Written for Jim’s Song Lyric Sunday where the theme this week is all about songs that incorporate whistling
βI didnβt mean to hurt you; Iβm just a jealous guy.β
For all his jokes, frenetic antics and mugging for the camera, John Lennon was a quiet and insecure man, an ardent peace-lover whose young life was filled with much sadness, great depth and many demons. He was brilliant, an extraordinary talent and, all too often, he demonstrated a sharp-tongued mean spirit and jealous streak.
According to George Harrison, his friend John could be a “saint or a total bastard”.
With a sea-faring, mostly AWOL father and a free-spirited mother whose accidental death traumatized him for years, John was raised by his Aunt Mimi and Uncle George. His motherβs memory would later serve as a major creative inspiration.
John Lennon met Cynthia Powell in 1957, when they were students at the Liverpool College of Art. Although Powell was intimidated by Lennon’s attitude and appearance, she heard that he was obsessed with the French actress Brigitte Bardot, so she dyed her hair blonde. Lennon asked her out, but when she said that she was engaged, he shouted, “I didn’t ask you to fuckin’ marry me, did I?” She often accompanied him to Quarrymen gigs and travelled to Hamburg with Paul McCartney’s girlfriend to visit him. Recalling his reaction when he learned that Cynthia was pregnant, Lennon said, “There’s only one thing for it Cyn. We’ll have to get married.” And they did; their son Julian was born a few months later.
Cynthia attributed the start of the marriage breakdown to John’s use of LSD and she felt that he slowly lost interest in her. When the group travelled by train to Wales in 1967, a policeman did not recognize Cynthia and stopped her from boarding. I guess no one .β¦ including John β¦. bothered to ID her! She later recalled how the incident seemed to symbolize the end of their marriage.Β After spending a holiday in Greece, Cynthia arrived home to find John sitting on the floor with Yoko Ono in bathrobes; she left the house to stay with friends, feeling shocked and humiliated.Β A few weeks later, she received notice that Lennon was seeking a divorce on the grounds of adultery while she was away in Greece and he wanted custody of Julian. After negotiations, Lennon capitulated and agreed to let Cynthia divorce him.
John and Yoko were married and they became even more inseparable; to the surprise and consternation of everyone within the Beatles’ organization, Yoko accompanied John to the recording studio …. an undeniable first. She was a quiet but constant presence and John only had eyes for her.
After a couple of years, May Pang entered their lives as their personal assistant. About three years later, Ono confided in Pang that her marriage to Lennon had become strained and she suggested Pang reach out to John as a “sexual distraction” for him. Pang agreed; she and John soon left for Los Angeles, beginning an 18-month period John later called his βlost weekendβ. ” Pang encouraged Lennon to develop regular contact with Julian, whom he had not seen for two years, as well as his former bandmates and friends.
Much to Yoko Ono’s chagrin, the “diversion” turned into a relationship. John and May Pang considered buying a house together and he refused to accept Yoko’s telephone calls. He finally agreed to meet Yoko, who claimed she had found a cure for smoking. After the meeting with Yoko, John failed to return home or call Pang. When Pang telephoned the next day, Ono told her that Lennon was unavailable because he was exhausted after a hypnotherapy session. Two days later, Lennon told Pang that his separation from Ono was now over, causing Pang to speculate that Lennon had been brainwashed (!) as a result of his hypnotherapy.
What a convoluted mess among such allegedly forward-thinking people! John and Yoko remained married until his death in 1980; they are the parents of musician Sean Lennon. Yoko Ono never remarried.
“I didn’t want to hurt you, I’m just a jealous guy.”
Those haunting lyrics from John Lennonβs timeless song, “Jealous Guy”, uncover the darker side of his iconic relationship with Yoko Ono. They are words that have rung true to anybody with insecurities and obsessions …. likely why it’s one of Lennon’s most enduring tracks. Itβs also my favorite Lennon solo piece.
John Lennon began writing the song in 1968 as “Child of Nature” while with the Beatles during their spiritual retreat in India. The demo of “Child of Nature” featured Lennon’s double-tracked vocal and an acoustic guitar. Early the following year, he revisited the song as “On the Road to Rishikesh” during the Get Backsessions. Eventually,Β the lyrics were scrapped and replaced by the now well-known “Jealous Guy” lyrics for Imagine.
In βJealous Guyβ, John sings of his envious streak that would often result in tumult between him and Yoko; he admitted that jealousy would regularly dictate how irrational he’d behave either around her or without her. The song was never released as a single during John’s lifetime. It became an international hit in a version by Roxy Music in early 1981, the year after John’s death.
“Jealous Guy” is one of the most commonly recorded Lennon songs, with at least 92 cover versions. In November 1988, the single peaked in the United States at #22 on the Hot Adult Christian chart and reached #80 on the Billboard Hot 100 in conjunction with the release of the documentary film “Imagine: John Lennonβ.
This is βJealous Guyβ by John Lennon
Lyrics
β¦ I was dreaming of the past And my heart was beating fast I began to lose control I began to lose control
β¦ I didn’t mean to hurt you I’m sorry that I made you cry Oh no, I didn’t want to hurt you I’m just a jealous guy
β¦ I was feeling insecure
β¦ You might not love me anymore
β¦ I was shivering inside I was shivering inside
β¦ I didn’t mean to hurt you I’m sorry that I made you cry Oh no, I didn’t want to hurt you I’m just a jealous guy
β¦ I didn’t mean to hurt you I’m sorry that I made you cry Oh no, I didn’t want to hurt you I’m just a jealous guy
β¦ I was trying to catch your eyes Thought that you was trying to hide
β¦ I was swallowing my pain I was swallowing my pain
β¦ I didn’t mean to hurt you I’m sorry that I made you cry Oh no, I didn’t want to hurt you I’m just a jealous guy I’m just a jealous guy I’m just a jealous guy
Bonus track. This is “Child of Nature” (Esher Demo) by The Beatles. (Esher is the town in England where George Harrison’s home Kinfauns was located and where the demos were recorded.)
Released November 22, 1968 Composer/Lyricist: John Lennon Producer(s): George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr Studio Personnel: Giles Martin, Mixer
Written for The Unicorn Challenge where we are encouraged to be creative in 250 words or less using the photo prompt below. Originally written in 2022 as a 750-word story, this is my revamped submission.
I stood at the bedroom window staring at the devastation caused by the previous nightβs storm. My wife Dianna is going to be crushed when she sees what happened during the night β Mother Nature at her fiercest. I heard Dianna stirring in bed.
βMike, itβs so early. Whatβs wrong?β she asked sleepily.
βWe had a pretty bad storm last night. Itβs not good, hon. We lost some treesβ I replied.
She threw off the covers and sat on the edge of the bed, feet skimming the floor searching for discarded slippers. βNot Red. Please donβt say we lost Red!β
Dianna gasped loudly at the sight before her, then the tears came. She cried for a long time. I held her and let her cry; this was not something carelessly brushed aside or easily forgotten.
Finally her sobs lessened and with a broken heart and a weakened voice she sighed,Β βPoor Red! How I loved that beautiful old tree. Look at him now, a fallen soldier.β
We sat on the bed side by side; I spoke tenderly. βThereβs no shame in mourning the loss of a tree. Itβs not silly. It is, after all, a living thing. Does it feel pain when a leaf is plucked or a branch broken? Does it thirstily lap the rain after a dry spell? Does it feel your heartbeat as you rest a weary back against its old, sturdy trunk? How can we presume such things are not possible? No, it’s not silly at all.“
“Rodeo – Hoe-Down” Written by:Β Aaron Copland Composed:Β 1942 Release Date:Β October 16, 1942
Available on: America, The Dream Goes On (1985) Conductor: John Williams Producer: John McClure Arranger: John Williams
Personnel: Boston Pops Orchestra
Composed by Aaron Copland in 1942 for the ballet Rodeo, the βHoe-Downβ features two American square dance tunes and fuses evocative music and dance. Rodeo takes us to the exciting, dramatic world of cowboys, cowgirls and the American West. A hoedown is a dance competition that is often described as noisy and riotous. The music is full of vigor and energy as the cowgirls and boys pair off.
The commission forΒ RodeoΒ came, surprisingly enough, from the classically oriented Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, with the music by Copland and the choreography and scenario by Agnes de Mille. The ballet was precedent-setting; the audience demanded 22 curtain calls at its premiere at the Metropolitan Opera House on October 16, 1942. The success of this ballet ensured that dance would thrive as an integral part of American musical theater.
Aaron Copland (1900-1990) was possibly the most famous American composer of the 20th century. He was one of the first serious American composers to carve out his own path amongst the much more famous songwriters and jazz musicians of the 1920s. His music is said to βsound like Americaβ and often features a large, open sound (like the vast American prairies), and complex rhythms (like cowboys on horseback). Copland was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, the youngest of 5 children all living above their fatherβs grocery shop. Copland learned piano Β and started writing down ideas at the age of 8. By the age of 15 he had decided to be a composer and his love of European music led him to Paris to study with the famous music teacher Nadia Boulanger. When he returned home, he began writing music in many different styles including three symphonies, four ballets and several film scores. He also became a great teacher and supporter of young composers. Upon his death, most of his fortune was left to the Aaron Copland Fund for Composers which supports young composers and performing groups. The fund is so large, it will continue to support young musicians for decades.
The music of βHoe-Downβ is about real people β¦. their folk tunes and customs; itβs full of open plains, a sense of adventure and the American pioneering spirit.
This is Aaron Coplandβs βHoe-Downβ from Rodeo, performed by the Boston Pops Orchestra under the baton of John Williams.
May your Saturday be smooth and easy. Thanks for stopping by.
Written for The Unicorn Challenge where we are encouraged to get creative in 250 words or less using the photo below as inspiration. This is my story
Dear God in heaven! How the hell Iβm supposed to get through this book is beyond me!
Iβve been at it now for hours and Iβm bored stiff. I donβt know who this guy thinks he is but Iβll tell you what heβs not β¦. a good writer! Iβve read menus more interesting than this rot!
Jeez Louise! Iβve come across some real clunkers in my day but this one is totally b-o-r-i-n-g. Haul out the woodchipper!
The owner of the small publishing business behind me, Miss Willow Everwood, is my boss; I work there as a proofreader and I really like my job but reading this book is torture. Miss Everwood spotted me dozing off on the chair and demanded I sit on the hard pavement to keep from getting too comfortable and falling asleep. She even said she didnβt want me rooting around inside until I was done with my job.
Well, now my limbs are as stiff as an old hickory stick, my noggin feels like itβs full of sawdust and my buttβs as hard as a slab of redwood. I swear if I have to keep reading this, Iβm going to nod off right here in the middle of the sidewalk and start sawing wood.
If I had a rope Iβd hang myself from the nearest tree! But Iβm not about to get all sappy.
Well, good luck to this Tolkien guy if he thinks heβs going to make it with these creepy Ent people!
Itβs true that Miley Cyrus has become a huge musical star, but did you know she has quite the talented family? Weβre all familiar with her famous father, Billy Ray Cyrus, her legendary godmother, Dolly Parton β but what of her four talented siblings?
The youngest child in the Cyrus clan is 24-year-old Noah who has carved out quite an impressive career of her own. In terms of fame, Noah is probably second only to Miley. Her breakout hit, βMake Me (Cry)β earned her a spot on the Billboard Hot 100 right out of the gate at the age of 16. Since that time, her career has only grown. Her unique brand of thoughtful pop has made her one of the most enticing young acts in the game today.
In an interview with American fashion magazine V, Noah Cyrus said this about βMake Me (Cry)β and her video co-performer, Labrinth: “It was really conversational. Labrinthhad a chorus, and we started just going back and forth writing lyrics together. It turned into being about a toxic love.β Teen Vogue described the song as “a gut-wrenching power-ballad that will resonate with anyone who has suffered a broken heart, reinforcing the idea that it’s possible to be lonely even when in a relationship and that being with someone can create more pain than being alone.β
The video depicts the two singers waking up in their respective beds with their partners who are seemingly disinterested in their affection. In alternating shots, we see Noah’s sadness, and then Labrinth’s, and back again as they sing about their significant others. As the song reaches its climax, we can see the duo at the same time in split screen; their raging words give off major βwrecking ballβ vibes …. deep thoughts from the mind (and pen) of such a young artist.
This is βMake Me (Cry)β by Noah Cyrus featuring Labrinth
Thanks for stopping by and playing a tune with me.
Written for Friday Fictioneers where we’re given a photo and asked to let it inspire us to create something magical in 100 words or less. This is my 100-word inspired creation.
βUngrateful β¦ bastard β¦ son-of-a-bitch β¦ always telling me what to do β¦ when to do it β¦ waiting on him like a motherless child β¦ picking up after him β¦ cooking three meals a day β¦ seven days a week β¦ cleaning β¦ cleaning β¦ cleaning β¦ and whatβs my reward β¦ an unwelcome fuck at 3 AM β¦ pig β¦ I β¦ have β¦ had β¦ enough!β
Carlaβs thoughts raced through her head like a locomotive engulfed in flames.
βYou gonna cook that pizza or beat it to death?β he snarled.
Welcome to Birthday Thursdays! Each week I will feature someone from the world of music whose birthday falls on this day. There wonβt be any chit chat from me, no facts and figures β just some great tunes (and an occasional surprise). Check it out right here every Thursday and enjoy the music.
Happy Birthday to Rosemary Clooney Born May 23, 1928 in Maysville, Kentucky
Written for Six Sentence Story where we are asked to be creative in no more than six sentences using the word “light”. This is my story.
Colette, typically looking away the second I snap a photo! Eyeroll!
We got a late start with spring cleaning in our yard, especially along the side of the house where our attached garage is located; even though the gardeners had cleared a lot of old shrubbery away for some new plants and bushes, it was just not meant to be after we were derailed by the sudden death of my husbandβs twin brother on April 2 and me being sidelined since the first week of May by a major sinus infection (the heavy-duty antibiotics have left me “out of commission” and able to eat only extremely light meals or, at times, nothing at all).
In mid-May, we put in a couple of small white azaleas, relocated a baby rhododendron which wasnβt doing well in the far back corner of the yard and planted a bit of Blue Bugle and Lilies of the Valley for lightground cover (along the side of the house, not visible in this pic), but thatβs as far as our broken spirits and depleted bodies would allow us go.
When Colette is here with us (Tuesdays, Thursdays and the occasional Saturday or Sunday) and the weather is good, she wants to be outside; hell, even if the weather isnβt good, she wants to be outside β a phenomenon about most children that escapes me as they (well, she definitely) seem to be impervious to heat or cold or rain or snow or wind β all the elements, times when Bill and I would prefer being inside nestled in our recliners with a lightweight blanket.
Speaking of nestled, we discovered that sparrows had made their nest in an old watering can in the corner of Coletteβs playhouse; the mama and papa birds are very resourceful, building the new home in a location almost invisible to us, one which I discovered quite by accident when I heard a faint chirping noise coming from the playhouse and β¦. with my trusty flashlight in hand β¦. I went to take a peek but was immediately dive-bombed by a wildly protective kamikaze sparrow which, when it sped just inches by my head, had me believing it was a small bat …. terrifying!
Tuesday the temps soared to a scorching 86ΒΊF β a leap from the mild low-70s of just the day before β so it was, according to Colette, the βperfect day for planting!β β¦. a concept I did not agree with thinking it was too hot and we would be in direct blazing sunlightfor the entire time β¦. but I did not object (mainly because the child could not be dissuaded and it was far less taxing than yet another round of the Disney edition of Monopoly); armed with our faithful spades, Bill with his macho shovel and pitchfork, we planted another azalea along the side of the house, then Colette and I pulled all the weeds and detritus from the two ancient cement planters on either side of the bench you see in the above photo, replacing all of what was growing in them as haphazardly as Albert Einstein’s hair with two bright pink kalanchoe plants, then stood back to proudly bask in the glory of our gardening prowess.
Of course, manual labor such as that demands a reward and certainly not a monetary one which would be looked upon with disdain and confusion by a 4-year-old whose idea of recompense consists solely of instant gratification in the form of ice cream β the I-don’t-give-a-hoot-how-messy-I-get kind β and after getting Colette situated in her pink fairy chair, pinning up her waist-length hair and snapping on the 15-year-old bib we originally used for our first grandchild, Mckenna, I disappeared into the kitchen and returned with fudge-covered vanilla ice cream pops for Colette and Bill and a lemon ice for me; judging by the look on her face and the twinkling, totally satisfied lightin her eyes (photo below), Colette was over the moon with her sweet, sloppy treat and …. you know β¦. she was right after all about it being the βperfect day for planting!”
Written for Glynβs Mixed Music Bag week #21 where we are asked to write about a song by a group or solo singer beginning with the letter I or J.
There was a lot was happening in music in May of 1968 with people making headline news. Gary Puckett and the Union Gap came out with “Young Girl”. Janis Joplin went solo. The Throggs released “Love Is All Around” in the US. Jane Asher reported on a live TV interview that she was breaking up with her boyfriend, Paul McCartney. Hugh Masekela was at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with βGrazing In The Grassβ and Cream started a four-week run at #1 on the album chart with Wheels On Fire.
A little further down the listings, the second album from a heavy-and-hard-rocking band out of San Diego, California entered the album chart for the first time β with a bullet at #117! Ok, not the highest of chart debuts, I admit, but some would say this now-legendary set of tunes became the first heavy metal album to hit the charts and opened the floodgates for many a longhaired, guitar-wielding group to blast us with some serious riffs and overlong guitar solos.
The band was Iron Butterfly and the album was called βIn-A-Gadda-Da-Vidaβ, baby.
The track was recorded on May 27, 1968 at Ultrasonic Studios in Hempstead, Long Island, New York. The story goes that the recording which is heard on the album was meant to be a soundcheck for the engineer. However, the engineer had rolled the tape and when the rehearsal was completed, it was agreed that the performance was of sufficient quality that another take was not needed.
According to legend, the group members were so stoned when they recorded the track that they could neither pronounce the title βIn the Garden of Edenβ nor end the track, so it ended up filling the whole side of the album, coming in at a full 17 minutes of psychedelic rock.
However, another side of the recording story says that the drummer was listening to the track through headphones and could not clearly distinguish what the vocalist was singing. He wrote down the name according to what he heard and in the end they went with βIn-A-Gadda-Da-Vidaβ.
I donβt know about you but I think the first explanation is much more interesting .β¦ and plausible! Well, either way, it didnβt matter. The album that contained the 17-minute title track went on to sell over four million copies in the US alone, with another one million shipped abroad. Not bad for a stoned jam in the afternoon.
The 2-minute, 52 second 45-rpm version of βIn-A-Gadda-Da-Vidaβ was Iron Butterflyβs only song to hit the top 40, reaching #30. The original βIn-A-Gadda-Da-Vidaβ album has the distinction of being the first album to go Platinum in the US, when the Platinum Award was instituted in 1976. In 2009 the song was named the 24th greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1.
Here is Iron Butterfly with βIn-A-Gadda-Da-Vidaβ.
Originally released by The Everly Brothers, “Love Hurts“, written in 1960 by Boudleaux Bryant, is a song that delves into the pain and anguish experienced when love goes wrong. The emotional depth conveyed through the lyrics and the haunting melody have made it a beloved and enduring piece of music.
The song’s popularity can be attributed to its universal theme of heartbreak. Love is usually portrayed as a beautiful and uplifting experience, but “Love Hurts” acknowledges the dark side of love, where heartache and emotional turmoil take center stage. This raw honesty has struck a chord with listeners of all generations. βLove Hurtsβ was never released by the Everlyβs as a single and can be found on their album A Date With The Everly Brothers.
The song has been recorded as a duet by Greg Parsons and Emmylou Harris, by Roy Obison in 1961 as the B side to βRunning Scaredβ, by English singer-songwriter Jim Capaldi whose version reached #4 in the UK charts and by the Scottish hard rock band, Nazareth.
Performed as a ballad by Nazareth, βLove Hurtsβ became the most popular version of the song and the only rendition to become a big hit single, reaching #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1976.
Iβd love to play all the versions of this great song but it is Twofer Tuesday and we canβt have pandemonium erupting on WordPress. After all this time together on The Elephant’s Trunk, I think you can guess which cover I chose to feature today.
This is the wondrous original version of βLove Hurtsβ by the Everly Brothers.
And this is what it sounded like when Nazareth recorded it:
Sheβs four now and it seems like yesterday she was barely walking, crawling sideways like a huge pink crab with her undeveloped knees brushing the floor in lightning speed. Her golden blonde hair is loose, flowing almost to the tops of her thighs like the fragrant flowers trailing from a Maypole. We laugh when we worried that these glorious tresses would never grow out and she would forever be the source of jokes by the mean girls in school. But that was not to be as this indescribably beautiful child standing before us with all the presence and attitude of Xena the Warrior Princess will stake her claim and win against any goddess wannabees. No more baby bubble pipes for this one; she has moved into the power bubble zone. She is a force of nature.
intergalactic shifts bound from planet to planet hail the bubble queen
Another popular Motown sound from the team of Holland-Dozier-Holland is Marvin Gayeβs βYouβre A Wonderful Oneβ, recorded and released in 1964 on the Tamla label.
In the song, the narrator praises his “wonderful one” for loving him and for “always (being) around”. Gaye is helped along on this song by The Supremes on background. The great group of session musicians known as The Funk Brothers provided the backing on this number; they incorporated elements of Chuck Berryβs βMemphisβ into the intro of this song. “Wonderful One” charted at #15 on the pop charts and #3 on the R&B singles chart.
From February 1964, this is Marvin Gaye with βYouβre A Wonderful Oneβ.
And this is what was on the B side β βWhen Iβm Alone I Cryβ (a very different sound for Marvin Gaye).
Thanks for joining me today for a little Monday Motown Magic.
Growing up, it was just me and my sister β two girls doing girl things. And while we werenβt always best of friends, it was just the two of us. It wasnβt my fault that my mother went into labor smack in the middle of my sisterβs 4th birthday party; after making a hasty departure for the hospital, my mother arrived just in time for me to be born β¦. on my sisterβs birthday β¦. and sheβs never really forgiven me. I mean, she says she has but deep down thereβs resentment. But I digress.
Bitterness for being born on her birthday aside, we managed to get along ok. And we both had a bunch of little girlfriends whoβd come over the house to play and swim in our pool. Thereβs a definite advantage to having the only pool on the block β even if it was inflatable and barely three feet deep. We always had lots of friends over but there were never any boys around and, if an interloper did show up, he was quickly shown the way out before he had a chance to dip his you-know-what in our pool!
For the first six years of my life, I had very little contact with boys .β¦ except for my cousins and they didnβt count. In elementary school boys were just tolerated; they were looked upon as excess baggage. Of course, that all changed when I hit my teen years and realized boys had potential. I had a couple of crushes early on but nothing earth-shattering. Then, at the ripe old age of 17, I went on a blind date with a guy named Bill and together we learned all about boys and girls, how they were so wondrously different and incredibly well-made for each other. I was stunned by how much I didn’t know about boys.
So, wouldnβt you just know it! God, in his infinite humorous nature, decided to bless me with only boy babies. All those years of playing with my baby girl dolls, changing their diapers fashioned from paper napkins, powdering their petite girlie bottoms, all that didnβt come close to what these boys were packing! It didnβt matter how well I knew Billβs anatomy; he didnβt wear a diaper and I had never changed one β¦. at least not a boyβs. Talk about a rude awakening!
Let me just explain something very quickly here. When infant girls are getting their diapers changed, sometimes they pee but itβs a dainty little trickle that gently disappears into the absorbent pad under them. When infant boys are getting their diapers changed, parents put on a hazmat suit because that nozzle has a mind of its own and it is gonna spray wherever it wants.
Oh sure, parents can buy little wee-wee teepees to hold over the wee-wee while their baby boy giggles at them, but most times that thing is flying around like an errant garden hose and the pee goes everywhere. And, of course, thatβs where men first learn to pee with no hands β yawning and stretching and placing their hands behind their heads in a very satisfied βlook-what-I-can-doβ sort of way. Usually in those situations, there will be spillage. I have found, for the most part, the male species is not very discriminating and is quite happy to just βhitsomething“.
Which brings me to the heart of this story.
I love my boys and, in all humility, Bill and I did a good job raising them. BUT, nature will take its course no matter what we do. And let me tell you, there is nothing β¦. and I mean NOTHING β¦. like the overwhelming musky, barn-like odor that punches you in the face when you open the door to a boyβs bedroom. For the love of all things holy, what is going on in there? How is it possible for boys β¦. little or big β¦. to ravage so many briefs, boxers or tighty-whities in one day, not to mention the now-fossilized face cloths (and sometimes my good hand towels)?
Weβre all adults here and you know exactly what Iβm talking about.
Well, I finally reached the end of my rope. It became unbearable for me to do my teen sons’ laundry, let alone keep up with it, so I threw down the gauntlet. I led the boys to the laundry room where I proceeded to write on my washing machine with a Sharpie. In all the corresponding receptacles were the words βDETERGENT GOES HERE.β βBLEACH GOES HERE.β βSOFTENER GOES HERE.β Iβm sure they didnβt believe me when I said I was done doing their wash. After two weeks of their laundry piling up and them running out of clean clothes and their sheets desperate enough to literally walk off the bed and leap into the washing machine, they finally got the message!
As the old saying goes, boys will be boys, and I never had a problem with what was going on in my sons’ bedrooms β¦. within reason; if I thought something dangerous was happening, Iβd be in there in a flash. Iβd just had enough of cleaning up their messes. Now theyβre grown men, good men, married with children, and they get to deal with their own kids’ smells, sprays, spills and secretions.
And when I see them lugging a basketful of laundry to their washing machines, I chuckle and know I did them a huge favor.
You may recall back on May 1 I shared a couple of photos with you of my houseplant, a philodendron called Prince of Orange. At that time I promised to share its growth progress with you; today I have a couple more pix.
Houseplants donβt usually shoot-up overnight like Jack and the Beanstalk so the progress is slow; I think I’ll notice considerably more growth than you will see in these pix but maybe not. Itβs impossible for me to know how things look through your eyes so please tell me what you see.
I also have another houseplant which my sister-in-law gave me a few months ago. That one goes by several different names including Swiss Cheese Plant and MexicanBreadfruit but its most common name is Split-leaf philodendron. Its leaves grow similarly to the Prince of Orange philodendron β tightly coiled, slowly unfurling β but the Split-leaf has one strange feature the Prince of Orange does not …. hairy branches! Talk about an interesting houseplant, this oneβs it!
This coming week I will repot the Split-leaf into a little bigger pot. When repotting a houseplant, you donβt want to move it into a new pot thatβs too much larger than its existing one. Thatβs a difficult temptation to resist and a common mistake people make when repotting. We want fast results but a too-big pot will not achieve that. If thereβs too much room for the roots in the pot, the plant could go into βshockβ and become dormant; sometimes a re-potted plant will die. When repotting houseplants, size definitely matters.
In truth, most houseplants are pretty hardy and can tolerate whatever comes their way. One of the things to remember is to never overwater your houseplants, even the ones that prefer a moist soil. Cacti and succulents react poorly to overwatering. A houseplant that is dried out β even shriveled up β will quickly perk up with a little water but an overwatered plant is very prone to root rot, which is difficult if not impossible to treat. My husband calls me the “plant rescuer” because I find nearly dead houseplants in supermarkets or CVS or even nurseries, take them home and give them some TLC. They bounce back fairly quickly and that really makes me happy.
OK, Iβve talked enough about these two plants; letβs do an unveiling, shall we? If youβd like to read the entire post from May 1 about my Prince of Orange (which also has a slew of funnies from the Bluebird of Bitterness, hereβs the link:Β
But if you’d rather not, here are the two photos from May 1 of my Prince of Orange, followed by photos I took today:
Brand new at home
Photo from May 1
Now today’s shots:
Photo from today, May 18, 2024
Photo from today, May 18, 2024
Can you see the folds starting to open, unfurling the leaves? That waxy cluster of red/orange “shoots” in the center of the plant will open into a new green leaf. It’s pretty cool to watch but we can’t hurry nature.
Now here are a couple of pix of my Split-leaf philodendron …. the one with the hairy branches. When I took this photo, I put the plant on my roll top desk in the corner of my sunroom for better light but I forgot to remove the table runner on top of the desk; that may be a distraction but I think you’ll be able to spot the hairy legs!
Split-leaf philodendron, May 15, 2024
Looking down into Split-leaf, May 15, 2024 Check out those hairy legs!
It’s fascinating to me how these two philodendrons unfurl and almost “shed” their casing to allow for new leaf growth. As far as I know neither of these plants will bear flowers but anything can happen with some sun, water and TLC.
Thanks for visiting my sunroom and checking out my phabulousphilodendrons! I will post again when something cool develops!
βCome, I want to show you my playroomβ He stands, holding out his hand. I let him lead me back out to the corridor. On the right of the double doors, where we came in, another door leads to a staircase. We go up to the second floor and turn right. Producing a key from his pocket, he unlocks yet another door and takes a deep breath. βYou can leave anytime. Itβs fine, whatever you decide.β I tell him to just open the damn door. He opens the door and stands back to let me in. I gaze at him once more. I so want to know whatβs in there. Taking a deep breath, I walk in. The first thing I notice is the smell of leather. Suspended from the ceiling is an iron grid, eight foot square at least, and from it hang all manner of ropes, chains, shackles. There’s a startling assortment of paddles, whips, riding crops and funny-looking feathery implements. And it feels like Iβve time-traveled back to the sixteenth century and the Spanish Inquisition.β ~ Excerpts from Chapters 6 & 7, Fifty Shades of Grey, Book 1
The book gets even more interesting …. so Iβm told.
There are toys and then there are toys.
Thereβs a classic soul ballad that speaks to the powerlessness of love. The lyrics describe a person who is willing to do whatever their partner wants them to and be completely under their control. Itβs a sensual, titillating, smooth song about the all-encompassing nature of love. But is it βloveβ or something else, something more? The singer expresses that he would do anything to make his partner happy and would go to any lengths to remain in the relationship. He is a toy, a puppet in her hands.
I wonder if thereβs a “safe word” mentioned in the lyrics of this song. “Red” is a common safe word, while “pickle” and “radish” are also popular β¦. so Iβm told. In this song the safe word would probably be βstringβ, but Iβm just speculating.
My featured song for today is “I’m Your Puppet“, a song written by Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham. The best known version is the one recorded by James & Bobby Purify which reached #5 on the US R&B chart and #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966. The single was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1967. The song was featured on their 1967 album, James & Bobby Purify.
The duo released a re-recorded version as a single in 1976 which reached #12 on the UK Singles Chart. The single ranked #46 on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1976.
Itβs been a long time since I heard this song but when the theme of βtoysβ was suggested, it was the first song I thought of β not βRed Rubber Ballβ or βPinball Wizardβ or even βPuff The Magic Dragonβ. And after listening β¦. really listening and reading the lyrics β¦. my eyebrows raised a few times. Whatβs going on here? Is it the sweet and charming song I thought it was almost 60 years ago? You be the judge.
From the album James & Bobby Purify, this is βIβm Your Puppetβ.
Lyrics
Pull the string and I’ll wink at you, I’m your puppet I’ll do funny things if you want me to, I’m your puppet
I’m yours to have and to hold Darling you’ve got full control of your puppet
Pull another string and I’ll kiss your lips, I’m your puppet Snap your finger and I’ll turn you some flips, I’m your puppet
Listen, your every wish is my command All you gotta do is wiggle your little hand I’m your puppet, I’m your puppet
I’m just a toy, just a funny boy That makes you laugh when you’re blue I’ll be wonderful, do just what I’m told I’ll do anything for you I’m your puppet, I’m your puppet
Pull them little strings and I’ll sing you a song, I’m your puppet Make me do right or make me do wrong, I’m your puppet
Treat me good and I’ll do anything I’m just a puppet and you hold my string, I’m your puppet
Darling, darling, pull the strings, let me sing you a song any day I’m your puppet baby, you can sing for me all night long
βIt Was A Very Good Yearβ Written by: Ervin Drake Recorded: 1965 Producer: Sonny Burke Conductor: Gordon Jenkins Arranger: Gordon Jenkins Released: December 1965
Available on: September Of My Years (1965) Sinatra At The Sands (1966)
Personnel: Frank Sinatra β vocals Featuring Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra
Ervin Drakeβs βIt Was A Very Good Yearβ was written in 1961 and originally recorded by Bob Shane of The Kingston Trio that same year but it was Frank Sinatraβs rendition in 1965 that made the song legendary with his Grammy Award-winning version.
The nostalgicand melancholicΒ song recounts the type of girls with whom the singer had relationships at various years in his life: when he was 17, “small-town girls … on the village green“; at 21, “city girls who lived up the stair“; at 35, βblue-blooded girls of independent means“. Each of these years he calls “very good“. In the song’s final verse, the singer reflects that he is older and in the autumn of his years, and he thinks back on his entire life “as vintageΒ wine”. All of these romances were sweet to him, like a wine from a very good year.
Sinatraβs version of the song, which won Best Vocal Performance, Male, also took home the Grammy for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist by Gordon Jenkins. The song became Sinatraβs first #1 single on The Adult Contemporary chart and reached #28 on Billboard Hot 100.
Ervin Drake commented on Sinatraβs rendition saying, βSomeone played it to me down a telephone. It wasnβt a great phone line but I knew Iβd heard a masterpiece and I fell in love with it. Iβve never stopped loving it.β
This is Frank Sinatra with βIt Was A Very Good Yearβ
May your Saturday be smooth sailing. Thanks for stopping by.
Written for The Unicorn Challenge (with a timely lead-in from yesterday’s Friday Fictioneers). Here we are challenged to be creative in 250 words or less using the photo below. This is my story.
He walked on the beach with his dog just as he always did. He saw the sign but ignored it, happy to see someone had vandalized it. Damn rules!
He threw the ball but when the dog returned, he had a purse hanging from his mouth. He dropped the purse and ran back to where he found it.
Looking in the purse, the man saw a cell phone. Hers. Last call was to him. Chasing the dog, he saw a body sprawled on the rocks near the water.
And before he got any closer, he knew it was his wife.
A flood of questions hit him like a tsunami. What happened? Why didnβt he get her call? What was she doing here β¦. not just here on the beach .β¦ here in Cannes?
She was supposed to be in Lyon finalizing the sale of her late motherβs apartment. Her mother died five years ago and for reasons only she could explain but never did, she refused to get rid of the place.
He quickened his pace to the body. The dog kept nudging her head and running around wildly on the deserted beach. The man looked at her phone again; there were numerous calls to someone named Roman. An unfamiliar name.
My friend Clive at Take it Easy reminds us about Mental Health Awareness Week. We’re in the midst of it here in The States and it’s coming up next week in the UK. But really … there’s no timeline for mental health awareness and it doesn’t take a huge time commitment or expensive exercise equipment. A doctor friend of mine likes to say “When you wake up, get up. And when you get up, do something.” Simple enough, even for this old bird! Stay healthy, my friends!
Today for the first time I am featuring the βfriendsβ aspect of Friends & Family Friday.
The story starts on May 4, 1968, on the British television talent show βOpportunity Knocks,β where a talented 17-year-old Mary Hopkin began performing, going on to win six episodes in a row. Mary had no way of knowing that the iconic British model Twiggy was watching one of those performances on her television at home. That weekend Twiggy was talking to a friend about Maryβs performance on the program, a friend who was soon to establish a record label with his band. That friend was Paul McCartney. Just two days later, Mary received a telegram asking her to call Apple Corps. Hesitant at first, she was persuaded by her mother to call the number on the telegram.
“So I rang up and was put through to this guy with a Liverpool accent” Mary later recalled. It was, of course, Paul McCartney and the next day Mary was on her way to London to sign a contract. The young Welsh singer was one of the first to sign with the Beatles’ Apple label. Mary’s stint with Apple resulted in two albums β Post Card and Earth Song/Ocean Song, a slew of well-crafted singles and an EP released in Indonesia. Mary later admitted her association with Apple ended mainly because of Paul McCartney’s micro-management of her career.
One of Mary Hopkin’s songs on the Apple label is the exquisite βMarthaβ written by Harvey Andrews β a song about a lonely woman who sits by her phone waiting for someone to call. Martha listens in on her neighborsβ conversations, feeding on their despair. She appears to be a nosy, manipulative and unhappy person who is consumed with the lives of others while neglecting her own. Her behavior is likely the result of a broken heart and a shattered life. The song paints a sad and eerie picture of a woman who has lost her way and is happy only in the misery of others.
This is Mary Hopkin with the hauntingly stunning βMarthaβ.
Thanks for stopping by and catching some tunes with me.
Written for Friday Fictioneers where we are asked to write something creative in 100 words or less using the photo below as inspiration. This is my story.
He walks on the beach with his dog, just as he always does. They have a routine. He tosses the ball, the dog brings it back. Itβs all very natural and civilized.
Except for this night.
When the dog returns, he has a purse hanging from his mouth. He drops the purse and runs back to where he found it.
Looking in the purse, he sees a cell phone. Hers. The last call dialed was to him. He chases the dog; there’s a body sprawled on the rocks near the water.
Written for Friday Fictioneers where we are challenged to write something creative in 100 words or less using the photo below. This is my story in 100 words.
They walk five miles to work every other day, softly conversing in Italian. They unlock the side door and go directly to the closet. Dragging out their supplies, they stop talking and address their task.
Kerchiefs holding back their hair, hands protected by rubber gloves, they uncap their jars of Murphyβs Oil Soap and add a small amount to their buckets of water. It doesnβt take much of the lemon-scented solution to polish every pew.
These are the church ladies. They labor silently for three hours. When done, they leave the church in darkness except for the luminous bell tower.
Welcome to Birthday Thursdays! Each week I will feature someone from the world of music whose birthday falls on this day. There wonβt be any chit chat from me, no facts and figures β just some great tunes (and an occasional surprise). Check it out right here every Thursday and enjoy the music.
Happy Birthday to Liberace Born May 16, 1919 in West Allis, Wisconsin
Written for Glynβs Mixed Music Bag #20, where we are asked to write about a song by a group or solo singer beginning with the letter I or J.
The date was January 24, 1969. Jethro Tull stepped on stage at the Fillmore East to play their inaugural performance in the United States. Tull hadnβt yet reached the point of popularity in The States to warrant a headlining gig; they were the opening act for Blood, Sweat and Tears. That’s who we were there to see. When the opening act started playing, I remember turning to Bill and saying βI could be wrong but I think that guyβs playing a flute!β and that was the beginning of my love affair with Jethro Tull.
Even if their long career stalled at the start of the β70s, Jethro Tull would still go down in rock history for that one crucial thing: they proved that the flute could be a killer R&R instrument. Front man Ian Anderson has wielded the instrument β a favorite among middle-school-band girls and wandering minstrels for almost a thousand years β like a madman onstage, aggressively blowing solos usually reserved for guitars or saxophones. But paired with the bandβs era-spanning brand of progressive folk music β expertly displayed on 1971βs breakthrough Aqualung album β the flute has become a weapon of mass destruction in Andersonβs hands. Despite the many lineup changes the band has gone through over the years, Jethro Tullβs records have rarely diverted from their ambitious paths. The group infamously won the first-ever Hard Rock/Metal Grammy in 1989. So there!
The trackβAqualungβ is a story of homelessness and how society deals with it. Ian Anderson said his wife took photos of the homeless and showed them to him. Many of the lyrics describe actual homeless men. His wife also wrote some lyrics from the photos. Anderson went on to say βAqualungβ is a βguilt-ridden song of confusion about how you deal with beggars, the homeless and our reaction of guilt, distaste, awkwardness, all these things that we feel when weβre confronted with the reality of the situation.You see someone whoβs clearly in desperate need of some help, whether itβs a few coins or the contents of your wallet, and you blank them out. The more you live in that business-driven, commercially-driven lifestyle, you can just cease to see them.β
Here’s a bit of history regarding the name of the album/song. An Aqualung is a portable breathing setup for divers (think scuba gear). Andersonβs photos showed a homeless man with breathing problems and the name βAqualungβ came to him. It turns out that Aqualung was a brand name for the deep sea breathing system in a TV show Anderson liked to watch β Sea Hunt. In a 2019 interview, Ian Anderson said, βThey tried to sue the hell out of us, the Aqualung Corporation of North America. We apologized profusely and said, βSorry, we didnβt know. We thought ALL underwater breathing apparatus were called Aqualungs because itβs so famous the world over.β It was an honest mistake. I think they were flattered by the fact that we thought they were the one and only kind of company doing that stuff. They decided not to sue us after all.β Great story!
“Aqualung” was never released as a single simply because itβs too long. Radio at the time was sharply divided between AM, which played the 3-minute pop hits, and FM, where they played what was called deep cuts. The album Aqualung is Jethro Tull’s best-selling with more than seven million units worldwide. It was generally well-received critically and has been included on several music magazines’ best-of lists.
From 1971, this is βAqualungβ by Jethro Tull, from the album of the same name..
And this is Ian Anderson’s Flute Solo from 1976 in Tampa, Florida
That time I found myself in the principalβs office because I screamed at the teacher who tried to put his hand up my shirt, then being assaulted again at home by my mother who accused me of βasking for itβ.
Strange sensations came over me and I felt disoriented; I was sweating but I had chills, my vision was blurry, my tongue seemed huge in my mouth …. about three times its normal size …. my head felt like it was under water and my equilibrium was off, making me stumble and lose my balance, walking into the furniture and reeling yet even though I desperately wanted this goddess standing before me, I was unable to reach her.
For no apparent reason, I suddenly remembered when I got home from work earlier that day, I found a new drink in the refrigerator β¦. 24 mini-cans of some beverage with exotic-sounding names such as Peach Bellini, Pineapple Mule, Mango Meringue, Grapefruit Paloma, Maui Sunset β¦. and it was totally bewildering to me that I could remember those names but not where I was, who I was, who this woman was and yet I knew for a fact that I drank a couple of those cans of delightful nectar; could be thatβs what was messing with my head …. making me be so unsure about some things but entirely certain about others …. not unlike taking quaaludes (the authentic Rorer 714s, not some cheap bootleg shit), dropping acid and then popping amyl nitrate all at the same time like some who-do voodoo cocktail.
I could hear this luscious woman talking but I was unable to reach her, to press her mind-bendingly magnificent body next to mine; her words were garbled and all I could make out was the name βAlexβ which was very strange because my name wasnβt Alex .β¦ or maybe it was .β¦ I wasnβt sure of anything except that I definitely downed several cans of exquisite ambrosia with exciting names.
Holding on to the back of the sofa to keep myself from falling, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror and I gasped; I did a doubletake because even though my vision was definitely wonky, it wasnβt so bad that I couldnβt see that I had suddenly transformed into a very attractive black man much like Michael B. Jordan when just half an hour ago I was my usual George Costanza look-alike!
Then without warning the womanβs voice started morphing and began to sound familiar, kind of like my wife Alexis and when I looked up into the mirror I was no longer Michael B. Jordan β¦. I was back to my old self, plain old Fred Johnson β¦. and when I looked over at the woman, that voluptuous blonde with the perfect 44 double Ds had been replaced with my short, squatty wife of 37 years; well, that sucked and I quickly determined the only thing I could do was to drink more of those tasty beverages in mini-cans and pray my gorgeous fantasy girl would return but when I yanked open the door of the fridge, I was alarmed to see there was no more voodoo juice left and my heart sank because, as always, I couldnβt control my damn self, I had downed all the mini-cans of ecstasy and now it was just me and short, squatty Alexis.
Whether solo or with Roxy Music, this is one of the few Bryan Ferry tracks that cracks a wide smile, sending up his jet-set image while celebrating it at the same time. Originally recorded by soul singer Dobie Gray, βThe βInβ Crowdβ often gets confused for a Motown number, thanks to the labelβs arranger Gene Page, who gave the single the Motown touch. Before Ferry tackled the tune, Ramsey Lewis Trio recorded a live instrumental version in 1964; later, Cheap Trick performed a cover of Ferryβs cover. Confused yet?
In the US, Gray’s powerful version, complete with brass section, reached #11 on the Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chartand #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 on February 20, 1965. Outside the US, “The “In” Crowd” went to #25 on the UK Singles Chart and #8 in Canada.
Bryan Ferryβs 1974 singles release reached #13 on the UK Singles Chart. His album cover for βAnother Time, Another Placeβ, which featured βThe βInβ Crowdβ, is one of the coolest in a James Bond kind of way.
By Dobie Gray in 1964, here is the original “The “In” Crowd”.
And this is what it sounded like when Bryan Ferry recorded it.
And just because it’s my post and I can do whatever I like π this is the RamseyLewis Trio showing us how to do jazz right.
Thatβs todayβs Twofer Tuesday plus one! Thanks for stopping by!
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a fan of the great Mel Brooks. Combine that with my fascination with gladiator movies and my own sense of humor and this is the result. Originally written in 2021, I’ve donesome tweaking and now present to you one of my favorite fun stories. I hope you enjoy ‘Maximus Overdrive’!
Maximus Gluteus caught a glimpse of his reflection on a sheet of polished tin which his wife Labia used as a mirror. He had really let himself go! He was a disgrace, not just to himself but the entire world of gladiators.
Originally known as Maximus Biceptis, he was no longer the god-like hero of the arena. Where was that formidable champion of the amphitheater? Gone were the defined, well-built curves visible through his tunic, the muscles straining against the fabric at the forearms, biceps and chest. His sculpted calves, broad back and wide neck were flaccid, as were other parts of his anatomy which Labia was quick to point out.
Maximus was not only popular with the general public; he was greatly admired by the Roman emperor Sartorius for having won many battles against highly skilled adversaries. The emperor was particularly impressed by his heroics and rewarded Maximus with more palaces and riches than he could have asked for; he went so far as to honor Maximus with his prized solid gold chariot and team of Berber horses. Β
Besides gladiator matches, there was something else the Romans were famous for β partying! Those wild and crazy worshipers of Bacchus, the god of wine, knew how to have a good time. Maximus and Labia threw lavish Bacchanalia and partied like it was 999; debaucheries of every kind were practiced freely and enjoyed by all. Party-goers would spend uninhibited all-nighters dancing, watching circus performers, feasting on fattening foods and decadent desserts, engaging in unbridled sex and, of course, drinking themselves into a stupor.
Labia, a once-famous gladiatrix, was considered an exotic rarity by all who knew her. Attempting to maintain her impressively athletic yet feminine physique, she exercised frequently in the gymnasium and swam in the warm baths. Maximus, however, had become lazy and spiritless. He encamped himself in the large atria overlooking the Mediterranean, reclining for hours on end in the lavish gardens which had been planted with grape orchards, orange groves and trees bearing olives, figs, almonds, walnuts and chestnuts.
Maximus reveled in the good life, laying on his chaise lounge listening to poetry while the palace harpist played softly. Naked dancing nymphs performed for him, slaves fanned him with exquisite peacock feathers and beautiful servant girls fed him cheese, pheasant, figs dipped in honey, meaty chestnuts and wine. A life of gluttony and pleasure suited Maximus; he was a well-sated man.
Maximus became so fat, Labia refused to have sex with him. Even his concubines were repulsed by him but knew they had to do the deed or risk being executed. It got so bad, the poor girls resorted to pulling straws to see who would share their master’s bed. The ladies, however, had little to fear; most nights Maximus was so drunk he was in no condition to get it on …. even with the sensual songs of Marvin Gayeus playing in the background.
It didnβt take long before Labia began spending more and more time away from the palace. She would go for long walks along the seashore with her beloved greyhounds, Lingus and Limbus. It was during one of those walks that Labia first laid eyes on the newest and most popular gladiator who recently transferred to Rome β Maximus Erectus.
He was quite a sight to behold, especially when exercising naked on the beach. To say that he was well-built was an understatement. Erectus was perfection from head to toe. Tall, blond and powerful, sinewy muscles rippled down his arms and legs and across his Herculean back and chest. He was broad-shouldered with a flat, rock-hard abdomen. His body was bronzed from the sun and glistened with sweat. He was one ripped Roman!
Labia stared transfixed at the spectacle before her; even the dogs sat in quiet attention. Finishing up his exercise routine, Erectus ran toward the sea, jumped into the waves and swam for a long while. When he came out, he spotted Labia standing on the beach watching him. Without any hesitation or embarrassment, he walked directly to her. Smiling broadly, he reached down and patted Lingus and Limbus, laughing as they responded by happily wagging their tails. Labiaβs tail had already been wagging.
The two struck up a conversation. All the while they were speaking Labiaβs eyes kept drifting down toward Erectusβ magnificent member which seemed to take on a life of its own. When Labia mentioned she, too, enjoyed exercising and swimming, Erectus commented that she looked like she was in terrific shape and invited her to join him on the beach whenever she desired a partner.
Now, thereβs no denying Labia had a few years on Erectus, but she was still firm and supple. She decided to join him on the beach the following week; it wasnβt long before the duo became partners in every way.
Labia packed her bags and left Maximus Gluteus for her new lover. Tossing everything into the golden chariot, she clicked her tongue and the team of Berbers trotted off. Labia laughed gaily as she shouted over her shoulder, βSo long, fat ass!β
But Maximus Gluteus was too drunk to hear her.
That night Emperor Sartorius had a dream that he would be overthrown. He consulted the wisest philosophers and dream interpreters who all agreed this would indeed be his fate. Fearing torture and a slow death at the hands of his enemies, Sartorius made it known that should such an uprising occur, Maximus Gluteus was to be summoned to execute him; he trusted Maximus would end his life as quickly and painlessly as possible.
Sartorius was indeed overthrown and, per his wishes, Maximus was summoned. However, since Labia had absconded with the golden chariot, Maximus had no choice but to travel by foot to emperor’s palace. Alas, his massive weight slowed him down terribly and Maximus did not arrive in time to save Sartorius from an excruciating death.
Due to that unfortunate event, the expression “Lardum Asina” came about. Today we know it as “Lard Ass”.
From the comedic genius mind of Mel Brooks, this is a clip from the movie “History Of The World, Part I” featuring Bea Arthur and Mel Brooks who wrote, directed and produced the 1981 film.
This is βEntry Of The Gladiatorsβ by Julius Fucik
When you listen to the many great tunes of The Temptations, Iβm sure the one thing you donβt know or even imagine as possible is that their first seven singles were commercial failures. In contrast their hit soul/R&B single βThe Way You Do The Things You Doβ, released in 1964 from their album Meet The Temptations, was a huge success. It peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went to #1 on the Cash Box R&B chart. “The Way You Do The Things You Do” was written by Smokey Robinson and Bobby Rogers of The Miracles; now that you know that I think you’ll hear that familiar Miracles’ influence.
Otis Williams of The Temptations recalled in 2009: “The first time we heard the song, we loved it. The melody swung, and the lyrics had lots of charm.It was typical Smokey talkin’ about how to get a girl and he made it all work. It got a good response whenever we did it live, so our hopes were up. We knew from past experience that even the best tracks don’t always click.”
I guess after seven flops, Otis knew what he was talking about.
From 1964 here are The Temptations with their first hit, βThe Way You Do The Things You Doβ.
And this is what was on the B side β βJust Let Me Knowβ written by Berry Gordy, Jr.
Thanks for joining me today for a little Monday Motown Magic.
The Elephant's Trunk 