Today for the first time I am featuring the âfriendsâ aspect of Friends & Family Friday.
The story starts on May 4, 1968, on the British television talent show âOpportunity Knocks,â where a talented 17-year-old Mary Hopkin began performing, going on to win six episodes in a row. Mary had no way of knowing that the iconic British model Twiggy was watching one of those performances on her television at home. That weekend Twiggy was talking to a friend about Maryâs performance on the program, a friend who was soon to establish a record label with his band. That friend was Paul McCartney. Just two days later, Mary received a telegram asking her to call Apple Corps. Hesitant at first, she was persuaded by her mother to call the number on the telegram.
“So I rang up and was put through to this guy with a Liverpool accent” Mary later recalled. It was, of course, Paul McCartney and the next day Mary was on her way to London to sign a contract. The young Welsh singer was one of the first to sign with the Beatles’ Apple label. Mary’s stint with Apple resulted in two albums â Post Card and Earth Song/Ocean Song, a slew of well-crafted singles and an EP released in Indonesia. Mary later admitted her association with Apple ended mainly because of Paul McCartney’s micro-management of her career.
One of Mary Hopkin’s songs on the Apple label is the exquisite âMarthaâ written by Harvey Andrews â a song about a lonely woman who sits by her phone waiting for someone to call. Martha listens in on her neighborsâ conversations, feeding on their despair. She appears to be a nosy, manipulative and unhappy person who is consumed with the lives of others while neglecting her own. Her behavior is likely the result of a broken heart and a shattered life. The song paints a sad and eerie picture of a woman who has lost her way and is happy only in the misery of others.
This is Mary Hopkin with the hauntingly stunning âMarthaâ.
Thanks for stopping by and catching some tunes with me.
Welcome to Birthday Thursdays! Each week I will feature someone from the world of music whose birthday falls on this day. There wonât be any chit chat from me, no facts and figures â just some great tunes (and an occasional surprise). Check it out right here every Thursday and enjoy the music.
Happy Birthday to Liberace Born May 16, 1919 in West Allis, Wisconsin
Written for Glynâs Mixed Music Bag #20, where we are asked to write about a song by a group or solo singer beginning with the letter I or J.
The date was January 24, 1969. Jethro Tull stepped on stage at the Fillmore East to play their inaugural performance in the United States. Tull hadnât yet reached the point of popularity in The States to warrant a headlining gig; they were the opening act for Blood, Sweat and Tears. That’s who we were there to see. When the opening act started playing, I remember turning to Bill and saying âI could be wrong but I think that guyâs playing a flute!â and that was the beginning of my love affair with Jethro Tull.
Even if their long career stalled at the start of the â70s, Jethro Tull would still go down in rock history for that one crucial thing: they proved that the flute could be a killer R&R instrument. Front man Ian Anderson has wielded the instrument â a favorite among middle-school-band girls and wandering minstrels for almost a thousand years â like a madman onstage, aggressively blowing solos usually reserved for guitars or saxophones. But paired with the bandâs era-spanning brand of progressive folk music â expertly displayed on 1971âs breakthrough Aqualung album â the flute has become a weapon of mass destruction in Andersonâs hands. Despite the many lineup changes the band has gone through over the years, Jethro Tullâs records have rarely diverted from their ambitious paths. The group infamously won the first-ever Hard Rock/Metal Grammy in 1989. So there!
The trackâAqualungâ is a story of homelessness and how society deals with it. Ian Anderson said his wife took photos of the homeless and showed them to him. Many of the lyrics describe actual homeless men. His wife also wrote some lyrics from the photos. Anderson went on to say âAqualungâ is a âguilt-ridden song of confusion about how you deal with beggars, the homeless and our reaction of guilt, distaste, awkwardness, all these things that we feel when weâre confronted with the reality of the situation.You see someone whoâs clearly in desperate need of some help, whether itâs a few coins or the contents of your wallet, and you blank them out. The more you live in that business-driven, commercially-driven lifestyle, you can just cease to see them.â
Here’s a bit of history regarding the name of the album/song. An Aqualung is a portable breathing setup for divers (think scuba gear). Andersonâs photos showed a homeless man with breathing problems and the name âAqualungâ came to him. It turns out that Aqualung was a brand name for the deep sea breathing system in a TV show Anderson liked to watch â Sea Hunt. In a 2019 interview, Ian Anderson said, âThey tried to sue the hell out of us, the Aqualung Corporation of North America. We apologized profusely and said, âSorry, we didnât know. We thought ALL underwater breathing apparatus were called Aqualungs because itâs so famous the world over.â It was an honest mistake. I think they were flattered by the fact that we thought they were the one and only kind of company doing that stuff. They decided not to sue us after all.â Great story!
“Aqualung” was never released as a single simply because itâs too long. Radio at the time was sharply divided between AM, which played the 3-minute pop hits, and FM, where they played what was called deep cuts. The album Aqualung is Jethro Tull’s best-selling with more than seven million units worldwide. It was generally well-received critically and has been included on several music magazines’ best-of lists.
From 1971, this is âAqualungâ by Jethro Tull, from the album of the same name..
And this is Ian Anderson’s Flute Solo from 1976 in Tampa, Florida
Whether solo or with Roxy Music, this is one of the few Bryan Ferry tracks that cracks a wide smile, sending up his jet-set image while celebrating it at the same time. Originally recorded by soul singer Dobie Gray, âThe âInâ Crowdâ often gets confused for a Motown number, thanks to the labelâs arranger Gene Page, who gave the single the Motown touch. Before Ferry tackled the tune, Ramsey Lewis Trio recorded a live instrumental version in 1964; later, Cheap Trick performed a cover of Ferryâs cover. Confused yet?
In the US, Gray’s powerful version, complete with brass section, reached #11 on the Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chartand #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 on February 20, 1965. Outside the US, “The “In” Crowd” went to #25 on the UK Singles Chart and #8 in Canada.
Bryan Ferryâs 1974 singles release reached #13 on the UK Singles Chart. His album cover for âAnother Time, Another Placeâ, which featured âThe âInâ Crowdâ, is one of the coolest in a James Bond kind of way.
By Dobie Gray in 1964, here is the original “The “In” Crowd”.
And this is what it sounded like when Bryan Ferry recorded it.
And just because it’s my post and I can do whatever I like đ this is the RamseyLewis Trio showing us how to do jazz right.
Thatâs todayâs Twofer Tuesday plus one! Thanks for stopping by!
When you listen to the many great tunes of The Temptations, Iâm sure the one thing you donât know or even imagine as possible is that their first seven singles were commercial failures. In contrast their hit soul/R&B single âThe Way You Do The Things You Doâ, released in 1964 from their album Meet The Temptations, was a huge success. It peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went to #1 on the Cash Box R&B chart. “The Way You Do The Things You Do” was written by Smokey Robinson and Bobby Rogers of The Miracles; now that you know that I think you’ll hear that familiar Miracles’ influence.
Otis Williams of The Temptations recalled in 2009: “The first time we heard the song, we loved it. The melody swung, and the lyrics had lots of charm.It was typical Smokey talkin’ about how to get a girl and he made it all work. It got a good response whenever we did it live, so our hopes were up. We knew from past experience that even the best tracks don’t always click.”
I guess after seven flops, Otis knew what he was talking about.
From 1964 here are The Temptations with their first hit, âThe Way You Do The Things You Doâ.
And this is what was on the B side â âJust Let Me Knowâ written by Berry Gordy, Jr.
Thanks for joining me today for a little Monday Motown Magic.
Todayâs 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 â70s. During a time when psychedelic rock, R&B, Motown soul, funk and metal were all on the rise, CCRâs unique blend of driving â50s-style R&R and classic Americana imagery made them one of the biggest standouts of the era. With John Fogertyâs 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.
Hereâs 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 wasnât able to ever sit atop the singles mountain. If nothing else, CCRâs 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 bandâs popularity, however, as they landed two #1 albums with Green River and Cosmoâs Factory. The band continued to sell out large venues as a live act, and its last top 10 hit âSweet Hitch-Hikerâ came even as the band was falling apart. No one could say that CCR wasnât 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 bandâs upcoming album Green River. But while the album went all the way to #1, the song âGreen Riverâ once again got stuck at #2.
To add insult to injury, CCR was beaten out at #1 by a group that wasnât 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 couldnât talk back so Kirshner got session musicians and songwriters to fill in the rest. Just in case youâre wondering, The Monkees have three #1 hits with âIâm A Believerâ, âLast Train To Clarksvilleâ, and âDaydream Believerâ.
FYI – the remaining two CCR songs that stalled at #2 were both double-A sides: âTravelinâ Band/Whoâll Stop The Rainâ and âLookinâ Out My Back Door/Long As I Can See The Lightâ. 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 âGreen Riverâ 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 â 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. CCRâs 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.
âThe Midnight Cowboy Themeâ Written by: John Barry Recorded: 1969 Engineer: Chris Malone Arranger: John Barry
Released: August, 1969
Available on: Midnight Cowboy â Original Motion Picture Score Best of John Barry Multiple recordings released worldwide
Personnel: Toots Thielemans – harmonica Featuring The John Barry Orchestra Various Artists
Although âEverybodyâs Talkinââ 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 âJames Bond Themeâ 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 âThe Midnight Cowboy Themeâ
May your Saturday be smooth sailing. Thanks for stopping by.
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 âWhile My Guitar Gently Weepsâ 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. đ
Welcome to Birthday Thursdays! Each week I will feature someone from the world of music whose birthday falls on this day. There wonât be any chit chat from me, no facts and figures â 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 Glynâs 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 thatâs 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 didnât 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 âThe Number Of The Beastâ.
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 âDamien: Omen IIâ late at night, in addition to the poem âTam oâ Shanterâ 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 âNumber Of The Beastâ
Leonard Cohenâs career was at a low point when he wrote âHallelujahâ 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 1984âs Various Positions. The track was a fan favorite, but it didnât receive much love until the Velvet Undergroundâs John Cale created a stripped-down piano version for a 1991 Leonard Cohen tribute album.
Jeff Buckley used Caleâs version as the basis for his stunningly beautiful version of the song on his 1994 LP Grace. The track wasnât a single, but after Buckleyâs tragic death in 1997 the song slowly started to become recognized as a classic. In 2004 Jeff Buckleyâs version of âHallelujahâ was ranked #259 on Rolling Stoneâs âThe 500 Greatest Songs of All Timeâ.
This is “Hallelujah” by the man himself, Leonard Cohen
And this is what it sounded like when Jeff Buckley recorded it
In 1960, Berry Gordy signed a talented group of vocalists called The Contours as one of Motownâs first acts. âDo You Love Me?â, 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. âDo You Love Meâ appeared twice on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, reaching #3 in 1962 and #11 in 1988.
This song is not just a big hit; itâs an enduring classic thatâs still going strong!
From 1962, here are The Contours asking an age-old question: âDo You Love Me?â
And this is what was on the B Side â âMove, Mr. Manâ
Thanks for joining me today for Monday Motown Magic.
Todayâs theme at Song Lyric Sunday is about songs by performers on American Idol.
In case youâre wondering about the title of todayâs post, The Original Amateur Hour began on radio in 1934 as âMajor Bowesâ Amateur Hourâ 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 Americaâs 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 âunparalleled in broadcasting history âŠ. the most impactful show in the history of televisionâ. 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 â 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 Adeleâs âRolling In the Deep”, Elton Johnâs âBennie and the Jetsâ, Ben E. Kingâs âI (Who Have Nothing)â and her version of âHouse of the Rising Sunâ. In addition, her performance of Billie Holidayâs âGod Bless The Childâ hit one million views in March 2014 and the video of her American Idol audition performance of the Beatlesâ âOh! Darlingâ 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 Zeppelinâs âWhat Is and What Should Never Beâ.
Haley Reinhart garnered widespread recognition in 2015 for performing and touring with Scott Bradleeâs Postmodern Jukebox, my favorite part of her career so far. Her most notable collaboration with the band on a jazz cover of Radioheadâs âCreepâ spent 58 consecutive weeks on Billboardâs Jazz Digital Songs chart and received high praise from critics. In the same year, she gained additional notice when her cover of Elvis Presleyâs âCanât Help Falling In Loveâ 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, âF Is For Familyâ 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.”
Iâve never really cared for “Bennie and the Jets” but what do I know?! Since Haley Reinhartâs performance garnered so much praise and coverage, Iâm featuring it today. Youâll see the judges thought it was âA-M-A-Z-I-N-G!â
Live from American Idolâs results night, this is Haley Reinhart with âBennie and the Jetsâ.
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. đ
âStranger On The Shoreâ 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 â clarinet Featuring The Leon Young String Chorale
Acker Bilk said he thought up the songâs melody in a taxi and named the gentle tune âJennyâ in honor of his daughter. Having scored several hits since his first, 1960âs âSummer Setâ, Bilk was famous enough to be asked to create the theme for a BBC TV childrenâs series about a French au pair in Brighton. Bilk offered them âJennyâ but was asked to change its title to the name of the program, Stranger on the Shore. Its wistful, airy tones, with Bilkâs âliquorice stickâ 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).Â
This is âStranger On The Shoreâ by Acker Bilk
May your Saturday be smooth sailing. Thanks for stopping by.
When youâre the daughter of one of the most poignant vocalists of all time, itâs nearly impossible not to carry on the tradition. With a voice as crisp as her fatherâs, Natalie Cole carved a career path of her own with hits including âThis Will Be (An Everlasting Love)â and âInseparable.â 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, Unforgettable .⊠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, 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”
Welcome to Birthday Thursdays! Each week I will feature someone from the world of music whose birthday falls on this day. There wonât be any chit chat from me, no facts and figures â 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
Written for Glynâs 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 âWeâre An American Bandâ, “I’m Your Captain” “Some Kind Of Wonderful” and their cover version of âThe Loco-Motionâ, 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 bandâs 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 rock 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 Railroadâs first number-one hit, 1973âČs âWeâre An American Bandâ, came seven albums into the bandâs career and was literally written around the lines âWeâre coming to your town. Weâll help you party down.â
According to songwriter/drummer Don Brewer, the inspiration came from the band’s day-to-day life. “Weâre 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 downâ â 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 âWeâre An American Bandâ, 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 Merchandisers 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 bandâs 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 âWeâre An American Bandâ by Grand Funk Railroad.
Big thanks to Glyn for hosting another week of Mixed Music Bag.
While Johnny Cash’s cover of Trent Reznor’s âHurtâ gets all the press, this Neil Diamond tune is just as good. The 1966 Diamond version was about young adult heartbreak, while Cashâs rendition is about going through life and never getting over it. It remains not only one of Cashâs best cover songs, but one of his finest moments on the American Recordings 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.
Thatâs todayâs Twofer Tuesday! Thanks for stopping by.
The Motown Sound has something extra-special about it. Berry Gordy, Jr. knew people would be listening on their car stereos and transistor radios and he was going to do what it took to make songs sound good and memorable. Even if you couldnât put your finger on it, when a Motown song came on, baby, you knew it. Still do.
âHeat Waveâ was written by the songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland and was first made popular by the group âMartha and the Vandellasâ. Released as a single on the Motown subsidiary Gordy label, this song garnered a Grammy Award nomination, the first Motown group to ever do so.
Founded in 1957 by friends Annette Beard, Rosaline Ashford and Gloria Williams, the group eventually included Martha Reeves who moved up in ranks as lead vocalist after Williamsâ departure in â61. During their nine-year run from 1963-1972, âMartha and the Vandellasâ charted over 26 hits recorded in the styles of doo-wop, R&B, pop, blues, rock and roll and soul. In 1995 the group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
âHeat Waveâ was one of the first songs to exemplify the style of music later termed as the âMotown Soundâ.
Here are Martha and the Vandellas performing their 1963 hit, âHeat Waveâ.
And this is what was on the B Side: A Love Like Yours (Don’t Come Knocking Everyday)
Thanks for joining me today for a dose of Monday Motown Magic.
Todayâs theme at Song Lyric Sunday is all about songs performed with orchestras and/or choirs.
Formed in London in 1968, Led Zeppelin developed their style by drawing from a variety of influences, including blues and folk music. The band was comprised of vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham. With a heavy guitar-driven sound, they are cited as one of the forerunners of hard rock and heavy metal music. Zeppelin has been credited as significantly impacting the nature of the music industry, particularly in the development of album-oriented rock and stadium rock.
Led Zeppelin is one of the best-selling musical groups of all time, with total sales estimated at over 300 million records sold worldwide. The group achieved eight consecutive UK #1 albums and six #1 albums on the US Billboard 200, with five albums certified diamond in the United States. Rolling Stone magazine once describedZeppelin as âthe heaviest band of all timeâ, âthe biggest band of the 70sâ, and âunquestionably one of the most enduring bands in rock historyâ. Led Zeppelin was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1995; the museumâs biography of the band states that they were âas influential during the 1970s as the Beatles were during the 1960sâ. Thatâs quite a statement.
There are so many great songs that fit into this category and I changed my mind several times before finally making my decision. For me this is the quintessential presentation of a legendary song which has withstood the test of time over and over again.
The performance I have chosen to feature today is what I consider to be an indelible moment in time. On December 2, 2012, Led Zeppelin received the Kennedy Center Honors; it’s an award bestowed upon those considered to have contributed greatly to American culture. In a world where awards are handed out like lollipops, The Kennedy Center Honors are a big deal.
Every December, the awards climax with a gala event at the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, D.C., and in 2012 the show included an emotional performance by Heartâs Ann & Nancy Wilson, with Jason Bonham on drums.
Did I say âemotionalâ? It’s almost startlingly so. It’s the looks the members of Led Zeppelin give each other during the performance. It’s Robert Plant’s eyes watering as he watches Ann Wilson singing a song he famously has a difficult relationship with. It’s the gospel choir paying tribute to Led Zeppelinâs original drummer John Bonham in the most unexpected way. It’s Jason Bonham lifting his eyes towards the heavens as the song climaxes. It’s extraordinary.
This is no hype; youâll know what I mean when you see the reaction from Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones watching from the best seats in the house. The song is one you all know; it has been called âthe single-most important and celebrated song Led Zeppelin ever recordedâ.
From the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, this is Ann & Nancy Wilson with orchestra and choirs performing the epic âStairway To Heavenâ.
LYRICS
There’s a lady who’s sure all that glitters is gold And she’s buying a stairway to Heaven
When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed With a word she can get what she came for
Ooh, ooh, and she’s buying a stairway to Heaven
There’s a sign on the wall, but she wants to be sure ‘Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings
In a tree by the brook, there’s a songbird who sings Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven
Ooh, it makes me wonder Ooh, makes me wonder
There’s a feeling I get when I look to the West And my spirit is crying for leaving
In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees And the voices of those who stand looking
Ooh, it makes me wonder Ooh, really makes me wonder
And it’s whispered that soon if we all call the tune Then the piper will lead us to reason
And a new day will dawn for those who stand long And the forests will echo with laughter
Oh-oh-oh-oh-whoa
If there’s a bustle in your hedgerow, don’t be alarmed now It’s just a spring clean for the May queen Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run There’s still time to change the road you’re on
And it makes me wonder Ohh, whoa
Your head is humming, and it won’t go, in case you don’t know The piper’s calling you to join him
Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow? And did you know Your stairway lies on the whispering wind?
And as we wind on down the road Our shadows taller than our soul There walks a lady we all know Who shines white light and wants to show How everything still turns to gold And if you listen very hard The tune will come to you at last When all are one, and one is all To be a rock and not to roll
âBy The Time I Get To Phoenixâ Written by: Jimmy Webb Recorded: August 29, 1967 Producer(s): Al De Lory, Nick Venet Arranger/Conductor: Al De Lory
Released: October 23, 1967
Available on: By The Time I Get To Phoenix
Personnel: Glen Campbell â vocals, acoustic guitar James Burton â acoustic guitar, electric guitars Joe Osborne â bass Jim Gordon â drums
The inspiration for “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” originated in Jimmy Webbâs breakup with his partner, Susan Horton. Their relationship, which peaked in mid-1965, was also the primary influence for âMacArthur Parkâ, another Webb composition. Webb called the song a “succinct tale” with anO. Henrytypetwist at the end which consists merely of the guy saying,‘She didn’t really think that I would go,’but he did.” Although the protagonist in the song plans to leave his lover, Webb did not leave Horton; their breakup was a mutual agreement.
Glen Campbellâs version topped RPM magazineâs Canada Country Tracks, reached number two on Billboardâs Hot Country Singles chart and won two awards at the 10th Annual Grammys. BMI named it the third most performed song from 1940 to 1990. The song was ranked #20 on BMI’s Top 100 Songs Of The Century. It was #450 on Rolling Stone magazineâs Top 500 Songs of All Time. And perhaps the greatest accolade …. Frank Sinatra called it “the greatest torch song ever written”.
This is the exquisite âBy The Time I Get To Phoenixâ by Glen Campbell.
May your Saturday be smooth sailing. Thanks for stopping by.
Music is in the bloodline of the Nelson family. Country giant Willie Nelson passed his songwriting prowess on to his sons Lukas and Micah Nelson, both of whom are musicians. Today Iâll be focusing on Lukas, the frontman of Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real. The band appears as the backing band for Bradley Cooperâs character in the 2018 edition of A Star Is Born, with Lukas also co-writing and co-producing songs for the film. From 2015 to 2019, they toured as the backing band for Neil Young. With Young, the band recorded two studio albums (The Monsanto Years and The Visitor), a soundtrack album (Paradox) and two live albums (Earth and Noise &Flowers). For his work on A Star Is Born, Lukas won the BAFTAFilm AwardForOriginal Music in 2019 and a Grammy Award in 2020 for Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media, sharing both awards with Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga.
Lady Gaga assists Nelson on âFind Yourself.â Her powerful vocals can be heard in the background of the chorus. Nelson and Gagaâs voices perfectly complement one another and, though this is just one of several collaborations between the pair, itâs undoubtedly the best.
This is âFind Yourselfâ by Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real.
Thanks for stopping by and spinning some tunes with me.
Welcome to Birthday Thursdays! Each week I will feature someone from the world of music whose birthday falls on this day. There wonât be any chit chat from me, no facts and figures â just some great tunes (and an occasional surprise). Check it out right here every Thursday and enjoy the music.
Happy Birthday to Ella Fitzgerald Born April 25, 1917 inNewport News, Virginia
Written for Glynâs Mixed Music Bag #17, where we are asked to write about a song by a group or solo singer beginning with the letter G or H.
Steve Marriott, Peter Frampton, Greg Ridley & Jerry Shirley
Frustrated with a number of things but mostly his image as a teen idol, Steve Marriott finally had enough. It was New Yearâs Eve, 1969, when he threw down his guitar and walked off the stage at Londonâs Alexandra Palace, quitting his band, Small Faces. Marriott was a talented musician and vocalist who wanted to be taken seriously for his music …. not his looks.
After quitting, Steve Marriott called two friends â one was Peter Frampton â another frustrated teen idol who had recently quit his band, Herd â and the other was 17-year-old drummer Jerry Shirley. Marriott asked his friends if he could join the band they were forming and, to sweeten the pot, said heâd bring with him Greg Ridley, a well-respected bass player from the band Spooky Tooth, who was also looking to make a change. Well, of course, Frampton and Shirley couldnât turn down an offer like that and so the newest âsupergroupâ (as the press called them) was created. The guys in the band hated being called a supergroup …. they were worried about expectations being set too high and dooming them to failure. In retaliation they chose a name they were more comfortable with …. Humble Pie.
Their debut album, “As Safe As Yesterday Is”, was released in August 1969, along with the single, “Natural Born Bugie”, which reached #4 in the UK singles charts; the album peaked at #16 in the UK album charts. “As Safe As Yesterday Is” was one of the first albums to be described by the term “heavy metal” in a 1970 review in Rolling Stone magazine.
In 1971 Humble Pie released their most successful record to date, “Rock On“, as well as a live album recorded at the Fillmore East in New York entitled “Performance Rockin’ the Fillmore”. The live album reached #21 on the US Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. Culled from four sets recorded on May 28 and 29, 1971 (the original LP was essentially a sampler of songs from several raucous shows), âPerformance Rockinâ the Fillmoreâ was released that November as a double album set. Humble Pie was second on the bill, after Fanny and before headliner Lee Michaels, a fact hardly anyone seems to remember. I will testify to that because I was in the audience at the Fillmore East on May 28, 1971 and the only group I remember seeing was Humble Pie. That was just one month before the legendary Fillmore closed its doors …. the end of an era in the history of rock.
Peter Framptonâs final recording with Humble Pie in 1971 was, by some irony, the bandâs most successful, and is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential live albums of the decade. Humble Pie produced 11 studio albums and 2 live albums.
“I Donât Need No Doctorâ from “Performance Rockin’ the Fillmore” was an R&B song written by Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson and Jo Armstead, first released by Ashford in August 1966; it went nowhere. The song has been recorded by Ray Charles, John Mayer, rock bands New Riders of the Purple Sage, Great White and Styx, metal band W.A.S.P. and others. Humble Pieâs version became an FM radio standard in the US, peaking at #73 on the Billboard Hot 100 and propelling the album up the charts.
Live from the Fillmore East in my hometown of New York City, this is the single version of âI Donât Need No Doctorâ by Humble Pie.
Personnel
Steve Marriottâ guitar, vocals, harmonica Peter Frampton â guitar, vocals Greg Ridley â bass guitar, vocals Jerry Shirley – drums
Technical team
Live recording by Fedco Audio Labs Engineer: Eddie Kramer Assistant Engineer: David Palmer Re-mixed at Electric Lady Studies, New York Produced by The Pie
In 1991 Steve Marriott died in an accidental house fire at the age of 44; bassist Greg Ridley died in 2003 at the age of 56 from complications from pneumonia. Peter Frampton continues to enjoy success as a solo artist and Jerry Shirley is still behind the kit, touring with the current members of Humble Pie.
The Fillmore East didn’t last all that long, from March 8, 1968 to June 27, 1971, but a ton of great music was played there. It was our personal music Mecca. Pretty much every legendary 1960s band …. except the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Cream and Dylan …. graced the stage and I was in attendance for a lot of those shows. It was epic.
Big thanks to Glyn for hosting Mixed Music Bag every week.
In 1964 The Kinks came out with a song with a killer riff, so it only made sense that 14 years later guitar genius Eddie Van Halen would take the tune and make it a showcase for his brand of guitar pyrotechnics. Singer David Lee Roth, meanwhile, perfectly laid bare each and every emotion that may have been buried beneath a previous generationâs decency.
The song, of course, is âYou Really Got Meâ, written by Kinksâ frontman Ray Davies. Lead guitarist Dave Davies performs the songâs famous guitar solo, although it was long rumored that Jimmy Page had performed the solo âŠ. hearsay that Page himself denied.
âYou Really Got Meâ was originally released in the UK on August 4, 1964 as The Kink’s third single and reached #1 on the Record Retailer chart the following month, remaining there for two weeks. Van Halenâs cover of the song was released as their first single and peaked at #36 on the Billboard Hot 100.
This is the fabulous 1964 original version of âYou Really Got Meâ as recorded by The Kinks.
And this is what it sounded like when Van Halen recorded it 14 years later.
Thatâs todayâs Twofer Tuesday! Thanks for stopping by.
The Motown Sound has something extra-special about it. Berry Gordy, Jr. knew people would be listening on their car stereos and transistor radios and he was going to do what it took to make songs sound good and memorable. Even if you couldnât put your finger on it, when a Motown song came on, baby, you knew it. Still do.
Motownâs first great girl group, TheMarvelettes, consisted of four school friends who were only 14 and 15 years old; some of their early hits were written by the girls themselves. When I was 14, I was busy practicing writing my signature as Mrs. George Harrison! What were you doing at 14?
“Please Mr. Postman”, recorded in 1961, was one of the first #1 singles by an all-female vocal group and is easily Motownâs best single to date â a song with a killer tune and a lyrical hook which listeners around the world instantly latched on to.
Despite their successful start, the group was eclipsed in popularity by the Supremes, with whom they shared an intense rivalry. The Marvelettes made a comeback in 1966 with several hits but struggled and stopped performing together in 1969. The group disbanded for good in 1970.
Kudos to TheMarvelettes for paving the way for future girl groups!
Here now is the fantastic sound of âPlease Mr. Postmanâ by The Marvelettesâ with a young Marvin Gaye playing the drums.
And this is what was on the B Side: âSo Long Babyâ
Thanks for joining me today for a dose of Monday Motown Magic.
The theme today at Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday is to write about a duet(s) featuring two prominent performers.
Three years ago, Sir Tom Jones âŠ. quite possibly the Sexiest Man Ever âŠ. and Helene Fischer âŠ. Die Königin der deutschen Popmusik (The Queen of German Pop Music) âŠ. got together on Heleneâs show where the duo put on an unforgettable performance that has been viewed over 21 million times on YouTube. Backed by a brass band and a dazzling stage show, they treated the audience to a seductive duet, proving that Tom Jonesâ voice is still worthy of the halls of fame. Even in his 80s, Tom is leaving fans in awe with his unbelievably strong and silky smooth voice. Not many performers can stand up to that.
Helene Fischer became one of the most popular musical artists in Germany after making her recording debut in 2006. She consistently racked up hits in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland before her 2013 album âFarbenspielâ (âPlay of Colorsâ) became one of the most successful in German history. She followed it with still more number one records, including a four-week stay at the top of the album chart with 2017’s âHelene Fischerâ.
Today’s song was released in 1999 in several European countries; the following year it was issued across the rest of Europe where the track served as the second single from Jones’ 34th album, âReloadâ. Commercially, it reached number one in France and Switzerland while becoming a top-three hit in Austria, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom.
Here is the Sexiest Man Ever along with the Queen of German Pop Music with their sizzling duet, âSex Bombâ.
LYRICS
Spy on me, baby, use satellite Infrared to see me move through the night Aim, gonna fire, shoot me right I’m gonna like the way, the way that you fight
Now you found the secret code I use To wash away my lonely blues And I can’t deny or lie ‘Cause you’re the only one who makes me fly
Sex bomb, sex bomb, you’re my sex bomb And you can give it to me when I need to be turned on Sex bomb, sex bomb, you’re my sex bomb And, baby, you can turn, turn me on (woo)
Hey!
Don’t get me wrong, ain’t gonna do you no harm This bomb’s for lovin’, you can shoot it far I’m your main target, come and help me ignite Lovestruck, holding you tight
Make me explode, although you know The route to go to sex me slow Yes, I must react to claims of those Who say that you are not all that
Sex bomb, sex bomb, you’re my sex bomb And you can give it to me when I need to come along Sex bomb, sex bomb, you’re my sex bomb And, baby, you can turn me on (yeah)
Sex bomb, sex bomb, you’re my sex bomb And you can give it to me when I need to come along Sex bomb, sex bomb, you’re my sex bomb And, baby, you can turn me on (oh right)
You can give me more and more, counting up the score You can turn me upside down and inside out You can make me feel the real deal I can give it to you any time because you’re mine
Sex bomb, sex bomb, you’re my sex bomb And you can give it to me when I need to come along Sex bomb, sex bomb, you’re my sex bomb And, baby, you can turn me, baby, you can turn me on
Sex bomb, sex bomb, you’re my sex bomb And you can give it to me when I need to come along Sex bomb, sex bomb, you’re my sex bomb Baby, you can turn me on
Baby, you can turn me on And, baby, you can turn me on Baby, you can turn me on And, baby, you can turn me on
âEuropa (Earthâs Cry, Heavenâs Smile)â Written by: Santana/Coster Recorded: 1976 Producer: David Rubinson Engineer(s): David Rubinson, Fred Catero Assistant Engineer: Susie Foote
Released: March 26, 1976
Available on: Amigos
Personnel: Carlos Santana â lead guitar Neal Schon â rhythm guitar David Brown â bass Greg Rolie â keyboards Michael Schrieve â drums Armando Peraza â percussion Jose Chepito Areas â timbales
Upon seeing a friend suffering a bad experience while high on mescaline, Santana composed a piece titled “The Mushroom Lady’s Coming to Town“. This precursor contained the first lick to “Europa“. The piece was put away and not touched for some time. When Santana was touring with Earth, Wind & Fire in Manchester, England, he played the tune, this time with songwriter Tom Coster who helped him with some of the chords, and a new song was born. It was renamed as “Europa (Earth’s Cry Heaven’s Smile)”.
The track was featured in the 2004 film âShall We Dance?â and has become one of Santanaâs most beloved songs with its combination of Latin rhythms, blues and jazz influences.
This is Santana with âEuropaâ
May your Saturday be smooth sailing. Thanks for stopping by.
Sixty-two years after the Beatles released âLove Me Doâ â the first of many songs written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney â their offspring have come together to bring back their tune-making magic.
Sean Ono Lennon and James McCartney have joined forces on a song cowritten by them and released by McCartney called âPrimrose Hillâ. Named for a public park in London, this is the first-ever collaboration by Lennon & McCartney, Part 2. And if any song could sound just like taking a bittersweet stroll in the park with nothing but longing memories, then this one pretty much captures it.
Thereâs instantly something familiar about it but it never seems to fall into Beatles mimicry. Nor does it ever reach the heights of Beatles transcendence âŠ. I mean, how could it?
Let me know what you think of this rebirth of Beatles music.
This is “Primrose Hill”, co-written by Lennon & McCartney, 2nd Generation.
Welcome to Birthday Thursdays! Each week I will feature someone from the world of music whose birthday falls on this day. There wonât be any chit chat from me, no facts and figures â just some great tunes (and an occasional surprise). Check it out right here every Thursday and enjoy the music.
Happy Birthday to Paul A. Rothchild (Record Producer) Born April 18, 1935 inBrooklyn, New York
The Elephant's Trunk 