.
Bill and Jim. The Twins. The Richy Twins. When people saw one, they saw the other. Now there’s only one and nothing from this moment on will ever be the same.
If anyone needs convincing that the Beatles knew a good song when they heard one, consider this: the band began featuring āMoney (Thatās What IWant)ā in their live act in Germany as early as August 1960 …. just a year after the Barrett Strong release in the United States. “Money” became a Top 30 pop success in the U.S. for Barrett Strong but it was not a hit in the UK. The Beatles recorded the song in 1963 and its inclusion in their second album,Ā With The Beatles, brought āMoneyā to a larger audience than ever before.
You remember Barrett Strong from yesterdayās Monday Motown Magic post? Well, here he is with āMoneyā from August 1959. I told you youād know this song!
And this is what the Beatles’ recording of āMoneyā sounded like
Iām sorry for the things I said and did. Thereās no greater pain than brothers grown apart. How I have prayed for this day when we put our anger to rest and cried āI love you, my dear brotherā. Iām sorry for the things I said and did.
Dectina Refrain: This poem is written as follows: 1st line ā 1 syllable, 2nd line ā 2 syllables 3rd line ā 3 syllables, and so on for 9 lines; the 10th line is comprised of the first four lines and is a stand-alone 10-syllable line.
The Elephant's Trunk 