And just like that, it’s almost over! All that remains are the crumbs of Christmas cookies, discarded wrapping paper and the sighs of 2023 as it creeps closer to the back door. Some of us may still have family to visit or get-togethers with friends …. and let’s not forget New Year’s Eve. If you’re like me and my mister, you’ve opted to eschew the party hats and noisemakers in favor of a more relaxed and intimate setting.
But that doesn’t mean we’re going to roll over and play dead this week …. not by a long shot! Have you forgotten the Sicilian Curveball? Well then, I think it may be time to serve up one final pitch right about now.
Gather ’round the fire pit and turn up the volume; welcome to the RockingSounds Of The Season! We will not go out with a whimper here In The Groove!
Now remember …. as is my style I have prepared a holiday banquet of treats for you ā one might say “The 12 Rocking Days of Christmas”. This is an audio/visual feast, my friends! The videos are intended to be viewed throughout the week, not ingested whole unless that’s the way you roll. If that is your preference, then by all means ….. belly up to the bar. ‘Tis the Season, after all!
Iām opening today with an American group based in Omaha, Nebraska. This is a neoclassical new-age music ensemble founded in 1974 known primarily for its Fresh Aire series of albums which blend classical music with elements of new age and rock, and for its modern recordings of holiday music. They are wildly popular, having sold over 28 million albums in the US alone.
Strap yourselves in, kids; it’s’ gonna be one hell of a sleigh ride!
This is Mannheim Steamroller!
“Deck the Halls“
“Faeries from NutcrackerSuite”
“Hallelujah“
“Sleigh Ride“
And now, from the world of Heavy Metal ….. oh, did you think I wouldn’t go there? Ho! Ho! Ho! Think again! Here are four of the greats!
We’re going to church, boys and girls, so show some respect. This is Dio (with Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath fame) and a few other guys) with “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”.
Here we have an old Chuck Berry number …. “Run, Rudolph Run” …. hopped up a bit featuring Lemmy (Motƶrhead), Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters) & Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)
A little something called “Very Merry Led Zeppelin” …. a Led Zepp Medley, if you will.
Nobody even think of leaving just yet. This is “Carol of the Bells” by Metallica.
My final featured group today is another US-based band founded in 1996 and based in Tampa, Florida. This rock band gained popularity when they began touring in 1999 after completing their second album, āThe Christmas Atticā. In 2007 the Washington Post referred to them as āan arena-rock juggernaut whose music is like a meeting of Pink Floyd, Yes and the Who at Radio City Music Hallā. They have sold more than 10 million concert tickets and over 10 million albums and are known for their elaborate concerts and light shows.
I bring you TSO ā Trans-Siberian Orchestra!
“A Mad Russian“
“Christmas Eve/Sarajevo“
“Siberian Sleighride“
“Wizards in Winter“
This is it, kids …. the final In The Groove 2023 for The Rhythm Section. I think you’ll agree it is a true Sicilian Storyteller smorgasbord that will take you right into the New Year!
Enjoy your holiday week, my friends! Stay safe, happy and healthy always.
Christmas Eve is five days away and I have no idea where the year went! I love the holidays, especially this week leading up to Christmas ā¦. the baking, wrapping, watching old holiday movies on TV, visiting with friends, attending church services, taking the little ones to see Santa. It is a truly magical time of year.
Welcome back to In The Groove: Sounds Of The Season! To help make your Christmas week even more meaningful and festive, I thought it would be nice to feature some of our most popular and well-loved holiday songs and Christmas Carols. I hope you enjoy my selections and come back to this page whenever you’re in the mood for some wonderful holiday music.
For me Christmas just wouldnāt be the same without my favorite cookies ā Viennese walnut crescents, so buttery they just melt in your mouth. That’s the way I feel about certain performers and the Christmas songs we all love. There was a big problem, though: I couldn’t choose just one single song from each artist ā they’re all too good ā so I’m breaking with tradition and posting a few complete albums. I think there’s a nice selection of music for you to listen to and, just like delicious cookies, there’s more than enough to sample and satisfy your musical cravings anytime during these last weeks of 2023. Letās begin with a real beauty:
Here is Nat āKingā Cole and this is āKing Of Christmasā
This is Frank Sinatra with āO Jolly Christmasā
Here is “The Mormon Tabernacle Choir Sings Christmas Carols”
From 1968, this is “Snowfall – The Tony Bennett Christmas Album”
Under the direction of Arthur Fiedler, here is The Boston Popsāand “Christmas Album”
The beautiful voice of Connie Francis from her album “Merry Christmas [Fantastic Christmas Carols]
The soothing sounds of “Classical Winter” – Classical Music Selections
Enjoy the week doing all the things that bring you peace and happiness …. including listening to great music. I’ll be back In The Groove on December 26th with something completely different; I predict you’re going to be sufficiently blown away! It’s just what we need for The Rhythm Section’s final week of 2023.
Welcome back to In The Groove: Sounds Of The Season! This week we are celebrating along with our Jewish friends the holiday of Hanukkah. Settle in now with your favorite beverage and a comfy blanket; we are about to begin.
Hanukkah is the Jewish eight-day, wintertime āfestival of lights,ā celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers, delicious fried foods, dreidels and chocolate coins; the Hebrew word Hanukkah means ādedication.ā
In the second century BCE, the Holy Land was ruled by the Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks), who tried to force the people of Israel to accept Greek culture and beliefs instead of mitzvah (commandment) observance and belief in God. Against all odds, a small band of faithful (but poorly armed) Jews, led by Judah the Maccabee, defeated one of the mightiest armies on earth, drove the Greeks from the land and reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, rededicating it to the service of God.
When they sought to light the Temple’s Menorah, they found only a single cruse of olive oil that had escaped contamination by the Greeks. Miraculously, they lit the menorah and the one-day supply of oil lasted for eight days, until new oil could be prepared under conditions of ritual purity. To commemorate these miracles, the sages instituted the festival of Hanukkah.
At the heart of the festival is the nightly menorah lighting. The menorah holds nine flames, one of which is the shamash (āattendantā), which is used to kindle the other eight lights. On the first night, just one flame is lit. On the second night, an additional flame is lit. By the eighth night of Hanukkah, all eight lights are kindled.
āI Have a Little Dreidelā (āThe Dreidel Songā) is a playful song that is often sung during Hanukkah. It celebrates the spinning of the dreidel, a traditional Hanukkah game, and is a catchy tune that children and adults enjoy.
āHanukkah, Oh Hanukkahā: This song is a cheerful and lively song that celebrates the holiday and its traditions. It is often sung as a part of Hanukkah celebrations and is known for its festive spirit.
āMaāoz Tzurā (×Öø×¢×Ö¹× ×¦×Ö¼×Ø): Also known as āRock of Ages,ā this traditional Hebrew song is typically sung during Hanukkah to praise and thank God for delivering the Jewish people from their enemies. The song has several verses and is often sung with great emotion and devotion.
āHaneirot Halaluā (×Ö·× ÖµÖ¼×Ø×Ö¹×Ŗ ×Ö·×ÖøÖ¼××Ö¼) is a Hebrew song recited or sung after the Hanukkah candles are lit. It expresses gratitude and joy for the miracle of Hanukkah and the opportunity to kindle the lights. It is a short, simple, and beautiful melody that is often part of the Chanukah candle-lighting ceremony.
Thank you, David! Now for two videos of my own because you can never have enough holiday music!
This is “Happy Hanukkah” by Matisyahu
Live from the Levon Helm Studios, this is Woodie Guthrie with “Happy Joyous Hanukkah”.
Wishing all my friends who observe Hanukkah a most blessed, peaceful and happy celebration!
I hope you enjoyed today’s edition of Sounds Of The Season. Please join me again next week as we continue this holiday edition of In The Groove.
Can you believe we are in December already? Chanukah begins in just three days, Christmas is less than three weeks away and a new year is knocking on the door! I love the holidays …. the smell of pine trees, the sight of twinkling lights, the taste of peppermint, the warm feeling of a fireplace, the sound of seasonal songs and the love of family and dear friends. What a joyful time it is.
Welcome to In The Groove: Sounds Of The Season! To help get us in the holiday mood, I thought it would be nice to start our new category with some lovely traditional holiday instrumentals. Light the candles, pour yourself a brandy, a cup of cocoa or a glass of eggnog and snuggle up with your favorite blanket. The music is about to begin.
Now bear in mind …. as is my style, I have prepared a number of videos for you; think of them as the hors d’oeuvres at a holiday party. Sample a video today, perhaps another one tomorrow; they are meant to be viewed and enjoyed throughout the week. However, if you cannot wait and simply must gobble them all up at one sitting, then go right ahead. The choice is yours!
For your relaxing listening pleasure today I have chosen the beautiful sounds of Mantovani.
Annunzio Paolo Mantovani was an Anglo-Italian composer and conductor known for his signature cascading musical string sound. He was born in Venice, Italy in 1905 into a music-oriented family. His father, Benedetto Paolo Mantovani, was a violinist and served as the orchestra concertmaster of La Scala opera house in Milan, under the baton of Arturo Toscanini. The family moved to England in 1912, where young Annunzio studied at Trinity College of Music in London. After graduation, he formed his own orchestra, which played in and around Birmingham. By the time World War II broke out, his orchestra was one of the most popular British dance bands, both on BBC radio broadcasts and in live performances.
Sit back now and enjoy the soothing sound of Mantovani & His Orchestra.
This is “O Tannenbaum” (O Christmas Tree)
“The Christmas Song”
“Christmas Bells”
“O Come All Ye Faithful”
“Sleigh Ride”
“O Holy Night”
What beautiful music to put us in the holiday mood; let’s spread the joy of the season everywhere we go!
Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to meet up with me today. I hope you’ll join me again next Tuesday for more delightful Sounds Of The Seasons here In The Groove.
Stay well and be kind to yourselves and one another.
Since 1934 when the FCC was created, countless recordings have been banned or censored for a variety of reasons, including āprovocative or sexually suggestive lyrics, inciting violence or promoting hate and political or religious beliefs and/or associationsā.
Come with me as I reveal the most powerful number to close out the month. Let’s see which one I saved for last and who made it (in)famous.
Welcome now to the final week of “I’m With the Banned”. I gave much thought to whether I wanted to post this song or not. Surely I could find another song, any song, but this one. But then I realized to exclude this song would be a travesty, another kick in the gut to all those who struggled, fought and died in one of the most disgusting and ignoble ways because all they wanted was to escape slavery, be free and be treated as a human being. This song and the story behind it is compelling and I will not sweep it under the rug or hide it away like so much of our history. It deserves to stand alone which is why it’s the only song I posted today. I beg you to please read the entire post before jumping ahead to the video; what you read may be shocking but the insight I hope you gain will be immeasurable and unforgettable. Thank you.
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Strange Fruit – Billie Holiday
In March 1939, a 23-year-old Billie Holiday walked up to the mic at West 4th’s Cafe Society in New York City to sing her final song of the night. Per her request, the waiters stopped serving and the room went completely black, save for a spotlight on her face. And then she sang softly in her raw and emotional voice: “Southern trees bear strange fruit, Blood on the leaves and blood at the root, Black body swinging in the Southern breeze, Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees…”
When Billie finished, the spotlight turned off. When the lights came back on, the stage was empty. She was gone. And per her request, there was no encore. This was how Billie Holiday performed “Strange Fruit,” which she would determinedly sing for the next 20 years.
“Strange Fruit” was written and composed by Abel Meeropol, a white Jewish communist, teacher and civil rights activist from The Bronx, New York who wrote it first as a poem, then later as a song.
His inspiration? Meeropol came across a 1930 photo that captured the lynching of two black men in Indiana. The visceral image haunted him for days and prompted him to put pen to paper. After he published “Strange Fruit” in a teachers union publication, Meeropol composed it into a song and passed it on to a nightclub owner, who then introduced it to Billie Holiday. She recorded it and it became her signature piece.
Abel Meeropol chose the words “Strange Fruit” to compare the hanging bodies to the fruit of trees. Such lynchings had reached a peak in the southern US at the turn of the 20th century and the vast majority of victims were black. The song has been referred to as “a declaration” and “the beginning of the civil rights movementā.
While civil rights activists and black America embraced “Strange Fruit,” the nightclub scene, which was primarily composed of white patrons, had mixed reactions. At witnessing Billie Holiday’s performance, audience members would applaud wildly, while those less sympathetic would bitterly walk out.
One individual who was determined to silence Billie Holiday was Federal Bureau of Narcotics commissioner Harry Anslinger. A known racist, Anslinger believed that drugs caused black people to overstep their boundaries in American society and that marijuana-smoking black jazz singers created the devil’s music.
When Anslinger forbid Billie to perform “Strange Fruit,” she refused, causing him to devise a plan to destroy her. Knowing that she was a drug user, he had some of his men frame her by selling her heroin. When Billie was caught using the drug, she was thrown into prison for the next year and a half. Upon her release in 1948, federal authorities refused to reissue her cabaret performerās license. Billie Holiday’s nightclub days, which she loved so much, were over.
Before we go any further, let me make something very clear: While it’s true Billie Holiday was a drug addict and an alcoholic, she was in every sense of the word a victim who really didn’t stand much of a chance. Born to unwed teenage parents who didn’t want to be bothered with her, Billie was shuffled around from one “aunt” to another. Her life was predestined for grief, loneliness and hardships from day one and all the fame she realized couldn’t save her from her demons …. or the law. Let’s continue.
In 1959, Billie checked herself into the hospital suffering from heart and lung problems and cirrhosis of the liver due to heavy drinking. She had been a drug addict for a long time and was now in a very bad way. Still Harry Anslinger was ruthlessly relentless. Bent on ruining her, he had his men go to the hospital and handcuff Billie to her bed. The coldhearted Anslinger forbid doctors to offer her further treatment. She died within days. Harry Anslinger accomplished what he set out to do and he killed Billie Holiday in the process.
Despite her tragic demise, Billie Holiday has a lasting legacy in the world of jazz and pop music. She garnered 23 Grammys posthumously and was inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame. Among the many songs that Billie Holiday is celebrated for, “StrangeFruit” will always be one of her defining works. It allowed her to take what was originally an expression of political protest and transform it into a work of art for millions to hear. In 1999 Time magazine designated “Strange Fruit” the “song of the century.”
This is the one and only Billie Holiday performing āStrange Fruitā.
As I often do, I’d like to add a personal note: my parent’s ashes are interred at St. Raymond’s Cemetery in The Bronx, New York. The last time I was there doing some ‘spring cleaning‘, I went in search of my long lost uncle’s gravesite. Reading the names on the headstones, I stopped short and gave a little gasp. There, not more than 15 feet from my parent’s gravesite was Billie Holiday’s grave. I was overcome with such emotion, I cannot put it into words. Just thinking what this woman went through made me feel so incredibly sad. I was standing at the feet of a legend, someone I greatly admired for many years. Billie’s headstone was covered with trinkets, cards, letters and mementos from fans and admirers who come from near and far every day to pay their respects. A cemetery worker told me so many people stop by to leave remembrances, he has to clear off the headstone every other day. The items I saw on her headstone had been dropped off that morning alone. There are bins stacked in a storage room at the cemetery containing all the trinkets left on Billie Holiday’s headstone. What a powerful message that sends to the world.
I took this photo last year while at St. Raymond’s Cemetery. What an incredible morning that was for me. Before leaving, I placed a flower on Billie Holiday’s grave.
This is the final installment of I’m With The Banned. Thank you for reading about these historic songs and artists and for listening to their pivotal messages.
I’ll be back here again Thursday with birthday wishes.
Since 1934 when the FCC was created, countless recordings have been banned or censored for a variety of reasons, including āprovocative or sexually suggestive lyrics, inciting violence or promoting hate and political or religious beliefs and/or associationsā.
The ban on most, if not all of these songs has been lifted; however, in some countries, certain types of music are still banned. They are considered illegal and carry severe penalties if the law is broken. Incredible, isnāt it?
Come join me as I reveal some of these controversial songs, why they were banned and the artists who made them (in)famous.
Eve of Destruction ā Barry McGuire
āEve of Destructionā is a protest song written in 1965 by P.F. Sloan. Several artists have recorded it, but the most popular recording was by Barry McGuire. Here’s an interesting segue and a perfect example of 6Āŗ of separation: McGuire recorded āCalifornia Dreamin‘” for one of his albums on which the Mamas & the Papas sang backup. McGuire is mentioned several times along with John Sebastian of the Lovin’ Spoonful and Roger McGuinn of The Byrds in the Mamas & the Papas hit song āCreeque Alleyā, my favorite song by the M&P. I left the link in case you want to check it out. It’s a very cool song with lots of interesting lyrics that chronicle the events leading up to the 1965 creation of the Mamas and the Papas.
āEve of Destructionā references social issues of its period, including the Vietnam War, the draft, the threat of nuclear war, the civil rights movement, the American space program and turmoil in the Middle East.
The American media helped popularize āEve of Destructionā by using it as an example of everything that was wrong with the youth of that time. Due to its controversial lyrics, some American radio stations claimed it was an aid to the enemy in Vietnam and banned the song. It was also banned by some British radio stations.
As weāve seen since I started this segment, banning did not have a grossly negative impact on the popularity of these controversial songs. In the first week of its release, the single of “Eve of Destruction” was at No. 103 on the Billboard charts. It reached its peak of #37 on the Billboard album chart during the week ending September 25. That same day the single went to #1 on the chart, and repeated the feat on the Cashbox chart, where it had debuted at No. 30. McGuire would never again break into the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100.
Letās listen to that very popular and controversial song from 1965. This is Barry McGuire and āEve of Destructionā:
Hereās an interesting and quirky interview which asks the burning question: āWhatever happened to Barry McGuire?ā
Did you read all the social issues mentioned in the second paragraph of this post? My goodness …. most of those topics are still in the news today! The more things change, the more they stay the same. With a new year just around the corner, let’s hope and pray that we will see safer, happier, healthier and kinder times for our world.
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Ohio – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
CSN&Yās song āOhioā is about the events of May 4, 1970, when the US National Guard shot and killed four unarmed students at Kent State University in Ohio, leaving 9 other students injured. The shootings occurred after several days of confrontations between authorities and protestors against the Vietnam War. Protestors were especially upset that President Richard Nixon, who had called them ”bums”, had announced the expansion of the Vietnam War into Cambodia.
The shootings were the cover story of the May 15 Issue of Life magazine; when Neil Young read the story and saw the photos, he was compelled to write a song about the events.
Bandmate David Crosby recalled: āHe was silent for a long time, then picked up his guitar and 20 minutes later had this songā. All the band members got together to record the song in Los Angeles on May 21. āOhioā was released on June 4, exactly one month after the shootings.
āOhioā became a protest anthem as Americans got fed up with the war in Vietnam. What you hear at the end of the song is David Crosbyās impassioned vocals yelling āwhy?ā and āhow many more?ā His emotion was genuine. āOhioā was a high point for the band. They were reacting to the reality and dealing with it on the highest level they could by being relevant and immediate. The song named names and pointed a finger. In the song, Neil Young likens the National Guard troops to ‘tin soldiers‘ controlled by President Nixon.
On August 4, 1974 when Richard Nixon announced he would be resigning as President, CSN&Y were on tour in New Jersey; they announced the new from the stage before playing āOhioā.
āOhioā was banned by some AM radio stations, including many in the state of Ohio for challenging the Nixon Administration. The song received a great deal of airplay, however, on underground FM stations in bigger cities and in college towns. I remember hearing the song all the time so, once again, so much for banning music. Today the song is played often on classic rock stations. In 2009 āOhioā was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Letās listen now to CSN&Y performing āOhioā.
To all my friends who will be celebrating Thanksgiving this week, I wish you a beautiful day with your loved ones. Be well, my friends. Be safe and keep your families close.
Next Tuesday will be our final edition of I’m With The Banned; in December we will say good bye to all this sturm und drang and welcome in a month of glorious holiday music!
Since 1934 when the FCC was created, countless recordings have been banned or censored for a variety of reasons, including āprovocative or sexually suggestive lyrics, inciting violence or promoting hate and political or religious beliefs and/or associationsā.
The ban on most, if not all of these songs has been lifted; however, in some countries, certain types of music are still banned. They are considered illegal and carry severe penalties if the law is broken. Incredible, isnāt it?
Come join me as I reveal some of these controversial songs, why they were banned and the artists who made them (in)famous.
Creep ā Radiohead
Last month was the 31st anniversary of the debut single release of āCreepā by the English rock band Radiohead. āCreepā is what I like to call an āangst love songā; itās about loving someone who you mean absolutely nothing to, being totally ignored and feeling like a creepy weirdo because you just canāt get that person out of your head.
The original lyrics contain the line āso fucking specialā. Obviously, that wasnāt going to fly with the censors so a cleaned-up version was recorded for radio with the line āso very specialā (which makes me think of Dana Carvey’s “Church Lady” routine on SNL).
I neither like nor dislike Radiohead but this song blew my mind the first time I heard it and I still think it’s a great song. The music is quite sophisticated with unexpected chords and key changes. As far as the lyrics go, I think theyāre brilliant and I have no problem with the curse word. I don’t appreciate gratuitously throwing the F Bombaround so often that it loses its āgravitasā; that is doing a great word a grave injustice. That’s not what’s going on with this song. Sometimes this perfect “mother of all curse words” is a must and everything else either falls short or is overkill.
Letās listen to one of my favorite recordings from the early 90s ā Radiohead performing the uncensored version of āCreepā:
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Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead! ā Ella Fitzgerald
Hold on. Back up.
Am I talking about the 1939 song written by Harold Arlen for The Wizard of Oz? The same song Ella Fitzgerald recorded in 1961?
You bet your sweet Munchkins I am!
If seeing this little ditty on the list of banned songs doesnāt blow your mind, nothing will!
Who would have ever thought āDing-Dong! The Witch Is Deadā would become a #2 hit on the British charts? Well, thatās exactly what happened in the spring of 2013 ā even though the song was banned by the BBC.
Why was this seemingly innocuous song banned, you ask? Well, because of a deliberate campaign in 2013 to boost the song to the top of the charts after the death of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The BBC deemed the song inappropriate because it was āclearly a celebration of death.” And in this case, the BBC was correct!
This is the divine Ella Fitzgerald singing āDing-Dong! The Witch Is Dead!ā
Guess what! We made it through four banned songs since starting up last week and I haven’t heard anyoneās teeth fall out yet! Now honestly, it hasn’t been that bad, has it? š¬
And I’ll let you in on a little secret: today you heard the only curse word you will hear for the remainder of this segment. The songs I have planned for the coming two weeks will stand on their powerful message alone without the need of expletives …. and they are very powerful songs.
Itās my goal here in The Rhythm Section to always entertain and inform ā¦. never to offend. To that end, I hope I was successful in bringing you some good entertainment today.
I’ll be back here in two days for Birthday Thursdays; I hope you’ll stop by to see who we’re celebrating this week.
Since 1934 when the FCC was created, countless recordings have been banned or censored for a variety of reasons, including āprovocative or sexually suggestive lyrics, inciting violence or promoting hate and political or religious beliefs and/or associationsā.
The ban on most, if not all of these songs has been lifted; however, in some countries, certain types of music are still banned. They are considered illegal and carry severe penalties if the law is broken. Incredible, isnāt it?
Come join me as I reveal some of these controversial songs, why they were banned and the artists who made them (in)famous.
A Day In The Life ā The Beatles
This song is the final track on the Beatles 1967 album āSgt. Pepperās Lonely Hearts Club Band”, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. It became controversial and ultimately banned for its supposed references to drugs. On May 20, 1967, during the BBC Light Programmeās preview of the Sgt. Pepper album, disc jockey Kenny Everett was prevented from playing “A Day in the Life”. The BBC announced that it would not broadcast the song due to the line “I’d love to turn you on”, which, according to the corporation, advocated drug use.
Other lyrics allegedly referring to drugs include “found my way upstairs and had a smoke /somebody spoke and I went into a dream“. A spokesman for the BBC stated: “We have listened to this song over and over again and we have decided that it appears to go just a little too far and could encourage a permissive attitude to drug-taking.
Lennon and McCartney denied that there were drug references in “A Day in the Life” and publicly complained about the ban at a dinner party at the home of their manager, Brian Epstein, where they were celebrating their album’s release. Lennon said that the song was simply about “a crash and its victimā and called the line in question “the most innocent of phrases”.
Iām going to let you decide for yourselves. Here is the phenomenal āA Day in the Lifeā by the Beatles:
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Brown Eyed Girl ā Van Morrison
Our second featured song was written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison in March 1967. It was released as a single in June of the same year, peaking at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
āBrown Eyed Girlā spent a total of 16 weeks on the charts and is considered to be Morrisonās signature song. We all know it and love it. Why would a song like this get put on the banned list?
Well, what some people may not know is the original name of this masterpiece was āBrown Skinned Girlā and was about an interracial couple ā apparently a very big no-no to the censorship board back then. The title was changed by Morrison because he thought it would make it more āradio friendlyā, and it did; when you listen to the words of this song, there isnāt a hint about a mixed-race couple. Some stations banned the songās line āMaking love in the green grassā; an edited version was eventually released, altering the line to ālaughināand a-runninā, hey, hey.ā
What a bunch of hooey balooey!
Van Morrison has been a favorite of mine for a long time and I love his work; this delightful song is no exception. Letās listen now to āBrown Eyed Girlā by Sir Van Morrison.
Now that wasn’t so bad for my new category and probably not exactly what you expected, was it? I wonder how many of you got nervous when you saw the word ‘BANNED’! No need.
Here’s the thing: I could have gone with any debauched and salacious video on YouTube; there are plenty to choose from but that’s not what The Rhythm Section is about. Iām no stranger to cursing; when done by a master such as George Carlin it is an art-form. Disgusting, non-stop gutter talk, such as demonstrated by Andrew Dice Clay, is just boring filth and totally necessary. When cursing, one needs to paint with a fine brush, placing every word precisely where it belongs. The result is magical ā¦ and often hysterical. No, I will never pooh-pooh the appropriate use of foul language.
The objective here is to be entertained and to learn about and listen to music that has been banned for social, religious or political issues …. not to look at naked private parts swinging in the breeze. Let’s keep that private, shall we?
Thanks for joining me today for the first installment of Iām With The Banned. Iād love to know what you thought of today’s post and these two (in)famous songs. Join me next Tuesday for two more.
Time to head on outta here before the Feds come looking for me!
During the late 1960s and early 1970s a new musical genre was developed. It kicked in the door of the music world and turned into a phenomenon that is still going strong some 50 years later. There are no obvious signs of it slowing down any time soon. In case you didnāt get the hint from my new header image, Iām talking about heavy metal!
Can I play with madness? I think after today you will have to agree that I definitely can.
Say “hello” to my little friend. This is Eddie, the official mascot for our next group. Eddie is a perennial fixture of the group’s artwork, appearing on all their album covers and merchandise, which includes T-shirts, posters and action figures. Eddie, AKA Eddie the Head, made his debut February 8, 1980. Eddie says “Happy Halloween!! You want a trick or a treat??” ā ļø
Welcome back, my brave friends, to the final installment of In The Groove: Metal Madness! Let me see a show of hands; how many of you have stayed with me all month? Ah, I see quite a few metal heads out there! Excellent!
Now I’m sure you’ve been asking yourself all week “I wonder what Nancy has up her Sicilian sleeve for today? Who could she possibly have in mind for the final day of Metal Madness?”
That, my lovely metal heads, is an excellent question and I took my responsibility to you very seriously. I promise, no Sicilian Curveballs will be thrown today. There’s only one metal group I can think of who deserves to be included in this final countdown (that was not a clue) and that group is
English heavy metal band Iron Maiden was formed in Leyton, East London, on Christmas Day in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Although fluid in the early years of the band, the line-up for most of the band’s history has consisted of Harris, lead vocalist Bruce Dickinson, drummer Nicko McBrain and guitarists Dave Murray, Adrian Smith and Janick Gers.
As pioneers of the new wave of British heavy metal, Iron Maiden released a series of UK and US Platinum and Gold albums, including 1980’s debut album, 1981’s Killers and 1982’s The Number of the Beast ā its first album with Bruce Dickinson as lead vocalist (replacing Paul Di’Anno). The addition of Dickinson was a turning point in their career, establishing them as one of heavy metal’s most important bands. The Number of the Beast is among the most popular heavy metal albums of all time, having sold more than 20 million copies worldwide.
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 thatās 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 Maiden has 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, Bill and I hired a babysitter for our boys and drove into Manhattan for 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 didn’t have a chance to see B.K. (Before Kids).
The concert tour was called Beast On the Road and the two groups were Judas Priest (remember them from last week?) and Iron Maiden. It was incredible and this is how it went down:
Here now are some classic Iron Maiden tunes. As Iāve been saying since week one, listen to one or listen to them all ā itās totally your call here In The Groove.
You might want to settle in and get comfy for this last one; it’s a bit lengthy. It’s my personal favorite and it’s called “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” based on the poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge written in 1834. If you’re unfamiliar with the poem, I hope you’ll read it some time. Here is a link: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43997/the-rime-of-the-ancient-mariner-text-of-1834
Thatās the way it is with heavy metal and groups like Iron Maiden; you canāt stop at just one!
Farewell to October and to a month of Metal Madness. I can’t tell you how much this site means to me; it’s a labor of love and each week I try to leave a little piece of myself on the page. It’s hard work coming up with something new and exciting week after week; I love it and I hope that love shows in what I do.
Thanks for hanging with me; youāre one of the reasons I do these posts. The other reason is me; I do this because it brings me joy. And what better reason could I possibly have?
The month-long heavy metal party is over, kids, and you have shown that you can indeed play with madness! š¤š½
Join me next Tuesday for a new month and the start of something completely different.
During the late 1960s and early 1970s a new musical genre was developed. It kicked in the door of the music world and turned into a phenomenon that is still going strong some 50 years later. There are no obvious signs of it slowing down any time soon. In case you didnāt get the hint from my new header image, Iām talking about heavy metal!
Last week you will recall I concluded my segment on the “unholy trinity” of heavy metal music with two weeks still remaining. Well, you should know by now that I will never leave you hanging! I have prepared something special for the final two weeks of October ā two banging groups who can hold their own quite nicely against the likes of Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple. Let’s take a look at my selection for week four.
Formed in Birmingham, England in 1969, Judas Priest is one of the most influential heavy metal groups of all time, emerging at the dawn of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Decked out in leather and chains, the band combined the gothic doom of Black SabbathĀ and blazing speed of Led ZeppelinĀ with the inventive art rock of Queen consistently powered by the dynamic banshee wail of Rob HalfordĀ and the vicious dual lead guitar attack of Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing. You read that right ā two lead guitars, a first!
Priest set the pace for heavy metal from 1975 until 1985 with iconic albums like British Steel (1980), Screaming for Vengeance (1982) and Defenders of the Faith (1984) and helped lay the groundwork for speed and death metal. The group struggled after Halfordās departure in the early ’90s but was restored to prominence in the 2000s upon his return. The only voice I want to hear with Priest is Halford.
Judas Priest was inducted into the Hall of HeavyMetal History at the WackenĀ festival in August 2018, were they were thanked “for the decades of hard work and dedication to heavy metal, an art form they helped establish.”
In May 2022, it was announced that the band was to be among the 2022 inductee class for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as the recipients of the “Award for Musical Excellence”
Iāve written more than enough and I’m sure you’re tired of reading! Itās time for some Priest! Here are a few of my favorite Judas Priest songs. As Iāve been saying since week one, listen to one or listen to all ā itās totally your call here In The Groove.
Get ready, kids. It’s time to go to church! Here is Judas Priest!
Finally, the song that would become an instant hit, making Judas Priest a household name, and going on to be one of the bandās most beloved staples …. from their 1980 album British Steel, here is Judas Priestās first major hit, Living After Midnightā.
Thatās the way it is with heavy metal and groups like Judas Priest; you canāt stop at just one!
We’re getting down to the wire, gang; I wonder if you have any idea who’s waiting in the wings as my next hot choice for the final week of October. Boy, time sure does fly here In The Groove!
Thanks for hanging with me week after week; you’re the reason I do these posts. I’d love to hear who you think is scheduled for next week. Leave a comment naming the group you think should be included in this segment, then we’ll see who got it right.
Join me next week; the partyās just about over! š¤š¼
During the late 1960s and early 1970s a new musical genre developed into a phenomenon that is still going strong some 50 years later and shows no sign of slowing down. In case you didnāt get the hint from my new header image, Iām talking about heavy metal!
Today Iām featuring the final group from theĀ āunholy trinityā,Ā a band that has been my go-to metal group since it’s inception. There has always been something very special about this favorite group of mine ā whether it’s the incredible vocals, the blistering guitar or even just the name itself, I was and still am a big fan. You’ll soon see why I feel as I do.
Bill and I got to see these guyson October 22, 1971 in the Felt Forum which was the theatre inside Madison Square Garden. We saw a lot of groups at the Forum but the night of October 22 was memorable. Earlier in the day while I was out with my parents, our house was burglarized. I recounted the incident on my website; the story is called “Poor Althea’s Boy” ā https://theelephantstrunk.org/2023/08/17/poor-altheas-boy/
On the ride into Manhattan for the concert, I found my mind drifting back to just a few hours earlier when we discovered the house had been burglarized. There’s a dreadful sense of losing control, deeply unsettling feeling of being violated attached to a crime in your home, your safe place. Uninvited people were in our house, going through our personal property. To say it’s disconcerting is putting it mildly. Thank goodness no one was home at the time except the first floor tenant and he heard nothing nor was he harmed in anyway. He had his headphones on and was completely oblivious to what was going on upstairs.
I asked my parents if they wanted me to stay home with them that night; they said no, the police had everything covered. I was relieved; I needed a diversion, something magical to take my mind off the break-in.
Deep Purplewas just the ticket.
Deep Purple got its start in London in 1968. Originally formed as a psychedelic and progressive rock band, the group shifted to a heavier sound in 1970 with their album “Deep Purple In Rock”. In the early to mid-seventies, Deep Purple had been referred to as āBritainās hardest and heaviest metal groupā and was listed in the 1975 Guinness Book of World Records as āthe globeās loudest bandā for a 1972 concert at Londonās Rainbow Theatre. To date the band has sold more than 100 million albums.
Just like any other band who has endured the test of time and is still touring today, Deep Purplehas had multiple reincarnations. For me, these members formed the greatest lineup: Ritchie Blackmore consistently at the helm as lead guitarist; Jon Lord (keyboard, strings), Roger Glover (bass, 1969-1973) followed by Glenn Hughes (bass, 1973-1976), Ian Gillan (lead vocals, 1969-1973) followed by David Coverdale (lead vocals, 1973-1976) and Ian Paice (drums); original members Ian Gillan, Roger Glover and Ian Paice are still with the band in concert today.
In no particular order, here are some of my favorite songs. Listen to any, listen to all; each one is great!
This is Deep Purple!
Now for the mother of all Deep Purple songs.
On December 4, 1971, Deep Purplewas in Montreux, Switzerland to record the album āMachine Headā. On the eve of the recording session, a concert with Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention was held in the casinoās theatre. This was the theatreās final concert before the complex closed down for its annual winter renovations, which would allow DeepPurple to record there. At the beginning of the Mothersāsynthesizer solo on āKing Kongā, the place caught fire when “someone stupid” in the audience fired a flare gun towards the rattan-covered ceiling. Although there were no major injuries, the resulting fire destroyed the entire casino complex, along with all the Mothersā equipment. Here is the retelling of that night’s events ā a saga set to music.
This is “Smoke on the Water”.
Thatās the way it is with heavy metal and groups like Deep Purple; you canāt stop at just one!
I hope you enjoyed this edition of Metal Madness featuring the last member of the “unholy trinity”.
But wait! Something doesn’t add up!
Today’s edition covered the third Tuesday in October; what about weeks four and five? Well, have no fear; I am prepared! I will be stepping outside the realm of the “unholy trinity” next Tuesday; please join me to see who I’ve chosen for Week #4. I think you’ll agree it’s a good fit. š¤š½
Thanks for reading my posts and for being a great audience and good sports. I look forward to catching up with you again next week.
During the late 1960s and early 1970s a new musical genre developed into a phenomenon that is still going strong some 50 years later and shows no sign of slowing down. In case you didnāt get the hint from my new header image, Iām talking about heavy metal!
Today Iām featuring another group from the āunholy trinityā, a band Bill and I got to see for the first time in November, 1970 at the Fillmore East. You may recall I mentioned the Fillmore last week but if you are not familiar with the venue, please Google it; that place was the spot to be, especially for groups just starting out. We spent many a Friday or Saturday night there watching group after group, acts ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Cat Stevens, Vanilla Fudge to The Who. There were usually three to four bands each night doing two sets each and our tickets were good for the whole night. We often say it would be easier for us to make a list of groups we havenāt seen than those we have seen. The Fillmore East was a fabulous place for us …. an up close and personal introduction into the world of music!
Now it’s time to talk a little about our next group; I promise, this won’t take long. Brace yourselves, kids, and summon all your courage. The madness continues with group #2 on the list: Black Sabbath.
Sabbathwas formed in Birmingham, England in 1968 by guitarist Toni Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler and vocalist Ozzy Osborne. Like so many young guys from that time period, they were looking to escape a life of factory work through music. They got their start in such bands as the psychedelic Rare Breed and Mythology. Influenced by the reigning British rock and blues bands of Led Zeppelin, Cream and John Mayallās Bluesbreakers, our four enterprising guys formed Earth Blues Company (shortened to Earth) in 1968. Then, as Black Sabbath, the group helped define the heavy metal music genre early in its career with the release of albums such as the eponymous Black Sabbath (1970), Paranoid (1971) and Master of Reality (1971).
Black Sabbath has sold over 75 million records worldwide, making the group one of the most commercially successful metal bands. They were ranked by MTV as the āGreatest Metal Band of All Timeā and placed 2nd on VH1ās list of ā100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rockā. Black Sabbathwas inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2019 the band was presented a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Ok, boys and girls, itās time for a little less conversation and a lot more action. My Sabbathplaylist is primed and ready; are you? Listen to any, listen to all; each one is great!
From the group’s second studio LP, āParanoidā, this is āIron Manā:
Are you game for a couple more? As I said before, listen to as many or as few as you like; we’re here to have fun!
Now for a little change of pace. Break out your cigarette lighters for our last one …. the softer side of Sabbath. This is “Changes”. āš¼
That’s the way it is with heavy metal music and groups like Black Sabbath; you can’t stop at just one!
I hope you enjoyed this edition of Metal Madness. Please join me next week for the third member of the “unholy trinity”. Are you having fun yet, gang? The party’s really heating up now! š¤š½ š„
During the late 1960s and early 1970s, a new musical genre was developed. It kicked in the door of the music world and turned into a phenomenon that is still going strong some 55 years later. And there are no obvious signs of it slowing down any time soon. In case you didnāt get the hint from my subtle new header image, Iām talking about heavy metal! š¤š¼
We all know what it is: a genre of rock music that developed largely in the United Kingdom and United States with roots in blues rock, acid rock and psychedelic rock. Metal bands created a thick, monumental sound characterized by distorted guitars, extended guitar solos, emphatic beats and loudness.
WHAT?? Oh, I think I know what you’re trying to say, Mr. Wikipedia ā
In other words, heavy metal crashes through the safety of your walls, grabs you by the throat, flips you around like a rag doll, tosses you upside down onto the Helter Skelter for a few spins at Mach 3.3, drags you off by your hair, straddles you and screams in your face āHEAR ME!ā, then slams you down Centerstage Row A without any sissy earplugs where you stand dripping in blood, sweat and tears, wonky legs barely supporting you, arms extended, fingers shaped like š¤š¼ as your heart races frantically inside your chest like John Bonham on speed, your head starting to erupt into a trillion bits and, like Ozzy, you howl at the moon āAll aboard! This is bloody freakinā awesome!!ā
Get the picture? Good. Now let’s get this show on the road!
In 1968 three of the genreās most famous pioneers were founded. Often referred to as the āunholy trinityā, their hope was to attract wide audiences with their musical message; they were often misunderstood and ridiculed by critics. That didnāt stop them.
That same year, March of 1968, Bill and I met on a blind date. The following week for our second date, we went to the concert mecca of the Lower East Side of Manhattan ā the Fillmore East. It was our first time there and the start of a long run of concerts. Ten months later we saw a relatively unknown group at the Fillmore who would go on to become one of the greatest bands of all time. That band is the group I’m featuring today in Metal Madness.
Between 1968 and 1977 ā the period known as B.K. (Before Kids) ā Bill and I saw the āunholy trinityā as well as many other groups, multiple times. Back then, even the good seats were cheap and we were always in one of the first three rows. I laughingly remember the night Robert Plant tossed back his magnificent mane of blonde curls and rained droplets of sweat on us. It was fabulous!
Allow me now to delve a little deeper into our first group in Metal Madness: Led Zeppelin.
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 āthe heaviest band of all timeā, āthe biggest band of the 70sā, and āunquestionably one of the most enduring bands in rock historyā. Led Zeppelin was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1995; the museumās biography of the band states that they were āas influential during the 1970s as the Beatles were during the 1960sā. Thatās quite a statement.
For me listening to these great songs is like eating potato chips; I can’t eat just one! I have several video selections for you today. Listen to any, listen to all; the choice is yours and each one is great!
Ok, no more talking; itās time for some music. And if you look hard enough, you just might spot me in the audience!
I’d like to close with what I consider to be an indelible moment in time ā Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart performing at the Kennedy Center in a concert honoring Led Zeppelin. This is no hype; you’ll know what I mean when you see the reaction from the honorees watching from the best seats in the house. The song is one you all know; it has been called “the single-most important and celebrated song Led Zeppelin ever recorded”.
This is “Stairway To Heaven”.
That’s the way it is with heavy metal and groups like Led Zeppelin; you can’t stop at just one!
I hope you enjoyed your first ride on the Metal Madness Express. Thanks for being here! I’d love to know your thoughts so kindly leave a comment.
Please join me right here next week for an introduction to the second group in the “unholy trinity”. Can you guess who it is? You don’t want to miss it; I’m just warming up! š„ š¤š¼
āMotown was about music for all people ā white and black, blue and green, cops and the robbers. I was reluctant to have our music alienate anyone.ā ā Berry Gordy, Motown Founder
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Welcome back to In The Groove: Motown Melodies!
It’s the last Tuesday of September ā time to conclude our musical journey in the Motor City. I’ve chosen to start today’s segment with a 1963 high octane hit by another incredible girl group that you’re all sure to know.
Is it my imagination or is it getting hot in here?
āHeat Waveā was written by the songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland and was first made popular by the group āMartha and the Vandellasā. 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 Williamsā departure in ā61. During their nine-year run from 1963-1972, āMartha and the Vandellasā 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.
āHeat Waveā was one of the first songs to exemplify the style of music later termed as the āMotown Soundā. Here are Martha and the Vandellas performing their 1963 hit, āHeat Waveā.
What a great song by a terrific group ā the epitome of that legendary āMotown Soundā that still sounds fresh and new today.
I have a few more dimes left for the jukebox; let’s punch up a couple more hits by “the girls”.
Wow! What a great bunch of songs! Iāve been loving listening to the Motown girl groups; how about you? Please leave a comment and let me know your thoughts about these great Motown hits.
Another month is in the books, kids. Thanks for movinā and groovinā with me to the greatest sounds to come out of the Motor City! š
Be sure to join me here next Tuesday as we dive into a brand new category for October. What will it be? All I can say is you don’t wanna miss it. We’re flying to England where we’ll be kicking it up and raising some hell!
āMotown was about music for all people ā white and black, blue and green, cops and the robbers. I was reluctant to have our music alienate anyone.ā ā Berry Gordy, Motown Founder
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Welcome back to In The Groove: Motown Melodies!
Letās continue our musical journey with Motownās third R&B #1 hit.
In 1960, Berry Gordy signed a talented group of vocalists called The Contours as one of Motown’s first acts. āDo You Love Me?ā, recorded in 1962, was TheContours 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 āDirty Dancingā.
This record is not just a big hit; itās an enduring classic thatās still going strong!
Letās give a listen to TheContours asking an age-old question: āDo You Love Me?ā
For straight up Rock & Roll, it doesnāt get much better than that! I was just a kid when that song came out. My sister was a high school sophomore; she and her friends would jump up and dance every time The Contours came on the radio. They wouldn’t let me join in their teenage fun but that didn’t stop me. I made my own good times … dancing in my bedroom in front of the mirror with the door closed so no one could see me!
Do you remember dancing to that great Motown hit?
Well, sixty years later, under the direction and leadership of the group’s founder, Joe Billingslea, The Contours continue to shake ’em down. During its distinguished career, the group has entertained tens of millions of fans and sold millions of records along the way. The Contours are ranked as one of the top 500 R&B artists of all time according to “Top R&B Singles 1952-1995″ compiled from Billboard Magazine’s charts.
Let’s see what other recordings I can come up with for The Contours.
And now here’s a rare clip; if you haven’t been dancing yet, this is one that’ll get you moving!
I hope you’ve been enjoying these great early Motown tunes; they sure have brought back a lot of memories for me. Your comments are always welcome so let me know what you’re thinking.
Thanks for stopping by today; please join me next Tuesday as we conclude this segment of In The Groove with more great sounds out of theĀ Motor City. š
āMotown was about music for all people ā white and black, blue and green, cops and the robbers. I was reluctant to have our music alienate anyone.ā – Berry Gordy, Motown Founder
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Welcome back to In The Groove: Motown Melodies!
Letās continue our musical journey with Motownās first great girl group ā high school friends Gladys Horton, Katherine Anderson, Georgeanna Tillman and Wanda Young ā also known as the Marvelettes. Gladys, the groupās lead singer, was only 15 years old; what were you doing when you were 15?
Founded in 1960, the group signed to Motownās Tamla label in 1961. Some of their early hits were written by the groupās members and a couple of Motownās rising singer/songwriters, Smokey Robinson and Marvin Gaye (who played drums on a majority of their early recordings).
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 ceased performing together in 1969. The group disbanded for good in 1970.
āPlease Mr. Postmanā, recorded in 1961, was one of the first #1 singles by an all-female vocal group and the first by a Motown recording act. It is easily Motownās best single to date ā a song with a killer tune, a sound like nothing else out there and a lyrical hook which listeners around the world instantly latched on to.
Here now the fantastic sound of āPlease Mr. Postmanā by the Marvelettesā:
Not bad for a group of teenage high school girls! I repeat, what were you doing when you were 15 years old?
Let’s check out the Marvelettes’ discography and listen to a couple more of their hits. This next one has always been a personal favorite. š
I hope you enjoyed today’s Motown sounds of the Marvelettes; it’s difficult to resist the urge to get up and dance!
Thanks for being here with me, movinā and groovinā to some great Motown Melodies; please join me next Tuesday for more terrific sounds out of theĀ Motor City.š
Above the front windows of Motown Records’ Detroit headquarters was a sign that read “Hitsville U.S.A.” Placed there by Motown founder Berry Gordy soon after his company moved into the modest home on W. Grand Blvd, the sign demonstrated Gordy’s blazing self-confidence. At the time that sign wasnāt much more than wishful thinking. Then the wishes started coming true.
Founded on Jan. 12, 1959, Motown quickly became another Detroit factory; where the Big Three produced automobiles, Motown assembled the soul and pop classics that changed America. There’s no exaggeration in that statement. Arriving at the height of the civil rights movement, Motown was a black-owned, black-centered business that gave white America something they just could not get enough of ā joyous, sad, romantic, mad, movin’, groovinā music.
A former boxer and automobile worker, Berry Gordy was a budding songwriter when, at the urging of Smokey Robinson, he decided to establish Motown Records. The two had become friends years earlier and Robinson, who was the lead singer of a band called TheMiracles, produced, wrote, and sang several of Motown’s most memorable hits ā including the label’s first smash song, “Shop Around” in 1960. A year later, “Please Mr. Postman,” by The Marvelettes, was the label’s first No. 1 song. It would not be the last.
The Motown Sound has something extra-special about it. Berry Gordy 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 couldn’t put your finger on it, when a Motown song came on, you knew it. Still do.
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Welcome to In The Groove: Motown Melodies! Letās start our musical journey for September with The Miraclesā first smash hit ā a song about a mother giving advice to her grown son on how to find a woman worthy of being a girlfriend or wife. From 1960, written by Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy, hereās āShop Aroundā by The Miracles.
That was the timeless sound of classic Motown ā still fresh and fabulous 63 years later! I’ve got a bunch of dimes for the jukebox; let’s listen to a few more from TheMiracles:
Turn the lights way down low; it’s ‘slow-dancin’ and romancin’ time. This one was my first.
Five teenaged friends from Detroit formed TheMiracles in 1955; ten years later the group would be known as Smokey Robinson and theMiracles. The group and its music has had an incredible impact, influencing scores of artists from many different musical genres around the globe. The original lineup has consistently been praised by critics in major music magazines and has received numerous honors and awards for its contributions to the music industry.
I hope you enjoyed the first installment of In The Groove: Motown Melodies; I’d love to read your comments. Please join me here every Tuesday in September for more terrific sounds out of the Motor City. š
It was great fun movin’ and groovin’ with you today!
Well, I started In The Groove with a George Harrison song; itās only fitting that I end this segment of The Rhythm Section with the group who has given me so much joy the majority of my life.
The entire medley is 16.41 minutes long with several short breaks. To enjoy the entire piece, listen through all the breaks until The End … literally.
“Now for you youngsters out there, here they are, live on our stage …. The Beatles!”
I’m not even going to comment on that medley; no need.
This month I was busy working on a revamped format for In The Groove; I had a great time putting it together and I think you’ll enjoy what you see and hear. Thatās all Iām prepared to say at this point; just come back next week to find out what it’s all about. I think you’re gonna like it!
Thanks for your participation and great comments these past six months; you’re a terrific audience!
That’s it for now, kids; catch you right here next Tuesday.
What can I say about Frank Sinatra? Enough to fill a book, and there are plenty of bios written about Frank. The song I have selected for you today is not Sinatraās signature piece, āMy Wayā, nor is it one of his tributes to New York or Chicago.
Nope, I decided to go with one of Frank’s songs that has some real grit to it, a great little melancholy number with a sad story attached. And I chose this song specifically to show off Sinatra’s acting chops.
Most of you know that Sinatra starred in quite a few movies but did you know he won an Oscar for his performance in “From Here To Eternity”? Today’s song perfectly showcases Frank’s Oscar-winning acting ability. Have I given you enough clues to guess which song I’m talking about? It’s the legendary “One For My Baby”, written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer and first recorded by Frank in 1947.
In the video you’re about to see, Frank is singing live in front of hundreds of people and yet he manages to turn the song into an intimate conversation. Here now is the one and only Frank Sinatra performing āOne For My Babyā live at Royal Festival Hall in London.
Just a man pouring out his heart to his confidant … a bartender named Joe. This is the consummate showman, putting 100% of himself into his songs, transforming each one into a musical vignette. In my book he was pretty great!
Now for the easy-peasy question of the day:
What is your favorite Frank Sinatra song?
Share a comment or a video, if you like. For me it’s “Nancy“, of course! The song, written in 1942 and recorded by Frank in 1944, was originally called “Bessie (With the Laughing Face)”; the name change was inspired by Frank’s daughter, Nancy Sinatra.
When I was a kid, I thought Frank was singing this one just for me. āŗļø
Thatās it for today In The Groove, my friends. It’s always a blast spending Tuesdays with you!
Joe Cocker is the perfect example of people judging a book by its cover. I think we all felt the same way about his disheveled appearance and quirky mannerisms (and who could ever forget John Belushi’s impersonations on SNL?) but once he opened his mouth and started singing, all doubts flew out the window. He was one of the most memorable performers; just watching him, you knew he was āin the zoneā when he was singing. He was a terrific artist and one of the few who actually did Beatles covers exceptionally well. For that alone, I give Joe an A+!
Today Iām featuring a song he did at Woodstock, his iconic and memorable rendition of āWith A Little Help From My Friendsā.
Here is the late, great Joe Cocker. Enjoy!
I can say without a doubt this is my favorite Beatles cover; in fact, Iāll take that one step further and say I like Joeās version better than The Beatles’ (and thatās not something I say very often!).
Whatās your opinion? Howād you like this version? Are you a Joe Cocker fan?
Thatās it for today In The Groove. Catch you next week with another great vid.
Take one singer, add one acoustic guitar, mix together and come up with the most talked-about Country video of 2006.
āStayā was recorded by the country duo of Jennifer Nettles (lead vocals) and Kristian Bush (vocals, guitar, mandolin) who together made up the group āSugarlandā.
The heartbreak in Nettlesā distinct voice [sprinkled liberally with a heavy Georgia accent] coupled with tightly clenched fists and tears spilling from her eyes make this number more than a song; it’s a performance. She plays the role of a distraught woman asking her man to stay with her and not run off to his lover whenever she calls.
āStayā reached a peak position of #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts where it stayed for four weeks. The song, written solely by Jennifer Nettles, was ranked #10 on CMTās 100 Greatest Videos.
Listen, watch and see for yourself why this video is so talked-about. Here is āSugarlandā doing āStayā.
“I’ve given you my best, why does she get the best of you?” What a great line that is!
When I first saw this video and heard the sorrow in Jennifer Nettlesā voice, I felt like I was intruding on something extremely painful and personal. I couldnāt look away; her grief is very real and very raw. The subject of betrayal is something everyone can relate to,
Hereās the question of the day; there are no right or wrong answers and every answer is a good one.
Music touches us in so many different ways; it can bring us great joy or terrible sadness. Can you think of a song or video that affects you profoundly.
My answer is the Italian song “Caruso” by Lucio Dalla. The music is heartbreakingly beautiful and Dalla’s voice is desperate with grief.
I’d love to see your comments so please share your thoughts or simply post a video.
Have a great week; I’ll catch you next time In The Groove.
Today I am featuring works from the solo career of the extremely prolific Paul McCartney.
Iād like to share with you two McCartney songs which really impressed me. The first one is called āDonāt Let the Sun Catch You Cryingā which is done very much in the style of a jazzy Billy Joel. This is NOT the Gerry and the Pacemakers’ hit we all know and love. Written in 1946 by Joe Greene, this number is included on the 1990 LP by McCartney called āTripping the Live Fantastic.“
The second song is a piece entitled āUsed To Be Badā which harkens back to the sounds of The Steve Miller Band and ZZ Top (not surprising since it was co-written by McCartney and Miller). This one is a bluesy number which keeps going from start to finish and can be found on McCartney’s 1997 āFlaming Pieā LP. Upon its release, the time was ripe for McCartney to deliver an album steeped in Beatles lore and thatās exactly what he claimed āFlaming Pieā was all about.Ā
For your listening enjoyment, here now is the one and only Macca with two very different-sounding pieces.
So, whatād you think of the ex-Beatle turned jazzy blues piano man?
The only question for today is which one of these songs you liked the best.
I hope you enjoyed hearing a little Macca today; in all honesty, I’m really not a fan of Paul’s solo work but I did like these two. I’m casting my vote for the funky blues sound of “Used to Be Bad”.
Please join me next week for another edition of In The Groove. Enjoy the rest of your week and all the upcoming music here on The Rhythm Section!
Do you think Janis Joplin ever once contemplated the possibility that 53 years after her death people like me would be writing about her and millions more would be listening to her music? It seems highly unlikely to me yet here we are.
Janis was a loner, a misfit who marched to the beat of her own drum. As a teenager, she befriended a group of outcasts, one of whom had albums by blues artists Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey and Lead Belly which she later credited with influencing her decision to become a singer.
In 1966, Joplin’s bluesy vocal style attracted the attention of the San Francisco-based psychedelic rock band Big Brother and the Holding Company which had gained some renown among the hippie community of Haight Ashbury; she was recruited to join the group.
And the rest is history.
I was fortunate to see Janis Joplin perform in person several times; itās difficult to compare her to any other performer Iāve ever seen; she was two different people when on stage. She had a powerful and commanding voice. She was focused and uninhibited. She was a dynamic force to be reckoned with. But when her song was over she was transformed into a little girl who was surprised and delighted that people liked her and her songs. For a few seconds “Pearlā was gone … the nickname Joplin gave herself for the hard-talking, ballsy barfly image she so often took on as her protective strategy against feeling vulnerable … and Janis was back.
As many of us are now going through the dog days of Summer, I thought it would be appropriate to play Janis Joplinās well-known interpretation of George Gershwinās āSummertimeā from āPorgy and Bessā. Let’s listen.
Another lost soul searching for answers. As always, I’m happy to read your comments so please share your thoughts.
Thanks for spending this dog day afternoon of summer with me getting your groove on. I look forward to catching up with you next week. Until then, let’s just call it a wrap.
We celebrated my Dadās birthday the other day. He was born 108 years ago in the town of Cattolica Eraclea in the Province of Agrigento in Sicily. Dad was incredibly proud of his heritage and instilled that pride in me. He loved music, mostly Italian opera, traditional Italian songs and American standards; there was always something playing on our radio or stereo.
Well, Dadās been gone almost 25 years (d. August 1, 1998), but I can still hear him singing along to this song.
Happy Birthday, Dad! This one’s for you!
This is Domenico Modugno singing his Grammy Award-winning song from 1958, āVolareā.
Now thatās singing with heart and soul. As my dad would say, āPerfetto!ā
If youād like to know more about Domenico Modugno or āVolareā, all the facts are available on Wikipedia, but donāt look anything up until after youāve read the question of the day.
This is for youtrivia buffs or Baby Boomers out there. Let’s see what you got!
In 1960 an 18-year-old out of Philadelphia had a HUGE hit with āVolareā. Can you name this famous Philadelphian?
As usual, the answer is given below and this time there’s a bonus video.
I hope you enjoyed my little trip down memory lane. Debās flying in tomorrow; who knows whereās sheās going to land this time? Stay tuned!
Shall we have a listen to one of the best set of pipes to come out of Philly? Here is Bobby Rydell singing his version of “Volare”; I know which one my dad preferred. How about you?
Hang on, kids. Weāre taking that magic train to Chicago! š
Today I chose “25 or 6 to 4”, Chicago’s signature song, for four simple reasons:
I fell in love with Chicago’s sound the minute I heard them
Singer Peter Cetera has one of the best rock voices around
Any rock band that has a badass horn section is aces in my book
There’s some crazy wicked good guitar playing action going on here
Written in 1969 by Robert Lamm, one of Chicagoās seven founding members, the curious title of “25 or 6 to 4” refers to the specific time of day when the song was composed. Opening lyrics: āWaiting for the break of dayā ā at 25 or 26 minutes to 4 AM (that is, 3:35 or 3:34 AM). No (implied) psychedelic mystery; itās really as simple as that. š
Peter Cetera sang lead on this track ā despite his jaw being wired shut. A few months before the recording session, the band went to a baseball game at Dodger Stadium, where their hometown team, the Chicago Cubs, beat the Dodgers, leaving four marines angry and ready to take their aggression out on someone. That someone was Cetera, who was singled out by his long hair as much as his team loyalty. The ensuing brawl sent him to intensive care with his jaw broken in three places. When it came time to record the song, Ceteraās jaw was still wired shut! You’d never know by listening to him here.
From 1970, Ā here is Chicago doing their signature song, ā25 or 6 to 4ā featuring Peter Cetera on bass and lead vocals and Terry Kath ripping it up on lead guitar.
Yeah, baby! Thatās how you play the guitar! šø
In 1969, while Robert Lamm was working on today’s song, Woodstock came knocking on Chicagoās door and they were booked to play the event. However, at the time, the band was under contract to concert promoter Bill Graham, and he retained the right to reschedule them. He did exactly that, sending Chicago to play at San Francisco’s famed Fillmore West. That left an empty slot to be filled at Woodstock, so Graham simply scheduled another band that he managed to play in that spot. The name of that band was Santana.
That leads us to the question of the day: Did you attend Woodstock or any other similar musical event? Tell us something about your experience.
Iāll kick things off: I did not attend Woodstock (although I did see The Beatles at Shea Stadium!). My parents laid down the law and absolutely refused to let me go. Now, I was a rebel and did pretty much what I wanted to do but this would have been a tough one for me to pull off. Me and Mr. Bill more than made up for missing Woodstock by seeing more concerts than we can remember, many at the legendary Fillmore East. We keep saying one day we should compile a list of every group we saw in concert. We better do it while our memories are still intact!
Now itās your turn; whoās up for sharing a story about your concert-going days?
Thanks for joining me today In The Groove. I had a blast! Stay tuned for more great music coming this week.
Be well and happy, my friends; itās a jungle out there.
The 4th of July is a big holiday here in the U.S.A. What better way for people around the world to join us as we celebrate than with a native son singing what has become a universal rock anthem. š š
Here is Bruce Springsteen with āBorn In the U.S.A.ā, live from Paris in 1985.
And that’s what we call “rocking” no matter what language you speak!
However, let’s not lose sight of the true message of this song. The lyrics of “Born in the U.S.A.” make its subject pretty clear. This 1984 hit describes a Vietnam War veteran who returns home to desperate circumstances and few options … just one of the tragic results of war realized by vets throughout the world.
As I read some of the comments on YouTube, I came across two which I wanted to share with you:
WAAOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IĀ“M NOT AN AMERICAN CITIZEN, BUT I FEEL MY HEART FULL OF PROUD EVERY TIME I HEAR THIS EXTRAORDINARY SONG, IS MY ANTHEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! USA IS A GREAT NATION!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE WANT FREEDOM HERE IN VENEZUELA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love this song, !!! I’m born in England with Irish parents, to me I just love his raw voice, believe you don’t have to be American to love this song
Those are perfect examples of why I chose this song today.
Alright, it’s time now for our super easy question of the day:
Sinatra is the Chairman, Elvis is the King, Aretha is the Queen so whatās Springsteenās very famous nickname?
The answer is on the bottom of the page.
Thanks for sharing another great day with me getting our groove on.
I’ll be back Thursday for a very special movie day; meet me At The Movies where the celebration will continue!
āElla Fitzgerald is the only performer with whom I’ve ever worked who made me nervous, because I know I need to meet her standards.ā
So said Frank Sinatra in 1959.
Sometimes referred to as the “First Lady of Song“, āLady Ellaā and “Queen of Jazz”, Ella Fitzgerald was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, intonation and improvisational ability, particularly in her “scat” singing.
I could write pages about Ella Fitzgerald and her many accomplishments but I know you don’t want to read that. You’d much rather listen to her sing, wouldnāt you?
I must apologize for having only audio today; as Iāve said before, I will always try to give you the very best quality video experience possible. Sometimes there aren’t any good videos to be found, as is the case today. So sit back, close your eyes and delight in the divine sounds of āLady Ellaā.
This is George Gershwin’s exquisite āSomeone To Watch Over Meā.
That was sheer brilliance, effortless perfection. I feel like that guy looks in the lower right of the YouTube pic!
Earlier in the post I mentioned scat; Ella was the best when it came to that style of singing. I’m not going to load up my page today with another video; instead I’d like to make a suggestion: if you’re in the mood for some of the best scat you’ll ever hear, check out Ella singing a little something called “Smooth Sailing”. It will knock your socks off!
Well, thatās it for me today here In The Groove. Deb’s coming up tomorrow with another segment of World Music. Stay cool and I’ll catch ya next week!
Right from his start in Gary, Indiana with his brothers in The Jackson 5, it was obvious that Michael Jackson was destined for stardom. Over a four-decade career, his contributions to music, dance and fashion, along with his globally publicized personal life, made him a world-renown figure in pop culture. Jackson influenced artists across many music genres; through stage and video performances, he popularized complicated dance moves such as the moonwalk, to which he gave the name, as well as the robot.
He was indeed destined for stardom. Michael Jackson is the most awarded recording artist in pop music history.
It was not easy for me to pick a song by Michael Jackson; after watching a few videos, I kept coming back to one because of its creativity in both song and dance. The precision of the dance moves by Jackson and the ensemble cast is impeccable. Weād never seen anything quite like it before or since. My choice for you today is Thriller.
What you are about to see is the short version; no singing or dancing has been cut from the long version so you wonāt be missing anything. The full version is more than 13 minutes long and is all about what happens before the zombie song/dance routine. I saw no reason in taking up your time with what can readily be viewed on YouTube at your leisure.
The first time I saw this on MTV, I couldnāt believe what I was watching. Hold onto something and get ready for Thriller!
That was crazy good! So fabulous to watch and still great after all these years!
Now for the question of the day:
In the original long version of “Thriller”, we can hear narration being done by a very ācreepyā and easily recognizable voice. Can you name the famous old-time actor well known for his many spooky movies who was the voice of “Thriller”?
Check the bottom of the page for the answer.
Well, I hope youāre having a great time here In The Groove. I love comments as well as answers so donāt be shy; let me know what youāre thinking.
OK, boys and girls! I guarantee you’re not going to be able to sit still for this one.
No foreplay today; let’s get straight down to business.
Hereās the happiest song from 2014, a huge hit for Pharrell Williams. Itās called ā¦ what else?? ā¦āHAPPYā!
I love that guy! He puts me in such a great mood, I want to ingest a little bit of what heās got going on. How can anyone not be smiling after that video?
Thereās no question of the day but if you’d like to share with us what flips your happy switch, please do; comments and videos are always welcome. Most import of all: just be happy!
Stay tuned tomorrow when DA takes us someplace new. I wonder where this time?
Why not check out the other posts in The Rhythm Section and remember to stay GROOVY!!
Wikipedia calls them a ārock supergroupā. Well, I guess they were but funny ā I never thought of them that way. I mean, they definitely were all that but to me they were just a bunch of guys ā friends, actually ā who got together for a very short period of time, recorded some terrific songs and made it all look incredibly easy and fun.
I bet you think you know who Iām talking about and I wouldnāt blame you but youād only be one-fifth correct ā¦ not very good odds so donāt put all your money on “THAT” supergroup from Liverpool because youād lose.
No, the group Iām talking about was the American/British combo of (in alphabetical order) Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynn, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty, otherwise known as TheTraveling Wilburys. Getting a group together was something George Harrison wanted to do for a long time; the idea finally started to gel when George and Jeff Lynne were chatting it up one night. Some of the best ideas come from two good friends having a nice sit down.
Now, I’m only partially serious when I ask this but I’ve learned never to discount any possibility. If you haven’t heard of The Traveling Wilburys, is there a chance you’ve been in a coma since 1988? Maybe you hadn’t been born yet. Well, the age defense doesn’t really hold water, now does it? We’d have very little going on it our noggins if that were true. No matter our age, something we can all do is broaden our horizons by embracing the new along with the old.
But I digress.
So, if these five guys formed what’s being called a ārock supergroupā, what happened to it after just three short years? The answer is simple: life. And, of course, death. After Roy Orbison died in December 1988, the Wilburys continued as a quartet and released a second album in 1990 which won the Grammy for āBest Rock Performance by a Duo or Groupā.
Due to the guys busy solo careers, the group began taking a different direction. The remaining foursome stayed friends and performed on/contributed to each otherās albums until George Harrisonās death in 2001. Today there are only two of the original five still with us ā Bob Dylan and Jeff Lynn.
Now that you know about TheTraveling Wilburys, allow me to tell you about the song Iāve chosen for today. āEnd of the Lineā was the final track on their October ā88 debut album; a video followed in December ā88 and a second single was issued in January ’89. Set in a moving passenger car pulled by a steam locomotive, the video features all five members of the group as well as a session musician playing the brushes. Since Roy Orbison died after recording his vocals ā but before the video was shotā an image of his guitar sitting in a rocking chair and a photo of him are shown when his vocals are heard (a rather nice touch and a first class act by George Harrison).
Here now, possibly for the first time for a couple of you, are TheTraveling Wilburys performing their hit song, āEnd of the Lineā. I sincerely hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
How’d you like the song? Not a bad little group, eh?
Thanks for being with me today. I’ve got a train to catch.
The Elephant's Trunk 