Written for Weekly Writing Prompt #363 where we are asked to write something in exactly 42 words, incorporating the word “cabinet”. This is my story in 42 words.
When the landlord came calling for the rent, she pleaded for more time.
He refused and viciously slapped her across the face.
She fell against the cabinet and a rage grew in her like never before.
Daughters-in-law are our grandchildren’s mothers. As such, they carry our fortunes downstream. Under their guidance, our hopes become others’, Giving their force to a much larger dream. How lucky we are to have you for the carer That nurtures the hearts of our hearts, that they may Each be a lover, a giver and sharer, Remaking the world in their image each day. So do we all, like streams from the mountains, In time become joined in the souls we have made, Now mingled forever, eternal companions, Linked by our love in a bond that won’t fade. As you in your noontime your work of love do, We watch from the hillside, grateful for you.
Todayβs theme at Song Lyric Sunday is all about songs that reached #2 on the charts but never got to #1. Be sure to stop by and read Jim’s post, “Fell Short“.
On November 21, 1968, I had the pleasure of seeing the debut performance of Creedence Clearwater Revival at the Fillmore East in NYC; I was actually there for the headliners, Deep Purple, but that’s another story. This post is all about CCR.
Here’s one indisputable fact: Creedence Clearwater Revival was one of the biggest commercial successes of the late 1960s and early β70s. During a time when psychedelic rock, R&B, Motown soul, funk and metal were all on the rise, CCRβs unique blend of driving β50s-style R&R and classic Americana imagery made them one of the biggest standouts of the era. With John Fogertyβs singular voice and songwriting skill, CCR was in a league all its own, and audiences on both sides of the Atlantic responded by making them a huge draw for albums, singles, and live performances.
Hereβs another indisputable fact: Creedence Clearwater Revival has had the most #2 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 without ever having a #1 hit. Somehow, the band that defined their generation wasnβt able to ever sit atop the singles mountain. If nothing else, CCRβs lack of #1 singles is a testament to how fickle the Hot 100 chart can be and how lucky an artist has to be in order to score a #1 hit. Month after month for years on end, CCR would throw classic song after classic song out into the world, scoring nine top ten hits and five #2 singles without ever cracking the top of the chart.
The lack of a #1 hit never seemed to affect the bandβs popularity, however, as they landed two #1 albums with Green River and Cosmoβs Factory. The band continued to sell out large venues as a live act, and its last top 10 hit βSweet Hitch-Hikerβ came even as the band was falling apart. No one could say that CCR wasnβt popular enough to get a #1 song, but for whatever reason, they could never quite scale the mountain.
After Proud Mary and Bad Moon Rising stalled out at #2, John Fogerty believed he had the perfect answer: the title track to the bandβs upcoming album Green River. But while the album went all the way to #1, the song βGreen Riverβ once again got stuck at #2.
To add insult to injury, CCR was beaten out at #1 by a group that wasnβt even a real band! The Archies were based on the characters from the Archie Comics series, which had its own cartoon series on CBS at the time. Manager Don Kirshner originally created The Monkees but was frustrated that the members began taking control of the project. Cartoons couldnβt talk back so Kirshner got session musicians and songwriters to fill in the rest. Just in case youβre wondering, The Monkees have three #1 hits with βIβm A Believerβ, βLast Train To Clarksvilleβ, and βDaydream Believerβ.
FYI – the remaining two CCR songs that stalled at #2 were both double-A sides: βTravelinβ Band/Whoβll Stop The Rainβ and βLookinβ Out My Back Door/Long As I Can See The Lightβ. They were beat out by Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” and Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell’s “Ain’t No MountainHigh Enough”, respectively.
From July 1969 this is Credence Clearwater Revival with βGreen Riverβ from the album of the same name.
LYRICS
Well, take me back down where cool water flows, y’all
Although the band members were only together for four years, they managed to accomplish more than many artists do in their entire career β releasing seven studio albums (five of which were on the Billboard Top Ten), and a seemingly endless string of memorable singles (including nine Top Ten hits). The group also performed a historic headlining set at Woodstock and toured the world before disbanding in 1972. In 1993 they were inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame. CCRβs music endures today, on the radio and regularly in films and TV shows. Having sold over 30 million albums in the US alone, Creedence received a rare Diamond certification from the RIAA in 2016, marking 10 million units in sales for their 1976 compilation album, Chronicle: The 20 Greatest Hits.
Big thanks to Jim for hosting another great Song Lyric Sunday.
βThe Midnight Cowboy Themeβ Written by: John Barry Recorded: 1969 Engineer: Chris Malone Arranger: John Barry
Released: August, 1969
Available on: Midnight Cowboy β Original Motion Picture Score Best of John Barry Multiple recordings released worldwide
Personnel: Toots Thielemans – harmonica Featuring The John Barry Orchestra Various Artists
Although βEverybodyβs Talkinββ by Nilsson is the most memorable and popular song from Midnight Cowboy, the film’s actual title song is “The Midnight Cowboy Theme,” a haunting instrumental written by the prolific songwriter John Barry, who has done numerous soundtracks. The theme is immediately recognized by the lonely harmonica which serves as the main instrument. There are lyrics, though the song has rarely been recorded as a vocal.
Midnight Cowboy was one of the first films to make extensive use of pop artists and songs. John Barry supervised the music and composed the score, winning a Grammy for Best Instrumental Theme. The movie is still shown at the cinema school at UCLA as the epitome of how songs should be used in the movies.
John Barry also composed eleven soundtracks for James Bond films between 1963 and 1987 as well as the famous βJames Bond Themeβ from Dr. No, the first Bond film. He also wrote the award winning scores to the films Dances With Wolves and Out Of Africa as well as the scores for The Lion in Winter, Born Free, and Somewhere in Time.
Midnight Cowboy is the only X-Rated movie to have won an Academy Award for Best Picture.
This is βThe Midnight Cowboy Themeβ
May your Saturday be smooth sailing. Thanks for stopping by.
Written for The Unicorn Challenge where we are asked to get creative in 250 words or less using this photo as inspiration. Here is my story. If you would like to read previous adventures of George and Martha, you may click here and here.
Many rock fans will undoubtedly remember the only child of George Harrison when the then 24 year old Dhani Harrison appeared at the Concert For George in 2002. Two years later he was at his father’s 2nd induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (once as a Beatle and then for his solo work) where Dhani performed βWhile My Guitar Gently Weepsβ alongside Tom Petty, Steve Winwood, Jeff Lynne and Prince.
Dhani Harrison has since released a great deal of work as a solo artist, as part of the bands thenewno2 and Fistful of Mercy. Thenewno2 have been credited with the album design for George Harrison’s “Brainwashed” and “Dark Horse Years” box set, the Concert for George and the menu design for the 2005 Concert for Bangladesh DVD. Dhani Harrison has also scored many movies and television shows.
Of course the physical resemblance to his father is incredible but the similarity in voice and stage presence is undeniably strong. During an interview, George once commented that he said to Dhani “You look more like me than I do”; that was George’s humor to a T. I chose to feature one of the Beatles’ songs on which George sang lead so you can experience just how strong the Harrison family genes really are.
This is Dhani Harrison with “Savoy Truffle” from 2014’s “Georgefest” at the Fonda Theater in Hollywood.
Thanks for joining me today. See you on the flip side. π
Locking eyes across the room, Jaclyn and Mark gave each other the signal. A discreet nod toward the door meant it was time to bail on the noisy frat party. Clutching each otherβs hands, the teens bounded down the stairs and ran across the yard until they reached the thick grove of tall maple trees.
Fiercely kissing, they fell to the ground, groping and tearing at their clothes.
βMark, my hair is stuck in some sticky glopβ Jaclyn protested, then screamed as she spied the enormous web suspended over them.
Too late, Mark felt the agonizing sting of giant toxic pincers.
Did you ever find yourself in a situation that was so intense, everything around you ceased to exist? Itβs an extraordinary feeling, one thatβs difficult to explain without using every adverb and adjective and superlative in the English language.
The date was October 5, 1995 β a most inauspicious day β and yet I remember every detail of the events of that evening almost 30 years ago. At the time I was quite active in my church as a choir member, leader of song, and director of the childrenβs choir. Our adult choir was one of the best in the county and we were selected by Cardinal OβConnor of New York to sing for His Holiness Pope John Paul II during his visit to St. Josephβs Seminary in Yonkers, New York. When the Cardinal requests someoneβs services, it is an honor and should be treated as such.
For those of you old enough to remember Pope John Paul II, he was universally beloved and is now Saint John Paul II after his beatification on May 1, 2011. He possessed a spirituality that is rare among men, a divine nature of love, peace, kindness and forgiveness.
On that October day in β95, in the evening after vespers, it was arranged for John Paul II to have a walkabout around the grounds of the seminary. It was then that I had the greatest honor of my life .β¦ to meet His Holiness and to receive his blessing. The moment I placed my hand in his and looked into his most serene and forgiving blue eyes, I knew I was in the presence of a divine being. There is no other way to describe how I felt other than to say it was rapturous; I had never felt that way before or since.
I have led a charmed life when it comes to meeting famous people β¦. just a matter of being in the right place at the right time β¦. but there is nothing that will ever surpass this encounter.
Time and events have a way of changing our perspective and I am no longer a member of the Catholic Church; however, my break from Catholicism has not and never will change the events of October 5, 1995 nor how I felt that day. It is something that will remain with me until my final days on earth.
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 Billy Joel Born May 9, 1949 in New York, New York
Written for Glynβs Mixed Music Bag #19, where we are asked to write about a song by a group or solo singer beginning with the letter I or J.
Iron Maiden is an institution. Over the course of 48 years they have come to embody a spirit of fearless creative independence, ferocious dedication to their fans, and a cheerful indifference to their critics thatβs won them a following that spans every culture, generation, and time-zone. A story of gritty determination and courageous defiance of the naysayers, theirs has been an adventure like no other. Every one of their songs is a story and that for me, as a storyteller, is one of the key ingredients to their success. They are unique and different from every other heavy metal band with song lyrics covering such topics as history, literature, war, mythology, society and religion.
Iron Maidenhas released 41 albums, including 17 studio albums, 13 live albums, four EPs and seven compilations. They have also released 47 singles and 20 video albums, and two video games. The band has played some 2,500 live shows and is still touring today. Iron Maiden has become one of the most influential and revered rock bands of all time.
On the evening of October 2, 1982, my husband Bill and I hired a babysitter for our boys and drove into Manhattan for what would be one of our final rock concerts. It had been a while. Now that we had kids, who knew when we would be able to have this experience again. We were all grown up with a different set of priorities but this was one event we could not miss. Performing that night at Madison Square Garden were two British groups Bill and I didnβt have a chance to see B.K. (Before Kids). They were Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. And one of the songs Maiden performed that night was βThe Number Of The Beastβ.
Upon release in 1982, the song caused controversy in the United States where its religious subject matter caused outrage among religious groups. In spite of this, it remains one of the band’s more popular songs, reaching #18 in the UK singles charts on its original release, and #3 on two successive occasions in 1990 and 2005. It has been performed on almost all of their concert tours.
According to the song’s writer, bassist and band-founder Steve Harris, it was inspired by a nightmare he had after watching the film βDamien: Omen IIβ late at night, in addition to the poem βTam oβ Shanterβ by Robert Burns. The song opens with a spoken word passage which quotes Revelation 12:12 and Revelation 13:18. The track is known for its very long, high-pitched and guttural wail at the end of the intro, which AllMusic describes as “the most blood-curdling Dickinson scream on record“.
Live from Madison Square Garden in New York City, this is Iron Maiden with βNumber Of The Beastβ
Written for Sammi’s Weekend Writing Prompt #361; we are asked to get creative in exactly 57 words and include the word “classic”. This is my response.
βOh, baby, you gotta see her! Sheβs a real beauty! What curves, what style! And the color is perfect β¦. itβs called Marina Blue and the paint job is amazing! Brand new dash, broad grille, quad headlights and a tail sporting a fan-shaped alcove on both side panels. Iβm telling you, honey β¦. this oneβs a classic!β
Authorβs Note: Thatβs what my husband sounded like when he called to tell me about his ‘new’ vintage car …. a 1958 Chevy Bel Air. That was back in 1969 and he was still my boyfriend at the time. He was crazy about that car and took such good care of it. After about 8 months, someone stole it right off his driveway; that was one of a handful of times Iβve seen my husband cry.
Leonard Cohenβs career was at a low point when he wrote βHallelujahβ in the early 80s, and his record label had no interest in even releasing the track or the rest of the songs that eventually came out on 1984βs Various Positions. The track was a fan favorite, but it didnβt receive much love until the Velvet Undergroundβs John Cale created a stripped-down piano version for a 1991 Leonard Cohen tribute album.
Jeff Buckley used Caleβs version as the basis for his stunningly beautiful version of the song on his 1994 LP Grace. The track wasnβt a single, but after Buckleyβs tragic death in 1997 the song slowly started to become recognized as a classic. In 2004 Jeff Buckleyβs version of βHallelujahβ was ranked #259 on Rolling Stoneβs βThe 500 Greatest Songs of All Timeβ.
This is “Hallelujah” by the man himself, Leonard Cohen
And this is what it sounded like when Jeff Buckley recorded it
Have you ever roller skated? As a child I had the type of roller skates that attached to my shoes and tightened with a key. I would skate in my neighborhood with my friends; since the number of cars on the road back then was much less than now, it was safe for us to take over the whole street and skate for hours. I never had a pair of professional-type skates with the beautiful wood wheels, the ones that laced up like ice skates, nor did I ever go to a roller skating rink. My experience was limited to street skating in strap-on skates with my friends … and lots of skinned knees!
2. Have you ever ridden a horse (or donkey) Yes, Iβve actually ridden both. When I was a young girl in The Bronx, I remember there was a truck that would travel around the area making stops along the way. It was not a very large truck, similar to the vehicles belonging to private landscapers you see today. The truck traveled around and played music like an ice cream truck but instead of ice cream, it carried two ponies and offered rides to children whose parents were lucky enough to have an extra 5Β’ to spend. The rides didn’t last long, just up and down our street with the truck driver/pony handler holding the rein and leading us around. For city kids such as myself, this was an exciting and memorable event! One summer my sister-in-law and I took our young children horseback riding while on vacation in Montauk. It started out nice but as the day progressed, the weather became increasingly hot and humid and we were all extremely uncomfortable. Since it was a half day tour for beginners, we werenβt exactly galloping bareback down the beach on wild horses which would have provided a cooling breeze. At the end of the day, we were all sweaty, sunburned and covered with mosquito bites … not to mention that we walked like John Wayne for the next two days! There are quite a few horse stables where I currently live and itβs not unusual to see people on horseback crossing the local streets going from one trail to another. It’s a lovely way to spend a few hours but horseback riding isnβt anything I see myself doing again. While in Sicily I rode donkeys fairly often. Many of the streets in my fatherβs home town are so narrow, the only way to go from one place to another is by foot or on a donkey. Riding a donkey is nothing like riding a horse. Donkeys are much slower than horses; they are approachable and lovable, overall non-reactive and less likely to go into a flight response. Even though I rode horses several times, I did not grow up around them so it was natural for me to feel safer being around a donkey than a horse. Youβre also much closer to the ground should you take a tumble! Our donkeys were always saddled, a much more comfortable and safer way to ride.
3. What was your favourite ride at a fun fair? The rollercoaster, without a doubt. I love rollercoasters β the good old-fashioned ones with lots of steep climbs and drops β none of this crazy upside down nonsense you see these days. Just give me an old rollercoaster and Iβm a happy camper. All the rides that spin and twist and twirl and go upside down make me terribly nauseous and I steer clear of them. Also I will never go on any ride that involves a free fall; to me that is just insanity. I also used to love water parks and riding the huge twisty-turny slides into the giant pools. They were great fun and an instant way to cool off but these days I can’t walk around theme parks for hours on end because of my arthritis. As my husband always says, “I’m too old for this crap!”
4. Choice of fun fair prizes: coconut, cuddly toy, Β£10/$10 cash prize. Well, money is always nice but Iβd say a cuddly toy to give my granddaughter (unless it’s an elephant which I’d keep for myself! π). We don’t have coconut as a prize here which is too bad because I love coconut. But we do have cotton candy and whatβs a day at the fair without the sweet fluffy clouds of pink cotton candy? The legendary Coney Island is an hourβs drive from my house and Palisades Park (made famous by the video below) is only 30 minutes away in New Jersey across the Hudson River. We went to both places often when we were younger. For my UK friends, our Coney Island in Brooklyn was inspired by your seaside resort of New Brighton. We now live about 10 minutes away from Playland Park in Rye, NY, an old and very well-known amusement park/beach. Iβm a fan of the Dragon Coaster and the arcade but we spend most of our time (at least for now) in Kiddie-Land where our little 4 year old granddaughter can have fun on the kid rides and play mini-golf, which is the only type of golfing Iβm into! And letβs not forget the Tunnel of Love for me and my mister!
Thanks for offering up a fun prompt, Di! π’ ποΈ π
In 1960, Berry Gordy signed a talented group of vocalists called The Contours as one of Motownβs first acts. βDo You Love Me?β, recorded in 1962, was The Contours third single, far and away their best-known record. This song blazed its way up the charts and became a smash hit before being goosed all the way up the charts again more than 25 years later thanks to a little movie called Dirty Dancing.
As with many American R&B songs of the 1960s, “Do You Love Me” was recorded by several British Invasion groups. A 1963 version by Brian Poole and the Tremeloes reached number one on the UK Singles Chart. It also became a hit for the Dave Clark Five, reaching #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. βDo You Love Meβ appeared twice on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, reaching #3 in 1962 and #11 in 1988.
This song is not just a big hit; itβs an enduring classic thatβs still going strong!
From 1962, here are The Contours asking an age-old question: βDo You Love Me?β
And this is what was on the B Side β βMove, Mr. Manβ
Thanks for joining me today for Monday Motown Magic.
I was lost, a bit frightened and filled with regretfor not making a note of the address. A hazy moon began to make her appearance in the evening sky, leaving the tiny Palermo street awash in a warm orange glow. Squinting in the darkness, I saw what appeared to be a tunnel at the end of the street; there was no way I was going to walk into the black unknown. Slowly I inched closer and discovered the tunnel was actually a stairway. Just as I quickened my pace, an arm shot out of a hidden doorway and pulled me inside, pinning me against a wall. A deep voice I knew intimately whispered in honeyed Sicilian tones “PicchΓ¬ ci haiu misu tantu tempu, amuri miu? Ti vogghiu beni!”ΒΊ Passionate kisses drifted down my neck. Breathless, I murmured “I’m here now, my love. Show me.”
Kiss me now, my love, In the warm glow of the moon You possess my heart
Todayβs theme at Song Lyric Sunday is about songs by performers on American Idol.
In case youβre wondering about the title of todayβs post, The Original Amateur Hour began on radio in 1934 as βMajor Bowesβ Amateur Hourβ and ran until the 1946 death of its creator, Major Bowes. Ted Mack, a talent scout who had directed the show under Bowes, revived it in 1948 for ABC Radio and the DuMont Television Network. The show lasted on radio until 1952 and until 1970 on television, where it ran on all four major networks, ending as a Sunday afternoon CBS staple. A success in the early days of television, the program set the stage for numerous programs seeking talented stars, from The Gong Show to Star Search to American Idol to Americaβs Got Talent.
On June 11, 2002 a new type of TV show aired. Some called it reality TV while others dubbed it a talent show; critics and TV executives alike said it was βunparalleled in broadcasting history β¦. the most impactful show in the history of televisionβ. As a lover of music and talent and competition, which is what this show was all about, I called it fabulous! For 15 years my husband and I watched together each week as contestants auditioned, performed and were either sent on to the next round or sent packing.
The show, of course is American Idol and the only reason we stopped watching regularly after 15 years was our overall dislike of the new panel of judges. After 22 years, the show is still alive and well and making Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest a ton of money! Here’s something you may not know!
Idol has spawned 345 Billboard chart-toppers and a platoon of pop idols while remaining a TV ratings institution. For an unprecedented eight consecutive years, from the 2003-04 television season through the 2010-11 season, either its performance show or results show was ranked #1 in US television ratings β not bad at all for a little talent show.
While there are many American Idol winners who have gone on to become major music stars, I have often felt not winning (while spirit-crushing at the time) was just the impetus a young singer needed to become a household name; Adam Lambert, Jennifer Hudson, Katharine McPhee, Chris Daughtry, Clay Aiken and Kelly Pickler are perfect examples of artists whose loss on Idol was exactly what they needed to jumpstart their careers. Such is the case for my featured performer today, one of my personal favorite also-rans from American Idol.
Haley Reinhart first rose to prominence after placing third in the 10th season of American Idol. In July 2011, Reinhart signed a recording deal with Interscope Records. Her debut album, Listen Up!, was released on May 22, 2012, to critical acclaim and she subsequently became the first AI alumna to perform at Lollapalooza. She is the only Season 10 contestant who has over one million views on six of her YouTube performance videos: her renditions of Adeleβs βRolling In the Deep”, Elton Johnβs βBennie and the Jetsβ, Ben E. Kingβs βI (Who Have Nothing)β and her version of βHouse of the Rising Sunβ. In addition, her performance of Billie Holidayβs βGod Bless The Childβ hit one million views in March 2014 and the video of her American Idol audition performance of the Beatlesβ βOh! Darlingβ also reached one million views in March 2016. Reinhart was the only contestant in Season 10 who received three standing ovations from the judges in consecutive weeks for “House of the Rising Sun”,“I (Who Have Nothing)” and Led Zeppelinβs βWhat Is and What Should Never Beβ.
Haley Reinhart garnered widespread recognition in 2015 for performing and touring with Scott Bradleeβs Postmodern Jukebox, my favorite part of her career so far. Her most notable collaboration with the band on a jazz cover of Radioheadβs βCreepβ spent 58 consecutive weeks on Billboardβs Jazz Digital Songs chart and received high praise from critics. In the same year, she gained additional notice when her cover of Elvis Presleyβs βCanβt Help Falling In Loveβ which was used in a television commercial, became a viral sensation, peaked at #16 on the US Adult Contemporary chart and was later certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on July 31, 2023. Reinhart won a Cannes Lion for Entertainment and a Clio Award for the song in 2016. Additionally, she made her voice acting debut as Bill Murphy in the Netflix animated comedy, βF Is For Familyβ on December 18, 2015. She reprised the role as a main cast member in the series’ second, third, fourth, and fifth seasons.
Let’s get back to “Bennie and Jets”. E! Online ranked Reinhart’s cover of as the series’ 14th best performance. TVLine ranked the performance as the 6th best in Idol history and BuzzFeed ranked it 1st on their list of the “17 Most IconicAmerican IdolPerformances of All Time.”
Iβve never really cared for “Bennie and the Jets” but what do I know?! Since Haley Reinhartβs performance garnered so much praise and coverage, Iβm featuring it today. Youβll see the judges thought it was βA-M-A-Z-I-N-G!β
Live from American Idolβs results night, this is Haley Reinhart with βBennie and the Jetsβ.
LYRICS
Hey kids, shake it loose together The spotlight’s hitting something That’s been known to change the weather We’ll kill the fatted calf tonight So stick around You’re gonna hear electric music Solid walls of sound
Say, Candy and Ronnie, have you seen them yet Ohh, but they’re so spaced out, B-b-b-b Bennie and the Jets Oh but they’re weird and they’re wonderful Oh Bennie she’s really keen She’s got electric boots a mohair suit You know I read it in a magazine Oh oh, B-b-b-b Bennie and the Jets Bennie, Bennie and the Jets
Hey kids, plug into the faithless Maybe they’re blinded But Bennie makes them ageless We shall survive, let us take ourselves along Where we fight our parents out in the streets To find who’s right and who’s wrong
Say, Candy and Ronnie, have you seen them yet Ohh, but they’re so spaced out, B-b-b-b Bennie and the Jets Oh but they’re weird and they’re wonderful Oh Bennie she’s really keen She’s got electric boots a mohair suit You know I read it in a magazine Oh oh, B-b-b-b Bennie and the Jets Bennie, Bennie and the Jets
Hey kids, plug into the faithless Maybe they’re blinded But Bennie makes them ageless We shall survive, let us take ourselves along Where we fight our parents out in the streets To find who’s right and who’s wrong
Say, Candy and Ronnie, have you seen them yet Ohh, but they’re so spaced out, B-b-b-b Bennie and the Jets Oh but they’re weird and they’re wonderful Oh Bennie she’s really keen She’s got electric boots a mohair suit You know I read it in a magazine Oh oh, B-b-b-b Bennie and the Jets Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie and the Jets Bennie and the Jets
Big thanks to Jim for hosting another great Song Lyric Sunday and for allowing be to take up residence here for the last 10 weeks. I had a great time coming up with the themes but even I got tired of seeing my name week after week on Jim’s SLS posts, I can just imagine how you feel!
Thanks for stopping by. See you on the flip side. π
βStranger On The Shoreβ Written by: Acker Bilk, Robert Mellin Recorded: 1961 Producer: Denis Preston Engineer: Adrian Kerridge Arranger: Leon Young
Released: October 1961
Available on: Stranger On The Shore Is This The Blues
Personnel: Acker Bilk β clarinet Featuring The Leon Young String Chorale
Acker Bilk said he thought up the songβs melody in a taxi and named the gentle tune βJennyβ in honor of his daughter. Having scored several hits since his first, 1960βs βSummer Setβ, Bilk was famous enough to be asked to create the theme for a BBC TV childrenβs series about a French au pair in Brighton. Bilk offered them βJennyβ but was asked to change its title to the name of the program,Β Stranger on the Shore. Its wistful, airy tones, with Bilkβs βliquorice stickβ accompanied by silken strings, was heard on TV on Sunday afternoons, accompanying the culture-shocked lead character longingly staring out across the English Channel towards her home in France. The song is certified gold by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America).Β
This is βStranger On The Shoreβ by Acker Bilk
May your Saturday be smooth sailing. Thanks for stopping by.
Written in response to The Unicorn Challenge where we are asked to be creative in 250 words or less by using the photo you see below. This is my story.
NB. My story is another perspective prompted by C.E. Ayrβs intriguing response to this weekβs Unicorn Challenge. Please check out C.E.βs story here and/or here. I hope you enjoy my version and his.
Contrary to popular opinion, sometimes these things really do just happen β at least thatβs how it was for me.
My husband was out for the day … the monthly visit with his son from his first marriage. I never fault him this time alone; itβs good for him and it gives me the chance to spend a day in my favorite book store.
One day while on my way home, I paused to watch the swans; from the bridge I saw a man emerge from his boat. As if drawn by my presence, he glanced up at me and waved. I waved back. Then the most unexpected thing happened: he beckoned me. I went down to greet him and that was the beginning of our affair.
Now I live for my husbandβs monthly visits with his son.
This month my husbandβs son is backpacking with friends and there is no visit. He busies himself with tennis and darts at the pub. Desperate to meet my lover, I bailed on our tennis game, pretending to be sick, and my husband went off alone to find a partner.
The afternoon with my lover was heavenly; half-way home I turned around and returned to the boat.
How could I know my husband had paused on the bridge to watch the swans and saw me leave the boat?
How could my husband know that while he was plotting his jealous revenge, I had returned to the boat and was inside when he torched it?
When youβre the daughter of one of the most poignant vocalists of all time, itβs nearly impossible not to carry on the tradition. With a voice as crisp as her fatherβs, Natalie Cole carved a career path of her own with hits including βThis Will Be (An Everlasting Love)β and βInseparable.β She made Grammy Award history by being the first black artist to win Best New Artist in 1976 and the first black woman to win Album of the Year for her tribute album to her father,Β Unforgettable .β¦ With Love, in 1992.
“This Will Be” was Natalie Cole’s debut single, released in April 1975, and one of her biggest hits, becoming a #1 R&B and #6 pop smash in the United States, also reaching the UK Top 40. She won a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance,Β a category that had previously been dominated by Aretha Franklin. It would also help her win the Grammy Award for Best New Artist.
From 1975, this is Natalie Cole and the classic soul sound of “This Will Be”
βGee, the house sure is quiet. I wonder where everybodyβs gone. Bobbyβs been a little distant lately and that makes me sad. I mean, weβve been best buds ever since he was a little guy. We did everything together and he wouldnβt go anywhere without me. And he gave the best hugs at night. Shh! Here he comes now! Bobby! I just knew you wouldnβt leave without me. What’re we doing today?β
βIβm watching TV with Becky …. alone.β
βGosh, Bobby. You’re my bestie. Whoβs this Becky chick?”
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 Engelbert Humperdink Born May 2, 1936 inChennai, India
An old man lived alone in the country. He wanted to dig up his garden and plant vegetables, but the ground was too hard. He sat down and wrote a letter to his son, who was in the state penitentiary.
Dear Fred,
It looks like I wonβt be able to plant my garden this year. Iβm too old to be digging up a garden plot. If only you were here, I know youβd dig the plot for me and all my troubles would be over.
Love, Dad
A few days later he received a letter from his son.
Dear Dad,
Whatever you do, donβt dig up that garden β thatβs where I buried the bodies!
Love, Fred
Early the next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left.
The following day the old man received another letter from his son.
Dear Dad,
Go ahead and plant your garden now. That was the best I could do under the circumstances.
And this is what it looks like now after a few weeks of water and sun; I just repotted into a larger pot; now I’m going to stand back and watch what happens. I’ve been thinking I should name it Audrey III!
It looks a bit prehistoric, doesn’t it? All that new reddish growth will unfurl into giant-sized leaves; if you look closely you can see some are already beginning to unfurl. This is one of the largest plants I have. Stay tuned for Audrey III’s growth over the next few weeks.
Written for Glynβs Mixed Music Bag #18, where we are asked to write about a song by a group or solo singer beginning with the letter G or H.
As the 60s slipped into the 70s, an American hard rock band was getting started in Flint, Michigan. Known for such iconic rock hits as βWeβre An American Bandβ, “I’m Your Captain” “Some Kind Of Wonderful” and their cover version of βThe Loco-Motionβ, the guys called themselves Grand Funk Railroad, culling their name from Michigan’s GTWR (Grand Trunk Western Railroad. Originally comprised of singer/guitarist Mark Farner, singer/drummer Don Brewer and bassist Mel Schacher, the bandβs style of rock reflected their blue-collar Michigan surroundings. There were no pretensions, no airs …. just sweaty, longhaired grooves and celebratory tunes for days.
Known for a crowd-pleasing arena rockΒ style, Grand Funk toured extensively and played to packed stadiums worldwide and was well-regarded by audiences despite a relative lack of critical praise. Early in their career, they headlined a much hyped free concert in Hyde Park, wowing the audience while being relatively unknown in the UK. They also opened for Led Zeppelin in their home state of Michigan.
GFR split and reunited numerous times; in 1996 all three members reunited for a summer tour in which they played to over 250,000 people, and a slate of Bosnian relief dates in 1997 including several TV performances. In 1998 they did a 65+ date tour listed as one of the top ten grossing tours of the year.
Grand Funk Railroadβs first number-one hit, 1973β²s βWeβre An American Bandβ, came seven albums into the bandβs career and was literally written around the lines βWeβre coming to your town. Weβll help you party down.β
According to songwriter/drummer Don Brewer, the inspiration came from the band’s day-to-day life. “Weβre on planes all the time, flying into these towns. I remember looking down at the ground as we’re coming into a city and that thought came to my mind: ‘We’re coming to your town to party it downβ β because that’s what this band does.” Brewer then added more lyrics about the trials and tribulations of life on the road: “Booze and ladies, keep me right / As long as we can make it to the show tonight.” Prior to writing βWeβre An American Bandβ, Brewer had stuck mostly to drumming.
Released on July 2, 1973, “We’re An American Bane” went to #1 on the US chart, and the album of the same name went to #2 on the Billboard 200. The album jacket was originally covered in gold-colored foil; the initial pressings were in clear, dark yellow vinyl to suggest a “gold” record. The album is #200 of the National Association of Recording MerchandisersΒ definitive 200 albums of all time. Grand Funk Railroad has released 14 studio albums and 5 live albums (10 platinum) with sales totaling over 25 million records sold, 10 million of which were sold in 1970 alone.
The bandβs lineup in recent years features Brewer and Schacher, as well as former Kiss member Bruce Kulick on guitar, 38 Special expatriate Max Karl on vocals, and keyboard player Tim Cashion, formerly with the likes of Robert Palmer and Bob Seger.
This is βWeβre An American Bandβ by Grand Funk Railroad.
Big thanks to Glyn for hosting another week of Mixed Music Bag.
βMohammedan-owned Chinese/Tai/Himalayan/Middle Eastern/Indian Restaurant” β well, you certainly donβt see too many of those in Lancaster, Pennsylvania but there it is right in the heart of the downtown dining district. This meeting of culinary minds is definitely intriguing and what an original and humorous name β βTasty Ballsβ.
That caught my eye and gave me a good laugh as I read about the new exotic fusion restaurant in the newspaper. I wondered if my wife Judith intentionally left the paper on the kitchen table conveniently opened to the dining section for me to see. Judith has many fine attributes; subtlety is not one of them.
We met soon after I graduated college. I took a year off to backpack my way through Asia and the Middle East. Money was tight so I had to be frugal while traveling; thatβs how I learned to find really good food at cheap prices.
One day while trekking through Shanghai, I stopped at a noodle and dumpling place. I was drawn to the sound of feminine laughter coming from the next table. There were two pretty blondes who looked to be around my age; I asked if I could join them and they agreed. Judith and Eunice were cousins from England on holiday. I hit it off quite well with Judith and we agreed to meet the next night for dinner. After that night we knew we wanted to be together and the rest, as they say, is history.
As I continued reading the article, I learned this new restaurant was operated by the same people who managed a nearby tea house called βThe Barefoot Magpieβ β another place Iβd never heard of. How can this be? Iβve lived in Lancaster all my life and thought I knew every place there was to eat. Obviously I havenβt been getting out enough lately.
Whatβs this? βTasty Ballsβ serves only one item: dumplings. What made it so special was the staggering number of varieties of dumplings on the menu. Now I knew without a doubt that Judith left this article here for me to stumble upon; she knows I am the worldβs biggest sucker for dumplings!
Well now, letβs see what else the article says: βExtravagantly yet handsomely decorated β¦ moderately priced β¦ perfectly prepared dumplings β¦ culinary delight.β My stomach rumbled and my mouth watered as I read a description of just a tiny sampling of dumplings offered at βTasty Ballsβ:
Xiaolongbao β A Taiwanese delicacy, this steamed dumpling has meat and broth inside. The small, succulent orb is meant to be eaten whole; one bite and the fortunate dinerβs mouth is filled with liquid ambrosia.
Momos β A staple from Tibet and Nepal, these delectable pouches are filled with yak, beef or chicken and have become an obsession with the patrons at βTasty Ballsβ.
Shish Barak β Middle Eastern ravioli-like envelopes filled with seasoned lamb, onion and pine nuts, these piquant squares are boiled, baked or fried and served in a warm yogurt sauce with melted mint butter and a garnish of chopped cashew nuts.
Muthia β This Indian delight consists of chickpea flour, turmeric, chili powder, curry powder and salt bonded together with oil. Once shaped, these fritters can either be fried or steamed, depending on personal preference.
Luqaimat β Originally from Saudi Arabia, this luscious dessert translates into βsmall bitesβ. Found in many Middle Eastern countries, this is a treat of fried dough sweetened with date syrup and garnished with sesame seeds. With a scoop of pistachio ice cream, this is a delightful end to an unforgettable meal.
I suddenly realized the newspaper was wet; either I was salivating over the scrumptious description of dumplings or I was crying tears of joy that this heaven-sent restaurant was now located in little old Lancaster. Oh, what joy, what rapture!
Judith came into the kitchen, took one look at my face and asked βWhat in the world has come over you?β
Holding up the soggy newspaper I exclaimed βThis β as if you didnβt know, you little minx! Tempting me with an article about delectable dumplings. Well, it worked. Itβs βTasty Ballsβ tonight!β
βOh, I donβt think so, luvβ Judith laughed. βThatβs Euniceβs. She must have left it behind when she returned to the UK after her visit. That paper is from Lancaster, England!
While Johnny Cash’sΒ cover of Trent Reznor’s βHurtβ gets all the press, this Neil DiamondΒ tune is just as good. The 1966 Diamond version was about young adult heartbreak, while Cashβs rendition is about going through life and never getting over it. It remains not only one of Cashβs best cover songs, but one of his finest moments on the American RecordingsΒ albums.
“Solitary Man” was Neil Diamond’s debut single as a recording artist, having already had moderate success as a songwriter for other artists. By July, the track had become a minor hit, rising to No. 55 on the US pop singles chart. It would then be included on Diamond’s first album, The Feel of Neil Diamond, which he released in August 1966.
The song is a ballad of a loner looking for love; the theme of the song has been closely identified with Diamond himself. In the lyrics, the singer lists some of his relationships and how they each ended. He laments “I know it’s been done, having one girl who loves you.” But he doubts it will happen for him. Indeed, Diamond himself would tell interviewers, “After four years of Freudian analysis, I realized I had written ‘Solitary Man’ about myself.“
Johnny Cash used “Solitary Man” for the title track of his third album under the American Recordings label, American III: Solitary Man, in 2000, featuring guest backing vocals by Tom Petty. The recording received a Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance.
From 1966, this is the amazing Neil Diamond with “Solitary Man”.
And this is what it sounded like when Johnny Cash released it 34 years later.
Thatβs todayβs Twofer Tuesday! Thanks for stopping by.
The Elephant's Trunk 