Welcome to Birthday Thursdays! Each week I will feature someone from the world of music whose birthday falls on this day. There won’t be any chit chat from me, no facts and figures – just some great tunes (and an occasional surprise). Check it out right here every Thursday and enjoy the music.
Happy Birthday to John Williams Born February 8, 1932 – New York, New York
John Williams ~ “Star Wars Theme”
“Raiders March from Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark” ~ John Williams
WARNING: THIS BLOG WAS NOT CREATED FOR BEATLEMANIACS! If you’re on the fence about the Beatles or if you just don’t like them, this blog is for you. My goal is not to convert you; it’s to expose you to the lesser-known Beatles songs we don’t hear day in and day out. These great tunes will show you just how amazing the Beatles are. Of course, if you are a Beatles fan, pull up a chair and enjoy the tunes!
There are so many things I like about the music the Beatles made; one thing you see a lot of that isn’t very prominent in other popular music is key and tempo changes multiple times throughout an entire piece. This song is a prime example of that.
Today’s song has long been a favorite of mine and I just happened upon the cover version by doing one of the things I do best …. listening to music while driving in my car. As soon as I heard it I knew I was going to include it in my blog; it’s a very bluesy, jazzy, Gershwin-esque piece and I liked it because that’s just the kind of hairpin I am.
Let’s see what you think.
As usual, starting off is the original …. the Beatles with “Girl”
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This is the Joe Jackson Trio with “Girl”
Many of you will remember Joe Jackson for his 1978 pop song “Is She Really Going Out With Him”. He’s an interesting-bordering-on-quirky dude and an accomplished classically trained musician as you heard in the cover piece. I thought it was quite edgy/jazzy/bluesy. I’m sort of a George Gershwin freak and I heard a lot of Gershwin in this remake.
So….. What’s the verdict? Two very different styles of a solid Beatles song. I liked them both for very different reasons and for me, I’m calling this one a draw. Kudos to Joe Jackson for his creativity and musicianship.
I think we’re long overdue for a little Motown; I’ll have to rectify that tomorrow.
PS – If any video won’t play for you, I’ve provided the name of the song and who did it so you can find it on YouTube. It’s a pain in the ass but it does happen from time to time. My apologies.
As a former children’s choir director, I often rewrote the lyrics to favorite songs.
My days as a lyricist ended after being chastised by a pastor who accused me of ‘lacking imagination’ by using the same melody and ‘simplychanging the words‘.
As it’s now February, the challenge from Glyn at Mixed Music Bag is to write about a band or singer that starts with the letters C or D.
One of the greatest things about growing up Italian in the Bronx, NY (besides the food) was hanging out with my friends listening to music. We’d usually go to Sal’s Pizzeria on Belmont Avenue where the pizza was like nothing you ever tasted. It was thin and soft and light as a feather. On just about every street corner, doo-wop groups would gather and sing song after song and everyone would dance. Man, those were some of the best times.
One singer from Belmont Avenue (sadly a little before my time) was an Italian kid named Dion DiMucci. Dion’s dad Pasquale was a vaudeville entertainer and Dion would accompany him whenever he went on tour. Dion developed a love of country music, particularly Hank Williams, but he was really into the blues, doo-wop and rock and roll. His singing was honed on the street corners and local clubs of the Bronx.
In early 1957, Dion auditioned for Bob and Gene Schwartz for their Mohawk Records label. They asked Dion to sing a song but Dion refused, stating it sounded like something his old fashioned parents would listen to, but the Bob and Gene convinced him to give it a try. The backing vocals were by a group called “the Timberlanes”, some guys Dion had never met. The resulting single, “The Chosen Few“, was released under the name “Dion and the Timberlanes”, and became a minor regional hit which enabled Dion to perform the song on American Bandstand. The kids at the show started screaming during his performance and gave Dion his first impression of being a recording star. In his autobiography, The Wanderer, Dion explained that he didn’t even know who the Timberlanes were. “The vocal group was so white bread, I went back to my neighborhood and I recruited three guys and we called ourselves Dion and the Belmonts.”
The group’s initial hit was called “I Wonder Why” followed by “No One Knows” and “Don’t Pity Me”, which charted the Billboard Top 100. This success won a place for Dion and the Belmonts on the ill-fated “The Winter Dance Party” tour with Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, the Big Bopper and other performers. On February 3, 1959, after a concert stop in Clear Lake, Iowa, Buddy Holly and the others decided to charter a flight to the next venue rather than travel on the tour bus. Dion was invited to accompany the group but declined when he heard the price of the ticket was $36. That was the same amount of money his parents spent for one month’s rent for their apartment and Dion couldn’t justify the expense. The plane crashed, killing all on board; that tragic event has been referred to as “the day the music died”.
In March 1959, Dion and the Belmonts recorded “A Teenager In Love” which reached No. 5 on the U.S. pop charts and No. 28 in the UK. The group’s biggest hit, “Where Or When” was released in November of that year and reached No. 3 on the U.S. charts. Further single releases for the group that year were less successful; with musical, personal and financial differences between Dion and members of the Belmonts, Dion left the group for a solo career.
By the end of 1960, Dion produced his first solo album on Laurie Records, “Alone with Dion”, released in 1961. The single “Lonely Teenager” rose to No. 12 in the US charts. The name on his solo releases was simply “Dion“. In 1961 Dion released “Runaround Sue” which stormed up the U.S. charts, reaching No. 1 and No. 11 in the UK, where he also toured. “Runaround Sue” sold over a million copies and was followed by “The Wanderer” another big hit for Dion. By the end of 1961, Dion had become a major star, touring worldwide.
In 2024, at the age of 84, Dion is still recording new songs and his career is going strong.
This is Dion with his biggest early hit, “Runaround Sue”.
LYRICS
Here's my story, it's sad but true It's about a girl that I once knew She took my love then ran around With every single guy in town
Yeah I should have known it from the very start This girl will leave me with a broken heart Now listen people what I'm telling you Ah keep away from a Runaround Sue
I might miss her lips and the smile on her face The touch of her hair and this girl's warm embrace So if you don't want to cry like I do Ah keep away from-a Runaround Sue
Ah, she likes to travel around She'll love you and she'll put you down Now people let me put you wise She goes out with other guys
Here's the moral and the story from the guy who knows I fell in love and my love still grows Ask any fool that she ever knew, they'll say Keep away from-a Runaround Sue
Yeah keep away from this girl I don't know what she'll doe Keep away from Sue
She likes to travel around She'll love you and she'll put you down Now people let me put you wise She goes out with other guys
Here's the mora and the story from the guy who knows I fell in love and my love still grows Ask any fool that she ever knew, they'll say Keep away from a Runaround Sue
Stay away from that girl Don't you know what she'll do now
WARNING: THIS BLOG WAS NOT CREATED FOR BEATLEMANIACS! If you’re on the fence about the Beatles or if you just don’t like them, this blog is for you. My goal is not to convert you; it’s to expose you to the lesser-known Beatles songs we don’t hear day in and day out. These great tunes will show you just how amazing the Beatles are. Of course, if you are a Beatles fan, pull up a chair and enjoy the tunes!
We’re closing out Week 1 of Feb Fab Faux Four with a beautifully intricate Beatles song written while they were in India.
I was in my car one day and, as usual, the radio was tuned to The Beatles Channel. There was a guest host talking about and playing his four favorite Beatles songs and this was one of them. Whoever the guy was, he drew me in with his description of the song, breaking down all the nuances I’d never picked up on; he spoke so eloquently that I had to pull over and listen.
This song is so involved yet so subtle, we don’t realize that each one of the three Beatles is actually playing his own individual song. No one outshines the other and it all comes together quite seamlessly and very beautifully. And, yes …. you read correctly. I wrote three Beatles; Ringo was not at this recording session in 1968. He had temporarily left the group out of protest at Paul’s non-stop criticism of his drumming on “Back in the U.S.S.R.” Ringo walked out and Paul sat behind the kit for this song.
As you can imagine, in Ringo’s absence the Beatles had to play even more instruments than usual for this song and there were numerous takes. The breakdown of who did what goes like this: John sang lead vocals, backing vocals and played rhythm guitars; Paul sang harmony and backing vocals, played drums, bass guitar, piano and tambourine; George sang harmony and backing vocals, played rhythm guitar, lead guitars and tambourine while contributing personnel Mal Evans and Jackie Lomax did backing vocals, hand claps and additional percussion.
For an amazing experience, listen to today’s original through headphones, if you can; it’s mind-blowing.
Here’s the gorgeous “Dear Prudence” by the Beatles. Listen to those layers of music!
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It’s time to bring in the ladies again, at least as lead singer. Doing their own unique version of “Dear Prudence”, here’s Siouxsie and the Banshees.
The Times called Siouxsie and the Banshees “one of the most audacious and uncompromising musical adventurers of the post-punk era.” Well, they certainly were on this cover song! Do we have any Siouxsie and the Banshees fans out there? What are your thoughts about this version?
For me, there’s absolutely no comparison to the original.
We’re going to a bluesy bar tomorrow for a very interesting tune. Bring your ID, kids!
PS – If any video won’t play for you, I’ve provided the name of the song and who did it so you can find it on YouTube. It’s a pain in the ass but it does happen from time to time. My apologies.
Denise at GirlieOnThe Edge has challenged us to write a Six Sentence Story using the word ‘game’. In six sentences, this is my response to that challenge
If you’re wondering what “capadoste” means, it’s Italian slang for thickheaded” and all will be revealed as I continue with my store which goes like this: A while back …. and by “a while” I’m guessing close to 56 years now …. my husband (who was my boyfriend at the time) and I would get together most Friday nights with our friends at somebody or other’s house where we’d do a whole bunch of nothing, like sitting around watching TV, playing cards, shooting the breeze, listening to music, smoking and drinking.
Now, before we go any further, I need to emphasize the fact that I’m a lousy drinker and it doesn’t take more than one drink to get me tipsy, something I was well aware of but joined in the fun anyway because I didn’t want to be a ‘party pooper’; it was guaranteed that any night out that involved drinking always ended with me puking my guts out on the way home, Bill walking me to the front door where my father would be waiting up for me, saying goodnight then collapsing in my bed while my room whirled around like a spinning wheel.
Well, as you can imaging, these get-togethers with friends started getting old pretty fast until somebody mentioned a new gamehe played recently and asked if we wanted to hear about it, which, of course, we did; some of you out there in “Reader Land” may already be familiar with this pastime with playing pieces consisting of nothing more than a glass, paper napkins, a rubber band and a dime …. “The Dime Game”!
The game was really easy, anyone could play it, we all did and the rules went like this: drape a paper napkin over an empty glass, securing it in place with a rubber band, then place the dime in the very center of the napkin (couldn’t be simpler, really, but that’s just the set up) …. playing the game was significantly more difficult.
Since everyone smoked something or other back then, the idea was to take your lit whatever, burn a hole on the top surface of the napkin (praying it would stay small and not ignite the entire napkin), then the next player does the same thing; the goal of the game was to keep the napkin as intact as possible without the dime falling into the glass which resulted in the person who made the dime fall having to chug a shot glass of whatever libation was being served that night (and it wasn’t alcohol-free) so you know what that meant for me!
As a lover of board games, card games and party games, I was a total sucker for “The Dime Game” and like the idiot I was, I played every time, got sloshed after two shots and was done for while everyone else was having fun; you’d think a lesson like that would have been learned rather quickly and to that I have only one thing to say …. “Capadoste!”
Dectina Refrain: This refrain is written as follows: 1st line – 1 syllable, 2nd line – 2 syllables 3rd line – 3 syllables, and so on for 9 lines; the 10th line is comprised of the first four lines as one stand-alone line.
Don’t Worry About me I’ll be just fine Better without you Don’t write me an email Don’t send me anymore texts I don’t want you hanging around Take your toothbrush out of my bathroom Don’t worry about me I’ll be just fine
WARNING: THIS BLOG WAS NOT CREATED FOR BEATLEMANIACS! If you’re on the fence about the Beatles or if you just don’t like them, this blog is for you. My goal is not to convert you; it’s to expose you to the lesser-known Beatles songs we don’t hear day in and day out. These great tunes will show you just how amazing the Beatles are. Of course, if you are a Beatles fan, pull up a chair and enjoy the tunes!
My song choice today is listed as a Beatles song but is was written entirely by George Harrison. The Indian influence is instantly front and center and George’s sitar-playing is awesome. This was a love song written by George to his wife Pattie Boyd. She must have been something else, that Pattie! This is at least the fourth love song written to her that I’m aware of (and not all by George!).
Ok, let’s get this show started!
This is the wonderful “Love You To” by the Beatles
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This version of “Love You To” was done by American singer/guitarist, Ronnie Montrose, often recognized as one of the most influential guitarists in early hard rock.
Ronnie Montrose was an American guitarist who founded and led the rock bands Montrose and Gamma. He also performed with and did a lot of session work for a number of big name musicians. His 1973 debut album has often been cited as “America’s answer to Led Zeppelin“; I’m definitely going to have to check that one out.
I must admit I knew very little about Ronnie Montrose before starting this blog and I’m getting quite an education! When I heard this song on the radio, I thought “Who am I to look a gift horse in the mouth?” I liked the sound and chose this cover to go along with the original. There were others but they tried much too much to sound like George (as did Montrose) and they failed miserably, where he did not. Side by side, Montrose’s song can hold its own …. BUT …. my vote goes to the Beatles and especially George for his fantastic sitar music. What do you think?
Tune in tomorrow to see what’s coming up next. Thanks for visiting Feb Fab Faux Four!
PS – If any video won’t play for you, I’ve provided the name of the song and who did it so you can find it on YouTube. It’s a pain in the ass but it does happen from time to time. My apologies.
They lived in lush green perfection of ripe fruit and pristine water. When their misadventures and disobedience angered the Maker, they and their sons were cast out.
One son, a farmer, made an offering of paltry wheat; the Maker was displeased.
The other, a shepherd, offered his firstborn lamb, which pleased the Maker.
In a panic, the jealous farmer killed his brother.
Enraged and saddened, the Maker banished the murderer, condemning him to a life of endless wandering.
Anfractuous paths covered the land. The farmer roamed for years, until blindly falling from a cliff to his death.
WARNING: THIS BLOG WAS NOT CREATED FOR BEATLEMANIACS! If you’re on the fence about the Beatles or if you just don’t like them, this blog is for you. My goal is not to convert you; it’s to expose you to the lesser-known Beatles songs we don’t hear day in and day out. These great tunes will show you just how amazing the Beatles are. Of course, if you are a Beatles fan, pull up a chair and enjoy the tunes!
This little cover number is found on the “Dedications” album of our guest performer and was hailed one of the most successful comeback albums in rock & roll history. More about our cover singer after we hear the tunes but I’m willing to bet there will be quite a few of you who are unfamiliar with this performer.
Something I failed to mention before: lyrics. So many of the Beatles songs have the best and most poetic lyrics ever penned …. like this one. It took me a long time to get beyond the music and listen to the words and when I did, I was blown away. Yes, I’m a major fan …. with good reason. A group like this comes along once in a lifetime; I’m glad it was during mine.
Let ’em spin!
Here are the Beatles with “It’s Only Love”
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Doing his version of “It’s Only Love”, here is Gary U.S. Bonds
I promised you something different this time around and I think you’ll have to agree this is one of most unique yet well-done Beatles covers so far.
Gary U.S. Bonds is a rhythm & blues and rock & roll singer, most well known for his hits ”Quarter To Three” and “New Orleans“(check them out on YT). In the early 1980s, Bonds had a career resurgence with his “Dedications” album (which I mentioned earlier), recorded with Bruce Springsteen (who also produced and arranged this version), Steven Van Zandt and the E Street Band.
My immediate reaction to this cover was “I love what they’ve done with this!” and the more I listened to it, the more I liked it. If you listen closely, the E Street Band makes a distinct appearance early on.
Kudos to Gary and crew for stepping out of the Beatles Box!
And in a case of “You can’t make this stuff up“, Gary U.S. Bond’s hits “New Orleans” and “Quarter To Three” are included on the LP “John Lennon’s Jukebox”, the compilation CD album based on the contents of John’s personal jukebox. I think that’s a pretty cool little piece of information.
PS – If any video won’t play for you, I’ve provided the name of the song and who did it so you can find it on YouTube. It’s a pain in the ass but it does happen from time to time. My apologies.
WARNING: THIS BLOG WAS NOT CREATED FOR BEATLEMANIACS! If you’re on the fence about the Beatles or if you just don’t like them, this blog is for you. My goal is not to convert you; it’s to expose you to the lesser-known Beatles songs we don’t hear day in and day out. These great tunes will show you just how amazing the Beatles are. Of course, if you are a Beatles fan, pull up a chair and enjoy the tunes!
Today’s song is a real beauty and I don’t think there’s any way it can be improved upon. It’s the first piece I’ve featured so far by one of the Beatles during his solo career. The song serves as a confession in which the singer addresses feelings of inadequacy that resulted in pain for those he loved.
This song was never released as a single during the singer’s lifetime; there are more than 90remakes but it was this cover that became an international hit in early 1981. I can think of another Beatles song that is one of the most covered songs of all time.
Ease into your Sunday morning with this lovely piece.
Here’s today’s lineup:
This is the beautiful, soulful “Jealous Guy” by John Lennon.
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And this is Roxy Music with their #1 version of John Lennon’s “Jealous Guy”
Very much alike, these two versions …. and I’m glad about that. It’s too lovely a piece to be changed dramatically; I think Roxy Music knew that and chose to stay close to the original. Bryan Ferry’s voice is perfect for this tune.
Join me again tomorrow for something I’m willing to bet you never heard before.
PS – If any video won’t play for you, I’ve provided the name of the song and who did it so you can find it on YouTube. It’s a pain in the ass but it does happen from time to time. My apologies.
Jim over at Song Lyric Sundayhas challenged us to write about a song that mentions a dance style or craze or a song that has it’s own dance. My choice covers all those options.
The Peppermint Lounge was a popular disco on West 45th Street in New York City from 1958 to 1965. The club had a lengthy mahogany bar running along one side, many mirrors and a dance floor at the back, a capacity of about 180 people, and a large gay clientele. It was a happening scene.
As Chubby Checker’s “Twist” craze hit the scene, celebrities swarmed to the Peppermint Lounge, big names such as Audrey Hepburn, Truman Capote, Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, Liberace, Noël Coward, Frank Sinatra, Norman Mailer, Annette Funicello, even the elusive Greta Garbo had a swinging time there. Jackie Kennedy was such an enthusiast that she arranged for a temporary Peppermint Lounge to be mounted in the White House.
The Beatles were filmed visiting the club during their first U.S. visit in 1964. Artists who performed at the Peppermint Lounge include the Beach Boys, the Ronettes (who made their professional debut there in 1961) the Crystals, the Isley Brothers, Chubby Checker, Liza Minelli and the Four Seasons. But the crowds loved to dance to the house band, Joey Dee and the Starliters …. especially after they recorded their biggest hit song “The Peppermint Twist”, written in 1961 by Joey Dee and Henry Glover.
Capitalizing on the “Twist” dance craze started by Chubby Checker and the name of the nightclub where Joey Dee performed, “The Peppermint Twist” hit No.1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in early 1962. The song was a huge hit, replacing Chubby Checker’s “The Twist” at the No. 1 position.
I was just a kid but that didn’t matter; people of all ages loved dancing to “The Twist” and still do; “The Peppermint Twist” was no different. It was lots of fun, easy to do and had a great sound. Get ready to start cutting the rug. Here are Joey Dee and the Starliters with their biggest hit …. “The Peppermint Twist”.
And it goes like this…..
Lyrics
Well they’ve got a new dance and it goes like this (Bop shoo-op, a bop bop shoo-op) Yeah the name of the dance is Peppermint Twist (Bop shoo-op, a bop bop shoo-op) Well you like it like this, the Peppermint Twist
It goes ’round and ’round, up and down ‘Round and ’round, up and down ‘Round and ’round and a up and down And a one two three kick, one two three jump
Well meet me baby down at 45th street Where the Peppermint Twisters meet And you’ll learn to do this, the Peppermint Twist
It’s alright, all night, it’s alright It’s okay, all day, it’s okay You’ll learn to do this, the Peppermint Twist Yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah Ey yeah Ey yeah Ey yeah Ey yeah Ey yey yeah Ey yey yeah Ey yey yeah
WARNING: THIS BLOG WAS NOT CREATED FOR BEATLEMANIACS! If you’re on the fence about the Beatles or if you just don’t like them, this blog is for you. My goal is not to convert you; it’s to expose you to the lesser-known Beatles songs we don’t hear day in and day out. These great tunes will show you just how amazing the Beatles are. Of course, if you are a Beatles fan, pull up a chair and enjoy the tunes!
Before we go any further, I want to acknowledge and thank my friend Misky for her incredible AI graphic. I love this funny Fab Faux Four! Thanks, Misky!
Let’s continue with the music. It’s time for the ladies to take the stage! This cover was done by a number of groups including Aerosmith and Cheap Trick but I wanted to shake things up a bit by brining in a true rock goddess. Let’s see what you think of this one; it’s bound to give your Saturday morning a good kickstart!
Here’s a song many music critics consider the first heavy metal song …. it’s “Helter Skelter” by the Beatles
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Check it out! This is Pat Benatar with her rendition of “Helter Skelter”
Clearly, I need to bring more ladies into the mix; I hope you liked this one by Pat Benatar. Share your thoughts with me …. the good and the bad!
I’ll be back tomorrow with something smooth and laid back for your Sunday morning. There’s more coming up this month so stick around!
PS – If any video won’t play for you, I’ve provided the name of the song and who did it so you can find it on YouTube. It’s a pain in the ass but it does happen from time to time. My apologies.
Three years ago my darling Nina, my life-force, my soulmate, was killed in a ghastly accident while riding her bicycle to the library. I’d offered her a lift but she declined; Nina hated my motorcycle, calling it a deathtrap.
I remember the call, the ambulance and police, the excruciatingly long ride to the hospital, the lonely wait in the eerily quiet emergency room, the surgeon’s voice .… his words that torment me day after day after day. My wife is dead, our all-too-short marriage erased.
I am lost, blindly wandering Gehenna. I shut myself off from everything. Well-meaning friends brought Nina’s bicycle to the studio where she taught ballet. I heard it’s a lovely memorial but I can’t bring myself to go by.
It’s time for me to leave, escape the painful memories and the desperation. Our friends stopped calling long ago and there’s nothing left to do. It’s time for me to go.
I remove my wedding band and place it on the dresser next to my phone and wallet.
“Will my motorcycle start up?” I wonder “Or has it died, too?” I grab my helmet and walk to the garage. My bike stands in the corner, covered by a tarp now buried under three years of regret and bitterness. I strap on my gloves, open the garage door and climb on my bike.
It is pouring rain; I have no idea where I am going. It doesn’t matter; I’ve stopped caring. Now I need to stop the heartache.
WARNING: THIS BLOG WAS NOT CREATED FOR BEATLEMANIACS! If you’re on the fence about the Beatles or if you just don’t like them, this blog is for you. My goal is not to convert you; it’s to expose you to the lesser-known Beatles songs we don’t hear day in and day out. These great tunes will show you just how amazing the Beatles are. Of course, if you are a Beatles fan, pull up a chair and enjoy the tunes!
I had a request for today’s song (that’s right; I take requests!), so rather than risk forgetting to follow through, I rearranged today’s line-up to feature this number.
Honestly, I can’t think of another Beatles cover that could sound any more different than the original. One is a chipper, happy-go-lucky number while the other is a banging, bluesy rock anthem.
Have you figured out which song this could possibly be? Well, let’s not waste another second. Here we go!
Here are the Beatles with Ringo singing lead on “With A Little Help From My Friends”
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And here is “With A Little Help From My Friend” by the one and only Joe Cocker
Well, not much to say here other than the song speaks for itself!
Happy to oblige my friend’s request; if there’s a song you’d like me to feature, leave a message in the comments and I’ll be sure to fit it in.
PS – If any video won’t play for you, I’ve provided the name of the song and who did it so you can find it on YouTube. It’s a pain in the ass but it does happen from time to time. My apologies.
Hard to imagine life without her. When the hell did everything start to unravel?
He sat alone in the shell of their apartment nursing his second Dewars. Once upon a time this place was alive with people enjoying one of their famous dinner parties. He could hear the sound of her spirited laugh when someone told a dirty joke.
They were the perfect couple, the envy of all their friends. Theirs was an easy, comfortable marriage. They were in sync in their choices of restaurants, paint colors and the biggest decision of all .… neither one wanted kids.
Welcome to Birthday Thursdays! Each week I will feature someone from the world of music whose birthday falls on this day. There won’t be any chit chat from me, no facts and figures – just some great tunes (and an occasional surprise). Check it out right here every Thursday and enjoy the music.
Happy Birthday to Don Everly Born February 1, 1937 in Brownie, Kentucky
WARNING: THIS BLOG WAS NOT CREATED FOR BEATLEMANIACS! If you’re on the fence about the Beatles or if you just don’t like them, this blog is for you. My goal is not to convert you; it’s to expose you to Beatles songs we don’t hear day in and day out. These are treasures. Of course, if you are a Beatles fan, pull up a chair and enjoy the tunes!
Welcome to Feb Fab Faux Four, my new blog for the month of February featuring Beatles songs and their cover versions, also known as remakes.
Let’s face it …. anyone can do a remake; unfortunately, many people have who shouldn’t have. Case in point – William Shatner’s cover of “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds”. So what’s a good cover song? I don’t think there’s one definitive answer to that. When I hear a cover, I want to be able to say “Yeah! I like what they did with that!”, but it shouldn’t be so different from the original that it’s unrecognizable or worse …. boring. It’s a very personal thing.
The idea for this blog came about one day when I flipped on my car radio and a Beatles song was playing; I knew right away it wasn’t the original. Truth be told, I’m rather unforgiving when it comes to Beatles remakes but there was something special about the song that was on and I was looking forward to hearing more good Beatles covers.
As luck would have it, that song was the last one in the line-up so I missed all the other songs that had already played. However, since it was SiriusXM, I was able to listen to the whole show later that day and there were some good covers. While doing my research over the last few weeks, something really surprised me: there are quite a few remakes I actually liked better than the originals. That’s something I never thought I’d say!
The Beatles songs featured here are ones that aren’t played every day so if you’re hoping to hear “She Loves You” or “I Want To Hold Your Hand”, you’re out of luck. FYI – the format of my blog will never change: the original will always be played first, followed by the cover. And here’s some good news: my future posts will be much shorter than this one; less talk and more music!
The remake you’re about to hear is the one that was playing that day in my car. It was rather unexpected to find out who did this cover. Even though this artist has been around for a long time, he may be new to some of you. This is definitely not the genre he’s known for. I really like this remake …. it’s edgy, with a very cool arrangement and his guitar-playing is kick-ass.
OK, let’s get it on! First, here are the Beatles with “Things We Said Today”
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And here is country music legend Dwight Yoakam with his remake of “Things We Said Today”
One thing’s for sure: we all have different likes and dislikes. I really dug this Dwight Yoakam cover but when I played it for my husband, he wasn’t crazy about it.
So, which one did you prefer? Audience participation is not required but if you’d like to share your comments with me, please do; I read and answer all of them.
I’ll be spinning another set of tunes tomorrow; I hope you’ll stop by. My wish for you during this month is for you to be able to say “Yeah! I like what they did with that!”
PS – If any video won’t play for you, I’ve provided the name of the song and who did it so you can find it on YouTube. It’s a pain in the ass but it does happen from time to time. My apologies.
For the month of January, Glyn at Mixed Music Bag is challenging us to write about a group or solo artist beginning with the letter A or B. Here’s my group.
You know you’ve reached the big time when you’ve made it into a book – never mind if the title of the book happens to be “Misheard Lyrics”!
What do you think of when you hear the phrase: “Baking Carrot Biscuits”? It’s not from somebody’s recipe book. It’s actually a ‘mondegreen’ (misunderstood lyric) from the classic song “Takin’ Care of Business”, by Bachman-Turner Overdrive …. my group for today.
Bachman–Turner Overdrive, often abbreviated BTO, was formed in 1973 by three brothers from Winnipeg, Manitoba …. Randy, Robbie and Tim Bachman. At the suggestion of Neil Young, fellow Winnipeg bassist and vocalist Fred Turner was brought on board.
Randy Bachman said: “Takin’ Care Of Business is a song about the every day routines and processes it takes to live this thing we call ‘life’ through daily work.” His original idea was to write a song about a recording technician who worked for the Guess Who (Bachman’s former group) who would take the 8:15 train to get to work, a fact which inspired the opening lines of the song.
The original working title of “Takin’Care Of Business” was actually “White Collar Worker”; however, while driving to a gig in Vancouver, Bachman heard a local DJ’s catchphrase of “We’re takin’ care of business” and it stuck with him. During the concert, Bachman decided on a whim to use the catchphrase in the song’s chorus instead of “White collar worker”. After the show that night, the audience kept clapping and shouting “takin’ care of business” and the rest is history.
BTO’s 1970s catalogue included seven top-40 albums (five in the US) and eleven top-40 singles in Canada (six in the US). They have six certified platinum albums and one certified gold album. BTO has sold nearly 30 million albums worldwide and their fans are affectionately known as “gearheads” …. a term derived from the band’s gear-shaped logo.
Oh, I almost forgot about “Baking carrot biscuits”! That’s an often misunderstood lyric for “Takin’ care of business”. If you want a good laugh, do a Google search on “misheard lyrics“; there are quite a few links, including a couple of videos on YouTube. I’ve provided one link to a very funny video about misheard song lyrics.
But now it’s time to hear one of BTO’s signature numbers, the song that made carrot biscuits popular …. “Takin’ Care Of Business”.
LYRICS
You get up every morning from your alarm clock’s warning Take the 8:15 into the city There’s a whistle up above and people pushin’, people shovin’ And the girls who try to look pretty And if your train’s on time, you can get to work by nine And start your slaving job to get your pay If you ever get annoyed, look at me I’m self-employed I love to work at nothing all day
And I’ll be taking care of business (every day) Taking care of business (every way) I’ve been taking care of business (it’s all mine) Taking care of business and working overtime, work out
If it were easy as fishin’ you could be a musician If you could make sounds loud or mellow Get a second-hand guitar, chances are you’ll go far If you get in with the right bunch of fellows People see you having fun just a-lying in the sun Tell them that you like it this way It’s the work that we avoid, and we’re all self-employed We love to work at nothing all day
And we be taking care of business (every day) Taking care of business (every way) We be been taking care of business (it’s all mine) Taking care of business and working overtime
Mercy Whoo All right
Take good care of my business When I’m away, every day Whoo
They get up every morning from their alarm clock’s warning Take the 8:15 into the city There’s a whistle up above and people pushin’, people shovin’ And the girls who try to look pretty And if your train’s on time, you can get to work by nine And start your slaving job to get your pay If you ever get annoyed, look at me I’m self-employed I love to work at nothing all day
And I be taking care of business (every day) Taking care of business (every way) I’ve been taking care of business (it’s all mine) Taking care of business and working overtime, take care
Takin’ care of business, whoo Takin’ care of business Takin’ care of business Takin’ care of business Takin’ care of business (every day) Takin’ care of business (every way) Takin’ care of business (it’s all mine) Takin’ care of business and working overtime, whoo
Takin’ care of business Takin’ care of business We be takin’ care of business We be takin’ care of business Takin’ care of business Takin’ care of business Takin’ care of business
After receiving the diagnosis “ULCER”, Brian’s wife Ali had been lovingly, carefully packing his lunches. He checked the contents of his bento box: plain broiled cod, boiled cauliflower and coconut milk. “This must be her White Period”, he thought, wistfully.
Sensitiveand embarrassed coworkers averted their eyes as they passed Brian’s cubicle on their way to lunch. Gone were the cheerful calls “C’mon, Brian! We’re going to Smokin’ Joe’s Hot Wings for lunch!” or “Salsa and nachos in the hospitality room, guys!” Oh, the humanity!
Brian’s computer pinged. It was an email from Ali: “Hi, hon. Hope you’re having a great day. Did you find the Maalox I put in your backpack? We’re having something special for dinner tonight …. poached chicken, brown rice and garbanzo beans …. hope you’re hungry! Love ya, babe! xo”
“Ah, Ali’s Beige Period.” Brian stared blankly at the computer screen. “I wonder how many beige foods there are …. oatmeal, boiled potatoes, matzoh….”
Depressed, fatigued and hungry, Brian put his head in his hands; a solitary tear fell through his fingers onto his khakis. Slowly the wet spot morphed into the shape of a slice of pizza. “What the …. ?!” Incredulous, Brian blinked and wiped his eyes. “What’s happening to me?!” Images of devilish, cramp-inducing, bowel-seizing delicacies danced ‘round his head …. jalapeño poppers, tacos, barbecued ribs.
The dreaded hunger hallucinations!Sweating, Brian texted Ali. “Babe. Last minute meeting with the deputy mayor. Sorry, I’m gonna miss dinner. Love ya!”
Brian lied.
Grabbing the bottle of Maalox and a Smokin‘ Joe’s menu from his desk drawer, Brian bolted from his cubicle, giddy as a school girl at her first dance.
“Outta my way, boys, outta my way!!”
Brian knew he was taking a big chance but he just didn’t care. He was starving, dammit! And out he ran, laughing and joyfully shouting, “Jalapeño-effing-poppers, baby!!”
7:30 AM Friday, Drew texting: “Hey, sorry! I know it’s early. Got any plans this weekend?”
[OMG! My heart starts racing. My biggest crush in forever is asking me if I have plans this weekend. OK, get a grip. I don’t want to appear too anxious; after all, we’ve never actually dated – just the occasional coffee and walks in the park with our dogs, Arlo and Dexter.]
[Alright. A sufficient amount of time has passed.]
7:40 AM, me texting: “This weekend? Um …. I don’t think so. What’s up?”
[Just the right tone. Cool and calm …. which I’m neither at the moment. Gotta love texting. It’s so impassive when necessary.]
7:42 AM, Drew texting: “I scored two ticketsto Springsteen for Saturday night in …. are you ready for this? Vegas!”
[Vegas! I love Vegas! I love Springsteen! I’m practically hyperventilating. Settle down and take a deep breath. Remember …. cool and calm.]
7:44 AM, me texting: “Wow! That’s fabulous! Let me just check my calendar.BRB“
[Exit text, count to 30.]
7:46 AM, me texting: “Hey Drew, my weekend’s open.”
7:47 AM, Drew texting: “Excellent! Even Arlo’s excited!And Amy, listen …. it’s an overnight trip; we’ll begetting back late Sunday. I don’t want to push you. Are you cool with this?”
[Am I cool with this?? It IS a bit sudden but I have to admit it’s what I want. Go for it.]
7:50 AM, me texting: “I won’t lie, Drew …. it is kinda sudden but I’m ready; it’ll be fun.“
7:52 AM, Drew texting:“This is gonna be an amazing weekend, Amy. I’m so happy you said ‘yes’.See you at yourplace tomorrow morning at 8:00.The flight’s at 11:00.”
7:54 AM, me texting: “Perfect!See you then.”
My head’s spinning. This is really happening! So much to do before tomorrow! Skip lunch today and go to Victoria’s Secret. Get a bikini wax on the way home from work. Pack tonight.
I couldn’t concentrate at work and excitement kept me awake most of the night; I finally gave up at 5:30. Time for coffee and a shower.
A quick glance at the clock …. ten minutes before Drew gets here. I place my carry-on bag on the bed, toss in my toothbrush and zip it up.
The sudden shrill ring of the doorbell startles me. Forcing myself not to lunge for the door, I pace myself, smile and casually open it to see Drew smiling back at me, one arm cradling Arlo, his other arm around the shoulder of a stunning brunette in tight jeans and a Springsteen tank top. My smile freezes in place.
“Hi, Amy! This is Charlotte. I’m so glad you can take careof Arlo this weekend; we’re really looking forward to this trip. Anyway, the routine is the same as the last time you watched Arlo. We’ll pick him up Sunday night.Thanks, Amy. Sorry about the short notice. You’re a real pal!”
Taking the pup, I manage a “Have a great time” and watch Drew and Charlotte walk down the hall and head for the elevator. They are laughing in that carefree way. Slowly I close the door, my stupid grin gone as I snuggle Arlo.
Two prompts today: Weekend Writing Prompt and Weekly Prompts Weekend Challenge ~ to include the words ‘bridge’ & ‘turmoil’, all in 53 words. Here is my story.
There are certain lines that exist in society, even among the closest of friends, lines not meant to be crossed.
She not only crossed the line …. she hurtled the bridge and jumped the shark.
And why? She’s only human and carelessly, regrettably didn’t think things through; now her brain is in turmoil.
Today on Song Lyric Sunday, Jim is asking us to write about a song that mentions a profession; thanks to Di for the suggestion. Since we’re all here on WordPress writing about something, it seemed only logical that I would choose a song about writers/authors.
My sophomore year of high school was one I’ll never forget. Our teacher, Mr. Erdmann, took his show on the road, so to speak, and brought our class on field trips into Manhattan where we saw movies such as “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”, “To Sir With Love”, “Wait Until Dark”, among others. He also played movies for us in the auditorium, classics like “On The Waterfront”, “The Pawnbroker” and “Casablanca”.
It wasn’t a year of just fun and games, though; we had to write reports on the movies and held discussions in the classroom. I loved writing those movie reports almost as much as watching the movies! It was a real thrill when I got one of my papers back with a note from the teacher in big bold letters: “A++ We’ll make a screenwriter out of you yet!”
Well, I never did become a screenwriter but that’s when my love of writing truly took hold and never let go. Thank you, Mr. Erdmann! I’m blogging my heart out on WordPress!
My song choice for today is “Paperback Writer” by the Beatles.
Written in 1966 mostly by Paul McCartney, the song allegedly came about when his Aunt Lil said something like “Can’t you write anything besides love songs?” According to Paul, he was thinking about his aunt’s question while backstage at a concert venue when he spotted Ringo reading a book and something clicked. The beginnings of “Paperback Writer” were already forming in Paul’s head.
The lyrics are in the form of a letter from an aspiring author addressed to a publisher. It starts off “Dear Sir or Madam” …. really quite clever, don’t you think?
The Beatles recorded “Paperback Writer” at EMI Studios in London on April 13-14, 1966. The song was released in May 1966 as the A-side of their 11th single and topped the singles charts in the UK, the US, Ireland, West Germany, Australia, New Zealand and Norway. The song was at #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for two non-consecutive weeks, being interrupted by Frank Sinatra’s “Strangers In The Night”.
“Paperback Writer” was the last new song by the Beatles to be featured on their final tour in August 1966 where they performed 16 shows across the US and 2 in Toronto, finishing up at Candlestick Park in San Francisco on August 29.
Here now is “Paperback Writer” by the Beatles.
Lyrics
Paperback writer (paperback writer)
Dear Sir or Madam, will you read my book? It took me years to write, will you take a look? It’s based on a novel by a man named Lear And I need a job So I wanna be a paperback writer Paperback writer
It’s a dirty story of a dirty man And his clinging wife doesn’t understand His son is working for the Daily Mail It’s a steady job But he wants to be a paperback writer Paperback writer
Paperback writer (paperback writer)
It’s a thousand pages, give or take a few I’ll be writing more in a week or two I could make it longer if you like the style I can change it ’round And I wanna be a paperback writer Paperback writer
If you really like it you can have the rights It could make a million for you overnight If you must return it you can send it here But I need a break And I wanna be a paperback writer Paperback writer
It wasn’t just a year of fun and games, though; we had to write reports on the movies and held discussions in the classroom. I loved writing those reports on the movies almost as much as watching the movies! It was a real thrill when I got one of my papers back with a note from the teacher in big red letters: “A++ We’ll make a screenwriter out of you yet!Well, I never did become a screenwriter but that’s when my love of writing truly took hold and never let go. Thank you, M
When I first started writing on WordPress, I printed out every story I wrote along with its accompanying graphic.
I filled five of the largest 3-ring binders I could find at Staples.
I was so enthralled with the fact that I was actually a “published author”! I felt my work needed to be immortalized in plastic.
For what? My 15 minutes of fame? To prove I existed and to share my brilliant thoughts with the world? To have something to pass on to my children and their children’s children?
Who the hell do I think I am?
Then the stark reality hit me: who cares? No child of mine is going to want these tomes cluttering their shelves; besides, they’ll never find the time to sit down and read them. They’ll get tossed in a basket next to the recliner, with all the other good intentions. Soon they’ll be relegated to the basement or worse, the attic …. the black hole in every home.
I know what you’re thinking: “Why not self-publish on Amazon, Nancy, and have pretty books to keep on your shelf (or in a box) instead of unwieldy, unattractive 3-ring binders?” Honestly, I know me and it won’t get done. I just don’t give a rat’s ass and those pretty books will end up as kindling or more ‘stuff’ to be disposed of when I croak.
I suppose I can have them buried with me so I’ll have something to read as I become one with the earth. That’s a thought.
And so I made the call. Sometime during the summer of 2023 I stopped printing out my stories. I now have a little more free time not to mention plenty of ink for my printer.
Anyone interested in five 3-ring binders of my stories? They’re going cheap.
“Hold it right there, Everett! I’ll not be fooled again by the likes of you! My own twin brother! Who ever thought it would come to this? You always hated me, didn’t you, Everett? Even as a child you were a malicious, jealous little bastard, like the day you started the fire in the gatehouse. You knew I’d be nearby working the horses and the first to see the smoke. And what happened? I got blamed for the fire! Everything I ever had, you wanted. You stole my darling Clarissa just weeks before we were to be married, then you forced yourself on her, all the while pretending you were me. She could never forgive me. She left town, a bitter, broken woman. My reputation was ruined and the only woman I ever loved was gone because of you. Now it’s down to our inheritance. You just couldn’t be satisfied with half, could you? You had to have it all. You think I don’t know it was you who took a shot at me the day we were out hunting with Father and Uncle Wyatt? Good thing for me you missed your mark that day. Well, I’ll not miss mine, you rotten, scheming son of a bitch. That’s right, this is the end, brother. I’m going to enjoy watching you beg for mercy. Good riddance, Everett. See you in hell.”
“And …. Cut! Great job as always, Bobby. That’s a wrap. This one’s got “AcademyAward” written all over it!”
We never went on vacation when I was a kid; that was for “rich people”.
You can imagine my unbearable glee when it was decided in the summer of ’59 that we would leave The Bronx for five glorious days in a place called Sunny Hill Farm.
Looking at the brochure we declared it to be “perfect” with lush rolling hills, horses, swimming, picnics, barbecues, fresh air and sunshine everywhere.
We loaded up the car, singing all the way to our vacation nirvana …. where it poured and poured for days.
“Good morning, Sunshine! Did you notice the wildflowers? It’s like they sprang up overnight. It’s awfully stuffy in here, don’t you think, Charlie? I’ll open the window a crack for some air if you promise to behave. One little yell from you and I’ll be forced to put your gag back in. Do you want that, Charlie? Ah, that’s a lovely breeze, isn’t it. Oh, now Charlie! You really shouldn’t have hollered like that! Just when I was gonna untie you. Why can’t you follow orders? That makes me angry. You remember what happens when I’m angry, don’t you, Charlie?”
Welcome to Birthday Thursdays! Each week I will feature someone from the world of music whose birthday falls on this day. There won’t be any chit chat from me, no facts and figures – just some great tunes (and an occasional surprise). Check it out right here every Thursday and enjoy the music.
Happy Birthday to Etta James Born January 25, 1938 in Los Angeles, California
From the album “Etta James”, this is “A Sunday Kind Of Love”
This is “I’d Rather Go Blind” from the album “Tell Mama”
From the album “Etta James – At Last”, this is “At Last”
Denise at GirlieOnTheEdge is challenging us once again to create an amazing Six Sentence Story, this time using the word “access”; this is my response.
Due, no doubt, to the cold weather, I have been doing a lot more cooking indoors, eschewing the barbecue grill for simmering pots of tomato sauce, bubbling trays of lasagna and stews roiling in slow cookers – a skill which comes naturally to me since, as I have mentioned many times recently, I hail from a long line of talented cooks, with my mother topping the list; she instilled in me at an early age a love of hearty and delicious home-cooked meals and the know-how to prepare them.
Mom was a Sicilian immigrant who attended school only until the age of 9; with her own ailing mother unable to maintain their home, my mother assumed the role of nurse, cook and maid …. devastatingly unfair, but that’s the way it was in 1925 – kids forced to abandon their childhood, growing up in a hurry.
My mother and her cousins did not have access to YouTube or TikTok or cooking channels on TV; there were no cookbooks in her small apartment …. just recipes galvanized in her brain from watching her grandmother and her aunts holding court in the kitchen.
Many of the ingredients my mother used were home grown, such as vegetables, herbs and fruit, and the items that didn’t come from the ground were all bought from the local grocer and butcher, the price haggled and haggled once again until my mother was satisfied; her purchases were of the finest quality and she always returned home with change in her purse.
When I, as a kid, would come home from school or a day outside with my friends, I would always be greeted with the sublime aromas of something magical cooking; I would float into the kitchen as though carried by angels, my nose twitching, and I would dreamily ask “What’s for dinner?”
So many mornings I was awakened by the steady thump thump thump of the base of my mother’s palm kneading and pounding the dough for her exquisite double crust pizza filled with nothing but sweet, caramelized onions sautéed to golden-brown perfection; to this day after too many years and countless attempts, I still have not figured out her secret to that culinary slice of heaven.
